Theywenttobedatanearlyhour。AndreasHoferhadsentthetwoservantsdowntoBrandach，wheretheyweretogetsomearticlesnecessaryforthetriponthemorrow。Hoferandhiswifesleptintheroombelow。CajetanDoeningerandlittleJohnHoferlayinthesmallhay—loft，towhichaladderledupfromtheroom。
ButDoeningerdidnotsleep。HethoughtallthewhileofRaffel，whohadcomeuptherethreedaysagoandseenAndreas;hethoughtofDonay，thepriest，towhomRaffelhadbetrayedHofer\'splaceofconcealment。HeknewthatDonay，who，uptothedaysofadversity，hadalwaysprofessedtobeHofer\'sfriendandanextremepartisanoftheinsurrection，hadsuddenly，sincetheenemyhadreoccupiedtheTyrol，changedhiscolors，becomeapreacherofpeaceandsubmission，andanardentadherentoftheFrench，withwhoseofficersheheldagreatdealofintercourse。HeknewDonay\'savariciousandtreacherouscharacter，and，therefore，hetrembledforAndreasHofer\'ssafety。Helayuneasyandfullofanxietyonhiscouch，listeningallthewhileforsuspicioussounds。Butnothingwasheardbutthestormhowlingandwhistlingaboutthehut，andtheregularrespirationsofthetwosleepersintheroombelow。
Hourpassedafterhour;allremainedsilent，andDoeningerfeltsomewhatrelieved，fordaywouldsoondawn，whenthehourofflightwouldbeathand。Doeningerdroppedhisheadslowlyonthehaytosleepanhourandinvigoratehimselfforto—morrow\'strip。However，nosoonerhadhedonesothanhegaveastart，lifteduphisheadagain，andlistened。Hehadheardasoundoutside。Thesound，asitwere，ofmanyapproachingfootstepswhichcreakedonthefrozensnow。
Doeningercreptcautiouslytothesmallholeintheroofandlookedout。Themoonshedherpalelightonthewhitesnowfieldaroundthehut，andDoeningercouldseeandrecognizeeverything。Hesawadetachmentofsoldierscomingupyonder。Hesawthemhaltatashortdistancefromthehut。Hethensawtwoformsapproachingthehut。
Nowtheystoodstillinfrontofit。Themoonshonebrightlyintothefaceofoneofthem;Doeningerrecognizedhimatonce;itwasRaffel，thebetrayer。TheotherwasaFrenchofficer。Thelatterstoodstillatadistanceofsomestepsfromthehut，butRaffelwentcloseuptothedoor，appliedhiseartoitandlistened。
\"Theyarehere，\"hethensaidtotheofficerinalowvoice。Theofficerimmediatelylifteduphisarmandshouted\"Forward！\"Thesoldiersadvancedandsurroundedthehut。Allwaslost！
Doeningerawakenedthesleepingboy。\"John，\"hesaidinalowvoice，\"letusgodowntofather。TheFrenchhavecome。\"
Theboyutteredaloudcry。\"TheFrenchhavecome！\"heexclaimed，despairingly;\"theywanttoarrestmyfather！\"
\"Come，\"saidDoeninger，imperatively;andhetooktheboyinhisarms，andhastenedwithhimdowntheladderintotheroombelow。
\"Awake，\"hesaid，bendingoverAndreasHofer;\"theenemyhascome。\"
AndreasstartedupandstaredincredulouslyatDoeninger;buthiswiferose，utteringlowlamentations，anddressedherselfhurriedly。
\"Letusflee，\"shemurmured;\"quick，quick，letusescapebythebackdoor。\"
\"Thehutissurrounded，\"saidDoeninger，assistingHoferindressing。\"Wecannolongerflee。\"
\"Isthattrue？\"askedAndreas，calmly。
\"Itis，commander—in—chief。\"
\"Well，then，asitpleasesGod，\"saidHofer，crossinghimself;and，traversingtheroomquickly，heopenedthefrontdoor。
Thesoldiersstoodfourfilesdeep，shoulderingtheirmuskets。
Andreasadvancedfearlesslycloseuptotheenemy。
\"Isthereoneofyou，gentlemen，whospeaksGerman？\"heasked，withentirecalmness。
\"Ido，\"saidtheofficer，steppingrapidlyforward。
