第12章
Thegreenturfwastheirbed，astonetheirpillow;nevertheless，theyhadbeenabletoenjoyafewhoursofpeacefulslumber，fortheywerefamiliarwiththehabitsoftheTyrolese;theyknewthattheyneverundertookanything，notevenahunting—excursion，inthedeadofnight，andthattheyhadnothingtofearfromthemuntilsunrise。
Butnowthefirststreaksofdawnilluminatedthesky;itwastime，therefore，tocontinuethemarch。Lieutenant—ColonelvonWredenrosefromthecouchwhichthesoldiershadpreparedforhimofmossandbranches，andreviewed，accompaniedbyhisofficers，hissmallforce，whichbegansullenlyandsilentlytoforminline。AclouddarkenedWreden"sfacewhen，marchingthroughtheranks，hecountedthenumberofhissoldiers。HehadarrivedyesterdayatthebridgeofSt。Lawrencewithnearlyfourhundredmen;scarcelyone—halfofthemwereleftnow;theotherhalflayslainatthebridgeofSt。
Lawrence，or，exhaustedbythelossofbloodandbythepainsofgapingwounds，hadsunkdownontheroadandbeenunabletocontinuethemarch。
"Andthesepoormenwilllikewisebekilledto—dayunlessspeedysuccorcomes，"murmuredtheLieutenant—Coloneltohimself;"wearealllostifthemiserablerabbleofpeasantsreachthegapofBrixenbeforeus。Wearealllost，forweshallbeentirelycutofffromourfriendsandsurroundedbyourenemies，whoareabletoavailthemselvesoftheirmountainfastnessesandhiding—places，whilewemustmarchthroughthevalleyandacrosstheopenplain。Butallthesecomplaintsareuseless。Wemustdoourduty！Thesoldier"slifebelongstohisoathandhisking;andifhefallsintheservice，hehasdonehisduty。"
Andwithstrongdeterminationandboldcouragethelieutenant—
colonelthrewbackhishead，andfixedhiseyesteadfastlyonhissoldiers。
"Forward，"heshouted，"forward，boys！Forwardagainstthesemiserablepeasants，whohaveviolatedthefaiththeyplightedtoourking。Forward！forward！"
Thecolumn，headedbyLieutenant—ColonelvonWreden，commencedmoving。Hiseyesglancedanxiouslyovertheplainnowopeningbeforethem。Suddenlytheyarerivetedonapointyonderonthemountain—
roadleadingsouthwardtoItaly。Whatisthat？Doesitnotflashtherelikeamassofbayonets？Doesitnotlookasthoughabrilliantserpent，glitteringinblue，red，andgold，weremovingalongtheroad？Itdrawsnearerandnearer，andtheLieutenant—
Colonelisabletodistinguishitsparts。Yes，thesepartsaresoldiers;thisserpentconsistsofregimentsmarchingalonginserriedranks。
Lieutenant—ColonelvonWredenutteredacryofjoyandgallopedforward。Alreadyhediscerneddistinctlytheuniformsofthestaff—
officersridingatthebeadofthecolumn。Theywerefriends;theywereFrenchsoldiersheadedbyGeneralBisson。
Wredengallopedforwardtosalutethegeneralandcommunicatetohiminbrief，wingedwordshisowndisasterandhisapprehensionsregardingtheimmediatefuture。
"Well，youhavenothingtofearnow，"saidGeneralBisson，withapleasantandproudsmile。"Itwasnoaccident，butadecreeofFate，thatcausedustomeethere。IwasorderedbymyemperortomarchwithacolumnoffourthousandmenfromMantuatoRatisbon，andIamnowontheroadtothelatterplace。Hence，ourrouteleadsusthroughthegapofBrixen，andasamatterofcourseyouwilljoinuswithyourtroops。Ihopeourunitedforceswillsucceedinroutingthesemiserablepeasants！"
"Yes，ifwecouldmeetthemintheopenplain，"sighedLieutenant—
ColonelvonWreden。"Butintheirmountainsandgorgesourthousandswillvainlystruggleagainsttheirhundreds。Thebulwarksoftheirmountainsprotectthem。"
"Weshalldrivethemfromthesebulwarks。"saidGeneralBisson，haughtily。"ButIbelievetherabblewillnotevenwaitforthis，buttaketotheirheelsassoonastheyseetheheadofmycolumn。
