BertsawnothingthenofthesecondfleetoftheAsiatics，thoughprobablythatwascomingintosightoftheGermansatthetime，inthenorth—west。
Theairwasverystill，theskyalmostwithoutacloud，andtheGermanfleethadrisentoanimmenseheight，sothattheairshipsseemednolongerofanyconsiderablesize。Bothendsoftheircrescentshowedplainly。AstheybeatsouthwardtheypassedslowlybetweenBertandthesunlight，andbecameblackoutlinesofthemselves。ThedrachenfliegerappearedaslittleflecksofblackoneitherwingofthisaerialArmada。
Thetwofleetsseemedinnohurrytoengage。TheAsiaticswentfarawayintotheeast，quickeningtheirpaceandrisingastheydidso，andthentailedoutintoalongcolumnandcameflyingback，risingtowardstheGermanleft。Thesquadronsofthelattercameabout，facingthisobliqueadvance，andsuddenlylittleflickeringsandafaintcrepitatingsoundtoldthattheyhadopenedfire。Foratimenoeffectwasvisibletothewatcheronthebridge。Then，likeahandfulofsnowflakes，thedrachenfliegerswoopedtotheattack，andamultitudeofredspeckswhirleduptomeetthem。ItwastoBert’ssensenotonlyenormouslyremotebutsingularlyinhuman。Notfourhourssincehehadbeenononeofthoseveryairships，andyettheyseemedtohimnownotgas—bagscarryingmen，butstrangesentientcreaturesthatmovedaboutanddidthingswithapurposeoftheirown。TheflightoftheAsiaticandGermanflying—machinesjoinedanddroppedearthward，becamelikeahandfulofwhiteandredrosepetalsflungfromadistantwindow，grewlarger，untilBertcouldseetheoverturnedonesspinningthroughtheair，andwerehiddenbygreatvolumesofdarksmokethatwererisinginthedirectionofBuffalo。Foratimetheyallwerehidden，thentwoorthreewhiteandanumberofredones。roseagainintothesky，likeaswarmofbigbutterflies，andcircledfightinganddroveawayoutofsightagaintowardstheeast。
AheavyreportrecalledBert’seyestothezenith，andbehold，thegreatcrescenthadlostitsdressingandburstintoadisorderlylongcloudofairships！Onehaddroppedhalfwaydownthesky。Itwasflamingforeandaft，andevenasBertlookeditturnedoverandfell，spinningoverandoveritselfandvanishedintothesmokeofBuffalo。
Bert’smouthopenedandshut，andheclutchedtighterontherailofthebridge。Forsomemoments——theyseemedlongmoments——thetwofleetsremainedwithoutanyfurtherchangeflyingobliquelytowardseachother，andmakingwhatcametoBert’searsasamidgetuproar。Thensuddenlyfromeithersideairshipsbegandroppingoutofalignment，smittenbymissileshecouldneitherseenortrace。ThestringofAsiaticshipsswungroundandeitherchargedintoorover（itwasdifficulttosayfrombelow）
theshatteredlineoftheGermans，whoseemedtoopenouttogivewaytothem。Somesortofmanoeuvringbegan，butBertcouldnotgraspitsimport。Theleftofthebattlebecameaconfuseddanceofairships。Forsomeminutesuptherethetwocrossinglinesofshipslookedsocloseitseemedlikeahand—to—handscuffleinthesky。Thentheybrokeupintogroupsandduels。ThedescentofGermanair—shipstowardsthelowerskyincreased。Oneofthemflareddownandvanishedfarawayinthenorth;twodroppedwithsomethingtwistedandcrippledintheirmovements;thenagroupofantagonistscamedownfromthezenithinaneddyingconflict，twoAsiaticsagainstoneGerman，andwerepresentlyjoinedbyanother，anddroveawayeastwardalltogetherwithothersdroppingoutoftheGermanlinetojointhem。
