andreas hofer-第47章
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volleys responded to the Tyrolese； and the cannon thundered across
the plain reeking with gore and powder。
The Tyrolese gave way a second time； for the murderous fire of the
Bavarians filled them with stupor and dismay
〃In this manner we shall never gain a victory； and our men will be
uselessly slaughtered；〃 said Andreas Hofer； who was watching the
struggle with breathless suspense。 〃But we must not incur the
disgrace of losing the first battle； for that would discourage our
men for all time to come。 Come； Ennemoser； run down to them and tell
them to try a third time。 If they do not； Andreas Hofer will rush
ail alone upon the enemy and wait for a bullet to shatter his head。〃
Young Ennemoser； the secretary； sped down the ravine； Hofer pressed
his crucifix to his lips and prayed； Eliza Wallner advanced close to
the edge of the precipice； and peered down into the plain。 Her eyes
filled with tears when she perceived the many corpses piled up on
both sides of the ravine； but the squares of the enemy likewise had
been considerably thinned； and death had made fearful havoc in their
ranks。
〃Andreas Hofer；〃 she cried； exultingly； 〃your message was
successful。 Our men are rushing forward。 Do you not hear their
cheers？〃
〃I do； and may the good God grant them success！〃 sighed Andreas
Hofer stepping close up to Eliza。
They saw the Tyrolese emerging again at the double…quick from the
ravine； and rushing upon the enemy； who received them with volleys
of musketry and artillery…fire。 But； alas！ they saw the Tyrolese
give way again and retreat； though more slowly than before； to the
ravine。
〃This will never do；〃 cried Hofer； despairingly。 〃Our men are
slaughtered in this way； and cannot reach the enemy； whose cannon
are mowing them down like scythes。 O God； show the a way to help our
men！〃
His eyes glanced despairingly over the plain； as if searching for
relief。 All at once a bright flash of joy lit up his features。
〃I have found a way！ I thank Thee； my God！〃 he exclaimed； aloud。
〃See； Lizzie； look there！ What do you see in the plain yonder behind
the ravine？〃
〃I see there four large wagons tilled with hay；〃 said Lizzie； 〃yes；
four wagons filled with hay； nothing else。〃
〃And these wagons filled with hay will save us。 They must be driven
toward the ravine directly toward the enemy； our sharpshooters will
conceal themselves behind them； and will safely advance； and when
close enough to the enemy； they will discharge their rifles； and
first pick off the gunners； in order to silence the guns which have
made such havoc among our men。 Come； Lizzie； we will go down to
Sieberer and the other captains； and give them my orders。 I hope
there will be four lads intrepid enough to drive the hay…wagons
toward the enemy。〃
〃There will be！〃 exclaimed Eliza； enthusiastically。
〃It is only necessary for one to risk his life； and drive the first
wagon。 The other wagons will be covered by the first。 But the driver
of the first wagon will doubtless be killed； and I shall be
responsible for his death。〃
〃He will die for the fatherland；〃 exclaimed Eliza。 〃Go； Andreas
Hofer； descend and tell our men what is to be done； for it is high
tune for the hay…wagons to come up and cover our men。〃
〃Come； let us go； Lizzie； give me your hand。〃
〃No； lead the way； I will follow you immediately。〃
CHAPTER XVII。
THE HAY…WAGONS。
Andreas Hofer had already descended half the mountain…path with a
rapid step； and he did not once look behind him； for he was sure
that Wallner's daughter was following him； and he kept his eyes
steadfastly fixed on his friends and brethren。
But Eliza did not follow him。 She looked after him until the dense
shrubbery below concealed her from his eyes； then she knelt down；
and； lifting both her hands to heaven； exclaimed； in a loud；
beseeching voice： 〃Holy Virgin； protect me！ Grant。 success to my
enterprise for the beloved fatherland！〃
She then jumped up； and； quick as a chamois； scarcely with her feet；
she hastened toward the point where the hay…wagons were standing。
