\"Butthen，iftheyarstmetoexplaintheblessedthing？\"
Hereturnedinaworriedwaytotheplans。\"Idon’tbelieveit’sallhere！\"hesaid……
Hegotmoreandmoreperplexedupthereamongthecloudsastowhatheshoulddowiththiswonderfulfindofhis。Atanymoment，sofarasheknewhemightdescendamongheknewnotwhatforeignpeople。
\"It’sthechanceofmylife！\"hesaid。
Itbecamemoreandmoremanifesttohimthatitwasn’t。\"DirectlyIcomedownthey’lltelegraph——putitinthepapers。
Butteridge’llknowofitandcomealong——onmytrack。\"
Butteridgewouldbeaterriblepersontobeonanyone’strack。
Bertthoughtofthegreatblackmoustaches，thetriangularnose，thesearchingbellowandtheglare。Hisafternoon’sdreamofamarvellousseizureandsaleofthegreatButteridgesecretcrumpledupinhismind，dissolved，andvanished。Heawoketosanityagain。
\"Wouldn’tdo。What’sthegoodofthinkingofit？\"HeproceededslowlyandreluctantlytoreplacetheButteridgepapersinpocketsandportfolioashehadfoundthem。Hebecameawareofasplendidgoldenlightupontheballoonabovehim，andofanewwarmthinthebluedomeofthesky。Hestoodupandbeheldthesun，agreatballofblindinggold，settinguponatumbledseaofgold—edgedcrimsonandpurpleclouds，strangeandwonderfulbeyondimagining。Eastwardcloud—landstretchedforever，darklingblue，anditseemedtoBertthewholeroundhemisphereoftheworldwasunderhiseyes。
Thenfar，awayoverthebluehecaughtsightofthreelong，darkshapeslikehurryingfishthatdroveoneaftertheother，asporpoisesfollowoneanotherinthewater。Theywereveryfish—likeindeed——withtails。Itwasanunconvincingimpressioninthatlight。Heblinkedhiseyes，staredagain，andtheyhadvanished。Foralongtimehescrutinisedthoseremotebluelevelsandsawnomore……
\"WonderifIeversawanything，\"hesaid，andthen:\"Thereain’tsuchthings……\"
Downwentthesunanddown，notdivingsteeply，butpassingnorthwardasitsank，andthensuddenlydaylightandtheexpansivewarmthofdaylighthadgonealtogether，andtheindexofthestatoscopequiveredovertoDescente。
3
\"NOWwhat’sgoingto’appen？\"saidBert。
Hefoundthecold，greycloudwildernessrisingtowardshimwithawide，slowsteadiness。Ashesankdownamongthemthecloudsceasedtoseemthesnowcladmountain—slopestheyhadresembledheretofore，becameunsubstantial，confessedanimmensesilentdriftandeddyintheirsubstance。Foramoment，whenhewasnearlyamongtheirtwilightmasses，hisdescentwaschecked。
Thenabruptlytheskywashidden，thelastvestigesofdaylightgone，andhewasfallingrapidlyinaneveningtwilightthroughawhirloffinesnowflakesthatstreamedpasthimtowardsthezenith，thatdriftedinuponthethingsabouthimandmelted，thattouchedhisfacewithghostlyfingers。Heshivered。Hisbreathcamesmokingfromhislips，andeverythingwasinstantlybedewedandwet。
HehadanimpressionofasnowstormpouringwithunexampledandincreasingfuryUPWARD;thenherealisedthathewasfallingfasterandfaster。
Imperceptiblyasoundgrewuponhisears。Thegreatsilenceoftheworldwasatanend。Whatwasthisconfusedsound？
Hecranedhisheadovertheside，concerned，perplexed。
Firstheseemedtosee，andthennottosee。Thenhesawclearlylittleedgesoffoampursuingeachother，andawidewasteofwelteringwatersbelowhim。Farawaywasapilotboatwithabigsailbearingdimblackletters，andalittlepinkish—yellowlight，anditwasrollingandpitching，rollingandpitchinginagale，whilehecouldfeelnowindat，all。Soonthesoundofwaterswasloudandnear。Hewasdropping，dropping——intothesea！
Hebecameconvulsivelyactive。
