Click，clock，click，clock;witheachbeatofthestrangelyshapedwingsitjumpedBertupwardandcaughthimneatlyagainhalfasecondlateronthesaddle。Andwhileinballooningthereisnowind，sincetheballoonisapartofthewind，flyingisawildperpetualcreationofandplungingintowind。Itwasawindthataboveallthingssoughttoblindhim，toforcehimtoclosehiseyes。Itoccurredtohimpresentlytotwisthiskneesand。
legsinwardandgripwiththem，orsurelyhewouldhavebeenbumpedintotwoclumsyhalves。Andhewasgoingup，ahundredyardshigh，twohundred，threehundred，overthestreaming，frothingwildernessofwaterbelow——up，up，up。Thatwasallright，buthowpresentlywouldonegohorizontally？Hetriedtothinkifthesethingsdidgohorizontally。No！Theyflappedupandthentheysoareddown。Foratimehewouldkeeponflappingup。Tearsstreamedfromhiseyes。Hewipedthemwithonetemerariouslydisengagedhand。
Wasitbettertoriskafalloverlandoroverwater——suchwater？
HewasflappingupabovetheUpperRapidstowardsBuffalo。ItwasatanyrateacomfortthattheFallsandthewildswirlofwatersbelowthemwerebehindhim。Hewasflyingupstraight。
Thathecouldsee。Howdidoneturn？
Hewaspresentlyalmostcool，andhiseyesgotmoreusedtotherushofair，buthewasgettingveryhigh，veryhigh。Hetiltedhisheadforwardsandsurveyedthecountry，blinking。HecouldseealloverBuffalo，aplacewiththreegreatblackenedscarsofruin，andhillsandstretchesbeyond。Hewonderedifhewashalfamilehigh，ormore。ThereweresomepeopleamongsomehousesneararailwaystationbetweenNiagaraandBuffalo，andthenmorepeople。Theywentlikeantsbusilyinandoutofthehouses。HesawtwomotorcarsglidingalongtheroadtowardsNiagaracity。
ThenfarawayinthesouthhesawagreatAsiaticairshipgoingeastward。\"Oh，Gord！\"hesaid，andbecameearnestinhisineffectualattemptstoalterhisdirection。Butthatairshiptooknonoticeofhim，andhecontinuedtoascendconvulsively。
Theworldgotmoreandmoreextensiveandmaplike。Click，clock，clitter—clock。Abovehimandveryneartohimnowwasahazystratumofcloud。
Hedeterminedtodisengagethewingclutch。Hedidso。Theleverresistedhisstrengthforatime，thenoveritcame，andinstantlythetailofthemachinecockedupandthewingsbecamerigidlyspread。Instantlyeverythingwasswiftandsmoothandsilent。Hewasglidingrapidlydowntheairagainstawildgaleofwind，hiseyesthree—quartersshut。
Alittleleverthathadhithertobeenobduratenowconfesseditselfmobile。Heturneditovergentlytotheright，andwhiroo！——theleftwinghadinsomemysteriouswaygivenatitsedgeandhewassweepingroundanddownwardinanimmenseright—handedspiral。Forsomemomentsheexperiencedallthehelplesssensationsofcatastrophe。Herestoredthelevertoitsmiddlepositionwithsomedifficulty，andthewingswereequalisedagain。
Heturnedittotheleftandhadasensationofbeingspunroundbackwards。\"Toomuch！\"hegasped。
Hediscoveredthathewasrushingdownataheadlongpacetowardsarailwaylineandsomefactorybuildings。Theyappearedtobetearinguptohimtodevourhim。Hemusthavedroppedallthatheight。Foramomenthehadtheineffectualsensationsofonewhosebicycleboltsdownhill。Thegroundhadalmosttakenhimbysurprise。\"’Ere！\"hecried;andthenwithaviolenteffortofallhisbeinghegotthebeatingengineatworkagainandsetthewingsflapping。Heswoopeddownandupandresumedhisquiveringandpulsatingascentoftheair。
Hewenthighagain，untilhehadawideviewofthepleasantuplandcountryofwesternNewYorkState，andthenmadealongcoastdown，andsoupagain，andthenacoast。Thenashecameswoopingaquarterofamileaboveavillagehesawpeoplerunningabout，runningaway——evidentlyinrelationtohishawk—likepassage。Hegotanideathathehadbeenshotat。
