Wewouldn’tbehappyuntiltheydid，andasIsay，’ereweare！\"
Thebird—facedofficershoutedtohimtobequiet，andthenbeganaconversationwiththePrince。
\"Britishcitizen，\"saidBert。\"Youain’tobligedtolisten，butIain’tobligedtoshutup。\"
AndforsometimehecontinuedhisdissertationuponImperialism，militarism，andinternationalpolitics。Buttheirtalkingputhimout，andforatimehewascertainlymerelyrepeatingabusiveterms，\"prancin’nincompoops\"andthelike，oldtermsandnew。
Thensuddenlyherememberedhisessentialgrievance。\"’Owever，look’ere——’ere！——thethingIstartedthistalkaboutiswhere’sthatfoodtherewasinthatshed？That’swhatIwanttoknow。
Whereyouputit？\"
Hepaused。TheywentontalkinginGerman。Herepeatedhisquestion。Theydisregardedhim。Heaskedathirdtimeinamannerinsupportablyaggressive。
Therefellatensesilence。Forsomesecondsthethreeregardedoneanother。ThePrinceeyedBertsteadfastly，andBertquailedunderhiseye。SlowlythePrincerosetohisfeetandthebird—facedofficerjerkedupbesidehim。Bertremainedsquatting。
\"Bequaiat，\"saidthePrince。
Bertperceivedthiswasnomomentforeloquence。
ThetwoGermansregardedhimashecrouchedthere。Deathforamomentseemednear。
ThenthePrinceturnedawayandthetwoofthemwenttowardstheflying—machine。
\"Gaw！\"whisperedBert，andthenutteredunderhisbreathonesinglewordofabuse。Hesatcrouchedtogetherforperhapsthreeminutes，thenhesprangtohisfeetandwentofftowardstheChineseaeronaut’sgunhiddenamongtheweeds。
8
TherewasnopretenceafterthatmomentthatBertwasundertheordersofthePrinceorthathewasgoingonwiththerepairingoftheflying—machine。ThetwoGermanstookpossessionofthatandsettoworkuponit。Bert，withhisnewweaponwentofftotheneighbourhoodofTerrapinRock，andtheresatdowntoexamineit。Itwasashortriflewithabigcartridge，andanearlyfullmagazine。Hetookoutthecartridgescarefullyandthentriedthetriggerandfittingsuntilhefeltsurehehadtheuseofit。
Hereloadedcarefully。Thenherememberedhewashungryandwentoff，gununderhisarm，tohuntinandabouttherefreshmentshed。HehadthesensetoperceivethathemustnotshowhimselfwiththeguntothePrinceandhiscompanion。Solongastheythoughthimunarmedtheywouldleavehimalone，buttherewasnoknowingwhattheNapoleonicpersonmightdoifhesawBert’sweapon。Alsohedidnotgonearthembecauseheknewthatwithinhimselfboiledareservoirofrageandfearthathewantedtoshootthesetwomen。Hewantedtoshootthem，andhethoughtthattoshootthemwouldbeaquitehorriblethingtodo。Thetwosidesofhisinconsistentcivilisationwarredwithinhim。
Neartheshedthekittenturnedupagain，obviouslykeenformilk。Thisgreatlyenhancedhisownangrysenseofhunger。Hebegantotalkashehuntedabout，andpresentlystoodstill，shoutinginsults。HetalkedofwarandprideandImperialism。
\"AnyotherPrincebutyouwouldhavediedwithhismenandhisship！\"hecried。
ThetwoGermansatthemachineheardhisvoicegoingeverandagainamidsttheclamourofthewaters。Theireyesmetandtheysmiledslightly。
Hewasdisposedforatimetositintherefreshmentshedwaitingforthem，butthenitoccurredtohimthatsohemightgetthembothatclosequarters。HestrolledoffpresentlytothepointofLunaIslandtothinkthesituationout。
Ithadseemedacomparativelysimpleoneatfirst，butasheturneditoverinhisminditspossibilitiesincreasedandmultiplied。Boththesemenhadswords，——hadeitherarevolver？
