A Princess of Mars

an 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 spa

d 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, s

rom 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 receive

ircle 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 be

expected suddenness of the first volley, which caught the ship's crews entirely unprepar

ct 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

perceptibly, and seemed but barely under the control of their depleted crews. Their fire had ceased entirely and all their energies seemed focused upon esca

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

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 manne

ssibility 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

rom the windows, and with their great spears eased the shock of the collision, and in a few moments t

sently 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 fro

hich time a number of the chariots were requisitioned to transport the loot, which consisted in arms, ammunition, silks, furs, jewels, strangely

thwesterly direction. A few of them then boarded her and were busily engaged in what appeared, from my distant position, as t

ng 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 alighte

rs, until finally she was lost in the dim vistas of the distance. The sight was awe-inspiring in the extreme as one contemplated this mighty floating funeral pyre, drifting unguided and unmanned th

by our green warriors of a horde of similar, though unfriendly, creatures. I could not fathom the seeming hallucination, nor could I free myself from it; but somewhere in the innermost recesses of my soul I f

though I had been the object of some search on her part. The cavalcade was returning to the plaza, the homeward march having been g

the open plains with a caravan of chariots and children, and so

d depression, and yet most dominant was a subtle sense of relief and happiness; for just as we neared the throng of Martians I caught a

as to be her prison she turned, and her eyes met mine. Her face was oval and beautiful in the extreme, her every feature was finely chiseled and exquisite, her eyes large and lustrous and her head surmounted by a mass of coal black, wavi

ndeed, save for her highly wrought ornaments she was entirely naked, nor cou

and renewed courage which had glorified her face as she discovered me, faded into one of utter dejection, mingled with loathing and contempt. I realized I had not answered her signal, and ignorant as I was of Martian cust