"Listen,"shesaid,lookingathimwithimploringeyes,"ifitistruethatyoulovemegivemeaproofofitandswearthatyouwilldowhatIshallrequestofyou!"
"Iloveyou,Eliza,andwillproveittoyou。Iswear,therefore,todowhatyoushallrequestofme。"
"Thankyou,thankyou,"sheexclaimed,joyfully。"Nowcomewithme;
Iwillconductyouundertheroof;Iknowofahiding—placetherewherenoonewillfindyou,andyouwillsweartometostaythereuntilIcometoyouwithasuitofclotheswhichyouwillputon。
ThereuponIshallconductyouinthedeadofnightintothemountains,andthusyouwillescape。"
"Escape?Never!Andwhy,then?"
"Sir,becausethepeasantswillassassinateyouifyouremain。"
Theyoungofficerburstintoloudlaughter。"Theywillassassinateme?Ah,Ihavemysoldiersandmyownarms,andamnotafraidofthepeasants。Mysoldierswouldsoonputdowntheinsurgentsiftheyshouldreallyrebelto—morrow。"
"Sir,theywillnotwaituntilto—morrow;theyhavealreadyrisen;
theinsurrectionhascommencedthisveryhour。Oh,thankGod,youdidnotfindoutwhatwasgoingon;youfeltsosecureinyourprideanddespisedtheTyrolesesomuchthatyoudidnotfearthem。
[Footnote:TheTyrolesekeptthesecretoftheirintendedinsurrectionsowell,andtheBavariansweresooverbearingandcareless,thattheydidnotknowanythingabouttheplansoftheinsurgentsuntilthedayoftherising,andonthatdaytheytriedtolevycontributionsbyforceofarms。——See"GalleryofHeroes:
AndreasHofer,"p。50。]ButItellyounow,theinsurrectionhasbrokenout;thewholeTyrolisrising;allourpeopleareincommotionfromInnspruckdowntoSalzburg。Youcannolongerpreventorstifleit。Youmustsubmit。Saveyourself,then,sir;youhavesworntograntmyrequest,andyoumustkeepyourword。"
"No,Icannotandwillnot!Imustdomyduty。Letmego,Eliza!I
mustgo!Imustgotomysoldiers!"
"Youcannolongerreachthem,fortheyhavelockedthemup。Come,youmustsaveyourself!"
Sheseizedhisarmwithsuperhumanstrength,andtriedtodrawhimaway,buthedisengagedhimselfandrushedtowardthedoor。ButElizawasquickerthanhe;sheboundedforwardlikeanangrylioness,andjustasUlrichwasabouttoseizetheknob,shestoodbeforethedoorandpushedhimback。
"Ishallnotpermityoutoleavetheroom,"shecried。"Youmustkillmefirst;thenyoumaygo。"
"Eliza,Icannotstay。Iimploreyou,letmegoout。Myhonor,mygoodname,areatstake。Yousaythepeasantshaverisenininsurrection,mysoldiersarelockedup,andyouthinkIcouldbecowardlyandmiserableenoughtoconcealmyselfandsurrendermynametowell—deserveddisgrace?Letmegoout,Eliza;havemercyuponme!Donotcompelmetoremoveyouforciblyfromthedoor!"
"Ah,"criedEliza,withscornfullaughter,"youthinkIwillstepbackfromthedoorandletyougotokillmyfatherandmybrothers?
Listen,sir;yousaidyoulovedme。Givemeaproofofit。Letmegooutfirst,letmespeakwithmyfatheronlythreewords!PerhapsI
maypersuadehimtoreleaseyoursoldiersandgohomewithhisfriends。"
"Verywell,IwillprovetoyouthatIloveyou。Godown,Eliza,speakwithyourfather。Igiveyoutenminutes'time;thatistosay,Isacrificetoyoutenminutesofmyhonor。"
Elizautteredacryofjoy;sheencircledUlrich'sneckimpetuouslywithherarmsandimprintedaglowingkissonhisforehead。
"Farewell,sir,"shewhispered,"farewell,andGodblessyou!"
