"I think we'd better," said Mr. Henderson. "The red substance is too well guarded for us to get any of it. Evidently they don't want any of it taken away." "I must get it!" insisted Mr. Roumann. "If not now, then later." There was nothing for them to do save turn back, and the Martians tried to smile pleasantly at them, as if sorry for what they were obliged to do. "We'll go back to the projectile," decided Mr. Henderson. "I am a little anxious to see that it is all right." They found that it was, though quite a throng had gathered about to inspect it. "Are we going to stay here, or go back to the house they let us have?" asked Mark. "I think we will live in the city," decided Mr. Roumann. "We can learn more about the Martians there, begin to understand something of their language, and be in a better position to get some of that red stuff, than if we were out here. But we'll go inside and see about the crazy man, and also how the machinery is. I want to fix the motors so that if any one meddles with them no damage will be done." It took some little time to adjust the machinery, and then the travelers took from their supplies some personal belongings, which they wished to have with them. "Now to see to that crazy machinist," said Mr. Henderson, when they were ready to leave the projectile again. "I wish we could get rid of him. He's a nuisance." They went to the storeroom, where he had been confined, but the man was not there. "He's hiding again," declared Jack. "No; he's got away!" exclaimed Mr. Roumann. "See, the ropes with which we bound him have been broken. When the Martians came out to feed him last night they could not have fastened them securely. Well, he's gone, and I don't know but what I'm glad of it." But there came a time when they were all very sorry that the insane man had escaped, for he caused them much trouble. As they left the projectile to go to the house provided for them in Martopolis, Mr. Roumann took with him several small iron boxes. "What are those for?" asked Jack. "To put that red stuff in," replied the scientist. "I am going to make another try for some, but I'll take a different road this time." For a week or more the travelers lived in their house in Martopolis. They were courteously treated by the Martians, and soon began to pick up the language, which was very simple when once the principles of it were understood.