Sotheyplanned，anditseemedasmallandunimportantthingtothemthatastheyclatteredthegovernmentsofhalftheworldandmoreweredriftingintowar。Aboutmiddaytheybecameawareofthefirstoftheevening—paperplacardsshoutingtothemacrossthestreet:——
THEWAR—CLOUDDARKENS
Nothingelsebutthat。
\"Alwaysrottin’aboutwarnow，\"saidBert。
\"They’llgetitintheneckinrealearnestoneofthesedays，iftheyain’tpreciouscareful。\"
4
SoyouwillunderstandthesuddenapparitionthatsurprisedratherthandelightedthequietinformalityofDymchurchsands。
DymchurchwasoneofthelastplacesonthecoastofEnglandtobereachedbythemono—rail，andsoitsspacioussandswerestill，atthetimeofthisstory，thesecretanddelightofquitealimitednumberofpeople。Theywenttheretofleevulgarityandextravagances，andtobatheandsitandtalkandplaywiththeirchildreninpeace，andtheDesertDervishesdidnotpleasethematall。
ThetwowhitefiguresonscarletwheelscameuponthemoutoftheinfinitealongthesandsfromLittlestone，grewnearerandlargerandmoreaudible，honk—honkingandemittingweirdcries，andgenerallythreateninglivelinessofthemostaggressivetype。
\"Goodheavens！\"saidDymchurch，\"what’sthis？\"
Thenouryoungmen，accordingtoapreconcertedplan，wheeledroundfromfiletoline，dismountedandstooditattention。
\"Ladiesandgentlemen，\"theysaid，\"webegtopresentourselves——
theDesertDervishes。\"Theybowedprofoundly。
Thefewscatteredgroupsuponthebeachregardedthemwithhorrorforthemostpart，butsomeofthechildrenandyoungpeoplewereinterestedanddrewnearer。\"Thereain’tabobonthebeach，\"
saidGrubbinanundertone，andtheDesertDervishespliedtheirbicycleswithcomic\"business，\"thatgotalaughfromoneveryunsophisticatedlittleboy。Thentheytookadeepbreathandstruckintothecheerfulstrainof\"WhatPriceHair—pinsNow？\"
Grubbsangthesong，Bertdidhisbesttomakethechorusarousingone，andittheendofeachversetheydancedcertainsteps，skirtsinhand，thattheyhadcarefullyrehearsed。
\"Ting—a—ling—a—ting—a—ling—a—ting—a—ling—a—tang……
WhatPriceHair—pinsNow？\"
SotheychantedanddancedtheirstepsinthesunshineonDymchurchbeach，andthechildrendrewnearthesefoolishyoungmen，marvellingthattheyshouldbehaveinthisway，andtheolderpeoplelookedcoldandunfriendly。
AllroundthecoastsofEuropethatmorningbanjoswereringing，voiceswerebawlingandsinging，childrenwereplayinginthesun，pleasure—boatswenttoandfro;thecommonabundantlifeofthetime，unsuspiciousofalldangersthatgathereddarklyagainstit，flowedonitscheerfulaimlessway。Inthecitiesmenfussedabouttheirbusinessesandengagements。Thenewspaperplacardsthathadcried\"wolf！\"sooften，cried\"wolf！\"nowinvain。
5
NowasBertandGrubbbawledtheirchorusforthethirdtime，theybecameawareofaverybig，golden—brownballoonlowintheskytothenorth—west，andcomingrapidlytowardsthem。
\"Jestaswe’regettin’holdof’em，\"mutteredGrubb，\"upcomesacounter—attraction。Goit，Bert！\"
\"Ting—a—ling—a—ting—a—ling—a—ting—a—ling—a—tangWhatPriceHair—pinsNow？\"
Theballoonroseandfell，wentoutofsight——\"landed，thankgoodness，\"saidGrubb——re—appearedwithaleap。\"’ENG！\"saidGrubb。\"Stepit，Bert，orthey’llseeit！\"
Theyfinishedtheirdance，andthenstoodfranklystaring。
\"There’ssomethingwrongwiththatballoon，\"saidBert。
