andreas hofer-第38节

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crushed　by　these　terrible　missiles。　And　when　these　trees　and　rocks
fell　into　the　depth；　and　spread　death　and　confusion　in　the　ranks　of
the　soldiers；　the　Tyrolese　profited　by　this　moment　to　aim　and　strike
down　additional　victims　by　their　rifle…bullets。

And　there　was　no　escape　for　these　poor　soldiers；　who；　exposed　to　the
fury　of　their　enemies；　did　not　even　enjoy　the　consolation　of
wreaking　vengeance　upon　them。　In　silent　despair；　and　shedding　tears
of　rage；　the　French　and　Bavarians　continued　their　march；　the　corpses
of　their　brethren；　which　the　rear…guard　met　on　the　horrible　road；
could　not　detain　them；　they　bad　to　pass　over　them；　and　abstain　even
from　coming　to　the　assistance　of　their　dying　friends；　crushed　under
their　feet；　the　latter　had　to　give　up　the　ghost。

At　length　the　gorge　widens　before　them；　the　rocks　in　front　recede　on
both　sides；　and　a　bright；　expansive　plain　opens　to　their　view。　The
soldiers　greet　this　prospect　with　loud　cheers　of　delight；　which
their　officers　dare　not　repress　in　the　name　of　discipline；　for；　on
emerging　from　an　open　grave；　a　soldier　feels　like　a　human　being；　and
thanks　God　for　the　preservation　of　his　life。　Hundreds　had　fallen；
but　several　thousands　were　left；　and　their　ardent　rage；　their　fiery
revengefulness　longed　for　the　struggle　in　which　they　might　avenge
their　fallen　comrades。　And　Fate　seemed　intent　on　fulfilling　their
wishes。　Yonder；　at　the　extremity　of　the　plain　through　which　the
soldiers　were　now　marching；　yonder；　on　the　bank　of　the　Eisach；　was
seen　a　motley　crowd　ascending　the　slopes　of　the　mountains　on　both
sides　of　the　river。

〃Yes；　there　are　the　Tyrolese；　there　are　our　enemies；〃　cried　the
Bavarians　and　French；　with　grim　satisfaction；　and　they　marched　at
the　double…quick　toward　the　bank　of　the　river。

〃The　peasants；　I　believe；　intend　to　prevent　us　from　crossing　the
river；〃　said　General　Bisson；　with　a　contemptuous　shrug。　〃They　have
taken　position　in　front　of　the　bridge　of　Laditch；　and　so　closely
that　I　can　see　nothing　of　it；〃　replied　Lieutenant…Colonel　von
Wreden。　Suddenly　he　uttered　a　cry　of　surprise；　and　looked
steadfastly　toward　the　extremity　of　the　valley；　where　the　rocks
jutted　out　again　into　it；　and　where　the　furious　Eisach　makes　a
sudden　bend　from　one　side　of　the　valley　to　the　other。　Formerly　there
had　risen　here；　between　tremendous　rocks；　the　majestic　arch　of　the
bridge　of　Laditch。　For　many　centuries　past　this　wonderful　arch　had
spanned　the　abyss；　it　was　a　monument　dating　from　the　era　of　the
ancient　Romans；　and　Caesar　himself；　perhaps；　had　crossed　this　bridge
on　his　march　against　the　free　nations　of　the　North。　But　now　this
arch　had　disappeared；　or　rather　its　central　part　had　been　removed；
and　between　its　two　extremities　yawned　a　terrible　abyss；　through
which　the　Eisach　rushed　with　thundering　noise。

〃The　Tyrolese　have　destroyed　the　bridge！〃　exclaimed　Von　Wreden；　in
dismay。

〃Ah；　the　brigands！〃　said　Bisson；　contemptuously。　〃It　will；
therefore；　be　necessary　for　us　to　construct　a　temporary　bridge　in
order　to　get　over　to　the　other　side。〃

