"No’！Ishallneverseeheragain……Idon’tunderstandwhypeopleshouldmeetjusttobetornapart。ButIknowsheandI
　　willnevermeetagain。ThatIknowassurelyasthatthesunwillrise，andthatcascadecomeshiningovertherocksafterI
　　amdeadanddone……Oh！It’sallfoolishnessandhasteandviolenceandcruelfolly，stupidityandblunderinghateandselfishambition——allthethingsthatmenhavedone——allthethingstheywilleverdo。Gott！Smallways，whatamuddleandconfusionlifehasalwaysbeen——thebattlesandmassacresanddisasters，thehatesandharshacts，themurdersandsweatings，thelynchingsandcheatings。ThismorningIamtiredofitall，asthoughI’djustfounditoutforthefirsttime。IHAVEfounditout。Whenamanistiredoflife，Isupposeitistimeforhimtodie。I’velostheart，anddeathisoverme。Deathisclosetome，andIknowIhavegottoend。ButthinkofallthehopesIhadonlyalittletimeago，thesenseoffinebeginnings！……Itwasallasham。Therewerenobeginnings……
　　We’rejustantsinant—hillcities，inaworldthatdoesn’tmatter;thatgoesonandramblesintonothingness。NewYork——NewYorkdoesn’tevenstrikemeashorrible。NewYorkwasnothingbutanant—hillkickedtopiecesbyafool！
　　"Thinkofit，Smallways:there’swareverywhere！They’resmashinguptheircivilisationbeforetheyhavemadeit。ThesortofthingtheEnglishdidatAlexandria，theJapaneseatPortArthur，theFrenchatCasablanca，isgoingoneverywhere。
　　Everywhere！DowninSouthAmericaeventheyarefightingamongthemselves！Noplaceissafe——noplaceisatpeace。Thereisnoplacewhereawomanandherdaughtercanhideandbeatpeace。
　　Thewarcomesthroughtheair，bombsdropinthenight。Quietpeoplegooutinthemorning，andseeair—fleetspassingoverhead——drippingdeath——drippingdeath！"
　　CHAPTERVIII
　　AWORLDATWAR
　　1
　　ItwasonlyveryslowlythatBertgotholdofthisideathatthewholeworldwasatwar，thatheformedanyimageatallofthecrowdedcountriessouthoftheseArcticsolitudesstrickenwithterroranddismayasthesenew—bornaerialnaviessweptacrosstheirskies。Hewasnotusedtothinkingoftheworldasawhole，butasalimitlesshinterlandofhappeningsbeyondtherangeofhisimmediatevision。Warinhisimaginationwassomething，asourceofnewsandemotion，thathappenedinarestrictedarea，calledtheSeatofWar。ButnowthewholeatmospherewastheSeatofWar，andeverylandacockpit。Socloselyhadthenationsracedalongthepathofresearchandinvention，sosecretandyetsoparallelhadbeentheirplansandacquisitions，thatitwaswithinafewhoursofthelaunchingofthefirstfleetinFranconiathatanAsiaticArmadabeatitswest—wardwayacross，highabovethemarvellingmillionsintheplainoftheGanges。ButthepreparationsoftheConfederationofEasternAsiahadbeenonanaltogethermorecolossalscalethantheGerman。"Withthisstep，"saidTanTing—siang，"weovertakeandpasstheWest。Werecoverthepeaceoftheworldthatthesebarbarianshavedestroyed。"
　　TheirsecrecyandswiftnessandinventionshadfarsurpassedthoseoftheGermans，andwheretheGermanshadhadahundredmenatworktheAsiaticshadtenthousand。TherecametotheirgreataeronauticparksatChinsi—fuandTsingyenbythemono—railsthatnowlacedthewholesurfaceofChinaalimitlesssupplyofskilledandableworkmen，workmenfarabovetheaverageEuropeaninindustrialefficiency。ThenewsoftheGermanWorldSurprisesimplyquickenedtheirefforts。AtthetimeofthebombardmentofNewYorkitisdoubtfuliftheGermanshadthreehundredairshipsalltogetherintheworld;thescoreofAsiaticfleetsflyingeastandwestandsouthmusthavenumberedseveralthousand。MoreovertheAsiaticshadarealfightingflying—machine，theNiaisastheywerecalled，alightbutquiteefficientweapon，infinitelysuperiortotheGermandrachenflieger。Likethat，itwasaone—manmachine，butitwasbuiltverylightlyofsteelandcaneandchemicalsilk，withatransverseengine，andaflappingsidewing。Theaeronautcarriedagunfiringexplosivebulletsloadedwithoxygen，andinaddition，andtruetothebesttraditionofJapan，asword。
