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Andreas Hofer
投诉 阅读记录

第8章

"Sitdown,then,myboy,andwrite。Youwillfindpenandinkinthedrawerofyondertable。Takethem,andIwilldictatetoyou。"

Andamidsttherespectfulsilenceofthemen,walkingupanddownslowly,andstrokinghislongbeardwithhisrighthand,AndreasHofercommenceddictatinghis"openorder,"whichwasasfollows:

"Earlyinthemorningofthe9thofAprilGeneralHillerwillmarchfromSalzburgtotheLowerInnvalley,andGeneralyonChastelerfromCarinthiatothePustervalley。Onthe11thor12thofApriltheformerwillarriveatInnsbruck,andthelatteratBrixen。TheArchdukeJohnordersthattheMuhlbachpassbeoccupiedbypeasantsfromthePustervalley,andtheKunterswegbymountedmen。TheyaretoallowallforcesoftheenemymarchingfromBotzentoBrixentopass,andwillcutoffallcommunicationsonlysosoonastheydiscoverthattheBavarianciviliansandsoldiersaretryingtoescapefromBrixentoBotzen。Notamanmustbeallowedtopassthen。"

WhileAndreasHoferwasdictatinghis"openorder"withafirmandthoughtfulair,thepeasantsstooddumfoundedwithadmiration,staringathimwithafeelingofawe,anddelightedwithhissagacityandunderstanding。ThatHofercastfromtimetotimeasearchingglanceatHormayr"sletterdidnotdisturbtheadmirationtheyfeltfortheirchosenleader,andtheyweresilentandstaredathimlongafterhewasthrough。

"So,"saidAndreaswhenthewritingwasfinished,"nowMartinTeimerandIwillaffixournamestothisopenorder;Ennemoserwillthencopyithalfadozentimes,andsixofyouwillcarrythecopiestotheotherleaderswhoarealreadywaitingforthem,andwhowillgivethesignaltotheirfriendsinthelowervalley。You,GeorgeLanthaler,willcarrytheordertoJosephSpeckbacheratKufstein;

you,JosephGufler,willtakeittothefarmerattheSchildhof;

you,GeorgeSteinhauferle,willgotoAnthonyWallner,theAichbergeratWindisch—Matrey。Quick,quick,myfriends,wehavenotimetolose;youmustwalknightandday;youcannotrestontheroad,forwemuststriketheblowwithlightningspeed,anditmustbedoneatthesametimealloverthecountry。"

"AndIwilllikewisesetoutagaintospreadthenewsthroughoutthecountry,"saidMartinTeimer。"FortwoweekspastIhavebeeninallpartsoftheTyrol,andhaveworkedeverywhereforourcause,andknownowthatwemaycountuponallourcountrymen。Theyarewaitingforthesignal,andwemustgiveittothem。Here,takethispackage;itcontainsalargenumberofthoselittlepaperballsuponwhicharewrittenthewords""Tistime!"Eachofyoucantakeahandfulofthemandgivethemtoyourwivesandchildren,thattheymaycarrythemtotheneighborsanddistributethemeverywhere。

SpeckbacherandWallner,too,havepackagesofsuchpaperballs,andsosoonasourfaithfulmessengersbringthemour`openorder,"theywilllikewisesendaroundtheirwivesandchildrenthroughtheneighborhood;andeverywherethecrywillbe,""Tistime!"WemustexpeltheBavarians!Iwillgonow,forImustconcentratemymeninordertopreventtheBavariansfromcrossingthebridgeofLaditch。

Farewell,then,andGodgrantthatwemayallmeetagainbeforelongasfreeandhappymenatourgoodcityofInnspruck!"

"Wemustgotoo,"exclaimedtheTyrolesewhenMartinTeimerhadleftthehouseasquicklyashehadenteredit。"Wemustgointothemountainsandinformourfriendsthatitistime。"

"Butgothroughthekitchen,mydearmessengers,"saidAndreasHofer;"thereisabagofflourforeachofyou;takeitonyourback,andonpassingduringyourmarcharivuletoramountaintorrent,throwsomeoftheflourintoit;andwhereveryoufinddrybrushwoodontheroad,pileitupandkindleit,thatthebale—firesmayproclaimtothecountry,""Tistime!"

