TheproceedingswereinGerman。ThePrincewasinhisowncabin，theendroomoftheairship，acharmingapartmentfurnishedinwicker—workwithalongwindowacrossitsentirebreadth，lookingforward。Hewassittingatafolding—tableofgreenbaize，withVonWinterfeldandtwoofficerssittingbesidehim，andlitteredbeforethemwasanumberofAmericanmapsandMr。Butteridge’slettersandhisportfolioandanumberofloosepapers。Bertwasnotaskedtositdown，andremainedstandingthroughouttheinterview。VonWinterfeldtoldhisstory，andeverynowandthenthewordsBallonandPooteragestruckonBert’sears。ThePrince’sfaceremainedsternandominousandthetwoofficerswatcheditcautiouslyorglancedatBert。TherewassomethingalittlestrangeintheirscrutinyofthePrince——acuriosity，anapprehension。Thenpresentlyhewasstruckbyanidea，andtheyfelldiscussingtheplans。ThePrinceaskedBertabruptlyinEnglish。\"Didyoueverseethisthinggoop？\"
Bertjumped。\"SawitfromBun’Ill，yourRoyalHighness。\"
VonWinterfeldmadesomeexplanation。
\"Howfastdiditgo？\"
\"Couldn’tsay，yourRoyalHighness。Thepapers，leastwaystheDailyCourier，saideightymilesanhour。\"
TheytalkedGermanoverthatforatime。
\"Couldtitstandtstill？Opintheair？ThatiswhatIwanttoknow。\"
\"Itcould’ovver，yourRoyalHighness，likeawasp，\"saidBert。
\"Vielbesser，nichtwahr？\"saidthePrincetoVonWinterfeld，andthenwentoninGermanforatime。
Presentlytheycametoanend，andthetwoofficerslookedatBert。Onerangabell，andtheportfoliowashandedtoanattendant，whotookitaway。
ThentheyrevertedtothecaseofBert，anditwasevidentthePrincewasinclinedtobehardwithhim。VonWinterfeldprotested。Apparentlytheologicalconsiderationscamein，fortherewereseveralmentionsof\"Gott！\"Someconclusionsemerged，anditwasapparentthatVonWinterfeldwasinstructedtoconveythemtoBert。
\"Mr。Schmallvays，youhafobtainedafootinginthisairship，\"hesaid，\"bydisgracefulandsystematiclying。\"
\"’Ardlysystematic，\"saidBert。\"I——\"
ThePrincesilencedhimbyagesture。
\"AnditiswithinthepowerofhisHighnesstodisposeofyouasaspy。\"
\"’Ere！——Icametosell——\"
\"Ssh！\"saidoneoftheofficers。
\"However，inconsiderationofthehappychancethatmateyoutheinstrumentunterGottofthisPooterageflying—machinereachinghisHighness’shand，youhafbeenspared。Yes，——youwerethepearerofgoottidings。Youwillbeallowedtoremainonthisshipuntilitisconvenienttodisposeofyou。Doyouunderstandt？\"
\"Wewillbringhim，\"saidthePrince，andaddedterriblywithaterribleglare，\"alsBallast。\"
\"Youaretocomewithus，\"saidWinterfeld，\"aspallast。Doyouunderstandt？\"
Bertopenedhismouthtoaskaboutthefivehundredpounds，andthenasavinggleamofwisdomsilencedhim。HemetVonWinterfeld’seye，anditseemedtohimthesecretarynoddedslightly。
\"Go！\"saidthePrince，withasweepofthegreatarmandhandtowardsthedoor。Bertwentoutlikealeafbeforeagale。
9
ButinbetweenthetimewhentheGrafvonWinterfeldhadtalkedtohimandthisalarmingconferencewiththePrince，BerthadexploredtheVaterlandfromendtoend。Hehadfounditinterestinginspiteofgravepreoccupations。Kurt，likethegreaternumberofthemenupontheGermanair—fleet，hadknownhardlyanythingofaeronauticsbeforehisappointmenttothenewflag—ship。ButhewasextremelykeenuponthiswonderfulnewweaponGermanyhadassumedsosuddenlvanddramatically。HeshowedthingstoBertwithaboyisheagernessandappreciation。