Therefore，joinmyregiments，lieutenant—colonel，andletusmarchfearlesslythroughthegapofBrixen。"
Halfanhourafterwardtheyhadreachedthedarkandawe—inspiringgapofBrixen;andtheunitedBavarianandFrenchtroopsmarchedwithameasuredstepalongthenarrowroad，onbothsidesofwhichrosesteepgrayrocks，coveredhereandtherewithsmallpineforests，andthenagainexhibitingtheirnaked，moss—grownwalls，crownedabovewiththeirsnowysummitsglisteninglikeburnishedsilverinthemorningsun。
ThecolumnunderGeneralBissonpenetrateddeeperanddeeperintothegorge。Enormousrocksnowclosedtheroadintheirfrontandrear。Aprofound，awfulstillnesssurroundedthem;onlyhereandtheretheyheardtherustlingofacascadefallingdownfromthemountainswithsilveryspray，andflowingfinallyasamurmuringrivuletthroughthevalley;nowandthentheyheardalsothehoarsecroakingofsomebirdofpreysoaringintheair，otherwise，allwasstill。
GeneralBisson，whowasridinginthemiddleofhiscolumn，turnedsmilinglytoLieutenant—ColonelWreden"DidInottellyou，mydearLieutenant—Colonel，"hesaid，"thatthesemiserablepeasantswouldtaketotheirheelssosoonasourcolumncameinsight？Theywere，perhaps，abletocopewithyourfewhundredmen，butmyfourthousandmen——"
Theloudcrashofarifleinterruptedhissentence;asecond，third，andfourthreportfollowedinrapidsuccession。Theheightsseemedallatoncetobristlewithenemies。Likeanenormousman—of—war，lyingatfirstcalmandpeaceful，andthenopeningherport—holes，thesegrayrocksseemedsuddenlytoopenalltheirport—holesandpouroutdeathanddestruction。
Fromtherockinfrontyonder，fromthesteepmountainsonbothsides，fromtheprecipitoushilljuttingoutintheirrearandclosingthegloomygorge，rifleshotsrattleddownwithunerringaim;everybullethititsman，everybulletstruckdownasoldierintheranksoftheBavariansandFrench;thenwereheardthetriumphantcheersoftheTyrolese，who，foramoment，steppedforthfromtheirsafehiding—places，dancedontherocks，jeeredattheenemywithloud，scornfulwords，anddisappearedagainsoquickly，thatthebulletswhichthesoldiersfiredatthemglancedharmlesslyfromtheflanksoftherocks。
ButtheTyrolesefoughtnotwiththeirriflesaloneagainsttheenemymarchingthroughthedeepandawfulgorge。Naturehadpreparedothermeansofdefenceforthem;ithadgiventhemtreesandrocks。
Theyhurledthetrees，whichthestormshadfelledyearsago，andwhichfragmentsofrockhadheldonthebrinkoftheprecipice，intothedepthofthegorge;theydetachedlargefragmentsfromtherocks，androlledthemdownonthesoldiers，manyofwhomwerecrushedbytheseterriblemissiles。Andwhenthesetreesandrocksfellintothedepth，andspreaddeathandconfusionintheranksofthesoldiers，theTyroleseprofitedbythismomenttoaimandstrikedownadditionalvictimsbytheirrifle—bullets。
Andtherewasnoescapeforthesepoorsoldiers，who，exposedtothefuryoftheirenemies，didnotevenenjoytheconsolationofwreakingvengeanceuponthem。Insilentdespair，andsheddingtearsofrage，theFrenchandBavarianscontinuedtheirmarch;thecorpsesoftheirbrethren，whichtherear—guardmetonthehorribleroad，couldnotdetainthem;theybadtopassoverthem，andabstainevenfromcomingtotheassistanceoftheirdyingfriends;crushedundertheirfeet，thelatterhadtogiveuptheghost。
