andreas hofer-第27节

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first　rage　of　the　insurgents　has　blown　over。〃

〃Yes；　I　will　do　so；〃　exclaimed　Eliza；　〃I　will　run　up　to　the　castle
now。　Good…by；　dearest　mamma。〃

She　imprinted　a　kiss　on　the　hand　of　her　mother；　and　then　sped　away
as　gracefully　as　a　young　roe。

〃She　is　a　very　good　girl；〃　said　her　mother；　looking　after　her
smilingly；　〃and　has　a　soft　and　compassionate　heart。　She　wishes　to
save　the　castellan's　nephew　merely　because　she　pities　the　young　man
who　is　exposed　to　such　imminent　danger。　It　is　very　kind　of　her！　It
But；　Holy　Virgin！　what　is　the　matter　outside？　Is　the　outbreak　to
commence　already？　I　believe　it　is　my　Tony　who　is　talking　outside　in
so　loud　a　voice。　I　must　go　and　hear　what　is　the　matter。〃

She　hastened　through　the　bar…room　to　the　street…door　opening　upon
the　market　place。

Yes；　it　was　Anthony　Wallner…Aichberger　who　was　gesticulating　so
violently　yonder。　Round　him　stood　the　men　of　Windisch…Matrey；
looking　with　gloomy　faces　at　the　three　Bavarian　revenue　officers　who
were　standing　in　front　of　Wallner。

〃I　repeat；　sir；〃　exclaimed　Anthony　Wallner　at　this　moment　with　an
air　of　mock　gravity；　〃that　we　are　all　very　loyal　and　obedient
subjects；　and　that　it　is　wrong　in　you。　Mr。　Tax…collector；　to　call　us
stubborn；　seditious　fellows。　If　we　were　such；　would　we　not；　being　so
numerous　here；　punish　you　and　your　two　officers　for　speaking　of　us
so　contemptuously　and　disrespectfully？〃

〃You　know　full　well　that；　at　a　wave　of　my　hand；　the　company　of
soldiers　will　rush　down　from　Castle　Weissenstein　and　shoot　you　all
as　traitors　and　rebels；〃　said　the　tax…collector　haughtily。

〃Well；　Mr。　Tax…collector；〃　exclaimed　Wallner；　smilingly；　〃as　for　the
shooting；　we　are　likewise　well　versed　in　that。　We　are　first…rate
marksmen；　we　Tyrolese！〃

〃What！〃　cried　the　tax…collector；　furiously；　〃do　you　speak　again　of
Tyrolese？　Did　I　not　forbid　you　to　call　yourselves　so？　You　are　no
Tyrolese；　but　inhabitants　of　South…Bavaria；　do　you　hear？　His　majesty
the　King　of　Bavaria　does　not　want　any　Tyrolese　as　subjects；　but　only
Southern　Bavarians；　as　I　have　told　you　twice　already。〃　＇Footnote：
See　〃Gallery　of　Heroes；　Life　of　Andreas　Hofer；〃　p。　15。＇

〃Very　well；　if　his　majesty　does　not　want　any　Tyrolese　as　subjects；
you　need　not　tell　us　so　more　than　once；〃　exclaimed　Anthony　Wallner。
〃He　prefers　Southern　Bavarians；　does　he？　Bear　that　in　mind；
Tyrolese；　the　King　of　Bavaria　wants　only　Southern　Bavarians。〃

〃We　will　bear　that　in　mind；〃　shouted　the　Tyrolese；　and　loud；
scornful　laughter　rolled　like　threatening　thunder　across　the　market…
place。

〃You　laugh；〃　exclaimed　the　tax…collector；　endeavoring　to　stifle　his
rage；　〃I　am　glad　you　are　so　merry。　To…morrow；　perhaps；　you　will
laugh　no　longer；　for　I　tell　you；　if　you　do　not　pay　to…day　the　fine
imposed　on　you；　I　shall　have　it　forcibly　collected　by　the　soldiers
at　daybreak　to…morrow　morning。〃

