首页 >出版文学> Andreas Hofer>第7章

第7章

  Theemperorreceivedwithaforcedsmiletheflatteringhomagewhichwasrenderedtohim,butmoreradiantwasthesmileofhisconsort;
  inherdarkandglowingeyesglistenedtearsofjoyfulemotion,whensheglancedatthisjubilantmassofspectatorsandtheenthusiasticregimentsofthemilitia。Shewasalsofullofexultation;shedidnot,however,giveventtoherfeelings,butpentthemupinherheart,owingtothemorosenessofherimperialhusband。
  Inthemidstofafreshoutburstofpopularenthusiasm,Francisbentovertheempress。"Isupposeyouarewellsatisfiednow,empress?"
  heasked。"Youhaveattainedyourobject;allofyouhavefannedtheflameuntilwarisreadytobreakout,andeverythingwillgoagaintopsy—turvy。ButItellyou,empress,weshallfailagain;Idonotbelievethatweshallconquer。"
  "Well,yourmajesty,thenweshallsuccumbanddie,butitwillbeanhonorabledefeat。Itisbettertoperishinajustandhonorablestrugglethansubmitpatientlytoforeignusurpation。"
  "Averynicephrase,butthepracticalexecutionofsuchideasissometimesbyfarmoreunpleasantthanthetheorywhichtheyexpress。
  Iamafraidyouwillhavegoodreasontoregretthisday,and——butwhatfearfulnoiseisthisagain?ThepeoplearecheeringasthoughtheywerewelcomingGodAlmightyHimself。Whatisit?"
  "Yourmajesty,"saidLudovica,gazingtimidlyintoherhusband'sface,"IbelievethepeoplearecheeringtheArchdukesCharlesandJohn,fortheyarejustwalkingalongtheranksofthemilitia。"
  "Ah,mybrothers!"murmuredtheemperor,withanangryexpression,which,however,disappearedagainimmediately;"thepeoplearecheeringmybrothersasthoughtheyweretwodivinitiesfromwhomalonetheyexpectsalvationandprosperity。"
  "Yourmajesty,thepeoplecheerthearchdukesbecausetheyarethebrothersoftheemperor,andbecausetheconfidenceofyourmajestyhasplacedthemattheheadoftheAustrianarmiestoleadthemtobattle,and,ifitpleaseGod,tovictory。ItisyourmajestyalonethatappointedtheArchdukeCharlesgeneralissimoofallyourforces,andtheArchdukeJohncommanderofthearmyofLowerAustria。"
  "Yes,Ididso,for,blessedasIamwithbrotherssoheroicandspirited,Imustofcoursedistinguishandemploytheminaccordancewiththeirmerits;otherwisetheymightbelieveIwasjealousoftheirgloryandsplendor。Thiswouldbeentirelyfalse,for,sofarfrombeingjealousofthem,Ilovethemdearly,andgivethemnowagainanotheropportunitytogainlaurels,astheydidin1805。Itistrue,mybrotherthegeneralissimo,wasnotvictoriousatAusterlitz,andmybrotherJohnhaslikewisesustainedmanyadefeat;butthatdoesnotpreventthemfrombeingheroesandgreatmen。Justlistentotheroarswithwhichthepeoplegreetthem!
