andreas hofer-第24部分

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She　drew　her　mother　hastily　into　the　chamber　adjoining　the　bar…room
and　closed　the　door　after　her。

〃Mother；〃　she　said；　tremblingly　and　breathlessly；　〃listen　to　me　now。
I　am　sure　the　Austrians　are　coming；　and　if　the　men　outside　hear　of
it；　they　will　kill　all　the　Bavarians。〃

〃Let　them　do　it；〃　said　her　mother　composedly；　〃the　mean；　sneaking
Bavarians　have　certainly　deserved　to　be　killed　after　the　infamous
treatment　we　have　endured　at　their　hands。〃

〃But；　mother；　there　are　also　good　men　among　them；〃　exclaimed　Eliza。
〃You　know　very　well　I　am　a　loyal　Tyrolese　girl；　and　love　my　emperor
dearly；　for　you　have　taught　me　from　my　earliest　youth　that　it　was
incumbent　on　me　to　do　so。　But；　mother；　there　are　also　good　men　among
the　Bavarians。　There　is；　for　instance；　Ulrich　von　Hohenberg　up　at
Castle　Weissenstein。　You　know　his　cousin　has　always　treated　me　as　a
sister；　we　have　grown　up　together；　and　I　was　allowed　to　participate
in　her　lessons　and　learn　what　she　learned。　We　were　always　together；
and　even　now　I　have　snot　ceased　going　to　Castle　Weissenstein；
although　it　is　garrisoned　by　a　detachment　of　Bavarian　soldiers。
Father　himself　wished　me　to　go　to　the　young　lady　as　heretofore；　for
he　said　it　would　look　suspicious　if　I　should　stay　away　all　of　a
sudden。　Therefore　I　went　to　see　my　dear　friend　Eliza　von　Hohenberg
every　day；　and　I　always　met　there　her　cousin；　the　captain　of　the
Bavarian　soldiers。　He　is　a　very　kind…hearted　and　merry　gentleman；
mother；　and　it　is　no　fault　of　his　that　he　is　a　Bavarian。　His　father；
our　castellan's　brother；　has　lived　for　thirty　years　past　down　at
Munich；　and　his　son　entered　the　Bavarian　service　long　before　he　knew
that　we　people　of　Windisch…Matrey　desire　to　become　Austrian　subjects
again。　Now　his　general　sent　him　hither　with　his　soldiers　for　the
purpose　of　helping　the　officers　to　collect　the　taxes　and　enroll　the
names　of　our　young　men。　Is　he　to　blame　for　the　necessity　he　is　under
of　obeying　the　orders　of　his　general？〃

〃No；　he　is　not；〃　said　her　mother；　gravely。

〃But　when　the　Austrians　come　now；　and　my　father　and　the　other　men
rise；　and　expel　and　kill　the　Bavarians；　they　will　kill　Ulrich　von
Hohenberg　too；　although　it　is　not　his　fault　that　he　is　a　Bavarian。
Oh；　dearest　mamma；　he　is　such　a　good；　kind…hearted　young　man！　he　is
my　dear　Eliza's　cousin　and　our　castellan's　nephew；　and　you　know　how
well　Eliza　and　her　father　have　treated　me；　and　that　they　take　care
of　me；　whenever　I　am　at　the　castle；　as　though　I　were　the　castellan's
own　child。　Dearest　mamma；　shall　we　permit　our　men　to　kill　the　nephew
of　our　excellent　castellan？〃

〃No；　we　will　not；　Lizzie；〃　said　her　mother；　resolutely。　〃Quick；　run
up　the　footpath　leading　to　the　castle。　Tell　the　young　officer　that
the　Tyrolese　are　going　to　deliver　themselves　from　the　Bavarian　yoke；
and　that　he　had　better　effect　his　escape　while　there　is　time。〃

〃Mother；　he　will　not　do　it；　for　he　is　a　brave　young　man！〃　sighed
Eliza；　〃and　thenI　cannot　betray　father's　secret　to　him。　If　the
Austrians　did　not　come　after　all；　and　I　had　told　Ulrich　von
Hohenberg　what　father　and　the　other　Tyrolese　intend　to　do；　would　I
not　be　a　traitress；　and　would　not　father　curse　me？〃

