<p><SPAN name="XVI"></SPAN></p>
<hr /><h2>Chapter XVI.</h2>
<p>The second night we could perceive ahead of us the electric lights
covering the land of Thaumasia, in the midst of which lay the Lake of
the Sun. The flood would be upon it by daybreak, and, assuming that the
demoralization produced by the news of the coming of the waters, which
we were aware had hours before been flashed to the capital of Mars, would
prevent the Martians from effectively manning their forts, we thought it
safe to hasten on with the flagship, and one or two others, in advance of
the water, and to hover over the Lake of the Sun in the darkness, in order
that we might watch the deluge perform its awful work in the morning.</p>
<h4>The Giant Woman Drowned.</h4>
<h4>She, Like the Rest, a Prey to the Devouring Flood of the Canals.</h4>
<p>Thaumasia, as I have before remarked, was a broad, oval land, about 1,800
miles across, having the Lake of the Sun exactly in its centre. From
this lake, which was four or five hundred miles in diameter, and circular
in outline, many canals radiated, as straight as the spokes of a wheel,
in every direction, and connected it with the surrounding seas.</p>
<p>Like all the other Martian continents, Thaumasia lay below the level of
the sea, except toward the south, where it fronted the ocean.</p>
<p>Completely surrounding the lake was a great ring of cities constituting
the capital of Mars. Here the genius of the Martians had displayed
itself to the full. The surrounding country was irrigated until it fairly
bloomed with gigantic vegetation and flowers; the canals were carefully
regulated with locks so that the supply of water was under complete
control; the display of magnificent metallic buildings of all kinds and
sizes produced a most dazzling effect, and the protection against enemies
afforded by the innumerable fortifications surrounding the ringed city,
and guarding the neighboring lands, seemed complete.</p>
<h4>Waiting for the Flood.</h4>
<p>Suspended at a height of perhaps two miles from the surface, near the
southern edge of the lake, we waited for the oncoming flood. With the
dawn of day we began to perceive more clearly the effects which the news
of the drowning of the planet had produced. It was evident that many of
the inhabitants of the cities had already fled. Airships on which the
fugitives hung as thick as swarms of bees were seen, elevated but a short
distance above the ground, and making their way rapidly toward the south.</p>
<p>The Martians knew that their only hope of escape lay in reaching the
high southern border of the land before the floods were upon them. But
they must have known also that that narrow beach would not suffice to
contain one in ten of those who sought refuge there. The density of the
population around the Lake of the Sun seemed to us incredible. Again
our hearts sank within us at the sight of the fearful destruction of
life for which we were responsible. Yet we comforted ourselves with the
reflection that it was unavoidable. As Colonel Smith put it:</p>
<p>"You couldn't trust these coyotes. The only thing to do was to drown
them out. I am sorry for them, but I guess there will be as many left
as will be good for us, anyhow."</p>
<h4>The Crest of the Waters.</h4>
<p>We had not long to wait for the flood. As the dawn began to streak the
east we saw its awful crest moving out of the darkness, bursting across
the canals and plowing its way in the direction of the crowded shores of
the Lake of the Sun. The supply of water behind that great wave seemed
inexhaustible. Five thousand miles it had travelled, and yet its power
was as great as when it started from the Syrtis Major.</p>
<p>We caught sight of the oncoming water before it was visible to the
Martians beneath us. But while it was yet many miles away, the roar of it
reached them, and then arose a chorus of terrified cries, the effect of
which, coming to our ears out of the half gloom of the morning, was most
uncanny and horrible. Thousands upon thousands of the Martians still
remained here to become the victims of the deluge. Some, perhaps, had
doubted the truth of the reports that the banks were down and the floods
were out; others, for one reason or another had been unable to get away;
others, like the inhabitants of Pompeii, had lingered too long, or had
returned after beginning their flight to secure abandoned treasures,
and now it was too late to get away.</p>
<h4>Engulfing the City.</h4>
<p>With a roar that shook the planet the white wall rushed upon the great
city beneath our feet, and in an instant it had been engulfed. On went
the flood, swallowing up the Lake of the Sun itself, and in a little
while, as far as our eyes could range, the land of Thaumasia had been
turned into a raging sea.</p>
<p>We now turned our ships toward the southern border of the land, following
the direction of the airships carrying the fugitives, a few of which were
still navigating the atmosphere a mile beneath us. In their excitement and
terror the Martians paid little attention to us, although, as the morning
brightened, they must have been aware of our presence over their heads.