  JesusMaria!Ihopethegeneralissimowillnothavehisfitsfromexcessivejoy。"
  Ludovicacastaquick,mournfulglanceonthemaliciouslysmilingfaceofherhusband。"Yourmajestyneednotbealarmed,"shesaid;
  "yourtenderapprehensionswillfortunatelynotbefulfilled。Youseethatthearchdukeisquitewell;heisjustaddressinghistroops。"
  "Yes,yes,Iknowhisspeech。M。vonGentzwroteitforhimandI
  permittedhimtodeliverit。Ah,itaboundswithfinephrases,andmydearAustrianswillbeastonishedonhearingwhatliberalmenwehavebecomeallofasudden,andwhatgrandideasofliberty,equality,andpopularsovereigntywehaveadopted。Justlistentohim!theconclusionisveryfine,andsoundsjustasthoughtheMarseillaisehadbeentranslatedintothelanguageoftheAustrians。"
  "Soldiers,"shoutedthearchduke,atthismoment,inaloud,ringingvoice。"thelibertyofEuropehastakenrefugeundertheflagofAustria;therights,freedom,andhonorofallGermanyexpecttheirsalvationonlyofourarmies。Nevershallthey,instrumentsofoppression,carryoninforeigncountriestheendlesswarsofadestructiveambition,annihilateinnocentnations,andwiththeirowncorpsespaveforforeignconquerorstheroadleadingtousurpedthrones。Soldiers,wetakeuparmsonlyfortheliberty,honor,andrightsofallGermany;itisthesesacredboonsthatwehavetodefend!"[Footnote:Hormayr,"AllgemeineGeschichte,"vol。iii。,p。
  219。]
  Along—continued,deafeningoutburstofapplausebothofthesoldiersandthepeoplewasthereplytothestirringaddressofthegeneralissimo;butsuddenlyeverysoundwashushed,foratthealtar,yonderbythesideofthetallcrucifix,appearednowthearchbishop,accompaniedbythewholebodyofthehighclergy。
  Theemperorrosefromhisseatandbowedhumblyanddevoutlytotheprelatewhohadbeentheteacherofhisyouth,andhadafterwardmarriedhimthreetimes,thelasttimeonlyafewmonthsago。
  Andnowthearchdukesmarchedthetroopsintothemiddleoftheplace,andtheconsecrationoftheflagscommencedamidthepealsofallthechurch—bellsandtheboomingofartillery。
  Theemperorlookedon,standing,bareheaded,andwithhandsclaspedinprayer。Ludovicaturnedhereyesheavenward,andherlipsmovedinalow,ferventprayer。Behindthemstoodtheyoungarchdukesandarchduchesses,mutteringprayers,andyetglancingaroundcuriously;
  andthecavaliersoftheimperialcouple,lookinggloomy,andplainlyshowingintheirsombrefacestheragethatfilledtheirhearts。
  Theceremonybeingfinished,thearchbishoplifteduphishandsandstretchedthemouttowardthesoldiers。"Adieu,untilwemeetagain,"heexclaimedwitharadiantair,andinavoiceofjoyfulenthusiasm;"adieu,untilwemeetagainatthehourofdanger!"
  "Adieu,untilwemeetagainatthehourofdanger!"echoedthesoldierswithenthusiasm。Seeingthenthatthearchbishopbenthisknees,theykneltlikewiseandbowedtheirheadsinprayer。Hushedwaseverysoundonthevastplace。Onlythechurch—bellswerepealingandtheartillerywasboominginthedistance,andthemurmurofthedevoutprayerswhichrosetoGodfromsomanypiousheartsbrokethesilence。
  Inthefervententhusiasmofthishournoonefelttheleasttimidity,noonelookedanxiouslyintothefuture。Eventhemothersdidnotshedtearsfortheirsonswhowereabouttotakethefield;
  theaffiancedbridesallowedtheirloverstodepartwithoututteringcomplaintsorweepingatthethoughtoftheirimpendingdeparture;
  wivestookleaveoftheirhusbandswithjoyouscourage,pressingtheirinfantstotheirbreastsandcommendingthemtrustinglytoGod'sprotection。Thepatrioticenthusiasmhadseizedall,andcarriedawayeventhecoldestandmostselfishhearts。Therichcontributedtheirmoneywithunwontedliberality;thosewhowereinlessfavorablecircumstanceslaiddowntheirplateandvaluablesonthealtarofthecountry;themechanicsofferedtoworkgratuitouslyforthearmy;thewomenscrapedlintandorganizedassociationsforthereliefofthewounded;theyoungmenofferedtheirlife—bloodtothefatherland,andconsidereditasafavorthattheirserviceswerenotrejected。
