Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-12-22

! oNl.LAlAS' u
TCo ScntinciS disappeared as If then had
been ghosts Of the might.
cluded in their dress resisted the action
of the disintegrators. Mr.. Edison had
readjusted the range of vibrations COW
cred by the instruments, and since then
we bad found nothing that did not yield
to them Consequently we had no fear
that the metal of the network would not
be destroyed.
There was sanger, however, Of arous-
ing attention by shattering holes
through tho tree tops. This could be
avoided by first carefully ascortaining
how far away tho network was, and
then with the adjustable mirrors at
tachod to the disintegrators focusing
the Nibratory discharge ut that distance.
so successful We're we that we opened
considerable gap in the network with
out doing any perceptible damage to
the trees beneath.
The ship was cautiously lowered
through the opening and brought to rest
among the upper branches of ono Of the
tallest trees. Colonel Smith, Mr.. Phil.
lips, Mr.. Edison and myself at once
ciambered out upon strong limb
For moment l feared our arrival
had been betrayed ON account of the
altogether too noisy contest that arose
between Colonel Smith and Mr.. Phil
lips as to which of them should assist
Alma. To settle the dispute l took
charge of her myself
At length We We're all safely in the
tree.
Then followed the still more danger
Gus undertaking of descending from
this great height to the ground. Fortu.
nately the branches were very close to-
gether, aud they extended down within
short distance of the soil. So the ac-
tual difficulties of the descent were not
very great after all. The one thing that
we had particularly TO bear in mind
was the absolute necessity of making
no noise.
At length tho descent was successful.
ly accomplished, and we all five stood
together in the shadow at the foot of
the great tree. The grove was so thick
around that while there was an album
dance Of electric lights among the trees
their illumination did not fall upon US
where we stood.
Peering cautiously through the vistas
in various directions, we ascertained
our location with respect to the wall of
the building. Like all the structures
that we had seen on Mars, it was COM
posed Of polished red metal.
where is the entrance?" inquired
Mr. Edison, in a whisper.
Come softly this way, and look cut
for the sentinel, " replied Alma.
Gripping our disintegrators firmly
and scrowing up our courage. with
noiseless steps we followed the girl
among the shadows of the trees,
We had one very great advantage.
The Martians had evidently placed so
much confidence in the electric network
which surrounded the power house that
they never dreamed of enemies being
able to penetrate it-at least, without
giving warming of their coming
But the hole which we had blown IL
this network with the disintcgrators
had been made noiselessly, and Mr.. Ed
lsOn believed since no enemies had an.
peared, that our operations had not
been betrayed by any automatic signal
to watchers inside the building.
Consequently we had every reason to
think that we now stood within the
line Of defense III which they reposed
the greatest confidence without their
having the least suspicion of our pres
euCe.
Alma assured us that on the occasion
of her former visit to the power house
there had been but two sentinels on
duty at tho entrance. At the inner end
OF long passage leading to tho interior,
she said there We're two more Besides
these, there were three OF four Marian
engineers watching tho machinery in
the interior of the building, A number
of airships were supposed to be on guard
around the structure, but probably their
vigilance had been relaxed, because not
long ago the Martians had sent an expe-
ditiOn against Ceres which had been so
successful that the power of that planet
to make an attack upon Mars had for
the present been destroyed.
SURPRISING us to have been annihilat-
ed in tho recent battle among the clouds.
they would have no fear or cause for
vigilance on our account.
The entrance to the great structure
was low-at least, when measured by
the stature of the Martians Evidently
the intention was that only one person
at IA time should find room to pass
through it.
Drawing cautiously near, we discern
cd the outlines Of two gigantic forms
standing in the darkness, one on either
side of the door. Colonel Smith wills
pered to me:
If you will take the fellow ON the
right, will attend to the other one.
Adjusting our aim as carefully as was
possible in the gloom, Colonel Smitl
and simultaneously discharged ON
disintegrators, sweeping them rapid,
up and down in the manner which ha
become familiar to us when endeav orin.