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。]