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

hand engines capable Of launching bolts
Of death OF the same character "A those
which emauated from the knobs Of their
larger machines. With these they fired.
en- 10 sneak through the breach in their
car. and four OF our men who were
rushing upon them feil IN heaps OF cln-
ders
The destruction Of the threatening
knob had simultaneously relieved the
pressure upon the tcrror-stricken nerves
of our company aud they had all To-
gained their comp0surc ana seif-com-
mand But this new and unexpected Dis
aster. following SO close upon the rear
which had recently >yerpOwercd them.
produced second panic, the effect OF
which was not 20 stifion them IN their
tracks as before. but 10 send them sour
rying IN every direction In search OF hid
Inc places.
And now n most curious effect OF the
smallness'of the planet we were on bee
gan TO play q conspicuous part IN our
adventures. Standing on globe ONLY
five miles in diameter was Ike being
on The summit IF q mountain whose
sides sloped rapidly of In every dircc-
ton. disappearing In the black sky on
an sides. as II 81 were some stupondous
peak rising ont OF an unfa.homnble
abyss
In consequence OF the quick rounding
of Of the sides OF this globe. the line
Of the horizon was close at hand. ano
by running a distapce Of less than 30
yards the fugiuvos disappeared down
the sides of the astcroid.
Tho slight attraction Of the planet
and their consequent almost entire lack
OF weight, enabled the men 10 run with
immense speed. The result, as 7 subse-
qUently learned. was that after they had
disappeared from our view they quilted
the planet entirely. the force being suiii-
ciont 20 partially free them from its gra-
vitation SO that they sailed ont into
space, whlriing hclpl,ssly end over end
until the elliptic8i orbits in which they
travelled eventually brought them back
again TO the planet on the side nearly
opposite 10 that from which they had
d1partcd.
Bot several OF US with Mr.. Edison
stood fast. watching for an Opportun-
i,y 20 get the Mart.ans within rang
Of the disinteaTators Luckily We Were
enabled. by shifting our position little
TO the left TO get out OF the line of sight
OF our enemies concealed In the car
But help came from a quarter which
was unexpected 10 MS. although it should
INL nave UttN So 0thfIAl or tlt '.NN-
tric ships had been lowering above us
during the fight their commanders be-
ing apparently uncertain how 10 act
fearful, perhaps OF injurng US in the
attempt 20 smite the enemy.
But now the situation apparently
lightoned for them. They saw that we
were az an immense disadvantage, ana
several of them Immediately turned
their batteries upon the car of the Mar
tians.
They rlddied IT FAR more quickly and
effectively than we could have done.
Every stroke of the VibraiOry emana-
ton made a gap in the side Of the car
aad We could perceive from the com
motion within that our enemies We're
being rapidly massacred In their for
tilcation.
SO overwhelming was the force and
the advantage Of The ships that I'm o.
little while il was an over. Mr.. Ed
son sienaled them 20 stop firing because
81 was plain that an resistance had
ceased and probably not one Of the Mar
tians remained alive.
We now approached the car, which
had been transported in every direc-
ton. and whose remaining portions were
glowing with heat in consequence of