BertsawnothingthenofthesecondfleetoftheAsiatics，thoughprobablythatwascomingintosightoftheGermansatthetime，inthenorth—west。
　　Theairwasverystill，theskyalmostwithoutacloud，andtheGermanfleethadrisentoanimmenseheight，sothattheairshipsseemednolongerofanyconsiderablesize。Bothendsoftheircrescentshowedplainly。AstheybeatsouthwardtheypassedslowlybetweenBertandthesunlight，andbecameblackoutlinesofthemselves。ThedrachenfliegerappearedaslittleflecksofblackoneitherwingofthisaerialArmada。
　　Thetwofleetsseemedinnohurrytoengage。TheAsiaticswentfarawayintotheeast，quickeningtheirpaceandrisingastheydidso，andthentailedoutintoalongcolumnandcameflyingback，risingtowardstheGermanleft。Thesquadronsofthelattercameabout，facingthisobliqueadvance，andsuddenlylittleflickeringsandafaintcrepitatingsoundtoldthattheyhadopenedfire。Foratimenoeffectwasvisibletothewatcheronthebridge。Then，likeahandfulofsnowflakes，thedrachenfliegerswoopedtotheattack，andamultitudeofredspeckswhirleduptomeetthem。ItwastoBert’ssensenotonlyenormouslyremotebutsingularlyinhuman。Notfourhourssincehehadbeenononeofthoseveryairships，andyettheyseemedtohimnownotgas—bagscarryingmen，butstrangesentientcreaturesthatmovedaboutanddidthingswithapurposeoftheirown。TheflightoftheAsiaticandGermanflying—machinesjoinedanddroppedearthward，becamelikeahandfulofwhiteandredrosepetalsflungfromadistantwindow，grewlarger，untilBertcouldseetheoverturnedonesspinningthroughtheair，andwerehiddenbygreatvolumesofdarksmokethatwererisinginthedirectionofBuffalo。Foratimetheyallwerehidden，thentwoorthreewhiteandanumberofredones。roseagainintothesky，likeaswarmofbigbutterflies，andcircledfightinganddroveawayoutofsightagaintowardstheeast。
　　AheavyreportrecalledBert’seyestothezenith，andbehold，thegreatcrescenthadlostitsdressingandburstintoadisorderlylongcloudofairships！Onehaddroppedhalfwaydownthesky。Itwasflamingforeandaft，andevenasBertlookeditturnedoverandfell，spinningoverandoveritselfandvanishedintothesmokeofBuffalo。
　　Bert’smouthopenedandshut，andheclutchedtighterontherailofthebridge。Forsomemoments——theyseemedlongmoments——thetwofleetsremainedwithoutanyfurtherchangeflyingobliquelytowardseachother，andmakingwhatcametoBert’searsasamidgetuproar。Thensuddenlyfromeithersideairshipsbegandroppingoutofalignment，smittenbymissileshecouldneitherseenortrace。ThestringofAsiaticshipsswungroundandeitherchargedintoorover（itwasdifficulttosayfrombelow）
　　theshatteredlineoftheGermans，whoseemedtoopenouttogivewaytothem。Somesortofmanoeuvringbegan，butBertcouldnotgraspitsimport。Theleftofthebattlebecameaconfuseddanceofairships。Forsomeminutesuptherethetwocrossinglinesofshipslookedsocloseitseemedlikeahand—to—handscuffleinthesky。Thentheybrokeupintogroupsandduels。ThedescentofGermanair—shipstowardsthelowerskyincreased。Oneofthemflareddownandvanishedfarawayinthenorth;twodroppedwithsomethingtwistedandcrippledintheirmovements;thenagroupofantagonistscamedownfromthezenithinaneddyingconflict，twoAsiaticsagainstoneGerman，andwerepresentlyjoinedbyanother，anddroveawayeastwardalltogetherwithothersdroppingoutoftheGermanlinetojointhem。
