Theothershadgoneuponerrandshecouldnotimagine，beyondthecompassofthatgreatcircleofearth。andsky。Hewondered，buttherewasnoonetoask。Asthedayworeon，aboutadozenreappearedintheeastwiththeirstoresreplenishedfromtheflotillaandtowinganumberofdrachenffieger。Towardsafternoontheweatherthickened，drivingcloudsappearedinthesouth—westandrantogetherandseemedtoengendermoreclouds，andthewindcameroundintothatquarterandblewstronger。
　　Towardstheeveningthe，windbecameagaleintowhichthenowtossingairshipshadtobeat。
　　AllthatdaythePrincewasnegotiatingwithWashington，whilehisdetachedscoutssoughtfarandwideovertheEasternStateslookingforanythingresemblinganaeronauticpark。AsquadronoftwentyairshipsdetachedovernighthaddroppedoutoftheairuponNiagaraandwasholdingthetownandpowerworks。
　　Meanwhiletheinsurrectionarymovementinthegiantcitygrewuncontrollable。Inspiteoffivegreatfiresalreadyinvolvingmanyacres，andspreadingsteadily，NewYorkwasstillnotsatisfiedthatshewasbeaten。
　　Atfirsttherebelliousspiritbelowfoundventonlyinisolatedshouts，street—crowdspeeches，andnewspapersuggestions;thenitfoundmuchmoredefiniteexpressionintheappearanceinthemorningsunlightofAmericanflagsatpointafterpointabovethearchitecturalcliffsofthecity。ItisquitepossiblethatinmanycasesthisspiriteddisplayofbuntingbyacityalreadysurrenderedwastheoutcomeoftheinnocentinformalityoftheAmericanmind，butitisalsoundeniablethatinmanyitwasadeliberateindicationthatthepeople"feltwicked。"
　　TheGermansenseofcorrectitudewasdeeplyshockedbythisoutbreak。TheGrafvonWinterfeldimmediatelycommunicatedwiththemayor，andpointedouttheirregularity，andthefirelook—outstationswereinstructedinthematter。TheNewYorkpolicewasspeedilyhardatwork，andafoolishcontestinfullswingbetweenimpassionedcitizensresolvedtokeeptheflagflying，andirritatedandworriedofficersinstructedtopullitdown。
　　ThetroublebecameacuteatlastinthestreetsaboveColumbiaUniversity。ThecaptainoftheairshipwatchingthisquarterseemstohavestoopedtolassoanddragfromitsstaffaflaghoisteduponMorganHall。AshedidsoavolleyofrifleandrevolvershotswasfiredfromtheupperwindowsofthehugeapartmentbuildingthatstandsbetweentheUniversityandRiversideDrive。
　　Mostofthesewereineffectual，buttwoorthreeperforatedgas—chambers，andonesmashedthehandandarmofamanupontheforwardplatform;Thesentinelonthelowergalleryimmediatelyreplied，andthemachinegunontheshieldoftheeagleletflyandpromptlystoppedanyfurthershots。TheairshiproseandsignalledtheflagshipandCityHall，policeandmilitiamenweredirectedatoncetothespot，andthisparticularincidentclosed。
　　ButharduponthatcamethedesperateattemptofapartyofyoungclubmenfromNewYork，who，inspiredbypatrioticandadventurousimaginations，slippedoffinhalfadozenmotor—carstoBeaconHill，andsettoworkwithremarkablevigourtoimproviseafortabouttheDoanswivelgunthathadbeenplacedthere。Theyfounditstillinthehandsofthedisgustedgunners，whohadbeenorderedtoceasefireatthecapitulation，anditwaseasytoinfectthesemenwiththeirownspirit。Theydeclaredtheirgunhadn’thadhalfachance，and，wereburningtoshowwhatitcoulddo。Directedbythenewcomers，theymadeatrenchandbankaboutthemountingofthepiece，andconstructedflimsyshelter—pitsofcorrugatediron。
