Fifteen Hundred Miles an Hour Read online

  CHAPTER X.

  CAPTIVITY.

  As may naturally be inferred, the language spoken on Mars is totallydifferent from any uttered by either of the civilised races on Earth.We, of course, were ignorant of this dialect spoken on Mars, and wereunable to understand what was said to us at the time of our capture,or what the Martials were saying to each other. But we were amazed tofind how easily their language could be acquired, and in a very shortspace of time we were able to converse with this new people. Curiouslyenough, on the other hand, the Martials found great difficulty inmastering any of the languages of Earth; and we were able to trythem with Latin, with Greek, Hebrew, German, French, Gaelic, andEnglish; and it was not for many weeks that even the higher classes ofinhabitants acquired even a smattering of the latter tongue.

  For several moments it seemed as though our fate was sealed, as thegigantic troopers closed round the _Sirius_ with fierce and angrygestures, some of them trying to climb up the sides and reach us as westood in fear and trembling, looking down upon the surging throng fromour station on the balcony. Three words which were uttered incessantlyby the crowd of soldiers, we were able to distinguish from all the restof the tumult. They were, as near as we can express them, "Yan ye bo,"which being translated into English means "Beings from the sky." Angryshouts of "Emi, emi, tat ya mos" filled the air, and these words weafterwards learned signified "Slay, slay them at once."

  Fortunately for us, our situation on the balcony, above the heads ofthe soldiers, gave us a momentary respite, and before they could findmeans to drag us from our refuge, a Martial of commanding presenceforced his way through the throng, scattering the troopers to the rightand left, and with loud voice uttered the word "Etoba" several times.This was evidently a command, for the soldiers withdrew several yardsfrom the _Sirius_ at once, and formed a cordon round us, silent andmotionless as though on parade.

  All through this trying time, Doctor Hermann stood bare-headed on thebalcony of the _Sirius_ with hands and arms outspread, endeavouringto inspire the Martials with confidence, and to convince them of ourpeaceable intentions; but we fear his supplications and his signs werethrown away. Revolver in hand, Temple and Graham stood by the Doctor,at whose urgent entreaty they were persuaded to put up their firearmsand face the situation calmly. Sandy, amidst the confusion, disappearedinto the _Sirius,_ terror-stricken as we thought, but he soon returned,armed with a mighty sword he had brought with him concealed in the_Sirius_ unknown to us, and with which he assured us an ancestor of hishad fought.

  By the time order had been obtained, we could see vast numbers ofpeople crowding up to the square from all directions, and pressingforward to the lines of soldiers, eager to get a glimpse of what wastaking place. Keen as was our anxiety, we did not fail to noticethe splendid physique of the inhabitants of this wonderful city,the variety in their dress, and the marvellous beauty of the femaleMartials. The soldiers were clad in tightly-fitting green tunics,below which was a kilt-like dress, reaching to just above the knee.Their muscular limbs were bare, but their feet were shod in high,tightly-fitting laced boots, and each was armed with a long tube ofbrass. Their heads were encased in what looked to be massive ironhelmets. We had not time to notice much, had our excitement permittedus to examine these things in detail, before the commandant stepped upto the _Sirius_, in front of his troops, and bade us descend and yieldourselves into his custody.

  "It is very evident that we are about to be taken prisoners," said theDoctor. "We had best submit to the inevitable, without any show ofresistance. Force will only incense these people against us; calmnessmay disarm their suspicions, and ensure us kindly, perhaps evenfriendly, treatment."

  "I don't like the look of things at all, Doctor," answered Temple,"but I am consoled with the thought that we have escaped from perilsinfinitely more terrible than this."

  "We will stick to our revolvers, if we can," said Graham, pocketing hisnickel-plated "bull dog" as he spoke. "I, for one, am not going to beslaughtered in cold blood without a fight for it."

  "I see no objection to our keeping these arms by us, in case of direstneed; but my last advice is to keep calm, to keep calm," answered theDoctor, with great emphasis on the latter word.

  Further conversation was impossible, as the officer who had bidden uscome forth was beginning to show signs of impatience at our delay.

  "Beings from the sky, I, Kaosp, Captain of the King's troops in theCity of Edos, command your immediate surrender to me, so that you mayexplain yourselves to His Majesty's rulers, and inform them from whenceye came and your business here. Delay, or resistance will be visitedwith instant death."

