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 ANDREAS HOFER.
 
 ANDREAS HOFER 
 
 '^n l^islorical ^'otiel 
 
 BY 
 
 L. MUHLBACH 
 
 AUTHOR OP JOSEPH II. AND HIS COURT, FREDERICK THE r.REAT AND HIS COURTf 
 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI, THE MERCHANT OF BERLIN, ETC. 
 
 TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN BY 
 
 F. JORDAN 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 A. L. FOVVLH, Publisher 
 1905
 
 Copyright, 1868, 1893, 
 
 Bt d. appleton and company.
 
 
 ^438 
 
 m 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER PAGB 
 
 I.— 1809 1 
 
 II. — The Emperor Francis 13 
 
 III. — The Courier and the Ambassador . . . , 2G 
 
 IV. — The Emperor and his Brothers 39 
 
 V. — The Performance of "The Creation". ... 51 
 
 n.— Andreas Hofer (J2 
 
 VII.— Andreas Hofei- at the Theatre 70 
 
 VIII. — Consecration of the Fhigs. and Farewell . . .So 
 
 IX.— 'Tis Time ! 'JO 
 
 X.— Anthony Wallner of Windisch-Matrey . . .106 
 
 XI. — The Declaration of Love 11" 
 
 XII.— Farewell ! 129 
 
 XIII.— The Bridegroom 135 
 
 XIV.— The Bridge of St. Lawrence 147 
 
 XV.— The Bridge of Laditch 155 
 
 XVI.— On the Sterzinger Moos U>G 
 
 XVII.— The Hay- Wagons 177 
 
 ^III.— Capture of Innspruck 1^5 
 
 XIX.— The Capitulation of Wiltau 1!»G 
 
 XX.— Eliza Wallncr's Return 215 
 
 XXL— The Catastrophe 222 
 
 XXII.— Eliza and Ulrich 232 
 
 XXIIL— The Triumph of Death 252 
 
 XXIV.— The Archduke John at Comoru 269 
 
 4CG613
 
 IV 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTKR 
 
 
 
 
 PIGB 
 
 XXV.- 
 
 -The Emperor Francis at Wolkersdorf . . .278 
 
 XXVI.- 
 
 -The Reply of the King of Prussia. 
 
 
 . 393 
 
 XXVII.- 
 
 -The Battle of Wagram . 
 
 
 
 . 304 
 
 XXVIII.- 
 
 -The Armistice of Znaym . 
 
 
 
 . 311 
 
 XXIX.- 
 
 -Hofer and Speckbacher . 
 
 
 
 . 322 
 
 XXX.- 
 
 -The Capuchin's Oath 
 
 
 
 . 331 
 
 XXXI.- 
 
 -The First Battle .... 
 
 
 
 . 344 
 
 XXXII.- 
 
 -The Fifteenth of August at Innspruck 
 
 
 . 353 
 
 XXXIII.- 
 
 -Andreas Hofer, the Emperor's Lieutenai 
 
 it 
 
 . 367 
 
 XXXIV.- 
 
 -The Fifteenth of August at Comorn 
 
 
 . 375 
 
 XXXV.- 
 
 —A Day of the Emperor's Lieutenant 
 
 
 . 390 
 
 XXXVI.- 
 
 —The Lovers 
 
 
 . 401 
 
 XXXVII.- 
 
 — Elza's Return .... 
 
 
 
 . . 413 
 
 XXXVIII.- 
 
 -The WeddiBg o . . . 
 
 
 
 . 431 
 
 XXXIX.- 
 
 -The Treaty of Peace. 
 
 
 
 . 432 
 
 XL.- 
 
 -Dreadful Tidings 
 
 
 
 . 447 
 
 XLI. 
 
 —Betrayal and Seizure of Hofer 
 
 
 
 . 458 
 
 XLII. 
 
 —The Warning .... 
 
 
 
 . 472 
 
 XLIIL- 
 
 -The Flight 
 
 
 
 . 479 
 
 XLIV. 
 
 —Andreas Hofer's Death . 
 
 • 
 
 
 . 4S2
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 TAcmo 
 FAes 
 
 Portrait of Andreas Hofer ...... Frontispiece 
 
 Hofer's Farewell to his Wife 103 
 
 Eliza Wallner bringing the Wine .,...,. 162 
 
 Uprising of the Tyrolese •••• S44
 
 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 1809. 
 
 The year 1809 had come ; but the war against France, so 
 intensely longed for })y all Austria, had not yet broken out, 
 and the people and tho army were vainly waiting for the war- 
 cry of their sovereign, the Emperor Francis. It is true, not a 
 few great things had been accomplished in the course of the 
 past year: Austria had armed, organized the militia, strength- 
 ened her fortresses, and filled her magazines; but the emperor 
 still hesitated to take the last and most decisive step by crown- 
 ing his military preparations, with a formal declaration of 
 war. 
 
 No one looked for this declaration of war more intensely 
 than the emperors second bi'other, the Archduke John, a 
 young man of scarcely twenty-seven. He had been the .soul 
 of all the preparations which, since the summer of 1808, had 
 been made throughout Austria; he had conceived the plan of 
 organizing the militia and the reserves; and had drawn up 
 the proclamation of the 12th of May, 1808, by which all able- 
 bodied Austrians were called upon to take up arms. But this 
 exhausted his powers; he could organize the army, but could 
 not say to it, "Take the field against the enemy!" The em- 
 peror alone could utter this word, :ind he was silent. 
 
 "And he will be silent until the favorable moment has 
 passed," sighed the Archduke John, when, on returning from 
 a very long interview with the emperor, he was alone with 
 his friend. General Nugent, in his cabinet. 
 
 He had communicated to this confidant the full details of 
 his interview with the emperor, and concluded bis report by 
 
 (1)
 
 2 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 saying, witli a deep sigh, "The emperor will be silent until 
 the favorable moment has passed ! " 
 
 Count Nugent gazed with a look of heart- felt sympathy 
 into the archduke's mournful face; he saw the tears filling 
 John's large blue eyes ; he saw that he firmly compressed his 
 lips as if to stifle a cry of pain or rage, and that he clinched 
 his hands in the agony of his despair. Animated by tender 
 compassicm, the general approached the archduke, who had 
 sunk into a chair, and laid his hand gently on his shoulder. 
 " Courage, courage !" he whispered; "nothing is lost as yet, 
 and your imperial highness — ^" 
 
 " Ah, why do you address me with 'imperial highness'? " 
 cried the archduke, almost indignantly. "Do you not see, 
 then, that this is a miserable title by which Fate seems to 
 mock me, and which it thunders constantly, and, as it were, 
 sneeringly into my ears, in order to remind me again and 
 again of my deplorable powerlessness ? There is nothing ' im- 
 perial ' about me but the yoke under which I am groaning ; 
 and my ' highness' is to be compared only with the crumbs of 
 Lazarus which fell from the rich man's table. And yet there 
 are persons, Nugent, who envy me these crumbs — men who 
 think it a brilliant and glorious lot to be an ' imperial high- 
 ness,' the brother of a sovereign emperor I Ah, they do not 
 know that this title means only that I am doomed to everlast- 
 ing dependence and silence, and that the emperor's valet de 
 chambre and his pi-ivate secretary are more influential men 
 than the Archduke John, who cannot do anything but submit, 
 be silent, and look on in idleness." 
 
 "Now your imperial highness slanders yourself,'' exclaimed 
 Count Nugent. " You have not been silent, you have not 
 looked on in idleness, but have worked incessantly and cour- 
 ageously for the salvation of your people and your country. 
 Who drew up the original plan for the organization of the 
 militia and the reserves ? Who elaborated its most minute 
 details with admirable sagacity ? It was the Archduke John 
 — the archduke in whom all Austria hopes, and who is the last 
 refuge and comfort of all patriots I " 
 
 " Ah, how much all of you are to be pitied, my friend, if 
 you hope in me ! " sighed John. " What am I, then ? A poor
 
 THE YEAR 1809. 3 
 
 atom wliich is allowed to move in the glare of the imperial 
 sun, but which would be annihilated so soon as it should pre- 
 sume to be an independent luminary. Pray, Nugent, do not 
 speak of such hopes ; for, if the emperor should hear of it, not 
 only would my liberty be endangered, but also yours and that 
 of all who are of your opinion. The emperoi- does not like 
 to see the eyes of his subjects fixed upon me ; every kind word 
 uttered about me sours him and inci-eases the ill-will with 
 which he i-egards me." 
 
 "That is impossible, your highness," exclaimed the count. 
 " How can our excellent enji)eror help loving his brother, who 
 is so gifted, so high-minded and learned, and withal so modest 
 and kind-hearted ? How can lie help being happy to see that 
 others love and appreciate him too ? " 
 
 " Does llie emperor love my brother Charles, who is much 
 more gifted and high-minded than I am ? " asked John, .shrug- 
 ging his shoulders. " Did he not arrest his victorious career, 
 and recall him from the army, although, or rather because, he 
 knew that the armj'^ idolized him, and that all Austria loved 
 him and hoped in him ? Ah, believe me, the emjieror is dis- 
 tru.stful of all his brothers, and all our protestations of love 
 attd devotedness do not touch him, but rebound powerlessly 
 from the ainior of jealousy with which he has steeled his 
 heart against us. You see, I tell you all this with perfect 
 composure, but I confess it cost me once many tears and in- 
 ward struggles, and it was long before my heart became calm 
 and resigned. ^ly heart long yearned for love, confidence, and 
 friendship. I have got over these yearnings now, and resigned 
 myself to be lonely, and remain so all my life long. That is 
 to say," added the archduke, with a gentle smile, holding out 
 his hand to the count, "lonely, without a sister, without a 
 brother— lonely in my family. However, I have found a 
 mostdeliglitful compensation fortius loneliness, for I call you 
 and Hormayr friends ; I have my books, which always com- 
 f*)rt, divert, and amuse me ; and last, I have my great and 
 glorious hopes regarding the future of the fatherland. AIi, 
 how could I say that I was poor and lonely when I am so lich 
 in hopes, and have two noble and faithful fi-iends :" I am sure, 
 Nugent, you will never desert me, but stand by nif to the end
 
 4 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 — to the great day of victory, or to the end of our humiliation 
 and disgrace ? " 
 
 " Your imperial highness knows full well that my heart 
 will never turn from you ; that I love and revere you ; that 
 you are to me the embodiment of all that is noble, great, and 
 beautiful ; that I would be joyfully ready at any hour to suf- 
 fer death for you ; and that neither prosperity nor adversity 
 could induce me to forsake you. You are the hope of my 
 heart, you are the hope of my country — nay, the hope of all 
 Germany. We all need your assistance, your heart, your 
 arm ; for we expect that you will place yourself at the head of 
 Germany, and lead us to glorious victories ! " 
 
 " God grant that the hour when we shall take the field 
 may soon come I Then, my friend, I shall prove that I am 
 ready, like all of you, to shed my heart's blood for the father- 
 land, and conquer or die for the liberty of Austria, the liberty 
 of Germany. For in the present state of affairs the fate of 
 Germany, too, depends on the success of our arms. If we suc- 
 cumb and }}ave to submit to the same humiliations as Prussia, 
 the whole of Gei'many will be but a French province, and the 
 freedom and independence of our fathei'land will be destroyed 
 for long years to come. I am too weak to survive such a 
 disgrace. If Austria falls, I shall fall too ; if German liberty 
 dies, I shall die too."'* 
 
 " German libei-ty will not die ! " exclaimed Count Nugent, 
 enthusiastically ; " it will take the field one day against all 
 the powerful and petty tyrants of the fatherland. Then it will 
 choose the Archduke John its general-in-chief, and he will 
 lead it to victory ! " 
 
 "No, no, my friend," said John, mournfully; "Fate re- 
 fuses to let me play a decisive part in the history of the world. 
 My role will always be but a secondary one ; m}^ will will al- 
 ways be impeded, my arm will be paralyzed forever. You 
 know it. You know that I am constantly surrounded by 
 secret spies and eavesdroppers, who watch me with lynx-eyed 
 vigilance, and misrepresent every step I take. It was always 
 so, and will remain so until I die or become a decrepit old 
 
 * The Archduke John's own words. — See " Forty-eight Letters from 
 Archduke John of Austria to Johannes von Miiller," p. 90.
 
 THF YEAR 1800. 5 
 
 man, whoso arm is no lonfjor able to wield llie sword or even 
 the pen. That I am youn<i;'. tliat I have a heart for the suffer- 
 ings of my country, a heart not only for the honor of Austria, 
 but for that of Germany — that is what gives umbrage to them, 
 what renders me suspicious in their eyes, and causes them to 
 regard me as a revolutionist. I had to suffer a good deal for 
 my convictions ; a great many obstacles were raised again.st 
 all my plans ; and yet I desired only to contribute to the wel- 
 fare of the whole ; I demanded nothing for myself, but every 
 thing for the fatherland. To the fatherland I wished to de- 
 vote my blood and my life ; for the fatherland T wished to 
 conquer in the disastrous campaign of 1805. However, such 
 were not the plans of my advei'saries ; they did not wish to 
 carry on the war with sufficient energy and perseverance ; 
 they would not give my brother Charles and me an oppor- 
 tunity to distinguish ourselves and gain a popular name. 
 Whenever I planned a vigorous attack, I was not permitted to 
 carry it into effect. Whenever, with my corps, I might have 
 exerted a decisive influence upon the fortunes of the war, I 
 was ordered to retreat with my troops to some distant position 
 of no importance whatever ; and when I remonstrated, they 
 charged me with rebelling against the emperor's authority. 
 Ah, I suffered a groat deal in those days, and the wounds 
 which my heart received at that jiincture are bleediiig yet. I 
 had to succumb, when the men who had commenced the war 
 at a highly unfavorable time, conducted it at an equally un- 
 favorable moment, and made peace. And by that peace Aus- 
 tria lost her most loyal province, the beautiful Tyrol, one of 
 the oldest states of the Hapsburgs : and her most fertile prov- 
 ince, the territory of Venotia and Dalmatia, for which I did 
 not grieve so much, because it always was a source of political 
 dissensions and quarrels for the hereditary provinces of Aus- 
 tria. What afflicted me most sorely was the loss of the Tyrol, 
 and even now I cannot think of it without the most profound 
 emotion. It seemed as though Fate Avere bent on blotting out 
 from our memory all tiiat might remind us of our ancestors, 
 their virtues, their patriotism, and their perseverance in the 
 days of universal adversity ; and as though, in consequence of 
 this, the spirit of the Hapsburgs had almost become extinct,
 
 Q ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 and Ave were to lose all that they had gained in the days of 
 their greatness.* But now Fate is willing to give us another 
 opportunity to repair our faults and show that we are worthy 
 of our ancestors. If we allow this to pass too, all is lost, not 
 only the throne of the Hapsbargs, but also their honor ! " 
 
 " This opportunity will not pass ! " exclaimed the count. 
 '' The throne of the Hapsburgs will be preserved, for it is pro- 
 tected by the Archdukes John and Charles, a brave army that 
 is eager for a war with France, and a faithful, intrepid people, 
 which is sincerely devoted to its imperial dynasty, which 
 never will acknowledge another ruler, and which never will 
 desert its Hapsburgs." 
 
 " Yes, the people will not desert us," said John, " but worse 
 things may happen ; we may desert ourselves. Just look 
 around, Nugent, and see how lame we have suddenly become 
 again ; how we have all at once stopped half way, unable to 
 decide whether it might not be better for us to lay down our 
 arms again and surrender at discretion to the Emperor of the 
 French." 
 