Halfanhourafterwardthelargebar—roomwasdeserted,andprofoundsilencereignedintheinnZumSand。TheservantsandchildrenoftheSandwirthhadgonetobed;onlyhehimselfandhisfaithfulwife,AnnaGertrude,wereyetup。Bothhadretiredintothesmallsitting—roomadjoiningthebarroom。AndreasHoferwaswalkingupanddowntheresilentlyandthoughtfully,hishandsfoldedonhisback;

Gertrudesatintheleather—coveredarm—chairatthestove,andlookedatherhusband。Everythingwasstillaroundthem;onlytheslow,regulartickingoftheclockbroketheprofoundsilence,andoutsidewastobeheardthewildroaringofthePasseyr,whichhurleditsfuriousfoamingwatersnotfarfromtheinnoverpebblesandfragmentsofrocks。

Finally,afteralongpause,Andreasstoodstillinfrontofhiswife,andgazedatherwithalong,searching,andtenderlook。

Gertrude,asifliftedupbythisglance,rose,encircledhisneckquicklywithherarms,andlookedwithanexpressionofterrorandanxietyintohisface。

"Andy,"sheexclaimed,mournfully,"myown,dearestAndy,Iamafraidharmwillbefallyou!"

"ThatiswhatIexpect,"hesaid,sighing,"andIamsorryforyou,mydearestwife。IwasjustspeakingwithGodandmyconscience,andaskingthemsoferventlyifitwasnotwronginmenottothinkaboveallthingsofmydearwifeandmybelovedchildren,andifI

oughtnottoliveanddieonlyforthem。ForItellyou,andIknow,whatIamgoingtodoisdangerous,andmayeasilycostmylife。I

donotblindmyeyestoit;Imaylosemylifeineitheroftwoways。Abulletmaystrikemeinbattle;or,ifmylifeshouldbesparedinthestruggle,andifweshouldbedefeated,theBavarianswouldtreatmeasatraitor;andthenabulletwouldstrikemealso,fortheywouldshootme。"

"Oh,JesusMaria!myAndy,"criedGertrude,takingHofer"sheadinherhands,asiftoprotectitfromthemurderousbullets。

"Idonotsaythatthiswilloccur;Isayonlythatitmayoccur,"

saidAndreas,withagentlesmile。"IwishtotellyouonlythatI

amfullyalivetothedangersthreateningmewhenIstepto—morrowmorningoutofmystreet—door,andenteruponthedutiesofthepositionwhichtheyhaveconferredonme;forIamtocommandthepeasantsofthePasseyrvalleyanddirecttheinsurrectioninallthispartofthecountry。Therefore,IaskedGodandmyconsciencewhetherornotIdidrightintakinguponmyselfsoresponsibleatask,andplungingmyfamily,perhaps,intogriefanddistress。Butdoyouknowwhatbothofthemrepliedtome?Theysaid:"Itisyourdutytoloveyourwifeandyourchildren;butyoumustalsoloveyouremperorandyourcountry;andwhenthelattercallyouandsay,"Come,weneedyourarmandassistance,"youmust,asanhonestman,obeythecall,gotothem,andleaveyourfamily;fortolovethefatherlandiseveryman"shighesthonor,andtobeloyalanddevotedtotheemperoristhefirstdutyofeveryTyrolese。"Godandmyconsciencespoketomethusinmybreast,andnowIaskyoutoo,dearwife——IaskyoubeforeGodandyourconscience——wouldyoulikeyourhusbandnottoobeytheemperor"scall,butstayathome,whilehisbravebrethrenandfriendsaretakingthefieldtodefendthecountryandexpeltheBavarians?"