OneAsiaticeitherrammedorcollidedwithastillmoregiganticGerman，andthetwowentspinningtodestructiontogether。ThenorthernsquadronofAsiaticscameintothebattleunnotedbyBert，exceptthatthemultitudeofshipsaboveseemedpresentlyincreased。Inalittlewhilethefightwasutterconfusion，driftingonthewholetothesouthwestagainstthewind。Itbecamemoreandmoreaseriesofgroupencounters。HereahugeGermanairshipflamedearthwardwithadozenflatAsiaticcraftabouther，crushinghereveryattempttorecover。Hereanotherhungwithitsscrewfightingofftheswordsmanfromaswarmofflying—machines。Here，again，anAsiaticaflameateitherendswoopedoutofthebattle。Hisattentionwentfromincidenttoincidentinthevastclearnessoverhead;theseconspicuouscasesofdestructioncaughtandheldhismind;itwasonlyveryslowlythatanysortofschememanifesteditselfbetweenthosenearer，morestrikingepisodes。
Themassoftheairshipsthateddiedremotelyabovewas，however，neitherdestroyingnordestroyed。Themajorityofthemseemedtobegoingatfullspeedandcirclingupwardforposition，exchangingineffectualshotsastheydidso。Verylittlerammingwasessayedafterthefirsttragicdownfalloframmerandrammed，andwhateverattemptsatboardingweremadewereinvisibletoBert。Thereseemed，however，asteadyattempttoisolateantagonists，tocutthemofffromtheirfellowsandbearthemdown，causingaperpetualsailingbackandinterlacingoftheseshoalingbulks。ThegreaternumbersoftheAsiaticsandtheirswifterheelingmovementsgavethemtheeffectofpersistentlyattackingtheGermans。Overhead，andevidentlyendeavouringtokeepitselfintouchwiththeworksofNiagara，abodyofGermanairshipsdrewitselftogetherintoacompactphalanx，andtheAsiaticsbecamemoreandmoreintentuponbreakingthisup。Hewasgrotesquelyremindedoffishinafish—pondstrugglingforcrumbs。Hecouldseepunypuffsofsmokeandtheflashofbombs，butneverasoundcamedowntohim……
AflappingshadowpassedforamomentbetweenBertandthesunandwasfollowedbyanother。Awhirringofengines，click，clock，clitterclock，smoteuponhisears。Instantlyheforgotthezenith。
Perhapsahundredyardsabovethewater，outofthesouth，ridinglikeValkyriesswiftlythroughtheaironthestrangesteedstheengineeringofEuropehadbegottenupontheartisticinspirationofJapan，camealongstringofAsiaticswordsman。Thewingsflappedjerkily，click，block，clitterclock，andthemachinesdroveup;theyspreadandceased，andtheapparatuscamesoaringthroughtheair。Sotheyroseandfellandroseagain。TheypassedsocloselyoverheadthatBertcouldheartheirvoicescallingtooneanother。TheyswoopedtowardsNiagaracityandlandedoneafteranotherinalonglineinaclearspacebeforethehotel。Buthedidnotstaytowatchthemland。Oneyellowfacehadcranedoverandlookedathim，andforoneenigmaticalinstantmethiseyes……
ItwasthentheideacametoBertthathewasaltogethertooconspicuousinthemiddleofthebridge，andthathetooktohisheelstowardsGoatIsland。Thence，dodgingaboutamongthetrees，withperhapsanexcessiveself—consciousness，hewatchedtherestofthestruggle。
5
WhenBert’ssenseofsecuritywassufficientlyrestoredforhimtowatchthebattleagain，heperceivedthatabrisklittlefightwasinprogressbetweentheAsiaticaeronautsandtheGermanengineersforthepossessionofNiagaracity。Itwasthefirsttimeinthewholecourseofthewarthathehadseenanythingresemblingfightingashehadstudieditintheillustratedpapersofhisyouth。Itseemedtohimalmostasthoughthingswerecomingright。Hesawmencarryingriflesandtakingcoverandrunningbrisklyfrompointtopointinalooseattackingformation。Thefirstbatchofaeronautshadprobablybeenundertheimpressionthatthecitywasdeserted。TheyhadgroundedintheopennearProspectParkandapproachedthehousestowardsthepower—worksbeforetheyweredisillusionedbyasuddenfire。
