按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
but they were faded and dirty。〃
The young lads； who had hitherto stood in groups around the outer
edge of the market…place； now mingled with the crowd to listen to
the speakers； and a young Tyrolese； with his rifle on his arm； and
his pointed hat over his dark curly hair； approached with such
impetuous curiosity that he suddenly stood close to the tax…
collector。 However； he took no notice of the officer； but looked
with eager attention at Wallner； and listened to his words。
But the grim eyes of one of the two bailiffs noticed with dismay
that this impudent fellow dared to place himself close by the side
of the tax…collector without taking off his hat。
Striking with his fist on the young fellow's hat； he drove it deep
over his forehead。
〃Villain！〃 he shouted； in a threatening voice； 〃do you not see the
tax…collector？〃
The young fellow drew the hat with an air of embarrassment from his
forehead； and crimsoning with rage； but in silence； stepped back
into the circle of the murmuring men。
〃That is just what you deserve； Joe；〃 said Anthony Wallner。 〃Why did
a smart Tyrolese boy like you come near us Southern Bavarians when
we were talking about public parlour？〃
At this moment a lad elbowed himself hastily through the crowd。 His
dress was dusty； his face was flushed and heated and it seemed as
though he had travelled many miles on foot。 To those who stood in
his way he said in a breathless； panting voice： 〃Please stand aside。
I have to deliver something to Anthony Wallner…Aichberger； I must
speak with him。〃
The men willingly stood aside。 Now be was close behind Wallner； and；
interrupting him in his speech； he whispered to him： 〃I come from
Andreas Hofer； he sends you his greetings and this paper。 I have run
all night to bring it to you。〃
He handed a folded paper to Wallner； who opened it with hands
trembling with impatience。
It was Andreas Hofer's 〃open order。〃
Wallner's face brightened up； he cast a fiery glance around the
place filled with his friends； and fixed his flashing eyes then on
the hat of the bailiff who had rebuked the young Tyrolese in so
overbearing a manner。 At a bound he was by his side； drove the
bailiff's round official hat with one blow of his fist over his
head； so that his whole face disappeared in the crown； and exclaimed
in a loud； ringing voice：
〃Villain！ do you not see the Tyrolese？〃
A loud outburst of exultation greeted Wallner's bold deed； and all
the men crowded around him； ready to protect Anthony Wallner； and
looking at the tax…collector with flashing； threatening eyes。
The latter seemed as if stunned by the sudden change in Wallner's
demeanor； and he looked in dismay at the audacious innkeeper who was
standing close in front of him and staring at him with a laughing
face。
〃What does this mean？〃 he asked at length； in a tremulous voice。
〃It means that we want to be Tyrolese again；〃 shouted Anthony
Wallner； exultingly。 〃It means that we will no longer submit to
brutal treatment at the hands of your Bavarian bailiffs； and that we
will treat you now as you Boafoks have treated us for five years
past。〃 ＇Footnote： Boafok； the nickname which the Tyrolese gave to
the Bavarians at that time。 It signifies 〃Bavarian pigs。〃＇
〃For God's sake； how have we treated you； then？〃 asked the tax…
collector； drawing back from the threatening face of Anthony Wallner
toward his bailiffs。
〃Listen to me； Tyrolese；〃 shouted Anthony Wallner； scornfully； 〃he
asks me how the Bavarians have treated us！ Shall I tell it to him
once more！〃
〃Yes； yes； Tony； do so；〃 replied the Tyrolese on all sides。
〃Tell it to him； and if he refuses to listen； we will tie him hand
and foot； and compel him to hear what you say。〃
〃Well； Mr。 Tax…collector；〃 said Wallner； with mock politeness； 〃I
will tell you； then； how you Bavarians have treated us for four
years past； and only when you know all our grievances will we settle
our accounts。 Listen； then； to what you have done to us； and what we
complain of。 You have behaved toward us as perjured liars and
scoundrels； and I will prove it to you。 In the first place； then； in
1805； when； to our intense grief and regret； our emperor was obliged
to cede the Tyrol to Bavaria； the King of Bavaria； in a letter which
he wrote to us； solemnly guaranteed our constitution and our ancient
privileges and liberties。 That is what your king promised in 1805。
To be sure； we did not put much confidence in what he said； for we
well knew that when the big cat wants to devour the little mouse； it
treats the victim at first with great kindness and throws a small
bit of bacon to it； but no sooner does the mouse take it than the
cat pounces upon its unsuspecting victim and devours it。 And such
was our fate too； the cat Bavaria wanted to swallow the little mouse
Tyrol； not even our name was to be left to us； and we were to be
called Southern Bavarians instead of Tyrolese。 Besides； our ancient
Castle of Tyrol； the sacred symbol of our country； was dismantled
and destroyed。 You thought probably we would forget the past and the
history of the Tyrol； and all that we are； if we no longer saw the
Castle of Tyrol； where the dear Margaret Maultasch solemnly
guaranteed to her Tyrolese their liberties； great privileges； and
independence； for all time to come。 But all was written in our
hearts； and your infamous conduct engraved it only the more
lastingly thereon。 You took from us not only our name； but also our
constitution； which all Tyrolese love as their most precious
treasure。 The representative estates were suppressed； and the
provincial funds seized。 No less than eight new and oppressive taxes
were imposed； and levied with the utmost rigor； the very name of the
country； as I said before； was abolished； and； after the model of
revolutionary France； the Tyrol was divided into the departments of
the Inn； the Adige； and the Eisach； the passion plays； which formed
so large a part of the amusements of our people； were prohibited；
all pilgrimages to chapels or places of extraordinary sanctity were
forbidden。 The convents and monasteries were confiscated； and their
estates sold； the church plate and holy vessels were melted down and
disposed of； the royal property was all brought into the market。 New
imposts were daily exacted without any consultation with the estates
of our people； specie became scarce from the quantity of it which
was drawn off to the royal treasury； the Austrian notes were reduced
to half their value； and the feelings of our people irritated almost
to madness by the compulsory levy of our young men to serve in the
ranks of your army。 In this manner you tried to crush us to earth。
But I tell you； we shall rise again； the whole Tyrol will rise and
no longer allow itself to be trampled under foot。 You say the king
does not want any Tyrolese as subjects。 He shall not have any； for
the Tyrolese want to become again subjects of their dear Emperor
Francis of Austria。 Men of the Tyrol； from Pusterthal； Teffereck；
and Virgenthal； you wish to become again subjects of the Emperor
Francis； do you not？〃
〃We do； we do！〃 shouted the men； uttering deafening cheers。 〃Our
dear Francis