Wewouldn’tbehappyuntiltheydid，andasIsay，’ereweare！"
　　Thebird—facedofficershoutedtohimtobequiet，andthenbeganaconversationwiththePrince。
　　"Britishcitizen，"saidBert。"Youain’tobligedtolisten，butIain’tobligedtoshutup。"
　　AndforsometimehecontinuedhisdissertationuponImperialism，militarism，andinternationalpolitics。Buttheirtalkingputhimout，andforatimehewascertainlymerelyrepeatingabusiveterms，"prancin’nincompoops"andthelike，oldtermsandnew。
　　Thensuddenlyherememberedhisessentialgrievance。"’Owever，look’ere——’ere！——thethingIstartedthistalkaboutiswhere’sthatfoodtherewasinthatshed？That’swhatIwanttoknow。
　　Whereyouputit？"
　　Hepaused。TheywentontalkinginGerman。Herepeatedhisquestion。Theydisregardedhim。Heaskedathirdtimeinamannerinsupportablyaggressive。
　　Therefellatensesilence。Forsomesecondsthethreeregardedoneanother。ThePrinceeyedBertsteadfastly，andBertquailedunderhiseye。SlowlythePrincerosetohisfeetandthebird—facedofficerjerkedupbesidehim。Bertremainedsquatting。
　　"Bequaiat，"saidthePrince。
　　Bertperceivedthiswasnomomentforeloquence。
　　ThetwoGermansregardedhimashecrouchedthere。Deathforamomentseemednear。
　　ThenthePrinceturnedawayandthetwoofthemwenttowardstheflying—machine。
　　"Gaw！"whisperedBert，andthenutteredunderhisbreathonesinglewordofabuse。Hesatcrouchedtogetherforperhapsthreeminutes，thenhesprangtohisfeetandwentofftowardstheChineseaeronaut’sgunhiddenamongtheweeds。
　　8
　　TherewasnopretenceafterthatmomentthatBertwasundertheordersofthePrinceorthathewasgoingonwiththerepairingoftheflying—machine。ThetwoGermanstookpossessionofthatandsettoworkuponit。Bert，withhisnewweaponwentofftotheneighbourhoodofTerrapinRock，andtheresatdowntoexamineit。Itwasashortriflewithabigcartridge，andanearlyfullmagazine。Hetookoutthecartridgescarefullyandthentriedthetriggerandfittingsuntilhefeltsurehehadtheuseofit。
　　Hereloadedcarefully。Thenherememberedhewashungryandwentoff，gununderhisarm，tohuntinandabouttherefreshmentshed。HehadthesensetoperceivethathemustnotshowhimselfwiththeguntothePrinceandhiscompanion。Solongastheythoughthimunarmedtheywouldleavehimalone，buttherewasnoknowingwhattheNapoleonicpersonmightdoifhesawBert’sweapon。Alsohedidnotgonearthembecauseheknewthatwithinhimselfboiledareservoirofrageandfearthathewantedtoshootthesetwomen。Hewantedtoshootthem，andhethoughtthattoshootthemwouldbeaquitehorriblethingtodo。Thetwosidesofhisinconsistentcivilisationwarredwithinhim。
　　Neartheshedthekittenturnedupagain，obviouslykeenformilk。Thisgreatlyenhancedhisownangrysenseofhunger。Hebegantotalkashehuntedabout，andpresentlystoodstill，shoutinginsults。HetalkedofwarandprideandImperialism。
　　"AnyotherPrincebutyouwouldhavediedwithhismenandhisship！"hecried。
　　ThetwoGermansatthemachineheardhisvoicegoingeverandagainamidsttheclamourofthewaters。Theireyesmetandtheysmiledslightly。
　　Hewasdisposedforatimetositintherefreshmentshedwaitingforthem，butthenitoccurredtohimthatsohemightgetthembothatclosequarters。HestrolledoffpresentlytothepointofLunaIslandtothinkthesituationout。
　　Ithadseemedacomparativelysimpleoneatfirst，butasheturneditoverinhisminditspossibilitiesincreasedandmultiplied。Boththesemenhadswords，——hadeitherarevolver？
