Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-12-08

planet, although it was evident that the
vihratory currents did not reach the
ground. The Martians Immediately re-
Piled 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 hemi-
I sphere of the planet.
We guided our fight 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 be-
| meath us.
Having completed our semicircuit, 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 single electrical ship and
7
dertake tho adventure with his own
vessel.
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 faint imitation
( of daylight even at our immense height
above the ground, and the dome of cloud
out of which we had emerged assumed q
soft fawn color that produced an indie
scribably beautiful effect
For 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 paratively few
bright lights were to be seen. From my
knowledge Of the geography Of Mars l
knew that this was part of the land Of
Ausonia, situated few hundred miles
northeast of Hellas, where we had first
seen the planet.
Evidently it was not sd thickly popu-
lated as some of the other parts Of Mars,
and its comparative darkness was an at
traction to us. We determined to APP
proach 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 some-
thing that will be Of use TO US, )" said
Colonel Smith, land 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 l then lowered ourselves into
the branches of the trees, each carrying
small disintegrator, and cautiously
clamber,l down to the ground
We believed we We're the first Of the
descendants of Adam to set foot on the
planet OF Mars.
At first we suffered somewhat from
the effects Of the rare atmosphere. 1t
was so lacking in density that it resem-
bled the air on the SUBMITS of the loft
lest terrestrial mountains.
Having reached the foot of the tree
in safety, we lay down for moment
on the ground TO recover ourselves and
10 become accustomed TO our new sur
roundings.
\ thrill, born half of wonder, half Of
incredulity, ran through me at the
touch of the soil of Mars. Here was
actually on that planet which had
seemed so far away, so inaccessible and
so full Of mysteries when viewed from
the earth, and vet surrounding me
were things gigantic, it is true, but
still resembling and recalling the famil-
lar sights Of my own world,
After a littlo while our lungs became
accustomed to the rarity Of the atmos-
phere and we experienced certain
stimulation in breathing.
We then got upon our feet and step
ped out from under the shadow of the
gigantic tree. High above we could
family see our electrical ship, gently
swaying in the air close to the tree top.
There We're no electric lights i'll our
immediate neighborhood, but we no
ticed that the whole surface of the
planet around us was cleaning with
them, producing an effect like the glow
of great city seen from distance al
night. The glare was family reflected
from the vast dome of clouds above,
producing the general impression of q
moonlight night upon the earth.
1t was wonderfully quiet and beau
tiful spot where we had come down.
The air had delicate feel and brao'
ing temperature, while a soft breezt
soughed through the leaves of the tree
above Slr head.
Not far away was the bank Of ca
nal, bordered by magnificent avenue
shaded by double row of immenst
outrageous trees.
We approached the canal, and get
ting upon the road turned to the left tt
make an exploration in that direction
The shadow of the trees falling upoi
the roadway produced dense gloom
in the midst of which we felt that W,