Didn’tyoufeelit？"
　　"Ifelteverything，"saidBert。"Ididn’tnoticeanyparticularsmash——"
　　"Theymusthavebeenprettydesperateiftheymeantit。Theyslasheddownonuslikeaknife;simplyrippedtheaftergas—chamberslikeguttingherrings，crumpleduptheenginesandscrew。Mostoftheenginesdroppedoffastheyfelloffus——orwe’dhavegrounded——buttherestissortofdangling。Wejustturnedupournosetotheheavensandstayedthere。Elevenmenrolledoffusfromvariouspoints，andpooroldWinterfeldfellthroughthedoorofthePrince’scabinintothechart—roomandbrokehisankle。Alsowegotourelectricgearshotorcarriedaway——nooneknowshow。That’stheposition，Smallways。We’redrivingthroughtheairlikeacommonaerostat，atthemercyoftheelements，almostduenorth——probablytotheNorthPole。Wedon’tknowwhataeroplanestheAmericanshave，oranythingatallaboutit。Verylikelywehavefinished’emup。Onefouledus，onewasstruckbylightning，someofthemensawathirdupset，apparentlyjustforfun。Theyweregoingcheapanyhow。Alsowe’velostmostofourdrachenflieger。Theyjustskatedoffintothenight。Nostabilityin’em。That’sall。Wedon’tknowifwe’vewonorlost。Wedon’tknowifwe’reatwarwiththeBritishEmpireyetoratpeace。Consequently，wedaren’tgetdown。Wedon’tknowwhatweareuptoorwhatwearegoingtodo。OurNapoleonisalone，forward，andIsupposehe’srearranginghisplans。WhetherNewYorkwasourMoscowornotremainstobeseen。We’vehadahigholdtimeandmurderednoendofpeople！War！Noblewar！I’msickofitthismorning。I
　　likesittinginroomsrightwayupandnotonslipperypartitions。
　　I’macivilisedman。IkeepthinkingofoldAlbrechtandtheBarbarossa……IfeelIwantawashandkindwordsandaquiethome。WhenIlookatyou，IKNOWIwantawash。Gott！"——hestifledavehementyawn——"WhataCockneytadpoleofaruffianyoulook！"
　　"Canwegetanygrub？"askedBert。
　　"Heavenknows！"saidKurt。
　　HemeditateduponBertforatime。"SofarasIcanjudge，Smallways，"hesaid，"thePrincewillprobablywanttothrowyouoverboard——nexttimehethinksofyou。Hecertainlywillifheseesyou……Afterall，youknow，youcamealsBallast……Andweshallhavetolightenshipextensivelyprettysoon。UnlessI’mmistaken，thePrincewillwakeuppresentlyandstartdoingthingswithtremendousvigour……I’vetakenafancytoyou。
　　It’stheEnglishstraininme。You’rearumlittlechap。I
　　shan’tlikeseeingyouwhizzdowntheair……You’dbettermakeyourselfuseful，Smallways。IthinkIshallrequisitionyouformysquad。You’llhavetowork，youknow，andbeinfernallyintelligentandallthat。Andyou’llhavetohangaboutupsidedownabit。Still，it’sthebestchanceyouhave。Weshan’tcarrypassengersmuchfartherthistrip，Ifancy。Ballastgoesover—board——ifwedon’twanttogroundprecioussoonandbetakenprisonersofwar。ThePrincewon’tdothatanyhow。He’llbegametothelast。"
　　4
　　Bymeansofafoldingchair，whichwasstillinitsplacebehindthedoor，theygottothewindowandlookedoutinturnandcontemplatedasparselywoodedcountrybelow，withnorailwaysnorroads，andonlyoccasionalsignsofhabitation。Thenabuglesounded，andKurtinterpreteditasasummonstofood。Theygotthroughthedoorandclamberedwithsomedifficultyupthenearlyverticalpassage，holdingondesperatelywithtoesandfinger—tips，totheventilatingperforationsinitsfloor。Themessstewardshadfoundtheirfirelessheatingarrangementsintact，andtherewashotcocoafortheofficersandhotsoupforthemen。
