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deserted cities and dead sea bottoms of Mars。
CHAPTER VII
CHILD…RAISING ON MARS
After a breakfast； which was an exact replica of the meal of
the preceding day and an index of practically every meal
which followed while I was with the green men of Mars； Sola
escorted me to the plaza； where I found the entire community
engaged in watching or helping at the harnessing of huge
mastodonian animals to great three…wheeled chariots。 There
were about two hundred and fifty of these vehicles； each
drawn by a single animal； any one of which； from their
appearance； might easily have drawn the entire wagon train
when fully loaded。
The chariots themselves were large； commodious； and
gorgeously decorated。 In each was seated a female Martian
loaded with ornaments of metal； with jewels and silks and furs；
and upon the back of each of the beasts which drew the chariots
was perched a young Martian driver。 Like the animals upon which
the warriors were mounted； the heavier draft animals wore neither
bit nor bridle； but were guided entirely by telepathic means。
This power is wonderfully developed in all Martians； and
accounts largely for the simplicity of their language and the
relatively few spoken words exchanged even in long conversations。
It is the universal language of Mars； through the medium
of which the higher and lower animals of this world of
paradoxes are able to communicate to a greater or less extent；
depending upon the intellectual sphere of the species and the
development of the individual。
As the cavalcade took up the line of march in single file；
Sola dragged me into an empty chariot and we proceeded
with the procession toward the point by which I had entered
the city the day before。 At the head of the caravan rode some
two hundred warriors； five abreast； and a like number
brought up the rear； while twenty…five or thirty outriders
flanked us on either side。
Every one but myselfmen； women； and childrenwere
heavily armed； and at the tail of each chariot trotted a
Martian hound； my own beast following closely behind ours； in
fact； the faithful creature never left me voluntarily during the
entire ten years I spent on Mars。 Our way led out across the
little valley before the city； through the hills； and down into
the dead sea bottom which I had traversed on my journey
from the incubator to the plaza。 The incubator； as it proved；
was the terminal point of our journey this day； and； as the
entire cavalcade broke into a mad gallop as soon as we
reached the level expanse of sea bottom； we were soon within
sight of our goal。
On reaching it the chariots were parked with military
precision on the four sides of the enclosure； and half a score
of warriors； headed by the enormous chieftain； and including
Tars Tarkas and several other lesser chiefs； dismounted and
advanced toward it。 I could see Tars Tarkas explaining something
to the principal chieftain； whose name； by the way； was；
as nearly as I can translate it into English； Lorquas Ptomel；
Jed； jed being his title。
I was soon appraised of the subject of their conversation； as；
calling to Sola； Tars Tarkas signed for her to send me to him。
I had by this time mastered the intricacies of walking under
Martian conditions； and quickly responding to his command
I advanced to the side of the incubator where the warriors
stood。
As I reached their side a glance showed me that all but a
very few eggs had hatched； the incubator being fairly alive
with the hideous little devils。 They ranged in height from
three to four feet； and were moving restlessly about the
enclosure as though searching for food。
As I came to a halt before him； Tars Tarkas pointed over
the incubator and said； 〃Sak。〃 I saw that he wanted me to
repeat my performance of yesterday for the edification of
Lorquas Ptomel； and； as I must confess that my prowess gave
me no little satisfaction； I responded quickly； leaping entirely
over the parked chariots on the far side of the incubator。 As
I returned； Lorquas Ptomel grunted something at me； and
turning to his warriors gave a few words of command relative
to the incubator。 They paid no further attention to me and I
was thus permitted to remain close and watch their operations；
which consisted in breaking an opening in the wall of the
incubator large enough to permit of the exit of the young Martians。
On either side of this opening the women and the younger Martians；
both male and female； formed two solid walls leading out
through the chariots and quite away into the plain beyond。
Between these walls the little Martians scampered；
wild as deer； being permitted to run the full length of the
aisle； where they were captured one at a time by the women
and older children； the last in the line capturing the first little
one to reach the end of the gauntlet； her opposite in the line
capturing the second； and so on until all the little fellows had
left the enclosure and been appropriated by some youth or
female。 As the women caught the young they fell out of line
and returned to their respective chariots； while those who fell
into the hands of the young men were later turned over to
some of the women。
I saw that the ceremony； if it could be dignified by such
a name； was over； and seeking out Sola I found her in our
chariot with a hideous little creature held tightly in her arms。
The work of rearing young； green Martians consists solely
in teaching them to talk； and to use the weapons of warfare
with which they are loaded down from the very first year of
their lives。 Coming from eggs in which they have lain for
five years； the period of incubation； they step forth into the
world perfectly developed except in size。 Entirely unknown
to their mothers； who； in turn； would have difficulty in
pointing out the fathers with any degree of accuracy； they are
the common children of the community； and their education
devolves upon the females who chance to capture them as
they leave the incubator。
Their foster mothers may not even have had an egg in the
incubator； as was the case with Sola； who had not commenced
to lay； until less than a year before she became the mother of
another woman's offspring。 But this counts for little among
the green Martians； as parental and filial love is as unknown to
them as it is common among us。 I believe this horrible system
which has been carried on for ages is the direct cause of the
loss of all the finer feelings and higher humanitarian instincts
among these poor creatures。 From birth they know no father
or mother love； they know not the meaning of the word home；
they are taught that they are only suffered to live until they
can demonstrate by their physique and ferocity that they are
fit to live。 Should they prove deformed or defective in any way
they are promptly shot； nor do they see a tear shed for a
single one of the many crue