\"No’！Ishallneverseeheragain……Idon’tunderstandwhypeopleshouldmeetjusttobetornapart。ButIknowsheandI
willnevermeetagain。ThatIknowassurelyasthatthesunwillrise，andthatcascadecomeshiningovertherocksafterI
amdeadanddone……Oh！It’sallfoolishnessandhasteandviolenceandcruelfolly，stupidityandblunderinghateandselfishambition——allthethingsthatmenhavedone——allthethingstheywilleverdo。Gott！Smallways，whatamuddleandconfusionlifehasalwaysbeen——thebattlesandmassacresanddisasters，thehatesandharshacts，themurdersandsweatings，thelynchingsandcheatings。ThismorningIamtiredofitall，asthoughI’djustfounditoutforthefirsttime。IHAVEfounditout。Whenamanistiredoflife，Isupposeitistimeforhimtodie。I’velostheart，anddeathisoverme。Deathisclosetome，andIknowIhavegottoend。ButthinkofallthehopesIhadonlyalittletimeago，thesenseoffinebeginnings！……Itwasallasham。Therewerenobeginnings……
We’rejustantsinant—hillcities，inaworldthatdoesn’tmatter;thatgoesonandramblesintonothingness。NewYork——NewYorkdoesn’tevenstrikemeashorrible。NewYorkwasnothingbutanant—hillkickedtopiecesbyafool！
\"Thinkofit，Smallways:there’swareverywhere！They’resmashinguptheircivilisationbeforetheyhavemadeit。ThesortofthingtheEnglishdidatAlexandria，theJapaneseatPortArthur，theFrenchatCasablanca，isgoingoneverywhere。
Everywhere！DowninSouthAmericaeventheyarefightingamongthemselves！Noplaceissafe——noplaceisatpeace。Thereisnoplacewhereawomanandherdaughtercanhideandbeatpeace。
Thewarcomesthroughtheair，bombsdropinthenight。Quietpeoplegooutinthemorning，andseeair—fleetspassingoverhead——drippingdeath——drippingdeath！\"
CHAPTERVIII
AWORLDATWAR
1
ItwasonlyveryslowlythatBertgotholdofthisideathatthewholeworldwasatwar，thatheformedanyimageatallofthecrowdedcountriessouthoftheseArcticsolitudesstrickenwithterroranddismayasthesenew—bornaerialnaviessweptacrosstheirskies。Hewasnotusedtothinkingoftheworldasawhole，butasalimitlesshinterlandofhappeningsbeyondtherangeofhisimmediatevision。Warinhisimaginationwassomething，asourceofnewsandemotion，thathappenedinarestrictedarea，calledtheSeatofWar。ButnowthewholeatmospherewastheSeatofWar，andeverylandacockpit。Socloselyhadthenationsracedalongthepathofresearchandinvention，sosecretandyetsoparallelhadbeentheirplansandacquisitions，thatitwaswithinafewhoursofthelaunchingofthefirstfleetinFranconiathatanAsiaticArmadabeatitswest—wardwayacross，highabovethemarvellingmillionsintheplainoftheGanges。ButthepreparationsoftheConfederationofEasternAsiahadbeenonanaltogethermorecolossalscalethantheGerman。\"Withthisstep，\"saidTanTing—siang，\"weovertakeandpasstheWest。Werecoverthepeaceoftheworldthatthesebarbarianshavedestroyed。\"
TheirsecrecyandswiftnessandinventionshadfarsurpassedthoseoftheGermans，andwheretheGermanshadhadahundredmenatworktheAsiaticshadtenthousand。TherecametotheirgreataeronauticparksatChinsi—fuandTsingyenbythemono—railsthatnowlacedthewholesurfaceofChinaalimitlesssupplyofskilledandableworkmen，workmenfarabovetheaverageEuropeaninindustrialefficiency。ThenewsoftheGermanWorldSurprisesimplyquickenedtheirefforts。AtthetimeofthebombardmentofNewYorkitisdoubtfuliftheGermanshadthreehundredairshipsalltogetherintheworld;thescoreofAsiaticfleetsflyingeastandwestandsouthmusthavenumberedseveralthousand。MoreovertheAsiaticshadarealfightingflying—machine，theNiaisastheywerecalled，alightbutquiteefficientweapon，infinitelysuperiortotheGermandrachenflieger。Likethat，itwasaone—manmachine，butitwasbuiltverylightlyofsteelandcaneandchemicalsilk，withatransverseengine，andaflappingsidewing。Theaeronautcarriedagunfiringexplosivebulletsloadedwithoxygen，andinaddition，andtruetothebesttraditionofJapan，asword。
