Theothershadgoneuponerrandshecouldnotimagine，beyondthecompassofthatgreatcircleofearth。andsky。Hewondered，buttherewasnoonetoask。Asthedayworeon，aboutadozenreappearedintheeastwiththeirstoresreplenishedfromtheflotillaandtowinganumberofdrachenffieger。Towardsafternoontheweatherthickened，drivingcloudsappearedinthesouth—westandrantogetherandseemedtoengendermoreclouds，andthewindcameroundintothatquarterandblewstronger。
Towardstheeveningthe，windbecameagaleintowhichthenowtossingairshipshadtobeat。
AllthatdaythePrincewasnegotiatingwithWashington，whilehisdetachedscoutssoughtfarandwideovertheEasternStateslookingforanythingresemblinganaeronauticpark。AsquadronoftwentyairshipsdetachedovernighthaddroppedoutoftheairuponNiagaraandwasholdingthetownandpowerworks。
Meanwhiletheinsurrectionarymovementinthegiantcitygrewuncontrollable。Inspiteoffivegreatfiresalreadyinvolvingmanyacres，andspreadingsteadily，NewYorkwasstillnotsatisfiedthatshewasbeaten。
Atfirsttherebelliousspiritbelowfoundventonlyinisolatedshouts，street—crowdspeeches，andnewspapersuggestions;thenitfoundmuchmoredefiniteexpressionintheappearanceinthemorningsunlightofAmericanflagsatpointafterpointabovethearchitecturalcliffsofthecity。ItisquitepossiblethatinmanycasesthisspiriteddisplayofbuntingbyacityalreadysurrenderedwastheoutcomeoftheinnocentinformalityoftheAmericanmind，butitisalsoundeniablethatinmanyitwasadeliberateindicationthatthepeople\"feltwicked。\"
TheGermansenseofcorrectitudewasdeeplyshockedbythisoutbreak。TheGrafvonWinterfeldimmediatelycommunicatedwiththemayor，andpointedouttheirregularity，andthefirelook—outstationswereinstructedinthematter。TheNewYorkpolicewasspeedilyhardatwork，andafoolishcontestinfullswingbetweenimpassionedcitizensresolvedtokeeptheflagflying，andirritatedandworriedofficersinstructedtopullitdown。
ThetroublebecameacuteatlastinthestreetsaboveColumbiaUniversity。ThecaptainoftheairshipwatchingthisquarterseemstohavestoopedtolassoanddragfromitsstaffaflaghoisteduponMorganHall。AshedidsoavolleyofrifleandrevolvershotswasfiredfromtheupperwindowsofthehugeapartmentbuildingthatstandsbetweentheUniversityandRiversideDrive。
Mostofthesewereineffectual，buttwoorthreeperforatedgas—chambers，andonesmashedthehandandarmofamanupontheforwardplatform;Thesentinelonthelowergalleryimmediatelyreplied，andthemachinegunontheshieldoftheeagleletflyandpromptlystoppedanyfurthershots。TheairshiproseandsignalledtheflagshipandCityHall，policeandmilitiamenweredirectedatoncetothespot，andthisparticularincidentclosed。
ButharduponthatcamethedesperateattemptofapartyofyoungclubmenfromNewYork，who，inspiredbypatrioticandadventurousimaginations，slippedoffinhalfadozenmotor—carstoBeaconHill，andsettoworkwithremarkablevigourtoimproviseafortabouttheDoanswivelgunthathadbeenplacedthere。Theyfounditstillinthehandsofthedisgustedgunners，whohadbeenorderedtoceasefireatthecapitulation，anditwaseasytoinfectthesemenwiththeirownspirit。Theydeclaredtheirgunhadn’thadhalfachance，and，wereburningtoshowwhatitcoulddo。Directedbythenewcomers，theymadeatrenchandbankaboutthemountingofthepiece，andconstructedflimsyshelter—pitsofcorrugatediron。
