\"Ifwecouldstopthemanotherhour！\"criedthemaninyellow。
\"Nothingcanstopthemnow，\"saidtheoldman。
theyhavenearahundredaeroplanesinthefirstfleet。\"
\"Anotherhour？\"askedGraham。
\"Tobesonear！\"saidtheWardLeader。\"Nowthatwehavefoundthoseguns。Tobesonear——。
Ifoncewecouldgetthemoutupontheroofspaces。\"
\"Howlongwouldthattake？\"askedGrahamsuddenly。
\"Anhour——certainly。\"
\"Toolate，\"criedtheWardLeader，\"toolate。\"
\"Isittoolate？\"saidGraham。\"Evennow——。
Anhour！\"
Hehadsuddenlyperceivedapossibility。Hetriedtospeakcalmly，buthisfacewaswhite。\"Thereisonechance。Yousaidtherewasanaeropile——？\"
\"OntheRoehamptonstage，Sire。\"
\"Smashed？\"
\"No。ItisIyingcrosswaystothecarrier。Itmightbegotupontheguides——easily。Butthereisnoaeronaut——。\"
GrahamglancedatthetwomenandthenatHelen。
Hespokeafteralongpause。\"Wehavenoaeronauts？\"
\"None。\"
\"Theaeroplanesareclumsy，\"hesaidthoughtfully，\"comparedwiththeaeropiles。\"
HeturnedsuddenlytoHelen。Hisdecisionwasmade。\"Imustdoit。\"
\"Dowhat？\"
\"Gotothisflyingstage——tothisaeropile。\"
\"Whatdoyoumean？\"
\"Iamanaeronaut。Afterall——。Thosedaysforwhichyoureproachedmewerewasted。\"
Heturnedtotheoldmaninyellow。
puttheaeropileupontheguides。\"
Themaninyellowhesitated。
\"Whatdoyoumeantodo？\"criedHelen。
\"Thisaeropile——itisachance——。\"
\"Youdon’tmean——？\"
\"Tofight——yes。Tofightintheair。Ihavethoughtbefore——。Anaeroplaneisaclumsything。
Aresoluteman——！\"
\"But——neversinceflyingbegan——\"criedthemaninyellow。
\"Therehasbeennoneed。Butnowthetimehascome。Tellthemnow——sendthemmymessage——toputitupontheguides。\"
Theoldmandumblyinterrogatedthemaninyellow，nodded，andhurriedout。
HelenmadeasteptowardsGraham。Herfacewaswhite。\"But——Howcanonefight？Youwillbekilled。\"
\"Perhaps。Yet，nottodoit——ortoletsomeoneelseattemptit——。\"
Hestopped，hecouldspeaknomore，hesweptthealternativeasidebyagesture，andtheystoodlookingatoneanother。
\"Youareright，\"shesaidatlastinalowtone。
\"Youareright。Ifitcanbedone……
mustgo。\"
ThosedaysfornotaltogetherHemovedasteptowardsher，andshesteppedback，herwhitefacestruggledagainsthimandresistedhim。
\"No，\"shegasped。\"Icannotbear——。Gonow。\"
Heextendedhishandsstupidly。Sheclenchedherfists。\"Gonow，\"shecried。\"Gonow。\"
Hehesitatedandunderstood。Hethrewhishandsupinaqueerhalf—theatricalgesture。Hehadnowordtosay。Heturnedfromher。
Themaninyellowmovedtowardsthedoorwithclumsybelatedtact。ButGrahamsteppedpasthim。
HewentstridingthroughtheroomwheretheWardLeaderbawledatatelephonedirectingthattheaeropileshouldbeputupontheguides。
ThemaninyellowglancedatHelen’sstillfigure，hesitatedandhurriedafterhim。Grahamdidnotoncelookback，hedidnotspeakuntilthecurtainoftheante—chamberofthegreathallfellbehindhim。Thenheturnedhisheadwithcurtswiftdirectionsuponhisbloodlesslips。
CHAPTERXIV
THECOMINGOFTHEAEROPLANES