 "Fortunately, it is too late now to take such a resolution ; 
 for Austria has already gone so far that a hesitating policy at 
 this juncture will no longer succeed in pacifying the Emperor 
 of the French. And it is owing to the efforts of your imperial 
 highness that it is so ; we are indebted for it to your zeal, your 
 energy, and your enthusiasm for the good cause, which is now 
 no longer the cause of Austria, but that of Germany. And 
 this cause will not succumb ; God will not allow a great and 
 noble people to be trampled under foot by a foreign tyrant, 
 who bids defiance to the most sacred treaties and the law of 
 nations, and who would like to overthrow all thrones to con- 
 vert the foreign kingdoms and empires into provinces of his 
 empire, blot out the history of the nations and dynasties, and 
 have all engulfed by his universal monarchy." 
 
 "God may not decree this, but He may perhaps allow it if 
 the will of the nations and the princes shoiild not be strong 
 enough to set bounds to such mischief. When the feeling of 
 liberty and independence does not incite the nations to rise 
 
 * John's own words. — See " Forty-eight Letters from Archduke John to 
 Johannes von Muller," p. 103.
 
 THE YKAR 1S09. Y 
 
 entliusiastically and defeud their riglits, God sends them a 
 tyrant as a scour<^e to chastise them. And such, I am afi-aid, 
 is our case. Germany has lost faith in hei'self, in her honor ; 
 slie lies exhausted at the feet of the tyrant, and is ready to be 
 trampled in the dust hy him. Just look around in our Ger- 
 man fatherland. What do you see there ? All the sovereign 
 princes have renounced their independence, and become Na- 
 poleon's va.ssals ; they obey his will, they submit to his orders, 
 and send their armies not against the enemy of Germany, but 
 against the enemies of France, no matter whether those ene- 
 mies are their German brethi-en or not. The German princes 
 have foi-med the Confederation of the Rhine, and the object of 
 this confederation is not to preserve the frontier of the Rhine 
 to Germany, but to secure the Rhine to France. The German 
 princes are begging for honors and territories at the court of 
 Napoleon ; they do not shrink from manifesting their fealty 
 to their master, tlie Emperor of the French, by betraying the 
 interests of Germany ; they are playing here at Vienna the 
 part of the meanest spies ; they are watching all our steps, and 
 are shameless enough to have the Emperor Napoleon reward 
 their infamy by conferring royal titles on them, and to accept 
 at his hands German territories which he took from German 
 I)rinces. Bavaria did not disdain to aggrandize lier territories 
 at our expense ; Wuilemberg accepts without blushing the 
 territories of other German princes at the hands of Napoleon, 
 who thus rewards her for the incessant warnings by which the 
 King of Wurtemberg urges the Emperor of the French to be 
 on his guard against Austria, and alwaj's distrust the inten- 
 tions of the Emperor Francis * In the middle of the German 
 empire we see a now French kingdom, Westphalia, established 
 by Napoleon's orders ; it is formed of the spoils taken from 
 i'russia and Hanover ; and the German princes suffer it, and 
 the German people boAv their heads, silently to the disgraceful 
 foreign yoke ! Ah, Nugent, my heart is full of grief and 
 anger, full of the bitterness of despair ; for I have lost faith 
 in Germany, and see shudderingly that she will decay and die, 
 as Poland died, of her own weakness. Ah, il would be 
 dreadful, dreadful, if we too, had to fall, as the unfortunate 
 * Schlosser, " History of the Eiglitt'ciuli Ceutury," vol. vii., p. 4b8.
 
 8 ANDREAS UOFER. 
 
 Kosciusko did, with the despairing cry of ^ Finis Germcu 
 )i i(e .' ' " 
 
 " No, that will never happen I " cried Nugent. " No, Ger- 
 many will never endui-e the disgrace and debasement of Po- 
 land ; she will never sink to ruin and perish like Poland. It 
 is ti'ue, a majority of the German princes bow to Napoleon's 
 power, and we may charge them with infidelity and treason 
 against Germany ; but we can not prefer the same charge 
 against the German people and the subjects of the traitorous 
 German princes. They have remained faithful, and have not 
 yet lost faith in their fatherland. They are indignantly 
 champing the bit with which their despots have shut their 
 mouth ; and. in silence, harmony, and confidence in God, they 
 are preparing for the great hour when they will rise, for the 
 sacred day when they will break their shackles witli the divine 
 strength of a united and high-minded people. Everywhere 
 the embers are smouldering under the ashes ; everywhere secret 
 societies and leagues have been formed ; everywhere there are 
 conspu'ators, depots of arms, and passwords ; everywhere the 
 people of Germany are waiting only for the moment when 
 they are to strike the first blow, and for the signal to rise. And 
 they are in hopes now that Austria will give the signal. Our 
 preparations for war have been hailed with exultation through- 
 out Germany : everywhere the people are ready to take up arms 
 so soon as Austria draws the sword. The example of Spain and 
 Portugal has taught the Germans how the arrogant conqueror 
 must be met ; the example of Austria will fill them with bound- 
 less entliusiasm, and lead them to the most glorious victories ! " 
 
 *' And we are still temporizing and hesitating," exclaimed 
 John, mournfully ; '' we are not courageous enough to strike 
 the first blow ! All is ready ; the emperor has only to utter 
 the decisive word, but he refuses to do so I " 
 
 "The enthusiasm of his people will soon compel him and 
 his advisers to utter that woi'd," said Nugent. "Austria can 
 no longer retrace her steps ; she must advance. Austria must 
 lead Germany in the sacred struggle for liberty ; she can no 
 longer retrace her steps." 
 
 " God grant that your words may be verified ! " cried John, 
 lifting his tearful eyes to heaven ; " God grant that — "
 
 THE YEAR 1809. 9 
 
 A low rapping at tlie door leading to the small secret corri- 
 dor caused the archduke to pause and turn his eyes with a 
 searching expression to this door. 
 
 The rapping was repeated, more rapidly than before. 
 
 " It is Hormayr," exclaimed the archduke, joyfully ; and 
 lie hastened to the secret door and opened it quickly. 
 
 A tall young man, in the uniform of an Austrian superior 
 ofhcer, appeai-ed in the open door. The archduke grasj)ed 
 both his hands and drew him hastily into the cabinet. 
 
 " Hormayr, my friend," he said, breathlessly, '' you have 
 returned from the Tyrol ? You have succeeded in fulfilling 
 the mission with which I intrusted you ? You have carried 
 my greetings to the Tyrolese ? Oh, speak, speak, my friend ! 
 What do my poor, desei'ted Tyrolese say ? " 
 
 Baron von Hormayr tixed his flashing dark eyes with an 
 expression of joyful tenderness on the excited face of the 
 archduke. 
 
 "The Tyrolese send greeting to the Archduke John," he 
 said ; '' the Tyrolese hope that the Archduke John will de- 
 liver them from the hateful yoke of the Bavarians ; the Tyro- 
 lese believe that the hour has arrived, when they may recover 
 their liberty ; and to prove this — " 
 
 " To prove this ? " asked the archduke, breathlessly, when 
 Hormayr paused a moment. 
 
 " To prove this," said Hormayr, in a lower voice, stepping 
 up closer to the prince, "some of the most inllueutial and 
 respectable citizens of the Tyrol have accompanied me to 
 Vienna ; they desire to assure your imperial highness of their 
 loyal devotedness, and receive instractions from you." 
 
 "Is Andreas Hofer, the landwij'th, among them?" asked 
 the archduke, eagerly. 
 
 "He is, and so are Wallner and Speckbacher. I bring to 
 your imperial highness the leading men of the Tyrolese peas- 
 ants, and would like to know when I may introduce them to 
 you, and at what hour you will grant a private audience to 
 my Tyrolese fi-iends ? " 
 
 "Oh, I will sec them at once!" exclaimed John, impa- 
 tiently. " My heort longs to gaze into the faithful, beautiful 
 eyes of the Tyrolese, and read in their honest faces if they 
 2
 
 10 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 really are still devoted and attached to me. Bring them to 
 me, Hormayr ; make haste — but no, I forgot that it is broad 
 daj'light, and that the spies watching me have eyes to see, 
 ears to liear, and tongues to report to the emperor as dreadful 
 crimes all that they have seen and heard here. We must 
 wait, therefore, until the spies have closed their eyes, until 
 dark and reticent night has descended on earth, and — . Well, 
 Conrad, what is it ? " the archduke interrupted himself, look- 
 ing at his valet de chambre, who had just entered hastily by 
 the door of the anteroom. 
 
 "Pardon me, your imperial highness," said Conrad; "a 
 messenger of her majesty the empress is in the anteroom. 
 Her majesty has ordered him to deliver his message only to 
 the archduke himself." 
 
 "Let him come in," said the archduke. 
 
 Conrad opened the door, and the imperial messenger ap- 
 peared on tbe threshold. 
 
 " Her majesty the Empress Ludovica sends her respects to 
 the archduke," said the messenger, ai)proacbing the archduke 
 respectfully. "Her majesty thanks your imperial highness 
 for the book which you lent her ; and she returns it with sin- 
 cere thanks." 
 
 An expression of astonishment overspread John's face, but 
 it soon disappeared, and the archduke received with a calm 
 smile the small sealed package which the messenger handed 
 to him. 
 
 " All right," he said ; " tell her majesty to accept my 
 thanks." 
 
 The messenger returned to the anteroom, and Conrad 
 closed the door behind him. 
 
 " Place yourself before the door, Nugent, that nobody may 
 be able to look through the key-hole," whispered John, " for 
 you know that I do not trust Conrad. And you, Hormayr, 
 watch the seci'et door." 
 
 The two gentlemen hastened noiselessly to obey. The 
 archduke cast a searching glance around the walls, as if afraid 
 that even the silken hangings might contain somewhere an 
 opening for the eyes of a spy, or serve as a cover to an ear of 
 Diouysius.
 
 THE YEAR 1809. H 
 
 "Somethinpfof importance must liave occiirrod," w liispored 
 John ; " otherwiso the empress would not have ventured to 
 send me a direct messaji^e. I did not lend her a book, and you 
 know we agreed with the ladies of our party to communicate 
 direct news to each other only in cases of pressing necessity. 
 Let us see now wliat it is." 
 
 He hastily tore open the sealed package and drew from it 
 a .small prayer-book bound iu bhick velvet. While he was 
 turning over the leaves with a smile, a small piece of paper 
 fluttered from between the gilt-edged leaves and dropped to 
 the floor. 
 
 " That is it." said John, smiling, picking up the paper, and 
 fixing his eyes on it. "There is nothing on it," he then ex- 
 claimed, contemplating both sides of the paper. "There is 
 not a word on it. It is only a book-mark, that is all. But, 
 perhaps,' something is written in the book, or there may be 
 another paper." 
 
 " No, your imperial highness," whispered Nugent, stepping 
 back a few paces from the door. "The Princess Lichtenstein 
 whispered to me yesterday, at the coui't concert, that she had 
 obtained an excellent way of sending a written message to 
 her friends and allies, and that, if we received a piece of white 
 paper from the ladies of our party, we had better preserve it 
 and read it afterward near the firejjlace." 
 
 " Ah, sympathetic ink," exclaimed John ; " well, we will 
 see." 
 
 He hastilj' approached the fireplace, where a bright fire 
 was burning, and held the piece of paper close to the flames. 
 Immediately a number of black dots and lines appeared on 
 the paper ; these dots and lines assumed gradually the shape 
 of finely-written words. 
 
 The archduke followed with rapt attention every line, 
 every letter that appeared on the white ])aper, and now he 
 read as follows : 
 
 "The French aml)assador has requested the emperor to 
 grant him an audience at eleven o'clock this morning. A 
 courier from Metternich in Paris has arrived, and, I believe, 
 brought important news. The decisive hour is at hand. 
 Hasten to the emperor ; leave nothing undone to prevail on
 
 12 ANDREAS IIOFER. 
 
 him to take a bold stand. Send somebody to the Archduke 
 Charles ; request him to repair likewise to the emperor and 
 influence him in the same direction. I have paved the way 
 for you. I hope the French ambassador will, in spite of him- 
 self, be our ally, and by his deliant and arrogant bearing, at- 
 tain for us the object which we have hitherto been unable to 
 accomplish by our persuasion and our arguments. Make 
 haste! Burn this paper." 
 
 The archduke signed to his two confidants to come to him, 
 and pointed to the jDaper. When they had hastily read the 
 lines, he threw the paper into the flames, and turned to the 
 two gentlemen who stood behind him. 
 
 " Well, what do you think of it ? " he inquired. " Shall I 
 do what these mysterious lines ask of me ? Shall I go to the 
 emperor without being summoned to him ? " 
 
 " The empress requests you to do so, and she is as prudent 
 as she is energetic," said Count Nugent. 
 
 " I say, like the empress, the decisive hour is at hand," ex- 
 claimed Baron von Hormayr. " Hasten to the emperor ; try 
 once more to force the sword into his hand, and to wrest at 
 length the much-wished-for words, ' War against France ! ' 
 from his lips. The Tyrolese are only waiting for these words, 
 to rise for their emperor and become again his loving and de 
 voted subjects. All Austria, nay. all Germany, is longing for 
 these words, which will be the signal of the deliverance of the 
 fatherland fi^om the Fi'ench yoke. Oh, my lord and prince, 
 hasten to the emperor ; speak to him with the impassioned 
 eloquence of the cherubim, break the fatal charm that holds 
 Austria and the Tyrol enthralled ! " 
 
 At this moment the large clock standing on the mantel- 
 piece commenced striking. 
 
 "Eleven o'clock," said the archduke— "the hour when the 
 emperor is to give an audience to the French ambassador. It 
 is high time, therefore. Nugent, hasten to my brother ; im- 
 plore him to repair forthwith to the emperor, and to act this 
 time at least in unison with me. Tell him that everything 
 is at stake, and that we must risk all to win all. But you, 
 Hormayr, go to my dear Tyrolese ; tell them that I will re- 
 ceive them here at twelve o'clock to-night, and conduct them
 
 THE EMPEROR FRANCIS. 13 
 
 to me at that liour, my friend. We will hold a couucil of war 
 ut midnight." 
 
 "And your imperial highness does not forget that you 
 l)romised to go to the concert to-night?" asked Nugent. 
 '• Your liighiiess is aware that our friends not only intend to- 
 night to give an ovation to the veteran master of German art, 
 Joseph Haydn, hut wish al.so to profit h}^ the German music to 
 njake a political demonstration ; and they long for the pres- 
 ence of the imperial court, that the emperor and his brothers 
 may witness the patriotic enthusiasm of Vienna." 
 
 "I shall certainly be present," said the archduke, earnestly, 
 "and I hope the empress will succeed in prevailing on the 
 em})eror to go to the concert. — Well, then, my friends, let us 
 go to work, and may God gi*ant success to our efforts ! " 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE EMPEROR FRANCIS. 
 
 The Emperor Francis had to-day entered his study at an 
 earlier hour than usual, and was industriously engaged there 
 ill linishing a miniature cup which he had c(Jinmenced cutting 
 from a peach-stone yesterday, On the table before him lay 
 the drawing of the model after which he was shaping the cup ; 
 and Francis lifted his eyes only from time to time to fix them 
 on the drawing, and compare it with his own work. These 
 comjjarisons, however, apparently did not lead to a cheering 
 result, for the emperor frowned and jnit the cup rather im- 
 l)fc' tuously close to the drawing on the table. 
 
 '' I believe, forsooth, the cup is not straight," murmured the 
 emperor to himself, contemplating from all sides the diminu- 
 tive object which had cost him so much labor. "Sure 
 enough, it is not straight, it has a hump on one side. Yes, 
 yes, nothing is straight, nowadays ; and even God in heaven 
 creates His things no longer straight, and does not shrink 
 fi'om letting the peach-stones grow crooked. But no matter — 
 what God does is well done," added the emperor, crossing
 
 14 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 himself devoutly ; "even an emperor must not censure it, and 
 must not grumble when his cup is not straight because God 
 gave the peach-stone a hump. Well, perhaps, I may change 
 it yet, and make the cup straight." 
 
