登陆注册
5426900000084

第84章

"Well, then," cried General Bisson, in a tremulous voice, "hear my last words. I will march on with my troops without arms; our arms and ammunition may be sent after us on wagons.""If that is your last word, general, our negotiations are at an end," replied Teimer, with perfect sang-froid. "You have rejected my well-meaning solicitude for your safety; nothing remains for me now but to surrender you and your troops to the tender mercies of our infuriated people. Farewell, general."He turned his back on him and advanced several steps toward Innspruck. At the same time he waved his arm three times.

Immediately, as had been agreed upon, the Tyrolese on Mount Isel, and in front of Innspruck, commenced firing, and their close discharges, admirably directed, thinned the ranks of the French grenadiers, while the shouts with which the mountains resounded on all sides were so tremendous that they were completely panic-struck.

General Bisson saw it, and a deadly pallor overspread his face.

Teimer stood still and gazed sneeringly at the disheartened and terrified soldiers, and then glanced at their general.

Bisson caught this glance. "Sir," he cried, and his cry resembled almost an outburst of despair, "pray return to me.""Let us negotiate!"

Teimer did not approach him, he only stood still. "Come to me, if you have any thing to say to me," he shouted; "come, and--"The rattle of musketry, and the furious shouts of the Tyrolese, now pouring down from all the mountains, and advancing upon the French, drowned his voice.

To render his words intelligible to Teimer, and to hear his replies, General Bisson was obliged to approach him, and he stepped up to him with his staff-officers in greater haste perhaps than was compatible with his dignity.

"What else do you demand?" he asked, in a tremulous voice.

"What I demanded at the outset," said Teimer, firmly. "I want your troops to lay down their arms and surrender to the Tyrolese. I have already drawn up a capitulation; it is only necessary for you and your officers to sign it. The capitulation is brief and to the point, general. It consists only of four paragraphs. But just listen to the shouts and cheers of my dear Tyrolese, and see what excellent marksmen they are!"Indeed, the bullets of the Tyrolese whistled again at this moment through the ranks of the enemy, and every bullet hit its man. Loud shouts of despair burst from the ranks of the French and Bavarians, who were in the wildest confusion, and did not even dare to flee, because they knew full well that they were hemmed in on all sides.

General Bisson perceived the despair of his troops, and a groan escaped from his breast. "Read the capitulation to me, sir," he said, drying the cold perspiration on his forehead.

Teimer drew a paper from his bosom and unfolded it. He then commenced reading, in a loud, ringing voice, which drowned even the rattle of musketry "In the name of his majesty the Emperor Francis I. of Austria, a capitulation is entered into at this moment with the French and Bavarian troops which advanced to-day from Steinach to Wiltau; the following terms were accepted:""FIRST. The French and Bavarian soldiers lay down their arms on the spot now occupied by them.""SECONDLY. The members of the whole eighth corps are prisoners of war; and will be delivered as such to the Austrian troops at Schwatz, whither they will be conveyed immediately.""THIRDLY. The Tyrolese patriots in the custody of these troops will be released on the spot.""FOURTHLY. The field and staff-officers of the French and Bavarian troops will retain their baggage, horses, and side-arms, and their property will be respected.""You see, sir, it is impossible for me to sign this," cried General Bisson. "You cannot expect me to subscribe my own disgrace.""If you refuse to subscribe the capitulation, you sign thereby not only your own death-warrant, but that of all your soldiers," said Teimer calmly. "See, general, here is fortunately a table, for this is the place where the people of Wiltau assemble on Sundays, and dance and drink. Fate placed this table here for us that we might use it for signing the capitulation. There is the capitulation; Ihave already affixed to it my name and title as commissioner of the Emperor Francis. I have also brought pen and ink with me, that you might have no trouble in signing the document. Subscribe it, therefore, general, and let your staff-officers do so too. Spare the lives of your poor soldiers for you see every minute's delay costs you additional losses.""I cannot sign it, I cannot!" cried Bisson, despairingly. He burst into tears, and in his boundless grief he struck his forehead with his fist and tore out his thin gray hair with his trembling hands.