\"Ballast！\"hecried，andseizedalittlesackfromthefloor，andheaveditoverboard。Hedidnotwaitfortheeffectofthat，butsentanotherafterit。Helookedoverintimetoseeaminutewhitesplashinthedimwatersbelowhim，andthenhewasbackinthesnowandcloudsagain。
Hesentoutquiteneedlesslyathirdsackofballastandafourth，andpresentlyhadtheimmensesatisfactionofsoaringupoutofthedampandchillintotheclear，cold，upperairinwhichthedaystilllingered。\"Thang—God！\"hesaid，withallhisheart。
Afewstarsnowhadpiercedtheblue，andintheeastthereshonebrightlyaprolatemoon。
4
ThatfirstdownwardplungefilledBertwithahauntingsenseofboundlesswatersbelow。Itwasasummer’snight，butitseemedtohim，nevertheless，extraordinarilylong。Hehadafeelingofinsecuritythathefanciedquiteirrationallythesunrisewoulddispel。Alsohewashungry。Hefelt，inthedark，inthelocker，puthisfingersintheRomanpie，andgotsomesandwiches，andhealsoopenedrathersuccessfullyahalf—bottleofchampagne。Thatwarmedandrestoredhim，hegrumbledatGrubbaboutthematches，wrappedhimselfupwarmlyonthelocker，anddozedforatime。Hegotuponceortwicetomakesurethathewasstillsecurelyhighabovethesea。Thefirsttimethemoonlitcloudswerewhiteanddense，andtheshadowoftheballoonranathwartthemlikeadogthatfollowed;afterwardstheyseemedthinner。Ashelaystill，staringupatthehugedarkballoonabove，hemadeadiscovery。His——orratherMr。
Butteridge’s——waistcoatrustledashebreathed。Itwaslinedwithpapers。ButBertcouldnotseetogetthemoutorexaminethem，muchashewishedtodoso……
Hewasawakenedbythecrowingofcocks，thebarkingofdogs，andaclamourofbirds。Hewasdrivingslowlyatalowleveloverabroadlandlitgoldenbysunriseunderaclearsky。Hestaredoutuponhedgeless，well—cultivatedfieldsintersectedbyroads，eachlinedwithcable—bearingredpoles。Hehadjustpassedoveracompact，whitewashed，villagewithastraightchurchtowerandsteepred—tiledroofs。Anumberofpeasants，menandwomen，inshinyblousesandlumpishfootwear，stoodregardinghim，arrestedontheirwaytowork。Hewassolowthattheendofhisropewastrailing。
Hestaredoutatthesepeople。\"Iwonderhowyouland，\"hethought。
\"S’poseIOUGHTtoland？\"
Hefoundhimselfdriftingdowntowardsamono—railline，andhastilyflungouttwoorthreehandfulsofballasttoclearit。
\"Lemmesee！Onemightsayjust’Pre’nez’！WishIknewtheFrenchfortakeholdoftherope！……IsupposetheyareFrench？\"
Hesurveyedthecountryagain。\"MightbeHolland。OrLuxembourg。OrLorraine’sfaras_I_know。Wonderwhatthosebigaffairsoverthereare？Somesortofkiln。
Prosperous—lookingcountry……\"
Therespectabilityofthecountry’sappearanceawakenedansweringchordsinhisnature。
\"Makemyselfabitship—shapefirst，\"hesaid。
Heresolvedtorisealittleandgetridofhiswig（whichnowfelthotonhishead），andsoforth。Hethrewoutabagofballast，andwasastonishedtofindhimselfcareeringupthroughtheairveryrapidly。
\"Blow！\"saidMr。Smallways。\"I’veover—donetheballasttrick……WonderwhenIshallgetdownagain？……brekfus’onboard，anyhow。\"
Heremovedhiscapandwig，fortheairwaswarm，andanimprovidentimpulsemadehimcastthelatterobjectoverboard。
ThestatoscoperespondedwithavigorousswingtoMonte。
\"TheblessedthinggoesupifyouonlyLOOKoverboard，\"heremarked，andassailedthelocker。Hefoundamongotheritemsseveraltinsofliquidcocoacontainingexplicitdirectionsforopeningthathefollowedwithminutecare。Hepiercedthebottomwiththekeyprovidedintheholesindicated，andforthwiththecangrewfromcoldtohotterandhotter，untilatlasthecouldscarcelytouchit，andthenheopenedthecanattheotherend，andtherewashiscocoasmoking，withouttheuseofmatchorflameofanysort。Itwasanoldinvention，butnewtoBert。
