The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1901-12-05

of existence, and this appalling blow
had been dealt by few stranded and
disabled enemies floating on an asteroid.
What hope would there be for US
when we came to encounter the millions
of Mars itself on their own ground and
prepared for war?
However, it would not do to despond.
We had been incautious, and we should
take good care not to commit the same
fault again.
The first thing to do was to avenge
the death of our comrades. The question
whether we were able to meet these
Martians and overcome them might as
well be settled right here and now.
They had proved what they could do
even when disabled and at disadvan-
tage. Now it was our turn.
The squadron had been rapidly with
drawn to very considerable distance
from the asteroid. The range Of the
mysterious artillery employed by the
Martians was unknown to us. We did
not even know the limit Of the effective
range Of our own disintegrators. II it
should prove that the Martians were
able to deal their strokes at distance
greater than any which we could reach
then they would Of course have an in
superable advantage.
On the other hand, if it should turn
out that our range was greater than
theirs the advantage would be on our
side, or-which was perhaps most
probable-there might be practically no
difference in the effective range of the
engines.
Anyhow we were going to find out
how the case stood and that without de-
lay.
Everything being in readiness, the
disintegrators all in working order, and
the men who were able to handle them,
most OF whom were experienced marks
men, chosen from among the officers of
the regular army Of the United States
and accustomed to the straight shooting
and the sure hits Of the west, standing
at their posts, the squadron again ad-
vanced.
In order to distract the attention of
the Martians the electrical ships had
been distributed over wide SPACE.
Some dropped straight down toward the
asteroid; others approached it by flank
attack, from this side and that. The
flagship moved straight in toward the
point where the first disaster occurred.
Its intrepid commander felt that his
post should be that of the greatest dan
ger and where the severest blows would
be given and received.
The approach of the ships was made
with great caution. Watching the Mar
tians with our telescopes we could clear
ly see that they were disconnected by
the scattered order of our attack. Even
if all of their engines of war had been
in proper condition for use it would
have been impossible for them to meet
the simultaneous assault Of 80 many
enemies dropping down upon them from
the sky.
But they were made Of fighting metal,
as we knew from old experience. 1t was
no question of surrender. They did not
know how to surrender, and we did not
know how to demand surrender. Be-
sides, the destruction Of the two cleo
trical ships with the 40 men, many Of
whom bore names widely known on the
earth, had excited kind of fury among
the members of the squadron which
called for vengeance.
Suddenly repetition Of the quick
movement by the Martians which had
been the forerunner of their former
coup was observed. Again binding
flash burst from their war engine, and
instantaneously a shiver ran through
the frame of the flagship. The air with
in quivered with strange pulsations and
seemed suddenly to have assumed the
temperature of blast furnace.
We all gasped for breath Our throats