TheywereactuallyloadingthegunwhentheywereobservedbytheairshipPreussenandtheshelltheysucceededinfiringbeforethebombsofthelattersmashedthemandtheircrudedefencestofragments，burstoverthemiddlegas—chambersoftheBingen，andbroughthertoearth，disabled，uponStatenIsland。Shewasbadlydeflated，anddroppedamongtrees，overwhichheremptycentralgas—bagsspreadincanopiesandfestoons。Nothing，however，hadcaughtfire，andhermenwerespeedilyatworkuponherrepair。Theybehavedwithaconfidencethatvergeduponindiscretion。Whilemostofthemcommencedpatchingthetearsofthemembrane，halfadozenofthemstartedoffforthenearestroadinsearchofagasmain，andpresentlyfoundthemselvesprisonersinthehandsofahostilecrowd。Closeathandwasanumberofvillaresidences，whoseoccupantsspeedilydevelopedfromanunfriendlycuriositytoaggression。AtthattimethepolicecontrolofthelargepolyglotpopulationofStatenIslandhadbecomeverylax，andscarcelyahouseholdbuthaditsrifleorpistolsandammunition。Thesewerepresentlyproduced，andaftertwoorthreemisses，oneofthemenatworkwashitinthefoot。ThereupontheGermanslefttheirsewingandmending，tookcoveramongthetrees，andreplied。
ThecracklingofshotsspeedilybroughtthePreussenandKielonthescene，andwithafewhandgrenadestheymadeshortworkofeveryvillawithinamile。Anumberofnon—combatantAmericanmen，women，andchildrenwerekilledandtheactualassailantsdrivenoff。Foratimetherepairswentoninpeaceundertheimmediateprotectionofthesetwoairships。Thenwhentheyreturnedtotheirquarters，anintermittentsnipingandfightingroundthestrandedBingenwasresumed，andwentonalltheafternoon，andmergedatlastinthegeneralcombatoftheevening……
AbouteighttheBingenwasrushedbyanarmedmob，andallitsdefenderskilledafterafierce，disorderlystruggle。
ThedifficultyoftheGermansinboththesecasescamefromtheimpossibilityoflandinganyefficientforceor，indeed，anyforceatallfromtheair—fleet。Theairshipswerequiteunequaltothetransportofanyadequatelandingparties;theircomplementofmenwasjustsufficienttomanoeuvreandfightthemintheair。Fromabovetheycouldinflictimmensedamage;theycouldreduceanyorganisedGovernmenttoacapitulationinthebriefestspace，buttheycouldnotdisarm，muchlesscouldtheyoccupy，thesurrenderedareasbelow。Theyhadtotrusttothepressureupontheauthoritiesbelowofathreattorenewthebombardment。Itwastheirsoleresource。Nodoubt，withahighlyorganisedandundamagedGovernmentandahomogeneousandwell—disciplinedpeoplethatwouldhavesufficedtokeepthepeace。ButthiswasnottheAmericancase。NotonlywastheNewYorkGovernmentaweakoneandinsufficientlyprovidedwithpolice，butthedestructionoftheCityHall——andPost—Offideandothercentralgangliahadhopelesslydisorganisedtheco—operationofpartwithpart。Thestreetcarsandrailwayshadceased;thetelephoneservicewasoutofgearandonlyworkedintermittently。TheGermanshadstruckatthehead，andtheheadwasconqueredandstunned——onlytoreleasethebodyfromitsrule。NewYorkhadbecomeaheadlessmonster，nolongercapableofcollectivesubmission。Everywhereitlifteditselfrebelliously;everywhereauthoritiesandofficialslefttotheirownimitativewerejoininginthearmingandflag—hoistingandexcitementofthatafternoon。
6
ThedisintegratingtrucegaveplacetoadefinitegeneralbreachwiththeassassinationoftheWetterhorn——forthatistheonlypossiblewordfortheact——aboveUnionSquare，andnotamileawayfromtheexemplaryruinsofCityHall。Thisoccurredlateintheafternoon，betweenfiveandsix。Bythattimetheweatherhadchangedverymuchfortheworse，andtheoperationsoftheairshipswereembarrassedbythenecessitytheywereunderofkeepingheadontothegusts。Aseriesofsqualls，withhailandthunder，followedoneanotherfromthesouthbysouth—east，andinordertoavoidtheseasmuchaspossible，theair—fleetcamelowoverthehouses，diminishingitsrangeofobservationandexposingitselftoarifleattack。