TwomeninpalebluewereIyingintheirregularlinethatstretchedalongtheedgeofthecapturedRoehamptonstagefromendtoend，graspingtheircarbinesandpeeringintotheshadowsofthestagecalledWimbledonPark。Nowandthentheyspoketooneanother。TheyspokethemutilatedEnglishoftheirclassandperiod。ThefireoftheOstrogiteshaddwindledandceased，andfewoftheenemyhadbeenseenforsometime。Buttheechoesofthefightthatwasgoingonnowfarbelowinthelowergalleriesofthatstage，cameeverynowandthenbetweenthestaccatoofshotsfromthepopularside。Oneofthesemenwasdescribingtotheotherhowhehadseenamandownbelowtheredodgebehindagirder，andhadaimedataguessandhithimcleanlyashedodgedtoofar\"He’sdowntherestill，\"saidthemarksman。
\"Seethatlittlepatch。Yes。Betweenthosebars。\"
Afewyardsbehindthemlayadeadstranger，faceupwardtothesky，withthebluecanvasofhisjacketsmolderinginacircleabouttheneatbulletholeonhischest。Closebesidehimawoundedman，withalegswathedabout，satwithanexpressionlessfaceandwatchedtheprogressofthatburning。Giganticbehindthem，athwartthecarrierlaythecapturedaeropile。
\"Ican’tseehimnow，\"saidthesecondmaninatonofprovocation。
Themarksmanbecamefoul—mouthedandhigh—
voicedinhisearnestendeavourtomakethingsplainAndsuddenly，interruptinghim，cameanoisyshoutingfromthesubstage。
\"What’sgoingonnow，\"hesaid，andraisedhimselfononearmtostareatthestairheadsinthecentralgrooveofthestage。Anumberofbluefigureswerecomingupthese，andswarmingacrossthestagetotheaeropile。
\"Wedon’twantallthesefools，\"saidhisfriend。
\"Theyonlycrowdupandspoilshots。Whataretheyafter？\"
\"Ssh！——they’reshoutingsomething。\"
Thetwomenlistened。Theswarmingnew—comershadcrowdeddenselyabouttheaeropile。ThreeWardLeaders，conspicuousbytheirblackmantlesandbadges，clamberedintothebodyandappearedaboveit。Therankandfileflungthemselvesuponthevans，grippingholdoftheedges，untiltheentireoutlineofthethingwasmanned，insomeplacesthreedeep。Oneofthemarksmenkneltup。\"They’reputtingitonthecarrier——that’swhatthey’reafter。\"
Herosetohisfeet，hisfriendrosealso。\"What’sthegood？\"saidhisfriend。\"We’vegotnoaeronauts。\"
\"That’swhatthey’redoinganyhow。\"Helookedathisrifle，lookedatthestrugglingcrowd，andsuddenlyturningtothewoundedman。\"Mindthese，mate，\"hesaid，handinghiscarbineandcartridgebelt；andinamomenthewasrunningtowardstheaeropile。ForaquarterofanhourhewasaperspiringTitan，lugging，thrusting，shoutingandheedingshouts，andthenthethingwasdone，andhestoodwithamultitudeofotherscheeringtheirownachievement。Bythistimeheknew，whatindeedeveryoneinthecityknew，thattheMaster，rawlearnerthoughhewas，intendedtoflythismachinehimself，wascomingevennowtotakecontrolofit，wouldletnoothermanattemptit。\"Hewhotakesthegreatestdanger，hewhobearstheheaviestburden，thatmanisKing，\"sotheMasterwasreportedtohavespoken。Andevenasthismancheered，andwhilethebeadsofsweatstillchasedoneanotherfromthedisorderofhishair，heheardthethunderofagreatertumult，andinfitfulsnatchesthebeatandimpulseoftherevolutionarysong。Hesawthroughagapinthepeoplethatathickstreamofheadsstillpouredupthestairway。\"TheMasteriscoming，\"shoutedvoices，\"theMasteriscoming，\"andthecrowdabouthimgrewdenseranddenser。Hebegantothrusthimselftowardsthecentralgroove。\"TheMasteriscoming！\"\"TheSleeper，theMaster！\"\"GodandtheMaster！\"roaredtheVoices。