 He again took up the little cup, and commenced industri- 
 ously woi'king at it with his sharp files, jjointed knives, and 
 gimlets. It was hard work : large drops of sweat stood on the 
 emperor's forehead ; his arms ached, and his fingers became 
 sore under the pressure of the knives and flies ; but the em- 
 peror did not mind it, only from time to time wiping the sweat 
 from his brow, and then continuing his labor with renewed zeal. 
 
 Close to the small table containing the tools stood the em- 
 peror's large writing-table. Large piles of documents and 
 papers lay on this table, and among them were scattered also 
 many letters and dispatches with broad oflftcial seals. But the 
 emperor had not yet thought of opening these dispatches or 
 unsealing these letters. The peach-stone had engrossed his 
 attention this morning, and he had unsealed only one of the 
 papers ; the emperor had read only the report of the secret 
 police on the events of the previous day. These reports of the 
 secret police and the Chiffre-Cabinet were the favorite reading 
 matter of the Emperor Francis, and he would have flown into 
 a towering passion if he had not found them on his writing- 
 table early every morning. 
 
 Thanks to these reports, the emperor knew every morning 
 all that had occurred in Vienna during the previous day ; 
 what the foreign ambassadors had done, and, above ail things, 
 what his brothers, the Archdukes Charles, Ferdinand, Joseph, 
 and John, had said, done, and perhaps only thought. To-day's 
 report had not communicated ma ly important things to the 
 emperor ; it had only informed him that, at daybreak, a courier 
 from Paris had arrived at the house of the French ambassa- 
 dor. Count Andreossi, and that there were good reasons to 
 believe that he had brought highly impoi'tant news. 
 
 It was exactly for the purpose of dispelling the anxiety 
 with whicli this unpleasant intelligence had fiUed him, that 
 Francis had laid aside the report and recommenced his work 
 on the cup ; and by this occupation he had succeeded in for- 
 getting the burdensome duties of his imperial office.
 
 TIIK EMPEROR FRANCIS. 15 
 
 He was just trying very liard to plane one side of his cup, 
 when a low rap at the small door leading to the narrow corri- 
 dor, and thence to the apartments of the empress, interrupted 
 him. The emperor gave a start and looked toward the door, 
 listening and iioping, perhaps, that his ear might have de- 
 ceived him. But no, the rapping was heard once more : there 
 could no longer he a douht of it— somebody sought admittance, 
 and intended to disturb the peaceful solitude of the emperor. 
 
 "What does the empress want?'' nuirmured Francis. 
 '' What does she come here for ? I am afraid something un- 
 pleasant has happened again." 
 
 He rose with a shrug from his chair, put his miniature cup 
 hastily into the drawer of his table, and hurried to open the 
 door. 
 
 Francis had not been mistaken. It really was the Empress 
 Ludovica, the third consort of tlie emperor, Avho had man-ied 
 her only a few mouths ago. She wore a handsome dishabille 
 of embroidered white muslin, closely surrounding her delicate 
 and slender form, and trimmed with beautiful laces. The 
 white dress reached up to the neck, where a rose-colored tie 
 fastened it. Her beautiful black hair, which fell down in 
 heavy ringlets on both sides of her face, was adorned with a 
 costly lace cap, from which wide ribbons of rose-colored satin 
 flowed down on her shoiilders. But the countenance of the 
 empress did not correspond to this coquettish and youthful 
 dress. She was young and beautiful, but an expression of pro- 
 found melancholy overspread her features. Her cheeks Avere 
 transparently white, and a sad, touching smile quivered round 
 her finelj'chiselled, narrow lips ; her high, expansive fore- 
 head was shaded, as it were, by a cloud of sadness ; and her 
 large black eyes shot, fi'om time to time, gloomy flashes which 
 seemed to issue from a gulf of fiery torture. But whatever 
 passions might animate her delicate, ethereal form, the em- 
 press had learned to cover her heart with a veil, and her lips 
 never gave utterance to the sufferings of her soul. Only her 
 coTifidantes were allowed to divine them ; they alone knew 
 that twofold tortures were racking I.,udovica's fiery soul, tho.se 
 of hatred and wounded pride. Napoleon ! it was he whom 
 the empress hated with indescribable bitterness ; and the neo'
 
 16 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 lect with which her consort, the Emperor Francis, treated her 
 cut her proud heart to the quick. Thanks to the intrigues and 
 immense riches of her mother, Beatrix of Este, Duchess of Mo- 
 dena, she had become the wife of an emperor, and herself an 
 empress ; but she L?d thereby obtained only an august posi- 
 tion, not a husband and partner. She was an empress in name 
 only, but not in reality. Francis had given her his hand, but 
 not his heart and his love. He disdained his beautiful, lovely 
 wife ; he avoided any familiar intercourse with her with 
 anxious timidity ; only in the presence of the court and the 
 public did he treat the empress as his consort, and tolerate her 
 near his person. At first Ludovica had submitted to this 
 strange conduct on the part of her husband with proud indif- 
 ference, and not the slightest murmur, not the mildest re- 
 proach, had escaped her lips. For it was not from love that 
 she had chosen this liusband, but from ambition and pride. 
 She had told herself that it would be better for her to be Em- 
 press of Austria than Princess of Modeua and Este ; and even 
 the prospect of being the third wife of Francis of Austria, and 
 the stepmother of the ten children whom his second wife had 
 borne to hitn, had not deterred her. She meant to marry the 
 emperor, and not the man ; she wished to play a prominent 
 part, and exei't a powerful influence on the destinies of the 
 world. But these hopes were soon to prove utterly futile. 
 The emperor granted her publicly all the privileges of her ex- 
 alted position by his side ; but in the privacy of her apartments 
 he never made her his confidante ; he refused to let her have 
 any influence over his decisions ; he never consulted her as to 
 the measures of his administration ; nay, he avoided alluding 
 to svich topics in her presence. 
 
 Such was the grief that was gnawing at the heart of the 
 young empress — the wound from which her proud and lofty 
 soul was bleeding. But for a few weeks past she had over- 
 come her silent grief, and the presence of her mother, the 
 shrewd and intriguing Duchess of Modena, seemed to have im- 
 parted fresh strength to the empress, and confirmed her in her 
 determination to conquer the heart and confidence of her hus- 
 band. Whereas she had hitherto met his indilTerence by 
 proud reticence, and feigned not to notice it, she was now
 
 THE EMPEROR FRANCIS. 17 
 
 kind and even atTcctionatc toward him; and it often happenrd 
 that, availing herself of tlio privilege of her position, she trav- 
 ersed the private corridor separating her rooms from those of 
 her husband, and, without lieing summoned to him, entered 
 his cabinet to talk politics with him in spite of his undisguised 
 aversion to doing so. 
 
 The emperor hated these interviews from the bottom of his 
 heart; a shudder pervaded his soul, and a cloud covered his 
 brow, whenever he heard the low rap of the empress at his 
 ])i-ivatc door. To-day, too, the dark cloud covered his fore- 
 head even after the empress had entered his cal)inet. Ludo- 
 vica noticed it, and a mournful smile overspread her pale face 
 for a moment. 
 
 "As your majesty did not come to me to bid me good- 
 morning, I have come to you," she said, in a gentle, kind 
 voice, holding out her beautiful white hand to the emperor. 
 
 Francis took it and pressed it to his lips. " It is true," he 
 said, evidently embarrassed, " I did not come this morning to 
 pay my respects to you, but time was wanting to me. I had 
 to go at once to my cabinet and work; I am very busy." 
 
 "I see," said Ludovica; "your majesty's dress still bears 
 the traces of your occupation." 
 
 The emperor hastened to brush away with his hands the 
 small particles of the peach-stone that had remained on his 
 shirt-bosom and his sleeve; but while he was doing this his 
 brow darkened still more, and he cast a gloomy and defiant 
 glance on the empress. 
 
 " Look, empress," he said ; " perhaps you belong to the secret 
 ])olice, and have been employed to watch me in oi-der to find 
 out what I am doing when I am alone in my cabinet. Wh}', 
 if I found out that that was so, I should be obliged to be on 
 my guard and have this door walled up, so that my esteemed 
 consort might no longer l)e able to surprise and watch me." 
 
 "Your majesty will assuredly not do that," said Ludovica, 
 whose voice was tremulous, and whose cheeks had turned 
 even paler than before. " No, your majesty will not make me 
 undergo the humiliation of making known to the world the 
 deplora])le secret with which we alone have hitherto been 
 ac(juainted. Your majesty will not deprive me of the only
 
 18 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 privilege which I enjoj'^ in common with your former con- 
 sorts, and thereby proclaim to the world that I am in this 
 palace a stranger who has not even access to the rooms of her 
 husband." 
 
 " I do not say that I intend to do it," said Francis, shrug- 
 ging his shoulders; "I say only that it is highly repugnant to 
 me to have my steps dogged and watched in an}^ manner. It 
 is true, my former consort had also the keys of this private 
 corridor, but— pardon me for this remark, j^our majesty — the 
 empress never used these keys, but always waited for me to 
 open the door." 
 
 "And she did not wait in vain," said the empress, quickly; 
 '' your majesty never failed to come, for you loved your con- 
 sort, and I have been told you never suffered even a few hours 
 to pass by without leaving your cabinet and crossing the secret 
 corridor to repair to the rooms of the empress." 
 
 " But the good Empress Theresa," exclaimed the emperor, 
 " when I was with her, never endeavored to talk to me about 
 politics and state affairs." 
 
 " I understand that," said Ludovica ; " you had both so many 
 mutual interests to converse about. You had your mutual love, 
 your children, to talk about. I, who am so unhappy as not to 
 be able to talk with you about such matters, how intensely so- 
 ever my heart longs for it, must content myself v>'ith coversing 
 with my husband on different su])jects; and I desire to share 
 at least his cares when I cannot share his love. My husband, 
 I beseech j'ou, do not disdain my friendship; accept a friend's 
 hand, which I offer to you honestly and devotedly." 
 
 "My God. that is precisely what I long for !" exclaimed 
 the emperor fervently, again pressing to his lips the hand 
 which the empress held out to him. " My fondest wish is ful- 
 filled when your majesty will give me your friendship, and 
 confide in me as your best, most devoted, and faithful friend ! " 
 
 "But this confidence must be reciprocated, my dearest 
 friend," said Ludovica, putting her hand on the emperor's 
 shoulder, and gazing long and ardently into his eyes. "Your 
 majesty must confide in me too, and count implicitly on my 
 fidelity." 
 
 "That is what I do,'' said Francis, liastily; "never should
 
 THE EMPEROR FRANCIS. 19 
 
 I dare to doubt the fidelity of tlie purest, cliastest, and most 
 virtuous empress and lady — the fidelity of my wife." 
 
 '• I did not refer to the wife's fidelity,'' said Ludovica, sigh- 
 ing, "but to the fidelity of my friendship, which is joyously 
 ready to share all your cares and alUictions." 
 
 " Well, then," said the emperor, nodding to her smilingly,, 
 " I will give you a proof of my faith in your friendship. Yes, 
 you shall share my cares and afflictions." 
 
 "Oh, my husband, how hujjpy you make me by these 
 words !" exclaimed Ludovica, and a faint blush beautified her 
 noble face. 
 
 "I wUl let you participate in my work to-day, and you 
 shall give me your advice," said the emperor, nodding to the 
 empress, and stepping to the writing-table, from whose drawer 
 he took the little cup. "Look, my dear friend," added the 
 emperor, handing the cup to his consort, " I wished to make a 
 little cup from this peach-stone and give it to Maria Louisa, 
 who delights in such things; but when I had nearly fin- 
 ished it, I discovered suddenly that the peach-stone was 
 crooked and not equally round on both sides. Now give 
 me your advice, my fair friend ; tell me what I am to do 
 in oi-der to straighten the cup. Look at it, and tell me 
 liow to fix it. It would be an everlasting disgrace for an 
 emperor to be unable to straighten a thing which he himself 
 made crooked." 
 
 The empress had turned pale again ; her dark eyes shot 
 fire for a moment, and she compressed her lips as if to stifle 
 a cry of indignation. But she overcame her agitation quickly, 
 and hastily took the little cup which the emperor still held 
 t)ut to her. 
 
 "Your majesty is right," she said; the "cup is really 
 crooked, and will not stand erect when you put it on the table. 
 As your majesty has asked me what ought to be done about it, 
 1 advise you to get rid of the thing, declare war against the 
 little cup, and remove it foi-ever Ijy touching it in this manner 
 with your little tinger." 
 
 She upset the miniature cup with her slender little finger, 
 so that it rolled to the other end of the table. 
 
 "That is very energetic advice, indeed," said Francis, smil
 
 20 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 ing, " but I do not like it. To upset a thing that is not well 
 done is no way of improving it." 
 
 " Yes, your majesty, to destroy what is not well done is 
 paving the way for something better," exclaimed Ludovica. 
 "You yourself said just now it would be an everlasting dis- 
 grace for an emperor to be unable to straighten anything 
 which he himself made crooked. It seems to me, now, an 
 emperor should extricate himself fi'om any position imposing 
 on him the necessity of doing anything crooked and unworthy 
 of his imperial dignity. If such is his duty in regard to a 
 thing so insignificant as a peach-stone, how much more ur- 
 gent is this duty, when there is at stake something so great 
 and sacred as the independence and honor of your empire and 
 policy ! " 
 
 " See, see ! " said the emperor, scratching his head with 
 an expression of ludicrous surprise ; " then we have really 
 got back from the peach-stone to political affairs and the 
 war-question. Now, this war-question is a hard peach- 
 stone to crack, and the mere thought of it sets my teeth on 
 edge." 
 
 " Ah," said Ludovica, " your teeth are firm and strong, for 
 they are composed of three hundred tliousand swords, and 
 thousands of cannon and muskets. If the lion is determined 
 to use his teeth, he will easily succeed in destroying the were- 
 wolf ; for this rapacious] and bloodthirsty were-wolf is brave 
 and invincible only when he has to deal with lambs ; only the 
 feeble and disarmed have reason to fear him." 
 
 "In speaking of a were-wolf, I suppose you refer to the 
 Emperor Napoleon ? " asked the emperor, smiling. " I must 
 tell you, however, that, in your warlike enthusiasm, you do 
 him injustice. It seems to me he is brave not alone when he 
 has to deal with lambs, and not alone the feeble and disarmed 
 have reason to fear him. I think I did not march lambs 
 against him at Austerlitz, but brave men, who were not feeble 
 and disarmed, but strong and well-armed. Nevertheless, 
 Bonaparte overpowered them ; he gained tiie battle of Auster- 
 litz over us, and we had to submit to him, and accept the terms 
 yf peace wnich he imposed on us." 
 
 "Yes, your majesty had to submit to him," cried the em-
 
 THE EMPEROR FRANCIS. 21 
 
 press, ardently; "you were obliged to repair to the proud 
 usurper's camp and beseech him to grant you peace !" 
 
 '' I was not obliged to go to him, but I did so in order to 
 restore peace to my people, and prevent all Austria from 
 sinking into ruin. It is true, it was a dreadful walk for me, 
 and when I saw the Emperor of the French at his camp-fire, 
 he became utterly distasteful to me.* Nevertheless, the truth 
 cannot be gainsaid, and the truth is that the Emperor Na- 
 poleon is more than a were- wolf killing only lambs ; he is a lion 
 whose furious roar causes all thrones to tremble, and who, when 
 he shakes his mane, shakes all Europe to its foundations." 
 
