Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-12-29


the airships from attaining the same
level
This naneuver was executed SO quick
IL that the Martians were unable to
deal rs a blow before we were poised
above them in such a position that they
could not easily reach us. Still they did
not mean to give up the conflict.
Presently We saw one of the largest
Of their ships maDeuvering in very
peculiar manner, the purpose of which
We did not at first comprehend. Its for
ward portion commenced slowly to rise,
until it pointed upward like the nose of
n fish approaching the surface of the
water. The moment il was in this posi-
ton an electrical bolt was darted from
its Prov. and one of our ships received
shock which. although it did not
prove fatal to the vessel itself. killed
two or three men aboard of it, disar-
ranged its apparatus and rendered it
for the time being useless.
-'Ah. that's their trick, is itF' said
Mr. Edison I'VE must look out for
shat Whenever yen see one of the air
ships beginning to stick its nose up aft
An order to this effect was transmit
ted throughout the squadron. AT the
same time several of the most powerful
disintegrators were directed upon the
ship which had executed the strstagem,
and. reduced to n wreck, it dropped,
whirling like broken kite. until it fell
into the fooo beneath
Sail the Martians' ships came flock
ing in ever greater numbers from all di-
recticns They made desperate attempts
10 attain the level at which we hung
many, getting an impetus by swift
run in the denser portion of the atmos-
phere beneath, succeeded in rising SO
nigh that they could discharge their
electric artillery with considerable eff
feet. Others with more or less success
repeated the maneuver of the ship which
had first attacked Us, and thus the bat
Tie became gradually more general and
more fierce. until in the course Oh N.
hour or two our squadron found itself en-
gagged with probably 1000 airships,
which blazed with incessant lightning
strokes and were able all too frequently
10 do rs serious damage
But ON our part the battle was waged
With a cool determination and con-
sciouEness of insuperable advantage
which BODIED i'll for the enemy. Only
three or tcur of our GO electrical ships
were seriously damaged, while the
work Of the disintegrators upon the
crowded feet that floated beneath us
was terrible 10 look upon.
Our strokes fell thick and fast on all
sides 1t was like firing into a flock of
birds that could not get away. Not
wiihstanding all their efforts they were
practically al our mercy. Shattered into
unrecognizable fragments, hundreds of
the airships continually dropped from
their great height 10 be swallowed up in
THE boiling waters
Yet they were game TO the last. They
made every effort TO get at Us, and in
their frenzy they seemed to discharge
their bolts without much regard to
whether friends or foes were injured.
Our eyes were nearly blinded by the
ceaseless glare beneath us, and the up
roar was understandable
At length. after this fearful contes,
had lasted for at least three hours. i,
/, became evident that the strength Of the
enemy was rapidly weakening. Nearly
the whole Of their immense feet Of air
ships had been destroyed or so far dam.
: aged that they were barely able to float.
just SO long. however. as they showed
.. signs Of resistance We continued TO pouI
our rnerciless fire upon them. and the
signal 10 cease was not given until the
AiTships which had escaped serious dam
age began TO fee in every direction.
] Thank God, the thing is over said
! Mr.. Edison I'VE have got the victory
nj last. tut how We shall make use of il
Is something that at present do Do
soc -
But will they not renew the attacks?
( asked some one
II do not think they can, was thu
reply I'VE have destroyed the very
, flower Of their feet.
And better than that" said Colone
: Smith, 1--WE have destroyed their elan
Z We have made them afraid Their dis
!" ciplipe is gone"
: But this was only the beginning o
O cur victory The foods below wer
&c achieving a still greater triumph, an,
DOW that we had conquered the airship
We dropped within few hundred fee
Of the surface of the water and thel
+ turped or faces westward in order {
y follow the advance of the deluge AM
sac whether, as We had hoped, IL woul
Il oFerwhelm our enemies in the very cen
'e Ter of their power.
la n little while we had overtakel
the front wave. which was still devouI
n ing everything. We saw il bursting tn
z hnnks Of the canals, sweeping ava
= forests Of gigantic trees and swallowin
'e cities and villages, leaving behind moth
n ing but broad expanse Of swirling an
eddying waters, which, IN consequence
u Of the prevailing red hue of the vegeta
'e mon and the soil, looked AZ, shudderine
% We gazed down upon ii like An ocea
70 Of blood hecked with foam and steam
u ing with the escaping life Of the plane
from whose VEINS il gushed.
10 As We skirfed the southern borders {
Z the continent the same dreadful scent
which We had bebeld ON the coast {
y AeIia presented themselves Crowds {
4 refugees thronged the high border {
Il the land and struggled with ono anoth,
for fuoihold against the continusll
~ rising food.
&c We saw, too fitting in every dire