　　MostlytheywereJapanese，anditischaracteristicthatfromthefirstitwascontemplatedthattheaeronautshouldbeaswordsman。Thewingsoftheseflyershadbat—likehooksforward，bywhichtheyweretoclingtotheirantagonist’sgas—chamberswhileboardinghim。Theselightflying—machineswerecarriedwiththefleets，andalsosentoverlandorbyseatothefrontwiththemen。Theywerecapableofflightsoffromtwotofivehundredmilesaccordingtothewind。
　　So，hardupontheuprushofthefirstGermanair—fleet，theseAsiaticswarmstooktotheatmosphere。InstantlyeveryorganisedGovernmentintheworld，wasfranticallyandvehementlybuildingairshipsandwhateverapproachtoaflyingmachineitsinventors’
　　haddiscovered。Therewasnotimefordiplomacy。Warningsandultimatumswertelegraphedtoandfro，andinafewhoursallthepanic—fierceworldwasopenlyatwar，andatwarinthemostcomplicatedway。ForBritainandFranceandItalyhaddeclaredwaruponGermanyandoutragedSwissneutrality;India，atthesightofAsiaticairships，hadbrokenintoaHindooinsurrectioninBengalandaMohametanrevolthostiletothisintheNorth—westProvinces——thelatterspreadinglikewildfirefromGobitotheGoldCoast——andtheConfederationofEasternAsiahadseizedtheoilwellsofBurmhaandwasimpartiallyattackingAmericaandGermany。InaweektheywerebuildingairshipsinDamascusandCairoandJohannesburg;AustraliaandNewZealandwerefranticallyequippingthemselves。Oneuniqueandterrifyingaspectofthisdevelopmentwastheswiftnesswithwhichthesemonsterscouldbeproduced。Tobuildanironcladtookfromtwotofouryears;anairshipcouldbeputtogetherinasmanyweeks。
　　Moreover，comparedwithevenatorpedoboat，theairshipwasremarkablysimpletoconstruct，giventheair—chambermaterial，theengines，thegasplant，andthedesign，itwasrealltnotmorecomplicatedandfareasierthananordinarywoodenboathadbeenahundredyearsbefore。AndnowfromCapeHorntoNovaZembla，andfromCantonroundtoCantonagain，therewerefactoriesandworkshopsandindustrialresources。
　　AndtheGermanairshipswerebarelyinsightoftheAtlanticwaters，thefirstAsiaticfleetwasscarcelyreportedfromUpperBurmah，beforethefantasticfabricofcreditandfinancethathadheldtheworldtogethereconomicallyforahundredyearsstrainedandsnapped。Atornadoofrealisationsweptthrougheverystockexchangeintheworld;banksstoppedpayment，businessshrankandceased，factoriesranonforadayorsobyasortofinertia，completingtheordersofbankruptandextinguishedcustomers，thenstopped。TheNewYorkBertSmallwayssaw，forallitsglareoflightandtraffic，wasinthepitofaneconomicandfinancialcollapseunparalleledinhistory。Theflowofthefoodsupplywasalreadyalittlechecked。Andbeforetheworld—warhadlastedtwoweeks——bythetime，thatis，thatmastwasriggedinLabrador——therewasnotacityortownintheworldoutsideChina，howeverfairfromtheactualcentresofdestruction，wherepoliceandgovernmentwerenotadoptingspecialemergencymethodstodealwithawantoffoodandaglutofunemployedpeople。
　　Thespecialpeculiaritiesofaerialwarfarewereofsuchanatureastotrend，onceithadbegun，almostinevitablytowardssocialdisorganisation。ThefirstofthesepeculiaritieswasbroughthometotheGermansintheirattackuponNewYork;theimmensepowerofdestructionanairshiphasoverthethingbelow，anditsrelativeinabilitytooccupyorpoliceorguardorgarrisonasurrenderedposition。Necessarily，inthefaceofurbanpopulationsinastateofeconomicdisorganisationandinfuriatedandstarving，thisledtoviolentanddestructivecollisions，andevenwheretheair—fleetfloatedinactiveabove，therewouldbecivilconflictandpassionatedisorderbelow。