“Ah!” said Siebenhaar, “I thought that would happen, I thought the women would revolt as soon as war ceased to be an excitement and became a trade.” “Some of the Governments,” added Ultimus, “are paying women over forty-five years of age to go.” Siebenhaar chuckled. “It is time we interfered, Ultimus. When they lose their sense of humour so far as that, it is time for action. We will go to Fatland. Where are we now?” “Off the coast of Africa.” “We will lie out to sea until we have prepared the island against all dangers. First of all we will blow up the harbour. Then we will mine the shores all round. We will prepare the rocks on the tops of the mountains for missiles and we will lay in a great stock of your new transmissible explosive. We will then block the mouth of the great Fattish river, and we shall see what we shall see. An intelligent use of explosives should be able to counteract and if necessary to crush the fatuous use of them that is now being made. We will try persuasion, threats, and violence in that order to stop the war, and if then we cannot succeed we will abandon the human race altogether and return to our own Southern Seas.” “You forget,” expostulated Ultimus, “that I was drawn here out of curiosity as to something else besides the war, and that is, woman.” “A man,” said Siebenhaar, “bears a grudge against woman for his birth; he is a fool to burden himself with others against her.” “As I imagine them,” replied the young man wistfully, “they are beautiful.” “Lord, Lord,” cried Siebenhaar, “if only a young man would be content with his imaginings.” VIII: IN FATTISH WATERS The island moved proudly up the Fattish channel, until they came within sight of the land on either side of it. Here was drawn up a great array of ships like those which had been destroyed in the Southern Seas. On the foremost of the ships were hoisted a number of little flags which Siebenhaar interpreted as saying: “Good morning. Welcome home.”