andreas hofer-第34章

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mountains。　But；　look；　it　is　just　as　I　said；　you　are　desirous　to　find
a　'lonely　island　of　happiness'that　is　to　say；　nobody　is　to　find
out　that　the　aristocratic　gentleman　loves　the　poor　Tyrolese　girl；
and　that　is　the　reason　why　you　want　us　to　hide　in　the　mountains　or
elsewhere；　and　see　if　we　can　be　happy　without　the　blessing　of　the
priest；　our　dear　parents；　and　all　other　good　men。〃

〃Oh；　Eliza；　have　mercy　on　me。　I　swear　to　you　that　I　love　you
intensely；　that　I　would　be　the　happiest　of　men　if　I　could　marry　you
publicly　and　make　you　my　wife　in　the　face　of　the　whole　world；　that
〃

Eliza　interrupted　him　by　singing　with　a　smiling　air；　and　in　a　merry；
ringing　voice：

　〃Und　a　Bisserle　Lieb'　und　a　Bisserle　Treu'
　Und　a　Bisserle　Falschheit　ist　all'zeit　dabei！〃


＇Footnote：
　〃And　a　bit　of　love；　and　a　bit　of　truth；
　And　a　bit　of　falsehood；　make　life；　forsooth！〃＇


〃No；　no　falsehood；〃　cried　Ulrich；　〃only　the　irksome；　terrible
necessity；　the〃

The　loud　crash　of　a　rifle；　finding　an　oft…repeated　echo　in　the
mountains；　interrupted　him。　Eliza　uttered　a　cry　of　dismay　and　jumped
up。

〃Jesus　Maria！〃　she　murmured　in　a　low　voice；　〃it　is　the　signal。　It
has　commenced！〃

〃What！　What　has　commenced？〃　asked　the　young　man；　in　surprise。

Eliza　looked　at　him　with　confused　and　anxious　eyes。　〃Nothing；　oh；
nothing　at　all；〃　she　said；　in　a　tremulous　voice。　〃OnlyI　mean〃she
paused　and　looked　with　fixed　attention　down　on　the　large　place。　She
distinctly　saw　the　groups　moving　rapidly　to　and　fro；　and　then
pouring　with　furious　haste　through　the　streets。

〃They　are　coming　up　here；〃　she　murmured；　and　her　eyes　turned　toward
the　wing　of　the　castle　on　the　side　of　the　balcony；　where　the
Bavarian　soldiers　had　their　quarters。　The　latter；　however；
apparently　did　not　suspect　the　imminent　danger。　They　were　sitting　at
the　windows　and　smoking　or　cleaning　their　muskets　and　uniforms。
Eliza　could　hear　them　chatting　and　laughing　in　perfect　tranquillity。

〃Well；　Eliza；　beautiful；　cruel　girl；〃　asked　Ulrich　von　Hohenberg；
〃will　you　tell　me　what　has　suddenly　excited　you　so　strangely？〃

〃Nothing；　sir；　oh；　nothing；〃　she　said；　but　then　she　leaned　far　over
the　railing　of　the　balcony　and　stared　down；　she　beheld　four　young
Tyrolese　sharpshooters　running　up　the　castle…hill　at　a　furious　rate；
and　the　host　of　their　comrades　following　them。　The　four　who　led　the
way　now　entered　the　court…yard；　and　reached　with　wild　bounds　the
large　door　forming　the　entrance　of　the　wing　of　the　building　occupied
by　the　soldiers。　With　thundering　noise　they　shut　it；　turned　the
large　key　which　was　in　the　lock；　and　drew　it　immediately　out。

Two　sharpshooters　now　ran　up　from　the　opposite　side。

〃We　have　locked　the　back…gate；〃　they　shouted　exultingly。

〃That　door　is　locked　too；〃　replied　the　others；　jubilantly。　〃They　are
all　prisoners　in　the　castle！〃

〃Sir；〃　cried　Eliza；　drawing　Ulrich　von　Hohenberg　back　from　the
balcony；　〃you　may　come　with　me　into　the　dining…room；　I　must　tell　you
something。〃

