andreas hofer-第36节

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and　all　were　armed：　he　who　did　not　possess　a　gun　had　a　flail；　a
pitchfork；　or　a　club。　Like　a　broad；　motley　river；　the　crowd　was
surging　up　from　all　sides；　and　at　the　head　and　in　the　midst　of　the
war…like　groups　were　to　be　seen　priests　in　holy　vestments；　holding
aloft　the　crucifix；　blessing　the　defenders　of　the　country　with
fervent；　pious　words；　and　uttering　scathing　imprecations　against　the
enemy。

And　amidst　this　commotion　thundered　the　field…pieces；　whose　balls
crashed　again　and　again　against　the　bridge；　the　bells　were　tolled　in
the　church…steeples；　and　the　musketry　of　the　Bavarians　rattled
incessantly。　But　few　of　their　bullets　hit　their　aim。　The　Tyrolese
were　too　remote　from　them；　and　only　occasionally　a　loud　scream
indicated　that　a　half…spent　bullet　had　found　its　way　into　the　breast
of　a　Tyrolese。

More　fatal　and　unerring　were　the　bullets　of　the　Tyrolese
sharpshooters；　who　bad　concealed　themselves　on　the　heights　on　both
sides　of　the　valley；　and　fired　from　their　hiding…places　at　the
Bavarians；　never　missing　their　aim　and　picking　off　a　soldier　by
every　shot　they　discharged。

Anthony　Wallner　comprehended　the　whole　situation　at　a　glance。
〃Boys！〃　he　shouted；　in　a　ringing　voice；　〃we　must　take　the　cannon。　We
must　not　permit　the　enemy　to　destroy　the　bridge　which　the　Austrians
are　to　cross。　Let　us　attack　the　Bavarians！　We　must　take　the　cannon！〃

〃Yes！〃　shouted　the　men；　〃we　must　take　the　cannon！〃

And　the　shouts　reached　another　troop　of　armed　peasants；　who　repeated
it　with　tumultuous　enthusiasm；　and　soon　the　men　on　the　heights　and
in　the　valley　cried；　〃We　must　take　the　cannon！〃

Anthony　Wallner　gave　the　signal　to　his　sharpshooters；　and　moved　with
them　into　a　small　forest　extending　up　the　mountain　near　the　cannon。
The　courageous　men　disappeared　soon　in　the　thicket；　and；　as　if　in
accordance　with　a　general　agreement；　the　other　Tyrolese　likewise
entered　the　forest。　Below；　in　the　valley；　knelt　the　women　and
children；　and　before　them　stood　the　priests　with　their　crucifixes；
protecting　them　therewith；　as　it　were；　from　the　enemy　who　was　posted
on　the　other　side　of　the　valley；　and　whose　ranks　were　thinned　more
and　more　by　the　bullets　of　the　Tyrolese。

All　at　once；　on　the　height　above　the　cannon；　where　there　was　a
clearing；　and　where　the　rocks　were　moss…grown　and　bare；　the　Tyrolese
were　seen　rushing　in　dense　masses　from　the　forest。　They　were　headed
by　Anthony　Wallner　and　John　Panzl。　Each　of　them　jumped　on　a
projection　of　the　rocks　and　raised　his　rifle。　They　fired；　and　two
gunners　fell　mortally　wounded　near　the　cannon。

The　Tyrolese　greeted　this　exploit　of　their　leaders　with　loud　cheers；
but　up　from　the　Bavarians　resounded　the　commands　of　the　officers；　a
whole　volley　crashed；　the　bullets　whistled　round　the　ears　of　Wallner
and　Panzl；　but　none　hit　them；　and　hen　the　smoke　cleared　away；　John
Panzl　was　seen　to　make　a　triumphant　leap　in　the　air；　which　he
accompanied　with　a　shout　of　victory；　while　Anthony　Wallner　calmly
raised　his　rifle　again。　He　fired；　and　the　gunner　at　the　third　field…
piece　fell　dead。

