andreas hofer-第43节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


wagons；　followed　by　twenty　or　thirty　more　sharpshooters；　who　were
well　protected　by　the　broad　bulwark　which　the　wagons　formed　in　front
of　them。

The　gunners　had　fallen；　hence　the　cannon　no　longer　thundered　or
carried　destruction　and　death　into　the　ranks　of　the　Tyrolese；　only
the　musketry　of　the　Bavarians　was　still　rattling；　but　they　only　hit
the　hay；　and　not　the　brave　girls　driving　the；　oxen；　nor　the
sharpshooters；　who；　concealed　behind　the　hay；　rushed　from　their
covert　whenever　the　enemy　had　fired　a　volley；　raised　their　rifles
triumphantly；　and　struck　down　a　Bavarian　at　every　shot。

All　four　hay…wagons　had　now　driven　up　close　enough；　and　the
Tyrolese；　who　were　nearly　one　hundred　strong；　burst　with　cheers　from
behind　them；　and　rushing　forward　in　loose　array；　but　with　desperate
resolution；　using　the　butt…ends　of　their　rifles；　fell　with　savage
impetuosity　upon　the　Bavarians；　who　were　thunderstruck　at　this
unexpected　and　sudden　attack。

Loud　cheers　also　resounded　from　the　ravine。　The　whole　force　of　the
Tyrolese　advanced　at　the　double…quick　to　assist　their　brethren　in
annihilating　the　enemy。

A　violent　struggle；　a　fierce　hand…to…hand　fight　now　ensued。

The　Bavarians；　overwhelmed　by　the　terrible　onset　of　the　peasants；
gave　way；　the　squares　dissolved；　and　the　soldiers；　as　if　paralyzed
with　terror；　had　neither　courage　nor　strength　left　to　avoid　the
furious　butt…end　blows　of　the　peasants。

Vainly　did　Colonel　von　Baerenklau　strive　to　reform　his　lines；　vainly
did　those　who　had　rallied　round　him　at　his　command；　make　a　desperate
effort　to　force　their　way　through　the　ranks　of　the　infuriated
Tyrolese。　The　fierce　bravery　of　the　latter　overcame　all　resistance；
and　rendered　their　escape　impossible。

〃Surrender！〃　thundered　Andreas　Hofer　to　the　Bavarians。

〃Lay　down　your　arms；　and　surrender　at　discretion！〃

A　cry　of　rage　burst　from　the　pale　lips　of　Colonel　von　Baerenklau；
and　he　would　have　rushed　upon　the　impudent　peasants　who　dared　to
fasten　such　a　disgrace　upon　him。　But　his　own　men　kept　him　back。

〃We　do　not　want　to　be　slaughtered；〃　they　cried；　perfectly　beside
themselves　with　terror；　〃we　will　surrender；　we　will　lay　down　our
arms！〃

A　deathly　pallor　overspread　the　cheeks　of　the　unfortunate　officer。

〃Do　so；　then；〃　he　cried。　〃Surrender　yourselves　and　me　to　utter
dishonor！　I　am　no　longer　able　to　restrain　you　from　it。〃

And　with　a　sigh　resembling　the　groan　of　a　dying　man；　Colonel　von
Baerenklau　fainted　away；　exhausted　by　the　terrible　exertion　and　the
loss　of　blood　which　was　rushing　from　a　gunshot　wound　on　his　neck。

〃We　surrender！　We　are　ready　to　lay　down　our　arms！〃　shouted　the
Bavarians　to　the　Tyrolese；　who　were　still　thinning　their　ranks　by
the　deadly　fire　of　their　rifles　and　their　terrible　butt…end　blows。

〃Very　well；　lay　down　your　arms；〃　cried　Andrews　Hofer；　in　a　powerful
voice。　〃Stop；　Tyrolese！　If　they　surrender；　nobody　shall　hurt　a　hair
of　their　heads；　for　then　they　are　no　longer　our　enemies；　but　our
brethren。Lay　down　your　arms；　Bavarians！〃