Thenshepushedhimback,hastenedtothedoor,threwitopen,andsprangout。Sheclosedthedoorcarefullybehindher,lockeditwithafirmandquickhand,drewthekeyfromthelock,andconcealeditinherbosom。
"HolyVirgin,IthankThee!"sheexclaimed,joyfully。"Heissaved,fortheroomhasnootheroutlet,andthebalconyistoohighforhimtojumpdown。"
CHAPTERXII。
FAREWELL!
Shespedasgracefullyandquicklyasagazelledownthecorridor。
InthelargehallintowhichitledstoodElza,surroundedbymorethantwentyTyrolesesharpshooters,withwhomshewastalkinginaloud,animatedvoice。Hercheekswereverypale,herlipswerequivering,buthereyesflashedcourageously,and,notwithstandingthepalenessofherface,itdidnotbetraytheleastanxietyorterror。
"Haveyouconsideredwellwhatyouaregoingtodo,menofthePustervalley?"sheasked,inaclear,fullvoice。"Doyouknowthatyouareabouttorebelagainstyourgovernmentandyourking,andthattherebelswillbejudgedandpunishedwiththefullrigorofthelaw?"
"ButtheBavarianswillnotjudgeus,forweshalldrivethemfromthecountry,"shoutedtheTyrolese。"WedonotwantakingnoraBavariangovernment;wewanttogetbackourEmperorFrancisandouroldconstitution。"
"Butyouwillnotsucceed,"saidElza;"youaretooweakagainstthem。Therearetoomanyofthemandtoofewofyou;theyhavecannon,andyouhavenothingbutyourrifles,andtherearemanyofyouwhohavenotevenarifle。"
"ButwehaveourGodandouremperor,andthosetwowillhelpus。
TheAustrians,asAndreasHoferhaswrittentous,arealreadyinthecountry,andallthepeoplearerisingtodrivetheFrenchandBavariansfromthecountry。"
"Itisso,Elza,"saidEliza,encirclingherfriend'sneckwithherarm。"Iknowyou——IknowthatyouarealoyaldaughteroftheTyrol,andyouwillbegladtoseeourdearcountrydeliveredfromtheforeignyokeandrestoredtothegoodEmperorFrancis。"
"But,Lizzie,thinkofmypoorcousinUlrich,"whisperedElzatoher。"Hewilldefendhimselftothelastdropofhisblood。"
"Heisunabletodoso,"whisperedLizzie,withacheerfulsmile。"I
havelockedhimupinthedining—room,andthekeyishereinmybosom。Ulrichcannotgetout,therefore,andthoughheisfuriousandgrim,hemustremainintheroomlikeamouseinatrap。"
"Thatreassuresme,"saidElza,smiling,"andIunderstandnow,too,whymyfatheractedinthemannerhedid。Hedoubtlesssuspectedwhatwouldoccurhere,andgotridofallresponsibility,leavingmeentirelyfreetochoosebetweenmyBavarianrelativeandmyTyrolesecountrymen。Hereismyhand,AnthonyWallner;IamaloyaldaughteroftheTyrol,andshoutwithyou,'LongliveourEmperorFrancis!'"
"Hurrah,longliveourEmperorFrancis!"shoutedtheTyrolese。"LongliveMissElza,theloyaldaughteroftheTyrol!"
"Thankyou,"saidElza,smiling。"IthinkIshallprovemyloyaltywhendangersandwarbesetus。Ishallestablishhereinthecastleahospitalforourwounded,andthewomenofWindisch—Matreywillassistme,scrapelint,andhelpmetonursethewounded。Forwithoutwoundsandbloodshedweshallnotrecoverourindependence,andtheBavarianswillnotsufferthemselvestobedrivenfromthecountrywithoutofferingthemostobstinateresistance。Haveyouconsideredthatwell,myfriends?"
"Wehave;wearepreparedforeverything,"saidAnthony,joyously。
"WewillsufferdeathratherthangiveupouremperorandourdearTyrol。WedonotwanttobecomeSouthernBavarians,butwewillremainTyrolese,anddefendourconstitutionandourlibertytothelastdropofourblood。Willwenot,myfriends?"