Itwasasifheshowedthem，overagaintohimself，likeachildshowinganewtoy。\"Let’sgoallovertheship，\"hesaidwithzest。Hepointedoutparticularlythelightnessofeverything，theuseofexhaustedaluminiumtubing，ofspringycushionsinflatedwithcompressedhydrogen;thepartitionswerehydrogenbagscoveredwithlightimitationleather，theverycrockerywasalightbiscuitglazedinavacuum，andweighednexttonothing。
WherestrengthwasneededtherewasthenewCharlottenburgalloy，Germansteelasitwascalled，thetoughestandmostresistantmetalintheworld。
Therewasnolackofspace。Spacedidnotmatter，solongasloaddidnotgrow。Thehabitablepartoftheshipwastwohundredandfiftyfeetlong，andtheroomsintwotiers;abovetheseonecouldgoupintoremarkablelittlewhite—metalturretswithbigwindowsandairtightdoubledoorsthatenabledonetoinspectthevastcavityofthegas—chambers。ThisinsideviewimpressedBertverymuch。Hehadneverrealisedbeforethatanairshipwasnotonesimplecontinuousgas—bagcontainingnothingbutgas。Nowhesawfarabovehimthebackboneoftheapparatusanditsbigribs，\"liketheneuralandhaemalcanals，\"saidKurt，whohaddabbledinbiology。
\"Rather！\"saidBertappreciatively，thoughhehadnottheghostofanideawhatthesephrasesmeant。
Littleelectriclightscouldbeswitchedonupthereifanythingwentwronginthenight。Therewereevenladdersacrossthespace。\"Butyoucan’tgointothegas，\"protestedBert。
\"Youcan’tbreveit。\"
Thelieutenantopenedacupboarddooranddisplayedadiver’ssuit，onlythatitwasmadeofoiledsilk，andbothitscompressed—airknapsackanditshelmetwereofanalloyofaluminiumandsomelightmetal。\"Wecangoallovertheinsidenettingandstickupbulletholesorleaks，\"heexplained。
\"There’snettinginsideandout。Thewholeouter—caseisropeladder，sotospeak。\"
Aftofthehabitablepartoftheairshipwasthemagazineofexplosives，comingnearthemiddleofitslength。Theywereallbombsofvarioustypesmostlyinglass——noneoftheGermanairshipscarriedanygunsatallexceptonesmallpom—pom（tousetheoldEnglishnicknamedatingfromtheBoerwar），whichwasforwardinthegalleryupontheshieldattheheartoftheeagle。
Fromthemagazineamidshipsacoveredcanvasgallerywithaluminiumtreadsonitsfloorandahand—rope，ranbackunderneaththegas—chambertotheengine—roomatthetail;butalongthisBertdidnotgo，andfromfirsttolastheneversawtheengines。Buthewentupaladderagainstagaleofventilation——aladderthatwasencasedinakindofgas—tightfireescape——andranrightathwartthegreatforwardair—chambertothelittlelook—outgallerywithatelephone，thatgallerythatborethelightpom—pomofGermansteelanditslockerofshells。Thisgallerywasallofaluminiummagnesiumalloy，thetightfrontoftheair—shipswelledcliff—likeaboveandbelow，andtheblackeaglesprawledoverwhelminglygigantic，itsextremitiesallhiddenbythebulgeofthegas—bag。Andfardown，underthesoaring’eagles，wasEngland，fourthousandfeetbelowperhaps，andlookingverysmallanddefencelessindeedinthemorningsunlight。
