\"What’stherow？\"saidBert。
\"Shutup！\"saidthelieutenant。\"Can’tyouhear？\"
Intothestillnesscametherepeatedheavythudofguns，one，two，apause，thenthreeinquicksuccession。
\"Gaw！\"saidBert——\"guns！\"andwasinstantlyatthelieutenant’sside。Theairshipwasstillveryhighandtheseabelowwasmaskedbyathinveilofclouds。Thewindhadfallen，andBert，followingKurt’spointingfinger，sawdimlythroughthecolourlessveilfirstaredglow，thenaquickredflash，andthenatalittledistancefromitanother。Theywere，itseemedforawhile，silentflashes，andsecondsafter，whenonehadceasedtoexpectthem，camethebelatedthuds——thud，thud。KurtspokeinGerman，veryquickly。
Abuglecallrangthroughtheairship。
Kurtsprangtohisfeet，sayingsomethinginanexcitedtone，stillusingGerman，andwenttothedoor。
\"Isay！What’sup？\"criedBert。\"What’sthat？\"
Thelieutenantstoppedforaninstantinthedoorway，darkagainstthelightpassage。\"Youstaywhereyouare，Smallways。
Youkeepthereanddonothing。We’regoingintoaction，\"heexplained，andvanished。
Bert’sheartbegantobeatrapidly。Hefelthimselfpoisedoverthefightingvesselsfarbelow。Inamoment，weretheytodroplikeahawkstrikingabird？\"Gaw！\"hewhisperedatlast，inawestrickentones。
Thud！……thud！Hediscoveredfarawayasecondruddyflareflashinggunsbackatthefirst。HeperceivedsomedifferenceontheVaterlandforwhichhecouldnotaccount，andthenherealisedthattheengineshadslowedtoanalmostinaudiblebeat。
Hestuckhisheadoutofthewindow——itwasatightfit——andsawinthebleakairtheotherairshipssloweddowntoascarcelyperceptiblemotion。
Asecondbuglesounded，wastakenupfaintlyfromshiptoship。
Outwentthelights;thefleetbecamedim，darkbulksagainstanintenseblueskythatstillretainedanoccasionalstar。Foralongtimetheyhung，foraninterminabletimeitseemedtohim，andthenbeganthesoundofairbeingpumpedintotheballoonette，andslowly，slowlytheVaterlandsankdowntowardstheclouds。
Hecranedhisneck，buthecouldnotseeiftherestofthefleetwasfollowingthem;theoverhangofthegas—chambersintervened。
Therewassomethingthatstirredhisimaginationdeeplyinthatstealthy，noiselessdescent。Theobscuritydeepenedforatime，thelastfadingstaronthehorizonvanished，andhefeltthecoldpresenceofcloud。Thensuddenlytheglowbeneathassumeddistinctoutlines，becameflames，andtheVaterlandceasedtodescendandhungobservant，anditwouldseemunobserved，justbeneathadriftingstratumofcloud，athousandfeet，perhaps，overthebattlebelow。
Inthenightthestrugglingnavalbattleandretreathadentereduponanewphase。TheAmericanshaddrawntogethertheendsoftheflyinglineskilfullyanddexterously，untilatlastitwasacolumnandwelltothesouthofthelaxsweepingpursuitoftheGermans。TheninthedarknessbeforethedawntheyhadcomeaboutandsteamednorthwardincloseorderwiththeideaofpassingthroughtheGermanbattle—lineandfallingupontheflotillathatwasmakingforNewYorkinsupportoftheGermanair—fleet。Muchhadalteredsincethefirstcontactofthefleets。BythistimetheAmericanadmiral，O’Connor，wasfullyinformedoftheexistenceoftheairships，andhewasnolongervitallyconcernedforPanama，sincethesubmarineflotillawasreportedarrivedtherefromKeyWest，andtheDelawareandAbrahamLincoln，twopowerfulandentirelymodernships，werealreadyatRioGrande，onthePacificsideofthecanal。Hismanoeuvrewas，however，delayedbyaboilerexplosiononboardtheSusquehanna，anddawnfoundthisshipinsightofandindeedsoclosetotheBremenandWeimarthattheyinstantlyengaged。
