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  \"Ifwecouldstopthemanotherhour!\"criedthemaninyellow。

  \"Nothingcanstopthemnow,\"saidtheoldman。

  theyhavenearahundredaeroplanesinthefirstfleet。\"

  \"Anotherhour?\"askedGraham。

  \"Tobesonear!\"saidtheWardLeader。\"Nowthatwehavefoundthoseguns。Tobesonear——。

  Ifoncewecouldgetthemoutupontheroofspaces。\"

  \"Howlongwouldthattake?\"askedGrahamsuddenly。

  \"Anhour——certainly。\"

  \"Toolate,\"criedtheWardLeader,\"toolate。\"

  \"Isittoolate?\"saidGraham。\"Evennow——。

  Anhour!\"

  Hehadsuddenlyperceivedapossibility。Hetriedtospeakcalmly,buthisfacewaswhite。\"Thereisonechance。Yousaidtherewasanaeropile——?\"

  \"OntheRoehamptonstage,Sire。\"

  \"Smashed?\"

  \"No。ItisIyingcrosswaystothecarrier。Itmightbegotupontheguides——easily。Butthereisnoaeronaut——。\"

  GrahamglancedatthetwomenandthenatHelen。

  Hespokeafteralongpause。\"Wehavenoaeronauts?\"

  \"None。\"

  \"Theaeroplanesareclumsy,\"hesaidthoughtfully,\"comparedwiththeaeropiles。\"

  HeturnedsuddenlytoHelen。Hisdecisionwasmade。\"Imustdoit。\"

  \"Dowhat?\"

  \"Gotothisflyingstage——tothisaeropile。\"

  \"Whatdoyoumean?\"

  \"Iamanaeronaut。Afterall——。Thosedaysforwhichyoureproachedmewerewasted。\"

  Heturnedtotheoldmaninyellow。

  puttheaeropileupontheguides。\"

  Themaninyellowhesitated。

  \"Whatdoyoumeantodo?\"criedHelen。

  \"Thisaeropile——itisachance——。\"

  \"Youdon’tmean——?\"

  \"Tofight——yes。Tofightintheair。Ihavethoughtbefore——。Anaeroplaneisaclumsything。

  Aresoluteman——!\"

  \"But——neversinceflyingbegan——\"criedthemaninyellow。

  \"Therehasbeennoneed。Butnowthetimehascome。Tellthemnow——sendthemmymessage——toputitupontheguides。\"

  Theoldmandumblyinterrogatedthemaninyellow,nodded,andhurriedout。

  HelenmadeasteptowardsGraham。Herfacewaswhite。\"But——Howcanonefight?Youwillbekilled。\"

  \"Perhaps。Yet,nottodoit——ortoletsomeoneelseattemptit——。\"

  Hestopped,hecouldspeaknomore,hesweptthealternativeasidebyagesture,andtheystoodlookingatoneanother。

  \"Youareright,\"shesaidatlastinalowtone。

  \"Youareright。Ifitcanbedone……

  mustgo。\"

  ThosedaysfornotaltogetherHemovedasteptowardsher,andshesteppedback,herwhitefacestruggledagainsthimandresistedhim。

  \"No,\"shegasped。\"Icannotbear——。Gonow。\"

  Heextendedhishandsstupidly。Sheclenchedherfists。\"Gonow,\"shecried。\"Gonow。\"

  Hehesitatedandunderstood。Hethrewhishandsupinaqueerhalf—theatricalgesture。Hehadnowordtosay。Heturnedfromher。

  Themaninyellowmovedtowardsthedoorwithclumsybelatedtact。ButGrahamsteppedpasthim。

  HewentstridingthroughtheroomwheretheWardLeaderbawledatatelephonedirectingthattheaeropileshouldbeputupontheguides。

  ThemaninyellowglancedatHelen’sstillfigure,hesitatedandhurriedafterhim。Grahamdidnotoncelookback,hedidnotspeakuntilthecurtainoftheante—chamberofthegreathallfellbehindhim。Thenheturnedhisheadwithcurtswiftdirectionsuponhisbloodlesslips。