Andsuddenlyquiteclosetohimweretheblackuniformsoftherevolutionaryguard，andforthefirstandlasttimeinhislifehesawGraham，sawhimquitenearly。Atall，darkmaninaflowingblackrobe，withawhite，resolutefaceandeyesfixedsteadfastlybeforehim；amanwhoforallthelittlethingsabouthimheldneitherearsnoreyesnorthoughts……ForallhisdaysthatmanrememberedthepassingofGraham’sbloodlessface。Inamomentithadgoneandhewasfightingintheswayingcrowd。Aladweepingwithterrorthrustagainsthim，pressingtowardsthestairways，yelling\"Clearfortheaeropile！\"Thebellthatclearstheflyingstagebecamealoudunmelodiousclanging。
WiththatclanginginhisearsGrahamdrewneartheaeropile，marchedintotheshadowofitstiltingwing。Hebecameawarethatanumberofpeopleabouthimwereofferingtoaccompanyhim，andwavedtheiroffersaside。Hewantedtothinkhowonestartedtheengine。Thebellclangedfasterandfaster，andthefeetoftheretreatingpeopleroaredfasterandlouder。Themaninyellowwasassistinghimtomountthroughtheribsofthebody。Heclamberedintotheaeronaut’splace，fixinghimselfverycarefullyanddeliberately。Whatwasit？Themaninyellowwaspointingtotwoaeropilesdrivingupwardinthesouthernsky。Nodoubttheywerelookingforthecomingaeroplanes。That——presently——thethingtodonowwastostart。Thingswerebeingshoutedathim，questions，warnings。Theybotheredhim。Hewantedtothinkabouttheaeropile，torecalleveryitemofhispreviousexperience。Hewavedthepeoplefromhim，sawthemaninyellowdroppingoffthroughtheribs，sawthecrowdcleftdownthelineofthegirdersbyhisgesture。
Foramomenthewasmotionless，staringatthelevers，thewheelbywhichtheengineshifted，andallthedelicateappliancesofwhichheknewsolittle。Hiseyecaughtaspiritlevelwiththebubbletowardshim，andherememberedsomething，spentadozensecondsinswingingtheengineforwarduntilthebubblefloatedinthecentreofthetube。Henotedthatthepeoplewerenotshouting，knewtheywatchedhisdeliberation。
Abulletsmashedonthebarabovehishead。Whofired？Wasthelineclearofpeople？Hestooduptoseeandsatdownagain。
Inanothersecondthepropellerwasspinning，andhewasrushingdowntheguides。Hegrippedthewheelandswungtheenginebacktoliftthestem。
Thenitwasthepeopleshouted。Inamomenthewasthrobbingwiththequiveroftheengine，andtheshoutsdwindledswiftlybehind，rusheddowntosilence。
Thewindwhistledovertheedgesofthescreen，andtheworldsankawayfromhimveryswiftly。
Throb，throb，throb——throb，throb，throb；uphedrove。Hefanciedhimselffreeofallexcitement，feltcoolanddeliberate。Heliftedthestemstillmore，openedonevalveonhisleftwingandsweptroundandup。Helookeddownwithasteadyhead，andup。OneoftheOstrogiteaeropileswasdrivingacrosshiscourse，sothathedroveobliquelytowardsitandwouldpassbelowitatasteepangle。Itslittleaeronautswerepeeringdownathim。Whatdidtheymeantodo？
Hismindbecameactive。One，hesawheldaweaponpointing，seemedpreparedtofire。Whatdidtheythinkhemeanttodo？Inamomentheunderstoodtheirtactics，andhisresolutionwastaken。Hismomentarylethargywaspast。Heopenedtwomorevalvestohisleft，swunground，endontothishostilemachine，closedhisvalves，andshotstraightatit，stemandwind—screenshieldinghimfromtheshot。Theytiltedalittleasiftoclearhim。Heflunguphisstem。
Throb，throb，throb——pause——throb，throb——
hesethisteeth，hisfaceintoaninvoluntarygrimace，andcrash！Hestruckit！Hestruckupwardbeneaththenearerwing。
