andreas hofer-第46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！


than　the　splendid　tunes　which　the　bands　of　the　Bavarian　regiments
had　played　to　them　up　to　this　time。

New　cheers　rent　the　air　at　this　moment。　A　squad　of　peasants　brought
the　great　imperial　eagle；　which　they　had　taken　down　from　the　tomb　of
Maximilian　in　the　High　Church　of　Innspruck。　They　had　decorated　it
with　red　ribbons；　and　carried　it　amid　deafening　acclamations　through
the　streets。　On　beholding　the　eagle　of　Austria；　the　excited　masses
set　no　bounds　to　their　rejoicings；　they　flocked　in　crowds　to　gaze　at
it；　citizens　and　peasants　vied　in　manifesting　their　devotion　to　the
precious　emblem；　they　blessed　it　and　kissed　it。　No　one　was　permitted
to　stay　a　long　while　near　it；　for　the　impatience　of　his　successor
compelled　him　to　pass　on。　But　an　aged　man；　with　silvery　hair；　but
with　a　form　still　vigorous　and　unbent；　would　not　allow　himself　to　be
pushed　on　in　this　manner。　An　hour　ago　he　had　fought　like　a　lion　in
the　ranks　of　the　Tyrolese；　and　anger　and　rage　had　flashed　from　his
face；　but　now；　at　the　sight　of　the　Austrian　eagle；　he　was　as　mild
and　gentle　as　a　lamb；　and　only　love　and　blissful　emotion　beamed　from
his　face。　He　encircled　the　eagle　with　both　his　arms；　kissed　the　two
heads　and　gilded　crowns；　and；　stroking　the　carved　plumes　tenderly；
exclaimed：　〃Well；　old　eagle；　have　your　plumes　really　grown　again？
Have　you　returned　to　the　loyal　Tyrol　to　stay　here　for　all　time　to
come？　Will〃

Loud　cheers　interrupted　him　at　this　moment。　Another　crowd　of
Tyrolese　came　up　the　street；　preceded　by　four　peasants；　who　were
carrying　two　portraits　in　fine　golden　frames。

Deafening　acclamations　rent　the　air　as　soon　as　the　people　beheld
these　two　portraits。　Everybody　recognized　them　as　those　of　the
Emperor　Francis　and　the　Archduke　John。　The　peasants　had　found　them
in　the　old　imperial　palace。

〃John！〃　shouted　the　people　in　the　streets；　and　in　the　houses　which
the　procession　passed　on　its　march　through　the　city。　Even　the
Austrian　eagle；　which　had　been　greeted　so　tenderly；　was　forgotten　at
the　sight　of　the　two　portraits；　and　all　accompanied　this　solemn
procession　of　love　and　loyalty。

This　procession　moved　through　the　whole　city　until　it　finally
reached　the　triumphal　arch　which　Maria　Theresa　had　ordered　to　be
erected　in　honor　of　the　wedding　of　her　son　Leopold。　The　Tyrolese
placed　the　portraits　of　Leopold's　two　sons　on　this　triumphal　arch；
and　surrounded　them　by　candles　kept　constantly　burning；　every　one
then　bent　his　knee；　and　exclaimed：　〃Long　live　the　Emperor　Francis！
Long　live　our　dear　Archduke　John！〃　Woe　unto　him　who　should　have
dared　to　pass　these　portraits　without　taking　off　his　hat！　the
Tyrolese　would　have　compelled　him　to　do　it；　and　to　bend　his　knee。

〃Well；〃　they　exclaimed；　〃there　is　our　Francis；　and　there　is　our
John。　Look；　does　it　not　seem　as　though　he　were　smiling　at　us；　and
were　glad　of　being　here　again　and　able　to　gaze　at　us？　Long　live　our
dear　Archduke　John！〃

And　they　again　burst　into　cheers　which；　if　the　Archduke　John　had
been　able　to　hear　them；　would　have　filled　his　heart　with　delight　and
his　eyes　with　tears。