\"Up！\"hesaid，andattackedthatleveragain。Itcameoverwithremarkabledocility，andsuddenlythewingsseemedtogivewayinthemiddle。Buttheenginewasstill！Ithadstopped。Heflungtheleverbackratherbyinstinctthandesign。Whattodo？
Muchhappenedinafewseconds，butalsohismindwasquick，hethoughtveryquickly。Hecouldn’tgetupagain，hewasglidingdowntheair;hewouldhavetohitsomething。
Hewastravellingattherateofperhapsthirtymilesanhourdown，down。
Thatplantationoflarcheslookedthesoftestthing——mossyalmost！
Couldhegetit？Hegavehimselftothesteering。Roundtotheright——left！
Swirroo！Crackle！Hewasglidingoverthetopsofthetrees，ploughingthroughthem，tumblingintoacloudofgreensharpleavesandblacktwigs。Therewasasuddensnapping，andhefelloffthesaddleforward，athudandacrashingofbranches。Sometwigshithimsmartlyintheface……
Hewasbetweenatree—stemandthesaddle，withhislegoverthesteeringleverand，sofarashecouldrealise，nothurt。Hetriedtoalterhispositionandfreehisleg，andfoundhimselfslippinganddroppingthroughbrancheswitheverythinggivingwaybeneathhim。Heclutchedandfoundhimselfinthelowerbranchesofatreebeneaththeflying—machine。Theairwasfullofapleasantresinoussmell。Hestaredforamomentmotionless，andthenverycarefullyclambereddownbranchbybranchtothesoftneedle—coveredgroundbelow。
\"Goodbusiness，\"hesaid，lookingupatthebentandtiltedkite—wingsabove。
\"Idroppedsoft！\"
Herubbedhischinwithhishandandmeditated。\"BlowedifI
don’tthinkI’maratherluckyfellow！\"hesaid，surveyingthepleasantsun—bespatteredgroundunderthetrees。Thenhebecameawareofaviolenttumultathisside。\"Lord！\"hesaid，\"Youmustbe’arfsmothered，\"andextractedthekittenfromhispocket—handkerchiefandpocket。Shewastwistedandcrumpledandextremelygladtoseethelightagain。Herlittletonguepeepedbetweenherteeth。Heputherdown，andsheranadozenpacesandshookherselfandstretchedandsatupandbegantowash。
\"Nex’？\"hesaid，lookingabouthim，andthenwithagestureofvexation，\"Deshit！Ioughtto’avebroughtthatgun！\"
Hehadresteditagainstatreewhenhehadseatedhimselfintheflying—machinesaddle。
Hewaspuzzledforatimebytheimmensepeacefulnessinthequalityoftheworld，andthenheperceivedthattheroarofthecataractwasnolongerinhisears。
2
Hehadnoveryclearideaofwhatsortofpeoplehemightcomeuponinthiscountry。Itwas，heknew，America。Americanshehadalwaysunderstoodwerethecitizensofagreatandpowerfulnation，dryandhumorousintheirmanner，addictedtotheuseofthebowie—knifeandrevolver，andinthehabitoftalkingthroughthenoselikeNorfolkshire，andsaying\"allow\"and\"reckon\"and\"calculate，\"afterthemannerofthepeoplewholiveontheNewForestsideofHampshire。Alsotheywereveryrich，hadrocking—chairs，andputtheirfeetatunusualaltitudes，andtheychewedtobacco，gum，andothersubstances，withuntiringindustry。Commingledwiththemwerecowboys，RedIndians，andcomic，respectfulniggers。Thishehadlearntfromthefictioninhispubliclibrary。Beyondthathehadlearntverylittle。
Hewasnotsurprisedthereforewhenhemetarmedmen。
Hedecidedtoabandontheshatteredflying—machine。Hewanderedthroughthetreesforsometime，andthenstruckaroadthatseemedtohisurbanEnglisheyestoberemarkablywidebutnotproperly\"made。\"Neitherhedgenorditchnorcurbeddistinctivefootpathseparateditfromthewoods，anditwentinthatlongeasycurvewhichdistinguishesthetracksofanopencontinent。