　　Bert’ssenseofthequeernessofthisexperiencewassokeenthatitblottedoutanyfearhemighthavefelt。Indeed，hewasfarmoreinterestednowthanafraid。Heseemedtohavetoucheddowntothebottomoffearandabandonmentovernight。Hewasgrowingaccustomedtotheideathathewouldprobablybekilledpresently，thatthisstrangevoyageintheairwasinallprobabilityhisdeathjourney。Nohumanbeingcankeeppermanentlyafraid:feargoesatlasttothebackofone’smind，accepted，andshelved，anddonewith。Hesquattedoverhissoup，soppingitupwithhisbread，andcontemplatedhiscomrades。
　　Theywereallratheryellowanddirty，withfour—daybeards，andtheygroupedthemselvesinthetired，unpremeditatedmannerofmenonawreck。Theytalkedlittle。Thesituationperplexedthembeyondanysuggestionofideas。Threehadbeenhurtinthepitchingupoftheshipduringthefight，andonehadabandagedbulletwound。Itwasincrediblethatthislittlebandofmenhadcommittedmurderandmassacreonascalebeyondprecedent。Noneofthemwhosquattedontheslopinggas—paddedpartition，soupmuginhand，seemedreallyguiltyofanythingofthesort，seemedreallycapableofhurtingadogwantonly。Theywereallsomanifestlybuiltforhomelychaletsonthesolidearthandcarefullytilledfieldsandblondwivesandcheerymerrymaking。
　　Thered—faced，sturdymanwithlighteyelasheswhohadbroughtthefirstnewsoftheairbattletothemen’smesshadfinishedhissoup，andwithanexpressionofmaternalsolicitudewasreadjustingthebandagesofayoungsterwhosearmhadbeensprained。
　　Bertwascrumblingthelastofhisbreadintothelastofhissoup，ekingitoutaslongaspossible，whensuddenlyhebecameawarethateveryonewaslookingatapairoffeetthatweredanglingacrossthedownturnedopendoorway。Kurtappearedandsquattedacrossthehinge。Insomemysteriouswayhehadshavedhisfaceandsmootheddownhislightgoldenhair。Helookedextraordinarilycherubic。"DerPrinz，"hesaid。
　　Asecondpairofbootsfollowed，makingwideandmagnificentgesturesintheirattemptstofeelthedoorframe。Kurtguidedthemtoafoothold，andthePrince，shavedandbrushedandbeeswaxedandcleanandbigandterrible，sliddownintopositionastrideofthedoor。AllthemenandBertalsostoodupandsaluted。
　　ThePrincesurveyedthemwiththegestureofamanwhositeasteed。TheheadoftheKapitanappearedbesidehim。
　　ThenBerthadaterriblemoment。TheblueblazeofthePrince’seyefelluponhim，thegreatfingerpointed，aquestionwasasked。Kurtintervenedwithexplanations。
　　"So，"saidthePrince，andBertwasdisposedof。
　　ThenthePrinceaddressedthemeninshort，heroicsentences，steadyinghimselfonthehingewithonehandandwavingtheotherinafinevarietyofgesture。WhathesaidBertcouldnottell，butheperceivedthattheirdemeanorchanged，theirbacksstiffened。TheybegantopunctuatethePrince’sdiscoursewithcriesofapproval。Attheendtheirleaderburstintosongandallthemenwithhim。"EinfesteBurgistunserGott，"theychantedindeep，strongtones，withanimmensemoraluplifting。
　　Itwasglaringlyinappropriateinadamaged，half—overturned，andsinkingairship，whichhadbeendisabledandblownoutofactionafterinflictingthecruellestbombardmentintheworld’shistory;butitwasimmenselystirringnevertheless。Bertwasdeeplymoved。HecouldnotsinganyofthewordsofLuther’sgreathymn，butheopenedhismouthandemittedloud，deep，andpartiallyharmoniousnotes……