Everybodynowwaslookingattheballoon，drawingrapidlynearerbeforeabrisknorth—westerlybreeze。Thesonganddancewerea\"deadfrost。\"Nobodythoughtanymoreaboutit。EvenBertandGrubbforgotit，andignoredthenextitemontheprogrammealtogether。Theballoonwasbumpingasthoughitsoccupantsweretryingtoland;itwouldapproach，sinkingslowly，touchtheground，andinstantlyjumpfiftyfeetorsointheairandimmediatelybegintofallagain。Itscartouchedaclumpoftrees，andtheblackfigurethathadbeenstrugglingintheropesfellback，orjumpedback，intothecar。Inanothermomentitwasquiteclose。Itseemedahugeaffair，asbigasahouse，anditfloateddownswiftlytowardsthesands;alongropetrailedbehindit，andenormousshoutscamefromthemaninthecar。Heseemedtobetakingoffhisclothes，thenhisheadcameoverthesideofthecar。\"Catchholdoftherope！\"theyheard，quiteplain。
\"Salvage，Bert！\"criedGrubb，andstartedtoheadofftherope。
Bertfollowedhim，andcollided，withoutupsetting，withafishermanbentuponasimilarerrand。Awomancarryingababyinherarms，twosmallboyswithtoyspades，andastoutgentlemaninflannelsallgottothetrailingropeataboutthesametime，andbegantodanceoveritintheirattemptstosecureit。Bertcameuptothiswriggling，elusiveserpentandgothisfootonit，wentdownonallfoursandachievedagrip。Inhalfadozensecondsthewholediffusedpopulationofthebeachhad，asitwere，crystallisedontherope，andwaspullingagainsttheballoonunderthevehementandstimulatingdirectionsofthemaninthecar。\"Pull，Itellyou！\"saidthemaninthecar——\"pull！\"
Forasecondorsothebtlloonobeyeditsmomentumandthewindandtuggeditshumananchorseaward。Itdropped，touchedthewater，andmadeaflat，silverysplash，andrecoiledasone’sfingerrecoilswhenonetouchesanythinghot。\"Pullherin，\"
saidthemaninthecar。\"SHE’SFAINTED！\"
Heoccupiedhimselfwithsomeunseenobjectwhilethepeopleontheropepulledhimin。Bertwasnearesttheballoon，andmuchexcitedandinterested。HekeptstumblingoverthetailoftheDervishcostumeinhiszeal。Hehadneverimaginedbeforewhatabig，light，wallowingthingaballoonwas。Thecarwasofbrowncoarsewicker—work，andcomparativelysmall。Theropehetuggedatwasfastenedtoastout—lookingring，fourorfivefeetabovethecar。Ateachtughedrewinayardorsoofrope，andthewagglingwicker—workwasdrawnsomuchnearer。Outofthecarcamewrathfulbellowings:\"Fainted，shehas！\"andthen:\"It’sherheart——brokenwithallshe’shadtogothrough。\"
Theballoonceasedtostruggle，andsankdownward。Bertdroppedtherope，andranforwardtocatchitinanewplace。Inanothermomenthehadhishandonthecar。\"Layholdofit，\"saidthemanintheear，andhisfaceappearedclosetoBert’s——astrangelyfamiliarface，fierceeyebrows，aflattishnose，ahugeblackmoustache。Hehaddiscardedcoatandwaistcoat——perhapswithsomeideaofpresentlyhavingtoswimforhislife——andhisblackhairwasextraordinarilydisordered。\"Willallyoupeoplegetholdroundthecar？\"hesaid。\"There’saladyherefainted——
orgotfailureoftheheart。Heavenaloneknowswhich！MynameisButteridge。Butteridge，mynameis——inaballoon。Nowplease，allontotheedge。ThisisthelasttimeItrustmyselftooneofthesepaleolithiccontrivances。Theripping—cordfailed，andthevalvewouldn’tact。IfeverImeetthescoundrelwhooughttohaveseen——\"
Hestuckhisheadoutbetweentheropesabruptly，andsaid，inanoteofearnestexpostulation:\"Getsomebrandy！——someneatbrandy！\"Someonewentupthebeachforit。
