按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
flatter me；〃 exclaimed Andreas； smilingly patting her flushed cheek。
〃And you say your father sent you to me？〃
〃Yes； he did； Andreas Hofer。 I ran all day yesterday； and this
morning I rose with the sun and continued my trip in order to reach
you as soon as possible； and deliver my father's message to you。〃
〃You must be tired； poor little girl！〃 said Hofer； compassionately。
〃Sit down on the rock yonder。 There！ And now speak！〃
〃In the first place； Anthony Wallner sends greeting； and informs you
that he has kept his word faithfully。 The whole Puster valley has
already risen in insurrection； all the men followed him； and were
ready and eager to fight for the Tyrol and the dear Emperor Francis。
We have fought already a bloody battle at the bridge of St。
Lawrence； and another at the bridge of Laditch。 Many soldiers of the
enemy were killed in the gap of Brixen； and many French and
Bavarians fell at the bridge of Laditch； but we also lost a great
many men there。 Our men fought bravely； but there were too many of
the Bavarians and French； and so they finally succeeded in breaking
through our ranks and continued their march toward Sterzing。 Hence；
my father sent me to you in the greatest haste to inform you of what
has occurred； and tell you to be on your guard。 There are several
thousand Bavarians and French on the march to Sterzing。 It is true；
our men have occupied the Muhlbach pass； but the enemy is too
strong； our men will not be able to annihilate him entirely。〃
〃Then he will come hither；〃 exclaimed Andreas Hofer。
〃Yes； and we shall have a fight at length；〃 said Anthony Sieberer；
joyously。 〃I am glad that our men will at length be face to face
with the enemy and see bloodshed。〃
〃And the Austrians are not coming yet；〃 sighed Andreas Hofer。
〃Yes！ they are！〃 exclaimed Eliza。 〃Anthony Wallner instructed me to
tell you that too。 Several hundred Austrians joined us already at
the bridge of Laditch。 It was their advanced guard； and they said
that all the others would follow them soon。〃
〃It is General Hiller with the troops moving up from Salzburg；〃 said
Hofer。 〃But where are Chasteler and Hormayr； who were to join us
from Carinthia？ I think they are tarrying too long。〃
〃But the Bavarians do not tarry；〃 said Eliza； 〃and they are savage
and cruel men。 I did not enter the town of Sterzing； but the people
on the road told me how the Bavarians killed； burned； and plundered
there yesterday； and those who told me cried with rage and grief。
The whole town is in insurrection； all have armed for the Emperor
Francis； and will die rather than longer obey the Bavarians and
French。 Major von Baerenklau； the commander of the Bavarians in
Sterzing； finally got frightened； and on being informed that Andreas
Hofer moving against him on one side with the men of the Passeyr
valley； and that Anthony Wallner with the men of the Puster valley；
on the other side； had occupied the bridge of Laditch； he deemed it
prudent to evacuate Sterzing and await our men in the open plain。 I
saw his troops marching through the valley while I was walking on
the heights； and I think it will not be long until we can see them
below in the plain。〃
〃See； there they are already！〃 exclaimed Anthony Sieberer； who；
while Eliza was speaking； had spied with his keen eyes far into the
plain called the Sterzinger Moos。
In fact； a large； motley mass was to be seen moving up in the
distance yonder； yes； they were Bavarian soldiers； and they were
drawing nearer and nearer。
〃Hurrah！ the Bavarians are coming； the struggle begins；〃 exclaimed
Anthony Sieberer； joyously； and the Tyrolese encamped below echoed
his shout with loud exultation： 〃The Bavarians are coming！ The
struggle begins！〃
〃The struggle begins；〃 said Hofer； 〃and God grant； in His mercy；
that not too much blood may be shed； and that we may be victorious！
Come； dear girl； I will take you under my protection； for you cannot
immediately set out for home； but must stay here with me。 I shall
see to it that no harm befalls you； and； while we are fighting； we
will try to find a cave or nook in the rocks where we may conceal
you。〃
〃I do not want to conceal myself； Andreas Hofer；〃 said Eliza；
proudly。 〃The priests and women have likewise to perform their parts
in war…times： they must carry the wounded out of the range of the
enemy's bullets and dress their wounds； they must pray with the
dying； and nurse those whose lives are spared。〃
〃You are a brave daughter of the Tyrol； I like to listen to your
soul…stirring words；〃 exclaimed Andreas Hofer。 〃Now come； we will
speak with our men。〃
He grasped Eliza's hand； beckoned to his adjutant Sieberer； and
descended with them the path toward the Tyrolese。
They were no longer reposing； but all had risen and were looking
with rapt attention in the direction of the enemy。 On beholding
Hofer； they burst into loud cheers； and asked him enthusiastically
to lead them against the enemy。
〃Let us ascertain first where he is going； and what his intentions
are；〃 said Hofer； thoughtfully。 〃Perhaps he does not know that we
are here； and intends to continue his march。 In that case we will
let him pass us； follow him； and attack him only after he has
entered the Muhlbach pass。〃
〃No； he does not intend to continue his march；〃 exclaimed Sieberer。
〃Look； he takes position in the plain and forms in squares as he has
learned to do from Bonaparte。 Oh； brethren； let us attack him now。
Never fear。 I know such squares； for； in 1805； I often attacked them
with our men； and we broke them。 Forward； then； my friends； forward！
Now let us fight for God and our emperor！〃
〃For God and our emperor！〃 shouted the Tyrolese； and all seized
their arms and prepared for the struggle。
〃Hold on！〃 cried Hofer； in a powerful voice。 〃As you have elected me
commander； you must be obedient to me and comply with my orders。〃
〃We will； we will！〃 shouted the Tyrolese。 〃Just tell us； commander；
what we are to do； and we shall obey。〃
〃You shall not descend into the plain； nor attack the enemy on all
sides。 For you see； the squares are ready to shoot in all
directions； and if you attack them on all sides in the open plain；
you will be exposed to their most destructive fire； moreover； as
they are by far better armed than we； and have cannon； many of our
men would be uselessly sacrificed in such an attack。〃
〃What the commander says is true；〃 growled the Tyrolese。 〃It is by
far better for us to attack the enemy from a covered position； and
have our rear protected by the mountains。〃
〃And I will show you now such a covered position from which you are
to attack the enemy；〃 said Andreas Hofer； with impressive calmness。
〃Look there； to the left。 Do you see the ravine leading into the
mountains yonder？ Well； we will now ascend the mountain…path
rapidly； descend into the ravine； and thence rush upon the enemy。〃
〃Yes； yes； that is right！ We will do so。 Andreas Hofer is a good
captain！〃 said the Tyrolese to each other。
Hofer waved his hand imperatively toward them。 〃Now keep very
quiet；〃 he said； 〃that we may not attract the attention of the enemy
prematurely； and thereby cause him to occupy the ravine