Fifteen Hundred Miles An Hour 14

Fifteen Hundred Miles An Hour 14

By the time order had been obtained, we could see vast numbers of

people crowding up to the square from all directions, and pressing

forward to the lines of soldiers, eager to get a glimpse of what was

taking place. Keen as was our anxiety, we did not fail to notice

the splendid physique of the inhabitants of this wonderful city,

the variety in their dress, and the marvellous beauty of the female

Martials. The soldiers were clad in tightly-fitting green tunics,

below which was a kilt-like dress, reaching to just above the knee.

Their muscular limbs were bare, but their feet were shod in high,

tightly-fitting laced boots, and each was armed with a long tube of

brass. Their heads were encased in what looked to be massive iron

helmets. We had not time to notice much, had our excitement permitted

us to examine these things in detail, before the commandant stepped up

to the _Sirius_, in front of his troops, and bade us descend and yield

ourselves into his custody.

 

"It is very evident that we are about to be taken prisoners," said the

Doctor. "We had best submit to the inevitable, without any show of

resistance. Force will only incense these people against us; calmness

may disarm their suspicions, and ensure us kindly, perhaps even

friendly, treatment."

 

"I don't like the look of things at all, Doctor," answered Temple,

"but I am consoled with the thought that we have escaped from perils

infinitely more terrible than this."

 

"We will stick to our revolvers, if we can," said Graham, pocketing his

nickel-plated "bull dog" as he spoke. "I, for one, am not going to be

slaughtered in cold blood without a fight for it."

 

"I see no objection to our keeping these arms by us, in case of direst

need; but my last advice is to keep calm, to keep calm," answered the

Doctor, with great emphasis on the latter word.

 

Further conversation was impossible, as the officer who had bidden us

come forth was beginning to show signs of impatience at our delay.

 

"Beings from the sky, I, Kaosp, Captain of the King's troops in the

City of Edos, command your immediate surrender to me, so that you may

explain yourselves to His Majesty's rulers, and inform them from whence

ye came and your business here. Delay, or resistance will be visited

with instant death."

 

This seemed language of dreadful import to us, and without

understanding a syllable of it, we dropped the ladder from the door,

and, headed by the Doctor, climbed slowly down to the ground, the eye

of every Martial standing within view being fixed upon us with the

keenest attention. Three at least of our little party looked like

dwarfs as we stood before the Hercules who had bidden us surrender

ourselves to him; but Graham suffered little by comparison with this

giant. Erect and defiant he stood before his captor, inch for inch

almost as tall as him, broad and well-set in proportion, his muscular

arms folded across his massive chest, his clear grey eyes scanning

him curiously from head to foot. We could see that Graham had created

a favourable impression, and for that we were thankful. We stood in

line before the poor old _Sirius_, and awaited the next move in this

singular scene.

 

In a few moments the commander (Kaosp, we will call him for the

future), addressed some words to his troops, and then a dozen warriors

stepped out from the ranks and formed an escort round us: a dozen more

surrounded the _Sirius_. Kaosp then placed himself at the head of his

soldiers, and gave the word to march. Surrounded by the troops, we

wended our way towards the noble palace across the square, the lines

of soldiers opening and making a passage for us as we advanced. We

passed under a lofty archway, went up a flight of steps, and then

entered a magnificent hall with a domed roof. Here all the guards

remained behind, save two, and they and their leader escorted us across

the marble floor to another archway, which led into a smaller hall.

Crossing this, we reached a door which opened automatically as we

approached, and after going up a flight of steps, we reached a wide

corridor. Along this we walked until we came to another door, which

opened in the same mysterious manner, and we were ushered into a large

apartment, the door closing behind us at once, and we were left to

ourselves.

 

"Beggin' your pardon, Doctor, but this is what I call a shabby way to

receive such distinguished visitors as the likes o' we. Just to be

popped in here like snared birds in a cage; after comin' all this way,

too. Bother tak' sich hospitality, says Sandy Cam'bell."

 

We were too much absorbed in thinking over our future, to take any heed

of Sandy's remarks; and before we had time to form any definite plans,

the door of our prison was thrown open, and Kaosp appeared with two

guards, and beckoned us to accompany them.

 

"Once more, my friends, let me implore you to keep cool," the Doctor

hurriedly whispered as we were marched away.

 

We were conducted along vast corridors and through many doorways before

we reached the entrance of a magnificent hall, where evidently the King

and his ministers were assembled in state awaiting our arrival. The

splendours of this building are beyond the power of any description.

So suddenly did we find ourselves surrounded by the glitter and pomp

of this brilliant gathering, that for several moments we stood still

in utter amazement, bewildered, lost, in the glorious scene before us.