Theyhadscatteredbacktothecoverofabanknearthewater——itwastoofarforthemtoreachtheirmachinesagain;theywerelyingandfiringatthemeninthehotelsandframe—housesaboutthepower—works。
Thentotheirsupportcameasecondstringofredflying—machinesdrivingupfromtheeast。Theyroseupoutofthehazeabovethehousesandcameroundinalongcurveasifsurveyingthepositionbelow。ThefireoftheGermansrosetoaroar，andoneofthosesoaringshapesgaveanabruptjerkbackwardandfellamongthehouses。Theothersswoopeddownexactlylikegreatbirdsupontheroofofthepower—house。Theycaughtuponit，andfromeachspranganimblelittlefigureandrantowardstheparapet。
Otherflappingbird—shapescameintothisaffair，butBerthadnotseentheircoming。Astaccatoofshotscameovertohim，remindinghimofarmymanoeuvres，ofnewspaperdescriptionsoffights，ofallthatwasentirelycorrectinhisconceptionofwarfare。HesawquiteanumberofGermansrunningfromtheoutlyinghousestowardsthepower—house。Twofell。Onelaystill，buttheotherwriggledandmadeeffortsforatime。Thehotelthatwasusedasahospital，andtowhichhehadhelpedcarrythewoundedmenfromtheZeppelinearlierintheday，suddenlyranuptheGenevaflag。ThetownthathadseemedsoquiethadevidentlybeenconcealingaconsiderablenumberofGermans，andtheywerenowconcentratingtoholdthecentralpower—house。Hewonderedwhatammunitiontheymighthave。MoreandmoreoftheAsiaticflying—machinescameintotheconflict。
TheyhaddisposedoftheunfortunateGermandrachenfliegerandwerenowaimingattheincipientaeronauticpark，——theelectricgasgeneratorsandrepairstationswhichformedtheGermanbase。
Some，landed，andtheiraeronautstookcoverandbecameenergeticinfantrysoldiers。Othershoveredabovethefight，theirmeneverandagainfiringshotsdownatsomechanceexposurebelow。
Thefiringcameinparoxysms;nowtherewouldbeawatchfullullandnowarapidtattooofshots，risingtoaroar。Onceortwiceflyingmachines，astheycircledwarily，camerightoverhead，andforatimeBertgavehimselfbodyandsoultocowering。
Everandagainalargerthundermingledwiththerattleandremindedhimofthegrappleofairshipsfarabove，butthenearerfightheldhisattention。
Abruptlysomethingdroppedfromthezenith;somethinglikeabarrelorahugefootball。
CRASH！Itsmashedwithanimmensereport。IthadfallenamongthegroundedAsiaticaeroplanesthatlayamongtheturfandflower—bedsneartheriver。Theyflewinscrapsandfragments，turf，trees，andgravelleaptandfell;theaeronautsstilllyingalongthecanalbankwerethrownaboutlikesacks，catspawsflewacrossthefoamingwater。Allthewindowsofthehotelhospitalthathadbeenshininglyreflectingblueskyandairshipsthemomentbeforebecamevastblackstars。Bang！——asecondfollowed。
Bertlookedupandwasfilledwithasenseofanumberofmonstrousbodiesswoopingdown，comingdownonthewholeaffairlikeaflightofbellyingblankets，likeastringofvastdish—covers。Thecentraltangleofthebattleabovewascirclingdownasiftocomeintotouchwiththepower—housefight。Hegotaneweffectofairshipsaltogether，asvastthingscomingdownuponhim，growingswiftlylargerandlargerandmoreoverwhelming，untilthehousesoverthewayseemedsmall，theAmericanrapidsnarrow，thebridgeflimsy，thecombatantsinfinitesimal。Astheycamedowntheybecameaudibleasacomplexofshootingsandvastcreakingsandgroaningsandbeatingsandthrobbingsandshoutsandshots。Thefore—shortenedblackeaglesatthefore—endsoftheGermanshadaneffectofactualcombatofflyingfeathers。