But, apparently, they no longer thought of resistance; their only object
was escape from the immediate and appalling danger.</p>
<p>When we had progressed to a point about half way from the Lake of the Sun
to the border of the sea, having dropped down within a few hundred feet of
the surface, there suddenly appeared, in the midst of the raging waters,
a sight so remarkable that at first I rubbed my eyes in astonishment,
not crediting their report of what they beheld.</p>
<h4>A Woman Forty Feet High!</h4>
<p>Standing on the apex of a sandy elevation, which still rose a few feet
above the gathering flood, was the figure of a woman, as perfect in form
and in classic beauty of feature as the Venus of Milo—a magnified human
being not less than forty feet in height!</p>
<p>But for her swaying and the wild motions of her arms, we should have
mistaken her for a marble statue.</p>
<p>Aina, who happened to be looking, instantly exclaimed:</p>
<p>"It is the woman from Ceres. She was taken prisoner by the Martians
during their last invasion of that world, and since then has been a
slave in the palace of the Emperor."</p>
<h4>Overtaken by the Flood.</h4>
<p>Apparently her great stature had enabled her to escape, while her
masters had been drowned. She had fled like the others, toward the south,
but being finally surrounded by the rising waters, had taken refuge on
the hillock of sand, where we saw her. This was fast giving way under
the assault of the waves, and even while we watched the water rose to
her knees.</p>
<p>"Drop lower," was the order of the electrical steersman of the flagship,
and as quickly as possible we approached the place where the towering
figure stood.</p>
<p>She had realized the hopelessness of her situation, and quickly ceased
those appalling and despairing gestures, which at first served to convince
us that it was indeed a living being on whom we were looking.</p>
<h4>Save the Woman from Ceres!</h4>
<p>There she stood, with a light, white garment thrown about her, erect,
half-defiant, half yielding to her fear, more graceful than any Greek
statue, her arms outstretched, yet motionless, and her eyes upcast,
as if praying to her God to protect her. Her hair, which shone like
gold in the increasing light of day, streamed over her shoulders, and
her great eyes were astare between terror and supplication. So wildly
beautiful a sight not one of us had ever beheld. For a moment sympathy
was absorbed in admiration. Then:</p>
<p>"Save her! Save her!" was the cry that arose throughout the ship.</p>
<p>Ropes were instantly thrown out, and one or two men prepared to let
themselves down in order better to aid her.</p>
<p>But when we were almost within reach, and so close that we could see
the very expression of her eyes, which appeared to take no note of us,
but to be fixed, with a far-away look upon something beyond human ken,
suddenly the undermined bank on which she stood gave way, the blood-red
flood swirled in from right to left, and then:</p>
<p>"The waters closed above her face<br/>
With many a ring."<br/></p>
<hr />
<p class="pic">
The Beautiful Cerean Giantess Drowned in the Flood.<br/>
<ANTIMG src="images/tecm2414.png" alt="Giantess" title="Giantess" /><br/>
Standing on the apex of a sandy elevation, which still rose a few feet
above the gathering flood, was the figure of a woman, as perfect in
form and in classic beauty of feature as the Venus of Milo—a
magnified human being not less than forty feet in height.</p>
<hr />
<h4>She, Like the Rest, Is Gone.</h4>
<p>"If but for that woman's sake, I am sorry we drowned the planet,"
exclaimed Sidney Phillips. But a moment afterward I saw that he regretted
what he had said, for Aina's eyes were fixed upon him. Perhaps, however,
she did not understand his remark, and perhaps if she did it gave her
no offence.</p>
<p>After this episode we pursued our way rapidly until we arrived at the
shore of the Southern Ocean. There, as we had expected, was to be seen
a narrow strip of land with the ocean on one side and the raging flood
seeking to destroy it on the other. In some places it had been already
broken through, so that the ocean was flowing in to assist in the drowning
of Thaumasia.</p>
<p>But some parts of the coast were evidently so elevated that no matter
