This task required no small amount of labor, and three days elapsed before the colonists were in condition to open the battle.
During this time they had every evidence that Goliah’s forces were watching them intently, for more than once could be heard shrill cries in the thicket as if spies were reporting to their commander the progress made, and on several occasions the workmen saw dark forms flitting by, but at such a pace as to render it impossible to shoot with any accuracy of aim.
It was on the night previous to the day set for the general attack that the vessel from Batavia arrived with reinforcements, and then Captain Seaworth had quite an army under his command.
Had the colonists been going forth to meet a regularly organized force of men they could not have proceeded more carefully. The new-comers, who were well aware of the fighting qualities of apes, were by no means disposed to make light of the intended engagement, but at the same time no one seemed disposed to shirk his duty.
Divided into squads of twenty, each man carrying fifty rounds of ammunition, the detachments started from the village, marching through the paths and down the roads, and diverging as do the spokes of a wheel from its hub.
Philip, who commanded the party which proceeded toward the south, had tried to induce the chimpanzees to accompany him, believing they could give timely warning of the approach of the enemy; but these intelligent animals were far too wise to put their precious bodies in such jeopardy. They probably understood what the result would be in case of capture, and all the inducements held out by their master were insufficient to persuade them even to step over the ship’s rail.
During the first half hour after the forces began to advance, those in the village heard no sound. Then came a few scattering shots, followed by another time of silence, until finally the rattle of regular and rapid firing from the road down which Philip had passed told the anxious listeners that the battle was in progress.