Someofthesefightingairshipscamewithinfivehundredfeetoftheground。BertcouldseemenonthelowergalleriesoftheGermans，firingrifles;couldseeAsiaticsclingingtotheropes;
sawonemaninaluminiumdiver’sgearfallflashinghead—longintothewatersaboveGoatIsland。ForthefirsttimehesawtheAsiaticairshipsclosely。Fromthisaspecttheyremindedhimmorethananythingelseofcolossalsnowshoes;theyhadacuriouspatterninginblackandwhite，informsthatremindedhimoftheengine—turnedcoverofawatch。Theyhadnohanginggalleries，butfromlittleopeningsonthemiddlelinepeepedoutmenandthemuzzlesofguns。So，drivinginlong，descendingandascendingcurves，thesemonsterswrestledandfought。Itwaslikecloudsfighting，likepuddingstryingtoassassinateeachother。Theywhirledandcircledabouteachother，andforatimethrewGoatIslandandNiagaraintoasmokytwilight，throughwhichthesunlightsmoteinshaftsandbeams。Theyspreadandclosedandspreadandgrappledanddroveroundovertherapids，andtwomilesawayormoreintoCanada，andbackovertheFallsagain。AGermancaughtfire，andthewholecrowdbrokeawayfromherflareandroseaboutherdispersing，leavinghertodroptowardsCanadaandblowupasshedropped。Thenwithreneweduproartheothersclosedagain。OncefromthemeninNiagaracitycameasoundlikeanant—hillcheering。AnotherGermanburnt，andonebadlydeflatedbytheprowofanantagonist，floppedoutofactionsouthward。
ItbecamemoreandmoreevidentthattheGermansweregettingtheworstoftheunequalfight。Moreandmoreobviouslyweretheybeingpersecuted。Lessandlessdidtheyseemtofightwithanyobjectotherthanescape。TheAsiaticssweptbythemandabovethem，rippedtheirbladders，setthemalight，pickedofftheirdimlyseenmenindivingclothes，whostruggledagainstfireandtearwithfireextinguishersandsilkribbonsintheinnernetting。Theyansweredonlywithineffectualshots。ThencethebattlecircledbackoverNiagara，andthensuddenlytheGermans，asifatapreconcertedsignal，brokeanddispersed，goingeast，west，north，andsouth，inopenandconfusedflight。TheAsiatics，astheyrealisedthis，rosetoflyabovethemandafterthem。OnlyonelittleknotoffourGermansandperhapsadozenAsiaticsremainedfightingabouttheHohenzollernandthePrinceashecircledinalastattempttosaveNiagara。
RoundtheyswoopedonceagainovertheCanadianFall，overthewasteofwaterseastward，untiltheyweredistantandsmall，andthenroundandback，hurrying，bounding，swoopingtowardstheonegapingspectator。
Thewholestrugglingmassapproachedveryswiftly，growingrapidlylarger，andcomingoutblackandfeaturelessagainsttheafternoonsunandabovetheblindingwelteroftheUpperRapids。
Itgrewlikeastormclouduntiloncemoreitdarkenedthesky。
TheflatAsiaticairshipskepthighabovetheGermansandbehindthem，andfiredunansweredbulletsintotheirgas—chambersandupontheirflanks——theone—manflying—machineshoveredandalightedlikeaswarmofattackingbees。Nearertheycame，andnearer，fillingthelowerheaven。TwooftheGermansswoopedandroseagain，buttheHohenzollernhadsufferedtoomuchforthat。
Sheliftedweakly，turnedsharplyasiftogetoutofthebattle，burstintoflamesforeandaft，sweptdowntothewater，splashedintoitobliquely，androlledoverandoverandcamedownstreamrollingandsmashingandwrithinglikeathingalive，haltingandthencomingonagain，withhertornandbentpropellerstillbeatingtheair。Theburstingflamessplutteredoutagainincloudsofsteam。Itwasadisastergiganticinitsdimensions。