how high the flood might rise it would not completely cover them. Here
the fugitives had gathered in dense throngs and above them hovered most
of the airships, loaded down with others who were unable to find room
upon the dry land.</p>
<h4>The Martians Not Discouraged.</h4>
<p>On one of the loftiest and broadest of these elevations we noticed
indications of military order in the alignment of the crowds and the shore
all around was guarded by gigantic pickets, who mercilessly shoved back
into the flood all the later comers, and thus prevented too great crowding
upon the land. In the centre of this elevation rose a palatial structure
of red metal which Aina informed us was one of the residences of the
Emperor, and we concluded that the monarch himself was now present there.</p>
<p>The absence of any signs of resistance on the part of the airships,
and the complete drowning of all of the formidable fortifications on
the surface of the planet, convinced us that all we now had to do in
order to complete our conquest was to get possession of the person of
the chief ruler.</p>
<p>The fleet was, accordingly, concentrated, and we rapidly approached the
great Martian palace. As we came down within a hundred feet of them and
boldly made our way among their airships, which retreated at our approach,
the Martians gazed at us with mingled fear and astonishment.</p>
<p>We were their conquerors and they knew it. We were coming to demand their
surrender, and they evidently understood that also. As we approached the
palace signals were made from it with brilliant colored banners which
Aina informed us were intended as a token of truce.</p>
<p>"We shall have to go down and have a confab with them, I suppose,"
said Mr. Edison. "We can't kill them off now that they are helpless,
but we must manage somehow to make them understand that unconditional
surrender is their only chance."</p>
<h4>A Parley with the Enemy.</h4>
<p>"Let us take Aina with us," I suggested, "and since she can speak the
language of the Martians we shall probably have no difficulty in arriving
at an understanding."</p>
<p>Accordingly the flagship was carefully brought further down in front
of the entrance to the palace, which had been kept clear by the Martian
guards, and while the remainder of the squadron assembled within a few
feet directly over our heads with the disintegrators turned upon the
palace and the crowd below. Mr. Edison and myself, accompanied by Aina,
stepped out upon the ground.</p>
<p>There was a forward movement in the immense crowd, but the guards sternly
kept everybody back. A party of a dozen giants, preceded by one who
seemed to be their commander, gorgeously attired in jewelled garments,
advanced from the entrance of the palace to meet us. Aina addressed a
few words to the leader, who replied sternly, and then, beckoning us to
follow, retraced his steps into the palace.</p>
<p>Notwithstanding our confidence that all resistance had ceased, we did
not deem it wise actually to venture into the lion's den without having
taken every precaution against a surprise. Accordingly, before following
the Martian into the palace, we had twenty of the electrical ships moored
around it in such a position that they commanded not only the entrance
but all of the principal windows, and then a party of forty picked men,
each doubly armed with powerful disintegrators, were selected to attend
us into the building. This party was placed under the command of Colonel
Smith, and Sidney Phillips insisted on being a member of it.</p>
<h4>A Nearer Sight of the Martians.</h4>
<p>In the meantime the Martian with his attendants who had first invited us
to enter, finding that we did not follow him, had returned to the front
of the palace. He saw the disposition that we had made of our forces,
and instantly comprehended its significance, for his manner changed
somewhat, and he seemed more desirous than before to conciliate us.</p>
<p>When he again beckoned us to enter, we unhesitatingly followed him,
and, passing through the magnificent entrance, found ourselves in a
vast ante-chamber, adorned after the manner of the Martians in the most
expensive manner. Thence we passed into a great circular apartment, with
a dome painted in imitation of the sky, and so lofty that to our eyes it