The　Tyrolese；　obedient　to　the　orders　of　their　commander；　stopped　the
furious　slaughter；　and　gazed　with　gloomy　eyes　at　their　hated
enemies。

There　was　a　moment　of　breathless　silence；　and　then　the　Bavarian
officers　were　heard　to　command　in　tremulous　voices；　〃Lay　down　your
arms！〃

And　their　men　obeyed　readily。　Three　hundred　and　eighty　soldiers；　and
nine　officers；　laid　down　their　arms　here　on　the　plain　of　the
Sterzinger　Moos；　and　surrendered　at　discretion　to　the　Tyrolese。
＇Footnote：　〃Gallery　of　Heroes：　Andrews　Hofer；〃　p。　3l。＇

On　seeing　this；　the　Tyrolese　burst　into　loud　cheers；　and　Andreas
Hofer　lifted　his　beaming　eyes　to　heaven。　〃I　thank　Thee；　Lord　God；〃
he　said；　〃with　Thy　assistance　we　have　achieved　a　victory。　It　is　the
first　love…offering　which　we　present　to　fatherland　and　our　Emperor
Francis。〃

〃Long　live　the　Tyrol　and　our　Emperor　Francis！〃　shouted　the　Tyrolese；
enthusiastically。

The　Bavarians　stood　silent；　with　downcast　eyes　and　pale　faces；　while
the　active　Tyrolese　lads　hastily　collected　the　arms　they　bad　laid
down　and　placed　them　on　one　of　the　wagons；　from　which　they　had
quickly　removed　the　hay。

〃What　is　to　be　done　with　our　prisoners；　the　Bavarians？〃　said　Anthony
Sieberer　to　Andreas　Hofer。　〃We　cannot　take　them　with　us。〃

〃No；　we　cannot；　nor　will　the　enemy　give　us　time　for　doing　so；〃
replied　Hofer。　〃Anthony　Wallner　has　informed　me　that　a　strong　corps
of　Bavarians　and　French　is　approaching　in　the　direction　of　the
Muhlbacher　Klause。　They　must　not　meet　us　here　on　the　plain；　for　a
fight　under　such　circumstances　would　manifestly　be　to　our
disadvantage。　They　would　be　a　great　deal　stronger　here　than　we。　But
in　the　mountains　we　are　able　to　overcome　them。　They　are　the
fortresses　which　the　good　God　built　for　our　country；　and　when　the
enemy　passes；　we　shall　attack　and　defeat　him。〃

〃And　shall　we　take　the　prisoners　with　us　into　the　mountains；
commander？〃

〃No；　we　will　not；　for　we　cannot　guard　them　well　up　there；　and　they
would　escape。　We　will　not　take　the　prisoners　with　us；　but　convey
them　to　the　Baroness　von　Sternberg　at　Castle　Steinach。　She　is
ardently　devoted　to　our　cause；　and　loves　the　Tyrol　and　the　emperor。
She　will　take　care　of　the　prisoners；　and　they　will　be　unable　to
escape　from　the　large　tower；　the　Wolfsthurm；　on　the　crest　yonder；
which　you　can　see　from　here。〃

〃But　who　is　to　convey　the　prisoners　to　Castle　Steinach？　Are　we　all
to　march　thither　and　deliver　them　before　advancing　farther？〃

〃No；　no；　Anthony　Sieberer；　we　have　not　time　for　that。　We　must　bury
the　corpses　here　quickly；　and　remove　every　trace　of　the　contest；　in
order　that　the　French；　on　arriving　here；　may　not　discover　what　has
occured；　and　that　we　are　close　by。　Only　thirty　of　our　men　shall
escort　the　prisoners　to　Castle　Steinach。〃

〃Only　thirty；　commander？　Will　that　be　sufficient　for　three　hundred
and　eighty　prisoners？　If　they　should　attack　our　men　on　the　road；
they　would　beat　them；　for　they　would　be　twelve　to　one。〃

〃That　is　true；〃　said　Andreas　Hofer　in　confusion；　〃what　are　we　to　do
to　get　a　stronger　escort　for　the　prisoners？〃

