Immediately these innocent-looking people advanced to bar the way, and held across the path one of some curious thin rods they carried and which the visitors thought were wood, but which were really highly magnetic steel, for instantly the three travellers became rigid, unable to move a limb, and experiencing all the tingling sensation of a galvanic shock. For a few minutes they stood thus, with the rod before them held at each end by one of the natives, when from amongst the trees came about fifty others, all similarly armed. One, evidently the chief, stepped out and signed for the rod to be removed, and with its removal, the power of speech and motion returned to the visitors. Gilbert, who was a little peppery, drew his revolver, more for show than anything, but whether his expression gave him away, or they suspected danger, movement was again made impossible by the holding before him of one of the rods. Again did the king, or leader, sign for the rod to be lowered, and for the second time the strangers were free, and they were now more cautious. It was, however, impossible to understand or be understood, so Dennis tore a leaf out of his pocket-book, but as he could make no visible impression on the deep blue paper by his equally blue pencil, he pointed to the sky and drew lines on the ground to represent the solar system, with leaves for the planets, which they at once recognised. For as a great portion of the atmosphere is practically devoid of particles by means of which sunlight could be reflected, the stars and the solar system are distinctly visible in the broad daylight on a dark sky—as is the case on Mars and on Luna. The Bonians instantly corrected Dennis in the position of their planet, fixing the satellite where she was at that particular moment, proving they were _au fait_ in the science of astronomy. By this means they comprehended the situation and immediately, by signs and tokens, showed their friendliness and laid down their weapons. The visitors also put down their arms, which excited much curiosity, and Ross explained their action by shooting at a stone, but they were primitive compared with the rods, which instantly stopped all movement and rendered anything impotent; when necessary, these rods would fuse stone and bring steel to a white heat; they were not used to take life, for the Bonians never killed or tortured any living creature.