After the soft blue atmosphere of Venus Island, what a contrast was felt
on Mars. Here everything was fiery red, even the faces of the
inhabitants took on a flame color, just as the people and scene in a
theatre are colored by a red spot-light thrown upon the stage. But the
coloring round about was not as great a contrast as were the
dispositions of the people. The Martians, our young friends soon
discovered, were quick-tempered, argumentative, impatient, and
quarrelsome; while the Venusians were mild, sweet-tempered, easy-going,
kind, affectionate, and peace-loving. The Martians were so fiery and
cross that the little Princess wanted to go away immediately, she was so
afraid of them. She was finally persuaded to remain, however, for the
Prince and Harold were anxious to see what kind of firearms these people
used and, as they devoted their whole lives to warfare, how well they
were versed in military affairs.
Until now our young people had been invisible, but they decided to don
coats of mail and otherwise costume themselves as the Martians, so as to
be able to freely mingle with them unnoticed and unknown. On every side
one heard the clash of arms and the rattle of musketry. Even the little
children could be seen playing at war with toy cannons and pistols.
“What can all this commotion be about?” exclaimed Harold.
“It means that they are preparing for one of their frequent battles, for
you must know that they are always quarreling or fighting with some one.
At present, they are at war with the inhabitants who live on the
opposite side of this island. If you would like, we can go to the summit
of yonder hill and from that point look down upon the contending
parties, for the battle, I hear, is to be fought on the plain at its
foot,” said the Prince. Disputes and national problems are not settled
here as they are on Earth. When any vexed question arises, a certain
number of men are chosen on each side. Drawn up in lines opposite and
facing each other, at a given signal the attack is made, and the
contending parties fight until one or the other side is conquered. The
victorious men then arrange the disputed matter to suit themselves.
Neither side is allowed to call out any more men than those first
chosen. This is a great saving of lives when compared to the manner in
which men are sacrificed upon Earth in time of war.
Just then, stepping aside, Ione bumped into a man who happened to be
passing at the time, and she heard him mutter, “Clumsy! Can’t you look
where you are going so you won’t run into a person?”
“What a nice amiable husband that man would make,” said Ione to the
Princess.
Presently two men passed, talking in loud voices and one said, “I tell
you it is no such thing. You are an idiot for thinking so.”
And his companion replied, “What did you say? I’ll allow no man to
insinuate that I am a liar or to call me an idiot,” and before the girls
knew what was happening, the man who had first spoken was lying at their
feet felled by a blow from his angry companion.
This is only one instance of the quarreling and fighting that they heard
and saw on all sides. Every one seemed touchy, cross, overbearing and as
if carrying a chip upon his shoulder for the express purpose of having
some one knock it off and thus give provocation for a dispute or fight.
“Come on, Ione,” called Harold, “we are going to the top of the hill,
for the battle is about to begin. Did you hear the bugle call?”
“Oh, you bloodthirsty boy! How can you wish to see men kill each other?
You may go; I do not wish to see the battle, and while you are there the
Princess and I will wander about to see how these people live and what
their homes are like,” said Ione.
The girls, by means of their magic wishing-robes, became invisible and
found themselves in front of one of the Martian homes which at first
sight appeared like a huge bee-hive with openings at equal distances all
around. Through one of these openings an electric wagon passed, loaded
with packages, boxes and cans. The labels showed the contents to be
condensed foods of all kinds. They afterward found that these people
were partial to this kind of food because they do away with the tedious
preparation and long time required to serve, which the food of Earth
people makes necessary, besides they sustain life and make one much
stronger and healthier than the more hearty meals which Earth mortals
indulge in. Much of the food that Earth people eat is a detriment to
digestion and health and is often only eaten because of fondness for its
taste rather than for its nutritive properties, or for the sociability
it affords one to be at a table dining with congenial friends or
associates. From the openings in the building, covered passage-ways
ended in small, two-storied outhouses which were the co-operative
kitchens, laundries, dairies, cold-storage rooms, etc., and over these
the servants lived. In the second story of the main building over the
openings before mentioned, were the apartments of the Martians.
