"What’stherow？"saidBert。
　　"Shutup！"saidthelieutenant。"Can’tyouhear？"
　　Intothestillnesscametherepeatedheavythudofguns，one，two，apause，thenthreeinquicksuccession。
　　"Gaw！"saidBert——"guns！"andwasinstantlyatthelieutenant’sside。Theairshipwasstillveryhighandtheseabelowwasmaskedbyathinveilofclouds。Thewindhadfallen，andBert，followingKurt’spointingfinger，sawdimlythroughthecolourlessveilfirstaredglow，thenaquickredflash，andthenatalittledistancefromitanother。Theywere，itseemedforawhile，silentflashes，andsecondsafter，whenonehadceasedtoexpectthem，camethebelatedthuds——thud，thud。KurtspokeinGerman，veryquickly。
　　Abuglecallrangthroughtheairship。
　　Kurtsprangtohisfeet，sayingsomethinginanexcitedtone，stillusingGerman，andwenttothedoor。
　　"Isay！What’sup？"criedBert。"What’sthat？"
　　Thelieutenantstoppedforaninstantinthedoorway，darkagainstthelightpassage。"Youstaywhereyouare，Smallways。
　　Youkeepthereanddonothing。We’regoingintoaction，"heexplained，andvanished。
　　Bert’sheartbegantobeatrapidly。Hefelthimselfpoisedoverthefightingvesselsfarbelow。Inamoment，weretheytodroplikeahawkstrikingabird？"Gaw！"hewhisperedatlast，inawestrickentones。
　　Thud！……thud！Hediscoveredfarawayasecondruddyflareflashinggunsbackatthefirst。HeperceivedsomedifferenceontheVaterlandforwhichhecouldnotaccount，andthenherealisedthattheengineshadslowedtoanalmostinaudiblebeat。
　　Hestuckhisheadoutofthewindow——itwasatightfit——andsawinthebleakairtheotherairshipssloweddowntoascarcelyperceptiblemotion。
　　Asecondbuglesounded，wastakenupfaintlyfromshiptoship。
　　Outwentthelights;thefleetbecamedim，darkbulksagainstanintenseblueskythatstillretainedanoccasionalstar。Foralongtimetheyhung，foraninterminabletimeitseemedtohim，andthenbeganthesoundofairbeingpumpedintotheballoonette，andslowly，slowlytheVaterlandsankdowntowardstheclouds。
　　Hecranedhisneck，buthecouldnotseeiftherestofthefleetwasfollowingthem;theoverhangofthegas—chambersintervened。
　　Therewassomethingthatstirredhisimaginationdeeplyinthatstealthy，noiselessdescent。Theobscuritydeepenedforatime，thelastfadingstaronthehorizonvanished，andhefeltthecoldpresenceofcloud。Thensuddenlytheglowbeneathassumeddistinctoutlines，becameflames，andtheVaterlandceasedtodescendandhungobservant，anditwouldseemunobserved，justbeneathadriftingstratumofcloud，athousandfeet，perhaps，overthebattlebelow。
　　Inthenightthestrugglingnavalbattleandretreathadentereduponanewphase。TheAmericanshaddrawntogethertheendsoftheflyinglineskilfullyanddexterously，untilatlastitwasacolumnandwelltothesouthofthelaxsweepingpursuitoftheGermans。TheninthedarknessbeforethedawntheyhadcomeaboutandsteamednorthwardincloseorderwiththeideaofpassingthroughtheGermanbattle—lineandfallingupontheflotillathatwasmakingforNewYorkinsupportoftheGermanair—fleet。Muchhadalteredsincethefirstcontactofthefleets。BythistimetheAmericanadmiral，O’Connor，wasfullyinformedoftheexistenceoftheairships，andhewasnolongervitallyconcernedforPanama，sincethesubmarineflotillawasreportedarrivedtherefromKeyWest，andtheDelawareandAbrahamLincoln，twopowerfulandentirelymodernships，werealreadyatRioGrande，onthePacificsideofthecanal。Hismanoeuvrewas，however，delayedbyaboilerexplosiononboardtheSusquehanna，anddawnfoundthisshipinsightofandindeedsoclosetotheBremenandWeimarthattheyinstantlyengaged。
