andreas hofer-第51部分

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repose。　As　it　is　your　father's　will；　I　will　go　down…stairs；　take
supper；　and　afterward　go　to　bed　in　my　chamber。　If　any　thing　happens；
I　shall　wash　my　hands　of　it。〃

〃Wash　them　as　much　as　you　please；　Schroepfel；　but　come　down　to
supper；〃　cried　Eliza；　hastening　down…stairs　with　the　agility　of　a
bird。

Schroepfel　looked　after　her；　shaking　his　head；　he　then　locked　the
door；　put　the　key　in　his　pocket；　and　placed　the　heavy　iron…bound　box
against　the　door。

〃And　before　going　to　bed　I　shall　unchain　Phylax；〃　he　said；　as　if　to
console　himself；　while　he　was　going　slowly　and　stiffly　down…stairs。

Schroepfel　kept　his　word。　Weary　and　exhausted　as　he　was；　he　waited
until　all　the　inmates　of　the　house　bad　gone　to　bed；　and　until　all
noise　had　died　away。　He　then　went　into　the　yard　and　unchained　the
formidable　and　ill…humored　watch…dog。　Phylax　howled　and　trembled
with　joy　and　delight　at　being　released；　but　Schroepfel　seized　his
ear　and　pointed　his　other　hand　at　the　prisoner's　window；　which　was
brightly　illuminated　by　the　moon。

〃Watch　that　window　well；　Phylax；〃　he　said；　〃watch　it　well；　and　if
you　see　anything　suspicious；　call　me　at　once。　I　shall　not　sleep　so
fast　as　not　to　hear　your　basking。　Watch　it　well；　Phylax。〃

The　dog　looked　up　to　the　window　as　if　he　had　understood　the　order；
he　then　fixed　his　clear；　lustrous　eyes　on　Schroepfel；　and　uttered　a
threatening　growl。

〃Very　well；〃　said　Schroepfel；　〃you　have　understood　me。　You　will
watch　him；　and　I　may　go　to　bed。〃

He　dropped　the　ear　of　the　dog；　who　thereupon　bounded　wildly　through
the　yard；　while　Schroepfel　limped　back　into　the　house。　He　was　heard
slowly　ascending　the　staircase　and　opening　the　creaking　door　of　his
bed…chamber；　and　then　all　became　silent。

Night　spread　its　pall　over　the　weary；　the　sleepers；　and　the　weeping；
the　moon　stood　with　silvery　lustre　high　in　the　heavens；　and
illuminated　the　snow…clad　summits　of　the　mountains　rising　in　the
rear　of　the　outbuildings　in　Wallner's　yard。　Hour　after　hour　passed
by；　and　all　remained　silent；　not　a　sound　broke　the　holy　stillness　of
night。

Hour　after　hour　passed　by；　nothing　stirred　in　the　yard；　the　dog　sat；
as　if　he　had　really　understood　Schroepfel's　words；　in　the　middle　of
the　yard；　and　stared　steadfastly　at　the　prisoner's　window。　Phylax
watched；　as　Schroepfel　had　gone　to　bed；　Phylax　watched；　and　did　not
avert　his　eyes　from　the　window　on　which　his　whole　attention　seemed
to　be　concentrated；　for　he　did　not　stir；　he　did　not　even　disturb　the
flies　buzzing　round　his　ears；　be　was　all　attention　and　vigilance。
All　at　once　something　occurred　that　had　never　happened　to　him　during
his　nocturnal　service；　a　wondrous；　appetizing　scent　was　wafted　to
him　on　the　wings　of　the　night…breeze。　Phylax　averted　his　eyes　for　a
moment　from　the　window　and　glanced　searchingly　round　the　yard。
Nothing　stirred　in　it；　but　this　wonderful　scent　of　a　roast　sausage
still　impregnated　the　air；　and　seemed　to　grow　even　stronger　and　more
tempting；　for　Phylax　pricked　up　his　ears；　raised　his　nose；　snuffing
eagerly　to　inhale　the　scent；　and　rose　from　the　ground。　He　glanced
again　round　the　yard；　and　then　advanced　a　few　steps　toward　the
window　yonder　on　the　side　of　the　house。　This　window　was　open；　and
the　keen　nose　of　the　dog　told　him　that　the　appetizing　scent　had　come
from　it。　All　at　once；　however；　Phylax　stood　still；　as　if　remembering
his　master's　orders；　and　looked　again　toward　the　prisoner's　window。

