The Snowflake herald., 1921-02-25


completing 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 | doubt if % per cent of
our shots went wild 1t had never
been given me to see such deadly ac-
curacy of aim. and it seemed as
though little figure on one of the
craft dropped at the explosion of each
bullet while the banners and upper
works dissolved in spurts of flame as
the irresistible proiectiles of our war.
riors moved through them
The fire from the vessels was most
Intellectual, owing. as afterward
learned TO the unexpected suddenness
Of the first volley, which caught the
ships crews entirely unprepared anh
the sighting apparatus Of the guns un
protected from the deadly aim of our
warriors
Twenty minutes after the first vol
ley the great feet 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 10 the roofs of the
buildings which we occupied and fol
lowed the retreatng armada with :;
continuous fusilade 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 70 be entirely unnamed as
not a moving figure was visible upon
her decks Slowly she swung from
her course. circIing back toward us in
an erratic and pitiful manner. In.
stantly the warriors ceased firing, for
it was quite apparent that the vessel
was entirely helpless. and far from
being in a position to infict 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 feei
above the ground, followed by all but.
some hundred Of the warriors who
had heen ordered back to the roofs
to cover the possibility of a return OF
the feet. or for re-enforcements.
AS the craft neared the building.
aud just before she struck, the Mar.
tian warriors svarmed upon her from
the windows, ana with their great
spears eased he shock Of the coli
sion and il few moments they had
thrown out graphing hooks and The
big boat was being hauled to ground
by their fellows below
After making her fast, the,
swarmed the sides and searched the
vessel from stem 70 stern could sec
them examining tie dead sailors. evi
denfy for si9ns Of life and presently
a party Of them appeared from below
dlasgine little G1lre among them
The creature waS considerably less
than half as tall us the green Matlar
warriors ana fron ny balcony ! cond
sco hat il walked erect up6n two legs
and snrnised la t was soiae new
anl strange Ni4r an mo#sirosiiy viii
which ! had not rs vel become ac
Quaintod
They removed their prisoner 70 the
ground and then commenced sys
tentatic riG,ng of the vessel This op
GRAFTON required several hours. durine
which tae a number Of The chariots
we're requisitioned 10 transport tl'
loot. which consisted Of arms, ammu
nton. silks. fHrs. Jewels stran@el'
carved stone vessels and quantii
If solid foods and liGuds. includir
many casks Of water the first | has
seen since my advent upon Mars
After the last load had been re
moved The warriors made lines fas
70 The craft and towed her far out int
The valley IN southwesterly direr
tion A few of them then boarded he
and were busily engaged in what ar
peareA from my distant position,
The emptying of the contents Of var
Gus carboys upon the dead bodies q
the sailors and over lie decks ans
works of The vessel.
This oncration concluded. the
hastily clamhefed over her sides, slid
ing down the guy ropes TO the GROUND
The last warrior TO leave the dec'
turned and threw something hac'
upon the vessel, waiting an instant (
note the outcome of his act. As fam
sput Of flame rose from the pom
where the missile struck he sWun-
over the side and was quickly uno
The ground. Scarcely had he altghfe'
than the guy ropes were simultaneous
Iy released and the great warship
Iightenpd by the removal Of the ioe'
scared maiestically into the air. he'