"Ifwecouldstopthemanotherhour！"criedthemaninyellow。
　　"Nothingcanstopthemnow，"saidtheoldman。
　　theyhavenearahundredaeroplanesinthefirstfleet。"
　　"Anotherhour？"askedGraham。
　　"Tobesonear！"saidtheWardLeader。"Nowthatwehavefoundthoseguns。Tobesonear——。
　　Ifoncewecouldgetthemoutupontheroofspaces。"
　　"Howlongwouldthattake？"askedGrahamsuddenly。
　　"Anhour——certainly。"
　　"Toolate，"criedtheWardLeader，"toolate。"
　　"Isittoolate？"saidGraham。"Evennow——。
　　Anhour！"
　　Hehadsuddenlyperceivedapossibility。Hetriedtospeakcalmly，buthisfacewaswhite。"Thereisonechance。Yousaidtherewasanaeropile——？"
　　"OntheRoehamptonstage，Sire。"
　　"Smashed？"
　　"No。ItisIyingcrosswaystothecarrier。Itmightbegotupontheguides——easily。Butthereisnoaeronaut——。"
　　GrahamglancedatthetwomenandthenatHelen。
　　Hespokeafteralongpause。"Wehavenoaeronauts？"
　　"None。"
　　"Theaeroplanesareclumsy，"hesaidthoughtfully，"comparedwiththeaeropiles。"
　　HeturnedsuddenlytoHelen。Hisdecisionwasmade。"Imustdoit。"
　　"Dowhat？"
　　"Gotothisflyingstage——tothisaeropile。"
　　"Whatdoyoumean？"
　　"Iamanaeronaut。Afterall——。Thosedaysforwhichyoureproachedmewerewasted。"
　　Heturnedtotheoldmaninyellow。
　　puttheaeropileupontheguides。"
　　Themaninyellowhesitated。
　　"Whatdoyoumeantodo？"criedHelen。
　　"Thisaeropile——itisachance——。"
　　"Youdon’tmean——？"
　　"Tofight——yes。Tofightintheair。Ihavethoughtbefore——。Anaeroplaneisaclumsything。
　　Aresoluteman——！"
　　"But——neversinceflyingbegan——"criedthemaninyellow。
　　"Therehasbeennoneed。Butnowthetimehascome。Tellthemnow——sendthemmymessage——toputitupontheguides。"
　　Theoldmandumblyinterrogatedthemaninyellow，nodded，andhurriedout。
　　HelenmadeasteptowardsGraham。Herfacewaswhite。"But——Howcanonefight？Youwillbekilled。"
　　"Perhaps。Yet，nottodoit——ortoletsomeoneelseattemptit——。"
　　Hestopped，hecouldspeaknomore，hesweptthealternativeasidebyagesture，andtheystoodlookingatoneanother。
　　"Youareright，"shesaidatlastinalowtone。
　　"Youareright。Ifitcanbedone……
　　mustgo。"
　　ThosedaysfornotaltogetherHemovedasteptowardsher，andshesteppedback，herwhitefacestruggledagainsthimandresistedhim。
　　"No，"shegasped。"Icannotbear——。Gonow。"
　　Heextendedhishandsstupidly。Sheclenchedherfists。"Gonow，"shecried。"Gonow。"
　　Hehesitatedandunderstood。Hethrewhishandsupinaqueerhalf—theatricalgesture。Hehadnowordtosay。Heturnedfromher。
　　Themaninyellowmovedtowardsthedoorwithclumsybelatedtact。ButGrahamsteppedpasthim。
　　HewentstridingthroughtheroomwheretheWardLeaderbawledatatelephonedirectingthattheaeropileshouldbeputupontheguides。
　　ThemaninyellowglancedatHelen’sstillfigure，hesitatedandhurriedafterhim。Grahamdidnotoncelookback，hedidnotspeakuntilthecurtainoftheante—chamberofthegreathallfellbehindhim。Thenheturnedhisheadwithcurtswiftdirectionsuponhisbloodlesslips。
　　CHAPTERXIV
　　THECOMINGOFTHEAEROPLANES