  Thelong—concealedhatredagainstFranceburstforthinbrightflamesthroughoutAustriaandGermany;thewarwashailedwithrapturousenthusiasm,andeveryheartlongedtotakepartinthisstruggle,whichseemedtoallawarofholyvengeanceandretribution。ForthefirsttimeinlongyearsAustriafeltagainthoroughlyidentifiedwithGermany,whiletheotherGermanswerelookinguponAustriaasaGermanstateandholdingouttheirhandstotheirAustrianbrethren,tellingthemthattheysympathizedmostvividlywiththeendswhichthenweretryingtoattain。
  Butwhiletheutmostexultationwasreigningamongthepeopleandthesoldiersonthisjoyfulday,agloomysilenceprevailedintheimperialpalace。Thejoyousmaskwithwhichthegeneralissimo,theArchdukeCharles,hadcoveredhisfacewhileontheglacis,haddisappearedfromitsosoonashehadreturnedtohisrooms。Paleandfaint,herestedinaneasy—chair,and,fixinghissombreeyesanhisquartermaster—general,CountGruenne,hesaid:"Myfriend,listentothatwhichIamgoingtosaytoyounow,andwhichyouwillrememberoneday。Ihaveobjectedthreetimesinthemostemphaticmannertothisdeclarationofwar,forIknowthatourpreparationsarenotsufficientlymatured,andIknowalsothatI
  havehereinAustriapowerfulenemieswhoareintentonimpedingallmyefforts,andwhowillshrinkfromnothinginordertoruinme,andwithmeyoutoo,mypoorfriend。Thewholearistocracyishostiletome,andwillneverallowtheemperor'sbrotherstosetboundstoitsoligarchybytheirmeritsandinfluence;itwillalwaysopposeus,eventhoughitshouldendangertherebythepowerandhonorofthefatherland。Iknowalltheperilsandintriguessurroundingme,andbecauseIknowthemItriedtoavoidthem,opposedthewar,andstrovetogetridatleastofthecommand—in—
  chief。Buttheemperorwouldnotallowmetodoso;heorderedmetoacceptthearduouspositionofgeneralissimoofhisforces,and,ashissubject,Ihadtoobeyhim。ButIrepeatit,thiswillbeadisastrouswarforAustria,andIlookwithgloomyforebodingsintothefuture。"
  Andasgloomyasthegeneralissimo'sfacewasthatofhisbrother,theEmperorFrancis。Hehadretiredintohiscabinet,andstrodegrowlinglyupanddown,holdingthefly—flapinhishand,andstrikingsavagelyattheflieswhichhissearchingeyesdiscoveredhereandthereonthewall。
  Suddenlythedooropened,andthefootmanannouncedtheArchdukeJohn。Theemperor'sfacebecameevenmoremorose。Hecastthefly—
  flapaside,andmurmuredtohimself,"Mybrothersneverleavemeanyrest。"Hethensaidinaloudvoice,"Lethimcomein。"
  Aminuteafterwardthearchdukeenteredthecabinet。Hisfacewasstilljoyouslylitupbythesoul—stirringsolemnityinwhichhehadparticipatedinthemorning;hiseyewasyetradiantwithnobleenthusiasmandexultation,andaserenesmileplayedaroundhislips。Thusheappearedbeforehisbrother,whosefaceseemeddoublygloomyinthepresenceofhisown。
  "IcometotakeleaveofyourmajestyandbidfarewelltomybrotherFrancis,"hesaid,inamild,tendervoice。"Iintendtosetoutto—
  nightforGratz,andorganizemystaffthere。"
  "Godblessyou,commanderoftheSouthernarmy!"saidtheemperor,dryly;"Godblessyou,brother。Youwerealleagerforwar;nowyouhaveit!"
  "AndyourmajestyhaswitnessedtheenthusiasmwithwhichtheAustrianpeoplehailedthedeclarationofwar。AndnotonlythepeopleofAustria,butallGermany,looksnowwithjoy,hope,andpridetowardAustria,andparticipatesmostcordiallyinourwarlikeenthusiasm。"
  "Idonotcareforthat,"saidtheemperor,dryly。"ThankGod,I
  castoffthecrownofGermanythreeyearsago,andamnolongerEmperorofGermany。"
  "Butoneday,whenyourarmieshaveconqueredFranceanddeliveredtheworldfromtheinsatiableusurper,Germanywillgratefullyliedownatyourmajesty'sfeetandbeseechyoutoaccepttheimperialcrownagainatherhands。"
  "Muchobliged,sir,butIwouldnottakeit,"exclaimedtheemperor,withashrug。"Butsay,brother,areyoureallyconvincedthatwecanandshallconquerBonaparte?"