"No,indeed,Andy,Iwouldnot,"criedGertrude,indismay;"I

shouldneverdareagaintoliftmyeyesbeforeanybody;IshouldnotevenventuretopraytotheHolyVirginandtoGod,for,asbothgaveuptheirdivineSon,soanhonestwomanmustgiveupherhusbandforthesakeofthefatherland。"

Andreaslaidhishandonhiswife"sheadasiftoblessher。"Itisasyousay,Gertrude,"hesaid,solemnly。"Forthesakeofthefatherlandandtheemperoryoumustgiveupyourhusbandandyourchildrentheirfather;andwearenotallowedtoshutourearsinordernottohearthatthedearTyrolandthegoodEmperorFrancishavecalledme。Ihaveheardthecall,andmustobeyit。Ishalldosojoyouslyandreadily,andyetmyheartgrieves,andthereisinmybreastheresomethingtellingmethatourhappinessisatanend,thatoursunhasset,and——Gertrude,Iamnotashamedofit——I

weep!"

Heleanedhisheadagainsthiswife"sshoulder,and,foldinghertohisheart,sobbedaloud。Butthislastedonlyashorttime;thenberaisedhimselfagain,anddrewhishandquicklyacrosshiseyes。

"There,"hesaid,"itisallovernow。IweptasagoodChristianissurelyallowedtodowhenhetakesleaveofhiswifeandhischildren,andgivesthemupforthesakeofhiscountry。DidnotAbrahamweeptoo,andbegGodformercy,whenhewastosacrificehissontotheAlmighty?Butheneverthelesswasreadytomakethesacrifice。And,likeAbraham,Ihaveweptandlamentednow,butI

shallmakethesacrifice。HereIam,myGod,"headded,liftinghiseyesandhandstoHeaven;"hereIam,forThouhastcalledme。Dowithmeasthoudeemestbest。IamnothingbutThyfaithfulservant;

butifThouwishesttousemeforThygreatpurposes,doso!IofferTheemyarms,mybody,andmylife!Takethem!"

"Butthou,HolyVirgin,"murmuredGertrude,"andthouSaintGeorge,ourpatronsaint,stretchoutyourarmsoverhimgraciouslyandprotectmyAndy。Bearinmindthatheismymostprecioustreasureonearth!Preservemydearhusbandtome,andtomychildrenthefatherwhomtheylovesoardently!"

"Amen!"exclaimedAndreas。"Andnow,dearestwife,comeandgivemeakiss,apartingkiss!"

"Youdonotintendtosetoutthisverynight?"askedGertrude,anxiously。

"No,Gertrude,butstillitisapartingkiss。ForhenceforthImustbecomeanotherman——ahardman,whowillnolongerthinkofhisfamily,butonlyofthefatherlandandtheemperor。Iweptafewminutesagoasagoodfatherandhusband,butnowImustbecomeashardasagoodsoldieroughttobe。UntiltheBavarianshavebeenexpelledfromthecountry,Ishallnolongerthinkofyouandthechildren,butshallbeonlyabraveandintrepidsoldierofmylordandemperor,andthecommanderofthePasseyrmilitia。Kissme,therefore,alasttime,AnnaGertrude!There!Givemeanotherkiss!

Whoknowsbutitmaybethelasttimeyouwilleverkissme,dearGertrude?Andhereisstillanotherkissforourgirls。Nowitisenough。Gotobednow,Gertrude,andprayforme。"

"Youwillnotgotobed,Andy?"askedGertrude,anxiously。

"No,Iwillnot,AnnaGertrude。IhavebusinesstoattendtointheyardwithJoe,ourlaborer。Wewillkillthebrindledcow。"

"What?Thisverynight?"

