The herald., 1898-03-27

mainder of the squadron and dropped
cautiously down. The blaze of electric
lights running away in various direc-
tions indicated the lines of innumerable
canals, with habitations crowded along
their banks, which came to a focus at
a point on the continent of Alma, west
ward from the Syrtis Major.
We stopped the electrical ship at an
elevation of perhaps three hundred feet
above the vast roof of a structure.
which Alma assured us was the build
ing we were in search of.
Here we remained for few minutes.
cautiously accommodating. On that
side of the power house which was op-
posite to the shore of the Syrtis Major
there was thick grove of trees, lighted
beneath, as was apparent from the IL
Elimination, which here and there
streamed up through the cover of
leaves. but, nevertheless, dark and
| gloomy above the tree tops.
1.-The electric network extends over
| the grove as well as over the bulding."
! said Alma.
| This was lucky for u.s. because we
wished to descend among the trees.
and, by destroying part of the network
over the tree tops, we could reach the
shelter we desired and at the same
time pass within the line of electric de-
| fences.
With increased caution, and almost
holding our breath lest we should make
some noise that might reach the ears
of the sentinels beneath we caused the
car to settle gently down until we
caught sight of a metallic net stretched
in the air between us and the
trees.
After our first encounter with the
Martians on the asteroid, where, as I
have related, some metal which was in
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 had 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 danger, however, Of arous-
ing attention by shattering holes
through the tree tops. This could be
avoided by first carefully ascertaining
how far away the network was, and
then with the adjustable mirrors at
tached to the disintegrators focusing
the vibratory discharge at that dis
tance.
a considerable gap in the network
without 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 one
of the tallest trees. Colonel Smith,
Mr.. Phillips, Mr.. Edison and my
self at once clambered out upon q
strong limb.
For a moment I 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 1 took
charge of her myself.
At length we were all safely in the
tree.
Then followed the still more danger
GUS undertaking of descending from
this great height to the ground. For
) tunately, the branches were very close
together and they extended down with
in a short distance of the soil. So the
: actual 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 the descent was successfully
: 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 abund-
ance of electric lights among the trees,
, their illumination did not fall up III 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 out
: for the sentinel" replied Alma.
: Gripping our dsintegrators firmly,
and screwing up our courage, with
noiseless steps we followed the girl
among the shadows of the trees
TO BE CONTINUED.