The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-27

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 10 resist. What We had done II
had seemed to us necessary 10 do, but
henceforth We were resolved TO take no
more lives II 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.
The second night we could perceive
ahead Of US the electric lights covering
the land OF Thaumasia. In the midst or
which lay the Lake Of the Sun. The flood
would be upon IL by daybreak. and, as
Stunning that the Generalization produced
by the news OF the coming OF the wa
ters. 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 IL safe 70 hasten on with the
flagship. and one or two others IN ad-
vance 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.
Thaumasia, as ! have before remarked
was q broad. oval land, about l,s0O miles
across having the Lake OF the Sun ex-
actly I'm 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 con-
nected il with the surrounding seas
Like all the other Marian continents.
Thaumasia lay below the level OF the
sea. except toward the south. where It
frontcd the ocean
Completely surrounding the lake was
a great ring Of cities constituting the
capital Of Mars Here the genius OF the
Nartians had displayed itself TO the fun.
The surrounding country was irrigated
until 10 fairly bloomed with gigantic yege-
tation and flowers: the canals were care
fully regulated with locks 50 that the
supply Of water was under complete con-
troll: the display Of magnificent metallic
buildings OF AN kinds and sizes produced
a most dazzling effect. and the protec-
ton against enemies afforded by the In
Vulnerable fOrtihcations surrounding tho
ringed city, and guarding the neiShbor-
ing lands seemed complete
Suspended at a height Of perhaps two
miles from the surface. near tbs south
ern edge Of the lake, VIC waited for the
oncoming food. With the dawn OF day
We began 20 perceive mors clearly the
erect
OF the planet had produced. II was evil
dent that many OF the inhabitants OF
the cities had already fed. 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
Tn, Martians knew that their only
hone OF escape lay In reaching the high
southern border Of the land before the
foods were upon them. But they must
have known also that that narrow beach
would not suffice 20 contain ons In ten
OF those who sought refuge there. The
density OF tho populations around the
Lake OF the Sun seemed 10 us incredible.
Again our hearts sank within US at the
fearful destruction OF life for which we
were RESPONSIBLE. Yet we comforted our
selves with the reflection that II was
unavoidable AS Colonel Smith put y:
you couldn't trust these coyotes. The
only thing 20 do was 10 drown them out.
7 am sorry for them. but guess there
will be as many left as win be good for
US ANYHOW"
We had not long 10 walt for the food.
As the dawn began TO streak the east
we saw its awful crest moving out on
the darkness. bursting across the canals
and blowing its way In the direction or
the crowded shores or the Lake OF the
Sun. The supply OF water behind that
great wave seemed inexhaustible. FIVE
thousand miles II had Travelled. and YET
its power was as great as when II start
ed from the Syrtis Major.
We caught sight OF the oncoming wa
ter before Il was visible TO the Mar
lions beneath u.s. But while II was YET
many miles away. the roar OF II reacned
them. and then arose chorus OF ter
rife cries. the effect OF which. coming
20 our ears out OF the half gloom OF the