Iamaveryoldman；howoldIdonotknow。PossiblyIamahundred，possiblymore；butIcannottellbecauseIhaveneveragedasothermen，nordoIrememberanychildhood。
SofarasIcanrecollectIhavealwaysbeenaman，amanofaboutthirty。IappeartodayasIdidfortyyearsandmoreago，andyetIfeelthatIcannotgoonlivingforever；
thatsomedayIshalldietherealdeathfromwhichthereisnoresurrection。IdonotknowwhyIshouldfeardeath，Iwhohavediedtwiceandamstillalive；butyetIhavethesamehorrorofitasyouwhohaveneverdied，anditisbecauseofthisterrorofdeath，Ibelieve，thatIamsoconvincedofmymortality。
AndbecauseofthisconvictionIhavedeterminedtowritedownthestoryoftheinterestingperiodsofmylifeandofmydeath。Icannotexplainthephenomena；IcanonlysetdownhereinthewordsofanordinarysoldieroffortuneachronicleofthestrangeeventsthatbefellmeduringthetenyearsthatmydeadbodylayundiscoveredinanArizonacave。
Ihavenevertoldthisstory，norshallmortalmanseethismanuscriptuntilafterIhavepassedoverforeternity。Iknowthattheaveragehumanmindwillnotbelievewhatitcannotgrasp，andsoIdonotpurposebeingpilloriedbythepublic，thepulpit，andthepress，andheldupasacolossalliarwhenIambuttellingthesimpletruthswhichsomedaysciencewillsubstantiate。PossiblythesuggestionswhichI
gaineduponMars，andtheknowledgewhichIcansetdowninthischronicle，willaidinanearlierunderstandingofthemysteriesofoursisterplanet；mysteriestoyou，butnolongermysteriestome。
MynameisJohnCarter；IambetterknownasCaptainJackCarterofVirginia。AtthecloseoftheCivilWarIfoundmyselfpossessedofseveralhundredthousanddollarsConfederateandacaptain'scommissioninthecavalryarmofanarmywhichnolongerexisted；theservantofastatewhichhadvanishedwiththehopesoftheSouth。Masterless，penniless，andwithmyonlymeansoflivelihood，fighting，gone，Ideterminedtoworkmywaytothesouthwestandattempttoretrievemyfallenfortunesinasearchforgold。
IspentnearlyayearprospectingincompanywithanotherConfederateofficer，CaptainJamesK。PowellofRichmond。
Wewereextremelyfortunate，forlateinthewinterof1865，aftermanyhardshipsandprivations，welocatedthemostremarkablegold-bearingquartzveinthatourwildestdreamshadeverpictured。Powell，whowasaminingengineerbyeducation，statedthatwehaduncoveredoveramilliondollarsworthoforeinatrifleoverthreemonths。
Asourequipmentwascrudeintheextremewedecidedthatoneofusmustreturntocivilization，purchasethenecessarymachineryandreturnwithasufficientforceofmenproperlytoworkthemine。
AsPowellwasfamiliarwiththecountry，aswellaswiththemechanicalrequirementsofminingwedeterminedthatitwouldbebestforhimtomakethetrip。ItwasagreedthatIwastoholddownourclaimagainsttheremotepossibilityofitsbeingjumpedbysomewanderingprospector。
OnMarch3，1866，PowellandIpackedhisprovisionsontwoofourburros，andbiddingmegood-byehemountedhishorse，andstarteddownthemountainsidetowardthevalley，acrosswhichledthefirststageofhisjourney。
ThemorningofPowell'sdeparturewas，likenearlyallArizonamornings，clearandbeautiful；Icouldseehimandhislittlepackanimalspickingtheirwaydownthemountainsidetowardthevalley，andallduringthemorningI
wouldcatchoccasionalglimpsesofthemastheytoppedahogbackorcameoutuponalevelplateau。MylastsightofPowellwasaboutthreeintheafternoonasheenteredtheshadowsoftherangeontheoppositesideofthevalley。
SomehalfhourlaterIhappenedtoglancecasuallyacrossthevalleyandwasmuchsurprisedtonotethreelittledotsinaboutthesameplaceIhadlastseenmyfriendandhistwopackanimals。Iamnotgiventoneedlessworrying，butthemoreItriedtoconvincemyselfthatallwaswellwithPowell，andthatthedotsIhadseenonhistrailwereantelopeorwildhorses，thelessIwasabletoassuremyself。
SincewehadenteredtheterritorywehadnotseenahostileIndian，andwehad，therefore，becomecarelessintheextreme，andwerewonttoridiculethestorieswehadheardofthegreatnumbersoftheseviciousmaraudersthatweresupposedtohauntthetrails，takingtheirtollinlivesandtortureofeverywhitepartywhichfellintotheirmercilessclutches。
Powell，Iknew，waswellarmedand，further，anexperiencedIndianfighter；butItoohadlivedandfoughtforyearsamongtheSiouxintheNorth，andIknewthathischancesweresmallagainstapartyofcunningtrailingApaches。FinallyIcouldendurethesuspensenolonger，and，armingmyselfwithmytwoColtrevolversandacarbine，Istrappedtwobeltsofcartridgesaboutmeandcatchingmysaddlehorse，starteddownthetrailtakenbyPowellinthemorning。