Shelayacrosstherapidslikeanisland，liketallcliffs，tallcliffsthatcamerolling，smoking，andcrumpling，andcollapsing，advancingwithasortoffluctuatingrapidityuponBert。OneAsiaticairship——itlookedtoBertfrombelowlikethreehundredyardsofpavement——whirledbackandcircledtwoorthreetimesoverthatgreatoverthrow，andhalfadozencrimsonflying—machinesdancedforamomentlikegreatmidgesinthesunlightbeforetheysweptonaftertheirfellows。Therestofthefighthadalreadygoneovertheisland，awildcrescendoofshotsandyellsandsmashinguproar。ItwashiddenfromBertnowbythetreesoftheisland，andforgottenbyhiminthenearerspectacleofthehugeadvanceofthedefeatedGermanairship。
Somethingfellwithamightysmashingandsplinteringofboughsunheededbehindhim。
ItseemedforatimethattheHohenzollernmustneedsbreakherbackuponthePartingoftheWaters，andthenforatimeherpropellerfloppedandfrothedintheriverandthrustthemassofbuckling，crumpledwreckagetowardstheAmericanshore。ThenthesweepofthetorrentthatfoameddowntotheAmericanFallcaughther，andinanotherminutetheimmensemassofdeflatingwreckage，withflamesspurtingoutinthreenewplaces，hadcrashedagainstthebridgethatjoinedGoatIslandandNiagaracity，andforcedalongarm，asitwere，inaheavingtangleunderthecentralspan。Thenthemiddlechambersblewupwithaloudreport，andinanothermomentthebridgehadgivenwayandthemainbulkoftheairship，likesomegrotesquecrippleinrags，staggered，flappingandwavingflambeauxtothecrestoftheFallandhesitatedthereandvanishedinadesperatesuicidalleap。
Itsdetachedfore—endremainedjammedagainstthatlittleisland，GreenIslanditusedtobecalled，whichformsthestepping—stonebetweenthemainlandandGoatIsland’spatchoftrees。
BertfollowedthisdisasterfromthePartingoftheWaterstothebridgehead。Then，regardlessofcover，regardlessoftheAsiaticairshiphoveringlikeahugehouseroofwithoutwallsabovetheSuspensionBridge，hesprintedalongtowardsthenorthandcameoutforthefirsttimeuponthatrockypointbyLunaIslandthatlookssheerdownupontheAmericanFall。Therehestoodbreathlessamidstthateternalrushofsound，breathlessandstaring。
Farbelow，andtravellingrapidlydownthegorge，whirledsomethinglikeahugeemptysack。Forhimitmeant——whatdiditnotmean？——theGermanair—fleet，Kurt，thePrince，Europe，allthingsstableandfamiliar，theforcesthathadbroughthim，theforcesthathadseemedindisputablyvictorious。AnditwentdowntherapidslikeanemptysackandleftthevisibleworldtoAsia，toyellowpeoplebeyondChristendom，toallthatwasterribleandstrange！
RemoteoverCanadarecededtherestofthatconflictandvanishedbeyondtherangeofhisvision……
CHAPTERIX
ONGOATISLAND
1
ThewhackofabulletontherocksbesidehimremindedhimthathewasavisibleobjectandwearingatleastportionsofaGermanuniform。Itdrovehimintothetreesagain，andforatimehedodgedanddroppedandsoughtcoverlikeachickhidingamongreedsfromimaginaryhawks。
\"Beaten，\"hewhispered。\"Beatenanddonefor……Chinese！Yellowchapschasing’em！\"
Atlasthecametorestinaclumpofbushesnearalocked—upanddesertedrefreshmentshedwithinviewoftheAmericanside。Theymadeasortofholeandharbourforhim;theymetcompletelyoverhead。Helookedacrosstherapids，butthefiringhadceasednowaltogetherandeverythingseemedquiet。TheAsiaticaeroplanehadmovedfromitsformerpositionabovetheSuspensionBridge，wasmotionlessnowaboveNiagaracity，shadowingallthatdistrictaboutthepower—housewhichhadbeenthesceneofthelandfight。Themonsterhadanairofquietandassuredpredominance，andfromitssternittrailed，sereneandornamental，alongstreamingflag，thered，black，andyellowofthegreatalliance，theSunriseandtheDragon。Beyond，totheeast，atamuchhigherlevel，hungasecondconsort，andBert，presentlygatheringcourage，wriggledoutandcranedhisnecktofindanotherstillairshipagainstthesunsetinthesouth。