　　OneAsiaticeitherrammedorcollidedwithastillmoregiganticGerman，andthetwowentspinningtodestructiontogether。ThenorthernsquadronofAsiaticscameintothebattleunnotedbyBert，exceptthatthemultitudeofshipsaboveseemedpresentlyincreased。Inalittlewhilethefightwasutterconfusion，driftingonthewholetothesouthwestagainstthewind。Itbecamemoreandmoreaseriesofgroupencounters。HereahugeGermanairshipflamedearthwardwithadozenflatAsiaticcraftabouther，crushinghereveryattempttorecover。Hereanotherhungwithitsscrewfightingofftheswordsmanfromaswarmofflying—machines。Here，again，anAsiaticaflameateitherendswoopedoutofthebattle。Hisattentionwentfromincidenttoincidentinthevastclearnessoverhead;theseconspicuouscasesofdestructioncaughtandheldhismind;itwasonlyveryslowlythatanysortofschememanifesteditselfbetweenthosenearer，morestrikingepisodes。
　　Themassoftheairshipsthateddiedremotelyabovewas，however，neitherdestroyingnordestroyed。Themajorityofthemseemedtobegoingatfullspeedandcirclingupwardforposition，exchangingineffectualshotsastheydidso。Verylittlerammingwasessayedafterthefirsttragicdownfalloframmerandrammed，andwhateverattemptsatboardingweremadewereinvisibletoBert。Thereseemed，however，asteadyattempttoisolateantagonists，tocutthemofffromtheirfellowsandbearthemdown，causingaperpetualsailingbackandinterlacingoftheseshoalingbulks。ThegreaternumbersoftheAsiaticsandtheirswifterheelingmovementsgavethemtheeffectofpersistentlyattackingtheGermans。Overhead，andevidentlyendeavouringtokeepitselfintouchwiththeworksofNiagara，abodyofGermanairshipsdrewitselftogetherintoacompactphalanx，andtheAsiaticsbecamemoreandmoreintentuponbreakingthisup。Hewasgrotesquelyremindedoffishinafish—pondstrugglingforcrumbs。Hecouldseepunypuffsofsmokeandtheflashofbombs，butneverasoundcamedowntohim……
　　AflappingshadowpassedforamomentbetweenBertandthesunandwasfollowedbyanother。Awhirringofengines，click，clock，clitterclock，smoteuponhisears。Instantlyheforgotthezenith。
　　Perhapsahundredyardsabovethewater，outofthesouth，ridinglikeValkyriesswiftlythroughtheaironthestrangesteedstheengineeringofEuropehadbegottenupontheartisticinspirationofJapan，camealongstringofAsiaticswordsman。Thewingsflappedjerkily，click，block，clitterclock，andthemachinesdroveup;theyspreadandceased，andtheapparatuscamesoaringthroughtheair。Sotheyroseandfellandroseagain。TheypassedsocloselyoverheadthatBertcouldheartheirvoicescallingtooneanother。TheyswoopedtowardsNiagaracityandlandedoneafteranotherinalonglineinaclearspacebeforethehotel。Buthedidnotstaytowatchthemland。Oneyellowfacehadcranedoverandlookedathim，andforoneenigmaticalinstantmethiseyes……
　　ItwasthentheideacametoBertthathewasaltogethertooconspicuousinthemiddleofthebridge，andthathetooktohisheelstowardsGoatIsland。Thence，dodgingaboutamongthetrees，withperhapsanexcessiveself—consciousness，hewatchedtherestofthestruggle。
　　5
　　WhenBert’ssenseofsecuritywassufficientlyrestoredforhimtowatchthebattleagain，heperceivedthatabrisklittlefightwasinprogressbetweentheAsiaticaeronautsandtheGermanengineersforthepossessionofNiagaracity。Itwasthefirsttimeinthewholecourseofthewarthathehadseenanythingresemblingfightingashehadstudieditintheillustratedpapersofhisyouth。Itseemedtohimalmostasthoughthingswerecomingright。Hesawmencarryingriflesandtakingcoverandrunningbrisklyfrompointtopointinalooseattackingformation。Thefirstbatchofaeronautshadprobablybeenundertheimpressionthatthecitywasdeserted。TheyhadgroundedintheopennearProspectParkandapproachedthehousestowardsthepower—worksbeforetheyweredisillusionedbyasuddenfire。