TherealisationthattherewasEnglandgaveBertsuddenandunexpectedqualmsofpatrioticcompunction。Hewasstruckbyaquitenovelidea。Afterall，hemighthavetornupthoseplansandthrownthemaway。Thesepeoplecouldnothavedonesoverymuchtohim。Andeveniftheydid，oughtnotanEnglishmantodieforhiscountry？Itwasanideathathadhithertobeenrathersmotheredupbythecaresofacompetitivecivilisation。
Hebecameviolentlydepressed。Heought，heperceived，tohaveseenitinthatlightbefore。Whyhadn’theseenitinthatlightbefore？
Indeed，wasn’theasortoftraitor？……Hewonderedhowtheaerialfleetmustlookfromdownthere。Tremendous，nodoubt，anddwarfingallthebuildings。
HewaspassingbetweenManchesterandLiverpool，Kurttoldhim;agleamingbandacrosstheprospectwastheShipCanal，andawelteringditchofshippingfarawayahead，theMerseyestuary。
BertwasaSoutherner;hehadneverbeennorthoftheMidlandcounties，andthemultitudeoffactoriesandchimneys——thelatterforthemostpartobsoleteandsmokelessnow，supersededbyhugeelectricgeneratingstationsthatconsumedtheirownreek——oldrailwayviaducts，mono—railnet—worksandgoodsyards，andthevastareasofdingyhomesandnarrowstreets，spreadingaimlessly，struckhimasthoughCamberwellandRotherhithehadruntoseed。Hereandthere，asifcaughtinanet，werefieldsandagriculturalfragments。Itwasasprawlofundistinguishedpopulation。Therewere，nodoubt，museumsandtownhallsandevencathedralsofasorttomarktheoreticalcentresofmunicipalandreligiousorganisationinthisconfusion;butBertcouldnotseethem，theydidnotstandoutatallinthatwidedisorderlyvisionofcongestedworkers’housesandplacestowork，andshopsandmeanlyconceivedchapelsandchurches。AndacrossthislandscapeofanindustrialcivilisationswepttheshadowsoftheGermanairshipslikeahurryingshoaloffishes……
Kurtandhefelltalkingofaerialtactics，andpresentlywentdowntotheundergalleryinorderthatBertmightseetheDrachenfliegerthattheairshipsoftherightwinghadpickedupovernightandweretowingbehindthem;eachairshiptowingthreeorfour。Theylooked，likebigbox—kitesofanexaggeratedform，soaringattheendsofinvisiblecords。Theyhadlong，squareheadsandflattenedtails，withlateralpropellers。
\"Muchskillisrequiredforthose！——muchskill！\"
\"Rather！\"
Pause。
\"Yourmachineisdifferentfromthat，Mr。Butteridge？\"
\"Quitedifferent，\"saidBert。\"Morelikeaninsect，andlesslikeabird。Anditbuzzes，anddon’tdriveaboutso。Whatcanthosethingsdo？\"
Kurtwasnotveryclearuponthathimself，andwasstillexplainingwhenBertwascalledtotheconferencewehaverecordedwiththePrince。
Andafterthatwasover，thelasttracesofButteridgefellfromBertlikeagarment，andhebecameSmallwaystoallonboard。
Thesoldiersceasedtosalutehim，andtheofficersceasedtoseemawareofhisexistence，exceptLieutenantKurt。Hewasturnedoutofhisnicecabin，andpackedinwithhisbelongingstosharethatofLieutenantKurt，whoseluckitwastobejunior，andthebird—headedofficer，stillswearingslightly，andcarryingstropsandaluminiumboot—treesandweightlesshair—brushesandhand—mirrorsandpomadeinhishands，resumedpossession。BertwasputinwithKurtbecausetherewasnowhereelseforhimtolayhisbandagedheadinthatclose—packedvessel。Hewastomess，hewastold，withthemen。
Kurtcameandstoodwithhislegswideapartandsurveyed，himforamomentashesatdespondentinhisnewquarters。
