Click，clock，click，clock;witheachbeatofthestrangelyshapedwingsitjumpedBertupwardandcaughthimneatlyagainhalfasecondlateronthesaddle。Andwhileinballooningthereisnowind，sincetheballoonisapartofthewind，flyingisawildperpetualcreationofandplungingintowind。Itwasawindthataboveallthingssoughttoblindhim，toforcehimtoclosehiseyes。Itoccurredtohimpresentlytotwisthiskneesand。
　　legsinwardandgripwiththem，orsurelyhewouldhavebeenbumpedintotwoclumsyhalves。Andhewasgoingup，ahundredyardshigh，twohundred，threehundred，overthestreaming，frothingwildernessofwaterbelow——up，up，up。Thatwasallright，buthowpresentlywouldonegohorizontally？Hetriedtothinkifthesethingsdidgohorizontally。No！Theyflappedupandthentheysoareddown。Foratimehewouldkeeponflappingup。Tearsstreamedfromhiseyes。Hewipedthemwithonetemerariouslydisengagedhand。
　　Wasitbettertoriskafalloverlandoroverwater——suchwater？
　　HewasflappingupabovetheUpperRapidstowardsBuffalo。ItwasatanyrateacomfortthattheFallsandthewildswirlofwatersbelowthemwerebehindhim。Hewasflyingupstraight。
　　Thathecouldsee。Howdidoneturn？
　　Hewaspresentlyalmostcool，andhiseyesgotmoreusedtotherushofair，buthewasgettingveryhigh，veryhigh。Hetiltedhisheadforwardsandsurveyedthecountry，blinking。HecouldseealloverBuffalo，aplacewiththreegreatblackenedscarsofruin，andhillsandstretchesbeyond。Hewonderedifhewashalfamilehigh，ormore。ThereweresomepeopleamongsomehousesneararailwaystationbetweenNiagaraandBuffalo，andthenmorepeople。Theywentlikeantsbusilyinandoutofthehouses。HesawtwomotorcarsglidingalongtheroadtowardsNiagaracity。
　　ThenfarawayinthesouthhesawagreatAsiaticairshipgoingeastward。"Oh，Gord！"hesaid，andbecameearnestinhisineffectualattemptstoalterhisdirection。Butthatairshiptooknonoticeofhim，andhecontinuedtoascendconvulsively。
　　Theworldgotmoreandmoreextensiveandmaplike。Click，clock，clitter—clock。Abovehimandveryneartohimnowwasahazystratumofcloud。
　　Hedeterminedtodisengagethewingclutch。Hedidso。Theleverresistedhisstrengthforatime，thenoveritcame，andinstantlythetailofthemachinecockedupandthewingsbecamerigidlyspread。Instantlyeverythingwasswiftandsmoothandsilent。Hewasglidingrapidlydowntheairagainstawildgaleofwind，hiseyesthree—quartersshut。
　　Alittleleverthathadhithertobeenobduratenowconfesseditselfmobile。Heturneditovergentlytotheright，andwhiroo！——theleftwinghadinsomemysteriouswaygivenatitsedgeandhewassweepingroundanddownwardinanimmenseright—handedspiral。Forsomemomentsheexperiencedallthehelplesssensationsofcatastrophe。Herestoredthelevertoitsmiddlepositionwithsomedifficulty，andthewingswereequalisedagain。
　　Heturnedittotheleftandhadasensationofbeingspunroundbackwards。"Toomuch！"hegasped。
　　Hediscoveredthathewasrushingdownataheadlongpacetowardsarailwaylineandsomefactorybuildings。Theyappearedtobetearinguptohimtodevourhim。Hemusthavedroppedallthatheight。Foramomenthehadtheineffectualsensationsofonewhosebicycleboltsdownhill。Thegroundhadalmosttakenhimbysurprise。"’Ere！"hecried;andthenwithaviolenteffortofallhisbeinghegotthebeatingengineatworkagainandsetthewingsflapping。Heswoopeddownandupandresumedhisquiveringandpulsatingascentoftheair。
　　Hewenthighagain，untilhehadawideviewofthepleasantuplandcountryofwesternNewYorkState，andthenmadealongcoastdown，andsoupagain，andthenacoast。Thenashecameswoopingaquarterofamileaboveavillagehesawpeoplerunningabout，runningaway——evidentlyinrelationtohishawk—likepassage。Hegotanideathathehadbeenshotat。
