"Butthen，iftheyarstmetoexplaintheblessedthing？"
　　Hereturnedinaworriedwaytotheplans。"Idon’tbelieveit’sallhere！"hesaid……
　　Hegotmoreandmoreperplexedupthereamongthecloudsastowhatheshoulddowiththiswonderfulfindofhis。Atanymoment，sofarasheknewhemightdescendamongheknewnotwhatforeignpeople。
　　"It’sthechanceofmylife！"hesaid。
　　Itbecamemoreandmoremanifesttohimthatitwasn’t。"DirectlyIcomedownthey’lltelegraph——putitinthepapers。
　　Butteridge’llknowofitandcomealong——onmytrack。"
　　Butteridgewouldbeaterriblepersontobeonanyone’strack。
　　Bertthoughtofthegreatblackmoustaches，thetriangularnose，thesearchingbellowandtheglare。Hisafternoon’sdreamofamarvellousseizureandsaleofthegreatButteridgesecretcrumpledupinhismind，dissolved，andvanished。Heawoketosanityagain。
　　"Wouldn’tdo。What’sthegoodofthinkingofit？"HeproceededslowlyandreluctantlytoreplacetheButteridgepapersinpocketsandportfolioashehadfoundthem。Hebecameawareofasplendidgoldenlightupontheballoonabovehim，andofanewwarmthinthebluedomeofthesky。Hestoodupandbeheldthesun，agreatballofblindinggold，settinguponatumbledseaofgold—edgedcrimsonandpurpleclouds，strangeandwonderfulbeyondimagining。Eastwardcloud—landstretchedforever，darklingblue，anditseemedtoBertthewholeroundhemisphereoftheworldwasunderhiseyes。
　　Thenfar，awayoverthebluehecaughtsightofthreelong，darkshapeslikehurryingfishthatdroveoneaftertheother，asporpoisesfollowoneanotherinthewater。Theywereveryfish—likeindeed——withtails。Itwasanunconvincingimpressioninthatlight。Heblinkedhiseyes，staredagain，andtheyhadvanished。Foralongtimehescrutinisedthoseremotebluelevelsandsawnomore……
　　"WonderifIeversawanything，"hesaid，andthen:"Thereain’tsuchthings……"
　　Downwentthesunanddown，notdivingsteeply，butpassingnorthwardasitsank，andthensuddenlydaylightandtheexpansivewarmthofdaylighthadgonealtogether，andtheindexofthestatoscopequiveredovertoDescente。
　　3
　　"NOWwhat’sgoingto’appen？"saidBert。
　　Hefoundthecold，greycloudwildernessrisingtowardshimwithawide，slowsteadiness。Ashesankdownamongthemthecloudsceasedtoseemthesnowcladmountain—slopestheyhadresembledheretofore，becameunsubstantial，confessedanimmensesilentdriftandeddyintheirsubstance。Foramoment，whenhewasnearlyamongtheirtwilightmasses，hisdescentwaschecked。
　　Thenabruptlytheskywashidden，thelastvestigesofdaylightgone，andhewasfallingrapidlyinaneveningtwilightthroughawhirloffinesnowflakesthatstreamedpasthimtowardsthezenith，thatdriftedinuponthethingsabouthimandmelted，thattouchedhisfacewithghostlyfingers。Heshivered。Hisbreathcamesmokingfromhislips，andeverythingwasinstantlybedewedandwet。
　　HehadanimpressionofasnowstormpouringwithunexampledandincreasingfuryUPWARD;thenherealisedthathewasfallingfasterandfaster。
　　Imperceptiblyasoundgrewuponhisears。Thegreatsilenceoftheworldwasatanend。Whatwasthisconfusedsound？
　　Hecranedhisheadovertheside，concerned，perplexed。
　　Firstheseemedtosee，andthennottosee。Thenhesawclearlylittleedgesoffoampursuingeachother，andawidewasteofwelteringwatersbelowhim。Farawaywasapilotboatwithabigsailbearingdimblackletters，andalittlepinkish—yellowlight，anditwasrollingandpitching，rollingandpitchinginagale，whilehecouldfeelnowindat，all。Soonthesoundofwaterswasloudandnear。Hewasdropping，dropping——intothesea！
　　Hebecameconvulsivelyactive。
