i68 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



While their army was thus feparated into two dlvifions, 

 both in great confiifion, the king, with his referve, fell fu- 

 riouily upon them ; and being followed by all the reft of 

 the horfe, they pulhed the right diviflon (where Powuffen 

 was in perfon) along the plain, but thefe retired, fighting ve- 

 ry obftinately, and often rallying. Kefla Yafous faw the great 

 danger to which the king would quickly be expofed by pur- 

 fuing the troops of Begemder fo far at a diftance from his 

 foot, and that they would foon turn upon and overpower 

 him with numbers, and then furround him. He therefore, 

 with great prefence of mind, provided for his retreat. He 

 drew up the heavy-armed horfe which could not gallop, 

 the Moors of Ras el Feel, and the foot which were left be- 

 hind, and which had now recharged their firelocks before 

 the narrow road, and ordered Guebra Mafcal to refume his 

 ftation. He then twice, with great earneftnefs, cried in a 

 loud voice to the foldiers. The king's fafety depends upon 

 you,--Stand firm, or all is loft. After which, he galloped, with 

 a fmall body of horfe, to join the king, clofely engaged at 

 a confiderable diftance : The foot that had purfued, or 

 were fcattered, now came in by tens and twelves, and joined 

 the heavy-armed horfe, fo that we began again to fhew a 

 very good countenance. Among thefe, a common foldier 

 of the king's houfehold, bufied in the vile practice of mang- 

 ling and fpoiling the dead, found the red colours of king 

 Theodorus lying upon the field, which he delivered me, up- 

 on promife of a reward, and which I gave a fervant of 

 my own to keep till after the engagement. 



At this inft:nt Guebra Mafcal came up from below the 

 bank, leaping and flourifliing his gun about his head, and 

 crying, juft before my horfe, "Now, Yagoube,ftand firm, if 



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