Andreasgreetedhimwithaproudnodofthehead。\"Well，then，\"hesaid，\"IamAndreasHofer，latecommander—in—chiefoftheTyrolese。
Iaskforquarterandgoodtreatment。\"
\"Icannotpromiseanythingtoarebel，\"repliedtheofficer，contemptuously。
\"Butyouhavecometoseizeme，andnonebutme，\"continuedAndreas，inagentlevoice。\"Well，then，hereIam;dowithmeasyouplease。
ButIaskyoutohavemercyuponmywifeandmyson，andthisyoungman，fortheyareentirelyinnocent。\"[Footnote:AndreasHofer\'sownwords。See\"GalleryofHeroes。\"]
Theofficermadenoreply。Hesignedtohissoldiers，andorderedthemtobindAndreasHoferandtheothersinsuchamannerastorenderitutterlyimpossibleforthemtoescape。
Thesoldiersrushedfuriouslyuponthedefenselesscaptives，tiedtheirhandsontheirbacks，andwoundtheropesroundtheirnecks，sothattheycoulddragthemforwardlikeoxen。AndafterbindingAndreasHofer，sothattheywerenolongerafraidofhisstrongarms，theysurroundedhimwithscornfullaughter，torehandfulsofhairfromhisbeard，andsaidtheywouldkeepthem\"assouvenirsofGeneralBarbone。\"Bloodstreamedfromhislaceratedface，butthecoldfrozeitandtransformedthegorybeardintoabloodredicicle，whichprickedthenumerouswoundsinhischineverymoment，andinflictedintensepain。
Andreasdidnotcomplain;helookedonlyathiswife，hisson，andhisfriend，who，boundlikehimself，scantilydressedandbarefootedlikehimself，weredraggeddownthemountain，whichwascoveredwithsnowandice，intotheplainbelow。Hishands，intowhichtheropewascuttingallthewhile，wereverysore;hisbarefeetswelledfromwalkingonthesnowandweretornbytheicicles。StillAndreasdidnotcomplain;butonhearingthelowwailsofhisson，onseeingthateveryfootstepofhiswife，whowasdraggedalongbeforehim，leftabloodyspotinthesnow，heburstintoloudsobs，andtwotearsrolledslowlydownhischeeksintohisbeard，wheretheyfrozeintheblood。
ThedreadfulmarchwascontinuedtoMeran。Frenchgenerals，staff—
officers，andsoldiersawaitedthetotteringprisonersatthegate。
Thesoldiersgreetedthecaptured\"banditchiefBarbone\"withloudcheersandscornfullaughter;andAndreasHoferandtheothersenteredthecity，precededbyabandwhichplayedaringingmarch。
TheFrenchwereoverjoyed，butthecitizensstoodinfrontoftheirhouses，and，regardlessofthepresenceoftheircruelenemies，greetedAndreasHoferwithtearsandloudlamentations。
ThejourneywascontinuedonthefollowingdaytoBotzen;onlytheprisoners，whosebleedingandlaceratedfeetrefusedtocarrythemanylonger，hadbeenlaidonacommonfarm—wagon，andsomeclothinghadbeenthrownoverthem。
AtBotzenAndreasHoferreceivedcheeringnews。AnobleGermanlady，thewifeofBarondeGiovanelli，haddaredtoimploretheFrenchGeneralBaraguayd\'HillierstohavemercyonHofer\'sunfortunateandinnocentfamily;tosavethem，shehadkneltdownbeforethegeneralandbesoughthimwithheart—rendinglamentations。Baraguayd\'Hilliershadbeenunabletowithstandhersupplications，andconsentedtoreleasethoseforwhomshepleaded。
\"Theviceroy\'sorders，\"hesaid，\"areonlytotheeffectthattheSandwirthHoferbeconveyedtoMantua。Iyieldtoyourprayers，therefore，madame;hiscompanionsshallbereleased，andshallnotbemolestedagain。Hiswifemayreturnwithhersontoherhome，andcarryontheinnasheretofore;butshemustbecautiousandnotexposeherselftonewdangersbyimprudentwords。Theyoungmanmaygowhereverhepleases。\"
ThiswasthecheeringintelligencewhichAndreasHoferreceivedonthethirddayofhiscaptivityinthejailwhereheandhisdearoneslayonwetstraw。
\"See，Cajetan，\"heexclaimed，joyfully，\"itturnsoutjustasI