　　"Ballast！"hecried，andseizedalittlesackfromthefloor，andheaveditoverboard。Hedidnotwaitfortheeffectofthat，butsentanotherafterit。Helookedoverintimetoseeaminutewhitesplashinthedimwatersbelowhim，andthenhewasbackinthesnowandcloudsagain。
　　Hesentoutquiteneedlesslyathirdsackofballastandafourth，andpresentlyhadtheimmensesatisfactionofsoaringupoutofthedampandchillintotheclear，cold，upperairinwhichthedaystilllingered。"Thang—God！"hesaid，withallhisheart。
　　Afewstarsnowhadpiercedtheblue，andintheeastthereshonebrightlyaprolatemoon。
　　4
　　ThatfirstdownwardplungefilledBertwithahauntingsenseofboundlesswatersbelow。Itwasasummer’snight，butitseemedtohim，nevertheless，extraordinarilylong。Hehadafeelingofinsecuritythathefanciedquiteirrationallythesunrisewoulddispel。Alsohewashungry。Hefelt，inthedark，inthelocker，puthisfingersintheRomanpie，andgotsomesandwiches，andhealsoopenedrathersuccessfullyahalf—bottleofchampagne。Thatwarmedandrestoredhim，hegrumbledatGrubbaboutthematches，wrappedhimselfupwarmlyonthelocker，anddozedforatime。Hegotuponceortwicetomakesurethathewasstillsecurelyhighabovethesea。Thefirsttimethemoonlitcloudswerewhiteanddense，andtheshadowoftheballoonranathwartthemlikeadogthatfollowed;afterwardstheyseemedthinner。Ashelaystill，staringupatthehugedarkballoonabove，hemadeadiscovery。His——orratherMr。
　　Butteridge’s——waistcoatrustledashebreathed。Itwaslinedwithpapers。ButBertcouldnotseetogetthemoutorexaminethem，muchashewishedtodoso……
　　Hewasawakenedbythecrowingofcocks，thebarkingofdogs，andaclamourofbirds。Hewasdrivingslowlyatalowleveloverabroadlandlitgoldenbysunriseunderaclearsky。Hestaredoutuponhedgeless，well—cultivatedfieldsintersectedbyroads，eachlinedwithcable—bearingredpoles。Hehadjustpassedoveracompact，whitewashed，villagewithastraightchurchtowerandsteepred—tiledroofs。Anumberofpeasants，menandwomen，inshinyblousesandlumpishfootwear，stoodregardinghim，arrestedontheirwaytowork。Hewassolowthattheendofhisropewastrailing。
　　Hestaredoutatthesepeople。"Iwonderhowyouland，"hethought。
　　"S’poseIOUGHTtoland？"
　　Hefoundhimselfdriftingdowntowardsamono—railline，andhastilyflungouttwoorthreehandfulsofballasttoclearit。
　　"Lemmesee！Onemightsayjust’Pre’nez’！WishIknewtheFrenchfortakeholdoftherope！……IsupposetheyareFrench？"
　　Hesurveyedthecountryagain。"MightbeHolland。OrLuxembourg。OrLorraine’sfaras_I_know。Wonderwhatthosebigaffairsoverthereare？Somesortofkiln。
　　Prosperous—lookingcountry……"
　　Therespectabilityofthecountry’sappearanceawakenedansweringchordsinhisnature。
　　"Makemyselfabitship—shapefirst，"hesaid。
　　Heresolvedtorisealittleandgetridofhiswig（whichnowfelthotonhishead），andsoforth。Hethrewoutabagofballast，andwasastonishedtofindhimselfcareeringupthroughtheairveryrapidly。
　　"Blow！"saidMr。Smallways。"I’veover—donetheballasttrick……WonderwhenIshallgetdownagain？……brekfus’onboard，anyhow。"
　　Heremovedhiscapandwig，fortheairwaswarm，andanimprovidentimpulsemadehimcastthelatterobjectoverboard。
　　ThestatoscoperespondedwithavigorousswingtoMonte。
　　"TheblessedthinggoesupifyouonlyLOOKoverboard，"heremarked，andassailedthelocker。Hefoundamongotheritemsseveraltinsofliquidcocoacontainingexplicitdirectionsforopeningthathefollowedwithminutecare。Hepiercedthebottomwiththekeyprovidedintheholesindicated，andforthwiththecangrewfromcoldtohotterandhotter，untilatlasthecouldscarcelytouchit，andthenheopenedthecanattheotherend，andtherewashiscocoasmoking，withouttheuseofmatchorflameofanysort。Itwasanoldinvention，butnewtoBert。