  CHAPTERXIV

  THECOMINGOFTHEAEROPLANES

  TwomeninpalebluewereIyingintheirregularlinethatstretchedalongtheedgeofthecapturedRoehamptonstagefromendtoend,graspingtheircarbinesandpeeringintotheshadowsofthestagecalledWimbledonPark。Nowandthentheyspoketooneanother。TheyspokethemutilatedEnglishoftheirclassandperiod。ThefireoftheOstrogiteshaddwindledandceased,andfewoftheenemyhadbeenseenforsometime。Buttheechoesofthefightthatwasgoingonnowfarbelowinthelowergalleriesofthatstage,cameeverynowandthenbetweenthestaccatoofshotsfromthepopularside。Oneofthesemenwasdescribingtotheotherhowhehadseenamandownbelowtheredodgebehindagirder,andhadaimedataguessandhithimcleanlyashedodgedtoofar\"He’sdowntherestill,\"saidthemarksman。

  \"Seethatlittlepatch。Yes。Betweenthosebars。\"

  Afewyardsbehindthemlayadeadstranger,faceupwardtothesky,withthebluecanvasofhisjacketsmolderinginacircleabouttheneatbulletholeonhischest。Closebesidehimawoundedman,withalegswathedabout,satwithanexpressionlessfaceandwatchedtheprogressofthatburning。Giganticbehindthem,athwartthecarrierlaythecapturedaeropile。

  \"Ican’tseehimnow,\"saidthesecondmaninatonofprovocation。

  Themarksmanbecamefoul—mouthedandhigh—

  voicedinhisearnestendeavourtomakethingsplainAndsuddenly,interruptinghim,cameanoisyshoutingfromthesubstage。

  \"What’sgoingonnow,\"hesaid,andraisedhimselfononearmtostareatthestairheadsinthecentralgrooveofthestage。Anumberofbluefigureswerecomingupthese,andswarmingacrossthestagetotheaeropile。

  \"Wedon’twantallthesefools,\"saidhisfriend。

  \"Theyonlycrowdupandspoilshots。Whataretheyafter?\"

  \"Ssh!——they’reshoutingsomething。\"

  Thetwomenlistened。Theswarmingnew—comershadcrowdeddenselyabouttheaeropile。ThreeWardLeaders,conspicuousbytheirblackmantlesandbadges,clamberedintothebodyandappearedaboveit。Therankandfileflungthemselvesuponthevans,grippingholdoftheedges,untiltheentireoutlineofthethingwasmanned,insomeplacesthreedeep。Oneofthemarksmenkneltup。\"They’reputtingitonthecarrier——that’swhatthey’reafter。\"

  Herosetohisfeet,hisfriendrosealso。\"What’sthegood?\"saidhisfriend。\"We’vegotnoaeronauts。\"

  \"That’swhatthey’redoinganyhow。\"Helookedathisrifle,lookedatthestrugglingcrowd,andsuddenlyturningtothewoundedman。\"Mindthese,mate,\"hesaid,handinghiscarbineandcartridgebelt;andinamomenthewasrunningtowardstheaeropile。ForaquarterofanhourhewasaperspiringTitan,lugging,thrusting,shoutingandheedingshouts,andthenthethingwasdone,andhestoodwithamultitudeofotherscheeringtheirownachievement。Bythistimeheknew,whatindeedeveryoneinthecityknew,thattheMaster,rawlearnerthoughhewas,intendedtoflythismachinehimself,wascomingevennowtotakecontrolofit,wouldletnoothermanattemptit。\"Hewhotakesthegreatestdanger,hewhobearstheheaviestburden,thatmanisKing,\"sotheMasterwasreportedtohavespoken。Andevenasthismancheered,andwhilethebeadsofsweatstillchasedoneanotherfromthedisorderofhishair,heheardthethunderofagreatertumult,andinfitfulsnatchesthebeatandimpulseoftherevolutionarysong。Hesawthroughagapinthepeoplethatathickstreamofheadsstillpouredupthestairway。\"TheMasteriscoming,\"shoutedvoices,\"theMasteriscoming,\"andthecrowdabouthimgrewdenseranddenser。Hebegantothrusthimselftowardsthecentralgroove。\"TheMasteriscoming!\"\"TheSleeper,theMaster!\"\"GodandtheMaster!\"roaredtheVoices。