said。Myseizurereleasesmywifeandmychild，andrelievesthemfromalldangers。\"
\"ButIwillnotleaveyou，\"criedAnnaGertrude，embracinghimtenderly;\"Iwillstayanddiewithyou。\"
\"Andisoursonyondertodietoo？\"askedAndreas，pointingtohisboy。\"Andourthreelittlegirls，aretheytobecomeentirelyhelpless，andhaveneitherfathernormothertoprotectthem？AnnaGertrude，youmustbefatherandmothertothem;youmustnotleavethemandourboy。Youmustpreservetheirsmallinheritancetothem，bringthemupinthefearoftheLord，andteachthem，also，tolovetheirpoorfatherandhonorhismemory。\"
\"Husband，dearhusband，Icannotleaveyou，Icannot！\"sobbedthepoorwoman。\"Donotthrustmefromyourheart，donotleavemebehind，allaloneandwithoutconsolation。\"
Andreasliftedhisarmandpointeduptoheaven。\"ThereisourConsoler，\"hesaid;\"Hewillhelpyou。ConfideinHim，AnnaGertrude。Gotoyourchildren，befatherandmothertothem，andlovetheminmyandyourname。\"
Atthismomentthedooroftheprisonopened，andthejailer，followedbysoldiers，camein。
\"AndreasHofer，\"saidthejailer，imperatively，\"come！ThewagonwhichistoconveyyoutoMantuaisinreadiness。Asforyouothers，begone;youhavenolongeranybusinesshere。Come，AndreasHofer，come！\"
\"Letmefirstblessmywifeandmyson，myfriend，\"saidHofer，and，layinghishandsontheheadsofhiswifeandchild，heblessedtheminaloudvoice，andcommendedthemtotheprotectionoftheLord。
Doeningerkneltbehindhim，andAndreasHoferlaidhishandonhisheadalso，blessedhim，andthankedhimforhisloveandfidelity。
\"Comenow，come！\"criedthesoldiers;andtheyseizedhimwithrudeviolenceanddraggedhimforward。
AnnaGertrudeburstintoloudlamentationsinhergriefanddespair，andclungtoHoferintheanguishofherlove。
\"Donotlamentanylonger，\"saidAndreas，mildly;\"bringyourgriefasanofferingtothecrucifiedRedeemer，andshownowthatyouareHofer\'swife。Farewell，love！Kissourchildren！Forwardnow！\"
Andheledthewaywitharapidstep。AnnaGertrude，paleasacorpse，tremblingandtottering，seizedherson\'shandandrushedafterherhusband。CajetanDoeningerfollowedthemresolutelyandwithadefiantexpressionofcountenance。
Atthestreet—doorstoodthefarm—wagon，coveredwithstraw，whichwastoconveyAndreasHofertoMantua。Tensoldierswithloadedmusketsstooduponit，andacrowdofsoldierssurroundedit。
AndreasHoferwalkedcalmlyandwithheaderectthroughtheirrankstothewagon。Hiswifehadkneltdown;sheweptandsobbedbitterly，andembracedconvulsivelyherson，whogazedindismayathisfather。
AndreasHoferhadnowascendedthewagon。Thesoldierssteppedback，andthedriverwhippedupthehorses。
Suddenly，CajetanDoeningerelbowedhiswaytothewagon，andsignedtothedrivertostop。
\"IshallaccompanyHofer，\"hesaid，graspingtheside—railingofthewagoninordertomountit。
\"No，no，\"criedthejailer，hasteningtohim。\"Youaremistaken，youarefree。\"
Doeninger，stillclingingtotherailingofthewagon，turnedtohim。\"Whatsaidthegeneral\'sorder？\"heasked。
\"Itsaid，\'theyoungmanisfree，andcangowhereverhepleases。\'\"
\"Well，then，\"saidDoeninger，mountingthewagon，quickly，\"theyoungmanwillaccompanyAndreasHofertoMantua。Forward，driver，forward！\"
Thedriverwhippedupthehorses，andthewagonstartedforMantua。
[Footnote:Donay，thepriestwhobetrayedAndreasHofer，accordingtothegeneralbeliefoftheTyrolese，wassoonafterwardsappointedimperialchaplainatthechapelofLoretto，byaspecialdecreeoftheEmperorNapoleon，andreceived，besides，largedonationsinlandsandmoney。——SeeHormayr\'s\"AndreasHofer，\"vol。ii。，p。507。——
