This encounter, all unpremeditated, nearly defeated the schemes of both parties. It destroyed the hope of secrecy on the part of the Ammi, who thought to take the Lali by surprise; and destroyed the hope of ambush on the part of the Lali who meant to entrap the approaching enemy in the Swamp. Each party, moreover, being ignorant of the force by which it was attacked, and fearing that it might be larger than its own, shrank from fight. As soon, therefore, as they got released from each other, they flew apart, as if they had been fighting to escape, and not to conquer. Both being afraid, and not daring to seem so, they affected to despise each other, and so, showing their teeth and grinning a defiance, they went in opposite directions, each hoping the other would take the encounter for a chance meeting of strange apes hunting for food, and not a skirmish between the advance guards of mighty hosts prepared for battle. It was too late, however. Both powers were now apprised of each others’ designs, and both immediately put themselves in readiness for action. Koree was much blamed by the Ammi for his rashness in precipitating this encounter. “It was your love,” said Abroo, “which brought us here to fight, and it is your love which will now defeat us. O that love would take sense along with it when it goes either to woo a woman or fight a battle.” “But it generally turns to foolishness before it accomplishes anything,” added Cocoanut-Scooper. “And were there not a fool also on the other side it would never succeed at all,” said Oko. “Koree’s case,” added a fourth, “makes more trouble for others than pleasure for himself.” “For his falling in love once,” said Pounder, “I fell in the water twice.” And so they went on reproaching poor Koree for having such a strong love that it would not let them rest, and such a foolish one that it would not let them fight. Koree had nothing to say, but being himself most convinced of his own foolishness, was angry that others agreed with him, and so simply changed the subject. “Be ready to fight at once,” he said, “as we may be attacked before we have time to decide whether we will fight or not. Between the lake and the Apes we have nothing left but to triumph.” “It is either to be killed by the Apes or drowned in the water,” said Oko, “and I don’t like either.” “We’ll kill some apes before we are killed ourselves,” answered Pounder; “at least, I will.” “Their forces are more numerous than ours,” insisted Oko. “That being so,” said Koree, who turned every objection into a new device, “we will fight them by stealth, creeping upon them by night, or enticing them into the woods.” “Let us rather,” said Duco, “attack them openly, and all at once; though we are less numerous we are armed, and have more skill than they.” “I think,” said Gimbo, “that the Apes will triumph; they walk on all fours, and people can fight better with four feet than with two; besides, it is not right to—”