 " The more is it incumbent on us then to put an end to 
 this unnatural state of affairs," exclaimed the empress, ve- 
 hemently ; " to strengthen the thrones, and restore at length 
 tranquillity to Europe. And there is only one way of doing 
 this, my loi'd and emperor, and that is war ! We must de- 
 stroy the lion in order to restore tranquillity to the peaceable 
 nations." 
 
 " But what if, instead of destroying the lion, we should be 
 destroyed by him ? " asked the emperor, with a shrug. '' Wliat 
 if the lion should a second time place his foot on our neck, 
 trample us in the dust, and dictate to us again a disgraceful 
 and luimiliating peace ? Do you think that the present posi- 
 tion of tlie King of Prussia is a pleasant and honorable one, 
 and that I am anxious to incur a similar fate ? No, madame ! I 
 am by no ineans eager to wear a martyr's crown instead of my 
 imperial crown, and I will rather strive to keej) my crown on 
 my head, regai-dless of the clamor of the German war-party. 
 These German shriekers are nice fellows. They refuse to 
 do any thing, but think it is enough for them to cry, 'War ! 
 war I ' and that that will be sufficient to conquer Bonaparte. 
 But, empress, a great deal more is required for that purpose 
 than the fanatical war-clamor of the aristocratic saloons, and 
 the scribblings of the journalists and patriotic poets ; in order 
 to attain so grand an object, it is indispensable that all Ger- 
 many should rise, take up arms, and attack the enemy with 
 united forces." 
 
 * The emperor's own word?. — See " Lebensbilder aus dem Befreiungs- 
 kriege," vol. i.
 
 22 ANDREAS IIOFEU. 
 
 '' It is as your majesty says," exclaimed Lvulovica, enthusi- 
 astically ; " all Germany is ready for the struggle against the 
 enemy, The nation is only waiting for Austria to give the 
 signal, draw the sword, and advance upon France, when all 
 Germany will follow her." 
 
 " I know these fine phrases," said Francis, shrugging his 
 shoulders ; " I hear them every day from my brothers, who 
 are eager for war, and who manage to gain a great deal of 
 popularity in so comfortable a manner. But after all, they 
 are phrases with very little sense in them. For just tell me, 
 empress, where is the Germany which, you say, is only wait- 
 ing for Austria to give the signal ? Where are the German 
 armies which, you say, are only waiting for Austria to ad- 
 vance, when they will follow her ? I have good sound eyes, 
 but I cannot see such armies anywhere. I am quite familiar 
 with the geography of Germany, T know all the states that 
 belong to it, but among them I vainly look for those which 
 are waiting for us to give such a signal. Prussia is utterly 
 powerless, and cannot do any thing. The princes of the 
 Rhenish Confederacy, it is true, are waiting for the signal, but 
 Bonaparte will give it to them, and when they march, they 
 will march against Austria and strive to fight us bravely in 
 order to obtain from the French Emperor praise, honors, titles, 
 and grants of additional territories. No, no, I cannot be blind- 
 ed bj' brave words and bombastic phrases ; I know that Austria, 
 in case a war should break out, would stand all alone, and 
 that she must either conquer or be ruined. In 1805, when, in 
 consequence of the disastrous battle of Austerlitz, I lost half 
 my states, I was not alone, Russia was my ally. But Russia 
 has recently declared that, in case a war should break out, she 
 would not assist us against Napoleon, but observe a strict neu- 
 trality as long as possible ; if she should, however, be obliged 
 to take a decided stand, she would be on the side of France 
 and against us. Consequently, I am entirely isolated, and 
 Napoleon has numerous allies." 
 
 " But your majesty has a powerful ally in the imiversal 
 enthusiasm of tlie Austrians and Germans, in the universal 
 indignation of the nations against Napoleon. You have pub- 
 lic opinion on your side, and that is the most powerful ally."
 
 THE KMI'EKOR KIIAN'CIS. 23 
 
 " Ah, let me aloue with that ahoniinable ally," cried the 
 emperor, vehemently ; '" I do not want to hear of it nor to 
 have anything to do with it. Public opinion is the hobby 
 which my brother, the popular Archduke John, is riding all 
 the time ; but it will throw hiin one day into the mire, and 
 tlien he will lind out what it really amounts to. Pray, never 
 si)eak to me again of public opinion, for I detest it. It smells 
 of revolution and insurrection, and, like a patient donkey, 
 suffers itself to be led by whosoever offei'S it a thistle as a 
 bait. I renounce once for all the alliance of public opinion, 
 and I do not care whether it blesses or crucifies me, whether it 
 calls me emperor or blockhead. You see now, empress, that I 
 am entirely isolated, for the ally which you offer to me will 
 do me no good ; I do not want it, and I have no other allies. 
 I thought it necessary to arm, in view of the formidable arma- 
 ments of France, and show our adversary that I am not afraid 
 of him, but am prepared for every thing. I therefore put my 
 army on the war footing, and showed Bonaparte that Austria 
 is able to cope with him, and that money and well-disciplined 
 armies are not wanting to her. But just now I shall not pro- 
 ceed any further, and, unless something ijuportant should 
 occur, all this war-clamor and all importunities will make no 
 im]H'ession on me. The im])ortaiit event to which I alluded 
 would be Napoleon's defeat in Spain, whereby he would be 
 compelled to keep his armies there. In that event, I should 
 no longer be isolated, but Spain would be my ally, and I 
 should probably declare war. But if matters should turn out 
 otherwise, if fortune should favor Napoleon there as every 
 where else, necessity alone will determine my course. I shall 
 not attack, and thereby challenge fate of my own accord ; but 
 I shall wait, sword in hand, for Napoleon to attack me. If he 
 does, God and my good right will be on my side, and what- 
 evei' may be the result of the struggle, people will be unable to 
 say that I I'ashly plunged into war and broke the peace. If we 
 succumb, it is the will of God and the Holy Virgin, and not, 
 our ftuxlt. And now, empress," said the emperor, drawing a 
 deep breath, " I have complied with your wishes and talked poli- 
 tics with 5'ou. I think it will be enough once for all, and you 
 and you political friends will perceive that you cannot do any
 
 24 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 thing with me, and that it will be best for you to let me en 
 tirely alone ; for I am so stubborn as not to allow others to 
 lead me, but pursue my own course. You have promised me, 
 empress, to be a faithful friend to me. I ask you now to give 
 me a proof of your friendship. Let us speak of something 
 else than politics ; that is all that I ask of your friendship." 
 
 " Well, then, let us drop the subject," said the empress, 
 with a deep sigh. " Your majesty will be kind enough to 
 permit me now to ask a favor of you ? " 
 
 " Ah, you speak as if there were anything that I could 
 refuse you," exclaimed the emperor, smiling. 
 
 Ludovica bowed slightly. " I pray you, therefore," she 
 said, " to be kind enough to accompany me to the concert 
 which is to be given at the university hall. Haydn's ' Cre- 
 ation' will be performed there, and I believe the old maestro 
 himself will be present to receive the homage of his ad- 
 mirers." 
 
 '' H'm, h'm ! I am afraid there is something else behind 
 it," said the emperor, thoughtfully, " and the audience will 
 not content itself with merely offering homage to old Haydn. 
 But no matter, your majesty wishes to go to the concert, and 
 it will afford me pleasure to accompany my empress." 
 
 At this moment they heard a low rap at the door leading 
 from the emperor's cabinet into the conference-room, where 
 the officers of the private imperial chancery were working. 
 
 " Well, what is it ? " exclaimed the empei'or. " Come 
 in!" 
 
 The emperor's private chamberlain slipped softly through 
 the half-opened door, and, on beholding the empress, he stood 
 still without uttering a word. 
 
 " Never mind, the empress will excuse you," said Francis. 
 "Just tell me what you have come in for." 
 
 " Your majesty," said the chamberlain, " the French am- 
 bassador. Count Andreossi, has just arrived, and requests your 
 majesty to grant him an audience. He says he wishes to 
 communicate information of great importance to you." 
 
 " Why did he not apply to my minister of foreign affairs ? " 
 asked the emperor, indignantly. 
 
 " Your majesty, the ambassador begs your pardon, but he
 
 THE EMPEROR FRANCIS. 25 
 
 says the Emperor Napoleon fyavc liini express orders to en- 
 deavor if possible to speak with your majesty." 
 
 " And he is already in the anteroom, and waits for an im- 
 mediate audience ? " 
 
 "Yes, your majesty." 
 
 ''Well, then, I will receive him," said the emperor, rising'. 
 '■ Conduct the ambas.sador to the small audienee-j'oom. — 
 Well ? " asked the en>peror, wonderin<i;ly. when the chamber- 
 lain did not withdraw. " You do not go ? Do you wish to 
 tell me any thing else ? " 
 
 " I do, your majesty. A courier has just arrived from 
 Paris with pressing dispatches from Count Metternich to your 
 majesty." 
 
 " Ah, that changes the matter ! " exclaimed the emperor. 
 " Tell the ambassador that I can not receive him now, but 
 that he is to come back in an hour, at eleven precisely, when 
 I shall be ready to receive him. Tell the courier to come to 
 me at once." 
 
 The chamberlain slipped noiselessly out of the door, and 
 tlie emperor turned again to the empress 
 
 " Empress," he said, "do me the honor of permitting me to 
 offer you my arm, and conduct you back to your rooms. 
 You see I am a poor, tormented man, who is so overwhelmed 
 with business that he cannot even chat an hour with his 
 wife without being disturbed. Pity me a little, and prove it 
 to me by permitting me henceforth to rest in your presence 
 from the cares of business, and not talk politics." 
 
 " Tlie wish of my lord and emperor shall be fulfilled," said 
 the empress, mournfully, taking the arm which the emperor 
 offered to her to conduct her back to her rooms. 
 
 Just as she crossed the threshold of the imperial cabinet, 
 and stepped into the corridor, she heard the voice of the 
 chamberlain, who announced : " The coui'ier from Paris, 
 Counsellor von Hudelist." 
 
 " All right, I shall be back directly ! " exclaimed the em- 
 poror, and he conducted the empress with a somewhat accel- 
 erated step througli the corridor. In front of the door at 
 its end he stood still and bowed to the empress with a pleas- 
 ant smile. 
 
 3
 
 26 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 " I have conducted you now to the frontier of your realm," 
 said Francis ; " permit me, therefore, to return to mine. 
 Farewell ! We shall go to the concert to-night. Fare- 
 well ! " 
 
 Without waiting for the reply of the empress, he turned 
 and hastily re-entered his cabinet. 
 
 Ludovica entered her room and locked the door behind 
 her. " Closed forever ! " she said, with a sigh. " At least I 
 shall not try again to avail myself of this door, and shall not 
 expose myself again to the sneers of the emperor. I must, 
 then, bear this disgrace ; I must submit to being disdained and 
 
 repudiated by my husband ; I But hush ! " the empress 
 
 interrupted herself, " this is no time for bewailing my per- 
 sonal fate, for the fate of all Austria is at stake at this junc- 
 ture Highly important events must have occurred at Paris, 
 else Metternich would not have sent his confidant and assist- 
 ant Hudelist, nor would Andreossi demand an audience in so 
 impetuous a manner. Perhaps this intelligence may at length 
 lead to a decision to-day, or we may at least contribute to such 
 a result. I will write to the Archduke John, and asTs: him to 
 see the emperor. Perhaps he will succeed better than I did 
 in persuading my husband to take a determined stand." 
 
 She hastened to her writing-desk, and penned that mys- 
 terious little note which she sent to the Archduke John in the 
 book which she pretended he had lent to her. 
 
 CHAPTER HI. 
 
 THE COURIER AND THE AMBASSADOR. 
 
 The emperor, in returning to his cabinet, like the empress, 
 cai'efully locked the door behind him. He then turned 
 hastily to the courier, who was standing near the opposite 
 door, and was just bowing most ceremoniously to his maj- 
 esty, 
 
 " Hudelist, it is really you, then ? " asked the emperor. 
 " You left your post by the side of Metternich without obtain-
 
 THE COURIER AXD TFIE AMBASSADOR. 27 
 
 i'lff "'.V permission to come to Vienna ? Could you not fuid 
 any otiier man to l)ring' your dispatelies ? I liad commis- 
 sioned you to remain always In' the side of Metternich, watch 
 liim carefully, and inform me of wliat he was doing and 
 thinking." 
 
 " Your majesty, I have brought my report with me," said 
 Hudelist ; "and as for your majesty's order that I should 
 always remain by the side of Count Metternich, I have hard- 
 ly violated it by coming to Vienna, for I believe the Count 
 will follow me in the course of a few days. Unless your maj- 
 esty recalls him to Vienna, the Emperor Napoleon, I think, 
 will expel him from Paris." 
 
 " You do not say so ! " exclaimed Francis, shrugging his 
 shoulders. '' You think he will issue a manifesto against 
 Metternich, as he did against the Prussian minister Von 
 Stein ? Well, let me hear the news. What have you to tell 
 me?" 
 
 " So many important things, your majesty, that the count 
 and myself deemed it expedient to report to your majesty 
 verbally, rather than send a dispatch which might give 
 you only an unsatisfactory idea of what has occurred. 
 Hence T came post-haste to Vienna, and arrived here only a 
 •luarter of an hour since ; I pray your majesty therefore to 
 ])ardon me for appearing before you in my travelling- 
 dress." 
 
 "Sit down, you must be tired," said the emperor, good-na- 
 turedly, seating himself in an arm-chair, and pointing to the 
 op])osite chair. " Now tell me all ! " 
 
 "Your majesty," said Hudelist, mysteriously, while a 
 strange expression of mischievous joy overspread his ugly, 
 pale face, " the Emperor Napoleon has returned from Spain to 
 France." 
 
 The Emperor Francis gave a start and fi-owned. " Why ? " 
 he asked. 
 
 "Because he intends to declare war against Austria," said 
 Hudelist, whose face brightened more and more. " Because 
 Napideon is distrustful of us, and convinced that Austria is 
 intent on attacking him. Besides, he felt no longer at ease in 
 Spain, and all sorts of conspiracies had been entered into in
 
 28 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 Paris, whereby his return might have been rendered impossi 
 hie if he had hesitated any longer." 
 
 " Who were the conspirators ? " 
 
 " Talleyrand and Fouche, the dear friends and obedient 
 servants of the Emperor Napoleon. He knows full well what 
 their friendship and devotedness amount to. Hence he had 
 the two gentlemen well watched, and it seems his spies sent 
 him correct reports, for, after returning from Spain, he re- 
 buked them unmercifully ; he told them, with the rage of 
 a true Corsican, and regardless of etiquette, what miserable 
 fellows they were, and how high he stood above them." 
 
 " And yet he would like so much to be an emperor in strict 
 accordance with court etiquette," said the emperor, laughing. 
 " He is anxious to have such a court about him as Louis XIV. 
 had. But the lawyer's son always reappears in the emperor, 
 and, if it please God, He will one day deprive him of all his 
 power and splendor." 
 