　　Farbelow，thisdeepchantingstruckontheearsofalittlecampofChristianisedhalf—breedswhowerelumbering。Theywerebreakfasting，buttheyrushedoutcheerfully，quitepreparedfortheSecondAdvent。TheystaredattheshatteredandtwistedVaterlanddrivingbeforethegale，amazedbeyondwords。InsomanyrespectsitwasliketheirideaoftheSecondAdvent，andthenagaininsomanyrespects，itwasn’t。Theystaredatitspassage，awe—strickenandperplexedbeyondtheirpowerofwords。
　　Thehymnceased。Thenafteralongintervalavoicecameoutofheaven。"Vatiddissblaceheregalleditself;vat？"
　　Theymadenoanswer。Indeedtheydidnotunderstand，thoughthequestionrepeateditself。
　　Andatlastthemonsterdroveawaynorthwardoveracrestofpinewoodsandwasnomoreseen。Theyfellintoahotandlongdisputation……
　　Thehymnended。ThePrince’slegsdangledupthepassageagain，andeveryonewasbrisklypreparedforheroicexertionandtriumphantacts。"Smallways！"criedKurt，"comehere！"
　　5
　　ThenBertunderKurt’sdirection，hadhisfirstexperienceoftheworkofanair—sailor。
　　TheimmediatetaskbeforethecaptainoftheVaterlandwasaverysimpleone。Hehadtokeepafloat。Thewind，thoughithadfallenfromitsearlierviolence，wasstillblowingstronglyenoughtorenderthegroundingofsoclumsyamassextremelydangerous，evenifithadbeendesirableforthePrincetolandininhabitedcountry，andsoriskcapture。Itwasnecessarytokeeptheairshipupuntilthewindfellandthen，ifpossible，todescendinsomelonelydistrictoftheTerritorywheretherewouldbeachanceofrepairorrescuebysomesearchingconsort。
　　Inordertodothisweighthadtobedropped，andKurtwasdetailedwithadozenmentoclimbdownamongthewreckageofthedeflatedair—chambersandcutthestuffclear，portionbyportion，astheairshipsank。SoBert，armedwithasharpcutlass，foundhimselfclamberingaboutuponnettingfourthousandfeetupintheair，tryingtounderstandKurtwhenhespokeinEnglishandtodivinehimwhenheusedGerman。
　　Itwasgiddywork，butnotnearlysogiddyasaratherovernourishedreadersittinginawarmroommightimagine。Bertfounditquitepossibletolookdownandcontemplatethewildsub—arcticlandscapebelow，nowdevoidofanysignofhabitation，alandofrockycliffsandcascadesandbroadswirlingdesolaterivers，andoftreesandthicketsthatgrewmorestuntedandscrubbyasthedayworeon。Hereandthereonthehillswerepatchesandpocketsofsnow。Andoverallthisheworked，hackingawayatthetoughandslipperyoiledsilkandclingingstoutlytothenetting。Presentlytheyclearedanddroppedatangleofbentsteelrodsandwiresfromtheframe，andabigchunkofsilkbladder。Thatwastrying。Theairshipflewupatonceasthisloosehamperparted。ItseemedalmostasthoughtheyweredroppingallCanada。Thestuffspreadoutintheairandfloateddownandhitandtwistedupinanastyfashiononthelipofagorge。Bertclunglikeafrozenmonkeytohisropesanddidnotmoveamuscleforfiveminutes。
　　Buttherewassomethingveryexhilarating，hefound，inthisdangerouswork，andaboveeverythingelse，therewasthesenseoffellowship。Hewasnolongeranisolatedanddistrustfulstrangeramongtheseothers，hehadnowacommonobjectwiththem，heworkedwithafriendlyrivalrytogetthroughwithhissharebeforethem。AndhedevelopedagreatrespectandaffectionforKurt，whichhadhithertobeenonlylatentinhim。
