They all pressed forward, but to their surprise it was just as if
they had met with an invisible stone wall. They could not
advance a step farther. They were halted by some strange power,
and it appeared to come from the sticks, which the Martians kept
pointed at the strangers.
"Why--why! I can't seem to move!" cried Jack, pushing with all
his might. But, though nothing could be seen in front of him or
the others, they might just as well have tried to push over the
glass castle in the public square.
"We can't go on," called Mr. Roumann.
The Martian officer said something to his men, and they lowered
their wands. Instantly it was as if a stone wall had been taken
down from in front of the world-dwellers. They were able to
advance a few steps, and then, when at a command the wands were
again pointed at them, they had to stop.
"It's those sticks!" cried Jack. "They contain some strange
power. That's the queerest kind of a policeman's club I ever
heard of. It would keep back any mob!"
Try as they did, they could not pass the invisible barrier, and
they were forced to give it up.
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