"Thisverynight。Weneedthebloodandmeat。WeshallpourthebloodintothePasseyr,andyouwillseetomorrowthatweneedthemeat,forIbelieveweshallhaveagreatmanyguestsinthemorning。"

AndreasHofer"sprophecywasfulfilled。AlreadyearlyinthemorningagreatmanymenassembledinfrontoftheinnZumSand。TheywerethesharpshootersofthePasseyrvalley,whowereflockingfromallpartsofthedistricttoHofer"shousetoreporttothebelovedcommanderofPasseyr。Theycamedownfromthemountainsandupfromthevalleys。Theyworetheirholidaydresses,andtheiryellowSundayhatsweredecoratedwithbouquetsofrosemaryandhandsomeribbons。Theyweremerryandinthebestofspirits,asiftheyweregoingtothedance;onlyinsteadoftheirrosy—cheekedgirls,theyheldtheirtrustyriflesintheirarms。Nevertheless,theysmackedtheirlips,utteredloudexclamationsofjoy,andshoutedasmerrilyaslarks——""Tistime!TheBavariansmustleavethecountry!Longlivetheemperor!LonglivetheArchdukeJohn!"

Andechoseemedtoanswer,"TheBavariansmustleavethecountry!"

Butitwasnotechothathadrepeatedthesewords。Theyproceededfromthethroatsofmerrymen,andagayprocessiondescendednowfromthemountain—path。ItconsistedofthesharpshootersandpeasantsofMeranandAlgund,whoweremarchingupinthebeautifulcostumesoftheAdigevalley。Oh,howtheireyesflashed,andtheriflesintheirarmsalso。AndwithwhatjubilantJodlersthemenofPasseyrreceivedtheirdearfriendsfromAlgundandMeran。

Allatonceeverysoundwashushed,forinthedooroftheinnappearedAndreasHofer,lookinglikeakinginhishandsomeholidayattire;hisgood—natured,honestfacegleamedwithjoy,andhisglancewasmildandclear,andyetsofirmandcommanding。Hiswholebearingbreathedcalmdignity,anditseemedtothemenofPasseyrasthoughthemorningsunwhichilluminatedhisfacesurroundedhisheadwithagoldenhalo。Theystoodasidewithtimidreverenceandawe。HoferadvancedintothemiddleofthecirclewhichthemenofPasseyr,Meran,andAlgundformedaroundhim。Hethenlookedaroundandgreetedthemenonallsideswithasmile,apleasantnod,andawaveofhishand。

"Myfriends,"heexclaimedinaloudvoice,"thedayhascomewhenwemustexpeltheBavariansfromthecountryandrestoretheTyroltotheAustrians。"Tistime!TheBavarianshaveamplydeservedsuchtreatmentatourhands,fortheyhavesorelyoppressedus。Whenyouhadfinishedawoodenimage,couldyoucarryittoViennaandsellit?No,youcouldnot!Isthatfreedom?YouareTyrolese;atleastyourfatherscalledthemselvesso;nowyouaretocallyourselvesBavarians。And,moreover,ourancientcastleofTyrolinthePasseyrvalleywasnotspared!Areyousatisfiedwiththis?Ifyouharvestthreebladesofcorn,thegovernmentclaimstwoofthem;isthathappinessandprosperity?ButthereisaProvidenceandthereareangels;anditwasrevealedtomethatifweresolvedtoavengeourwrongs,GodandSt。George,ourpatronsaint,wouldhelpus。Up,then,againsttheBavarians!Tearthevillainswithyourteethwhiletheystand;butwhentheykneeldownandpray,givethemquarter。UpagainsttheBavarians!"Tistime!"

"UpagainsttheBavarians!"tistime!"shoutedallthebravemen,enthusiastically;andthemountainechoesanswered:"UpagainsttheBavarians!"tistime!"

Andtheblood—redwatersofthePasseyrcarrieddownintothevalleythemessage:"UpagainsttheBavarians!"tistime!"

