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〃And the enemy acts with merciless cruelty in the country；〃 said
Siebermeier； furiously； 〃he sets whole villages on fire if he thinks
that one of the fugitives is concealed here； he imposes on the
people heavy war…taxes； which we are unable to pay； and if we say we
have no money； he takes our cattle and other property from us。 Wails
and lamentations are to be heard throughout the valley； that is all
we have gained by our bloody struggle！〃
At this moment the door opened； and Eliza came in； not however in
her own dress； but in the costume of a Tyrolese peasant…lad。
〃Heavens！ she has put on her brother William's Sunday clothes；〃
cried her mother； with a mournful smile； 〃and they sit as well on
her as if they had been made for her。〃
〃Now； Siebermeier；〃 said Eliza； holding out her hand to him； 〃give
me the passport。 The moon is rising now； and I must go；〃
〃But listen； my daughter； how the wind howls！〃 cried her mother； in
deep anguish。 〃It beats against the windows as if to warn us not to
go out。 Oh； Lizzie； my last joy； do not leave me！ I have no one left
but you； stay with me； my Lizzie； do not leave your poor mother！ You
will die in the attempt； Lizzie！ Stay here； have mercy upon me； and
stay here！〃
〃I must go to father；〃 replied Eliza。 disengaging herself gently
from her mother's arms。 〃Give me the passport； friend Siebermeier。〃
〃You are a brave girl；〃 said Siebermeier； profoundly moved； 〃the
good God and the Holy Virgin will protect you。 There； take the
passport； you are worthy to carry it to your father。〃
〃And I shall carry it to him or die on the road；〃 cried Eliza；
enthusiastically； waving the paper。 〃Now； dear mother； do not weep；
but give me your blessing！〃
She knelt down before her mother； who had laid her hand on her head。
〃Lord； my God；〃 she exclaimed； solemnly； 〃protect her graciously in
her pious effort to save her father。 Take your mother's blessing； my
Lizzie； and think that her heart and love accompany you。〃
She bent over her； and imprinted a long kiss on her daughter's
forehead。
〃I must go now； it is high time；〃 said Eliza； making a violent
effort to restrain her tears。 〃Farewell； friend Siebermeier； God and
the saints will reward you for the service you have rendered us。〃
〃My best reward will be to learn that Wallner is safe；〃 said
Siebermeier； shaking hands with her。
〃Now； a last kiss； dearest mother；〃 said Eliza。 She encircled her
mothers neck with both her arms； and kissed her tenderly。 〃Pray for
me and love me。〃 She whispered； 〃and if I should not come back； if I
should lose my life； mother； write it to Elza and to HIM； and write
that I died with love and fidelity in my heart。 Farewell！〃
She disengaged herself quickly and hastened out of the room；
regardless of the despairing cries of her mother； and not even
looking back to her。 It was high time for her to set out。
She was in the street now。 The snow rushed furiously into her face；
the bowling storm dashed madly against her cheeks until they became
very sore； but the moon was in the heavens and lighted her path。 It
was the same path which she had ascended with Ulrich when saving
him。 She was alone now； but her courage and her trust in God were
with her； strengthened and refreshed by her love for her father； she
ascended the steep mountain path。 At times the piercing wind
rendered her breathless and seized her with such violence that she
had to cling to a projecting rock in order not to fall from the
barrow path into the abyss yawning at her feet。 At times avalanches
rolled close to her with thundering noise into the depth and
enveloped her in a cloud of snow； but the moon shed her silver light
on her path； and Eliza looked up courageously。
Forgetful of her own danger； she prayed in her heart only； 〃God
grant that I may save my father！ Let me not die before reaching
him！〃
CHAPTER XLIII。
THE FLIGHT。
Anthony Wallner sat in his lonely Alpine hut on the height near the
village of Ober…Peischlag； and listened to the storm； which howled
so loudly to…night that the but shook and he was unable to sleep on
his couch of straw。 He had lighted his lamp； and sat musingly at the
pine table； leaning his head on his hand； and brooding mournfully
over his dreary future。 How long would he have to remain herein his
open grave？ How lone would he be chased yet； like a wild beast； from
mountain to mountain？ How long would he be obliged yet to lead an
idle and unprofitable life in this frozen solitude； exposed to the
fury of the elements； and in constant dread of losing this miserable
life？ These were the questions that he asked himself； intense rage
seized his heart； tears of bitter grief filled his eyesnot
however； at his own misfortunes； but at the miseries of his
fatherland。
〃What am I suffering for？ What did I fight and risk my life for？
What did we all shed our blood for？ What did our brethren die for on
the field of battle？ The fatherland was not saved； the French
defeated us； and our emperor abandoned us。 We were brave defenders
of our country； and now they call us criminals； we intended to save
the fatherland； and now they call us rebels and traitors！ The
emperor gives us away like a piece of merchandise； regardless of his
sacred pledges； and the French are chasing us as though we were
thieves and murderers！ And Thou sufferest it； God in heaven？ Thou
Hark！ did not that sound like a shot？ Is it the wind that is
knocking so loudly at my door？〃
He sprang to his feet； took up his rifle； cocked it； and aimed at
the door。
There was another knocking at the door； no； it was assuredly not the
storm that was rapping and hammering at it so regularly。 No； no； it
was the enemy！ He had spied him out； he had discovered his track； he
had come to seize him！
〃I will sell my life dearly；〃 murmured Anthony Wallner； grimly。 〃I
will shoot down the first man who opens the door； then I will force
a passage through the ranks with the butt…end of my rifle； and〃
〃Father；〃 cried a voice outside； 〃father； open the door！〃
〃Great God！〃 murmured Wallner； 〃did not that sound like my Lizzie
calling me？ But that is impossible； it cannot be she； she cannot
have ascended the mountain…path； the storm would have killed her；
and〃
〃Father； dear father； pray open the door；〃 shouted the voice again；
and somebody shook the door。
Wallner laid down his rifle and hastened to the door。 〃May God
protect me if they deceive me； but I believe it is Lizzie。〃
He threw open the door； the little Tyrolese lad rushed in； embraced
him tenderly； kissed him with his cold lips； and whispered； 〃My
father！ thank God； I am with you！〃
〃It is Lizzie！〃 cried Wallner； in a ringing voice。 〃She has come
tome through night and storm！ It is my daughter； my dear； dear
daughter！ Oh； joy of my heart； how were you able to get up here in
this terrible night？ No man would have dared to attempt it。〃
〃But I dared it； father； for I am your child； and love you。〃
〃You love me； and I thank God！〃 he exclaimed； folding her tenderly
and anxiously to his heart； 〃I thank God for saving you； and〃
He faltered and burst into tears； which he did not try to conceal。
He wept aloud