　　Also，ifheshotthemboth，hemightneverfindthefood！
　　Sofarhehadbeengoingaboutwiththisgununderhisarm，andasenseoflordlysecurityinhismind，butwhatiftheysawthegunanddecidedtoambushhim？GoatIslandisnearlyallcover，trees，rocks，thickets，andirregularities。
　　Whynotgoandmurderthembothnow？
　　"Icarn’t，"saidBert，dismissingthat。"Igottobeworkedup。"
　　Butitwasamistaketogetrightawayfromthem。Thatsuddenlybecameclear。Heoughttokeepthemunderobservation，oughtto"scout"them。Thenhewouldbeabletoseewhattheyweredoing，whethereitherofthemhadarevolver，wheretheyhadhiddenthefood。Hewouldbebetterabletodeterminewhattheymeanttodotohim。Ifhedidn’t"scout"them，presentlytheywouldbeginto"scout"him。Thisseemedsoeminentlyreasonablethatheacteduponitforthwith。Hethoughtoverhiscostumeandthrewhiscollarandthetell—taleaeronaut’swhitecapintothewaterfarbelow。Heturnedhiscoatcollaruptohideanygleamofhisdirtyshirt。Thetoolsandnutsinhispocketsweredisposedtoclank，butherearrangedthemandwrappedsomelettersandhispocket—handkerchiefaboutthem。Hestartedoffcircumspectlyandnoiselessly，listeningandpeeringateverystep。Ashedrewnearhisantagonists，muchgruntingandcreakingservedtolocatethem。HediscoveredthemengagedinwhatlookedlikeawrestlingmatchwiththeAsiaticflying—machine。Theircoatswereoff，theirswordslaidaside，theywereworkingmagnificently。
　　Apparentlytheywereturningitroundandwerehavingagooddealofdifficultywiththelongtailamongthetrees。Hedroppedflatatthesightofthemandwriggledintoalittlehollow，andsolaywatchingtheirexertions。Everandagain，topassthetime，hewouldcoveroneorotherofthemwithhisgun。
　　Hefoundthemquiteinterestingtowatch，sointerestingthatattimeshecamenearshoutingtoadvisethem。Heperceivedthatwhentheyhadthemachineturnedround，theywouldthenbeinimmediatewantofthenutsandtoolshecarried。Thentheywouldcomeafterhim。Theywouldcertainlyconcludehehadthemorhadhiddenthem。Shouldhehidehisgunanddoadealforfoodwiththesetools？Hefelthewouldnotbeabletopartwiththegunagainnowhehadoncefeltitsreassuringcompany。Thekittenturnedupagainandmadeagreatfusswithhimandlickedandbithisear。
　　Thesunclamberedtomidday，andoncethatmorninghesaw，thoughtheGermansdidnot，anAsiaticairshipveryfartothesouth，goingswiftlyeastward。
　　Atlasttheflying—machinewasturnedandstoodpoisedonitswheel，withitshookspointinguptheRapids。Thetwoofficerswipedtheirfaces，resumedjacketsandswords，spokeandborethemselveslikemenwhocongratulatedthemselvesonagoodlaboriousmorning。Thentheywentoffbrisklytowardstherefreshmentshed，thePrinceleading。Bertbecameactiveinpursuit;buthefounditimpossibletostalkthemquicklyenoughandsilentlyenoughtodiscoverthehiding—placeofthefood。Hefoundthem，whenhecameintosightofthemagain，seatedwiththeirbacksagainsttheshed，platesonknee，andatinofcornedbeefandaplatefulofbiscuitsbetweenthem。Theyseemedinfairlygoodspirits，andoncethePrincelaughed。AtthisvisionofeatingBert’splansgaveway。Fiercehungercarriedhim。Heappearedbeforethemsuddenlyatadistanceofperhapstwentyyards，guninhand。
　　"’Andsup！"hesaidinahard，ferociousvoice。
　　ThePrincehesitated，andthenupwenttwopairsofhands。
　　Thegunhadsurprisedthembothcompletely。
　　"Standup，"saidBert……"Dropthatfork！"
　　Theyobeyedagain。
