andreas hofer-第39节

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until　the　keg　was　empty。

〃Now　you　have　refreshed　yourselves；〃　cried　Eliza；　〃and　you　must
bravely　return　to　the　struggle。〃

And　the　Tyrolese　took　position　on　the　river…bank；　with　redoubled
courage　and　enthusiasm；　to　prevent　the　French　from　finishing　the
temporary　bridge。

But　the　fire　of　the　enemy　thinned　the　ranks　of　the　Tyrolese
fearfully；　their　shots　became　few　and　far　between；　and　gradually　a
regular　panic　seized　them。　They　began　to　give　way；　even　the　scornful
cries　of　the　women；　who　tried　to　obstruct　their　path；　were　powerless
to　keep　them　back。　They　pushed　the　women　aside；　and　rushed
resistlessly　up　the　mountain…path。

At　this　moment　loud　cheers　burst　from　the　lips　of　the　enemy。　The
Tyrolese　started。　They　looked　back；　and　saw　to　their　dismay　that　the
engineers　had　succeeded　in　finishing　the　temporary　bridge　across　the
Eisach；　and　that　nothing　prevented　the　enemy　now　from　passing　over
to　their　side　of　the　river。

〃Surrender！　Lay　down　your　arms！〃　shouted　Lieutenant…Colonel　von
Wreden；　on　the　other　bank。

The　Tyrolese　were　silent；　and　gazed　with　mute　dismay　upon　the
bridge。　All　at　once　they　heard　a　voice　resounding　on　the　hills　above
them　as　it　were　from　the　clouds。　This　voice　shouted。　〃The
imperialists　are　coming！　The　Austrians；　our　saviours；　are　coming！〃

And　at　the　same　time　a　detachment　of　light…horse　appeared　on　the
heights　of　Schaps。　They　galloped　down　the　slope；　and　were　followed
by　several　companies　of　chasseurs　and　infantry；　who　rushed　down　at
the　double…quick。

Loud；　exulting　cheers　burst　from　the　lips　of　the　Tyrolese；　and　found
thundering　echoes　in　the　mountains　and　gorges。

The　French　and　Bavarians　started；　for　this　sudden　apparition　took
them　completely　by　surprise；　they　had　not　even　suspected　that　the
Austrians　had　already　invaded　the　Tyrol。　They　hesitated；　and　did　not
venture　to　cross　the　river。

This　hesitation　of　the　enemy　and　the　arrival　of　the　Austrians　filled
the　Tyrolese　with　transports。　Some　threw　down　their　rifles　to
embrace　each　other　and　swing　their　hats　merrily；　while　others　were
dancing　with　their　rifles　as　though　they　were　their　sweethearts；　and
others　again　sang　and　warbled　ringing　Tyrolese　Jodlers。　Finally；
some　of　them；　filled　with　profound　emotion　and　fervent　gratitude；
sank　down　on　their　knees　to　thank　God　for　this　wonderful　rescue　and
the　long…wished…for　sight　of　the　dear　Austrian　uniforms。

The　French　and　Bavarians；　in　the　mean　time；　thunderstruck　at　the
sudden　arrival　of　the　Austrians；　whose　numbers　they　were　as　yet
unable　to　ascertain；　had　made　a　retrograde　movement　in　their　first
terror。　But　this　did　not　last　long。　〃If　we　do　not　want　to　perish
here　to　the　last　man；　we　must　try　to　force　a　passage；〃　said　General
Bisson。　〃Forward；　therefore；　forward！〃

The　troops　moved；　and　began　to　march　across　the　bridge。

But　now　the　Austrians　had　come　close　up　to　them。　The　Tyrolese
received　them　with　deafening　shouts　of　〃Long　live　the　Emperor
Francis！　Long　live　Austria！〃