　　"Up！"hesaid，andattackedthatleveragain。Itcameoverwithremarkabledocility，andsuddenlythewingsseemedtogivewayinthemiddle。Buttheenginewasstill！Ithadstopped。Heflungtheleverbackratherbyinstinctthandesign。Whattodo？
　　Muchhappenedinafewseconds，butalsohismindwasquick，hethoughtveryquickly。Hecouldn’tgetupagain，hewasglidingdowntheair;hewouldhavetohitsomething。
　　Hewastravellingattherateofperhapsthirtymilesanhourdown，down。
　　Thatplantationoflarcheslookedthesoftestthing——mossyalmost！
　　Couldhegetit？Hegavehimselftothesteering。Roundtotheright——left！
　　Swirroo！Crackle！Hewasglidingoverthetopsofthetrees，ploughingthroughthem，tumblingintoacloudofgreensharpleavesandblacktwigs。Therewasasuddensnapping，andhefelloffthesaddleforward，athudandacrashingofbranches。Sometwigshithimsmartlyintheface……
　　Hewasbetweenatree—stemandthesaddle，withhislegoverthesteeringleverand，sofarashecouldrealise，nothurt。Hetriedtoalterhispositionandfreehisleg，andfoundhimselfslippinganddroppingthroughbrancheswitheverythinggivingwaybeneathhim。Heclutchedandfoundhimselfinthelowerbranchesofatreebeneaththeflying—machine。Theairwasfullofapleasantresinoussmell。Hestaredforamomentmotionless，andthenverycarefullyclambereddownbranchbybranchtothesoftneedle—coveredgroundbelow。
　　"Goodbusiness，"hesaid，lookingupatthebentandtiltedkite—wingsabove。
　　"Idroppedsoft！"
　　Herubbedhischinwithhishandandmeditated。"BlowedifI
　　don’tthinkI’maratherluckyfellow！"hesaid，surveyingthepleasantsun—bespatteredgroundunderthetrees。Thenhebecameawareofaviolenttumultathisside。"Lord！"hesaid，"Youmustbe’arfsmothered，"andextractedthekittenfromhispocket—handkerchiefandpocket。Shewastwistedandcrumpledandextremelygladtoseethelightagain。Herlittletonguepeepedbetweenherteeth。Heputherdown，andsheranadozenpacesandshookherselfandstretchedandsatupandbegantowash。
　　"Nex’？"hesaid，lookingabouthim，andthenwithagestureofvexation，"Deshit！Ioughtto’avebroughtthatgun！"
　　Hehadresteditagainstatreewhenhehadseatedhimselfintheflying—machinesaddle。
　　Hewaspuzzledforatimebytheimmensepeacefulnessinthequalityoftheworld，andthenheperceivedthattheroarofthecataractwasnolongerinhisears。
　　2
　　Hehadnoveryclearideaofwhatsortofpeoplehemightcomeuponinthiscountry。Itwas，heknew，America。Americanshehadalwaysunderstoodwerethecitizensofagreatandpowerfulnation，dryandhumorousintheirmanner，addictedtotheuseofthebowie—knifeandrevolver，andinthehabitoftalkingthroughthenoselikeNorfolkshire，andsaying"allow"and"reckon"and"calculate，"afterthemannerofthepeoplewholiveontheNewForestsideofHampshire。Alsotheywereveryrich，hadrocking—chairs，andputtheirfeetatunusualaltitudes，andtheychewedtobacco，gum，andothersubstances，withuntiringindustry。Commingledwiththemwerecowboys，RedIndians，andcomic，respectfulniggers。Thishehadlearntfromthefictioninhispubliclibrary。Beyondthathehadlearntverylittle。
　　Hewasnotsurprisedthereforewhenhemetarmedmen。
　　Hedecidedtoabandontheshatteredflying—machine。Hewanderedthroughthetreesforsometime，andthenstruckaroadthatseemedtohisurbanEnglisheyestoberemarkablywidebutnotproperly"made。"Neitherhedgenorditchnorcurbeddistinctivefootpathseparateditfromthewoods，anditwentinthatlongeasycurvewhichdistinguishesthetracksofanopencontinent。