At　this　moment　a　low　voice　called　him：　〃Phylax！　come　here；　Phylax！〃

The　dog　hesitated　no　longer；　he　had　recognized　the　voice　of　his
friend　and　playmate；　Eliza　Wallner。　With　two　tremendous　bounds　he
was　at　the　window；　and；　raising　himself　up；　laid　his　forepaws　on　the
window…sill；　and　stretched　out　his　head；　waiting　longingly　for　the
appetizing　sausage。

〃Come；　Phylax；　come；〃　whispered　Eliza；　and　she　stepped　back　with　the
sausage　into　the　interior　of　the　room。　〃Come　to　me；　Phylax；　come　to
me。〃

The　temptation　was　too　strong。　Phylax　hesitated　no　longer；　he　moved
back　a　step；　and　leaped　through　the　window　into　the　room。

The　window　was　closed　behind　him　immediately；　and　the　four…footed
custodian　of　the　prisoner　was　now　a　prisoner　himself。

The　yard　was　empty　now。　Schroepfel　slept　soundly　in　his　bed…chamber
up…stairs；　and　Phylax　was　revelling　in　epicurean　joys　in　the　larder。

The　yard　was　empty　now；　but　not　long；　for　the　door　of　the　house
opened　noiselessly；　and　a　human　form　stepped　out。　For　a　moment　it
stood　still　near　the　door；　and　two　voices　were　heard　whispering　in　a
low　tone。

〃Good…by；　dearest　mother；〃　said　one　voice。　〃It　is　time　now；　I　must
go。〃

〃God　and　the　Holy　Virgin　will　protect　you；　dear　Lizzie；〃　said　the
other　voice：　〃for　that　which　you　are　going　to　do　is　right　and　noble；
and　father　himself　will　see　before　long　that　you　did　right。　Go；
Lizzie；　and　return　safely。〃

〃I　shall　be　back　at　eight　in　the　morning；〃　whispered　Lizzie。　〃Until
then；　you　must　say　nothing　about　it；　dear　mother；　but　tell　father　I
wished　to　be　alone　in　my　chamber　till　the　wedding…hour。　Good…by
until　then。〃

She　imprinted　a　kiss　on　her　mother's　lips；　and　hastened　into　the
yard。　The　door　was　closed　softly。　At　this　moment　the　church…clock
struck　two。

Eliza　glided　noiselessly　across　the　yard　toward　the　large　ladder
leaning　against　the　stable。　She　lifted　it　up　with　vigorous　hands；
carried　it　across　the　yard；　and　placed　it　against　the　dwelling…
house；　so　that　its　top　reached　the　open　window　of　the　prisoner。　She
examined　if　the　ladder　stood　firm；　laid　a　few　stones　at　its　foot；　to
prevent　it　from　sliding；　and　then　ascended　it　with　cat…like　agility；
carrying　a　small　bundle　on　her　arm；　while　she　had　put　down　another
in　the　yard。

Now　she　had　reached　the　captain's　window。

〃Are　you　awake；　sir？〃　she　asked；　in　a　low　voice。

〃I　am；　Eliza；〃　whispered　a　voice　inside。　〃I　have　been　awake　and
waiting　for　you　an　hour。〃

〃Take　this；　sir；〃　she　said；　handing　the　bundle　into　the　window。　〃It
is　a　suit　of　clothes　which　you　must　put　on。　It　is　my　father's
holiday　dress；　for　you　must　not　wear　the　Bavarian　uniform　now。　You
must　put　up　for　a　few　days　with　being　disguised　as　a　Tyrolese。　Put
it　on　quickly；　and　then　wrap　up　your　uniform　in　the　blanket　in　which
I　brought　the　suit　of　clothes。　But　make　haste；　and　when　you　are
ready；　descend　the　ladder；　and　come　down　into　the　yard；　where　I
shall　await　you。　Bring　the　package　with　the　uniform　with　you；　and；
above　all　things；　make　haste。〃

She　gave　the　captain　no　time　for　reply；　but　glided　rapidly　and
noiselessly　down　the　ladder。　On　arriving　in　the　yard；　she　took　the
haversack　which　she　had　left　there；　hung　it　over　her　shoulder；　and
took　up　the　rifle。　Then　she　seated　herself　quietly　on　a　large　log
close　to　the　ladder；　and　looked　up　to　the　moon；　which　illuminated
her　face　and　her　whole　form。　Her　face　wore　a　wonderfully　calm
expression；　only　round　her　crimson　lips　quivered　at　times　something
like　hidden　grief；　and　a　tear　glistened　in　her　large；　dark　eyes。　But
when　this　tear　rolled　down　her　cheek　slowly；　Eliza　shook　her　head
indignantly；　and　brushed　it　away　with　her　hand。