Inthecar，sprawlinguponasortofbed—bench，inanattitudeofelaborateself—abandonment，wasalarge，blondlady，wearingafurcoatandabigfloriferoushat。Herheadlolledbackagainstthepaddedcornerofthecar，andhereyeswereshutandhermouthopen。\"Medear！\"saidMr。Butteridge，inacommon，loudvoice，\"we’resafe！\"
Shegavenosign。
\"Medear！\"saidMr。Butteridge，inagreatlyintensifiedloudvoice，\"we’resafe！\"
Shewasstillquiteimpassive。
ThenMr。Butteridgeshowedthefierycoreofhissoul。\"Ifsheisdead，\"hesaid，slowlyliftingafisttowardstheballoonabovehim，andspeakinginanimmensetremulousbellow——\"ifsheisdead，Iwillr—r—rendtheheavenslikeagarment！Imustgetherout，\"hecried，hisnostrilsdilatedwithemotion—\"Imustgetherout。Icannothaveherdieinawicker—workbasketninefeetsquare——shewhowasmadeforkings’palaces！Keepholtofthiscar！IsthereastrongmanamongyetotakeherifIhandherout？\"
Heswepttheladytogetherbyapowerfulmovementofhisarms，andliftedher。\"Keepthecarfromjumping，\"hesaidtothosewhoclusteredabouthim。\"Keepyourweightonit。Sheisnolightwoman，andwhensheisoutofit——itwillberelieved。\"
Bertleaptlightlyintoasittingpositionontheedgeofthecar。Theotherstookafirmergripupontheropesandring。
\"Areyouready？\"saidMr。Butteridge。
Hestooduponthebed—benchandliftedtheladycarefully。ThenhesatdownonthewickeredgeoppositetoBert，andputonelegovertodangleoutside。Aropeorsoseemedtoincommodehim。
\"Willsomeoneassistme？\"hesaid。\"Iftheywouldtakethislady？\"
Itwasjustatthismoment，withMr。Butteridgeandtheladybalancedfinelyonthebasketbrim，thatshecame—to。Shecame—tosuddenlyandviolentlywithaloud，heart—rendingcryof\"Alfred！Saveme！\"Andshewavedherarmssearchingly，andthenclaspedMr。Butteridgeabout。
ItseemedtoBertthatthecarswayedforamomentandthenbuck—jumpedandkickedhim。Alsohesawthebootsoftheladyandtherightlegofthegentlemandescribingarcsthroughtheair，preparatorytovanishingoverthesideofthecar。Hisimpressionswerecomplex，buttheyalsocomprehendedthefactthathehadlosthisbalance，andwasgoingtostandonhisheadinsidethiscreakingbasket。Hespreadoutclutchingarms。Hedidstandonhishead，moreorless，histow—beardcameoffandgotinhismouth，andhischeekslidalongagainstpadding。Hisnoseburieditselfinabagofsand。Thecargaveaviolentlurch，andbecamestill。
\"Confoundit！\"hesaid。
Hehadanimpressionhemustbestunnedbecauseofasurginginhisears，andbecauseallthevoicesofthepeopleabouthimhadbecomesmallandremote。Theywereshoutinglikeelvesinsideahill。
Hefounditalittledifficulttogetonhisfeet。HislimbsweremixedupwiththegarmentsMr。Butteridgehaddiscardedwhenthatgentlemanhadthoughthemustneedsplungeintothesea。
Bertbawledouthalfangry，halfrueful，\"Youmighthavesaidyouweregoingtotipthebasket。\"Thenhestoodupandclutchedtheropesofthecarconvulsively。
Belowhim，farbelowhim，shiningblue，werethewatersoftheEnglishChannel。Faroff，alittlethinginthesunshine，andrushingdownasifsomeonewasbendingithollow，wasthebeachandtheirregularclusterofhousesthatconstitutesDymchurch。
Hecouldseethelittlecrowdofpeoplehehadsoabruptlyleft。
Grubb，inthewhitewrapperofaDesertDervish，wasrunningalongtheedgeofthesea。Mr。Butteridgewasknee—deepinthewater，bawlingimmensely。Theladywassittingupwithherfloriferoushatinherlap，shockinglyneglected。Thebeach，eastandwest，wasdottedwithlittlepeople——theyseemedallheadsandfeet——lookingup。Andtheballoon，releasedfromthetwenty—fivestoneorsoofMr。Butteridgeandhislady，wasrushingupintotheskyatthepaceofaracingmotor—car。\"Mycrikey！\"saidBert;\"here’sago！\"