  Andsuddenlyquiteclosetohimweretheblackuniformsoftherevolutionaryguard,andforthefirstandlasttimeinhislifehesawGraham,sawhimquitenearly。Atall,darkmaninaflowingblackrobe,withawhite,resolutefaceandeyesfixedsteadfastlybeforehim;amanwhoforallthelittlethingsabouthimheldneitherearsnoreyesnorthoughts……ForallhisdaysthatmanrememberedthepassingofGraham’sbloodlessface。Inamomentithadgoneandhewasfightingintheswayingcrowd。Aladweepingwithterrorthrustagainsthim,pressingtowardsthestairways,yelling\"Clearfortheaeropile!\"Thebellthatclearstheflyingstagebecamealoudunmelodiousclanging。

  WiththatclanginginhisearsGrahamdrewneartheaeropile,marchedintotheshadowofitstiltingwing。Hebecameawarethatanumberofpeopleabouthimwereofferingtoaccompanyhim,andwavedtheiroffersaside。Hewantedtothinkhowonestartedtheengine。Thebellclangedfasterandfaster,andthefeetoftheretreatingpeopleroaredfasterandlouder。Themaninyellowwasassistinghimtomountthroughtheribsofthebody。Heclamberedintotheaeronaut’splace,fixinghimselfverycarefullyanddeliberately。Whatwasit?Themaninyellowwaspointingtotwoaeropilesdrivingupwardinthesouthernsky。Nodoubttheywerelookingforthecomingaeroplanes。That——presently——thethingtodonowwastostart。Thingswerebeingshoutedathim,questions,warnings。Theybotheredhim。Hewantedtothinkabouttheaeropile,torecalleveryitemofhispreviousexperience。Hewavedthepeoplefromhim,sawthemaninyellowdroppingoffthroughtheribs,sawthecrowdcleftdownthelineofthegirdersbyhisgesture。

  Foramomenthewasmotionless,staringatthelevers,thewheelbywhichtheengineshifted,andallthedelicateappliancesofwhichheknewsolittle。Hiseyecaughtaspiritlevelwiththebubbletowardshim,andherememberedsomething,spentadozensecondsinswingingtheengineforwarduntilthebubblefloatedinthecentreofthetube。Henotedthatthepeoplewerenotshouting,knewtheywatchedhisdeliberation。

  Abulletsmashedonthebarabovehishead。Whofired?Wasthelineclearofpeople?Hestooduptoseeandsatdownagain。

  Inanothersecondthepropellerwasspinning,andhewasrushingdowntheguides。Hegrippedthewheelandswungtheenginebacktoliftthestem。

  Thenitwasthepeopleshouted。Inamomenthewasthrobbingwiththequiveroftheengine,andtheshoutsdwindledswiftlybehind,rusheddowntosilence。

  Thewindwhistledovertheedgesofthescreen,andtheworldsankawayfromhimveryswiftly。

  Throb,throb,throb——throb,throb,throb;uphedrove。Hefanciedhimselffreeofallexcitement,feltcoolanddeliberate。Heliftedthestemstillmore,openedonevalveonhisleftwingandsweptroundandup。Helookeddownwithasteadyhead,andup。OneoftheOstrogiteaeropileswasdrivingacrosshiscourse,sothathedroveobliquelytowardsitandwouldpassbelowitatasteepangle。Itslittleaeronautswerepeeringdownathim。Whatdidtheymeantodo?

