andreas hofer-第109节

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Raffel；　the　betrayer。　The　other　was　a　French　officer。　The　latter
stood　still　at　a　distance　of　some　steps　from　the　hut；　but　Raffel
went　close　up　to　the　door；　applied　his　ear　to　it　and　listened。

〃They　are　here；〃　he　then　said　to　the　officer　in　a　low　voice。　The
officer　immediately　lifted　up　his　arm　and　shouted　〃Forward！〃　The
soldiers　advanced　and　surrounded　the　hut。　All　was　lost！

Doeninger　awakened　the　sleeping　boy。　〃John；〃　he　said　in　a　low　voice；
〃let　us　go　down　to　father。　The　French　have　come。〃

The　boy　uttered　a　loud　cry。　〃The　French　have　come！〃　he　exclaimed；
despairingly；　〃they　want　to　arrest　my　father！〃

〃Come；〃　said　Doeninger；　imperatively；　and　he　took　the　boy　in　his
arms；　and　hastened　with　him　down　the　ladder　into　the　room　below。

〃Awake；〃　he　said；　bending　over　Andreas　Hofer；　〃the　enemy　has　come。〃

Andreas　started　up　and　stared　incredulously　at　Doeninger；　but　his
wife　rose；　uttering　low　lamentations；　and　dressed　herself　hurriedly。

〃Let　us　flee；〃　she　murmured；　〃quick；　quick；　let　us　escape　by　the
back　door。〃

〃The　hut　is　surrounded；〃　said　Doeninger；　assisting　Hofer　in
dressing。　〃We　can　no　longer　flee。〃

〃Is　that　true？〃　asked　Andreas；　calmly。

〃It　is；　commander…in…chief。〃

〃Well；　then；　as　it　pleases　God；〃　said　Hofer；　crossing　himself；　and；
traversing　the　room　quickly；　he　opened　the　front　door。

The　soldiers　stood　four　files　deep；　shouldering　their　muskets。
Andreas　advanced　fearlessly　close　up　to　the　enemy。

〃Is　there　one　of　you；　gentlemen；　who　speaks　German？〃　he　asked；　with
entire　calmness。

〃I　do；〃　said　the　officer；　stepping　rapidly　forward。

Andreas　greeted　him　with　a　proud　nod　of　the　head。　〃Well；　then；〃　he
said；　〃I　am　Andreas　Hofer；　late　commander…in…chief　of　the　Tyrolese。
I　ask　for　quarter　and　good　treatment。〃

〃I　cannot　promise　any　thing　to　a　rebel；〃　replied　the　officer；
contemptuously。

〃But　you　have　come　to　seize　me；　and　none　but　me；〃　continued　Andreas；
in　a　gentle　voice。　〃Well；　then；　here　I　am；　do　with　me　as　you　please。
But　I　ask　you　to　have　mercy　upon　my　wife　and　my　son；　and　this　young
man；　for　they　are　entirely　innocent。〃　＇Footnote：　Andreas　Hofer's　own
words。　See　〃Gallery　of　Heroes。〃＇

The　officer　made　no　reply。　He　signed　to　his　soldiers；　and　ordered
them　to　bind　Andreas　Hofer　and　the　others　in　such　a　manner　as　to
render　it　utterly　impossible　for　them　to　escape。

The　soldiers　rushed　furiously　upon　the　defenseless　captives；　tied
their　hands　on　their　backs；　and　wound　the　ropes　round　their　necks；
so　that　they　could　drag　them　forward　like　oxen。　And　after　binding
Andreas　Hofer；　so　that　they　were　no　longer　afraid　of　his　strong
arms；　they　surrounded　him　with　scornful　laughter；　tore　handfuls　of
hair　from　his　beard；　and　said　they　would　keep　them　〃as　souvenirs　of
General　Barbone。〃　Blood　streamed　from　his　lacerated　face；　but　the
cold　froze　it　and　transformed　the　gory　beard　into　a　blood　red
icicle；　which　pricked　the　numerous　wounds　in　his　chin　every　moment；
and　inflicted　intense　pain。

