\"Sitdown,then,myboy,andwrite。Youwillfindpenandinkinthedrawerofyondertable。Takethem,andIwilldictatetoyou。\"
Andamidsttherespectfulsilenceofthemen,walkingupanddownslowly,andstrokinghislongbeardwithhisrighthand,AndreasHofercommenceddictatinghis\"openorder,\"whichwasasfollows:
\"Earlyinthemorningofthe9thofAprilGeneralHillerwillmarchfromSalzburgtotheLowerInnvalley,andGeneralyonChastelerfromCarinthiatothePustervalley。Onthe11thor12thofApriltheformerwillarriveatInnsbruck,andthelatteratBrixen。TheArchdukeJohnordersthattheMuhlbachpassbeoccupiedbypeasantsfromthePustervalley,andtheKunterswegbymountedmen。TheyaretoallowallforcesoftheenemymarchingfromBotzentoBrixentopass,andwillcutoffallcommunicationsonlysosoonastheydiscoverthattheBavarianciviliansandsoldiersaretryingtoescapefromBrixentoBotzen。Notamanmustbeallowedtopassthen。\"
WhileAndreasHoferwasdictatinghis\"openorder\"withafirmandthoughtfulair,thepeasantsstooddumfoundedwithadmiration,staringathimwithafeelingofawe,anddelightedwithhissagacityandunderstanding。ThatHofercastfromtimetotimeasearchingglanceatHormayr\'sletterdidnotdisturbtheadmirationtheyfeltfortheirchosenleader,andtheyweresilentandstaredathimlongafterhewasthrough。
\"So,\"saidAndreaswhenthewritingwasfinished,\"nowMartinTeimerandIwillaffixournamestothisopenorder;Ennemoserwillthencopyithalfadozentimes,andsixofyouwillcarrythecopiestotheotherleaderswhoarealreadywaitingforthem,andwhowillgivethesignaltotheirfriendsinthelowervalley。You,GeorgeLanthaler,willcarrytheordertoJosephSpeckbacheratKufstein;
you,JosephGufler,willtakeittothefarmerattheSchildhof;
you,GeorgeSteinhauferle,willgotoAnthonyWallner,theAichbergeratWindisch—Matrey。Quick,quick,myfriends,wehavenotimetolose;youmustwalknightandday;youcannotrestontheroad,forwemuststriketheblowwithlightningspeed,anditmustbedoneatthesametimealloverthecountry。\"
\"AndIwilllikewisesetoutagaintospreadthenewsthroughoutthecountry,\"saidMartinTeimer。\"FortwoweekspastIhavebeeninallpartsoftheTyrol,andhaveworkedeverywhereforourcause,andknownowthatwemaycountuponallourcountrymen。Theyarewaitingforthesignal,andwemustgiveittothem。Here,takethispackage;itcontainsalargenumberofthoselittlepaperballsuponwhicharewrittenthewords\'\'Tistime!\'Eachofyoucantakeahandfulofthemandgivethemtoyourwivesandchildren,thattheymaycarrythemtotheneighborsanddistributethemeverywhere。
SpeckbacherandWallner,too,havepackagesofsuchpaperballs,andsosoonasourfaithfulmessengersbringthemour`openorder,\'theywilllikewisesendaroundtheirwivesandchildrenthroughtheneighborhood;andeverywherethecrywillbe,\'\'Tistime!\'WemustexpeltheBavarians!Iwillgonow,forImustconcentratemymeninordertopreventtheBavariansfromcrossingthebridgeofLaditch。
Farewell,then,andGodgrantthatwemayallmeetagainbeforelongasfreeandhappymenatourgoodcityofInnspruck!\"
