Sotheyplanned，anditseemedasmallandunimportantthingtothemthatastheyclatteredthegovernmentsofhalftheworldandmoreweredriftingintowar。Aboutmiddaytheybecameawareofthefirstoftheevening—paperplacardsshoutingtothemacrossthestreet:——
　　THEWAR—CLOUDDARKENS
　　Nothingelsebutthat。
　　"Alwaysrottin’aboutwarnow，"saidBert。
　　"They’llgetitintheneckinrealearnestoneofthesedays，iftheyain’tpreciouscareful。"
　　4
　　SoyouwillunderstandthesuddenapparitionthatsurprisedratherthandelightedthequietinformalityofDymchurchsands。
　　DymchurchwasoneofthelastplacesonthecoastofEnglandtobereachedbythemono—rail，andsoitsspacioussandswerestill，atthetimeofthisstory，thesecretanddelightofquitealimitednumberofpeople。Theywenttheretofleevulgarityandextravagances，andtobatheandsitandtalkandplaywiththeirchildreninpeace，andtheDesertDervishesdidnotpleasethematall。
　　ThetwowhitefiguresonscarletwheelscameuponthemoutoftheinfinitealongthesandsfromLittlestone，grewnearerandlargerandmoreaudible，honk—honkingandemittingweirdcries，andgenerallythreateninglivelinessofthemostaggressivetype。
　　"Goodheavens！"saidDymchurch，"what’sthis？"
　　Thenouryoungmen，accordingtoapreconcertedplan，wheeledroundfromfiletoline，dismountedandstooditattention。
　　"Ladiesandgentlemen，"theysaid，"webegtopresentourselves——
　　theDesertDervishes。"Theybowedprofoundly。
　　Thefewscatteredgroupsuponthebeachregardedthemwithhorrorforthemostpart，butsomeofthechildrenandyoungpeoplewereinterestedanddrewnearer。"Thereain’tabobonthebeach，"
　　saidGrubbinanundertone，andtheDesertDervishespliedtheirbicycleswithcomic"business，"thatgotalaughfromoneveryunsophisticatedlittleboy。Thentheytookadeepbreathandstruckintothecheerfulstrainof"WhatPriceHair—pinsNow？"
　　Grubbsangthesong，Bertdidhisbesttomakethechorusarousingone，andittheendofeachversetheydancedcertainsteps，skirtsinhand，thattheyhadcarefullyrehearsed。
　　"Ting—a—ling—a—ting—a—ling—a—ting—a—ling—a—tang……
　　WhatPriceHair—pinsNow？"
　　SotheychantedanddancedtheirstepsinthesunshineonDymchurchbeach，andthechildrendrewnearthesefoolishyoungmen，marvellingthattheyshouldbehaveinthisway，andtheolderpeoplelookedcoldandunfriendly。
　　AllroundthecoastsofEuropethatmorningbanjoswereringing，voiceswerebawlingandsinging，childrenwereplayinginthesun，pleasure—boatswenttoandfro;thecommonabundantlifeofthetime，unsuspiciousofalldangersthatgathereddarklyagainstit，flowedonitscheerfulaimlessway。Inthecitiesmenfussedabouttheirbusinessesandengagements。Thenewspaperplacardsthathadcried"wolf！"sooften，cried"wolf！"nowinvain。
　　5
　　NowasBertandGrubbbawledtheirchorusforthethirdtime，theybecameawareofaverybig，golden—brownballoonlowintheskytothenorth—west，andcomingrapidlytowardsthem。
　　"Jestaswe’regettin’holdof’em，"mutteredGrubb，"upcomesacounter—attraction。Goit，Bert！"
　　"Ting—a—ling—a—ting—a—ling—a—ting—a—ling—a—tangWhatPriceHair—pinsNow？"
　　Theballoonroseandfell，wentoutofsight——"landed，thankgoodness，"saidGrubb——re—appearedwithaleap。"’ENG！"saidGrubb。"Stepit，Bert，orthey’llseeit！"
　　Theyfinishedtheirdance，andthenstoodfranklystaring。
　　"There’ssomethingwrongwiththatballoon，"saidBert。