〃True；　true；　that　will　not　do；〃　said　her　mother　musingly；　〃your
father　would　never　forgive　you。　But　I　know　what　you　must　do。　Just
run　up　to　the　castle　and　act　as　though　you　wished　only　to　pay　a
visit　to　your　friend　Eliza；　no　one　knows　as　yet　what　is　going　to
occur。　None　of　your　friends　have　disclosed　the　secret；　and　the
castellan　too；　though　I　think　he　is　a　good　Austrian　at　heart；　does
not　yet　know　any　thing　about　it。　Your　father　told　me　so　this　very
morning。　You　will　remain　at　the　castle；　and　so　soon　as　you　hear　the
report　of　a　rifle　on　the　market…place　here；　you　will　know　that　the
insurrection　is　breaking　out。　There　is　father's　rifle；　when　it　is
time；　I　will　step　out　of　the　back　gate　with　it　and　shoot。　You　will
hear　the　report；　and　tell　the　young　officer　that　the　Tyrolese　are
going　to　rise；　and　that　he　had　better　conceal　himself　until　the
first　rage　of　the　insurgents　has　blown　over。〃

〃Yes；　I　will　do　so；〃　exclaimed　Eliza；　〃I　will　run　up　to　the　castle
now。　Good…by；　dearest　mamma。〃

She　imprinted　a　kiss　on　the　hand　of　her　mother；　and　then　sped　away
as　gracefully　as　a　young　roe。

〃She　is　a　very　good　girl；〃　said　her　mother；　looking　after　her
smilingly；　〃and　has　a　soft　and　compassionate　heart。　She　wishes　to
save　the　castellan's　nephew　merely　because　she　pities　the　young　man
who　is　exposed　to　such　imminent　danger。　It　is　very　kind　of　her！　It
But；　Holy　Virgin！　what　is　the　matter　outside？　Is　the　outbreak　to
commence　already？　I　believe　it　is　my　Tony　who　is　talking　outside　in
so　loud　a　voice。　I　must　go　and　hear　what　is　the　matter。〃

She　hastened　through　the　bar…room　to　the　street…door　opening　upon
the　market　place。

Yes；　it　was　Anthony　Wallner…Aichberger　who　was　gesticulating　so
violently　yonder。　Round　him　stood　the　men　of　Windisch…Matrey；
looking　with　gloomy　faces　at　the　three　Bavarian　revenue　officers　who
were　standing　in　front　of　Wallner。

〃I　repeat；　sir；〃　exclaimed　Anthony　Wallner　at　this　moment　with　an
air　of　mock　gravity；　〃that　we　are　all　very　loyal　and　obedient
subjects；　and　that　it　is　wrong　in　you。　Mr。　Tax…collector；　to　call　us
stubborn；　seditious　fellows。　If　we　were　such；　would　we　not；　being　so
numerous　here；　punish　you　and　your　two　officers　for　speaking　of　us
so　contemptuously　and　disrespectfully？〃

〃You　know　full　well　that；　at　a　wave　of　my　hand；　the　company　of
soldiers　will　rush　down　from　Castle　Weissenstein　and　shoot　you　all
as　traitors　and　rebels；〃　said　the　tax…collector　haughtily。

〃Well；　Mr。　Tax…collector；〃　exclaimed　Wallner；　smilingly；　〃as　for　the
shooting；　we　are　likewise　well　versed　in　that。　We　are　first…rate
marksmen；　we　Tyrolese！〃

〃What！〃　cried　the　tax…collector；　furiously；　〃do　you　speak　again　of
Tyrolese？　Did　I　not　forbid　you　to　call　yourselves　so？　You　are　no
Tyrolese；　but　inhabitants　of　South…Bavaria；　do　you　hear？　His　majesty
the　King　of　Bavaria　does　not　want　any　Tyrolese　as　subjects；　but　only
Southern　Bavarians；　as　I　have　told　you　twice　already。〃　＇Footnote：
See　〃Gallery　of　Heroes；　Life　of　Andreas　Hofer；〃　p。　15。＇

〃Very　well；　if　his　majesty　does　not　want　any　Tyrolese　as　subjects；
you　need　not　tell　us　so　more　than　once；〃　exclaimed　Anthony　Wallner。
〃He　prefers　Southern　Bavarians；　does　he？　Bear　that　in　mind；
Tyrolese；　the　King　of　Bavaria　wants　only　Southern　Bavarians。〃

〃We　will　bear　that　in　mind；〃　shouted　the　Tyrolese；　and　loud；
scornful　laughter　rolled　like　threatening　thunder　across　the　market…
place。

〃You　laugh；〃　exclaimed　the　tax…collector；　endeavoring　to　stifle　his
rage；　〃I　am　glad　you　are　so　merry。　To…morrow；　perhaps；　you　will
laugh　no　longer；　for　I　tell　you；　if　you　do　not　pay　to…day　the　fine
imposed　on　you；　I　shall　have　it　forcibly　collected　by　the　soldiers
at　daybreak　to…morrow　morning。〃