　　Kurtwithajobtodirectwasaltogetheradmirable;hewasresourceful，helpful，considerate，swift。Heseemedtobeeverywhere。Oneforgothispinkness，hislightcheerfulnessofmanner。Directlyonehadtroublehewasathandwithsoundandconfidentadvice。Hewaslikeanelderbrothertohismen。
　　Alltogethertheyclearedthreeconsiderablechunksofwreckage，andthenBertwasgladtoclamberupintothecabinsagainandgiveplacetoasecondsquad。Heandhiscompanionsweregivenhotcoffee，andindeed，evenglovedastheywere，thejobhadbeenacoldone。Theysatdrinkingitandregardingeachotherwithsatisfaction。OnemanspoketoBertamiablyinGerman，andBertnoddedandsmiled。ThroughKurt，Bert，whoseankleswerealmostfrozen，succeededingettingapairoftop—bootsfromoneofthedisabledmen。
　　Intheafternoonthewindabatedgreatly，andsmall，infrequentsnowflakescamedriftingby。Snowalsospreadmoreabundantlybelow，andtheonlytreeswereclumpsofpineandspruceinthelowervalleys。Kurtwentwiththreemenintothestillintactgas—chambers，letoutacertainquantityofgasfromthem，andpreparedaseriesofrippingpanelsforthedescent。Alsotheresidueofthebombsandexplosivesinthemagazinewerethrownoverboardandfell，detonatingloudly，inthewildernessbelow。
　　Andaboutfouro’clockintheafternoonuponawideandrockyplainwithinsightofsnow—crestedcliffs，theVaterlandrippedandgrounded。
　　Itwasnecessarilyadifficultandviolentaffair，fortheVaterlandhadnotbeenplannedforthenecessitiesofaballoon。
　　Thecaptaingotonepanelrippedtoosoonandtheothersnotsoonenough。Shedroppedheavily，bouncedclumsily，andsmashedthehanginggalleryintothefore—part，mortallyinjuringVonWinterfeld，andthencamedowninacollapsingheapafterdraggingforsomemoments。Theforwardshieldanditsmachineguntumbledinuponthethingsbelow。Twomenwerehurtbadly——
　　onegotabrokenlegandonewasinternallyinjured——byflyingrodsandwires，andBertwaspinnedforatimeundertheside。
　　Whenatlasthegotclearandcouldtakeaviewofthesituation，thegreatblackeaglethathadstartedsosplendidlyfromFranconiasixeveningsago，sprawleddeflatedoverthecabinsoftheairshipandthefrost—bittenrocksofthisdesolateplaceandlookedamostunfortunatebird——asthoughsomeonehadcaughtitandwrungitsneckandcastitaside。Severalofthecrewoftheairshipwerestandingaboutinsilence，contemplatingthewreckageandtheemptywildernessintowhichtheyhadfallen。
　　Otherswerebusyundertheimromptutentmadebytheemptygas—chambers。ThePrincehadgonealittlewayoffandwasscrutinisingthedistantheightsthroughhisfield—glass。Theyhadtheappearanceofoldseacliffs;hereandthereweresmallclumpsofconifers，andintwoplacestallcascades。ThenearergroundwasstrewnwithglaciatedbouldersandsupportednothingbutastuntedAlpinevegetationofcompactclusteringstemsandstalklessflowers。Noriverwasvisible，buttheairwasfulloftherushandbabbleofatorrentcloseathand。Ableakandbitingwindwasblowing。Everandagainasnowflakedriftedpast。ThespringlessfrozenearthunderBert’sfeetfeltstrangelydeadandheavyafterthebuoyantairship。
　　6
　　SoitcameaboutthatthatgreatandpowerfulPrinceKarlAlbertwasforatimethrustoutofthestupendousconflicthechieflyhadbeeninstrumentalinprovoking。ThechancesofbattleandtheweatherconspiredtomaroonhiminLabrador，andthereheragedforsixlongdays，whilewarandwonderswepttheworld。