　　Theyhadscatteredbacktothecoverofabanknearthewater——itwastoofarforthemtoreachtheirmachinesagain;theywerelyingandfiringatthemeninthehotelsandframe—housesaboutthepower—works。
　　Thentotheirsupportcameasecondstringofredflying—machinesdrivingupfromtheeast。Theyroseupoutofthehazeabovethehousesandcameroundinalongcurveasifsurveyingthepositionbelow。ThefireoftheGermansrosetoaroar，andoneofthosesoaringshapesgaveanabruptjerkbackwardandfellamongthehouses。Theothersswoopeddownexactlylikegreatbirdsupontheroofofthepower—house。Theycaughtuponit，andfromeachspranganimblelittlefigureandrantowardstheparapet。
　　Otherflappingbird—shapescameintothisaffair，butBerthadnotseentheircoming。Astaccatoofshotscameovertohim，remindinghimofarmymanoeuvres，ofnewspaperdescriptionsoffights，ofallthatwasentirelycorrectinhisconceptionofwarfare。HesawquiteanumberofGermansrunningfromtheoutlyinghousestowardsthepower—house。Twofell。Onelaystill，buttheotherwriggledandmadeeffortsforatime。Thehotelthatwasusedasahospital，andtowhichhehadhelpedcarrythewoundedmenfromtheZeppelinearlierintheday，suddenlyranuptheGenevaflag。ThetownthathadseemedsoquiethadevidentlybeenconcealingaconsiderablenumberofGermans，andtheywerenowconcentratingtoholdthecentralpower—house。Hewonderedwhatammunitiontheymighthave。MoreandmoreoftheAsiaticflying—machinescameintotheconflict。
　　TheyhaddisposedoftheunfortunateGermandrachenfliegerandwerenowaimingattheincipientaeronauticpark，——theelectricgasgeneratorsandrepairstationswhichformedtheGermanbase。
　　Some，landed，andtheiraeronautstookcoverandbecameenergeticinfantrysoldiers。Othershoveredabovethefight，theirmeneverandagainfiringshotsdownatsomechanceexposurebelow。
　　Thefiringcameinparoxysms;nowtherewouldbeawatchfullullandnowarapidtattooofshots，risingtoaroar。Onceortwiceflyingmachines，astheycircledwarily，camerightoverhead，andforatimeBertgavehimselfbodyandsoultocowering。
　　Everandagainalargerthundermingledwiththerattleandremindedhimofthegrappleofairshipsfarabove，butthenearerfightheldhisattention。
　　Abruptlysomethingdroppedfromthezenith;somethinglikeabarrelorahugefootball。
　　CRASH！Itsmashedwithanimmensereport。IthadfallenamongthegroundedAsiaticaeroplanesthatlayamongtheturfandflower—bedsneartheriver。Theyflewinscrapsandfragments，turf，trees，andgravelleaptandfell;theaeronautsstilllyingalongthecanalbankwerethrownaboutlikesacks，catspawsflewacrossthefoamingwater。Allthewindowsofthehotelhospitalthathadbeenshininglyreflectingblueskyandairshipsthemomentbeforebecamevastblackstars。Bang！——asecondfollowed。
　　Bertlookedupandwasfilledwithasenseofanumberofmonstrousbodiesswoopingdown，comingdownonthewholeaffairlikeaflightofbellyingblankets，likeastringofvastdish—covers。Thecentraltangleofthebattleabovewascirclingdownasiftocomeintotouchwiththepower—housefight。Hegotaneweffectofairshipsaltogether，asvastthingscomingdownuponhim，growingswiftlylargerandlargerandmoreoverwhelming，untilthehousesoverthewayseemedsmall，theAmericanrapidsnarrow，thebridgeflimsy，thecombatantsinfinitesimal。Astheycamedowntheybecameaudibleasacomplexofshootingsandvastcreakingsandgroaningsandbeatingsandthrobbingsandshoutsandshots。Thefore—shortenedblackeaglesatthefore—endsoftheGermanshadaneffectofactualcombatofflyingfeathers。