MostlytheywereJapanese，anditischaracteristicthatfromthefirstitwascontemplatedthattheaeronautshouldbeaswordsman。Thewingsoftheseflyershadbat—likehooksforward，bywhichtheyweretoclingtotheirantagonist’sgas—chamberswhileboardinghim。Theselightflying—machineswerecarriedwiththefleets，andalsosentoverlandorbyseatothefrontwiththemen。Theywerecapableofflightsoffromtwotofivehundredmilesaccordingtothewind。
So，hardupontheuprushofthefirstGermanair—fleet，theseAsiaticswarmstooktotheatmosphere。InstantlyeveryorganisedGovernmentintheworld，wasfranticallyandvehementlybuildingairshipsandwhateverapproachtoaflyingmachineitsinventors’
haddiscovered。Therewasnotimefordiplomacy。Warningsandultimatumswertelegraphedtoandfro，andinafewhoursallthepanic—fierceworldwasopenlyatwar，andatwarinthemostcomplicatedway。ForBritainandFranceandItalyhaddeclaredwaruponGermanyandoutragedSwissneutrality;India，atthesightofAsiaticairships，hadbrokenintoaHindooinsurrectioninBengalandaMohametanrevolthostiletothisintheNorth—westProvinces——thelatterspreadinglikewildfirefromGobitotheGoldCoast——andtheConfederationofEasternAsiahadseizedtheoilwellsofBurmhaandwasimpartiallyattackingAmericaandGermany。InaweektheywerebuildingairshipsinDamascusandCairoandJohannesburg;AustraliaandNewZealandwerefranticallyequippingthemselves。Oneuniqueandterrifyingaspectofthisdevelopmentwastheswiftnesswithwhichthesemonsterscouldbeproduced。Tobuildanironcladtookfromtwotofouryears;anairshipcouldbeputtogetherinasmanyweeks。
Moreover，comparedwithevenatorpedoboat，theairshipwasremarkablysimpletoconstruct，giventheair—chambermaterial，theengines，thegasplant，andthedesign，itwasrealltnotmorecomplicatedandfareasierthananordinarywoodenboathadbeenahundredyearsbefore。AndnowfromCapeHorntoNovaZembla，andfromCantonroundtoCantonagain，therewerefactoriesandworkshopsandindustrialresources。
AndtheGermanairshipswerebarelyinsightoftheAtlanticwaters，thefirstAsiaticfleetwasscarcelyreportedfromUpperBurmah，beforethefantasticfabricofcreditandfinancethathadheldtheworldtogethereconomicallyforahundredyearsstrainedandsnapped。Atornadoofrealisationsweptthrougheverystockexchangeintheworld;banksstoppedpayment，businessshrankandceased，factoriesranonforadayorsobyasortofinertia，completingtheordersofbankruptandextinguishedcustomers，thenstopped。TheNewYorkBertSmallwayssaw，forallitsglareoflightandtraffic，wasinthepitofaneconomicandfinancialcollapseunparalleledinhistory。Theflowofthefoodsupplywasalreadyalittlechecked。Andbeforetheworld—warhadlastedtwoweeks——bythetime，thatis，thatmastwasriggedinLabrador——therewasnotacityortownintheworldoutsideChina，howeverfairfromtheactualcentresofdestruction，wherepoliceandgovernmentwerenotadoptingspecialemergencymethodstodealwithawantoffoodandaglutofunemployedpeople。
Thespecialpeculiaritiesofaerialwarfarewereofsuchanatureastotrend，onceithadbegun，almostinevitablytowardssocialdisorganisation。ThefirstofthesepeculiaritieswasbroughthometotheGermansintheirattackuponNewYork;theimmensepowerofdestructionanairshiphasoverthethingbelow，anditsrelativeinabilitytooccupyorpoliceorguardorgarrisonasurrenderedposition。Necessarily，inthefaceofurbanpopulationsinastateofeconomicdisorganisationandinfuriatedandstarving，thisledtoviolentanddestructivecollisions，andevenwheretheair—fleetfloatedinactiveabove，therewouldbecivilconflictandpassionatedisorderbelow。