Nevermindthebabies。They'rebetterdead——Out，beforetheLightandtheHotSmoke!"
ThePrincess'sfirstclearfearlesscallMelissahadfoundher
roseanddrummedthroughalltheframes。"LaReineleveult!
Swarm!Swar-rm!Swar-r-rm!"
TheHiveshookbeneaththeshatteringthunderofastuck-downquiltbeingtornback。
"Don'tbealarmed，dears，"saidtheWax-moths。"That'sourwork。
Lookup，andyou'llseethedawnoftheNewDay。"
LightbrokeinthetopofthehiveastheQueenhad，prophesied——nakedlightontheboiling，bewilderedbees。
Sacharissaroundedupherrearguard，whichdroppedheadlongofftheframe，andjoinedthePrincess'sdetachmentthrustingtowardtheGate。Nowpanicwasinfullblast，andeachsoundbeefoundherselfembracedbyatleastthreeOddities。Thefirstinstinctofafrightenedbeeistobreakintothestoresandgorgeherselfwithhoney；buttherewerenostoresleft，sotheOdditiesfoughtthesoundbees。
"Youmustfeedus，orweshalldie!"theycried，holdingandclutchingandslipping，whilethesilentscaredearwigsandlittlespiderstwistedbetweentheirlegs。"ThinkoftheHive，traitors!TheHolyHive!"
"Youshouldhavethoughtbefore!"criedthesoundbees。，"StayandseethedawnofyourNewDay。"
TheyreachedtheGateatlastoverthesoftbodiesofmanytowhomtheyhadministered。
"On!Out!Up!"roaredMelissainthePrincess'sear。"FortheHive'ssake!TotheOldOak!"
ThePrincessleftthealighting-board，circledonce，flungherselfatthelowestbranchoftheOldOak，andherlittleloyalswarm——youcouldhavecovereditwithapintmug——followed，hooked，andhung。
"Holdclose!"Melissagasped。"Theoldlegendshavecometrue!
Look!"
TheHivewashalfhiddenbysmoke，andFiguresmovedthroughthesmoke。Theyheardaframecrackstickily，sawitheavedhighandtwirledroundbetweenenormoushands——ablotched，bulged，andperishedhorrorofgreywax，corruptbrood，andsmalldrone-cells，allcoveredwithcrawlingOddities，strangetothesun。
"Why，thisisn'tahive!Thisisamuseumofcuriosities，"saidtheVoicebehindtheVeil。ItwasonlytheBeeMastertalkingtohisson。
"Canyoublame'em，father？"saidasecondvoice。"It'srottenwithWax-moth。Seehere!"
Anotherframecameup。Afingerpokedthroughit，anditbrokeawayinrustlingflakesofashyrottenness。
"NumberFourFrame!Thatwasyourmother'spetcombonce，"
whisperedMelissatothePrincess。"Many'sthegoodeggI'vewatchedherlaythere。"
"Aren'tyouconfusingpodhocwithpropterhoc？"saidtheBeeMaster。"Wax-mothonlysucceedwhenweakbeesletthemin。"A
thirdframecrackledandroseintothelight。"Allthisisfulloflayingworkers'brood。Thatneverhappenstillthestock'sweakened。Phew!"
Hebeatitonhiskneelikeatambourine，anditalsocrumbledtopieces。
Thelittleswarmshiveredastheywatchedthedwarfdrone-grubssquirmfeeblyonthegrass。Manysoundbeeshadnursedonthatframe，wellknowingtheirworkwasuseless；buttheactualsightofevenuselessworkdestroyeddisheartensagoodworker。
"No，theyhavesomerecuperativepowerleft，"saidthesecondvoice。"Here'saQueencell!"