Therewasnoalternativetoherabandonmentbutafleetengagement。O’Connorchosethelattercourse。Itwasbynomeansahopelessfight。TheGermans，thoughmuchmorenumerousandpowerfulthantheAmericans，wereinadispersedlinemeasuringnearlyforty—fivemilesfromendtoend，andthereweremanychancesthatbeforetheycouldgatherinforthefightthecolumnofsevenAmericanswouldhaverippedthemfromendtoend。
Thedaybrokedimandovercast，andneithertheBremennortheWeimarrealisedtheyhadtodealwithmorethantheSusquehannauntilthewholecolumndrewoutfrombehindheratadistanceofamile。orlessandboredownonthem。ThiswasthepositionofaffairswhentheVaterlandappearedinthesky。TheredglowBerthadseenthroughthecolumnofcloudscamefromthelucklessSusquehanna;shelayalmostimmediatelybelow，burningforeandaft，butstillfightingtwoofhergunsandsteamingslowlysouthward。TheBremenandtheWeimar，bothhitinseveralplaces，weregoingwestbysouthandawayfromher。TheAmericanfleet，headedbytheTheodoreRoosevelt，wascrossingbehindthem，poundingtheminsuccession，steaminginbetweenthemandthebigmodernFurstBismarck，whichwascomingupfromthewest。
ToBert，however，thenamesofalltheseshipswereunknown，andforaconsiderabletimeindeed，misledbythedirectioninwhichthecombatantsweremoving，heimaginedtheGermanstobeAmericansandtheAmericansGermans。Hesawwhatappearedtohimtobeacolumnofsixbattleshipspursuingthreeotherswhoweresupportedbyanewcomer，untilthefactthattheBremenandWeimarwerefiringintotheSusquehannaupsethiscalculations。
Thenforatimehewashopelesslyataloss。Thenoiseoftheguns，too，confusedhim，theynolongerseemedtoboom;theywentwhack，whack，whack，whack，andeachfaintflashmadehisheartjumpinanticipationoftheinstantimpact。Hesawtheseironclads，too，notinprofile，ashewasaccustomedtoseeironcladsinpictures，butinplanandcuriouslyforeshortened。
Forthemostparttheypresentedemptydecks，buthereandtherelittleknotsofmenshelteredbehindsteelbulwarks。Thelong，agitatednosesoftheir，bigguns，jettingthintransparentflashesandthebroadsideactivityofthequick—firers，werethechieffactsinthisbird’s—eyeview。TheAmericansbeingsteam—turbineships，hadfromtwotofourblastfunnelseach;theGermanslaylowerinthewater，havingexplosiveengines，whichnowforsomereasonmadeanunwontedmuteringroar。Becauseoftheirsteampropulsion，theAmericanshipswerelargerandwithamoregracefuloutline。Hesawalltheseforeshortenedshipsrollingconsiderablyandfightingtheirgunsoveraseaofhugelowwavesandunderthecold，explicitlightofdawn。Thewholespectaclewavedslowlywiththelongrhythmicrisingandbeatoftheairship。
AtfirstonlytheVaterlandofalltheflyingfleetappeareduponthescenebelow。Shehoveredhigh，overtheTheodoreRoosevelt，keepingpacewiththefullspeedofthatship。Fromthatshipshemusthavebeenintermittentlyvisiblethroughthedriftingclouds。TherestoftheGermanfleetremainedabovethecloudcanopyataheightofsixorseventhousandfeet，communicatingwiththeflagshipbywirelesstelegraphy，butriskingnoexposuretotheartillerybelow。
