Here, accordingly, the Ammi parted forever from the Lali, and the separation proved the greatest turning point in the world’s affairs. The Lali became lost to history, like the Ten Tribes, and have been since sought as the “Missing Link.” Wandering for generations in the Cold and Famine they finally became extinct, the last of a numerous race. Passing out of the world, as well as out of history, they will be sought forever in vain. Only under glacial beds, amid fossil bones, may their relics now be traced.
As the Ammi were making preparations for their homeward march, Oko suggested that, before departing, they gather up all they had; and he even went among the dead to see if he could find anything valuable on the field.
With Cocoanut-scooper and Abroo he then took charge of the baggage, including their provisions.
“For,” said Cocoanut-scooper, “the Swamp is covered with snow, so that we may not be able to forage along the way as we did when we came.”
The preparations for the return march were soon completed, being few and simple, so that in a little while the Ammi were on their way back to the Cocoanut Hill region.
The snow was deep, and the way difficult, so that, like the march of Napoleon from Moscow, this return of the Ammi was a journey of suffering amid ice and snow and privation.
Gladly as the Greeks, who, when led back from Persia by Xenophon, beheld with tears the Euxine Sea, and cried out with joy, “The Sea!” “The Sea!” so the warriors of this earlier Anabasis, when they came to the Lake where they had left their fleet, expressed great joy at the sight of the shores beyond, which recalled their homes.
They would have shed tears, but having only recently learned to laugh, they had not yet learned to weep.
The rafts which they had left moored to the shore were fast in the ice, except one which had fallen to pieces and was now seen strewn about as stray logs.
But they had no need of rafts; for the water was frozen and they walked across easily on the ice.