Aheadhesawamancarryingagununderhisarm，amaninasoftblackhat，ablueblouse，andblacktrousers，andwithabroadround—fatfacequiteinnocentofgoatee。Thispersonregardedhimaskanceandheardhimspeakwithastart。
\"CanyoutellmewhereaboutsIamatall？\"askedBert。
Themanregardedhim，andmoreparticularlyhisrubberboots，withsinistersuspicion。Thenherepliedinastrangeoutlandishtonguethatwas，asamatteroffact，Czech。HeendedsuddenlyatthesightofBert’sblankfacewith\"Don’tspikEnglish。\"
\"Oh！\"saidBert。Hereflectedgravelyforamoment，andthenwenthisway。
\"Thenks，\"he，saidasanafterthought。Themanregardedhisbackforamoment，wasstruckwithanidea，begananabortivegesture，sighed，gaveitup，andwentonalsowithadepressedcountenance。
PresentlyBertcametoabigwoodenhousestandingcasuallyamongthetrees。Itlookedableak，bareboxofahousetohim，nocreepergrewonit，nohedgenorwallnorfenceparteditofffromthewoodsaboutit。Hestoppedbeforethestepsthatleduptothedoor，perhapsthirtyyardsaway。Theplaceseemeddeserted。Hewouldhavegoneuptothedoorandrapped，butsuddenlyabigblackdogappearedatthesideandregardedhim。
Itwasahugeheavy—jaweddogofsomeunfamiliarbreed，andit，woreaspike—studdedcollar。Itdidnotbarknorapproachhim，itjustbristledquietlyandemittedasinglesoundlikeashort，deepcough。
Berthesitatedandwenton。
Hestoppedthirtypacesawayandstoodpeeringabouthimamongthetrees。\"IfI’aven’tbeenandlef’thatkitten，\"hesaid。
Acutesorrowwrenchedhimforatime。Theblackdogcamethroughthetreestogetabetterlookathimandcoughedthatwell—bredcoughagain。Bertresumedtheroad。
\"She’lldoallright，\"hesaid……\"She’llcatchthings。
\"She’lldoallright，\"hesaidpresently，withoutconviction。
Butifithadnotbeenfortheblackdog，hewouldhavegoneback。
Whenhewasoutofsightofthehouseandtheblackdog，hewentintothewoodsontheothersideofthewayandemergedafteranintervaltrimmingaverytolerablecudgelwithhispocket—knife。
Presentlyhesawanattractive—lookingrockbythetrackandpickeditupandputitinhispocket。Thenhecametothreeorfourhouses，woodenlikethelast，eachwithanill—paintedwhiteverandah（thatwashisnameforit）andallstandinginthesamecasualwayupontheground。Behind，throughthewoods，hesawpig—stysandarootingblacksowleadingabrisk，adventurousfamily。Awild—lookingwomanwithsloe—blackeyesanddishevelledblackhairsatuponthestepsofoneofthehousesnursingababy，butatthesightofBertshegotupandwentinside，andheheardherboltingthedoor。Thenaboyappearedamongthepig—stys，buthewouldnotunderstandBert’shail。
\"IsupposeitisAmerica！\"saidBert。
Thehousesbecamemorefrequentdowntheroad，andhepassedtwootherextremelywildanddirty—lookingmenwithoutaddressingthem。Onecarriedagunandtheotherahatchet，andtheyscrutinisedhimandhiscudgelscornfully。Thenhestruckacross—roadwithamono—railatitsside，andtherewasanoticeboardatthecomerwith\"Waithereforthecars。\"\"That’sallright，any’ow，\"saidBert。\"Wonder’owlongIshould’avetowait？\"Itoccurredtohimthatinthepresentdisturbedstateofthecountrytheservicemightbeinterrupted，andasthereseemedmorehousestotherightthantheleftheturnedtotheright。
Hepassedanoldnegro。\"’Ullo！\"saidBert。\"Goo’morning！\"
\"Goodday，sah！\"saidtheoldnegro，inavoiceofalmostincrediblerichness。
\"What’sthenameofthisplace？\"askedBert。
\"Tanooda，sah！\"saidthenegro。
\"Thenks！\"saidBert。
\"ThankYOU，sah！\"saidthenegro，overwhelmingly。
