andreas hofer-第31部分

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〃I　shall　not　permit　you　to　leave　the　room；〃　she　cried。　〃You　must
kill　me　first；　then　you　may　go。〃

〃Eliza；　I　cannot　stay。　I　implore　you；　let　me　go　out。　My　honor；　my
good　name；　are　at　stake。　You　say　the　peasants　have　risen　in
insurrection；　my　soldiers　are　locked　up；　and　you　think　I　could　be
cowardly　and　miserable　enough　to　conceal　myself　and　surrender　my
name　to　well…deserved　disgrace？　Let　me　go　out；　Eliza；　have　mercy
upon　me！　Do　not　compel　me　to　remove　you　forcibly　from　the　door！〃

〃Ah；〃　cried　Eliza；　with　scornful　laughter；　〃you　think　I　will　step
back　from　the　door　and　let　you　go　to　kill　my　father　and　my　brothers？
Listen；　sir；　you　said　you　loved　me。　Give　me　a　proof　of　it。　Let　me　go
out　first；　let　me　speak　with　my　father　only　three　words！　Perhaps　I
may　persuade　him　to　release　your　soldiers　and　go　home　with　his
friends。〃

〃Very　well；　I　will　prove　to　you　that　I　love　you。　Go　down；　Eliza；
speak　with　your　father。　I　give　you　ten　minutes'　time；　that　is　to
say；　I　sacrifice　to　you　ten　minutes　of　my　honor。〃

Eliza　uttered　a　cry　of　joy；　she　encircled　Ulrich's　neck　impetuously
with　her　arms　and　imprinted　a　glowing　kiss　on　his　forehead。

〃Farewell；　sir；〃　she　whispered；　〃farewell；　and　God　bless　you！〃

Then　she　pushed　him　back；　hastened　to　the　door；　threw　it　open；　and
sprang　out。　She　closed　the　door　carefully　behind　her；　locked　it　with
a　firm　and　quick　hand；　drew　the　key　from　the　lock；　and　concealed　it
in　her　bosom。

〃Holy　Virgin；　I　thank　Thee！〃　she　exclaimed；　joyfully。　〃He　is　saved；
for　the　room　has　no　other　outlet；　and　the　balcony　is　too　high　for
him　to　jump　down。〃




CHAPTER　XII。

FAREWELL！


She　sped　as　gracefully　and　quickly　as　a　gazelle　down　the　corridor。
In　the　large　hall　into　which　it　led　stood　Elza；　surrounded　by　more
than　twenty　Tyrolese　sharpshooters；　with　whom　she　was　talking　in　a
loud；　animated　voice。　Her　cheeks　were　very　pale；　her　lips　were
quivering；　but　her　eyes　flashed　courageously；　and；　notwithstanding
the　paleness　of　her　face；　it　did　not　betray　the　least　anxiety　or
terror。

〃Have　you　considered　well　what　you　are　going　to　do；　men　of　the
Puster　valley？〃　she　asked；　in　a　clear；　full　voice。　〃Do　you　know　that
you　are　about　to　rebel　against　your　government　and　your　king；　and
that　the　rebels　will　be　judged　and　punished　with　the　full　rigor　of
the　law？　〃

〃But　the　Bavarians　will　not　judge　us；　for　we　shall　drive　them　from
the　country；〃　shouted　the　Tyrolese。　〃We　do　not　want　a　king　nor　a
Bavarian　government；　we　want　to　get　back　our　Emperor　Francis　and　our
old　constitution。〃

〃But　you　will　not　succeed；〃　said　Elza；　〃you　are　too　weak　against
them。　There　are　too　many　of　them　and　too　few　of　you；　they　have
cannon；　and　you　have　nothing　but　your　rifles；　and　there　are　many　of
you　who　have　not　even　a　rifle。〃

〃But　we　have　our　God　and　our　emperor；　and　those　two　will　help　us。
The　Austrians；　as　Andreas　Hofer　has　written　to　us；　are　already　in
the　country；　and　all　the　people　are　rising　to　drive　the　French　and
Bavarians　from　the　country。〃

