登陆注册
15739100000054

第54章

FAREWELL!

She sped as gracefully and quickly as a gazelle down the corridor.

In the large hall into which it led stood Elza, surrounded by more than twenty Tyrolese sharpshooters, with whom she was talking in a loud, animated voice. Her cheeks were very pale, her lips were quivering, but her eyes flashed courageously, and, notwithstanding the paleness of her face, it did not betray the least anxiety or terror.

"Have you considered well what you are going to do, men of the Puster valley?" she asked, in a clear, full voice. "Do you know that you are about to rebel against your government and your king, and that the rebels will be judged and punished with the full rigor of the law? ""But the Bavarians will not judge us, for we shall drive them from the country," shouted the Tyrolese. "We do not want a king nor a Bavarian government; we want to get back our Emperor Francis and our old constitution.""But you will not succeed," said Elza; "you are too weak against them. There are too many of them and too few of you; they have cannon, and you have nothing but your rifles, and there are many of you who have not even a rifle.""But we have our God and our emperor, and those two will help us.

The Austrians, as Andreas Hofer has written to us, are already in the country, and all the people are rising to drive the French and Bavarians from the country.""It is so, Elza," said Eliza, encircling her friend's neck with her arm. "I know you--I know that you are a loyal daughter of the Tyrol, and you will be glad to see our dear country delivered from the foreign yoke and restored to the good Emperor Francis.""But, Lizzie, think of my poor cousin Ulrich," whispered Elza to her. "He will defend himself to the last drop of his blood.""He is unable to do so," whispered Lizzie, with a cheerful smile. "Ihave locked him up in the dining-room, and the key is here in my bosom. Ulrich cannot get out, therefore, and though he is furious and grim, he must remain in the room like a mouse in a trap.""That reassures me," said Elza, smiling, "and I understand now, too, why my father acted in the manner he did. He doubtless suspected what would occur here, and got rid of all responsibility, leaving me entirely free to choose between my Bavarian relative and my Tyrolese countrymen. Here is my hand, Anthony Wallner; I am a loyal daughter of the Tyrol, and shout with you, 'Long live our Emperor Francis!'""Hurrah, long live our Emperor Francis!" shouted the Tyrolese. "Long live Miss Elza, the loyal daughter of the Tyrol!""Thank you," said Elza, smiling. "I think I shall prove my loyalty when dangers and war beset us. I shall establish here in the castle a hospital for our wounded, and the women of Windisch-Matrey will assist me, scrape lint, and help me to nurse the wounded. For without wounds and bloodshed we shall not recover our independence, and the Bavarians will not suffer themselves to be driven from the country without offering the most obstinate resistance. Have you considered that well, my friends?""We have; we are prepared for every thing," said Anthony, joyously.

"We will suffer death rather than give up our emperor and our dear Tyrol. We do not want to become Southern Bavarians, but we will remain Tyrolese, and defend our constitution and our liberty to the last drop of our blood. Will we not, my friends?""Yes, we will," shouted the Tyrolese.

"And as for the Bavarians, we are not afraid of them," said Wallner, firmly. "All the functionaries have already humbly submitted to the freemen of the Tyrol. They have surrendered with their wives and children, delivered their funds at our demand, and are now guarded in their official dwellings by our men. And as for the Bavarian soldiers at the castle here, we need not be afraid of them either, for we have locked them up, like badgers in their holes, and they cannot get out of the door.""But if they cannot get out of the door, they will jump out of the windows," said Elza, "and offer the most determined resistance.""We shall see if they can," exclaimed Wallner, energetically. "We must get through with them right away. Come, men, we must see to the Boafoks."And Anthony Wallner, followed by his sharpshooters, hastened out into the court-yard. Large numbers of armed men had assembled there in the mean time; even married women and young girls, carried away by the universal enthusiasm, had armed themselves and came to take an active part in the struggle for the fatherland and the emperor.

All shouted and cheered in wild confusion, all swore to remain true to the fatherland and the emperor to their last breath. The soldiers looked on wonderingly, and watched in breathless irresolution for their captain from the windows.

At this moment, Anthony Wallner and a number of courageous sharpshooters took position in front of the windows.