OvernighttherehadbeenagunplacedinUnionSquare。Ithadneverbeenmounted，muchlessfired，andinthedarknessafterthesurrenderitwastakenwithitssuppliesandputoutofthewayunderthearchesofthegreatDexterbuilding。Herelateinthemorningitwasremarkedbyanumberofpatrioticspirits。
Theysettoworktohoistandmountitinsidetheupperfloorsoftheplace。Theymade，infact，amaskedbatterybehindthedecorousofficeblinds，andtherelayinwaitassimplyexcitedaschildrenuntilatlastthestemofthelucklessWetterhornappeared，beatingandrollingatquarterspeedovertherecentlyreconstructedpinnaclesofTiffany’s。Promptlythatone—gunbatteryunmasked。Theairship’slook—outmanmusthaveseenthewholeofthetenthstoryoftheDexterbuildingcrumbleoutandsmashinthestreetbelowtodiscovertheblackmuzzlelookingoutfromtheshadowsbehind。Thenperhapstheshellhithim。
ThegunfiredtwoshellsbeforetheframeoftheDexterbuildingcollapsed，andeachshellrakedtheWetterhornfromstemtostern。Theysmashedherexhaustively。Shecrumpleduplikeacanthathasbeenkickedbyaheavyboot，herforepartcamedowninthesquare，andtherestofherlength，withagreatsnappingandtwistingofshaftsandstays，descended，collapsingathwartTammanyHallandthestreetstowardsSecondAvenue。Hergasescapedtomixwithair，andtheairofherrentballoonettepouredintoherdeflatinggas—chambers。Thenwithanimmenseimpactsheexploded……
TheVaterlandatthattimewasbeatinguptothesouthofCityHallfromovertheruinsoftheBrooklynBridge，andthereportsofthegun，followedbythefirstcrashesofthecollapsingDexterbuilding，broughtKurtand，Smallwaystothecabinporthole。Theywereintimetoseetheflashoftheexplodinggun，andthentheywerefirstflattenedagainstthewindowandthenrolledheadoverheelsacrossthefloorofthecabinbytheairwaveoftheexplosion。TheVaterlandboundedlikeafootballsomeonehaskickedandwhentheylookedoutagain，UnionSquarewassmallandremoteandshattered，asthoughsomecosmicallyvastgianthadrolledoverit。Thebuildingstotheeastofitwereablazeatadozenpoints，undertheflamingtattersandwarpingskeletonoftheairship，andalltheroofsandwallswereridiculouslyaskewandcrumblingasonelooked。\"Gaw！\"saidBert。\"What’shappened？Lookatthepeople！\"
ButbeforeKurtcouldproduceanexplanation，theshrillbellsoftheairshipwereringingtoquarters，andhehadtogo。Berthesitatedandsteppedthoughtfullyintothepassage，lookingbackatthewindowashedidso。HewasknockedoffhisfeetatoncebythePrince，whowasrushingheadlongfromhiscabintothecentralmagazine。
BerthadamomentaryimpressionofthegreatfigureofthePrince，whitewithrage，bristlingwithgiganticanger，hishugefistswinging。\"BlutundEisen！\"criedthePrince，asonewhoswears。\"Oh！BlutundEisen！\"
SomeonefelloverBert——somethinginthemanneroffallingsuggestedVonWinterfeld——andsomeoneelsepausedandkickedhimspitefullyandhard。Thenhewassittingupinthepassage，rubbingafreshlybruisedcheekandreadjustingthebandagehestillworeonhishead。\"DemthatPrince，\"saidBert，indignantbeyondmeasure。\"’E’asn’tthemennersofa’og！\"
Hestoodup，collectedhiswitsforaminute，andthenwentslowlytowardsthegangwayofthelittlegallery。AshedidsoheheardnoisessuggestiveofthereturnofthePrince。Thelotofthemwerecomingbackagain。Heshotintohiscabinlikearabbitintoitsburrow，justintimetoescapethatshoutingterror。
