thehymnwhichhehadcomposedtenyearsagointhedaysofAustria\'sadversity,andwhichhehadsungeverydaysincethen,——
thehymn,\"GotterhalteFranzdenKaiser,unserngutenKaiserFranz!\"AndtheaudienceroseandgazedwithprofoundemotionuponJosephHaydn\'sgleamingface,andthenuptotheemperor,whowasstandingsmilinglyinhisbox,andtheempress,fromwhoseeyestwolargetearsrolleddownherpalecheeks;andwithoneaccordthevastcrowdcommencedsinging:
\"GotterhalteFranzdenKaiser,UnserngutenKaiserFranz!
LangelebeFranzderKaiserIndesGlueckeshellemKranz!
IhmerbluehenLorbeerreiser,Woergeht,zumEhrenkranz。
Gotterhalte——\"
[Footnote:
\"GodpreservetheemperorFrancis,ourgoodemperor!
LongliveFrancis,brightestgemInfairFortune\'sdiademO\'erhimseethelaurelwave,Honoringthetrue,thebrave!
Godpreserve——\"]
Haydn\'shandsdroppedexhaustedfromthekeys;hisformrockedtoandfro,and,halffainting,hesankbackintothearmsofSalieriandKreutzer。
Theaudiencepaused;allforgottheimperialhymn,andlookedonlyatthevenerableoldmaestro,whomSalieriandKreutzerlowerednowsoftlyintotheeasy—chair,whichhadbeenbroughttothem。
\"Takemehome,dearones,\"hesaid,faintly,\"singon,my\'Creation\';mysoulwillremainwithyou,butmybodycannolongerstay。Oldagehasbrokenitsstrength。Farewell,farewell,allofyou!Mysoulwillalwaysbeamongyouwhenyousingmymusic;mybodywillgo,butthesoulwillremain。Farewell!\"
Andthevotariesofartwhohadconveyedhimtothehallnowplacedthemaestro\'schairagainontheirshoulders,andcarrieditslowlythroughthehalltowardtheentrance。
TheaudiencestoodinsilentreverenceandlookeduptoHaydn\'spassingform,anddurstnotbreakthisprofoundstillnessbyutteringasound。Theybadefarewelltotheuniversallybelovedandreveredmaestroonlybybowingtheirheadstohimandsheddingtearsofemotion——farewellforevermore!
Thesolemnprocessionhadnowarrivedatthedoor。JosephHaydnliftedhiswearyheadoncemore;hisspiritgleamedoncemoreinhiseyes;anexpressionofunutterablelovebeamedfromhismildface;
hestretchedouthisarmstowardtheorchestraasiftoblessit,andgreeteditwithhissmile,withthenoddingofhishead,andthetearswhichfilledhiseyes。[Footnote:\"Zeitgenossen,\"thirdseries,voliv。,p。33]
Alowrustlingandsobbingpassedthroughthehall;noonewascourageousenoughtoclaphishands;allheartswereprofoundlymoved,alleyesfilledwithtears。
Butnowhedisappeared,andthedoorclosedbehindJosephHaydn。TheGermanmaestrohadto—daycelebratedhisapotheosisamidsttheenthusiasticpeopleofVienna。Lifehaddedicatedtohimthelaurel—
wreathwhichusuallyonlydeathgrantstopoetsandartists。
TheAudiencewasstillsilent,whenallatonceapowerfulvoiceexclaimed:\"LetussingthesecondverseofHaydn\'sfavoritehymn——
thesecondverseof\'GotterhalteFranzdenKaiser!\'\"
\"Yes,yes,\"shoutedall,enthusiastically,\"thesecondverse!thesecondverse!\"
Andhundredsofvoicesshoutedtotheorchestrabeseechingly,imperiously,thunderingly,thatitshouldplaytheaccompaniment;
andthemusicianscompliedwiththistumultuousrequest。
Theaudienceexpressedtheirgratitudebyanoutburstofapplause,andsangthereuponthesecondverse:
\"LassvonseinerFahneSpitzenStrahlenSiegandFurchtbarkeitLassinseinemRathesitzenWeisheit,Klugheit,Redlichkeit,UndmitseinerHoheitBlitzenSchaltenourGerechtigkeit。
GotterhalteFranzdenKaiser,UnserngutenKaiserFranz!\"
[Footnote:
\"BeforehisbannerfloatinghighLetvictoryshoutandfoemenfly!