Meanwhile； Andreas Hofer had descended into the ravine whence
constantly new crowds of Tyrolese were rushing forward； although
they were driven back again and again by the murderous fire of the
enemy。 On beholding Hofer's erect and imposing form； and his fine
head； with the splendid long beard； the Tyrolese burst into loud
cheers； and his presence seemed to inspire them with fresh courage。
They advanced with the most intrepid impetuosity。 Andreas Hofer
called the brave captains of his sharpshooters to his side； and
communicated to them briefly the stratagem he had devised。
〃That is a splendid and very shrewd idea；〃 said Anthony Sieberer。
〃The hay…wagon is your Trojan horse with which； like Ulysses； you
will conquer your Troy；〃 exclaimed the learned Ennemoser； Hofer's
young secretary。
〃I do not know where Troy is situated；〃 said Andreas Hofer； quietly；
〃but I know where the Sterzinger Moos lies； and what should be done
there。 For the rest； there are no horses before the hay…wagons； but
oxen； and it is all…important that the gunners should not
immediately hit the driver of the first wagon。〃
〃But his last hour has surely come； and he may rely on going to
paradise to…day！〃 exclaimed Ennemoser。 〃But look！ what throng is
yonder in the ravine； and what causes the women to shout so
vociferously？ Their shouts sound like triumphant cheers。 And the
lads now join in the acclamations too； and all are rushing forward
so impetuously。〃
Indeed； the whole mass of men and women assembled in the rear of the
ravine rushed forward with loud shouts； like a single immense wave；
surging with extraordinary impetuosity up to Andreas Hofer and the
captains standing by his side。
All at once this wave parted； and in the midst of all this eager；
shouting throng； which took position on both sides of the ravine；
appeared two of those broad…horned； brown…red oxen； of a beauty；
majesty； and strength such as can be found only in the Tyrol and in
Switzerland。 Behind these two oxen came the wagon filled up with
hay。
But who drove the hay…wagon？ Was it really the lovely young girl
hanging on the back of the oxthe beautiful creature whose face was
radiant with enthusiasm； whose cheers were glowing like the morning
sun； and whose eyes flashed like stars？
Yes； it was sheit was Eliza Wallner； who； with sublime courage；
had mounted the back of the ox； and who now was driving forward with
loud shouts and lashes of the whip the two animals； frightened by
the crowd and the shots crashing incessantly。
〃Eliza Wallner！〃 cried Andreas Hofer； with an air of dismay； as the
heavily…laden wagon rolled more rapidly forward。
She turned her head toward him； and a wondrous smile illuminated her
face。 〃Send greetings to my dear father！〃 she exclaimed。 〃Send
greetings to him in my name； if I should die。〃
〃I cannot allow her to do itit is certain death！〃 cried Andreas
Hofer； anxiously。 〃Let me go and lift her from the ox。〃
〃No； no； Andreas；〃 said Anthony Sieberer。 〃Let her proceed。 The
intrepidity of this young girl will fire the courage of the lads；
and； for the rest； if lives have to be sacrificed； the life of a
girl is not worth any more than that of a lad。 We are all in God's
hand。〃
〃May God and His heavenly host protect her！〃 said Andreas Hofer；
laying his hand on the image of St。 George； which adorned his
breast。
〃Now； boys；〃 shouted Anthony Sieberer； 〃do not allow the girl to
make you blush。 Quick； march behind the hay…wagon； and when you are
close enough to the enemy； step forward and shoot down the gunners。〃
Ten young lads hastened forward； amid loud cheers； and took position
in pairs behind the wagon； which advanced heavily and slowly； like
an enormous avalanche。
There was a breathless silence。 All eyes followed the wagon； all
hearts throbbed and addressed to heaven prayers in behalf of the
courageous girl who was driving it。
Suddenly a cry of horror burst from all lips。 A cannon…ball had
struck the hay…wagon； which was shaking violently from the
tremendous shock。
But now a ringing cheer was heard in front of the wagon。 By this
cheer E
