Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1923-01-13

lodged and in she darkness I could not
see to replace It, Suddenly a hand
reached out and pulled the fur over
me. shortly afterward adding another
to my covering.
I presumed that my watchful guard
ian was Sofa, nor was I wrong. This
girl alone, among all the green Mar
tlans with whom I came in contact
disclosed characteristics of sympathy,
kindness and affections her ministra-
lions to my bodily wants were unfail-
ing and her sollcitous care saved me
from much suffering and many hard
ships.
AS was to learn, the Marian 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
II 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 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 Sofa had replenished my COW
erings l again slept, nor did I 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 a muscle; his eyes were
fairly glued upon me, and l fell to
wondering just what might befall me
should l endeavor to escape.
have ever been prone to seek adj
venture and to investigate and expert
ment where wiser men would have left
we'll enough alone. II 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, l
gained my feet, only to see that my
watcher did the same; cautiously
advanced toward him, finding that by
moving with a shutting gait | could
retain my balance as well as make rea-
sonably rapid progress. AS l ncared
the brute he backed cautiously away
from me, and when had reached the
open he moved to one side TO let me
pass. He then fell in behind me and
followed about ten PAGES in my rear
as I made my way along the deserted
street.
Evidently his mission was to pro-
tect me only. thought, but when we
reached the edge of the city he sud
IDENTIFY sprang before me, uttering
strange sounds and barring his ugly
and ferOcious tusks. Thinking TO have
some amusement at his expense.
rushed toward him and when almost
upon him sprang into the air. alght-
ing far beyond him and away from the
city. He wheeled instantly and
charged me with the most appalling
speed had ever beheld had
thought his short legs bar TO swift
ness, but had he been courslng with
greyhounds the latter would have APP
peared as though asleep on door
mat. AS I was to learn, this IS the
heetesf animal on Mars and, owing to
its intelligence, loyalty and ferocitN is
used in hunting, in war and as the
protector of the Marian man.
quickly saw that ! would have diff
fculty in escaping the fangs Of the
beast on a straightway course, and so
I met his charge by doubling IN my
tracks and leaping over him as he was
almost upon me. This maneuver gave
me a considerable advantage and /
was able to reach the city quite a bit
ahead Of him, and as he came tearing
after me jumped for window about
thirty feet from the ground in the face
of one Of the buildings overlooking !
the valley.
Grasping the sill pulled myself up |
10 Il SlLJlHs pOSluie Nilloul lp' hiH6 /
into the building. and gazed down at
the bafiied animal beneath me. My
exultation was short-lived, however, |
for scarcely had ] gained a secure seat |
upon the sill than huge hand grasDed /
me by the neck from behind and |
me violently into the room.
Here I was thrown upon my back and |
beheld standing over me colossal |
ape-like creature, white and hairless
except for an enormous shock Of /
bristly hair upon its head
The thing which more nearly re-
sembled our earthly men than II did /
the Martians had seen, held me
pinioned to the ground with one huge
foot while It jabbered and gesticu-
lated at some answering creature be-
lind me- This other, which was evil
lently its mate, soon came toward us,
bearing a mighty stone cudgel with
which II evidently intended to brain
ne.
The creatures were about ten or
fifteen feet tall, standing erect and
lad, like the green Martians, an inter-
nediary set Of arms or legs, midway
ietween their upper and lower limbs.