　　Nationroseagainstnationandair—fleetgrappledair—fleet，citiesblazedandmendiedinmultitudes;butinLabradoronemighthavedreamtthat，exceptforalittlenoiseofhammering，theworldwasatpeace。
　　Theretheencampmentlay;fromadistancethecabins，hoveredoverwiththesilkoftheballoonpart，lookedlikeagipsy’stentonaratherexceptionalscale，andalltheavailablehandswerebusyinbuildingoutofthesteeloftheframeworkamastfromwhichtheVaterland’selectriciansmighthangthelongconductorsoftheapparatusforwirelesstelegraphythatwastolinkthePrincetotheworldagain。Thereweretimeswhenitseemedtheywouldneverrigthatmast。Fromtheoutsetthepartysufferedhardship。Theywerenottooabundantlyprovisioned，andtheywereputonshortrations，andforallthethickgarmentstheyhad，theywerebutill—equippedagainstthepiercingwindandinhospitableviolenceofthiswilderness。Thefirstnightwasspentindarknessandwithoutfires。Theenginesthathadsuppliedpowerweresmashedanddroppedfarawaytothesouth，andtherewasneveramatchamongthecompany。Ithadbeendeathtocarrymatches。Alltheexplosiveshadbeenthrownoutofthemagazine，anditwasonlytowardsmorningthatthebird—facedmanwhosecabinBerthadtakeninthebeginningconfessedtoabraceofduellingpistolsandcartridges，withwhichafirecouldbestarted。Afterwardsthelockersofthemachinegunwerefoundtocontainasupplyofunusedammunition。
　　Thenightwasadistressingoneandseemedalmostinterminable。
　　Hardlyanyoneslept。Thereweresevenwoundedmenaboard，andVonWinterfeld’sheadhadbeeninjured，andhewasshiveringandindelirium，strugglingwithhisattendantandshoutingstrangethingsabouttheburningofNewYork。Themencrepttogetherinthemess—roominthedarkling，wrappedinwhattheycouldfindanddrankcocoafromthefirelessheatersandlistenedtohiscries。InthemorningthePrincemadethemaspeechaboutDestiny，andtheGodofhisFathersandthepleasureandgloryofgivingone’slifeforhisdynasty，andanumberofsimilarconsiderationsthatmightotherwisehavebeenneglectedinthatbleakwilderness。Themencheeredwithoutenthusiasm，andfarawayawolfhowled。
　　Thentheysettowork，andforaweektheytoiledtoputupamastofsteel，andhangfromitagridironofcopperwirestwohundredfeetbytwelve。Thethemeofallthattimewaswork，workcontinually，strainingandtoilsomework，andalltherestwasgrimhardshipandevilchances，saveforacertainwildsplendourinthesunsetandsunriseinthetorrentsanddriftingweather，inthewildernessaboutthem。Theybuiltandtendedaringofperpetualfires，gangsroamedforbrushwoodandmetwithwolves，andthewoundedmenandtheirbedswerebroughtoutfromtheairshipcabins，andputinsheltersaboutthefires。ThereoldVonWinterfeldravedandbecamequietandpresentlydied，andthreeoftheotherwoundedsickenedforwantofgoodfood，whiletheirfellowsmended。Thesethingshappened，asitwere，inthewings;thecentralfactsbeforeBert’sconsciousnesswerealwaysfirstlytheperpetualtoil，theholdingandlifting，andluggingatheavyandclumsymasses，thetediousfilingandwindingofwires，andsecondly，thePrince，urgentandthreateningwheneveramanrelaxed。Hewouldstandoverthem，andpointovertheirheads，southwardintotheemptysky。"