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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！〃
The shots crashed； the artillery boomed； but not a Tyrolese had
fallen； they had thrown themselves on the ground； so that the
bullets and balls had whistled harmlessly over their heads。 But now
they jumped up and responded to the shots of the enemy； and not one
of their bullets missed its aim； but all carried death into the
ranks of the French。 At the same time the sharpshooters posted on
Mount Isel； in the rear of the French and Bavarians； commenced
firing； and mowed down whole ranks of the soldiers。
General Bisson turned in dismay toward this new enemy； covered by
the thicket； which； rising almost to the summit of Mount Isel； made
the Tyrolese invisible； and protected them from the missiles of the
soldiers。
〃We are between two fires；〃 he murmured to himself； in dismay。 〃We
are caught； as it were； in a net； and will be annihilated to the
last man。〃
And this conviction seized all the soldiers； as was plainly to be
seen from their pale faces and terror…stricken looks。
There was a sudden lull in the fire of the Tyrolese； which had
already struck down several hundred French soldiers； and from the
triumphal arch of Innspruck issued several men； waving white
handkerchiefs； and advancing directly toward the French。 It was
Major Teimer； accompanied by some officers and citizens of
Innspruck。 He sent one of them to General Bisson to invite him to an
interview to be held on the public square of the village of Wiltau。
General Bisson accepted the invitation； and repaired with his staff
and some Bavarian officers to the designated place。
Major Teimer and his companions were already there。 Teimer received
the general and his distinguished companions with a proud；
condescending nod。
〃General；〃 he said； without waiting for the eminent officer to
address him； 〃I have come here to ask you to surrender； and order
your soldiers to lay down their arms。〃
General Bisson looked with a smile of amazement at the peasant who
dared to address to him so unheard…of a demand with so much calmness
and composure。
〃My dear sir；〃 he said； 〃I am convinced that you are not in earnest；
but know full well that we never can or will comply with such a
demand。 Moreover； our situation does not by any means compel us to
allow conditions to be dictated to us。 Nevertheless； I am ready to
make some concessions to you。 Hence； I will pledge you my word of
honor that I will neither attack you； nor injure the city of
Innspruck in the least。 But in return I demand that you allow us to
pass without molestation through Innspruck； that we may march to
Augsburg in obedience to the orders of my emperor。〃
〃And you believe we can be so stupid as to grant this demand；
general？〃 asked Teimer； shrugging his shoulders。 〃I do not want to
be beaten down； but stick to my first demand。 Either you order your
troops to lay down their arms； or you will all be put to the sword。〃
〃No； so help me God！ never will I accept so arrogant a demand；〃
cried the general； indignantly； 〃never will I incur the disgrace of
signing so ignominious a capitulation。〃
〃Then； general； you will appear this very day before the throne of
God to account for the lives of the thousands whom you devote to an
unnecessary death。 For all of you will and must die； there is no
escape for you。 You know it full well； general； for otherwise you；
the proud general of Monsieur Bonaparte； and commander of several
thousand splendid French soldiers； would not have come to negotiate
here with the leader of the peasants； who knows nothing of tactics
and strategy。 You know that there are enemies both in your front and
rear。 Our men occupy Mount Isel； and the whole country back of Mount
Isel is in insurrection。 You cannot retrace your steps； nor can you
advance； for you will never get to Innspruck； and there is no other
road to Augsburg。 We have barricaded the city； and have nearly
twenty thousand men in and around Innspruck。〃
〃But I pledged you my word that I would not attack you； nor take any
hostile steps whatever。 All I want is to march peaceably through the
city； and； in order to convince you of my pacific intentions； I
promise to continue my march with flints unscrewed from our muskets；
and without ammunition。〃
〃I do not accept your promises； they are not sufficient；〃 said
Teimer； coldly。
〃Well； then；〃 cried General Bisson； in a tremulous voice； 〃hear my
last words。 I will march on with my troops without arms； our arms
and ammunition may be sent after us on wagons。〃
〃If that is your last word； general； our negotiations are at an
end；〃 replied Teimer； with perfect sang…froid。 〃You have rejected my
well…meaning solicitude for your safety； nothing remains for me now
but to surrender you and your troops to the tender mercies of our
infuriated people。 Farewell； general。〃
He turned his back on him and advanced several steps toward
Innspruck。 At the same time he waved his arm three times。
Immediately； as had been agreed upon； the Tyrolese on Mount Isel；
and in front of Innspruck； commenced firing； and their close
discharges； admirably directed； thinned the ranks of the French
grenadiers； while the shouts with which the mountains resounded on
all sides were so tremendous that they were completely panic…struck。
General Bisson saw it； and a deadly pallor overspread his face。
Teimer stood still and gazed sneeringly at the disheartened and
terrified soldiers； and then glanced at their general。
Bisson caught this glance。 〃Sir；〃 he cried； and his cry resembled
almost an outburst of despair； 〃pray return to me。〃
〃Let us negotiate！〃
Teimer did not approach him； he only stood still。 〃Come to me； if
you have any thing to say to me；〃 he shouted； 〃come； and〃
The rattle of musketry； and the furious shouts of the Tyrolese； now
pouring down from all the mountains； and advancing upon the French；
drowned his voice。
To render his words intelligible to Teimer； and to hear his replies；
General Bisson was obliged to approach him； and he stepped up to him
with his staff…officers in greater haste perhaps than was compatible
with his dignity。
〃What else do you demand？〃 he asked； in a tremulous voice。
〃What I demanded at the outset；〃 said Teimer； firmly。 〃I want your
troops to lay down their arms and surrender to the Tyrolese。 I have
already drawn up a capitulation； it is only necessary for you and
your officers to sign it。 The capitulation is brief and to the
point； general。 It consists only of four paragraphs。 But just listen
to the shouts and cheers of my dear Tyrolese； and see what excellent
marksmen they are！〃
Indeed； the bullets of the Tyrolese whistled again at this moment
through the ranks of the enemy； and every bullet hit its man。 Loud
shouts of despair burst from the ranks of the French and Bavarians；
who were in the wildest confusion； and did not even dare to flee；
because they knew full well that they were hemmed in on all sides。
General Bisson perceived the despair of his troops； and a groan
escaped from his breast。 〃Read the capitulation to me； sir；〃 he
sa