InhisconnselsletpresideWisdom,prudence,noblepride!
Homelyjusticedellingfind!
Godpreservetheemperor,Francis,ourgoodemperor!\"]
Theemperorbowedhisthankstotheaudience,theorchestracommencedagainplayingtheair,andtheaudiencesanganew:
\"LassvonseinerFahneSpitzenStrahlenSiegundFurchtbarkeit!\"
Andarmsandhandswereliftedhereandtherebeseechinglytowardtheemperor;invaintheorchestratriedtoplayon;theaudience,withrareunanimity,asifseizedwithonesentimentandonewish,sangagainandagain:
\"LassvonseinerFahneSpitzenStrahlenSiegundFurchtbarkeit!\"
Andthenallshoutedloudly,beseechingly,andwithalangrilyandcourageously,\"War!war!LassvonseinerFahneSpitzenstrahlenSiegandFurchtbarkeit!\"
Theexcitementoftheaudiencegrewconstantlybolderandmoreimpetuous。Themenlefttheirseatsandcrowdedaroundtheimperialbog,repeatingagainandagainthewords\"LassvonseinerFahneSpitzenStrahlenSiegandFurchtbarkeit!\"
Theemperorwithdrewinconfusionintothebackgroundofhisbox,andwhisperedquicklyafewwordstotheArchdukeJohn。Thearchdukeadvancedtotherailingofthebox,andcommandedsilencebywavinghishandtotheaudience。
Thesingerspausedimmediately,andamidstthebreathlesssilencewhichensued,theArchdukeJohnshoutedinaloudandpowerfulvoice:\"TheemperorannouncestohisdearViennesethatheisdeterminedtosubmitnolongertothearroganceofFrance,andthatwarisirrevocablyresolvedon。\"
Acryofraptureburstfromalllips;allshoutedexultingly,\"War!
war!WeshallatlengthbiddefiancetothearroganceoftheFrenchemperor!WeshallhavewarwithFrance;weshallavengethewrongswhichwehavesufferedsolong,andsetboundstotheencroachmentsofFrance!\"
Andfriendsandacquaintancesgreetedeachotherwithradianteyesandglowingcheeks;neighbors,entirelyunknowntoeachother,shookhandsandsaid,smilingly:\"Nowatlengthweshallhavewar!AtlengthweshallremovefromourGermanhonorthestainswithwhichFrancehassulliedit。Atlengthweshallhavewar,andGodwillgrantus——\"
Theringingnotesoftheorchestrainterruptedtheanimatedconversationoftheexcitedaudience。Salierihadtakenhisseatagain,heraisedhisbaton,andthesecondpartof\"TheCreation\"
commenced。
CHAPTERVI。
ANDREASHOFER。
ThestreetsofViennaweresilentanddeserted;allhousesweredark;everywherethenoteoflifehaddiedaway,andonlyhereandthereahackney—coachwasheardtodriveslowlythroughthelonelystreets,orabelatedwandererwasseentoreturnhomewithawearystep。
Viennasleptanddreamedofthewelcomenewswhich,despitethelatehour,hadspreadlikewild—firefromtheconcert—hallthroughthecity——ofthejoyfulintelligencethatwaragainstFrancewasresolvedon,andthatthetimewasatlengthathandwhenthewrongsperpetratedbyNapoleonweretobeavenged。
Viennasleptanddreamed;onlyinthewingoftheimperialpalacewherelaytheroomsoccupiedbytheArchdukeJohn,thelightshadnotyetbeenextinguished,andattimesdarkfigureswereseenmovingtoandfrobehindthewindows。
TheArchdukeJohndidnotsleepyet,buthehadalreadydismissedConrad,hisvaletdechambre;hehadpermittedtheotherfootmentoretirefromtheanteroomtotheirbedchambers,andhadthenhimselflockedthedooroftheouteranteroom。
