were still traversing the country； and calling upon the peasants to
repair to Father Red…beard's camp near Brixen； and their appeals
were readily complied with。 The brave peasants of Rodeneck；
Weitenthal； and Schoneck； led by their courageous pastor； George
Schoneck； came into camp； and so did Anthony Wallner with the four
hundred men who had followed him from the Puster valley。
Father Haspinger received these brave men exultingly； and folded
their leader； Anthony Wallner； tenderly to his heart。
〃You have fought again like a hero；〃 he exclaimed； patting his
cheeks affectionately； 〃the whole Tyrol is extolling your exploits
at the murderous battle of Taxenbach； and they are telling wonderful
stories about the surpassing heroism and bravery you displayed on
that occasion。〃
〃It is true； we fought bravely；〃 said Anthony Wallner； sighing； 〃but
it did not do much good； for the enemy was ten to one； and we were
finally unable to check his advance。 But we followed him； and will
now unite with you； reverend father； in order to expel him once more
from the country。 I believe there will be another battle on Mount
Isel； for the enemy is always intent on forcing his way to
Innspruck； believing that the whole Tyrol is subjugated so soon as
the capital has fallen into his hands。 We must strive； therefore； to
meet him there once more； for you know the old prophecy； saying that
Mount Isel will be a lucky place for the Tyrolese。〃
〃I do know it；〃 said the friar； 〃and if it please God we will verify
it。 The freedom of the Tyrol is buried on Mount Isel near Innspruck；
and we will disinter the golden treasure there and cause it to shed
its lustre once more on our mountains and valleys。 You shall help me
to do it； Anthony Wallner； you and your famous sharpshooters of
Windisch…Matrey。 But previously I think； my friend； we shall have
something to do here； for our scouts have returned with the news
that the enemy is approaching。 His column is headed by Saxon and
Bavarian troops under the French general； Royer； his forces are
followed by the main army under the commander…in…chief； Marshal
Lefebvre； or as he proudly call himself； the Duke of Dantsic。
General Royer has got already as far as Sterzing； and if we do not
interfere the Saxons will soon reach Brixen。〃
〃But we will interfere；〃 cried Anthony Wallner； 〃we will not allow
them to advance to Brixen； and I will occupy immediately with my
sharpshooters the mountain…passes on the route of the enemy。 We will
receive the Duke of Dantsic with fireworks which will sadden his
heart。〃
〃Do so； dear Anthony；〃 exclaimed Haspinger； joyfully。 〃I myself will
first go to Brixen and teach the members of the municipality better
manners。 Their terror and anguish have rendered them quite eloquent；
and they have dissuaded many hundred peasants； who were passing
through Brixen to join my command； from so doing； and induced them
to return to their homes。 I shall speak a serious word with those
gentlemen； and teach them a little patriotism。〃
Haspinger nodded kindly to Anthony Wallner； and calling ten of his
best sharpshooters to him repaired to the city hall of Brixen； where
the members of the municipality were assembled。 He made them a
furious speech； which； however； did not impress the gentlemen as
forcibly as the threats which he added to it。 He swore that； if the
members of the municipality would not have the tocsin sounded
immediately and send out mounted messengers to call out the peasants
and send them to him； he would cause every one of them to be hanged
or shot in the morning！ And this oath was effectual enough； for the
terrified gentlemen knew full well that Father Haspinger had the
power and the will to fulfil his oaths。 Hence； the tocsin was
sounded； mounted messengers were Neat out in all directions； and on
the following morning upward of two thousand able…bodied men arrived
at Haspinger's camp。 ＇Footnote： 〃Gallery of Heroes： Andreas Hofer；〃
p。 110。＇
〃All right；〃 said the friar； 〃if Andreas Hofer and Speckbacher join
us with their forces； I believe we shall succeed； and St。 Cassian
will have understood our prayers。〃
While Anthony Wallner and his sharpshooters occupied the mountain…
gorges this side of Brixen on the road to Mittewald； Joseph
Speckbacher and his men had penetrated far beyond Mittewald toward
Sterzing； and had learned that the Saxons； under General Royer； were
resting at Sterzing with the intention of advancing in the morning
through the wild valley of the Eisach toward Brixen。
〃Well； if the Saxons are resting we must work in order to prepare
eternal repose for them；〃 said Joseph Speckbacher； gayly。 〃Now come；
my brave lads； we must take the Saxons between two fires。 They are
miserable scoundrels and traitors。 Ah； they do not shrink from
serving the rapacious conqueror Bonaparte； and turning their arms
against their German countrymen； merely because the French emperor
orders them to do so； and because we refuse to submit to the foreign
yoke。 and are determined to preserve our German tongue and our
German rights！ How disgraceful it is that Germans should attack
