had
brought from Ravenna to be carried down to the Castle; opened it, and
said to me: 'Crown, shield, and sword of Theodoric. Take them to my
brother.' And with his last breath he cried: 'He must revenge me and
renew our kingdom. Tell him--that I loved him very dearly!' Then he
sank back upon his shield, and his faithful soul departed."

"My brother! Oh, my beloved brother!" cried Totila, leaning against a
pillar. Tears flowed from his eyes.

There was a moment of reverent silence.

Then: "Remember thine oath!" cried Hildebrand. "He was doubly thy
brother! Thou wilt revenge him!"

"Yes," said Totila, and involuntarily he drew the sword--which Teja
handed to him--from its sheath. "I will revenge him!"

It was the sword of Theodoric.

"And renew the kingdom," said old Hildebrand solemnly, and, taking the
crown, he set it upon Totila's head. "Hail to thee, King of the Goths!"

Totila started.

He raised his left hand to the golden coronet.

"What do ye?" he exclaimed.

"That which is right. The dying hero's words were prophecy! Thou wilt
surely renew the kingdom. Three victories call upon thee to take up the
struggle. Remember thine oath. We are not yet defenceless. Shall we lay
down our weapons? Shall we submit to treachery and tricks?"

"No," cried Totila, "that we will not. And it is well done to choose a
king, as a sign of renewed hope. But here stands Earl Teja, worthier
than I, of proved experience. Choose Teja!"

"No," said Teja, shaking his head, "it is thy turn first! Thy dying
brother has sent _thee_ this sword and crown. Wear them happily! If the
kingdom can be saved, it is thou who canst save it; if not, an avenger
must be left."

"But now," interrupted Hildebrand, "now we must hasten to sow the seeds
of confidence in all hearts. This is thine office, Totila! See, the
young day breaks in glory. The first rays of the sun fall into the hall
and kiss, thy brow! It is a sign from the gods! Hail, King Totila--thou
that shalt renew the Gothic kingdom!"

The youth pressed the glittering crown firmly upon his golden locks,
and raised Theodoric's sword towards the morning sun.

"Yes!" he cried, "if human strength can do it, I will raise anew the
kingdom of the Goths."

CHAPTER II.

And King Totila kept his word.

Once again he raised the Goths, whose sole hold on Italy was embodied
in a few thousand men and three cities, to a great power, greater even
than in