Itkepthimawakeatnightstothinkthathemightloseit。
　　TheessentialfactofthepoliticsoftheageinwhichBertSmallwayslived——theagethatblunderedatlastintothecatastropheoftheWarintheAir——wasaverysimpleone，ifonlypeoplehadhadtheintelligencetobesimpleaboutit。ThedevelopmentofSciencehadalteredthescaleofhumanaffairs。
　　Bymeansofrapidmechanicaltraction，ithadbroughtmennearertogether，somuchnearersocially，economically，physically，thattheoldseparationsintonationsandkingdomswerenolongerpossible，anewer，widersynthesiswasnotonlyneeded，butimperativelydemanded。JustastheonceindependentdukedomsofFrancehadtofuseintoanation，sonowthenationshadtoadaptthemselvestoawidercoalescence，theyhadtokeepwhatwaspreciousandpossible，andconcedewhatwasobsoleteanddangerous。Asanerworldwouldhaveperceivedthispatentneedforareasonablesynthesis，wouldhavediscussedittemperately，achievedandgoneontoorganisethegreatcivilisationthatwasmanifestlypossibletomankind。TheworldofBertSmallwaysdidnothingofthesort。Itsnationalgovernments，itsnationalinterests，wouldnothearofanythingsoobvious;theyweretoosuspiciousofeachother，toowantingingenerousimaginations。
　　Theybegantobehavelikeill—bredpeopleinacrowdedpubliccar，tosqueezeagainstoneanother，elbow，thrust，disputeandquarrel。Vaintopointouttothemthattheyhadonlytorearrangethemselvestobecomfortable。Everywhere，allovertheworld，thehistorian，oftheearlytwentiethcenturyfindsthesamething，theflowandrearrangementofhumanaffairsinextricablyentangledbytheoldareas，theoldprejudicesandasortofheatedirasciblestupidity，andeverywherecongestednationsininconvenientareas，sloppingpopulationandproduceintoeachother，annoyingeachotherwithtariffs，andeverypossiblecommercialvexation，andthreateningeachotherwithnaviesandarmiesthatgreweveryyearmoreportentous。
　　Itisimpossiblenowtoestimatehowmuchoftheintellectualandphysicalenergyoftheworldwaswastedinmilitarypreparationandequipment，butitwasanenormousproportion。GreatBritainspentuponarmyandnavymoneyandcapacity，thatdirectedintothechannelsofphysicalcultureandeducationwouldhavemadetheBritishthearistocracyoftheworld。Herrulerscouldhavekeptthewholepopulationlearningandexercisinguptotheageofeighteenandmadeabroad—chestedandintelligentmanofeveryBertSmallwaysintheislands，hadtheygiventheresourcestheyspentinwarmaterialtothemakingofmen。Insteadofwhichtheywaggledflagsathimuntilhewasfourteen，incitedhimtocheer，andthenturnedhimoutofschooltobeginthatcareerofprivateenterprisewehavecompactlyrecorded。Franceachievedsimilarimbecilities;Germanywas，ifpossibleworse;Russiaunderthewasteandstressesofmilitarismfesteredtowardsbankruptcyanddecay。AllEuropewasproducingbiggunsandcountlessswarmsoflittleSmallways。TheAsiaticpeopleshadbeenforcedinself—defenceintoalikediversionofthenewpowerssciencehadbroughtthem。Ontheeveoftheoutbreakofthewarthereweresixgreatpowersintheworldandaclusterofsmallerones，eacharmedtotheteethandstrainingeverynervetogetaheadoftheothersindeadlinessofequipmentandmilitaryefficiency。ThegreatpowerswerefirsttheUnitedStates，anationaddictedtocommerce，butrousedtomilitarynecessitiesbytheeffortsofGermanytoexpandintoSouthAmerica，andbythenaturalconsequencesofherownunwaryannexationsoflandintheveryteethofJapan。Shemaintainedtwoimmensefleetseastandwest，andinternallyshewasinviolentconflictbetweenFederalandStategovernmentsuponthequestionofuniviorsalserviceinadefensivemilitia。