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"Tell me, Siebermeier, what can we do for father? What danger threatens him?" "A bad man. I believe, the clerk of the court, has informed the French that Anthony Wallner is still on one of the heights in this neighborhood. General Broussier intends to have him arrested. A whole battalion of soldiers will march to-morrow morning to the mountain of Ober-Peischlag and occupy it."
"Great God! my husband is lost, then!" cried Eliza's mother, despairing; "nothing can save him now." "Hush, mother, hush!" said Eliza, almost imperatively; "we must not weep now, we must think only of saving him. Tell me, friend Siebermeier, is there no way of saving him?" "There is one," said Siebermeier, "but how shall we get up to him?
How should a girl, then, be able to get over it, particularly in the night, and in so heavy a snow-storm?" "You will be unable to reach your father, Lizzie," said Siebermeier; "the road is precipitous and very long; you will sink into the snow; your shoes will stick in it, and the storm will catch your dress."
That is the reason why I have come up to you, for you must flee this very hour." "Flee?" he cried, mournfully. "How can I? The first Bavarian or French gendarme on the frontier, who meets me and asks me for my passport, will arrest me. I have no passport." "Here is a passport," said Eliza, joyfully, handing him the paper, "Siebermeier sends it to you." "The faithful friend!
"Heavens! she has put on her brother William's Sunday clothes," cried her mother, with a mournful smile; "and they sit as well on her as if they had been made for her." "Now, Siebermeier," said Eliza, holding out her hand to him, "give me the passport. The moon is rising now, and I must go," "But listen, my daughter, how the wind howls!" cried her mother, in deep anguish.
I would do so, but the wound which I received in our last skirmish with the Bavarians, in my side here, prevents me from ascending the mountain-paths; and, even though I could go up to him, it would be useless, for we two could not travel together, the passport being issued to two persons, Siebermeier, the carpet- dealer, and the boy carrying his bundle.
You are no longer the brave commander of the sharpshooters of Windisch-Matrey, but Siebermeier, the carpet-dealer, a very peaceable man, who does not take his rifle and powder-pouch with him on his travels." "You are right, Lizzie. But it is hard indeed to flee without arms, and to be defenceless even in case of an attack by the enemy.
"I must go now, it is high time," said Eliza, making a violent effort to restrain her tears. "Farewell, friend Siebermeier; God and the saints will reward you for the service you have rendered us." "My best reward will be to learn that Wallner is safe," said Siebermeier, shaking hands with her. "Now, a last kiss, dearest mother," said Eliza.
Yes, she had not been mistaken, it was really a good friend of theirs; the man who entered the house was one of the few friends who had not denied Anthony Wallner, and who had not turned their backs upon his family since it was outlawed and in distress. "You bring us bad news, Peter Siebermeier?" asked Eliza, anxiously, gazing into the mountaineer's pale and dismayed face.
"Unfortunately I do," sighed Siebermeier, stepping hastily into the sitting-room and shaking hands with Eliza's mother. "Mrs. Wallner," he said, in breathless hurry, "your husband is in the greatest danger, and only speedy flight can save him." Mrs. Wallner uttered a piercing cry, sank back into her chair, wrung her hands, and wept aloud. Eliza did not weep; she was calm and courageous.
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