“Be still,” said Koree, “or give us your help, instead of your fears.”
It was resolved at last, as they could neither retreat nor stand still, to go forward; and they determined to await an opportunity to make an assault.
And now dread Terror brooded over the hosts of men, causing hearts to flutter and visions of death to rush on the soul. Night and Blood and Pain visited many in dreams, while to some Glory appeared, walking over a vanquished foe. As Koree slept he thought he saw Sosee coming to him in beauty with a branch of evergreen oak, and promise that he should rule over a new race, while she should sit by his side as queen to receive the admiration of all men.
The Apes also quaked, and the convulsions which had just thrown up the Alps were trifling compared with the tremors that shook the breasts of the embattled hosts that night. The morrow was to witness a conflict that would decide whether the human race was to remain on earth or go out of history in its infancy.
CHAPTER XXVI.
Aurora now appeared in the east starting the sleepers from their dreams, and advanced so bright that the terrified Ammi thought the Fire-monster had seized the sky, and was spreading his wings over the whole world, portending death to mortals. First she tinted the new-born Alps with gold, then chased the mists from the valleys, and at last spread the whole earth with day. The courage of the hosts now returned, which had left them during the reign of the night-monsters in their dreams.
With the coming of the light the Ammi marched boldly up to the Lali, while the latter, thrown first into confusion, ran about in a panic, and then, gathering themselves into a body, offered defiance to the intruders.