\"Gaw！\"hesaid。\"Beatenandchased！MyGawd！\"
Thefighting，itseemedatfirst，wasquiteoverinNiagaracity，thoughaGermanflagwasstillflyingfromoneshatteredhouse。
Awhitesheetwashoistedabovethepower—house，andthisremainedflyingallthroughtheeventsthatfollowed。ButpresentlycameasoundofshotsandthenGermansoldiersrunning。
Theydisappearedamongthehouses，andthencametwoengineersinblueshirtsandtrousershotlypursuedbythreeJapaneseswordsman。Theforemostofthetwofugitiveswasashapelyman，andranlightlyandwell;thesecondwasasturdylittleman，andratherfat。Herancomicallyinleapsandbounds，withhisplumparmsbentupbyhissideandhisheadthrownback。Thepursuersranwithuniformsanddarkthinmetalandleatherhead—dresses。
Thelittlemanstumbled，andBertgasped，realisinganewhorrorinwar。
Theforemostswordsmanwonthreestridesonhimandwasnearenoughtoslashathimandmissashespurted。
Adozenyardstheyran，andthentheswordsmanslashedagain，andBertcouldhearacrossthewatersalittlesoundlikethemooofanelfincowasthefatlittlemanfellforward。Slashwenttheswordsmanandslashatsomethingonthegroundthattriedtosaveitselfwithineffectualhands。\"Oh，Icarn’t！\"criedBert，nearblubbering，andstaringwithstartingeyes。
Theswordsmanslashedafourthtimeandwentonashisfellowscameupafterthebetterrunner。Thehindmostswordsmanstoppedandturnedback。Hehadperceivedsomemovementperhaps;butatanyratehestood，andeverandagainslashedatthefallenbody。
\"Oo—oo！\"groanedBertateveryslash，andshrankcloserintothebushesandbecameverystill。Presentlycameasoundofshotsfromthetown，andtheneverythingwasquiet，everything，eventhehospital。
Hesawpresentlylittlefiguressheathingswordscomeoutfromthehousesandwalktothedebrisoftheflying—machinesthebombhaddestroyed。Othersappearedwheelingundamagedaeroplanesupontheirwheelsasmenmightwheelbicycles，andsprangintothesaddlesandflappedintotheair。Astringofthreeairshipsappearedfarawayintheeastandflewtowardsthezenith。TheonethathunglowaboveNiagaracitycamestillloweranddroppedaropeladdertopickupmenfromthepower—house。
ForalongtimehewatchedthefurtherhappeningsinNiagaracityasarabbitmightwatchameet。Hesawmengoingfrombuildingtobuilding，tosetfiretothem，ashepresentlyrealised，andheheardaseriesofdulldetonationsfromthewheelpitofthepower—house。SomesimilarbusinesswentonamongtheworksontheCanadianside。Meanwhilemoreandmoreairshipsappeared，andmanymoreflying—machines，untilatlastitseemedtohimnearlyathirdoftheAsiaticfleethadre—assembled。Hewatchedthemfromhisbush，crampedbutimmovable，watchedthemgatherandrangethemselvesandsignalandpickupmen，untilatlasttheysailedawaytowardstheglowingsunset，goingtothegreatAsiaticrendez—vous，abovetheoilwellsofCleveland。Theydwindledandpassedaway，leavinghimalone，sofarashecouldtell，theonlylivingmaninaworldofruinandstrangelonelinessalmostbeyonddescribing。Hewatchedthemrecedeandvanish。Hestoodgapingafterthem。
\"Gaw！\"hesaidatlast，likeonewhorouseshimselffromatrance。