Therewasalsohamandmarmaladeandbread，sothathehadareallyverytolerablebreakfastindeed。
Thenhetookoffhisovercoat，forthesunshinewasnowinclinedtobehot，andthatremindedhimoftherustlinghehadheardinthenight。Hetookoffthewaistcoatandexaminedit。\"OldButteridgewon’tlikemeunpickingthis。\"Hehesitated，andfinallyproceededtounpickit。Hefoundthemissingdrawingsofthelateralrotatingplanes，onwhichthewholestabilityoftheflyingmachinedepended。
AnobservantangelwouldhaveseenBertsittingforalongtimeafterthisdiscoveryinastateofintensemeditation。Thenatlastherosewithanairofinspiration，tookMr。Butteridge’sripped，demolished，andransackedwaistcoat，andhurleditfromtheballoonwhenceitfluttereddownslowlyandeddyinglyuntilatlastitcametorestwithacontentedflopuponthefaceofGermantouristsleepingpeacefullybesidetheHohenwegnearWildbad。Alsothissenttheballoonhigher，andsointoapositionstillmoreconvenientforobservationbyourimaginaryangelwhowouldnexthaveseenMr。Smallwaystearopenhisownjacketandwaistcoat，removehiscollar，openhisshirt，thrusthishandintohisbosom，andtearhisheartout——oratleast，ifnothisheart，somelargebrightscarletobject。Iftheobserver，overcomingathrillofcelestialhorror，hadscrutinisedthisscarletobjectmorenarrowly，oneofBert’smostcherishedsecrets，oneofhisessentialweaknesses，wouldhavebeenlaidbare。Itwasared—flannelchest—protector，oneofthoselargequasi—hygienicobjectsthatwithpillsandmedicinestaketheplaceofbeneficialrelicsandimagesamongtheProtestantpeoplesofChristendom。AlwaysBertworethisthing;
itwashischerisheddelusion，basedontheadviceofashillingfortune—telleratMargate，thathewasweakinthelungs。
Henowproceededtounbuttonhisfetish，toattackitwithaperiknife，andtothrustthenew—foundplansbetweenthetwolayersofimitationSaxonyflannelofwhichitwasmade。ThenwiththehelpofMr。Butteridge’ssmallshavingmirrorandhisfoldingcanvasbasinhereadjustedhiscostumewiththegravityofamanwhohastakenanirrevocablestepinlife，buttoneduphisjacket，castthewhitesheetoftheDesertDervishononeside，washedtemperately，shaved，resumedthebigcapandthefurovercoat，and，muchrefreshedbytheseexercises，surveyedthecountrybelowhim。
Itwasindeedaspectacleofincrediblemagnificence。Ifperhapsitwasnotsostrangeandmagnificentasthesunlitcloudlandofthepreviousday，itwasatanyrateinfinitelymoreinteresting。
Theairwasatitsutmostclearnessandexcepttothesouthandsouth—westtherewasnotacloudinthesky。Thecountrywashilly，withoccasionalfirplantationsandbleakuplandspaces，butalsowithnumerousfarms，andthehillsweredeeplyintersectedbythegorgesofseveralwindingriversinterruptedatintervalsbythebanked—uppondsandweirsofelectricgeneratingwheels。Itwasdottedwithbright—looking，steep—roofed，villages，andeachshowedadistinctiveandinterestingchurchbesideitswirelesstelegraphsteeple;hereandtherewerelargechateauxandparksandwhiteroads，andpathslinedwithredand，whitecablepostswereextremelyconspicuousinthelandscape。Therewerewalledenclosureslikegardensandrickyardsandgreatroofsofbarnsandmanyelectricdairycentres。Theuplandsweremottledwithcattle。Atplaceshewouldseethetrackofoneoftheoldrailroads（convertednowtomono—rails）dodgingthroughtunnelsandcrossingembankments，andarushinghumwouldmarkthepassingofatrain。Everythingwasextraordinarilyclearaswellasminute。Onceortwicehesawgunsandsoldiers，andwasremindedofthestirofmilitarypreparationshehadwitnessedontheBankHolidayinEngland;buttherewasnothingtotellhimthatthesemilitarypreparationswereabnormalortoexplainanoccasionalfaintirregularfiringOfgunsthatdrifteduptohim……
