CHAPTER XVII.
Arrival of Mr. Flad from England—Delivers a Letter and Message from the Queen—The Episode of the Telescope—Our Property taken care of—Theodore will not yield except to Force—He recruits his Army—Ras Adilou and Zallallou desert him—He is repulsed at Belessa by Lij Abitou and the Peasants—The Expedition against Metraha—His Cruelties there—The great "Sebastopol" is cast—Famine and Pestilence compel the Emperor to raise his Camp—The difficulties of his March to Magdala—His arrival in Dalanta