Nothingcomparabletothisstateofaffairshadbeenknownintheprevioushistoryofwarfare，unlesswetakesuchacaseasthatofanineteenthcenturywarshipattackingsomelargesavageorbarbaricsettlement，oroneofthosenavalbombardmentsthatdisfigurethehistoryofGreatBritaininthelateeighteenthcentury。Then，indeed，therehadbeencrueltiesanddestructionthatfaintlyforeshadowedthehorrorsoftheaerialwar。Moreover，beforethetwentiethcenturytheworldhadhadbutoneexperience，andthatacomparativelylightone，intheCommunistinsurrectionofParis，1871，ofthepossibilitiesofamodernurbanpopulationunderwarlikestresses。
Asecondpeculiarityofairshipwarasitfirstcametotheworldthatalsomadeforsocialcollapse，wastheineffectivenessoftheearlyair—shipsagainsteachother。Uponanythingbelowtheycouldrainexplosivesinthemostdeadlyfashion，fortsandshipsandcitieslayattheirmercy，butunlesstheywerepreparedforasuicidalgrappletheycoulddoremarkablylittlemischieftoeachother。ThearmamentofthehugeGermanairships，bigasthebiggestmammothlinersafloat，wasonemachinegunthatcouldeasilyhavebeenpackeduponacoupleofmules。Inaddition，whenitbecameevidentthattheairmustbefoughtfor，theair—sailorswereprovidedwithrifleswithexplosivebulletsofoxygenorinflammablesubstance，butnoairshipatanytimeevercarriedasmuchinthewayofgunsandarmourasthesmallestgunboatonthenavylisthadbeenaccustomedtodo。
Consequently，whenthesemonstersmetinbattle，theymanoeuvredfortheupperplace，orgrappledandfoughtlikejunks，throwinggrenadesfightinghandtohandinanentirelymedievalfashion。
Therisksofacollapseandfalloneithersidecameneartobalancingineverycasethechancesofvictory。Asaconsequence，andaftertheirfirstexperiencesofbattle，onefindsagrowingtendencyonthepartoftheair—fleetadmiralstoevadejoiningbattle，andtoseekratherthemoraladvantageofadestructivecounterattack。
Andiftheairshipsweretooineffective，theearlydrachenfliegerwereeithertoounstable，liketheGerman，ortoolight，liketheJapanese，toproduceimmediatelydecisiveresults。Later，itistrue，theBrazilianslaunchedaflying—machineofatypeandscalethatwascapableofdealingwithanairship，buttheybuiltonlythreeorfour，theyoperatedonlyinSouthAmerica，andtheyvanishedfromhistoryuntraceablyinthetimewhenworld—bankruptcyputastoptoallfurtherengineeringproductiononanyconsiderablescale。
Thethirdpeculiarityofaerialwarfarewasthatitwasatonceenormouslydestructiveandentirelyindecisive。Ithadthisuniquefeature，thatbothsideslayopentopunitiveattack。Inallpreviousformsofwar，bothbylandandsea，thelosingsidewasspeedilyunabletoraiditsantagonist’sterritoryandthecommunications。Onefoughtona\"front，\"andbehindthatfrontthewinner’ssuppliesandresources，histownsandfactoriesandcapital，thepeaceofhiscountry，weresecure。Ifthewarwasanavalone，youdestroyedyourenemy’sbattlefleetandthenblockadedhisports，securedhiscoalingstations，andhunteddownanystraycruisersthatthreatenedyourportsofcommerce。
Buttoblockadeandwatchacoastlineisonething，toblockadeandwatchthewholesurfaceofacountryisanother，andcruisersandprivateersarethingsthattakelongtomake，thatcannotbepackedupandhiddenandcarriedunostentatiouslyfrompointtopoint。Inaerialwarthestrongerside，evensupposingitdestroyedthemainbattlefleetoftheweaker，hadtheneithertopatrolandwatchordestroyeverypossiblepointatwhichhemightproduceanotherandperhapsanovelandmoredeadlyformofflyer。Itmeantdarkeninghisairwithairships。Itmeantbuildingthembythethousandandmakingaeronautsbythe。hundredthousand。Asmalluninitatedairshipcouldbehiddeninarailwayshed，inavillagestreet，inawood;aflyingmachineisevenlessconspicuous。
