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.

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.

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.

The Enemy Vanquished.

The Martians Succumb at Last, and Are at Our Mercy.

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.

I think we all had the same impression, but as the event proved, we
were mistaken.

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.

Aina Attacked by a Martian.

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.

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.

Swift Vengeance.

Who could adequately descr