Andreas　did　not　complain；　he　looked　only　at　his　wife；　his　son；　and
his　friend；　who；　bound　like　himself；　scantily　dressed　and　barefooted
like　himself；　were　dragged　down　the　mountain；　which　was　covered　with
snow　and　ice；　into　the　plain　below。　His　hands；　into　which　the　rope
was　cutting　all　the　while；　were　very　sore；　his　bare　feet　swelled
from　walking　on　the　snow　and　were　torn　by　the　icicles。　Still　Andreas
did　not　complain；　but　on　hearing　the　low　wails　of　his　son；　on　seeing
that　every　footstep　of　his　wife；　who　was　dragged　along　before　him；
left　a　bloody　spot　in　the　snow；　he　burst　into　loud　sobs；　and　two
tears　rolled　slowly　down　his　cheeks　into　his　beard；　where　they　froze
in　the　blood。

The　dreadful　march　was　continued　to　Meran。　French　generals；　staff…
officers；　and　soldiers　awaited　the　tottering　prisoners　at　the　gate。
The　soldiers　greeted　the　captured　〃bandit　chief　Barbone〃　with　loud
cheers　and　scornful　laughter；　and　Andreas　Hofer　and　the　others
entered　the　city；　preceded　by　a　band　which　played　a　ringing　march。
The　French　were　overjoyed；　but　the　citizens　stood　in　front　of　their
houses；　and；　regardless　of　the　presence　of　their　cruel　enemies；
greeted　Andreas　Hofer　with　tears　and　loud　lamentations。

The　journey　was　continued　on　the　following　day　to　Botzen；　only　the
prisoners；　whose　bleeding　and　lacerated　feet　refused　to　carry　them
any　longer；　had　been　laid　on　a　common　farm…wagon；　and　some　clothing
had　been　thrown　over　them。

At　Botzen　Andreas　Hofer　received　cheering　news。　A　noble　German　lady；
the　wife　of　Baron　de　Giovanelli；　had　dared　to　implore　the　French
General　Baraguay　d'Hilliers　to　have　mercy　on　Hofer's　unfortunate　and
innocent　family；　to　save　them；　she　had　knelt　down　before　the　general
and　besought　him　with　heart…rending　lamentations。　Baraguay
d'Hilliers　had　been　unable　to　withstand　her　supplications；　and
consented　to　release　those　for　whom　she　pleaded。

〃The　viceroy's　orders；〃　he　said；　〃are　only　to　the　effect　that　the
Sandwirth　Hofer　be　conveyed　to　Mantua。　I　yield　to　your　prayers；
therefore；　madame；　his　companions　shall　be　released；　and　shall　not
be　molested　again。　His　wife　may　return　with　her　son　to　her　home；　and
carry　on　the　inn　as　heretofore；　but　she　must　be　cautious　and　not
expose　herself　to　new　dangers　by　imprudent　words。　The　young　man　may
go　wherever　he　pleases。〃

This　was　the　cheering　intelligence　which　Andreas　Hofer　received　on
the　third　day　of　his　captivity　in　the　jail　where　he　and　his　dear
ones　lay　on　wet　straw。

〃See；　Cajetan；〃　he　exclaimed；　joyfully；　〃it　turns　out　just　as　I
said。　My　seizure　releases　my　wife　and　my　child；　and　relieves　them
from　all　dangers。〃

〃But　I　will　not　leave　you；〃　cried　Anna　Gertrude；　embracing　him
tenderly；　〃I　will　stay　and　die　with　you。〃

〃And　is　our　son　yonder　to　die　too？〃　asked　Andreas；　pointing　to　his
boy。　〃And　our　three　little　girls；　are　they　to　become　entirely
helpless；　and　have　neither　father　nor　mother　to　protect　them？　Anna
Gertrude；　you　must　be　father　and　mother　to　them；　you　must　not　leave
them　and　our　boy。　You　must　preserve　their　small　inheritance　to　them；
bring　them　up　in　the　fear　of　the　Lord；　and　teach　them；　also；　to　love
their　poor　father　and　honor　his　memory。〃