Veryslowlythewingofhisantagonistseemedtobroadenastheimpetusofhisblowturneditup。Hesawthefullbreadthofitandthenitsliddownwardoutofhissight。
Hefelthisstemgoingdown，hishandstightenedonthelevers，whirledandrammedtheengineback。Hefeltthejerkofaclearance，thenoseofthemachinejerkedupwardsteeply，andforamomentheseemedtobeIyingonhisback。Themachinewasreelingandstaggering，itseemedtobedancingonitsscrew。Hemadeahugeeffort，hungforamomentonthelevers，andslowlytheenginecameforwardagain。Hewasdrivingupwardbutnolongersosteeply。Hegaspedforamomentandflunghimselfattheleversagain。Thewindwhistledabouthim。Onefurthereffortandhewasalmostlevel。Hecouldbreathe。Heturnedhisheadforthefirsttimetoseewhathadbecomeofhisantagonists。Turnedbacktotheleversforamomentandlookedagain。Foramomenthecouldhavebelievedtheywereannihilated。
Andthenhesawbetweenthetwostagestotheeastwasachasm，anddownthissomething，aslenderedge，fellswiftlyandvanished，asasixpencefallsdownacrack。
Atfirsthedidnotunderstand，andthenawildjoypossessedhim。Heshoutedatthetopofhisvoice，aninarticulateshout，anddrovehigherandhigherupthesky。Throb，throb，throb，pause，throb，throb，throb。
\"Wherewastheotheraeropile？\"hethought。\"Theytoo——。\"Ashelookedroundtheemptyheavenshehadamomentaryfearthatthismachinehadrisenabovehim，andthenhesawitalightingontheNorwoodstage。Theyhadmeantshooting。Toriskbeingrammedheadlongtwothousandfeetintheairwasbeyondtheirlatter—daycourage。Thecombatwasdeclined。
Foralittlewhilehecircled，thenswoopedinasteepdescenttowardsthewestwardstage。Throbthrobthrob，throbthrobthrob。Thetwilightwascreepingonapace，thesmokefromtheStreathamstagethathadbeensodenseanddark，wasnowapillaroffire，andallthelacedcurvesofthemovingwaysandthetranslucentroofsanddomesandthechasmsbetweenthebuildingswereglowingsoftlynow，litbythetemperedradianceoftheelectriclightthattheglareofthewayoverpowered。ThethreeefficientstagesthattheOstrogitesheld——forWimbledonParkwasuselessbecauseofthefirefromRoehampton，andStreathamwasafurnace——wereglowingwithguidelightsforthecomingaeroplanes。AshesweptovertheRoehamptonstagehesawthedarkmassesofthepeoplethereon。Heheardaclapoffranticcheering，heardabulletfromtheWimbledonParkstagetweetthroughtheair，andwentbeatingupabovetheSurreywastes。
Hefeltabreathofwindfromthesouth—west，andliftedhiswestwardwingashehadlearnttodo，andsodroveupwardheelingintotherareswiftupperair。
Throbthrobthrob——throbthrobthrob。
Uphedroveandup，tothatpulsatingrhythm，untilthecountrybeneathwasblueandindistinct，andLondonspreadlikealittlemaptracedinlight，likethemeremodelofacitynearthebrimofthehorizon。
Thesouth—westwasaskyofsapphireovertheshadowyrimoftheworld，andeverashedroveupwardthemultitudeofstarsincreased。
Andbehold！Inthesouthward，lowdownandglitteringswiftlynearer，weretwolittlepatchesofnebulouslight。Andthentwomore，andthenanebulousglowofswiftlydrivingshapes。Presentlyhecouldcountthem。Therewerefourandtwenty。Thefirstfleetofaeroplaneshadcome！Beyondappearedayetgreaterglow。