  "Iam。Weshallconquer,if——"
  "Well,if——"askedtheemperor,whenthearchdukehesitated。
  "Ifwearereallydeterminedtodoso,"saidJohn,lookingtheemperorfullintheface;"ifweactharmoniously,ifwedonotimpedeeachother,ifnopettyjealousiesfavortheeffortsofoneandfrustratethoseoftheother。Oh,brother,permitmeatthisfarewellhourtoutterafewfrankandtruthfulwords,andIbegyourmajestytoforgivemeifmyheartopenstoyouinunreservedconfidence。Brother,Iconfessfranklyallisnotasitshouldbehere。Whereconcordshouldreign;thereisdiscord;whereallshouldhavetheireyesfixedonlyonthegreatgoal,andavailthemselvesofallmeansandforces,theyaresplitupintofactionsbitterlyhostiletoeachother。Oh,mygraciousemperor,Ibeseechyou,donotlistentothesefactions,donotconfideinthosewhowouldliketoarouseyoursuspicionagainstyourbrothers。Believeme,youhavenomoreloyal,devoted,andobedientsubjectthanIam;therefore,confideinme,whowishonlytocontributetothegreatness,honor,andgloryofmycountryandmyemperor,tothebestofmypower,howeverinsignificantitmaybe。Mybrother,therehaslongbeenagulfbetweenus;GodknowsthatIdidnotdigit。Butletusfillitupforeveratthisfarewellhour。Iimploreyou,believeinmylove,mydevotedloyalty;takemebythehandandsay,`John,Itrustyou!
  Ibelieveinyou!'See,Iamwaitingforthesewordsasfortheblessingwhichistoaccompanymeintobattle,andrestonmyheartlikeatalisman。Brother,speakthesewordsofloveandconfidence!
  Givemeyourhand——openyourarmstoyourbrother!"
  "Whyshouldweenacthereasentimentalscene?"askedtheemperor,harshly。"Idonotlikesuchthings,andwanttoseefamilydramasonlyperformedonthestage。ThankGod,Iamnotatheatricalemperor,butarealone,andwillhavenothingtodowithscenesfromplays。NordoIknowofanygulfsexistingbetweenyouandme。
  Ineverperceivedthem,andwasneverdisturbedthereby。Butwhydoyouprotestyourloveandloyaltyinsopassionateamannertome?
  Whotellsyou,then,thatIsuspectthem?Thatwouldbeequivalenttoconsideringmybrotheratraitor,anditwouldbeveryunfortunateforhim;fortowardtraitorsIshallalwaysbeinexorable,whosoevertheymaybe,andwhethertheybepersonsofhighorlowrank。Letusspeaknolongerofit。But,besides,youhaveagainadvisedme,withoutbeingrequestedtodoso,anddemandthatIshouldnotlistentoanyfactions。Ineverdo,brother。I
  neverlistentoanyfactions,neithertoyours,nortothatoftheothers。Ilistenonlytomyself,andrequiresubmissivenessandobedienceofmyservants。Youareoneofthelatter;go,then,andobeyme。Ihaveresolvedonwar;go,then,toyourcorpsandfight,asyouareindutybound,foryouremperorandforAustria;DefeatNapoleonifyoucan。Youareplayingagamewhichmayeasilybecomedangeroustoourselves。YouhavestirredupaninsurrectionintheTyrol;youwillhavetobeartheresponsibilityifthisinsurrectionshallbeunsuccessful。"
  "Iwillbearit,andGodwillforgivewhatIhavedone!"saidJohn,solemnly。"Yourmajesty,youwouldnotlistentothebrotherwhoofferedyouhislovefranklyandhonestly。IhavenothingtoaddtowhatIhavesaid,norshallIeversnakeanotherattempttogainyourconfidence。"
  "Isthatintendedasathreat?"askedtheemperor,angrily。
  "No,"saidJohn,mournfully,"Idonotthreatenyou。IshallalwaysbearinmindthatIlovedyou,andthatyouarenotonlymylordandemperor,butalsothesonofmymother。"