"Butit'stuckedawayamong——Whatonearthhascometothelittlewretches？Theyseemtohavelosttheinstinctofcell-building。"
Thefatherhelduptheframewherethebeeshadexperimentedincircularcell-work。Itlookedlikethepittedhead，ofadecayingtoadstool。
"Notaltogether，"thesoncorrected。"There'soneline，atleast，ofperfectlygoodcells。"
"Mywork，"saidSacharissatoherself。"I'mgladMandoesmejusticebefore——"
Thatframe，too，wassmashedoutandthrownatopoftheothersandthefoulearwiggyquilts。
Asframeafterframefollowedit，theswarmbeheldtheupheaval，exposure，anddestructionofallthathadbeenwellorilldoneineverycrannyoftheirHiveforgenerationspast。Therewasblackcombsooldthattheyhadforgottenwhereithung；orange，buff，andochre-varnishedstore-comb，builtasbeeswereusedtobuildbeforethedaysofartificialfoundations；andtherewasalittle，white，frailnewwork。Thereweresheetsonsheetsoflevel，evenbrood-combthathadheldinitstimeunnumberedthousandsofunnamedworkers；patchesofobsoletedrone-comb，broadandhigh-shouldered，showingtowhatmarksthemalegrubwasexpectedtogrow；andtwo-inchdeephoney-magazines，empty，butstillmagnificent，thewholegummedandgluedintotwistedscrap-work，awryonthewires；half-cells，beginningsabandoned，orgrandiose，weak-walled，compositecellspiecedoutwithrubbishandcappedwithdirt。
Goodorbad，everyinchofitwassoriddledbythetunnelsoftheWax-moththatitbrokeincloudsofdustasitwasflungontheheap。
"Oh，see!"criedSacharissa。"TheGreatBurningthatOurQueenforetold。Whocanbeartolook？"
Aflamecrawledupthepileofrubbish，andtheysmeltsingeingwax。
TheFiguresstooped，liftedtheHiveandshookitupsidedownoverthepyre。AcascadeofOddities，chipsofbrokencomb，scale，fluff，andgrubsslidout，crackled，sizzled，poppedalittle，andthentheflamesroaredupandconsumedallthatfuel。
"Wemustdisinfect，"saidaVoice。"Getmeasulphur-candle，please。"
TheshelloftheHivewasreturnedtoitsplace，alightwassetinitsstickyemptiness，tierbytiertheFiguresbuiltitup，closedtheentrance，andwentaway。Theswarmwatchedthelightleakingthroughthecracksallthelongnight。AtdawnoneWax-mothcameby，flutteringimpudently。
"TherehasbeenamiscalculationabouttheNewDay，mydears，"
shebegan；"onecan'texpectpeopletobeperfectallatonce。
Thatwasourmistake。"
"No，themistakewasentirelyours，"saidthePrincess。
"Pardonme，"saidtheWax-moth。"Whenyouthinkoftheenormousupheaval——callitgoodorbad——whichourinfluencebroughtabout，youwilladmitthatwe，andwealone——"
"You？"saidthePrincess。"Ourstockwasnotstrong。Soyoucame——asanyotherdiseasemighthavecome。Hangclose，allmypeople。"
Whenthesunrose，VeiledFigurescamedown，andsawtheirswarmatthebough'sendwaitingpatientlywithinsightoftheoldHive——ahandful，butpreparedtogoon。
THEBEESANDTHEFLIES
AFARMERoftheAugustanagePerusedinVirgil'sgoldenpage，ThestoryofthesecretwonFromProteusbyCyrene'ssonHowthedanksea-godsowedtheswainMeanstorestorehishivesagainMorebriefly，howaslaughteredbullBreedshoneybythebellyful。
TheegregiousrusticputtodeathAbullbystoppingofitsbreath:
DisposedthecarcassinashedWithfragrantherbsandbranchesspread。
And，havingthusperformedthecharm，Satdowntowaitthepromisedswarm。
Norwaitedlong……TheGodofDayImpartial，quickeningwithhisrayEvilandgoodalike，beheldThecarcass——andthecarcassswelled!
BigwithnewbirththebellyheavesBeneathitsscreenofscentedleaves；
Pastanydoubt，thebullconceives!
ThefarmerbidsmenbringmorehivesTohousetheprofitthatarrives；
Preparesonpan，andkeyandkettle，Sweetmusicthatshallmake'emsettle；
Butwhentocrowntheworkhegoes，Gods!Whatastinksaluteshisnose!
Wherearethehonesttoilers？
WhereThegravidmistressoftheircare？
Abusyscene，indeed，hesees，Butnotasignorsoundofbees。
WormsoftheripergraveunhidByanykindlycoffinlid，Obsceneandshamelesstothelight，Seetheininsatiateappetite，Throughputridoffal；whileaboveThehissingblow-flyseekshislove，Whoseoffspring，suppingwheretheysupt，Consumecorruptiontwicecorrupt。
WITHTHENIGHTMAIL
ASTORYOF2000A。D。
Togetherwithextractsfromthemagazineinwhichitappeared