seemed like the firmament itself. Here we found ourselves approaching an
elevated throne situated in the centre of the apartment, while long rows
of brilliantly armored guards flanked us on either side, and, grouped
around the throne, some standing and others reclining upon the flights of
steps which appeared to be of solid gold, was an array of Martian woman,
beautifully and becomingly attired, all of whom greatly astonished us
by the singular charm of their faces and bearing, so different from the
aspect of most of the Martians, whom we had already encountered.</p>
<h4>The Martians' Beautiful Women.</h4>
<p>Despite their stature—for these women averaged twelve or thirteen feet
in height—the beauty of their complexions—of a dark, olive tint—was
no less brilliant than that of the women of Italy or Spain.</p>
<p>At the top of the steps on a magnificent golden throne, sat the Emperor
himself. There are some busts of Caracalla which I have seen that are
almost as ugly as the face of the Martian ruler. He was of gigantic
stature, larger than the majority of his subjects, and as near as I
could judge must have been between fifteen and sixteen feet in height.</p>
<p>As I looked at him I understood a remark which had been made by
Aina to the effect that the Martians were not all alike, and that the
peculiarities of their minds were imprinted on their faces and expressed
in their forms in a very wonderful, and sometimes terrible manner.</p>
<p>I had also learned from her that Mars was under a military government,
and that the military class had absolute control of the planet. I
was somewhat startled, then, in looking at the head and centre of the
great military system of Mars, to find in his appearance a striking
confirmation of the speculations of our terrestrial phrenologists.
His broad, mis-shapen head bulged in those parts where they had placed
the so-called organs of combativeness, destructiveness, etc.</p>
<h4>Something Learned About Them.</h4>
<p>Plainly, this was an effect of his training and education. His very
brain had become a military engine; and the aspect of his face, the
pitiless lines of his mouth and chin, the evil glare of his eyes, the
attitude and carriage of his muscular body, all tended to complete the
warlike ensemble.</p>
<p>He was magnificently dressed in some vesture that had the lustre of a
polished plate of gold, with the suppleness of velvet. As we approached
he fixed his immense, deep-set eyes sternly upon our faces.</p>
<p>The contrast between his truly terrible countenance and the Eve-like
features of the women who surrounded his throne was as great as if Satan
after his fall had here re-enthroned himself in the midst of angels.</p>
<p>Mr. Edison, Colonel Smith, Sidney Phillips, Aina and myself advanced at
the head of the procession, our guard following in close order behind
us. It had been evident from the moment that we entered the palace that
Aina was regarded with aversion by all of the Martians. Even the women
about the throne gazed scowlingly at her as we drew near. Apparently,
the bitterness of feeling which had led to the awful massacre of all her
race had not yet vanished. And, indeed, since the fact that she remained
alive could have been known only to the Martian who had abducted her and
to his immediate companions, her reappearance with us must have been a
great surprise to all those who now looked upon her.</p>
<h4>The Enemy Vanquished.</h4>
<h4>The Martians Succumb at Last, and Are at Our Mercy.</h4>
<p>It was clear to me that the feeling aroused by her appearance was every
moment becoming more intense. Still, the thought of a violent outbreak
did not occur to me, because our recent triumph had seemed so complete
that I believed the Martians would be awed by our presence, and would
not undertake actually to injure the girl.</p>
<p>I think we all had the same impression, but as the event proved, we
were mistaken.</p>
<p>Suddenly one of the gigantic guards, as if actuated by a fit of
ungovernable hatred, lifted his foot and kicked Aina. With a loud shriek,
she fell to the floor.</p>
<h4>Aina Attacked by a Martian.</h4>
<p>The blow was so unexpected that for a second we all remained riveted to
the spot. Then I saw Colonel Smith's face turn livid, and at the same
