diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 5538809 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/19141-h.htm | 10315 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm0112.jpg | bin | 0 -> 75880 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm0113.png | bin | 0 -> 98424 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm0114.png | bin | 0 -> 60451 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm0206.png | bin | 0 -> 110417 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm0207.png | bin | 0 -> 117795 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm0208.png | bin | 0 -> 183542 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm0310.png | bin | 0 -> 129488 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm0311.png | bin | 0 -> 91463 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm0412.png | bin | 0 -> 102447 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm0413.png | bin | 0 -> 79865 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm0512.png | bin | 0 -> 78817 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm0513.png | bin | 0 -> 94931 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm0607.png | bin | 0 -> 73298 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm0608.png | bin | 0 -> 70047 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm0609.png | bin | 0 -> 81277 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm0711.png | bin | 0 -> 82100 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm0712.png | bin | 0 -> 119780 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm0809.png | bin | 0 -> 83811 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm0810.png | bin | 0 -> 242074 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm0910.png | bin | 0 -> 72887 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm0911.png | bin | 0 -> 168589 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm1011.png | bin | 0 -> 140668 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm1012.png | bin | 0 -> 238790 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm1108.png | bin | 0 -> 184780 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm1210.png | bin | 0 -> 51771 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm1211.png | bin | 0 -> 188464 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm1311.png | bin | 0 -> 67779 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm1312.png | bin | 0 -> 215776 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm1404.png | bin | 0 -> 249867 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm1508.png | bin | 0 -> 187095 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm1610.png | bin | 0 -> 119285 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm1611.png | bin | 0 -> 145211 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm1710.png | bin | 0 -> 253903 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm1810.png | bin | 0 -> 167590 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm1912.png | bin | 0 -> 109149 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm2010.png | bin | 0 -> 171121 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm2109.png | bin | 0 -> 139129 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm2212.png | bin | 0 -> 170219 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm2310.png | bin | 0 -> 137571 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm2414.png | bin | 0 -> 90285 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141-h/images/tecm2511.png | bin | 0 -> 136188 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141.txt | 8478 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19141.zip | bin | 0 -> 145949 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
48 files changed, 18809 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/19141-h.zip b/19141-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..28b78b7 --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h.zip diff --git a/19141-h/19141-h.htm b/19141-h/19141-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bd48b48 --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/19141-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10315 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + +<head> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Edison's Conquest of Mars, by Garrett P. Serviss</title> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[*/ + <!-- + body { margin-left: 15%; + margin-right: 15%; } + + h1, h3 {text-align: center;} + + h2, h4 { margin-left: 5%; } + + hr { width: 50%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} + + .toc, .pic { font-size: 80%; text-align: center;} + + +/*]]>*/ + // --> +</style> + +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Edison's Conquest of Mars, by Garrett Putman Serviss + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Edison's Conquest of Mars + +Author: Garrett Putman Serviss + +Release Date: August 29, 2006 [EBook #19141] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EDISON'S CONQUEST OF MARS *** + + + + +Produced by Jason Isbell, Greg Weeks, Renald Levesque, and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<p class="pic"> +<img src="images/tecm0112.jpg" alt="Title page" title="Title page" /> +</p> + + +<hr /> + +<h1>Edison's Conquest of Mars</h1> +<h3>by</h3> +<h1>Garrett P. Serviss</h1> +<h3>1898</h3> + + +<p class="toc"> +<a href="#I">Chapter I.</a> +<a href="#II">II.</a> +<a href="#III">III.</a> +<a href="#IV">IV.</a> +<a href="#V">V.</a> +<a href="#VI">VI.</a> +<a href="#VII">VII.</a> +<a href="#VIII">VIII.</a> +<a href="#IX">IX.</a> +<a href="#X">X.</a> +<a href="#XI">XI.</a> +<a href="#XII">XII.</a> +<a href="#XIII">XIII.</a> +<a href="#XIV">XIV.</a> +<a href="#XV">XV.</a> +<a href="#XVI">XVI.</a> +<a href="#XVII">XVII.</a> +<a href="#XVIII">XVIII.</a> +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><a name="I"></a></p> +<h2>Chapter I.</h2> + +<p> +It is impossible that the stupendous events which followed the disastrous +invasion of the earth by the Martians should go without record, and +circumstances having placed the facts at my disposal, I deem it a duty, +both to posterity and to those who were witnesses of and participants +in the avenging counterstroke that the earth dealt back at its ruthless +enemy in the heavens, to write down the story in a connected form.</p> + +<p> +The Martians had nearly all perished, not through our puny efforts, but +in consequence of disease, and the few survivors fled in one of their +projectile cars, inflicting their cruelest blow in the act of departure.</p> + +<h4>Their Mysterious Explosive.</h4> + +<p> +They possessed a mysterious explosive, of unimaginable puissance, with +whose aid they set their car in motion for Mars from a point in Bergen +County, N. J., just back of the Palisades.</p> + +<p> +The force of the explosion may be imagined when it is recollected that +they had to give the car a velocity of more than seven miles per second +in order to overcome the attraction of the earth and the resistance of +the atmosphere.</p> + +<p> +The shock destroyed all of New York that had not already fallen a prey, +and all the buildings yet standing in the surrounding towns and cities +fell in one far-circling ruin.</p> + +<p> +The Palisades tumbled in vast sheets, starting a tidal wave in the Hudson +that drowned the opposite shore. +</p> + +<h4>Thousands of Victims.</h4> + +<p> +The victims of this ferocious explosion were numbered by tens of +thousands, and the shock, transmitted through the rocky frame of the +globe, was recorded by seismographic pendulums in England and on the +Continent of Europe.</p> + +<p> +The terrible results achieved by the invaders had produced everywhere a +mingled feeling of consternation and hopelessness. The devastation was +widespread. The death-dealing engines which the Martians had brought with +them had proved irresistible and the inhabitants of the earth possessed +nothing capable of contending against them. There had been no protection +for the great cities; no protection even for the open country. Everything +had gone down before the savage onslaught of those merciless invaders from +space. Savage ruins covered the sites of many formerly flourishing towns +and villages, and the broken walls of great cities stared at the heavens +like the exhumed skeletons of Pompeii. The awful agencies had extirpated +pastures and meadows and dried up the very springs of fertility in the +earth where they had touched it. In some parts of the devastated lands +pestilence broke out; elsewhere there was famine. Despondency black as +night brooded over some of the fairest portions of the globe. +</p> + +<h4>All Not Yet Destroyed.</h4> + +<p> +Yet all had not been destroyed, because all had not been reached by +the withering hand of the destroyer. The Martians had not had time to +complete their work before they themselves fell a prey to the diseases +that carried them off at the very culmination of their triumph.</p> + +<p> +From those lands which had, fortunately, escaped invasion, relief was +sent to the sufferers. The outburst of pity and of charity exceeded +anything that the world had known. Differences of race and religion +were swallowed up in the universal sympathy which was felt for those +who had suffered so terribly from an evil that was as unexpected as it +was unimaginable in its enormity.</p> + +<p> +But the worst was not yet. More dreadful than the actual suffering and the +scenes of death and devastation which overspread the afflicted lands was +the profound mental and moral depression that followed. This was shared +even by those who had not seen the Martians and had not witnessed the +destructive effects of the frightful engines of war that they had imported +for the conquest of the earth. All mankind was sunk deep in this universal +despair, and it became tenfold blacker when the astronomers announced +from their observatories that strange lights were visible, moving and +flashing upon the red surface of the Planet of War. These mysterious +appearances could only be interpreted in the light of past experience to +mean that the Martians were preparing for another invasion of the earth, +and who could doubt that with the invincible powers of destruction at +their command they would this time make their work complete and final? +</p> + +<h4>A Startling Announcement.</h4> + +<p> +This startling announcement was the more pitiable in its effects because +it served to unnerve and discourage those few of stouter hearts and more +hopeful temperaments who had already begun the labor of restoration and +reconstruction amid the embers of their desolated homes. In New York +this feeling of hope and confidence, this determination to rise against +disaster and to wipe out the evidences of its dreadful presence as quickly +as possible, had especially manifested itself. Already a company had been +formed and a large amount of capital subscribed for the reconstruction +of the destroyed bridges over the East River. Already architects were +busily at work planning new twenty-story hotels and apartment houses; +new churches and new cathedrals on a grander scale than before. +</p> + +<h4>The Martians Returning.</h4> + +<p> +Amid this stir of renewed life came the fatal news that Mars was +undoubtedly preparing to deal us a death blow. The sudden revulsion of +feeling flitted like the shadow of an eclipse over the earth. The scenes +that followed were indescribable. Men lost their reason. The faint-hearted +ended the suspense with self-destruction, the stout-hearted remained +steadfast, but without hope and knowing not what to do.</p> + +<p> +But there was a gleam of hope of which the general public as yet knew +nothing. It was due to a few dauntless men of science, conspicuous +among whom were Lord Kelvin, the great English savant; Herr Roentgen, +the discoverer of the famous X ray, and especially Thomas A. Edison, the +American genius of science. These men and a few others had examined with +the utmost care the engines of war, the flying machines, the generators +of mysterious destructive forces that the Martians had produced, with +the object of discovering, if possible, the sources of their power.</p> + +<p> +Suddenly from Mr. Edison's laboratory at Orange flashed the startling +intelligence that he had not only discovered the manner in which the +invaders had been able to produce the mighty energies which they employed +with such terrible effect, but that, going further, he had found a way +to overcome them.</p> + +<p> +The glad news was quickly circulated throughout the civilized +world. Luckily the Atlantic cables had not been destroyed by the Martians, +so that communication between the Eastern and Western continents was +uninterrupted. It was a proud day for America. Even while the Martians +had been upon the earth, carrying everything before them, demonstrating +to the confusion of the most optimistic that there was no possibility +of standing against them, a feeling—a confidence had manifested itself +in France, to a minor extent in England, and particularly in Russia, +that the Americans might discover means to meet and master the invaders.</p> + +<p> +Now, it seemed, this hope and expectation were to be realized. Too +late, it is true, in a certain sense, but not too late to meet the new +invasion which the astronomers had announced was impending. The effect +was as wonderful and indescribable as that of the despondency which but +a little while before had overspread the world. One could almost hear +the universal sigh of relief which went up from humanity. To relief +succeeded confidence—so quickly does the human spirit recover like an +elastic spring, when pressure is released. +</p> + +<h4>"We Are Ready for Them!"</h4> + +<p> +"Let them come," was the almost joyous cry. "We shall be ready for +them now. The Americans have solved the problem. Edison has placed +the means of victory within our power."</p> + +<p> +Looking back upon that time now, I recall, with a thrill, the pride that +stirred me at the thought that, after all, the inhabitants of the Earth +were a match for those terrible men from Mars, despite all the advantage +which they had gained from their millions of years of prior civilization +and science.</p> + +<p> +As good fortunes, like bad, never come singly, the news of Mr. Edison's +discovery was quickly followed by additional glad tidings from that +laboratory of marvels in the lap of the Orange mountains. During their +career of conquest the Martians had astonished the inhabitants of the +earth no less with their flying machines—which navigated our atmosphere +as easily as they had that of their native planet—than with their more +destructive inventions. These flying machines in themselves had given +them an enormous advantage in the contest. High above the desolation +that they had caused to reign on the surface of the earth, and, out of +the range of our guns, they had hung safe in the upper air. From the +clouds they had dropped death upon the earth. +</p> + +<h4>Edison's Flying Machine.</h4> + +<p> +Now, rumor declared that Mr. Edison had invented and perfected a flying +machine much more complete and manageable than those of the Martians +had been. Wonderful stories quickly found their way into the newspapers +concerning what Mr. Edison had already accomplished with the aid of his +model electrical balloon. His laboratory was carefully guarded against +the invasion of the curious, because he rightly felt that a premature +announcement, which should promise more than could be actually fulfilled, +would, at this critical juncture, plunge mankind back again into the +gulf of despair, out of which it had just begun to emerge.</p> + +<p> +Nevertheless, inklings of the truth leaked out. The flying machine had +been seen by many persons hovering by night high above the Orange hills +and disappearing in the faint starlight as if it had gone away into the +depths of space, out of which it would re-emerge before the morning light +had streaked the east, and be seen settling down again within the walls +that surrounded the laboratory of the great inventor. At length the +rumor, gradually deepening into a conviction, spread that Edison himself, +accompanied by a few scientific friends, had made an experimental trip +to the moon. At a time when the spirit of mankind was less profoundly +stirred, such a story would have been received with complete incredulity, +but now, rising on the wings of the new hope that was buoying up the +earth, this extraordinary rumor became a day star of truth to the nations. +</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +Edison's Wonderful Invention Appears.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm0113.png" alt="Wonderful Invention" title="Wonderful Invention" /><br /> +The flying machine had been seen by many persons, hovering by night +high above the Orange Hills and disappearing in the faint starlight. +</p> +<hr /> + +<h4>A Trip to the Moon.</h4> + +<p> +And it was true. I had myself been one of the occupants of the car of +the flying Ship of Space on that night when it silently left the earth, +and rising out of the great shadow of the globe, sped on to the moon. We +had landed upon the scarred and desolate face of the earth's satellite, +and but that there are greater and more interesting events, the telling of +which must not be delayed, I should undertake to describe the particulars +of this first visit of men to another world.</p> + +<p> +But, as I have already intimated, this was only an experimental trip. By +visiting this little nearby island in the ocean of space, Mr. Edison +simply wished to demonstrate the practicability of his invention, and +to convince, first of all, himself and his scientific friends that it +was possible for men—mortal men—to quit and to revisit the earth at +their will. That aim this experimental trip triumphantly attained.</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +The Trial Trip To The Moon.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm0114.png" alt="Trial Trip" title="Trial Trip" /><br /> +I had myself been one of the occupants of the car of the flying Ship +of Space on that night, when it silently left the earth, and rising +out of the great shadow of the globe, sped on to the moon. +</p> +<hr /> + +<p> +It would carry me into technical details that would hardly interest the +reader to describe the mechanism of Mr. Edison's flying machine. Let +it suffice to say that it depended upon the principal of electrical +attraction and repulsion. By means of a most ingenious and complicated +construction he had mastered the problem of how to produce, in a limited +space, electricity of any desired potential and of any polarity, and +that without danger to the experimenter or to the material experimented +upon. It is gravitation, as everybody knows, that makes man a prisoner +on the earth. If he could overcome, or neutralize, gravitation he could +float away a free creature of interstellar space. Mr. Edison in his +invention had pitted electricity against gravitation. Nature, in fact, +had done the same thing long before. Every astronomer knew it, but none +had been able to imitate or to reproduce this miracle of nature. When a +comet approaches the sun, the orbit in which it travels indicates that it +is moving under the impulse of the sun's gravitation. It is in reality +falling in a great parabolic or elliptical curve through space. But, +while a comet approaches the sun it begins to display—stretching out +for millions, and sometimes hundreds of millions of miles on the side +away from the sun—an immense luminous train called its tail. This train +extends back into that part of space from which the comet is moving. Thus +the sun at one and the same time is drawing the comet toward itself and +driving off from the comet in an opposite direction minute particles or +atoms which, instead of obeying the gravitational force, are plainly +compelled to disobey it. That this energy, which the sun exercises +against its own gravitation, is electrical in its nature, hardly anybody +will doubt. The head of the comet being comparatively heavy and massive, +falls on toward the sun, despite the electrical repulsion. But the atoms +which form the tail, being almost without weight, yield to the electrical +rather than to the gravitational influence, and so fly away from the sun. +</p> + +<h4>Gravity Overcome.</h4> + +<p> +Now, what Mr. Edison had done was, in effect, to create an electrified +particle which might be compared to one of the atoms composing the tail of +a comet, although in reality it was a kind of car, of metal, weighing some +hundreds of pounds and capable of bearing some thousands of pounds with +it in its flight. By producing, with the aid of the electrical generator +contained in this car, an enormous charge of electricity, Mr. Edison +was able to counterbalance, and a trifle more than counterbalance, +the attraction of the earth, and thus cause the car to fly off from the +earth as an electrified pithball flies from the prime conductor.</p> + +<p> +As we sat in the brilliantly lighted chamber that formed the interior of +the car, and where stores of compressed air had been provided together +with chemical apparatus, by means of which fresh supplies of oxygen +and nitrogen might be obtained for our consumption during the flight +through space, Mr. Edison touched a polished button, thus causing the +generation of the required electrical charge on the exterior of the car, +and immediately we began to rise.</p> + +<p> +The moment and direction of our flight had been so timed and prearranged, +that the original impulse would carry us straight toward the moon. +</p> + +<h4>A Triumphant Test.</h4> + +<p> +When we fell within the sphere of attraction of that orb it only became +necessary to so manipulate the electrical charge upon our car as nearly, +but not quite, to counterbalance the effect of the moon's attraction +in order that we might gradually approach it and with an easy motion, +settle, without shock, upon its surface.</p> + +<p> +We did not remain to examine the wonders of the moon, although we could +not fail to observe many curious things therein. Having demonstrated +the fact that we could not only leave the earth, but could journey +through space and safely land upon the surface of another planet, Mr. +Edison's immediate purpose was fulfilled, and we hastened back to the +earth, employing in leaving the moon and landing again upon our own planet +the same means of control over the electrical attraction and repulsion +between the respective planets and our car which I have already described. +</p> + +<h4>Telegraphing the News.</h4> + +<p> +When actual experiment had thus demonstrated the practicability of +the invention, Mr. Edison no longer withheld the news of what he had +been doing from the world. The telegraph lines and the ocean cables +labored with the messages that in endless succession, and burdened with +an infinity of detail, were sent all over the earth. Everywhere the +utmost enthusiasm was aroused.</p> + +<p> +"Let the Martians come," was the cry. "If necessary, we can quit the +earth as the Athenians fled from Athens before the advancing host of +Xerxes, and like them, take refuge upon our ships—these new ships of +space, with which American inventiveness has furnished us."</p> + +<p> +And then, like a flash, some genius struck out an idea that fired +the world.</p> + +<p> +"Why should we wait? Why should we run the risk of having our cities +destroyed and our lands desolated a second time? Let us go to Mars. We +have the means. Let us beard the lion in his den. Let us ourselves +turn conquerors and take possession of that detestable planet, and if +necessary, destroy it in order to relieve the earth of this perpetual +threat which now hangs over us like the sword of Damocles."</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +The Wizard and the Astronomer Confer.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm0207.png" alt="Confer" title="Confer" /><br /> +A consultation in Wizard Edison's laboratory between him and Professor +Serviss on the best means of repaying the damage wrought upon this +planet by the Martians. +</p> +<hr /> + +<p> +<a name="II"></a></p> +<h2>Chapter II.</h2> + +<p> +This enthusiasm would have had but little justification had Mr. Edison +done nothing more than invent a machine which could navigate the +atmosphere and the regions of interplanetary space.</p> + +<p> +He had, however, and this fact was generally known, although the details +had not yet leaked out—invented also machines of war intended to meet +the utmost that the Martians could do for either offence or defence in +the struggle which was now about to ensue. +</p> + +<h4>A Wonderful Instrument.</h4> + +<p> +Acting upon the hint which had been conveyed from various investigations +in the domain of physics, and concentrating upon the problem all those +unmatched powers of intellect which distinguished him, the great inventor +had succeeded in producing a little implement which one could carry in +his hand, but which was more powerful than any battleship that ever +floated. The details of its mechanism could not be easily explained, +without the use of tedious technicalities and the employment of terms, +diagrams and mathematical statements, all of which would lie outside +the scope of this narrative. But the principle of the thing was simple +enough. It was upon the great scientific doctrine, which we have since +seen so completely and brilliantly developed, of the law of harmonic +vibrations, extending from atoms and molecules at one end of the series up +to worlds and suns at the other end, that Mr. Edison based his invention.</p> + +<p> +Every kind of substance has its own vibratory rhythm. That of iron +differs from that of pine wood. The atoms of gold do not vibrate in the +same time or through the same range as those of lead, and so on for all +known substances, and all the chemical elements. So, on a larger scale, +every massive body has its period of vibration. A great suspension +bridge vibrates, under the impulse of forces that are applied to it, +in long periods. No company of soldiers ever crosses such a bridge +without breaking step. If they tramped together, and were followed by +other companies keeping the same time with their feet, after a while the +vibrations of the bridge would become so great and destructive that it +would fall in pieces. So any structure, if its vibration rate is known, +could easily be destroyed by a force applied to it in such a way that +it should simply increase the swing of those vibrations up to the point +of destruction.</p> + +<p> +Now Mr. Edison had been able to ascertain the vibratory swing of many +well-known substances, and to produce, by means of the instrument which +he had contrived, pulsations in the ether which were completely under his +control, and which could be made long or short, quick or slow, at his +will. He could run through the whole gamut from the slow vibrations of +sound in air up to the four hundred and twenty-five millions of millions +of vibrations per second of the ultra red rays.</p> + +<p> +Having obtained an instrument of such power, it only remained to +concentrate its energy upon a given object in order that the atoms +composing that object should be set into violent undulation, sufficient +to burst it asunder and to scatter its molecules broadcast. This the +inventor effected by the simplest means in the world—simply a parabolic +reflector by which the destructive waves could be sent like a beam of +light, but invisible, in any direction and focused upon any desired point. +</p> + +<h4>Testing the "Disintegrator."</h4> + +<p> +I had the good fortune to be present when this powerful engine of +destruction was submitted to its first test. We had gone upon the roof +of Mr. Edison's laboratory and the inventor held the little instrument, +with its attached mirror, in his hand. We looked about for some object +on which to try its powers. On a bare limb of a tree not far away, +for it was late in the Fall, sat a disconsolate crow.</p> + +<p> +"Good," said Mr. Edison, "that will do." He touched a button at the +side of the instrument and a soft, whirring noise was heard.</p> + +<p> +"Feathers," said Mr. Edison, "have a vibration period of three hundred +and eighty-six million per second."</p> + +<p> +He adjusted the index as he spoke. Then, through a sighting tube, he +aimed at the bird.</p> + +<p> +"Now watch," he said. +</p> + +<h4>The Crow's Fate.</h4> + +<p> +Another soft whirr in the instrument, a momentary flash of light close +around it, and, behold, the crow had turned from black to white!</p> + +<p> +"Its feathers are gone," said the inventor; "they have been dissipated +into their constituent atoms. Now, we will finish the crow."</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +The First Test of the Disintegrator.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm0206.png" alt="First Test" title="First Test" /><br /> +Another soft whirr in the instrument, a momentary flash of light close +around it, and, behold, the crow had turned from black to white! +</p> +<hr /> + +<p> +Instantly there was another adjustment of the index, another outshooting +of vibratory force, a rapid up and down motion of the index to include +a certain range of vibrations, and the crow itself was gone—vanished +in empty space! There was the bare twig on which a moment before it had +stood. Behind, in the sky, was the white cloud against which its black +form had been sharply outlined, but there was no more crow. +</p> + +<h4>Bad for the Martians.</h4> + +<p> +"That looks bad for the Martians, doesn't it?" said the Wizard. "I have +ascertained the vibration rate of all the materials of which their war +engines whose remains we have collected together are composed. They can +be shattered into nothingness in the fraction of a second. Even if the +vibration period were not known, it could quickly be hit upon by simply +running through the gamut."</p> + +<p> +"Hurrah!" cried one of the onlookers. "We have met the Martians and +they are ours."</p> + +<p> +Such in brief was the first of the contrivances which Mr. Edison invented +for the approaching war with Mars.</p> + +<p> +And these facts had become widely known. Additional experiments had +completed the demonstration of the inventor's ability, with the aid of +his wonderful instrument, to destroy any given object, or any part of +an object, provided that that part differed in its atomic constitution, +and consequently in its vibratory period, from the other parts.</p> + +<p> +A most impressive public exhibition of the powers of the little +disintegrator was given amid the ruins of New York. On lower Broadway +a part of the walls of one of the gigantic buildings, which had been +destroyed by the Martians, impended in such a manner that it threatened at +any moment to fall upon the heads of the passers-by. The Fire Department +did not dare touch it. To blow it up seemed a dangerous expedient, +because already new buildings had been erected in its neighborhood, +and their safety would be imperiled by the flying fragments. The fact +happened to come to my knowledge.</p> + +<p> +"Here is an opportunity," I said to Mr. Edison, "to try the powers of +your machine on a large scale."</p> + +<p> +"Capital!" he instantly replied. "I shall go at once." +</p> + +<h4>Disintegrating a Building.</h4> + +<p> +For the work now in hand it was necessary to employ a battery of +disintegrators, since the field of destruction covered by each was +comparatively limited. All of the impending portions of the wall must be +destroyed at once and together, for otherwise the danger would rather +be accentuated than annihilated. The disintegrators were placed upon +the roof of a neighboring building, so adjusted that their fields of +destruction overlapped one another upon the wall. Their indexes were +all set to correspond with the vibration period of the peculiar kind +of brick of which the wall consisted. Then the energy was turned on, +and a shout of wonder arose from the multitudes which had assembled at +a safe distance to witness the experiment. +</p> + +<h4>Only a Cloud Remained.</h4> + +<p> +The wall did not fall; it did not break asunder; no fragments shot this +way and that and high in the air; there was no explosion; no shock or +noise disturbed the still atmosphere—only a soft whirr, that seemed +to pervade everything and to tingle in the nerves of the spectators; +and—what had been was not! The wall was gone! But high above and all +around the place where it had hung over the street with its threat of +death there appeared, swiftly billowing outward in every direction, +a faint, bluish cloud. It was the scattered atoms of the destroyed wall.</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +A Marvellous Scientific Triumph.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm0208.png" alt="Triumph" title="Triumph" /><br /> +Only a soft whirr, that seemed to pervade everything and to tingle in +the nerves of the spectators, and—what had been was not! The wall was +gone! +</p> +<hr /> + + +<p> +And now the cry "On to Mars!" was heard on all sides. But for such an +enterprise funds were needed—millions upon millions. Yet some of the +fairest and richest portions of the earth had been impoverished by the +frightful ravages of those enemies who had dropped down upon them from +the skies. Still, the money must be had. The salvation of the planet, +as everybody was now convinced, depended upon the successful negotiation +of a gigantic war fund, in comparison with which all the expenditures in +all of the wars that had been waged by the nations for 2,000 years would +be insignificant. The electrical ships and the vibration engines must be +constructed by scores and thousands. Only Mr. Edison's immense resources +and unrivaled equipment had enabled him to make the models whose powers +had been so satisfactorily shown. But to multiply these upon a war scale +was not only beyond the resources of any individual—hardly a nation on +the globe in the period of its greatest prosperity could have undertaken +such a work. All the nations, then, must now conjoin. They must unite +their resources, and, if necessary, exhaust all their hoards, in order +to raise the needed sum. +</p> + +<h4>The Yankees Lead.</h4> + +<p> +Negotiations were at once begun. The United States naturally took the +lead, and their leadership was never for a moment questioned abroad.</p> + +<p> +Washington was selected as the place of meeting for a great congress +of the nations. Washington, luckily, had been one of the places which +had not been touched by the Martians. But if Washington had been a +city composed of hotels alone, and every hotel so great as to be a +little city in itself, it would have been utterly insufficient for the +accommodation of the innumerable throngs which now flocked to the banks +of the Potomac. But when was American enterprise unequal to a crisis? +The necessary hotels, lodging houses and restaurants were constructed +with astounding rapidity. One could see the city growing and expanding +day by day and week after week. It flowed over Georgetown Heights; it +leaped the Potomac; it spread east and west, south and north; square mile +after square mile of territory was buried under the advancing buildings, +until the gigantic city, which had thus grown up like a mushroom in a +night, was fully capable of accommodating all its expected guests.</p> + +<p> +At first it had been intended that the heads of the various governments +should in person attend this universal congress, but as the enterprise +went on, as the enthusiasm spread, as the necessity for haste became +more apparent through the warning notes which were constantly sounded +from the observatories where the astronomers were nightly beholding new +evidences of threatening preparations in Mars, the kings and queens +of the old world felt that they could not remain at home; that their +proper place was at the new focus and centre of the whole world—the +city of Washington. Without concerted action, without interchange of +suggestion, this impulse seemed to seize all the old world monarchs +at once. Suddenly cablegrams flashed to the Government at Washington, +announcing that Queen Victoria, the Emperor William, the Czar Nicholas, +Alphonso of Spain, with his mother, Maria Christina; the old Emperor +Francis Joseph and the Empress Elizabeth, of Austria; King Oscar and Queen +Sophia, of Sweden and Norway; King Humbert and Queen Margherita, of Italy; +King George and Queen Olga, of Greece; Abdul Hamid, of Turkey; Tsait'ien, +Emperor of China; Mutsuhito, the Japanese Mikado, with his beautiful +Princess Haruko; the President of France, the President of Switzerland, +the First Syndic of the little republic of Andorra, perched on the crest +of the Pyrenees, and the heads of all the Central and South American +republics, were coming to Washington to take part in the deliberations, +which, it was felt, were to settle the fate of earth and Mars.</p> + +<p> +One day, after this announcement had been received, and the additional +news had come that nearly all the visiting monarchs had set out, +attended by brilliant suites and convoyed by fleets of warships, for +their destination, some coming across the Atlantic to the port of New +York, others across the Pacific to San Francisco, Mr. Edison said to me:</p> + +<p> +"This will be a fine spectacle. Would you like to watch it?"</p> + +<p> +"Certainly," I replied. +</p> + +<h4>A Grand Spectacle.</h4> + +<p> +The Ship of Space was immediately at our disposal. I think I have not +yet mentioned the fact that the inventor's control over the electrical +generator carried in the car was so perfect that by varying the potential +or changing the polarity he could cause it slowly or swiftly, as might +be desired, to approach or recede from any object. The only practical +difficulty was presented when the polarity of the electrical charge upon +an object in the neighborhood of the car was unknown to those in the +car, and happened to be opposite to that of the charge which the car, at +that particular moment, was bearing. In such a case, of course, the car +would fly toward the object, whatever it might be, like a pith ball or +a feather, attracted to the knob of an electrical machine. In this way, +considerable danger was occasionally encountered, and a few accidents +could not be avoided. Fortunately, however, such cases were rare. It was +only now and then that, owing to some local cause, electrical polarities +unknown to or unexpected by the navigators, endangered the safety of +the car. As I shall have occasion to relate, however, in the course of +the narrative, this danger became more acute and assumed at times a most +formidable phase, when we had ventured outside the sphere of the earth +and were moving through the unexplored regions beyond.</p> + +<p> +On this occasion, having embarked, we rose rapidly to a height of some +thousands of feet and directed our course over the Atlantic. When half +way to Ireland, we beheld, in the distance, steaming westward, the smoke +of several fleets. As we drew nearer a marvellous spectacle unfolded +itself to our eyes. From the northeast, their great guns flashing in +the sunlight and their huge funnels belching black volumes that rested +like thunder clouds upon the sea, came the mighty warships of England, +with her meteor flag streaming red in the breeze, while the royal +insignia, indicating the presence of the ruler of the British Empire, +was conspicuously displayed upon the flagship of the squadron.</p> + +<p> +Following a course more directly westward appeared, under another black +cloud of smoke, the hulls and guns and burgeons of another great fleet, +carrying the tri-color of France, and bearing in its midst the head of +the magnificent republic of western Europe.</p> + +<p> +Further south, beating up against the northerly winds, came a third fleet +with the gold and red of Spain fluttering from its masthead. This, too, +was carrying its King westward, where now, indeed, the star of empire +had taken its way. +</p> + +<h4>Universal Brotherhood.</h4> + +<p> +Rising a little higher, so as to extend our horizon, we saw coming +down the English channel, behind the British fleet, the black ships of +Russia. Side by side, or following one another's lead, these war +fleets were on a peaceful voyage that belied their threatening +appearance. There had been no thought of danger to or from the forts +and ports of rival nations which they had passed. There was no enmity, +and no fear between them when the throats of their ponderous guns +yawned at one another across the waves. They were now, in spirit, all +one fleet, having one object, bearing against one enemy, ready to +defend but one country, and that country was the entire earth.</p> + +<p> +It was some time before we caught sight of the Emperor William's fleet. It +seems that the Kaiser, although at first consenting to the arrangement +by which Washington had been selected as the assembling place for the +nations, afterwards objected to it. +</p> + +<h4>Kaiser Wilhelm's Jealousy.</h4> + +<p> +"I ought to do this thing myself," he had said. "My glorious ancestors +would never have consented to allow these upstart Republicans to lead in +a warlike enterprise of this kind. What would my grandfather have said to +it? I suspect that it is some scheme aimed at the divine right of kings."</p> + +<p> +But the good sense of the German people would not suffer their ruler to +place them in a position so false and so untenable. And swept along +by their enthusiasm the Kaiser had at last consented to embark on his +flagship at Kiel, and now he was following the other fleets on their +great mission to the Western Continent.</p> + +<p> +Why did they bring their warships when their intentions were peaceable, +do you ask? Well, it was partly the effect of ancient habit, and partly +due to the fact that such multitudes of officials and members of ruling +families wished to embark for Washington that the ordinary means of +ocean communications would have been utterly inadequate to convey them.</p> + +<p> +After we had feasted our eyes on this strange sight, Mr. Edison suddenly +exclaimed: "Now let us see the fellows from the rising sun." +</p> + +<h4>Over the Mississippi.</h4> + +<p> +The car was immediately directed toward the west. We rapidly approached +the American coast, and as we sailed over the Alleghany Mountains and the +broad plains of the Ohio and the Mississippi, we saw crawling beneath +us from west, south and north, an endless succession of railway trains +bearing their multitudes on to Washington. With marvellous speed we +rushed westward, rising high to skim over the snow-topped peaks of the +Rocky Mountains and then the glittering rim of the Pacific was before +us. Half way between the American coast and Hawaii we met the fleets +coming from China and Japan. Side by side they were ploughing the main, +having forgotten, or laid aside, all the animosities of their former wars.</p> + +<p> +I well remember how my heart was stirred at this impressive exhibition +of the boundless influence which my country had come to exercise over +all the people of the world, and I turned to look at the man to whose +genius this uprising of the earth was due. But Mr. Edison, after his +wont, appeared totally unconscious of the fact that he was personally +responsible for what was going on. His mind, seemingly, was entirely +absorbed in considering problems, the solution of which might be essential +to our success in the terrific struggle which was soon to begin. +</p> + +<h4>Back to Washington.</h4> + +<p> +"Well, have you seen enough?" he asked. "Then let us go back to +Washington."</p> + +<p> +As we speeded back across the continent we beheld beneath us again +the burdened express trains rushing toward the Atlantic, and hundreds +of thousands of upturned eyes watched our swift progress, and volleys +of cheers reached our ears, for every one knew that this was Edison's +electrical warship, on which the hope of the nation, and the hopes of +all the nations, depended. These scenes were repeated again and again +until the car hovered over the still expanding capital on the Potomac, +where the unceasing ring of hammers rose to the clouds. + + +</p> + +<p> +<a name="III"></a></p> +<hr /><h2>Chapter III.</h2> + +<p> +The day appointed for the assembling of the nations in Washington opened +bright and beautiful. Arrangements had been made for the reception of +the distinguished guests at the Capitol. No time was to be wasted, and, +having assembled in the Senate Chamber, the business that had called +them together was to be immediately begun. The scene in Pennsylvania +avenue, when the procession of dignitaries and royalties passed up +toward the Capitol, was one never to be forgotten. Bands were playing, +magnificent equipages flashed in the morning sunlight, the flags of +every nation on the earth fluttered in the breeze. Queen Victoria, +with the Prince of Wales escorting her, and riding in an open carriage, +was greeted with roars of cheers; the Emperor William, following in +another carriage with Empress Victoria at his side, condescended to +bow and smile in response to the greetings of a free people. Each of +the other monarchs was received in a similar manner. The Czar of Russia +proved to be an especial favorite with the multitude on account of the +ancient friendship of his house for America. But the greatest applause +of all came when the President of France, followed by the President +of Switzerland and the First Syndic of the little Republic of Andorra, +made their appearance. Equally warm were the greetings extended to the +representatives of Mexico and the South American States. +</p> + +<h4>The Sultan of Turkey.</h4> + +<p> +The crowd apparently hardly knew at first how to receive the Sultan of +Turkey, but the universal good feeling was in his favor, and finally +rounds of hand clapping and cheers greeted his progress along the +splendid avenue.</p> + +<p> +A happy idea had apparently occurred to the Emperor of China and the +Mikado of Japan, for, attended by their intermingled suites, they +rode together in a single carriage. This object lesson in the unity of +international feeling immensely pleased the spectators. +</p> + +<h4>An Unparallelled Scene.</h4> + +<p> +The scene in the Senate Chamber stirred every one profoundly. That +it was brilliant and magnificent goes without saying, but there was a +seriousness, an intense feeling of expectancy, pervading both those who +looked on and those who were to do the work for which these magnates of +the earth had assembled, which produced an ineradicable impression. The +President of the United States, of course, presided. Representatives +of the greater powers occupied the front seats, and some of them were +honored with special chairs near the President.</p> + +<p> +No time was wasted in preliminaries. The President made a brief speech.</p> + +<p> +"We have come together," he said, "to consider a question that equally +interests the whole earth. I need not remind you that unexpectedly and +without provocation on our part the people—the monsters, I should +rather say—of Mars, recently came down upon the earth, attacked us +in our homes and spread desolation around them. Having the advantage +of ages of evolution, which for us are yet in the future, they brought +with them engines of death and of destruction against which we found it +impossible to contend. It is within the memory of every one in reach +of my voice that it was through the entirely unexpected succor which +Providence sent us that we were suddenly and effectually freed from the +invaders. By our own efforts we could have done nothing." +</p> + +<h4>McKinley's Tribute.</h4> + +<p> +"But, as you all know, the first feeling of relief which followed the +death of our foes was quickly succeeded by the fearful news which came to +us from the observatories, that the Martians were undoubtedly preparing +for a second invasion of our planet. Against this we should have had no +recourse and no hope but for the genius of one of my countrymen, who, +as you are all aware, has perfected means which may enable us not only +to withstand the attack of those awful enemies, but to meet them, and, +let us hope, to conquer them on their own ground."</p> + +<p> +"Mr. Edison is here to explain to you what those means are. But we have +also another object. Whether we send a fleet of interplanetary ships +to invade Mars or whether we simply confine our attention to works of +defence, in either case it will be necessary to raise a very large sum +of money. None of us has yet recovered from the effects of the recent +invasion. The earth is poor to-day compared to its position a few years +ago; yet we cannot allow our poverty to stand in the way. The money, +the means, must be had. It will be part of our business here to raise +a gigantic war fund by the aid of which we can construct the equipment +and machinery that we shall require. This, I think, is all I need to +say. Let us proceed to business."</p> + +<p> +"Where is Mr. Edison?" cried a voice.</p> + +<p> +"Will Mr. Edison please step forward?" said the President.</p> + +<p> +There was a stir in the assembly, and the iron-gray head of the great +inventor was seen moving through the crowd. In his hand he carried one of +his marvellous disintegrators. He was requested to explain and illustrate +its operation. Mr. Edison smiled. +</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +Edison to the Rescue of the Universe.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm0311.png" alt="Rescue" title="Rescue" /><br /> +"Will Mr. Edison please step forward?" said the President. There was a +stir in the assembly, and the iron gray head of the great inventor was +seen moving through the crowd. In his hand he carried one of his +marvellous disintegrators. +</p> +<hr /> + +<h4>Edison to the Rescue.</h4> + +<p> +"I can explain its details," he said, "to Lord Kelvin, for instance, +but if Their Majesties will excuse me, I doubt whether I can make it +plain to the crowned heads."</p> + +<p> +The Emperor William smiled superciliously. Apparently he thought that +another assault had been committed upon the divine right of kings. But +the Czar Nicholas appeared to be amused, and the Emperor of China, who +had been studying English, laughed in his sleeve, as if he suspected +that a joke had been perpetrated.</p> + +<p> +"I think," said one of the deputies, "that a simple exhibition of the +powers of the instrument, without a technical explanation of its method +of working, will suffice for our purpose."</p> + +<p> +This suggestion was immediately approved. In response to it, Mr. Edison, +by a few simple experiments, showed how he could quickly and certainly +shatter into its constituent atoms any object upon which the vibratory +force of the disintegrator should be directed. In this manner he caused an +inkstand to disappear under the very nose of the Emperor William without a +spot of ink being scattered upon his sacred person, but evidently the odor +of the disunited atoms was not agreeable to the nostrils of the Kaiser.</p> + +<p> +Mr. Edison also explained in general terms the principle on which the +instrument worked. He was greeted with round after round of applause, +and the spirit of the assembly rose high.</p> + +<p> +Next the workings of the electrical ship were explained, and it was +announced that after the meeting had adjourned an exhibition of the +flying powers of the ship would be given in the open air.</p> + +<p> +These experiments, together with the accompanying explanations, added +to what had already been disseminated through the public press, were +quite sufficient to convince all the representatives who had assembled +in Washington that the problem of how to conquer the Martians had +been solved. The means were plainly at hand. It only remained to apply +them. For this purpose, as the President had pointed out, it would be +necessary to raise a very large sum of money.</p> + +<p> +"How much will be needed?" asked one of the English representatives.</p> + +<p> +"At least ten thousand millions of dollars," replied the President.</p> + +<p> +"It would be safer," said a Senator from the Pacific Coast, "to make it +twenty-five thousand millions."</p> + +<p> +"I suggest," said the King of Italy, "that the nations be called in +alphabetical order, and that the representatives of each name a sum +which it is ready and able to contribute."</p> + +<p> +"We want the cash or its equivalent," shouted the Pacific Coast Senator.</p> + +<p> +"I shall not follow the alphabet strictly," said the President, "but shall +begin with the larger nations first. Perhaps, under the circumstances, +it is proper that the United States should lead the way. Mr. Secretary," +he continued, turning to the Secretary of the Treasury, "how much can +we stand?" +</p> + +<h4>An Enormous Sum.</h4> + +<p> +"At least a thousand millions," replied the Secretary of the Treasury.</p> + +<p> +A roar of applause that shook the room burst from the assembly. Even +some of the monarchs threw up their hats. The Emperor Tsait'ten smiled +from ear to ear. One of the Roko Tuis, or native chiefs, from Fiji, +sprang up and brandished a war club.</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +Enthusiasm in the Assembly.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm0310.png" alt="Enthusiasm" title="Enthusiasm" /><br /> +One of the Roko Tuis, or native chiefs from Fiji, sprang up and +brandished a war club. +</p> +<hr /> + +<p> +The President then proceeded to call the other nations, beginning with +Austria-Hungary and ending with Zanzibar, whose Sultan, Hamoud bin +Mahomed, had come to the congress in the escort of Queen Victoria. Each +contributed liberally.</p> + +<p> +Germany coming in alphabetical order just before Great Britain, had named, +through its Chancellor, the sum of $500,000,000, but when the First Lord +of the British Treasury, not wishing to be behind the United States, +named double that sum as the contribution of the British Empire, the +Emperor William looked displeased. He spoke a word in the ear of the +Chancellor, who immediately raised his hand. +</p> + +<h4>A Thousand Million Dollars.</h4> + +<p> +"We will give a thousand million dollars," said the Chancellor.</p> + +<p> +Queen Victoria seemed surprised, though not displeased. The First Lord +of the Treasury met her eye, and then, rising in his place, said:</p> + +<p> +"Make it fifteen hundred million for Great Britain."</p> + +<p> +Emperor William consulted again with his Chancellor, but evidently +concluded not to increase his bid.</p> + +<p> +But, at any rate, the fund had benefited to the amount of a thousand +millions by this little outburst of imperial rivalry.</p> + +<p> +The greatest surprise of all, however, came when the King of Siam was +called upon for his contribution. He had not been given a foremost place +in the Congress, but when the name of his country was pronounced he rose +by his chair, dressed in a gorgeous specimen of the peculiar attire of +his country, then slowly pushed his way to the front, stepped up to the +President's desk and deposited upon it a small box.</p> + +<p> +"This is our contribution," he said, in broken English.</p> + +<p> +The cover was lifted, and there darted, shimmering in the half gloom of +the Chamber, a burst of iridescence from the box. +</p> + +<h4>The Long Lost Treasure.</h4> + +<p> +"My friends of the Western world," continued the King of Siam, "will be +interested in seeing this gem. Only once before has the eye of a European +been blessed with the sight of it. Your books will tell you that in the +seventeenth century a traveler, Tavernier, saw in India an unmatched +diamond which afterward disappeared like a meteor, and was thought to +have been lost from the earth. You all know the name of that diamond and +its history. It is the Great Mogul, and it lies before you. How it came +into my possession I shall not explain. At any rate, it is honestly mine, +and I freely contribute it here to aid in protecting my native planet +against those enemies who appear determined to destroy it."</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +The King of Siam's Contribution.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm0412.png" alt="Contribution" title="Contribution" /><br /> +"This is our contribution," he said, in broken English. The cover was +lifted, there darted, shimmering in the half gloom of the chamber, a +burst of iridescence from the box. +</p> +<hr /> + +<p> +When the excitement which the appearance of this long lost treasure, that +had been the subject of so many romances and of such long and fruitless +search, had subsided, the President continued calling the list, until +he had completed it.</p> + +<p> +Upon taking the sum of the contributions (the Great Mogul was reckoned +at three millions) it was found to be still one thousand millions short +of the required amount.</p> + +<p> +The Secretary of the Treasury was instantly on his feet.</p> + +<p> +"Mr. President," he said, "I think we can stand that addition. Let it +be added to the contribution of the United States of America."</p> + +<p> +When the cheers that greeted the conclusion of the business were over, +the President announced that the next affair of the Congress was to +select a director who should have entire charge of the preparations for +the war. It was the universal sentiment that no man could be so well +suited for this post as Mr. Edison himself. He was accordingly selected +by the unanimous and enthusiastic choice of the great assembly.</p> + +<p> +"How long a time do you require to put everything in readiness?" asked +the President.</p> + +<p> +"Give me carte blanche," replied Mr. Edison, "and I believe I can have +a hundred electric ships and three thousand disintegrators ready within +six months."</p> + +<p> +A tremendous cheer greeted this announcement.</p> + +<p> +"Your powers are unlimited," said the President, "draw on the fund for +as much money as you need," whereupon the Treasurer of the United States +was made the disbursing officer of the fund, and the meeting adjourned.</p> + +<p> +Not less than 5,000,000 people had assembled at Washington from all +parts of the world. Every one of this immense multitude had been able to +listen to the speeches and the cheers in the Senate chamber, although +not personally present there. Wires had been run all over the city, +and hundreds of improved telephonic receivers provided, so that every +one could hear. Even those who were unable to visit Washington, people +living in Baltimore, New York, Boston, and as far away as New Orleans, +St. Louis and Chicago, had also listened to the proceedings with the aid +of these receivers. Upon the whole, probably not less than 50,000,000 +people had heard the deliberations of the great congress of the nations. +</p> + +<h4>The Excitement in Washington.</h4> + +<p> +The telegraph and the cable had sent the news across the oceans to all +the capitols of the earth. The exultation was so great that the people +seemed mad with joy.</p> + +<p> +The promised exhibition of the electrical ship took place the next +day. Enormous multitudes witnessed the experiment, and there was a +struggle for places in the car. Even Queen Victoria, accompanied by +the Prince of Wales, ventured to take a ride in it, and they enjoyed it +so much that Mr. Edison prolonged the journey as far as Boston and the +Bunker Hill monument.</p> + +<p> +Most of the other monarchs also took a high ride, but when the turn of +the Emperor of China came he repeated a fable which he said had come +down from the time of Confucius: +</p> + +<h4>A Chinese Legend.</h4> + +<p> +"Once upon a time there was a Chinaman living in the valley of the +Hoang-Ho River, who was accustomed frequently to lie on his back, gazing +at, and envying, the birds that he saw flying away in the sky. One day he +saw a black speck which rapidly grew larger and larger, until as it got +near he perceived that it was an enormous bird, which overshadowed the +earth with its wings. It was the elephant of birds, the roc. 'Come with +me,' said the roc, 'and I will show you the wonders of the kingdom of the +birds.' The man caught hold of its claw and nestled among its feathers, +and they rapidly rose high in the air, and sailed away to the Kuen-Lun +Mountains. Here, as they passed near the top of the peaks, another roc +made its appearance. The wings of the two great birds brushed together, +and immediately they fell to fighting. In the midst of the melee the +man lost his hold and tumbled into the top of a tree, where his pigtail +caught on a branch, and he remained suspended. There the unfortunate man +hung helpless, until a rat, which had its home in the rocks at the foot +of the tree, took compassion upon him, and, climbing up, gnawed off the +branch. As the man slowly and painfully wended his weary way homeward, +he said: 'This teaches me that creatures to whom nature has given neither +feathers nor wings should leave the kingdom of the birds to those who +are fitted to inhabit it.'"</p> + +<p> +Having told this story, Tsait'ien turned his back on the electrical ship. +</p> + +<h4>The Grand Ball.</h4> + +<p> +After the exhibition was finished, and amid the fresh outburst of +enthusiasm that followed, it was suggested that a proper way to wind up +the Congress and give suitable expression to the festive mood which now +possessed mankind would be to have a grand ball. This suggestion met +with immediate and universal approval.</p> + +<p> +But for so gigantic an affair it was, of course, necessary to make special +preparations. A convenient place was selected on the Virginia side of the +Potomac; a space of ten acres was carefully levelled and covered with a +polished floor, rows of columns one hundred feet apart were run across +it in every direction, and these were decorated with electric lights, +displaying every color of the spectrum. +</p> + +<h4>Unsurpassed Fireworks.</h4> + +<p> +Above this immense space, rising in the centre to a height of more than +a thousand feet, was anchored a vast number of balloons, all aglow +with lights, and forming a tremendous dome, in which brilliant lamps +were arranged in such a manner as to exhibit, in an endless succession +of combinations, all the national colors, ensigns and insignia of the +various countries represented at the Congress. Blazing eagles, lions, +unicorns, dragons and other imaginary creatures that the different nations +had chosen for their symbols appeared to hover high above the dancers, +shedding a brilliant light upon the scene.</p> + +<p> +Circles of magnificent thrones were placed upon the floor in convenient +locations for seeing. A thousand bands of music played, and tens of +thousands of couples, gayly dressed and flashing with gems, whirled +together upon the polished floor. +</p> + +<h4>Queen Victoria Dances.</h4> + +<p> +The Queen of England led the dance, on the arm of the President of the +United States.</p> + +<p> +The Prince of Wales led forth the fair daughter of the President, +universally admired as the most beautiful woman upon the great ballroom +floor.</p> + +<p> +The Emperor William, in his military dress, danced with the beauteous +Princess Masaco, the daughter of the Mikado, who wore for the occasion +the ancient costume of the women of her country, sparkling with jewels, +and glowing with quaint combinations of color like a gorgeous butterfly.</p> + +<p> +The Chinese Emperor, with his pigtail flying high as he spun, danced +with the Empress of Russia.</p> + +<p> +The King of Siam essayed a waltz with the Queen Ranavalona, of Madagascar, +while the Sultan of Turkey basked in the smiles of a Chicago heiress to +a hundred millions.</p> + +<p> +The Czar choose for his partner a dark-eyed beauty from Peru, but +King Malietoa, of Samoa, was suspicious of civilized charmers and, +avoiding all of their allurements, expressed his joy and gave vent to +his enthusiasm in a pas seul. In this he was quickly joined by a band +of Sioux Indian chiefs, whose whoops and yells so startled the leader of +a German band on their part of the floor that he dropped his baton and, +followed by the musicians, took to his heels.</p> + +<p> +This incident amused the good-natured Emperor of China more than anything +else that had occurred.</p> + +<p> +"Make muchee noisee," he said, indicating the fleeing musicians with +his thumb. "Allee same muchee flaid noisee," and then his round face +dimpled into another laugh.</p> + +<p> +The scene from the outside was even more imposing than that which greeted +the eye within the brilliantly lighted enclosure. Far away in the night, +rising high among the stars, the vast dome of illuminated balloons +seemed like some supernatural creation, too grand and glorious to have +been constructed by the inhabitants of the earth.</p> + +<p> +All around it, and from some of the balloons themselves, rose jets +and fountains of fire, ceaselessly playing, and blotting out the +constellations of the heavens by their splendor. +</p> + +<h4>The Prince of Wales's Toast.</h4> + +<p> +The dance was followed by a grand banquet, at which the Prince of Wales +proposed a toast to Mr. Edison:</p> + +<p> +"It gives me much pleasure," he said, "to offer, in the name of the +nations of the Old World, this tribute of our admiration for, and our +confidence in, the genius of the New World. Perhaps on such an occasion +as this, when all racial differences and prejudices ought to be, and are, +buried and forgotten, I should not recall anything that might revive +them; yet I cannot refrain from expressing my happiness in knowing that +the champion who is to achieve the salvation of the earth has come forth +from the bosom of the Anglo-Saxon race."</p> + +<p> +Several of the great potentates looked grave upon hearing the Prince of +Wales's words, and the Czar and the Kaiser exchanged glances; but there +was no interruption to the cheers that followed. Mr. Edison, whose modesty +and dislike to display and to speechmaking were well known, simply said:</p> + +<p> +"I think we have got the machine that can whip them. But we ought not +to be wasting any time. Probably they are not dancing on Mars, but are +getting ready to make us dance." +</p> + +<h4>Haste to Embark.</h4> + +<p> +These words instantly turned the current of feeling in the vast +assembly. There was no longer any disposition to expend time in vain +boastings and rejoicings. Everywhere the cry now became, "Let us make +haste! Let us get ready at once! Who knows but the Martians have already +embarked, and are now on their way to destroy us?"</p> + +<p> +Under the impulse of this new feeling, which, it must be admitted, +was very largely inspired by terror, the vast ballroom was quickly +deserted. The lights were suddenly put out in the great dome of balloons, +for someone had whispered:</p> + +<p> +"Suppose they should see that from Mars? Would they not guess what we +were about, and redouble their preparations to finish us?"</p> + +<p> +Upon the suggestion of the President of the United States, an executive +committee, representing all the principal nations, was appointed, and +without delay a meeting of this committee was assembled at the White +House. Mr. Edison was summoned before it, and asked to sketch briefly +the plan upon which he proposed to work. +</p> + +<h4>Thousands of Men for Mars.</h4> + +<p> +I need not enter into the details of what was done at this meeting. Let it +suffice to say that when it broke up, in the small hours of the morning, +it had been unanimously resolved that as many thousands of men as +Mr. Edison might require should be immediately placed at his disposal; +that as far as possible all the great manufacturing establishments +of the country should be instantly transformed into factories where +electrical ships and disintegrators could be built, and upon the +suggestion of Professor Sylvanus P. Thompson, the celebrated English +electrical expert, seconded by Lord Kelvin, it was resolved that all +the leading men of science in the world should place their services at +the disposal of Mr. Edison in any capacity in which, in his judgment, +they might be useful to him.</p> + +<p> +The members of this committee were disposed to congratulate one another +on the good work which they had so promptly accomplished, when at the +moment of their adjournment, a telegraphic dispatch was handed to the +President from Professor George E. Hale, the director of the great Yerkes +Observatory, in Wisconsin. The telegram read: +</p> + +<h4>What's Happening on Mars?</h4> + +<p> +"Professor Barnard, watching Mars to-night with the forty-inch telescope, +saw a sudden outburst of reddish light, which we think indicates that +something has been shot from the planet. Spectroscopic observations of +this moving light indicated that it was coming earthward, while visible, +at the rate of not less than one hundred miles a second."</p> + +<p> +Hardly had the excitement caused by the reading of this dispatch subsided, +when others of a similar import came from the Lick Observatory, in +California; from the branch of the Harvard Observatory at Arequipa, +in Peru, and from the Royal Observatory, at Potsdam.</p> + +<p> +When the telegram from this last-named place was read the Emperor William +turned to his Chancellor and said:</p> + +<p> +"I want to go home. If I am to die I prefer to leave my bones among those +of my Imperial ancestors, and not in this vulgar country, where no king +has ever ruled. I don't like this atmosphere. It makes me feel limp."</p> + +<p> +And now, whipped on by the lash of alternate hope and fear, the earth +sprang to its work of preparation. + + +</p> + +<p> +<a name="IV"></a></p> +<hr /><h2>Chapter IV.</h2> + +<p> +It is not necessary for me to describe the manner in which Mr. Edison +performed his tremendous task. He was as good as his word, and within six +months from the first stroke of the hammer, a hundred electrical ships, +each provided with a full battery of disintegrators, were floating in +the air above the harbor and the partially rebuilt city of New York.</p> + +<p> +It was a wonderful scene. The polished sides of the huge floating cars +sparkled in the sunlight, and, as they slowly rose and fell, and swung +this way and that, upon the tides of the air, as if held by invisible +cables, the brilliant pennons streaming from their peaks waved up and +down like the wings of an assemblage of gigantic humming birds.</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +The Departure of the Flying Ships on Their Marvellous Errand to Mars.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm0413.png" alt="Departure" title="Departure" /><br /> +It was a wonderful scene. The polished sides of the huge floating cars +sparkled in the sunlight, and, as they slowly rose and fell, and swung +this way and that, upon the tides of the air, as if held by invisible +cables, the brilliant pennons streaming from their peaks waved up and +down like the the wings of an assemblage of gigantic humming birds. +</p> +<hr /> + +<p> +Not knowing whether the atmosphere of Mars would prove suitable to be +breathed by inhabitants of the earth, Mr. Edison had made provision, by +means of an abundance of glass-protected openings, to permit the inmates +of the electrical ships to survey their surroundings without quitting the +interior. It was possible by properly selecting the rate of undulation, +to pass the vibratory impulse from the disintegrators through the glass +windows of a car, without damage to the glass itself. The windows were so +arranged that the disintegrators could sweep around the car on all sides, +and could also be directed above or below, as necessity might dictate.</p> + +<p> +To overcome the destructive forces employed by the Martians no +satisfactory plan had yet been devised, because there was no means to +experiment with them. The production of those forces was still the secret +of our enemies. But Mr. Edison had no doubt that if we could not resist +their effects we might at least be able to avoid them by the rapidity of +our motions. As he pointed out, the war machines which the Martians had +employed in their invasion of the earth, were really very awkward and +unmanageable affairs. Mr. Edison's electrical ships, on the other hand, +were marvels of speed and of manageability. They could dart about, turn, +reverse their course, rise, fall, with the quickness and ease of a fish +in the water. Mr. Edison calculated that even if mysterious bolts should +fall upon our ships we could diminish their power to cause injury by +our rapid evolutions.</p> + +<p> +We might be deceived in our expectations, and might have overestimated +our powers, but at any rate we must take our chances and try. +</p> + +<h4>Watching the Martians.</h4> + +<p> +A multitude, exceeding even that which had assembled during the great +congress at Washington, now thronged New York and its neighborhood +to witness the mustering and the departure of the ships bound for +Mars. Nothing further had been heard of the mysterious phenomenon +reported from the observatories six months before, and which at the time +was believed to indicate the departure of another expedition from Mars +for the invasion of the earth. If the Martians had set out to attack +us they had evidently gone astray; or, perhaps, it was some other world +that they were aiming at this time.</p> + +<p> +The expedition had, of course, profoundly stirred the interest of the +scientific world, and representatives of every branch of science, +from all the civilized nations, urged their claims to places in +the ships. Mr. Edison was compelled, from lack of room, to refuse +transportation to more than one in a thousand of those who now, on the +plea that they might be able to bring back something of advantage to +science, wished to embark for Mars. +</p> + +<h4>As the Great Napoleon Did.</h4> + +<p> +On the model of the celebrated corps of literary and scientific men +which Napoleon carried with him in his invasion of Egypt, Mr. Edison +selected a company of the foremost astronomers, archaeologists, +anthropologists, botanists, bacteriologists, chemists, physicists, +mathematicians, mechanicians, meteorologists and experts in mining, +metallurgy and every other branch of practical science, as well as +artists and photographers. It was but reasonable to believe that in +another world, and a world so much older than the earth as Mars was, +these men would be able to gather materials in comparison with which +the discoveries made among the ruins of ancient empires in Egypt and +Babylonia would be insignificant indeed. +</p> + +<h4>To Conquer Another World.</h4> + +<p> +It was a wonderful undertaking and a strange spectacle. There was a +feeling of uncertainty which awed the vast multitude whose eyes were +upturned to the ships. The expedition was not large, considering the +gigantic character of the undertaking. Each of the electrical ships +carried about twenty men, together with an abundant supply of compressed +provisions, compressed air, scientific apparatus and so on. In all, +there were about 2,000 men, who were going to conquer, if they could, +another world!</p> + +<p> +But though few in numbers, they represented the flower of the earth, +the culmination of the genius of the planet. The greatest leaders +in science, both theoretical and practical, were there. It was the +evolution of the earth against the evolution of Mars. It was a planet in +the heyday of its strength matched against an aged and decrepit world +which, nevertheless, in consequence of its long ages of existence, +had acquired an experience which made it a most dangerous foe. On both +sides there was desperation. The earth was desperate because it foresaw +destruction unless it could first destroy its enemy. Mars was desperate +because nature was gradually depriving it of the means of supporting +life, and its teeming population was compelled to swarm like the inmates +of an overcrowded hive of bees, and find new homes elsewhere. In this +respect the situation on Mars, as we were well aware, resembled what had +already been known upon the earth, where the older nations overflowing +with population had sought new lands in which to settle, and for that +purpose had driven out the native inhabitants, whenever those natives +had proven unable to resist the invasion.</p> + +<p> +No man could foresee the issue of what we were about to undertake, +but the tremendous powers which the disintegrators had exhibited and +the marvellous efficiency of the electrical ships bred almost universal +confidence that we should be successful. +</p> + +<h4>Master Minds of the World.</h4> + +<p> +The car in which Mr. Edison travelled was, of course, the flagship +of the squadron, and I had the good fortune to be included among +its inmates. Here, besides several leading men of science from our +own country, were Lord Kelvin, Lord Rayleigh, Professor Roentgen, +Dr. Moissan—the man who first made artificial diamonds—and several +others whose fame had encircled the world. Each of these men cherished +hopes of wonderful discoveries, along his line of investigation, to be +made in Mars.</p> + +<p> +An elaborate system of signals had, of course, to be devised for the +control of the squadron. These signals consisted of brilliant electric +lights displayed at night and so controlled that by their means long +sentences and directions could be easily and quickly transmitted. +</p> + +<h4>A Novel Signal System.</h4> + +<p> +The day signals consisted partly of brightly colored pennons and flags, +which were to serve only when, shadowed by clouds or other obstructions, +the full sunlight should not fall upon the ships. This could naturally +only occur near the surface of the earth or of another planet.</p> + +<p> +Once out of the shadow of the earth we should have no more clouds and +no more night until we arrived at Mars. In open space the sun would be +continually shining. It would be perpetual day for us, except as, by +artificial means, we furnished ourselves with darkness for the purpose +of promoting sleep. In this region of perpetual day, then, the signals +were also to be transmitted by flashes of light from mirrors reflecting +the rays of the sun. +</p> + +<h4>Perpetual Night!</h4> + +<p> +Yet this perpetual day would be also, in one sense, a perpetual +night. There would be no more blue sky for us, because without an +atmosphere the sunlight could not be diffused. Objects would be +illuminated only on the side toward the sun. Anything that screened +off the direct rays of sunlight would produce absolute darkness behind +it. There would be no graduation of shadow. The sky would be as black +as ink on all sides.</p> + +<p> +While it was the intention to remain as much as possible within the cars, +yet since it was probable that necessity would arise for occasionally +quitting the interior of the electrical ships, Mr. Edison had provided for +this emergency by inventing an air-tight dress constructed somewhat after +the manner of a diver's suit, but of much lighter material. Each ship was +provided with several of these suits, by wearing which one could venture +outside the car even when it was beyond the atmosphere of the earth. +</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +The Air-Tight Suit.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm0607.png" alt="Air-Tight Suit" title="Air-Tight Suit" /><br /> +The device employed by the earth's warriors when they reached a point +beyond the atmosphere of this planet. +</p> +<hr /> + +<h4>Terrific Cold Anticipated.</h4> + +<p> +Provision had been made to meet the terrific cold which we knew would +be encountered the moment we had passed beyond the atmosphere—that +awful absolute zero which men had measured by anticipation, but never +yet experienced—by a simple system of producing within the air-tight +suits a temperature sufficiently elevated to counteract the effects of +the frigidity without. By means of long, flexible tubes, air could be +continually supplied to the wearers of the suits, and by an ingenious +contrivance a store of compressed air sufficient to last for several hours +was provided for each suit, so that in case of necessity the wearer could +throw off the tubes connecting him with the air tanks in the car. Another +object which had been kept in view in the preparation of these suits +was the possible exploration of an airless planet, such as the moon.</p> + +<p> +The necessity of some contrivance by means of which we should be enabled +to converse with one another when on the outside of the cars in open +space, or when in an airless world, like the moon, where there would be +no medium by which the waves of sound could be conveyed as they are in +the atmosphere of the earth, had been foreseen by our great inventor, +and he had not found it difficult to contrive suitable devices for +meeting the emergency.</p> + +<p> +Inside the headpiece of each of the electrical suits was the mouthpiece +of a telephone. This was connected with a wire which, when not in use, +could be conveniently coiled upon the arm of the wearer. Near the ears, +similarly connected with wires, were telephonic receivers. +</p> + +<h4>An Aerial Telegraph.</h4> + +<p> +When two persons wearing the air-tight dresses wished to converse with +one another it was only necessary for them to connect themselves by the +wires, and conversation could then be easily carried on.</p> + +<p> +Careful calculations of the precise distance of Mars from the earth at the +time when the expedition was to start had been made by a large number of +experts in mathematical astronomy. But it was not Mr. Edison's intention +to go direct to Mars. With the exception of the first electrical ship, +which he had completed, none had yet been tried in a long voyage. It +was desirable that the qualities of each of the ships should first +be carefully tested, and for this reason the leader of the expedition +determined that the moon should be the first port of space at which the +squadron would call.</p> + +<p> +It chanced that the moon was so situated at this time as to be nearly +in a line between the earth and Mars, which latter was in opposition +to the sun, and consequently as favorably situated as possible for +the purposes of the voyage. What would be, then, for 99 out of the 100 +ships of the squadron, a trial trip would at the same time be a step of +a quarter of a million of miles gained in the direction of our journey, +and so no time would be wasted.</p> + +<p> +The departure from the earth was arranged to occur precisely at +midnight. The moon near the full was hanging high over head, and a +marvellous spectacle was presented to the eyes of those below as the +great squadron of floating ships, with their signal lights ablaze, +cast loose and began slowly to move away on their adventurous and +unprecedented expedition into the great unknown. A tremendous cheer, +billowing up from the throats of millions of excited men and women, +seemed to rend the curtain of the night, and made the airships tremble +with the atmospheric vibrations that were set in motion. +</p> + +<h4>Magnificent Fireworks.</h4> + +<p> +Instantly magnificent fireworks were displayed in honor of our +departure. Rockets by hundreds of thousands shot heaven-ward, and then +burst in constellations of fiery drops. The sudden illumination thus +produced, overspreading hundreds of square miles of the surface of the +earth with a light almost like that of day, must certainly have been +visible to the inhabitants of Mars, if they were watching us at the +time. They might, or might not, correctly interpret its significance; +but, at any rate, we did not care. We were off, and were confident that +we could meet our enemy on his own ground before he could attack us again. +</p> + +<h4>And the Earth Was Like a Globe.</h4> + +<p> +And now, as we slowly rose higher, a marvellous scene was disclosed. At +first the earth beneath us, buried as it was in night, resembled +the hollow of a vast cup of ebony blackness, in the centre of which, +like the molten lava run together at the bottom of a volcanic crater, +shone the light of the illuminations around New York. But when we got +beyond the atmosphere, and the earth still continued to recede below us, +its aspect changed. The cup-shaped appearance was gone, and it began to +round out beneath our eyes in the form of a vast globe—an enormous ball +mysteriously suspended under us, glimmering over most of its surface, +with the faint illumination of the moon, and showing toward its eastern +edge the oncoming light of the rising sun.</p> + +<p> +When we were still further away, having slightly varied our course so +that the sun was once more entirely hidden behind the centre of the +earth, we saw its atmosphere completely illuminated, all around it, +with prismatic lights, like a gigantic rainbow in the form of a ring.</p> + +<p> +Another shift in our course rapidly carried us out of the shadow of +the earth and into the all pervading sunshine. Then the great planet +beneath us hung unspeakable in its beauty. The outlines of several of +the continents were clearly discernible on its surface, streaked and +spotted with delicate shades of varying color, and the sunlight flashed +and glowed in long lanes across the convex surface of the oceans. Parallel +with the Equator and along the regions of the ever blowing trade winds, +were vast belts of clouds, gorgeous with crimson and purple as the +sunlight fell upon them. Immense expanses of snow and ice lay like a +glittering garment upon both land and sea around the North Pole. +</p> + +<h4>Farewell To This Terrestrial Sphere.</h4> + +<p> +As we gazed upon this magnificent spectacle, our hearts bounded within +us. This was our earth—this was the planet we were going to defend—our +home in the trackless wilderness of space. And it seemed to us indeed a +home for which we might gladly expend our last breath. A new determination +to conquer or die sprung up in our hearts, and I saw Lord Kelvin, after +gazing at the beauteous scene which the earth presented through his +eyeglass, turn about and peer in the direction in which we knew that Mars +lay, with a sudden frown that caused the glass to lose its grip and fall +dangling from its string upon his breast. Even Mr. Edison seemed moved.</p> + +<p> +"I am glad I thought of the disintegrator," he said. "I shouldn't like +to see that world down there laid waste again."</p> + +<p> +"And it won't be," said Professor Sylvanus P. Thompson, gripping the +handle of an electric machine, "not if we can help it." + + +</p> + +<p> +<a name="V"></a></p> +<hr /><h2>Chapter V.</h2> + +<p> +To prevent accidents, it had been arranged that the ships should keep a +considerable distance apart. Some of them gradually drifted away, until, +on account of the neutral tint of their sides, they were swallowed up +in the abyss of space. Still it was possible to know where every member +of the squadron was through the constant interchange of signals. These, +as I have explained, were effected by means of mirrors flashing back +the light of the sun.</p> + +<p> +But, although it was now unceasing day for us, yet, there being no +atmosphere to diffuse the sun's light, the stars were visible to us just +as at night upon the earth, and they shone with extraordinary splendor +against the intense black background of the firmament. The lights of +some of the more distant ships of our squadron were not brighter than +the stars in whose neighborhood they seemed to be. In some cases it was +only possible to distinguish between the light of a ship and that of +a star by the fact that the former was continually flashing while the +star was steady in its radiance. +</p> + +<h4>An Uncanny Effect.</h4> + +<p> +The most uncanny effect was produced by the absence of atmosphere around +us. Inside the car, where there was air, the sunlight, streaming through +one or more of the windows, was diffused and produced ordinary daylight.</p> + +<p> +But when we ventured outside we could only see things by halves. The +side of the car that the sun's rays touched was visible, the other side +was invisible, the light from the stars not making it bright enough to +affect the eye in contrast with the sun-illumined half.</p> + +<p> +As I held up my arm before my eyes, half of it seemed to be shaved +off lengthwise; a companion on the deck of the ship looked like half +a man. So the other electrical ships near us appeared as half ships, +only the illuminated sides being visible.</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +A Strange Light.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm0512.png" alt="Strange Light" title="Strange Light" /><br /> +The other electrical ships appeared as half ships, only the +illuminated sides being visible. +</p> +<hr /> + +<p> +We had now got so far away that the earth had taken on the appearance +of a heavenly body like the moon. Its colors had become all blended +into a golden-reddish hue, which overspread nearly its entire surface, +except at the poles, where there were broad patches of white. It was +marvellous to look at this huge orb behind us, while far beyond it shone +the blazing sun like an enormous star in the blackest of nights. In the +opposite direction appeared the silver orb of the moon, and scattered +all around were millions of brilliant stars, amid which, like fireflies, +flashed and sparkled the signal lights of the squadron. +</p> + +<h4>Danger Manifests Itself.</h4> + +<p> +A danger that might easily have been anticipated, that perhaps had been +anticipated, but against which it would have been difficult, if not +impossible, to provide, presently manifested itself.</p> + +<p> +Looking out of a window toward the right, I suddenly noticed the +lights of a distant ship darting about in a curious curve. Instantly +afterward another member of the squadron, nearer by, behaved in the same +inexplicable manner. Then two or three of the floating cars seemed to be +violently drawn from their courses and hurried rapidly in the direction +of the flagship. Immediately I perceived a small object, luridly flaming, +which seemed to move with immense speed in our direction.</p> + +<p> +The truth instantly flashed upon my mind, and I shouted to the other +occupants of the car: +</p> + +<h4>Struck By A Meteor!</h4> + +<p> +"A meteor!"</p> + +<p> +And such indeed it was. We had met this mysterious wanderer in space +at a moment when we were moving in a direction at right angles to the +path it was pursuing around the sun. Small as it was, and its diameter +probably did not exceed a single foot, it was yet an independent little +world, and as such a member of the solar system. Its distance from +the sun being so near that of the earth, I knew that its velocity, +assuming it to be travelling in a nearly circular orbit, must be about +eighteen miles in a second. With this velocity, then, it plunged like a +projectile shot by some mysterious enemy in space directly through our +squadron. It had come and was gone before one could utter a sentence +of three words. Its appearance, and the effect it had produced upon the +ships in whose neighborhood it passed, indicated that it bore an intense +and tremendous charge of electricity. How it had become thus charged +I cannot pretend to say. I simply record the fact. And this charge, +it was evident, was opposite in polarity to that which the ships of the +squadron bore. It therefore exerted an attractive influence upon them +and thus drew them after it.</p> + +<p> +I had just time to think how lucky it was that the meteor did not +strike any of us, when, glancing at a ship just ahead, I perceived that +an accident had occurred. The ship swayed violently from its course, +dazzling flashes played around it, and two or three of the men forming +its crew appeared for an instant on its exterior, wildly gesticulating, +but almost instantly falling prone.</p> + +<p> +It was evident at a glance that the car had been struck by the meteor. How +serious the damage might be we could not instantly determine. The course +of our ship was immediately altered, the electric polarity was changed, +and we rapidly approached the disabled car.</p> + +<p> +The men who had fallen lay upon its surface. One of the heavy circular +glasses covering a window had been smashed to atoms. Through this the +meteor had passed, killing two or three men who stood in its course. Then +it had crashed through the opposite side of the car, and, passing on, +disappeared into space. The store of air contained in the car had +immediately rushed out through the openings, and when two or three of +us, having donned our air-tight suits as quickly as possible, entered +the wrecked car we found all its inmates stretched upon the floor in +a condition of asphyxiation. They, as well as those who lay upon the +exterior, were immediately removed to the flagship, restoratives were +applied, and, fortunately, our aid had come so promptly that the lives +of all of them were saved. But life had fled from the mangled bodies of +those who had stood directly in the path of the fearful projectile.</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +A Frightful Tragedy in Space.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm0513.png" alt="Tragedy" title="Tragedy" /><br /> +Through this the meteor had passed, killing two or three men who +stood in its course. +</p> +<hr /> + +<p> +This strange accident had been witnessed by several of the members +of the fleet, and they quickly drew together, in order to inquire for +the particulars. As the flagship was now overcrowded by the addition +of so many men to its crew, Mr. Edison had them distributed among the +other cars. Fortunately it happened that the disintegrators contained +in the wrecked car were not injured. Mr. Edison thought that it would +be possible to repair the car itself, and for that purpose he had it +attached to the flagship in order that it might be carried on as far as +the moon. The bodies of the dead were transported with it, as it was +determined, instead of committing them to the fearful deep of space, +where they would have wandered forever, or else have fallen like meteors +upon the earth, to give them interment in the lunar soil. +</p> + +<h4>Nearing the Moon.</h4> + +<p> +As we now rapidly approached the moon the change which the appearance of +its surface underwent was no less wonderful than that which the surface of +the earth had presented in the reverse order while we were receding from +it. From a pale silver orb, shining with comparative faintness among the +stars, it slowly assumed the appearance of a vast mountainous desert. As +we drew nearer its colors became more pronounced; the great flat regions +appeared darker; the mountain peaks shone more brilliantly. The huge +chasms seemed bottomless and blacker than midnight. Gradually separate +mountains appeared. What seemed like expanses of snow and immense +glaciers streaming down their sides sparkled with great brilliancy in the +perpendicular rays of the sun. Our motion had now assumed the aspect of +falling. We seemed to be dropping from an immeasurable height and with +an inconceivable velocity, straight down upon those giant peaks. +</p> + +<h4>The Mountains of Luna.</h4> + +<p> +Here and there curious lights glowed upon the mysterious surface of the +moon. Where the edge of the moon cut the sky behind it, it was broken and +jagged with mountain masses. Vast crater rings overspread its surface, +and in some of these I imagined I could perceive a lurid illumination +coming out of their deepest cavities, and the curling of mephitic vapors +around their terrible jaws.</p> + +<p> +We were approaching that part of the moon which is known to astronomers as +the Bay of Rainbows. Here a huge semi-circular region, as smooth almost +as the surface of a prairie, lay beneath our eyes, stretching southward +into a vast ocean-like expanse, while on the north it was enclosed by an +enormous range of mountain cliffs, rising perpendicularly to a height +of many thousands of feet, and rent and gashed in every direction by +forces which seemed at some remote period to have labored at tearing +this little world in pieces. +</p> + +<h4>A Dead And Mangled World.</h4> + +<h4>The Moon's Strange and Ghastly Surface in Full View of Man.</h4> + +<p> +It was a fearful spectacle; a dead and mangled world, too dreadful to +look upon. The idea of the death of the moon was, of course, not a new +one to many of us. We had long been aware that the earth's satellite +was a body which had passed beyond the stage of life, if indeed it had +ever been a life supporting globe; but none of us were prepared for the +terrible spectacle which now smote our eyes.</p> + +<p> +At each end of the semi-circular ridge that encloses the Bay of Rainbows +there is a lofty promontory. That at the north-western extremity had +long been known to astronomers under the name of Cape Laplace. The other +promontory, at the southeastern termination, is called Cape Heraclides. It +was toward the latter that we were approaching, and by interchange of +signals all the members of the squadron had been informed that Cape +Heraclides was to be our rendezvous upon the moon.</p> + +<p> +I may say that I had been somewhat familiar with the scenery of this +part of the lunar world, for I had often studied it from the earth with a +telescope, and I had thought that if there was any part of the moon where +one might, with fair expectation of success, look for inhabitants, or if +not for inhabitants, at least for relics of life no longer existent there, +this would surely be the place. It was, therefore, with no small degree +of curiosity, notwithstanding the unexpectedly frightful and repulsive +appearance that the surface of the moon presented, that I now saw myself +rapidly approaching the region concerning whose secrets my imagination +had so often busied itself. When Mr. Edison and I had paid our previous +visit to the moon on the first experimental trip of the electrical ship, +we had landed at a point on its surface remote from this, and, as I have +before explained, we then made no effort to investigate its secrets. But +now it was to be different, and we were at length to see something of +the wonders of the moon. +</p> + +<h4>Like a Human Face.</h4> + +<p> +I had often on the earth drawn a smile from my friends by showing them +Cape Heraclides with a telescope, and calling their attention to the +fact that the outline of the peak terminating the cape was such as +to present a remarkable resemblance to a human face, unmistakably a +feminine countenance, seen in profile, and possessing no small degree of +beauty. To my astonishment, this curious human semblance still remained +when we had approached so close to the moon that the mountains forming +the cape filled nearly the whole field of view of the window from which +I was watching it. The resemblance, indeed, was most startling. +</p> + +<h4>The Resemblance Disappears.</h4> + +<p> +"Can this indeed be Diana herself?" I said half aloud, but instantly +afterward I was laughing at my fancy, for Mr. Edison had overheard me +and exclaimed, "Where is she?"</p> + +<p> +"Who?"</p> + +<p> +"Diana."</p> + +<p> +"Why, there," I said, pointing to the moon. But lo! the appearance was +gone even while I spoke. A swift change had taken place in the line +of sight by which we were viewing it, and the likeness had disappeared +in consequence.</p> + +<p> +A few moments later my astonishment was revived, but the cause this +time was a very different one. We had been dropping rapidly toward the +mountains, and the electrician in charge of the car was swiftly and +constantly changing his potential, and, like a pilot who feels his way +into an unknown harbor, endeavoring to approach the moon in such a manner +that no hidden peril should surprise us. As we thus approached I suddenly +perceived, crowning the very apex of the lofty peak near the termination +of the cape, the ruins of what appeared to be an ancient watch tower. It +was evidently composed of Cyclopean blocks larger than any that I had +ever seen even among the ruins of Greece, Egypt and Asia Minor. +</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +A Wonderful Discovery on the Moon!<br /> +<img src="images/tecm0609.png" alt="Discovery" title="Discovery" /><br /> +As we thus approached I suddenly perceived, crowning the very apex of +the lofty peak near the termination of the cape, the ruins of what +appeared to be the ancient watch-tower. +</p> +<hr /> + +<h4>The Moon Was Inhabited.