\"Wemustgotoo,\"exclaimedtheTyrolesewhenMartinTeimerhadleftthehouseasquicklyashehadenteredit。\"Wemustgointothemountainsandinformourfriendsthatitistime。\"
\"Butgothroughthekitchen,mydearmessengers,\"saidAndreasHofer;\"thereisabagofflourforeachofyou;takeitonyourback,andonpassingduringyourmarcharivuletoramountaintorrent,throwsomeoftheflourintoit;andwhereveryoufinddrybrushwoodontheroad,pileitupandkindleit,thatthebale—firesmayproclaimtothecountry,\'\'Tistime!\"
Halfanhourafterwardthelargebar—roomwasdeserted,andprofoundsilencereignedintheinnZumSand。TheservantsandchildrenoftheSandwirthhadgonetobed;onlyhehimselfandhisfaithfulwife,AnnaGertrude,wereyetup。Bothhadretiredintothesmallsitting—roomadjoiningthebarroom。AndreasHoferwaswalkingupanddowntheresilentlyandthoughtfully,hishandsfoldedonhisback;
Gertrudesatintheleather—coveredarm—chairatthestove,andlookedatherhusband。Everythingwasstillaroundthem;onlytheslow,regulartickingoftheclockbroketheprofoundsilence,andoutsidewastobeheardthewildroaringofthePasseyr,whichhurleditsfuriousfoamingwatersnotfarfromtheinnoverpebblesandfragmentsofrocks。
Finally,afteralongpause,Andreasstoodstillinfrontofhiswife,andgazedatherwithalong,searching,andtenderlook。
Gertrude,asifliftedupbythisglance,rose,encircledhisneckquicklywithherarms,andlookedwithanexpressionofterrorandanxietyintohisface。
\"Andy,\"sheexclaimed,mournfully,\"myown,dearestAndy,Iamafraidharmwillbefallyou!\"
\"ThatiswhatIexpect,\"hesaid,sighing,\"andIamsorryforyou,mydearestwife。IwasjustspeakingwithGodandmyconscience,andaskingthemsoferventlyifitwasnotwronginmenottothinkaboveallthingsofmydearwifeandmybelovedchildren,andifI
oughtnottoliveanddieonlyforthem。ForItellyou,andIknow,whatIamgoingtodoisdangerous,andmayeasilycostmylife。I
donotblindmyeyestoit;Imaylosemylifeineitheroftwoways。Abulletmaystrikemeinbattle;or,ifmylifeshouldbesparedinthestruggle,andifweshouldbedefeated,theBavarianswouldtreatmeasatraitor;andthenabulletwouldstrikemealso,fortheywouldshootme。\"
\"Oh,JesusMaria!myAndy,\"criedGertrude,takingHofer\'sheadinherhands,asiftoprotectitfromthemurderousbullets。
\"Idonotsaythatthiswilloccur;Isayonlythatitmayoccur,\"
saidAndreas,withagentlesmile。\"IwishtotellyouonlythatI
amfullyalivetothedangersthreateningmewhenIstepto—morrowmorningoutofmystreet—door,andenteruponthedutiesofthepositionwhichtheyhaveconferredonme;forIamtocommandthepeasantsofthePasseyrvalleyanddirecttheinsurrectioninallthispartofthecountry。Therefore,IaskedGodandmyconsciencewhetherornotIdidrightintakinguponmyselfsoresponsibleatask,andplungingmyfamily,perhaps,intogriefanddistress。Butdoyouknowwhatbothofthemrepliedtome?Theysaid:\'Itisyourdutytoloveyourwifeandyourchildren;butyoumustalsoloveyouremperorandyourcountry;andwhenthelattercallyouandsay,\"Come,weneedyourarmandassistance,\"youmust,asanhonestman,obeythecall,gotothem,andleaveyourfamily;fortolovethefatherlandiseveryman\'shighesthonor,andtobeloyalanddevotedtotheemperoristhefirstdutyofeveryTyrolese。\'Godandmyconsciencespoketomethusinmybreast,andnowIaskyoutoo,dearwife——IaskyoubeforeGodandyourconscience——wouldyoulikeyourhusbandnottoobeytheemperor\'scall,butstayathome,whilehisbravebrethrenandfriendsaretakingthefieldtodefendthecountryandexpeltheBavarians?\"