Also，ifheshotthemboth，hemightneverfindthefood！
Sofarhehadbeengoingaboutwiththisgununderhisarm，andasenseoflordlysecurityinhismind，butwhatiftheysawthegunanddecidedtoambushhim？GoatIslandisnearlyallcover，trees，rocks，thickets，andirregularities。
Whynotgoandmurderthembothnow？
\"Icarn’t，\"saidBert，dismissingthat。\"Igottobeworkedup。\"
Butitwasamistaketogetrightawayfromthem。Thatsuddenlybecameclear。Heoughttokeepthemunderobservation，oughtto\"scout\"them。Thenhewouldbeabletoseewhattheyweredoing，whethereitherofthemhadarevolver，wheretheyhadhiddenthefood。Hewouldbebetterabletodeterminewhattheymeanttodotohim。Ifhedidn’t\"scout\"them，presentlytheywouldbeginto\"scout\"him。Thisseemedsoeminentlyreasonablethatheacteduponitforthwith。Hethoughtoverhiscostumeandthrewhiscollarandthetell—taleaeronaut’swhitecapintothewaterfarbelow。Heturnedhiscoatcollaruptohideanygleamofhisdirtyshirt。Thetoolsandnutsinhispocketsweredisposedtoclank，butherearrangedthemandwrappedsomelettersandhispocket—handkerchiefaboutthem。Hestartedoffcircumspectlyandnoiselessly，listeningandpeeringateverystep。Ashedrewnearhisantagonists，muchgruntingandcreakingservedtolocatethem。HediscoveredthemengagedinwhatlookedlikeawrestlingmatchwiththeAsiaticflying—machine。Theircoatswereoff，theirswordslaidaside，theywereworkingmagnificently。
Apparentlytheywereturningitroundandwerehavingagooddealofdifficultywiththelongtailamongthetrees。Hedroppedflatatthesightofthemandwriggledintoalittlehollow，andsolaywatchingtheirexertions。Everandagain，topassthetime，hewouldcoveroneorotherofthemwithhisgun。
Hefoundthemquiteinterestingtowatch，sointerestingthatattimeshecamenearshoutingtoadvisethem。Heperceivedthatwhentheyhadthemachineturnedround，theywouldthenbeinimmediatewantofthenutsandtoolshecarried。Thentheywouldcomeafterhim。Theywouldcertainlyconcludehehadthemorhadhiddenthem。Shouldhehidehisgunanddoadealforfoodwiththesetools？Hefelthewouldnotbeabletopartwiththegunagainnowhehadoncefeltitsreassuringcompany。Thekittenturnedupagainandmadeagreatfusswithhimandlickedandbithisear。
Thesunclamberedtomidday，andoncethatmorninghesaw，thoughtheGermansdidnot，anAsiaticairshipveryfartothesouth，goingswiftlyeastward。
Atlasttheflying—machinewasturnedandstoodpoisedonitswheel，withitshookspointinguptheRapids。Thetwoofficerswipedtheirfaces，resumedjacketsandswords，spokeandborethemselveslikemenwhocongratulatedthemselvesonagoodlaboriousmorning。Thentheywentoffbrisklytowardstherefreshmentshed，thePrinceleading。Bertbecameactiveinpursuit;buthefounditimpossibletostalkthemquicklyenoughandsilentlyenoughtodiscoverthehiding—placeofthefood。Hefoundthem，whenhecameintosightofthemagain，seatedwiththeirbacksagainsttheshed，platesonknee，andatinofcornedbeefandaplatefulofbiscuitsbetweenthem。Theyseemedinfairlygoodspirits，andoncethePrincelaughed。AtthisvisionofeatingBert’splansgaveway。Fiercehungercarriedhim。Heappearedbeforethemsuddenlyatadistanceofperhapstwentyyards，guninhand。
\"’Andsup！\"hesaidinahard，ferociousvoice。
ThePrincehesitated，andthenupwenttwopairsofhands。
Thegunhadsurprisedthembothcompletely。
\"Standup，\"saidBert……\"Dropthatfork！\"