ItisdoubtfulatwhatparticulartimetheunluckyAmericansrealisedthepresenceofthisnewfactorinthefight。Noaccountnowsurvivesoftheirexperience。Wehavetoimagineaswellaswecanwhatitmusthavebeentoabattled—strainedsailorsuddenlyglancingupwardtodiscoverthathugelongsilentshapeoverhead，vasterthananybattleship，andtrailingnowfromitshinderquarterabigGermanflag。Presently，astheskycleared，moreofsuchshipsappearedinthebluethroughthedissolvingclouds，andmore，alldisdainfullyfreeofgunsorarmour，allflyingfasttokeeppacewiththerunningfightbelow。
FromfirsttolastnogunwhateverwasfiredattheVaterland，andonlyafewrifleshots。Itwasamereadversestrokeofchancethatshehadamankilledaboardher。Nordidshetakeanydirectshareinthefightuntiltheend。SheflewabovethedoomedAmericanfleetwhilethePrincebywirelesstelegraphydirectedthemovementsofherconsorts。MeanwhiletheVogel—sternandPreussen，eachwithhalfadozendrachenfliegerintow，wentfullspeedaheadandthendroppedthroughtheclouds，perhapsfivemilesaheadoftheAmericans。TheTheodoreRooseveltletflyatoncewiththebiggunsinherforwardbarbette，buttheshellsburstfarbelowtheVogel—stern，andforthwithadozensingle—mandrachenfliegerwereswoopingdowntomaketheirattack。
Bert，craninghisneckthroughthecabinport—hole，saw，thewholeofthatincident，thatfirstencounterofaeroplaneandironclad。
HesawthequeerGermandrachenflieger，withtheirwideflatwingsandsquarebox—shapedheads，theirwheeledbodies，andtheirsingle—manriders，soardowntheairlikeaflightofbirds。\"Gaw！\"hesaid。Onetotherightpitchedextravagantly，shotsteeplyupintotheair，burstwithaloudreport，andflameddownintothesea;anotherplungednoseforwardintothewaterandseemedtoflytopiecesasithitthewaves。HesawlittlemenonthedeckoftheTheodoreRooseveltbelow，menforeshortenedinplanintomereheadsandfeet，runningoutpreparingtoshootattheothers。Thentheforemostflying—machinewasrushingbetweenBertandtheAmerican’sdeck，andthenbang！camethethunderofitsbombflungneatlyattheforwardbarbette，andathinlittlecracklingofrifleshotsinreply。Whack，whack，whack，wentthequick—firinggunsoftheAmericans’battery，andsmashcameanansweringshellfromtheFurstBismarck。Thenasecondandthirdflying—machinepassedbetweenBertandtheAmericanironclad，droppingbombsalso，andafourth，itsriderhitbyabullet，reeleddownanddasheditselftopiecesandexplodedbetweentheshot—tornfunnels，blowingthemapart。Berthadamomentaryglimpseofalittleblackcreaturejumpingfromthecrumplingframeoftheflying—
machine，hittingthefunnel，andfallinglimply，tobeinstantlycaughtanddriventonothingnessbytheblazeandrushoftheexplosion。
Smash！cameavastexplosionintheforwardpartoftheflagship，andahugepieceofmetalworkseemedtoliftoutofheranddumpitselfintothesea，droppingmenandleavingagapintowhichapromptdrachenfliegerplantedaflaringbomb。AndthenforaninstantBertperceivedonlytooclearlyinthegrowing，pitilesslightanumberofminute，convulsivelyactiveanimalculascorchedandstrugglingintheTheodoreRoosevelt’sfoamingwake。Whatwerethey？Notmen——surelynotmen？Thosedrowning，mangledlittlecreaturestorewiththeirclutchingfingersatBert’ssoul。\"Oh，Gord！\"hecried，\"Oh，Gord！\"almostwhimpering。Helookedagainandtheyhadgone，andtheblackstemoftheAndrewJackson，alittledisfiguredbythesinkingBremen’slastshot，waspartingthewaterthathadswallowedthemintotwoneatlysymmetricalwaves。ForsomemomentssheerblankhorrorblindedBerttothedestructionbelow。
