The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-06

TO them was not so serious. although
they were evidently "hors dc combat
for the present.
Our fighting blood was now boiling and
We did not stop long 10 count our losses.
Unto the smokei" was the signal. and
the ninety and more electric ships which
still remained I'm condition for action I'M
mediatoly shot downward
Il was a Wild plunge. We kept Off the
decks while rushing through the blind
ing smoke. but the instant We emerged
below where we found ourselves still a
mile above the ground. we were out again
ready 10 strike.
1 have simply n confused recollection
os flashing lights beneath. and a great.
dark arch OF clouds above. out OF which
our ships seemed dropping ON all sides,
and then the fray burst upon and around
us and no man could see or notice any
thing except by halfcomprohended
glances.
Almost in an instant it seemed n swarm
OF airships surrounded us. while from
what, for lack OF "a more descriptive
name. 1 shall call the forts about the
Lake of the sun, lcapcd tongues OF cleo
trio fire. before which some of our ships
were driven like bits Of flaming paper
then curling up and gone forever!
II was am awful sight: but the battle
fever was raging in US, and We, on our
part, were not idle.
Every man carried a disintegrator. and
these hand instruments, together with
those of heavier calibre on the ships,
poured their rosistless vibrations IN ev-
cry direction through the quivering air.
The airshlps of the Martians were de-
stroyed by the score. but yet they flock
ed upon as thicker and faster.
We dropped lower, and our blows fell
upon the forts and upon the widespread
city bordering the Lake of the sun. We
almost entirely silencod the fire Of one
Of the forts: but there were forty more
IN fun action within reach Of our eyes,
Some of the metallic buildings We're
partly unroofod by the disintosrarors and
some had their walls riddled and fell
with laundering crashes. whose sound
rose 10 our ears above tho hcllish din OF
battle ] caught glimpses OF giant forms
struggling in the ruins and rushing Wild
" through the streets. but there was no
time to see anything clearly.
our flagship seemed charmed. \
crowd of airship5 hung upon us Ike a
swarm OF angry bees. and, az times one
could not sec for the lightning strokes
yet we escaped destruction. while our
selves dealing death on every hand.
It was a glorious fight, but it was not
war: no. &c was not war. We really
had no more chance OF ultimate success
amid that multitude of enemies than "A
prisoner running tho gauntlet i'm a crowd
OF savagcs has of escape
4 conviction of the honclossness Of
the contest finally forced itself upon our
minds and tine shattered squadron. which
had kept well together amid the storm
OF death was signaled TO retreat
Shaking off their pursuers. as q hunt
ed bear shakes or the dogs sixty ~
the electrical ships rose mp through the
clouds where more than ninety had gone
down.
The Martians did not for am Instant
cease their fire. even when we were t1r
beyond their reach. With furious per-
sstence they blazcd away through the
cloud curtains and the vivid spikes Of
lightning shuddered so swiftly on one
anothers track that they were Ike a
flaming halo OF electric lances around
the frownine helmet OF the War Planet.
But after a while they stopped their
terrific sparring and once more the Inn
mense globe assumed the appearance OF
a vast hill OF black smoke.
Evidently the Alartians believed they
had finished US.
At no time since tho beginning OF our
adventure had It appeared 20 me as
quito 50 hopeless. reckless and mad as
IL seemed at present
II was plain We could NOT endure this
sort OF thing. We must ind some other
means of assaiiing Mars Or else give mp
the attempt.
our provisions could last only "a few
days longer The supply would not ear
ry US one-quarter OF the way back 20
the earth. and we must therefore re-
main here and literally conquer or die.
I'm this extremity consultation OF the
principal officers was called upon the
deck Of the flagship.
Here the suggestion was made that
We should attempt 20 effect by strate-
~ what we had failed 20 DO by force.
An old army officer who had served
in many wars against the cunning In
dams of the West Colonel Alonzo JEFF
ferson Smith, was the author Of this
suggestion.
Let MS circumvont them DE said.
I've can DO it In this way. The chances
are that all of the available fighting
force of the planet Mars is now concen-
trated on this side and in the neigh
borhood Of the Lake Of the Sun.
Possibly. by some kind of N-ray BUSH
ness. they can only see MS dimly through
the clouds. and If We get little farther
away they will not Doe able 10 see us
at all.
Now. I suggest that q certain num-
her OF the electrical ships Doe Withdrawn
from the squadron 10 a great distance