〃It　is　so；　Elza；〃　said　Eliza；　encircling　her　friend's　neck　with　her
arm。　〃I　know　youI　know　that　you　are　a　loyal　daughter　of　the　Tyrol；
and　you　will　be　glad　to　see　our　dear　country　delivered　from　the
foreign　yoke　and　restored　to　the　good　Emperor　Francis。〃

〃But；　Lizzie；　think　of　my　poor　cousin　Ulrich；〃　whispered　Elza　to
her。　〃He　will　defend　himself　to　the　last　drop　of　his　blood。〃

〃He　is　unable　to　do　so；〃　whispered　Lizzie；　with　a　cheerful　smile。　〃I
have　locked　him　up　in　the　dining…room；　and　the　key　is　here　in　my
bosom。　Ulrich　cannot　get　out；　therefore；　and　though　he　is　furious
and　grim；　he　must　remain　in　the　room　like　a　mouse　in　a　trap。〃

〃That　reassures　me；〃　said　Elza；　smiling；　〃and　I　understand　now；　too；
why　my　father　acted　in　the　manner　he　did。　He　doubtless　suspected
what　would　occur　here；　and　got　rid　of　all　responsibility；　leaving　me
entirely　free　to　choose　between　my　Bavarian　relative　and　my　Tyrolese
countrymen。　Here　is　my　hand；　Anthony　Wallner；　I　am　a　loyal　daughter
of　the　Tyrol；　and　shout　with　you；　'Long　live　our　Emperor　Francis！'〃

〃Hurrah；　long　live　our　Emperor　Francis！〃　shouted　the　Tyrolese。　〃Long
live　Miss　Elza；　the　loyal　daughter　of　the　Tyrol！〃

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Elza；　smiling。　〃I　think　I　shall　prove　my　loyalty
when　dangers　and　war　beset　us。　I　shall　establish　here　in　the　castle
a　hospital　for　our　wounded；　and　the　women　of　Windisch…Matrey　will
assist　me；　scrape　lint；　and　help　me　to　nurse　the　wounded。　For
without　wounds　and　bloodshed　we　shall　not　recover　our　independence；
and　the　Bavarians　will　not　suffer　themselves　to　be　driven　from　the
country　without　offering　the　most　obstinate　resistance。　Have　you
considered　that　well；　my　friends？〃

〃We　have；　we　are　prepared　for　every　thing；〃　said　Anthony；　joyously。
〃We　will　suffer　death　rather　than　give　up　our　emperor　and　our　dear
Tyrol。　We　do　not　want　to　become　Southern　Bavarians；　but　we　will
remain　Tyrolese；　and　defend　our　constitution　and　our　liberty　to　the
last　drop　of　our　blood。　Will　we　not；　my　friends？〃

〃Yes；　we　will；〃　shouted　the　Tyrolese。

〃And　as　for　the　Bavarians；　we　are　not　afraid　of　them；〃　said　Wallner；
firmly。　〃All　the　functionaries　have　already　humbly　submitted　to　the
freemen　of　the　Tyrol。　They　have　surrendered　with　their　wives　and
children；　delivered　their　funds　at　our　demand；　and　are　now　guarded
in　their　official　dwellings　by　our　men。　And　as　for　the　Bavarian
soldiers　at　the　castle　here；　we　need　not　be　afraid　of　them　either；
for　we　have　locked　them　up；　like　badgers　in　their　holes；　and　they
cannot　get　out　of　the　door。〃

〃But　if　they　cannot　get　out　of　the　door；　they　will　jump　out　of　the
windows；〃　said　Elza；　〃and　offer　the　most　determined　resistance。〃

〃We　shall　see　if　they　can；〃　exclaimed　Wallner；　energetically。　〃We
must　get　through　with　them　right　away。　Come；　men；　we　must　see　to　the
Boafoks。〃