AssoonasIreachedcomparativelylevelgroundIurgedmymountintoacanterandcontinuedthis，wherethegoingpermitted，until，closeupondusk，IdiscoveredthepointwhereothertracksjoinedthoseofPowell。Theywerethetracksofunshodponies，threeofthem，andtheponieshadbeengalloping。
Ifollowedrapidlyuntil，darknessshuttingdown，Iwasforcedtoawaittherisingofthemoon，andgivenanopportunitytospeculateonthequestionofthewisdomofmychase。
PossiblyIhadconjuredupimpossibledangers，likesomenervousoldhousewife，andwhenIshouldcatchupwithPowellwouldgetagoodlaughformypains。
However，Iamnotpronetosensitiveness，andthefollowingofasenseofduty，whereveritmaylead，hasalwaysbeenakindoffetichwithmethroughoutmylife；whichmayaccountforthehonorsbestoweduponmebythreerepublicsandthedecorationsandfriendshipsofanoldandpowerfulemperorandseverallesserkings，inwhoseservicemyswordhasbeenredmanyatime。
Aboutnineo'clockthemoonwassufficientlybrightformetoproceedonmywayandIhadnodifficultyinfollowingthetrailatafastwalk，andinsomeplacesatabrisktrotuntil，aboutmidnight，IreachedthewaterholewherePowellhadexpectedtocamp。Icameuponthespotunexpectedly，findingitentirelydeserted，withnosignsofhavingbeenrecentlyoccupiedasacamp。
Iwasinterestedtonotethatthetracksofthepursuinghorsemen，forsuchIwasnowconvincedtheymustbe，continuedafterPowellwithonlyabriefstopattheholeforwater；
andalwaysatthesamerateofspeedashis。
IwaspositivenowthatthetrailerswereApachesandthattheywishedtocapturePowellaliveforthefiendishpleasureofthetorture，soIurgedmyhorseonwardatamostdangerouspace，hopingagainsthopethatIwouldcatchupwiththeredrascalsbeforetheyattackedhim。
Furtherspeculationwassuddenlycutshortbythefaintreportoftwoshotsfaraheadofme。IknewthatPowellwouldneedmenowifever，andIinstantlyurgedmyhorsetohistopmostspeedupthenarrowanddifficultmountaintrail。
Ihadforgedaheadforperhapsamileormorewithouthearingfurthersounds，whenthetrailsuddenlydebouchedontoasmall，openplateaunearthesummitofthepass。I
hadpassedthroughanarrow，overhanginggorgejustbeforeenteringsuddenlyuponthistableland，andthesightwhichmetmyeyesfilledmewithconsternationanddismay。
ThelittlestretchoflevellandwaswhitewithIndiantepees，andtherewereprobablyhalfathousandredwarriorsclusteredaroundsomeobjectnearthecenterofthecamp。
Theirattentionwassowhollyrivetedtothispointofinterestthattheydidnotnoticeme，andIeasilycouldhaveturnedbackintothedarkrecessesofthegorgeandmademyescapewithperfectsafety。Thefact，however，thatthisthoughtdidnotoccurtomeuntilthefollowingdayremovesanypossiblerighttoaclaimtoheroismtowhichthenarrationofthisepisodemightpossiblyotherwiseentitleme。
IdonotbelievethatIammadeofthestuffwhichconstitutesheroes，because，inallofthehundredsofinstancesthatmyvoluntaryactshaveplacedmefacetofacewithdeath，IcannotrecallasingleonewhereanyalternativesteptothatItookoccurredtomeuntilmanyhourslater。
MymindisevidentlysoconstitutedthatIamsubconsciouslyforcedintothepathofdutywithoutrecoursetotiresomementalprocesses。Howeverthatmaybe，Ihaveneverregrettedthatcowardiceisnotoptionalwithme。
InthisinstanceIwas，ofcourse，positivethatPowellwasthecenterofattraction，butwhetherIthoughtoractedfirstIdonotknow，butwithinaninstantfromthemomentthescenebrokeuponmyviewIhadwhippedoutmyrevolversandwaschargingdownupontheentirearmyofwarriors，shootingrapidly，andwhoopingatthetopofmylungs。
Singlehanded，Icouldnothavepursuedbettertactics，fortheredmen，convincedbysuddensurprisethatnotlessthanaregimentofregularswasuponthem，turnedandfledineverydirectionfortheirbows，arrows，andrifles。
Theviewwhichtheirhurriedroutingdisclosedfilledmewithapprehensionandwithrage。UndertheclearraysoftheArizonamoonlayPowell，hisbodyfairlybristlingwiththehostilearrowsofthebraves。ThathewasalreadydeadI
couldnotbutbeconvinced，andyetIwouldhavesavedhisbodyfrommutilationatthehandsoftheApachesasquicklyasIwouldhavesavedthemanhimselffromdeath。
RidingclosetohimIreacheddownfromthesaddle，andgraspinghiscartridgebeltdrewhimupacrossthewithersofmymount。AbackwardglanceconvincedmethattoreturnbythewayIhadcomewouldbemorehazardousthantocontinueacrosstheplateau，so，puttingspurstomypoorbeast，ImadeadashfortheopeningtothepasswhichIcoulddistinguishonthefarsideofthetableland。
