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.
As when a storm, rushing from the north, suddenly strikes the sea, rolling the waves in mountain ridges along the main, which again, breaking, rush back and fall like cliffs into the deep, stirring the great cauldron of waters to its bottom, and then spread out again into acalm, so the Apes, mightily stirred at the approach of stern War, and driven by their fears, rushed hither and thither over the plain, mounting the trees and scattering to places of safety, and then, as the storm of terror passed on its way regained composure and settled down on the field of battle ready for action.
First advanced from the ranks of the Ammi the mighty Pounder, impatient for battle, and, surveying the plain which lay between the Men and the Apes, he grinned a challenge to the whole Lali.
Him seeing from afar the mighty Scratch-for-Fleas, starting up from the hosts of the Lali and shaking himself, (at which the earth trembled as when Jupiter shook Olympus with a nod), advanced to him, saying:
“For what purpose come you to the shores of the Lali? Have the cocoanuts failed beyond the Swamp, or do you come for our women? We will defend our own, be they cocoanuts or girls. Go back, or taste the wrath of the Monkeys.”
Him answering with a grin, the fierce Pounder showed his teeth. His great lips parted, like the swinging gates of Babylon, bringing to view huge rows of marble-like columns that lined, like palisades, a deep, dark gorge.
A like mouth opened on the other side; and Scratch-for-Fleas, looking now to the east and now to the west, advanced, first on four feet and then on two. Next he moved sidewise, and, at last, for a moment, stood still, moving however in contemplation his great features, which, following his thoughts, changed fast in shape and color like clouds in a mountain storm.
“Do you come for the maiden of Ilo?” he said. “You will return without her. Give back your stolen fruits and women, and we may make peace before war begins.”
Pounder thereupon, without answering, rushed for Scratch-for-Fleas, being better fitted for war than for diplomacy.
Scratch-for-Fleas, fearing the mighty assault, retreated to the hosts of the Lali, unwilling to fight so great a champion; and thereupon a loud shout went up from the Ammi at their bloodless victory. Pounder, however, was disappointed, for he loved fighting better than conquering.
Then the nimble-shanked Nut-picker, he who had been reared on the slopes of Wildcat Mountain, went out from the hosts of the Lali bearing a cocoanut in his hand.
Him seeing, the avaricious Oko, not knowing whether it was a weapon or a truce-signal, went forth to meet, saying, “Do you mean war or cocoanuts? If you mean cocoanuts, produce enough and we may give up the fight.”
Then the nimble-shanked Nut-picker, true-aiming, threw and struck him, and the cocoanut rolled to the ground on one side, and Oko on the other. Picking up himself and then the cocoanut, Oko thereupon retired to the ranks of the Ammi bearing with him his defeat and his booty.
War was now declared and begun, and the two parties, hitherto friends, or indifferent to each other, became enemies. So great a difference does so slight a change produce.
Then, according to the legends of the Ammi, the great spirit of Shoozoo, looking out from the heavens at the combatants, and fearing that his worshippers might be destroyed, called a council of the gods. Simlee, his wife, Queen of Heaven, appeared, leaving her mists, and the great winged Alligator came up out of the Swamp, dripping with the flood, and the Fire-god left his place in the sky, and the Rainbow folded up his rays, and the Wind left the earth and sea, (so that there was a season of calms), and they all met in the sky to take counsel on the events that were about to transpire on earth.
“Dire war,” said Shoozoo, “is hovering over the world, and, unless it is averted, neither Men nor Apes nor earth will long survive. Only recently I saw the world mount up toward the sky, and to-day it stands on tip-toe trying to reach the heavens; for the Alps have not yet gone down. The great Swamp left its bed to march over dry ground, and has not yet gone back. The noise of the earthquake has hardly yet subsided, but still reverberates in distant thunders; and, should war yet rage, things will be so mixed up that nothing will remain for earth or sky that is certain for either.”
“I will arise as a mist,” said Simlee, “and, passing between the two armies, prevent their collision by destroying their sight.”
“The Fire-god will soon scatter the mists,” said Night, “so that they can fight in clear day. Let me rather settle down upon them, through whom none can see; and, though it be but noon, I will wipe out their day.”
And wrapping herself in thick clouds she started for the earth to cover the battle-field with impenetrable shadows.
“Let me rather,” said the great Alligator, “empty the Swamp on them again, and overwhelm them with a second flood.”
“They have made boats,” said the Wind, “and now defy the waters. Let me rather start the air against them. I will give it wings to beat their faces and call in Thunder to frighten them and Rain to blind them, and will so mix heaven and earth and sea together against them that they cannot proceed.”
“There is nothing,” said Shoozoo, “that will avail, but to assuage their wrath, which crosses streams and night and outlasts weather. An interruption to-day prolongs the war, but does not end it. Let us not, by impeding them, add to their rage against each other and their anger against us. For I fear that men will one day mount to heaven and destroy the Gods.”
This advice they consented to follow, not, however, because any of them wanted to, but because they could not agree among themselves what to do.
It was accordingly decided that the deities, operating all together, should descend to the combatants to work on their minds; and so, wrapping themselves in clouds, and mists, and rain, and shadow, and light, which were all mistaken by Mortals for forms of the weather, they entered the battle with both Men and Apes, and worked for peace and a mitigation of the horrors of war.
But when Men and Gods are thus at variance, the Gods fail; and the council of heaven having broken up, the war of earth went on.