Atlengththegorgewidensbeforethem;therocksinfrontrecedeonbothsides，andabright，expansiveplainopenstotheirview。Thesoldiersgreetthisprospectwithloudcheersofdelight，whichtheirofficersdarenotrepressinthenameofdiscipline;for，onemergingfromanopengrave，asoldierfeelslikeahumanbeing，andthanksGodforthepreservationofhislife。Hundredshadfallen，butseveralthousandswereleft，andtheirardentrage，theirfieryrevengefulnesslongedforthestruggleinwhichtheymightavengetheirfallencomrades。AndFateseemedintentonfulfillingtheirwishes。Yonder，attheextremityoftheplainthroughwhichthesoldierswerenowmarching;yonder，onthebankoftheEisach，wasseenamotleycrowdascendingtheslopesofthemountainsonbothsidesoftheriver。
"Yes，therearetheTyrolese，thereareourenemies，"criedtheBavariansandFrench，withgrimsatisfaction;andtheymarchedatthedouble—quicktowardthebankoftheriver。
"Thepeasants，Ibelieve，intendtopreventusfromcrossingtheriver，"saidGeneralBisson，withacontemptuousshrug。"TheyhavetakenpositioninfrontofthebridgeofLaditch，andsocloselythatIcanseenothingofit，"repliedLieutenant—ColonelvonWreden。Suddenlyheutteredacryofsurprise，andlookedsteadfastlytowardtheextremityofthevalley，wheretherocksjuttedoutagainintoit，andwherethefuriousEisachmakesasuddenbendfromonesideofthevalleytotheother。Formerlytherehadrisenhere，betweentremendousrocks，themajesticarchofthebridgeofLaditch。Formanycenturiespastthiswonderfularchhadspannedtheabyss;itwasamonumentdatingfromtheeraoftheancientRomans，andCaesarhimself，perhaps，hadcrossedthisbridgeonhismarchagainstthefreenationsoftheNorth。Butnowthisarchhaddisappeared，orratheritscentralparthadbeenremoved，andbetweenitstwoextremitiesyawnedaterribleabyss，throughwhichtheEisachrushedwiththunderingnoise。
"TheTyrolesehavedestroyedthebridge！"exclaimedVonWreden，indismay。
"Ah，thebrigands！"saidBisson，contemptuously。"Itwill，therefore，benecessaryforustoconstructatemporarybridgeinordertogetovertotheotherside。"
Yes，theTyrolesehaddestroyedthebridgeofLaditch;andwhileasmalldivisionoftheirmenhadquicklymovedontooccupytheMuhlbachpass，theothers，underthecommandofAnthonyWallner，hadtakenpositionontheoppositebankoftheEisach，inordertopreventtheenemyfromcrossingtheriver。AllthemenfromtheneighboringvillageofLaditchhadjoinedtheforcesofAnthonyWallner，andonthemountainsstoodthesharpshootersfromthevillagesfarandnear，calledoutbythetocsin，andreadytodisputeeveryinchofthebelovedsoilwiththeenemy。
ThecolumnsoftheBavariansandFrenchapproached，andshotswereexchangedonbothsides。"Forward！"shoutedAnthonyWallner，andheadvancedwithhisbravementothePustervalley，closetothebridgeuponwhichtheenemywasmovingup。
Thebulletswhistledaroundhim，buthepaidnoattentiontothem;
hesawonlytheenemy，andnotthedangersmenacinghim。ButtheotherTyrolesesawthemonlytoowell。Upinthemountainstheywerebraveandresolute;butintheplain，wheretheywereonequalgroundwiththeenemytheyfeltillateaseandanxious。Moreover，theoddsoftheenemyweretrulyformidable，notonlyinnumbersbutalsoinarms。OnlyapartoftheTyrolesewereprovidedwithriflesandmuskets;morethanhalfofthemwerearmedonlywithflails，pitchforks，andclubs。Thesoldiershadnotonlytheirmuskets，butalsofield—pieces，whoseballsthunderednowacrosstheplainandcarrieddeathintotheranksoftheTyrolese。
