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。]