</h4> + +<p> +Here, then, was visible proof that the moon had been inhabited, although +probably it was not inhabited now. I cannot describe the exultant feeling +which took possession of me at this discovery. It settled so much that +learned men had been disputing about for centuries.</p> + +<p> +"What will they say," I exclaimed, "when I show them a photograph +of that?"</p> + +<p> +Below the peak, stretching far to right and left, lay a barren beach +which had evidently once been washed by sea waves, because it was marked +by long curved ridges such as the advancing and retiring tide leaves +upon the shore of the ocean.</p> + +<p> +This beach sloped rapidly outward and downward toward a profound abyss, +which had once, evidently, been the bed of a sea, but which now appeared +to us simply as the empty, yawning shell of an ocean that had long +vanished.</p> + +<p> +It was with no small difficulty, and only after the expenditure of +considerable time, that all the floating ships of the squadron were +gradually brought to rest on this lone mountain top of the moon. In +accordance with my request, Mr. Edison had the flagship moored in the +interior of the great ruined watch tower that I have described. The +other ships rested upon the slope of the mountain around us.</p> + +<p> +Although time pressed, for we knew that the safety of the earth depended +upon our promptness in attacking Mars, yet it was determined to remain +here at least two or three days in order that the wrecked car might be +repaired. It was found also that the passage of the highly electrified +meteor had disarranged the electrical machinery in some of the other +cars, so that there were many repairs to be made besides those needed +to restore the wreck.</p> + +<h4>Burying the Dead.</h4> + +<p> +Moreover, we must bury our unfortunate companions who had been killed by +the meteor. This, in fact, was the first work that we performed. Strange +was the sight, and stranger our feelings, as here on the surface of a +world distant from the earth, and on soil which had never before been +pressed by the foot of man, we performed that last ceremony of respect +which mortals pay to mortality. In the ancient beach at the foot of the +peak we made a deep opening, and there covered forever the faces of our +friends, leaving them to sleep among the ruins of empires, and among +the graves of races which had vanished probably ages before Adam and +Eve appeared in Paradise.</p> + +<p> +While the repairs were being made several scientific expeditions were +sent out in various directions across the moon. One went westward to +investigate the great ring plain of Plato, and the lunar Alps. Another +crossed the ancient Sea of Showers toward the lunar Apennines.</p> + +<p> +One started to explore the immense crater of Copernicus, which, yawning +fifty miles across, presents a wonderful appearance even from the distance +of the earth. The ship in which I, myself, had the good fortune to embark, +was bound for the mysterious lunar mountain Aristarchus.</p> + +<p> +Before these expeditions started, a careful exploration had been made in +the neighborhood of Cape Heraclides. But, except that the broken walls +of the watch tower on the peak, composed of blocks of enormous size, +had evidently been the work of creatures endowed with human intelligence, +no remains were found indicating the former presence of inhabitants upon +this part of the moon. +</p> + +<h4>A Gigantic Human Footprint.</h4> + +<p> +But along the shore of the old sea, just where the so-called Bay of +Rainbows separates itself from the abyss of the Sea of Showers, there +were found some stratified rocks in which the fascinated eyes of the +explorer beheld the clear imprint of a gigantic human foot, measuring +five feet in length from toe to heel.</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +Monsters Had Populated the Satellite.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm0608.png" alt="Monsters" title="Monsters" /><br /> +The fascinated eyes of the explorer beheld the clear imprint of a +gigantic human foot, measuring five feet in length from toe to heel. +</p> +<hr /> + +<h4>Detailing the Marvellous Adventures of the Earth's Warriors in +Unknown Worlds.</h4> + +<p> +The most minute search failed to reveal another trace of the presence +of the ancient giant, who had left the impress of his foot in the wet +sands of the beach here so many millions of years ago that even the +imagination of the geologists shrank from the task of attempting to fix +the precise period. +</p> + +<h4>The Great Footprint.</h4> + +<p> +Around this gigantic footprint gathered most of the scientific members +of the expedition, wearing their oddly shaped air-tight suits, connected +with telephonic wires, and the spectacle, but for the impressiveness of +the discovery, would have been laughable in the extreme. Bending over +the mark in the rock, nodding their heads together, pointing with their +awkwardly accoutred arms, they looked like an assemblage of antediluvian +monsters collected around their prey. Their disappointment over the +fact that no other marks of anything resembling human habitation could +be discovered was very great.</p> + +<p> +Still this footprint in itself was quite sufficient, as they all declared, +to settle the question of the former inhabitation of the moon, and it +would serve for the production of many a learned volume after their +return to the earth, even if no further discoveries should be made in +other parts of the lunar world. +</p> + +<h4>Expeditions Over the Moon.</h4> + +<p> +It was the hope of making such other discoveries that led to the dispatch +of the other various expeditions which I have already named. I had chosen +to accompany the car that was going to Aristarchus, because, as every one +who had viewed the moon from the earth was aware, there was something very +mysterious about that mountain. I knew that it was a crater nearly thirty +miles in diameter and very deep, although its floor was plainly visible. + +</p> + +<h4>The Glowing Mountains.</h4> + +<p> +What rendered it remarkable was the fact that the floor and the walls of +the crater, particularly on the inner side, glowed with a marvellous +brightness which rendered them almost blinding when viewed with a +powerful telescope.</p> + +<p> +So bright were they, indeed, that the eye was unable to see many of the +details which the telescope would have made visible but for the flood +of light which poured from the mountains. Sir William Herschel had been +so completely misled by this appearance that he supposed he was watching +a lunar volcano in eruption.</p> + +<p> +It had always been a difficult question what caused the extraordinary +luminosity of Aristarchus. No end of hypotheses had been invented to +account for it. Now I was to assist in settling these questions forever.</p> + +<p> +From Cape Heraclides to Aristarchus the distance in an air line was +something over 300 miles. Our course lay across the north-eastern part +of the Sea of Showers, with enormous cliffs, mountain masses and peaks +shining on the right, while in the other direction the view was bounded by +the distant range of the lunar Apennines, some of whose towering peaks, +when viewed from our immense elevation, appeared as sharp as the Swiss +Matterhorn.</p> + +<p> +When we had arrived within about a hundred miles of our destination +we found ourselves floating directly over the so-called Harbinger +Mountains. The serrated peaks of Aristarchus then appeared ahead of us, +fairly blazing in the sunshine. +</p> + +<h4>A Gigantic String Of Diamonds.</h4> + +<p> +It seemed as if a gigantic string of diamonds, every one as great as +a mountain peak, had been cast down upon the barren surface of the +moon and left to waste their brilliance upon the desert air of this +abandoned world.</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +The Diamond Mountains of the Moon.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm0711.png" alt="Diamond Mountains" title="Diamond Mountains" /><br /> +It seemed as if a gigantic string of diamonds, every one as great as a +mountain, had been cast down upon the barren surface of the moon. +</p> +<hr /> + +<p> +As we rapidly approached, the dazzling splendor of the mountain became +almost unbearable to our eyes, and we were compelled to resort to the +device, practiced by all climbers of lofty mountains, where the glare +of sunlight upon snow surfaces is liable to cause temporary blindness, +of protecting our eyes with neutral-tinted glasses.</p> + +<p> +Professor Moissan, the great French chemist and maker of artificial +diamonds, fairly danced with delight.</p> + +<p> +"Voila! Voila! Voila!" was all that he could say. +</p> + +<h4>A Mountain of Crystals.</h4> + +<p> +When we were comparatively near, the mountain no longer seemed to glow +with a uniform radiance, evenly distributed over its entire surface, +but now innumerable points of light, all as bright as so many little +suns, blazed away at us. It was evident that we had before us a mountain +composed of, or at least covered with, crystals.</p> + +<p> +Without stopping to alight on the outer slopes of the great ring-shaped +range of peaks which composed Aristarchus, we sailed over their rim and +looked down into the interior. Here the splendor of the crystals was +greater than on the outer slopes, and the broad floor of the crater, +thousands of feet beneath us, shone and sparkled with overwhelming +radiance, as if it were an immense bin of diamonds, while a peak in the +centre flamed like a stupendous tiara incrusted with selected gems.</p> + +<p> +Eager to see what these crystals were, the car was now allowed rapidly +to drop into the interior of the crater. With great caution we brought +it to rest upon the blazing ground, for the sharp edges of the crystals +would certainly have torn the metallic sides of the car if it had come +into violent contact with them.</p> + +<p> +Donning our air-tight suits and stepping carefully out upon this +wonderful footing we attempted to detach some of the crystals. Many of +them were firmly fastened, but a few—some of astonishing size—were +readily loosened. +</p> + +<h4>A Wealth of Gems.</h4> + +<p> +A moment's inspection showed that we had stumbled upon the most +marvellous work of the forces of crystallization that human eyes had +ever rested upon. Some time in the past history of the moon there had +been an enormous outflow of molten material from the crater. This had +overspread the walls and partially filled up the interior, and later its +surface had flowered into gems, as thick as blossoms in a bed of pansies.</p> + +<p> +The whole mass flashed prismatic rays of indescribable beauty and +intensity. We gazed at first speechless with amazement.</p> + +<p> +"It cannot be, surely it cannot be," said Professor Moissan at length.</p> + +<p> +"But it is," said another member of the party.</p> + +<p> +"Are these diamonds?" asked a third.</p> + +<p> +"I cannot yet tell," replied the Professor. "They have the brilliancy +of diamonds, but they may be something else."</p> + +<p> +"Moon jewels," suggested a third.</p> + +<p> +"And worth untold millions, whatever they are," remarked another. +</p> + +<h4>Jewels from the Moon.</h4> + +<p> +These magnificent crystals, some of which appeared to be almost flawless, +varied in size from the dimensions of a hazelnut to geometrical solids +several inches in diameter. We carefully selected as many as it was +convenient to carry and placed them in the car for future examination. We +had solved another long standing lunar problem and had, perhaps, opened +up an inexhaustible mine of wealth which might eventually go far toward +reimbursing the earth for the damage which it had suffered from the +invasion of the Martians.</p> + +<p> +On returning to Cape Heraclides we found that the other expeditions +had arrived at the rendezvous ahead of us. Their members had wonderful +stories to tell of what they had seen, but nothing caused quite so much +astonishment as that which we had to tell and to show.</p> + +<p> +The party which had gone to visit Plato and the lunar Alps brought back, +however, information which, in a scientific sense, was no less interesting +than what we had been able to gather.</p> + +<p> +They had found within this curious ring of Plato, which is a circle of +mountains sixty miles in diameter, enclosing a level plain remarkably +smooth over most of its surface, unmistakable evidences of former +inhabitation. A gigantic city had evidently at one time existed near +the centre of this great plain. The outlines of its walls and the +foundation marks of some of its immense buildings were plainly made out, +and elaborate plans of this vanished capital of the moon were prepared +by several members of the party. +</p> + +<h4>More Evidences of Habitation.</h4> + +<p> +One of them was fortunate enough to discover an even more precious +relic of the ancient lunarians. It was a piece of petrified skullbone, +representing but a small portion of the head to which it had belonged, +but yet sufficient to enable the anthropologists, who immediately fell +to examining it, to draw ideal representations of the head as it must +have been in life—the head of a giant of enormous size, which, if it +had possessed a highly organized brain, of proportionate magnitude, +must have given to its possessor intellectual powers immensely greater +than any of the descendants of Adam have ever been endowed with. +</p> + +<h4>Giants in Size.</h4> + +<p> +Indeed, one of the professors was certain that some little concretions +found on the interior of the piece of skull were petrified portions +of the brain matter itself, and he set to work with the microscope to +examine its organic quality.</p> + +<p> +In the mean time, the repairs to the electrical ships had been completed, +and, although these discoveries upon the moon had created a most profound +sensation among the members of the expedition, and aroused an almost +irresistible desire to continue the explorations thus happily begun, +yet everybody knew that these things were aside from the main purpose in +view, and that we should be false to our duty in wasting a moment more +upon the moon than was absolutely necessary to put the ships in proper +condition to proceed on their warlike voyage. +</p> + +<h4>Departing from the Moon.</h4> + +<p> +Everything being prepared then, we left the moon with great regret, just +forty-eight hours after we had landed upon its surface, carrying with us +a determination to revisit it and to learn more of its wonderful secrets +in case we should survive the dangers which we were now going to face. + + +</p> + +<p> +<a name="VI"></a></p> +<hr /><h2>Chapter VI.</h2> + +<p> +A day or two after leaving the moon we had another adventure with a +wandering inhabitant of space which brought us into far greater peril +than had our encounter with the meteor.</p> + +<p> +The airships had been partitioned off so that a portion of the interior +could be darkened in order to serve as a sleeping chamber, wherein, +according to the regulations prescribed by the commander of the squadron +each member of the expedition in his turn passed eight out of every +twenty-four hours—sleeping if he could, if not, meditating, in a more +or less dazed way, upon the wonderful things that he was seeing and +doing—things far more incredible than the creations of a dream.</p> + +<p> +One morning, if I may call by the name morning the time of my periodical +emergence from the darkened chamber, glancing from one of the windows, +I was startled to see in the black sky a brilliant comet. +</p> + +<h4>The Adventure With The Comet.</h4> + +<h4>A Thrilling Story of an Encounter that Nearly Ended the Great +Expedition.</h4> + +<p> +No periodical comet, as I knew, was at this time approaching the +neighborhood of the sun, and no stranger of that kind had been +detected from the observatories making its way sunward before we left +the earth. Here, however, was unmistakably a comet rushing toward the +sun, flinging out a great gleaming tail behind it and so close to us +that I wondered to see it remaining almost motionless in the sky. This +phenomenon was soon explained to me, and the explanation was of a most +disquieting character.</p> + +<p> +The stranger had already been perceived, not only from the flagship, but +from the other members of the squadron, and, as I now learned, efforts +had been made to get out of the neighborhood, but for some reason the +electrical apparatus did not work perfectly—some mysterious disturbing +force acting upon it—and so it had been found impossible to avoid an +encounter with the comet, not an actual coming into contact with it, +but a falling into the sphere of its influence. +</p> + +<h4>In the Wake of the Comet.</h4> + +<p> +In fact, I was informed that for several hours the squadron had been +dragging along in the wake of a comet, very much as boats are sometimes +towed off by a wounded whale. Every effort had been made to so adjust +the electric charge upon the ships that they would be repelled from the +cometic mass, but, owing apparently to eccentric changes continually +going on in the electric charge affecting the clashing mass of meteoric +bodies which constituted the head of the comet, we found it impossible +to escape from its influence.</p> + +<p> +At one instant the ships would be repelled; immediately afterward they +would be attracted again, and thus they were dragged hither and thither, +but never able to break from the invisible leash which the comet had +cast upon them. The latter was moving with enormous velocity toward +the sun, and, consequently, we were being carried back again, away from +the object of our expedition, with a fair prospect of being dissipated +in blazing vapors when the comet had dragged us, unwilling prisoners, +into the immediate neighborhood of the solar furnace.</p> + +<p> +Even the most cool-headed lost his self-control in this terrible +emergency. Every kind of device that experience or the imagination +could suggest was tried, but nothing would do. Still on we rushed with +the electrified atoms composing the tail of the comet sweeping to and +fro over the members of the squadron, as they shifted their position, +like the plume of smoke from a gigantic steamer, drifting over the sea +birds that follow in its course. +</p> + +<h4>Is This the End?</h4> + +<p> +Was this to end it all, then? Was this the fate that Providence had +in store for us? Were the hopes of the earth thus to perish? Was the +expedition to be wrecked and its fate to remain forever unknown to the +planet from which it had set forth? And was our beloved globe, which had +seemed so fair to us when we last looked upon it near by, and in whose +defence we had resolved to spend our last breath, to be left helpless +and at the mercy of its implacable foe in the sky?</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +In the Power of a Great Comet.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm0712.png" alt="Comet" title="Comet" /><br /> +Was This to End It All, Then? Was This the Fate That Providence Had In +Store for Us? Was the Expedition to Be Exterminated? +</p> +<hr /> + +<p> +At length we gave ourselves up for lost. There seemed to be no possible +way to free ourselves from the baleful grip of this terrible and +unlooked-for enemy. +</p> + +<h4>Giving Up All Hope.</h4> + +<p> +As the comet approached the sun its electric energy rapidly increased, +and watching it with telescopes, for we could not withdraw our fascinated +eyes from it, we could clearly behold the fearful things that went on +in its nucleus.</p> + +<p> +This consisted of an immense number of separate meteors of no very great +size individually, but which were in constant motion among one another, +darting to and fro, clashing and smashing together, while fountains of +blazing metallic particles and hot mineral vapors poured out in every +direction. +</p> + +<h4>A Flying Hell.</h4> + +<p> +As I watched it, unable to withdraw my eyes, I saw imaginary forms +revealing themselves amid the flaming meteors. They seemed like creatures +in agony, tossing their arms, bewailing in their attitudes the awful fate +that had overtaken them, and fairly chilling my blood with the pantomime +of torture which they exhibited. I thought of an old superstition which +I had often heard about the earth, and exclaimed: "Yes, surely, this is +a flying hell!"</p> + +<p> +As the electric activity of the comet increased, its continued changes +of potential and polarity became more frequent, and the electrical ships +darted about with even greater confusion than before. Occasionally one +of them, seized with a sudden impulse, would spring forward toward the +nucleus of the comet with a sudden access of velocity that would fling +every one of its crew from his feet, and all would lie sprawling on +the floor of the car while it rushed, as it seemed, to inevitable and +instant destruction. +</p> + +<h4>Saved on Ruin's Brink.</h4> + +<p> +Then, either through the frantic efforts of the electrician struggling +with the controller or through another change in the polarity of the +comet, the ship would be saved on the very brink of ruin and stagger +away out of immediate danger.</p> + +<p> +Thus the captured squadron was swept, swaying and darting hither and +thither, but never able to get sufficiently far from the comet to break +the bond of its fatal attraction. +</p> + +<h4>The Earth Again!</h4> + +<p> +So great was our excitement and so complete our absorption in the fearful +peril that we had not noticed the precise direction in which the comet +was carrying us. It was enough to know that the goal of the journey was +the furnace of the sun. But presently someone in the flagship recalled +us to a more accurate sense of our situation in space by exclaiming:</p> + +<p> +"Why, there is the earth!"</p> + +<h4>Thrilling Adventures Crowd Each Other In the Great War Upon Mars.</h4> + +<p> +And there, indeed, it was, its great globe rolling under our eyes, with +the contrasted colors of the continents and clouds and the watery gleam +of the ocean spread beneath us.</p> + +<p> +"We are going to strike it!" exclaimed somebody. "The comet is going to +dash into the earth."</p> + +<p> +Such a collision at first seemed inevitable, but presently it was noticed +that the direction of the comet's motion was such that while it might +graze the earth it would not actually strike it.</p> + +<p> +And so, like a swarm of giant insects circling about an electric light +from whose magic influence they cannot escape, our ships went on, to be +whipped against the earth in passing and then to continue their swift +journey to destruction. +</p> + +<h4>Unexpected Aid.</h4> + +<p> +"Thank God, this saves us," suddenly cried Mr. Edison.</p> + +<p> +"What—what?"</p> + +<p> +"Why, the earth, of course. Do you not see that as the comet sweeps +close to the great planet the superior attraction of the latter will +snatch us from its grasp, and that thus we shall be able to escape?"</p> + +<p> +And it was indeed as Mr. Edison had predicted. In a blaze of falling +meteors the comet swept the outer limits of the earth's atmosphere and +passed on, while the swaying ships, having been instructed by signals +what to do, desperately applied their electrical machinery to reverse +the attraction and threw themselves into the arms of their mother earth. +</p> + +<h4>Over the Atlantic.</h4> + +<p> +In another instant we were all free, settling down through the quiet +atmosphere with the Atlantic Ocean sparkling in the morning sun far below.</p> + +<p> +We looked at one another in amazement. So this was the end of our +voyage! This was the completion of our warlike enterprise. We had started +out to conquer a world, and we had come back ignominiously dragged in +the train of a comet.</p> + +<p> +The earth which we were going to defend and protect had herself turned +protector, and reaching out her strong arm had snatched her foolish +children from the destruction which they had invited.</p> + +<p> +It would be impossible to describe the chagrin of every member of the +expedition. +</p> + +<h4>A Feeling of Shame.</h4> + +<p> +The electric ships rapidly assembled and hovered high in the air, +while their commanders consulted about what should be done. A universal +feeling of shame almost drove them to a decision not to land upon the +surface of the planet, and if possible not to let its inhabitants know +what had occurred.</p> + +<p> +But it was too late for that. Looking carefully beneath us, we saw +that fate had brought us back to our very starting point, and signals +displayed in the neighborhood of New York indicated that we had already +been recognized. There was nothing for us then but to drop down and +explain the situation.</p> + +<p> +I shall not delay my narrative by undertaking to describe the astonishment +and the disappointment of the inhabitants of the earth when, within a +fortnight from our departure, they saw us back again, with no laurels +of victory crowning our brows.</p> + +<p> +At first they had hoped that we were returning in triumph, and we were +overwhelmed with questions the moment we had dropped within speaking +distance.</p> + +<p> +"Have you whipped them?"</p> + +<p> +"How many are lost?"</p> + +<p> +"Is there any more danger?"</p> + +<p> +"Faix, have ye got one of thim men from Mars?"</p> + +<p> +But their rejoicings and their facetiousness were turned into wailing +when the truth was imparted. +</p> + +<h4>A Short Stay on the Earth.</h4> + +<p> +We made a short story of it, for we had not the heart to go into +details. We told of our unfortunate comrades whom we had buried on the +moon, and there was one gleam of satisfaction when we exhibited the +wonderful crystals we had collected in the crater of Aristarchus.</p> + +<p> +Mr. Edison determined to stop only long enough to test the electrical +machinery of the cars, which had been more or less seriously deranged +during our wild chase after the comet, and then to start straight back +for Mars—this time on a through trip. +</p> + +<h4>Mysterious Lights on Mars.</h4> + +<p> +The astronomers, who had been watching Mars, since our departure, with +their telescopes, reported that mysterious lights continued to be visible, +but that nothing indicating the starting of another expedition for the +earth had been seen.</p> + +<p> +Within twenty-four hours we were ready for our second start.</p> + +<p> +The moon was now no longer in a position to help us on our way. It had +moved out of the line between Mars and the earth.</p> + +<p> +High above us, in the centre of the heavens, glowed the red planet which +was the goal of our journey.</p> + +<p> +The needed computations of velocity and direction of flight having +been repeated, and the ships being all in readiness, we started direct +for Mars. +</p> + +<h4>Greater Preparations Made.</h4> + +<p> +An enormous charge of electricity was imparted to each member of the +squadron, in order that as soon as we had reached the upper limits of +the atmosphere, where the ships could move swiftly, without danger of +being consumed by the heat developed by the friction of their passage +through the air, a very great initial velocity could be imparted.</p> + +<p> +Once started off by this tremendous electrical kick, and with no +atmosphere to resist our motion, we should be able to retain the same +velocity, barring incidental encounters, until we arrived near the +surface of Mars.</p> + +<p> +When we were free of the atmosphere, and the ships were moving away +from the earth, with the highest velocity which we were able to impart +to them, observations on the stars were made in order to determine the +rate of our speed. +</p> + +<h4>Ten Miles A Second!</h4> + +<p> +This was found to be ten miles in a second, or 864,000 miles in a day, a +very much greater speed than that with which we had travelled on starting +to touch at the moon. Supposing this velocity to remain uniform, and, with +no known resistance, it might reasonably be expected to do so, we should +arrive at Mars in a little less than forty-two days, the distance of the +planet from the earth being, at this time, about thirty-six million miles.</p> + +<p> +Nothing occurred for many days to interrupt our journey. We became +accustomed to our strange surroundings, and many entertainments were +provided to while away the time. The astronomers in the expedition found +plenty of occupation in studying the aspects of the stars and the other +heavenly bodies from their new point of view. +</p> + +<h4>Drawing Near to Mars.</h4> + +<p> +At the expiration of about thirty-five days we had drawn so near to Mars +that with our telescopes, which, though small, were of immense power, +we could discern upon its surface features and details which no one had +been able to glimpse from the earth.</p> + +<p> +As the surface of this world, that we were approaching as a tiger hunter +draws near the jungle, gradually unfolded itself to our inspection, +there was hardly one of us willing to devote to sleep or idleness the +prescribed eight hours that had been fixed as the time during which each +member of the expedition must remain in the darkened chamber. We were +too eager to watch for every new revelation upon Mars.</p> + +<p> +But something was in store that we had not expected. We were to meet +the Martians before arriving at the world they dwelt in.</p> + +<p> +Among the stars which shone in that quarter of the heavens where Mars +appeared as the master orb, there was one, lying directly in our path, +which, to our astonishment, as we continued on, altered from the aspect +of a star, underwent a gradual magnification, and soon presented itself +in the form of a little planet. +</p> + +<h4>The Asteroid.</h4> + +<p> +"It is an asteroid," said somebody.</p> + +<p> +"Yes, evidently; but how does it come inside the orbit of Mars?"</p> + +<p> +"Oh, there are several asteroids," said one of the astronomers, "which +travel inside the orbit of Mars, along a part of their course, and, +for aught we can tell, there may be many which have not yet been caught +sight of from the earth, that are nearer to the sun than Mars is."</p> + +<p> +"This must be one of them."</p> + +<p> +"Manifestly so."</p> + +<p> +As we drew nearer the mysterious little planet revealed itself to us as +a perfectly formed globe not more than five miles in diameter.</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +Approaching the Great Asteroid.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm0809.png" alt="Asteroid" title="Asteroid" /><br /> +It altered from the aspect of a star, underwent a gradual +magnification, and soon presented itself in the form of a little +planet. +</p> +<hr /> + +<p> +"What is that upon it?" asked Lord Kelvin, squinting intently at the +little world through his glass. "As I live, it moves." + + +</p> + +<h4>A Martian Appears!</h4> + +<h4>The First Glimpse of the Horrible Inhabitants of the Red Planet.</h4> + +<p> +"Yes, yes!" exclaimed several others, "there are inhabitants upon it, +but what giants!"</p> + +<p> +"What monsters!"</p> + +<p> +"Don't you see?" exclaimed an excited savant. "They are the Martians!"</p> + +<p> +The startling truth burst upon the minds of all. Here upon this little +planetoid were several of the gigantic inhabitants of the world that we +were going to attack. There was more than one man in the flagship who +recognized them well, and who shuddered at the recognition, instinctively +recalling the recent terrible experience of the earth.</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +The Martian, Terrible to Behold!<br /> +<img src="images/tecm0810.png" alt="Martian" title="Martian" /><br /> +Like men, and yet not like men; combining the human and the beast in +their appearance, it required a steady nerve to look at them.... In +our eyes their moral character shone through their physical aspect and +thus rendered them more terrible! +</p> +<hr /> + +<p> +Was this an outpost of the warlike Mars?</p> + +<p> +Around these monstrous enemies we saw several of their engines of +war. Some of these appeared to have been wrecked, but at least one, +as far as we could see, was still in a proper condition for use.</p> + +<p> +How had these creatures got there?</p> + +<p> +"Why, that is easy enough to account for," I said, as a sudden +recollection flashed into my mind. "Don't you remember the report of +the astronomers more than six months ago, at the end of the conference +in Washington, that something would seem to indicate the departure of a +new expedition from Mars had been noticed by them? We have heard nothing +of that expedition since. We know that it did not reach the earth. It +must have fallen foul of this asteroid, run upon this rock in the ocean +of space and been wrecked here."</p> + +<p> +"We've got 'em, then," shouted our electric steersman, who had been +a workman in Mr. Edison's laboratory and had unlimited confidence in +his chief. +</p> + +<h4>Preparing to Land.</h4> + +<p> +The electrical ships were immediately instructed by signal to slow down, +an operation that was easily affected through the electrical repulsion +of the asteroid.</p> + +<p> +The nearer we got the more terrifying was the appearance of the gigantic +creatures who were riding upon the little world before us like castaway +sailors upon a block of ice. Like men, and yet not like men, combining +the human and the beast in their appearance, it required a steady nerve +to look at them. If we had not known their malignity and their power to +work evil, it would have been different, but in our eyes their moral +character shone through their physical aspect and thus rendered them +more terrible than they would otherwise have been. +</p> + +<h4>The Martians Recognize Us.</h4> + +<p> +When we first saw them their appearance was most forlorn, and their +attitudes indicated only despair and desperation, but as they caught sight +of us their malign power of intellect instantly penetrated the mystery, +and they recognized us for what we were.</p> + +<p> +Their despair immediately gave place to reawakened malevolence. On the +instant they were astir, with such heart-chilling movements as those +that characterize a venomous serpent preparing to strike.</p> + +<p> +Not imagining that they would be in a position to make serious resistance, +we had been somewhat incautious in approaching. +</p> + +<h4>The Awful Heat Ray.</h4> + +<p> +Suddenly there was a quicker movement than usual among the Martians, +a swift adjustment of that one of their engines of war which, as already +noticed, seemed to be practically uninjured, and then there darted from it +and alighted upon one of the foremost ships a dazzling lightning stroke +a mile in length, at whose touch the metallic sides of the car curled +and withered and, licked for a moment by what seemed lambent flames, +collapsed into a mere cinder. + +</p> + +<h4>Another Ship Destroyed.</h4> + +<h4>The Death-Dealing Martians Strike a Fearful Blow at the Earth's +Warriors.</h4> + +<p> +For an instant not a word was spoken, so sudden and unexpected was +the blow.</p> + +<p> +We knew that every soul in the stricken car had perished.</p> + +<p> +"Back! Back!" was the signal instantaneously flashed from the flagship, +and reversing their polarities the members of the squadron sprang +away from the little planet as rapidly as the electrical impulse could +drive them.</p> + +<p> +But before we were out of reach a second flaming tongue of death shot +from the fearful engine, and another of our ships, with all its crew, +was destroyed. +</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +The Terrible Work of the Martians' All-Powerful Fire-Blast.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm0911.png" alt="Fire-Blast" title="Fire-Blast" /><br /> +"Back! Back!" was the signal instantaneously flashed from the flag +ship, and the members of the squadron sprang away from the little +planet. But before we were out of reach a second tongue of death shot +from the fearful engine, and another of our ships, with all of its +crew, was destroyed. +</p> +<hr /> + +<h4>A Discouraging Beginning.</h4> + +<p> +It was an inauspicious beginning for us. Two of our electrical ships, +with their entire crews, had been wiped out of existence, and this +appalling blow had been dealt by a few stranded and disabled enemies +floating on an asteroid.</p> + +<p> +What hope would there be for us when we came to encounter the millions +of Mars itself on their own ground and prepared for war?</p> + +<p> +However, it would not do to despond. We had been incautious, and we +should take good care not to commit the same fault again. +</p> + +<h4>Vengeance the First Thing!</h4> + +<p> +The first thing to do was to avenge the death of our comrades. The +question whether we were able to meet these Martians and overcome them +might as well be settled right here and now. They had proved what they +could do, even when disabled and at a disadvantage. Now it was our turn. + + +</p> + +<p> +<a name="VII"></a></p> +<hr /><h2>Chapter VII.</h2> + +<p> +The squadron had been rapidly withdrawn to a very considerable distance +from the asteroid. The range of the mysterious artillery employed by +the Martians was unknown to us. We did not even know the limit of the +effective range of our own disintegrators. If it should prove that the +Martians were able to deal their strokes at a distance greater than any +we could reach, then they would of course have an insuperable advantage.</p> + +<p> +On the other hand, if it should turn out that our range was greater +than theirs, the advantage would be on our side. Or—which was perhaps +most probable—there might be practically no difference in the effective +range of the engines.</p> + +<p> +Anyhow, we were going to find out how the case stood, and that without +delay. +</p> + +<h4>Ready with the Disintegrator.</h4> + +<p> +Everything being in readiness, the disintegrators all in working order, +and the men who were able to handle them, most of whom were experienced +marksmen, chosen from among the officers of the regular army of the +United States, and accustomed to the straight shooting and the sure hits +of the West, standing at their posts, the squadron again advanced.</p> + +<p> +In order to distract the attention of the Martians, the electrical ships +had been distributed over a wide space. Some dropped straight down toward +the asteroid; others approached it by flank attack, from this side and +that. The flagship moved straight in toward the point where the first +disaster occurred. Its intrepid commander felt that his post should be +that of the greatest danger, and where the severest blows would be given +and received. +</p> + +<h4>A Strategic Advance.</h4> + +<p> +The approach of the ships was made with great caution. Watching +the Martians with our telescopes we could clearly see that they were +disconcerted by the scattered order of our attack. Even if all of their +engines of war had been in proper condition for use it would have been +impossible for them to meet the simultaneous assault of so many enemies +dropping down upon them from the sky.</p> + +<p> +But they were made of fighting metal, as we knew from old experience. It +was no question of surrender. They did not know how to surrender, and we +did not know how to demand a surrender. Besides, the destruction of the +two electrical ships with the forty men, many of whom bore names widely +known upon the earth, had excited a kind of fury among the members of +the squadron which called for vengeance. +</p> + +<h4>Another Attack.</h4> + +<p> +Suddenly a repetition of the quick movement by the Martians, which had +been the forerunner of the former coup, was observed; again a blinding +flash burst from their war engine and instantaneously a shiver ran through +the frame of the flagship; the air within quivered with strange pulsations +and seemed suddenly to have assumed the temperature of a blast furnace.</p> + +<p> +We all gasped for breath. Our throats and lungs seemed scorched in the +act of breathing. Some fell unconscious upon the floor. The marksmen, +carrying the disintegrators ready for use, staggered, and one of them +dropped his instrument.</p> + +<p> +But we had not been destroyed like our comrades before us. In a moment the +wave of heat passed; those who had fallen recovered from their momentary +stupor and staggered to their feet.</p> + +<p> +The electrical steersman stood hesitating at his post.</p> + +<p> +"Move on," said Mr. Edison sternly, his features set with determination +and his eyes afire. "We are still beyond their effective range. Let us +get closer in order to make sure work when we strike."</p> + +<p> +The ship moved on. One could hear the heartbeats of its inmates. The +other members of the squadron, thinking for the moment that disaster +had overtaken the flagship, had paused and seemed to be meditating flight.</p> + +<p> +"Signal them to move on," said Mr. Edison. +</p> + +<h4>The Battle Commences.</h4> + +<p> +The signal was given, and the circle of electrical ships closed in upon +the asteroid.</p> + +<p> +In the meantime Mr. Edison had been donning his air-tight suit. Before +we could clearly comprehend his intention he had passed through the +double-trapped door which gave access to the exterior of the car without +permitting the loss of air, and was standing upon what served as the +deck of the ship.</p> + +<p> +In his hand he carried a disintegrator. With a quick motion he sighted it.</p> + +<p> +As quickly as possible I sprang to his side. I was just in time to note +the familiar blue gleam about the instrument, which indicated that its +terrific energies were at work. The whirring sound was absent, because +here, in open space, where there was no atmosphere, there could be +no sound. +</p> + +<h4>The Disintegrator's Power.</h4> + +<p> +My eyes were fixed upon the Martians' engine, which had just dealt us a +staggering, but not fatal, blow, and particularly I noticed a polished +knob projecting from it, which seemed to have been the focus from which +its destructive bolt emanated.</p> + +<p> +A moment later the knob disappeared. The irresistible vibrations +darted from the electrical disintegrator and had fallen upon it and +instantaneously shattered it into atoms.</p> + +<p> +"That fixes them," said Mr. Edison, turning to me with a smile.</p> + +<p> +And indeed it did fix them. We had most effectually spiked their gun. It +would deal no more death blows.</p> + +<p> +The doings of the flagship had been closely watched throughout the +squadron. The effect of its blow had been evident to all, and a moment +later we saw, on some of the nearer ships, men dressed in their air suits, +appearing upon the deck, swinging their arms and sending forth noiseless +cheers into empty space. +</p> + +<h4>A Telling Stroke.</h4> + +<p> +The stroke that we had dealt was taken by several of the electrical +ships as a signal for a common assault, and we saw two of the Martians +fall beside the ruin of their engine, their heads having been blown from +their bodies.</p> + +<p> +"Signal them to stop firing," commanded Mr. Edison. "We have got them +down, and we are not going to murder them without necessity."</p> + +<p> +"Besides," he added, "I want to capture some of them alive."</p> + +<p> +The signal was given as he had ordered. The flagship then alone dropped +slowly toward the place on the asteroid where the prostrate Martians were. +</p> + +<h4>A Terrible Scene.</h4> + +<p> +As we got near them a terrible scene unfolded itself to our eyes. There +had evidently been not more than half a dozen of the monsters in the +beginning. Two of these were stretched headless upon the ground. Three +others had suffered horrible injuries where the invisible vibratory +beams from the disintegrators had grazed them, and they could not long +survive. One only remained apparently uninjured. +</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +Vengeance at Last Upon the Pitiless Martians.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm0910.png" alt="Vengeance" title="Vengeance" /><br /> +As we got near them a terrible scene unfolded itself. Two of the +Martians were stretched headless upon the ground. Three others had +suffered horrible injuries, and only one remained unhurt. +</p> +<hr /> + +<h4>The Gigantic Martian.</h4> + +<p> +It is impossible for me to describe the appearance of this creature +in terms that would be readily understood. Was he like a man? Yes and +no. He possessed many human characteristics, but they were exaggerated and +monstrous in scale and in detail. His head was of enormous size, and his +huge projecting eyes gleamed with a strange fire of intelligence. His face +was like a caricature, but not one to make the beholder laugh. Drawing +himself up, he towered to a height of at least fifteen feet.</p> + +<p> +But let the reader not suppose from this inadequate description that the +Martians stirred in the beholder precisely the sensation that would be +caused by the sight of a gorilla, or other repulsive inhabitant of one +of our terrestrial jungles, suddenly confronting him in its native wilds.</p> + +<p> +With all his horrible characteristics, and all his suggestions of beast +and monster, nevertheless the Martian produced the impression of being +a person and not a mere animal. +</p> + +<h4>His Frightened Aspect.</h4> + +<p> +I have already referred to the enormous size of his head, and to the +fact that his countenance bore considerable resemblance to that of a +man. There was something in this face that sent a shiver through the +soul of the beholder. One could feel in looking upon it that here was +intellect, intelligence developed to the highest degree, but in the +direction of evil instead of good.</p> + +<p> +The sensations of one who had stood face to face with Satan, when he +was driven from the battlements of heaven by the swords of his fellow +archangels, and had beheld him transformed from Lucifer, the Son of the +Morning, into the Prince of Night and Hell, might not have been unlike +those which we now experienced as we gazed upon this dreadful personage, +who seemed to combine the intellectual powers of a man, raised to their +highest pitch, with some of the physical features of a beast, and all +the moral depravity of a fiend. +</p> + +<h4>The Martian's Rage.</h4> + +<p> +The appearance of the Martian was indeed so threatening and repellent +that we paused at the height of fifty feet above the ground, hesitating +to approach nearer. A grin of rage and hate overspread his face. If he +had been a man I should say he shook his fist at us. What he did was +to express in even more telling pantomime his hatred and defiance, and +his determination to grind us to shreds if he could once get us within +his clutches.</p> + +<p> +Mr. Edison and I still stood upon the deck of the ship, where several +others had gathered around us. The atmosphere of the little asteroid +was so rare that it practically amounted to nothing, and we could not +possibly have survived if we had not continued to wear our air-tight +suits. How the Martians contrived to live here was a mystery to us. It +was another of their secrets which we were yet to learn.</p> + +<p> +Mr. Edison retained his disintegrator in his hand.</p> + +<p> +"Kill him," said someone. "He is too horrible to live."</p> + +<p> +"If we do not kill him we shall never be able to land upon the asteroid," +said another. +</p> + +<h4>Shall We Kill Him?</h4> + +<p> +"No," said Mr. Edison, "I shall not kill him. We have got another use +for him. Tom," he continued, turning to one of his assistants, whom he +had brought from his laboratory, "bring me the anaesthetizer."</p> + +<p> +This was something entirely new to nearly all the members of the +expedition. Mr. Edison, however, had confided to me before we left +the earth the fact that he had invented a little instrument by means of +which a bubble, strongly charged with a powerful anaesthetic agent, could +be driven to a considerable distance into the face of an enemy, where, +exploding without other damage, it would instantly put him to sleep.</p> + +<p> +When Tom had placed the instrument in his hands Mr. Edison ordered the +electrical ship to forge slightly ahead and drop a little lower toward +the Martian, who, with watchful eyes and threatening gestures, noted +our approach in the attitude of a wild beast on the spring. Suddenly +Mr. Edison discharged from the instrument in his hand a little gaseous +globe, which glittered like a ball of tangled rainbows in the sunshine, +and darted with astonishing velocity straight into the upturned face of +the Martian. It burst as it touched and the monster fell back senseless +upon the ground. +</p> + +<h4>One of the Bellicose Martians Falls Into the Hands of the +Worldians.</h4> + +<p> +"You have killed him!" exclaimed all.</p> + +<p> +"No," said Mr. Edison, "he is not dead, only asleep. Now we shall drop +down and bind him tight before he can awake."</p> + +<p> +When we came to bind our prisoner with strong ropes we were more than +ever impressed with his gigantic stature and strength. Evidently in single +combat with equal weapons he would have been a match for twenty of us.</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +A Gigantic Martian Captured.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm1012.png" alt="Captured" title="Captured" /><br /> +When we came to bind our prisoner with strong ropes we were more than +ever impressed with his gigantic stature and strength. He might have +been a match for twenty of us. +</p> +<hr /> + +<p> +All that I had read of giants had failed to produce upon my mind the +impression of enormous size and tremendous physical energy which the +sleeping body of this immense Martian produced. He had fallen on his +back, and was in a most profound slumber. All his features were relaxed, +and yet even in that condition there was a devilishness about him that +made the beholders instinctively shudder. +</p> + +<h4>The Unconscious Martian.</h4> + +<p> +So powerful was the effect of the anaesthetic which Mr. Edison had +discharged into his face that he remained perfectly unconscious while +we turned him half over in order the more securely to bind his muscular +limbs.</p> + +<p> +In the meantime the other electrical ships approached, and several of +them made a landing upon the asteroid. Everybody was eager to see this +wonderful little world, which, as I have already remarked, was only five +miles in diameter. +</p> + +<h4>Exploring the Planet.</h4> + +<p> +Several of us from the flagship started out hastily to explore the +miniature planet. And now our attention was recalled to an intensely +interesting phenomenon which had engaged our thoughts not only when we +were upon the moon, but during our flight through space. This was the +almost entire absence of weight.</p> + +<p> +On the moon, where the force of gravitation is one-sixth as great as upon +the earth, we had found ourselves astonishingly light. Five-sixths of our +own weight, and of the weight of the air-tight suits in which we were +incased, had magically dropped from us. It was therefore comparatively +easy for us, encumbered as we were, to make our way about on the moon.</p> + +<p> +But when we were far from both the earth and the moon, the loss of +weight was more astonishing still—not astonishing because we had not +known that it would be so, but nevertheless a surprising phenomenon in +contrast with our lifelong experience on the earth. +</p> + +<h4>Men Without Weight.</h4> + +<p> +In open space we were practically without weight. Only the mass of +the electrical car in which we were enclosed attracted us, and inside +that we could place ourselves in any position without falling. We could +float in the air. There were no up and no down, no top and no bottom for +us. Stepping outside the car, it would have been easy for us to spring +away from it and leave it forever.</p> + +<p> +One of the most startling experiences that I have ever had was one +day when we were navigating space about half way between the earth +and Mars. I had stepped outside the car with Lord Kelvin, both of us, +of course, wearing our air-tight suits. We were perfectly well aware +what would be the consequence of detaching ourselves from the car as +we moved along. We should still retain the forward motion of the car, +and of course accompany it in its flight. There would be no falling one +way or the other. The car would have a tendency to draw us back again by +its attraction, but this tendency would be very slight, and practically +inappreciable at a distance. +</p> + +<h4>Stepping Into Space.</h4> + +<p> +"I am going to step off," I suddenly said to Lord Kelvin. "Of course +I shall keep right along with the car, and step aboard again when I +am ready."</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +Stepping into Space Thousands of Miles from Land.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm1011.png" alt="Stepping into Space" title="Stepping into Space" /><br /> +"I am going to step off," I suddenly said to Lord Kelvin. +</p> +<hr /> + +<p> +"Quite right on general principles, young man," replied the great savant, +"but beware in what manner you step off. Remember, if you give your body +an impulse sufficient to carry it away from the car to any considerable +distance, you will be unable to get back again, unless we can catch you +with a boathook or a fishline. Out there in empty space you will have +nothing to kick against, and you will be unable to propel yourself in +the direction of the car, and its attraction is so feeble that we should +probably arrive at Mars before it had drawn you back again."</p> + +<p> +All this was, of course, perfectly self-evident, yet I believe that +but for the warning word of Lord Kelvin, I should have been rash enough +to step out into empty space with sufficient force to have separated +myself hopelessly from the electrical ship. +</p> + +<h4>A Reckless Experiment.</h4> + +<p> +As it was, I took good care to retain a hold upon a projecting portion +of the car. Occasionally cautiously releasing my grip, I experienced for +a few minutes the delicious, indescribable pleasure of being a little +planet swinging through space, with nothing to hold me up and nothing +to interfere with my motion.</p> + +<p> +Mr. Edison, happening to come upon the deck of the ship at this time, +and seeing what we were about, at once said:</p> + +<p> +"I must provide against this danger. If I do not, there is a chance that +we shall arrive at Mars with the ships half empty and the crews floating +helplessly around us." +</p> + +<h4>Edison Always Prepared.</h4> + +<p> +Mr. Edison's way of guarding against the danger was by contriving a +little apparatus, modeled after that which was the governing force of the +electrical ships themselves, and which, being enclosed in the air-tight +suits, enabled their wearers to manipulate the electrical charge upon +them in such a way that they could make excursions from the cars into open +space like steam launches from a ship, going and returning at their will.</p> + +<p> +These little machines being rapidly manufactured, for Mr. Edison had a +miniature laboratory aboard, were distributed about the squadron, and +henceforth we had the pleasure of paying and receiving visits among the +various members of the fleet.</p> + +<p> +But to return from this digression to our experience of the asteroid. The +latter being a body of some mass was, of course, able to impart to us +a measurable degree of weight. Being five miles in diameter, on the +assumption that its mean density was the same as that of the earth, +the weight of bodies on its surface should have borne the same ratio to +their weight upon the earth that the radius of the asteroid bore to the +radius of the earth; in other words, as 1 to 1,600.</p> + +<p> +Having made this mental calculation, I knew that my weight, being 150 +pounds on the earth, should on this asteroid be an ounce and a half.</p> + +<p> +Curious to see whether fact would bear out theory, I had myself weighed +with a spring balance. Mr. Edison, Lord Kelvin and the other distinguished +scientists stood by watching the operation with great interest.</p> + +<p> +To our complete surprise, my weight, instead of coming out an ounce and +a half, as it should have done, on the supposition that the mean density +of the asteroid resembled that of the earth—a very liberal supposition +on the side of the asteroid, by the way—actually came out five ounces +and a quarter!</p> + +<p> +"What in the world makes me so heavy?" I asked.</p> + +<p> +"Yes, indeed, what an elephant you have become," said Mr. Edison.</p> + +<p> +Lord Kelvin screwed his eyeglass in his eye, and carefully inspected +the balance. +</p> + +<h4>Weight, Five and a Quarter Ounces.</h4> + +<p> +"It's quite right," he said. "You do indeed weigh five ounces and a +quarter. Too much; altogether too much," he added. "You shouldn't do it, +you know."</p> + +<p> +"Perhaps the fault is in the asteroid," suggested Professor Sylvanus +P. Thompson.</p> + +<p> +"Quite so," exclaimed Lord Kelvin, a look of sudden comprehension +overspreading his features. "No doubt it is the internal constitution +of the asteroid which is the cause of the anomaly. We must look into +that. Let me see? This gentleman's weight is three and one-half times +as great as it ought to be. What element is there whose density exceeds +the mean density of the earth in about that proportion?"</p> + +<p> +"Gold," exclaimed one of the party. +</p> + +<h4>The Golden Asteroid!</h4> + +<p> +For a moment we were startled beyond expression. The truth had flashed +upon us.</p> + +<p> +This must be a golden planet—this little asteroid. If it were not +composed internally of gold it could never have made me weigh three +times more than I ought to weigh.</p> + +<p> +"But where is the gold?" cried one.</p> + +<p> +"Covered up, of course," said Lord Kelvin. "Buried in star dust. This +asteroid could not have continued to travel for millions of years through +regions of space strewn with meteoric particles without becoming covered +with the inevitable dust and grime of such a journey. We must dig down, +and then doubtless we shall find the metal."</p> + +<p> +This hint was instantly acted upon. Something that would serve for a +spade was seized by one of the men, and in a few minutes a hole had been +dug in the comparatively light soil of the asteroid. +</p> + +<h4>The Precious Metal Discovered.</h4> + +<p> +I shall never forget the sight, nor the exclamations of wonder that +broke forth from all of us standing around, when the yellow gleam of the +precious metal appeared under the "star dust." Collected in huge masses +it reflected the light of the sun from its hiding place.</p> + +<p> +Evidently the planet was not a solid ball of gold, formed like a bullet +run in a mould, but was composed of nuggets of various sizes, which +had come together here under the influence of their mutual gravitation, +and formed a little metallic planet.</p> + +<p> +Judging by the test of weight which we had already tried, and which had +led to the discovery of the gold, the composition of the asteroid must +be the same to its very centre. +</p> + +<h4>An Incredible Phenomenon.</h4> + +<p> +In an assemblage of famous scientific men such as this the discovery of +course immediately led to questions as to the origin of this incredible +phenomenon.</p> + +<p> +How did these masses of gold come together? How did it chance that, +with the exception of the thin crust of the asteroid, nearly all its +substance was composed of the precious metal?</p> + +<p> +One asserted that it was quite impossible that there should be so much +gold at so great a distance from the sun.</p> + +<p> +"It is the general law," he said, "that the planets increase in density +toward the sun. There is every reason to think that the inner planets +possess the greater amount of dense elements, while the outer ones are +comparatively light." +</p> + +<h4>Whence Came the Treasure?</h4> + +<p> +But another referred to the old theory that there was once in this +part of the solar system a planet which had been burst in pieces by +some mysterious explosion, the fragments forming what we know as +the asteroids. In his opinion, this planet might have contained a +large quantity of gold, and in the course of ages the gold, having, +in consequence of its superior atomic weight, not being so widely +scattered by the explosion as some of the other elements of the planet, +had collected itself together in this body.</p> + +<p> +But I observed that Lord Kelvin and the other more distinguished men +of science said nothing during this discussion. The truly learned man +is the truly wise man. They were not going to set up theories without +sufficient facts to sustain them. The one fact that the gold was here +was all they had at present. Until they could learn more they were not +prepared to theorize as to how the gold got there.</p> + +<p> +And in truth, it must be confessed, the greater number of us really +cared less for the explanation of the wonderful fact than we did for +the fact itself.</p> + +<p> +Gold is a thing which may make its appearance anywhere and at any time +without offering any excuses or explanations. +</p> + +<h4>Visions of Mighty Fortunes.</h4> + +<p> +"Phew! Won't we be rich?" exclaimed a voice.</p> + +<p> +"How are we going to dig it and get it back to earth?" asked another.</p> + +<p> +"Carry it in your pockets," said one.</p> + +<p> +"No need of staking claims here," remarked another. "There is enough +for everybody."</p> + +<p> +Mr. Edison suddenly turned the current of talk.</p> + +<p> +"What do you suppose those Martians were doing here?"</p> + +<p> +"Why, they were wrecked here."</p> + +<p> +"Not a bit of it," said Mr. Edison. "According to your own showing they +could not have been wrecked here. This planet hasn't gravitation enough +to wreck them by a fall, and besides I have been looking at their machines +and I know there has been a fight."</p> + +<p> +"A fight?" exclaimed several, pricking up their ears.</p> + +<p> +"Yes," said Mr. Edison; "those machines bear the marks of the lightning of +the Martians. They have been disabled, but they are made of some metal or +some alloy of metals unknown to me, and consequently they have withstood +the destructive force applied to them, as our electric ships were unable +to withstand it. It is perfectly plain to me that they have been disabled +in a battle. The Martians must have been fighting among themselves." +</p> + +<h4>A Martian Civil War!</h4> + +<p> +"About the gold!" exclaimed one.</p> + +<p> +"Of course. What else was there to fight about?"</p> + +<p> +At this instant one of our men came running from a considerable distance, +waving his arms excitedly, but unable to give voice to his story, in the +inappreciable atmosphere of the asteroid, until he had come up and made +telephonic connection with us.</p> + +<p> +"There is a lot of dead Martians over there," he said. "They've been +cleaning one another out."</p> + +<p> +"That's it," said Mr. Edison. "I knew it when I saw the condition of +those machines."</p> + +<p> +"Then this is not a wrecked expedition, directed against the earth?"</p> + +<p> +"Not at all."</p> + +<p> +"This must be the great gold mine of Mars," said the president of +an Australian mining company, opening both his eyes and his mouth as +he spoke.</p> + +<p> +"Yes, evidently that's it. Here's where they come to get their wealth."</p> + +<p> +"And this," I said, "must be their harvest time. You notice that this +asteroid, being several million miles nearer to the sun than Mars is, +must have an appreciably shorter period of revolution. When it is in +conjunction with Mars, or nearly so, as it is at present, the distance +between the two is not very great, whereas when it is in the opposite +part of its orbit they are separated by an enormous gap of space and +the sun is between them."</p> + +<p> +"Manifestly in the latter case it would be perilous if not entirely +impossible for the Martians to visit the golden asteroid, but when it +is near Mars, as it is at present, and as it must be periodically for +several years at a time, then is their opportunity."</p> + +<p> +"With their projectile cars sent forth with the aid of the mysterious +explosives which they possess, it is easy for them under such +circumstances, to make visits to the asteroid."</p> + +<p> +"Having obtained all the gold they need, or all that they can carry, +a comparatively slight impulse given to their car, the direction of +which is carefully calculated, will carry them back again to Mars."</p> + +<p> +"If that's so," exclaimed a voice, "we had better look out for +ourselves! We have got into a very hornet's nest! If this is the place +where the Martians come to dig gold, and if this is the height of +their season, as you say, they are not likely to leave us here long +undisturbed."</p> + +<p> +"These fellows must have been pirates that they had the fight with," +said another.</p> + +<p> +"But what's become of the regulars, then?"</p> + +<p> +"Gone back to Mars for help, probably, and they'll be here again pretty +quick, I am afraid!"</p> + +<p> +Considerable alarm was caused by this view of the case, and orders were +sent to several of the electrical ships to cruise out to a safe distance +in the direction of Mars and keep a sharp outlook for the approach +of enemies. +</p> + +<h4>Discovery That the Asteroid is a Solid Mass of Gold.</h4> + +<p> +Meanwhile our prisoner awoke. He turned his eyes upon those standing +about him, without any appearance of fear, but rather with a look of +contempt, like that which Gulliver must have felt for the Lilliputians +who had bound him under similar circumstances.</p> + +<p> +There were both hatred and defiance in his glance. He attempted to free +himself, and the ropes strained with the tremendous pressure that he +put upon them, but he could not break loose. +</p> + +<h4>The Martian Safely Bound.</h4> + +<p> +Satisfied that the Martian was safely bound, we left him where he +lay, and, while awaiting news from the ships which had been sent to +reconnoitre, continued the exploration of the little planet.</p> + +<p> +At a point nearly opposite to that where we had landed we came upon +the mine which the Martians had been working. They had removed the thin +coating of soil, laying bare the rich stores of gold beneath, and large +quantities of the latter had been removed. Some of it was so solidly +packed that the strokes of the instruments by means of which they had +detached it were visible like the streaks left by a knife cutting cheese. +</p> + +<h4>Reason for Astonishment.</h4> + +<p> +The more we saw of this golden planet the greater became our +astonishment. What the Martians had removed was a mere nothing in +comparison with the entire bulk of the asteroid. Had the celestial mine +been easier to reach, perhaps they would have removed more, or, possibly, +their political economists perfectly understood the necessity of properly +controlling the amount of precious metal in circulation. Very likely, +we thought, the mining operations were under government control in Mars +and it might be that the majority of the people there knew nothing of +this store of wealth floating in the firmament. That would account for +the battle with the supposed pirates, who, no doubt, had organized a +secret expedition to the asteroid and been caught red-handed at the mine. +</p> + +<h4>Richer Than the Klondike.</h4> + +<p> +There were many detached masses of gold scattered about, and some of the +men, on picking them up, exclaimed with astonishment at their lack of +weight, forgetting for the moment that the same law which caused their +own bodies to weigh so little must necessarily affect everything else +in like degree.</p> + +<p> +A mass of gold that on the earth no man would have been able to lift +could here be tossed about like a hollow rubber ball.</p> + +<p> +While we were examining the mine, one of the men left to guard the +Martian came running to inform us that the latter evidently wished to +make some communication. Mr. Edison and others hurried to the side of the +prisoner. He still lay on his back, from which position he was not able +to move, notwithstanding all his efforts. But by the motion of his eyes, +aided by a pantomime with his fingers, he made us understand that there +was something in a metallic box fastened at his side which he wished +to reach. +</p> + +<h4>The Martian's Treasure Box.</h4> + +<p> +With some difficulty we succeeded in opening the box and in it there +appeared a number of bright red pellets, as large as an ordinary egg.</p> + +<p> +When the Martian saw these in our hands he gave us to understand by +the motion of his lips that he wished to swallow one of them. A pellet +was accordingly placed in his mouth, and he instantly and with great +eagerness swallowed it. +</p> + +<h4>The Mysterious Pellets.</h4> + +<p> +While trying to communicate his wishes to us, the prisoner had seemed +to be in no little distress. He exhibited spasmodic movements which +led some of the bystanders to think that he was on the point of dying, +but within a few seconds after he had swallowed the pellet he appeared +to be completely restored. All evidences of distress vanished, and a +look of content came over his ugly face.</p> + +<p> +"It must be a powerful medicine," said one of the bystanders. "I wonder +what it is."</p> + +<p> +"I will explain to you my notion," said Professor Moissan, the great +French chemist. "I think it was a pill of the air, which he has taken."</p> + +<p> +"What do you mean by that?" +</p> + +<h4>Artificial Atmosphere.</h4> + +<p> +"My meaning is," said Professor Moissan, "that the Martian must have, for +that he may live, the nitrogen and the oxygen. These can he not obtain +here, where there is not the atmosphere. Therefore must he get them in +some other manner. This has he managed to do by combining in these pills +the oxygen and the nitrogen in the proportions which make atmospheric +air. Doubtless upon Mars there are the very great chemists. They have +discovered how this may be done. When the Martian has swallowed his +little pill, the oxygen and the nitrogen are rendered to his blood as +if he had breathed them, and so he can live with that air which has been +distributed to him with the aid of his stomach in the place of his lungs."</p> + +<p> +If Monsieur Moissan's explanation was not correct, at any rate it +seemed the only one that would fit the facts before us. Certainly the +Martian could not breathe where there was practically no air, yet just +as certainly after he had swallowed his pill he seemed as comfortable +as any of us. +</p> + +<h4>Signals from a Ship.</h4> + +<p> +Suddenly, while we were gathered around the prisoner, and interested +in this fresh evidence of the wonderful ingenuity of the Martians, and +of their control over the processes of nature, one of the electrical +ships that had been sent off in the direction of Mars was seen rapidly +returning and displaying signals. +</p> + +<h4>The Martians Are Coming.</h4> + +<p> +It reported that the Martians were coming! + + +</p> + +<p> +<a name="VIII"></a></p> +<hr /><h2>Chapter VIII.</h2> + +<p> +The alarm was spread instantly among those upon the planet and through +the remainder of the fleet.</p> + +<p> +One of the men from the returning electrical ship dropped down upon the +asteroid and gave a more detailed account of what they had seen.</p> + +<p> +His ship had been the one which had gone to the greatest distance in the +direction of Mars. While cruising there, with all eyes intent, they had +suddenly perceived a glittering object moving from the direction of the +ruddy planet, and manifestly approaching them. A little inspection with +the telescope had shown that it was one of the projectile cars used by +the Martians.</p> + +<p> +Our ship had ventured so far from the asteroid that for a moment it seemed +doubtful whether it would be able to return in time to give warning, +because the electrical influence of the asteroid was comparatively +slight at such a distance, and, after they had reversed their polarity, +and applied their intensifier, so as to make that influence effective, +their motion was at first exceedingly slow.</p> + +<p> +Fortunately after a time they got under way with sufficient velocity to +bring them back to us before the approaching Martians could overtake them.</p> + +<p> +The latter were not moving with great velocity, having evidently projected +themselves from Mars with only just sufficient force to throw them within +the feeble sphere of gravitation of the asteroid, so that they should +very gently land upon its surface.</p> + +<p> +Indeed, looking out behind the electrical ship which had brought us the +warning, we immediately saw the projectile of the Martians approaching. It +sparkled like a star in the black sky as the sunlight fell upon it. +</p> + +<h4>Ready for the Enemy.</h4> + +<p> +The ships of the squadron whose crews had not landed upon the planet were +signalled to prepare for action, while those who were upon the asteroid +made ready for battle there. A number of disintegrators were trained +upon the approaching Martians, but Mr. Edison gave strict orders that +no attempt should be made to discharge the vibratory force at random.</p> + +<p> +"They do not know that we are here," he said, "and I am convinced that +they are unable to control their motions as we can do with our electrical +ships. They depend simply upon the force of gravitation. Having passed +the limit of the attraction of Mars, they have now fallen within the +attraction of the asteroid, and they must slowly sink to its surface." +</p> + +<h4>The Martians Cannot Stop.</h4> + +<p> +"Having, as I am convinced, no means of producing or controlling +electrical attraction and repulsion, they cannot stop themselves, but must +come down upon the asteroid. Having got here they could never get away +again, except as we know the survivors got away from earth, by propelling +their projectile against gravitation with the aid of an explosive."</p> + +<p> +"Therefore, to a certain extent they will be at our mercy. Let us allow +them quietly to land upon the planet, and then I think, if it becomes +necessary, we can master them."</p> + +<p> +Notwithstanding Mr. Edison's reassuring words and manner, the company upon +the asteroid experienced a dreadful suspense while the projectile which +seemed very formidable as it drew near, sank with a slow and graceful +motion toward the surface of the ground. Evidently it was about to land +very near the spot where we stood awaiting it.</p> + +<p> +Its inmates had apparently just caught sight of us. They evinced signs +of astonishment, and seemed at a loss exactly what to do. We could see +projecting from the fore part of their car at least two of the polished +knobs, whose fearful use and power we well comprehended.</p> + +<p> +Several of our men cried out to Mr. Edison in an extremity of terror:</p> + +<p> +"Why do you not destroy them? Be quick, or we shall all perish."</p> + +<p> +"No," said Mr. Edison, "there is no danger. You can see that they are +not prepared. They will not attempt to attack us until they have made +their landing." +</p> + +<h4>The Martians Land.</h4> + +<p> +And Mr. Edison was right. With gradually accelerated velocity, and yet +very, very slowly in comparison with the speed they would have exhibited +in falling upon such a planet as the earth, the Martians and their car +came down to the ground.</p> + +<p> +We stood at a distance of perhaps three hundred feet from the point where +they touched the asteroid. Instantly a dozen of the giants sprang from +the car and gazed about for a moment with a look of intense surprise. At +first it was doubtful whether they meant to attack us at all.</p> + +<p> +We stood on our guard, several carrying disintegrators in our hands, +while a score more of these terrible engines were turned upon the Martians +from the electrical ships which hovered near. +</p> + +<h4>A Speech from Their Leader.</h4> + +<p> +Suddenly he who seemed to be the leader of the Martians began to speak +to them in pantomime, using his fingers after the manner in which they +are used for conversation by deaf and dumb people.</p> + +<p> +Of course, we did not know what he was saying, but his meaning became +perfectly evident a minute later. Clearly they did not comprehend +the powers of the insignificant-looking strangers with whom they had +to deal. Instead of turning their destructive engines upon us, they +advanced on a run, with the evident purpose of making us prisoners or +crushing us by main force. +</p> + +<h4>Awed by the Disintegrator.</h4> + +<p> +The soft whirr of the disintegrator in the hands of Mr. Edison standing +near me came to my ears through the telephonic wire. He quickly swept +the concentrating mirror a little up and down, and instantly the foremost +Martian vanished! Part of some metallic dress that he wore fell upon the +ground where he had stood, its vibratory rate not having been included +in the range imparted to the disintegrator.</p> + +<p> +His followers paused for a moment, amazed, stared about as if looking for +their leader, and then hurried back to their projectile and disappeared +within it.</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +Mr. Edison Gives the Martians a Lesson.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm1108.png" alt="Lesson" title="Lesson" /><br /> +The Martians could not comprehend the force of our destructive +disintegrator. Its soft whirr in the hands of Mr. Edison came to my +ears. Instantly the foremost Martian vanished! His followers paused +for a moment, amazed, stared about looking for their leader, and then +hurried back to their projectile and disappeared within it. +</p> +<hr /> + +<p> +"Now we've got business on our hands," said Mr. Edison. "Look out for +yourselves."</p> + +<p> +As he spoke, I saw the death-dealing knob of the war engine contained +in the car of the Martians moving around toward us. In another instant +it would have launched its destroying bolt.</p> + +<p> +Before that could occur, however, it had been dissipated into space by +a vibratory stream from a disintegrator.</p> + +<p> +But we were not to get the victory quite so easily. There was another +of the war engines in the car, and before we could concentrate our fire +upon it, its awful flash shot forth, and a dozen of our comrades perished +before our eyes.</p> + +<p> +"Quick! Quick!" shouted Mr. Edison to one of his electrical experts +standing near. "There is something the matter with this disintegrator, +and I cannot make it work. Aim at the knob, and don't miss it." +</p> + +<h4>Martians and Terrestrians Fight a Terrible Battle.</h4> + +<p> +But the aim was not well taken, and the vibratory force fell upon a +portion of the car at a considerable distance from the knob, making a +great breach, but leaving the engine uninjured.</p> + +<p> +A section of the side of the car had been destroyed, and the vibratory +energy had spread no further. To have attempted to sweep the car from +end to end would have been futile, because the period of action of the +disintegrators during each discharge did not exceed one second, and +distributing the energy over so great a space would have seriously +weakened its power to shatter apart the atoms of the resisting +substance. The disintegrators were like firearms, in that after each +discharge they must be readjusted before they could be used again. +</p> + +<h4>The Martians Are Desperate.</h4> + +<p> +Through the breach we saw the Martians inside making desperate efforts +to train their engine upon us, for after their first disastrous stroke +we had rapidly shifted our position. Swiftly the polished knob, which +gleamed like an evil eye, moved round to sweep over us. Instinctively, +though incautiously, we had collected in a group.</p> + +<p> +A single discharge would sweep us all into eternity. +</p> + +<h4>A Ticklish Position.</h4> + +<p> +"Will no one fire upon them?" exclaimed Mr. Edison, struggling with the +disintegrator in his hands, which still refused to work.</p> + +<p> +At this fearful moment I glanced around upon our company, and was +astonished at the spectacle. In the presence of the danger many of them +had lost all self-command. A half dozen had dropped their disintegrators +upon the ground. Others stood as if frozen fast in their tracks. The +expert electrician, whose poor aim had had such disastrous results, +held in his hand an instrument which was in perfect condition, yet with +mouth agape, he stood trembling like a captured bird. +</p> + +<h4>The Electricians Lose Their Heads.</h4> + +<p> +It was a disgraceful exhibition. Mr. Edison, however, had not lost +his head. Again and again he sighted at the dreadful knob with his +disintegrator, but the vibratory force refused to respond.</p> + +<p> +The means of safety were in our hands, and yet through a combination of +ill luck and paralyzing terror we seemed unable to use them.</p> + +<p> +In a second more it would be all over with us.</p> + +<p> +The suspense in reality lasted only during the twinkling of an eye, +though it seemed ages long.</p> + +<p> +Unable to endure it, I sharply struck the shoulder of the paralyzed +electrician. To have attempted to seize the disintegrator from his hands +would have been a fatal waste of time. Luckily the blow either roused +him from his stupor or caused an instinctive movement of his hand that +set the little engine in operation.</p> + +<p> +I am sure he took no aim, but providentially the vibratory force fell +upon the desired point, and the knob disappeared. +</p> + +<h4>Saved!</h4> + +<p> +We were saved!</p> + +<p> +Instantly half a dozen rushed toward the car of the Martians. We bitterly +repented their haste; they did not live to repent.</p> + +<p> +Unknown to us the Martians carried hand engines, capable of launching +bolts of death of the same character as those which emanated from the +knobs of their larger machines. With these they fired, so to speak, +through the breach in their car, and four of our men who were rushing +upon them fell in heaps of cinders. The effect of the terrible fire +was like that which the most powerful strokes of lightning occasionally +produce on earth.</p> + +<p> +The destruction of the threatening knob had instantaneously relieved +the pressure upon the terror-stricken nerves of our company, and they +had all regained their composure and self-command. But this new and +unexpected disaster, following so close upon the fear which had recently +overpowered them, produced a second panic, the effect of which was not +to stiffen them in their tracks as before, but to send them scurrying +in every direction in search of hiding places. +</p> + +<h4>A Curious Effect.</h4> + +<p> +And now a most curious effect of the smallness of the planet we were on +began to play a conspicuous part in our adventures. Standing on a globe +only five miles in diameter was like being on the summit of a mountain +whose sides sloped rapidly off in every direction, disappearing in the +black sky on all sides, as if it were some stupendous peak rising out +of an unfathomable abyss.</p> + +<p> +In consequence of the quick rounding off of the sides of this globe, the +line of the horizon was close at hand, and by running a distance of less +than 250 yards the fugitives disappeared down the sides of the asteroid, +and behind the horizon, even from the elevation of about fifteen feet +from which the Martians were able to watch them. From our sight they +disappeared much sooner.</p> + +<p> +The slight attraction of the planet and their consequent almost entire +lack of weight enabled the men to run with immense speed. The result, +as I subsequently learned, was that after they had disappeared from our +view they quitted the planet entirely, the force being sufficient to +partially free them from its gravitation, so that they sailed out into +space, whirling helplessly end over end, until the elliptical orbits in +which they travelled eventually brought them back again to the planet +on the side nearly opposite to that from which they had departed. +</p> + +<h4>Hunting for the Enemy.</h4> + +<p> +But several of us, with Mr. Edison, stood fast, watching +for an opportunity to get the Martians within range of the +disintegrators. Luckily we were enabled, by shifting our position a +little to the left, to get out of the line of sight of our enemies +concealed in the car.</p> + +<p> +"If we cannot catch sight of them," said Mr. Edison, "we shall have to +riddle the car on the chance of hitting them."</p> + +<p> +"It will be like firing into a bush to kill a hidden bear," said one of +the party.</p> + +<p> +But help came from a quarter which was unexpected to us, although it +should not have been so. Several of the electric ships had been hovering +above us during the fight, their commanders being apparently uncertain +how to act—fearful, perhaps, of injuring us in the attempt to smite +our enemy.</p> + +<p> +But now the situation apparently lightened for them. They saw that we +were at an immense disadvantage, and several of them immediately turned +their batteries upon the car of the Martians.</p> + +<p> +They riddled it far more quickly and effectively than we could have +done. Every stroke of the vibratory emanation made a gap in the side +of the car, and we could perceive from the commotion within that our +enemies were being rapidly massacred in their fortification.</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +The Electric Fleet's Disintegrating Batteries.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm1211.png" alt="Disintegrating Batteries" title="Disintegrating Batteries" /><br /> +The batteries from the ships riddled the Martians' engine. Every +stroke made a gap in the car, and our enemies were being rapidly +massacred. +</p> +<hr /> + +<p> +So overwhelming was the force and the advantage of the ships that in a +little while it was all over. Mr. Edison signalled them to stop firing +because it was plain that all resistance had ceased and probably not +one of the Martians remained alive.</p> + +<p> +We now approached the car, which had been transpierced in every direction, +and whose remaining portions were glowing with heat in consequence of the +spreading of the atomic vibrations. Immediately we discovered that all +our anticipations were correct and that all of our enemies had perished.</p> + +<p> +The effect of the disintegrators upon them had been awful—too repulsive, +indeed, to be described in detail. Some of the bodies had evidently +entirely vanished; only certain metal articles which they had worn +remaining, as in the case of the first Martian killed, to indicate that +such beings had ever existed. The nature of the metal composing these +articles was unknown to us. Evidently its vibratory rhythm did not +correspond with any included in the ordinary range of the disintegrators. +</p> + +<h4>The Disintegrators' Awful Effect.</h4> + +<p> +Some of the giants had been only partially destroyed, the vibratory +current having grazed them, in such a manner that the shattering +undulations had not acted upon the entire body.</p> + +<p> +One thing that lends a peculiar horror to a terrestrial battlefield was +absent; there was no bloodshed. The vibratory energy, not only completely +destroyed whatever it fell upon but it seared the veins and arteries +of the dismembered bodies so that there was no sanguinary exhibition +connected with its murderous work.</p> + +<p> +All this time the shackled Martian had lain on his back where we had +left him bound. What his feeling must have been may be imagined. At +times, I caught a glimpse of his eyes, wildly rolling and exhibiting, +when he saw that the victory was in our hands, the first indications of +fear and terror shaking his soul that had yet appeared.</p> + +<p> +"That fellow is afraid at last," I said to Mr. Edison.</p> + +<p> +"Well, I should think he ought to be afraid," was the reply.</p> + +<p> +"So he ought, but if I am not mistaken this fear of his may be the +beginning of a new discovery for us."</p> + +<p> +"How so?" asked Mr. Edison.</p> + +<p> +"In this way. When once he fears our power, and perceives that there +would be no hope of contending against us, even if he were at liberty, +he will respect us. This change in his mental attitude may tend to make +him communicative. I do not see why we should despair of learning his +language from him, and having done that, he will serve as our guide and +interpreter, and will be of incalculable advantage to us when we have +arrived at Mars."</p> + +<p> +"Capital! Capital!" said Mr. Edison. "We must concentrate the linguistic +genius of our company upon that problem at once." +</p> + +<h4>The Deserter's Return.</h4> + +<p> +In the meantime some of the skulkers whose flight I have referred to +began to return, chapfallen, but rejoicing in the disappearance of the +danger. Several of them, I am ashamed to say, had been army officers. Yet +possibly some excuse could be made for the terror by which they had +been overcome. No man has a right to hold his fellow beings to account +for the line of conduct they may pursue under circumstances which are +not only entirely unexampled in their experience, but almost beyond the +power of the imagination to picture.</p> + +<p> +Paralyzing terror had evidently seized them with the sudden comprehension +of the unprecedented singularity of their situation. Millions of miles +away from the earth, confronted on an asteroid by these diabolical +monsters from a maleficient planet, who were on the point of destroying +them with a strange torment of death—perhaps it was really more than +human nature, deprived of the support of human surroundings, could have +been expected to bear.</p> + +<p> +Those who, as already described, had run with so great a speed that they +were projected, all unwilling, into space, rising in elliptical orbits +from the surface of the planet, describing great curves in what might +be denominated its sky, and then coming back again to the little globe +on another side, were so filled with the wonders of their remarkable +adventure that they had almost forgotten the terror which had inspired it.</p> + +<p> +There was nothing surprising in what had occurred to them the moment one +considered the laws of gravitation on the asteroid, but their stories +aroused an intense interest among all who listened to them.</p> + +<p> +Lord Kelvin was particularly interested, and while Mr. Edison was +hastening preparations to quit the asteroid and resume our voyage to Mars, +Lord Kelvin and a number of other scientific men instituted a series of +remarkable experiments. +</p> + +<h4>Jumping Into Empty Space.</h4> + +<p> +It was one of the most laughable things imaginable to see Lord Kelvin, +dressed in his air-tight suit, making tremendous jumps into empty +space. It reminded me forcibly of what Lord Kelvin, then plain William +Thompson, and Professor Blackburn had done when spending a Summer +vacation at the seaside, while they were undergraduates of Cambridge +University. They had spent all their time, to the surprise of onlookers, +in spinning rounded stones on the beach, their object being to obtain +a practical solution of the mathematical problem of "precession."</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +Lord Kelvin's Great Jump.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm1210.png" alt="Great Jump" title="Great Jump" /><br /> +It was one of the most laughable things imaginable to see Lord Kelvin +making tremendous jumps into empty space. +</p> +<hr /> + +<p> +Immediately Lord Kelvin was imitated by a dozen others. With what seemed +very slight effort they projected themselves straight upward, rising +to a height of four hundred feet or more, and then slowly settling back +again to the surface of the asteroid. The time of rise and fall combined +was between three and four minutes.</p> + +<p> +On this little planet the acceleration of gravity or the velocity +acquired by a falling body in one second was only four-fifths of an +inch. A body required an entire minute to fall a distance of only 120 +feet. Consequently, it was more like gradually settling than falling. The +figures of these men of science, rising and sinking in this manner, +appeared like so many gigantic marionettes bobbing up and down in a +pneumatic bottle.</p> + +<p> +"Let us try that," said Mr. Edison, very much interested in the +experiments. +</p> + +<h4>A Delightful Experience.</h4> + +<p> +Both of us jumped together. At first, with great swiftness, but gradually +losing speed, we rose to an immense height straight from the ground. When +we had reached the utmost limit of our flight we seemed to come to rest +for a moment, and then began slowly, but with accelerated velocity, +to sink back again to the planet. It was not only a peculiar but a +delicious sensation, and but for strict orders which were issued that +the electrical ships should be immediately prepared for departure, our +entire company might have remained for an indefinite period enjoying +this new kind of athletic exercise in a world where gravitation had +become so humble that it could be trifled with.</p> + +<p> +While the final preparations for departure were being made, Lord +Kelvin instituted other experiments that were no less unique in their +results. The experience of those who had taken unpremeditated flights in +elliptical orbits when they had run from the vicinity of the Martians +suggested the throwing of solid objects in various directions from the +surface of the planet in order to determine the distance that they would +go and the curves they would describe in returning. +</p> + +<h4>Mars, the Death-Dealing Planet, at Length at Hand!</h4> + +<p> +For these experiments there was nothing more convenient or abundant +than chunks of gold from the Martians' mine. These, accordingly, were +hurled in various directions, and with every degree of velocity. A little +calculation had shown that an initial velocity of thirty feet per second +imparted to one of these chunks, moving at right angles to the radius +of the asteroid, would, if the resistance of an almost inappreciable +atmosphere were neglected, suffice to turn the piece of gold into +a little satellite that would describe an orbit around the asteroid, +and continue to do so forever, or at least until the slight atmospheric +resistance should eventually bring it down to the surface.</p> + +<p> +But a less velocity than thirty feet per second would cause the golden +missile to fly only part way around, while a greater velocity would give +it an elliptical instead of a circular orbit, and in this ellipse it would +continue to revolve around the asteroid in the character of a satellite.</p> + +<p> +If the direction of the original impulse were at more than a right angle +to the radius of the asteroid, then the flying body would pass out to +a greater or less distance in space in an elliptical orbit, eventually +coming back again and falling upon the asteroid, but not at the same +spot from which it had departed. +</p> + +<h4>Interesting Experiments.</h4> + +<p> +So many took part in these singular experiments, which assumed rather +the appearance of outdoor sports than of scientific demonstrations, that +in a short time we had provided the asteroid with a very large number +of little moons, or satellites, of gold, which revolved around it in +orbits of various degrees of ellipticity, taking, on the average, about +three-quarters of an hour to complete a circuit. Since, on completing +a revolution, they must necessarily pass through the point from which +they started, they kept us constantly on the qui vive to avoid being +knocked over by them as they swept around in their orbits.</p> + +<p> +Finally the signal was given for all to embark, and with great regret +the savants quitted their scientific games and prepared to return to +the electric ships.</p> + +<p> +Just on the moment of departure, the fact was announced by one, who had +been making a little calculation on a bit of paper, that the velocity with +which a body must be thrown in order to escape forever the attraction of +the asteroid, and to pass on to an infinite distance in any direction, +was only about forty-two feet in a second.</p> + +<p> +Manifestly it would be quite easy to impart such a speed as that to the +chunks of gold that we held in our hands. +</p> + +<h4>A Message to the Earth.</h4> + +<p> +"Hurrah!" exclaimed one. "Let's send some of this back to the earth."</p> + +<p> +"Where is the earth?" asked another.</p> + +<p> +Being appealed to, several astronomers turned their eyes in the direction +of the sun, where the black firmament was ablaze with stars, and in a +moment recognized the earth-star shining there, with the moon attending +close at hand.</p> + +<p> +"There," said one, "is the earth. Can you throw straight enough to +hit it?"</p> + +<p> +"We'll try," was the reply, and immediately several threw huge golden +nuggets in the direction of our far-away world, endeavoring to impart +to them at least the required velocity of forty-two feet in a second, +which would insure their passing beyond the attraction of the asteroid, +and if there should be no disturbance on the way, and the aim were +accurate, their eventual arrival upon the earth.</p> + +<p> +"Here's for you, Old Earth," said one of the throwers, "good luck, +and more gold to you!"</p> + +<p> +If these precious missiles ever reached the earth we knew that they +would plunge into the atmosphere like meteors and that probably the heat +developed by their passage would melt and dissipate them in golden vapors +before they could touch the ground.</p> + +<p> +Yet, there was a chance that some of them—if the aim were true—might +survive the fiery passage through the atmosphere and fall upon the +surface of our planet where, perhaps, they would afterward be picked up +by a prospector and lead him to believe that he had struck a new bonanza.</p> + +<p> +But until we returned to the earth it would be impossible for us to tell +what had become of the golden gifts which we had launched into space +for our mother planet. + + +</p> + +<p> +<a name="IX"></a></p> +<hr /><h2>Chapter IX.</h2> + +<h4>All Aboard for Mars!</h4> + +<p> +"All aboard!" was the signal, and the squadron having assembled under +the lead of the flagship, we started again for Mars.</p> + +<p> +This time, as it proved, there was to be no further interruption, and +when next we paused it was in the presence of the world inhabited by +our enemies, and facing their frowning batteries. +</p> + +<h4>Difficulty in Starting.</h4> + +<p> +We did not find it so easy to start from the asteroid as it had been to +start from the earth; that is to say, we could not so readily generate +a very high velocity.</p> + +<p> +In consequence of the comparatively small size of the asteroid, its +electric influence was very much less than that of the earth, and +notwithstanding the appliances which we possessed for intensifying the +electrical effect, it was not possible to produce a sufficient repulsion +to start us off for Mars with anything like the impulse which we had +received from the earth on our original departure.</p> + +<p> +The utmost velocity that we could generate did not exceed three miles +in a second, and to get this required our utmost efforts. In fact, it +had not seemed possible that we should attain even so great a speed as +that. It was far more than we could have expected, and even Mr. Edison +was surprised, as well as greatly gratified, when he found that we were +moving with the velocity that I have named. +</p> + +<h4>Mars 6,000,000 Miles Away.</h4> + +<p> +We were still about 6,000,000 miles from Mars, so that, travelling three +miles in a second, we should require at least twenty-three days to reach +the immediate neighborhood of the planet.</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile we had a plenty of occupation to make the time pass quickly. Our +prisoner was transported along with us, and we now began our attempts to +ascertain what his language was, and, if possible, to master it ourselves.</p> + +<p> +Before quitting the asteroid we had found that it was necessary for +him to swallow one of his "air pills," as Prof. Moissan called them, at +least three times in the course of every twenty-four hours. One of us +supplied him regularly and I thought that I could detect evidences of +a certain degree of gratitude in his expression. This was encouraging, +because it gave additional promise of the possibility of our being able to +communicate with him in some more effective way than by mere signs. But +once inside the car, where we had a supply of air kept at the ordinary +pressure experienced on the earth, he could breathe like the rest of us. +</p> + +<h4>Learning the Martians' Language.