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and all were armed： he who did not possess a gun had a flail； a
pitchfork； or a club。 Like a broad； motley river； the crowd was
surging up from all sides； and at the head and in the midst of the
war…like groups were to be seen priests in holy vestments； holding
aloft the crucifix； blessing the defenders of the country with
fervent； pious words； and uttering scathing imprecations against the
enemy。
And amidst this commotion thundered the field…pieces； whose balls
crashed again and again against the bridge； the bells were tolled in
the church…steeples； and the musketry of the Bavarians rattled
incessantly。 But few of their bullets hit their aim。 The Tyrolese
were too remote from them； and only occasionally a loud scream
indicated that a half…spent bullet had found its way into the breast
of a Tyrolese。
More fatal and unerring were the bullets of the Tyrolese
sharpshooters； who bad concealed themselves on the heights on both
sides of the valley； and fired from their hiding…places at the
Bavarians； never missing their aim and picking off a soldier by
every shot they discharged。
Anthony Wallner comprehended the whole situation at a glance。
〃Boys！〃 he shouted； in a ringing voice； 〃we must take the cannon。 We
must not permit the enemy to destroy the bridge which the Austrians
are to cross。 Let us attack the Bavarians！ We must take the cannon！〃
〃Yes！〃 shouted the men； 〃we must take the cannon！〃
And the shouts reached another troop of armed peasants； who repeated
it with tumultuous enthusiasm； and soon the men on the heights and
in the valley cried； 〃We must take the cannon！〃
Anthony Wallner gave the signal to his sharpshooters； and moved with
them into a small forest extending up the mountain near the cannon。
The courageous men disappeared soon in the thicket； and； as if in
accordance with a general agreement； the other Tyrolese likewise
entered the forest。 Below； in the valley； knelt the women and
children； and before them stood the priests with their crucifixes；
protecting them therewith； as it were； from the enemy who was posted
on the other side of the valley； and whose ranks were thinned more
and more by the bullets of the Tyrolese。
All at once； on the height above the cannon； where there was a
clearing； and where the rocks were moss…grown and bare； the Tyrolese
were seen rushing in dense masses from the forest。 They were headed
by Anthony Wallner and John Panzl。 Each of them jumped on a
projection of the rocks and raised his rifle。 They fired； and two
gunners fell mortally wounded near the cannon。
The Tyrolese greeted this exploit of their leaders with loud cheers；
but up from the Bavarians resounded the commands of the officers； a
whole volley crashed； the bullets whistled round the ears of Wallner
and Panzl； but none hit them； and hen the smoke cleared away； John
Panzl was seen to make a triumphant leap in the air； which he
accompanied with a shout of victory； while Anthony Wallner calmly
raised his rifle again。 He fired； and the gunner at the third field…
piece fell dead。
〃Now； boys； at them； we must take the cannon！〃 shouted Wallner；
jumping forward； and the Tyrolese followed him down the slope with
furious shouts。
〃Forward； forward！〃 shouted the Lieutenant…Colonel in the valley to
his Bavarians； 〃forward！ the cannon must not fall into the hands of
the peasants； we must defend them to the last man。 Therefore；
forward at the double…quick！〃
And the Bavarians rushed forward up the slope。
But the Tyrolese had already succeeded in shooting or knocking down
all the gunners； and taken possession of the cannon。 While Anthony
Wallner； at the head of a furious detachment of his men； hastened to
meet the approaching Bavarians； and hurled death and destruction
into their ranks； John Panzl remained with the others to defend the
guns。
A furious hand…to…hand fight now arose； the Bavarians were repulsed
again and again by the Tyrolese； and the sharp…shooters； posted
behind the trees and rocks； assisted their fighting brethren with
their rifles； which； aimed steadily； never missed their man。 But the
Bavarians。 who were drawn up farther down in the valley； likewise
endeavored to assist their struggling comrades： but the bullets
which they fired up the hill frequently struck into the ranks of
their countrymen； and not into those of the Tyrolese。 Often； on the
other hand； these bullets did not miss their aim； but carried wounds
and death into the midst of the insurgents。 Whenever this occurred a
young woman was seen to rush amidst the deadliest shower of bullets
into the ranks of the fighting men； lift up the fallen brave； and
carry him in her strong arms out of the thickest of the fight to the
quiet spot on the edge of the forest； which a protruding rock
protected from the bullets of the enemy。
This young woman was Eliza Wallner。 Behind the rock she had
established a sort of field hospital； a few women and girls had
assembled around her there； and taken upon themselves the sacred
care for the wounded； while two priests had joined them to
administer extreme unction to the dying。 But Eliza Wallner had
reserved the most difficult and dangerous part of this work of love
for herself。 She alone was courageous enough to plunge into the
thickest of the fight to remove the fallen brethren； she alone was
strong enough to carry them to the quiet asylum； and it was only the
joyous enthusiasm inspired by the consciousness of doing good that
imparted this strength to her。 Her eyes were radiant； her cheeks
were flushed； and the face of the young girl； formerly so rosy and
serene； exhibited now the transparent paleness； and grave； proud
calmness which only great resolves and sublime moments impart to the
human countenance。
And the women followed her example with joyous zeal； they washed the
wounds of the brave Tyrolese with water fetched from the neighboring
spring； tore their handkerchiefs and dresses to make the necessary
bandages of them； and closed； with tears of devout compassion； the
eyes of those who gave up the ghost amid the blessings of the
priests。
From these pious works of charity the women were suddenly aroused by
the loud cheers of the Tyrolese。 Eliza sprang forth from behind the
rock to see what was the matter。 Renewed and still louder cheers
resounded； for the victory was gained。 Anthony Wallner and his men
had attained their object。 They had succeeded in hurling the three
field…pieces from the height into the Rienz； which was rolling along
far below in its rocky bed。 The earth was shaking yet from the
terrific crash； and echo was resounding still with the thundering
noise with which the field…pieces had fallen into the Rienz； whose
waters had hurled their foaming spray into the air； and were rolling
now with an angry roar over the sunken cannon。
This exploit； which excited the transports of the Tyrolese； exerted
a contrary effect upon the Bavarians。 They had lost their artillery；
and with it the means of blowing up the bridge； and now they stood
before the enemy uncovered and almost defenceless。 In obedience to a
loud command uttered by Anthony Wallner； the Tyrolese returned
quickly into the forest；