andreas hofer-第124章

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him　a　kind　reception；　and　carried　him　on　his　back　to　Rinn；　where　his
wife　and　children　were；　and　where　Zoppel；　his　devoted　domestic；
concealed　him　in　a　hole　in　the　cowhouse；　beneath　where　the　cattle
stood；　though　beyond　the　reach　of　their　feet；　where　he　was　covered
up　with　cow…dung　and　fodder；　and　remained　for　two　months；　till　his
leg　was　set　and　he　was　able　to　walk。　The　town　was　full　of　Bavarian
troops；　but　this　extraordinary　place　of　concealment　was　never
discovered；　even　when　the　Bavarian　dragoons；　as　was　frequently　the
case；　were　in　the　stable　looking　after　their　horses。　Zoppel　did　not
even　inform　Speckbacher's　wife　of　her　Husband's　return；　lest　her
emotions　or　visits　to　the　place　might　betray　his　place　of
concealment。　At　length；　in　the　beginning　of　May；　the　Bavarian
soldiers　having　left　the　house；　Speckbacher　was　lifted　from　his
living　grave　and　restored　to　his　wife　and　children。　As　soon　as　he
was　able　to　walk；　he　set　out；　and；　journeying　chiefly　in　the　night；
through　the　wildest　and　most　secluded　Alps；　by　Dux　and　the　sources
of　the　Salza；　he　passed　the　Styrian　Alps；　where　he　crossed　the
frontier　and　reached　Vienna　in　safety。　There　he　was　soon　after
joined　by　his　family　and　liberally　provided　for。

Haspinger　succeeded　in　escaping　into　Switzerland；　whence　he
travelled　by　cross…paths　through　Friuli　and　Carinthia　to　Vienna；
where　he　received　protection　from　the　emperor。＇

General　Broussier　was　especially　exasperated　at　the　last　named；　the
valiant　commander　of　Windisch…Matrey；　and　he　had　promised　a　reward
of　one　thousand　ducats　to　him　who　would　arrest　〃that　dangerous
demagogue　and　bandit…chief；　Anthony　Aichberger…Wallner；〃　and　deliver
him　to　the　French　authorities。　But　Wallner　and　his　two　sons；　who；
although　hardly　above　the　age　of　boyhood；　had　seemed　to　the　French
authorities　so　dangerous　that　they　had　set　prices　upon　their　heads；
were　not　to　be　found　anywhere。　Schroepfel；　Wallner's　faithful
servant；　had　taken　the　boys　into　the　mountains；　where　he　stayed　with
them；　after　nightfall　he　went　down　to　Matrey　to　fetch　provisions　for
the　lonely　fugitives。

Anthony　Wallner's　fine　house　was　silent　and　deserted　now。　Only　his
wife　and　his　daughter　Eliza　lived　in　it；　and　they　passed　their　days
in　dreary　loneliness　and　incessant　fear　and　anguish。　Eliza　Wallner
was　alone；　all　alone　and　joyless。　She　had　not　seen　her　beloved　Elza
since　the　day　when　she　was　married。　She　herself　had　started　the　same
night　with　Haspinger　for　her　father's　headquarters。　Elza　had
remained　with　her　young　husband　in　Innspruck；　where　her　father　died
on　the　following　day；　and　after　the　old　Baron　had　been　buried；　Elza
had　accompanied　her　husband　to　Munich。　From　thence　she　wrote　from
time　to　time　letters　overflowing　with　fervent　tenderness　to　her
beloved　friend；　and　these　letters　were　the　only　sunbeams　which
illuminated　Eliza's　cheerless　life；　these　letters　told　her　of　her
friend's　happiness；　of　her　attachment　to　her　young　husband；　who
treated　her　with　the　utmost　kindness　and　tenderness。

Eliza　had　received　this　afternoon　another　letter　from　her　friend；
with　a　melancholy　smile　she　read　Elza's　description　of　her　domestic
happiness；　and　her　eyes　had　unconsciously　filled　with　tears　which
rolled　slowly　down　her　pale　cheeks。　She　dried　them　quickly；　but　her
mother；　who　sat　opposite　her　near　the　lamp　and　seemed　to　be　busily
sewing；　had　already　seen　them。

〃Why　do　you　weep；　Lizzie？〃　she　asked。　〃Have　you　got　bad　news　from
Elza？〃

Eliza　shook　her　head　with　a　mournful　smile。　〃No；　dear　mother；〃　she
said；　〃thank　God；　my　Elza　is　happy　and　well；　and　that　is　my　only
joy。〃

〃And　yet　you　weep；　Eliza？〃

〃Did　I　weep；　then？〃　she　asked。　〃It　was　probably　a　tear　of　joy　at　my
Elza's　happiness。〃

〃No；　Lizzie；　it　was　no　tear　of　joy；〃　cried　her　mother；　mournfully。
〃I　see　you　often　in　tears；　when　you　think　that　I　do　not　notice　it。
You　are　grieving；　Lizzie；　do　not　deny　it；　you　are　grieving。　You
sacrificed　your　love　and　happiness　to　Elza；　and　she　does　not　even
know　it；　she　does　not　thank　you；　and　you　will　pine　away。　I　see　very
well　how　sad　you　are；　and　you　become　paler　and　more　emaciated　from
day　to　day。　Yes；　yes；　you　will　die　of　grief；　for　you　still　love
Ulrich　von　Hohenberg。〃

