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Neuhauser and Schwarzbach； and Haspinger is still at Werfen。 They
are going to reunite their forces and advance against the Bavarians；
in order； if possible； to drive them from the pass of Lueg； which
the enemy has occupied with a large force。〃
〃And you are not with your father； Lizzie； nor with your friend the
Capuchin； who speaks of you only as a heroine？ You no longer carry
the wounded out of the thickest of the fight； to dress their wounds
and nurse them？〃
〃I have another duty to fulfil now； and my father has permitted me
to come to you in regard to it； dear father Andreas Hofer。 I am in
great distress； and you alone； dear； all…powerful commander…in…chief
of the Tyrol； are able to help me。〃
〃Tell me quick； Lizzie； what can I do for you ？〃 asked Andreas；
eagerly。 〃I owe you yet a reward for your heroic deed on the day of
the hay…wagons； and I should like to discharge this debt of the
fatherland。 Tell me； therefore； dear girl what can I do for you？〃
〃You can restore to me the dearest friend I have on earth；〃 said
Eliza； beseechingly。 〃You can deliver a patriotic girl from Bavarian
captivity； and an excellent nobleman； who has done no other wrong
than that he possesses a loyal Tyrolese heart； from grief and
despair。〃
〃I will do so with all my heart；〃 exclaimed Andreas； 〃only tell me；
Lizzie； whom you refer to。〃
〃I refer to Baron von Hohenberg； who lived at the castle of
Windisch…Matrey； and his daughter； my dear and only friend Elza。 The
old baron was always a very pious and affable gentleman； a
benefactor and father of the poor； and not a poor man； not a woman
in distress applied to him； but whom he willingly relieved and
assisted。 He lived for twenty years in the Tyrol； at his castle at
Windisch…Matrey； and became in this manner an ardent son of the
Tyrol； although he is a native of Bavaria； and his whole
aristocratic family lives in Munich。 His daughter Elza is my dearest
friend； we grew up together； and I am so fond of her that I would
readily give up my heart's blood for her。 Now； think of it； dear
Andy！ the Bavarians； on returning to the Tyrol two months ago； made
the two prisoners； the dear old baron and my Elza； and carried them
as hostages to Munich； they charged them there with high…treason；
because they stood faithfully by the Tyrol； and because； at the very
outset of the insurrection； the Bavarian soldiers and their captain
were surrounded at their castle and compelled to lay down their
arms。〃
〃Yes； yes； I know the story；〃 exclaimed Andreas； gayly； 〃it was an
heroic deed by which Anthony Wallner inaugurated our glorious war of
liberation。 And now the mean Bavarians call the good Baron von
Hohenberg a traitor； when he was quite innocent of the whole affair；
and was not even at home when it took place。 They say he left his
castle at the time in order not to prevent the Tyrolese from
capturing the Bavarians； and that he was aware of the plans of the
Tyrolese； and should have warned the Bavarians。 But I say that he
acted like a good patriot； and they ought neither to charge him with
treason nor imprison him and his daughter。〃
〃Ah； and both long so intensely to return to their dear Tyrol and
their castle！ Elza wrote me a letter which I received a week ago；
and tears had blotted out half of its contents。 Both feel so
wretched in the large city of Munich； their aristocratic relatives
upbraid them constantly for their hostility to the Bavarians； the
confinement and prison…air have already made the old baron quite
sick； and Elza thinks he will surely die of grief if he is not soon
released and allowed to go home。 Therefore； I implore you； dear；
all…powerful commander…in…chief of the Tyrol； save the old baron's
life； restore my Elza to me； and release them both from their
captivity。 This is what I came for； father Andy； and if you think
that I have ever done any thing for the fatherland that deserves
thanks and a reward； thank and reward me by releasing Elza and her
father from their captivity and allowing them to return to their
home。〃
〃I will do all I can；〃 exclaimed Andreas； profoundly moved； 〃and the
good God sent you to me to…day； for to…day I can help you。Can I
not； Doeninger？〃
〃You refer to the Bavarian officer whom you are going to send to
Munich？〃 asked Doeninger。
〃Yes； the Bavarian officer is to procure their release；〃 exclaimed
Andreas。 〃Look at the fortunate coincidence； Lizzie！ Among the
prisoners we took on Mount Isel was a Bavarian captain； a sensible；
excellent man； who； it seems to me； sympathizes cordially with the
cause of the Tyrolese。 We resolved to release him on parole and send
him to Munich； where he was to negotiate an exchange of prisoners；
and maybe bring about an amicable understanding between us and the
King of Bavaria。 The Bavarian captainI believe his name is Ulrich…
…〃
〃Ulrich？〃 asked Eliza； trembling； and blushing deeply。
〃I believe that is his name；〃 said Hofer； quietly； 〃his other name I
have forgotten； we call him only Captain Ulrich； as you call me
Andreas。 Well； Captain Ulrich has already received his instructions
and the list of prisoners whose release he is to advocate。 It will
only remain for us to add Hohenberg's name to the list； and you
yourself； my Lizzie； shall urge Captain Ulrich to restore to you the
old baron and your friend Elza。Pray； dearest Cajetan； go and fetch
the captain； he was to set out in an hour； and he must； therefore；
be here yet。〃
〃He is certainly here yet； for there are his papers； which I
intended to take to him； and without which he cannot depart；〃 said
Doeninger。 〃And here is the list of the prisoners whose release he
is to procure。〃
〃Add to it the names of the old baron and his daughter； Cajetan； and
state that their release is urgently desired。〃
〃But for whom are they to be exchanged？〃
〃Yes； yes； for whom？ Well； for Captain Ulrich himself。 If he
procures their release； and returns hither； as he solemnly swore be
would； with the reply of the Bavarian government； and； perhaps；
brings the old baron and his daughter with him； he shall be free and
at liberty to go wherever he pleases。 Go； Cajetan； say that to the
captain； and give him the papers； and repeat to him once more all
that he is to do。 And you； Lizzie； will you not send by him a note
to your friend？ But it is true； you have not yet written a letter to
her。 It is better for you to tell him what he is to say in your name
to your friend。Go； therefore； Cajetan； take the papers to the
captain； and conduct him to Lizzie。 But do not bring him in here；
for there are in the anteroom still a great many persons whom I must
see before I can converse further with you。 Take him； therefore；
into the other room； and when he is there； return to me； Cajetan。
Lizzie may then go in there and see the captain； and we shall speak
with the poor people in the audience…room who have had to wait
already so long to…day。But I shall not let you go again； my
Lizzie；〃 added Hofer； after Doeninger had left the room； 〃no； I
shall not let you go again。 You must stay with me at the palace
here； and be my dear little daughter until the captain returns from
his mission； and until you know if he