Andintheairarenostreets，nochannels，nopointwhereonecansayofanantagonist，\"Ifhewantstoreachmycapitalhemustcomebyhere。\"Intheairalldirectionsleadeverywhere。
Consequentlyitwasimpossibletoendawarbyanyoftheestablishedmethods。A，havingoutnumberedandoverwhelmedB，hovers，athousandairshipsstrong，overhiscapital，threateningtobombarditunlessBsubmits。BrepliesbywirelesstelegraphythatheisnowintheactofbombardingthechiefmanufacturingcityofAbymeansofthreeraiderairships。AdenouncesB’sraidersaspiratesandsoforth，bombardsB’scapital，andsetsofftohuntdownB’sairships，whileB，inastateofpassionateemotionandheroicunconquerableness，setstoworkamidsthisruins，makingfreshairshipsandexplosivesforthebenefitofA。
Thewarbecameperforceauniversalguerillawar，awarinextricablyinvolvingciviliansandhomesandalltheapparatusofsociallife。
Theseaspectsofaerialfightingtooktheworldbysurprise。
Therehadbeennoforesighttodeducetheseconsequences。Iftherehadbeen，theworldwouldhavearrangedforaUniversalPeaceConferencein1900。Butmechanicalinventionhadgonefasterthanintellectualandsocialorganisation，andtheworld，withitssillyoldflags，itssillyunmeaningtraditionofnationality，itscheapnewspapersandcheaperpassionsandimperialisms，itsbasecommercialmotivesandhabitualinsinceritiesandvulgarities，itsraceliesandconflicts，wastakenbysurprise。Oncethewarbegantherewasnostoppingit。
Theflimsyfabricofcreditthathadgrownwithnomanforeseeing，andthathadheldthosehundredsofmillionsinaneconomicinterdependencethatnomanclearlyunderstood，dissolvedinpanic。Everywherewenttheairshipsdroppingbombs，destroyinganyhopeofarally，andeverywherebelowwereeconomiccatastrophe，starvingworklesspeople，rioting，andsocialdisorder。Whateverconstructiveguidingintelligencetherehadbeenamongthenationsvanishedinthepassionatestressesofthetime。Suchnewspapersanddocumentsandhistoriesassurvivefromthisperiodalltelloneuniversalstoryoftownsandcitieswiththefoodsupplyinterruptedandtheirstreetscongestedwithstarvingunemployed;ofcrisesinadministrationandstatesofsiege，ofprovisionalGovernmentsandCouncilsofDefence，and，inthecasesofIndiaandEgypt，insurrectionarycommitteestakingchargeofthere—armingofthepopulation，ofthemakingofbatteriesandgun—pits，ofthevehementmanufactureofairshipsandflying—machines。
Oneseesthesethingsinglimpses，inilluminatedmoments，asifthroughadrivingreekofclouds，goingonallovertheworld。
Itwasthedissolutionofanage;itwasthecollapseofthecivilisationthathadtrustedtomachinery，andtheinstrumentsofitsdestructionweremachines。Butwhilethecollapseofthepreviousgreatcivilisation，thatofRome，hadbeenamatterofcenturies，hadbeenathingofphaseandphase，liketheageinganddyingofaman，this，likehiskillingbyrailwayormotorcar，wasoneswift，conclusivesmashingandanend。
2
Theearlybattlesoftheaerialwarwerenodoubtdeterminedbyattemptstorealisetheoldnavalmaxim，toascertainthepositionoftheenemy’sfleetandtodestroyit。TherewasfirstthebattleoftheBerneseOberland，inwhichtheItalianandFrenchnavigablesintheirflankraidupontheFranconianParkwereassailedbytheSwissexperimentalsquadron，supportedasthedayworeonbyGermanairships，andthentheencounteroftheBritishWinterhouse—DunnaeroplaneswiththreeunfortunateGermans。
ThencametheBattleofNorthIndia，inwhichtheentireAnglo—Indianaeronauticsettlementestablishmentfoughtforthreedaysagainstoverwhelmingodds，andwasdispersedanddestroyedindetail。