\"What’syourrealname，then？\"saidKurt，whowasonlyimperfectlyinformedofthenewstateofaffairs。
\"Smallways。\"
\"Ithoughtyouwereabitofafraud——evenwhenIthoughtyouwereButteridge。You’rejollyluckythePrincetookitcalmly。
He’saprettytidyblazerwhenhe’sroused。Hewouldn’tstickamomentatpitchingachapofyoursortoverboardifhethoughtfit。No！……They’veshovedyouontome，butit’smycabin，youknow。\"
\"Iwon’tforget，\"saidBert。
Kurtlefthim，andwhenhecametolookabouthimthefirstthinghesawpastedonthepaddedwallwasareproduction，ofthegreatpicturebySiegfriedSchmalzoftheWarGod，thatterrible，tramplingfigurewiththevikinghelmetandthescarletcloak，wadingthroughdestruction，swordinhand，whichhadsostrongaresemblancetoKarlAlbert，theprinceitwaspaintedtoplease。
CHAPTERV
THEBATTLEOFTHENORTHATLANTIC
1
ThePrinceKarlAlberthadmadeaprofoundimpressionuponBert。
HewasquitethemostterrifyingpersonBerthadeverencountered。HefilledtheSmallwayssoulwithpassionatedreadandantipathy。ForalongtimeBertsataloneinKurt’scabin，doingnothingandnotventuringeventoopenthedoorlestheshouldbebythatmuchnearerthatappallingpresence。
Soitcameaboutthathewasprobablythelastpersononboardtohearthenewsthatwirelesstelegraphywasbringingtotheairshipinthrobsandfragmentsofagreatnavalbattleinprogressinmid—Atlantic。
HelearntitatlastfromKurt。
KurtcameinwithageneralairofignoringBert，butmutteringtohimselfinEnglishnevertheless。\"Stupendous！\"Bertheardhimsay。\"Here！\"hesaid，\"getoffthislocker。\"Andheproceededtoroutouttwobooksandacaseofmaps。Hespreadthemonthefolding—table，andstoodregardingthem。ForatimehisGermanicdisciplinestruggledwithhisEnglishinformalityandhisnaturalkindlinessandtalkativeness，andatlastlost。
\"They’reatit，Smallways，\"hesaid。
\"Atwhat，sir？\"saidBert，brokenandrespectful。
\"Fighting！TheAmericanNorthAtlanticsquadronandprettynearlythewholeofourfleet。OurEiserneKreuzhashadagruellingandissinking，andtheirMilesStandish——she’soneoftheirbiggest——hassunkwithallhands。Torpedoes，Isuppose。ShewasabiggershipthantheKarlderGrosse，butfiveorsixyearsolder。Gods！IwishwecouldseeitSmallways;asquarefightinbluewater，gunsornothing，andallof’emsteamingahead！\"
Hespreadhismaps，hehadtotalk，andsohedeliveredalectureonthenavalsituationtoBert。
\"Hereitis，\"hesaid，latitude30degrees50minutesN。
longitude30degrees50minutesW。It’sagooddayoffus，anyhow，andthey’reallgoingsouth—westbysouthatfullpeltashardastheycango。Weshan’tseeabitofit，worseluck！Notasniffweshan’tget！\"
2
ThenavalsituationintheNorthAtlanticatthattimewasapeculiarone。TheUnitedStateswasbyfarthestrongerofthetwopowersuponthesea，butthebulkoftheAmericanfleetwasstillinthePacific。ItwasinthedirectionofAsiathatwarhadbeenmostfeared，forthesituationbetweenAsiaticandwhitehadbecomeunusuallyviolentanddangerous，andtheJapanesegovernmenthadshownitselfquiteunprecedentedlydifficult。TheGermanattackthereforefoundhalftheAmericanstrengthatManila，andwhatwascalledtheSecondFleetstrungoutacrossthePacificinwirelesscontactbetweentheAsiaticstationandSanFrancisco。