The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1901-12-19
vas, for the present at least, disposed to

These efforts to learn the language OF
Mars were renewed and repeated every
few hours, all the experience, learning
and genius of the squadron being con-
centrated upon the work, and the result
was that in the course of few days we
had actually succeeded in learning a
dozen or more of the Marian IS words
and were able to make nim understand
us when we pronounced them, as we'll
as to understand him when our ears had
become accustomed to the growing of
his voice.
Finally one day the prisoner, who
seemed to be in an unusually cheerful
frame of mind, indicated that he car
ried in his breast some object which he
wished us to see.
With our assistance he pulled out a
book
Actually it was book, not very I'M
like the books which we have upon the
earth, but printed, of course, in char
acters that were entirely strange and
unknown to us. Yet these characters
evidently gave expression to highly
intellectual language. All those who
were standing by at the moment uttered
shout of wonder and of delight, and
the cry of ga book A book |" ran
around the circle, and the good news
was even promptly communicated to
some of the neighboring electric ships of
the squadron. Several other learned
men were summoned in haste from them
to examine our new treasure.
The Marian, whose good nature had
manifestly been growing day after day,
watched our inspection of his book with
evidences of great interest, not unmin.
gled with amusement. Finally he beck
oned the holder of the book to his side,
and placing his broad finger upon one
of the huge letters-if letters they were,
for they more nearly resem bled the
characters employed by the Chinese
printer-he uttered sound which we,
of course, took to be a word, but which
was different from any we had yet
heard. Then be pointed to one after
another of us standing around
"Ah," explained every body, the truth
being apparent, "that is the word by
which the AlartiaLs designate as. They
have name, then, for the inhabitants
of the earth.
cor perhaps it is rather the name for
the earth ITSELF" said one.
But this could not, of course, be at
once determined. Anyhow, the word,
whatever its precise meaning might be,
had now been added to our vocabulary,
although as yet our organs of speech
proved unable to reproduce it in REQ
ognizable form.
This promising and unexpected dis
covery of the Martian's book lent added
enthusiasm to those who were engaged
in the work of trying to master the
language of our prisoner, and the prog
ress that they made in the course of the
next few days was truly astonishing. If
the prisoner had been unwilling to aid
them, of course it would have been i'm
possible to proceed; but, fortunately
for us, he seemed more and more to en-
ter into the spirit of the undertaking
and actually to enjoy it himself. So
bright and quick was his understanding
that he was even able to indicate to us
methods of mastering his language that
would otherwise probably never have
occurred to our minds.
In fact, in very short time he had
turned teacher, and all these learned
men, pressing around him with eager
attention. had become his pupils.
/ cannot undertake to say precisely
how much of the Marian language had
been acquired by the chief linguists of
the expedition before the time when
we arrived so near to Mars that it be-
came necessary for most of us to aban-
don our studies in order to make ready
for the more serious business which
now confronted us.
But at any rate the acquisition was
SO considerable as to allow of the inter-
change of ordinary ideas with our pris-
oner, and there was no longer any doubt
that he would be able to give us much
information when we landed on his ma
tive planet.
At the end of 90 days, as measured by
terrestrial time, since our departure
from the asteroid we arrived in the sky
of Mars.
For long time the rudy planet had
been growing larger and more formida-
BILE, gradually turning from huge stal
into great red moon, and then ex
banding more and more until it began
to shut out from sight the constella
tions behind it. The curious markings
on it's surface, which from the earth
can only be dimly glimpsed with 6
powerful telescope, began to reveal
themselves clearly to our naked eyes.
I have related how even before We
had reached the asteroid Mars began t.
present most imposing appearance al
we saw it with our telescopes. Now
however, that it was close at hand, thu
naked eye view of the planet was more
wonderful than anything we had beer
able to see with telescopes when at {
greater distance.
We were approaching the southern
hemisphere of Mars in about latitud,
40 degrees south. 1t was near the tim,
of the vernal equinox in that hemi
sphere of the planet, and under tn
stimulating influence of the spring sun
rising higher and higher every day
some such awakening of life and aotiv
/