Andsimultaneouslywiththebeginningofthat，commencedthemomentousstruggleoftheGermansandAsiaticsthatisusuallyknownastheBattleofNiagarabecauseoftheobjectiveoftheAsiaticattack。Butitpassedgraduallyintoasporadicconflictoverhalfacontinent。SuchGermanairshipsasescapeddestructioninbattledescendedandsurrenderedtotheAmericans，andwerere—manned，andintheenditbecameaseriesofpitilessandheroicencountersbetweentheAmericans，savagelyresolvedtoexterminatetheirenemies，andacontinuallyreinforcedarmyofinvasionfromAsiaquartereduponthePacificslopeandsupportedbyanimmensefleet。FromthefirstthewarinAmericawasfoughtwithimplacablebitterness;noquarterwasasked，noprisonersweretaken。WithferociousandmagnificentenergytheAmericansconstructedandlaunchedshipaftershiptobattleandperishagainsttheAsiaticmultitudes。Allotheraffairsweresubordinatetothiswar，thewholepopulationwaspresentlylivingordyingforit。Presently，asIshalltell，thewhitemenfoundintheButteridgemachineaweaponthatcouldmeetandfighttheflying—machinesoftheAsiaticswordsman。
TheAsiaticinvasionofAmericacompletelyeffacedtheGerman—Americanconflict。Itvanishesfromhistory。Atfirstithadseemedtopromisequitesufficienttragedyinitself——beginningasitdidinunforgettablemassacre。AfterthedestructionofcentralNewYorkallAmericahadrisenlikeoneman，resolvedtodieathousanddeathsratherthansubmittoGermany。TheGermansgrimlyresolveduponbeatingtheAmericansintosubmissionand，followingouttheplansdevelopedbythePrince，hadseizedNiagara——inordertoavailthemselvesofitsenormouspowerworks;expelledallitsinhabitantsandmadeadesertofitsenvironsasfarasBuffalo。Theyhadalso，directlyGreatBritainandFrancedeclarewar，wreckedthecountryupontheCanadiansidefornearlytenmilesinland。Theybegantobringupmenandmaterialfromthefleetofftheeastcoast，stringingouttoandfrolikebeesgettinghoney。ItwasthenthattheAsiaticforcesappeared，anditwasintheirattackuponthisGermanbaseatNiagarathattheair—fleetsofEastandWestfirstmetandthegreaterissuebecameclear。
Oneconspicuouspeculiarityoftheearlyaerialfightingarosefromtheprofoundsecrecywithwhichtheairshipshadbeenprepared。Eachpowerhadhadbutthedimmestinklingoftheschemesofitsrivals，andevenexperimentswithitsowndeviceswerelimitedbytheneedsofsecrecy。Noneofthedesignersofairshipsandaeroplaneshadknownclearlywhattheirinventionsmighthavetofight;manyhadnotimaginedtheywouldhavetofightanythingwhateverintheair;andhadplannedthemonlyforthedroppingofexplosives。SuchhadbeentheGermanidea。TheonlyweaponforfightinganotherairshipwithwhichtheFranconianfleethadbeenprovidedwasthemachinegunforward。
OnlyafterthefightoverNewYorkwerethemengivenshortrifleswithdetonatingbullets。Theoretically，thedrachenfliegerweretohavebeenthefightingweapon。Theyweredeclaredtobeaerialtorpedo—boats，andtheaeronautwassupposedtoswoopclosetohisantagonistandcasthisbombsashewhirledpast。Butindeedthesecontrivanceswerehopelesslyunstable;notone—thirdinanyengagementsucceededingettingbacktothemotherairship。Therestwereeithersmasheduporgrounded。
ThealliedChino—JapanesefleetmadethesamedistinctionastheGermansbetweenairshipsandfightingmachinesheavierthanair，butthetypeinbothcaseswasentirelydifferentfromtheoccidentalmodels，and——itiseloquentofthevigourwithwhichthesegreatpeoplestookupandbetteredtheEuropeanmethodsofscientificresearchinalmosteveryparticulartheinventionofAsiaticengineers。Chiefamongthese，itisworthremarking，wasMohiniK。Chatterjee，apoliticalexilewhohadformerlyservedintheBritish—IndianaeronauticparkatLahore。
TheGermanairshipwasfish—shaped，withabluntedhead;theAsiaticairshipwasalsofish—shaped，butnotsomuchonthelinesofacodorgobyasofarayorsole。Ithadawide，flatunderside，unbrokenbywindowsoranyopeningexceptalongthemiddleline。Itscabinsoccupieditsaxis，，withasortofbridgedeckabove，andthegas—chambersgavethewholeaffairtheshapeofagipsy’shoopedtent，exceptthatitwasmuchflatter。