　　Therewasalsohamandmarmaladeandbread，sothathehadareallyverytolerablebreakfastindeed。
　　Thenhetookoffhisovercoat，forthesunshinewasnowinclinedtobehot，andthatremindedhimoftherustlinghehadheardinthenight。Hetookoffthewaistcoatandexaminedit。"OldButteridgewon’tlikemeunpickingthis。"Hehesitated，andfinallyproceededtounpickit。Hefoundthemissingdrawingsofthelateralrotatingplanes，onwhichthewholestabilityoftheflyingmachinedepended。
　　AnobservantangelwouldhaveseenBertsittingforalongtimeafterthisdiscoveryinastateofintensemeditation。Thenatlastherosewithanairofinspiration，tookMr。Butteridge’sripped，demolished，andransackedwaistcoat，andhurleditfromtheballoonwhenceitfluttereddownslowlyandeddyinglyuntilatlastitcametorestwithacontentedflopuponthefaceofGermantouristsleepingpeacefullybesidetheHohenwegnearWildbad。Alsothissenttheballoonhigher，andsointoapositionstillmoreconvenientforobservationbyourimaginaryangelwhowouldnexthaveseenMr。Smallwaystearopenhisownjacketandwaistcoat，removehiscollar，openhisshirt，thrusthishandintohisbosom，andtearhisheartout——oratleast，ifnothisheart，somelargebrightscarletobject。Iftheobserver，overcomingathrillofcelestialhorror，hadscrutinisedthisscarletobjectmorenarrowly，oneofBert’smostcherishedsecrets，oneofhisessentialweaknesses，wouldhavebeenlaidbare。Itwasared—flannelchest—protector，oneofthoselargequasi—hygienicobjectsthatwithpillsandmedicinestaketheplaceofbeneficialrelicsandimagesamongtheProtestantpeoplesofChristendom。AlwaysBertworethisthing;
　　itwashischerisheddelusion，basedontheadviceofashillingfortune—telleratMargate，thathewasweakinthelungs。
　　Henowproceededtounbuttonhisfetish，toattackitwithaperiknife，andtothrustthenew—foundplansbetweenthetwolayersofimitationSaxonyflannelofwhichitwasmade。ThenwiththehelpofMr。Butteridge’ssmallshavingmirrorandhisfoldingcanvasbasinhereadjustedhiscostumewiththegravityofamanwhohastakenanirrevocablestepinlife，buttoneduphisjacket，castthewhitesheetoftheDesertDervishononeside，washedtemperately，shaved，resumedthebigcapandthefurovercoat，and，muchrefreshedbytheseexercises，surveyedthecountrybelowhim。
　　Itwasindeedaspectacleofincrediblemagnificence。Ifperhapsitwasnotsostrangeandmagnificentasthesunlitcloudlandofthepreviousday，itwasatanyrateinfinitelymoreinteresting。
　　Theairwasatitsutmostclearnessandexcepttothesouthandsouth—westtherewasnotacloudinthesky。Thecountrywashilly，withoccasionalfirplantationsandbleakuplandspaces，butalsowithnumerousfarms，andthehillsweredeeplyintersectedbythegorgesofseveralwindingriversinterruptedatintervalsbythebanked—uppondsandweirsofelectricgeneratingwheels。Itwasdottedwithbright—looking，steep—roofed，villages，andeachshowedadistinctiveandinterestingchurchbesideitswirelesstelegraphsteeple;hereandtherewerelargechateauxandparksandwhiteroads，andpathslinedwithredand，whitecablepostswereextremelyconspicuousinthelandscape。Therewerewalledenclosureslikegardensandrickyardsandgreatroofsofbarnsandmanyelectricdairycentres。Theuplandsweremottledwithcattle。Atplaceshewouldseethetrackofoneoftheoldrailroads（convertednowtomono—rails）dodgingthroughtunnelsandcrossingembankments，andarushinghumwouldmarkthepassingofatrain。Everythingwasextraordinarilyclearaswellasminute。Onceortwicehesawgunsandsoldiers，andwasremindedofthestirofmilitarypreparationshehadwitnessedontheBankHolidayinEngland;buttherewasnothingtotellhimthatthesemilitarypreparationswereabnormalortoexplainanoccasionalfaintirregularfiringOfgunsthatdrifteduptohim……