TheIndianshadbythistimediscoveredthatIwasaloneandIwaspursuedwithimprecations，arrows，andrifleballs。
Thefactthatitisdifficulttoaimanythingbutimprecationsaccuratelybymoonlight，thattheywereupsetbythesuddenandunexpectedmannerofmyadvent，andthatIwasaratherrapidlymovingtargetsavedmefromthevariousdeadlyprojectilesoftheenemyandpermittedmetoreachtheshadowsofthesurroundingpeaksbeforeanorderlypursuitcouldbeorganized。
MyhorsewastravelingpracticallyunguidedasIknewthatIhadprobablylessknowledgeoftheexactlocationofthetrailtothepassthanhe，andthusithappenedthatheenteredadefilewhichledtothesummitoftherangeandnottothepasswhichIhadhopedwouldcarrymetothevalleyandtosafety。Itisprobable，however，thattothisfactIowemylifeandtheremarkableexperiencesandadventureswhichbefellmeduringthefollowingtenyears。
MyfirstknowledgethatIwasonthewrongtrailcamewhenIheardtheyellsofthepursuingsavagessuddenlygrowfainterandfainterfarofftomyleft。
Iknewthenthattheyhadpassedtotheleftofthejaggedrockformationattheedgeoftheplateau，totherightofwhichmyhorsehadbornemeandthebodyofPowell。
Idrewreinonalittlelevelpromontoryoverlookingthetrailbelowandtomyleft，andsawthepartyofpursuingsavagesdisappearingaroundthepointofaneighboringpeak。
IknewtheIndianswouldsoondiscoverthattheywereonthewrongtrailandthatthesearchformewouldberenewedintherightdirectionassoonastheylocatedmytracks。
Ihadgonebutashortdistancefurtherwhenwhatseemedtobeanexcellenttrailopeneduparoundthefaceofahighcliff。ThetrailwaslevelandquitebroadandledupwardandinthegeneraldirectionIwishedtogo。Thecliffaroseforseveralhundredfeetonmyright，andonmyleftwasanequalandnearlyperpendiculardroptothebottomofarockyravine。
Ihadfollowedthistrailforperhapsahundredyardswhenasharpturntotherightbroughtmetothemouthofalargecave。Theopeningwasaboutfourfeetinheightandthreetofourfeetwide，andatthisopeningthetrailended。
Itwasnowmorning，and，withthecustomarylackofdawnwhichisastartlingcharacteristicofArizona，ithadbecomedaylightalmostwithoutwarning。
Dismounting，IlaidPowellupontheground，butthemostpainstakingexaminationfailedtorevealthefaintestsparkoflife。Iforcedwaterfrommycanteenbetweenhisdeadlips，bathedhisfaceandrubbedhishands，workingoverhimcontinuouslyforthebetterpartofanhourinthefaceofthefactthatIknewhimtobedead。
IwasveryfondofPowell；hewasthoroughlyamanineveryrespect；apolishedsoutherngentleman；astaunchandtruefriend；anditwaswithafeelingofthedeepestgriefthatIfinallygaveupmycrudeendeavorsatresuscitation。
LeavingPowell'sbodywhereitlayontheledgeIcreptintothecavetoreconnoiter。Ifoundalargechamber，possiblyahundredfeetindiameterandthirtyorfortyfeetinheight；asmoothandwell-wornfloor，andmanyotherevidencesthatthecavehad，atsomeremoteperiod，beeninhabited。
ThebackofthecavewassolostindenseshadowthatIcouldnotdistinguishwhethertherewereopeningsintootherapartmentsornot。
AsIwascontinuingmyexaminationIcommencedtofeelapleasantdrowsinesscreepingovermewhichIattributedtothefatigueofmylongandstrenuousride，andthereactionfromtheexcitementofthefightandthepursuit。IfeltcomparativelysafeinmypresentlocationasIknewthatonemancoulddefendthetrailtothecaveagainstanarmy。
IsoonbecamesodrowsythatIcouldscarcelyresistthestrongdesiretothrowmyselfonthefloorofthecaveforafewmoments'rest，butIknewthatthiswouldneverdo，asitwouldmeancertaindeathatthehandsofmyredfriends，whomightbeuponmeatanymoment。WithaneffortI
startedtowardtheopeningofthecaveonlytoreeldrunkenlyagainstasidewall，andfromthereslipproneuponthefloor。
CHAPTERII
THEESCAPEOFTHEDEAD
Asenseofdeliciousdreaminessovercameme，mymusclesrelaxed，andIwasonthepointofgivingwaytomydesiretosleepwhenthesoundofapproachinghorsesreachedmyears。Iattemptedtospringtomyfeetbutwashorrifiedtodiscoverthatmymusclesrefusedtorespondtomywill。Iwasnowthoroughlyawake，butasunabletomoveamuscleasthoughturnedtostone。Itwasthen，forthefirsttime，thatI
noticedaslightvaporfillingthecave。Itwasextremelytenuousandonlynoticeableagainsttheopeningwhichledtodaylight。Therealsocametomynostrilsafaintlypungentodor，andIcouldonlyassumethatIhadbeenovercomebysomepoisonousgas，butwhyIshouldretainmymentalfacultiesandyetbeunabletomoveIcouldnotfathom。