　　Therewasnoalternativetoherabandonmentbutafleetengagement。O’Connorchosethelattercourse。Itwasbynomeansahopelessfight。TheGermans，thoughmuchmorenumerousandpowerfulthantheAmericans，wereinadispersedlinemeasuringnearlyforty—fivemilesfromendtoend，andthereweremanychancesthatbeforetheycouldgatherinforthefightthecolumnofsevenAmericanswouldhaverippedthemfromendtoend。
　　Thedaybrokedimandovercast，andneithertheBremennortheWeimarrealisedtheyhadtodealwithmorethantheSusquehannauntilthewholecolumndrewoutfrombehindheratadistanceofamile。orlessandboredownonthem。ThiswasthepositionofaffairswhentheVaterlandappearedinthesky。TheredglowBerthadseenthroughthecolumnofcloudscamefromthelucklessSusquehanna;shelayalmostimmediatelybelow，burningforeandaft，butstillfightingtwoofhergunsandsteamingslowlysouthward。TheBremenandtheWeimar，bothhitinseveralplaces，weregoingwestbysouthandawayfromher。TheAmericanfleet，headedbytheTheodoreRoosevelt，wascrossingbehindthem，poundingtheminsuccession，steaminginbetweenthemandthebigmodernFurstBismarck，whichwascomingupfromthewest。
　　ToBert，however，thenamesofalltheseshipswereunknown，andforaconsiderabletimeindeed，misledbythedirectioninwhichthecombatantsweremoving，heimaginedtheGermanstobeAmericansandtheAmericansGermans。Hesawwhatappearedtohimtobeacolumnofsixbattleshipspursuingthreeotherswhoweresupportedbyanewcomer，untilthefactthattheBremenandWeimarwerefiringintotheSusquehannaupsethiscalculations。
　　Thenforatimehewashopelesslyataloss。Thenoiseoftheguns，too，confusedhim，theynolongerseemedtoboom;theywentwhack，whack，whack，whack，andeachfaintflashmadehisheartjumpinanticipationoftheinstantimpact。Hesawtheseironclads，too，notinprofile，ashewasaccustomedtoseeironcladsinpictures，butinplanandcuriouslyforeshortened。
　　Forthemostparttheypresentedemptydecks，buthereandtherelittleknotsofmenshelteredbehindsteelbulwarks。Thelong，agitatednosesoftheir，bigguns，jettingthintransparentflashesandthebroadsideactivityofthequick—firers，werethechieffactsinthisbird’s—eyeview。TheAmericansbeingsteam—turbineships，hadfromtwotofourblastfunnelseach;theGermanslaylowerinthewater，havingexplosiveengines，whichnowforsomereasonmadeanunwontedmuteringroar。Becauseoftheirsteampropulsion，theAmericanshipswerelargerandwithamoregracefuloutline。Hesawalltheseforeshortenedshipsrollingconsiderablyandfightingtheirgunsoveraseaofhugelowwavesandunderthecold，explicitlightofdawn。Thewholespectaclewavedslowlywiththelongrhythmicrisingandbeatoftheairship。
　　AtfirstonlytheVaterlandofalltheflyingfleetappeareduponthescenebelow。Shehoveredhigh，overtheTheodoreRoosevelt，keepingpacewiththefullspeedofthatship。Fromthatshipshemusthavebeenintermittentlyvisiblethroughthedriftingclouds。TherestoftheGermanfleetremainedabovethecloudcanopyataheightofsixorseventhousandfeet，communicatingwiththeflagshipbywirelesstelegraphy，butriskingnoexposuretotheartillerybelow。