NextcamethegreatallianceofEasternAsia，aclose—knitcoalescenceofChinaandJapan，advancingwithrapidstridesyearbyyeartopredominanceintheworld’saffairs。ThentheGermanalliancestillstruggledtoachieveitsdreamofimperialexpansion，anditsimpositionoftheGermanlanguageuponaforciblyunitedEurope。Thesewerethethreemostspiritedandaggressivepowersintheworld。FarmorepacificwastheBritishEmpire，perilouslyscatteredovertheglobe，anddistractednowbyinsurrectionarymovementsinIrelandandamongallitsSubjectRaces。Ithadgiventhesesubjectracescigarettes，boots，bowlerhats，cricket，racemeetings，cheaprevolvers，petroleum，thefactorysystemofindustry，halfpeunynewspapersinbothEnglishandthevernacular，inexpensiveuniversitydegrees，motor—bicyclesandelectrictrams;ithadproducedaconsiderableliteratureexpressingcontemptfortheSubjectRaces，andrendereditfreelyaccessibletothem，andithadbeencontenttobelievethatnothingwouldresultfromthesestimulantsbecausesomebodyoncewrote"theimmemorialeast";andalso，intheinspiredwordsofKipling——
　　Eastiseastandwestiswest，Andneverthetwainshallmeet。
　　Insteadofwhich，Egypt，India，andthesubjectcountriesgenerallyhadproducednewgenerationsinastateofpassionateindignationandtheutmostenergy，activityandmodernity。ThegoverningclassinGreatBritainwasslowlyadaptingitselftoanewconception，oftheSubjectRacesaswakingpeoples，andfindingitseffortstokeeptheEmpiretogetherunderthese，strainsandchangingideasgreatlyimpededbytheentirelysportingspiritwithwhichBertSmallwaysathome（bythemillion）casthisvote，andbythetendencyofhismorehighlycolouredequivalentstobedisrespectfultoirascibleofficials。
　　Theirimpertinencewasexcessive;itwasnomerestone—throwingandshouting。TheywouldquoteBurnsatthemandMillandDarwinandconfutetheminarguments。
　　EvenmorepacificthantheBritishEmpirewereFranceanditsallies，theLatinpowers，heavilyarmedstatesindeed，butreluctantwarriors，andinmanywayssociallyandpoliticallyleadingwesterncivilisation。Russiawasapacificpowerperforce，dividedwithinitself，tornbetweenrevolutionariesandreactionarieswhowereequallyincapableofsocialreconstruction，andsosinkingtowardsatragicdisorderofchronicpoliticalvendetta。Wedgedinamongtheseportentouslargerbulks，swayedandthreatenedbythem，thesmallerstatesoftheworldmaintainedaprecariousindependence，eachkeepingitselfarmedasdangerouslyasitsutmostabilitycouldcontrive。
　　Soitcameaboutthatineverycountryagreatandgrowingbodyofenergeticandinventivemenwasbusiedeitherforoffensiveordefensiveends，inelaboratingtheapparatusofwar，untiltheaccumulatingtensionsshouldreachthebreaking—point。Eachpowersoughttokeepitspreparationssecret，toholdnewweaponsinreserve，toanticipateandlearnthepreparationsofitsrivals。Thefeelingofdangerfromfreshdiscoveriesaffectedthepatrioticimaginationofeverypeopleintheworld。NowitwasrumouredtheBritishhadanoverwhelminggun，nowtheFrenchaninvinciblerifle，nowtheJapaneseanewexplosive，nowtheAmericansasubmarinethatwoulddriveeveryironcladfromtheseas。Eachtimetherewouldbeawarpanic。
　　Thestrengthandheartofthenationswasgiventothethoughtofwar，andyetthemassoftheircitizenswasateemingdemocracyasheedlessofandunfittedforfighting，mentally，morally，physically，asanypopulationhaseverbeen——or，oneventurestoadd，couldeverbe。Thatwastheparadoxofthetime。Itwasaperiodaltogetheruniqueintheworld’shistory。Theapparatusofwarfare，the，artandmethodoffighting，changedabsolutelyeverydozenyearsinastupendousprogresstowardsperfection，andpeoplegrewlessandlesswarlike，andtherewasnowar。
