Hemadeclawingmotionswithhishands。"Isay！"heexclaimed，"Mr。Laurier。Look’ere——Iwant——aboutthatButteridgemachine——。"
　　Mr。Laurier，sittingonanadjacenttable，withamagnificentgesture，arrestedthediscourseoftheflat—voicedman。"What’sHEsaying？"saidhe。
　　ThenthewholecompanyrealisedthatsomethingwashappeningtoBert;eitherhewassuffocatingorgoingmad。Hewasspluttering。
　　"Look’ere！Isay！’Oldonabit！"andtremblingandeagerlyunbuttoninghimself。
　　Hetoreopenhiscollarandopenedvestandshirt。Heplungedintohisinteriorandforaninstantitseemedhewaspluckingforthhisliver。Thenashestruggledwithbuttonsonhisshouldertheyperceivedthisflattenedhorrorwasinfactaterriblydirtyflannelchest—protector。InanothermomentBert，inastateofirregulardecolletage，wasstandingoverthetabledisplayingasheafofpapers。
　　"These！"hegasped。"Thesearetheplans！……Youknow！Mr。
　　Butteridge——hismachine！Whatdied！Iwasthechapthatwentoffinthatballoon！"
　　Forsomesecondseveryonewassilent。TheystaredfromthesepaperstoBert’swhitefaceandblazingeyes，andbacktothepapersonthetable。Nobodymoved。Thenthemanwiththeflatvoicespoke。
　　"Irony！"hesaid，withanoteofsatisfaction。"RealrightdownIrony！Whenit’stoolatetothinkofmaking’emanymore！"
　　4
　　TheywouldallnodoubthavebeeneagertohearBert’sstoryoveragain，butitwasitthispointthatLauriershowedhisquality。
　　"No，SIR，"hesaid，andslidfromoffhistable。
　　HeimpoundedthedispersingButteridgeplanswithonecomprehensivesweepofhisarm，rescuingthemevenfromtheexpositoryfinger—marksofthemanwiththeflatvoice，andhandedthemtoBert。"Putthoseback，"hesaid，"whereyouhad’em。Wehaveajourneybeforeus。"
　　Berttookthem。
　　"Whar？"saidthemaninthestrawhat。
　　"Why，sir，wearegoingtofindthePresidentoftheseStatesandgivetheseplansovertohim。Ideclinetobelieve，sir，wearetoolate。"
　　"WhereisthePresident？"askedBertweaklyinthatpausethatfollowed。
　　"Logan，"saidLaurier，disregardingthatfeebleinqniry，"youmusthelpusinthis。"
　　ItseemedonlyamatterofafewminutesbeforeBertandLaurierandthestorekeeperwereexamininganumberofbicyclesthatwerestowedinthehinderroomofthestore。Bertdidn’tlikeanyofthemverymuch。TheyhadwoodrimsandanexperienceofwoodrimsintheEnglishclimatehadtaughthimtohatethem。That，however，andoneortwootherobjectionstoanimmediatestartwereoverruledbyLaurier。"ButwhereISthePresident？"BertrepeatedastheystoodbehindLoganwhilehepumpedupadeflatedtyre。
　　Laurierlookeddownonhim。"HeisreportedintheneighbourhoodofAlbany——outtowardstheBerkshireHills。Heismovingfromplacetoplaceand，asfarashecan，organisingthedefencebytelegraphandtelephonesTheAsiaticair—fleetistryingtolocatehim。Whentheythinktheyhavelocatedtheseatofgovernment，theythrowbombs。Thisinconvenienceshim，butsofartheyhavenotcomewithintenmilesofhim。TheAsiaticair—fleetisatpresentscatteredallovertheEasternStates，seekingoutanddestroyinggas—worksandwhateverseemsconducivetothebuildingofairshipsorthetransportoftroops。Ourretaliatorymeasuresareslightintheextreme。Butwiththesemachines——Sir，thisrideofourswillcountamongthehistoricalridesoftheworld！"
　　Hecameneartostrikinganattitude。"Weshan’tgettohimto—night？"askedBert。
　　"No，sir！"saidLaurier。"Weshallhavetoridesomedays，sure！"
　　"Andsupposewecan。’tgetaliftonatrain——oranything？"
　　"No，sir！There’sbeennotransitbyTanoodaforthreedays。
　　Itisnogoodwaiting。Weshallhavetogetonaswellaswecan。"
　　"Startin’now？
　　"Startingnow！"
　　"But’owabout——Weshan’tbeabletodomuchto—night。"
　　"Mayaswellridetillwe’refaggedandsleepthen。Somuchcleargain。Ourroadiseastward。"
　　"Ofcourse，"beganBert，withmemoriesofthedawnuponGoatIsland，andlefthissentenceunfinished。
　　Hegavehisattentiontothemorescientificpackingofthechest—protector，forseveraloftheplansflappedbeyondhisvest。
　　5
　　ForaweekBertledalifeofmixedsensations。Amidstthesefatigueinthelegspredominated。Mostlyherode，rodewithLaurier’sbackinexorablyahead，throughalandlikealargerEngland，withbiggerhillsandwidervalleys，largerfields，widerroads，fewerhedges，andwoodenhouseswithcommodiouspiazzas。Herode。Lauriermadeinquiries，Laurierchosetheturnings，Laurierdoubted，Laurierdecided。NowitseemedtheywereintelephonictouchwiththePresident;nowsomethinghadhappenedandhewaslostagain。Butalwaystheyhadtogoon，andalwaysBertrode。Atyrewasdeflated。Stillherode。Hegrewsaddlesore。Laurierdeclaredthatunimportant。Asiaticflyingshipspassedoverhead，thetwocyclistsmadeadashforcoveruntiltheskywasclear。OncearedAsiaticflying—machinecameflutteringafterthem，solowtheycoulddistinguishtheaeronaut’shead。Hefollowedthemforamile。Nowtheycametoregionsofpanic，nowtoregionsofdestruction;herepeoplewerefightingforfood，heretheyseemedhardlystirredfromthecountrysideroutine。TheyspentadayinadesertedanddamagedAlbany。TheAsiaticshaddescendedandcuteverywireandmadeacinder—heapoftheJunction，andourtravellerspushedoneastward。Theypassedahundredhalf—heededincidents，andalwaysBertwastoilingafterLaurier’sindefatigableback……