Itwasfarmorethananypersonaldesolationextremitythatfloodedhissoul。Itseemedtohimindeedthatthismustbethesunsetofhisrace。
2
Hedidnotatfirstenvisagehisownplightindefiniteandcomprehensibleterms。Thingshappenedtohimsomuchoflate，hisowneffortshadcountedforsolittle，thathehadbecomepassiveandplanless。HislastschemehadbeentogoroundthecoastofEnglandasadesertdervishgivingrefinedentertainmenttohisfellow—creatures。Fatehadquashedthat。Fatehadseenfittodirecthimtootherdestinies，hadhurriedhimfrompointtopoint，anddroppedhimatlastuponthislittlewedgeofrockbetweenthecataracts。Itdidnotinstantlyoccurtohimthatnowitwashisturntoplay。Hehadasingularfeelingthatallmustendasadreamends，thatpresentlysurelyhewouldbebackintheworldofGrubbandEdnaandBunHill，thatthisroar，thisglitteringpresenceofincessantwater，wouldbedrawnasideasacurtainisdrawnasideafteraholidaylanternshow，andoldfamiliar，customarythingsre—assumetheirsway。ItwouldbeinterestingtotellpeoplehowhehadseenNiagara。AndthenKurt’swordscameintohishead:\"Peopletornawayfromthepeopletheycarefor;homessmashed，creaturesfulloflifeandmemoriesandpeculiarlittlegifts——torntopieces，starved，andspoilt。\"……
Hewondered，halfincredulous，ifthatwasindeedtrue。Itwassohardtorealiseit。OutbeyondtherewasitpossiblethatTomandJessicawerealsoinsomedireextremity？thatthelittlegreen—grocer’sshopwasnolongerstandingopen，withJessicaservingrespectfully，warmingTom’searinsharpasides，orpunctuallysendingoutthegoods？
Hetriedtothinkwhatdayoftheweekitwas，andfoundhehadlosthisreckoning。PerhapsitwasSunday。Ifso，weretheygoingtochurchor，weretheyhiding，perhapsinbushes？Whathadhappenedtothelandlord，thebutcher，andtoButteridgeandallthosepeopleonDymchurchbeach？Something，heknew，hadhappenedtoLondon——abombardment。Butwhohadbombarded？WereTomandJessicatoobeingchasedbystrangebrownmenwithlongbareswordsandevileyes？Hethoughtofvariouspossibleaspectsofaffliction，butpresentlyonephaseoustedalltheothers。Weretheygettingmuchtoeat？Thequestionhauntedhim，obsessedhim。
Ifonewasveryhungrywouldoneeatrats？
Itdawneduponhimthatapeculiarmiserythatoppressedhimwasnotsomuchanxietyandpatrioticsorrowashunger。Ofcoursehewashungry！
Hereflectedandturnedhisstepstowardsthelittlerefreshmentshedthatstoodneartheendoftheruinedbridge。\"Oughttobesomethin’——\"
Hestrolledrounditonceortwice，andthenattackedtheshutterswithhispocket—knife，reinforcedpresentlybyawoodenstakehefoundconvenientlynear。Atlasthegotashuttertogive，andtoreitbackandstuckinhishead。
\"Grub，\"heremarked，\"anyhow。Leastways——\"
Hegotattheinsidefasteningoftheshutterandhadpresentlythisestablishmentopenforhisexploration。Hefoundseveralsealedbottlesofsterilizedmilk，muchmineralwater，twotinsofbiscuitsandacrockofverystalecakes，cigarettesingreatquantitybutverydry，someratherdryoranges，nuts，sometinsofcannedmeatandfruit，andplatesandknivesandforksandglassessufficientforseveralscoreofpeople。Therewasalsoazinclocker，buthewasunabletonegotiatethepadlockofthis。
\"Shan’tstarve，\"saidBert，\"forabit，anyhow。\"Hesatonthevendor’sseatandregaledhimselfwithbiscuitsandmilk，andfeltforamomentquitecontented。
\"Quiterestful，\"hemuttered，munchingandglancingabouthimrestlessly，\"afterwhatIbeenthrough。
\"Crikey！WOTaday！Oh！WOTaday！\"
Wondertookpossessionofhim。\"Gaw！\"hecried:\"Wotafightit’sbeen！Smashingupthepoorfellers！’Eadlong！Theairships——thefliersandall。IwonderwhathappenedtotheZeppelin？……AndthatchapKurt——Iwonderwhathappenedto’im？
