's
battery, had opened fire on the left, while Chamberlain with his
pioneers drove back the enemy who were attacking the baggage train.
They still, however, persevered, but were finally checked by the baggage
guard, consisting of two companies of the 4th under Captain Roberts. As
the Abyssinian army retreated, Captain Fellowes and his bluejackets took
up a fresh position farther in advance, sending their rockets into the
flying crowd as they ascended the hillside. Of the Abyssinian force,
nearly 800 were killed and 1500 wounded, most of the survivors flying in
all directions, few returning to Magdala; while of the British force,
Captain Roberts and six men of the 4th, twelve Punjaub Pioneers, and one
Bombay sapper alone were wounded, two of them mortally. The first
brigade encamped on the Aficho plateau, without food, water, fires, or
tents, while the second formed their camp on the plain of Arogye.
Meantime Theodore, who had hitherto always headed his own troops,
remained on the heights watching the combat. As night came on, and
claps of thunder resounded over his head, he paced the ground at the
foot of the Sallasye peak, waiting the return of his chiefs and
soldiers. He called for his faithful old general Gabriye, but no answer
came; for other trusted leaders,--there was no reply. He now saw that
all hope of victory was gone. He must yield to the demands of an
irresistible enemy or die. Fearful must have been the anxiety of the
prisoners. Any moment he might have sent to order their destruction.
Providentially, however, he resolved to try and obtain the friendship of
the English by delivering up the captives. Lieutenant Prideaux and Mr
Flad were sent into the English camp to propose terms. The English
general, however, would offer none short of an unconditional surrender,
guaranteeing, however, honourable treatment for the king and his family.
On their return across the field of battle, the body of the old General
Gabriye was found. He was lying flat on his back, with his arms
stretched out, habited in a rich shirt of scarlet and gold. A Snider
rifle bullet had passed through his temples. The dead and dying thickly
strewn about had frightful wounds, many with half their skulls taken
off. On the arrival of two envoys, the king was found sitting on the
brow of Sallasye. He immediately sent them back to the English camp
with a document he had been dictating, refusing to deliver himself up.
Soon after thei