Terroranddismayseizedthesharpshooters;theyturnedandbegantofleeintothemountains。Butanunexpectedobstacleobstructedtheirpath。Anumberofintrepidwomen，whohadflockedtothescenefromtheneighboringvillages，metthematthismoment。Theyreceivedthefugitiveswiththreateninginvectives;theydrovethembackwithupliftedarms，withflamingeyes，withimprecations，andscornfullaughter，downtheslope，regardlessofthebulletswhistlingaroundthem，andoftheenemymovingupcloserandclosertothem。Thefugitivesareobligedtoturnandplungeoncemoreintothestruggle，whichbecomesmoreandmorefurious。Yonder，closetothefragmentsofthebridge，standtheTyrolese;here，nearthefragmentsonthissideoftheriver，arethesoldiersandtheFrenchengineersadvancingtoconstructatemporarybridgeacrossthechasm，andtherebyuniteagainthedisruptedendsoftheancientRomanstructure。
ThefireoftheTyrolesebecomesweaker;loudlamentationsburstfromtheirranks。Theyareexhaustedandweary，owingtotheheavyexertionsoftheday;hungerandthirsttormentthem，andtheirstrengthisgone。
"Giveussomethingtoeat！Giveussomethingtodrink！"theyshouttothewomenoccupyingthemountain—pathintheirrearuptothesolitaryhouse，theinnZurEisach，whichhasalreadybeenhitbymanyaballfromtheenemy"sguns。
"Courage，brethren，courage！"shoutedElizaWallner。"Iwillbringyourefreshments。"
And，likeagazelle，shehastensupthehillside，skippingfromrocktorockuntilshereachesthebatteredhouse。Thebulletswhistlearoundher，butshelaughsatthem，anddoesnoteventurntovouchsafeaglanceatthedanger。Sheleapsoncourageously;nowshereachesthehouse，shedisappearsthroughthedoor，andnosoonerhassheenteredthanacannonballstrikesthewallrightabovethedoor。Afteraverybriefspaceoftime，ElizaWallnerreappearsinthedoor。Onherheadshecarriesakeg，whichshesupportswithbothherupliftedarms。Withasereneglance，withrosycheeksandsmilinglips，acharmingpictureofgrace，loveliness，andcourageousinnocence，shedescendsthemountain—pathagain，andeventhebulletsoftheenemyrespecther;theywhistlepastheronbothsides，butdonothither。Elizahastensdowntheslope，andnowshereachesthebridge，andarriveswherearepostedtheTyrolese，whoreceivethecourageousgirlwithdeafeningcheers。
Allatonceshefeelsajerkinthekegonherhead，andimmediatelyafteritscontentspourinaclearcoldstreamdownonherfaceandneck。Abullethadstruckthekegandpassedclearthroughit。Elizaburstsintomerrylaughter，liftsthekegwithherplump，beautifularmsfromherhead，andstopsthetwoholeswithbothherhands，sothatthewinecannolongerrunout。
"Nowcome，boys，"sheshouts，inaloud，merryvoice;"comeanddrink，elsethewinewillrunout。Theenemyhastappedthekeg;hewishedtosaveusthetrouble。Comeanddrink。"
"Standback，Lizzie，"shoutsPanzltoher;"stepbehindtherockyonder，thatthebulletsmaynothityou。"
"Ishallnotdoit，"saidEliza，withaflushedface;"Ishallnotconcealmyself。IamatruedaughteroftheTyrol，andGodwillprotectmehereaswellasthere。——Come，boys，anddrink。Bringyourglasses，orratherapplyyourmouthtothekeganddrink。"
TwoyoungTyrolesesharpshootershastenedtoher。Elizaheldupthekeg;thetwoyoungmenkneltbeforeherandappliedtheirmouthstotheholesmadebythebullet，andsuckedoutthewine，lookingwithenamouredglancesuptotheheroicgirlwholookeddownonthemsmilingly。
"Nowyouhavedrunkenough，goandfightagainforthefatherland，"
shesaid，andsignedtotwoothersharpshooterstorefreshthemselvesfromthekeg。Thetwoyoungmenhastenedbacktotheircomrades，notknowingwhetheritwasthewineorthesightofthelovelyTyrolesegirlthatfilledthemwithrenewedcourageandenthusiasm。
