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they are promptly shot； nor do they see a tear shed for a
single one of the many cruel hardships they pass through from
earliest infancy。
I do not mean that the adult Martians are unnecessarily or
intentionally cruel to the young； but theirs is a hard and
pitiless struggle for existence upon a dying planet； the natural
resources of which have dwindled to a point where the support
of each additional life means an added tax upon the community
into which it is thrown。
By careful selection they rear only the hardiest specimens
of each species； and with almost supernatural foresight
they regulate the birth rate to merely offset the loss by death。
Each adult Martian female brings forth about thirteen eggs
each year； and those which meet the size； weight； and specific
gravity tests are hidden in the recesses of some subterranean
vault where the temperature is too low for incubation。 Every
year these eggs are carefully examined by a council of twenty
chieftains； and all but about one hundred of the most perfect
are destroyed out of each yearly supply。 At the end of five
years about five hundred almost perfect eggs have been chosen
from the thousands brought forth。 These are then placed in
the almost air…tight incubators to be hatched by the sun's rays
after a period of another five years。 The hatching which we
had witnessed today was a fairly representative event of its
kind； all but about one per cent of the eggs hatching in two
days。 If the remaining eggs ever hatched we knew nothing of
the fate of the little Martians。 They were not wanted； as their
offspring might inherit and transmit the tendency to prolonged
incubation； and thus upset the system which has maintained
for ages and which permits the adult Martians to figure the
proper time for return to the incubators； almost to an hour。
The incubators are built in remote fastnesses； where there
is little or no likelihood of their being discovered by other
tribes。 The result of such a catastrophe would mean no children
in the community for another five years。 I was later to witness
the results of the discovery of an alien incubator。
The community of which the green Martians with whom
my lot was cast formed a part was composed of some thirty
thousand souls。 They roamed an enormous tract of arid and
semi…arid land between forty and eighty degrees south latitude；
and bounded on the east and west by two large fertile tracts。
Their headquarters lay in the southwest corner of this district；
near the crossing of two of the so…called Martian canals。
As the incubator had been placed far north of their own
territory in a supposedly uninhabited and unfrequented area；
we had before us a tremendous journey； concerning which I；
of course； knew nothing。
After our return to the dead city I passed several days in
comparative idleness。 On the day following our return all the
warriors had ridden forth early in the morning and had not
returned until just before darkness fell。 As I later learned；
they had been to the subterranean vaults in which the eggs
were kept and had transported them to the incubator； which
they had then walled up for another five years； and which； in
all probability； would not be visited again during that period。
The vaults which hid the eggs until they were ready for the
incubator were located many miles south of the incubator；
and would be visited yearly by the council of twenty chieftains。
Why they did not arrange to build their vaults and incubators
nearer home has always been a mystery to me； and； like many
other Martian mysteries； unsolved and unsolvable by earthly
reasoning and customs。
Sola's duties were now doubled； as she was compelled to
care for the young Martian as well as for me； but neither one
of us required much attention； and as we were both about
equally advanced in Martian education； Sola took it upon
herself to train us together。
Her prize consisted in a male about four feet tall； very
strong and physically perfect； also； he learned quickly； and we
had considerable amusement； at least I did； over the keen
rivalry we displayed。 The Martian language； as I have said；
is extremely simple； and in a week I could make all my
wants known and understand nearly everything that was said
to me。 Likewise； under Sola's tutelage； I developed my
telepathic powers so that I shortly could sense practically
everything that went on around me。
What surprised Sola most in me was that while I could
catch telepathic messages easily from others； and often when
they were not intended for me； no one could read a jot from
my mind under any circumstances。 At first this vexed me； but
later I was very glad of it； as it gave me an undoubted
advantage over the Martians。
CHAPTER VIII
A FAIR CAPTIVE FROM THE SKY
The third day after the incubator ceremony we set forth
toward home； but scarcely had the head of the procession
debouched into the open ground before the city than orders
were given for an immediate and hasty return。 As though
trained for years in this particular evolution； the green
Martians melted like mist into the spacious doorways of the
nearby buildings； until； in less than three minutes； the entire
cavalcade of chariots； mastodons and mounted warriors was nowhere
to be seen。
Sola and I had entered a building upon the front of the city；
in fact； the same one in which I had had my encounter
with the apes； and； wishing to see what had caused the sudden
retreat； I mounted to an upper floor and peered from the
window out over the valley and the hills beyond； and there
I saw the cause of their sudden scurrying to cover。 A huge
craft； long； low； and gray…painted； swung slowly over the
crest of the nearest hill。 Following it came another； and
another； and another； until twenty of them； swinging low
above the ground； sailed slowly and majestically toward us。
Each carried a strange banner swung from stem to stern
above the upper works； and upon the prow of each was
painted some odd device that gleamed in the sunlight and
showed plainly even at the distance at which we were from
the vessels。 I could see figures crowding the forward decks
and upper works of the air craft。 Whether they had discovered
us or simply were looking at the deserted city I could not say；
but in any event they received a rude reception； for suddenly
and without warning the green Martian warriors fired a terrific
volley from the windows of the buildings facing the little
valley across which the great ships were so peacefully advancing。
Instantly the scene changed as by magic； the foremost
vessel swung broadside toward us； and bringing her guns into
play returned our fire； at the same time moving parallel to
our front for a short distance and then turning back with the
evident intention of completing a great circle which would
bring her up to position once more oppo