t was
to be a death grapple and our chances of victory still seemed good.

Ready for a Death Grapple.

As soon as we arrived so near the planet that there was danger of our
being actually seen, we took pains to keep continually in the shadow
of Mars, and the more surely to conceal our presence all lights upon
the ships were extinguished. The precaution of the commander even went
so far as to have the smooth metallic sides of the cars blackened over
so that they should not reflect light, and thus become visible to the
Martians as shining specks, moving suspiciously among the stars.

The precise location of the great power house on the shores of the Syrtis
Major having been carefully ascertained, the squadron dropped down one
night into the upper limits of the Martian atmosphere, directly over
the gulf.

Then a consultation was called on the flagship and a plan of campaign
was quickly devised.

It was deemed wise that the attempt should be made with a single
electrical ship, but that the others should be kept hovering near, ready
to respond on the instant to any signal for aid which might come from
below. It was thought that, notwithstanding the wonderful defences,
which, according to Aina's account surrounded the building, a small
party would have a better chance of success than a large one.

Mr. Edison was certain that the electrical network which was described
as covering the power house would not prove a serious obstruction to
us, because by carefully sweeping the space where we intended to pass
with the disintegrators before quitting the ship, the netting could be
sufficiently cleared away to give us uninterrupted passage.

At first the intention was to have twenty men, each armed with two
disintegrators (that being the largest number that one person could carry
to advantage) descend from the electrical ship and make the venture. But,
after further discussion, this number was reduced; first to a dozen,
and finally, to only four. These four consisted of Mr. Edison, Colonel
Smith, Mr. Sidney Phillips and myself.

Both by her own request and because we could not help feeling that her
knowledge of the locality would be indispensable to us, Aina was also
included in our party, but not, of course, as a fighting member of it.

It was about an hour after midnight when the ship in which we were to
make the venture parted from the remainder of the squadron and dropped
cautiously down. The blaze of electric lights r