[Frontispiece: "Zarlah's car was hurled upwards into space withfrightful velocity. "]

Zarlah The Martian

By

R. Norman Grisewood

1909

_Zarlah, The Martian_

CONTENTS. 

 CHAPTER PAGE

 I. THE STRANGE SHADOW

 II. THE MARTIAN

 III. THE VOICE FROM ANOTHER WORLD

 IV. THE STORY OF MARTIAN LIFE

 V. THE HAZARDOUS UNDERTAKING

 VI. "AS OTHERS SEE US"

 VII. THE MELODY OF FLOWERS AND ZARLAH

 VIII. A HUNDRED MILES A MINUTE IN AN AERENOID

 IX. THE REALIZATION OF A HOPELESS LOVE

 X. ZARLAH'S CONFESSION

 XI. THE DISCOVERY AT THE MARTIAN OBSERVATORY

 XII. THE WARNING OF DANGER--THE RACE WITH DEATH

 XIII. THE END OF A PERILOUS JOURNEY

 XIV. HURLED FROM THE MOON

ZARLAH, THE MARTIAN. 

CHAPTER I. 

THE STRANGE SHADOW. 

So thrilling were my experiences during that period, so overcrowded withfeverish action and strong emotions was each wonderful moment, and soentirely changed are the conditions of life as I now find it, that it iswith considerable difficulty that I recall in detail all that happenedprior to my remarkable discovery which opened communication betweenEarth and Mars. One says "discovery" advisedly, but let it not beimagined that communication with the planet Mars was established as aresult of any careful and systematic research, or that I possessed asubtle genius for astronomical science that was destined to introduceinto society what must eventually revolutionize it. Nothing could befurther from the facts. Into the daily grind of my absolutely uneventfulcareer, burst the almost terrifying revelations with a suddenness thatstunned me, while I was engaged in experiments of an entirely extraneousnature. Albeit one wonders that the Martian rays, which have swept ourplanet with their searching gaze for so many centuries, were notdiscovered long ago. But this is anticipating my story. 

I had reached the age of thirty, when, in the Spring of 19--, I sailedout of New York harbor on board _La Provence_, en route for Paris. Itwas not so much my purpose to seek pleasure as the determination to turnmy eight years of experience in the United States to some avenue ofprofitable livelihood, that decided me to make the journey, although Ilooked forward with no small degree of pleasant anticipation to meetingsome of my fellow students in the Académie des Sciences in Paris, whereI had received five years of excellent training. 

My trip across and my subsequent arrival in Paris were without anyevents of particular interest, and one bright morning in the earlysummer I found myself comfortably lodged in the house where I hadpreviously boarded while a student. Connected with my rooms, which wereat the top of the house, was one of considerable size that I hadformerly used as a laboratory, and this I now set about fitting up toserve the same purpose. The daylight found its way into the room througha skylight, and though admirably suited for an artist's studio, itanswered my purpose equally as well. 

I had collected many new instruments and appliances by dint of daysspent in shopping, and was anxious to begin work in earnest, when oneevening, as I glanced through the columns of a newspaper, my attentionwas arrested by an article of particular interest. This set forth thegreat and increasing demand for a substitute for glass, one which wouldanswer the purpose in every respect, and at the same time beindestructible and a good conductor of sound. The article concluded withan enumeration of the many uses for which such a substitute would beinvaluable, hinting at the enormous financial possibilities which wouldbe open to the inventor. The more I considered the matter, the moredesirous I became to test several theories which forthwith presentedthemselves to my mind, and the next morning found me determined to beginmy experiments at once. In theory, I saw the solution of the problem inartificially producing increased atomic motion, and with that object inview I went to work. 

My experiments involved me in weeks of hard work, and it was toward theend of the summer before I could admit having had any important results. I now had a substance resembling glass in appearance, though vastlydifferent in composition, which I made into a film, extremely thin andhighly sensitive to vibrations. Running through this film were slenderwires made of various metals, about one inch apart, which served notonly to give rigidity to the film, but also to conduct a current ofelectricity through it, engendering a high state of atomic agitation. The current was controlled by a small switch placed in a heavy box-likeframe, which bounded the film on its four sides and contained thebatteries, coils, etc. To this were attached four legs, supporting itabout the height of an ordinary table from the floor. The whole devicemeasured about seven feet square. 

This film substance contained certain elements which I had found to benecessary to secure the desired intensity of agitation. It had taken mealmost a month to secure the fine quality I desired, and I lookedforward to the test with the feeling that results would prove that I wasnearing the goal, if I had not actually attained it. 

At last the day arrived when my device was ready for the test. I hadworked all the afternoon giving the finishing touches and it had growndusk without my realizing it. But everything was now ready, and movingthe switch, I turned the current of electricity through the composition. Just as I was about to begin my test, I noticed what appeared to be afaint shadow of a man move across the surface of the film. My firstthought was that someone had entered the room without my knowledge, andhis figure had been reflected on the surface of the film, which washighly glazed, but a glance around the room assured me that thisexplanation was untenable. Moreover, I found, upon furtherinvestigation, that the film was lying in such a position that it wouldbe impossible to reflect any person in the room. I then examined theskylight, only to find that, owing to the sharp inclination of the roof, it would be an utter impossibility for anyone to reach it from theoutside without the aid of a ladder. I investigated this source further, thinking to find the reflection on the film to be from some street inthe city below, but on account of the extent of the roof, no street wasvisible from the skylight. 

Completely baffled, I descended into the room again and turned on thecurrent. Immediately the shadow appeared on the film, and this time, inconsequence of the room now being quite dark, I noticed that it wassurrounded by a phosphorus-colored glow. The figure was certainly thatof a man, although very faint, and it became evident to me, afterwatching it for a while, that he was trying to signal with his arms. 

I now noticed that, in addition to the peculiar light on the film, theentire surface seemed to vibrate with frequent, but scarcely audible, humming sounds. Upon turning off the current all disappeared, only toreappear when I switched it on again. It was evident then that thephenomenon was caused only when the instrument was charged withelectricity, and consequently was no ordinary reflection, as I had atfirst supposed. 

Everything pointed to its being the manifestation of some outsideagency; possibly electrical waves which my apparatus received and in ameasure responded to, coming through the open skylight from--where? Thequestion reiterated itself in my mind, as I stood gazing perplexedly atthe phenomenon. I might have been satisfied with the supposition that, unknowingly, I had made an instrument which was capable of receivingwireless waves from another instrument of similar tone in or near Paris, if I had had only the humming sounds to contend with, but the shadowimpelled me to look for the reason further than this. I glanced upward, eagerly seeking some explanation. One star was visible through the openskylight--Mars. Clear and bright it shone in the inky blackness framedby the window. 

Once more I climbed to the skylight, feeling that I must seek theexplanation in that direction, when my attention was suddenly turned tothe apparatus below me. The glow was slowly passing off one side of thefilm. I hastily descended and examined the batteries, thinking I wouldfind the cause of this in a failing current, but all was apparently inperfect order. Still the glow and shadow moved steadily off, growingfainter every moment, until it disappeared completely. 

With a sudden impulse, born of a weird and almost terrifying thought, Ibent over until my eyes were on a level with the film, then I lookedupward; the star was no longer visible from the position of theinstrument, it had risen above the frame of the window. At once I wasseized with an intense excitement; could it be possible that myapparatus was responding to waves mysteriously projected from Mars? Ifnot, why had the glow and shadow faded from the film at the same instantthat Mars disappeared above the window frame?

Hoping to test this further, I endeavored to move the apparatus to aposition where Mars would again be visible, but alas, I found it muchtoo heavy. I felt keenly disappointed at the sudden termination of thisstrange phenomenon, but, upon reflection, I realized that it was onlythe simultaneous disappearance of Mars and the glow on the film that hadcaused me to attribute waves to that far source. The more I ponderedupon the matter, the more impossible it seemed, yet, strange to say, themore convinced I became that the theory was correct. Light-waves, Iargued, unlike the wireless waves in common use, could be received onlywhen the two objects were in line of vision; but I realized that if theywere of Martian origin they were of remarkable magnification, projectedthrough space by some unknown and powerful agent, thousands of timesmore powerful than electricity as we know it upon Earth. That the shadowon the film had been that of a Martian, I dared not hope. Though my mindcontinually reverted to this wild conjecture, I impatiently put itaside, as the apparent impossibility of it all would force itself uponme. 

Nothing further could be done that night, and as I had worked hard allday preparing for my experiment, without even stopping for meals, I nowfelt the effect of the excitement I had undergone and resolved to take awalk in the cool air, I wanted to think, and, if possible, to plan aline of action for the morrow which would bring me better results, if mytheory of light-waves should prove to be correct. Needless to say, Idetermined to cease my former experiments, and devote all my energy toascertaining whether my apparatus was actually responding to Martianlight-waves of remarkable integrity, and if such proved to be the case, to put every effort into improving the device with the hope of obtainingtheir import. I also determined to keep my discovery a secret, at leastfor the present. 

CHAPTER II. 

THE MARTIAN. 

I returned to my rooms with a much clearer conception of the conditionswith which I had to cope, if the waves to which my apparatus respondedshould prove to be Martian waves. My mind was fully made up to proceedas if this were an established fact, as, in order to give my bestefforts to improving my apparatus, I felt that I must eliminate allscepticism. I clearly appreciated the advantage of moving my instrumentoutside, where I could command a view of Mars for a much longer time, but the necessity of being in my laboratory while I was engaged in theseimprovements, decided me against any immediate change. 

Accordingly I proceeded the next morning to make the changes I deemednecessary, being goaded into a fever of haste by a feeling ofsuppressed excitement. The composition I had used in the form of a filmI now liquefied, having concluded that in the former condition, althoughnecessary in my original experiments, it now only retarded the vibrationof the wires. 

That this composition was essential there could be no doubt, as it wasits elements that responded to the agent used on Mars to project thewaves. I therefore liquefied the film substance, being careful in sodoing not to alter its properties. I then procured wires, much thinnerthan those I had previously used, and dipped them-into the liquid. Afterthey had become perfectly dry, I stretched them on the frame as closetogether as I could without their coming into contact with one another. As light-waves are received in hundreds of different vibrationssimultaneously, according to the light or shade of the object projected, I concluded that each wire should be capable of individual vibration. The device now resembled a large piece of mosquito netting with thecross wires removed, the coating of composition on each wire being sothin that it was hardly discernible. The batteries and coils Iconnected as before, taking great care not to change their arrangement. 

My preparations were now completed, and before me stood an instrument asdelicate and sensitive to wave vibrations as I could make it. Raisingone side of the frame a foot higher than the other, in order that thesurface of wires would be squarely facing the star when it appearedabove the casement, I waited impatiently for the moment which shouldprove the truth or falsity of my surmises. 

The day had closed, and I spent the remaining time speculating upon theresults of my labors. But even the wildest flights of my imagination didnot picture, in the smallest degree, the wonderful transformation whichmy new instrument would make in what had appeared before as a shadow onthe film. Little did I imagine to what an extent the unknown was to berevealed to me. 

As I stood by the side of the frame all in readiness, Mars appeared, butit still had a little farther to climb before it would be visible fromthe level of the wires. Nevertheless, I turned on the current from thebatteries. All was darkness; never before had darkness seemed to me soprofound, so absolutely appalling. Minutes passed like hours, but stillthat ominous darkness reigned. I felt the keen disappointment offailure; I grew incredulous as the time passed, and found myselfadmitting and rehearsing the absurdity of it all. I even blamed myselffor having been so easily deflected from my former experiments, by whatnow seemed to be merely an idle fancy. 

Suddenly I bent over the frame and gazed eagerly at the surface ofwires, for there, on the top edge, appeared a touch of thephosphorus-colored glow. My heart thumped with wild excitement. Istooped down until my eyes were on the level of the wires, and lookingup toward the window I could just see the rim of Mars appearing abovethe casement. A shout of joy burst from my lips at the sight of it, forit was now beyond all doubt that the phenomenon was attributable toMars. Brighter and brighter became the light as it covered the surfaceof wires, until all its resemblance to a phosphorus glow had gone, andit shone with such brilliancy that my eyes, accustomed as they were tothe darkness of the room, quailed before it. Turning away so that myeyes might gradually become accustomed to the glare, I noticed that inspite of the brilliant white light on the surface of the wires, the roomwas in perfect darkness--the light had no power of illumination!Impenetrable mystery enshrouded the agent which Mars was employing tocommunicate with Earth!

A curious humming sound issuing from the frame, much louder than I hadnoticed the night before, caused me to turn involuntarily, and as I didso I uttered a cry of wonder at the marvelous vision that met my eyes. There lay before me, as bright as daylight, a picture that a thousandtimes surpassed my highest, wildest hope. The great secret of anotherplanet was revealed, and I stood motionless, beholding an inhabitant ofa star millions of miles away. 

Among the vast multitude who for centuries have yearned for a glimpseinto the unknown worlds that surround us, I stood alone gazing upon theimage of a Martian. The thought stunned me; I was seized with a wildimpulse to rush out into the street and bring in the throng, that theymight look upon the form of this wonderful being on our sister planet. But what proof was there to give them that this was so? I wouldundoubtedly be ridiculed and accused of trickery. The very fact that hadbrought a cry of amazement to my lips--the remarkable brilliancy andclearness of the image, and the appearance of the Martian himself--wouldserve to bring discredit upon anything I might say. Personally I hadample proof that the image was that of a Martian, but what instant proofcould I give a jeering crowd? I had expected to find in a Martian astrange grotesque being in appearance, if not in mind, much after theweird and fierce character so many authors have portrayed him. Judge, then, my astonishment when I beheld one who, in every particular of formand feature, resembled the people of Earth. 

He appeared to be a man of about forty years of age, judging by ourearthly standard of time, possessing clear-cut features and darkcomplexion. His face, which was clean-shaven, was remarkably handsome, and his piercing dark eyes, although they enhanced the smile thatgreeted my appearance at the instrument, seemed to search into my verysoul and to hold me spellbound with mute challenge. Nor could I, uponafterthought, remember having shown the common courtesy of returning hisgreeting. 

My astonishment was so great that every faculty seemed to leave me, andI stood transfixed, staring at the image of the Martian without even thepower of thought. Gradually recovering my senses, however, I took noteof the man and his surroundings. He stood in a room of about the samedimensions as my laboratory, which seemed to be flooded with brightdaylight, though I could not see any windows on three sides of the roomto admit the light, nor any shadows to indicate that the light came froma window in the fourth. He held in his hands an instrument unknown tome, and seemed to be perfectly at his ease, showing neither surprise norcuriosity. Evidently this was not the first time that he had seen aninhabitant of the Earth. So unconcerned was he and so natural did heappear, even in the smallest detail of dress, that it was hard tobelieve I was not looking at an image of some room and its occupant inParis. His close-fitting clothes seemed to be of a dark green material, and resembled, to some degree, the uniform of an army officer. 

Bending over the instrument he held, he placed his mouth close to thetop of it, and immediately the humming sounds, which I had noticedbefore, emanated from the wires of my apparatus. The thought flashedthrough my mind that the Martian held in this instrument a means ofcommunicating sound. If so, what were the words--what language? Thepossibility of what I heard being words, made me strain every nerve tocatch the slightest resemblance to such sounds, but alas, with nosuccess. That they were intended to convey a message, I became fullyconvinced, but I could not rest in the belief that this jumble of soundswas the Martian language. If the Martians themselves resembled, in sostriking a degree, the inhabitants of Earth, I argued, then it was inthe nature of things to expect a language that, in some way, corresponded to one of our languages. The fault lay in my instrument, Iwas sure of that, and in the keen disappointment of my failure toreceive his message and the excitement of the moment, I gave utteranceto an exclamation of despair. Immediately a smile overspread theMartian's countenance, and, to my great astonishment, he put down theinstrument and clapped his hands by way of showing his approval. 

Before I could recover from my surprise at this new evidence of Martianfamiliarity with the customs of Earth, the light suddenly grew dim andin a few seconds had disappeared completely, leaving the instrumentplunged in darkness. Mars had risen above the frame of the skylight, andI was no longer in contact with the light-waves. I listened intently, thinking that if the sound-waves were of the nature of theelectrical-waves we employ in the wireless system, I would still be intouch with my newly found friend, but I heard no further sound from theinstrument, thus proving that these waves also were projected by themysterious agent known only to the Martians. 

I had so much to occupy my mind, with what I had just witnessed, and somany thoughts rushed in upon me regarding the perfecting of myinstrument so that it might properly respond to the sound-waves, that Idid not experience the disappointment I had felt before at the shortduration of our contact with each other. I was glad of the opportunityto think; I felt that it was necessary to do so before further action, if I ever hoped to attain the knowledge of Mars and its inhabitants thatmy remarkable discovery had placed within my reach. I determined that onthe morrow, if I did not meet with better results in the soundvibrations, I would try to communicate with the Martian by writing somesimple sentence in a bold hand, and in as many languages as I could. This I would expose in front of the instrument, but I placed little hopein the success of the scheme, for it was not possible that the Martianlanguage would be identical with any of ours. 

CHAPTER III. 

THE VOICE FROM ANOTHER WORLD

This thought of communicating with the Martian by writing, did not determe from using every effort to perfect my instrument, so that this mightbe done verbally, or that at least I might hear a voice and a languagespoken on a world millions of miles away. Accordingly I gave the subjectof sound-waves my best thought, and the next morning I had formulatedclearly laid principles upon which to work. By these I hoped to make aninstrument that would be the means of conversing with a Martian. 

I had come to the conclusion that the jumble of sound was caused by theprolonged vibration of the wires after each distinct wave from Mars wasreceived, as the wires of a piano will vibrate long after they have beentouched. With light-waves it was necessary to have a highly sensitivesurface of the composition, capable of responding to many differentvibrations, according to the light or shade of the object projected. This accounted for the success I met with upon adopting the coatedwires, and I concluded thereupon that they were indispensable. But I nowsaw that the presence of wires in the composition, though successfulwith light-waves, was inimical to sound-waves, and it became evidentthat a firmer but highly sensitive surface was required. The film hadnot brought good results, either from sound-waves or light-waves, but, it will be remembered, there were wires running through it to give itrigidity, which, although necessary in my original experiments, must beavoided in connection with sound vibrations. Clearly my new film mustnot be rigid. I thereupon made a film of composition, as thin aspossible, and stretched it upon the frame of my instrument, as adiaphragm behind the wires, hoping that the sound-waves would passbetween the wires, and vibrate the diaphragm, which, being made ofcomposition, would undoubtedly glow, but not more than the film haddone. This, I concluded, would not interfere with the image on thewires, owing to the brilliancy of the latter. 

I was now hopeful of success, and anxiously waited for the day to close. Everything was in readiness by noon, and I had at least eight hours towait before Mars would be in a position for wave contact. But nowappeared an adversary with which I had not reckoned. Clouds began togather, thin and fleecy at first, but growing heavier as the afternoonpassed, until by evening the heavens were completely obscured. This wasa condition that might last for several days, and the dread of it filledme with despair. How could I wait for days inactive, without seeing oreven hearing from my friend in Mars?

It now occurred to me how absolutely absorbed I had become in theMartian investigation. Ordinarily a sociable person, in the past week Ihad become a recluse. College friends that I had seen almost daily sincemy return to Paris, I now completely neglected, even shunned, lest theyshould call at my rooms some evening when I was in wave contact withMars. It also occurred to me that, as surely as my friendship andnecessity for them was declining, in like ratio was increasing anattachment for an inhabitant of another world. I felt a strange soulkinship for this Martian, which seemed to spring up the moment I saw hisimage portrayed on my instrument. And the feeling was not one ofordinary friendship. I felt I was drawn to him by some mysterious power, that gave him the place of a brother in my affections--a power thatseemed to have brought us together, and now united us with a greatcommon and compelling interest. And yet as I pictured his handsome, almost beautiful face, there was still another face I had seen--butwhere? The Martian had been alone, yet I was conscious of a face thatwas wonderfully beautiful, that seemed the goal for which I wasstriving. It led me to greater effort after failure; the face which Iyearned to see and yet strangely dreaded seeing. 

