andreas hofer-第57节

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The　window　was　closed　behind　him　immediately；　and　the　four…footed
custodian　of　the　prisoner　was　now　a　prisoner　himself。

The　yard　was　empty　now。　Schroepfel　slept　soundly　in　his　bed…chamber
up…stairs；　and　Phylax　was　revelling　in　epicurean　joys　in　the　larder。

The　yard　was　empty　now；　but　not　long；　for　the　door　of　the　house
opened　noiselessly；　and　a　human　form　stepped　out。　For　a　moment　it
stood　still　near　the　door；　and　two　voices　were　heard　whispering　in　a
low　tone。

〃Good…by；　dearest　mother；〃　said　one　voice。　〃It　is　time　now；　I　must
go。〃

〃God　and　the　Holy　Virgin　will　protect　you；　dear　Lizzie；〃　said　the
other　voice：　〃for　that　which　you　are　going　to　do　is　right　and　noble；
and　father　himself　will　see　before　long　that　you　did　right。　Go；
Lizzie；　and　return　safely。〃

〃I　shall　be　back　at　eight　in　the　morning；〃　whispered　Lizzie。　〃Until
then；　you　must　say　nothing　about　it；　dear　mother；　but　tell　father　I
wished　to　be　alone　in　my　chamber　till　the　wedding…hour。　Good…by
until　then。〃

She　imprinted　a　kiss　on　her　mother's　lips；　and　hastened　into　the
yard。　The　door　was　closed　softly。　At　this　moment　the　church…clock
struck　two。

Eliza　glided　noiselessly　across　the　yard　toward　the　large　ladder
leaning　against　the　stable。　She　lifted　it　up　with　vigorous　hands；
carried　it　across　the　yard；　and　placed　it　against　the　dwelling…
house；　so　that　its　top　reached　the　open　window　of　the　prisoner。　She
examined　if　the　ladder　stood　firm；　laid　a　few　stones　at　its　foot；　to
prevent　it　from　sliding；　and　then　ascended　it　with　cat…like　agility；
carrying　a　small　bundle　on　her　arm；　while　she　had　put　down　another
in　the　yard。

Now　she　had　reached　the　captain's　window。

〃Are　you　awake；　sir？〃　she　asked；　in　a　low　voice。

〃I　am；　Eliza；〃　whispered　a　voice　inside。　〃I　have　been　awake　and
waiting　for　you　an　hour。〃

〃Take　this；　sir；〃　she　said；　handing　the　bundle　into　the　window。　〃It
is　a　suit　of　clothes　which　you　must　put　on。　It　is　my　father's
holiday　dress；　for　you　must　not　wear　the　Bavarian　uniform　now。　You
must　put　up　for　a　few　days　with　being　disguised　as　a　Tyrolese。　Put
it　on　quickly；　and　then　wrap　up　your　uniform　in　the　blanket　in　which
I　brought　the　suit　of　clothes。　But　make　haste；　and　when　you　are
ready；　descend　the　ladder；　and　come　down　into　the　yard；　where　I
shall　await　you。　Bring　the　package　with　the　uniform　with　you；　and；
above　all　things；　make　haste。〃

She　gave　the　captain　no　time　for　reply；　but　glided　rapidly　and
noiselessly　down　the　ladder。　On　arriving　in　the　yard；　she　took　the
haversack　which　she　had　left　there；　hung　it　over　her　shoulder；　and
took　up　the　rifle。　Then　she　seated　herself　quietly　on　a　large　log
close　to　the　ladder；　and　looked　up　to　the　moon；　which　illuminated
her　face　and　her　whole　form。　Her　face　wore　a　wonderfully　calm
expression；　only　round　her　crimson　lips　quivered　at　times　something
like　hidden　grief；　and　a　tear　glistened　in　her　large；　dark　eyes。　But
when　this　tear　rolled　down　her　cheek　slowly；　Eliza　shook　her　head
indignantly；　and　brushed　it　away　with　her　hand。