IlayfacingtheopeningofthecaveandwhereIcouldseetheshortstretchoftrailwhichlaybetweenthecaveandtheturnofthecliffaroundwhichthetrailled。Thenoiseoftheapproachinghorseshadceased，andIjudgedtheIndianswerecreepingstealthilyuponmealongthelittleledgewhichledtomylivingtomb。IrememberthatIhopedtheywouldmakeshortworkofmeasIdidnotparticularlyrelishthethoughtoftheinnumerablethingstheymightdotomeifthespiritpromptedthem。
Ihadnotlongtowaitbeforeastealthysoundapprisedmeoftheirnearness，andthenawar-bonneted，paint-streakedfacewasthrustcautiouslyaroundtheshoulderofthecliff，andsavageeyeslookedintomine。ThathecouldseemeinthedimlightofthecaveIwassurefortheearlymorningsunwasfallingfulluponmethroughtheopening。
Thefellow，insteadofapproaching，merelystoodandstared；
hiseyesbulgingandhisjawdropped。Andthenanothersavagefaceappeared，andathirdandfourthandfifth，craningtheirnecksovertheshouldersoftheirfellowswhomtheycouldnotpassuponthenarrowledge。Eachfacewasthepictureofaweandfear，butforwhatreasonIdidnotknow，nordidIlearnuntiltenyearslater。Thattherewerestillotherbravesbehindthosewhoregardedmewasapparentfromthefactthattheleaderspassedbackwhisperedwordtothosebehindthem。
Suddenlyalowbutdistinctmoaningsoundissuedfromtherecessesofthecavebehindme，and，asitreachedtheearsoftheIndians，theyturnedandfledinterror，panic-stricken。Sofranticweretheireffortstoescapefromtheunseenthingbehindmethatoneofthebraveswashurledheadlongfromtheclifftotherocksbelow。Theirwildcriesechoedinthecanyonforashorttime，andthenallwasstilloncemore。
Thesoundwhichhadfrightenedthemwasnotrepeated，butithadbeensufficientasitwastostartmespeculatingonthepossiblehorrorwhichlurkedintheshadowsatmyback。FearisarelativetermandsoIcanonlymeasuremyfeelingsatthattimebywhatIhadexperiencedinpreviouspositionsofdangerandbythosethatIhavepassedthroughsince；butIcansaywithoutshamethatifthesensationsIenduredduringthenextfewminuteswerefear，thenmayGodhelpthecoward，forcowardiceisofasuretyitsownpunishment。
Tobeheldparalyzed，withone'sbacktowardsomehorribleandunknowndangerfromtheverysoundofwhichtheferociousApachewarriorsturninwildstampede，asaflockofsheepwouldmadlyfleefromapackofwolves，seemstomethelastwordinfearsomepredicamentsforamanwhohadeverbeenusedtofightingforhislifewithalltheenergyofapowerfulphysique。
SeveraltimesIthoughtIheardfaintsoundsbehindmeasofsomebodymovingcautiously，buteventuallyeventheseceased，andIwaslefttothecontemplationofmypositionwithoutinterruption。Icouldbutvaguelyconjecturethecauseofmyparalysis，andmyonlyhopelayinthatitmightpassoffassuddenlyasithadfallenuponme。
Lateintheafternoonmyhorse，whichhadbeenstandingwithdraggingreinbeforethecave，startedslowlydownthetrail，evidentlyinsearchoffoodandwater，andIwasleftalonewithmymysteriousunknowncompanionandthedeadbodyofmyfriend，whichlayjustwithinmyrangeofvisionupontheledgewhereIhadplaceditintheearlymorning。
Fromthenuntilpossiblymidnightallwassilence，thesilenceofthedead；then，suddenly，theawfulmoanofthemorningbrokeuponmystartledears，andtherecameagainfromtheblackshadowsthesoundofamovingthing，andafaintrustlingasofdeadleaves。Theshocktomyalreadyoverstrainednervoussystemwasterribleintheextreme，andwithasuperhumaneffortIstrovetobreakmyawfulbonds。
Itwasaneffortofthemind，ofthewill，ofthenerves；notmuscular，forIcouldnotmoveevensomuchasmylittlefinger，butnonethelessmightyforallthat。Andthensomethinggave，therewasamomentaryfeelingofnausea，asharpclickasofthesnappingofasteelwire，andIstoodwithmybackagainstthewallofthecavefacingmyunknownfoe。
Andthenthemoonlightfloodedthecave，andtherebeforemelaymyownbodyasithadbeenlyingallthesehours，withtheeyesstaringtowardtheopenledgeandthehandsrestinglimplyupontheground。Ilookedfirstatmylifelessclaythereuponthefloorofthecaveandthendownatmyselfinutterbewilderment；forthereIlayclothed，andyethereI
stoodbutnakedasattheminuteofmybirth。
Thetransitionhadbeensosuddenandsounexpectedthatitleftmeforamomentforgetfulofaughtelsethanmystrangemetamorphosis。Myfirstthoughtwas，isthisthendeath!HaveIindeedpassedoverforeverintothatotherlife!
