Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-05-10
M. Strangers SeQIed Pocket,
Or, A Voyage to the Planet Mars,
By HUGH MACCOLL.

To verify these conclusions, | again
stepped out of my machine and fastened
down to the shore, where [ took up some
of the sea water in the hollow OF my
hand, and held it to my nose. This put
the matter beyond doubt; the peculiar
aromatic odor unquestionably came from
the sea. / next tasted some of the sea
water. and found that it had pretty
much the same taste as terrestrial sea
water. Whatever the constituent might
be that gave it it's aromatic smell, it did
not affect the taste. l then went to the
river, and tasted it's waters at place
beyond the reach of the sea water. This
I could not distinguish from ordinary
fresh river water.
My curiosity having been satlshed upon
these points, / returned to my machine
and delibefated what L had better 90
next While thus engaged L noticed, 10
my astonishment, that all things around
me were assuming a delicate rosy nue..
Looking out to ascertain the cause, saw
that the sun had now sunk below the
horizon, and that this was peculiar eff
feet of the MarSian sunset. Land, sea
and sky all around; mountains, rivers,
forests and rushing torrents, all were
bathed in a beautiful rosy light Words
cannot paint the exceeding loneliness OF
the whole scene. | had never seen any
thing to be compared to it upon earth,
and / could not in the least understand
the cause of it. l attributed 1t to some
unknown property of the Marslan at
mosphere, and thought it probably CON
nected in some way with the peculiar
rosy hue which the planet had presented
while / was yet long way from it.
Meanwhile the rosy light was getting
DINNER and DINNER, -heralding the fast
approach of the night; and the question
had to be decided how should pass my
first night on the planet. knew it
would be a dark night, as the light af-
forded by the planets tiny satellites
would be almost inappreciable. Prob
ably there was not much danger to be
apprehended if [ stayed where | was; l
could protect myself from unknown enc
mics by electrifying the machine; and as
for light, could surround myself with
circle of electric light at pleasure; but
still, TO make my security dOubly sure,
| decided, after considera ton, to rise
into the upper regions of the air, where
| should be safe from all molestation.
This decision was no sooner formed than
acted upon. [ Immediately raised the
electric pressure and shot up with great
rapidity. AS [ assembled, | found that
the dim rosy atmosphere was getting
lighter, particularly towards the west;
and this went on increasing till the sun,
which had but recently set, appeared
again above the horizon. / then halted
till the sun had again sunk and disap-
peared behind the great watery arc of
the west. Then [ shot up again rapidly,
and again the great orb of day rose
slowly and majestically aboveethe ocean.
This [ repeated two or three times, so
that l had the strange phenomenon pre-
scented to me of a succession of sunrises
and sunsets, following each other within
the space of few minutes.
l had now attained such a height that
| had to set both the heat and oxygen
generators to work to supply myself with
warmth and fresh air. This done, reg
ulated the electric pressure so that the
machine should at that elevation travel
slowly westward; after which stretched
myself upon my steering seat and soon
went to sleep.