TheproceedingswereinGerman。ThePrincewasinhisowncabin，theendroomoftheairship，acharmingapartmentfurnishedinwicker—workwithalongwindowacrossitsentirebreadth，lookingforward。Hewassittingatafolding—tableofgreenbaize，withVonWinterfeldandtwoofficerssittingbesidehim，andlitteredbeforethemwasanumberofAmericanmapsandMr。Butteridge’slettersandhisportfolioandanumberofloosepapers。Bertwasnotaskedtositdown，andremainedstandingthroughouttheinterview。VonWinterfeldtoldhisstory，andeverynowandthenthewordsBallonandPooteragestruckonBert’sears。ThePrince’sfaceremainedsternandominousandthetwoofficerswatcheditcautiouslyorglancedatBert。TherewassomethingalittlestrangeintheirscrutinyofthePrince——acuriosity，anapprehension。Thenpresentlyhewasstruckbyanidea，andtheyfelldiscussingtheplans。ThePrinceaskedBertabruptlyinEnglish。"Didyoueverseethisthinggoop？"
Bertjumped。"SawitfromBun’Ill，yourRoyalHighness。"
VonWinterfeldmadesomeexplanation。
"Howfastdiditgo？"
"Couldn’tsay，yourRoyalHighness。Thepapers，leastwaystheDailyCourier，saideightymilesanhour。"
TheytalkedGermanoverthatforatime。
"Couldtitstandtstill？Opintheair？ThatiswhatIwanttoknow。"
"Itcould’ovver，yourRoyalHighness，likeawasp，"saidBert。
"Vielbesser，nichtwahr？"saidthePrincetoVonWinterfeld，andthenwentoninGermanforatime。
Presentlytheycametoanend，andthetwoofficerslookedatBert。Onerangabell，andtheportfoliowashandedtoanattendant，whotookitaway。
ThentheyrevertedtothecaseofBert，anditwasevidentthePrincewasinclinedtobehardwithhim。VonWinterfeldprotested。Apparentlytheologicalconsiderationscamein，fortherewereseveralmentionsof"Gott！"Someconclusionsemerged，anditwasapparentthatVonWinterfeldwasinstructedtoconveythemtoBert。
"Mr。Schmallvays，youhafobtainedafootinginthisairship，"hesaid，"bydisgracefulandsystematiclying。"
"’Ardlysystematic，"saidBert。"I——"
ThePrincesilencedhimbyagesture。
"AnditiswithinthepowerofhisHighnesstodisposeofyouasaspy。"
"’Ere！——Icametosell——"
"Ssh！"saidoneoftheofficers。
"However，inconsiderationofthehappychancethatmateyoutheinstrumentunterGottofthisPooterageflying—machinereachinghisHighness’shand，youhafbeenspared。Yes，——youwerethepearerofgoottidings。Youwillbeallowedtoremainonthisshipuntilitisconvenienttodisposeofyou。Doyouunderstandt？"
"Wewillbringhim，"saidthePrince，andaddedterriblywithaterribleglare，"alsBallast。"
"Youaretocomewithus，"saidWinterfeld，"aspallast。Doyouunderstandt？"
Bertopenedhismouthtoaskaboutthefivehundredpounds，andthenasavinggleamofwisdomsilencedhim。HemetVonWinterfeld’seye，anditseemedtohimthesecretarynoddedslightly。
"Go！"saidthePrince，withasweepofthegreatarmandhandtowardsthedoor。Bertwentoutlikealeafbeforeagale。
9
ButinbetweenthetimewhentheGrafvonWinterfeldhadtalkedtohimandthisalarmingconferencewiththePrince，BerthadexploredtheVaterlandfromendtoend。Hehadfounditinterestinginspiteofgravepreoccupations。Kurt，likethegreaternumberofthemenupontheGermanair—fleet，hadknownhardlyanythingofaeronauticsbeforehisappointmenttothenewflag—ship。ButhewasextremelykeenuponthiswonderfulnewweaponGermanyhadassumedsosuddenlvanddramatically。HeshowedthingstoBertwithaboyisheagernessandappreciation。
Itwasasifheshowedthem，overagaintohimself，likeachildshowinganewtoy。"Let’sgoallovertheship，"hesaidwithzest。Hepointedoutparticularlythelightnessofeverything，theuseofexhaustedaluminiumtubing，ofspringycushionsinflatedwithcompressedhydrogen;thepartitionswerehydrogenbagscoveredwithlightimitationleather，theverycrockerywasalightbiscuitglazedinavacuum，andweighednexttonothing。
