Itkepthimawakeatnightstothinkthathemightloseit。
TheessentialfactofthepoliticsoftheageinwhichBertSmallwayslived——theagethatblunderedatlastintothecatastropheoftheWarintheAir——wasaverysimpleone，ifonlypeoplehadhadtheintelligencetobesimpleaboutit。ThedevelopmentofSciencehadalteredthescaleofhumanaffairs。
Bymeansofrapidmechanicaltraction，ithadbroughtmennearertogether，somuchnearersocially，economically，physically，thattheoldseparationsintonationsandkingdomswerenolongerpossible，anewer，widersynthesiswasnotonlyneeded，butimperativelydemanded。JustastheonceindependentdukedomsofFrancehadtofuseintoanation，sonowthenationshadtoadaptthemselvestoawidercoalescence，theyhadtokeepwhatwaspreciousandpossible，andconcedewhatwasobsoleteanddangerous。Asanerworldwouldhaveperceivedthispatentneedforareasonablesynthesis，wouldhavediscussedittemperately，achievedandgoneontoorganisethegreatcivilisationthatwasmanifestlypossibletomankind。TheworldofBertSmallwaysdidnothingofthesort。Itsnationalgovernments，itsnationalinterests，wouldnothearofanythingsoobvious;theyweretoosuspiciousofeachother，toowantingingenerousimaginations。
Theybegantobehavelikeill—bredpeopleinacrowdedpubliccar，tosqueezeagainstoneanother，elbow，thrust，disputeandquarrel。Vaintopointouttothemthattheyhadonlytorearrangethemselvestobecomfortable。Everywhere，allovertheworld，thehistorian，oftheearlytwentiethcenturyfindsthesamething，theflowandrearrangementofhumanaffairsinextricablyentangledbytheoldareas，theoldprejudicesandasortofheatedirasciblestupidity，andeverywherecongestednationsininconvenientareas，sloppingpopulationandproduceintoeachother，annoyingeachotherwithtariffs，andeverypossiblecommercialvexation，andthreateningeachotherwithnaviesandarmiesthatgreweveryyearmoreportentous。
Itisimpossiblenowtoestimatehowmuchoftheintellectualandphysicalenergyoftheworldwaswastedinmilitarypreparationandequipment，butitwasanenormousproportion。GreatBritainspentuponarmyandnavymoneyandcapacity，thatdirectedintothechannelsofphysicalcultureandeducationwouldhavemadetheBritishthearistocracyoftheworld。Herrulerscouldhavekeptthewholepopulationlearningandexercisinguptotheageofeighteenandmadeabroad—chestedandintelligentmanofeveryBertSmallwaysintheislands，hadtheygiventheresourcestheyspentinwarmaterialtothemakingofmen。Insteadofwhichtheywaggledflagsathimuntilhewasfourteen，incitedhimtocheer，andthenturnedhimoutofschooltobeginthatcareerofprivateenterprisewehavecompactlyrecorded。Franceachievedsimilarimbecilities;Germanywas，ifpossibleworse;Russiaunderthewasteandstressesofmilitarismfesteredtowardsbankruptcyanddecay。AllEuropewasproducingbiggunsandcountlessswarmsoflittleSmallways。TheAsiaticpeopleshadbeenforcedinself—defenceintoalikediversionofthenewpowerssciencehadbroughtthem。Ontheeveoftheoutbreakofthewarthereweresixgreatpowersintheworldandaclusterofsmallerones，eacharmedtotheteethandstrainingeverynervetogetaheadoftheothersindeadlinessofequipmentandmilitaryefficiency。ThegreatpowerswerefirsttheUnitedStates，anationaddictedtocommerce，butrousedtomilitarynecessitiesbytheeffortsofGermanytoexpandintoSouthAmerica，andbythenaturalconsequencesofherownunwaryannexationsoflandintheveryteethofJapan。Shemaintainedtwoimmensefleetseastandwest，andinternallyshewasinviolentconflictbetweenFederalandStategovernmentsuponthequestionofuniviorsalserviceinadefensivemilitia。