Theyobeyedagain。
\"Whatnex’？\"saidBerttohimself。\"’Orfstage，Isuppose。Thatway，\"hesaid。\"Go！\"
ThePrinceobeyedwithremarkablealacrity。Whenhereachedtheheadoftheclearing，hesaidsomethingquicklytothebird—facedmanandtheyboth，withanentirelackofdignity，RAN！
Bertwasstruckwithanexasperatingafterthought。
\"Gord！\"hecriedwithinfinitevexation。\"Why！Ioughtto’avetooktheirswords！’Ere！\"
ButtheGermanswerealreadyoutofsight，andnodoubttakingcoveramongthetrees。Bertfellbackuponimprecations，thenhewentuptotheshed，cursorilyexaminedthepossibilityofaflankattack，puthisgunhandy，andsettowork，withaconvulsivelisteningpausebeforeeachmouthfulonthePrince’splateofcornedbeef。Hehadfinishedthatupandhandeditsgleaningstothekittenandhewasfalling—toonthesecondplateful，whentheplatebrokeinhishand！Hestared，withthefactslowlycreepinguponhimthataninstantbeforehehadheardacrackamongthethickets。Thenhesprangtohisfeet，snatcheduphisguninonehandandthetinofcornedbeefintheother，andfledroundtheshedtotheothersideoftheclearing。Ashedidsocameasecondcrackfromthethickets，andsomethingwentphwit！byhisear。
Hedidn’tstbprunninguntilhewasinwhatseemedtohimastronglydefensiblepositionnearLunaIsland。Thenhetookcover，panting，andcrouchedexpectant。
\"Theygotarevolverafterall！\"hepanted……
\"Wonderiftheygottwo？Ifthey’ave——Gord！I’mdone！
\"Where’sthekitten？Finishin’upthatcornedbeef，Isuppose。
Littlebeggar！\"
9
SoitwasthatwarbeganuponGoatIsland。Itlastedadayandanight，thelongestdayandthelongestnightinBert’slife。HehadtoliecloseandlistenAndwatch。Alsohehadtoschemewhatheshoulddo。Itwasclearnowthathehadtokillthesetwomenifhecould，andthatiftheycould，theywouldkillhim。
Theprizewasfirstfoodandthentheflying—machineandthedoubtfulprivilegeoftrying’torideit。Ifonefailed，onewouldcertainlybekilled;ifonesucceeded，onewouldgetawaysomewhereoverthere。ForatimeBerttriedtoimaginewhatitwaslikeoverthere。Hismindranoverpossibilities，deserts，angryAmericans，Japanese，Chinese——perhapsRedIndians！（WeretherestillRedIndians？）
\"Gottotakewhatcomes，\"saidBert。\"NowayoutofitthatI
cansee！\"
Wasthatvoices？Herealisedthathisattentionwaswandering。
Foratimeallhissenseswereveryalert。TheuproaroftheFallswasveryconfusing，anditmixedinallsortsofsounds，likefeetwalking，likevoicestalking，likeshoutsandcries。
\"Sillygreatcatarac’，\"saidBert。\"Thereain’tnosenseinit，fallin’andfallin’。\"
Nevermindthat，now！WhatweretheGermansdoing？
Wouldtheygobacktotheflying—machine？Theycouldn’tdoanythingwithit，becausehehadthosenutsandscrewsandthewrenchandothertools。Butsupposetheyfoundthesecondsetoftoolshehadhiddeninatree！Hehadhiddenthethingswell，ofcourse，buttheyMIGHTfindthem。Onewasn’tsure，ofcourse——onewasn’tsure。Hetriedtorememberjustexactlyhowhehadhiddenthosetools。Hetriedtopersuadehimselftheywerecertainlyandsurelyhidden，buthismemorybegantoplayantics。Hadhereallyleftthehandleofthewrenchstickingout，shiningoutattheforkofthebranch？
Ssh！Whatwasthat？Someonestirringinthosebushes？Upwentanexpectantmuzzle。No！Wherewasthekitten？No！Itwasjustimagination，noteventhekitten。
TheGermanswouldcertainlymissandhuntaboutforthetoolsandnutsandscrewshecarriedinhispockets;thatwasclear。，Thentheywoulddecidehehadthemandcomeforhim。Hehadonlytoremainstillundercover，therefore，andhewouldgetthem。