WherestrengthwasneededtherewasthenewCharlottenburgalloy，Germansteelasitwascalled，thetoughestandmostresistantmetalintheworld。
Therewasnolackofspace。Spacedidnotmatter，solongasloaddidnotgrow。Thehabitablepartoftheshipwastwohundredandfiftyfeetlong，andtheroomsintwotiers;abovetheseonecouldgoupintoremarkablelittlewhite—metalturretswithbigwindowsandairtightdoubledoorsthatenabledonetoinspectthevastcavityofthegas—chambers。ThisinsideviewimpressedBertverymuch。Hehadneverrealisedbeforethatanairshipwasnotonesimplecontinuousgas—bagcontainingnothingbutgas。Nowhesawfarabovehimthebackboneoftheapparatusanditsbigribs，"liketheneuralandhaemalcanals，"saidKurt，whohaddabbledinbiology。
"Rather！"saidBertappreciatively，thoughhehadnottheghostofanideawhatthesephrasesmeant。
Littleelectriclightscouldbeswitchedonupthereifanythingwentwronginthenight。Therewereevenladdersacrossthespace。"Butyoucan’tgointothegas，"protestedBert。
"Youcan’tbreveit。"
Thelieutenantopenedacupboarddooranddisplayedadiver’ssuit，onlythatitwasmadeofoiledsilk，andbothitscompressed—airknapsackanditshelmetwereofanalloyofaluminiumandsomelightmetal。"Wecangoallovertheinsidenettingandstickupbulletholesorleaks，"heexplained。
"There’snettinginsideandout。Thewholeouter—caseisropeladder，sotospeak。"
Aftofthehabitablepartoftheairshipwasthemagazineofexplosives，comingnearthemiddleofitslength。Theywereallbombsofvarioustypesmostlyinglass——noneoftheGermanairshipscarriedanygunsatallexceptonesmallpom—pom（tousetheoldEnglishnicknamedatingfromtheBoerwar），whichwasforwardinthegalleryupontheshieldattheheartoftheeagle。
Fromthemagazineamidshipsacoveredcanvasgallerywithaluminiumtreadsonitsfloorandahand—rope，ranbackunderneaththegas—chambertotheengine—roomatthetail;butalongthisBertdidnotgo，andfromfirsttolastheneversawtheengines。Buthewentupaladderagainstagaleofventilation——aladderthatwasencasedinakindofgas—tightfireescape——andranrightathwartthegreatforwardair—chambertothelittlelook—outgallerywithatelephone，thatgallerythatborethelightpom—pomofGermansteelanditslockerofshells。Thisgallerywasallofaluminiummagnesiumalloy，thetightfrontoftheair—shipswelledcliff—likeaboveandbelow，andtheblackeaglesprawledoverwhelminglygigantic，itsextremitiesallhiddenbythebulgeofthegas—bag。Andfardown，underthesoaring’eagles，wasEngland，fourthousandfeetbelowperhaps，andlookingverysmallanddefencelessindeedinthemorningsunlight。
TherealisationthattherewasEnglandgaveBertsuddenandunexpectedqualmsofpatrioticcompunction。Hewasstruckbyaquitenovelidea。Afterall，hemighthavetornupthoseplansandthrownthemaway。Thesepeoplecouldnothavedonesoverymuchtohim。Andeveniftheydid，oughtnotanEnglishmantodieforhiscountry？Itwasanideathathadhithertobeenrathersmotheredupbythecaresofacompetitivecivilisation。
Hebecameviolentlydepressed。Heought，heperceived，tohaveseenitinthatlightbefore。Whyhadn’theseenitinthatlightbefore？
Indeed，wasn’theasortoftraitor？……Hewonderedhowtheaerialfleetmustlookfromdownthere。Tremendous，nodoubt，anddwarfingallthebuildings。
HewaspassingbetweenManchesterandLiverpool，Kurttoldhim;agleamingbandacrosstheprospectwastheShipCanal，andawelteringditchofshippingfarawayahead，theMerseyestuary。
