Koree uttered a shout of joy, and ran to meet her. Others seeing her pursued, seized the ape that followed her, and were about to slay him when Sosee caused them to desist. “He is a friend, and has helped me to come hither,” she said. And then, without regarding the expressions of joy on the part of Koree and others over her return, she called out loudly: “Retreat! Hide in the woods!—and be quick!” This was startling to the Ammi, who believed they were on the eve of complete victory. She informed them of the countless hosts that had joined the Lali, who expected to move immediately on the Ammi and destroy them entirely. “If you can retreat long enough to delay the battle,” she said, “you may be saved. I heard the counsels of the Lali chiefs, and they agree that if they do not fight at once their forces can not be held together, but, being composed of different tribes of Apes, unused to discipline, will break up in confusion.” Sosee then told of her escape, which was undertaken as the only means of saving the Ammi, and accomplished at the risk of her own life. She had been guarded, she said, by Ilo, Oboo and another, and so could not escape but by the greatest cunning and good fortune. Ilo, however, being engaged this day in the council of war, could not watch her closely, while Oboo, having become interested in some female apes belonging to the new comers, had wandered off after them, so that she was left practically alone. Being thus at liberty she persuaded the remaining guard,—a simple ape who did not understand his business,—to accompany her in a race, when she adroitly led him to the camp of the Ammi, and so escaped. [Illustration: SOSEE WARNS THE AMMI.] On hearing her story, Koree, overjoyed at his good fortune and Sosee’s, said: “There is reason in what she says. Let us retreat.” For Koree, having now received back Sosee, did not care what became of the war, but was ready for peace at any price. Pounder, however, objected. “I’m not afraid of all the Apes between here and sunrise,” he said, “and I am for fighting them. I’ll kill the big ones with the little ones.” Others, however, more prudent, agreed with Koree, and it was decided to follow the advice of Sosee. So the whole force of the Ammi prepared to move back into the Swamp. “Let us take everything with us,” said Oko. “We may need it when we get away.” “Delay for nothing,” said Sosee, “or you will not get yourselves away.” Soon, therefore, they started on their retreat; when Sosee remarked: “I must now go back to the Lali.” CHAPTER XXXII. [Illustration] These words of Sosee, “I must now go back to the Lali,” caused more surprise to the Ammi than her sudden appearance among them had done.