　　TwomeninpalebluewereIyingintheirregularlinethatstretchedalongtheedgeofthecapturedRoehamptonstagefromendtoend，graspingtheircarbinesandpeeringintotheshadowsofthestagecalledWimbledonPark。Nowandthentheyspoketooneanother。TheyspokethemutilatedEnglishoftheirclassandperiod。ThefireoftheOstrogiteshaddwindledandceased，andfewoftheenemyhadbeenseenforsometime。Buttheechoesofthefightthatwasgoingonnowfarbelowinthelowergalleriesofthatstage，cameeverynowandthenbetweenthestaccatoofshotsfromthepopularside。Oneofthesemenwasdescribingtotheotherhowhehadseenamandownbelowtheredodgebehindagirder，andhadaimedataguessandhithimcleanlyashedodgedtoofar"He’sdowntherestill，"saidthemarksman。
　　"Seethatlittlepatch。Yes。Betweenthosebars。"
　　Afewyardsbehindthemlayadeadstranger，faceupwardtothesky，withthebluecanvasofhisjacketsmolderinginacircleabouttheneatbulletholeonhischest。Closebesidehimawoundedman，withalegswathedabout，satwithanexpressionlessfaceandwatchedtheprogressofthatburning。Giganticbehindthem，athwartthecarrierlaythecapturedaeropile。
　　"Ican’tseehimnow，"saidthesecondmaninatonofprovocation。
　　Themarksmanbecamefoul—mouthedandhigh—
　　voicedinhisearnestendeavourtomakethingsplainAndsuddenly，interruptinghim，cameanoisyshoutingfromthesubstage。
　　"What’sgoingonnow，"hesaid，andraisedhimselfononearmtostareatthestairheadsinthecentralgrooveofthestage。Anumberofbluefigureswerecomingupthese，andswarmingacrossthestagetotheaeropile。
　　"Wedon’twantallthesefools，"saidhisfriend。
　　"Theyonlycrowdupandspoilshots。Whataretheyafter？"
　　"Ssh！——they’reshoutingsomething。"
　　Thetwomenlistened。Theswarmingnew—comershadcrowdeddenselyabouttheaeropile。ThreeWardLeaders，conspicuousbytheirblackmantlesandbadges，clamberedintothebodyandappearedaboveit。Therankandfileflungthemselvesuponthevans，grippingholdoftheedges，untiltheentireoutlineofthethingwasmanned，insomeplacesthreedeep。Oneofthemarksmenkneltup。"They’reputtingitonthecarrier——that’swhatthey’reafter。"
　　Herosetohisfeet，hisfriendrosealso。"What’sthegood？"saidhisfriend。"We’vegotnoaeronauts。"
　　"That’swhatthey’redoinganyhow。"Helookedathisrifle，lookedatthestrugglingcrowd，andsuddenlyturningtothewoundedman。"Mindthese，mate，"hesaid，handinghiscarbineandcartridgebelt；andinamomenthewasrunningtowardstheaeropile。ForaquarterofanhourhewasaperspiringTitan，lugging，thrusting，shoutingandheedingshouts，andthenthethingwasdone，andhestoodwithamultitudeofotherscheeringtheirownachievement。Bythistimeheknew，whatindeedeveryoneinthecityknew，thattheMaster，rawlearnerthoughhewas，intendedtoflythismachinehimself，wascomingevennowtotakecontrolofit，wouldletnoothermanattemptit。"Hewhotakesthegreatestdanger，hewhobearstheheaviestburden，thatmanisKing，"sotheMasterwasreportedtohavespoken。Andevenasthismancheered，andwhilethebeadsofsweatstillchasedoneanotherfromthedisorderofhishair，heheardthethunderofagreatertumult，andinfitfulsnatchesthebeatandimpulseoftherevolutionarysong。Hesawthroughagapinthepeoplethatathickstreamofheadsstillpouredupthestairway。"TheMasteriscoming，"shoutedvoices，"theMasteriscoming，"andthecrowdabouthimgrewdenseranddenser。Hebegantothrusthimselftowardsthecentralgroove。"TheMasteriscoming！""TheSleeper，theMaster！""GodandtheMaster！"roaredtheVoices。