Nothingcomparabletothisstateofaffairshadbeenknownintheprevioushistoryofwarfare，unlesswetakesuchacaseasthatofanineteenthcenturywarshipattackingsomelargesavageorbarbaricsettlement，oroneofthosenavalbombardmentsthatdisfigurethehistoryofGreatBritaininthelateeighteenthcentury。Then，indeed，therehadbeencrueltiesanddestructionthatfaintlyforeshadowedthehorrorsoftheaerialwar。Moreover，beforethetwentiethcenturytheworldhadhadbutoneexperience，andthatacomparativelylightone，intheCommunistinsurrectionofParis，1871，ofthepossibilitiesofamodernurbanpopulationunderwarlikestresses。
　　Asecondpeculiarityofairshipwarasitfirstcametotheworldthatalsomadeforsocialcollapse，wastheineffectivenessoftheearlyair—shipsagainsteachother。Uponanythingbelowtheycouldrainexplosivesinthemostdeadlyfashion，fortsandshipsandcitieslayattheirmercy，butunlesstheywerepreparedforasuicidalgrappletheycoulddoremarkablylittlemischieftoeachother。ThearmamentofthehugeGermanairships，bigasthebiggestmammothlinersafloat，wasonemachinegunthatcouldeasilyhavebeenpackeduponacoupleofmules。Inaddition，whenitbecameevidentthattheairmustbefoughtfor，theair—sailorswereprovidedwithrifleswithexplosivebulletsofoxygenorinflammablesubstance，butnoairshipatanytimeevercarriedasmuchinthewayofgunsandarmourasthesmallestgunboatonthenavylisthadbeenaccustomedtodo。
　　Consequently，whenthesemonstersmetinbattle，theymanoeuvredfortheupperplace，orgrappledandfoughtlikejunks，throwinggrenadesfightinghandtohandinanentirelymedievalfashion。
　　Therisksofacollapseandfalloneithersidecameneartobalancingineverycasethechancesofvictory。Asaconsequence，andaftertheirfirstexperiencesofbattle，onefindsagrowingtendencyonthepartoftheair—fleetadmiralstoevadejoiningbattle，andtoseekratherthemoraladvantageofadestructivecounterattack。
　　Andiftheairshipsweretooineffective，theearlydrachenfliegerwereeithertoounstable，liketheGerman，ortoolight，liketheJapanese，toproduceimmediatelydecisiveresults。Later，itistrue，theBrazilianslaunchedaflying—machineofatypeandscalethatwascapableofdealingwithanairship，buttheybuiltonlythreeorfour，theyoperatedonlyinSouthAmerica，andtheyvanishedfromhistoryuntraceablyinthetimewhenworld—bankruptcyputastoptoallfurtherengineeringproductiononanyconsiderablescale。
　　Thethirdpeculiarityofaerialwarfarewasthatitwasatonceenormouslydestructiveandentirelyindecisive。Ithadthisuniquefeature，thatbothsideslayopentopunitiveattack。Inallpreviousformsofwar，bothbylandandsea，thelosingsidewasspeedilyunabletoraiditsantagonist’sterritoryandthecommunications。Onefoughtona"front，"andbehindthatfrontthewinner’ssuppliesandresources，histownsandfactoriesandcapital，thepeaceofhiscountry，weresecure。Ifthewarwasanavalone，youdestroyedyourenemy’sbattlefleetandthenblockadedhisports，securedhiscoalingstations，andhunteddownanystraycruisersthatthreatenedyourportsofcommerce。
　　Buttoblockadeandwatchacoastlineisonething，toblockadeandwatchthewholesurfaceofacountryisanother，andcruisersandprivateersarethingsthattakelongtomake，thatcannotbepackedupandhiddenandcarriedunostentatiouslyfrompointtopoint。Inaerialwarthestrongerside，evensupposingitdestroyedthemainbattlefleetoftheweaker，hadtheneithertopatrolandwatchordestroyeverypossiblepointatwhichhemightproduceanotherandperhapsanovelandmoredeadlyformofflyer。Itmeantdarkeninghisairwithairships。Itmeantbuildingthembythethousandandmakingaeronautsbythe。hundredthousand。Asmalluninitatedairshipcouldbehiddeninarailwayshed，inavillagestreet，inawood;aflyingmachineisevenlessconspicuous。