〃We　must　really　pay　the　fine；　then？〃　asked　Anthony　Wallner；　with
feigned　timidity。　〃You　will　not　relent；　then；　Mr。　Tax…collector？　We
really　must　pay　the　heavy　fine；　because　we　had　a　little　fun　the
other　day？　For　you　must　say　yourself；　sir；　we　really　did　no　wrong。〃

〃You　did　no　wrong？　You　were　in　open　insurrection。　On　the　birthday　of
your　gracious　master　the　king；　instead　of　hanging　out　Bavarian
flags；　as　you　had　been　ordered；　you　hung　out　Austrian　flags
everywhere。〃

〃No；　Mr。　Tax…collector；　you　did　not　see　right；　we　hung　out　none　but
Bavarian　flags。〃

〃That　is　false！　I　myself　walked　through　the　whole　place；　and　saw
every　thing　with　my　own　eyes。　Your　flags　did　not　contain　the
Bavarian　colors；　blue　and　white；　but　black　and　yellow；　the　Austrian
colors。〃

〃Possibly　they　may　have　looked　so；〃　exclaimed　Anthony　Wallner；　〃but
that　was　not　our　fault。　The　flags　were　our　old　Bavarian　flags：　but
they　were　already　somewhat　old；　the　blue　was　faded　and　looked　like
yellow；　and　the　white　had　become　quite　dirty　and　looked　like　black。〃

〃Thunder　and　lightning！　Wallner　is　right；〃　exclaimed　the　Tyrolese；
bursting　into　loud　laughter。　〃The　flags　were　our　old　Bavarian　flags；
but　they　were　faded　and　dirty。〃

The　young　lads；　who　had　hitherto　stood　in　groups　around　the　outer
edge　of　the　market…place；　now　mingled　with　the　crowd　to　listen　to
the　speakers；　and　a　young　Tyrolese；　with　his　rifle　on　his　arm；　and
his　pointed　hat　over　his　dark　curly　hair；　approached　with　such
impetuous　curiosity　that　he　suddenly　stood　close　to　the　tax…
collector。　However；　he　took　no　notice　of　the　officer；　but　looked
with　eager　attention　at　Wallner；　and　listened　to　his　words。

But　the　grim　eyes　of　one　of　the　two　bailiffs　noticed　with　dismay
that　this　impudent　fellow　dared　to　place　himself　close　by　the　side
of　the　tax…collector　without　taking　off　his　hat。

Striking　with　his　fist　on　the　young　fellow's　hat；　he　drove　it　deep
over　his　forehead。

〃Villain！〃　he　shouted；　in　a　threatening　voice；　〃do　you　not　see　the
tax…collector？〃

The　young　fellow　drew　the　hat　with　an　air　of　embarrassment　from　his
forehead；　and　crimsoning　with　rage；　but　in　silence；　stepped　back
into　the　circle　of　the　murmuring　men。

〃That　is　just　what　you　deserve；　Joe；〃　said　Anthony　Wallner。　〃Why　did
a　smart　Tyrolese　boy　like　you　come　near　us　Southern　Bavarians　when
we　were　talking　about　public　parlour？〃

At　this　moment　a　lad　elbowed　himself　hastily　through　the　crowd。　His
dress　was　dusty；　his　face　was　flushed　and　heated　and　it　seemed　as
though　he　had　travelled　many　miles　on　foot。　To　those　who　stood　in
his　way　he　said　in　a　breathless；　panting　voice：　〃Please　stand　aside。
I　have　to　deliver　something　to　Anthony　Wallner…Aichberger；　I　must
speak　with　him。〃

The　men　willingly　stood　aside。　Now　be　was　close　behind　Wallner；　and；
interrupting　him　in　his　speech；　he　whispered　to　him：　〃I　come　from
Andreas　Hofer；　he　sends　you　his　greetings　and　this　paper。　I　have　run
all　night　to　bring　it　to　you。〃

He　handed　a　folded　paper　to　Wallner；　who　opened　it　with　hands
trembling　with　impatience。

It　was　Andreas　Hofer's　〃open　order。〃

Wallner's　face　brightened　up；　he　cast　a　fiery　glance　around　the
place　filled　with　his　friends；　and　fixed　his　flashing　eyes　then　on
the　hat　of　the　bailiff　who　had　rebuked　the　young　Tyrolese　in　so
overbearing　a　manner。　At　a　bound　he　wa