Theworldthere，"hesaidinGerman，"iswaitingforus！FiftyCenturiescometotheirConsummation。"Bertdidnotunderstandthewords，buthereadthegesture。SeveraltimesthePrincegrewangry;oncewithamanwhowasworkingslowly，oncewithamanwhostoleacomrade’sration。Thefirsthescoldedandsettoamoretedioustask;thesecondhestruckinthefaceandill—used。Hedidnoworkhimself。Therewasaclearspacenearthefiresinwhichhewouldwalkupanddown，sometimesfortwohourstogether，witharmsfolded，mutteringtohimselfofPatienceandhisdestiny。
　　Attimesthesemutteringsbrokeoutintorhetoric，intoshoutsandgesturesthatwouldarresttheworkers;theywouldstareathimuntiltheyperceivedthathisblueeyesglaredandhiswavinghandaddresseditselfalwaystothesouthwardhills。OnSundaytheworkceasedforhalfanhour，andthePrincepreachedonfaithandGod’sfriendshipforDavid，andafterwardstheyallsang:"EinfesteBurgistunserGott。"
　　InanimprovisedhovellayVonWinterfeld，andallonemorningheravedofthegreatnessofGermany。"BlutundEisen！"heshouted，andthen，asifinderision，"Welt—Politik——ha，ha！"Thenhewouldexplaincomplicatedquestionsofpolitytoimaginaryhearers，inlow，wilytones。Theothersickmenkeptstill，listeningtohim。Bert’sdistractedattentionwouldberecalledbyKurt。"Smallways，takethatend。So！"
　　Slowly，tediously，thegreatmastwasriggedandhoistedfootbyfootintoplace。Theelectricianshadcontrivedacatchmentpoolandawheelinthetorrentcloseathand——forthelittleMulhausendynamowithitsturbinalvoluteusedbythetelegraphistswasquiteadaptabletowaterdriving，andonthesixthdayintheeveningtheapparatuswasinworkingorderandthePrincewascalling——weakly，indeed，butcalling——tohisair—fleetacrosstheemptyspacesoftheworld。Foratimehecalledunheeded。
　　TheeffectofthateveningwastolingerlonginBert’smemory。
　　Aredfiresplutteredandblazedclosebytheelectriciansattheirwork，andredgleamsxanuptheverticalsteelmastandthreadsofcopperwiretowardsthezenith。ThePrincesatonarockcloseby，withhischinonhishand，waiting。BeyondandtothenorthwardwasthecairnthatcoveredVonWinterfeld，surmountedbyacrossofsteel，andfromamongthetumbledrocksinthedistancetheeyesofawolfgleamedredly。Ontheotherhandwasthewreckageofthegreatairshipandthemenbivouackedaboutasecondruddyflare。Theywereallkeepingverystill，asifwaitingtohearwhatnewsmightpresentlybegiventhem。Faraway，acrossmanyhundredsofmilesofdesolation，otherwirelessmastswouldbeclicking，andsnapping，andwakingintoresponsivevibration。Perhapstheywerenot。Perhapsthosethrobsupontheetherz。wastedthemselvesuponaregardlessworld。Whenthemenspoke，theyspokeinlowtones。Nowandthenabirdshriekedremotely，andonceawolfhowled。Allthesethingsweresetintheimmensecoldspaciousnessofthewild。
　　7
　　Bertgotthenewslast，andchieflyinbrokenEnglish，fromalinguistamonghismates。Itwasonlyfaroninthenightthatthewearytelegraphistgotananswertohiscalls，butthenthemessagescameclearandstrong。Andsuchnewsitwas！
　　"Isay，"saidBertathisbreakfast，amidstagreatclamour，"tellusabit。"
　　"Alldevorltisatvor！"saidthelinguist，wavinghiscocoainanillustrativemanner，"alldevorltisatvor！"
　　Bertstaredsouthwardintothedawn。Itdidnotseemso。
　　"Alldevorltisatvor！Theyhafburn’Berlin;theyhafburn’
