al surrender
is their only chance."

"Let us take Aina with us," I suggested, "and since she can speak the
language of the Martians we shall probably have no difficulty in
arriving at an understanding."

Accordingly the flagship was carefully brought further down in front of
the entrance to the palace, which had been kept clear by the Martian
guards, and while the remainder of the squadron assembled within a few
feet directly over our heads with the disintegrators turned upon the
palace and the crowd below, Mr. Edison and myself, accompanied by Aina,
stepped out upon the ground.

There was a forward movement in the immense crowd, but the guards
sternly kept everybody back. A party of a dozen giants, preceded by one
who seemed to be their commander, gorgeously attired in jewelled
garments, advanced from the entrance of the palace to meet us. Aina
addressed a few words to the leader, who replied sternly, and then,
beckoning us to follow, retraced his steps into the palace.

Notwithstanding our confidence that all resistance had ceased, we did
not deem it wise actually to venture into the lion's den without having
taken every precaution against a surprise. Accordingly, before following
the Martian into the palace, we had twenty of the electrical ships
moored around it in such a position that they commanded not only the
entrance but all of the principal windows, and then a party of forty
picked men, each doubly armed with powerful disintegrators, were
selected to attend us into the building. This party was placed under the
command of Colonel Smith, and Sydney Phillips insisted on being a member
of it.

In the meantime the Martian with his attendants who had first invited us
to enter, finding that we did not follow him, had returned to the front
of the palace. He saw the disposition that we had made of our forces,
and instantly comprehended its significance, for his manner changed
somewhat, and he seemed more desirous than before to conciliate us.

When he again beckoned us to enter, we unhesitatingly followed him, and
passing through the magnificent entrance, found ourselves in a vast
ante-chamber, adorned after the manner of the Martians in the most
expensive manner. Thence we passed into a great circular apartment, with
a dome painted in imitation of the sky, and so lofty that to our eyes it
seemed like the firmament itself. Here we found ourselves approaching an
elevated throne situated in the center of the apartm