　　Everybodynowwaslookingattheballoon，drawingrapidlynearerbeforeabrisknorth—westerlybreeze。Thesonganddancewerea"deadfrost。"Nobodythoughtanymoreaboutit。EvenBertandGrubbforgotit，andignoredthenextitemontheprogrammealtogether。Theballoonwasbumpingasthoughitsoccupantsweretryingtoland;itwouldapproach，sinkingslowly，touchtheground，andinstantlyjumpfiftyfeetorsointheairandimmediatelybegintofallagain。Itscartouchedaclumpoftrees，andtheblackfigurethathadbeenstrugglingintheropesfellback，orjumpedback，intothecar。Inanothermomentitwasquiteclose。Itseemedahugeaffair，asbigasahouse，anditfloateddownswiftlytowardsthesands;alongropetrailedbehindit，andenormousshoutscamefromthemaninthecar。Heseemedtobetakingoffhisclothes，thenhisheadcameoverthesideofthecar。"Catchholdoftherope！"theyheard，quiteplain。
　　"Salvage，Bert！"criedGrubb，andstartedtoheadofftherope。
　　Bertfollowedhim，andcollided，withoutupsetting，withafishermanbentuponasimilarerrand。Awomancarryingababyinherarms，twosmallboyswithtoyspades，andastoutgentlemaninflannelsallgottothetrailingropeataboutthesametime，andbegantodanceoveritintheirattemptstosecureit。Bertcameuptothiswriggling，elusiveserpentandgothisfootonit，wentdownonallfoursandachievedagrip。Inhalfadozensecondsthewholediffusedpopulationofthebeachhad，asitwere，crystallisedontherope，andwaspullingagainsttheballoonunderthevehementandstimulatingdirectionsofthemaninthecar。"Pull，Itellyou！"saidthemaninthecar——"pull！"
　　Forasecondorsothebtlloonobeyeditsmomentumandthewindandtuggeditshumananchorseaward。Itdropped，touchedthewater，andmadeaflat，silverysplash，andrecoiledasone’sfingerrecoilswhenonetouchesanythinghot。"Pullherin，"
　　saidthemaninthecar。"SHE’SFAINTED！"
　　Heoccupiedhimselfwithsomeunseenobjectwhilethepeopleontheropepulledhimin。Bertwasnearesttheballoon，andmuchexcitedandinterested。HekeptstumblingoverthetailoftheDervishcostumeinhiszeal。Hehadneverimaginedbeforewhatabig，light，wallowingthingaballoonwas。Thecarwasofbrowncoarsewicker—work，andcomparativelysmall。Theropehetuggedatwasfastenedtoastout—lookingring，fourorfivefeetabovethecar。Ateachtughedrewinayardorsoofrope，andthewagglingwicker—workwasdrawnsomuchnearer。Outofthecarcamewrathfulbellowings:"Fainted，shehas！"andthen:"It’sherheart——brokenwithallshe’shadtogothrough。"
　　Theballoonceasedtostruggle，andsankdownward。Bertdroppedtherope，andranforwardtocatchitinanewplace。Inanothermomenthehadhishandonthecar。"Layholdofit，"saidthemanintheear，andhisfaceappearedclosetoBert’s——astrangelyfamiliarface，fierceeyebrows，aflattishnose，ahugeblackmoustache。Hehaddiscardedcoatandwaistcoat——perhapswithsomeideaofpresentlyhavingtoswimforhislife——andhisblackhairwasextraordinarilydisordered。"Willallyoupeoplegetholdroundthecar？"hesaid。"There’saladyherefainted——
　　orgotfailureoftheheart。Heavenaloneknowswhich！MynameisButteridge。Butteridge，mynameis——inaballoon。Nowplease，allontotheedge。ThisisthelasttimeItrustmyselftooneofthesepaleolithiccontrivances。Theripping—cordfailed，andthevalvewouldn’tact。IfeverImeetthescoundrelwhooughttohaveseen——"
　　Hestuckhisheadoutbetweentheropesabruptly，andsaid，inanoteofearnestexpostulation:"Getsomebrandy！——someneatbrandy！"Someonewentupthebeachforit。
　　Inthecar，sprawlinguponasortofbed—bench，inanattitudeofelaborateself—abandonment，wasalarge，blondlady，wearingafurcoatandabigfloriferoushat。Herheadlolledbackagainstthepaddedcornerofthecar，andhereyeswereshutandhermouthopen。"Medear！"saidMr。Butteridge，inacommon，loudvoice，"we’resafe！"