　　Someofthesefightingairshipscamewithinfivehundredfeetoftheground。BertcouldseemenonthelowergalleriesoftheGermans，firingrifles;couldseeAsiaticsclingingtotheropes;
　　sawonemaninaluminiumdiver’sgearfallflashinghead—longintothewatersaboveGoatIsland。ForthefirsttimehesawtheAsiaticairshipsclosely。Fromthisaspecttheyremindedhimmorethananythingelseofcolossalsnowshoes;theyhadacuriouspatterninginblackandwhite，informsthatremindedhimoftheengine—turnedcoverofawatch。Theyhadnohanginggalleries，butfromlittleopeningsonthemiddlelinepeepedoutmenandthemuzzlesofguns。So，drivinginlong，descendingandascendingcurves，thesemonsterswrestledandfought。Itwaslikecloudsfighting，likepuddingstryingtoassassinateeachother。Theywhirledandcircledabouteachother，andforatimethrewGoatIslandandNiagaraintoasmokytwilight，throughwhichthesunlightsmoteinshaftsandbeams。Theyspreadandclosedandspreadandgrappledanddroveroundovertherapids，andtwomilesawayormoreintoCanada，andbackovertheFallsagain。AGermancaughtfire，andthewholecrowdbrokeawayfromherflareandroseaboutherdispersing，leavinghertodroptowardsCanadaandblowupasshedropped。Thenwithreneweduproartheothersclosedagain。OncefromthemeninNiagaracitycameasoundlikeanant—hillcheering。AnotherGermanburnt，andonebadlydeflatedbytheprowofanantagonist，floppedoutofactionsouthward。
　　ItbecamemoreandmoreevidentthattheGermansweregettingtheworstoftheunequalfight。Moreandmoreobviouslyweretheybeingpersecuted。Lessandlessdidtheyseemtofightwithanyobjectotherthanescape。TheAsiaticssweptbythemandabovethem，rippedtheirbladders，setthemalight，pickedofftheirdimlyseenmenindivingclothes，whostruggledagainstfireandtearwithfireextinguishersandsilkribbonsintheinnernetting。Theyansweredonlywithineffectualshots。ThencethebattlecircledbackoverNiagara，andthensuddenlytheGermans，asifatapreconcertedsignal，brokeanddispersed，goingeast，west，north，andsouth，inopenandconfusedflight。TheAsiatics，astheyrealisedthis，rosetoflyabovethemandafterthem。OnlyonelittleknotoffourGermansandperhapsadozenAsiaticsremainedfightingabouttheHohenzollernandthePrinceashecircledinalastattempttosaveNiagara。
　　RoundtheyswoopedonceagainovertheCanadianFall，overthewasteofwaterseastward，untiltheyweredistantandsmall，andthenroundandback，hurrying，bounding，swoopingtowardstheonegapingspectator。
　　Thewholestrugglingmassapproachedveryswiftly，growingrapidlylarger，andcomingoutblackandfeaturelessagainsttheafternoonsunandabovetheblindingwelteroftheUpperRapids。
　　Itgrewlikeastormclouduntiloncemoreitdarkenedthesky。
　　TheflatAsiaticairshipskepthighabovetheGermansandbehindthem，andfiredunansweredbulletsintotheirgas—chambersandupontheirflanks——theone—manflying—machineshoveredandalightedlikeaswarmofattackingbees。Nearertheycame，andnearer，fillingthelowerheaven。TwooftheGermansswoopedandroseagain，buttheHohenzollernhadsufferedtoomuchforthat。
　　Sheliftedweakly，turnedsharplyasiftogetoutofthebattle，burstintoflamesforeandaft，sweptdowntothewater，splashedintoitobliquely，androlledoverandoverandcamedownstreamrollingandsmashingandwrithinglikeathingalive，haltingandthencomingonagain，withhertornandbentpropellerstillbeatingtheair。Theburstingflamessplutteredoutagainincloudsofsteam。Itwasadisastergiganticinitsdimensions。