\"No,indeed,Andy,Iwouldnot,\"criedGertrude,indismay;\"I
shouldneverdareagaintoliftmyeyesbeforeanybody;IshouldnotevenventuretopraytotheHolyVirginandtoGod,for,asbothgaveuptheirdivineSon,soanhonestwomanmustgiveupherhusbandforthesakeofthefatherland。\"
Andreaslaidhishandonhiswife\'sheadasiftoblessher。\"Itisasyousay,Gertrude,\"hesaid,solemnly。\"Forthesakeofthefatherlandandtheemperoryoumustgiveupyourhusbandandyourchildrentheirfather;andwearenotallowedtoshutourearsinordernottohearthatthedearTyrolandthegoodEmperorFrancishavecalledme。Ihaveheardthecall,andmustobeyit。Ishalldosojoyouslyandreadily,andyetmyheartgrieves,andthereisinmybreastheresomethingtellingmethatourhappinessisatanend,thatoursunhasset,and——Gertrude,Iamnotashamedofit——I
weep!\"
Heleanedhisheadagainsthiswife\'sshoulder,and,foldinghertohisheart,sobbedaloud。Butthislastedonlyashorttime;thenberaisedhimselfagain,anddrewhishandquicklyacrosshiseyes。
\"There,\"hesaid,\"itisallovernow。IweptasagoodChristianissurelyallowedtodowhenhetakesleaveofhiswifeandhischildren,andgivesthemupforthesakeofhiscountry。DidnotAbrahamweeptoo,andbegGodformercy,whenhewastosacrificehissontotheAlmighty?Butheneverthelesswasreadytomakethesacrifice。And,likeAbraham,Ihaveweptandlamentednow,butI
shallmakethesacrifice。HereIam,myGod,\"headded,liftinghiseyesandhandstoHeaven;\"hereIam,forThouhastcalledme。Dowithmeasthoudeemestbest。IamnothingbutThyfaithfulservant;
butifThouwishesttousemeforThygreatpurposes,doso!IofferTheemyarms,mybody,andmylife!Takethem!\"
\"Butthou,HolyVirgin,\"murmuredGertrude,\"andthouSaintGeorge,ourpatronsaint,stretchoutyourarmsoverhimgraciouslyandprotectmyAndy。Bearinmindthatheismymostprecioustreasureonearth!Preservemydearhusbandtome,andtomychildrenthefatherwhomtheylovesoardently!\"
\"Amen!\"exclaimedAndreas。\"Andnow,dearestwife,comeandgivemeakiss,apartingkiss!\"
\"Youdonotintendtosetoutthisverynight?\"askedGertrude,anxiously。
\"No,Gertrude,butstillitisapartingkiss。ForhenceforthImustbecomeanotherman——ahardman,whowillnolongerthinkofhisfamily,butonlyofthefatherlandandtheemperor。Iweptafewminutesagoasagoodfatherandhusband,butnowImustbecomeashardasagoodsoldieroughttobe。UntiltheBavarianshavebeenexpelledfromthecountry,Ishallnolongerthinkofyouandthechildren,butshallbeonlyabraveandintrepidsoldierofmylordandemperor,andthecommanderofthePasseyrmilitia。Kissme,therefore,alasttime,AnnaGertrude!There!Givemeanotherkiss!