Anineo'clockofagustywinternightIstoodonthelowerstagesofoneoftheG。P。O。outwardmailtowers。MypurposewasaruntoQuebecin"PostalPacket162orsuchotherasmaybeappointed"；andthePostmaster-Generalhimselfcountersignedtheorder。Thistalismanopenedalldoors，eventhoseinthedespatching-caissonatthefootofthetower，wheretheyweredeliveringthesortedContinentalmail。ThebagslaypackedcloseasherringsinthelonggreyunderbodieswhichourG。P。O。stillcalls"coaches。"FivesuchcoacheswerefilledasIwatched，andwereshotuptheguidestobelockedontotheirwaitingpacketsthreehundredfeetnearerthestars。
Fromthedespatching-caissonIwasconductedbyacourteousandwonderfullylearnedofficialMr。L。L。Geary，SecondDespatcheroftheWesternRoute——totheCaptains'Roomthiswakesanechoofoldromance，wherethemailcaptainscomeonfortheirturnofduty。Heintroducesmetothecaptainof"162"——CaptainPurnall，andhisrelief，CaptainHodgson。Theoneissmallanddark；theotherlargeandred；buteachhasthebroodingsheathedglancecharacteristicofeaglesandaeronauts。Youcanseeitinthepicturesofourracingprofessionals，fromL。V。RautschtolittleAdaWarrleigh——thatfathomlessabstractionofeyeshabituallyturnedthroughnakedspace。
Onthenotice-boardintheCaptains'Room，thepulsingarrowsofsometwentyindicatorsregister，degreebygeographicaldegree，theprogressofasmanyhomeward-boundpackets。Theword"Cape"
risesacrossthefaceofadial；agongstrikes:theSouthAfricanmid-weeklymailisinattheHighgateReceivingTowers。
Thatisall。Itremindsonecomicallyofthetraitorouslittlebellwhichinpigeon-fanciers'，loftsnotifiesthereturnofahomer。
"Timeforustobeonthemove，"saysCaptainPurnall，andweareshotupbythepassenger-lifttothetopofthedespatch-towers。
"Ourcoachwilllockonwhenitisfilledandtheclerksareaboard。"
"No。162"waitsforusinSlipEofthetopmoststage。Thegreatcurveofherbackshinesfrostilyunderthelights，andsomeminutealterationoftrimmakesherrockalittleinherholding-downslips。
CaptainPurnallfrownsanddivesinside。Hissingsoftly，"162"
comestorestaslevelasarule。FromherNorthAtlanticWinternose-capwornbrightasdiamondwithboringthroughuncountedleaguesofhail，snow，andicetotheinsetofherthreebuiltoutpropeller-shaftsissometwohundredandfortyfeet。Herextremediameter，carriedwellforward，isthirty-seven。Contrastthiswiththeninehundredbyninety-fiveofanycrackliner，andyouwillrealizethepowerthatmustdriveahullthroughallweathersatmorethantheemergencyspeedoftheCyclonic!
Theeyedetectsnojointinherskinplatingsavethesweepinghair-crackofthebow-rudder——Magniac'srudderthatassuredusthedominionoftheunstableairandleftitsinventorpennilessandhalf-blind。ItiscalculatedtoCastelli's"gullwing"curve。
Raiseafewfeetofthatallbutinvisibleplatethree-eighthsofaninchandshewillyawfivemilestoportorstarboarderesheisundercontrolagain。Giveherfullhelmandshereturnsonhertracklikeawhip-lash。Cantthewholeforward——atouchonthewheelwillsuffice——andshesweepsatyourgooddirectionupordown。Openthecompletecircleandshepresentstotheairamushroom-headthatwillbringherupallstandingwithinahalfmile。
"Yes，"saysCaptainHodgson，answeringmythought，"Castellithoughthe'ddiscoveredthesecretofcontrollingaeroplaneswhenhe'donlyfoundouthowtosteerdirigibleballoons。Magniacinventedhisruddertohelpwar-boatsrameachother；andwarwentoutoffashionandMagniachewentoutofhismindbecausehesaidhecouldn'tservehiscountryanymore。Iwonderifanyofuseverknowwhatwe'rereallydoing。"
"Ifyouwanttoseethecoachlockedyou'dbettergoaboard。It'sduenow，"saysMr。Geary。Ienterthroughthedooramidships。
Thereisnothingherefordisplay。Theinnerskinofthegas-tankscomesdowntowithinafootortwoofmyheadandturnsoverjustshortoftheturnofthebilges。Linersandyachtsdisguisetheirtankswithdecoration，buttheG。P。O。servesthemrawunderalickofgreyofficialpaint。Theinnerskinshutsofffiftyfeetofthebowandasmuchofthestern，butthebow-bulkheadisrecessedforthelift-shuntingapparatusasthesternispiercedfortheshaft-tunnels。Theengine-roomliesalmostamidships。Forwardofit，extendingtotheturnofthebowtanks，isanaperture——abottomlesshatchatpresent——intowhichourcoachwillbelocked。Onelooksdownoverthecoamingsthreehundredfeettothedespatching-caissonwhencevoicesboomupward。Thelightbelowisobscuredtoasoundofthunder，asourcoachrisesonitsguides。Itenlargesrapidlyfromapostage-stamptoaplaying-card；toapuntandlastapontoon。
