The Connecticut labor news., 1921-05-27
Chapter Two Continued.)

The incubatOrS are built in remote fastnesses, where there is little or nc likelihood of their being discovered by other tribes. The result of such a catastrophe would mean no children in the community for another five years. I was later to witness the re- suits of the discovery of an alien incu- hatOr.
 SOla's duties were now doubled, as she was compelled to care for the young Martian as we'll as for me, but neither one of us required much at tentiOn, and as we were both about equally advanced in Martian educa- tiOn, Sola took it upon herself to train us together
 Her prize consisted in a male about 1cally perfect; also, he learned quick ly, and We had considerable amuse- ment, at least I did, over the keen rivalry we displayed. The Martian language, as I have said is extremely simple, and in a week I could make all my wants known and understand nearly everything that was said to me. Likewise, under Sola's tutelage. I de veloped my telepathic powers so tha l shortly could sense practically every thing that went on around me.
 The third day after the incubator ceremony we set forth toward home, but scarcely had the head of the pro- cession debouched into the open ground before the city than orders were given for an immediate and hasty return. As though trained for years in this particular evolution, the green Martians melted like mist into the spacious doorways of the nearby buildings, until, in less than three minutes, the entire cavalcade of chariots, mastodons and mounted war riors was nowhere to be seen.
 Sola and I had entered a building upon the frontsof the city, in fact, the same one in which I had had my en- counter with the apes, and, wishing to see what had caused the sudden re- treat, mounted tv an upper floor and peered from the window out over the valley and the hills beyond; and there I saw the cause of their sudden Scur- rying to cover. A huge craft, long, low and gray painted, swung slowly over the crest of the nearest hill. Fol- lowing it came another, and another, and another, until twenty of them, swinging low above the ground, sailed slowly and majestically toward us.
 Each carried strange banner swung from stem to stern above the upper works, and upon the prov of each was painted some odd device that gleamed in the sunlight and showed plainly even at the distance at which we were from the vessels. l could see figures crowding the forward decks and upper works of the aircraft. Whether they had discovered us or simply were looking at the deserted city I could not say, but in any event they received a rude reception, for suddenly and without warning the green Martian warriors fired a terrific vOlley from the windows of the build ingS facing the little valley across which the great ships were so peace fully advancing.
 Instantly the scene changed as by magic; the foremost vessel swung broadside toward us, and bringing her guns into play returned our fire, at the same time moving parallel to our front for short distance and then turning back with the evident intention of completing a great circle which would bring her up to position once more opposite our firing line; the other yes sells followed in her wake, each one opening upon us as she swung into position. Our own fire never dimin- ished, and I doubt if p per cent of our shots went wild. It had never been given me to see such deadly ac curacy of aim, and it seemed as though a little figure on one of the craft dropped at the explosion of each bullet, while the banners and upper the irresistible projectiles of our war riors moved through them.
 The fire from the vessels was most intellectual, owing, as I afterward learned, to the unexpected suddenness of the first volley, which caught the ships crews entirely unprepared and the sighting apparatus of the guns un- protected from the deadly aim of our warriors.
 Twenty minutes after the first vol ley the great fleet swung trailing off in the direction from which it had first appeared. Several of the craft were limping perceptibly, and seemed but barely under the control of their depleted crews. Their fire had ceased entirely and all their energies seemed focused upon escape. Our warriors then rushed up to the roofs of the buildings which we occupied and fol lowed the retreating armada with continuous fusillade of deadly fire.
 One by one, however, the ships man. aged to dip below the crests of the outlying hills until only one barely moving craft was in sight. This had received the brunt of our fire and seemed to be entirely unnamed, as not a moving figure was visible upon her decks. Slowly she swung from her course, circling back toward us in an cratic and pitiful manner. In stantIy the warriors ceased firing, for 1t was quite apparent that the vessel was entirely helpless, and, far from being in a position to inflict harm upon us. she could not even control herself sufficiently to escape.
 As she neared the city the warriors rushed out upon the plain to meet her, but it was evident that she still was too high for them to hope to reach her decks.
 She was drifting some fifty feet above the ground, followed by all but some hundred of the warriors who