　　Shelayacrosstherapidslikeanisland，liketallcliffs，tallcliffsthatcamerolling，smoking，andcrumpling，andcollapsing，advancingwithasortoffluctuatingrapidityuponBert。OneAsiaticairship——itlookedtoBertfrombelowlikethreehundredyardsofpavement——whirledbackandcircledtwoorthreetimesoverthatgreatoverthrow，andhalfadozencrimsonflying—machinesdancedforamomentlikegreatmidgesinthesunlightbeforetheysweptonaftertheirfellows。Therestofthefighthadalreadygoneovertheisland，awildcrescendoofshotsandyellsandsmashinguproar。ItwashiddenfromBertnowbythetreesoftheisland，andforgottenbyhiminthenearerspectacleofthehugeadvanceofthedefeatedGermanairship。
　　Somethingfellwithamightysmashingandsplinteringofboughsunheededbehindhim。
　　ItseemedforatimethattheHohenzollernmustneedsbreakherbackuponthePartingoftheWaters，andthenforatimeherpropellerfloppedandfrothedintheriverandthrustthemassofbuckling，crumpledwreckagetowardstheAmericanshore。ThenthesweepofthetorrentthatfoameddowntotheAmericanFallcaughther，andinanotherminutetheimmensemassofdeflatingwreckage，withflamesspurtingoutinthreenewplaces，hadcrashedagainstthebridgethatjoinedGoatIslandandNiagaracity，andforcedalongarm，asitwere，inaheavingtangleunderthecentralspan。Thenthemiddlechambersblewupwithaloudreport，andinanothermomentthebridgehadgivenwayandthemainbulkoftheairship，likesomegrotesquecrippleinrags，staggered，flappingandwavingflambeauxtothecrestoftheFallandhesitatedthereandvanishedinadesperatesuicidalleap。
　　Itsdetachedfore—endremainedjammedagainstthatlittleisland，GreenIslanditusedtobecalled，whichformsthestepping—stonebetweenthemainlandandGoatIsland’spatchoftrees。
　　BertfollowedthisdisasterfromthePartingoftheWaterstothebridgehead。Then，regardlessofcover，regardlessoftheAsiaticairshiphoveringlikeahugehouseroofwithoutwallsabovetheSuspensionBridge，hesprintedalongtowardsthenorthandcameoutforthefirsttimeuponthatrockypointbyLunaIslandthatlookssheerdownupontheAmericanFall。Therehestoodbreathlessamidstthateternalrushofsound，breathlessandstaring。
　　Farbelow，andtravellingrapidlydownthegorge，whirledsomethinglikeahugeemptysack。Forhimitmeant——whatdiditnotmean？——theGermanair—fleet，Kurt，thePrince，Europe，allthingsstableandfamiliar，theforcesthathadbroughthim，theforcesthathadseemedindisputablyvictorious。AnditwentdowntherapidslikeanemptysackandleftthevisibleworldtoAsia，toyellowpeoplebeyondChristendom，toallthatwasterribleandstrange！
　　RemoteoverCanadarecededtherestofthatconflictandvanishedbeyondtherangeofhisvision……
　　CHAPTERIX
　　ONGOATISLAND
　　1
　　ThewhackofabulletontherocksbesidehimremindedhimthathewasavisibleobjectandwearingatleastportionsofaGermanuniform。Itdrovehimintothetreesagain，andforatimehedodgedanddroppedandsoughtcoverlikeachickhidingamongreedsfromimaginaryhawks。
　　"Beaten，"hewhispered。"Beatenanddonefor……Chinese！Yellowchapschasing’em！"
　　Atlasthecametorestinaclumpofbushesnearalocked—upanddesertedrefreshmentshedwithinviewoftheAmericanside。Theymadeasortofholeandharbourforhim;theymetcompletelyoverhead。Helookedacrosstherapids，butthefiringhadceasednowaltogetherandeverythingseemedquiet。TheAsiaticaeroplanehadmovedfromitsformerpositionabovetheSuspensionBridge，wasmotionlessnowaboveNiagaracity，shadowingallthatdistrictaboutthepower—housewhichhadbeenthesceneofthelandfight。Themonsterhadanairofquietandassuredpredominance，andfromitssternittrailed，sereneandornamental，alongstreamingflag，thered，black，andyellowofthegreatalliance，theSunriseandtheDragon。Beyond，totheeast，atamuchhigherlevel，hungasecondconsort，andBert，presentlygatheringcourage，wriggledoutandcranedhisnecktofindanotherstillairshipagainstthesunsetinthesouth。