"Yes,wewill,"shoutedtheTyrolese。
"AndasfortheBavarians,wearenotafraidofthem,"saidWallner,firmly。"AllthefunctionarieshavealreadyhumblysubmittedtothefreemenoftheTyrol。Theyhavesurrenderedwiththeirwivesandchildren,deliveredtheirfundsatourdemand,andarenowguardedintheirofficialdwellingsbyourmen。AndasfortheBavariansoldiersatthecastlehere,weneednotbeafraidofthemeither,forwehavelockedthemup,likebadgersintheirholes,andtheycannotgetoutofthedoor。"
"Butiftheycannotgetoutofthedoor,theywilljumpoutofthewindows,"saidElza,"andofferthemostdeterminedresistance。"
"Weshallseeiftheycan,"exclaimedWallner,energetically。"Wemustgetthroughwiththemrightaway。Come,men,wemustseetotheBoafoks。"
AndAnthonyWallner,followedbyhissharpshooters,hastenedoutintothecourt—yard。Largenumbersofarmedmenhadassembledthereinthemeantime;evenmarriedwomenandyounggirls,carriedawaybytheuniversalenthusiasm,hadarmedthemselvesandcametotakeanactivepartinthestruggleforthefatherlandandtheemperor。
Allshoutedandcheeredinwildconfusion,allsworetoremaintruetothefatherlandandtheemperortotheirlastbreath。Thesoldierslookedonwonderingly,andwatchedinbreathlessirresolutionfortheircaptainfromthewindows。
Atthismoment,AnthonyWallnerandanumberofcourageoussharpshooterstookpositioninfrontofthewindows。
"Soldiers,"heshouted,inathunderingvoice,"surrender!youareourprisoners!Surrender,throwyourmusketsandfire—armsoutofthewindows,andwewillopenthedoorofyourprisonandallowyoutoreturntoBavaria。"
Thesoldiersmadenoreply,butleanedfaroutofthewindowsandshouted:"Captain!Whereisourcaptain?"
"HereIam!"shoutedapowerfulvoiceabovetheheadsoftheTyrolese;and,lookingupingreatsurprise,theybeheldonthebalconyyoungCaptainUlrichvonHohenberg,withapaleface,hisfeaturesdistortedwithrageandgrief,andstretchingouthisrightarm,withhisflashingswordmenacinglytowardtheTyrolese。
"GreatGod!"murmuredEliza,clinginganxiouslytoElza'sarm,"Ifheresists,heislost。"
"HereIam,mybravesoldiers!"shoutedUlrichvonHohenbergasecondtime。"Cometome,mybravelads!Ihavebeenlockeduphere;
hence,Icannotcometoyou。Comeuptome,then。Knockthedoorsin,anddeliveryourcaptain。"
"First,letthemdeliverthemselves,sir,"shoutedWallneruptohim。Hethenturnedoncemoretothesoldiers。"ListentowhatIamgoingtosaytoyouinthenameofmycountrymen,inthenameofthewholeTyrol,"heshouted。"Forfourlongyearsyouhaveoppressedandmaltreatedus:youhaveinsulted,humiliated,andmortifieduseveryday。ButweareChristians,andwillnotrevengeourselves;wewantonlyourrights,ourliberty,andouremperor。Therefore,ifyousubmitwillinglyandwithgoodgracetowhatcannotbehelped,wewillletyoudepartwithoutpunishingorinjuringyouinanyway,andallowyoutoreturntoyouraccursedBavaria。Butfirstyouwillhavetodotwothings,towit:throwallyourmusketsoutofthewindows,andswearasolemnoaththatyouwillnolongerbeararmsagainsttheTyrolese。"
"Youwillneverswearthatoath,soldiers,"shoutedUlrichvonHohenbergfromhisbalcony。"Youwillkeeptheoathwhichyousworetoyourkingandcommander—in—chief。Youwillnotincurthedisgraceofsurrenderingtoacrowdofrebelliouspeasants。"
"No,no,wewillnot,"shoutedthesoldierstohim;andthereupontheydisappearedfromtheupperfloor,andsoonreappearedindensegroupsatthewindowsofthelowerstory。Thesewindowswereonlyfivefeetabovetheground,andtheywerethereforeabletojumpoutofthem。
