ent, while long rows
of brilliantly armored guards flanked us on either side, and grouped
around the throne, some standing and others reclining upon the flights
of steps which appeared to be of solid gold, was an array of Martian
woman, beautifully and becomingly attired, all of whom greatly
astonished us by the singular charm of their faces and bearing, so
different from the aspect of most of the Martians whom we had
encountered.

Despite their stature--for these women averaged twelve or thirteen feet
in height--the beauty of their complexions--of a dark olive tint--was no
less brilliant than that of the women of Italy or Spain.

At the top of the steps on a magnificent golden throne, sat the Emperor
himself. There are some busts of Caracalla which I have seen that are
almost as ugly as the face of the Martian ruler. He was of gigantic
stature, larger than the majority of his subjects, and as near as I
could judge must have been between fifteen and sixteen feet in height.

As I looked at him I understood a remark which had been made by Aina to
the effect that the Martians were not all alike, and that the
peculiarities of their minds were imprinted on their faces and expressed
in their forms in a very wonderful, and sometimes terrible manner.

I had also learned from her that Mars was under a military government,
and that the military class had absolute control of the planet. I was
somewhat startled, then, in looking at the head and center of the great
military system of Mars, to find in his appearance a striking
conformation of the speculations of our terrestrial phrenologists. His
broad, mis-shapen head bulged in those parts where they had placed the
so-called organs of combativeness, destructiveness, etc.

Plainly, this was an effect of his training and education. His very
brain had become a military engine; and the aspect of his face, the
pitiless lines of his mouth and chin, the evil glare of his eyes, the
attitude and carriage of his muscular body, all tended to complete the
warlike ensemble.

He was magnificently dressed in some vesture that had the luster of a
polished plate of gold, and 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 which surrounded his throne was as great as if
Satan after his fall had here re-enthroned himself in the midst of
angels.

Mr