two o'clock in the afternoon
He then very naïvely gives the illuminating information that his astronomical experience is confined to the ` observation ' of the _ moon _ for about six months , by the aid of a 1-1/4 - _ inch hand-telescope _ ! Surely , when confronted with a critic of such vast experience and so wonderfully equipped , Professor Lowell must retire discomfited from the field ! '' At the conclusion of my remarks both John and M'Allister expressed their thanks , saying that `` Now they were informed as to the points on which our scientists were not agreed , they would look forward with still greater interest to our arrival at our destination , for they were as anxious as I was to solve the mysteries of the red planet . '' The days then passed uneventfully until at last the long-looked-for day arrived , and on the 24th September we were so close to Mars that we hoped to be able to land on the planet by two o'clock in the afternoon . We made ourselves a little sprucer than usual , as we wished to do credit to our own world ; and M'Allister wore his overalls to protect his clothes , although our machinery was not nearly so messy to handle as steam-engines usually are . We had already examined our three machine-guns so that they might be in readiness for any emergency , if some of the ideas of which we had read as to the probable ferocity of the Martians should prove correct . It had , however , been definitely agreed between us that the guns were only to be used as a last resort to defend our lives against a wanton attack , and were to be kept out of sight until they were really required .