  "AndI,"criedtheemperor,vehemently,"shallalwaysbearinmindthatyouweretheheadofthefactionwhich,byitsinsensateclamorforwar,firstarousedNapoleon'sanger,broughtaboutdemonstrationsandarmamentsonourpart,andfinallyobligedmetoresolveonwar,althoughIknowfullwellthatthisresolutionwillinevitablyinvolveAustriaingreatdisaster。Letmelikewisespeakafarewellwordtoyou,brother。Weshallsuccumbagain,althoughmywiseandlearnedbrothersareattheheadofthearmy。Iconsultedthemostexperiencedandsagaciousmen。ImyselfpaidavisittoCountCobenzl,whoislyingatthepointofdeath,andaskedhisopinion。HehatesNapoleonasardentlyasanyone,andyetheisinfavorofpeace。IconsultedthePrincedeLigneandMinisterThugut;
  oneisanambitiouscaptain,theotheravindictivediplomatist,whowouldliketooverthrowNapoleon;andyetbothwereforpeacewithFrance,andIwilltellyouthereasonwhy:becausetheyknowthatamongallmycaptainsandgeneralsthereisnotonedeterminedandableenoughtocopewithNapoleonandhismarshals:becausetheyknewthatevenmybrotherCharles,thegeneralissimo,isvacillatingandirresolute;andbecausetheydonotknowwhataneminentcaptaintheArchdukeJohnwouldbe,ifheonlyhadachancetoshowhismilitarytalents。If,despiteallthis,Iresolvedonwar,itwasbecausecircumstances,andnotmyconvictions,obligedmetodoit——
  circumstanceswhichweremostlybroughtaboutbyyouandyourfriends。"
  "Yourmajesty,"saidJohn,inagraveanddignifiedmanner,"permitmetosayafewwordsinreplytowhatyouhavejustsaid。Youalludetomymilitarytalents,whichyousayIhavenothadachancetoshow。Well,givemesuchachance;delivermefromthesurveillancetyingmyhands;letmepursuemypathasyourgeneralfreelyandwithoutrestrictions,andIpledgeyoumywordthatI
  willreconquertheTyrolandyourItalianprovinces。"
  "See,see,whataniceplan!"exclaimedtheemperor,laughing。"Youwishtobeanothergeneralissimo,andindependentofanyothercommander'swill?"
  "No,yourmajesty;IwishtoobtainonlyequalrightsandauthoritytodeliberateanddecidejointlywithmybrotherCharles。"
  "Itisveryboldinyou,sir,thustoopposeyourgeneralissimo,"
  saidtheemperor,sternly。"To—dayyouwillnolongerobeythegeneralissimo——to—morrowyouwillperhapsrefusetoobeytheemperor。Notanotherwordaboutit!Goanddoyourduty。TheArchdukeCharlesisgeneralissimo,andyouwillsubmittohisordersandinstructions。Farewell,brother;mayGodandtheHolyVirginblessyouandyourarmy!"
  "Farewell,yourmajesty,"saidthearchduke,bowingceremoniouslytotheemperor。Hethenturnedhastilyandlefttheroom。
  Theemperorlookedafterhimwithanangryair。"Ibelievethetwoarchdukeswillthwarteachotheronalloccasions,"hesaid,inalowvoice。"TherewillnotonlybewarwithFrance,butalsowarbetweenthefactionsinAustria,andtheconsequencewillbe,thatmybrotherswillgainbutveryfewlaurels。"
  TheArchdukeJohnreturnedslowlytohisrooms。Afterenteringhiscabinet,hesankonthedivan,asifcrushedandheart—broken。Hesatalongtimeinsilence,hisheadbentonhisbreast,andutteringfromtimetotimeheart—rendinggroans。Afteralongpause,heslowlyliftedhistearfuleyestoheaven。
  "Thouknowest,myGod,"hesaid,inalowvoice,"thatmyintentionsaregoodandpure,andthatIdesirenothingbuttoservemycountryanddeliveritfromthedisgracewhichithashadtosubmittoforsomanyyearspast。ThouknowestthatIwishnothingformyself,butallforthefatherland。Helpme,myGod,helpourpoor,unfortunateAustria!Letusnotsuccumbandperish!Grantvictorytoourarms!O
  Austria,OGermany,whycanInotpurchaselibertyandindependenceforyouwithmyblood?But。IcanatleastIshallwelcomethisifmydyingeyescanbeholdlibertydawninguponGermany!"
