andreas hofer-第41章

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administer　extreme　unction　to　the　dying。　But　Eliza　Wallner　had
reserved　the　most　difficult　and　dangerous　part　of　this　work　of　love
for　herself。　She　alone　was　courageous　enough　to　plunge　into　the
thickest　of　the　fight　to　remove　the　fallen　brethren；　she　alone　was
strong　enough　to　carry　them　to　the　quiet　asylum；　and　it　was　only　the
joyous　enthusiasm　inspired　by　the　consciousness　of　doing　good　that
imparted　this　strength　to　her。　Her　eyes　were　radiant；　her　cheeks
were　flushed；　and　the　face　of　the　young　girl；　formerly　so　rosy　and
serene；　exhibited　now　the　transparent　paleness；　and　grave；　proud
calmness　which　only　great　resolves　and　sublime　moments　impart　to　the
human　countenance。

And　the　women　followed　her　example　with　joyous　zeal；　they　washed　the
wounds　of　the　brave　Tyrolese　with　water　fetched　from　the　neighboring
spring；　tore　their　handkerchiefs　and　dresses　to　make　the　necessary
bandages　of　them；　and　closed；　with　tears　of　devout　compassion；　the
eyes　of　those　who　gave　up　the　ghost　amid　the　blessings　of　the
priests。

From　these　pious　works　of　charity　the　women　were　suddenly　aroused　by
the　loud　cheers　of　the　Tyrolese。　Eliza　sprang　forth　from　behind　the
rock　to　see　what　was　the　matter。　Renewed　and　still　louder　cheers
resounded；　for　the　victory　was　gained。　Anthony　Wallner　and　his　men
had　attained　their　object。　They　had　succeeded　in　hurling　the　three
field…pieces　from　the　height　into　the　Rienz；　which　was　rolling　along
far　below　in　its　rocky　bed。　The　earth　was　shaking　yet　from　the
terrific　crash；　and　echo　was　resounding　still　with　the　thundering
noise　with　which　the　field…pieces　had　fallen　into　the　Rienz；　whose
waters　had　hurled　their　foaming　spray　into　the　air；　and　were　rolling
now　with　an　angry　roar　over　the　sunken　cannon。

This　exploit；　which　excited　the　transports　of　the　Tyrolese；　exerted
a　contrary　effect　upon　the　Bavarians。　They　had　lost　their　artillery；
and　with　it　the　means　of　blowing　up　the　bridge；　and　now　they　stood
before　the　enemy　uncovered　and　almost　defenceless。　In　obedience　to　a
loud　command　uttered　by　Anthony　Wallner；　the　Tyrolese　returned
quickly　into　the　forest；　and；　hidden　behind　trees　and　rocks；　hit　a
Bavarian　with　every　bullet；　while　the　Bavarians　vainly　fired　at　the
well…concealed　enemy。

The　commander　of　the　Bavarians；　Lieutenant…Colonel　Wreden；
perceiving　the　danger　and　uselessness　of　a　continuance　of　the
struggle；　ordered　his　troops　to　retreat；　and　no　sooner　had　the
Bavarians　received　this　longed…for　order；　than　they　fell　back　at　the
double…quick　from　the　bridge　and　took　the　road　to　Sterzing。

This　retreat　of　the　enemy　was　greeted　by　the　renewed　cheers　which
Eliza　Wallner　had　heard；　and；　both　laughing　and　weeping　for　joy；　she
hastened　to　fold　her　father　to　her　heart；　and　thank　God　that　no
bullet　had　hit　him。

Wallner　embraced　her　tenderly；　and　imprinted　a　kiss　on　her　forehead。

〃You　have　behaved　very　bravely；　Lizzie；〃　he　said；　〃I　saw　how　you
carried　our　poor　brethren　out　of　the　thickest　of　the　fight。　My　heart
was　proud　of　you；　and　I　should　not　have　wept　to…day　even　though　you
had　fallen　in　the　sacred　service　of　the　fatherland。　But　I　thank　God
that　nothing　has　happened　to　you；　and　I　beseech　you；　dearest　Lizzie；
do　not　accompany　us　any　farther。　I　now　believe　again　in　you；　and　I
know　that　you　are　a　true　daughter　of　the　Tyrol；　although　you
unfortunately　love　a　Bavarian。　Therefore　go　home；　for　it　is　no
woman's　work　that　is　in　store　for　us；　we　have　a　hard　struggle　before
us；　and　a　great　deal　of　blood　will　be　shed　before　we　have　driven　the
mean　Bavarians　and　the　accursed　French　from　our　beloved　country。〃

〃No；　father；　I　shall　stay　with　you；〃　exclaimed　Eliza；　with　eager
determination。　〃I　am　not　able　to　sit　at　home　and　spin　and　pray　when
my　father　is　fighting　for　the　country。　Mother　can　attend　alone　to
our　household　affairs；　and　Schroepfel　will　assist　her；　but　you
cannot　attend　alone　to　the　hard　work　here；　and　I　will　help　you；
dearest　father。　I　will　be　the　doctor　and　surgeon　of　your　men　until
you　have　found　a　better　and　more　skilful　physician。　You　must　not
reject　me；　dearest　father；　for　you　would　commit　wrong　against　the
poor　wounded　who　have　no　other　assistance　than　what　they　receive　at
my　hands　and　at　those　of　the　women　whom　I　beg　and　persuade　to　help
me。〃