\"IdonottrustConrad,myvaletdechambre,\"hesaidtoCountNugent,whowaswithhiminhiscabinet;\"itishe,doubtlesswhohasbeenplacedasa\'guardianangel\'bymyside,andistoreportregularlyallIamdoing。\"
\"Yourhighnessoughttodischargethefellowforthwith,\"exclaimedCountNugent,indignantly。
\"Ishalltakegoodcarenottodoso,\"saidJohn,smiling;\"onthecontrary,IshalltrytokeepConradaslongaspossibleinmyservice,forIknowhim,andshallbeabletomystifyhim。Ishallalwayshavetosufferaspybymyside,fortheloveandsolicitudeofmyimperialbrotherwillneverleavemeforasinglemomentwithoutclosesurveillance;andConradislessdistastefultomethananotherspyprobablywouldbe。Still,Ididnotwanthimtoreportanythingaboutthevisitorswhowillbehereto—night,andthereforeIdismissedhimforthenight。\"
\"Buthewillprobablystandinthestreettowatchhismaster\'swindows,\"saidNugent,withashrug;\"andtheshadowswhichhewillseehemaydistortintoallsortsofspectreswhichwillbementionedintheemperor\'spolicereportto—morrowmorning。\"
\"Oh,Iamnotafraidofthatatthishour,\"exclaimedJohn。\"TheemperorknowsthatIamtoreceivethedelegatesoftheTyrolese;I
myselftoldhimsoto—day,andheapprovesofit。ButharmmightbefallmyTyroleseattheirhomes,iftheirplanswerediscoveredprevioustotheirdeliverancefromtheBavarianyoke。Buthush,didyounotheararustlingsoundinthecorridor?\"
\"Yes,Idid;itisdrawingnear——itisatthedoornow,and——
somebodyrapsalready。\"
\"Ourfriendsarethere,\"exclaimedJohn,hasteningtothedoor,anddrawingbackthebolt。
Thearchdukewasnotmistaken;hisfriendswerethere,andenteredhiscabinetnowbythesecretdoor。TheywereheadedbyBaronvonHormayrinhisbrilliantgold—embroidereduniform,whichrendereddoublyconspicuousthebeautyofhisslenderyetfirmly—knitform,andthenobleexpressionofhisprepossessing,youthfulface。HewasfollowedbythreeTyrolese,cladintheirnationalcostume,andholdingtheirriflesintheirarms。
Thefirstofthemwasamanaboutfortyyearsold。HisframewasHerculean,hisshouldersbroad,hisstrengthimmense;hisheadwascoveredwithdenseblackhair,hisbronzedfacewasradiantwithkind—heartednessandgood—humor。Hisdresswasthecommonhabitofthecountry,withsometriflingvariations:alargeblackhat,withabroadbrim,blackribbons,andadarkcurlingfeather;agreenjacket,redwaistcoat,broadgreenbracescrossedonthebreast;ablackleatherngirdle,adorned,accordingtotheTyrolesecustom,withallsortsofivoryandotherornaments;blackbreeches,redstockings,andblackshoeswithbuckles。Abouthisneckwasalwaystobeseenasilvercrucifixfastenedtoaheavygoldchain,andoverit,downtothegirdle,flowedhislargeblackbeard,whichimpartedastrange,fantasticairtohiswholeappearance。ThismanwasAndreasHofer,theinnkeeperofPasseyr,towhomtheItalianTyrolese,onaccountofhislongbeard,hadgiventhenameof\"Barbone。\"
ThesecondoftheTyrolesewhoenteredthearchduke\'scabinetwasamanofnolessimposingappearance,dressedentirelylikeAndreasHofer;onlythelongbeardwaswantingtohim,and,insteadofablackhat,heworethepointedgreenTyrolesehat,adornedwithhuntingornaments。Hisface,lessgood—naturedandserenethanthatofhisfriend,wasexpressiveofenergyandresolution;courageandshrewdnessbeamedfromhisblackeyes,andapeculiarexpressionofdefianceandscornplayedaroundhisfulllips。ThiswasJosephSpeckbacher,knownbyeveryinhabitantofthenorthernTyrolas\"theboldchamois—hunter。\"