〃Foolish　girl！〃　she　murmured；　〃how　can　you　weep　now？　You　must
bravely　take　your　heart　in　your　hands　now；　and　hold　it　so　firmly
that　it　can　neither　cry　nor　tremble。　You　must　be　proud　and　stiff；
and　never　forget　what　is　due　to　your　honor；　and　what　you　owe　to　your
friend　Elza。　Therefore；　do　not　weep；　but　be　a　brave　Tyrolese　girl。
To…morrow　night　you　may　weep　in　your　chamber；　for　nobody　will　see
you　there；　but　not　to…night…no；　no；　not　to…night！〃

She　shook　her　head　violently；　forced　herself　to　smile；　and　gazed
pleasantly　up　to　the　moon。　〃God　bless　thee；　golden；　rapid　wanderer！〃
she　said。　〃Thou　shalt　accompany　us　to…night；　and　pray；　dear　moon；
send　all　clouds　home；　and　remain　as　bright　and　clear　as　now；　for　our
route　is　a　dangerous　one；　and　if　thou　dost　not　help　us；　we　may
easily　fall　into　an　abyss；　andHush；　hush；　he　is　coming。〃

She　rose　and　looked　up　to　the　window；　whence　the　captain　emerged　at
this　moment；　and　appeared　on　the　ladder。

〃Throw　down　your　package；　sirI　will　catch　it；〃　whispered　Eliza。

〃Thank　you；　I　can　carry　it　myself；〃　said　Ulrich；　in　a　low　voice；　and
he　was　soon　at　the　foot　of　the　ladder；　and　standing　in　the　yard
close　to　Eliza。

〃Now　come；〃　she　said；　〃tread　lightly；　and　do　not　speak；　but　go
softly　behind　me。〃

She　left　him　no　time　for　reply；　but　walked　across；　opened　the　door
of　the　small　shed；　which　was　ajar；　went　quickly　through　it；　and
passed　through　the　opposite　door　into　the　orchard　lying　behind　it。
She　stood　still　in　front　of　the　door　of　the　shed；　and　when　Ulrich
had　emerged　from　it；　she　locked　it；　and　put　the　key　into　her　pocket。

〃Now　let　us　walk　as　fast　as　possible；　sir；〃　she　whispered。　〃We　must
walk　for　three　hours。　Keep　your　eyes　on　me；　and　follow　me　wherever　I
go。〃

〃I　will　follow　you；　Eliza；〃　said　the　captain；　earnestly；　〃wherever
you　go。　You　see　I　have　implicit　confidence　in　you；　for　I　do　not　even
ask　whither　you　intend　to　conduct　me；　or　what　you　wish　to　do　with
me。　I　place　my　life　and　my　future　in　your　hands；　and　shall　do
whatever　you　want　me　to。〃

〃It　will　be　the　best　for　you；〃　she　said；　nodding　her　head　slightly。
〃Now　come。〃

And　with　the　quick；　firm　step　peculiar　to　the　Tyrolese；　she　advanced
through　the　garden；　out　of　the　gate；　and　into　the　narrow　path
leading　through　the　valley　and　up　to　the　mountains　rising　on　the
opposite　side。　The　moon　still　shone　brightly　upon　the　valley；　and
illuminated　the　two　forms　rapidly　walking　behind　each　other；　casting
their　long；　dark　shadows　on　the　side　of　the　road。

Ulrich　yon　Hohenberg　saw　in　the　moonlight　that　Eliza　was　carrying
the　haversack　and　rifle；　he　therefore　advanced　quickly　until　he
stood　by　her　side；　and　laid　his　hand　on　her　arm。

〃Eliza；〃　he　said；　vehemently。　〃pray　let　me　carry　the　rifle　and　the
haversack；　let　me　take　your　burden　upon　myself！〃

She　looked　at　him　with　a　singular　expression。　〃Every　one　has　to
carry　his　own　burden；〃　she　said；　〃you　have　yours；　and　I　have　mine。〃

〃But　what　are　the　arms　for；　Eliza？　You　have　armed　yourself　against
me？〃

She　shrugged　her　shoulders　carelessly。　〃Were　I　afraid　of　you；　I
would　not　allow　you　to　walk　behind　me。　But　grant　me　one　request；
will　you？　〃