Yes；　the　Tyrolese　had　destroyed　the　bridge　of　Laditch；　and　while　a
small　division　of　their　men　had　quickly　moved　on　to　occupy　the
Muhlbach　pass；　the　others；　under　the　command　of　Anthony　Wallner；　had
taken　position　on　the　opposite　bank　of　the　Eisach；　in　order　to
prevent　the　enemy　from　crossing　the　river。　All　the　men　from　the
neighboring　village　of　Laditch　had　joined　the　forces　of　Anthony
Wallner；　and　on　the　mountains　stood　the　sharpshooters　from　the
villages　far　and　near；　called　out　by　the　tocsin；　and　ready　to
dispute　every　inch　of　the　beloved　soil　with　the　enemy。

The　columns　of　the　Bavarians　and　French　approached；　and　shots　were
exchanged　on　both　sides。　〃Forward！〃　shouted　Anthony　Wallner；　and　he
advanced　with　his　brave　men　to　the　Puster　valley；　close　to　the
bridge　upon　which　the　enemy　was　moving　up。

The　bullets　whistled　around　him；　but　he　paid　no　attention　to　them；
he　saw　only　the　enemy；　and　not　the　dangers　menacing　him。　But　the
other　Tyrolese　saw　them　only　too　well。　Up　in　the　mountains　they　were
brave　and　resolute；　but　in　the　plain；　where　they　were　on　equal
ground　with　the　enemy　they　felt　ill　at　ease　and　anxious。　Moreover；
the　odds　of　the　enemy　were　truly　formidable；　not　only　in　numbers　but
also　in　arms。　Only　a　part　of　the　Tyrolese　were　provided　with　rifles
and　muskets；　more　than　half　of　them　were　armed　only　with　flails；
pitchforks；　and　clubs。　The　soldiers　had　not　only　their　muskets；　but
also　field…pieces；　whose　balls　thundered　now　across　the　plain　and
carried　death　into　the　ranks　of　the　Tyrolese。

Terror　and　dismay　seized　the　sharpshooters；　they　turned　and　began　to
flee　into　the　mountains。　But　an　unexpected　obstacle　obstructed　their
path。　A　number　of　intrepid　women；　who　had　flocked　to　the　scene　from
the　neighboring　villages；　met　them　at　this　moment。　They　received　the
fugitives　with　threatening　invectives；　they　drove　them　back　with
uplifted　arms；　with　flaming　eyes；　with　imprecations；　and　scornful
laughter；　down　the　slope；　regardless　of　the　bullets　whistling　around
them；　and　of　the　enemy　moving　up　closer　and　closer　to　them。　The
fugitives　are　obliged　to　turn　and　plunge　once　more　into　the
struggle；　which　becomes　more　and　more　furious。　Yonder；　close　to　the
fragments　of　the　bridge；　stand　the　Tyrolese；　here；　near　the
fragments　on　this　side　of　the　river；　are　the　soldiers　and　the　French
engineers　advancing　to　construct　a　temporary　bridge　across　the
chasm；　and　thereby　unite　again　the　disrupted　ends　of　the　ancient
Roman　structure。

The　fire　of　the　Tyrolese　becomes　weaker；　loud　lamentations　burst
from　their　ranks。　They　are　exhausted　and　weary；　owing　to　the　heavy
exertions　of　the　day；　hunger　and　thirst　torment　them；　and　their
strength　is　gone。

〃Give　us　something　to　eat！　Give　us　something　to　drink！〃　they　shout
to　the　women　occupying　the　mountain…path　in　their　rear　up　to　the
solitary　house；　the　inn　Zur　Eisach；　which　has　already　been　hit　by
many　a　ball　from　the　enemy's　guns。

〃Courage；　brethren；　courage！〃　shouted　Eliza　Wallner。　〃I　will　bring
you　refreshments。〃