</h4> + +<p> +The best linguists in the expedition, as Mr. Edison had suggested, +were now assembled in the flagship, where the prisoner was, and they +set to work to devise some means of ascertaining the manner in which he +was accustomed to express his thoughts.</p> + +<p> +We had not heard him speak, because until we carried him into our car +there was no atmosphere capable of conveying any sounds he might attempt +to utter.</p> + +<p> +It seemed a fair assumption that the language of the Martians would be +scientific in its structure. We had so much evidence of the practical +bent of their minds, and of the immense progress which they had made +in the direction of the scientific conquest of nature, that it was not +to be supposed their medium of communication with one another would be +lacking in clearness, or would possess any of the puzzling and unnecessary +ambiguities that characterized the languages spoken on the earth.</p> + +<p> +"We shall not find them making he's and she's of stones, sticks and +other inanimate objects," said one of the American linguists. "They must +certainly have gotten rid of all that nonsense long ago."</p> + +<p> +"Ah," said a French professor from the Sorbonne, one of the makers of +the never-to-be-finished dictionary. "It will be like the language of +my country. Transparent, similar to the diamond, and sparkling as is +the fountain." +</p> + +<h4>The Volapuk of Mars.</h4> + +<p> +"I think," said a German enthusiast, "that it will be a universal +language, the Volapuk of Mars, spoken by all the inhabitants of that +planet."</p> + +<p> +"But all these speculations," broke in Mr. Edison, "do not help you +much. Why not begin in a practical manner by finding out what the Martian +calls himself, for instance."</p> + +<p> +This seemed a good suggestion, and accordingly several of the bystanders +began an expressive pantomime, intended to indicate to the giant, who was +following all their motions with his eyes, that they wished to know by +what name he called himself. Pointing their fingers to their own breasts +they repeated, one after the other, the word "man."</p> + +<p> +If our prisoner had been a stupid savage, of course any such attempt +as this to make him understand would have been idle. But it must be +remembered that we were dealing with a personage who had presumably +inherited from hundreds of generations the results of a civilization, +and an intellectual advance, measured by the constant progress of millions +of years.</p> + +<p> +Accordingly we were not very much astonished, when, after a few +repetitions of the experiment, the Martian—one of whose arms had been +partially released from its bonds in order to give him a little freedom +of motion—imitated the action of his interrogators by pressing his +finger over his heart. +</p> + +<h4>The Martian Speaks.</h4> + +<p> +Then, opening his mouth, he gave utterance to a sound which shook the air +of the car like the hoarse roar of a lion. He seemed himself surprised +by the noise he made, for he had not been used to speak in so dense +an atmosphere.</p> + +<p> +Our ears were deafened and confused, and we recoiled in astonishment, +not to say, half in terror.</p> + +<p> +With an ugly grin distorting his face as if he enjoyed our discomfiture, +the Martian repeated the motion and the sound.</p> + +<p> +"R-r-r-r-r-r-h!"</p> + +<p> +It was not articulate to our ears, and not to be represented by any +combination of letters.</p> + +<p> +"Faith," exclaimed a Dublin University professor, "if that's what they +call themselves, how shall we ever translate their names when we come +to write the history of the conquest?"</p> + +<p> +"Whist, mon," replied a professor from the University of Aberdeen, +"let us whip the gillravaging villains first, and then we can describe +than by any intitulation that may suit our deesposition."</p> + +<p> +The beginning of our linguistic conquest was certainly not promising, +at least if measured by our acquirement of words, but from another point +of view it was very gratifying, inasmuch as it was plain that the Martian +understood what we were trying to do, and was, for the present, at least, +disposed to aid us.</p> + +<p> +These efforts to learn the language of Mars were renewed and repeated +every few hours, all the experience, learning and genius of the squadron +being concentrated upon the work, and the result was that in the course +of a few days we had actually succeeded in learning a dozen or more +of the Martian's words and were able to make him understand us when we +pronounced them, as well as to understand him when our ears had become +accustomed to the growling of his voice.</p> + +<p> +Finally, one day the prisoner, who seemed to be in an unusually cheerful +frame of mind, indicated that he carried in his breast some object which +he wished us to see. +</p> + +<h4>The Martian's Book.</h4> + +<p> +With our assistance he pulled out a book!</p> + +<p> +Actually, it was a book, not very unlike the books which we have upon +the earth, but printed, of course, in characters that were entirely +strange and unknown to us. Yet these characters evidently gave expression +to a highly intellectual language. All those who were standing by at +the moment uttered a shout of wonder and of delight, and the cry of +"A book! a book!" ran around the circle, and the good news was even +promptly communicated to some of the neighboring electric ships of the +squadron. Several other learned men were summoned in haste from them to +examine our new treasure.</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +How the Earth Men Learned the Martian Language.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm1312.png" alt="Martian Language" title="Martian Language" /><br /> +Actually, it was a book that the prisoner produced, and then he +proceeded to teach us, as well as he could, several words of his +language. +</p> +<hr /> + +<p> +The Martian, whose good nature had manifestly been growing day after day, +watched our inspection of his book with evidences of great interest, not +unmingled with amusement. Finally he beckoned the holder of the book to +his side, and placing his broad finger upon one of the huge letters—if +letters they were, for they more nearly resembled the characters employed +by the Chinese printer—he uttered a sound which we, of course, took to +be a word, but which was different from any we had yet heard. Then he +pointed to one after another of us standing around.</p> + +<p> +"Ah," explained everybody, the truth being apparent, "that is the word +by which the Martians designate us. They have a name, then, for the +inhabitants of the earth."</p> + +<p> +"Or, perhaps, it is rather the name for the earth itself," said one.</p> + +<p> +But this could not, of course, be at once determined. Anyhow, the +word, whatever its precise meaning might be, had now been added to +our vocabulary, although as yet our organs of speech proved unable to +reproduce it in a recognizable form.</p> + +<p> +This promising and unexpected discovery of the Martian's book lent added +enthusiasm to those who were engaged in the work of trying to master +the language of our prisoner, and the progress that they made in the +course of the next few days was truly astonishing. If the prisoner had +been unwilling to aid them, of course, it would have been impossible +to proceed, but, fortunately for us, he seemed more and more to enter +into the spirit of the undertaking, and actually to enjoy it himself. So +bright and quick was his understanding that he was even able to indicate +to us methods of mastering his language that would otherwise, probably, +never have occurred to our minds. +</p> + +<h4>The Prisoner Teaches.</h4> + +<p> +In fact, in a very short time he had turned teacher and all these learned +men, pressing around him with eager attention, had become his pupils.</p> + +<p> +I cannot undertake to say precisely how much of the Martian language +had been acquired by the chief linguists of the expedition before the +time when we arrived so near to Mars that it became necessary for most +of us to abandon our studies in order to make ready for the more serious +business which now confronted us.</p> + +<p> +But, at any rate, the acquisition was so considerable as to allow of +the interchange of ordinary ideas with our prisoner, and there was no +longer any doubt that he would be able to give us much information when +we landed on his native planet.</p> + +<p> +At the end of twenty-three days as measured by terrestrial time, since +our departure from the asteroid, we arrived in the sky of Mars.</p> + +<p> +For a long time the ruddy planet had been growing larger and more +formidable, gradually turning from a huge star into a great red moon, +and then expanding more and more until it began to shut out from sight +the constellations behind it. The curious markings on its surface, which +from the earth can only be dimly glimpsed with a powerful telescope, +began to reveal themselves clearly to our naked eyes.</p> + +<p> +I have related how even before we had reached the asteroid, Mars began to +present a most imposing appearance as we saw it with our telescopes. Now, +however, that it was close at hand, the naked eye view of the planet +was more wonderful than anything we had been able to see with telescopes +when at a greater distance. +</p> + +<h4>Mars in Sight.</h4> + +<p> +We were approaching the southern hemisphere of Mars in about latitude +45 degrees south. It was near the time of the vernal equinox in that +hemisphere of the planet, and under the stimulating influence of the +Spring sun, rising higher and higher every day, some such awakening of +life and activity upon its surface as occurs on the earth under similar +circumstances was evidently going on.</p> + +<p> +Around the South Pole were spread immense fields of snow and ice, gleaming +with great brilliance. Cutting deep into the borders of these ice fields, +we could see broad channels of open water, indicating the rapid breaking +of the grip of the frost.</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +The First Close Sight of the Planet Which Nearly Conquered the Earth.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm1311.png" alt="Close Sight" title="Close Sight" /><br /> +Around the South Pole were spread immense fields of snow and ice, +gleaming with great brilliancy. +</p> +<hr /> + +<p> +Almost directly beneath us was a broad oval region, light red in color, +to which terrestrial astronomers had given the name of Hellas. Toward +the south, between Hellas and the borders of the polar ice, was a great +belt of darkness that astronomers had always been inclined to regard +as a sea. Looking toward the north, we could perceive the immense red +expanses of the continents of Mars, with the long curved line of the +Syrtis Major, or "The Hour Glass Sea," sweeping through the midst of +them toward the north until it disappeared under the horizon.</p> + +<p> +Crossing and recrossing the red continents, in every direction, were +the canals of Schiaparelli. + +</p> + +<h4>Mars Reached at Last—Thrilling Adventures.</h4> + +<p> +Plentifully sprinkled over the surface we could see brilliant points, +some of dazzling brightness, outshining the daylight. There was also +an astonishing variety in the colors of the broad expanses beneath +us. Activity, vivacity and beauty, such as we were utterly unprepared +to behold, expressed their presence on all sides.</p> + +<p> +The excitement on the flagship and among the other members of the squadron +was immense. It was certainly a thrilling scene. Here, right under our +feet, lay the world we had come to do battle with. Its appearances, while +recalling in some of their broader aspects those which it had presented +when viewed from our observatories, were far more strange, complex and +wonderful than any astronomer had ever dreamed of. Suppose all of our +anticipations about Mars should prove to have been wrong, after all?</p> + +<p> +There could be no longer any question that it was a world which, if +not absolutely teeming with inhabitants, like a gigantic ant-hill, at +any rate bore on every side the marks of their presence and of their +incredible undertakings and achievements.</p> + +<p> +Here and there clouds of smoke arose and spread slowly through the +atmosphere beneath us. Floating higher above the surface of the planet +were clouds of vapor, assuming the familiar forms of stratus and cumulus +with which we were acquainted upon the earth. +</p> + +<h4>Dense Clouds Appear.</h4> + +<p> +These clouds, however, seemed upon the whole to be much less dense than +those to which we were accustomed at home. They had, too, a peculiar +iridescent beauty as if there was something in their composition or their +texture which split up the chromatic elements of the sunlight and thus +produced internal rainbow effects that caused some of the heavier cloud +masses to resemble immense collections of opals, alive with the play of +ever-changing colors and magically suspended above the planet.</p> + +<p> +As we continued to study the phenomena that was gradually unfolded +beneath us we thought that we could detect in many places evidences of +the existence of strong fortifications. The planet of war appeared to be +prepared for the attacks of enemies. Since, as our own experience had +shown, it sometimes waged war with distant planets, it was but natural +that it should be found prepared to resist foes who might be disposed +to revenge themselves for injuries suffered at its hands.</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +The Wonderful Battlements of Mars.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm1610.png" alt="Battlements" title="Battlements" /><br /> +Approaching the planet, the extraordinary fortifications of the +Martians were plainly shown. It was an awe-inspiring spectacle and +proved to us their superiority over our terrestrial defences. +</p> +<hr /> + +<p> +As had been expected, our prisoner now proved to be of very great +assistance to us. Apparently he took a certain pride in exhibiting to +strangers from a distant world the beauties and wonders of his own planet. +</p> + +<h4>The Martian Is Understood.</h4> + +<p> +We could not understand by any means all that he said, but we could +readily comprehend, from his gestures, and from the manner in which his +features lighted up at the recognition of familiar scenes and objects, +what his sentiments in regard to them were, and, in a general way, +what part they played in the life of the planet.</p> + +<p> +He confirmed our opinion that certain of the works which we saw beneath +us were fortifications, intended for the protection of the planet against +invaders from outer space. A cunning and almost diabolical look came +into his eyes as he pointed to one of these strongholds. +</p> + +<h4>Cause for Anxiety.</h4> + +<p> +His confidence and his mocking looks were not reassuring to us. He +knew what his planet was capable of, and we did not. He had seen, on +the asteroid, the extent of our power, and while its display served to +intimidate him there, yet now that he and we together were facing the +world of his birth, his fear had evidently fallen from him, and he had +the manner of one who feels that the shield of an all-powerful protector +had been extended over him.</p> + +<p> +But it could not be long now before we should ascertain, by the +irrevocable test of actual experience, whether the Martians possessed +the power to annihilate us or not.</p> + +<p> +How shall I describe our feelings as we gazed at the scene spread beneath +us? They were not quite the same as those of the discoverer of new +lands upon the earth. This was a whole new world that we had discovered, +and it was filled, as we could see, with inhabitants.</p> + +<p> +But that was not all. We had not come with peaceful intentions.</p> + +<p> +We were to make war on this new world.</p> + +<p> +Deducting our losses we had not more than 940 men left. With these we +were to undertake the conquest of a world containing we could not say +how many millions! +</p> + +<h4>A Hard Task Ahead.</h4> + +<p> +Our enemies, instead of being below us in the scale of intelligence were, +we had every reason to believe, greatly our superiors. They had proved +that they possessed a command over the powers of nature such as we, up +to the time when Mr. Edison made his inventions, had not even dreamed +that it was possible for us to obtain.</p> + +<p> +It was true that at present we appeared to have the advantage, both in +our electrical ships and in our means of offence. The disintegrator was +at least as powerful an engine of destruction as any that the Martians +had yet shown that they possessed. It did not seem that in that respect +they could possibly excel us.</p> + +<p> +During the brief war with the Martians upon the earth it had been +gunpowder against a mysterious force as much stronger than gunpowder as +the latter was superior to the bows and arrows that preceded it.</p> + +<p> +There had been no comparison whatever between the offensive means employed +by the two parties in the struggle on the earth.</p> + +<p> +But the genius of one man had suddenly put us on the level of our enemies +in regard to fighting capacity.</p> + +<p> +Then, too, our electrical ships were far more effective for their purpose +than the projectile cars used by the Martians. In fact, the principle +upon which they were based was, at bottom, so simple that it seemed +astonishing the Martians had not hit upon it.</p> + +<p> +Mr. Edison himself was never tired of saying in reference to this matter: +</p> + +<h4>The Martians a Mystery.</h4> + +<p> +"I cannot understand why the Martians did not invent these things. They +have given ample proof that they understand electricity better than +we do. Why should they have resorted to the comparatively awkward and +bungling means of getting from one planet to another that they have +employed when they might have ridden through the solar system in such +conveyances as ours with perfect ease?"</p> + +<p> +"And besides," Mr. Edison would add, "I cannot understand why they did +not employ the principle of harmonic vibrations in the construction of +their engines of war. The lightning-like strokes that they deal from +their machines are no doubt equally powerful, but I think the range of +destruction covered by the disintegrators is greater."</p> + +<p> +However, these questions must remain open until we could effect a landing +on Mars, and learn something of the condition of things there.</p> + +<p> +The thing that gave us the most uneasiness was the fact that we did +not yet know what powers the Martians might have in reserve. It was but +natural to suppose that here, on their own ground, they would possess +means of defence even more effective than the offensive engines they +had employed in attacking enemies so many millions of miles from home.</p> + +<p> +It was important that we should waste no time, and it was equally +important that we should select the most vulnerable point for attack. It +was self-evident, therefore, that our first duty would be to reconnoitre +the surface of the planet and determine its weakest point of defence.</p> + +<p> +At first Mr. Edison contemplated sending the various ships in different +directions around the planet in order that the work of exploration might +be quickly accomplished. But upon second thought it seemed wiser to keep +the squadron together, thus diminishing the chance of disaster.</p> + +<p> +Besides, the commander wished to see with his own eyes the exact situation +of the various parts of the planet, where it might appear advisable for +us to begin our assault.</p> + +<p> +Thus far we had remained suspended at so great a height above the planet +that we had hardly entered into the perceptible limits of its atmosphere +and there was no evidence that we had been seen by the inhabitants of +Mars; but before starting on our voyage of exploration it was determined +to drop down closer to the surface in order that we might the more +certainly identify the localities over which we passed.</p> + +<p> +This manoeuvre nearly got us into serious trouble. +</p> + +<h4>A Huge Airship.</h4> + +<p> +When we had arrived within a distance of three miles from the surface of +Mars we suddenly perceived approaching from the eastward a large airship +which was navigating the Martian atmosphere at a height of perhaps half +a mile above the ground. +</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +The Martians in Their Airship.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm1404.png" alt="Airship" title="Airship" /><br /> +When we arrived within a distance of three miles from the surface of +Mars we suddenly perceived approaching from the eastward a large +airship which was navigating the Martian atmosphere at a height of +perhaps half a mile above the ground. +</p> +<hr /> + +<h4>More Stirring Adventures of Our Warriors Against Mars.</h4> + +<p> +This airship moved rapidly on to a point nearly beneath us, when it +suddenly paused, reversed its course, and evidently made signals, the +purpose of which was not at first evident to us.</p> + +<p> +But in a short time their meaning became perfectly plain, when we found +ourselves surrounded by at least twenty similar aerostats approaching +swiftly from different sides.</p> + +<p> +It was a great mystery to us where so many airships had been concealed +previous to their sudden appearance in answer to the signals.</p> + +<p> +But the mystery was quickly solved when we saw detaching itself from the +surface of the planet beneath us, where, while it remained immovable, +its color had blended with that of the soil so as to render it invisible, +another of the mysterious ships.</p> + +<p> +Then our startled eyes beheld on all sides these formidable-looking +enemies rising from the ground beneath us like so many gigantic insects, +disturbed by a sudden alarm.</p> + +<p> +In a short time the atmosphere a mile or two below us, and to a +distance of perhaps twenty miles around in every direction, was alive +with airships of various sizes, and some of most extraordinary forms, +exchanging signals, rushing to and fro, but all finally concentrating +beneath the place where our squadron was suspended.</p> + +<p> +We had poked the hornet's nest with a vengeance!</p> + +<p> +As yet there had been no sting, but we might quickly expect to feel it +if we did not get out of range. +</p> + +<h4>Escaping Danger.</h4> + +<p> +Quickly instructions were flashed throughout the squadron to instantly +reverse polarities and rise as swiftly as possible to a great height.</p> + +<p> +It was evident that this manoeuvre would save us from danger if it were +quickly effected, because the airships of the Martians were simply +airships and nothing more. They could only float in the atmosphere, +and had no means of rising above it, or of navigating empty space.</p> + +<p> +To have turned our disintegrators upon them, and to have begun a battle +then and there, would have been folly.</p> + +<p> +They overwhelmingly outnumbered us, the majority of them were yet at a +considerable distance and we could not have done battle, even with our +entire squadron acting together, with more than one-quarter of them +simultaneously. In the meantime the others would have surrounded and +might have destroyed us. We must first get some idea of the planet's +means of defence before we ventured to assail it.</p> + +<p> +Having risen rapidly to a height of twenty-five or thirty miles, so that +we could feel confident that our ships had vanished at least from the +naked eye view of our enemies beneath, a brief consultation was held.</p> + +<p> +It was determined to adhere to our original programme and to +circumnavigate Mars in every direction before proceeding to open the war. +</p> + +<h4>Intimidated by the Enemy.</h4> + +<p> +The overwhelming forces shown by the enemy had intimidated even some of +the most courageous of our men, but still it was universally felt that +it would not do to retreat without a blow struck.</p> + +<p> +The more we saw of the power of the Martians, the more we became +convinced that there would be no hope for the earth, if these enemies +ever again effected a landing upon its surface, the more especially +since our squadron contained nearly all of the earth's force that would +be effective in such a contest.</p> + +<p> +With Mr. Edison and the other men of science away, they would not be +able at home to construct such engines as we possessed, or to manage +them even if they were constructed.</p> + +<p> +Our planet had staked everything on a single throw.</p> + +<p> +These considerations again steeled our hearts, and made us bear up as +bravely as possible in the face of the terrible odds that confronted us.</p> + +<p> +Turning the noses of our electrical ships toward the west, we began +our circumnavigation. + + +</p> + +<p> +<a name="X"></a></p> +<hr /><h2>Chapter X.</h2> + +<p> +At first we rose to a still greater height, in order more effectually +to escape the watchful eyes of our enemies, and then, after having +moved rapidly several hundred miles toward the west, we dropped down +again within easy eyeshot of the surface of the planet, and commenced +our inspection.</p> + +<p> +When we originally reached Mars, as I have related, it was at a point in +its southern hemisphere, in latitude 45 degrees south, and longitude 75 +degrees east, that we first closely approached its surface. Underneath +us was the land called "Hellas," and it was over this land of Hellas +that the Martian air fleet had suddenly made its appearance.</p> + +<p> +Our westward motion, while at a great height above the planet, had +brought us over another oval-shaped land called "Noachia," surrounded by +the dark ocean, the "Mare Erytraeum." Now approaching nearer the surface +our course was changed so as to carry us toward the equator of Mars.</p> + +<p> +We passed over the curious, half-drowned continent known to terrestrial +astronomers as the Region of Deucalion, then across another sea, or gulf, +until we found ourselves floating, at a height of perhaps five miles, +above a great continental land, at least three thousand miles broad +from east to west, and which I immediately recognized as that to which +astronomers had given the various names of "Aeria," "Edom," "Arabia," +and "Eden."</p> + +<p> +Here the spectacle became of breathless interest.</p> + +<p> +"Wonderful! Wonderful!"</p> + +<p> +"Who could have believed it!"</p> + +<p> +Such were the exclamations heard on all sides.</p> + +<p> +When at first we were suspended above Hellas, looking toward the north, +the northeast and the northwest, we had seen at a distance some of these +great red regions, and had perceived the curious network of canals by +which they were intersected. But that was a far-off and imperfect view.</p> + +<p> +Now, when we were near at hand and straight above one of these singular +lands, the magnificence of the panorama surpassed belief.</p> + +<p> +From the earth about a dozen of the principal canals crossing the +continent beneath us had been perceived, but we saw hundreds, nay, +thousands of them!</p> + +<p> +It was a double system, intended both for irrigation and for protection, +and far more marvellous in its completeness than the boldest speculative +minds among our astronomers had ever dared to imagine.</p> + +<p> +"Ha! that's what I always said," exclaimed a veteran from one of our great +observatories. "Mars is red because its soil and vegetation are red."</p> + +<p> +And certainly appearances indicated that he was right.</p> + +<p> +There were no green trees, and there was no green grass. Both were red, +not of a uniform red tint, but presenting an immense variety of shades +which produced a most brilliant effect, fairly dazzling our eyes.</p> + +<p> +But what trees! And what grass! And what flowers! +</p> + +<h4>Gigantic Vegetation.</h4> + +<p> +Our telescopes showed that even the smaller trees must be 200 or 300 +feet in height, and there were forests of giants, whose average height +was evidently at least 1,000 feet.</p> + +<p> +"That's all right," exclaimed the enthusiast I have just quoted. "I knew +it would be so. The trees are big, for the same reason that the men are, +because the planet is small, and they can grow big without becoming too +heavy to stand."</p> + +<p> +Flashing in the sun on all sides were the roofs of metallic buildings, +which were evidently the only kind of edifices that Mars possessed. At +any rate, if stone or wood were employed in their construction both were +completely covered with metallic plates.</p> + +<p> +This added immensely to the warlike aspect of the planet. For warlike +it was. Everywhere we recognized fortified stations, glittering with an +array of the polished knobs of the lightning machines, such as we had +seen in the land of Hellas.</p> + +<p> +From the land of Edom, directly over the equator of the planet, we turned +our faces westward, and, skirting the Mare Erytraeum, arrived above the +place where the broad canal known as the Indus empties into the sea.</p> + +<p> +Before us, and stretching away toward the northwest, now lay the continent +of Chryse, a vast red land, oval in outline, and surrounded and crossed +by innumerable canals. Chryse was not less than 1,600 miles across, +and it, too, evidently swarmed with giant inhabitants.</p> + +<p> +But the shadow of night lay upon the greater portion of the land of +Chryse. In our rapid motion westward we had out-stripped the sun and +had now arrived at a point where day and night met upon the surface of +the planet beneath us.</p> + +<p> +Behind all was brilliant with sunshine, but before us the face of Mars +gradually disappeared in the deepening gloom. Through the darkness, +far away, we could behold magnificent beams of electric light darting +across the curtain of night, and evidently serving to illuminate towns +and cities that lay beneath.</p> + +<p> +We pushed on into the night for two or three hundred miles over that part +of the continent of Chryse whose inhabitants were doubtless enjoying +the deep sleep that accompanies the dark hours immediately preceding +the dawn. Still everywhere splendid clusters of light lay like fallen +constellations upon the ground, indicating the sites of great towns, +which, like those of the earth, never sleep.</p> + +<p> +But this scene, although weird and beautiful, could give us little of +the kind of information we were in search of.</p> + +<p> +Accordingly it was resolved to turn back eastward until we had arrived +in the twilight space separating day and night, and then hover over +the planet at that point, allowing it to turn beneath us so that, as +we looked down, we should see in succession the entire circuit of the +globe of Mars while it rolled under our eyes.</p> + +<p> +The rotation of Mars on its axis is performed in a period very little +longer than that of the earth's rotation, so that the length of the day +and night in the world of Mars is only some forty minutes longer than +their length upon the earth.</p> + +<p> +In thus remaining suspended over the planet, on the line of daybreak, so +to speak, we believed that we should be peculiarly safe from detection +by the eyes of the inhabitants. Even astronomers are not likely to be +wide awake just at the peep of dawn. Almost all of the inhabitants, +we confidently believed, would still be sound asleep upon that part of +the planet passing directly beneath us, and those who were awake would +not be likely to watch for unexpected appearances in the sky.</p> + +<p> +Besides, our height was so great that notwithstanding the numbers of the +squadron, we could not easily be seen from the surface of the planet, +and if seen at all we might be mistaken for high-flying birds. +</p> + +<h4>Mars Passes Below Us.</h4> + +<p> +Here we remained then through the entire course of twenty-four hours and +saw in succession as they passed from night into day beneath our feet +the land of Chryse, the great continent of Tharsis, the curious region of +intersecting canals which puzzled astronomers on the earth had named the +"Gordian Knot," the continental lands of Memnonia, Amazonia and Aeolia, +the mysterious centre where hundreds of vast canals came together from +every direction, called the Trivium Charontis; the vast circle of Elysium, +a thousand miles across, and completely surrounded by a broad green canal; +the continent of Libya, which, as I remembered, had been half covered +by a tremendous inundation whose effects were visible from the earth +in the year 1889, and finally the long, dark sea of the Syrtis Major, +lying directly south of the land of Hellas.</p> + +<p> +The excitement and interest which we all experienced were so great that +not one of us took a wink of sleep during the entire twenty-four hours +of our marvellous watch.</p> + +<p> +There are one or two things of special interest amid the multitude of +wonderful observations that we made which I must mention here on account +of their connection with the important events that followed soon after.</p> + +<p> +Just west of the land of Chryse we saw the smaller land of Ophir, +in the midst of which is a singular spot called the Juventae Fons, +and this Fountain of Youth, as our astronomers, by a sort of prophetic +inspiration, had named it, proved later to be one of the most incredible +marvels on the planet Mars.</p> + +<p> +Further to the west, and north from the great continent of Tharsis, we +beheld the immense oval-shaped land of Thaumasia containing in its centre +the celebrated "Lake of the Sun," a circular body of water not less than +500 miles in diameter, with dozens of great canals running away from it +like the spokes of a wheel in every direction, thus connecting it with +the ocean which surrounds it on the south and east, and with the still +larger canals that encircle it toward the north and west.</p> + +<p> +This Lake of the Sun came to play a great part in our subsequent +adventures. It was evident to us from the beginning that it was the +chief centre of population on the planet. It lies in latitude 25 degrees +South and longitude about 90 degrees west. +</p> + +<h4>Completing the Circuit.</h4> + +<p> +Having completed the circuit of the Martian globe, we were moved by +the same feeling which every discoverer of new lands experiences, and +immediately returned to our original place above the land of Hellas, +because since that was the first part of Mars that we had seen, we felt +a greater degree of familiarity with it than with any other portion of +the planet, and there, in a certain sense, we felt "at home."</p> + +<p> +But, as it proved, our enemies were on the watch for us there. We had +almost forgotten them, so absorbed were we by the great spectacles that +had been unrolling themselves beneath our feet.</p> + +<p> +We ought, of course, to have been a little more cautious in approaching +the place where they first caught sight of us, since we might have known +that they would remain on the watch near that spot.</p> + +<p> +But at any rate they had seen us, and it was now too late to think of +taking them again by surprise.</p> + +<p> +They on their part had a surprise in store for us, which was greater +than any we had yet experienced.</p> + +<p> +We saw their ships assembling once more far down in the atmosphere beneath +us, and we thought we could detect evidences of something unusual going +on upon the surface of the planet.</p> + +<p> +Suddenly from the ships, and from various points on the ground beneath, +there rose high in the air, and carried by invisible currents in every +direction, immense volumes of black smoke, or vapor, which blotted out +of sight everything below them!</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +The All-Powerful War-Cloud of the Martians.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm1508.png" alt="War-Cloud" title="War-Cloud" /><br /> +Suddenly from the ships there arose high in the air immense volumes of +black smoke, which blotted out of sight everything below them! +</p> +<hr /> + +<p> +South, north, west and east, the curtain of blackness rapidly spread, +until the whole face of the planet as far as our eyes could reach, +and the airships thronging under us, were all concealed from sight!</p> + +<p> +Mars had played the game of the cuttlefish, which, when pursued by its +enemies, darkens the water behind it by a sudden outgush of inky fluid, +and thus escapes the eye of its foe. +</p> + +<h4>The Great Smoke Cloud.</h4> + +<h4>Our Warriors Find the Martians to Be Foes Worth Fearing.</h4> + +<p> +The eyes of man had never beheld such a spectacle!</p> + +<p> +Where a few minutes before the sunny face of a beautiful and populous +planet had been shining beneath us, there was now to be seen nothing but +black, billowing clouds, swelling up everywhere like the mouse-colored +smoke that pours from a great transatlantic liner when fresh coal has +just been heaped upon her fires.</p> + +<p> +In some places the smoke spouted upward in huge jets to the height of +several miles; elsewhere it eddied in vast whirlpools of inky blackness.</p> + +<p> +Not a glimpse of the hidden world beneath was anywhere to be seen. +</p> + +<h4>Mars Wears Its War Mask.</h4> + +<p> +Mars had put on its war mask, and fearful indeed was the aspect of it!</p> + +<p> +After the first pause of surprise the squadron quickly backed away +into the sky, rising rapidly, because, from one of the swirling eddies +beneath us the smoke began suddenly to pile itself up in an enormous +aerial mountain, whose peaks shot higher and higher, with apparently +increasing velocity, until they seemed about to engulf us with their +tumbling ebon masses.</p> + +<p> +Unaware what the nature of this mysterious smoke might be, and fearing it +was something more than a shield for the planet, and might be destructive +to life, we fled before it, as before the onward sweep of a pestilence.</p> + +<p> +Directly underneath the flagship, one of the aspiring smoke peaks grew +with most portentous swiftness, and, notwithstanding all our efforts, +in a little while it had enveloped us. +</p> + +<h4>The Stifling Smoke.</h4> + +<p> +Several of us were standing on the deck of the electrical ship. We were +almost stifled by the smoke, and were compelled to take refuge within +the car, where, until the electric lights had been turned on, darkness +so black that it oppressed the strained eyeballs prevailed.</p> + +<p> +But in this brief experience, terrifying though it was, we had learned +one thing. The smoke would kill by strangulation, but evidently there +was nothing especially poisonous in its nature. This fact might be of +use to us in our subsequent proceedings.</p> + +<p> +"This spoils our plans," said the commander. "There is no use of +remaining here for the present; let us see how far this thing extends."</p> + +<p> +At first we rose straight away to a height of 200 or 300 miles, thus +passing entirely beyond the sensible limits of the atmosphere, and far +above the highest point that the smoke could reach.</p> + +<p> +From this commanding point of view our line of sight extended to an +immense distance over the surface of Mars in all directions. Everywhere +the same appearance; the whole planet was evidently covered with the +smoke. +</p> + +<h4>A Wonderful System.</h4> + +<p> +A complete telegraphic system evidently connected all the strategic points +upon Mars, so that, at a signal from the central station, the wonderful +curtain could be instantaneously drawn over the entire face of the planet.</p> + +<p> +In order to make certain that no part of Mars remained uncovered, +we dropped down again nearer to the upper level of the smoke clouds, +and then completely circumnavigated the planet. It was thought possible +that on the night side no smoke would be found and that it would be +practicable for us to make a descent there.</p> + +<p> +But when we had arrived on that side of Mars which was turned away from +the sun, we no longer saw beneath us, as we had done on our previous visit +to the night hemisphere of the planet, brilliant groups and clusters of +electric lights beneath us. All was dark.</p> + +<p> +In fact, so completely did the great shell of smoke conceal the planet +that the place occupied by the latter seemed to be simply a vast black +hole in the firmament.</p> + +<p> +The sun was hidden behind it, and so dense was the smoke that even the +solar rays were unable to penetrate it, and consequently there was no +atmospheric halo visible around the concealed planet.</p> + +<p> +All the sky around was filled with stars, but their countless host +suddenly disappeared when our eyes turned in the direction of Mars. The +great black globe blotted them out without being visible itself. +</p> + +<h4>Attempts to Attack Baffled.</h4> + +<p> +"Apparently we can do nothing here," said Mr. Edison. "Let us return to +the daylight side."</p> + +<p> +When we had arrived near the point where we had been when the wonderful +phenomenon first made its appearance, we paused, and then, at the +suggestion of one of the chemists, dropped close to the surface of the +smoke curtain which had now settled down into comparative quiescence, +in order that we might examine it a little more critically.</p> + +<p> +The flagship was driven into the smoke cloud so deeply that for a minute +we were again enveloped in night. A quantity of the smoke was entrapped +in a glass jar. +</p> + +<h4>Examining the Smoke.</h4> + +<p> +Rising again into the sunlight, the chemists began an examination of +the constitution of the smoke. They were unable to determine its precise +character, but they found that its density was astonishingly slight. This +accounted for the rapidity with which it had risen, and the great height +which it had attained in the comparatively light atmosphere of Mars.</p> + +<p> +"It is evident," said one of the chemists, "that this smoke does not +extend down to the surface of the planet. From what the astronomers +say as to the density of the air on Mars, it is probable that a clear +space of at least a mile in height exists between the surface of Mars +and the lower limit of the smoke curtain. Just how deep the latter is +we can only determine by experiment, but it would not be surprising if +the thickness of this great blanket which Mars has thrown around itself +should prove to be a quarter or half a mile."</p> + +<p> +"Anyhow," said one of the United States army officers, "they have dodged +out of sight, and I don't see why we should not dodge in and get at +them. If there is clear air under the smoke, as you think, why couldn't +the ships dart down through the curtain and come to a close tackle with +the Martians?"</p> + +<p> +"It would not do at all," said the commander. "We might simply run +ourselves into an ambush. No; we must stay outside, and if possible +fight them from here." +</p> + +<h4>Strategic Measures Employed.</h4> + +<p> +"They can't keep this thing up forever," said the officer. "Perhaps the +smoke will clear off after a while, and then we will have a chance."</p> + +<p> +"Not much hope of that, I am afraid," said the chemist who had originally +spoken. "This smoke could remain floating in the atmosphere for weeks, +and the only wonder to me is how they ever expect to get rid of it, when +they think their enemies have gone and they want some sunshine again."</p> + +<p> +"All that is mere speculation," said Mr. Edison; "let us get at something +practical. We must do one of two things: either attack them shielded +as they are, or wait until the smoke has cleared away. The only other +alternative, that of plunging blindly down through the curtain, is at +present not to be thought of."</p> + +<p> +"I am afraid we couldn't stand a very long siege ourselves," suddenly +remarked the chief commissary of the expedition, who was one of the +members of the flagship's company.</p> + +<p> +"What do you mean by that?" asked Mr. Edison sharply, turning to him.</p> + +<p> +"Well, sir, you see," said the commissary, stammering, "our provisions +wouldn't hold out."</p> + +<p> +"Wouldn't hold out?" exclaimed Mr. Edison, in astonishment, "why, we +have compressed and prepared provisions enough to last this squadron +for three years."</p> + +<p> +"We had, sir, when we left the earth," said the commissary, in apparent +distress, "but I am sorry to say that something has happened."</p> + +<p> +"Something has happened! Explain yourself!" +</p> + +<h4>Accident to the Stores.</h4> + +<p> +"I don't know what it is, but on inspecting some of the compressed stores, +a short time ago, I found that a large number of them were destroyed, +whether through leakage of air, or what, I am unable to say. I sent +to inquire as to the condition of the stores in the other ships in the +squadron and I found that a similar condition of things prevailed there."</p> + +<p> +"The fact is," continued the commissary, "we have only provisions enough, +in proper condition, for about ten days' consumption."</p> + +<p> +"After that we shall have to forage on the country, then," said the +army officer.</p> + +<p> +"Why did you not report this before?" demanded Mr. Edison.</p> + +<p> +"Because, sir," was the reply, "the discovery was not made until after we +arrived close to Mars, and since then there has been so much excitement +that I have hardly had time to make an investigation and find out what +the precise condition of affairs is; besides, I thought we should land +upon the planet and then we would be able to renew our supplies."</p> + +<p> +I closely watched Mr. Edison's expression in order to see how this +most alarming news would affect him. Although he fully comprehended its +fearful significance, he did not lose his self-command. +</p> + +<h4>We Must Act Quickly.</h4> + +<p> +"Well, well," he said, "then it will become necessary for us to act +quickly. Evidently we cannot wait for the smoke to clear off, even +if there were any hope of its clearing. We must get down on Mars now, +having conquered it first if possible, but anyway we must get down there, +in order to avoid starvation."</p> + +<p> +"It is very lucky," he continued, "that we have ten days' supply left. A +great deal can be done in ten days."</p> + +<p> +A few hours after this the commander called me aside, and said:</p> + +<p> +"I have thought it all out. I am going to reconstruct some of our +disintegrators, so as to increase their range and their power. Then I +am going to have some of the astronomers of the expedition locate for +me the most vulnerable points upon the planet, where the population is +densest and a hard blow would have the most effect, and I am going to +pound away at them, through the smoke, and see whether we cannot draw +them out of their shell." +</p> + +<h4>A Plan Arranged.</h4> + +<p> +With his expert assistants Mr. Edison set to work at once to transform +a number of the disintegrators into still more formidable engines of +the same description. One of these new weapons having been distributed +to each of the members of the squadron, the next problem was to decide +where to strike.</p> + +<p> +When we first examined the surface of the planet it will be remembered +that we had regarded the Lake of the Sun and its environs as being +the very focus of the planet. While it might also be a strong point +of defence, yet an effective blow struck there would go to the enemy's +heart and be more likely to bring the Martians promptly to terms than +anything else.</p> + +<p> +The first thing, then, was to locate the Lake of the Sun on the +smoke-hidden surface of the planet beneath us. This was a problem that +the astronomers could readily solve.</p> + +<p> +Fortunately, in the flagship itself there was one of the star-gazing +gentlemen who had made a specialty of the study of Mars. That planet, as I +have already explained, was now in opposition to the earth. The astronomer +had records in his pocket which enabled him, by a brief calculation, +to say just when the Lake of the Sun would be on the meridian of Mars +as seen from the earth. Our chronometers still kept terrestrial time; +we knew the exact number of days and hours that had elapsed since we had +departed, and so it was possible by placing ourselves in a line between +the earth and Mars to be practically in the situation of an astronomer +in his observatory at home.</p> + +<p> +Then it was only necessary to wait for the hour when the Lake of the Sun +would be upon the meridian of Mars in order to be certain what the true +direction of the latter from the flagship was.</p> + +<p> +Having thus located the heart of our foe behind its shield of darkness, +we prepared to strike. +</p> + +<h4>The Smoke Must Be Shattered.</h4> + +<p> +"I have ascertained," said Mr. Edison, "the vibration period of the smoke, +so that it will be easy for us to shatter it into invisible atoms. You +will see that every stroke of the disintegrators will open a hole through +the black curtain. If their field of destruction could be made wide +enough, we might in that manner clear away the entire covering of smoke, +but all that we shall really be able to do will be to puncture it with +holes, which will, perhaps, enable us to catch glimpses of the surface +beneath. In that manner we may be able more effectually to concentrate +our fire upon the most vulnerable points." +</p> + +<h4>The Blow—And Its Effect.</h4> + +<p> +Everything being prepared, and the entire squadron having assembled +to watch the effect of the opening blow and be ready to follow it up, +Mr. Edison himself poised one of the new disintegrators, which was too +large to be carried in the hand, and, following the direction indicated +by the calculations of the astronomers, launched the vibratory discharge +into the ocean of blackness beneath. +</p> + +<h4>A Terrible Encounter.</h4> + +<h4>The Martians and Our Warriors Fight a Battle to the Death.</h4> + +<p> +Instantly there opened beneath us a huge well-shaped hole, from which +the black clouds rolled violently back in every direction.</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +Edison Triumphs Over the Martians' Device.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm1611.png" alt="Edison Triumphs" title="Edison Triumphs" /><br /> +Instantly there opened beneath us a huge, well-shaped hole, from +which the black clouds rolled back in every direction. +</p> +<hr /> + +<p> +Through this opening we saw the gleam of brilliant lights beneath.</p> + +<p> +We had made a hit.</p> + +<p> +"It is the Lake of the Sun!" shouted the astronomer who furnished the +calculation by means of which its position had been discovered.</p> + +<p> +And, indeed, it was the Lake of the Sun. While the opening in the clouds +made by the discharge was not wide, yet it sufficed to give us a view +of a portion of the curving shore of the lake, which was ablaze with +electric lights.</p> + +<p> +Whether our shot had done any damage, beyond making the circular opening +in the cloud curtain, we could not tell, for almost immediately the +surrounding black smoke masses billowed in to fill up the hole.</p> + +<p> +But in the brief glimpse we had caught sight of two or three large air +ships hovering in space above that part of the Lake of the Sun and its +bordering city which we had beheld. It seemed to me in the brief glance +I had that one ship had been touched by the discharge and was wandering +in an erratic manner. But the clouds closed in so rapidly that I not +be certain. +</p> + +<h4>Penetrating the Cloud.</h4> + +<p> +Anyhow, we had demonstrated one thing, and that was that we could +penetrate the cloud shield and reach the Martians in their hiding place.</p> + +<p> +It had been prearranged that the first discharge from the flagship +should be a signal for the concentration of the fire of all the other +ships upon the same spot.</p> + +<p> +A little hesitation, however, occurred, and a half a minute had elapsed +before the disintegrators from the other members of the squadron were +got into play. +</p> + +<h4>The Martians' Artificial Day.</h4> + +<p> +Then, suddenly we saw an immense commotion in the cloud beneath us. It +seemed to be beaten and hurled in every direction and punctured like +a sieve with nearly a hundred great circular holes. Through these gaps +we could see clearly a large region of the planet's surface, with many +airships floating above it, and the blaze of innumerable electric lights +illuminating it. The Martians had created an artificial day under the +curtain.</p> + +<p> +This time there was no question that the blow had been effective. Four +or five of the airships, partially destroyed, tumbled headlong toward +the ground, while even from our great distance there was unmistakable +evidence that fearful execution had been done among the crowded structures +along the shore of the Lake.</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +Our Disintegrator Does Awful Damage.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm1710.png" alt="Awful Damage" title="Awful Damage" /><br /> +Four or five of the airships tumbled headlong toward the +ground, and it was evident that fearful execution had been done among +the crowded structures along the shore of the lake. +</p> +<hr /> + +<p> +As each of our ships possessed but one of the new disintegrators, and +since a minute or so was required to adjust them for a fresh discharge, we +remained for a little while inactive after delivering the blow. Meanwhile +the cloud curtain, though rent to shreds by the concentrated discharge +of the disintegrators, quickly became a uniform black sheet again, +hiding everything.</p> + +<p> +We had just had time to congratulate ourselves on the successful opening +of our bombardment, and the disintegrator of the flagship was poised +for another discharge, when suddenly out of the black expanse beneath, +quivered immense electric beams, clear cut and straight as bars of steel, +but dazzling our eyes with unendurable brilliance.</p> + +<p> +It was the reply of the Martians to our attack. +</p> + +<h4>Devastating Our Army.</h4> + +<p> +Three or four of the electrical ships were seriously damaged, and one, +close beside the flagship, changed color, withered and collapsed, with the +same sickening phenomena that had made our hearts shudder when the first +disaster of this kind occurred during our brief battle over the asteroid.</p> + +<p> +Another score of our comrades were gone, and yet we had hardly begun +the fight.</p> + +<p> +Glancing at the other ships, which had been injured, I saw that the +damage to them was not so serious, although they were evidently hors de +combat for the present.</p> + +<p> +Our fighting blood was now boiling and we did not stop long to count +our losses.</p> + +<p> +"Into the smoke!" was the signal, and the ninety and more electric ships +which still remained in condition for action immediately shot downward. + + +</p> + +<p> +<a name="XI"></a></p> +<hr /><h2>Chapter XI.</h2> + +<h4>A Dash Into the Smoke.</h4> + +<p> +It was a wild plunge. We kept off the decks while rushing through the +blinding smoke, but the instant we emerged below, where we found ourselves +still a mile above the ground, we were out again, ready to strike.</p> + +<p> +I have simply a confused recollection of flashing lights beneath, and a +great, dark arch of clouds above, out of which our ships seemed dropping +on all sides, and then the fray burst upon and around us, and no man +could see or notice anything except by half-comprehended glances.</p> + +<p> +Almost in an instant, it seemed, a swarm of airships surrounded us, +while from what, for lack of a more descriptive name, I shall call +the forts about the Lake of the Sun, leaped tongues of electric fire, +before which some of our ships were driven like bits of flaming paper +in a high wind, gleaming for a moment, then curling up and gone forever! +</p> + +<h4>Never Was Such a Conflict.</h4> + +<p> +It was an awful sight; but the battle fever was raging in us, and we, +on our part, were not idle.</p> + +<p> +Every man carried a disintegrator, and these hand instruments, together +with those of heavier calibre on the ships poured their resistless +vibrations in every direction through the quivering air.</p> + +<p> +The airships of the Martians were destroyed by the score, but yet they +flocked upon us thicker and faster.</p> + +<p> +We dropped lower and our blows fell upon the forts, and upon the +wide-spread city bordering the Lake of the Sun. We almost entirely +silenced the fire of one of the forts; but there were forty more in full +action within reach of our eyes!</p> + +<p> +Some of the metallic buildings were partly unroofed by the disintegrators +and some had their walls riddled and fell with thundering crashes, whose +sound rose to our ears above the hellish din of battle. I caught glimpses +of giant forms struggling in the ruins and rushing wildly through the +streets, but there was no time to see anything clearly. +</p> + +<h4>The Flagship Charmed!</h4> + +<p> +Our flagship seemed charmed. A crowd of airships hung upon it like a +swarm of angry bees, and, at times, one could not see for the lightning +strokes—yet we escaped destruction, while ourselves dealing death on +every hand.</p> + +<p> +It was a glorious fight, but it was not war; no, it was not war. We really +had no more chance of ultimate success amid that multitude of enemies +than a prisoner running the gauntlet in a crowd of savages has of escape.</p> + +<p> +A conviction of the hopelessness of the contest finally forced itself +upon our minds, and the shattered squadron, which had kept well together +amid the storm of death, was signalled to retreat.</p> + +<p> +Shaking off their pursuers, as a hunted bear shakes off the dogs, sixty +of the electrical ships rose up through the clouds where more than ninety +had gone down!</p> + +<p> +Madly we rushed upward through the vast curtain and continued our flight +to a great elevation, far beyond the reach of the awful artillery of +the enemy. +</p> + +<h4>Forced to Retreat.</h4> + +<p> +Looking back it seemed the very mouth of hell that we had escaped from.</p> + +<p> +The Martians did not for an instant cease their fire, even when we +were far beyond their reach. With furious persistence they blazed away +through the cloud curtains, and the vivid spikes of lightning shuddered +so swiftly on one another's track that they were like a flaming halo of +electric lances around the frowning helmet of the War Planet.</p> + +<p> +But after a while they stopped their terrific sparring, and once more +the immense globe assumed the appearance of a vast ball of black smoke, +still wildly agitated by the recent disturbance, but exhibiting no +opening through which we could discern what was going on beneath.</p> + +<p> +Evidently the Martians believed they had finished us. +</p> + +<h4>Despair Seizes Us.</h4> + +<p> +At no time since the beginning of our adventure had it appeared to me +quite so hopeless, reckless and mad as it seemed at present.</p> + +<p> +We had suffered fearful losses, and yet what had we accomplished? We had +won two fights on the asteroid, it is true, but then we had overwhelming +numbers on our side.</p> + +<p> +Now we were facing millions on their own ground, and our very first +assault had resulted in a disastrous repulse, with the loss of at least +thirty electric ships and 600 men!</p> + +<p> +Evidently we could not endure this sort of thing. We must find some +other means of assailing Mars or else give up the attempt.</p> + +<p> +But the latter was not to be thought of. It was no mere question of +self-pride, however, and no consideration of the tremendous interests +at stake, which would compel us to continue our apparently vain attempt. +</p> + +<h4>No Hope in Sight.</h4> + +<p> +Our provisions could last only a few days longer. The supply would not +carry us one-quarter of the way back to the earth, and we must therefore +remain here and literally conquer or die.</p> + +<p> +In this extremity a consultation of the principal officers was called +upon the deck of the flagship.</p> + +<p> +Here the suggestion was made that we should attempt to effect by strategy +what we had failed to do by force.</p> + +<p> +An old army officer who had served in many wars against the cunning +Indians of the West, Colonel Alonzo Jefferson Smith, was the author of +this suggestion.</p> + +<p> +"Let us circumvent them," he said. "We can do it in this way. The chances +are that all of the available fighting force of the planet Mars is now +concentrated on this side and in the neighborhood of the Lake of the Sun." +</p> + +<h4>Formulating a "Last Hope."</h4> + +<p> +"Possibly, by some kind of X-ray business, they can only see us dimly +through the clouds, and if we get a little further away they will not +be able to see us at all."</p> + +<p> +"Now, I suggest that a certain number of the electrical ships be withdrawn +from the squadron to a great distance, while the remainder stay here; +or, better still, approach to a point just beyond the reach of those +streaks of lightning, and begin a bombardment of the clouds without +paying any attention to whether the strokes reach through the clouds +and do any damage or not."</p> + +<p> +"This will induce the Martians to believe that we are determined to +press our attack at this point."</p> + +<p> +"In the meantime, while these ships are raising a hullabaloo on this +side of the planet, and drawing their fire, as much as possible, without +running into any actual danger, let the others which have been selected +for the purpose, sail rapidly around to the other side of Mars and take +them in the rear."</p> + +<p> +It was not perfectly clear what Colonel Smith intended to do after the +landing had been effected in the rear of the Martians, but still there +seemed a good deal to be said for his suggestion, and it would, at any +rate, if carried out, enable us to learn something about the condition +of things on the planet, and perhaps furnish us with a hint as to how +we could best proceed in the further prosecution of the siege.</p> + +<p> +Accordingly it was resolved that about twenty ships should be told off +for this movement, and Colonel Smith himself was placed in command.</p> + +<p> +At my desire I accompanied the new commander in his flagship. +</p> + +<h4>Flank Movements.</h4> + +<p> +Rising to a considerable elevation in order that there might be no risk +of being seen, we began our flank movement while the remaining ships, +in accordance with the understanding, dropped nearer the curtain of +cloud and commenced a bombardment with the disintegrators, which caused +a tremendous commotion in the clouds, opening vast gaps in them, and +occasionally revealing a glimpse of the electric lights on the planet, +although it was evident that the vibratory currents did not reach the +ground. The Martians immediately replied to this renewed attack, and +again the cloud-covered globe bristled with lightning, which flashed so +fiercely out of the blackness below that the stoutest hearts among us +quailed, although we were situated well beyond the danger.</p> + +<p> +But this sublime spectacle rapidly vanished from our eyes when, having +attained a proper elevation, we began our course toward the opposite +hemisphere of the planet.</p> + +<p> +We guided our flight by the stars, and from our knowledge of the rotation +period of Mars, and the position which the principal points on its +surface must occupy at certain hours, we were able to tell what part of +the planet lay beneath us.</p> + +<p> +Having completed our semi-circuit, we found ourselves on the night side +of Mars, and determined to lose no time in executing our coup. But it +was deemed best that an exploration should first be made by a single +electrical ship, and Colonel Smith naturally wished to undertake the +adventure with his own vessel. +</p> + +<h4>Dropping to the Planet.</h4> + +<p> +We dropped rapidly through the black cloud curtain, which proved to be at +least half a mile in thickness, and then suddenly emerged, as if suspended +at the apex of an enormous dome, arching above the surface of the planet +a mile beneath us, which sparkled on all sides with innumerable lights.</p> + +<p> +These lights were so numerous and so brilliant as to produce a faint +imitation of daylight, even at our immense height above the ground, +and the dome of cloud out of which we had emerged assumed a soft fawn +color that produced an indescribably beautiful effect.</p> + +<p> +For a moment we recoiled from our undertaking, and arrested the motion +of the electric ship.</p> + +<p> +But on closely examining the surface beneath us we found that there +was a broad region, where comparatively few bright lights were to be +seen. From my knowledge of the geography of Mars I knew that this was a +part of the Land of Ausonia, situated a few hundred miles northeast of +Hellas, where we had first seen the planet.</p> + +<p> +Evidently it was not so thickly populated as some of the other parts of +Mars, and its comparative darkness was an attraction to us. We determined +to approach within a few hundred feet of the ground with the electric +ship, and then, in case no enemies appeared, to visit the soil itself.</p> + +<p> +"Perhaps we shall see or hear something that will be of use to us," +said Colonel Smith, "and for the purposes of this first reconnaissance +it is better that we should be few in number. The other ships will await +our return, and at any rate we shall not be gone long."</p> + +<p> +As our car approached the ground we found ourselves near the tops of +some lofty trees.</p> + +<p> +"This will do," said Colonel Smith, to the electrical steersman. "Stay +right here."</p> + +<p> +He and I then lowered ourselves into the branches of the trees, each +carrying a small disintegrator, and cautiously clambered down to the +ground. +</p> + +<h4>Landing On Mars.</h4> + +<p> +We believed we were the first of the descendants of Adam to set foot on +the planet of Mars. +</p> + +<h4>An Experience On Mars.</h4> + +<h4>The Great Planet Exhibits Its Wonders to Our Warriors.</h4> + +<p> +At first we suffered somewhat from the effects of the rare atmosphere. It +was so lacking in density that it resembled the air on the summits of +the loftiest terrestrial mountains.</p> + +<p> +Having reached the foot of the tree in safety, we lay down for a moment +on the ground to recover ourselves and to become accustomed to our new +surroundings.</p> + +<p> +A thrill, born half of wonder, half of incredulity, ran through me at the +touch of the soil of Mars. Here was I, actually on that planet, which +had seemed so far away, so inaccessible, and so full of mysteries when +viewed from the earth. And yet, surrounding me, were things—gigantic, +it is true—but still resembling and recalling the familiar sights of +my own world.</p> + +<p> +After a little while our lungs became accustomed to the rarity of the +atmosphere and we experienced a certain stimulation in breathing. +</p> + +<h4>Starting on our Travels.</h4> + +<p> +We then got upon our feet and stepped out from under the shadow of the +gigantic tree. High above we could faintly see our electrical ship, +gently swaying in the air close to the treetop.</p> + +<p> +There were no electric lights in our immediate neighborhood, but we +noticed that the whole surface of the planet around us was gleaming +with them, producing an effect like the glow of a great city seen from +a distance at night. The glare was faintly reflected from the vast dome +of clouds above, producing the general impression of a moonlight night +upon the earth.</p> + +<p> +It was a wonderfully quiet and beautiful spot where we had come down. The +air had a delicate feel and a bracing temperature, while a soft breeze +soughed through the leaves of the tree above our heads.</p> + +<p> +Not far away was the bank of a canal, bordered by a magnificent avenue +shaded by a double row of immense umbrageous trees.</p> + +<p> +We approached the canal, and, getting upon the road, turned to the left +to make an exploration in that direction. The shadow of the trees falling +upon the roadway produced a dense gloom, in the midst of which we felt +that we should be safe, unless the Martians had eyes like those of cats. +</p> + +<h4>An Alarming Encounter.</h4> + +<p> +As we pushed along, our hearts, I confess, beating a little quickly, +a shadow stirred in front of us.</p> + +<p> +Something darker than the night itself approached.</p> + +<p> +As it drew near it assumed the appearance of an enormous dog, as tall +as an ox, which ran swiftly our way with a threatening motion of its +head. But before it could even utter a snarl the whirr of Colonel Smith's +disintegrator was heard and the creature vanished in the shadow.</p> + +<p> +"Gracious, did you ever see such a beast?" said the Colonel. "Why, +he was as big as a grizzly."</p> + +<p> +"The people he belonged to must be near by," I said. "Very likely he +was a watch on guard."</p> + +<p> +"But I see no signs of a habitation."</p> + +<p> +"True, but you observe there is a thick hedge on the side of the road +opposite the canal. If we get through that perhaps we shall catch sight +of something." +</p> + +<h4>A Palace in View.</h4> + +<p> +Cautiously we pushed our way through the hedge, which was composed +of shrubs as large as small trees, and very thick at the bottom, and, +having traversed it, found ourselves in a great meadow-like expanse which +might have been a lawn. At a considerable distance, in the midst of a +clump of trees, a large building towered skyward, its walls of some red +metal, gleaming like polished copper in the soft light that fell from +the cloud dome.</p> + +<p> +There were no lights around the building itself, and we saw nothing +corresponding to windows on that side which faced us, but toward the +right a door was evidently open, and out of this streamed a brilliant +shaft of illumination, which lay bright upon the lawn, then crossed the +highway through an opening in the hedge, and gleamed on the water of +the canal beyond.</p> + +<p> +Where we stood the ground had evidently been recently cleared, and there +was no obstruction, but as we crept closer to the house—for our curiosity +had now become irresistible—we found ourselves crawling through grass so +tall that if we had stood erect it would have risen well above our heads. +</p> + +<h4>Taking Precautions.</h4> + +<p> +"This affords good protection," said Colonel Smith, recalling his +adventures on the Western plains. "We can get close in to the Indians—I +beg pardon, I mean the Martians—without being seen."</p> + +<p> +Heavens, what an adventure was this! To be crawling about in the night +on the face of another world and venturing, perhaps, into the jaws of +a danger which human experience could not measure!</p> + +<p> +But on we went, and in a little while we had emerged from the tall grass +and were somewhat startled by the discovery that we had got close to +the wall of the building.</p> + +<p> +Carefully we crept around toward the open door.</p> + +<p> +As we neared it we suddenly stopped as if we had been stricken with +instantaneous paralysis.</p> + +<p> +Out of the door floated, on the soft night air, the sweetest music I +have ever listened to. +</p> + +<h4>A Monstrous Surprise.</h4> + +<p> +It carried me back in an instant to my own world. It was the music of +the earth. It was the melodious expression of a human soul. It thrilled +us both to the heart's core.</p> + +<p> +"My God!" exclaimed Colonel Smith. "What can that be? Are we dreaming, +or where in heaven's name are we?"</p> + +<p> +Still the enchanting harmony floated out upon the air.</p> + +<p> +What the instrument was I could not tell; but the sound seemed more nearly +to resemble that of a violin than of anything else I could think of. +</p> + +<h4>Magnificent Music.</h4> + +<p> +When we first heard it the strains were gentle, sweet, caressing and +full of an infinite depth of feeling, but in a little while its tone +changed, and it became a magnificent march, throbbing upon the air in +stirring notes that set our hearts beating in unison with its stride +and inspiring in us a courage that we had not felt before.</p> + +<p> +Then it drifted into a wild fantasia, still inexpressibly sweet, and from +that changed again into a requiem or lament, whose mellifluous tide of +harmony swept our thoughts back again to the earth.</p> + +<p> +"I can endure this no longer," I said. "I must see who it is that makes +that music. It is the product of a human heart and must come from the +touch of human fingers."</p> + +<p> +We carefully shifted our position until we stood in the blaze of light +that poured out of the door.</p> + +<p> +The doorway was an immense arched opening, magnificently ornamented, +rising to a height of, I should say, not less than twenty or twenty-five +feet and broad in proportion. The door itself stood widely open and it, +together with all of its fittings and surroundings, was composed of the +same beautiful red metal. +</p> + +<h4>A Beautiful Girl!</h4> + +<p> +Stepping out a little way into the light I could see within the door +an immense apartment, glittering on all sides with metallic ornaments +and gems and lighted from the centre by a great chandelier of electric +candles.</p> + +<p> +In the middle of the great floor, holding the instrument delicately +poised, and still awaking its ravishing voice, stood a figure, the sight +of which almost stopped my breath.</p> + +<p> +It was a slender sylph of a girl!</p> + +<p> +A girl of my own race: a human being here upon the planet Mars!</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +A Beautiful Human Girl Discovered on Mars.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm1810.png" alt="Human Girl" title="Human Girl" /><br /> +In the middle of the great floor, holding the instrument delicately +poised, and still awaking its ravishing voice, stood a figure, the +sight of which almost stopped my breath! It was a slender sylph of a +girl! A girl of my own race; a human being here on Mars! +</p> +<hr /> + +<p> +Her hair was loosely coiled and she was attired in graceful white drapery.</p> + +<p> +"By ——!" cried Colonel Smith, "she's human!" + + +</p> + +<p> +<a name="XII"></a></p> +<hr /><h2>Chapter XII.</h2> + +<p> +Still the bewildering strains of the music came to our ears, and yet we +stood there unperceived, though in the full glare of the chandelier.</p> + +<p> +The girl's face was presented in profile. It was exquisite in beauty, +pale, delicate with a certain pleading sadness which stirred us to +the heart.</p> + +<p> +An element of romance and a touch of personal interest such as we had +not looked for suddenly entered into our adventure.</p> + +<p> +Colonel Smith's mind still ran back to the perils of the plains. +</p> + +<h4>A Human Prisoner.</h4> + +<p> +"She is a prisoner," he said, "and by the Seven Devils of Dona Ana we'll +not leave her here. But where are the hellhounds themselves?"</p> + +<p> +Our attention had been so absorbed by the sight of the girl that we had +scarcely thought of looking to see if there was any one else in the room.</p> + +<p> +Glancing beyond her, I now perceived sitting in richly decorated chairs +three or four gigantic Martians. They were listening to the music as +if charmed.</p> + +<p> +The whole story told itself. This girl, if not their slave, was at any +rate under their control, and she was furnishing entertainment for them +by her musical skill. The fact that they could find pleasure in music +so beautiful was, perhaps, an indication that they were not really as +savage as they seemed.</p> + +<p> +Yet our hearts went out to the girl, and were turned against them with +an uncontrollable hatred.</p> + +<p> +They were of the same remorseless race with those who so lately had lain +waste our fair earth and who would have completed its destruction had +not Providence interfered in our behalf.</p> + +<p> +Singularly enough, although we stood full in the light, they had not +yet seen us. +</p> + +<h4>Martians Guarding Her.</h4> + +<p> +Suddenly the girl, moved by what impulse I know not, turned her face in +our direction. Her eyes fell upon us. She paused abruptly in her playing, +and her instrument dropped to the floor. Then she uttered a cry, and +with extended arms ran toward us.</p> + +<p> +But when she was near she stopped abruptly, the glad look fading from +her face, and started back with terror-stricken eyes, as if, after all, +she had found us not what she expected.</p> + +<p> +Then for an instant she looked more intently at us, her countenance +cleared once more, and, overcome by some strange emotion, her eyes filled +with tears, and, drawing a little nearer, she stretched forth her hands +to us appealingly.</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the Martians had started to their feet. They looked down upon +us in astonishment. We were like pigmies to them; like little gnomes +which had sprung out of the ground at their feet.</p> + +<p> +One of the giants seized some kind of a weapon and started forward with +a threatening gesture. +</p> + +<h4>The Girl Appeals to Us.</h4> + +<p> +The girl sprang to my side and grasped my arm with a cry of fear.</p> + +<p> +This seemed to throw the Martian into a sudden frenzy, and he raised +his arms to strike.</p> + +<p> +But the disintegrator was in my hand.</p> + +<p> +My rage was equal to his.</p> + +<p> +I felt the concentrated vengeance of the earth quivering through me as +I pressed the button of the disintegrator and, sweeping it rapidly up +and down, saw the gigantic form that confronted me melt into nothingness.</p> + +<p> +There were three other giants in the room, and they had been on the point +of following up the attack of their comrade. But when he disappeared +from before their eyes, they paused, staring in amazement at the place +where, but a moment before, he had stood, but where now only the metal +weapon he had wielded lay on the floor.</p> + +<p> +At first they started back, and seemed on the point of fleeing; then, +with a second glance, perceiving again how small and insignificant we +were, all three together advanced upon us.</p> + +<p> +The girl sank trembling on her knees.</p> + +<p> +In the meantime I had readjusted my disintegrator for another discharge, +and Colonel Smith stood by me with the light of battle upon his face.</p> + +<p> +"Sweep the discharge across the three," I exclaimed. "Otherwise there +will be one left and before we can fire again he will crush us." +</p> + +<h4>The Martians Are Killed.</h4> + +<p> +The whirr of the two instruments sounded simultaneously, and with a quick, +horizontal motion we swept the lines of force around in such a manner +that all three of the Martians were caught by the vibratory streams and +actually cut in two.</p> + +<p> +Long gaps were opened in the wall of the room behind them, where the +destroying currents had passed, for with wrathful fierceness, we had +run the vibrations through half a gamut on the index.</p> + +<p> +The victory was ours. There were no other enemies, that we could see, +in the house.</p> + +<p> +Yet at any moment others might make their appearance, and what more we +did must be done quickly.</p> + +<p> +The girl evidently was as much amazed as the Martians had been by the +effects which we had produced. Still she was not terrified, and continued +to cling to us and to glance beseechingly into our faces, expressing in +her every look and gesture the fact that she knew we were of her own race.</p> + +<p> +But clearly she could not speak our tongue, for the words she uttered +were unintelligible.</p> + +<p> +Colonel Smith, whose long experience in Indian warfare had made him +intensely practical, did not lose his military instincts, even in the +midst of events so strange.</p> + +<p> +"It occurs to me," he said, "that we have got a chance at the enemies' +supplies. Suppose we begin foraging right here. Let's see if this girl +can't show us the commissary department."</p> + +<p> +He immediately began to make signs to the girl to indicate that he +was hungry. +</p> + +<h4>The Girl Understands Us.</h4> + +<p> +A look of comprehension flitted over her features, and, seizing our +hands, she led us into an adjoining apartment and pointed to a number +of metallic boxes. One of these she opened, taking out of it a kind +of cake, which she placed between her teeth, breaking off a very small +portion and then handing it to us, motioning that we should eat, but at +the same time showing us that we ought to take only a small quantity.</p> + +<p> +"Thank God! It's compressed food," said Colonel Smith. "I thought these +Martians with their wonderful civilization would be up to that. And +it's mighty lucky for us, because, without overburdening ourselves, +if we can find one or two more caches like this we shall be able to +reprovision the entire fleet. But we must get reinforcements before we +can take possession of the fodder." +</p> + +<h4>The Prisoner Is Rescued.</h4> + +<p> +Accordingly we hurried out into the night, passed into the roadway, and, +taking the girl with us, ran as rapidly as possible to the foot of the +tree where we had made our descent. Then we signalled to the electric +ship to drop down to the level of the ground.</p> + +<p> +This was quickly done, the girl was taken aboard, and a dozen men, under +our guidance, hastened back to the house, where we loaded ourselves with +the compressed provisions and conveyed them to the ship. + +</p> + +<h4>Beautiful Girl Prisoner.</h4> + +<h4>Establishing the Identity of the Martians' Captive.</h4> + +<p> +On this second trip to the mysterious house we had discovered another +apartment containing a very large number of the metallic boxes, filled +with compressed food.</p> + +<p> +"By Jove, it is a store house," said Colonel Smith. "We must get more +force and carry it all off. Gracious, but this is a lucky night. We can +reprovision the whole fleet from this room."</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +Taking Compressed Food From the Martians.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm1912.png" alt="Compressed Food" title="Compressed Food" /><br /> +"By Jove! It is a storehouse," said Colonel Smith. "We must carry the +food off. We can provision the whole fleet from this room!" +</p> +<hr /> + +<p> +"I thought it singular," I said, "that with the exception of the girl +whom we have rescued no women were seen in the house. Evidently the +lights over yonder indicate the location of a considerable town, and it +is quite probable that this building, without windows, and so strongly +constructed, is the common storehouse, where the provisions for the town +are kept. The fellows we killed must have been the watchmen in charge +of the storehouse, and they were treating themselves to a little music +from the slave girl when we happened to come upon them." +</p> + +<h4>A New Food Supply.</h4> + +<p> +With the utmost haste several of the other electrical ships, waiting +above the cloud curtain, were summoned to descend, and, with more than a +hundred men, we returned to the building, and this time almost entirely +exhausted its stores, each man carrying as much as he could stagger under.</p> + +<p> +Fortunately our proceedings had been conducted without much noise, +and the storehouse being situated at a considerable distance from other +buildings, none of the Martians, except those who would never tell the +story, had known of our arrival or of our doings on the planet.</p> + +<p> +"Now, we'll return and surprise Edison with the news," said Colonel Smith.</p> + +<p> +Our ship was the last to pass up through the clouds, and it was a strange +sight to watch the others as one after another they rose toward the +great dome, entered it, though from below it resembled a solid vault of +grayish-pink marble, and disappeared. +</p> + +<h4>Sunshine Again.</h4> + +<p> +We quickly followed them, and having penetrated the enormous curtain, +were considerably surprised on emerging at the upper side to find that +the sun was shining brilliantly upon us. It will be remembered that it +was night on this side of Mars when we went down, but our adventure had +occupied several hours, and now Mars had so far turned upon its axis +that the portion of its surface over which we were had come around into +the sunlight.</p> + +<p> +We knew that the squadron which we had left besieging the Lake of the Sun +must also have been carried around in a similar manner, passing into the +night while the side of the planet where we were was emerging into day.</p> + +<p> +Our shortest way back would be by travelling westward, because then +we should be moving in a direction opposite to that in which the +planet rotated, and the main squadron, sharing that rotation, would be +continually moving in our direction.</p> + +<p> +But to travel westward was to penetrate once more into the night side +of the planet.</p> + +<p> +The prows, if I may so call them, of our ships were accordingly turned +in the direction of the vast shadow which Mars was invisibly projecting +into space behind it, and on entering that shadow the sun disappeared +from our eyes, and once more the huge hidden globe beneath us became a +black chasm among the stars.</p> + +<p> +Now that we were in the neighborhood of a globe capable of imparting +considerable weight to all things under the influence of its attraction +that peculiar condition which I have before described as existing in +the midst of space, where there was neither up nor down for us, had +ceased. Here where we had weight "up" and "down" had resumed their old +meanings. "Down" was toward the centre of Mars, and "up" was away from +that centre. +</p> + +<h4>The Two Moons of Mars.</h4> + +<p> +Standing on the deck, and looking overhead as we swiftly ploughed our +smooth way at a great height through the now imperceptible atmosphere +of the planet, I saw the two moons of Mars meeting in the sky exactly +above us.</p> + +<p> +Before our arrival at Mars, there had been considerable discussion among +the learned men as to the advisability of touching at one of their moons, +and when the discovery was made that our provisions were nearly exhausted, +it had been suggested that the Martian satellites might furnish us with +an additional supply.</p> + +<p> +But it had appeared a sufficient reply to this suggestion that the moons +of Mars are both insignificant bodies, not much larger than the asteroid +we had fallen in with, and that there could not possibly be any form of +vegetation or other edible products upon them.</p> + +<p> +This view having prevailed, we had ceased to take an interest in the +satellites, further than to regard them as objects of great curiosity +on account of their motions.</p> + +<p> +The nearer of these moons, Phobos, is only 3,700 miles from the surface +of Mars, and we watched it travelling around the planet three times in +the course of every day. The more distant one, Deimos, 12,500 miles away, +required considerably more than one day to make its circuit.</p> + +<p> +It now happened that the two had come into conjunction, as I have said, +just over our heads, and, throwing myself down on my back on the deck +of the electrical ship, for a long time I watched the race between the +two satellites, until Phobos, rapidly gaining upon the other, had left +its rival far behind.</p> + +<p> +Suddenly Colonel Smith, who took very little interest in these +astronomical curiosities, touched me, and pointing ahead, said:</p> + +<p> +"There they are." +</p> + +<h4>Rejoining the Fleet.</h4> + +<p> +I looked, and sure enough there were the signal lights of the principal +squadron, and as we gazed we occasionally saw, darting up from the vast +cloud mass beneath, an electric bayonet, fiercely thrust into the sky, +which showed that the siege was still actively going on, and that the +Martians were jabbing away at their invisible enemies outside the curtain.</p> + +<p> +In a short time the two fleets had joined, and Colonel Smith and I +immediately transferred ourselves to the flagship.</p> + +<p> +"Well, what have you done?" asked Mr. Edison, while others crowded around +with eager attention.</p> + +<p> +"If we have not captured their provision train," said Colonel Smith, "we +have done something just about as good. We have foraged on the country, +and have collected a supply that I reckon will last this fleet for at +least a month."</p> + +<p> +"What's that? What's that?"</p> + +<p> +"It's just what I say," and Colonel Smith brought out of his pocket one +of the square cakes of compressed food. "Set your teeth in that, and see +what you think of it, but don't take too much, for it's powerful strong."</p> + +<p> +"I say," he continued, "we have got enough of that stuff to last us all +for a month, but we've done more than that; we have got a surprise for +you that will make you open your eyes. Just wait a minute." +</p> + +<h4>Caring for the Rescued Girl.</h4> + +<p> +Colonel Smith made a signal to the electrical ship which we had just +quitted to draw near. It came alongside, so that one could step from +its deck onto the flagship. Colonel Smith disappeared for a minute in +the interior of his ship, then re-emerged, leading the girl whom we had +found upon the planet.</p> + +<p> +"Take her inside, quick," he said, "for she is not used to this thin air."</p> + +<p> +In fact, we were at so great an elevation that the rarity of the +atmosphere now compelled us all to wear our air-tight suits, and the girl, +not being thus attired, would have fallen unconscious on the deck if we +had not instantly removed her to the interior of the car.</p> + +<p> +There she quickly recovered from the effects of the deprivation of air +and looked about her, pale, astonished, but yet apparently without fear.</p> + +<p> +Every motion of this girl convinced me that she not only recognized +us as members of her own race, but that she felt that her only hope +lay in our aid. Therefore, strange as we were to her in many respects, +nevertheless she did not think that she was in danger while among us.</p> + +<p> +The circumstances under which we had found her were quickly explained. Her +beauty, her strange fate and the impenetrable mystery which surrounded +her excited universal admiration and wonder. +</p> + +<h4>How Came She on Mars?</h4> + +<p> +"How did she get on Mars?" was the question that everybody asked, and +that nobody could answer.</p> + +<p> +But while all were crowding around and overwhelming the poor girl with +their staring, suddenly she burst into tears, and then, with arms +outstretched in the same appealing manner which had so stirred our +sympathies when we first saw her in the house of the Martians, she broke +forth in a wild recitation, which was half a song and half a wail.</p> + +<p> +As she went on I noticed that a learned professor of languages +from the University of Heidelberg was listening to her with intense +attention. Several times he appeared to be on the point of breaking in +with an exclamation. I could plainly see that he was becoming more and +more excited as the words poured from the girl's lips. Occasionally +he nodded and muttered, smiling to himself. Her song finished, the +girl sank half-exhausted upon the floor. She was lifted and placed in +a reclining position at the side of the car.</p> + +<p> +Then the Heidelberg professor stepped to the centre of the car, in the +sight of all, and in a most impressive manner said:</p> + +<p> +"Gentlemen, our sister."</p> + +<p> +"I have her tongue recognized! The language that she speaks, the roots +of the great Indo-European, or Aryan stock, contains."</p> + +<p> +"This girl, gentlemen, to the oldest family of the human race +belongs. Her language every tongue that now upon the earth is spoken +antedates. Convinced am I that it that great original speech is from +which have all the languages of the civilized world sprung."</p> + +<p> +"How she here came, so many millions of miles from the earth, a great +mystery is. But it shall be penetrated, and it is from her own lips that +we the truth shall learn, because not difficult to us shall it be the +language that she speaks to acquire since to our own it is akin." +</p> + +<h4>The Professor's Astonishing Statement.</h4> + +<p> +This announcement of the Heidelberg professor stirred us all most +profoundly. It not only deepened our interest in the beautiful girl +whom we had rescued, but, in a dim way, it gave us reason to hope that +we should yet discover some means of mastering the Martians by dealing +them a blow from within.</p> + +<p> +It had been expected, the reader will remember, that the Martian whom we +had made prisoner on the asteroid, might be of use to us in a similar way, +and for that reason great efforts had been made to acquire his language, +and considerable progress had been effected in that direction.</p> + +<p> +But from the moment of our arrival at Mars itself, and especially after +the battles began, the prisoner had resumed his savage and uncommunicative +disposition, and had seemed continually to be expecting that we would +fall victims to the prowess of his fellow beings, and that he would +be released. How an outlaw, such as he evidently was, who had been +caught in the act of robbing the Martian gold mines, could expect to +escape punishment on returning to his native planet it was difficult +to see. Nevertheless, so strong are the ties of race we could plainly +perceive that all his sympathies were for his own people.</p> + +<p> +In fact, in consequence of his surly manner, and his attempts to escape, +he had been more strictly bound than before and to get him out of the +way had been removed from the flagship, which was already overcrowded, +and placed in one of the other electric ships, and this ship—as it +happened—was one of those which were lost in the great battle beneath +the clouds. So after all, the Martian had perished, by a vengeful stroke +launched from his native globe.</p> + +<p> +But Providence had placed in our hands a far better interpreter than he +could ever have been. This girl of our own race would need no urging, +or coercion, on our part in order to induce her to reveal any secrets +of the Martians that might be useful in our further proceedings.</p> + +<p> +But one thing was first necessary to be done.</p> + +<p> +We must learn to talk with her. +</p> + +<h4>Learning Her Language.</h4> + +<p> +But for the discovery of the store of provisions it would have been +impossible for us to spare the time needed to acquire the language of +the girl, but now that we had been saved from the danger of starvation, +we could prolong the siege for several weeks, employing the intervening +time to the best advantage.</p> + +<p> +The terrible disaster which we had suffered in the great battle above +the Lake of the Sun, wherein we had lost nearly a third of our entire +force, had been quite sufficient to convince us that our only hope of +victory lay in dealing the Martians some paralyzing stroke that at one +blow would deprive them of the power of resistance. A victory that cost +us the loss of a single ship would be too dearly purchased now.</p> + +<p> +How to deal that blow, and first of all, how to discover the means of +dealing it, were at present the uppermost problems in our minds.</p> + +<p> +The only hope for us lay in the girl.</p> + +<p> +If, as there was every reason to believe, she was familiar with the +ways and secrets of the Martians, then she might be able to direct our +efforts in such a manner as to render them effective.</p> + +<p> +"We can spare two weeks for this," said Mr. Edison. "Can you fellows of +many tongues learn to talk with the girl in that time?"</p> + +<p> +"We'll try it," said several.</p> + +<p> +"It shall we do," cried the Heidelberg professor more confidently.</p> + +<p> +"Then there is no use of staying here," continued the commander. "If we +withdraw the Martians will think that we have either given up the contest +or been destroyed. Perhaps they will then pull off their blanket and +let us see their face once more. That will give us a better opportunity +to strike effectively when we are again ready." +</p> + +<h4>Preparing a Rendezvous.</h4> + +<p> +"Why not rendezvous at one of the moons?" said an astronomer. "Neither +of the two moons is of much consequence, as far as size goes, but still +it would serve as a sort of anchorage ground, and while there, if we were +careful to keep on the side away from Mars, we should escape detection."</p> + +<p> +This suggestion was immediately accepted, and the squadron having been +signalled to assemble quickly bore off in the direction of the more +distant moon of Mars, Deimos. We knew that it was slightly smaller than +Phobos but its greater distance gave promise that it would better serve +our purpose of temporary concealment. The moons of Mars, like the earth's +moon, always keep the same face toward their master. By hiding behind +Deimos we should escape the prying eyes of the Martians, even when they +employed telescopes, and thus be able to remain comparatively close at +hand, ready to pounce down upon them again after we had obtained, as we +now had good hope of doing, information that would make us masters of +the situation. + + +</p> + +<p> +<a name="XIII"></a></p> +<hr /><h2>Chapter XIII.</h2> + +<h4>On One of Mars' Moons.</h4> + +<p> +Deimos proved to be, as we had expected, about six miles in diameter. Its +mean density is not very great so that the acceleration of gravity did +not exceed one two-thousandths of the earth's. Consequently the weight +of a man turning the scales at 150 pounds at home was here only about +one ounce.</p> + +<p> +The result was that we could move about with greater ease than on the +golden asteroid, and some of the scientific men eagerly resumed their +interrupted experiments.</p> + +<p> +But the attraction of this little satellite was so slight that we had to +be very careful not to move too swiftly in going about lest we should +involuntarily leave the ground and sail out into space, as, it will be +remembered, happened to the fugitives during the fight on the asteroid.</p> + +<p> +Not only would such an adventure have been an uncomfortable experience, +but it might have endangered the success of our scheme. Our present +distance from the surface of Mars did not exceed 12,500 miles, and we had +reason to believe that Martians possessed telescopes powerful enough to +enable them not merely to see the electrical ships at such a distance, +but to also catch sight of us individually. Although the cloud curtain +still rested on the planet it was probable that the Martians would send +some of their airships up to its surface in order to determine what +our fate had been. From that point of vantage, with their exceedingly +powerful glasses, we feared that they might be able to detect anything +unusual upon or in the neighborhood of Deimos. +</p> + +<h4>The Ships are Moored.</h4> + +<p> +Accordingly strict orders were given, not only that the ships should be +moored on that side of the satellite which is perpetually turned away +from Mars, but that, without orders, no one should venture around on +the other side of the little globe, or even on the edge of it, where he +might be seen in profile against the sky.</p> + +<p> +Still, of course, it was essential that we, on our part, should keep a +close watch, and so a number of sentinels were selected, whose duty it +was to place themselves at the edge of Deimos, where they could peep over +the horizon, so to speak, and catch sight of the globe of our enemies.</p> + +<p> +The distance of Mars from us was only about three times its own diameter, +consequently it shut off a large part of the sky, as viewed from our +position.</p> + +<p> +But in order to see its whole surface it was necessary to go a little +beyond the edge of the satellite, on that side which faced Mars. At the +suggestion of Colonel Smith, who had so frequently stalked Indians that +devices of this kind readily occurred to his mind, the sentinels all +wore garments corresponding in color to that of the soil of the asteroid, +which was of a dark, reddish brown hue. This would tend to conceal them +from the prying eyes of the Martians.</p> + +<p> +The commander himself frequently went around the edge of the planet in +order to take a look at Mars, and I often accompanied him. +</p> + +<h4>Marvellous Discoveries.</h4> + +<h4>The Martians Were the Builders of the Great Sphinx and the +Pyramids.</h4> + +<p> +I shall never forget one occasion, when, lying flat on the ground, +and cautiously worming our way around on the side toward Mars, we had +just begun to observe it with our telescopes, when I perceived, against +the vast curtain of smoke, a small, glinting object, which I instantly +suspected to be an airship.</p> + +<p> +I called Mr. Edison's attention to it, and we both agreed that it was, +undoubtedly, one of the Martians' aerial vessels, probably on the lookout +for us.