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Through Space to Mars

R >> Roy Rockwood >> Through Space to Mars




Mr. Roumann looked first. Then he uttered an exclamation.

"Can you really see our earth?" asked Jack.

"I can! Look for yourself! This is a marvelous telescope! No
wonder the Martians understand something about us. They can
clearly make out the shapes of our continents."

Jack peered through the eyepiece. There, far off, shining in the
light of the distant sun, which was now on the other side of
Mars, he saw the earth they had left about two weeks ago. It was
like looking at some map in a geography, and he could clearly
make out the shapes of North and South America.

"Take a look, Mark!" he cried. "I almost thought I could make
out the place where we live, and where we built the Annihilator!"

In turn they all gazed at the earth, distant thirty five millions
of miles, but which was made very plain to them through the
powerful glass.

Silex Corundum made a motion as of some body flying through
space, and looked inquiringly at the travelers.

"He wants to know how we got here," interpreted Mark.

"I'll draw a picture of the projectile,"' said Mr. Roumann, and
he put on the board one containing many details. So interested
was the chief ruler and his cabinet, that they all came down off
the platform to examine it more closely. They appeared to
understand everything but the Etherium motor, but Mr. Roumann
illustrated the force by which it was worked, by pointing to the
metal boxes containing the red substance, which gave out light as
well as power, indicating that some force like that worked the
motor.

This appeared to satisfy the questioners, and after some talk
among themselves they motioned that the travelers would be given
a place to sleep.

"I'd a heap sight radder hab soffin' t' eat," said Washington,
when it was made known that they were to retire. "I'd jest like
to git back t' mah kitchen. I jest know mah Shanghai rooster
needs some corn, an' as for dat crazy man, maybe he's broken
loose."

"That's so," agreed Mr. Roumann. "If we don't get back, we can't
give him anything to eat."

"Let's try to make them understand," suggested the professor,
and, accordingly, with chalk, they pictured that they had left
behind them, in the projectile, an enemy of theirs, who was bound
and helpless. Silex Corundum appeared to understand, and he
indicated that the unfortunate man would receive attention.

The travelers were then led out of the palace. They found
instead of being urged along by the thought power, however, that
they were now allowed to walk. And they also noticed that they
could go very rapidly, with little exertion, due to the fact that
they only tipped the scales at about a third of their usual
weight.

"This is better," observed Jack. "I'd rather walk than be
floating along the way we were."

"Yes, I guess they were so anxious to question us that they
couldn't wait for the ordinary forms of locomotion," said the
professor. "Now that they know something about us they will let
us do as we please for a while."

One of the Martians, who seemed to be a minor official, led them
out into the street. They found that it was lighted by means of
the same metal boxes that were in the palace.

Overhead were the two tiny moons of Mars, but they gave but
little light, and had it not been for the wonderful red substance
the streets would have been quite dark.

"This stuff is what makes Mars seem so I red when we look at it
with telescopes from our earth," observed Mr. Roumann. "It is a
very marvelous chemical. I must get some to examine."

"I wonder where they'll put us?" asked Jack, but his question was
answered a few moments later, when they were ushered into a
finely built house of generous size, and by signs their guide
indicated that they were to make this their home. It was nicely
furnished, though in a different manner from houses in the world,
and there were many scientific books and instruments in it.

"The Martians must study all the while," observed Mr. Henderson.
"No wonder they have such big heads. All their intellectual
faculties are wonderfully developed."

"At the expense of their arms, legs and bodies," said Jack. "I
fancy I could fight half a dozen of their biggest men."

"But we're not going to," said Mr. Roumann. "At least, not as
long as they treat us decently.

"And now for something to eat," added Henderson.

Their guide showed them a dining-room, where they found a table
filled with food that looked very appetizing. The Martian
motioned for them to eat.

"I want t' find where mah kitchen is goin' t' be," declared
Washington. "If I'm goin' t' cook heah, I want t' see how I'm
goin' t' do it."

The Martian seemed to understand what was wanted, for he led the
way to another apartment, where it was evident that cooking was
done, as there were pots, pans and what looked like a stove in
it.

"But I don't see no coal," objected the colored man. "How I
gwine t' cook without coal e make a fire?"