　　ItisdoubtfulatwhatparticulartimetheunluckyAmericansrealisedthepresenceofthisnewfactorinthefight。Noaccountnowsurvivesoftheirexperience。Wehavetoimagineaswellaswecanwhatitmusthavebeentoabattled—strainedsailorsuddenlyglancingupwardtodiscoverthathugelongsilentshapeoverhead，vasterthananybattleship，andtrailingnowfromitshinderquarterabigGermanflag。Presently，astheskycleared，moreofsuchshipsappearedinthebluethroughthedissolvingclouds，andmore，alldisdainfullyfreeofgunsorarmour，allflyingfasttokeeppacewiththerunningfightbelow。
　　FromfirsttolastnogunwhateverwasfiredattheVaterland，andonlyafewrifleshots。Itwasamereadversestrokeofchancethatshehadamankilledaboardher。Nordidshetakeanydirectshareinthefightuntiltheend。SheflewabovethedoomedAmericanfleetwhilethePrincebywirelesstelegraphydirectedthemovementsofherconsorts。MeanwhiletheVogel—sternandPreussen，eachwithhalfadozendrachenfliegerintow，wentfullspeedaheadandthendroppedthroughtheclouds，perhapsfivemilesaheadoftheAmericans。TheTheodoreRooseveltletflyatoncewiththebiggunsinherforwardbarbette，buttheshellsburstfarbelowtheVogel—stern，andforthwithadozensingle—mandrachenfliegerwereswoopingdowntomaketheirattack。
　　Bert，craninghisneckthroughthecabinport—hole，saw，thewholeofthatincident，thatfirstencounterofaeroplaneandironclad。
　　HesawthequeerGermandrachenflieger，withtheirwideflatwingsandsquarebox—shapedheads，theirwheeledbodies，andtheirsingle—manriders，soardowntheairlikeaflightofbirds。"Gaw！"hesaid。Onetotherightpitchedextravagantly，shotsteeplyupintotheair，burstwithaloudreport，andflameddownintothesea;anotherplungednoseforwardintothewaterandseemedtoflytopiecesasithitthewaves。HesawlittlemenonthedeckoftheTheodoreRooseveltbelow，menforeshortenedinplanintomereheadsandfeet，runningoutpreparingtoshootattheothers。Thentheforemostflying—machinewasrushingbetweenBertandtheAmerican’sdeck，andthenbang！camethethunderofitsbombflungneatlyattheforwardbarbette，andathinlittlecracklingofrifleshotsinreply。Whack，whack，whack，wentthequick—firinggunsoftheAmericans’battery，andsmashcameanansweringshellfromtheFurstBismarck。Thenasecondandthirdflying—machinepassedbetweenBertandtheAmericanironclad，droppingbombsalso，andafourth，itsriderhitbyabullet，reeleddownanddasheditselftopiecesandexplodedbetweentheshot—tornfunnels，blowingthemapart。Berthadamomentaryglimpseofalittleblackcreaturejumpingfromthecrumplingframeoftheflying—
　　machine，hittingthefunnel，andfallinglimply，tobeinstantlycaughtanddriventonothingnessbytheblazeandrushoftheexplosion。
　　Smash！cameavastexplosionintheforwardpartoftheflagship，andahugepieceofmetalworkseemedtoliftoutofheranddumpitselfintothesea，droppingmenandleavingagapintowhichapromptdrachenfliegerplantedaflaringbomb。AndthenforaninstantBertperceivedonlytooclearlyinthegrowing，pitilesslightanumberofminute，convulsivelyactiveanimalculascorchedandstrugglingintheTheodoreRoosevelt’sfoamingwake。Whatwerethey？Notmen——surelynotmen？Thosedrowning，mangledlittlecreaturestorewiththeirclutchingfingersatBert’ssoul。"Oh，Gord！"hecried，"Oh，Gord！"almostwhimpering。Helookedagainandtheyhadgone，andtheblackstemoftheAndrewJackson，alittledisfiguredbythesinkingBremen’slastshot，waspartingthewaterthathadswallowedthemintotwoneatlysymmetricalwaves。ForsomemomentssheerblankhorrorblindedBerttothedestructionbelow。