BertwasaSoutherner;hehadneverbeennorthoftheMidlandcounties，andthemultitudeoffactoriesandchimneys——thelatterforthemostpartobsoleteandsmokelessnow，supersededbyhugeelectricgeneratingstationsthatconsumedtheirownreek——oldrailwayviaducts，mono—railnet—worksandgoodsyards，andthevastareasofdingyhomesandnarrowstreets，spreadingaimlessly，struckhimasthoughCamberwellandRotherhithehadruntoseed。Hereandthere，asifcaughtinanet，werefieldsandagriculturalfragments。Itwasasprawlofundistinguishedpopulation。Therewere，nodoubt，museumsandtownhallsandevencathedralsofasorttomarktheoreticalcentresofmunicipalandreligiousorganisationinthisconfusion;butBertcouldnotseethem，theydidnotstandoutatallinthatwidedisorderlyvisionofcongestedworkers’housesandplacestowork，andshopsandmeanlyconceivedchapelsandchurches。AndacrossthislandscapeofanindustrialcivilisationswepttheshadowsoftheGermanairshipslikeahurryingshoaloffishes……
Kurtandhefelltalkingofaerialtactics，andpresentlywentdowntotheundergalleryinorderthatBertmightseetheDrachenfliegerthattheairshipsoftherightwinghadpickedupovernightandweretowingbehindthem;eachairshiptowingthreeorfour。Theylooked，likebigbox—kitesofanexaggeratedform，soaringattheendsofinvisiblecords。Theyhadlong，squareheadsandflattenedtails，withlateralpropellers。
"Muchskillisrequiredforthose！——muchskill！"
"Rather！"
Pause。
"Yourmachineisdifferentfromthat，Mr。Butteridge？"
"Quitedifferent，"saidBert。"Morelikeaninsect，andlesslikeabird。Anditbuzzes，anddon’tdriveaboutso。Whatcanthosethingsdo？"
Kurtwasnotveryclearuponthathimself，andwasstillexplainingwhenBertwascalledtotheconferencewehaverecordedwiththePrince。
Andafterthatwasover，thelasttracesofButteridgefellfromBertlikeagarment，andhebecameSmallwaystoallonboard。
Thesoldiersceasedtosalutehim，andtheofficersceasedtoseemawareofhisexistence，exceptLieutenantKurt。Hewasturnedoutofhisnicecabin，andpackedinwithhisbelongingstosharethatofLieutenantKurt，whoseluckitwastobejunior，andthebird—headedofficer，stillswearingslightly，andcarryingstropsandaluminiumboot—treesandweightlesshair—brushesandhand—mirrorsandpomadeinhishands，resumedpossession。BertwasputinwithKurtbecausetherewasnowhereelseforhimtolayhisbandagedheadinthatclose—packedvessel。Hewastomess，hewastold，withthemen。
Kurtcameandstoodwithhislegswideapartandsurveyed，himforamomentashesatdespondentinhisnewquarters。
"What’syourrealname，then？"saidKurt，whowasonlyimperfectlyinformedofthenewstateofaffairs。
"Smallways。"
"Ithoughtyouwereabitofafraud——evenwhenIthoughtyouwereButteridge。You’rejollyluckythePrincetookitcalmly。
He’saprettytidyblazerwhenhe’sroused。Hewouldn’tstickamomentatpitchingachapofyoursortoverboardifhethoughtfit。No！……They’veshovedyouontome，butit’smycabin，youknow。"
"Iwon’tforget，"saidBert。
Kurtlefthim，andwhenhecametolookabouthimthefirstthinghesawpastedonthepaddedwallwasareproduction，ofthegreatpicturebySiegfriedSchmalzoftheWarGod，thatterrible，tramplingfigurewiththevikinghelmetandthescarletcloak，wadingthroughdestruction，swordinhand，whichhadsostrongaresemblancetoKarlAlbert，theprinceitwaspaintedtoplease。
CHAPTERV
THEBATTLEOFTHENORTHATLANTIC
1
ThePrinceKarlAlberthadmadeaprofoundimpressionuponBert。
HewasquitethemostterrifyingpersonBerthadeverencountered。HefilledtheSmallwayssoulwithpassionatedreadandantipathy。ForalongtimeBertsataloneinKurt’scabin，doingnothingandnotventuringeventoopenthedoorlestheshouldbebythatmuchnearerthatappallingpresence。
Soitcameaboutthathewasprobablythelastpersononboardtohearthenewsthatwirelesstelegraphywasbringingtotheairshipinthrobsandfragmentsofagreatnavalbattleinprogressinmid—Atlantic。
