CHARACTER AND MANNERS OF THE TYROLESE. 133 



lines of infantry and cavalry, that were winding along the margin 

 of Ae lake, and beginning to ascend the rugged eminence on 

 which they were stationed. A dead silence prevailed throughout 

 the whole patriot army, at this magnificent and animating specta- 

 cle ; and in the pause of anxious suspense which ensued, they dis- 

 tinctly heard " the measured tread of marching men," which, more 

 even than the immeasurable extent of their files, bespoke the 

 number and discipline of their enemies. 



Before ascending into the higher parts of the forest, however, 

 the French general, who had probably received intelligence that 

 the peasants were stationed in ambush somewhere in the neigh- 

 bourhood, halted the main body of his troops, and detached some 

 light regiments in advance, to explore the wild and broken ascent 

 that lay before him. The Tyrolese had the most express orders 

 to conceal themselves with the utmost care from the enemy ; and 

 so admirably was this order obeyed by men who had been accus- 

 tomed from their infancy to lie in ambush in the pursuit of game, 

 that the French tirailleurs could perceive no trace of an enemy. 

 They advanced nearly to the summit of the ridge, but the most 

 perfect silence everywhere prevailed, and they perceived nothing 

 but a dark and gloomy forest on both sides of the road, filled with 

 aged trees and broken with underwood and precipices. The m^in 

 body of the French, encouraged by this account, proceeded fear- 

 lessly to mount the pass ; and their columns gradually became 

 more disorderly as they toiled up the steep ascent, exposed to the 

 horizontal and burning rays of the sun, which now shone forth 

 with unclouded splendour. The soldiers who had kept their ranks 

 in the valley below, became careless as they ascended, and the 

 young and thoughtless among them lightened their toil by sing- 

 ing the gay and national airs of France. 



But their gaiety was not of long duration. No sooner was the 

 main body of the French army mounted on the ascent, than, on 

 the signal of a musket fired from a cliff in the centre, one instan- 

 taneous and overwhelming fire burst forth from all parts of the 

 forest. Instantly the peasantry showed themselves in vast num= 

 bers, and issuing from their recesses, rushed upon the enemy, 

 while a loud and universal shout announced the dreadful success 

 of their discharge. The French column, amazed and terrified at 

 this extraordinary attack, fell back in the utmost confusion, and 

 in hurrying down to the valley, presented an indiscriminate mass 

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