The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-27

These efforts 10 learn tho language Of
Mare were renewed and repeated every
few hours. all the experience. learning
and genius OF tho squadron being con-
centratod upon the work. and the result
was that in the course OF few DAYS
we had actually succeeded in learning
a dozen or more Of the Martian's words
and were able 20 make him understand
us when We pronounced them. as wei
as 10 understand him when our ears had
become accustomed 10 the growing OF ms
voice.
Finally. one day the prisoner. who
seemed TO be- I'm an unusually cheerful
frame OF mind indicated that he carried
I'm his breast some object which he wished
US 10 see.
with our assistance DE pulled out a
bookl
Actually. 10 was a book. not very un-
Ike the books which We have upon the
earth. but printed. Of course. in charac-
ters that were entirely strange and un-
known 70 US. Yet these characters evi-
IDENTIFY gave expression 10 a highly intel
lectual language All those who were
standing by at the moment uttered 4
shout Of wonder and OF delight and the
cry OF "A book q book" ran around the
circle. and the good news was even
promptly communicated 10 some OF the
neighboring electric ships of the squad
ron. Several other learned ren were sum
moned in haste for them 10 examine our
new treasure.
The Marian. whose good nature had
manifestly been growing day after day
watched our inspection OF his hook with
evidences OF great interest not u"--
gled with amusement. Finally he beck
oned the holder of the book 20 his SIDE
and placing his broad finger upon ono Of
the huge leterst-if letters they We're.
for they more nearly resembled tho char
acters employed by the Chinese printer
he uttered a sound which We, OF course,
took TO be a word but which was differ
emit from any we had yet heard. Then he
pointed 10 one after another of us stand
ing around.
"Ah." explained everybody. tho truth
being apparent. that is the word by
which the Martians designate MS. They
have name, then, for the inhabitants of
the earth"
cor perhaps. # is rather the name
for the earth ITSELF said one.
But this could not or course. Doe at once
determined. Anyhow. Che word. whatever
its precise meaning might De-. had nov
been added 10 our vocabulary, although as
vet our organs OF speech proved unable
to reproduce Il In a recognizable form.
This promising and unexpected dis
covery OF the Martian's book lent add-
ed enthusiasm 20 those who were ere
gagged in the work OF trying 20 master
the language Of our prisoner, and the
progress that they made I'm the course Of
the next few days was truly aston
ishing II the prisoner had been un-
willing 20 aid them. of course. it would
have been impossible 20 proceed. hut.
fortunately for us. he seemed moro and
more 10 enter into the spirit of the un-
dertaklng. and actually to enjoy 10 him-
self. SO bright and quick was his UNDER
standing that he was even able 90 indi-
cate 70 MS methods Of mastering his lam
guage that would otherwise. probably,
never have occurred 20 our minds.
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.
7 cannot undertake TO saw precisely
how much Of the Marian language had
been acquired by the chief linguists of
the expedition before the time when We
arrived so near 20 Mars that 10 became
necessary for most OF Us 90 abandon our
studies i'm order 10 make ready for the
more serious business which now con-
fronted us.
But, ~ any rate. tho acquisition was so
considerable as 20 allow of the inter-
change or ordinary ideas with our priso-
ner and there was no longer any doubt
that he would be able 70 give us much
information when We landed on his native
planet.
At tho end of twenty-three DAYS. as
reckoned by terrestrial time, after our
departure from the as.eroii, ne arrived
i'm the sky Of Mars
For n long time tho rudy planet had
been growing larger and more iormida-