HelearntitatlastfromKurt。
KurtcameinwithageneralairofignoringBert，butmutteringtohimselfinEnglishnevertheless。"Stupendous！"Bertheardhimsay。"Here！"hesaid，"getoffthislocker。"Andheproceededtoroutouttwobooksandacaseofmaps。Hespreadthemonthefolding—table，andstoodregardingthem。ForatimehisGermanicdisciplinestruggledwithhisEnglishinformalityandhisnaturalkindlinessandtalkativeness，andatlastlost。
"They’reatit，Smallways，"hesaid。
"Atwhat，sir？"saidBert，brokenandrespectful。
"Fighting！TheAmericanNorthAtlanticsquadronandprettynearlythewholeofourfleet。OurEiserneKreuzhashadagruellingandissinking，andtheirMilesStandish——she’soneoftheirbiggest——hassunkwithallhands。Torpedoes，Isuppose。ShewasabiggershipthantheKarlderGrosse，butfiveorsixyearsolder。Gods！IwishwecouldseeitSmallways;asquarefightinbluewater，gunsornothing，andallof’emsteamingahead！"
Hespreadhismaps，hehadtotalk，andsohedeliveredalectureonthenavalsituationtoBert。
"Hereitis，"hesaid，latitude30degrees50minutesN。
longitude30degrees50minutesW。It’sagooddayoffus，anyhow，andthey’reallgoingsouth—westbysouthatfullpeltashardastheycango。Weshan’tseeabitofit，worseluck！Notasniffweshan’tget！"
2
ThenavalsituationintheNorthAtlanticatthattimewasapeculiarone。TheUnitedStateswasbyfarthestrongerofthetwopowersuponthesea，butthebulkoftheAmericanfleetwasstillinthePacific。ItwasinthedirectionofAsiathatwarhadbeenmostfeared，forthesituationbetweenAsiaticandwhitehadbecomeunusuallyviolentanddangerous，andtheJapanesegovernmenthadshownitselfquiteunprecedentedlydifficult。TheGermanattackthereforefoundhalftheAmericanstrengthatManila，andwhatwascalledtheSecondFleetstrungoutacrossthePacificinwirelesscontactbetweentheAsiaticstationandSanFrancisco。TheNorthAtlanticsquadronwasthesoleAmericanforceonhereasternshore，itwasreturningfromafriendlyvisittoFranceandSpain，andwaspumpingoil—fuelfromtendersinmid—Atlantic——formostofitsshipsweresteamships——whentheinternationalsituationbecameacute。Itwasmadeupoffourbattleshipsandfivearmouredcruisersrankingalmostwithbattleships，notoneofwhichwasofalaterdatethan1913。TheAmericanshadindeedgrownsoaccustomedtotheideathatGreatBritaincouldbetrustedtokeepthepeaceoftheAtlanticthatanavalattackontheeasternseaboardfoundthemunpreparedevenintheirimaginations。Butlongbeforethedeclarationofwar——indeed，onWhitMonday——thewholeGermanfleetofeighteenbattleships，withaflotillaoffueltendersandconvertedlinerscontainingstorestobeusedinsupportoftheair—fleet，hadpassedthroughthestraitsofDoverandheadedboldlyforNewYork。NotonlydidtheseGermanbattleshipsoutnumbertheAmericanstwotoone，buttheyweremoreheavilyarmedandmoremoderninconstruction——sevenofthemhavinghighexplosiveenginesbuiltofCharlottenburgsteel，andallcarryingCharlottenburgsteelguns。
ThefleetscameintocontactonWednesdaybeforeanyactualdeclarationofwar。TheAmericanshadstrungoutinthemodernfashionatdistancesofthirtymilesorso，andweresteamingtokeepthemselvesbetweentheGermansandeithertheeasternstatesorPanama;because，vitalasitwastodefendtheseaboardcitiesandparticularlyNewYork，itwasstillmorevitaltosavethecanalfromanyattackthatmightpreventthereturnofthemainfleetfromthePacific。Nodoubt，saidKurt，thiswasnowmakingrecordsacrossthatocean，"unlesstheJapanesehavehadthesameideaastheGermans。"ItwasobviouslybeyondhumanpossibilitythattheAmericanNorthAtlanticfleetcouldhopetomeetanddefeattheGerman;but，ontheotherhand，withluckitmightfightadelayingactionandinflictsuchdamageastogreatlyweakentheattackuponthecoastdefences。Itsduty，indeed，wasnotvictorybutdevotion，theseveresttaskintheworld。