  Hismindbecameactive。One,hesawheldaweaponpointing,seemedpreparedtofire。Whatdidtheythinkhemeanttodo?Inamomentheunderstoodtheirtactics,andhisresolutionwastaken。Hismomentarylethargywaspast。Heopenedtwomorevalvestohisleft,swunground,endontothishostilemachine,closedhisvalves,andshotstraightatit,stemandwind—screenshieldinghimfromtheshot。Theytiltedalittleasiftoclearhim。Heflunguphisstem。

  Throb,throb,throb——pause——throb,throb——

  hesethisteeth,hisfaceintoaninvoluntarygrimace,andcrash!Hestruckit!Hestruckupwardbeneaththenearerwing。

  Veryslowlythewingofhisantagonistseemedtobroadenastheimpetusofhisblowturneditup。Hesawthefullbreadthofitandthenitsliddownwardoutofhissight。

  Hefelthisstemgoingdown,hishandstightenedonthelevers,whirledandrammedtheengineback。Hefeltthejerkofaclearance,thenoseofthemachinejerkedupwardsteeply,andforamomentheseemedtobeIyingonhisback。Themachinewasreelingandstaggering,itseemedtobedancingonitsscrew。Hemadeahugeeffort,hungforamomentonthelevers,andslowlytheenginecameforwardagain。Hewasdrivingupwardbutnolongersosteeply。Hegaspedforamomentandflunghimselfattheleversagain。Thewindwhistledabouthim。Onefurthereffortandhewasalmostlevel。Hecouldbreathe。Heturnedhisheadforthefirsttimetoseewhathadbecomeofhisantagonists。Turnedbacktotheleversforamomentandlookedagain。Foramomenthecouldhavebelievedtheywereannihilated。

  Andthenhesawbetweenthetwostagestotheeastwasachasm,anddownthissomething,aslenderedge,fellswiftlyandvanished,asasixpencefallsdownacrack。

  Atfirsthedidnotunderstand,andthenawildjoypossessedhim。Heshoutedatthetopofhisvoice,aninarticulateshout,anddrovehigherandhigherupthesky。Throb,throb,throb,pause,throb,throb,throb。

  \"Wherewastheotheraeropile?\"hethought。\"Theytoo——。\"Ashelookedroundtheemptyheavenshehadamomentaryfearthatthismachinehadrisenabovehim,andthenhesawitalightingontheNorwoodstage。Theyhadmeantshooting。Toriskbeingrammedheadlongtwothousandfeetintheairwasbeyondtheirlatter—daycourage。Thecombatwasdeclined。

  Foralittlewhilehecircled,thenswoopedinasteepdescenttowardsthewestwardstage。Throbthrobthrob,throbthrobthrob。Thetwilightwascreepingonapace,thesmokefromtheStreathamstagethathadbeensodenseanddark,wasnowapillaroffire,andallthelacedcurvesofthemovingwaysandthetranslucentroofsanddomesandthechasmsbetweenthebuildingswereglowingsoftlynow,litbythetemperedradianceoftheelectriclightthattheglareofthewayoverpowered。ThethreeefficientstagesthattheOstrogitesheld——forWimbledonParkwasuselessbecauseofthefirefromRoehampton,andStreathamwasafurnace——wereglowingwithguidelightsforthecomingaeroplanes。AshesweptovertheRoehamptonstagehesawthedarkmassesofthepeoplethereon。Heheardaclapoffranticcheering,heardabulletfromtheWimbledonParkstagetweetthroughtheair,andwentbeatingupabovetheSurreywastes。

  Hefeltabreathofwindfromthesouth—west,andliftedhiswestwardwingashehadlearnttodo,andsodroveupwardheelingintotherareswiftupperair。

  Throbthrobthrob——throbthrobthrob。

  Uphedroveandup,tothatpulsatingrhythm,untilthecountrybeneathwasblueandindistinct,andLondonspreadlikealittlemaptracedinlight,likethemeremodelofacitynearthebrimofthehorizon。

  Thesouth—westwasaskyofsapphireovertheshadowyrimoftheworld,andeverashedroveupwardthemultitudeofstarsincreased。

  Andbehold!Inthesouthward,lowdownandglitteringswiftlynearer,weretwolittlepatchesofnebulouslight。Andthentwomore,andthenanebulousglowofswiftlydrivingshapes。Presentlyhecouldcountthem。Therewerefourandtwenty。Thefirstfleetofaeroplaneshadcome!Beyondappearedayetgreaterglow。

