be met.

So far from being a hundred miles wide, it was exceptional for the
canals to have a width of more than two hundred yards. Most of those we
were looking at were only about sixty feet wide! and only the wider ones
are used for navigation purposes. Merna explained why this was so,
saying that as the main use of the canals was for irrigation purposes
very wide ones were not required; for not only would they be wasteful,
but as it was necessary to force the water along by artificial means, it
could more conveniently be accomplished in the case of narrow canals, as
the wider the canal the more difficult it became to force the water
along.

We also observed many splendid wide motor-roads running between the
single canals, as well as others running straight across the system,
being carried over the canals by the most beautiful and fairy-like
bridges that we had ever seen. They were all constructed of a metal
identical with our "martalium," which we had used in the construction of
the _Areonal_; so that was undoubtedly another invention which we owed
to Martian influences transmitted to us across space!

Nothing more beautiful or graceful than these bridges could be
imagined, so light were they in construction, so elegant and varied in
design, and every part shining in the sun like burnished silver; they
looked like structures composed of rays of light rather than substantial
metal! They were a perfect dream of beauty, and we stood a long time
examining their elegant construction through our glasses.

"Well," remarked John, "some of our millionaires would give half their
fortunes to have such lovely bridges as these in their private parks!"

"Heh, mon!" replied M'Allister, "it's very clear the Martians could
teach our engineers something about bridge-building, if nothing else!"

"Wait and see our water-lifting and water-propelling machinery," said
Merna; "I think that will be something which will suit you as an
engineer!"

I noticed that many of the lines were apparently groves of trees, and
asked Merna whether they were canals or not.

"Yes," he replied, "they are canals. You will understand that in the
hotter parts of our world it is necessary to protect the water from too
rapid evaporation, or else the canals would be almost run dry long
before the need for their use ceased at the end of the season. Some are
arched over entirely, but in most cases it is sufficient to plant trees
along each side. Would you l