〃No；〃　he　said；　〃I　shall　stay　here　and　see　what　is　the　matter。〃

〃What　does　this　mean？　More　than　fifty　Tyrolese　are　entering　the
court…yard；　and　why　did　those　mad　young　fellows　lock　the　door　upon
my　soldiers？〃

〃I　suppose　it　is　some　mad　freak　of　theirs；　that　is　all；〃　said　Eliza；
trembling。　〃Come；　dear　sir；　leave　the　balcony　and　follow　me　into　the
room。　I　wish　to　tell　you　somethingquite　secretly；　sir；oh；　come！
I　do　not　want　heaven　and　God　and　the　snow…clad　mountains　yonder　to
hear　a　word　of　it。〃

〃Eliza；〃　he　exclaimed；　transported；　〃how　you　smile；　how　you　blush！
Oh；　my　God；　what　do　you　wish　to　say　to　me？〃

She　encircled　his　arm　with　her　hands　and　drew　him　into　the　room。
〃Listen；〃　she　said；　looking　at　him　with　imploring　eyes；　〃if　it　is
true　that　you　love　me　give　me　a　proof　of　it　and　swear　that　you　will
do　what　I　shall　request　of　you！〃

〃I　love　you；　Eliza；　and　will　prove　it　to　you。　I　swear；　therefore；　to
do　what　you　shall　request　of　me。〃

〃Thank　you；　thank　you；〃　she　exclaimed；　joyfully。　〃Now　come　with　me；
I　will　conduct　you　under　the　roof；　I　know　of　a　hiding…place　there
where　no　one　will　find　you；　and　you　will　swear　to　me　to　stay　there
until　I　come　to　you　with　a　suit　of　clothes　which　you　will　put　on。
Thereupon　I　shall　conduct　you　in　the　dead　of　night　into　the
mountains；　and　thus　you　will　escape。〃

〃Escape？　Never！　And　why；　then？〃

〃Sir；　because　the　peasants　will　assassinate　you　if　you　remain。〃

The　young　officer　burst　into　loud　laughter。　〃They　will　assassinate
me？　Ah；　I　have　my　soldiers　and　my　own　arms；　and　am　not　afraid　of　the
peasants。　My　soldiers　would　soon　put　down　the　insurgents　if　they
should　really　rebel　to…morrow。〃

〃Sir；　they　will　not　wait　until　to…morrow；　they　have　already　risen；
the　insurrection　has　commenced　this　very　hour。　Oh；　thank　God；　you
did　not　find　out　what　was　going　on；　you　felt　so　secure　in　your　pride
and　despised　the　Tyrolese　so　much　that　you　did　not　fear　them。
＇Footnote：　The　Tyrolese　kept　the　secret　of　their　intended
insurrection　so　well；　and　the　Bavarians　were　so　overbearing　and
careless；　that　they　did　not　know　anything　about　the　plans　of　the
insurgents　until　the　day　of　the　rising；　and　on　that　day　they　tried
to　levy　contributions　by　force　of　arms。See　〃Gallery　of　Heroes：
Andreas　Hofer；〃　p。　50。＇　But　I　tell　you　now；　the　insurrection　has
broken　out；　the　whole　Tyrol　is　rising；　all　our　people　are　in
commotion　from　Innspruck　down　to　Salzburg。　You　can　no　longer　prevent
or　stifle　it。　You　must　submit。　Save　yourself；　then；　sir；　you　have
sworn　to　grant　my　request；　and　you　must　keep　your　word。〃

〃No；　I　cannot　and　will　not！　I　must　do　my　duty。　Let　me　go；　Eliza！　I
must　go！　I　must　go　to　my　soldiers！〃

〃You　can　no　longer　reach　them；　for　they　have　locked　them　up。　Come；
you　must　save　yourself！〃

She　seized　his　arm　with　superhuman　strength；　and　tried　to　draw　him
away；　but　he　disengaged　himself　and　rushed　toward　the　door。　But
Eliza　was　quicker　than　he；　she　bounded　forward　like　an　angry
lioness；　and　just　as　Ulrich　was　about　to　seize　the　knob；　she　stood
before　the　door　and　pushed　him　back。

〃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；