The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-17
Events Prior to the Reign of Xaer
 BY PAUL COOK.


 had led many attacks against the Mar tians and was an undomitable fighter.
 Hating en masse, the Martians awaited the attack which would be delayed until the distant Rhobians could arrive in fight Ing distance. As the savages advanced they began to extend their ranks, for ex-
 perience had taught them the havoc that
 could be wrought by the Martians chemi-
 cal guns on a closely packed body of men.
 On the other hand the Martians stood in
 solid array, awaiting unmoved, the on-
 slaughter of their enemies.
 At distance of 200 yards the Phobians
 burst into fiendish yells and rushed upon the Martians who let loose thir deadly chemical guns with such effect that thou sands of Phobians were annihiliated on the spot But this did not daunt the angry horde of savages, who now leaped upon the Martians. For many hours the battle was waged with varying success As fast as one Phobian was destroyed an- other seemed to take his place, and many
 of the huge Martians fell to rise no more. At last the superior tactics of Tero be-
 came apparent and the Phobians were
 slowly driven back
 When victory for the Martians at last
 crowned the day. the army turned back
 to Huilpi. where extensive preparations
 were made to receive them. The joyous
 people showered honors on the victors and the feasting was prolonged for many days. Tn all the twelve cities fume ban
 quets were rendered the populace the
 crystal domers were illuminated so that
 they shone far out into space, and it
 was a month before the Martians resumed
 their normal pursuits.
 Again and again the Phobians hurled
 themselves against the unyielding Mar
 tians but with little success and the
 twelve proud cities remained standing in
 the plain. At the approach of every win
 ter the Martians expected an attack and
 seldom indeed, were the disappointed.
 As a year on Mars was very nearly twice the length of an earthly year, the Pho
 plans thus had plenty of time in which to carry out their expeditions and return
 to the south pole before spring began to
 meet the ice.
 For ages the Martians had withstood
 the Phoblans and with each succeeding
 year they were becoming more danger
 ous foes. Since airships were unknown at that early date, the Martians had been de-
 tered from attacking the Phobians in
 their ley fastnesses the long march across
 the Ice fields in winter, and the voyage across the waters in summer proving equally discouraging to the most valient of the Martians
 However, in the eyar 2950 A. A., a cer- tain captain in the Martian army. named Zaer, proposed that the Martians make a last effort to rid themselves of their ene-
 mics by organizing a large expidition to the south pole during the summer season and falling upon the Phobians as they 1 lay In their caves, stuffed with meat of | the ola, huge biped of the arctic regions l which furnish their sole substance. If l the Martians could attack them their vic- | tory would be almost certain.
 | At first Zaer was scoffed at but he I rapidly gained supporters until the patri-
 archs gave heed and 1t was finally deter
 mined to send out the expedition. Great | preparations were made in all he cit- 1 ies whole year was spent in equipping 1 the soldiers for what was believed to be the most momentous undertaking of the l age The food laboratories were operated l continuously and arms of the newest de- l sign were supplied. A vast fleet was in l readiness to be lanched as soon as the
 melting Ice filled up the summer seas. I It was decided by the patriarchs to place l the expedition of Zacr, and that warrior was justly proud of his trust.
 l When the lowlands began to fill with l the spring tides the Martian ships were lunched. Summer came on apace. The troops hurriedly embarked, after arms l and provisions had been put aboard. and | the great Marian expedition set sail for the south. Xaer stered his course straight | for the pole. Although unacquainted with | the waters, the Martans judged that they would be able to sail quite close to their | destination and march the rest of the way. Although the word sail Is used, the Martians did not depend on the wind for | motive power, for there was no wind. l Instead their vessels were propelled with 1 remarkable swiftness by air percussion | which shot them forward as If hurled l from a catapult Such a rate of speed in
 unknown waters must certainly result in accidents and many of the martian ships
 were wrecked during this memorable ex- | petition.
 As Xaer voyaged further to the south l he became more cautious and the speed of | the ships was lessened. By following a | deep but narrow arm of the sea the Mar