The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1921-05-13
Between These Walls the Little Mar
tians Scampered, Wild as Deer.

tention, and as we were both about
equally advanced In Marian educa-
ton, Sofa took it upon herself to train
US together.
Her prize consisted In a male about
four feet tall, very strong and phys
ically perfect; also, he learned quick
ly, and we had considerable :muse-
ment, at least ] did, over the keen
rivalry we displayed. The Marian
language, as I have said, is extremely
simple, and in week I could make
all my wants known and understand
nearly everything that was said to nae.
Likewise, under Sola's tutelage. I de-
veloped my telepathic powers so that
I 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.
Sofa and 1 had entered a building
upon the front Of the city, in fact, the
saae one in which I had had my en-
counter with the apes, and, wishing to
see what had caused the sudden re-
treat, I mounted to an upper floor and
peered from the window out over the
valley and the hills beyond; and there
saw the cause of their sudden sour
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 a strange banner
swung from stem to stern above the
upper works, and upon the PROV of
each was painted some odd device that
cleaned in the sunlight and showed
plainly even at the distance at which
we were from the vessels. 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 could not say, but in any event
they received rude reception, for
suddenly and without warning the
green Marian warriors fired terrific
yolley 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 a short distance and then turning
hack with the evident intention of
completing a great circle which would
bring her up to position once more
opposite our firing line the other ves-
sells followed in her wake, each one
opening upon us as she swung into
nosition. Our own fire never dimin-
ished. and doubt If % per cent of
our shots went wild. 1t had never
been given me to see such deadly ac-
curacy of aim. and 1t seemed az
though a little figure on one of the
craft dropped at the explosion of each
bullet, while the banners and upper
works dissolved In spurts of fame as
the irresistible projectiles Of our war
riors moved through them.
The fire from the vessels was most