But as I realized then, it is useless to question that eternal Sphinx, the future.

From day to day she reads aloud the riddles of the yesterday, of which the puzzled wordlings of all ages have not answered one, nor ever will, guess they never so wildly or cry they never so loud.
And so at length I gave up wondering, being forced humbly to leave the issue in the balancing hands of Providence and the morrow.
And at last up came the red sun, and the huge camps awoke with a clash, and a roar, and gathered themselves together for battle.
It was a beautiful and awe-inspiring scene, and old Umslopogaas, leaning on his axe, contemplated it with grim delight.
'Never have I seen the like, Macumazahn, never,' he said.

'The battles of my people are as the play of children to what this will be.

Thinkest thou that they will fight it out ?' 'Ay,' I answered sadly, 'to the death.

Content thyself, "Woodpecker", for once shalt thou peck thy fill.' Time went on, and still there was no sign of an attack.