Helookeddownwithapinchedfaceattherecedingbeach，andreflectedthathewasn’tgiddy;thenhemadeasuperficialsurveyofthecordsandropesabouthimwithavagueideaof\"doingsomething。\"\"I’mnotgoingtomessaboutwiththething，\"hesaidatlast，andsatdownuponthemattress。\"I’mnotgoingtotouchit……Iwonderwhatoneoughttodo？\"
Soonhegotupagainandstaredforalongtimeitthesinkingworldbelow，atwhitecliffstotheeastandflatteningmarshtotheleft，ataminutewideprospectofwealdanddownland，atdimtownsandharboursandriversandribbon—likeroads，atshipsandships，decksandforeshortenedfunnelsupontheever—wideningsea，andatthegreatmono—railbridgethatstraddledtheChannelfromFolkestonetoBoulogne，untilatlast，firstlittlewispsandthenaveiloffilmycloudhidtheprospectfromhiseyes。
Hewasn’tatallgiddynorverymuchfrightened，onlyinastateofenormousconsternation。
CHAPTERIII
THEBALLOON
I
BertSmallwayswasavulgarlittlecreature，thesortofpert，limitedsoulthattheoldcivilisationoftheearlytwentiethcenturyproducedbythemillionineverycountryoftheworld。
Hehadlivedallhislifeinnarrowstreets，andbetweenmeanhouseshecouldnotlookover，andinanarrowcircleofideasfromwhichtherewasnoescape。Hethoughtthewholedutyofmanwastobesmarterthanhisfellows，gethishands，asheputit，\"onthedibs，\"andhaveagoodtime。Hewas，infact，thesortofmanwhohadmadeEnglandandAmericawhattheywere。Theluckhadbeenagainsthimsofar，butthatwasbytheway。HewasamereaggressiveandacquisitiveindividualwithnosenseoftheState，nohabitualloyalty，nodevotion，nocodeofhonour，nocodeevenofcourage。Nowbyacuriousaccidenthefoundhimselfliftedoutofhismarvellousmodernworldforatime，outofalltherushandconfusedappealsofit，andfloatinglikeathingdeadanddisembodiedbetweenseaandsky。ItwasasifHeavenwasexperimentingwithhim，hadpickedhimoutasasamplefromtheEnglishmillions，tolookathimmorenearly，andtoseewhatwashappeningtothesoulofman。ButwhatHeavenmadeofhiminthatcaseIcannotprofesstoimagine，forIhavelongsinceabandonedalltheoriesabouttheidealsandsatisfactionsofHeaven。
Tobealoneinaballoonataheightoffourteenorfifteenthousandfeet——andtothatheightBertSmallwayspresentlyroseislikenothingelseinhumanexperience。Itisoneofthesupremethingspossibletoman。Noflyingmachinecaneverbetterit。Itistopassextraordinarilyoutofhumanthings。
Itistobestillandalonetoanunprecedenteddegree。Itissolitudewithoutthesuggestionofintervention;itiscalmwithoutasingleirrelevantmurmur。Itistoseethesky。Nosoundreachesoneofalltheroarandjarofhumanity，theairisclearandsweetbeyondthethoughtofdefilement。Nobird，noinsectcomessohigh。Nowindblowseverinaballoon，nobreezerustles，foritmoveswiththewindandisitselfapartoftheatmosphere。Oncestarted，itdoesnotrocknorsway;youcannotfeelwhetheritrisesorfalls。Bertfeltacutelycold，buthewasn’tmountain—sick;heputonthecoatandovercoatandglovesButteridgehaddiscarded——putthemoverthe\"DesertDervish\"
sheetthatcoveredhischeapbestsuit——andsatverystillforalong，time，overawedbythenew—foundquietoftheworld。
Abovehimwasthelight，translucent，billowingglobeofshiningbrownoiledsilkandtheblazingsunlightandthegreatdeepbluedomeofthesky。
Below，farbelow，wasatornfloorofsunlitcloudslashedbyenormousrentsthroughwhichhesawthesea。