TheNorthAtlanticsquadronwasthesoleAmericanforceonhereasternshore，itwasreturningfromafriendlyvisittoFranceandSpain，andwaspumpingoil—fuelfromtendersinmid—Atlantic——formostofitsshipsweresteamships——whentheinternationalsituationbecameacute。Itwasmadeupoffourbattleshipsandfivearmouredcruisersrankingalmostwithbattleships，notoneofwhichwasofalaterdatethan1913。TheAmericanshadindeedgrownsoaccustomedtotheideathatGreatBritaincouldbetrustedtokeepthepeaceoftheAtlanticthatanavalattackontheeasternseaboardfoundthemunpreparedevenintheirimaginations。Butlongbeforethedeclarationofwar——indeed，onWhitMonday——thewholeGermanfleetofeighteenbattleships，withaflotillaoffueltendersandconvertedlinerscontainingstorestobeusedinsupportoftheair—fleet，hadpassedthroughthestraitsofDoverandheadedboldlyforNewYork。NotonlydidtheseGermanbattleshipsoutnumbertheAmericanstwotoone，buttheyweremoreheavilyarmedandmoremoderninconstruction——sevenofthemhavinghighexplosiveenginesbuiltofCharlottenburgsteel，andallcarryingCharlottenburgsteelguns。
ThefleetscameintocontactonWednesdaybeforeanyactualdeclarationofwar。TheAmericanshadstrungoutinthemodernfashionatdistancesofthirtymilesorso，andweresteamingtokeepthemselvesbetweentheGermansandeithertheeasternstatesorPanama;because，vitalasitwastodefendtheseaboardcitiesandparticularlyNewYork，itwasstillmorevitaltosavethecanalfromanyattackthatmightpreventthereturnofthemainfleetfromthePacific。Nodoubt，saidKurt，thiswasnowmakingrecordsacrossthatocean，\"unlesstheJapanesehavehadthesameideaastheGermans。\"ItwasobviouslybeyondhumanpossibilitythattheAmericanNorthAtlanticfleetcouldhopetomeetanddefeattheGerman;but，ontheotherhand，withluckitmightfightadelayingactionandinflictsuchdamageastogreatlyweakentheattackuponthecoastdefences。Itsduty，indeed，wasnotvictorybutdevotion，theseveresttaskintheworld。
MeanwhilethesubmarinedefencesofNewYork，Panama，andtheothermorevitalpointscouldbeputinsomesortoforder。
Thiswasthenavalsituation，anduntilWednesdayinWhitweekitwastheonlysituationtheAmericanpeoplehadrealised。ItwasthentheyheardforthefirsttimeoftherealscaleoftheDornhofaeronauticparkandthepossibilityofanattackcominguponthemnotonlybysea，butbytheair。ButitiscuriousthatsodiscreditedwerethenewspapersofthatperiodthatalargemajorityofNewYorkers，forexample，didnotbelievethemostcopiousandcircumstantialaccountsoftheGermanair—fleetuntilitwasactuallyinsightofNewYork。
Kurt’stalkwashalfsoliloquy。HestoodwithamaponMercator’sprojectionbeforehim，swayingtotheswingingoftheshipandtalkingofgunsandtonnage，ofshipsandtheirbuildandpowersandspeed，ofstrategicpoints，andbasesofoperation。Acertainshynessthatreducedhimtothestatusofalistenerattheofficers’tablenolongersilencedhim。
Bertstoodby，sayingverylittle，butwatchingKurt’sfingeronthemap。\"They’vebeensayingthingslikethisinthepapersforalongtime，\"heremarked。\"Fancyitcomingreal！\"
KurthadadetailedknowledgeoftheMilesStandish。\"Sheusedtobeacrackshipforgunnery——heldtherecord。Iwonderifwebeathershooting，orhow？IwishIwasinit。Iwonderwhichofourshipsbeather。Maybeshegotashellinherengines。