　　Andthenatlastitcame。Itcameasasurprisetoalltheworldbecauseitsrealcauseswerehidden。RelationswerestrainedbetweenGermanyandtheUnitedStatesbecauseoftheintenseexasperationofatariffconflictandtheambiguousattitudeoftheformerpowertowardstheMonroeDoctrine，andtheywerestrainedbetweentheUnitedStatesandJapanbecauseoftheperennialcitizenshipquestion。Butinbothcasesthesewerestandingcausesofoffence。Therealdecidingcause，itisnowknown，wastheperfectingofthePforzheimenginebyGermanyandtheconsequentpossibilityofarapidandentirelypracticableairship。AtthattimeGermanywasbyfarthemostefficientpowerintheworld，betterorganisedforswiftandsecretaction，betterequippedwiththeresourcesofmodernscience，andwithherofficialandadministrativeclassesatahigherlevelofeducationandtraining。Thesethingssheknew，andsheexaggeratedthatknowledgetothepitchofcontemptforthesecretcounselsofherneighbours。Itmaybethatwiththehabitofself—confidenceherspyinguponthemhadgrownlessthorough。
　　Moreover，shehadatraditionofunsentimentalandunscrupulousactionthatvitiatedherinternationaloutlookprofoundly。Withthecomingofthesenewweaponshercollectiveintelligencethrilledwiththesensethatnowhermomenthadcome。Onceagaininthehistoryofprogressitseemedsheheldthedecisiveweapon。Nowshemightstrikeandconquer——beforetheothershadanythingbutexperimentsintheair。
　　ParticularlyshemuststrikeAmerica，swiftly，becausethere，ifanywhere，laythechanceofanaerialrival。ItwasknownthatAmericapossessedaflying—machineofconsiderablepracticalvalue，developedoutoftheWrightmodel;butitwasnotsupposedthattheWashingtonWarOfficehadmadeanywholesaleattemptstocreateairaerialnavy。Itwasnecessarytostrikebeforetheycoulddoso。Francehadafleetofslownavigables，severaldatingfrom1908，thatcouldmakenopossibleheadwayagainstthenewtype。Theyhadbeenbuiltsolelyforreconnoitringpurposesontheeasternfrontier，theyweremostlytoosmalltocarrymorethanacouple，ofdozenmenwithoutarmsorprovisions，andnotonecoulddofortymiles。anhour。GreatBritain，itseemed，inanaccessofmeanness，temporisedandwrangledwiththeimperialspiritedButteridgeandhisextraordinaryinvention。Thatalsowasnotinplay——andcouldnotbeforsomemonthsattheearliest。FromAsiathere，camenosign。TheGermansexplainedthisbysayingtheyellowpeopleswerewithoutinvention。Noothercompetitorwasworthconsidering。"Nowornever，"saidtheGermans——"noworneverwemayseizetheair——asoncetheBritishseizedtheseas！Whilealltheotherpowersarestillexperimenting。"
　　Swiftandsystematicandsecretweretheirpreparations，andtheirplanmostexcellent。Sofarastheirknowledgewent，Americawastheonlydangerouspossibility;America，whichwasalsonowtheleadingtraderivalofGermanyandoneofthechiefbarrierstoherImperialexpansion。SoatoncetheywouldstrikeatAmerica。TheywouldflingagreatforceacrosstheAtlanticheavensandbearAmericadownunwarnedandunprepared。
　　Altogetheritwasawell—imaginedandmosthopefulandspiritedenterprise，havingregardtotheinformationinthepossessionoftheGermangovernment。Thechancesofitbeingasuccessfulsurprisewereverygreat。Theairshipandtheflying—machinewereverydifferentthingsfromironclads，whichtakeacoupleofyearstobuild。Givenhands，givenplant，theycouldbemadeinnumerablyinafewweeks。Oncetheneedfulparksandfoundrieswereorganised，air—shipsandDracheinfliegercouldbepouredintothesky。Indeed，whenthetimecame，theydidpourintotheskylike，asabitterFrenchwriterputit，fliesrousedfromfilth。