  This seemed language of dreadful import to us, and withoutunderstanding a syllable of it, we dropped the ladder from the door,and, headed by the Doctor, climbed slowly down to the ground, the eyeof every Martial standing within view being fixed upon us with thekeenest attention. Three at least of our little party looked likedwarfs as we stood before the Hercules who had bidden us surrenderourselves to him; but Graham suffered little by comparison with thisgiant. Erect and defiant he stood before his captor, inch for inchalmost as tall as him, broad and well-set in proportion, his musculararms folded across his massive chest, his clear grey eyes scanninghim curiously from head to foot. We could see that Graham had createda favourable impression, and for that we were thankful. We stood inline before the poor old _Sirius_, and awaited the next move in thissingular scene.

  In a few moments the commander (Kaosp, we will call him for thefuture), addressed some words to his troops, and then a dozen warriorsstepped out from the ranks and formed an escort round us: a dozen moresurrounded the _Sirius_. Kaosp then placed himself at the head of hissoldiers, and gave the word to march. Surrounded by the troops, wewended our way towards the noble palace across the square, the linesof soldiers opening and making a passage for us as we advanced. Wepassed under a lofty archway, went up a flight of steps, and thenentered a magnificent hall with a domed roof. Here all the guardsremained behind, save two, and they and their leader escorted us acrossthe marble floor to another archway, which led into a smaller hall.Crossing this, we reached a door which opened automatically as weapproached, and after going up a flight of steps, we reached a widecorridor. Along this we walked until we came to another door, whichopened in the same mysterious manner, and we were ushered into a largeapartment, the door closing behind us at once, and we were left toourselves.

  "Beggin' your pardon, Doctor, but this is what I call a shabby way toreceive such distinguished visitors as the likes o' we. Just to bepopped in here like snared birds in a cage; after comin' all this way,too. Bother tak' sich hospitality, says Sandy Cam'bell."

  We were too much absorbed in thinking over our future, to take any heedof Sandy's remarks; and before we had time to form any definite plans,the door of our prison was thrown open, and Kaosp appeared with twoguards, and beckoned us to accompany them.

  "Once more, my friends, let me implore you to keep cool," the Doctorhurriedly whispered as we were marched away.

  We were conducted along vast corridors and through many doorways beforewe reached the entrance of a magnificent hall, where evidently the Kingand his ministers were assembled in state awaiting our arrival. Thesplendours of this building are beyond the power of any description.So suddenly did we find ourselves surrounded by the glitter and pompof this brilliant gathering, that for several moments we stood stillin utter amazement, bewildered, lost, in the glorious scene before us.We heard as in a dream the blast of what seemed a thousand trumpetsheralding our approach, and as in a dream were conducted to a smallraised platform in the very centre of the vast assembly, directlyfacing the King and his court. The hall was filled to overflowing withmale and female Martials (perhaps we ought to call them men and women),a sea of eager faces greeting our appearance, but the expressionsupon those we looked at closely seemed by no means friendly disposedtowards us. A hum of intense, yet suppressed excitement broke from theassembled throng as we stepped upon the dais in full view of all.
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  The day was rapidly drawing to a close, the gloom of coming nightbeginning to settle on that vast gathering, as the Doctor and hiscompanions in captivity calmly stood, the observed of all observers,awaiting their fate. The half light seemed to increase themagnificence of the spacious building, by toning down its brilliancyand harmonising the wealth of rare colour that everywhere delightedthe eye. The entire dome was covered with a painting of some mightyconflict; the panels of the walls were filled with others, solife-like, so realistic, that we blushed for very shame as we comparedin our mind's eye these works of art with the masterpieces of Earthlypainters. Noble groups of statuary, carved out of lustrous stonesof a flesh-coloured tint, filled us with admiration; urns and vasesand quaintly-designed ornaments of wood and metal were arranged witha keen eye for effect on every side; whilst the windows of colouredglass--if glass it was--were superb, both in their wonderful designand harmony of colour. Garlands of foliage, the leaves of fine gold,twined round the marble pillars, bearing clusters of sparkling jewelsdesigned as fruits; whilst before the throne was a fountain of cunningworkmanship which cast up from unseen sources jets of scented water,that not only filled the building with a subtle ravishing perfume, butkept the atmosphere cool and refreshing. The audience which filledthis hall of splendour was evidently a mixed one. What we took to bethose of high degree surrounded the King and his ministers; roundthem were the guards and minor officers; whilst beyond them againwas the populace. The floor rose gradually from the centre, so thatevery person could see and hear all that took place. The King and hiscourtiers were one blaze of glittering jewels and gorgeous colour;their robes and vestments being rare and costly to a degree undreamedof on Earth, even by the wildest fancy of man. As in our own world,almost every type of countenance was to be observed among this vastassemblage; yet we could not help remarking that the men of Mars werehandsomer as a race than the men of Earth, and that the women of Marswere more beautiful. The old King himself was a grand specimen ofmanhood; his lofty brow, clearly cut features, long, flowing whitebeard, and commanding, dignified presence, made him every inch aking. He was surrounded with a host of noble councillors, almost asregal-looking as himself. The younger men were handsome, stalwartfellows--broad of chest and lithe of limb, moustached and bearded, sonsof a race evidently at the zenith of its development, both mentally andphysically. Our hearts warmed towards them in honest admiration; wefelt that we were in the presence of our superiors.