　　Andintheairarenostreets，nochannels，nopointwhereonecansayofanantagonist，"Ifhewantstoreachmycapitalhemustcomebyhere。"Intheairalldirectionsleadeverywhere。
　　Consequentlyitwasimpossibletoendawarbyanyoftheestablishedmethods。A，havingoutnumberedandoverwhelmedB，hovers，athousandairshipsstrong，overhiscapital，threateningtobombarditunlessBsubmits。BrepliesbywirelesstelegraphythatheisnowintheactofbombardingthechiefmanufacturingcityofAbymeansofthreeraiderairships。AdenouncesB’sraidersaspiratesandsoforth，bombardsB’scapital，andsetsofftohuntdownB’sairships，whileB，inastateofpassionateemotionandheroicunconquerableness，setstoworkamidsthisruins，makingfreshairshipsandexplosivesforthebenefitofA。
　　Thewarbecameperforceauniversalguerillawar，awarinextricablyinvolvingciviliansandhomesandalltheapparatusofsociallife。
　　Theseaspectsofaerialfightingtooktheworldbysurprise。
　　Therehadbeennoforesighttodeducetheseconsequences。Iftherehadbeen，theworldwouldhavearrangedforaUniversalPeaceConferencein1900。Butmechanicalinventionhadgonefasterthanintellectualandsocialorganisation，andtheworld，withitssillyoldflags，itssillyunmeaningtraditionofnationality，itscheapnewspapersandcheaperpassionsandimperialisms，itsbasecommercialmotivesandhabitualinsinceritiesandvulgarities，itsraceliesandconflicts，wastakenbysurprise。Oncethewarbegantherewasnostoppingit。
　　Theflimsyfabricofcreditthathadgrownwithnomanforeseeing，andthathadheldthosehundredsofmillionsinaneconomicinterdependencethatnomanclearlyunderstood，dissolvedinpanic。Everywherewenttheairshipsdroppingbombs，destroyinganyhopeofarally，andeverywherebelowwereeconomiccatastrophe，starvingworklesspeople，rioting，andsocialdisorder。Whateverconstructiveguidingintelligencetherehadbeenamongthenationsvanishedinthepassionatestressesofthetime。Suchnewspapersanddocumentsandhistoriesassurvivefromthisperiodalltelloneuniversalstoryoftownsandcitieswiththefoodsupplyinterruptedandtheirstreetscongestedwithstarvingunemployed;ofcrisesinadministrationandstatesofsiege，ofprovisionalGovernmentsandCouncilsofDefence，and，inthecasesofIndiaandEgypt，insurrectionarycommitteestakingchargeofthere—armingofthepopulation，ofthemakingofbatteriesandgun—pits，ofthevehementmanufactureofairshipsandflying—machines。
　　Oneseesthesethingsinglimpses，inilluminatedmoments，asifthroughadrivingreekofclouds，goingonallovertheworld。
　　Itwasthedissolutionofanage;itwasthecollapseofthecivilisationthathadtrustedtomachinery，andtheinstrumentsofitsdestructionweremachines。Butwhilethecollapseofthepreviousgreatcivilisation，thatofRome，hadbeenamatterofcenturies，hadbeenathingofphaseandphase，liketheageinganddyingofaman，this，likehiskillingbyrailwayormotorcar，wasoneswift，conclusivesmashingandanend。
　　2
　　Theearlybattlesoftheaerialwarwerenodoubtdeterminedbyattemptstorealisetheoldnavalmaxim，toascertainthepositionoftheenemy’sfleetandtodestroyit。TherewasfirstthebattleoftheBerneseOberland，inwhichtheItalianandFrenchnavigablesintheirflankraidupontheFranconianParkwereassailedbytheSwissexperimentalsquadron，supportedasthedayworeonbyGermanairships，andthentheencounteroftheBritishWinterhouse—DunnaeroplaneswiththreeunfortunateGermans。
　　ThencametheBattleofNorthIndia，inwhichtheentireAnglo—Indianaeronauticsettlementestablishmentfoughtforthreedaysagainstoverwhelmingodds，andwasdispersedanddestroyedindetail。