〃Foolish　girl！〃　she　murmured；　〃how　can　you　weep　now？　You　must
bravely　take　your　heart　in　your　hands　now；　and　hold　it　so　firmly
that　it　can　neither　cry　nor　tremble。　You　must　be　proud　and　stiff；
and　never　forget　what　is　due　to　your　honor；　and　what　you　owe　to　your
friend　Elza。　Therefore；　do　not　weep；　but　be　a　brave　Tyrolese　girl。
To…morrow　night　you　may　weep　in　your　chamber；　for　nobody　will　see
you　there；　but　not　to…night…no；　no；　not　to…night！〃

She　shook　her　head　violently；　forced　herself　to　smile；　and　gazed
pleasantly　up　to　the　moon。　〃God　bless　thee；　golden；　rapid　wanderer！〃
she　said。　〃Thou　shalt　accompany　us　to…night；　and　pray；　dear　moon；
send　all　clouds　home；　and　remain　as　bright　and　clear　as　now；　for　our
route　is　a　dangerous　one；　and　if　thou　dost　not　help　us；　we　may
easily　fall　into　an　abyss；　andHush；　hush；　he　is　coming。〃

She　rose　and　looked　up　to　the　window；　whence　the　captain　emerged　at
this　moment；　and　appeared　on　the　ladder。

〃Throw　down　your　package；　sirI　will　catch　it；〃　whispered　Eliza。

〃Thank　you；　I　can　carry　it　myself；〃　said　Ulrich；　in　a　low　voice；　and
he　was　soon　at　the　foot　of　the　ladder；　and　standing　in　the　yard
close　to　Eliza。

〃Now　come；〃　she　said；　〃tread　lightly；　and　do　not　speak；　but　go
softly　behind　me。〃

She　left　him　no　time　for　reply；　but　walked　across；　opened　the　door
of　the　small　shed；　which　was　ajar；　went　quickly　through　it；　and
passed　through　the　opposite　door　into　the　orchard　lying　behind　it。
She　stood　still　in　front　of　the　door　of　the　shed；　and　when　Ulrich
had　emerged　from　it；　she　locked　it；　and　put　the　key　into　her　pocket。

〃Now　let　us　walk　as　fast　as　possible；　sir；〃　she　whispered。　〃We　must
walk　for　three　hours。　Keep　your　eyes　on　me；　and　follow　me　wherever　I
go。〃

〃I　will　follow　you；　Eliza；〃　said　the　captain；　earnestly；　〃wherever
you　go。　You　see　I　have　implicit　confidence　in　you；　for　I　do　not　even
ask　whither　you　intend　to　conduct　me；　or　what　you　wish　to　do　with
me。　I　place　my　life　and　my　future　in　your　hands；　and　shall　do
whatever　you　want　me　to。〃

〃It　will　be　the　best　for　you；〃　she　said；　nodding　her　head　slightly。
〃Now　come。〃

And　with　the　quick；　firm　step　peculiar　to　the　Tyrolese；　she　advanced
through　the　garden；　out　of　the　gate；　and　into　the　narrow　path
leading　through　the　valley　and　up　to　the　mountains　rising　on　the
opposite　side。　The　moon　still　shone　brightly　upon　the　valley；　and
illuminated　the　two　forms　rapidly　walking　behind　each　other；　casting
their　long；　dark　shadows　on　the　side　of　the　road。

Ulrich　yon　Hohenberg　saw　in　the　moonlight　that　Eliza　was　carrying
the　haversack　and　rifle；　he　therefore　advanced　quickly　until　he
stood　by　her　side；　and　laid　his　hand　on　her　arm。

〃Eliza；〃　he　said；　vehemently。　〃pray　let　me　carry　the　rifle　and　the
haversack；　let　me　take　your　burden　upon　myself！〃

She　looked　at　him　with　a　singular　expression。　〃Every　one　has　to
carry　his　own　burden；〃　she　said；　〃you　have　yours；　and　I　have　mine。〃

〃But　what　are　the　arms　for；　Eliza？　You　have　armed　yourself　against
me？〃

She　shrugged　her　shoulders　carelessly。　〃Were　I　afraid　of　you；　I
would　not　allow　you　to　walk　behind　me。　But　grant　me　one　reques