The cause of this consternation was that reënforcements had suddenly come to the Ammi, and from a quarter least expected. It was not Night that had opportunely settled down upon them, as it had before upon the Lali when it saved them from destruction. Nor was it a blinding Snow that beat in their faces; as if the skies had come down to attack them by storm. Instead of the Heavens it was the Earth that furnished their last relief. Watch-the-girls, who had fallen back, as we have related, and could not keep up in the march through the Swamp, because of the cold and fatigue of her troops, now appeared in sight with her female warriors. Left to die these heroines had fought their fate and conquered the elements, and they now came up to succor those who had forsaken them, thus offering salvation in return for abandonment. They were first seen by the Lali, whose faces, in fighting, were turned toward them; and this sight was the cause of their confusion. Out from the Swamp and into the field these women rushed. Fatigue had left them for a while, and the cold had loosed its grasp. Courage took the place of weakness, and they rushed into battle without thought of their condition. Those who were thought not strong enough to live were now found able to fight. As when Bluecher appeared to the Allies at Waterloo, and turned the fortunes of war, so Watch-the-girls came at the critical moment, and, with new troops, entered the fight and brought back hope. Weak as they were after their long march and privation, these women fought with bravery, and persisted to the end. The Lali, who had already seized the victory, now released their grasp, and, falling in great numbers, laid hold on Despair instead. Thrown first into confusion, and then into rout, they found it impossible to longer continue the contest, and so fled from the field. Thus the victory was won by the Ammi, and the human race was saved. CHAPTER XLI. [Illustration] The Lali being defeated, the next question with the Ammi was what to do with them. Pounder proposed that they follow them up and kill them all. Oko seconded this, so far as to follow them up, but suggested that instead of killing them, they simply take what they have, and let them go; for his idea of war was robbery. “Whether they be dead or not,” he said, “does not matter provided we have their booty.” Koree having obtained Sosee, the object for which he went to the war, was willing to abandon the conflict, and return home without anything else. “There is nothing to fight for now,” he said; “and nothing that we can get here will be as good as what we can enjoy at home.” Sosee seconded this proposal, having learned to love the Lali notwithstanding her captivity among them; and she did not wish to add to their distress. “And let us go quickly,” she said, “or Oboo and Ilo will find means of attacking us again.” This suggestion about his rivals confirmed Koree in his conviction that it was best to return home.