[Footnote: Hormayr's "Andreas Hofer," vol. 1, p. 257.] "I cannot sign it," he wailed loudly.

"Sign it," cried his officers, thronging round the table.

"You must refuse no longer, for the lives of all our soldiers are at stake.""But my honor and good name are likewise at stake," groaned Bisson, "and if I sign the capitulation, I shall lose both forever.""But you will thereby preserve to the emperor the lives of upward of three thousand of his soldiers," exclaimed the officers, urgently.

"Never will the emperor believe that this disaster might not have been averted," wailed General Bisson. "Even were I merely unfortunate, he would impute it to me as a crime. He will forgive me no more than Villeneuve and Dupont. His anger is inexorable, and it will crush me.""Then let it crush you, general," said Teimer, calmly. "It is better that you should be crushed than that several thousand men should now be crushed by the Tyrolese.""Sign, sign!" cried the French officers, stepping close up to the table, taking up the pen, and presenting it to the general.

"Then you are all determined to sign the capitulation after I have done so?" asked General Bisson, still hesitating.

"We are," cried the officers.

同类推荐
  • 太平圣惠方

    太平圣惠方

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 古今笑史

    古今笑史

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 金箓设醮仪

    金箓设醮仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 缅国纪略

    缅国纪略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 普贤菩萨行愿赞

    普贤菩萨行愿赞

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 锦绣重生之庶女毒妃

    锦绣重生之庶女毒妃

    她是轩辕国第一美人,更是后宫之中集万千宠爱于一身的宠妃。苏国公府有双姝,嫡女为后,庶女为妃,娥皇女英,共侍一夫,在坊间被传成了一段佳话,然而——七年的相依相伴,最终只换来了一杯毒酒!苏夭夭直到毒酒入腹那一刻,才知道自己有多傻。乖巧顺从了一生,到了最后也只落得个母死子亡,亲弟早逝的下场。梦回十年,她终是冷了心肠,既然天地不公,那欠下她的债,就由她亲自来讨!嫡母伪善?那就揭了她的面皮!嫡姐阴狠?那就毁了她的声誉!善人不长命,不如就做一个彻头彻尾的恶人,敢算计她的,敢动她所在乎的人,都要拿命来偿!人物语录:苏夭夭——我的心是黑的,我的手是红的,曾经我日思夜念的,就是将所有负我之人都拖进阿鼻地狱,永世不得超生!楚枭——女人,本王看上的东西,只能先由本王厌弃,在此之前,你是逃不掉的。轩辕樊——都说帝王无情,可朕终归是爱上了你,夭夭,朕愿许你一世繁华,换这一生的相依相伴!……浮世繁华,她又终将与谁人携手,共度余生?爱恨之间苦苦挣扎,又是谁拂去了她心底的沉灰,成了她此生的救赎?(本文双洁,女主心狠手辣,绝非善类。男主前期阴晴不定,后期忠犬!宠文!!!1v1)
  • 深爱人不寐

    深爱人不寐

    向歆从来没有想过自己与温廷玺能有一丝牵扯,直到那高高在上的学霸来她家补课……温廷玺从来没有想过自己的的声音能有其他的用途,直到向歆堵在他面前眸子晶亮亮的看着他……她不曾见过那样的男子,一身黑衣,面容俊秀,高大清冷,仿若一幅画。他就带着敛在眼底的暖意以及唇畔的微笑缓缓地走近她,执起她的手,落下一吻:“约吗?”什、什么?【浅情|人已睡,深爱人不寐。】【走温馨甜暖欢脱风,前一万字留不住你是你的错,前两万字留不住你是我的错。没错就是这么炫酷√】【注:此文后期已崩坏,只想看甜的孩子请跳过第三卷,喜欢暗黑因素的孩子可以看看第三卷嗯ww】
  • 大省长安