Germans at the bidding of the foreign oppressor！ Therefore； we will
punish the Saxons and Bavarians in the name of God and the Holy
Virgin。 We will let them advance down the defile； and attack them
only after they are in it。 They cannot retrace their steps； for we
are behind them； nor can they advance very far； for Father Red…beard
will meet them in front。 Now come and let us make festive
preparations； as it behooves those who are expecting distinguished
guests。 We will erect a few triumphal arches to them； and show them
how avalanches roll down our mountains。 Ah； we will build up for
them artificial ruins which will excite their sincere admiration！〃
〃Yes； yes； we will！〃 shouted the peasants； who went to work； singing
and laughing。 In the first place； they erected 〃triumphal arches〃 to
the enemy； that is to say； they obstructed the road by raising a
number of abatis； besmeared with pitch the wooden railing of the
bridge built across the Eisach near the village of Pleis； loosened
the planks of the bridge； and began to build 〃avalanches。〃 They
felled a considerable number of tall larches； tied ropes to both
ends of them； lowered them half…way down the precipitous side of the
mountain； and fastened the ropes above to the strong branches of
trees firmly rooted in the soil of the crest。 Then they threw huge
masses of rock and heaps of rubbish on these hanging scaffolds； and
after the 〃avalanches〃 had thus been completed； they withdrew
cautiously and rapidly into the mountain…gorges。 Only Zoppel； Joseph
Speckbacher's servant； and an old peasant remained near the
〃avalanches。〃 They stood on both sides of the ropes； hatchet in
hand； casting fiery glances into the defile on the bank of the
Eisach； and between overhanging wood…clad precipices。
Profound silence reigned all around； only from time to time a
rustling noise was heard in the shrubbery； the flashing barrel of a
rifle was then seen； and it seemed as though the fleet…footed
chamois appeared on the heights above。 But they were Tyrolese
sharpshooters who had climbed up to the watch…towers of their
natural fortresses to espy the enemy and on his appearance to
welcome him with the bullets of their rifles。
Profound silence reigned all around； and the two men were still
standing； hatchet in hand； by the side of the ropes holding the
artificial avalanches。
All at once a loud； shrill whistle resounded in front of the
entrance to the defile； it was repeated all around the gloomy gorge。
〃That is the signal that the enemy has passed the inn am Sack and is
entering the defile of the Eisach；〃 murmured Zoppel； examining once
more the edge of his hatchet with his hand。 Then he looked down
attentively into the depth； where only a footpath meandered close
along the bank of the foaming Eisach。
A few soldiers were now seen entering the defile yonder； where the
road projected between two jutting rocks forming the background of
the gorge。
The form of a Tyrolese sharpshooter appeared at the same moment on
the top of the precipitous rock。 He stepped close to the edge of the
rock； allowed the soldiers； who looked around slowly and
distrustfully； to advance a few steps； and then raised his rifle。 He
fired； one of the soldiers fell immediately to the ground； and the
Tyrolese sharpshooter reloaded his rifle。 He fired again； and laid
another soldier prostrate。
The two reports had accelerated the march of the enemy。 The soldiers
entered the defile with a hasty step； in order to advance； they had
to remove the two soldiers who were writhing in the agony of death
and obstructing the narrow path； and throw them into the waters of
the Eisach； which received with a wild roar the two corpses； the
first victims of the reopening struggle。
Meanwhile the Tyrolese sharpshooter on the height above had reloaded
his rifle and shot another soldier。 On seeing this； he uttered a
loud Jodler； made a leap of joy； and nodded laughingly to the enemy；
who cast threatening glances on him。 But he did not see that one of
the officers below called four soldiers to him； pointed his hand at
the top of the rock； and gave them a quick order。 The four soldiers
sprang at once from the ranks and disappeared in the shrubbery
covering the base of the rock。
The sharpshooter was reloading his rifle； when the shrubbery behind
him rustled； and； on turning hastily； be saw one of the soldiers
rushing toward him。 A cry of rage burst from the lips of the
sharpshooter。 He then raised his rifle and fired。 The soldier fell；
but at the same moment one of his comrades hastened from the thicket
toward the top of the rock。 Another cry burst from the
sharpshooter's lips； but this time it sounded like a death…cry。 He
saw that he was lost； for already the uniforms of the other two
soldiers were glittering among the trees； and the second soldier was
only a few steps from the edge of the rock where the sharpshooter
was standing。 The Tyrolese cast a last despairing glance around him；
as if to take leave of heaven and earth； and of the mountains and
Valleys of his beloved Tyrol。 Then he threw dow