　　Shegavenosign。
　　"Medear！"saidMr。Butteridge，inagreatlyintensifiedloudvoice，"we’resafe！"
　　Shewasstillquiteimpassive。
　　ThenMr。Butteridgeshowedthefierycoreofhissoul。"Ifsheisdead，"hesaid，slowlyliftingafisttowardstheballoonabovehim，andspeakinginanimmensetremulousbellow——"ifsheisdead，Iwillr—r—rendtheheavenslikeagarment！Imustgetherout，"hecried，hisnostrilsdilatedwithemotion—"Imustgetherout。Icannothaveherdieinawicker—workbasketninefeetsquare——shewhowasmadeforkings’palaces！Keepholtofthiscar！IsthereastrongmanamongyetotakeherifIhandherout？"
　　Heswepttheladytogetherbyapowerfulmovementofhisarms，andliftedher。"Keepthecarfromjumping，"hesaidtothosewhoclusteredabouthim。"Keepyourweightonit。Sheisnolightwoman，andwhensheisoutofit——itwillberelieved。"
　　Bertleaptlightlyintoasittingpositionontheedgeofthecar。Theotherstookafirmergripupontheropesandring。
　　"Areyouready？"saidMr。Butteridge。
　　Hestooduponthebed—benchandliftedtheladycarefully。ThenhesatdownonthewickeredgeoppositetoBert，andputonelegovertodangleoutside。Aropeorsoseemedtoincommodehim。
　　"Willsomeoneassistme？"hesaid。"Iftheywouldtakethislady？"
　　Itwasjustatthismoment，withMr。Butteridgeandtheladybalancedfinelyonthebasketbrim，thatshecame—to。Shecame—tosuddenlyandviolentlywithaloud，heart—rendingcryof"Alfred！Saveme！"Andshewavedherarmssearchingly，andthenclaspedMr。Butteridgeabout。
　　ItseemedtoBertthatthecarswayedforamomentandthenbuck—jumpedandkickedhim。Alsohesawthebootsoftheladyandtherightlegofthegentlemandescribingarcsthroughtheair，preparatorytovanishingoverthesideofthecar。Hisimpressionswerecomplex，buttheyalsocomprehendedthefactthathehadlosthisbalance，andwasgoingtostandonhisheadinsidethiscreakingbasket。Hespreadoutclutchingarms。Hedidstandonhishead，moreorless，histow—beardcameoffandgotinhismouth，andhischeekslidalongagainstpadding。Hisnoseburieditselfinabagofsand。Thecargaveaviolentlurch，andbecamestill。
　　"Confoundit！"hesaid。
　　Hehadanimpressionhemustbestunnedbecauseofasurginginhisears，andbecauseallthevoicesofthepeopleabouthimhadbecomesmallandremote。Theywereshoutinglikeelvesinsideahill。
　　Hefounditalittledifficulttogetonhisfeet。HislimbsweremixedupwiththegarmentsMr。Butteridgehaddiscardedwhenthatgentlemanhadthoughthemustneedsplungeintothesea。
　　Bertbawledouthalfangry，halfrueful，"Youmighthavesaidyouweregoingtotipthebasket。"Thenhestoodupandclutchedtheropesofthecarconvulsively。
　　Belowhim，farbelowhim，shiningblue，werethewatersoftheEnglishChannel。Faroff，alittlethinginthesunshine，andrushingdownasifsomeonewasbendingithollow，wasthebeachandtheirregularclusterofhousesthatconstitutesDymchurch。
　　Hecouldseethelittlecrowdofpeoplehehadsoabruptlyleft。
　　Grubb，inthewhitewrapperofaDesertDervish，wasrunningalongtheedgeofthesea。Mr。Butteridgewasknee—deepinthewater，bawlingimmensely。Theladywassittingupwithherfloriferoushatinherlap，shockinglyneglected。Thebeach，eastandwest，wasdottedwithlittlepeople——theyseemedallheadsandfeet——lookingup。Andtheballoon，releasedfromthetwenty—fivestoneorsoofMr。Butteridgeandhislady，wasrushingupintotheskyatthepaceofaracingmotor—car。"Mycrikey！"saidBert;"here’sago！"