Hesweptroundinahalfcircle，staringatthisadvancingfleet。Itflewinawedge—likeshape，atriangularflightofgiganticphosphorescentshapessweepingnearerthroughthelowerair。Hemadeaswiftcalculationoftheirpace，andspunthelittlewheelthatbroughttheengineforward。Hetouchedaleverandthethrobbingeffortoftheengineceased。Hebegantofall，fellswifterandswifter。Heaimedattheapexofthewedge。Hedroppedlikeastonethroughthewhistlingair。Itseemedscarceasecondfromthatsoaringmomentbeforehestrucktheforemostaeroplane。
Nomanofallthatblackmultitudesawthecomingofhisfate，nomanamongthemdreamtofthehawkthatstruckdownwarduponhimoutofthesky。Thosewhowerenotlimpintheagoniesofair—sickness，werecraningtheirblacknecksandstaringtoseethefilmycitythatwasrisingoutofthehaze，therichandsplendidcitytowhich\"MassaBoss\"hadbroughttheirobedientmuscles。Brightteethgleamedandtheglossyfacesshone。TheyhadheardofParis。Theyknewtheyweretohavelordlytimesamongthe\"poorwhite\"trash。AndsuddenlyGrahamstruckthem。
Hehadaimedatthebodyoftheaeroplane，butattheverylastinstantabetterideahadflashedintohismind。Hetwistedaboutandstruckneartheedgeofthestarboardwingwithallhisaccumulatedweight。
Hewasjerkedbackashestruck。Hisprowwentglidingacrossitssmoothexpansetowardstherim。
Hefelttheforwardrushofthehugefabricsweepinghimandhisaeropilealongwithit，andforamomentthatseemedanagehecouldnottellwhatwashappening。
Heheardathousandthroatsyelling，andperceivedthathismachinewasbalancedontheedgeofthegiganticfloat，anddrivingdown，down；glancedoverhisshoulderandsawthebackboneoftheaeroplaneandtheoppositefloatswayingup。Hehadavisionthroughtheribsofslidingchairs，staringfaces，andhandsclutchingatthetiltingguidebars。
Thefenestrationsinthefurtherfloatflashedopenastheaeronauttriedtorighther。Beyond，hesawasecondaeroplaneleapingsteeplytoescapethewhirlofitsheelingfellow。Thebroadareaofswayingwingsseemedtojerkupward。Hefelthisaeropilehaddroppedclear，thatthemonstrousfabric，cleanoverturned，hunglikeaslopingwallabovehim。
Hedidnotclearlyunderstandthathehadstruckthesidefloatoftheaeroplaneandslippedoff，butheperceivedthathewasflyingfreeonthedownglideandrapidlynearingearth。Whathadhedone？Hisheartthrobbedlikeanoisyengineinhisthroatandforaperilousinstanthecouldnotmovehisleversbecauseoftheparalysisofhishands。Hewrenchedtheleverstothrowhisengineback，foughtfortwosecondsagainsttheweightofit，felthimselfrightingdrivinghorizontally，settheenginebeatingagain。
Helookedupwardandsawtwoaeroplanesglideshoutingfaroverhead，lookedback，andsawthemainbodyofthefleetopeningoutandrushingupwardand……
outward；sawtheonehehadstruckfalledgewiseonandstrikelikeagiganticknife—bladealongthewind—
wheelsbelowit。
Heputdownhissternandlookedagain。Hedroveupheedlessofhisdirectionashewatched。Hesawthewind—vanesgive，sawthehugefabricstriketheearth，sawitsdownwardvanscrumplewiththeweightofitsdescent，andthenthewholemassturnedoverandsmashed，upsidedown，upontheslopingwheels。
Throb，throb，throb，pause。Suddenlyfromtheheavingwreckageathintongueofwhitefirelickeduptowardsthezenith。Andthenhewasawareofahugemassflyingthroughtheairtowardshim，andturnedupwardsjustintimetoescapethecharge——ifitwasacharge——ofasecondaeroplane。Itwhirledbybelow，suckedhimdownafathom，andnearlyturnedhimoverinthegustofitsclosepassage。