It was useless for me to try to understand such thoughts, and to banishthem from my mind was impossible. I was overcome with a sense ofloneliness. Looking at my watch, I found that it was already past thehour when Mars would be visible through the window on a clear night, but, alas, the sky showed no signs of clearing; though my instrumentstood ready, it was useless. 

But, obeying some irresistible impulse, I decided to turn on the currentand stand by the instrument in case an opening in the clouds shouldoccur, for even a moment. I therefore turned the switch that controlledthe current, and immediately, to my astonishment, the surface of wiresbecame as brilliant as on the previous evening under a clear sky. Turning away for a moment, to allow my eyes to become accustomed to thebrilliancy, I noticed that the sky was still overcast with heavy rainclouds. My joy at the discovery that the Martian projecting agent wasnot arrested by vapor was unbounded, for it meant that I could be inwave-contact with Mars every night, during the period that the planetwas visible from Earth. 

I approached the instrument with the intention of at once testing thediaphragm, but, to my surprise, my Martian friend was not there to greetme. The room and its furnishings, however, were depicted as clearly asbefore, and I now had an opportunity to note the instruments, the largevolumes of books, and the maps of the heavens which hung on the wall. Everything pointed to this being a fully equipped Martian observatory, though the instruments were entirely strange to me. I was examiningthese latter more closely, when heavy portières parted, and my Martianfriend stepped into the room. So anxious was I to give him a pleasantgreeting, instead of staring at him in a semi-stupefied condition, as Ihad done previously, that I forgot, for the moment, my determination totest my diaphragm at the first opportunity, and greeted him merely witha smile and a bow. 

My serene demeanor lasted but a moment, for simultaneously with hisbowed response to my greeting, came in a clear voice, with perfectaccent: "Bon soir, Monsieur!"

I started back, for it seemed as if someone in the room had spoken, butthen I noticed that the Martian held in his hand the instrument I hadseen on the previous evening. Was it possible that this was his voice, speaking French from a distance of millions of miles as clearly as if hewere in the room? The thing was incredible! How could a Martian know alanguage evolved here on Earth? Was the whole thing then a delusion ofan overwrought mind? I stood staring at the instrument in amazement. 

The Martian, now seeing by my actions that his voice had been heard, raised his instrument and repeated his greeting. The voice rang asclearly as before; there could be no further doubt; through thiswonderful instrument the Martian's voice was projected, almostinstantaneously to the Earth--millions of miles in a second. Themysterious power which enabled the Martian to project the waves, compared with our electricity as the telegraph does with thestage-coach. Was it strange that I stood aghast, as my mind slowlycomprehended the enormous distance which that voice had traversed almostinstantaneously?

It was some moments before my amazement permitted me to respond to thisextraordinary salutation, then--my mind still too bewildered properly tograsp the situation--I mumbled something in English about my greatastonishment at hearing a language of Earth spoken from a distant world. 

The sound of my voice seemed to cause the Martian some surprise, butimmediately his voice issued again in clear tones from the instrument. 

"I greeted you in what I supposed was your native tongue, " he said inperfect English. "Although now we have but one composite language here, over a thousand years ago we spoke in many languages, as the people ofyour planet do at the present time. 

"For more than six hundred years we have been able to observe theprogress of your planet, " he went on, "through an instrument by whichlight-waves are projected and received, and have found it to beidentical with ours of almost fifteen hundred years ago. By the placardsin the streets of your cities and towns, we discovered that you alsospoke in many tongues, and although the progress was necessarily slow, our astronomers were, by this means, able to learn the principallanguages of Earth. 

"Anxiously we have watched and waited for the discovery of an instrumentthat would respond to our projected light-waves and reveal to you theinhabitants of your neighboring planet. At last this momentous time hasarrived. I congratulate you upon bringing it about. "

As he spoke, his voice, coming from the diaphragm of my instrument, sounded as distinct as if he were in the room, and his image, depictedlife-size, made it hard to believe that he was more than a few feetaway. That my informant was, in reality, millions of miles away, my mindabsolutely refused to grasp. 

A thousand questions to put to my Martian acquaintance rushed into mymind, but alas, in supposing that I could not come in contact with Marson account of cloud obscurity, I had lost much of the precious time, andnow the waning light on my instrument warned me that the planet would, in a few moments, pass out of range. We therefore hastily bade eachother adieu, promising to continue our conversation on the morrow, asthough we had parted at a street corner. The light now faded completely, and the instrument, that a few moments previously had been animated withsuch an exuberance of life and mystery, now stood before me wrapped inprofound darkness and silence. 

How impossible, how inconceivable it all seemed! How the outside worldwould scoff if I attempted to explain or publish my discovery! I feltthat the time had not yet come to take anyone into my confidence, and Idetermined still to keep all a secret. I was then unaware, however, thatthe more I learned of Mars and its people the more closely I would guardmy knowledge. 

Pacing excitedly up and down my laboratory, I spent most of the night inreviewing what I had heard, and speculating the rare knowledge that themorrow would bring. The secrets of another world would be unfolded tome, and the scientific achievements of a people over a thousand years inadvance of us would be mine. What glorious possibilities this disclosed!What a brilliant future as a scientist such knowledge would assure me!And in the exuberance of my spirits I little thought that the possessionof this knowledge would come to mean naught to me; for I had yet tolearn that man cannot share the riches of another world without alsobecoming a partner in its sorrows and its passions. 

CHAPTER IV. 

THE STORY OF MARTIAN LIFE. 

With a determination of finding a room from which I could command alonger view of Mars, the next day I visited several studios which werefor rent, and finally succeeded in securing one formerly occupied by aphotographer, which was located on the top floor of a house in theimmediate vicinity of my old rooms. 

The room was large, in fact it occupied the entire top floor of thebuilding, and this feature pleased me greatly. The only communicationwith the house was by a door which had every appearance of an outsidedoor, so heavy were the hinges and lock. The landlord, in drawing myattention to this, had smiled and remarked that the former tenant, wholived in another section of the city, had been very careful always toleave his studio securely locked. The ceiling of half the room wasentirely of glass, sloping down to the floor at the angle of the roof, and this was the only means of obtaining air and light. It wasconstructed in two sections, which would slide back and forth, for thepurpose of ventilation. This arrangement, I found, would give me anunobstructed view of Mars for several hours each night. Nothing could bebetter adapted to my requirements; I could not be observed by anyoneoutside, and I need not fear being overheard while conversing with myMartian friend. 

I therefore determined to have my instrument moved at once, in order tobe installed in my new quarters that evening. 

I next bought a crate, used for large oil paintings, and upon itsdelivery at my old rooms, I immediately commenced packing my instrumentin it. Owing to its great weight this was no easy work, and it wouldexpress the procedure better if I said that I placed the crate aroundthe instrument. Making sure that it was all covered carefully, I had itmoved to my new quarters and set in place, the impression of thecarriers being that it was a painting which I was very anxious that noone should see until it was completed. 

As it was now within an hour of the time when I expected Mars to appear, I decided to leave my books and other belongings at my former roomsuntil the next day. I uncovered the instrument, and got everything intoreadiness, being careful to see that the batteries were all in place, sothat nothing might occur to interrupt the long talk with the Martianwhich I was anticipating. 

Having turned on the current, and opened the sliding section of theglass roof, I now awaited the appearance of Mars. There occurred to mequestion alter question that seemed of sufficient importance to promptimmediate inquiry, only to be forgotten as others came into my mind;until the presence of the increasing faint glow on my instrument foundme unprepared with any single question of actual importance. Consequently I decided to allow my distant informant to continue withthe account of Martian observations of Earth, as being at once the mostinstructive and surest way of suggesting important questions. 

As my eyes got accustomed to the brilliancy I saw the Martian waitingfor me, with his instrument in readiness. We greeted each other with theaffection we both now sincerely felt, and though I could not clasp hishand, I endeavored in every way to show him the brotherly warmth offeeling I entertained for him. 

It now occurred to me that in the excitement of our first communicationwith each other, we had completely overlooked an importantconventionality. I therefore announced that I was known on Earth asHarold Lonsdale. 

"My name is Almos, " he responded, his dark eyes sparkling as he quicklyentered into the spirit of the occasion. "Although it was customary oncefor us to have two or three names, we found it in better harmony withthe changed conditions of the present time to have but one. This youwill more easily understand when you have become better acquainted withthis planet and its people. "

"And as I am most anxious to learn more about the conditions of life inyour world, " I added, eagerly, "I trust you will continue the account ofMartian observations of Earth, which was barely commenced last eveningwhen the wave contact ceased. But first let me ask how you located mywhereabouts, for this morning I moved to another section of the city. "

"Ah!" he replied, with a smile, "I was not aware you had moved. Experience has taught me about where to look for the large city you callParis, on the side of Earth that is now exposed to us, and then bysystematic search I soon located the response of your instrument. 

"As our observations of Earth with projected light-rays have beencarried on for seven hundred years, it will be necessary to give you anoutline of our history and the progress of science covering that time. This will not only be of interest as a forecast of your own world'sfuture, but will also prove of the greatest value to you, if you decideto visit this planet, an undertaking which I am convinced lies withinyour power. "

His words wrung an exclamation of astonishment from my lips, but, asthough not wishing to be interrupted, he went on:

"Seven hundred years ago, a power derived from that substance known onEarth as radium, was discovered on Mars. This power was found to becapable of projecting light rays almost instantaneously through spacefor inconceivable distances, at the same time preserving their integrityto such a remarkable degree that they would reach the farthest planetswithout diffusion or diminution. Thus my image, thrown upon theinstrument before me, is conveyed to Earth in light-waves by this flowof super-radium with such tremendous speed as to be practicallyinstantaneous; these are received in your instrument, which isresponsive to the flow of super-radium, in the same condition as whenthey left Mars, consequently depicting the image life-size. 

"Having come in contact with another body in the heavens, thisoutward-flowing current of super-radium is changed to an inward-flowingcurrent. In making this change it frees the light-waves it conveyed fromMars, and retains the light-waves of the objects about it, which ismerely repeating its performance upon leaving Mars. These light-waves ofobjects on another globe it now conveys on its return journey to Mars, entering a receiving instrument and depicting the objects thereinlife-size. 

"Possessing rays invisible to the human eye, except when agitated by asubstance of its own nature, daylight on a planet becomes an entirelyunnecessary adjunct to observations made with super-radium, and we areable to explore the dark side of planets and other heavenly bodies, justas effectually as those illuminated by the sun. 

"Thus have we, for seven hundred years, been able to study the country, cities, streets, and people of Earth. And not only did we note aremarkable similarity in the people, buildings, and scientific progressto early Martian ages, but, by the advertisements, placards, and otherstreet signs we were able to learn the principal languages spoken onyour planet, and these were found to correspond in a remarkable degreeto those in use on Mars, before conditions on our planet made theadoption of a composite language an absolute necessity. And undoubtedlythese same conditions in due time will face the people of Earth. "

I could not restrain an exclamation of astonishment at this prediction, but Almos at once reassured me by stating that when the time did come, it would be the beginning of universal peace and happiness on Earth. 

"Am I to understand, then, " said I, "that a condition of perfecthappiness prevails on Mars?"

"Unhappiness is considered a disease with us, " Almos rejoined. "It isheard of, but very rarely, and is treated as a serious malady. But youwill understand these things better as you gradually become acquaintedwith the conditions here. You must remember that you are in the positionof a man over fifteen hundred years in advance of his day. 

"Having become convinced, through close observations, that the progressof Earth was identical with that of Mars, and that Earth, being theyounger planet, was consequently following our lead, we anxiouslywatched for the discovery on Earth of the wonderful power that had beenthe means of bringing us into such close visual contact with you. Whenyou discovered radium, we realized that this would eventually lead tothe discovery of the higher power, but we feared that this might not befor hundreds of years. 

"That communication was possible through the medium of radium andelectricity, we were totally ignorant of. It was the responsiveproperties of radium in your instrument, however, that first attractedmy attention while searching over Paris for an object I had previouslybeen observing. Thereafter my interest in your progress was as great asyour own, and every twenty-four hours, when the eastern hemisphere ofEarth was turned toward Mars, I searched with the radioscope until I gotthe response of your instrument. 

"I have kept my success in communicating with Earth a secret, as itinvolves an invention of mine which I have not yet made public, and ofwhich I will now tell you. This invention is the radiphone, throughwhich we are now conversing, and to which the diaphragm of yourinstrument responds, as it doubtless contains radium also. My entirelife has been devoted to the development of Martian-Earthlycommunication, and this instrument has been the goal which I havestriven to reach since boyhood, and yet its success in communicatingwith Earth came as a great surprise to me. "

So accustomed was I to hear the Martian speak of the most miraculousoccurrences in an ordinary conversational tone, that the idea of therestill remaining something on Mars to be discovered appeared a stillgreater wonder. 

"We have made a most important discovery, " pursued Almos. "I say 'we, 'as without the response of your instrument the action of a super-radiumcurrent on sound-waves would not have been discovered. "

"I feel that I can hardly share in the honors, " I protested modestly. "Without the super-radium current from Mars, I would still beexperimenting with the hope of finding a substitute for glass. "

I now entered into a full account of the experiments I had conducted, describing how, quite accidentally, I had made a substance responsive tothe waves from Mars. He was greatly amused upon hearing of myastonishment at finding that Martians resembled the people on Earth; andwhen I drew for him a verbal picture of the ferocious creatures theinhabitants of Mars were supposed to be, he laughed aloud. 

"We never suspected that the people of Earth did us such a greatinjustice, " he said, his whole countenance lighting up with good humor. "I have several volumes here giving accounts of observations of Earth, some of them written eight hundred years ago. It would perhaps interestyou to hear what the Martian conception of the inhabitants of Earth wasat that time. "

"Indeed it would, " I exclaimed, with rising curiosity. 

"Well then, " rejoined Almos, bringing one of the books and turning overthe leaves, while a curious smile still played about his mouth, "youmust understand that this was written over a hundred years beforesuper-radium was discovered, and at that time we had no means ofobserving Earth except through the telescope, which showed us themountains, seas, and continents, much the same as your telescope mustreveal the physical features of Mars. On the question of whether Earthis inhabited the author says:

"'That this planet is inhabited we have no reason to doubt, as it isknown to be enveloped in an atmosphere, and it is now a generallyaccepted theory that the changes noticed in its color throughout theyear are the seasonal effects on vegetable matter existing on itssurface. .. . What the inhabitants are like, however, we can onlysurmise, but a study of the conditions under which they live will helpus to picture the wild amphibious creatures they must be. Their planet, more than half covered with water, and being so many millions of milesnearer the sun than we are, is almost continually enveloped in heavyclouds of vapor, which, unless they were half fish, must surelysuffocate them. They doubtless seek the depths of water when theseclouds of thick vapor arise. Upon emerging, however, they have to facesuch intense heat as none of us could tolerate a minute and live. .. . They are no doubt provided with steel-like skin to resist thistemperature. .. . That they are of a fierce temperament there can belittle doubt, as their atmosphere, which is twice the weight of ours, isso overcharged with electricity, owing to the heat and clouds of vapor, that violent storms are constantly breaking over them, doubtless killingthousands of them at a time and tending to make the natures of thesurvivors as fierce as the elements which surround them. .. . Their yearis but half as long as ours, and this--impeding the laws of propagation, thus making impossible the higher order of mankind--would naturallyhave the effect of rendering their lives a short, reckless, andferocious existence, full of unrestrained cruelty and passions. .. . '

"And now, " continued Almos, with a smile, after closing the volume, "yousee there is no occasion for apologies from you. "

"No, " I answered, somewhat dryly. 

"The fact is, my dear fellow, " said Almos, laughing and seeming to enjoythe situation immensely, "the entire solar system is pursuing the samepath; what A thinks of B, B has already thought of A. "

The failing light on my instrument at this moment gave warning of thepassing of Mars out of wave contact, and we were obliged to bid eachother good-bye, Almos promising important revelations on the morrow. 

As I stood for a moment before my instrument, now wrapped in darkness, Iwas conscious of a strange feeling that, in bidding Almos adieu, I hadalso parted from another inhabitant of Mars. Though well aware that Ihad only seen and conversed with Almos, my mind, nevertheless, alsoreproduced the likeness of a young girl, wonderfully beautiful. I hadfirst experienced this mental image immediately after my firstconversation with Almos. At that time I had tried hard to put it from meas merely a delusion resulting from nervous tension. But I found thatafter each interview with Almos, the image became clearer and moredefinitely fixed in my mind, until now I firmly believed in theexistence of this beautiful being on Mars, and, remarkable though itseemed, I could not deny my growing affection for her. I had notmentioned this mental image to Almos, as I felt convinced that he knewnothing of it, and therefore would be unable to help me in any way. Moreover, my training had taught me to seek a scientific reason forthings which might appeal to the superstitious as weird and uncanny. Iwas therefore loath to speak of it to Almos, until I had proved beyonddoubt that it was not an hallucination. 

After I had spent many hours in vainly seeking a possible cause for thismysterious mental image, the realization that I was but the veriestinfant in the wonderful achievements of our sister planet, finallydecided me upon the wiser course of leaving such matters until I hadbecome better acquainted with Martian inventions and scientificprogress. I therefore looked forward to visiting this wonderful worldwith the greatest anticipation, and though I was entirely ignorant ofhow this stupendous and seemingly impossible feat should beaccomplished, such was my faith in Almos' superior knowledge of science, that I did not, for a moment, doubt the possibility of such a thing. Little did I realize the fearful nature of the journey--the success ofwhich was based entirely on theories--or I would have shrunk in horrorfrom such an undertaking. 

CHAPTER V. 

THE HAZARDOUS UNDERTAKING. 

The greater part of the next day was spent in moving the rest of mybelongings to my new quarters and in settling down there. Indeed, sooccupied was I with this task, that the approach of darkness found mequite unprepared for wave contact with Mars. I had been obliged to takemy instrument apart in order to allow the larger pieces of furniture tobe brought into the room, and it required almost two hours to put ittogether again. 

When at last all was in readiness and I had turned on the current, Ifound my Martian friend waiting for me. 

"This is to be the last of my narrative, " he remarked, after we hadgreeted each other. 

"What!" I ejaculated in amazement. 

"You see, my dear fellow, " continued Almos, "it was necessary for youto become gradually acquainted with the advanced contions on Mars, properly to understand them, and I have tried to school your mindaccordingly. It is essential, however, for you to see these things, fully to appreciate the advancement of almost twenty centuries, and onlythus can my highest ambition be realized. "

"How is it possible?"

"When I have told you of several important ways in which life on Marsdiffers from that on Earth, you will more readily understand. 

"I have said that unhappiness on Mars is almost unknown. It is only thepresence of ill health that causes unhappiness. If the body can be keptin a condition of absolutely perfect health--and by that I meansomething far beyond what is considered perfect health on Earth--thenunhappiness is impossible. Its causes, sorrow, jealousy, envy, hatred, and discontent, are eliminated, and a normal condition of perfectimmunity from wrong-doing and unhappiness exists. 

"It has been discovered on Earth that crime is the result of a diseasedbrain, and with us this discovery, in time, developed the fact thatwrong-doing, even in its minor phases, is the result of physical illhealth. Maintain, then, a perfect state of bodily health in a community, and there is no wrong-doing and consequent unhappiness. 

"The means of obtaining this bodily health was discovered on Mars, inthe form of invisible light rays, almost six hundred years ago, and itsdiscovery led to a complete transformation in social conditions, establishing perfect tranquillity and happiness upon the entire globe. 