　　"Gaw！"hesaid。"Beatenandchased！MyGawd！"
　　Thefighting，itseemedatfirst，wasquiteoverinNiagaracity，thoughaGermanflagwasstillflyingfromoneshatteredhouse。
　　Awhitesheetwashoistedabovethepower—house，andthisremainedflyingallthroughtheeventsthatfollowed。ButpresentlycameasoundofshotsandthenGermansoldiersrunning。
　　Theydisappearedamongthehouses，andthencametwoengineersinblueshirtsandtrousershotlypursuedbythreeJapaneseswordsman。Theforemostofthetwofugitiveswasashapelyman，andranlightlyandwell;thesecondwasasturdylittleman，andratherfat。Herancomicallyinleapsandbounds，withhisplumparmsbentupbyhissideandhisheadthrownback。Thepursuersranwithuniformsanddarkthinmetalandleatherhead—dresses。
　　Thelittlemanstumbled，andBertgasped，realisinganewhorrorinwar。
　　Theforemostswordsmanwonthreestridesonhimandwasnearenoughtoslashathimandmissashespurted。
　　Adozenyardstheyran，andthentheswordsmanslashedagain，andBertcouldhearacrossthewatersalittlesoundlikethemooofanelfincowasthefatlittlemanfellforward。Slashwenttheswordsmanandslashatsomethingonthegroundthattriedtosaveitselfwithineffectualhands。"Oh，Icarn’t！"criedBert，nearblubbering，andstaringwithstartingeyes。
　　Theswordsmanslashedafourthtimeandwentonashisfellowscameupafterthebetterrunner。Thehindmostswordsmanstoppedandturnedback。Hehadperceivedsomemovementperhaps;butatanyratehestood，andeverandagainslashedatthefallenbody。
　　"Oo—oo！"groanedBertateveryslash，andshrankcloserintothebushesandbecameverystill。Presentlycameasoundofshotsfromthetown，andtheneverythingwasquiet，everything，eventhehospital。
　　Hesawpresentlylittlefiguressheathingswordscomeoutfromthehousesandwalktothedebrisoftheflying—machinesthebombhaddestroyed。Othersappearedwheelingundamagedaeroplanesupontheirwheelsasmenmightwheelbicycles，andsprangintothesaddlesandflappedintotheair。Astringofthreeairshipsappearedfarawayintheeastandflewtowardsthezenith。TheonethathunglowaboveNiagaracitycamestillloweranddroppedaropeladdertopickupmenfromthepower—house。
　　ForalongtimehewatchedthefurtherhappeningsinNiagaracityasarabbitmightwatchameet。Hesawmengoingfrombuildingtobuilding，tosetfiretothem，ashepresentlyrealised，andheheardaseriesofdulldetonationsfromthewheelpitofthepower—house。SomesimilarbusinesswentonamongtheworksontheCanadianside。Meanwhilemoreandmoreairshipsappeared，andmanymoreflying—machines，untilatlastitseemedtohimnearlyathirdoftheAsiaticfleethadre—assembled。Hewatchedthemfromhisbush，crampedbutimmovable，watchedthemgatherandrangethemselvesandsignalandpickupmen，untilatlasttheysailedawaytowardstheglowingsunset，goingtothegreatAsiaticrendez—vous，abovetheoilwellsofCleveland。Theydwindledandpassedaway，leavinghimalone，sofarashecouldtell，theonlylivingmaninaworldofruinandstrangelonelinessalmostbeyonddescribing。Hewatchedthemrecedeandvanish。Hestoodgapingafterthem。
　　"Gaw！"hesaidatlast，likeonewhorouseshimselffromatrance。