Wasthereanyflawinthat？Wouldtheytakeoffmoreremovablepartsoftheflying—machineandthenlieupforhim？No，theywouldn’tdothat，becausetheyweretwotoone;theywouldhavenoapprehensionofhisgettingoffintheflying—machine，andnosoundreasonforsupposinghewouldapproachit，andsotheywoulddonothingtodamageordisableit。Thathedecidedwasclear。Butsupposetheylayupforhimbythefood。Well，thattheywouldn’tdo，becausetheywouldknowhehadthiscornedbeef;therewasenoughinthiscantolast，withmoderation，severaldays。Ofcoursetheymighttrytotirehimoutinsteadofattackinghim——
Herousedhimselfwithastart。Hehadjustgraspedtherealweaknessofhisposition。Hemightgotosleep！
Itneededbuttenminutesunderthesuggestionofthatidea，beforeherealisedthathewasgoingtosleep！
Herubbedhiseyesandhandledhisgun。HehadneverbeforerealisedtheintenselysoporificeffectoftheAmericansun，oftheAmericanair，thedrowsy，sleep—compellinguproarofNiagara。
Hithertothesethingshadonthewholeseemedstimulating……
Ifhehadnoteatensomuchandeatenitsofast，hewouldnotbesoheavy。Arevegetariansalwaysbright？……
Herousedhimselfwithajerkagain。
Ifhedidn’tdosomething，hewouldfallasleep，andifhefellasleep，itwastentoonetheywouldfindhimsnoring，andfinishhimforthwith。Ifhesatmotionlessandnoiseless，hewouldinevitablysleep。Itwasbetter，hetoldhimself，totakeeventherisksofattackingthanthat。Thissleeptrouble，hefelt，wasgoingtobeathim，mustbeathimintheend。Theywereallright;onecouldsleepandtheothercouldwatch。That，cometothinkofit，waswhattheywouldalwaysdo;onewoulddoanythingtheywanteddone，theotherwouldlieundercovernearathand，readytoshoot。Theymighteventraphimlikethat。Onemightactasadecoy。
Thatsethimthinkingofdecoys。Whatafoolhehadbeentothrowhiscapaway。Itwouldhavebeeninvaluableonastick——
especiallyatnight。
Hefoundhimselfwishingforadrink。Hesettledthatforatimebyputtingapebbleinhismouth。Andthenthesleepcravingreturned。
Itbecamecleartohimhemustattack。Likemanygreatgeneralsbeforehim，hefoundhisbaggage，thatistosayhistinofcornedbeef，aseriousimpedimenttomobility。Atlasthedecidedtoputthebeeflooseinhispocketandabandonthetin。
Itwasnotperhapsanidealarrangement，butonemustmakesacrificeswhenoneiscampaigning。Hecrawledperhapstenyards，andthenforatimethepossibilitiesofthesituationparalysedhim。
Theafternoonwasstill。Theroarofthecataractsimplythrewupthatimmensestillnessinrelief。Hewasdoinghisbesttocontrivethedeathoftwobettermenthanhimself。Alsotheyweredoingtheirbesttocontrivehis。What，behindthissilence，weretheydoing。
Supposehecameuponthemsuddenlyandfired，andmissed？
10
Hecrawled，andhaltedlistening，andcrawledagainuntilnightfall，andnodoubttheGermanAlexanderandhislieutenantdidthesame。AlargescalemapofGoatIslandmarkedwithredandbluelinestoshowthesestrategicmovementswouldnodoubthavedisplayedmuchinterlacing，butasamatteroffactneithersidesawanythingoftheotherthroughoutthatage—longdayoftediousalertness。Bertneverknewhownearhegottothemnorhowfarhekeptfromthem。Nightfoundhimnolongersleepy，butathirst，andneartheAmericanFall。HewasinspiredbytheideathathisantagonistsmightbeinthewreckageoftheHohenzollerncabinsthatwasjammedagainstGreenIsland。Hebecameenterprising，brokefromanyattempttoconcealhimself，andwentacrossthelittlebridgeatthedouble。Hefoundnobody。Itwashisfirstvisittothesehugefragmentsofairships，andforatimeheexploredthemcuriouslyinthedimlight。Hediscoveredtheforwardcabinwasnearlyintact，withitsdoorslantingdownwardandacornerunderwater。Hecreptin，drank，andthenwasstruckbythebrilliantideaofshuttingthedoorandsleepingonit。