　　Andsuddenlyquiteclosetohimweretheblackuniformsoftherevolutionaryguard，andforthefirstandlasttimeinhislifehesawGraham，sawhimquitenearly。Atall，darkmaninaflowingblackrobe，withawhite，resolutefaceandeyesfixedsteadfastlybeforehim；amanwhoforallthelittlethingsabouthimheldneitherearsnoreyesnorthoughts……ForallhisdaysthatmanrememberedthepassingofGraham’sbloodlessface。Inamomentithadgoneandhewasfightingintheswayingcrowd。Aladweepingwithterrorthrustagainsthim，pressingtowardsthestairways，yelling"Clearfortheaeropile！"Thebellthatclearstheflyingstagebecamealoudunmelodiousclanging。
　　WiththatclanginginhisearsGrahamdrewneartheaeropile，marchedintotheshadowofitstiltingwing。Hebecameawarethatanumberofpeopleabouthimwereofferingtoaccompanyhim，andwavedtheiroffersaside。Hewantedtothinkhowonestartedtheengine。Thebellclangedfasterandfaster，andthefeetoftheretreatingpeopleroaredfasterandlouder。Themaninyellowwasassistinghimtomountthroughtheribsofthebody。Heclamberedintotheaeronaut’splace，fixinghimselfverycarefullyanddeliberately。Whatwasit？Themaninyellowwaspointingtotwoaeropilesdrivingupwardinthesouthernsky。Nodoubttheywerelookingforthecomingaeroplanes。That——presently——thethingtodonowwastostart。Thingswerebeingshoutedathim，questions，warnings。Theybotheredhim。Hewantedtothinkabouttheaeropile，torecalleveryitemofhispreviousexperience。Hewavedthepeoplefromhim，sawthemaninyellowdroppingoffthroughtheribs，sawthecrowdcleftdownthelineofthegirdersbyhisgesture。
　　Foramomenthewasmotionless，staringatthelevers，thewheelbywhichtheengineshifted，andallthedelicateappliancesofwhichheknewsolittle。Hiseyecaughtaspiritlevelwiththebubbletowardshim，andherememberedsomething，spentadozensecondsinswingingtheengineforwarduntilthebubblefloatedinthecentreofthetube。Henotedthatthepeoplewerenotshouting，knewtheywatchedhisdeliberation。
　　Abulletsmashedonthebarabovehishead。Whofired？Wasthelineclearofpeople？Hestooduptoseeandsatdownagain。
　　Inanothersecondthepropellerwasspinning，andhewasrushingdowntheguides。Hegrippedthewheelandswungtheenginebacktoliftthestem。
　　Thenitwasthepeopleshouted。Inamomenthewasthrobbingwiththequiveroftheengine，andtheshoutsdwindledswiftlybehind，rusheddowntosilence。
　　Thewindwhistledovertheedgesofthescreen，andtheworldsankawayfromhimveryswiftly。
　　Throb，throb，throb——throb，throb，throb；uphedrove。Hefanciedhimselffreeofallexcitement，feltcoolanddeliberate。Heliftedthestemstillmore，openedonevalveonhisleftwingandsweptroundandup。Helookeddownwithasteadyhead，andup。OneoftheOstrogiteaeropileswasdrivingacrosshiscourse，sothathedroveobliquelytowardsitandwouldpassbelowitatasteepangle。Itslittleaeronautswerepeeringdownathim。Whatdidtheymeantodo？
　　Hismindbecameactive。One，hesawheldaweaponpointing，seemedpreparedtofire。Whatdidtheythinkhemeanttodo？Inamomentheunderstoodtheirtactics，andhisresolutionwastaken。Hismomentarylethargywaspast。Heopenedtwomorevalvestohisleft，swunground，endontothishostilemachine，closedhisvalves，andshotstraightatit，stemandwind—screenshieldinghimfromtheshot。Theytiltedalittleasiftoclearhim。Heflunguphisstem。
　　Throb，throb，throb——pause——throb，throb——
　　hesethisteeth，hisfaceintoaninvoluntarygrimace，andcrash！Hestruckit！Hestruckupwardbeneaththenearerwing。
