andreas hofer-第52章

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his　eyes　with　tears。

These　rejoicings　around　the　eagle　and　the　portraits　lasted　all　day。
The　whole　city　presented　a　festive　spectacle；　and　the　overjoyed
Tyrolese　scarcely　thought　to…day　of　eating　and　drinking；　much　less
of　the　dangers　which　might　menace　them。　They　sang；　and　shouted；　and
laughed；　and　when　night　came　they　sank　down　exhausted　by　the　efforts
of　the　fight；　and　still　more　by　their　boundless　rejoicings；　to　the
ground　where　they　were　standing；　in　the　streets；　in　the　gardens；　in
the　fields；　and　fell　asleep。

Profound　silence　reigned　now　in　the　streets　of　Innspruck。　It　was
dark　everywhere；　bright　lights　beamed　only　from　the　portraits　of　the
emperor　and　the　Archduke　John；　and　the　stars　of　heaven　looked　down
upon　the　careless　and　happy　sleepers；　the　victors　of　Innspruck。

They　slept；　dreaming　of　victory　and　happiness。　Woe　to　them　if　they
sleep　too　long　and　awake　too　late；　for　the　enemy　does　not　sleep！　He
is　awake　and　approaching；　while　the　victors　are　sleeping。




CHAPTER　XIX。

THE　CAPITULATION　OF　WILTAU。


The　Tyrolese　were　still　asleep；　and　profound　stillness　reigned　yet
in　the　streets　of　Innspruck；　although　it　was　already　after　daybreak；
and　the　first　rays　of　the　rising　sun　shed　a　crimson　lustre　on　the
summits　of　the　mountains。　All　at　once　this　silence　was　broken　by　a
strange；　loud；　and　plaintive　note　which　seemed　to　resound　in　the
air；　it　was　followed　by　a　second　and　third　note；　and；　as　if
responding　to　these　distant　calls；　the　large　bell　of　the　High　Church
of　Innspruck　aroused　with　its　ringing　voice　the　weary　sleepers　to
renewed　efforts。

They　raised　themselves　from　the　ground；　they　listened；　still　drowsy；
to　these　strange　notes　in　the　air。　Suddenly　two　horsemen　galloped
through　the　streets；　and　their　clarion　voices　struck　the　ears　of　the
Tyrolese。

〃Up；　sleepers！〃　cried　Joseph　Speckbacher；　〃do　you　not　hear　the
tossing？　Rise；　rise；　take　your　rifles！　the　French　and　Bavarians　are
at　the　gates　of　the　city；　and　we　must　meet　them　again。〃

〃Rise；　Tyrolese！〃　shouted　Major　Teimer；　〃the　French　and　Bavarians
are　coming。　We　must　prevent　them　from　penetrating　into　Innspruck。　We
must　barricade　the　gates；　and　erect　barricades　in　the　streets。〃

The　Tyrolese　jumped　up；　fresh；　lively；　and　ready　for　the　fray。　Their
sleep　had　strengthened　them；　and　yesterday's　victory　had　steeled
their　courage。　The　enemy　was　there；　and　they　were　ready　to　defeat
him　the　second　time。

The　bells　of　all　the　churches　of　Innspruck　were　now　rung；　and　those
of　the　neighboring　village　steeples　responded　to　them。　They　called
upon　the　able…bodied　men　to　take　up　arms　against　the　enemy；　whose
advanced　guard　could　be　seen　already　on　the　crests　yonder。　Yes；
there　was　no　mistake　about　it：　those　men　were　the　French　and
Bavarians；　who　were　descending　the　slope　and　approaching　in　strong
columns。

A　Tyrolese　rushed　into　the　city。　〃The　French　are　coming！〃　he
exclaimed；　panting　and　breathless。　〃I　have　hurried　across　the
mountains　to　bring　you　the　news。　It　is　General　Bisson　with　several
thousand　French　troops；　and　Lieutenant…Colonel　Wreden　with　a　few
hundred　Bavarians。　We　had　a　hard　fight　with　them　yesterday　at　the
bridge　of　Laditch　and　in　the　Muhlbacher　Klause；　but　they　were　too
strong；　and　were　joined　yesterday　by　another　French　column；
therefore；　we　were　unable　to　capture　them；　and　had　to　let　them　march
on。　We　killed　hundreds　of　their　soldiers；　but　several　thousands　of
them　escaped；　and　are　coming　now　to　Innspruck。〃

〃They　will　not　come　to　Innspruck；　for　we　are　much　stronger　than　they
are；　and　we　will　not　let　them　enter　the　city；〃　exclaimed
Speckbacher；　courageously。

〃No；　we　will　not；　except　in　the　same　manner　in　which　you　brought　the
cavalry　into　the　city　yesterday；　that　is；　to　imprison　them　in　the
barracks；〃　said　Major　Teimer。

〃Yes；　yes；　we　will　do　so；〃　shouted　the　Tyrolese；　〃we　will　let　the
French　come　to　Innspruck；　but　only　as　our　prisoners。〃

〃Well；　let　us　be　up　and　doing　now；　my　friends；〃　exclaimed
Speckbacher。　〃We　must　fortify　the　city　against　the　enemy。　Having
gone　thus　far　yesterday；　we　cannot　retrace　our　steps　to…day。　But　we
do　not　want　to　retrace　them；　do　we〃