NextcamethegreatallianceofEasternAsia，aclose—knitcoalescenceofChinaandJapan，advancingwithrapidstridesyearbyyeartopredominanceintheworld’saffairs。ThentheGermanalliancestillstruggledtoachieveitsdreamofimperialexpansion，anditsimpositionoftheGermanlanguageuponaforciblyunitedEurope。Thesewerethethreemostspiritedandaggressivepowersintheworld。FarmorepacificwastheBritishEmpire，perilouslyscatteredovertheglobe，anddistractednowbyinsurrectionarymovementsinIrelandandamongallitsSubjectRaces。Ithadgiventhesesubjectracescigarettes，boots，bowlerhats，cricket，racemeetings，cheaprevolvers，petroleum，thefactorysystemofindustry，halfpeunynewspapersinbothEnglishandthevernacular，inexpensiveuniversitydegrees，motor—bicyclesandelectrictrams;ithadproducedaconsiderableliteratureexpressingcontemptfortheSubjectRaces，andrendereditfreelyaccessibletothem，andithadbeencontenttobelievethatnothingwouldresultfromthesestimulantsbecausesomebodyoncewrote\"theimmemorialeast\";andalso，intheinspiredwordsofKipling——
Eastiseastandwestiswest，Andneverthetwainshallmeet。
Insteadofwhich，Egypt，India，andthesubjectcountriesgenerallyhadproducednewgenerationsinastateofpassionateindignationandtheutmostenergy，activityandmodernity。ThegoverningclassinGreatBritainwasslowlyadaptingitselftoanewconception，oftheSubjectRacesaswakingpeoples，andfindingitseffortstokeeptheEmpiretogetherunderthese，strainsandchangingideasgreatlyimpededbytheentirelysportingspiritwithwhichBertSmallwaysathome（bythemillion）casthisvote，andbythetendencyofhismorehighlycolouredequivalentstobedisrespectfultoirascibleofficials。
Theirimpertinencewasexcessive;itwasnomerestone—throwingandshouting。TheywouldquoteBurnsatthemandMillandDarwinandconfutetheminarguments。
EvenmorepacificthantheBritishEmpirewereFranceanditsallies，theLatinpowers，heavilyarmedstatesindeed，butreluctantwarriors，andinmanywayssociallyandpoliticallyleadingwesterncivilisation。Russiawasapacificpowerperforce，dividedwithinitself，tornbetweenrevolutionariesandreactionarieswhowereequallyincapableofsocialreconstruction，andsosinkingtowardsatragicdisorderofchronicpoliticalvendetta。Wedgedinamongtheseportentouslargerbulks，swayedandthreatenedbythem，thesmallerstatesoftheworldmaintainedaprecariousindependence，eachkeepingitselfarmedasdangerouslyasitsutmostabilitycouldcontrive。
Soitcameaboutthatineverycountryagreatandgrowingbodyofenergeticandinventivemenwasbusiedeitherforoffensiveordefensiveends，inelaboratingtheapparatusofwar，untiltheaccumulatingtensionsshouldreachthebreaking—point。Eachpowersoughttokeepitspreparationssecret，toholdnewweaponsinreserve，toanticipateandlearnthepreparationsofitsrivals。Thefeelingofdangerfromfreshdiscoveriesaffectedthepatrioticimaginationofeverypeopleintheworld。NowitwasrumouredtheBritishhadanoverwhelminggun，nowtheFrenchaninvinciblerifle，nowtheJapaneseanewexplosive，nowtheAmericansasubmarinethatwoulddriveeveryironcladfromtheseas。Eachtimetherewouldbeawarpanic。
Thestrengthandheartofthenationswasgiventothethoughtofwar，andyetthemassoftheircitizenswasateemingdemocracyasheedlessofandunfittedforfighting，mentally，morally，physically，asanypopulationhaseverbeen——or，oneventurestoadd，couldeverbe。Thatwastheparadoxofthetime。Itwasaperiodaltogetheruniqueintheworld’shistory。Theapparatusofwarfare，the，artandmethodoffighting，changedabsolutelyeverydozenyearsinastupendousprogresstowardsperfection，andpeoplegrewlessandlesswarlike，andtherewasnowar。