　　Aheadhesawamancarryingagununderhisarm，amaninasoftblackhat，ablueblouse，andblacktrousers，andwithabroadround—fatfacequiteinnocentofgoatee。Thispersonregardedhimaskanceandheardhimspeakwithastart。
　　"CanyoutellmewhereaboutsIamatall？"askedBert。
　　Themanregardedhim，andmoreparticularlyhisrubberboots，withsinistersuspicion。Thenherepliedinastrangeoutlandishtonguethatwas，asamatteroffact，Czech。HeendedsuddenlyatthesightofBert’sblankfacewith"Don’tspikEnglish。"
　　"Oh！"saidBert。Hereflectedgravelyforamoment，andthenwenthisway。
　　"Thenks，"he，saidasanafterthought。Themanregardedhisbackforamoment，wasstruckwithanidea，begananabortivegesture，sighed，gaveitup，andwentonalsowithadepressedcountenance。
　　PresentlyBertcametoabigwoodenhousestandingcasuallyamongthetrees。Itlookedableak，bareboxofahousetohim，nocreepergrewonit，nohedgenorwallnorfenceparteditofffromthewoodsaboutit。Hestoppedbeforethestepsthatleduptothedoor，perhapsthirtyyardsaway。Theplaceseemeddeserted。Hewouldhavegoneuptothedoorandrapped，butsuddenlyabigblackdogappearedatthesideandregardedhim。
　　Itwasahugeheavy—jaweddogofsomeunfamiliarbreed，andit，woreaspike—studdedcollar。Itdidnotbarknorapproachhim，itjustbristledquietlyandemittedasinglesoundlikeashort，deepcough。
　　Berthesitatedandwenton。
　　Hestoppedthirtypacesawayandstoodpeeringabouthimamongthetrees。"IfI’aven’tbeenandlef’thatkitten，"hesaid。
　　Acutesorrowwrenchedhimforatime。Theblackdogcamethroughthetreestogetabetterlookathimandcoughedthatwell—bredcoughagain。Bertresumedtheroad。
　　"She’lldoallright，"hesaid……"She’llcatchthings。
　　"She’lldoallright，"hesaidpresently，withoutconviction。
　　Butifithadnotbeenfortheblackdog，hewouldhavegoneback。
　　Whenhewasoutofsightofthehouseandtheblackdog，hewentintothewoodsontheothersideofthewayandemergedafteranintervaltrimmingaverytolerablecudgelwithhispocket—knife。
　　Presentlyhesawanattractive—lookingrockbythetrackandpickeditupandputitinhispocket。Thenhecametothreeorfourhouses，woodenlikethelast，eachwithanill—paintedwhiteverandah（thatwashisnameforit）andallstandinginthesamecasualwayupontheground。Behind，throughthewoods，hesawpig—stysandarootingblacksowleadingabrisk，adventurousfamily。Awild—lookingwomanwithsloe—blackeyesanddishevelledblackhairsatuponthestepsofoneofthehousesnursingababy，butatthesightofBertshegotupandwentinside，andheheardherboltingthedoor。Thenaboyappearedamongthepig—stys，buthewouldnotunderstandBert’shail。
　　"IsupposeitisAmerica！"saidBert。
　　Thehousesbecamemorefrequentdowntheroad，andhepassedtwootherextremelywildanddirty—lookingmenwithoutaddressingthem。Onecarriedagunandtheotherahatchet，andtheyscrutinisedhimandhiscudgelscornfully。Thenhestruckacross—roadwithamono—railatitsside，andtherewasanoticeboardatthecomerwith"Waithereforthecars。""That’sallright，any’ow，"saidBert。"Wonder’owlongIshould’avetowait？"Itoccurredtohimthatinthepresentdisturbedstateofthecountrytheservicemightbeinterrupted，andasthereseemedmorehousestotherightthantheleftheturnedtotheright。
　　Hepassedanoldnegro。"’Ullo！"saidBert。"Goo’morning！"
　　"Goodday，sah！"saidtheoldnegro，inavoiceofalmostincrediblerichness。
　　"What’sthenameofthisplace？"askedBert。
　　"Tanooda，sah！"saidthenegro。
　　"Thenks！"saidBert。
　　"ThankYOU，sah！"saidthenegro，overwhelmingly。