ThepeasantFrancisJosephRaffel，whohadbetrayedHofer\'splaceofconcealmenttoDonay，wasafterwardcalledJudasIscariotthroughouttheTyrol。Everyoneturnedhisbackuponhimwiththeutmosthorror，andthemenofthePasseyrvalleytoldhimtheywouldshoothimifhedidnothanghimselfwithinaweek。RaffelfledingreatdismaytoBavaria，wherethegovernmentgavehimasmallofficeintherevenuedepartment——See\"GalleryofHeroes;AndreasHofer，\"p。
191。]
CHAPTERXLII。
THEWARNING。
TheFrenchhuntedthroughouttheTyrolfortheunfortunatemenwhohadhithertobeentheheroesofthefatherland，butwho，sincetheircausehadsuccumbed，werecalledrebelsandtraitors。Thesoldierswhowereinsearchofthisnoblegame，forwhichlargerewardswereofferedtothem，hadalreadysucceededinarrestingoneoftheheroesoftheTyrol:PeterMayerhadfallenintotheirhands，and，havingbeentriedbyamilitarycommissionatBotzen，wasshot。Buttheyhadbeenunableasyettodiscoverthehiding—placesoftheotherinsurgentleaders，despitethelargepriceswhichthegovernmenthadsetupontheirheads。JosephSpeckbacher，forwhomthesoldierswerehuntingmosteagerly，haddisappeared。TheFrenchandBavariansransackedeveryhousewheretheysuspectedhemightbeconcealed;theyinflictedtheheaviestfinesandmostcrueltorturesonthefriendsofthefugitivechief，becausetheywouldnotbetraytheplacewheretheirbelovedcommanderwasconcealed;butallwasinvain。JosephSpeckbacherhaddisappeared，andsohadFatherHaspingerandAnthonyWallner。[Footnote:Speckbacherhadfledtothehighermountains，where，ononeofthesummitsoftheEisgletscher，inacaverndiscoveredbyhiminformertimeswhenpursuingthechamois，helayforseveralweeksinthedepthofwinter，supportedbysaltprovisions，eatenraw，lestthesmokeofafireshouldbetrayhisplaceofconcealmenttohispursuers。
Happeningoneday，inthebeginningofMarch，towalktotheentranceforafewminutestoenjoytheascendingsun，anavalanche，descendingfromthesummitofthemountainabove，swepthimalongwithit，downtothedistanceofhalfamileontheslopebeneath，anddislocatedhiship—boneinthefall。Unablenowtostand，surroundedonlybyiceandsnow，trackedoneverysidebyruthlesspursuers，hissituationwas，toallappearance，desperate;buteventhentheunconquerableenergyofhismindandtheincorruptiblefidelityofhisfriendssavedhimfromdestruction。Summoningupallhiscourage，hecontrivedtodraghimselfalongthesnowforseveralleagues，duringthenight，tothevillageofVolderberg，where，toavoiddiscovery，hecreptintothestable。Hisfaithfulfriendgavehimakindreception，andcarriedhimonhisbacktoRinn，wherehiswifeandchildrenwere，andwhereZoppel，hisdevoteddomestic，concealedhiminaholeinthecowhouse，beneathwherethecattlestood，thoughbeyondthereachoftheirfeet，wherehewascoveredupwithcow—dungandfodder，andremainedfortwomonths，tillhislegwassetandhewasabletowalk。ThetownwasfullofBavariantroops;butthisextraordinaryplaceofconcealmentwasneverdiscovered，evenwhentheBavariandragoons，aswasfrequentlythecase，wereinthestablelookingaftertheirhorses。ZoppeldidnoteveninformSpeckbacher\'swifeofherHusband\'sreturn，lestheremotionsorvisitstotheplacemightbetrayhisplaceofconcealment。Atlength，inthebeginningofMay，theBavariansoldiershavingleftthehouse，Speckbacherwasliftedfromhislivinggraveandrestoredtohiswifeandchildren。Assoonashewasabletowalk，hesetout，and，journeyingchieflyinthenight，throughthewildestandmostsecludedAlps，byDuxandthesourcesoftheSalza，hepassedtheStyrianAlps，wherehecrossedthefrontierandreachedViennainsafety。Therehewassoonafterjoinedbyhisfamilyandliberallyprovidedfor。