Butnowhecouldnotsleepatall。
Henoddedtowardsmorningandwokeuptofinditfullyday。Hebreakfastedoncornedbeefandwater，andsatforalongtimeappreciativeofthesecurityofhisposition。Atlasthebecameenterprisingandbold。Hewould，hedecided，settlethisbusinessforthwith，onewayortheother。Hewastiredofallthiscrawling。Hesetoutinthemorningsunshine，guninhand，scarcelytroublingtowalksoftly。Hewentroundtherefreshmentshedwithoutfindinganyone，andthenthroughthetreestowardstheflying—machine。Hecameuponthebird—facedmansittingonthegroundwithhisbackagainstatree，bentupoverhisfoldedarms，sleeping，hisbandageverymuchoveroneeye。
Bertstoppedabruptlyandstoodperhapsfifteenyardsaway，guninhandready。WherewasthePrince？Then，stickingoutatthesideofthetreebeyond，hesawashoulder。Berttookfivedeliberatepacestotheleft。Thegreatmanbecamevisible，leaningupagainstthetrunk，pistolinonehandandswordintheother，andyawning——yawning。Youcan’tshootayawningmanBertfound。Headvanceduponhisantagonistwithhisgunlevelled，somefoolishfancyof\"handsup\"inhismind。ThePrincebecameawareofhim，theyawningmouthshutlikeatrapandhestoodstifflyup。Bertstopped，silent。Foramomentthetworegardedoneanother。
HadthePrincebeenawisemanhewould，Isuppose，havedodgedbehindthetree。Instead，hegaveventtoashout，andraisedpistolandsword。Atthat，likeanautomaton，Bertpulledhistrigger。
Itwashisfirstexperienceofanoxygen—containingbullet。A
greatflamespurtedfromthemiddleofthePrince，ablindingflare，andtherecameathudlikethefiringofagun。SomethinghotandwetstruckBert’sface。Thenthroughawhirlofblindingsmokeandsteamhesawlimbsandacollapsing，burstbodyflingthemselvestoearth。
Bertwassoastonishedthathestoodagape，andthebird—facedofficermighthavecuthimtotheearthwithoutastruggle。Butinsteadthebird—facedofficerwasrunningawaythroughtheundergrowth，dodgingashewent。Bertrousedhimselftoabriefineffectualpursuit，buthehadnostomachforfurtherkilling。
Hereturnedtothemangled，scatteredthingthathadsorecentlybeenthegreatPrinceKarlAlbert。Hesurveyedthescorchedandsplashedvegetationaboutit。Hemadesomespeculativeidentifications。Headvancedgingerlyandpickedupthehotrevolver，tofindallitschambersstrainedandburst。Hebecameawareofacheerfulandfriendlypresence。Hewasgreatlyshockedthatonesoyoungshouldseesofrightfulascene。
\"’Ere，Kitty，\"hesaid，\"thisain’tnoplaceforyou。\"
Hemadethreestridesacrossthedevastatedarea，capturedthekittenneatly，andwenthiswaytowardstheshed，withherpurringloudlyonhisshoulder。
\"YOUdon’tseemtomind，\"hesaid。
Foratimehefussedabouttheshed，andatlastdiscoveredtherestoftheprovisionshiddenintheroof。\"Seems’ard，\"hesaid，asheadministeredasaucerfulofmilk，\"whenyougetthreemenina’olelikethis，theycan’tworktogether。But’imand’isprincingwasjestabittoothick！\"