"Shootdownthefirstsoldierwhojumpsoutofthewindow!"criedAnthonyWallnertohissharpshooters。
Thesoldierstooknonoticeofhisthreats;asoldierappearedineachofthewindowsreadytorisktheleap。Oneofthem,moreagileandintrepidthantheothers,wasthefirsttojumpdown。Scarcelyhadhisfeettouchedtheground,whenariflecrashedandacloudofwhitesmokeenvelopedeverythingforamoment。Whenitdisappeared,theBavariansoldierwasseentowritheonthegroundintheagonyofdeath,whileoneoftheTyrolesesharpshooterswasquietlyreloadinghisrifle。
Butnowcrashedanothershot,andtheTyroleserifleman,piercedthroughtheheart,reeledbackintothearmsofhisfriendswiththelastgroanofdeath。
"Soldiers,"criedUlrichvonHohenberg,raisinghisdischargedguntriumphantly,"Ihaveavengedthedeathofyourcomrade。Nowforward,jumpdown!Forwardforyourhonorandyourking!"
"Yes,forwardforourhonorandourking!"shoutedthesoldiers,andoneofthemjumpedoutofeachofthewindows。
Anothershotwasfiredfromthebalcony,andwoundedoneoftheTyrolesesharpshooters。
Wildcriesofragefilledthecourt—yard,alleyesturnedmenacinglytothebalcony。ButUlrichvonHohenberghadsteppedbackintotheroom,andnobodysawthathewasreloadinghisfowling—piece,which,withhishunting—pouchandpowder—horn,hadhunginthedining—room。
"Ishalldefendmyselfuntilmysoldierscometodeliverme,"hesaidcourageouslytohimself。Thereuponhemovedthelargetablefromtheroomtothebalcony,placeditonitsside,andleaneditagainsttherailing;ontheothersideofthebalconyheplacedthebenchinthesamemanner,and,protectedbehindthisthree—corneredbarricadefromthebulletsoftheTyrolese,hepushedhisgunintotheaperturebetweenthebenchandthetable,andfiredagain。
Furiouscriesagainfilledthecourt—yard,forthecaptain'sshothaddisabledanotherTyrolese。Thewomenwailedandlamentedloudly,themenutteredfierceimprecations,andliftedtheirclinchedfistsmenacinglytowardthebalcony。Thesoldiershadwithdrawnfromthewindows,andweredeliberatingwiththeirofficersastothecoursewhichtheyweretoadopt。Adefencewasalmostimpossible,for,althoughtheyhadtheirside—armsandcarbines,theycouldnotdoanythingwiththeformerbeforereachingthegroundandengaginginahand—to—handfightwiththepeasants;andthecarbineswereutterlyuseless,asnoammunitionhadbeendistributedamongthem,thecartridgesbeinginthecaptain'sroominthemainpartofthecastle。
"Tenofyouwillenterthecastle,"commandedAnthonyWallnernow。
"Youwilltakethecaptainprisoner,andifherefusestosurrender,shoothimdownashehasshotthreeofourbrethren。"
Tenofthemostcourageoussharpshooterssteppedfromtheranksandrushedintothecastle。
"Heislost!"murmuredElizaWallner,withpalelips,andshesankonherkneesbythesideofherfriendElza。
NowwereheardresoundinginthecastlethethunderingblowswhichtheTyrolesestruckwiththebutt—endsoftheirridesagainstthedooroftheroomwhereUlrichvonHohenbergwaslockedup。
"Thedoorisoldandworm—eaten,itwillgiveway,"sighedElza,andshehastenedresolutelytowardAnthonyWallner,whowasjustcallingagainonthesoldierswithcoolintrepiditytosurrendertohim。
"AnthonyWallner,"shesaid,inasoft,suppliantvoice,"youwillnotstainyourgreatandsacredcausebycowardlymurder。Youwillneverthinkofkillinginmyfather'sownhousehisrelativeandguest?"