HaspingersucceededinescapingintoSwitzerland，whencehetravelledbycross—pathsthroughFriuliandCarinthiatoVienna，wherehereceivedprotectionfromtheemperor。]
GeneralBroussierwasespeciallyexasperatedatthelastnamed，thevaliantcommanderofWindisch—Matrey，andhehadpromisedarewardofonethousandducatstohimwhowouldarrest\"thatdangerousdemagogueandbandit—chief，AnthonyAichberger—Wallner，\"anddeliverhimtotheFrenchauthorities。ButWallnerandhistwosons，who，althoughhardlyabovetheageofboyhood，hadseemedtotheFrenchauthoritiessodangerousthattheyhadsetpricesupontheirheads，werenottobefoundanywhere。Schroepfel，Wallner\'sfaithfulservant，hadtakentheboysintothemountains，wherehestayedwiththem;afternightfallhewentdowntoMatreytofetchprovisionsforthelonelyfugitives。
AnthonyWallner\'sfinehousewassilentanddesertednow。OnlyhiswifeandhisdaughterElizalivedinit，andtheypassedtheirdaysindrearylonelinessandincessantfearandanguish。ElizaWallnerwasalone，allaloneandjoyless。ShehadnotseenherbelovedElzasincethedaywhenshewasmarried。SheherselfhadstartedthesamenightwithHaspingerforherfather\'sheadquarters。ElzahadremainedwithheryounghusbandinInnspruck，whereherfatherdiedonthefollowingday;andaftertheoldBaronhadbeenburied，ElzahadaccompaniedherhusbandtoMunich。Fromthenceshewrotefromtimetotimelettersoverflowingwithferventtendernesstoherbelovedfriend，andtheselettersweretheonlysunbeamswhichilluminatedEliza\'scheerlesslife;theseletterstoldherofherfriend\'shappiness，ofherattachmenttoheryounghusband，whotreatedherwiththeutmostkindnessandtenderness。
Elizahadreceivedthisafternoonanotherletterfromherfriend;
withamelancholysmileshereadElza\'sdescriptionofherdomestichappiness，andhereyeshadunconsciouslyfilledwithtearswhichrolledslowlydownherpalecheeks。Shedriedthemquickly，buthermother，whosatoppositehernearthelampandseemedtobebusilysewing，hadalreadyseenthem。
\"Whydoyouweep，Lizzie？\"sheasked。\"HaveyougotbadnewsfromElza？\"
Elizashookherheadwithamournfulsmile。\"No，dearmother，\"shesaid;\"thankGod，myElzaishappyandwell，andthatismyonlyjoy。\"
\"Andyetyouweep，Eliza？\"
\"DidIweep，then？\"sheasked。\"ItwasprobablyatearofjoyatmyElza\'shappiness。\"
\"No，Lizzie，itwasnotearofjoy，\"criedhermother，mournfully。
\"Iseeyouoftenintears，whenyouthinkthatIdonotnoticeit。
Youaregrieving，Lizzie，donotdenyit;youaregrieving。YousacrificedyourloveandhappinesstoElza，andshedoesnotevenknowit;shedoesnotthankyou，andyouwillpineaway。Iseeverywellhowsadyouare;andyoubecomepalerandmoreemaciatedfromdaytoday。Yes，yes，youwilldieofgrief，foryoustillloveUlrichvonHohenberg。\"
\"No，\"criedEliza，vehemently，blushingdeeply，\"Idonotlovehim。
Ihaveburiedmyloveinmyheart，anditreposesthereasinashrine。ItistrueIthinkofitveryoften，Ipraytoit，butI
havenounholythoughtsandfeelnosinfuldesires。IamgladthatmyElzaissohappy;yes，IamgladofitandthankGodforit。ButhowcanIbemerryandlaugh，mother，solongasmydear，dearfatherhasnotreturnedtous？Hemusthidelikeacriminal;theyarechasinghimlikeawildbeast;heisalwaysindanger，andwemustconstantlytrembleforhissafety。AndIcannotdoanythingforhim，Icannotsharehisdangers，IcannotbewithhiminthedreadfulsolitudeontheAlpabove。Imustlookoninidleness，andcannotbeusefultoanyone，neithertomyfather，nortomybrothers，nortoyou，dearmother。Icannothelpmyfatherandbrothers，andcannotcomfortyou，mother;forImyselfamindespair，andwould——whatwasthat，mother？Didnotsomeoneknockatthewindow—shutter？\"
