es, the commander wished to see with his own eyes the exact
situation of the various parts of the planet, where it might appear
advisable for us to begin our assault.

Thus far we had remained suspended at so great a height above the planet
that we had hardly entered into the perceptible limits of its atmosphere
and there was no evidence that we had been seen by the inhabitants of
Mars; but before starting on our voyage of exploration it was determined
to drop down closer to the surface in order that we might the more
certainly identify the localities over which we passed.

This maneuver nearly got us into serious trouble.

When we had arrived within a distance of three miles from the surface of
Mars we suddenly perceived approaching from the eastward a large airship
which was navigating the Martian atmosphere at a height of perhaps half
a mile above the ground.

[Illustration: _When we arrived within a distance of three miles
from the surface of Mars we suddenly perceived approaching from the
eastward a large airship, which was navigating the Martian atmosphere at
a height of perhaps half a mile above the ground._]

This airship moved rapidly on to a point nearly beneath us, when it
suddenly paused, reversed its course, and evidently made signals, the
purpose of which was not at first evident to us.

But in a short time their meaning became perfectly plain, when we found
ourselves surrounded by at least twenty similar aerostats approaching
swiftly from different sides.

It was a great mystery to us where so many airships had been concealed
previous to their sudden appearance in answer to the signals.

But the mystery was quickly solved when we saw detaching itself from the
surface of the planet beneath us, where, while it remained immovable,
its color had blended with that of the soil so as to render it
invisible, another of the mysterious ships.

Then our startled eyes beheld on all sides these formidable-looking
enemies rising from the ground beneath us like so many gigantic insects,
disturbed by a sudden alarm.

In a short time the atmosphere a mile or two below us, and to a distance
of perhaps twenty miles around in every direction, was alive with
airships of various sizes, and some of most extraordinary forms,
exchanging signals, rushing to and fro, but all finally concentrating
beneath the place where our squadron was suspended.

We had poked the hornet's nest with a vengeance!

As yet there had bee