　　"Whatnex’？"saidBerttohimself。"’Orfstage，Isuppose。Thatway，"hesaid。"Go！"
　　ThePrinceobeyedwithremarkablealacrity。Whenhereachedtheheadoftheclearing，hesaidsomethingquicklytothebird—facedmanandtheyboth，withanentirelackofdignity，RAN！
　　Bertwasstruckwithanexasperatingafterthought。
　　"Gord！"hecriedwithinfinitevexation。"Why！Ioughtto’avetooktheirswords！’Ere！"
　　ButtheGermanswerealreadyoutofsight，andnodoubttakingcoveramongthetrees。Bertfellbackuponimprecations，thenhewentuptotheshed，cursorilyexaminedthepossibilityofaflankattack，puthisgunhandy，andsettowork，withaconvulsivelisteningpausebeforeeachmouthfulonthePrince’splateofcornedbeef。Hehadfinishedthatupandhandeditsgleaningstothekittenandhewasfalling—toonthesecondplateful，whentheplatebrokeinhishand！Hestared，withthefactslowlycreepinguponhimthataninstantbeforehehadheardacrackamongthethickets。Thenhesprangtohisfeet，snatcheduphisguninonehandandthetinofcornedbeefintheother，andfledroundtheshedtotheothersideoftheclearing。Ashedidsocameasecondcrackfromthethickets，andsomethingwentphwit！byhisear。
　　Hedidn’tstbprunninguntilhewasinwhatseemedtohimastronglydefensiblepositionnearLunaIsland。Thenhetookcover，panting，andcrouchedexpectant。
　　"Theygotarevolverafterall！"hepanted……
　　"Wonderiftheygottwo？Ifthey’ave——Gord！I’mdone！
　　"Where’sthekitten？Finishin’upthatcornedbeef，Isuppose。
　　Littlebeggar！"
　　9
　　SoitwasthatwarbeganuponGoatIsland。Itlastedadayandanight，thelongestdayandthelongestnightinBert’slife。HehadtoliecloseandlistenAndwatch。Alsohehadtoschemewhatheshoulddo。Itwasclearnowthathehadtokillthesetwomenifhecould，andthatiftheycould，theywouldkillhim。
　　Theprizewasfirstfoodandthentheflying—machineandthedoubtfulprivilegeoftrying’torideit。Ifonefailed，onewouldcertainlybekilled;ifonesucceeded，onewouldgetawaysomewhereoverthere。ForatimeBerttriedtoimaginewhatitwaslikeoverthere。Hismindranoverpossibilities，deserts，angryAmericans，Japanese，Chinese——perhapsRedIndians！（WeretherestillRedIndians？）
　　"Gottotakewhatcomes，"saidBert。"NowayoutofitthatI
　　cansee！"
　　Wasthatvoices？Herealisedthathisattentionwaswandering。
　　Foratimeallhissenseswereveryalert。TheuproaroftheFallswasveryconfusing，anditmixedinallsortsofsounds，likefeetwalking，likevoicestalking，likeshoutsandcries。
　　"Sillygreatcatarac’，"saidBert。"Thereain’tnosenseinit，fallin’andfallin’。"
　　Nevermindthat，now！WhatweretheGermansdoing？
　　Wouldtheygobacktotheflying—machine？Theycouldn’tdoanythingwithit，becausehehadthosenutsandscrewsandthewrenchandothertools。Butsupposetheyfoundthesecondsetoftoolshehadhiddeninatree！Hehadhiddenthethingswell，ofcourse，buttheyMIGHTfindthem。Onewasn’tsure，ofcourse——onewasn’tsure。Hetriedtorememberjustexactlyhowhehadhiddenthosetools。Hetriedtopersuadehimselftheywerecertainlyandsurelyhidden，buthismemorybegantoplayantics。Hadhereallyleftthehandleofthewrenchstickingout，shiningoutattheforkofthebranch？
　　Ssh！Whatwasthat？Someonestirringinthosebushes？Upwentanexpectantmuzzle。No！Wherewasthekitten？No！Itwasjustimagination，noteventhekitten。
　　TheGermanswouldcertainlymissandhuntaboutforthetoolsandnutsandscrewshecarriedinhispockets;thatwasclear。，Thentheywoulddecidehehadthemandcomeforhim。Hehadonlytoremainstillundercover，therefore，andhewouldgetthem。
