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prematurely； and thereby cause him to occupy the ravine before we
have reached it。 Forward； then； quickly through the forest； and then
descend noiselessly into the valley。 But before setting out； we will
pray two rosaries。 If we long for success in battle； we must invoke
God's assistance。〃
He took his rosary and prayed； and the Tyrolese bent their heads
devoutly； and prayed like their commander。 Then they glided quickly
and noiselessly through the thick forest； headed by Andreas Hofer；
who led Eliza Wallner with tender solicitude by the hand。 At length
they reached the gorge； and Andreas Hofer was just about entering it
with the others； when Anthony Sieberer； Jacob Eisenstocken； and a
few other prominent Tyrolese； stepped to him and kept him back with
tender violence。
〃A general does not accompany his soldiers into the thickest of the
fight；〃 said Eisenstocken。 〃That is not his province。 He has to
direct the battle with his head； but not to fight it out with his
arm。〃
〃But bear in mind that Bonaparte does not leave his soldiers even in
battle；〃 said Andreas Hofer； trying to push them aside and advance。
〃No； dearest commander；〃 exclaimed Anthony Sieberer； 〃you must not
go down with the men。 Think of it； what would become of us and our
cause if an accident befell our commander and a bullet shattered his
beloved head！ Our friends and sharpshooters would feel as though
that bullet had shattered all their beads； they would be discouraged
and give up our cause as lost。 No； no； Andreas Hofer； you owe it to
your fatherland； your emperor； and your Tyrolese； not to expose
yourself to too great dangers； for your life is necessary to us； and
you are the standard which the Tyrolese are following。 If our
standard sinks to the ground； our Tyrolese will be panic…stricken
and run away。 Consequently you must not go into battle； either to…
day or at any time hereafter。〃 〃You are right； I see it；〃 said
Hofer； mournfully。 〃They would be thunderstruck if a bullet should
hit their commander； hence I submit； and shall stay here。 You will
stay with me； Lizzie Wallner； and Ennemoser； my secretary； shall do
so too。 Now go； all of you； and God grant that we may all meet
again。 I shall stay at this very spot； and he who wants to see me
must come hither。 I can survey from here the whole plain of the
Sterzinger Moos。 Now； my dear friends and brethren；〃 he shouted in a
loud； ringing voice； 〃for God； the fatherland； and your emperor！〃
〃For God； the fatherland； and our emperor！〃 shouted the Tyrolese；
rushing down the mountain…path into the ravine whence they were to
attack the enemy。
But the Bavarians had been on their guard； and their commander；
Colonel Baerenklau； divining the tactics of the Tyrolese； had
ordered his two guns to be pointed against the ravine。
Now the first shots thundered from their mouths； and volleys of
musketry were discharged from all the squares at the same time； at
the advancing column of the Tyrolese。 The Tyrolese； not prepared for
so sudden and violent an attack； dismayed at the havoc produced in
their ranks by the balls and bullets of the Bavarians； gave way and
ran over the corpses of their brethren back to the ravine。 But there
stood the crowd of women who had accompanied the column； who had
hastened up from Sterzing； and the whole neighborhood； and had
advanced with the Tyrolese out of the ravine almost close to the
squares of the enemy。 They received the fugitives with invectives
and angry glances； they strove to kindle their courage； they went
and begged them with clasped hands and tearful eyes not to desert
the cause of the fatherland； become discouraged in so disgraceful a
manner in the very first battle； and thereby make themselves the
laughing…stock of the hateful Bavarians and French。
And the men listened to these voices； they drank courage from the
wine which the women handed to them； and rushed forward a second
time。 Their rifles crashed and mowed down the front ranks of the
Bavarians； but behind the corpses stood the rear ranks； and their
volleys responded to the Tyrolese； and the cannon thundered across
the plain reeking with gore and powder。
The Tyrolese gave way a second time； for the murderous fire of the
Bavarians filled them with stupor and dismay
〃In this manner we shall never gain a victory； and our men will be
uselessly slaughtered；〃 said Andreas Hofer； who was watching the
struggle with breathless suspense。 〃But we must not incur the
disgrace of losing the first battle； for that would discourage our
men for all time to come。 Come； Ennemoser； run down to them and tell
them to try a third time。 If they do not； Andreas Hofer will rush
ail alone upon the enemy and wait for a bullet to shatter his head。〃
Young Ennemoser； the secretary； sped down the ravine； Hofer pressed
his crucifix to his lips and prayed； Eliza Wallner advanced close to
the edge of the precipice； and peered down into the plain。 Her eyes
filled with tears when she perceived the many corpses piled up on
both sides of the ravine； but the squares of the enemy likewise had
been considerably thinned； and death had made fearful havoc in their
ranks。
〃Andreas Hofer；〃 she cried； exultingly； 〃your message was
successful。 Our men are rushing forward。 Do you not hear their
cheers？〃
〃I do； and may the good God grant them success！〃 sighed Andreas
Hofer stepping close up to Eliza。
They saw the Tyrolese emerging again at the double…quick from the
ravine； and rushing upon the enemy； who received them with volleys
of musketry and artillery…fire。 But； alas！ they saw the Tyrolese
give way again and retreat； though more slowly than before； to the
ravine。
〃This will never do；〃 cried Hofer； despairingly。 〃Our men are
slaughtered in this way； and cannot reach the enemy； whose cannon
are mowing them down like scythes。 O God； show the a way to help our
men！〃
His eyes glanced despairingly over the plain； as if searching for
relief。 All at once a bright flash of joy lit up his features。
〃I have found a way！ I thank Thee； my God！〃 he exclaimed； aloud。
〃See； Lizzie； look there！ What do you see in the plain yonder behind
the ravine？〃
〃I see there four large wagons tilled with hay；〃 said Lizzie； 〃yes；
four wagons filled with hay； nothing else。〃
〃And these wagons filled with hay will save us。 They must be driven
toward the ravine directly toward the enemy； our sharpshooters will
conceal themselves behind them； and will safely advance； and when
close enough to the enemy； they will discharge their rifles； and
first pick off the gunners； in order to silence the guns which have
made such havoc among our men。 Come； Lizzie； we will go down to
Sieberer and the other captains； and give them my orders。 I hope
there will be four lads intrepid enough to drive the hay…wagons
toward the enemy。〃
〃There will be！〃 exclaimed Eliza； enthusiastically。
〃It is only necessary for one to risk his life； and drive the first
wagon。 The other wagons will be covered by the first。 But the driver
of the first wagon will doubtless be killed； and I shall be
responsible for his death。〃
〃He will die for the fatherland；〃 exclaimed Eliza。 〃Go； Andreas
Hofer；