176 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER. 
this vain difcourfe,and feeing no time was to be loft, took 
hold of the bridle by force, at’'T, and happily led the horfe 
along one of the fheep-paths, flanting down the declivity of 
the bank. The king having in vain threatened difpleafure, 
and even death, with the butt-end of his lance, in defpair, 
ftruck Sertza Denghel in the mouth, and beat out all his 
fore-teeth. A bank of gravel, like a bridge, feparated two 
deep pools, in the river Mariam, over which the king efca- 
ped, though with difficulty, the lca ly being foul with 
quick fand. 
» 
Aut the foot that had remained about the King ran 
down the bank, where the Begemder horfe could not pur- 
fue them, and joined him in the vats where he shes sis 
by the winding road, on the fide of which, and jutt abade 
him, was placed Guebra Mafcal. Ras Michael, who faw the 
dangerous fituation and efcape of the king, and who had 
kept Ayto Engedan near for fome fuch purpofes, difpatched 
him with a confiderable body of horfe, along the low hill, 
ordering him immediately to join the king, and cover‘his 
retreat; he likewife detached a confiderable body of muf _ 
queteers, and mounted for the greater {peed upon mules, 
who were directed to take poft upon the fouth end of the 
round hill, below the winding road, while another party 
- pofieffed themfelves of fome rocky ground on the fouth fide 
of 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 him, and upon 
his arrival at the entrance of the valley, the king, at V, turn- 
ed his facé to the enemy, having the mufquetry, at X and Y, 
newly arrived from the camp on his right and left. 
KEFLA. 
