sub-consciousness the names of
persons, and also of places and things, with which he had been
acquainted in his previous life; and what he thus learnt he imparted to
his uncle, his two teachers, and to a few other Martians.

The knowledge thus very slowly acquired and gradually built up led to a
thirst for still further knowledge; so he then tried to transmit his
thoughts to the earth, and, if possible, to influence me, his father,
whom he felt certain was still living.

He paused in his statement, and then asked me to tell him "When I first
thought of making a trip to Mars, and also whether I had not, long
before then, constantly been in the habit of thinking about the planet?"

I told him the date when I first made the suggestion of our trip to
John, and added that he was quite right in supposing I had long
previously been occupied with thoughts about Mars.

"Yes," he replied, "the date you give is quite correct. I had for years
been trying to influence you to take a deep interest in this planet, and
after that to influence you to build a vessel which would bring you
here; and, on the very day you mention, I felt quite certain I had
succeeded."

"My two friends then joined me in transmitting further influences to
enable you to conceive the proper kind of vessel and machinery, and how
it should be constructed. These latter influences seem, from what you
have told me, to have been assimilated by John to a larger extent than
by yourself; and this, no doubt, was owing to his higher development of
engineering and mechanical genius. The result, however, has been most
satisfactory. You, whom I had so long yearned to see, were brought to
embark upon this long voyage through space; I knew when you had done so,
and also that John and another accompanied you. I also knew exactly when
you would arrive here, for mentally I saw your chart and knew many of
your thoughts."

"But," interposed John at this stage, "was it not rather a risky and
dangerous experiment to influence inhabitants of another world to make
what was practically an invasion of Mars? Even if it were possible, we
should be afraid to do such a thing upon our earth, for fear of
disastrous developments later on."

"There was no danger at all," he replied. "I think you found you could
not land here just where you pleased!"

"Ah, that we did," said M'Allister; "and we were never so mystified in
our lives."

"So, Mark," I said, laughing as I spoke, "that was yo