Bertcametohousesofthesamedetached，unwalled，woodentype，butadornednowwithenamelledadvertisementspartlyinEnglishandpartlyinEsperanto。Thenhecametowhatheconcludedwasagrocer’sshop。Itwasthefirsthousethatprofessedthehospitalityofanopendoor，andfromwithincameastrangelyfamiliarsound。\"Gaw！\"hesaidsearchinginhispockets。\"Why！
I’aven’twantedmoneyforfreeweeks！IwonderifI——Grubb’admostofit。Ah！\"Heproducedahandfulofcoinsandregardedit;threepennies，sixpence，andashilling。\"That’sallright，\"
hesaid，forgettingaveryobviousconsideration。
Heapproachedthedoor，andashedidsoacompactlybuilt，grey—facedmaninshirtsleevesappearedinitandscrutinisedhimandhiscudgel。\"Mornin’，\"saidBert。\"CanIgetanythingtoeat’rdrinkinthisshop？\"
Themaninthedoorreplied，thankHeaven，inclear，goodAmerican。\"This，sir，isnotAshop，itisAstore。\"
\"Oh！\"saidBert，andthen，\"Well，canIgetanythingtoeat？\"
\"Youcan，\"saidtheAmericaninatoneofconfidentencouragement，andledthewayinside。
TheshopseemedtohimbyhisBunHillstandardsextremelyroomy，welllit，andunencumbered。Therewasalongcountertotheleftofhim，withdrawersandmiscellaneouscommoditiesrangedbehindit，anumberofchairs，severaltables，andtwospittoonstotheright，variousbarrels，cheeses，andbaconupthevista，andbeyond，alargearchwayleadingtomorespace。Alittlegroupofmenwasassembledroundoneofthetables，andawomanofperhapsfive—and—thirtyleantwithherelbowsonthecounter。Allthemenwerearmedwithrifles，andthebarrelofagunpeepedabovethecounter。Theywerealllisteningidly，inattentively，toacheap，metallic—tonedgramophonethatoccupiedatablenearathand。FromitsbrazenthroatcamewordsthatgaveBertaqualmofhomesickness，thatbroughtbackinhismemoryasunlitbeach，agroupofchildren，red—paintedbicycles，Grubb，andanapproachingballoon:——
\"Ting—a—ling—a—ting—a—ling—a—ting—aling—a—tang……
WhatPriceHair—pinsNow？\"
Aheavy—neckedmaninastrawhat，whowaschewingsomething，stoppedthemachinewithatouch，andtheyall，turnedtheireyesonBert。Andalltheireyesweretiredeyes。
\"Canwegivethisgentlemananythingtoeat，mother，orcanwenot？\"saidtheproprietor。
\"Hekinhavewhathelikes？\"saidthewomanatthecounter，withoutmoving，\"rightupfromacrackertoasquaremeal。\"Shestruggledwithayawn，afterthemannerofonewhohasbeenupallnight。
\"Iwantameal，\"saidBert，\"butI’aven’tverymuchmoney。I
don’wanttogivemor’nashillin’。\"
\"Mor’naWHAT？\"saidtheproprietor，sharply。
\"Mor’nashillin’，\"saidBert，withasuddendisagreeablerealisationcomingintohismind。
\"Yes，\"saidtheproprietor，startledforamomentfromhiscourtlybearing。\"Butwhatinhellisashilling？\"
\"Hemeansaquarter，\"saidawise—looking，lankyoungmaninridinggaiters。
Bert，tryingtoconcealhisconsternation，producedacoin。
\"That’sashilling，\"hesaid。
\"HecallsAstoreAshop，\"saidtheproprietor，\"andhewantsA
mealforAshilling。MayIaskyou，sir，whatpartofAmericayouhailfrom？\"
Bertreplacedtheshilling，inhispocketashespoke，\"Niagara，\"
hesaid。
\"AndwhendidyouleaveNiagara？\"
\"’Boutanhourago。\"
\"Well，\"saidtheproprietor，andturnedwithapuzzledsmiletotheothers。\"Well！\"
Theyaskedvariousquestionssimultaneously。
Bertselectedoneortwoforreply。\"Yousee，\"hesaid，\"IbeenwiththeGermanair—fleet。Igotcaughtupbythem，sortofbyaccident，andbroughtoverhere。\"
\"FromEngland？\"
\"Yes——fromEngland。WayofGermany。IwasinagreatbattlewiththemAsiatics，andIgotlef’onalittleislandbetweentheFalls。\"