〃Now；　boys；　at　them；　we　must　take　the　cannon！〃　shouted　Wallner；
jumping　forward；　and　the　Tyrolese　followed　him　down　the　slope　with
furious　shouts。

〃Forward；　forward！〃　shouted　the　Lieutenant…Colonel　in　the　valley　to
his　Bavarians；　〃forward！　the　cannon　must　not　fall　into　the　hands　of
the　peasants；　we　must　defend　them　to　the　last　man。　Therefore；
forward　at　the　double…quick！〃

And　the　Bavarians　rushed　forward　up　the　slope。

But　the　Tyrolese　had　already　succeeded　in　shooting　or　knocking　down
all　the　gunners；　and　taken　possession　of　the　cannon。　While　Anthony
Wallner；　at　the　head　of　a　furious　detachment　of　his　men；　hastened　to
meet　the　approaching　Bavarians；　and　hurled　death　and　destruction
into　their　ranks；　John　Panzl　remained　with　the　others　to　defend　the
guns。

A　furious　hand…to…hand　fight　now　arose；　the　Bavarians　were　repulsed
again　and　again　by　the　Tyrolese；　and　the　sharp…shooters；　posted
behind　the　trees　and　rocks；　assisted　their　fighting　brethren　with
their　rifles；　which；　aimed　steadily；　never　missed　their　man。　But　the
Bavarians。　who　were　drawn　up　farther　down　in　the　valley；　likewise
endeavored　to　assist　their　struggling　comrades：　but　the　bullets
which　they　fired　up　the　hill　frequently　struck　into　the　ranks　of
their　countrymen；　and　not　into　those　of　the　Tyrolese。　Often；　on　the
other　hand；　these　bullets　did　not　miss　their　aim；　but　carried　wounds
and　death　into　the　midst　of　the　insurgents。　Whenever　this　occurred　a
young　woman　was　seen　to　rush　amidst　the　deadliest　shower　of　bullets
into　the　ranks　of　the　fighting　men；　lift　up　the　fallen　brave；　and
carry　him　in　her　strong　arms　out　of　the　thickest　of　the　fight　to　the
quiet　spot　on　the　edge　of　the　forest；　which　a　protruding　rock
protected　from　the　bullets　of　the　enemy。

This　young　woman　was　Eliza　Wallner。　Behind　the　rock　she　had
established　a　sort　of　field　hospital；　a　few　women　and　girls　had
assembled　around　her　there；　and　taken　upon　themselves　the　sacred
care　for　the　wounded；　while　two　priests　had　joined　them　to
administer　extreme　unction　to　the　dying。　But　Eliza　Wallner　had
reserved　the　most　difficult　and　dangerous　part　of　this　work　of　love
for　herself。　She　alone　was　courageous　enough　to　plunge　into　the
thickest　of　the　fight　to　remove　the　fallen　brethren；　she　alone　was
strong　enough　to　carry　them　to　the　quiet　asylum；　and　it　was　only　the
joyous　enthusiasm　inspired　by　the　consciousness　of　doing　good　that
imparted　this　strength　to　her。　Her　eyes　were　radiant；　her　cheeks
were　flushed；　and　the　face　of　the　young　girl；　formerly　so　rosy　and
serene；　exhibited　now　the　transparent　paleness；　and　grave；　proud
calmness　which　only　great　resolves　and　sublime　moments　impart　to　the
human　countenance。

And　the　women　followed　her　example　with　joyous　zeal；　they　washed　the
wounds　of　the　brave　Tyrolese　with　water　fetched　from　the　neighboring
spring；　tore　their　handkerchiefs　and　dresses　to　make　the　necessary
bandages　of　them；　and　closed；　with　tears　of　devout　compassion；　the
eyes　of　those　who　gave　up　the　ghost　amid　the　blessings　of　the
priests。