Whoknowsbutitmaybethelasttimeyouwilleverkissme,dearGertrude?Andhereisstillanotherkissforourgirls。Nowitisenough。Gotobednow,Gertrude,andprayforme。\"
\"Youwillnotgotobed,Andy?\"askedGertrude,anxiously。
\"No,Iwillnot,AnnaGertrude。IhavebusinesstoattendtointheyardwithJoe,ourlaborer。Wewillkillthebrindledcow。\"
\"What?Thisverynight?\"
\"Thisverynight。Weneedthebloodandmeat。WeshallpourthebloodintothePasseyr,andyouwillseetomorrowthatweneedthemeat,forIbelieveweshallhaveagreatmanyguestsinthemorning。\"
AndreasHofer\'sprophecywasfulfilled。AlreadyearlyinthemorningagreatmanymenassembledinfrontoftheinnZumSand。TheywerethesharpshootersofthePasseyrvalley,whowereflockingfromallpartsofthedistricttoHofer\'shousetoreporttothebelovedcommanderofPasseyr。Theycamedownfromthemountainsandupfromthevalleys。Theyworetheirholidaydresses,andtheiryellowSundayhatsweredecoratedwithbouquetsofrosemaryandhandsomeribbons。Theyweremerryandinthebestofspirits,asiftheyweregoingtothedance;onlyinsteadoftheirrosy—cheekedgirls,theyheldtheirtrustyriflesintheirarms。Nevertheless,theysmackedtheirlips,utteredloudexclamationsofjoy,andshoutedasmerrilyaslarks——\"\'Tistime!TheBavariansmustleavethecountry!Longlivetheemperor!LonglivetheArchdukeJohn!\"
Andechoseemedtoanswer,\"TheBavariansmustleavethecountry!\"
Butitwasnotechothathadrepeatedthesewords。Theyproceededfromthethroatsofmerrymen,andagayprocessiondescendednowfromthemountain—path。ItconsistedofthesharpshootersandpeasantsofMeranandAlgund,whoweremarchingupinthebeautifulcostumesoftheAdigevalley。Oh,howtheireyesflashed,andtheriflesintheirarmsalso。AndwithwhatjubilantJodlersthemenofPasseyrreceivedtheirdearfriendsfromAlgundandMeran。
Allatonceeverysoundwashushed,forinthedooroftheinnappearedAndreasHofer,lookinglikeakinginhishandsomeholidayattire;hisgood—natured,honestfacegleamedwithjoy,andhisglancewasmildandclear,andyetsofirmandcommanding。Hiswholebearingbreathedcalmdignity,anditseemedtothemenofPasseyrasthoughthemorningsunwhichilluminatedhisfacesurroundedhisheadwithagoldenhalo。Theystoodasidewithtimidreverenceandawe。HoferadvancedintothemiddleofthecirclewhichthemenofPasseyr,Meran,andAlgundformedaroundhim。Hethenlookedaroundandgreetedthemenonallsideswithasmile,apleasantnod,andawaveofhishand。
\"Myfriends,\"heexclaimedinaloudvoice,\"thedayhascomewhenwemustexpeltheBavariansfromthecountryandrestoretheTyroltotheAustrians。\'Tistime!TheBavarianshaveamplydeservedsuchtreatmentatourhands,fortheyhavesorelyoppressedus。Whenyouhadfinishedawoodenimage,couldyoucarryittoViennaandsellit?No,youcouldnot!Isthatfreedom?YouareTyrolese;atleastyourfatherscalledthemselvesso;nowyouaretocallyourselvesBavarians。And,moreover,ourancientcastleofTyrolinthePasseyrvalleywasnotspared!Areyousatisfiedwiththis?Ifyouharvestthreebladesofcorn,thegovernmentclaimstwoofthem;isthathappinessandprosperity?ButthereisaProvidenceandthereareangels;anditwasrevealedtomethatifweresolvedtoavengeourwrongs,GodandSt。George,ourpatronsaint,wouldhelpus。Up,then,againsttheBavarians!Tearthevillainswithyourteethwhiletheystand;butwhentheykneeldownandpray,givethemquarter。UpagainsttheBavarians!\'Tistime!\"