　　Andsimultaneouslywiththebeginningofthat，commencedthemomentousstruggleoftheGermansandAsiaticsthatisusuallyknownastheBattleofNiagarabecauseoftheobjectiveoftheAsiaticattack。Butitpassedgraduallyintoasporadicconflictoverhalfacontinent。SuchGermanairshipsasescapeddestructioninbattledescendedandsurrenderedtotheAmericans，andwerere—manned，andintheenditbecameaseriesofpitilessandheroicencountersbetweentheAmericans，savagelyresolvedtoexterminatetheirenemies，andacontinuallyreinforcedarmyofinvasionfromAsiaquartereduponthePacificslopeandsupportedbyanimmensefleet。FromthefirstthewarinAmericawasfoughtwithimplacablebitterness;noquarterwasasked，noprisonersweretaken。WithferociousandmagnificentenergytheAmericansconstructedandlaunchedshipaftershiptobattleandperishagainsttheAsiaticmultitudes。Allotheraffairsweresubordinatetothiswar，thewholepopulationwaspresentlylivingordyingforit。Presently，asIshalltell，thewhitemenfoundintheButteridgemachineaweaponthatcouldmeetandfighttheflying—machinesoftheAsiaticswordsman。
　　TheAsiaticinvasionofAmericacompletelyeffacedtheGerman—Americanconflict。Itvanishesfromhistory。Atfirstithadseemedtopromisequitesufficienttragedyinitself——beginningasitdidinunforgettablemassacre。AfterthedestructionofcentralNewYorkallAmericahadrisenlikeoneman，resolvedtodieathousanddeathsratherthansubmittoGermany。TheGermansgrimlyresolveduponbeatingtheAmericansintosubmissionand，followingouttheplansdevelopedbythePrince，hadseizedNiagara——inordertoavailthemselvesofitsenormouspowerworks;expelledallitsinhabitantsandmadeadesertofitsenvironsasfarasBuffalo。Theyhadalso，directlyGreatBritainandFrancedeclarewar，wreckedthecountryupontheCanadiansidefornearlytenmilesinland。Theybegantobringupmenandmaterialfromthefleetofftheeastcoast，stringingouttoandfrolikebeesgettinghoney。ItwasthenthattheAsiaticforcesappeared，anditwasintheirattackuponthisGermanbaseatNiagarathattheair—fleetsofEastandWestfirstmetandthegreaterissuebecameclear。
　　Oneconspicuouspeculiarityoftheearlyaerialfightingarosefromtheprofoundsecrecywithwhichtheairshipshadbeenprepared。Eachpowerhadhadbutthedimmestinklingoftheschemesofitsrivals，andevenexperimentswithitsowndeviceswerelimitedbytheneedsofsecrecy。Noneofthedesignersofairshipsandaeroplaneshadknownclearlywhattheirinventionsmighthavetofight;manyhadnotimaginedtheywouldhavetofightanythingwhateverintheair;andhadplannedthemonlyforthedroppingofexplosives。SuchhadbeentheGermanidea。TheonlyweaponforfightinganotherairshipwithwhichtheFranconianfleethadbeenprovidedwasthemachinegunforward。
　　OnlyafterthefightoverNewYorkwerethemengivenshortrifleswithdetonatingbullets。Theoretically，thedrachenfliegerweretohavebeenthefightingweapon。Theyweredeclaredtobeaerialtorpedo—boats，andtheaeronautwassupposedtoswoopclosetohisantagonistandcasthisbombsashewhirledpast。Butindeedthesecontrivanceswerehopelesslyunstable;notone—thirdinanyengagementsucceededingettingbacktothemotherairship。Therestwereeithersmasheduporgrounded。
　　ThealliedChino—JapanesefleetmadethesamedistinctionastheGermansbetweenairshipsandfightingmachinesheavierthanair，butthetypeinbothcaseswasentirelydifferentfromtheoccidentalmodels，and——itiseloquentofthevigourwithwhichthesegreatpeoplestookupandbetteredtheEuropeanmethodsofscientificresearchinalmosteveryparticulartheinventionofAsiaticengineers。Chiefamongthese，itisworthremarking，wasMohiniK。Chatterjee，apoliticalexilewhohadformerlyservedintheBritish—IndianaeronauticparkatLahore。
　　TheGermanairshipwasfish—shaped，withabluntedhead;theAsiaticairshipwasalsofish—shaped，butnotsomuchonthelinesofacodorgobyasofarayorsole。Ithadawide，flatunderside，unbrokenbywindowsoranyopeningexceptalongthemiddleline。Itscabinsoccupieditsaxis，，withasortofbridgedeckabove，andthegas—chambersgavethewholeaffairtheshapeofagipsy’shoopedtent，exceptthatitwasmuchflatter。
