akes one quake for fear! I thought he would have swallowed
me, head and all, when he asked me who I was."

"I felt much in the same state as if hot water had been poured over
me," said the Magdeburger. "This man is more to be dreaded than the
Emperor in Vienna."

"Our reign has been but a short one," said Captain Muckerle; "our
dignity has not lasted long."

"Fool! so much the better. Dignity only brings cares, says the proverb;
our people don't submit readily to our orders--_diavolo!_--for one of
them laughed at me in my face only this day. Things will go much better
when the knights lead us: and we shall receive a gold florin and four
measures of wine; that's our principal business." So said Peter.

"I think so too," said the Magdeburger; "and we have to thank Long
Peter for our good fortune. Long may he live!"

"Thank you," said the general; "but I tell you, the Duke will set the
League in flames again, _morbleu!_ and when he draws his sword, he
alone will hunt them out of the country. And did you hear how he cursed
his council, chancellor, and nobles? I would not like to be in their
skins."

The conversation of the veterans was now interrupted by the rolling of
the drums, which no longer sounded at their command. Long Peter had
been so often accustomed, during his many campaigns, to the
vicissitudes of fortune, by being raised and lowered suddenly in rank,
that he was not disconcerted by his present loss of command. He very
quietly deprived his large hat of its ornamental cock's feather; he
laid aside his red scarf and long sword, the emblems of his dignity,
and shouldered his halberd. "May my soul be punished, but mine is a
hard case, who but yesterday was in supreme command, and am now obliged
to go back into the ranks," said he, as he took his place among his
comrades. "But by Saint Peter, my holy patron and brother lansquenet,
every thing is for the best in this world." His companions shook him by
the hand, and agreed with him in his sentiments. It did his brave heart
good to hear them approve of his conduct, the short time he had wielded
the command over them. The three knights, their newly appointed
leaders, mounted and put themselves at the head of their brigades; the
lansquenets arranged themselves in the common order of march, and,
Ludwig von Gemmingen ordering the drums to beat the advance, the little
army broke up their camp, and set forward.

CHAPTER XXVII.