Mr. Roumann approached the Martian, and made signs that he would like to see the light box. The officer shook his head vigorously, and said something rapidly.

"I guess they don't allow strangers to touch it," observed Jack.

"Evidently not," admitted Mr. Roumann. "I wonder if he knows where it comes from?"

He made more signs, asking, as well as he could, where the substance in the box was obtained. The officer pointed to the distant hills, but again shook his head in protest, and spoke for tome time very earnestly, as if warning his questioner not to venture after it.

"Guess they must guard it pretty closely," said Mark.

"Well, I'm going to have some, anyhow," declared the German.

"We'll take a stroll over toward the hills."

They pa.s.sed through the city, no one offering to stop them. On every side they observed something new or strange, and they were particularly struck by the absence of all noise. Everything was done silently. There were no trolley cars, no wagons or trucks, no puffing automobiles, and no confusion.

The Martians moved noiselessly about, and the sleds, with their queer motive power, made no sound. They seemed to be the only vehicles in use, save the boats, and these sleds were of many sizes, some as large as big trucks.

"Do you think it will be safe to leave the projectile so long?"

asked Jack.

"I think so," replied Mr. Roumann. "These people will not bother with it. In fact, they all seem too busy. I want to get some of that valuable red stuff."

They kept on, until they found themselves out of the city and into the country districts. Here there was more water than land, great ca.n.a.ls and lakes being scattered here and there, with narrow paths or roads winding in and out among them.

"It's always flood time here," observed Jack. "We must get one of those boats."

They approached the hills, which seemed to rise out of a great lake.

"There is where the treasure is--in those hills," said Mr.

Roumann. "They're not more than a mile off. Let's hurry there and get some."

They came to a narrow strip of land connecting two lakes, and as they were crossing it, there suddenly appeared from a little hut, about half way over, several Martians, who opposed their progress.

CHAPTER XXVI

IN PERIL

"Well, I wonder if we can't go any farther?" asked Mr. Roumann, as he and his companions came to a halt, and noticed that the little men held what looked like small sticks in their hands.

"It seems as if they didn't want us to," observed Mr. Henderson.

"Looks as if they were on guard."

"Let me get at 'em with my gun," spoke Andy. "I'll soon show 'em--"

Then he stopped suddenly, as he recalled how useless his firearm was on Mars.

"You'll have to get some stronger powder, and heavier bullets, to hunt here, Andy," said Jack.

"I wonder if they have guns?" came from Mark.

"They only look like sticks," said Jack.

Mr. Roumann, by signs and motions, indicated that he and his companions would like to travel along the narrow path to the hills. The leading Martian, who was dressed like the officer at the lamp-post, while the others were less elaborately arrayed, shook his head. His big mouth broke into a smile, however, as if he wanted to be good-natured about it.

"He doesn't want us to go," said the professor.

"Evidently not, but we're going just the same," retorted Mr.

Roumann. "We're more than a match for twenty of these little creatures, and there are only ten here. Come on."

"Do you think it will be safe?" inquired Mr. Henderson.

"Of course. They can't harm us."

The German scientist took a step forward. The others were about to follow him when the leading Martian uttered a command, and his men pointed their sticks at the travelers.

"Look out! Dey's goin' t' shoot!" exclaimed Washington, stooping down.

"They can't shoot with those things," declared Mr. Roumann, for there seemed to be no mechanism about the sticks.

They all pressed forward, but to their surprise it was just as if they had met with an invisible stone wall. They could not advance a step farther. They were halted by some strange power, and it appeared to come from the sticks, which the Martians kept pointed at the strangers.

"Why--why! I can't seem to move!" cried Jack, pushing with all his might. But, though nothing could be seen in front of him or the others, they might just as well have tried to push over the gla.s.s castle in the public square.

"We can't go on," called Mr. Roumann.

The Martian officer said something to his men, and they lowered their wands. Instantly it was as if a stone wall had been taken down from in front of the world-dwellers. They were able to advance a few steps, and then, when at a command the wands were again pointed at them, they had to stop.

"It's those sticks!" cried Jack. "They contain some strange power. That's the queerest kind of a policeman's club I ever heard of. It would keep back any mob!"

Try as they did, they could not pa.s.s the invisible barrier, and they were forced to give it up. Seeing that the strangers realized that they could not pa.s.s, the Martian officer and his men lowered their sticks. He spoke to the travelers, and, though they could not understand what he said, it was evident from his gestures that he was advising them to return to the city.

"I think we'd better," said Mr. Henderson. "The red substance is too well guarded for us to get any of it. Evidently they don't want any of it taken away."

"I must get it!" insisted Mr. Roumann. "If not now, then later."

There was nothing for them to do save turn back, and the Martians tried to smile pleasantly at them, as if sorry for what they were obliged to do.

"We'll go back to the projectile," decided Mr. Henderson. "I am a little anxious to see that it is all right."

They found that it was, though quite a throng had gathered about to inspect it.

"Are we going to stay here, or go back to the house they let us have?" asked Mark.

"I think we will live in the city," decided Mr. Roumann. "We can learn more about the Martians there, begin to understand something of their language, and be in a better position to get some of that red stuff, than if we were out here. But we'll go inside and see about the crazy man, and also how the machinery is. I want to fix the motors so that if any one meddles with them no damage will be done."