　　Veryslowlythewingofhisantagonistseemedtobroadenastheimpetusofhisblowturneditup。Hesawthefullbreadthofitandthenitsliddownwardoutofhissight。
　　Hefelthisstemgoingdown，hishandstightenedonthelevers，whirledandrammedtheengineback。Hefeltthejerkofaclearance，thenoseofthemachinejerkedupwardsteeply，andforamomentheseemedtobeIyingonhisback。Themachinewasreelingandstaggering，itseemedtobedancingonitsscrew。Hemadeahugeeffort，hungforamomentonthelevers，andslowlytheenginecameforwardagain。Hewasdrivingupwardbutnolongersosteeply。Hegaspedforamomentandflunghimselfattheleversagain。Thewindwhistledabouthim。Onefurthereffortandhewasalmostlevel。Hecouldbreathe。Heturnedhisheadforthefirsttimetoseewhathadbecomeofhisantagonists。Turnedbacktotheleversforamomentandlookedagain。Foramomenthecouldhavebelievedtheywereannihilated。
　　Andthenhesawbetweenthetwostagestotheeastwasachasm，anddownthissomething，aslenderedge，fellswiftlyandvanished，asasixpencefallsdownacrack。
　　Atfirsthedidnotunderstand，andthenawildjoypossessedhim。Heshoutedatthetopofhisvoice，aninarticulateshout，anddrovehigherandhigherupthesky。Throb，throb，throb，pause，throb，throb，throb。
　　"Wherewastheotheraeropile？"hethought。"Theytoo——。"Ashelookedroundtheemptyheavenshehadamomentaryfearthatthismachinehadrisenabovehim，andthenhesawitalightingontheNorwoodstage。Theyhadmeantshooting。Toriskbeingrammedheadlongtwothousandfeetintheairwasbeyondtheirlatter—daycourage。Thecombatwasdeclined。
　　Foralittlewhilehecircled，thenswoopedinasteepdescenttowardsthewestwardstage。Throbthrobthrob，throbthrobthrob。Thetwilightwascreepingonapace，thesmokefromtheStreathamstagethathadbeensodenseanddark，wasnowapillaroffire，andallthelacedcurvesofthemovingwaysandthetranslucentroofsanddomesandthechasmsbetweenthebuildingswereglowingsoftlynow，litbythetemperedradianceoftheelectriclightthattheglareofthewayoverpowered。ThethreeefficientstagesthattheOstrogitesheld——forWimbledonParkwasuselessbecauseofthefirefromRoehampton，andStreathamwasafurnace——wereglowingwithguidelightsforthecomingaeroplanes。AshesweptovertheRoehamptonstagehesawthedarkmassesofthepeoplethereon。Heheardaclapoffranticcheering，heardabulletfromtheWimbledonParkstagetweetthroughtheair，andwentbeatingupabovetheSurreywastes。
　　Hefeltabreathofwindfromthesouth—west，andliftedhiswestwardwingashehadlearnttodo，andsodroveupwardheelingintotherareswiftupperair。
　　Throbthrobthrob——throbthrobthrob。
　　Uphedroveandup，tothatpulsatingrhythm，untilthecountrybeneathwasblueandindistinct，andLondonspreadlikealittlemaptracedinlight，likethemeremodelofacitynearthebrimofthehorizon。
　　Thesouth—westwasaskyofsapphireovertheshadowyrimoftheworld，andeverashedroveupwardthemultitudeofstarsincreased。
　　Andbehold！Inthesouthward，lowdownandglitteringswiftlynearer，weretwolittlepatchesofnebulouslight。Andthentwomore，andthenanebulousglowofswiftlydrivingshapes。Presentlyhecouldcountthem。Therewerefourandtwenty。Thefirstfleetofaeroplaneshadcome！Beyondappearedayetgreaterglow。