　　ThingsstruckuponBert’sattentionandperplexedhim，andthenhepassedonwithunansweredquestioningsfadingfromhismind。
　　Hesawalargehouseonfireonahillsidetotheright，andnomanheedingit……
　　Theycametoanarrowrailroadbridgeandpresentlytoamono—railtrainstandinginthetrackonitssafetyfeet。Itwasaremarkablysumptuoustrain，theLastWordTrans—ContinentalExpress，andthepassengerswereallplayingcardsorsleepingorpreparingapicnicmealonagrassyslopenearathand。Theyhadbeentheresixdays……
　　Atonepointtendark—complexionedmenwerehanginginastringfromthetreesalongtheroadside。Bertwonderedwhy……
　　Atonepeaceful—lookingvillagewheretheystoppedofftogetBert’styremendedandfoundbeerandbiscuits，theywereapproachedbyanextremelydirtylittleboywithoutboots，whospokeasfollows:——
　　"DeysebeenhangingaChinkindosewoods！"
　　"HangingaChinaman？"saidLaurier。
　　"Sure。Dersleuthsgothimrubberin’derrail—roadsheds！"
　　"Oh！"
　　"Doseguysdonewasecartridges。Deysehunghimanddeypulledhislegs。Deysedoin’allderChinksdeycanfinedatweh！Deyain’ttakin’norisks。AllderChinksdeycanfine。"
　　NeitherBertnorLauriermadeanyreply，andpresently，afteralittleskilfulexpectoration，theyounggentlemanwasattractedbytheappearanceoftwoofhisfriendsdowntheroadandshuffledoff，whoopingweirdly……
　　Thatafternoontheyalmostranoveramanshotthroughthebodyandpartlydecomposed，lyingnearthemiddleoftheroad，justoutsideAlbany。Hemusthavebeenlyingthereforsomedays……
　　BeyondAlbanytheycameuponamotorcarwithatyreburstandayoungwomansittingabsolutelypassivebesidethedriver’sseat。
　　Anoldmanwasunderthecartryingtoeffectsomeimpossiblerepairs。Beyond，sittingwitharifleacrosshisknees，withhisbacktothecar，andstaringintothewoods，wasayoungman。
　　Theoldmancrawledoutattheirapproachandstillonall—foursaccostedBertandLaurier。Thecarhadbrokendownovernight。
　　Theoldman，saidhecouldnotunderstandwhatwaswrong，buthewastryingtopuzzleitout。Neitherhenorhisson—in—lawhadanymechanicalaptitude。Theyhadbeenassuredthiswasafool—proofcar。Itwasdangeroustohavetostopinthisplace。
　　Thepartyhadbeenattackedbytrampsandhadhadtofight。Itwasknowntheyhadprovisions。Hementionedagreatnameintheworldoffinance。WouldLaurierandBertstopandhelphim？Heproposeditfirsthopefully，thenurgently，atlastintearsandterror。
　　"No！"saidLaurierinexorable。"Wemustgoon！Wehavesomethingmorethanawomantosave。WehavetosaveAmerica！"
　　Thegirlneverstirred。
　　Andoncetheypassedamadmansinging。
　　AndatlasttheyfoundthePresidenthidinginasmallsaloonupontheoutskirtsofaplacecalledPinkervilleontheHudson，andgavetheplansoftheButteridgemachineintohishands。
　　CHAPTERXI
　　THEGREATCOLLAPSE
　　1
　　Andnowthewholefabricofcivilisationwasbendingandgiving，anddroppingtopiecesandmeltinginthefurnaceofthewar。
　　Thestagesoftheswiftanduniversalcollapseofthefinancialandscientificcivilisationwithwhichthetwentiethcenturyopenedfollowedeachotherveryswiftly，soswiftlythatupontheforeshortenedpageofhistory——theyseemaltogethertooverlap。
　　Tobeginwith，oneseestheworldnearlyatamaximumwealthandprosperity。Toitsinhabitantsindeeditseemedalsoatamaximumofsecurity。Whennowinretrospectthethoughtfulobserversurveystheintellectualhistoryofthistime，whenonereadsitssurvivingfragmentsofliterature，itsscrapsofpoliticaloratory，thefewsmallvoicesthatchancehasselectedoutofathousandmillionutterancestospeaktolaterdays，themoststrikingthingofallthiswebofwisdomanderrorissurelythathallucinationofsecurity。Tomenlivinginourpresentworldstate，orderly，scientificandsecured，nothingseemssoprecarious，sogiddilydangerous，asthefabricofthesocialorderwithwhichthemenoftheopeningofthetwentiethcenturywerecontent。Tousitseemsthateveryinstitutionandrelationshipwasthefruitofhaphazardandtraditionandthemanifestsportofchance，theirlawseachmadeforsomeseparateoccasionandhavingnorelationtoanyfutureneeds，theircustomsillogical，theireducationaimlessandwasteful。Theirmethodofeconomicexploitationindeedimpressesatrainedandinformedmindasthemostfranticanddestructivescrambleitispossibletoconceive;theircreditandmonetarysystemrestingonanunsubstantialtraditionoftheworthinessofgold，seemsathingalmostfantasticallyunstable。Andtheylivedinplanlesscities，forthemostpartdangerouslycongested;theirrailsandroadsandpopulationweredistributedovertheearthinthewantonconfusiontenthousandirrevelantconsiderationshadmade。
　　Yettheythoughtconfidentlythatthiswasasecureandpermanentprogressivesystem，andonthestrengthofsomethreehundredyearsofchangeandirregularimprovementansweredthedoubterwith，"Thingsalwayshavegonewell。We’llworrythrough！"