Thetwoclerks，itscrew，donotevenlookupasitcomesintoplace。TheQuebeclettersflyundertheirfingersandleapintothedocketedracks，whilebothcaptainsandMr。Gearysatisfythemselvesthatthecoachislockedhome。Aclerkpassestheway-billoverthehatchcoaming。CaptainPurnallthumb-marksandpassesittoMr。Geary。Receipthasbeengivenandtaken。
"Pleasantrun，"saysMr。Geary，anddisappearsthroughthedoorwhichafoothighpneumaticcompressorlocksafterhim。
"A-ah!"sighsthecompressorreleased。Ourholding-downclipspartwithatang。Weareclear。
CaptainHodgsonopensthegreatcolloidunderbodyportholethroughwhichIwatchover-lightedLondonslideeastwardasthegalegetsholdofus。Thefirstofthelowwintercloudscutsoffthewell-knownviewanddarkensMiddlesex。OnthesouthedgeofitIcanseeapostalpacket'slightploughingthroughthewhitefleece。ForaninstantshegleamslikeastarereshedropstowardtheHighgateReceivingTowers。"TheBombayMail，"saysCaptainHodgson，andlooksathiswatch。"She'sfortyminuteslate。"
"What'sourlevel？"Iask。
"Fourthousand。Aren'tyoucominguponthebridge？"
ThebridgeletuseverpraisetheG。P。O。asarepositoryofancientesttradition!isrepresentedbyaviewofCaptainHodgson'slegswherehestandsontheControlPlatformthatrunsthwart-shipsoverhead。ThebowcolloidisunshutteredandCaptainPurnall，onehandonthewheel，isfeelingforafairslant。Thedialshows4300feet。"It'ssteepto-night，"hemutters，astierontierofclouddropsunder。"Wegenerallypickupaneasterlydraughtbelowthreethousandatthistimeo'theyear。Ihateslatheringthroughfluff。"
"SodoesVanCutsem。Lookathimhuntin'foraslant!"saysCaptainHodgson。Afoglightbreakscloudahundredfathomsbelow。
TheAntwerpNightMailmakeshersignalandrisesbetweentworacingcloudsfartoport，herflanksblood-redintheglareofSheernessDoubleLight。ThegalewillhaveusovertheNorthSeainhalf-an-hour，butCaptainPurnallletshergocomposedly——nosingtoeverypointofthecompassassherises。
"Fivethousand-six，sixthousandeighthundred"——thedip-dialreadserewefindtheeasterlydrift，heraldedbyaflurryofsnowatthethousandfathomlevel。CaptainPurnallringsuptheenginesandkeysdownthegovernorontheswitchbeforehim。
ThereisnosenseinurgingmachinerywhenEolushimselfgivesyougoodknotsfornothing。Weareawayinearnestnow——ournosenotchedhomeonourchosenstar。Atthislevelthelowercloudsarelaidout，allneatlycombedbythedryfingersoftheEast。
Belowthatagainisthestrongwesterlyblowthroughwhichwerose。Overhead，afilmofsoutherlydriftingmistdrawsatheatricalgauzeacrossthefirmament。Themoonlightturnsthelowerstratatosilverwithoutastainexceptwhereourshadowunderrunsus。BristolandCardiffDoubleLightsthosestatelilyinclinedbeamsoverSevernmoutharedeadaheadofus；forwekeeptheSouthernWinterRoute。CoventryCentral，thepivotoftheEnglishsystem，stabsupwardonceintensecondsitsspearofdiamondlighttothenorth；andapointortwooffourstarboardbowTheLeek，thegreatcloud-breakerofSaintDavid'sHead，swingsitsunmistakablegreenbeamtwenty-fivedegreeseachway。
Theremustbehalfamileoffluffoveritinthisweather，butitdoesnotaffectTheLeek。
"Ourplanet'sover-lightedifanything，"saysCaptainPurnallatthewheel，asCardiff-Bristolslidesunder。"Iremembertheolddaysofcommonwhiteverticalsthat'udshowtwoorthreehundredfeetupinamist，ifyouknewwheretolookfor'em。Inreallyfluffyweathertheymightaswellhavebeenunderyourhat。Onecouldgetlostcominghomethen，an'havesomefun。Now，it'slikedrivingdownPiccadilly。"
Hepointstothepillarsoflightwherethecloud-breakersborethroughthecloud-floor。WeseenothingofEngland'soutlines:
onlyawhitepavementpiercedinalldirectionsbythesemanholesofvariouslycolouredfire——HolyIsland'swhiteandred——St。
Bee'sinterruptedwhite，andsoonasfarastheeyecanreach。
BlessedbeSargent，Ahrens，andtheDuboisbrothers，whoinventedthecloud-breakersoftheworldwherebywetravelinsecurity!