\"Gaw！\"hereflected，sittingonthecounterandeating，\"whatathinglifeis！’EreamI;Iseen’ispicture，’eard’isnamesinceIwasakidinfrocks。PrinceKarlAlbert！Andifanyone’adtolemeIwasgoingtoblowlimtosmithereens——there！I
shouldn’t’avebelievedit，Kitty。
\"ThatchapatMargitoughtto’avetolemeaboutit。All’etolemewasthatIgotaweakchess。
\"Thatotherchap，’eain’tgoingtodomuch。WonderwhatIoughttodoabout’im？\"
Hesurveyedthetreeswithakeenblueeyeandfingeredthegunonhisknee。\"Idon’tlikethiskilling，Kitty，\"hesaid。\"It’slikeKurtsaidaboutbeingblooded。Seemstomeyougottobebloodedyoung……IfthatPrince’adcomeuptomeandsaid，’Shake’ands！’I’d’aveshook’ands……Now’ere’sthatotherchap，dodgingabout！’E’sgot’is’ead’urtalready，andthere’ssomethingwrongwithhisleg。Andburns。Golly！itisn’tthreeweeksagoIfirstseteyeson’im，andthen’ewassmartandsetup——’andsfullof’air—brushesandthings，andswearin’atme。A
regulargentleman！Now’e’s’arfwaytoawildman。WhatamItodowith’im？Whatthe’ellamItodowith’im？Ican’tleave’im’avethatflying—machine;that’sabittoogood，andifI
don’tkill’im，’e’lljest’angaboutthisislandandstarve……
\"’E’sgotasword，ofcourse\"……
Heresumedhisphilosophisingafterhehadlitacigarette。
\"War’sasillygaim，Kitty。It’sasillygaim！Wecommonpeople——wewerefools。Wethoughtthosebigpeopleknewwhattheywereupto——andtheydidn’t。Lookatthatchap！’E’adallGermanybe’ind’im，andwhat’as’emadeofit？Smeshin’andblunderin’anddestroyin’，andthere’e’is！Jestamessofbloodandbootsandthings！Jestan’orridsplash！PrinceKarlAlbert！Andallthemen’eledandtheships’e’ad，theairships，andthedragon—fliers——allscatteredlikeapaper—chasebetweenthis’oleandGermany。Andfightin’goingonandburnin’
andkillin’that’estarted，warwithoutendallovertheworld！
\"IsupposeIshall’avetokillthatotherchap。IsupposeI
must。Butitain’tatallthesortofjobIfancy，Kitty！\"
Foratimehehuntedabouttheislandamidsttheuproarofthewaterfall，lookingforthewoundedofficer，andatlasthestartedhimoutofsomebushesneartheheadofBiddleStairs。
Butashesawthebentandbandagedfigureinlimpingflightbeforehim，hefoundhisCockneysoftnesstoomuchforhimagain;
hecouldneithershootnorpursue。\"Icarn’t，\"hesaid，\"that’sflat。I’aven’tthegutsforit！’E’ll’avetogo。\"
Heturnedhisstepstowardstheflying—machine……
Heneversawthebird—facedofficeragain，noranyfurtherevidenceofhispresence。Towardseveninghegrewfearfulofambushesandhuntedvigorouslyforanhourorso，butinvain。
HesleptinagooddefensiblepositionattheextremityoftherockypointthatrunsouttotheCanadianFall，andinthenighthewokeinpanicterrorandfiredhisgun。Butitwasnothing。
Hesleptnomorethatnight。Inthemorninghebecamecuriouslyconcernedforthevanishedman，andhuntedforhimasonemightforanerringbrother。
\"IfIknewsomeGerman，\"hesaid，\"I’d’oller。It’sjestnotknowingGermandoesit。Youcan’texplain’\"
Hediscovered，later，tracesofanattempttocrossthegapinthebrokenbridge。Aropewithaboltattachedhadbeenflungacrossandhadcaughtinafenestrationofaprojectingfragmentofrailing。Theendoftheropetrailedintheseethingwatertowardsthefall。
Butthebird—facedofficerwasalreadyrubbingshoulderswithcertaininertmatterthathadoncebeenLieutenantKurtandtheChineseaeronautandadeadcow，andmuchotheruncongenialcompany，inthehugecircleoftheWhirlpooltwoandaquartermilesaway。Neverhadthatgreatgatheringplace，thatincessant，aimless，unprogressivehurryofwasteandbatteredthings，beensocrowdedwithstrangeandmelancholyderelicts。