  CHAPTERIX。
  'TISTIME
  Itwaslateintheafternoonofthe8thofApril。Thesettingsunwassheddinghislastredraysonthedistantmountain—crestsoftheJanfenandtheTimblerToch,whoseblood—redsummitscontrastedwonderfullywiththedeepazureoftheclearsky。Onthelowerslopesofthemountainstwilighthadsetin;thepines,thedaringchamoisofthevegetablekingdom,whichhadclimbeduptothehighestpartsofthemountains,castthegrayveilofduskovertheselowerslopes。Below,inthePasseyrvalley,however,nightalreadyprevailed,forthemountainsloominguponbothsidesofthevalleyfilleditwithdarknessevenbeforesundown;andonlythewild,roaringPasseyr,whichrushesfromthemountainthroughthevalley,glistenedlikeasilverbeltinthegloom。Thechurch—bellsofthevillagesofSt。LeonardandSt。Martin,lyingonbothsidesofthevalley,tolledasolemncurfew,awakeninghereandtherealow,sleepyecho;andfromtimetotimewasheardfromamountain—
  peakaloud,joyousJodler,bywhichaTyrolesehunter,perhaps,announcedhisspeedyreturntohisfamilyinthevalley。ThegloominthenarrowPasseyrthalbecamedeeperanddeeper,and,likebrightglow—worms,thelightsinthehousesofSt。LeonardandSt。Martinglistenednowinthedarkness。
  Lightsappearednotonlyinthevalleybelow,butalsohereandthereonthemountain—slopes;andespeciallyinthesolitaryhouseontheknollsituatedhalf—waybetweenthetwovillages,wasseenthebrightglareofmanycandles,andthepersonspassingontheroadinthevalleylookedupandwhisperedtoeachother:"AndreasHoferisathome,and,itseems,hasagreatmanyguestsathishouse,forallthewindowsofhishandsomeinnareilluminated。"
  Thesolitaryhouseontheknoll,then,belongedtoAndreasHofer。ItwastheGasthauszumSand,farfamedthroughouttheTyrol。Andthepassers—bywerenotmistaken。AndreasHoferwasathome,andhadagreatmanyguestsathishouse。Onthebenchesofthelargebar—roomsathisguests,handsomeTyrolese,withflashingeyesandanimatedfaces,whichwereallturnedtowardtheSandwirth,[Footnote:ThenameusuallygiventoHofer——"Sandwirth,landlordoftheinnZumSand。"]whowassittingonthesmalltableyonder,andconversinginalowtonewithhisfriendsEisensteckenandSieberer。Alltheguestsseemedexcitedandanxious;nooneopenedhismouthtouttermerryjests;noneofthegaysongssopopularamongtheTyroleseresounded;andtheguestsdidnotevenventuretoaddressplayfulremarkstoHofer'sprettydaughters,whowereglidingnoiselesslythroughtheroomtofilltheemptybeer—glasses。
  "Itseems,"murmuredAnthonySieberer,"thattheAustriangovernmenthasagainpostponedthematter,andweshallvainlylookfarthearrivalofthemessage。Thisnewdelayputsanendtothewholemovement。"
  "Idonotthinkso,"saidHofer,gravely,andloudenoughtobeheardbyall。"Donotdespond,mydearfriends!TheAustriangovernmentwillassuredlykeepitsword,forthedearbraveArchdukeJohnpromisedmeintheemperor'snamethatAustriawouldsuccortheTyrolese,andsendtroopsintoourcountry,ifwewouldbeinreadinessonthe9thofApriltoriseagainsttheBavarians。Mydearfriends,doyouputnoconfidence,then,inthewordofourexcellentemperorandthegoodarchduke,whohasalwayslovedussodearly?"