ButIcouldnotwellbelievethis，asIcouldfeelmyheartpoundingagainstmyribsfromtheexertionofmyeffortstoreleasemyselffromtheanaesthesiswhichhadheldme。Mybreathwascominginquick，shortgasps，coldsweatstoodoutfromeveryporeofmybody，andtheancientexperimentofpinchingrevealedthefactthatIwasanythingotherthanawraith。
AgainwasIsuddenlyrecalledtomyimmediatesurroundingsbyarepetitionoftheweirdmoanfromthedepthsofthecave。NakedandunarmedasIwas，Ihadnodesiretofacetheunseenthingwhichmenacedme。
Myrevolverswerestrappedtomylifelessbodywhich，forsomeunfathomablereason，Icouldnotbringmyselftotouch。
Mycarbinewasinitsboot，strappedtomysaddle，andasmyhorsehadwanderedoffIwasleftwithoutmeansofdefense。
Myonlyalternativeseemedtolieinflightandmydecisionwascrystallizedbyarecurrenceoftherustlingsoundfromthethingwhichnowseemed，inthedarknessofthecaveandtomydistortedimagination，tobecreepingstealthilyuponme。
UnablelongertoresistthetemptationtoescapethishorribleplaceIleapedquicklythroughtheopeningintothestarlightofaclearArizonanight。Thecrisp，freshmountainairoutsidethecaveactedasanimmediatetonicandIfeltnewlifeandnewcouragecoursingthroughme。PausinguponthebrinkoftheledgeIupbraidedmyselfforwhatnowseemedtomewhollyunwarrantedapprehension。IreasonedwithmyselfthatIhadlainhelplessformanyhourswithinthecave，yetnothinghadmolestedme，andmybetterjudgment，whenpermittedthedirectionofclearandlogicalreasoning，convincedmethatthenoisesIhadheardmusthaveresultedfrompurelynaturalandharmlesscauses；probablytheconformationofthecavewassuchthataslightbreezehadcausedthesoundsIheard。
Idecidedtoinvestigate，butfirstIliftedmyheadtofillmylungswiththepure，invigoratingnightairofthemountains。
AsIdidsoIsawstretchingfarbelowmethebeautifulvistaofrockygorge，andlevel，cacti-studdedflat，wroughtbythemoonlightintoamiracleofsoftsplendorandwondrousenchantment。
FewwesternwondersaremoreinspiringthanthebeautiesofanArizonamoonlitlandscape；thesilveredmountainsinthedistance，thestrangelightsandshadowsuponhogbackandarroyo，andthegrotesquedetailsofthestiff，yetbeautifulcactiformapictureatonceenchantingandinspiring；asthoughonewerecatchingforthefirsttimeaglimpseofsomedeadandforgottenworld，sodifferentisitfromtheaspectofanyotherspotuponourearth。
AsIstoodthusmeditating，Iturnedmygazefromthelandscapetotheheavenswherethemyriadstarsformedagorgeousandfittingcanopyforthewondersoftheearthlyscene。Myattentionwasquicklyrivetedbyalargeredstarclosetothedistanthorizon。AsIgazeduponitIfeltaspellofoverpoweringfascination——itwasMars，thegodofwar，andforme，thefightingman，ithadalwaysheldthepowerofirresistibleenchantment。AsIgazedatitonthatfar-gonenightitseemedtocallacrosstheunthinkablevoid，toluremetoit，todrawmeasthelodestoneattractsaparticleofiron。
Mylongingwasbeyondthepowerofopposition；Iclosedmyeyes，stretchedoutmyarmstowardthegodofmyvocationandfeltmyselfdrawnwiththesuddennessofthoughtthroughthetracklessimmensityofspace。Therewasaninstantofextremecoldandutterdarkness。
CHAPTERIII
MYADVENTONMARS
Iopenedmyeyesuponastrangeandweirdlandscape。I
knewthatIwasonMars；notoncedidIquestioneithermysanityormywakefulness。Iwasnotasleep，noneedforpinchinghere；myinnerconsciousnesstoldmeasplainlythatIwasuponMarsasyourconsciousmindtellsyouthatyouareuponEarth。Youdonotquestionthefact；neitherdidI。
Ifoundmyselflyingproneuponabedofyellowish，mosslikevegetationwhichstretchedaroundmeinalldirectionsforinterminablemiles。Iseemedtobelyinginadeep，circularbasin，alongtheoutervergeofwhichIcoulddistinguishtheirregularitiesoflowhills。
