andreas hofer-第42节

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both　sides　of　the　ravine；　but　the　squares　of　the　enemy　likewise　had
been　considerably　thinned；　and　death　had　made　fearful　havoc　in　their
ranks。

〃Andreas　Hofer；〃　she　cried；　exultingly；　〃your　message　was
successful。　Our　men　are　rushing　forward。　Do　you　not　hear　their
cheers？〃

〃I　do；　and　may　the　good　God　grant　them　success！〃　sighed　Andreas
Hofer　stepping　close　up　to　Eliza。

They　saw　the　Tyrolese　emerging　again　at　the　double…quick　from　the
ravine；　and　rushing　upon　the　enemy；　who　received　them　with　volleys
of　musketry　and　artillery…fire。　But；　alas！　they　saw　the　Tyrolese
give　way　again　and　retreat；　though　more　slowly　than　before；　to　the
ravine。

〃This　will　never　do；〃　cried　Hofer；　despairingly。　〃Our　men　are
slaughtered　in　this　way；　and　cannot　reach　the　enemy；　whose　cannon
are　mowing　them　down　like　scythes。　O　God；　show　the　a　way　to　help　our
men！〃

His　eyes　glanced　despairingly　over　the　plain；　as　if　searching　for
relief。　All　at　once　a　bright　flash　of　joy　lit　up　his　features。

〃I　have　found　a　way！　I　thank　Thee；　my　God！〃　he　exclaimed；　aloud。
〃See；　Lizzie；　look　there！　What　do　you　see　in　the　plain　yonder　behind
the　ravine？〃

〃I　see　there　four　large　wagons　tilled　with　hay；〃　said　Lizzie；　〃yes；
four　wagons　filled　with　hay；　nothing　else。〃

〃And　these　wagons　filled　with　hay　will　save　us。　They　must　be　driven
toward　the　ravine　directly　toward　the　enemy；　our　sharpshooters　will
conceal　themselves　behind　them；　and　will　safely　advance；　and　when
close　enough　to　the　enemy；　they　will　discharge　their　rifles；　and
first　pick　off　the　gunners；　in　order　to　silence　the　guns　which　have
made　such　havoc　among　our　men。　Come；　Lizzie；　we　will　go　down　to
Sieberer　and　the　other　captains；　and　give　them　my　orders。　I　hope
there　will　be　four　lads　intrepid　enough　to　drive　the　hay…wagons
toward　the　enemy。〃

〃There　will　be！〃　exclaimed　Eliza；　enthusiastically。

〃It　is　only　necessary　for　one　to　risk　his　life；　and　drive　the　first
wagon。　The　other　wagons　will　be　covered　by　the　first。　But　the　driver
of　the　first　wagon　will　doubtless　be　killed；　and　I　shall　be
responsible　for　his　death。〃

〃He　will　die　for　the　fatherland；〃　exclaimed　Eliza。　〃Go；　Andreas
Hofer；　descend　and　tell　our　men　what　is　to　be　done；　for　it　is　high
tune　for　the　hay…wagons　to　come　up　and　cover　our　men。〃

〃Come；　let　us　go；　Lizzie；　give　me　your　hand。〃

〃No；　lead　the　way；　I　will　follow　you　immediately。〃




CHAPTER　XVII。

THE　HAY…WAGONS。


Andreas　Hofer　had　already　descended　half　the　mountain…path　with　a
rapid　step；　and　he　did　not　once　look　behind　him；　for　he　was　sure
that　Wallner's　daughter　was　following　him；　and　he　kept　his　eyes
steadfastly　fixed　on　his　friends　and　brethren。

But　Eliza　did　not　follow　him。　She　looked　after　him　until　the　dense
shrubbery　below　concealed　her　from　his　eyes；　then　she　knelt　down；
and；　lifting　both　her　hands　to　heaven；　exclaimed；　in　a　loud；
beseeching　voice：　〃Holy　Virgin；　protect　me！　Grant。　success　to　my
enterprise　for　the　beloved　fatherland！〃