TheGermanairshipwasessentiallyanavigableballoonverymuchlighterthanair;theAsiaticairshipwasverylittlelighterthanairandskimmedthroughitwithmuchgreatervelocityifwithconsiderablylessstability。Theycarriedforeandaftguns，thelattermuchthelarger，throwinginflammatoryshells，andinadditiontheyhadnestsforriflemenonboththeupperandtheunderside。Lightasthisarmamentwasincomparisonwiththesmallestgunboatthateversailed，itwassufficientforthemtooutfightaswellasoutflytheGermanmonsterairships。InactiontheyflewtogetbehindorovertheGermans:theyevendashedunderneath，avoidingonlypassingimmediatelybeneaththemagazine，andthenassoonastheyhadcrossedletflywiththeirreargun，andsentflaresoroxygenshellsintotheantagonist’sgas—chambers。
Itwasnotintheirairships，but，asIhavesaid，intheirflying—machinesproper，thatthestrengthoftheAsiaticslay。
NextonlytotheButteridgemachine，thesewerecertainlythemostefficientheavier—than—airfliersthathadeverappeared。
TheyweretheinventionofaJapaneseartist，andtheydifferedintypeextremelyfromthebox—kitequalityoftheGermandrachenflieger。Theyhadcuriouslycurved，flexiblesidewings，morelikeBENTbutterfly’swingsthananythingelse，andmadeofasubstancelikecelluloidandofbrightlypaintedsilk，andtheyhadalonghumming—birdtail。Attheforwardcornerofthewingswerehooks，ratherliketheclawsofabat，bywhichthemachinecouldcatchandhangandtearatthewallsofanairship’sgas—chamber。Thesolitaryridersatbetweenthewingsaboveatransverseexplosiveengine，anexplosiveenginethatdifferedinnoessentialparticularfromthoseinuseinthelightmotorbicyclesoftheperiod。Belowwasasinglelargewheel。Theridersatastrideofasaddle，asintheButteridgemachine，andhecarriedalargedouble—edgedtwo—handedsword，inadditiontohisexplosive—bulletfiringrifle。
3
OnesetsdowntheseparticularsandcomparesthepointsoftheAmericanandGermanpatternofaeroplaneandnavigable，butnoneofthesefactswereclearlyknowntoanyofthosewhofoughtinthismonstrouslyconfusedbattleabovetheAmericangreatlakes。
Eachsidewentintoactionagainstitknewnotwhat，undernovelconditionsandwithapparatusthatevenwithouthostileattackswascapableofproducingthemostdisconcertingsurprises。
Schemesofaction，attemptsatcollectivemanoeuvringnecessarilywenttopiecesdirectlythefightbegan，justastheydidinalmostalltheearlyironcladbattlesofthepreviouscentury。
Eachcaptainthenhadtofallbackuponindividualactionandhisowndevices;onewouldseetriumphinwhatanotherreadasacueforflightanddespair。ItisastrueoftheBattleofNiagaraasoftheBattleofLissathatitwasnotabattlebutabundleof\"battlettes\"！
TosuchaspectatorasBertitpresenteditselfasaseriesofincidents，someimmense，sometrivial，butcollectivelyincoherent。Heneverhadasenseofanyplainissuejoined，ofanypointstruggledforandwonorlost。Hesawtremendousthingshappenandintheendhisworlddarkenedtodisasterandruin。
Hesawthebattlefromtheground，fromProspectParkandfromGoatIsland，whitherhefled。
Butthemannerinwhichhecametobeonthegroundneedsexplaining。
ThePrincehadresumedcommandofhisfleetthroughwirelesstelegraphylongbeforetheZeppelinhadlocatedhisencampmentinLabrador。ByhisdirectiontheGermanair—fleet，whoseadvancescoutshadbeenincontactwiththeJapaneseovertheRockyMountains，hadconcentrateduponNiagaraandawaitedhisarrival。
Hehadrejoinedhiscommandearlyinthemorningofthetwelfth，andBerthadhisfirstprospectoftheGorgeofNiagarawhilehewasdoingnetdrilloutsidethemiddlegas—chamberatsunrise。
