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officers riding at the bead of the column。 They were friends； they
were French soldiers headed by General Bisson。
Wreden galloped forward to salute the general and communicate to him
in brief； winged words his own disaster and his apprehensions
regarding the immediate future。
〃Well； you have nothing to fear now；〃 said General Bisson； with a
pleasant and proud smile。 〃It was no accident； but a decree of Fate；
that caused us to meet here。 I was ordered by my emperor to march
with a column of four thousand men from Mantua to Ratisbon； and I am
now on the road to the latter place。 Hence； our route leads us
through the gap of Brixen； and as a matter of course you will join
us with your troops。 I hope our united forces will succeed in
routing these miserable peasants！〃
〃Yes； if we could meet them in the open plain；〃 sighed Lieutenant…
Colonel von Wreden。 〃But in their mountains and gorges our thousands
will vainly struggle against their hundreds。 The bulwarks of their
mountains protect them。〃
〃We shall drive them from these bulwarks。〃 said General Bisson；
haughtily。 〃But I believe the rabble will not even wait for this；
but take to their heels as soon as they see the head of my column。
Therefore； join my regiments； lieutenant…colonel； and let us march
fearlessly through the gap of Brixen。〃
Half an hour afterward they had reached the dark and awe…inspiring
gap of Brixen； and the united Bavarian and French troops marched
with a measured step along the narrow road； on both sides of which
rose steep gray rocks； covered here and there with small pine
forests； and then again exhibiting their naked； moss…grown walls；
crowned above with their snowy summits glistening like burnished
silver in the morning sun。
The column under General Bisson penetrated deeper and deeper into
the gorge。 Enormous rocks now closed the road in their front and
rear。 A profound； awful stillness surrounded them； only here and
there they heard the rustling of a cascade falling down from the
mountains with silvery spray； and flowing finally as a murmuring
rivulet through the valley； now and then they heard also the hoarse
croaking of some bird of prey soaring in the air； otherwise； all was
still。
General Bisson； who was riding in the middle of his column； turned
smilingly to Lieutenant…Colonel Wreden 〃Did I not tell you； my dear
Lieutenant…Colonel ；〃 he said； 〃that these miserable peasants would
take to their heels so soon as our column came in sight？ They were；
perhaps； able to cope with your few hundred men； but my four
thousand men〃
The loud crash of a rifle interrupted his sentence； a second； third；
and fourth report followed in rapid succession。 The heights seemed
all at once to bristle with enemies。 Like an enormous man…of…war；
lying at first calm and peaceful； and then opening her port…holes；
these gray rocks seemed suddenly to open all their port…holes and
pour out death and destruction。
From the rock in front yonder； from the steep mountains on both
sides； from the precipitous hill jutting out in their rear and
closing the gloomy gorge； rifle shots rattled down with unerring
aim； every bullet hit its man； every bullet struck down a soldier in
the ranks of the Bavarians and French； then were heard the
triumphant cheers of the Tyrolese； who； for a moment； stepped forth
from their safe hiding…places； danced on the rocks； jeered at the
enemy with loud； scornful words； and disappeared again so quickly；
that the bullets which the soldiers fired at them glanced harmlessly
from the flanks of the rocks。
But the Tyrolese fought not with their rifles alone against the
enemy marching through the deep and awful gorge。 Nature had prepared
other means of defence for them； it had given them trees and rocks。
They hurled the trees； which the storms had felled years ago； and
which fragments of rock had held on the brink of the precipice； into
the depth of the gorge； they detached large fragments from the
rocks； and rolled them down on the soldiers； many of whom were
crushed by these terrible missiles。 And when these trees and rocks
fell into the depth； and spread death and confusion in the ranks of
the soldiers； the Tyrolese profited by this moment to aim and strike
down additional victims by their rifle…bullets。
And there was no escape for these poor soldiers； who； exposed to the
fury of their enemies； did not even enjoy the consolation of
wreaking vengeance upon them。 In silent despair； and shedding tears
of rage； the French and Bavarians continued their march； the corpses
of their brethren； which the rear…guard met on the horrible road；
could not detain them； they bad to pass over them； and abstain even
from coming to the assistance of their dying friends； crushed under
their feet； the latter had to give up the ghost。
At length the gorge widens before them； the rocks in front recede on
both sides； and a bright； expansive plain opens to their view。 The
soldiers greet this prospect with loud cheers of delight； which
their officers dare not repress in the name of discipline； for； on
emerging from an open grave； a soldier feels like a human being； and
thanks God for the preservation of his life。 Hundreds had fallen；
but several thousands were left； and their ardent rage； their fiery
revengefulness longed for the struggle in which they might avenge
their fallen comrades。 And Fate seemed intent on fulfilling their
wishes。 Yonder； at the extremity of the plain through which the
soldiers were now marching； yonder； on the bank of the Eisach； was
seen a motley crowd ascending the slopes of the mountains on both
sides of the river。
〃Yes； there are the Tyrolese； there are our enemies；〃 cried the
Bavarians and French； with grim satisfaction； and they marched at
the double…quick toward the bank of the river。
〃The peasants； I believe； intend to prevent us from crossing the
river；〃 said General Bisson； with a contemptuous shrug。 〃They have
taken position in front of the bridge of Laditch； and so closely
that I can see nothing of it；〃 replied Lieutenant…Colonel von
Wreden。 Suddenly he uttered a cry of surprise； and looked
steadfastly toward the extremity of the valley； where the rocks
jutted out again into it； and where the furious Eisach makes a
sudden bend from one side of the valley to the other。 Formerly there
had risen here； between tremendous rocks； the majestic arch of the
bridge of Laditch。 For many centuries past this wonderful arch had
spanned the abyss； it was a monument dating from the era of the
ancient Romans； and Caesar himself； perhaps； had crossed this bridge
on his march against the free nations of the North。 But now this
arch had disappeared； or rather its central part had been removed；
and between its two extremities yawned a terrible abyss； through
which the Eisach rushed with thundering noise。
〃The Tyrolese have destroyed the bridge！〃 exclaimed Von Wreden； in
dismay。
〃Ah； the brigands！〃 said Bisson； contemptuously。 〃It will；
therefore； be necessary for us to construct a temporary bridge in
order to get over to the other side。〃
Yes； the Tyrolese had destroyed the bridge of Laditch； and while a
small division of their men had qu