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.

The Giant Woman Drowned.

She, Like the Rest, a Prey to the Devouring Flood of the Canals.

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.

Like all the other Martian continents, Thaumasia lay below the level of
the sea, except toward the south, where it fronted the ocean.

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.

Waiting for the Flood.

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.

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:

"You couldn't trust t