She　then　jumped　up；　and；　quick　as　a　chamois；　scarcely　with　her　feet；
she　hastened　toward　the　point　where　the　hay…wagons　were　standing。

Meanwhile；　Andreas　Hofer　had　descended　into　the　ravine　whence
constantly　new　crowds　of　Tyrolese　were　rushing　forward；　although
they　were　driven　back　again　and　again　by　the　murderous　fire　of　the
enemy。　On　beholding　Hofer's　erect　and　imposing　form；　and　his　fine
head；　with　the　splendid　long　beard；　the　Tyrolese　burst　into　loud
cheers；　and　his　presence　seemed　to　inspire　them　with　fresh　courage。
They　advanced　with　the　most　intrepid　impetuosity。　Andreas　Hofer
called　the　brave　captains　of　his　sharpshooters　to　his　side；　and
communicated　to　them　briefly　the　stratagem　he　had　devised。

〃That　is　a　splendid　and　very　shrewd　idea；〃　said　Anthony　Sieberer。

〃The　hay…wagon　is　your　Trojan　horse　with　which；　like　Ulysses；　you
will　conquer　your　Troy；〃　exclaimed　the　learned　Ennemoser；　Hofer's
young　secretary。

〃I　do　not　know　where　Troy　is　situated；〃　said　Andreas　Hofer；　quietly；
〃but　I　know　where　the　Sterzinger　Moos　lies；　and　what　should　be　done
there。　For　the　rest；　there　are　no　horses　before　the　hay…wagons；　but
oxen；　and　it　is　all…important　that　the　gunners　should　not
immediately　hit　the　driver　of　the　first　wagon。〃

〃But　his　last　hour　has　surely　come；　and　he　may　rely　on　going　to
paradise　to…day！〃　exclaimed　Ennemoser。　〃But　look！　what　throng　is
yonder　in　the　ravine；　and　what　causes　the　women　to　shout　so
vociferously？　Their　shouts　sound　like　triumphant　cheers。　And　the
lads　now　join　in　the　acclamations　too；　and　all　are　rushing　forward
so　impetuously。〃

Indeed；　the　whole　mass　of　men　and　women　assembled　in　the　rear　of　the
ravine　rushed　forward　with　loud　shouts；　like　a　single　immense　wave；
surging　with　extraordinary　impetuosity　up　to　Andreas　Hofer　and　the
captains　standing　by　his　side。

All　at　once　this　wave　parted；　and　in　the　midst　of　all　this　eager；
shouting　throng；　which　took　position　on　both　sides　of　the　ravine；
appeared　two　of　those　broad…horned；　brown…red　oxen；　of　a　beauty；
majesty；　and　strength　such　as　can　be　found　only　in　the　Tyrol　and　in
Switzerland。　Behind　these　two　oxen　came　the　wagon　filled　up　with
hay。

But　who　drove　the　hay…wagon？　Was　it　really　the　lovely　young　girl
hanging　on　the　back　of　the　oxthe　beautiful　creature　whose　face　was
radiant　with　enthusiasm；　whose　cheers　were　glowing　like　the　morning
sun；　and　whose　eyes　flashed　like　stars？

Yes；　it　was　sheit　was　Eliza　Wallner；　who；　with　sublime　courage；
had　mounted　the　back　of　the　ox；　and　who　now　was　driving　forward　with
loud　shouts　and　lashes　of　the　whip　the　two　animals；　frightened　by
the　crowd　and　the　shots　crashing　incessantly。

〃Eliza　Wallner！〃　cried　Andreas　Hofer；　with　an　air　of　dismay；　as　the
heavily…laden　wagon　rolled　more　rapidly　forward。

She　turned　her　head　toward　him；　and　a　wondrous　smile　illuminated　her
face。　〃Send　greetings　to　my　dear　father！〃　she　exclaimed。　〃Send
greetings　to　him　in　my　name；　if　I　should　die。〃

〃I　cannot　allow　her　to　do　itit　is　certain　death！〃　cried　Andreas
Hofer；　anxiously。　〃Let　me　go　and　lift　her　from　the　ox。〃