Heshutthedoor，waiteduntilthepassagewasstill，thenwentacrosstothewindowandlookedout。Adriftofcloudmadetheprospectofthestreetsandsquareshazy，andtherollingoftheairshipswungthepictureupanddown。Afewpeoplewererunningtoandfro，butforthemostparttheaspectofthedistrictwasdesertion。Thestreetsseemedtobroadenout，theybecameclearer，andthelittledotsthatwerepeoplelargerastheVaterlandcamedownagain。PresentlyshewasswayingalongabovethelowerendofBroadway。Thedotsbelow，Bertsaw，werenotrunningnow，butstandingandlookingup。Thensuddenlytheywereallrunningagain。
Somethinghaddroppedfromtheaeroplane，somethingthatlookedsmallandflimsy。IthitthepavementnearabigarchwayjustunderneathBert。Alittlemanwassprintingalongthesidewalkwithinhalfadozenyards，andtwoorthreeothersandonewomanwereboltingacrosstheroadway。Theywereoddlittlefigures，soverysmallweretheyabouttheheads，soveryactiveabouttheelbowsandlegs。Itwasreallyfunnytoseetheirlegsgoing。
Foreshortened，humanityhasnodignity。Thelittlemanonthepavementjumpedcomically——nodoubtwithterror，asthebombfellbesidehim。
Thenblindingflamessquirtedoutinalldirectionsfromthepointofimpact，andthelittlemanwhohadjumpedbecame，foraninstant，aflashoffireandvanished——vanishedabsolutely。Thepeoplerunningoutintotheroadtookpreposterousclumsyleaps，thenfloppeddownandlaystill，withtheirtornclothessmoulderingintoflame。Thenpiecesofthearchwaybegantodrop，andthelowermasonryofthebuildingtofallinwiththerumblingsoundofcoalsbeingshotintoacellar。AfaintscreamingreachedBert，andthenacrowdofpeopleranoutintothestreet，onemanlimpingandgesticulatingawkwardly。Hehalted，andwentbacktowardsthebuilding。Afallingmassofbrick—workhithimandsenthimsprawlingtoliestillandcrumpledwherehefell。Dustandblacksmokecamepouringintothestreet，andwerepresentlyshotwithredflame……
InthismannerthemassacreofNewYorkbegan。ShewasthefirstofthegreatcitiesoftheScientificAgetosufferbytheenormouspowersandgrotesquelimitationsofaerialwarfare。Shewaswreckedasinthepreviouscenturyendlessbarbariccitieshadbeenbombarded，becauseshewasatoncetoostrongtobeoccupiedandtooundisciplinedandproudtosurrenderinordertoescapedestruction。Giventhecircumstances，thethinghadtobedone。ItwasimpossibleforthePrincetodesist，andownhimselfdefeated，anditwasimpossibletosubduethecityexceptbylargelydestroyingit。Thecatastrophewasthelogicaloutcomeofthesituation，createdbytheapplicationofsciencetowarfare。Itwasunavoidablethatgreatcitiesshouldbedestroyed。Inspiteofhisintenseexasperationwithhisdilemma，thePrincesoughttobemoderateeveninmassacre。Hetriedtogiveamemorablelessonwiththeminimumwasteoflifeandtheminimumexpenditureofexplosives。ForthatnightheproposedonlythewreckingofBroadway。Hedirectedtheair—fleettomoveincolumnovertherouteofthisthoroughfare，droppingbombs，theVaterlandleading。AndsoourBertSmallwaysbecameaparticipantinoneofthemostcold—bloodedslaughtersintheworld’shistory，inwhichmenwhowereneitherexcitednor，exceptfortheremotestchanceofabullet，inanydanger，poureddeathanddestructionuponhomesandcrowdsbelow。
Heclungtotheframeoftheportholeastheairshiptossedandswayed，andstareddownthroughthelightrainthatnowdrovebeforethewind，intothetwilightstreets，watchingpeoplerunningoutofthehouses，watchingbuildingscollapseandfiresbegin。Astheairshipssailedalongtheysmashedupthecityasachildwillshatteritscitiesofbrickandcard。Below，theyleftruinsandblazingconflagrationsandheapedandscattereddead;men，women，andchildrenmixedtogetherasthoughtheyhadbeennomorethanMoors，orZulus，orChinese。LowerNewYorkwassoonafurnaceofcrimsonflames，fromwhichtherewasnoescape。Cars，railways，ferries，allhadceased，andneveralightlitthewayofthedistractedfugitivesinthatduskyconfusionbutthelightofburning。Hehadglimpsesofwhat，itmustmeantobedownthere——glimpses。Anditcametohimsuddenlyasanincrediblediscovery，thatsuchdisasterswerenotonlypossiblenowinthisstrange，gigantic，foreignNewYork，butalsoinLondon——inBunHill！thatthelittleislandinthesilverseaswasattheendofitsimmunity，thatnowhereintheworldanymorewasthereaplaceleftwhereaSmallwaysmightlifthisheadproudlyandvoteforwarandaspiritedforeignpolicy，andgosecurefromsuchhorriblethings。