</p> + +<p> +A short time afterward a large number of airships made their appearance +at the upper surface of the clouds, moving to and fro, and although, +with our glasses, we could only make out the general form of the ships, +without being able to discern the Martians upon them, yet we had not the +least doubt but they were sweeping the sky in every direction in order +to determine whether we had been completely destroyed or had retreated +to a distance from the planet.</p> + +<p> +Even when that side of Mars on which we were looking had passed into +night, we could still see the guardships circling above the clouds, +their presence being betrayed by the faint twinkling of the electric +lights that they bore.</p> + +<p> +Finally, after about a week had passed, the Martians evidently made up +their minds that they had annihilated us, and that there was no longer +danger to be feared. Convincing evidence that they believed we should +not be heard from again was furnished when the withdrawal of the great +curtain of cloud began. +</p> + +<h4>A Great Phenomenon.</h4> + +<p> +This phenomenon first manifested itself by a gradual thinning of the +vaporous shield, until, at length, we began to perceive the red surface +of the planet dimly shining through it. Thinner and rarer it became, and, +after the lapse of about eighteen hours, it had completely disappeared, +and the huge globe shone out again, reflecting the light of the sun +from its continents and oceans with a brightness that, in contrast with +the all-enveloping night to which we had so long been subjected, seemed +unbearable to our eyes.</p> + +<p> +Indeed, so brilliant was the illumination which fell upon the surface of +Deimos that the number of persons who had been permitted to pass around +upon the exposed side of the satellite was carefully restricted. In +the blaze of light which had been suddenly poured upon us we felt +somewhat like malefactors unexpectedly enveloped in the illumination of +a policeman's dark lantern.</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile, the object which we had in view in retreating to the satellite +was not lost sight of, and the services of the chief linguists of the +expedition were again called into use for the purpose of acquiring a +new language. The experiment was conducted in the flagship. The fact +that this time it was not a monster belonging to an utterly alien race +upon whom we were to experiment, but a beautiful daughter of our common +Mother Eve, added zest and interest as well as the most confident hopes +of success to the efforts of those who were striving to understand the +accents of her tongue. +</p> + +<h4>Lingual Difficulties Ahead.</h4> + +<p> +Still the difficulty was very great, notwithstanding the conviction +of the professors that her language would turn out to be a form of the +great Indo-European speech from which the many tongues of civilized men +upon the earth had been derived.</p> + +<p> +The learned men, to tell the truth, gave the poor girl no rest. For hours +at a time they would ply her with interrogations by voice and by gesture, +until, at length, wearied beyond endurance, she would fall asleep before +their faces.</p> + +<p> +Then she would be left undisturbed for a little while, but the moment her +eyes opened again the merciless professors flocked about her once more, +and resumed the tedious iteration of their experiments.</p> + +<p> +Our Heidelberg professor was the chief inquisitor, and he revealed +himself to us in a new and entirely unexpected light. No one could have +anticipated the depth and variety of his resources. He placed himself +in front of the girl and gestured and gesticulated, bowed, nodded, +shrugged his shoulders, screwed his face into an infinite variety of +expressions, smiled, laughed, scowled and accompanied all these dumb +shows with posturings, exclamations, queries, only half expressed in +words, and cadences which, by some ingenious manipulation of the tones +of the voice, he managed to make as marvellous expressive of his desires.</p> + +<p> +He was a universal actor—comedian, tragedian, buffoon—all in one. There +was no shade of human emotion which he did not seem capable of giving +expression to. +</p> + +<h4>The Professor Does His Best.</h4> + +<p> +His every attitude was a symbol, and all his features became in quick +succession types of thought and exponents of hidden feelings, while his +inquisitive nose stood forth in the midst of their ceaseless play like +a perpetual interrogation point that would have electrified the Sphinx +into life, and set its stone lips gabbling answers and explanations.</p> + +<p> +The girl looked on, partly astonished, partly amused, and partly +comprehending. Sometimes she smiled, and then the beauty of her face +became most captivating. Occasionally she burst into a cheery laugh +when the professor was executing some of his extraordinary gyrations +before her.</p> + +<p> +It was a marvellous exhibition of what the human intellect, when all its +powers are concentrated upon a single object, is capable of achieving. It +seemed to me, as I looked at the performance, that if all the races of +men, who had been stricken asunder at the foot of the Tower of Babel by +the miracle which made the tongues of each to speak a language unknown +to the others, could be brought together again at the foot of the same +tower, with all the advantages which thousands of years of education +had in the meantime imparted to them, they would be able, without any +miracle, to make themselves mutually understood.</p> + +<p> +And it was evident that an understanding was actually growing between +the girl and the professor. Their minds were plainly meeting, and when +both had become focused upon the same point, it was perfectly certain +that the object of the experiment would be attained.</p> + +<p> +Whenever the professor got from the girl an intelligent reply to his +pantomimic inquiries, or whenever he believed that he got such a reply, +it was immediately jotted down in the ever open notebook which he +carried in his hand.</p> + +<p> +And then he would turn to us standing by, and with one hand on his heart, +and the other sweeping grandly through the air, would make a profound +bow and say:</p> + +<p> +"The young lady and I great progress make already. I have her words +comprehended. We shall wondrous mysteries solve. Jawohl! Wunderlich! +Make yourselves gentlemen easy. Of the human race the ancestral stem +have I here discovered."</p> + +<p> +Once I glanced over a page of his notebook, and there I read this:</p> + +<p> +"Mars—Zahmor."</p> + +<p> +"Copper—Hayez."</p> + +<p> +"Sword—Anz."</p> + +<p> +"I jump—Altesna."</p> + +<p> +"I slay—Amoutha."</p> + +<p> +"I cut off a head—Ksutaskofa."</p> + +<p> +"I sleep—Zlcha."</p> + +<p> +"I love—Levza." +</p> + +<h4>Aha, Professor Heidelberg!</h4> + +<p> +When I saw this last entry I looked suspiciously at the professor.</p> + +<p> +Was he trying to make love without our knowing it to the beautiful +captive from Mars?</p> + +<p> +If so, I felt certain that he would get himself into difficulty. She +had made a deep impression upon every man in the flagship, and I knew +that there was more than one of the younger men who would have promptly +called him to account if they had suspected him of trying to learn from +those beautiful lips the words, "I love."</p> + +<p> +I pictured to myself the state of mind of Colonel Alonzo Jefferson +Smith if, in my place, he had glanced over the notebook and read what +I had read.</p> + +<p> +And then I thought of another handsome young fellow in the +flagship—Sidney Phillips—who, if mere actions and looks could make +him so, had become exceedingly devoted to this long lost and happily +recovered daughter of Eve.</p> + +<p> +In fact, I had already questioned within my own mind whether the peace +would be strictly kept between Colonel Smith and Mr. Phillips, for the +former had, to my knowledge, noticed the young fellow's adoring glances, +and had begun to regard him out of the corners of his eyes as if he +considered him no better than an Apache or a Mexican greaser. +</p> + +<h4>Jealousy Crops Out.</h4> + +<p> +"But what," I asked myself, "would be the vengeance that Colonel Smith +would take upon this skinny professor from Heidelberg if he thought that +he, taking advantage of his linguistic powers, had stepped in between +him and the damsel whom he had rescued?"</p> + +<p> +However, when I took a second look at the professor, I became convinced +that he was innocent of any such amorous intention, and that he had +learned, or believed he had learned, the word for "love" simply in +pursuance of the method by which he meant to acquire the language of +the girl.</p> + +<p> +There was one thing which gave some of us considerable misgiving, and +that was the question whether, after all, the language the professor was +acquiring was really the girl's own tongue or one that she had learned +from the Martians.</p> + +<p> +But the professor bade us rest easy on that point. He assured us, in the +first place, that this girl could not be the only human being living upon +Mars, but that she must have friends and relatives there. That being so, +they unquestionably had a language of their own, which they spoke when +they were among themselves. Here finding herself among beings belonging +to her own race, she would naturally speak her own tongue and not that +which she had acquired from the Martians.</p> + +<p> +"Moreover, gentlemen," he added, "I have in her speech many roots of +the great Aryan tongue already recognized."</p> + +<p> +We were greatly relieved by this explanation, which seemed to all of us +perfectly satisfactory.</p> + +<p> +Yet, really, there was no reason why one language should be any better +than the other for our present purpose. In fact, it might be more useful +to us to know the language of the Martians themselves. Still, we all +felt that we should prefer to know her language rather than that of the +monsters among whom she had lived.</p> + +<p> +Colonel Smith expressed what was in all our minds when, after listening +to the reasoning of the Professor, he blurted out:</p> + +<p> +"Thank God, she doesn't speak any of their blamed lingo! By Jove, it +would soil her pretty lips."</p> + +<p> +"But also that she speaks, too," said the man from Heidelberg, turning +to Colonel Smith with a grin. "We shall both of them eventually learn." +</p> + +<h4>A Tedious Language Lesson.</h4> + +<p> +Three entire weeks were passed in this manner. After the first week +the girl herself materially assisted the linguists in their efforts to +acquire her speech.</p> + +<p> +At length the task was so far advanced that we could, in a certain sense, +regard it as practically completed. The Heidelberg Professor declared +that he had mastered the tongue of the ancient Aryans. His delight was +unbounded. With prodigious industry he set to work, scarcely stopping +to eat or sleep, to form a grammar of the language.</p> + +<p> +"You shall see," he said, "it will the speculations of my countrymen +vindicate."</p> + +<p> +No doubt the Professor had an exaggerated opinion of the extent of his +acquirements, but the fact remained that enough had been learned of +the girl's language to enable him and several others to converse with +her quite as readily as a person of good capacity who has studied under +the instructions of a native teacher during a period of six months can +converse in a foreign tongue.</p> + +<p> +Immediately almost every man in the squadron set vigorously at work to +learn the language of this fair creature for himself. Colonel Smith and +Sidney Phillips were neck and neck in the linguistic race.</p> + +<p> +One of the first bits of information which the Professor had given out +was the name of the girl. +</p> + +<h4>We Learn Her Name.</h4> + +<p> +It was Aina (pronounced Ah-ee-na).</p> + +<p> +This news was flashed throughout the squadron, and the name of our +beautiful captive was on the lips of all.</p> + +<p> +After that came her story. It was a marvellous narrative. Translated +into our tongue it ran as follows:</p> + +<p> +"The traditions of my fathers, handed down for generations so many that +no one can number them, declare that the planet of Mars was not the +place of our origin."</p> + +<p> +"Ages and ages ago our forefathers dwelt on another and distant world +that was nearer to the sun than this one is, and enjoyed brighter daylight +than we have here."</p> + +<p> +"They dwelt—as I have often heard the story from my father, who had +learned it by heart from his father, and he from his—in a beautiful +valley that was surrounded by enormous mountains towering into the clouds +and white about their tops with snow that never melted. In the valley +were lakes, around which clustered the dwellings of our race."</p> + +<p> +"It was, the traditions say, a land wonderful for its fertility, filled +with all things that the heart could desire, splendid with flowers and +rich with luscious fruits."</p> + +<p> +"It was a land of music, and the people who dwelt in it were very happy."</p> + +<p> +While the girl was telling this part of her story the Heidelberg Professor +became visibly more and more excited. Presently he could keep quiet no +longer, and suddenly exclaimed, turning to us who were listening, as the +words of the girl were interpreted for us by one of the other linguists:</p> + +<p> +"Gentlemen, it is the Vale of Cashmere! Has not my great countryman, +Adelung, so declared? Has he not said that the Valley of Cashmere was +the cradle of the human race already?"</p> + +<p> +"From the Valley of Cashmere to the planet Mars—what a +romance!" exclaimed one of the bystanders.</p> + +<p> +Colonel Smith appeared to be particularly moved, and I heard him humming +under his breath, greatly to my astonishment, for this rough soldier +was not much given to poetry or music:</p> + +<p> +"Who has not heard of the Vale of Cashmere,<br /> + With its roses the brightest that earth ever gave;<br /> +Its temples, its grottoes, its fountains as clear,<br /> + As the love-lighted eyes that hang over the wave."</p> + +<p> +Mr. Sidney Phillips, standing by, and also catching the murmur of Colonel +Smith's words, showed in his handsome countenance some indications of +distress, as if he wished he had thought of those lines himself. +</p> + +<h4>Aina Tells Her Story.</h4> + +<p> +The girl resumed her narrative:</p> + +<p> +"Suddenly there dropped down out of the sky strange gigantic enemies, +armed with mysterious weapons, and began to slay and burn and make +desolate. Our forefathers could not withstand them. They seemed like +demons, who had been sent from the abodes of evil to destroy our race."</p> + +<p> +"Some of the wise men said that this thing had come upon our people +because they had been very wicked, and the gods in Heaven were angry. Some +said they came from the moon, and some from the far-away stars. But of +these things my forefathers knew nothing for a certainty."</p> + +<p> +"The destroyers showed no mercy to the inhabitants of the beautiful +valley. Not content with making it a desert, they swept over other parts +of the earth."</p> + +<p> +"The tradition says that they carried off from the valley, which was +our native land, a large number of our people, taking them first into +a strange country, where there were oceans of sand, but where a great +river, flowing through the midst of the sands, created a narrow land of +fertility. Here, after having slain and driven out the native inhabitants, +they remained for many years, keeping our people, whom they had carried +into captivity, as slaves."</p> + +<p> +"And in this Land of Sand, it is said, they did many wonderful works."</p> + +<p> +"They had been astonished at the sight of the great mountains which +surrounded our valley, for on Mars there are no mountains, and after +they came into the Land of Sand they built there with huge blocks of +stone mountains in imitation of what they had seen, and used them for +purposes that our people did not understand."</p> + +<p> +"Then, too, it is said they left there at the foot of these mountains +that they had made a gigantic image of the great chief who led them in +their conquest of our world."</p> + +<p> +At this point in the story the Heidelberg Professor again broke in, +fairly trembling with excitement: +</p> + +<h4>The Wonders of the Martians!</h4> + +<p> +"Gentlemen, gentlemen," he cried, "is it that you do not understand? This +Land of Sand and of a wonderful fertilizing river—what can it +be? Gentlemen, it is Egypt! These mountains of rock that the Martians +have erected, what are they? Gentlemen, they are the great mystery of the +land of the Nile, the Pyramids. The gigantic statue of their leader that +they at the foot of their artificial mountains have set up—gentlemen, +what is that? It is the Sphinx!"</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +The Martians Built the Sphinx.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm2010.png" alt="Sphinx" title="Sphinx" /><br /> +"Gentlemen," exclaimed the Professor, "these mountains of rock that +the Martians built are the Pyramids of Egypt. The gigantic statue of +their leader is The Great Sphinx!" +</p> +<hr /> + +<p> +The Professor's agitation was so great that he could go no further. And +indeed there was not one of us who did not fully share his excitement. To +think that we should have come to the planet Mars to solve one of the +standing mysteries of the earth, which had puzzled mankind and defied +all their efforts at solution for so many centuries! Here, then, was +the explanation of how those gigantic blocks that constitute the great +Pyramid of Cheops had been swung to their lofty elevation. It was not the +work of puny man, as many an engineer had declared that it could not be, +but the work of these giants of Mars. +</p> + +<h4>Aina's Wonderful Story.</h4> + +<h4>The Martians' Beautiful Prisoner Recounts Her Marvellous +Adventures.</h4> + +<p> +Aina resumed her story.</p> + +<p> +"At length, our traditions say, a great pestilence broke out in the Land +of Sand, and a partial vengeance was granted to us in the destruction +of the larger number of our enemies. At last the giants who remained, +fleeing before this scourge of the gods, used the mysterious means at +their command, and, carrying our ancestors with them, returned to their +own world, in which we have ever since lived."</p> + +<p> +"Then there are more of your people in Mars?" said one of the professors.</p> + +<p> +"Alas, no," replied Aina, her eyes filling with tears, "I alone am left."</p> + +<p> +For a few minutes she was unable to speak. Then she continued: +</p> + +<h4>An Ancient Martian Conquest.</h4> + +<p> +"What fury possessed them I do not know, but not long ago an expedition +departed from the planet, the purpose of which, as it was noised about +over Mars, was the conquest of a distant world. After a time a few +survivors of that expedition returned. The story they told caused great +excitement among our masters. They had been successful in their battles +with the inhabitants of the world they had invaded, but as in the days +of our forefathers, in the Land of Sand, a pestilence smote them, and +but few survivors escaped."</p> + +<p> +"Not long after that, you, with your mysterious ships, appeared in the +sky of Mars. Our masters studied you with their telescopes, and those +who had returned from the unfortunate expedition declared that you +were inhabitants of the world which they had invaded, come, doubtless, +to take vengeance upon them."</p> + +<p> +"Some of my people who were permitted to look through the telescopes of +the Martians, saw you also, and recognized you as members of their own +race. There were several thousand of us, altogether, and we were kept by +the Martians to serve them as slaves, and particularly to delight their +ears with music, for our people have always been especially skilful in +the playing of musical instruments, and in songs, and while the Martians +have but little musical skill themselves, they are exceedingly fond of +these things." +</p> + +<h4>Awaiting a Rescue.</h4> + +<p> +"Although Mars had completed not less than five thousand circuits about +the sun since our ancestors were brought as prisoners to its surface, yet +the memory of our distant home had never perished from the hearts of our +race, and when we recognized you, as we believed, our own brothers, come +to rescue us from long imprisonment, there was great rejoicing. The news +spread from mouth to mouth, wherever we were in the houses and families +of our masters. We seemed to be powerless to aid you or to communicate +with you in any manner. Yet our hearts went out to you, as in your ships +you hung above the planet, and preparations were secretly made by all the +members of our race for your reception when, as we believed, would occur, +you should effect a landing upon the planet and destroy our enemies."</p> + +<p> +"But in some manner the fact that we had recognized you, and were +preparing to welcome you, came to the ears of the Martians."</p> + +<p> +At this point the girl suddenly covered her eyes with her hands, +shuddering and falling back in her seat.</p> + +<p> +"Oh, you do not know them as I do!" at length she exclaimed. "The +monsters! Their vengeance was too terrible! Instantly the order went forth +that we should all be butchered, and that awful command was executed!"</p> + +<p> +"How, then, did you escape?" asked the Heidelberg Professor.</p> + +<p> +Aina seemed unable to speak for a while. Finally mastering her emotion, +she replied: +</p> + +<h4>Her Fortunate Escape.</h4> + +<p> +"One of the chief officers of the Martians wished me to remain alive. He, +with his aides, carried me to one of the military depot of supplies, +where I was found and rescued," and as she said this she turned toward +Colonel Smith with a smile that reflected on his ruddy face and made it +glow like a Chinese lantern.</p> + +<p> +"By ——!" muttered Colonel Smith, "that was the fellow we blew into +nothing! Blast him, he got off too easy!"</p> + +<p> +The remainder of Aina's story may be briefly told.</p> + +<p> +When Colonel Smith and I entered the mysterious building which, as it +now proved, was not a storehouse belonging to a village, as we had +supposed, but one of the military depots of the Martians, the girl, +on catching sight of us, immediately recognized us as belonging to the +strange squadron in the sky. As such she felt that we must be her friends, +and saw in us her only possible hope of escape. For that reason she had +instantly thrown herself under our protection. This accounted for the +singular confidence which she had manifested in us from the beginning.</p> + +<p> +Her wonderful story had so captivated our imaginations that for a long +time after it was finished we could not recover from the spell. It was +told over and over again from mouth to mouth, and repeated from ship to +ship, everywhere exciting the utmost astonishment.</p> + +<p> +Destiny seemed to have sent us on this expedition into space for the +purpose of clearing off mysteries that had long puzzled the minds +of men. When on the moon we had unexpectedly to ourselves settled the +question that had been debated from the beginning of astronomical history +of the former habitability of that globe. +</p> + +<h4>A Question Settled.</h4> + +<p> +Now, on Mars, we had put to rest no less mysterious questions relating to +the past history of our own planet. Adelung, as the Heidelberg Professor +asserted, had named the Vale of Cashmere as the probable site of the +Garden of Eden, and the place of origin of the human race, but later +investigators had taken issue with this opinion, and the question where +the Aryans originated upon the earth had long been one of the most +puzzling that science presented.</p> + +<p> +This question seemed now to have been settled.</p> + +<p> +Aina had said that Mars had completed 5,000 circuits about the sun since +her people were brought to it as captives. One circuit of Mars occupies +687 days. More than 9,000 years had therefore elapsed since the first +invasion of the earth by the Martians.</p> + +<p> +Another great mystery—that of the origin of those gigantic and +inexplicable monuments, the great pyramids and the Sphinx, on the banks of +the Nile, had also apparently been solved by us, although these Egyptian +wonders had been the furthest things from our thoughts when we set out +for the planet Mars.</p> + +<p> +We had travelled more than thirty millions of miles in order to get +answers to questions which could not be solved at home.</p> + +<p> +But from these speculations and retrospects we were recalled by the +commander of the expedition. +</p> + +<h4>Does Aina Hold the Secret?</h4> + +<p> +"This is all very interesting and very romantic, gentlemen," he said, +"but now let us get at the practical side of it. We have learned Aina's +language and have heard her story. Let us next ascertain whether +she cannot place in our hands some key which will place Mars at our +mercy. Remember what we came here for, and remember that the earth +expects every man of us to do his duty."</p> + +<p> +This Nelson-like summons again changed the current of our thoughts, +and we instantly set to work to learn from Aina if Mars, like Achilles, +had not some vulnerable point where a blow would be mortal. + + +</p> + +<p> +<a name="XIV"></a></p> +<hr /><h2>Chapter XIV.</h2> + +<p> +It was a curious scene when the momentous interview which was to +determine our fate and that of Mars began. Aina had been warned of what +was coming. We in the flagship had all learned to speak her language with +more or less ease, but it was deemed best that the Heidelberg Professor, +assisted by one of his colleagues, should act as interpreter.</p> + +<p> +The girl, flushed with excitement of the novel situation, fully +appreciating the importance of what was about to occur, and looking +more charming than before, stood at one side of the principal +apartment. Directly facing her were the interpreters, and the rest of +us, all with ears intent and eyes focused upon Aina, stood in a double +row behind them.</p> + +<p> +As heretofore, I am setting down her words translated into our own tongue, +having taken only so much liberty as to connect the sentences into a +stricter sequence than they had when falling from her lips in reply to +the questions that were showered upon her. +</p> + +<h4>She Has a Plan.</h4> + +<p> +"You will never be victorious," she said, "if you attack them openly as +you have been doing. They are too strong and too numerous. They are well +prepared for such attacks, because they have had to resist them before."</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +Aina's Plan to Capture Mars.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm2109.png" alt="Aina's Plan" title="Aina's Plan" /><br /> +Our beautiful captive tells us that it will be impossible for us to +subdue the Martians in a hand-to-hand conflict, but reveals a plan to +exterminate them which is gigantic in its scope and originality. +</p> +<hr /> + +<p> +"They have waged war with the inhabitants of the asteroid Ceres, whose +people are giants greater than themselves. Their enemies from Ceres have +attacked them here. Hence these fortifications, with weapons pointing +skyward, and the great air fleets which you have encountered."</p> + +<p> +"But there must be some point," said Mr. Edison, "where we can."</p> + +<p> +"Yes, yes," interrupted the girl quickly, "there is one blow you can +deal them which they could not withstand."</p> + +<p> +"What is that?" eagerly inquired the commander.</p> + +<p> +"You can drown them out."</p> + +<p> +"How? With the canals?" +</p> + +<h4>We Must Drown Them Out.</h4> + +<p> +"Yes, I will explain to you. I have already told you, and, in fact, +you must have seen it for yourselves, that there are almost no mountains +on Mars. A very learned man of my race used to say that the reason was +because Mars is so very old a world that the mountains it once had have +been almost completely levelled, and the entire surface of the planet had +become a great plain. There are depressions, however, most of which are +occupied by the seas. The greater part of the land lies below the level +of the oceans. In order at the same time to irrigate the soil and make it +fruitful, and to protect themselves from overflows by the ocean breaking +in upon them, the Martians have constructed the immense and innumerable +canals which you see running in all directions over the continents."</p> + +<p> +"There is one period in the year, and that period has now arrived, when +there is special danger of a great deluge. Most of the oceans of Mars +lie in the southern hemisphere. When it is Summer in that hemisphere, +the great masses of ice and snow collected around the south pole melt +rapidly away."</p> + +<p> +"Yes, that is so," broke in one of our astronomers, who was listening +attentively. "Many a time I have seen the vast snow fields around the +southern pole of Mars completely disappear as the Summer sun rose high +upon them."</p> + +<p> +"With the melting of these snows," continued Aina, "a rapid rise in the +level of the water in the southern oceans occurs. On the side facing +these oceans the continents of Mars are sufficiently elevated to prevent +an overflow, but nearer the equator the level of the land sinks lower."</p> + +<p> +"With your telescopes you have no doubt noticed that there is a great +bending sea connecting the oceans of the south with those of the north +and running through the midst of the continents."</p> + +<p> +"Quite so," said the astronomer who had spoken before, "we call it the +Syrtis Major."</p> + +<p> +"That long narrow sea," Aina went on, "forms a great channel through +which the flood of waters caused by the melting of the southern polar +snows flows swiftly toward the equator and then on toward the north until +it reaches the sea basins which exist there. At that point it is rapidly +turned into ice and snow, because, of course, while it is Summer in the +southern hemisphere it is Winter in the northern." +</p> + +<h4>Mars Will Be Ours.</h4> + +<p> +"The Syrtis Major (I am giving our name to the channel of communication in +place of that by which the girl called it) is like a great safety valve, +which, by permitting the waters to flow northward, saves the continents +from inundation."</p> + +<p> +"But when mid-Summer arrives, the snows around the pole having been +completely melted away, the flood ceases and the water begins to +recede. At this time, but for a device which the Martians have employed, +the canals connected with the oceans would run dry, and the vegetation, +left without moisture under the Summer sun, would quickly perish."</p> + +<p> +"To prevent this they have built a series of enormous gates extending +completely across the Syrtis Major at its narrowest point (latitude 25 +degrees south). These gates are all controlled by machinery collected +at a single point on the shore of the strait. As soon as the flood in +the Syrtis Major begins to recede, the gates are closed, and, the water +being thus restrained, the irrigating canals are kept full long enough +to mature the harvests."</p> + +<p> +"The clew! The clew at last!" exclaimed Mr. Edison. "That is the place +where we shall nip them. If we can close those gates now at the moment +of high tide we shall flood the country. Did you say," he continued, +turning to Aina, "that the movement of the gates was all controlled from +a single point?" +</p> + +<h4>The Great Power House.</h4> + +<p> +"Yes," said the girl. "There is a great building (power house) full of +tremendous machinery which I once entered when my father was taken there +by his master, and where I saw one Martian, by turning a little handle, +cause the great line of gates, stretching a hundred miles across the sea, +to slowly shut in, edge to edge, until the flow of the water toward the +north had been stopped."</p> + +<p> +"How is the building protected?"</p> + +<p> +"So completely," replied Aina, "that my only fear is that you may not be +able to reach it. On account of the danger from their enemies on Ceres, +the Martians have fortified it strongly on all sides, and have even +surrounded it and covered it overhead with a great electrical network, +to touch which would be instant death."</p> + +<p> +"Ah," said Mr. Edison, "they have got an electric shield, have they? Well, +I think we shall be able to manage that."</p> + +<p> +"Anyhow," he continued, "we have got to get into that power house, and we +have got to close those gates, and we must not lose much time in making +up our minds how it is to be done. Evidently this is our only chance. We +have not force enough to contend in open battle with the Martians, but +if we can flood them out, and thereby render the engines contained in +their fortifications useless, perhaps we shall be able to deal with the +airships, which will be all the means of defence that will then remain +to them."</p> + +<p> +This idea commended itself to all the leaders of the expedition. It was +determined to make a reconnaissance at once.</p> + +<p> +But it would not do for us to approach the planet too hastily, and we +certainly could not think of landing upon it in broad daylight. Still, +as long as we were yet at a considerable distance from Mars, we felt that +we should be safe from observation, because so much time had elapsed +while we were hidden behind Deimos that the Martians had undoubtedly +concluded that we were no longer in existence.</p> + +<p> +So we boldly quitted the little satellite with our entire squadron and +once more rapidly approached the red planet of war. This time it was +to be a death grapple and our chances of victory still seemed good. +</p> + +<h4>Ready for a Death Grapple.</h4> + +<p> +As soon as we arrived so near the planet that there was danger of our +being actually seen, we took pains to keep continually in the shadow +of Mars, and the more surely to conceal our presence all lights upon +the ships were extinguished. The precaution of the commander even went +so far as to have the smooth metallic sides of the cars blackened over +so that they should not reflect light, and thus become visible to the +Martians as shining specks, moving suspiciously among the stars.</p> + +<p> +The precise location of the great power house on the shores of the Syrtis +Major having been carefully ascertained, the squadron dropped down one +night into the upper limits of the Martian atmosphere, directly over +the gulf.</p> + +<p> +Then a consultation was called on the flagship and a plan of campaign +was quickly devised.</p> + +<p> +It was deemed wise that the attempt should be made with a single +electrical ship, but that the others should be kept hovering near, ready +to respond on the instant to any signal for aid which might come from +below. It was thought that, notwithstanding the wonderful defences, +which, according to Aina's account surrounded the building, a small +party would have a better chance of success than a large one.</p> + +<p> +Mr. Edison was certain that the electrical network which was described +as covering the power house would not prove a serious obstruction to +us, because by carefully sweeping the space where we intended to pass +with the disintegrators before quitting the ship, the netting could be +sufficiently cleared away to give us uninterrupted passage.</p> + +<p> +At first the intention was to have twenty men, each armed with two +disintegrators (that being the largest number that one person could carry +to advantage) descend from the electrical ship and make the venture. But, +after further discussion, this number was reduced; first to a dozen, +and finally, to only four. These four consisted of Mr. Edison, Colonel +Smith, Mr. Sidney Phillips and myself.</p> + +<p> +Both by her own request and because we could not help feeling that her +knowledge of the locality would be indispensable to us, Aina was also +included in our party, but not, of course, as a fighting member of it.</p> + +<p> +It was about an hour after midnight when the ship in which we were to +make the venture parted from the remainder of the squadron and dropped +cautiously down. The blaze of electric lights running away in various +directions indicated the lines of innumerable canals with habitations +crowded along their banks, which came to a focus at a point on the +continent of Aeria, westward from the Syrtis Major. +</p> + +<h4>Destroying The Martians.</h4> + +<h4>With Aina's Aid Our Warriors Prepare an Awful Revenge on the Enemy.</h4> + +<p> +We stopped the electrical ship at an elevation of perhaps three hundred +feet above the vast roof of a structure which Aina assured us was the +building we were in search of.</p> + +<p> +Here we remained for a few minutes, cautiously reconnoitring. On that +side of the power house which was opposite to the shore of the Syrtis +Major there was a thick grove of trees, lighted beneath, as was apparent +from the illumination which here and there streamed up through the cover +of leaves, but, nevertheless, dark and gloomy above the tree tops.</p> + +<p> +"The electric network extends over the grove as well as over the +building," said Aina.</p> + +<p> +This was lucky for us, because we wished to descend among the trees, +and, by destroying part of the network over the tree tops, we could +reach the shelter we desired and at the same time pass within the line +of electric defences.</p> + +<p> +With increased caution, and almost holding our breath lest we should +make some noise that might reach the ears of the sentinels beneath, we +caused the car to settle gently down until we caught sight of a metallic +net stretched in the air between us and the trees.</p> + +<p> +After our first encounter with the Martians on the asteroid, where, as +I have related, some metal which was included in their dress resisted +the action of the disintegrators, Mr. Edison had readjusted the range +of vibrations covered by the instruments, and since then we had found +nothing that did not yield to them. Consequently, we had no fear that +the metal of the network would not be destroyed.</p> + +<p> +There was danger, however, of arousing attention by shattering +holes through the tree tops. This could be avoided by first carefully +ascertaining how far away the network was, and then with the adjustable +mirrors attached to the disintegrators focusing the vibratory discharge +at that distance. +</p> + +<h4>Overcoming Their Precautions.</h4> + +<p> +So successful were we that we opened a considerable gap in the network +without doing any perceptible damage to the trees beneath.</p> + +<p> +The ship was cautiously lowered through the opening and brought to rest +among the upper branches of one of the tallest trees. Colonel Smith, +Mr. Phillips, Mr. Edison and myself at once clambered out upon a strong +limb.</p> + +<p> +For a moment I feared our arrival had been betrayed on account of the +altogether too noisy contest that arose between Colonel Smith and +Mr. Phillips as to which of them should assist Aina. To settle the +dispute I took charge of her myself.</p> + +<p> +At length we were all safely in the tree.</p> + +<p> +Then followed the still more dangerous undertaking of descending from +this great height to the ground. Fortunately, the branches were very +close together and they extended down within a short distance of the +soil. So the actual difficulties of the descent were not very great +after all. The one thing that we had particularly to bear in mind was +the absolute necessity of making no noise.</p> + +<p> +At length the descent was successfully accomplished, and we all five +stood together in the shadow at the foot of the great tree. The grove +was so thick around that while there was an abundance of electric lights +among the trees, their illumination did not fall upon us where we stood.</p> + +<p> +Peering cautiously through the vistas in various directions, we +ascertained our location with respect to the wall of the building. Like +all the structures that we had seen on Mars, it was composed of polished +red metal. +</p> + +<h4>Looking for an Entrance.</h4> + +<p> +"Where is the entrance?" inquired Mr. Edison, in a whisper.</p> + +<p> +"Come softly this way, and look out for the sentinel," replied Aina.</p> + +<p> +Gripping our disintegrators firmly, and screwing up our courage, with +noiseless steps we followed the girl among the shadows of the trees.</p> + +<p> +We had one very great advantage. The Martians had evidently placed so +much confidence in the electric network which surrounded the power house +that they never dreamed of enemies being able to penetrate it—at least, +without giving warning of their coming.</p> + +<p> +But the hole which we had blown in this network with the disintegrators +had been made noiselessly, and Mr. Edison believed, since no enemies +had appeared, that our operations had not been betrayed by any automatic +signal to watchers inside the building.</p> + +<p> +Consequently, we had every reason to think that we now stood within +the line of defence, in which they reposed the greatest confidence, +without their having the least suspicion of our presence.</p> + +<p> +Aina assured us that on the occasion of her former visit to the power +house there had been but two sentinels on guard at the entrance. At the +inner end of a long passage leading to the interior, she said, there +were two more. Besides these there were three or four Martian engineers +watching the machinery in the interior of the building. A number of air +ships were supposed to be on guard around the structure, but possibly +their vigilance had been relaxed, because not long ago the Martians had +sent an expedition against Ceres which had been so successful that the +power of that planet to make an attack upon Mars had for the present +been destroyed.</p> + +<p> +Supposing us to have been annihilated in the recent battle among the +clouds, they would have no fear or cause for vigilance on our account.</p> + +<p> +The entrance to the great structure was low—at least, when measured by +the stature of the Martians. Evidently the intention was that only one +person at a time should find room to pass through it.</p> + +<p> +Drawing cautiously near, we discerned the outlines of two gigantic forms, +standing in the darkness, one on either side of the door. Colonel Smith +whispered to me: +</p> + +<h4>The Disintegrator Again.</h4> + +<p> +"If you will take the fellow on the right, I will attend to the other +one."</p> + +<p> +Adjusting our aim as carefully as was possible in the gloom, Colonel +Smith and I simultaneously discharged our disintegrators, sweeping +them rapidly up and down in the manner which had become familiar to us +when endeavoring to destroy one of the gigantic Martians with a single +stroke. And so successful were we that the two sentinels disappeared as +if they had been ghosts of the night.</p> + +<p> +Instantly we all hurried forward and entered the door. Before us extended +a long, straight passage, brightly illuminated by a number of electric +candles. Its polished sides gleamed with blood-red reflections, and +the gallery terminated, at a distance of two or three hundred feet, +with an opening into a large chamber beyond, on the further side of +which we could see part of a gigantic and complicated mass of machinery.</p> + +<p> +Making as little noise as possible, we pushed ahead along the passage, +but when we had arrived within a distance of a dozen paces from the +inner end, we stopped, and Colonel Smith, getting down upon his knees, +crept forward until he had reached the inner end of the passage. There +he peered cautiously around the edge into the chamber, and, turning his +head a moment later, beckoned us to come forward. We crept to his side, +and, looking out into the vast apartment, could perceive no enemies.</p> + +<p> +What had become of the sentinels supposed to stand at the inner end of the +passage we could not imagine. At any rate, they were not at their posts. +</p> + +<h4>In the Great Power House.</h4> + +<p> +The chamber was an immense square room at least a hundred feet in height +and 400 feet on a side, and almost filling the wall opposite to us was +an intricate display of machinery, wheels, levers, rods and polished +plates. This we had no doubt was one end of the great engine which opened +and shut the great gates that could dam an ocean.</p> + +<p> +"There is no one in sight," said Colonel Smith.</p> + +<p> +"Then we must act quickly," said Mr. Edison.</p> + +<p> +"Where," he said, turning to Aina, "is the handle by turning which you +saw the Martian close the gates?"</p> + +<p> +Aina looked about in bewilderment. The mechanism before us was so +complicated that even an expert mechanician would have been excusable +for finding himself unable to understand it. There were scores of knobs +and handles, all glistening in the electric light, any one of which, +so far as the uninstructed could tell, might have been the master key +that controlled the whole complex apparatus. +</p> + +<h4>The Magic Lever!</h4> + +<p> +"Quick," said Mr. Edison, "where is it?"</p> + +<p> +The girl in her confusion ran this way and that, gazing hopelessly upon +the machinery, but evidently utterly unable to help us.</p> + +<p> +To remain here inactive was not merely to invite destruction for +ourselves, but was sure to bring certain failure upon the purpose of +the expedition. All of us began instantly to look about in search of +the proper handle, seizing every crank and wheel in sight and striving +to turn it.</p> + +<p> +"Stop that!" shouted Mr. Edison, "you may set the whole thing wrong. Don't +touch anything until we have found the right lever."</p> + +<p> +But to find that seemed to most of us now utterly beyond the power of man.</p> + +<p> +It was at this critical moment that the wonderful depth and reach of +Mr. Edison's mechanical genius displayed itself. He stepped back, ran +his eye quickly over the whole immense mass of wheels, handles, bolts, +bars and levers, paused for an instant, as if making up his mind, then +said decidedly, "There it is," and, stepping quickly forward, selected a +small wheel amid a dozen others, all furnished at the circumference with +handles like those of a pilot's wheel, and, giving it a quick wrench, +turned it half way around. +</p> + +<h4>Surprised by the Enemy.</h4> + +<p> +At this instant, a startling shout fell upon our ears. There was +a thunderous clatter behind us, and, turning, we saw three gigantic +Martians rushing forward. + + +</p> + +<p> +<a name="XV"></a></p> +<hr /><h2>Chapter XV.</h2> + +<p> +"Sweep them! Sweep them!" cried Colonel Smith, as he brought his +disintegrator to bear. Mr. Phillips and I instantly followed his example, +and thus we swept the Martians into eternity, while Mr. Edison coolly +continued his manipulations of the wheel.</p> + +<p> +The effect of what he was doing became apparent in less than half a +minute. A shiver ran through the mass of machinery and shook the entire +building.</p> + +<p> +"Look! look!" cried Sidney Phillips, who had stepped a little apart from +the others. +</p> + +<h4>The Grand Canal.</h4> + +<p> +We all ran to his side and found ourselves in front of a great window +which opened through the side of the engine, giving a view of what lay +in front of it. There, gleaming in the electric lights, we saw the +Syrtis Major, its waters washing high against the walls of the vast +power house. Running directly out from the shore, there was an immense +metallic gate at least 400 yards in length and rising 300 feet above +the present level of the water.</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +The Grand Rush of Waters.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm2212.png" alt="Rush of Waters" title="Rush of Waters" /><br /> +We all ran to his side and found ourselves in front of a great +window. There, gleaming in the electric light, we saw the Syrtis +Major, its waters washing high against the walls of the vast power +house! +</p> +<hr /> + +<p> +This great gate was slowly swinging upon an invisible hinge in such a +manner that in a few minutes it would evidently stand across the current +of the Syrtis Major at right angles.</p> + +<p> +Beyond was a second gate, which was moving in the same manner. Further +on was a third gate, and then another, and another, as far as the eye +could reach, evidently extending in an unbroken series completely across +the great strait.</p> + +<p> +As the gates, with accelerated motion when the current caught them, +clanged together, we beheld a spectacle that almost stopped the beating +of our hearts. +</p> + +<h4>A Great Rush of Waters.</h4> + +<p> +The great Syrtis seemed to gather itself for a moment, and then it leaped +upon the obstruction and hurled its waters into one vast foaming geyser +that seemed to shoot a thousand feet skyward.</p> + +<p> +But the metal gates withstood the shock, though buried from our sight +in the seething white mass, and the baffled waters instantly swirled +round in ten thousand gigantic eddies, rising to the level of our window +and beginning to inundate the power house before we fairly comprehended +our peril.</p> + +<p> +"We have done the work," said Mr. Edison, smiling grimly. "Now we had +better get out of this before the flood bursts upon us."</p> + +<p> +The warning came none too soon. It was necessary to act upon it at once +if we would save our lives. Even before we could reach the entrance to +the long passage through which we had come into the great engine room, the +water had risen half way to our knees. Colonel Smith, catching Aina under +his arm, led the way. The roar of the maddened torrent behind deafened us.</p> + +<p> +As we ran through the passage, the water followed us, with a wicked +swishing sound, and within five seconds it was above our knees; in ten +seconds up to our waists.</p> + +<p> +The great danger now was that we should be swept from our feet, and once +down in that torrent there would have been little chance of our ever +getting our heads above its level. Supporting ourselves as best we could +with the aid of the walls, we partly ran, and were partly swept along, +until, when we reached the outer end of the passage and emerged into +the open air, the flood was swirling about our shoulders. +</p> + +<h4>Escaping the Water.</h4> + +<p> +Here there was an opportunity to clutch some of the ornamental work +surrounding the doorway, and thus we managed to stay our mad progress, +and gradually to work out of the current until we found that the water, +having now an abundance of room to spread, had fallen again as low as +our knees.</p> + +<p> +But suddenly we heard the thunder of the banks tumbling behind us, and +to the right and left, and the savage growl of the released water as it +sprang through the breaches.</p> + +<p> +To my dying day, I think, I shall not forget the sight of a great fluid +column that burst through the dyke at the edge of the grove of trees, and, +by the tremendous impetus of its rush, seemed turned into a solid thing.</p> + +<p> +Like an enormous ram, it plowed the soil to a depth of twenty feet, +uprooting acres of the immense trees like stubble turned over by the +plowshare.</p> + +<p> +The uproar was so awful that for an instant the coolest of us lost our +self-control. Yet we knew that we had not the fraction of a second to +waste. The breaking of the banks had caused the water again rapidly to +rise about us. In a little while it was once more as high as our waists.</p> + +<p> +In the excitement and confusion, deafened by the noise and blinded by +the flying foam, we were in danger of becoming separated in the flood. We +no longer knew certainly in what direction was the tree by whose aid we +had ascended from the electrical ship. We pushed first one way and then +another, staggering through the rushing waters in search of it. Finally +we succeeded in locating it, and with all our strength hurried toward it.</p> + +<p> +Then there came a noise as if the globe of Mars had been split asunder, +and another great head of water hurled itself down upon the soil before +us, and, without taking time to spread, bored a vast cavity in the ground, +and scooped out the whole of the grove before our eyes as easily as a +gardener lifts a sod with his spade. +</p> + +<h4>Are We, Too, Destroyed?</h4> + +<p> +Our last hope was gone. For a moment the level of the water around us +sank again, as it poured into the immense excavation where the grove had +stood, but in an instant it was reinforced from all sides and began once +more rapidly to rise.</p> + +<p> +We gave ourselves up for lost, and, indeed, there did not seem any +possible hope of salvation.</p> + +<p> +Even in the extremity I saw Colonel Smith lifting the form of Aina, who +had fainted, above the surface of the surging water, while Sidney Phillips +stood by his side and aided him in supporting the unconscious girl.</p> + +<p> +"We stayed a little too long," was the only sound I heard from Mr. Edison.</p> + +<p> +The huge bulk of the power house partially protected us against the force +of the current, and the water spun around us in great eddies. These swept +us this way and that, but yet we managed to cling together, determined +not to be separated in death if we could avoid it.</p> + +<p> +Suddenly a cry rang out directly above our heads:</p> + +<p> +"Jump for your lives, and be quick!"</p> + +<p> +At the same instant the ends of several ropes splashed into the water.</p> + +<p> +We glanced upward, and there, within three or four yards of our heads, +hung the electrical ship, which we had left moored at the top of the tree.</p> + +<p> +Tom, the expert electrician from Mr. Edison's shop, who had remained in +charge of the ship, had never once dreamed of such a thing as deserting +us. The moment he saw the water bursting over the dam, and evidently +flooding the building which we had entered, he cast off his moorings, +as we subsequently learned, and hovered over the entrance to the power +house, getting as low down as possible and keeping a sharp watch for us.</p> + +<p> +But most of the electric lights in the vicinity had been carried down by +the first rush of water, and in the darkness he did not see us when we +emerged from the entrance. It was only after the sweeping away of the +grove of trees had allowed a flood of light to stream upon the scene +from a cluster of electric lamps on a distant portion of the bank on +the Syrtis that had not yet given way that he caught sight of us. +</p> + +<h4>Mars Is Ruined!</h4> + +<p> +Immediately he began to shout to attract our attention, but in the awful +uproar we could not hear him. Getting together all the ropes that he +could lay his hands on, he steered the ship to a point directly over us, +and then dropped down within a few yards of the boiling flood.</p> + +<p> +Now as he hung over our heads, and saw the water up to our very necks +and still swiftly rising, he shouted again:</p> + +<p> +"Catch hold, for God's sake!"</p> + +<p> +The three men who were with him in the ship seconded his cries.</p> + +<p> +But by the time we had fairly grasped the ropes, so rapidly was the flood +rising, we were already afloat. With the assistance of Tom and his men we +were rapidly drawn up, and immediately Tom reversed the electric polarity, +and the ship began to rise.</p> + +<p> +At that same instant, with a crash that shivered the air, the immense +metallic power house gave way and was swept tumbling, like a hill torn +loose from its base, over the very spot where a moment before we had +stood. One second's hesitation on the part of Tom, and the electrical +ship would have been battered into a shapeless wad of metal by the +careening mass. +</p> + +<h4>The Deluge On Mars.</h4> + +<h4>How the Martians Met Their Doom Through Aina's Plans.</h4> + +<p> +When we had attained a considerable height, so that we could see to a +great distance on either side, the spectacle became even more fearful +than it was when we were close to the surface.</p> + +<p> +On all sides banks and dykes were going down; trees were being uprooted; +buildings were tumbling, and the ocean was achieving that victory over +the land which had long been its due, but which the ingenuity of the +inhabitants of Mars had postponed for ages.</p> + +<p> +Far away we could see the front of the advancing wave crested with foam +that sparkled in the electric lights, and as it swept on it changed the +entire aspect of the planet—in front of it all life, behind it all death.</p> + +<p> +Eastward our view extended across the Syrtis Major toward the land of +Libya and the region of Isidis. On that side also the dykes were giving +way under the tremendous pressure, and the floods were rushing toward +the sunrise, which had just begun to streak the eastern sky.</p> + +<p> +The continents that were being overwhelmed on the western side of the +Syrtis were Meroe, Aeria, Arabia, Edom and Eden.</p> + +<p> +The water beneath us continually deepened. The current from the melting +snows around the southern pole was at its strongest, and one could +hardly have believed that any obstruction put in its path would have +been able to arrest it and turn it into these two all-swallowing deluges, +sweeping east and west. But, as we now perceived, the level of the land +over a large part of its surface was hundreds of feet below the ocean, +so that the latter, when once the barriers were broken, rushed into +depressions that yawned to receive it. +</p> + +<h4>Waiting for the Flood.</h4> + +<p> +The point where we had dealt our blow was far removed from the great +capital of Mars, around the Lake of the Sun, and we knew that we should +have to wait for the floods to reach that point before the desired effect +could be produced. By the nearest way, the water had at least 5,000 +miles to travel. We estimated that its speed where we hung above it was +as much as a hundred miles an hour. Even if that speed were maintained, +more than two days and nights would be required for the floods to reach +the Lake of the Sun.</p> + +<p> +But as the water rushed on it would break the banks of all the canals +intersecting the country, and these, being also elevated above the +surface, would add the impetus of their escaping waters to hasten the +advance of the flood. We calculated, therefore, that about two days +would suffice to place the planet at our mercy.</p> + +<p> +Half way from the Syrtis Major to the Lake of the Sun another great +connecting link between the Southern and Northern ocean basins, called +on our maps of Mars the Indus, existed, and through this channel we +knew that another great current must be setting from the south toward +the north. The flood that we had started would reach and break the banks +of the Indus within one day. +</p> + +<h4>Flooding Hundreds of Canals.</h4> + +<p> +The flood travelling in the other direction, towards the east, would +have considerably further to go before reaching the neighborhood of +the Lake of the Sun. It, too, would involve hundreds of great canals +as it advanced and would come plunging upon the Lake of the Sun and its +surrounding forts and cities, probably about half a day later than the +arrival of the deluge that travelled towards the west.</p> + +<p> +Now that we had let the awful destroyer loose we almost shrank from the +thought of the consequences which we had produced. How many millions +would perish as the result of our deed we could not even guess. Many +of the victims, so far as we knew, might be entirely innocent of enmity +toward us, or of the evil which had been done to our native planet. But +this was a case in which the good—if they existed—must suffer with +the bad on account of the wicked deeds of the latter.</p> + +<p> +I have already remarked that the continents of Mars were higher on their +northern and southern borders where they faced the great oceans. These +natural barriers bore to the main mass of the land somewhat the relation +of the edge of a shallow dish to its bottom. Their rise on the land +side was too gradual to give them the appearance of hills, but on the +side toward the sea they broke down in steep banks and cliffs several +hundred feet in height. We guessed that it would be in the direction +of these elevations that the inhabitants would flee, and those who had +timely warning might thus be able to escape in case the flood did not—as +it seemed possible it might in its first mad rush—overtop the highest +elevations on Mars. +</p> + +<h4>A Dreadful Scene.</h4> + +<p> +As day broke and the sun slowly rose upon the dreadful scene beneath +us, we began to catch sight of some of the fleeing inhabitants. We +had shifted the position of the fleet toward the south, and were now +suspended above the southeastern corner of Aeria. Here a high bank of +reddish rock confronted the sea, whose waters ran lashing and roaring +along the bluffs to supply the rapid draught produced by the emptying +of the Syrtis Major. Along the shore there was a narrow line of land, +hundreds of miles in length, but less than a quarter of a mile broad, +which still rose slightly above the surface of the water, and this land +of refuge was absolutely packed with the monstrous inhabitants of the +planet who had fled hither on the first warning that the water was coming.</p> + +<p> +In some places it was so crowded that the later comers could not find +standing ground on dry land, but were continually slipping back and +falling into the water. It was an awful sight to look at them. It +reminded me of pictures that I had seen of the deluge in the days of +Noah, when the waters had risen to the mountain tops, and men, women +and children were fighting for a foothold upon the last dry spots that +the earth contained.</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +The Martians Penned in by the Flood.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm2310.png" alt="Martians Penned" title="Martians Penned" /><br /> +This land of refuge was absolutely packed with the monstrous +inhabitants of the planet, who had fled hither on the first warning +that the water was coming. +</p> +<hr /> + +<p> +We were all moved by a desire to help our enemies, for we were overwhelmed +with feelings of pity and remorse, but to aid them was now utterly +beyond our power. The mighty floods were out, and the end was in the +hands of God.</p> + +<p> +Fortunately, we had little time for these thoughts, because no sooner +had the day begun to dawn around us than the airships of the Martians +appeared. Evidently the people in them were dazed by the disaster and +uncertain what to do. It is doubtful whether at first they comprehended +the fact that we were the agents who had produced the cataclysm. +</p> + +<h4>The Flocking of the Airships.</h4> + +<p> +But as the morning advanced the airships came flocking in greater and +greater numbers from every direction, many swooping down close to the +flood in order to rescue those who were drowning. Hundreds gathered along +the slip of land which was crowded as I have described, with refugees, +while other hundreds rapidly assembled about us, evidently preparing +for an attack.</p> + +<p> +We had learned in our previous contests with the airships of the Martians +that our electrical ships had a great advantage over them, not merely in +rapidity and facility of movement, but in the fact that our disintegrators +could sweep in every direction, while it was only with much difficulty +that the Martian airships could discharge their electrical strokes at +an enemy poised directly above their heads.</p> + +<p> +Accordingly, orders were instantly flashed to all the squadron to rise +vertically to an elevation so great that the rarity of the atmosphere +would prevent the airships from attaining the same level. +</p> + +<h4>Outwitting the Enemy.</h4> + +<p> +This manoeuvre was executed so quickly that the Martians were unable +to deal us a blow before we were poised above them in such a position +that they could not easily reach us. Still they did not mean to give up +the conflict.</p> + +<p> +Presently we saw one of the largest of their ships manoeuvring in a very +peculiar manner, the purpose of which we did not at first comprehend. Its +forward portion commenced slowly to rise, until it pointed upward like +the nose of a fish approaching the surface of the water. The moment it +was in this position, an electrical bolt was darted from its prow, and +one of our ships received a shock which, although it did not prove fatal +to the vessel itself, killed two or three men aboard it, disarranged +its apparatus, and rendered it for the time being useless.</p> + +<p> +"Ah, that's their trick, is it?" said Mr. Edison. "We must look out for +that. Whenever you see one of the airships beginning to stick its nose +up after that fashion blaze away at it."</p> + +<p> +An order to this effect was transmitted throughout the squadron. At the +same time several of the most powerful disintegrators were directed upon +the ship which had executed the stratagem and, reduced to a wreck, it +dropped, whirling like a broken kite until it fell into the flood beneath. +</p> + +<h4>A Thousand Martian Ships.</h4> + +<p> +Still the Martians' ships came flocking in ever greater numbers from all +directions. They made desperate attempts to attain the level at which we +hung above them. This was impossible, but many, getting an impetus by a +swift run in the denser portion of the atmosphere beneath, succeeded in +rising so high that they could discharge their electric artillery with +considerable effect. Others, with more or less success, repeated the +manoeuvre of the ship which had first attacked us, and thus the battle +became gradually more general and more fierce, until, in the course of an +hour or two, our squadron found itself engaged with probably a thousand +airships, which blazed with incessant lightning strokes, and were able, +all too frequently, to do us serious damage.</p> + +<p> +But on our part the battle was waged with a cool determination and a +consciousness of insuperable advantage which boded ill for the enemy. Only +three or four of our sixty electrical ships were seriously damaged, +while the work of the disintegrators upon the crowded fleet that floated +beneath us was terrible to look upon. +</p> + +<h4>They Battle on in Earnest.</h4> + +<p> +Our strokes fell thick and fast on all sides. It was like firing into +a flock of birds that could not get away. Notwithstanding all their +efforts they were practically at our mercy. Shattered into unrecognizable +fragments, hundreds of the airships continually dropped from their great +height to be swallowed up in the boiling waters.</p> + +<p> +Yet they were game to the last. They made every effort to get at us, and +in their frenzy they seemed to discharge their bolts without much regard +to whether friends or foes were injured. Our eyes were nearly blinded +by the ceaseless glare beneath us, and the uproar was indescribable.</p> + +<p> +At length, after this fearful contest had lasted for at least three +hours, it became evident that the strength of the enemy was rapidly +weakening. Nearly the whole of their immense fleet of airships had been +destroyed, or so far damaged that they were barely able to float. Just +so long, however, as they showed signs of resistance we continued to +pour our merciless fire upon them, and the signal to cease was not given +until the airships which had escaped serious damage began to flee in +every direction. +</p> + +<h4>Victory Is Ours!</h4> + +<p> +"Thank God, the thing is over," said Mr. Edison. "We have got the victory +at last, but how we shall make use of it is something that at present +I do not see."</p> + +<p> +"But will they not renew the attack," asked someone.</p> + +<p> +"I do not think they can," was the reply. "We have destroyed the very +flower of their fleet."</p> + +<p> +"And better than that," said Colonel Smith, "we have destroyed their elan; +we have made them afraid. Their discipline is gone."</p> + +<p> +But this was only the beginning of our victory. The floods below were +achieving a still greater triumph, and now that we had conquered the +airships we dropped within a few hundred feet of the surface of the water +and then turned our faces westward in order to follow the advance of the +deluge and see whether, as we had hoped, it would overwhelm our enemies +in the very centre of their power. +</p> + +<h4>The Flood Advances.</h4> + +<p> +In a little while we had overtaken the front wave, which was still +devouring everything. We saw it bursting the banks of the canals, sweeping +away forests of gigantic trees, and swallowing cities and villages, +leaving nothing but a broad expanse of swirling and eddying waters, +which, in consequence of the prevailing red hue of the vegetation and +the soil, looked, as shuddering we gazed down upon it, like an ocean +of blood flecked with foam and steaming with the escaping life of the +planet from whose veins it gushed.</p> + +<p> +As we skirted the southern borders of the continent the same +dreadful scenes which we had beheld on the coast of Aeria presented +themselves. Crowds of refugees thronged the high border of the land +and struggled with one another for a foothold against the continually +rising flood. +</p> + +<h4>Watching the Destruction.</h4> + +<p> +We saw, too, flitting in every direction, but rapidly fleeing before our +approach, many airships, evidently crowded with Martians, but not armed +either for offence or defence. These, of course, we did not disturb, for +merciless as our proceedings seemed even to ourselves, we had no intention +of making war upon the innocent, or upon those who had no means to resist. +What we had done it had seemed to us necessary to do, but henceforth we +were resolved to take no more lives if it could be avoided.</p> + +<p> +Thus, during the remainder of that day, all of the following night and +all of the next day, we continued upon the heels of the advancing flood. + + +</p> + +<p> +<a name="XVI"></a></p> +<hr /><h2>Chapter XVI.</h2> + +<p> +The second night we could perceive ahead of us the electric lights +covering the land of Thaumasia, in the midst of which lay the Lake of +the Sun. The flood would be upon it by daybreak, and, assuming that the +demoralization produced by the news of the coming of the waters, which +we were aware had hours before been flashed to the capital of Mars, would +prevent the Martians from effectively manning their forts, we thought it +safe to hasten on with the flagship, and one or two others, in advance of +the water, and to hover over the Lake of the Sun in the darkness, in order +that we might watch the deluge perform its awful work in the morning. +</p> + +<h4>The Giant Woman Drowned.</h4> + +<h4>She, Like the Rest, a Prey to the Devouring Flood of the Canals.</h4> + +<p> +Thaumasia, as I have before remarked, was a broad, oval land, about 1,800 +miles across, having the Lake of the Sun exactly in its centre. From +this lake, which was four or five hundred miles in diameter, and circular +in outline, many canals radiated, as straight as the spokes of a wheel, +in every direction, and connected it with the surrounding seas.</p> + +<p> +Like all the other Martian continents, Thaumasia lay below the level of +the sea, except toward the south, where it fronted the ocean.</p> + +<p> +Completely surrounding the lake was a great ring of cities constituting +the capital of Mars. Here the genius of the Martians had displayed +itself to the full. The surrounding country was irrigated until it fairly +bloomed with gigantic vegetation and flowers; the canals were carefully +regulated with locks so that the supply of water was under complete +control; the display of magnificent metallic buildings of all kinds and +sizes produced a most dazzling effect, and the protection against enemies +afforded by the innumerable fortifications surrounding the ringed city, +and guarding the neighboring lands, seemed complete. +</p> + +<h4>Waiting for the Flood.</h4> + +<p> +Suspended at a height of perhaps two miles from the surface, near the +southern edge of the lake, we waited for the oncoming flood. With the +dawn of day we began to perceive more clearly the effects which the news +of the drowning of the planet had produced. It was evident that many of +the inhabitants of the cities had already fled. Airships on which the +fugitives hung as thick as swarms of bees were seen, elevated but a short +distance above the ground, and making their way rapidly toward the south.</p> + +<p> +The Martians knew that their only hope of escape lay in reaching the +high southern border of the land before the floods were upon them. But +they must have known also that that narrow beach would not suffice to +contain one in ten of those who sought refuge there. The density of the +population around the Lake of the Sun seemed to us incredible. Again +our hearts sank within us at the sight of the fearful destruction of +life for which we were responsible. Yet we comforted ourselves with the +reflection that it was unavoidable. As Colonel Smith put it:</p> + +<p> +"You couldn't trust these coyotes. The only thing to do was to drown +them out. I am sorry for them, but I guess there will be as many left +as will be good for us, anyhow." +</p> + +<h4>The Crest of the Waters.</h4> + +<p> +We had not long to wait for the flood. As the dawn began to streak the +east we saw its awful crest moving out of the darkness, bursting across +the canals and plowing its way in the direction of the crowded shores of +the Lake of the Sun. The supply of water behind that great wave seemed +inexhaustible. Five thousand miles it had travelled, and yet its power +was as great as when it started from the Syrtis Major.</p> + +<p> +We caught sight of the oncoming water before it was visible to the +Martians beneath us. But while it was yet many miles away, the roar of it +reached them, and then arose a chorus of terrified cries, the effect of +which, coming to our ears out of the half gloom of the morning, was most +uncanny and horrible. Thousands upon thousands of the Martians still +remained here to become the victims of the deluge. Some, perhaps, had +doubted the truth of the reports that the banks were down and the floods +were out; others, for one reason or another had been unable to get away; +others, like the inhabitants of Pompeii, had lingered too long, or had +returned after beginning their flight to secure abandoned treasures, +and now it was too late to get away. +</p> + +<h4>Engulfing the City.</h4> + +<p> +With a roar that shook the planet the white wall rushed upon the great +city beneath our feet, and in an instant it had been engulfed. On went +the flood, swallowing up the Lake of the Sun itself, and in a little +while, as far as our eyes could range, the land of Thaumasia had been +turned into a raging sea.</p> + +<p> +We now turned our ships toward the southern border of the land, following +the direction of the airships carrying the fugitives, a few of which were +still navigating the atmosphere a mile beneath us. In their excitement and +terror the Martians paid little attention to us, although, as the morning +brightened, they must have been aware of our presence over their heads. +But, apparently, they no longer thought of resistance; their only object +was escape from the immediate and appalling danger.</p> + +<p> +When we had progressed to a point about half way from the Lake of the Sun +to the border of the sea, having dropped down within a few hundred feet of +the surface, there suddenly appeared, in the midst of the raging waters, +a sight so remarkable that at first I rubbed my eyes in astonishment, +not crediting their report of what they beheld. +</p> + +<h4>A Woman Forty Feet High!</h4> + +<p> +Standing on the apex of a sandy elevation, which still rose a few feet +above the gathering flood, was the figure of a woman, as perfect in form +and in classic beauty of feature as the Venus of Milo—a magnified human +being not less than forty feet in height!</p> + +<p> +But for her swaying and the wild motions of her arms, we should have +mistaken her for a marble statue.</p> + +<p> +Aina, who happened to be looking, instantly exclaimed:</p> + +<p> +"It is the woman from Ceres. She was taken prisoner by the Martians +during their last invasion of that world, and since then has been a +slave in the palace of the Emperor." +</p> + +<h4>Overtaken by the Flood.</h4> + +<p> +Apparently her great stature had enabled her to escape, while her +masters had been drowned. She had fled like the others, toward the south, +but being finally surrounded by the rising waters, had taken refuge on +the hillock of sand, where we saw her. This was fast giving way under +the assault of the waves, and even while we watched the water rose to +her knees.</p> + +<p> +"Drop lower," was the order of the electrical steersman of the flagship, +and as quickly as possible we approached the place where the towering +figure stood.</p> + +<p> +She had realized the hopelessness of her situation, and quickly ceased +those appalling and despairing gestures, which at first served to convince +us that it was indeed a living being on whom we were looking. +</p> + +<h4>Save the Woman from Ceres!</h4> + +<p> +There she stood, with a light, white garment thrown about her, erect, +half-defiant, half yielding to her fear, more graceful than any Greek +statue, her arms outstretched, yet motionless, and her eyes upcast, +as if praying to her God to protect her. Her hair, which shone like +gold in the increasing light of day, streamed over her shoulders, and +her great eyes were astare between terror and supplication. So wildly +beautiful a sight not one of us had ever beheld. For a moment sympathy +was absorbed in admiration. Then:</p> + +<p> +"Save her! Save her!" was the cry that arose throughout the ship.</p> + +<p> +Ropes were instantly thrown out, and one or two men prepared to let +themselves down in order better to aid her.</p> + +<p> +But when we were almost within reach, and so close that we could see +the very expression of her eyes, which appeared to take no note of us, +but to be fixed, with a far-away look upon something beyond human ken, +suddenly the undermined bank on which she stood gave way, the blood-red +flood swirled in from right to left, and then:</p> + +<p> +"The waters closed above her face<br /> +With many a ring."<br /> +</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +The Beautiful Cerean Giantess Drowned in the Flood.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm2414.png" alt="Giantess" title="Giantess" /><br /> +Standing on the apex of a sandy elevation, which still rose a few feet +above the gathering flood, was the figure of a woman, as perfect in +form and in classic beauty of feature as the Venus of Milo—a +magnified human being not less than forty feet in height. +</p> +<hr /> + +<h4>She, Like the Rest, Is Gone.</h4> + +<p> +"If but for that woman's sake, I am sorry we drowned the planet," +exclaimed Sidney Phillips. But a moment afterward I saw that he regretted +what he had said, for Aina's eyes were fixed upon him. Perhaps, however, +she did not understand his remark, and perhaps if she did it gave her +no offence.</p> + +<p> +After this episode we pursued our way rapidly until we arrived at the +shore of the Southern Ocean. There, as we had expected, was to be seen +a narrow strip of land with the ocean on one side and the raging flood +seeking to destroy it on the other. In some places it had been already +broken through, so that the ocean was flowing in to assist in the drowning +of Thaumasia.</p> + +<p> +But some parts of the coast were evidently so elevated that no matter +how high the flood might rise it would not completely cover them. Here +the fugitives had gathered in dense throngs and above them hovered most +of the airships, loaded down with others who were unable to find room +upon the dry land. +</p> + +<h4>The Martians Not Discouraged.</h4> + +<p> +On one of the loftiest and broadest of these elevations we noticed +indications of military order in the alignment of the crowds and the shore +all around was guarded by gigantic pickets, who mercilessly shoved back +into the flood all the later comers, and thus prevented too great crowding +upon the land. In the centre of this elevation rose a palatial structure +of red metal which Aina informed us was one of the residences of the +Emperor, and we concluded that the monarch himself was now present there.</p> + +<p> +The absence of any signs of resistance on the part of the airships, +and the complete drowning of all of the formidable fortifications on +the surface of the planet, convinced us that all we now had to do in +order to complete our conquest was to get possession of the person of +the chief ruler.</p> + +<p> +The fleet was, accordingly, concentrated, and we rapidly approached the +great Martian palace. As we came down within a hundred feet of them and +boldly made our way among their airships, which retreated at our approach, +the Martians gazed at us with mingled fear and astonishment.</p> + +<p> +We were their conquerors and they knew it. We were coming to demand their +surrender, and they evidently understood that also. As we approached the +palace signals were made from it with brilliant colored banners which +Aina informed us were intended as a token of truce.</p> + +<p> +"We shall have to go down and have a confab with them, I suppose," +said Mr. Edison. "We can't kill them off now that they are helpless, +but we must manage somehow to make them understand that unconditional +surrender is their only chance." +</p> + +<h4>A Parley with the Enemy.</h4> + +<p> +"Let us take Aina with us," I suggested, "and since she can speak the +language of the Martians we shall probably have no difficulty in arriving +at an understanding."</p> + +<p> +Accordingly the flagship was carefully brought further down in front +of the entrance to the palace, which had been kept clear by the Martian +guards, and while the remainder of the squadron assembled within a few +feet directly over our heads with the disintegrators turned upon the +palace and the crowd below. Mr. Edison and myself, accompanied by Aina, +stepped out upon the ground.</p> + +<p> +There was a forward movement in the immense crowd, but the guards sternly +kept everybody back. A party of a dozen giants, preceded by one who +seemed to be their commander, gorgeously attired in jewelled garments, +advanced from the entrance of the palace to meet us. Aina addressed a +few words to the leader, who replied sternly, and then, beckoning us to +follow, retraced his steps into the palace.</p> + +<p> +Notwithstanding our confidence that all resistance had ceased, we did +not deem it wise actually to venture into the lion's den without having +taken every precaution against a surprise. Accordingly, before following +the Martian into the palace, we had twenty of the electrical ships moored +around it in such a position that they commanded not only the entrance +but all of the principal windows, and then a party of forty picked men, +each doubly armed with powerful disintegrators, were selected to attend +us into the building. This party was placed under the command of Colonel +Smith, and Sidney Phillips insisted on being a member of it. +</p> + +<h4>A Nearer Sight of the Martians.</h4> + +<p> +In the meantime the Martian with his attendants who had first invited us +to enter, finding that we did not follow him, had returned to the front +of the palace. He saw the disposition that we had made of our forces, +and instantly comprehended its significance, for his manner changed +somewhat, and he seemed more desirous than before to conciliate us.</p> + +<p> +When he again beckoned us to enter, we unhesitatingly followed him, +and, passing through the magnificent entrance, found ourselves in a +vast ante-chamber, adorned after the manner of the Martians in the most +expensive manner. Thence we passed into a great circular apartment, with +a dome painted in imitation of the sky, and so lofty that to our eyes it +seemed like the firmament itself. Here we found ourselves approaching an +elevated throne situated in the centre of the apartment, while long rows +of brilliantly armored guards flanked us on either side, and, grouped +around the throne, some standing and others reclining upon the flights of +steps which appeared to be of solid gold, was an array of Martian woman, +beautifully and becomingly attired, all of whom greatly astonished us +by the singular charm of their faces and bearing, so different from the +aspect of most of the Martians, whom we had already encountered. +</p> + +<h4>The Martians' Beautiful Women.</h4> + +<p> +Despite their stature—for these women averaged twelve or thirteen feet +in height—the beauty of their complexions—of a dark, olive tint—was +no less brilliant than that of the women of Italy or Spain.</p> + +<p> +At the top of the steps on a magnificent golden throne, sat the Emperor +himself. There are some busts of Caracalla which I have seen that are +almost as ugly as the face of the Martian ruler. He was of gigantic +stature, larger than the majority of his subjects, and as near as I +could judge must have been between fifteen and sixteen feet in height.</p> + +<p> +As I looked at him I understood a remark which had been made by +Aina to the effect that the Martians were not all alike, and that the +peculiarities of their minds were imprinted on their faces and expressed +in their forms in a very wonderful, and sometimes terrible manner.</p> + +<p> +I had also learned from her that Mars was under a military government, +and that the military class had absolute control of the planet. I +was somewhat startled, then, in looking at the head and centre of the +great military system of Mars, to find in his appearance a striking +confirmation of the speculations of our terrestrial phrenologists. +His broad, mis-shapen head bulged in those parts where they had placed +the so-called organs of combativeness, destructiveness, etc. +</p> + +<h4>Something Learned About Them.</h4> + +<p> +Plainly, this was an effect of his training and education. His very +brain had become a military engine; and the aspect of his face, the +pitiless lines of his mouth and chin, the evil glare of his eyes, the +attitude and carriage of his muscular body, all tended to complete the +warlike ensemble.</p> + +<p> +He was magnificently dressed in some vesture that had the lustre of a +polished plate of gold, with the suppleness of velvet. As we approached +he fixed his immense, deep-set eyes sternly upon our faces.</p> + +<p> +The contrast between his truly terrible countenance and the Eve-like +features of the women who surrounded his throne was as great as if Satan +after his fall had here re-enthroned himself in the midst of angels.</p> + +<p> +Mr. Edison, Colonel Smith, Sidney Phillips, Aina and myself advanced at +the head of the procession, our guard following in close order behind +us. It had been evident from the moment that we entered the palace that +Aina was regarded with aversion by all of the Martians. Even the women +about the throne gazed scowlingly at her as we drew near. Apparently, +the bitterness of feeling which had led to the awful massacre of all her +race had not yet vanished. And, indeed, since the fact that she remained +alive could have been known only to the Martian who had abducted her and +to his immediate companions, her reappearance with us must have been a +great surprise to all those who now looked upon her. +</p> + +<h4>The Enemy Vanquished.</h4> + +<h4>The Martians Succumb at Last, and Are at Our Mercy.</h4> + +<p> +It was clear to me that the feeling aroused by her appearance was every +moment becoming more intense. Still, the thought of a violent outbreak +did not occur to me, because our recent triumph had seemed so complete +that I believed the Martians would be awed by our presence, and would +not undertake actually to injure the girl.</p> + +<p> +I think we all had the same impression, but as the event proved, we +were mistaken.</p> + +<p> +Suddenly one of the gigantic guards, as if actuated by a fit of +ungovernable hatred, lifted his foot and kicked Aina. With a loud shriek, +she fell to the floor. +</p> + +<h4>Aina Attacked by a Martian.</h4> + +<p> +The blow was so unexpected that for a second we all remained riveted to +the spot. Then I saw Colonel Smith's face turn livid, and at the same +instant heard the whirr of his disintegrator, while Sidney Phillips, +forgetting the deadly instrument that he carried in his hand, sprung madly +toward the brute who had kicked Aina, as if he intended to throttle him, +colossus as he was.</p> + +<p> +But Colonel Smith's aim, though instantaneously taken, as he had been +accustomed to shoot on the plains, was true, and Phillips, plunging madly +forward, seemed wreathed in a faint blue mist—all that the disintegrator +had left of the gigantic Martian. +</p> + +<h4>Swift Vengeance.</h4> + +<p> +Who could adequately describe the scene that followed?</p> + +<p> +I remember that the Martian Emperor sprang to his feet, looking tenfold +more terrible than before. I remember that there instantly burst from +the line of guards on either side crinkling beams of death-fire that +seemed to sear the eyeballs. I saw a half a dozen of our men fall in +heaps of ashes, and even at that terrible moment I had time to wonder +that a single one of us remained alive.</p> + +<p> +Rather by instinct than in consequence of any order given, we formed +ourselves in a hollow square, with Aina lying apparently lifeless in +the centre, and then with gritted teeth we did our work.</p> + +<p> +The lines of guards melted before the disintegrators like rows of snow +men before a licking flame. +</p> + +<h4>A Terrible Battle.</h4> + +<p> +The discharge of the lightning engines in the hands of the Martians in +that confined space made an uproar so tremendous that it seemed to pass +the bounds of human sense.</p> + +<p> +More of our men fell before their awful fire, and for the second time +since our arrival on this dreadful planet of war our annihilation seemed +inevitable.</p> + +<p> +But in a moment the whole scene changed. Suddenly there was a discharge +into the room which I knew came from one of the disintegrators of the +electrical ships. It swept through the crowded throng like a destroying +blast. Instantly from another side swished a second discharge, no less +destructive, and this was quickly followed by a third. Our ships were +firing through the windows. +</p> + +<h4>The Power of the Disintegrator.</h4> + +<p> +Almost at the same moment I saw the flagship, which had been moored in the +air close to the entrance and floating only three or four feet above the +ground, pushing its way through the gigantic doorway from the ante-room, +with its great disintegrators pointed upon the crowd like the muzzles +of a cruiser's guns.</p> + +<p> +And now the Martians saw that the contest was hopeless for them, and +their mad struggle to get out of the range of the disintegrators and +to escape from the death chamber was more appalling to look upon than +anything that had yet occurred.</p> + +<p> +It was a panic of giants. They trod one another under foot; they yelled +and screamed in their terror; they tore each other with their clawlike +fingers. They no longer thought of resistance. The battle spirit had +been blown out of them by a breath of terror that shivered their marrow. +</p> + +<h4>No Pity for Our Foes.</h4> + +<p> +Still the pitiless disintegrators played upon them until Mr. Edison, +making himself heard, now that the thunder of their engines had ceased +to reverberate through the chamber, commanded that our fire should cease.</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="pic"> +The Remorseless Slaughter of the Martians.<br /> +<img src="images/tecm2511.png" alt="Remorseless Slaughter" title="Remorseless Slaughter" /><br /> +Suddenly there was a discharge into the room which I knew came from +one of the disintegrators of the electrical ships. It swept through +the crowded throng like a destroying blast. It was a panic of giants! +</p> +<hr /> + +<p> +In the meantime the armed Martians outside the palace, hearing the +uproar within, seeing our men pouring their fire through the windows, +and supposing that we were guilty at once of treachery and assassination, +had attempted an attack upon the electrical ships stationed round the +building. But fortunately they had none of their larger engines at hand, +and with their hand arms alone they had not been able to stand up against +the disintegrators. They were blown away before the withering fire of +the ships by the hundred until, fleeing from destruction, they rushed +madly, driving their unarmed companions before them into the seething +waters of the flood close at hand. + + +</p> + +<p> +<a name="XVII"></a></p> +<hr /><h2>Chapter XVII.</h2> + +<h4>The Emperor Survives.</h4> + +<p> +Through all this terrible contest the emperor of the Martians had remained +standing upon his throne, gazing at the awful spectacle, and not moving +from the spot. Neither he nor the frightened woman gathered upon the steps +of the throne had been injured by the disintegrators. Their immunity +was due to the fact that the position and elevation of the throne were +such that it was not within the range of fire of the electrical ships +which had poured their vibratory discharges through the windows, and we +inside had only directed our fire toward the warriors who had attacked us.</p> + +<p> +Now that the struggle was over we turned our attention to +Aina. Fortunately the girl had not been seriously injured and she was +quickly restored to consciousness. Had she been killed, we would have +been practically helpless in attempting further negotiations, because +the knowledge which we had acquired of the language of the Martians from +the prisoner captured on the golden asteroid, was not sufficient to meet +the requirements of the occasion. +</p> + +<h4>The Emperor Our Prisoner.</h4> + +<p> +When the Martian monarch saw that we had ceased the work of death, he +sank upon his throne. There he remained, leaning his chin upon his two +hands and staring straight before him like that terrible doomed creature +who fascinates the eyes of every beholder standing in the Sistine Chapel +and gazing at Michael Angelo's dreadful painting of "The Last Judgement."</p> + +<p> +This wicked Martian also felt that he was in the grasp of pitiless and +irresistible fate, and that a punishment too well deserved, and from +which there was no possible escape, now confronted him.</p> + +<p> +There he remained in a hopelessness which almost compelled our sympathy, +until Aina had so far recovered that she was once more able to act +as our interpreter. Then we made short work of the negotiations. +Speaking through Aina, the commander said:</p> + +<p> +"You know who we are. We have come from the earth, which, by your command, +was laid waste. Our commission was not revenge, but self-protection. What +we have done has been accomplished with that in view. You have just +witnessed an example of our power, the exercise of which was not dictated +by our wish, but compelled by the attack wantonly made upon a helpless +member of our own race under our protection." +</p> + +<h4>We Dictate Terms.</h4> + +<p> +"We have laid waste your planet, but it is simply a just retribution +for what you did with ours. We are prepared to complete the destruction, +leaving not a living being in this world of yours, or to grant you peace, +at your choice. Our condition of peace is simply this: 'All resistance +must cease absolutely.'"</p> + +<p> +"Quite right," broke in Colonel Smith; "let the scorpion pull out his +sting or we'll do it for him."</p> + +<p> +"Nothing that we could now do," continued the commander, "would in my +opinion save you from ultimate destruction. The forces of nature which +we have been compelled to let loose upon you will complete their own +victory. But we do not wish, unnecessarily, to stain our hands further +with your blood. We shall leave you in possession of your lives. Preserve +them if you can. But, in case the flood recedes before you have all +perished from starvation, remember that you here take an oath, solemnly +binding yourself and your descendants forever never again to make war +upon the earth." +</p> + +<h4>We Show Mercy.</h4> + +<p> +"That's really the best we can do," said Mr. Edison, turning to us. "We +can't possibly murder these people in cold blood. The probability is +that the flood has hopelessly ruined all their engines of war. I do not +believe that there is one chance in ten that the waters will drain off +in time to enable them to get at their stores of provisions before they +have perished from starvation."</p> + +<p> +"It is my opinion," said Lord Kelvin, who had joined us (his pair of +disintegrators hanging by his side, attached to a strap running over +the back of his neck, very much as a farmer sometimes carries his big +mittens), "it is my opinion that the flood will recede more rapidly than +you think, and that the majority of these people will survive. But I +quite agree with your merciful view of the matter. We must be guilty of +no wanton destruction. Probably more than nine-tenths of the inhabitants +of Mars have perished in the deluge. Even if all the others survived +ages would elapse before they could regain the power to injure us." +</p> + +<h4>The Martians Submit.</h4> + +<p> +I need not describe in detail how our propositions were received by the +Martian monarch. He knew, and his advisers, some of whom he had called +in consultation, also knew, that everything was in our hands to do as we +pleased. They readily agreed, therefore, that they would make no more +resistance and that we and our electrical ships should be undisturbed +while we remained upon Mars. The monarch took the oath prescribed after +the manner of his race: thus the business was completed. But through +it all there had been the shadow of a sneer on the emperor's face which +I did not like. But I said nothing.</p> + +<p> +And now we began to think of our return home, and of the pleasure we +should have in recounting our adventures to our friends on the earth, +who were doubtless eagerly waiting for news from us. We knew they had +been watching Mars with powerful telescopes, and we were also eager to +learn how much they had seen and how much they had been able to guess +of our proceedings.</p> + +<p> +But a day or two at least would be required to overhaul the electrical +ships and to examine the state of our provisions. Those which we had +brought from the earth, it will be remembered, had been spoiled and we +had been compelled to replace them from the compressed provisions found +in the Martians' storehouse. This compressed food had proved not only +exceedingly agreeable to the taste, but very nourishing, and all of us +had grown extremely fond of it. A new supply, however, would be needed +in order to carry us back to the earth. At least sixty days would be +required for the homeward journey, because we could hardly expect to +start from Mars with the same initial velocity which we had been able +to generate on leaving home.</p> + +<p> +In considering the matter of provisioning the fleet it finally became +necessary to take an account of our losses. This was a thing that we had +all shrunk from, because they had seemed to us almost too terrible to be +borne. But now the facts had to be faced. Out of the 100 ships, carrying +something more than two thousand souls, with which we had quitted the +earth, there remained only fifty-five ships and 1,085 men! All the +others had been lost in our terrific encounters with the Martians, +and particularly in our first disastrous battle beneath the clouds. +</p> + +<h4>Preparing to Return.</h4> + +<p> +Among the lost were many men whose names were famous upon the earth, and +whose death would be widely deplored when the news of it was received +upon their native planet. Fortunately this number did not include any +of those whom I have had occasion to mention in the course of this +narrative. The venerable Lord Kelvin, who, notwithstanding his age, and +his pacific disposition, proper to a man of science, had behaved with the +courage and coolness of a veteran in every crisis; Monsieur Moissan, the +eminent chemist; Prof. Sylvanus P. Thompson, and the Heidelberg Professor, +to whom we all felt under special obligations because he had opened to +our comprehension the charming lips of Aina—all these had survived, +and were about to return with us to the earth.