　　Wasthereanyflawinthat？Wouldtheytakeoffmoreremovablepartsoftheflying—machineandthenlieupforhim？No，theywouldn’tdothat，becausetheyweretwotoone;theywouldhavenoapprehensionofhisgettingoffintheflying—machine，andnosoundreasonforsupposinghewouldapproachit，andsotheywoulddonothingtodamageordisableit。Thathedecidedwasclear。Butsupposetheylayupforhimbythefood。Well，thattheywouldn’tdo，becausetheywouldknowhehadthiscornedbeef;therewasenoughinthiscantolast，withmoderation，severaldays。Ofcoursetheymighttrytotirehimoutinsteadofattackinghim——
　　Herousedhimselfwithastart。Hehadjustgraspedtherealweaknessofhisposition。Hemightgotosleep！
　　Itneededbuttenminutesunderthesuggestionofthatidea，beforeherealisedthathewasgoingtosleep！
　　Herubbedhiseyesandhandledhisgun。HehadneverbeforerealisedtheintenselysoporificeffectoftheAmericansun，oftheAmericanair，thedrowsy，sleep—compellinguproarofNiagara。
　　Hithertothesethingshadonthewholeseemedstimulating……
　　Ifhehadnoteatensomuchandeatenitsofast，hewouldnotbesoheavy。Arevegetariansalwaysbright？……
　　Herousedhimselfwithajerkagain。
　　Ifhedidn’tdosomething，hewouldfallasleep，andifhefellasleep，itwastentoonetheywouldfindhimsnoring，andfinishhimforthwith。Ifhesatmotionlessandnoiseless，hewouldinevitablysleep。Itwasbetter，hetoldhimself，totakeeventherisksofattackingthanthat。Thissleeptrouble，hefelt，wasgoingtobeathim，mustbeathimintheend。Theywereallright;onecouldsleepandtheothercouldwatch。That，cometothinkofit，waswhattheywouldalwaysdo;onewoulddoanythingtheywanteddone，theotherwouldlieundercovernearathand，readytoshoot。Theymighteventraphimlikethat。Onemightactasadecoy。
　　Thatsethimthinkingofdecoys。Whatafoolhehadbeentothrowhiscapaway。Itwouldhavebeeninvaluableonastick——
　　especiallyatnight。
　　Hefoundhimselfwishingforadrink。Hesettledthatforatimebyputtingapebbleinhismouth。Andthenthesleepcravingreturned。
　　Itbecamecleartohimhemustattack。Likemanygreatgeneralsbeforehim，hefoundhisbaggage，thatistosayhistinofcornedbeef，aseriousimpedimenttomobility。Atlasthedecidedtoputthebeeflooseinhispocketandabandonthetin。
　　Itwasnotperhapsanidealarrangement，butonemustmakesacrificeswhenoneiscampaigning。Hecrawledperhapstenyards，andthenforatimethepossibilitiesofthesituationparalysedhim。
　　Theafternoonwasstill。Theroarofthecataractsimplythrewupthatimmensestillnessinrelief。Hewasdoinghisbesttocontrivethedeathoftwobettermenthanhimself。Alsotheyweredoingtheirbesttocontrivehis。What，behindthissilence，weretheydoing。
　　Supposehecameuponthemsuddenlyandfired，andmissed？
　　10
　　Hecrawled，andhaltedlistening，andcrawledagainuntilnightfall，andnodoubttheGermanAlexanderandhislieutenantdidthesame。AlargescalemapofGoatIslandmarkedwithredandbluelinestoshowthesestrategicmovementswouldnodoubthavedisplayedmuchinterlacing，butasamatteroffactneithersidesawanythingoftheotherthroughoutthatage—longdayoftediousalertness。Bertneverknewhownearhegottothemnorhowfarhekeptfromthem。Nightfoundhimnolongersleepy，butathirst，andneartheAmericanFall。HewasinspiredbytheideathathisantagonistsmightbeinthewreckageoftheHohenzollerncabinsthatwasjammedagainstGreenIsland。Hebecameenterprising，brokefromanyattempttoconcealhimself，andwentacrossthelittlebridgeatthedouble。Hefoundnobody。Itwashisfirstvisittothesehugefragmentsofairships，andforatimeheexploredthemcuriouslyinthedimlight。Hediscoveredtheforwardcabinwasnearlyintact，withitsdoorslantingdownwardandacornerunderwater。Hecreptin，drank，andthenwasstruckbythebrilliantideaofshuttingthedoorandsleepingonit。