’Ewasagoodsortofchap，wasKurt。\"
Somephantomofimperialsolicitudefloatedthroughhismind。
\"Injia，\"hesaid……
Amorepracticalinterestarose。
\"Iwonderifthere’sanythingtoopenoneofthesetinsofcornedbeef？\"
3
Afterhehadfeasted，Bertlitacigaretteandsatmeditativeforatime。\"WonderwhereGrubbis？\"hesaid;\"Idowonderthat！
Wonderifanyof’emwonderaboutme？\"
Herevertedtohisowncircumstances。\"DessayIshall’avetostoponthisislandforsometime。\"
Hetriedtofeelathiseaseandsecure，butpresentlytheindefinablerestlessnessofthesocialanimalinsolitudedistressedhim。Hebegantowanttolookoverhisshoulder，and，asacorrective，rousedhimselftoexploretherestoftheisland。
Itwasonlyveryslowlythathebegantorealisethepeculiaritiesofhisposition，toperceivethatthebreakingdownofthearchbetweenGreenIslandandthemainlandhadcuthimoffcompletelyfromtheworld。Indeeditwasonlywhenhecamebacktowherethefore—endoftheHohenzollernlaylikeastrandedship，andwascontemplatingtheshatteredbridge，thatthisdawneduponhim。Eventhenitcamewithnosortofshocktohismind，afactamonganumberofotherextraordinaryandunmanageablefacts。HestaredattheshatteredcabinsoftheHohenzollernanditswidow’sgarmentofdishevelledsilkforatime，butwithoutanyideaofitscontaininganylivingthing;itwasallsotwistedandsmashedandentirelyupsidedown。Thenforawhilehegazedattheeveningsky。Acloudhazewasnowappearingandnotanairshipwasinsight。Aswallowflewbyandsnappedsomeinvisiblevictim。\"Likeadream，\"herepeated。
Thenforatimetherapidsheldhismind。\"Roaring。Itkeepsonroaringandsplashin’alwaysandalways。Keepson……\"
Atlasthisinterestsbecamepersonal。\"WonderwhatIoughttodonow？\"
Hereflected。\"Notanidee，\"hesaid。
HewaschieflyconsciousthatafortnightagohehadbeeninBunHillwithnoideaoftravelinhismind，andthatnowhewasbetweentheFallsofNiagaraamidstthedevastationandruinsofthegreatestairfightintheworld，andthatintheintervalhehadbeenacrossFrance，Belgium，Germany，England，Ireland，andanumberofothercountries。Itwasaninterestingthoughtandsuitableforconversation，butofnogreatpracticalutility。
\"Wonder’owIcangetorfthis？\"hesaid。\"Wonderifthereisawayout？Ifnot……rummy！\"
Furtherreflectiondecided，\"IbelieveIgotmyselfinabitofa’olecomingoverthatbridge……
\"Any’ow——gotmeoutofthewayofthemJapanesychaps。Wouldn’t’avetaken’emlongtocutMYfroat。No。Still——\"
HeresolvedtoreturntothepointofLunaIsland。Foralongtimehestoodwithoutstirring，scrutinisingtheCanadianshoreandthewreckageofhotelsandhousesandthefallentreesoftheVictoriaPark，pinknowinthelightofsundown。Notahumanbeingwasperceptibleinthatsceneofheadlongdestruction。
ThenhecamebacktotheAmericansideoftheisland，crossedclosetothecrumpledaluminiumwreckageoftheHohenzollerntoGreenIslet，andscrutinisedthehopelessbreachinthefurtherbridgeandthewaterthatboiledbeneathit。TowardsBuffalotherewasstillmuchsmoke，andnearthepositionoftheNiagararailwaystationthehouseswereburningvigorously。Everythingwasdesertednow，everythingwasstill。Onelittleabandonedthinglayonatransversepathbetweentownandroad，acrumpledheapofclotheswithsprawlinglimbs……
\"’Avealookround，\"saidBert，andtakingapaththatranthroughthemiddleoftheislandhepresentlydiscoveredthewreckageofthetwoAsiaticaeroplanesthathadfallenoutofthestrugglethatendedtheHohenzollern。