Itwasmidday，thesunwasshiningfulluponmeandtheheatofitwasratherintenseuponmynakedbody，yetnogreaterthanwouldhavebeentrueundersimilarconditionsonanArizonadesert。Hereandtherewereslightoutcroppingsofquartz-bearingrockwhichglistenedinthesunlight；andalittletomyleft，perhapsahundredyards，appearedalow，walledenclosureaboutfourfeetinheight。Nowater，andnoothervegetationthanthemosswasinevidence，andasI
wassomewhatthirstyIdeterminedtodoalittleexploring。
SpringingtomyfeetIreceivedmyfirstMartiansurprise，fortheeffort，whichonEarthwouldhavebroughtmestandingupright，carriedmeintotheMartianairtotheheightofaboutthreeyards。Ialightedsoftlyupontheground，however，withoutappreciableshockorjar。Nowcommencedaseriesofevolutionswhicheventhenseemedludicrousintheextreme。
IfoundthatImustlearntowalkalloveragain，asthemuscularexertionwhichcarriedmeeasilyandsafelyuponEarthplayedstrangeanticswithmeuponMars。
Insteadofprogressinginasaneanddignifiedmanner，myattemptstowalkresultedinavarietyofhopswhichtookmeclearofthegroundacoupleoffeetateachstepandlandedmesprawlinguponmyfaceorbackattheendofeachsecondorthirdhop。Mymuscles，perfectlyattunedandaccustomedtotheforceofgravityonEarth，playedthemischiefwithmeinattemptingforthefirsttimetocopewiththelessergravitationandlowerairpressureonMars。
Iwasdetermined，however，toexplorethelowstructurewhichwastheonlyevidenceofhabitationinsight，andsoI
hitupontheuniqueplanofrevertingtofirstprinciplesinlocomotion，creeping。Ididfairlywellatthisandinafewmomentshadreachedthelow，encirclingwalloftheenclosure。
Thereappearedtobenodoorsorwindowsuponthesidenearestme，butasthewallwasbutaboutfourfeethighI
cautiouslygainedmyfeetandpeeredoverthetopuponthestrangestsightithadeverbeengivenmetosee。
Theroofoftheenclosurewasofsolidglassaboutfourorfiveinchesinthickness，andbeneaththiswereseveralhundredlargeeggs，perfectlyroundandsnowywhite。Theeggswerenearlyuniforminsizebeingabouttwoandone-halffeetindiameter。
Fiveorsixhadalreadyhatchedandthegrotesquecaricatureswhichsatblinkinginthesunlightwereenoughtocausemetodoubtmysanity。Theyseemedmostlyhead，withlittlescrawnybodies，longnecksandsixlegs，or，asIafterwardlearned，twolegsandtwoarms，withanintermediarypairoflimbswhichcouldbeusedatwilleitherasarmsorlegs。Theireyesweresetattheextremesidesoftheirheadsatrifleabovethecenterandprotrudedinsuchamannerthattheycouldbedirectedeitherforwardorbackandalsoindependentlyofeachother，thuspermittingthisqueeranimaltolookinanydirection，orintwodirectionsatonce，withoutthenecessityofturningthehead。
Theears，whichwereslightlyabovetheeyesandclosertogether，weresmall，cup-shapedantennae，protrudingnotmorethananinchontheseyoungspecimens。Theirnoseswerebutlongitudinalslitsinthecenteroftheirfaces，midwaybetweentheirmouthsandears。
Therewasnohairontheirbodies，whichwereofaverylightyellowish-greencolor。Intheadults，asIwastolearnquitesoon，thiscolordeepenstoanolivegreenandisdarkerinthemalethaninthefemale。Further，theheadsoftheadultsarenotsooutofproportiontotheirbodiesasinthecaseoftheyoung。
Theirisoftheeyesisbloodred，asinAlbinos，whilethepupilisdark。Theeyeballitselfisverywhite，asaretheteeth。
Theselatteraddamostferociousappearancetoanotherwisefearsomeandterriblecountenance，asthelowertuskscurveupwardtosharppointswhichendaboutwheretheeyesofearthlyhumanbeingsarelocated。Thewhitenessoftheteethisnotthatofivory，butofthesnowiestandmostgleamingofchina。Againstthedarkbackgroundoftheiroliveskinstheirtusksstandoutinamoststrikingmanner，makingtheseweaponspresentasingularlyformidableappearance。
MostofthesedetailsInotedlater，forIwasgivenbutlittletimetospeculateonthewondersofmynewdiscovery。Ihadseenthattheeggswereintheprocessofhatching，andasI
stoodwatchingthehideouslittlemonstersbreakfromtheirshellsIfailedtonotetheapproachofascoreoffull-grownMartiansfrombehindme。