　　Butnowhecouldnotsleepatall。
　　Henoddedtowardsmorningandwokeuptofinditfullyday。Hebreakfastedoncornedbeefandwater，andsatforalongtimeappreciativeofthesecurityofhisposition。Atlasthebecameenterprisingandbold。Hewould，hedecided，settlethisbusinessforthwith，onewayortheother。Hewastiredofallthiscrawling。Hesetoutinthemorningsunshine，guninhand，scarcelytroublingtowalksoftly。Hewentroundtherefreshmentshedwithoutfindinganyone，andthenthroughthetreestowardstheflying—machine。Hecameuponthebird—facedmansittingonthegroundwithhisbackagainstatree，bentupoverhisfoldedarms，sleeping，hisbandageverymuchoveroneeye。
　　Bertstoppedabruptlyandstoodperhapsfifteenyardsaway，guninhandready。WherewasthePrince？Then，stickingoutatthesideofthetreebeyond，hesawashoulder。Berttookfivedeliberatepacestotheleft。Thegreatmanbecamevisible，leaningupagainstthetrunk，pistolinonehandandswordintheother，andyawning——yawning。Youcan’tshootayawningmanBertfound。Headvanceduponhisantagonistwithhisgunlevelled，somefoolishfancyof"handsup"inhismind。ThePrincebecameawareofhim，theyawningmouthshutlikeatrapandhestoodstifflyup。Bertstopped，silent。Foramomentthetworegardedoneanother。
　　HadthePrincebeenawisemanhewould，Isuppose，havedodgedbehindthetree。Instead，hegaveventtoashout，andraisedpistolandsword。Atthat，likeanautomaton，Bertpulledhistrigger。
　　Itwashisfirstexperienceofanoxygen—containingbullet。A
　　greatflamespurtedfromthemiddleofthePrince，ablindingflare，andtherecameathudlikethefiringofagun。SomethinghotandwetstruckBert’sface。Thenthroughawhirlofblindingsmokeandsteamhesawlimbsandacollapsing，burstbodyflingthemselvestoearth。
　　Bertwassoastonishedthathestoodagape，andthebird—facedofficermighthavecuthimtotheearthwithoutastruggle。Butinsteadthebird—facedofficerwasrunningawaythroughtheundergrowth，dodgingashewent。Bertrousedhimselftoabriefineffectualpursuit，buthehadnostomachforfurtherkilling。
　　Hereturnedtothemangled，scatteredthingthathadsorecentlybeenthegreatPrinceKarlAlbert。Hesurveyedthescorchedandsplashedvegetationaboutit。Hemadesomespeculativeidentifications。Headvancedgingerlyandpickedupthehotrevolver，tofindallitschambersstrainedandburst。Hebecameawareofacheerfulandfriendlypresence。Hewasgreatlyshockedthatonesoyoungshouldseesofrightfulascene。
　　"’Ere，Kitty，"hesaid，"thisain’tnoplaceforyou。"
　　Hemadethreestridesacrossthedevastatedarea，capturedthekittenneatly，andwenthiswaytowardstheshed，withherpurringloudlyonhisshoulder。
　　"YOUdon’tseemtomind，"hesaid。
　　Foratimehefussedabouttheshed，andatlastdiscoveredtherestoftheprovisionshiddenintheroof。"Seems’ard，"hesaid，asheadministeredasaucerfulofmilk，"whenyougetthreemenina’olelikethis，theycan’tworktogether。But’imand’isprincingwasjestabittoothick！"