Hebecameawareofthreeothersrushingtowardshim，awareoftheurgentnecessityofbeatingabovethem。Aeroplaneswereallabouthim，circlingwildlytoavoidhim，asitseemed。Theydrovepasthim，above，below，eastwardandwestward。Farawaytothewestwardwasthesoundofacollision，andtwofallingflares。Farawaytothesouthwardasecondsquadronwascoming。Steadilyhebeatupward。
Presentlyalltheaeroplaneswerebelowhim，butforamomenthedoubtedtheheighthehadofthem，anddidnotswoopagain。Andthenhecamedownuponasecondvictimandallitsloadofsoldierssawhimcoming。
Thebigmachineheeledandswayedasthefearmaddenedmenscrambledtothesternfortheirweapons。Ascoreofbulletssungthroughtheair，andthereflashedastarinthethickglasswind—screenthatprotectedhim。Theaeroplaneslowedanddroppedtofoilhisstroke，anddroppedtoolow。Justintimehesawthewind—wheelsofBromleyhillrushinguptowardshim，andspunaboutandupastheaeroplanehehadchasedcrashedamongthem。Allitsvoiceswoveintoafeltofyelling。Thegreatfabricseemedtobestandingonendforasecondamongtheheelingandsplinteringvans，andthenitflewtopieces。
Hugesplinterscameflyingthroughtheair，itsenginesburstlikeshells。Ahotrushofflameshotoverheadintothedarklingsky。
\"__Two！__\"hecried，withabombfromoverheadburstingasitfell，andforthwithhewasbeatingupagain。
Agloriousexhilarationpossessedhimnow，agiantactivity。Histroublesabouthumanity，abouthisinadaquacy，weregoneforever。Hewasamaninbattlerejoicinginhispower。Aeroplanesseemedradiatingfromhimineverydirection，intentonlyuponavoidinghim，theyellingoftheirpackedpassengerscameinshortgustsastheysweptby。Hechosehisthirdquarry，struckhastilyanddidbutturnitonedge。Itescapedhim，tosmashagainstthetallcliffofLondonwall。FIyingfromthatimpactheskimmedthedarklinggroundsonearlyhecouldseeafrightenedrabbitboltingupaslope。Hejerkedupsteeply，andfoundhimselfdrivingoversouthLondonwiththeairabouthimvacant。TotherightofhimawildriotofsignalrocketsfromtheOstrogitesbangedtumultuouslyinthesky。Tothesouththewreckageofhalfadozenairshipsflamed，andeastandwestandnorththeairshipsfledbeforehim。Theydroveawaytotheeastandnorth，andwentaboutinthesouth，fortheycouldnotpauseintheair。Intheirpresentconfusionanyattemptatevolutionwouldhavemeantdisastrouscollisions。Hecouldscarcelyrealizethethinghehaddone。Ineveryquarteraeroplaneswerereceding。
Theywerereceding。Theydwindledsmallerandsmaller。Theywereinflight！
HepassedtwohundredfeetorsoabovetheRoehamptonstage。Itwasblackwithpeopleandnoisywiththeirfranticshouting。ButwhywastheWimbledonParkstageblackandcheering，too？ThesmokeandflameofStreathamnowhidthethreefurtherstages。Hecurvedaboutandrosetoseethemandthenorthernquarters。FirstcamethesquaremassesofShooter’sHillintosightfrombehindthesmoke，litandorderlywiththeaeroplanethathadlandedanditsdisembarkingnegroes。ThencameBlackheath，andthenunderthecornerofthereektheNorwoodstage。OnBlackheathnoaeroplanehadlandedbutanaeropilelayupontheguides。Norwoodwascoveredbyaswarmoflittlefiguresrunningtoandfroinapassionateconfusion。Why？Abruptlyheunderstood。Thestubborndefenceoftheflyingstageswasover，thepeoplewerepouringintotheunder—waysoftheselaststrongholdsofOstrog’susurpation。Andthen，fromfarawayonthenorthernborderofthecity，fullofgloriousimporttohim，cameasound，asignal，anoteoftriumph，theleadenthudofagun。Hislipsfellapart，hisfacewasdisturbedwithemotion。