MeanwhilethesubmarinedefencesofNewYork，Panama，andtheothermorevitalpointscouldbeputinsomesortoforder。
Thiswasthenavalsituation，anduntilWednesdayinWhitweekitwastheonlysituationtheAmericanpeoplehadrealised。ItwasthentheyheardforthefirsttimeoftherealscaleoftheDornhofaeronauticparkandthepossibilityofanattackcominguponthemnotonlybysea，butbytheair。ButitiscuriousthatsodiscreditedwerethenewspapersofthatperiodthatalargemajorityofNewYorkers，forexample，didnotbelievethemostcopiousandcircumstantialaccountsoftheGermanair—fleetuntilitwasactuallyinsightofNewYork。
Kurt’stalkwashalfsoliloquy。HestoodwithamaponMercator’sprojectionbeforehim，swayingtotheswingingoftheshipandtalkingofgunsandtonnage，ofshipsandtheirbuildandpowersandspeed，ofstrategicpoints，andbasesofoperation。Acertainshynessthatreducedhimtothestatusofalistenerattheofficers’tablenolongersilencedhim。
Bertstoodby，sayingverylittle，butwatchingKurt’sfingeronthemap。"They’vebeensayingthingslikethisinthepapersforalongtime，"heremarked。"Fancyitcomingreal！"
KurthadadetailedknowledgeoftheMilesStandish。"Sheusedtobeacrackshipforgunnery——heldtherecord。Iwonderifwebeathershooting，orhow？IwishIwasinit。Iwonderwhichofourshipsbeather。Maybeshegotashellinherengines。
It’sarunningfight！IwonderwhattheBarbarossaisdoing，"hewenton，"She’smyoldship。Notafirst—rater，butgoodstuff。
Ibetshe’sgotashotortwohomebynowifoldSchneider’suptoform。Justthinkofit！Theretheyarewhackingawayateachother，greatgunsgoing，shellsexploding，magazinesbursting，ironworkflyingaboutlikestrawinagale，allwe’vebeendreamingofforyears！IsupposeweshallflyrightawaytoNewYork——justasthoughitwasn’tanythingatall。Isupposeweshallreckonwearen’twanteddownthere。It’snomorethanacoveringfightonourside。Allthosetendersandstore—shipsofoursaregoingonsouthwestbywesttoNewYorktomakeafloatingdepotforus。See？"Hedabbedhisforefingeronthemap。"Hereweare。Ourtrainofstoresgoesthere，ourbattleshipselbowtheAmericansoutofourwaythere。"
WhenBertwentdowntothemen’smess—roomtogethiseveningration，hardlyanyonetooknoticeofhimexceptjusttopointhimoutforaninstant。Everyonewastalkingofthebattle，suggesting，contradicting——attimes，untilthepettyofficershushedthem，itrosetoagreatuproar。Therewasanewbulletin，butwhatitsaidhedidnotgatherexceptthatitconcernedtheBarbarossa。Someofthemenstaredathim，andheheardthenameof"Booteraidge"severaltimes;butnoonemolestedhim，andtherewasnodifficultyabouthissoupandbreadwhenhisturnattheendofthequeuecame。Hehadfearedtheremightbenorationforhim，andifsohedidnotknowwhathewouldhavedone。
Afterwardsheventuredoutuponthelittlehanginggallerywiththesolitarysentinel。Theweatherwasstillfine，butthewindwasrisingandtherollingswingoftheairshipincreasing。Heclutchedtherailtightlyandfeltrathergiddy。Theywerenowoutofsightofland，andoverbluewaterrisingandfallingingreatmasses。AdingyoldbrigantineundertheBritishflagroseandplungedamidthebroadbluewaves——theonlyshipinsight。
3
Intheeveningitbegantoblowandtheair—shiptorolllikeaporpoiseasitswungthroughtheair。Kurtsaidthatseveralofthemenweresea—sick，butthemotiondidnotinconvenienceBert，whoseluckitwastobeofthatmysteriousgastricdispositionwhichconstitutesagoodsailor。Hesleptwell，butinthesmallhoursthelightawokehim，andhefoundKurtstaggeringaboutinsearchofsomething。Hefounditatlastinthelocker，andhelditinhishandunsteadily——acompass。Thenhecomparedhismap。
