The narrator sprints until he can no more and rests by a bridge in order to collect his bearings and regain his energy. He comes across a group and asks them about the horrors on the common, to which they assume he must be insane as they are unaware of it all. When the narrator finally reaches home, he tells his wife all but comforts her by informing her about their speed, brought on by their slow adaptation to the Earth’s gravity. 

However, the Narrator is not aware of the benefits the earth gives the Martians, such as oxygen quantities. He also doesn’t realise that their technology would not be affected by such limitations. He then reckons a well-placed shot from artillery straight into the pit will solve all if it gets out of hand.