GraduallythewholeroombecamecrowdedwithTyrolese，whoyesterdayhadbeenthemortalfoesofthecolonel，butwhogazedto—daywithprofoundcompassionandconciliatedheartsatthepoor，mutilatedbeingthatdisdainedevenonthebrinkofthegravetoconsiderapeasantasentitledtoequalrightsandasabrotherofthenobleman。
ColonelDittfurtlayonhiscouchwithhiseyesdistendedtotheirutmost，andstaredattheTyroleseassembledroundhim。Forsomeminutesthecursesandinvectiveshaddiedawayonhislips，andheseemedtolistenattentivelytothesinisternotesofthealarm—
bellswhichwerecallingincessantlyupontheTyrolesetoprepareforthestruggle。
\"Isthatmydeath—knell？\"heaskedwearily。\"HaveI，then，diedalready，andisitdeaththatislyingsoheavilyonmybreast？\"
\"No，sir，youstilllive，\"saidoneoftheTyrolese，inalow，gentlevoice。\"Youstilllive;thebellsyouhearareringingthetocsin;theyarousedusbecausetheFrenchandBavariansareadvancinguponthecity。\"