Andthenatlastitcame。Itcameasasurprisetoalltheworldbecauseitsrealcauseswerehidden。RelationswerestrainedbetweenGermanyandtheUnitedStatesbecauseoftheintenseexasperationofatariffconflictandtheambiguousattitudeoftheformerpowertowardstheMonroeDoctrine，andtheywerestrainedbetweentheUnitedStatesandJapanbecauseoftheperennialcitizenshipquestion。Butinbothcasesthesewerestandingcausesofoffence。Therealdecidingcause，itisnowknown，wastheperfectingofthePforzheimenginebyGermanyandtheconsequentpossibilityofarapidandentirelypracticableairship。AtthattimeGermanywasbyfarthemostefficientpowerintheworld，betterorganisedforswiftandsecretaction，betterequippedwiththeresourcesofmodernscience，andwithherofficialandadministrativeclassesatahigherlevelofeducationandtraining。Thesethingssheknew，andsheexaggeratedthatknowledgetothepitchofcontemptforthesecretcounselsofherneighbours。Itmaybethatwiththehabitofself—confidenceherspyinguponthemhadgrownlessthorough。
Moreover，shehadatraditionofunsentimentalandunscrupulousactionthatvitiatedherinternationaloutlookprofoundly。Withthecomingofthesenewweaponshercollectiveintelligencethrilledwiththesensethatnowhermomenthadcome。Onceagaininthehistoryofprogressitseemedsheheldthedecisiveweapon。Nowshemightstrikeandconquer——beforetheothershadanythingbutexperimentsintheair。
ParticularlyshemuststrikeAmerica，swiftly，becausethere，ifanywhere，laythechanceofanaerialrival。ItwasknownthatAmericapossessedaflying—machineofconsiderablepracticalvalue，developedoutoftheWrightmodel;butitwasnotsupposedthattheWashingtonWarOfficehadmadeanywholesaleattemptstocreateairaerialnavy。Itwasnecessarytostrikebeforetheycoulddoso。Francehadafleetofslownavigables，severaldatingfrom1908，thatcouldmakenopossibleheadwayagainstthenewtype。Theyhadbeenbuiltsolelyforreconnoitringpurposesontheeasternfrontier，theyweremostlytoosmalltocarrymorethanacouple，ofdozenmenwithoutarmsorprovisions，andnotonecoulddofortymiles。anhour。GreatBritain，itseemed，inanaccessofmeanness，temporisedandwrangledwiththeimperialspiritedButteridgeandhisextraordinaryinvention。Thatalsowasnotinplay——andcouldnotbeforsomemonthsattheearliest。FromAsiathere，camenosign。TheGermansexplainedthisbysayingtheyellowpeopleswerewithoutinvention。Noothercompetitorwasworthconsidering。\"Nowornever，\"saidtheGermans——\"noworneverwemayseizetheair——asoncetheBritishseizedtheseas！Whilealltheotherpowersarestillexperimenting。\"
Swiftandsystematicandsecretweretheirpreparations，andtheirplanmostexcellent。Sofarastheirknowledgewent，Americawastheonlydangerouspossibility;America，whichwasalsonowtheleadingtraderivalofGermanyandoneofthechiefbarrierstoherImperialexpansion。SoatoncetheywouldstrikeatAmerica。TheywouldflingagreatforceacrosstheAtlanticheavensandbearAmericadownunwarnedandunprepared。
Altogetheritwasawell—imaginedandmosthopefulandspiritedenterprise，havingregardtotheinformationinthepossessionoftheGermangovernment。Thechancesofitbeingasuccessfulsurprisewereverygreat。Theairshipandtheflying—machinewereverydifferentthingsfromironclads，whichtakeacoupleofyearstobuild。Givenhands，givenplant，theycouldbemadeinnumerablyinafewweeks。Oncetheneedfulparksandfoundrieswereorganised，air—shipsandDracheinfliegercouldbepouredintothesky。Indeed，whenthetimecame，theydidpourintotheskylike，asabitterFrenchwriterputit，fliesrousedfromfilth。