　　Itwasfarmorethananypersonaldesolationextremitythatfloodedhissoul。Itseemedtohimindeedthatthismustbethesunsetofhisrace。
　　2
　　Hedidnotatfirstenvisagehisownplightindefiniteandcomprehensibleterms。Thingshappenedtohimsomuchoflate，hisowneffortshadcountedforsolittle，thathehadbecomepassiveandplanless。HislastschemehadbeentogoroundthecoastofEnglandasadesertdervishgivingrefinedentertainmenttohisfellow—creatures。Fatehadquashedthat。Fatehadseenfittodirecthimtootherdestinies，hadhurriedhimfrompointtopoint，anddroppedhimatlastuponthislittlewedgeofrockbetweenthecataracts。Itdidnotinstantlyoccurtohimthatnowitwashisturntoplay。Hehadasingularfeelingthatallmustendasadreamends，thatpresentlysurelyhewouldbebackintheworldofGrubbandEdnaandBunHill，thatthisroar，thisglitteringpresenceofincessantwater，wouldbedrawnasideasacurtainisdrawnasideafteraholidaylanternshow，andoldfamiliar，customarythingsre—assumetheirsway。ItwouldbeinterestingtotellpeoplehowhehadseenNiagara。AndthenKurt’swordscameintohishead:"Peopletornawayfromthepeopletheycarefor;homessmashed，creaturesfulloflifeandmemoriesandpeculiarlittlegifts——torntopieces，starved，andspoilt。"……
　　Hewondered，halfincredulous，ifthatwasindeedtrue。Itwassohardtorealiseit。OutbeyondtherewasitpossiblethatTomandJessicawerealsoinsomedireextremity？thatthelittlegreen—grocer’sshopwasnolongerstandingopen，withJessicaservingrespectfully，warmingTom’searinsharpasides，orpunctuallysendingoutthegoods？
　　Hetriedtothinkwhatdayoftheweekitwas，andfoundhehadlosthisreckoning。PerhapsitwasSunday。Ifso，weretheygoingtochurchor，weretheyhiding，perhapsinbushes？Whathadhappenedtothelandlord，thebutcher，andtoButteridgeandallthosepeopleonDymchurchbeach？Something，heknew，hadhappenedtoLondon——abombardment。Butwhohadbombarded？WereTomandJessicatoobeingchasedbystrangebrownmenwithlongbareswordsandevileyes？Hethoughtofvariouspossibleaspectsofaffliction，butpresentlyonephaseoustedalltheothers。Weretheygettingmuchtoeat？Thequestionhauntedhim，obsessedhim。
　　Ifonewasveryhungrywouldoneeatrats？
　　Itdawneduponhimthatapeculiarmiserythatoppressedhimwasnotsomuchanxietyandpatrioticsorrowashunger。Ofcoursehewashungry！
　　Hereflectedandturnedhisstepstowardsthelittlerefreshmentshedthatstoodneartheendoftheruinedbridge。"Oughttobesomethin’——"
　　Hestrolledrounditonceortwice，andthenattackedtheshutterswithhispocket—knife，reinforcedpresentlybyawoodenstakehefoundconvenientlynear。Atlasthegotashuttertogive，andtoreitbackandstuckinhishead。
　　"Grub，"heremarked，"anyhow。Leastways——"
　　Hegotattheinsidefasteningoftheshutterandhadpresentlythisestablishmentopenforhisexploration。Hefoundseveralsealedbottlesofsterilizedmilk，muchmineralwater，twotinsofbiscuitsandacrockofverystalecakes，cigarettesingreatquantitybutverydry，someratherdryoranges，nuts，sometinsofcannedmeatandfruit，andplatesandknivesandforksandglassessufficientforseveralscoreofpeople。Therewasalsoazinclocker，buthewasunabletonegotiatethepadlockofthis。
　　"Shan’tstarve，"saidBert，"forabit，anyhow。"Hesatonthevendor’sseatandregaledhimselfwithbiscuitsandmilk，andfeltforamomentquitecontented。
　　"Quiterestful，"hemuttered，munchingandglancingabouthimrestlessly，"afterwhatIbeenthrough。
　　"Crikey！WOTaday！Oh！WOTaday！"
　　Wondertookpossessionofhim。"Gaw！"hecried:"Wotafightit’sbeen！Smashingupthepoorfellers！’Eadlong！Theairships——thefliersandall。IwonderwhathappenedtotheZeppelin？……AndthatchapKurt——Iwonderwhathappenedto’im？
