THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. lyt 



Kefla Yasous was immediately acquainted with the 

 king's efcape, and, knowing the confequence of protra(5ling 

 time, renewed the engagement with fomuch vigour, that he 

 pufhed the horfe of Begemder to fome fmall diftance back 

 into the plain. PowufTen, whofe only view was to take the 

 king prifoner, and wreft the poiTeffion of his perfon, and 

 with that his authority from Ras Michael, was much dif- 

 concerted at the unexpecfled way by which the king ef- 

 caped ; he after this halted a little for council, then divid- 

 ed his troops, with one part of which he refolved to go 

 down the winding road, and with i;he other to pafs at the 

 jundlion of the rivers, and enter the valley in that direc- 

 tion, in order to overtake the king, and intercept him in his 

 way to the camp, in cafe any thing obilrufled his palling 

 the winding road. Kefla Yafous took advantage of 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 llationed. 



The 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 king is fafe in 

 the valley. He had fcarce faced about, and joined the 

 line, when the enemy approached at a brifk gallop. The 

 Begemder horfe were clofer than ufual, and deeper than the 

 front was broad; they refembled therefore an oblong fquare, 

 if they refembled any thing ; but the truth is, they were all 

 in diforder, and their figure, never regular, changed every 

 moment ; the right of their front (which was not equal to 

 ours ) was finally placed againft the road, being clofe by 

 ■Guebra Mafcal's poft, whofe men were much increafed in 



Y 2 number ; 