"Separate governments became intolerable and were abandoned when racedistinction was forgotten, and the people of Mars became as one family, speaking one tongue. Friendship for one's neighbor was transmuted intolove for one's brother. The pursuit of personal gain was replaced by adesire to work for the good of all, and now a keen individual sense ofright and duty actuates the entire population, and is paramount in allthings. Duties are performed without other compensation than that whichthe fulfillment of something well done brings. 

"It was soon found that the remarkable regenerating properties of theserays perpetuated life and youth. Not only did they prevent sickness ofany kind, but they rebuilt the tissues of the body as fast as they woreout, thus making the aging of the body impossible. A child thereforegrows up to full manhood or womanhood and remains in that state of thebody's highest excellence. While the child is developing the raysstimulate his progress; anything beyond that would be decaying, acondition the rays prevent. "

Accustomed though I had become to a long recital of the most marvelousaccounts without interrupting, I could not suppress an exclamation ofastonishment at the information that Martians enjoy everlasting life. 

Almos received my evident amazement with the quiet smile I had grownaccustomed to observe upon such occasions, and, with a view ofillustrating the point further, said:

"Although one's actual age becomes a very unimportant matter when, instead of being limited to sixty or seventy years, it extends overhundreds of years, I can readily ascertain my age, from the fact that Iwas twenty years old at the time these wonderful rays were discovered. Ihave lived, then, about six hundred of Earth's years, or three hundredMartian years. "

"Six hundred years!" I exclaimed, as I looked at the reflection of hishandsome face; his eyes flashing, his cheeks aglow with ruddy health, his whole countenance animated with the full vigor of manhood. 

"Of course, we do not know how long the effects of regenerating rayswill make it possible to live, " pursued Almos, "but in theory, it wouldseem that by their daily use perfect health will be assured, and lifeitself will continue indefinitely. "

"And death become unknown on Mars!" I added, enthusiastically. 

"Not quite unknown, " rejoined Almos. "For lives are sometimes lost inaccidents. Instant death defies all our science, and will not beconquered. But in accidents, no matter how serious, where a spark oflife remains, we can prevent that from escaping until the body is in acondition to take care of it. 

"This is accomplished by a device known as a virator, which, thoughsimple in construction, is the greatest marvel of the age. It consistsof a dome, made of material similar to glass in appearance, but whichdiffers from anything else known, in that it is absolutely atomless. This dome fits over the operating table, upon which the patient lies, with just sufficient room for two persons inside, and is kept at thetemperature of the body. On its top is a small globe made of the samematerial, measuring but a few inches in diameter, which is connectedwith the large chamber below by a neck or passage about an inch wide. The patient is placed inside, and there operated upon. If life leavesthe body, either during the operation or after, the spirit ascendsthrough the narrow passage into the small globe above and is thereretained, as it cannot pass through the material of which the walls ofthis chamber are constructed. The body is then kept continually bathedin the regenerating rays, which not only preserve it as if life were init, but actually carry on the process of healing. This continues untilthe body is in a perfectly sound and healthy condition again, and wellable to retain life. 

"And now occurs the most wonderful of all. When everything is inreadiness for the spirit to enter the body again, a strong flow ofsuper-radium is sent through the top globe from an instrument attached. Passing through the small chamber and down the narrow passage, itreaches the body, and immediately changes to a return flow. This currentis but momentary; the patient is seen to move, and the body is once morequickened by the life spark. The flow of super-radium has conveyed thespirit of the patient from the small chamber above and released it inthe body as it returned, in exactly the same manner as it does withlight-waves or sound-waves. "

"Marvelous!" I gasped, though my mind could only slowly comprehend thisalmost miraculous achievement. With such vast scientific resourcesnothing seemed impossible to Martians. 

Almos had stopped abruptly. A change came over him. His face paled andhis lips set in a hard, determined expression. Instantly I felt my everyfaculty strain to the utmost, in response to the new character of thisremarkable being. 

Speaking slowly and deliberately, his keen eyes holding mine fascinatedby a strange fire that seemed kindled within them, he said:

"A few words more and we have reached that point at which death mayawait the inhabitant of Earth who would proceed farther. A death that noscientific knowledge can avert. I have tried to school your mind, to theend that you may fully understand the nature of a desperate undertaking, never before attempted by any human being, which, if you wish toattempt, you must risk alone. 

"Impelled by a motive that I cannot now explain, I have spanned themillions of miles of universe lying between us by a bridge of theories, which, should they prove realities, would enable you to see and live inanother world. Should they prove untenable, however, no power on Earthor Mars can save you; in five hours all would be over. You must considerthe possible consequences ere it be too late. "

"Never!" I cried. "My dear Almos, I am too vitally interested; I haveproceeded too far now to hesitate at any step toward such a goal. Explain your theories to me, and I will test them, even if it costs memy life, for Mars holds that which is dearer to me than life on Earthever can be. "

"Well, my brave fellow, " said Almos, his voice softening, "you mustfollow me closely in all I tell you, and remember every word I say, forto-morrow I can be of no assistance to you. Alone you must undertake thejourney. "

I was glad Almos had not questioned me regarding the import of what Ihad said in the enthusiasm of the moment, for I could not help feelingnow that I had acted unjustly in not confiding in him, at once, thefacts regarding the mental image of the beautiful young girl whom Ifully believed existed on Mars, and whose destiny, I was certain, wasinextricably bound with mine. I now decided to do so on the firstopportunity. 

"I have explained to you how the spirit may be retained in the upperchamber of a virator after it has left the body, " pursued Almos, "and asit is this apparatus we shall employ, I have but to describe theadditions I have made to it to meet our requirements, and also mytheories in connection with them. 

"To the lower chamber or dome of a virator I have connected thereceiving apparatus of a radioscope, first removing the image surface. This can be disconnected easily, and the projecting apparatussubstituted, from which I have also removed the image surface. Thus wemay have a free current of super-radium flowing from the radioscope toEarth and returning into the virator, and by substituting the projectingapparatus, we have a current flowing from the virator to Earth andreturning into the receiving apparatus. 

"This is exactly the condition that exists in a virator in ordinary usewith these exceptions: the current of super-radium is made to floweither in or out of the bottom chamber, as well as the top; instead ofbeing local, the current is between Earth and Mars, and consequentlymuch more powerful. The currents from both the top and bottom chambersare controlled by clockwork which I have devised for that purpose, andin place of an operating table in the virator I have substituted acouch. 

"And now I enjoin you to summon all your courage, for in thisundertaking nothing but nerves of steel will carry you safely through. "

"I shall faithfully carry out your instructions, Almos, " I responded, trying to appear perfectly calm, though my being fifteen hundred yearsbehind Martian times never seemed so much a handicap as now. 

"Follow me, then, word for word, " resumed Almos. "Understand all I say, for in the error of a second, the misconception of a word, the hesitancyof a moment, there is death!

"To-morrow, when that part of the Earth's surface on which Paris issituated appears, I shall attach the receiving apparatus of theradioscope to the lower chamber of the virator, so that the returncurrent from Earth will flow into it. I shall then set the clockwork toturn on the current of super-radium in half an hour. In that time mybody must be in a condition to receive your spirit. "

I could not suppress a shudder upon hearing this, but I deemed it bestnot to interrupt Almos. 

"Filling a cone with the required amount of chloroform, I shall enterthe virator, and, reclining upon the couch, place the cone over my mouthand nose. In a few minutes my spirit will have passed into the upperchamber. 

"By experimenting, I have found that regenerating rays are contained insuper-radium. In fact, my theory is that the regenerating rays and theinvisible rays of super-radium are synonymous. Such being the case, whenthe current of super-radium is turned on by the clockwork, it will flowto Earth and, returning, enter the virator and restore my body to anormal condition, freeing it from the fumes of chloroform and making itcapable of receiving its new life. 

"The glow of your instrument, in response to the super-radium current, will warn you that this has taken place, and you must then prepareyourself for departure. You will not observe any image, owing to myhaving removed the lenses of the radioscope, but your instrument willglow in response to the current. 

"Having prepared a cone of chloroform, you must move a couch directly infront of your instrument, so that upon lying down your body will obscurethe rays from it. You will thus know that you are in the path of thesuper-radium current; this is of the greatest importance as, otherwise, your spirit would undoubtedly escape upon leaving the body and be lostforever. 

"After taking every possible precaution to safeguard against anymovement of the body, place the cone securely over your mouth and nose. Within a short time your spirit will leave the body and will instantlybe caught up by the super-radium current, on its return flow to Mars. Entering the receiving apparatus and thus passing into the virator, theflow will come into direct contact with my body, into which it willdischarge your spirit. "

Almos stopped abruptly, consternation written on his face. A momentlater, I realized the cause--the two planets were passing out of wavecontact. At such a critical moment nothing could be more unfortunate, and I was about hastily to suggest a postponement, when Almos exclaimed:"It is all right!--I shall leave----"

Wave contact ceased before he had time to finish the sentence, and I wasleft standing before the instrument in a state of irresolution. 

How could I arrive on Mars totally unprepared to meet the conditions?Upon my regaining consciousness these might present themselves in themost urgent form, demanding immediate attention and a thorough knowledgeof Martian sciences. Almos' life, indeed, might depend upon just such acondition. 

Undetermined upon the course I should pursue the next day, my mindfilled with the most formidable fancies of so strange an undertaking, Iat last sought repose, hoping that with the morrow would come clearerthought. 

CHAPTER VI. 

"AS OTHERS SEE US. "

The next morning found me resolved to make the journey to Mars at anycost. That Almos had intended to say he would leave furtherinstructions, I had no doubt. The instructions would probably bewritten, and placed where I would immediately see them upon regainingconsciousness. In any event, I argued, if, at the usual hour of Martiancontact, my instrument should glow in response to super-radium, it wouldclearly be my duty to fulfil my part of the agreement, for the glowwould be proof that Almos had fulfilled his and that his spirit hadpassed into the upper chamber of the virator. 

I had purchased the necessary articles for my remarkable journey, andhad taken the precaution to fasten a notice outside my door to theeffect that I would be out during the evening. I could not restrain agrim smile at the thought of the uncanny literal truth in thisannouncement. 

These things done I fell to speculating upon what would be my experienceon Mars if, indeed, I ever reached that planet. For the first hours, tryas I would to check it, there was, at times, a doubt as to the outcomeof this wild soul-adventure. But, strange as it may appear, although Ifully realized the danger attending such an undertaking, the success ofwhich was based entirely on theories, it did not, in any way, act as adeterrent. So great was the prize to be attained, that the risk of lifeseemed unimportant. Indeed, the first step of the journey to Mars was totake my life, as we understand the term on Earth, and, having becomereconciled to this, I was not sensible of any danger beyond. So absorbedwas I in these thoughts, that the time passed without my realizing it, and only the fading daylight warned me of the near approach of the hourof Martian contact. 

I now made a complete examination of all the batteries and coils of myinstrument, as failure in any of these might result most seriously. Finding all to be in perfect working order, I next proceeded to arrangemy couch so as to bring it directly between the instrument and thewindow. Having thus completed my preparations, possessed by conflictingemotions, I now waited for the appearance of Mars. 

Early in the day I had arranged my letters and private papers so that inthe event of the worst happening, they could be readily packed, and itnow occurred to me that it would be only proper to leave a word ofexplanation with them. I therefore hastily penned a note to a cousinliving in England--my nearest relative--briefly explaining my discoveryof the Martian super-radium current, and also the character of theadventure in which I was about to participate. This note I placed withmy papers. 

Returning to the instrument, I discovered that Mars was already visible. Quickly turning on the current and finding no responsive glow, I knewthat Almos was already making the preparations he had described to me. He had said that within half an hour the clockwork would turn on thecurrent, and the glow of my instrument would be the signal for mydeparture. 

No time was to be lost. Securely fastening the door of my room, Iprepared the cone of chloroform and extinguished the light, in order notto excite the suspicion of a chance caller during the evening. 

I now sat on the couch awaiting with anxiety the current of super-radiumthat would convey me to the far world of my dreams. Minutes seemed likehours, as I sat in the darkness, with every nerve strained to itsuttermost, awaiting Death. What if Death should refuse to release me!Millions have been wrapped in Death's cold arms, but no mortal hasreturned to give accounting. 

What was that!--A blinding flash made me instantly shield my eyes. Ah!The glow at last! But such was its dazzling brilliancy that I could notstand the glare. I had been accustomed to see the glow gradually creepup the surface of the instrument, slowly growing brighter as the rim ofthe star appeared above the window casement, but this time Mars hadrisen to full view before the current was turned on by the clockwork. This was ample proof that everything had happened as Almos had planned. It was now my turn to act and I must not hesitate. Stretching myself onthe couch so that I came into full contact with the current ofsuper-radium, I seized the cone saturated with chloroform, and fastenedit securely over my mouth and nose. 

A few moments of a slightly suffocating sensation, then a long, longfall, gradual at first, then quicker, quicker--

 * * * * *

With a feeling of exhilaration, such as I had never before experienced, I opened my eyes and sprang to my feet. My brain was perfectly clear, and so active that my mind utterly failed to keep pace with themultitude of thoughts that were crowded upon it--thoughts that werestrange to my mind, yet perfectly familiar to my brain, if thisparadoxical statement may stand. It seemed as if my mind stood, apartand marveled at the remarkable activity and knowledge possessed by thebrain--of which knowledge my mind was entirely ignorant. 

I was in another world, millions of miles away from Earth. My mindrealized that something little short of a miracle had happened, and yetI felt absolutely familiar with all the objects about me. The glass-likewalls that surrounded me, reaching up and forming a dome several feetabove my head; the narrow passage in the center of the dome (just as theneck of a bottle would appear if viewed from inside), through which thespirit of Almos had passed to the chamber above; all these werewonderfully familiar to me. 

I was in the virator, but it was uncomfortable to remain inside, as theair was oppressively warm. Moreover, dictated my brain, I must preparethe virator for my return within five hours, and my hand instinctivelygrasped a lever in the wall of the apparatus. A door opened and Istepped out, carefully closing it behind me. Again I was astonished atmy wonderful familiarity with everything. If I had lived on Mars all mylife, I could not have had a more intimate knowledge of my surroundings. I seemed to know exactly how to proceed, and after attending to severalimportant details, and carefully noting the temperature of the viratoron a thermometer placed for that purpose, I consulted a chronometer toascertain how long it would be safe for me to remain on Mars. I foundthat, allowing a half-hour for the process of arrival and the same fordeparture, I had just five hours. 

My mind, at first stunned by the new and strange conditions to which itwas subjected, now gradually began to realize its remarkable position inrelation to the brain. 

That the mind and the spirit are one, or so closely related as to beindistinguishable and inseparable, was now beyond doubt, as I was keenlyaware of all that had happened to me on Earth, showing that my mind notonly existed, but also possessed the same faculty of thought in Almos'body as it did in mine while on Earth. Here was a positive proof, infact a demonstration, of the theory advanced by some scientists, thatthe mind is separate and distinct from the brain. 

But the gulf that lies between life and death remained as wide as ever. Death was still shrouded in mystery, for my mind knew nothing from themoment it left the body on Earth, until it awakened in the body on Mars. Flesh and blood, then, were essential to the mind's existence. Mind orspirit must have expression through some form. Although man may achievemuch by scientific advancement, that to which he has progressed is butas a grain of sand in the desert, to the wonders that surround him. Science shall never penetrate the mystery of those things that arewithheld from him. 

The brain of which my mind now took control, acted merely as thematerial handle by which the machinery of the body was operated, thusconverting thoughts into actions. But although my mind, having by nowbecome perfectly familiar with the strange conditions, was able torecord new impressions on the brain, there still existed the impressionof Almos' thoughts. It resembled a book which my mind could instantlyrefer to and be guided by, and thus was I in possession of a perfectknowledge of Mars, its people, and its language. 

I now realized that my first actions, upon becoming conscious, hadsimply been carrying out the instructions Almos had left for me. Strangeto the conditions in those first few minutes, I had instinctively donewhat the brain dictated. In this remarkable way had Almos completed theinstructions he was about to give me when interrupted by the cessationof wave contact. 

Having thus arrived at what I felt to be the true relation of my mindwith Almos' body, I now turned my attention to the objects surroundingme. 

I stood in a room about the size of my laboratory on Earth. There wereno windows to admit light, but the ceiling, which was fully twenty feethigh, emitted a beautifully diffused white light, which filled everycorner of the room, leaving absolutely no shadows. Its effect was thatof daylight, and so closely did it resemble the sky, that, had I notbeen supplied with Almos' knowledge of Martian science, I would havenaturally supposed that there was no ceiling to the room. Immediatelyupon the question coming into my mind, however, I became aware that theceiling was coated with a composition, one of the component parts ofwhich was radium in a highly developed state. Its action upon the otherelements that composed this substance resulted in a perpetual lightwithout heat, which was equal in every way to daylight. 

The tourist, finding himself in a new country, has but one thought, oneambition, that of seeing all he can; yet, strange to say, although awhole new world lay before me, my first thought was of Mother Earth. Adesire to view my old habitat as Martians see it seemed almostirresistible. 

To touch the radioscope that was trained on Earth, would result in aninstant change taking place in my body as it lay in the laboratory, andthis would be disastrous. It was only the regenerating properties of thesuper-radium current that kept it in a state acceptable to my return, and the delicate mechanism of this instrument was regulated so as tokeep the current exactly in position, as long as that part of theEarth's surface was exposed to Mars. To interfere then with thiscurrent, for a moment, would mean certain death. 

Immediately I became conscious of the presence of another instrument, which was in a room adjoining, and, feeling absolutely familiar withevery inch of the way, I proceeded thence. The room was a small one, just large enough, indeed, to operate the radioscope, which was exactlythe same as the one in the room I had just quitted. 

With a perfect knowledge of the mechanism of the instrument, I was soonat work adjusting the projecting and receiving apparatus. An ordinarytelescope was attached to the huge tube of the radioscope, and withAlmos' dexterity I soon located Earth through it, thus sighting theradioscope for that planet. 

I had now but to turn on the current to see the people on Earth andwatch their doings, as had done Martians for hundreds of years, but, with my hand on the lever that controlled the current, I paused. 

The sight of Earth, as it appeared through the telescope, was toobeautiful to pass by with a mere glance. Half illuminated, owing to thegreater distance of Mars from the sun and the position of the planets atthat time, Earth appeared about the size the moon looks to the nakedeye. But what a wonderful sight! Bathed in sunlight lay the eastern halfof the continents of North and South America, faintly outlined by thepale blue of the western portion of the Atlantic Ocean. So familiar wasI with the appearance of these two great continents as drawn in anatlas, that I had difficulty in recognizing them as they now appeared. Mexico and Central America seemed almost as broad as that part of theUnited States from San Francisco to Washington; the whole tapering downfrom Canada to Cape Horn almost in the shape of a cone. 

Aeronauts passing over a lake or river are able to see the bottom, owingto their altitude; this was undoubtedly the explanation of the strangeappearance of the continents of North and South America. On account ofthe enormous distance I was away from Earth, the shallow waters appearedas land, obliterating completely the familiar coast line, and only theextreme depth of an ocean showed a pale blue. 

Night covered Europe and Africa, which would otherwise have been visibleto me, and the shadow of darkness was steadily creeping across theAtlantic Ocean, as the Earth revolved upon its axis. I could notsuppress a shudder at the thought that I must cover that enormousdistance ere it revolved too far. 

I now moved the lever that controlled the current, and at once the lensin the receiving apparatus shone with a brilliant dark blue color. Thecurrent of super-radium had reached Earth and returned in less than asecond, and I saw, beautifully pictured before me, an expanse of oceanwith waves tumbling and tossing so near me that it seemed as if I werebut a few feet above them. 