　　Bertcametohousesofthesamedetached，unwalled，woodentype，butadornednowwithenamelledadvertisementspartlyinEnglishandpartlyinEsperanto。Thenhecametowhatheconcludedwasagrocer’sshop。Itwasthefirsthousethatprofessedthehospitalityofanopendoor，andfromwithincameastrangelyfamiliarsound。"Gaw！"hesaidsearchinginhispockets。"Why！
　　I’aven’twantedmoneyforfreeweeks！IwonderifI——Grubb’admostofit。Ah！"Heproducedahandfulofcoinsandregardedit;threepennies，sixpence，andashilling。"That’sallright，"
　　hesaid，forgettingaveryobviousconsideration。
　　Heapproachedthedoor，andashedidsoacompactlybuilt，grey—facedmaninshirtsleevesappearedinitandscrutinisedhimandhiscudgel。"Mornin’，"saidBert。"CanIgetanythingtoeat’rdrinkinthisshop？"
　　Themaninthedoorreplied，thankHeaven，inclear，goodAmerican。"This，sir，isnotAshop，itisAstore。"
　　"Oh！"saidBert，andthen，"Well，canIgetanythingtoeat？"
　　"Youcan，"saidtheAmericaninatoneofconfidentencouragement，andledthewayinside。
　　TheshopseemedtohimbyhisBunHillstandardsextremelyroomy，welllit，andunencumbered。Therewasalongcountertotheleftofhim，withdrawersandmiscellaneouscommoditiesrangedbehindit，anumberofchairs，severaltables，andtwospittoonstotheright，variousbarrels，cheeses，andbaconupthevista，andbeyond，alargearchwayleadingtomorespace。Alittlegroupofmenwasassembledroundoneofthetables，andawomanofperhapsfive—and—thirtyleantwithherelbowsonthecounter。Allthemenwerearmedwithrifles，andthebarrelofagunpeepedabovethecounter。Theywerealllisteningidly，inattentively，toacheap，metallic—tonedgramophonethatoccupiedatablenearathand。FromitsbrazenthroatcamewordsthatgaveBertaqualmofhomesickness，thatbroughtbackinhismemoryasunlitbeach，agroupofchildren，red—paintedbicycles，Grubb，andanapproachingballoon:——
　　"Ting—a—ling—a—ting—a—ling—a—ting—aling—a—tang……
　　WhatPriceHair—pinsNow？"
　　Aheavy—neckedmaninastrawhat，whowaschewingsomething，stoppedthemachinewithatouch，andtheyall，turnedtheireyesonBert。Andalltheireyesweretiredeyes。
　　"Canwegivethisgentlemananythingtoeat，mother，orcanwenot？"saidtheproprietor。
　　"Hekinhavewhathelikes？"saidthewomanatthecounter，withoutmoving，"rightupfromacrackertoasquaremeal。"Shestruggledwithayawn，afterthemannerofonewhohasbeenupallnight。
　　"Iwantameal，"saidBert，"butI’aven’tverymuchmoney。I
　　don’wanttogivemor’nashillin’。"
　　"Mor’naWHAT？"saidtheproprietor，sharply。
　　"Mor’nashillin’，"saidBert，withasuddendisagreeablerealisationcomingintohismind。
　　"Yes，"saidtheproprietor，startledforamomentfromhiscourtlybearing。"Butwhatinhellisashilling？"
　　"Hemeansaquarter，"saidawise—looking，lankyoungmaninridinggaiters。
　　Bert，tryingtoconcealhisconsternation，producedacoin。
　　"That’sashilling，"hesaid。
　　"HecallsAstoreAshop，"saidtheproprietor，"andhewantsA
　　mealforAshilling。MayIaskyou，sir，whatpartofAmericayouhailfrom？"
　　Bertreplacedtheshilling，inhispocketashespoke，"Niagara，"
　　hesaid。
　　"AndwhendidyouleaveNiagara？"
　　"’Boutanhourago。"
　　"Well，"saidtheproprietor，andturnedwithapuzzledsmiletotheothers。"Well！"
　　Theyaskedvariousquestionssimultaneously。
　　Bertselectedoneortwoforreply。"Yousee，"hesaid，"IbeenwiththeGermanair—fleet。Igotcaughtupbythem，sortofbyaccident，andbroughtoverhere。"
　　"FromEngland？"
　　"Yes——fromEngland。WayofGermany。IwasinagreatbattlewiththemAsiatics，andIgotlef’onalittleislandbetweentheFalls。"