"Lethimsurrender:noharmwillbefallhimthen,"criedAnthonyWallner,inaharsh,sternvoice。"Hehasshedthebloodofourmen,andifheiskilled,itwillbedoneinafairfight。Leaveusnow,miss;thestrugglebetweentheTyroleseandtheBoafokshascommenced;lookatthecorpsesyonder,andsayforyourselfwhetherwecanretraceoursteps,and——"
Aloud,thunderingcrash,followedbytriumphantcheers,resoundedinthecastle。
"Theyhaveopenedthedoor,"murmuredEliza,stillonherknees。
"HolyVirgin,protecthim,orheislost!"
Ashotcrashedinthedining—room,acloudofwhitesmokeissuedfromtheopenbalconydoors,andaloudcry,accompaniedbywildimprecations,washeard。
"HehasshotanotherTyrolese,youwillseethathehas!"shoutedWallner,raisinghisclinchedfistsmenacinglytowardthebalcony。
Thecriesdrewnearerandnearer,andnowCaptainUlrichvonHohenberg,hisfeaturespaleanddistortedwithrage,rushedoutonthebalcony。
"Surrender!"shoutedtheTyrolese,pursuinghim。
"Never!"hecried。"Iwilldiesoonerthansurrendertoarabbleofpeasantslikeyou。"
Andforgetfulofthedangersbesettinghim,andinthedespairofhisrageandgrief,thecaptainjumpedfromthebalconyintothemidstofthecrowdinthecourt—yard。
CHAPTERXIII。
THEBRIDEGROOM。
Wildshoutswereheardnow,andagreatcommotionaroseamongtheTyrolese。ThebolddeedoftheBavarianhadsurprisedandconfusedthem;theyhadforgotthesoldiersforamoment,andrivetedtheirwholeattentiononthecaptain。
Hewasuninjured,for,injumpingdown,hehadfallenonthebacksoftwoTyrolese,draggedthemdownwithhim,andthusbrokentheviolenceofthefall。
Beforethetwomen,stunnedbytheirsuddenfall,hadrecoveredfromtheirsurprise,Ulrichwasagainonhisfeet,and,drawinghissword,clearedhimselfapassagethroughthequickly—recedingcrowd。
"Cometome,mysoldiers,cometome!"heshouted,inapantingvoice。
"Hereweare,captain,"criedtwentysoldiers,drivingthecrowdbackwithpowerfulstrokes。Theyhadprofitedbythefavorablemomentwhenthewindowshadnotbeenwatched,andhadjumpedtotheground。
Nowfollowedahand—to—handstruggleofindescribablefury。Nothingwasheardbutthewildimprecationsandshoutsofthefighting,theshrieksandgroansofthewoundedandthescreamsofthewomenandchildren。
ButamidstthestruggleandthegeneralconfusionAnthonyWallnerdidnotlosehispresenceofmind。Hehadpostedtwentysharpshootersinfrontofthewindows,behindwhichthesoldierswerestanding,and,withriflesraised,theythreateneddeathtoallwhoshoulddaretoapproachthewindows。Hence,thesoldiersbadretiredintothebackpartoftherooms,andweredeliberatingonthecoursewhichtheyweretopursue。Buttheirfaceswereanxiousandirresolute,andtheywhisperedtoeachother:"Ifourcaptainshouldfall,nothingremainsforusbuttosurrender。"
Buttheircaptainhadnotyetfallen;hestilllivedanddefendedhimselfcourageously,surroundedbyhissoldiers,againsttheTyrolese,whoattackedhimfuriouslyandparriedthesabre—strokeswiththebutt—endsoftheirrifles,buthadnoroom,anddidnotdaretoshootathim,forfearofhittinginthewildmeleeoneoftheirownmeninsteadoftheirenemy。
Buttheoddsweretoogreat;sixofthesoldiershadalreadybeenknockeddownbythebutt—endsoftheTyroleserifles。TheTyrolesehadwrestedthesabresfromthehandsofthefallensoldiers,andhadrushedwiththemupontheircomrades。Thenfollowedafurioushand—to—handstruggle。Thefumesofthebloodflowingontheground,theshoutsofthecombatants,thehatredandfurywithwhichtheenemiesstoodfacetoface,hadfilledtheirheartswithboundlessferocity。Nobodygave,nobodyaskedquarter。Underthebutt—endblowsoftheTyrolese,theBavarianssanktothegroundwithaglanceofhatred;piercedbytheswordsoftheBavarians,theTyrolesefell,withanimprecationontheirlips。