　　Butwhenwecontrastthestateofmanintheopeningofthetwentiethcenturywiththeconditionofanypreviousperiodinhishistory，thenperhapswemaybegintounderstandsomethingofthatblindconfidence。Itwasnotsomuchareasonedconfidenceastheinevitableconsequenceofsustainedgoodfortune。Bysuchstandardsastheypossessed，thingsHADgoneamazinglywellforthem。Itisscarcelyanexaggerationtosaythatforthefirsttimeinhistorywholepopulationsfoundthemselvesregularlysuppliedwithmorethanenoughtoeat，andthevitalstatisticsofthetimewitnesstoanameliorationofhygienicconditionsrapidbeyondallprecedent，andtoavastdevelopmentofintelligenceandabilityinalltheartsthatmakelifewholesome。Thelevelandqualityoftheaverageeducationhadrisentremendously;andatthedawnofthetwentiethcenturycomparativelyfewpeopleinWesternEuropeorAmericawereunabletoreadorwrite。Neverbeforehadtherebeensuchreadingmasses。Therewaswidesocialsecurity。Acommonmanmighttravelsafelyoverthree—quartersofthehabitableglobe，couldgoroundtheearthatacostoflessthantheannualearningsofaskilledartisan。Comparedwiththeliberalityandcomfortoftheordinarylifeofthetime，theorderoftheRomanEmpireundertheAntonineswaslocalandlimited。Andeveryyear，everymonth，camesomenewincrementtohumanachievement，anewcountryopenedup，newmines，newscientificdiscoveries，anewmachine！
　　Forthosethreehundredyears，indeed，themovementoftheworldseemedwhollybeneficialtomankind。Mensaid，indeed，thatmoralorganisationwasnotkeepingpacewithphysicalprogress，butfewattachedanymeaningtothesephrases，theunderstandingofwhichliesatthebasisofourpresentsafety。Sustainingandconstructiveforcesdidindeedforatimemorethanbalancethemaligndriftofchanceandthenaturalignorance，prejudice，blindpassion，and，wastefulself—seekingofmankind。
　　TheaccidentalbalanceonthesideofProgresswasfarslighterandinfinitelymorecomplexanddelicateinitsadjustmentsthanthepeopleofthattimesuspected;butthatdidnotalterthefactthatitwasaneffectivebalance。Theydidnotrealisethatthisageofrelativegoodfortunewasanageofimmensebuttemporaryopportunityfortheirkind。Theycomplacentlyassumedanecessaryprogresstowardswhichtheyhadnomoralresponsibility。Theydidnotrealisethatthissecurityofprogresswasathingstilltobewon——orlost，andthatthetimetowinitwasatimethatpassed。Theywentabouttheiraffairsenergeticallyenoughandyetwithacuriousidlenesstowardsthosethreateningthings。Noonetroubledovertherealdangersofmankind。They，sawtheirarmiesandnaviesgrowlargerandmoreportentous;someoftheirironcladsatthelastcostasmuchasthewholeannualexpenditureuponadvancededucation;theyaccumulatedexplosivesandthemachineryofdestruction;theyallowedtheirnationaltraditionsandjealousiestoaccumulate;
　　theycontemplatedasteadyenhancementofracehostilityastheracesdrewcloserwithout。concernorunderstanding，andtheypermittedthegrowthintheirmidstofanevil—spiritedpress，mercenary，andunscrupulous，incapableofgood，andpowerfulforevil。TheStatehadpracticallynocontroloverthepressatall。Quiteheedlesslytheyallowedthistouch—papertolieatthedooroftheirwarmagazineforanysparktofire。Theprecedentsofhistorywereallonetaleofthecollapseofcivilisations，thedangersofthetimeweremanifest。Oneisincredulousnowtobelievetheycouldnotsee。
　　CouldmankindhavepreventedthisdisasteroftheWarintheAir？
　　Anidlequestionthat，asidleastoaskcouldmankindhavepreventedthedecaythatturnedAssyriaandBabylontoemptydesertsortheslowdeclineandfall，thegradualsocialdisorganisation，phasebyphase，thatclosedthechapteroftheEmpireoftheWest！Theycouldnot，becausetheydidnot，theyhadnotthewilltoarrestit。Whatmankindcouldachievewithadifferentwillisaspeculationasidleasitismagnificent。
　　AndthiswasnoslowdecadencethatcametotheEuropeanisedworld;thoseothercivilisationsrottedandcrumbleddown，theEuropeanisedcivilisationwas，asitwere，blownup。Withinthespaceoffiveyearsitwasaltogetherdisintegratedanddestroyed。UptotheveryeveoftheWarintheAironeseesaspaciousspectacleofincessantadvance，aworld—widesecurity，enormousareaswithhighlyorganisedindustryandsettledpopulations，giganticcitiesspreadinggigantically，theseasandoceansdottedwithshipping，thelandnettedwithrails，andopenways。ThensuddenlytheGermanair—fleetssweepacrossthescene，andweareinthebeginningoftheend。
　　2
　　ThisstoryhasalreadytoldoftheswiftrushuponNewYorkofthefirstGermanair—fleetandofthewild，inevitableorgyofinconclusivedestructionthatensued。Behinditasecondair—fleetwasalreadyswellingatitsgasometerswhenEnglandandFranceandSpainandItalyshowedtheirhands。NoneofthesecountrieshadpreparedforaeronauticwarfareonthemagnificentscaleoftheGermans，buteachguardedsecrets，eachinameasurewasmakingready，andacommondreadofGermanvigourandthataggressivespiritPrinceKarlAlbertembodied，hadlongbeendrawingthesepowerstogetherinsecretanticipationofsomesuchattack。Thisrenderedtheirpromptco—operationpossible，andtheycertainlyco—operatedpromptly。ThesecondaerialpowerinEuropeatthistimewasFrance;theBritish，nervousfortheirAsiaticempire，andsensibleoftheimmensemoraleffectoftheairshipuponhalf—educatedpopulations，hadplacedtheiraeronauticparksinNorthIndia，andwereabletoplaybutasubordinatepartintheEuropeanconflict。Still，eveninEnglandtheyhadnineortenbignavigables，twentyorthirtysmallerones，andavarietyofexperimentalaeroplanes。BeforethefleetofPrinceKarlAlberthadcrossedEngland，whileBertwasstillsurveyingManchesterinbird’s—eyeview，thediplomaticexchangesweregoingonthatledtoanattackuponGermany。A