　　TheywereactuallyloadingthegunwhentheywereobservedbytheairshipPreussenandtheshelltheysucceededinfiringbeforethebombsofthelattersmashedthemandtheircrudedefencestofragments，burstoverthemiddlegas—chambersoftheBingen，andbroughthertoearth，disabled，uponStatenIsland。Shewasbadlydeflated，anddroppedamongtrees，overwhichheremptycentralgas—bagsspreadincanopiesandfestoons。Nothing，however，hadcaughtfire，andhermenwerespeedilyatworkuponherrepair。Theybehavedwithaconfidencethatvergeduponindiscretion。Whilemostofthemcommencedpatchingthetearsofthemembrane，halfadozenofthemstartedoffforthenearestroadinsearchofagasmain，andpresentlyfoundthemselvesprisonersinthehandsofahostilecrowd。Closeathandwasanumberofvillaresidences，whoseoccupantsspeedilydevelopedfromanunfriendlycuriositytoaggression。AtthattimethepolicecontrolofthelargepolyglotpopulationofStatenIslandhadbecomeverylax，andscarcelyahouseholdbuthaditsrifleorpistolsandammunition。Thesewerepresentlyproduced，andaftertwoorthreemisses，oneofthemenatworkwashitinthefoot。ThereupontheGermanslefttheirsewingandmending，tookcoveramongthetrees，andreplied。
　　ThecracklingofshotsspeedilybroughtthePreussenandKielonthescene，andwithafewhandgrenadestheymadeshortworkofeveryvillawithinamile。Anumberofnon—combatantAmericanmen，women，andchildrenwerekilledandtheactualassailantsdrivenoff。Foratimetherepairswentoninpeaceundertheimmediateprotectionofthesetwoairships。Thenwhentheyreturnedtotheirquarters，anintermittentsnipingandfightingroundthestrandedBingenwasresumed，andwentonalltheafternoon，andmergedatlastinthegeneralcombatoftheevening……
　　AbouteighttheBingenwasrushedbyanarmedmob，andallitsdefenderskilledafterafierce，disorderlystruggle。
　　ThedifficultyoftheGermansinboththesecasescamefromtheimpossibilityoflandinganyefficientforceor，indeed，anyforceatallfromtheair—fleet。Theairshipswerequiteunequaltothetransportofanyadequatelandingparties;theircomplementofmenwasjustsufficienttomanoeuvreandfightthemintheair。Fromabovetheycouldinflictimmensedamage;theycouldreduceanyorganisedGovernmenttoacapitulationinthebriefestspace，buttheycouldnotdisarm，muchlesscouldtheyoccupy，thesurrenderedareasbelow。Theyhadtotrusttothepressureupontheauthoritiesbelowofathreattorenewthebombardment。Itwastheirsoleresource。Nodoubt，withahighlyorganisedandundamagedGovernmentandahomogeneousandwell—disciplinedpeoplethatwouldhavesufficedtokeepthepeace。ButthiswasnottheAmericancase。NotonlywastheNewYorkGovernmentaweakoneandinsufficientlyprovidedwithpolice，butthedestructionoftheCityHall——andPost—Offideandothercentralgangliahadhopelesslydisorganisedtheco—operationofpartwithpart。Thestreetcarsandrailwayshadceased;thetelephoneservicewasoutofgearandonlyworkedintermittently。TheGermanshadstruckatthehead，andtheheadwasconqueredandstunned——onlytoreleasethebodyfromitsrule。NewYorkhadbecomeaheadlessmonster，nolongercapableofcollectivesubmission。Everywhereitlifteditselfrebelliously;everywhereauthoritiesandofficialslefttotheirownimitativewerejoininginthearmingandflag—hoistingandexcitementofthatafternoon。
　　6
　　ThedisintegratingtrucegaveplacetoadefinitegeneralbreachwiththeassassinationoftheWetterhorn——forthatistheonlypossiblewordfortheact——aboveUnionSquare，andnotamileawayfromtheexemplaryruinsofCityHall。Thisoccurredlateintheafternoon，betweenfiveandsix。Bythattimetheweatherhadchangedverymuchfortheworse，andtheoperationsoftheairshipswereembarrassedbythenecessitytheywereunderofkeepingheadontothegusts。Aseriesofsqualls，withhailandthunder，followedoneanotherfromthesouthbysouth—east，andinordertoavoidtheseasmuchaspossible，theair—fleetcamelowoverthehouses，diminishingitsrangeofobservationandexposingitselftoarifleattack。