The Martian opened the square iron box that seemed to be the
stove. Inside was a small metal box, which he also opened,
disclosing a lump of the red substance.\

"They cook with it, too!" exclaimed Mr. Roumann. "And I have no
doubt that they warm their houses with it in winter. A wonderful
substance--most marvelous! It exceeds my wildest dreams--light,
heat and power! Our fortunes are made! It is good that we came
to Mars!"

"And it's a good thing they've got something to eat!" remarked
Jack. "Come on, I'm half starved."

"I'll wait on table fo' yo'," said Washington, as they went back
to the dining-room, and the Martian left. They sat down, and the
colored man was about to pass the victuals, when, to the surprise
of all, the center of the table began to revolve, and the dishes
of food went with it, passing slowly in front of each one in
turn.

"Good land a' massy!" cried Washington. "It's bewitched! Look at
de table movin'!"





CHAPTER XXV

SEEKING THE TREASURE


They all stared at the strange sight. It was rather odd to see
the entire middle portion of the table going around, while the
outer part, at which the adventurers sat, was stationary. But
the boys and men, with the exception of Washington, recognized it
as very convenient.

"What are you frightened at, Wash?" asked Jack.

"At dat table, dat's what! It's a ghostest table."

"A ghost table?"

"Yep! Spirits am workin' on it! I ain't goin' t' stay heah.
Pse goin' back t' de ship, where I kin move t'ings fo' mahself."

"Don't be alarmed," said Mr. Henderson. "It's all right,
Washington. The table moves by some hidden mechanism, which
doubtless was set in motion by the Martian who was just here, or
the mere sitting down to our places may have started."

They all got up to make an examination, and the table center at
once ceased revolving, proving that some, connection existed
between it and the chairs. But they could not discover the
machinery. There was a small metal box underneath the table, but
that was all.

"That must contain some of that marvelous red substance which
gives light, heat and power," declared Mr. Roumann. "I must
certainly get a supply of it. In fact, that is what I came to
Mars for. That is the object of my trip, and if we can get a
sufficient quantity of it, our fortunes are made."

"Is it so valuable?" asked Mark.

"It is the most valuable treasure in the universe," replied the
German. "Long ago I suspected some such thing must exist on
Mars, or else how, receiving only half the light and heat from
the sun that we receive, can the inhabitants exist? And that
they do live, and live well, we have seen. It must be due to the
red substance, and if we could only get some back to earth it
would be worth millions. Think of simply putting a bit of it in
a stove and having heat, or hanging up some in a room and getting
light from it. But, more than this, think of having it move
machinery, I would not be surprised but what I could transform
it into energy that would operate the motors of the Annihilator."

"But wouldn't you need a new supply every once in a while?" asked
Jack.

"I think not. I believe it is like radium, and will last
forever. In fact, you notice that the metal boxes it is
contained in, except the ones in the boats, are securely sealed.
If they had to be putting in a fresh supply every so often, they
would make the boxes so they would open more easily. We must get
some of that treasure."

"But how?" inquired Mr. Henderson.

"I don't know, but I will find out a way. When we have been here
a few weeks we will be better acquainted with the Martians and
their language, and can make a search."

"Well, if you folks is done talkin' about treasure, I'm goin' to
eat," observed old Andy. "I'm hungry!"

"So am I," added Jack, and as they all sat down again the table
began revolving. They found it a convenient arrangement once the
novelty had worn off, and they were soon eagerly talking, over
the meal, of the wonders they had seen, and speculating on what
might be before them. Washington, having nothing to do, went to
see about beds for the night, as the travelers were tired.

"Well, Wash," asked Jack, as the colored man returned, "did you
find the beds making themselves, or waltzing around the room?"

"Nope, dey seemed t' be ordinary, respectable beds. But I ain't
goin' t' take no chances in 'em. Pse goin' t' sleep on de flo'."

"Why?"

"'Cause I don't want t' wake up in de middle ob de night an'
find mahself squashed inter a jellyfish. I believe de beds am
bewitched same as de table is."

"Nonsense," said Jack. "They're all right. This is a fine
place to live."

They found the beds good to sleep in, and nothing disturbed them.
Washington, however, stretched out on the floor, and he arose
early to prepare breakfast on the stove, which never needed to
have a fire built in it, because of the marvelous red substance.
By an arrangement of levers and valves the heat could be
increased or diminished at pleasure.