　　Then，withanimmenserushingsound，bearingasitwereastragglingvolleyofcrashingminorexplosionsonitsback，theSusquehanna，threemilesandmorenowtotheeast，blewupandvanishedabruptlyinaboiling，steamingwelter。Foramomentnothingwastobeseenbuttumbledwater，and——thentherecamebelchingupfrombelow，withimmensegulpingnoises，eructationsofsteamandairandpetrolandfragmentsofcanvasandwoodworkandmen。
　　Thatmadeadistinctpauseinthefight。ItseemedalongpausetoBert。Hefoundhimselflookingforthedrachenflieger。TheflattenedruinofonewasfloatingabeamoftheMonitor，theresthadpassed，droppingbombsdowntheAmericancolumn;severalwereinthewaterandapparentlyuninjured，andthreeorfourwerestillintheairandcomingroundnowinawidecircletoreturntotheirmotherairships。TheAmericanironcladswerenolongerincolumnformation;theTheodoreRoosevelt，badlydamaged，hadturnedtothesoutheast，andtheAndrewJackson，greatlybatteredbutuninjuredinanyfightingpartwaspassingbetweenherandthestillfreshandvigorousFurstBismarcktointerceptandmeetthelatter’sfire。AwaytothewesttheHermannandtheGermanicushadappearedandwerecomingintoaction。
　　Inthepause，aftertheSusquehanna’sdisasterBertbecameawareofatrivialsoundlikethenoiseofanill—greased，ill—hungdoorthatfallsajar——thesoundofthemenintheFurstBismarckcheering。
　　Andinthatpauseintheuproartoo，thesunrose，thedarkwatersbecameluminouslyblue，andatorrentofgoldenlightirradiatedtheworld。Itcamelikeasuddensmileinasceneofhateandterror。Thecloudveilhadvanishedasifbymagic，andthewholeimmensityoftheGermanair—fleetwasrevealedinthesky;theair—fleetstoopingnowuponitsprey。
　　"Whack—bang，whack—bang，"thegunsresumed，butironcladswerenotbuilttofightthezenith，andtheonlyhitstheAmericansscoredwereafewluckychancesinagenerallyineffectualriflefire。Theircolumnwasnowbadlybroken，theSusquehannahadgone，theTheodoreRoosevelthadfallenasternoutoftheline，withherforwardgunsdisabled，inaheapofwreckage，andtheMonitorwasinsomegravetrouble。Thesetwohadceasedfirealtogether，andsohadtheBremenandWeimar，allfourshipslyingwithinshotofeachotherinaninvoluntarytruceandwiththeirrespectiveflagsstilldisplayed。OnlyfourAmericanshipsnow，withtheAndrewJacksonreadingskepttothesouth—easterlycourse。AndtheFurstBismarck，theHermann，andtheGermanicussteamedparalleltothemanddrewaheadofthem，fightingheavily。TheVaterlandroseslowlyintheairinpreparationfortheconcludingactofthedrama。
　　Then，fallingintoplaceonebehindtheother，astringofadozenairshipsdroppedwithunhurryingswiftnessdowntheairinpursuitoftheAmericanfleet。Theykeptataheightoftwothousandfeetormoreuntiltheywereoverandalittleinadvanceoftherearmostironclad，andthenstoopedswiftlydownintoafountainofbullets，andgoingjustalittlefasterthantheshipbelow，peltedherthinlyprotecteddeckswithbombsuntiltheybecamesheetsofdetonatingflame。SotheairshipspassedoneaftertheotheralongtheAmericancolumnasitsoughttokeepupitsfightwiththeFurstBismarck，theHermann，andtheGermanicus，andeachairshipaddedtothedestructionandconfusionitspredecessorhadmade。TheAmericangunfireceased，exceptforafewheroicshots，buttheystillsteamedon，obstinatelyunsubdued，bloody，battered，andwrathfullyresistant，spittingbulletsattheairshipsandunmercifullypoundedbytheGermanironclads。ButnowBerthadbutintermittentglimpsesofthembetweenthenearerbulksoftheairshipsthatassailedthem……