　　OvernighttherehadbeenagunplacedinUnionSquare。Ithadneverbeenmounted，muchlessfired，andinthedarknessafterthesurrenderitwastakenwithitssuppliesandputoutofthewayunderthearchesofthegreatDexterbuilding。Herelateinthemorningitwasremarkedbyanumberofpatrioticspirits。
　　Theysettoworktohoistandmountitinsidetheupperfloorsoftheplace。Theymade，infact，amaskedbatterybehindthedecorousofficeblinds，andtherelayinwaitassimplyexcitedaschildrenuntilatlastthestemofthelucklessWetterhornappeared，beatingandrollingatquarterspeedovertherecentlyreconstructedpinnaclesofTiffany’s。Promptlythatone—gunbatteryunmasked。Theairship’slook—outmanmusthaveseenthewholeofthetenthstoryoftheDexterbuildingcrumbleoutandsmashinthestreetbelowtodiscovertheblackmuzzlelookingoutfromtheshadowsbehind。Thenperhapstheshellhithim。
　　ThegunfiredtwoshellsbeforetheframeoftheDexterbuildingcollapsed，andeachshellrakedtheWetterhornfromstemtostern。Theysmashedherexhaustively。Shecrumpleduplikeacanthathasbeenkickedbyaheavyboot，herforepartcamedowninthesquare，andtherestofherlength，withagreatsnappingandtwistingofshaftsandstays，descended，collapsingathwartTammanyHallandthestreetstowardsSecondAvenue。Hergasescapedtomixwithair，andtheairofherrentballoonettepouredintoherdeflatinggas—chambers。Thenwithanimmenseimpactsheexploded……
　　TheVaterlandatthattimewasbeatinguptothesouthofCityHallfromovertheruinsoftheBrooklynBridge，andthereportsofthegun，followedbythefirstcrashesofthecollapsingDexterbuilding，broughtKurtand，Smallwaystothecabinporthole。Theywereintimetoseetheflashoftheexplodinggun，andthentheywerefirstflattenedagainstthewindowandthenrolledheadoverheelsacrossthefloorofthecabinbytheairwaveoftheexplosion。TheVaterlandboundedlikeafootballsomeonehaskickedandwhentheylookedoutagain，UnionSquarewassmallandremoteandshattered，asthoughsomecosmicallyvastgianthadrolledoverit。Thebuildingstotheeastofitwereablazeatadozenpoints，undertheflamingtattersandwarpingskeletonoftheairship，andalltheroofsandwallswereridiculouslyaskewandcrumblingasonelooked。"Gaw！"saidBert。"What’shappened？Lookatthepeople！"
　　ButbeforeKurtcouldproduceanexplanation，theshrillbellsoftheairshipwereringingtoquarters，andhehadtogo。Berthesitatedandsteppedthoughtfullyintothepassage，lookingbackatthewindowashedidso。HewasknockedoffhisfeetatoncebythePrince，whowasrushingheadlongfromhiscabintothecentralmagazine。
　　BerthadamomentaryimpressionofthegreatfigureofthePrince，whitewithrage，bristlingwithgiganticanger，hishugefistswinging。"BlutundEisen！"criedthePrince，asonewhoswears。"Oh！BlutundEisen！"
　　SomeonefelloverBert——somethinginthemanneroffallingsuggestedVonWinterfeld——andsomeoneelsepausedandkickedhimspitefullyandhard。Thenhewassittingupinthepassage，rubbingafreshlybruisedcheekandreadjustingthebandagehestillworeonhishead。"DemthatPrince，"saidBert，indignantbeyondmeasure。"’E’asn’tthemennersofa’og！"
　　Hestoodup，collectedhiswitsforaminute，andthenwentslowlytowardsthegangwayofthelittlegallery。AshedidsoheheardnoisessuggestiveofthereturnofthePrince。Thelotofthemwerecomingbackagain。Heshotintohiscabinlikearabbitintoitsburrow，justintimetoescapethatshoutingterror。