It’sarunningfight！IwonderwhattheBarbarossaisdoing，\"hewenton，\"She’smyoldship。Notafirst—rater，butgoodstuff。
Ibetshe’sgotashotortwohomebynowifoldSchneider’suptoform。Justthinkofit！Theretheyarewhackingawayateachother，greatgunsgoing，shellsexploding，magazinesbursting，ironworkflyingaboutlikestrawinagale，allwe’vebeendreamingofforyears！IsupposeweshallflyrightawaytoNewYork——justasthoughitwasn’tanythingatall。Isupposeweshallreckonwearen’twanteddownthere。It’snomorethanacoveringfightonourside。Allthosetendersandstore—shipsofoursaregoingonsouthwestbywesttoNewYorktomakeafloatingdepotforus。See？\"Hedabbedhisforefingeronthemap。\"Hereweare。Ourtrainofstoresgoesthere，ourbattleshipselbowtheAmericansoutofourwaythere。\"
WhenBertwentdowntothemen’smess—roomtogethiseveningration，hardlyanyonetooknoticeofhimexceptjusttopointhimoutforaninstant。Everyonewastalkingofthebattle，suggesting，contradicting——attimes，untilthepettyofficershushedthem，itrosetoagreatuproar。Therewasanewbulletin，butwhatitsaidhedidnotgatherexceptthatitconcernedtheBarbarossa。Someofthemenstaredathim，andheheardthenameof\"Booteraidge\"severaltimes;butnoonemolestedhim，andtherewasnodifficultyabouthissoupandbreadwhenhisturnattheendofthequeuecame。Hehadfearedtheremightbenorationforhim，andifsohedidnotknowwhathewouldhavedone。
Afterwardsheventuredoutuponthelittlehanginggallerywiththesolitarysentinel。Theweatherwasstillfine，butthewindwasrisingandtherollingswingoftheairshipincreasing。Heclutchedtherailtightlyandfeltrathergiddy。Theywerenowoutofsightofland，andoverbluewaterrisingandfallingingreatmasses。AdingyoldbrigantineundertheBritishflagroseandplungedamidthebroadbluewaves——theonlyshipinsight。
3
Intheeveningitbegantoblowandtheair—shiptorolllikeaporpoiseasitswungthroughtheair。Kurtsaidthatseveralofthemenweresea—sick，butthemotiondidnotinconvenienceBert，whoseluckitwastobeofthatmysteriousgastricdispositionwhichconstitutesagoodsailor。Hesleptwell，butinthesmallhoursthelightawokehim，andhefoundKurtstaggeringaboutinsearchofsomething。Hefounditatlastinthelocker，andhelditinhishandunsteadily——acompass。Thenhecomparedhismap。
\"We’vechangedourdirection，\"hesaid，\"andcomeintothewind。
Ican’tmakeitout。We’veturnedawayfromNewYorktothesouth。Almostasifweweregoingtotakeahand——\"
Hecontinuedtalkingtohimselfforsometime。
Daycame，wetandwindy。Thewindowwasbedewedexternally，andtheycouldseenothingthroughit。Itwasalsoverycold，andBertdecidedtokeeprolledupinhisblanketsonthelockeruntilthebuglesummonedhimtohismorningration。Thatconsumed，hewentoutonthelittlegallery;buthecouldseenothingbuteddyingcloudsdrivingheadlongby，andthedimoutlinesofthenearerairships。Onlyatrareintervalscouldhegetaglimpseofgreyseathroughthepouringcloud—drift。
LaterinthemorningtheVaterlandchangedaltitude，andsoaredupsuddenlyinahigh，clearsky，going，Kurtsaid，toaheightofnearlythirteenthousandfeet。