 "And, if it please God, your majesty will be His in- 
 strument in putting an end to Napoleon's power and splen- 
 dor," cried Hudelist, with a smile which distorted his face 
 strangely, and caused two rows of large yellow teeth to appear 
 between the pale lips of his enormous mouth. "It is true 
 he stands firm as yet, and rebukes his ministers as Nero did 
 his freedmen. Talleyrand was still thunderstruck at what the 
 emperor had told iiim, when he had an interview with Count 
 Metternich and myself in Fouche's green-house. To be sure, 
 the phrases which he repeated to us were well calculated to 
 make even the blood of a patient minister boil. Napoleon 
 sent for the two ministers immediately after his arrival ; when 
 they came to him, he let them stand at the door of his cabinet 
 like humble suppliants, and, running up and down before 
 them, and casting fiery glances of anger upon them, he up- 
 braided them with their conduct, and told them he was aware 
 of all their intrigues, and knew that they were conspiring 
 with Austria, Spain, and, through Spain, with England. Then 
 he suddenly stood still in front of them, his hands folded on 
 his back, and his glances would have crushed the two minis- 
 ters if they had not had such a thick skin ' You are impudent 
 enough to conspire against me ! ' he shouted, in a thundering
 
 THE COURIER AND TIIK AMBASSADOR. 29 
 
 voice. ' To whom are you iudebted for evei-y tiling— for your 
 honors, rank, and wealth ? To nie alone ! How can you pre- 
 serve them ? By me alone ! Look backward, examine your 
 past. If the Bourbons had reascended the throne, both of you 
 would have been luuiLfed as regicides and Iraitoi-s. And you 
 plot against me ? You must be as stupid as you are ungrate- 
 ful, if you believe that anybody else could promote your in- 
 terest as well as I have done. Had another revolution 
 broken out, on whatever side you might have placed your- 
 selves, you would certainly have been the first to be crushed 
 by it.*"* 
 
 "That is very plain talk, indeed,"' said FrancLs, laughing. 
 "But Talleyrand and Fouche have sound stomachs ; they will 
 digest it, and not get congestions in consequence of it pro- 
 vided the emperor does not punish them in a different man- 
 ner." 
 
 '' For the time being, he only punished Talleyrand, whom 
 he deprived of the position and salary of lord chamberlain. 
 Fouche remained police minister, but both are closely watched 
 by Napoleon's secret police. Nevertheless, they succeeded in 
 holding a few unobsei'ved interviews with us. Count Metter- 
 nich learned also from another very well-informed quarter, 
 many accurate details i*egarding the plans and intentions of 
 the Emperor Napoleon." 
 
 '' What do you mean ? What well-informed quarter do 
 you refer to ? " asked the emperor. 
 
 "Your majesty," said Hudelist, with a significant grin, 
 " Count Metternieh is a very fine-looking man ; now, Queen 
 Caroline of Naples, Murat's wife, and Napoleon's favorite sis- 
 ter, is by no means insensible to manly beauty, and she ac- 
 cepted with evident satisfaction the homage which the count 
 offered to her. For the rest, Nai)ole()n winked ;it and encour- 
 aged this flirtation ; for, previous to his dei)arture for Spain, 
 he said to his sister loud enough to be ovei-heai'd by some of 
 our friends, ^ Amusez-nous ce niais. Monsieur de Metternieh. 
 Nous en avons besoin d, present ." " t Madame Caroline 
 
 * Napoleon's own words.— See Sclilosser, " History of tin- Kijrhteeiith Cen- 
 tury," vol. viii., p. 488. 
 
 t Honnuyr, "The Emperor Francis and Metternieh, a Fragment, p. 55.
 
 30 ANDREAS nOFER. 
 
 Murat told Count Metternich, for instance, that it is the Kings 
 of Bavaria and Wiirtemburg that keep their spies for Napo- 
 leon here in Vienna, and that they ui*ged Napoleon vehemently 
 to return from Spain in order to declare war against Austria. 
 And Napoleon is determined to comply with their wishes. 
 He travelled with extraordinary expedition from Madrid to 
 Paris, stopping only at Valladolid, where he shut himself up 
 for two days with Maret, his minister of foreign affairs, and 
 dispatched eighty-four messages in different directions, with 
 orders to concentrate his forces in Germany, and call out the 
 full contingents of the Rhenish Confederacy. His own troops 
 and these German Contingents are to form an army to which 
 he intends to give the name of ' the German Army of the Em- 
 peror Napoleon.' Although Count Metternich was aware of 
 all this, he hastened to attend the great reception which took 
 place at the Tuileries after Napoleon's return, in order to as- 
 sure him again of the friendly dispositions of the imperial 
 court of Austria. But Napoleon gave him no time for that. 
 He came to meet him with a furious gesture, and shouted to 
 him in a thundering voice : 'Well, M. de Metternich ! here is 
 fine news from Vienna. What does all this mean ? Have 
 they heen stung hy scorpions ? Who threatens you ? What 
 would 3'ou be at ? Do you intend again to disturb the peace of 
 the world and plunge Europe into numberless calamities ? As 
 long as I had my army in Germany, you conceived no disquie- 
 tude for your existence ; hut the moment it is transferred to 
 Spain, you consider yourselves endangered ! What can be the 
 end of these thmgs ? What, but that I must arm as you arm, 
 for at length I am seriously menaced ; I am rightly punished 
 for my former caution." * 
 
 " What an impudent fellow ! " murmured the Emperor 
 Francis to himself. "And Metternich? What did he re- 
 ply?" 
 
 "Nothing at all, youi" majesty. He withdrew, returned 
 immediately to the legation, and I set out that very night to 
 convey this intelligence to your majesty. Your majesty, we 
 can no longer doubt that Napoleon has made up his mind to 
 wage war against Austria. His exasperation lias risen to the 
 * Niipoluon's owu words. — See Schlosser, vol. vii., p. 490.
 
 THE COUIUER AND THE AMBASSADOR. 31 
 
 liighest pitch, and the events in Spain have still more in- 
 llamed his rage and vindictiveness." 
 
 "Then he is nnsuecessful in Spain ?" asked the emperor, 
 whose eyes brightened. 
 
 "Spain is still bidding him defiance, and fighting with the 
 entliiisiasm of an heroic people who will suffer death rather 
 than be sul)jugated by a tyrant. She will never accept King 
 Joseph, whom Napoleon forced upon her ; and as they see 
 themselves deserted and given up by their royal family, the 
 Spanish pati-iots turn their eyes toward Austria, and are ready 
 to proclaim one of your majesty's brothers king of Spain, if 
 your majesty would send him to them with an auxiliary 
 army." 
 
 "That would be a nice thing! " cried the emperor, angrily. 
 " Not another word about it I If my brothers .should hear it, 
 their heads would be immediately on fire, for they are veryam- 
 bitious; hence, it is much better that they should not learn 
 anything of these chdfeanx en Espagnc. Tell me rather how 
 it looks in France. Are the French still satisfied with their 
 emperor by the grace of the people ! " 
 
 '' They are not, your majesty. Let me tell you that not only 
 Napoleon's own officers, his marshals and ministers, are dissat- 
 isfied with him; but the whole people, those who possess 
 money as well as those who own no other property than their 
 lives, are murmuring against the emperor. He robs the mon- 
 eyed men of their property by heavy taxes and duties, and 
 those who have nothing but their lives he threatens with death 
 by forcing muskets into their hands, and compelling them to do 
 military service. Another conscription has been ordered, and 
 a.s the population of France is decreasing, youths from sixteen 
 to eighteen years old have to be enrolled. France is tired of 
 these everlasting wars, and she curses Napoleon's insatiable 
 bloodthirstiness no longer in secret only, but loud enough to 
 be heard by the emperor from time to time." 
 " And the army ? " 
 
 " The army is a part or France, and feels like flie restof the 
 French people. The marshals are quarrelling among them- 
 selves, and some of them hate Napoleon, wiio never gives them 
 time to repose on their laurels and enjoy the nches which they
 
 32 ANDREAS IIOFER. 
 
 have obtained during their campaigns. The array is a perfect 
 hotbed of conspiracies and secret societies, some of which are in 
 favor of the restoration of the republic, while others advocate 
 the restoration of the Bov;rbons. Napoleon, who is served 
 well enovigh at least by his spies, is aware of all these things. 
 He is afraid of the discontent and disobedience of his marshals 
 and generals, conspiracies in the army, the treachery of his 
 ministers, and the murmurs of his people; and he fears, be- 
 sides, that the fanaticism of the Spaniards may dim his mili- 
 tary glory; hence, he feels the necessity of arousing the 
 enthusiasm of his people by fresh battles, of silencing the 
 malcontents by new victories, and of reviving the heroic spirit 
 of his army. He hopes to gain these victories in a war be- 
 tween his German army and the Austrian forces. He is, there- 
 fore, firmly resolved to wage war, and the only question now 
 is, whether your majesty will anticipate him, or await a decla- 
 ration of war on his part. This is about all I have to com- 
 municate to your majesty; the vouchers and other papers I 
 shall have the honor to deposit at the imperial chancery." 
 
 The emperor made no reply, but gazed into vacancy, deeply 
 absorbed in his reflections. Hudelist fixed his small sparkling 
 eyes on the bent form of the emperor; and as he contemplated 
 his care-worn, gloomy face, his flabby features, his protruding 
 under-lip, his narrow forehead, and his whole emaciated and 
 fragile form, an expression of scorn overspread the face of 
 the counsellor; and his large mouth and flashing eyes seemed 
 to say, " You are the emperor, but I do not envy jou, for I am 
 more than you are; I am a man who knows what he wants." 
 
 At this moment the clock commenced striking slowly, and 
 its shrill notes aroused the emperor from his contemplation. 
 
 " Eleven o'clock," he said, rising from his chair, " the hour 
 when I am to give an audience to the French ambassador. 
 Hudelist, go to the chancery and wait there until I call you. 
 You will not return to Paris anyhow, but resume your former 
 position in the chancery of state. I am glad that you have 
 returned, for I consider you a faithful, able, and reliable man, 
 with whom I have good reason to be content, and who, I hope, 
 will not betray my confidence. I know, Hudelist, you are 
 ambitious, and would like to obtain a distinguished position.
 
 THE COURIER AND THE AMBASSADOR. 33 
 
 Well, serve nie — do you hear ? — serve none but me honestly 
 and faithfully ; watch everj'thing and watch closely ; never 
 think of obtaining the friendship and good graces of others, 
 nor seeking for any other protectors, save me; and I shall 
 always be favorably disposed toward you, and see to it that 
 the cravings of your ambition are satisiied. Go then, as I 
 said before, to the chancery of state ; and on hearing me re- 
 enter the room, step in again. There are many other things 
 which I wish to tell you." 
 
 " I see through him," said Hudelist, looking with a sn)ile 
 after the emperoi\ who closed the door of the cabinet behind 
 him, to repair to the small reception-room ; " yes, I see through 
 the emperor. He is glad of my return, for I am a good spy 
 for him in regard to the doings of his brothers, of whom he is 
 jealous, and whom he hates with all his heart. If I succeed 
 one day in connnuuicating to him things capable of rendering 
 the archdukes suspicious to him, or even convicting them of a 
 wrong committed against him, Ihe emperor will reward and 
 promote me, and, as he saj^s, satisfy the cravings of my ambi- 
 tion. Well, well, we shall see. If you watch a man very 
 closely and are really intent on spying out something sus- 
 picious in his ccmduct, you will in the end surel_y find some 
 little hook or other by which you may hold him, and which you 
 may gradually hammer out and extend until it becomes large 
 enough to hang the whole man on it. In the first place, I 
 shall pay particular attention to the Archduke John, for his 
 brother is particularly jealous of and angry with him. Ah, if I 
 could discovery such a little hook by which to hold him, the 
 emperor would reward my zeal with money, honors, and 
 oi'dei-s, and he would henceforward repose the most implicit 
 confidence in my fidelity. Well, I shall think of it; the idea 
 is a good one, and worthy of being matured. I shall form a 
 scheme to make the good and munificent Archduke John the 
 ladder by which I shall rise. I must conquer, and if I can do 
 it only by pulling down others, it is the dut}' of self-preserva- 
 tion for me not to shrink from the task. I will now go to the 
 chancer^' and wait there for the emperor's return. Ah, how 
 his old limbs trembled when he heard of Napoleon's retiu'n. 
 How hard and unpleasant it was for him to swallow the bad
 
 34 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 news which I communicated to him ! There is no more inte 
 esting spectacle than that presented by a human face passii.^^ 
 through all the various stages of excitement, and involuntarily 
 performing in its features the five acts of a tragedy. And all 
 the better when this human face is that of an emperor. Dur- 
 ing my whole journey from Paris to Vienna I was enjoying, 
 by anticipation, the moment when I should deliver this Pan- 
 dora's box to the emperor. He is opposed to war, and must 
 nevertheless wage it ; that is the best part of the joke. Aha ! 
 it is a fine sight to behold the gods of this earth a prey to such 
 human embarrassments! I felt like bursting into loud laugh- 
 ter at the woe-begone appearance of the emperor. But hush, 
 hush! I will go to the chancery until he returns." 
 
 In the meantime the emperor had repaired to the small 
 reception-room, where Count Andreossi, the French ambassa- 
 dor, was already waiting for him. 
 
 Francis responded to the respectful greeting of the am- 
 bassador by a scarcely perceptible nod, and strode, with head 
 erect, into the middle of the room. There he stood still, and 
 casting a stern and almost defiant glance on the ambassador, 
 he said in a cold, dignified tone : " You requested an audience 
 of me in a very unusual manner. I granted it to prove to 
 you my desire to remain at peace with France. Now speak; 
 What has the ambas.sador of the Emperor of the French to 
 say to the Emperor of Austria ? " 
 
 " Your majesty, I have to present to you, in the first place, 
 the respects of my master, who has returned from Spain to 
 Paris." 
 
 Francis nodded his head slowly. " What next ? " he asked. 
 
 " Next, my sovereign has charged me with a very difficult 
 commission, for the execution of which I must first, and above 
 all things, beg your majesty's pardon." 
 
 " You are your master's servant, and it is your duty to obey 
 him," said the emperor, dryly. "Say, therefore, what he 
 ordered you to tell me." 
 
 "Well, then, as your majesty has granted me permission, 
 I will say that my master, the Empei'or of the French, has 
 taken deep umbrage at the hostile course which Austria has of 
 late pursued toward him."
 
 THE COURIER AND THE AMBASSADOR. 35 
 
 ''And what is it that your emperor complains of ?" asked 
 tlie emperor, with perfect composure. 
 
 " 111 tlie first pkiee, the Emi)oror Napoleon has taken deep 
 umbrage at Au.stria's still hesitating to recognize King Joseph 
 as King of Spain, and to send a minister plenipotentiary to his 
 court." 
 
 •' I did not know where to send my ambassador, and where 
 he would find M. Joseph Bonaparte, King of Spain, for the 
 time being — whether at Madrid or at Saragossa; in the camp, 
 on the field of battle, or in flight. Hence I did not send an 
 ambassador to his court. So soon as the Si)auish nation is 
 able to inform me where I may look for the king it has elected 
 and recognized, I shall immediately dispatch a minister pleni- 
 ])otentiary to this court. State that to your monarch." 
 
 " Next, his majesty the Emperor Napoleon complains bit- 
 tei-ly that Austria, instead of being intent on maintaining 
 friendly relations with France, has left nothing undone to 
 i-econcile the enemies of France who were at war with each 
 other, and to restore peace between them; and that Austria, 
 l)y her incessant efforts, has really succeeded now in bringing 
 about a treaty of peace between Turkey and England. Now, 
 my master the emperor must look upon this as a hostile act 
 on the part of Austi'ia against France; for to reconcile Eng- 
 land with Turkey is equivalent to setting France at variance 
 with Turkey, or at least neutralizing entirely her influence 
 over the Sublime Porte." 
 