　　Helookeddownwithapinchedfaceattherecedingbeach，andreflectedthathewasn’tgiddy;thenhemadeasuperficialsurveyofthecordsandropesabouthimwithavagueideaof"doingsomething。""I’mnotgoingtomessaboutwiththething，"hesaidatlast，andsatdownuponthemattress。"I’mnotgoingtotouchit……Iwonderwhatoneoughttodo？"
　　Soonhegotupagainandstaredforalongtimeitthesinkingworldbelow，atwhitecliffstotheeastandflatteningmarshtotheleft，ataminutewideprospectofwealdanddownland，atdimtownsandharboursandriversandribbon—likeroads，atshipsandships，decksandforeshortenedfunnelsupontheever—wideningsea，andatthegreatmono—railbridgethatstraddledtheChannelfromFolkestonetoBoulogne，untilatlast，firstlittlewispsandthenaveiloffilmycloudhidtheprospectfromhiseyes。
　　Hewasn’tatallgiddynorverymuchfrightened，onlyinastateofenormousconsternation。
　　CHAPTERIII
　　THEBALLOON
　　I
　　BertSmallwayswasavulgarlittlecreature，thesortofpert，limitedsoulthattheoldcivilisationoftheearlytwentiethcenturyproducedbythemillionineverycountryoftheworld。
　　Hehadlivedallhislifeinnarrowstreets，andbetweenmeanhouseshecouldnotlookover，andinanarrowcircleofideasfromwhichtherewasnoescape。Hethoughtthewholedutyofmanwastobesmarterthanhisfellows，gethishands，asheputit，"onthedibs，"andhaveagoodtime。Hewas，infact，thesortofmanwhohadmadeEnglandandAmericawhattheywere。Theluckhadbeenagainsthimsofar，butthatwasbytheway。HewasamereaggressiveandacquisitiveindividualwithnosenseoftheState，nohabitualloyalty，nodevotion，nocodeofhonour，nocodeevenofcourage。Nowbyacuriousaccidenthefoundhimselfliftedoutofhismarvellousmodernworldforatime，outofalltherushandconfusedappealsofit，andfloatinglikeathingdeadanddisembodiedbetweenseaandsky。ItwasasifHeavenwasexperimentingwithhim，hadpickedhimoutasasamplefromtheEnglishmillions，tolookathimmorenearly，andtoseewhatwashappeningtothesoulofman。ButwhatHeavenmadeofhiminthatcaseIcannotprofesstoimagine，forIhavelongsinceabandonedalltheoriesabouttheidealsandsatisfactionsofHeaven。
　　Tobealoneinaballoonataheightoffourteenorfifteenthousandfeet——andtothatheightBertSmallwayspresentlyroseislikenothingelseinhumanexperience。Itisoneofthesupremethingspossibletoman。Noflyingmachinecaneverbetterit。Itistopassextraordinarilyoutofhumanthings。
　　Itistobestillandalonetoanunprecedenteddegree。Itissolitudewithoutthesuggestionofintervention;itiscalmwithoutasingleirrelevantmurmur。Itistoseethesky。Nosoundreachesoneofalltheroarandjarofhumanity，theairisclearandsweetbeyondthethoughtofdefilement。Nobird，noinsectcomessohigh。Nowindblowseverinaballoon，nobreezerustles，foritmoveswiththewindandisitselfapartoftheatmosphere。Oncestarted，itdoesnotrocknorsway;youcannotfeelwhetheritrisesorfalls。Bertfeltacutelycold，buthewasn’tmountain—sick;heputonthecoatandovercoatandglovesButteridgehaddiscarded——putthemoverthe"DesertDervish"
　　sheetthatcoveredhischeapbestsuit——andsatverystillforalong，time，overawedbythenew—foundquietoftheworld。
　　Abovehimwasthelight，translucent，billowingglobeofshiningbrownoiledsilkandtheblazingsunlightandthegreatdeepbluedomeofthesky。
　　Below，farbelow，wasatornfloorofsunlitcloudslashedbyenormousrentsthroughwhichhesawthesea。