  "No,no,weputimplicitconfidenceintheirword!"shoutedtheTyrolese,withoneaccord。
  "Themessengerwillsurelycome,justhavealittlepatience,"addedHofer,withapleasantnod;"thedayisnotyetatanend,anduntilmidnightwemaysmokeyetmanyapipeanddrinkmanyaglassofbeer。——AnnaGertrudeseetoitthattheglassesoftheguestsarealwayswellfilled。"
  AnnaGertrude,afine—lookingmatronofthirty—six,withfloridcheeksandflashinghazeleyes,hadjustplacedbeforeherhusbandanotherjug,filledwithfoamingbeer,andshenoddednowtoherAndywithasmile,showingtworowsoffaultlesswhiteteeth。
  "Iandthegirlswillattendtotheguests,"shesaid,"butthemendonotdrinkanything。Theglassesandjugsareallfilled,buttheydonotemptythem,and——Look!whocomesthere?"
  AndreasHoferturnedhisheadtowardthedoor;thensuddenlyheutteredacryofsurpriseandjumpedup。
  "Halloo!"heexclaimed,"Ibelievethisisthemessengerwhomwearelookingfor。"Andhepointedhisoutstretchedarmatthesmall,darkformenteringtheroomatthismoment。
  "ItisMajorTeimer,"hecontinued,joyfully;"Isupposeyouknowyetourdearmajorof1805?"
  "Hurrah!MartinTeimeristhere,"shoutedtheTyrolese,risingfromtheirseats,andhasteningtothenew—comertoshakehandswithhimandbidhimheartilywelcome。
  MartinTeimerthankedthemwarmlyforthiskindreception,andaflashofsinceregratificationburstfromhisshrewdblueeyes。
  "IthoughtIshouldmeetallthebravemenofthePasseyrvalleyatAndy'shouseto—night,"hesaid,"andIthereforegreetyouallatonce,mydearcomradesof1805。Thatyearwasdisastroustous。butIthinktheyear1809willbeabetterone,andweshallregainto—
  daywhatwelostatthattime。"
  "Yes,weshall,assureasthereisaGod,"shoutedtheTyrolese;
  andAndreasHoferlaidhisarmonTeimer'sshoulderandgazeddeeplyintohiseyes。
  "Say,MartinTeimer,areallthingsinreadiness,anddoyoubringuswordtorise?"
  "Ido,allthingsareinreadiness,"saidTeimer,solemnly。"Ourcountryman,BaronvonHormayr,whomtheAustriangovernmentappointedgovernorandintendantoftheAustrianforceswhicharetoco—operatewithus,sendsmetoAndreasHofer,whomIamtoinformthattheAustriantroops,commandedbyMarquisvonChastelerandGeneralHiller,willcrosstheTyrolesefrontierto—night。"
  "Hurrah,hurrah!theAustriansarecoming!"shoutedtheTyrolese,jubilantly,swingingtheirpointedhatsintheair。"Thewarhasbrokenout,theAustriansarecoming,andwewillexpeltheBavariansfromthecountry!"
  AndreasHofer'sface,too,wasradiantwithjoy;but,insteadofsingingandshouting,hewassilent,liftedhiseyesslowlytoheaven,andseizedwithbothhishandsthecrucifixrestingonhisbreast。
  "Letuspray,myfriends,"hesaidinaloudandsolemnvoice;"letusthankourLordGodandourpatronsaintinthestillnessofourhearts。"
  Themenpaused;likeAndreasHofer,theyclaspedtheirhands,benttheirheads,andmutteredferventprayers。
  AfteralongpauseHoferraisedhisheadagain。"Andnow,men,listentowhatIhavetosaytoyou,"heexclaimed,cheerfully。"I
  haveinvitedyouallbecauseyouarethemostinfluentialandrespectablemeninthispartofthecountry,andbecausethefatherlandhasneedofyouandcountsuponyouandme。ThesharpshootersofthePasseyrthaltoldme,ifwarshouldbreakout,I
  mustbetheircaptain;andIacceptedthepositionbecauseIthinkthateveryoneisindutyboundtoriskhislimbsandlifeforthesakeofthefatherland,andplacehimselfjustwherehecanserveitbest。ButifIamtobeyourcaptain,youmustallassistmetothebestofyourpower。Wemustactharmoniously,andstraineverynervetodeliverthefatherlandandrestoretheTyroltoourbelovedemperor。"
  "Weareresolvedtodoso,"shoutedthemen,withoneaccord。
  "Iknowitfullwell,"saidAndreasHofer,joyously。"Letusgotowork,then。andcirculatethroughouttheTyrolthemessagethattheAustriansarecoming,andthatitistime。Say,Teimer,didyonnotbringawrittenmessagewithyou?"