  The females at this gathering were remarkable for their exceedingbeauty. Edos must be a city of fair women if those assembled herearound us were an average specimen of its lady inhabitants. The classicregularity of their features was superb; their wonderful wealth ofhair, their marvellously clear complexion, the rare symmetry oftheir form, the expression of their beautiful eyes, their commandingpresence--all combined in making them attractive to a degree undreamedof by dwellers on Earth.

  In all that peerless galaxy of beauty, one magnificent creature withlarge expressive eyes, and hair of gold, seated close to the Kinghimself, was fairer far than all the rest; her face and figure weresublime! She sat with queenly dignity, with a coronet aflame withjewels upon her lovely brow, gazing intently upon us, stirred to thevery depths of her soul with wondering curiosity, and from time to timetalking with the aged King, the theme of her conversation evidentlybeing us poor captives; friendless and helpless in the centre of thatgazing throng! She was dressed in a robe of delicate purple hue, which,though draped but loosely round her, still displayed in suggestivegrace the beauty of her hidden form. Her hair fell in rippling goldentresses far below her waist; her arms, looking white as marble in thedeepening twilight, were bare to the shoulder. She sat, or ratherreclined on a pile of softest skins, and her feet rested upon a mat ofsimilar material.

  We noticed all that we have here described within a very few secondsfrom the time that we stepped upon the dais. Then suddenly the vasthall was filled with brilliant artificial light, an electric light asfar as we could judge, although the source of its supply was cunninglyconcealed. The effect was magical. The flashing gems and brilliantmetals, the statuary, the polished pillars, walls, and floors, thesparkling scented water, the royal troops, the eager throng, formed ascene of unparalleled magnificence and splendour.

  As soon as the hall was illuminated as by the light of day, theproceedings began. An aged statesman, amidst breathless silence, roseup from his seat, crossed the floor, and stood opposite to where theKing sat in solemn state. Making a low and reverent obeisance, hebegan to tell the story of our appearance near their city; how we weremet by the Martial whose life we took; how we took refuge in the_Sirius_, and, after the alarm had been given, how a search was madeand our hiding-place discovered. Then he described our evading furtherpursuit by soaring up into the air in our curious carriage; how wetravelled over the city of Edos, and were fired at by the soldiers;how we eventually came slowly down to the ground again to the squarenear the palace; and how we had been surrounded and taken prisoners byHis Majesty's troops at last. This address appeared to make a profoundimpression upon the multitude, and, so far as we could judge, the wrathof the people was exceedingly great. The odds were evidently againstus, and each one of us felt--although at the time we did not understanda word of what was being said--that our position was momentarilybecoming more serious.

  For several minutes after this harangue was finished, the silence wasprofound. Every eye was turned towards us; the old King's face wasgrave and stern and troubled. Then, as if to make matters worse, thesilence was broken by a loud commotion at one of the entrances tothe hall, and the next moment poor old Rover broke through the ringof guards and officers, and leaping and barking for joy, hastened toSandy's side. At first the direst alarm prevailed, and we noticed thelovely woman by the King's side clutch his arm in terror, for of courseour dog was even a stranger animal to the company here assembled thanwe were ourselves. At a word from Sandy he lay down between us, and,curiously enough, there he was suffered to remain. He had broken out ofthe _Sirius_, where in the excitement of our departure we had left andforgotten him, and made his way unerringly to his master's side--ouronly friend.

