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herself to train us together。
Her prize consisted in a male about four feet tall； very
strong and physically perfect； also； he learned quickly； and we
had considerable amusement； at least I did； over the keen
rivalry we displayed。 The Martian language； as I have said；
is extremely simple； and in a week I could make all my
wants known and understand nearly everything that was said
to me。 Likewise； under Sola's tutelage； I developed my
telepathic powers so that I shortly could sense practically
everything that went on around me。
What surprised Sola most in me was that while I could
catch telepathic messages easily from others； and often when
they were not intended for me； no one could read a jot from
my mind under any circumstances。 At first this vexed me； but
later I was very glad of it； as it gave me an undoubted
advantage over the Martians。
CHAPTER VIII
A FAIR CAPTIVE FROM THE SKY
The third day after the incubator ceremony we set forth
toward home； but scarcely had the head of the procession
debouched into the open ground before the city than orders
were given for an immediate and hasty return。 As though
trained for years in this particular evolution； the green
Martians melted like mist into the spacious doorways of the
nearby buildings； until； in less than three minutes； the entire
cavalcade of chariots； mastodons and mounted warriors was nowhere
to be seen。
Sola and I had entered a building upon the front of the city；
in fact； the same one in which I had had my encounter
with the apes； and； wishing to see what had caused the sudden
retreat； I mounted to an upper floor and peered from the
window out over the valley and the hills beyond； and there
I saw the cause of their sudden scurrying to cover。 A huge
craft； long； low； and gray…painted； swung slowly over the
crest of the nearest hill。 Following it came another； and
another； and another； until twenty of them； swinging low
above the ground； sailed slowly and majestically toward us。
Each carried a strange banner swung from stem to stern
above the upper works； and upon the prow of each was
painted some odd device that gleamed in the sunlight and
showed plainly even at the distance at which we were from
the vessels。 I could see figures crowding the forward decks
and upper works of the air craft。 Whether they had discovered
us or simply were looking at the deserted city I could not say；
but in any event they received a rude reception； for suddenly
and without warning the green Martian warriors fired a terrific
volley from the windows of the buildings facing the little
valley across which the great ships were so peacefully advancing。
Instantly the scene changed as by magic； the foremost
vessel swung broadside toward us； and bringing her guns into
play returned our fire； at the same time moving parallel to
our front for a short distance and then turning back with the
evident intention of completing a great circle which would
bring her up to position once more opposite our firing line；
the other vessels followed in her wake； each one opening upon
us as she swung into position。 Our own fire never diminished；
and I doubt if twenty…five per cent of our shots went wild。 It
had never been given me to see such deadly accuracy of aim；
and it seemed as though a little figure on one of the craft
dropped at the explosion of each bullet； while the banners and
upper works dissolved in spurts of flame as the irresistible
projectiles of our warriors mowed through them。
The fire from the vessels was most ineffectual； owing； as I
afterward learned； to the unexpected suddenness of the first
volley； which caught the ship's crews entirely unprepared and
the sighting apparatus of the guns unprotected from the
deadly aim of our warriors。
It seems that each green warrior has certain objective points
for his fire under relatively identical circumstances of warfare。
For example； a proportion of them； always the best marksmen；
direct their fire entirely upon the wireless finding and
sighting apparatus of the big guns of an attacking naval
force； another detail attends to the smaller guns in the same
way； others pick off the gunners； still others the officers；
while certain other quotas concentrate their attention upon the
other members of the crew； upon the upper works； and upon the
steering gear and propellers。
Twenty minutes after the first volley the great fleet swung
trailing off in the direction from which it had first appeared。
Several of the craft were limping perceptibly； and seemed
but barely under the control of their depleted crews。 Their fire
had ceased entirely and all their energies seemed focused
upon escape。 Our warriors then rushed up to the roofs of the
buildings which we occupied and followed the retreating armada
with a continuous fusillade of deadly fire。
One by one； however； the ships managed to dip below the
crests of the outlying hills until only one barely moving craft
was in sight。 This had received the brunt of our fire and
seemed to be entirely unmanned； as not a moving figure was
visible upon her decks。 Slowly she swung from her course；
circling back toward us in an erratic and pitiful manner。
Instantly the warriors ceased firing； for it was quite apparent
that the vessel was entirely helpless； and； far from being in a
position to inflict harm upon us； she could not even control
herself sufficiently to escape。
As she neared the city the warriors rushed out upon the
plain to meet her； but it was evident that she still was too high
for them to hope to reach her decks。 From my vantage point in
the window I could see the bodies of her crew strewn about；
although I could not make out what manner of creatures they
might be。 Not a sign of life was manifest upon her as she
drifted slowly with the light breeze in a southeasterly
direction。
She was drifting some fifty feet above the ground； followed
by all but some hundred of the warriors who had been ordered
back to the roofs to cover the possibility of a return of the
fleet； or of reinforcements。 It soon became evident that she
would strike the face of the buildings about a mile south of
our position； and as I watched the progress of the chase I
saw a number of warriors gallop ahead； dismount and enter
the building she seemed destined to touch。
As the craft neared the building； and just before she struck；
the Martian warriors swarmed upon her from the windows；
and with their great spears eased the shock of the collision；
and in a few moments they had thrown out grappling hooks
and the big boat was being hauled to ground by their fellows
below。
After making her fast； they swarmed the sides and searched
the vessel from stem to stern。 I could see them examining the
dead sailors； evidently for signs of life； and presently a party
of them appeared from below dragging a little figure among
them。 The creature was considerably less than half as tall as
the green Martian warriors； and from my balcony I could see
that it walked erect upon two legs and surmised that it was
some new and strange Martian monstrosity with which I had
not as yet become acquainted。
They removed their prisoner to the ground and then commenced
a systematic rifling of the vessel。 This operation required
several hours； during which time a number of the chariots
were requisitioned to transport the loot； which consisted
in arms； ammunition； silks； furs； jewels； strangely carved
stone vessels； and a quantity of solid foods and liquids；
including many casks of water； the first I had seen since my
advent upon Mars。
After the last load had been removed the warriors made
lines fast to the craft and towed her far out into the valley in
a southwesterly direction。 A few of them then boarded her and
were busily engaged in what appeared； from my distant position；
as the emptying of the contents of various carboys upon the
dead bodies of the sailors and over the decks and works
of the vessel。
This operation concluded； they hastily clambered over her
sides； sliding down the guy ropes to the ground。 The last
warrior to leave the deck turned and threw something back
upon the vessel； waiting an instant to note the outcome of
his act。 As a faint spurt of flame rose from the point where
the missile struck he swung over the side and was quickly
upon the ground。 Scarcely had he alighted than the guy ropes
were simultaneous released； and the great warship； lightened
by the removal of the loot； soared majestically into the air；
her decks and upper works a mass of roaring flames。
Slowly she drifted to the southeast； rising higher and higher
as the flames ate away her wooden parts and diminished the
weight upon her。 Ascending to the roof of the building I
watched her for hours； until finally she was lost in the dim
vistas of th