HewasfollowedbyathirdTyrolese,asproudandstrong,asrobustandfine—looking,ashistwocompanions。ItwasAnthonyWallner,theinnkeeperofWindisch—Matrey,and,likeSpeckbacher,Hofer\'sintimatefriend。
ThearchdukeadvancedtomeettheTyrolese,andshookhandswitheachofthem。
\"Welcome,myTyrolese,welcome!\"hesaid,inadeeply—movedvoice;
\"mayGodandtheHolyVirgingrantthatnoharmresult,fromyourvisittome!YouknowthatIhaveneverceasedtoloveyou,andthatwhen,intheyear1805,IhadtobidfarewelltoAndreasHoferandthedearTyrol,myheartalmostbrokewithgriefanddespair。\"
\"Look,look!\"exclaimedAndreasHofer,turningwitharadiantsmiletohistwofriends;\"heisindeedthesamemanwhobadeusfarewellatthattimeinBrunecken,andwasnotashamedofembracingAndreasHoferandsheddingtearsonhisshoulderforthepoorsacrificedTyrol。\"
\"Andwhoisgladto—daytobeabletoembraceAndreasHoferagain,\"
saidthearchduke,encirclingtheHerculeanformoftheTyroleseinnkeeperwithhisarms。\"ButIwillshednotearsto—day,Andreas,forIhopethetimeoftearsisover,andyouhavecometotellmeso,tobringmelove—greetingsfromtheTyrolese,andthehopeofbettertimes。Say,youthreebravemenfromtheTyrol,AndreasHofer,JosephSpeckbacher,AnthonyWallner,isitnotso?HaveyounotcometotellmethattheTyrolislongingforheremperoranddesirousofgettingridoftheBavarians?\"
\"Yes,wehavecometosaythistoourdearJohn,\"exclaimedAndreasHofer。
\"WehavecometoaskifAustriadoesnotintendtocalluponherTyroltoriseandfightunderherbanners,\"saidJosephSpeckbacher。
\"WehavecometoaskourArchdukeJohnifhewillhelpuswithhistroopsandcannonincaseweTyroleseshouldrisenowtoexpeltheBavariansfromthecountry,\"saidAnthonyWallner,withflashingeyes。
\"WehavecometoaskourJohn,Isittime?\"exclaimedAndreasHofer。
Thearchdukeheldouthishandtohimwithafirmandresoluteglance。\"Yes,\"hesaid,\"yes,AndreasHofer,itistime!Yes,AnthonyWallner,AustriawillassisttheTyrolesewithhertroopsandcannoninexpellingtheBavariansandFrenchfromtheircountry。
Yes,JosephSpeckbacher,AustriaintendstocalluponherfaithfulTyroltoriseandfightunderherbanners;shewillengageinamortalcontestforyouandwithyou!\"
\"Godgrantsuccesstoourunitedefforts!\"saidAndreasHofer,foldinghishandsoverthecrucifixonhisbreast。\"DuringalltheseyearsIhaveprayedeverydaytotheHolyVirgintoletmeliveandseethedaywhentheAustrianeagleshalloncemoreadornourboundary—posts,andwhenwemayagainfondlyandfaithfullyloveourEmperorFrancisasourlegitimatesovereign。ThegoodGodinheaven,Ihope,willforgivemeforhavingbeenaverybadandobstinatesubjectoftheKingofBavaria。Iwouldneversubmittothenewlaws,andcouldnotdiscoverinmyoldAustrianheartabitofloyaltyorlovefortherulerwhowasforceduponus。\"
\"No,youwereastubborndisloyalist,Andy。\"saidHormayr,\"and,asspokesmanofyourwholedistrict,youraisedyourvoiceagainsteverynewlawwhichtheBavariangovernmentpromulgatedinyourcountry。But,itistruetheTyroleselovetheirAndyforthis,andsaythatheisthemosthonest,faithful,andreliablemaninthewholevalleyoftheAdige。\"