The same Martian who had conducted the travelers to the house
returned soon after breakfast, and by signs and motions indicated
to them that the crazy machinist left in the projectile had been
properly cared for. The Martian also indicated to the
world-dwellers that they were free to go where they pleased about
the city, which they learned was called Martopolis, and was the
largest city on the planet.

"We'll take a walk," suggested Mr. Roumann, "and maybe we can
find where they keep the red stuff, or where they get it from."

They strolled about the streets of Martopolis, noting many
strange sights. The queer little people were hurrying to and
fro, with a peculiar gliding motion, much faster than the
ordinary walk, yet it was not a run. The peculiar lightness in
weight of everything on Mars probably accounted for this, as the
travelers themselves found they could move about very swiftly,
and with little fatigue.

Nor did the world-dwellers attract as much attention as they
expected they would. The Martians appeared to have satisfied
their curiosity regarding the strangers the previous night, and
now gave them but passing glances. Even the boys did not follow
them.

Every one seemed to be busy, and the travelers noted many
schools, in which the children were industriously studying,
though it was early morning. Observatories, with great
telescopes, were numerous, and astronomers were gazing at the sun
or different parts of the heavens, even in daylight.

"They are a very learned people, and they never seem to cease
from acquiring information," commented Mr. Henderson.

"Well, I'd like to acquire some information about where that red
stuff is," said the German. "There is one of the metal boxes
that contain some, up on that pole."

He pointed to one that evidently served as a street lamp at
night.

"And there's a policeman near it," said Jack. "Ask him."

A Martian stood leaning against the light-pole, much as does an
officer of the law on earth. That he was some sort of an
official was evidenced by the uniform he wore.

Mr. Roumann approached the Martian, and made signs that he would
like to see the light box. The officer shook his head
vigorously, and said something rapidly.

"I guess they don't allow strangers to touch it," observed Jack.

"Evidently not," admitted Mr. Roumann. "I wonder if he knows
where it comes from?"

He made more signs, asking, as well as he could, where the
substance in the box was obtained. The officer pointed to the
distant hills, but again shook his head in protest, and spoke for
tome time very earnestly, as if warning his questioner not to
venture after it.

"Guess they must guard it pretty closely," said Mark.

"Well, I'm going to have some, anyhow," declared the German.
"We'll take a stroll over toward the hills."

They passed through the city, no one offering to stop them. On
every side they observed something new or strange, and they were
particularly struck by the absence of all noise. Everything was
done silently. There were no trolley cars, no wagons or trucks,
no puffing automobiles, and no confusion.

The Martians moved noiselessly about, and the sleds, with their
queer motive power, made no sound. They seemed to be the only
vehicles in use, save the boats, and these sleds were of many
sizes, some as large as big trucks.

"Do you think it will be safe to leave the projectile so long?"
asked Jack.

"I think so," replied Mr. Roumann. "These people will not
bother with it. In fact, they all seem too busy. I want to get
some of that valuable red stuff."

They kept on, until they found themselves out of the city and
into the country districts. Here there was more water than land,
great canals and lakes being scattered here and there, with
narrow paths or roads winding in and out among them.

"It's always flood time here," observed Jack. "We must get one
of those boats."

They approached the hills, which seemed to rise out of a great
lake.

"There is where the treasure is--in those hills," said Mr.
Roumann. "They're not more than a mile off. Let's hurry there
and get some."

They came to a narrow strip of land connecting two lakes, and as
they were crossing it, there suddenly appeared from a little hut,
about half way over, several Martians, who opposed their
progress.





CHAPTER XXVI

IN PERIL


"Well, I wonder if we can't go any farther?' asked Mr. Roumann,
as he and his companions came to a halt, and noticed that the
little men held what looked like small sticks in their hands.

"It seems as if they didn't want us to," observed Mr. Henderson.
"Looks as if they were on guard."

"Let me get at 'em with my gun," spoke Andy. "I'll soon show
'em--"

Then he stopped suddenly, as he recalled how useless his firearm
was on Mars.

"You'll have to get some stronger powder, and heavier bullets, to
hunt here, Andy," said Jack.

"I wonder if they have guns?" came from Mark.

"They only look like sticks," said Jack.

Mr. Roumann, by signs and motions, indicated that he and his
companions would like to travel along the narrow path to the
hills. The leading Martian, who was dressed like the officer at
the lamp-post, while the others were less elaborately arrayed,
shook his head. His big mouth broke into a smile, however, as if
he wanted to be good-natured about it.