  Hesweptroundinahalfcircle,staringatthisadvancingfleet。Itflewinawedge—likeshape,atriangularflightofgiganticphosphorescentshapessweepingnearerthroughthelowerair。Hemadeaswiftcalculationoftheirpace,andspunthelittlewheelthatbroughttheengineforward。Hetouchedaleverandthethrobbingeffortoftheengineceased。Hebegantofall,fellswifterandswifter。Heaimedattheapexofthewedge。Hedroppedlikeastonethroughthewhistlingair。Itseemedscarceasecondfromthatsoaringmomentbeforehestrucktheforemostaeroplane。

  Nomanofallthatblackmultitudesawthecomingofhisfate,nomanamongthemdreamtofthehawkthatstruckdownwarduponhimoutofthesky。Thosewhowerenotlimpintheagoniesofair—sickness,werecraningtheirblacknecksandstaringtoseethefilmycitythatwasrisingoutofthehaze,therichandsplendidcitytowhich\"MassaBoss\"hadbroughttheirobedientmuscles。Brightteethgleamedandtheglossyfacesshone。TheyhadheardofParis。Theyknewtheyweretohavelordlytimesamongthe\"poorwhite\"trash。AndsuddenlyGrahamstruckthem。

  Hehadaimedatthebodyoftheaeroplane,butattheverylastinstantabetterideahadflashedintohismind。Hetwistedaboutandstruckneartheedgeofthestarboardwingwithallhisaccumulatedweight。

  Hewasjerkedbackashestruck。Hisprowwentglidingacrossitssmoothexpansetowardstherim。

  Hefelttheforwardrushofthehugefabricsweepinghimandhisaeropilealongwithit,andforamomentthatseemedanagehecouldnottellwhatwashappening。

  Heheardathousandthroatsyelling,andperceivedthathismachinewasbalancedontheedgeofthegiganticfloat,anddrivingdown,down;glancedoverhisshoulderandsawthebackboneoftheaeroplaneandtheoppositefloatswayingup。Hehadavisionthroughtheribsofslidingchairs,staringfaces,andhandsclutchingatthetiltingguidebars。

  Thefenestrationsinthefurtherfloatflashedopenastheaeronauttriedtorighther。Beyond,hesawasecondaeroplaneleapingsteeplytoescapethewhirlofitsheelingfellow。Thebroadareaofswayingwingsseemedtojerkupward。Hefelthisaeropilehaddroppedclear,thatthemonstrousfabric,cleanoverturned,hunglikeaslopingwallabovehim。

  Hedidnotclearlyunderstandthathehadstruckthesidefloatoftheaeroplaneandslippedoff,butheperceivedthathewasflyingfreeonthedownglideandrapidlynearingearth。Whathadhedone?Hisheartthrobbedlikeanoisyengineinhisthroatandforaperilousinstanthecouldnotmovehisleversbecauseoftheparalysisofhishands。Hewrenchedtheleverstothrowhisengineback,foughtfortwosecondsagainsttheweightofit,felthimselfrightingdrivinghorizontally,settheenginebeatingagain。

  Helookedupwardandsawtwoaeroplanesglideshoutingfaroverhead,lookedback,andsawthemainbodyofthefleetopeningoutandrushingupwardand……

  outward;sawtheonehehadstruckfalledgewiseonandstrikelikeagiganticknife—bladealongthewind—

  wheelsbelowit。

  Heputdownhissternandlookedagain。Hedroveupheedlessofhisdirectionashewatched。Hesawthewind—vanesgive,sawthehugefabricstriketheearth,sawitsdownwardvanscrumplewiththeweightofitsdescent,andthenthewholemassturnedoverandsmashed,upsidedown,upontheslopingwheels。

  Throb,throb,throb,pause。Suddenlyfromtheheavingwreckageathintongueofwhitefirelickeduptowardsthezenith。Andthenhewasawareofahugemassflyingthroughtheairtowardshim,andturnedupwardsjustintimetoescapethecharge——ifitwasacharge——ofasecondaeroplane。Itwhirledbybelow,suckedhimdownafathom,andnearlyturnedhimoverinthegustofitsclosepassage。