Coming，astheydid，overthesoftandsoundlessmoss，whichcoverspracticallytheentiresurfaceofMarswiththeexceptionofthefrozenareasatthepolesandthescatteredcultivateddistricts，theymighthavecapturedmeeasily，buttheirintentionswerefarmoresinister。Itwastherattlingoftheaccoutermentsoftheforemostwarriorwhichwarnedme。
OnsuchalittlethingmylifehungthatIoftenmarvelthatIescapedsoeasily。HadnottherifleoftheleaderofthepartyswungfromitsfasteningsbesidehissaddleinsuchawayastostrikeagainstthebuttofhisgreatmetalshodspearIshouldhavesnuffedoutwithouteverknowingthatdeathwasnearme。Butthelittlesoundcausedmetoturn，andthereuponme，nottenfeetfrommybreast，wasthepointofthathugespear，aspearfortyfeetlong，tippedwithgleamingmetal，andheldlowatthesideofamountedreplicaofthelittledevilsIhadbeenwatching。
Buthowpunyandharmlesstheynowlookedbesidethishugeandterrificincarnationofhate，ofvengeanceandofdeath。Themanhimself，forsuchImaycallhim，wasfullyfifteenfeetinheightand，onEarth，wouldhaveweighedsomefourhundredpounds。Hesathismountaswesitahorse，graspingtheanimal'sbarrelwithhislowerlimbs，whilethehandsofhistworightarmsheldhisimmensespearlowatthesideofhismount；histwoleftarmswereoutstretchedlaterallytohelppreservehisbalance，thethingherodehavingneitherbridleorreinsofanydescriptionforguidance。
Andhismount!Howcanearthlywordsdescribeit!Ittoweredtenfeetattheshoulder；hadfourlegsoneitherside；abroadflattail，largeratthetipthanattheroot，andwhichitheldstraightoutbehindwhilerunning；agapingmouthwhichsplititsheadfromitssnouttoitslong，massiveneck。
Likeitsmaster，itwasentirelydevoidofhair，butwasofadarkslatecolorandexceedingsmoothandglossy。Itsbellywaswhite，anditslegsshadedfromtheslateofitsshouldersandhipstoavividyellowatthefeet。Thefeetthemselveswereheavilypaddedandnailless，whichfacthadalsocontributedtothenoiselessnessoftheirapproach，and，incommonwithamultiplicityoflegs，isacharacteristicfeatureofthefaunaofMars。Thehighesttypeofmanandoneotheranimal，theonlymammalexistingonMars，alonehavewell-formednails，andthereareabsolutelynohoofedanimalsinexistencethere。
Behindthisfirstchargingdemontrailednineteenothers，similarinallrespects，but，asIlearnedlater，bearingindividualcharacteristicspeculiartothemselves；preciselyasnotwoofusareidenticalalthoughweareallcastinasimilarmold。Thispicture，orrathermaterializednightmare，whichIhavedescribedatlength，madebutoneterribleandswiftimpressiononmeasIturnedtomeetit。
UnarmedandnakedasIwas，thefirstlawofnaturemanifesteditselfintheonlypossiblesolutionofmyimmediateproblem，andthatwastogetoutofthevicinityofthepointofthechargingspear。ConsequentlyIgaveaveryearthlyandatthesametimesuperhumanleaptoreachthetopoftheMartianincubator，forsuchIhaddetermineditmustbe。
MyeffortwascrownedwithasuccesswhichappalledmenolessthanitseemedtosurprisetheMartianwarriors，foritcarriedmefullythirtyfeetintotheairandlandedmeahundredfeetfrommypursuersandontheoppositesideoftheenclosure。
Ialighteduponthesoftmosseasilyandwithoutmishap，andturningsawmyenemieslinedupalongthefurtherwall。
SomeweresurveyingmewithexpressionswhichIafterwarddiscoveredmarkedextremeastonishment，andtheotherswereevidentlysatisfyingthemselvesthatIhadnotmolestedtheiryoung。
Theywereconversingtogetherinlowtones，andgesticulatingandpointingtowardme。TheirdiscoverythatIhadnotharmedthelittleMartians，andthatIwasunarmed，musthavecausedthemtolookuponmewithlessferocity；but，asIwastolearnlater，thethingwhichweighedmostinmyfavorwasmyexhibitionofhurdling。
WhiletheMartiansareimmense，theirbonesareverylargeandtheyaremuscledonlyinproportiontothegravitationwhichtheymustovercome。Theresultisthattheyareinfinitelylessagileandlesspowerful，inproportiontotheirweight，thananEarthman，andIdoubtthatwereoneofthemsuddenlytobetransportedtoEarthhecouldlifthisownweightfromtheground；infact，Iamconvincedthathecouldnotdoso。