CHAPTERVII
THE\"VATERLAND\"ISDISABLED
1
AndthenabovetheflamesofManhattanIslandcameabattle，thefirstbattleintheair。TheAmericanshadrealisedthepricetheirwaitinggamemustcost，andstruckwithallthestrengththeyhad，ifhaplytheymightstillsaveNewYorkfromthismadPrinceofBloodandIron，andfromfireanddeath。
TheycamedownupontheGermansonthewingsofagreatgaleinthetwilight，amidstthunderandrain。TheycamefromtheyardsofWashingtonandPhiladelphia，fulltiltintwosquadrons，andbutforonesentinelairshiphardbyTrenton，thesurprisewouldhavebeencomplete。
TheGermans，sickandwearywithdestruction，andhalfemptyofammunition，werefacingupintotheweatherwhenthenewsofthisonsetreachedthem。NewYorktheyhadleftbehindtothesouth—eastward，adarkenedcitywithonehideousredscarofflames。Alltheairshipsrolledandstaggered，burstsofhailstormborethemdownandforcedthemtofighttheirwayupagain;theairhadbecomebitterlycold。ThePrincewasonthepointofissuingorderstodropearthwardandtrailcopperlightningchainswhenthenewsoftheaeroplaneattackcametohim。Hefacedhisfleetinlineabreastsouth，hadthedrachenfliegermannedandheldreadytocastloose，andorderedageneralascentintothefreezingclearnessabovethewetanddarkness。
ThenewsofwhatwasimminentcameslowlytoBert’sperceptions。
Hewasstandinginthemessroomatthetimeandtheeveningrationswerebeingservedout。HehadresumedButteridge’scoatandgloves，andinadditionhehadwrappedhisblanketabouthim。
Hewasdippinghisbreadintohissoupandwasbitingoffbigmouthfuls。Hislegswerewideapart，andheleantagainstthepartitioninordertosteadyhimselfamidstthepitchingandoscillationoftheairship。Themenabouthimlookedtiredanddepressed;afewtalked，butmostweresullenandthoughtful，andoneortwowereair—sick。Theyallseemedtosharethepeculiarlyoutcastfeelingthathadfollowedthemurdersoftheevening，asenseofalandbeneaththem，andanoutragedhumanitygrownmorehostilethantheSea。
Thenthenewshitthem。Ared—facedsturdyman，amanwithlighteyelashesandascar，appearedinthedoorwayandshoutedsomethinginGermanthatmanifestlystartledeveryone。Bertfelttheshockofthealteredtone，thoughhecouldnotunderstandawordthatwassaid。Theannouncementwasfollowedbyapause，andthenagreatoutcryofquestionsandsuggestions。
Eventheair—sickmenflushedandspoke。Forsomeminutesthemess—roomwasBedlam，andthen，asifitwereaconfirmationofthenews，cametheshrillringingofthebellsthatcalledthementotheirposts。
Bertwithpantomimesuddennessfoundhimselfalone。
\"What’sup？\"hesaid，thoughhepartlyguessed。
Hestayedonlytogulpdowntheremainderofhissoup，andthenranalongtheswayingpassageand，clutchingtightly，downtheladdertothelittlegallery。Theweatherhithimlikecoldwatersquirtedfromahose。TheairshipengagedinsomenewfeatofatmosphericJiu—Jitsu。Hedrewhisblanketcloserabouthim，clutchingwithonestraininghand。Hefoundhimselftossinginawettwilight，withnothingtobeseenbutmistpouringpasthim。
Abovehimtheairshipwaswarmwithlightsandbusywiththemovementsofmengoingtotheirquarters。Thenabruptlythelightswentout，andtheVaterlandwithboundsandtwistsandstrangewrithingswasfightingherwayuptheair。