　　heterogeneouscollectionofnavigableballoonsofallsizesandtypesgatheredovertheBerneseOberland，crushedandburntthetwenty—fiveSwissair—ships’thatunexpectedlyresistedthisconcentrationinthebattleoftheAlps，andthen，leavingtheAlpineglaciersandvalleysstrewnwithstrangewreckage，dividedintotwofleetsandsetitselftoterroriseBerlinanddestroytheFranconianPark，seekingtodothisbeforethesecondair—fleetcouldbeinflated。
　　BothoverBerlinandFranconiatheassailantswiththeirmodernexplosiveseffectedgreatdamagebeforetheyweredrivenoff。InFranconiatwelvefullydistendedandfivepartiallyfilledandmannedgiantswereabletomakeheadagainstandatlast，withthehelpofasquadronofdrachenfliegerfromHamburg，defeatandpursuetheattackandtorelieveBerlin，andtheGermanswerestrainingeverynervetogetanoverwhelmingfleetintheair，andwerealreadyraidingLondonandPariswhentheadvancefleetsfromtheAsiaticair—parks，thefirstintimationofanewfactorintheconflict，werereportedfromBurmahandArmenia。
　　Alreadythewholefinancialfabricoftheworldwasstaggeringwhenthatoccurred。WiththedestructionoftheAmericanfleetintheNorthAtlantic，andthesmashingconflictthatendedthenavalexistenceofGermanyintheNorthSea，withtheburningandwreckingofbillionsofpounds’worthofpropertyinthefourcardinalcitiesoftheworld，thefactofthehopelesscostlinessofwarcamehomeforthefirsttime，came，likeablowintheface，totheconsciousnessofmankind。Creditwentdowninawildwhirlofselling。Everywhereappearedaphenomenonthathadalreadyinamilddegreemanifesteditselfinprecedingperiodsofpanic;adesiretoSECUREANDHOARDGOLDbeforepricesreachedbottom。Butnowitspreadlikewild—fire，itbecameuniversal。
　　Abovewasvisibleconflictanddestruction;belowsomethingwashappeningfarmoredeadlyandincurabletotheflimsyfabricoffinanceandcommercialisminwhichmenhadsoblindlyputtheirtrust。Astheairshipsfoughtabove，thevisiblegoldsupplyoftheworldvanishedbelow。Anepidemicofprivatecorneringanduniversaldistrustswepttheworld。Inafewweeks，money，exceptfordepreciatedpaper，vanishedintovaults，intoholes，intothewallsofhouses，intotenmillionhiding—places。Moneyvanished，andatitsdisappearancetradeandindustrycametoanend。Theeconomicworldstaggeredandfelldead。Itwaslikethestrokeofsomediseaseitwaslikethewatervanishingoutofthebloodofalivingcreature;itwasasudden，universalcoagulationofintercourse……
　　Andasthecreditsystem，thathadbeenthelivingfortressofthescientificcivilisation，reeledandfelluponthemillionsithadheldtogetherineconomicrelationship，asthesepeople，perplexedandhelpless，facedthismarvelofcreditutterlydestroyed，theairshipsofAsia，countlessandrelentless，pouredacrosstheheavens，swoopedeastwardtoAmericaandwestwardtoEurope。Thepageofhistorybecomesalongcrescendoofbattle。
　　ThemainbodyoftheBritish—Indianair—fleetperisheduponapyreofblazingantagonistsinBurmah;theGermanswerescatteredinthegreatbattleoftheCarpathians;thevastpeninsulaofIndiaburstintoinsurrectionandcivilwarfromendtoend，andfromGobitoMoroccorosethestandardsofthe"Jehad。"ForsomeweeksofwarfareanddestructionitseemedasthoughtheConfederationofEasternAsiamustneedsconquertheworld，andthenthejerry—built"modern"civilisationofChinatoogavewayunderthestrain。TheteemingandpeacefulpopulationofChinahadbeen"westernised"duringtheopeningyearsofthetwentiethcenturywiththedeepestresentmentandreluctance;theyhadbeendragoonedanddisciplinedunderJapaneseandEuropean——influenceintoanacquiescencewithsanitarymethods，policecontrols，militaryservice，andwholesaleprocessofexploitationagainstwhichtheirwholetraditionrebelled。Underthestressesofthewartheirendurancereachedthebreakingpoint，thewholeofChinaroseinincoherentrevolt，andthepracticaldestructionofthecentralgovernmentatPekinbyahandfulofBritishandGermanairshipsthathadescapedfromthemainbattlesrenderedthatrevoltinvincible。InYokohamaappearedbarricades，theblackflagandthesocialrevolution。
　　Withthatthewholeworldbecameawelterofconflict。
　　Sothatauniversalsocialcollapsefollowed，asitwerealogicalconsequence，uponworld—widewar。Whereverthereweregreatpopulations，greatmassesofpeoplefoundthemselveswithoutwork，withoutmoney，andunabletogetfood。Faminewasineveryworking—classquarterintheworldwithinthreeweeksofthebeginningofthewar。Withinamonththerewasnotacityanywhereinwhichtheordinarylawandsocialprocedurehadnotbeenreplacedbysomeformofemergencycontrol，inwhichfirearmsandmilitaryexecutionswerenotbeingusedtokeeporderandpreventviolence。Andstillinthepoorerquarters，andinthepopulousdistricts，andevenhereandtherealreadyamongthosewhohadbeenwealthy，faminespread。
　　3