ThetwootherTyrolesehaddrunklikewise。SuddenlyanotherbulletwhistlesalonganddartspastclosetoEliza"scheeks，causinghertoreelforamoment。Acryofdismayburstfromthelipsofthosewhosawit;butElizaalreadysmiledagain，andsheexclaimed，inamerryvoice:"Makehaste，boys！elseanotherbulletwillcomeandpiercethekegagain，whenthewinewillrunintothegrass。
Therefore，makehaste！"
TwootherTyrolesehasteneduptodrink;thentwomore，andsoon，untilthekegwasempty。
"Nowyouhaverefreshedyourselves，"criedEliza，"andyoumustbravelyreturntothestruggle。"
AndtheTyrolesetookpositionontheriver—bank，withredoubledcourageandenthusiasm，topreventtheFrenchfromfinishingthetemporarybridge。
ButthefireoftheenemythinnedtheranksoftheTyrolesefearfully;theirshotsbecamefewandfarbetween，andgraduallyaregularpanicseizedthem。Theybegantogiveway;eventhescornfulcriesofthewomen，whotriedtoobstructtheirpath，werepowerlesstokeepthemback。Theypushedthewomenaside，andrushedresistlesslyupthemountain—path。
Atthismomentloudcheersburstfromthelipsoftheenemy。TheTyrolesestarted。Theylookedback，andsawtotheirdismaythattheengineershadsucceededinfinishingthetemporarybridgeacrosstheEisach，andthatnothingpreventedtheenemynowfrompassingovertotheirsideoftheriver。
"Surrender！Laydownyourarms！"shoutedLieutenant—ColonelvonWreden，ontheotherbank。
TheTyroleseweresilent，andgazedwithmutedismayuponthebridge。Allatoncetheyheardavoiceresoundingonthehillsabovethemasitwerefromtheclouds。Thisvoiceshouted。"Theimperialistsarecoming！TheAustrians，oursaviours，arecoming！"
Andatthesametimeadetachmentoflight—horseappearedontheheightsofSchaps。Theygallopeddowntheslope，andwerefollowedbyseveralcompaniesofchasseursandinfantry，whorusheddownatthedouble—quick。
Loud，exultingcheersburstfromthelipsoftheTyrolese，andfoundthunderingechoesinthemountainsandgorges。
TheFrenchandBavariansstarted，forthissuddenapparitiontookthemcompletelybysurprise;theyhadnotevensuspectedthattheAustrianshadalreadyinvadedtheTyrol。Theyhesitated，anddidnotventuretocrosstheriver。
ThishesitationoftheenemyandthearrivaloftheAustriansfilledtheTyrolesewithtransports。Somethrewdowntheirriflestoembraceeachotherandswingtheirhatsmerrily，whileothersweredancingwiththeirriflesasthoughtheyweretheirsweethearts;andothersagainsangandwarbledringingTyroleseJodlers。Finally，someofthem，filledwithprofoundemotionandferventgratitude，sankdownontheirkneestothankGodforthiswonderfulrescueandthelong—wished—forsightofthedearAustrianuniforms。
TheFrenchandBavarians，inthemeantime，thunderstruckatthesuddenarrivaloftheAustrians，whosenumberstheywereasyetunabletoascertain，hadmadearetrogrademovementintheirfirstterror。Butthisdidnotlastlong。"Ifwedonotwanttoperishheretothelastman，wemusttrytoforceapassage，"saidGeneralBisson。"Forward，therefore，forward！"
Thetroopsmoved，andbegantomarchacrossthebridge。
ButnowtheAustrianshadcomecloseuptothem。TheTyrolesereceivedthemwithdeafeningshoutsof"LonglivetheEmperorFrancis！LongliveAustria！"
Thentheyturnedoncemorewithfervententhusiasmtowardtheenemy。
"DownwiththebaseBavarians！Forward！forward！Downwiththem！"
theyshoutedonallsides;andtheTyroleserushedwithfuriousimpetuosityupontheenemy。Theirscythesandflailsmoweddownwholeranks，andmanysoldiersweresoonlaidprostratebytheunerringaimofthemountainsharpshooters。Mountainsofcorpseswerepiledup，riversofbloodfloweddownintothewatersoftheEisach，andthecrimson—coloredwavescarrieddownthroughtheTyroltheintelligencethatthestruggleforthefatherlandhadcommenced。