　　"WishIknewhowtogetdown，"saidBert，tenthousandfeetorsoaboveitall，andgavehimselftomuchfutiletuggingattheredandwhitecords。Afterwardshemadeasortofinventoryoftheprovisions。Lifeinthehighairwasgivinghimanappallingappetite，anditseemedtohimdiscreetatthisstagetoportionouthissupplyintorations。Sofarashecouldseehemightpassaweekintheair。
　　Atfirstallthevastpanoramabelowhadbeenassilentasapaintedpicture。Butasthedayworeonandthegasdiffusedslowlyfromtheballoon，itsankearthwardagain，detailsincreased，menbecamemorevisible，andhebegantohearthewhistleandmoanoftrainsandcars，soundsofcattle，buglesandkettledrums，andpresentlyevenmen’svoices。Andatlasthisguide—ropewastrailingagain，andhefounditpossibletoattemptalanding。Onceortwiceastheropedraggedovercableshefoundhishairerectwithelectricity，andoncehehadaslightshock，andsparkssnappedaboutthecar。Hetookthesethingsamongthechancesofthevoyage。Hehadoneideanowveryclearinhismind，andthatwastodroptheirongrapnelthathungfromthering。
　　Fromthefirstthisattemptwasunfortunate，perhapsbecausetheplacefordescentwasill—chosen。Aballoonshouldcomedowninanemptyopenspace，andhechoseacrowd。Hemadehisdecisionsuddenly，andwithoutproperreflection。Ashetrailed，Bertsawaheadofhimoneofthemostattractivelittletownsintheworld——aclusterofsteepgablessurmountedbyahighchurchtoweranddiversifiedwithtrees，walled，andwithafine，largegatewayopeningoutuponatree—linedhighroad。Allthewiresandcablesofthecountrysideconvergeduponitlikegueststoentertainment。Ithadamosthome—likeandcomfortablequality，anditwasmadegayerbyabundantflags。Alongtheroadaquantityofpeasantfolk，inbigpair—wheeledcartsandafoot，werecomingandgoing，besidesanoccasionalmono—rail，car;andatthecar—junction，underthetreesoutsidethetown，wasabusylittlefairofbooths。Itseemedawarm，human，well—rooted，andaltogetherdelightfulplacetoBert。Hecamelowoverthetree—tops，withhisgrapnelreadytothrowandsoanchorhim——acurious，interested，andinterestingguest，sohisimaginationfiguredit，intheverymiddleofitall。
　　Hethoughtofhimselfperformingfeatswiththesignlanguageandchancelinguisticsamidstacircleofadmiringrustics……
　　Andthenthechapterofadverseaccidentsbegan。
　　Theropemadeitselfunpopularlongbeforethecrowdhadfullyrealisedhisadventoverthetrees。Anelderlyandapparentlyintoxicatedpeasantinashinyblackhat，andcarryingalargecrimsonumbrella，caughtsightofitfirstasittrailedpasthim，andwasseizedwithadiscreditableambitiontokillit。Hepursuedit，brisklywithunpleasantcries。Itcrossedtheroadobliquely，splashedintoapailofmilkuponastall，andslappeditsmilkytailathwartamotor—carloadoffactorygirlshaltedoutsidethetowngates。Theyscreamedloudly。PeoplelookedupandsawBertmakingwhathemeanttobegenialsalutations，butwhattheyconsidered，inviewofthefeminineoutcry，tobeinsultinggestures。Then，thecarhittheroofofthegatehousesmartly，snappedaflagstaff，playedatuneuponsometelegraphwires，andsentabrokenwirelikeawhip—lashtodoitsshareinaccumulatingunpopularity。Bert，byclutchingconvulsively，justescapedbeingpitchedheadlong。Twoyoungsoldiersandseveralpeasantsshoutedthingsiuptohimandshookfistsathimandbegantoruninpursuitashedisappearedoverthewallintothetown。
