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the gorge。
The form of a Tyrolese sharpshooter appeared at the same moment on
the top of the precipitous rock。 He stepped close to the edge of the
rock； allowed the soldiers； who looked around slowly and
distrustfully； to advance a few steps； and then raised his rifle。 He
fired； one of the soldiers fell immediately to the ground； and the
Tyrolese sharpshooter reloaded his rifle。 He fired again； and laid
another soldier prostrate。
The two reports had accelerated the march of the enemy。 The soldiers
entered the defile with a hasty step； in order to advance； they had
to remove the two soldiers who were writhing in the agony of death
and obstructing the narrow path； and throw them into the waters of
the Eisach； which received with a wild roar the two corpses； the
first victims of the reopening struggle。
Meanwhile the Tyrolese sharpshooter on the height above had reloaded
his rifle and shot another soldier。 On seeing this； he uttered a
loud Jodler； made a leap of joy； and nodded laughingly to the enemy；
who cast threatening glances on him。 But he did not see that one of
the officers below called four soldiers to him； pointed his hand at
the top of the rock； and gave them a quick order。 The four soldiers
sprang at once from the ranks and disappeared in the shrubbery
covering the base of the rock。
The sharpshooter was reloading his rifle； when the shrubbery behind
him rustled； and； on turning hastily； be saw one of the soldiers
rushing toward him。 A cry of rage burst from the lips of the
sharpshooter。 He then raised his rifle and fired。 The soldier fell；
but at the same moment one of his comrades hastened from the thicket
toward the top of the rock。 Another cry burst from the
sharpshooter's lips； but this time it sounded like a death…cry。 He
saw that he was lost； for already the uniforms of the other two
soldiers were glittering among the trees； and the second soldier was
only a few steps from the edge of the rock where the sharpshooter
was standing。 The Tyrolese cast a last despairing glance around him；
as if to take leave of heaven and earth； and of the mountains and
Valleys of his beloved Tyrol。 Then he threw down his rifle and
seized the soldier furiously。 His arms encircled the body of his
enemy like iron clasps； and he forced him with irresistible
impetuosity toward the edge of the rock。
〃In God's name； then；〃 he shouted in a loud voice echoed by the
rocks all around。 〃In God's name； then！〃
With a last effort he threw himself with the soldier into the depth；
and both disappeared in the waters of the Eisach。
Speckbacher's servant the faithful Zoppel； had seen and understood
everything； and when the two sank into the foaming torrent； he wiped
a tear from his eyes。
〃He died like a brave son of the Tyrol；〃 he murmured； 〃and the Holy
Virgin will assuredly bid him kindly welcome。 But we； Hisel； will
avenge his death on the accursed enemy below。〃
〃Yes； we will；〃 cried the peasant grimly； and he raised his hatchet
with a furious gesture。
〃It is not yet time；〃 said Zoppel thoughtfully。 〃Just wait until a
larger body of troops has entered the defile。 See； Hisel； how
splendid they look in their gorgeous uniform； and how proudly they
are marching on！〃
The Saxons did march on proudly； but not with drums beating。 They
advanced in silence； filled with misgivings by the profound
stillness which surrounded them all at once； listening attentively
to every sound； and examining anxiously the top of every projecting
rock。
The head of the serried column had arrived now directly under the
hanging 〃avalanche〃 in the middle of the gloomy defile。 The silence
was suddenly broken by a loud angry voice； which seemed to resound
in the air like the croaking of the death…angel。
This voice asked； 〃Zoppel； shall I cut the rope now？〃
〃Not yet！ not yet！〃 replied another voice； and the precipitous rocks
all around echoed 〃Not yet！ not yet！〃
The Saxons gave a start and looked up。 Whence came these voices？
What meant that huge black mass suspended on the precipitous side of
the mountain right over their heads？
Thus they asked each other shudderingly and stood still； fixing
their eyes on the black mass of rock and rubbish； which filled their
hearts with wonder and dismay。
〃Let us retrace our steps！ Let us not penetrate farther into the
defile；〃 murmured the soldiers with trembling lips； but in so low a
tone that the officers marching by their sides could not hear them。
But the officers； too； were filled with strange misgivings； they
ordered the soldiers to halt； and hastened back to General Royer to
report to him the mysterious words which they had heard； and to ask
him whether they were to halt or retrace their steps。
〃Advance at the double…quick！〃 commanded the general； sternly。
〃Advance at the double…quick！〃 they repeated to their soldiers along
the whole line； the latter； in obedience to this order； hurried on
under the black mass which still hung threateningly over their
heads。
All at once a powerful voice above shouted out： 〃Now； Hisel； in the
name of the Holy Trinity； cut the ropes！〃 Thereupon they heard the
strokes of two hatchets。
The soldiers； who were rushing forward in serried ranks； looked up
again； and indescribable horror seized them。 The black mass of rock
and rubbish which had hitherto hung over them； commenced moving and
rolling down with a terrible crash。 A cloud of dust rose and filled
the gloomy defile as with the smoke of powder。 At the same time a
heavy fire burst forth on all sides； and from amid the leafy screen
the deadly bullets of the sharpshooters brought death with every
discharge into the allied ranks。 A death…like silence then ensued
for a moment； for out of the depths rose the wails and lamentations
of the hundreds of soldiers who had been crushed and mutilated by
the 〃avalanche。〃 The Tyrolese； filled with curiosity and compassion；
looked down into the defile。 The smoke and dust had disappeared； and
they could distinctly survey the scene of horror； devastation； and
death； in the gorge。
Happy those whom the falling 〃avalanche〃 had hurled from the narrow
footpath into the foaming torrent！ It is true； death had been in
store for them there； but it had quickly put an end to their
sufferings。 But what was the agony of those who lay buried under the
fragments of the rocks； their limbs fearfully mutilated！ What were
the sufferings of the hundreds of soldiers lying on the road； on
this narrow； gory path； upon which the 〃avalanche〃 had thundered
down！
It was a horrible sight； even the Tyrolese trembled on beholding
this rubbish； these fragments； whence large numbers of bloody
corpses protruded； and amidst which torn； mutilated limbs were
moving； while here and there soldiers； covered all over with dust；
and bleeding from fearful wounds； tried painfully to raise
themselves from the ground。
Those of the Saxons who had not been struck by the terrible
avalanche； fell back shuddering。 When the Tyrolese saw this； their
compassion at the cruel fate of the dead gave way； and with
deafening shouts they burst forth from their concealment； and；
mingling with the enemy； a frightful slaughter t