\"WishIknewhowtogetdown，\"saidBert，tenthousandfeetorsoaboveitall，andgavehimselftomuchfutiletuggingattheredandwhitecords。Afterwardshemadeasortofinventoryoftheprovisions。Lifeinthehighairwasgivinghimanappallingappetite，anditseemedtohimdiscreetatthisstagetoportionouthissupplyintorations。Sofarashecouldseehemightpassaweekintheair。
Atfirstallthevastpanoramabelowhadbeenassilentasapaintedpicture。Butasthedayworeonandthegasdiffusedslowlyfromtheballoon，itsankearthwardagain，detailsincreased，menbecamemorevisible，andhebegantohearthewhistleandmoanoftrainsandcars，soundsofcattle，buglesandkettledrums，andpresentlyevenmen’svoices。Andatlasthisguide—ropewastrailingagain，andhefounditpossibletoattemptalanding。Onceortwiceastheropedraggedovercableshefoundhishairerectwithelectricity，andoncehehadaslightshock，andsparkssnappedaboutthecar。Hetookthesethingsamongthechancesofthevoyage。Hehadoneideanowveryclearinhismind，andthatwastodroptheirongrapnelthathungfromthering。
Fromthefirstthisattemptwasunfortunate，perhapsbecausetheplacefordescentwasill—chosen。Aballoonshouldcomedowninanemptyopenspace，andhechoseacrowd。Hemadehisdecisionsuddenly，andwithoutproperreflection。Ashetrailed，Bertsawaheadofhimoneofthemostattractivelittletownsintheworld——aclusterofsteepgablessurmountedbyahighchurchtoweranddiversifiedwithtrees，walled，andwithafine，largegatewayopeningoutuponatree—linedhighroad。Allthewiresandcablesofthecountrysideconvergeduponitlikegueststoentertainment。Ithadamosthome—likeandcomfortablequality，anditwasmadegayerbyabundantflags。Alongtheroadaquantityofpeasantfolk，inbigpair—wheeledcartsandafoot，werecomingandgoing，besidesanoccasionalmono—rail，car;andatthecar—junction，underthetreesoutsidethetown，wasabusylittlefairofbooths。Itseemedawarm，human，well—rooted，andaltogetherdelightfulplacetoBert。Hecamelowoverthetree—tops，withhisgrapnelreadytothrowandsoanchorhim——acurious，interested，andinterestingguest，sohisimaginationfiguredit，intheverymiddleofitall。
Hethoughtofhimselfperformingfeatswiththesignlanguageandchancelinguisticsamidstacircleofadmiringrustics……
Andthenthechapterofadverseaccidentsbegan。
Theropemadeitselfunpopularlongbeforethecrowdhadfullyrealisedhisadventoverthetrees。Anelderlyandapparentlyintoxicatedpeasantinashinyblackhat，andcarryingalargecrimsonumbrella，caughtsightofitfirstasittrailedpasthim，andwasseizedwithadiscreditableambitiontokillit。Hepursuedit，brisklywithunpleasantcries。Itcrossedtheroadobliquely，splashedintoapailofmilkuponastall，andslappeditsmilkytailathwartamotor—carloadoffactorygirlshaltedoutsidethetowngates。Theyscreamedloudly。PeoplelookedupandsawBertmakingwhathemeanttobegenialsalutations，butwhattheyconsidered，inviewofthefeminineoutcry，tobeinsultinggestures。Then，thecarhittheroofofthegatehousesmartly，snappedaflagstaff，playedatuneuponsometelegraphwires，andsentabrokenwirelikeawhip—lashtodoitsshareinaccumulatingunpopularity。Bert，byclutchingconvulsively，justescapedbeingpitchedheadlong。Twoyoungsoldiersandseveralpeasantsshoutedthingsiuptohimandshookfistsathimandbegantoruninpursuitashedisappearedoverthewallintothetown。