　　Admiringrustics，indeed！
　　Theballoonleaptatonce，inthemannerofballoonswhenpartoftheirweightisreleasedbytouchingdown，withasortofflippancy，andinanothermomentBertwasoverastreetcrowdedwithpeasantsandsoldiers，thatopenedintoabusymarket—square。Thewaveofunfriendlinesspursuedhim。
　　"Grapnel，"saidBert，andthenwithanafterthoughtshouted，"TETESthere，you！Isay！Isay！TETES。’Engit！"
　　Thegrapnelsmasheddownasteeplyslopingroof，followedbyanavalancheofbrokentiles，jumpedthestreetamidstshrieksandcries，andsmashedintoaplate—glasswindowwithanimmenseandsickening，impact。Theballoonrollednauseatingly，andthecarpitched。Butthegrapnelhadnotheld。Itemergedatoncebearingononefluke，witharidiculousairoffastidiousselection，asmallchild’schair，andpursuedbyamaddenedshopman。Itlifteditscatch，swungaboutwithanappearanceofpainfulindecisionamidstaroarofwrath，anddroppeditatlastneatly，andasifbyinspiration，overtheheadofapeasantwomaninchargeofanassortmentofcabbagesinthemarket—place。
　　Everybodynowwasawareoftheballoon。Everybodywaseithertryingtododgethegrapnelorcatchthetrailrope。Withapendulum—likeswoopthroughthecrowd，thatsentpeopleflyingrightandleftthegrapnelcametoearthagain，triedforandmissedastoutgentlemaninabluesuitandastrawhat，smackedawayatrestlefromunderastallofhaberdashery，madeacyclistsoldierinknickerbockersleaplikeachamois，andsecureditselfuncertainlyamongthehind—legsofasheep——whichmadeconvulsive，ungenerouseffortstofreeitself，andwasdraggedintoapositionofrestagainstastonecrossinthemiddleoftheplace。Theballoonpulledupwithajerk。Inanothermomentascoreofwillinghandsweretuggingitearthward。AtthesameinstantBertbecameawareforthefirsttimeofafreshbreezeblowirgabouthim。
　　Forsomesecondshestoodstaggeringinthecar，whichnowswayedsickeningly，surveyingtheexasperatedcrowdbelowhimandtryingtocollecthismind。Hewasextraordinarilyastonishedatthisrunofmishaps。Werethepeoplereallysoannoyed？Everybodyseemedangrywithhim。Nooneseemedinterestedoramusedbyhisarrival。Adisproportionateamountoftheoutcryhadtheflavourofimprecation——had，indeedastrongflavourofriot。Severalgreatlyuniformedofficialsincockedhatsstruggledinvaintocontrolthecrowd。Fistsandstickswereshaken。AndwhenBertsawamanontheoutskirtsofthecrowdruntoahaycartandgetabrightlyprongedpitch—fork，andablue—cladsoldierunbucklehisbelt，hisrisingdoubtwhetherthislittletownwasafterallsuchagoodplaceforalandingbecameacertainty。
　　Hehadclungtothefancythattheywouldmakesomethingofaheroofhim。Nowheknewthathewasmistaken。
　　Hewasperhapstenfeetabovethepeoplewhenhemadehisdecision。Hisparalysisceased。Heleaptupontheseat，and，atimminentriskoffallingheadlong，releasedthegrapnel—ropefromthetogglethatheldit，sprangontothetrailropeanddisengagedthatalso。Ahoarseshoutofdisgustgreetedthedescentofthegrapnel—ropeandtheswiftleapoftheballoon，andsomething——hefanciedafterwardsitwasaturnip——whizzedbyhishead。Thetrail—ropefolloweditsfellow。Thecrowdseemedtojumpawayfromhim。Withanimmenseandhorrifyingrustletheballoonbrushedagainstatelephonepole，andforatenseinstantheanticipatedeitheranelectricexplosionoraburstingoftheoiledsilk，orboth。Butfortunewaswithhim。