From　these　pious　works　of　charity　the　women　were　suddenly　aroused　by
the　loud　cheers　of　the　Tyrolese。　Eliza　sprang　forth　from　behind　the
rock　to　see　what　was　the　matter。　Renewed　and　still　louder　cheers
resounded；　for　the　victory　was　gained。　Anthony　Wallner　and　his　men
had　attained　their　object。　They　had　succeeded　in　hurling　the　three
field…pieces　from　the　height　into　the　Rienz；　which　was　rolling　along
far　below　in　its　rocky　bed。　The　earth　was　shaking　yet　from　the
terrific　crash；　and　echo　was　resounding　still　with　the　thundering
noise　with　which　the　field…pieces　had　fallen　into　the　Rienz；　whose
waters　had　hurled　their　foaming　spray　into　the　air；　and　were　rolling
now　with　an　angry　roar　over　the　sunken　cannon。

This　exploit；　which　excited　the　transports　of　the　Tyrolese；　exerted
a　contrary　effect　upon　the　Bavarians。　They　had　lost　their　artillery；
and　with　it　the　means　of　blowing　up　the　bridge；　and　now　they　stood
before　the　enemy　uncovered　and　almost　defenceless。　In　obedience　to　a
loud　command　uttered　by　Anthony　Wallner；　the　Tyrolese　returned
quickly　into　the　forest；　and；　hidden　behind　trees　and　rocks；　hit　a
Bavarian　with　every　bullet；　while　the　Bavarians　vainly　fired　at　the
well…concealed　enemy。

The　commander　of　the　Bavarians；　Lieutenant…Colonel　Wreden；
perceiving　the　danger　and　uselessness　of　a　continuance　of　the
struggle；　ordered　his　troops　to　retreat；　and　no　sooner　had　the
Bavarians　received　this　longed…for　order；　than　they　fell　back　at　the
double…quick　from　the　bridge　and　took　the　road　to　Sterzing。

This　retreat　of　the　enemy　was　greeted　by　the　renewed　cheers　which
Eliza　Wallner　had　heard；　and；　both　laughing　and　weeping　for　joy；　she
hastened　to　fold　her　father　to　her　heart；　and　thank　God　that　no
bullet　had　hit　him。

Wallner　embraced　her　tenderly；　and　imprinted　a　kiss　on　her　forehead。

〃You　have　behaved　very　bravely；　Lizzie；〃　he　said；　〃I　saw　how　you
carried　our　poor　brethren　out　of　the　thickest　of　the　fight。　My　heart
was　proud　of　you；　and　I　should　not　have　wept　to…day　even　though　you
had　fallen　in　the　sacred　service　of　the　fatherland。　But　I　thank　God
that　nothing　has　happened　to　you；　and　I　beseech　you；　dearest　Lizzie；
do　not　accompany　us　any　farther。　I　now　believe　again　in　you；　and　I
know　that　you　are　a　true　daughter　of　the　Tyrol；　although　you
unfortunately　love　a　Bavarian。　Therefore　go　home；　for　it　is　no
woman's　work　that　is　in　store　for　us；　we　have　a　hard　struggle　before
us；　and　a　great　deal　of　blood　will　be　shed　before　we　have　driven　the
mean　Bavarians　and　the　accursed　French　from　our　beloved　country。〃

〃No；　father；　I　shall　stay　with　you；〃　exclaimed　Eliza；　with　eager
determination。　〃I　am　not　able　to　sit　at　home　and　spin　and　pray　when
my　father　is　fighting　for　the　country。　Mother　can　attend　alone　to
our　household　affairs；　and　Schroepfel　will　assist　her；　but　you
cannot　attend　alone　to　the　hard　work　here；　and　I　will　help　you；
dearest　father。　I　will　be　the　doctor　and　surgeon　of　your　men　until
you　have　found　a　better　and　more　skilful　physician。　You　must　not
reject　me；　dearest　father；　for　you　would　commit　wrong　against　the
poor　wounded　w