　　Ifyouhadbeenwatchinghimfrombelow，youwouldhaveseenhishead，amotionlesslittleblackknob，stickingoutfromthecarfirstofallforalongtimeononeside，andthenvanishingtoreappearafteratimeatsomeotherpoint。
　　Hewasn’tintheleastdegreeuncomfortablenorafraid。Hedidthinkthatasthisuncontrollablethinghadthusrusheduptheskywithhimitmightpresentlyrushdownagain，butthisconsiderationdidnottroublehimverymuch。Essentiallyhisstatewaswonder。Thereisnofearnortroubleinballoons——
　　untiltheydescend。
　　"Gollys！"hesaidatlast，feelinganeedfortalking;"it’sbetterthanamotor—bike。
　　"It’sallright！
　　"Isupposethey’retelegraphingabout，aboutme。"……
　　Thesecondhourfoundhimexaminingtheequipmentofthecarwithgreatparticularity。Abovehimwasthethroatoftheballoonbunchedandtiedtogether，butwithanopenlumenthroughwhich，Bertcouldpeerupintoavast，empty，quietinterior，andoutofwhichdescendedtwofinecordsofunknownimport，onewhite，onecrimson，topocketsbelowthering。Thenettingabouttheballoon—endedincordsattachedtothering，abigsteel—boundhoop。towhichthecarwasslungbyropes。Fromitdependedthetrailropeandgrapnel，andoverthesidesofthecarwereanumberofcanvasbagsthatBertdecidedmustbeballastto"chuckdown"iftheballoonfell。（"Notmuchfallingjustyet，"saidBert。）
　　Therewereananeroidandanotherbox—shapedinstrumenthangingfromthering。Thelatterhadanivoryplatebearing"statoscope"andotherwordsinFrench，andalittleindicatorquiveredandwaggled，betweenMonteeandDescente。"That’sallright，"saidBert。"Thattellsifyou’regoingupordown。"OnthecrimsonpaddedseatoftheballoontherelayacoupleofrugsandaKodak，andinoppositecornersofthebottomofthecarwereanemptychampagnebottleandaglass。"Refreshments，"saidBertmeditatively，tiltingtheemptybottle。Thenhehadabrilliantidea。Thetwopaddedbed—likeseats，eachwithblanketsandmattress，heperceived，wereboxes，andwithinhefoundMr。Butteridge’sconceptionofanadequateequipmentforaballoonascent:ahamperwhichincludedagamepie，aRomanpie，acoldfowl，tomatoes，lettuce，hamsandwiches，shrimpsandwiches，alargecake，knivesandforksandpaperplates，self—heatingtinsofcoffeeandcocoa，bread，butter，andmarmalade，severalcarefullypackedbottlesofchampagne，bottlesofPerrierwater，andabigjarofwaterforwashing，aportfolio，maps，andacompass，arucksackcontaininganumberofconveniences，includingcurling—tongsandhair—pins，，acapwithear—flaps，andsoforth。
　　"A’omefrom’ome，"saidBert，surveyingthisprovisionashetiedtheear—flapsunderhischin。Helookedoverthesideofthecar。Farbelowweretheshiningclouds。Theyhadthickenedsothatthewholeworldwashidden。Southwardtheywerepiledingreatsnowymasses，sothathewashalfdisposedtothinkthemmountains;northwardandeastwardtheywereinwavelikelevels，andblindinglysunlit。
　　"Wonderhowlongaballoonkeepsup？"hesaid。
　　Heimaginedhewasnotmoving，soinsensiblydidthemonsterdriftwiththeairaboutit。"Nogoodcomingdowntillweshiftabit，"hesaid。
　　Heconsultedthestatoscope。
　　"StillMonty，"hesaid。
　　"Wonderwhatwouldhappenifyoupulledacord？"
　　"No，"hedecided。"Iain’tgoingtomessitabout。"
　　Afterwardshedidpullboththeripping—andthevalve—cords，but，asMr。Butteridgehadalreadydiscovered，theyhadfouledafoldofsilkinthethroat。Nothinghappened。Butforthatlittlehitchtheripping—cordwouldhavetorntheballoonopenasthoughithadbeenslashedbyasword，andhurledMr。Smallwaystoeternityattherateofsomethousandfeetasecond。"Nogo！"