"AreyougoingtoliftforTheShamrock？"asksCaptainHodgson。
CorkLightgreen，fixedenlargesaswerushtoit。CaptainPurnallnods。Thereisheavytraffichereabouts——thecloud-bankbeneathusisstreaked。withrunningfissuresofflamewheretheAtlanticboatsarehurryingLondonwardjustclearofthefluff。
Mail-packetsaresupposed，undertheConferencerules，tohavethefive-thousand-footlanestothemselves，buttheforeignerinahurryisapttotakelibertieswithEnglishair。"No。162"
liftstoalong-drawnwailofthebreezeinthefore-flangeoftherudderandwemakeValenciawhite，green，whiteatasafe7000feet，dippingourbeamtoanincomingWashingtonpacket。
ThereisnocloudontheAtlantic，andfaintstreaksofcreamroundDingleBayshowwherethedrivenseashammerthecoast。A
bigS。A。T。A。linerSocieteAnonymedesTransportsAeriensisdivingandliftinghalfamilebelowusinsearchofsomebreakinthesolidwestwind。LowerstillliesadisabledDanesheistellingthelinerallaboutitinInternational。OurGeneralCommunicationdialhascaughthertalkandbeginstoeavesdrop。
CaptainHodgsonmakesamotiontoshutitoffbutcheckshimself。
"Perhapsyou'dliketolisten，"hesays。
"ArgolofSt。Thomas，"theDanewhimpers。"Reportownersthreestarboardshaftcollar-bearingsfused。CanmakeFloresasweare，butimpossiblefurther。ShallwebuysparesatFayal？"
Thelineracknowledgesandrecommendsinvertingthebearings。TheArgolanswersthatshehasalreadydonesowithouteffect，andbeginstorelievehermindaboutcheapGermanenamelsforcollar-bearings。TheFrenchmanassentscordially，cries"Courage，monami，"andswitchesoff。
Thenlightssinkunderthecurveoftheocean。
"That'soneofLundt&Bleamers'boats，"saysCaptainHodgson。
"Serves'emrightforputtingGermancomposintheirthrust-blocks。Shewon'tbeinFayalto-night!Bytheway，wouldn'tyouliketolookroundtheengine-room？"
IhavebeenwaitingeagerlyforthisinvitationandIfollowCaptainHodgsonfromthecontrol-platform，stoopinglowtoavoidthebulgeofthetanks。WeknowthatFleury'sgascanliftanything，astheworld-famoustrialsof'89showed，butitsalmostindefinitepowersofexpansionnecessitatevasttankroom。
Eveninthisthinairthelift-shuntsarebusytakingoutone-thirdofitsnormallift，andstill"162"mustbecheckedbyanoccasionaldowndrawoftherudderorourflightwouldbecomeaclimbtothestars。CaptainPurnallprefersanoverliftedtoanunderliftedship；butnotwocaptainstrimshipalike。"WhenI
takethebridge，"saysCaptainHodgson，"you'llseemeshuntfortypercentoftheliftoutofthegasandrunherontheupperrudder。Withaswoopupwardinsteadofaswoopdownward，asyousay。Eitherwaywilldo。It'sonlyhabit。Watchourdip-dial!
Timfetchesherdownonceeverythirtyknotsasregularlyasbreathing。"
Soisitshownonthedip-dial。Forfiveorsixminutesthearrowcreepsfrom6700to7300。Thereisthefaint"szgee"oftherudder，andbackslidesthearrowto6000onafallingslantoftenorfifteenknots。
"Inheavyweatheryoujockeyherwiththescrewsaswell，"saysCaptainHodgson，and，unclippingthejointedbarwhichdividestheengine-roomfromthebaredeck，heleadsmeontothefloor。
HerewefindFleury'sParadoxoftheBulk-headedVacuum——whichweacceptnowwithoutthought——literallyinfullblast。ThethreeenginesareH。T。&T。assisted-vacuoFleuryturbinesrunningfrom3000totheLimit——thatistosay，uptothepointwhenthebladesmaketheair"bell"——cutoutavacuumforthemselvespreciselyasover-drivenmarinepropellersusedtodo。"162's"
Limitislowonaccountofthesmallsizeofherninescrews，which，thoughhandierthantheoldcolloidThelussons，"bell"
sooner。Themidshipsengine，generallyusedasareinforce，isnotrunning；sotheportandstarboardturbinevacuum-chambersdrawdirectintothereturn-mains。
Theturbineswhistlereflectively。Fromthelow-archedexpansion-tanksoneithersidethevalvesdescendpillarwisetotheturbine-chests，andthencetheobedientgaswhirlsthroughthespiralsofbladeswithaforcethatwouldwhiptheteethoutofapowersaw。Behind，isitsownpressureheldinleashofspurredonbythelift-shunts；beforeit，thevacuumwhereFleury'sRaydancesinviolet-greenbandsandwhirledturbillonsofflame。ThejointedU-tubesofthevacuum-chamberarepressure-temperedcolloidnoglasswouldendurethestrainforaninstantandajuniorengineerwithtintedspectacleswatchestheRayintently。Itistheveryheartofthemachine——amysterytothisday。
EvenFleurywhobegatitand，unlikeMagniac，diedamulti-millionaire，couldnotexplainhowtherestlesslittleimpshudderingintheU-tubecan，inthefractionalfractionofasecond，strikethefuriousblastofgasintoachillgreyish-greenliquidthatdrainsyoucanhearittricklefromthefarendofthevacuumthroughtheeduction-pipesandthemainsbacktothebilges。Hereitreturnstoitsgaseous，onehadalmostwrittensagacious，stateandclimbstoworkafresh。
Bilge-tank，uppertank，dorsal-tank，expansion-chamber，vacuum，main-returnasaliquid，andbilge-tankoncemoreistheordainedcycle。Fleury'sRayseestothat；andtheengineerwiththetintedspectaclesseestoFleury'sRay。Ifaspeckofoil，ifeventhenaturalgreaseofthehumanfingertouchthehoodedterminals，Fleury'sRaywillwinkanddisappearandmustbelaboriouslybuiltupagain。Thismeanshalfaday'sworkforallhandsandanexpenseof，onehundredandseventy-oddpoundstotheG。P。O。forradium-saltsandsuchtrifles。
"Nowlookatourthrust-collars。Youwon'tfindmuchGermancompothere。Full-jewelled，yousee，"saysCaptainHodgsonastheengineershuntsopenthetopofacap。Ourshaft-bearingsareC。M。C。CommercialMineralsCompanystones，groundwithasmuchcareasthelensofatelescope。TheycostL837apiece。Sofarwehavenotarrivedattheirtermoflife。Thesebearingscamefrom"No。97，"whichtookthemoverfromtheoldDominionofLightwhichhadthemoutofthewreckofthePersewaeroplaneintheyearswhenmenstillflewwoodenkitesoveroilengines!