　　Heshutthedoor，waiteduntilthepassagewasstill，thenwentacrosstothewindowandlookedout。Adriftofcloudmadetheprospectofthestreetsandsquareshazy，andtherollingoftheairshipswungthepictureupanddown。Afewpeoplewererunningtoandfro，butforthemostparttheaspectofthedistrictwasdesertion。Thestreetsseemedtobroadenout，theybecameclearer，andthelittledotsthatwerepeoplelargerastheVaterlandcamedownagain。PresentlyshewasswayingalongabovethelowerendofBroadway。Thedotsbelow，Bertsaw，werenotrunningnow，butstandingandlookingup。Thensuddenlytheywereallrunningagain。
　　Somethinghaddroppedfromtheaeroplane，somethingthatlookedsmallandflimsy。IthitthepavementnearabigarchwayjustunderneathBert。Alittlemanwassprintingalongthesidewalkwithinhalfadozenyards，andtwoorthreeothersandonewomanwereboltingacrosstheroadway。Theywereoddlittlefigures，soverysmallweretheyabouttheheads，soveryactiveabouttheelbowsandlegs。Itwasreallyfunnytoseetheirlegsgoing。
　　Foreshortened，humanityhasnodignity。Thelittlemanonthepavementjumpedcomically——nodoubtwithterror，asthebombfellbesidehim。
　　Thenblindingflamessquirtedoutinalldirectionsfromthepointofimpact，andthelittlemanwhohadjumpedbecame，foraninstant，aflashoffireandvanished——vanishedabsolutely。Thepeoplerunningoutintotheroadtookpreposterousclumsyleaps，thenfloppeddownandlaystill，withtheirtornclothessmoulderingintoflame。Thenpiecesofthearchwaybegantodrop，andthelowermasonryofthebuildingtofallinwiththerumblingsoundofcoalsbeingshotintoacellar。AfaintscreamingreachedBert，andthenacrowdofpeopleranoutintothestreet，onemanlimpingandgesticulatingawkwardly。Hehalted，andwentbacktowardsthebuilding。Afallingmassofbrick—workhithimandsenthimsprawlingtoliestillandcrumpledwherehefell。Dustandblacksmokecamepouringintothestreet，andwerepresentlyshotwithredflame……
　　InthismannerthemassacreofNewYorkbegan。ShewasthefirstofthegreatcitiesoftheScientificAgetosufferbytheenormouspowersandgrotesquelimitationsofaerialwarfare。Shewaswreckedasinthepreviouscenturyendlessbarbariccitieshadbeenbombarded，becauseshewasatoncetoostrongtobeoccupiedandtooundisciplinedandproudtosurrenderinordertoescapedestruction。Giventhecircumstances，thethinghadtobedone。ItwasimpossibleforthePrincetodesist，andownhimselfdefeated，anditwasimpossibletosubduethecityexceptbylargelydestroyingit。Thecatastrophewasthelogicaloutcomeofthesituation，createdbytheapplicationofsciencetowarfare。Itwasunavoidablethatgreatcitiesshouldbedestroyed。Inspiteofhisintenseexasperationwithhisdilemma，thePrincesoughttobemoderateeveninmassacre。Hetriedtogiveamemorablelessonwiththeminimumwasteoflifeandtheminimumexpenditureofexplosives。ForthatnightheproposedonlythewreckingofBroadway。Hedirectedtheair—fleettomoveincolumnovertherouteofthisthoroughfare，droppingbombs，theVaterlandleading。AndsoourBertSmallwaysbecameaparticipantinoneofthemostcold—bloodedslaughtersintheworld’shistory，inwhichmenwhowereneitherexcitednor，exceptfortheremotestchanceofabullet，inanydanger，poureddeathanddestructionuponhomesandcrowdsbelow。
　　Heclungtotheframeoftheportholeastheairshiptossedandswayed，andstareddownthroughthelightrainthatnowdrovebeforethewind，intothetwilightstreets，watchingpeoplerunningoutofthehouses，watchingbuildingscollapseandfiresbegin。Astheairshipssailedalongtheysmashedupthecityasachildwillshatteritscitiesofbrickandcard。Below，theyleftruinsandblazingconflagrationsandheapedandscattereddead;men，women，andchildrenmixedtogetherasthoughtheyhadbeennomorethanMoors，orZulus，orChinese。LowerNewYorkwassoonafurnaceofcrimsonflames，fromwhichtherewasnoescape。Cars，railways，ferries，allhadceased，andneveralightlitthewayofthedistractedfugitivesinthatduskyconfusionbutthelightofburning。Hehadglimpsesofwhat，itmustmeantobedownthere——glimpses。Anditcametohimsuddenlyasanincrediblediscovery，thatsuchdisasterswerenotonlypossiblenowinthisstrange，gigantic，foreignNewYork，butalsoinLondon——inBunHill！thatthelittleislandinthesilverseaswasattheendofitsimmunity，thatnowhereintheworldanymorewasthereaplaceleftwhereaSmallwaysmightlifthisheadproudlyandvoteforwarandaspiritedforeignpolicy，andgosecurefromsuchhorriblethings。