　　hesaid，givingitafinaltug。Thenhelunched。
　　Heopenedabottleofchampagne，which，assoonashecutthewire，blewitscorkoutwithincredibleviolence，andforthemostpartfolloweditintospace。Bert，however，gotaboutatumblerful。"Atmosphericpressure，"saidBert，findingauseatlastfortheelementaryphysiographyofhisseventh—standarddays。"I’llhavetobemorecarefulnexttime。Nogoodwastin’
　　drink。"
　　ThenheroutedaboutformatchestoutiliseMr。Butteridge’scigars;buthereagainluckwasonhisside，andhecouldn’tfindanywherewithtosetlighttothegasabovehim。Orelsehewouldhavedroppedinaflare，asplendidbuttransitorypyrotechnicdisplay。"’EngoldGrubb！"saidBert，slappingunproductivepockets。"’Edidn’toughtto’avekep’mybox。’E’salwayssneakingmatches。"
　　Hereposedforatime。Thenhegotup，paddledabout，rearrangedtheballastbagsonthefloor，watchedthecloudsforatime，andturnedoverthemapsonthelocker。Bertlikedmaps，andhespentsometimeintryingtofindoneofFranceortheChannel;
　　buttheywereallBritishordnancemapsofEnglishcounties。
　　Thatsethimthinkingaboutlanguagesandtryingtorecallhisseventh—standardFrench。"JesuisAnglais。C’estunemeprise。
　　Jesuisarriveparaccidentici，"hedecideduponasconvenientphrases。ThenitoccurredtohimthathewouldentertainhimselfbyreadingMr。Butteridge’slettersandexamininghispocket—book，andinthismannerhewhiledawaytheafternoon。
　　2
　　Hesatuponthepaddedlocker，wrappedaboutverycarefully，fortheair，thoughcalm，wasexhilaratinglycoldandclear。Hewaswearingfirstamodestsuitofbluesergeandalltheunpretendingunderwearofasuburbanyoungmanoffashion，withsandal—likecycling—shoesandbrownstockingsdrawnoverhistrouserends;thentheperforatedsheetpropertoaDesertDervish;thenthecoatandwaistcoatandbigfur—trimmedovercoatofMr。Butteridge;thenalady’slargefurcloak，androundhiskneesablanket。Overhisheadwasatowwig，surmountedbyalargecapofMr。Butteridge’swiththeflapsdownoverhisears。
　　Andsomefursleeping—bootsofMr。Butteridge’swarmedhisfeet。
　　Thecaroftheballoonwassmallandneat，somebagsofballasttheuntidiestofitscontents，andhehadfoundalightfolding—tableandputitathiselbow，andonthatwasaglasswithchampagne。Andabouthim，aboveandbelow，wasspace——suchaclearemptinessandsilenceofspaceasonlytheaeronautcanexperience。
　　Hedidnotknowwherehemightbedrifting，orwhatmighthappennext。HeacceptedthisstateofaffairswithaserenitycreditabletotheSmallways’courage，whichonemightreasonablyhaveexpectedtobeofamoredegenerateandcontemptiblequalityaltogether。Hisimpressionwasthathewasboundtocomedownsomewhere，andthatthen，ifhewasn’tsmashed，someone，some"society"perhaps，wouldprobablypackhimandtheballoonbacktoEngland。Ifnot，hewouldaskveryfirmlyfortheBritishConsul。
　　"LeconsueloBritannique，"hedecidedthiswouldbe。"ApportezmoialeconsueloBritannique，s’ilvousplait，"hewouldsay，forhewasbynomeansignorantofFrench。Inthemeanwhile，hefoundtheintimateaspectsofMr。Butteridgeaninterestingstudy。
　　TherewerelettersofanentirelyprivatecharacteraddressedtoMr。Butteridge，andamongothersseverallove—lettersofadevouringsortinalargefemininehand。Thesearenobusinessofours，andoneremarkswithregretthatBertreadthem。
　　Whenhehadreadthemheremarked，"Gollys！"inanawestrickentone，andthen，afteralonginterval，"Iwonderifthatwasher？
　　"Lord！"
　　Hemusedforatime。