\"Hush，hush！\"whisperedhermother;\"letuslisten。\"
Theylistenedwithbatedbreath。Elizahadnotbeenmistaken;someoneknockedasecondtimeatthewindow—shutter，andthevoiceofamanwhispered，\"Mrs。Wallner，areyouintheroom？Openthedoortome！\"
\"Itmustbeagoodfriendofours，forthedogsdonotbark，\"saidEliza;\"wewilllethimcomein。\"
Shetookthelampandwentoutcourageouslytodrawtheboltfromthestreet—doorandopenit。
Yes，shehadnotbeenmistaken，itwasreallyagoodfriendoftheirs;themanwhoenteredthehousewasoneofthefewfriendswhohadnotdeniedAnthonyWallner，andwhohadnotturnedtheirbacksuponhisfamilysinceitwasoutlawedandindistress。
\"Youbringusbadnews，PeterSiebermeier？\"askedEliza，anxiously，gazingintothemountaineer\'spaleanddismayedface。
\"UnfortunatelyIdo，\"sighedSiebermeier，steppinghastilyintothesitting—roomandshakinghandswithEliza\'smother。\"Mrs。Wallner，\"
hesaid，inbreathlesshurry，\"yourhusbandisinthegreatestdanger，andonlyspeedyflightcansavehim。\"
Mrs。Wallnerutteredapiercingcry，sankbackintoherchair，wrungherhands，andweptaloud。Elizadidnotweep;shewascalmandcourageous。\"Tellme，Siebermeier，whatcanwedoforfather？Whatdangerthreatenshim？\"
\"Abadman。Ibelieve，theclerkofthecourt，hasinformedtheFrenchthatAnthonyWallnerisstillononeoftheheightsinthisneighborhood。GeneralBroussierintendstohavehimarrested。A
wholebattalionofsoldierswillmarchto—morrowmorningtothemountainofOber—Peischlagandoccupyit。\"
\"GreatGod！myhusbandislost，then！\"criedEliza\'smother，despairing;\"nothingcansavehimnow。\"
\"Hush，mother，hush！\"saidEliza，almostimperatively;\"wemustnotweepnow，wemustthinkonlyofsavinghim。Tellme，friendSiebermeier，istherenowayofsavinghim？\"
\"Thereisone，\"saidSiebermeier，\"buthowshallwegetuptohim？A
friendofmine，whoisacquaintedwiththemembersofthecourt，informedmequitestealthilythat，ifAichbergercouldbesavedyet，itshouldbedonethisverynight。NowlistentotheplanIhavedevised。Iintendedtosetoutto—morrowmorningtopeddlecarpetsandblankets，formoneyisveryscarceinthesehardtimes。I
procured，therefore，apassportformyselfandmyboy，whoistocarrymybundle。Hereisthepassport——andlook！thedescriptioncorrespondsnearlytoWallner\'sappearance。Heisofmystatureandage，hashairandwhiskerslikemine，andmightbepassedoffformyself。Iamquitewillingtolethimhavemypassport，andconcealmyselfmeanwhileathomeandfeignsickness。Thepassportwouldenablehimtoescapesafely;ofcoursehewouldhavetojourneythroughtheAlps，foreveryoneknowshimintheplain。However，thepassportcannotdohimanygood，forthereisnoonetotakeituptohim。Iwoulddoso，butthewoundwhichIreceivedinourlastskirmishwiththeBavarians，inmysidehere，preventsmefromascendingthemountain—paths;and，eventhoughIcouldgouptohim，itwouldbeuseless，forwetwocouldnottraveltogether，thepassportbeingissuedtotwopersons，Siebermeier，thecarpet—
dealer，andtheboycarryinghisbundle。Theboyisnotdescribedinthepassport;therefore，Ithought，ifoneofyoursonswereintheneighborhood，hemightgouptohisfather，warnhimofhisdanger，andaccompanyhimonhistripthroughthemountains。\"