Everything on the island, from business to the care of children, was
carried on through co-operation. They found the interior of the building
complete in all of its appointments and furnished as elegantly as the
most fastidious lover of apartments could desire.
“Well, I am not fond of apartments, boarding-houses, hotels, or abodes
of any kind where several families live together. As soon as different
families share the same building it loses its home-feeling and
atmosphere, while no dwelling is large enough to hold more than one
comfortably,” said Ione.
“Let us now see how the battle is progressing,” said the Princess. Ione
was finally persuaded and wishing themselves on the summit of the hill,
what was their surprise and dismay on arriving there to find no one in
sight!
“What do you suppose can have become of the boys?” cried the Princess in
alarm, then noticing Ione’s eyes fastened on the battlefield in
horrified wonder, she turned to look in the same direction and nearly
fainted when she saw Harold and the Prince, each engaged in a
hand-to-hand encounter with giant Martians, while all around were strewn
the bodies of the dead and dying; for few of the many who had started
out so valiantly a few hours before survived the first onslaught of the
enemy.
[Illustration:
COMING TOWARD THEM WERE TWO BEAUTIFUL BEINGS
(p. 36)
]
While they watched, Harold caught his foot, stumbled, then fell and the
giant raised his sword to pierce his body, but instead of passing
through the form of his adversary, the sword was buried to its hilt in
the earth at his feet, for nobody was there. The giant rubbed his eyes,
looking dazed and incredulous, but still saw no one who even resembled
his late antagonist. I suppose you all know why this was? Harold had
just thought of his magic robe and wished himself invisible and at the
top of the hill. He reached there just in time to catch Ione in his arms
for she had fainted. The last thing she saw had been the upraised arm of
the Martian, and the sun shining on the glittering sword as it descended
to put an end to Harold’s life.
But the Prince! What had become of him? Being an expert swordsman he had
killed his antagonist, a man twice his own size and weight, but agility
and swiftness of thrust had won the day against size and weight. His
fencing lessons in the Palace at home had served him in good stead. He,
too, now used his wishing robe and reached Harold and the girls just as
Ione was reviving and asking how in the world they ever reached the
battlefield and got mixed up with the Martians.
“Well, it happened in this way,” said the Prince. “Harold and I became
so excited watching the fight that we could scarcely keep out of it and
when we saw the side we were in sympathy with losing ground, we wished
ourselves in the midst of the fray with broadswords in our hands, so of
course the first thing we knew we were there fighting like the native
Martians. But where is our guide?”
“I am sure I do not know. We left him with you,” said Ione.
“Yes, I know, but the last I saw of him he was standing beside us
watching the battle.”
“You don’t suppose that he too engaged in the fight, do you?” asked the
Prince.
“But if he did, where is he now, for all are dead but the one man whom
Harold failed to kill,” said Ione.
“Goodness, gracious, he may be killed too,” cried the Princess. “You had
better go and look for him.”
“I can find him better by staying here than by running all over the
island to find him. Have you forgotten our ability to have people and
scenes pictured in the sky above us?”
“Yes, I had,” said Ione.
“Well, now I wish that we may see where he is.”
They all looked up and on the blue vault above them saw the reflection
of their guide at the corner of a street, defending himself against two
burly Martians twice his size. One glance was enough. Both boys
disappeared at once, their wish being to be with the guide. The girls
sat still and watched the panoramic changes as the boys and their guide
joined in the fight. The trouble had come about in this way: The
Martians recognizing the Mercurian guide by his quick, agile movements
and knowing that all Mercury people had magic robes, had tried to steal
the acorn containing his wishing-robe. When the boys arrived on the
scene, the Martians were soon routed.
After this exciting escapade our party decided that the strenuous life
of Mars was not to their liking, so together they resumed their journey,
starting for the next island in order.