andreas hofer-第48章
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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 Eliza Wallner announced to the Tyrolese that the ball had not
hit her； and that she was uninjured。
The cannon boomed again； and Eliza's ringing voice announced once
more that the balls had penetrated harmlessly into the closely
compressed hay。
Meanwhile the wagon rolled out farther and farther into the plain of
the Sterzinger Moos。 Even the oxen seemed to be infected with the
heroism of their fair driver； and trotted more rapidly toward the
enemy； whose balls whistled round them without hitting them。
Suddenly Eliza stopped their courageous trot； and； turning back her
head； she shouted： 〃Forward now； boys！ Do not be afraid of the
Bavarian dumplings。 They do not hit us； and we do not swallow them
as hot as the Bavarians send them to us！〃
The young sharpshooters concealed behind the wagon replied to Eliza；
amid merry laughter： 〃No； we are not afraid of the Bavarian
dumplings； but we are going to pick off the cooks that send them to
us。〃
And with their rifles lifted to their cheeks； five sharpshooters
rushed forward on either side of their green bulwark。 Before the
Bavarians had time to aim at the ten daring sharpshooters； the
latter raised their rifles and fired； and the gunners fell dead by
the sides of their guns。
The Bavarians uttered loud shouts of fury； and aimed at the
sharpshooters； but the Tyrolese had already disappeared again；
whistling and cheering； behind the wagon； which was still advancing
toward the enemy。
The other hay…wagons now rolled likewise from the ravine。 The first
of them was driven by another young girl。 Imitating the heroic
example set by Eliza Wallner； Anna Gamper； daughter of a tailor of
Sterzing； had courageously mounted the back of an ox； and drove
forward the wagon； filled with an enormous quantity of hay。 Twenty
young sharpshooters； encouraged by the success of their comrades；
followed this second wagon。 Behind them came the third and fourth
wagons； followed by twenty or thirty more sharpshooters； who were
well protected by the broad bulwark which the wagons formed in front
of them。
The gunners had fallen； hence the cannon no longer thundered or
carried destruction and death into the ranks of the Tyrolese； only
the musketry of the Bavarians was still rattling； but they only hit
the hay； and not the brave girls driving the； oxen； nor the
sharpshooters； who； concealed behind the hay； rushed from their
covert whenever the enemy had fired a volley； raised their rifles
triumphantly； and struck down a Bavarian at every shot。
All four hay…wagons had now driven up close enough； and the
Tyrolese； who were nearly one hundred strong； burst with cheers from
behind them； and rushing forward in loose array； but with desperate
resolution； using the butt…ends of their rifles； fell with savage
impetuosity upon the Bavarians； who were thunderstruck at this
unexpected and sudden attack。
Loud cheers also resounded from the ravine。 The whole force of the
Tyrolese advanced at the double…quick to assist their brethren in
annihilating the enemy。
A violent struggle； a fierce hand…to…hand fight now ensued。
The Bavarians； overwhelmed by the terrible onset of the peasants；
gave way； the squares dissolved； and the soldiers； as if paralyzed
with terror； had neither courage nor strength left to avoid the
furious butt…end blows of the peasants。
Vainly did Colonel von Baerenklau strive to reform his lines； vainly
did those who had rallied round him at his command； make a desperate
effort to force their way through the ranks of the infuriated
Tyrolese。 The fierce bravery of the latter overcame all resistance；
and rendered their escape impossible。
〃Surrender！〃 thundered Andreas Hofer to the Bavarians。
〃Lay down your arms； and surrender at discretion！〃
A cry of rage burst from the pale lips of Colonel von Baerenklau；
and he would have rushed upon the impudent peasants who dared to
fasten such a disgrace upon him。 But his own men kept him back。
〃We do not want to be slaughtered；〃 they cried； perfectly beside
themselves with terror； 〃we will surrender； we will lay down our
arms！〃
A deathly pallor overspread the cheeks of the unfortunate officer。
〃Do so； then；〃 he cried。 〃Surrender yourselves and me to utter
dishonor！ I am no longer able to restrain you from it。〃
And with a sigh resembling the groan of a dying man； Colonel von
Baerenklau fainted away； exhausted by the terrible exertion and the
loss of blood which was rushing from a gunshot wound on his neck。
〃We surrender！ We are ready to lay down our arms！〃 shouted the
Bavarians to the Tyrolese； who were still thinning their ranks by
the deadly fire of their rifles and their terrible butt…end blows。
〃Very well； lay down your arms；〃 cried Andrews Hofer； in a powerful
voice。 〃Stop； Tyrolese！ If they surrender； nobody shall hurt a hair
of their heads； for then they are no longer our enemies； but our
brethren。Lay down your arms； Bavarians！〃
The Tyrolese； obedient to the orders of their commander； stopped the
furious slaughter； and gazed with gloomy eyes at their hated
enemies。
There was a moment of breathless silence； and then the Bavarian
officers were heard to command in tremulous voices； 〃Lay down your
arms！〃
And their men obeyed readily。 Three hundred and eighty soldiers； and
nine officers； laid down their arms here on the plain of the
Sterzinger Moos； and surrendered at discretion to the Tyrolese。
＇Footnote： 〃Gallery of Heroes： Andrews Hofer；〃 p。 3l。＇
On seeing this； the Tyrolese burst into loud cheers； and Andreas
Hofer lifted his beaming eyes to heaven。 〃I thank Thee； Lord God；〃
he said； 〃with Thy assistance we have achieved a victory。 It is the
first love…offering which we present to fatherland and our Emperor
Francis。〃
〃Long live the Tyrol and our Emperor Francis！〃 shouted the Tyrolese；
enthusiastically。
The Bavarians stood silent； with downcast eyes and pale faces； while
the active Tyrolese lads hastily collected the arms they bad laid
down and placed them on one of the wagons； from which they had
quickly removed the hay。
〃What is to be done with our prisoners； the Bavarians？〃 said Anthony
Sieberer to Andreas Hofer。 〃We cannot take them with us。〃
〃No； we cannot； nor will the enemy give us time for doing so；〃
replied Hofer。 〃Anthony Wallner has informed me that a strong corps
of Bavarians and French is approaching in the direction of the
Muhlbacher Klause。 They must not meet us here on the plain； for a
fight under such circumstances would manifestly be to our
disadvantage。 They would be a great deal stronger here than we。 But
in the mountains we are able to overcome them。 They are the
fortresses which the good God built for our country； and when the
enemy passes； we shall attack and defeat him。〃
〃And shall we take the prisoners with us into the mountains；
commander？〃
〃No； we will not； for we cannot guard them well up there； and they
would escape。 We will not take the prisoners with us； but convey
them to the Baroness von Sternberg at Castle Steinach。 She is
ardently devoted to our cause； and loves the Tyrol and the emperor。
She will take care of the prisoners； and they will be unable to
escape from the large tower； the Wolfsthurm； on the crest yonder；
which you can see from here。〃
〃But who is to convey the prisoners to Castle Steinach？ Are we all
to march thither and deliver them before advancing farther？〃
〃No； no； Anthony Sieberer； we have not time for that。 We must bury
the corpses here quickly； and remove every trace of the contest； in
order that the French； on arriving here； may not discover what has
occured； and that we are close by。 Only thirty of our men shall
escort the prisoners to Castle Steinach。〃
〃Only thirty； commander？ Will that be sufficient for three hundred
and eighty prisoners？ If they should attack our men on the road；
they would beat them； for they would be twelve to one。〃
〃That is true；〃 said Andreas Hofer in confusion； 〃what are we to do
to get a stronger escort for the prisoners？〃
He stroked his beard nervousl