Then，withanimmenserushingsound，bearingasitwereastragglingvolleyofcrashingminorexplosionsonitsback，theSusquehanna，threemilesandmorenowtotheeast，blewupandvanishedabruptlyinaboiling，steamingwelter。Foramomentnothingwastobeseenbuttumbledwater，and——thentherecamebelchingupfrombelow，withimmensegulpingnoises，eructationsofsteamandairandpetrolandfragmentsofcanvasandwoodworkandmen。
Thatmadeadistinctpauseinthefight。ItseemedalongpausetoBert。Hefoundhimselflookingforthedrachenflieger。TheflattenedruinofonewasfloatingabeamoftheMonitor，theresthadpassed，droppingbombsdowntheAmericancolumn;severalwereinthewaterandapparentlyuninjured，andthreeorfourwerestillintheairandcomingroundnowinawidecircletoreturntotheirmotherairships。TheAmericanironcladswerenolongerincolumnformation;theTheodoreRoosevelt，badlydamaged，hadturnedtothesoutheast，andtheAndrewJackson，greatlybatteredbutuninjuredinanyfightingpartwaspassingbetweenherandthestillfreshandvigorousFurstBismarcktointerceptandmeetthelatter’sfire。AwaytothewesttheHermannandtheGermanicushadappearedandwerecomingintoaction。
Inthepause，aftertheSusquehanna’sdisasterBertbecameawareofatrivialsoundlikethenoiseofanill—greased，ill—hungdoorthatfallsajar——thesoundofthemenintheFurstBismarckcheering。
Andinthatpauseintheuproartoo，thesunrose，thedarkwatersbecameluminouslyblue，andatorrentofgoldenlightirradiatedtheworld。Itcamelikeasuddensmileinasceneofhateandterror。Thecloudveilhadvanishedasifbymagic，andthewholeimmensityoftheGermanair—fleetwasrevealedinthesky;theair—fleetstoopingnowuponitsprey。
\"Whack—bang，whack—bang，\"thegunsresumed，butironcladswerenotbuilttofightthezenith，andtheonlyhitstheAmericansscoredwereafewluckychancesinagenerallyineffectualriflefire。Theircolumnwasnowbadlybroken，theSusquehannahadgone，theTheodoreRoosevelthadfallenasternoutoftheline，withherforwardgunsdisabled，inaheapofwreckage，andtheMonitorwasinsomegravetrouble。Thesetwohadceasedfirealtogether，andsohadtheBremenandWeimar，allfourshipslyingwithinshotofeachotherinaninvoluntarytruceandwiththeirrespectiveflagsstilldisplayed。OnlyfourAmericanshipsnow，withtheAndrewJacksonreadingskepttothesouth—easterlycourse。AndtheFurstBismarck，theHermann，andtheGermanicussteamedparalleltothemanddrewaheadofthem，fightingheavily。TheVaterlandroseslowlyintheairinpreparationfortheconcludingactofthedrama。
Then，fallingintoplaceonebehindtheother，astringofadozenairshipsdroppedwithunhurryingswiftnessdowntheairinpursuitoftheAmericanfleet。Theykeptataheightoftwothousandfeetormoreuntiltheywereoverandalittleinadvanceoftherearmostironclad，andthenstoopedswiftlydownintoafountainofbullets，andgoingjustalittlefasterthantheshipbelow，peltedherthinlyprotecteddeckswithbombsuntiltheybecamesheetsofdetonatingflame。SotheairshipspassedoneaftertheotheralongtheAmericancolumnasitsoughttokeepupitsfightwiththeFurstBismarck，theHermann，andtheGermanicus，andeachairshipaddedtothedestructionandconfusionitspredecessorhadmade。TheAmericangunfireceased，exceptforafewheroicshots，buttheystillsteamedon，obstinatelyunsubdued，bloody，battered，andwrathfullyresistant，spittingbulletsattheairshipsandunmercifullypoundedbytheGermanironclads。ButnowBerthadbutintermittentglimpsesofthembetweenthenearerbulksoftheairshipsthatassailedthem……
