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loud command uttered by Anthony Wallner； the Tyrolese returned
quickly into the forest； and； hidden behind trees and rocks； hit a
Bavarian with every bullet； while the Bavarians vainly fired at the
well…concealed enemy。
The commander of the Bavarians； Lieutenant…Colonel Wreden；
perceiving the danger and uselessness of a continuance of the
struggle； ordered his troops to retreat； and no sooner had the
Bavarians received this longed…for order； than they fell back at the
double…quick from the bridge and took the road to Sterzing。
This retreat of the enemy was greeted by the renewed cheers which
Eliza Wallner had heard； and； both laughing and weeping for joy； she
hastened to fold her father to her heart； and thank God that no
bullet had hit him。
Wallner embraced her tenderly； and imprinted a kiss on her forehead。
〃You have behaved very bravely； Lizzie；〃 he said； 〃I saw how you
carried our poor brethren out of the thickest of the fight。 My heart
was proud of you； and I should not have wept to…day even though you
had fallen in the sacred service of the fatherland。 But I thank God
that nothing has happened to you； and I beseech you； dearest Lizzie；
do not accompany us any farther。 I now believe again in you； and I
know that you are a true daughter of the Tyrol； although you
unfortunately love a Bavarian。 Therefore go home； for it is no
woman's work that is in store for us； we have a hard struggle before
us； and a great deal of blood will be shed before we have driven the
mean Bavarians and the accursed French from our beloved country。〃
〃No； father； I shall stay with you；〃 exclaimed Eliza； with eager
determination。 〃I am not able to sit at home and spin and pray when
my father is fighting for the country。 Mother can attend alone to
our household affairs； and Schroepfel will assist her； but you
cannot attend alone to the hard work here； and I will help you；
dearest father。 I will be the doctor and surgeon of your men until
you have found a better and more skilful physician。 You must not
reject me； dearest father； for you would commit wrong against the
poor wounded who have no other assistance than what they receive at
my hands and at those of the women whom I beg and persuade to help
me。〃
〃You are right； Lizzie； it would be wrong in me to send you home and
not permit you to assist and nurse the wounded；〃 said her father；
gravely。 〃May God and the Holy Virgin help and protect you！ I devote
you to the fatherland to which I devote myself。〃
He kissed her once more； and then turned to the Tyrolese； who；
encamped in groups on the edge of the forest； and reposing from the
struggle； were partaking of the bread and meat which they had
brought along in their haversacks。
〃Brethren；〃 exclaimed Anthony Wallner； in a powerful voice； 〃now let
us be up and doing！ We must cut off the enemy's retreat to Sterzing。
We must also occupy the Muhlbach pass； as Andreas Hofer ordered us
to do in the Archduke John's name。 The enemy has set out thither；
and if he gets before us through the gap of Brixen and reaches the
bridge of Laditch； we shall be unable to prevent him from passing
through the Muhlbach pass and marching to Sterzing。 Hence； we are
not at liberty to repose now； but must advance rapidly。 One
detachment of our men； commanded by my Lieutenant Panzl； will push
on quickly on the mountain…road to the Muhlbach pass。 The rest of us
will follow you； but we must previously detain the enemy at the gap
of Brixen； and while we are doing duty； another detachment of our
men will go farther down to the bridge of Laditch and destroy it in
order to prevent the enemy from crossing the Eisach。 Forward； my
friends！ Forward to the gap of Brixen！ We must roll down trees；
detach large fragments from the rocks； and hurl them down on the
enemy； we must fire at them from the heights with deadly certainty；
and every bullet must hit its man。 Forward！ forward！ To the bridge
of Laditch！〃
〃Yes； yes！〃 exclaimed the Tyrolese； with enthusiastic courage。
〃Forward to the bridge of Laditch！〃
CHAPTER XV。
THE BRIDGE OF LADITCH。
Night had at length brought some repose to the exhausted Bavarians。
At no great distance from the gap of Brixen they had halted late in
the evening； and encamped on the bare ground in the valley below。
The green turf was their bed； a stone their pillow； nevertheless；
they had been able to enjoy a few hours of peaceful slumber； for
they were familiar with the habits of the Tyrolese； they knew that
they never undertook any thing； not even a hunting…excursion； in the
dead of night； and that they had nothing to fear from them until
sunrise。
But now the first streaks of dawn illuminated the sky； it was time；
therefore； to continue the march。 Lieutenant…Colonel von Wreden rose
from the couch which the soldiers had prepared for him of moss and
branches； and reviewed； accompanied by his officers； his small
force； which began sullenly and silently to form in line。 A cloud
darkened Wreden's face when； marching through the ranks； he counted
the number of his soldiers。 He had arrived yesterday at the bridge
of St。 Lawrence with nearly four hundred men； scarcely one…half of
them were left now； the other half lay slain at the bridge of St。
Lawrence； or； exhausted by the loss of blood and by the pains of
gaping wounds； had sunk down on the road and been unable to continue
the march。
〃And these poor men will likewise be killed to…day unless speedy
succor comes；〃 murmured the Lieutenant…Colonel to himself； 〃we are
all lost if the miserable rabble of peasants reach the gap of Brixen
before us。 We are all lost； for we shall be entirely cut off from
our friends and surrounded by our enemies； who are able to avail
themselves of their mountain fastnesses and hiding…places； while we
must march through the valley and across the open plain。 But all
these complaints are useless。 We must do our duty！ The soldier's
life belongs to his oath and his king； and if he falls in the
service； he has done his duty。〃
And with strong determination and bold courage the lieutenant…
colonel threw back his head； and fixed his eye steadfastly on his
soldiers。
〃Forward；〃 he shouted； 〃forward； boys！ Forward against these
miserable peasants； who have violated the faith they plighted to our
king。 Forward！ forward！〃
The column； headed by Lieutenant…Colonel von Wreden； commenced
moving。 His eyes glanced anxiously over the plain now opening before
them。 Suddenly they are riveted on a point yonder on the mountain…
road leading southward to Italy。 What is that？ Does it not flash
there like a mass of bayonets？ Does it not look as though a
brilliant serpent； glittering in blue； red； and gold； were moving
along the road？ It draws nearer and nearer； and the Lieutenant…
Colonel is able to distinguish its parts。 Yes； these parts are
soldiers； this serpent consists of regiments marching along in
serried ranks。
Lieutenant…Colonel von Wreden uttered a cry of joy and galloped
forward。 Already he discerned distinctly the uniforms of the staff…
officers riding at the bead of the column。 They were friends； they
were French soldiers headed by General Bisson。
Wreden gallo