Theyareashiningreprooftoalllow-gradeGerman"ruby"
enamels，so-called"boort"facings，andthedangerousandunsatisfactoryaluminacompoundswhichpleasedividend-huntingownersandturnskipperscrazy。Therudder-gearandthegaslift-shunt，seatedsidebysideundertheengine-roomdials，aretheonlymachinesinvisiblemotion。Theformersighsfromtimetotimeastheoilplungerrisesandfallshalfaninch。Thelatter，casedandguardedliketheU-tubeaft，exhibitsanotherFleuryRay，butinvertedandmoregreenthanviolet。Itsfunctionistoshunttheliftoutofthegas，andthisitwilldowithoutwatching。Thatisall!Atinypump-rodwheezingandwhiningtoitselfbesideasputteringgreenlamp。Ahundredandfiftyfeetaftdowntheflat-toppedtunnelofthetanksavioletlight，restlessandirresolute。Betweenthetwo，threewhite-paintedturbine-trunks，likeeel-basketslaidontheirside，accentuatetheemptyperspectives。Youcanhearthetrickleoftheliquefiedgasflowingfromthevacuumintothebilge-tanksandthesoftgluck-glockofgaslocksclosingasCaptainPurnallbrings"162"
downbythehead。Thehumoftheturbinesandtheboomoftheaironourskinisnomorethanacotton-woolwrappingtotheuniversalstillness。Andwearerunninganeighteen-secondmile。
Ipeerfromtheforeendoftheengine-roomoverthehatch-coamingsintothecoach。Themail-clerksaresortingtheWinnipeg，Calgary，andMedicineHatbags；butthereisapackofcardsreadyonthetable。
Suddenlyabellthrills；theengineersruntotheturbine-valvesandstandby；butthespectacledslaveoftheRayintheU-tubeneverliftshishead。Hemustwatchwhereheis。Wearehard-brakedandgoingastern；thereislanguagefromtheControlPlatform。
"Tim'ssparkingbadlyaboutsomething，"saystheunruffledCaptainHodgson。"Let'slook。"
CaptainPurnallisnotthesuavemanwelefthalfanhoursince，buttheembodiedauthorityoftheG。P。O。Aheadofusfloatsanancient，aluminum-patched，twin-screwtrampofthedingiest，withnomorerighttothe5000-footlanethanhasahorse-carttoamodernroad。Shecarriesanobsolete"barbette"conningtower——asix-footaffairwithrailedplatformforward——andourwarningbeamplaysonthetopofitasapoliceman'slanternflashesontheareasneak。Likeasneak-thief，too，emergesashock-headednavigatorinhisshirt-sleeves。CaptainPurnallwrenchesopenthecolloidtotalkwithhimmantoman。TherearetimeswhenSciencedoesnotsatisfy。
"Whatunderthestarsareyoudoinghere，yousky-scrapingchimney-sweep？"heshoutsaswetwodriftsidebyside。"DoyouknowthisisaMail-lane？Youcallyourselfasailor，sir？Youain'tfittopeddletoyballoonstoanEsquimaux。Yournameandnumber!Reportandgetdown，andbe——!"
"I'vebeenblownuponce，"theshock-headedmancries，hoarsely，asadogbarking。"Idon'tcaretwoflipsofacontactforanythingyoucando，Postey。"
"Don'tyou，sir？ButI'llmakeyoucare。I'llhaveyoutowedsternfirsttoDiskoandbrokeup。Youcan'trecoverinsuranceifyou'rebrokeforobstruction。Doyouunderstandthat？"
Thenthestrangerbellows:"Lookatmypropellers!There'sbeenawulli-wadownbelowthathasknockedusintoumbrella-frames!