By diminishing the current I found that the image on the lens grewsmaller, the effect being exactly the same as that from a balloonrising. The picture at first appeared slanting at an angle of aboutthirty degrees, owing to the curvature of the Earth, but by manipulatinga small lever close at hand that operated a mirror in the radioscope, this defect was corrected. 

After searching about with the current, I at last came upon a largesteamer, evidently an ocean liner. Throwing huge billows aside in cloudsof white spray as she cut through the water, she made a beautiful sight, and it was with difficulty that I kept her in the field of vision. As Iappeared to be looking straight down upon her decks, it was evident thatshe was about in the center of the Earth's surface exposed to Mars. 

I now moved the current in a westerly direction, travelling at whatwould be a terrific speed on Earth, until I came to land. Notrecognizing the small coast town that first came in view, I moved up thecoast in a northerly direction, diminishing the current until I couldsee a large stretch of country. Toward the northwest a large cityappeared, which I immediately recognized as Washington. Directing theinstrument to that city, I increased the current until the people on thestreets measured two or three feet on the lens of my instrument. Here Ifound that the curvature of the Earth resulted in my looking downobliquely at the objects on its surface, but not at a sufficient angleto see the faces of those who passed across my lens. 

But now I became aware of a strange condition that, owing to the motionof the liner at sea, had escaped my notice before. Although I waslooking at the people passing before one of the large governmentbuildings in Washington, I had to keep regulating the instrument inorder to keep this building in view. Moreover, I discovered that I hadto regulate it as fast as I had done with the ocean liner. In fact, obviously the liner's speed mattered but little; it was the rate atwhich the Earth was revolving upon its axis and journeying around thesun with which I had to contend. Through the telescope this was notdiscernible, but now that I had come into such close visual contact withthe Earth's surface, I realized the terrific speed with which it rushedthrough space. Hundreds of miles a minute was the speed my instrumenthad to be regulated to, in order to keep an object on Earth in view--themotion of the liner was insignificant!

Moving the current eastward over the Atlantic Ocean, I discovered thatdarkness in no way hindered my view of objects on Earth's surface. Thereproduction on the lens, however, presented quite a differentappearance to that which I had witnessed while observing the part ofEarth illuminated by the sun. The beautiful colors which contributed somuch realism to the picture were now replaced by a sombre gray tone, greatly resembling a photograph in appearance. 

So absorbed had I become in all that this wonderful instrument revealedto me of the different phases of life on Earth, that I forgot all else, until, with a start, I realized that someone was moving about in thelarge room which contained the virator that I had recently left. I wasfilled with apprehension. Who could it be? And what was the reason ofthis unexpected visit? Almos had not warned me against intrusion of anykind, and I felt that to meet and converse with a Martian, thusunprepared, would be impossible. In that room, however, were theinstruments that held two lives within their delicate mechanism, andeven now they might have been tampered with enough to cause the mostserious consequences. I must not hesitate a moment longer. Hasteningdown the passage that led to the larger room, I pushed aside the heavyportieres and found myself in the presence of a Martian. 

CHAPTER VII. 

THE MELODY OF FLOWERS AND ZARLAH. 

My visitor appeared to be a young man of about twenty-five, tall, handsome, broad-shouldered, and fair-complexioned, with that frank andopen countenance which claims the friendship of all men. Without amoment's hesitation he stepped forward with outstretched hand and, inthe composite language of Mars, said:

"Good-evening, Almos. I am afraid this is an intrusion. I haveinterrupted your studies, I know, but the fact is--"

"Not at all, my dear Reon!" I found myself replying. "I am glad to seeyou at any time, and now, how can I be of service to you?"

Although I answered him in the composite language, and in a manner thatdid not excite the slightest suspicion, I did so unconsciously. Inspite of the quandary in which I found myself upon coming face to facewith an inhabitant of Mars, I outwardly remained perfectly calm, nor didit require any effort to appear so. The brain, in such an emergency, followed instinctively its natural habit. It was as if another man hadspoken from within me, one who was perfectly acquainted with the visitorand with Martian affairs. I found, however, when the surprise of thefirst few moments had passed, that my mind could take control wheneverit exerted itself to do so. Thus I was able to say whatever I wished, or, if necessity demanded, draw upon Almos' knowledge for information. Replies came with the ease that Almos himself would have experienced inanswering questions, and I soon found that, with discretion, there wasno danger of my visitor suspecting the remarkable change of personalityin his friend. 

I learned that Reon had come with a message from Sarraccus, one of Mars'greatest scientists, who was about to give a demonstration of his latestinvention, a remarkable musical instrument called the lumaharp. Arecognized authority on anything of a scientific nature, Almos' counselwas sought, and it was desired that he should be present at the recitalof this wonderful instrument. 

Hastily ascertaining the time, I found that I had only two hours inwhich it would be safe to remain on Mars. So interested had I been in myobservations of Earth, that the time had passed without my being awareof the narrow margin I had left myself in which to see the planet. I, however, informed my visitor that I would be ready to accompany him in afew minutes, and with all haste, prepared myself for this newundertaking. 

I realized that once having left the observatory and stepped into a newand strange world, many things might happen to prevent me returningwithin two hours. But besides feeling that I was in duty bound to Almosto attend this demonstration, I also felt that the risks I had takenwere too great to go unrewarded by even a glimpse into the life of thiswonderful planet. The future, too, held that element of uncertaintywhich made me feel that I might pay dearly for the five hours spent inanother world. If the return current failed to do what was expected ofit, if I had erred in my calculation of the time I could remain onMars, or if my room had been broken into and my body moved, the resultswould be disastrous. 

I must attend this demonstration at any cost, but I would explain to myhost that it was most urgently necessary to return to the observatorywithin two hours. I was now ready for the strange journey, and, approaching my visitor, I said:

"And now, Reon, I will accompany you, but there is no time to be lost, as an experiment I am conducting with one of these instruments demandsmy attention in two hours. "

I held back the portières as Reon passed out, and following him down ashort passage, we stepped out upon a wide balcony constructed of whitemarble. 

A wonderful sight met my astonished gaze. It was a summer evening, andthe dome of the heavens seemed ablaze with the light of myriads ofdiamonds, so countless were the stars to be seen and so brilliant didthey appear in this rarefied atmosphere. Below me stretched out whatappeared to be a magnificent park, with white marble buildings scatteredhere and there, while floating easily in the air were hundreds of smallcanoe-like airships, containing the inhabitants of this fairyland, reclining on cushions and enjoying sailing through the cool night air. As the question of buoyancy of these remarkable airships arose in mymind, I immediately became aware that they were sustained, in the air bya metal which was used in their construction that was repellent to thesurface of Mars. It had been discovered by the Martians that theirplanet, like a magnet, had both the power of attracting and repelling. The north and south poles were found to be the repelling poles of thisimmense magnetic sphere. Nothing could exist on these poles that was nota fixture to the planet's surface, consequently no snow or ice existedat the poles themselves. Many explorers' lives had been lost before thisdiscovery was made; those who succeeded in reaching the pole having madethe discovery too late to save themselves from being hurled off theplanet into space. But so small was the surface of this repelling polethat it was argued that the pole must run through the center of theplanet, to make it equal in mass to the attracting force which coveredthe rest of the surface. 

Working on this theory, although it was impossible to reach the poleitself without danger of being hurled off the planet, excavations weremade as near it as possible, and a tunnel was run under the surfaceuntil the desired point was reached. A change from rock to ore wasencountered, with evidences of its having been subjected to intenseheat, and upon penetrating farther, pure metal was discovered. Thisstrange metal, unlike any other metal known to the Martians, was foundto possess a powerful repelling force. And when it was brought to thesurface, it was discovered that it not only retained its repellingforce, as a lodestone retains its attracting power, but that this sameforce was greatly increased, doubtless owing to the close proximity ofan unfriendly element in the surface of the planet away from the pole. The repelling force of this metal was found to be ten times as great asthe specific gravity of a piece of iron of relative proportions, and byits use in the construction of airships, the problem of aerialnavigation on Mars had been solved. 

Almos' knowledge of such matters made me instantly aware of all this themoment the question of buoyancy presented itself in my mind, but, although I could not help marveling at the ingenuity of this wonderfulpeople, I outwardly preserved the calm demeanor which Almos' strongpersonality had made a characteristic. Indeed, Reon, who had beenpreparing an aerenoid for our use--such was the Martian name for theseairships--was quite unaware of my astonishment, and it was plain thatwith the exercise of due care, when I spoke without the prompting ofAlmos' knowledge, there was no likelihood of anyone's having a suspicionof my true personality. 

The aerenoid in which we were going to make our journey differed inappearance considerably from those which I saw floating about us. Cigar-shaped, with windows in its sides and roof like a steamer'sportholes, it more nearly resembled a submarine boat than an airship, asit rested on a platform built in the side of the balcony for thepurpose. Yet such was the repelling force of this wonderful metal whichthe Martians had discovered, and which I found was attached in two ormore strips to the bottom of the aerenoids, that the matter of weight intheir construction was of little importance. While resting on theground these strips were encased in a material that was a non-conductor, thus neutralizing the repelling force. In order to raise the car thecasing was merely drawn back by means of a controlling lever, untilenough of the metal was exposed to the surface of Mars to cause therepelling force to lift the aerenoid, and by preserving this exposure, any desired height could thus be attained. 

The entire design of this aerenoid indicated that it was built to attaingreat speed, and yet as I stepped into it through a door that closedflush with the rounded sides, I was astonished at seeing no traces ofmachinery. Instantly I became aware of the extraordinary means ofpropulsion, however, and so simple, yet so effective, was it, that Icould not restrain a cry of admiration at this new evidence ofscientific progress. 

Atmospheric pressure, instead of retarding speed, was employed toproduce it. Under the floor of the car and occupying the entire rearhalf, was a chamber of steel, five or six feet broad at one end, andtapering down with the sides of the aerenoid until it reached the stern, where it ended in an opening one inch in diameter. By a chemicalprocess the air in the chamber was exhausted, instantly causing avacuum. Immediately the air outside the car rushed in through the smallopening at the rear end, with such great force as to cause a concussionagainst the forward and broad end of the chamber, thus driving theaerenoid ahead. So quick was this action that, when going at greatspeed, more than one hundred exhaustions would occur in a minute. Simplethough this means of propulsion was, gravity having been overcome andthe long pointed body of the aerenoid offering little resistance, thespeed thus attained was remarkable. 

Taking his position at the forward end, where a window in the top of thecar afforded a view ahead, Reon now moved a lever at his side and werose until clear of the observatory building. We then commenced to glidealong without either vibration or sound. Slowly we made our way throughthe many small aerenoids that floated about us, and a soft light, comingfrom a canopy containing the substance used to illuminate theobservatory, clearly revealed the occupants to me, as we passed closeby them. I now noticed that the women were wonderfullybeautiful--beauty that was possible only where sickness had been unknownfor hundreds of years. 

Leaving this happy gathering, we passed over what appeared to be a riverabout a mile broad, whose banks rose perpendicularly a hundred feet ormore from the water. These were illuminated with lights, placed everyhundred yards or so, giving it the appearance of a broad city streetstretching as far as the eye could see. At once it occurred to me thatthis was one of the wonderful canals, visible even from Earth, and as wepassed over it I observed another canal, equal in proportions, runningparallel. Although both were on level ground, their waters were flowingrapidly in different directions. What new wonder was this!

Into this second canal our aerenoid now turned, sinking slowly untilwithin thirty feet from the surface. Gradually our speed increased untilthe lights along the banks formed one long unbroken line. One hundredmiles a minute we sped along, and yet without the least vibration orsound. At such a speed it was possible to encircle Mars in seventyminutes, almost, I thought, as rapidly as could Puck in "MidsummerNight's Dream, " who boasted of putting a girdle round the Earth in fortyminutes. 

On we flew down the walled-in track, passing numerous other canalsequally as broad, flowing into it, until within ten minutes a faint graylight appeared. It was daylight, and in a few moments sunlight crownedthe banks on either side of us. Even as I looked the sun itselfappeared, and in the space of fifty seconds it was high in the heavens. In fifteen minutes we had covered almost a quarter of the globe, and nowit was the middle of the afternoon. 

The importance of having speedways in which to confine aerenoids, travelling at the terrific velocity of one hundred miles a minute, wasobvious, and what could be better adapted to the purpose than thesemagnificent waterways, which completely cover the surface of the planetwith such geometrical exactness, that they have always been a source ofgreat wonder to astronomers on Earth. Thousands and thousands of yearsold, the method of constructing this gigantic system of canals remainsenshrouded in the same mystery to the Martians, as that which surroundsthe building of the pyramids in Egypt. 

I was now made aware of another valuable use to which the canals wereput, in fact a most important adjunct to the operation of an aerenoid. The checking of such terrific speed would be impossible, were it not forthe water in these canals. We had covered several hundred miles withoutpropulsion, and our speed had not decreased perceptibly, when, moving alever at his side, Reon turned the aerenoid slightly downward. In aninstant we were plunging along the surface of the water, sending highinto the air great clouds of spray, which formed snow-white banks oneither side of the wake, and made a most remarkable picture. I nowrealized why this high-speed aerenoid resembled a submarine boat inappearance. 

Gradually our speed was reduced until, moving at not more than a mile aminute, we gently left the surface of the water and proceeded downseveral branch canals. At last we slowly rose above the top of the canalbanks. Higher and higher we ascended until we were about a thousandfeet in the air, and then proceeded at a greatly reduced speed. 

A veritable fairyland lay beneath us. Stretching as far as the eye couldreach lay a landscape of pink and green, dotted with white marblebuildings of magnificent architecture. Narrow paths, shaded by trees, could be seen winding in and out over rustic bridges and besidesparkling brooks. But nowhere did there appear either cities ortowns--not even a road was there to indicate a volume of traffic in anyparticular direction. 

No small aerenoids were to be seen floating about, and as the air in ourcar was now very close, I realized that in consequence of the lightatmosphere of Mars, the sun's direct rays gave great heat. It wasevidently the custom for Martians to remain as much as possible undercover in the daytime. 

Opening the door of the aerenoid to obtain a fresh supply of air, I wasat once struck with the remarkable appearance of the sky, which wasintensely blue in color, but of such a dark shade as to appear almostblack. It presented all the appearance of night, so many stars werevisible and so brightly did they shine, while the sun blazed forth withsuch brilliancy from the surrounding blackness, that it was impossibleto look westward without shading the eyes. I now appreciated theenormous advantage of having an atmosphere as dense as Earth's, whichdiffused the light to a much more comfortable extent. But the appearanceof the Martian sky was magnificent, and I stood lost in admirationuntil, with a hardly perceptible shock, I discovered that we had come torest upon a ledge which projected from the circular balcony of a mostpalatial building. 

Jumping out, I moored the aerenoid by means of ropes that were attachedto the balcony for that purpose. I was aware that this was my duty uponlanding, and when I had made everything secure, Reon left his place atthe levers and joined me. 

There were numerous other aerenoids moored to the balcony, some of thehigh-speed class similar to ours, and a few of the lighter classresembling rowboats. The balcony was entirely deserted, however, and itwas evident that all were inside listening to the recital of thelumaharp. 

As we proceeded across the broad balcony, I was astonished to discoverthat the outside walls of this building were entirely covered withbeautifully carved reliefs, representing the inventions of Sarraccus. Had it been daylight at the observatory, I would have noticed that it, too, was decorated with the wonders of other worlds discovered by Almos. The mountains on Earth, the seas, clouds, volcanoes, and ships; theseand many other objects that do not exist on Mars, were carved withremarkable faithfulness upon the walls of the observatory, and werelooked upon by Martians as the wonders of a strange world. 

As at the observatory, the doorway was hung with heavy portières, and, passing through these, we found ourselves in what appeared to be animmense palm garden, in which Martians were to be seen sitting ingroups, or walking about admiring the plants and flowers. Sunlightstreamed in through the roof, the covering of which had been rolledback, and I became aware that it was in such places as this that theMartians were to be found during the heat of the day. 

Rain being unknown, it was necessary to grow the more delicate plantswhere they might be watered regularly and sheltered from the heat of themidday sun, and also from the hot winds that often came at this season. I now realized that the trees that I had noticed were to be found onlyupon the banks of streams and lakes, and that, with the exception of thegreen these afforded, Mars was entirely covered with a small and hardypink flower of the antennaria family, which flourishes in a dry andsandy soil. 

Reon now left me, promising to return within an hour, in order that Imight reach the observatory in due time. As I walked slowly among thetall palms, taking a path here and there at random and admiring thebeautiful beds of flowers, some of which I recognized as flowers alsoindigenous to Earth, I noticed that all whom I met greeted me in themost cordial way, some pausing to say a few words. I saw the importanceof saying whatever was prompted by the first appearance of theindividual, and I found that I could thus join in a most enjoyableconversation with these charming people, with a knowledge of their namesand the matters of interest to them. All were very enthusiastic aboutthe lumaharp, and I anxiously awaited another number upon this wonderfulinstrument. 

As the paths I turned down were all strange to me, I judged that Almoswas not familiar with the interior of this particular building, but asthere were many gardens nearer the observatory, he would have no reasonto visit this one, except on an occasion of this kind. 

Not realizing the enormous size of the building, I had wandered far fromthe entrance at which I was to meet Reon, and had decided to ask to bedirected back, when suddenly I stopped, rooted to the ground, everynerve straining to catch a faint melodious sound that seemed to fill theair. No music on Earth could equal it! Before me arose a vision ofbeautiful flowers--flowers that had thoughts as beautiful as themselves, and that through the genius of a man poured forth their souls in avolume of melody, so beautiful as to beggar description. 

As Almos was perfectly familiar with this remarkable invention, agradual comprehension of the wonderful genius of Sarraccus, itsinventor, came to me. Tall, calm, and of dignified bearing; a man ofgreat learning, but of few words; Sarraccus had won the love andadmiration of all by his discovery of the regenerating rays that hadgiven the people of Mars perpetual life and health. He it was who haddiscovered super-radium, and this wonderful power had, in time, beenused by others until many important inventions had developed from it, such as the virator, the radioscope, the radiphone, illumination withoutexpenditure of power or material, and several minor inventions, all ofwhich, however, contributed greatly to the comfort and advancement ofthis great people. 

The aerenoid, one of his most important inventions, had made it possibleto reach any part of the globe within an hour, and this, coming at thetime of the great change in the social conditions on Mars, had expeditedthe movement to a wonderful extent by bringing the inhabitants of everyquarter of the globe into daily contact with one another. So easy andrapid was this means of transit through the air, that cities and townswere soon abolished, and in the process of time, Mars attained theideal, and became a World Beautiful--the magnificent estate of one largefamily. 

And now Sarraccus had given the flowers a voice to sing of theirbeauty. In the mind of this great genius was conceived the idea thatinasmuch as there is ineffable beauty to the eye in the soft colors andshades of a flower--beauty too rare for the hand of man toreproduce--there must also be a corresponding sweetness of sound orvibration, if it were possible to transform its beauty into sound. Light-waves, he reasoned, varying according to the color and shade ofthe object, might be changed into sound-waves, if an instrument weremade sensitive enough to vibrate in response to these extremely delicateundulations of light. The vibrations would then vary in accordance withthe light-waves, and a harmony of sound, corresponding in sweetness tothe beauty of the flower, would result. 