　　ItstruckBertsuddenlythatthewholebattlewasrecedingandgrowingsmallandlessthunderouslynoisy。TheVaterlandwasrisingintheair，steadilyandsilently，untiltheimpactofthegunsnolongersmoteupontheheartbutcametotheeardulledbydistance，untilthefoursilencedshipstotheeastwardwerelittledistantthings:butweretherefour？Bertnowcouldseeonlythreeofthosefloating，blackened，andsmokingraftsofruinagainstthesun。ButtheBremenhadtwoboatsout;theTheodoreRooseveltwasalsodroppingboatstowherethedriftofminuteobjectsstruggled，risingandfallingonthebig，broadAtlanticwaves……TheVaterlandwasnolongerfollowingthefight。Thewholeofthathurryingtumultdroveawaytothesouth—eastward，growingsmallerandlessaudibleasitpassed。
　　Oneoftheairshipslayonthewaterburning，aremotemonstrousfountofflames，andfarinthesouth—westappearedfirstoneandthenthreeotherGermanironcladshurryinginsupportoftheirconsorts……
　　5
　　SteadilytheVaterlandsoared，andtheair—fleetsoaredwithherandcameroundtoheadforNewYork，andthebattlebecamealittlethingfaraway，anincidentbeforethebreakfast。Itdwindledtoastringofdarkshapesandonesmokingyellowflarethatpresentlybecameamereindistinctsmearuponthevasthorizonandthebrightnewday，thatwasatlastaltogetherlosttosight……
　　SoitwasthatBertSmallwayssawthefirstfightoftheairshipandthelastfightofthosestrangestthingsinthewholehistoryofwar:theironcladbattleships，whichbegantheircareerwiththefloatingbatteriesoftheEmperorNapoleonIIIintheCrimeanwarandlasted，withanenormousexpenditureofhumanenergyandresources，forseventyyears。Inthatspaceoftimetheworldproducedovertwelvethousandfivehundredofthesestrangemonsters，inschools，intypes，inseries，eachlargerandheavierandmoredeadlythanitspredecessors。Eachinitsturnwashailedasthelastbirthoftime，mostintheirturnweresoldforoldiron。Onlyaboutfivepercentofthemeverfoughtinabattle。Somefoundered，somewentashore，andbrokeup，severalrammedoneanotherbyaccidentandsank。Thelivesofcountlessmenwerespentintheirservice，thesplendidgenius，andpatienceofthousandsofengineersandinventors，wealthandmaterialbeyondestimating;totheiraccountwemustput，stuntedandstarvedlivesonland，millionsofchildrensenttotoilunduly，innumerableopportunitiesoffinelivingundevelopedandlost。Moneyhadtobefoundforthematanycost——thatwasthelawofanation’sexistenceduringthatstrangetime。Surelytheyweretheweirdest，mostdestructiveandwastefulmegatheriainthewholehistoryofmechanicalinvention。
　　Andthencheapthingsofgasandbasket—workmadeanendofthemaltogether，smitingoutofthesky！……
　　NeverbeforehadBertSmallwaysseenpuredestruction，neverhadherealisedthemischiefandwasteofwar。Hisstartledmindrosetotheconception;thisalsoisinlife。Outofallthisfiercetorrentofsensationoneimpressionroseandbecamecardinal——theimpressionofthemenoftheTheodoreRooseveltwhohadstruggledinthewateraftertheexplosionofthefirstbomb。
　　"Gaw！"hesaidatthememory;"itmight’avebeenmeandGrubb！……Isupposeyoukickaboutandgetthewaterinyourmouf。I
