Volume Ii Part 40 (2/2)

CHAPTER I.

When King Witichis readied the camp, he found it almost in a state of anarchy.

The pressing need of the moment forcibly roused him from his grief, and gave him sufficient occupation.

He found the army split into numerous parties, and on the point of dissolution. He acknowledged to himself that, if he had abdicated, or abandoned the camp, the complete ruin of the Gothic cause would have been the consequence. He found many of the troops already on the point of departure. Some were about to join Earl Grippa in Ravenna; others to go over to the rebels; others again to fly across the Alps. Many spoke of the choice of a new king, and here, too, the different parties opposed each other with threats of violence.

Hildebrand and Hildebad still kept together those who did not believe in the flight of the King. The old master-at-arms had declared that if Witichis had really deserted them, he would not rest until he had dealt to him the punishment of Theodoric, while Hildebad rated at those who could believe Witichis capable of such baseness.

They had guarded the roads to the city and to the rebel camp, and threatened to oppose force to every movement in those directions; while Duke Guntharis, having heard a report of the confusion, was already advancing against the royal camp.

Everywhere Witichis found discontented groups of troops on the point of departure; everywhere he heard words of blame and beheld uplifted weapons. At any moment the camp might become a scene of bloodshed.

Quickly resolved, he hurried to his tent, adorned himself with the coroneted helmet and the golden sceptre, mounted Boreas, his powerful charger, and galloped through the lines of tents, followed by Teja, who bore the blue banner of Theodoric.

In the middle of the camp they met with a crowd of men, women, and children--for the latter generally accompanied a Gothic army--who, murmuring and threatening, were moving towards the western gate.

Hildebad had sent his soldiers to bar this gate with levelled lances.

”Let us go out,” cried the people. ”The King has fled, the war is over, all is lost. We will save our lives.”

”The King is no coward like thee!” cried Hildebad, pus.h.i.+ng back the nearest man.

”Yes, he is a traitor!” cried the latter. ”He has forsaken and betrayed us for the sake of a woman's tears.”

”Yes,” said another, ”he has killed three thousand of our brothers and has fled.”

”Thou liest!” said a quiet voice. Witichis had turned the corner of a tent.

”Hail, King Witichis!” cried Hildebad. ”Do you see him, you rabble? Did I not tell you? But it was high time thou camest--things were getting to a desperate pa.s.s.”

Just then Hildebrand came galloping up with a few hors.e.m.e.n.

”Hail, King Witichis!” he cried, and turning to his companions--”Hasten, heralds, through the camp,” said he, ”and tell what you have seen; and all the people will cry: 'Hail, Witichis, our faithful King!'”

But Witichis turned from him with a look of anguish.

The heralds galloped away in all directions, and shortly there arose through the whole camp the thundering shout, ”Hail, King Witichis!”

Even those who had just been murmuring joined unanimously in the cry.

Witichis listened to these acclamations with a look full of pride and pain, and Teja whispered to him: ”Now thou seest that thou hast saved the kingdom.”

”Up! lead us to victory!” cried Hildebad, ”for Guntharis and Arahad approach! They think to surprise us without a chief and in complete disorder. At them! They shall find themselves mistaken. At them! and down with the rebels!”

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