〃Husband；　dear　husband；　I　cannot　leave　you；　I　cannot！〃　sobbed　the
poor　woman。　〃Do　not　thrust　me　from　your　heart；　do　not　leave　me
behind；　all　alone　and　without　consolation。〃

Andreas　lifted　his　arm　and　pointed　up　to　heaven。　〃There　is　our
Consoler；〃　he　said；　〃He　will　help　you。　Confide　in　Him；　Anna
Gertrude。　Go　to　your　children；　be　father　and　mother　to　them；　and
love　them　in　my　and　your　name。〃

At　this　moment　the　door　of　the　prison　opened；　and　the　jailer；
followed　by　soldiers；　came　in。

〃Andreas　Hofer；〃　said　the　jailer；　imperatively；　〃come！　The　wagon
which　is　to　convey　you　to　Mantua　is　in　readiness。　As　for　you　others；
begone；　you　have　no　longer　any　business　here。　Come；　Andreas　Hofer；
come！〃

〃Let　me　first　bless　my　wife　and　my　son；　my　friend；〃　said　Hofer；　and；
laying　his　hands　on　the　heads　of　his　wife　and　child；　he　blessed　them
in　a　loud　voice；　and　commended　them　to　the　protection　of　the　Lord。
Doeninger　knelt　behind　him；　and　Andreas　Hofer　laid　his　hand　on　his
head　also；　blessed　him；　and　thanked　him　for　his　love　and　fidelity。

〃Come　now；　come！〃　cried　the　soldiers；　and　they　seized　him　with　rude
violence　and　dragged　him　forward。

Anna　Gertrude　burst　into　loud　lamentations　in　her　grief　and　despair；
and　clung　to　Hofer　in　the　anguish　of　her　love。

〃Do　not　lament　any　longer；〃　said　Andreas；　mildly；　〃bring　your　grief
as　an　offering　to　the　crucified　Redeemer；　and　show　now　that　you　are
Hofer's　wife。　Farewell；　love！　Kiss　our　children！　Forward　now！〃

And　he　led　the　way　with　a　rapid　step。　Anna　Gertrude；　pale　as　a
corpse；　trembling　and　tottering；　seized　her　son's　hand　and　rushed
after　her　husband。　Cajetan　Doeninger　followed　them　resolutely　and
with　a　defiant　expression　of　countenance。

At　the　street…door　stood　the　farm…wagon；　covered　with　straw；　which
was　to　convey　Andreas　Hofer　to　Mantua。　Ten　soldiers　with　loaded
muskets　stood　upon　it；　and　a　crowd　of　soldiers　surrounded　it。

Andreas　Hofer　walked　calmly　and　with　head　erect　through　their　ranks
to　the　wagon。　His　wife　had　knelt　down；　she　wept　and　sobbed　bitterly；
and　embraced　convulsively　her　son；　who　gazed　in　dismay　at　his
father。

Andreas　Hofer　had　now　ascended　the　wagon。　The　soldiers　stepped　back；
and　the　driver　whipped　up　the　horses。

Suddenly；　Cajetan　Doeninger　elbowed　his　way　to　the　wagon；　and　signed
to　the　driver　to　stop。

〃I　shall　accompany　Hofer；〃　he　said；　grasping　the　side…railing　of　the
wagon　in　order　to　mount　it。

〃No；　no；〃　cried　the　jailer；　hastening　to　him。　〃You　are　mistaken；　you
are　free。〃

Doeninger；　still　clinging　to　the　railing　of　the　wagon；　turned　to
him。　〃What　said　the　general's　order？〃　he　asked。

〃It　said；　'the　young　man　is　free；　and　can　go　wherever　he　pleases。'〃

〃Well；　then；〃　said　Doeninger；　mounting　the　wagon；　quickly；　〃the
young　man　will　accompany　Andreas　Hofer　to　Mantua。　Forward；　driver；
forward！〃

The　driver　whipped　up　the　horses；　and　the　wagon　started　for　Mantua。
＇Footnote：　Donay；　the　priest　who　betrayed　Andreas　Hofer；　according
to　the　general　belief　of　the　Tyrolese；　was　soon　afterwards　appointed