TheattackuponAmericawastobethefirstmoveinthistremendousgame。ButnosoonerhaditstartedthaninstantlytheaeronauticparksweretoproceedtoputtogetherandinflatethesecondfleetwhichwastodominateEuropeandmanoeuvresignificantlyoverLondon，Paris，Rome，St。Petersburg，orwhereverelseitsmoraleffectwasrequired。AWorldSurpriseitwastobe——nolessaWorldConquest;anditiswonderfulhownearthecalmlyadventurousmindsthatplanneditcametosucceedingintheircolossaldesign。
VonSternbergwastheMoltkeofthisWarintheAir，butitwasthecurioushardromanticismofPrinceKarlAlbertthatwonoverthehesitatingEmperortothescheme。PrinceKarlAlbertwasindeedthecentralfigureoftheworlddrama。HewasthedarlingoftheImperialistspiritinGerman，andtheidealofthenewaristocraticfeeling——thenewChivalry，asitwascalled——thatfollowedtheoverthrowofSocialismthroughitsinternaldivisionsandlackofdiscipline，andtheconcentrationofwealthinthehandsofafewgreatfamilies。HewascomparedbyobsequiousflattererstotheBlackPrince，toAlcibiades，totheyoungCaesar。TomanyheseemedNietzsche’sOvermanrevealed。Hewasbigandblondandvirile，andsplendidlynon—moral。ThefirstgreatfeatthatstartledEurope，andalmostbroughtaboutanewTrojanwar，washisabductionofthePrincessHelenaofNorwayandhisblankrefusaltomarryher。ThenfollowedhismarriagewithGretchenKrass，aSwissgirlofpeerlessbeauty。Thencamethegallantrescue，whichalmostcosthimhislife，ofthreedrowningtailorswhoseboathadupsetintheseanearHeligoland。ForthatandhisvictoryovertheAmericanyachtDefender，C。C。I。，theEmperorforgavehimandplacedhimincontrolofthenewaeronauticarmoftheGermanforces。Thishedevelopedwithmarvellousenergyandability，beingresolved，ashesaid，togivetoGermanylandandseaandsky。Thenationalpassionforaggressionfoundinhimitssupremeexponent，andachievedthroughhimitsrealisationinthisastoundingwar。Buthisfascinationwasmorethannational;
allovertheworldhisruthlessstrengthdominatedmindsastheNapoleoniclegendhaddominatedminds。Englishmenturnedindisgustfromtheslow，complex，civilisedmethodsoftheirnationalpoliticstothisuncompromising，forcefulfigure。
Frenchmenbelievedinhim。PoemswerewrittentohiminAmerican。
Hemadethewar。
Quiteequallywiththerestoftheworld，thegeneralGermanpopulationwastakenbysurprisebytheswiftvigouroftheImperialgovernment。Aconsiderableliteratureofmilitaryforecasts，beginningasearlyas1906withRudolfMartin，theauthornotmerelyofabrilliantbookofanticipations，butofaproverb，\"ThefutureofGermanyliesintheair，\"had，however，partiallypreparedtheGermanimaginationforsomesuchenterprise。
2
Ofalltheseworld—forcesandgiganticdesignsBertSmallwaysknewnothinguntilhefoundhimselfintheveryfocusofitallandgapeddownamazedonthespectacleofthatgiantherdofair—
ships。EachoneseemedaslongastheStrand，andasbigaboutasTrafalgarSquare。Somemusthavebeenathirdofamileinlength。Hehadneverbeforeseenanythingsovastanddisciplinedasthistremendouspark。Forthefirsttimeinhislifehereallyhadanintimationoftheextraordinaryandquiteimportantthingsofwhichacontemporarymaygoinignorance。HehadalwaysclungtotheillusionthatGermanswerefat，absurdmen，whosmokedchinapipes，andwereaddictedtoknowledgeandhorsefleshandsauerkrautandindigestiblethingsgenerally。
Hisbird’s—eyeviewwasquitetransitory。Heduckedatthefirstshot;anddirectlyhisballoonbegantodrop，hismindranconfusedlyuponhowhemightexplainhimself，andwhetherheshouldpretendtobeButteridgeornot。\"OLord！\"hegroaned，inanagonyofindecision。Thenhiseyecaughthissandals，andhefeltaspasmofself—disgust。\"They’llthinkI’mabloomin’
idiot，\"hesaid，andthenitwasheroseupdesperatelyandthrewoverthesand—bagandprovokedthesecondandthirdshots。