〃Speak；　Eliza；　and　whatever　it　may　be；　I　will　comply　with　it。〃

〃Well；　then；　sir；　be　so　kind　as　not　to　speak　with　me。　Speaking
exhausts　us　and　makes　us　absent…minded。　We　have　a　long　march　before
us；　and　must　save　our　breath；　and　devote　our　whole　attention　to　the
route；　for　it　will　lead　us　over　the　narrow　paths　of　the　chamois…
hunters；　and　a　single　false　step　may　hurl　us　into　an　abyss。
Therefore；　sir；　pray　do　not　address　me　until　I　speak　to　you。〃

〃I　will　obey；〃　said　Ulrich；　humbly。　〃Lead　the　way；　I　will　follow。〃

She　nodded　to　him；　and　advanced　through　the　narrow　valley。　The　road
soon　became　steeper；　and　led　them　past　precipices；　from　one　rock　to
another；　all　of　which　were　spanned　by　narrow　planks；　under　which
unfathomable　chasms　yawned。　Then　it　led　through　thickets　of
shrubbery　and　pine…forests；　or　down　precipitous　slopes；　and　over
small　fragments　of　rock；　which　gave　way　at　every　step；　and　rolled
into　the　depth。　Eliza　suddenly　stood　still　and　broke　the　silence　for
the　first　time。

〃You　must　not　go　behind　me　here；　sir；〃　she　said；　〃for　the　loose
stones　would　not　permit　you　to　advance。　Come　to　me；　and　give　me　your
hand。　We　must　walk　side　by　side。〃

He　was　immediately　by　her　side；　and　took　her　hand。　〃May　I　speak　now；
Eliza？〃　he　asked。

〃No；〃　she　said；　imperatively；　〃we　have　no　time　for　chatting。
Forward！〃

And　they　continued　ascending　the　mountain。　The　valley；　and　even　the
mountain…forest；　lay　already　deep　under　them。　Only　scattered　and
stunted　trees　stood　here　and　there；　and　finally　even　these
disappeared　entirely。　The　moon　commenced　paling　in　the　heavens；　and
yet　it　did　not　become　darker；　for　the　gray　twilight　was　lit　up　at
times　with　a　purple　lustre；　the　small；　scudding　clouds　began　to　turn
red；　the　pale；　foggy　mountain…peaks　colored；　and　a　strange
whispering　passed　through　the　air。

Now　they　had　reached　the　summit；　and　the　peak　on　which　they　were
standing　afforded　them　a　strikingly　beautiful　view。

〃This　is　the　place　where　we　may　rest；〃　said　Eliza；　drawing　a　deep
breath。

〃And　may　I　speak　now；　Eliza？〃　asked　Ulrich。

〃No；〃　she　said；　〃do　you　not　see　that　God　is　speaking　now？〃

And　she　pointed　to　the　part　of　the　horizon　which；　radiant　in　its
crimson　lustre；　lay　at　the　end　of　the　lovely　valley　opening　before
them。　Gazing　at　it；　Eliza　sank　noiselessly　down　on　the　fragment　of　a
rock；　and　clasping　her　hands　on　her　knees；　she　contemplated　the
glorious　spectacle　by　which　God　speaks　to　man　every　morning。

The　valley　was　still　wrapped　in　the　gloom　of　twilight；　but　behind
the　flat　and　gently…rounded　mountains　yonder　rose　the　flaming　glow
of　radiant　crimson；　and　sent　a　few　purple　clouds　as　heralds　of　the
approaching　majesty　into　the　azure　sky。　A　rosy　hue　covered　the
glaciers　of　the　Venediger　and　Gross…Glockner；　which　looked　down　in
proud　majesty　on　the　mountains　bordering　the　valley；　and　which　had
hitherto　wrapped　their　summits　in　veils　of　glistening　silver。　On
beholding　the　divine　majesty　of　the　sun；　they　dropped　their　veils；
their　summits　crimsoned　and　l