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to the great white apes of Mars。
The average life expectancy of a Martian after the age of
maturity is about three hundred years； but would be nearer
the one…thousand mark were it not for the various means
leading to violent death。 Owing to the waning resources
of the planet it evidently became necessary to counteract
the increasing longevity which their remarkable skill in
therapeutics and surgery produced； and so human life has come
to be considered but lightly on Mars； as is evidenced by their
dangerous sports and the almost continual warfare between
the various communities。
There are other and natural causes tending toward a
diminution of population； but nothing contributes so greatly
to this end as the fact that no male or female Martian is ever
voluntarily without a weapon of destruction。
As we neared the plaza and my presence was discovered we
were immediately surrounded by hundreds of the creatures
who seemed anxious to pluck me from my seat behind my
guard。 A word from the leader of the party stilled their
clamor； and we proceeded at a trot across the plaza to the
entrance of as magnificent an edifice as mortal eye has rested
upon。
The building was low； but covered an enormous area。 It
was constructed of gleaming white marble inlaid with gold
and brilliant stones which sparkled and scintillated in the
sunlight。 The main entrance was some hundred feet in width
and projected from the building proper to form a huge canopy
above the entrance hall。 There was no stairway； but a gentle
incline to the first floor of the building opened into an
enormous chamber encircled by galleries。
On the floor of this chamber； which was dotted with highly
carved wooden desks and chairs； were assembled about forty
or fifty male Martians around the steps of a rostrum。 On the
platform proper squatted an enormous warrior heavily loaded
with metal ornaments； gay…colored feathers and beautifully
wrought leather trappings ingeniously set with precious stones。
From his shoulders depended a short cape of white fur lined
with brilliant scarlet silk。
What struck me as most remarkable about this assemblage
and the hall in which they were congregated was the fact
that the creatures were entirely out of proportion to the desks；
chairs； and other furnishings； these being of a size adapted to
human beings such as I； whereas the great bulks of the
Martians could scarcely have squeezed into the chairs； nor was
there room beneath the desks for their long legs。 Evidently；
then； there were other denizens on Mars than the wild and
grotesque creatures into whose hands I had fallen； but the
evidences of extreme antiquity which showed all around me
indicated that these buildings might have belonged to some
long…extinct and forgotten race in the dim antiquity of Mars。
Our party had halted at the entrance to the building； and at
a sign from the leader I had been lowered to the ground。
Again locking his arm in mine； we had proceeded into the
audience chamber。 There were few formalities observed in
approaching the Martian chieftain。 My captor merely strode
up to the rostrum； the others making way for him as he
advanced。 The chieftain rose to his feet and uttered the name
of my escort who； in turn； halted and repeated the name of
the ruler followed by his title。
At the time； this ceremony and the words they uttered
meant nothing to me； but later I came to know that this was
the customary greeting between green Martians。 Had the men
been strangers； and therefore unable to exchange names； they
would have silently exchanged ornaments； had their missions
been peacefulotherwise they would have exchanged shots；
or have fought out their introduction with some other of their
various weapons。
My captor； whose name was Tars Tarkas； was virtually the
vice…chieftain of the community； and a man of great ability as
a statesman and warrior。 He evidently explained briefly the
incidents connected with his expedition； including my capture；
and when he had concluded the chieftain addressed me at
some length。
I replied in our good old English tongue merely to
convince him that neither of us could understand the other；
but I noticed that when I smiled slightly on concluding； he did
likewise。 This fact； and the similar occurrence during my first
talk with Tars Tarkas； convinced me that we had at least
something in common； the ability to smile； therefore to laugh；
denoting a sense of humor。 But I was to learn that the
Martian smile is merely perfunctory； and that the Martian
laugh is a thing to cause strong men to blanch in horror。
The ideas of humor among the green men of Mars are
widely at variance with our conceptions of incitants to
merriment。 The death agonies of a fellow being are； to these
strange creatures provocative of the wildest hilarity； while
their chief form of commonest amusement is to inflict death
on their prisoners of war in various ingenious and horrible
ways。
The assembled warriors and chieftains examined me closely；
feeling my muscles and the texture of my skin。 The principal
chieftain then evidently signified a desire to see me perform；
and； motioning me to follow； he started with Tars Tarkas for
the open plaza。
Now； I had made no attempt to walk； since my first signal
failure； except while tightly grasping Tars Tarkas' arm； and
so now I went skipping and flitting about among the desks
and chairs like some monstrous grasshopper。 After bruising
myself severely； much to the amusement of the Martians； I
again had recourse to creeping； but this did not suit them and
I was roughly jerked to my feet by a towering fellow who had
laughed most heartily at my misfortunes。
As he banged me down upon my feet his face was bent
close to mine and I did the only thing a gentleman might do
under the circumstances of brutality； boorishness； and lack of
consideration for a stranger's rights； I swung my fist squarely
to his jaw and he went down like a felled ox。 As he sunk to
the floor I wheeled around with my back toward the nearest
desk； expecting to be overwhelmed by the vengeance of his
fellows； but determined to give them as good a battle as the
unequal odds would permit before I gave up my life。
My fears were groundless； however； as the other Martians；
at first struck dumb with wonderment； finally broke into wild
peals of laughter and applause。 I did not recognize the
applause as such； but later； when I had become acquainted
with their customs； I learned that I had won what they seldom
accord； a manifestation of approbation。
The fellow whom I had struck lay where he had fallen； nor
did any of his mates approach him。 Tars Tarkas advanced
toward me； holding out one of his arms； and we thus proceeded
to the plaza without further mishap。 I did not； of course；
know the reason for which we had come to the open； but I
was not long in being enlightene