　　CHAPTERVII
　　THE"VATERLAND"ISDISABLED
　　1
　　AndthenabovetheflamesofManhattanIslandcameabattle，thefirstbattleintheair。TheAmericanshadrealisedthepricetheirwaitinggamemustcost，andstruckwithallthestrengththeyhad，ifhaplytheymightstillsaveNewYorkfromthismadPrinceofBloodandIron，andfromfireanddeath。
　　TheycamedownupontheGermansonthewingsofagreatgaleinthetwilight，amidstthunderandrain。TheycamefromtheyardsofWashingtonandPhiladelphia，fulltiltintwosquadrons，andbutforonesentinelairshiphardbyTrenton，thesurprisewouldhavebeencomplete。
　　TheGermans，sickandwearywithdestruction，andhalfemptyofammunition，werefacingupintotheweatherwhenthenewsofthisonsetreachedthem。NewYorktheyhadleftbehindtothesouth—eastward，adarkenedcitywithonehideousredscarofflames。Alltheairshipsrolledandstaggered，burstsofhailstormborethemdownandforcedthemtofighttheirwayupagain;theairhadbecomebitterlycold。ThePrincewasonthepointofissuingorderstodropearthwardandtrailcopperlightningchainswhenthenewsoftheaeroplaneattackcametohim。Hefacedhisfleetinlineabreastsouth，hadthedrachenfliegermannedandheldreadytocastloose，andorderedageneralascentintothefreezingclearnessabovethewetanddarkness。
　　ThenewsofwhatwasimminentcameslowlytoBert’sperceptions。
　　Hewasstandinginthemessroomatthetimeandtheeveningrationswerebeingservedout。HehadresumedButteridge’scoatandgloves，andinadditionhehadwrappedhisblanketabouthim。
　　Hewasdippinghisbreadintohissoupandwasbitingoffbigmouthfuls。Hislegswerewideapart，andheleantagainstthepartitioninordertosteadyhimselfamidstthepitchingandoscillationoftheairship。Themenabouthimlookedtiredanddepressed;afewtalked，butmostweresullenandthoughtful，andoneortwowereair—sick。Theyallseemedtosharethepeculiarlyoutcastfeelingthathadfollowedthemurdersoftheevening，asenseofalandbeneaththem，andanoutragedhumanitygrownmorehostilethantheSea。
　　Thenthenewshitthem。Ared—facedsturdyman，amanwithlighteyelashesandascar，appearedinthedoorwayandshoutedsomethinginGermanthatmanifestlystartledeveryone。Bertfelttheshockofthealteredtone，thoughhecouldnotunderstandawordthatwassaid。Theannouncementwasfollowedbyapause，andthenagreatoutcryofquestionsandsuggestions。
　　Eventheair—sickmenflushedandspoke。Forsomeminutesthemess—roomwasBedlam，andthen，asifitwereaconfirmationofthenews，cametheshrillringingofthebellsthatcalledthementotheirposts。
　　Bertwithpantomimesuddennessfoundhimselfalone。
　　"What’sup？"hesaid，thoughhepartlyguessed。
　　Hestayedonlytogulpdowntheremainderofhissoup，andthenranalongtheswayingpassageand，clutchingtightly，downtheladdertothelittlegallery。Theweatherhithimlikecoldwatersquirtedfromahose。TheairshipengagedinsomenewfeatofatmosphericJiu—Jitsu。Hedrewhisblanketcloserabouthim，clutchingwithonestraininghand。Hefoundhimselftossinginawettwilight，withnothingtobeseenbutmistpouringpasthim。
　　Abovehimtheairshipwaswarmwithlightsandbusywiththemovementsofmengoingtotheirquarters。Thenabruptlythelightswentout，andtheVaterlandwithboundsandtwistsandstrangewrithingswasfightingherwayuptheair。