Bertwasinhiscabin，andchancedtoseethedewvanishfromthewindowandcaughtthegleamofsunlightoutside。Helookedout，andsawoncemorethatsunlitcloudfloorhehadseenfirstfromtheballoon，andtheshipsoftheGermanair—fleetrisingonebyonefromthewhite，asfishmightriseanbecomevisiblefromdeepwater。Hestaredforamomentandthenranouttothelittlegallerytoseethiswonderbetter。Belowwascloudlandandstorm，agreatdriftoftumbledweathergoinghardawaytothenorth—east，andtheairabouthimwasclearandcoldandserenesaveforthefaintestchillbreezeandarare，driftingsnow—flake。Throb，throb，throb，throb，wenttheenginesinthestillness。Thathugeherdofairshipsrisingoneafteranotherhadaneffectofstrange，portentousmonstersbreakingintoanaltogetherunfamiliarworld。
Eithertherewasnonewsofthenavalbattlethatmorning，orthePrincekepttohimselfwhatevercameuntilpastmidday。Thenthebulletinscamewitharush，bulletinsthatmadethelieutenantwildwithexcitement。
\"Barbarossadisabledandsinking，\"hecried。\"GottimHimmel！
DeralteBarbarossa！Aberwelcheinbraverkrieger！\"
Hewalkedabouttheswingingcabin，andforatimehewaswhollyGerman。
ThenhebecameEnglishagain。\"Thinkofit，Smallways！Theoldshipwekeptsocleanandtidy！Allsmashedabout，andtheironflyingaboutinfragments，andthechapsoneknew——Gott！——flyingabouttoo！Scaldingwatersquirting，fire，andthesmash，smashoftheguns！Theysmashwhenyou’renear！Likeeverythingburstingtopieces！Woolwon’tstopit——nothing！Andmeuphere——sonearandsofar！DeralteBarbarossa！\"
\"Anyotherships？\"askedSmallways，presently。
\"Gott！Yes！We’velosttheKarlderGrosse，ourbestandbiggest。RundowninthenightbyaBritishlinerthatblunderedintothefightingintryingtoblunderout。They’refightinginagale。Theliner’safloatwithhernosebroken，saggingabout！
Thereneverwassuchabattle！——neverbefore！Goodshipsandgoodmenonbothsides，——andastormandthenightandthedawnandallintheopenoceanfullsteamahead！Nostabbing！Nosubmarines！Gunsandshooting！Halfourshipswedon’thearofanymore，becausetheirmastsareshotaway。Latitude，30
degrees40minutesN。——longitude，40degrees30minutesW。—
—where’sthat？\"
Heroutedouthismapagain，andstaredatitwitheyesthatdidnotsee。
\"DeralteBarbarossa！Ican’tgetitoutofmyhead——withshellsinherengine—room，andthefiresflyingoutofherfurnaces，andthestokersandengineersscaldedanddead。MenI’vemessedwith，Smallways——menI’vetalkedtoclose！Andthey’vehadtheirdayatlast！Anditwasn’tallluckforthem。！
\"Disabledandsinking！Isupposeeverybodycan’thavealltheluckinabattle。PooroldSchneider！Ibethegave’emsomethingback！\"
Soitwasthenewsofthebattlecamefilteringthroughtothemallthatmorning。TheAmericanshadlostasecondship，nameunknown;theHermannhadbeendamagedincoveringtheBarbarossa……Kurtfrettedlikeanimprisonedanimalabouttheairship，nowgoinguptotheforwardgalleryundertheeagle，nowdownintotheswinginggallery，nowporingoverhismaps。HeinfectedSmallwayswithasenseoftheimmediacyofthisbattlethatwasgoingonjustoverthecurveoftheearth。ButwhenBertwentdowntothegallerytheworldwasemptyandstill，aclearinky—blueskyaboveandarippledveilofstill，thinsunlitcirrusbelow，throughwhichonesawaracingdriftofrain—cloud，andneveraglimpseofsea。Throb，throb，throb，throb，wenttheengines，andthelong，undulatingwedgeofairshipshurriedaftertheflagshiplikeaflightofswansaftertheirleader。Saveforthequiveroftheenginesitwasasnoiselessasadream。Anddownthere，somewhereinthewindandrain，gunsroared，shellscrashedhome，and，aftertheoldmannerofwarfare，mentoiledanddied。