\"Butneitheroftheboysishere，\"saidMrs。Wallner，despairingly;
\"SchroepfeltookthemtotheAlpinebutnearUpperLindeau，andiswiththem。Wetwoareallalone，andthereis，therefore，nowayofsavingmydearhusband。\"
\"Yes，mother，thereis，\"criedEliza，flushedwithexcitement。\"I
willgouptofather。Iwillwarnhimofhisdanger，carryhimthepassport，andfleewithhim。\"
\"You！\"criedhermother，indismay。\"Itisimpossible！Youcannotascendtheroad，whichisalmostimpassableevenformen。Howshouldagirl，then，beabletogetoverit，particularlyinthenight，andinsoheavyasnow—storm？\"
\"Youwillbeunabletoreachyourfather，Lizzie，\"saidSiebermeier;
\"theroadisprecipitousandverylong;youwillsinkintothesnow;
yourshoeswillstickinit，andthestormwillcatchyourdress。\"
\"NoroadistooprecipitousformeifIcansavemyfather，\"
exclaimedEliza，enthusiastically。\"Imustreachhim，andGodwillenablemetodoso。Waithereamoment，Iwillbebackimmediately。
Iwillpreparemyselfforthetrip，andthengivemethepassport。\"
\"Shewillloseherlifeintheattempt，\"saidMrs。Wallner，mournfully，aftershehadhastenedoutoftheroom。\"Alas！alas！I
shalllosemyhusband，mysons，andmydaughtertoo！Andallhasbeeninvain，fortheTyrolisruined，andwehavetosufferthesedreadfulmisfortuneswithouthavingaccomplishedanything！\"
\"Andtheenemyactswithmercilesscrueltyinthecountry，\"saidSiebermeier，furiously;\"hesetswholevillagesonfireifhethinksthatoneofthefugitivesisconcealedhere;heimposesonthepeopleheavywar—taxes，whichweareunabletopay;andifwesaywehavenomoney，hetakesourcattleandotherpropertyfromus。Wailsandlamentationsaretobeheardthroughoutthevalley;thatisallwehavegainedbyourbloodystruggle！\"
Atthismomentthedooropened，andElizacamein，nothoweverinherowndress，butinthecostumeofaTyrolesepeasant—lad。
\"Heavens！shehasputonherbrotherWilliam\'sSundayclothes，\"
criedhermother，withamournfulsmile;\"andtheysitaswellonherasiftheyhadbeenmadeforher。\"
\"Now，Siebermeier，\"saidEliza，holdingoutherhandtohim，\"givemethepassport。Themoonisrisingnow，andImustgo，\"
\"Butlisten，mydaughter，howthewindhowls！\"criedhermother，indeepanguish。\"Itbeatsagainstthewindowsasiftowarnusnottogoout。Oh，Lizzie，mylastjoy，donotleaveme！Ihavenooneleftbutyou;staywithme，myLizzie，donotleaveyourpoormother！Youwilldieintheattempt，Lizzie！Stayhere;havemercyuponme，andstayhere！\"
\"Imustgotofather，\"repliedEliza。disengagingherselfgentlyfromhermother\'sarms。\"Givemethepassport，friendSiebermeier。\"
\"Youareabravegirl，\"saidSiebermeier，profoundlymoved;\"thegoodGodandtheHolyVirginwillprotectyou。There，takethepassport;youareworthytocarryittoyourfather。\"
\"AndIshallcarryittohimordieontheroad，\"criedEliza，enthusiastically，wavingthepaper。\"Now，dearmother，donotweep，butgivemeyourblessing！\"
Shekneltdownbeforehermother，whohadlaidherhandonherhead。
\"Lord，myGod，\"sheexclaimed，solemnly，\"protecthergraciouslyinherpiousefforttosaveherfather。Takeyourmother\'sblessing，myLizzie，andthinkthatherheartandloveaccompanyyou。\"
Shebentoverher，andimprintedalongkissonherdaughter\'sforehead。
\"Imustgonow，itishightime，\"saidEliza，makingaviolentefforttorestrainhertears。\"Farewell，friendSiebermeier;Godandthesaintswillrewardyoufortheserviceyouhaverenderedus。\"
\"MybestrewardwillbetolearnthatWallnerissafe，\"saidSiebermeier，shakinghandswithher。