〃We　must　really　pay　the　fine；　then？〃　asked　Anthony　Wallner；　with
feigned　timidity。　〃You　will　not　relent；　then；　Mr。　Tax…collector？　We
really　must　pay　the　heavy　fine；　because　we　had　a　little　fun　the
other　day？　For　you　must　say　yourself；　sir；　we　really　did　no　wrong。〃

〃You　did　no　wrong？　You　were　in　open　insurrection。　On　the　birthday　of
your　gracious　master　the　king；　instead　of　hanging　out　Bavarian
flags；　as　you　had　been　ordered；　you　hung　out　Austrian　flags
everywhere。〃

〃No；　Mr。　Tax…collector；　you　did　not　see　right；　we　hung　out　none　but
Bavarian　flags。〃

〃That　is　false！　I　myself　walked　through　the　whole　place；　and　saw
every　thing　with　my　own　eyes。　Your　flags　did　not　contain　the
Bavarian　colors；　blue　and　white；　but　black　and　yellow；　the　Austrian
colors。〃

〃Possibly　they　may　have　looked　so；〃　exclaimed　Anthony　Wallner；　〃but
that　was　not　our　fault。　The　flags　were　our　old　Bavarian　flags：　but
they　were　already　somewhat　old；　the　blue　was　faded　and　looked　like
yellow；　and　the　white　had　become　quite　dirty　and　looked　like　black。〃

〃Thunder　and　lightning！　Wallner　is　right；〃　exclaimed　the　Tyrolese；
bursting　into　loud　laughter。　〃The　flags　were　our　old　Bavarian　flags；
but　they　were　faded　and　dirty。〃

The　young　lads；　who　had　hitherto　stood　in　groups　around　the　outer
edge　of　the　market…place；　now　mingled　with　the　crowd　to　listen　to
the　speakers；　and　a　young　Tyrolese；　with　his　rifle　on　his　arm；　and
his　pointed　hat　over　his　dark　curly　hair；　approached　with　such
impetuous　curiosity　that　he　suddenly　stood　close　to　the　tax…
collector。　However；　he　took　no　notice　of　the　officer；　but　looked
with　eager　attention　at　Wallner；　and　listened　to　his　words。

But　the　grim　eyes　of　one　of　the　two　bailiffs　noticed　with　dismay
that　this　impudent　fellow　dared　to　place　himself　close　by　the　side
of　the　tax…collector　without　taking　off　his　hat。

Striking　with　his　fist　on　the　young　fellow's　hat；　he　drove　it　deep
over　his　forehead。

〃Villain！〃　he　shouted；　in　a　threatening　voice；　〃do　you　not　see　the
tax…collector？〃

The　young　fellow　drew　the　hat　with　an　air　of　embarrassment　from　his
forehead；　and　crimsoning　with　rage；　but　in　silence；　stepped　back
into　the　circle　of　the　murmuring　men。

〃That　is　just　what　you　deserve；　Joe；〃　said　Anthony　Wallner。　〃Why　did
a　smart　Tyrolese　boy　like　you　come　near　us　Southern　Bavarians　when
we　were　talking　about　public　parlour？〃

At　this　moment　a　lad　elbowed　himself　hastily　through　the　crowd。　His
dress　was　dusty；　his　face　was　flushed　and　heated　and　it　seemed　as
though　he　had　travelled　many　miles　on　foot。　To　those　who　stood　in
his　way　he　said　in　a　breathless；　panting　voice：　〃Please　stand　aside。
I　have　to　deliver　something　to　Anthony　Wallner…Aichberger；　I　must
speak　with　him。〃

The　men　willingly　stood　aside。　Now　be　was　close　behind　Wallner；　and；
interrupting　him　in　his　speech；　he　whispered　to　him：　〃I　come　from
Andreas　Hofer；　he　sends　you　his　greetings　and　this　paper。　I　have　run
all　night　to　bring　it　to　you。〃

He　handed　a　folded　paper　to　Wallner；　who　opened　it　with　hands
trembling　with　impatience。

It　was　Andreas　Hofer's　〃open　order。〃

Wallner's　face　brightened　up；　he　cast　a　fiery　glance　around　the
place　filled　with　his　friends；　and　fixed　his　flashing　eyes　then　on
the　hat　of　the　bailiff　who　had　rebuked　the　young　Tyrolese　in　so
overbearing　a　manner。　At　a　bound　he　was　by　his　side；　drove　the
bailiff's　round　official　hat　with　one　blow　of　his　fist　over　his
head；　so　that　his　whole　face　disappeared　in　the　crown；　and　exclaimed
in　a　loud；　ringing　voice：