　　TheattackuponAmericawastobethefirstmoveinthistremendousgame。ButnosoonerhaditstartedthaninstantlytheaeronauticparksweretoproceedtoputtogetherandinflatethesecondfleetwhichwastodominateEuropeandmanoeuvresignificantlyoverLondon，Paris，Rome，St。Petersburg，orwhereverelseitsmoraleffectwasrequired。AWorldSurpriseitwastobe——nolessaWorldConquest;anditiswonderfulhownearthecalmlyadventurousmindsthatplanneditcametosucceedingintheircolossaldesign。
　　VonSternbergwastheMoltkeofthisWarintheAir，butitwasthecurioushardromanticismofPrinceKarlAlbertthatwonoverthehesitatingEmperortothescheme。PrinceKarlAlbertwasindeedthecentralfigureoftheworlddrama。HewasthedarlingoftheImperialistspiritinGerman，andtheidealofthenewaristocraticfeeling——thenewChivalry，asitwascalled——thatfollowedtheoverthrowofSocialismthroughitsinternaldivisionsandlackofdiscipline，andtheconcentrationofwealthinthehandsofafewgreatfamilies。HewascomparedbyobsequiousflattererstotheBlackPrince，toAlcibiades，totheyoungCaesar。TomanyheseemedNietzsche’sOvermanrevealed。Hewasbigandblondandvirile，andsplendidlynon—moral。ThefirstgreatfeatthatstartledEurope，andalmostbroughtaboutanewTrojanwar，washisabductionofthePrincessHelenaofNorwayandhisblankrefusaltomarryher。ThenfollowedhismarriagewithGretchenKrass，aSwissgirlofpeerlessbeauty。Thencamethegallantrescue，whichalmostcosthimhislife，ofthreedrowningtailorswhoseboathadupsetintheseanearHeligoland。ForthatandhisvictoryovertheAmericanyachtDefender，C。C。I。，theEmperorforgavehimandplacedhimincontrolofthenewaeronauticarmoftheGermanforces。Thishedevelopedwithmarvellousenergyandability，beingresolved，ashesaid，togivetoGermanylandandseaandsky。Thenationalpassionforaggressionfoundinhimitssupremeexponent，andachievedthroughhimitsrealisationinthisastoundingwar。Buthisfascinationwasmorethannational;
　　allovertheworldhisruthlessstrengthdominatedmindsastheNapoleoniclegendhaddominatedminds。Englishmenturnedindisgustfromtheslow，complex，civilisedmethodsoftheirnationalpoliticstothisuncompromising，forcefulfigure。
　　Frenchmenbelievedinhim。PoemswerewrittentohiminAmerican。
　　Hemadethewar。
　　Quiteequallywiththerestoftheworld，thegeneralGermanpopulationwastakenbysurprisebytheswiftvigouroftheImperialgovernment。Aconsiderableliteratureofmilitaryforecasts，beginningasearlyas1906withRudolfMartin，theauthornotmerelyofabrilliantbookofanticipations，butofaproverb，"ThefutureofGermanyliesintheair，"had，however，partiallypreparedtheGermanimaginationforsomesuchenterprise。
　　2
　　Ofalltheseworld—forcesandgiganticdesignsBertSmallwaysknewnothinguntilhefoundhimselfintheveryfocusofitallandgapeddownamazedonthespectacleofthatgiantherdofair—
　　ships。EachoneseemedaslongastheStrand，andasbigaboutasTrafalgarSquare。Somemusthavebeenathirdofamileinlength。Hehadneverbeforeseenanythingsovastanddisciplinedasthistremendouspark。Forthefirsttimeinhislifehereallyhadanintimationoftheextraordinaryandquiteimportantthingsofwhichacontemporarymaygoinignorance。HehadalwaysclungtotheillusionthatGermanswerefat，absurdmen，whosmokedchinapipes，andwereaddictedtoknowledgeandhorsefleshandsauerkrautandindigestiblethingsgenerally。
　　Hisbird’s—eyeviewwasquitetransitory。Heduckedatthefirstshot;anddirectlyhisballoonbegantodrop，hismindranconfusedlyuponhowhemightexplainhimself，andwhetherheshouldpretendtobeButteridgeornot。"OLord！"hegroaned，inanagonyofindecision。Thenhiseyecaughthissandals，andhefeltaspasmofself—disgust。"They’llthinkI’mabloomin’
　　idiot，"hesaid，andthenitwasheroseupdesperatelyandthrewoverthesand—bagandprovokedthesecondandthirdshots。