He　stroked　his　beard　nervously；　as　was　his　wont　in　moments　of　great
excitement；　and　he　glanced　uneasily；　now　here；　now　there。　All　at
once　a　smile　illuminated　his　face。

〃I　have　got　it；〃　he　said　merrily。　〃Look　there；　Sieberer；　look　there。
What　do　you　see　there？〃

〃The　women　who　have　accompanied　us；　and　who　are　kissing　Eliza
Wallner　and　Anna　Gamper　for　their　heroic　conduct。〃

〃The　women　shall　help　our　thirty　sharpshooters　to　escort　the
prisoners　to　Castle　Steinach。　Our　women　have　brave　hearts　and　strong
arms；　and　they　know　how　to　use　the　rifle　for　the　fatherland　and　the
emperor。　Let　them；　then；　take　some　of　the　arms　which　we　have
conquered；　and；　jointly　with　thirty　of　our　men；　escort　the　prisoners
to　the　good　Baroness　von　Sternberg。　Oh；　Lizzie　Wallner；　Lizzie
Wallner！〃

〃Here　I　am；　commander；〃　cried　Eliza；　hastening　to　Andreas　Hofer　with
flushed　cheeks　and　beaming　eyes。

He　patted　her　cheeks　smilingly。　〃You　are　a　brave；　noble　girl；〃　he
said；　〃and　none　of　us　will　ever　forget　what　you　have　done　to…day；
and　the　whole　Tyrol　shall　learn　what　a　splendid　and　intrepid　girl
you　are。　But　I　wish　to　confer　a　special　reward　on　you；　Lizzie；　I
wish　to　appoint　you　captain　of　a　company；　and　your　company　is　to
consist　of　all　those　women。〃

〃And　what　does　the　commander…in…chief　order　me　to　do　with　my　company
of　women？〃　asked　Eliza　Wallner。

〃Captain　Lizzie；　you　are　to　escort　with　your　company　and　thirty
Tyrolese　sharpshooters　the　three　hundred　and　eighty　Bavarians　to
Castle　Steinach。　Your　arms　you　will　take　from　the　wagon　yonder；
which　Captain　Lizzie　drove　so　heroically　toward　the　enemy。　Will　you
undertake　to　escort　the　prisoners　safely　to　Steinach？〃

〃I　will；　commander。　But　after　that　I　should　like　to　return　to　my
father。　He　must　be　uneasy　about　me　by　this　time；　acid　he　would　like
also　to　know　how　the　Tyrolese　have　succeeded　on　this　side。　Oh！　he
will　be　exceedingly　glad　when　I　bring　him　greetings　from　his　beloved
Andreas　Hofer。〃

〃Go；　then；　my　dear　child；〃　said　Andreas　Hofer；　nodding　to　her
tenderly；　and　laying　his　hand　on　her　beautiful　head。

〃Go；　with　God's　blessing；　and　greet　your　father　in　my　name。　Tell　him
that　God　and　the　Holy　Virgin　are　with　us　and　have　blessed　our　cause；
therefore　we　will　never　despond；　but　always　fight　bravely　and
cheerfully　for　our　liberty　and　our　dear　emperor。　Go；　Lizzie；　escort
the　prisoners　to　Steinach；　and　then　return　to　your　father。〃

Eliza　kissed　his　hand；　then　left　him　and　communicated　Andreas
Hofer's　order　to　the　women。　They　received　it　joyously；　and　hastened
to　the　wagon　to　get　the　arms。

Half　an　hour　afterward　a　strange　procession　was　seen　moving　along
the　road　leading　to　Castle　Steinach。　A　long　column　of　soldiers；
without　arms；　with　heads　bent　down　and　gloomy　faces；　marched　on　the
road。　On　both　sides　of　them　walked　the　women；　with　heads　erect；　and
proud；　triumphant　faces；　each　shouldering　a　musket　or　a　sword。　Here
and　there　marched　two　Tyrolese　sharpshooters；　who　were　watching　with
the　keen　and　distrustful　eyes　of　shepherds'　dogs　the　soldiers
marching　in　their　midst。




CHAPTER　XVIII。

CAPTURE　OF　INNSPRUCK。