"He doesn't want us to go," said the professor.

"Evidently not, but we're going just the same," retorted Mr.
Roumann. "We're more than a match for twenty of these little
creatures, and there are only ten here. Come on."

"Do you think it will be safe?" inquired Mr. Henderson.

"Of course. They can't harm us."

The German scientist took a step forward. The others were about
to follow him when the leading Martian uttered a command, and his
men pointed their sticks at the travelers.

"Look out! Dey's goin' t' shoot!" exclaimed Washington, stooping
down.

"They can't shoot with those things," declared Mr. Roumann, for
there seemed to be no mechanism about the sticks.

They all pressed forward, but to their surprise it was just as if
they had met with an invisible stone wall. They could not
advance a step farther. They were halted by some strange power,
and it appeared to come from the sticks, which the Martians kept
pointed at the strangers.

"Why--why! I can't seem to move!" cried Jack, pushing with all
his might. But, though nothing could be seen in front of him or
the others, they might just as well have tried to push over the
glass castle in the public square.

"We can't go on," called Mr. Roumann.

The Martian officer said something to his men, and they lowered
their wands. Instantly it was as if a stone wall had been taken
down from in front of the world-dwellers. They were able to
advance a few steps, and then, when at a command the wands were
again pointed at them, they had to stop.

"It's those sticks!" cried Jack. "They contain some strange
power. That's the queerest kind of a policeman's club I ever
heard of. It would keep back any mob!"

Try as they did, they could not pass the invisible barrier, and
they were forced to give it up. Seeing that the strangers
realized that they could not pass, the Martian officer and his
men lowered their sticks. He spoke to the travelers, and, though
they could not understand what he said, it was evident from his
gestures that he was advising them to return to the city.

"I think we'd better," said Mr. Henderson. "The red substance is
too well guarded for us to get any of it. Evidently they don't
want any of it taken away."

"I must get it!" insisted Mr. Roumann. "If not now, then later."

There was nothing for them to do save turn back, and the Martians
tried to smile pleasantly at them, as if sorry for what they were
obliged to do.

"We'll go back to the projectile," decided Mr. Henderson. "I am
a little anxious to see that it is all right."

They found that it was, though quite a throng had gathered about
to inspect it.

"Are we going to stay here, or go back to the house they let us
have?" asked Mark.

"I think we will live in the city," decided Mr. Roumann. "We can
learn more about the Martians there, begin to understand
something of their language, and be in a better position to get
some of that red stuff, than if we were out here. But we'll go
inside and see about the crazy man, and also how the machinery
is. I want to fix the motors so that if any one meddles with
them no damage will be done."

It took some little time to adjust the machinery, and then the
travelers took from their supplies some personal belongings,
which they wished to have with them.

"Now to see to that crazy machinist," said Mr. Henderson, when
they were ready to leave the projectile again. "I wish we could
get rid of him. He's a nuisance."

They went to the storeroom, where he had been confined, but the
man was not there.

"He's hiding again," declared Jack.

"No; he's got away!" exclaimed Mr. Roumann. "See, the ropes with
which we bound him have been broken. When the Martians came out
to feed him last night they could not have fastened them
securely. Well, he's gone, and I don't know but what I'm glad of
it."

But there came a time when they were all very sorry that the
insane man had escaped, for he caused them much trouble.

As they left the projectile to go to the house provided for them
in Martopolis, Mr. Roumann took with him several small iron
boxes.

"What are those for?" asked Jack.

"To put that red stuff in," replied the scientist.

"I am going to make another try for some, but I'll take a
different road this time."

For a week or more the travelers lived in their house in
Martopolis. They were courteously treated by the Martians, and
soon began to pick up the language, which was very simple when
once the principles of it were understood.

Several times the travelers were taken before the Great Council,
as it was called, and asked in regard to matters on the world
they had left. In turn the adventurers learned much about Mars.
Though it was much smaller than our earth, it was superior to it
in many ways. One was the simplicity of life. The Martians
never had any need of clothes, for they were born with fur and
feathers, which were renewed by Nature from time to time. They
had to contend with a large quantity of water, which covered most
of the surface of their planet, but by ingenious means they got
along nearly as well as if there was more land. In science they
were far ahead of scientists of the earth, and they were
fortunate in possessing the red substance, which they called
Cardite, and which was their only source of light, heat and
power. With it they accomplished much that the world-dwellers
have to bring about by great labor.