　　Itflashedintohishead，ashecoweredinthebottomofthecar，thathemightavoidallsortsofdisagreeableandcomplicatedexplanationsbypretendingtobemad。
　　Thatwashislastideabeforetheairshipsseemedtorushupabouthimasiftolookathim，andhiscarhitthegroundandboundedandpitchedhimoutonhishead……
　　Heawoketofindhimselffamous，andtohearavoicecrying，"Booteraidge！Ja！JaiHerrBooteraidge！Selbst！"
　　Hewaslyingonalittlepatchofgrassbesideoneofthemainavenuesoftheaeronauticpark。Theairshipsrecededdownagreatvista，animmenseperspective，andthebluntprowofeachwasadornedwithablackeagleofahundredfeetorsospread。
　　Downtheothersideoftheavenueranaseriesofgasgenerators，andbighose—pipestrailedeverywhereacrosstheinterveningspace。Closeathandwashisnownearlydeflatedballoonandthecaronitssidelookingminutelysmall，amerebrokentoy，ashrivelledbubble，incontrastwiththegiganticbulkofthenearerairship。Thishesawalmostend—on，risinglikeacliffandslopingforwardtowardsitsfellowontheothersidesoastoovershadowthealleybetweenthem。Therewasacrowdofexcitedpeopleabouthim，bigmenmostlyintightuniforms。Everybodywastalking，andseveralwereshouting，inGerman;heknewthatbecausetheysplashedandaspiratedsoundslikestartledkittens。
　　Onlyonephrase，repeatedagainandagaincouldherecognize——thenameof"HerrBooteraidge。"
　　"Gollys！"saidBert。"They’vespottedit。"
　　"Besser，"saidsomeone，andsomerapidGermanfollowed。
　　Heperceivedthatcloseathandwasafieldtelephone，andthatatallofficerinbluewastalkingthereatabouthim。Anotherstoodclosebesidehimwiththeportfolioofdrawingsandphotographsinhishand。Theylookedroundathim。
　　"DoyouspikCherman，HerrBooteraidge？"
　　Bertdecidedthathehadbetterbedazed。Hedidhisbesttoseemthoroughlydazed。"WhereAMI？"heasked。
　　Volubilityprevailed。"DerPrinz，"wasmentioned。Abuglesoundedfaraway，anditscallwastakenupbyonenearer，andthenbyonecloseathand。Thisseemedtoincreasetheexcitementgreatly。Amono—railcarbumbledpast。Thetelephonebellrangpassionately，andthetallofficerseemedtoengageinaheatedaltercation。ThenheapproachedthegroupaboutBert，callingoutsomethingabout"mitbringen。"
　　Anearnest—faced，emaciatedmanwithawhitemoustacheappealedtoBert。"HerrBooteraidge，sir，wearechusttostart！"
　　"WhereamI？"Bertrepeated。
　　Someoneshookhimbytheothershoulder。"AreyouHerrBooteraidge？"heasked。
　　"HerrBooteraidge，wearechusttostart！"repeatedthewhitemoustache，andthenhelplessly，"Whatisdegoot？Whatcanwedo？"
　　Theofficerfromthetelephonerepeatedhissentenceabout"DerPrinz"and"mitbringen。"Themanwiththemoustachestaredforamoment，graspedanideaandbecameviolentlyenergetic，stoodupandbawleddirectionsatunseenpeople。Questionswereasked，andthedoctoratBert’ssideanswered，"Ja！Ja！"severaltimes，alsosomethingabout"Kopf。"WithacertainurgencyhegotBertratherunwillinglytohisfeet。TwohugesoldiersingreyadvanceduponBertandseizedholdofhim。"’Ullo！"saidBert，startled。"What’sup？"
　　"Itisallright，"thedoctorexplained;"theyaretocarryyou。"
　　"Where？"askedBert，unanswered。
　　"Putyourarmsroundttheir——hals——roundthem！"
　　"Yes！butwhere？"
　　"Holdtight！"
　　BeforeBertcoulddecidetosayanythingmorehewaswhiskedupbythetwosoldiers。Theyjoinedhandstoseathim，andhisarmswereputabouttheirnecks。"Vorwarts！"Someoneranbeforehimwiththeportfolio，andhewasbornerapidlyalongthebroadavenuebetweenthegasgeneratorsandtheairships，rapidlyandonthewholesmoothlyexceptthatonceortwicehisbearersstumbledoverhose—pipesandnearlylethimdown。