TheZeppelinwasflyingveryhighatthetime，andfarbelowhesawthewaterinthegorgemarbledwithfrothandthenawaytothewestthegreatcrescentoftheCanadianFallshining，flickeringandfoaminginthelevelsunlightandsendingupadeep，incessantthuddingrumbletothesky。Theair—fleetwaskeepingstationinanenormouscrescent，withitshornspointingsouth—westward，alongarrayofshiningmonsterswithtailsrotatingslowlyandGermanensignsnowtrailingfromtheirbelliesaftoftheirMarconipendants。
Niagaracitywasstilllargelystandingthen，albeititsstreetswereemptyofalllife。Itsbridgeswereintact;itshotelsandrestaurantsstillflyingflagsandinvitingskysigns;itspower—stationsrunning。Butaboutitthecountryonbothsidesofthegorgemighthavebeensweptbyacolossalbroom。
EverythingthatcouldpossiblygivecovertoanattackupontheGermanpositionatNiagarahadbeenlevelledasruthlesslyasmachineryandexplosivescouldcontrive;housesblownupandburnt，woodsburnt，fencesandcropsdestroyed。Themono—railshadbeentornup，andtheroadsinparticularclearedofallpossibilityofconcealmentorshelter。Seenfromabove，theeffectofthiswreckagewasgrotesque。Youngwoodshadbeendestroyedwhole—salebydraggingwires，andthespoiltsaplings，smashedoruprooted，layinswatheslikecornafterthesickle。
Houseshadanappearanceofbeingflatteneddownbythepressureofagiganticfinger。Muchburningwasstillgoingon，andlargeareashadbeenreducedtopatchesofsmoulderingandsometimesstillglowingblackness。
Hereandtherelaythedebrisofbelatedfugitives，carts，anddeadbodiesofhorsesandmen;andwherehouseshadhadwater—suppliestherewerepoolsofwaterandrunningspringsfromtherupturedpipes。Inunscorchedfieldshorsesandcattlestillfedpeacefully。Beyondthisdesolatedareathecountrysidewasstillstanding，butalmostallthepeoplehadfled。Buffalowasonfiretoanenormousextent，andtherewerenosignsofanyeffortstograpplewiththeflames。Niagaracityitselfwasbeingrapidlyconvertedtotheneedsofamilitarydepot。A
largenumberofskilledengineershadalreadybeenbroughtfromthefleetandwerebusilyatworkadaptingtheexteriorindustrialapparatusoftheplacetothepurposesofanaeronauticpark。TheyhadmadeagasrechargingstationatthecorneroftheAmericanFallabovethefunicularrailway，andtheywere，openingupamuchlargerareatothesouthforthesamepurpose。Overthepower—housesandhotelsandsuchlikeprominentorimportantpointstheGermanflagwasflying。
TheZeppelincircledslowlyoverthisscenetwicewhilethePrincesurveyeditfromtheswinginggallery;itthenrosetowardsthecentreofthecrescentandtransferredthePrinceandhissuite，Kurtincluded，totheHohenzollern，whichhadbeenchosenastheflagshipduringtheimpendingbattle。Theywereswunguponasmallcablefromtheforwardgallery，andthemenoftheZeppelinmannedtheouternettingasthePrinceandhisstaffleftthem。TheZeppelinthencameabout，circleddownandgroundedinProspectPark，inordertolandthewoundedandtakeaboardexplosives;forshehadcometoLabradorwithhermagazinesempty，itbeinguncertainwhatweightshemightneedtocarry。Shealsoreplenishedthehydrogeninoneofherforwardchamberswhichhadleaked。
BertwasdetailedasabearerandhelpedcarrythewoundedonebyoneintothenearestofthelargehotelsthatfacedtheCanadianshore。ThehotelwasquiteemptyexceptthatthereweretwotrainedAmericannursesandanegroporter，andthreeorfourGermansawaitingthem。BertwentwiththeZeppelin’sdoctorintothemainstreetoftheplace，andtheybrokeintoadrugshopandobtainedvariousthingsofwhichtheystoodinneed。Astheyreturnedtheyfoundanofficerandtwomenmakingaroughinventoryoftheavailablematerialinthevariousstores。