"We’vechangedourdirection，"hesaid，"andcomeintothewind。
Ican’tmakeitout。We’veturnedawayfromNewYorktothesouth。Almostasifweweregoingtotakeahand——"
Hecontinuedtalkingtohimselfforsometime。
Daycame，wetandwindy。Thewindowwasbedewedexternally，andtheycouldseenothingthroughit。Itwasalsoverycold，andBertdecidedtokeeprolledupinhisblanketsonthelockeruntilthebuglesummonedhimtohismorningration。Thatconsumed，hewentoutonthelittlegallery;buthecouldseenothingbuteddyingcloudsdrivingheadlongby，andthedimoutlinesofthenearerairships。Onlyatrareintervalscouldhegetaglimpseofgreyseathroughthepouringcloud—drift。
LaterinthemorningtheVaterlandchangedaltitude，andsoaredupsuddenlyinahigh，clearsky，going，Kurtsaid，toaheightofnearlythirteenthousandfeet。
Bertwasinhiscabin，andchancedtoseethedewvanishfromthewindowandcaughtthegleamofsunlightoutside。Helookedout，andsawoncemorethatsunlitcloudfloorhehadseenfirstfromtheballoon，andtheshipsoftheGermanair—fleetrisingonebyonefromthewhite，asfishmightriseanbecomevisiblefromdeepwater。Hestaredforamomentandthenranouttothelittlegallerytoseethiswonderbetter。Belowwascloudlandandstorm，agreatdriftoftumbledweathergoinghardawaytothenorth—east，andtheairabouthimwasclearandcoldandserenesaveforthefaintestchillbreezeandarare，driftingsnow—flake。Throb，throb，throb，throb，wenttheenginesinthestillness。Thathugeherdofairshipsrisingoneafteranotherhadaneffectofstrange，portentousmonstersbreakingintoanaltogetherunfamiliarworld。
Eithertherewasnonewsofthenavalbattlethatmorning，orthePrincekepttohimselfwhatevercameuntilpastmidday。Thenthebulletinscamewitharush，bulletinsthatmadethelieutenantwildwithexcitement。
"Barbarossadisabledandsinking，"hecried。"GottimHimmel！
DeralteBarbarossa！Aberwelcheinbraverkrieger！"
Hewalkedabouttheswingingcabin，andforatimehewaswhollyGerman。
ThenhebecameEnglishagain。"Thinkofit，Smallways！Theoldshipwekeptsocleanandtidy！Allsmashedabout，andtheironflyingaboutinfragments，andthechapsoneknew——Gott！——flyingabouttoo！Scaldingwatersquirting，fire，andthesmash，smashoftheguns！Theysmashwhenyou’renear！Likeeverythingburstingtopieces！Woolwon’tstopit——nothing！Andmeuphere——sonearandsofar！DeralteBarbarossa！"
"Anyotherships？"askedSmallways，presently。
"Gott！Yes！We’velosttheKarlderGrosse，ourbestandbiggest。RundowninthenightbyaBritishlinerthatblunderedintothefightingintryingtoblunderout。They’refightinginagale。Theliner’safloatwithhernosebroken，saggingabout！
Thereneverwassuchabattle！——neverbefore！Goodshipsandgoodmenonbothsides，——andastormandthenightandthedawnandallintheopenoceanfullsteamahead！Nostabbing！Nosubmarines！Gunsandshooting！Halfourshipswedon’thearofanymore，becausetheirmastsareshotaway。Latitude，30
degrees40minutesN。——longitude，40degrees30minutesW。—
—where’sthat？"
Heroutedouthismapagain，andstaredatitwitheyesthatdidnotsee。
"DeralteBarbarossa！Ican’tgetitoutofmyhead——withshellsinherengine—room，andthefiresflyingoutofherfurnaces，andthestokersandengineersscaldedanddead。MenI’vemessedwith，Smallways——menI’vetalkedtoclose！Andthey’vehadtheirdayatlast！Anditwasn’tallluckforthem。！
"Disabledandsinking！Isupposeeverybodycan’thavealltheluckinabattle。PooroldSchneider！Ibethegave’emsomethingback！"