Admiringrustics，indeed！
Theballoonleaptatonce，inthemannerofballoonswhenpartoftheirweightisreleasedbytouchingdown，withasortofflippancy，andinanothermomentBertwasoverastreetcrowdedwithpeasantsandsoldiers，thatopenedintoabusymarket—square。Thewaveofunfriendlinesspursuedhim。
\"Grapnel，\"saidBert，andthenwithanafterthoughtshouted，\"TETESthere，you！Isay！Isay！TETES。’Engit！\"
Thegrapnelsmasheddownasteeplyslopingroof，followedbyanavalancheofbrokentiles，jumpedthestreetamidstshrieksandcries，andsmashedintoaplate—glasswindowwithanimmenseandsickening，impact。Theballoonrollednauseatingly，andthecarpitched。Butthegrapnelhadnotheld。Itemergedatoncebearingononefluke，witharidiculousairoffastidiousselection，asmallchild’schair，andpursuedbyamaddenedshopman。Itlifteditscatch，swungaboutwithanappearanceofpainfulindecisionamidstaroarofwrath，anddroppeditatlastneatly，andasifbyinspiration，overtheheadofapeasantwomaninchargeofanassortmentofcabbagesinthemarket—place。
Everybodynowwasawareoftheballoon。Everybodywaseithertryingtododgethegrapnelorcatchthetrailrope。Withapendulum—likeswoopthroughthecrowd，thatsentpeopleflyingrightandleftthegrapnelcametoearthagain，triedforandmissedastoutgentlemaninabluesuitandastrawhat，smackedawayatrestlefromunderastallofhaberdashery，madeacyclistsoldierinknickerbockersleaplikeachamois，andsecureditselfuncertainlyamongthehind—legsofasheep——whichmadeconvulsive，ungenerouseffortstofreeitself，andwasdraggedintoapositionofrestagainstastonecrossinthemiddleoftheplace。Theballoonpulledupwithajerk。Inanothermomentascoreofwillinghandsweretuggingitearthward。AtthesameinstantBertbecameawareforthefirsttimeofafreshbreezeblowirgabouthim。
Forsomesecondshestoodstaggeringinthecar，whichnowswayedsickeningly，surveyingtheexasperatedcrowdbelowhimandtryingtocollecthismind。Hewasextraordinarilyastonishedatthisrunofmishaps。Werethepeoplereallysoannoyed？Everybodyseemedangrywithhim。Nooneseemedinterestedoramusedbyhisarrival。Adisproportionateamountoftheoutcryhadtheflavourofimprecation——had，indeedastrongflavourofriot。Severalgreatlyuniformedofficialsincockedhatsstruggledinvaintocontrolthecrowd。Fistsandstickswereshaken。AndwhenBertsawamanontheoutskirtsofthecrowdruntoahaycartandgetabrightlyprongedpitch—fork，andablue—cladsoldierunbucklehisbelt，hisrisingdoubtwhetherthislittletownwasafterallsuchagoodplaceforalandingbecameacertainty。
Hehadclungtothefancythattheywouldmakesomethingofaheroofhim。Nowheknewthathewasmistaken。
Hewasperhapstenfeetabovethepeoplewhenhemadehisdecision。Hisparalysisceased。Heleaptupontheseat，and，atimminentriskoffallingheadlong，releasedthegrapnel—ropefromthetogglethatheldit，sprangontothetrailropeanddisengagedthatalso。Ahoarseshoutofdisgustgreetedthedescentofthegrapnel—ropeandtheswiftleapoftheballoon，andsomething——hefanciedafterwardsitwasaturnip——whizzedbyhishead。Thetrail—ropefolloweditsfellow。Thecrowdseemedtojumpawayfromhim。Withanimmenseandhorrifyingrustletheballoonbrushedagainstatelephonepole，andforatenseinstantheanticipatedeitheranelectricexplosionoraburstingoftheoiledsilk，orboth。Butfortunewaswithhim。
