Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-13
THE GURILLARIAS.


quickly to the ground, and discovered that
instead of a bird it was the queerest ma
chine imaginable-a flying machine, with
great wings, and lot Of apparatus that
looked as if it had been made out Of a cart
load of stuff taken from an attic. It reached
the ground, and out jumped a little man
with green suit and an enormous pair OF
eyeglasses.
YOUTH he exclaimed. when he saw me-
you see before you Professor Simotheus
Tinker and his marvellous flying machine.
l have just completed it," he continued
proudly. Il found the materials at home
and made it all myself!'
Its wonderful" L said. and 1t certainly
was. That washtub arrangement over
the wheel looks so very interesting
That was rather a neat joD," said the
professor, only" shade of doubt crossed
his face, only I'm sometimes afraid my
wife won't like 1t when she finds I've taken
the washtub, and 1 had to take her sewing
what are trifies like that? Why, 1 took the
best parlor lamp for a propeller without
moments hesitation. And now" he went
on, you've been talking so intelligently.
and you're enthusiastic, I'm going to
let you come for fly with me-
1 had kind OF queer feeling when he
said that, but 1t was the chance of life
time, so 1 said I'd go, and got into the
boat-shaped affair that made up the prin-
cipal part of the machine. There were two
handles at the end, one labeled, This side
up with care" and the other, This side
down" Professor Tinker got in and pulled
he said. You see I have them labeled. I
got the first label off a packing case. and
the other in a revolving staircase in store
And that he said, pointing to a sign
which read, Keep Off the Grass 'shows
where I keep. the gasoline which makes he
machine co.
the trees looked like moss. We were
shooting on at tremendous rate, and at
last I said, Don't you think it is about
time to go down, professor?'
Yes" he answered slowly, "its about
time, only the down handle won't work
I've been trying it for some time, but it's
no good. 1t used to be on the cupboard
door at home. and l remember it some
times got fastened so that couldn't open
the cupboard for days together. But that
was rather convenience, because then the
children couldn't go and help themselves
to jam. I think for the present we'll just
have to keep on going up. 1 hope you've
no important engagement down on earth,
have your
''oh, no." said. only dinner"
LAS to that, said Professor Tinker. 1--WE
got plenty"
He pulled out a big basket and I'M
packed a plate of sandwiches, three bottles
of SaTsaparlla, lot of bananas and some
cream cake.
Help yourself,' said the professor, so we
had very nice meal together The pro-
lessor turned the up handle far as 1t
mendous rate. Well get somewhere after
a while.'' he said. Il should think we
would strike one of the planets
We went on for about an hour, and then
saw before what seemed like a mass of
red clouds. Il thought So" cried the pro-
fessor. We are approaching the planet
Mars
In a few moments we shot through the
red cloudbank, and soon reached the
ground. We were in most curious coun-
try, for the flowers were as large as trees,
and spread out like immense umbrellas
above us. The whole sky was pnkish, and
the ground was like india rubber. Near US
was village, and the houses were not I'M
like our own houses on earth, except that
each had large door big as the
| house lying on the ground in back of it.
Very soon some people came from the viii
lage to speak to us. We could not under
stand them at all, and they seemed to try
several languages. Then all at once they
began to talk to us in English We were
astonished. How did you learn English?'
we asked
oh" said they, I'VE have an invention
by means of which we can learn the Ian
guages of the different planets 1t is
graphophone and spectroscope combined-a
| most useful machine. How strange that
you never invented 1t on earth!'
The Martians seemed to be very nice
people. They talked while, and then in
vited us to come for a walk around the
village. Professor Tinker did not go, for
he was tinkerng with the handle of his
machine, trying to put it in order again,
but I was very glad to explore little.
They told me great many interesting
things, all of which I shall write up in
book some day, and picked me some fruit
from one of their trees. 1t was delicious.
and different from anything I had ever
eaten.
Il should think you would be very happy
here" I said. This ground is just like
spring board. Why, gracious! I can jump
as high as house."
Yes" said one of the Martians, I'VE are
happy but there is one thing that causes
us great deal Of trouble and terror"
All the people shook their heads sadly.
We never know when the Gurillarias may
not come rushing down upon us"
"Who are the Gurillarias?" l asked.
They are creatures said one Of the
Martens, very large, terrible creatures,
Ike dragons. who come in great flocks."
Dear me-" said. what do you do
when they Gomez"
well" said the Marian, I'VE have made
this arrangement. When we hear the
Gurillarias coming we touch button in
the middle of the village, and instantly all
the houses sink into the ground. Each
house, you see, has a door lying by 1t,
and as the house goes down the door shuts
over it, and there we are! We have honey
combed the ground SO that we can live
fairly comfortably down there until the
Gurillarias go away"
What do you live on?' I asked.
Ground coffee" said the Marian, and
subterrapin.
HOW-- began, nut at that
there was great rumble in the distance.
THE Gurillarias!' cried the Martians.
Instantly there was the greatest confusion.
The people rushed from all directions and
ran into their houses. Then suddenly I
saw all the houses sink into the ground.
The great doors, which were arranged on
hinges shut automatically. and in another
instant there was nothing to be seen of
the village.
I back to the professor and told him
what had happened.
There they Gomez 1 cried. as a huge
Gurillaria bounding from the dis
lance. He was scaly and rampant, and
he had long claws and long teeth, and
general air Of fierceness and determine
ton.
Dear, dear, what are we to dor said
Professor Tinker. II can't fix that handle.
1t simply won't work.
The Gurillaria came nearer. and about
dozen more appeared. Then I had sud-
den idea. But we don't want the down
handle now. We couldn't possibly go far
Their down into the ground" 1 cried. IT'S
the up handle" 1 leaped into the machine
pulled the up handle and we sprang into |
the air. The foremost Gurillaria was al |
most upon US. He leaped after us an i'm
mense distance. for the earth made him |
bound like a rubber ball. He managed to
IL.