\"GoatIsland？\"
\"Idon’knowwhatitwascalled。Butany’owIfoundaflying—machineandmadeasortofflywithitandgothere。\"
Twomenstoodupwithincredulouseyesonhim。\"Where’stheflying—machine？\"theyasked;\"outside？\"
\"It’sbackinthewoodshere——’boutarfamileaway。\"
\"Isitgood？\"saidathick—lippedmanwithascar。
\"Icomedownratherasmash——。\"
Everybodygotupandstoodabouthimandtalkedconfusingly。
Theywantedhimtotakethemtotheflying—machineatonce。
\"Look’ere，\"saidBert，\"I’llshowyou——onlyI’aven’t’adanythingtoeatsinceyestiday——exceptmineralwater。\"
Agauntsoldierly—lookingyoungmanwithlongleanlegsinridinggaitersandabandolier，whohadhithertonotspoken，intervenednowonhisbehalfinanoteofconfidentauthority。\"That’sawright，\"hesaid。\"Givehimafeed，Mr。Logan——fromme。I
wanttohearmoreofthatstoryofhis。We’llseehismachineafterwards。Ifyouaskme，Ishouldsayit’saremarkablyinterestingaccidenthaddroppedthisgentlemanhere。Iguesswerequisitionthatflying—machine——ifwefindit——，forlocaldefence。\"
3
SoBertfellonhisfeetagain，andsateatingcoldmeatandgoodbreadandmustardanddrinkingverygoodbeer，andtellingintheroughestoutlineandwiththeomissionsandinaccuraciesofstatementnaturaltohistypeofmind，thesimplestoryofhisadventures。Hetoldhowheanda\"gentlemanfriend\"hadbeenvisitingtheseasidefortheirhealth，howa\"chep\"camealonginaballoonandfelloutashefellin，howhehaddriftedtoFranconia，howtheGermanshadseemedtomistakehimforsomeoneandhad\"tookhimprisoner\"andbroughthimtoNewYork，howhehadbeentoLabradorandback，howhehadgottoGoatIslandandfoundhimselftherealone。HeomittedthematterofthePrinceandtheButteridgeaspectoftheaffair，notoutofanydeepdeceitfulness，butbecausehefelttheinadequacyofhisnarrativepowers。Hewantedeverythingtoseemeasyandnaturalandcorrect，topresenthimselfasatrustworthyandunderstandableEnglishmaninasoundmediocreposition，towhomrefreshmentandaccommodationmightbegivenwithfreedomandconfidence。
WhenhisfragmentarystorycametoNewYorkandthebattleofNiagara，theysuddenlyproducednewspaperswhichhadbeenlyingaboutonthetable，andbegantocheckhimandquestionhimbythesevehementaccounts。Itbecameevidenttohimthathisdescenthadrevivedandrousedtoflamesagainadiscussion，atopic，thathadbeenburningcontinuously，thathadsmoulderedonlythroughsheerexhaustionofmaterialduringthetemporarydiversionofthegramophone，adiscussionthathaddrawnthesementogether，rifleinhand，theonesupremetopicofthewholeworld，theWarandthemethodsoftheWar。Hefoundanyquestionofhispersonalityandhispersonaladventuresfallingintothebackground，foundhimselftakenforgranted，andnomorethanasourceofinformation。Theordinaryaffairsoflife，thebuyingandsellingofeverydaynecessities，thecultivationoftheground，thetendingofbeasts，wasgoingonasitwerebyforceofroutine，asthecommondutiesoflifegooninahousewhosemasterliesundertheknifeofsomesupremeoperation。TheoverrulinginterestwasfurnishedbythosegreatAsiaticairshipsthatwentuponincalculablemissionsacrossthesky，thecrimson—cladswordsmenwhomightcomeflutteringdowndemandingpetrol，orfood，ornews。Thesemenwereasking，allthecontinentwasasking，\"Whatarewetodo？Whatcanwetry？Howcanwegetatthem？\"Bertfellintohisplaceasanitem，ceasedeveninhisownthoughtstobeacentralandindependentthing。