instant heard the whirr of his disintegrator, while Sidney Phillips,
forgetting the deadly instrument that he carried in his hand, sprung madly
toward the brute who had kicked Aina, as if he intended to throttle him,
colossus as he was.</p>
<p>But Colonel Smith's aim, though instantaneously taken, as he had been
accustomed to shoot on the plains, was true, and Phillips, plunging madly
forward, seemed wreathed in a faint blue mist—all that the disintegrator
had left of the gigantic Martian.</p>
<h4>Swift Vengeance.</h4>
<p>Who could adequately describe the scene that followed?</p>
<p>I remember that the Martian Emperor sprang to his feet, looking tenfold
more terrible than before. I remember that there instantly burst from
the line of guards on either side crinkling beams of death-fire that
seemed to sear the eyeballs. I saw a half a dozen of our men fall in
heaps of ashes, and even at that terrible moment I had time to wonder
that a single one of us remained alive.</p>
<p>Rather by instinct than in consequence of any order given, we formed
ourselves in a hollow square, with Aina lying apparently lifeless in
the centre, and then with gritted teeth we did our work.</p>
<p>The lines of guards melted before the disintegrators like rows of snow
men before a licking flame.</p>
<h4>A Terrible Battle.</h4>
<p>The discharge of the lightning engines in the hands of the Martians in
that confined space made an uproar so tremendous that it seemed to pass
the bounds of human sense.</p>
<p>More of our men fell before their awful fire, and for the second time
since our arrival on this dreadful planet of war our annihilation seemed
inevitable.</p>
<p>But in a moment the whole scene changed. Suddenly there was a discharge
into the room which I knew came from one of the disintegrators of the
electrical ships. It swept through the crowded throng like a destroying
blast. Instantly from another side swished a second discharge, no less
destructive, and this was quickly followed by a third. Our ships were
firing through the windows.</p>
<h4>The Power of the Disintegrator.</h4>
<p>Almost at the same moment I saw the flagship, which had been moored in the
air close to the entrance and floating only three or four feet above the
ground, pushing its way through the gigantic doorway from the ante-room,
with its great disintegrators pointed upon the crowd like the muzzles
of a cruiser's guns.</p>
<p>And now the Martians saw that the contest was hopeless for them, and
their mad struggle to get out of the range of the disintegrators and
to escape from the death chamber was more appalling to look upon than
anything that had yet occurred.</p>
<p>It was a panic of giants. They trod one another under foot; they yelled
and screamed in their terror; they tore each other with their clawlike
fingers. They no longer thought of resistance. The battle spirit had
been blown out of them by a breath of terror that shivered their marrow.</p>
<h4>No Pity for Our Foes.</h4>
<p>Still the pitiless disintegrators played upon them until Mr. Edison,
making himself heard, now that the thunder of their engines had ceased
to reverberate through the chamber, commanded that our fire should cease.</p>
<hr />
<p class="pic">
The Remorseless Slaughter of the Martians.<br/>
<ANTIMG src="images/tecm2511.png" alt="Remorseless Slaughter" title="Remorseless Slaughter" /><br/>
Suddenly there was a discharge into the room which I knew came from
one of the disintegrators of the electrical ships. It swept through
the crowded throng like a destroying blast. It was a panic of giants!</p>
<hr />
<p>In the meantime the armed Martians outside the palace, hearing the
uproar within, seeing our men pouring their fire through the windows,
and supposing that we were guilty at once of treachery and assassination,
had attempted an attack upon the electrical ships stationed round the
building. But fortunately they had none of their larger engines at hand,
and with their hand arms alone they had not been able to stand up against
the disintegrators. They were blown away before the withering fire of
the ships by the hundred until, fleeing from destruction, they rushed
madly, driving their unarmed companions before them into the seething
waters of the flood close at hand.</p>
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