ished, and their places were now occupied by ensigns,
sergeants and quartermasters. The higher officers had gone to Brussels,
and the mutinous army marched without any chief through Brabant.

They had not received their well-earned pay for twenty-two months, and
the starving regiments now sought means of support wherever they could
find them.

Two years since, after the battle of Mook-Heath, the army had helped
itself, and at that time, as often happened on similar occasions, an
Eletto--[The chosen one. The Italian form is used, instead of the Spanish
'electo'.]--had been chosen from among the rebellious subaltern officers.
Ulrich had then been lying seriously wounded, but after the end of the
mutiny was told by many, that no other would have been made Eletto had he
only been well and present. Now an Eletto was again to be chosen, and
whoever was elected would have command of at least three thousand men,
and possibly more, as it was expected that other regiments would join the
insurrection. To command an army! This was power, this was the highest
attainment; it was worth risking life to obtain it.

The regiments pitched their camp at Herenthals, and here the election was
to be held.

In the arrangement of the tents, the distribution of the wagons which
surrounded the camp like a wall, the stationing of field-pieces at the
least protected places, Ulrich had the most authority, and while
exercising it forced himself, for the first time in his life, to appear
gentle and yielding, when he would far rather have uttered words of
command. He lived in a state of feverish excitement; sleep deserted his
couch, he imagined that every word he heard referred to himself and his
election.

During these days he learned to smile when he was angry, to speak
pleasantly while curses were burning on his lips. He was careful not to
betray by look, word, or deed what was passing in his mind, as he feared
the ridicule that would ensue should he fail to achieve his purpose.

One more day, one more night, and perhaps he would be commander-in-chief,
able to conquer a kingdom and keep the world in terror. Perhaps, only
perhaps; for another was seeking with dangerous means to obtain control
of the army.

This was Sergeant-Major and Quartermaster Zorrillo, an excellent and
popular soldier, who had been chosen Eletto after the battle of
Mook-Heath, but voluntarily resigned his office at the first serious
opposition he encountered.

It was s