CHAPTERX。

ANTHONYWALLNEROFWINDISCH—MATREY。

Anunusualcommotionreignedinthemarket—placeofWindisch—Matreyontheafternoonofthe9thofApril。ThemenandyouthsofWindisch—Matreyanditsenvironswereassembledthereindensegroups,andthrongedinconstantly—increasingmassesroundthehouseoftheinnkeeperAnthonyAichberger,calledWallner。Thewomen,too,hadlefttheirhousesandhuts,andhastenedtothemarket—place。

Theirfaceswereasthreateningasthoseofthemen;theireyesshotfire,andtheirwholebearingbetokenedunusualexcitement。

Everywhereloudandvehementwordswereuttered,clinchedfistswereraisedmenacingly,andglancesofsecretunderstandingwereexchanged。

Theliveliestscene,however,tookplaceinthelargebarroomoftheinn。Theforemostmenofthewholedistrict,strong,well—builtforms,withdefiantfacesandcourageousbearing,hadassembledtherearoundAnthonyWallner—Aichberger。Theyspokebutlittle,butsatonthebenchesagainstthewallsoftheroom,andstaredintotheirglasses,whichEliza,Wallner"seldestdaughter,filledagainandagainwithbeer。Eventheyounggirl,whowasusuallysogayandspirited,seemedto—daysadanddejected。Formerlyhermerrylaughterandclear,ringingvoicewereheardeverywhere;to—dayshewasmoodyandtaciturn。Formerlyherchecksglowedlikepurpleroses,acharmingarchexpressionplayedaroundherbeautifulsmallmouth,andthefireandspiritofyouthbeamedfromherlargeblackeyes;to—day,onlyafaintcrimsontingedEliza"scheeks,herlipswerefirmlycompressed,andhereyesweredimandlustreless。Fromtimetotime,whilewaitingontheguests,shecastananxious,searchingglancethroughthewindowsoverthemarket—place,andseemedtolistentothehumofvoices,whichoftenbecameasdeafeningasthewildroarofthestorm,andshookthewindow—panes。

AnthonyWallner,herfather,waslikewisegraveandanxious,andinwalkingtothegroupsofguestsseatedonthebencheshereandthere,heglanceduneasilytowardthewindows。

"Itmaybethattheywillnotcome,afterall,Tony,andthattheViennesehavefooledyou,"whisperedoldThurnwaldenfromMerantohim。

"Icannotcomprehendit,"sighedAnthonyWallner。"Theinsurrectionwastobreakoutonthe9thofApril,andtheAustriantroopsweretocrossthefrontieronthatday;andthiswasthereasonwhywehavehithertoresistedtheconscriptionandrefusedtopaythenewtaxes。Butthe9thofAprilhascomenow,andwehavereceivednomessagefromHoferortheAustrians。"

"Andto—daythetimewhichtheBavarianshavegivenusisup,"

growledGeorgeHinnthal;"ifouryoungladsdonotreportvoluntarilytotheenrollingofficersbythisevening,theywillbearrestedto—morrow。"

"Theyshallnotbearrested,"exclaimedoneoftheTyrolese,strikingthetablewithhispowerfulfist。

"No,theyshallnotbearrested,"echoedall,inloud,defianttones。

"Butyouwillnotbeabletopreventthem,"saidoldThurnwalden,whenallweresilentagainandhaddrunkalongdraughtfromtheirglassesasiftoconfirmtheirwords。"YouknowthereisawholecompanyofsoldiersatCastleWeissenstein,andUlrichvonHohenberg,thecastellan"snephew,istheircaptain。HeisaBavarian,bodyandsoul,and,ifweresisttheauthorities,hewillleadhismenwithmusketsandfield—piecesagainstus。"

"Why,youhavebecomegreatlydiscouraged,CasparThurnwalden,"saidAnthonyWallner,sneeringly,"andonewouldalmostthinkyouhadturnedafriendoftheBavarians。WehavegotasgoodmusketsastheBavarians,andiftheyshootweshallshootback。Andasforthefield—pieces,why,wehavegotwheelsandmayrolldowncannonfromCastleWeissensteintoWindisch—Matrey。Butcome,mydearfriends,I

seetheBavariantax—collectorswalkingacrossthemarket—placeyonder。Theylookverygrimandstern,asiftheymeanttodevourusall。Letusgooutandseewhatisgoingon。"

Themenroseasifobeyingamilitaryorder,andfollowedAnthonyWallnerfromtheroomtothemarket—place。ElizaWallnerwasforamomentaloneintheroom;andnowthatshehadnolongertofeartheeyesoftheguests,shesankquiteexhaustedonachairandburiedherfaceinhertremblinghands。

"WhatamItodo?"shemurmuredinalowvoice。"Oh,Godinheaven,wouldIcoulddiethisveryhour!"

