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three hundred miles； but the best they can do in actual
service when equipped with their wireless finders and
sighters is but a trifle over two hundred miles。
This is quite far enough to imbue me with great respect for
the Martian firearm； and some telepathic force must have
warned me against an attempt to escape in broad daylight
from under the muzzles of twenty of these death…dealing
machines。
The Martians； after conversing for a short time； turned and
rode away in the direction from which they had come； leaving
one of their number alone by the enclosure。 When they had
covered perhaps two hundred yards they halted； and turning
their mounts toward us sat watching the warrior by the
enclosure。
He was the one whose spear had so nearly transfixed me；
and was evidently the leader of the band； as I had noted that
they seemed to have moved to their present position at his
direction。 When his force had come to a halt he dismounted；
threw down his spear and small arms； and came around the
end of the incubator toward me； entirely unarmed and as
naked as I； except for the ornaments strapped upon his head；
limbs； and breast。
When he was within about fifty feet of me he unclasped an
enormous metal armlet； and holding it toward me in the
open palm of his hand； addressed me in a clear； resonant
voice； but in a language； it is needless to say； I could not
understand。 He then stopped as though waiting for my reply；
pricking up his antennae…like ears and cocking his strange…looking
eyes still further toward me。
As the silence became painful I concluded to hazard a little
conversation on my own part； as I had guessed that he was
making overtures of peace。 The throwing down of his weapons
and the withdrawing of his troop before his advance toward
me would have signified a peaceful mission anywhere on
Earth； so why not； then； on Mars！
Placing my hand over my heart I bowed low to the Martian
and explained to him that while I did not understand his
language； his actions spoke for the peace and friendship that
at the present moment were most dear to my heart。 Of course
I might have been a babbling brook for all the intelligence
my speech carried to him； but he understood the action with
which I immediately followed my words。
Stretching my hand toward him； I advanced and took the
armlet from his open palm； clasping it about my arm above the
elbow； smiled at him and stood waiting。 His wide mouth
spread into an answering smile； and locking one of his
intermediary arms in mine we turned and walked back toward
his mount。 At the same time he motioned his followers to
advance。 They started toward us on a wild run； but were checked
by a signal from him。 Evidently he feared that were I to be
really frightened again I might jump entirely out of the landscape。
He exchanged a few words with his men； motioned to me
that I would ride behind one of them； and then mounted his
own animal。 The fellow designated reached down two or
three hands and lifted me up behind him on the glossy
back of his mount； where I hung on as best I could by the
belts and straps which held the Martian's weapons and ornaments。
The entire cavalcade then turned and galloped away toward
the range of hills in the distance。
CHAPTER IV
A PRISONER
We had gone perhaps ten miles when the ground began to
rise very rapidly。 We were； as I was later to learn； nearing the
edge of one of Mars' long…dead seas； in the bottom of which
my encounter with the Martians had taken place。
In a short time we gained the foot of the mountains； and
after traversing a narrow gorge came to an open valley； at the
far extremity of which was a low table land upon which I
beheld an enormous city。 Toward this we galloped； entering it
by what appeared to be a ruined roadway leading out from the
city； but only to the edge of the table land； where it ended
abruptly in a flight of broad steps。
Upon closer observation I saw as we passed them that the
buildings were deserted； and while not greatly decayed had
the appearance of not having been tenanted for years； possibly
for ages。 Toward the center of the city was a large plaza； and
upon this and in the buildings immediately surrounding it
were camped some nine or ten hundred creatures of the same
breed as my captors； for such I now considered them despite
the suave manner in which I had been trapped。
With the exception of their ornaments all were naked。 The
women varied in appearance but little from the men； except
that their tusks were much larger in proportion to their height；
in some instances curving nearly to their high…set ears。 Their
bodies were smaller and lighter in color； and their fingers
and toes bore the rudiments of nails； which were entirely
lacking among the males。 The adult females ranged in height
from ten to twelve feet。
The children were light in color； even lighter than the
women； and all looked precisely alike to me； except that some
were taller than others； older； I presumed。
I saw no signs of extreme age among them； nor is there any
appreciable difference in their appearance from the age of
maturity； about forty； until； at about the age of one thousand
years； they go voluntarily upon their last strange pilgrimage
down the river Iss； which leads no living Martian knows
whither and from whose bosom no Martian has ever returned；
or would be allowed to live did he return after once embarking
upon its cold； dark waters。
Only about one Martian in a thousand dies of sickness or
disease； and possibly about twenty take the voluntary pilgrimage。
The other nine hundred and seventy…nine die violent deaths
in duels； in hunting； in aviation and in war； but perhaps by far
the greatest death loss comes during the age of childhood；
when vast numbers of the little Martians fall victims
to the great white apes of Mars。
The average life expectancy of a Martian after the age of
maturity is about three hundred years； but would be nearer
the one…thousand mark were it not for the various means
leading to violent death。 Owing to the waning resources
of the planet it evidently became necessary to counteract
the increasing longevity which their remarkable skill in
therapeutics and surgery produced； and so human life has come
to be considered but lightly on Mars； as is evidenced by their
dangerous sports and the almost continual warfare between
the various communities。
There are other and natural causes tending toward a
diminution of population； but nothing contributes so greatly
to this end as the fact that no male or female Martian is ever
voluntarily without a weapon of destruction。
As we neared the plaza and my presence was discovered we
were immediately surrounded by hundreds of the creatures
who seemed anxious to pluck me from my seat behind my
guard。 A word from the leader of the party stilled their
clamor； and we proceeded at a trot across the plaza to the
entrance of as magnificent an edifice as mortal eye has rested
upon。
The building was low； but covered an enormous area。 It
was constructed of gleaming white marble inlaid with gold
and brilliant stones which sparkled and scintillated in the
sunlight。 The main entrance was some hundred feet in width
and projected from the building proper to form a huge canopy
above the entrance hall。 There was no stairway； but a gentle
incline to the first floor of the building opened into an
enormous chamber encircled by galleries。
On the floor of this chamber； which was dotted with highly
carved wooden desks and chairs； were assembled about forty
or fifty male Martians around the steps of a rostrum。 On the
platform proper squatted an enormous warrior heavily loaded
with metal ornaments； gay…colored feathers and beautifully
wrought leather trappings ingeniously set with precious stones。
From his shoulders depended a short cape of white fur lined
with brilliant scarlet silk。
What struck me as most remarkable about this assemblage
and the hall in which they were congregated was the fact
that the creatures were entirely out of proportion to the desks；
chairs； and other furnishings； these being of a size adapted to
human beings such as I； whereas the great bulks of the
Martians could scarcely have squeezed into the chairs； nor was
there room beneath the desks for their long legs。 Evidently；
then； there were other denizens on Mars than the wild and
grotesque creatures into whose hands I had fallen； but the
evidences of extreme antiquity which showed all around me
indicated that these buildings might have belonged to some
long…extinct and forgotten race in the dim antiquity of Mars。
Our party had halted at the entrance to the building； and at
a sign from the leader I had been lowered to the ground。
Again locking his arm in mine； we had proceeded in