　　Hesweptroundinahalfcircle，staringatthisadvancingfleet。Itflewinawedge—likeshape，atriangularflightofgiganticphosphorescentshapessweepingnearerthroughthelowerair。Hemadeaswiftcalculationoftheirpace，andspunthelittlewheelthatbroughttheengineforward。Hetouchedaleverandthethrobbingeffortoftheengineceased。Hebegantofall，fellswifterandswifter。Heaimedattheapexofthewedge。Hedroppedlikeastonethroughthewhistlingair。Itseemedscarceasecondfromthatsoaringmomentbeforehestrucktheforemostaeroplane。
　　Nomanofallthatblackmultitudesawthecomingofhisfate，nomanamongthemdreamtofthehawkthatstruckdownwarduponhimoutofthesky。Thosewhowerenotlimpintheagoniesofair—sickness，werecraningtheirblacknecksandstaringtoseethefilmycitythatwasrisingoutofthehaze，therichandsplendidcitytowhich"MassaBoss"hadbroughttheirobedientmuscles。Brightteethgleamedandtheglossyfacesshone。TheyhadheardofParis。Theyknewtheyweretohavelordlytimesamongthe"poorwhite"trash。AndsuddenlyGrahamstruckthem。
　　Hehadaimedatthebodyoftheaeroplane，butattheverylastinstantabetterideahadflashedintohismind。Hetwistedaboutandstruckneartheedgeofthestarboardwingwithallhisaccumulatedweight。
　　Hewasjerkedbackashestruck。Hisprowwentglidingacrossitssmoothexpansetowardstherim。
　　Hefelttheforwardrushofthehugefabricsweepinghimandhisaeropilealongwithit，andforamomentthatseemedanagehecouldnottellwhatwashappening。
　　Heheardathousandthroatsyelling，andperceivedthathismachinewasbalancedontheedgeofthegiganticfloat，anddrivingdown，down；glancedoverhisshoulderandsawthebackboneoftheaeroplaneandtheoppositefloatswayingup。Hehadavisionthroughtheribsofslidingchairs，staringfaces，andhandsclutchingatthetiltingguidebars。
　　Thefenestrationsinthefurtherfloatflashedopenastheaeronauttriedtorighther。Beyond，hesawasecondaeroplaneleapingsteeplytoescapethewhirlofitsheelingfellow。Thebroadareaofswayingwingsseemedtojerkupward。Hefelthisaeropilehaddroppedclear，thatthemonstrousfabric，cleanoverturned，hunglikeaslopingwallabovehim。
　　Hedidnotclearlyunderstandthathehadstruckthesidefloatoftheaeroplaneandslippedoff，butheperceivedthathewasflyingfreeonthedownglideandrapidlynearingearth。Whathadhedone？Hisheartthrobbedlikeanoisyengineinhisthroatandforaperilousinstanthecouldnotmovehisleversbecauseoftheparalysisofhishands。Hewrenchedtheleverstothrowhisengineback，foughtfortwosecondsagainsttheweightofit，felthimselfrightingdrivinghorizontally，settheenginebeatingagain。
　　Helookedupwardandsawtwoaeroplanesglideshoutingfaroverhead，lookedback，andsawthemainbodyofthefleetopeningoutandrushingupwardand……
　　outward；sawtheonehehadstruckfalledgewiseonandstrikelikeagiganticknife—bladealongthewind—
　　wheelsbelowit。
　　Heputdownhissternandlookedagain。Hedroveupheedlessofhisdirectionashewatched。Hesawthewind—vanesgive，sawthehugefabricstriketheearth，sawitsdownwardvanscrumplewiththeweightofitsdescent，andthenthewholemassturnedoverandsmashed，upsidedown，upontheslopingwheels。
　　Throb，throb，throb，pause。Suddenlyfromtheheavingwreckageathintongueofwhitefirelickeduptowardsthezenith。Andthenhewasawareofahugemassflyingthroughtheairtowardshim，andturnedupwardsjustintimetoescapethecharge——ifitwasacharge——ofasecondaeroplane。Itwhirledbybelow，suckedhimdownafathom，andnearlyturnedhimoverinthegustofitsclosepassage。