Then　they　turned　once　more　with　fervent　enthusiasm　toward　the　enemy。
〃Down　with　the　base　Bavarians！　Forward！　forward！　Down　with　them！〃
they　shouted　on　all　sides；　and　the　Tyrolese　rushed　with　furious
impetuosity　upon　the　enemy。　Their　scythes　and　flails　mowed　down
whole　ranks；　and　many　soldiers　were　soon　laid　prostrate　by　the
unerring　aim　of　the　mountain　sharpshooters。　Mountains　of　corpses
were　piled　up；　rivers　of　blood　flowed　down　into　the　waters　of　the
Eisach；　and　the　crimson…colored　waves　carried　down　through　the　Tyrol
the　intelligence　that　the　struggle　for　the　fatherland　had　commenced。

Nevertheless；　the　forces　of　the　enemy　were　too　numerous　for　the
Tyrolese　and　the　small　advanced　guard　of　the　Austrians　to　annihilate
them　entirely。　The　Bavarians　and　French　forced　a　passage　through　the
ranks　of　their　enthusiastic　enemies　with　the　courage　and　wrath　of
despair；　hundreds　of　them　remained　dead　on　the　bloody　field；　but
nearly　two　thousand　ascended　the　Eisach　toward　Sterzing。

Anthony　Wallner　beckoned　to　his　daughter；　and　stepped　with　her
behind　a　jutting　rock。　〃First；　Lizzie；　my　heroic　girl；　give　me　a
kiss；〃　he　said；　encircling　her　with　one　of　his　arms；　and　pressing
her　fondly　to　his　broad　breast。　〃You　have　been　your　father's　joy　and
pride　to…day；　and　I　saw　that　the　dear　little　angels　were　protecting
you；　and　that　the　bullets　for　this　reason　whistled　harmlessly　around
you。　Hence；　you　are　now　to　render　an　important　service　to　the
fatherland。　I　must　send　a　messenger　to　Andreas　Hofer；　but　I　need　the
men　for　fighting　here；　and；　moreover；　the　enemy　might　easily　catch
my　messenger。　But　he　will　allow　a　Tyrolese　girl　like　you　to　pass
through　his　lines；　and　will　not　suspect　any　thing　wrong　about　her。
Now　will　you　take　my　message　to　Andreas　Hofer？〃

〃I　will；　father。〃

〃Run；　then；　my　daughter；　run　along　the　mountain…paths；　you　can　climb
and　leap　like　a　chamois；　and　will　easily　get　the　start　of　the　enemy；
who　is　marching　on　the　long　roads　in　the　valley。　Hasten　toward
Sterzing。　If　all　has　passed　off　as　agreed　upon；　you　will　find
Andreas　Hofer　there。　Tell　him　now　in　my　name　that　the　Austrians　are
coming　up　from　Salzburg　and　that　I　have　done　my　duty　and　redeemed　my
pledge。　Tell　him　further　that　the　whole　Puster　valley　is　in
insurrection；　and　that　we　are　bravely　at　work；　and　driving　the
Bavarians　and　French　from　the　country。　But　tell　him　also　to　be　on
his　guard；　for　we　have　not　been　able　to　annihilate　the　enemy
entirely；　and　they　will　soon　make　their　appearance　at　Sterzing。　Let
him　be　ready　to　receive　the　enemy　there　as　they　deserve　it。〃

〃Is　that　all；　dearest　father？〃

〃Yes；　Lizzie；　it　is。　Tell　Andy　what　has　happened　here；　and　do　not
forget　to　tell　him　how　you　brought　down　the　keg　of　wine　that　the
boys　might　drink　courage　from　it。〃

〃No；　father；　I　shall　not　tell　him　that。　It　would　look　as　though　I
thought　I　had　done　something　great；　and　wished　to　be　praised　for　it。
But　now；　farewell；　dearest　father。　I　will　hasten　to　Andreas　Hofer。〃

〃Farewell；　dearest　Lizzie。　The　angels　and　the　Holy　Virgin　will
protect　you。　I　have　no　fears　for　your　safety。〃

〃Nor　I　either；　dearest　father。　The　good　spirits　of　the　mountain　will
accompany　me。　Farewell！〃

