“Can’t tell; I’ll bet they didn’t fail to see the _Sphere_ when we slid over here. We’re likely to have an army down on us tonight.” “I wouldn’t worry about that,” said Professor Palmer. “The Martians are obviously a people of much intelligence. I expect they will act just about as our own people would, should some curious machine land upon the Earth. They will probably wait till daylight, then come out and satisfy their curiosity.” “And ours,” added Robert, remembering his dream. As they stepped out upon the sand, buttoned into warm coats, a brilliant spectacle was presented to their gaze. Low in the southeast Phobus hung like a glowing orange. Its now apparently smooth, bright disk was a decided contrast to the dark, threatening, cavernous face which had frightened them but a few hours earlier. All round them the indigo sky was studded with stars of the great brilliance that is reserved for travelers of the deserts. Behind them the comfortable flood of illumination from the _Sphere_ spread its friendly radiance over the sand. “Look over there!” cried Taggert suddenly, pointing toward the east. Far away on the horizon’s edge a diffused white glow shone steadily. “A city,” guessed Robert quickly. “A group of cities--a Martian oasis,” suggested the professor. “Why, there are some lights along the canal, too,” said Robert, becoming aware of a number of lights stretching along the endless strip of fertile land to the south of them. “Well, I’ll be damned!” cried Taggert. “Say, let’s run over to town tonight!” But however sanguine the professor might have been regarding the existence of an intelligent race upon the planet, he balked at a precipitate invasion of their haunts right then. So it was decided to wait till morning for developments. * * * * * The lantern which Robert carried was almost superfluous in the bright starlight. They enjoyed the novelty of trudging about through the sand, after their extended confinement within the _Sphere_. In spite of the looseness and depth of the sand, they walked over it with amazing ease because of the decreased gravity on the smaller planet. Robert, for example, who weighed 150 pounds on earth, now weighed less than sixty pounds. Yet he retained his full strength, so that the task of walking was tremendously reduced. “Run you a race, Robert,” called Taggert, starting out abruptly at a great pace. The temptation was too great. Robert was a good runner and reveled in the sport. He dashed after the reporter. His feet scarcely seemed to touch the sand as he raced after the fleeting shadow ahead of him. With giant strides, twenty feet long, he steadily reduced the distance between them. Suddenly there came a dim shout ahead, followed by a dull thud--then, silence. Robert slowed up as quickly as possible and looked round him. The reporter had disappeared!