Inanothersecondhewascoweringinthebottomofthecar，andreleasedfromtheweightofthegrapnelandthetworopes，rushinguponcemorethroughtheair。Foratimeheremainedcrouching，andwhenatlasthelookedoutagainthelittletownwasverysmallandtravelling，withtherestoflowerGermany，inacircularorbitroundandroundthecar——oratleastitappearedtobedoingthat。Whenhegotusedtoit，hefoundthisrotationoftheballoonratherconvenient;itsavedmovingaboutinthecar。
5
Lateintheafternoonofapleasantsummerdayintheyear191—，ifonemayborrowamodeofphrasingthatoncefoundfavourwiththereadersofthelateG。P。R。James，asolitaryballoonist——replacing。thesolitaryhorsemanoftheclassicromances——mighthavebeenobservedwendinghiswayacrossFranconiainanorth—easterlydirection，andataheightofabouteleventhousandfeetabovetheseaandstillspindlingslowly。
Hisheadwascranedoverthesideofthecar，andhesurveyedthecountrybelowwithanexpressionofprofoundperplexity;everandagainhislipsshapedinaudiblewords。\"Shootin’atachap，\"forexample，and\"I’llcomedownrightenoughsoonasIfindout’ow。\"OverthesideofthebaskettherobeoftheDesertDervishwashanging，anappealforconsideration，anineffectualwhiteflag。
Hewasnowverydistinctlyawarethattheworldbelowhim，sofarfrombeingthenaivecountrysideofhisearlierimaginingsthatday，sleepilyunconsciousofhimandcapableofbeingamazedandnearlyreverentialathisdescent，wasacutelyirritatedbyhiscareer，andextremelyimpatientwiththecoursehewastaking。——Butindeeditwasnothewhotookthatcourse，buthismasters，thewindsofheaven。Mysteriousvoicesspoketohiminhisear，jerkingthewordsuptohimbymeansofmegaphones，inaweirdandstartlingipanner，inagreatvarietyoflanguages。
Official—lookingpersonshadsignalledtohimbymeansofflagflappingandarmwaving。OnthewholeagutturalvariantofEnglishprevailedinthesentencesthatalightedupontheballoon;chieflyhewastoldto\"gomedownoryouwillbeshot。\"
\"Allverywell，\"saidBert，\"but’ow？\"
Thentheyshotalittlewideofthecar。Latterlyhehadbeenshotatsixorseventimes，andoncethebullethadgonebywithasoundsopersuasivelylikethetearingofsilkthathehadresignedhimselftotheprospectofaheadlongfall。Buteithertheywereaimingnearhimortheyhadmissed，andasyetnothingwastornbuttheairabouthim——andhisanxioussoul。
Hewasnowenjoyingarespitefromtheseattentions，buthefeltitwasatbestaninterlude，andhewasdoingwhathecouldtoappreciatehisposition。Incidentallyhewashavingsomehotcoffeeandpieinanuntidyinadvertentmanner，withaneyeflutteringnervouslyoverthesideofthecar。Atfirsthehadascribedthegrowinginterestinhiscareertohisill—conceivedattempttolandinthebrightlittleuplandtown，butnowhewasbeginningtorealisethatthemilitaryratherthanthecivilarmwasconcernedabouthim。
Hewasquiteinvoluntarilyplayingthatweirdmysteriouspart——thepartofanInternationalSpy。Hewasseeingsecretthings。Hehad，infact，crossedthedesignsofnolessapowerthantheGermanEmpire，hehadblunderedintothehotfocusofWelt—Politik，hewasdriftinghelplesslytowardsthegreatImperialsecret，theimmenseaeronauticparkthathadbeenestablishedataheadlongpaceinFranconiatodevelopsilently，swiftly，andonanimmensescalethegreatdiscoveriesofHunstedtandStossel，andsotogiveGermanybeforeallothernationsafleetofairships，theairpowerandtheEmpireoftheworld。