\"Now，alastkiss，dearestmother，\"saidEliza。Sheencircledhermothersneckwithbothherarms，andkissedhertenderly。\"Prayformeandloveme。\"Shewhispered;\"andifIshouldnotcomeback，ifI
shouldlosemylife，mother，writeittoElzaandtoHIM，andwritethatIdiedwithloveandfidelityinmyheart。Farewell！\"
Shedisengagedherselfquicklyandhastenedoutoftheroom，regardlessofthedespairingcriesofhermother，andnotevenlookingbacktoher。Itwashightimeforhertosetout。
Shewasinthestreetnow。Thesnowrushedfuriouslyintoherface;
thebowlingstormdashedmadlyagainsthercheeksuntiltheybecameverysore，butthemoonwasintheheavensandlightedherpath。ItwasthesamepathwhichshehadascendedwithUlrichwhensavinghim。Shewasalonenow，buthercourageandhertrustinGodwerewithher;strengthenedandrefreshedbyherloveforherfather，sheascendedthesteepmountainpath。Attimesthepiercingwindrenderedherbreathlessandseizedherwithsuchviolencethatshehadtoclingtoaprojectingrockinordernottofallfromthebarrowpathintotheabyssyawningatherfeet。Attimesavalanchesrolledclosetoherwiththunderingnoiseintothedepthandenvelopedherinacloudofsnow;butthemoonshedhersilverlightonherpath，andElizalookedupcourageously。
Forgetfulofherowndanger，sheprayedinherheartonly，\"GodgrantthatImaysavemyfather！Letmenotdiebeforereachinghim！\"
CHAPTERXLIII。
THEFLIGHT。
AnthonyWallnersatinhislonelyAlpinehutontheheightnearthevillageofOber—Peischlag，andlistenedtothestorm，whichhowledsoloudlyto—nightthatthebutshookandhewasunabletosleeponhiscouchofstraw。Hehadlightedhislamp，andsatmusinglyatthepinetable，leaninghisheadonhishand，andbroodingmournfullyoverhisdrearyfuture。Howlongwouldhehavetoremainhereinhisopengrave？Howlonewouldhebechasedyet，likeawildbeast，frommountaintomountain？Howlongwouldhebeobligedyettoleadanidleandunprofitablelifeinthisfrozensolitude，exposedtothefuryoftheelements，andinconstantdreadoflosingthismiserablelife？Thesewerethequestionsthatheaskedhimself;intenserageseizedhisheart，tearsofbittergrieffilledhiseyes——nothowever，athisownmisfortunes，butatthemiseriesofhisfatherland。
\"WhatamIsufferingfor？WhatdidIfightandriskmylifefor？
Whatdidweallshedourbloodfor？Whatdidourbrethrendieforonthefieldofbattle？Thefatherlandwasnotsaved，theFrenchdefeatedus，andouremperorabandonedus。Wewerebravedefendersofourcountry，andnowtheycalluscriminals;weintendedtosavethefatherland，andnowtheycallusrebelsandtraitors！Theemperorgivesusawaylikeapieceofmerchandise，regardlessofhissacredpledges，andtheFrencharechasingusasthoughwewerethievesandmurderers！AndThousufferestit，Godinheaven？Thou——
Hark！didnotthatsoundlikeashot？Isitthewindthatisknockingsoloudlyatmydoor？\"
Hesprangtohisfeet，tookuphisrifle，cockedit，andaimedatthedoor。
Therewasanotherknockingatthedoor;no，itwasassuredlynotthestormthatwasrappingandhammeringatitsoregularly。No，no，itwastheenemy！Hehadspiedhimout，hehaddiscoveredhistrack，hehadcometoseizehim！
\"Iwillsellmylifedearly，\"murmuredAnthonyWallner，grimly。\"I
willshootdownthefirstmanwhoopensthedoor;thenIwillforceapassagethroughtherankswiththebutt—endofmyrifle，and——\"
\"Father，\"criedavoiceoutside，\"father，openthedoor！\"
\"GreatGod！\"murmuredWallner，\"didnotthatsoundlikemyLizziecallingme？Butthatisimpossible;itcannotbeshe;shecannothaveascendedthemountain—path;thestormwouldhavekilledher，and——\"
\"Father，dearfather，prayopenthedoor，\"shoutedthevoiceagain，andsomebodyshookthedoor。