Soitwasthenewsofthebattlecamefilteringthroughtothemallthatmorning。TheAmericanshadlostasecondship，nameunknown;theHermannhadbeendamagedincoveringtheBarbarossa……Kurtfrettedlikeanimprisonedanimalabouttheairship，nowgoinguptotheforwardgalleryundertheeagle，nowdownintotheswinginggallery，nowporingoverhismaps。HeinfectedSmallwayswithasenseoftheimmediacyofthisbattlethatwasgoingonjustoverthecurveoftheearth。ButwhenBertwentdowntothegallerytheworldwasemptyandstill，aclearinky—blueskyaboveandarippledveilofstill，thinsunlitcirrusbelow，throughwhichonesawaracingdriftofrain—cloud，andneveraglimpseofsea。Throb，throb，throb，throb，wenttheengines，andthelong，undulatingwedgeofairshipshurriedaftertheflagshiplikeaflightofswansaftertheirleader。Saveforthequiveroftheenginesitwasasnoiselessasadream。Anddownthere，somewhereinthewindandrain，gunsroared，shellscrashedhome，and，aftertheoldmannerofwarfare，mentoiledanddied。
4
Astheafternoonworeonthelowerweatherabated，andtheseabecameintermittentlyvisibleagain。Theair—fleetdroppedslowlytothemiddleair，andtowardssunsettheyhadaglimpseofthedisabledBarbarossafarawaytotheeast。Smallwaysheardmenhurryingalongthepassage，andwasdrawnouttothegallery，wherehefoundnearlyadozenofficerscollectedandscrutinisingthehelplessruinsofthebattleshipthroughfield—glasses。Twoothervesselsstoodbyher，oneanexhaustedpetroltank，veryhighoutofthewater，andtheotheraconvertedliner。Kurtwasattheendofthegallery，alittleapartfromtheothers。
"Gott！"hesaidatlast，loweringhisbinocular，"itislikeseeinganoldfriendwithhisnosecutoff——waitingtobefinished。DerBarbarossa！"
WithasuddenimpulsehehandedhisglasstoBert，whohadpeeredbeneathhishands，ignoredbyeveryone，seeingthethreeshipsmerelyasthreebrown—blacklinesuponthesea。
NeverhadBertseenthelikeofthatmagnifiedslightlyhazyimagebefore。Itwasnotsimplyabatteredironcladthatwallowedhelpless，itwasamangledironclad。Itseemedwonderfulshestillfloated。Herpowerfulengineshadbeenherruin。Inthelongchaseofthenightshehadgotoutoflinewithherconsorts，andnippedinbetweentheSusquehannaandtheKansasCity。Theydiscoveredherproximity，droppedbackuntilshewasnearlybroadsideontotheformerbattleship，andsignalleduptheTheodoreRooseveltandthelittleMonitor。Asdawnbrokeshehadfoundherselfhostessofacircle。ThefighthadnotlastedfiveminutesbeforetheappearanceoftheHermanntotheeast，andimmediatelyafteroftheFurstBismarckinthewest，forcedtheAmericanstoleaveher，butinthattimetheyhadsmashedherirontorags。Theyhadventedtheaccumulatedtensionsoftheirhardday’sretreatuponher。AsBertsawher，sheseemedameremetal—worker’sfantasyoffrozenmetalwrithings。Hecouldnottellpartfrompartofher，exceptbyitsposition。
"Gott！"murmuredKurt，takingtheglassesBertrestoredtohim——
"Gott！DawarenAlbrecht——derguteAlbrechtundderalteZim—
mermann——undvonRosen！"
LongaftertheBarbarosahadbeenswallowedupinthetwilightanddistanceheremainedonthegallerypeeringthroughhisglasses，andwhenhecamebacktohiscabinhewasunusuallysilentandthoughtful。
"Thisisaroughgame，Smallways，"hesaidatlast——"thiswarisaroughgame。Somehowoneseesitdifferentafterathinglikethat。ManymentherewereworkedtomakethatBarbarossa，andthereweremeninit——onedoesnotmeetthelikeofthemeveryday。Albrecht——therewasamannamedAlbrecht——playedthezitherandimprovised;Ikeeponwonderingwhathashappenedtohim。HeandI——wewereveryclosefriends，aftertheGermanfashion。"
Smallwayswoke——thenextnighttodiscoverthecabinindarkness，adraughtblowingthroughit，andKurttalkingtohimselfinGerman。Hecouldseehimdimlybythewindow，whichhehadunscrewedandopened，peeringdown。Thatcold，clear，attenuatedlightwhichisnotsomuchlightasagoingofdarkness，whichcastsinkyshadowsandsooftenheraldsthedawninthehighair，wasonhisface。