UlrichvonHohenbergwasstillholdinghisground;hisswordhadspreaddestructionanddeatharoundhim;hewasstillencouraginghissoldierswithloudshouts,buthisvoicewasbeginningtogrowfaint,andhisbloodwasrunningfromaterriblewoundinhisshoulder。
"Totherescue,soldiers?"heshoutednowwithalasteffort,"donotsufferyourcaptaintobeslainbymiserablepeasants。Totherescue!helpmeorshootme,thatImaydieanhonorabledeath,andnotbeassassinatedbythetraitors。"
"Iwillcomplywithyourwishes,"criedAnthonyWallner,rushingintothemidstofthebloodymeleecloseuptothecaptain;"yes,youshalldie;Iwillputanendtoyourlife!"
Andhisarm,brandishingtheswordofafallenBavarian,rosethreateninglyaboveUlrich'shead,whiletwootherTyroleserusheduponhimfrombehindwithfuriousshouts。
AtthismomenttwohandsclutchedWallner'sarmconvulsively,andaloud,anxiousvoiceexclaimed:
"Father,donotkillhim!Heismybridegroom!"
"Herbridegroom!"echoedtheTyrolese,startingbackinsurprise。
"Yourbridegroom?"askedAnthonyWallner,castingalookofdismayonhisdaughterEliza,whowasstandinginfrontofherfather,pale,withflashingeyes,encirclingUlrich'sneckwithonearm,liftinguptheothermenacingly,andstaringatherfatherwitharesoluteanddefiantexpression。
"Awayfromhim,Lizzie!"criedWallner,furiously;"IcannotbelievethatmychildwillinflictonmethedisgraceoflovingaBavarian。"
"Yes,Ilovehim,"exclaimedEliza,withglowingcheeks。"Ifyouwishtokillhim,youmustkillmefirst,forwehavesworntoliveanddietogether。Heismybridegroom,father,andshallbecomemyhusband,sohelpmeGod!"
"No,never!"criedUlrichvonHohenberg,tryingtodisengagehimselffromEliza。"Nevercanthepeasant—girlbecomemywife!Begone,Eliza,Ihavenothingfurthertodowithyou。"
"Andstillyousworeafewminutesagothatyoulovednothingonearthmoredearlythanmealone,"saidEliza,inaloudvoice,"andyouimploredmetogowithyouandremainalwaysbyyourside?"
"ButneverdidIsaythatIwouldmarryyou,"exclaimedUlrich,palewithrage,andstilltryingtodisengagehimselffromEliza'sarm。
"Youwouldnotmarryher!"criedAnthonyWallner;"youintendedonlytodishonorher,myproudBavariangentleman?YouthoughtaTyrolesepeasant—girl'shonoranexcellentpastime,butyouwouldnotmarryher?"
"Father,father,"criedEliza,beseechingly,clingingfirmlytoUlrich'sside,"father,Ilovehimandcannotlivewithouthim。Heismybridegroom!"
"No,no!"shoutedUlrich,andawildimprecationagainstElizaburstfromhislips。
TheTyroleseinthemeantimehadlongsinceoverpoweredthefewsoldiers,and,attractedbythestrangescene,crowdedaroundthecuriousgroup;onlythetwentysharpshooterswerestillstandingwithriflesraisedinfrontofthewindowsoftheimprisonedsoldiers,andwatchingthemwiththreateningeyes。
AnthonyWallnerhaddroppedhisarmandlookeddownmusingly;onhearingthecaptain'sinsultingwords,hegaveashoutandlifteduphisfaceflushedwithprideandindignation。
"Justlistentothetraitor,brethren!"hesaidinthecold,quiettonewhichonlythemostprofoundexasperationimpartstothehumanvoice。"Firstheturnedthegirl'sheadandheartbytheprotestationsofhislove,causinghereventoforgetherfatherandherTyrol;andnowheinsultsherandrefusestomarryher!"