　　SowhathistorianshavecometocallthePhaseoftheEmergencyCommitteessprangfromtheopeningphaseandfromthephaseofsocialcollapse。Thenfollowedaperiodofvehementandpassionateconflictagainstdisintegration;everywherethestruggletokeeporderandtokeepfightingwenton。Andatthesametimethecharacterofthewaralteredthroughthereplacementofthehugegas—filledairshipsbyflying—machinesastheinstrumentsofwar。Sosoonasthebigfleetengagementswereover，theAsiaticsendeavouredtoestablishincloseproximitytothemorevulnerablepointsofthecountriesagainstwhichtheywereacting，fortifiedcentresfromwhichflying—machineraidscouldbemade。Foratimetheyhadeverythingtheirownwayinthis，andthen，asthisstoryhastold，thelostsecretoftheButteridgemachinecametolight，andtheconflictbecameequalizedandlessconclusivethanever。
　　Forthesesmallflying—machines，ineffectualforanylargeexpeditionorconclusiveattack，werehorriblyconvenientforguerillawarfare，rapidlyandcheaplymade，easilyused，easilyhidden。ThedesignofthemwashastilycopiedandprintedinPinkervilleandscatteredbroadcastovertheUnitedStatesandcopiesweresenttoEurope，andtherereproduced。Everyman，everytown，everyparishthatcould，wasexhortedtomakeandusethem。Inalittlewhiletheywerebeingconstructednotonlybygovernmentsandlocalauthorities，butbyrobberbands，byinsurgentcommittees，byeverytypeofprivateperson。ThepeculiarsocialdestructivenessoftheButteridgemachinelayinitscompletesimplicity。Itwasnearlyassimpleasamotor—bicycle。Thebroadoutlinesoftheearlierstagesofthewardisappearedunderitsinfluence，thespaciousantagonismofnationsandempiresandracesvanishedinaseethingmassofdetailedconflict。TheworldpassedatastridefromaunityandsimplicitybroaderthanthatoftheRomanEmpireatitsbest，toassocialfragmentationascompleteastherobber—baronperiodoftheMiddleAges。Butthistime，foralongdescentdowngradualslopesofdisintegration，comesafalllikeafalloveracliff。
　　Everywhereweremenandwomenperceivingthisandstrugglingdesperatelytokeepasitwereaholdupontheedgeofthecliff。
　　Afourthphasefollows。ThroughthestruggleagainstChaos，inthewakeoftheFamine，camenowanotheroldenemyofhumanity——
　　thePestilence，thePurpleDeath。Butthewardoesnotpause。
　　Theflagsstillfly。Freshair—fleetsrise，newformsofairship，andbeneaththeirswoopingstrugglestheworlddarkens——scarcelyheededbyhistory。
　　Itisnotwithinthedesignofthisbooktotellwhatfurtherstory，totellhowtheWarintheAirkeptonthroughthesheerinabilityofanyauthoritiestomeetandagreeandendit，untileveryorganisedgovernmentintheworldwasasshatteredandbrokenasaheapofchinabeatenwithastick。Witheveryweekofthoseterribleyearshistorybecomesmoredetailedandconfused，morecrowdedanduncertain。Notwithoutgreatandheroicresistancewascivilisationbornedown。Outofthebittersocialconflictbelowrosepatrioticassociations，brotherhoodsoforder，citymayors，princes，provisionalcommittees，tryingtoestablishanorderbelowandtokeeptheskyabove。Thedoubleeffortdestroyedthem。Andastheexhaustionofthemechanicalresourcesofcivilisationclearstheheavensofairshipsatlastaltogether，Anarchy，FamineandPestilencearediscoveredtriumphantbelow。Thegreatnationsandempireshavebecomebutnamesinthemouthsofmen。Everywherethereareruinsandunburieddead，andshrunken，yellow—facedsurvivorsinamortalapathy。Heretherearerobbers，herevigilancecommittees，andhereguerillabandsrulingpatchesofexhaustedterritory，strangefederationsandbrotherhoodsformanddissolve，andreligiousfanaticismsbegottenofdespairgleaminfamine—brighteyes。Itisauniversaldissolution。Thefineorderandwelfareoftheearthhavecrumpledlikeanexplodedbladder。InfiveshortyearstheworldandthescopeofhumanlifehaveundergonearetrogressivechangeasgreatasthatbetweentheageoftheAntoninesandtheEuropeoftheninthcentury……
　　4
　　Acrossthissombrespectacleofdisastergoesaminuteandinsignificantpersonforwhomperhapsthereadersofthisstoryhavenowsomeslightsolicitude。Ofhimthereremainstobetoldjustonesingleandmiraculousthing。Throughaworlddarkenedandlost，throughacivilisationinitsdeathagony，ourlittleCockneyerrantwentandfoundhisEdna！HefoundhisEdna！
　　HegotbackacrosstheAtlanticpartlybymeansofanorderfromthePresidentandpartlythroughhisowngoodluck。HecontrivedtogethimselfaboardaBritishbriginthetimbertradethatputoutfromBostonwithoutcargo，chiefly，itwouldseem，becauseitscaptainhadavagueideaof"gettinghome"toSouthShields。
　　Bertwasabletoshiphimselfuponhermainlybecauseoftheseamanlikeappearanceofhisrubberboots。Theyhadalong，eventfulvoyage;theywerechased，orimaginedthemselvestobechased，forsomehoursbyanAsiaticironclad，whichwaspresentlyengagedbyaBritishcruiser。Thetwoshipsfoughtforthreehours，circlinganddrivingsouthwardastheyfought，untilthetwilightandthecloud—driftofarisinggaleswallowedthemup。AfewdayslaterBert’sshiplostherrudderandmainmastinagale。Thecrewranoutoffoodandsubsistedonfish。Theysawstrangeair—shipsgoingeastwardneartheAzoresandlandedtogetprovisionsandrepairtherudderatTeneriffe。Theretheyfoundthetowndestroyedandtwobigliners，withdeadstillaboard，sunkenintheharbour。Fromtheretheygotcannedfoodandmaterialforrepairs，buttheiroperationsweregreatlyimpededbythehostilityofabandofmenamidsttheruinsofthetown，whosnipedthemandtriedtodrivethemaway。