　　don’tsupposeitlastslong。"
　　HebecameanxioustoseehowKurtwasaffectedbythesethings。
　　Alsoheperceivedhewashungry。Hehesitatedtowardsthedoorofthecabinandpeepedoutintothepassage。Downforward，nearthegangwaytothemen’smess，stoodalittlegroupofairsailorslookingatsomethingthatwashiddenfromhiminarecess。Oneofthemwasinthelightdiver’scostumeBerthadalreadyseeninthegaschamberturret，andhewasmovedtowalkalongandlookatthispersonmorecloselyandexaminethehelmethecarriedunderhisarm。Butheforgotaboutthehelmetwhenhegottotherecess，becausetherehefoundlyingonthefloorthedeadbodyoftheboywhohadbeenkilledbyabulletfromtheTheodoreRoosevelt。
　　BerthadnotobservedthatanybulletsatallhadreachedtheVaterlandor，indeed，imaginedhimselfunderfire。Hecouldnotunderstandforatimewhathadkilledthelad，andnooneexplainedtohim。
　　Theboylayjustashehadfallenanddied，withhisjackettornandscorched，hisshoulder—bladesmashedandburstawayfromhisbodyandalltheleftsideofhisbodyrippedandrent。Therewasmuchblood。Thesailorsstoodlisteningtothemanwiththehelmet，whomadeexplanationsandpointedtotheroundbulletholeinthefloorandthesmashinthepanelofthepassageuponwhichthestillviciousmissilehadspenttheresidueofitsenergy。Allthefacesweregraveandearnest:theywerethefacesofsober，blond，blue—eyedmenaccustomedtoobedienceandanorderlylife，towhomthiswaste，wet，painfulthingthathadbeenacomradecamealmostasstrangelyasitdidtoBert。
　　Apealofwildlaughtersoundeddownthepassageinthedirectionofthelittlegalleryandsomethingspoke——almostshouted——inGerman，intonesofexultation。
　　Othervoicesatalower，morerespectfulpitchreplied。
　　"DerPrinz，"saidavoice，andallthemenbecamestifferandlessnatural。Downthepassageappearedagroupoffigures，LieutenantKurtwalkinginfrontcarryingapacketofpapers。
　　Hestoppedpointblankwhenhesawthethingintherecess，andhisruddyfacewentwhite。
　　"So！"saidheinsurprise。
　　ThePrincewasfollowinghim，talkingoverhisshouldertoVonWinterfeldandtheKapitan。
　　"Eh？"hesaidtoKurt，stoppinginmid—sentence，andfollowedthegestureofKurt’shand。Heglaredatthecrumpledobjectintherecessandseemedtothinkforamoment。
　　Hemadeaslight，carelessgesturetowardstheboy’sbodyandturnedtotheKapitan。
　　"Disposeofthat，"hesaidinGerman，andpassedon，finishinghissentencetoVonWinterfeldinthesamecheerfultoneinwhichithadbegun。
　　6
　　ThedeepimpressionofhelplesslydrowningmenthatBerthadbroughtfromtheactualfightintheAtlanticmixeditselfupinextricablywiththatofthelordlyfigureofPrinceKarlAlbertgesturingasidethedeadbodyoftheVaterlandsailor。Hithertohehadratherlikedtheideaofwarasbeingajolly，smashing，excitingaffair，somethinglikeaBankHolidayragonalargescale，andonthewholeagreeableandexhilarating。Nowheknewitalittlebetter。
　　Thenextdaytherewasaddedtohisgrowingdisillusionmentathirduglyimpression，trivialindeedtodescribe，amerenecessaryeverydayincidentofastateofwar，butverydistressingtohisurbanisedimagination。Onewrites"urbanised"