Hehadaglimpse，astheVaterlandrolledover，ofsomelargebuildingsburningclosebelowthem，aquiveringacanthusofflames，andthenhesawindistinctlythroughthedrivingweatheranotherairshipwallowingalonglikeaporpoise，andalsoworkingup。Presentlythecloudsswallowedheragainforatime，andthenshecamebacktosightasadarkandwhale—likemonster，amidststreamingweather。Theairwasfullofflappingsandpipings，ofvoid，gustyshoutsandnoises;itbuffetedhimandconfusedhim;everandagainhisattentionbecamerigid——ablindanddeafbalancingandclutching。
\"Wow！\"
Somethingfellpasthimoutofthevastdarknessesaboveandvanishedintothetumultsbelow，goingobliquelydownward。ItwasaGermandrachenflieger。Thethingwasgoingsofasthehadbutaninstantapprehensionofthedarkfigureoftheaeronautcrouchedtogetherclutchingathiswheel。Itmightbeamanoeuvre，butitlookedlikeacatastrophe。
\"Gaw！\"saidBert。
\"Pup—pup—pup\"wentagunsomewhereinthemirkaheadandsuddenlyandquitehorriblytheVaterlandlurched，andBertandthesentinelwereclingingtotherailfordearlife。\"Bang！\"cameavastimpactoutofthezenith，followedbyanotherhugeroll，andallabouthimthetumbledcloudsflashedredandluridinresponsetoflashesunseen，revealingimmensegulfs。Therailwentrightoverhead，andhewashanginglooseintheairholdingontoit。
ForatimeBert’swholemindandbeingwasgiventoclutching。
\"I’mgoingintothecabin，\"hesaid，astheairshiprightedagainandbroughtbackthegalleryfloortohisfeet。Hebegantomakehiswaycautiouslytowardstheladder。\"Whee—wow！\"hecriedasthewholegalleryreareditselfupforward，andthenplungeddownlikeadesperatehorse。
Crack！Bang！Bang！Bang！Andthenharduponthislittlerattleofshotsandbombscame，allabouthim，envelopinghim，engulfinghim，immenseandoverwhelming，aquiveringwhiteblazeoflightningandathunder—clapthatwasliketheburstingofaworld。
Justfortheinstantbeforethatexplosiontheuniverseseemedtobestandingstillinashadowlessglare。
ItwasthenhesawtheAmericanaeroplane。Hesawitinthelightoftheflashasathingaltogethermotionless。Evenitsscrewappearedstill，anditsmenwererigiddolls。（Foritwassonearhecouldseethemenuponitquitedistinctly。）Itssternwastiltingdown，andthewholemachinewasheelingover。
ItwasoftheColt—Coburn—Langleypattern，withdoubleup—tiltedwingsandthescrewahead，andthemenwereinaboat—likebodynettedover。Fromthisverylightlongbody，magazinegunsprojectedoneitherside。Onethingthatwasstrikinglyoddandwonderfulinthatmomentofrevelationwasthattheleftupperwingwasburningdownwardwithareddish，smokyflame。Butthiswasnotthemostwonderfulthingaboutthisapparition。ThemostwonderfulthingwasthatitandaGermanairshipfivehundredyardsbelowwerethreadedasitwereonthelightningflash，whichturnedoutofitspathasiftotakethem，and，thatoutfromthecornersandprojectingpointsofitshugewingseverywhere，littlebranchingthorn—treesoflightningwerestreaming。
LikeapictureBertsawthesethings，apicturealittleblurredbyathinveilofwind—tornmist。
Thecrashofthethunder—clapfollowedtheflashandseemedapartofit，sothatitishardtosaywhetherBertwastheratherdeafenedorblindedinthatinstant。
Andthendarkness，utterdarkness，andaheavyreportandathinsmallsoundofvoicesthatwentwailingdownwardintotheabyssbelow。
2
Therefolloweduponthesethingsalong，deepswayingoftheairship，andthenBertbeganastruggletogetbacktohiscabin。
Hewasdrenchedandcoldandterrifiedbeyondmeasure，andnowmorethanalittleair—sick。Itseemedtohimthatthestrengthhadgoneoutofhiskneesandhands，andthathisfeethadbecomeicilyslipperyoverthemetaltheytrodupon。Butthatwasbecauseathinfilmoficehadfrozenuponthegallery。