Later，justbeforetheyshothimdownaltogether，Bertsawthatgreatareaofpassionatework，warmlitintheeveninglight，agreatareaofuplandonwhichtheairshipslaylikeaherdofgrazingmonstersattheirfeed。Itwasavastbusyspacestretchingawaynorthwardasfarashecouldsee，methodicallycutupintonumberedsheds，gasometers，squadencampments，storageareas，interlacedwiththeomnipresentmono—raillines，andaltogetherfreefromoverheadwiresorcables。Everywherewasthewhite，blackandyellowofImperialGermany，everywheretheblackeaglesspreadtheirwings。Evenwithouttheseindications，thelargevigorousneatnessofeverythingwouldhavemarkeditGerman。Vastmultitudesofmenwenttoandfro，manyinwhiteanddrabfatigueuniformsbusyabouttheballoons，othersdrillinginsensibledrab。Hereandthereafulluniformglittered。Theairshipschi6flyengagedhisattention，andheknewatonceitwasthreeofthesehehadseenonthepreviousnight，takingadvantageofthecloudwelkintomanoeuvreunobserved。Theywerealtogetherfish—like。ForthegreatairshipswithwhichGermanyattackedNewYorkinherlastgiganticeffortforworldsupremacy——beforehumanityrealizedthatworldsupremacywasadream——werethelinealdescendantsoftheZeppelinairshipthatflewoverLakeConstancein1906，andoftheLebaudynavigablesthatmadetheirmemorableexcursionsoverParisin1907and1908。
TheseGermanairshipswereheldtogetherbyrib—likeskeletonsofsteelandaluminiumandastoutinelasticcanvasouter—skin，withinwhichwasanimperviousrubbergas—bag，cutupbytransversedissepimentsintofromfiftytoahundredcompartments。Thesewereallabsolutelygastightandfilledwithhydrogen，andtheentireaerostatwaskeptatanylevelbymeansofalonginternalballoonetteofoiledandtoughenedsilkcanvas，intowhichaircouldbeforcedandfromwhichitcouldbepumped。Sotheairshipcouldbemadeeitherheavierorlighterthanair，andlossesofweightthroughtheconsumptionoffuel，thecastingofbombsandsoforth，couldalsobecompensatedbyadmittingairtosectionsofthegeneralgas—bag。Ultimatelythatmadeahighlyexplosivemixture;butinallthesemattersrisksmustbetakenandguardedagainst。Therewasasteelaxistothewholeaffair，acentralbackbonewhichterminatedintheengineandpropeller，andthemenandmagazineswereforwardinaseriesofcabinsundertheexpandedheadlikeforepart。Theengine，whichwasoftheextraordinarilypowerfulPforzheimtype，thatsupremetriumphofGermaninvention，wasworkedbywiresfromthisforepart，whichwasindeedtheonlyreallyhabitablepartoftheship。Ifanythingwentwrong，theengineerswentaftalongaropeladderbeneaththeframe。Thetendencyofthewholeaffairtorollwaspartlycorrectedbyahorizontallateralfinoneitherside，andsteeringwaschieflyeffectedbytwoverticalfins，whichnormallylaybacklikegill—flapsoneithersideofthehead。Itwasindeedamostcompleteadaptationofthefishformtoaerialconditions，thepositionofswimmingbladder，eyes，andbrainbeing，however，belowinsteadofabove。A
striking，andunfish—likefeaturewastheapparatusforwirelesstelegraphythatdangledfromtheforwardcabin——thatistosay，underthechinofthefish。
Thesemonsterswerecapableofninetymilesanhourinacalm，sothattheycouldfaceandmakeheadwayagainstnearlyeverythingexceptthefiercesttornado。Theyvariedinlengthfromeighthundredtotwothousandfeet，andtheyhadacarryingpoweroffromseventytotwohundredtons。HowmanyGermanypossessedhistorydoesnotrecord，butBertcountednearlyeightygreatbulksrecedinginperspectiveduringhisbriefinspection。SuchweretheinstrumentsonwhichshechieflyreliedtosustainherinherrepudiationoftheMonroeDoctrineandherboldbidforashareintheempireoftheNewWorld。Butnotaltogetherdidsherelyonthese;shehadalsoaone—manbomb—throwingDrachenfliegerofunknownvalueamongtheresources。