  We afterwards learned that the most serious part of our case was theslaying of the Martial; and as the old minister told this part of hisstory, one of the guards advanced and pointed with his brass tube toSandy, indicating that he was the actual culprit. A long and animateddiscussion took place, in which the King occasionally joined, or wasappealed to for his advice. Then a long interval of silence followed,in which the King was evidently considering the facts which had beenlaid before him. Our hearts beat fast; each one's right hand claspedthe revolver concealed within his breast; for each had mentallydetermined to fight for life unto the bitter end.

  "Courage," whispered Dr. Hermann, "and for the love of heaven do notfire until I give the signal. I am going to try and make these peopleunderstand a little of our history."

  A moment after, the Doctor advanced a few steps towards the King,bowing low and with hands extended as if in welcome. The King watchedhim curiously, and so did we; for we had not the slightest ideawhat his intentions were. He then pointed to the open entrance, upinto the night sky, where the planet Earth, by some miraculous goodfortune, chanced to be shining with unusual splendour almost alone inthe firmament. Then by various signs he attempted to explain how wehad come from that particular star; that we were friends, and wereanxious to gain their good will. We afterwards learned that the Kinghad comprehended much of what the Doctor had sought to convey; butprejudice ran high, and though personally inclined to befriend us, hewas biassed by his ministers.

  The Doctor rejoined us once more, and almost directly afterwardsthe King began to speak. As one man, the mighty throng saluted himand bowed in reverence. Then the multitude, all standing, listeningintently to his words, which were as follows:

  "Beloved subjects and children: a great event hath happened amongst us,such as hath never been known to you, my people, throughout the longand glorious histor
y of our race. Five strange beings have made theirappearance amongst us--from whence they come we know not; who theyare, or what their object is in coming here, are also mysteries whichwe cannot readily solve. By shedding the blood of our poor brotheryesterday, we fear these beings are of evil repute, and thereforeshould be treated as enemies of our race, and die. Their leader, bysundry signs, hath sought to tell us that they come from the star-worldRamos, which they call 'Earth.' If this were true, and their hands werenot stained in blood, we would welcome them as brothers, for our wisemen have long suspected that beings fashioned like ourselves do dwellthereon. Wisdom cometh slowly, and knowledge is gained by degrees. Wewill wait and see, my people, if these strangers can prove that whatthey say by signs is true. We of this world do nothing hurriedly,nor do we take life without just cause. We know not these strangers'tongues; nor they ours. Justice bids us wait. Forty days of grace willwe allow them; then here, in this our Hall of Justice, shall they taketheir trial, and their fate be decided. We have spoken these wordswith such wisdom as God hath given us, and may He still continue topreserve my people from all harm."

  Amidst shouts of approval the King ceased speaking, and as weunderstood not a word of what he had said, we concluded that our doomwas decided. In all that mighty throng we had not one to befriend us.Each face was stern and of forbidding aspect! Yet, stay, there was onewhose eyes were even wet with tears at our misfortune, and whose shy,pitying glances steeled our nerves anew. The lady by the King's sidebreathed hope in her glances. Her lovely eyes were dimmed with tearsfor us, and we felt as men once more. Love's all-potent power wasworking. By what attractive force was the latent spark of compassionignited in that fair Martial breast? She alone of all that multitudewas drawn towards us by a bond of sympathy! Who knows but that, allunconsciously, her spirit and ours may have mingled in that SilentWorld of shadows, where language, race, or creed form no barrier tofriendly intercourse, and where the inconveniences of space, as weexperience them in our mortal shapes, are unknown? Who, after this,shall say that lives may not be governed and influenced by beings onother worlds, in other spheres, just as the attraction of one planetcan sway another from its course across the sky?

  By some subtle influence, we felt reassured; all thoughts of fightingfor our lives departed, and when Kaosp and his guards stepped forward,we followed them even cheerfully back to our prison, Rover beingallowed to trot behind at our heels.