\"Tobecourageousisnotsodifficultifthecausewhichyoufightforisagoodone,\"saidAndreasHofer,calmly。\"GodHimselfengravedonmyheartthecommandmenttobeloyaltomyemperor,mycountry,anditslaws;andifyoucallmereliable,dearfriend,youmerelysaythatIdomydutyasaChristian,fortheBiblesays,\'LetyourcommunicationbeYea,yea;nay,nay;forwhatsoeverismorethanthesecomethofsin。\'Therefore,donotpraisemeforthatwhichisonlymyduty,andwhichSpeckbacherandWallner,andallourdearfriendsinthevalleyoftheAdige,dojustaswellasI。
Fortherest,Imusttellyou,gentlemen,itisnotsostrangethatweshouldbeattachedtotheemperor;fortheBavariansaregoverningourcountryinsuchamannerasiftheywereintentonlyonmakingusloveouremperoreverydaymoreandmore,andlongforhimmoreintensely。\"
\"Itistrue,Andyisright,\"exclaimedAnthonyWallner;\"theBavariansoppressusfearfully,andwewillnotstanditanylonger;
wewillbecomeAustriansagain,asourfatherswere,andwillfightforourlibertyandouroldprivilegeswhichBavariasolemnlyguaranteed,andwhichherauthoritiesbaselyintendtooverthrow。\"
\"Whichtheyhavealreadyoverthrown,\"criedJosephSpeckbacher,hiseyesflashingwithanger。\"ThecourtofMunichseemsintentonlyonmakingtheutmostoftheirnewacquisition。Ouroldconstitutionhasbeenoverthrownbyaroyaledict;therepresentativeestateshavebeensuppressed,andtheprovincialfundsseized。Nolessthaneightnewandoppressivetaxeshavebeenimposedandarebeingleviedwiththeutmostrigor;theverynameofourcountryhasbeenabolished;
theroyalpropertyhasallbeenbroughtintothemarket;newimportsaredailyexactedwithoutanyconsultationwiththeestatesofthepeople;speciehasbecomescarce,fromthequantityofitwhichisbeingdrawnofftotheBavariantreasury;theAustriannoteshavebeenreducedtohalftheirvalue;and,tocrownallthesewrongs,compulsoryleviesareheldamongouryoungmen,whoaretoserveintheranksofouroppressors!No,wemustbreaktheyokeweighingusdown——wewillbecomefreemenagain——asfreemenwewillliveanddie—
—asfreemenwewillbelongagaintoourbelovedEmperorFrancis,whoseancestorshaveruledoverusforsomanycenturiespast。\"
\"IfalltheTyrolesethinkandfeelasyouthreedo,\"saidtheArchdukeJohn,withsparklingeyes,\"youwillrecoveryourlibertyandyouremperor,despitetheBavariansandFrench。\"
\"Allfeelandthinkaswedo,\"saidHofer,thoughtfully;\"wehaveallvowedtoGodandtheHolyVirginthatwewilldelivertheTyrolfromtheenemy;andeveryman,everyladinourmountainsandvalleys,isreadytotakeuphisrifleandfightforhisdearEmperorFrancis。\"
\"WearehereasdelegatesofthewholeTyrol,\"saidAnthonyWallner,\"toascertainthewishesandintentionsoftheemperorandhisgovernment,preferourbittercomplaints,anddeclarethefirmresolutionoftheTyrolesetoshrinkfromnosacrificeinordertobereunitedwithAustriaandtoreconquerourancientrightsandliberties。\"
\"Butweneedassistanceforthispurpose,\"addedJosephSpeckbacher,\"speedyandvigorousassistance;aboveall,weneedtroops,money,ammunition,andsupplies。WillAustriagivethemtous?\"
\"Shewill,\"saidthearchduke。\"Shewillsendyouacorpsd\'armee,money,ammunition,andsupplies。Onlyyoumustbereadyandpreparedtoriseasonemanwhenwegiveyouthesignalofinsurrection。\"
\"Weareready!\"exclaimedAndreasHofer,noddingjoyously。\"Butyoumustnotdelaythesignalverylong,fordelaysarehighly——