　　toexpressthedistinctivegentlenessoftheperiod。Itwasquitepeculiartothecrowdedtownsmenofthattime，anddifferentaltogetherfromthenormalexperienceofanyprecedingage，thattheyneversawanythingkilled，neverencountered，savethroughthemitigatingmediaofbookorpicture，thefactoflethalviolencethatunderliesalllife。Threetimesinhisexistence，andthreetimesonly，hadBertseenadeadhumanbeing，andhehadneverassistedatthekillingofanythingbiggerthananew—bornkitten。
　　TheincidentthatgavehimhisthirdshockwastheexecutionofoneofthemenontheAdlerforcarryingaboxofmatches。Thecasewasaflagrantone。Themanhadforgottenhehadituponhimwhencomingaboard。Amplenoticehadbeengiventoeveryoneofthegravityofthisoffence，andnoticesappearedatnumerouspointsallovertheairships。Theman’sdefencewasthathehadgrownsousedtothenoticesandhadbeensopreoccupiedwithhisworkthathehadn’tappliedthemtohimself;hepleaded，inhisdefence，whatisindeedinmilitaryaffairsanotherseriouscrime，inadvertency。Hewastriedbyhiscaptain，andthesentenceconfirmedbywirelesstelegraphybythePrince，anditwasdecidedtomakehisdeathanexampletothewholefleet。
　　"TheGermans，"thePrincedeclared，"hadn’tcrossedtheAtlantictogowoolgathering。"Andinorderthatthislessonindisciplineandobediencemightbevisibletoeveryone，itwasdeterminednottoelectrocuteordrownbuthangtheoffender。
　　Accordinglytheair—fleetcameclusteringroundtheflagshiplikecarpinapondatfeedingtime。TheAdlerhungatthezenithimmediatelyalongsidetheflagship。ThewholecrewoftheVaterlandassembleduponthehanginggallery;thecrewsoftheotherairshipsmannedtheair—chambers，thatistosay，clambereduptheouternettingtotheuppersides。Theofficersappeareduponthemachine—gunplatforms。Bertthoughtitanaltogetherstupendoussight，lookingdown，ashewas，upontheentirefleet。
　　Faroffbelowtwosteamersontherippledbluewater，oneBritishandtheotherflyingtheAmericanflag，seemedtheminutestobjects，andmarkedthescale。Theywereimmenselydistant。
　　Bertstoodonthegallery，curioustoseetheexecution，butuncomfortable，becausethatterribleblondPrincewaswithinadozenfeetofhim，glaringterribly，withhisarmsfolded，andhisheelstogetherinmilitaryfashion。
　　TheyhungthemanfromtheAdler。Theygavehimsixtyfeetofrope，so，thatheshouldhanganddangleinthesightofallevil—doerswhomightbehidingmatchesorcontemplatinganykindreddisobedience。Bertsawthemanstanding，aliving，reluctantman，nodoubtscaredandrebelliousenoughinhisheart，butoutwardlyerectandobedient，onthelowergalleryoftheAdleraboutahundredyardsaway。Thentheyhadthrusthimoverboard。
　　Downhefell，handsandfeetextending，untilwithajerkhewasattheendoftherope。Thenheoughttohavediedandswungedifyingly，butinsteadamoreterriblethinghappened;hisheadcamerightoff，anddownthebodywentspinningtothesea，feeble，grotesque，fantastic，withtheheadracingitinitsfall。
　　"Ugh！"saidBert，clutchingtherailbeforehim，andasympatheticgruntcamefromseveralofthemenbesidehim。
　　"So！"saidthePrince，stifferandsterner，glaredforsomeseconds，thenturnedtothegangwayupintotheairship。
　　ForalongtimeBertremainedclingingtotherailingofthegallery。Hewasalmostphysicallysickwiththehorrorofthistriflingincident。Hefounditfarmoredreadfulthanthebattle。Hewasindeedaverydegenerate，latter—day，civilisedperson。
　　LatethatafternoonKurtcameintothecabinandfoundhimcurleduponhislocker，andlookingverywhiteandmiserable。Kurthadalsolostsomethingofhispristinefreshness。
　　"Sea—sick？"heasked。