"Whydoyouweep,Lizzie?"askedagentlevoicebyherside,and,onlookingup,Elizabeheldthegrave,sympatheticfaceofhermother,whohadjustenteredtheroomwithoutbeingheardbyher。Elizasprangupandembracedhermotherwithpassionatetenderness。

"Dearestmamma,"shewhispered,"Iamafraid。"

"Afraidofwhat?"askedhermother,inalowvoice。"AreyouafraidtheAustriansmaynotcome,andtheBavariansmaythenimprisonyourdearfather,becausetheyhavefoundoutthathehasinstigatedthepeopletodisobeytheirbehests?"

"No,"saidEliza,blushingwithshame,"no,thatisnotwhatIamafraidof。Theywillnotdaretoarrestmydearfather,fortheyknowfullwellthatthepeopleofthewholedistrictaregreatlyattachedtohim,andthatthemenofthewholePustervalleywouldrisetodeliverAnthonyWallner。Itissomethingelse,dearestmother;comewithmeintothechamber;thereIwilltellyouall。"

Shedrewhermotherhastilyintothechamberadjoiningthebar—roomandclosedthedoorafterher。

"Mother,"shesaid,tremblinglyandbreathlessly,"listentomenow。

IamsuretheAustriansarecoming,andifthemenoutsidehearofit,theywillkillalltheBavarians。"

"Letthemdoit,"saidhermothercomposedly;"themean,sneakingBavarianshavecertainlydeservedtobekilledaftertheinfamoustreatmentwehaveenduredattheirhands。"

"But,mother,therearealsogoodmenamongthem,"exclaimedEliza。

"YouknowverywellIamaloyalTyrolesegirl,andlovemyemperordearly,foryouhavetaughtmefrommyearliestyouththatitwasincumbentonmetodoso。But,mother,therearealsogoodmenamongtheBavarians。Thereis,forinstance,UlrichvonHohenbergupatCastleWeissenstein。Youknowhiscousinhasalwaystreatedmeasasister;wehavegrownuptogether,andIwasallowedtoparticipateinherlessonsandlearnwhatshelearned。Wewerealwaystogether,andevennowIhavesnotceasedgoingtoCastleWeissenstein,althoughitisgarrisonedbyadetachmentofBavariansoldiers。

Fatherhimselfwishedmetogototheyoungladyasheretofore,forhesaiditwouldlooksuspiciousifIshouldstayawayallofasudden。ThereforeIwenttoseemydearfriendElizavonHohenbergeveryday,andIalwaysmettherehercousin,thecaptainoftheBavariansoldiers。Heisaverykind—heartedandmerrygentleman,mother,anditisnofaultofhisthatheisaBavarian。Hisfather,ourcastellan"sbrother,haslivedforthirtyyearspastdownatMunich,andhissonenteredtheBavarianservicelongbeforeheknewthatwepeopleofWindisch—MatreydesiretobecomeAustriansubjectsagain。Nowhisgeneralsenthimhitherwithhissoldiersforthepurposeofhelpingtheofficerstocollectthetaxesandenrollthenamesofouryoungmen。Ishetoblameforthenecessityheisunderofobeyingtheordersofhisgeneral?"

"No,heisnot,"saidhermother,gravely。

"ButwhentheAustrianscomenow,andmyfatherandtheothermenrise,andexpelandkilltheBavarians,theywillkillUlrichvonHohenbergtoo,althoughitisnothisfaultthatheisaBavarian。

Oh,dearestmamma,heissuchagood,kind—heartedyoungman!heismydearEliza"scousinandourcastellan"snephew,andyouknowhowwellElizaandherfatherhavetreatedme,andthattheytakecareofme,wheneverIamatthecastle,asthoughIwerethecastellan"sownchild。Dearestmamma,shallwepermitourmentokillthenephewofourexcellentcastellan?"