And　Anthony　Wallner；　followed　by　his　sharpshooters；　hastened　out
into　the　court…yard。　Large　numbers　of　armed　men　had　assembled　there
in　the　mean　time；　even　married　women　and　young　girls；　carried　away
by　the　universal　enthusiasm；　had　armed　themselves　and　came　to　take
an　active　part　in　the　struggle　for　the　fatherland　and　the　emperor。
All　shouted　and　cheered　in　wild　confusion；　all　swore　to　remain　true
to　the　fatherland　and　the　emperor　to　their　last　breath。　The　soldiers
looked　on　wonderingly；　and　watched　in　breathless　irresolution　for
their　captain　from　the　windows。

At　this　moment；　Anthony　Wallner　and　a　number　of　courageous
sharpshooters　took　position　in　front　of　the　windows。

〃Soldiers；〃　he　shouted；　in　a　thundering　voice；　〃surrender！　you　are
our　prisoners！　Surrender；　throw　your　muskets　and　fire…arms　out　of
the　windows；　and　we　will　open　the　door　of　your　prison　and　allow　you
to　return　to　Bavaria。〃

The　soldiers　made　no　reply；　but　leaned　far　out　of　the　windows　and
shouted：　〃Captain！　Where　is　our　captain？〃

〃Here　I　am！〃　shouted　a　powerful　voice　above　the　heads　of　the
Tyrolese；　and；　looking　up　in　great　surprise；　they　beheld　on　the
balcony　young　Captain　Ulrich　von　Hohenberg；　with　a　pale　face；　his
features　distorted　with　rage　and　grief；　and　stretching　out　his　right
arm；　with　his　flashing　sword　menacingly　toward　the　Tyrolese。

〃Great　God！〃　murmured　Eliza；　clinging　anxiously　to　Elza's　arm；　〃If
he　resists；　he　is　lost。〃

〃Here　I　am；　my　brave　soldiers！〃　shouted　Ulrich　von　Hohenberg　a
second　time。　〃Come　to　me；　my　brave　lads！　I　have　been　locked　up　here；
hence；　I　cannot　come　to　you。　Come　up　to　me；　then。　Knock　the　doors
in；　and　deliver　your　captain。〃

〃First；　let　them　deliver　themselves；　sir；〃　shouted　Wallner　up　to
him。　He　then　turned　once　more　to　the　soldiers。　〃Listen　to　what　I　am
going　to　say　to　you　in　the　name　of　my　countrymen；　in　the　name　of　the
whole　Tyrol；〃　he　shouted。　〃For　four　long　years　you　have　oppressed
and　maltreated　us：　you　have　insulted；　humiliated；　and　mortified　us
every　day。　But　we　are　Christians；　and　will　not　revenge　ourselves；　we
want　only　our　rights；　our　liberty；　and　our　emperor。　Therefore；　if
you　submit　willingly　and　with　good　grace　to　what　cannot　be　helped；
we　will　let　you　depart　without　punishing　or　injuring　you　in　any　way；
and　allow　you　to　return　to　your　accursed　Bavaria。　But　first　you　will
have　to　do　two　things；　to　wit：　throw　all　your　muskets　out　of　the
windows；　and　swear　a　solemn　oath　that　you　will　no　longer　bear　arms
against　the　Tyrolese。〃

〃You　will　never　swear　that　oath；　soldiers；〃　shouted　Ulrich　von
Hohenberg　from　his　balcony。　〃You　will　keep　the　oath　which　you　swore
to　your　king　and　commander…in…chief。　You　will　not　incur　the　disgrace
of　surrendering　to　a　crowd　of　rebellious　peasants。〃

〃No；　no；　we　will　not；〃　shouted　the　soldiers　to　him；　and　thereupon
they　disappeared　from　the　upper　floor；　and　soon　reappeared　in　dense
groups　at　the　windows　of　the　lower　story。　These　windows　were　only
five　feet　above　the　ground；　and　they　were　therefore　able　to　jump　out
of　them。

〃Shoot　down　the　first　soldier　who　jumps　out　of　the　window！〃　cried
Anthony　Wallner　to　his　sharpshooters。

The　soldiers　took　no　notice　of　his　threats；　a　soldier　appeared　in
each　of　the　windows　ready　to　risk　the　leap。　One　of　them；　more　agile
and　intrepid　than　the　others；　was　the　first　to　jump　down。　Scarcely
had　his　feet　t