Binder-hansl

In the hamlet of Wälsch’nofen, about ten miles from the village of

Völs, lived a certain Binder-Hansl. He was a broom-binder, and, as his

name was Hans (or John), they called him the “Binder-Hansl.”

He died in the year 1824, and was regretted all over the country, for

he was a noted peasant doctor, or “Wonder Doctor,” as they called him.

Besides curing all sorts of maladies of man and beast, he had a charm

against sorcery and witchcraft, and where any suspicious circumstance

took place in house or stable, Hans was called, and never failed to

help.

One day, in the time of war, the Binder-Hansl went to the village of

Botzen, and on the route, near the lane called Kuntersweg, he met the

smith of the village of Kartaun, who had been forced by the French

troops to carry their big drum, which was very heavy, and when the

smith complained very bitterly about it to his friend, Hans said

laughingly, “I should send the drum to the devil, and then I should

be rid of it.” At this the French punished him for his boldness, by

forcing him to march with them, carrying at his turn the drum on his

back. So he was obliged to carry it up to the Feigenbrücke, near

Blumenau; but when he had arrived there, he set the drum on the ground,

and said, “By this way I have come, and by this way I will return;”

while a Frenchman, who spoke German perfectly well, said, “Churl, take

up the drum, or--” and he lunged at him with his naked sword. But the

Binder-Hansl laughed at him, and replied, “We shall see;” and at the

same moment he stretched out his hand over the Frenchmen, and they

became all as motionless as stones.

There he left them standing and went laughing from the Feigenbrücke,

over the steep mountain lane, which is called the “Katzenleiter”

(Cat’s Ladder). After he had climbed to the summit of the mountain, he

shouted, “Be off, fools, now you have seen my power,” and making again

a sign with his hand, they all came to life, and taking up their drum

they ran off, as only Frenchmen can.