</p> + +<p> +It seemed to some of us almost heartless to deprive the Martians who +still remained alive of any of the provisions which they themselves +would require to tide them over the long period which must elapse before +the recession of the flood should enable them to discover the sites of +their ruined homes, and to find the means of sustenance. But necessity +was now our only law. We learned from Aina that there must be stores +of provisions in the neighborhood of the palace, because it was the +custom of the Martians to lay up such stores during the harvest time +in each Martian year in order to provide against the contingency of an +extraordinary drought.</p> + +<p> +It was not with very good grace that the Martian Emperor acceded to our +demands that one of the storehouses should be opened, but resistance +was useless, and of course we had our way.</p> + +<p> +The supplies of water which we brought from the earth, owing to a peculiar +process invented by Monsieur Moissan, had been kept in exceedingly good +condition, but they were now running low and it became necessary to +replenish them also. This was easily done from the Southern Ocean, for +on Mars, since the levelling of the continental elevations, brought about +many years ago, there is comparatively little salinity in the sea waters.</p> + +<p> +While these preparations were going on Lord Kelvin and the other men +of science entered with the utmost eagerness upon those studies, the +prosecution of which had been the principal inducement leading them +to embark on the expedition. But, almost all of the face of the planet +being covered with the flood, there was comparatively little that they +could do. Much, however, could be learned with the aid of Aina from the +Martians, now crowded on the land about the palace.</p> + +<p> +The results of these discoveries will in due time appear, fully +elaborated in learned and authoritative treatises prepared by these +savants themselves. I shall only call attention to one, which seemed +to me very remarkable. I have already said that there were astonishing +differences in the personal appearance of the Martians, evidently +arising from differences of character and education, which had impressed +themselves in the physical aspect of the individuals.</p> + +<p> +We now learned that these differences were more completely the result +of education than we had at first supposed.</p> + +<p> +Looking about among the Martians by whom we were surrounded, it soon +became easy for us to tell who were the soldiers and who were the +civilians, simply by the appearance of their bodies, and particularly of +their heads. All members of the military class resembled, to a greater +or less extent, the monarch himself, in that those parts of their skulls +which our phrenologists had designated as the bumps of destructiveness, +combativeness and so on were enormously and disproportionately developed.</p> + +<p> +And all this, as we were assured, was completely under the control of the +Martians themselves. They had learned, or invented, methods by which the +brain itself could be manipulated, so to speak, and any desired portions +of it could be specially developed, while the other parts of it were left +to their normal growth. The consequence was that in the Martian schools +and colleges there was no teaching in our sense of the word. It was all +brain culture.</p> + +<p> +A Martian youth selected to be a soldier had his fighting faculties +especially developed, together with those parts of the brain which impart +courage and steadiness of nerve. He who was intended for scientific +investigation had his brain developed into a mathematical machine, or +an instrument of observation. Poets and literary men had their heads +bulging with the imaginative faculties. The heads of inventors were +developed into a still different shape.</p> + +<p> +"And so," said Aina, translating for us the words of a professor in +the Imperial University of Mars, from whom we derived the greater part +of our information on this subject, "the Martian boys do not study +a subject; they do not have to learn it, but, when their brains have +been sufficiently developed in the proper direction, they comprehend it +instantly, by a kind of divine instinct."</p> + +<p> +But among the women of Mars, we saw none of these curious, and to our +eyes monstrous, differences of development. While the men received, +in addition to their special education, a broad general culture also, +with the women there was no special education. It was all general in +its character, yet thorough enough in that way. The consequence was +that only female brains upon Mars were entirely well balanced. This was +the reason why we invariably found the Martian women to be remarkably +charming creatures, with none of those physical exaggerations and uncouth +developments which disfigured their masculine companions.</p> + +<p> +All the books of the Martians, we ascertained, were books of history and +of poetry. For scientific treatises they had no need, because, as I have +explained, when the brains of those intended for scientific pursuits had +been developed in the proper way the knowledge of nature's laws came to +them without effort, as a spring bubbles from the rocks.</p> + +<p> +One word of explanation may be needed concerning the failure of the +Martians, with all their marvellous powers, to invent electrical ships +like those of Mr. Edison and engines of destruction comparable with our +disintegrators. This failure was simply due to the fact that on Mars +there did not exist the peculiar metals by the combination of which +Mr. Edison had been able to effect his wonders. The theory involved in +our inventions was perfectly understood by them, and had they possessed +the means, doubtless they would have been able to carry it into practice +even more effectively than we had done.</p> + +<p> +After two or three days all the preparations having been completed, +the signal was given for our departure. The men of science were still +unwilling to leave this strange world, but Mr. Edison decided that we +could linger no longer.</p> + +<p> +At the moment of starting a most tragic event occurred. Our fleet was +assembled around the palace, and the signal was given to rise slowly to a +considerable height before imparting a great velocity to the electrical +ships. As we slowly rose we saw the immense crowd of giants beneath us, +with upturned faces, watching our departure. The Martian monarch and all +his suite had come out upon the terrace of the palace to look at us. At +a moment when he probably supposed himself to be unwatched he shook his +fist at the retreating fleet. My eyes and those of several others in +the flagship chanced to be fixed upon him. Just as he made the gesture +one of the women of his suite, in her eagerness to watch us, apparently +lost her balance and stumbled against him. Without a moment's hesitation, +with a tremendous blow, he felled her like an ox at his feet.</p> + +<p> +A fearful oath broke from the lips of Colonel Smith, who was one of those +looking on. It chanced that he stood near the principal disintegrator +of the flagship. Before anybody could interfere he had sighted and +discharged it. The entire force of the terrible engine, almost capable +of destroying a fort, fell upon the Martian Emperor, and not merely blew +him into a cloud of atoms, but opened a great cavity in the ground on +the spot where he had stood.</p> + +<p> +A shout arose from the Martians, but they were too much astounded at +what had occurred to make any hostile demonstrations, and, anyhow, +they knew well that they were completely at our mercy.</p> + +<p> +Mr. Edison was on the point of rebuking Colonel Smith for what he had +done, but Aina interposed.</p> + +<p> +"I am glad it was done," said she, "for now only can you be safe. That +monster was more directly responsible than any other inhabitant of Mars +for all the wickedness of which they have been guilty."</p> + +<p> +"The expedition against the earth was inspired solely by him. There is +a tradition among the Martians—which my people, however, could never +credit—that he possessed a kind of immortality. They declared that it +was he who led the former expedition against the earth when my ancestors +were brought away prisoners from their happy home, and that it was his +image which they had set up in stone in the midst of the Land of Sand. He +prolonged his existence, according to this legend, by drinking the waters +of a wonderful fountain, the secret of whose precise location was known +to him alone, but which was situated at that point where in your maps of +Mars the name of the Fons Juventae occurs. He was personified wickedness, +that I know; and he never would have kept his oath if power had returned +to him again to injure the earth. In destroying him, you have made your +victory secure." + + +</p> + +<p> +<a name="XVIII"></a></p> +<hr /><h2>Chapter XVIII.</h2> + +<p> +When at length we once more saw our native planet, with its +well-remembered features of land and sea, rolling beneath our eyes, +the feeling of joy that came over us transcended all powers of expression.</p> + +<p> +In order that all the nations which had united in sending out the +expedition should have visual evidence of its triumphant return, it +was decided to make the entire circuit of the earth before seeking our +starting point and disembarking. Brief accounts in all known languages, +telling the story of what we had done were accordingly prepared, and then +we dropped down through the air until again we saw the well-loved blue +dome over our heads, and found ourselves suspended directly above the +white-topped cone of Fujiyama, the sacred mountain of Japan. Shifting our +place toward the northeast, we hung above the city of Tokio and dropped +down into the crowds that had assembled to watch us, the prepared accounts +of our journey, which, the moment they had been read and comprehended, +led to such an outburst of rejoicing as it would be quite impossible +to describe.</p> + +<p> +One of the ships containing the Japanese members of the expedition +dropped to the ground, and we left them in the midst of their rejoicing +countrymen. Before we started—and we remained but a short time suspended +above the Japanese capital—millions had assembled to greet us with +their cheers.</p> + +<p> +We now repeated what we had done during our first examination of the +surface of Mars. We simply remained suspended in the atmosphere, allowing +the earth to turn beneath us. As Japan receded in the distance we found +China beginning to appear. Shifting our position a little toward the +south we again came to rest over the city of Pekin, where once more we +parted with some of our companions, and where the outburst of universal +rejoicing was repeated.</p> + +<p> +From Asia, crossing the Caspian Sea, we passed over Russia, visiting in +turn Moscow and St. Petersburg.</p> + +<p> +Still the great globe rolled steadily beneath, and still we kept the +sun with us. Now Germany appeared, and now Italy, and then France, +and England, as we shifted our position, first North then South, in +order to give all the world the opportunity to see that its warriors +had returned victorious from their far conquest. And in each country as +it passed beneath our feet, we left some of the comrades who had shared +our perils and our adventures.</p> + +<p> +At length the Atlantic had rolled away under us, and we saw the spires +of the new New York.</p> + +<p> +The news of our coming had been flashed ahead from Europe, and our +countrymen were prepared to welcome us. We had originally started, it +will be remembered, at midnight, and now again as we approached the new +capital of the world the curtain of night was just beginning to be drawn +over it. But our signal lights were ablaze, and through these they were +aware of our approach.</p> + +<p> +Again the air was filled with bursting rockets and shaken with the roar +of cannon, and with volleying cheers, poured from millions of throats, +as we came to rest directly above the city.</p> + +<p> +Three days after the landing of the fleet, and when the first enthusiasm +of our reception had a little passed, I received a beautifully engraved +card inviting me to be present in Trinity Church at the wedding of Aina +and Sidney Phillips.</p> + +<p> +When I arrived at the church, which had been splendidly decorated, I +found there Mr. Edison, Lord Kelvin, and all the other members of the +crew of the flagship, and, considerably to my surprise, Colonel Smith, +appropriately attired, and with a grace for the possession of which I +had not given him credit, gave away the beautiful bride.</p> + +<p> +But Alonzo Jefferson Smith was a man and a soldier, every inch of him.</p> + +<p> +"I asked her for myself," he whispered to me after the ceremony, +swallowing a great lump in his throat, "but she has had the desire of +her heart. I am going back to the plains. I can get a command again, +and I still know how to fight."</p> + +<p> +And thus was united, for all future time, the first stem of the Aryan +race, which had been long lost, but not destroyed, with the latest +offspring of that great family, and the link which had served to bring +them together was the far-away planet of Mars.</p> + +<h3> +(The End.)</h3> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Edison's Conquest of Mars, by +Garrett Putman Serviss + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EDISON'S CONQUEST OF MARS *** + +***** This file should be named 19141-h.htm or 19141-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/1/4/19141/ + +Produced by Jason Isbell, Greg Weeks, Renald Levesque, and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm0112.jpg b/19141-h/images/tecm0112.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bdf0378 --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm0112.jpg diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm0113.png b/19141-h/images/tecm0113.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..43fb385 --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm0113.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm0114.png b/19141-h/images/tecm0114.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..67b8b1e --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm0114.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm0206.png b/19141-h/images/tecm0206.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..dbaea77 --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm0206.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm0207.png b/19141-h/images/tecm0207.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5996e31 --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm0207.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm0208.png b/19141-h/images/tecm0208.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..db20407 --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm0208.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm0310.png b/19141-h/images/tecm0310.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..38a0c74 --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm0310.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm0311.png b/19141-h/images/tecm0311.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6448884 --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm0311.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm0412.png b/19141-h/images/tecm0412.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..302b76e --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm0412.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm0413.png b/19141-h/images/tecm0413.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..746105c --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm0413.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm0512.png b/19141-h/images/tecm0512.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..37d586c --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm0512.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm0513.png b/19141-h/images/tecm0513.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3a86e8b --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm0513.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm0607.png b/19141-h/images/tecm0607.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f2a4f69 --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm0607.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm0608.png b/19141-h/images/tecm0608.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8969f8a --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm0608.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm0609.png b/19141-h/images/tecm0609.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5b9d86f --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm0609.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm0711.png b/19141-h/images/tecm0711.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..75627f3 --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm0711.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm0712.png b/19141-h/images/tecm0712.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8be7d7e --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm0712.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm0809.png b/19141-h/images/tecm0809.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..91ba7dd --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm0809.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm0810.png b/19141-h/images/tecm0810.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..fa99a66 --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm0810.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm0910.png b/19141-h/images/tecm0910.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..de803f2 --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm0910.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm0911.png b/19141-h/images/tecm0911.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6afa503 --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm0911.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm1011.png b/19141-h/images/tecm1011.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cde713e --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm1011.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm1012.png b/19141-h/images/tecm1012.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..06a5e05 --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm1012.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm1108.png b/19141-h/images/tecm1108.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..618a67a --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm1108.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm1210.png b/19141-h/images/tecm1210.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..daaa98d --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm1210.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm1211.png b/19141-h/images/tecm1211.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9420ab9 --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm1211.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm1311.png b/19141-h/images/tecm1311.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5a5c65c --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm1311.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm1312.png b/19141-h/images/tecm1312.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3a747f5 --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm1312.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm1404.png b/19141-h/images/tecm1404.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c236c12 --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm1404.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm1508.png b/19141-h/images/tecm1508.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..91317d0 --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm1508.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm1610.png b/19141-h/images/tecm1610.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..df02604 --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm1610.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm1611.png b/19141-h/images/tecm1611.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ac6a47f --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm1611.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm1710.png b/19141-h/images/tecm1710.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..49a26af --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm1710.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm1810.png b/19141-h/images/tecm1810.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5b5979c --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm1810.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm1912.png b/19141-h/images/tecm1912.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8ebfc1c --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm1912.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm2010.png b/19141-h/images/tecm2010.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4b34093 --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm2010.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm2109.png b/19141-h/images/tecm2109.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ea4a17e --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm2109.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm2212.png b/19141-h/images/tecm2212.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ae37d80 --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm2212.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm2310.png b/19141-h/images/tecm2310.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..039e728 --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm2310.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm2414.png b/19141-h/images/tecm2414.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..36ad76a --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm2414.png diff --git a/19141-h/images/tecm2511.png b/19141-h/images/tecm2511.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4553999 --- /dev/null +++ b/19141-h/images/tecm2511.png diff --git a/19141.txt b/19141.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8c0fc2a --- /dev/null +++ b/19141.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8478 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Edison's Conquest of Mars, by Garrett Putman Serviss + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Edison's Conquest of Mars + +Author: Garrett Putman Serviss + +Release Date: August 29, 2006 [EBook #19141] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EDISON'S CONQUEST OF MARS *** + + + + +Produced by Jason Isbell, Greg Weeks, Renald Levesque, and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +Edison's Conquest of Mars + + +by + + +Garrett P. Serviss + + +1898 + + + + +Chapter I. + + +It is impossible that the stupendous events which followed the disastrous +invasion of the earth by the Martians should go without record, and +circumstances having placed the facts at my disposal, I deem it a duty, +both to posterity and to those who were witnesses of and participants +in the avenging counterstroke that the earth dealt back at its ruthless +enemy in the heavens, to write down the story in a connected form. + +The Martians had nearly all perished, not through our puny efforts, but +in consequence of disease, and the few survivors fled in one of their +projectile cars, inflicting their cruelest blow in the act of departure. + + +Their Mysterious Explosive. + +They possessed a mysterious explosive, of unimaginable puissance, with +whose aid they set their car in motion for Mars from a point in Bergen +County, N. J., just back of the Palisades. + +The force of the explosion may be imagined when it is recollected that +they had to give the car a velocity of more than seven miles per second +in order to overcome the attraction of the earth and the resistance of +the atmosphere. + +The shock destroyed all of New York that had not already fallen a prey, +and all the buildings yet standing in the surrounding towns and cities +fell in one far-circling ruin. + +The Palisades tumbled in vast sheets, starting a tidal wave in the Hudson +that drowned the opposite shore. + + +Thousands of Victims. + +The victims of this ferocious explosion were numbered by tens of +thousands, and the shock, transmitted through the rocky frame of the +globe, was recorded by seismographic pendulums in England and on the +Continent of Europe. + +The terrible results achieved by the invaders had produced everywhere a +mingled feeling of consternation and hopelessness. The devastation was +widespread. The death-dealing engines which the Martians had brought with +them had proved irresistible and the inhabitants of the earth possessed +nothing capable of contending against them. There had been no protection +for the great cities; no protection even for the open country. Everything +had gone down before the savage onslaught of those merciless invaders from +space. Savage ruins covered the sites of many formerly flourishing towns +and villages, and the broken walls of great cities stared at the heavens +like the exhumed skeletons of Pompeii. The awful agencies had extirpated +pastures and meadows and dried up the very springs of fertility in the +earth where they had touched it. In some parts of the devastated lands +pestilence broke out; elsewhere there was famine. Despondency black as +night brooded over some of the fairest portions of the globe. + + +All Not Yet Destroyed. + +Yet all had not been destroyed, because all had not been reached by +the withering hand of the destroyer. The Martians had not had time to +complete their work before they themselves fell a prey to the diseases +that carried them off at the very culmination of their triumph. + +From those lands which had, fortunately, escaped invasion, relief was +sent to the sufferers. The outburst of pity and of charity exceeded +anything that the world had known. Differences of race and religion +were swallowed up in the universal sympathy which was felt for those +who had suffered so terribly from an evil that was as unexpected as it +was unimaginable in its enormity. + +But the worst was not yet. More dreadful than the actual suffering and the +scenes of death and devastation which overspread the afflicted lands was +the profound mental and moral depression that followed. This was shared +even by those who had not seen the Martians and had not witnessed the +destructive effects of the frightful engines of war that they had imported +for the conquest of the earth. All mankind was sunk deep in this universal +despair, and it became tenfold blacker when the astronomers announced +from their observatories that strange lights were visible, moving and +flashing upon the red surface of the Planet of War. These mysterious +appearances could only be interpreted in the light of past experience to +mean that the Martians were preparing for another invasion of the earth, +and who could doubt that with the invincible powers of destruction at +their command they would this time make their work complete and final? + + +A Startling Announcement. + +This startling announcement was the more pitiable in its effects because +it served to unnerve and discourage those few of stouter hearts and more +hopeful temperaments who had already begun the labor of restoration and +reconstruction amid the embers of their desolated homes. In New York +this feeling of hope and confidence, this determination to rise against +disaster and to wipe out the evidences of its dreadful presence as quickly +as possible, had especially manifested itself. Already a company had been +formed and a large amount of capital subscribed for the reconstruction +of the destroyed bridges over the East River. Already architects were +busily at work planning new twenty-story hotels and apartment houses; +new churches and new cathedrals on a grander scale than before. + + +The Martians Returning. + +Amid this stir of renewed life came the fatal news that Mars was +undoubtedly preparing to deal us a death blow. The sudden revulsion of +feeling flitted like the shadow of an eclipse over the earth. The scenes +that followed were indescribable. Men lost their reason. The faint-hearted +ended the suspense with self-destruction, the stout-hearted remained +steadfast, but without hope and knowing not what to do. + +But there was a gleam of hope of which the general public as yet knew +nothing. It was due to a few dauntless men of science, conspicuous +among whom were Lord Kelvin, the great English savant; Herr Roentgen, +the discoverer of the famous X ray, and especially Thomas A. Edison, the +American genius of science. These men and a few others had examined with +the utmost care the engines of war, the flying machines, the generators +of mysterious destructive forces that the Martians had produced, with +the object of discovering, if possible, the sources of their power. + +Suddenly from Mr. Edison's laboratory at Orange flashed the startling +intelligence that he had not only discovered the manner in which the +invaders had been able to produce the mighty energies which they employed +with such terrible effect, but that, going further, he had found a way +to overcome them. + +The glad news was quickly circulated throughout the civilized +world. Luckily the Atlantic cables had not been destroyed by the Martians, +so that communication between the Eastern and Western continents was +uninterrupted. It was a proud day for America. Even while the Martians +had been upon the earth, carrying everything before them, demonstrating +to the confusion of the most optimistic that there was no possibility +of standing against them, a feeling--a confidence had manifested itself +in France, to a minor extent in England, and particularly in Russia, +that the Americans might discover means to meet and master the invaders. + +Now, it seemed, this hope and expectation were to be realized. Too +late, it is true, in a certain sense, but not too late to meet the new +invasion which the astronomers had announced was impending. The effect +was as wonderful and indescribable as that of the despondency which but +a little while before had overspread the world. One could almost hear +the universal sigh of relief which went up from humanity. To relief +succeeded confidence--so quickly does the human spirit recover like an +elastic spring, when pressure is released. + + +"We Are Ready for Them!" + +"Let them come," was the almost joyous cry. "We shall be ready for +them now. The Americans have solved the problem. Edison has placed +the means of victory within our power." + +Looking back upon that time now, I recall, with a thrill, the pride that +stirred me at the thought that, after all, the inhabitants of the Earth +were a match for those terrible men from Mars, despite all the advantage +which they had gained from their millions of years of prior civilization +and science. + +As good fortunes, like bad, never come singly, the news of Mr. Edison's +discovery was quickly followed by additional glad tidings from that +laboratory of marvels in the lap of the Orange mountains. During their +career of conquest the Martians had astonished the inhabitants of the +earth no less with their flying machines--which navigated our atmosphere +as easily as they had that of their native planet--than with their more +destructive inventions. These flying machines in themselves had given +them an enormous advantage in the contest. High above the desolation +that they had caused to reign on the surface of the earth, and, out of +the range of our guns, they had hung safe in the upper air. From the +clouds they had dropped death upon the earth. + + +Edison's Flying Machine. + +Now, rumor declared that Mr. Edison had invented and perfected a flying +machine much more complete and manageable than those of the Martians +had been. Wonderful stories quickly found their way into the newspapers +concerning what Mr. Edison had already accomplished with the aid of his +model electrical balloon. His laboratory was carefully guarded against +the invasion of the curious, because he rightly felt that a premature +announcement, which should promise more than could be actually fulfilled, +would, at this critical juncture, plunge mankind back again into the +gulf of despair, out of which it had just begun to emerge. + +Nevertheless, inklings of the truth leaked out. The flying machine had +been seen by many persons hovering by night high above the Orange hills +and disappearing in the faint starlight as if it had gone away into the +depths of space, out of which it would re-emerge before the morning light +had streaked the east, and be seen settling down again within the walls +that surrounded the laboratory of the great inventor. At length the +rumor, gradually deepening into a conviction, spread that Edison himself, +accompanied by a few scientific friends, had made an experimental trip +to the moon. At a time when the spirit of mankind was less profoundly +stirred, such a story would have been received with complete incredulity, +but now, rising on the wings of the new hope that was buoying up the +earth, this extraordinary rumor became a day star of truth to the nations. + + +A Trip to the Moon. + +And it was true. I had myself been one of the occupants of the car of +the flying Ship of Space on that night when it silently left the earth, +and rising out of the great shadow of the globe, sped on to the moon. We +had landed upon the scarred and desolate face of the earth's satellite, +and but that there are greater and more interesting events, the telling of +which must not be delayed, I should undertake to describe the particulars +of this first visit of men to another world. + +But, as I have already intimated, this was only an experimental trip. By +visiting this little nearby island in the ocean of space, Mr. Edison +simply wished to demonstrate the practicability of his invention, and +to convince, first of all, himself and his scientific friends that it +was possible for men--mortal men--to quit and to revisit the earth at +their will. That aim this experimental trip triumphantly attained. + +It would carry me into technical details that would hardly interest the +reader to describe the mechanism of Mr. Edison's flying machine. Let +it suffice to say that it depended upon the principal of electrical +attraction and repulsion. By means of a most ingenious and complicated +construction he had mastered the problem of how to produce, in a limited +space, electricity of any desired potential and of any polarity, and +that without danger to the experimenter or to the material experimented +upon. It is gravitation, as everybody knows, that makes man a prisoner +on the earth. If he could overcome, or neutralize, gravitation he could +float away a free creature of interstellar space. Mr. Edison in his +invention had pitted electricity against gravitation. Nature, in fact, +had done the same thing long before. Every astronomer knew it, but none +had been able to imitate or to reproduce this miracle of nature. When a +comet approaches the sun, the orbit in which it travels indicates that it +is moving under the impulse of the sun's gravitation. It is in reality +falling in a great parabolic or elliptical curve through space. But, +while a comet approaches the sun it begins to display--stretching out +for millions, and sometimes hundreds of millions of miles on the side +away from the sun--an immense luminous train called its tail. This train +extends back into that part of space from which the comet is moving. Thus +the sun at one and the same time is drawing the comet toward itself and +driving off from the comet in an opposite direction minute particles or +atoms which, instead of obeying the gravitational force, are plainly +compelled to disobey it. That this energy, which the sun exercises +against its own gravitation, is electrical in its nature, hardly anybody +will doubt. The head of the comet being comparatively heavy and massive, +falls on toward the sun, despite the electrical repulsion. But the atoms +which form the tail, being almost without weight, yield to the electrical +rather than to the gravitational influence, and so fly away from the sun. + + +Gravity Overcome. + +Now, what Mr. Edison had done was, in effect, to create an electrified +particle which might be compared to one of the atoms composing the tail of +a comet, although in reality it was a kind of car, of metal, weighing some +hundreds of pounds and capable of bearing some thousands of pounds with +it in its flight. By producing, with the aid of the electrical generator +contained in this car, an enormous charge of electricity, Mr. Edison +was able to counterbalance, and a trifle more than counterbalance, +the attraction of the earth, and thus cause the car to fly off from the +earth as an electrified pith ball flies from the prime conductor. + +As we sat in the brilliantly lighted chamber that formed the interior of +the car, and where stores of compressed air had been provided together +with chemical apparatus, by means of which fresh supplies of oxygen +and nitrogen might be obtained for our consumption during the flight +through space, Mr. Edison touched a polished button, thus causing the +generation of the required electrical charge on the exterior of the car, +and immediately we began to rise. + +The moment and direction of our flight had been so timed and prearranged, +that the original impulse would carry us straight toward the moon. + + +A Triumphant Test. + +When we fell within the sphere of attraction of that orb it only became +necessary to so manipulate the electrical charge upon our car as nearly, +but not quite, to counterbalance the effect of the moon's attraction +in order that we might gradually approach it and with an easy motion, +settle, without shock, upon its surface. + +We did not remain to examine the wonders of the moon, although we could +not fail to observe many curious things therein. Having demonstrated +the fact that we could not only leave the earth, but could journey +through space and safely land upon the surface of another planet, Mr. +Edison's immediate purpose was fulfilled, and we hastened back to the +earth, employing in leaving the moon and landing again upon our own planet +the same means of control over the electrical attraction and repulsion +between the respective planets and our car which I have already described. + + +Telegraphing the News. + +When actual experiment had thus demonstrated the practicability of +the invention, Mr. Edison no longer withheld the news of what he had +been doing from the world. The telegraph lines and the ocean cables +labored with the messages that in endless succession, and burdened with +an infinity of detail, were sent all over the earth. Everywhere the +utmost enthusiasm was aroused. + +"Let the Martians come," was the cry. "If necessary, we can quit the +earth as the Athenians fled from Athens before the advancing host of +Xerxes, and like them, take refuge upon our ships--these new ships of +space, with which American inventiveness has furnished us." + +And then, like a flash, some genius struck out an idea that fired +the world. + +"Why should we wait? Why should we run the risk of having our cities +destroyed and our lands desolated a second time? Let us go to Mars. We +have the means. Let us beard the lion in his den. Let us ourselves +turn conquerors and take possession of that detestable planet, and if +necessary, destroy it in order to relieve the earth of this perpetual +threat which now hangs over us like the sword of Damocles." + + + + +Chapter II. + + +This enthusiasm would have had but little justification had Mr. Edison +done nothing more than invent a machine which could navigate the +atmosphere and the regions of interplanetary space. + +He had, however, and this fact was generally known, although the details +had not yet leaked out--invented also machines of war intended to meet +the utmost that the Martians could do for either offence or defence in +the struggle which was now about to ensue. + + +A Wonderful Instrument. + +Acting upon the hint which had been conveyed from various investigations +in the domain of physics, and concentrating upon the problem all those +unmatched powers of intellect which distinguished him, the great inventor +had succeeded in producing a little implement which one could carry in +his hand, but which was more powerful than any battleship that ever +floated. The details of its mechanism could not be easily explained, +without the use of tedious technicalities and the employment of terms, +diagrams and mathematical statements, all of which would lie outside +the scope of this narrative. But the principle of the thing was simple +enough. It was upon the great scientific doctrine, which we have since +seen so completely and brilliantly developed, of the law of harmonic +vibrations, extending from atoms and molecules at one end of the series up +to worlds and suns at the other end, that Mr. Edison based his invention. + +Every kind of substance has its own vibratory rhythm. That of iron +differs from that of pine wood. The atoms of gold do not vibrate in the +same time or through the same range as those of lead, and so on for all +known substances, and all the chemical elements. So, on a larger scale, +every massive body has its period of vibration. A great suspension +bridge vibrates, under the impulse of forces that are applied to it, +in long periods. No company of soldiers ever crosses such a bridge +without breaking step. If they tramped together, and were followed by +other companies keeping the same time with their feet, after a while the +vibrations of the bridge would become so great and destructive that it +would fall in pieces. So any structure, if its vibration rate is known, +could easily be destroyed by a force applied to it in such a way that +it should simply increase the swing of those vibrations up to the point +of destruction. + +Now Mr. Edison had been able to ascertain the vibratory swing of many +well-known substances, and to produce, by means of the instrument which +he had contrived, pulsations in the ether which were completely under his +control, and which could be made long or short, quick or slow, at his +will. He could run through the whole gamut from the slow vibrations of +sound in air up to the four hundred and twenty-five millions of millions +of vibrations per second of the ultra red rays. + +Having obtained an instrument of such power, it only remained to +concentrate its energy upon a given object in order that the atoms +composing that object should be set into violent undulation, sufficient +to burst it asunder and to scatter its molecules broadcast. This the +inventor effected by the simplest means in the world--simply a parabolic +reflector by which the destructive waves could be sent like a beam of +light, but invisible, in any direction and focused upon any desired point. + + +Testing the "Disintegrator." + +I had the good fortune to be present when this powerful engine of +destruction was submitted to its first test. We had gone upon the roof +of Mr. Edison's laboratory and the inventor held the little instrument, +with its attached mirror, in his hand. We looked about for some object +on which to try its powers. On a bare limb of a tree not far away, +for it was late in the Fall, sat a disconsolate crow. + +"Good," said Mr. Edison, "that will do." He touched a button at the +side of the instrument and a soft, whirring noise was heard. + +"Feathers," said Mr. Edison, "have a vibration period of three hundred +and eighty-six million per second." + +He adjusted the index as he spoke. Then, through a sighting tube, he +aimed at the bird. + +"Now watch," he said. + + +The Crow's Fate. + +Another soft whirr in the instrument, a momentary flash of light close +around it, and, behold, the crow had turned from black to white! + +"Its feathers are gone," said the inventor; "they have been dissipated +into their constituent atoms. Now, we will finish the crow." + +Instantly there was another adjustment of the index, another outshooting +of vibratory force, a rapid up and down motion of the index to include +a certain range of vibrations, and the crow itself was gone--vanished +in empty space! There was the bare twig on which a moment before it had +stood. Behind, in the sky, was the white cloud against which its black +form had been sharply outlined, but there was no more crow. + + +Bad for the Martians. + +"That looks bad for the Martians, doesn't it?" said the Wizard. "I have +ascertained the vibration rate of all the materials of which their war +engines whose remains we have collected together are composed. They can +be shattered into nothingness in the fraction of a second. Even if the +vibration period were not known, it could quickly be hit upon by simply +running through the gamut." + +"Hurrah!" cried one of the onlookers. "We have met the Martians and +they are ours." + +Such in brief was the first of the contrivances which Mr. Edison invented +for the approaching war with Mars. + +And these facts had become widely known. Additional experiments had +completed the demonstration of the inventor's ability, with the aid of +his wonderful instrument, to destroy any given object, or any part of +an object, provided that that part differed in its atomic constitution, +and consequently in its vibratory period, from the other parts. + +A most impressive public exhibition of the powers of the little +disintegrator was given amid the ruins of New York. On lower Broadway +a part of the walls of one of the gigantic buildings, which had been +destroyed by the Martians, impended in such a manner that it threatened at +any moment to fall upon the heads of the passers-by. The Fire Department +did not dare touch it. To blow it up seemed a dangerous expedient, +because already new buildings had been erected in its neighborhood, +and their safety would be imperiled by the flying fragments. The fact +happened to come to my knowledge. + +"Here is an opportunity," I said to Mr. Edison, "to try the powers of +your machine on a large scale." + +"Capital!" he instantly replied. "I shall go at once." + + +Disintegrating a Building. + +For the work now in hand it was necessary to employ a battery of +disintegrators, since the field of destruction covered by each was +comparatively limited. All of the impending portions of the wall must be +destroyed at once and together, for otherwise the danger would rather +be accentuated than annihilated. The disintegrators were placed upon +the roof of a neighboring building, so adjusted that their fields of +destruction overlapped one another upon the wall. Their indexes were +all set to correspond with the vibration period of the peculiar kind +of brick of which the wall consisted. Then the energy was turned on, +and a shout of wonder arose from the multitudes which had assembled at +a safe distance to witness the experiment. + + +Only a Cloud Remained. + +The wall did not fall; it did not break asunder; no fragments shot this +way and that and high in the air; there was no explosion; no shock or +noise disturbed the still atmosphere--only a soft whirr, that seemed +to pervade everything and to tingle in the nerves of the spectators; +and--what had been was not! The wall was gone! But high above and all +around the place where it had hung over the street with its threat of +death there appeared, swiftly billowing outward in every direction, +a faint, bluish cloud. It was the scattered atoms of the destroyed wall. + +And now the cry "On to Mars!" was heard on all sides. But for such an +enterprise funds were needed--millions upon millions. Yet some of the +fairest and richest portions of the earth had been impoverished by the +frightful ravages of those enemies who had dropped down upon them from +the skies. Still, the money must be had. The salvation of the planet, +as everybody was now convinced, depended upon the successful negotiation +of a gigantic war fund, in comparison with which all the expenditures in +all of the wars that had been waged by the nations for 2,000 years would +be insignificant. The electrical ships and the vibration engines must be +constructed by scores and thousands. Only Mr. Edison's immense resources +and unrivaled equipment had enabled him to make the models whose powers +had been so satisfactorily shown. But to multiply these upon a war scale +was not only beyond the resources of any individual--hardly a nation on +the globe in the period of its greatest prosperity could have undertaken +such a work. All the nations, then, must now conjoin. They must unite +their resources, and, if necessary, exhaust all their hoards, in order +to raise the needed sum. + + +The Yankees Lead. + +Negotiations were at once begun. The United States naturally took the +lead, and their leadership was never for a moment questioned abroad. + +Washington was selected as the place of meeting for a great congress +of the nations. Washington, luckily, had been one of the places which +had not been touched by the Martians. But if Washington had been a +city composed of hotels alone, and every hotel so great as to be a +little city in itself, it would have been utterly insufficient for the +accommodation of the innumerable throngs which now flocked to the banks +of the Potomac. But when was American enterprise unequal to a crisis? +The necessary hotels, lodging houses and restaurants were constructed +with astounding rapidity. One could see the city growing and expanding +day by day and week after week. It flowed over Georgetown Heights; it +leaped the Potomac; it spread east and west, south and north; square mile +after square mile of territory was buried under the advancing buildings, +until the gigantic city, which had thus grown up like a mushroom in a +night, was fully capable of accommodating all its expected guests. + +At first it had been intended that the heads of the various governments +should in person attend this universal congress, but as the enterprise +went on, as the enthusiasm spread, as the necessity for haste became +more apparent through the warning notes which were constantly sounded +from the observatories where the astronomers were nightly beholding new +evidences of threatening preparations in Mars, the kings and queens +of the old world felt that they could not remain at home; that their +proper place was at the new focus and centre of the whole world--the +city of Washington. Without concerted action, without interchange of +suggestion, this impulse seemed to seize all the old world monarchs +at once. Suddenly cablegrams flashed to the Government at Washington, +announcing that Queen Victoria, the Emperor William, the Czar Nicholas, +Alphonso of Spain, with his mother, Maria Christina; the old Emperor +Francis Joseph and the Empress Elizabeth, of Austria; King Oscar and Queen +Sophia, of Sweden and Norway; King Humbert and Queen Margherita, of Italy; +King George and Queen Olga, of Greece; Abdul Hamid, of Turkey; Tsait'ien, +Emperor of China; Mutsuhito, the Japanese Mikado, with his beautiful +Princess Haruko; the President of France, the President of Switzerland, +the First Syndic of the little republic of Andorra, perched on the crest +of the Pyrenees, and the heads of all the Central and South American +republics, were coming to Washington to take part in the deliberations, +which, it was felt, were to settle the fate of earth and Mars. + +One day, after this announcement had been received, and the additional +news had come that nearly all the visiting monarchs had set out, +attended by brilliant suites and convoyed by fleets of warships, for +their destination, some coming across the Atlantic to the port of New +York, others across the Pacific to San Francisco, Mr. Edison said to me: + +"This will be a fine spectacle. Would you like to watch it?" + +"Certainly," I replied. + + +A Grand Spectacle. + +The Ship of Space was immediately at our disposal. I think I have not +yet mentioned the fact that the inventor's control over the electrical +generator carried in the car was so perfect that by varying the potential +or changing the polarity he could cause it slowly or swiftly, as might +be desired, to approach or recede from any object. The only practical +difficulty was presented when the polarity of the electrical charge upon +an object in the neighborhood of the car was unknown to those in the +car, and happened to be opposite to that of the charge which the car, at +that particular moment, was bearing. In such a case, of course, the car +would fly toward the object, whatever it might be, like a pith ball or +a feather, attracted to the knob of an electrical machine. In this way, +considerable danger was occasionally encountered, and a few accidents +could not be avoided. Fortunately, however, such cases were rare. It was +only now and then that, owing to some local cause, electrical polarities +unknown to or unexpected by the navigators, endangered the safety of +the car. As I shall have occasion to relate, however, in the course of +the narrative, this danger became more acute and assumed at times a most +formidable phase, when we had ventured outside the sphere of the earth +and were moving through the unexplored regions beyond. + +On this occasion, having embarked, we rose rapidly to a height of some +thousands of feet and directed our course over the Atlantic. When half +way to Ireland, we beheld, in the distance, steaming westward, the smoke +of several fleets. As we drew nearer a marvellous spectacle unfolded +itself to our eyes. From the northeast, their great guns flashing in +the sunlight and their huge funnels belching black volumes that rested +like thunder clouds upon the sea, came the mighty warships of England, +with her meteor flag streaming red in the breeze, while the royal +insignia, indicating the presence of the ruler of the British Empire, +was conspicuously displayed upon the flagship of the squadron. + +Following a course more directly westward appeared, under another black +cloud of smoke, the hulls and guns and burgeons of another great fleet, +carrying the tri-color of France, and bearing in its midst the head of +the magnificent republic of western Europe. + +Further south, beating up against the northerly winds, came a third fleet +with the gold and red of Spain fluttering from its masthead. This, too, +was carrying its King westward, where now, indeed, the star of empire +had taken its way. + + +Universal Brotherhood. + +Rising a little higher, so as to extend our horizon, we saw coming +down the English channel, behind the British fleet, the black ships of +Russia. Side by side, or following one another's lead, these war +fleets were on a peaceful voyage that belied their threatening +appearance. There had been no thought of danger to or from the forts +and ports of rival nations which they had passed. There was no enmity, +and no fear between them when the throats of their ponderous guns +yawned at one another across the waves. They were now, in spirit, all +one fleet, having one object, bearing against one enemy, ready to +defend but one country, and that country was the entire earth. + +It was some time before we caught sight of the Emperor William's fleet. It +seems that the Kaiser, although at first consenting to the arrangement +by which Washington had been selected as the assembling place for the +nations, afterwards objected to it. + + +Kaiser Wilhelm's Jealousy. + +"I ought to do this thing myself," he had said. "My glorious ancestors +would never have consented to allow these upstart Republicans to lead in +a warlike enterprise of this kind. What would my grandfather have said to +it? I suspect that it is some scheme aimed at the divine right of kings." + +But the good sense of the German people would not suffer their ruler to +place them in a position so false and so untenable. And swept along +by their enthusiasm the Kaiser had at last consented to embark on his +flagship at Kiel, and now he was following the other fleets on their +great mission to the Western Continent. + +Why did they bring their warships when their intentions were peaceable, +do you ask? Well, it was partly the effect of ancient habit, and partly +due to the fact that such multitudes of officials and members of ruling +families wished to embark for Washington that the ordinary means of +ocean communications would have been utterly inadequate to convey them. + +After we had feasted our eyes on this strange sight, Mr. Edison suddenly +exclaimed: "Now let us see the fellows from the rising sun." + + +Over the Mississippi. + +The car was immediately directed toward the west. We rapidly approached +the American coast, and as we sailed over the Alleghany Mountains and the +broad plains of the Ohio and the Mississippi, we saw crawling beneath +us from west, south and north, an endless succession of railway trains +bearing their multitudes on to Washington. With marvellous speed we +rushed westward, rising high to skim over the snow-topped peaks of the +Rocky Mountains and then the glittering rim of the Pacific was before +us. Half way between the American coast and Hawaii we met the fleets +coming from China and Japan. Side by side they were ploughing the main, +having forgotten, or laid aside, all the animosities of their former wars. + +I well remember how my heart was stirred at this impressive exhibition +of the boundless influence which my country had come to exercise over +all the people of the world, and I turned to look at the man to whose +genius this uprising of the earth was due. But Mr. Edison, after his +wont, appeared totally unconscious of the fact that he was personally +responsible for what was going on. His mind, seemingly, was entirely +absorbed in considering problems, the solution of which might be essential +to our success in the terrific struggle which was soon to begin. + + +Back to Washington. + +"Well, have you seen enough?" he asked. "Then let us go back to +Washington." + +As we speeded back across the continent we beheld beneath us again +the burdened express trains rushing toward the Atlantic, and hundreds +of thousands of upturned eyes watched our swift progress, and volleys +of cheers reached our ears, for every one knew that this was Edison's +electrical warship, on which the hope of the nation, and the hopes of +all the nations, depended. These scenes were repeated again and again +until the car hovered over the still expanding capital on the Potomac, +where the unceasing ring of hammers rose to the clouds. + + + + +Chapter III. + + +The day appointed for the assembling of the nations in Washington opened +bright and beautiful. Arrangements had been made for the reception of +the distinguished guests at the Capitol. No time was to be wasted, and, +having assembled in the Senate Chamber, the business that had called +them together was to be immediately begun. The scene in Pennsylvania +avenue, when the procession of dignitaries and royalties passed up +toward the Capitol, was one never to be forgotten. Bands were playing, +magnificent equipages flashed in the morning sunlight, the flags of +every nation on the earth fluttered in the breeze. Queen Victoria, +with the Prince of Wales escorting her, and riding in an open carriage, +was greeted with roars of cheers; the Emperor William, following in +another carriage with Empress Victoria at his side, condescended to +bow and smile in response to the greetings of a free people. Each of +the other monarchs was received in a similar manner. The Czar of Russia +proved to be an especial favorite with the multitude on account of the +ancient friendship of his house for America. But the greatest applause +of all came when the President of France, followed by the President +of Switzerland and the First Syndic of the little Republic of Andorra, +made their appearance. Equally warm were the greetings extended to the +representatives of Mexico and the South American States. + + +The Sultan of Turkey. + +The crowd apparently hardly knew at first how to receive the Sultan of +Turkey, but the universal good feeling was in his favor, and finally +rounds of hand clapping and cheers greeted his progress along the +splendid avenue. + +A happy idea had apparently occurred to the Emperor of China and the +Mikado of Japan, for, attended by their intermingled suites, they +rode together in a single carriage. This object lesson in the unity of +international feeling immensely pleased the spectators. + + +An Unparallelled Scene. + +The scene in the Senate Chamber stirred every one profoundly. That +it was brilliant and magnificent goes without saying, but there was a +seriousness, an intense feeling of expectancy, pervading both those who +looked on and those who were to do the work for which these magnates of +the earth had assembled, which produced an ineradicable impression. The +President of the United States, of course, presided. Representatives +of the greater powers occupied the front seats, and some of them were +honored with special chairs near the President. + +No time was wasted in preliminaries. The President made a brief speech. + +"We have come together," he said, "to consider a question that equally +interests the whole earth. I need not remind you that unexpectedly and +without provocation on our part the people--the monsters, I should +rather say--of Mars, recently came down upon the earth, attacked us +in our homes and spread desolation around them. Having the advantage +of ages of evolution, which for us are yet in the future, they brought +with them engines of death and of destruction against which we found it +impossible to contend. It is within the memory of every one in reach +of my voice that it was through the entirely unexpected succor which +Providence sent us that we were suddenly and effectually freed from the +invaders. By our own efforts we could have done nothing." + + +McKinley's Tribute. + +"But, as you all know, the first feeling of relief which followed the +death of our foes was quickly succeeded by the fearful news which came to +us from the observatories, that the Martians were undoubtedly preparing +for a second invasion of our planet. Against this we should have had no +recourse and no hope but for the genius of one of my countrymen, who, +as you are all aware, has perfected means which may enable us not only +to withstand the attack of those awful enemies, but to meet them, and, +let us hope, to conquer them on their own ground." + +"Mr. Edison is here to explain to you what those means are. But we have +also another object. Whether we send a fleet of interplanetary ships +to invade Mars or whether we simply confine our attention to works of +defence, in either case it will be necessary to raise a very large sum +of money. None of us has yet recovered from the effects of the recent +invasion. The earth is poor to-day compared to its position a few years +ago; yet we cannot allow our poverty to stand in the way. The money, +the means, must be had. It will be part of our business here to raise +a gigantic war fund by the aid of which we can construct the equipment +and machinery that we shall require. This, I think, is all I need to +say. Let us proceed to business." + +"Where is Mr. Edison?" cried a voice. + +"Will Mr. Edison please step forward?" said the President. + +There was a stir in the assembly, and the iron-gray head of the great +inventor was seen moving through the crowd. In his hand he carried one of +his marvellous disintegrators. He was requested to explain and illustrate +its operation. Mr. Edison smiled. + + +Edison to the Rescue. + +"I can explain its details," he said, "to Lord Kelvin, for instance, +but if Their Majesties will excuse me, I doubt whether I can make it +plain to the crowned heads." + +The Emperor William smiled superciliously. Apparently he thought that +another assault had been committed upon the divine right of kings. But +the Czar Nicholas appeared to be amused, and the Emperor of China, who +had been studying English, laughed in his sleeve, as if he suspected +that a joke had been perpetrated. + +"I think," said one of the deputies, "that a simple exhibition of the +powers of the instrument, without a technical explanation of its method +of working, will suffice for our purpose." + +This suggestion was immediately approved. In response to it, Mr. Edison, +by a few simple experiments, showed how he could quickly and certainly +shatter into its constituent atoms any object upon which the vibratory +force of the disintegrator should be directed. In this manner he caused an +inkstand to disappear under the very nose of the Emperor William without a +spot of ink being scattered upon his sacred person, but evidently the odor +of the disunited atoms was not agreeable to the nostrils of the Kaiser. + +Mr. Edison also explained in general terms the principle on which the +instrument worked. He was greeted with round after round of applause, +and the spirit of the assembly rose high. + +Next the workings of the electrical ship were explained, and it was +announced that after the meeting had adjourned an exhibition of the +flying powers of the ship would be given in the open air. + +These experiments, together with the accompanying explanations, added +to what had already been disseminated through the public press, were +quite sufficient to convince all the representatives who had assembled +in Washington that the problem of how to conquer the Martians had +been solved. The means were plainly at hand. It only remained to apply +them. For this purpose, as the President had pointed out, it would be +necessary to raise a very large sum of money. + +"How much will be needed?" asked one of the English representatives. + +"At least ten thousand millions of dollars," replied the President. + +"It would be safer," said a Senator from the Pacific Coast, "to make it +twenty-five thousand millions." + +"I suggest," said the King of Italy, "that the nations be called in +alphabetical order, and that the representatives of each name a sum +which it is ready and able to contribute." + +"We want the cash or its equivalent," shouted the Pacific Coast Senator. + +"I shall not follow the alphabet strictly," said the President, "but shall +begin with the larger nations first. Perhaps, under the circumstances, +it is proper that the United States should lead the way. Mr. Secretary," +he continued, turning to the Secretary of the Treasury, "how much can +we stand?" + + +An Enormous Sum. + +"At least a thousand millions," replied the Secretary of the Treasury. + +A roar of applause that shook the room burst from the assembly. Even +some of the monarchs threw up their hats. The Emperor Tsait'ten smiled +from ear to ear. One of the Roko Tuis, or native chiefs, from Fiji, +sprang up and brandished a war club. + +The President then proceeded to call the other nations, beginning with +Austria-Hungary and ending with Zanzibar, whose Sultan, Hamoud bin +Mahomed, had come to the congress in the escort of Queen Victoria. Each +contributed liberally. + +Germany coming in alphabetical order just before Great Britain, had named, +through its Chancellor, the sum of $500,000,000, but when the First Lord +of the British Treasury, not wishing to be behind the United States, +named double that sum as the contribution of the British Empire, the +Emperor William looked displeased. He spoke a word in the ear of the +Chancellor, who immediately raised his hand. + + +A Thousand Million Dollars. + +"We will give a thousand million dollars," said the Chancellor. + +Queen Victoria seemed surprised, though not displeased. The First Lord +of the Treasury met her eye, and then, rising in his place, said: + +"Make it fifteen hundred million for Great Britain." + +Emperor William consulted again with his Chancellor, but evidently +concluded not to increase his bid. + +But, at any rate, the fund had benefited to the amount of a thousand +millions by this little outburst of imperial rivalry. + +The greatest surprise of all, however, came when the King of Siam was +called upon for his contribution. He had not been given a foremost place +in the Congress, but when the name of his country was pronounced he rose +by his chair, dressed in a gorgeous specimen of the peculiar attire of +his country, then slowly pushed his way to the front, stepped up to the +President's desk and deposited upon it a small box. + +"This is our contribution," he said, in broken English. + +The cover was lifted, and there darted, shimmering in the half gloom of +the Chamber, a burst of iridescence from the box. + + +The Long Lost Treasure. + +"My friends of the Western world," continued the King of Siam, "will be +interested in seeing this gem. Only once before has the eye of a European +been blessed with the sight of it. Your books will tell you that in the +seventeenth century a traveler, Tavernier, saw in India an unmatched +diamond which afterward disappeared like a meteor, and was thought to +have been lost from the earth. You all know the name of that diamond and +its history. It is the Great Mogul, and it lies before you. How it came +into my possession I shall not explain. At any rate, it is honestly mine, +and I freely contribute it here to aid in protecting my native planet +against those enemies who appear determined to destroy it." + +When the excitement which the appearance of this long lost treasure, that +had been the subject of so many romances and of such long and fruitless +search, had subsided, the President continued calling the list, until +he had completed it. + +Upon taking the sum of the contributions (the Great Mogul was reckoned +at three millions) it was found to be still one thousand millions short +of the required amount. + +The Secretary of the Treasury was instantly on his feet. + +"Mr. President," he said, "I think we can stand that addition. Let it +be added to the contribution of the United States of America." + +When the cheers that greeted the conclusion of the business were over, +the President announced that the next affair of the Congress was to +select a director who should have entire charge of the preparations for +the war. It was the universal sentiment that no man could be so well +suited for this post as Mr. Edison himself. He was accordingly selected +by the unanimous and enthusiastic choice of the great assembly. + +"How long a time do you require to put everything in readiness?" asked +the President. + +"Give me carte blanche," replied Mr. Edison, "and I believe I can have +a hundred electric ships and three thousand disintegrators ready within +six months." + +A tremendous cheer greeted this announcement. + +"Your powers are unlimited," said the President, "draw on the fund for +as much money as you need," whereupon the Treasurer of the United States +was made the disbursing officer of the fund, and the meeting adjourned. + +Not less than 5,000,000 people had assembled at Washington from all +parts of the world. Every one of this immense multitude had been able to +listen to the speeches and the cheers in the Senate chamber, although +not personally present there. Wires had been run all over the city, +and hundreds of improved telephonic receivers provided, so that every +one could hear. Even those who were unable to visit Washington, people +living in Baltimore, New York, Boston, and as far away as New Orleans, +St. Louis and Chicago, had also listened to the proceedings with the aid +of these receivers. Upon the whole, probably not less than 50,000,000 +people had heard the deliberations of the great congress of the nations. + + +The Excitement in Washington. + +The telegraph and the cable had sent the news across the oceans to all +the capitols of the earth. The exultation was so great that the people +seemed mad with joy. + +The promised exhibition of the electrical ship took place the next +day. Enormous multitudes witnessed the experiment, and there was a +struggle for places in the car. Even Queen Victoria, accompanied by +the Prince of Wales, ventured to take a ride in it, and they enjoyed it +so much that Mr. Edison prolonged the journey as far as Boston and the +Bunker Hill monument. + +Most of the other monarchs also took a high ride, but when the turn of +the Emperor of China came he repeated a fable which he said had come +down from the time of Confucius: + + +A Chinese Legend. + +"Once upon a time there was a Chinaman living in the valley of the +Hoang-Ho River, who was accustomed frequently to lie on his back, gazing +at, and envying, the birds that he saw flying away in the sky. One day he +saw a black speck which rapidly grew larger and larger, until as it got +near he perceived that it was an enormous bird, which overshadowed the +earth with its wings. It was the elephant of birds, the roc. 'Come with +me,' said the roc, 'and I will show you the wonders of the kingdom of the +birds.' The man caught hold of its claw and nestled among its feathers, +and they rapidly rose high in the air, and sailed away to the Kuen-Lun +Mountains. Here, as they passed near the top of the peaks, another roc +made its appearance. The wings of the two great birds brushed together, +and immediately they fell to fighting. In the midst of the melee the +man lost his hold and tumbled into the top of a tree, where his pigtail +caught on a branch, and he remained suspended. There the unfortunate man +hung helpless, until a rat, which had its home in the rocks at the foot +of the tree, took compassion upon him, and, climbing up, gnawed off the +branch. As the man slowly and painfully wended his weary way homeward, +he said: 'This teaches me that creatures to whom nature has given neither +feathers nor wings should leave the kingdom of the birds to those who +are fitted to inhabit it.'" + +Having told this story, Tsait'ien turned his back on the electrical ship. + + +The Grand Ball. + +After the exhibition was finished, and amid the fresh outburst of +enthusiasm that followed, it was suggested that a proper way to wind up +the Congress and give suitable expression to the festive mood which now +possessed mankind would be to have a grand ball. This suggestion met +with immediate and universal approval. + +But for so gigantic an affair it was, of course, necessary to make special +preparations. A convenient place was selected on the Virginia side of the +Potomac; a space of ten acres was carefully levelled and covered with a +polished floor, rows of columns one hundred feet apart were run across +it in every direction, and these were decorated with electric lights, +displaying every color of the spectrum. + + +Unsurpassed Fireworks. + +Above this immense space, rising in the centre to a height of more than +a thousand feet, was anchored a vast number of balloons, all aglow +with lights, and forming a tremendous dome, in which brilliant lamps +were arranged in such a manner as to exhibit, in an endless succession +of combinations, all the national colors, ensigns and insignia of the +various countries represented at the Congress. Blazing eagles, lions, +unicorns, dragons and other imaginary creatures that the different nations +had chosen for their symbols appeared to hover high above the dancers, +shedding a brilliant light upon the scene. + +Circles of magnificent thrones were placed upon the floor in convenient +locations for seeing. A thousand bands of music played, and tens of +thousands of couples, gayly dressed and flashing with gems, whirled +together upon the polished floor. + + +Queen Victoria Dances. + +The Queen of England led the dance, on the arm of the President of the +United States. + +The Prince of Wales led forth the fair daughter of the President, +universally admired as the most beautiful woman upon the great ballroom +floor. + +The Emperor William, in his military dress, danced with the beauteous +Princess Masaco, the daughter of the Mikado, who wore for the occasion +the ancient costume of the women of her country, sparkling with jewels, +and glowing with quaint combinations of color like a gorgeous butterfly. + +The Chinese Emperor, with his pigtail flying high as he spun, danced +with the Empress of Russia. + +The King of Siam essayed a waltz with the Queen Ranavalona, of Madagascar, +while the Sultan of Turkey basked in the smiles of a Chicago heiress to +a hundred millions. + +The Czar choose for his partner a dark-eyed beauty from Peru, but +King Malietoa, of Samoa, was suspicious of civilized charmers and, +avoiding all of their allurements, expressed his joy and gave vent to +his enthusiasm in a pas seul. In this he was quickly joined by a band +of Sioux Indian chiefs, whose whoops and yells so startled the leader of +a German band on their part of the floor that he dropped his baton and, +followed by the musicians, took to his heels. + +This incident amused the good-natured Emperor of China more than anything +else that had occurred. + +"Make muchee noisee," he said, indicating the fleeing musicians with +his thumb. "Allee same muchee flaid noisee," and then his round face +dimpled into another laugh. + +The scene from the outside was even more imposing than that which greeted +the eye within the brilliantly lighted enclosure. Far away in the night, +rising high among the stars, the vast dome of illuminated balloons +seemed like some supernatural creation, too grand and glorious to have +been constructed by the inhabitants of the earth. + +All around it, and from some of the balloons themselves, rose jets +and fountains of fire, ceaselessly playing, and blotting out the +constellations of the heavens by their splendor. + + +The Prince of Wales's Toast. + +The dance was followed by a grand banquet, at which the Prince of Wales +proposed a toast to Mr. Edison: + +"It gives me much pleasure," he said, "to offer, in the name of the +nations of the Old World, this tribute of our admiration for, and our +confidence in, the genius of the New World. Perhaps on such an occasion +as this, when all racial differences and prejudices ought to be, and are, +buried and forgotten, I should not recall anything that might revive +them; yet I cannot refrain from expressing my happiness in knowing that +the champion who is to achieve the salvation of the earth has come forth +from the bosom of the Anglo-Saxon race." + +Several of the great potentates looked grave upon hearing the Prince of +Wales's words, and the Czar and the Kaiser exchanged glances; but there +was no interruption to the cheers that followed. Mr. Edison, whose modesty +and dislike to display and to speechmaking were well known, simply said: + +"I think we have got the machine that can whip them. But we ought not +to be wasting any time. Probably they are not dancing on Mars, but are +getting ready to make us dance." + + +Haste to Embark. + +These words instantly turned the current of feeling in the vast +assembly. There was no longer any disposition to expend time in vain +boastings and rejoicings. Everywhere the cry now became, "Let us make +haste! Let us get ready at once! Who knows but the Martians have already +embarked, and are now on their way to destroy us?" + +Under the impulse of this new feeling, which, it must be admitted, +was very largely inspired by terror, the vast ballroom was quickly +deserted. The lights were suddenly put out in the great dome of balloons, +for someone had whispered: + +"Suppose they should see that from Mars? Would they not guess what we +were about, and redouble their preparations to finish us?" + +Upon the suggestion of the President of the United States, an executive +committee, representing all the principal nations, was appointed, and +without delay a meeting of this committee was assembled at the White +House. Mr. Edison was summoned before it, and asked to sketch briefly +the plan upon which he proposed to work. + + +Thousands of Men for Mars. + +I need not enter into the details of what was done at this meeting. Let it +suffice to say that when it broke up, in the small hours of the morning, +it had been unanimously resolved that as many thousands of men as +Mr. Edison might require should be immediately placed at his disposal; +that as far as possible all the great manufacturing establishments +of the country should be instantly transformed into factories where +electrical ships and disintegrators could be built, and upon the +suggestion of Professor Sylvanus P. Thompson, the celebrated English +electrical expert, seconded by Lord Kelvin, it was resolved that all +the leading men of science in the world should place their services at +the disposal of Mr. Edison in any capacity in which, in his judgment, +they might be useful to him. + +The members of this committee were disposed to congratulate one another +on the good work which they had so promptly accomplished, when at the +moment of their adjournment, a telegraphic dispatch was handed to the +President from Professor George E. Hale, the director of the great Yerkes +Observatory, in Wisconsin. The telegram read: + + +What's Happening on Mars? + +"Professor Barnard, watching Mars to-night with the forty-inch telescope, +saw a sudden outburst of reddish light, which we think indicates that +something has been shot from the planet. Spectroscopic observations of +this moving light indicated that it was coming earthward, while visible, +at the rate of not less than one hundred miles a second." + +Hardly had the excitement caused by the reading of this dispatch subsided, +when others of a similar import came from the Lick Observatory, in +California; from the branch of the Harvard Observatory at Arequipa, +in Peru, and from the Royal Observatory, at Potsdam. + +When the telegram from this last-named place was read the Emperor William +turned to his Chancellor and said: + +"I want to go home. If I am to die I prefer to leave my bones among those +of my Imperial ancestors, and not in this vulgar country, where no king +has ever ruled. I don't like this atmosphere. It makes me feel limp." + +And now, whipped on by the lash of alternate hope and fear, the earth +sprang to its work of preparation. + + + + +Chapter IV. + + +It is not necessary for me to describe the manner in which Mr. Edison +performed his tremendous task. He was as good as his word, and within six +months from the first stroke of the hammer, a hundred electrical ships, +each provided with a full battery of disintegrators, were floating in +the air above the harbor and the partially rebuilt city of New York. + +It was a wonderful scene. The polished sides of the huge floating cars +sparkled in the sunlight, and, as they slowly rose and fell, and swung +this way and that, upon the tides of the air, as if held by invisible +cables, the brilliant pennons streaming from their peaks waved up and +down like the wings of an assemblage of gigantic humming birds. + +Not knowing whether the atmosphere of Mars would prove suitable to be +breathed by inhabitants of the earth, Mr. Edison had made provision, by +means of an abundance of glass-protected openings, to permit the inmates +of the electrical ships to survey their surroundings without quitting the +interior. It was possible by properly selecting the rate of undulation, +to pass the vibratory impulse from the disintegrators through the glass +windows of a car, without damage to the glass itself. The windows were so +arranged that the disintegrators could sweep around the car on all sides, +and could also be directed above or below, as necessity might dictate. + +To overcome the destructive forces employed by the Martians no +satisfactory plan had yet been devised, because there was no means to +experiment with them. The production of those forces was still the secret +of our enemies. But Mr. Edison had no doubt that if we could not resist +their effects we might at least be able to avoid them by the rapidity of +our motions. As he pointed out, the war machines which the Martians had +employed in their invasion of the earth, were really very awkward and +unmanageable affairs. Mr. Edison's electrical ships, on the other hand, +were marvels of speed and of manageability. They could dart about, turn, +reverse their course, rise, fall, with the quickness and ease of a fish +in the water. Mr. Edison calculated that even if mysterious bolts should +fall upon our ships we could diminish their power to cause injury by +our rapid evolutions. + +We might be deceived in our expectations, and might have overestimated +our powers, but at any rate we must take our chances and try. + + +Watching the Martians. + +A multitude, exceeding even that which had assembled during the great +congress at Washington, now thronged New York and its neighborhood +to witness the mustering and the departure of the ships bound for +Mars. Nothing further had been heard of the mysterious phenomenon +reported from the observatories six months before, and which at the time +was believed to indicate the departure of another expedition from Mars +for the invasion of the earth. If the Martians had set out to attack +us they had evidently gone astray; or, perhaps, it was some other world +that they were aiming at this time. + +The expedition had, of course, profoundly stirred the interest of the +scientific world, and representatives of every branch of science, +from all the civilized nations, urged their claims to places in +the ships. Mr. Edison was compelled, from lack of room, to refuse +transportation to more than one in a thousand of those who now, on the +plea that they might be able to bring back something of advantage to +science, wished to embark for Mars. + + +As the Great Napoleon Did. + +On the model of the celebrated corps of literary and scientific men +which Napoleon carried with him in his invasion of Egypt, Mr. Edison +selected a company of the foremost astronomers, archaeologists, +anthropologists, botanists, bacteriologists, chemists, physicists, +mathematicians, mechanicians, meteorologists and experts in mining, +metallurgy and every other branch of practical science, as well as +artists and photographers. It was but reasonable to believe that in +another world, and a world so much older than the earth as Mars was, +these men would be able to gather materials in comparison with which +the discoveries made among the ruins of ancient empires in Egypt and +Babylonia would be insignificant indeed. + + +To Conquer Another World. + +It was a wonderful undertaking and a strange spectacle. There was a +feeling of uncertainty which awed the vast multitude whose eyes were +upturned to the ships. The expedition was not large, considering the +gigantic character of the undertaking. Each of the electrical ships +carried about twenty men, together with an abundant supply of compressed +provisions, compressed air, scientific apparatus and so on. In all, +there were about 2,000 men, who were going to conquer, if they could, +another world! + +But though few in numbers, they represented the flower of the earth, +the culmination of the genius of the planet. The greatest leaders +in science, both theoretical and practical, were there. It was the +evolution of the earth against the evolution of Mars. It was a planet in +the heyday of its strength matched against an aged and decrepit world +which, nevertheless, in consequence of its long ages of existence, +had acquired an experience which made it a most dangerous foe. On both +sides there was desperation. The earth was desperate because it foresaw +destruction unless it could first destroy its enemy. Mars was desperate +because nature was gradually depriving it of the means of supporting +life, and its teeming population was compelled to swarm like the inmates +of an overcrowded hive of bees, and find new homes elsewhere. In this +respect the situation on Mars, as we were well aware, resembled what had +already been known upon the earth, where the older nations overflowing +with population had sought new lands in which to settle, and for that +purpose had driven out the native inhabitants, whenever those natives +had proven unable to resist the invasion. + +No man could foresee the issue of what we were about to undertake, +but the tremendous powers which the disintegrators had exhibited and +the marvellous efficiency of the electrical ships bred almost universal +confidence that we should be successful. + + +Master Minds of the World. + +The car in which Mr. Edison travelled was, of course, the flagship +of the squadron, and I had the good fortune to be included among +its inmates. Here, besides several leading men of science from our +own country, were Lord Kelvin, Lord Rayleigh, Professor Roentgen, +Dr. Moissan--the man who first made artificial diamonds--and several +others whose fame had encircled the world. Each of these men cherished +hopes of wonderful discoveries, along his line of investigation, to be +made in Mars. + +An elaborate system of signals had, of course, to be devised for the +control of the squadron. These signals consisted of brilliant electric +lights displayed at night and so controlled that by their means long +sentences and directions could be easily and quickly transmitted. + + +A Novel Signal System. + +The day signals consisted partly of brightly colored pennons and flags, +which were to serve only when, shadowed by clouds or other obstructions, +the full sunlight should not fall upon the ships. This could naturally +only occur near the surface of the earth or of another planet. + +Once out of the shadow of the earth we should have no more clouds and +no more night until we arrived at Mars. In open space the sun would be +continually shining. It would be perpetual day for us, except as, by +artificial means, we furnished ourselves with darkness for the purpose +of promoting sleep. In this region of perpetual day, then, the signals +were also to be transmitted by flashes of light from mirrors reflecting +the rays of the sun. + + +Perpetual Night! + +Yet this perpetual day would be also, in one sense, a perpetual +night. There would be no more blue sky for us, because without an +atmosphere the sunlight could not be diffused. Objects would be +illuminated only on the side toward the sun. Anything that screened +off the direct rays of sunlight would produce absolute darkness behind +it. There would be no graduation of shadow. The sky would be as black +as ink on all sides. + +While it was the intention to remain as much as possible within the cars, +yet since it was probable that necessity would arise for occasionally +quitting the interior of the electrical ships, Mr. Edison had provided for +this emergency by inventing an air-tight dress constructed somewhat after +the manner of a diver's suit, but of much lighter material. Each ship was +provided with several of these suits, by wearing which one could venture +outside the car even when it was beyond the atmosphere of the earth. + + +Terrific Cold Anticipated. + +Provision had been made to meet the terrific cold which we knew would +be encountered the moment we had passed beyond the atmosphere--that +awful absolute zero which men had measured by anticipation, but never +yet experienced--by a simple system of producing within the air-tight +suits a temperature sufficiently elevated to counteract the effects of +the frigidity without. By means of long, flexible tubes, air could be +continually supplied to the wearers of the suits, and by an ingenious +contrivance a store of compressed air sufficient to last for several hours +was provided for each suit, so that in case of necessity the wearer could +throw off the tubes connecting him with the air tanks in the car. Another +object which had been kept in view in the preparation of these suits +was the possible exploration of an airless planet, such as the moon. + +The necessity of some contrivance by means of which we should be enabled +to converse with one another when on the outside of the cars in open +space, or when in an airless world, like the moon, where there would be +no medium by which the waves of sound could be conveyed as they are in +the atmosphere of the earth, had been foreseen by our great inventor, +and he had not found it difficult to contrive suitable devices for +meeting the emergency. + +Inside the headpiece of each of the electrical suits was the mouthpiece +of a telephone. This was connected with a wire which, when not in use, +could be conveniently coiled upon the arm of the wearer. Near the ears, +similarly connected with wires, were telephonic receivers. + + +An Aerial Telegraph. + +When two persons wearing the air-tight dresses wished to converse with +one another it was only necessary for them to connect themselves by the +wires, and conversation could then be easily carried on. + +Careful calculations of the precise distance of Mars from the earth at the +time when the expedition was to start had been made by a large number of +experts in mathematical astronomy. But it was not Mr. Edison's intention +to go direct to Mars. With the exception of the first electrical ship, +which he had completed, none had yet been tried in a long voyage. It +was desirable that the qualities of each of the ships should first +be carefully tested, and for this reason the leader of the expedition +determined that the moon should be the first port of space at which the +squadron would call. + +It chanced that the moon was so situated at this time as to be nearly +in a line between the earth and Mars, which latter was in opposition +to the sun, and consequently as favorably situated as possible for +the purposes of the voyage. What would be, then, for 99 out of the 100 +ships of the squadron, a trial trip would at the same time be a step of +a quarter of a million of miles gained in the direction of our journey, +and so no time would be wasted. + +The departure from the earth was arranged to occur precisely at +midnight. The moon near the full was hanging high over head, and a +marvellous spectacle was presented to the eyes of those below as the +great squadron of floating ships, with their signal lights ablaze, +cast loose and began slowly to move away on their adventurous and +unprecedented expedition into the great unknown. A tremendous cheer, +billowing up from the throats of millions of excited men and women, +seemed to rend the curtain of the night, and made the airships tremble +with the atmospheric vibrations that were set in motion. + + +Magnificent Fireworks. + +Instantly magnificent fireworks were displayed in honor of our +departure. Rockets by hundreds of thousands shot heaven-ward, and then +burst in constellations of fiery drops. The sudden illumination thus +produced, overspreading hundreds of square miles of the surface of the +earth with a light almost like that of day, must certainly have been +visible to the inhabitants of Mars, if they were watching us at the +time. They might, or might not, correctly interpret its significance; +but, at any rate, we did not care. We were off, and were confident that +we could meet our enemy on his own ground before he could attack us again. + + +And the Earth Was Like a Globe. + +And now, as we slowly rose higher, a marvellous scene was disclosed. At +first the earth beneath us, buried as it was in night, resembled +the hollow of a vast cup of ebony blackness, in the centre of which, +like the molten lava run together at the bottom of a volcanic crater, +shone the light of the illuminations around New York. But when we got +beyond the atmosphere, and the earth still continued to recede below us, +its aspect changed. The cup-shaped appearance was gone, and it began to +round out beneath our eyes in the form of a vast globe--an enormous ball +mysteriously suspended under us, glimmering over most of its surface, +with the faint illumination of the moon, and showing toward its eastern +edge the oncoming light of the rising sun. + +When we were still further away, having slightly varied our course so +that the sun was once more entirely hidden behind the centre of the +earth, we saw its atmosphere completely illuminated, all around it, +with prismatic lights, like a gigantic rainbow in the form of a ring. + +Another shift in our course rapidly carried us out of the shadow of +the earth and into the all pervading sunshine. Then the great planet +beneath us hung unspeakable in its beauty. The outlines of several of +the continents were clearly discernible on its surface, streaked and +spotted with delicate shades of varying color, and the sunlight flashed +and glowed in long lanes across the convex surface of the oceans. Parallel +with the Equator and along the regions of the ever blowing trade winds, +were vast belts of clouds, gorgeous with crimson and purple as the +sunlight fell upon them. Immense expanses of snow and ice lay like a +glittering garment upon both land and sea around the North Pole. + + +Farewell To This Terrestrial Sphere. + +As we gazed upon this magnificent spectacle, our hearts bounded within +us. This was our earth--this was the planet we were going to defend--our +home in the trackless wilderness of space. And it seemed to us indeed a +home for which we might gladly expend our last breath. A new determination +to conquer or die sprung up in our hearts, and I saw Lord Kelvin, after +gazing at the beauteous scene which the earth presented through his +eyeglass, turn about and peer in the direction in which we knew that Mars +lay, with a sudden frown that caused the glass to lose its grip and fall +dangling from its string upon his breast. Even Mr. Edison seemed moved. + +"I am glad I thought of the disintegrator," he said. "I shouldn't like +to see that world down there laid waste again." + +"And it won't be," said Professor Sylvanus P. Thompson, gripping the +handle of an electric machine, "not if we can help it." + + + + +Chapter V. + + +To prevent accidents, it had been arranged that the ships should keep a +considerable distance apart. Some of them gradually drifted away, until, +on account of the neutral tint of their sides, they were swallowed up +in the abyss of space. Still it was possible to know where every member +of the squadron was through the constant interchange of signals. These, +as I have explained, were effected by means of mirrors flashing back +the light of the sun. + +But, although it was now unceasing day for us, yet, there being no +atmosphere to diffuse the sun's light, the stars were visible to us just +as at night upon the earth, and they shone with extraordinary splendor +against the intense black background of the firmament. The lights of +some of the more distant ships of our squadron were not brighter than +the stars in whose neighborhood they seemed to be. In some cases it was +only possible to distinguish between the light of a ship and that of +a star by the fact that the former was continually flashing while the +star was steady in its radiance. + + +An Uncanny Effect. + +The most uncanny effect was produced by the absence of atmosphere around +us. Inside the car, where there was air, the sunlight, streaming through +one or more of the windows, was diffused and produced ordinary daylight. + +But when we ventured outside we could only see things by halves. The +side of the car that the sun's rays touched was visible, the other side +was invisible, the light from the stars not making it bright enough to +affect the eye in contrast with the sun-illumined half. + +As I held up my arm before my eyes, half of it seemed to be shaved +off lengthwise; a companion on the deck of the ship looked like half +a man. So the other electrical ships near us appeared as half ships, +only the illuminated sides being visible. + +We had now got so far away that the earth had taken on the appearance +of a heavenly body like the moon. Its colors had become all blended +into a golden-reddish hue, which overspread nearly its entire surface, +except at the poles, where there were broad patches of white. It was +marvellous to look at this huge orb behind us, while far beyond it shone +the blazing sun like an enormous star in the blackest of nights. In the +opposite direction appeared the silver orb of the moon, and scattered +all around were millions of brilliant stars, amid which, like fireflies, +flashed and sparkled the signal lights of the squadron. + + +Danger Manifests Itself. + +A danger that might easily have been anticipated, that perhaps had been +anticipated, but against which it would have been difficult, if not +impossible, to provide, presently manifested itself. + +Looking out of a window toward the right, I suddenly noticed the +lights of a distant ship darting about in a curious curve. Instantly +afterward another member of the squadron, nearer by, behaved in the same +inexplicable manner. Then two or three of the floating cars seemed to be +violently drawn from their courses and hurried rapidly in the direction +of the flagship. Immediately I perceived a small object, luridly flaming, +which seemed to move with immense speed in our direction. + +The truth