Heneverknewhowlonghisascentoftheladderbackintotheairshiptookhim，butinhisdreamsafterwards，whenherecalledit，thatexperienceseemedtolastforhours。Below，above，aroundhimweregulfs，monstrousgulfsofhowlingwindandeddiesofdark，whirlingsnowflakes，andhewasprotectedfromitallbyalittlemetalgratingandarail，agratingandrailthatseemedmadlyinfuriatedwithhim，passionatelyeagertowrenchhimoffandthrowhimintothetumultofspace。
Oncehehadafancythatabullettorebyhisear，andthatthecloudsandsnowflakeswerelitbyaflash，buthenevereventurnedhisheadtoseewhatnewassailantwhirledpasttheminthevoid。Hewantedtogetintothepassage！Hewantedtogetintothepassage！Hewantedtogetintothepassage！Wouldthearmbywhichhewasclingingholdout，orwoulditgivewayandsnap？Ahandfulofhailsmackedhimintheface，sothatforatimehewasbreathlessandnearlyinsensible。Holdtight，Bert！
Herenewedhisefforts。
Hefoundhimself，withanenormoussenseofreliefandwarmth，inthepassage。Thepassagewasbehavinglikeadice—box，itsdispositionwasevidentlytorattlehimaboutandthenthrowhimoutagain。Hehungonwiththeconvulsiveclutchofinstinctuntilthepassagelurcheddownahead。Thenhewouldmakeashortruncabin—ward，andclutchagainasthefore—endrose。
Behold！Hewasinthecabin！
Hesnapped—tothedoor，andforatimehewasnotahumanbeing，hewasacaseofair—sickness。Hewantedtogetsomewherethatwouldfixhim，thatheneedn’tclutch。Heopenedthelockerandgotinsideamongtheloosearticles，andsprawledtherehelplessly，withhisheadsometimesbumpingonesideandsometimestheother。Thelidshutuponhimwithaclick。Hedidnotcarethenwhatwashappeninganymore。Hedidnotcarewhofoughtwho，orwhatbulletswerefiredorexplosionsoccurred。
Hedidnotcareifpresentlyhewasshotorsmashedtopieces。
Hewasfulloffeeble，inarticulaterageanddespair。\"Foolery！\"
hesaid，hisoneexhaustivecommentonhumanenterprise，adventure，war，andthechapterofaccidentsthathadentangledhim。\"Foolery！Ugh！\"Heincludedtheorderoftheuniverseinthatcomprehensivecondemnation。Hewishedhewasdead。
Hesawnothingofthestars，aspresentlytheVaterlandclearedtherushandconfusionofthelowerweather，noroftheduelshefoughtwithtwocirclingaeroplanes，howtheyshotherrear—mostchambersthrough，andhowshefoughtthemoffwithexplosivebulletsandturnedtorunasshedidso。
Therushandswoopofthesewonderfulnightbirdswasalllostuponhim;theirheroicdashandself—sacrifice。TheVaterlandwasrammed，andforsomemomentsshehungonthevergeofdestruction，andsinkingswiftly，withtheAmericanaeroplaneentangledwithhersmashedpropeller，andtheAmericanstryingtoscrambleaboard。ItsignifiednothingtoBert。Tohimitconveyeditselfsimplyasvehementswaying。Foolery！WhentheAmericanairshipdroppedoffatlast，withmostofitscrewshotorfallen，BertinhislockerappreciatednothingbutthattheVaterlandhadtakenahideousupwardleap。
Butthencameinfiniterelief，incrediblyblissfulrelief。Therolling，thepitching，thestruggleceased，ceasedinstantlyandabsolutely。TheVaterlandwasnolongerfightingthegale;hersmashedandexplodedenginesthrobbednomore;shewasdisabledanddrivingbeforethewindassmoothlyasaballoon，ahuge，windspread，tatteredcloudofaerialwreckage。
ToBertitwasnomorethantheendofaseriesofdisagreeablesensations。Hewasnotcurioustoknowwhathadhappenedtotheairship，norwhathadhappenedtothebattle。Foralongtimehelaywaitingapprehensivelyforthepitchingandtossingandhisqualmstoreturn，andso，lying，boxedupinthelocker，hepresentlyfellasleep。
3