These　rejoicings　around　the　eagle　and　the　portraits　lasted　all　day。
The　whole　city　presented　a　festive　spectacle；　and　the　overjoyed
Tyrolese　scarcely　thought　to…day　of　eating　and　drinking；　much　less
of　the　dangers　which　might　menace　them。　They　sang；　and　shouted；　and
laughed；　and　when　night　came　they　sank　down　exhausted　by　the　efforts
of　the　fight；　and　still　more　by　their　boundless　rejoicings；　to　the
ground　where　they　were　standing；　in　the　streets；　in　the　gardens；　in
the　fields；　and　fell　asleep。

Profound　silence　reigned　now　in　the　streets　of　Innspruck。　It　was
dark　everywhere；　bright　lights　beamed　only　from　the　portraits　of　the
emperor　and　the　Archduke　John；　and　the　stars　of　heaven　looked　down
upon　the　careless　and　happy　sleepers；　the　victors　of　Innspruck。

They　slept；　dreaming　of　victory　and　happiness。　Woe　to　them　if　they
sleep　too　long　and　awake　too　late；　for　the　enemy　does　not　sleep！　He
is　awake　and　approaching；　while　the　victors　are　sleeping。




CHAPTER　XIX。

THE　CAPITULATION　OF　WILTAU。


The　Tyrolese　were　still　asleep；　and　profound　stillness　reigned　yet
in　the　streets　of　Innspruck；　although　it　was　already　after　daybreak；
and　the　first　rays　of　the　rising　sun　shed　a　crimson　lustre　on　the
summits　of　the　mountains。　All　at　once　this　silence　was　broken　by　a
strange；　loud；　and　plaintive　note　which　seemed　to　resound　in　the
air；　it　was　followed　by　a　second　and　third　note；　and；　as　if
responding　to　these　distant　calls；　the　large　bell　of　the　High　Church
of　Innspruck　aroused　with　its　ringing　voice　the　weary　sleepers　to
renewed　efforts。

They　raised　themselves　from　the　ground；　they　listened；　still　drowsy；
to　these　strange　notes　in　the　air。　Suddenly　two　horsemen　galloped
through　the　streets；　and　their　clarion　voices　struck　the　ears　of　the
Tyrolese。

〃Up；　sleepers！〃　cried　Joseph　Speckbacher；　〃do　you　not　hear　the
tossing？　Rise；　rise；　take　your　rifles！　the　French　and　Bavarians　are
at　the　gates　of　the　city；　and　we　must　meet　them　again。〃

〃Rise；　Tyrolese！〃　shouted　Major　Teimer；　〃the　French　and　Bavarians
are　coming。　We　must　prevent　them　from　penetrating　into　Innspruck。　We
must　barricade　the　gates；　and　erect　barricades　in　the　streets。〃

The　Tyrolese　jumped　up；　fresh；　lively；　and　ready　for　the　fray。　Their
sleep　had　strengthened　them；　and　yesterday's　victory　had　steeled
their　courage。　The　enemy　was　there；　and　they　were　ready　to　defeat
him　the　second　time。

The　bells　of　all　the　churches　of　Innspruck　were　now　rung；　and　those
of　the　neighboring　village　steeples　responded　to　them。　They　called
upon　the　able…bodied　men　to　take　up　arms　against　the　enemy；　whose
advanced　guard　could　be　seen　already　on　the　crests　yonder。　Yes；
there　was　no　mistake　about　it：　those　men　were　the　French　and
Bavarians；　who　were　descending　the　slope　and　approaching　in　strong
columns。