　　Inanothersecondhewascoweringinthebottomofthecar，andreleasedfromtheweightofthegrapnelandthetworopes，rushinguponcemorethroughtheair。Foratimeheremainedcrouching，andwhenatlasthelookedoutagainthelittletownwasverysmallandtravelling，withtherestoflowerGermany，inacircularorbitroundandroundthecar——oratleastitappearedtobedoingthat。Whenhegotusedtoit，hefoundthisrotationoftheballoonratherconvenient;itsavedmovingaboutinthecar。
　　5
　　Lateintheafternoonofapleasantsummerdayintheyear191—，ifonemayborrowamodeofphrasingthatoncefoundfavourwiththereadersofthelateG。P。R。James，asolitaryballoonist——replacing。thesolitaryhorsemanoftheclassicromances——mighthavebeenobservedwendinghiswayacrossFranconiainanorth—easterlydirection，andataheightofabouteleventhousandfeetabovetheseaandstillspindlingslowly。
　　Hisheadwascranedoverthesideofthecar，andhesurveyedthecountrybelowwithanexpressionofprofoundperplexity;everandagainhislipsshapedinaudiblewords。"Shootin’atachap，"forexample，and"I’llcomedownrightenoughsoonasIfindout’ow。"OverthesideofthebaskettherobeoftheDesertDervishwashanging，anappealforconsideration，anineffectualwhiteflag。
　　Hewasnowverydistinctlyawarethattheworldbelowhim，sofarfrombeingthenaivecountrysideofhisearlierimaginingsthatday，sleepilyunconsciousofhimandcapableofbeingamazedandnearlyreverentialathisdescent，wasacutelyirritatedbyhiscareer，andextremelyimpatientwiththecoursehewastaking。——Butindeeditwasnothewhotookthatcourse，buthismasters，thewindsofheaven。Mysteriousvoicesspoketohiminhisear，jerkingthewordsuptohimbymeansofmegaphones，inaweirdandstartlingipanner，inagreatvarietyoflanguages。
　　Official—lookingpersonshadsignalledtohimbymeansofflagflappingandarmwaving。OnthewholeagutturalvariantofEnglishprevailedinthesentencesthatalightedupontheballoon;chieflyhewastoldto"gomedownoryouwillbeshot。"
　　"Allverywell，"saidBert，"but’ow？"
　　Thentheyshotalittlewideofthecar。Latterlyhehadbeenshotatsixorseventimes，andoncethebullethadgonebywithasoundsopersuasivelylikethetearingofsilkthathehadresignedhimselftotheprospectofaheadlongfall。Buteithertheywereaimingnearhimortheyhadmissed，andasyetnothingwastornbuttheairabouthim——andhisanxioussoul。
　　Hewasnowenjoyingarespitefromtheseattentions，buthefeltitwasatbestaninterlude，andhewasdoingwhathecouldtoappreciatehisposition。Incidentallyhewashavingsomehotcoffeeandpieinanuntidyinadvertentmanner，withaneyeflutteringnervouslyoverthesideofthecar。Atfirsthehadascribedthegrowinginterestinhiscareertohisill—conceivedattempttolandinthebrightlittleuplandtown，butnowhewasbeginningtorealisethatthemilitaryratherthanthecivilarmwasconcernedabouthim。
　　Hewasquiteinvoluntarilyplayingthatweirdmysteriouspart——thepartofanInternationalSpy。Hewasseeingsecretthings。Hehad，infact，crossedthedesignsofnolessapowerthantheGermanEmpire，hehadblunderedintothehotfocusofWelt—Politik，hewasdriftinghelplesslytowardsthegreatImperialsecret，theimmenseaeronauticparkthathadbeenestablishedataheadlongpaceinFranconiatodevelopsilently，swiftly，andonanimmensescalethegreatdiscoveriesofHunstedtandStossel，andsotogiveGermanybeforeallothernationsafleetofairships，theairpowerandtheEmpireoftheworld。
