The Martian fleet continued the impossible chase until the limits of the navigable atmosphere, about eight earth-miles above the surface, was reached.

Here the air was evidently too rarefied for their wings to act upon.

They came to a standstill, looking like links of a broken chain, their occupants no doubt looking up with envious eyes upon the shining body of the _Astronef_ glittering like a tiny star in the sunlight ten thousand feet above them.
"Well, gentlemen," said Redgrave, after a swift glance round, "I think we have shown you that we can fly faster and soar higher than you can.
Perhaps you'll be a bit more civil now.

If you're not we shall have to teach you manners." "But you're not going to fight them all, dear, are you?
Don't let us be the first to bring war and bloodshed with us into another world." "Don't trouble about that, little woman, it's here already," he replied, a trifle savagely.

"People don't have air-ships and guns which fire shells or poison-bombs, or whatever they were, without knowing what war is.