ItstruckBertsuddenlythatthewholebattlewasrecedingandgrowingsmallandlessthunderouslynoisy。TheVaterlandwasrisingintheair，steadilyandsilently，untiltheimpactofthegunsnolongersmoteupontheheartbutcametotheeardulledbydistance，untilthefoursilencedshipstotheeastwardwerelittledistantthings:butweretherefour？Bertnowcouldseeonlythreeofthosefloating，blackened，andsmokingraftsofruinagainstthesun。ButtheBremenhadtwoboatsout;theTheodoreRooseveltwasalsodroppingboatstowherethedriftofminuteobjectsstruggled，risingandfallingonthebig，broadAtlanticwaves……TheVaterlandwasnolongerfollowingthefight。Thewholeofthathurryingtumultdroveawaytothesouth—eastward，growingsmallerandlessaudibleasitpassed。
Oneoftheairshipslayonthewaterburning，aremotemonstrousfountofflames，andfarinthesouth—westappearedfirstoneandthenthreeotherGermanironcladshurryinginsupportoftheirconsorts……
5
SteadilytheVaterlandsoared，andtheair—fleetsoaredwithherandcameroundtoheadforNewYork，andthebattlebecamealittlethingfaraway，anincidentbeforethebreakfast。Itdwindledtoastringofdarkshapesandonesmokingyellowflarethatpresentlybecameamereindistinctsmearuponthevasthorizonandthebrightnewday，thatwasatlastaltogetherlosttosight……
SoitwasthatBertSmallwayssawthefirstfightoftheairshipandthelastfightofthosestrangestthingsinthewholehistoryofwar:theironcladbattleships，whichbegantheircareerwiththefloatingbatteriesoftheEmperorNapoleonIIIintheCrimeanwarandlasted，withanenormousexpenditureofhumanenergyandresources，forseventyyears。Inthatspaceoftimetheworldproducedovertwelvethousandfivehundredofthesestrangemonsters，inschools，intypes，inseries，eachlargerandheavierandmoredeadlythanitspredecessors。Eachinitsturnwashailedasthelastbirthoftime，mostintheirturnweresoldforoldiron。Onlyaboutfivepercentofthemeverfoughtinabattle。Somefoundered，somewentashore，andbrokeup，severalrammedoneanotherbyaccidentandsank。Thelivesofcountlessmenwerespentintheirservice，thesplendidgenius，andpatienceofthousandsofengineersandinventors，wealthandmaterialbeyondestimating;totheiraccountwemustput，stuntedandstarvedlivesonland，millionsofchildrensenttotoilunduly，innumerableopportunitiesoffinelivingundevelopedandlost。Moneyhadtobefoundforthematanycost——thatwasthelawofanation’sexistenceduringthatstrangetime。Surelytheyweretheweirdest，mostdestructiveandwastefulmegatheriainthewholehistoryofmechanicalinvention。
Andthencheapthingsofgasandbasket—workmadeanendofthemaltogether，smitingoutofthesky！……
NeverbeforehadBertSmallwaysseenpuredestruction，neverhadherealisedthemischiefandwasteofwar。Hisstartledmindrosetotheconception;thisalsoisinlife。Outofallthisfiercetorrentofsensationoneimpressionroseandbecamecardinal——theimpressionofthemenoftheTheodoreRooseveltwhohadstruggledinthewateraftertheexplosionofthefirstbomb。