　　HeresumedhisexplorationoftheButteridgeinterior。ItincludedanumberofpresscuttingsofinterviewsandalsoseverallettersinGerman，thensomeinthesameGermanhandwriting，butinEnglish。"Hul—LO！"saidBert。
　　Oneofthelatter，thefirsthetook，beganwithanapologytoButteridgefornotwritingtohiminEnglishbefore，andfortheinconvenienceanddelaythathadbeencausedhimbythat，andwentontomatterthatBertfoundexcitingin，thehighestdegree。"Wecanunderstandentirelythedifficultiesofyourposition，andthatyoushallpossiblybewatchedatthepresentjuncture。——But，sir，wedonotbelievethatanyseriousobstacleswillbeputinyourwayifyouwishedtoendeavourtoleavethecountryandcometouswithyourplansbythecustomaryroutes——eitherviaDover，Ostend，Boulogne，orDieppe。Wefinditdifficulttothinkyouarerightinsupposingyourselftobeindangerofmurderforyourinvaluableinvention。"
　　"Funny！"saidBert，andmeditated。
　　Thenhewentthroughtheotherletters。
　　"Theyseemtowanthimtocome，"saidBert，"buttheydon’tseemhurtingthemselvestoget’im。Orelsethey’reshammingdon’tcaretogethispricesdown。
　　"Theydon’tquiteseemtobethegov’ment，"hereflected，afteraninterval。"It’smorelikesomefirm’spaper。Allthisprintedstuffatthetop。Drachenflieger。Drachenballons。
　　Ballonstoffe。Kugelballons。Greektome。
　　"Buthewastryingtosellhisblessedsecretabroad。That’sallright。NoGreekaboutthat！Gollys！HereISthesecret！"
　　Hetumbledofftheseat，openedthelocker，andhadtheportfolioopenbeforehimonthefolding—table。Itwasfullofdrawingsdoneinthepeculiarflatstyleandconventionalcoloursengineersadopt。And，in，additionthereweresomeratherunder—exposedphotographs，obviouslydonebyanamateur，atclosequarters，oftheactualmachine’smutteringshadmade，initsshedneartheCrystalPalace。Bertfoundhewastrembling。
　　"Lord"hesaid，"hereamIandthewholeblessedsecretofflying——lostuphereontheroofofeverywhere。
　　"Let’ssee！"Hefelltostudyingthedrawingsandcomparingthemwiththephotographs。Theypuzzledhim。Halfofthemseemedtobemissing。Hetriedtoimaginehowtheyfittedtogether，andfoundtheefforttoogreatforhismind。
　　"It’stryin’，"saidBert。"IwishI’dbeenbroughtuptotheengineering。IfIcouldonlymakeitout！"
　　Hewenttothesideofthecarandremainedforatimestaringwithunseeingeyesatahugeclusterofgreatclouds——aclusterofslowlydissolvingMonteRosas，sunlitbelow。Hisattentionwasarrestedbyastrangeblackspotthatmovedoverthem。Italarmedhim。Itwasablackspotmovingslowlywithhimfarbelow，followinghimdownthere，indefatigably，overthecloudmountains。Whyshouldsuchathingfollowhim？Whatcoulditbe？……
　　Hehadaninspiration。"Uvcourse！"hesaid。Itwastheshadowoftheballoon。Buthestillwatcheditdubiouslyforatime。
　　Hereturnedtotheplansonthetable。
　　Hespentalongafternoonbetweenhisstrugglestounderstandthemandfitsofmeditation。HeevolvedaremarkablenewsentenceinFrench。
　　"Voici，Mossoo！——JesuisuninventeurAnglais。MonnomestButteridge。Beh。oo。teh。teh。eh。arr。E。deh。geh。eh。
　　J’avaisicipourvendrelesecretdeleflying—machine。
　　Comprenez？Vendrepourl’argenttoutsuite，l’argentenmain。
　　Comprenez？C’estlemachineajouerdansl’air。Comprenez？
　　C’estlemachineafairel’oiseau。Comprenez？Balancer？
　　Oui，exactement！Battirl’oiseauenfait，asonproprejeu。Jedesiredevendrececiavotregovernmentnational。Voulezvousmedirecterla？
　　"Bitrummy，Iexpect，fromthepointofviewofgrammar，"saidBert，"buttheyoughttogetthehangofitallright。