"Hesaiditonlyinhisrage,father,buthelovesmeafterall,"
exclaimedEliza,clingingtothecaptainnotwithstandinghisresistance,andtryingtowresthisswordfromhim。
"Begone,Eliza!"criedUlrich,"or——"Hepushedherviolentlyfromhim,andquicklyraisedhisswordagainsther。ButtwoTyrolesepreventedhimfromcarryingouthisfelldesignbyrushinguponhim,seizinghisarmwithHerculeanstrength,wrestingtheswordfromhishand,throwingtheweapontaraway,andexclaimingtriumphantly:
"Nowsurrender,Bavarian!Youareourprisoner。"
"Thenshootmeatleast,"shoutedUlrich,besidehimselfwithrage;
"shootme,Isay;deathispreferabletothedisgraceofbeingaprisonerofsuchmiserablerabble。"
"Hush,beloved,forGod'ssake,hush!"saidEliza,clingingtohimtenderly。
Hepushedherviolentlyfromhisside。"Begone,hypocriticalwench!"
heshoutedinaparoxysmoffury;"Idonotwanttohaveanythingtodowithyou!"
"Butyoushallhavesomethingtodowithher,"saidAnthonyWallner,withproudcalmness。"Thegirlsaysthatshelovesyou,andthatyoupromisedtomarryher。Itwasbadinyoutopersuadeherbehindthebacksofherparentsandinfatuateherpoorheart,andyoushallbepunishednowforyourinfamy。YoushallmarryLizzie。TheproudandwealthybaronwhodespisestheTyrolesepeasantssomuchshallnowmarrytheTyrolesepeasant—girl。"
"Yes,yes,thatisright,"exclaimedtheTyroleseexultingly;"theproudbaronshallmarrytheTyrolesepeasant—girl。"
"Letusgodowntothevillage,then,"saidAnthonyWallner;"ourcurateshallmarrythemimmediatelyatthechurch;andthenletthetwoleavetheplaceasquicklyaspossible,andbewareofeverreturningtoWindisch—Matrey;fornevershallthewifeoftheBavarianCaptainUlrichvonHohenbergdaretosaythatsheisElizaWallner,daughteroftheTyroleseAnthonyWallner—Aichberger,theinnkeeperofWindisch—Matrey。Ihavenolongeradaughter——Itearherfrommyheart,asshetorehonor,righteousness,andfaithfromhers。"
ElizacalledtwoTyrolesewithanimpetuouswaveofherhandtoherside。"Holdhim,"shesaid,pointingtoUlrich,who,paleandtottering,exhaustedfromhissuperhumaneffortsandlossofblood,wasscarcelyabletostandonhisfeet;"holdhim,Imustspeaktomyfather。"
Shehastenedtohim,seizedbothhishandsdespitehisresistance,anddrewhisfacesoclosetohersthathishot,pantingbreathtouchedhercheek;butheavertedhiseyeswithagloomyexpressionandavoidedmeetingherfieryglances。
"Youdonotwanttoknowme,father!"sheaskedmournfully。"YouavertyoureyesfromyourLizzie,whomyoucalledonlyyesterdayyourdear,braveTyrolesegirl?"