"No,wewillnot,Lizzie,"saidhermother,resolutely。"Quick,runupthefootpathleadingtothecastle。TelltheyoungofficerthattheTyrolesearegoingtodeliverthemselvesfromtheBavarianyoke,andthathehadbettereffecthisescapewhilethereistime。"

"Mother,hewillnotdoit,forheisabraveyoungman!"sighedEliza;"andthen——Icannotbetrayfather"ssecrettohim。IftheAustriansdidnotcomeafterall,andIhadtoldUlrichvonHohenbergwhatfatherandtheotherTyroleseintendtodo,wouldI

notbeatraitress,andwouldnotfathercurseme?"

"True,true,thatwillnotdo,"saidhermothermusingly;"yourfatherwouldneverforgiveyou。ButIknowwhatyoumustdo。JustrunuptothecastleandactasthoughyouwishedonlytopayavisittoyourfriendEliza;nooneknowsasyetwhatisgoingtooccur。Noneofyourfriendshavedisclosedthesecret;andthecastellantoo,thoughIthinkheisagoodAustrianatheart,doesnotyetknowanythingaboutit。Yourfathertoldmesothisverymorning。Youwillremainatthecastle,andsosoonasyouhearthereportofarifleonthemarket—placehere,youwillknowthattheinsurrectionisbreakingout。Thereisfather"srifle;whenitistime,Iwillstepoutofthebackgatewithitandshoot。Youwillhearthereport,andtelltheyoungofficerthattheTyrolesearegoingtorise,andthathehadbetterconcealhimselfuntilthefirstrageoftheinsurgentshasblownover。"

"Yes,Iwilldoso,"exclaimedEliza;"Iwillrunuptothecastlenow。Good—by,dearestmamma。"

Sheimprintedakissonthehandofhermother,andthenspedawayasgracefullyasayoungroe。

"Sheisaverygoodgirl,"saidhermother,lookingafterhersmilingly,"andhasasoftandcompassionateheart。Shewishestosavethecastellan"snephewmerelybecauseshepitiestheyoungmanwhoisexposedtosuchimminentdanger。Itisverykindofher!It——

But,HolyVirgin!whatisthematteroutside?Istheoutbreaktocommencealready?IbelieveitismyTonywhoistalkingoutsideinsoloudavoice。Imustgoandhearwhatisthematter。"

Shehastenedthroughthebar—roomtothestreet—dooropeninguponthemarketplace。

Yes,itwasAnthonyWallner—Aichbergerwhowasgesticulatingsoviolentlyyonder。RoundhimstoodthemenofWindisch—Matrey,lookingwithgloomyfacesatthethreeBavarianrevenueofficerswhowerestandinginfrontofWallner。

"Irepeat,sir,"exclaimedAnthonyWallneratthismomentwithanairofmockgravity,"thatweareallveryloyalandobedientsubjects,andthatitiswronginyou。Mr。Tax—collector,tocallusstubborn,seditiousfellows。Ifweweresuch,wouldwenot,beingsonumeroushere,punishyouandyourtwoofficersforspeakingofussocontemptuouslyanddisrespectfully?"

"Youknowfullwellthat,atawaveofmyhand,thecompanyofsoldierswillrushdownfromCastleWeissensteinandshootyouallastraitorsandrebels,"saidthetax—collectorhaughtily。

"Well,Mr。Tax—collector,"exclaimedWallner,smilingly,"asfortheshooting,wearelikewisewellversedinthat。Wearefirst—ratemarksmen,weTyrolese!"