instantly flashed upon my mind, and I shouted to the other +occupants of the car: + + +Struck By A Meteor! + +"A meteor!" + +And such indeed it was. We had met this mysterious wanderer in space +at a moment when we were moving in a direction at right angles to the +path it was pursuing around the sun. Small as it was, and its diameter +probably did not exceed a single foot, it was yet an independent little +world, and as such a member of the solar system. Its distance from +the sun being so near that of the earth, I knew that its velocity, +assuming it to be travelling in a nearly circular orbit, must be about +eighteen miles in a second. With this velocity, then, it plunged like a +projectile shot by some mysterious enemy in space directly through our +squadron. It had come and was gone before one could utter a sentence +of three words. Its appearance, and the effect it had produced upon the +ships in whose neighborhood it passed, indicated that it bore an intense +and tremendous charge of electricity. How it had become thus charged +I cannot pretend to say. I simply record the fact. And this charge, +it was evident, was opposite in polarity to that which the ships of the +squadron bore. It therefore exerted an attractive influence upon them +and thus drew them after it. + +I had just time to think how lucky it was that the meteor did not +strike any of us, when, glancing at a ship just ahead, I perceived that +an accident had occurred. The ship swayed violently from its course, +dazzling flashes played around it, and two or three of the men forming +its crew appeared for an instant on its exterior, wildly gesticulating, +but almost instantly falling prone. + +It was evident at a glance that the car had been struck by the meteor. How +serious the damage might be we could not instantly determine. The course +of our ship was immediately altered, the electric polarity was changed, +and we rapidly approached the disabled car. + +The men who had fallen lay upon its surface. One of the heavy circular +glasses covering a window had been smashed to atoms. Through this the +meteor had passed, killing two or three men who stood in its course. Then +it had crashed through the opposite side of the car, and, passing on, +disappeared into space. The store of air contained in the car had +immediately rushed out through the openings, and when two or three of +us, having donned our air-tight suits as quickly as possible, entered +the wrecked car we found all its inmates stretched upon the floor in +a condition of asphyxiation. They, as well as those who lay upon the +exterior, were immediately removed to the flagship, restoratives were +applied, and, fortunately, our aid had come so promptly that the lives +of all of them were saved. But life had fled from the mangled bodies of +those who had stood directly in the path of the fearful projectile. + +This strange accident had been witnessed by several of the members +of the fleet, and they quickly drew together, in order to inquire for +the particulars. As the flagship was now overcrowded by the addition +of so many men to its crew, Mr. Edison had them distributed among the +other cars. Fortunately it happened that the disintegrators contained +in the wrecked car were not injured. Mr. Edison thought that it would +be possible to repair the car itself, and for that purpose he had it +attached to the flagship in order that it might be carried on as far as +the moon. The bodies of the dead were transported with it, as it was +determined, instead of committing them to the fearful deep of space, +where they would have wandered forever, or else have fallen like meteors +upon the earth, to give them interment in the lunar soil. + + +Nearing the Moon. + +As we now rapidly approached the moon the change which the appearance of +its surface underwent was no less wonderful than that which the surface of +the earth had presented in the reverse order while we were receding from +it. From a pale silver orb, shining with comparative faintness among the +stars, it slowly assumed the appearance of a vast mountainous desert. As +we drew nearer its colors became more pronounced; the great flat regions +appeared darker; the mountain peaks shone more brilliantly. The huge +chasms seemed bottomless and blacker than midnight. Gradually separate +mountains appeared. What seemed like expanses of snow and immense +glaciers streaming down their sides sparkled with great brilliancy in the +perpendicular rays of the sun. Our motion had now assumed the aspect of +falling. We seemed to be dropping from an immeasurable height and with +an inconceivable velocity, straight down upon those giant peaks. + + +The Mountains of Luna. + +Here and there curious lights glowed upon the mysterious surface of the +moon. Where the edge of the moon cut the sky behind it, it was broken and +jagged with mountain masses. Vast crater rings overspread its surface, +and in some of these I imagined I could perceive a lurid illumination +coming out of their deepest cavities, and the curling of mephitic vapors +around their terrible jaws. + +We were approaching that part of the moon which is known to astronomers as +the Bay of Rainbows. Here a huge semi-circular region, as smooth almost +as the surface of a prairie, lay beneath our eyes, stretching southward +into a vast ocean-like expanse, while on the north it was enclosed by an +enormous range of mountain cliffs, rising perpendicularly to a height +of many thousands of feet, and rent and gashed in every direction by +forces which seemed at some remote period to have labored at tearing +this little world in pieces. + + +A Dead And Mangled World. + +The Moon's Strange and Ghastly Surface in Full View of Man. + +It was a fearful spectacle; a dead and mangled world, too dreadful to +look upon. The idea of the death of the moon was, of course, not a new +one to many of us. We had long been aware that the earth's satellite +was a body which had passed beyond the stage of life, if indeed it had +ever been a life supporting globe; but none of us were prepared for the +terrible spectacle which now smote our eyes. + +At each end of the semi-circular ridge that encloses the Bay of Rainbows +there is a lofty promontory. That at the north-western extremity had +long been known to astronomers under the name of Cape Laplace. The other +promontory, at the southeastern termination, is called Cape Heraclides. It +was toward the latter that we were approaching, and by interchange of +signals all the members of the squadron had been informed that Cape +Heraclides was to be our rendezvous upon the moon. + +I may say that I had been somewhat familiar with the scenery of this +part of the lunar world, for I had often studied it from the earth with a +telescope, and I had thought that if there was any part of the moon where +one might, with fair expectation of success, look for inhabitants, or if +not for inhabitants, at least for relics of life no longer existent there, +this would surely be the place. It was, therefore, with no small degree +of curiosity, notwithstanding the unexpectedly frightful and repulsive +appearance that the surface of the moon presented, that I now saw myself +rapidly approaching the region concerning whose secrets my imagination +had so often busied itself. When Mr. Edison and I had paid our previous +visit to the moon on the first experimental trip of the electrical ship, +we had landed at a point on its surface remote from this, and, as I have +before explained, we then made no effort to investigate its secrets. But +now it was to be different, and we were at length to see something of +the wonders of the moon. + + +Like a Human Face. + +I had often on the earth drawn a smile from my friends by showing them +Cape Heraclides with a telescope, and calling their attention to the +fact that the outline of the peak terminating the cape was such as +to present a remarkable resemblance to a human face, unmistakably a +feminine countenance, seen in profile, and possessing no small degree of +beauty. To my astonishment, this curious human semblance still remained +when we had approached so close to the moon that the mountains forming +the cape filled nearly the whole field of view of the window from which +I was watching it. The resemblance, indeed, was most startling. + + +The Resemblance Disappears. + +"Can this indeed be Diana herself?" I said half aloud, but instantly +afterward I was laughing at my fancy, for Mr. Edison had overheard me +and exclaimed, "Where is she?" + +"Who?" + +"Diana." + +"Why, there," I said, pointing to the moon. But lo! the appearance was +gone even while I spoke. A swift change had taken place in the line +of sight by which we were viewing it, and the likeness had disappeared +in consequence. + +A few moments later my astonishment was revived, but the cause this +time was a very different one. We had been dropping rapidly toward the +mountains, and the electrician in charge of the car was swiftly and +constantly changing his potential, and, like a pilot who feels his way +into an unknown harbor, endeavoring to approach the moon in such a manner +that no hidden peril should surprise us. As we thus approached I suddenly +perceived, crowning the very apex of the lofty peak near the termination +of the cape, the ruins of what appeared to be an ancient watch tower. It +was evidently composed of Cyclopean blocks larger than any that I had +ever seen even among the ruins of Greece, Egypt and Asia Minor. + + +The Moon Was Inhabited. + +Here, then, was visible proof that the moon had been inhabited, although +probably it was not inhabited now. I cannot describe the exultant feeling +which took possession of me at this discovery. It settled so much that +learned men had been disputing about for centuries. + +"What will they say," I exclaimed, "when I show them a photograph +of that?" + +Below the peak, stretching far to right and left, lay a barren beach +which had evidently once been washed by sea waves, because it was marked +by long curved ridges such as the advancing and retiring tide leaves +upon the shore of the ocean. + +This beach sloped rapidly outward and downward toward a profound abyss, +which had once, evidently, been the bed of a sea, but which now appeared +to us simply as the empty, yawning shell of an ocean that had long +vanished. + +It was with no small difficulty, and only after the expenditure of +considerable time, that all the floating ships of the squadron were +gradually brought to rest on this lone mountain top of the moon. In +accordance with my request, Mr. Edison had the flagship moored in the +interior of the great ruined watch tower that I have described. The +other ships rested upon the slope of the mountain around us. + +Although time pressed, for we knew that the safety of the earth depended +upon our promptness in attacking Mars, yet it was determined to remain +here at least two or three days in order that the wrecked car might be +repaired. It was found also that the passage of the highly electrified +meteor had disarranged the electrical machinery in some of the other +cars, so that there were many repairs to be made besides those needed +to restore the wreck. + +Burying the Dead. + +Moreover, we must bury our unfortunate companions who had been killed by +the meteor. This, in fact, was the first work that we performed. Strange +was the sight, and stranger our feelings, as here on the surface of a +world distant from the earth, and on soil which had never before been +pressed by the foot of man, we performed that last ceremony of respect +which mortals pay to mortality. In the ancient beach at the foot of the +peak we made a deep opening, and there covered forever the faces of our +friends, leaving them to sleep among the ruins of empires, and among +the graves of races which had vanished probably ages before Adam and +Eve appeared in Paradise. + +While the repairs were being made several scientific expeditions were +sent out in various directions across the moon. One went westward to +investigate the great ring plain of Plato, and the lunar Alps. Another +crossed the ancient Sea of Showers toward the lunar Apennines. + +One started to explore the immense crater of Copernicus, which, yawning +fifty miles across, presents a wonderful appearance even from the distance +of the earth. The ship in which I, myself, had the good fortune to embark, +was bound for the mysterious lunar mountain Aristarchus. + +Before these expeditions started, a careful exploration had been made in +the neighborhood of Cape Heraclides. But, except that the broken walls +of the watch tower on the peak, composed of blocks of enormous size, +had evidently been the work of creatures endowed with human intelligence, +no remains were found indicating the former presence of inhabitants upon +this part of the moon. + + +A Gigantic Human Footprint. + +But along the shore of the old sea, just where the so-called Bay of +Rainbows separates itself from the abyss of the Sea of Showers, there +were found some stratified rocks in which the fascinated eyes of the +explorer beheld the clear imprint of a gigantic human foot, measuring +five feet in length from toe to heel. + + +Detailing the Marvellous Adventures of the Earth's Warriors in +Unknown Worlds. + +The most minute search failed to reveal another trace of the presence +of the ancient giant, who had left the impress of his foot in the wet +sands of the beach here so many millions of years ago that even the +imagination of the geologists shrank from the task of attempting to fix +the precise period. + + +The Great Footprint. + +Around this gigantic footprint gathered most of the scientific members +of the expedition, wearing their oddly shaped air-tight suits, connected +with telephonic wires, and the spectacle, but for the impressiveness of +the discovery, would have been laughable in the extreme. Bending over +the mark in the rock, nodding their heads together, pointing with their +awkwardly accoutred arms, they looked like an assemblage of antediluvian +monsters collected around their prey. Their disappointment over the +fact that no other marks of anything resembling human habitation could +be discovered was very great. + +Still this footprint in itself was quite sufficient, as they all declared, +to settle the question of the former inhabitation of the moon, and it +would serve for the production of many a learned volume after their +return to the earth, even if no further discoveries should be made in +other parts of the lunar world. + + +Expeditions Over the Moon. + +It was the hope of making such other discoveries that led to the dispatch +of the other various expeditions which I have already named. I had chosen +to accompany the car that was going to Aristarchus, because, as every one +who had viewed the moon from the earth was aware, there was something very +mysterious about that mountain. I knew that it was a crater nearly thirty +miles in diameter and very deep, although its floor was plainly visible. + + +The Glowing Mountains. + +What rendered it remarkable was the fact that the floor and the walls of +the crater, particularly on the inner side, glowed with a marvellous +brightness which rendered them almost blinding when viewed with a +powerful telescope. + +So bright were they, indeed, that the eye was unable to see many of the +details which the telescope would have made visible but for the flood +of light which poured from the mountains. Sir William Herschel had been +so completely misled by this appearance that he supposed he was watching +a lunar volcano in eruption. + +It had always been a difficult question what caused the extraordinary +luminosity of Aristarchus. No end of hypotheses had been invented to +account for it. Now I was to assist in settling these questions forever. + +From Cape Heraclides to Aristarchus the distance in an air line was +something over 300 miles. Our course lay across the north-eastern part +of the Sea of Showers, with enormous cliffs, mountain masses and peaks +shining on the right, while in the other direction the view was bounded by +the distant range of the lunar Apennines, some of whose towering peaks, +when viewed from our immense elevation, appeared as sharp as the Swiss +Matterhorn. + +When we had arrived within about a hundred miles of our destination +we found ourselves floating directly over the so-called Harbinger +Mountains. The serrated peaks of Aristarchus then appeared ahead of us, +fairly blazing in the sunshine. + + +A Gigantic String Of Diamonds. + +It seemed as if a gigantic string of diamonds, every one as great as +a mountain peak, had been cast down upon the barren surface of the +moon and left to waste their brilliance upon the desert air of this +abandoned world. + +As we rapidly approached, the dazzling splendor of the mountain became +almost unbearable to our eyes, and we were compelled to resort to the +device, practiced by all climbers of lofty mountains, where the glare +of sunlight upon snow surfaces is liable to cause temporary blindness, +of protecting our eyes with neutral-tinted glasses. + +Professor Moissan, the great French chemist and maker of artificial +diamonds, fairly danced with delight. + +"Voila! Voila! Voila!" was all that he could say. + + +A Mountain of Crystals. + +When we were comparatively near, the mountain no longer seemed to glow +with a uniform radiance, evenly distributed over its entire surface, +but now innumerable points of light, all as bright as so many little +suns, blazed away at us. It was evident that we had before us a mountain +composed of, or at least covered with, crystals. + +Without stopping to alight on the outer slopes of the great ring-shaped +range of peaks which composed Aristarchus, we sailed over their rim and +looked down into the interior. Here the splendor of the crystals was +greater than on the outer slopes, and the broad floor of the crater, +thousands of feet beneath us, shone and sparkled with overwhelming +radiance, as if it were an immense bin of diamonds, while a peak in the +centre flamed like a stupendous tiara incrusted with selected gems. + +Eager to see what these crystals were, the car was now allowed rapidly +to drop into the interior of the crater. With great caution we brought +it to rest upon the blazing ground, for the sharp edges of the crystals +would certainly have torn the metallic sides of the car if it had come +into violent contact with them. + +Donning our air-tight suits and stepping carefully out upon this +wonderful footing we attempted to detach some of the crystals. Many of +them were firmly fastened, but a few--some of astonishing size--were +readily loosened. + + +A Wealth of Gems. + +A moment's inspection showed that we had stumbled upon the most +marvellous work of the forces of crystallization that human eyes had +ever rested upon. Some time in the past history of the moon there had +been an enormous outflow of molten material from the crater. This had +overspread the walls and partially filled up the interior, and later its +surface had flowered into gems, as thick as blossoms in a bed of pansies. + +The whole mass flashed prismatic rays of indescribable beauty and +intensity. We gazed at first speechless with amazement. + +"It cannot be, surely it cannot be," said Professor Moissan at length. + +"But it is," said another member of the party. + +"Are these diamonds?" asked a third. + +"I cannot yet tell," replied the Professor. "They have the brilliancy +of diamonds, but they may be something else." + +"Moon jewels," suggested a third. + +"And worth untold millions, whatever they are," remarked another. + + +Jewels from the Moon. + +These magnificent crystals, some of which appeared to be almost flawless, +varied in size from the dimensions of a hazelnut to geometrical solids +several inches in diameter. We carefully selected as many as it was +convenient to carry and placed them in the car for future examination. We +had solved another long standing lunar problem and had, perhaps, opened +up an inexhaustible mine of wealth which might eventually go far toward +reimbursing the earth for the damage which it had suffered from the +invasion of the Martians. + +On returning to Cape Heraclides we found that the other expeditions +had arrived at the rendezvous ahead of us. Their members had wonderful +stories to tell of what they had seen, but nothing caused quite so much +astonishment as that which we had to tell and to show. + +The party which had gone to visit Plato and the lunar Alps brought back, +however, information which, in a scientific sense, was no less interesting +than what we had been able to gather. + +They had found within this curious ring of Plato, which is a circle of +mountains sixty miles in diameter, enclosing a level plain remarkably +smooth over most of its surface, unmistakable evidences of former +inhabitation. A gigantic city had evidently at one time existed near +the centre of this great plain. The outlines of its walls and the +foundation marks of some of its immense buildings were plainly made out, +and elaborate plans of this vanished capital of the moon were prepared +by several members of the party. + + +More Evidences of Habitation. + +One of them was fortunate enough to discover an even more precious +relic of the ancient lunarians. It was a piece of petrified skullbone, +representing but a small portion of the head to which it had belonged, +but yet sufficient to enable the anthropologists, who immediately fell +to examining it, to draw ideal representations of the head as it must +have been in life--the head of a giant of enormous size, which, if it +had possessed a highly organized brain, of proportionate magnitude, +must have given to its possessor intellectual powers immensely greater +than any of the descendants of Adam have ever been endowed with. + + +Giants in Size. + +Indeed, one of the professors was certain that some little concretions +found on the interior of the piece of skull were petrified portions +of the brain matter itself, and he set to work with the microscope to +examine its organic quality. + +In the mean time, the repairs to the electrical ships had been completed, +and, although these discoveries upon the moon had created a most profound +sensation among the members of the expedition, and aroused an almost +irresistible desire to continue the explorations thus happily begun, +yet everybody knew that these things were aside from the main purpose in +view, and that we should be false to our duty in wasting a moment more +upon the moon than was absolutely necessary to put the ships in proper +condition to proceed on their warlike voyage. + + +Departing from the Moon. + +Everything being prepared then, we left the moon with great regret, just +forty-eight hours after we had landed upon its surface, carrying with us +a determination to revisit it and to learn more of its wonderful secrets +in case we should survive the dangers which we were now going to face. + + + + +Chapter VI. + + +A day or two after leaving the moon we had another adventure with a +wandering inhabitant of space which brought us into far greater peril +than had our encounter with the meteor. + +The airships had been partitioned off so that a portion of the interior +could be darkened in order to serve as a sleeping chamber, wherein, +according to the regulations prescribed by the commander of the squadron +each member of the expedition in his turn passed eight out of every +twenty-four hours--sleeping if he could, if not, meditating, in a more +or less dazed way, upon the wonderful things that he was seeing and +doing--things far more incredible than the creations of a dream. + +One morning, if I may call by the name morning the time of my periodical +emergence from the darkened chamber, glancing from one of the windows, +I was startled to see in the black sky a brilliant comet. + + +The Adventure With The Comet. + +A Thrilling Story of an Encounter that Nearly Ended the Great +Expedition. + +No periodical comet, as I knew, was at this time approaching the +neighborhood of the sun, and no stranger of that kind had been +detected from the observatories making its way sunward before we left +the earth. Here, however, was unmistakably a comet rushing toward the +sun, flinging out a great gleaming tail behind it and so close to us +that I wondered to see it remaining almost motionless in the sky. This +phenomenon was soon explained to me, and the explanation was of a most +disquieting character. + +The stranger had already been perceived, not only from the flagship, but +from the other members of the squadron, and, as I now learned, efforts +had been made to get out of the neighborhood, but for some reason the +electrical apparatus did not work perfectly--some mysterious disturbing +force acting upon it--and so it had been found impossible to avoid an +encounter with the comet, not an actual coming into contact with it, +but a falling into the sphere of its influence. + + +In the Wake of the Comet. + +In fact, I was informed that for several hours the squadron had been +dragging along in the wake of a comet, very much as boats are sometimes +towed off by a wounded whale. Every effort had been made to so adjust +the electric charge upon the ships that they would be repelled from the +cometic mass, but, owing apparently to eccentric changes continually +going on in the electric charge affecting the clashing mass of meteoric +bodies which constituted the head of the comet, we found it impossible +to escape from its influence. + +At one instant the ships would be repelled; immediately afterward they +would be attracted again, and thus they were dragged hither and thither, +but never able to break from the invisible leash which the comet had +cast upon them. The latter was moving with enormous velocity toward +the sun, and, consequently, we were being carried back again, away from +the object of our expedition, with a fair prospect of being dissipated +in blazing vapors when the comet had dragged us, unwilling prisoners, +into the immediate neighborhood of the solar furnace. + +Even the most cool-headed lost his self-control in this terrible +emergency. Every kind of device that experience or the imagination +could suggest was tried, but nothing would do. Still on we rushed with +the electrified atoms composing the tail of the comet sweeping to and +fro over the members of the squadron, as they shifted their position, +like the plume of smoke from a gigantic steamer, drifting over the sea +birds that follow in its course. + + +Is This the End? + +Was this to end it all, then? Was this the fate that Providence had +in store for us? Were the hopes of the earth thus to perish? Was the +expedition to be wrecked and its fate to remain forever unknown to the +planet from which it had set forth? And was our beloved globe, which had +seemed so fair to us when we last looked upon it near by, and in whose +defence we had resolved to spend our last breath, to be left helpless +and at the mercy of its implacable foe in the sky? + +At length we gave ourselves up for lost. There seemed to be no possible +way to free ourselves from the baleful grip of this terrible and +unlooked-for enemy. + + +Giving Up All Hope. + +As the comet approached the sun its electric energy rapidly increased, +and watching it with telescopes, for we could not withdraw our fascinated +eyes from it, we could clearly behold the fearful things that went on +in its nucleus. + +This consisted of an immense number of separate meteors of no very great +size individually, but which were in constant motion among one another, +darting to and fro, clashing and smashing together, while fountains of +blazing metallic particles and hot mineral vapors poured out in every +direction. + + +A Flying Hell. + +As I watched it, unable to withdraw my eyes, I saw imaginary forms +revealing themselves amid the flaming meteors. They seemed like creatures +in agony, tossing their arms, bewailing in their attitudes the awful fate +that had overtaken them, and fairly chilling my blood with the pantomime +of torture which they exhibited. I thought of an old superstition which +I had often heard about the earth, and exclaimed: "Yes, surely, this is +a flying hell!" + +As the electric activity of the comet increased, its continued changes +of potential and polarity became more frequent, and the electrical ships +darted about with even greater confusion than before. Occasionally one +of them, seized with a sudden impulse, would spring forward toward the +nucleus of the comet with a sudden access of velocity that would fling +every one of its crew from his feet, and all would lie sprawling on +the floor of the car while it rushed, as it seemed, to inevitable and +instant destruction. + + +Saved on Ruin's Brink. + +Then, either through the frantic efforts of the electrician struggling +with the controller or through another change in the polarity of the +comet, the ship would be saved on the very brink of ruin and stagger +away out of immediate danger. + +Thus the captured squadron was swept, swaying and darting hither and +thither, but never able to get sufficiently far from the comet to break +the bond of its fatal attraction. + + +The Earth Again! + +So great was our excitement and so complete our absorption in the fearful +peril that we had not noticed the precise direction in which the comet +was carrying us. It was enough to know that the goal of the journey was +the furnace of the sun. But presently someone in the flagship recalled +us to a more accurate sense of our situation in space by exclaiming: + +"Why, there is the earth!" + + +Thrilling Adventures Crowd Each Other In the Great War Upon Mars. + +And there, indeed, it was, its great globe rolling under our eyes, with +the contrasted colors of the continents and clouds and the watery gleam +of the ocean spread beneath us. + +"We are going to strike it!" exclaimed somebody. "The comet is going to +dash into the earth." + +Such a collision at first seemed inevitable, but presently it was noticed +that the direction of the comet's motion was such that while it might +graze the earth it would not actually strike it. + +And so, like a swarm of giant insects circling about an electric light +from whose magic influence they cannot escape, our ships went on, to be +whipped against the earth in passing and then to continue their swift +journey to destruction. + + +Unexpected Aid. + +"Thank God, this saves us," suddenly cried Mr. Edison. + +"What--what?" + +"Why, the earth, of course. Do you not see that as the comet sweeps +close to the great planet the superior attraction of the latter will +snatch us from its grasp, and that thus we shall be able to escape?" + +And it was indeed as Mr. Edison had predicted. In a blaze of falling +meteors the comet swept the outer limits of the earth's atmosphere and +passed on, while the swaying ships, having been instructed by signals +what to do, desperately applied their electrical machinery to reverse +the attraction and threw themselves into the arms of their mother earth. + + +Over the Atlantic. + +In another instant we were all free, settling down through the quiet +atmosphere with the Atlantic Ocean sparkling in the morning sun far below. + +We looked at one another in amazement. So this was the end of our +voyage! This was the completion of our warlike enterprise. We had started +out to conquer a world, and we had come back ignominiously dragged in +the train of a comet. + +The earth which we were going to defend and protect had herself turned +protector, and reaching out her strong arm had snatched her foolish +children from the destruction which they had invited. + +It would be impossible to describe the chagrin of every member of the +expedition. + + +A Feeling of Shame. + +The electric ships rapidly assembled and hovered high in the air, +while their commanders consulted about what should be done. A universal +feeling of shame almost drove them to a decision not to land upon the +surface of the planet, and if possible not to let its inhabitants know +what had occurred. + +But it was too late for that. Looking carefully beneath us, we saw +that fate had brought us back to our very starting point, and signals +displayed in the neighborhood of New York indicated that we had already +been recognized. There was nothing for us then but to drop down and +explain the situation. + +I shall not delay my narrative by undertaking to describe the astonishment +and the disappointment of the inhabitants of the earth when, within a +fortnight from our departure, they saw us back again, with no laurels +of victory crowning our brows. + +At first they had hoped that we were returning in triumph, and we were +overwhelmed with questions the moment we had dropped within speaking +distance. + +"Have you whipped them?" + +"How many are lost?" + +"Is there any more danger?" + +"Faix, have ye got one of thim men from Mars?" + +But their rejoicings and their facetiousness were turned into wailing +when the truth was imparted. + + +A Short Stay on the Earth. + +We made a short story of it, for we had not the heart to go into +details. We told of our unfortunate comrades whom we had buried on the +moon, and there was one gleam of satisfaction when we exhibited the +wonderful crystals we had collected in the crater of Aristarchus. + +Mr. Edison determined to stop only long enough to test the electrical +machinery of the cars, which had been more or less seriously deranged +during our wild chase after the comet, and then to start straight back +for Mars--this time on a through trip. + + +Mysterious Lights on Mars. + +The astronomers, who had been watching Mars, since our departure, with +their telescopes, reported that mysterious lights continued to be visible, +but that nothing indicating the starting of another expedition for the +earth had been seen. + +Within twenty-four hours we were ready for our second start. + +The moon was now no longer in a position to help us on our way. It had +moved out of the line between Mars and the earth. + +High above us, in the centre of the heavens, glowed the red planet which +was the goal of our journey. + +The needed computations of velocity and direction of flight having +been repeated, and the ships being all in readiness, we started direct +for Mars. + + +Greater Preparations Made. + +An enormous charge of electricity was imparted to each member of the +squadron, in order that as soon as we had reached the upper limits of +the atmosphere, where the ships could move swiftly, without danger of +being consumed by the heat developed by the friction of their passage +through the air, a very great initial velocity could be imparted. + +Once started off by this tremendous electrical kick, and with no +atmosphere to resist our motion, we should be able to retain the same +velocity, barring incidental encounters, until we arrived near the +surface of Mars. + +When we were free of the atmosphere, and the ships were moving away +from the earth, with the highest velocity which we were able to impart +to them, observations on the stars were made in order to determine the +rate of our speed. + + +Ten Miles A Second! + +This was found to be ten miles in a second, or 864,000 miles in a day, a +very much greater speed than that with which we had travelled on starting +to touch at the moon. Supposing this velocity to remain uniform, and, with +no known resistance, it might reasonably be expected to do so, we should +arrive at Mars in a little less than forty-two days, the distance of the +planet from the earth being, at this time, about thirty-six million miles. + +Nothing occurred for many days to interrupt our journey. We became +accustomed to our strange surroundings, and many entertainments were +provided to while away the time. The astronomers in the expedition found +plenty of occupation in studying the aspects of the stars and the other +heavenly bodies from their new point of view. + + +Drawing Near to Mars. + +At the expiration of about thirty-five days we had drawn so near to Mars +that with our telescopes, which, though small, were of immense power, +we could discern upon its surface features and details which no one had +been able to glimpse from the earth. + +As the surface of this world, that we were approaching as a tiger hunter +draws near the jungle, gradually unfolded itself to our inspection, +there was hardly one of us willing to devote to sleep or idleness the +prescribed eight hours that had been fixed as the time during which each +member of the expedition must remain in the darkened chamber. We were +too eager to watch for every new revelation upon Mars. + +But something was in store that we had not expected. We were to meet +the Martians before arriving at the world they dwelt in. + +Among the stars which shone in that quarter of the heavens where Mars +appeared as the master orb, there was one, lying directly in our path, +which, to our astonishment, as we continued on, altered from the aspect +of a star, underwent a gradual magnification, and soon presented itself +in the form of a little planet. + + +The Asteroid. + +"It is an asteroid," said somebody. + +"Yes, evidently; but how does it come inside the orbit of Mars?" + +"Oh, there are several asteroids," said one of the astronomers, "which +travel inside the orbit of Mars, along a part of their course, and, +for aught we can tell, there may be many which have not yet been caught +sight of from the earth, that are nearer to the sun than Mars is." + +"This must be one of them." + +"Manifestly so." + +As we drew nearer the mysterious little planet revealed itself to us as +a perfectly formed globe not more than five miles in diameter. + +"What is that upon it?" asked Lord Kelvin, squinting intently at the +little world through his glass. "As I live, it moves." + + +A Martian Appears! + +The First Glimpse of the Horrible Inhabitants of the Red Planet. + +"Yes, yes!" exclaimed several others, "there are inhabitants upon it, +but what giants!" + +"What monsters!" + +"Don't you see?" exclaimed an excited savant. "They are the Martians!" + +The startling truth burst upon the minds of all. Here upon this little +planetoid were several of the gigantic inhabitants of the world that we +were going to attack. There was more than one man in the flagship who +recognized them well, and who shuddered at the recognition, instinctively +recalling the recent terrible experience of the earth. + +Was this an outpost of the warlike Mars? + +Around these monstrous enemies we saw several of their engines of +war. Some of these appeared to have been wrecked, but at least one, +as far as we could see, was still in a proper condition for use. + +How had these creatures got there? + +"Why, that is easy enough to account for," I said, as a sudden +recollection flashed into my mind. "Don't you remember the report of +the astronomers more than six months ago, at the end of the conference +in Washington, that something would seem to indicate the departure of a +new expedition from Mars had been noticed by them? We have heard nothing +of that expedition since. We know that it did not reach the earth. It +must have fallen foul of this asteroid, run upon this rock in the ocean +of space and been wrecked here." + +"We've got 'em, then," shouted our electric steersman, who had been +a workman in Mr. Edison's laboratory and had unlimited confidence in +his chief. + + +Preparing to Land. + +The electrical ships were immediately instructed by signal to slow down, +an operation that was easily affected through the electrical repulsion +of the asteroid. + +The nearer we got the more terrifying was the appearance of the gigantic +creatures who were riding upon the little world before us like castaway +sailors upon a block of ice. Like men, and yet not like men, combining +the human and the beast in their appearance, it required a steady nerve +to look at them. If we had not known their malignity and their power to +work evil, it would have been different, but in our eyes their moral +character shone through their physical aspect and thus rendered them +more terrible than they would otherwise have been. + + +The Martians Recognize Us. + +When we first saw them their appearance was most forlorn, and their +attitudes indicated only despair and desperation, but as they caught sight +of us their malign power of intellect instantly penetrated the mystery, +and they recognized us for what we were. + +Their despair immediately gave place to reawakened malevolence. On the +instant they were astir, with such heart-chilling movements as those +that characterize a venomous serpent preparing to strike. + +Not imagining that they would be in a position to make serious resistance, +we had been somewhat incautious in approaching. + + +The Awful Heat Ray. + +Suddenly there was a quicker movement than usual among the Martians, +a swift adjustment of that one of their engines of war which, as already +noticed, seemed to be practically uninjured, and then there darted from it +and alighted upon one of the foremost ships a dazzling lightning stroke +a mile in length, at whose touch the metallic sides of the car curled +and withered and, licked for a moment by what seemed lambent flames, +collapsed into a mere cinder. + + +Another Ship Destroyed. + +The Death-Dealing Martians Strike a Fearful Blow at the Earth's +Warriors. + +For an instant not a word was spoken, so sudden and unexpected was +the blow. + +We knew that every soul in the stricken car had perished. + +"Back! Back!" was the signal instantaneously flashed from the flagship, +and reversing their polarities the members of the squadron sprang +away from the little planet as rapidly as the electrical impulse could +drive them. + +But before we were out of reach a second flaming tongue of death shot +from the fearful engine, and another of our ships, with all its crew, +was destroyed. + + +A Discouraging Beginning. + +It was an inauspicious beginning for us. Two of our electrical ships, +with their entire crews, had been wiped out of existence, and this +appalling blow had been dealt by a few stranded and disabled enemies +floating on an asteroid. + +What hope would there be for us when we came to encounter the millions +of Mars itself on their own ground and prepared for war? + +However, it would not do to despond. We had been incautious, and we +should take good care not to commit the same fault again. + + +Vengeance the First Thing! + +The first thing to do was to avenge the death of our comrades. The +question whether we were able to meet these Martians and overcome them +might as well be settled right here and now. They had proved what they +could do, even when disabled and at a disadvantage. Now it was our turn. + + + + +Chapter VII. + + +The squadron had been rapidly withdrawn to a very considerable distance +from the asteroid. The range of the mysterious artillery employed by +the Martians was unknown to us. We did not even know the limit of the +effective range of our own disintegrators. If it should prove that the +Martians were able to deal their strokes at a distance greater than any +we could reach, then they would of course have an insuperable advantage. + +On the other hand, if it should turn out that our range was greater +than theirs, the advantage would be on our side. Or--which was perhaps +most probable--there might be practically no difference in the effective +range of the engines. + +Anyhow, we were going to find out how the case stood, and that without +delay. + + +Ready with the Disintegrator. + +Everything being in readiness, the disintegrators all in working order, +and the men who were able to handle them, most of whom were experienced +marksmen, chosen from among the officers of the regular army of the +United States, and accustomed to the straight shooting and the sure hits +of the West, standing at their posts, the squadron again advanced. + +In order to distract the attention of the Martians, the electrical ships +had been distributed over a wide space. Some dropped straight down toward +the asteroid; others approached it by flank attack, from this side and +that. The flagship moved straight in toward the point where the first +disaster occurred. Its intrepid commander felt that his post should be +that of the greatest danger, and where the severest blows would be given +and received. + + +A Strategic Advance. + +The approach of the ships was made with great caution. Watching +the Martians with our telescopes we could clearly see that they were +disconcerted by the scattered order of our attack. Even if all of their +engines of war had been in proper condition for use it would have been +impossible for them to meet the simultaneous assault of so many enemies +dropping down upon them from the sky. + +But they were made of fighting metal, as we knew from old experience. It +was no question of surrender. They did not know how to surrender, and we +did not know how to demand a surrender. Besides, the destruction of the +two electrical ships with the forty men, many of whom bore names widely +known upon the earth, had excited a kind of fury among the members of +the squadron which called for vengeance. + + +Another Attack. + +Suddenly a repetition of the quick movement by the Martians, which had +been the forerunner of the former coup, was observed; again a blinding +flash burst from their war engine and instantaneously a shiver ran through +the frame of the flagship; the air within quivered with strange pulsations +and seemed suddenly to have assumed the temperature of a blast furnace. + +We all gasped for breath. Our throats and lungs seemed scorched in the +act of breathing. Some fell unconscious upon the floor. The marksmen, +carrying the disintegrators ready for use, staggered, and one of them +dropped his instrument. + +But we had not been destroyed like our comrades before us. In a moment the +wave of heat passed; those who had fallen recovered from their momentary +stupor and staggered to their feet. + +The electrical steersman stood hesitating at his post. + +"Move on," said Mr. Edison sternly, his features set with determination +and his eyes afire. "We are still beyond their effective range. Let us +get closer in order to make sure work when we strike." + +The ship moved on. One could hear the heartbeats of its inmates. The +other members of the squadron, thinking for the moment that disaster +had overtaken the flagship, had paused and seemed to be meditating flight. + +"Signal them to move on," said Mr. Edison. + + +The Battle Commences. + +The signal was given, and the circle of electrical ships closed in upon +the asteroid. + +In the meantime Mr. Edison had been donning his air-tight suit. Before +we could clearly comprehend his intention he had passed through the +double-trapped door which gave access to the exterior of the car without +permitting the loss of air, and was standing upon what served as the +deck of the ship. + +In his hand he carried a disintegrator. With a quick motion he sighted it. + +As quickly as possible I sprang to his side. I was just in time to note +the familiar blue gleam about the instrument, which indicated that its +terrific energies were at work. The whirring sound was absent, because +here, in open space, where there was no atmosphere, there could be +no sound. + + +The Disintegrator's Power. + +My eyes were fixed upon the Martians' engine, which had just dealt us a +staggering, but not fatal, blow, and particularly I noticed a polished +knob projecting from it, which seemed to have been the focus from which +its destructive bolt emanated. + +A moment later the knob disappeared. The irresistible vibrations +darted from the electrical disintegrator and had fallen upon it and +instantaneously shattered it into atoms. + +"That fixes them," said Mr. Edison, turning to me with a smile. + +And indeed it did fix them. We had most effectually spiked their gun. It +would deal no more death blows. + +The doings of the flagship had been closely watched throughout the +squadron. The effect of its blow had been evident to all, and a moment +later we saw, on some of the nearer ships, men dressed in their air suits, +appearing upon the deck, swinging their arms and sending forth noiseless +cheers into empty space. + + +A Telling Stroke. + +The stroke that we had dealt was taken by several of the electrical +ships as a signal for a common assault, and we saw two of the Martians +fall beside the ruin of their engine, their heads having been blown from +their bodies. + +"Signal them to stop firing," commanded Mr. Edison. "We have got them +down, and we are not going to murder them without necessity." + +"Besides," he added, "I want to capture some of them alive." + +The signal was given as he had ordered. The flagship then alone dropped +slowly toward the place on the asteroid where the prostrate Martians were. + + +A Terrible Scene. + +As we got near them a terrible scene unfolded itself to our eyes. There +had evidently been not more than half a dozen of the monsters in the +beginning. Two of these were stretched headless upon the ground. Three +others had suffered horrible injuries where the invisible vibratory +beams from the disintegrators had grazed them, and they could not long +survive. One only remained apparently uninjured. + + +The Gigantic Martian. + +It is impossible for me to describe the appearance of this creature +in terms that would be readily understood. Was he like a man? Yes and +no. He possessed many human characteristics, but they were exaggerated and +monstrous in scale and in detail. His head was of enormous size, and his +huge projecting eyes gleamed with a strange fire of intelligence. His face +was like a caricature, but not one to make the beholder laugh. Drawing +himself up, he towered to a height of at least fifteen feet. + +But let the reader not suppose from this inadequate description that the +Martians stirred in the beholder precisely the sensation that would be +caused by the sight of a gorilla, or other repulsive inhabitant of one +of our terrestrial jungles, suddenly confronting him in its native wilds. + +With all his horrible characteristics, and all his suggestions of beast +and monster, nevertheless the Martian produced the impression of being +a person and not a mere animal. + + +His Frightened Aspect. + +I have already referred to the enormous size of his head, and to the +fact that his countenance bore considerable resemblance to that of a +man. There was something in this face that sent a shiver through the +soul of the beholder. One could feel in looking upon it that here was +intellect, intelligence developed to the highest degree, but in the +direction of evil instead of good. + +The sensations of one who had stood face to face with Satan, when he +was driven from the battlements of heaven by the swords of his fellow +archangels, and had beheld him transformed from Lucifer, the Son of the +Morning, into the Prince of Night and Hell, might not have been unlike +those which we now experienced as we gazed upon this dreadful personage, +who seemed to combine the intellectual powers of a man, raised to their +highest pitch, with some of the physical features of a beast, and all +the moral depravity of a fiend. + + +The Martian's Rage. + +The appearance of the Martian was indeed so threatening and repellent +that we paused at the height of fifty feet above the ground, hesitating +to approach nearer. A grin of rage and hate overspread his face. If he +had been a man I should say he shook his fist at us. What he did was +to express in even more telling pantomime his hatred and defiance, and +his determination to grind us to shreds if he could once get us within +his clutches. + +Mr. Edison and I still stood upon the deck of the ship, where several +others had gathered around us. The atmosphere of the little asteroid +was so rare that it practically amounted to nothing, and we could not +possibly have survived if we had not continued to wear our air-tight +suits. How the Martians contrived to live here was a mystery to us. It +was another of their secrets which we were yet to learn. + +Mr. Edison retained his disintegrator in his hand. + +"Kill him," said someone. "He is too horrible to live." + +"If we do not kill him we shall never be able to land upon the asteroid," +said another. + + +Shall We Kill Him? + +"No," said Mr. Edison, "I shall not kill him. We have got another use +for him. Tom," he continued, turning to one of his assistants, whom he +had brought from his laboratory, "bring me the anaesthetizer." + +This was something entirely new to nearly all the members of the +expedition. Mr. Edison, however, had confided to me before we left +the earth the fact that he had invented a little instrument by means of +which a bubble, strongly charged with a powerful anaesthetic agent, could +be driven to a considerable distance into the face of an enemy, where, +exploding without other damage, it would instantly put him to sleep. + +When Tom had placed the instrument in his hands Mr. Edison ordered the +electrical ship to forge slightly ahead and drop a little lower toward +the Martian, who, with watchful eyes and threatening gestures, noted +our approach in the attitude of a wild beast on the spring. Suddenly +Mr. Edison discharged from the instrument in his hand a little gaseous +globe, which glittered like a ball of tangled rainbows in the sunshine, +and darted with astonishing velocity straight into the upturned face of +the Martian. It burst as it touched and the monster fell back senseless +upon the ground. + + +One of the Bellicose Martians Falls Into the Hands of the +Worldians. + +"You have killed him!" exclaimed all. + +"No," said Mr. Edison, "he is not dead, only asleep. Now we shall drop +down and bind him tight before he can awake." + +When we came to bind our prisoner with strong ropes we were more than +ever impressed with his gigantic stature and strength. Evidently in single +combat with equal weapons he would have been a match for twenty of us. + +All that I had read of giants had failed to produce upon my mind the +impression of enormous size and tremendous physical energy which the +sleeping body of this immense Martian produced. He had fallen on his +back, and was in a most profound slumber. All his features were relaxed, +and yet even in that condition there was a devilishness about him that +made the beholders instinctively shudder. + + +The Unconscious Martian. + +So powerful was the effect of the anaesthetic which Mr. Edison had +discharged into his face that he remained perfectly unconscious while +we turned him half over in order the more securely to bind his muscular +limbs. + +In the meantime the other electrical ships approached, and several of +them made a landing upon the asteroid. Everybody was eager to see this +wonderful little world, which, as I have already remarked, was only five +miles in diameter. + + +Exploring the Planet. + +Several of us from the flagship started out hastily to explore the +miniature planet. And now our attention was recalled to an intensely +interesting phenomenon which had engaged our thoughts not only when we +were upon the moon, but during our flight through space. This was the +almost entire absence of weight. + +On the moon, where the force of gravitation is one-sixth as great as upon +the earth, we had found ourselves astonishingly light. Five-sixths of our +own weight, and of the weight of the air-tight suits in which we were +incased, had magically dropped from us. It was therefore comparatively +easy for us, encumbered as we were, to make our way about on the moon. + +But when we were far from both the earth and the moon, the loss of +weight was more astonishing still--not astonishing because we had not +known that it would be so, but nevertheless a surprising phenomenon in +contrast with our lifelong experience on the earth. + + +Men Without Weight. + +In open space we were practically without weight. Only the mass of +the electrical car in which we were enclosed attracted us, and inside +that we could place ourselves in any position without falling. We could +float in the air. There were no up and no down, no top and no bottom for +us. Stepping outside the car, it would have been easy for us to spring +away from it and leave it forever. + +One of the most startling experiences that I have ever had was one +day when we were navigating space about half way between the earth +and Mars. I had stepped outside the car with Lord Kelvin, both of us, +of course, wearing our air-tight suits. We were perfectly well aware +what would be the consequence of detaching ourselves from the car as +we moved along. We should still retain the forward motion of the car, +and of course accompany it in its flight. There would be no falling one +way or the other. The car would have a tendency to draw us back again by +its attraction, but this tendency would be very slight, and practically +inappreciable at a distance. + + +Stepping Into Space. + +"I am going to step off," I suddenly said to Lord Kelvin. "Of course +I shall keep right along with the car, and step aboard again when I +am ready." + +"Quite right on general principles, young man," replied the great savant, +"but beware in what manner you step off. Remember, if you give your body +an impulse sufficient to carry it away from the car to any considerable +distance, you will be unable to get back again, unless we can catch you +with a boathook or a fishline. Out there in empty space you will have +nothing to kick against, and you will be unable to propel yourself in +the direction of the car, and its attraction is so feeble that we should +probably arrive at Mars before it had drawn you back again." + +All this was, of course, perfectly self-evident, yet I believe that +but for the warning word of Lord Kelvin, I should have been rash enough +to step out into empty space with sufficient force to have separated +myself hopelessly from the electrical ship. + + +A Reckless Experiment. + +As it was, I took good care to retain a hold upon a projecting portion +of the car. Occasionally cautiously releasing my grip, I experienced for +a few minutes the delicious, indescribable pleasure of being a little +planet swinging through space, with nothing to hold me up and nothing +to interfere with my motion. + +Mr. Edison, happening to come upon the deck of the ship at this time, +and seeing what we were about, at once said: + +"I must provide against this danger. If I do not, there is a chance that +we shall arrive at Mars with the ships half empty and the crews floating +helplessly around us." + + +Edison Always Prepared. + +Mr. Edison's way of guarding against the danger was by contriving a +little apparatus, modeled after that which was the governing force of the +electrical ships themselves, and which, being enclosed in the air-tight +suits, enabled their wearers to manipulate the electrical charge upon +them in such a way that they could make excursions from the cars into open +space like steam launches from a ship, going and returning at their will. + +These little machines being rapidly manufactured, for Mr. Edison had a +miniature laboratory aboard, were distributed about the squadron, and +henceforth we had the pleasure of paying and receiving visits among the +various members of the fleet. + +But to return from this digression to our experience of the asteroid. The +latter being a body of some mass was, of course, able to impart to us +a measurable degree of weight. Being five miles in diameter, on the +assumption that its mean density was the same as that of the earth, +the weight of bodies on its surface should have borne the same ratio to +their weight upon the earth that the radius of the asteroid bore to the +radius of the earth; in other words, as 1 to 1,600. + +Having made this mental calculation, I knew that my weight, being 150 +pounds on the earth, should on this asteroid be an ounce and a half. + +Curious to see whether fact would bear out theory, I had myself weighed +with a spring balance. Mr. Edison, Lord Kelvin and the other distinguished +scientists stood by watching the operation with great interest. + +To our complete surprise, my weight, instead of coming out an ounce and +a half, as it should have done, on the supposition that the mean density +of the asteroid resembled that of the earth--a very liberal supposition +on the side of the asteroid, by the way--actually came out five ounces +and a quarter! + +"What in the world makes me so heavy?" I asked. + +"Yes, indeed, what an elephant you have become," said Mr. Edison. + +Lord Kelvin screwed his eyeglass in his eye, and carefully inspected +the balance. + + +Weight, Five and a Quarter Ounces. + +"It's quite right," he said. "You do indeed weigh five ounces and a +quarter. Too much; altogether too much," he added. "You shouldn't do it, +you know." + +"Perhaps the fault is in the asteroid," suggested Professor Sylvanus +P. Thompson. + +"Quite so," exclaimed Lord Kelvin, a look of sudden comprehension +overspreading his features. "No doubt it is the internal constitution +of the asteroid which is the cause of the anomaly. We must look into +that. Let me see? This gentleman's weight is three and one-half times +as great as it ought to be. What element is there whose density exceeds +the mean density of the earth in about that proportion?" + +"Gold," exclaimed one of the party. + + +The Golden Asteroid! + +For a moment we were startled beyond expression. The truth had flashed +upon us. + +This must be a golden planet--this little asteroid. If it were not +composed internally of gold it could never have made me weigh three +times more than I ought to weigh. + +"But where is the gold?" cried one. + +"Covered up, of course," said Lord Kelvin. "Buried in star dust. This +asteroid could not have continued to travel for millions of years through +regions of space strewn with meteoric particles without becoming covered +with the inevitable dust and grime of such a journey. We must dig down, +and then doubtless we shall find the metal." + +This hint was instantly acted upon. Something that would serve for a +spade was seized by one of the men, and in a few minutes a hole had been +dug in the comparatively light soil of the asteroid. + + +The Precious Metal Discovered. + +I shall never forget the sight, nor the exclamations of wonder that +broke forth from all of us standing around, when the yellow gleam of the +precious metal appeared under the "star dust." Collected in huge masses +it reflected the light of the sun from its hiding place. + +Evidently the planet was not a solid ball of gold, formed like a bullet +run in a mould, but was composed of nuggets of various sizes, which +had come together here under the influence of their mutual gravitation, +and formed a little metallic planet. + +Judging by the test of weight which we had already tried, and which had +led to the discovery of the gold, the composition of the asteroid must +be the same to its very centre. + + +An Incredible Phenomenon. + +In an assemblage of famous scientific men such as this the discovery of +course immediately led to questions as to the origin of this incredible +phenomenon. + +How did these masses of gold come together? How did it chance that, +with the exception of the thin crust of the asteroid, nearly all its +substance was composed of the precious metal? + +One asserted that it was quite impossible that there should be so much +gold at so great a distance from the sun. + +"It is the general law," he said, "that the planets increase in density +toward the sun. There is every reason to think that the inner planets +possess the greater amount of dense elements, while the outer ones are +comparatively light." + + +Whence Came the Treasure? + +But another referred to the old theory that there was once in this +part of the solar system a planet which had been burst in pieces by +some mysterious explosion, the fragments forming what we know as +the asteroids. In his opinion, this planet might have contained a +large quantity of gold, and in the course of ages the gold, having, +in consequence of its superior atomic weight, not being so widely +scattered by the explosion as some of the other elements of the planet, +had collected itself together in this body. + +But I observed that Lord Kelvin and the other more distinguished men +of science said nothing during this discussion. The truly learned man +is the truly wise man. They were not going to set up theories without +sufficient facts to sustain them. The one fact that the gold was here +was all they had at present. Until they could learn more they were not +prepared to theorize as to how the gold got there. + +And in truth, it must be confessed, the greater number of us really +cared less for the explanation of the wonderful fact than we did for +the fact itself. + +Gold is a thing which may make its appearance anywhere and at any time +without offering any excuses or explanations. + + +Visions of Mighty Fortunes. + +"Phew! Won't we be rich?" exclaimed a voice. + +"How are we going to dig it and get it back to earth?" asked another. + +"Carry it in your pockets," said one. + +"No need of staking claims here," remarked another. "There is enough +for everybody." + +Mr. Edison suddenly turned the current of talk. + +"What do you suppose those Martians were doing here?" + +"Why, they were wrecked here." + +"Not a bit of it," said Mr. Edison. "According to your own showing they +could not have been wrecked here. This planet hasn't gravitation enough +to wreck them by a fall, and besides I have been looking at their machines +and I know there has been a fight." + +"A fight?" exclaimed several, pricking up their ears. + +"Yes," said Mr. Edison; "those machines bear the marks of the lightning of +the Martians. They have been disabled, but they are made of some metal or +some alloy of metals unknown to me, and consequently they have withstood +the destructive force applied to them, as our electric ships were unable +to withstand it. It is perfectly plain to me that they have been disabled +in a battle. The Martians must have been fighting among themselves." + + +A Martian Civil War! + +"About the gold!" exclaimed one. + +"Of course. What else was there to fight about?" + +At this instant one of our men came running from a considerable distance, +waving his arms excitedly, but unable to give voice to his story, in the +inappreciable atmosphere of the asteroid, until he had come up and made +telephonic connection with us. + +"There is a lot of dead Martians over there," he said. "They've been +cleaning one another out." + +"That's it," said Mr. Edison. "I knew it when I saw the condition of +those machines." + +"Then this is not a wrecked expedition, directed against the earth?" + +"Not at all." + +"This must be the great gold mine of Mars," said the president of +an Australian mining company, opening both his eyes and his mouth as +he spoke. + +"Yes, evidently that's it. Here's where they come to get their wealth." + +"And this," I said, "must be their harvest time. You notice that this +asteroid, being several million miles nearer to the sun than Mars is, +must have an appreciably shorter period of revolution. When it is in +conjunction with Mars, or nearly so, as it is at present, the distance +between the two is not very great, whereas when it is in the opposite +part of its orbit they are separated by an enormous gap of space and +the sun is between them." + +"Manifestly in the latter case it would be perilous if not entirely +impossible for the Martians to visit the golden asteroid, but when it +is near Mars, as it is at present, and as it must be periodically for +several years at a time, then is their opportunity." + +"With their projectile cars sent forth with the aid of the mysterious +explosives which they possess, it is easy for them under such +circumstances, to make visits to the asteroid." + +"Having obtained all the gold they need, or all that they can carry, +a comparatively slight impulse given to their car, the direction of +which is carefully calculated, will carry them back again to Mars." + +"If that's so," exclaimed a voice, "we had better look out for +ourselves! We have got into a very hornet's nest! If this is the place +where the Martians come to dig gold, and if this is the height of +their season, as you say, they are not likely to leave us here long +undisturbed." + +"These fellows must have been pirates that they had the fight with," +said another. + +"But what's become of the regulars, then?" + +"Gone back to Mars for help, probably, and they'll be here again pretty +quick, I am afraid!" + +Considerable alarm was caused by this view of the case, and orders were +sent to several of the electrical ships to cruise out to a safe distance +in the direction of Mars and keep a sharp outlook for the approach +of enemies. + + +Discovery That the Asteroid is a Solid Mass of Gold. + +Meanwhile our prisoner awoke. He turned his eyes upon those standing +about him, without any appearance of fear, but rather with a look of +contempt, like that which Gulliver must have felt for the Lilliputians +who had bound him under similar circumstances. + +There were both hatred and defiance in his glance. He attempted to free +himself, and the ropes strained with the tremendous pressure that he +put upon them, but he could not break loose. + + +The Martian Safely Bound. + +Satisfied that the Martian was safely bound, we left him where he +lay, and, while awaiting news from the ships which had been sent to +reconnoitre, continued the exploration of the little planet. + +At a point nearly opposite to that where we had landed we came upon +the mine which the Martians had been working. They had removed the thin +coating of soil, laying bare the rich stores of gold beneath, and large +quantities of the latter had been removed. Some of it was so solidly +packed that the strokes of the instruments by means of which they had +detached it were visible like the streaks left by a knife cutting cheese. + + +Reason for Astonishment. + +The more we saw of this golden planet the greater became our +astonishment. What the Martians had removed was a mere nothing in +comparison with the entire bulk of the asteroid. Had the celestial mine +been easier to reach, perhaps they would have removed more, or, possibly, +their political economists perfectly understood the necessity of properly +controlling the amount of precious metal in circulation. Very likely, +we thought, the mining operations were under government control in Mars +and it might be that the majority of the people there knew nothing of +this store of wealth floating in the firmament. That would account for +the battle with the supposed pirates, who, no doubt, had organized a +secret expedition to the asteroid and been caught red-handed at the mine. + + +Richer Than the Klondike. + +There were many detached masses of gold scattered about, and some of the +men, on picking them up, exclaimed with astonishment at their lack of +weight, forgetting for the moment that the same law which caused their +own bodies to weigh so little must necessarily affect everything else +in like degree. + +A mass of gold that on the earth no man would have been able to lift +could here be tossed about like a hollow rubber ball. + +While we were examining the mine, one of the men left to guard the +Martian came running to inform us that the latter evidently wished to +make some communication. Mr. Edison and others hurried to the side of the +prisoner. He still lay on his back, from which position he was not able +to move, notwithstanding all his efforts. But by the motion of his eyes, +aided by a pantomime with his fingers, he made us understand that there +was something in a metallic box fastened at his side which he wished +to reach. + + +The Martian's Treasure Box. + +With some difficulty we succeeded in opening the box and in it there +appeared a number of bright red pellets, as large as an ordinary egg. + +When the Martian saw these in our hands he gave us to understand by +the motion of his lips that he wished to swallow one of them. A pellet +was accordingly placed in his mouth, and he instantly and with great +eagerness swallowed it. + + +The Mysterious Pellets. + +While trying to communicate his wishes to us, the prisoner had seemed +to be in no little distress. He exhibited spasmodic movements which +led some of the bystanders to think that he was on the point of dying, +but within a few seconds after he had swallowed the pellet he appeared +to be completely restored. All evidences of distress vanished, and a +look of content came over his ugly face. + +"It must be a powerful medicine," said one of the bystanders. "I wonder +what it is." + +"I will explain to you my notion," said Professor Moissan, the great +French chemist. "I think it was a pill of the air, which he has taken." + +"What do you mean by that?" + + +Artificial Atmosphere. + +"My meaning is," said Professor Moissan, "that the Martian must have, for +that he may live, the nitrogen and the oxygen. These can he not obtain +here, where there is not the atmosphere. Therefore must he get them in +some other manner. This has he managed to do by combining in these pills +the oxygen and the nitrogen in the proportions which make atmospheric +air. Doubtless upon Mars there are the very great chemists. They have +discovered how this may be done. When the Martian has swallowed his +little pill, the oxygen and the nitrogen are rendered to his blood as +if he had breathed them, and so he can live with that air which has been +distributed to him with the aid of his stomach in the place of his lungs." + +If Monsieur Moissan's explanation was not correct, at any rate it +seemed the only one that would fit the facts before us. Certainly the +Martian could not breathe where there was practically no air, yet just +as certainly after he had swallowed his pill he seemed as comfortable +as any of us. + + +Signals from a Ship. + +Suddenly, while we were gathered around the prisoner, and interested +in this fresh evidence of the wonderful ingenuity of the Martians, and +of their control over the processes of nature, one of the electrical +ships that had been sent off in the direction of Mars was seen rapidly +returning and displaying signals. + + +The Martians Are Coming. + +It reported that the Martians were coming! + + + + +Chapter VIII. + + +The alarm was spread instantly among those upon the planet and through +the remainder of the fleet. + +One of the men from the returning electrical ship dropped down upon the +asteroid and gave a more detailed account of what they had seen. + +His ship had been the one which had gone to the greatest distance in the +direction of Mars. While cruising there, with all eyes intent, they had +suddenly perceived a glittering object moving from the direction of the +ruddy planet, and manifestly approaching them. A little inspection with +the telescope had shown that it was one of the projectile cars used by +the Martians. + +Our ship had ventured so far from the asteroid that for a moment it seemed +doubtful whether it would be able to return in time to give warning, +because the electrical influence of the asteroid was comparatively +slight at such a distance, and, after they had reversed their polarity, +and applied their intensifier, so as to make that influence effective, +their motion was at first exceedingly slow. + +Fortunately after a time they got under way with sufficient velocity to +bring them back to us before the approaching Martians could overtake them. + +The latter were not moving with great velocity, having evidently projected +themselves from Mars with only just sufficient force to throw them within +the feeble sphere of gravitation of the asteroid, so that they should +very gently land upon its surface. + +Indeed, looking out behind the electrical ship which had brought us the +warning, we immediately saw the projectile of the Martians approaching. It +sparkled like a star in the black sky as the sunlight fell upon it. + + +Ready for the Enemy. + +The ships of the squadron whose crews had not landed upon the planet were +signalled to prepare for action, while those who were upon the asteroid +made ready for battle there. A number of disintegrators were trained +upon the approaching Martians, but Mr. Edison gave strict orders that +no attempt should be made to discharge the vibratory force at random. + +"They do not know that we are here," he said, "and I am convinced that +they are unable to control their motions as we can do with our electrical +ships. They depend simply upon the force of gravitation. Having passed +the limit of the attraction of Mars, they have now fallen within the +attraction of the asteroid, and they must slowly sink to its surface." + + +The Martians Cannot Stop. + +"Having, as I am convinced, no means of producing or controlling +electrical attraction and repulsion, they cannot stop themselves, but must +come down upon the asteroid. Having got here they could never get away +again, except as we know the survivors got away from earth, by propelling +their projectile against gravitation with the aid of an explosive." + +"Therefore, to a certain extent they will be at our mercy. Let us allow +them quietly to land upon the planet, and then I think, if it becomes +necessary, we can master them." + +Notwithstanding Mr. Edison's reassuring words and manner, the company upon +the asteroid experienced a dreadful suspense while the projectile which +seemed very formidable as it drew near, sank with a slow and graceful +motion toward the surface of the ground. Evidently it was about to land +very near the spot where we stood awaiting it. + +Its inmates had apparently just caught sight of us. They evinced signs +of astonishment, and seemed at a loss exactly what to do. We could see +projecting from the fore part of their car at least two of the polished +knobs, whose fearful use and power we well comprehended. + +Several of our men cried out to Mr. Edison in an extremity of terror: + +"Why do you not destroy them? Be quick, or we shall all perish." + +"No," said Mr. Edison, "there is no danger. You can see that they are +not prepared. They will not attempt to attack us until they have made +their landing." + + +The Martians Land. + +And Mr. Edison was right. With gradually accelerated velocity, and yet +very, very slowly in comparison with the speed they would have exhibited +in falling upon such a planet as the earth, the Martians and their car +came down to the ground. + +We stood at a distance of perhaps three hundred feet from the point where +they touched the asteroid. Instantly a dozen of the giants sprang from +the car and gazed about for a moment with a look of intense surprise. At +first it was doubtful whether they meant to attack us at all. + +We stood on our guard, several carrying disintegrators in our hands, +while a score more of these terrible engines were turned upon the Martians +from the electrical ships which hovered near. + + +A Speech from Their Leader. + +Suddenly he who seemed to be the leader of the Martians began to speak +to them in pantomime, using his fingers after the manner in which they +are used for conversation by deaf and dumb people. + +Of course, we did not know what he was saying, but his meaning became +perfectly evident a minute later. Clearly they did not comprehend +the powers of the insignificant-looking strangers with whom they had +to deal. Instead of turning their destructive engines upon us, they +advanced on a run, with the evident purpose of making us prisoners or +crushing us by main force. + + +Awed by the Disintegrator. + +The soft whirr of the disintegrator in the hands of Mr. Edison standing +near me came to my ears through the telephonic wire. He quickly swept +the concentrating mirror a little up and down, and instantly the foremost +Martian vanished! Part of some metallic dress that he wore fell upon the +ground where he had stood, its vibratory rate not having been included +in the range imparted to the disintegrator. + +His followers paused for a moment, amazed, stared about as if looking for +their leader, and then hurried back to their projectile and disappeared +within it. + +"Now we've got business on our hands," said Mr. Edison. "Look out for +yourselves." + +As he spoke, I saw the death-dealing knob of the war engine contained +in the car of the Martians moving around toward us. In another instant +it would have launched its destroying bolt. + +Before that could occur, however, it had been dissipated into space by +a vibratory stream from a disintegrator. + +But we were not to get the victory quite so easily. There was another +of the war engines in the car, and before we could concentrate our fire +upon it, its awful flash shot forth, and a dozen of our comrades perished +before our eyes. + +"Quick! Quick!" shouted Mr. Edison to one of his electrical experts +standing near. "There is something the matter with this disintegrator, +and I cannot make it work. Aim at the knob, and don't miss it." + + +Martians and Terrestrians Fight a Terrible Battle. + +But the aim was not well taken, and the vibratory force fell upon a +portion of the car at a considerable distance from the knob, making a +great breach, but leaving the engine uninjured. + +A section of the side of the car had been destroyed, and the vibratory +energy had spread no further. To have attempted to sweep the car from +end to end would have been futile, because the period of action of the +disintegrators during each discharge did not exceed one second, and +distributing the energy over so great a space would have seriously +weakened its power to shatter apart the atoms of the resisting +substance. The disintegrators were like firearms, in that after each +discharge they must be readjusted before they could be used again. + + +The Martians Are Desperate. + +Through the breach we saw the Martians inside making desperate efforts +to train their engine upon us, for after their first disastrous stroke +we had rapidly shifted our position. Swiftly the polished knob, which +gleamed like an evil eye, moved round to sweep over us. Instinctively, +though incautiously, we had collected in a group. + +A single discharge would sweep us all into eternity. + + +A Ticklish Position. + +"Will no one fire upon them?" exclaimed Mr. Edison, struggling with the +disintegrator in his hands, which still refused to work. + +At this fearful moment I glanced around upon our company, and was +astonished at the spectacle. In the presence of the danger many of them +had lost all self-command. A half dozen had dropped their disintegrators +upon the ground. Others stood as if frozen fast in their tracks. The +expert electrician, whose poor aim had had such disastrous results, +held in his hand an instrument which was in perfect condition, yet with +mouth agape, he stood trembling like a captured bird. + + +The Electricians Lose Their Heads. + +It was a disgraceful exhibition. Mr. Edison, however, had not lost +his head. Again and again he sighted at the dreadful knob with his +disintegrator, but the vibratory force refused to respond. + +The means of safety were in our hands, and yet through a combination of +ill luck and paralyzing terror we seemed unable to use them. + +In a second more it would be all over with us. + +The suspense in reality lasted only during the twinkling of an eye, +though it seemed ages long. + +Unable to endure it, I sharply struck the shoulder of the paralyzed +electrician. To have attempted to seize the disintegrator from his hands +would have been a fatal waste of time. Luckily the blow either roused +him from his stupor or caused an instinctive movement of his hand that +set the little engine in operation. + +I am sure he took no aim, but providentially the vibratory force fell +upon the desired point, and the knob disappeared. + + +Saved! + +We were saved! + +Instantly half a dozen rushed toward the car of the Martians. We bitterly +repented their haste; they did not live to repent. + +Unknown to us the Martians carried hand engines, capable of launching +bolts of death of the same character as those which emanated from the +knobs of their larger machines. With these they fired, so to speak, +through the breach in their car, and four of our men who were rushing +upon them fell in heaps of cinders. The effect of the terrible fire +was like that which the most powerful strokes of lightning occasionally +produce on earth. + +The destruction of the threatening knob had instantaneously relieved +the pressure upon the terror-stricken nerves of our company, and they +had all regained their composure and self-command. But this new and +unexpected disaster, following so close upon the fear which had recently +overpowered them, produced a second panic, the effect of which was not +to stiffen them in their tracks as before, but to send them scurrying +in every direction in search of hiding places. + + +A Curious Effect. + +And now a most curious effect of the smallness of the planet we were on +began to play a conspicuous part in our adventures. Standing on a globe +only five miles in diameter was like being on the summit of a mountain +whose sides sloped rapidly off in every direction, disappearing in the +black sky on all sides, as if it were some stupendous peak rising out +of an unfathomable abyss. + +In consequence of the quick rounding off of the sides of this globe, the +line of the horizon was close at hand, and by running a distance of less +than 250 yards the fugitives disappeared down the sides of the asteroid, +and behind the horizon, even from the elevation of about fifteen feet +from which the Martians were able to watch them. From our sight they +disappeared much sooner. + +The slight attraction of the planet and their consequent almost entire +lack of weight enabled the men to run with immense speed. The result, +as I subsequently learned, was that after they had disappeared from our +view they quitted the planet entirely, the force being sufficient to +partially free them from its gravitation, so that they sailed out into +space, whirling helplessly end over end, until the elliptical orbits in +which they travelled eventually brought them back again to the planet +on the side nearly opposite to that from which they had departed. + + +Hunting for the Enemy. + +But several of us, with Mr. Edison, stood fast, watching +for an opportunity to get the Martians within range of the +disintegrators. Luckily we were enabled, by shifting our position a +little to the left, to get out of the line of sight of our enemies +concealed in the car. + +"If we cannot catch sight of them," said Mr. Edison, "we shall have to +riddle the car on the chance of hitting them." + +"It will be like firing into a bush to kill a hidden bear," said one of +the party. + +But help came from a quarter which was unexpected to us, although it +should not have been so. Several of the electric ships had been hovering +above us during the fight, their commanders being apparently uncertain +how to act--fearful, perhaps, of injuring us in the attempt to smite +our enemy. + +But now the situation apparently lightened for them. They saw that we +were at an immense disadvantage, and several of them immediately turned +their batteries upon the car of the Martians. + +They riddled it far more quickly and effectively than we could have +done. Every stroke of the vibratory emanation made a gap in the side +of the car, and we could perceive from the commotion within that our +enemies were being rapidly massacred in their fortification. + +So overwhelming was the force and the advantage of the ships that in a +little while it was all over. Mr. Edison signalled them to stop firing +because it was plain that all resistance had ceased and probably not +one of the Martians remained alive. + +We now approached the car, which had been transpierced in every direction, +and whose remaining portions were glowing with heat in consequence of the +spreading of the atomic vibrations. Immediately we discovered that all +our anticipations were correct and that all of our enemies had perished. + +The effect of the disintegrators upon them had been awful--too repulsive, +indeed, to be described in detail. Some of the bodies had evidently +entirely vanished; only certain metal articles which they had worn +remaining, as in the case of the first Martian killed, to indicate that +such beings had ever existed. The nature of the metal composing these +articles was unknown to us. Evidently its vibratory rhythm did not +correspond with any included in the ordinary range of the disintegrators. + + +The Disintegrators' Awful Effect. + +Some of the giants had been only partially destroyed, the vibratory +current having grazed them, in such a manner that the shattering +undulations had not acted upon the entire body. + +One thing that lends a peculiar horror to a terrestrial battlefield was +absent; there was no bloodshed. The vibratory energy, not only completely +destroyed whatever it fell upon but it seared the veins and arteries +of the dismembered bodies so that there was no sanguinary exhibition +connected with its murderous work. + +All this time the shackled Martian had lain on his back where we had +left him bound. What his feeling must have been may be imagined. At +times, I caught a glimpse of his eyes, wildly rolling and exhibiting, +when he saw that the victory was in our hands, the first indications of +fear and terror shaking his soul that had yet appeared. + +"That fellow is afraid at last," I said to Mr. Edison. + +"Well, I should think he ought to be afraid," was the reply. + +"So he ought, but if I am not mistaken this fear of his may be the +beginning of a new discovery for us." + +"How so?" asked Mr. Edison. + +"In this way. When once he fears our power, and perceives that there +would be no hope of contending against us, even if he were at liberty, +he will respect us. This change in his mental attitude may tend to make +him communicative. I do not see why we should despair of learning his +language from him, and having done that, he will serve as our guide and +interpreter, and will be of incalculable advantage to us when we have +arrived at Mars." + +"Capital! Capital!" said Mr. Edison. "We must concentrate the linguistic +genius of our company upon that problem at once." + + +The Deserter's Return. + +In the meantime some of the skulkers whose flight I have referred to +began to return, chapfallen, but rejoicing in the disappearance of the +danger. Several of them, I am ashamed to say, had been army officers. Yet +possibly some excuse could be made for the terror by which they had +been overcome. No man has a right to hold his fellow beings to account +for the line of conduct they may pursue under circumstances which are +not only entirely unexampled in their experience, but almost beyond the +power of the imagination to picture. + +Paralyzing terror had evidently seized them with the sudden comprehension +of the unprecedented singularity of their situation. Millions of miles +away from the earth, confronted on an asteroid by these diabolical +monsters from a maleficient planet, who were on the point of destroying +them with a strange torment of death--perhaps it was really more than +human nature, deprived of the support of human surroundings, could have +been expected to bear. + +Those who, as already described, had run with so great a speed that they +were projected, all unwilling, into space, rising in elliptical orbits +from the surface of the planet, describing great curves in what might +be denominated its sky, and then coming back again to the little globe +on another side, were so filled with the wonders of their remarkable +adventure that they had almost forgotten the terror which had inspired it. + +There was nothing surprising in what had occurred to them the moment one +considered the laws of gravitation on the asteroid, but their stories +aroused an intense interest among all who listened to them. + +Lord Kelvin was particularly interested, and while Mr. Edison was +hastening preparations to quit the asteroid and resume our voyage to Mars, +Lord Kelvin and a number of other scientific men instituted a series of +remarkable experiments. + + +Jumping Into Empty Space. + +It was one of the most laughable things imaginable to see Lord Kelvin, +dressed in his air-tight suit, making tremendous jumps into empty +space. It reminded me forcibly of what Lord Kelvin, then plain William +Thompson, and Professor Blackburn had done when spending a Summer +vacation at the seaside, while they were undergraduates of Cambridge +University. They had spent all their time, to the surprise of onlookers, +in spinning rounded stones on the beach, their object being to obtain +a practical solution of the mathematical problem of "precession." + +Immediately Lord Kelvin was imitated by a dozen others. With what seemed +very slight effort they projected themselves straight upward, rising +to a height of four hundred feet or more, and then slowly settling back +again to the surface of the asteroid. The time of rise and fall combined +was between three and four minutes. + +On this little planet the acceleration of gravity or the velocity +acquired by a falling body in one second was only four-fifths of an +inch. A body required an entire minute to fall a distance of only 120 +feet. Consequently, it was more like gradually settling than falling. The +figures of these men of science, rising and sinking in this manner, +appeared like so many gigantic marionettes bobbing up and down in a +pneumatic bottle. + +"Let us try that," said Mr. Edison, very much interested in the +experiments. + + +A Delightful Experience. + +Both of us jumped together. At first, with great swiftness, but gradually +losing speed, we rose to an immense height straight from the ground. When +we had reached the utmost limit of our flight we seemed to come to rest +for a moment, and then began slowly, but with accelerated velocity, +to sink back again to the planet. It was not only a peculiar but a +delicious sensation, and but for strict orders which were issued that +the electrical ships should be immediately prepared for departure, our +entire company might have remained for an indefinite period enjoying +this new kind of athletic exercise in a world where gravitation had +become so humble that it could be trifled with. + +While the final preparations for departure were being made, Lord +Kelvin instituted other experiments that were no less unique in their +results. The experience of those who had taken unpremeditated flights in +elliptical orbits when they had run from the vicinity of the Martians +suggested the throwing of solid objects in various directions from the +surface of the planet in order to determine the distance that they would +go and the curves they would describe in returning. + + +Mars, the Death-Dealing Planet, at Length at Hand! + +For these experiments there was nothing more convenient or abundant +than chunks of gold from the Martians' mine. These, accordingly, were +hurled in various directions, and with every degree of velocity. A little +calculation had shown that an initial velocity of thirty feet per second +imparted to one of these chunks, moving at right angles to the radius +of the asteroid, would, if the resistance of an almost inappreciable +atmosphere were neglected, suffice to turn the piece of gold into +a little satellite that would describe an orbit around the asteroid, +and continue to do so forever, or at least until the slight atmospheric +resistance should eventually bring it down to the surface. + +But a less velocity than thirty feet per second would cause the golden +missile to fly only part way around, while a greater velocity would give +it an elliptical instead of a circular orbit, and in this ellipse it would +continue to revolve around the asteroid in the character of a satellite. + +If the direction of the original impulse were at more than a right angle +to the radius of the asteroid, then the flying body would pass out to +a greater or less distance in space in an elliptical orbit, eventually +coming back again and falling upon the asteroid, but not at the same +spot from which it had departed. + + +Interesting Experiments. + +So many took part in these singular experiments, which assumed rather +the appearance of outdoor sports than of scientific demonstrations, that +in a short time we had provided the asteroid with a very large number +of little moons, or satellites, of gold, which revolved around it in +orbits of various degrees of ellipticity, taking, on the average, about +three-quarters of an hour to complete a circuit. Since, on completing +a revolution, they must necessarily pass through the point from which +they started, they kept us constantly on the qui vive to avoid being +knocked over by them as they swept around in their orbits. + +Finally the signal was given for all to embark, and with great regret +the savants quitted their scientific games and prepared to return to +the electric ships. + +Just on the moment of departure, the fact was announced by one, who had +been making a little calculation on a bit of paper, that the velocity with +which a body must be thrown in order to escape forever the attraction of +the asteroid, and to pass on to an infinite distance in any direction, +was only about forty-two feet in a second. + +Manifestly it would be quite easy to impart such a speed as that to the +chunks of gold that we held in our hands. + + +A Message to the Earth. + +"Hurrah!" exclaimed one. "Let's send some of this back to the earth." + +"Where is the earth?" asked another. + +Being appealed to, several astronomers turned their eyes in the direction +of the sun, where the black firmament was ablaze with stars, and in a +moment recognized the earth-star shining there, with the moon attending +close at hand. + +"There," said one, "is the earth. Can you throw straight enough to +hit it?" + +"We'll try," was the reply, and immediately several threw huge golden +nuggets in the direction of our far-away world, endeavoring to impart +to them at least the required velocity of forty-two feet in a second, +which would insure their passing beyond the attraction of the asteroid, +and if there should be no disturbance on the way, and the aim were +accurate, their eventual arrival upon the earth. + +"Here's for you, Old Earth," said one of the throwers, "good luck, +and more gold to you!" + +If these precious missiles ever reached the earth we knew that they +would plunge into the atmosphere like meteors and that probably the heat +developed by their passage would melt and dissipate them in golden vapors +before they could touch the ground. + +Yet, there was a chance that some of them--if the aim were true--might +survive the fiery passage through the atmosphere and fall upon the +surface of our planet where, perhaps, they would afterward be picked up +by a prospector and lead him to believe that he had struck a new bonanza. + +But until we returned to the earth it would be impossible for us to tell +what had become of the golden gifts which we had launched into space +for our mother planet. + + + + +Chapter IX. + + +All Aboard for Mars! + +"All aboard!" was the signal, and the squadron having assembled under +the lead of the flagship, we started again for Mars. + +This time, as it proved, there was to be no further interruption, and +when next we paused it was in the presence of the world inhabited by +our enemies, and facing their frowning batteries. + + +Difficulty in Starting. + +We did not find it so easy to start from the asteroid as it had been to +start from the earth; that is to say, we could not so readily generate +a very high velocity. + +In consequence of the comparatively small size of the asteroid, its +electric influence was very much less than that of the earth, and +notwithstanding the appliances which we possessed for intensifying the +electrical effect, it was not possible to produce a sufficient repulsion +to start us off for Mars with anything like the impulse which we had +received from the earth on our original departure. + +The utmost velocity that we could generate did not exceed three miles +in a second, and to get this required our utmost efforts. In fact, it +had not seemed possible that we should attain even so great a speed as +that. It was far more than we could have expected, and even Mr. Edison +was surprised, as well as greatly gratified, when he found that we were +moving with the velocity that I have named. + + +Mars 6,000,000 Miles Away. + +We were still about 6,000,000 miles from Mars, so that, travelling three +miles in a second, we should require at least twenty-three days to reach +the immediate neighborhood of the planet. + +Meanwhile we had a plenty of occupation to make the time pass quickly. Our +prisoner was transported along with us, and we now began our attempts to +ascertain what his language was, and, if possible, to