〃Villain！　do　you　not　see　the　Tyrolese？〃

A　loud　outburst　of　exultation　greeted　Wallner's　bold　deed；　and　all
the　men　crowded　around　him；　ready　to　protect　Anthony　Wallner；　and
looking　at　the　tax…collector　with　flashing；　threatening　eyes。

The　latter　seemed　as　if　stunned　by　the　sudden　change　in　Wallner's
demeanor；　and　he　looked　in　dismay　at　the　audacious　innkeeper　who　was
standing　close　in　front　of　him　and　staring　at　him　with　a　laughing
face。

〃What　does　this　mean？〃　he　asked　at　length；　in　a　tremulous　voice。

〃It　means　that　we　want　to　be　Tyrolese　again；〃　shouted　Anthony
Wallner；　exultingly。　〃It　means　that　we　will　no　longer　submit　to
brutal　treatment　at　the　hands　of　your　Bavarian　bailiffs；　and　that　we
will　treat　you　now　as　you　Boafoks　have　treated　us　for　five　years
past。〃　＇Footnote：　Boafok；　the　nickname　which　the　Tyrolese　gave　to
the　Bavarians　at　that　time。　It　signifies　〃Bavarian　pigs。〃＇

〃For　God's　sake；　how　have　we　treated　you；　then？〃　asked　the　tax…
collector；　drawing　back　from　the　threatening　face　of　Anthony　Wallner
toward　his　bailiffs。

〃Listen　to　me；　Tyrolese；〃　shouted　Anthony　Wallner；　scornfully；　〃he
asks　me　how　the　Bavarians　have　treated　us！　Shall　I　tell　it　to　him
once　more！〃

〃Yes；　yes；　Tony；　do　so；〃　replied　the　Tyrolese　on　all　sides。

〃Tell　it　to　him；　and　if　he　refuses　to　listen；　we　will　tie　him　hand
and　foot；　and　compel　him　to　hear　what　you　say。〃

〃Well；　Mr。　Tax…collector；〃　said　Wallner；　with　mock　politeness；　〃I
will　tell　you；　then；　how　you　Bavarians　have　treated　us　for　four
years　past；　and　only　when　you　know　all　our　grievances　will　we　settle
our　accounts。　Listen；　then；　to　what　you　have　done　to　us；　and　what　we
complain　of。　You　have　behaved　toward　us　as　perjured　liars　and
scoundrels；　and　I　will　prove　it　to　you。　In　the　first　place；　then；　in
1805；　when；　to　our　intense　grief　and　regret；　our　emperor　was　obliged
to　cede　the　Tyrol　to　Bavaria；　the　King　of　Bavaria；　in　a　letter　which
he　wrote　to　us；　solemnly　guaranteed　our　constitution　and　our　ancient
privileges　and　liberties。　That　is　what　your　king　promised　in　1805。
To　be　sure；　we　did　not　put　much　confidence　in　what　he　said；　for　we
well　knew　that　when　the　big　cat　wants　to　devour　the　little　mouse；　it
treats　the　victim　at　first　with　great　kindness　and　throws　a　small
bit　of　bacon　to　it；　but　no　sooner　does　the　mouse　take　it　than　the
cat　pounces　upon　its　unsuspecting　victim　and　devours　it。　And　such
was　our　fate　too；　the　cat　Bavaria　wanted　to　swallow　the　little　mouse
Tyrol；　not　even　our　name　was　to　be　left　to　us；　and　we　were　to　be
called　Southern　Bavarians　instead　of　Tyrolese。　Besides；　our　ancient
Castle　of　Tyrol；　the　sacred　symbol　of　our　country；　was　dismantled
and　destroyed。　You　thought　probably　we　would　forget　the　past　and　the
history　of　the　Tyrol；　and　all　that　we　are；　if　we　no　longer　saw　the
Castle　of　Tyrol；　where　th