ent,
not crediting their report of what they beheld.

A Woman Forty Feet High!

Standing on the apex of a sandy elevation, which still rose a few feet
above the gathering flood, was the figure of a woman, as perfect in form
and in classic beauty of feature as the Venus of Milo--a magnified human
being not less than forty feet in height!

But for her swaying and the wild motions of her arms, we should have
mistaken her for a marble statue.

Aina, who happened to be looking, instantly exclaimed:

"It is the woman from Ceres. She was taken prisoner by the Martians
during their last invasion of that world, and since then has been a
slave in the palace of the Emperor."

Overtaken by the Flood.

Apparently her great stature had enabled her to escape, while her
masters had been drowned. She had fled like the others, toward the south,
but being finally surrounded by the rising waters, had taken refuge on
the hillock of sand, where we saw her. This was fast giving way under
the assault of the waves, and even while we watched the water rose to
her knees.

"Drop lower," was the order of the electrical steersman of the flagship,
and as quickly as possible we approached the place where the towering
figure stood.

She had realized the hopelessness of her situation, and quickly ceased
those appalling and despairing gestures, which at first served to convince
us that it was indeed a living being on whom we were looking.

Save the Woman from Ceres!

There she stood, with a light, white garment thrown about her, erect,
half-defiant, half yielding to her fear, more graceful than any Greek
statue, her arms outstretched, yet motionless, and her eyes upcast,
as if praying to her God to protect her. Her hair, which shone like
gold in the increasing light of day, streamed over her shoulders, and
her great eyes were astare between terror and supplication. So wildly
beautiful a sight not one of us had ever beheld. For a moment sympathy
was absorbed in admiration. Then:

"Save her! Save her!" was the cry that arose throughout the ship.

Ropes were instantly thrown out, and one or two men prepared to let
themselves down in order better to aid her.

But when we were almost within reach, and so close that we could see
the very expression of her eyes, which appeared to take no note of us,
but to be fixed, with a far-away look upon something beyond human ken,
suddenly the undermined bank on which she stood gave way, the blood-r