\"UpagainsttheBavarians!\'tistime!\"shoutedallthebravemen,enthusiastically;andthemountainechoesanswered:\"UpagainsttheBavarians!\'tistime!\"
Andtheblood—redwatersofthePasseyrcarrieddownintothevalleythemessage:\"UpagainsttheBavarians!\'tistime!\"
CHAPTERX。
ANTHONYWALLNEROFWINDISCH—MATREY。
Anunusualcommotionreignedinthemarket—placeofWindisch—Matreyontheafternoonofthe9thofApril。ThemenandyouthsofWindisch—Matreyanditsenvironswereassembledthereindensegroups,andthrongedinconstantly—increasingmassesroundthehouseoftheinnkeeperAnthonyAichberger,calledWallner。Thewomen,too,hadlefttheirhousesandhuts,andhastenedtothemarket—place。
Theirfaceswereasthreateningasthoseofthemen;theireyesshotfire,andtheirwholebearingbetokenedunusualexcitement。
Everywhereloudandvehementwordswereuttered,clinchedfistswereraisedmenacingly,andglancesofsecretunderstandingwereexchanged。
Theliveliestscene,however,tookplaceinthelargebarroomoftheinn。Theforemostmenofthewholedistrict,strong,well—builtforms,withdefiantfacesandcourageousbearing,hadassembledtherearoundAnthonyWallner—Aichberger。Theyspokebutlittle,butsatonthebenchesagainstthewallsoftheroom,andstaredintotheirglasses,whichEliza,Wallner\'seldestdaughter,filledagainandagainwithbeer。Eventheyounggirl,whowasusuallysogayandspirited,seemedto—daysadanddejected。Formerlyhermerrylaughterandclear,ringingvoicewereheardeverywhere;to—dayshewasmoodyandtaciturn。Formerlyherchecksglowedlikepurpleroses,acharmingarchexpressionplayedaroundherbeautifulsmallmouth,andthefireandspiritofyouthbeamedfromherlargeblackeyes;to—day,onlyafaintcrimsontingedEliza\'scheeks,herlipswerefirmlycompressed,andhereyesweredimandlustreless。Fromtimetotime,whilewaitingontheguests,shecastananxious,searchingglancethroughthewindowsoverthemarket—place,andseemedtolistentothehumofvoices,whichoftenbecameasdeafeningasthewildroarofthestorm,andshookthewindow—panes。
AnthonyWallner,herfather,waslikewisegraveandanxious,andinwalkingtothegroupsofguestsseatedonthebencheshereandthere,heglanceduneasilytowardthewindows。
\"Itmaybethattheywillnotcome,afterall,Tony,andthattheViennesehavefooledyou,\"whisperedoldThurnwaldenfromMerantohim。
\"Icannotcomprehendit,\"sighedAnthonyWallner。\"Theinsurrectionwastobreakoutonthe9thofApril,andtheAustriantroopsweretocrossthefrontieronthatday;andthiswasthereasonwhywehavehithertoresistedtheconscriptionandrefusedtopaythenewtaxes。Butthe9thofAprilhascomenow,andwehavereceivednomessagefromHoferortheAustrians。\"
\"Andto—daythetimewhichtheBavarianshavegivenusisup,\"
growledGeorgeHinnthal;\"ifouryoungladsdonotreportvoluntarilytotheenrollingofficersbythisevening,theywillbearrestedto—morrow。\"
\"Theyshallnotbearrested,\"exclaimedoneoftheTyrolese,strikingthetablewithhispowerfulfist。
\"No,theyshallnotbearrested,\"echoedall,inloud,defianttones。
\"Butyouwillnotbeabletopreventthem,\"saidoldThurnwalden,whenallweresilentagainandhaddrunkalongdraughtfromtheirglassesasiftoconfirmtheirwords。\"YouknowthereisawholecompanyofsoldiersatCastleWeissenstein,andUlrichvonHohenberg,thecastellan\'snephew,istheircaptain。HeisaBavarian,bodyandsoul,and,ifweresisttheauthorities,hewillleadhismenwithmusketsandfield—piecesagainstus。\"