dangerousunderthepresentcircumstances。Weandourfriendshavepreparedtheinsurrection,anditisasifalargetorrentoffirewereflowingsecretlyunderthesurfaceoftheTyrol;ifsomeshrewdBavarianshouldscratchawaysomeoftheearth,hewoulddiscoverthefire,fetchwater,andextinguishtheflames,beforetheAustriansreachthecountryandpreventhimfromsodoing。Asecretknowntoagreatmanyisseldomwellkept;itis,asitwere,aripefruitwhichmustfallfromthetree,eventhoughitshouldhitandcrushtheheadoftheownerofthetree。\"
\"Yes,whatistobedonemustbedonesoon,\"saidAnthonyWallner。
\"ThemenofPasseyr,Meran,Mays,andAlgund,areready,andhaveenteredintoasecretleaguewiththewholevalleyoftheInn。ThedistrictoftheAdige,too,hasjoinedus,andtheGermanandItalianTyrolese,whoformerlyneverlikedeachother,havenowagreedtostandshouldertoshoulderandriseononedayandasoneman,inordertodrivetheBavariansandFrenchfromtheirmountains。\"
\"WearewaitingonlyforAustriatogivethesignal;praydonotkeepuswaitingtoolong,forwemenoftheLowerInnthal,too,areallreadyandarmed。Anenormouswormofinsurrection,asitwere,iscreepingthroughtheLowerInnvalley,andthewormhasfourheads,whichlooktowardallquartersoftheworld。OneheadisRupertWintersteller,ofKirchdorf;thesecondisJacobSieberer,ofThiersen;thethirdisAntonyAschbacher,ofAchenthal;andthefourthisI,JosephSpeckbacher,ofKufstein。\"
\"InthePustervalley,too,astormisbrewing,andallarereadyandimpatienttoriseininsurrection,\"saidHofer。\"Therefore,dearbrotherofouremperor,giveusgoodnews,thatwemaytakeithometothemenoftheTyrol,fortheirheartsarelongingandcryingfortheirsovereigntheemperor。\"
\"Andtheemperor,onhispart,islongingforhisTyrolese,\"saidthearchduke。\"Thetimehascomewhenthatwhichbelongstogetheristobereunited。Letusconsultanddeliberate,then,myfriends,whatweshoulddoinordertoattainourgreatobject,andreunitetheTyrolesewiththeiremperor。\"
\"Yes,letus,consult,\"saidHofer,solemnly;\"andletusprayGodandtheHolyVirgintoenlightenourminds。\"
Heraisedthecrucifixfromhisbreasttohisfaceandbentoverit,mutteringaprayer。
\"NowIamready,\"hesaid,slowlydroppingthecrucifix;\"letusdeliberate。ButItellyoubeforehand,Iamnomilitaryhero,norawisemanincouncil。IamresolvedtodoallthatisnecessarytodelivermydearTyrolfromtheenemy,andtostrikeandfireattheBavariansandFrenchuntiltheyrunawayterror—stricken,andrestoreustoourdearEmperorFrancis。ButIamunversedinnegotiationsanddevisingshrewdtricksandstratagems。Iamonlyaplainpeasant,whohasagreatdealofloveandfidelityinhisheart,butonlyfewthoughtsinhishead。BaronvonHormayrandthearchdukemaydothethinkingforme。Theyshallbethehead,andI
thearmandheart。SpeckbacherandWallneryonderhavegoodheadstoo,thoughIdonotwishtosaythattheirheartsarenotalsointherightplace;onthecontrary,Iknowthattheyare。Letusconsult,then,andbearinmindthatGodhearsus,andthattheTyrolesearewaitingforus。\"
\"Youareanexcellentman,Andy,\"exclaimedJohn,holdingouthishandtoHoferwithatenderglance——\"achildlikesoul,fulloflove,fidelity,andtenderness;and,ingazingatyou,itseemsasifthewholedearTyrol,withitsmountainsandvalleys,itsAlpinehutsandchapels,itsmerrysingersandpiousprayers,werepresentbeforeme。Come,then,Andy,andyouotherdearfriends,come,letusbeseatedandholdacouncilofwar。\"