〃No；　no；　Andreas；〃　said　Anthony　Sieberer。　〃Let　her　proceed。　The
intrepidity　of　this　young　girl　will　fire　the　courage　of　the　lads；
and；　for　the　rest；　if　lives　have　to　be　sacrificed；　the　life　of　a
girl　is　not　worth　any　more　than　that　of　a　lad。　We　are　all　in　God's
hand。〃

〃May　God　and　His　heavenly　host　protect　her！〃　said　Andreas　Hofer；
laying　his　hand　on　the　image　of　St。　George；　which　adorned　his
breast。

〃Now；　boys；〃　shouted　Anthony　Sieberer；　〃do　not　allow　the　girl　to
make　you　blush。　Quick；　march　behind　the　hay…wagon；　and　when　you　are
close　enough　to　the　enemy；　step　forward　and　shoot　down　the　gunners。〃

Ten　young　lads　hastened　forward；　amid　loud　cheers；　and　took　position
in　pairs　behind　the　wagon；　which　advanced　heavily　and　slowly；　like
an　enormous　avalanche。

There　was　a　breathless　silence。　All　eyes　followed　the　wagon；　all
hearts　throbbed　and　addressed　to　heaven　prayers　in　behalf　of　the
courageous　girl　who　was　driving　it。

Suddenly　a　cry　of　horror　burst　from　all　lips。　A　cannon…ball　had
struck　the　hay…wagon；　which　was　shaking　violently　from　the
tremendous　shock。

But　now　a　ringing　cheer　was　heard　in　front　of　the　wagon。　By　this
cheer　Eliza　Wallner　announced　to　the　Tyrolese　that　the　ball　had　not
hit　her；　and　that　she　was　uninjured。

The　cannon　boomed　again；　and　Eliza's　ringing　voice　announced　once
more　that　the　balls　had　penetrated　harmlessly　into　the　closely
compressed　hay。

Meanwhile　the　wagon　rolled　out　farther　and　farther　into　the　plain　of
the　Sterzinger　Moos。　Even　the　oxen　seemed　to　be　infected　with　the
heroism　of　their　fair　driver；　and　trotted　more　rapidly　toward　the
enemy；　whose　balls　whistled　round　them　without　hitting　them。

Suddenly　Eliza　stopped　their　courageous　trot；　and；　turning　back　her
head；　she　shouted：　〃Forward　now；　boys！　Do　not　be　afraid　of　the
Bavarian　dumplings。　They　do　not　hit　us；　and　we　do　not　swallow　them
as　hot　as　the　Bavarians　send　them　to　us！〃

The　young　sharpshooters　concealed　behind　the　wagon　replied　to　Eliza；
amid　merry　laughter：　〃No；　we　are　not　afraid　of　the　Bavarian
dumplings；　but　we　are　going　to　pick　off　the　cooks　that　send　them　to
us。〃

And　with　their　rifles　lifted　to　their　cheeks；　five　sharpshooters
rushed　forward　on　either　side　of　their　green　bulwark。　Before　the
Bavarians　had　time　to　aim　at　the　ten　daring　sharpshooters；　the
latter　raised　their　rifles　and　fired；　and　the　gunners　fell　dead　by
the　sides　of　their　guns。

The　Bavarians　uttered　loud　shouts　of　fury；　and　aimed　at　the
sharpshooters；　but　the　Tyrolese　had　already　disappeared　again；
whistling　and　cheering；　behind　the　wagon；　which　was　still　advancing
toward　the　enemy。

The　other　hay…wagons　now　rolled　likewise　from　the　ravine。　The　first
of　them　was　driven　by　another　young　girl。　Imitating　the　heroic
example　set　by　Eliza　Wallner；　Anna　Gamper；　daughter　of　a　tailor　of
Sterzing；　had　courageously　mounted　the　back　of　an　ox；　and　drove
forward　the　wagon；　filled　with　an　enormous　quantity　of　hay。　Twenty
young　sharpshooters；　encouraged　by　the　success　of　their　comrades；
followed　this　second　wagon。　Behind　them　came　the　third　and　fourth
wagons；　followed　by　twenty　or　thirty　more　sharpshoo