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deep snow prevented the leap from being dangerous； they sprang
quickly to their feet； and hastened on as fast as their weary limbs
would carry them。
It was a cold； dark night。 The moon； which shone so brightly during
the previous night； was covered with heavy clouds； the storm swept
clouds of snow before it； and whistled and howled across the
extensive snow…fields。 But the wanderers continued their journey
with undaunted hearts。
All at once something stirred behind them； they saw torches gleaming
up； and Bavarian soldiers accompanying the bearers of the torches。
The soldiers； headed by the landlord who had fetched them； rushed
forward with wild shouts and imprecations。 But Wallner and Eliza
likewise rushed forward like roes hunted down。 They panted heavily；
the piercing storm almost froze their faces； their feet bled； but
they continued their flight at a rapid rate。 Nevertheless； the
distance separating them from their pursuers became shorter and
shorter。 The Bavarians； provided with torches； could see the road
and the footsteps of the fugitives in the snow； while the latter had
to run blindly into the night； unable to see whither their feet were
carrying them； and exhausted by the long journey of the preceding
day。
The distance between pursuers and pursued rapidly diminished；
scarcely twenty yards now lay between them； and the soldiers
extended their hands already to seize them。 At this moment of
extreme peril the storm came up howling with redoubled fury and
drove whole clouds of snow before it； extinguished the torches of
the Bavarians； and shrouded every thing in utter darkness。 The
joyful cries of the pursued and the imprecations of their pursuers
were heard at the same time。
Wallner and Eliza； whose eyes were already accustomed to the
darkness； advanced at a rapid rate； the soldiers followed them； but
blinded by the darkness； unable to see the road； and calling each
other in order to remain together。 These calls and shouts added to
the advantages of the fugitives； for they indicated to them the
direction which they had to take in order to avoid the enemy。
Finally； the shouts became weaker and weaker； and died away
entirely。
The fugitives continued their flight more leisurely； but they could
not rest and stand still in the dark； cold night； for the storm
would have frozen them； the cold would have killed them。 They did
not speak； but advanced breathlessly and hand in hand。 All at once
they beheld a light twinkling in the distance like a star。 There was
a house； then； and men also。 They walked on briskly； and the light
came nearer and nearer。 Now they saw already the house through whose
windows it gleamed。 In a few minutes they were close to the house；
in front of which they beheld a tall post。
〃Great God！〃 cried Anthony Wallner； 〃I believe that is a boundary…
post； and we are now on Austrian soil。〃
He knocked hastily at the door； it opened； and the two wanderers
entered the small； warm； and cozy room； where they were received by
a man in uniform； who sat at the table eating his supper。
Anthony Wallner went close up to him and pointed to his uniform。
〃You wear the Austrian uniform〃 he asked。
〃I do； sir；〃 said the man； smilingly。
〃And we are here on Austrian soil？〃
〃Yes； sir。 The boundary…post is in front of this house。 This is an
Austrian custom…house。〃
Anthony Wallner threw his arm around Eliza's neck and knelt down。 He
burst into tears； and exclaimed in a loud； joyous voice； 〃Lord God
in heaven； I thank Thee！〃
Eliza said nothing； but her tears spoke for her； and so did the
smile with which she looked up to heaven and then at her father。
The custom…house officer had risen and stood profoundly moved by the
side of the two。
〃Who are you； my friend？〃 he asked； 〃and why do you weep and thank
God？〃
〃Who am I？〃 asked Wallner； rising and drawing Eliza up with him。 〃I
am Anthony Wallner； and this is my daughter Lizzie； who has saved me
from the Bavarians。 The good God〃
He said no more； but leaned totteringly on Eliza's shoulder； and
sank senseless to the ground。
Eliza threw herself upon him； uttering loud cries of anguish。 〃He is
dead；〃 she cried； despairingly； 〃he is dead！〃
〃No； he is not dead；〃 said the officer； 〃the excitement and fatigue
have produced a swoon。 He will soon be restored to consciousness and
get over it。 Careful nursing shall not be wanting to Anthony Wallner
in my house。〃
He had prophesied correctly。 Anthony Wallner awoke again； and seemed
to recover rapidly under the kind nursing of his host and his
daughter。
They remained two days at the custom…house on the frontier。 The news
of Anthony Wallner's arrival spread like wildfire through the whole
neighborhood； and the landed proprietors of the district hastened to
the custom…house to see the heroic Tyrolese chief and his intrepid
daughter； and offered their services to both of them。
It was no longer necessary for them to journey on foot。 Wherever
they came； the carriages of the wealthy and aristocratic inhabitants
were in readiness for them； and they were greeted everywhere with
jubilant acclamations。 Their journey to Vienna was an incessant
triumphal procession； a continued chain of demonstrations of
enthusiasm and manifestations of love。
Anthony Wallner； however； remained silent； gloomy； and downcast；
amid all these triumphs； and on arousing himself sometimes from his
sombre broodings； and seeing the painful expression with which
Eliza's eyes rested on him； he tried to smile； but the smile died
away on his trembling lips。
〃I believe I shall be taken very sick；〃 he said； faintly。 〃My head
aches dreadfully； and all my limbs are trembling。 I was too long in
the Alpine hut； and the numerous previous fatigues。 The excitement；
grief； cold； and hunger； and last； the long journey on foot； have
been too much for me。 Ah； Lizzie； Lizzie； I shall be taken sick。
Great God！ it would be dreadful if I should die now and leave you
all alone in this foreign country！ No； no； I do not want to be taken
sick； I have no time for it。 Oh； listen to me； my God！ I do not want
to be taken sick； for Lizzie must not be left an orphan here。 No；
no； no！〃
And he lifted his clinched fist to heaven； screamed； and wept； and
uttered senseless and incoherent words。
〃I am afraid he has got the nervous fever；〃 said Baron Engenberg；
who was conveying Wallner and Eliza in his carriage from the last
station to Vienna。 〃It will be necessary for us to take him at once
to a hospital。〃
〃Can I stay with him there and nurse him？〃 asked Eliza； repressing
her tears。
〃Of course you can。〃
〃Then let us take him to a hospital；〃 she said； calmly。 〃He will
die； but I shall be there to close his eyes。〃
And it was Eliza that closed her father's eyes。 The violent nervous
fever which had seized Anthony Wallner was too much for his
exhausted body。 He died five days after his arrival at Vienna； on
the 15th of February； 1810； at the city hospital。
Many persons attended his funeral； many persons came to see Eliza
Wallner； the young heroine of the Tyrol。 But Eliza would not see
anybody。 She remained in the room which had been assigned to her at