〃No；　we　do　not！〃　cried　the　Tyrolese。

〃We　have　raised　the　Austrian　eagle　again；〃　said　Major　Teimer；　〃and
the　portraits　of　the　emperor　and　our　dear　Archduke　John　are　looking
down　upon　us　from　the　triumphal　arch。　They　shall　see　that　we　are
good　soldiers　and　loyal　sons　of　our　country。　Forward；　men；　let　us　be
up　and　doing！　Barricade　the　city；　the　streets；　and　the　houses；　make
bullets；　and　put　your　arms　ready。　The　French　are　coming　Hurrah！　Long
live　the　emperor　Francis　and　the　Archduke　John！〃

Deafening　cheers　responded　to　him；　and　then　the　Tyrolese　rushed
through　the　streets　to　barricade　the　city　in　accordance　with
Teimer's　orders。

The　gates　were　immediately　barricaded　with　casks；　wagons；　carts；　and
every　thing　that　could　be　found　for　that　purpose；　and　the　approaches
to　the　city　were　filled　with　armed　men；　ready　to　give　the　enemy　a
warm　reception。　The　doors　of　the　houses　were　locked　and　bolted；　and
frantic　women　within　them　boiled　oil　and　water　which　they　intended
to　pour　on　the　heads　of　the　soldiers　in　case　they　should　succeed　in
forcing　their　way　into　the　city；　bullets　were　made　and　stones　were
carried　to　the　roofs；　whence　they　were　to　be　hurled　on　the　enemy。
Meanwhile　the　tocsin　resounded　incessantly；　as　if　to　invite　the
Tyrolese　to　redoubled　efforts　and　increased　vigilance。

The　tocsin；　however；　had　aroused　not　only　the　Tyrolese；　but　also　the
Bavarians　who　were　locked　up　in　the　barracks；　the　prisoners
understood　full　well　what　the　bells　were　proclaiming。　To　the
Tyrolese　they　said：　〃The　enemy；　your　enemy；　is　approaching。　He　will
attack　you。　Be　on　your　guard！〃　To　the　prisoners　they　proclaimed：
〃Your　friends　are　approaching。　They　will　deliver　you。　Be　ready　for
them！〃　And　now　the　Bavarians　began　to　become　excited；　their　eyes
flashed　again；　the　clouds　disappeared　from　their　humiliated　brows；
and　with　loud；　scornful　cheers　and　fists　clinched　menacingly；　they
stepped　before　their　Tyrolese　guards　and　cried：　〃Our　friends　are
coming。　They　will　deliver　us　and　punish　you；　and　we　shall　wreak
bloody　vengeance　on　you　for　the　disgrace　you　have　heaped　upon　us。
Hurrah；　our　friends　are　coming！　We　shall　soon　be　free　again！〃

〃No；　you　will　not；〃　shouted　a　loud；　thundering　voice；　and　in　the
middle　of　the　large　dormitory　occupied　by　the　Bavarians　appeared
suddenly　the　tall；　herculean　form　of　Joseph　Speckbacher。　On　passing
the　barracks；　he　happened　to　hear　the　cheers　of　the　prisoners　and
had　entered　in　order　to　learn　what　was　the　matter。　〃No；〃　he　said
once　more；　〃you　will　not；　yon　must　not　suppose　that　we　shall　be　so
stupid　as　to　allow　you　to　escape。　Do　not　rejoice　therefore　at　the
approach　of　the　French　and　your　countrymen　for　I　tell　you；　and　I
swear　by　the　Holy　Mother　of　God；　if　the　French　should　enter　the　city
victoriously；　our　last　step　before　evacuating　it　would　be　to　kill
every　one　of　you。　Do　you　hear；　Tyrolese　guards？　If　the　prisoners　do
not　keep　quiet；　if　they　make　any　noise；　or　even　threaten　you；　shoot
down　the　ringleaders！　But　if　the　enemy　penetrates　into　the　city；
then　shoot　them　all；　and　do　not　spare　a　single　one　of　them。
＇Footnote：　Hormayr's　〃History　of　Andreas　Hofer；〃　vol。　i。；　p。　258。　＇
We　will　not　incur　the　disgrace　of　re…enforcing　the　enemy　by　several
thousand　men。　The　guards　at　all　doors　here　must　be　quadrupled；　and
at　the　first　symptom　of　mischief　among　the　prisoners；　you　will　fire
at　them。　Now　you　know；　Bavarians；　what　is　going　to　be　done。　Beware；
therefore！〃

And　Joseph　Speckbacher　left　the　hall　with　a　proud　nod　of　the　head。
The　listening　Bavarians　heard　him　repeating　his　rigorous
instructions　to　the　sentinels　outside；　they　heard　also　the
acclamations　with　which　the　Tyrolese　responded　to　him。　The
prisoners；　therefore；　became　silent；　they　forced　back　their　hopes
and　wishes　into　the　depths　of　their　hearts；　and　only　prayed　inwardly
for　their　approaching　friends；　and　cursed　in　the　same　manner　their
enemies；　the　ragged　mob　of　the　peasants。

The　tocsin　was　still　ringing；　and　its　sinister　notes　penetrated
likewise　into　the　large　guard…house；　and　spoke　to　the　pr