　　"GoatIsland？"
　　"Idon’knowwhatitwascalled。Butany’owIfoundaflying—machineandmadeasortofflywithitandgothere。"
　　Twomenstoodupwithincredulouseyesonhim。"Where’stheflying—machine？"theyasked;"outside？"
　　"It’sbackinthewoodshere——’boutarfamileaway。"
　　"Isitgood？"saidathick—lippedmanwithascar。
　　"Icomedownratherasmash——。"
　　Everybodygotupandstoodabouthimandtalkedconfusingly。
　　Theywantedhimtotakethemtotheflying—machineatonce。
　　"Look’ere，"saidBert，"I’llshowyou——onlyI’aven’t’adanythingtoeatsinceyestiday——exceptmineralwater。"
　　Agauntsoldierly—lookingyoungmanwithlongleanlegsinridinggaitersandabandolier，whohadhithertonotspoken，intervenednowonhisbehalfinanoteofconfidentauthority。"That’sawright，"hesaid。"Givehimafeed，Mr。Logan——fromme。I
　　wanttohearmoreofthatstoryofhis。We’llseehismachineafterwards。Ifyouaskme，Ishouldsayit’saremarkablyinterestingaccidenthaddroppedthisgentlemanhere。Iguesswerequisitionthatflying—machine——ifwefindit——，forlocaldefence。"
　　3
　　SoBertfellonhisfeetagain，andsateatingcoldmeatandgoodbreadandmustardanddrinkingverygoodbeer，andtellingintheroughestoutlineandwiththeomissionsandinaccuraciesofstatementnaturaltohistypeofmind，thesimplestoryofhisadventures。Hetoldhowheanda"gentlemanfriend"hadbeenvisitingtheseasidefortheirhealth，howa"chep"camealonginaballoonandfelloutashefellin，howhehaddriftedtoFranconia，howtheGermanshadseemedtomistakehimforsomeoneandhad"tookhimprisoner"andbroughthimtoNewYork，howhehadbeentoLabradorandback，howhehadgottoGoatIslandandfoundhimselftherealone。HeomittedthematterofthePrinceandtheButteridgeaspectoftheaffair，notoutofanydeepdeceitfulness，butbecausehefelttheinadequacyofhisnarrativepowers。Hewantedeverythingtoseemeasyandnaturalandcorrect，topresenthimselfasatrustworthyandunderstandableEnglishmaninasoundmediocreposition，towhomrefreshmentandaccommodationmightbegivenwithfreedomandconfidence。
　　WhenhisfragmentarystorycametoNewYorkandthebattleofNiagara，theysuddenlyproducednewspaperswhichhadbeenlyingaboutonthetable，andbegantocheckhimandquestionhimbythesevehementaccounts。Itbecameevidenttohimthathisdescenthadrevivedandrousedtoflamesagainadiscussion，atopic，thathadbeenburningcontinuously，thathadsmoulderedonlythroughsheerexhaustionofmaterialduringthetemporarydiversionofthegramophone，adiscussionthathaddrawnthesementogether，rifleinhand，theonesupremetopicofthewholeworld，theWarandthemethodsoftheWar。Hefoundanyquestionofhispersonalityandhispersonaladventuresfallingintothebackground，foundhimselftakenforgranted，andnomorethanasourceofinformation。Theordinaryaffairsoflife，thebuyingandsellingofeverydaynecessities，thecultivationoftheground，thetendingofbeasts，wasgoingonasitwerebyforceofroutine，asthecommondutiesoflifegooninahousewhosemasterliesundertheknifeofsomesupremeoperation。TheoverrulinginterestwasfurnishedbythosegreatAsiaticairshipsthatwentuponincalculablemissionsacrossthesky，thecrimson—cladswordsmenwhomightcomeflutteringdowndemandingpetrol，orfood，ornews。Thesemenwereasking，allthecontinentwasasking，"Whatarewetodo？Whatcanwetry？Howcanwegetatthem？"Bertfellintohisplaceasanitem，ceasedeveninhisownthoughtstobeacentralandindependentthing。