\"Why,youhavebecomegreatlydiscouraged,CasparThurnwalden,\"saidAnthonyWallner,sneeringly,\"andonewouldalmostthinkyouhadturnedafriendoftheBavarians。WehavegotasgoodmusketsastheBavarians,andiftheyshootweshallshootback。Andasforthefield—pieces,why,wehavegotwheelsandmayrolldowncannonfromCastleWeissensteintoWindisch—Matrey。Butcome,mydearfriends,I
seetheBavariantax—collectorswalkingacrossthemarket—placeyonder。Theylookverygrimandstern,asiftheymeanttodevourusall。Letusgooutandseewhatisgoingon。\"
Themenroseasifobeyingamilitaryorder,andfollowedAnthonyWallnerfromtheroomtothemarket—place。ElizaWallnerwasforamomentaloneintheroom;andnowthatshehadnolongertofeartheeyesoftheguests,shesankquiteexhaustedonachairandburiedherfaceinhertremblinghands。
\"WhatamItodo?\"shemurmuredinalowvoice。\"Oh,Godinheaven,wouldIcoulddiethisveryhour!\"
\"Whydoyouweep,Lizzie?\"askedagentlevoicebyherside,and,onlookingup,Elizabeheldthegrave,sympatheticfaceofhermother,whohadjustenteredtheroomwithoutbeingheardbyher。Elizasprangupandembracedhermotherwithpassionatetenderness。
\"Dearestmamma,\"shewhispered,\"Iamafraid。\"
\"Afraidofwhat?\"askedhermother,inalowvoice。\"AreyouafraidtheAustriansmaynotcome,andtheBavariansmaythenimprisonyourdearfather,becausetheyhavefoundoutthathehasinstigatedthepeopletodisobeytheirbehests?\"
\"No,\"saidEliza,blushingwithshame,\"no,thatisnotwhatIamafraidof。Theywillnotdaretoarrestmydearfather,fortheyknowfullwellthatthepeopleofthewholedistrictaregreatlyattachedtohim,andthatthemenofthewholePustervalleywouldrisetodeliverAnthonyWallner。Itissomethingelse,dearestmother;comewithmeintothechamber;thereIwilltellyouall。\"
Shedrewhermotherhastilyintothechamberadjoiningthebar—roomandclosedthedoorafterher。
\"Mother,\"shesaid,tremblinglyandbreathlessly,\"listentomenow。
IamsuretheAustriansarecoming,andifthemenoutsidehearofit,theywillkillalltheBavarians。\"
\"Letthemdoit,\"saidhermothercomposedly;\"themean,sneakingBavarianshavecertainlydeservedtobekilledaftertheinfamoustreatmentwehaveenduredattheirhands。\"
\"But,mother,therearealsogoodmenamongthem,\"exclaimedEliza。
\"YouknowverywellIamaloyalTyrolesegirl,andlovemyemperordearly,foryouhavetaughtmefrommyearliestyouththatitwasincumbentonmetodoso。But,mother,therearealsogoodmenamongtheBavarians。Thereis,forinstance,UlrichvonHohenbergupatCastleWeissenstein。Youknowhiscousinhasalwaystreatedmeasasister;wehavegrownuptogether,andIwasallowedtoparticipateinherlessonsandlearnwhatshelearned。Wewerealwaystogether,andevennowIhavesnotceasedgoingtoCastleWeissenstein,althoughitisgarrisonedbyadetachmentofBavariansoldiers。
Fatherhimselfwishedmetogototheyoungladyasheretofore,forhesaiditwouldlooksuspiciousifIshouldstayawayallofasudden。ThereforeIwenttoseemydearfriendElizavonHohenbergeveryday,andIalwaysmettherehercousin,thecaptainoftheBavariansoldiers。Heisaverykind—heartedandmerrygentleman,mother,anditisnofaultofhisthatheisaBavarian。Hisfather,ourcastellan\'sbrother,haslivedforthirtyyearspastdownatMunich,andhissonenteredtheBavarianservicelongbeforeheknewthatwepeopleofWindisch—MatreydesiretobecomeAustriansubjectsagain。Nowhisgeneralsenthimhitherwithhissoldiersforthepurposeofhelpingtheofficerstocollectthetaxesandenrollthenamesofouryoungmen。Ishetoblameforthenecessityheisunderofobeyingtheordersofhisgeneral?\"
