The Snowflake herald., 1921-02-25
CHAPTER III.
A FIaht Thai Won FrIends.

Sola stared into the brute's wicked
looking eyes, muttered a word or two
of command. pointed to me, and left
the chamber. The beast after survey
ing me intently for a moment crossed
the room to the only exit which led to
the street and Law down full length
across the threshold.
This was my first experience with a
Marian watch dog. but II was destined
not TO be my last. for this fellow
guarded me carefully during the time
l remained a captive among these
green men. twice saving my life. and
never voluntarily being away from me
a moment.
Sola returned bearing both food and
drink. These she placed on the floor
beside me. and seating herself a short
ways Off regarded me intently. The
food consisted of about 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. as later
discovered not from an animal. as
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
dlstill ITS plentiful supply of milk from
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 / had eaten I was greatly I'M
vigorated, but feeling the need Of rest
stretched out upon the silks and was
soon asleep. l must have slept sew
eral hours, as 1t was dark when
awoke. and | was very cold. | noticed
that someone had thrown a fur over
me, but 1t had become partially dis
lodged and in the darkness could not
see to replace it. Suddenly a hand
reached out and pulled the fur over
me, shortly afterward adding another
to my covering
/ presumed that my watchful guard
ian was Sola, nor was | wrong. This
girl alone. among all the green Mar
tians with whom l came in contact,
disclosed characteristics of sympathy
kindliness and affection; her ministra-
tions to my bodily wants were unfaiI-
ing, and her solicitous care saved me
from much suffering and many hard
ships.
AS was to learn, the Martian nights
are extremely cold, and as there Is
practically no twilight or dawn, the
changes in temperature are sudden
and most uncomfortable, as are the
transitions from brilliant daylight to
darkness. The nights are either brilli-
antly Illuminated or very dark, for
If neither of the two moons of Mars
happen to 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 to any great extent on the other
hand, If both of the moons are in the
heavens at night the surface of the
ground is brightly Illuminated.
After SOla had replenished my GOV.
erings / again slept. nor did awaken
until daylight The other occupants
Of the room, five in number. were all
females and they were still sleeping,
piled high with a motley array of
silks and furs. Across the threshold
lay stretched the sleepless guardian
brute, just as / had last seen him on
the preceding day; apparently he had
not moved q muscle; his eyes were
fairly glued upon me. and | fell to
wondering just what might befall me
should I endeavOr to escape.
have ever been prone to seek ad-
venture and to investigate and expert.
ment where wiser men would have left
well enough alone. 1t therefore now
occurred to me that the surest way
Of learning the exact attitude Of this
beast toward me would be to attempt
10 leave the room.
Slowly and carefully, therefore.
yained my feet. only to see that my
watcher did the same; cautiously
ldvanced toward him. finding that by
moving with a shufiiing gait could
etaIn my balance as well as make rea.
onably rapid progress. AS ] neared
he brute he backed cautiously away
rom me, and when | had reached the
,Den he moved to one side to let me