Nevertheless，theforcesoftheenemyweretoonumerousfortheTyroleseandthesmalladvancedguardoftheAustrianstoannihilatethementirely。TheBavariansandFrenchforcedapassagethroughtheranksoftheirenthusiasticenemieswiththecourageandwrathofdespair;hundredsofthemremaineddeadonthebloodyfield，butnearlytwothousandascendedtheEisachtowardSterzing。
AnthonyWallnerbeckonedtohisdaughter，andsteppedwithherbehindajuttingrock。"First，Lizzie，myheroicgirl，givemeakiss，"hesaid，encirclingherwithoneofhisarms，andpressingherfondlytohisbroadbreast。"Youhavebeenyourfather"sjoyandprideto—day，andIsawthatthedearlittleangelswereprotectingyou，andthatthebulletsforthisreasonwhistledharmlesslyaroundyou。Hence，youarenowtorenderanimportantservicetothefatherland。ImustsendamessengertoAndreasHofer，butIneedthemenforfightinghere;and，moreover，theenemymighteasilycatchmymessenger。ButhewillallowaTyrolesegirllikeyoutopassthroughhislines，andwillnotsuspectanythingwrongabouther。
NowwillyoutakemymessagetoAndreasHofer？"
"Iwill，father。"
"Run，then，mydaughter，runalongthemountain—paths;youcanclimbandleaplikeachamois，andwilleasilygetthestartoftheenemy，whoismarchingonthelongroadsinthevalley。HastentowardSterzing。Ifallhaspassedoffasagreedupon，youwillfindAndreasHoferthere。TellhimnowinmynamethattheAustriansarecomingupfromSalzburgandthatIhavedonemydutyandredeemedmypledge。TellhimfurtherthatthewholePustervalleyisininsurrection，andthatwearebravelyatwork，anddrivingtheBavariansandFrenchfromthecountry。Buttellhimalsotobeonhisguard，forwehavenotbeenabletoannihilatetheenemyentirely，andtheywillsoonmaketheirappearanceatSterzing。Lethimbereadytoreceivetheenemythereastheydeserveit。"
"Isthatall，dearestfather？"
"Yes，Lizzie，itis。TellAndywhathashappenedhere，anddonotforgettotellhimhowyoubroughtdownthekegofwinethattheboysmightdrinkcouragefromit。"
"No，father，Ishallnottellhimthat。ItwouldlookasthoughI
thoughtIhaddonesomethinggreat，andwishedtobepraisedforit。
Butnow，farewell，dearestfather。IwillhastentoAndreasHofer。"
"Farewell，dearestLizzie。TheangelsandtheHolyVirginwillprotectyou。Ihavenofearsforyoursafety。"
"NorIeither，dearestfather。Thegoodspiritsofthemountainwillaccompanyme。Farewell！"
Shekissedherhandstohim，andboundedupthemountain—pathwiththespeedandgracefulnessofagazelle。
CHAPTERXVI。
ONTHESTERZINGERMOOS。
WhiletheseeventsweregoingonbelowBrixen，AndreasHoferhadmarchedwiththemenofthePasseyrvalleyacrosstheJanfen。Theinhabitantseverywherehadreceivedhimwithloudexultation;theyhadriseneverywhere，readytofollowhim，tofightunderhimforthedeliveranceofthefatherland，andtostaketheirfortunesandtheirlivesfortheemperorandthebelovedTyrol。Hofer"scolumnaccordinglygainedstrengthateverystepasitadvanced。Hehadsetoutwithafewhundredmenonthe9thofApril;andnow，onthemorningofthe11thofApril，alreadyseveralthousandmenhadralliedaroundhim，andwiththemhehadreachedtheheightsofSterzing。AndreasHoferhaltedhismenhere，wherehehadasplendidviewofthewholeplain，andorderedhisTyrolesetoencampandreposeaftertheirlongandexhaustingmarch。Hehimselfdidnotcareforrepose，forhisheartwasheavyandfullofanxiety;andhisglance，usuallysoserene，wascloudedandsombre。