Hedrewanimmensebreath。\"Theywin，\"heshoutedtotheemptyair；\"thepeoplewin！\"Thesoundofasecondguncamelikeananswer。AndthenhesawtheaeropileonBlackheathwasrunningdownitsguidestolaunch。Itliftedcleanandrose。
Itshotupintotheair，drivingstraightsouthwardandawayfromhim。
Inaninstantitcametohimwhatthismeant。ItmustneedsbeOstroginflight。Heshoutedanddroppedtowardsit。Hehadthemomentumofhiselevationandfellslantingdowntheairandveryswiftly。Itrosesteeplyathisapproach。Heallowedforitsvelocityanddrovestraightuponit。
Itsuddenlybecameamereflatedge，andbehold！hewaspastit，anddrivingheadlongdownwithalltheforceofhisfutileblow。
Hewasfuriouslyangry。Hereeledtheenginebackalongitsshaftandwentcirclingup。HesawOstrog’smachinebeatingupaspiralbeforehim。Herosestraighttowardsit，wonaboveitbyvirtueoftheimpetusofhisswoopandbytheadvantageandweightofaman。Hedroppedheadlong——droppedandmissedagain！AsherushedpasthesawthefaceofOstrog’saeronautconfidentandcoolandinOstrog’sattitudeawincingresolution。Ostrogwaslookingsteadfastlyawayfromhim——tothesouth。
Herealizedwithagleamofwrathhowbunglinghisflightmustbe。BelowhesawtheCroydenhills。Hejerkedupwardandoncemorehegainedonhisenemy。
Heglancedoverhisshoulderandhisattentionwasarrestedbyastrangething。Theeastwardstage，theoneonShooter’sHill，appearedtolift；aflashchangingtoatallgreyshape，acowledfigureofsmokeandduct，jerkedintotheair。Foramomentthiscowledfigurestoodmotionless，droppinghugemassesofmetalfromitsshoulders，andthenitbegantouncoiladenseheadofsmoke。Thepeoplehadblownitup，aeroplaneandall！AssuddenlyasecondflashandgreyshapesprangupfromtheNorwoodstage。Andevenashestaredatthiscameadeadreport，andtheairwaveofthefirstexplosionstruckhim。Hewasflungupandsideways。
Foramomenttheaeropilefellnearlyedgewisewithhernosedown，andseemedtohesitatewhethertooversetaltogether。Hestoodonhiswind—shieldwrenchingthewheelthatswayedupoverhishead。
Andthentheshockofthesecondexplosiontookhismachinesideways。
Hefoundhimselfclingingtooneoftheribsofhismachine，andtheairwasblowingpasthimandupward。Heseemedtobehangingquitestillintheair，withthewindblowinguppasthim。Itoccurredtohimthathewasfalling。Thenhewassurethathewasfalling。Hecouldnotlookdown。
Hefoundhimselfrecapitulatingwithincredibleswiftnessallthathadhappenedsincehisawakening，thedaysofdoubtthedaysofEmpire，andatlastthetumultuousdiscoveryofOstrog’scalculatedtreachery。
hewasbeatenbutLondonwassaved。Londonwassaved！
Thethoughthadaqualityofutterunreality。Whowashe？Whywasheholdingsotightlywithhishands？Whycouldhenotleavego？Insuchafallasthiscountlessdreamshaveended。Butinamomenthewouldwake……
Histhoughtsranswifterandswifter。HewonderedifheshouldseeHelenagain。Itseemedsounreasonablethatheshouldnotseeheragain。It__must__beadream！Yetsurelyhewouldmeether。Sheatleastwasreal。Shewasreal。Hewouldwakeandmeether。
Althoughhecouldnotlookatit，hewassuddenlyawarethattheearthwasverynear。
End