ButtheDrachenfliegerwereawayinthesecondgreataeronauticparkeastofHamburg，andBertSmallwayssawnothingoftheminthebird’s—eyeviewhetookofiheFranconianestablishmentbeforetheyshothimdownveryneatly。Thebullettorepasthimandmadeasortofpopasitpiercedhisballoon——apopthatwasfollowedbyarustlingsighandasteadydownwardmovement。Andwhenintheconfusionofthemomenthedroppedabagofballast，theGermans，verypolitelybutfirmlyovercamehisscruplesbyshootinghisballoonagaintwice。
CHAPTERIV
THEGERMANAIR—FLEET
1
OfalltheproductionsofthehumanimaginationthatmaketheworldinwhichMr。BertSmallwayslivedconfusinglywonderful，therewasnonequitesostrange，soheadlonganddisturbing，sonoisyandpersuasiveanddangerous，asthemodernisationsofpatriotismproducedbyimperialandinternationalpolitics。Inthesoulofallmenisalikingforkind，aprideinone’sownatmosphere，atendernessforone’sMotherspeechandone’sfamiliarland。BeforethecomingoftheScientificAgethisgroupofgentleandnobleemotionshadbeenafinefactorintheequipmentofeveryworthyhumanbeing，afinefactorthathaditslessamiableaspectinausuallyharmlesshostilitytostrangepeople，andausuallyharmlessdetractionofstrangelands。Butwiththewildrushofchangeinthepace，scope，materials，scale，andpossibilitiesofhumanlifethatthenoccurred，theoldboundaries，theoldseclusionsandseparationswereviolentlybrokendown。Alltheoldsettledmentalhabitsandtraditionsofmenfoundthemselvesnotsimplyconfrontedbynewconditions，butbyconstantlyrenewedandchangingnewconditions。Theyhadnochanceofadaptingthemselves。Theywereannihilatedorpervertedorinflamedbeyondrecognition。
BertSmallways’grandfather，inthedayswhenBunHillwasavillageundertheswayofSirPeterBone’sparent，had\"knownhisplace\"totheuttermostfarthing，touchedhishattohisbetters，despisedandcondescendedtohisinferiors，andhadn’tchangedanideafromthecradletothegrave。HewasKentishandEnglish，andthatmeanthops，beer，dog—rose’s，andthesortofsunshinethatwasbestintheworld。Newspapersandpoliticsandvisitsto\"Lunnon\"weren’tforthelikesofhim。Thencamethechange。
TheseearlierchaptershavegivenanideaofwhathappenedtoBunHill，andhowthefloodofnovelthingshadpouredoveritsdevotedrusticity。BertSmallwayswasonlyoneofcountlessmillionsinEuropeandAmericaandAsiawho，insteadofbeingbornrootedinthesoil，werebornstrugglinginatorrenttheyneverclearlyunderstood。Allthefaithsoftheirfathershadbeentakenbysurprise，andstartledintothestrangestformsandreactions。Particularlydidthefineoldtraditionofpatriotismgetpervertedanddistortedintherushofthenewtimes。
InsteadofthesturdyestablishmentinprejudiceofBert’sgrandfather，towhomtheword\"Frenchified\"wastheultimatetermofcontempt，thereflowedthroughBert’sbrainasquitteringsuccessionofthinlyviolentideasaboutGermancompetition，abouttheYellowDanger，abouttheBlackPeril，abouttheWhiteMan’sBurthen——thatistosay，Bert’spreposterousrighttomuddlefurtherthenaturallyverymuddledpoliticsoftheentirelysimilarlittlecadstohimself（exceptforasmearofbrown）whosmokedcigarettesandrodebicyclesinBuluwayo，Kingston（Jamaica），orBombay。ThesewereBert’s\"SubjectRaces，\"andhewasreadytodie——byproxyinthepersonofanyonewhocaredtoenlist——tomaintainhisholduponthatright。