Whiletheotherswererestingandpartakinggaylyofthewineandfoodwhichthewomenandgirlsoftheneighboringvillageshadbroughttothemwithjoyousreadiness，AndreasHoferascendedapeakfromwhichhehadafullviewofthemountain—chainsallaroundandtheextensiveplainathisfeet。Hisfriendandadjutant，AnthonySieberer，hadfollowedhimnoiselessly;andonperceivinghim，AndreasHofersmiledandnoddedpleasantlytohim。
"See，brother，"hesaid，pointingwithasighdowntothevalley，"howcalmandpeacefuleverythinglooks！ThereliesSterzing，socozyandsweet，inthesunshine;thefruit—treesareblossominginitsgardens;thedaisies，primroses，andhawthornshaveopenedtheirlittleeyes，andarelookinguptoheaveninsilentjoy。AndnowI
amtodisturbthisgloriouspeaceandtranquillity，tearitlikeaworthlesspieceofpaper，andhurlitlikeUriah"sletter，intothefacesofthepeople。Ah，Sieberer，warisacruelthing;andwhenI
takeeverythingintoconsideration，Icannothelpthinkingthatmencommitaheavysinbytakingthefieldinordertoslay，shoot，andstab，asthoughtheywerewildbeastsbentondevouringoneanother，andnotmenwhomGodcreatedafterHisownlikeness;andIaskmyself，inthehumilityofmyheart，whetherornotIhavearighttoinstigatemydearfriendsandcountrymentofollowmeandattackmenwhoareourbrethrenafterall。"
"Ifyoureallyaskyourselfsuchquestions，andhavelostyourcourage，thenwearealllost，"saidSieberer，gloomily。"ItisAndreasHoferinwhomthemenofthePasseyrvalleybelieve，andwhomtheyarefollowingintothebloodystruggle。IfHoferhesitates，allwillsoondespond;anditwouldbebetterforustoretraceourstepsatonce，andallowBonaparteandtheFrenchtotrampleusagaininthedust，insteadofliftingourheadslikefreemen，andfightingforourrights。"
"Wehavegonetoofar，wecannolongerretraceoursteps，"saidAndreasHofer，shakinghisheadgently，andliftinghiseyestoheaven。Afterapauseheaddedinaloud，strongvoice:"Andeventhoughitwereotherwise，eventhroughwestillretraceoursteps，I
shouldnotconsenttoit。IshallneverrepentofhavingraisedmyvoiceinbehalfoftheTyrolandtheemperor;norhaveIlostmycourage，asyouseemtothink，brotherSieberer。Iknowfullwellthatweoweittoourgoodemperorandthefatherlandtodefendittothelastbreath，andIdonottrembleformyself。Ihavededicatedmylifetothedearfatherland;Ihavetakenleaveofmywifeandmychildren，andbelongnowonlytotheTyrolandtheemperor。Ifmybloodweresufficienttodeliverourcountry，I
shouldjoyouslyandwithagratefulprayerthrowmyselfdownfromthispeakandshattermybones;anddying，IshouldthankGodforvouchsafingsuchanhonortome，andallowingmetopurchasethelibertyofthecountrywithmyblood。ButIambutapoorandhumbleservantandsoldieroftheLord，andmybloodwillnotbesufficient;butmanywillhavetospilltheirsanddie，thattherestmaybefreeandbelongagaintoourdearemperor。Andthisisthereasonwhy，oncontemplatingthebravemenandcourageousladswhohavefollowedmycall，Ifeelpity，andaskmyselfagainandagain，HadIarighttocallthemawayfromtheirhomes，theirwivesandchildren，andleadthem，perhaps，intothejawsofdeath？WillnottheLordcursemeforpreachinginsurrectionandwarinsteadofsubmissivenessandhumility？"
"Well，youareapiousman，Andy，"saidSieberer，withareproachfulglance，"andyetyouhaveforgottenwhatourRedeemersaidtothePharisees。"
"Whatdoyoumean，Anthony？Tellme，ifitwillcomfortme。"