master it ourselves. + +Before quitting the asteroid we had found that it was necessary for +him to swallow one of his "air pills," as Prof. Moissan called them, at +least three times in the course of every twenty-four hours. One of us +supplied him regularly and I thought that I could detect evidences of +a certain degree of gratitude in his expression. This was encouraging, +because it gave additional promise of the possibility of our being able to +communicate with him in some more effective way than by mere signs. But +once inside the car, where we had a supply of air kept at the ordinary +pressure experienced on the earth, he could breathe like the rest of us. + + +Learning the Martians' Language. + +The best linguists in the expedition, as Mr. Edison had suggested, +were now assembled in the flagship, where the prisoner was, and they +set to work to devise some means of ascertaining the manner in which he +was accustomed to express his thoughts. + +We had not heard him speak, because until we carried him into our car +there was no atmosphere capable of conveying any sounds he might attempt +to utter. + +It seemed a fair assumption that the language of the Martians would be +scientific in its structure. We had so much evidence of the practical +bent of their minds, and of the immense progress which they had made +in the direction of the scientific conquest of nature, that it was not +to be supposed their medium of communication with one another would be +lacking in clearness, or would possess any of the puzzling and unnecessary +ambiguities that characterized the languages spoken on the earth. + +"We shall not find them making he's and she's of stones, sticks and +other inanimate objects," said one of the American linguists. "They must +certainly have gotten rid of all that nonsense long ago." + +"Ah," said a French professor from the Sorbonne, one of the makers of +the never-to-be-finished dictionary. "It will be like the language of +my country. Transparent, similar to the diamond, and sparkling as is +the fountain." + + +The Volapuk of Mars. + +"I think," said a German enthusiast, "that it will be a universal +language, the Volapuk of Mars, spoken by all the inhabitants of that +planet." + +"But all these speculations," broke in Mr. Edison, "do not help you +much. Why not begin in a practical manner by finding out what the Martian +calls himself, for instance." + +This seemed a good suggestion, and accordingly several of the bystanders +began an expressive pantomime, intended to indicate to the giant, who was +following all their motions with his eyes, that they wished to know by +what name he called himself. Pointing their fingers to their own breasts +they repeated, one after the other, the word "man." + +If our prisoner had been a stupid savage, of course any such attempt +as this to make him understand would have been idle. But it must be +remembered that we were dealing with a personage who had presumably +inherited from hundreds of generations the results of a civilization, +and an intellectual advance, measured by the constant progress of millions +of years. + +Accordingly we were not very much astonished, when, after a few +repetitions of the experiment, the Martian--one of whose arms had been +partially released from its bonds in order to give him a little freedom +of motion--imitated the action of his interrogators by pressing his +finger over his heart. + + +The Martian Speaks. + +Then, opening his mouth, he gave utterance to a sound which shook the air +of the car like the hoarse roar of a lion. He seemed himself surprised +by the noise he made, for he had not been used to speak in so dense +an atmosphere. + +Our ears were deafened and confused, and we recoiled in astonishment, +not to say, half in terror. + +With an ugly grin distorting his face as if he enjoyed our discomfiture, +the Martian repeated the motion and the sound. + +"R-r-r-r-r-r-h!" + +It was not articulate to our ears, and not to be represented by any +combination of letters. + +"Faith," exclaimed a Dublin University professor, "if that's what they +call themselves, how shall we ever translate their names when we come +to write the history of the conquest?" + +"Whist, mon," replied a professor from the University of Aberdeen, +"let us whip the gillravaging villains first, and then we can describe +than by any intitulation that may suit our deesposition." + +The beginning of our linguistic conquest was certainly not promising, +at least if measured by our acquirement of words, but from another point +of view it was very gratifying, inasmuch as it was plain that the Martian +understood what we were trying to do, and was, for the present, at least, +disposed to aid us. + +These efforts to learn the language of Mars were renewed and repeated +every few hours, all the experience, learning and genius of the squadron +being concentrated upon the work, and the result was that in the course +of a few days we had actually succeeded in learning a dozen or more +of the Martian's words and were able to make him understand us when we +pronounced them, as well as to understand him when our ears had become +accustomed to the growling of his voice. + +Finally, one day the prisoner, who seemed to be in an unusually cheerful +frame of mind, indicated that he carried in his breast some object which +he wished us to see. + + +The Martian's Book. + +With our assistance he pulled out a book! + +Actually, it was a book, not very unlike the books which we have upon +the earth, but printed, of course, in characters that were entirely +strange and unknown to us. Yet these characters evidently gave expression +to a highly intellectual language. All those who were standing by at +the moment uttered a shout of wonder and of delight, and the cry of +"A book! a book!" ran around the circle, and the good news was even +promptly communicated to some of the neighboring electric ships of the +squadron. Several other learned men were summoned in haste from them to +examine our new treasure. + +The Martian, whose good nature had manifestly been growing day after day, +watched our inspection of his book with evidences of great interest, not +unmingled with amusement. Finally he beckoned the holder of the book to +his side, and placing his broad finger upon one of the huge letters--if +letters they were, for they more nearly resembled the characters employed +by the Chinese printer--he uttered a sound which we, of course, took to +be a word, but which was different from any we had yet heard. Then he +pointed to one after another of us standing around. + +"Ah," explained everybody, the truth being apparent, "that is the word +by which the Martians designate us. They have a name, then, for the +inhabitants of the earth." + +"Or, perhaps, it is rather the name for the earth itself," said one. + +But this could not, of course, be at once determined. Anyhow, the +word, whatever its precise meaning might be, had now been added to +our vocabulary, although as yet our organs of speech proved unable to +reproduce it in a recognizable form. + +This promising and unexpected discovery of the Martian's book lent added +enthusiasm to those who were engaged in the work of trying to master +the language of our prisoner, and the progress that they made in the +course of the next few days was truly astonishing. If the prisoner had +been unwilling to aid them, of course, it would have been impossible +to proceed, but, fortunately for us, he seemed more and more to enter +into the spirit of the undertaking, and actually to enjoy it himself. So +bright and quick was his understanding that he was even able to indicate +to us methods of mastering his language that would otherwise, probably, +never have occurred to our minds. + + +The Prisoner Teaches. + +In fact, in a very short time he had turned teacher and all these learned +men, pressing around him with eager attention, had become his pupils. + +I cannot undertake to say precisely how much of the Martian language +had been acquired by the chief linguists of the expedition before the +time when we arrived so near to Mars that it became necessary for most +of us to abandon our studies in order to make ready for the more serious +business which now confronted us. + +But, at any rate, the acquisition was so considerable as to allow of +the interchange of ordinary ideas with our prisoner, and there was no +longer any doubt that he would be able to give us much information when +we landed on his native planet. + +At the end of twenty-three days as measured by terrestrial time, since +our departure from the asteroid, we arrived in the sky of Mars. + +For a long time the ruddy planet had been growing larger and more +formidable, gradually turning from a huge star into a great red moon, +and then expanding more and more until it began to shut out from sight +the constellations behind it. The curious markings on its surface, which +from the earth can only be dimly glimpsed with a powerful telescope, +began to reveal themselves clearly to our naked eyes. + +I have related how even before we had reached the asteroid, Mars began to +present a most imposing appearance as we saw it with our telescopes. Now, +however, that it was close at hand, the naked eye view of the planet +was more wonderful than anything we had been able to see with telescopes +when at a greater distance. + + +Mars in Sight. + +We were approaching the southern hemisphere of Mars in about latitude +45 degrees south. It was near the time of the vernal equinox in that +hemisphere of the planet, and under the stimulating influence of the +Spring sun, rising higher and higher every day, some such awakening of +life and activity upon its surface as occurs on the earth under similar +circumstances was evidently going on. + +Around the South Pole were spread immense fields of snow and ice, gleaming +with great brilliance. Cutting deep into the borders of these ice fields, +we could see broad channels of open water, indicating the rapid breaking +of the grip of the frost. + +Almost directly beneath us was a broad oval region, light red in color, +to which terrestrial astronomers had given the name of Hellas. Toward +the south, between Hellas and the borders of the polar ice, was a great +belt of darkness that astronomers had always been inclined to regard +as a sea. Looking toward the north, we could perceive the immense red +expanses of the continents of Mars, with the long curved line of the +Syrtis Major, or "The Hour Glass Sea," sweeping through the midst of +them toward the north until it disappeared under the horizon. + +Crossing and recrossing the red continents, in every direction, were +the canals of Schiaparelli. + + +Mars Reached at Last--Thrilling Adventures. + +Plentifully sprinkled over the surface we could see brilliant points, +some of dazzling brightness, outshining the daylight. There was also +an astonishing variety in the colors of the broad expanses beneath +us. Activity, vivacity and beauty, such as we were utterly unprepared +to behold, expressed their presence on all sides. + +The excitement on the flagship and among the other members of the squadron +was immense. It was certainly a thrilling scene. Here, right under our +feet, lay the world we had come to do battle with. Its appearances, while +recalling in some of their broader aspects those which it had presented +when viewed from our observatories, were far more strange, complex and +wonderful than any astronomer had ever dreamed of. Suppose all of our +anticipations about Mars should prove to have been wrong, after all? + +There could be no longer any question that it was a world which, if +not absolutely teeming with inhabitants, like a gigantic ant-hill, at +any rate bore on every side the marks of their presence and of their +incredible undertakings and achievements. + +Here and there clouds of smoke arose and spread slowly through the +atmosphere beneath us. Floating higher above the surface of the planet +were clouds of vapor, assuming the familiar forms of stratus and cumulus +with which we were acquainted upon the earth. + + +Dense Clouds Appear. + +These clouds, however, seemed upon the whole to be much less dense than +those to which we were accustomed at home. They had, too, a peculiar +iridescent beauty as if there was something in their composition or their +texture which split up the chromatic elements of the sunlight and thus +produced internal rainbow effects that caused some of the heavier cloud +masses to resemble immense collections of opals, alive with the play of +ever-changing colors and magically suspended above the planet. + +As we continued to study the phenomena that was gradually unfolded +beneath us we thought that we could detect in many places evidences of +the existence of strong fortifications. The planet of war appeared to be +prepared for the attacks of enemies. Since, as our own experience had +shown, it sometimes waged war with distant planets, it was but natural +that it should be found prepared to resist foes who might be disposed +to revenge themselves for injuries suffered at its hands. + +As had been expected, our prisoner now proved to be of very great +assistance to us. Apparently he took a certain pride in exhibiting to +strangers from a distant world the beauties and wonders of his own planet. + + +The Martian Is Understood. + +We could not understand by any means all that he said, but we could +readily comprehend, from his gestures, and from the manner in which his +features lighted up at the recognition of familiar scenes and objects, +what his sentiments in regard to them were, and, in a general way, +what part they played in the life of the planet. + +He confirmed our opinion that certain of the works which we saw beneath +us were fortifications, intended for the protection of the planet against +invaders from outer space. A cunning and almost diabolical look came +into his eyes as he pointed to one of these strongholds. + + +Cause for Anxiety. + +His confidence and his mocking looks were not reassuring to us. He +knew what his planet was capable of, and we did not. He had seen, on +the asteroid, the extent of our power, and while its display served to +intimidate him there, yet now that he and we together were facing the +world of his birth, his fear had evidently fallen from him, and he had +the manner of one who feels that the shield of an all-powerful protector +had been extended over him. + +But it could not be long now before we should ascertain, by the +irrevocable test of actual experience, whether the Martians possessed +the power to annihilate us or not. + +How shall I describe our feelings as we gazed at the scene spread beneath +us? They were not quite the same as those of the discoverer of new +lands upon the earth. This was a whole new world that we had discovered, +and it was filled, as we could see, with inhabitants. + +But that was not all. We had not come with peaceful intentions. + +We were to make war on this new world. + +Deducting our losses we had not more than 940 men left. With these we +were to undertake the conquest of a world containing we could not say +how many millions! + + +A Hard Task Ahead. + +Our enemies, instead of being below us in the scale of intelligence were, +we had every reason to believe, greatly our superiors. They had proved +that they possessed a command over the powers of nature such as we, up +to the time when Mr. Edison made his inventions, had not even dreamed +that it was possible for us to obtain. + +It was true that at present we appeared to have the advantage, both in +our electrical ships and in our means of offence. The disintegrator was +at least as powerful an engine of destruction as any that the Martians +had yet shown that they possessed. It did not seem that in that respect +they could possibly excel us. + +During the brief war with the Martians upon the earth it had been +gunpowder against a mysterious force as much stronger than gunpowder as +the latter was superior to the bows and arrows that preceded it. + +There had been no comparison whatever between the offensive means employed +by the two parties in the struggle on the earth. + +But the genius of one man had suddenly put us on the level of our enemies +in regard to fighting capacity. + +Then, too, our electrical ships were far more effective for their purpose +than the projectile cars used by the Martians. In fact, the principle +upon which they were based was, at bottom, so simple that it seemed +astonishing the Martians had not hit upon it. + +Mr. Edison himself was never tired of saying in reference to this matter: + + +The Martians a Mystery. + +"I cannot understand why the Martians did not invent these things. They +have given ample proof that they understand electricity better than +we do. Why should they have resorted to the comparatively awkward and +bungling means of getting from one planet to another that they have +employed when they might have ridden through the solar system in such +conveyances as ours with perfect ease?" + +"And besides," Mr. Edison would add, "I cannot understand why they did +not employ the principle of harmonic vibrations in the construction of +their engines of war. The lightning-like strokes that they deal from +their machines are no doubt equally powerful, but I think the range of +destruction covered by the disintegrators is greater." + +However, these questions must remain open until we could effect a landing +on Mars, and learn something of the condition of things there. + +The thing that gave us the most uneasiness was the fact that we did +not yet know what powers the Martians might have in reserve. It was but +natural to suppose that here, on their own ground, they would possess +means of defence even more effective than the offensive engines they +had employed in attacking enemies so many millions of miles from home. + +It was important that we should waste no time, and it was equally +important that we should select the most vulnerable point for attack. It +was self-evident, therefore, that our first duty would be to reconnoitre +the surface of the planet and determine its weakest point of defence. + +At first Mr. Edison contemplated sending the various ships in different +directions around the planet in order that the work of exploration might +be quickly accomplished. But upon second thought it seemed wiser to keep +the squadron together, thus diminishing the chance of disaster. + +Besides, the commander wished to see with his own eyes the exact situation +of the various parts of the planet, where it might appear advisable for +us to begin our assault. + +Thus far we had remained suspended at so great a height above the planet +that we had hardly entered into the perceptible limits of its atmosphere +and there was no evidence that we had been seen by the inhabitants of +Mars; but before starting on our voyage of exploration it was determined +to drop down closer to the surface in order that we might the more +certainly identify the localities over which we passed. + +This manoeuvre nearly got us into serious trouble. + + +A Huge Airship. + +When we had arrived within a distance of three miles from the surface of +Mars we suddenly perceived approaching from the eastward a large airship +which was navigating the Martian atmosphere at a height of perhaps half +a mile above the ground. + + +More Stirring Adventures of Our Warriors Against Mars. + +This airship moved rapidly on to a point nearly beneath us, when it +suddenly paused, reversed its course, and evidently made signals, the +purpose of which was not at first evident to us. + +But in a short time their meaning became perfectly plain, when we found +ourselves surrounded by at least twenty similar aerostats approaching +swiftly from different sides. + +It was a great mystery to us where so many airships had been concealed +previous to their sudden appearance in answer to the signals. + +But the mystery was quickly solved when we saw detaching itself from the +surface of the planet beneath us, where, while it remained immovable, +its color had blended with that of the soil so as to render it invisible, +another of the mysterious ships. + +Then our startled eyes beheld on all sides these formidable-looking +enemies rising from the ground beneath us like so many gigantic insects, +disturbed by a sudden alarm. + +In a short time the atmosphere a mile or two below us, and to a +distance of perhaps twenty miles around in every direction, was alive +with airships of various sizes, and some of most extraordinary forms, +exchanging signals, rushing to and fro, but all finally concentrating +beneath the place where our squadron was suspended. + +We had poked the hornet's nest with a vengeance! + +As yet there had been no sting, but we might quickly expect to feel it +if we did not get out of range. + + +Escaping Danger. + +Quickly instructions were flashed throughout the squadron to instantly +reverse polarities and rise as swiftly as possible to a great height. + +It was evident that this manoeuvre would save us from danger if it were +quickly effected, because the airships of the Martians were simply +airships and nothing more. They could only float in the atmosphere, +and had no means of rising above it, or of navigating empty space. + +To have turned our disintegrators upon them, and to have begun a battle +then and there, would have been folly. + +They overwhelmingly outnumbered us, the majority of them were yet at a +considerable distance and we could not have done battle, even with our +entire squadron acting together, with more than one-quarter of them +simultaneously. In the meantime the others would have surrounded and +might have destroyed us. We must first get some idea of the planet's +means of defence before we ventured to assail it. + +Having risen rapidly to a height of twenty-five or thirty miles, so that +we could feel confident that our ships had vanished at least from the +naked eye view of our enemies beneath, a brief consultation was held. + +It was determined to adhere to our original programme and to +circumnavigate Mars in every direction before proceeding to open the war. + + +Intimidated by the Enemy. + +The overwhelming forces shown by the enemy had intimidated even some of +the most courageous of our men, but still it was universally felt that +it would not do to retreat without a blow struck. + +The more we saw of the power of the Martians, the more we became +convinced that there would be no hope for the earth, if these enemies +ever again effected a landing upon its surface, the more especially +since our squadron contained nearly all of the earth's force that would +be effective in such a contest. + +With Mr. Edison and the other men of science away, they would not be +able at home to construct such engines as we possessed, or to manage +them even if they were constructed. + +Our planet had staked everything on a single throw. + +These considerations again steeled our hearts, and made us bear up as +bravely as possible in the face of the terrible odds that confronted us. + +Turning the noses of our electrical ships toward the west, we began +our circumnavigation. + + + + +Chapter X. + + +At first we rose to a still greater height, in order more effectually +to escape the watchful eyes of our enemies, and then, after having +moved rapidly several hundred miles toward the west, we dropped down +again within easy eyeshot of the surface of the planet, and commenced +our inspection. + +When we originally reached Mars, as I have related, it was at a point in +its southern hemisphere, in latitude 45 degrees south, and longitude 75 +degrees east, that we first closely approached its surface. Underneath +us was the land called "Hellas," and it was over this land of Hellas +that the Martian air fleet had suddenly made its appearance. + +Our westward motion, while at a great height above the planet, had +brought us over another oval-shaped land called "Noachia," surrounded by +the dark ocean, the "Mare Erytraeum." Now approaching nearer the surface +our course was changed so as to carry us toward the equator of Mars. + +We passed over the curious, half-drowned continent known to terrestrial +astronomers as the Region of Deucalion, then across another sea, or gulf, +until we found ourselves floating, at a height of perhaps five miles, +above a great continental land, at least three thousand miles broad +from east to west, and which I immediately recognized as that to which +astronomers had given the various names of "Aeria," "Edom," "Arabia," +and "Eden." + +Here the spectacle became of breathless interest. + +"Wonderful! Wonderful!" + +"Who could have believed it!" + +Such were the exclamations heard on all sides. + +When at first we were suspended above Hellas, looking toward the north, +the northeast and the northwest, we had seen at a distance some of these +great red regions, and had perceived the curious network of canals by +which they were intersected. But that was a far-off and imperfect view. + +Now, when we were near at hand and straight above one of these singular +lands, the magnificence of the panorama surpassed belief. + +From the earth about a dozen of the principal canals crossing the +continent beneath us had been perceived, but we saw hundreds, nay, +thousands of them! + +It was a double system, intended both for irrigation and for protection, +and far more marvellous in its completeness than the boldest speculative +minds among our astronomers had ever dared to imagine. + +"Ha! that's what I always said," exclaimed a veteran from one of our great +observatories. "Mars is red because its soil and vegetation are red." + +And certainly appearances indicated that he was right. + +There were no green trees, and there was no green grass. Both were red, +not of a uniform red tint, but presenting an immense variety of shades +which produced a most brilliant effect, fairly dazzling our eyes. + +But what trees! And what grass! And what flowers! + + +Gigantic Vegetation. + +Our telescopes showed that even the smaller trees must be 200 or 300 +feet in height, and there were forests of giants, whose average height +was evidently at least 1,000 feet. + +"That's all right," exclaimed the enthusiast I have just quoted. "I knew +it would be so. The trees are big, for the same reason that the men are, +because the planet is small, and they can grow big without becoming too +heavy to stand." + +Flashing in the sun on all sides were the roofs of metallic buildings, +which were evidently the only kind of edifices that Mars possessed. At +any rate, if stone or wood were employed in their construction both were +completely covered with metallic plates. + +This added immensely to the warlike aspect of the planet. For warlike +it was. Everywhere we recognized fortified stations, glittering with an +array of the polished knobs of the lightning machines, such as we had +seen in the land of Hellas. + +From the land of Edom, directly over the equator of the planet, we turned +our faces westward, and, skirting the Mare Erytraeum, arrived above the +place where the broad canal known as the Indus empties into the sea. + +Before us, and stretching away toward the northwest, now lay the continent +of Chryse, a vast red land, oval in outline, and surrounded and crossed +by innumerable canals. Chryse was not less than 1,600 miles across, +and it, too, evidently swarmed with giant inhabitants. + +But the shadow of night lay upon the greater portion of the land of +Chryse. In our rapid motion westward we had out-stripped the sun and +had now arrived at a point where day and night met upon the surface of +the planet beneath us. + +Behind all was brilliant with sunshine, but before us the face of Mars +gradually disappeared in the deepening gloom. Through the darkness, +far away, we could behold magnificent beams of electric light darting +across the curtain of night, and evidently serving to illuminate towns +and cities that lay beneath. + +We pushed on into the night for two or three hundred miles over that part +of the continent of Chryse whose inhabitants were doubtless enjoying +the deep sleep that accompanies the dark hours immediately preceding +the dawn. Still everywhere splendid clusters of light lay like fallen +constellations upon the ground, indicating the sites of great towns, +which, like those of the earth, never sleep. + +But this scene, although weird and beautiful, could give us little of +the kind of information we were in search of. + +Accordingly it was resolved to turn back eastward until we had arrived +in the twilight space separating day and night, and then hover over +the planet at that point, allowing it to turn beneath us so that, as +we looked down, we should see in succession the entire circuit of the +globe of Mars while it rolled under our eyes. + +The rotation of Mars on its axis is performed in a period very little +longer than that of the earth's rotation, so that the length of the day +and night in the world of Mars is only some forty minutes longer than +their length upon the earth. + +In thus remaining suspended over the planet, on the line of daybreak, so +to speak, we believed that we should be peculiarly safe from detection +by the eyes of the inhabitants. Even astronomers are not likely to be +wide awake just at the peep of dawn. Almost all of the inhabitants, +we confidently believed, would still be sound asleep upon that part of +the planet passing directly beneath us, and those who were awake would +not be likely to watch for unexpected appearances in the sky. + +Besides, our height was so great that notwithstanding the numbers of the +squadron, we could not easily be seen from the surface of the planet, +and if seen at all we might be mistaken for high-flying birds. + + +Mars Passes Below Us. + +Here we remained then through the entire course of twenty-four hours and +saw in succession as they passed from night into day beneath our feet +the land of Chryse, the great continent of Tharsis, the curious region of +intersecting canals which puzzled astronomers on the earth had named the +"Gordian Knot," the continental lands of Memnonia, Amazonia and Aeolia, +the mysterious centre where hundreds of vast canals came together from +every direction, called the Trivium Charontis; the vast circle of Elysium, +a thousand miles across, and completely surrounded by a broad green canal; +the continent of Libya, which, as I remembered, had been half covered +by a tremendous inundation whose effects were visible from the earth +in the year 1889, and finally the long, dark sea of the Syrtis Major, +lying directly south of the land of Hellas. + +The excitement and interest which we all experienced were so great that +not one of us took a wink of sleep during the entire twenty-four hours +of our marvellous watch. + +There are one or two things of special interest amid the multitude of +wonderful observations that we made which I must mention here on account +of their connection with the important events that followed soon after. + +Just west of the land of Chryse we saw the smaller land of Ophir, +in the midst of which is a singular spot called the Juventae Fons, +and this Fountain of Youth, as our astronomers, by a sort of prophetic +inspiration, had named it, proved later to be one of the most incredible +marvels on the planet Mars. + +Further to the west, and north from the great continent of Tharsis, we +beheld the immense oval-shaped land of Thaumasia containing in its centre +the celebrated "Lake of the Sun," a circular body of water not less than +500 miles in diameter, with dozens of great canals running away from it +like the spokes of a wheel in every direction, thus connecting it with +the ocean which surrounds it on the south and east, and with the still +larger canals that encircle it toward the north and west. + +This Lake of the Sun came to play a great part in our subsequent +adventures. It was evident to us from the beginning that it was the +chief centre of population on the planet. It lies in latitude 25 degrees +South and longitude about 90 degrees west. + + +Completing the Circuit. + +Having completed the circuit of the Martian globe, we were moved by +the same feeling which every discoverer of new lands experiences, and +immediately returned to our original place above the land of Hellas, +because since that was the first part of Mars that we had seen, we felt +a greater degree of familiarity with it than with any other portion of +the planet, and there, in a certain sense, we felt "at home." + +But, as it proved, our enemies were on the watch for us there. We had +almost forgotten them, so absorbed were we by the great spectacles that +had been unrolling themselves beneath our feet. + +We ought, of course, to have been a little more cautious in approaching +the place where they first caught sight of us, since we might have known +that they would remain on the watch near that spot. + +But at any rate they had seen us, and it was now too late to think of +taking them again by surprise. + +They on their part had a surprise in store for us, which was greater +than any we had yet experienced. + +We saw their ships assembling once more far down in the atmosphere beneath +us, and we thought we could detect evidences of something unusual going +on upon the surface of the planet. + +Suddenly from the ships, and from various points on the ground beneath, +there rose high in the air, and carried by invisible currents in every +direction, immense volumes of black smoke, or vapor, which blotted out +of sight everything below them! + +South, north, west and east, the curtain of blackness rapidly spread, +until the whole face of the planet as far as our eyes could reach, +and the airships thronging under us, were all concealed from sight! + +Mars had played the game of the cuttlefish, which, when pursued by its +enemies, darkens the water behind it by a sudden outgush of inky fluid, +and thus escapes the eye of its foe. + + +The Great Smoke Cloud. + +Our Warriors Find the Martians to Be Foes Worth Fearing. + +The eyes of man had never beheld such a spectacle! + +Where a few minutes before the sunny face of a beautiful and populous +planet had been shining beneath us, there was now to be seen nothing but +black, billowing clouds, swelling up everywhere like the mouse-colored +smoke that pours from a great transatlantic liner when fresh coal has +just been heaped upon her fires. + +In some places the smoke spouted upward in huge jets to the height of +several miles; elsewhere it eddied in vast whirlpools of inky blackness. + +Not a glimpse of the hidden world beneath was anywhere to be seen. + + +Mars Wears Its War Mask. + +Mars had put on its war mask, and fearful indeed was the aspect of it! + +After the first pause of surprise the squadron quickly backed away +into the sky, rising rapidly, because, from one of the swirling eddies +beneath us the smoke began suddenly to pile itself up in an enormous +aerial mountain, whose peaks shot higher and higher, with apparently +increasing velocity, until they seemed about to engulf us with their +tumbling ebon masses. + +Unaware what the nature of this mysterious smoke might be, and fearing it +was something more than a shield for the planet, and might be destructive +to life, we fled before it, as before the onward sweep of a pestilence. + +Directly underneath the flagship, one of the aspiring smoke peaks grew +with most portentous swiftness, and, notwithstanding all our efforts, +in a little while it had enveloped us. + + +The Stifling Smoke. + +Several of us were standing on the deck of the electrical ship. We were +almost stifled by the smoke, and were compelled to take refuge within +the car, where, until the electric lights had been turned on, darkness +so black that it oppressed the strained eyeballs prevailed. + +But in this brief experience, terrifying though it was, we had learned +one thing. The smoke would kill by strangulation, but evidently there +was nothing especially poisonous in its nature. This fact might be of +use to us in our subsequent proceedings. + +"This spoils our plans," said the commander. "There is no use of +remaining here for the present; let us see how far this thing extends." + +At first we rose straight away to a height of 200 or 300 miles, thus +passing entirely beyond the sensible limits of the atmosphere, and far +above the highest point that the smoke could reach. + +From this commanding point of view our line of sight extended to an +immense distance over the surface of Mars in all directions. Everywhere +the same appearance; the whole planet was evidently covered with the +smoke. + + +A Wonderful System. + +A complete telegraphic system evidently connected all the strategic points +upon Mars, so that, at a signal from the central station, the wonderful +curtain could be instantaneously drawn over the entire face of the planet. + +In order to make certain that no part of Mars remained uncovered, +we dropped down again nearer to the upper level of the smoke clouds, +and then completely circumnavigated the planet. It was thought possible +that on the night side no smoke would be found and that it would be +practicable for us to make a descent there. + +But when we had arrived on that side of Mars which was turned away from +the sun, we no longer saw beneath us, as we had done on our previous visit +to the night hemisphere of the planet, brilliant groups and clusters of +electric lights beneath us. All was dark. + +In fact, so completely did the great shell of smoke conceal the planet +that the place occupied by the latter seemed to be simply a vast black +hole in the firmament. + +The sun was hidden behind it, and so dense was the smoke that even the +solar rays were unable to penetrate it, and consequently there was no +atmospheric halo visible around the concealed planet. + +All the sky around was filled with stars, but their countless host +suddenly disappeared when our eyes turned in the direction of Mars. The +great black globe blotted them out without being visible itself. + + +Attempts to Attack Baffled. + +"Apparently we can do nothing here," said Mr. Edison. "Let us return to +the daylight side." + +When we had arrived near the point where we had been when the wonderful +phenomenon first made its appearance, we paused, and then, at the +suggestion of one of the chemists, dropped close to the surface of the +smoke curtain which had now settled down into comparative quiescence, +in order that we might examine it a little more critically. + +The flagship was driven into the smoke cloud so deeply that for a minute +we were again enveloped in night. A quantity of the smoke was entrapped +in a glass jar. + + +Examining the Smoke. + +Rising again into the sunlight, the chemists began an examination of +the constitution of the smoke. They were unable to determine its precise +character, but they found that its density was astonishingly slight. This +accounted for the rapidity with which it had risen, and the great height +which it had attained in the comparatively light atmosphere of Mars. + +"It is evident," said one of the chemists, "that this smoke does not +extend down to the surface of the planet. From what the astronomers +say as to the density of the air on Mars, it is probable that a clear +space of at least a mile in height exists between the surface of Mars +and the lower limit of the smoke curtain. Just how deep the latter is +we can only determine by experiment, but it would not be surprising if +the thickness of this great blanket which Mars has thrown around itself +should prove to be a quarter or half a mile." + +"Anyhow," said one of the United States army officers, "they have dodged +out of sight, and I don't see why we should not dodge in and get at +them. If there is clear air under the smoke, as you think, why couldn't +the ships dart down through the curtain and come to a close tackle with +the Martians?" + +"It would not do at all," said the commander. "We might simply run +ourselves into an ambush. No; we must stay outside, and if possible +fight them from here." + + +Strategic Measures Employed. + +"They can't keep this thing up forever," said the officer. "Perhaps the +smoke will clear off after a while, and then we will have a chance." + +"Not much hope of that, I am afraid," said the chemist who had originally +spoken. "This smoke could remain floating in the atmosphere for weeks, +and the only wonder to me is how they ever expect to get rid of it, when +they think their enemies have gone and they want some sunshine again." + +"All that is mere speculation," said Mr. Edison; "let us get at something +practical. We must do one of two things: either attack them shielded +as they are, or wait until the smoke has cleared away. The only other +alternative, that of plunging blindly down through the curtain, is at +present not to be thought of." + +"I am afraid we couldn't stand a very long siege ourselves," suddenly +remarked the chief commissary of the expedition, who was one of the +members of the flagship's company. + +"What do you mean by that?" asked Mr. Edison sharply, turning to him. + +"Well, sir, you see," said the commissary, stammering, "our provisions +wouldn't hold out." + +"Wouldn't hold out?" exclaimed Mr. Edison, in astonishment, "why, we +have compressed and prepared provisions enough to last this squadron +for three years." + +"We had, sir, when we left the earth," said the commissary, in apparent +distress, "but I am sorry to say that something has happened." + +"Something has happened! Explain yourself!" + + +Accident to the Stores. + +"I don't know what it is, but on inspecting some of the compressed stores, +a short time ago, I found that a large number of them were destroyed, +whether through leakage of air, or what, I am unable to say. I sent +to inquire as to the condition of the stores in the other ships in the +squadron and I found that a similar condition of things prevailed there." + +"The fact is," continued the commissary, "we have only provisions enough, +in proper condition, for about ten days' consumption." + +"After that we shall have to forage on the country, then," said the +army officer. + +"Why did you not report this before?" demanded Mr. Edison. + +"Because, sir," was the reply, "the discovery was not made until after we +arrived close to Mars, and since then there has been so much excitement +that I have hardly had time to make an investigation and find out what +the precise condition of affairs is; besides, I thought we should land +upon the planet and then we would be able to renew our supplies." + +I closely watched Mr. Edison's expression in order to see how this +most alarming news would affect him. Although he fully comprehended its +fearful significance, he did not lose his self-command. + + +We Must Act Quickly. + +"Well, well," he said, "then it will become necessary for us to act +quickly. Evidently we cannot wait for the smoke to clear off, even +if there were any hope of its clearing. We must get down on Mars now, +having conquered it first if possible, but anyway we must get down there, +in order to avoid starvation." + +"It is very lucky," he continued, "that we have ten days' supply left. A +great deal can be done in ten days." + +A few hours after this the commander called me aside, and said: + +"I have thought it all out. I am going to reconstruct some of our +disintegrators, so as to increase their range and their power. Then I +am going to have some of the astronomers of the expedition locate for +me the most vulnerable points upon the planet, where the population is +densest and a hard blow would have the most effect, and I am going to +pound away at them, through the smoke, and see whether we cannot draw +them out of their shell." + + +A Plan Arranged. + +With his expert assistants Mr. Edison set to work at once to transform +a number of the disintegrators into still more formidable engines of +the same description. One of these new weapons having been distributed +to each of the members of the squadron, the next problem was to decide +where to strike. + +When we first examined the surface of the planet it will be remembered +that we had regarded the Lake of the Sun and its environs as being +the very focus of the planet. While it might also be a strong point +of defence, yet an effective blow struck there would go to the enemy's +heart and be more likely to bring the Martians promptly to terms than +anything else. + +The first thing, then, was to locate the Lake of the Sun on the +smoke-hidden surface of the planet beneath us. This was a problem that +the astronomers could readily solve. + +Fortunately, in the flagship itself there was one of the star-gazing +gentlemen who had made a specialty of the study of Mars. That planet, as I +have already explained, was now in opposition to the earth. The astronomer +had records in his pocket which enabled him, by a brief calculation, +to say just when the Lake of the Sun would be on the meridian of Mars +as seen from the earth. Our chronometers still kept terrestrial time; +we knew the exact number of days and hours that had elapsed since we had +departed, and so it was possible by placing ourselves in a line between +the earth and Mars to be practically in the situation of an astronomer +in his observatory at home. + +Then it was only necessary to wait for the hour when the Lake of the Sun +would be upon the meridian of Mars in order to be certain what the true +direction of the latter from the flagship was. + +Having thus located the heart of our foe behind its shield of darkness, +we prepared to strike. + + +The Smoke Must Be Shattered. + +"I have ascertained," said Mr. Edison, "the vibration period of the smoke, +so that it will be easy for us to shatter it into invisible atoms. You +will see that every stroke of the disintegrators will open a hole through +the black curtain. If their field of destruction could be made wide +enough, we might in that manner clear away the entire covering of smoke, +but all that we shall really be able to do will be to puncture it with +holes, which will, perhaps, enable us to catch glimpses of the surface +beneath. In that manner we may be able more effectually to concentrate +our fire upon the most vulnerable points." + + +The Blow--And Its Effect. + +Everything being prepared, and the entire squadron having assembled +to watch the effect of the opening blow and be ready to follow it up, +Mr. Edison himself poised one of the new disintegrators, which was too +large to be carried in the hand, and, following the direction indicated +by the calculations of the astronomers, launched the vibratory discharge +into the ocean of blackness beneath. + + +A Terrible Encounter. + +The Martians and Our Warriors Fight a Battle to the Death. + +Instantly there opened beneath us a huge well-shaped hole, from which +the black clouds rolled violently back in every direction. + +Through this opening we saw the gleam of brilliant lights beneath. + +We had made a hit. + +"It is the Lake of the Sun!" shouted the astronomer who furnished the +calculation by means of which its position had been discovered. + +And, indeed, it was the Lake of the Sun. While the opening in the clouds +made by the discharge was not wide, yet it sufficed to give us a view +of a portion of the curving shore of the lake, which was ablaze with +electric lights. + +Whether our shot had done any damage, beyond making the circular opening +in the cloud curtain, we could not tell, for almost immediately the +surrounding black smoke masses billowed in to fill up the hole. + +But in the brief glimpse we had caught sight of two or three large air +ships hovering in space above that part of the Lake of the Sun and its +bordering city which we had beheld. It seemed to me in the brief glance +I had that one ship had been touched by the discharge and was wandering +in an erratic manner. But the clouds closed in so rapidly that I not +be certain. + + +Penetrating the Cloud. + +Anyhow, we had demonstrated one thing, and that was that we could +penetrate the cloud shield and reach the Martians in their hiding place. + +It had been prearranged that the first discharge from the flagship +should be a signal for the concentration of the fire of all the other +ships upon the same spot. + +A little hesitation, however, occurred, and a half a minute had elapsed +before the disintegrators from the other members of the squadron were +got into play. + + +The Martians' Artificial Day. + +Then, suddenly we saw an immense commotion in the cloud beneath us. It +seemed to be beaten and hurled in every direction and punctured like +a sieve with nearly a hundred great circular holes. Through these gaps +we could see clearly a large region of the planet's surface, with many +airships floating above it, and the blaze of innumerable electric lights +illuminating it. The Martians had created an artificial day under the +curtain. + +This time there was no question that the blow had been effective. Four +or five of the airships, partially destroyed, tumbled headlong toward +the ground, while even from our great distance there was unmistakable +evidence that fearful execution had been done among the crowded structures +along the shore of the Lake. + +As each of our ships possessed but one of the new disintegrators, and +since a minute or so was required to adjust them for a fresh discharge, we +remained for a little while inactive after delivering the blow. Meanwhile +the cloud curtain, though rent to shreds by the concentrated discharge +of the disintegrators, quickly became a uniform black sheet again, +hiding everything. + +We had just had time to congratulate ourselves on the successful opening +of our bombardment, and the disintegrator of the flagship was poised +for another discharge, when suddenly out of the black expanse beneath, +quivered immense electric beams, clear cut and straight as bars of steel, +but dazzling our eyes with unendurable brilliance. + +It was the reply of the Martians to our attack. + + +Devastating Our Army. + +Three or four of the electrical ships were seriously damaged, and one, +close beside the flagship, changed color, withered and collapsed, with the +same sickening phenomena that had made our hearts shudder when the first +disaster of this kind occurred during our brief battle over the asteroid. + +Another score of our comrades were gone, and yet we had hardly begun +the fight. + +Glancing at the other ships, which had been injured, I saw that the +damage to them was not so serious, although they were evidently hors de +combat for the present. + +Our fighting blood was now boiling and we did not stop long to count +our losses. + +"Into the smoke!" was the signal, and the ninety and more electric ships +which still remained in condition for action immediately shot downward. + + + + +Chapter XI. + + +A Dash Into the Smoke. + +It was a wild plunge. We kept off the decks while rushing through the +blinding smoke, but the instant we emerged below, where we found ourselves +still a mile above the ground, we were out again, ready to strike. + +I have simply a confused recollection of flashing lights beneath, and a +great, dark arch of clouds above, out of which our ships seemed dropping +on all sides, and then the fray burst upon and around us, and no man +could see or notice anything except by half-comprehended glances. + +Almost in an instant, it seemed, a swarm of airships surrounded us, +while from what, for lack of a more descriptive name, I shall call +the forts about the Lake of the Sun, leaped tongues of electric fire, +before which some of our ships were driven like bits of flaming paper +in a high wind, gleaming for a moment, then curling up and gone forever! + + +Never Was Such a Conflict. + +It was an awful sight; but the battle fever was raging in us, and we, +on our part, were not idle. + +Every man carried a disintegrator, and these hand instruments, together +with those of heavier calibre on the ships poured their resistless +vibrations in every direction through the quivering air. + +The airships of the Martians were destroyed by the score, but yet they +flocked upon us thicker and faster. + +We dropped lower and our blows fell upon the forts, and upon the +widespread city bordering the Lake of the Sun. We almost entirely +silenced the fire of one of the forts; but there were forty more in full +action within reach of our eyes! + +Some of the metallic buildings were partly unroofed by the disintegrators +and some had their walls riddled and fell with thundering crashes, whose +sound rose to our ears above the hellish din of battle. I caught glimpses +of giant forms struggling in the ruins and rushing wildly through the +streets, but there was no time to see anything clearly. + + +The Flagship Charmed! + +Our flagship seemed charmed. A crowd of airships hung upon it like a +swarm of angry bees, and, at times, one could not see for the lightning +strokes--yet we escaped destruction, while ourselves dealing death on +every hand. + +It was a glorious fight, but it was not war; no, it was not war. We really +had no more chance of ultimate success amid that multitude of enemies +than a prisoner running the gauntlet in a crowd of savages has of escape. + +A conviction of the hopelessness of the contest finally forced itself +upon our minds, and the shattered squadron, which had kept well together +amid the storm of death, was signalled to retreat. + +Shaking off their pursuers, as a hunted bear shakes off the dogs, sixty +of the electrical ships rose up through the clouds where more than ninety +had gone down! + +Madly we rushed upward through the vast curtain and continued our flight +to a great elevation, far beyond the reach of the awful artillery of +the enemy. + + +Forced to Retreat. + +Looking back it seemed the very mouth of hell that we had escaped from. + +The Martians did not for an instant cease their fire, even when we +were far beyond their reach. With furious persistence they blazed away +through the cloud curtains, and the vivid spikes of lightning shuddered +so swiftly on one another's track that they were like a flaming halo of +electric lances around the frowning helmet of the War Planet. + +But after a while they stopped their terrific sparring, and once more +the immense globe assumed the appearance of a vast ball of black smoke, +still wildly agitated by the recent disturbance, but exhibiting no +opening through which we could discern what was going on beneath. + +Evidently the Martians believed they had finished us. + + +Despair Seizes Us. + +At no time since the beginning of our adventure had it appeared to me +quite so hopeless, reckless and mad as it seemed at present. + +We had suffered fearful losses, and yet what had we accomplished? We had +won two fights on the asteroid, it is true, but then we had overwhelming +numbers on our side. + +Now we were facing millions on their own ground, and our very first +assault had resulted in a disastrous repulse, with the loss of at least +thirty electric ships and 600 men! + +Evidently we could not endure this sort of thing. We must find some +other means of assailing Mars or else give up the attempt. + +But the latter was not to be thought of. It was no mere question of +self-pride, however, and no consideration of the tremendous interests +at stake, which would compel us to continue our apparently vain attempt. + + +No Hope in Sight. + +Our provisions could last only a few days longer. The supply would not +carry us one-quarter of the way back to the earth, and we must therefore +remain here and literally conquer or die. + +In this extremity a consultation of the principal officers was called +upon the deck of the flagship. + +Here the suggestion was made that we should attempt to effect by strategy +what we had failed to do by force. + +An old army officer who had served in many wars against the cunning +Indians of the West, Colonel Alonzo Jefferson Smith, was the author of +this suggestion. + +"Let us circumvent them," he said. "We can do it in this way. The chances +are that all of the available fighting force of the planet Mars is now +concentrated on this side and in the neighborhood of the Lake of the Sun." + + +Formulating a "Last Hope." + +"Possibly, by some kind of X-ray business, they can only see us dimly +through the clouds, and if we get a little further away they will not +be able to see us at all." + +"Now, I suggest that a certain number of the electrical ships be withdrawn +from the squadron to a great distance, while the remainder stay here; +or, better still, approach to a point just beyond the reach of those +streaks of lightning, and begin a bombardment of the clouds without +paying any attention to whether the strokes reach through the clouds +and do any damage or not." + +"This will induce the Martians to believe that we are determined to +press our attack at this point." + +"In the meantime, while these ships are raising a hullabaloo on this +side of the planet, and drawing their fire, as much as possible, without +running into any actual danger, let the others which have been selected +for the purpose, sail rapidly around to the other side of Mars and take +them in the rear." + +It was not perfectly clear what Colonel Smith intended to do after the +landing had been effected in the rear of the Martians, but still there +seemed a good deal to be said for his suggestion, and it would, at any +rate, if carried out, enable us to learn something about the condition +of things on the planet, and perhaps furnish us with a hint as to how +we could best proceed in the further prosecution of the siege. + +Accordingly it was resolved that about twenty ships should be told off +for this movement, and Colonel Smith himself was placed in command. + +At my desire I accompanied the new commander in his flagship. + + +Flank Movements. + +Rising to a considerable elevation in order that there might be no risk +of being seen, we began our flank movement while the remaining ships, +in accordance with the understanding, dropped nearer the curtain of +cloud and commenced a bombardment with the disintegrators, which caused +a tremendous commotion in the clouds, opening vast gaps in them, and +occasionally revealing a glimpse of the electric lights on the planet, +although it was evident that the vibratory currents did not reach the +ground. The Martians immediately replied to this renewed attack, and +again the cloud-covered globe bristled with lightning, which flashed so +fiercely out of the blackness below that the stoutest hearts among us +quailed, although we were situated well beyond the danger. + +But this sublime spectacle rapidly vanished from our eyes when, having +attained a proper elevation, we began our course toward the opposite +hemisphere of the planet. + +We guided our flight by the stars, and from our knowledge of the rotation +period of Mars, and the position which the principal points on its +surface must occupy at certain hours, we were able to tell what part of +the planet lay beneath us. + +Having completed our semi-circuit, we found ourselves on the night side +of Mars, and determined to lose no time in executing our coup. But it +was deemed best that an exploration should first be made by a single +electrical ship, and Colonel Smith naturally wished to undertake the +adventure with his own vessel. + + +Dropping to the Planet. + +We dropped rapidly through the black cloud curtain, which proved to be at +least half a mile in thickness, and then suddenly emerged, as if suspended +at the apex of an enormous dome, arching above the surface of the planet +a mile beneath us, which sparkled on all sides with innumerable lights. + +These lights were so numerous and so brilliant as to produce a faint +imitation of daylight, even at our immense height above the ground, +and the dome of cloud out of which we had emerged assumed a soft fawn +color that produced an indescribably beautiful effect. + +For a moment we recoiled from our undertaking, and arrested the motion +of the electric ship. + +But on closely examining the surface beneath us we found that there +was a broad region, where comparatively few bright lights were to be +seen. From my knowledge of the geography of Mars I knew that this was a +part of the Land of Ausonia, situated a few hundred miles northeast of +Hellas, where we had first seen the planet. + +Evidently it was not so thickly populated as some of the other parts of +Mars, and its comparative darkness was an attraction to us. We determined +to approach within a few hundred feet of the ground with the electric +ship, and then, in case no enemies appeared, to visit the soil itself. + +"Perhaps we shall see or hear something that will be of use to us," +said Colonel Smith, "and for the purposes of this first reconnaissance +it is better that we should be few in number. The other ships will await +our return, and at any rate we shall not be gone long." + +As our car approached the ground we found ourselves near the tops of +some lofty trees. + +"This will do," said Colonel Smith, to the electrical steersman. "Stay +right here." + +He and I then lowered ourselves into the branches of the trees, each +carrying a small disintegrator, and cautiously clambered down to the +ground. + + +Landing On Mars. + +We believed we were the first of the descendants of Adam to set foot on +the planet of Mars. + + +An Experience On Mars. + +The Great Planet Exhibits Its Wonders to Our Warriors. + +At first we suffered somewhat from the effects of the rare atmosphere. It +was so lacking in density that it resembled the air on the summits of +the loftiest terrestrial mountains. + +Having reached the foot of the tree in safety, we lay down for a moment +on the ground to recover ourselves and to become accustomed to our new +surroundings. + +A thrill, born half of wonder, half of incredulity, ran through me at the +touch of the soil of Mars. Here was I, actually on that planet, which +had seemed so far away, so inaccessible, and so full of mysteries when +viewed from the earth. And yet, surrounding me, were things--gigantic, +it is true--but still resembling and recalling the familiar sights of +my own world. + +After a little while our lungs became accustomed to the rarity of the +atmosphere and we experienced a certain stimulation in breathing. + + +Starting on our Travels. + +We then got upon our feet and stepped out from under the shadow of the +gigantic tree. High above we could faintly see our electrical ship, +gently swaying in the air close to the treetop. + +There were no electric lights in our immediate neighborhood, but we +noticed that the whole surface of the planet around us was gleaming +with them, producing an effect like the glow of a great city seen from +a distance at night. The glare was faintly reflected from the vast dome +of clouds above, producing the general impression of a moonlight night +upon the earth. + +It was a wonderfully quiet and beautiful spot where we had come down. The +air had a delicate feel and a bracing temperature, while a soft breeze +soughed through the leaves of the tree above our heads. + +Not far away was the bank of a canal, bordered by a magnificent avenue +shaded by a double row of immense umbrageous trees. + +We approached the canal, and, getting upon the road, turned to the left +to make an exploration in that direction. The shadow of the trees falling +upon the roadway produced a dense gloom, in the midst of which we felt +that we should be safe, unless the Martians had eyes like those of cats. + + +An Alarming Encounter. + +As we pushed along, our hearts, I confess, beating a little quickly, +a shadow stirred in front of us. + +Something darker than the night itself approached. + +As it drew near it assumed the appearance of an enormous dog, as tall +as an ox, which ran swiftly our way with a threatening motion of its +head. But before it could even utter a snarl the whirr of Colonel Smith's +disintegrator was heard and the creature vanished in the shadow. + +"Gracious, did you ever see such a beast?" said the Colonel. "Why, +he was as big as a grizzly." + +"The people he belonged to must be near by," I said. "Very likely he +was a watch on guard." + +"But I see no signs of a habitation." + +"True, but you observe there is a thick hedge on the side of the road +opposite the canal. If we get through that perhaps we shall catch sight +of something." + + +A Palace in View. + +Cautiously we pushed our way through the hedge, which was composed +of shrubs as large as small trees, and very thick at the bottom, and, +having traversed it, found ourselves in a great meadow-like expanse which +might have been a lawn. At a considerable distance, in the midst of a +clump of trees, a large building towered skyward, its walls of some red +metal, gleaming like polished copper in the soft light that fell from +the cloud dome. + +There were no lights around the building itself, and we saw nothing +corresponding to windows on that side which faced us, but toward the +right a door was evidently open, and out of this streamed a brilliant +shaft of illumination, which lay bright upon the lawn, then crossed the +highway through an opening in the hedge, and gleamed on the water of +the canal beyond. + +Where we stood the ground had evidently been recently cleared, and there +was no obstruction, but as we crept closer to the house--for our curiosity +had now become irresistible--we found ourselves crawling through grass so +tall that if we had stood erect it would have risen well above our heads. + + +Taking Precautions. + +"This affords good protection," said Colonel Smith, recalling his +adventures on the Western plains. "We can get close in to the Indians--I +beg pardon, I mean the Martians--without being seen." + +Heavens, what an adventure was this! To be crawling about in the night +on the face of another world and venturing, perhaps, into the jaws of +a danger which human experience could not measure! + +But on we went, and in a little while we had emerged from the tall grass +and were somewhat startled by the discovery that we had got close to +the wall of the building. + +Carefully we crept around toward the open door. + +As we neared it we suddenly stopped as if we had been stricken with +instantaneous paralysis. + +Out of the door floated, on the soft night air, the sweetest music I +have ever listened to. + + +A Monstrous Surprise. + +It carried me back in an instant to my own world. It was the music of +the earth. It was the melodious expression of a human soul. It thrilled +us both to the heart's core. + +"My God!" exclaimed Colonel Smith. "What can that be? Are we dreaming, +or where in heaven's name are we?" + +Still the enchanting harmony floated out upon the air. + +What the instrument was I could not tell; but the sound seemed more nearly +to resemble that of a violin than of anything else I could think of. + + +Magnificent Music. + +When we first heard it the strains were gentle, sweet, caressing and +full of an infinite depth of feeling, but in a little while its tone +changed, and it became a magnificent march, throbbing upon the air in +stirring notes that set our hearts beating in unison with its stride +and inspiring in us a courage that we had not felt before. + +Then it drifted into a wild fantasia, still inexpressibly sweet, and from +that changed again into a requiem or lament, whose mellifluous tide of +harmony swept our thoughts back again to the earth. + +"I can endure this no longer," I said. "I must see who it is that makes +that music. It is the product of a human heart and must come from the +touch of human fingers." + +We carefully shifted our position until we stood in the blaze of light +that poured out of the door. + +The doorway was an immense arched opening, magnificently ornamented, +rising to a height of, I should say, not less than twenty or twenty-five +feet and broad in proportion. The door itself stood widely open and it, +together with all of its fittings and surroundings, was composed of the +same beautiful red metal. + + +A Beautiful Girl! + +Stepping out a little way into the light I could see within the door +an immense apartment, glittering on all sides with metallic ornaments +and gems and lighted from the centre by a great chandelier of electric +candles. + +In the middle of the great floor, holding the instrument delicately +poised, and still awaking its ravishing voice, stood a figure, the sight +of which almost stopped my breath. + +It was a slender sylph of a girl! + +A girl of my own race: a human being here upon the planet Mars! + +Her hair was loosely coiled and she was attired in graceful white drapery. + +"By ----!" cried Colonel Smith, "she's human!" + + + + +Chapter XII. + + +Still the bewildering strains of the music came to our ears, and yet we +stood there unperceived, though in the full glare of the chandelier. + +The girl's face was presented in profile. It was exquisite in beauty, +pale, delicate with a certain pleading sadness which stirred us to +the heart. + +An element of romance and a touch of personal interest such as we had +not looked for suddenly entered into our adventure. + +Colonel Smith's mind still ran back to the perils of the plains. + + +A Human Prisoner. + +"She is a prisoner," he said, "and by the Seven Devils of Dona Ana we'll +not leave her here. But where are the hellhounds themselves?" + +Our attention had been so absorbed by the sight of the girl that we had +scarcely thought of looking to see if there was any one else in the room. + +Glancing beyond her, I now perceived sitting in richly decorated chairs +three or four gigantic Martians. They were listening to the music as +if charmed. + +The whole story told itself. This girl, if not their slave, was at any +rate under their control, and she was furnishing entertainment for them +by her musical skill. The fact that they could find pleasure in music +so beautiful was, perhaps, an indication that they were not really as +savage as they seemed. + +Yet our hearts went out to the girl, and were turned against them with +an uncontrollable hatred. + +They were of the same remorseless race with those who so lately had lain +waste our fair earth and who would have completed its destruction had +not Providence interfered in our behalf. + +Singularly enough, although we stood full in the light, they had not +yet seen us. + + +Martians Guarding Her. + +Suddenly the girl, moved by what impulse I know not, turned her face in +our direction. Her eyes fell upon us. She paused abruptly in her playing, +and her instrument dropped to the floor. Then she uttered a cry, and +with extended arms ran toward us. + +But when she was near she stopped abruptly, the glad look fading from +her face, and started back with terror-stricken eyes, as if, after all, +she had found us not what she expected. + +Then for an instant she looked more intently at us, her countenance +cleared once more, and, overcome by some strange emotion, her eyes filled +with tears, and, drawing a little nearer, she stretched forth her hands +to us appealingly. + +Meanwhile the Martians had started to their feet. They looked down upon +us in astonishment. We were like pigmies to them; like little gnomes +which had sprung out of the ground at their feet. + +One of the giants seized some kind of a weapon and started forward with +a threatening gesture. + + +The Girl Appeals to Us. + +The girl sprang to my side and grasped my arm with a cry of fear. + +This seemed to throw the Martian into a sudden frenzy, and he raised +his arms to strike. + +But the disintegrator was in my hand. + +My rage was equal to his. + +I felt the concentrated vengeance of the earth quivering through me as +I pressed the button of the disintegrator and, sweeping it rapidly up +and down, saw the gigantic form that confronted me melt into nothingness. + +There were three other giants in the room, and they had been on the point +of following up the attack of their comrade. But when he disappeared +from before their eyes, they paused, staring in amazement at the place +where, but a moment before, he had stood, but where now only the metal +weapon he had wielded lay on the floor. + +At first they started back, and seemed on the point of fleeing; then, +with a second glance, perceiving again how small and insignificant we +were, all three together advanced upon us. + +The girl sank trembling on her knees. + +In the meantime I had readjusted my disintegrator for another discharge, +and Colonel Smith stood by me with the light of battle upon his face. + +"Sweep the discharge across the three," I exclaimed. "Otherwise there +will be one left and before we can fire again he will crush us." + + +The Martians Are Killed. + +The whirr of the two instruments sounded simultaneously, and with a quick, +horizontal motion we swept the lines of force around in such a manner +that all three of the Martians were caught by the vibratory streams and +actually cut in two. + +Long gaps were opened in the wall of the room behind them, where the +destroying currents had passed, for with wrathful fierceness, we had +run the vibrations through half a gamut on the index. + +The victory was ours. There were no other enemies, that we could see, +in the house. + +Yet at any moment others might make their appearance, and what more we +did must be done quickly. + +The girl evidently was as much amazed as the Martians had been by the +effects which we had produced. Still she was not terrified, and continued +to cling to us and to glance beseechingly into our faces, expressing in +her every look and gesture the fact that she knew we were of her own race. + +But clearly she could not speak our tongue, for the words she uttered +were unintelligible. + +Colonel Smith, whose long experience in Indian warfare had made him +intensely practical, did not lose his military instincts, even in the +midst of events so strange. + +"It occurs to me," he said, "that we have got a chance at the enemies' +supplies. Suppose we begin foraging right here. Let's see if this girl +can't show us the commissary department." + +He immediately began to make signs to the girl to indicate that he +was hungry. + + +The Girl Understands Us. + +A look of comprehension flitted over her features, and, seizing our +hands, she led us into an adjoining apartment and pointed to a number +of metallic boxes. One of these she opened, taking out of it a kind +of cake, which she placed between her teeth, breaking off a very small +portion and then handing it to us, motioning that we should eat, but at +the same time showing us that we ought to take only a small quantity. + +"Thank God! It's compressed food," said Colonel Smith. "I thought these +Martians with their wonderful civilization would be up to that. And +it's mighty lucky for us, because, without overburdening ourselves, +if we can find one or two more caches like this we shall be able to +reprovision the entire fleet. But we must get reinforcements before we +can take possession of the fodder." + + +The Prisoner Is Rescued. + +Accordingly we hurried out into the night, passed into the roadway, and, +taking the girl with us, ran as rapidly as possible to the foot of the +tree where we had made our descent. Then we signalled to the electric +ship to drop down to the level of the ground. + +This was quickly done, the girl was taken aboard, and a dozen men, under +our guidance, hastened back to the house, where we loaded ourselves with +the compressed provisions and conveyed them to the ship. + + +Beautiful Girl Prisoner. + +Establishing the Identity of the Martians' Captive. + +On this second trip to the mysterious house we had discovered another +apartment containing a very large number of the metallic boxes, filled +with compressed food. + +"By Jove, it is a store house," said Colonel Smith. "We must get more +force and carry it all off. Gracious, but this is a lucky night. We can +reprovision the whole fleet from this room." + +"I thought it singular," I said, "that with the exception of the girl +whom we have rescued no women were seen in the house. Evidently the +lights over yonder indicate the location of a considerable town, and it +is quite probable that this building, without windows, and so strongly +constructed, is the common storehouse, where the provisions for the town +are kept. The fellows we killed must have been the watchmen in charge +of the storehouse, and they were treating themselves to a little music +from the slave girl when we happened to come upon them." + + +A New Food Supply. + +With the utmost haste several of the other electrical ships, waiting +above the cloud curtain, were summoned to descend, and, with more than a +hundred men, we returned to the building, and this time almost entirely +exhausted its stores, each man carrying as much as he could stagger under. + +Fortunately our proceedings had been conducted without much noise, +and the storehouse being situated at a considerable distance from other +buildings, none of the Martians, except those who would never tell the +story, had known of our arrival or of our doings on the planet. + +"Now, we'll return and surprise Edison with the news," said Colonel Smith. + +Our ship was the last to pass up through the clouds, and it was a strange +sight to watch the others as one after another they rose toward the +great dome, entered it, though from below it resembled a solid vault of +grayish-pink marble, and disappeared. + + +Sunshine Again. + +We quickly followed them, and having penetrated the enormous curtain, +were considerably surprised on emerging at the upper side to find that +the sun was shining brilliantly upon us. It will be remembered that it +was night on this side of Mars when we went down, but our adventure had +occupied several hours, and now Mars had so far turned upon its axis +that the portion of its surface over which we were had come around into +the sunlight. + +We knew that the squadron which we had left besieging the Lake of the Sun +must also have been carried around in a similar manner, passing into the +night while the side of the planet where we were was emerging into day. + +Our shortest way back would be by travelling westward, because then +we should be moving in a direction opposite to that in which the +planet rotated, and the main squadron, sharing that rotation, would be +continually moving in our direction. + +But to travel westward was to penetrate once more into the night side +of the planet. + +The prows, if I may so call them, of our ships were accordingly turned +in the direction of the vast shadow which Mars was invisibly projecting +into space behind it, and on entering that shadow the sun disappeared +from our eyes, and once more the huge hidden globe beneath us became a +black chasm among the stars. + +Now that we were in the neighborhood of a globe capable of imparting +considerable weight to all things under the influence of its attraction +that peculiar condition which I have before described as existing in +the midst of space, where there was neither up nor down for us, had +ceased. Here where we had weight "up" and "down" had resumed their old +meanings. "Down" was toward the centre of Mars, and "up" was away from +that centre. + + +The Two Moons of Mars. + +Standing on the deck, and looking overhead as we swiftly ploughed our +smooth way at a great height through the now imperceptible atmosphere +of the planet, I saw the two moons of Mars meeting in the sky exactly +above us. + +Before our arrival at Mars, there had been considerable discussion among +the learned men as to the advisability of touching at one of their moons, +and when the discovery was made that our provisions were nearly exhausted, +it had been suggested that the Martian satellites might furnish us with +an additional supply. + +But it had appeared a sufficient reply to this suggestion that the moons +of Mars are both insignificant bodies, not much larger than the asteroid +we had fallen in with, and that there could not possibly be any form of +vegetation or other edible products upon them. + +This view having prevailed, we had ceased to take an interest in the +satellites, further than to regard them as objects of great curiosity +on account of their motions. + +The nearer of these moons, Phobos, is only 3,700 miles from the surface +of Mars, and we watched it travelling around the planet three times in +the course of every day. The more distant one, Deimos, 12,500 miles away, +required considerably more than one day to make its circuit. + +It now happened that the two had come into conjunction, as I have said, +just over our heads, and, throwing myself down on my back on the deck +of the electrical ship, for a long time I watched the race between the +two satellites, until Phobos, rapidly gaining upon the other, had left +its rival far behind. + +Suddenly Colonel Smith, who took very little interest in these +astronomical curiosities, touched me, and pointing ahead, said: + +"There they are." + + +Rejoining the Fleet. + +I looked, and sure enough there were the signal lights of the principal +squadron, and as we gazed we occasionally saw, darting up from the vast +cloud mass beneath, an electric bayonet, fiercely thrust into the sky, +which showed that the siege was still actively going on, and that the +Martians were jabbing away at their invisible enemies outside the curtain. + +In a short time the two fleets had joined, and Colonel Smith and I +immediately transferred ourselves to the flagship. + +"Well, what have you done?" asked Mr. Edison, while others crowded around +with eager attention. + +"If we have not captured their provision train," said Colonel Smith, "we +have done something just about as good. We have foraged on the country, +and have collected a supply that I reckon will last this fleet for at +least a month." + +"What's that? What's that?" + +"It's just what I say," and Colonel Smith brought out of his pocket one +of the square cakes of compressed food. "Set your teeth in that, and see +what you think of it, but don't take too much, for it's powerful strong." + +"I say," he continued, "we have got enough of that stuff to last us all +for a month, but we've done more than that; we have got a surprise for +you that will make you open your eyes. Just wait a minute." + + +Caring for the Rescued Girl. + +Colonel Smith made a signal to the electrical ship which we had just +quitted to draw near. It came alongside, so that one could step from +its deck onto the flagship. Colonel Smith disappeared for a minute in +the interior of his ship, then re-emerged, leading the girl whom we had +found upon the planet. + +"Take her inside, quick," he said, "for she is not used to this thin air." + +In fact, we were at so great an elevation that the rarity of the +atmosphere now compelled us all to wear our air-tight suits, and the girl, +not being thus attired, would have fallen unconscious on the deck if we +had not instantly removed her to the interior of the car. + +There she quickly recovered from the effects of the deprivation of air +and looked about her, pale, astonished, but yet apparently without fear. + +Every motion of this girl convinced me that she not only recognized +us as members of her own race, but that she felt that her only hope +lay in our aid. Therefore, strange as we were to her in many respects, +nevertheless she did not think that she was in danger while among us. + +The circumstances under which we had found her were quickly explained. Her +beauty, her strange fate and the impenetrable mystery which surrounded +her excited universal admiration and wonder. + + +How Came She on Mars? + +"How did she get on Mars?" was the question that everybody asked, and +that nobody could answer. + +But while all were crowding around and overwhelming the poor girl with +their staring, suddenly she burst into tears, and then, with arms +outstretched in the same appealing manner which had so stirred our +sympathies when we first saw her in the house of the Martians, she broke +forth in a wild recitation, which was half a song and half a wail. + +As she went on I noticed that a learned professor of languages +from the University of Heidelberg was listening to her with intense +attention. Several times he appeared to be on the point of breaking in +with an exclamation. I could plainly see that he was becoming more and +more excited as the words poured from the girl's lips. Occasionally +he nodded and muttered, smiling to himself. Her song finished, the +girl sank half-exhausted upon the floor. She was lifted and placed in +a reclining position at the side of the car. + +Then the Heidelberg professor stepped to the centre of the car, in the +sight of all, and in a most impressive manner said: + +"Gentlemen, our sister." + +"I have her tongue recognized! The language that she speaks, the roots +of the great Indo-European, or Aryan stock, contains." + +"This girl, gentlemen, to the oldest family of the human race +belongs. Her language every tongue that now upon the earth is spoken +antedates. Convinced am I that it that great original speech is from +which have all the languages of the civilized world sprung." + +"How she here came, so many millions of miles from the earth, a great +mystery is. But it shall be penetrated, and it is from her own lips that +we the truth shall learn, because not difficult to us shall it be the +language that she speaks to acquire since to our own it is akin." + + +The Professor's Astonishing Statement. + +This announcement of the Heidelberg professor stirred us all most +profoundly. It not only deepened our interest in the beautiful girl +whom we had rescued, but, in a dim way, it gave us reason to hope that +we should yet discover some means of mastering the Martians by dealing +them a blow from within. + +It had been expected, the reader will remember, that the Martian whom we +had made prisoner on the asteroid, might be of use to us in a similar way, +and for that reason great efforts had been made to acquire his language, +and considerable progress had been effected in that direction. + +But from the moment of our arrival at Mars itself, and especially after +the battles began, the prisoner had resumed his savage and uncommunicative +disposition, and had seemed continually to be expecting that we would +fall victims to the prowess of his fellow beings, and that he would +be released. How an outlaw, such as he evidently was, who had been +caught in the act of robbing the Martian gold mines, could expect to +escape punishment on returning to his native planet it was difficult +to see. Nevertheless, so strong are the ties of race we could plainly +perceive that all his sympathies were for his own people. + +In fact, in consequence of his surly manner, and his attempts to escape, +he had been more strictly bound than before and to get him out of the +way had been removed from the flagship, which was already overcrowded, +and placed in one of the other electric ships, and this ship--as it +happened--was one of those which were lost in the great battle beneath +the clouds. So after all, the Martian had perished, by a vengeful stroke +launched from his native globe. + +But Providence had placed in our hands a far better interpreter than he +could ever have been. This girl of our own race would need no urging, +or coercion, on our part in order to induce her to reveal any secrets +of the Martians that might be useful in our further proceedings. + +But one thing was first necessary to be done. + +We must learn to talk with her. + + +Learning Her Language. + +But for the discovery of the store of provisions it would have been +impossible for us to spare the time needed to acquire the language of +the girl, but now that we had been saved from the danger of starvation, +we could prolong the siege for several weeks, employing the intervening +time to the best advantage. + +The terrible disaster which we had suffered in the great battle above +the Lake of the Sun, wherein we had lost nearly a third of our entire +force, had been quite sufficient to convince us that our only hope of +victory lay in dealing the Martians some paralyzing stroke that at one +blow would deprive them of the power of resistance. A victory that cost +us the loss of a single ship would be too dearly purchased now. + +How to deal that blow, and first of all, how to discover the means of +dealing it, were at present the uppermost problems in our minds. + +The only hope for us lay in the girl. + +If, as there was every reason to believe, she was familiar with the +ways and secrets of the Martians, then she might be able to direct our +efforts in such a manner as to render them effective. + +"We can spare two weeks for this," said Mr. Edison. "Can you fellows of +many tongues learn to talk with the girl in that time?" + +"We'll try it," said several. + +"It shall we do," cried the Heidelberg professor more confidently. + +"Then there is no use of staying here," continued the commander. "If we +withdraw the Martians will think that we have either given up the contest +or been destroyed. Perhaps they will then pull off their blanket and +let us see their face once more. That will give us a better opportunity +to strike effectively when we are again ready." + + +Preparing a Rendezvous. + +"Why not rendezvous at one of the moons?" said an astronomer. "Neither +of the two moons is of much consequence, as far as size goes, but still +it would serve as a sort of anchorage ground, and while there, if we were +careful to keep on the side away from Mars, we should escape detection." + +This suggestion was immediately accepted, and the squadron having been +signalled to assemble quickly bore off in the direction of the more +distant moon of Mars, Deimos. We knew that it was slightly smaller than +Phobos but its greater distance gave promise that it would better serve +our purpose of temporary concealment. The moons of Mars, like the earth's +moon, always keep the same face toward their master. By hiding behind +Deimos we should escape the prying eyes of the Martians, even when they +employed telescopes, and thus be able to remain comparatively close at +hand, ready to pounce down upon them again after we had obtained, as we +now had good hope of doing, information that would make us masters of +the situation. + + + + +Chapter XIII. + + +On One of Mars' Moons. + +Deimos proved to be, as we had expected, about six miles in diameter. Its +mean density is not very great so that the acceleration of gravity did +not exceed one two-thousandths of the earth's. Consequently the weight +of a man turning the scales at 150 pounds at home was here only about +one ounce. + +The result was that we could move about with greater ease than on the +golden asteroid, and some of the scientific men eagerly resumed their +interrupted experiments. + +But the attraction of this little satellite was so slight that we had to +be very careful not to move too swiftly in going about lest we should +involuntarily leave the ground and sail out into space, as, it will be +remembered, happened to the fugitives during the fight on the asteroid. + +Not only would such an adventure have been an uncomfortable experience, +but it might have endangered the success of our scheme. Our present +distance from the surface of Mars did not exceed 12,500 miles, and we had +reason to believe that Martians possessed telescopes powerful enough to +enable them not merely to see the electrical ships at such a distance, +but to also catch sight of us individually. Although the cloud curtain +still rested on the planet it was probable that the Martians would send +some of their airships up to its surface in order to determine what +our fate had been. From that point of vantage, with their exceedingly +powerful glasses, we feared that they might be able to detect anything +unusual upon or in the neighborhood of Deimos. + + +The Ships are Moored. + +Accordingly strict orders were given, not only that the ships should be +moored on that side of the satellite which is perpetually turned away +from Mars, but that, without orders, no one should venture around on +the other side of the little globe, or even on the edge of it, where he +might be seen in profile against the sky. + +Still, of course, it was essential that we, on our part, should keep a +close watch, and so a number of sentinels were selected, whose duty it +was to place themselves at the edge of Deimos, where they could peep over +the horizon, so to speak, and catch sight of the globe of our enemies. + +The distance of Mars from us was only about three times its own diameter, +consequently it shut off a large part of the sky, as viewed from our +position. + +But in order to see its whole surface it was necessary to go a little +beyond the edge of the satellite, on that side which faced Mars. At the +suggestion of Colonel Smith, who had so frequently stalked Indians that +devices of this kind readily occurred to his mind, the sentinels all +wore garments corresponding in color to that of the soil of the asteroid, +which was of a dark, reddish brown hue. This would tend to conceal them +from the prying eyes of the Martians. + +The commander himself frequently went around the edge of the planet in +order to take a look at Mars, and I often accompanied him. + + +Marvellous Discoveries. + +The Martians Were the Builders of the Great Sphinx and the +Pyramids. + +I shall never forget one occasion, when, lying flat on the ground, +and cautiously worming our way around on the side toward Mars, we had +just begun to observe it with our telescopes, when I perceived, against +the vast curtain of smoke, a small, glinting object, which I instantly +suspected to be an airship. + +I called Mr. Edison's attention to it, and we both agreed that it was, +undoubtedly, one of the Martians' aerial vessels, probably on the lookout +for us. + +A short time afterward a large number of airships made their appearance +at the upper surface of the clouds, moving to and fro, and although, +with our glasses, we could only make out the general form of the ships, +without being able to discern the Martians upon them, yet we had not the +least doubt but they were sweeping the sky in every direction in order +to determine whether we had been completely destroyed or had retreated +to a distance from the planet. + +Even when that side of Mars on which we were looking had passed into +night, we could still see the guardships circling above the clouds, +their presence being betrayed by the faint twinkling of the electric +lights that they bore. + +Finally, after about a week had passed, the Martians evidently made up +their minds that they had annihilated us, and that there was no longer +danger to be feared. Convincing evidence that they believed we should +not be heard from again was furnished when the withdrawal of the great +curtain of cloud began. + + +A Great Phenomenon. + +This phenomenon first manifested itself by a gradual thinning of the +vaporous shield, until, at length, we began to perceive the red surface +of the planet dimly shining through it. Thinner and rarer it became, and, +after the lapse of about eighteen hours, it had completely disappeared, +and the huge globe shone out again, reflecting the light of the sun +from its continents and oceans with a brightness that, in contrast with +the all-enveloping night to which we had so long been subjected, seemed +unbearable to our eyes. + +Indeed, so brilliant was the illumination which fell upon the surface of +Deimos that the number of persons who had been permitted to pass around +upon the exposed side of the satellite was carefully restricted. In +the blaze of light which had been suddenly poured upon us we felt +somewhat like malefactors unexpectedly enveloped in the illumination of +a policeman's dark lantern. + +Meanwhile, the object which we had in view in retreating to the satellite +was not lost sight of, and the services of the chief linguists of the +expedition were again called into use for the purpose of acquiring a +new language. The experiment was conducted in the flagship. The fact +that this time it was not a monster belonging to an utterly alien race +upon whom we were to experiment, but a beautiful daughter of our common +Mother Eve, added zest and interest as well as the most confident hopes +of success to the efforts of those who were striving to understand the +accents of her tongue. + + +Lingual Difficulties Ahead. + +Still the difficulty was very great, notwithstanding the conviction +of the professors that her language would turn out to be a form of the +great Indo-European speech from which the many tongues of civilized men +upon the earth had been derived. + +The learned men, to tell the truth, gave the poor girl no rest. For hours +at a time they would ply her with interrogations by voice and by gesture, +until, at length, wearied beyond endurance, she would fall asleep before +their faces. + +Then she would be left undisturbed for a little while, but the moment her +eyes opened again the merciless professors flocked about her once more, +and resumed the tedious iteration of their experiments. + +Our Heidelberg professor was the chief inquisitor, and he revealed +himself to us in a new and entirely unexpected light. No one could have +anticipated the depth and variety of his resources. He placed himself +in front of the girl and gestured and gesticulated, bowed, nodded, +shrugged his shoulders, screwed his face into an infinite variety of +expressions, smiled, laughed, scowled and accompanied all these dumb +shows with posturings, exclamations, queries, only half expressed in +words, and cadences which, by some ingenious manipulation of the tones +of the voice, he managed to make as marvellous expressive of his desires. + +He was a universal actor--comedian, tragedian, buffoon--all in one. There +was no shade of human emotion which he did not seem capable of giving +expression to. + + +The Professor Does His Best. + +His every attitude was a symbol, and all his features became in quick +succession types of thought and exponents of hidden feelings, while his +inquisitive nose stood forth in the midst of their ceaseless play like +a perpetual interrogation point that would have electrified the Sphinx +into life, and set its stone lips gabbling answers and explanations. + +The girl looked on, partly astonished, partly amused, and partly +comprehending. Sometimes she smiled, and then the beauty of her face +became most captivating. Occasionally she burst into a cheery laugh +when the professor was executing some of his extraordinary gyrations +before her. + +It was a marvellous exhibition of what the human intellect, when all its +powers are concentrated upon a single object, is capable of achieving. It +seemed to me, as I looked at the performance, that if all the races of +men, who had been stricken asunder at the foot of the Tower of Babel by +the miracle which made the tongues of each to speak a language unknown +to the others, could be brought together again at the foot of the same +tower, with all the advantages which thousands of years of education +had in the meantime imparted to them, they would be able, without any +miracle, to make themselves mutually understood. + +And it was evident that an understanding was actually growing between +the girl and the professor. Their minds were plainly meeting, and when +both had become focused upon the same point, it was perfectly certain +that the object of the experiment would be attained. + +Whenever the professor got from the girl an intelligent reply to his +pantomimic inquiries, or whenever he believed that he got such a reply, +it was immediately jotted down in the ever open notebook which he +carried in his hand. + +And then he would turn to us standing by, and with one hand on his heart, +and the other sweeping grandly through the air, would make a profound +bow and say: + +"The young lady and I great progress make already. I have her words +comprehended. We shall wondrous mysteries solve. Jawohl! Wunderlich! +Make yourselves gentlemen easy. Of the human race the ancestral stem +have I here discovered." + +Once I glanced over a page of his notebook, and there I read this: + +"Mars--Zahmor." + +"Copper--Hayez." + +"Sword--Anz." + +"I jump--Altesna." + +"I slay--Amoutha." + +"I cut off a head--Ksutaskofa." + +"I sleep--Zlcha." + +"I love--Levza." + + +Aha, Professor Heidelberg! + +When I saw this last entry I looked suspiciously at the professor. + +Was he trying to make love without our knowing it to the beautiful +captive from Mars? + +If so, I felt certain that he would get himself into difficulty. She +had made a deep impression upon every man in the flagship, and I knew +that there was more than one of the younger men who would have promptly +called him to account if they had suspected him of trying to learn from +those beautiful lips the words, "I love." + +I pictured to myself the state of mind of Colonel Alonzo Jefferson +Smith if, in my place, he had glanced over the notebook and read what +I had read. + +And