\"No,heisnot,\"saidhermother,gravely。
\"ButwhentheAustrianscomenow,andmyfatherandtheothermenrise,andexpelandkilltheBavarians,theywillkillUlrichvonHohenbergtoo,althoughitisnothisfaultthatheisaBavarian。
Oh,dearestmamma,heissuchagood,kind—heartedyoungman!heismydearEliza\'scousinandourcastellan\'snephew,andyouknowhowwellElizaandherfatherhavetreatedme,andthattheytakecareofme,wheneverIamatthecastle,asthoughIwerethecastellan\'sownchild。Dearestmamma,shallwepermitourmentokillthenephewofourexcellentcastellan?\"
\"No,wewillnot,Lizzie,\"saidhermother,resolutely。\"Quick,runupthefootpathleadingtothecastle。TelltheyoungofficerthattheTyrolesearegoingtodeliverthemselvesfromtheBavarianyoke,andthathehadbettereffecthisescapewhilethereistime。\"
\"Mother,hewillnotdoit,forheisabraveyoungman!\"sighedEliza;\"andthen——Icannotbetrayfather\'ssecrettohim。IftheAustriansdidnotcomeafterall,andIhadtoldUlrichvonHohenbergwhatfatherandtheotherTyroleseintendtodo,wouldI
notbeatraitress,andwouldnotfathercurseme?\"
\"True,true,thatwillnotdo,\"saidhermothermusingly;\"yourfatherwouldneverforgiveyou。ButIknowwhatyoumustdo。JustrunuptothecastleandactasthoughyouwishedonlytopayavisittoyourfriendEliza;nooneknowsasyetwhatisgoingtooccur。Noneofyourfriendshavedisclosedthesecret;andthecastellantoo,thoughIthinkheisagoodAustrianatheart,doesnotyetknowanythingaboutit。Yourfathertoldmesothisverymorning。Youwillremainatthecastle,andsosoonasyouhearthereportofarifleonthemarket—placehere,youwillknowthattheinsurrectionisbreakingout。Thereisfather\'srifle;whenitistime,Iwillstepoutofthebackgatewithitandshoot。Youwillhearthereport,andtelltheyoungofficerthattheTyrolesearegoingtorise,andthathehadbetterconcealhimselfuntilthefirstrageoftheinsurgentshasblownover。\"
\"Yes,Iwilldoso,\"exclaimedEliza;\"Iwillrunuptothecastlenow。Good—by,dearestmamma。\"
Sheimprintedakissonthehandofhermother,andthenspedawayasgracefullyasayoungroe。
\"Sheisaverygoodgirl,\"saidhermother,lookingafterhersmilingly,\"andhasasoftandcompassionateheart。Shewishestosavethecastellan\'snephewmerelybecauseshepitiestheyoungmanwhoisexposedtosuchimminentdanger。Itisverykindofher!It——
But,HolyVirgin!whatisthematteroutside?Istheoutbreaktocommencealready?IbelieveitismyTonywhoistalkingoutsideinsoloudavoice。Imustgoandhearwhatisthematter。\"
Shehastenedthroughthebar—roomtothestreet—dooropeninguponthemarketplace。
Yes,itwasAnthonyWallner—Aichbergerwhowasgesticulatingsoviolentlyyonder。RoundhimstoodthemenofWindisch—Matrey,lookingwithgloomyfacesatthethreeBavarianrevenueofficerswhowerestandinginfrontofWallner。
\"Irepeat,sir,\"exclaimedAnthonyWallneratthismomentwithanairofmockgravity,\"thatweareallveryloyalandobedientsubjects,andthatitiswronginyou。Mr。Tax—collector,tocallusstubborn,seditiousfellows。Ifweweresuch,wouldwenot,beingsonumeroushere,punishyouandyourtwoofficersforspeakingofussocontemptuouslyanddisrespectfully?\"
\"Youknowfullwellthat,atawaveofmyhand,thecompanyofsoldierswillrushdownfromCastleWeissensteinandshootyouallastraitorsandrebels,\"saidthetax—collectorhaughtily。
\"Well,Mr。Tax—collector,\"exclaimedWallner,smilingly,\"asfortheshooting,wearelikewisewellversedinthat。Wearefirst—ratemarksmen,weTyrolese!\"