  "HereisaletterfromHormayr,"saidMartinTeimer,drawingalargesealedpaperfromhisbosom。
  Andreastookitandopeneditquickly。Butwhilehewasreadingit,aslightcloudoverspreadhiscountenance,andforamomenthecastarapid,searchingglanceonMartinTeimer'sbright,keenface;
  however,nosoonerhadhemetTeimer'sstealthy,inquiringglance,thanhequicklyturnedhiseyesagaintothepaper。
  "Well,"hesaidthen,strikingthepaperwithhisrighthand,"thestatementscontainedinthisletterareentirelyinaccordancewithourwishes。Wearetoriseatonce,foralreadytomorrowtheAustrianswillhavecrossedourfrontiers。MarquisvonChastelerwillmarchfromCarinthiaintothePustervalley;GeneralHillerismovingfromSalzburgtowardtheLowerInnvalley;theformerthinkshewillreachBrixeninthecourseoffourdays;thelattersayshewillbeatInnspruckwithinthesametime。IandMartinTeimerhere,whonolongerkeepsatobacco—shopatKlagenfurth,butisagainMajorTeimerashewasfouryearsago——wearetodirectandmanageeverythingintheTyrol,andareintrustedwiththedutyofseeingtoitthattheflamesoftheinsurrectionburstforthnowasspeedilyaspossiblefromoneendoftheTyroltotheother,andthatitshallbecomeaconflagrationthatwillburnupallFrenchmenandBavarians,orcompelthemtoescapefromthecountry。Assistus,then,mymen,inspreadingthenewsoverthemountainsandthroughthevalleys,thatallmayriseandparticipateinthegreatworkofdeliverance。Everyable—bodiedmanistoshoulderhisrifle,andthewomenandchildrenaretocarry,fromhousetohouse,littleballsofpaperonwhicharewrittenthewords:''Tistime!'aswehaveagreedatourmeetings。Andnow,incompliancewiththepromiseI
  gaveHormayrinVienna,Iwillissueacirculartoallourfriendsthattheymayknowwhattodounderthesecircumstances。Isthereamongyouanyonewhocanwritewellandcorrectly,andtowhomI
  maydictate?formyownhandwritingisnoneofthebest,andalthoughwhatIwritemaybethoughtcorrectly,itisnotspelledaslearnedmentellusitshouldbe。IfthereisamongyouonewhocanwritenicelyandcorrectlywhatIwishtodictate,lethimcomeforward。"
  "Icandoit,"saidayoungman,steppingforward。
  "ItisJosephEnnemoser,sonofJohnEnnemoser,theSeewirth,"saidAndreasHofer,smiling。"Yes,Ibelieveyouareagoodscribe;youhavebecomequiteascholarandanaristocraticgentleman,andarestudyingmedicineattheUniversityofInnspruck。"
  "Forallthat,Ihaveremainedanhonestmountaineer;andasformystudies,IwillnotthinkofthemuntilwehavedeliveredtheTyrolfromtheBavarianyoke。Ishallkeeponlymypen,andactasAndreasHofer'sobedientsecretary。"[Footnote:JosephEnnemoser,sonofJohnEnnemoser,thetailorandSeewirthofthePasseyrthal,wasashepherdinhisboyhood。HisfathersenthimtothegymnasiumofInnsbruck,andafterwardtotheuniversityofthesamecity,wherehestudiedmedicine。In1809hewasHofer'ssecretary。AfterwardhebecameacelebratedprofessorofmedicineattheUniversityofBonn。]