After many unsuccessful trials, Sarraccus found a material that, in theform of a fine wire, twenty or thirty feet in length, vibrated inresponse to light of a certain color, as a wire in a piano or harp willoften be attuned sympathetically to a certain note in the human voice, and will vibrate whenever that note is reached. The vibrations of thiswire in response to light, however, were almost imperceptible, and itwas only upon testing with a highly sensitive instrument that they werediscovered. Several wires were then made of different thickness, andeach was found to have a sympathetic vibration to a light of a certaincolor. The quantity of wires was then increased to represent everypossible shade of color, and when these were stretched between two largedrums, a faint sound was detected. The drums were then enclosed inchambers that led into large horns, and thus the sounds caused by thedelicate vibrations of the wires, though as soft as the sighing of thewind, were diffused and augmented so as to reach into every corner ofthe large building. Enclosed in a dark room, the wires occupied theposition of a plate in a camera, a large lens being adjusted in the wallopposite them. 

The image of a flower, illuminated by the sun's light, was now thrownupon the wires, and a marvelous melody of sound resulted. Each delicateshade of color in the flower found a sympathetic wire which vibrated inresponse to it, and the harmony produced by all in chorus was theineffably sweet song of Nature. As Nature expressed its dreams ofbeauty in flowers, which in their simplicity and radiance defy the handof man to equal, so did the melody of these flowers far surpass anythingthat the ear of man had ever before heard. Did not the lilies of thefield receive the tribute of Christ? What wonderfully effective yetsimple truth would not He have heard in this surpassing melody? Asdifferent flowers were placed before the instrument, so would the musicchange; often sad and appealing as a whispered prayer, it would changeagain to a joyous triumphal chorus, full of the gladness of life andbeauty. 

For a moment I stood spellbound, then by some irresistible, mystic powerI was drawn to it; and eagerly seeking the paths that led in thedirection of the sound, I became aware that as I gradually understoodand sympathized with this compelling cry of Nature, so the melody seemedto become my every hope. Ambition, love, aspiration, and passion surgedthrough that grand symphony. It was heard and understood by the soul, asother music ministers to the ear, and as I eagerly listened I wassensible of a yearning for a love--a love that was soon forgotten, and Iknew it to be mine. In the wonders of this new world I had forgottenthe love that, while on Earth, I had been ready to risk my life for, andnow it was the eleventh hour, and who could say whether I should everreturn to this paradise?

Seeing a little rustic arbor, and being overcome with the excess ofemotion and beauty, I turned my steps thither to rest and think. Situated in a shaded corner of the building, the interior of the arborwas almost in darkness, and I felt that here I would be alone andunobserved. Every instant I grew more sad at heart over the time which Inow felt had been wasted, and as the melody died away, my head sank onmy arms, as I rested them upon the table before me. My Earth-tuned soulseemed still to linger under the spell of the enchanted music. 

I had remained thus but a few moments when I became conscious of a handsoftly laid upon my shoulder, and a voice, as sweet and gentle as themelody that had just died away, murmured, "Almos, poor Almos!"

The touch had a healing in it and was as gentle as the fall of snow. Raising my head I started up, giving utterance to the name thatinstinctively came to my lips--"Zarlah!" It was as if another man hadspoken the name while I stood entranced with the small soft hand held aprisoner in both mine, gazing down upon the beautiful being whose imageI had so often seen pictured in my mind. It was Zarlah!

I knew, now, that this beauteous image had not been an hallucination, and by what miracle it had all happened I cared not. Enough that thisbeautiful, radiant woman actually existed, and in one quick bound of theheart, I realized my all-consuming, deathless love for her. 

What I might have indiscreetly said in the great emotions of those firstmoments, I know not, but before I could give utterance to further words, Almos' calm demeanor had asserted itself, and in a voice that gave noevidence of how I was torn within, I said:

"How is it, Zarlah, that you find time from your studies to lingerhere?"

"My studies have brought me here, " she answered, gently withdrawing herhand and rising as if to go. Then quickly lifting her shining eyes tomine, in a playfully reproachful tone, she said, "And have you noexperiments at the observatory that demand your attention that you canafford to linger here, Almos?"

How beautiful she looked as she stood before me thus! Surely I could nothope for a better time than now to tell her all that was in my heart. There was uncertainty in the future--perhaps I would never again begiven the opportunity to speak that with which my soul burned. 

Placing a hand lightly on her shoulder and looking down into herwonderful eyes, I said tenderly, "The reason I have lingered here, Zarlah, was to think of you. "

A tremor of her slight form was the only response I received for someseconds that seemed hours to me, then, with her eyes turned away so Icould not read in them my fate, she murmured, "Did you not come to hearthe wonderful instrument by which Sarraccus gives the flowers a voice?"

"I did, " I answered passionately, "and its sweet melody whispered onlyof you--the radiant rose of the spheres. It told me of the yearning inmy heart--it sang of your great beauty, and of my unspeakable love foryou, and sobbed at the time I have wasted, a fortune of golden moments;then, as it died away, it led me to you. Is not this melody of flowersdirect from God's own hand, Zarlah? It must then be decreed by Him thatI should love you, for being truth itself, it can appeal only to thetruth that is within the soul. "

I drew her unresisting form toward me, and, gently pushing back thewaves of soft brown hair, I tenderly kissed the beautiful face, radiantwith the light of love. A thought of fabled beauties of Earth passedbefore me. Could any of them compare with my Martian love? Would not theface of Helen--that which "launched a thousand ships" at Troy--havepaled into insignificance beside it?

For some moments we remained thus, neither of us caring to break thatsacred silence which to lovers means infinitely more than words. The joyof feeling that my love was returned, and that she whom I held in myarms was mine, made me forget all else, until, with a little sob, Zarlahwhispered:

"Dearest, in our great happiness, we must not forget the duties thathave been confided to us. You must return to the observatory at once. Come, and I will accompany you to where Reon waits. "

The truth of Zarlah's words flashed upon me, and with it a fullrealization of the terrible mistake I had made. In the eyes of Zarlah Iwas a Martian, her life-long friend, Almos, and her anxiety for me toreturn to the observatory was the prompting of her Martian sense ofduty--her sole creed. In what words could I ever hope to explain that Iwas not Almos, when the voice, the manners, the features, and even theknowledge of her affairs were those of her intimate friend? And even ifit were possible to make Zarlah believe in the remarkable change ofpersonality, by explaining in full the weird and uncanny details of howthe change was effected, what happiness could I hope to derive from it;it was Almos she loved, not a strange spirit of whom she could knownothing--a spirit even from an alien world. 

Such were the thoughts that filled my mind, as I walked beside Zarlahthrough this more than Edenic garden toward the entrance where Reon wasto wait for me. But, although utterly crushed by the realization of myown hopeless case, I felt that the knowledge of Zarlah's love, of whichI had so wrongly come into possession, had imposed upon me a sacredduty. I therefore gave no outward evidence of my emotions, though mycup of happiness was now changed to one of sorrow and bitterness, andwhen Zarlah proposed that we should meet the following evening, Iquickly assented with all a lover's eagerness. 

We had now reached the entrance and, as we stepped out on the balcony, Isaw Reon waiting for me with the aerenoid in readiness. Seeing a merryparty in a large open aerenoid, and knowing them to be Zarlah's friends, I would have escorted her to them, but in a low tone she earnestlybesought me to lose no time in reaching the observatory. 

A few words of farewell--a slight pressure of hands, and we parted; andas I walked over to where Reon stood, ready for the journey, I could nothelp marveling at the great sacredness in which all duties are held inthe eyes of the Martians; duties, too, that have no other reward thantheir own fulfillment. A feeling of shame came over me as I thought ofthe endless struggle, selfishness, and crime of another world that is aslave to Gold. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

A HUNDRED MILES A MINUTE IN AN AERENOID. 

Reon was at his place by the levers when I stepped into the aerenoid, and as I closed and fastened the steel door, we slowly rose, anddescribing a large circle, sailed toward the canal. As the sun was nowlow in the heavens, numerous open aerenoids were to be seen, but thesewere soon passed, and within a few minutes we had reached the branchcanal where our speed increased. 

My thoughts were now turned to the long journey before me. So deeplyabsorbed had I been in the rapid events since I left the observatory, that I had given little thought to time. My great happiness at meetingand being with Zarlah had caused me to forget completely the importanceof returning to the observatory within two hours, and as the thoughtnow flashed through my mind, I hastily consulted the time. To my greatdismay I found I had but twenty minutes in which to cover quarter ofMars. This I knew was possible, but it left such a narrow margin thatany delay or accident, en route, would prove disastrous to our plans, thus bringing fatal consequences. 

We had now reached the large canal in which we had attained such greatspeed, and, rising, we proceeded to pass over it. As we crossed thebanks there came a rushing sound from beneath us, as of a mighty gust ofwind, and, looking through one of the small windows in the side of thecar, I saw in the distance a speck, which, in another moment, disappeared. Our aerenoid now gently rocked with the motion of a boatthat is in the swell of a passing steamer, and I instantly realized thatanother aerenoid, travelling at a terrific speed, had passed in thecanal beneath us. 

We had now reached the canal that ran parallel to the one over which wehad just passed. This was in every way similar to the first and was usedby aerenoids going in an opposite direction. Into this canal we turned, sinking lower as our speed increased, until, when we had reached ourmaximum speed, we were travelling not more than thirty feet above thewater. Thus, whenever necessary, we were ready for an instant plunge inorder to reduce our speed, and thus did this simple rule of startinghigh and sinking lower as the speed increased make collisionsimpossible. 

As it was late in the afternoon when we started, the daylight soonfaded, and in a few minutes we had reached complete darkness, the doubleline of lights on the canal banks being our only guide. Anxiously did Icount the minutes as we sped along, but knowing the danger ofdistracting Reon's attention, even for a moment, while we weretravelling at such a terrific speed, I kept silent, nor did I allow mymanner to give any evidence of my anxiety. 

I now realized that if I reached the observatory in time, I would owe mylife to Zarlah. Twice had she reminded me of my duties at theobservatory, and had insisted upon my immediate departure, when, underthe influence of her great beauty, I would have lingered until too late. My mind was fully determined as to how to proceed with regard torighting the wrong I felt I had done Almos, in confessing to Zarlah mylove for her. I would leave a note for him at the observatory to theeffect that I wished to communicate with him the following evening, whenI would tell him all. 

The hopelessness of my love was plain, for it was Almos whom she loved, and she believed also that Almos had confessed his love to her; and, with a lover's conviction that everyone must love the one he loves, Ifelt that Almos undoubtedly loved Zarlah. Indeed, it was probably hisaffection for her through which I had silently won her confession. Almoswould then have no cause to regret my action, and Zarlah would neverknow the strange circumstances that had brought them together. Thus didI picture in my mind a happy conclusion to my selfish and precipitateaction, which, I had feared at first, must bring overwhelming sorrow andhumiliation into three lives, two of which were dearer to me than any onEarth. 

I was roused from these meditations by the sudden roar of rushing watersas, in order to reduce speed, we plunged along the surface of thecanal. We were nearing our destination at last, and my mind at oncereverted to the now imminent danger--that of arriving at the observatoryonly to find that the wave contact with Paris had ceased, and I was toolate ever to return to the world from which I had come. In such a case, I determined to write a brief account of my experiences to Almos, and, after arranging the current of super-radium so that it would convey myspirit out of the virator (whither I knew not), I would then enter thevirator and deliver the body to its rightful owner. 

Although I determined upon this course as being clearly my duty, in theevent of my being too late to return to Earth, the desperate nature ofsuch a proceeding roused me to action. We had now risen from the canaland were floating slowly in the air at a considerable height. Strivinghard to suppress my agitation, I urged Reon to make more speed, and heat once responded by increasing the power. As it was now after midnightin this part of Mars, we were in no danger of encountering smallaerenoids in our flight, and in a few moments, to my great relief, Idistinguished the observatory lying far beneath us. Describing circlesover the building, we slowly descended and in a few seconds we hadreached the balcony. 

Thanking my companion with a hearty handshake (which came perfectlynatural even on Mars), I bade him adieu, and, stepping on to thebalcony, made my way into the observatory with all haste. Everything wasin the condition I had left it, and I was greatly relieved to find thatthe necessary time for the process of departure still remained, beforewave contact with Paris ceased. My heart now went out in true gratitudeand love to her who, in the simple desire to do what was right, hadplaced duty before her love, and had thus been of such inestimableservice to me. 

Immediately upon my arrival, I had prepared the virator for my journeyback to Earth by substituting the projecting apparatus of the radioscopefor the receiving apparatus. It was only necessary now to start theclockwork that would shut off the current to earth in half an hour, andwould start the current flowing through the upper chamber of thevirator. 

After having written a brief note to Almos, saying that I wished tocommunicate with him the following evening before making another visit, I made a hasty examination of the current of super-radium which nowflowed through the virator to Earth from the projecting apparatus. Theinstant my spirit was released, it would be caught up in this currentand conveyed to my body, where it lay in my rooms in Paris. In half anhour the clockwork would shut off the current flowing to Earth, andwould then turn on the current which flowed through the upper chamber ofthe virator, thus transferring Almos' spirit back to the body, as it layin the lower chamber. 

All was in perfect order, but it was not without a feeling of reluctanceand anxiety that I stepped into the virator and, after carefullyfastening the door, prepared the cone of chloroform. I realized thatthere were many dangers attending the return journey that were notpresent in my journey to Mars. If I had erred in my calculation of thetime the super-radium current could be kept on my body in Paris, or ifmy body had moved in that time, it would undoubtedly mean death to me;and the thought of whether Almos, in such a case, would learn of myfate on the morrow flashed through my mind. Realizing the danger of suchapprehensions, not only from the loss of valuable time which theyoccupied, but also from the fact that they tended to unnerve me at themoment when hesitation meant death, I quickly fastened the chloroformcone over my face and inhaled the fumes. 

A moment's consciousness--a flickering light--

 * * * * *

CHAPTER IX. 

THE REALIZATION OF A HOPELESS LOVE. 

I opened my eyes--it was broad daylight, and for some moments I laydreamily surveying the familiar objects in my room, unconscious of allthat had happened to me during the previous night. Then, noticing that Iwas fully dressed, a sudden realization of it all came upon me, and, springing to my feet, I excitedly paced up and down my room, pinching myarms and legs to make sure that they were in normal condition. Satisfying myself upon this point, I then looked at the time, and, to myastonishment, found that it was noon. 

As Mars passed out of wave contact about one o'clock in the morning, Imust have slept eleven hours after the return of my spirit to Earth. Ihad greatly feared that even if it were my good fortune ever to regainconsciousness, it would be only to discover that I had lost the use ofmy limbs and was powerless to move. That the super-radium current wouldpreserve my body in such a natural condition as even to induce sleep Iwould not have believed possible. Yet there was every indication that Ihad awakened from a natural sleep. I felt fresh and full of vigor, andthere on my couch lay the cone which, in my sleep, I had unfastened and, in turning over, crushed. If I had remained unconscious the entire timethere would not have been this evidence of restlessness, and Iconsidered it of importance as being proof that my sleep had beennatural. Beyond this, however, I did not consider the removal of thecone from my face as important, as the chloroform must have completelyevaporated soon after I became unconscious. 

Now that I was once again in my laboratory with the humdrum life of amatter-of-fact world surging about me, evincing itself by the continualroar of traffic which reached me through the open window, my remarkableadventure of the night before seemed like a strange dream. As there wasno tangible proof that I had actually been on Mars, I might have beenled to the conclusion that I had chloroformed myself intounconsciousness only, and had passed from this state into a deep sleep, in which I had dreamed my remarkable experiences. But the clearness andconsistency of every detail were amply sufficient to convince me of thegenuineness of my experiences on Mars, and that the characters, sovividly portrayed in my mind, lived in flesh and blood on a worldmillions of miles away. Much more convincing than this, however, was themoral obligation that I felt incumbent upon me--a duty I owed toanother. No dream could have left me with this keen sense ofresponsibility. 

Alas, I knew only too well that I loved, with an impossible love, abeautiful being of another planet, and that my duty lay in therenunciation of this love to Almos, its rightful possessor. 

Thus my discovery had not brought me the joy of triumph. The proudmoments in an inventor's career when he holds up to the world the fruitof his ingenuity and study could not be mine. Indeed, the thought of theexcitement that the news of such easy communication with Mars wouldcause, if I demonstrated its truth before reputable scientists, made medetermined to guard the secret of my discovery the more jealously. Hundreds of instruments similar to mine would be made, and it would soonbecome known to all the inhabitants of Mars that they could talk to thepeople of Earth, resulting in constant communication from all parts ofboth planets. Such an innovation would soon be a regular pastime of therich. It would then be impossible for me to visit Mars again, as thecrossing of the currents of super-radium would add a grave danger tosuch an undertaking. 

The possibility of my secret becoming known through an accident (someonebreaking into my room or overhearing me talk with Almos) now occurred tome, and, in the fear of my being separated from Zarlah forever, Idetermined upon another visit to Mars that evening. 

I had planned to tell Almos at once of my thoughtless confession of loveto Zarlah, but in an effort to justify my great desire to see her again, I now saw several important reasons for postponing this. I had given mypromise to Zarlah to be with her the following evening, and it seemedonly honorable for me first to fulfil my promise to her. Moreover, underthe circumstances, it might be embarrassing for Almos to meet her uponsuch short notice. When a man takes a step of this kind, he usually hasspent some time in consideration beforehand, how much more necessary, then, is time for consideration when this step has been taken for him. Itherefore decided to keep my promise to Zarlah and to endeavor to visitMars again during the next wave contact. 

I did not regret having left the note for Almos, however, as I had nomeans of telling whether the mechanism of the virator had done what wasexpected of it, or not. Almos' life depended upon the accurate workingof this mechanism after I had gone, and I was anxious to learn of hissafety. He would also want to learn of my safe arrival before preparinghimself for another undertaking of the kind; to see each other wastherefore necessary. Almos would undoubtedly have warned me of this, hadnot the cessation of wave contact prevented him from giving meinstructions. 

It was late in the afternoon when a feeling of intense hunger remindedme that I had not tasted food for twenty-four hours. I contented myself, however, with a light meal at a neighboring cafe, knowing the danger ofeating heavily at this time. To my great surprise, I found that thissmall amount of food was evidently all my system required. Not only wasmy hunger appeased, but, while returning to my rooms, I was conscious ofa strength and vigor which were entirely new to me, and which I nowremembered I had first experienced upon awakening. Could it be that thesuper-radium current, possessing the wonderful regenerating rays thathad brought perpetual life to the people of Mars, was gradually workingthis change in my body over a distance of millions of miles? Impossibleas this seemed there was no other way of accounting for the remarkablechange which had taken place in my body. 

The intense excitement I experienced at the thought of possessingperpetual life, health, and youth was but momentary, and I reached mylaboratory with a full realization of the enormous responsibilitieswhich my discovery was placing upon me. I could no longer keep itsecret; each day that I withheld the knowledge of these rays from myfellow beings, hundreds, nay thousands, of lives would be laid to myaccount. The knowledge had not been given to me that I should guard itselfishly. The hope that, even though I could never call Zarlah my own, I might often spend a few happy hours with her in her Martian paradisewas now shattered forever. I must stifle my love or commit a crimeagainst every living soul on Earth; and as I paced my room in agony, with my hands pressed to my temples to ease their throbbing, a great cryof anguish from the multitude in Death's grasp rang through my brain. Myheart was torn asunder by two great conflicting emotions, Love and Duty, and in this torture of mind and body I moved restlessly back and forthin my room, until the fading light warned me of the near approach ofwave contact with Mars. 

There was but one course open to me; I would tell Almos of my experiencewith the rays, and if he should decide that they were the same as theregenerating rays, possessing all their properties, and that continuallife was now within reach of the people on Earth, I would make mydiscovery public on the morrow. This would be my solemn duty, no matterwhat sacrifice it involved, and I could not help feeling that thissecond visit to Mars might be the last. 

A hasty examination of my instrument assured me that all was in order, and, turning on the current, I now watched the surface of wires for theglow that would signalize the commencement of wave contact. Should thisglow appear without an image of any kind it would have but onemeaning--that the mechanism of the virator had failed to do its work thenight previous, and that disaster had befallen Almos. 