"Soldiers," he shouted, in a thundering voice, "surrender! you are our prisoners! Surrender, throw your muskets and fire-arms out of the windows, and we will open the door of your prison and allow you to return to Bavaria."The soldiers made no reply, but leaned far out of the windows and shouted: "Captain! Where is our captain?""Here I am!" shouted a powerful voice above the heads of the Tyrolese; and, looking up in great surprise, they beheld on the balcony young Captain Ulrich von Hohenberg, with a pale face, his features distorted with rage and grief, and stretching out his right arm, with his flashing sword menacingly toward the Tyrolese.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 明察暗探

    明察暗探

    为了查明当年双亲无故双亡的真相而回到中国,却不小心搞出一堆案件等着自己探索的作死成长历程。“我不是柯南,并不是走到哪哪里就有命案发生的那种体质啊喂……”
  • 乖乖男神别傲娇

    乖乖男神别傲娇

    青梅竹马两小无猜,呆萌小妞芳心暗许,踏上追男神的慢慢无期之路。——某夜,沙滩。“苏菱浅,你看够了没有?”某冰山男神酷酷的说。萌萌妹子理直气壮地摇了摇头:“湮深哥,你继续看你喜欢的星星,我看我喜欢的你,两不耽误,有什么不好的嘛。”转眼五年,角色互换,傲娇男神变无耻总裁,重新挽回不见当年萌的小妞。——酒店,房间。“浅浅乖,被窝已暖好,爷爷说想要个孙子。”当年酷酷男神卧躺在床。“呵,孙子,五年前不是被你亲手害死了吗。”某男脸色一变,若有其事的说:“你有所不知,昨天他托梦告诉我,他现在正在等着良好时机来光临你的肚子呢,咱们现在就给他制造机会吧!”看他那死缠烂打的样子,浅浅究竟该恨该爱。
  • 灵虫大人

    灵虫大人

    那一天,天降流星,世界突变。从此之后,各种各样的灵虫现世,有令人飞翔的翼虫,有使人变兽的兽虫,同样有让人掌控火焰的炎虫。更多的是,将人化作行尸走肉的尸虫。影像虫,橡皮虫,分身虫,岩石虫,应声虫,星罡月芒虫……这是一个因虫而带来的末世,也是一个因虫而象征的时代。
  • 下个相遇只在路口

    下个相遇只在路口

    “不管未来的路有多么难走,我也会陪着你从开始走到结尾。”“你难道还要像四年前一样用你亲手编织的谎言来把我逼走吗,无忧,我爱你。。。。”这是一个美好的结局,只不过历尽艰辛……
  • 侠探随风录

    侠探随风录

    柳随风,没有人知道他的来历,过去,师承。他就突然的在江湖中冒了出来,他视乎身手很好,没有几个人可以要了他的性命,他朋友也极多,总在三教九流中随意穿梭,像风一样,看起来不是聪明人,却好像又没有什么事可以难到他。有人称他是个神探,大侠,英雄,也有人说他是个怪胎,小人,坏蛋。认识他的人,听说过他的人,在遇到莫名奇怪,又手足无措的情况下,总是会想到他。他一副悠懒而又有些苍白的脸总是露着笑容,摸着不符合年纪的雪白发丝,笑着道:“有点意思!”翻云覆雨,洗尽铅华。万物轮回,一声惊蛰!
  • 士兵突击

    士兵突击

    一个有着性格缺点的普通农村孩子,他单纯而执着,在军人的世界里跌打滚爬。因为他的笨,让全人受累;因为他的认真,让全连队为之感动;因为他的执着,让全营战士为之骄傲。虽然他的家乡祖屋在爆炸声中变成一堆瓦砾,却无法阻止他坚毅的军人步伐;善良的怜悯,并未使他忘记军人的职责,枪杀毒犯……他在种种困厄和磨难中百炼成钢。他的名字叫——许三多。
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 冥文世界

    冥文世界

    一个被称为“冥文星”的星球,一群被称为“人类”的生物,还有一群所谓的“怪物”。新的星球,新的大陆,新的世界,新的生物!!!!!
  • 惑君心:倾世妖娆妃

    惑君心:倾世妖娆妃

    她,21世纪金牌杀手,拥有着微笑死神的称号,遭男友击杀含恨而死。一朝穿越,成为凤府人人喊打的废物。浴火凤凰,涅磐重生,极品废柴变绝世天才。他,神秘的邪王,冷酷邪魅腹黑霸道,唯独屡屡纠缠于她。在这场有趣的游戏中,究竟是谁胜谁败…【紫衿读者群:474491594】
  • 冒险家之路

    冒险家之路

    秦始皇陵,楼兰古国,亚特兰蒂斯,姑父金字塔。这是一个冒险探秘的故事。这是一个普通人一步步成为国王的故事。‘我只是一个充满好奇心,喜欢探秘的人。’——楚风。