按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
very rare indeed； but from a large plant which grows practically
without water； but seems to distill its plentiful supply of
milk from the products of the soil； the moisture of the air；
and the rays of the sun。 A single plant of this species will give
eight or ten quarts of milk per day。
After I had eaten I was greatly invigorated； but feeling the
need of rest I stretched out upon the silks and was soon
asleep。 I must have slept several hours； as it was dark when
I awoke； and I was very cold。 I noticed that someone had
thrown a fur over me； but it had become partially dislodged
and in the darkness I could not see to replace it。 Suddenly a
hand reached out and pulled the fur over me； shortly afterwards
adding another to my covering。
I presumed that my watchful guardian was Sola； nor was
I wrong。 This girl alone； among all the green Martians with
whom I came in contact； disclosed characteristics of sympathy；
kindliness； and affection； her ministrations to my bodily wants
were unfailing； and her solicitous care saved me from much
suffering and many hardships。
As I was to learn； the Martian nights are extremely cold；
and as there is practically no twilight or dawn； the changes
in temperature are sudden and most uncomfortable； as are the
transitions from brilliant daylight to darkness。 The nights are
either brilliantly illumined or very dark； for if neither of the
two moons of Mars happen to be in the sky almost total
darkness results； since the lack of atmosphere； or； rather； the
very thin atmosphere； fails to diffuse the starlight to any
great extent； on the other hand； if both of the moons are in
the heavens at night the surface of the ground is brightly
illuminated。
Both of Mars' moons are vastly nearer her than is our
moon to Earth； the nearer moon being but about five thousand
miles distant； while the further is but little more than
fourteen thousand miles away； against the nearly one…quarter
million miles which separate us from our moon。 The nearer
moon of Mars makes a complete revolution around the planet
in a little over seven and one…half hours； so that she may be
seen hurtling through the sky like some huge meteor two or
three times each night； revealing all her phases during each
transit of the heavens。
The further moon revolves about Mars in something over
thirty and one…quarter hours； and with her sister satellite
makes a nocturnal Martian scene one of splendid and weird
grandeur。 And it is well that nature has so graciously and
abundantly lighted the Martian night； for the green men of
Mars； being a nomadic race without high intellectual development；
have but crude means for artificial lighting； depending
principally upon torches； a kind of candle； and a peculiar oil
lamp which generates a gas and burns without a wick。
This last device produces an intensely brilliant far…reaching
white light； but as the natural oil which it requires can only
be obtained by mining in one of several widely separated and
remote localities it is seldom used by these creatures whose
only thought is for today； and whose hatred for manual labor
has kept them in a semi…barbaric state for countless ages。
After Sola had replenished my coverings I again slept； nor
did I awaken until daylight。 The other occupants of the room；
five in number； were all females； and they were still sleeping；
piled high with a motley array of silks and furs。 Across the
threshold lay stretched the sleepless guardian brute； just as I
had last seen him on the preceding day； apparently he had not
moved a muscle； his eyes were fairly glued upon me； and I
fell to wondering just what might befall me should I endeavor
to escape。
I have ever been prone to seek adventure and to investigate
and experiment where wiser men would have left well enough
alone。 It therefore now occurred to me that the surest way of
learning the exact attitude of this beast toward me would be
to attempt to leave the room。 I felt fairly secure in my belief
that I could escape him should he pursue me once I was
outside the building； for I had begun to take great pride in
my ability as a jumper。 Furthermore； I could see from the
shortness of his legs that the brute himself was no jumper and
probably no runner。
Slowly and carefully； therefore； I gained my feet； only to
see that my watcher did the same； cautiously I advanced
toward him； finding that by moving with a shuffling gait I
could retain my balance as well as make reasonably rapid
progress。 As I neared the brute he backed cautiously away
from me； and when I had reached the open he moved to one
side to let me pass。 He then fell in behind me and followed
about ten paces in my rear as I made my way along the
deserted street。
Evidently his mission was to protect me only； I thought；
but when we reached the edge of the city he suddenly sprang
before me； uttering strange sounds and baring his ugly and
ferocious tusks。 Thinking to have some amusement at his
expense； I rushed toward him； and when almost upon him
sprang into the air； alighting far beyond him and away from
the city。 He wheeled instantly and charged me with the most
appalling speed I had ever beheld。 I had thought his short
legs a bar to swiftness； but had he been coursing with
greyhounds the latter would have appeared as though asleep
on a door mat。 As I was to learn； this is the fleetest animal
on Mars； and owing to its intelligence； loyalty； and ferocity is
used in hunting； in war； and as the protector of the Martian man。
I quickly saw that I would have difficulty in escaping the
fangs of the beast on a straightaway course； and so I met his
charge by doubling in my tracks and leaping over him as he
was almost upon me。 This maneuver gave me a considerable
advantage； and I was able to reach the city quite a bit ahead
of him； and as he came tearing after me I jumped for a window
about thirty feet from the ground in the face of one of the
buildings overlooking the valley。
Grasping the sill I pulled myself up to a sitting posture
without looking into the building； and gazed down at the
baffled animal beneath me。 My exultation was short…lived；
however； for scarcely had I gained a secure seat upon the sill
than a huge hand grasped me by the neck from behind and
dragged me violently into the room。 Here I was thrown upon
my back； and beheld standing over me a colossal ape…like
creature； white and hairless except for an enormous shock of
bristly hair upon its head。
CHAPTER VI
A FIGHT THAT WON FRIENDS
The thing； which more nearly resembled our earthly men
than it did the Martians I had seen； held me pinioned to the
ground with one huge foot； while it jabbered and gesticulated
at some answering creature behind me。 This other； which was
evidently its mate； soon came toward us； bearing a mighty
stone cudgel with which it evidently intended to brain me。
The creatures were about ten or fifteen feet tall； standing
erect； and had； like the green Martians； an intermediary set
of arms or legs； midway between their upper and lower limbs。
Their eyes were close together and non…protruding； their ears
were high set； but more laterally located than those of the
Martians； while their snouts and teeth were strikingly like
those of our African gorilla。 Altogether they were not unlovely
when viewed in comparison with the green Martians。
The cudgel was swinging in the arc which ended upon my
upturned face when a bolt of myriad…legged horror hurled itself
through the doorway full upon the breast of my executioner。
With a shriek of fear the ape which held me leaped through
the open window； but its mate closed in a terrific death
struggle with my preserver； which was nothing less than
my faithful watch…thing； I cannot bring myself to call so
hideous a creature a dog。
As quickly as possible I gained my feet and backing against
the wall I witnessed such a battle as it is vouchsafed few
beings to see。 The strength； agility； and blind ferocity of these
two creatures is approached by nothing known to earthly man。
My beast had an advantage in his first hold； having sunk his
mighty fangs far into the breast of his adversary； but the
great arms and paws of the ape； backed by muscles far
transcending those of the Martian men I had seen； had locked
the throat of my guardian and slowly were choking out his
life； and bending back his head and neck upon his body； where
I momentarily expected the former to fall limp at the end of a
broken neck。
In accomplishing this the ape was tearing away the entire
front of its breast； which was held in the vise…like grip of the
powerful jaws。 Back and forth upon the floor they rolled；
neither one emitting a sound of fear or pain。 Presently I saw
the great eyes of my beast bulging completely from their
sockets and blood flowing from its no