"What!"criedthetax—collector,furiously,"doyouspeakagainofTyrolese?DidInotforbidyoutocallyourselvesso?YouarenoTyrolese,butinhabitantsofSouth—Bavaria,doyouhear?HismajestytheKingofBavariadoesnotwantanyTyroleseassubjects,butonlySouthernBavarians,asIhavetoldyoutwicealready。"[Footnote:

See"GalleryofHeroes;LifeofAndreasHofer,"p。15。]

"Verywell;ifhismajestydoesnotwantanyTyroleseassubjects,youneednottellussomorethanonce,"exclaimedAnthonyWallner。

"HeprefersSouthernBavarians,doeshe?Bearthatinmind,Tyrolese;theKingofBavariawantsonlySouthernBavarians。"

"Wewillbearthatinmind,"shoutedtheTyrolese;andloud,scornfullaughterrolledlikethreateningthunderacrossthemarket—

place。

"Youlaugh,"exclaimedthetax—collector,endeavoringtostiflehisrage;"Iamgladyouaresomerry。To—morrow,perhaps,youwilllaughnolonger;forItellyou,ifyoudonotpayto—daythefineimposedonyou,Ishallhaveitforciblycollectedbythesoldiersatdaybreakto—morrowmorning。"

"Wemustreallypaythefine,then?"askedAnthonyWallner,withfeignedtimidity。"Youwillnotrelent,then,Mr。Tax—collector?Wereallymustpaytheheavyfine,becausewehadalittlefuntheotherday?Foryoumustsayyourself,sir,wereallydidnowrong。"

"Youdidnowrong?Youwereinopeninsurrection。Onthebirthdayofyourgraciousmastertheking,insteadofhangingoutBavarianflags,asyouhadbeenordered,youhungoutAustrianflagseverywhere。"

"No,Mr。Tax—collector,youdidnotseeright;wehungoutnonebutBavarianflags。"

"Thatisfalse!Imyselfwalkedthroughthewholeplace,andsaweverythingwithmyowneyes。YourflagsdidnotcontaintheBavariancolors,blueandwhite,butblackandyellow,theAustriancolors。"

"Possiblytheymayhavelookedso,"exclaimedAnthonyWallner,"butthatwasnotourfault。TheflagswereouroldBavarianflags:buttheywerealreadysomewhatold,thebluewasfadedandlookedlikeyellow,andthewhitehadbecomequitedirtyandlookedlikeblack。"

"Thunderandlightning!Wallnerisright,"exclaimedtheTyrolese,burstingintoloudlaughter。"TheflagswereouroldBavarianflags,buttheywerefadedanddirty。"

Theyounglads,whohadhithertostoodingroupsaroundtheouteredgeofthemarket—place,nowmingledwiththecrowdtolistentothespeakers;andayoungTyrolese,withhisrifleonhisarm,andhispointedhatoverhisdarkcurlyhair,approachedwithsuchimpetuouscuriositythathesuddenlystoodclosetothetax—

collector。However,hetooknonoticeoftheofficer,butlookedwitheagerattentionatWallner,andlistenedtohiswords。

Butthegrimeyesofoneofthetwobailiffsnoticedwithdismaythatthisimpudentfellowdaredtoplacehimselfclosebythesideofthetax—collectorwithouttakingoffhishat。

Strikingwithhisfistontheyoungfellow"shat,hedroveitdeepoverhisforehead。

"Villain!"heshouted,inathreateningvoice,"doyounotseethetax—collector?"

Theyoungfellowdrewthehatwithanairofembarrassmentfromhisforehead,andcrimsoningwithrage,butinsilence,steppedbackintothecircleofthemurmuringmen。

"Thatisjustwhatyoudeserve,Joe,"saidAnthonyWallner。"WhydidasmartTyroleseboylikeyoucomenearusSouthernBavarianswhenweweretalkingaboutpublicparlour?"

Atthismomentaladelbowedhimselfhastilythroughthecrowd。Hisdresswasdusty,hisfacewasflushedandheatedanditseemedasthoughhehadtravelledmanymilesonfoot。Tothosewhostoodinhiswayhesaidinabreathless,pantingvoice:"Pleasestandaside。

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