〃No；〃　cried　Eliza；　vehemently；　blushing　deeply；　〃I　do　not　love　him。
I　have　buried　my　love　in　my　heart；　and　it　reposes　there　as　in　a
shrine。　It　is　true　I　think　of　it　very　often；　I　pray　to　it；　but　I
have　no　unholy　thoughts　and　feel　no　sinful　desires。　I　am　glad　that
my　Elza　is　so　happy；　yes；　I　am　glad　of　it　and　thank　God　for　it。　But
how　can　I　be　merry　and　laugh；　mother；　so　long　as　my　dear；　dear
father　has　not　returned　to　us？　He　must　hide　like　a　criminal；　they
are　chasing　him　like　a　wild　beast；　he　is　always　in　danger；　and　we
must　constantly　tremble　for　his　safety。　And　I　cannot　do　any　thing
for　him；　I　cannot　share　his　dangers；　I　cannot　be　with　him　in　the
dreadful　solitude　on　the　Alp　above。　I　must　look　on　in　idleness；　and
cannot　be　useful　to　any　one；　neither　to　my　father；　nor　to　my
brothers；　nor　to　you；　dear　mother。　I　cannot　help　my　father　and
brothers；　and　cannot　comfort　you；　mother；　for　I　myself　am　in
despair；　and　wouldwhat　was　that；　mother？　Did　not　some　one　knock　at
the　window…shutter？〃

〃Hush；　hush！〃　whispered　her　mother；　〃let　us　listen。〃

They　listened　with　bated　breath。　Eliza　had　not　been　mistaken；　some
one　knocked　a　second　time　at　the　window…shutter；　and　the　voice　of　a
man　whispered；　〃Mrs。　Wallner；　are　you　in　the　room？　Open　the　door　to
me！〃

〃It　must　be　a　good　friend　of　ours；　for　the　dogs　do　not　bark；〃　said
Eliza；　〃we　will　let　him　come　in。〃

She　took　the　lamp　and　went　out　courageously　to　draw　the　bolt　from
the　street…door　and　open　it。

Yes；　she　had　not　been　mistaken；　it　was　really　a　good　friend　of
theirs；　the　man　who　entered　the　house　was　one　of　the　few　friends　who
had　not　denied　Anthony　Wallner；　and　who　had　not　turned　their　backs
upon　his　family　since　it　was　outlawed　and　in　distress。

〃You　bring　us　bad　news；　Peter　Siebermeier？〃　asked　Eliza；　anxiously；
gazing　into　the　mountaineer's　pale　and　dismayed　face。

〃Unfortunately　I　do；〃　sighed　Siebermeier；　stepping　hastily　into　the
sitting…room　and　shaking　hands　with　Eliza's　mother。　〃Mrs。　Wallner；〃
he　said；　in　breathless　hurry；　〃your　husband　is　in　the　greatest
danger；　and　only　speedy　flight　can　save　him。〃

Mrs。　Wallner　uttered　a　piercing　cry；　sank　back　into　her　chair；　wrung
her　hands；　and　wept　aloud。　Eliza　did　not　weep；　she　was　calm　and
courageous。　〃Tell　me；　Siebermeier；　what　can　we　do　for　father？　What
danger　threatens　him？〃

〃A　bad　man。　I　believe；　the　clerk　of　the　court；　has　informed　the
French　that　Anthony　Wallner　is　still　on　one　of　the　heights　in　this
neighborhood。　General　Broussier　intends　to　have　him　arrested。　A
whole　battalion　of　soldiers　will　march　to…morrow　morning　to　the
mountain　of　Ober…Peischlag　and　occupy　it。〃

〃Great　God！　my　husband　is　lost；　then！〃　cried　Eliza's　mother；
despairing；　〃nothing　can　save　him　now。〃

〃Hush；　mother；　hush！〃　said　Eliza；　almost　imperatively；　〃we　must　not
weep　now；　we　must　think　only　of　saving　him。　Tell　me；　friend
Siebermeier；　is　there　no　way　of　saving　him？〃

〃There　is　one；〃　said　Siebermeier；　〃but　how　shall　we　get　up　to　him？　A
friend　of　mine；　who　is　acquainted　with　the　members　of　the　court；
informed　me　quite　stealthily　that；　if　Aichberger　could　be　saved　yet；
it　should　be　done　this　very　night。　Now　listen　to　the　plan　I　have
devised。　I　intended　to　set　out　to…morrow　morning　to　peddle　carpets
and　blankets；　for　money　is　very　scarce　in　these　hard　times。　I
procured；　therefore；　a　passport　for　myself　and　my　boy；　who　is　to
carry　my　bundle。　Here　is　the　passportand　look！　the　description
corresponds　nearly　to　Wallner's　appearance。　He　is　of　my　stature　and
age；　has　hair　and　whiskers　like　mine；　and　might　be　passed　off　for
myself。　I　am　quite　willing　to　let　him　have　my　passport；　and　conceal
myself　meanwhile　at　home　and　feign　sickness。　The　passport　would
enable　him　to　escape　safely；　of　course　he　would　have　to　journey
through　the　Alps；　for　every　one　knows　him　in　the　plain。　However；　the
passport　cannot　do　him　any　good；　for　there　is　no　one　to　take　it　up
to　him。　I　would　do　so；　but　the　wound　which　I　received　in　our　last
skirmis