"It seems as if they didn't want us to," observed Mr. Henderson. "Looks as if they were on guard." "Let me get at 'em with my gun," spoke Andy. "I'll soon show 'em--" Then he stopped suddenly, as he recalled how useless his firearm was on Mars. "You'll have to get some stronger powder, and heavier bullets, to hunt here, Andy," said Jack. "I wonder if they have guns?" came from Mark. "They only look like sticks," said Jack. Mr. Roumann, by signs and motions, indicated that he and his companions would like to travel along the narrow path to the hills. The leading Martian, who was dressed like the officer at the lamp-post, while the others were less elaborately arrayed, shook his head. His big mouth broke into a smile, however, as if he wanted to be good-natured about it. "He doesn't want us to go," said the professor. "Evidently not, but we're going just the same," retorted Mr. Roumann. "We're more than a match for twenty of these little creatures, and there are only ten here. Come on." "Do you think it will be safe?" inquired Mr. Henderson. "Of course. They can't harm us." The German scientist took a step forward. The others were about to follow him when the leading Martian uttered a command, and his men pointed their sticks at the travelers. "Look out! Dey's goin' t' shoot!" exclaimed Washington, stooping down. "They can't shoot with those things," declared Mr. Roumann, for there seemed to be no mechanism about the sticks. They all pressed forward, but to their surprise it was just as if they had met with an invisible stone wall. They could not advance a step farther. They were halted by some strange power, and it appeared to come from the sticks, which the Martians kept pointed at the strangers. "Why--why! I can't seem to move!" cried Jack, pushing with all his might. But, though nothing could be seen in front of him or the others, they might just as well have tried to push over the glass castle in the public square. "We can't go on," called Mr. Roumann. The Martian officer said something to his men, and they lowered their wands. Instantly it was as if a stone wall had been taken down from in front of the world-dwellers. They were able to advance a few steps, and then, when at a command the wands were again pointed at them, they had to stop. "It's those sticks!" cried Jack. "They contain some strange power. That's the queerest kind of a policeman's club I ever heard of. It would keep back any mob!" Try as they did, they could not pass the invisible barrier, and they were forced to give it up. Seeing that the strangers realized that they could not pass, the Martian officer and his men lowered their sticks. He spoke to the travelers, and, though they could not understand what he said, it was evident from his gestures that he was advising them to return to the city.