It is probable that Theodore wanted simply to know what amount of corn the garrison possessed, as he might perhaps require it himself before long, and possibly also the clemency shown by him was due to his being pleased at the soldiers having complied with his orders and purchased grain, as he had directed them, with the money he had a short time before given them. CHAPTER XIX. We are counted by the new Ras, and condemned to sleep in One Hut--Theodore's Second Visit to the Amba--Sends for Mr. Rassam and gives orders that Prideaux and myself should have our Chains taken off--The Operation described--Our Reception by the Emperor--We are sent for to see "Sebastopol" landed on Islamgee--Conversation with his Majesty--The remaining Prisoners are freed from their Fetters--Theodore is unable to Plunder his own property. On the 28th of March, all of us, with the exception of Mr. Rassam, were called out and made to stand in a line to be _counted_ by the new Ras; then at about ten at night, as we were undressing, Samuel came to inform us that he had received orders to put us all, with the exception of Mr. Rassam, in one hut for that night, but that as none of our huts was large enough, he had obtained leave that we should be distributed into two. Cameron, Mr. Rosenthal, and Mr. Kerans were made to join us company, and four villanous-looking rascals, with lighted candles burning all night, were posted inside the door to prevent our going out. Samuel and two chiefs slept in Mr. Rassam's room, and I strongly suspect that Samuel was on that occasion more in the position of a prisoner than a guardian. We slept but little, expecting that the morning would bring some change for the worse. To our day guards some ten or fifteen of the greatest scoundrels of the camp had been recently added, and we felt rather anxious when we learnt early the next morning that Theodore had sent word he would come up in the course of the day to muster the garrison.