The Connecticut labor news., 1921-05-13
CHAPTER III.
A Fiqht That Won Friends.

SOld stared 1nCO tile Nulc 5 "lChSA- looking eyes, muttered 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 +he street and lay down full length across the threshold
 This was my first experience with Martian watch dog, but it was destined not to be my last, for this fellow guarded me carefully during the time I 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 a pound Of some solid substance of the consist ency of cheese and almost tasteless, while the liquid was apparently milk from some animal. It came, as I later discovered, not from an animal, as there is only one mammal on Mars, and that one very rare indeed, Dut from a large plant which grows prac- tically without water, but seems to distill its 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 I was greatly fn- vigorated, but feeling the need of rest I stretched out upon the silks and was
 cJ@ eral hours, as 1t was dark when 1 awoke, and I was very cold. I noticed that someone had thrown fur over me, but it had become partially dis lodged and in the darkness I could not see to replace 1t. Suddenly a hand reached out and pulled the fur over me. shortly afterward adding another to my covering.
 presumed that my watchfu1 guard- ian was SOla, nor was I wrong. This girl alone, among all the green Mar tians with whom I came in contact, disclosed characteristics of sympathy, kindliness and affection her ministra- tions to my bodily wants were unfail- 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, fails to diffuse 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 cov- erings I again slept, nor did I awaken until daylight. The other occupants 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 I had last seen him on the preceding day; apparently he had not moved a muscle; his eyes were fairly glued upon me, and I fell to wondering just what might befall me should J endeavor to escape.
 I have ever been prone to seek ad- venture and to investigate and expert ment where wiser men would have left well enough alone. It therefore now occurred to me that the surest way of learning the exact attitude of this beast toward me would be to attempt to leave the room.
 Slowly and carefully, therefore. I gained my feet, only to see that my watcher did the same; cautiously I advanced toward him, finding that by moving with a shuffling gait l could retain my balance as we'll as make req sonably rapid progress. As I neared the brute he backed cautiously away from me, and when I had reached the open he moved to one side to let me pass. He then fell in behind me and followed about ten paces in my rear as I made my Wey along the deserted street
 Evidently his mission was to pro- tect me only, I thought, but when we reached the edge of the city he sud dently sprang before me, uttering strange sounds and barring his ugly and ferOcfOus tuSkS. Thinking to have some amusement at his expense, I rushed toward him and when almost upon him sprang into the air, alight- ing far beyond him and away from the city. He wheeled instantly and charged me with the most appalling speed I had ever beheld. I had thought his short legs a bar to swift ho