Ifyouhadbeenwatchinghimfrombelow，youwouldhaveseenhishead，amotionlesslittleblackknob，stickingoutfromthecarfirstofallforalongtimeononeside，andthenvanishingtoreappearafteratimeatsomeotherpoint。
Hewasn’tintheleastdegreeuncomfortablenorafraid。Hedidthinkthatasthisuncontrollablethinghadthusrusheduptheskywithhimitmightpresentlyrushdownagain，butthisconsiderationdidnottroublehimverymuch。Essentiallyhisstatewaswonder。Thereisnofearnortroubleinballoons——
untiltheydescend。
\"Gollys！\"hesaidatlast，feelinganeedfortalking;\"it’sbetterthanamotor—bike。
\"It’sallright！
\"Isupposethey’retelegraphingabout，aboutme。\"……
Thesecondhourfoundhimexaminingtheequipmentofthecarwithgreatparticularity。Abovehimwasthethroatoftheballoonbunchedandtiedtogether，butwithanopenlumenthroughwhich，Bertcouldpeerupintoavast，empty，quietinterior，andoutofwhichdescendedtwofinecordsofunknownimport，onewhite，onecrimson，topocketsbelowthering。Thenettingabouttheballoon—endedincordsattachedtothering，abigsteel—boundhoop。towhichthecarwasslungbyropes。Fromitdependedthetrailropeandgrapnel，andoverthesidesofthecarwereanumberofcanvasbagsthatBertdecidedmustbeballastto\"chuckdown\"iftheballoonfell。（\"Notmuchfallingjustyet，\"saidBert。）
Therewereananeroidandanotherbox—shapedinstrumenthangingfromthering。Thelatterhadanivoryplatebearing\"statoscope\"andotherwordsinFrench，andalittleindicatorquiveredandwaggled，betweenMonteeandDescente。\"That’sallright，\"saidBert。\"Thattellsifyou’regoingupordown。\"OnthecrimsonpaddedseatoftheballoontherelayacoupleofrugsandaKodak，andinoppositecornersofthebottomofthecarwereanemptychampagnebottleandaglass。\"Refreshments，\"saidBertmeditatively，tiltingtheemptybottle。Thenhehadabrilliantidea。Thetwopaddedbed—likeseats，eachwithblanketsandmattress，heperceived，wereboxes，andwithinhefoundMr。Butteridge’sconceptionofanadequateequipmentforaballoonascent:ahamperwhichincludedagamepie，aRomanpie，acoldfowl，tomatoes，lettuce，hamsandwiches，shrimpsandwiches，alargecake，knivesandforksandpaperplates，self—heatingtinsofcoffeeandcocoa，bread，butter，andmarmalade，severalcarefullypackedbottlesofchampagne，bottlesofPerrierwater，andabigjarofwaterforwashing，aportfolio，maps，andacompass，arucksackcontaininganumberofconveniences，includingcurling—tongsandhair—pins，，acapwithear—flaps，andsoforth。
\"A’omefrom’ome，\"saidBert，surveyingthisprovisionashetiedtheear—flapsunderhischin。Helookedoverthesideofthecar。Farbelowweretheshiningclouds。Theyhadthickenedsothatthewholeworldwashidden。Southwardtheywerepiledingreatsnowymasses，sothathewashalfdisposedtothinkthemmountains;northwardandeastwardtheywereinwavelikelevels，andblindinglysunlit。
\"Wonderhowlongaballoonkeepsup？\"hesaid。
Heimaginedhewasnotmoving，soinsensiblydidthemonsterdriftwiththeairaboutit。\"Nogoodcomingdowntillweshiftabit，\"hesaid。
Heconsultedthestatoscope。
\"StillMonty，\"hesaid。
\"Wonderwhatwouldhappenifyoupulledacord？\"
\"No，\"hedecided。\"Iain’tgoingtomessitabout。\"
Afterwardshedidpullboththeripping—andthevalve—cords，but，asMr。Butteridgehadalreadydiscovered，theyhadfouledafoldofsilkinthethroat。Nothinghappened。Butforthatlittlehitchtheripping—cordwouldhavetorntheballoonopenasthoughithadbeenslashedbyasword，andhurledMr。Smallwaystoeternityattherateofsomethousandfeetasecond。\"Nogo！\"