And；　like　a　gazelle；　she　hastens　up　the　hillside；　skipping　from　rock
to　rock　until　she　reaches　the　battered　house。　The　bullets　whistle
around　her；　but　she　laughs　at　them；　and　does　not　even　turn　to
vouchsafe　a　glance　at　the　danger。　She　leaps　on　courageously；　now　she
reaches　the　house；　she　disappears　through　the　door；　and　no　sooner
has　she　entered　than　a　cannonball　strikes　the　wall　right　above　the
door。　After　a　very　brief　space　of　time；　Eliza　Wallner　reappears　in
the　door。　On　her　head　she　carries　a　keg；　which　she　supports　with
both　her　uplifted　arms。　With　a　serene　glance；　with　rosy　cheeks　and
smiling　lips；　a　charming　picture　of　grace；　loveliness；　and
courageous　innocence；　she　descends　the　mountain…path　again；　and　even
the　bullets　of　the　enemy　respect　her；　they　whistle　past　her　on　both
sides；　but　do　not　hit　her。　Eliza　hastens　down　the　slope；　and　now　she
reaches　the　bridge；　and　arrives　where　are　posted　the　Tyrolese；　who
receive　the　courageous　girl　with　deafening　cheers。

All　at　once　she　feels　a　jerk　in　the　keg　on　her　head；　and　immediately
after　its　contents　pour　in　a　clear　cold　stream　down　on　her　face　and
neck。　A　bullet　had　struck　the　keg　and　passed　clear　through　it。　Eliza
bursts　into　merry　laughter；　lifts　the　keg　with　her　plump；　beautiful
arms　from　her　head；　and　stops　the　two　holes　with　both　her　hands；　so
that　the　wine　can　no　longer　run　out。

〃Now　come；　boys；〃　she　shouts；　in　a　loud；　merry　voice；　〃come　and
drink；　else　the　wine　will　run　out。　The　enemy　has　tapped　the　keg；　he
wished　to　save　us　the　trouble。　Come　and　drink。〃

〃Stand　back；　Lizzie；〃　shouts　Panzl　to　her；　〃step　behind　the　rock
yonder；　that　the　bullets　may　not　hit　you。〃

〃I　shall　not　do　it；〃　said　Eliza；　with　a　flushed　face；　〃I　shall　not
conceal　myself。　I　am　a　true　daughter　of　the　Tyrol；　and　God　will
protect　me　here　as　well　as　there。Come；　boys；　and　drink。　Bring　your
glasses；　or　rather　apply　your　mouth　to　the　keg　and　drink。〃

Two　young　Tyrolese　sharpshooters　hastened　to　her。　Eliza　held　up　the
keg；　the　two　young　men　knelt　before　her　and　applied　their　mouths　to
the　holes　made　by　the　bullet；　and　sucked　out　the　wine；　looking　with
enamoured　glances　up　to　the　heroic　girl　who　looked　down　on　them
smilingly。

〃Now　you　have　drunk　enough；　go　and　fight　again　for　the　fatherland；〃
she　said；　and　signed　to　two　other　sharpshooters　to　refresh
themselves　from　the　keg。　The　two　young　men　hastened　back　to　their
comrades；　not　knowing　whether　it　was　the　wine　or　the　sight　of　the
lovely　Tyrolese　girl　that　filled　them　with　renewed　courage　and
enthusiasm。

The　two　other　Tyrolese　had　drunk　likewise。　Suddenly　another　bullet
whistles　along　and　darts　past　close　to　Eliza's　cheeks；　causing　her
to　reel　for　a　moment。　A　cry　of　dismay　burst　from　the　lips　of　those
who　saw　it；　but　Eliza　already　smiled　again；　and　she　exclaimed；　in　a
merry　voice：　〃Make　haste；　boys！　else　another　bullet　will　come　and
pierce　the　keg　again；　when　the　wine　will　run　into　the　grass。
Therefore；　make　haste！〃

Two　other　Tyrolese　hastened　up　to　drink；　then　two　more；　and　so　on；
until　the　keg　was　empty。

〃Now　you　have　refreshed　yourselves；〃　cried　Eliza；　〃and　you　must
b