The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1901-12-19

lOcalltle over which we passed.
This maneuver nearly got us into
serions trouble.
When we had arrived within dis
lance of three miles from the surface of
Mars, we suddenly perceived approach
ing from the eastward large airship
which was navigating the Marian at
mosphere at a height Of perhaps half a
mile above the ground.
This airship moved rapidly on to
point nearly beneath u.s. when it sud-
denly paused, reversed its course and
evidently made signals, the purpose of
which was not at first evident to US.
But in short time their meaning be-
came perfectly plain, when we found
ourselves surrounded by at least 90 sim
liar aerostats approaching swiftly from
different sides.
1t was great mystery to us where SO
many airships had been concealed pre-
yious to their sudden appearance in an
swer to the signals.
But the mystery was quickly solved
when we saw detaohing itself from the
surface of the planet beneath us, where,
while it remained immovable, it's color
had blended with that of the soil SO as
to render it invisible, another Of the
mysterious ships.
Then our startled eyes beheld on all
sides these formidable looking enemies
rising from the ground beneath us like
so many gigantic insects disturbed by
sudden alarm.
In short time the atmosphere mile
or two below us, and to distance of
perhaps 90 miles around in every direc-
tion, was alive with airships of various
sizes, and some of most extraordinary
forms, exchanging signals, rushing to
and fro, but all finally concentrating
beneath the place where our squadron
was suspended.
We had poked the hornets nest with
a vengeance.
AS yet there had been no sting, but
we might quickly expect to feel it if we
did not get out of range.
Accordingly instructions were flashed
throughout the squadron to instantly
reverse polarities and rise as swiftly as
possible to great height
1t was evident that this maneuver
MOQlu avg US llOlll QduEtI IL IL W6I6
quickly effected, because the airships of
the Martians were simply airships and
nothing more. They could only float in
the atmosphere and had no means Of
rising above it or of navigating empty
space.
To have turned our disintegrators
upon them and to have begun battle
then and there would have been folly.
They overwhelmingly outnumbered
US, the majority of them were yet at
considerable distance and we could not
have done BATTLE even with our entire
squadron acting together, with more
than one-quarter of them simultaneous
ly. In the meantime the others would
have surrounded and might have de-
stroyed us. We must first get some idea
of the planets means of defense before
we ventured to assail it,
Having risen rapidly to height of
% or 80 miles, so that we could feel
confident that our ships had vanished
at least from the naked eye view of our
enemies beneath, a brief consultation
was held.
1t was determined to adhere to our
original programme and to circumnavi-
gate Mars in every direction before pro-
ceeding to open the war.
The overwhelming forces shown by
the enemy had intimidated some even
of the most courageous of our men, but
still it was universally felt that it
would not do to retreat without blow
struck.
The more we saw of the power Of the
Martians the more we became convinced
that there would be no hope for the
earth if these enemies ever again effect
ed landing upon its surface, the more
especially since our squadron contained
nearly all of the earth's force that
would be effective in such contest.
| With Mr.. Edison and the other men
Of science away they would not be able
at home to construct such engines as
we possessed or to manage them even If
they were constructed.
Our planet had staked everything on
a single throw.
These considerations again steeled our
hearts and made us bear up as bravely
as possible in the face of the terrible
odds that confronted MS.
Turning the noses of our electrical
ships toward the west, we began our
ciroumnavigation.
At first we rose to still greater
height, in order more effectually to es-
cape the watchful eyes of our enemies,
and then. after having moved rapidly
seveyal h4ndred miles toward the west,
we dropped down again within easy
eyeshot of the surface of the planet and
commenced our inspection.
When we originally reached Mars, as
have related it was at point in it's
southern hemisphere, in latitude 40 de-
grees south and longitude 70 degrees
east, that we first closely approached it's
surface. Underneath us was the land
called Hellas, and it was over this land
Of Hellas that the Marian air feet had
suddenly made its appearance.
Our westward motion, while at q
great height above the planet, had
brought us over another oval shaped
land called Noaohia, surrounded by
the dark ooean-the Mare Erytr@um.