appeared very strange to us was that the prevailing color of the
vegetation was red, although that shade did not predominate as much as
green does on the earth. For instance, after we had admired a stretch of
lawn brilliant as a crimson sky, we would come to another which would
surprise and please us with a lovely shade of blue. Still another was
green, and then one glowed with a variety of colors, whose combination
showed a most refined taste. As with the grass, so it was with the foliage
of the trees. The richest tints of our autumnal forests were here present
in permanence, but with a much greater wealth of coloring. Flowers, too,
of every hue and form were to be seen on all sides, and their appearance
was so perfectly natural that if they had been set with design then the
art itself had concealed the art of their arrangement.

With all this mass of color there were no unpleasant contrasts, no
discordant tones. As, amid the bustle of the landing place, our ears had
not been shocked with rude noises, so now we received through our eyes
only a delightful sense of quiet beauty.

Riding, now slowly and now more rapidly, through such a scene, we could
think of nothing better to question our friend about, so the doctor found
his voice and said:

"This far surpasses our anticipations, Thorwald, and I am sure this place
must be exceptional, even on Mars. I suppose it is a resort where some of
your wealthy people have built themselves homes in which to enjoy their
leisure months."

"Nothing of the kind," replied Thorwald. "These people live here all the
year, they are not wealthy, and there is nothing to distinguish this city
above others."