My heart beat fast, therefore, when in a short time a faint glowappeared on the upper portion of my instrument and rapidly spread untilit covered the entire surface. As it grew brighter I was obliged to turnaway, before I could recognize any image, and, as I stood shielding myeyes from the strong glare, I felt my heart sink within me. But, beforeI could approach the instrument again, I heard my name called in theclear, ringing tones of Almos' beloved voice. 

I reached the instrument with a bound, and there, standing with hishands extended toward me and a smile of greeting on his handsome face, Isaw my brave Martian brother. 

"My dear Almos, how glad I am to see you are safe!" I cried, tears ofjoy springing to my eyes at finding that the fears of a moment ago wereunfounded. 

"It is entirely due to your forethought in leaving the note, that eitherof us are safe, " Almos responded. "Had you not done this, disaster toone or both of us must certainly have resulted, through ignorance ofeach other's plans. Let me congratulate you, my brave fellow, for havingso successfully accomplished your remarkable journey. This is theinitial step in the linking together of the destinies of Earth and Mars. 

"But now I should like to hear an account of your experiences here, foralthough I have gradually become aware of many impressions you left, Ifind it is only of the things suggested by my mind that I can gatheranything. "

"Then it is evident that the brain is merely a book of reference for themind, " I replied, "as I was not instantly aware of your knowledge ofMartian affairs, but only upon a subject being suggested by my mind, was the information regarding it available. Thus, the mind is aware ofimpressions it has made on the brain, but is totally ignorant ofimpressions made by another mind, unless the thought is suggested. "

I now gave Almos a brief description of my journey, explaining that, asI intended to make another visit to Mars that evening, I would leave thefull account of my experiences until the following night. I was carefulnot to make any reference to Zarlah, as I felt that my second meetingwith her would put me in a much better position to approach Almos onthis extremely delicate subject and lay before him my plans. Moreover, Iwas anxious that nothing should interfere with those few happy hours towhich I looked forward with such intense desire. 

Almos listened to my narrative with wrapt attention, and not until Iconcluded by describing the remarkable effects of the regenerating rays, did he give utterance to a word. Then, to my amazement, he said:

"The result is what I fully expected. The proof that the regeneratingrays exist in the super-radium current, lies in the fact that your bodywas perfectly preserved for six hours, and there is no reason forsupposing that they differ, in any way, from the rays which preservelife here for an unlimited time. "

"Then I can no longer keep my discovery a secret, " I declaredresolutely. "It becomes my solemn duty at once to make public theknowledge of these wonderful rays emanating from Mars. "

"What you say is indeed the truth, " rejoined Almos. "The time has nowarrived; the existence of a people on Mars, our early history, progress, and the conditions under which we live at the present day, must nowbecome known upon Earth; our inventions and scientific advancement mustbe made available to Earth's scientists. Since the discovery of theradioscope, which enabled us to see the people on your planet, Mars hasyearned to give a helping hand to her younger sister. That time has nowcome, and before many years the conditions of life on Earth will besimilar to those here. A great work must be accomplished, however, butthe burden of that work rests upon me; when it is finished the goal ofmy life has been reached. There are many things that are not clear toyou now, my dear fellow, but there is no time at present forexplanations. In half an hour I shall have prepared for yourvisit--remember, no matter what happens, tomorrow all shall beexplained. "

Having thus spoken, his voice and manner evincing great earnestness anddetermination, he waved his hand in farewell, and instantly theinstrument was plunged into darkness. 

For some moments I stood motionless under the spell that his remarkablepersonality had cast over me, nor did even his abrupt manner appear atall strange, such perfect harmony of word and action existed in thisMartian genius. Indeed, it seemed a fitting conclusion to all that hadgone before. Speaking rapidly, as though realizing the loss of time inmere words, his handsome face, strong with determination, holding mefascinated, he had confessed the ambition nearest and dearest to hisheart--that of giving to Earth the discoveries and inventions ofhundreds of years of advancement in science; all that had resulted inthe longevity, health, peace, and happiness which existed upon Mars. 

Humbled at my own insignificance and full of admiration for this greatcharacter, I turned slowly away, and, procuring a light, commenced toprepare for my journey. 

My letters and other papers, with a brief note of explanation, stillremained on my desk, and, as my glance fell upon this bundle, I becameconscious of a nervousness, which, although to many would be perfectlynatural at such a time, was entirely strange to me. I had notexperienced the least nervousness on the occasion of my first visit thenight before, yet the mere sight of this package on my desk, with itsnote of explanation, now caused me an uneasiness, which, try as I would, I could not ignore. 

Making the few necessary preparations about my room for the night, Isecured the door with lock and bolt, and, drawing my couch before theinstrument, poured out a glass of wine and lit a cigar, hoping thus tosteady my nerves. 

The day had been warm and close, and a thunderstorm of unusual violencemade the night a wild one. Vivid flashes of lightning that seemed to viewith each other in intensity, darted from the heavens, accompanied bydeafening crashes of thunder that shook the building to itsfoundations, while the shrieking of the wind, as though it were rushingthrough the rigging of a ship at sea, added to the noise of the tempest. 

Within a few moments the glow on my instrument would be the signal formy departure, and, as I prepared the cone of chloroform, I could notsuppress a shudder at the thought of my spirit going out into the furyof such a storm. It seemed as if Death, in the fear of being driven fromEarth and forever despoiled of his cruel victories, had turned loose theelements in his fury, and waited without to wreak vengeance on myaudacious spirit as it sped through space. 

An instant an intensely white glare on the surface of wires at thismoment gave evidence of the super-radium current. It was the signal formy departure, and, with a brief but earnest prayer, I seized the cone, and, taking my position on the couch, inhaled the fumes of chloroform. 

 * * * * *

CHAPTER X. 

ZARLAH'S CONFESSION. 

It was with a feeling of thankfulness that, upon opening my eyes, Ifound myself in the virator. The storm, which I had feared might provedisastrous, had been passed through safely, and now reigned thewonderful quiet of Mars. The strange uneasiness, which I had experiencedupon my departure from Earth, was forgotten in the anticipation of thegreat joy before me, or I would have noticed that the usual calm, evercharacteristic of Almos, was lacking. 

It was already past the hour of my appointment with Zarlah, and, eagerto be with her, I hastily made the necessary preparations for my returnto Earth. Although these consisted merely of changing the current sothat it would flow from the virator to Earth, and adjusting theclockwork for the hour of departure, I had decided upon the importanceof doing this beforehand, as any mistake made in the haste of departurewould prove fatal to either Almos or myself. 

These preparations attended to, I now made my way to the balcony. I hadrelied upon Almos' knowledge to guide me to Zarlah, and, as I reachedthe open air, I at once felt his judgment assert itself. Two aerenoidswere moored to the balcony, a large high-speed one of the submarine-boattype and a small open one. Into the latter I stepped, and, with aperfect knowledge of its operation, glided out upon the cool night air. 

Gently rising to about three hundred feet, I lay suspended between thefairyland stretched beneath me and the brilliantly starred heavens. Iwas perfectly aware of the direction in which I was to go, but for a fewmoments I lay thus suspended, enjoying as could only an inhabitant ofEarth, the strangeness and marvel of it all. 

The little vessel had reached the limit of height to which it wasdesigned to ascend and, upon realizing this, I became aware that, forsafety, all aerenoids are limited to a certain height by the amount ofrepelling metal used in their construction. The high-speed aerenoids, owing to their build, being better adapted to withstand the atmosphericconditions at a great altitude, can ascend several thousand feet, butall are limited to what is considered a safe height for the class towhich they belong. The action of the repelling metal being independentof the atmosphere, the danger of an aerenoid getting beyond control, andrising above the envelope of air which surrounds the planet is thuseliminated. 

As these thoughts came into my mind, I glanced up into the heavens withits countless stars--one being the world from which I came--when lo! aremarkable phenomenon met my gaze. In the west hung a crescent moon, somewhat smaller than Earth's moon, but extremely brilliant, while outof the east rose another moon at its full. So rapidly did this lattermoon rise, that its journey through the heavens was perceptible, and itwas evident that within an hour it would sink into the western horizon, having gradually changed its phase to a crescent. In seven hours itwould encircle Mars, and again appear above the eastern horizon. 

My interest in this moon was intensified when I realized that it wasbut a few thousand miles distant, and so small, that it would requirebut a couple of days' comfortable walking to encircle it. Compared withmy journey from Earth, this few thousand miles seemed but aninsignificant distance, and I immediately thought of the possibility ofreaching it in a high-speed aerenoid to which a sufficient amount of therepelling metal was attached to overcome the gravity of Mars. But Iinstantly was aware of the fact that an attempt to reach this moon hadbeen made many years previously, and that the intrepid Martians whoundertook the hazardous journey, never returned. Although their aerenoidcarried enough oxygen to supply them for many days after they had leftthe atmosphere of Mars, it was decided later that they had been lost inspace, unable either to reach the moon or return to Mars. The gravity ofso small a body would be insufficient to draw them to it, unless theytraveled straight in its direction, and, as the moon was moving rapidlyaround Mars, the chances of this were admittedly small. Moreover, onceout of the atmosphere of Mars, it would be impossible to propel theaerenoid, and, having missed the moon, they would travel on and onthrough endless space. Had they reached the moon they could havereturned, as the repelling force on a body with so little gravity, wouldbe greatly increased, and would have hurled them into the gravity ofMars again, as soon as they exposed the repelling metal. There could beno doubt that they had never reached the moon, and their terrible fateresulted in a safe limitation of this dangerous metal upon allaerenoids. 

So absorbed had I become in these intensely interesting details suppliedby Almos' knowledge, that time had passed without my realizing it, and, reproaching myself for having wasted the valuable moments I might havespent with Zarlah, I now moved the lever at my side and glided gentlyforward. 

The moon, however, as it rapidly journeyed across the heavens, seemed tohold a strange fascination for me, and my gaze constantly reverted toit. Had I realized that this fascination was caused by the approach of aterrible danger, I might have paid heed to the warning, but desirous nowto get to my journey's end, which, according to Earth's proverb, shouldend in a lover's meeting, I thought only of the time I had lost, andimpatiently put the subject from my mind. 

Moreover, as my meeting with Zarlah drew near, thoughts that wererelevant and of a more serious character filled my mind. My presentvisit to her now began to appear most unjustifiable. If I had foundexcuse for my action of the previous evening, in the enthusiasm of sosuddenly beholding the object of my adoration, unaccustomed as I was tomy strange position, I had no such excuse now. To appear before heragain as Almos, after having seen my folly and realized the deceit of myposition toward her, would be an act of shameful duplicity. I had notrealized this before, for I had thought only of my great love for herand the joy of again being with her, but now the crushing force withwhich the truth presented itself, caused me to hesitate before takinganother step that I now felt would be impossible to justify beforeAlmos. In this great uncertainty of mind I glided slowly along. 

The wonderful stillness of the night was broken only by the faint hum ofvoices and merry laughter that reached me from below. Glancing down, Iobserved numerous open aerenoids floating some two hundred feet beneathme, while now and then those of the high-speed class appeared, slowlywending their way toward the canals, to fly to different parts of theglobe. But although I was aware that for convenience of landing it wascustomary to travel just high enough to escape the buildings, Icontinued on at my present elevation, as I felt the need of deep andearnest thought, which I realized would be impossible amid the gaythrong nearer the surface. 

As the highest speed attainable by open aerenoids, which were usedmainly for pleasure, was but eight miles an hour, my journey of fivemiles gave me ample time for meditation; and when I at last alighted onthe balcony of a small white marble villa, to which I had instinctivelyguided my aerenoid, I had fully determined upon what I felt to be theonly honorable course to pursue. This was to confide all in Zarlah, and, no matter at what cost, to reveal to her the strange conditions that hidthe identity of a being from another world behind that of her friendAlmos. 

Having secured my aerenoid, I stood on the balcony, entranced at thebeauty of the scene before me, which lay bathed in a wonderfulstarlight--far more brilliant than the light of the full moon uponEarth--shed by a myriad of blazing gems in a sky that knew no clouds. Aperfect stillness reigned, save for the rippling laughter of a littlestream, that wended its way through an avenue of trees to a lake ofglistening silver, a short distance beyond. 

"What happiness would be mine in such a paradise, with Zarlah for myown!" I thought, and a great anguish filled my heart, as I realized theimpossibility of it--and now for the first time I also realized theimpossibility of life without Zarlah. A sudden dread of meeting the oneI loved came upon me--a dread of seeing the light of love in her eyes, even for an instant, knowing that it was not for me. I felt I could notbear to behold the look of tenderness in her beautiful face change toone of hatred, upon learning how she had been deceived; and in my agonyof spirit, I cried in a voice of deep emotion:

"Ah, Zarlah! I have won you, yet you are not mine! You have loved me, yet I am not loved!"

"I am yours, and I love you, Harold, " softly protested a voice at myside. 

With a start I turned and beheld Zarlah, and for a moment I stood as ifgazing at an apparition. 

Realizing my bewilderment, she laid her hand gently upon my arm, and ina low voice, full of compassion, said: "It is Harold Lonsdale whom Ilove!"

In a delirium of ecstasy I caught the small white hand and pressed it tomy lips. Passing my arm about her I drew her tenderly toward me, gazingdown into her beautiful eyes where lay a world of tenderness and love. My heart was too full for words--it was all too wonderful to understand;enough that I knew Zarlah to be wholly mine, and in those few silentmoments of absolute happiness and contentment, the little stream's merrylaughter seemed to swell into the great joyous chorus of all creation, behind which is the great love principle. 

Together we left the balcony and walked beneath the giant trees towardthe lake, Zarlah relating to me how, through an instrument shepossessed, which transmitted and received thought-waves, she had notonly learned of Almos' communication with Earth, but had descried amental picture of the inhabitant of that distant world with whom he hadspoken. 

On the evening of my first communication with Mars, Zarlah was testingthis instrument on Almos' mind, when, to her great astonishment, shecame into thought communication with Earth. As this was the first trialof the instrument, Almos himself was unaware of the success that hadcrowned Zarlah's invention, though he had taken much interest in it, andhad on several occasions given his advice during its construction. Although this instrument was only capable of transmitting and receivingthought-waves over a few miles, it was evident that through the mediumof Almos' mind, which was in communication with mine, the thought-waveswere conveyed to Earth by the super-radium current. 

Zarlah had thus learned of my proposed visit to Mars, but had not knownwhen the attempt was to be made, until, seeing Almos in evident distressat the recital of the lumaharp, she had feared that the attempt hadproved disastrous. When, however, I evinced my astonishment at seeingher, she knew instantly that before her stood the personality of theman from distant Earth, who had been projected to her in mentalpictures, and who was called Harold Lonsdale. When I spoke to her of mylove, she realized that her image had also been projected to my mind, and, as she listened to my impassioned words, she recognized in them thethoughts of love that had accompanied the projection of my image. Indeed, my every thought of Zarlah, during wave contact, had beenprojected to her through the medium of this remarkable instrument. 

With a keen desire to see and examine the mechanism, by which thoughtscould be transferred over millions of miles, I said: "But where is thiswonderful instrument of which you speak, Zarlah?"

We had reached the lake, and now stood on the bank overlooking itsglistening surface. 

A tremor ran through her slight form as she drew closer to me, and saidimploringly: "You must not ask to see it! Oh, Harold! Do you not realizethe grief this instrument has brought into our lives? Have you partakenof the sweetness so deeply, that you fail to perceive the bitternessthat lies beneath? You can be but a beloved memory to me--the memory ofa lover millions of miles away--but we are separated by that which isfar greater than distance!"

Her voice died away in a sob, and, as I drew her gently toward me, shewept bitterly. Thus had I of Earth brought tears into a world that hadnot known sorrow for hundreds of years. 

"But, dearest, " I argued, tenderly smoothing back the soft brown hair, and striving to cheer her, "we are now commencing on an era of planetcommunication, and it may not be long before a means is discovered ofactually transferring people from one planet to another. Did notexplorers, some years ago, have this in mind, when they attempted toreach the nearest moon? And even though they failed to reach their goal, who knows that they were not drawn to some planet that was in oppositionat that time, and are now prepared for a return journey at the nextopposition? With the complete absence of resistance there is in space, their speed would become terrific--thousands of miles a minute--and atsuch a rate it would be possible to reach a planet in opposition, longbefore their month's supply of oxygen became exhausted. Heat would notbe generated as there would be no friction until the planet'satmosphere was reached, but long before this they would have appliedtheir repelling force, which would reduce their speed, thus enablingthem to sail gently through the atmosphere and alight safely on theplanet's surface. "

Although I had not as much confidence in such an achievement as I soughtto inspire (well knowing the vast difference between a spiritualtransfer and a material one over such a tremendous distance), I wished, above all, to cheer Zarlah. Indeed, I feared that grief might bring themost serious consequences on Mars. I was greatly relieved, therefore, upon observing her countenance light up with a sudden interest, as Iexpressed these sanguine predictions as to the future. 

It was not until some hours later, when I was alone, that this incidentcaused me much anxiety, as I remembered that, in spite of the keeninterest Zarlah had evinced, she had carefully avoided any allusion tothe subject afterwards. But in the subsequent events of the evening thisescaped my notice, and, glad to observe the soothing effect my words hadupon her, I did not pursue the thought further. 

We had descended by a flight of stone steps to the water's edge, and, as we stepped upon the narrow strip of pebbly beach, walled in bycavernous rocks, Zarlah, with great earnestness, exclaimed: "You areright, dear Harold, we must be hopeful, and not waste the few preciousmoments we have together in regrets that are useless. We shall alwayslove each other, and if we are brave--even unto death--Love will find away!"

Poor Zarlah! Little did I imagine the desperate plan that was alreadyforming in her mind when she uttered these words, that before the closeof another day would indeed have proved her "brave even unto death. "

Drawing closer to me and turning her beautiful face up to mine, shesaid, after a pause, in which she seemed to read my very soul: "Beforeme lies a duty, Harold, which with you at my side I have the strength toperform, but without you the sacrifice is too great. "

"What is it, dearest?" I asked, pressing the little hand I held to mylips. 

"It is to destroy the wicked instrument of which I have told you. I hadnot the courage to do this before, as I feared for your safety inreturning to Earth, and to have destroyed it then would have left me infearful suspense. But now I must put away, forever, this awful thingthat possesses the power to reveal the thoughts of my fellow beings, that its mechanism may never become known and thus prove an eternalcurse to the world. "

With these words, Zarlah disappeared for a moment in the gloom of a cavenearby, and, returning with a small metal box, said in a voice whichbetrayed great emotion: "Take it, Harold, and hurl it far out into thewaters of the lake, where it will sink forever from sight!"

The earnestness with which Zarlah had spoken of this device, proved howdeeply its existence troubled her conscience, and restrained me frommaking any attempt to persuade her from thus severing a connectingstrand between two hearts so widely separated. I therefore took the boxand, with all my strength, hurled it far out into the lake, where itsank to remain a secret for all time. 

Swiftly flew those precious moments in which Fate had destined that twohearts from separate worlds should taste of each other's love, andthen--what? Alone in our great love we drank deeply the cup ofhappiness, and the hour of parting, ever drawing nearer, seemed but acloud on the horizon. At last, yielding to necessity, we retraced oursteps, leaving the scene of our joyous love behind, and the dread ofparting filled our hearts and stifled our words of happiness. 

Strange to say, as I stood in that other world, there surged through myalien mind some lines of Clinton Scollard's, which I had once learned, little dreaming of their significance:

 "Lo, it has come, the inevitable hour When thou and I, beloved one, must part; When heart be sundered from caressing heart, And ungloomed skies be turned to dreary gray. "

A silence fell upon us, both dreading to put into words the thoughts weknew must be spoken. Then, as our hearts beat audibly in the sacredstillness of night that had fallen about us, Zarlah murmured, clingingto me in despair, "Oh, Harold, my love, how can we bear the agony ofbeing parted!"