Itflashedintohishead，ashecoweredinthebottomofthecar，thathemightavoidallsortsofdisagreeableandcomplicatedexplanationsbypretendingtobemad。
Thatwashislastideabeforetheairshipsseemedtorushupabouthimasiftolookathim，andhiscarhitthegroundandboundedandpitchedhimoutonhishead……
Heawoketofindhimselffamous，andtohearavoicecrying，\"Booteraidge！Ja！JaiHerrBooteraidge！Selbst！\"
Hewaslyingonalittlepatchofgrassbesideoneofthemainavenuesoftheaeronauticpark。Theairshipsrecededdownagreatvista，animmenseperspective，andthebluntprowofeachwasadornedwithablackeagleofahundredfeetorsospread。
Downtheothersideoftheavenueranaseriesofgasgenerators，andbighose—pipestrailedeverywhereacrosstheinterveningspace。Closeathandwashisnownearlydeflatedballoonandthecaronitssidelookingminutelysmall，amerebrokentoy，ashrivelledbubble，incontrastwiththegiganticbulkofthenearerairship。Thishesawalmostend—on，risinglikeacliffandslopingforwardtowardsitsfellowontheothersidesoastoovershadowthealleybetweenthem。Therewasacrowdofexcitedpeopleabouthim，bigmenmostlyintightuniforms。Everybodywastalking，andseveralwereshouting，inGerman;heknewthatbecausetheysplashedandaspiratedsoundslikestartledkittens。
Onlyonephrase，repeatedagainandagaincouldherecognize——thenameof\"HerrBooteraidge。\"
\"Gollys！\"saidBert。\"They’vespottedit。\"
\"Besser，\"saidsomeone，andsomerapidGermanfollowed。
Heperceivedthatcloseathandwasafieldtelephone，andthatatallofficerinbluewastalkingthereatabouthim。Anotherstoodclosebesidehimwiththeportfolioofdrawingsandphotographsinhishand。Theylookedroundathim。
\"DoyouspikCherman，HerrBooteraidge？\"
Bertdecidedthathehadbetterbedazed。Hedidhisbesttoseemthoroughlydazed。\"WhereAMI？\"heasked。
Volubilityprevailed。\"DerPrinz，\"wasmentioned。Abuglesoundedfaraway，anditscallwastakenupbyonenearer，andthenbyonecloseathand。Thisseemedtoincreasetheexcitementgreatly。Amono—railcarbumbledpast。Thetelephonebellrangpassionately，andthetallofficerseemedtoengageinaheatedaltercation。ThenheapproachedthegroupaboutBert，callingoutsomethingabout\"mitbringen。\"
Anearnest—faced，emaciatedmanwithawhitemoustacheappealedtoBert。\"HerrBooteraidge，sir，wearechusttostart！\"
\"WhereamI？\"Bertrepeated。
Someoneshookhimbytheothershoulder。\"AreyouHerrBooteraidge？\"heasked。
\"HerrBooteraidge，wearechusttostart！\"repeatedthewhitemoustache，andthenhelplessly，\"Whatisdegoot？Whatcanwedo？\"
Theofficerfromthetelephonerepeatedhissentenceabout\"DerPrinz\"and\"mitbringen。\"Themanwiththemoustachestaredforamoment，graspedanideaandbecameviolentlyenergetic，stoodupandbawleddirectionsatunseenpeople。Questionswereasked，andthedoctoratBert’ssideanswered，\"Ja！Ja！\"severaltimes，alsosomethingabout\"Kopf。\"WithacertainurgencyhegotBertratherunwillinglytohisfeet。TwohugesoldiersingreyadvanceduponBertandseizedholdofhim。\"’Ullo！\"saidBert，startled。\"What’sup？\"
\"Itisallright，\"thedoctorexplained;\"theyaretocarryyou。\"
\"Where？\"askedBert，unanswered。
\"Putyourarmsroundttheir——hals——roundthem！\"
\"Yes！butwhere？\"
\"Holdtight！\"
BeforeBertcoulddecidetosayanythingmorehewaswhiskedupbythetwosoldiers。Theyjoinedhandstoseathim，andhisarmswereputabouttheirnecks。\"Vorwarts！\"Someoneranbeforehimwiththeportfolio，andhewasbornerapidlyalongthebroadavenuebetweenthegasgeneratorsandtheairships，rapidlyandonthewholesmoothlyexceptthatonceortwicehisbearersstumbledoverhose—pipesandnearlylethimdown。