"Youarenochildofmine,youarenoTyrolesegirl,"exclaimedherfather,angrilyandmournfully。"YouwanttomarrytheBavarian,andbecomeanaristocraticlady。"
"ItisallthesametomewhetherUlrichyonderisanaristocraticgentlemanornot,"saidEliza,shakingherheadproudly;"Ilovehimonlybecausehepleasesmesowell,andbecausehelovesmesofondlyandardently。But,father,youmustnotsaythatIamnotruedaughteroftheTyrol,anddonotlovethefatherland。IwillprovetoallofyouthatIdoloveit;andtoUlrichyonder,whowishedtopersuademetorunawaywithhimsecretly,andwhomustmarrymenowtoatoneforit,IwillprovelikewisethatIamnobaronessalthoughIlovehim,andthatIdonotlovehiskingandhisbrilliantuniform,butthatIwillremainloyaltomyemperoralone。
Listentome,therefore,father,andallofyou:UlrichvonHohenbergismybridegroom,andthereforeyoushallnotkillhim,nordohimanyharm,butconveyhimasaprisonertomyfather'shouse,notforthepurposeofbeingmarriedtome,buttobekeptandnursedasawoundedprisoner。IswearbytheLordGodandtheHolyVirgin,Iwillnotmarryhimtillwehaveconquered,tillallBavarianshavebeendrivenfromthecountry,andtheEmperorFrancisisoncemoresovereignoftheTyrol。NorshallIstayathometonursemybridegroomandspeakwithhimofloveandmarriage,butI
willgoandfightwithyouforourTyrolandouremperor。Iwillfightwithmyfatherandmycountrymen,andprovethatIamatruedaughteroftheTyrol。Whenyouhavenothingtoeat,Iwillcookforyou;andwhenyougotofighttheBavarians,Iwillfightwithyou。
Myfather'slameporter,ourfaithfulSchroepfel,shallhavemybridegroominhiscustody,andprotecthimuntilwereturntoourhomes。ButweshallnotreturnbeforeourdearTyrolisfreeandrestoredtotheEmperorFrancis,andthen,father,whenyourLizziehasbravelyfoughtforourdearTyrol,youwillpermithertomarrythemanwhomsheloves,andyouwillnolongersaythatsheisnotyourdaughter,willyou?""No,Lizzie,thenIshallnolongersayorthinkso,"criedWallner,foldinghisdaughtertohisheart,overcomebyhisemotion。"Yes,youareabravechildoftheTyrol;
youshallmarchtothefieldwithus,andwhenwereturntoourhomes,youshallmarryyourBavarian。Say,mydearfriends,shallitbeso?"
"Yes,itshall,"shoutedtheTyrolese。"Herweddingshalltakeplacewhenwereturntoourhomes,andwhentheTyrolisfree。"
"No,no,"criedUlrich,raisinghimselfupwithalasteffort:
"neverwillmyfather'ssondishonorhimselfsodeeplyastomarryapeasant—girl——"
Hesaidnomore;astreamofbloodrushedfromhismouth,amortalpalloroverspreadhischeeks,hiseyesclosed,andhesanktothegroundwithagroanofpain。
"Heisdying!heisdying!"criedEliza,despairingly。Sherushedtohim,kneltdownbyhisside,andencircledhimfirmlywithbothherarms,sothathisheadreposedonherbreast。
Acry,aloud,painfulcry,resoundedaboveherintheair;alleyesturnedtowardthebalcony,butnoonewasthere;onlyforamomentitseemedtothemasthoughafemaleformglidedthroughthedining—
room。
"Elza,itwasElza!"murmuredEliza。"Whydoesshenotcometome?
why——"AtthismomentUlrichopenedhiseyesagain,andfixedalookofproudhatredfulluponEliza'sface,whichwastenderlybentoverhim。
"Idonotloveyou,Idetestyou!"hehissed,betweenhisfirmly—
compressedteeth。
"Helives,thankGod,helives!"criedEliza;"nowalliswell,andIamnolongerafraidofanything。Schroepfel,comehere;takehimonyourshoulders,dearSchroepfel,orletJohnhelpyoutocarryhimtomychamber,whereyouwilllayhimonmybed。YousweartomebytheHolyVirginthatyouwillwatchoverhimfaithfully?"
"IswearbytheHolyVirgin,"saidSchroepfel,liftinghisheavyfiststoheaven,andthenfixinghissmall,flashingeyesonUlrich,asawatch—dogeyesthebonehefearsmaybetakenfromhim。