"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。
第8章