She　kissed　her　hands　to　him；　and　bounded　up　the　mountain…path　with
the　speed　and　gracefulness　of　a　gazelle。




CHAPTER　XVI。

ON　THE　STERZINGER　MOOS。


While　these　events　were　going　on　below　Brixen；　Andreas　Hofer　had
marched　with　the　men　of　the　Passeyr　valley　across　the　Janfen。　The
inhabitants　everywhere　had　received　him　with　loud　exultation；　they
had　risen　everywhere；　ready　to　follow　him；　to　fight　under　him　for
the　deliverance　of　the　fatherland；　and　to　stake　their　fortunes　and
their　lives　for　the　emperor　and　the　beloved　Tyrol。　Hofer's　column
accordingly　gained　strength　at　every　step　as　it　advanced。　He　had　set
out　with　a　few　hundred　men　on　the　9th　of　April；　and　now；　on　the
morning　of　the　11th　of　April；　already　several　thousand　men　had
rallied　around　him；　and　with　them　he　had　reached　the　heights　of
Sterzing。　Andreas　Hofer　halted　his　men　here；　where　he　had　a　splendid
view　of　the　whole　plain；　and　ordered　his　Tyrolese　to　encamp　and
repose　after　their　long　and　exhausting　march。　He　himself　did　not
care　for　repose；　for　his　heart　was　heavy　and　full　of　anxiety；　and
his　glance；　usually　so　serene；　was　clouded　and　sombre。

While　the　others　were　resting　and　partaking　gayly　of　the　wine　and
food　which　the　women　and　girls　of　the　neighboring　villages　had
brought　to　them　with　joyous　readiness；　Andreas　Hofer　ascended　a　peak
from　which　he　had　a　full　view　of　the　mountain…chains　all　around　and
the　extensive　plain　at　his　feet。　His　friend　and　adjutant；　Anthony
Sieberer；　had　followed　him　noiselessly；　and　on　perceiving　him；
Andreas　Hofer　smiled　and　nodded　pleasantly　to　him。

〃See；　brother；〃　he　said；　pointing　with　a　sigh　down　to　the　valley；
〃how　calm　and　peaceful　every　thing　looks！　There　lies　Sterzing；　so
cozy　and　sweet；　in　the　sunshine；　the　fruit…trees　are　blossoming　in
its　gardens；　the　daisies；　primroses；　and　hawthorns　have　opened　their
little　eyes；　and　are　looking　up　to　heaven　in　silent　joy。　And　now　I
am　to　disturb　this　glorious　peace　and　tranquillity；　tear　it　like　a
worthless　piece　of　paper；　and　hurl　it　like　Uriah's　letter；　into　the
faces　of　the　people。　Ah；　Sieberer；　war　is　a　cruel　thing；　and　when　I
take　every　thing　into　consideration；　I　cannot　help　thinking　that　men
commit　a　heavy　sin　by　taking　the　field　in　order　to　slay；　shoot；　and
stab；　as　though　they　were　wild　beasts　bent　on　devouring　one　another；
and　not　men　whom　God　created　after　His　own　likeness；　and　I　ask
myself；　in　the　humility　of　my　heart；　whether　or　not　I　have　a　right
to　instigate　my　dear　friends　and　countrymen　to　follow　me　and　attack
men　who　are　our　brethren　after　all。〃

〃If　you　really　ask　yourself　such　questions；　and　have　lost　your
courage；　then　we　are　all　lost；〃　said　Sieberer；　gloomily。　〃It　is
Andreas　Hofer　in　whom　the　men　of　the　Passeyr　valley　believe；　and
whom　they　are　following　into　the　bloody　struggle。　If　Hofer
hesitates；　all　will　soon　despond；　and　it　would　be　better　for　us　to
retrace　our　steps　at　once；　and　allow　Bonaparte　and　the　French　to
trample　us　again　in　the　dust；　instead　of　lifting　our　heads　like
freem