 "Turkey is my immediate neighbor, and it is highly impor- 
 tant to Austria that there should be no war-troubles and dis- 
 turbances on all her frontiers. Every independent state should 
 be at liberty to pursue its own policy : and while this policy 
 does not assume a hostile attitude toward other independent 
 states, no one can take umljrage at it. Are you through with 
 your grievances ? " 
 
 "No, your majesty," said Andreossi, almost mournfully. 
 " The worst and most unpleasant part remains to be told ; but, 
 as your majesty was gracious enough to say, I must obey the 
 ordei-s of my master, and it is his will that I shall now com- 
 municate to your mtijcsfy the emperor's \-i('Ws in his own 
 words. It has given great olFence to the Empeior Napoleon
 
 36 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 that Austria should place herself in a posture of open hostility 
 against France, when France has given her so many proofs of 
 her forbearance, and has hitherto always spared Austria, not- 
 withstanding the numerous acts of duplicity and evident hos- 
 tility of the Austrian court. The Emperor Napoleon informs 
 your majesty that he is w^ell aware of the ambitious schemes 
 of Austria, but that he thinks your majesty is not strong 
 enough to carry them into effect. He requests your majesty 
 never to forget the magnanimity which the Emperor Napo- 
 leon manifested toward you after the battle of Austerlitz. 
 The Emperor Napoleon has instructed me to remind you of 
 the fact, well known to you, that you can confide in his gen- 
 erosity, and that he is firmly resolved to observe the treaties. 
 Naples, Prussia, and Spain, would stand erect, yet, if their 
 rulers had relied on their own sagacity, and not listened to 
 the fatal advice of their ministers, or even of courtiers, women, 
 and ambitious young princes. His majesty beseeches the Em- 
 peror of Austria not to listen to such insidious advice, nor to 
 yield to the wishes of the w^ar-party, which is intent only on 
 gratifying its passionate ambition, and whose eyes refuse to 
 see that it is di'iving Austria toward the brink of an abyss 
 where she nmst perish, as did Prussia, Naples, and Spain."* 
 
 " It is very kind in his majesty tlie Emperor Napoleon to 
 give me such friendly advice," said the Emperor Francis, 
 smiling. " But I beg his majesty to believe that, in accord- 
 ance with his wishes, I rely only on my own individual saga- 
 city; that I am influenced by no party, no person, but am 
 accustomed to direct myself the affairs of my country and the 
 administration of my empire, and not to li.sten to any insinua- 
 tions, from whatever quarter they may come. I request you 
 to repeat these words to his majesty the Emperor Napoleon, 
 with the same accuracy with which you commimicated his 
 message to me. And now, Count Andreossi, I believe you 
 have communicated to me all that your master instructed you 
 to say to me." 
 
 ''Pardon me, your majasty, I am instructed last to demand 
 in the emperor's name an explanation as to the meaning of 
 the formidable armaments of Austria, the organization of the 
 * Hormayr, " Allgemeine Geschiclite," vol. ill., p. 205.
 
 THE COURIER AND THE AMBASSADOR. 37 
 
 militia, and the arming of the fortresses on the frontiers, and 
 to inquire against wliom these measures are directed. Tlie 
 emperor implores your majesty to put a stop to these useless 
 and hurtful demonstrations, and orders me expressly to state 
 that, if Austria does not stop her armaments and adopt meas- 
 ures of an o])posite chuiacter, war will l)e inevitable."* 
 
 " In tliat case, Mr. Ambassador of the Emperor Napoleon, 
 war is inevitable," cried Francis, wlio now dropped the mask 
 of cold indifference, and allowed his face to betray the agita- 
 tion and rage tilling his bosom, by his quivering features, 
 flashing eyes, and clouded brow. '' I have calmly listened to 
 you," he added, raising his voice; ''I have received with silent 
 composure all the arrogant phrases which you have ventured 
 to utter here in the name of your emperor. I look on them as 
 one of the famous proud bulletins for which your emperor is 
 noted, and to whose overbearing and grandiloquent language 
 all Europe is accustomed. But it is well known too that these 
 bulletins are not exactly models of veracity, but sometimes the 
 very revei'se of it. An instance of the latter is your emperor's 
 assertion that he observes the treaties, and that he gave me 
 proofs of his magnanimity after the battle of Austerlitz. No, 
 the emperor did no such thing; he made me, on the contrary, 
 feel the full weight of his momentary superiority. He was 
 my enemy, and treated me as an enemy, without magnanimity, 
 which, for the rest, I did not claim at the time. But he has 
 proved to me, too, that he does not observe the most sacred 
 treaties. He violated every section of the peace of Presburg; 
 he did not respect the frontiers as stipulated in that treaty; he 
 forced me, in direct violation of the ti-eaties, to allow him the 
 permanent use of certain military roads within the boundaries 
 of my empire; he hurled from their thrones dj'uasties which 
 were related to me, and whose existence I had guaranteed : he 
 deprived, in violation of the law of nations, the beloved and 
 univereally respected head of Christendom of his throne, and 
 subjected him to a most disgraceful imprisonment; he exerted 
 on all seas the most arbitrary ))ressure on the Austrian flag. 
 And now, after all this has happened, after Austria has endured 
 
 * Niipoleoirs own words. — See " Lebeiisbilder," vol. ii., iiad Horiiiayr, " All- 
 genicine Uescliiohti'," vol. iii. 
 
 4CGG13
 
 38 ANDREAS nOFER. 
 
 all these wrongs so long and silently, the Emperor Napoleon 
 undertakes even to meddle with the internal administration of 
 my empire, and forbids me what he, ever since his accession, 
 has incessantly done, to wit : to mobilize my army, levy con- 
 scripts for the troops of the line and the reserves, and arm the 
 f orti'esses. He asks me to put a stop to my armaments ; else, 
 he says, war will be inevitable. Well, Mr. Ambassador, I do 
 not care if the Emperor Napoleon looks at the matter in that 
 light, and I shall not endeavor to prevent hiui from so doing, 
 for I shall not stop, but continue my preparations. I called 
 out the militia, just as the Emperor of the French constantly 
 calls new levies of conscripts into immediate activity; and if 
 war should be inevitable in consequence thereof, I shall bear 
 what is inevitable with firmness and composure." 
 
 "Your majesty, is this your irrevocable resolution ?'' asked 
 Andreossi. " Is this the answer that I am to send to my mas- 
 ter, the Emperor Napoleon ? '' 
 
 "I think it will be better for you to convey this answer in 
 person to your omperor," said Francis, calmly. " As no one 
 has witnessed our interview^ only you yourself can repeat my 
 words with perfect accuracy ; and it is therefore best for you 
 to set out this very day for Paris." 
 
 " That is to say, j^our majesty gives me my passports, and 
 war will immediately break out between France and Aus- 
 tria!" sighed Andreossi. "Your majesty should graciously 
 consider — " 
 
 " I have considered every thing," interrupted Francis, vehe- 
 mently, " and I request you not to speak to me again in the 
 style of your French bulletins. I will hear the bulletins of 
 the Emperor Napoleon on the field of battle rather than in my 
 cabinet. Set oht, therefore, for Paris, Mr. Ambassador, and 
 repeat to the emperor what I have said to you." 
 
 "I will comply with your majesty's orders," said An- 
 dreossi, with a sigh ; " I will set out, but 1 shall leave the 
 members of my legation here as yet, for I do not yet give up 
 the hope that it may be possible for the two courts to avoid a 
 declaration of war, and to spare such a calamity to two coun- 
 tries that have such good reasons to love each other." 
 
 "Let us quietly await the course of events," replied the
 
 THE EMPEROR AND HIS BROTHERS. -jl) 
 
 empei'or. " Farewell, Count Andreossi. If you will accept 
 my advice, you will set out this very day; for so soon as my 
 dear Viennese leai-n that war is to break out in earnest, they 
 will probably give vent to their enthusiasm in the most tu- 
 multuous and raptui'ous demunstrations, and I suppose it 
 would be disagreeable to you to witness them. Farewell, 
 sir!" 
 
 He waved his hand toward the ambassador, bent his head 
 slowly and haughtily, and left the reception-room without 
 vouchsafing anothei' glance to Count Andreo.ssi. 
 
 "Now my brothei's will be in ecstasies," said tlie emperor 
 to himself, slowly walking up and down, his hands folded on 
 his back, in the sitting-room adjoining the reception-room. 
 " They will be angry, though, because I did not consult them, 
 and decided the whole affair without listening to their wis- 
 dom.'' 
 
 "Your majesty," said a footman, who entered the room 
 at this moment, " their imperial highnesses, the Archdukes 
 Charles and John, request an audience of your majesty." 
 
 "They are welcome," said the emperor, whose features 
 were lit up by a faint smile. " Show my brothers in," 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE EMPEROR AND HIS BROTHERS. 
 
 A FEW minutes afterward the two archdukes entered the 
 room of the emperor, who slowly went some steps to meet 
 them, and greeted them with a grave, cold glance. 
 
 "Why, this is a rare spectacle," said Francis, sneeringly, 
 " to see my brothers side by side in such beautiful harmony. 
 In truth, it was only wanting to me that even you two should 
 be of the same opinion, and come to me for the purpose of 
 inviting me, as Schiller says, to be the third in your league." 
 
 " Your majesty would always be the first in this league," 
 said the Archduke John, in his clear, ringing voice ; " my 
 brother would be the second, and I onlv the third,"
 
 40 ANDREAS IIOFER. 
 
 " See, see, my brother is very modest and humble to-day," 
 said Francis, smiling. " This means doubtless that you have 
 come to ask a favor of me, and that, by your kindness and 
 devotedness, you wish to induce me to comply with your re- 
 quest, as a dog is decoyed with cakes and sweets by the thief 
 who intends to steal something from the dog's master." 
 
 '• Oh, your majesty, we do not intend to steal any thing 
 from our master! " exclaimed John, laughing. " But there is 
 i-eally an attack to be made on our master's property", only he 
 who intends to make it does not decoy us with cakes and 
 sweets, but assails us with the sword and coarse invectives." 
 
 " It was very shrewd in you to mention at once the subject 
 on which you wished to speak with me," said the emperor, 
 with a slight sneer. " But permit me first to say a woi-d to my 
 brother Charles there, and bid welcome to his imperial high- 
 ness, the illustrious captain, the generalissimo of our army, 
 the hope and consolation of Austria." 
 
 "Your majesty wishes to mock me," said the Archduke 
 Charles, in a mournful voice. 
 
 " I repeat only what I read every day in the newspapers, 
 and what the dear Viennese are singing and shouting in every 
 street!" exclaimed the emperor. "Yes, yes, my dear brother, 
 you must consent to be the hope and consolation of Austria, 
 and to be praised as the august and invincible hero of our im- 
 mediate future." 
 
 So saying, the emperor gazed with a long and searching 
 look at his brother's form, and a scornful expression over- 
 spread his features. 
 
 Indeed, the epithets which the emperor had applied to his 
 brother corresponded but little to the appearance of the Arch- 
 duke Charles. His small, bent form, with its weak, shrivelled 
 limbs, was not the form of a hero ; his pale, wan face, with 
 the hollow cheeks ; the dim eyes deeply imbedded in their 
 sockets, and the clouded brow, on which thin tufts of hair 
 Iiung down, was not the face of a bold captain, confident of 
 achieving brilliant triumphs by his heroic deeds, and deserv- 
 ing of the name of the hope and consolation of Austria. But 
 the Austrians did call him by that name, and the glory of his 
 military achievements, which filled not only Austria but the
 
 THE EMPEROR AND UlS BROTHERS. 41 
 
 whole of Germany, caused them really to build their liopes on 
 the Archduke Charles, despite his very feeble health. The 
 Emperor Francis was aware of this ; he knew that the Arch- 
 dukes Charles and John were by far more popular than he 
 was ; hence he was jealous of and angry with them— nay, he 
 almost hated them. 
 
 " You look very pale and sick to-day, my dear Archduke 
 Charles," said the emperor, after a pause, during which he 
 had contemplated the archduke with a searching expression. 
 
 "I am very feeble and unwell, your majesty,'' sighed 
 Charles ; " and but for the special request of my brother, the 
 Archduke John, I .should not have dared to come here this 
 morning. However, I am afraid that I can do but little to 
 comply with his wishes, and that my brother John will soon 
 think it would have been better for him not to ask me to ac- 
 company him to your majesty." 
 
 "Ah, then, you are after all not so harmonious as I 
 thought when I saw you entering here together!" exclaimed 
 llie emperor, laughing. "There are still differences of opin- 
 ion, then, between the two pillars of my throne, and were I 
 to lean on one, the other would totter and give way. Well, 
 w hat do you w^ ant ? What brought you here ? " 
 
 " Your majesty, only the intense desire to dedicate our 
 services to Austria and our emperor!" exclaimed John, en- 
 thusiastically. "We wished to implore your majesty to utter 
 at length the word that will deliver Austria and all Germany. 
 Your majesty, this hesitation and silence rests like a night- 
 mare on every heart and every bosom ; all eyes ai'e fixed 
 hopefully on your majestj'. Oh, my lord and emperor, one 
 word from your lips, and this nightmare will disappear ; all 
 hearts will rejoice in blissful ecstasy, and every bosom will 
 expand and breathe more freely when your majesty shall 
 utter this word: 'War! war!' We hold the sword in our 
 hands ; let the will of my august emperor give us the right 
 now to draw the sword against him who, for years past, has 
 swept like a destructive hurricane through all Germany, all 
 Europe, and who tramples alike on princes and peoples, on 
 liberty and law. Your majesty, in the name of your people, 
 in the name of all German patriots, I bend my knees here be- 
 4
 
 42 ANDREAS UOPER. 
 
 fore my lord and emperor, and thus, kneeling and full of rev- 
 erence, I implore your majesty to let the hour of deliverance 
 strike at length ; let us, with joyful courage, expel the enemy 
 who has already so long been threatening our frontiers with 
 defiant arrogance : let us take the field against the impudent 
 usurper, and wrest from him the laiu-els which he gained at 
 Austerlitz, and of which he is so proud. Your majesty, your 
 people ai'e filled wuth warlike ardor ; your faithful Tyrolese 
 are waiting only for a signal to break their chains and rise 
 for their beloved empei'or. Your Italian provinces are long- 
 ing for the day when war shall break out, in order to avenge 
 themselves on the tyrant who promised them liberty and 
 brought them only slavery. The hour of retribution has 
 come for Napoleon ; may your majesty consult our best inter- 
 ests by saying that we ai-e to profit by this hour, and that war, 
 a mortal struggle, is to begin now against the Emperor of the 
 French ! " 
 
 And, still bending his knees befoi'e the emperor, John 
 looked up to him with longing, beseeching eyes. 
 
 Francis looked down on him with a gloomy air, and the 
 noble and enthusiastic face of his brother, who was ten years 
 younger, and much stronger and better-looking, made a dis- 
 agreeable impression on him. 
 
 "Eise, brother," he said, coldly ; "your knees must ache, 
 and I, for my part, do not like such theatrical scenes at all, 
 and such fine phrases make but little impression on my cold 
 and prosy heart. I am accustomed to follow always my con- 
 victions, and when I advance a step, I must be sure not to fall 
 into an abyss which some poetical hero may perhaps have 
 merely covered for me with his flowery phrases. That I am 
 aware of the dangers threatening us on the part of France I 
 have proved by putting the army on the war footing, by in- 
 trusting you, Archduke John, with organizing the militia and 
 the reserves in accordance with the i)lan you drew up for that 
 purpose ; and by placing you, Archduke Charles, at the head 
 of my army and appointing you generalissimo." 
 