　　AtMogador，theystayedandsentaboatashoreforwater，andwerenearlycapturedbyanArabruse。HeretootheygotthePurpleDeathaboard，andsailedwithitincubatingintheirblood。Thecooksickenedfirst，andthenthemate，andpresentlyeveryonewasdownandthreeintheforecastleweredead。Itchancedtobecalmweather，andtheydriftedhelplesslyandindeedcarelessoftheirfatebackwardstowardstheEquator。Thecaptaindoctoredthemallwithrum。Ninediedalltogether，andofthefoursurvivorsnoneunderstoodnavigation;whenatlasttheytookheartagainandcouldhandleasail，theymadeacoursebythestarsroughlynorthwardandwerealreadyshortoffoodoncemorewhentheyfellinwithapetrol—drivenshipfromRiotoCardiff，shorthandedbyreasonofthePurpleDeathandgladtotakethemaboard。Soat，last，afterayearofwanderingBertreachedEngland。HelandedinbrightJuneweather，andfoundthePurpleDeathwastherejustbeginningitsravages。
　　ThepeoplewereinastateofpanicinCardiffandmanyhadfledtothehills，anddirectlythesteamercametotheharbourshewasboardedandherresidueoffoodimpoundedbysomeunauthenticatedProvisionalCommittee。Berttrampedthroughacountrydisorganisedbypestilence，foodless，andshakentotheverybaseofitsimmemorialorder。Hecameneardeathandstarvationmanytimes，andoncehewasdrawnintoscenesofviolencethatmighthaveendedhiscareer。ButtheBertSmallwayswhotrampedfromCardifftoLondonvaguely"goinghome，"vaguelyseekingsomethingofhisownthathadnotangibleformbutEdna，wasaverydifferentpersonfromtheDesertDervishwhowassweptoutofEnglandinMr。Butteridge’sballoonayearbefore。Hewasbrownandleanandenduring，steady—eyedandpestilence—salted，andhismouth，whichhadoncehungopen，shutnowlikeasteeltrap。Acrosshisbrowranawhitescarthathehadgotinafightonthebrig。InCardiffhehadfelttheneedofnewclothesandaweapon，andhad，bymeansthatwouldhaveshockedhimayearago，securedaflannelshirt，acorduroysuit，andarevolverandfiftycartridgesfromanabandonedpawnbroker’s。Healsogotsomesoapandhadhisfirstrealwashforthirteenmonthsinastreamoutsidethetown。TheVigilancebandsthathadatfirstshotplunderersveryfreelywerenoweitherentirelydispersedbytheplague，orbusybetweentownandcemeteryinavainattempttokeeppacewithit。Heprowledontheoutskirtsofthetownforthreeorfourdays，starving，andthenwentbacktojointheHospitalCorpsforaweek，andsofortifiedhimselfwithafewsquaremealsbeforehestartedeastward。
　　TheWelshandEnglishcountrysideatthattimepresentedthestrangestminglingoftheassuranceandwealthoftheopeningtwentiethcenturywithasortofDureresquemedievalism。Allthegear，thehousesandmono—rails，thefarmhedgesandpowercables，theroadsandpavements，thesign—postsandadvertisementsoftheformerorderwerestillforthemostpartintact。Bankruptcy，socialcollapse，famine，andpestilencehaddonenothingtodamagethese，anditwasonlytothegreatcapitalsandganglioniccentres，asitwere，ofthisState，thatpositivedestructionhadcome。Anyonedroppedsuddenlyintothecountrywouldhavenoticedverylittledifference。Hewouldhaveremarkedfirst，perhaps，thatallthehedgesneededclipping，thattheroadsidegrassgrewrank，thattheroad—trackswereunusuallyrainworn，andthatthecottagesbythewaysideseemedinmanycasesshutup，thatatelephonewirehaddroppedhere，andthatacartstoodabandonedbythewayside。ButhewouldstillfindhishungerwhettedbythebrightassurancethatWilder’sCannedPeacheswereexcellent，orthattherewasnothingsogoodforthebreakfasttableasGobble’sSausages。AndthensuddenlywouldcometheDureresqueelement;theskeletonofahorse，orsomecrumpledmassofragsintheditch，withgauntextendedfeetandayellow，purple—blotchedskinandface，orwhathadbeenaface，gauntandglaringanddevastated。Thenherewouldbeafieldthathadbeenploughedandnotsown，andhereafieldofcorncarelesslytrampledbybeasts，andhereahoardingtorndownacrosstheroadtomakeafire。
　　Thenpresentlyhewouldmeetamanorawoman，yellow—facedandprobablynegligentlydressedandarmed——prowlingforfood。Thesepeoplewouldhavethecomplexionsandeyesandexpressionsoftrampsorcriminals，andoftentheclothingofprosperousmiddle—classorupper—classpeople。Manyofthesewouldbeeagerfornews，andwillingtogivehelpandevenscrapsofqueermeat，orcrustsofgreyanddoughybread，inreturnforit。TheywouldlistentoBert’sstorywithavidity，andattempttokeephimwiththemforadayorso。Thevirtualcessationofpostaldistributionandthecollapseofallnewspaperenterprisehadleftanimmenseandachinggapinthementallifeofthistime。
　　Menhadsuddenlylostsightoftheendsoftheearthandhadstilltorecovertherumour—spreadinghabitsoftheMiddleAges。
　　Intheireyes，intheirbearing，intheirtalk，wasthequalityoflostanddeorientedsouls。
