miles an hour was attained.

Thus, step by step, progress was made; but notwithstanding the
promising results it was quite evident that the engines were far
too heavy in proportion to the power they supplied. At length,
however, the internal-combustion engine, such as is used in
motor-cars, arrived, and it became at last possible to solve the
great problem of constructing a really-serviceable, steerable
balloon.



CHAPTER IX
The Strange Career of Count Zeppelin

In Berlin, on March 8, 1917, there passed away a man whose name
will be remembered as long as the English language is spoken.
For Count Zeppelin belongs to that little band of men who giving
birth to a work of genius have also given their names to the
christening of it; and so the patronymic will pass down the ages.

In the most sinister sense of the expression Count Zeppelin may
be said to have left his mark deep down upon the British race.
In course of time many old scores are forgiven and forgotten, but
the Zeppelin raids on England will survive, if only as a curious
failure. Their failure was both material and moral.
Anti-aircraft guns and our intrepid airmen brought one after
another of these destructive monsters blazing to the ground, and
their work of "frightfulness" was taken up by the aeroplane;
while more lamentable still was the failure of the Zeppelin as an