We'vebeenblownupaboutfortythousandfeet!We'realloneconjuror'swatchinside!Mymate'sarm'sbroke；myengineer'shead'scutopen；myRaywentoutwhentheenginessmashed；and……and……forpity'ssakegivememyheight，Captain!Wedoubtwe'redropping。"
"Sixthousandeighthundred。Canyouholdit？"CaptainPurnalloverlooksallinsults，andleanshalfoutofthecolloid，staringandsnuffing。Thestrangerleakspungently。
"WeoughttoblowintoSt。John'swithluck。We'retryingtoplugthefore-tanknow，butshe'ssimplywhistlingitaway，"hercaptainwails。
"She'ssinkinglikealog，"saysCaptainPurnallinanundertone。
"CalluptheBanksMarkBoat，George。"Ourdip-dialshowsthatwe，keepingabreastthetramp，havedroppedfivehundredfeetthelastfewminutes。
CaptainPurnallpressesaswitchandoursignalbeambeginstoswingthroughthenight，twizzlingspokesoflightacrossinfinity。
"That'llfetchsomething，"hesays，whileCaptainHodgsonwatchestheGeneralCommunicator。HehascalleduptheNorthBanksMarkBoat，afewhundredmileswest，andisreportingthecase。
"I'llstandbyyou，"CaptainPurnallroarstothelonefigureontheconning-tower。
"Isitasbadasthat？"comestheanswer。"Sheisn'tinsured。
She'smine。"
"Mighthaveguessedasmuch，"muttersHodgson。"Owner'sriskistheworstriskofall!"
"Can'tIfetchSt。John's——notevenwiththisbreeze？"thevoicequavers。
"Standbytoabandonship。Haven'tyouanyliftinyou，foreoraft？"
"Nothingbutthemidshiptanks，andthey'renonetootight。Yousee，myRaygaveoutand——"hecoughsinthereekoftheescapinggas。
"Youpoordevil!"Thisdoesnotreachourfriend。"WhatdoestheMarkBoatsay，George？"
"Wantstoknowifthere'sanydangertotraffic。Saysshe'sinabitofweatherherself，andcan'tquitstation。I'veturnedinaGeneralCall，soeveniftheydon'tseeourbeamsomeone'sboundtohelp——orelsewemust。ShallIclearourslings？Holdon!Hereweare!APlanetliner，too!She'llbeupinatick!"
"Tellhertohaveherslingsready，"crieshisbrothercaptain。
"Therewon'tbemuchtimetospare……Tieupyourmate，"heroarstothetramp。
"Mymate'sallright。It'smyengineer。He'sgonecrazy。"
"Shunttheliftoutofhimwithaspanner。Hurry!"
"ButIcanmakeSt。John'sifyou'llstandby。"
"You'llmakethedeep，wetAtlanticintwentyminutes。You'relessthanfifty-eighthundrednow。Getyourpapers。"
APlanetliner，eastbound，heavesupinasuperbspiralandtakestheairofushumming。Herunderbodycolloidisopenlandhertransporter-slingshangdownliketentacles。Weshutoffourbeamassheadjustsherself——steeringtoahair——overthetramp'sconning-tower。Thematecomesup，hisarmstrappedtohisside，andstumblesintothecradle。Amanwithaghastlyscarletheadfollows，shoutingthathemustgobackandbuilduphisRay。ThemateassureshimthathewillfindanicenewRayallreadyintheliner'sengine-room。Thebandagedheadgoesupwaggingexcitedly。Ayouthandawomanfollow。Thelinercheershollowlyaboveus，andweseethepassengers'facesatthesalooncolloid。
"That'saprettygirl。What'sthefoolwaitingfornow？"saysCaptainPurnall。
Theskippercomesup，stillappealingtoustostandbyandseehimfetchSt。John's。Hedivesbelowandreturns——atwhichwelittlehumanbeingsinthevoidcheerlouderthanever——withtheship'skitten。Upflytheliner'shissingslings；herunderbodycrasheshomeandshehurtlesawayagain。Thedialshowslessthan3000feet。TheMarkBoatsignalswemustattendtothederelict，nowwhistlingherdeath-song，asshefallsbeneathusinlongsickzigzags。
"KeepourbeamonherandsendoutaGeneralWarning，"saysCaptainPurnall，followingherdown。Thereisnoneed。Notalinerinairbutknowsthemeaningofthatverticalbeamandgivesusandourquarryawideberth。
"Butshe'lldrowninthewater，won'tshe？"Iask。"Notalways，"
ishisanswer。"I'veknownaderelictup-endandsiftherenginesoutofherselfandflickerroundtheLowerLanesforthreeweeksonherforwardtanksonly。We'llrunnorisks。Pithher，George，andlooksharp。There'sweatherahead。"
CaptainHodgsonopenstheunderbodycolloid，swingstheheavypithing-ironoutofitsrackwhichinlinersisgenerallycasedasasmoking-roomsettee，andattwohundredfeetreleasesthecatch。Wehearthewhirofthecrescent-shapedarmsopeningastheydescend。Thederelict'sforeheadispunchedin，starredacross，andrentdiagonally。Shefallssternfirst，ourbeamuponher；slideslikealostsouldownthatpitilessladderoflight，andtheAtlantictakesher。