MyfeatthenwasasmarvelousuponMarsasitwouldhavebeenuponEarth，andfromdesiringtoannihilatemetheysuddenlylookeduponmeasawonderfuldiscoverytobecapturedandexhibitedamongtheirfellows。
Therespitemyunexpectedagilityhadgivenmepermittedmetoformulateplansfortheimmediatefutureandtonotemorecloselytheappearanceofthewarriors，forIcouldnotdisassociatethesepeopleinmymindfromthoseotherwarriorswho，onlythedaybefore，hadbeenpursuingme。
InotedthateachwasarmedwithseveralotherweaponsinadditiontothehugespearwhichIhavedescribed。Theweaponwhichcausedmetodecideagainstanattemptatescapebyflightwaswhatwasevidentlyarifleofsomedescription，andwhichIfelt，forsomereason，theywerepeculiarlyefficientinhandling。
Theserifleswereofawhitemetalstockedwithwood，whichIlearnedlaterwasaverylightandintenselyhardgrowthmuchprizedonMars，andentirelyunknowntousdenizensofEarth。Themetalofthebarrelisanalloycomposedprincipallyofaluminumandsteelwhichtheyhavelearnedtotempertoahardnessfarexceedingthatofthesteelwithwhichwearefamiliar。Theweightoftheseriflesiscomparativelylittle，andwiththesmallcaliber，explosive，radiumprojectileswhichtheyuse，andthegreatlengthofthebarrel，theyaredeadlyintheextremeandatrangeswhichwouldbeunthinkableonEarth。Thetheoreticeffectiveradiusofthisrifleisthreehundredmiles，butthebesttheycandoinactualservicewhenequippedwiththeirwirelessfindersandsightersisbutatrifleovertwohundredmiles。
ThisisquitefarenoughtoimbuemewithgreatrespectfortheMartianfirearm，andsometelepathicforcemusthavewarnedmeagainstanattempttoescapeinbroaddaylightfromunderthemuzzlesoftwentyofthesedeath-dealingmachines。
TheMartians，afterconversingforashorttime，turnedandrodeawayinthedirectionfromwhichtheyhadcome，leavingoneoftheirnumberalonebytheenclosure。Whentheyhadcoveredperhapstwohundredyardstheyhalted，andturningtheirmountstowardussatwatchingthewarriorbytheenclosure。
Hewastheonewhosespearhadsonearlytransfixedme，andwasevidentlytheleaderoftheband，asIhadnotedthattheyseemedtohavemovedtotheirpresentpositionathisdirection。Whenhisforcehadcometoahalthedismounted，threwdownhisspearandsmallarms，andcamearoundtheendoftheincubatortowardme，entirelyunarmedandasnakedasI，exceptfortheornamentsstrappeduponhishead，limbs，andbreast。
Whenhewaswithinaboutfiftyfeetofmeheunclaspedanenormousmetalarmlet，andholdingittowardmeintheopenpalmofhishand，addressedmeinaclear，resonantvoice，butinalanguage，itisneedlesstosay，Icouldnotunderstand。Hethenstoppedasthoughwaitingformyreply，prickinguphisantennae-likeearsandcockinghisstrange-lookingeyesstillfurthertowardme。
AsthesilencebecamepainfulIconcludedtohazardalittleconversationonmyownpart，asIhadguessedthathewasmakingoverturesofpeace。ThethrowingdownofhisweaponsandthewithdrawingofhistroopbeforehisadvancetowardmewouldhavesignifiedapeacefulmissionanywhereonEarth，sowhynot，then，onMars!
PlacingmyhandovermyheartIbowedlowtotheMartianandexplainedtohimthatwhileIdidnotunderstandhislanguage，hisactionsspokeforthepeaceandfriendshipthatatthepresentmomentweremostdeartomyheart。OfcourseImighthavebeenababblingbrookforalltheintelligencemyspeechcarriedtohim，butheunderstoodtheactionwithwhichIimmediatelyfollowedmywords。
Stretchingmyhandtowardhim，Iadvancedandtookthearmletfromhisopenpalm，claspingitaboutmyarmabovetheelbow；smiledathimandstoodwaiting。Hiswidemouthspreadintoanansweringsmile，andlockingoneofhisintermediaryarmsinmineweturnedandwalkedbacktowardhismount。Atthesametimehemotionedhisfollowerstoadvance。Theystartedtowardusonawildrun，butwerecheckedbyasignalfromhim。EvidentlyhefearedthatwereItobereallyfrightenedagainImightjumpentirelyoutofthelandscape。