　　AsBerttravelledfromparishtoparish，andfromdistricttodistrict，avoidingasfaraspossiblethosefesteringcentresofviolenceanddespair，thelargertowns，hefoundtheconditionofaffairsvaryingwidely。Inoneparishhewouldfindthelargehouseburnt，thevicaragewrecked，evidentlyinviolentconflictforsomesuspectedandperhapsimaginarystoreoffoodunburieddeadeverywhere，andthewholemechanismofthecommunityatastandstill。Inanotherhewouldfindorganisingforcesstoutlyatwork，newly—paintednoticeboardswarningoffvagrants，theroadsandstillcultivatedfieldspolicedbyarmedmen，thepestilenceundercontrol，evennursinggoingon，astoreoffoodhusbanded，thecattleandsheepwellguarded，andagroupoftwoorthreejustices，thevillagedoctororafarmer，dominatingthewholeplace;areversion，infact，totheautonomouscommunityofthefifteenthcentury。ButatanytimesuchavillagewouldbeliabletoaraidofAsiaticsorAfricansorsuch—likeair—pirates，demandingpetrolandalcoholorprovisions。Thepriceofitsorderwasanalmostintolerablewatchfulnessandtension。
　　Thentheapproachtotheconfusedproblemsofsomelargercentreofpopulationandthepresenceofamoreintricateconflictwouldbemarkedbyroughlysmearednoticesof"Quarantine"or"StrangersShot，"orbyastringofdecayingplunderersdanglingfromthetelephonepolesattheroadside。AboutOxfordbigboardswereputontheroofswarningallairwanderersoffwiththesingleword，"Guns。"
　　Takingtheirrisksamidstthesethings，cyclistsstillkeptabroad，andonceortwiceduringBert’slongtramppowerfulmotorcarscontainingmaskedandgoggledfigureswenttearingpasthim。
　　Therewerefewpoliceinevidence，buteverandagainsquadsofgauntandtatteredsoldier—cyclistswouldcomedriftingalong，andsuchencountersbecamemorefrequentashegotoutofWalesintoEngland。Amidstallthiswreckagetheywerestillcampaigning。Hehadhadsomeideaofresortingtotheworkhousesforthenightifhungerpressedhimtooclosely，butsomeofthesewereclosedandothersconvertedintotemporaryhospitals，andonehecameuptoattwilightnearavillageinGloucestershirestoodwithallitsdoorsandwindowsopen，silentasthegrave，and，ashefoundtohishorrorbystumblingalongevil—smellingcorridors，fullofunburieddead。
　　FromGloucestershireBertwentnorthwardtotheBritishaeronauticparkoutsideBirmingham，inthehopethathemightbetakenonandgivenfood，fortheretheGovernment，oratanyratetheWarOffice，stillexistedasanenergeticfact，concentratedamidstcollapseandsocialdisasterupontheefforttokeeptheBritishflagstillflyingintheair，andtryingtobriskupmayorandmayorandmagistrateandmagistrateinaneweffortoforganisation。Theyhadbroughttogetherallthebestofthesurvivingartisansfromthatregion，theyhadprovisionedtheparkforasiege，andtheywereurgentlybuildingalargertypeofButteridgemachine。Bertcouldgetnofootingatthiswork:
　　hewasnotsufficientlyskilled，andhehaddriftedtoOxfordwhenthegreatfightoccurredinwhichtheseworkswerefinallywrecked。Hesawsomething，butnotverymuch，ofthebattlefromaplacecalledBoarHill。HesawtheAsiaticsquadroncomingupacrossthehillstothesouth—west，andhesawoneoftheirairshipscirclingsouthwardagainchasedbytwoaeroplanes，theonethatwasultimatelyovertaken，wreckedandburntatEdgeHill。Butheneverlearnttheissueofthecombatasawhole。
　　HecrossedtheThamesfromEtontoWindsorandmadehiswayroundthesouthofLondontoBunHill，andtherehefoundhisbrotherTom，lookinglikesomedark，defensiveanimalintheoldshop，justrecoveringfromthePurpleDeath，andJessicaupstairsdelirious，and，asitseemedtohim，dyinggrimly。Sheravedofsendingoutorderstocustomers，andscoldedTomperpetuallylestheshouldbelatewithMrs。Thompson’spotatoesandMrs。Hopkins’
　　cauliflower，thoughallbusinesshadlongsinceceasedandTomhaddevelopedaquiteuncannyskillinthesnaringofratsandsparrowsandtheconcealmentofcertainstoresofcerealsandbiscuitsfromplunderedgrocers’shops。Tomreceivedhisbrotherwithasortofguardedwarmth。
　　"Lor！"hesaid，"it’sBert。Ithoughtyou’dbecomingbacksomeday，andI’mgladtoseeyou。ButIcarn’tarstyoutoeatanything，becauseI’aven’tgotanythingtoeat……Whereyoubeen，Bert，allthistime？"
　　Bertreassuredhisbrotherbyaglimpseofapartlyeatenswede，andwasstilltellinghisstoryinfragmentsandparentheses，whenhediscoveredbehindthecounterayellowandforgottennoteaddressedtohimself。"What’sthis？"hesaid，andfounditwasayear—oldnotefromEdna。"Shecame’ere，"saidTom，likeonewhorecallsatrivialthing，"arstin’foryouandarstin’ustotake’erin。Thatwasafterthebattleandsettin’ClaphamRiseafire。Iwasfortakin’’erin，butJessicawouldn’t’aveit——andsosheborrowedfiveshillingsofmequietlikeandwenton。Idessayshe’stoleyou——"
　　Shehad，Bertfound。Shehadgoneon，shesaidinhernote，toanauntandunclewhohadabrickfieldnearHorsham。Andthereatlast，afteranotherfortnightofadventurousjourneying，Bertfoundher。
　　5
　　WhenBertandEdnaseteyesononeanother，theystaredandlaughedfoolishly，sochangedtheywere，andsoraggedandsurprised。Andthentheybothfellweeping。
　　"Oh！Bertie，boy！"shecried。"You’vecome——you’vecome！"andputoutherarmsandstaggered。"Itold’im。Hesaidhe’dkillmeifIdidn’tmarryhim。"