　　TheGermanairshipwasessentiallyanavigableballoonverymuchlighterthanair;theAsiaticairshipwasverylittlelighterthanairandskimmedthroughitwithmuchgreatervelocityifwithconsiderablylessstability。Theycarriedforeandaftguns，thelattermuchthelarger，throwinginflammatoryshells，andinadditiontheyhadnestsforriflemenonboththeupperandtheunderside。Lightasthisarmamentwasincomparisonwiththesmallestgunboatthateversailed，itwassufficientforthemtooutfightaswellasoutflytheGermanmonsterairships。InactiontheyflewtogetbehindorovertheGermans:theyevendashedunderneath，avoidingonlypassingimmediatelybeneaththemagazine，andthenassoonastheyhadcrossedletflywiththeirreargun，andsentflaresoroxygenshellsintotheantagonist’sgas—chambers。
　　Itwasnotintheirairships，but，asIhavesaid，intheirflying—machinesproper，thatthestrengthoftheAsiaticslay。
　　NextonlytotheButteridgemachine，thesewerecertainlythemostefficientheavier—than—airfliersthathadeverappeared。
　　TheyweretheinventionofaJapaneseartist，andtheydifferedintypeextremelyfromthebox—kitequalityoftheGermandrachenflieger。Theyhadcuriouslycurved，flexiblesidewings，morelikeBENTbutterfly’swingsthananythingelse，andmadeofasubstancelikecelluloidandofbrightlypaintedsilk，andtheyhadalonghumming—birdtail。Attheforwardcornerofthewingswerehooks，ratherliketheclawsofabat，bywhichthemachinecouldcatchandhangandtearatthewallsofanairship’sgas—chamber。Thesolitaryridersatbetweenthewingsaboveatransverseexplosiveengine，anexplosiveenginethatdifferedinnoessentialparticularfromthoseinuseinthelightmotorbicyclesoftheperiod。Belowwasasinglelargewheel。Theridersatastrideofasaddle，asintheButteridgemachine，andhecarriedalargedouble—edgedtwo—handedsword，inadditiontohisexplosive—bulletfiringrifle。
　　3
　　OnesetsdowntheseparticularsandcomparesthepointsoftheAmericanandGermanpatternofaeroplaneandnavigable，butnoneofthesefactswereclearlyknowntoanyofthosewhofoughtinthismonstrouslyconfusedbattleabovetheAmericangreatlakes。
　　Eachsidewentintoactionagainstitknewnotwhat，undernovelconditionsandwithapparatusthatevenwithouthostileattackswascapableofproducingthemostdisconcertingsurprises。
　　Schemesofaction，attemptsatcollectivemanoeuvringnecessarilywenttopiecesdirectlythefightbegan，justastheydidinalmostalltheearlyironcladbattlesofthepreviouscentury。
　　Eachcaptainthenhadtofallbackuponindividualactionandhisowndevices;onewouldseetriumphinwhatanotherreadasacueforflightanddespair。ItisastrueoftheBattleofNiagaraasoftheBattleofLissathatitwasnotabattlebutabundleof"battlettes"！
　　TosuchaspectatorasBertitpresenteditselfasaseriesofincidents，someimmense，sometrivial，butcollectivelyincoherent。Heneverhadasenseofanyplainissuejoined，ofanypointstruggledforandwonorlost。Hesawtremendousthingshappenandintheendhisworlddarkenedtodisasterandruin。
　　Hesawthebattlefromtheground，fromProspectParkandfromGoatIsland，whitherhefled。
　　Butthemannerinwhichhecametobeonthegroundneedsexplaining。
　　ThePrincehadresumedcommandofhisfleetthroughwirelesstelegraphylongbeforetheZeppelinhadlocatedhisencampmentinLabrador。ByhisdirectiontheGermanair—fleet，whoseadvancescoutshadbeenincontactwiththeJapaneseovertheRockyMountains，hadconcentrateduponNiagaraandawaitedhisarrival。
　　Hehadrejoinedhiscommandearlyinthemorningofthetwelfth，andBerthadhisfirstprospectoftheGorgeofNiagarawhilehewasdoingnetdrilloutsidethemiddlegas—chamberatsunrise。