  Hebecameawareofthreeothersrushingtowardshim,awareoftheurgentnecessityofbeatingabovethem。Aeroplaneswereallabouthim,circlingwildlytoavoidhim,asitseemed。Theydrovepasthim,above,below,eastwardandwestward。Farawaytothewestwardwasthesoundofacollision,andtwofallingflares。Farawaytothesouthwardasecondsquadronwascoming。Steadilyhebeatupward。

  Presentlyalltheaeroplaneswerebelowhim,butforamomenthedoubtedtheheighthehadofthem,anddidnotswoopagain。Andthenhecamedownuponasecondvictimandallitsloadofsoldierssawhimcoming。

  Thebigmachineheeledandswayedasthefearmaddenedmenscrambledtothesternfortheirweapons。Ascoreofbulletssungthroughtheair,andthereflashedastarinthethickglasswind—screenthatprotectedhim。Theaeroplaneslowedanddroppedtofoilhisstroke,anddroppedtoolow。Justintimehesawthewind—wheelsofBromleyhillrushinguptowardshim,andspunaboutandupastheaeroplanehehadchasedcrashedamongthem。Allitsvoiceswoveintoafeltofyelling。Thegreatfabricseemedtobestandingonendforasecondamongtheheelingandsplinteringvans,andthenitflewtopieces。

  Hugesplinterscameflyingthroughtheair,itsenginesburstlikeshells。Ahotrushofflameshotoverheadintothedarklingsky。

  \"__Two!__\"hecried,withabombfromoverheadburstingasitfell,andforthwithhewasbeatingupagain。

  Agloriousexhilarationpossessedhimnow,agiantactivity。Histroublesabouthumanity,abouthisinadaquacy,weregoneforever。Hewasamaninbattlerejoicinginhispower。Aeroplanesseemedradiatingfromhimineverydirection,intentonlyuponavoidinghim,theyellingoftheirpackedpassengerscameinshortgustsastheysweptby。Hechosehisthirdquarry,struckhastilyanddidbutturnitonedge。Itescapedhim,tosmashagainstthetallcliffofLondonwall。FIyingfromthatimpactheskimmedthedarklinggroundsonearlyhecouldseeafrightenedrabbitboltingupaslope。Hejerkedupsteeply,andfoundhimselfdrivingoversouthLondonwiththeairabouthimvacant。TotherightofhimawildriotofsignalrocketsfromtheOstrogitesbangedtumultuouslyinthesky。Tothesouththewreckageofhalfadozenairshipsflamed,andeastandwestandnorththeairshipsfledbeforehim。Theydroveawaytotheeastandnorth,andwentaboutinthesouth,fortheycouldnotpauseintheair。Intheirpresentconfusionanyattemptatevolutionwouldhavemeantdisastrouscollisions。Hecouldscarcelyrealizethethinghehaddone。Ineveryquarteraeroplaneswerereceding。

  Theywerereceding。Theydwindledsmallerandsmaller。Theywereinflight!

  HepassedtwohundredfeetorsoabovetheRoehamptonstage。Itwasblackwithpeopleandnoisywiththeirfranticshouting。ButwhywastheWimbledonParkstageblackandcheering,too?ThesmokeandflameofStreathamnowhidthethreefurtherstages。Hecurvedaboutandrosetoseethemandthenorthernquarters。FirstcamethesquaremassesofShooter’sHillintosightfrombehindthesmoke,litandorderlywiththeaeroplanethathadlandedanditsdisembarkingnegroes。ThencameBlackheath,andthenunderthecornerofthereektheNorwoodstage。OnBlackheathnoaeroplanehadlandedbutanaeropilelayupontheguides。Norwoodwascoveredbyaswarmoflittlefiguresrunningtoandfroinapassionateconfusion。Why?Abruptlyheunderstood。Thestubborndefenceoftheflyingstageswasover,thepeoplewerepouringintotheunder—waysoftheselaststrongholdsofOstrog’susurpation。Andthen,fromfarawayonthenorthernborderofthecity,fullofgloriousimporttohim,cameasound,asignal,anoteoftriumph,theleadenthudofagun。Hislipsfellapart,hisfacewasdisturbedwithemotion。