hesaid，givingitafinaltug。Thenhelunched。
Heopenedabottleofchampagne，which，assoonashecutthewire，blewitscorkoutwithincredibleviolence，andforthemostpartfolloweditintospace。Bert，however，gotaboutatumblerful。\"Atmosphericpressure，\"saidBert，findingauseatlastfortheelementaryphysiographyofhisseventh—standarddays。\"I’llhavetobemorecarefulnexttime。Nogoodwastin’
drink。\"
ThenheroutedaboutformatchestoutiliseMr。Butteridge’scigars;buthereagainluckwasonhisside，andhecouldn’tfindanywherewithtosetlighttothegasabovehim。Orelsehewouldhavedroppedinaflare，asplendidbuttransitorypyrotechnicdisplay。\"’EngoldGrubb！\"saidBert，slappingunproductivepockets。\"’Edidn’toughtto’avekep’mybox。’E’salwayssneakingmatches。\"
Hereposedforatime。Thenhegotup，paddledabout，rearrangedtheballastbagsonthefloor，watchedthecloudsforatime，andturnedoverthemapsonthelocker。Bertlikedmaps，andhespentsometimeintryingtofindoneofFranceortheChannel;
buttheywereallBritishordnancemapsofEnglishcounties。
Thatsethimthinkingaboutlanguagesandtryingtorecallhisseventh—standardFrench。\"JesuisAnglais。C’estunemeprise。
Jesuisarriveparaccidentici，\"hedecideduponasconvenientphrases。ThenitoccurredtohimthathewouldentertainhimselfbyreadingMr。Butteridge’slettersandexamininghispocket—book，andinthismannerhewhiledawaytheafternoon。
2
Hesatuponthepaddedlocker，wrappedaboutverycarefully，fortheair，thoughcalm，wasexhilaratinglycoldandclear。Hewaswearingfirstamodestsuitofbluesergeandalltheunpretendingunderwearofasuburbanyoungmanoffashion，withsandal—likecycling—shoesandbrownstockingsdrawnoverhistrouserends;thentheperforatedsheetpropertoaDesertDervish;thenthecoatandwaistcoatandbigfur—trimmedovercoatofMr。Butteridge;thenalady’slargefurcloak，androundhiskneesablanket。Overhisheadwasatowwig，surmountedbyalargecapofMr。Butteridge’swiththeflapsdownoverhisears。
Andsomefursleeping—bootsofMr。Butteridge’swarmedhisfeet。
Thecaroftheballoonwassmallandneat，somebagsofballasttheuntidiestofitscontents，andhehadfoundalightfolding—tableandputitathiselbow，andonthatwasaglasswithchampagne。Andabouthim，aboveandbelow，wasspace——suchaclearemptinessandsilenceofspaceasonlytheaeronautcanexperience。
Hedidnotknowwherehemightbedrifting，orwhatmighthappennext。HeacceptedthisstateofaffairswithaserenitycreditabletotheSmallways’courage，whichonemightreasonablyhaveexpectedtobeofamoredegenerateandcontemptiblequalityaltogether。Hisimpressionwasthathewasboundtocomedownsomewhere，andthatthen，ifhewasn’tsmashed，someone，some\"society\"perhaps，wouldprobablypackhimandtheballoonbacktoEngland。Ifnot，hewouldaskveryfirmlyfortheBritishConsul。
\"LeconsueloBritannique，\"hedecidedthiswouldbe。\"ApportezmoialeconsueloBritannique，s’ilvousplait，\"hewouldsay，forhewasbynomeansignorantofFrench。Inthemeanwhile，hefoundtheintimateaspectsofMr。Butteridgeaninterestingstudy。
TherewerelettersofanentirelyprivatecharacteraddressedtoMr。Butteridge，andamongothersseverallove—lettersofadevouringsortinalargefemininehand。Thesearenobusinessofours，andoneremarkswithregretthatBertreadthem。
Whenhehadreadthemheremarked，\"Gollys！\"inanawestrickentone，andthen，afteralonginterval，\"Iwonderifthatwasher？
\"Lord！\"
Hemusedforatime。