\"Gaw！\"hesaidatthememory;\"itmight’avebeenmeandGrubb！……Isupposeyoukickaboutandgetthewaterinyourmouf。I
don’tsupposeitlastslong。\"
HebecameanxioustoseehowKurtwasaffectedbythesethings。
Alsoheperceivedhewashungry。Hehesitatedtowardsthedoorofthecabinandpeepedoutintothepassage。Downforward，nearthegangwaytothemen’smess，stoodalittlegroupofairsailorslookingatsomethingthatwashiddenfromhiminarecess。Oneofthemwasinthelightdiver’scostumeBerthadalreadyseeninthegaschamberturret，andhewasmovedtowalkalongandlookatthispersonmorecloselyandexaminethehelmethecarriedunderhisarm。Butheforgotaboutthehelmetwhenhegottotherecess，becausetherehefoundlyingonthefloorthedeadbodyoftheboywhohadbeenkilledbyabulletfromtheTheodoreRoosevelt。
BerthadnotobservedthatanybulletsatallhadreachedtheVaterlandor，indeed，imaginedhimselfunderfire。Hecouldnotunderstandforatimewhathadkilledthelad，andnooneexplainedtohim。
Theboylayjustashehadfallenanddied，withhisjackettornandscorched，hisshoulder—bladesmashedandburstawayfromhisbodyandalltheleftsideofhisbodyrippedandrent。Therewasmuchblood。Thesailorsstoodlisteningtothemanwiththehelmet，whomadeexplanationsandpointedtotheroundbulletholeinthefloorandthesmashinthepanelofthepassageuponwhichthestillviciousmissilehadspenttheresidueofitsenergy。Allthefacesweregraveandearnest:theywerethefacesofsober，blond，blue—eyedmenaccustomedtoobedienceandanorderlylife，towhomthiswaste，wet，painfulthingthathadbeenacomradecamealmostasstrangelyasitdidtoBert。
Apealofwildlaughtersoundeddownthepassageinthedirectionofthelittlegalleryandsomethingspoke——almostshouted——inGerman，intonesofexultation。
Othervoicesatalower，morerespectfulpitchreplied。
\"DerPrinz，\"saidavoice，andallthemenbecamestifferandlessnatural。Downthepassageappearedagroupoffigures，LieutenantKurtwalkinginfrontcarryingapacketofpapers。
Hestoppedpointblankwhenhesawthethingintherecess，andhisruddyfacewentwhite。
\"So！\"saidheinsurprise。
ThePrincewasfollowinghim，talkingoverhisshouldertoVonWinterfeldandtheKapitan。
\"Eh？\"hesaidtoKurt，stoppinginmid—sentence，andfollowedthegestureofKurt’shand。Heglaredatthecrumpledobjectintherecessandseemedtothinkforamoment。
Hemadeaslight，carelessgesturetowardstheboy’sbodyandturnedtotheKapitan。
\"Disposeofthat，\"hesaidinGerman，andpassedon，finishinghissentencetoVonWinterfeldinthesamecheerfultoneinwhichithadbegun。
6
ThedeepimpressionofhelplesslydrowningmenthatBerthadbroughtfromtheactualfightintheAtlanticmixeditselfupinextricablywiththatofthelordlyfigureofPrinceKarlAlbertgesturingasidethedeadbodyoftheVaterlandsailor。Hithertohehadratherlikedtheideaofwarasbeingajolly，smashing，excitingaffair，somethinglikeaBankHolidayragonalargescale，andonthewholeagreeableandexhilarating。Nowheknewitalittlebetter。
Thenextdaytherewasaddedtohisgrowingdisillusionmentathirduglyimpression，trivialindeedtodescribe，amerenecessaryeverydayincidentofastateofwar，butverydistressingtohisurbanisedimagination。Onewrites\"urbanised\"