 "An honor, your majesty, which I accepted with reverent 
 gratitude, although it almost crushes me at the present time," 
 said the Archduke Charhis, with a sigh. " Permit me now,
 
 Tin; HMPKlKill AN"[> HIS IlItoTIIKRS. 4^ 
 
 your majesty, to open my lieai-t to you, ami lay my innermost 
 tliou<rlits at your feet. To do so. I accompanied my brother 
 Jolm to you. He said he would implore your majesty once 
 more to i)ostpone the declaration of war no longer, but utter 
 at length the decisive word. I implored liim not to do so, 
 and not to force us to engage prematurely in a war that could 
 not but bring the greatest calamities on Austria. But my dear 
 brother would not listen to my remonstrances and prayers ; 
 he called me a secret friend and admirer of Napoleon ; he de- 
 manded that I should at least speak out freely and openly in 
 your majesty's presence, and refute him if I could, or yield to 
 him if my arguments should prove untenable. Your majesty, 
 I have therefore complied with the wishes of my brother, the 
 Aichduke John ; I have come to you, but only to say to my 
 lord and emperor : Your majesty, I implore you, in the name 
 of your people and your throne, do not yet unsheath the 
 sword ! Wait until our army is ready for the contest, and 
 until our armaments are completed. Do not plunge ra.sh- 
 ly into war, lest victory escape us. A great deal remains 
 to be done yet before we can say that our armaments are 
 completed ; and only after being fully prepared can we dare 
 to take the field against the Emperor Napoleon and his hither- 
 to victorious legions." 
 
 *' Ah, do you hear our Fabius Cunctator, brother John, 
 the Lion-hearted 1 '" exclaimed the emperor, sarcastically. 
 " Which of you is right, and whose wise advice shall I follow 
 now— I, the poor emperor, who is not sti-oug and sagacious 
 enough to be his own adviser and advance a step without his 
 brothers ? John, the learned soldier, beseeches me to declare 
 war, and Charles, the intrepid hero, imploies me not to do so. 
 What am I, the i)00r emperor, who cannot advise himself, and 
 who receives too nuich advice from others, to do under such 
 circumstances ? Whose will nuist I submit to ?" 
 
 " Your majesty," cried John, in dismay, " it is we that must 
 submit ; it is your will on which depends the decision. I im- 
 plore your majesty to declare war, because I deem it necessary ; 
 but, if your majesty should take a dilTerent resolution, I shall 
 submit silently and obediently." 
 
 " And I," said Charles, " requested you to postpone the
 
 44 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 declaration of war, because I do not believe that we are suffi- 
 ciently prepared for the contest : but, like my brother, I shall 
 submit silently if your majesty should take a different resolu- 
 tion." 
 
 '• Indeed, will you do so, archdukes ? " asked the emperor, 
 in a scornful tone. " Will you be mindful of your duties as 
 subjects, and, instead of giving me unnecessary advice, obey 
 me silently ? " 
 
 The two archdukes bowed to indicate their submissiveness. 
 The emperor advanced a few steps, and proudly raising bis 
 head, he looked at his two brothers with a stern and imperious 
 expression. 
 
 " Let me tell you, then, archdukes, what I. your lord and 
 emperor, have resolved."" said Francis, sternly. '" I have re- 
 solved to declare war I '" 
 
 Two loud cries resounded with one accord ; a cry of joy 
 burst from John's lips, a cry of dismay from those of Charles. 
 Pale, reeling like a drunken man, the generalissimo ap- 
 proached the emperor and held out his hands to him with a 
 beseeching expression. 
 
 ■' Your majesty," he said, *' you have resolved to declare 
 war, but you do not mean to say that it is to commence im- 
 mediately '." 
 
 " That i;s what I mean to say," replied the emperor, sarcas- 
 tically. 
 
 The Archduke Charles turned still paler than before ; a 
 strange tremor passed through his frame, his head dropped on 
 his bosom, and a deep groan issued from his breast. 
 
 The Archduke John, forgetful of his quarrel with his 
 brother Charles, at the sight of the latter's profound grief, 
 hastened to him, and tenderly gi-asped both his hands. 
 
 "Brother," he asked, anxiously, " what is the matter ? Are 
 you unwell ? " 
 
 " I am,"' said Charles, wiping from his forehead the large 
 drops of sweat standing on it. " I am unwell, but I must say 
 a few additional words to the emperor. I must disclose to 
 him a melancholy secret of which I heard only an hour ago. 
 — Your majesty, I implore you once more, postpone the war 
 as long as possible ; for — hear my terrible secret — we have
 
 THE EMPEROR AND HIS BROTHERS. 45 
 
 been infamously defrauded by Commissary-General von Fass- 
 l)onder.'" 
 
 "Your intimate friend?" interposed the emperor, with a 
 scornful laugh. 
 
 "Yes, my intimate friend," exclaimed the archduke, in a 
 loud, shrill voice; "he deceived me most shamefully. All 
 the army contracts had been intrusted to him, and he assured 
 me he had filled them in the most conscientious manner. 
 I believed him, and it is only now that I find out that he has 
 shamefully deceived me and his emperor. All his bills for 
 the supplies which he pretended to have furnished are in my 
 hands, but the trooi)s did not get the sup])lies. The scoundrel 
 sent only sour Hour, bad linen, and moth-eaten uniform cloth 
 to the regiments, and yet he drew enormous sums of money 
 for the full amount of his contracts. " 
 
 "We shall compel the thief to disgorge his ill-gotten 
 gains," cried the emperor. 
 
 " No, your majesty," said Charles, with a groan ; and lean- 
 ing more firmly on his brother's arm, in order not to sink to 
 the floor, he added : " no, your majest)'. the criminal is be- 
 yond the reach of your power. He escaped from human 
 justice by committing suicide an hour ago. The criminal 
 has fled from his judges, but his crimes remain, and our army 
 sufl'ers in consequence of them. Now your majesty knows 
 all. you will take back your word, and say no longer that you 
 will declare war. You will be gracious enough to give me 
 time to repair the injury resulting from the crimes of the 
 commissary-general, and to provide the army with all that 
 is unfortunately wanting to it as yet." 
 
 "No," cried the emperor vehemently, " I will not ! I will 
 not take back my word, and I had already made up my miiul 
 before you, my brothej'S, entered here to assist me so generous- 
 ly by your wisdom. War will be declared innnediately ; my 
 i-esolution is irrevocable. I have already informed the Frencli 
 ambassador of it, and ordered him to leave Vienna this very 
 day. Your warnings come ju.st as much too late as did John's 
 entreaties. I ditl what I myself deemed best ; and I deemed 
 it best to declare war against Bonaparte, in reply to his in- 
 tolerable arrogance. Every thing is tixed and settled ; war
 
 46 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 will commence without delay : and you, Archduke Charles, 
 are the generalissimo of my army." 
 
 The Archduke Charles made no reply ; he uttered a pain- 
 ful groan and sank to the floor by John's side. All his limbs 
 trembled and quivered ; his pale face became distorted, he 
 clinched his fists, and his eyes were glassy as though he were 
 dying. 
 
 " He has one of his fits," said the emperor calmly, looking 
 down on his brother. " Call his servants and his doctor, 
 Archduke John, that they may remove the generalissimo to 
 another room and administer medicine to him." 
 
 John rushed to the door, and soon the servants and the 
 physician, who always accompanied the Archduke Charles, 
 hastened into the room. They lifted with practised hands the 
 archduke, who was still writhing in convulsions, and carried 
 him tenderly out of the room. 
 
 John, who, with touching solicitude, had remained near 
 the sufferer, would have accompanied him ; but a word from 
 the emperor called him back. 
 
 " Stay a moment, archduke," said Francis ; " the Archduke 
 Charles only has his fits, and his servants will take care of 
 him. I have yet to speak a few words with you. This will 
 be a formidable war, brother, and we must see to it that it 
 breaks out at the same time in all quarters of our empire, aiid 
 that the people rise with one accord and take up arms. We 
 have made our i>reparations everywhere, and our emissaries 
 have done their duty ; they have everywhere enlisted friends 
 of our cause, and established committees which have made 
 all necessary dispositions for the defence of the country. You 
 yourself sent your emissary, Baron von Hormayr, to your 
 beloved Tyrol ; if I am correctly informed, he has already 
 returned to Vienna." 
 
 " Your majesty, he arrived here this morning," said John, 
 looking at his brother with an air of surprise and even ter- 
 ror. 
 
 This did not escape the emperor, and a smile of satisfaction 
 lit up his face. 
 
 " You see, my agents serve me very well, and I am aware 
 of all that is going on," said Francis, gravely. " I know, too,
 
 THE EMPEROR AND HIS RHOTHERS. 47 
 
 that Baron von Ilormayr has returned to Vienna not alone, 
 biit accompanied by some good friends. I believe you did aot 
 come here to give me your advice, but to beg permission to re- 
 ceive your Tyrolese friends at your palace to-nighf." 
 
 " What ! " asked John, surprised ; '' your majesty is aware 
 of this, too ? " 
 
 " I have told you already that my agents serve me very 
 well. Let this be a warning to you not to do or undertake 
 any thing that you would like to conceal from me. I know 
 that Andreas Hofer is here, to concert with you some sort of 
 plan for the insurrection of the Tyrol. Under the present 
 circumstances I permit you to do so. for it is reallj' important 
 that the German and Italian Tyi"ol should rise ; and as we are 
 going to have war, we will strive to recover our Tyrol. But 
 we must proceed cautiously, and the world must not find out 
 that we instigated the Tyrole.se to rise in arms. That would 
 be setting a bad example to the other nations of our empire. 
 We may at times profit bj' popular insurrections, but must be- 
 ware of letting the world know that we ourselves brought 
 them about. Hence, I do not want to know any thing of 
 your Tyrolese, and shall not grant them an audience. But I 
 permit you to do so, and you may tell these brave Tyrolese, 
 too, that I should be glad if they would become again my dear 
 subjects." 
 
 "Your majesty,'' exclaimed John, joyously, "these words 
 of their emperor w^ill be the signal for them to rise as one 
 man, take their rifles, and expel the Evil One. that is to say, 
 the Bavarians." 
 
 ''I shall be glad to see the Tyrolese do so, and, moreover, do 
 it in time," said the emperor, nodding his head. " Repeat my 
 words to Andreas Hofer, brother John, and pledge him my 
 word that, if we recover the Tyrol this time, we shall never 
 give it up again. But Andreas Hofer must behave with great 
 prudence, and not show himself to the public here, but keep 
 in the background, that the police may wink at his presence 
 in Vienna, and act as though they did not see him and his 
 friends. And now, brother, farewell, and inquire if the gen- 
 eralissimo has recovered from his fit. It would be bad. in- 
 deed, if these fits should befall him once in the midst of a bat-
 
 48 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 tie. Well, let us hope for the best for us all, and especially 
 for the Tyrol. You have now a great task before you, John, 
 for you will receive a command ; you shall assist the Tyrolese 
 in shaking off the foreign yoke." 
 
 " Oh, my lord and emperor," exclaimed John, with a radi- 
 ant face and fiery glance, " how kind and gracious you are 
 to-day ! It is the heart of a brother that speaks out of your 
 mouth— of a brother who wishes to make me happy, and 
 knows how to do so. Yes, send me with a corps to the assist- 
 ance of the Tyrolese ; let me bring freedom and salvation to 
 my beloved mountaineers. That is a task which fills me with 
 boundless ecstasy, and for which I shall always be grateful 
 and devoted to you, brother." 
 
 "Be devoted to your emperor, archduke," said Francis, 
 smiling ; " the brothers w-ill get along well enough ; they 
 have nothing to do with politics and public affairs. Fare- 
 well, John. But, remember, we shall meet again to-day, for 
 I shall summon the ministers and generals to a consultation, 
 and you will, of course, be present. Once more, then, fare- 
 well !" 
 
 He nodded repeatedly to the archduke and left the room 
 with unusual quickness. The emperor walked hastily and 
 with a gloomy face through the adjoining room, and entered 
 his cabinet, the door of which he closed rather noisily. 
 
 " I am to let him bring freedom and salvation to his be- 
 loved mountaineers," murmured Francis to himself—" to his 
 mountaineers ! I believe he would be glad if they really were 
 his, and if he could become King of the Tyrol. Well, we 
 shall see. I have lulled his suspicion by permitting him to 
 hold intercourse with the Tyrolese, and concert plans with 
 them. We shall see how far my brother will go, and what his 
 gratitude and devotion will amount to. It is a troublesome 
 burden for me to have such dangerously ambitious and re- 
 nowned brothers, against whom I miist be constantly on my 
 guard. I would I could pick them off as quickly as I remove 
 the flies from this wall." 
 
 So saying, he took from the table the fly -flap w-hich had al- 
 ways to lie on it in readiness, and entered upon his favorite 
 amusement, the pursuit of the flies on the wall and furniture.
 
 THE EMPEROR AND HIS BROTHERS. 49 
 
 which his servants took good care uot to drive from the em- 
 peror's cabinet, because Francis would never have pardoned 
 them for spoiling liis spoi-t. 
 
 Walking along the walls with a rapid step, the emperor 
 commenced killing the flies. 
 
 " Ha ! " he exclaimed, striking a fl}-, " ha ! brother Charles, 
 this stroke is intended for you. Really, there lies the fly 
 writhing, as the generalissimo did, on the floor. But he has 
 a tougher life than the fly ; for the fly will writhe until it is 
 dead, but the generalissimo always revives ; and when he has 
 no fits, he is a vei'y brave and illustrious man, before whom 
 his emperor must humbly stand aside. I cannot take the fly- 
 flap and strike his writhing limbs as I do this miserable fly, 
 the little Archduke Charles, that is wi*ithing on the floor 
 there. So, now you are dead, confounded little brother 
 Charles, and we will hunt for your biother John. See, see, 
 there he sits on the wall, cleaning his wings and making him- 
 self tidy and pretty. There ! There is an affectionate blov/ 
 from your imperial brother, and you are done for. Now you 
 will never fly to your mountaineers and briug them freedom 
 and salvation. You will, on the contrary, stick to the wall of 
 your emperor's room, and learn that your brother is your 
 master. Why, this is most amusing sport to day I I shall 
 not stop before killing a dozen Archdukes Charles and 
 John!" 
 
 And Francis hunted eagerly on the walls and the furniture 
 for other flies, which he pursued and killed with his fly-flap, 
 always applying the name of Charles to one, and that of Jolm 
 to the next. 
 
 In the excitement of this strange sport he had not noticed 
 that, soon after he entered the cabinet, the door had opened, 
 and Counsellor von Hudelist bad come in. Francis did not 
 remember at that moment that he had given express orders to 
 Hudelist to re-enter the cabinet as soon as he heard the em- 
 peror return to it ; he had fixed his thoughts exclusively on 
 the cruel pleasure of killing the flies Charles and John, and 
 Hudelist took good care not to disturb him in this pleasant 
 pastime. He stood leaning against the wall close to the door ; 
 his small, flashing eyes followed every motion of the emperor
 
 50 ANDREAS nOFER. 
 
 with rapt attention, and whenever Francis, on killing a fly, 
 pronounced the name of either of liis brothel's in a triumphant 
 tone, a malicious smile overspread the pale and ugly face of 
 the counsellor. 
 
 Now, however, Francis, in hunting for flies, had arrived 
 at the extreme end of the room. Until then, his hack had 
 been turned to Hudelist. If he should turn now and continue 
 his sport on the other side of the room, he would discover 
 him, and be disagreeably surprised at his presence. There- 
 fore, before the emperor turned, Hudelist opened once more 
 the door near which he was standing, and closed it rather 
 noisily. 
 
 The emperor turned and asked gayly : " Well, what is it, 
 Mr. Counsellor ? " 
 
 " Your majesty ordered me to return to the cabinet as soon 
 as you should be back." 
 
 " But I returned some time ago," said Francis, casting a 
 distrustful, searching glance on Hudelist. 
 