　　Later，justbeforetheyshothimdownaltogether，Bertsawthatgreatareaofpassionatework，warmlitintheeveninglight，agreatareaofuplandonwhichtheairshipslaylikeaherdofgrazingmonstersattheirfeed。Itwasavastbusyspacestretchingawaynorthwardasfarashecouldsee，methodicallycutupintonumberedsheds，gasometers，squadencampments，storageareas，interlacedwiththeomnipresentmono—raillines，andaltogetherfreefromoverheadwiresorcables。Everywherewasthewhite，blackandyellowofImperialGermany，everywheretheblackeaglesspreadtheirwings。Evenwithouttheseindications，thelargevigorousneatnessofeverythingwouldhavemarkeditGerman。Vastmultitudesofmenwenttoandfro，manyinwhiteanddrabfatigueuniformsbusyabouttheballoons，othersdrillinginsensibledrab。Hereandthereafulluniformglittered。Theairshipschi6flyengagedhisattention，andheknewatonceitwasthreeofthesehehadseenonthepreviousnight，takingadvantageofthecloudwelkintomanoeuvreunobserved。Theywerealtogetherfish—like。ForthegreatairshipswithwhichGermanyattackedNewYorkinherlastgiganticeffortforworldsupremacy——beforehumanityrealizedthatworldsupremacywasadream——werethelinealdescendantsoftheZeppelinairshipthatflewoverLakeConstancein1906，andoftheLebaudynavigablesthatmadetheirmemorableexcursionsoverParisin1907and1908。
　　TheseGermanairshipswereheldtogetherbyrib—likeskeletonsofsteelandaluminiumandastoutinelasticcanvasouter—skin，withinwhichwasanimperviousrubbergas—bag，cutupbytransversedissepimentsintofromfiftytoahundredcompartments。Thesewereallabsolutelygastightandfilledwithhydrogen，andtheentireaerostatwaskeptatanylevelbymeansofalonginternalballoonetteofoiledandtoughenedsilkcanvas，intowhichaircouldbeforcedandfromwhichitcouldbepumped。Sotheairshipcouldbemadeeitherheavierorlighterthanair，andlossesofweightthroughtheconsumptionoffuel，thecastingofbombsandsoforth，couldalsobecompensatedbyadmittingairtosectionsofthegeneralgas—bag。Ultimatelythatmadeahighlyexplosivemixture;butinallthesemattersrisksmustbetakenandguardedagainst。Therewasasteelaxistothewholeaffair，acentralbackbonewhichterminatedintheengineandpropeller，andthemenandmagazineswereforwardinaseriesofcabinsundertheexpandedheadlikeforepart。Theengine，whichwasoftheextraordinarilypowerfulPforzheimtype，thatsupremetriumphofGermaninvention，wasworkedbywiresfromthisforepart，whichwasindeedtheonlyreallyhabitablepartoftheship。Ifanythingwentwrong，theengineerswentaftalongaropeladderbeneaththeframe。Thetendencyofthewholeaffairtorollwaspartlycorrectedbyahorizontallateralfinoneitherside，andsteeringwaschieflyeffectedbytwoverticalfins，whichnormallylaybacklikegill—flapsoneithersideofthehead。Itwasindeedamostcompleteadaptationofthefishformtoaerialconditions，thepositionofswimmingbladder，eyes，andbrainbeing，however，belowinsteadofabove。A
　　striking，andunfish—likefeaturewastheapparatusforwirelesstelegraphythatdangledfromtheforwardcabin——thatistosay，underthechinofthefish。
　　Thesemonsterswerecapableofninetymilesanhourinacalm，sothattheycouldfaceandmakeheadwayagainstnearlyeverythingexceptthefiercesttornado。Theyvariedinlengthfromeighthundredtotwothousandfeet，andtheyhadacarryingpoweroffromseventytotwohundredtons。HowmanyGermanypossessedhistorydoesnotrecord，butBertcountednearlyeightygreatbulksrecedinginperspectiveduringhisbriefinspection。SuchweretheinstrumentsonwhichshechieflyreliedtosustainherinherrepudiationoftheMonroeDoctrineandherboldbidforashareintheempireoftheNewWorld。Butnotaltogetherdidsherelyonthese;shehadalsoaone—manbomb—throwingDrachenfliegerofunknownvalueamongtheresources。
