whifper. The k in g was quiet ; but, hearing me fay the
laft words, he flatted, and c r i e d ,W h a t joy, what good
news, Yagoube “ Why, faid I, Sir, it is only Tecla Mariam
informing me that the Tdevil is dead, which is good
news, at leaft to me, who always dreaded falling into his
clutches.”- - “ Aye, fays, the k in g, the monks fay fo ;- it
m u d have been long a go ; but the faint was furely a holy
man.”
T h o u g h the k in g was violently agitated, y e t be neither
faid that he did or did not underdand what was meant by
Gufho and Engedan, but only ordered me home immediately,
faying, “ As you value your life, open not your
mouth to man or woman, nor feem to take particular care
about any thing, more than you did before; truft a llin the
bands o f the Virgin Mary, and Gnebra Menfus Kedus.”
I n e e d e d no incitement to go to my tent, where I went
immediately to bed. I cannot fay but I had a ray o f hope
that Providence had begun the means which were to extricate
me out o f the difficulties o f my prefent fituation, better
and fooner than 1 had before imagined; I therefore fell
foon into a profound deep, fatisfied that I ihould be quickly
called i f any thing ailed the king. The lights were now
all put out, and, except the cry o f the guards going their
rounds, very little noife in the camp, eonfidering the vad
number o f people it contained, I was in a profound deep
when Francifco, a Greek fervant o f the Ras, a brave and
veteran foldier, but given a little to drink, came bawling into
my tent, “ It is madnefs to deep at this time.”— “ I am fure,
faid I, very calmly, J Ihould be mad i f I was not to deep.
Is the matter “ Get up, cries he, quickly, for we fhall all
be cut to pieces in a minute.”— “ Then hang me, faid I, i f
I don’t lie dill, for i f I have no longer to live, it is not worth,
while to drefs.’ —■“ Faiil (continued he) has fiirprifed the
camp, and gives no quarter.”— “ Fafili faid I, impoffiblei
but go to the guard commanded b y Laeca-Mariam, and if'
8}e has a horfe ready faddled. bring him to me,”
On this Francifco catched’up a lance and fliield that were
in my tent, for fear o f danger in the way, and ran off. In
a minute he returned to aik the ward. “ Googue. faid I, is
the parole, (it fignifies Owl.) A curfe upon his father, fays,
he, (meaning the owl’s father), .and a curfe upon their
-fathers who gave fuch unlucky words fo r the parole at:
night ; no wonder misfortunes happen, fays he, in Greek :
he then returned to the guard under Laeca Mariam. In
the mean time, furveying the camp around, 1 could not
help doubting the truth o f this alarm ; for not a foul was
flirring about Kefla Yafous’s tent, and the light fcarcelyburn-
ing. On the other hand, however, there feemed feveral in the
tent o f the Ras, and people moving about it, though the
Tigré guard around were quiet, who, I knew well, would,
have been alarmed by the motion o f a moufe.
T h e r e was,however, dill a ligh t, and an unufual noife in
the upper end o f the camp to the N. E. Francifco now re-
turned from the k in g ’s tent, and, without my fpeaking to
him, faid, in a great paffion, “ Thofe black fellows are all
-become mad ; you don’t keep them in âny fort o f order.”
“ Has Laeca Mariam got ready a hoMe for me, faid I ; where
is he “ When I delivered your orders, replied Francifco,
-to have a horfe ready fo r you, he faid there were fifty, but
did not fuppofe y o u intended galloping to-night.” Fran-
Voi» IV. E e -cifco'