Afterhehadeatenanddrunkenhisfillandsighedandstretchedandtoldthemhowgoodthefoodseemedtohim，helitacigarettetheygavehimandledtheway，withsomedoubtsandtrouble，totheflying—machineamidstthelarches。Itbecamemanifestthatthegauntyoungman，whosename，itseemed，wasLaurier，wasaleaderbothbypositionandnaturalaptitude。Heknewthenamesandcharactersandcapabilitiesofallthemenwhowerewithhim，andhesetthemtoworkatoncewithvigourandeffecttosecurethispreciousinstrumentofwar。Theygotthethingdowntothegrounddeliberatelyandcarefully，fellingacoupleoftreesintheprocess，andtheybuiltawideflatroofoftimbersandtreeboughstoguardtheirpreciousfindagainstitschancediscoverybyanypassingAsiatics。Longbeforeeveningtheyhadanengineerfromthenexttownshipatworkuponit，andtheywerecastinglotsamongtheseventeenpickedmenwhowantedtotakeitforitsfirstflight。AndBertfoundhiskittenandcarrieditbacktoLogan’sstoreandhandeditwithearnestadmonitiontoMrs。Logan。AnditwasreassuringlycleartohimthatinMrs。
Loganbothheandthekittenhadfoundacongenialsoul。
Laurierwasnotonlyamasterfulpersonandawealthypropertyownerandemployer——hewaspresident，Bertlearntwithawe，oftheTanoodaCanningCorporation——buthewaspopularandskilfulintheartsofpopularity。Intheeveningquiteacrowdofmengatheredinthestoreandtalkedoftheflying—machineandofthewarthatwastearingtheworldtopieces。Andpresentlycameamanonabicyclewithanill—printednewspaperofasinglesheetwhichactedlikefuelinablazingfurnaceoftalk。ItwasnearlyallAmericannews;theold—fashionedcableshadfallenintodisuseforsomeyears，andtheMarconistationsacrosstheoceanandalongtheAtlanticcoastlineseemedtohavefurnishedparticularlytemptingpointsofattack。
Butsuchnewsitwas。
Bertsatinthebackground——forbythistimetheyhadgaugedhispersonalqualityprettycompletely——listening。Beforehisstaggeringmindpassedstrangevastimagesastheytalked，ofgreatissuesatacrisis，ofnationsintumultuousmarch，ofcontinentsoverthrown，offamineanddestructionbeyondmeasure。
Everandagain，inspiteofhiseffortstosuppressthem，certainpersonalimpressionswouldscamperacrossthewelteringconfusion，thehorriblemessoftheexplodedPrince，theChineseaeronautupsidedown，thelimpingandbandagedbird—facedofficerblunderingalonginmiserableandhopelessflight……
Theyspokeoffireandmassacre，ofcrueltiesandcountercruelties，ofthingsthathadbeendonetoharmlessAsiaticsbyrace—madmen，ofthewholesaleburningandsmashingupoftowns，railwayjunctions，bridges，ofwholepopulationsinhidingandexodus。\"Everyshipthey’vegotisinthePacific，\"heheardonemanexclaim。\"Sincethefightingbegantheycan’thavelandedonthePacificslopelessthanamillionmen。They’vecometostayintheseStates，andtheywill——livingordead。\"
Slowly，broadly，invincibly，theregrewuponBert’smindrealisationoftheimmensetragedyofhumanityintowhichhislifewasflowing;theappallinganduniversalnatureoftheepochthathadarrived;theconceptionofanendtosecurityandorderandhabit。Thewholeworldwasatwaranditcouldnotgetbacktopeace，itmightneverrecoverpeace。
Hehadthoughtthethingshehadseenhadbeenexceptional，conclusivethings，thatthebesiegingofNewYorkandthebattleoftheAtlanticwereepoch—makingeventsbetweenlongyearsofsecurity。Andtheyhadbeenbutthefirstwarningimpactsofuniversalcataclysm。Eachdaydestructionandhateanddisastergrew，thefissureswidenedbetweenmanandman，newregionsofthefabricofcivilisationcrumbledandgaveway。Below，thearmiesgrewandthepeopleperished;above，theairshipsandaeroplanesfoughtandfled，rainingdestruction。