　　ButtheDrachenfliegerwereawayinthesecondgreataeronauticparkeastofHamburg，andBertSmallwayssawnothingoftheminthebird’s—eyeviewhetookofiheFranconianestablishmentbeforetheyshothimdownveryneatly。Thebullettorepasthimandmadeasortofpopasitpiercedhisballoon——apopthatwasfollowedbyarustlingsighandasteadydownwardmovement。Andwhenintheconfusionofthemomenthedroppedabagofballast，theGermans，verypolitelybutfirmlyovercamehisscruplesbyshootinghisballoonagaintwice。
　　CHAPTERIV
　　THEGERMANAIR—FLEET
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　　OfalltheproductionsofthehumanimaginationthatmaketheworldinwhichMr。BertSmallwayslivedconfusinglywonderful，therewasnonequitesostrange，soheadlonganddisturbing，sonoisyandpersuasiveanddangerous，asthemodernisationsofpatriotismproducedbyimperialandinternationalpolitics。Inthesoulofallmenisalikingforkind，aprideinone’sownatmosphere，atendernessforone’sMotherspeechandone’sfamiliarland。BeforethecomingoftheScientificAgethisgroupofgentleandnobleemotionshadbeenafinefactorintheequipmentofeveryworthyhumanbeing，afinefactorthathaditslessamiableaspectinausuallyharmlesshostilitytostrangepeople，andausuallyharmlessdetractionofstrangelands。Butwiththewildrushofchangeinthepace，scope，materials，scale，andpossibilitiesofhumanlifethatthenoccurred，theoldboundaries，theoldseclusionsandseparationswereviolentlybrokendown。Alltheoldsettledmentalhabitsandtraditionsofmenfoundthemselvesnotsimplyconfrontedbynewconditions，butbyconstantlyrenewedandchangingnewconditions。Theyhadnochanceofadaptingthemselves。Theywereannihilatedorpervertedorinflamedbeyondrecognition。
　　BertSmallways’grandfather，inthedayswhenBunHillwasavillageundertheswayofSirPeterBone’sparent，had"knownhisplace"totheuttermostfarthing，touchedhishattohisbetters，despisedandcondescendedtohisinferiors，andhadn’tchangedanideafromthecradletothegrave。HewasKentishandEnglish，andthatmeanthops，beer，dog—rose’s，andthesortofsunshinethatwasbestintheworld。Newspapersandpoliticsandvisitsto"Lunnon"weren’tforthelikesofhim。Thencamethechange。
　　TheseearlierchaptershavegivenanideaofwhathappenedtoBunHill，andhowthefloodofnovelthingshadpouredoveritsdevotedrusticity。BertSmallwayswasonlyoneofcountlessmillionsinEuropeandAmericaandAsiawho，insteadofbeingbornrootedinthesoil，werebornstrugglinginatorrenttheyneverclearlyunderstood。Allthefaithsoftheirfathershadbeentakenbysurprise，andstartledintothestrangestformsandreactions。Particularlydidthefineoldtraditionofpatriotismgetpervertedanddistortedintherushofthenewtimes。
　　InsteadofthesturdyestablishmentinprejudiceofBert’sgrandfather，towhomtheword"Frenchified"wastheultimatetermofcontempt，thereflowedthroughBert’sbrainasquitteringsuccessionofthinlyviolentideasaboutGermancompetition，abouttheYellowDanger，abouttheBlackPeril，abouttheWhiteMan’sBurthen——thatistosay，Bert’spreposterousrighttomuddlefurtherthenaturallyverymuddledpoliticsoftheentirelysimilarlittlecadstohimself（exceptforasmearofbrown）whosmokedcigarettesandrodebicyclesinBuluwayo，Kingston（Jamaica），orBombay。ThesewereBert’s"SubjectRaces，"andhewasreadytodie——byproxyinthepersonofanyonewhocaredtoenlist——tomaintainhisholduponthatright。