4
Astheafternoonworeonthelowerweatherabated，andtheseabecameintermittentlyvisibleagain。Theair—fleetdroppedslowlytothemiddleair，andtowardssunsettheyhadaglimpseofthedisabledBarbarossafarawaytotheeast。Smallwaysheardmenhurryingalongthepassage，andwasdrawnouttothegallery，wherehefoundnearlyadozenofficerscollectedandscrutinisingthehelplessruinsofthebattleshipthroughfield—glasses。Twoothervesselsstoodbyher，oneanexhaustedpetroltank，veryhighoutofthewater，andtheotheraconvertedliner。Kurtwasattheendofthegallery，alittleapartfromtheothers。
\"Gott！\"hesaidatlast，loweringhisbinocular，\"itislikeseeinganoldfriendwithhisnosecutoff——waitingtobefinished。DerBarbarossa！\"
WithasuddenimpulsehehandedhisglasstoBert，whohadpeeredbeneathhishands，ignoredbyeveryone，seeingthethreeshipsmerelyasthreebrown—blacklinesuponthesea。
NeverhadBertseenthelikeofthatmagnifiedslightlyhazyimagebefore。Itwasnotsimplyabatteredironcladthatwallowedhelpless，itwasamangledironclad。Itseemedwonderfulshestillfloated。Herpowerfulengineshadbeenherruin。Inthelongchaseofthenightshehadgotoutoflinewithherconsorts，andnippedinbetweentheSusquehannaandtheKansasCity。Theydiscoveredherproximity，droppedbackuntilshewasnearlybroadsideontotheformerbattleship，andsignalleduptheTheodoreRooseveltandthelittleMonitor。Asdawnbrokeshehadfoundherselfhostessofacircle。ThefighthadnotlastedfiveminutesbeforetheappearanceoftheHermanntotheeast，andimmediatelyafteroftheFurstBismarckinthewest，forcedtheAmericanstoleaveher，butinthattimetheyhadsmashedherirontorags。Theyhadventedtheaccumulatedtensionsoftheirhardday’sretreatuponher。AsBertsawher，sheseemedameremetal—worker’sfantasyoffrozenmetalwrithings。Hecouldnottellpartfrompartofher，exceptbyitsposition。
\"Gott！\"murmuredKurt，takingtheglassesBertrestoredtohim——
\"Gott！DawarenAlbrecht——derguteAlbrechtundderalteZim—
mermann——undvonRosen！\"
LongaftertheBarbarosahadbeenswallowedupinthetwilightanddistanceheremainedonthegallerypeeringthroughhisglasses，andwhenhecamebacktohiscabinhewasunusuallysilentandthoughtful。
\"Thisisaroughgame，Smallways，\"hesaidatlast——\"thiswarisaroughgame。Somehowoneseesitdifferentafterathinglikethat。ManymentherewereworkedtomakethatBarbarossa，andthereweremeninit——onedoesnotmeetthelikeofthemeveryday。Albrecht——therewasamannamedAlbrecht——playedthezitherandimprovised;Ikeeponwonderingwhathashappenedtohim。HeandI——wewereveryclosefriends，aftertheGermanfashion。\"
Smallwayswoke——thenextnighttodiscoverthecabinindarkness，adraughtblowingthroughit，andKurttalkingtohimselfinGerman。Hecouldseehimdimlybythewindow，whichhehadunscrewedandopened，peeringdown。Thatcold，clear，attenuatedlightwhichisnotsomuchlightasagoingofdarkness，whichcastsinkyshadowsandsooftenheraldsthedawninthehighair，wasonhisface。