　　Hehadaglimpse，astheVaterlandrolledover，ofsomelargebuildingsburningclosebelowthem，aquiveringacanthusofflames，andthenhesawindistinctlythroughthedrivingweatheranotherairshipwallowingalonglikeaporpoise，andalsoworkingup。Presentlythecloudsswallowedheragainforatime，andthenshecamebacktosightasadarkandwhale—likemonster，amidststreamingweather。Theairwasfullofflappingsandpipings，ofvoid，gustyshoutsandnoises;itbuffetedhimandconfusedhim;everandagainhisattentionbecamerigid——ablindanddeafbalancingandclutching。
　　"Wow！"
　　Somethingfellpasthimoutofthevastdarknessesaboveandvanishedintothetumultsbelow，goingobliquelydownward。ItwasaGermandrachenflieger。Thethingwasgoingsofasthehadbutaninstantapprehensionofthedarkfigureoftheaeronautcrouchedtogetherclutchingathiswheel。Itmightbeamanoeuvre，butitlookedlikeacatastrophe。
　　"Gaw！"saidBert。
　　"Pup—pup—pup"wentagunsomewhereinthemirkaheadandsuddenlyandquitehorriblytheVaterlandlurched，andBertandthesentinelwereclingingtotherailfordearlife。"Bang！"cameavastimpactoutofthezenith，followedbyanotherhugeroll，andallabouthimthetumbledcloudsflashedredandluridinresponsetoflashesunseen，revealingimmensegulfs。Therailwentrightoverhead，andhewashanginglooseintheairholdingontoit。
　　ForatimeBert’swholemindandbeingwasgiventoclutching。
　　"I’mgoingintothecabin，"hesaid，astheairshiprightedagainandbroughtbackthegalleryfloortohisfeet。Hebegantomakehiswaycautiouslytowardstheladder。"Whee—wow！"hecriedasthewholegalleryreareditselfupforward，andthenplungeddownlikeadesperatehorse。
　　Crack！Bang！Bang！Bang！Andthenharduponthislittlerattleofshotsandbombscame，allabouthim，envelopinghim，engulfinghim，immenseandoverwhelming，aquiveringwhiteblazeoflightningandathunder—clapthatwasliketheburstingofaworld。
　　Justfortheinstantbeforethatexplosiontheuniverseseemedtobestandingstillinashadowlessglare。
　　ItwasthenhesawtheAmericanaeroplane。Hesawitinthelightoftheflashasathingaltogethermotionless。Evenitsscrewappearedstill，anditsmenwererigiddolls。（Foritwassonearhecouldseethemenuponitquitedistinctly。）Itssternwastiltingdown，andthewholemachinewasheelingover。
　　ItwasoftheColt—Coburn—Langleypattern，withdoubleup—tiltedwingsandthescrewahead，andthemenwereinaboat—likebodynettedover。Fromthisverylightlongbody，magazinegunsprojectedoneitherside。Onethingthatwasstrikinglyoddandwonderfulinthatmomentofrevelationwasthattheleftupperwingwasburningdownwardwithareddish，smokyflame。Butthiswasnotthemostwonderfulthingaboutthisapparition。ThemostwonderfulthingwasthatitandaGermanairshipfivehundredyardsbelowwerethreadedasitwereonthelightningflash，whichturnedoutofitspathasiftotakethem，and，thatoutfromthecornersandprojectingpointsofitshugewingseverywhere，littlebranchingthorn—treesoflightningwerestreaming。
　　LikeapictureBertsawthesethings，apicturealittleblurredbyathinveilofwind—tornmist。
　　Thecrashofthethunder—clapfollowedtheflashandseemedapartofit，sothatitishardtosaywhetherBertwastheratherdeafenedorblindedinthatinstant。
　　Andthendarkness，utterdarkness，andaheavyreportandathinsmallsoundofvoicesthatwentwailingdownwardintotheabyssbelow。
　　2
　　Therefolloweduponthesethingsalong，deepswayingoftheairship，andthenBertbeganastruggletogetbacktohiscabin。
　　Hewasdrenchedandcoldandterrifiedbeyondmeasure，andnowmorethanalittleair—sick。Itseemedtohimthatthestrengthhadgoneoutofhiskneesandhands，andthathisfeethadbecomeicilyslipperyoverthemetaltheytrodupon。Butthatwasbecauseathinfilmoficehadfrozenuponthegallery。