　　Hebecameawareofthreeothersrushingtowardshim，awareoftheurgentnecessityofbeatingabovethem。Aeroplaneswereallabouthim，circlingwildlytoavoidhim，asitseemed。Theydrovepasthim，above，below，eastwardandwestward。Farawaytothewestwardwasthesoundofacollision，andtwofallingflares。Farawaytothesouthwardasecondsquadronwascoming。Steadilyhebeatupward。
　　Presentlyalltheaeroplaneswerebelowhim，butforamomenthedoubtedtheheighthehadofthem，anddidnotswoopagain。Andthenhecamedownuponasecondvictimandallitsloadofsoldierssawhimcoming。
　　Thebigmachineheeledandswayedasthefearmaddenedmenscrambledtothesternfortheirweapons。Ascoreofbulletssungthroughtheair，andthereflashedastarinthethickglasswind—screenthatprotectedhim。Theaeroplaneslowedanddroppedtofoilhisstroke，anddroppedtoolow。Justintimehesawthewind—wheelsofBromleyhillrushinguptowardshim，andspunaboutandupastheaeroplanehehadchasedcrashedamongthem。Allitsvoiceswoveintoafeltofyelling。Thegreatfabricseemedtobestandingonendforasecondamongtheheelingandsplinteringvans，andthenitflewtopieces。
　　Hugesplinterscameflyingthroughtheair，itsenginesburstlikeshells。Ahotrushofflameshotoverheadintothedarklingsky。
　　"__Two！__"hecried，withabombfromoverheadburstingasitfell，andforthwithhewasbeatingupagain。
　　Agloriousexhilarationpossessedhimnow，agiantactivity。Histroublesabouthumanity，abouthisinadaquacy，weregoneforever。Hewasamaninbattlerejoicinginhispower。Aeroplanesseemedradiatingfromhimineverydirection，intentonlyuponavoidinghim，theyellingoftheirpackedpassengerscameinshortgustsastheysweptby。Hechosehisthirdquarry，struckhastilyanddidbutturnitonedge。Itescapedhim，tosmashagainstthetallcliffofLondonwall。FIyingfromthatimpactheskimmedthedarklinggroundsonearlyhecouldseeafrightenedrabbitboltingupaslope。Hejerkedupsteeply，andfoundhimselfdrivingoversouthLondonwiththeairabouthimvacant。TotherightofhimawildriotofsignalrocketsfromtheOstrogitesbangedtumultuouslyinthesky。Tothesouththewreckageofhalfadozenairshipsflamed，andeastandwestandnorththeairshipsfledbeforehim。Theydroveawaytotheeastandnorth，andwentaboutinthesouth，fortheycouldnotpauseintheair。Intheirpresentconfusionanyattemptatevolutionwouldhavemeantdisastrouscollisions。Hecouldscarcelyrealizethethinghehaddone。Ineveryquarteraeroplaneswerereceding。
　　Theywerereceding。Theydwindledsmallerandsmaller。Theywereinflight！
　　HepassedtwohundredfeetorsoabovetheRoehamptonstage。Itwasblackwithpeopleandnoisywiththeirfranticshouting。ButwhywastheWimbledonParkstageblackandcheering，too？ThesmokeandflameofStreathamnowhidthethreefurtherstages。Hecurvedaboutandrosetoseethemandthenorthernquarters。FirstcamethesquaremassesofShooter’sHillintosightfrombehindthesmoke，litandorderlywiththeaeroplanethathadlandedanditsdisembarkingnegroes。ThencameBlackheath，andthenunderthecornerofthereektheNorwoodstage。OnBlackheathnoaeroplanehadlandedbutanaeropilelayupontheguides。Norwoodwascoveredbyaswarmoflittlefiguresrunningtoandfroinapassionateconfusion。Why？Abruptlyheunderstood。Thestubborndefenceoftheflyingstageswasover，thepeoplewerepouringintotheunder—waysoftheselaststrongholdsofOstrog’susurpation。Andthen，fromfarawayonthenorthernborderofthecity，fullofgloriousimporttohim，cameasound，asignal，anoteoftriumph，theleadenthudofagun。Hislipsfellapart，hisfacewasdisturbedwithemotion。