Roundtheywentandround，andeverydaybroughtitsnewcontributions，lucklessbrutes，shatteredfragmentsofboatandflying—machine，endlesscitizensfromthecitiesupontheshoresofthegreatlakesabove。MuchcamefromCleveland。Itallgatheredhere，andwhirledaboutindefinitely，andoveritallgathereddailyagreaterabundanceofbirds。
CHAPTERX
THEWORLDUNDERTHEWAR
1
BertspenttwomoredaysuponGoatIsland，andfinishedallhisprovisionsexceptthecigarettesandmineralwater，beforehebroughthimselftotrytheAsiaticflying—machine。
Evenatlasthedidnotsomuchgooffuponitasgetcarriedoff。Ithadtakenonlyanhourorsotosubstitutewingstaysfromthesecondflying—machineandtoreplacethenutshehadhimselfremoved。Theenginewasinworkingorder，anddifferedonlyverysimplyandobviouslyfromthatofacontemporarymotor—bicycle。Therestofthetimewastakenupbyavastmusinganddelayingandhesitation。ChieflyhesawhimselfsplashingintotherapidsandwhirlingdownthemtotheFall，clutchinganddrowning，butalsohehadavisionofbeinghopelesslyintheair，goingfastandunabletoground。
Hismindwastooconcentrateduponthebusinessofflyingforhimtothinkverymuchofwhatmighthappentoanindefinite—spiritedCockneywithoutcredentialwhoarrivedonanAsiaticflying—machineamidstthewar—infuriatedpopulationbeyond。
Hestillhadalingeringsolicitudeforthebird—facedofficer。
HehadahauntingfancyhemightbelyingdisabledorbadlysmashedinsomewayinsomenookorcrannyoftheIsland;anditwasonlyafteramostexhaustivesearchthatheabandonedthatdistressingidea。\"IfIfound’im，\"hereasonedthewhile，\"whatcouldIdowiv’im？Youcan’tblowachap’sbrainsoutwhen’e’sdown。AndIdon’see’owelseIcan’elp’im。\"
Thenthekittenbotheredhishighlydevelopedsenseofsocialresponsibility。\"IfIleave’er，she’llstarve……Oughttocatchmicefor’erself……AREtheremice？……Birds？……She’stooyoung……She’slikeme;she’sabittoocivilised。\"
Finallyhestuckherinhissidepocketandshebecamegreatlyinterestedinthememoriesofcornedbeefshefoundthere。Withherinhispocket，heseatedhimselfinthesaddleoftheflying—machine。Big，clumsythingitwas——andnotabitlikeabicycle。Stilltheworkingofitwasfairlyplain。Yousettheenginegoing——SO;kickedyourselfupuntilthewheelwasvertical，SO;engagedthegyroscope，SO，andthen——then——youjustpulledupthislever。
Ratherstiffitwas，butsuddenlyitcameover——
Thebigcurvedwingsoneithersideflappeddisconcertingly，flappedagain’click，clock，click，clock，clitter—clock！
Stop！Thethingwasheadingforthewater;itswheelwasinthewater。Bertgroanedfromhisheartandstruggledtorestorethelevertoitsfirstposition。Click，clock，clitter—clock，hewasising！Themachinewasliftingitsdrippingwheeloutoftheeddies，andhewasgoingup！Therewasnostoppingnow，nogoodinstoppingnow。InanothermomentBert，clutchingandconvulsiveandrigid，withstaringeyesandafacepaleasdeath，wasflappingupabovetheRapids，jerkingtoeveryjerkofthewings，andrising，rising。
Therewasnocomparisonindignityandcomfortbetweenaflying—machineandaballoon。Exceptinitsmomentsofdescent，theballoonwasavehicleoffaultlessurbanity;thiswasabuck—
—jumpingmule，amulethatjumpedupandnevercamedownagain。