　　Heneverknewhowlonghisascentoftheladderbackintotheairshiptookhim，butinhisdreamsafterwards，whenherecalledit，thatexperienceseemedtolastforhours。Below，above，aroundhimweregulfs，monstrousgulfsofhowlingwindandeddiesofdark，whirlingsnowflakes，andhewasprotectedfromitallbyalittlemetalgratingandarail，agratingandrailthatseemedmadlyinfuriatedwithhim，passionatelyeagertowrenchhimoffandthrowhimintothetumultofspace。
　　Oncehehadafancythatabullettorebyhisear，andthatthecloudsandsnowflakeswerelitbyaflash，buthenevereventurnedhisheadtoseewhatnewassailantwhirledpasttheminthevoid。Hewantedtogetintothepassage！Hewantedtogetintothepassage！Hewantedtogetintothepassage！Wouldthearmbywhichhewasclingingholdout，orwoulditgivewayandsnap？Ahandfulofhailsmackedhimintheface，sothatforatimehewasbreathlessandnearlyinsensible。Holdtight，Bert！
　　Herenewedhisefforts。
　　Hefoundhimself，withanenormoussenseofreliefandwarmth，inthepassage。Thepassagewasbehavinglikeadice—box，itsdispositionwasevidentlytorattlehimaboutandthenthrowhimoutagain。Hehungonwiththeconvulsiveclutchofinstinctuntilthepassagelurcheddownahead。Thenhewouldmakeashortruncabin—ward，andclutchagainasthefore—endrose。
　　Behold！Hewasinthecabin！
　　Hesnapped—tothedoor，andforatimehewasnotahumanbeing，hewasacaseofair—sickness。Hewantedtogetsomewherethatwouldfixhim，thatheneedn’tclutch。Heopenedthelockerandgotinsideamongtheloosearticles，andsprawledtherehelplessly，withhisheadsometimesbumpingonesideandsometimestheother。Thelidshutuponhimwithaclick。Hedidnotcarethenwhatwashappeninganymore。Hedidnotcarewhofoughtwho，orwhatbulletswerefiredorexplosionsoccurred。
　　Hedidnotcareifpresentlyhewasshotorsmashedtopieces。
　　Hewasfulloffeeble，inarticulaterageanddespair。"Foolery！"
　　hesaid，hisoneexhaustivecommentonhumanenterprise，adventure，war，andthechapterofaccidentsthathadentangledhim。"Foolery！Ugh！"Heincludedtheorderoftheuniverseinthatcomprehensivecondemnation。Hewishedhewasdead。
　　Hesawnothingofthestars，aspresentlytheVaterlandclearedtherushandconfusionofthelowerweather，noroftheduelshefoughtwithtwocirclingaeroplanes，howtheyshotherrear—mostchambersthrough，andhowshefoughtthemoffwithexplosivebulletsandturnedtorunasshedidso。
　　Therushandswoopofthesewonderfulnightbirdswasalllostuponhim;theirheroicdashandself—sacrifice。TheVaterlandwasrammed，andforsomemomentsshehungonthevergeofdestruction，andsinkingswiftly，withtheAmericanaeroplaneentangledwithhersmashedpropeller，andtheAmericanstryingtoscrambleaboard。ItsignifiednothingtoBert。Tohimitconveyeditselfsimplyasvehementswaying。Foolery！WhentheAmericanairshipdroppedoffatlast，withmostofitscrewshotorfallen，BertinhislockerappreciatednothingbutthattheVaterlandhadtakenahideousupwardleap。
　　Butthencameinfiniterelief，incrediblyblissfulrelief。Therolling，thepitching，thestruggleceased，ceasedinstantlyandabsolutely。TheVaterlandwasnolongerfightingthegale;hersmashedandexplodedenginesthrobbednomore;shewasdisabledanddrivingbeforethewindassmoothlyasaballoon，ahuge，windspread，tatteredcloudofaerialwreckage。
　　ToBertitwasnomorethantheendofaseriesofdisagreeablesensations。Hewasnotcurioustoknowwhathadhappenedtotheairship，norwhathadhappenedtothebattle。Foralongtimehelaywaitingapprehensivelyforthepitchingandtossingandhisqualmstoreturn，andso，lying，boxedupinthelocker，hepresentlyfellasleep。
　　3