"I would give my life to remain with you, dearest!" I answered, pressingher passionately to me, but in a more soothing tone I added, "We must be brave, love, it is but for a day--to-morrow I shall return, but before my departure from Earth I will speak with Almos, and tell himthat I wish to abandon my body forever and to abide in spirit on Mars. In a virator constructed with two upper chambers, my spirit could beretained indefinitely, and I would then see you daily through the mediumof Almos. To-morrow, dearest, I shall return to you with good news. "

"Ah! Harold, you do not see the impossibility of such a thing--youcannot behold it through a woman's eyes. No, no! I can never see Almosagain! I gave my love to you through his medium, and to see him when youwere absent would be greater agony than I could bear. I must go withyou, Harold, to the world in which you live, where I can have youalways. "

With words of love and assurance I tried to comfort the brave littleheart that beat so loyally for me, and, fearing to leave her in thisunhappy condition, I lingered until barely time remained in which toreach the observatory before Paris would pass out of wave contact. Explaining this to Zarlah, we hurried to the villa, and, as we ascendedthe steps to the balcony, I beheld a large high-speed aerenoid resting ashort distance from mine. This, Zarlah begged me to take, explainingthat by rising a few hundred feet above the elevation of smallaerenoids, I could safely exceed the customary speed of local traffic. She explained that her brother had just returned in it from the north, where he had spent the day in the enjoyment of winter pastimes. 

My heart was too full of the sorrow of parting to be aroused toenthusiasm at even such a wonder as this, and, realizing that I would beunaccustomed to an aerenoid that was strange to Almos, I decided totrust to the smaller one reaching the observatory in time. But not amoment was to be lost, and, begging Zarlah to be courageous until myreturn the following evening, I pressed her to my heart in a last fondembrace. 

Oh! the agony of that moment, as I felt the slender form in my armsconvulsed with sobs, while I, struggling frantically with the emotionsthat tore my heart, whispered words of passionate love; and as at last Irose in the night air, condemned by Fate to journey millions of milesfrom her I adored, my soul cried out in its anguish:

 "'Ah, Love! could thou and I with Fate conspire To grasp this sorry Scheme of Things entire, Would not we shatter it to bits--and then Re-mould it nearer to our Heart's Desire?'"

CHAPTER XI. 

THE DISCOVERY AT THE MARTIAN OBSERVATORY. 

Although I well knew the fatal consequences of arriving at theobservatory too late, and realized that in this slow travelling aerenoidmy chances of covering the five miles in time were but slight, sodepressed and desperate was I that I gave the matter little thought. Indeed, my mind was entirely occupied with thoughts of Zarlah. Vainlydid I search Almos' scientific knowledge for a means of transportationover millions of miles of space. All my theories led to but oneconclusion--that no material transit over such an enormous distance waspossible. My heart sank within me as I thought how brief my happinesshad been. But then came the bewildering realization that an eternity ofloneliness would not be too much to pay for the unutterable joy whichnothing could take from me. Raised aloft to the highest pinnacle ofhappiness, I had been permitted to experience the joy of Zarlah'slove--a love that I had thought was for Almos--only to be dashed downinto still deeper despair. Then a great anguish filled my heart as Irealized that before I was alone in my misery, which, through athoughtless action, I had brought upon myself, but now my agony wasshared by a loving and trusting heart that had been joined to mine bythe decree of Fate. 

The thought of the unhappiness I had brought into Zarlah's life maddenedme, and when at last the aerenoid rested upon the balcony of theobservatory, I stepped out, caring little whether wave contact hadceased or not. I would enter the virator in any case, and at once fulfilmy obligation to Almos, through whose generosity I had been permitted tovisit this veritable paradise. Then, if wave contact with Paris stillexisted my spirit would return to my body which lay there, but if not, Ifelt that Fate would have thus solved the hopeless tangle into which ithad precipitated me. 

As I proceeded across the balcony, I was astonished to observe ahigh-speed aerenoid lying close to the one I knew belonged to Almos. What could it mean! That a visitor would enter the observatory knowingAlmos to be absent, I could not conceive, as I was well aware of thesanctity of a dwelling in the Martian mind, especially when thatdwelling was the theatre of such experiments and observations as theobservatory conducted by Almos. 

Greatly perturbed I turned and entered the building, and, with allhaste, proceeded down the corridor. As I reached the portières of thelarge room, the sound of someone within moving about caused my heart tobeat wildly, and, thrusting aside the curtains, I beheld Reon. 

For a moment I was mute with astonishment, then, as he smilinglyadvanced with extended hand, I knew instantly that he was present atAlmos' request. Without further time for thought, I grasped his hand andgreeted him cordially, realizing that no matter what the object of hisvisit was, it was known to Almos, and under no circumstances must Iappear surprised. Without waiting to be questioned, Reon offered me aslip of paper on which I observed Almos' handwriting. 

"I carefully followed your instructions, Almos, regarding the virator, and, half an hour later, I turned off the current of super-radium. I wasjust preparing to leave. You are late in returning, are you not?"

While Reon thus spoke, I had gained time to glance hastily over theinstructions that Almos had written upon the slip of paper which I heldin my hand, and I now replied, with every nerve strung in an effort toappear calm:

"I am, Reon, a whole hour late, and very sorry, indeed, to have kept youwaiting so long. But now, my good fellow, you must be off; I will notdetain you a moment longer than it takes to thank you for your kindnessfrom the bottom of my heart. "

So saying, I shook his hand warmly, and accompanying him to the balcony, waved him adieu. 

The gratitude which I had thus expressed to Reon, was by no means mereacting. My hasty glance at the instructions had convinced me that he hadbeen the means of saving my life. Without noticing the hour mentioned, Ihad just time enough, while Reon was speaking, to note that he wasinstructed to turn on the current from the upper chamber of thevirator, and, half an hour later, to shut off the super-radium current. I felt that Almos had in this way prepared to save my life, in case Iarrived at the observatory too late to return to Earth. With wonderfulforethought--perhaps even a premonition of my late return--he hadrequested Reon to visit the observatory and instructed him what to do ata certain time, with the result that Almos' spirit had been transferredto my body in Paris, before it was lost forever by passing out of wavecontact. 

Hastening to the virator, I now examined it, and found that Reon hadfaithfully carried out the instructions, although he was unaware that inso doing he had saved a life, doubtless thinking that in Almos' absence, he had merely attended to the details of an important experiment. 

I felt that I could never repay Almos for all he had undertaken for mysafety. The following evening I would enter the virator, and doprecisely as Almos had done on previous evenings. When Almos' spirit hadarrived, he would then change the current to an outflowing one, anddispatch my spirit to Earth. 

Although my thoughts of Zarlah had been interrupted by the excitementincident to finding Reon at the observatory, I was soon absorbed oncemore in the subject ever foremost in my mind. With my head resting on myhands, I sat hour after hour, endeavoring to conceive some plan--nomatter how hazardous--that would result in my being able to remain onMars with Zarlah. But the gloom of despair only deepened, and allsolutions were perforce dismissed. 

At my feet lay the slip of paper which bore the instructions for Reon. Many times during the long hours of deep thought, had my eyes restedupon it, only to seek a new object as a new problem confronted me. Suddenly, starting to my feet and snatching the paper from the ground, Iuttered an exclamation of astonishment. For the first time, I noticedthe hour at which Reon was to carry out his instructions--_it was threehours before the time for my departure_!

Almos had, then, deliberately planned to take my place on Earth, and inreturn to give me his on Mars. How I had been kept in ignorance of theseplans, I knew not, but, as I stood staring at the paper in my hand, mymind gradually comprehended all that Almos had, until now, sosuccessfully hidden from me. 

Impelled by these strange revelations, I hastened to the sleepingchamber, and glanced eagerly around in search of some message that wouldexplain more fully the reason for Almos' departure to Earth. Nor was Idisappointed, for upon the couch lay a letter addressed to "HaroldLonsdale. " Almos had naturally supposed that I would retire soon aftermaking the discovery that he had gone to Earth, and that I would thenfind the letter which, in this chamber, was safe from Reon'sobservation. 

As I read the contents my eyes filled with tears of overwhelminggratitude, and my heart went out in sincere affection to him who, inthis brief message, which was the sacrifice of a strong and noblecharacter, offered me his life on Mars with the love that he had knownwas mine, but which otherwise I could never possess. 

Pacing the room under the influence of strong emotions, I laid theletter down, only to pick it up again and reread its contents carefully. No other man, living on Earth or Mars, could have done as much for meas had Almos this night. He had not only saved my life, but had given tome the thing that was far dearer. It was a princely gift, and my mind, trained as it had been to the cramped confines of a sordid existence ina mercenary world, was slow to comprehend the limitless wealth ofhappiness and love which it bestowed upon me. Sleep was impossible, andI longed for the morning, that I might hasten to my beloved, and tellher of the happiness that was ours. 

CHAPTER XII. 

THE WARNING OF DANGER----THE RACE WITH DEATH. 

Slowly crept the long tedious hours of darkness. The heavy cloud ofdespair that had so long hung over me, now being dispelled as if bymagic, I was all impatience. My heart yearned for the moment when, gazing into the depths of Zarlah's wondrous eyes, I should seethere--not the appealing timid look, full of the dread of hopelessseparation from her lover, that had so wrung my heart at our lastparting--but the radiant happiness of perfect contentment and fulfilleddesire. I had thrown myself on the couch, and, as a miser jealouslycounts over his gold, fondling each precious bit with eager fingers, soI pondered on the happy hours spent with Zarlah, carefully reviewingeach golden moment with its precious burden of Love's confessions. 

Suddenly I sprang to my feet--a piercing, despairing cry of "Harold, mylove, save me! save me!" was ringing in my ears. 

It was Zarlah's voice, and some terrible danger confronted her. 

Rushing into the adjoining room, I glanced anxiously about--all wasstill. The numerous books and instruments lay just as I had left them, and I gradually realized that, tired with the experiences I had latelyundergone, I had unconsciously fallen asleep, and Zarlah's cry for helpwas only a dream. 

Although greatly relieved by this discovery, my mind remained in a stateof unrest. I was oppressed with a sense of danger which, in spite of myendeavor to overcome by occupying my mind with the volumes of Martianastronomical discoveries, I found to be impossible. Laying aside thebook I had endeavored to read, I started to my feet and paced restlesslyto and fro, but each footfall, echoing in the profound stillness, seemedto be an appealing cry for help. A premonition that a terrible dangerhung over Zarlah came upon me, and, maddened by the thought that Iremained inactive, whilst yet I might save her, I rushed out upon thebalcony. 

The sun was just rising, but in place of the gray light of dawn on Earthwith its beautifully colored eastern sky, there appeared sharp contrastsof the blackest darkness and the most brilliant light, in the longshadows that were cast across the landscape. Without the diffusion oflight which the denser atmosphere of Earth causes, night seemed tolinger on the very footsteps of day. Though the remarkable effect ofthis Martian sunrise would have been pleasing under other circumstances, it now served only to increase my apprehension, warning me that I was ina strange world, and that I must be prepared to meet extraordinaryemergencies. 

I had but one thought, that of reaching Zarlah as speedily as possibleand saving her from the awful fate which menaced her. What this fatewas, I knew not, but I could feel its presence like the hot breath ofsome ferocious beast, as it stands over its prostrate victim. Greatlydid I now deplore the loss of Zarlah's valuable instrument. 

With eager hands I prepared the high-speed aerenoid for the journey, feeling that I must trust to Almos' knowledge of its operation to carryme through safely. Though I realized that the danger was increased athousand times in an aerenoid capable of such terrific speed, the fearthat even now I might be too late compelled me to make use of it. 

Taking my place in the forward part of the car, I was greatly relievedto find that my hand instinctively sought the levers, and operated themwith a judicious care that could result only from long experience. 

Rising high enough to avoid small aerenoids, I proceeded at aconsiderable speed and soon came within sight of Zarlah's dwelling. Theserene and peaceful appearance of this beautiful white marble villa, asthe morning sun glorified it, quickly dispelled the fears that hadbrought me hither at such an early hour, and I gladly attributed them tooverwrought nerves and the loss of a night's sleep. 

Moreover, as I slowly circled over the lake that only a few hours beforeZarlah and I had wistfully gazed upon together as we built a world ofhappiness for ourselves, I felt that I was near to her, should thedanger of which I had been forewarned prove real. Here in the scene ofour happiness I would wait through the early hours--the last hours ofour separation. 

Slowly descending, I brought the aerenoid to rest in a spot obscured bytrees from the villa. A few feet away, the little brook sparkled merrilyin the sunlight as it leaped along on its journey to the lake, and, as Iopened the door of the car, its joyous song swelled upon the fragrantmorning air, laughing at my forebodings in this world of peace, as ithad laughed at my despair of the previous night. 

As I stepped out into the warm sunlight and made my way toward thelake, a great joy filled my heart. It would not be long ere Zarlahshared with me the happiness of the knowledge that we need never againbe separated. 

"Poor Zarlah!" I murmured, as the memory of our last parting with itsgreat anguish of a forlorn hope sent a pang to my heart. "The bitternessin thy cup was indeed great, but it is past. Oh, my beloved, awake tothe light of a new day filled with gladness, and sorrow shall not againcross thy path!"

I paused, fancying I heard footsteps, and, glancing back, listenedintently. All was still, and I was just about to proceed when again thesound came. This time I could not be mistaken; it was the sound ofhurried footsteps some distance off and in the direction of the villa. 

I was still hidden from the villa by the trees, but across the stream, some thirty yards away, was an opening from which a view of it could behad. Leaping the stream I hastened thither, anxious to learn the causeof the untimely activity. Another moment, and I should have been toolate to see a slight figure, laden with what appeared to be wraps andother travelling equipment, hurry across the balcony and step into thelarge high-speed aerenoid that I had observed there the previousevening. 

It was Zarlah! But what was the reason of this hasty departure at suchan hour? Suddenly a frenzy seized me, and, rushing toward the villa, Ifrantically called to her, but it was too late. She had not seen me, and, before I had taken many steps, the aerenoid rose rapidly to a greatheight and disappeared over the trees. 

Not a moment was to be lost. Turning, I dashed wildly back toward theaerenoid I had so foolishly left in concealment. Reaching the stream, Istumbled over an entanglement of vines and plunged headlong therein, only to scramble, dripping and bruised, up the opposite bank andcontinue my frantic efforts to reach the aerenoid, before Zarlah's carhad disappeared from sight. What her intention was I knew not, but theearly hour, the haste with which she had departed, and the absence ofher brother, all conspired to arouse the fears that had beset me duringthe long hours of the night. 

Arriving at the aerenoid at last, after a journey that seemed to consumehours, I jumped in and closed the door. Frantically I seized the leverthat controlled the ascension and, pulling it so that the full repellingpower was instantly exposed, the car bounded high into the air withterrific force. 

The shock hurled me off my feet, but in an instant my eyes were againfixed upon a mere speck many miles distant, which I knew to be theaerenoid containing all that life possessed for me. As the car plungedforward at great speed, the speck disappeared, and I at once realizedthat Zarlah had reached a canal, into which she had turned her aerenoid. It was now impossible for me to see which direction she took, and unlessI arrived at the canal within a few seconds, I felt that all hope ofovertaking her would have vanished, as she would doubtless proceed atfull speed and soon be lost to sight. 

Opening to its fullest extent the valve that controlled the exhaustionof air in the chamber beneath, the velocity of the car soon becameterrific, and, rising still higher as I sped along, I caught sight ofZarlah's aerenoid proceeding in a northerly direction. 

With a disregard for all safety I swerved to the north, thus forming thethird side of a triangle, of which the other sides were the courseZarlah had taken. This movement reduced the distance between the twoaerenoids considerably, and upon turning into the speedway of the canal, I was greatly relieved to find that I was but a few miles in the rear. The hope that Zarlah might see the car speeding so close behind her, flashed through my mind, but instantly I realized the impossibility ofsuch a thing, for a glance behind, even for a second, while travellingwith such frightful velocity, would entail certain destruction by beingdashed to pieces against the sides of the canal. My only chance lay inovertaking her and making some signal, and with my free hand I wrenchedat the speed valve, endeavoring to open it wider. 

On we sped in our wild career over the planet's surface. Hundreds ofmiles were quickly swept beneath us, but not one foot did I seem togain. Vainly did I strive to put from my mind the fears that lurkedthere, by seeking a plausible reason for Zarlah's strange action. 

On, on we flew, each aerenoid going at its maximum speed; surely Zarlahhad gone far enough north; she must slacken her speed soon to turn downa branch canal, and I would then be able to run alongside of her car andsignal my presence. There was a gleam of hope in this, and to it I clunglike a drowning man to a straw. 

The air in the car, which had steadily grown colder, was now biting inits sharpness, and as I clutched the steering apparatus with numbedhands, a white object loomed up in the distance and in a second flewbeneath me--another came, then another, and another, and as theyappeared in greater numbers, I observed that they were huge blocks ofice. The sight filled me with grave apprehension. It was now impossibleto stop our terrific momentum, yet in spite of this great danger, on andon we sped, still farther north. 

What could be the reason for this perilous journey? Did Zarlah notrealize the danger to which she was exposed, rushing thus madly into thewilds of the North--the region of the Repelling Pole--without the meansof stopping?

Suddenly I shrank in horror as a fearful thought entered my mind. Mysenses reeled, and a strange sensation swept over me, as of an awfulPresence in the car with me. "No, no, " I muttered between clenchedteeth; "it cannot be! She surely realizes that it would be going to acertain and terrible death!" And as I frantically wrenched at the valvein an effort to get more speed, a strange hollow voice echoed through mybrain, laughing at my unutterable agony, and crying with fiendish glee, "Your love has no thought of stopping; she hastens to her bridegroom, Death!"

As hot irons scorching the living flesh, the words burned into mybrain, setting it on fire. It was the voice of Death--which voice noliving mortal can mistake--and I recognized it also as the fury of thestorm which was abroad when I departed from Earth, and the echo of thestream's song of peace in the midst of danger. Had Death thus followedme from the world in which he thrived to wreak this vengeance upon me, by tempting my bride into his arms, believing that she hastened to herlove?

On, on we rushed into the region of the dreaded Pole. All signs of thecanal had disappeared, and before us lay only a vast uninhabitable fieldof ice. I stood at the levers, frozen rigid with the intense cold, butwith my eyes ever on the flying object before me, while visions of mybeloved one, now so close to death, passed rapidly through my feveredbrain. As if Death had thus planned to torture me, before tearing myloved one from my very arms, I seemed to stand impersonally apart andwatch two lovers--Zarlah and myself. Bending over her, I tried toconsole her with a false hope--a story of impossible fulfillment. Isucceeded; and now I saw that I had laid the trap which Death hadplaced in my hands to draw her toward him, and, with a cry of horror, Itried to wrench my hand from the lever to which it was frozen, so that Imight shut such a scene from my sight--

I realized the meaning of it all now. Zarlah, unable to obtain therepelling force necessary to carry her off Mars, was rushing toward theRepelling Pole to be hurled off the planet, risking all in the hope ofbeing drawn to Earth, which was in opposition. It was a vain hope--alas, I knew this too well. She was rushing to her death--a death that I hadlured her to, and my hands would be stained with the blood of mybeloved. 

Desperately I wrenched at my frozen hands to free them from the metal towhich they adhered, with a wild idea of smashing the window and callingloudly to Zarlah. The skin tore from the flesh like paper at the fury ofmy efforts, and I freed my hands at last, only to find that my arms hunglifeless at my side. 