We heard as in a dream the blast of what seemed a thousand trumpets

heralding our approach, and as in a dream were conducted to a small

raised platform in the very centre of the vast assembly, directly

facing the King and his court. The hall was filled to overflowing with

male and female Martials (perhaps we ought to call them men and women),

a sea of eager faces greeting our appearance, but the __EXPRESSION__s

upon those we looked at closely seemed by no means friendly disposed

towards us. A hum of intense, yet suppressed excitement broke from the

assembled throng as we stepped upon the dais in full view of all.

 

The day was rapidly drawing to a close, the gloom of coming night

beginning to settle on that vast gathering, as the Doctor and his

companions in captivity calmly stood, the observed of all observers,

awaiting their fate. The half light seemed to increase the

magnificence of the spacious building, by toning down its brilliancy

and harmonising the wealth of rare colour that everywhere delighted

the eye. The entire dome was covered with a painting of some mighty

conflict; the panels of the walls were filled with others, so

life-like, so realistic, that we blushed for very shame as we compared

in our mind's eye these works of art with the masterpieces of Earthly

painters. Noble groups of statuary, carved out of lustrous stones

of a flesh-coloured tint, filled us with admiration; urns and vases

and quaintly-designed ornaments of wood and metal were arranged with

a keen eye for effect on every side; whilst the windows of coloured

glass--if glass it was--were superb, both in their wonderful design

and harmony of colour. Garlands of foliage, the leaves of fine gold,

twined round the marble pillars, bearing clusters of sparkling jewels

designed as fruits; whilst before the throne was a fountain of cunning

workmanship which cast up from unseen sources jets of scented water,

that not only filled the building with a subtle ravishing perfume, but

kept the atmosphere cool and refreshing. The audience which filled

this hall of splendour was evidently a mixed one. What we took to be

those of high degree surrounded the King and his ministers; round

them were the guards and minor officers; whilst beyond them again

was the populace. The floor rose gradually from the centre, so that

every person could see and hear all that took place. The King and his

courtiers were one blaze of glittering jewels and gorgeous colour;

their robes and vestments being rare and costly to a degree undreamed

of on Earth, even by the wildest fancy of man. As in our own world,

almost every type of countenance was to be observed among this vast

assemblage; yet we could not help remarking that the men of Mars were

handsomer as a race than the men of Earth, and that the women of Mars

were more beautiful. The old King himself was a grand specimen of

manhood; his lofty brow, clearly cut features, long, flowing white

beard, and commanding, dignified presence, made him every inch a

king. He was surrounded with a host of noble councillors, almost as

regal-looking as himself. The younger men were handsome, stalwart

fellows--broad of chest and lithe of limb, moustached and bearded, sons

of a race evidently at the zenith of its development, both mentally and

physically. Our hearts warmed towards them in honest admiration; we

felt that we were in the presence of our superiors.

 

The females at this gathering were remarkable for their exceeding

beauty. Edos must be a city of fair women if those assembled here

around us were an average specimen of its lady inhabitants. The classic

regularity of their features was superb; their wonderful wealth of

hair, their marvellously clear complexion, the rare symmetry of

their form, the __EXPRESSION__ of their beautiful eyes, their commanding

presence--all combined in making them attractive to a degree undreamed

of by dwellers on Earth.

 

In all that peerless galaxy of beauty, one magnificent creature with

large expressive eyes, and hair of gold, seated close to the King

himself, was fairer far than all the rest; her face and figure were

sublime! She sat with queenly dignity, with a coronet aflame with

jewels upon her lovely brow, gazing intently upon us, stirred to the

very depths of her soul with wondering curiosity, and from time to time

talking with the aged King, the theme of her conversation evidently

being us poor captives; friendless and helpless in the centre of that

gazing throng! She was dressed in a robe of delicate purple hue, which,

though draped but loosely round her, still displayed in suggestive

grace the beauty of her hidden form. Her hair fell in rippling golden

tresses far below her waist; her arms, looking white as marble in the

deepening twilight, were bare to the shoulder. She sat, or rather

reclined on a pile of softest skins, and her feet rested upon a mat of

similar material.

 

We noticed all that we have here described within a very few seconds

from the time that we stepped upon the dais. Then suddenly the vast

hall was filled with brilliant artificial light, an electric light as

far as we could judge, although the source of its supply was cunningly

concealed. The effect was magical. The flashing gems and brilliant

metals, the statuary, the polished pillars, walls, and floors, the

sparkling scented water, the royal troops, the eager throng, formed a

scene of unparalleled magnificence and splendour.

 

As soon as the hall was illuminated as by the light of day, the

proceedings began. An aged statesman, amidst breathless silence, rose

up from his seat, crossed the floor, and stood opposite to where the

King sat in solemn state. Making a low and reverent obeisance, he

began to tell the story of our appearance near their city; how we were