"Hesaid，`RenderuntoCaesarthethingswhichareCaesar"s，anduntoGodthethingsthatareGod"s。"Now，IthinkthatourTyrolistheemperor"s，andthattheBavariansandFrenchhavenothingtodowithit，buthavemerelystolenitfromtheemperor。Therefore，weactonlyinaccordancewiththepreceptsofourLordJesusChrist，ifwestakeourlivesandfortunestorestoretotheemperorthatwhichistheemperor"s。AndIthink，too，thatthechurchesandconventsarethehousesoftheLordandbelongtoHimalone。Now，theBavarianshavestolenthehousesoftheLordintheTyrol，andhaveignominiouslydrivenoutHisservants。HenceweactagaininaccordancewiththepreceptsofourLordJesusChrist，ifwestakeourlivesandfortunestorestoretoGodthatwhichisGod"s;andif，indoingso，weshouldallloseourlives，weshoulddieintheholyserviceofGodandtheemperor！"
"Youareright，brotherSieberer，"exclaimedHofer，joyfully，"andI
thankyouforcomfortingandstrengtheningmyheart。Yes，weareintheserviceofGod，ouremperor，andthebelovedTyrol。"
"AndGodandtheemperorhaveimposedonAndreasHoferthedutyofactingatthesametimeasprophetoftheLordandascaptainoftheemperor。Go，then，Andreas，anddoyourduty！"saidSieberer，solemnly。
"Ishalldomydutybravelyandfaithfullytothelast！"exclaimedHofer，enthusiastically。Thenheraisedthesmallcrucifixfromhisbreast，kisseditdevoutly，andprayedinalowvoice。
AsarcasticsmileoverspreadAnthonySieberer"sface，butitdisappearedquicklywhenhehappenedtoturnhiseyestotheneighboringmountains。Helookedkeenlyandsearchinglytowardthemountain—pathleadingtoMittewald。Hesawthereasmallblackspeckwhichwasadvancingwithgreatrapidity。Wasitabird？No，thespeckhadalreadybecomelarger;hesawitwasahumanbeing——awomanspeedingalongthemountain—path。Nowshewassoclosetothemthathecoulddistinguishherface;itwasthatofayounggirl;hercheeksflushed，hereyesradiant;boldandintrepidasachamois，shehastenedforward;herlong，blacktresseswerewavingroundherhead，andherbosomheavedviolentlyunderthefoldsofherwhitecorset。
Now，shestoodstillforamoment，andseemedtolisten;thenshebentfarovertheprecipice，onthebrinkofwhichshewasstanding，andbelowwhichtheTyrolesewereencamped。Nosoonerhadsheperceivedthemthansheutteredaloudcryofexultation，andboundingforward，sheexclaimedjoyously:"TherearethemenofthePasseyrvalley！NowIshallfindtheirleader，AndreasHofer，too！——
AndreasHoferwhereareyou，AndreasHofer？"
"HereIam！"shoutedAndreasHofer，startingupfromhisferventprayer，andadvancingafewsteps。
Theyounggirlgaveastartondiscoveringthetwomen，whohadhithertobeenconcealedfromherbyalargerock;butshelookedatthemsearchingly，anddidnotseemtobefrightenedoranxious。
"AreyoureallyAndreasHofer"sheasked，breathlessly。
"AskhimifIam，"saidHofer，smilingandpointingtoSieberer。
"Thatisunnecessary，"sherepliedcalmly;"IseethatyouareAndreasHofer。Youlookpreciselyasmyfatherdescribedyoutome。
Thereisthelongbeard，thecrucifix，thesaint"simageonyourbreast;andtherearethekindeyes，andthewholedearface。Godblessyou，AndreasHofer！Ibringyoumanycordialgreetingsfrommyfather，AnthonyWallner—Aichberger。"
"Godblessyou，maiden，"exclaimedAndreasHofer，holdingoutbothhishandstoher。Elizatookthem，bentoverHofer"srighthand，andimprintedaglowingkissonit。
"Girl，whatareyoudoing？"askedHofer，blushingwithconfusion。
"IkissthedearhandwhichtheLordhaschosentodelivertheTyrol，"shesaid;"thedearhandwhichholdstherosarysopiouslyandtheswordsobravely;thehandintowhichmyfatherlaidhishand，asifonanaltar，whenhesworetoGodthathewouldassistindeliveringtheTyrolfromtheenemyandrestoringittotheemperor。""Lookatthisgirl，Sieberer;howwellsheknowshowtoflatterme，"exclaimedAndreas，smilinglypattingherflushedcheek。