In a frenzy of grief and despair at my utter helplessness, I fell on myknees, crying aloud, "Oh, my God! Save her from this awful death!"

A sudden gloom filled the car, and, struggling to my feet, I found thatwe had entered the belt of semi-darkness that covers the polar caps intheir winter season. Our doom was near at hand--nothing could saveZarlah now, and only by swerving my car around instantly and returningcould I preserve myself. But life was nought to me without Zarlah--Ipreferred death to such an empty existence. Condemned by Fate to beseparated in life, we would meet death together. 

I could dimly see Zarlah's car outlined against the white snow beyond, but, even as I stood now helplessly and silently awaiting the end, adark line rapidly spread over this field of white. Beyond, all wasblack, and as this sharp-cut boundary line rapidly approached Zarlah'scar, my blood froze in my veins, for in this vast area of bare blackrock I recognized the terrible power of the North Repelling Pole. Therewas another moment in which my heart refused to beat, then a groan ofgreat anguish escaped my lips, as Zarlah's car was hurled upwards intospace with frightful velocity. 

Shutting my eyes I awaited death. For an instant it seemed to me that Iheard Zarlah's voice call to me in clear accents, then came a terrificshock which hurled me to the far end of the aerenoid, amid a confusionof furniture, books, and instruments that had been torn from theirfastenings. Frozen into a state of utter helplessness, my senses fastleaving me, I lay unable to extricate myself from the heavy mass. 

In this comatose condition I remained totally ignorant of the lapse oftime, until, feeling the terrible pressure diminish, I opened my eyesand dreamily beheld the heavy instruments and pieces of furniture movegently away, and bump against one another as they floated lightly aboutwithin the car. 

Relieved of the great weight, I now breathed more freely. My senses grewclearer, and soon I became conscious of a loud hissing noise close athand. Drowsily I turned my head in the direction of the sound, anddiscovered that it came from the door in the side of the aerenoid. In aninstant the full faculty of my senses returned, as with intense horror Irealized the cause--the air of the car was escaping into the void of theuniverse without! Desperately I struggled to gain my feet, but beingwithout weight, the effort resulted only in my drifting helplessly aboutthe car, until, gasping for air, I realized that the end had come. 

A moment's consciousness of being drawn gently to the floor of the caragain, while the furniture and other articles that had been driftingabout piled lightly upon me without any perceptible weight; a slightshock, then, as the suffocating sensation became more intense, ablackness rushed in upon me, and my senses reeled--

 * * * * *

CHAPTER XIII. 

THE END OF A PERILOUS JOURNEY. 

A tall, gaunt figure, swathed in black robes, Stood waiting somedistance from me. I knew that it was Death, for under the hood I beheldthe grinning skull with its sightless eye-holes, and I turned away inloathsome dread. But even as I did so, the bony arms were stretched outin welcome, and to them ran a slight girlish form--it was Zarlah! For amoment I stood paralyzed with horror, then rushing toward the nowretreating figures, I called out wildly, "Zarlah! Zarlah! Flee not withDeath! I am here--your Harold is here!" Suddenly I was seized frombehind; instantly my strength seemed to be sapped from me and I fellback exhausted, crying in my despair, "Oh, my God! save her! save her!"

A cool, soft hand was laid upon my burning brow, and a sweet voicegently murmured, "Poor Harold! If you could only know that God in Hismercy has saved us both!"

It was the voice of the living, not the dead, and slowly the wordsformed a meaning in my confused brain, dragging me from the depths ofunconsciousness to the life that still existed about me, warmed as itwas by the wondrous power of a woman's love. Opening my eyes I beheldZarlah bending over me, her beautiful face full of compassionate love. It seemed as though in a dream my loved one had come to me, and for amoment I lay peacefully gazing into her face, feeling neither curiositynor alarm. Then, as my mind awoke to a realization of all that hadtranspired, a sudden bewilderment came upon me, and, clasping the handthat sought to ease my head, lest the vision should vanish, I cried:

"Zarlah, my beloved, speak to me! Are we by a miracle saved from thedeath that had engulfed us, or is this the strange meeting of our soulsafter death?"

At the sound of my voice, Zarlah clasped her hands in a fervent prayerof thankfulness, then, burying her face on my shoulder, gave way to aflood of tears. 

"Oh, Harold, my love!" she sobbed. "Thank God, you have been spared tome! It is indeed by a miracle that this moon, intercepting our aerenoidsin their wild flight through space, thus brought us together at theeleventh hour, and laid you helpless and dying at my feet. "

"The _moon_!" I gasped, raising myself and staring out of the window atmy side in astonishment, as my mind gradually comprehended ourhairbreadth escape from death. 

A blazing orb of fire, shining from the intense blackness around it, wasall that met my gaze, and I sank back, exhausted with the effort, intothe arms that awaited me. 

"Tell me more, darling, " I said, as a great happiness came over me, andmy heart was filled with the simple desire to hear the gentle voice Iloved. What mattered it to me whether we ever reached Mars or not? Thefuture held no fears for me now; enough that I had Zarlah, for the wallsof the aerenoid that surrounded us seemed to compass the whole universe. 

"Ah, my love!" sighed Zarlah, bending over me and nervously clasping myhands in hers, "now that the danger is past and you are restored to me, the long hours of agony seem like a dream. But, oh, the anguish of thatmoment when I beheld another aerenoid lying close to mine, upon thesurface of the moon that had intercepted my journey to Earth! My soulcried out that in it lay my beloved, suffocating to death. Who elsewould have followed me over the dreaded Pole! With wild haste I attachedan oxygen respirator to my mouth, and, releasing the air from the car, sprang out upon the surface, little suspecting the danger that lurkedthere. But so small is the force of gravity upon this moon that I waswithout perceptible weight, and the tendency to rise with every step Itook filled me with terror, and I crept upon my hands and knees to theaerenoid which lay a few yards away. Opening the door, I found you lyingapparently lifeless upon the floor. My heart told me that it was my lovewho lay within Death's grasp, and, desperate at the thought that you hadbeen so near to me, only to be torn away by the hand of Death, I liftedyou up and hastened with you back to the aerenoid I had left. The smallamount of gravity now aided me, and I carried you without feeling theburden. 

"Filling the car with oxygen and applying regenerating rays, I waitedfor a sign of life. Oh, the agony of those moments, as in despair Ifrantically called your name! At last the sign came--a quiver of thelips, a faint breath--and I knew there was hope. Gradually yourbreathing became stronger, but a terrible fever raged within you. Through long, long hours on this strange globe I knelt beside you, listening to your piercing cries of delirium, as you lived that awfulexperience over and over again. Little by little, in the cries of agonythat rent my heart, I learned how you had come to me a moment too late;how you had followed my aerenoid, and, being unable to stop me, hadrushed to the fate that was mine, to be hurled into space, unpreparedfor such a journey; how you had suffocated, and--oh! my love, as you laythrough the long hours, gazing at me with wild unseeing eyes--evercalling my name--imploring me not to rush to my death--I at lastdespaired of your life, and my soul prepared itself to fly with yours tothe life beyond, leaving our bodies clasped in each other's arms, tocircle round the world which had denied us our love until the end oftime!

"But suddenly the light of reason came into your eyes--your voice lostits wild accents, and I knew that you had been restored to me. In a fewhours now, Harold, the rays will have completed their work, and you willbe in full possession of your former strength. "

What a happy future we now looked out upon! The danger of our positionupon a heavenly body but a few miles in diameter, with barely enoughgravity to hold us on its surface, was forgotten in the great joy ofbeing together and feeling that we should never again be parted. 

I related to Zarlah all that had happened since I had left her; how Ihad encountered Reon at the observatory and learned of Almos' departureto Earth, and how I had later discovered the letter in which Almos gaveto us the great happiness we had despaired of ever possessing. And nowthe fast encroaching darkness warned us of the approach of a lunarnight. As darkness with us would necessarily mean daylight on that partof Mars to which we had come opposite in our journey round the planet, Ifelt that now had arrived the time for action, as Mars would becomevisible. Moreover, as the days and nights of this rapidly movingsatellite were but three and a half hours in duration, I realized thatno time should be lost in making the necessary preparations for ourhazardous journey. But although I was now able to get on my feet and hadthe use of my arms, I had not by any means regained all my strength, andupon laying my plans before Zarlah, she urged me not to undertake such ajourney until the rays had fully restored me. Therefore it was decidedto postpone our attempt to reach Mars until the following night. 

But soon a strange and unforeseen incident warned us of the great dangerto which we were exposed on the surface of this diminutive moon, andleft us no alternative but immediate departure. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

HURLED FROM THE MOON. 

Together we stood gazing in silence out into the abyss over the smallsurface of the moon that was visible to us, oppressed with a sense ofawe as the sun dropped from sight, leaving us plunged in darkness. 

Suddenly there appeared from out of the inky blackness of the heavens ahuge crescent, stretching across the sky far above us. The sight of itfascinated us, and, as we stood lost in admiration at the majesticproportions of the beautiful arch of light, ever growing in width, wegradually realized that it was the sun-tipped rim of the planet whichour moon was journeying around--the world from which we had been hurledand to which we must return. 

A sense of great reverence overpowered me; I realized that we lookedupon sights, and felt great forces never before bared to mortals. Through my mind ran lines of Addison's ode:

 "The spacious firmament on high With all the blue ethereal sky, And spangled heavens, a shining frame, Their great _Original_ proclaim. 

 * * * * *

 Forever singing as they shine The hand that made us is divine. "

Slowly the light crept over the planet's surface until the hugeilluminated sphere, almost filling the entire heavens, made a scene ofthe most exquisite grandeur that human eyes have ever beheld. 

"Dearest!" I exclaimed, with sudden impulse, as a most remarkable andterrifying fact occurred to me, "wonderful though our deliverance fromdeath seems to us, it is even more miraculous than we had any conceptionof! To meet with this moon in our journey through space, we must havedescribed an arc, as this satellite never passes over the pole. "

"How can such a thing be possible?" returned Zarlah, in tremulousaccents, drawing closer to me as the awfulness of our narrow escapeappalled her. 

"Ah, my love, we may never know that!" I answered. "The Great Creator ofall these wonders has, indeed, guided us to this haven in our wildflight through space. We can but theorize that the pole, being severalmiles in diameter, hurled us from its edge, the tremendous repellingforce not permitting our aerenoids to proceed over its surface. Therotary motion of the planet upon its axis would then cause us todescribe a curve in our flight from its surface, as only in the centerof the pole would this rotary motion lose its effect. "

"Oh, Harold, " whispered Zarlah, timidly, when I had finished speaking, "the thought of these terrible things and the sight of this immenseglobe hanging over us fill me with dread! Do you think we shall everreach our world again? It appears to be so near and yet is so far awayfrom us. What veritable atoms we are in the glory of this tumultuouswhirl!"

"I do not think we could possibly miss it, sweetheart, " I answered, cheerfully, as I placed my arm about her and drew her away from thewindow which commanded a view of Mars. "Come, let us look out upon thelittle globe that supports us; we are entirely missing the beautifuleffect of this grand reflection of light"

The surface of the moon was now bathed in a beautiful diffused light, and our surroundings where once more visible. Indeed, many objects, which we had been unable to see in the dazzling brilliancy of the sun'slight, as it blazed forth from a heaven unsoftened by any atmosphere, were now clearly revealed. We had approached a window and were lookingat these new objects of interest, when Zarlah suddenly cried in dismay:"Look, Harold, look! The other aerenoid is moving!"

Quickly turning my gaze in the direction indicated, I saw the aerenoidin which I had made the journey from Mars move a space of several yardswith a jerky motion, then, to my intense horror, glide off the surfaceof the moon into space. At the same instant, the car in which we stoodrocked as though about to turn over upon its side. 

Not a moment was to be lost! Some unknown force was exerting itsinfluence over the movable objects on the moon's surface. What thispower was I knew not, but the direction in which the aerenoid hadglided proved it to be other than Mars. Our position was now perilous inthe extreme, for were we suddenly to glide off into space we wouldundoubtedly be lost, as it was necessary to have air surrounding us inorder to propel the car. Without an atmosphere we would therefore behelpless and entirely at the mercy of the unknown and mysterious power. Indeed, it was evident that only our increased weight had saved us fromimmediately following the other aerenoid, and I felt that at any momentwe might do so. Although lacking the power of propulsion, my hope wasthat our repelling force, which I knew must be increased to an enormousextent by the slight gravity on the moon's surface, would hurl us offthat satellite straight upward into the influence of Mars' gravity. 

Seizing the lever, I cried to Zarlah to He on the floor of the car, buteven as she did so, the aerenoid rocked again with still greaterviolence--in another moment it would be too late! Thrusting the leverover, I exposed the full repelling force to the moon's surface. Theshock hurled me to the floor, and so terrific was the force with whichwe shot upward, that I was held powerless to move hand or foot. For aspace of time which seemed to me hours I was obliged to remain thus, contenting myself with calling words of encouragement to my dear one, whom I greatly feared must have suffered severely from the awful shock. At last, finding that I could rise, I hastened to her side, and, to mygreat relief, discovered that she had entirely escaped injury. 

As it was impossible in any way to control the aerenoid speeding upwardthrough space, it was useless for me to stand by the levers, and, assisting Zarlah to rise, we approached a window in the roof of the carand glanced upward at the planet to which we were rushing. A remarkablephenomenon met our eyes! Mars appeared to be no longer a sphere--thegreat globe that we had beheld from the moon--but instead a huge dome, which hung over us, ever deepening in the center as we rushed up towardit. Inconceivable though it seemed, I knew that, to produce such aneffect, we must already have covered more than half the distancebetween the two bodies. Upward we shot, and although there was no meansof ascertaining how fast we were travelling, I knew by the rapidlychanging appearance of the dome above us that our speed must beterrific. 

We had steadily grown lighter, and now we discovered that we wereentirely without weight, and that it required some effort to keep ourfeet on the floor of the car. 

Still upward we rushed into the center of the dome which now stretcheddown and encircled us on all sides like an immense umbrella, whensuddenly, without the slightest perceptible movement of the car, thedome appeared to swing around until it lay beneath us, and instantly wefelt our feet settling upon the floor of the car. 

"We are safe from the unknown power now, dearest!" I exclaimed, anxiously examining the lever that controlled the descent, to make surethat the repelling metal was fully exposed. "We are dropping upon Mars, and our repelling metal should soon check our speed. "

"Oh, Harold, my love, " sighed Zarlah, timidly clinging to me, her eyesfilled with tears, and a look of great yearning coming into them, "myheart despairs at the dangers that encompass us! With you as my goal Iknew no fear; but now that I have you, I am a coward. Is our loveforbidden, that we should be thus pursued by these terrible dangers?"

"Courage, dearest!" I replied, reassuringly. "We shall soon be safe, andthen nothing shall interrupt the happiness for which we have endured somuch. "

I hid from her the anxiety that lurked near my heart, and endeavored tointerest her by advancing several theories upon the phenomenalappearance of the planet's surface. 

Like a huge cup the land now stretched up and around us, but we werestill descending with frightful velocity. I had noticed that the air inthe car was becoming warmer, and now, filled with apprehension, Istretched out my hand and touched the wall. Instantly I withdrew it--thewall was hot! Like a flash the full realization of our terrible dangerburst upon me. I had relied upon the repelling metal to check ourdescent before we entered the region of air, and had supposed that wewould float lightly to the ground under perfect control. But now I sawhow foolishly I had erred, in omitting to take into consideration theterrific momentum we would attain in our journey of six thousand milesthrough space. This momentum was now driving us to the ground, in spiteof our strong repelling force, and with such a frightful speed that heatwas being generated by friction with the air as we rushed through it. The creaking and straining sound coming from the bottom of the aerenoidwas evidence of the fight the repelling metal was making to overcomethis momentum before the surface of Mars was reached, but I shuddered asI realized what little effect it had upon this gigantic force. 

In a few seconds the air became unbearably hot, and, with a gasp, Zarlahlay limp in my arms, as she turned her face to me to speak. Laying hertenderly upon the floor, I hastily wrapped wet blankets around her, and, dashing water over myself, I staggered across the car to the windowagain. We were still descending rapidly, but, as I felt the walls of thecar, I found that they were now cooler, proving that our terrific speedhad been reduced. The increased pressure of my feet upon the floor ofthe car was also evidence that our descent was being steadily checked. A wild hope surged within me that the repelling metal would overcome themomentum in time to save us from destruction. 

Glancing down, I saw white specks lying far beneath us. My heart stoodstill as I realized that these were buildings. We could not be more thana few miles from the surface, yet down, down we sped. A few moments moreand the buildings became plainly visible, and my heart thumped wildly, as they seemed to rush up to meet us. We would be dashed to pieces! Therepelling force could not possibly stop us in time! Turning, in despair, I threw myself down beside Zarlah, and enfolded her in a last embrace. 

Instantly there was a terrific shock--a deafening crash. Then all wasdark, while a flood of water came pouring in upon us. I staggered to myfeet with Zarlah in my arms, only to be thrown to the floor again by anupward bound of the aerenoid. Sunlight once more filled the car, and, asI struggled to my feet, a cool breeze wafted in through the shatteredwindows. To what further extremes of temperature and mediums were we tobe subjected?

I was still too dazed by the shock to realize how we had escaped from adeath that seemed inevitable, but I knew that we were flying upward withthe full force of our repelling metal. Tenderly lifting Zarlah to asafer and more comfortable place, I seized the lever and graduallydecreased the repelling power, until we rested motionless in the air. 

We had already attained a considerable height, and, as I eagerly gazeddown, I beheld far beneath us the glistening surface of a lake. With agasp of horror, I realized what a narrow escape had been ours. Into thislake we had plunged with a velocity sufficient to have dashed us topieces had we struck the ground; the damage which the car had sustainedupon striking the water was evidence of this. Our descent being stopped, the repelling metal, which was fully exposed, had then sent us boundinginto the air again, and in all probability had thus saved us from beingdrowned beneath the waters of the lake. 

Death had indeed been close to us many times during our strangeadventure, and now that all the dangers were past, I breathed aheartfelt prayer of thankfulness for our safe deliverance. 

Freeing Zarlah from the wet blankets I had wrapped around her duringthe intense heat, I gazed anxiously down upon the beautiful, unconsciousface. 

"My love! my love!" I murmured, passionately. "How much you haverisked--how much you have suffered for my sake! Oh, cruel the fate thatthus delays our happiness!"

The sun was setting, and I now realized the importance of descendingnearer to the ground, that I might ascertain our whereabouts, as fromour present altitude, even with Almos' knowledge of Mars, I was unableto recognize any familiar landmark, and I knew that darkness would soonbe upon us. 

Bending once again over the form of my loved one, I tenderly kissed thesilent lips, but as I did so, her arms closed about my neck, anddreamily opening her eyes, she smiled up at me as a child awakening froma peaceful sleep. 

"We are safe now, darling, all the danger is past!" I murmured, andfalling on my knees beside her, I took her up into my arms, with theprayer that I might ever shield her in the days to come. 

The shadows lengthened; quickly the gloom gathered, and darkness closedin upon us, but still we remained suspended in the cool night air underthe dome of the starry heavens, unmindful of all in the joy of our greatlove; for with the fulfillment of our hearts' long cherished desire, came the realization that our journey was ended. 

 * * * * *

PARIS, February 17, 19--. 

Six months have elapsed since that memorable evening when Harold andZarlah--radiant with their new-found happiness--were portrayed upon theinstrument in Paris at which I anxiously waited, after having exchangedmy existence on Mars for one on Earth. The account of his strangeadventures, which Harold has since given me, I have endeavored to recordin the foregoing pages, as nearly as possible in his own words, trustingthat this narration of the events connected with the opening ofcommunication between Earth and Mars will prepare the way for thegreater developments soon to be announced by scientists. 

ALMOS. 

THE END.