“A group of cities—a Martian oasis,” suggested the professor.
“Why, there are some lights along the canal, too,” said Robert, becoming aware of a number of lights stretching along the endless strip of fertile land to the south of them.
“Well, I’ll be damned!” cried Taggert. “Say, let’s run over to town tonight!”
But however sanguine the professor might have been regarding the existence of an intelligent race upon the planet, he balked at a precipitate invasion of their haunts right then. So it was decided to wait till morning for developments.
The lantern which Robert carried was almost superfluous in the bright starlight. They enjoyed the novelty of trudging about through the sand, after their extended confinement within the Sphere. In spite of the looseness and depth of the sand, they walked over it with amazing ease because of the decreased gravity on the smaller planet. Robert, for example, who weighed 150 pounds on earth, now weighed less than sixty pounds. Yet he retained his full strength, so that the task of walking was tremendously reduced.
“Run you a race, Robert,” called Taggert, starting out abruptly at a great pace.
The temptation was too great. Robert was a good runner and reveled in the sport. He dashed after the reporter.
His feet scarcely seemed to touch the sand as he raced after the fleeting shadow ahead of him. With giant strides, twenty feet long, he steadily reduced the distance between them.
Suddenly there came a dim shout ahead, followed by a dull thud—then, silence.
Robert slowed up as quickly as possible and looked round him. The reporter had disappeared!