Theyseatedthemselvesaroundthetablestandinginthemiddleoftheroom。
Daywasalreadydawning,thecandleshadburneddownverylow,thestreetsbegantobecomelively,andstilltheTyroleseremainedinthearchduke\'scabinet,theirfacesglowingwithdefianceandresolution,andtheireyesflashingwithboldnessandenthusiasm。
Foreverythingwassettledanddecidednow;eachofthemhadreceivedhisinstructionsandbeeninformedofthepartwhichhewastoplayinthestruggle。WarwiththeBavariansandFrench,andlibertyfortheTyrol,wasthebattle—cryandgoal。
\"Theplanissettled,then,\"saidtheArchdukeJohn,noddingkindlytotheTyrolese。\"Elevenpoints,especially,havebeenagreedupon,aftermaturedeliberation;anditwouldbegoodforustorepeatthembriefly。\"
\"Letusdoso,\"saidAndreasHofer。\"First,then:TheTyrolesewillriseagainsttheBavarians,inordertobereunitedwithAustria。Weshallenlistasmanysoldiersfortheinsurgentarmyaspossible,andtrytomakeallTyroleseourfellow—conspirators。TheywillmeetonSundaysatthetaverns,andtheinnkeepersinthevalleysandmountainsaretheleadersoftheconspiracy;theywillcallthemeetingsandfacilitatetheintercourseoftheconspiratorswitheachother。IfitpleaseGod,theinsurrectionwillbreakoutonthe9thofApril,whentheAustriantroopswillcrossthefrontieroftheTyrolandhastentoourassistance。Thisisthebestpoint,andGodgrantthatitmaybewellexecuted!\"
\"Thesecondpoint,\"saidJosephSpeckbacher,\"isasfollows:Nowrittencommunicationwhatevershallbepermittedamongtheconspirators,andthosewhoviolatethisordershallbeseverelypunished。Thesecretmessageswillbecarriedbyreliableandwell—
triedmessengersfromcourt—housetocourt—houseandvillagetovillage。Tothisthethirdpointaddsthefollowing:Theoldestmeninthevillageswillestablishsecrettribunalstotryandpunishthosewhomfear,self—interest,orbribesmayinducetoturntraitors。Thefamiliesofsuspiciouspersons,andthosewhobetrayoursecretsfromweaknessorinastateofintoxication,mustbecloselywatched,andtheythemselveswillbesenttodistantAlpinehutsandintothemountainfastnesses,wheretheywillbekeptincloseconfinement。\"\"Fourth,\"saidAnthonyWallner:\"Everyinnkeepermuststrivetoamassprovisions,forage,wine,andammunition;fortheinnsinthemountainsare,asitwere,smallfortressesfortheTyrolese,andtheenemycanreachthemonlyslowlyandaftersurmountingagreatmanydifficulties。Besides,theinnkeepersmustarrangetarget—shootingseverySunday,thatthemenfromtheneighborhoodmayassembleattheirhousesandjointhegreatleagueofthedefendersofthecountry。TheinnkeepersatveryimportantplaceswillreceiveforthesepurposesbillsofexchangeonSalzburg,Klagenfurth,andTrieste;andeachofusthree,Hofer,Speckbacher,andI,willtakehomewithusonehundredandtwentyducatstobedistributedamongtheinnkeepers。Fifth:Theintercoursebetweenthemountaindistricts,ononeside,andtheplainsandtowns,ontheother,musthenceforthbecomerarerandrarertillthehouroftheoutbreak。Butthemountaineersmustsendout,atintervalsoffourdays,spiestoascertainthestateofaffairsinotherpartsofthecountry。\"
