I was just about to make answer to this implied question, when Thorwald
rose and eagerly scanned the horizon. After a moment he exclaimed:

"We shall have to break off our conversation for a time, as we are nearing
our port. I knew by other means that land must soon appear, and now I can
see it."




CHAPTER XI

MARS AS IT IS.


The doctor and I looked in the direction indicated and speedily realized
that the superiority of the dwellers on Mars extended to the sense of
sight, for we could see nothing. But we were sailing so swiftly that the
shore we were approaching was before very long brought within our vision
also, and among the alert crew, who were now preparing to bring the vessel
into its harbor, there could be none so interested in what was to come as
the doctor and myself. We were to see what had been accomplished by a race
of whose perfections we had been hearing so much.

As we effected a landing and walked up the streets of the city, we were
not nearly so much impressed with the size and beauty of the buildings and
the appearance of the people as we were by the spirit of absolute peace
and quiet which prevailed. With perfect skill, and without noise or
bustle, the ship was brought to its dock and the crew went ashore. The
screams and calls, the rattle of vehicles and the babel of sounds we had