Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-12-29
than 40 feet in height.

mOt1ons OF her arms we should nave
mistaken her for n marble statue.
Alma, who happened to be looking,
instantly exclaimed:
at is the woman from Ceresi She
was taken prisoner by the Martians
during their last invasion of that world,
and since then has been n slave in the
palace of the emperor"
Apparently her great stature had en-
abled her to escape, while her masters
had been drowned. She bad fed. like
the others, toward the south, but being
finally surrounded by the rising waters
had taken refuge on the hillock of sand
where we saw her. This was fast Civ
ing way under the assault of the waves.
and even while we watched the wate-
rose 20 her knees.
drop lower" was the order to the
electrical steersman of the flagship, and
as quickly as possible we approached
the place where the towering figure
stood.
She had realized the hopelessness Of
her situation and quickly ceased those
appalling and despairing gestures
4
it was indeed living being on whom
we were looking.
There she stood. with q light, white
garment thrown about her. erect, half
defiant, half yielding to her fear, more
graceful than any Greek statue, her
arms outstretched, yet motionless, and
her eyes upcast, as if praying to her
God to protect her. Her hair, which
shone like gold in the increasing light
of day. streamed over her shoulders.
and her great eyes were astare between
terror and supplication. So wildly beau
tiful sight not one of us had ever be-
held. For moment sympathy was alb
sorted in admiration.
"Save her Save hertz was the cry
that arose throughout the ship.
Ropes were instantly thrown out. and
one or two men prepared to let them
selves down III order better to aid her.
But when we were almost within
reach and so close that we could see the
very expression of her eyes, which ap
peared to take no note of Us, but to b
fixed. with faraway look upon some
thing beyond human ken, suddenly tbs
undermined bank on which she stOoC
gave way, the blood red food swirleC
in from right to left, and then
The waters closed above her face
With many ring.
"If but for that woman's sake, an
cory we drowned the planet" exclaim
ed sydney Phillips. But moment aft
erward / saw that he regretted what h.
had said, for Aina's eyes were fixed up
OH him. Perhaps, however. she did no
understand his remark, and perhaps /
she did it gave her no offense.
After this episode we pursued OF
way rapidly until we arrived at tn
shore Of the southern ocean. There, 4
we had expected, was to he seen a mar
row strip of land with the ocean on on
side and the raging flood seeking to de
stroy it on the other. In some places
had been already broken through, 5
that the ocean was flowing in to assis
in the drowning Of Thaumasia-
But some parts of the coast were evi
IDENTIFY so elevated that no matter hoy
high the flood might rise it would nc
completely cover them. Here the fugi
tives had gathered in dense throngs ar
above them lowered most Of the all
ships, loaded down with others VIII
were unable to find room upon the DIR
land
On one of the loftiest and broadcast {
these elevations we noticed indication
of military order in the alignment {
the crowds and the shore all round wa
guarded by gigantic pickets, who mel
cilessly showed back into the food q
the later corners, and thus prevenre
too great crowding upon the land
the center Of this elevation rose u pal.
tial structure of red metal which Air
informed US was one of the residenc,
of the emperor, and We concluded ia;
the monarch himself was now presel
there
The absence Of any signs of resistant
on the part Of the airships and Il
complete drowning Of all of the 70
midable Notifications on the surface
the planet convinced Us that all v
- now had TO do in order to complete OF
q conquest was to get possession OF q
person Of the chief ruler.
;, The fleet was accordingly concel
;. trated, and we rapidly approached 81
- great Marian palace. As we came dow
A within 100 feet Of them and bold
made our way among their airship
which reiterated at our approach, q
? Marulans gazed ut US with mingled fei
;, and establishment.
A We were their conquerors, and th'
!, knew it. We were coming TO demar
!, they surrender, and they evidently u
% derstood that also. AS we approach,
!. the palace signals were made from
;. with brilliant coiored banners. viii,
- Alma informed US were intended as
"a token Of truce.
;, I'VE shall have to go down and ha
IL a confab with them. l suppose, Sd
:, Mr.. Edison. I'VE can't kill them {
now that they are helpless, but we uu
manage somehow to make them unde
a stand that unconditional surrender
% their only chance.
W LET us take Alma with u.s." | su
gested, land, since she can speak Z
y, language of the Martians, we shall pro
a, ably have no difficulty in arriving at
=, understanding.
10 Accordingly the flagship was carefT
no ly brought farther down in front of t
~ entrance TO the palace, which had be
~ kept clear by the Marian guards, a
while the remainder of the squadron
sem BLEED within a few feet directly ov
our heads with the disintegrators turn