A　Tyrolese　rushed　into　the　city。　〃The　French　are　coming！〃　he
exclaimed；　panting　and　breathless。　〃I　have　hurried　across　the
mountains　to　bring　you　the　news。　It　is　General　Bisson　with　several
thousand　French　troops；　and　Lieutenant…Colonel　Wreden　with　a　few
hundred　Bavarians。　We　had　a　hard　fight　with　them　yesterday　at　the
bridge　of　Laditch　and　in　the　Muhlbacher　Klause；　but　they　were　too
strong；　and　were　joined　yesterday　by　another　French　column；
therefore；　we　were　unable　to　capture　them；　and　had　to　let　them　march
on。　We　killed　hundreds　of　their　soldiers；　but　several　thousands　of
them　escaped；　and　are　coming　now　to　Innspruck。〃

〃They　will　not　come　to　Innspruck；　for　we　are　much　stronger　than　they
are；　and　we　will　not　let　them　enter　the　city；〃　exclaimed
Speckbacher；　courageously。

〃No；　we　will　not；　except　in　the　same　manner　in　which　you　brought　the
cavalry　into　the　city　yesterday；　that　is；　to　imprison　them　in　the
barracks；〃　said　Major　Teimer。

〃Yes；　yes；　we　will　do　so；〃　shouted　the　Tyrolese；　〃we　will　let　the
French　come　to　Innspruck；　but　only　as　our　prisoners。〃

〃Well；　let　us　be　up　and　doing　now；　my　friends；〃　exclaimed
Speckbacher。　〃We　must　fortify　the　city　against　the　enemy。　Having
gone　thus　far　yesterday；　we　cannot　retrace　our　steps　to…day。　But　we
do　not　want　to　retrace　them；　do　we〃

〃No；　we　do　not！〃　cried　the　Tyrolese。

〃We　have　raised　the　Austrian　eagle　again；〃　said　Major　Teimer；　〃and
the　portraits　of　the　emperor　and　our　dear　Archduke　John　are　looking
down　upon　us　from　the　triumphal　arch。　They　shall　see　that　we　are
good　soldiers　and　loyal　sons　of　our　country。　Forward；　men；　let　us　be
up　and　doing！　Barricade　the　city；　the　streets；　and　the　houses；　make
bullets；　and　put　your　arms　ready。　The　French　are　coming　Hurrah！　Long
live　the　emperor　Francis　and　the　Archduke　John！〃

Deafening　cheers　responded　to　him；　and　then　the　Tyrolese　rushed
through　the　streets　to　barricade　the　city　in　accordance　with
Teimer's　orders。

The　gates　were　immediately　barricaded　with　casks；　wagons；　carts；　and
every　thing　that　could　be　found　for　that　purpose；　and　the　approaches
to　the　city　were　filled　with　armed　men；　ready　to　give　the　enemy　a
warm　reception。　The　doors　of　the　houses　were　locked　and　bolted；　and
frantic　women　within　them　boiled　oil　and　water　which　they　intended
to　pour　on　the　heads　of　the　soldiers　in　case　they　should　succeed　in
forcing　their　way　into　the　city；　bullets　were　made　and　stones　were
carried　to　the　roofs；　whence　they　were　to　be　hurled　on　the　enemy。
Meanwhile　the　tocsin　resounded　incessantly；　as　if　to　invite　the
Tyrolese　to　redoubled　efforts　and　increased　vigilance。

The　tocsin；　however；　had　aroused　not　only　the　Tyrolese；　but　also　the
Bavarians　who　were　locked　up　in　the　barracks；　the　prisoners
understood　full　well　what　the　bells　were　proclaiming。　To　the
Tyrolese　they　said：　〃The　enemy；　your　enemy；　is　approaching。　He　will
attack　you。　Be　on　your　guard！〃　To　the　prisoners　they　proclaimed：
〃Your　friends　are　approaching。　They　will　deliver　you。　Be　ready　for
them！〃　And　now　the　Bavarians　began　to　become　excited；　their　eyes
flashed　again；　the　clouds　disappeared　from　their　humiliated　brows；
and　with　loud；　scornful　cheers　and　fists　clinched　menacingly；　they
stepped　before　their　Tyrolese　guards　and　cried：　〃Our　friends　are
coming。　They　will　deliver　us　and　punish　you；　and