By inquiry, after they had learned the language, the travelers
found out that Cardite was regarded with much reverence, and
there was a tradition that if any of it was taken away from Mars,
the planet would disappear.

"No wonder they didn't want us to get any," said Mr. Roumann.
"But I'm going to have some, for all that. It's all nonsense to
think any harm can come from taking it. It will not injure their
planet, and it will be a fortune to us. They must have a lot of
it, for they told us that all the cities on Mars, and there are
several of them, are lighted and heated by it."

"But how are you going to get it." asked Mark.

"By going a different route. I'm going to get a boat, and go by
water. I've found out how to run one of their boats by means of
the red substance, and some day we'll sail over the lake to the
hills and get some Cardite."

They waited another week, and, as they found less and less
attention was paid to them from day to day, they decided to make
an attempt to get some of the treasure.

They started one morning in a large boat, which Silex Corundum,
the ruler of Mars, had placed at their disposal, and in a short
time were approaching the distant hills, at the foot of which was
the great lake. The boat moved swiftly, the controlling
mechanism consisting of three little knobs on the outside of the
box containing the Cardite. One sent the craft forward, one
reversed it, and the other stopped it.

"We're almost there," said Mr. Roumann, after about an hour's
sail. "There are no guards this way, just as I hoped. We shall
soon be enormously wealthy."

Nearer and nearer came the boat to the hills. When they were
within a half mile of them Jack, who was in the bow, uttered a
cry.

"A whirlpool! A whirlpool!" he shouted. "We're heading right
into it!"

Mr. Roumann, who was steering, tried to turn the boat to one
side, but the craft would not answer the helm.

"Shut off the power and reverse!" exclaimed Mr. Henderson, when
he saw that the boat was still rushing into the dangerous swirl
of water.

Mark, who was near the metal box, did so. But even the power of
Cardite was of no avail against the awful suction of the
whirlpool. The boat began to go around in a great circle, ever
coming nearer and nearer to the black, swirling center.

"No wonder they needed no guards on the water side," gloomily
observed Mr. Roumann as he stood up and looked at the hills.
"The whirlpool is the best protector they could have."

In deadly peril, the adventurers watched their boat coming nearer
and nearer to the terrible center of the angry waters.





CHAPTER XXVII

GETTING THE CARDITE


"Isn't there any way of escape?" asked Jack in a low voice, as he
crouched in the bow and peered into the whirlpool, on the edge of
which they were circling.

"I don't see any," replied Mr. Roumann. "I am very sorry I got
you into this trouble. If I had not insisted on coming for the
red substance we would not be in this danger."

"It's as much our fault as yours," declared the professor. "We
were anxious to get some of the treasure also."

"And now none of us will have any use for it," observed Andy
dryly. "When we slide down into that hole it will be all up with
us."

They all shuddered as they saw the black hole, around which the
waters raced in a circle.

"I wonder what's down there?" asked Mark.

"It isn't a good thing to think about," responded Jack. "I
always was afraid of whirlpools."

The boat was now beginning to go around faster. The occupants
were getting dizzy with the motion. They could hear a distant
roar, and knew that it came from the water falling down some
great depth, into which they seemed fated to be dashed.

"Did you turn on all the power of the boat?" asked Jack after a
period of silence. "Seems to me we didn't come along very fast
in this craft. The one we were in first went at a great rate.
Maybe we don't understand how to make it go at top speed."

"I turned the knobs every way I could think of," replied Mr.
Roumann. "But it would take terrific speed and power to free us
from the suction of the whirlpool."

Jack moved back to the stern, where the box was, containing the
red substance that furnished power to move the boat. He looked
closely at it.

Meanwhile the boat was moving around in ever-narrowing circles,
faster and faster. Jack noticed that twice in each revolution it
went respectively lower and higher on the course, and always at
the same places. That is to say, the whirlpool was on what might
be termed a slant. At one time the boat would be at the lowest
point, and at another at the highest point. At the low point the
occupants of the craft were out of sight of everything, as when a
ship is in the hollow of the sea. A little later they would be
raised up on a crest of water so that they could look to the
distant hills.

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