　　"Gaw！"hereflected，sittingonthecounterandeating，"whatathinglifeis！’EreamI;Iseen’ispicture，’eard’isnamesinceIwasakidinfrocks。PrinceKarlAlbert！Andifanyone’adtolemeIwasgoingtoblowlimtosmithereens——there！I
　　shouldn’t’avebelievedit，Kitty。
　　"ThatchapatMargitoughtto’avetolemeaboutit。All’etolemewasthatIgotaweakchess。
　　"Thatotherchap，’eain’tgoingtodomuch。WonderwhatIoughttodoabout’im？"
　　Hesurveyedthetreeswithakeenblueeyeandfingeredthegunonhisknee。"Idon’tlikethiskilling，Kitty，"hesaid。"It’slikeKurtsaidaboutbeingblooded。Seemstomeyougottobebloodedyoung……IfthatPrince’adcomeuptomeandsaid，’Shake’ands！’I’d’aveshook’ands……Now’ere’sthatotherchap，dodgingabout！’E’sgot’is’ead’urtalready，andthere’ssomethingwrongwithhisleg。Andburns。Golly！itisn’tthreeweeksagoIfirstseteyeson’im，andthen’ewassmartandsetup——’andsfullof’air—brushesandthings，andswearin’atme。A
　　regulargentleman！Now’e’s’arfwaytoawildman。WhatamItodowith’im？Whatthe’ellamItodowith’im？Ican’tleave’im’avethatflying—machine;that’sabittoogood，andifI
　　don’tkill’im，’e’lljest’angaboutthisislandandstarve……
　　"’E’sgotasword，ofcourse"……
　　Heresumedhisphilosophisingafterhehadlitacigarette。
　　"War’sasillygaim，Kitty。It’sasillygaim！Wecommonpeople——wewerefools。Wethoughtthosebigpeopleknewwhattheywereupto——andtheydidn’t。Lookatthatchap！’E’adallGermanybe’ind’im，andwhat’as’emadeofit？Smeshin’andblunderin’anddestroyin’，andthere’e’is！Jestamessofbloodandbootsandthings！Jestan’orridsplash！PrinceKarlAlbert！Andallthemen’eledandtheships’e’ad，theairships，andthedragon—fliers——allscatteredlikeapaper—chasebetweenthis’oleandGermany。Andfightin’goingonandburnin’
　　andkillin’that’estarted，warwithoutendallovertheworld！
　　"IsupposeIshall’avetokillthatotherchap。IsupposeI
　　must。Butitain’tatallthesortofjobIfancy，Kitty！"
　　Foratimehehuntedabouttheislandamidsttheuproarofthewaterfall，lookingforthewoundedofficer，andatlasthestartedhimoutofsomebushesneartheheadofBiddleStairs。
　　Butashesawthebentandbandagedfigureinlimpingflightbeforehim，hefoundhisCockneysoftnesstoomuchforhimagain;
　　hecouldneithershootnorpursue。"Icarn’t，"hesaid，"that’sflat。I’aven’tthegutsforit！’E’ll’avetogo。"
　　Heturnedhisstepstowardstheflying—machine……
　　Heneversawthebird—facedofficeragain，noranyfurtherevidenceofhispresence。Towardseveninghegrewfearfulofambushesandhuntedvigorouslyforanhourorso，butinvain。
　　HesleptinagooddefensiblepositionattheextremityoftherockypointthatrunsouttotheCanadianFall，andinthenighthewokeinpanicterrorandfiredhisgun。Butitwasnothing。
　　Hesleptnomorethatnight。Inthemorninghebecamecuriouslyconcernedforthevanishedman，andhuntedforhimasonemightforanerringbrother。
　　"IfIknewsomeGerman，"hesaid，"I’d’oller。It’sjestnotknowingGermandoesit。Youcan’texplain’"
　　Hediscovered，later，tracesofanattempttocrossthegapinthebrokenbridge。Aropewithaboltattachedhadbeenflungacrossandhadcaughtinafenestrationofaprojectingfragmentofrailing。Theendoftheropetrailedintheseethingwatertowardsthefall。
　　Butthebird—facedofficerwasalreadyrubbingshoulderswithcertaininertmatterthathadoncebeenLieutenantKurtandtheChineseaeronautandadeadcow，andmuchotheruncongenialcompany，inthehugecircleoftheWhirlpooltwoandaquartermilesaway。Neverhadthatgreatgatheringplace，thatincessant，aimless，unprogressivehurryofwasteandbatteredthings，beensocrowdedwithstrangeandmelancholyderelicts。