　　TheZeppelinwasflyingveryhighatthetime，andfarbelowhesawthewaterinthegorgemarbledwithfrothandthenawaytothewestthegreatcrescentoftheCanadianFallshining，flickeringandfoaminginthelevelsunlightandsendingupadeep，incessantthuddingrumbletothesky。Theair—fleetwaskeepingstationinanenormouscrescent，withitshornspointingsouth—westward，alongarrayofshiningmonsterswithtailsrotatingslowlyandGermanensignsnowtrailingfromtheirbelliesaftoftheirMarconipendants。
　　Niagaracitywasstilllargelystandingthen，albeititsstreetswereemptyofalllife。Itsbridgeswereintact;itshotelsandrestaurantsstillflyingflagsandinvitingskysigns;itspower—stationsrunning。Butaboutitthecountryonbothsidesofthegorgemighthavebeensweptbyacolossalbroom。
　　EverythingthatcouldpossiblygivecovertoanattackupontheGermanpositionatNiagarahadbeenlevelledasruthlesslyasmachineryandexplosivescouldcontrive;housesblownupandburnt，woodsburnt，fencesandcropsdestroyed。Themono—railshadbeentornup，andtheroadsinparticularclearedofallpossibilityofconcealmentorshelter。Seenfromabove，theeffectofthiswreckagewasgrotesque。Youngwoodshadbeendestroyedwhole—salebydraggingwires，andthespoiltsaplings，smashedoruprooted，layinswatheslikecornafterthesickle。
　　Houseshadanappearanceofbeingflatteneddownbythepressureofagiganticfinger。Muchburningwasstillgoingon，andlargeareashadbeenreducedtopatchesofsmoulderingandsometimesstillglowingblackness。
　　Hereandtherelaythedebrisofbelatedfugitives，carts，anddeadbodiesofhorsesandmen;andwherehouseshadhadwater—suppliestherewerepoolsofwaterandrunningspringsfromtherupturedpipes。Inunscorchedfieldshorsesandcattlestillfedpeacefully。Beyondthisdesolatedareathecountrysidewasstillstanding，butalmostallthepeoplehadfled。Buffalowasonfiretoanenormousextent，andtherewerenosignsofanyeffortstograpplewiththeflames。Niagaracityitselfwasbeingrapidlyconvertedtotheneedsofamilitarydepot。A
　　largenumberofskilledengineershadalreadybeenbroughtfromthefleetandwerebusilyatworkadaptingtheexteriorindustrialapparatusoftheplacetothepurposesofanaeronauticpark。TheyhadmadeagasrechargingstationatthecorneroftheAmericanFallabovethefunicularrailway，andtheywere，openingupamuchlargerareatothesouthforthesamepurpose。Overthepower—housesandhotelsandsuchlikeprominentorimportantpointstheGermanflagwasflying。
　　TheZeppelincircledslowlyoverthisscenetwicewhilethePrincesurveyeditfromtheswinginggallery;itthenrosetowardsthecentreofthecrescentandtransferredthePrinceandhissuite，Kurtincluded，totheHohenzollern，whichhadbeenchosenastheflagshipduringtheimpendingbattle。Theywereswunguponasmallcablefromtheforwardgallery，andthemenoftheZeppelinmannedtheouternettingasthePrinceandhisstaffleftthem。TheZeppelinthencameabout，circleddownandgroundedinProspectPark，inordertolandthewoundedandtakeaboardexplosives;forshehadcometoLabradorwithhermagazinesempty，itbeinguncertainwhatweightshemightneedtocarry。Shealsoreplenishedthehydrogeninoneofherforwardchamberswhichhadleaked。
　　BertwasdetailedasabearerandhelpedcarrythewoundedonebyoneintothenearestofthelargehotelsthatfacedtheCanadianshore。ThehotelwasquiteemptyexceptthatthereweretwotrainedAmericannursesandanegroporter，andthreeorfourGermansawaitingthem。BertwentwiththeZeppelin’sdoctorintothemainstreetoftheplace，andtheybrokeintoadrugshopandobtainedvariousthingsofwhichtheystoodinneed。Astheyreturnedtheyfoundanofficerandtwomenmakingaroughinventoryoftheavailablematerialinthevariousstores。
