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What people?"

Why, the people who live there."

There are none."

This great statement almost took Rob's breath away, and caused him to

stare hard at his visitor.

It's generally thought," he resumed, in an annoyed tone, "that Mars has

inhabitants who are far in advance of ourselves in civilization. Many

scientific men think the people of Mars have been trying to signal us for

years, only we don't understand their signals. And great novelists have

written about the Martians and their wonderful civilization, and--"

And they all know as much about that little planet as you do yourself,"

interrupted the Demon, impatiently. "The trouble with you Earth people

is that you delight in guessing about what you can not know. Now I

happen to know all about Mars, because I can traverse all space and

have had ample leisure to investigate the different planets. Mars is not

peopled at all, nor is any other of the planets you recognize in the

heavens. Some contain low orders of beasts, to be sure, but Earth alone

has an intelligent, thinking, reasoning population, and your scientists

and novelists would do better trying to comprehend their own planet

than in groping through space to unravel the mysteries of barren and

unimportant worlds."

Rob listened to this with surprise and disappointment; but he reflected

that the Demon ought to know what he was talking about, so he did not

venture to contradict him.

It is really astonishing," continued the Apparition, "how little you people

have learned about electricity. It is an Earth element that has existed

since the Earth itself was formed, and if you but understood its proper

use humanity would be marvelously benefited in many ways."

We are, already," protested Rob; "our discoveries in electricity have

enabled us to live much more conveniently."

Then imagine your condition were you able fully to control this great

element," replied the other, gravely. "The weaknesses and privations of

mankind would be converted into power and luxury."

The Master Key