　　Afterhehadeatenanddrunkenhisfillandsighedandstretchedandtoldthemhowgoodthefoodseemedtohim，helitacigarettetheygavehimandledtheway，withsomedoubtsandtrouble，totheflying—machineamidstthelarches。Itbecamemanifestthatthegauntyoungman，whosename，itseemed，wasLaurier，wasaleaderbothbypositionandnaturalaptitude。Heknewthenamesandcharactersandcapabilitiesofallthemenwhowerewithhim，andhesetthemtoworkatoncewithvigourandeffecttosecurethispreciousinstrumentofwar。Theygotthethingdowntothegrounddeliberatelyandcarefully，fellingacoupleoftreesintheprocess，andtheybuiltawideflatroofoftimbersandtreeboughstoguardtheirpreciousfindagainstitschancediscoverybyanypassingAsiatics。Longbeforeeveningtheyhadanengineerfromthenexttownshipatworkuponit，andtheywerecastinglotsamongtheseventeenpickedmenwhowantedtotakeitforitsfirstflight。AndBertfoundhiskittenandcarrieditbacktoLogan’sstoreandhandeditwithearnestadmonitiontoMrs。Logan。AnditwasreassuringlycleartohimthatinMrs。
　　Loganbothheandthekittenhadfoundacongenialsoul。
　　Laurierwasnotonlyamasterfulpersonandawealthypropertyownerandemployer——hewaspresident，Bertlearntwithawe，oftheTanoodaCanningCorporation——buthewaspopularandskilfulintheartsofpopularity。Intheeveningquiteacrowdofmengatheredinthestoreandtalkedoftheflying—machineandofthewarthatwastearingtheworldtopieces。Andpresentlycameamanonabicyclewithanill—printednewspaperofasinglesheetwhichactedlikefuelinablazingfurnaceoftalk。ItwasnearlyallAmericannews;theold—fashionedcableshadfallenintodisuseforsomeyears，andtheMarconistationsacrosstheoceanandalongtheAtlanticcoastlineseemedtohavefurnishedparticularlytemptingpointsofattack。
　　Butsuchnewsitwas。
　　Bertsatinthebackground——forbythistimetheyhadgaugedhispersonalqualityprettycompletely——listening。Beforehisstaggeringmindpassedstrangevastimagesastheytalked，ofgreatissuesatacrisis，ofnationsintumultuousmarch，ofcontinentsoverthrown，offamineanddestructionbeyondmeasure。
　　Everandagain，inspiteofhiseffortstosuppressthem，certainpersonalimpressionswouldscamperacrossthewelteringconfusion，thehorriblemessoftheexplodedPrince，theChineseaeronautupsidedown，thelimpingandbandagedbird—facedofficerblunderingalonginmiserableandhopelessflight……
　　Theyspokeoffireandmassacre，ofcrueltiesandcountercruelties，ofthingsthathadbeendonetoharmlessAsiaticsbyrace—madmen，ofthewholesaleburningandsmashingupoftowns，railwayjunctions，bridges，ofwholepopulationsinhidingandexodus。"Everyshipthey’vegotisinthePacific，"heheardonemanexclaim。"Sincethefightingbegantheycan’thavelandedonthePacificslopelessthanamillionmen。They’vecometostayintheseStates，andtheywill——livingordead。"
　　Slowly，broadly，invincibly，theregrewuponBert’smindrealisationoftheimmensetragedyofhumanityintowhichhislifewasflowing;theappallinganduniversalnatureoftheepochthathadarrived;theconceptionofanendtosecurityandorderandhabit。Thewholeworldwasatwaranditcouldnotgetbacktopeace，itmightneverrecoverpeace。
　　Hehadthoughtthethingshehadseenhadbeenexceptional，conclusivethings，thatthebesiegingofNewYorkandthebattleoftheAtlanticwereepoch—makingeventsbetweenlongyearsofsecurity。Andtheyhadbeenbutthefirstwarningimpactsofuniversalcataclysm。Eachdaydestructionandhateanddisastergrew，thefissureswidenedbetweenmanandman，newregionsofthefabricofcivilisationcrumbledandgaveway。Below，thearmiesgrewandthepeopleperished;above，theairshipsandaeroplanesfoughtandfled，rainingdestruction。