\"Sixth,\"exclaimedtheArchdukeJohn,withbeamingeyes:\"Onthedaywhentheinsurrectionistobreakout,Field—MarshalJellachichwillarriveinfrontofInnspruck,andthevanguardofField—MarshalChastelerwillmarchthroughthePustervalleytotheheightsofSchwabsandElbachtowardBrixen,andadvancetheheadofhiscolumnbeyondtheBrennerasfarasBotzen。Seventh:AlltheforcesoftheenemymovingtowardGermanymustbechasedbetweenthesetwocolumnsoftheAustriansandpursuedandfiredatincessantlybythemountaineers;theymustbepreventednightanddayfromobtainingrestandfood;thebestmarksmenmustpickofftheirofficersandblowuptheirammunition—wagons。TheTyroleseshouldchasetheBavariansandtheFrenchinthismannerfromBotzentoBrixen,uptheBrenner,andthencedowntoTrent。Now,friendHormayr,repeattheremainingfourpoints。\"
\"Theeighthpointis:TheremovaloftheBavariantreasuremustbepreventedbyallmeans。Ninth:TheTyroleselivingontheriversmustpreventtheenemybyallmeansfromdestroyingthebridgesandroads,sothattheAustriansmaybeabletosuccorthemmorerapidly;buttheymustalsoholdmenandtoolsinreadiness,that,aftertheAustrianshavearrived,theymaydestroythebridgesintherearoftheenemy,andrendertheroadsimpassable,byobstructingthemwithpilesofwoodandrocks。Tenth:TheTyrolesewilltrycautiouslytobringaboutanunderstandingwithSwitzerland,andestablishconnectionswiththeLowerandUpperEngadine,Chur,Appenzell,andSt。Gall;forthencewillcometheEnglishagentswhowillconveyarmsandmoneytotheTyrolese。
Eleventh——\"
\"Ah,letmestatetheeleventhpoint,\"exclaimedJosephSpeckbacher,withflashingeyes。\"Iintendtotakepartincarryingoutthispointoftheprogramme。Itis,totakethefortressofKufsteinonthefrontierbyanocturnalcoupdemain。Field—MarshalJellachichwillmoveseveralcompaniesofriflemenascloseuptothefortressaspossible,andJacobSiebererandJosephSpeckbacher,whowillbeforehandenlistassistantsinthetownandspyouteverything,willjointhem。ThecaptureofKufsteinistocommencethegloriousstruggle;itistobethefirsthymnoflibertywhichtheTyrolesewillsenduptoheavenlikealarkinspring,andbywhichtheywillblessandpraisethegoodGod。TheeleventhandlastpointisKufstein。Godprotectusincarryingouttheseelevenpoints!\"
[Footnote:TheseelevenpointsweresettledinthismanneratViennabythedelegatesoftheTyrolese,theArchdukeJohn,andBaronvonHormayr,andnoteddownbythelatter。——SeeHormayr,\"GeschichteAndreasHofer\'s,\"vol。i,p。193etseq。]
\"Amen!\"exclaimedAndreasHofer,raisinghiscrucifixandpressingittohislips。\"Wehave,then,resolvedhereincouncilwithourArchdukeJohn,andIhopealsoincouncilwiththegoodGodabove,thattheTyrolistoberestoredtoitsbelovedimperialhouse。Theworkistobeginonthe9thofApril,andwemustbereadytoriseonthatday。Onthe9thofApriltheAustriansaretocrossthefrontier,andonthepreviouseveningtheywillinformusbyfiringoffthreerocketsthattheyareathand。Atthesametimebale—fireswillbelightedonahundredhills,andonthefollowingmorningweshallthrowlargequantitiesofblood,flour,orcharcoal,intoourmountain—torrents,thattheirblood—red,flour—white,orcoal—blackwaters,flowingintoandoutofthecountry,mayproclaimtothepeoplethatthetimehascomewhenallmustrise,rifleinhand,toconquerordieforthedearTyrolandthegoodEmperorFrancis。\"