　　Exceptforthemthewide，mainstreetofthetownwasquitedeserted，thepeoplehadbeengiventhreehourstoclearout，andeverybody，itseemed，haddoneso。Atonecorneradeadmanlayagainstthewall——shot。Twoorthreedogswerevisibleuptheemptyvista，buttowardsitsriverendthepassageofastringofmono—railearsbrokethestillnessandthesilence。Theywereloadedwithhose，andwerepassingtothetrainfulofworkerswhowereconvertingProspectParkintoanairshipdock。
　　Bertpushedacaseofmedicinebalancedonabicycletakenfromanadjacentshop，tothehotel，andthenhewassenttoloadbombsintotheZeppelinmagazine，adutythatcalledforelaboratecare。FromthisjobhewaspresentlycalledoffbythecaptainoftheZeppelin，whosenthimwithanotetotheofficerinchargeoftheAnglo—AmericanPowerCompany，forthefieldtelephonehadstilltobeadjusted。BertreceivedhisinstructionsinGerman，whosemeaningheguessed，andsalutedandtookthenote，notcaringtobetrayhisignoranceofthelanguage。Hestartedoffwithabrightairofknowinghiswayandturnedacornerorso，andwasonlybeginningtosuspectthathedidnotknowwherehewasgoingwhenhisattentionwasrecalledtotheskybythereportofagunfromtheHohenzollernandcelestialcheering。
　　Helookedupandfoundtheviewobstructedbythehousesoneithersideofthestreet。Hehesitated，andthencuriositytookhimbacktowardsthebankoftheriver。Herehisviewwasinconveniencedbytrees，anditwaswithastartthathediscoveredtheZeppelin，whichheknewhadstillaquarterofhermagazinestofill，wasrisingoverGoatIsland。Shehadnotwaitedforhercomplementofammunition。Itoccurredtohimthathewasleftbehind。Heduckedbackamongthetreesandbushesuntilhefeltsecurefromanyafter—thoughtonthepartoftheZeppelin’scaptain。ThenhiscuriositytoseewhattheGermanair—fleetfacedovercamehim，anddrewhimatlasthalfwayacrossthebridgetoGoatIsland。
　　FromthatpointhehadnearlyahemisphereofskyandgothisfirstglimpseoftheAsiaticairshipslowintheskyabovetheglitteringtumultsoftheUpperRapids。
　　TheywerefarlessimpressivethantheGermanships。Hecouldnotjudgethedistance，andtheyflewedgewaystohim，soastoconcealthebroaderaspectoftheirbulk。
　　Bertstoodthereinthemiddleofthebridge，inaplacethatmostpeoplewhoknewitrememberedasaplacepopulouswithsightseersandexcursionists，andhewastheonlyhumanbeinginsightthere。Abovehim，veryhighintheheavens，thecontendingair—fleetsmanoeuvred;belowhimtheriverseethedlikeasluicetowardstheAmericanFall。Hewascuriouslydressed。HischeapbluesergetrouserswerethrustintoGermanairshiprubberboots，andonhisheadheworeanaeronaut’swhitecapthatwasatrifletoolargeforhim。HethrustthatbacktorevealhisstaringlittleCockneyface，stillscarreduponthebrow。"Gaw！"hewhispered。
　　Hestared。Hegesticulated。Onceortwiceheshoutedandapplauded。
　　ThenatacertainpointterrorseizedhimandhetooktohisheelsinthedirectionofGoatIsland。
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　　Foratimeaftertheywereinsightofeachother，neitherfleetattemptedtoengage。TheGermansnumberedsixty—sevengreatairshipsandtheymaintainedthecrescentformationataheightofnearlyfourthousandfeet。Theykeptadistanceofaboutoneandahalflengths，sothatthehornsofthecrescentwerenearlythirtymilesapart。Closelyintowoftheairshipsoftheextremesquadronsoneitherwingwereaboutthirtydrachenfliegerreadymanned，，buttheseweretoosmallanddistantforBerttodistinguish。
　　Atfirst，onlywhatwascalledtheSouthernfleetoftheAsiaticswasvisibletohim。Itconsistedoffortyairships，carryingalltogethernearlyfourhundredone—manflying—machinesupontheirflanks，andforsometimeitflewslowlyandataminimumdistanceofperhapsadozenmilesfromtheGermans，eastwardacrosstheirfront。AtfirstBertcoulddistinguishonlythegreaterbulks，thenheperceivedtheone—manmachinesasamultitudeofverysmallobjectsdriftinglikemotesinthesunshineaboutandbeneaththelargershapes。