The herald., 1898-02-27
TX.

Nothing occurred for many days te
interrupt our journey. We became ac-
customed to our strange surrounding
and many entertainments We're provi-
ded to while away the time. The as
tronomers in the expedition found
plenty of occupation in studying the
aspects of the stars and the other
heavenly bodies from their new point OF
view.
At the expiration of about thirty
five days we had drawn so near to
Mars that, with our telescopes, which,
though small. We're of immense power,
We could discern upon its surface
features and details which no one had
been able to glimpse from the earth.
But something was in store that we
had not expected. We We're to meet
the Martians before arriving at the
world they dwelt in.
Among the stars which shone in that
quarter of the heavens where Mars
appeared as the master orb, there was
one, lying directly in our path, which
to our astonishment, as we continued
on, altered from the aspect of a star,
underwent a gradual magnification,
of little planet.
1T is an asteroid," said somebody.
Yes, evidently; but how does it
come inside the orbit of Mars?"
''Oh, there are several asteroids" ="
said one of the astronomers, which
travel inside the orbit of Mars, along
part of their course, and, for aught
we can tell there may be many which
have not yet been caught sight of from
the earth, that are nearer to the sun
than Mars is
As We drew nearer the mysterious
little planet revealed itself to us as a
perfectly formed globe not more than
five miles in diameter.
What is that upon it?" asked Lord
Kelvin, squirting intently at the little
world through his glass. LAS l live it
moves"
Yes, yes!" exclaimed several others,
"there are inhabitants upon it, but
what giants!"
Don't you see?" exclaimed an ex-
cited savant. They are the Mar
tians,"
The startling truth burst upon the
minds of all. Here upon this little
tic inhabitants If the world that we
were going to attack. There was more
than one man in the flagship who
recognized them well, and who shud-
dered at the reception. instinctively
recalling the recent terrible experience
of the earth.
Was this an outpost of the warlike
Mars?
Around these monstrOus enemies we
saw several of their engines of war
Some of these appeared to have been
wrecked, but at least one, as far as we
could see, was still in a proper condi-
ton for use.
How had these creatures got
there?
The electrical ships We're Immediately
instructed by signal to slow down. an
operation that was easily effected
through the electrical repulson of the
asteroid.
The nearer we got, the more terrify-
ing was the appearance of the gigantic
creatures who We're riding upon the
little world before us like castaway
sailors upon a block of ice. Like men,
and yet not like men, combining the
human and the beast in their appear
ance. 1t required steady nerve to look
at them.
When we first saw them their ap-
pearance was most forlorn, and their
attitudes indicated only despair and
desperation, but as they caught sight
of us their malign power of intellect
instantly penetrated the mystery, and
they recognized us for what we
were.
Their despair Immediately gave place
to re-awakened malevolence On the
instant they We're astir, with such
heart-chilling movements as those that
characterize a venomous serpent pre-
pairing to strike.
Not imagining that they would be in
a condition to make serious resistance.
we had been somewhat incautious in
approa ching.
Suddenly there was a quicker move
ment than usual among the Martians,
swift adjustment of that one of their
engines of war which, as already
noticed, seemed to be practically unin-
jured. and then there darted from it