d them scurrying
in every direction in search of hiding places.

A Curious Effect.

And now a most curious effect of the smallness of the planet we were on
began to play a conspicuous part in our adventures. Standing on a globe
only five miles in diameter was like being on the summit of a mountain
whose sides sloped rapidly off in every direction, disappearing in the
black sky on all sides, as if it were some stupendous peak rising out
of an unfathomable abyss.

In consequence of the quick rounding off of the sides of this globe, the
line of the horizon was close at hand, and by running a distance of less
than 250 yards the fugitives disappeared down the sides of the asteroid,
and behind the horizon, even from the elevation of about fifteen feet
from which the Martians were able to watch them. From our sight they
disappeared much sooner.

The slight attraction of the planet and their consequent almost entire
lack of weight enabled the men to run with immense speed. The result,
as I subsequently learned, was that after they had disappeared from our
view they quitted the planet entirely, the force being sufficient to
partially free them from its gravitation, so that they sailed out into
space, whirling helplessly end over end, until the elliptical orbits in
which they travelled eventually brought them back again to the planet
on the side nearly opposite to that from which they had departed.

Hunting for the Enemy.

But several of us, with Mr. Edison, stood fast, watching
for an opportunity to get the Martians within range of the
disintegrators. Luckily we were enabled, by shifting our position a
little to the left, to get out of the line of sight of our enemies
concealed in the car.

"If we cannot catch sight of them," said Mr. Edison, "we shall have to
riddle the car on the chance of hitting them."

"It will be like firing into a bush to kill a hidden bear," said one of
the party.

But help came from a quarter which was unexpected to us, although it
should not have been so. Several of the electric ships had been hovering
above us during the fight, their commanders being apparently uncertain
how to act--fearful, perhaps, of injuring us in the attempt to smite
our enemy.

But now the situation apparently lightened for them. They saw that we
were at an immense disadvantage, and several of them immediately turned
their batteries upon the car of the Martians.

They riddled it far more quickly and effectivel