human
Victory! Yes it was
gpt
Victory!
human
Victory, he cried,
gpt
Victory?
human
What do you mean? asked Graham.
gpt
Tell me! _What_?
human
We have driven them out of the under galleries at Norwood, Streatham is afire and burning wildly, and Roehampton is ours. _Ours_!--and we have taken the monoplane that lay thereon.
gpt
It is all over,
human
What matters it now that we have Roehampton? The aeroplanes have been sighted at Boulogne!
gpt
The Channel! said the man in yellow. He calculated swiftly.
human
Half an hour.
gpt
They still have three of the flying stages,
human
Those guns?
gpt
We cannot mount them--in half an hour.
human
Do you mean they are found?
gpt
Too late,
human
If we could stop them another hour!
gpt
Nothing can stop them now, said the old man.
human
They have near a hundred aeroplanes in the first fleet.
gpt
Another hour?
human
To be so near! said the Ward Leader.
gpt
Now that we have found those guns. To be so near--. If once we could get them out upon the roof spaces.
human
How long would that take?
gpt
An hour--certainly.
human
Too late, cried the Ward Leader,
gpt
said Graham.
human
Even now--. An hour!
gpt
There is are chance. You said there was a monoplane--?
human
On the Roehampton stage, Sire.
gpt
Smashed?
human
No. It is lying crossways to the carrier. It might be got upon the guides--easily. But there is no aeronaut--.
gpt
None.
human
I must do it.
gpt
Do what?
human
Go to this flying stage--to this machine.
gpt
What do you mean?
human
I am an aeronaut. After all--. Those days for which you reproached me were not altogether wasted.
gpt
Tell them to put it upon the guides.
human
What do you mean to do?
gpt
This monoplane--it is a chance--.
human
You don't mean--?
gpt
To fight--yes. To fight in the air. I have thought before--. A big aeroplane is a clumsy thing. A resolute man--!
human
But--never since flying began--
gpt
There has been no need. But now the time has come. Tell them now--send them my message--to put it upon the guides. I see now something to do. I see now why I am here!
human
But, Sire!--How can one fight? You will be killed.
gpt
Perhaps. Yet, not to do it--or to let some one else attempt it--.
human
You will be killed,
gpt
I've said my word. Do you not see? It may save--London!