　　Itisdifficultperhapsforthebroad—mindedandlong—perspectivedreadertounderstandhowincrediblethebreakingdownofthescientificcivilisationseemedtothose，whoactuallylivedatthistime，whointheirownpersonswentdowninthatdebacle。Progresshadmarchedasitseemedinvincibleabouttheearth，nevernowtorestagain。ForthreehundredyearsandmorethelongsteadilyaccelerateddiastoleofEuropeanisedcivilisationhadbeeninprogress:townshadbeenmultiplying，populationsincreasing，valuesrising，newcountriesdeveloping;thought，literature，knowledgeunfoldingandspreading。Itseemedbutapartoftheprocessthateveryyeartheinstrumentsofwarwerevasterandmorepowerful，andthatarmiesandexplosivesoutgrewallothergrowingthings……
　　Threehundredyearsofdiastole，andthencametheswiftandunexpectedsystole，liketheclosingofafist。Theycouldnotunderstanditwassystole。
　　Theycouldnotthinkofitasanythingbutajolt，ahitch，amereoscillatoryindicationoftheswiftnessoftheirprogress。
　　Collapse，thoughithappenedallaboutthem，remainedincredible。Presentlysomefallingmasssmotethemdown，orthegroundopenedbeneaththeirfeet。Theydiedincredulous……
　　Thesemeninthestoremadeaminute，remotegroupunderthisimmensecanopyofdisaster。Theyturnedfromonelittleaspecttoanother。WhatchieflyconcernedthemwasdefenceagainstAsiaticraidersswoopingforpetrolortodestroyweaponsorcommunications。Everywherelevieswerebeingformedatthattimetodefendtheplantoftherailroadsdayandnightinthehopethatcommunicationwouldspeedilyberestored。Thelandwarwasstillfaraway。Amanwithaflatvoicedistinguishedhimselfbyadisplayofknowledgeandcunning。HetoldthemallwithconfidencejustwhathadbeenwrongwiththeGermandrachenfliegerandtheAmericanaeroplanes，justwhatadvantagetheJapaneseflyerspossessed。HelaunchedoutintoaromanticdescriptionoftheButteridgemachineandrivetedBert’sattention。"ISEEthat，"saidBert，andwassmittensilentbyathought。Themanwiththeflatvoicetalkedon，withoutheedinghim，ofthestrangeironyofButteridge’sdeath。AtthatBerthadalittletwingeofrelief——hewouldnevermeetButteridgeagain。ItappearedButteridgehaddiedsuddenly，verysuddenly。
　　"Andhissecret，sir，perishedwithhim！Whentheycametolookfortheparts——nonecouldfindthem。Hehadhiddenthemalltoowell。"
　　"Butcouldn’thetell？"askedthemaninthestrawhat。"Didhediesosuddenlyasthat？"
　　"Struckdown，sir。Rageandapoplexy。AtaplacecalledDymchurchinEngland。"
　　"That’sright，saidLaurier。"IrememberapageaboutitintheSundayAmerican。AtthetimetheysaiditwasaGermanspyhadstolenhisballoon。"
　　"Well，sir，"saidtheflat—voicedman，"thatfitofapoplexyatDyrnchurchwastheworstthing——absolutelytheworstthingthateverhappenedtotheworld。ForifithadnotbeenforthedeathofMr。Butteridge——"
　　"Nooneknowshissecret？"
　　"Notasoul。It’sgone。Hisballoon，itappears，waslostatsea，withalltheplans。Downitwent，andtheywentwithit。"
　　Pause。
　　"WithmachinessuchashemadewecouldfighttheseAsiaticfliersonmorethanequalterms。Wecouldoutflyandbeatdownthosescarlethumming—birdswherevertheyappeared。Butit’sgone，it’sgone，andthere’snotimetoreinventitnow。Wegottofightwithwhatwegot——andtheoddsareagainstus。THAT
　　won’tstopusfightin’。No！butjustthinkofit！"
　　Bertwastremblingviolently。Heclearedhisthroathoarsely。
　　"Isay，"hesaid，"lookhere，I——"
　　Nobodyregardedhim。Themanwiththeflatvoicewasopeninganewbranchofthesubject。
　　"Iallow——"hebegan。
　　Bertbecameviolentlyexcited。Hestoodup。