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they asked each other。 〃A leader mounted on a white horse； and
holding in his hand a sword flashing like a sunbeam？ It must have
been St。 James； the patron of the city of Innspruck。 He was our
leader yesterday。 Yes； yes； that is it！ St。 James combated at our
head； unknown to us； but he showed himself to the enemy and defeated
him。 Did you not hear； brethren； what the pious priests told us of
the Spaniards who have likewise risen to fight against Bonaparte；
the enemy of the Pope and all good Christians？ St。 James placed
himself in Spain likewise at the head of the pious peasants； he led
them against Bonaparte and the French； and made them victorious over
the enemy； who was bent upon stealing their country and their
liberties。 And since St。 James got through with the Spaniards in
Spain； lie has come to the Tyrol to lend us his assistance。 St。
James； our patron saint； is our leader！ He assists us and combats at
our head！〃
And the Tyrolese； regardless of the colonel； who at this moment was
writhing in the last convulsions of death； rushed out of the room to
communicate the miracle to their brethren outside。 The news spread
like wildfire from house to house； from street to street； all
shouted joyously： 〃St。 James； our patron saint； is our leader。 He
assists us and combats at our head！〃 ＇Footnote： 〃Gallery of heroes：
Andreas Hofer；〃 p。 41。＇
And this belief enhanced the enthusiasm of the Tyrolese； and with
the most intrepid courage they looked upon the enemy； who had by
this time come close up to the city； and was forming in line of
battle on the plain adjoining the village of Wiltau。 From the houses
in the neighborhood of the triumphal arch the Tyrolese were able to
survey the whole position of the enemy； they could discern even the
various uniforms of the French and Bavarian soldiers。 Up yonder； on
the roof of a house； stood Speckbacher and Teimer； and with their
eyes； which were as keen and flashing as those of the eagle； they
gazed searchingly upon the position of the enemy and that of their
own forces。 The line from the village of Wiltau down to the river
Sill was occupied by the French troops under General Bisson； on the
right side of Wiltau to the Inn stood Lieutenant…Colonel Wreden with
the Bavarians； his front turned toward the city。
〃Now we must surround them as in a mouse…trap； and leave them no
outlet for escape；〃 said Major Teimer； with a shrewd wink。 〃Is not
that your opinion too； Speckbacher？〃
〃Certainly it is；〃 replied Speckbacher。 〃Mount Isel yonder； in the
rear of the Bavarians； must be occupied by several thousands of our
best sharpshooters； and a cloud of our peasants must constantly
harass their rear and drive them toward Innspruck。 Here we will
receive them in fine style； and chase them until they are all dead
or lay down their arms。 The only important thing for us is to cut
off their retreat and keep them between two fires。〃
〃You are right； Speckbacher； you are a skilful soldier； and are
better able to be a general than many an officerfor instance；
General Kinkel。 Kinkel is an old woman； he wept and swore in one
breath when I was with him just now； he says all the time that he
will commit suicide； and yet he is not courageous enough to do it；
but preferred to comply with my demands。〃
〃And what were your demands； Teimer？〃
〃I demanded that he should give me an open letter to General Bisson；
urging him to send some confidential person into the town who might
report the state of affairs； and convince him of the immense
superiority and enthusiasm of the Tyrolese； and of the impossibility
of defeating us or forcing his way through our ranks。〃
〃And did old General Kinkel give you such a letter？〃
〃He did； and I will send it out now to the French camp。 We must make
all necessary dispositions； that when the general sends a
confidential envoy into the town he may become fully alive to the
fact that it is impossible for him to defeat us。 Above all things；
we must send several thousand sharp…shooters to Mount Isel and the
adjoining heights； in order to cut off the enemy's retreat。〃
The letter which Major Teimer had extorted from General Kinkel had
really the effect which he had expected from it。 General Bisson sent
to Innspruck one of his staff…officers； accompanied by Lieutenant…
Colonel von Wreden； the commander of the Bavarians。 A few other
officers followed these two； and repaired with them to Major Teimer；
who received them at the principal guard…house in the presence of
the most prominent Tyrolese。
Meanwhile General Bisson awaited with painful impatience the return
of the two ambassadors whom he had sent into the town； and； his eyes
constantly fixed on Innspruck； he walked uneasily up and down。 But
already upward of an hour had elapsed； and the ambassadors had not
yet made their appearance。 He had good reason to be uneasy and
anxious； for the situation of the French and Bavarians was now
almost desperate。 He had found out at the bridge of the Eisach； on
the plain of the Sterzinger Moos； and at the Muhlbacher Klause； that
the French had to deal with an enemy who was terribly in earnest；
that the whole Tyrol was in insurrection； that Chasteler； with a
body of armed peasants； as well as a few regular troops； was
descending the Brenner； and already menacing his rear； while the
rocks and thickets in his front and flanks were bristling with the
peasants of the Innthal； whoin great strengthobstructed his
advance。
〃We shall die here； for we are hemmed in on all sides；〃 said General
Bisson； gloomily； to himself。 〃There is no hope left； and in the end
we may be obliged to submit to the disgrace of surrendering to the
mob of peasants。 But what on earth prevents the officers from
returning to me？〃
And Bisson turned his searching eyes again toward Innspruck。 Now he
perceived two men approaching at a run。
He recognized them； they were the companions of his staff…officer
and Lieutenant…Colonel Von Wreden； and their pale； dismayed faces
told him that they were bearers of bad tidings。
〃Where are the two gentlemen whom I sent to Innspruck？〃 he asked；
advancing rapidly toward them。
〃They were taken into custody at Innspruck；〃 faltered out one of
them。
〃Major Teimer said he had taken upon himself no obligation in regard
to these officers； and would retain them as hostages；〃 panted the
other。 〃He then caused us to be conducted through the whole city；
that we might satisfy ourselves of the tremendous strength of the
Tyrolese and their formidable preparations。 Oh； your excellency； the
peasants are much superior to us in strength； for there are at least
twenty thousand able…bodied men in their ranks； they are well armed；
and the most celebrated marksmen and the most daring leaders of the
Tyrol are among them。〃
〃Bah！ it would make no difference； even though they were ten to
one！〃 cried General Bisson； 〃for ten peasants cannot have as much
courage as one soldier of the grand army of my glorious emperor。 We
will prove to them that we are not afraid of them。 We will attack
them。 A detachment of Tyrolese yonder has ventured to leave the
city。 Fire at them！ Shoot them down until not one of them is left！