　　Roundtheywentandround，andeverydaybroughtitsnewcontributions，lucklessbrutes，shatteredfragmentsofboatandflying—machine，endlesscitizensfromthecitiesupontheshoresofthegreatlakesabove。MuchcamefromCleveland。Itallgatheredhere，andwhirledaboutindefinitely，andoveritallgathereddailyagreaterabundanceofbirds。
　　CHAPTERX
　　THEWORLDUNDERTHEWAR
　　1
　　BertspenttwomoredaysuponGoatIsland，andfinishedallhisprovisionsexceptthecigarettesandmineralwater，beforehebroughthimselftotrytheAsiaticflying—machine。
　　Evenatlasthedidnotsomuchgooffuponitasgetcarriedoff。Ithadtakenonlyanhourorsotosubstitutewingstaysfromthesecondflying—machineandtoreplacethenutshehadhimselfremoved。Theenginewasinworkingorder，anddifferedonlyverysimplyandobviouslyfromthatofacontemporarymotor—bicycle。Therestofthetimewastakenupbyavastmusinganddelayingandhesitation。ChieflyhesawhimselfsplashingintotherapidsandwhirlingdownthemtotheFall，clutchinganddrowning，butalsohehadavisionofbeinghopelesslyintheair，goingfastandunabletoground。
　　Hismindwastooconcentrateduponthebusinessofflyingforhimtothinkverymuchofwhatmighthappentoanindefinite—spiritedCockneywithoutcredentialwhoarrivedonanAsiaticflying—machineamidstthewar—infuriatedpopulationbeyond。
　　Hestillhadalingeringsolicitudeforthebird—facedofficer。
　　HehadahauntingfancyhemightbelyingdisabledorbadlysmashedinsomewayinsomenookorcrannyoftheIsland;anditwasonlyafteramostexhaustivesearchthatheabandonedthatdistressingidea。"IfIfound’im，"hereasonedthewhile，"whatcouldIdowiv’im？Youcan’tblowachap’sbrainsoutwhen’e’sdown。AndIdon’see’owelseIcan’elp’im。"
　　Thenthekittenbotheredhishighlydevelopedsenseofsocialresponsibility。"IfIleave’er，she’llstarve……Oughttocatchmicefor’erself……AREtheremice？……Birds？……She’stooyoung……She’slikeme;she’sabittoocivilised。"
　　Finallyhestuckherinhissidepocketandshebecamegreatlyinterestedinthememoriesofcornedbeefshefoundthere。Withherinhispocket，heseatedhimselfinthesaddleoftheflying—machine。Big，clumsythingitwas——andnotabitlikeabicycle。Stilltheworkingofitwasfairlyplain。Yousettheenginegoing——SO;kickedyourselfupuntilthewheelwasvertical，SO;engagedthegyroscope，SO，andthen——then——youjustpulledupthislever。
　　Ratherstiffitwas，butsuddenlyitcameover——
　　Thebigcurvedwingsoneithersideflappeddisconcertingly，flappedagain’click，clock，click，clock，clitter—clock！
　　Stop！Thethingwasheadingforthewater;itswheelwasinthewater。Bertgroanedfromhisheartandstruggledtorestorethelevertoitsfirstposition。Click，clock，clitter—clock，hewasising！Themachinewasliftingitsdrippingwheeloutoftheeddies，andhewasgoingup！Therewasnostoppingnow，nogoodinstoppingnow。InanothermomentBert，clutchingandconvulsiveandrigid，withstaringeyesandafacepaleasdeath，wasflappingupabovetheRapids，jerkingtoeveryjerkofthewings，andrising，rising。
　　Therewasnocomparisonindignityandcomfortbetweenaflying—machineandaballoon。Exceptinitsmomentsofdescent，theballoonwasavehicleoffaultlessurbanity;thiswasabuck—
　　—jumpingmule，amulethatjumpedupandnevercamedownagain。