l
streets of the city. What novel sights greeted my eyes on every side!
One cannot well imagine what excitement I aroused. Citizens who first
saw me lifted their flabby arms in terror and ran to the city Bizen, a
place where every inhabitant, under oath, is obliged to carry special
news before communicating it elsewhere.

[Illustration: Visiting a City on the Moon.]

In a very short time the city Plins, or in our language, city
authorities, were coming toward me in their costly vehicles. They were
preceded, however, by what we would call a body guard. Imagine their
surprise to hear me shout at the top of my voice, which sounded to them
as thunder would to us: "You need not fear, I will do you no harm!"

My voice had a magical effect on the assembling host of pigmies. They
looked at me with as much curiosity as I looked at them. I stepped over
their heads but was careful not to trample on the children who scampered
at my approach. If one could ship a car load of these children to the
Earth, they would make excellent dolls, for they range in size from only
six to ten inches. Finally, I sat on the roof of one of their lower
buildings to watch the gathering of the multitudes and study their
curious countenances.

Some of the more educated, seeing that I was peacefully inclined,
ventured close to my knees and then looked the more intently into my
face, all of which was agreeable, as it enabled me to get a still closer
view of their faces.

I saw that the whole city was turning out, and I wondered how the alarm
could have been given so speedily. Upon inquiry, a fine artist at my
side tremblingly explained that the Bizen wires had been touched for
block six. This meant that every house in the city had received notice
of an unusual occurrence in that section. I resolved to learn more of
this system and how it was operated without the aid of electricity.

Now I was besieged by a pressing host. At once I commenced to speak in
Moon dialect. I told them whence I came, pointing to the large
wagon-wheel that hung in their heavens. After a short discourse, I
invited questions.

One of their leaders stepped nearer to me and acted as the spokesman of
the crowd. His language and voice were of excellent quality and although
visibly agitated, he bore himself with commendable dignity. Let me here
translate our conversation into English.

"How came you here?" asked he.

"That I cannot explain."

"Did you walk or run?"

"I did