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The Man On Putney Hill
"Yes,"hesaid,"fly."
Iwentonintoalittlebower,andsatdown.
"Itisalloverwithhumanity,"Isaid. "Iftheycandothattheywillsimplygoroundtheworld."
Henodded.
"Theywill. But——Itwillrelievethingsoverhereabit. Andbesides——"Helookedatme. "Aren’tyousatisfieditisupwithhumanity? Iam. We’redown;we’rebeat."
Istared. Strangeasitmayseem,Ihadnotarrivedatthisfact—afactperfectlyobvioussosoonashespoke. Ihadstillheldavaguehope;rather,Ihadkeptalifelonghabitofmind. Herepeatedhiswords, "We’rebeat."Theycarriedabsoluteconviction.
"It’sallover,"hesaid. "They’velostone—justONE. Andthey’vemadetheirfootinggoodandcrippledthegreatestpowerintheworld. They’vewalkedoverus. ThedeathofthatoneatWeybridgewasanaccident. Andtheseareonlypioneers. Theykeptoncoming. Thesegreenstars—I’veseennonethesefiveorsixdays,butI’venodoubtthey’refallingsomewhereeverynight. Nothing’stobedone. We’reunder! We’rebeat!"
Imadehimnoanswer. Isatstaringbeforeme,tryinginvaintodevisesomecountervailingthought.
"Thisisn’tawar,"saidtheartilleryman. "Itneverwasawar,anymorethanthere’swarbetweenmanandants."
