Score after score of the queer creatures went down, among the first to fall being the machinist and Zun Flor.
"Once more!" cried Mr. Roumann, and another volley was sent out, stunning hundreds.
Then came a third one, but this was enough. The remaining Martians, leaving their helpless comrades on the ground, turned and fled.
"We've driven them away!" cried Jack.
"For a time, at least," answered Professor Henderson gravely. "But I think they will come back."
CHAPTER XXX
THE ESCAPE—CONCLUSION
Nor was the professor mistaken. In less than an hour the Martians returned, in larger numbers than before, and, while the first throng had seemed to consist of only soldiers or police, the next attack was made by thousands of men, women and children. They all seemed anxious to destroy, the strangers.
Those who had been disabled by the electric guns revived, and were able to crawl away, but they were too weak to resume the attack.
"Well, we'll have to shoot at them again," observed Jack, as he and the others noted that the attack was to be resumed.