Itisdifficultperhapsforthebroad—mindedandlong—perspectivedreadertounderstandhowincrediblethebreakingdownofthescientificcivilisationseemedtothose，whoactuallylivedatthistime，whointheirownpersonswentdowninthatdebacle。Progresshadmarchedasitseemedinvincibleabouttheearth，nevernowtorestagain。ForthreehundredyearsandmorethelongsteadilyaccelerateddiastoleofEuropeanisedcivilisationhadbeeninprogress:townshadbeenmultiplying，populationsincreasing，valuesrising，newcountriesdeveloping;thought，literature，knowledgeunfoldingandspreading。Itseemedbutapartoftheprocessthateveryyeartheinstrumentsofwarwerevasterandmorepowerful，andthatarmiesandexplosivesoutgrewallothergrowingthings……
Threehundredyearsofdiastole，andthencametheswiftandunexpectedsystole，liketheclosingofafist。Theycouldnotunderstanditwassystole。
Theycouldnotthinkofitasanythingbutajolt，ahitch，amereoscillatoryindicationoftheswiftnessoftheirprogress。
Collapse，thoughithappenedallaboutthem，remainedincredible。Presentlysomefallingmasssmotethemdown，orthegroundopenedbeneaththeirfeet。Theydiedincredulous……
Thesemeninthestoremadeaminute，remotegroupunderthisimmensecanopyofdisaster。Theyturnedfromonelittleaspecttoanother。WhatchieflyconcernedthemwasdefenceagainstAsiaticraidersswoopingforpetrolortodestroyweaponsorcommunications。Everywherelevieswerebeingformedatthattimetodefendtheplantoftherailroadsdayandnightinthehopethatcommunicationwouldspeedilyberestored。Thelandwarwasstillfaraway。Amanwithaflatvoicedistinguishedhimselfbyadisplayofknowledgeandcunning。HetoldthemallwithconfidencejustwhathadbeenwrongwiththeGermandrachenfliegerandtheAmericanaeroplanes，justwhatadvantagetheJapaneseflyerspossessed。HelaunchedoutintoaromanticdescriptionoftheButteridgemachineandrivetedBert’sattention。\"ISEEthat，\"saidBert，andwassmittensilentbyathought。Themanwiththeflatvoicetalkedon，withoutheedinghim，ofthestrangeironyofButteridge’sdeath。AtthatBerthadalittletwingeofrelief——hewouldnevermeetButteridgeagain。ItappearedButteridgehaddiedsuddenly，verysuddenly。
\"Andhissecret，sir，perishedwithhim！Whentheycametolookfortheparts——nonecouldfindthem。Hehadhiddenthemalltoowell。\"
\"Butcouldn’thetell？\"askedthemaninthestrawhat。\"Didhediesosuddenlyasthat？\"
\"Struckdown，sir。Rageandapoplexy。AtaplacecalledDymchurchinEngland。\"
\"That’sright，saidLaurier。\"IrememberapageaboutitintheSundayAmerican。AtthetimetheysaiditwasaGermanspyhadstolenhisballoon。\"
\"Well，sir，\"saidtheflat—voicedman，\"thatfitofapoplexyatDyrnchurchwastheworstthing——absolutelytheworstthingthateverhappenedtotheworld。ForifithadnotbeenforthedeathofMr。Butteridge——\"
\"Nooneknowshissecret？\"
\"Notasoul。It’sgone。Hisballoon，itappears，waslostatsea，withalltheplans。Downitwent，andtheywentwithit。\"
Pause。
\"WithmachinessuchashemadewecouldfighttheseAsiaticfliersonmorethanequalterms。Wecouldoutflyandbeatdownthosescarlethumming—birdswherevertheyappeared。Butit’sgone，it’sgone，andthere’snotimetoreinventitnow。Wegottofightwithwhatwegot——andtheoddsareagainstus。THAT
won’tstopusfightin’。No！butjustthinkofit！\"
Bertwastremblingviolently。Heclearedhisthroathoarsely。
\"Isay，\"hesaid，\"lookhere，I——\"
Nobodyregardedhim。Themanwiththeflatvoicewasopeninganewbranchofthesubject。
\"Iallow——\"hebegan。
Bertbecameviolentlyexcited。Hestoodup。