toexpressthedistinctivegentlenessoftheperiod。Itwasquitepeculiartothecrowdedtownsmenofthattime，anddifferentaltogetherfromthenormalexperienceofanyprecedingage，thattheyneversawanythingkilled，neverencountered，savethroughthemitigatingmediaofbookorpicture，thefactoflethalviolencethatunderliesalllife。Threetimesinhisexistence，andthreetimesonly，hadBertseenadeadhumanbeing，andhehadneverassistedatthekillingofanythingbiggerthananew—bornkitten。
TheincidentthatgavehimhisthirdshockwastheexecutionofoneofthemenontheAdlerforcarryingaboxofmatches。Thecasewasaflagrantone。Themanhadforgottenhehadituponhimwhencomingaboard。Amplenoticehadbeengiventoeveryoneofthegravityofthisoffence，andnoticesappearedatnumerouspointsallovertheairships。Theman’sdefencewasthathehadgrownsousedtothenoticesandhadbeensopreoccupiedwithhisworkthathehadn’tappliedthemtohimself;hepleaded，inhisdefence，whatisindeedinmilitaryaffairsanotherseriouscrime，inadvertency。Hewastriedbyhiscaptain，andthesentenceconfirmedbywirelesstelegraphybythePrince，anditwasdecidedtomakehisdeathanexampletothewholefleet。
\"TheGermans，\"thePrincedeclared，\"hadn’tcrossedtheAtlantictogowoolgathering。\"Andinorderthatthislessonindisciplineandobediencemightbevisibletoeveryone，itwasdeterminednottoelectrocuteordrownbuthangtheoffender。
Accordinglytheair—fleetcameclusteringroundtheflagshiplikecarpinapondatfeedingtime。TheAdlerhungatthezenithimmediatelyalongsidetheflagship。ThewholecrewoftheVaterlandassembleduponthehanginggallery;thecrewsoftheotherairshipsmannedtheair—chambers，thatistosay，clambereduptheouternettingtotheuppersides。Theofficersappeareduponthemachine—gunplatforms。Bertthoughtitanaltogetherstupendoussight，lookingdown，ashewas，upontheentirefleet。
Faroffbelowtwosteamersontherippledbluewater，oneBritishandtheotherflyingtheAmericanflag，seemedtheminutestobjects，andmarkedthescale。Theywereimmenselydistant。
Bertstoodonthegallery，curioustoseetheexecution，butuncomfortable，becausethatterribleblondPrincewaswithinadozenfeetofhim，glaringterribly，withhisarmsfolded，andhisheelstogetherinmilitaryfashion。
TheyhungthemanfromtheAdler。Theygavehimsixtyfeetofrope，so，thatheshouldhanganddangleinthesightofallevil—doerswhomightbehidingmatchesorcontemplatinganykindreddisobedience。Bertsawthemanstanding，aliving，reluctantman，nodoubtscaredandrebelliousenoughinhisheart，butoutwardlyerectandobedient，onthelowergalleryoftheAdleraboutahundredyardsaway。Thentheyhadthrusthimoverboard。
Downhefell，handsandfeetextending，untilwithajerkhewasattheendoftherope。Thenheoughttohavediedandswungedifyingly，butinsteadamoreterriblethinghappened;hisheadcamerightoff，anddownthebodywentspinningtothesea，feeble，grotesque，fantastic，withtheheadracingitinitsfall。
\"Ugh！\"saidBert，clutchingtherailbeforehim，andasympatheticgruntcamefromseveralofthemenbesidehim。
\"So！\"saidthePrince，stifferandsterner，glaredforsomeseconds，thenturnedtothegangwayupintotheairship。
ForalongtimeBertremainedclingingtotherailingofthegallery。Hewasalmostphysicallysickwiththehorrorofthistriflingincident。Hefounditfarmoredreadfulthanthebattle。Hewasindeedaverydegenerate，latter—day，civilisedperson。
LatethatafternoonKurtcameintothecabinandfoundhimcurleduponhislocker，andlookingverywhiteandmiserable。Kurthadalsolostsomethingofhispristinefreshness。