〃You　are　right；　Lizzie；　it　would　be　wrong　in　me　to　send　you　home　and
not　permit　you　to　assist　and　nurse　the　wounded；〃　said　her　father；
gravely。　〃May　God　and　the　Holy　Virgin　help　and　protect　you！　I　devote
you　to　the　fatherland　to　which　I　devote　myself。〃

He　kissed　her　once　more；　and　then　turned　to　the　Tyrolese；　who；
encamped　in　groups　on　the　edge　of　the　forest；　and　reposing　from　the
struggle；　were　partaking　of　the　bread　and　meat　which　they　had
brought　along　in　their　haversacks。

〃Brethren；〃　exclaimed　Anthony　Wallner；　in　a　powerful　voice；　〃now　let
us　be　up　and　doing！　We　must　cut　off　the　enemy's　retreat　to　Sterzing。
We　must　also　occupy　the　Muhlbach　pass；　as　Andreas　Hofer　ordered　us
to　do　in　the　Archduke　John's　name。　The　enemy　has　set　out　thither；
and　if　he　gets　before　us　through　the　gap　of　Brixen　and　reaches　the
bridge　of　Laditch；　we　shall　be　unable　to　prevent　him　from　passing
through　the　Muhlbach　pass　and　marching　to　Sterzing。　Hence；　we　are
not　at　liberty　to　repose　now；　but　must　advance　rapidly。　One
detachment　of　our　men；　commanded　by　my　Lieutenant　Panzl；　will　push
on　quickly　on　the　mountain…road　to　the　Muhlbach　pass。　The　rest　of　us
will　follow　you；　but　we　must　previously　detain　the　enemy　at　the　gap
of　Brixen；　and　while　we　are　doing　duty；　another　detachment　of　our
men　will　go　farther　down　to　the　bridge　of　Laditch　and　destroy　it　in
order　to　prevent　the　enemy　from　crossing　the　Eisach。　Forward；　my
friends！　Forward　to　the　gap　of　Brixen！　We　must　roll　down　trees；
detach　large　fragments　from　the　rocks；　and　hurl　them　down　on　the
enemy；　we　must　fire　at　them　from　the　heights　with　deadly　certainty；
and　every　bullet　must　hit　its　man。　Forward！　forward！　To　the　bridge
of　Laditch！〃

〃Yes；　yes！〃　exclaimed　the　Tyrolese；　with　enthusiastic　courage。
〃Forward　to　the　bridge　of　Laditch！〃




CHAPTER　XV。

THE　BRIDGE　OF　LADITCH。


Night　had　at　length　brought　some　repose　to　the　exhausted　Bavarians。
At　no　great　distance　from　the　gap　of　Brixen　they　had　halted　late　in
the　evening；　and　encamped　on　the　bare　ground　in　the　valley　below。
The　green　turf　was　their　bed；　a　stone　their　pillow；　nevertheless；
they　had　been　able　to　enjoy　a　few　hours　of　peaceful　slumber；　for
they　were　familiar　with　the　habits　of　the　Tyrolese；　they　knew　that
they　never　undertook　any　thing；　not　even　a　hunting…excursion；　in　the
dead　of　night；　and　that　they　had　nothing　to　fear　from　them　until
sunrise。

But　now　the　first　streaks　of　dawn　illuminated　the　sky；　it　was　time；
therefore；　to　continue　the　march。　Lieutenant…Colonel　von　Wreden　rose
from　the　couch　which　the　soldiers　had　prepared　for　him　of　moss　and
branches；　and　reviewed；　accompanied　by　his　officers；　his　small
force；　which　began　sullenly　and　silently　to　form　in　line。　A　cloud
darkened　Wreden's　face　when；　marching　through　the　ranks；　he　counted
the　number　of　his　soldiers。　He　had　arrived　yesterday　at　the　bridge
of　St。　Lawrence　with　nearly　four　hundred　men；　scarcely　one…half　of
them　were　left　now；　the　other　half　lay　slain　at　the　bridge　of　St。
Lawrence；　or；　exhausted　by　the　loss　of　blood　and　by　the　pains　of
gaping　wounds；　had　sunk　down　on　the　road　and　been　unable　to　continue
the　march。

〃And　these　poor　men　will　likewise　be　killed　to…day　unless　speedy
succor　comes；〃　murmured　the　Lieutenant…Colonel　to　himself；　〃we　are
all　lost　if　the　miserable　rabble　of　peasants　reach　the　gap　of　Brixen
before　us。　We　are　all　lost；　for　we　shall　be　entirely　cut　off　from
our　friends　and　surrounded　by　our　enemies；　who　are　able　to　avail
themselves　of　their　mountain　fastnesses　and　hiding…places；　while　we
must　march　through　the　valley　and　across　the　open　plain。　But　all
these　complaints　are　useless。　We　must　do　our　duty！　The　soldier's
life　belongs　to　his　oath　and　his　king；　and　if　he　falls　in　the
service；　he　has　done　his　duty。〃

And　with　strong　determination　and　bold　courage　the　lieutenant…
colonel　threw　back　his　head；　and　fixed　his　eye　steadfastly　on　his
soldiers。

〃