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Wreden； on the other bank。
The Tyrolese were silent； and gazed with mute dismay upon the
bridge。 All at once they heard a voice resounding on the hills above
them as it were from the clouds。 This voice shouted。 〃The
imperialists are coming！ The Austrians； our saviours； are coming！〃
And at the same time a detachment of light…horse appeared on the
heights of Schaps。 They galloped down the slope； and were followed
by several companies of chasseurs and infantry； who rushed down at
the double…quick。
Loud； exulting cheers burst from the lips of the Tyrolese； and found
thundering echoes in the mountains and gorges。
The French and Bavarians started； for this sudden apparition took
them completely by surprise； they had not even suspected that the
Austrians had already invaded the Tyrol。 They hesitated； and did not
venture to cross the river。
This hesitation of the enemy and the arrival of the Austrians filled
the Tyrolese with transports。 Some threw down their rifles to
embrace each other and swing their hats merrily； while others were
dancing with their rifles as though they were their sweethearts； and
others again sang and warbled ringing Tyrolese Jodlers。 Finally；
some of them； filled with profound emotion and fervent gratitude；
sank down on their knees to thank God for this wonderful rescue and
the long…wished…for sight of the dear Austrian uniforms。
The French and Bavarians； in the mean time； thunderstruck at the
sudden arrival of the Austrians； whose numbers they were as yet
unable to ascertain； had made a retrograde movement in their first
terror。 But this did not last long。 〃If we do not want to perish
here to the last man； we must try to force a passage；〃 said General
Bisson。 〃Forward； therefore； forward！〃
The troops moved； and began to march across the bridge。
But now the Austrians had come close up to them。 The Tyrolese
received them with deafening shouts of 〃Long live the Emperor
Francis！ Long live Austria！〃
Then they turned once more with fervent enthusiasm toward the enemy。
〃Down with the base Bavarians！ Forward！ forward！ Down with them！〃
they shouted on all sides； and the Tyrolese rushed with furious
impetuosity upon the enemy。 Their scythes and flails mowed down
whole ranks； and many soldiers were soon laid prostrate by the
unerring aim of the mountain sharpshooters。 Mountains of corpses
were piled up； rivers of blood flowed down into the waters of the
Eisach； and the crimson…colored waves carried down through the Tyrol
the intelligence that the struggle for the fatherland had commenced。
Nevertheless； the forces of the enemy were too numerous for the
Tyrolese and the small advanced guard of the Austrians to annihilate
them entirely。 The Bavarians and French forced a passage through the
ranks of their enthusiastic enemies with the courage and wrath of
despair； hundreds of them remained dead on the bloody field； but
nearly two thousand ascended the Eisach toward Sterzing。
Anthony Wallner beckoned to his daughter； and stepped with her
behind a jutting rock。 〃First； Lizzie； my heroic girl； give me a
kiss；〃 he said； encircling her with one of his arms； and pressing
her fondly to his broad breast。 〃You have been your father's joy and
pride to…day； and I saw that the dear little angels were protecting
you； and that the bullets for this reason whistled harmlessly around
you。 Hence； you are now to render an important service to the
fatherland。 I must send a messenger to Andreas Hofer； but I need the
men for fighting here； and； moreover； the enemy might easily catch
my messenger。 But he will allow a Tyrolese girl like you to pass
through his lines； and will not suspect any thing wrong about her。
Now will you take my message to Andreas Hofer？〃
〃I will； father。〃
〃Run； then； my daughter； run along the mountain…paths； you can climb
and leap like a chamois； and will easily get the start of the enemy；
who is marching on the long roads in the valley。 Hasten toward
Sterzing。 If all has passed off as agreed upon； you will find
Andreas Hofer there。 Tell him now in my name that the Austrians are
coming up from Salzburg and that I have done my duty and redeemed my
pledge。 Tell him further that the whole Puster valley is in
insurrection； and that we are bravely at work； and driving the
Bavarians and French from the country。 But tell him also to be on
his guard； for we have not been able to annihilate the enemy
entirely； and they will soon make their appearance at Sterzing。 Let
him be ready to receive the enemy there as they deserve it。〃
〃Is that all； dearest father？〃
〃Yes； Lizzie； it is。 Tell Andy what has happened here； and do not
forget to tell him how you brought down the keg of wine that the
boys might drink courage from it。〃
〃No； father； I shall not tell him that。 It would look as though I
thought I had done something great； and wished to be praised for it。
But now； farewell； dearest father。 I will hasten to Andreas Hofer。〃
〃Farewell； dearest Lizzie。 The angels and the Holy Virgin will
protect you。 I have no fears for your safety。〃
〃Nor I either； dearest father。 The good spirits of the mountain will
accompany me。 Farewell！〃
She kissed her hands to him； and bounded up the mountain…path with
the speed and gracefulness of a gazelle。
CHAPTER XVI。
ON THE STERZINGER MOOS。
While these events were going on below Brixen； Andreas Hofer had
marched with the men of the Passeyr valley across the Janfen。 The
inhabitants everywhere had received him with loud exultation； they
had risen everywhere； ready to follow him； to fight under him for
the deliverance of the fatherland； and to stake their fortunes and
their lives for the emperor and the beloved Tyrol。 Hofer's column
accordingly gained strength at every step as it advanced。 He had set
out with a few hundred men on the 9th of April； and now； on the
morning of the 11th of April； already several thousand men had
rallied around him； and with them he had reached the heights of
Sterzing。 Andreas Hofer halted his men here； where he had a splendid
view of the whole plain； and ordered his Tyrolese to encamp and
repose after their long and exhausting march。 He himself did not
care for repose； for his heart was heavy and full of anxiety； and
his glance； usually so serene； was clouded and sombre。
While the others were resting and partaking gayly of the wine and
food which the women and girls of the neighboring villages had
brought to them with joyous readiness； Andreas Hofer ascended a peak
from which he had a full view of the mountain…chains all around and
the extensive plain at his feet。 His friend and adjutant； Anthony
Sieberer； had followed him noiselessly； and on perceiving him；
Andreas Hofer smiled and nodded pleasantly to him。
〃See； brother；〃 he said； pointing with a sigh down to the valley；
〃how calm and peaceful every thing looks！ There lies Sterzing； so
cozy and sweet； in the sunshine； the fruit…trees are blossoming in
its gardens； the daisies； primroses； and hawthorns have opened their
little eyes； and are looking up to heaven in silent joy。 And now I
am to disturb this glorious peace and tranquillity； tear it like a
worthless piece of