this vain difcourfe, and feeing no time was to be loft, took
hold o f the bridle by force, at T, and happily led the horfe
along one o f the ffieep-paths, flan ting down the declivity o f
the bank. The k in g having in vain threatened difpleafure,
and even death, with the butt-end o f his lance, in defpair,
ftruck Sertza Denghel in the mouth, and beat out all his
fore-teeth. A bank o f gravel, like a bridge, feparated two
deep pools, in the river Mariam, over which the k in g efca-
ped, though with difficulty, the ground being foul with
qu ick fand.
Ali, the foot that had remained about the k in g ran;
down the bank, where the Begemder horfe could not pur-
fu e them, and joined him in the valley, where he made the
beft o f his way towards the fouth fide o f the long low hill,,
by the winding road, on the fide o f which, and juft abave-
him, was placed Guebra Mafcal. Ras Michael, who faw the
dangerous fituation and efcape o f the k in g , and who had
kept AytoEnge’dan near forfome fuch purpofes, difpatehed
him with a confiderable body o f horfe, along the low hill,
o r d e r i n g him immediately to join'the king, and cover, his
retreat; he likewife detached a confiderable body o f muf-
queteers, and mounted for the greater fpeed upon mules,
Who were dircfted to take poft upon the fouth end o f the
round hill, below the winding road, while another party
poflefled themfelves o f fome rocky ground on the fouth fide
o f the valley. This command was as foon executed as
given. Ayto Engedan joined the king, who had loft all his
kettle-drums but one, now beating before h im , and upon
his arrival at the entrance o f the valley, the king, at V, turned
his face to the enemy, having the mufquetry, at X and Y ,
newly arrived from the camp on his right and left.
* Keelaj
K e f l a Y a s o u s was immediately acquainted with the
k in g ’s efcape, and, knowing the confequence o f protrafting
. time, renewed the engagement w ith fomuch vigour, that he
puffied the horfe o f Begemder to fome fmall diftance back
into the plain. Powuflen, whofe only view was to take the
k in g prifoner, and wreft the pofleffion o f his perfon, and
with that his authority from Ras Michael, was much dif-
concerted at the unexpected way by which the k in g ef.
caped ; he after this halted a little for council, then divided
his troops, with one part o f which he refolved to go
down the winding road, and with the other to pafs at the
junction o f the rivers, and enter the valley in that direction,
in order to overtake the king, and intercept him in his
way to the camp, in cafe any thing obftrudted his paffing
,the winding road. Kefla Yafotls took advantage o f this
movement, and with his horfe made his way to join the
heavy-armed troops, and thofe who had joined the line,
Handing clofely and firmly where they were ftationed.
T h e firft perfon that appeared was Kefla Yafous, and the
horfe with him, ftretching out his hand, (his face being all
befmeared with blood, for he was wounded in his forehead)
,he cried as loud as he could, Stand firm, the k in g is fafe in
.the valley. He had fcarce. faced about, and joined the
line, when the enemy approached at a briik gallop. The
Begemder horfe were clofer thanufual, and deeper than the
. front was broad; they refembled therefore an oblong fquare,
i f they refembled any th in g ; but the truth is, they were all
ij> diforder, and their figure, never regular, changed every
moment; the right o f their front (which was not equal to
.ours.) was finally placed againft the road, being clofe by
Guebra Mafcal’s poll, whofe men were much, increafed in
Y 2 . number $