\"Sea—sick？\"heasked。
\"No！\"
\"WeoughttoreachNewYorkthisevening。There’sagoodbreezecomingupunderourtails。Thenweshallseethings。\"
Bertdidnotanswer。
Kurtopenedoutfoldingchairandtable，andrustledforatimewithhismaps。Thenhefellthinkingdarkly。Herousedhimselfpresently，andlookedathiscompanion。\"What’sthematter？\"hesaid。
\"Nothing！\"
Kurtstaredthreateningly。\"What’sthematter？\"
\"Isawthemkillthatchap。Isawthatflying—machinemanhitthefunnelsofthebigironclad。Isawthatdeadchapinthepassage。Iseentoomuchsmashingandkillinglately。That’sthematter。Idon’tlikeit。Ididn’tknowwarwasthissortofthing。I’macivilian。Idon’tlikeit\"
_I_don’tlikeit，\"saidKurt。\"ByJove，no！\"
\"I’vereadaboutwar，andallthat，butwhenyouseeitit’sdifferent。AndI’mgettin’giddy。I’mgettin’giddy。Ididn’tmindabitbeingupinthatballoonatfirst，butallthislookingdownandfloatingoverthingsandsmashinguppeople，it’sgettingonmynerves。See？\"
\"It’llhavetogetoffagain……\"
Kurtthought。\"You’renottheonlyone。Themenareallgettingstrungup。Theflying——that’sjustflying。Naturallyitmakesonealittleswimmyintheheadatfirst。Asforthekilling，we’vegottobeblooded;that’sall。We’retame，civilisedmen。Andwe’vegottogetblooded。Isupposethere’snotadozenmenontheshipwho’vereallyseenbloodshed。Nice，quiet，law—abidingGermansthey’vebeensofar……Heretheyare——inforit。
They’reabitsqueamynow，butyouwaittillthey’vegottheirhandsin。\"
Hereflected。\"Everybody’sgettingabitstrungup，\"hesaid。
Heturnedagaintohismaps。Bertsatcrumpledupinthecorner，apparentlyheedlessofhim。Forsometimebothkeptsilence。
\"WhatdidthePrincewanttogoand’angthatchapfor？\"askedBert，suddenly。
\"Thatwasallright，\"saidKurt，\"thatwasallright。QUITE
right。Hereweretheorders，plainasthenoseonyourface，andherewasthatfoolgoingaboutwithmatches——\"
\"Gaw！Ishan’tforgetthatbitina’urry，\"saidBertirrelevantly。
Kurtdidnotanswerhim。HewasmeasuringtheirdistancefromNewYorkandspeculating。\"WonderwhattheAmericanaeroplanesarelike？\"hesaid。\"Somethinglikeourdrachenflieger……Weshallknowbythistimeto—morrow……Iwonderwhatweshallknow？Iwonder。Suppose，afterall，theyputupafight……
Rumsortoffight！\"
Hewhistledsoftlyandmused。Presentlyhefrettedoutofthecabin，andlaterBertfoundhiminthetwilightupontheswingingplatform，staringahead，andspeculatingaboutthethingsthatmighthappenonthemorrow。Cloudsveiledtheseaagain，andthelongstragglingwedgeofair—shipsrisingandfallingastheyflewseemedlikeaflockofstrangenewbirthsinaChaosthathadneitherearthnorwaterbutonlymistandsky。
CHAPTERVI
HOWWARCAMETONEWYORK
1
TheCityofNewYorkwasintheyearoftheGermanattackthelargest，richest，inmanyrespectsthemostsplendid，andinsome，thewickedestcitytheworldhadeverseen。ShewasthesupremetypeoftheCityoftheScientificCommercialAge;shedisplayeditsgreatness，itspower，itsruthlessanarchicenterprise，anditssocialdisorganisationmoststrikinglyandcompletely。ShehadlongoustedLondonfromherprideofplaceasthemodernBabylon，shewasthecentreoftheworld’sfinance，theworld’strade，andtheworld’spleasure;andmenlikenedhertotheapocalypticcitiesoftheancientprophets。ShesatdrinkingupthewealthofacontinentasRomeoncedrankthewealthoftheMediterraneanandBabylonthewealthoftheeast。
