They hastened back to the camp in great excitement, and told what they had heard; how that the obstinacy of the King had sacrificed their brethren.
"'Twas for this reason he kept the object of the embassy a secret!" they cried.
Soon groups were formed in every lane of the camp, all much excited, speaking of the affair, and blaming the King in tones which grew ever louder.
The Germans of those times treated their kings with a freedom of speech which horrified the Byzantines.
In this case, vexation at the retreat from Rome; the shame of the defeat before Ravenna; regret for their sacrificed comrades, and anger at this secrecy; all worked together to excite the Goths to a storm of indignation against the King, which was not the less violent, because it was still restrained.
This temper of the army did not escape the notice of the leaders. As they passed through the camp, the words of blame were scarcely restrained. But they would only have let loose the mischief if they had angrily rebuked it.
And often, when Earl Teja or Hildebad would have interposed a word in mitigation, old Hildebrand kept them back.
"Let the tide swell a little more," he said; "when it is high enough I will control it. The only danger would be--" he added, half to himself.
"If those in the rebel camp opposite were beforehand with us," said Teja.
"Right, thou guesser of riddles! But things go well for us there. Deserters relate that the princess steadfastly refuses. She threatens to kill herself rather than give her hand to Arahad."