coming down from the region behind us. On the low hills away from the
sea those sombre evergreen forests with an undergrowth of moss and red
lichens were more variegated with light foliage, and indeed the pines
proved to be but a fringe to the Arctic ice, giving way rapidly to more
typical Martian vegetation each mile we marched to the southward.

As for the inhabitants, they seemed, like my guide, rough, uncouth
fellows, but honest enough when you came to know them. An introduction,
however, was highly desirable. I chanced upon the first native as he was
gathering reindeer-moss. My companion was some little way behind at the
moment, and when the gentle aborigine saw the stranger he stared hard
for a moment, then, turning on his heels, with extraordinary swiftness
flung at me half a pound of hard flint stone. Had his aim been a little
more careful this humble narrative had never appeared on the Broadway
bookstalls. As it was, the pebble, missing my head by an inch or two,
splintered into a hundred fragments on a rock behind, and while I was
debating whether a revengeful rush at the slinger or a strategic advance
to the rear were more advisable, my guide called out to his countryman--

"Ho! you base prowler in the morasses; you eater of unclean vegetation,
do you not see this is a ghost I am conducting, a dweller in the ice
cliffs, a spirit ten thousand years old? Put by your sling lest he wither
you with a glance." And, very reasonably, surprised, the aborigine did
as he was bid and cautiously advanced to inspect me.

The news soon spread over the countryside that my jewel-hunter was
bringing a live "spook" along with him, considerable curiosity mixed with
an awe all to my advantage characterising the people we met thereafter.
Yet the wonder was not so great as might have been expected, for these
people were accustomed to meeting the tags of lost races, and though