　　HewaswearingMr。Butteridge’sAlpinecap，andhislittleshoulderswereinMr。Butteridge’sfur—linedovercoat，andhehadrespondedtoMr。Butteridge’sname。Thesandalsdangledhelplessly。Gaw！Everybodyseemedinadevilofahurry。Why？
　　Hewascarriedjogglingandgapingthroughthetwilight，marvellingbeyondmeasure。
　　Thesystematicarrangementofwideconvenientspaces，thequantitiesofbusiness—likesoldierseverywhere，theoccasionalneatpilesofmaterial，theubiquitousmono—raillines，andthetoweringship—likehullsabouthim，remindedhimalittleofimpressionshehadgotasaboyonavisittoWoolwichDockyard。
　　Thewholecampreflectedthecolossalpowerofmodernsciencethathadcreatedit。Apeculiarstrangenesswasproducedbythelownessoftheelectriclight，whichlayupontheground，castingallshadowsupwardsandmakingagrotesqueshadowfigureofhimselfandhisbearersontheairshipsides，fusingallthreeofthemintoamonstrousanimalwithattenuatedlegsandanimmensefan—likehumpedbody。Thelightswereonthegroundbecauseasfaraspossibleallpolesandstandardshadbeendispensedwithtopreventcomplicationswhentheairshipsrose。
　　Itwasdeeptwilightnow，atranquilblue—skyedevening;
　　everythingroseoutfromthesplashesoflightuponthegroundintodimtranslucenttallmasses;withinthecavitiesoftheairshipssmallinspectinglampsglowedlikecloud—veiledstars，andmadethemseemmarvellouslyunsubstantial。Eachairshiphaditsnameinblacklettersonwhiteoneitherflank，andforwardtheImperialeaglesprawled，anoverwhelmingbirdinthedimness。
　　Buglessounded，mono—railcarsofquietsoldiersslitheredburblingby。Thecabinsundertheheadsoftheairshipswerebeinglitup;doorsopenedinthem，andrevealedpaddedpassages。
　　Nowandthenavoicegavedirectionstoworkersindistinctlyseen。
　　Therewasamatterofsentinels，gangwaysandalongnarrowpassage，ascrambleoveradisorderofbaggage，andthenBertfoundhimselfloweredtothegroundandstandinginthedoorwayofaspaciouscabin——itwasperhapstenfeetsquareandeighthigh，furnishedwithcrimsonpaddingandaluminium。Atall，bird—likeyoungmanwithasmallhead，alongnose，andverypalehair，withhishandsfullofthingslikeshaving—strops，boot—trees，hair—brushes，andtoilettidies，wassayingthingsaboutGottandthunderandDummerBooteraidgeasBertentered。
　　Hewasapparentlyanevictedoccupant。Thenhevanished，andBertwaslyingbackonacouchinthecornerwithapillowunderhisheadandthedoorofthecabinshutuponhim。Hewasalone。
　　Everybodyhadhurriedoutagainastonishingly。
　　"Gollys！"saidBert。"Whatnext？"
　　Hestaredabouthimattheroom。
　　"Butteridge！ShallItrytokeepitup，orshan’tI？"
　　Theroomhewasinpuzzledhim。"’Tisn’taprisonand’tisn’tanorfis？"Thentheoldtroublecameuppermost。"Iwishto’eavenIadn’tthesesillysandalson，"hecriedquerulouslytotheuniverse。"Theygivethewholeblessedshowaway。"
　　3
　　Hisdoorwasflungopen，andacompactyoungmaninuniformappeared，carryingMr。Butteridge’sportfolio，rucksac，andshaving—glass。
　　"Isay！"hesaidinfaultlessEnglishasheentered。Hehadabeamingface，andasortofpinkishblondhair。"FancyyoubeingButteridge。HeslappedBert’smeagreluggagedown。
　　"We’dhavestarted，"hesaid，"inanotherhalf—hour！Youdidn’tgiveyourselfmuchtime！"
　　HesurveyedBertcuriously。Hisgazerestedforafractionofamomentonthesandals。"Yououghttohavecomeonyourflying—machine，Mr。Butteridge。"
　　Hedidn’twaitforananswer。"ThePrincesaysI’vegottolookafteryou。Naturallyhecan’tseeyounow，buthethinksyourcoming’sprovidential。LastgraceofHeaven。Likeasign。Hullo！"
　　Hestoodstillandlistened。