　　"No！"
　　"WeoughttoreachNewYorkthisevening。There’sagoodbreezecomingupunderourtails。Thenweshallseethings。"
　　Bertdidnotanswer。
　　Kurtopenedoutfoldingchairandtable，andrustledforatimewithhismaps。Thenhefellthinkingdarkly。Herousedhimselfpresently，andlookedathiscompanion。"What’sthematter？"hesaid。
　　"Nothing！"
　　Kurtstaredthreateningly。"What’sthematter？"
　　"Isawthemkillthatchap。Isawthatflying—machinemanhitthefunnelsofthebigironclad。Isawthatdeadchapinthepassage。Iseentoomuchsmashingandkillinglately。That’sthematter。Idon’tlikeit。Ididn’tknowwarwasthissortofthing。I’macivilian。Idon’tlikeit"
　　_I_don’tlikeit，"saidKurt。"ByJove，no！"
　　"I’vereadaboutwar，andallthat，butwhenyouseeitit’sdifferent。AndI’mgettin’giddy。I’mgettin’giddy。Ididn’tmindabitbeingupinthatballoonatfirst，butallthislookingdownandfloatingoverthingsandsmashinguppeople，it’sgettingonmynerves。See？"
　　"It’llhavetogetoffagain……"
　　Kurtthought。"You’renottheonlyone。Themenareallgettingstrungup。Theflying——that’sjustflying。Naturallyitmakesonealittleswimmyintheheadatfirst。Asforthekilling，we’vegottobeblooded;that’sall。We’retame，civilisedmen。Andwe’vegottogetblooded。Isupposethere’snotadozenmenontheshipwho’vereallyseenbloodshed。Nice，quiet，law—abidingGermansthey’vebeensofar……Heretheyare——inforit。
　　They’reabitsqueamynow，butyouwaittillthey’vegottheirhandsin。"
　　Hereflected。"Everybody’sgettingabitstrungup，"hesaid。
　　Heturnedagaintohismaps。Bertsatcrumpledupinthecorner，apparentlyheedlessofhim。Forsometimebothkeptsilence。
　　"WhatdidthePrincewanttogoand’angthatchapfor？"askedBert，suddenly。
　　"Thatwasallright，"saidKurt，"thatwasallright。QUITE
　　right。Hereweretheorders，plainasthenoseonyourface，andherewasthatfoolgoingaboutwithmatches——"
　　"Gaw！Ishan’tforgetthatbitina’urry，"saidBertirrelevantly。
　　Kurtdidnotanswerhim。HewasmeasuringtheirdistancefromNewYorkandspeculating。"WonderwhattheAmericanaeroplanesarelike？"hesaid。"Somethinglikeourdrachenflieger……Weshallknowbythistimeto—morrow……Iwonderwhatweshallknow？Iwonder。Suppose，afterall，theyputupafight……
　　Rumsortoffight！"
　　Hewhistledsoftlyandmused。Presentlyhefrettedoutofthecabin，andlaterBertfoundhiminthetwilightupontheswingingplatform，staringahead，andspeculatingaboutthethingsthatmighthappenonthemorrow。Cloudsveiledtheseaagain，andthelongstragglingwedgeofair—shipsrisingandfallingastheyflewseemedlikeaflockofstrangenewbirthsinaChaosthathadneitherearthnorwaterbutonlymistandsky。
　　CHAPTERVI
　　HOWWARCAMETONEWYORK
　　1
　　TheCityofNewYorkwasintheyearoftheGermanattackthelargest，richest，inmanyrespectsthemostsplendid，andinsome，thewickedestcitytheworldhadeverseen。ShewasthesupremetypeoftheCityoftheScientificCommercialAge;shedisplayeditsgreatness，itspower，itsruthlessanarchicenterprise，anditssocialdisorganisationmoststrikinglyandcompletely。ShehadlongoustedLondonfromherprideofplaceasthemodernBabylon，shewasthecentreoftheworld’sfinance，theworld’strade，andtheworld’spleasure;andmenlikenedhertotheapocalypticcitiesoftheancientprophets。ShesatdrinkingupthewealthofacontinentasRomeoncedrankthewealthoftheMediterraneanandBabylonthewealthoftheeast。