　　’Ewasagoodsortofchap，wasKurt。"
　　Somephantomofimperialsolicitudefloatedthroughhismind。
　　"Injia，"hesaid……
　　Amorepracticalinterestarose。
　　"Iwonderifthere’sanythingtoopenoneofthesetinsofcornedbeef？"
　　3
　　Afterhehadfeasted，Bertlitacigaretteandsatmeditativeforatime。"WonderwhereGrubbis？"hesaid;"Idowonderthat！
　　Wonderifanyof’emwonderaboutme？"
　　Herevertedtohisowncircumstances。"DessayIshall’avetostoponthisislandforsometime。"
　　Hetriedtofeelathiseaseandsecure，butpresentlytheindefinablerestlessnessofthesocialanimalinsolitudedistressedhim。Hebegantowanttolookoverhisshoulder，and，asacorrective，rousedhimselftoexploretherestoftheisland。
　　Itwasonlyveryslowlythathebegantorealisethepeculiaritiesofhisposition，toperceivethatthebreakingdownofthearchbetweenGreenIslandandthemainlandhadcuthimoffcompletelyfromtheworld。Indeeditwasonlywhenhecamebacktowherethefore—endoftheHohenzollernlaylikeastrandedship，andwascontemplatingtheshatteredbridge，thatthisdawneduponhim。Eventhenitcamewithnosortofshocktohismind，afactamonganumberofotherextraordinaryandunmanageablefacts。HestaredattheshatteredcabinsoftheHohenzollernanditswidow’sgarmentofdishevelledsilkforatime，butwithoutanyideaofitscontaininganylivingthing;itwasallsotwistedandsmashedandentirelyupsidedown。Thenforawhilehegazedattheeveningsky。Acloudhazewasnowappearingandnotanairshipwasinsight。Aswallowflewbyandsnappedsomeinvisiblevictim。"Likeadream，"herepeated。
　　Thenforatimetherapidsheldhismind。"Roaring。Itkeepsonroaringandsplashin’alwaysandalways。Keepson……"
　　Atlasthisinterestsbecamepersonal。"WonderwhatIoughttodonow？"
　　Hereflected。"Notanidee，"hesaid。
　　HewaschieflyconsciousthatafortnightagohehadbeeninBunHillwithnoideaoftravelinhismind，andthatnowhewasbetweentheFallsofNiagaraamidstthedevastationandruinsofthegreatestairfightintheworld，andthatintheintervalhehadbeenacrossFrance，Belgium，Germany，England，Ireland，andanumberofothercountries。Itwasaninterestingthoughtandsuitableforconversation，butofnogreatpracticalutility。
　　"Wonder’owIcangetorfthis？"hesaid。"Wonderifthereisawayout？Ifnot……rummy！"
　　Furtherreflectiondecided，"IbelieveIgotmyselfinabitofa’olecomingoverthatbridge……
　　"Any’ow——gotmeoutofthewayofthemJapanesychaps。Wouldn’t’avetaken’emlongtocutMYfroat。No。Still——"
　　HeresolvedtoreturntothepointofLunaIsland。Foralongtimehestoodwithoutstirring，scrutinisingtheCanadianshoreandthewreckageofhotelsandhousesandthefallentreesoftheVictoriaPark，pinknowinthelightofsundown。Notahumanbeingwasperceptibleinthatsceneofheadlongdestruction。
　　ThenhecamebacktotheAmericansideoftheisland，crossedclosetothecrumpledaluminiumwreckageoftheHohenzollerntoGreenIslet，andscrutinisedthehopelessbreachinthefurtherbridgeandthewaterthatboiledbeneathit。TowardsBuffalotherewasstillmuchsmoke，andnearthepositionoftheNiagararailwaystationthehouseswereburningvigorously。Everythingwasdesertednow，everythingwasstill。Onelittleabandonedthinglayonatransversepathbetweentownandroad，acrumpledheapofclotheswithsprawlinglimbs……
　　"’Avealookround，"saidBert，andtakingapaththatranthroughthemiddleoftheislandhepresentlydiscoveredthewreckageofthetwoAsiaticaeroplanesthathadfallenoutofthestrugglethatendedtheHohenzollern。