HewaswearingMr。Butteridge’sAlpinecap，andhislittleshoulderswereinMr。Butteridge’sfur—linedovercoat，andhehadrespondedtoMr。Butteridge’sname。Thesandalsdangledhelplessly。Gaw！Everybodyseemedinadevilofahurry。Why？
Hewascarriedjogglingandgapingthroughthetwilight，marvellingbeyondmeasure。
Thesystematicarrangementofwideconvenientspaces，thequantitiesofbusiness—likesoldierseverywhere，theoccasionalneatpilesofmaterial，theubiquitousmono—raillines，andthetoweringship—likehullsabouthim，remindedhimalittleofimpressionshehadgotasaboyonavisittoWoolwichDockyard。
Thewholecampreflectedthecolossalpowerofmodernsciencethathadcreatedit。Apeculiarstrangenesswasproducedbythelownessoftheelectriclight，whichlayupontheground，castingallshadowsupwardsandmakingagrotesqueshadowfigureofhimselfandhisbearersontheairshipsides，fusingallthreeofthemintoamonstrousanimalwithattenuatedlegsandanimmensefan—likehumpedbody。Thelightswereonthegroundbecauseasfaraspossibleallpolesandstandardshadbeendispensedwithtopreventcomplicationswhentheairshipsrose。
Itwasdeeptwilightnow，atranquilblue—skyedevening;
everythingroseoutfromthesplashesoflightuponthegroundintodimtranslucenttallmasses;withinthecavitiesoftheairshipssmallinspectinglampsglowedlikecloud—veiledstars，andmadethemseemmarvellouslyunsubstantial。Eachairshiphaditsnameinblacklettersonwhiteoneitherflank，andforwardtheImperialeaglesprawled，anoverwhelmingbirdinthedimness。
Buglessounded，mono—railcarsofquietsoldiersslitheredburblingby。Thecabinsundertheheadsoftheairshipswerebeinglitup;doorsopenedinthem，andrevealedpaddedpassages。
Nowandthenavoicegavedirectionstoworkersindistinctlyseen。
Therewasamatterofsentinels，gangwaysandalongnarrowpassage，ascrambleoveradisorderofbaggage，andthenBertfoundhimselfloweredtothegroundandstandinginthedoorwayofaspaciouscabin——itwasperhapstenfeetsquareandeighthigh，furnishedwithcrimsonpaddingandaluminium。Atall，bird—likeyoungmanwithasmallhead，alongnose，andverypalehair，withhishandsfullofthingslikeshaving—strops，boot—trees，hair—brushes，andtoilettidies，wassayingthingsaboutGottandthunderandDummerBooteraidgeasBertentered。
Hewasapparentlyanevictedoccupant。Thenhevanished，andBertwaslyingbackonacouchinthecornerwithapillowunderhisheadandthedoorofthecabinshutuponhim。Hewasalone。
Everybodyhadhurriedoutagainastonishingly。
\"Gollys！\"saidBert。\"Whatnext？\"
Hestaredabouthimattheroom。
\"Butteridge！ShallItrytokeepitup，orshan’tI？\"
Theroomhewasinpuzzledhim。\"’Tisn’taprisonand’tisn’tanorfis？\"Thentheoldtroublecameuppermost。\"Iwishto’eavenIadn’tthesesillysandalson，\"hecriedquerulouslytotheuniverse。\"Theygivethewholeblessedshowaway。\"
3
Hisdoorwasflungopen，andacompactyoungmaninuniformappeared，carryingMr。Butteridge’sportfolio，rucksac，andshaving—glass。
\"Isay！\"hesaidinfaultlessEnglishasheentered。Hehadabeamingface，andasortofpinkishblondhair。\"FancyyoubeingButteridge。HeslappedBert’smeagreluggagedown。
\"We’dhavestarted，\"hesaid，\"inanotherhalf—hour！Youdidn’tgiveyourselfmuchtime！\"
HesurveyedBertcuriously。Hisgazerestedforafractionofamomentonthesandals。\"Yououghttohavecomeonyourflying—machine，Mr。Butteridge。\"
Hedidn’twaitforananswer。\"ThePrincesaysI’vegottolookafteryou。Naturallyhecan’tseeyounow，buthethinksyourcoming’sprovidential。LastgraceofHeaven。Likeasign。Hullo！\"
Hestoodstillandlistened。