　　ButEdnawasnotmarried，andwhenpresentlyBertcouldgettalkfromher，sheexplainedthetaskbeforehim。ThatlittlepatchoflonelyagriculturalcountryhadfallenunderthepowerofabandofbulliesledbyachiefcalledBillGorewhohadbegunlifeasabutcherboyanddevelopedintoaprize—fighterandaprofessionalsport。Theyhadbeenorganisedbyalocalnoblemanofformereminenceupontheturf，butafteratimehehaddisappeared，noonequiteknewhowandBillhadsucceededtotheleadershipofthecountryside，andhaddevelopedhisteacher’smethodswithconsiderablevigour。Therehadbeenastrainofadvancedphilosophyaboutthelocalnobleman，andhismindranto"improvingtherace"andproducingtheOver—Man，whichinpracticetooktheformofhimselfespeciallyandhislittlebandinmoderationmarryingwithsomefrequency。Billfolloweduptheideawithanenthusiasmthateventrencheduponhispopularitywithhisfollowers。OnedayhehadhappeneduponEdnatendingherpigs，andhadatoncefallena—wooingwithgreaturgencyamongthetroughsofslush。Ednahadmadeagallantresistance，buthewasstillvigorouslyaboutandextraordinarilyimpatient。
　　Hemight，shesaid，comeatanytime，andshelookedBertintheeyes。Theywerebackalreadyinthebarbaricstagewhenamanmustfightforhislove。
　　Andhereonedeplorestheconflictsoftruthwiththechivalroustradition。OnewouldliketotellofBertsallyingforthtochallengehisrival，ofaringformedandaspiritedencounter，andBertbysomemiracleofpluckandloveandgoodfortunewinning。Butindeednothingofthesortoccurred。Instead，hereloadedhisrevolververycarefully，andthensatinthebestroomofthecottagebythederelictbrickfield，lookinganxiousandperplexed，andlisteningtotalkaboutBillandhisways，andthinking，thinking。ThensuddenlyEdna’saunt，withathrillinhervoice，announcedtheappearanceofthatindividual。Hewascomingwithtwoothersofhisgangthroughthegardengate。Bertgotup，putthewomanaside，andlookedout。Theypresentedremarkablefigures。Theyworeasortofuniformofredgolfingjacketsandwhitesweaters，footballsinglet，andstockingsandbootsandeachhadlethisfancyplayabouthishead—dress。Billhadawoman’shatfullofcock’sfeathers，andallhadwild，slouchingcowboybrims。
　　Bertsighedandstoodup，deeplythoughtful，andEdnawatchedhim，marvelling。Thewomenstoodquitestill。Heleftthewindow，andwentoutintothepassageratherslowly，andwiththecarewornexpressionofamanwhogiveshismindtoacomplexanduncertainbusiness。"Edna！"hecalled，andwhenshecameheopenedthefrontdoor。
　　Heaskedverysimply，andpointingtotheforemostofthethree，"That’im？……Sure？"……andbeingtoldthatitwas，shothisrivalinstantlyandveryaccuratelythroughthechest。HethenshotBill’sbestmanmuchlesstidilyinthehead，andthenshotatandwingedthethirdmanashefled。Thethirdgentlemanyelped，andcontinuedrunningwithacomicalend—ontwist。
　　ThenBertstoodstillmeditating，withthepistolinhishand，andquiteregardlessofthewomenbehindhim。
　　Sofarthingshadgonewell。
　　Itbecameevidenttohimthatifhedidnotgointopoliticsatonce，hewouldbehangedasanassassinandaccordingly，andwithoutawordtothewomen，hewentdowntothevillagepublic—househehadpassedanhourbeforeonhiswaytoEdna，entereditfromtherear，andconfrontedthelittlebandofambiguousroughs，whoweredrinkinginthetap—roomanddiscussingmatrimonyandBill’saffectioninafacetiousbutenviousmanner，withacasuallyheldbutcarefullyreloadedrevolver，andaninvitationtojoinwhathecalled，Iregrettosay，a"VigilanceCommittee"underhisdirection。"It’swantedabout’ere，andsomeofusaregettin’itup。"Hepresentedhimselfasonehavingfriendsoutside，thoughindeed，hehadnofriendsatallintheworldbutEdnaandherauntandtwofemalecousins。
　　Therewasaquickbutentirelyrespectfuldiscussionofthesituation。Theythoughthimalunaticwhohadtrampedinto，thisneighbourhoodignorantofBill。Theydesiredtotemporiseuntiltheirleadercame。Billwouldsettlehim。SomeonespokeofBill。
　　"Bill’sdead，Ijestshot’im，"saidBert。"Wedon’tneedreckonwith’IM。’E’sshot，andared—’airedchapwithasquint，’E’S
　　shot。We’vesettledupallthat。Thereain’tgoingtobenomoreBill，ever。’E’dgotwrongideasaboutmarriageandthings。It’s’issortofchapwe’reafter。"
　　Thatcarriedthemeeting。
　　Billwasperfunctorilyburied，andBert’sVigilanceCommittee（forsoitcontinuedtobecalled）reignedinhisstead。
　　ThatistheendofthisstorysofarasBertSmallwaysisconcerned。WeleavehimwithhisEdnatobecomesquattersamongtheclayandoakthicketsoftheWeald，farawayfromthestreamofevents。Fromthattimeforthlifebecameasuccessionofpeasantencounters，anaffairofpigsandhensandsmallneedsandlittleeconomiesandchildren，untilClaphamandBunHillandallthelifeoftheScientificAgebecametoBertnomorethanthefadingmemoryofadream。HeneverknewhowtheWarintheAirwenton，norwhetheritstillwenton。Therewererumoursofairshipsgoingandcoming，andofhappeningsLondonward。Onceortwicetheirshadowsfellonhimasheworked，butwhencetheycameorwhithertheywenthecouldnottell。Evenhisdesiretotelldiedoutforwantoffood。Attimescamerobbersandthieves，attimescamediseasesamongthebeastsandshortnessoffood，oncethecountrywasworriedbyapackofboar—houndshehelpedtokill;hewentthroughmanyinconsecutive，irrelevantadventures。Hesurvivedthemall。
　　Accidentanddeathcamenearthembotheverandagainandpassedthemby，andtheylovedandsufferedandwerehappy，andsheborehimmanychildren——elevenchildren——oneaftertheother，ofwhomonlyfoursuccumbedtothenecessaryhardshipsoftheirsimplelife。Theylivedanddidwell，aswellwasunderstoodinthosedays。Theywentthewayofallflesh，yearbyyear。