　　Outsidetherewasagoingtoandfrooffeet，asoundofdistantbuglessuddenlytakenupandechoedcloseathand，mencalledoutinloudtonesshort，sharp，seeminglyvitalthings，andwereanswereddistantly。Abelljangled，andfeetwentdownthecorridor。Thencameastillnessmoredistractingthansound，andthenagreatgurglingandrushingandsplashingofwater。Theyoungman’seyebrowslifted。Hehesitated，anddashedoutoftheroom。Presentlycameastupendousbangtovarythenoiseswithout，thenadistantcheering。Theyoungmanre—appeared。
　　"They’rerunningthewateroutoftheballonettealready。"
　　"Whatwater？"askedBert。
　　"Thewaterthatanchoredus。Artfuldodge。Eh？"
　　Berttriedtotakeitin。
　　"Ofcourse！"saidthecompactyoungman。"Youdon’tunderstand。"
　　AgentlequiveringcreptuponBert’ssenses。"That’stheengine，"
　　saidthecompactyoungmanapprovingly。"Nowweshan’tbelong。"
　　Anotherlonglisteninginterval。
　　Thecabinswayed。"ByJove！we’restartingalready;"hecried。
　　"We’restarting！"
　　"Starting！"criedBert，sittingup。"Where？"
　　Buttheyoungmanwasoutoftheroomagain。TherewerenoisesofGermaninthepassage，andothernerve—shakingsounds。
　　Theswayingincreased。Theyoungmanreappeared。"We’reoff，rightenough！"
　　"Isay！"，saidBert，"wherearewestarting？Iwishyou’dexplain。What’sthisplace？Idon’tunderstand。"
　　"What！"criedtheyoungman，"youdon’tunderstand？"
　　"No。I’m’alldazed—likefromthatcrackonthenobIgot。
　　WhereAREwe？WHEREarewestarting？"
　　"Don’tyouknowwhereyouare——whatthisis？"
　　"Notabitofit！What’salltheswayingandtherow？"
　　"Whatalark！"criedtheyoungman。"Isay！Whatathunderinglark！Don’tyouknow？We’reofftoAmerica，andyouhaven’trealised。You’vejustcaughtusbyaneck。You’reontheblessedoldflagshipwiththePrince。Youwon’tmissanything。
　　Whatever’son，youbettheVaterlandwillbethere。"
　　"Us！——offtoAmerica？"
　　"Ra——ther！
　　"Inanairship？"
　　"WhatdoYOUthink？"
　　"Me！goingtoAmericaonanairship！Afterthatballoon！’Ere！
　　Isay——Idon’twanttogo！Iwanttowalkaboutonmylegs。Letmegetout！Ididn’tunderstand。"
　　Hemadeadiveforthedoor。
　　TheyoungmanarrestedBertwithagesture，tookholdofastrap，liftedupapanelinthepaddedwall，andawindowappeared。
　　"Look！"hesaid。Sidebysidetheylookedout。
　　"Gaw！"saidBert。"We’regoingup！"
　　"Weare！"saidtheyoungman，cheerfully;"fast！"
　　Theywererisingintheairsmoothlyandquietly，andmovingslowlytothethroboftheengineathwarttheaeronauticpark。
　　Downbelowitstretched，dimlygeometricalinthedarkness，pickedoutatregularintervalsbyglow—wormspanglesoflight。
　　Oneblackgapinthelonglineofgrey，round—backedairshipsmarkedthepositionfromwhichtheVaterlandhadcome。Besideitasecondmonsternowrosesoftly，releasedfromitsbondsandcablesintotheair。Then，takingabeautifullyexactdistance，athirdascended，andthenafourth。
　　"Toolate，Mr。Butteridge！"theyoungmanremarked。"We’reoff！
　　Idaresayitisabitofashocktoyou，butthereyouare！ThePrincesaidyou’dhavetocome。"
　　"Look’ere，"saidBert。"Ireallyamdazed。What’sthisthing？
　　Wherearewegoing？"
　　"This，Mr。Butteridge，"saidtheyoungman，takingpainstobeexplicit，"isanairship。It’stheflagshipofPrinceKarlAlbert。ThisistheGermanair—fleet，anditisgoingovertoAmerica，togivethatspiritedpeople’whatfor。’Theonlythingwewereatalluneasyaboutwasyourinvention。Andhereyouare！"
　　"But！——youaGerman？"askedBert。
　　"LieutenantKurt。Luft—lieutenantKurt，atyourservice。"
　　"ButyouspeakEnglish！"
　　"MotherwasEnglish——wenttoschoolinEngland。Afterwards，Rhodesscholar。Germannonethelessforthat。Detailedforthepresent，Mr。Butteridge，tolookafteryou。You’reshakenbyyourfall。It’sallright，really。They’regoingtobuyyourmachineandeverything。Yousitdown，andtakeitquitecalmly。
　　You’llsoongetthehangoftheposition。"
　　4
　　Bertsatdownonthelocker，collectinghismind，andtheyoungmantalkedtohimabouttheairship。