Exceptforthemthewide，mainstreetofthetownwasquitedeserted，thepeoplehadbeengiventhreehourstoclearout，andeverybody，itseemed，haddoneso。Atonecorneradeadmanlayagainstthewall——shot。Twoorthreedogswerevisibleuptheemptyvista，buttowardsitsriverendthepassageofastringofmono—railearsbrokethestillnessandthesilence。Theywereloadedwithhose，andwerepassingtothetrainfulofworkerswhowereconvertingProspectParkintoanairshipdock。
Bertpushedacaseofmedicinebalancedonabicycletakenfromanadjacentshop，tothehotel，andthenhewassenttoloadbombsintotheZeppelinmagazine，adutythatcalledforelaboratecare。FromthisjobhewaspresentlycalledoffbythecaptainoftheZeppelin，whosenthimwithanotetotheofficerinchargeoftheAnglo—AmericanPowerCompany，forthefieldtelephonehadstilltobeadjusted。BertreceivedhisinstructionsinGerman，whosemeaningheguessed，andsalutedandtookthenote，notcaringtobetrayhisignoranceofthelanguage。Hestartedoffwithabrightairofknowinghiswayandturnedacornerorso，andwasonlybeginningtosuspectthathedidnotknowwherehewasgoingwhenhisattentionwasrecalledtotheskybythereportofagunfromtheHohenzollernandcelestialcheering。
Helookedupandfoundtheviewobstructedbythehousesoneithersideofthestreet。Hehesitated，andthencuriositytookhimbacktowardsthebankoftheriver。Herehisviewwasinconveniencedbytrees，anditwaswithastartthathediscoveredtheZeppelin，whichheknewhadstillaquarterofhermagazinestofill，wasrisingoverGoatIsland。Shehadnotwaitedforhercomplementofammunition。Itoccurredtohimthathewasleftbehind。Heduckedbackamongthetreesandbushesuntilhefeltsecurefromanyafter—thoughtonthepartoftheZeppelin’scaptain。ThenhiscuriositytoseewhattheGermanair—fleetfacedovercamehim，anddrewhimatlasthalfwayacrossthebridgetoGoatIsland。
FromthatpointhehadnearlyahemisphereofskyandgothisfirstglimpseoftheAsiaticairshipslowintheskyabovetheglitteringtumultsoftheUpperRapids。
TheywerefarlessimpressivethantheGermanships。Hecouldnotjudgethedistance，andtheyflewedgewaystohim，soastoconcealthebroaderaspectoftheirbulk。
Bertstoodthereinthemiddleofthebridge，inaplacethatmostpeoplewhoknewitrememberedasaplacepopulouswithsightseersandexcursionists，andhewastheonlyhumanbeinginsightthere。Abovehim，veryhighintheheavens，thecontendingair—fleetsmanoeuvred;belowhimtheriverseethedlikeasluicetowardstheAmericanFall。Hewascuriouslydressed。HischeapbluesergetrouserswerethrustintoGermanairshiprubberboots，andonhisheadheworeanaeronaut’swhitecapthatwasatrifletoolargeforhim。HethrustthatbacktorevealhisstaringlittleCockneyface，stillscarreduponthebrow。\"Gaw！\"hewhispered。
Hestared。Hegesticulated。Onceortwiceheshoutedandapplauded。
ThenatacertainpointterrorseizedhimandhetooktohisheelsinthedirectionofGoatIsland。
4
Foratimeaftertheywereinsightofeachother，neitherfleetattemptedtoengage。TheGermansnumberedsixty—sevengreatairshipsandtheymaintainedthecrescentformationataheightofnearlyfourthousandfeet。Theykeptadistanceofaboutoneandahalflengths，sothatthehornsofthecrescentwerenearlythirtymilesapart。Closelyintowoftheairshipsoftheextremesquadronsoneitherwingwereaboutthirtydrachenfliegerreadymanned，，buttheseweretoosmallanddistantforBerttodistinguish。
Atfirst，onlywhatwascalledtheSouthernfleetoftheAsiaticswasvisibletohim。Itconsistedoffortyairships，carryingalltogethernearlyfourhundredone—manflying—machinesupontheirflanks，andforsometimeitflewslowlyandataminimumdistanceofperhapsadozenmilesfromtheGermans，eastwardacrosstheirfront。AtfirstBertcoulddistinguishonlythegreaterbulks，thenheperceivedtheone—manmachinesasamultitudeofverysmallobjectsdriftinglikemotesinthesunshineaboutandbeneaththelargershapes。