\"What!\"criedthetax—collector,furiously,\"doyouspeakagainofTyrolese?DidInotforbidyoutocallyourselvesso?YouarenoTyrolese,butinhabitantsofSouth—Bavaria,doyouhear?HismajestytheKingofBavariadoesnotwantanyTyroleseassubjects,butonlySouthernBavarians,asIhavetoldyoutwicealready。\"[Footnote:
See\"GalleryofHeroes;LifeofAndreasHofer,\"p。15。]
\"Verywell;ifhismajestydoesnotwantanyTyroleseassubjects,youneednottellussomorethanonce,\"exclaimedAnthonyWallner。
\"HeprefersSouthernBavarians,doeshe?Bearthatinmind,Tyrolese;theKingofBavariawantsonlySouthernBavarians。\"
\"Wewillbearthatinmind,\"shoutedtheTyrolese;andloud,scornfullaughterrolledlikethreateningthunderacrossthemarket—
place。
\"Youlaugh,\"exclaimedthetax—collector,endeavoringtostiflehisrage;\"Iamgladyouaresomerry。To—morrow,perhaps,youwilllaughnolonger;forItellyou,ifyoudonotpayto—daythefineimposedonyou,Ishallhaveitforciblycollectedbythesoldiersatdaybreakto—morrowmorning。\"
\"Wemustreallypaythefine,then?\"askedAnthonyWallner,withfeignedtimidity。\"Youwillnotrelent,then,Mr。Tax—collector?Wereallymustpaytheheavyfine,becausewehadalittlefuntheotherday?Foryoumustsayyourself,sir,wereallydidnowrong。\"
\"Youdidnowrong?Youwereinopeninsurrection。Onthebirthdayofyourgraciousmastertheking,insteadofhangingoutBavarianflags,asyouhadbeenordered,youhungoutAustrianflagseverywhere。\"
\"No,Mr。Tax—collector,youdidnotseeright;wehungoutnonebutBavarianflags。\"
\"Thatisfalse!Imyselfwalkedthroughthewholeplace,andsaweverythingwithmyowneyes。YourflagsdidnotcontaintheBavariancolors,blueandwhite,butblackandyellow,theAustriancolors。\"
\"Possiblytheymayhavelookedso,\"exclaimedAnthonyWallner,\"butthatwasnotourfault。TheflagswereouroldBavarianflags:buttheywerealreadysomewhatold,thebluewasfadedandlookedlikeyellow,andthewhitehadbecomequitedirtyandlookedlikeblack。\"
\"Thunderandlightning!Wallnerisright,\"exclaimedtheTyrolese,burstingintoloudlaughter。\"TheflagswereouroldBavarianflags,buttheywerefadedanddirty。\"
Theyounglads,whohadhithertostoodingroupsaroundtheouteredgeofthemarket—place,nowmingledwiththecrowdtolistentothespeakers;andayoungTyrolese,withhisrifleonhisarm,andhispointedhatoverhisdarkcurlyhair,approachedwithsuchimpetuouscuriositythathesuddenlystoodclosetothetax—
collector。However,hetooknonoticeoftheofficer,butlookedwitheagerattentionatWallner,andlistenedtohiswords。
Butthegrimeyesofoneofthetwobailiffsnoticedwithdismaythatthisimpudentfellowdaredtoplacehimselfclosebythesideofthetax—collectorwithouttakingoffhishat。
Strikingwithhisfistontheyoungfellow\'shat,hedroveitdeepoverhisforehead。
\"Villain!\"heshouted,inathreateningvoice,\"doyounotseethetax—collector?\"
Theyoungfellowdrewthehatwithanairofembarrassmentfromhisforehead,andcrimsoningwithrage,butinsilence,steppedbackintothecircleofthemurmuringmen。
\"Thatisjustwhatyoudeserve,Joe,\"saidAnthonyWallner。\"WhydidasmartTyroleseboylikeyoucomenearusSouthernBavarianswhenweweretalkingaboutpublicparlour?\"
Atthismomentaladelbowedhimselfhastilythroughthecrowd。Hisdresswasdusty,hisfacewasflushedandheatedanditseemedasthoughhehadtravelledmanymilesonfoot。Tothosewhostoodinhiswayhesaidinabreathless,pantingvoice:\"Pleasestandaside。