r departure, he put a pistol to his head, but the bullet
was turned aside by his attendants. The king after this appears to have
resolved to live, and to have conceived the hope of obtaining peace by
releasing his captives. Many of his chiefs, however, had advised him to
kill them, and fight to the last. One alone--Basha Abito--urged that
they should be preserved, lest a terrible vengeance should be exacted by
their countrymen. Immediately the king had arrived at this decision, he
ordered one of his officers to escort Mr Rassam and all the prisoners
at once to the English camp, believing, no doubt, that by so doing
acceptable terms would be secured for him. Meantime Sir Robert Napier
had sent Lieutenant Prideaux back with a message to the king,
reiterating the contents of his former letter. The gallant young
officer knew perfectly well the fearful risk he was running. Happily he
encountered a German workman, who informed him of the release of the
captives, when he and Mr Flad returned to the camp. The released
prisoners were Mr Rassam, Dr Blanc, Lieutenant Prideaux, Consul
Cameron, Mr Stern the missionary, Mr Flad, Mr and Mrs Rosenthal,
young Kerans, secretary to Captain Cameron, and Pietro, an Italian
servant. As may be supposed, they received the warmest welcome in the
camp, and every attention was paid to them. The king now made another
attempt at reconciliation, by sending a present of cattle. On finding
that this was refused, he seems to have given way to despair. Having
spent the night on Islamgye, he summoned his soldiers, and ordered those
not prepared to share his fortunes to the last to provide for their own
safety. The whole army immediately disbanded, a few chiefs and personal
followers only answering his call. After this he seems to have wished
to make his escape, but he was cut off by the British on one side, while
the Gallas were eagerly watching on the other to capture him. On seeing
the English advancing up Islamgye, he mounted his favourite horse Hamra,
and, followed by some of his chiefs, furiously galloped up and down in
circles, firing off his rifle as a challenge, perhaps wishing that some
kind bullet might at the moment end his career. Probably he experienced
a peculiar pleasure at that desperate moment in displaying his
horsemanship and other soldierlike qualities. As the British advanced
and opened fire, he was compelled to abandon his guns and retreat into
Magdala, followed by th