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escaped from his breast。 〃Read the capitulation to me； sir；〃 he
said； drying the cold perspiration on his forehead。
Teimer drew a paper from his bosom and unfolded it。 He then
commenced reading； in a loud； ringing voice； which drowned even the
rattle of musketry
〃In the name of his majesty the Emperor Francis I。 of Austria； a
capitulation is entered into at this moment with the French and
Bavarian troops which advanced to…day from Steinach to Wiltau； the
following terms were accepted：〃
〃FIRST。 The French and Bavarian soldiers lay down their arms on the
spot now occupied by them。〃
〃SECONDLY。 The members of the whole eighth corps are prisoners of
war； and will be delivered as such to the Austrian troops at
Schwatz； whither they will be conveyed immediately。〃
〃THIRDLY。 The Tyrolese patriots in the custody of these troops will
be released on the spot。〃
〃FOURTHLY。 The field and staff…officers of the French and Bavarian
troops will retain their baggage； horses； and side…arms； and their
property will be respected。〃
〃You see； sir； it is impossible for me to sign this；〃 cried General
Bisson。 〃You cannot expect me to subscribe my own disgrace。〃
〃If you refuse to subscribe the capitulation； you sign thereby not
only your own death…warrant； but that of all your soldiers；〃 said
Teimer calmly。 〃See； general； here is fortunately a table； for this
is the place where the people of Wiltau assemble on Sundays； and
dance and drink。 Fate placed this table here for us that we might
use it for signing the capitulation。 There is the capitulation； I
have already affixed to it my name and title as commissioner of the
Emperor Francis。 I have also brought pen and ink with me； that you
might have no trouble in signing the document。 Subscribe it；
therefore； general； and let your staff…officers do so too。 Spare the
lives of your poor soldiers for you see every minute's delay costs
you additional losses。〃
〃I cannot sign it； I cannot！〃 cried Bisson； despairingly。 He burst
into tears； and in his boundless grief he struck his forehead with
his fist and tore out his thin gray hair with his trembling hands。
＇Footnote： Hormayr's 〃Andreas Hofer；〃 vol。 1； p。 257。＇ 〃I cannot
sign it；〃 he wailed loudly。
〃Sign it；〃 cried his officers； thronging round the table。
〃You must refuse no longer； for the lives of all our soldiers are at
stake。〃
〃But my honor and good name are likewise at stake；〃 groaned Bisson；
〃and if I sign the capitulation； I shall lose both forever。〃
〃But you will thereby preserve to the emperor the lives of upward of
three thousand of his soldiers；〃 exclaimed the officers； urgently。
〃Never will the emperor believe that this disaster might not have
been averted；〃 wailed General Bisson。 〃Even were I merely
unfortunate； he would impute it to me as a crime。 He will forgive me
no more than Villeneuve and Dupont。 His anger is inexorable； and it
will crush me。〃
〃Then let it crush you； general；〃 said Teimer； calmly。 〃It is better
that you should be crushed than that several thousand men should now
be crushed by the Tyrolese。〃
〃Sign； sign！〃 cried the French officers； stepping close up to the
table； taking up the pen； and presenting it to the general。
〃Then you are all determined to sign the capitulation after I have
done so？〃 asked General Bisson； still hesitating。
〃We are；〃 cried the officers。
〃We are ready to do so；〃 said Major Armance； 〃and in proof hereof I
affix my name to the capitulation before you have signed it；
general。〃
He subscribed the paper with a quick but steady hand。
Another staff…officer stepped up； took the pen； and also wrote his
name； 〃Varin。〃
〃Now； general；〃 he said； presenting the pen to Bisson。
The general took the pen； cast a last despairing glance toward
heaven and then toward his soldiers； bent over the paper to sign it。
The pen dropped from his hand； and he had to lean against the table
in order not to sink to the ground。 Major Teimer drew a white
handkerchief from his pocket and waved it in the air。 The Tyrolese
ceased firing immediately； and deafening cheers burst forth on all
sides。
〃You see； general； you have saved the lives of your soldiers；〃 said
Teimer。
Bisson only sighed； and turned to his officers。 〃Now； gentlemen；〃 he
faltered out； 〃give orders to the troops to lay down their arms on
the spot now occupied by them。〃
The officers hastened away； and General Bisson started to leave
likewise； when Teimer quickly laid his hand on his arm and detained
him。
〃General；〃 he said； 〃pray issue still another order。〃
〃What order； sir？〃
〃You have of course brought your carriage with you； order your
coachman to drive up with it； and permit me and these gentlemen here
to enter it with you； and ride to Innspruck。〃
〃That is to say； I am your prisoner； and you wish to make your
triumphal entrance into the city with me？〃
〃That is about my intention。 I should like to return to the city
seated by your side； and as the good inhabitants of Innspruck are
very anxious to see a French general； one of Bonaparte's generals；
who does not come with his troops to devastate the city； to rob and
plunder； I request you to let us make our entrance in an open；
uncovered carriage。〃
〃We will do so；〃 said Bisson； casting a sombre glance on Teimer's
shrewd face。 〃You are merciless to…day； sir。 What is your name？〃
〃My name is Martin Teimer； I hold the rank of major in the Austrian
army； and Archduke John has appointed me commissioner for the
Tyrol。〃
〃Ah； one of the two commissioners who signed the ‘open order；' with
which the country was instigated to rise in insurrection？〃
〃Yes； general。〃
〃And Andreas Hofer the Barbone； is the other commissioner； is he
not？ I will remember it in case we should meet again。〃
〃You will then take your revenge； that is quite natural。 But to…day
WE take our revenge for the long oppressions and insults which we
have endured at the hands of the French。 Come； general； let us ride
to Innspruck。〃
An hour afterward a long and brilliant procession moved through the
triumphal arch。 It was headed by the band of the captured Bavarian
regiment； which had to play to glorify its own disgrace to…day； next
came an open carriage in which Martin Teimer sat with a radiant
face； and by his side General Bisson； pale； and hanging his head。 In
another carriage followed the staff…officers； escorted by the
municipal authorities and clergy of Innspruck； and afterward
appeared the whole enormous force of the Tyrolese conducting the
disarmed prisoners in their midst。 ＇Footnote： Hormayr's 〃Life of
Andreas Hofer；〃 vol。 i。； p。 259。＇
All Innspruck had put on its holiday attire； at all the windows were
to be seen gayly…dressed ladies and rejoicing girls； holding in
their hands wreaths； which they threw down on the victors。 The bells
of all the churches were ringing； not the tocsin； but peals of joy
and thanksgiving。
For the task was accomplished； the Tyrol was free！ In three days
after the insurrection broke out； the Tyrolese； by means solely of
their own valor and patriotism； aided by the natural strength of the
country； had entirely delivered the province from the enemy。