then I thought of another handsome young fellow in the +flagship--Sidney Phillips--who, if mere actions and looks could make +him so, had become exceedingly devoted to this long lost and happily +recovered daughter of Eve. + +In fact, I had already questioned within my own mind whether the peace +would be strictly kept between Colonel Smith and Mr. Phillips, for the +former had, to my knowledge, noticed the young fellow's adoring glances, +and had begun to regard him out of the corners of his eyes as if he +considered him no better than an Apache or a Mexican greaser. + + +Jealousy Crops Out. + +"But what," I asked myself, "would be the vengeance that Colonel Smith +would take upon this skinny professor from Heidelberg if he thought that +he, taking advantage of his linguistic powers, had stepped in between +him and the damsel whom he had rescued?" + +However, when I took a second look at the professor, I became convinced +that he was innocent of any such amorous intention, and that he had +learned, or believed he had learned, the word for "love" simply in +pursuance of the method by which he meant to acquire the language of +the girl. + +There was one thing which gave some of us considerable misgiving, and +that was the question whether, after all, the language the professor was +acquiring was really the girl's own tongue or one that she had learned +from the Martians. + +But the professor bade us rest easy on that point. He assured us, in the +first place, that this girl could not be the only human being living upon +Mars, but that she must have friends and relatives there. That being so, +they unquestionably had a language of their own, which they spoke when +they were among themselves. Here finding herself among beings belonging +to her own race, she would naturally speak her own tongue and not that +which she had acquired from the Martians. + +"Moreover, gentlemen," he added, "I have in her speech many roots of +the great Aryan tongue already recognized." + +We were greatly relieved by this explanation, which seemed to all of us +perfectly satisfactory. + +Yet, really, there was no reason why one language should be any better +than the other for our present purpose. In fact, it might be more useful +to us to know the language of the Martians themselves. Still, we all +felt that we should prefer to know her language rather than that of the +monsters among whom she had lived. + +Colonel Smith expressed what was in all our minds when, after listening +to the reasoning of the Professor, he blurted out: + +"Thank God, she doesn't speak any of their blamed lingo! By Jove, it +would soil her pretty lips." + +"But also that she speaks, too," said the man from Heidelberg, turning +to Colonel Smith with a grin. "We shall both of them eventually learn." + + +A Tedious Language Lesson. + +Three entire weeks were passed in this manner. After the first week +the girl herself materially assisted the linguists in their efforts to +acquire her speech. + +At length the task was so far advanced that we could, in a certain sense, +regard it as practically completed. The Heidelberg Professor declared +that he had mastered the tongue of the ancient Aryans. His delight was +unbounded. With prodigious industry he set to work, scarcely stopping +to eat or sleep, to form a grammar of the language. + +"You shall see," he said, "it will the speculations of my countrymen +vindicate." + +No doubt the Professor had an exaggerated opinion of the extent of his +acquirements, but the fact remained that enough had been learned of +the girl's language to enable him and several others to converse with +her quite as readily as a person of good capacity who has studied under +the instructions of a native teacher during a period of six months can +converse in a foreign tongue. + +Immediately almost every man in the squadron set vigorously at work to +learn the language of this fair creature for himself. Colonel Smith and +Sidney Phillips were neck and neck in the linguistic race. + +One of the first bits of information which the Professor had given out +was the name of the girl. + + +We Learn Her Name. + +It was Aina (pronounced Ah-ee-na). + +This news was flashed throughout the squadron, and the name of our +beautiful captive was on the lips of all. + +After that came her story. It was a marvellous narrative. Translated +into our tongue it ran as follows: + +"The traditions of my fathers, handed down for generations so many that +no one can number them, declare that the planet of Mars was not the +place of our origin." + +"Ages and ages ago our forefathers dwelt on another and distant world +that was nearer to the sun than this one is, and enjoyed brighter daylight +than we have here." + +"They dwelt--as I have often heard the story from my father, who had +learned it by heart from his father, and he from his--in a beautiful +valley that was surrounded by enormous mountains towering into the clouds +and white about their tops with snow that never melted. In the valley +were lakes, around which clustered the dwellings of our race." + +"It was, the traditions say, a land wonderful for its fertility, filled +with all things that the heart could desire, splendid with flowers and +rich with luscious fruits." + +"It was a land of music, and the people who dwelt in it were very happy." + +While the girl was telling this part of her story the Heidelberg Professor +became visibly more and more excited. Presently he could keep quiet no +longer, and suddenly exclaimed, turning to us who were listening, as the +words of the girl were interpreted for us by one of the other linguists: + +"Gentlemen, it is the Vale of Cashmere! Has not my great countryman, +Adelung, so declared? Has he not said that the Valley of Cashmere was +the cradle of the human race already?" + +"From the Valley of Cashmere to the planet Mars--what a +romance!" exclaimed one of the bystanders. + +Colonel Smith appeared to be particularly moved, and I heard him humming +under his breath, greatly to my astonishment, for this rough soldier +was not much given to poetry or music: + +"Who has not heard of the Vale of Cashmere, + With its roses the brightest that earth ever gave; +Its temples, its grottoes, its fountains as clear, + As the love-lighted eyes that hang over the wave." + +Mr. Sidney Phillips, standing by, and also catching the murmur of Colonel +Smith's words, showed in his handsome countenance some indications of +distress, as if he wished he had thought of those lines himself. + + +Aina Tells Her Story. + +The girl resumed her narrative: + +"Suddenly there dropped down out of the sky strange gigantic enemies, +armed with mysterious weapons, and began to slay and burn and make +desolate. Our forefathers could not withstand them. They seemed like +demons, who had been sent from the abodes of evil to destroy our race." + +"Some of the wise men said that this thing had come upon our people +because they had been very wicked, and the gods in Heaven were angry. Some +said they came from the moon, and some from the far-away stars. But of +these things my forefathers knew nothing for a certainty." + +"The destroyers showed no mercy to the inhabitants of the beautiful +valley. Not content with making it a desert, they swept over other parts +of the earth." + +"The tradition says that they carried off from the valley, which was +our native land, a large number of our people, taking them first into +a strange country, where there were oceans of sand, but where a great +river, flowing through the midst of the sands, created a narrow land of +fertility. Here, after having slain and driven out the native inhabitants, +they remained for many years, keeping our people, whom they had carried +into captivity, as slaves." + +"And in this Land of Sand, it is said, they did many wonderful works." + +"They had been astonished at the sight of the great mountains which +surrounded our valley, for on Mars there are no mountains, and after +they came into the Land of Sand they built there with huge blocks of +stone mountains in imitation of what they had seen, and used them for +purposes that our people did not understand." + +"Then, too, it is said they left there at the foot of these mountains +that they had made a gigantic image of the great chief who led them in +their conquest of our world." + +At this point in the story the Heidelberg Professor again broke in, +fairly trembling with excitement: + + +The Wonders of the Martians! + +"Gentlemen, gentlemen," he cried, "is it that you do not understand? This +Land of Sand and of a wonderful fertilizing river--what can it +be? Gentlemen, it is Egypt! These mountains of rock that the Martians +have erected, what are they? Gentlemen, they are the great mystery of the +land of the Nile, the Pyramids. The gigantic statue of their leader that +they at the foot of their artificial mountains have set up--gentlemen, +what is that? It is the Sphinx!" + +The Professor's agitation was so great that he could go no further. And +indeed there was not one of us who did not fully share his excitement. To +think that we should have come to the planet Mars to solve one of the +standing mysteries of the earth, which had puzzled mankind and defied +all their efforts at solution for so many centuries! Here, then, was +the explanation of how those gigantic blocks that constitute the great +Pyramid of Cheops had been swung to their lofty elevation. It was not the +work of puny man, as many an engineer had declared that it could not be, +but the work of these giants of Mars. + + +Aina's Wonderful Story. + +The Martians' Beautiful Prisoner Recounts Her Marvellous +Adventures. + +Aina resumed her story. + +"At length, our traditions say, a great pestilence broke out in the Land +of Sand, and a partial vengeance was granted to us in the destruction +of the larger number of our enemies. At last the giants who remained, +fleeing before this scourge of the gods, used the mysterious means at +their command, and, carrying our ancestors with them, returned to their +own world, in which we have ever since lived." + +"Then there are more of your people in Mars?" said one of the professors. + +"Alas, no," replied Aina, her eyes filling with tears, "I alone am left." + +For a few minutes she was unable to speak. Then she continued: + + +An Ancient Martian Conquest. + +"What fury possessed them I do not know, but not long ago an expedition +departed from the planet, the purpose of which, as it was noised about +over Mars, was the conquest of a distant world. After a time a few +survivors of that expedition returned. The story they told caused great +excitement among our masters. They had been successful in their battles +with the inhabitants of the world they had invaded, but as in the days +of our forefathers, in the Land of Sand, a pestilence smote them, and +but few survivors escaped." + +"Not long after that, you, with your mysterious ships, appeared in the +sky of Mars. Our masters studied you with their telescopes, and those +who had returned from the unfortunate expedition declared that you +were inhabitants of the world which they had invaded, come, doubtless, +to take vengeance upon them." + +"Some of my people who were permitted to look through the telescopes of +the Martians, saw you also, and recognized you as members of their own +race. There were several thousand of us, altogether, and we were kept by +the Martians to serve them as slaves, and particularly to delight their +ears with music, for our people have always been especially skilful in +the playing of musical instruments, and in songs, and while the Martians +have but little musical skill themselves, they are exceedingly fond of +these things." + + +Awaiting a Rescue. + +"Although Mars had completed not less than five thousand circuits about +the sun since our ancestors were brought as prisoners to its surface, yet +the memory of our distant home had never perished from the hearts of our +race, and when we recognized you, as we believed, our own brothers, come +to rescue us from long imprisonment, there was great rejoicing. The news +spread from mouth to mouth, wherever we were in the houses and families +of our masters. We seemed to be powerless to aid you or to communicate +with you in any manner. Yet our hearts went out to you, as in your ships +you hung above the planet, and preparations were secretly made by all the +members of our race for your reception when, as we believed, would occur, +you should effect a landing upon the planet and destroy our enemies." + +"But in some manner the fact that we had recognized you, and were +preparing to welcome you, came to the ears of the Martians." + +At this point the girl suddenly covered her eyes with her hands, +shuddering and falling back in her seat. + +"Oh, you do not know them as I do!" at length she exclaimed. "The +monsters! Their vengeance was too terrible! Instantly the order went forth +that we should all be butchered, and that awful command was executed!" + +"How, then, did you escape?" asked the Heidelberg Professor. + +Aina seemed unable to speak for a while. Finally mastering her emotion, +she replied: + + +Her Fortunate Escape. + +"One of the chief officers of the Martians wished me to remain alive. He, +with his aides, carried me to one of the military depot of supplies, +where I was found and rescued," and as she said this she turned toward +Colonel Smith with a smile that reflected on his ruddy face and made it +glow like a Chinese lantern. + +"By ----!" muttered Colonel Smith, "that was the fellow we blew into +nothing! Blast him, he got off too easy!" + +The remainder of Aina's story may be briefly told. + +When Colonel Smith and I entered the mysterious building which, as it +now proved, was not a storehouse belonging to a village, as we had +supposed, but one of the military depots of the Martians, the girl, +on catching sight of us, immediately recognized us as belonging to the +strange squadron in the sky. As such she felt that we must be her friends, +and saw in us her only possible hope of escape. For that reason she had +instantly thrown herself under our protection. This accounted for the +singular confidence which she had manifested in us from the beginning. + +Her wonderful story had so captivated our imaginations that for a long +time after it was finished we could not recover from the spell. It was +told over and over again from mouth to mouth, and repeated from ship to +ship, everywhere exciting the utmost astonishment. + +Destiny seemed to have sent us on this expedition into space for the +purpose of clearing off mysteries that had long puzzled the minds +of men. When on the moon we had unexpectedly to ourselves settled the +question that had been debated from the beginning of astronomical history +of the former habitability of that globe. + + +A Question Settled. + +Now, on Mars, we had put to rest no less mysterious questions relating to +the past history of our own planet. Adelung, as the Heidelberg Professor +asserted, had named the Vale of Cashmere as the probable site of the +Garden of Eden, and the place of origin of the human race, but later +investigators had taken issue with this opinion, and the question where +the Aryans originated upon the earth had long been one of the most +puzzling that science presented. + +This question seemed now to have been settled. + +Aina had said that Mars had completed 5,000 circuits about the sun since +her people were brought to it as captives. One circuit of Mars occupies +687 days. More than 9,000 years had therefore elapsed since the first +invasion of the earth by the Martians. + +Another great mystery--that of the origin of those gigantic and +inexplicable monuments, the great pyramids and the Sphinx, on the banks of +the Nile, had also apparently been solved by us, although these Egyptian +wonders had been the furthest things from our thoughts when we set out +for the planet Mars. + +We had travelled more than thirty millions of miles in order to get +answers to questions which could not be solved at home. + +But from these speculations and retrospects we were recalled by the +commander of the expedition. + + +Does Aina Hold the Secret? + +"This is all very interesting and very romantic, gentlemen," he said, +"but now let us get at the practical side of it. We have learned Aina's +language and have heard her story. Let us next ascertain whether +she cannot place in our hands some key which will place Mars at our +mercy. Remember what we came here for, and remember that the earth +expects every man of us to do his duty." + +This Nelson-like summons again changed the current of our thoughts, +and we instantly set to work to learn from Aina if Mars, like Achilles, +had not some vulnerable point where a blow would be mortal. + + + + +Chapter XIV. + + +It was a curious scene when the momentous interview which was to +determine our fate and that of Mars began. Aina had been warned of what +was coming. We in the flagship had all learned to speak her language with +more or less ease, but it was deemed best that the Heidelberg Professor, +assisted by one of his colleagues, should act as interpreter. + +The girl, flushed with excitement of the novel situation, fully +appreciating the importance of what was about to occur, and looking +more charming than before, stood at one side of the principal +apartment. Directly facing her were the interpreters, and the rest of +us, all with ears intent and eyes focused upon Aina, stood in a double +row behind them. + +As heretofore, I am setting down her words translated into our own tongue, +having taken only so much liberty as to connect the sentences into a +stricter sequence than they had when falling from her lips in reply to +the questions that were showered upon her. + + +She Has a Plan. + +"You will never be victorious," she said, "if you attack them openly as +you have been doing. They are too strong and too numerous. They are well +prepared for such attacks, because they have had to resist them before." + +"They have waged war with the inhabitants of the asteroid Ceres, whose +people are giants greater than themselves. Their enemies from Ceres have +attacked them here. Hence these fortifications, with weapons pointing +skyward, and the great air fleets which you have encountered." + +"But there must be some point," said Mr. Edison, "where we can." + +"Yes, yes," interrupted the girl quickly, "there is one blow you can +deal them which they could not withstand." + +"What is that?" eagerly inquired the commander. + +"You can drown them out." + +"How? With the canals?" + + +We Must Drown Them Out. + +"Yes, I will explain to you. I have already told you, and, in fact, +you must have seen it for yourselves, that there are almost no mountains +on Mars. A very learned man of my race used to say that the reason was +because Mars is so very old a world that the mountains it once had have +been almost completely levelled, and the entire surface of the planet had +become a great plain. There are depressions, however, most of which are +occupied by the seas. The greater part of the land lies below the level +of the oceans. In order at the same time to irrigate the soil and make it +fruitful, and to protect themselves from overflows by the ocean breaking +in upon them, the Martians have constructed the immense and innumerable +canals which you see running in all directions over the continents." + +"There is one period in the year, and that period has now arrived, when +there is special danger of a great deluge. Most of the oceans of Mars +lie in the southern hemisphere. When it is Summer in that hemisphere, +the great masses of ice and snow collected around the south pole melt +rapidly away." + +"Yes, that is so," broke in one of our astronomers, who was listening +attentively. "Many a time I have seen the vast snow fields around the +southern pole of Mars completely disappear as the Summer sun rose high +upon them." + +"With the melting of these snows," continued Aina, "a rapid rise in the +level of the water in the southern oceans occurs. On the side facing +these oceans the continents of Mars are sufficiently elevated to prevent +an overflow, but nearer the equator the level of the land sinks lower." + +"With your telescopes you have no doubt noticed that there is a great +bending sea connecting the oceans of the south with those of the north +and running through the midst of the continents." + +"Quite so," said the astronomer who had spoken before, "we call it the +Syrtis Major." + +"That long narrow sea," Aina went on, "forms a great channel through +which the flood of waters caused by the melting of the southern polar +snows flows swiftly toward the equator and then on toward the north until +it reaches the sea basins which exist there. At that point it is rapidly +turned into ice and snow, because, of course, while it is Summer in the +southern hemisphere it is Winter in the northern." + + +Mars Will Be Ours. + +"The Syrtis Major (I am giving our name to the channel of communication in +place of that by which the girl called it) is like a great safety valve, +which, by permitting the waters to flow northward, saves the continents +from inundation." + +"But when mid-Summer arrives, the snows around the pole having been +completely melted away, the flood ceases and the water begins to +recede. At this time, but for a device which the Martians have employed, +the canals connected with the oceans would run dry, and the vegetation, +left without moisture under the Summer sun, would quickly perish." + +"To prevent this they have built a series of enormous gates extending +completely across the Syrtis Major at its narrowest point (latitude 25 +degrees south). These gates are all controlled by machinery collected +at a single point on the shore of the strait. As soon as the flood in +the Syrtis Major begins to recede, the gates are closed, and, the water +being thus restrained, the irrigating canals are kept full long enough +to mature the harvests." + +"The clew! The clew at last!" exclaimed Mr. Edison. "That is the place +where we shall nip them. If we can close those gates now at the moment +of high tide we shall flood the country. Did you say," he continued, +turning to Aina, "that the movement of the gates was all controlled from +a single point?" + + +The Great Power House. + +"Yes," said the girl. "There is a great building (power house) full of +tremendous machinery which I once entered when my father was taken there +by his master, and where I saw one Martian, by turning a little handle, +cause the great line of gates, stretching a hundred miles across the sea, +to slowly shut in, edge to edge, until the flow of the water toward the +north had been stopped." + +"How is the building protected?" + +"So completely," replied Aina, "that my only fear is that you may not be +able to reach it. On account of the danger from their enemies on Ceres, +the Martians have fortified it strongly on all sides, and have even +surrounded it and covered it overhead with a great electrical network, +to touch which would be instant death." + +"Ah," said Mr. Edison, "they have got an electric shield, have they? Well, +I think we shall be able to manage that." + +"Anyhow," he continued, "we have got to get into that power house, and we +have got to close those gates, and we must not lose much time in making +up our minds how it is to be done. Evidently this is our only chance. We +have not force enough to contend in open battle with the Martians, but +if we can flood them out, and thereby render the engines contained in +their fortifications useless, perhaps we shall be able to deal with the +airships, which will be all the means of defence that will then remain +to them." + +This idea commended itself to all the leaders of the expedition. It was +determined to make a reconnaissance at once. + +But it would not do for us to approach the planet too hastily, and we +certainly could not think of landing upon it in broad daylight. Still, +as long as we were yet at a considerable distance from Mars, we felt that +we should be safe from observation, because so much time had elapsed +while we were hidden behind Deimos that the Martians had undoubtedly +concluded that we were no longer in existence. + +So we boldly quitted the little satellite with our entire squadron and +once more rapidly approached the red planet of war. This time it was +to be a death grapple and our chances of victory still seemed good. + + +Ready for a Death Grapple. + +As soon as we arrived so near the planet that there was danger of our +being actually seen, we took pains to keep continually in the shadow +of Mars, and the more surely to conceal our presence all lights upon +the ships were extinguished. The precaution of the commander even went +so far as to have the smooth metallic sides of the cars blackened over +so that they should not reflect light, and thus become visible to the +Martians as shining specks, moving suspiciously among the stars. + +The precise location of the great power house on the shores of the Syrtis +Major having been carefully ascertained, the squadron dropped down one +night into the upper limits of the Martian atmosphere, directly over +the gulf. + +Then a consultation was called on the flagship and a plan of campaign +was quickly devised. + +It was deemed wise that the attempt should be made with a single +electrical ship, but that the others should be kept hovering near, ready +to respond on the instant to any signal for aid which might come from +below. It was thought that, notwithstanding the wonderful defences, +which, according to Aina's account surrounded the building, a small +party would have a better chance of success than a large one. + +Mr. Edison was certain that the electrical network which was described +as covering the power house would not prove a serious obstruction to +us, because by carefully sweeping the space where we intended to pass +with the disintegrators before quitting the ship, the netting could be +sufficiently cleared away to give us uninterrupted passage. + +At first the intention was to have twenty men, each armed with two +disintegrators (that being the largest number that one person could carry +to advantage) descend from the electrical ship and make the venture. But, +after further discussion, this number was reduced; first to a dozen, +and finally, to only four. These four consisted of Mr. Edison, Colonel +Smith, Mr. Sidney Phillips and myself. + +Both by her own request and because we could not help feeling that her +knowledge of the locality would be indispensable to us, Aina was also +included in our party, but not, of course, as a fighting member of it. + +It was about an hour after midnight when the ship in which we were to +make the venture parted from the remainder of the squadron and dropped +cautiously down. The blaze of electric lights running away in various +directions indicated the lines of innumerable canals with habitations +crowded along their banks, which came to a focus at a point on the +continent of Aeria, westward from the Syrtis Major. + + +Destroying The Martians. + +With Aina's Aid Our Warriors Prepare an Awful Revenge on the Enemy. + +We stopped the electrical ship at an elevation of perhaps three hundred +feet above the vast roof of a structure which Aina assured us was the +building we were in search of. + +Here we remained for a few minutes, cautiously reconnoitring. On that +side of the power house which was opposite to the shore of the Syrtis +Major there was a thick grove of trees, lighted beneath, as was apparent +from the illumination which here and there streamed up through the cover +of leaves, but, nevertheless, dark and gloomy above the tree tops. + +"The electric network extends over the grove as well as over the +building," said Aina. + +This was lucky for us, because we wished to descend among the trees, +and, by destroying part of the network over the tree tops, we could +reach the shelter we desired and at the same time pass within the line +of electric defences. + +With increased caution, and almost holding our breath lest we should +make some noise that might reach the ears of the sentinels beneath, we +caused the car to settle gently down until we caught sight of a metallic +net stretched in the air between us and the trees. + +After our first encounter with the Martians on the asteroid, where, as +I have related, some metal which was included in their dress resisted +the action of the disintegrators, Mr. Edison had readjusted the range +of vibrations covered by the instruments, and since then we had found +nothing that did not yield to them. Consequently, we had no fear that +the metal of the network would not be destroyed. + +There was danger, however, of arousing attention by shattering +holes through the tree tops. This could be avoided by first carefully +ascertaining how far away the network was, and then with the adjustable +mirrors attached to the disintegrators focusing the vibratory discharge +at that distance. + + +Overcoming Their Precautions. + +So successful were we that we opened a considerable gap in the network +without doing any perceptible damage to the trees beneath. + +The ship was cautiously lowered through the opening and brought to rest +among the upper branches of one of the tallest trees. Colonel Smith, +Mr. Phillips, Mr. Edison and myself at once clambered out upon a strong +limb. + +For a moment I feared our arrival had been betrayed on account of the +altogether too noisy contest that arose between Colonel Smith and +Mr. Phillips as to which of them should assist Aina. To settle the +dispute I took charge of her myself. + +At length we were all safely in the tree. + +Then followed the still more dangerous undertaking of descending from +this great height to the ground. Fortunately, the branches were very +close together and they extended down within a short distance of the +soil. So the actual difficulties of the descent were not very great +after all. The one thing that we had particularly to bear in mind was +the absolute necessity of making no noise. + +At length the descent was successfully accomplished, and we all five +stood together in the shadow at the foot of the great tree. The grove +was so thick around that while there was an abundance of electric lights +among the trees, their illumination did not fall upon us where we stood. + +Peering cautiously through the vistas in various directions, we +ascertained our location with respect to the wall of the building. Like +all the structures that we had seen on Mars, it was composed of polished +red metal. + + +Looking for an Entrance. + +"Where is the entrance?" inquired Mr. Edison, in a whisper. + +"Come softly this way, and look out for the sentinel," replied Aina. + +Gripping our disintegrators firmly, and screwing up our courage, with +noiseless steps we followed the girl among the shadows of the trees. + +We had one very great advantage. The Martians had evidently placed so +much confidence in the electric network which surrounded the power house +that they never dreamed of enemies being able to penetrate it--at least, +without giving warning of their coming. + +But the hole which we had blown in this network with the disintegrators +had been made noiselessly, and Mr. Edison believed, since no enemies +had appeared, that our operations had not been betrayed by any automatic +signal to watchers inside the building. + +Consequently, we had every reason to think that we now stood within +the line of defence, in which they reposed the greatest confidence, +without their having the least suspicion of our presence. + +Aina assured us that on the occasion of her former visit to the power +house there had been but two sentinels on guard at the entrance. At the +inner end of a long passage leading to the interior, she said, there +were two more. Besides these there were three or four Martian engineers +watching the machinery in the interior of the building. A number of air +ships were supposed to be on guard around the structure, but possibly +their vigilance had been relaxed, because not long ago the Martians had +sent an expedition against Ceres which had been so successful that the +power of that planet to make an attack upon Mars had for the present +been destroyed. + +Supposing us to have been annihilated in the recent battle among the +clouds, they would have no fear or cause for vigilance on our account. + +The entrance to the great structure was low--at least, when measured by +the stature of the Martians. Evidently the intention was that only one +person at a time should find room to pass through it. + +Drawing cautiously near, we discerned the outlines of two gigantic forms, +standing in the darkness, one on either side of the door. Colonel Smith +whispered to me: + + +The Disintegrator Again. + +"If you will take the fellow on the right, I will attend to the other +one." + +Adjusting our aim as carefully as was possible in the gloom, Colonel +Smith and I simultaneously discharged our disintegrators, sweeping +them rapidly up and down in the manner which had become familiar to us +when endeavoring to destroy one of the gigantic Martians with a single +stroke. And so successful were we that the two sentinels disappeared as +if they had been ghosts of the night. + +Instantly we all hurried forward and entered the door. Before us extended +a long, straight passage, brightly illuminated by a number of electric +candles. Its polished sides gleamed with blood-red reflections, and +the gallery terminated, at a distance of two or three hundred feet, +with an opening into a large chamber beyond, on the further side of +which we could see part of a gigantic and complicated mass of machinery. + +Making as little noise as possible, we pushed ahead along the passage, +but when we had arrived within a distance of a dozen paces from the +inner end, we stopped, and Colonel Smith, getting down upon his knees, +crept forward until he had reached the inner end of the passage. There +he peered cautiously around the edge into the chamber, and, turning his +head a moment later, beckoned us to come forward. We crept to his side, +and, looking out into the vast apartment, could perceive no enemies. + +What had become of the sentinels supposed to stand at the inner end of the +passage we could not imagine. At any rate, they were not at their posts. + + +In the Great Power House. + +The chamber was an immense square room at least a hundred feet in height +and 400 feet on a side, and almost filling the wall opposite to us was +an intricate display of machinery, wheels, levers, rods and polished +plates. This we had no doubt was one end of the great engine which opened +and shut the great gates that could dam an ocean. + +"There is no one in sight," said Colonel Smith. + +"Then we must act quickly," said Mr. Edison. + +"Where," he said, turning to Aina, "is the handle by turning which you +saw the Martian close the gates?" + +Aina looked about in bewilderment. The mechanism before us was so +complicated that even an expert mechanician would have been excusable +for finding himself unable to understand it. There were scores of knobs +and handles, all glistening in the electric light, any one of which, +so far as the uninstructed could tell, might have been the master key +that controlled the whole complex apparatus. + + +The Magic Lever! + +"Quick," said Mr. Edison, "where is it?" + +The girl in her confusion ran this way and that, gazing hopelessly upon +the machinery, but evidently utterly unable to help us. + +To remain here inactive was not merely to invite destruction for +ourselves, but was sure to bring certain failure upon the purpose of +the expedition. All of us began instantly to look about in search of +the proper handle, seizing every crank and wheel in sight and striving +to turn it. + +"Stop that!" shouted Mr. Edison, "you may set the whole thing wrong. Don't +touch anything until we have found the right lever." + +But to find that seemed to most of us now utterly beyond the power of man. + +It was at this critical moment that the wonderful depth and reach of +Mr. Edison's mechanical genius displayed itself. He stepped back, ran +his eye quickly over the whole immense mass of wheels, handles, bolts, +bars and levers, paused for an instant, as if making up his mind, then +said decidedly, "There it is," and, stepping quickly forward, selected a +small wheel amid a dozen others, all furnished at the circumference with +handles like those of a pilot's wheel, and, giving it a quick wrench, +turned it half way around. + + +Surprised by the Enemy. + +At this instant, a startling shout fell upon our ears. There was +a thunderous clatter behind us, and, turning, we saw three gigantic +Martians rushing forward. + + + + +Chapter XV. + + +"Sweep them! Sweep them!" cried Colonel Smith, as he brought his +disintegrator to bear. Mr. Phillips and I instantly followed his example, +and thus we swept the Martians into eternity, while Mr. Edison coolly +continued his manipulations of the wheel. + +The effect of what he was doing became apparent in less than half a +minute. A shiver ran through the mass of machinery and shook the entire +building. + +"Look! look!" cried Sidney Phillips, who had stepped a little apart from +the others. + + +The Grand Canal. + +We all ran to his side and found ourselves in front of a great window +which opened through the side of the engine, giving a view of what lay +in front of it. There, gleaming in the electric lights, we saw the +Syrtis Major, its waters washing high against the walls of the vast +power house. Running directly out from the shore, there was an immense +metallic gate at least 400 yards in length and rising 300 feet above +the present level of the water. + +This great gate was slowly swinging upon an invisible hinge in such a +manner that in a few minutes it would evidently stand across the current +of the Syrtis Major at right angles. + +Beyond was a second gate, which was moving in the same manner. Further +on was a third gate, and then another, and another, as far as the eye +could reach, evidently extending in an unbroken series completely across +the great strait. + +As the gates, with accelerated motion when the current caught them, +clanged together, we beheld a spectacle that almost stopped the beating +of our hearts. + + +A Great Rush of Waters. + +The great Syrtis seemed to gather itself for a moment, and then it leaped +upon the obstruction and hurled its waters into one vast foaming geyser +that seemed to shoot a thousand feet skyward. + +But the metal gates withstood the shock, though buried from our sight +in the seething white mass, and the baffled waters instantly swirled +round in ten thousand gigantic eddies, rising to the level of our window +and beginning to inundate the power house before we fairly comprehended +our peril. + +"We have done the work," said Mr. Edison, smiling grimly. "Now we had +better get out of this before the flood bursts upon us." + +The warning came none too soon. It was necessary to act upon it at once +if we would save our lives. Even before we could reach the entrance to +the long passage through which we had come into the great engine room, the +water had risen half way to our knees. Colonel Smith, catching Aina under +his arm, led the way. The roar of the maddened torrent behind deafened us. + +As we ran through the passage, the water followed us, with a wicked +swishing sound, and within five seconds it was above our knees; in ten +seconds up to our waists. + +The great danger now was that we should be swept from our feet, and once +down in that torrent there would have been little chance of our ever +getting our heads above its level. Supporting ourselves as best we could +with the aid of the walls, we partly ran, and were partly swept along, +until, when we reached the outer end of the passage and emerged into +the open air, the flood was swirling about our shoulders. + + +Escaping the Water. + +Here there was an opportunity to clutch some of the ornamental work +surrounding the doorway, and thus we managed to stay our mad progress, +and gradually to work out of the current until we found that the water, +having now an abundance of room to spread, had fallen again as low as +our knees. + +But suddenly we heard the thunder of the banks tumbling behind us, and +to the right and left, and the savage growl of the released water as it +sprang through the breaches. + +To my dying day, I think, I shall not forget the sight of a great fluid +column that burst through the dyke at the edge of the grove of trees, and, +by the tremendous impetus of its rush, seemed turned into a solid thing. + +Like an enormous ram, it plowed the soil to a depth of twenty feet, +uprooting acres of the immense trees like stubble turned over by the +plowshare. + +The uproar was so awful that for an instant the coolest of us lost our +self-control. Yet we knew that we had not the fraction of a second to +waste. The breaking of the banks had caused the water again rapidly to +rise about us. In a little while it was once more as high as our waists. + +In the excitement and confusion, deafened by the noise and blinded by +the flying foam, we were in danger of becoming separated in the flood. We +no longer knew certainly in what direction was the tree by whose aid we +had ascended from the electrical ship. We pushed first one way and then +another, staggering through the rushing waters in search of it. Finally +we succeeded in locating it, and with all our strength hurried toward it. + +Then there came a noise as if the globe of Mars had been split asunder, +and another great head of water hurled itself down upon the soil before +us, and, without taking time to spread, bored a vast cavity in the ground, +and scooped out the whole of the grove before our eyes as easily as a +gardener lifts a sod with his spade. + + +Are We, Too, Destroyed? + +Our last hope was gone. For a moment the level of the water around us +sank again, as it poured into the immense excavation where the grove had +stood, but in an instant it was reinforced from all sides and began once +more rapidly to rise. + +We gave ourselves up for lost, and, indeed, there did not seem any +possible hope of salvation. + +Even in the extremity I saw Colonel Smith lifting the form of Aina, who +had fainted, above the surface of the surging water, while Sidney Phillips +stood by his side and aided him in supporting the unconscious girl. + +"We stayed a little too long," was the only sound I heard from Mr. Edison. + +The huge bulk of the power house partially protected us against the force +of the current, and the water spun around us in great eddies. These swept +us this way and that, but yet we managed to cling together, determined +not to be separated in death if we could avoid it. + +Suddenly a cry rang out directly above our heads: + +"Jump for your lives, and be quick!" + +At the same instant the ends of several ropes splashed into the water. + +We glanced upward, and there, within three or four yards of our heads, +hung the electrical ship, which we had left moored at the top of the tree. + +Tom, the expert electrician from Mr. Edison's shop, who had remained in +charge of the ship, had never once dreamed of such a thing as deserting +us. The moment he saw the water bursting over the dam, and evidently +flooding the building which we had entered, he cast off his moorings, +as we subsequently learned, and hovered over the entrance to the power +house, getting as low down as possible and keeping a sharp watch for us. + +But most of the electric lights in the vicinity had been carried down by +the first rush of water, and in the darkness he did not see us when we +emerged from the entrance. It was only after the sweeping away of the +grove of trees had allowed a flood of light to stream upon the scene +from a cluster of electric lamps on a distant portion of the bank on +the Syrtis that had not yet given way that he caught sight of us. + + +Mars Is Ruined! + +Immediately he began to shout to attract our attention, but in the awful +uproar we could not hear him. Getting together all the ropes that he +could lay his hands on, he steered the ship to a point directly over us, +and then dropped down within a few yards of the boiling flood. + +Now as he hung over our heads, and saw the water up to our very necks +and still swiftly rising, he shouted again: + +"Catch hold, for God's sake!" + +The three men who were with him in the ship seconded his cries. + +But by the time we had fairly grasped the ropes, so rapidly was the flood +rising, we were already afloat. With the assistance of Tom and his men we +were rapidly drawn up, and immediately Tom reversed the electric polarity, +and the ship began to rise. + +At that same instant, with a crash that shivered the air, the immense +metallic power house gave way and was swept tumbling, like a hill torn +loose from its base, over the very spot where a moment before we had +stood. One second's hesitation on the part of Tom, and the electrical +ship would have been battered into a shapeless wad of metal by the +careening mass. + + +The Deluge On Mars. + +How the Martians Met Their Doom Through Aina's Plans. + +When we had attained a considerable height, so that we could see to a +great distance on either side, the spectacle became even more fearful +than it was when we were close to the surface. + +On all sides banks and dykes were going down; trees were being uprooted; +buildings were tumbling, and the ocean was achieving that victory over +the land which had long been its due, but which the ingenuity of the +inhabitants of Mars had postponed for ages. + +Far away we could see the front of the advancing wave crested with foam +that sparkled in the electric lights, and as it swept on it changed the +entire aspect of the planet--in front of it all life, behind it all death. + +Eastward our view extended across the Syrtis Major toward the land of +Libya and the region of Isidis. On that side also the dykes were giving +way under the tremendous pressure, and the floods were rushing toward +the sunrise, which had just begun to streak the eastern sky. + +The continents that were being overwhelmed on the western side of the +Syrtis were Meroe, Aeria, Arabia, Edom and Eden. + +The water beneath us continually deepened. The current from the melting +snows around the southern pole was at its strongest, and one could +hardly have believed that any obstruction put in its path would have +been able to arrest it and turn it into these two all-swallowing deluges, +sweeping east and west. But, as we now perceived, the level of the land +over a large part of its surface was hundreds of feet below the ocean, +so that the latter, when once the barriers were broken, rushed into +depressions that yawned to receive it. + + +Waiting for the Flood. + +The point where we had dealt our blow was far removed from the great +capital of Mars, around the Lake of the Sun, and we knew that we should +have to wait for the floods to reach that point before the desired effect +could be produced. By the nearest way, the water had at least 5,000 +miles to travel. We estimated that its speed where we hung above it was +as much as a hundred miles an hour. Even if that speed were maintained, +more than two days and nights would be required for the floods to reach +the Lake of the Sun. + +But as the water rushed on it would break the banks of all the canals +intersecting the country, and these, being also elevated above the +surface, would add the impetus of their escaping waters to hasten the +advance of the flood. We calculated, therefore, that about two days +would suffice to place the planet at our mercy. + +Half way from the Syrtis Major to the Lake of the Sun another great +connecting link between the Southern and Northern ocean basins, called +on our maps of Mars the Indus, existed, and through this channel we +knew that another great current must be setting from the south toward +the north. The flood that we had started would reach and break the banks +of the Indus within one day. + + +Flooding Hundreds of Canals. + +The flood travelling in the other direction, towards the east, would +have considerably further to go before reaching the neighborhood of +the Lake of the Sun. It, too, would involve hundreds of great canals +as it advanced and would come plunging upon the Lake of the Sun and its +surrounding forts and cities, probably about half a day later than the +arrival of the deluge that travelled towards the west. + +Now that we had let the awful destroyer loose we almost shrank from the +thought of the consequences which we had produced. How many millions +would perish as the result of our deed we could not even guess. Many +of the victims, so far as we knew, might be entirely innocent of enmity +toward us, or of the evil which had been done to our native planet. But +this was a case in which the good--if they existed--must suffer with +the bad on account of the wicked deeds of the latter. + +I have already remarked that the continents of Mars were higher on their +northern and southern borders where they faced the great oceans. These +natural barriers bore to the main mass of the land somewhat the relation +of the edge of a shallow dish to its bottom. Their rise on the land +side was too gradual to give them the appearance of hills, but on the +side toward the sea they broke down in steep banks and cliffs several +hundred feet in height. We guessed that it would be in the direction +of these elevations that the inhabitants would flee, and those who had +timely warning might thus be able to escape in case the flood did not--as +it seemed possible it might in its first mad rush--overtop the highest +elevations on Mars. + + +A Dreadful Scene. + +As day broke and the sun slowly rose upon the dreadful scene beneath +us, we began to catch sight of some of the fleeing inhabitants. We +had shifted the position of the fleet toward the south, and were now +suspended above the southeastern corner of Aeria. Here a high bank of +reddish rock confronted the sea, whose waters ran lashing and roaring +along the bluffs to supply the rapid draught produced by the emptying +of the Syrtis Major. Along the shore there was a narrow line of land, +hundreds of miles in length, but less than a quarter of a mile broad, +which still rose slightly above the surface of the water, and this land +of refuge was absolutely packed with the monstrous inhabitants of the +planet who had fled hither on the first warning that the water was coming. + +In some places it was so crowded that the later comers could not find +standing ground on dry land, but were continually slipping back and +falling into the water. It was an awful sight to look at them. It +reminded me of pictures that I had seen of the deluge in the days of +Noah, when the waters had risen to the mountain tops, and men, women +and children were fighting for a foothold upon the last dry spots that +the earth contained. + +We were all moved by a desire to help our enemies, for we were overwhelmed +with feelings of pity and remorse, but to aid them was now utterly +beyond our power. The mighty floods were out, and the end was in the +hands of God. + +Fortunately, we had little time for these thoughts, because no sooner +had the day begun to dawn around us than the airships of the Martians +appeared. Evidently the people in them were dazed by the disaster and +uncertain what to do. It is doubtful whether at first they comprehended +the fact that we were the agents who had produced the cataclysm. + + +The Flocking of the Airships. + +But as the morning advanced the airships came flocking in greater and +greater numbers from every direction, many swooping down close to the +flood in order to rescue those who were drowning. Hundreds gathered along +the slip of land which was crowded as I have described, with refugees, +while other hundreds rapidly assembled about us, evidently preparing +for an attack. + +We had learned in our previous contests with the airships of the Martians +that our electrical ships had a great advantage over them, not merely in +rapidity and facility of movement, but in the fact that our disintegrators +could sweep in every direction, while it was only with much difficulty +that the Martian airships could discharge their electrical strokes at +an enemy poised directly above their heads. + +Accordingly, orders were instantly flashed to all the squadron to rise +vertically to an elevation so great that the rarity of the atmosphere +would prevent the airships from attaining the same level. + + +Outwitting the Enemy. + +This manoeuvre was executed so quickly that the Martians were unable +to deal us a blow before we were poised above them in such a position +that they could not easily reach us. Still they did not mean to give up +the conflict. + +Presently we saw one of the largest of their ships manoeuvring in a very +peculiar manner, the purpose of which we did not at first comprehend. Its +forward portion commenced slowly to rise, until it pointed upward like +the nose of a fish approaching the surface of the water. The moment it +was in this position, an electrical bolt was darted from its prow, and +one of our ships received a shock which, although it did not prove fatal +to the vessel itself, killed two or three men aboard it, disarranged +its apparatus, and rendered it for the time being useless. + +"Ah, that's their trick, is it?" said Mr. Edison. "We must look out for +that. Whenever you see one of the airships beginning to stick its nose +up after that fashion blaze away at it." + +An order to this effect was transmitted throughout the squadron. At the +same time several of the most powerful disintegrators were directed upon +the ship which had executed the stratagem and, reduced to a wreck, it +dropped, whirling like a broken kite until it fell into the flood beneath. + + +A Thousand Martian Ships. + +Still the Martians' ships came flocking in ever greater numbers from all +directions. They made desperate attempts to attain the level at which we +hung above them. This was impossible, but many, getting an impetus by a +swift run in the denser portion of the atmosphere beneath, succeeded in +rising so high that they could discharge their electric artillery with +considerable effect. Others, with more or less success, repeated the +manoeuvre of the ship which had first attacked us, and thus the battle +became gradually more general and more fierce, until, in the course of an +hour or two, our squadron found itself engaged with probably a thousand +airships, which blazed with incessant lightning strokes, and were able, +all too frequently, to do us serious damage. + +But on our part the battle was waged with a cool determination and a +consciousness of insuperable advantage which boded ill for the enemy. Only +three or four of our sixty electrical ships were seriously damaged, +while the work of the disintegrators upon the crowded fleet that floated +beneath us was terrible to look upon. + + +They Battle on in Earnest. + +Our strokes fell thick and fast on all sides. It was like firing into +a flock of birds that could not get away. Notwithstanding all their +efforts they were practically at our mercy. Shattered into unrecognizable +fragments, hundreds of the airships continually dropped from their great +height to be swallowed up in the boiling waters. + +Yet they were game to the last. They made every effort to get at us, and +in their frenzy they seemed to discharge their bolts without much regard +to whether friends or foes were injured. Our eyes were nearly blinded +by the ceaseless glare beneath us, and the uproar was indescribable. + +At length, after this fearful contest had lasted for at least three +hours, it became evident that the strength of the enemy was rapidly +weakening. Nearly the whole of their immense fleet of airships had been +destroyed, or so far damaged that they were barely able to float. Just +so long, however, as they showed signs of resistance we continued to +pour our merciless fire upon them, and the signal to cease was not given +until the airships which had escaped serious damage began to flee in +every direction. + + +Victory Is Ours! + +"Thank God, the thing is over," said Mr. Edison. "We have got the victory +at last, but how we shall make use of it is something that at present +I do not see." + +"But will they not renew the attack," asked someone. + +"I do not think they can," was the reply. "We have destroyed the very +flower of their fleet." + +"And better than that," said Colonel Smith, "we have destroyed their elan; +we have made them afraid. Their discipline is gone." + +But this was only the beginning of our victory. The floods below were +achieving a still greater triumph, and now that we had conquered the +airships we dropped within a few hundred feet of the surface of the water +and then turned our faces westward in order to follow the advance of the +deluge and see whether, as we had hoped, it would overwhelm our enemies +in the very centre of their power. + + +The Flood Advances. + +In a little while we had overtaken the front wave, which was still +devouring everything. We saw it bursting the banks of the canals, sweeping +away forests of gigantic trees, and swallowing cities and villages, +leaving nothing but a broad expanse of swirling and eddying waters, +which, in consequence of the prevailing red hue of the vegetation and +the soil, looked, as shuddering we gazed down upon it, like an ocean +of blood flecked with foam and steaming with the escaping life of the +planet from whose veins it gushed. + +As we skirted the southern borders of the continent the same +dreadful scenes which we had beheld on the coast of Aeria presented +themselves. Crowds of refugees thronged the high border of the land +and struggled with one another for a foothold against the continually +rising flood. + + +Watching the Destruction. + +We saw, too, flitting in every direction, but rapidly fleeing before our +approach, many airships, evidently crowded with Martians, but not armed +either for offence or defence. These, of course, we did not disturb, for +merciless as our proceedings seemed even to ourselves, we had no intention +of making war upon the innocent, or upon those who had no means to resist. +What we had done it had seemed to us necessary to do, but henceforth we +were resolved to take no more lives if it could be avoided. + +Thus, during the remainder of that day, all of the following night and +all of the next day, we continued upon the heels of the advancing flood. + + + + +Chapter XVI. + + +The second night we could perceive ahead of us the electric lights +covering the land of Thaumasia, in the midst of which lay the Lake of +the Sun. The flood would be upon it by daybreak, and, assuming that the +demoralization produced by the news of the coming of the waters, which +we were aware had hours before been flashed to the capital of Mars, would +prevent the Martians from effectively manning their forts, we thought it +safe to hasten on with the flagship, and one or two others, in advance of +the water, and to hover over the Lake of the Sun in the darkness, in order +that we might watch the deluge perform its awful work in the morning. + + +The Giant Woman Drowned. + +She, Like the Rest, a Prey to the Devouring Flood of the Canals. + +Thaumasia, as I have before remarked, was a broad, oval land, about 1,800 +miles across, having the Lake of the Sun exactly in its centre. From +this lake, which was four or five hundred miles in diameter, and circular +in outline, many canals radiated, as straight as the spokes of a wheel, +in every direction, and connected it with the surrounding seas. + +Like all the other Martian continents, Thaumasia lay below the level of +the sea, except toward the south, where it fronted the ocean. + +Completely surrounding the lake was a great ring of cities constituting +the capital of Mars. Here the genius of the Martians had displayed +itself to the full. The surrounding country was irrigated until it fairly +bloomed with gigantic vegetation and flowers; the canals were carefully +regulated with locks so that the supply of water was under complete +control; the display of magnificent metallic buildings of all kinds and +sizes produced a most dazzling effect, and the protection against enemies +afforded by the innumerable fortifications surrounding the ringed city, +and guarding the neighboring lands, seemed complete. + + +Waiting for the Flood. + +Suspended at a height of perhaps two miles from the surface, near the +southern edge of the lake, we waited for the oncoming flood. With the +dawn of day we began to perceive more clearly the effects which the news +of the drowning of the planet had produced. It was evident that many of +the inhabitants of the cities had already fled. Airships on which the +fugitives hung as thick as swarms of bees were seen, elevated but a short +distance above the ground, and making their way rapidly toward the south. + +The Martians knew that their only hope of escape lay in reaching the +high southern border of the land before the floods were upon them. But +they must have known also that that narrow beach would not suffice to +contain one in ten of those who sought refuge there. The density of the +population around the Lake of the Sun seemed to us incredible. Again +our hearts sank within us at the sight of the fearful destruction of +life for which we were responsible. Yet we comforted ourselves with the +reflection that it was unavoidable. As Colonel Smith put it: + +"You couldn't trust these coyotes. The only thing to do was to drown +them out. I am sorry for them, but I guess there will be as many left +as will be good for us, anyhow." + + +The Crest of the Waters. + +We had not long to wait for the flood. As the dawn began to streak the +east we saw its awful crest moving out of the darkness, bursting across +the canals and plowing its way in the direction of the crowded shores of +the Lake of the Sun. The supply of water behind that great wave seemed +inexhaustible. Five thousand miles it had travelled, and yet its power +was as great as when it started from the Syrtis Major. + +We caught sight of the oncoming water before it was visible to the +Martians beneath us. But while it was yet many miles away, the roar of it +reached them, and then arose a chorus of terrified cries, the effect of +which, coming to our ears out of the half gloom of the morning, was most +uncanny and horrible. Thousands upon thousands of the Martians still +remained here to become the victims of the deluge. Some, perhaps, had +doubted the truth of the reports that the banks were down and the floods +were out; others, for one reason or another had been unable to get away; +others, like the inhabitants of Pompeii, had lingered too long, or had +returned after beginning their flight to secure abandoned treasures, +and now it was too late to get away. + + +Engulfing the City. + +With a roar that shook the planet the white wall rushed upon the great +city beneath our feet, and in an instant it had been engulfed. On went +the flood, swallowing up the Lake of the Sun itself, and in a little +while, as far as our eyes could range, the land of Thaumasia had been +turned into a raging sea. + +We now turned our ships toward the southern border of the land, following +the direction of the airships carrying the fugitives, a few of which were +still navigating the atmosphere a mile beneath us. In their excitement and +terror the Martians paid little attention to us, although, as the morning +brightened, they must have been aware of our presence over their heads. +But, apparently, they no longer thought of resistance; their only object +was escape from the immediate and appalling danger. + +When we had progressed to a point about half way from the Lake of the Sun +to the border of the sea, having dropped down within a few hundred feet of +the surface, there suddenly appeared, in the midst of the raging waters, +a sight so remarkable that at first I rubbed my eyes in astonishment, +not crediting their report of what they beheld. + + +A Woman Forty Feet High! + +Standing on the apex of a sandy elevation, which still rose a few feet +above the gathering flood, was the figure of a woman, as perfect in form +and in classic beauty of feature as the Venus of Milo--a magnified human +being not less than forty feet in height! + +But for her swaying and the wild motions of her arms, we should have +mistaken her for a marble statue. + +Aina, who happened to be looking, instantly exclaimed: + +"It is the woman from Ceres. She was taken prisoner by the Martians +during their last invasion of that world, and since then has been a +slave in the palace of the Emperor." + + +Overtaken by the Flood. + +Apparently her great stature had enabled her to escape, while her +masters had been drowned. She had fled like the others, toward the south, +but being finally surrounded by the rising waters, had taken refuge on +the hillock of sand, where we saw her. This was fast giving way under +the assault of the waves, and even while we watched the water rose to +her knees. + +"Drop lower," was the order of the electrical steersman of the flagship, +and as quickly as possible we approached the place where the towering +figure stood. + +She had realized the hopelessness of her situation, and quickly ceased +those appalling and despairing gestures, which at first served to convince +us that it was indeed a living being on whom we were looking. + + +Save the Woman from Ceres! + +There she stood, with a light, white garment thrown about her, erect, +half-defiant, half yielding to her fear, more graceful than any Greek +statue, her arms outstretched, yet motionless, and her eyes upcast, +as if praying to her God to protect her. Her hair, which shone like +gold in the increasing light of day, streamed over her shoulders, and +her great eyes were astare between terror and supplication. So wildly +beautiful a sight not one of us had ever beheld. For a moment sympathy +was absorbed in admiration. Then: + +"Save her! Save her!" was the cry that arose throughout the ship. + +Ropes were instantly thrown out, and one or two men prepared to let +themselves down in order better to aid her. + +But when we were almost within reach, and so close that we could see +the very expression of her eyes, which appeared to take no note of us, +but to be fixed, with a far-away look upon something beyond human ken, +suddenly the undermined bank on which she stood gave way, the blood-red +flood swirled in from right to left, and then: + +"The waters closed above her face +With many a ring." + + +She, Like the Rest, Is Gone. + +"If but for that woman's sake, I am sorry we drowned the planet," +exclaimed Sidney Phillips. But a moment afterward I saw that he regretted +what he had said, for Aina's eyes were fixed upon him. Perhaps, however, +she did not understand his remark, and perhaps if she did it gave her +no offence. + +After this episode we pursued our way rapidly until we arrived at the +shore of the Southern Ocean. There, as we had expected, was to be seen +a narrow strip of land with the ocean on one side and the raging flood +seeking to destroy it on the other. In some places it had been already +broken through, so that the ocean was flowing in to assist in the drowning +of Thaumasia. + +But some parts of the coast were evidently so elevated that no matter +how high the flood might rise it would not completely cover them. Here +the fugitives had gathered in dense throngs and above them hovered most +of the airships, loaded down with others who were unable to find room +upon the dry land. + + +The Martians Not Discouraged. + +On one of the loftiest and broadest of these elevations we noticed +indications of military order in the alignment of the crowds and the shore +all around was guarded by gigantic pickets, who mercilessly shoved back +into the flood all the later comers, and thus prevented too great crowding +upon the land. In the centre of this elevation rose a palatial structure +of red metal which Aina informed us was one of the residences of the +Emperor, and we concluded that the monarch himself was now present there. + +The absence of any signs of resistance on the part of the airships, +and the complete drowning of all of the formidable fortifications on +the surface of the planet, convinced us that all we now had to do in +order to complete our conquest was to get possession of the person of +the chief ruler. + +The fleet was, accordingly, concentrated, and we rapidly approached the +great Martian palace. As we came down within a hundred feet of them and +boldly made our way among their airships, which retreated at our approach, +the Martians gazed at us with mingled fear and astonishment. + +We were their conquerors and they knew it. We were coming to demand their +surrender, and they evidently understood that also. As we approached the +palace signals were made from it with brilliant colored banners which +Aina informed us were intended as a token of truce. + +"We shall have to go down and have a confab with them, I suppose," +said Mr. Edison. "We can't kill them off now that they are helpless, +but we must manage somehow to make them understand that unconditional +surrender is their only chance." + + +A Parley with the Enemy. + +"Let us take Aina with us," I suggested, "and since she can speak the +language of the Martians we shall probably have no difficulty in arriving +at an understanding." + +Accordingly the flagship was carefully brought further down in front +of the entrance to the palace, which had been kept clear by the Martian +guards, and while the remainder of the squadron assembled within a few +feet directly over our heads with the disintegrators turned upon the +palace and the crowd below. Mr. Edison and myself, accompanied by Aina, +stepped out upon the ground. + +There was a forward movement in the immense crowd, but the guards sternly +kept everybody back. A party of a dozen giants, preceded by one who +seemed to be their commander, gorgeously attired in jewelled garments, +advanced from the entrance of the palace to meet us. Aina addressed a +few words to the leader, who replied sternly, and then, beckoning us to +follow, retraced his steps into the palace. + +Notwithstanding our confidence that all resistance had ceased, we did +not deem it wise actually to venture into the lion's den without having +taken every precaution against a surprise. Accordingly, before following +the Martian into the palace, we had twenty of the electrical ships moored +around it in such a position that they commanded not only the entrance +but all of the principal windows, and then a party of forty picked men, +each doubly armed with powerful disintegrators, were selected to attend +us into the building. This party was placed under the command of Colonel +Smith, and Sidney Phillips insisted on being a member of it. + + +A Nearer Sight of the Martians. + +In the meantime the Martian with his attendants who had first invited us +to enter, finding that we did not follow him, had returned to the front +of the palace. He saw the disposition that we had made of our forces, +and instantly comprehended its significance, for his manner changed +somewhat, and he seemed more desirous than before to conciliate us. + +When he again beckoned us to enter, we unhesitatingly followed him, +and, passing through the magnificent entrance, found ourselves in a +vast ante-chamber, adorned after the manner of the Martians in the most +expensive manner. Thence we passed into a great circular apartment, with +a dome painted in imitation of the sky, and so lofty that to our eyes it +seemed like the firmament itself. Here we found ourselves approaching an +elevated throne situated in the centre of the apartment, while long rows +of brilliantly armored guards flanked us on either side, and, grouped +around the throne, some standing and others reclining upon the flights of +steps which appeared to be of solid gold, was an array of Martian woman, +beautifully and becomingly attired, all of whom greatly astonished us +by the singular charm of their faces and bearing, so different from the +aspect of most of the Martians, whom we had already encountered. + + +The Martians' Beautiful Women. + +Despite their stature--for these women averaged twelve or thirteen feet +in height--the beauty of their complexions--of a dark, olive tint--was +no less brilliant than that of the women of Italy or Spain. + +At the top of the steps on a magnificent golden throne, sat the Emperor +himself. There are some busts of Caracalla which I have seen that are +almost as ugly as the face of the Martian ruler. He was of gigantic +stature, larger than the majority of his subjects, and as near as I +could judge must have been between fifteen and sixteen feet in height. + +As I looked at him I understood a remark which had been made by +Aina to the effect that the Martians were not all alike, and that the +peculiarities of their minds were imprinted on their faces and expressed +in their forms in a very wonderful, and sometimes terrible manner. + +I had also learned from her that Mars was under a military government, +and that the military class had absolute control of the planet. I +was somewhat startled, then, in looking at the head and centre of the +great military system of Mars, to find in his appearance a striking +confirmation of the speculations of our terrestrial phrenologists. +His broad, mis-shapen head bulged in those parts where they had placed +the so-called organs of combativeness, destructiveness, etc. + + +Something Learned About Them. + +Plainly, this was an effect of his training and education. His very +brain had become a military engine; and the aspect of his face, the +pitiless lines of his mouth and chin, the evil glare of his eyes, the +attitude and carriage of his muscular body, all tended to complete the +warlike ensemble. + +He was magnificently dressed in some vesture that had the lustre of a +polished plate of gold, with the suppleness of velvet. As we approached +he fixed his immense, deep-set eyes sternly upon our faces. + +The contrast between his truly terrible countenance and the Eve-like +features of the women who surrounded his throne was as great as if Satan +after his fall had here re-enthroned himself in the midst of angels. + +Mr. Edison, Colonel Smith, Sidney Phillips, Aina and myself advanced at +the head of the procession, our guard following in close order behind +us. It had been evident from the moment that we entered the palace that +Aina was regarded with aversion by all of the Martians. Even the women +about the throne gazed scowlingly at her as we drew near. Apparently, +the bitterness of feeling which had led to the awful massacre of all her +race had not yet vanished. And, indeed, since the fact that she remained +alive could have been known only to the Martian who had abducted her and +to his immediate companions, her reappearance with us must have been a +great surprise to all those who now looked upon her. + + +The Enemy Vanquished. + +The Martians Succumb at Last, and Are at Our Mercy. + +It was clear to me that the feeling aroused by her appearance was every +moment becoming more intense. Still, the thought of a violent outbreak +did not occur to me, because our recent triumph had seemed so complete +that I believed the Martians would be awed by our presence, and would +not undertake actually to injure the girl. + +I think we all had the same impression, but as the event proved, we +were mistaken. + +Suddenly one of the gigantic guards, as if actuated by a fit of +ungovernable hatred, lifted his foot and kicked Aina. With a loud shriek, +she fell to the floor. + + +Aina Attacked by a Martian. + +The blow was so unexpected that for a second we all remained riveted to +the spot. Then I saw Colonel Smith's face turn livid, and at the same +instant heard the whirr of his disintegrator, while Sidney Phillips, +forgetting the deadly instrument that he carried in his hand, sprung madly +toward the brute who had kicked Aina, as if he intended to throttle him, +colossus as he was. + +But Colonel Smith's aim, though instantaneously taken, as he had been +accustomed to shoot on the plains, was true, and Phillips, plunging madly +forward, seemed wreathed in a faint blue mist--all that the disintegrator +had left of the gigantic Martian. + + +Swift Vengeance. + +Who could adequately describe the scene that followed? + +I remember that the Martian Emperor sprang to his feet, looking tenfold +more terrible than before. I remember that there instantly burst from +the line of guards on either side crinkling beams of death-fire that +seemed to sear the eyeballs. I saw a half a dozen of our men fall in +heaps of ashes, and even at that terrible moment I had time to wonder +that a single one of us remained alive. + +Rather by instinct than in consequence of any order given, we formed +ourselves in a hollow square, with Aina lying apparently lifeless in +the centre, and then with gritted teeth we did our work. + +The lines of guards melted before the disintegrators like rows of snow +men before a licking flame. + + +A Terrible Battle. + +The discharge of the lightning engines in the hands of the Martians in +that confined space made an uproar so tremendous that it seemed to pass +the bounds of human sense. + +More of our men fell before their awful fire, and for the second time +since our arrival on this dreadful planet of war our annihilation seemed +inevitable. + +But in a moment the whole scene changed. Suddenly there was a discharge +into the room which I knew came from one of the disintegrators of the +electrical ships. It swept through the crowded throng like a destroying +blast. Instantly from another side swished a second discharge, no less +destructive, and this was quickly followed by a third. Our ships were +firing through the windows. + + +The Power of the Disintegrator. + +Almost at the same moment I saw the flagship, which had been moored in the +air close to the entrance and floating only three or four feet above the +ground, pushing its way through the gigantic doorway from the ante-room, +with its great disintegrators pointed upon the crowd like the muzzles +of a cruiser's guns. + +And now the Martians saw that the contest was hopeless for them, and +their mad struggle to get out of the range of the disintegrators and +to escape from the death chamber was more appalling to look upon than +anything that had yet occurred. + +It was a panic of giants. They trod one another under foot; they yelled +and screamed in their terror; they tore each other with their clawlike +fingers. They no longer thought of resistance. The battle spirit had +been blown out of them by a breath of terror that shivered their marrow. + + +No Pity for Our Foes. + +Still the pitiless disintegrators played upon them until Mr. Edison, +making himself heard, now that the thunder of their engines had ceased +to reverberate through the chamber, commanded that our fire should cease. + +In the meantime the armed Martians outside the palace, hearing the +uproar within, seeing our men pouring their fire through the windows, +and supposing that we were guilty at once of treachery and assassination, +had attempted an attack upon the electrical ships stationed round the +building. But fortunately they had none of their larger engines at hand, +and with their hand arms alone they had not been able to stand up against +the disintegrators. They were blown away before the withering fire of +the ships by the hundred until, fleeing from destruction, they rushed +madly, driving their unarmed companions before them into the seething +waters of the flood close at hand. + + + + +Chapter XVII. + + +The Emperor Survives. + +Through all this terrible contest the emperor of the Martians had remained +standing upon his throne, gazing at the awful spectacle, and not moving +from the spot. Neither he nor the frightened woman gathered upon the steps +of the throne had been injured by the disintegrators. Their immunity +was due to the fact that the position and elevation of the throne were +such that it was not within the range of fire of the electrical ships +which had poured their vibratory discharges through the windows, and we +inside had only directed our fire toward the warriors who had attacked us. + +Now that the struggle was over we turned our attention to +Aina. Fortunately the girl had not been seriously injured and she was +quickly restored to consciousness. Had she been killed, we would have +been practically helpless in attempting further negotiations, because +the knowledge which we had acquired of the language of the Martians from +the prisoner captured on the golden asteroid, was not sufficient to meet +the requirements of the occasion. + + +The Emperor Our Prisoner. + +When the Martian monarch saw that we had ceased the work of death, he +sank upon his throne. There he remained, leaning his chin upon his two +hands and staring straight before him like that terrible doomed creature +who fascinates the eyes of every beholder standing in the Sistine Chapel +and gazing at Michael Angelo's dreadful painting of "The Last Judgement." + +This wicked Martian also felt that he was in the grasp of pitiless and +irresistible fate, and that a punishment too well deserved, and from +which there was no possible escape, now confronted him. + +There he remained in a hopelessness which almost compelled our sympathy, +until Aina had so far recovered that she was once more able to act +as our interpreter. Then we made short work of the negotiations. +Speaking through Aina, the commander said: + +"You know who we are. We have come from the earth, which, by your command, +was laid waste. Our commission was not revenge, but self-protection. What +we have done has been accomplished with that in view. You have just +witnessed an example of our power, the exercise of which was not dictated +by our wish, but compelled by the attack wantonly made upon a helpless +member of our own race under our protection." + + +We Dictate Terms. + +"We have laid waste your planet, but it is simply a just retribution +for what you did with ours. We are prepared to complete the destruction, +leaving not a living being in this world of yours, or to grant you peace, +at your choice. Our condition of peace is simply this: 'All resistance +must cease absolutely.'" + +"Quite right," broke in Colonel Smith; "let the scorpion pull out his +sting or we'll do it for him." + +"Nothing that we could now do," continued the commander, "would in my +opinion save you from ultimate destruction. The forces of nature which +we have been compelled to let loose upon you will complete their own +victory. But we do not wish, unnecessarily, to stain our hands further +with your blood. We shall leave you in possession of your lives. Preserve +them if you can. But, in case the flood recedes before you have all +perished from starvation, remember that you here take an oath, solemnly +binding yourself and your descendants forever never again to make war +upon the earth." + + +We Show Mercy. + +"That's really the best we can do," said Mr. Edison, turning to us. "We +can't possibly murder these people in cold blood. The probability is +that the flood has hopelessly ruined all their engines of war. I do not +believe that there is one chance in ten that the waters will drain off +in time to enable them to get at their stores of provisions before they +have perished from starvation." + +"It is my opinion," said Lord Kelvin, who had joined us (his pair of +disintegrators hanging by his side, attached to a strap running over +the back of his neck, very much as a farmer sometimes carries his big +mittens), "it is my opinion that the flood will recede more rapidly than +you think, and that the majority of these people will survive. But I +quite agree with your merciful view of the matter. We must be guilty of +no wanton destruction. Probably more than nine-tenths of the inhabitants +of Mars have perished in the deluge. Even if all the others survived +ages would elapse before they could regain the power to injure us." + + +The Martians Submit. + +I need not describe in detail how our propositions were received by the +Martian monarch. He knew, and his advisers, some of whom he had called +in consultation, also knew, that everything was in our hands to do as we +pleased. They readily agreed, therefore, that they would make no more +resistance and that we and our electrical ships should be undisturbed +while we remained upon Mars. The monarch took the oath prescribed after +the manner of his race: thus the business was completed. But through +it all there had been the shadow of a sneer on the emperor's face which +I did not like. But I said nothing. + +And now we began to think of our return home, and of the pleasure we +should have in recounting our adventures to our friends on the earth, +who were doubtless eagerly waiting for news from us. We knew they had +been watching Mars with powerful telescopes, and we were also eager to +learn how much they had seen and how much they had been able to guess +of our proceedings. + +But a day or two at least would be required to overhaul the electrical +ships and to examine the state of our provisions. Those which we had +brought from the earth, it will be remembered, had been spoiled and we +had been compelled to replace them from the compressed provisions found +in the Martians' storehouse. This compressed food had proved not only +exceedingly agreeable to the taste, but very nourishing, and all of us +had grown extremely fond of it. A new supply, however, would be needed +in order to carry us back to the earth. At least sixty days would be +required for the homeward journey, because we could hardly expect to +start from Mars with the same initial velocity which we had been able +to generate on leaving home. + +In considering the matter of provisioning the fleet it finally became +necessary to take an account of our losses. This was a thing that we had +all shrunk from, because they had seemed to us almost too terrible to be +borne. But now the facts had to be faced. Out of the 100 ships, carrying +something more than two thousand souls, with which we had quitted the +earth, there remained only fifty-five ships and 1,085 men! All the +others had been lost in our terrific encounters with the Martians, +and particularly in our first disastrous battle beneath the clouds. + + +Preparing to Return. + +Among the lost were many men whose names were famous upon the earth, and +whose death would be widely deplored when the news of it was received +upon their native planet. Fortunately this number did not include any +of those whom I have had occasion to mention in the course of this +narrative. The venerable Lord Kelvin, who, notwithstanding his age, and +his pacific disposition, proper to a man of science, had behaved with the +courage and coolness of a veteran in every crisis; Monsieur Moissan, the +eminent chemist; Prof. Sylvanus P. Thompson, and the Heidelberg Professor, +to whom we all felt under special obligations because he had opened to +our comprehension the charming lips of Aina--all these had survived, +and were about to return with us to the earth. + +It seemed to some of us almost heartless to deprive the Martians who +still remained alive of any of the provisions which they themselves +would require to tide them over the long period which must elapse before +the recession of the flood should enable them to discover the sites of +their ruined homes, and to find the means of sustenance. But necessity +was now our only law. We learned from Aina that there must be stores +of provisions in the neighborhood of the palace, because it was the +custom of the Martians to lay up such stores during the harvest time +in each Martian year in order to provide against the contingency of an +extraordinary drought. + +It was not with very good grace that the Martian Emperor acceded to our +demands that one of the storehouses should be opened, but resistance +was useless, and of course we had our way. + +The supplies of water which we brought from the earth, owing to a peculiar +process invented by Monsieur Moissan, had been kept in exceedingly good +condition, but they were now running low and it became necessary to +replenish them also. This was easily done from the Southern Ocean, for +on Mars, since the levelling of the continental elevations, brought about +many years ago, there is comparatively little salinity in the sea waters. + +While these preparations were going on Lord Kelvin and the other men +of science entered with the utmost eagerness upon those studies, the +prosecution of which had been the principal inducement leading them +to embark on the expedition. But, almost all of the face of the planet +being covered with the flood, there was comparatively little that they +could do. Much, however, could be learned with the aid of Aina from the +Martians, now crowded on the land about the palace. + +The results of these discoveries will in due time appear, fully +elaborated in learned and authoritative treatises prepared by these +savants themselves. I shall only call attention to one, which seemed +to me very remarkable. I have already said that there were astonishing +differences in the personal appearance of the Martians, evidently +arising from differences of character and education, which had impressed +themselves in the physical aspect of the individuals. + +We now learned that these differences were more completely the result +of education than we had at first supposed. + +Looking about among the Martians by whom we were surrounded, it soon +became easy for us to tell who were the soldiers and who were the +civilians, simply by the appearance of their bodies, and particularly of +their heads. All members of the military class resembled, to a greater +or less extent, the monarch himself, in that those parts of their skulls +which our phrenologists had designated as the bumps of destructiveness, +combativeness and so on were enormously and disproportionately developed. + +And all this, as we were assured, was completely under the control of the +Martians themselves. They had learned, or invented, methods by which the +brain itself could be manipulated, so to speak, and any desired portions +of it could be specially developed, while the other parts of it were left +to their normal growth. The consequence was that in the Martian schools +and colleges there was no teaching in our sense of the word. It was all +brain culture. + +A Martian youth selected to be a soldier had his fighting faculties +especially developed, together with those parts of the brain which impart +courage and steadiness of nerve. He who was intended for scientific +investigation had his brain developed into a mathematical machine, or +an instrument of observation. Poets and literary men had their heads +bulging with the imaginative faculties. The heads of inventors were +developed into a still different shape. + +"And so," said Aina, translating for us the words of a professor in +the Imperial University of Mars, from whom we derived the greater part +of our information on this subject, "the Martian boys do not study +a subject; they do not have to learn it, but, when their brains have +been sufficiently developed in the proper direction, they comprehend it +instantly, by a kind of divine instinct." + +But among the women of Mars, we saw none of these curious, and to our +eyes monstrous, differences of development. While the men received, +in addition to their special education, a broad general culture also, +with the women there was no special education. It was all general in +its character, yet thorough enough in that way. The consequence was +that only female brains upon Mars were entirely well balanced. This was +the reason why we invariably found the Martian women to be remarkably +charming creatures, with none of those physical exaggerations and uncouth +developments which disfigured their masculine companions. + +All the books of the Martians, we ascertained, were books of history and +of poetry. For scientific treatises they had no need, because, as I have +explained, when the brains of those intended for scientific pursuits had +been developed in the proper way the knowledge of nature's laws came to +them without effort, as a spring bubbles from the rocks. + +One word of explanation may be needed concerning the failure of the +Martians, with all their marvellous powers, to invent electrical ships +like those of Mr. Edison and engines of destruction comparable with our +disintegrators. This failure was simply due to the fact that on Mars +there did not exist the peculiar metals by the combination of which +Mr. Edison had been able to effect his wonders. The theory involved in +our inventions was perfectly understood by them, and had they possessed +the means, doubtless they would have been able to carry it into practice +even more effectively than we had done. + +After two or three days all the preparations having been completed, +the signal was given for our departure. The men of science were still +unwilling to leave this strange world, but Mr. Edison decided that we +could linger no longer. + +At the moment of starting a most tragic event occurred. Our fleet was +assembled around the palace, and the signal was given to rise slowly to a +considerable height before imparting a great velocity to the electrical +ships. As we slowly rose we saw the immense crowd of giants beneath us, +with upturned faces, watching our departure. The Martian monarch and all +his suite had come out upon the terrace of the palace to look at us. At +a moment when he probably supposed himself to be unwatched he shook his +fist at the retreating fleet. My eyes and those of several others in +the flagship chanced to be fixed upon him. Just as he made the gesture +one of the women of his suite, in her eagerness to watch us, apparently +lost her balance and stumbled against him. Without a moment's hesitation, +with a tremendous blow, he felled her like an ox at his feet. + +A fearful oath broke from the lips of Colonel Smith, who was one of those +looking on. It chanced that he stood near the principal disintegrator +of the flagship. Before anybody could interfere he had sighted and +discharged it. The entire force of the terrible engine, almost capable +of destroying a fort, fell upon the Martian Emperor, and not merely blew +him into a cloud of atoms, but opened a great cavity in the ground on +the spot where he had stood. + +A shout arose from the Martians, but they were too much astounded at +what had occurred to make any hostile demonstrations, and, anyhow, +they knew well that they were completely at our mercy. + +Mr. Edison was on the point of rebuking Colonel Smith for what he had +done, but Aina interposed. + +"I am glad it was done," said she, "for now only can you be safe. That +monster was more directly responsible than any other inhabitant of Mars +for all the wickedness of which they have been guilty." + +"The expedition against the earth was inspired solely by him. There is +a tradition among the Martians--which my people, however, could never +credit--that he possessed a kind of immortality. They declared that it +was he who led the former expedition against the earth when my ancestors +were brought away prisoners from their happy home, and that it was his +image which they had set up in stone in the midst of the Land of Sand. He +prolonged his existence, according to this legend, by drinking the waters +of a wonderful fountain, the secret of whose precise location was known +to him alone, but which was situated at that point where in your maps of +Mars the name of the Fons Juventae occurs. He was personified wickedness, +that I know; and he never would have kept his oath if power had returned +to him again to injure the earth. In destroying him, you have made your +victory secure." + + + + +Chapter XVIII. + + +When at length we once more saw our native planet, with its +well-remembered features of land and sea, rolling beneath our eyes, +the feeling of joy that came over us transcended all powers of expression. + +In order that all the nations which had united in sending out the +expedition should have visual evidence of its triumphant return, it +was decided to make the entire circuit of the earth before seeking our +starting point and disembarking. Brief accounts in all known languages, +telling the story of what we had done were accordingly prepared, and then +we dropped down through the air until again we saw the well-loved blue +dome over our heads, and found ourselves suspended directly above the +white-topped cone of Fujiyama, the sacred mountain of Japan. Shifting our +place toward the northeast, we hung above the city of Tokio and dropped +down into the crowds that had assembled to watch us, the prepared accounts +of our journey, which, the moment they had been read and comprehended, +led to such an outburst of rejoicing as it would be quite impossible +to describe. + +One of the ships containing the Japanese members of the expedition +dropped to the ground, and we left them in the midst of their rejoicing +countrymen. Before we started--and we remained but a short time suspended +above the Japanese capital--millions had assembled to greet us with +their cheers. + +We now repeated what we had done during our first examination of the +surface of Mars. We simply remained suspended in the atmosphere, allowing +the earth to turn beneath us. As Japan receded in the distance we found +China beginning to appear. Shifting our position a little toward the +south we again came to rest over the city of Pekin, where once more we +parted with some of our companions, and where the outburst of universal +rejoicing was repeated. + +From Asia, crossing the Caspian Sea, we passed over Russia, visiting in +turn Moscow and St. Petersburg. + +Still the great globe rolled steadily beneath, and still we kept the +sun with us. Now Germany appeared, and now Italy, and then France, +and England, as we shifted our position, first North then South, in +order to give all the world the opportunity to see that its warriors +had returned victorious from their far conquest. And in each country as +it passed beneath our feet, we left some of the comrades who had shared +our perils and our adventures. + +At length the Atlantic had rolled away under us, and we saw the spires +of the new New York. + +The news of our coming had been flashed ahead from Europe, and our +countrymen were prepared to welcome us. We had originally started, it +will be remembered, at midnight, and now again as we approached the new +capital of the world the curtain of night was just beginning to be drawn +over it. But our signal lights were ablaze, and through these they were +aware of our approach. + +Again the air was filled with bursting rockets and shaken with the roar +of cannon, and with volleying cheers, poured from millions of throats, +as we came to rest directly above the city. + +Three days after the landing of the fleet, and when the first enthusiasm +of our reception had a little passed, I received a beautifully engraved +card inviting me to be present in Trinity Church at the wedding of Aina +and Sidney Phillips. + +When I arrived at the church, which had been splendidly decorated, I +found there Mr. Edison, Lord Kelvin, and all the other members of the +crew of the flagship, and, considerably to my surprise, Colonel Smith, +appropriately attired, and with a grace for the possession of which I +had not given him credit, gave away the beautiful bride. + +But Alonzo Jefferson Smith was a man and a soldier, every inch of him. + +"I asked her for myself," he whispered to me after the ceremony, +swallowing a great lump in his throat, "but she has had the desire of +her heart. I am going back to the plains. I can get a command again, +and I still know how to fight." + +And thus was united, for all future time, the first stem of the Aryan +race, which had been long lost, but not destroyed, with the latest +offspring of that great family, and the link which had served to bring +them together was the far-away planet of Mars. + +(The End.) + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Edison's Conquest of Mars, by +Garrett Putman Serviss + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EDISON'S CONQUEST OF MARS *** + +***** This file should be named 19141.txt or 19141.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/1/4/19141/ + +Produced by Jason Isbell, Greg Weeks, Renald Levesque, and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/19141.zip b/19141.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..001a724 --- /dev/null +++ b/19141.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b61fed6 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #19141 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19141) |
