The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-01-16

tney never dreamed or enemies being
abla to penetrate it--at least without
giving warning of their coming
But the hole which we had blown in
this network with the disintegrators
had been made noiselessly, and Mr.. Ed
ison believed, since no enemies had APP
peared, that our operations had not
been betrayed by any automatic signal
TO watchers inside the building.
Consequently we bad every reason to
think that we now stood within the
line of defense in which they reposed
the greatest confidence without their
having the least suspicion of our pres
| ence.
Alma assured us that ON the occasion
of her former visit to the power house
there had been but two seutinels on
duty at the entrance. At the inner end
of long passage leading to the interior,
she said, there were two more Besides
these, there were three or four Marian
engineers watching the machinery in
the interior of the building. A number
of airships were supposed to be on guard
around the structure, but probably their
vigilance had been relaxed, because not
| long ego the Martians had sent an expe-
dition against Ceres which had been so
successful that the power of that planet
to make an attack upon Mars had for
the present been destroyed.
Surprising us to have been annihilat-
cd in the recent battle among the Clouds
they would have no fear or cause for
vigilance ON our account.
The entrance to the great structure
was low-at least, when measured by
the stature of the Martians. Evidently
the intention was that only one person
at time should find room to pass
through it.
Drawing cautiously near we discern
ed the outlines of two gigantic forms
standing in the darkness, one on either
side of the door. Colonel Smith whis-
pered to me:
If you will take the fellow on the
right, will attend to the other one. "
Adjusting our aim as carefully as was
possible in the gloom, Colonel Smith
and simultaneously discharged our
dlsintegrators, sweeping them rapidly
up and down in the manner which had
become familiar to us when endeavorine
to destroy one of the gigantic Martians
with single stroke. And so successful
were we that the two sentinels disap-
peared as If they had been ghosts of the
night.
Instantly we all hurried forward and
entered the door. Before us extended
long, straight passage, brightly illu-
minated by number of electric can
dies Its polished sides cleaned with
blood red reflections, and the gallery
terminated, at distance of 200 or 800
feet, with an opening into large cham
Der beyond, on the farther side of which
we could see part of gigantic and
complicated mass of machinery.
Making as little noise as possible, we
pushed ahead along the passage, but
when we had arrived within a distance
of dozen PAGES from the inner end we
stopped, and Colonel Smith getting
down upon his knees, crept forward I'M
til he had reached the inner end of the
passage. There he peered cautiously
around the edge into the chamber, and.
turning his head moment later, beck
oned us to come forward. We crept to
his side, and, looking out into the vast
apartment, could perceive no enemies.
What had become of the sentineIs
supposed to stand at the inner end of
the passage we could not imagine. At
any rate, they were not at their posts.
The chamber was an immense square
room at least 100 feet in height and
400 feet on side, and almost filing
the wall opposite to us was an intricate
display OF machinery, wheels levers,
rods and polished plates. This we had
no doubt was one end Of the great en-
CINE which opened and shut the great
gates that could dam an ocean.
There is no one in sight,, said Colo
mel Smith.
Then we must act quickly" said
Mr.. Edison.
Where" he said, turning to Alma,
lis the handle by turning which you
saw the Marian close the gates?''
Alma looked about in bewilderment.
The mechanism before us was so COM
plicated that even an expert mechanician
would have been excusable for finding
himself unable to understand it. There
were scores of knobs and handles, all
gllstening in the electric light, and one
OF which, so far as the uninstructed
could tell, might have been the master
key that controlled the whole complex
apparatus.
"Quicki" said Mr. Edison. "Where
is it?''
The girl in her confusion ran this
way and that, gazing hopelessly upon
the machinery. but evidently utterly
unable to help us.
To remain here inactive was not
merely to invite destruction for our
selves, but was sure to bring certain
failure upon the purpose of the expedi-
ton. All of us began instantly to look
about III search of the proper handle.
seizing every crank and wheel in sight
and striving to turn it.
Stop that'' shouted Mr. Edison.
You may set the whole thing wrong.
Don't touch anything until we have
found the right lever.
But to find that seemed to most of
us now utterly beyond the power of
man
1t was at this critical moment that
the wonderful depth and reach of Mr.. !