    大省长安

    天大地大不如百姓大。看吕大省(xǐng)如何将长安八大门派聚拢在顺义盟旗下,与明军,与清军,与流寇,与各路明末英豪斗智斗勇,换得一方太平。杜鹃啼血不过三寸柔肠,桃李芳菲皆是一腔爱恨,柳念心、康柳儿、古飞凤、左盈月……到底谁才是一生挚爱?
  • 唐门邪修

    唐门邪修

    一个似是似非武侠大陆,各大势力风起云涌,十年前天魔教魔焰滔天武林上下人人自危,又有五大正派力战魔教,与之分庭抗礼,惊天一战后双方日渐式微,又有白山黑水宫,南疆苗族,蜀中唐门三大邪派蠢蠢欲动,杀手组织阎罗殿又欲复出,翻起滔天杀戮,在这片大陆上出身唐门却叛出唐门的唐枫,又该何去何从
  • 南城七里

    南城七里

    从小,不健全的心脏让她残缺的生活更支离破碎。完整的爱,是她遥不可及的奢望。三代的纠纷,为利益牺牲的爱情,一切看似与她没有任何的关系。然而,两句话,逼得她走投无路。“如果可以,我宁愿不是你的哥哥。”“对不起,我不是一个合格的哥哥。”过去的狰狞,她不想去面对。她拥有的从来都只是那么少。浮萍本无根。这一次,连留在他心上的能力都没有。月圆之夜,她把自己的身体,奉献给另一个人,只是最后,还是各天一方。一无所有,拖着疲惫的身子,瑟瑟发抖地躲在墙角,终于蜕变。既然已失去所有,就将过去的一切埋葬。她愿鼓起勇气转身去找一个妥定的住所,哪怕再也称不上“家”。再不见那个心心念念的人。--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 凤鸣宫阙

    凤鸣宫阙

    身为罪臣之女,被罚在宫中做了个小小奴婢。她陶君兰就该认命?活得屈辱卑微,死得无声无息?她偏不屈从!她有智谋,也有倾城容颜,她想活出自己人生
  • 老狐狸经(历代经典文丛)

    老狐狸经(历代经典文丛)

    狐狸总给人“狡猾”之意,但是书中给狐狸的定义是具有智慧的。学学像狐狸一样的为官、做人。《老狐狸经》不是在教读者诈,而是为读者介绍了为官之道、做人之道、创业之道、说话之道,是在指导读者如何更好地适应社会,适应生存,不断提升自己的说话能力,以寻找到发挥的舞台。
  • 刘心武文学回忆录

    刘心武文学回忆录

    《刘心武文学回忆录》收集了刘心武回忆自己家世、出身、成长、求学并走上文学创作道路的一组文章,记录了他在文学路上的成长故事,真实还原了其从青涩到成熟的创作历程,体现了他对文学的认识和感悟。刘心武是我国当代文学史上的一个重要作家,其人生和创作历程堪称一个文学时代的缩影,刘心武文学回忆录是阅读和研究中国当代文学的重要读本。
  • 为什么我们的决定总出错2:哈佛教授的9堂行为心理实践课

    为什么我们的决定总出错2:哈佛教授的9堂行为心理实践课

    生活中,我们时常会为各种各样的决定而苦恼,如果你不想让自己一事无成,不想碌碌无为,也不想让自己误入歧途,那么就要学会如何去避免错误的决定。你是否知道自己的决定错在哪里?应该如何去避免类似的错误?如何从错误中学习到更多的经验?如何去解决问题,让自己的决定少出错?翻开本书,从实战角度为您剖析做决定时遇到的各种问题,分析决定出错的原因,探寻决策问题的解决方法,让你不再为做决定感到迷茫与困惑。
  • 亭林先生神道表

    亭林先生神道表

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。