　　London;theyhafburn’HamburgandParis。ChapanhassburnSanFrancisco。WehafmateacampatNiagara。Datiswhadtheyaretellingus。Chinahascotdrachenfliegerandluftschiffebeyontcounting。Alldevorltisatvor！"
　　"GawI"saidBert。
　　"Yess，"saidthelinguist，drinkinghiscocoa。
　　"BurntupLondon，’avethey？LikewedidNewYork？"
　　"Itwassabombardment。"
　　"Theydon’tsayanythingaboutaplacecalledClapham，orBunHill，dothey？"
　　"Ihafheardnoding，"saidthelinguist。
　　ThatwasallBertcouldgetforatime。Buttheexcitementofallthemenabouthimwascontagious，andpresentlyhesawKurtstandingalone，handsbehindhim，andlookingatoneofthedistantwaterfallsverysteadfastly。Hewentupandsaluted，soldier—fashion。"Begpardon，lieutenant，"hesaid。
　　Kurtturnedhisface。Itwasunusuallygravethatmorning。"I
　　wasjustthinkingIwouldliketoseethatwaterfallcloser，"hesaid。"Itremindsme——whatdoyouwant？"
　　"Ican’tmake’eadortailofwhatthey’resaying，sir。Wouldyoumindtellingmethenews？"
　　"Damnthenews，"saidKurt。"You’llgetnewsenoughbeforetheday’sout。It’stheendoftheworld。They’resendingtheGrafZeppelinforus。She’llbeherebythemorning，andweoughttobeatNiagara——oreternalsmash——withineightandfortyhours……
　　Iwanttolookatthatwaterfall。You’dbettercomewithme。
　　Haveyouhadyourrations？"
　　"Yessir。"
　　"Verywell。Come。"
　　Andmusingprofoundly，Kurtledthewayacrosstherockstowardsthedistantwaterfall。
　　ForatimeBertwalkedbehindhiminthecharacterofanescort;
　　thenastheypassedoutoftheatmosphereoftheencampment，Kurtlaggedforhimtocomealongside。
　　"Weshallbebackinitallintwodays’time，"hesaid。"Andit’sadevilofawartogobackto。That’sthenews。Theworld’sgonemad。OurfleetbeattheAmericansthenightwegotdisabled，that’sclear。Welosteleven——elevenairshipscertain，andalltheiraeroplanesgotsmashed。Godknowshowmuchwesmashedorhowmanywekilled。Butthatwasonlythebeginning。
　　Ourstart’sbeenlikefiringamagazine。Everycountrywashidingflying—machines。They’refightingintheairalloverEurope——allovertheworld。TheJapaneseandChinesehavejoinedin。That’sthegreatfact。That’sthesupremefact。They’vepouncedintoourlittlequarrels……TheYellowPerilwasaperilafterall！They’vegotthousandsofairships。They’reallovertheworld。WebombardedLondonandParis，andnowtheFrenchandEnglishhavesmashedupBerlin。AndnowAsiaisatusall，andonthetopofusall……It’smania。Chinaonthetop。Andtheydon’tknowwheretostop。It’slimitless。It’sthelastconfusion。They’rebombardingcapitals，smashingupdockyardsandfactories，minesandfleets。"
　　"DidtheydomuchtoLondon，sir？"askedBert。
　　"Heavenknows……"
　　Hesaidnomoreforatime。
　　"ThisLabradorseemsaquietplace，"heresumedatlast。"I’mhalfamindtostayhere。Can’tdothat。No！I’vegottoseeitthrough。I’vegottoseeitthrough。You’vegotto，too。
　　Everyone……Butwhy？……Itellyou——ourworld’sgonetopieces。
　　There’snowayoutofit，nowayback。Hereweare！We’relikemicecaughtinahouseonfire，we’relikecattleovertakenbyaflood。Presentlyweshallbepickedup，andbackweshallgointothefighting。Weshallkillandsmashagain——perhaps。It’saChino—Japaneseair—fleetthistime，andtheoddsareagainstus。Ourturnswillcome。WhatwillhappentoyouIdon’tknow，butformyself，Iknowquitewell;Ishallbekilled。"