Heawoketranquilbutverystuffy，andatthesametimeverycold，andquiteunabletorecollectwherehecouldbe。Hisheadached，andhisbreathwassuffocated。HehadbeendreamingconfusedlyofEdna，anddesertdervishes，andofridingbicyclesinanextremelyperilousmannerthroughtheupperairamidstapyrotechnicdisplayofcrackersandBengallights——tothegreatannoyanceofasortofcompositepersonmadeupofthePrinceandMr。Butteridge。ThenforsomereasonEdnaandhehadbeguntocrypitifullyforeachother，andhewokeupwithweteye—lashesintothisill—ventilateddarknessofthelocker。HewouldneverseeEdnaanymore，neverseeEdnaanymore。
HethoughthemustbebackinthebedroombehindthecycleshopatthebottomofBunHill，andhewassurethevisionhehadhadofthedestructionofamagnificentcity，acityquiteincrediblygreatandsplendid，bymeansofbombs，wasnomorethanaparticularlyvividdream。
\"Grubb！\"hecalled，anxioustotellhim。
Theansweringsilence，andthedullresonanceofthelockertohisvoice，supplementingthestiflingqualityoftheair，setgoinganewtrainofideas。Helifteduphishandsandfeet，andmetaninflexibleresistance。Hewasinacoffin，hethought！
Hehadbeenburiedalive！Hegavewayatoncetowildpanic。
\"’Elp！\"hescreamed。\"’Elp！\"anddrummedwithhisfeet，andkickedandstruggled。\"Letmeout！Letmeout！\"
Forsomesecondshestruggledwiththisintolerablehorror，andthenthesideofhisimaginedcoffingaveway，andhewasflyingoutintodaylight。ThenhewasrollingaboutonwhatseemedtobeapaddedfloorwithKurt，andbeingpunchedandswornatlustily。
Hesatup。Hisheadbandagehadbecomelooseandgotoveroneeye，andhewhippedthewholethingoff。Kurtwasalsosittingup，ayardawayfromhim，pinkasever，wrappedinblankets，andwithanaluminiumdiver’shelmetoverhisknee，staringathimwithasevereexpression，andrubbinghisdownyunshavenchin。
Theywerebothonaslantingfloorofcrimsonpadding，andabovethemwasanopeninglikealong，lowcellarflapthatBertbyaneffortperceivedtobethecabindoorinahalf—invertedcondition。Thewholecabinhadinfactturnedonitsside。
\"Whatthedeucedoyoumeanbyit，Smallways？\"saidKurt，\"jumpingoutofthatlockerwhenIwascertainyouhadgoneoverboardwiththerestofthem？Wherehaveyoubeen？\"
\"What’sup？\"askedBert。
\"Thisendoftheairshipisup。Mostotherthingsaredown。\"
\"Wasthereabattle？\"
\"Therewas。\"
\"Whowon？\"
\"Ihaven’tseenthepapers，Smallways。Weleftbeforethefinish。
Wegotdisabledandunmanageable，andourcolleagues——consortsI
mean——weretoobusymostofthemtotroubleaboutus，andthewindblewus——HeavenknowswherethewindISblowingus。Itblewusrightoutofactionattherateofeightymilesanhourorso。
Gott！whatawindthatwas！Whatafight！Andhereweare！\"
\"Where？\"
\"Intheair，Smallways——intheair！Whenwegetdownontheearthagainweshan’tknowwhattodowithourlegs。\"
\"Butwhat’sbelowus？\"
\"Canada，tothebestofmyknowledge——andajollybleak，empty，inhospitablecountryitlooks。\"
\"Butwhyain’twerightwaysup？\"
Kurtmadenoanswerforaspace。
\"LastIrememberwasseeingasortofflying—machineinalightningflash，\"saidBert。\"Gaw！thatwas’orrible。Gunsgoingoff！Thingsexplodin’！Cloudsand’ail。Pitchingandtossing。Igotsoscaredanddesperate——andsick。Youdon’tknowhowthefightcameoff？\"
\"Notabitofit。Iwasupwithmysquadinthosedivers’
dresses，insidethegas—chambers，withsheetsofsilkforcaulking。Wecouldn’tseeathingoutsideexceptthelightningflashes。IneversawoneofthoseAmericanaeroplanes。Justsawtheshotsflickerthroughthechambersandsentoffmenforthetears。Wecaughtfireabit——notmuch，youknow。Weweretoowet，sothefiressplutteredoutbeforewebanged。Andthenoneoftheirinfernalthingsdroppedoutoftheaironusandrammed。