HeresumedhisexplorationoftheButteridgeinterior。ItincludedanumberofpresscuttingsofinterviewsandalsoseverallettersinGerman，thensomeinthesameGermanhandwriting，butinEnglish。\"Hul—LO！\"saidBert。
Oneofthelatter，thefirsthetook，beganwithanapologytoButteridgefornotwritingtohiminEnglishbefore，andfortheinconvenienceanddelaythathadbeencausedhimbythat，andwentontomatterthatBertfoundexcitingin，thehighestdegree。\"Wecanunderstandentirelythedifficultiesofyourposition，andthatyoushallpossiblybewatchedatthepresentjuncture。——But，sir，wedonotbelievethatanyseriousobstacleswillbeputinyourwayifyouwishedtoendeavourtoleavethecountryandcometouswithyourplansbythecustomaryroutes——eitherviaDover，Ostend，Boulogne，orDieppe。Wefinditdifficulttothinkyouarerightinsupposingyourselftobeindangerofmurderforyourinvaluableinvention。\"
\"Funny！\"saidBert，andmeditated。
Thenhewentthroughtheotherletters。
\"Theyseemtowanthimtocome，\"saidBert，\"buttheydon’tseemhurtingthemselvestoget’im。Orelsethey’reshammingdon’tcaretogethispricesdown。
\"Theydon’tquiteseemtobethegov’ment，\"hereflected，afteraninterval。\"It’smorelikesomefirm’spaper。Allthisprintedstuffatthetop。Drachenflieger。Drachenballons。
Ballonstoffe。Kugelballons。Greektome。
\"Buthewastryingtosellhisblessedsecretabroad。That’sallright。NoGreekaboutthat！Gollys！HereISthesecret！\"
Hetumbledofftheseat，openedthelocker，andhadtheportfolioopenbeforehimonthefolding—table。Itwasfullofdrawingsdoneinthepeculiarflatstyleandconventionalcoloursengineersadopt。And，in，additionthereweresomeratherunder—exposedphotographs，obviouslydonebyanamateur，atclosequarters，oftheactualmachine’smutteringshadmade，initsshedneartheCrystalPalace。Bertfoundhewastrembling。
\"Lord\"hesaid，\"hereamIandthewholeblessedsecretofflying——lostuphereontheroofofeverywhere。
\"Let’ssee！\"Hefelltostudyingthedrawingsandcomparingthemwiththephotographs。Theypuzzledhim。Halfofthemseemedtobemissing。Hetriedtoimaginehowtheyfittedtogether，andfoundtheefforttoogreatforhismind。
\"It’stryin’，\"saidBert。\"IwishI’dbeenbroughtuptotheengineering。IfIcouldonlymakeitout！\"
Hewenttothesideofthecarandremainedforatimestaringwithunseeingeyesatahugeclusterofgreatclouds——aclusterofslowlydissolvingMonteRosas，sunlitbelow。Hisattentionwasarrestedbyastrangeblackspotthatmovedoverthem。Italarmedhim。Itwasablackspotmovingslowlywithhimfarbelow，followinghimdownthere，indefatigably，overthecloudmountains。Whyshouldsuchathingfollowhim？Whatcoulditbe？……
Hehadaninspiration。\"Uvcourse！\"hesaid。Itwastheshadowoftheballoon。Buthestillwatcheditdubiouslyforatime。
Hereturnedtotheplansonthetable。
Hespentalongafternoonbetweenhisstrugglestounderstandthemandfitsofmeditation。HeevolvedaremarkablenewsentenceinFrench。
\"Voici，Mossoo！——JesuisuninventeurAnglais。MonnomestButteridge。Beh。oo。teh。teh。eh。arr。E。deh。geh。eh。
J’avaisicipourvendrelesecretdeleflying—machine。
Comprenez？Vendrepourl’argenttoutsuite，l’argentenmain。
Comprenez？C’estlemachineajouerdansl’air。Comprenez？
C’estlemachineafairel’oiseau。Comprenez？Balancer？
Oui，exactement！Battirl’oiseauenfait，asonproprejeu。Jedesiredevendrececiavotregovernmentnational。Voulezvousmedirecterla？
\"Bitrummy，Iexpect，fromthepointofviewofgrammar，\"saidBert，\"buttheyoughttogetthehangofitallright。