The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-20

while awaiting news from the ships which
had been been sent 10 reconnoitrc. con-
tiued the exploration OF the little planet:
At point nearly opposite TO that
where we had landed we came upon the
mine which the Martians had been work
Ing. They had removed the thin coating
OF soil. laying bare the rich stores or
gold beneath. and large quantities OF tne
latter had been removed. Some OF II was
so sOlidly packed that the strokes OF the
Instruments by which they had detacned
II were visible Ike the streaks LETT by
knife cutting cheese.
There were many detached masses OF
gold scattered about. and some OF the
men. on picking them mp, exclaimed WIN
establishment at their lack OF weight.
forgetting for the moment that the same
law which caused their own bodies 10
weigh so little must necessarily dilece
everything else I'm like degree.
mass OF gold that on eartn no man
would have been able TO lift could mere
be tossed about like hollow rubber pau
WIN. We were examining the mine.
one Of the men left 20 guard the Marian
came running TO inform Us that the latltr
evidently wished 10 make some coinihunl,
cation. Mr.. Edison and others huIIleu
to the side OF the prisoner. He stu lay on
his back. from which position ne was not
able TO move Notwithstanding all ms et,
forts. But by the motion OF ms eyes aluso
by pantomime with his fingers. he maDe
us understand that there was somethins
IN a metallic box fastened az MS size
which he wished 20 reach
with some difficulty We succeeded IN
opening the box. and In II there appeared
n number Of bright red pellets, as large
as an ordinary egg.
Whcr the Marian saw these In our
hauds he gave as 10 understand hy lle
motion Of his lips that he wished 10 sWal-
low one Of them 4 pellet was accoIuliS-
ly placed I'm his mouth. and he instantly
and with great eagerness swallowed IL.
While trying 10 communicate ms WISH
es 10 us the prisoner had seemed TO De
I'm no little distress. He exhibited spas
urodic movement which led some OF the
bystanders 70 think that he was on the
point Of dying. but within few seconds
after he had swallowed the pellet he APP
peared to be completely restored
dences Of distress vanished. and look OF
content came over his ugly face.
1T must be q powerful medicine. said
one of the bystanders. Il wonder what il
.'I viii explain TO you my notion" said
Professor Moissam. the great French
chemist, Il think Il was a pill Of the air
which he has taken"
what do you mem by that?'
Nv meaning is said Professor
Noissam. that the Marian must have
for that he may live. the nitrogen and
the Oxygen. These he cannot obtain
here where there is not the atmosphere.
therefore must he get them m some
other manner This has be managed to
do bv combining in these pills the oxygen
and nitrogen In the proportions whicn
make atmospheric air. Doubtless upon
Mars there are very great chemists They
have discovered how this may Dee done
when tho Marian has swallowed his
little pill. the oxygen and the nitrogen
are rendered TO his blood as if he had
ircathed them. and SO he can live with
that air which has been distributed 20
him with the aid or his stomach In the
paco Of his lungs
m Monsieur Moissan's explanation was
not correct. az any rate II seemed the
only one that would ht the facts before
us Certainly the Marian could not
breathe where there WAS practically no
air vet Just as certainly after bee had
swallowed his pill he seemed as comtor-
table as any OF us.
suddenly. while we were gathered
around the prisoner. and Interested DO
this fresh evidence Of the wonderful in
genuity Of the Martians and OF their
control over the processes Of nature, one
o. the electrical ships that had been
sent of in the direction Of Mars was
seen rapidly returning and displaying
signals.
II reported that the Martians were
coming,
CTo BE Condnued)