  Hedrewanimmensebreath。\"Theywin,\"heshoutedtotheemptyair;\"thepeoplewin!\"Thesoundofasecondguncamelikeananswer。AndthenhesawtheaeropileonBlackheathwasrunningdownitsguidestolaunch。Itliftedcleanandrose。

  Itshotupintotheair,drivingstraightsouthwardandawayfromhim。

  Inaninstantitcametohimwhatthismeant。ItmustneedsbeOstroginflight。Heshoutedanddroppedtowardsit。Hehadthemomentumofhiselevationandfellslantingdowntheairandveryswiftly。Itrosesteeplyathisapproach。Heallowedforitsvelocityanddrovestraightuponit。

  Itsuddenlybecameamereflatedge,andbehold!hewaspastit,anddrivingheadlongdownwithalltheforceofhisfutileblow。

  Hewasfuriouslyangry。Hereeledtheenginebackalongitsshaftandwentcirclingup。HesawOstrog’smachinebeatingupaspiralbeforehim。Herosestraighttowardsit,wonaboveitbyvirtueoftheimpetusofhisswoopandbytheadvantageandweightofaman。Hedroppedheadlong——droppedandmissedagain!AsherushedpasthesawthefaceofOstrog’saeronautconfidentandcoolandinOstrog’sattitudeawincingresolution。Ostrogwaslookingsteadfastlyawayfromhim——tothesouth。

  Herealizedwithagleamofwrathhowbunglinghisflightmustbe。BelowhesawtheCroydenhills。Hejerkedupwardandoncemorehegainedonhisenemy。

  Heglancedoverhisshoulderandhisattentionwasarrestedbyastrangething。Theeastwardstage,theoneonShooter’sHill,appearedtolift;aflashchangingtoatallgreyshape,acowledfigureofsmokeandduct,jerkedintotheair。Foramomentthiscowledfigurestoodmotionless,droppinghugemassesofmetalfromitsshoulders,andthenitbegantouncoiladenseheadofsmoke。Thepeoplehadblownitup,aeroplaneandall!AssuddenlyasecondflashandgreyshapesprangupfromtheNorwoodstage。Andevenashestaredatthiscameadeadreport,andtheairwaveofthefirstexplosionstruckhim。Hewasflungupandsideways。

  Foramomenttheaeropilefellnearlyedgewisewithhernosedown,andseemedtohesitatewhethertooversetaltogether。Hestoodonhiswind—shieldwrenchingthewheelthatswayedupoverhishead。

  Andthentheshockofthesecondexplosiontookhismachinesideways。

  Hefoundhimselfclingingtooneoftheribsofhismachine,andtheairwasblowingpasthimandupward。Heseemedtobehangingquitestillintheair,withthewindblowinguppasthim。Itoccurredtohimthathewasfalling。Thenhewassurethathewasfalling。Hecouldnotlookdown。

  Hefoundhimselfrecapitulatingwithincredibleswiftnessallthathadhappenedsincehisawakening,thedaysofdoubtthedaysofEmpire,andatlastthetumultuousdiscoveryofOstrog’scalculatedtreachery。

  hewasbeatenbutLondonwassaved。Londonwassaved!

  Thethoughthadaqualityofutterunreality。Whowashe?Whywasheholdingsotightlywithhishands?Whycouldhenotleavego?Insuchafallasthiscountlessdreamshaveended。Butinamomenthewouldwake……

  Histhoughtsranswifterandswifter。HewonderedifheshouldseeHelenagain。Itseemedsounreasonablethatheshouldnotseeheragain。It__must__beadream!Yetsurelyhewouldmeether。Sheatleastwasreal。Shewasreal。Hewouldwakeandmeether。

  Althoughhecouldnotlookatit,hewassuddenlyawarethattheearthwasverynear。

  End

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