Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-12-01

COuultlOH VI tHiuSS tueIe.
The thing that gave MS the most I'M
easiness was the fact that we did not
yet know what powers the Martians
might have in reserve. Ii was but nat
ural to suppose that here, ON their own
ground they would possess means Of
defense even more effective than the
offensive engines they had employed in
attacking enemies SO many millions of
miles from home.
1t was important that we should
waste no time, and it was equally i'm
portant that we should select the most
vulnerable point for attack. 1t was self
evident, therefore, that our first duty
would be to reconnoiter the surface of
the planet and determine its weakest
point of defense.
AT first Mr.. Edison contemplated
sending the various ships in different
directions around the planet in order
that the work of exploration might be
quickly accomplished. But upon second
thought it seemed wiser to keep the
squadron together, thus diminishing the
chance of disaster.
with his own eyes the exact situation
of the various parts of the planet. where
it might appear advisable for us to be-
gin our assault.
Thus far we had remained suspended
at So great height above the planet
that we had hardly entered into the per
coptible limits of its atmosphere, and
there was no evidence that we had been
seen by the inhabitants of Mars, but be-
fore starting on our voyage of explCra
tion it was determined to drop down
closer to the surface in order that we
might the more certainly identify the
localities over which we passed.
This maneuver nearly got US into
serious trouble.
When we had arrived within n dis
tance Of three miles from the surface of
Mars, we suddenly perceived approach
ing from the eastward a large airShip
which was navigating the Marian at
mosphere at height Of perhaps half a
mile above the ground.
This airship moved rapidly on to a
point nearly beneath us. when it sud
denly paused, reversed its course and
evidently made signals. the purpose of
which was not ut first evident 10 us.
/ But in q short time their meaning be-
came perfectly plain, when we found
ourselves surrounded by at least 20 sim
liar aerostats approaching swiftly from
different sides.
1t was great mystery to us where 50
many airships had been concealed pre-
vious to their sudden appearance in an
swer To the signals.
/ But the mystery was quickly solved
when we saw detaching itself from the
surface of the planet beneath rs, wEsre.
while it remained immOvablC. its color
had blended with that of the soil 50 rs
to render it invisible, another Of the
mysterious strips.
! Then our Startled eyes beheld Gu all
sides these formidable looking enemies
rising from the ground beneath US like
so many gigantic insects disturbed by
sudden alarm.
In short time the atmosphere a mile
or two below us, and to a distance Of
perhaps 20 miles around III every dIrGc-
tion was alive with airshipS If various
sizes, and some OF most extraordinary
forms, exchanging signals. rushing t.
and fro. bu. all finally concentrating
beneath the place where our squadrOA
was suspended.
We had poked the hornets nest with
O vengeance.
As yet there had been no sting. but
we might quickly expect TO feel it if We
did not get out uf range.
Accordingly instructions We're flashed
throughout the squadron to instantly
reverse polarities and rise rs swiftly a.
possible to Il great height.
1t was evident that this maneuver
would save us from danger if IL were
quickly effected, because the airships Of
the Martiaus We're simply airsEipS and
nothing more. They could only 1iOat in
the atmosphere and had no means If
rising above it or of navigating empty
space.
70 have turned our disiutegrators
upon them and to have begun battle
then and there would have been folly.
They overwhelmingly outuumbe-ed
Us, the majority Of thcm were yet at a
considerable distance, and We could not
have done battle, even with our entire
squadron acting together, with more
than one-Quarter of them Simultaneous
ly. In the meantime the others would
have surrounded and might have de
stroyed us. We must first get some idea
of the planets means of defense before
we ventured to aSSail il.
Having risen rapidly to a height Of
% or 80 miles, so that We could feel
confident that our ships had vanished
at least from the naked eye view of our
enemies beneath, brief consultation
was held.
1t was determined to adhere to our
original programme and 10 circumnavi-
gate Mars in every direction before Pro
ceeding to open the war.
The overwhelming forces shown by
the enemy had intimidated some eTeu
of the most courageous of our men, but
still it was universally felt that ii
would not do TO retreat without blow
struck.
The more we saw. of the power Of the
Martiaus the more we became convinced
that there would be no hope for the
earth if these enemies ever again effect
ed landing upon its surface, tine ri0rs
especially since our squadron contained
nearly all of the earth's force that
would be effective in such a contest
With Mr.. Edison and the other mel