　　"You’llbeallright，"saidBert，afteraqueerpause。
　　"No！"saidKurt，"I’mgoingtobekilled。Ididn’tknow，itbefore，butthismorning，atdawn，Iknewit—asthoughI’dbeentold。"
　　"’Ow？"
　　"ItellyouIknow。"
　　"But’owCOULDyouknow？"
　　"Iknow。"
　　"Likebeingtold？"
　　"Likebeingcertain。
　　"Iknow，"herepeated，andforatimetheywalkedinsilencetowardsthewaterfall。
　　Kurt，wrappedinhisthoughts，walkedheedlessly，andatlastbrokeoutagain。"I’vealwaysfeltyoungbefore，Smallways，butthismorningIfeelold——old。Soold！Nearertodeaththanoldmenfeel。AndI’vealways。thoughtlifewasalark。Itisn’t……
　　Thissortofthinghasalwaysbeenhappening，Isuppose——thesethings，warsandearthquakes，thatsweepacrossallthedecencyoflife。It’sjustasthoughIhadwokeuptoitallforthefirsttime。EverynightsincewewereatNewYorkI’vedreamtofit……Andit’salwaysbeenso——it’sthewayoflife。Peoplearetornawayfromthepeopletheycarefor;homesaresmashed，creaturesfulloflife，andmemories，andlittlepeculiargiftsarescaldedandsmashed，andtorntopieces，andstarved，andspoilt。London！Berlin！SanFrancisco！ThinkofallthehumanhistoriesweendedinNewYork！……Andtheothersgoonagainasthoughsuchthingsweren’tpossible。AsIwenton！Likeanimals！
　　Justlikeanimals。"
　　Hesaidnothingforalongtime，andthenhedroppedout，"ThePrinceisalunatic！"
　　Theycametoaplacewheretheyhadtoclimb，andthentoalongpeatlevelbesiderivulet。ThereaquantityofdelicatelittlepinkflowerscaughtBert’seye。"Gaw！"hesaid，andstoopedtopickone。"Inaplacelikethis。"
　　Kurtstoppedandhalfturned。Hisfacewinced。
　　"Ineverseesuchaflower，"saidBert。"It’ssodelicate。"
　　"Picksomemoreifyouwantto，"saidKurt。
　　Bertdidso，whileKurtstoodandwatchedhim。
　　"Funny’owonealwayswantstopickflowers，"saidBert。
　　Kurthadnothingtoaddtothat。
　　Theywentonagain，withouttalking，foralongtime。
　　Atlasttheycametoarockyhummock，fromwhichtheviewofthewaterfallopenedout。ThereKurtstoppedandseatedhimselfonarock。
　　"That’sasmuchasIwantedtosee，"heexplained。"Itisn’tverylike，butit’slikeenough。"
　　"Likewhat？"
　　"AnotherwaterfallIknew。"
　　Heaskedaquestionabruptly。"Gotagirl，Smallways？"
　　"Funnything，"saidBert，"thoseflowers，Isuppose。——Iwasjes’
　　thinkingof’er。"
　　"SowasI。"
　　"WHAT！Edna？"
　　"No。IwasthinkingofMYEdna。We’veallgotEdnas，Isuppose，forourimaginationstoplayabout。Thiswasagirl。Butallthat’spastforever。It’shardtothinkIcan’tseeherjustforaminute——justletherknowI’mthinkingofher。"
　　"Verylikely，"saidBert，"you’llsee’erallright。"
　　"No，"saidKurtwithdecision，"IKNOW。"
　　"Imether，"hewenton，"inaplacelikethis——intheAlps——EngstlenAlp。There’sawaterfallratherlikethisone——abroadwaterfalldowntowardsInnertkirchen。That’swhyIcameherethismorning。Weslippedawayandhadhalfadaytogetherbesideit。Andwepickedflowers。Justsuchflowersasyoupicked。ThesameforallIknow。Andgentian。"
　　"Iknow"saidBert，"meandEdna——wedonethingslikethat。
　　Flowers。Andallthat。Seemsyearsoffnow。"
　　"Shewasbeautifulanddaringandshy，MeinGott！IcanhardlyholdmyselfforthedesiretoseeherandhearhervoiceagainbeforeIdie。Whereisshe？……Lookhere，Smallways，Ishallwriteasortofletter——Andthere’sherportrait。"Hetouchedhisbreastpocket。
　　"You’llsee’eragainallright，"saidBert。