　　Hedrewanimmensebreath。"Theywin，"heshoutedtotheemptyair；"thepeoplewin！"Thesoundofasecondguncamelikeananswer。AndthenhesawtheaeropileonBlackheathwasrunningdownitsguidestolaunch。Itliftedcleanandrose。
　　Itshotupintotheair，drivingstraightsouthwardandawayfromhim。
　　Inaninstantitcametohimwhatthismeant。ItmustneedsbeOstroginflight。Heshoutedanddroppedtowardsit。Hehadthemomentumofhiselevationandfellslantingdowntheairandveryswiftly。Itrosesteeplyathisapproach。Heallowedforitsvelocityanddrovestraightuponit。
　　Itsuddenlybecameamereflatedge，andbehold！hewaspastit，anddrivingheadlongdownwithalltheforceofhisfutileblow。
　　Hewasfuriouslyangry。Hereeledtheenginebackalongitsshaftandwentcirclingup。HesawOstrog’smachinebeatingupaspiralbeforehim。Herosestraighttowardsit，wonaboveitbyvirtueoftheimpetusofhisswoopandbytheadvantageandweightofaman。Hedroppedheadlong——droppedandmissedagain！AsherushedpasthesawthefaceofOstrog’saeronautconfidentandcoolandinOstrog’sattitudeawincingresolution。Ostrogwaslookingsteadfastlyawayfromhim——tothesouth。
　　Herealizedwithagleamofwrathhowbunglinghisflightmustbe。BelowhesawtheCroydenhills。Hejerkedupwardandoncemorehegainedonhisenemy。
　　Heglancedoverhisshoulderandhisattentionwasarrestedbyastrangething。Theeastwardstage，theoneonShooter’sHill，appearedtolift；aflashchangingtoatallgreyshape，acowledfigureofsmokeandduct，jerkedintotheair。Foramomentthiscowledfigurestoodmotionless，droppinghugemassesofmetalfromitsshoulders，andthenitbegantouncoiladenseheadofsmoke。Thepeoplehadblownitup，aeroplaneandall！AssuddenlyasecondflashandgreyshapesprangupfromtheNorwoodstage。Andevenashestaredatthiscameadeadreport，andtheairwaveofthefirstexplosionstruckhim。Hewasflungupandsideways。
　　Foramomenttheaeropilefellnearlyedgewisewithhernosedown，andseemedtohesitatewhethertooversetaltogether。Hestoodonhiswind—shieldwrenchingthewheelthatswayedupoverhishead。
　　Andthentheshockofthesecondexplosiontookhismachinesideways。
　　Hefoundhimselfclingingtooneoftheribsofhismachine，andtheairwasblowingpasthimandupward。Heseemedtobehangingquitestillintheair，withthewindblowinguppasthim。Itoccurredtohimthathewasfalling。Thenhewassurethathewasfalling。Hecouldnotlookdown。
　　Hefoundhimselfrecapitulatingwithincredibleswiftnessallthathadhappenedsincehisawakening，thedaysofdoubtthedaysofEmpire，andatlastthetumultuousdiscoveryofOstrog’scalculatedtreachery。
　　hewasbeatenbutLondonwassaved。Londonwassaved！
　　Thethoughthadaqualityofutterunreality。Whowashe？Whywasheholdingsotightlywithhishands？Whycouldhenotleavego？Insuchafallasthiscountlessdreamshaveended。Butinamomenthewouldwake……
　　Histhoughtsranswifterandswifter。HewonderedifheshouldseeHelenagain。Itseemedsounreasonablethatheshouldnotseeheragain。It__must__beadream！Yetsurelyhewouldmeether。Sheatleastwasreal。Shewasreal。Hewouldwakeandmeether。
　　Althoughhecouldnotlookatit，hewassuddenlyawarethattheearthwasverynear。
　　End