　　Heawoketranquilbutverystuffy，andatthesametimeverycold，andquiteunabletorecollectwherehecouldbe。Hisheadached，andhisbreathwassuffocated。HehadbeendreamingconfusedlyofEdna，anddesertdervishes，andofridingbicyclesinanextremelyperilousmannerthroughtheupperairamidstapyrotechnicdisplayofcrackersandBengallights——tothegreatannoyanceofasortofcompositepersonmadeupofthePrinceandMr。Butteridge。ThenforsomereasonEdnaandhehadbeguntocrypitifullyforeachother，andhewokeupwithweteye—lashesintothisill—ventilateddarknessofthelocker。HewouldneverseeEdnaanymore，neverseeEdnaanymore。
　　HethoughthemustbebackinthebedroombehindthecycleshopatthebottomofBunHill，andhewassurethevisionhehadhadofthedestructionofamagnificentcity，acityquiteincrediblygreatandsplendid，bymeansofbombs，wasnomorethanaparticularlyvividdream。
　　"Grubb！"hecalled，anxioustotellhim。
　　Theansweringsilence，andthedullresonanceofthelockertohisvoice，supplementingthestiflingqualityoftheair，setgoinganewtrainofideas。Helifteduphishandsandfeet，andmetaninflexibleresistance。Hewasinacoffin，hethought！
　　Hehadbeenburiedalive！Hegavewayatoncetowildpanic。
　　"’Elp！"hescreamed。"’Elp！"anddrummedwithhisfeet，andkickedandstruggled。"Letmeout！Letmeout！"
　　Forsomesecondshestruggledwiththisintolerablehorror，andthenthesideofhisimaginedcoffingaveway，andhewasflyingoutintodaylight。ThenhewasrollingaboutonwhatseemedtobeapaddedfloorwithKurt，andbeingpunchedandswornatlustily。
　　Hesatup。Hisheadbandagehadbecomelooseandgotoveroneeye，andhewhippedthewholethingoff。Kurtwasalsosittingup，ayardawayfromhim，pinkasever，wrappedinblankets，andwithanaluminiumdiver’shelmetoverhisknee，staringathimwithasevereexpression，andrubbinghisdownyunshavenchin。
　　Theywerebothonaslantingfloorofcrimsonpadding，andabovethemwasanopeninglikealong，lowcellarflapthatBertbyaneffortperceivedtobethecabindoorinahalf—invertedcondition。Thewholecabinhadinfactturnedonitsside。
　　"Whatthedeucedoyoumeanbyit，Smallways？"saidKurt，"jumpingoutofthatlockerwhenIwascertainyouhadgoneoverboardwiththerestofthem？Wherehaveyoubeen？"
　　"What’sup？"askedBert。
　　"Thisendoftheairshipisup。Mostotherthingsaredown。"
　　"Wasthereabattle？"
　　"Therewas。"
　　"Whowon？"
　　"Ihaven’tseenthepapers，Smallways。Weleftbeforethefinish。
　　Wegotdisabledandunmanageable，andourcolleagues——consortsI
　　mean——weretoobusymostofthemtotroubleaboutus，andthewindblewus——HeavenknowswherethewindISblowingus。Itblewusrightoutofactionattherateofeightymilesanhourorso。
　　Gott！whatawindthatwas！Whatafight！Andhereweare！"
　　"Where？"
　　"Intheair，Smallways——intheair！Whenwegetdownontheearthagainweshan’tknowwhattodowithourlegs。"
　　"Butwhat’sbelowus？"
　　"Canada，tothebestofmyknowledge——andajollybleak，empty，inhospitablecountryitlooks。"
　　"Butwhyain’twerightwaysup？"
　　Kurtmadenoanswerforaspace。
　　"LastIrememberwasseeingasortofflying—machineinalightningflash，"saidBert。"Gaw！thatwas’orrible。Gunsgoingoff！Thingsexplodin’！Cloudsand’ail。Pitchingandtossing。Igotsoscaredanddesperate——andsick。Youdon’tknowhowthefightcameoff？"
　　"Notabitofit。Iwasupwithmysquadinthosedivers’
　　dresses，insidethegas—chambers，withsheetsofsilkforcaulking。Wecouldn’tseeathingoutsideexceptthelightningflashes。IneversawoneofthoseAmericanaeroplanes。Justsawtheshotsflickerthroughthechambersandsentoffmenforthetears。Wecaughtfireabit——notmuch，youknow。Weweretoowet，sothefiressplutteredoutbeforewebanged。Andthenoneoftheirinfernalthingsdroppedoutoftheaironusandrammed。