Contrary to their fears, the night passed without incident. They were all at breakfast the next morning, when Mark, happening to look through a heavy plate-glass window in the living-room, called out: "Look what's coming!" They saw a vast throng of Martians advancing toward the projectile. "See who's leading them!" called Jack. "The crazy machinist!" CHAPTER XXIX THE REPULSE "Do you suppose they're going to attack us?"' asked Mr. Roumann. "It looks very much like it," answered Professor Henderson. "But we will wait and see. Are the electric cannons in shape?" "Yes, they are all ready to work. All that is necessary is to open the ports and fire them. They will not kill, but they will disable the Martians for a time, in case we have to use them." "I hope we'll not have to," said Jack. "They have been very good to us, and I shouldn't want to harm them." "There's a big crowd of them," added Mark. "I wonder how that crazy man came to be with them?" "He must be leading them against us out of revenge," was Mr. Henderson's opinion. "He may have induced them to try to kill us, and they may be very willing to do so, because we have taken some of the Cardite." "I hope not," murmured Mr. Roumann. The throng approached nearer. In front was the insane machinist, who was leaping about, running to and fro, and shouting at the top of his voice. His words came faintly to those in the projectile. "They seem to have a new leader," remarked Jack. "I understood that the ruler, Silex Corundum, always went at the head of the troops when there was to be a battle, but there's a different person now." A little in the rear of the crazy machinist was a Martian enveloped in a scarlet cloak, which hung from his shoulders to the ground. And fastened on his head to the golden circlet, which seemed to be a common badge of office for all leading Martians, was a small metal box. "I believe that box has Cardite in it," said Jack. "Maybe he's the keeper of all the Cardite on this planet, and he and his soldiers have come to get it back." "They don't look like soldiers," commented Mark. "No; but they all have some sort of weapons," said Jack. "They look like sticks with small boxes of Cardite on the end of them. They must be a new kind of gun." "And probably very effective, too," commented the professor. "But they are evidently going to hold a parley with us. The machinist and the Martian in the scarlet cloak are advancing alone." The main body of Martians had come to a halt a short distance away from the projectile, while the two strange figures, so greatly contrasted--that of the insane man and the little officer-advanced together. "Open the window to hear what they say," suggested Mr. Henderson, and the German scientist did so. "Hello, you in there!" called the machinist. "Well, what do you want?" asked Mr. Henderson.