The herald., 1898-02-27

ships dazzling lightning stroke mile
in length. at whose touch the metalllt
sides of the car curled and withereo
and, licked for a moment by wha'
seemed lambent flames, collapsed into
mere cinder.
For an instant not a word was
spoken, so sudden and unexpected hao
been the blow.
We knew that every soul in the
stricken car had perished.
Back! Back" was the signal in
simultaneously flashed from the flag
ship, 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 de-
stroyed.
1t 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 of our enemies
floating on an asteroid.
The first thing to do was to avenge
the death of our comrades. The
question whether we We're able to meet
these Martians and overcome them
might as we'll be settled right here
and now. They had proved what they
could do. Now it was our turn.
The squadron had been rapidly
withdrawn to very considerable dis
tance from the asterod. 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 disintegra
tors. If it should prove that the Mar
tians were able to deal their strokes at
distance greater than any which 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.
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 Aagship moved straight in toward
the point where the first disaster oc-
Cured.
The approach of the ships was made
with great caution. Watching the Mar
tians with our telescopes we could
clearly see that they were disconnected
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.
Suddenly a repetition of the quick
movements by the Martians. which had
been the forerunner of the former coup.
was observed; again a binding flash
burst from the wsr engine. and in
Simultaneously shiver ran through
the frame of the flagship: the air
within quivered with strange pulsa-
tions and seemed suddenly to have as
sumed the temperature of a blast fur
mace.
We all gasped for breath. Our
throats and lungs seemed scorched in
the act of breathing. Some fell un-
conscious upon the floor. The marks
men, 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 moment
the wave of heat passed; those who
had fallen recovered from their mo-
mentary stupor and staggered to their
feet.
The electrical steersman stood hes
itating at his post.
"Move on said Mr.. Edison, sternly.
his features set with determination and
his eyes afire. I'VE 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 it's inmates. The
other members of the squadron, think
ing 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 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 fully comprehend his intention
he had passed through the double
trapped door which gave access to
the exterior of the car without per-
mitting the loss of air and was stand
ing upon what served for the deck of
the ship.
In his hand he carried a dsintegra-
tor. With a quick motion he sight
ed it.
AS quickly as possible I sprang to his
side. l was just in time to note the
familiar blue CLEAN about the instru-
ment, which indicated that it's terrific