Outsidetherewasagoingtoandfrooffeet，asoundofdistantbuglessuddenlytakenupandechoedcloseathand，mencalledoutinloudtonesshort，sharp，seeminglyvitalthings，andwereanswereddistantly。Abelljangled，andfeetwentdownthecorridor。Thencameastillnessmoredistractingthansound，andthenagreatgurglingandrushingandsplashingofwater。Theyoungman’seyebrowslifted。Hehesitated，anddashedoutoftheroom。Presentlycameastupendousbangtovarythenoiseswithout，thenadistantcheering。Theyoungmanre—appeared。
\"They’rerunningthewateroutoftheballonettealready。\"
\"Whatwater？\"askedBert。
\"Thewaterthatanchoredus。Artfuldodge。Eh？\"
Berttriedtotakeitin。
\"Ofcourse！\"saidthecompactyoungman。\"Youdon’tunderstand。\"
AgentlequiveringcreptuponBert’ssenses。\"That’stheengine，\"
saidthecompactyoungmanapprovingly。\"Nowweshan’tbelong。\"
Anotherlonglisteninginterval。
Thecabinswayed。\"ByJove！we’restartingalready;\"hecried。
\"We’restarting！\"
\"Starting！\"criedBert，sittingup。\"Where？\"
Buttheyoungmanwasoutoftheroomagain。TherewerenoisesofGermaninthepassage，andothernerve—shakingsounds。
Theswayingincreased。Theyoungmanreappeared。\"We’reoff，rightenough！\"
\"Isay！\"，saidBert，\"wherearewestarting？Iwishyou’dexplain。What’sthisplace？Idon’tunderstand。\"
\"What！\"criedtheyoungman，\"youdon’tunderstand？\"
\"No。I’m’alldazed—likefromthatcrackonthenobIgot。
WhereAREwe？WHEREarewestarting？\"
\"Don’tyouknowwhereyouare——whatthisis？\"
\"Notabitofit！What’salltheswayingandtherow？\"
\"Whatalark！\"criedtheyoungman。\"Isay！Whatathunderinglark！Don’tyouknow？We’reofftoAmerica，andyouhaven’trealised。You’vejustcaughtusbyaneck。You’reontheblessedoldflagshipwiththePrince。Youwon’tmissanything。
Whatever’son，youbettheVaterlandwillbethere。\"
\"Us！——offtoAmerica？\"
\"Ra——ther！
\"Inanairship？\"
\"WhatdoYOUthink？\"
\"Me！goingtoAmericaonanairship！Afterthatballoon！’Ere！
Isay——Idon’twanttogo！Iwanttowalkaboutonmylegs。Letmegetout！Ididn’tunderstand。\"
Hemadeadiveforthedoor。
TheyoungmanarrestedBertwithagesture，tookholdofastrap，liftedupapanelinthepaddedwall，andawindowappeared。
\"Look！\"hesaid。Sidebysidetheylookedout。
\"Gaw！\"saidBert。\"We’regoingup！\"
\"Weare！\"saidtheyoungman，cheerfully;\"fast！\"
Theywererisingintheairsmoothlyandquietly，andmovingslowlytothethroboftheengineathwarttheaeronauticpark。
Downbelowitstretched，dimlygeometricalinthedarkness，pickedoutatregularintervalsbyglow—wormspanglesoflight。
Oneblackgapinthelonglineofgrey，round—backedairshipsmarkedthepositionfromwhichtheVaterlandhadcome。Besideitasecondmonsternowrosesoftly，releasedfromitsbondsandcablesintotheair。Then，takingabeautifullyexactdistance，athirdascended，andthenafourth。
\"Toolate，Mr。Butteridge！\"theyoungmanremarked。\"We’reoff！
Idaresayitisabitofashocktoyou，butthereyouare！ThePrincesaidyou’dhavetocome。\"
\"Look’ere，\"saidBert。\"Ireallyamdazed。What’sthisthing？
Wherearewegoing？\"
\"This，Mr。Butteridge，\"saidtheyoungman，takingpainstobeexplicit，\"isanairship。It’stheflagshipofPrinceKarlAlbert。ThisistheGermanair—fleet，anditisgoingovertoAmerica，togivethatspiritedpeople’whatfor。’Theonlythingwewereatalluneasyaboutwasyourinvention。Andhereyouare！\"
\"But！——youaGerman？\"askedBert。
\"LieutenantKurt。Luft—lieutenantKurt，atyourservice。\"
\"ButyouspeakEnglish！\"
\"MotherwasEnglish——wenttoschoolinEngland。Afterwards，Rhodesscholar。Germannonethelessforthat。Detailedforthepresent，Mr。Butteridge，tolookafteryou。You’reshakenbyyourfall。It’sallright，really。They’regoingtobuyyourmachineandeverything。Yousitdown，andtakeitquitecalmly。
You’llsoongetthehangoftheposition。\"
4
Bertsatdownonthelocker，collectinghismind，andtheyoungmantalkedtohimabouttheairship。