"Afilthybusiness，"saysHodgson。"Iwonderwhatitmusthavebeenlikeintheolddays？"
Thethoughthadcrossedmymind，too。Whatifthatwaveringcarcasshadbeenfilledwiththemenoftheolddays，eachoneofthemtaughtthatisthehorrorofit!that，afterdeathhewouldverypossiblygoforevertounspeakabletorment？
Andscarcelyagenerationago，weoneknowsnowthatweareonlyourfathersre-enlargedupontheearth，we，Isay，rippedandrammedandpithedtoadmiration。
HereTim，fromtheControlPlatform，shoutsthatwearetogetintoourinflatorsandtobringhimhisatonce。
Wehurryintotheheavyrubbersuits——theengineersarealreadydressed——andinflateattheair-pumptaps。G。P。O。inflatorsarethriceasthickasaracingman's"flickers，"andchafeabominablyunderthearmpits。GeorgetakesthewheeluntilTimhasblownhimselfuptotheextremeofrotundity。Ifyoukickedhimoffthec。p。tothedeckhewouldbounceback。Butitis"162"thatwilldothekicking。
"TheMarkBoat'smad——starkravin'crazy，"hesnorts，returningtocommand。"Shesaysthere'sabadblow-outaheadandwantsmetopullovertoGreenland。I'llseeherpithedfirst!Wewastedhalfanhourfussingoverthatdeadduckdownunder，andnowI'mexpectedtogorubbin'mybackallroundthePole。WhatdoesshethinkaPostalpacket'smadeof？Gummedsilk？Tellherwe'recomingonstraight，George。"
GeorgebuckleshimintotheFrameandswitchesontheDirectControl。NowunderTim'slefttoeliestheport-engineAccelerator；underhisleftheeltheReverse，andsowiththeotherfoot。Thelift-shuntstopsstandoutontherimofthesteering-wheelwherethefingersofhislefthandcanplayonthem。Athisrighthandisthemidshipsengineleverreadytobethrownintogearatamoment'snotice。Heleansforwardinhisbelt，eyesgluedtothecolloid，andoneearcockedtowardtheGeneralCommunicator。Henceforthheisthestrengthanddirectionof"162，"throughwhatevermaybefall。
TheBanksMarkBoatisreelingoutpagesofA。B……C。Directionstothetrafficatlarge。Wearetosecureall"looseobjects"；
hoodupourFleuryRays；and"onnoaccounttoattempttoclearsnowfromourconning-towerstilltheweatherabates。"
Under-poweredcraft，wearetold，canascendtothelimitoftheirlift，mail-packetstolookoutforthemaccordingly；thelowerlaneswestwardarepittingverybadly，"withfrequentblow-outs，vortices，laterals，etc。"
Stillthecleardarkholdsupunblemished。Theonlywarningistheelectricskin-tensionIfeelasthoughIwerealace-maker'spillowandanirritabilitywhichthegibberingoftheGeneralCommunicatorincreasesalmosttohysteria。
Wehavemadeeightthousandfeetsincewepithedthetrampandourturbinesaregivingusanhonesttwohundredandtenknots。
Veryfartothewestanelongatedblurofred，lowdown，showsustheNorthBanksMarkBoat。Therearespecksoffireroundherrisingandfalling——bewilderedplanetsaboutanunstablesun——helplessshippinghangingontoherlightforcompany'ssake。Nowondershecouldnotquitstation。
Shewarnsustolookoutfortheback-washofthebadvortexinwhichherbeamshowsitsheisevennowreeling。
Thepitsofgloomaboutusbegintofillwithveryfaintlyluminousfilms——wreathinganduneasyshapes。Oneformsitselfintoaglobeofpaleflamethatwaitsshiveringwitheagernesstillwesweepby。Itleapsmonstrouslyacrosstheblackness，alightsontheprecisetipofournose，pirouettesthereaninstant，andswingsoff。Ourroaringbowsinksasthoughthatlightwerelead——sinksandrecoverstolurchandstumbleagainbeneaththenextblow-out。Tim'sfingersonthelift-shuntstrikechordsofnumbers——1:4:7:——2:4:6:——7:5:3，andsoon；forheisrunningbyhistanksonly，liftingorloweringheragainsttheuneasyair。Allthreeenginesareatwork，forthesoonerwehaveskatedoverthisthinicethebetter。Higherwedarenotgo。Thewholeuppervaultischargedwithpalekryptonvapours，whichourskinfrictionmayexcitetounholymanifestations。Betweentheupperandlowerlevels——5000and7000，hintstheMarkBoat——wemayperhapsboltthroughif……Ourbowclothesitselfinblueflameandfallslikeasword。Nohumanskillcankeeppacewiththechangingtensions。Avortexhasusbythebeakandwedivedownatwo-thousandfootslantatananglethedip-dialandmybouncingbodyrecorditofthirty-five。Ourturbinesscreamshrilly；thepropellerscannotbiteonthethinair；Timshuntstheliftoutoffivetanksatonceandbysheerweightdrivesherbulletwisethroughthemaelstromtillshecushionswithjaronanup-gust，threethousandfeetbelow。