 " Pardon me, your majesty, I believed I heard you only 
 just now close the door, and had until then vainly waited for 
 .some sound in the cabinet,"' replied Hudelist, with a perfectly 
 innocent expression of countenance. "' The second door sepa- 
 rating the conference-room from your majesty's cabinet is so 
 heavily lined with cushions as to render it almost impervious 
 to sound, and I beg your pardon again for not having heard 
 despite the mo.st eager attention." 
 
 The emperor's face had again entirely cleared up. "Never 
 mind," he said; "I am glad that those in the adjoining room 
 cannot hear what is going on here. I like to have ears for all, 
 but do not like anybody to have ears for me. Now let me 
 hear what you have brought for me from Paris." 
 
 " Above all things, your majest}' , I succeeded in obtaining, 
 for a considerable sum of money, the receipt for making Span- 
 ish sealing-wax, from a Spanish refugee, who was formerly 
 employed at the royal sealing-wax factory of Madrid, and was 
 perfectly familiar with the formula for making it. Your 
 majesty knows that this receipt is a secret, and that the officers 
 and workmen employed at the factory must even, wear an 
 oath not to divulge it."
 
 THE PERFORMANCE OF "THE CREATION." 51 
 
 "And you ()l)taiiied the receipt nevertheless, and brought 
 it with you ^ " inquired the emperor. 
 
 ''Here it is, your majesty." 
 
 Francis hastily seized the paper which Hudelist handed to 
 him with a respectful bow. 
 
 " See, see, this is a very kind service which you have ren- 
 dered me, and I shall be grateful for it !" he exclaimed. 
 '"You shall test the receipt with me alone; we will try it 
 right away. But hold on ; I must first tell you some grave 
 news. We shall declare war. I have already told the French 
 ambassador to leave Vienna to-day, and Metternich can come 
 home too. I will hold a council of the ministers and generals 
 to-day. Tell the functionaries at the chancer}^ to inform the 
 ministers, archdukes, and generals that I wisli to see them in 
 the conference-room at four. Make haste, and then come to 
 my laboratory. We will try the Spanish receipt." 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE PERFORIHANCE OF "THE CREATION." 
 
 A BRILLIANT festival was to take place to-night in the large 
 aula of the Vienna Univei*sity. All the composers, musicians, 
 dilettanti, and amateurs of Vienna, had joyously consented to 
 participate in it. The most distinguished names of the aris- 
 tocracy and the artistic circles of Vienna were at the head of 
 tiu' ccmimittee of arrangements. Among those names were 
 tlioso of the Princes Lichnowsky and Lichlonstein, the Count- 
 rss(>s Kauuitz and Spiolmann, of Beethoven and Salieri, 
 Kroutzer and Clemeuti, and finally, tliose of the poets Collin 
 and Carpani. 
 
 Everj' one wished to participate in this festival, which was 
 to render homage to the veteran German compose!*, the great 
 Joseph Haydn, on the occasion of the twenty-fifth perform- 
 ance of the maestro's great work, " The Creation."' Ten years 
 had elapsed since the first performance of " The Creation " at 
 Vienna, and already tlie sublime composition had made the
 
 52 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 tour of Europe, and had been performed amid the most en- 
 thusiastic applause in London and Paris, in Amsterdam and 
 St. Petersburg, in Berlin, and all the large and small cities of 
 Germany. Everywhere it had excited transports of admira- 
 tion ; everywhere delighted audiences had greeted with raptur- 
 ous enthusiasm this beautiful music, so full of holy ardor and 
 childlike piety, this great work of the German composer, 
 Joseph Haydn. 
 
 To-day the twenty-fifth performance of "The Creation" 
 was to take place at Vienna, and Joseph Haydn himself was 
 to be present at the concert. The committee of arrangements 
 had invited him, and he had accepted the invitation. Al- 
 though his seventy-seven years were resting heavily on his 
 head, and had paralyzed his strength, he could not withstand 
 the honorable request of his friends and admirers, and he had 
 replied with a touching smile to the committee of arrange- 
 ments, whose delegates had conveyed the invitation to him : 
 " I shall come to take leave of the world with my 'Creation,' 
 and bid a last farewell to my dear Viennese. You will often 
 yet sing my ' Creation,' but I shall hear it for the last time ! " 
 
 " For the last time ! " These were the words which had 
 thrilled all the friends and admirers of the maestro, and filled 
 them with the ardent desire to greet him once more, and ren- 
 der him homage for the last time. For all felt and knew that 
 Haydn had spoken the truth, and that his end was drawing 
 near. All, therefore, longed to take part in this last tri- 
 umph of the composer of " The Creation," whom death had 
 already touched with its inexorable finger. 
 
 Hence, there was a perfect jam in front of the university 
 building; the equipages of the high nobility formed tw^o im- 
 mense lines down the long street; like a black, surging stream, 
 rising from moment to moment, the part of the audience 
 arriving on foot moved along the houses and between the 
 double line of carriages toward the entrance of the building. 
 
 Thousands had vainly ap])lied for admission at the ticket- 
 office ; there was room only for fifteen hundred persons in the 
 aula and the adjoining rooms, and perhaps as many thousands 
 had come to hear the concert. As they could not be admitted 
 into the hall, they remained in the street in front of the build-
 
 THE rKRFORMANCE OF "TIJE CREATION." 53 
 
 ing; as they could not hear Haydn's music, the3' wished at 
 least to see his face and cheer him on liis arrival at the door. 
 
 But there was a surgiuj^' crowd also in the festively-deco- 
 rated university hall. All had come in their holiday attire, 
 and joy and profound emotion beamed from all faces. 
 Friends shook hands and greeted eachother with radiant eyes; 
 and even those who did not know eachother exchanged kindly 
 greetings and pleasant smiles on .seating them.selves side by 
 side, and looked at each other as though they were friends and 
 acquaintances, and not entire strangers. 
 
 For all felt the great importance of this hour; all felt them- 
 selves Germans, owing to the homage which they were to 
 render to the German maestro and to German music ; and all 
 knew that this festival would be looked upon beyond the Rhine 
 as a hostile demonstration of the Germans agaiu.st French pride 
 and arrogance. They wished to show to France that, although 
 Germany was dismembered, the heart of the Germans 
 throbbed for Germany and German art, and that they did not 
 feel at all alarmed at the grandiloquent threats of the Em- 
 peror of the French, but yielded with undisturbed equanim- 
 ity to the en.ioymeut of German art. While the threatening 
 words of the Emperor Napoleon were resounding, like ringing 
 war-fanfares, from Paris, the Viennese desired to respond to 
 him by the beautiful notes of sublime music; and, regardless 
 of the growls of the lion beyond tlie Rhine, they wished to de- 
 light in the soul-stirring harmonies of "The Creation.'' 
 
 All preparations were now completed. The hall was all 
 ablaze with the wax-lights which were beaming down from 
 those gigantic lustres, and whose rays were reflected in the 
 large mirrors covering the walls. The imperial box was s])len- 
 didly festooned with rare flowers, and decorated with carpets 
 and gilt candelabra, whose enormous wax-lights filled the 
 interior of the spacious box with broad daylight. 
 
 Opposite the imperial box, on the other side of the hall, 
 rose the large tribune destined for an orchestra of eighty per- 
 formers and a choir of one hundred singers. All the latter, 
 too, were in joyous spirits; all were animated to-day, not by 
 the envy and jealousy so often to be found among ai'tistcs. but 
 by the one great desire to contribute their share to the homage
 
 54- ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 to be rendered to German art. They did not wish to-day to 
 exhibit themselves and their artistic skill, but desired only to 
 render homage to the music of tlie great maestro, and to Ger- 
 man art. 
 
 And now the hour was at hand when the concert was to 
 commence. The audience had taken their seats, the orchestra 
 ceased tuning their instruments, the singers were in readiness, 
 and the committee of arrangements had gone down to the 
 street-door to await Haydn's arrival. 
 
 The door of the imperial box opened at this moment, and 
 the emperor and empress entered, followed by the archdukes 
 and their suites. To-day for the first time" the audience took 
 no notice of these august persoiis ; they did not rise to greet 
 the imperial couple and the archdukes. No one had perceived 
 their arrival, for all eyes were steadfastly fixed on the large 
 folding-doors by which Joseph Haydn was to enter the 
 hall. 
 
 He had been expected already for some time, and the au- 
 dience began to whisper anxiously : " Will he, perhaps, not 
 come, after all ? Will his physician not permit hitii to go to 
 the concert because the excitement might be injurious to 
 him ? " 
 
 But all at once the silence was broken by a noise in the 
 street, which sounded like the roar of the stormy ocean ; it 
 rent the air, and caused the windows of the hall to rattle. 
 And the audience was joyfully moved ; all faces became ra- 
 diant, all turned their eyes toward the door. 
 
 Now this door opened, and a beautiful though strange 
 group appeared in it. In its midst, on the shoulders of eight 
 strong young men, arose an easy chair, festooned with flowers, 
 and in this chair sat the .small, bent form of an old man. His 
 face was pale and wan, and in his forehead the seventy-seven 
 years of his life had drawn deep furrows ; but from his large 
 blue eyes beamed the eternal fire of youth, and there was 
 something childlike and touching in the smile of his mouth. 
 On the right side of his easy-chair was seen the imposing form 
 of a gentleman, plainly dressed, biit with a head full of ma- 
 jestic dignity, his face gloomy and wild, his high forehead, 
 surrounded by dense dishevelled hair, his eyes now gleaming
 
 THE rKKFOKMANCE OF "THE ('REATION." 55 
 
 with soiiilji'e (ires, now glauciiig mildly and amiably. It was 
 Louis von Beethoven, whom llaydu liked to call his pupil, and 
 whose fame had at that time already penetrated far beyond 
 the frontiers of Austria. On the left side of the easy-ehair 
 was seen the tine, expressive face of Salieri. who liked to call 
 himself Gluck's pupil ; and side by side with these two walked 
 Kreutzer and Clementi, and the other members of the com- 
 niittee of ai'raiifjements. 
 
 Thunderinj.^ cheers g'reeted their appearance ; the whoh 
 audience rose ; even the Empress Ludovica started uj) from 
 her gilded chair and bowed smilingly ; and the Archduke 
 John advanced close to the railing of the box to greet again 
 and again with pleasant nods of his head and waves of his 
 hand Joseph Haydn, thus borne along above the heads of the 
 audience. But the Emperor Francis, who was standing by 
 the side of his consort, looked with a somewhat sneering ex- 
 pression on the crowd below, and, turning to the empress, he 
 said : '' Perhaps my dear Viennese maj' consider Haydn on 
 his easy-chair yonder their emperor, and I myself may abdi- 
 cate and go home. They did not ev^en look at us lo-night, and 
 are raising such a fuss now as though God Almighty had en- 
 tered the hall ! " 
 
 In eft'ect, the exultation of the audience increased at every 
 step which the procession advanced, and endless cheers accom- 
 panied the com})Osei- k) the seat which had been prepared for 
 him on an estrade in front of the orchestra. 
 
 Here two beautiful ladies of high rank came to meet him, 
 and presented to him, on cushions of gold-embroidered velvet, 
 poems written by Collin and Carpani, and printed on silken 
 ribbons. At the same time many hundred copies of these 
 poems flittered through the hall, and all .shouted joyously', 
 "Long live Joseph Haydn, the Gei-man maestro !" And the 
 orchestra played a ringing flourish, and the cheers of the au- 
 dience rent the air again and again. 
 
 Joseph Haydn, quite overcome, his eyes filled with tears, 
 leaned his head against the back of his chair. A mortal pal 
 lor overspread his cheeks, and his hands trembled as though 
 he had the fever. 
 
 " Maestro, dear, dear maestro I " said the Piincess Esterhazy,
 
 56 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 bending over him tenderly, " are you unwell ? You tremble, 
 and are so pale ! Are you unwell ? " 
 
 " Oh, no, no," said Haydn, with a gentle smile, " my soul is 
 in ecstasies at this hour, which is a precious reward for a long 
 life of arduous toils. My soul is in ecstasies, but it lives in 
 such a Aveak and wretched shell ; and because the soul is all 
 ablaze with the fires of rapturous delight, the whole warmth has 
 entered it, and the poor mortal shell is cold and trembling." 
 
 The Princess Esterhazy took impetuously from her shoul- 
 ders the costly Turkish shawl in which her form was en- 
 veloped ; she spread it out before Haydn and wrapped it care- 
 fully round his feet. Her example was followed immediately 
 by the Princesses Lichtenstein and Kinsky, and the Count- 
 esses Kaunitz and Spielmann. They doffed their beautiful er- 
 mine furs and their Turkish and Persian shawls, and wrapped 
 them around the old composer, and transformed them into 
 cushions which they placed uiider his head and his arms, and 
 blankets with which they covered him.* 
 
 Haydn allowed them smilingly to do so, and thanked, with 
 glances of joyful emotion, the beautiful ladies who manifested 
 so much tender solicitude for him. 
 
 " Why can I not die now ? " he said to himself in a low 
 voice. " Why does not Death kiss my lips at this glorious 
 hour of my trium.ph ? Oh, come. Death ! waft me blissfully 
 into the other world, for in this world I am useless hence- 
 forth ; my strength is gone, and my head has no more ideas. 
 I live only in and on the past ! " 
 
 " And yet you live for all time to come," said the Princess 
 Esterhazy, enthusiastically, "and while German art and Ger- 
 man music are loved and honored, Joseph Haydn will never 
 die and never be forgotten." 
 
 Hushed now was every sound. Salieri had taken his seat 
 as conductor of the concert, and signed now to the orchestra. 
 
 The audience listened in breathless silence to the tumultu- 
 ous notes depicting in so masterly a manner the struggle of 
 light and darkness, the chaos of the elements. The struggle 
 of the elements becomes more and more furious, and the 
 music depicts it in sombre, violent notes, when suddenly the 
 * See " Zeitgenossen," third series, vol. vi., p. 32.
 
 THE PERFORMANCK OF "THE CREATION." 57 
 
 horizon brightens, the clouds ure rent, tlie dissonant sounds 
 pass into a subHme havniony, and in glorious notes of the 
 most blissful exultation resound through the struggling uni- 
 vei-se the grand, redeeming words, " Let there be light ! " And 
 all join in the rapturous chorus, and repeat in blissful concord, 
 " Let there be light ! " 
 
 The audience, carried away by the grandeur and irresistible 
 power of these notes, burst into long-continued applause. 
 
 Haydn took no notice of it ; he heard only his music ; his soul 
 was entirely absorbed in it, and lifting both his arms to heaven, 
 he said devoutly and humbly, " It comes from above ! "* 
 
 The audience had heard these loud and enthusiastic words ; 
 it applauded no longer, but looked in reverent silence towai'd 
 the aged composer, who, in the midst of his most glorious 
 triumph, rendered honor to God alone, and bowed piously and 
 modestly to the work of his own genius. 
 
 Tlie performance proceeded. But Joseph Haydn hardly 
 heard much of the nmsic. His head leaned against the back of 
 the chair; his face, lit up by a blissful smile, was deathly pale; 
 his eyes cast fervent glances of gratitude toward heaven, and 
 seemed, in their ecstatic gaze, to see the whole heavens opened. 
 
 " Maestro," said the Princess Esterhazy, when the first part 
 of the performance was ended, '' you must no longer remain 
 liere, but return to your quiet home.'' 
 
 " Yes, I shall return to the quiet home which awaits us all," 
 said Haydn, mildly, "and I feel sensibly that I shall remain 
 no longer among men. A sweet dream seems to steal over 
 me. Let the performers commence the second part, and my 
 soul will be wafted to heaven on the wings of my music." 
 
 But the Princess Esterhazy beckoned to his friends. " Take 
 him away," she said, " the excitement will kill him, if he stays 
 any longer." 
 
 They approached his chair and begged permission to escort 
 him home. