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Yes； the Tyrolese had destroyed the bridge of Laditch； and while a
small division of their men had quickly moved on to occupy the
Muhlbach pass； the others； under the command of Anthony Wallner； had
taken position on the opposite bank of the Eisach； in order to
prevent the enemy from crossing the river。 All the men from the
neighboring village of Laditch had joined the forces of Anthony
Wallner； and on the mountains stood the sharpshooters from the
villages far and near； called out by the tocsin； and ready to
dispute every inch of the beloved soil with the enemy。
The columns of the Bavarians and French approached； and shots were
exchanged on both sides。 〃Forward！〃 shouted Anthony Wallner； and he
advanced with his brave men to the Puster valley； close to the
bridge upon which the enemy was moving up。
The bullets whistled around him； but he paid no attention to them；
he saw only the enemy； and not the dangers menacing him。 But the
other Tyrolese saw them only too well。 Up in the mountains they were
brave and resolute； but in the plain； where they were on equal
ground with the enemy they felt ill at ease and anxious。 Moreover；
the odds of the enemy were truly formidable； not only in numbers but
also in arms。 Only a part of the Tyrolese were provided with rifles
and muskets； more than half of them were armed only with flails；
pitchforks； and clubs。 The soldiers had not only their muskets； but
also field…pieces； whose balls thundered now across the plain and
carried death into the ranks of the Tyrolese。
Terror and dismay seized the sharpshooters； they turned and began to
flee into the mountains。 But an unexpected obstacle obstructed their
path。 A number of intrepid women； who had flocked to the scene from
the neighboring villages； met them at this moment。 They received the
fugitives with threatening invectives； they drove them back with
uplifted arms； with flaming eyes； with imprecations； and scornful
laughter； down the slope； regardless of the bullets whistling around
them； and of the enemy moving up closer and closer to them。 The
fugitives are obliged to turn and plunge once more into the
struggle； which becomes more and more furious。 Yonder； close to the
fragments of the bridge； stand the Tyrolese； here； near the
fragments on this side of the river； are the soldiers and the French
engineers advancing to construct a temporary bridge across the
chasm； and thereby unite again the disrupted ends of the ancient
Roman structure。
The fire of the Tyrolese becomes weaker； loud lamentations burst
from their ranks。 They are exhausted and weary； owing to the heavy
exertions of the day； hunger and thirst torment them； and their
strength is gone。
〃Give us something to eat！ Give us something to drink！〃 they shout
to the women occupying the mountain…path in their rear up to the
solitary house； the inn Zur Eisach； which has already been hit by
many a ball from the enemy's guns。
〃Courage； brethren； courage！〃 shouted Eliza Wallner。 〃I will bring
you refreshments。〃
And； like a gazelle； she hastens up the hillside； skipping from rock
to rock until she reaches the battered house。 The bullets whistle
around her； but she laughs at them； and does not even turn to
vouchsafe a glance at the danger。 She leaps on courageously； now she
reaches the house； she disappears through the door； and no sooner
has she entered than a cannonball strikes the wall right above the
door。 After a very brief space of time； Eliza Wallner reappears in
the door。 On her head she carries a keg； which she supports with
both her uplifted arms。 With a serene glance； with rosy cheeks and
smiling lips； a charming picture of grace； loveliness； and
courageous innocence； she descends the mountain…path again； and even
the bullets of the enemy respect her； they whistle past her on both
sides； but do not hit her。 Eliza hastens down the slope； and now she
reaches the bridge； and arrives where are posted the Tyrolese； who
receive the courageous girl with deafening cheers。
All at once she feels a jerk in the keg on her head； and immediately
after its contents pour in a clear cold stream down on her face and
neck。 A bullet had struck the keg and passed clear through it。 Eliza
bursts into merry laughter； lifts the keg with her plump； beautiful
arms from her head； and stops the two holes with both her hands； so
that the wine can no longer run out。
〃Now come； boys；〃 she shouts； in a loud； merry voice； 〃come and
drink； else the wine will run out。 The enemy has tapped the keg； he
wished to save us the trouble。 Come and drink。〃
〃Stand back； Lizzie；〃 shouts Panzl to her； 〃step behind the rock
yonder； that the bullets may not hit you。〃
〃I shall not do it；〃 said Eliza； with a flushed face； 〃I shall not
conceal myself。 I am a true daughter of the Tyrol； and God will
protect me here as well as there。Come； boys； and drink。 Bring your
glasses； or rather apply your mouth to the keg and drink。〃
Two young Tyrolese sharpshooters hastened to her。 Eliza held up the
keg； the two young men knelt before her and applied their mouths to
the holes made by the bullet； and sucked out the wine； looking with
enamoured glances up to the heroic girl who looked down on them
smilingly。
〃Now you have drunk enough； go and fight again for the fatherland；〃
she said； and signed to two other sharpshooters to refresh
themselves from the keg。 The two young men hastened back to their
comrades； not knowing whether it was the wine or the sight of the
lovely Tyrolese girl that filled them with renewed courage and
enthusiasm。
The two other Tyrolese had drunk likewise。 Suddenly another bullet
whistles along and darts past close to Eliza's cheeks； causing her
to reel for a moment。 A cry of dismay burst from the lips of those
who saw it； but Eliza already smiled again； and she exclaimed； in a
merry voice： 〃Make haste； boys！ else another bullet will come and
pierce the keg again； when the wine will run into the grass。
Therefore； make haste！〃
Two other Tyrolese hastened up to drink； then two more； and so on；
until the keg was empty。
〃Now you have refreshed yourselves；〃 cried Eliza； 〃and you must
bravely return to the struggle。〃
And the Tyrolese took position on the river…bank； with redoubled
courage and enthusiasm； to prevent the French from finishing the
temporary bridge。
But the fire of the enemy thinned the ranks of the Tyrolese
fearfully； their shots became few and far between； and gradually a
regular panic seized them。 They began to give way； even the scornful
cries of the women； who tried to obstruct their path； were powerless
to keep them back。 They pushed the women aside； and rushed
resistlessly up the mountain…path。
At this moment loud cheers burst from the lips of the enemy。 The
Tyrolese started。 They looked back； and saw to their dismay that the
engineers had succeeded in finishing the temporary bridge across the
Eisach； and that nothing prevented the enemy now from passing over
to their side of the river。
〃Surrender！ Lay down your arms！〃 shouted Lieutenant…Colonel von
Wreden； on the other bank。
The Tyrolese were silent； and gazed with mute dismay upon the
bridge。 All at once the