The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1921-02-18

beside me, and seating herself SNORT
ways OF regarded me Intently. The
food consisted OF about a pound OF
some solid substance OF the consist
ency Of cheese and almost tasteless.
while the liquid was apparently milk
from some animal II came, rs | later
discovered not from an animal. az
there is only one mammal on Mars,
and that one very rare indeed, but
from a large plant which grows prac'
tlcally without water but seems 10
distll It's plentiful supply Of milk from
the products Of the soil. the moisture
Of the air. and the rays Of the sun.
A single plant Of this species will give
eight or ten quarts Of milk per day
After I had eaten was greatly In
vlcorated. but feeling the need OF rest
stretched out upon the silks and was
soon asleep ! must have slept sew
eral hours. as II was dark when !
awoke. ana / was very cold noticed
that someone had thrown fur over
me, hut II had become partially dis
lodged and In the darkness could not
see to replace H. Suddenly a hand
reached out and pulled the fur over
me. shortly afterward adding another
20 my covering.
presumed that my watchtul guard
ian was Sofa. nor was | wrong. This
girl alone. among all the green Mar
tians with whom I came In contact,
disclosed characteristics 81 sympathy
kindness and affection; her mlnistra.
tons 10 my bodily wants were unfail.
ing. and her sOlicitous care saved me
from much suffering and many hard
ships.
As was to learn. the Marian nights
are extremely cold. and as there Is
practically no twilight or dawn, the
changes in temperature are sudden
and most uncomfortable, rs are the
transitions from brilliant daylight to
darkness. The nights are either brill.
anuy illuminated or very dark, for
II neither OF the two moons Of Mars
happen 10 be In the sky almost total
darkness results, since the lack Of at.
mosphere. or. rather. the very thin
atmosphere, falls to dlffuse the star
light 10 any great extent; on the other
hand, II both OF the moons are In the
heavens at night the surface OF the
ground Is brightly Illuminated.
After sofia had replenished my GOV.
eringS ! again slept, nor did | awaken
until daylight. The other occupants
81 the room, FIVE In number. were all
females and they were still sleeping,
piled high with n motley array OF
silks and fars. Across the threshold
lay stretched the sleepless guardian
brute. just as had last seen him on
the preceding day apparently he Ind
not moved muscle; his eyes were
fairly glued upon me. and Tell 10
wondering just what might befail me
should | endeavor TO escape.
have ever been prone 70 seek ad'
venture and TO Investigate and expert
ment where wiser men would have left
well enough alone. II therefore now
occurred 10 me that the surest way
| OF learning the exact attitude ~ this
/ beast toward me would be- to attempt
/ TO leave the room.
Slowly and carefully, therefore
gained my feet. only 10 see that nv
watcher did the same; cautiously
advanced toward him finding that by
moving with q shutting gait | could
retain my balance as well as make rea-
sonably rapid progress. As ncared
the brute lie backed cautiously away
/ fyou ne. and when I had reached the
open lo moved 20 one side 20 let me
pass He then fell in behind me and
followed about ten PAGES IN my rear
as I made my wey along the deserted
/ street
Evidently his mission was TO pro
tect me only. thought, but when we
reached The edge 81 the city he sud
] IDENTITY .prgug before me, utterinc
strange sounds and barring his ugll
and feroyouS tusks Thinking to have
some Amusement an his expense,
rushed toward him and when almost
upon him >prHu. into the air, alight
| ing far beyond him and away from the
| city. Tie wheeled instantly and
/ CHARGED rn "rN .'e most appalling
speed '.' e.r '.Nrld ! Pc.
] .f......i.. H....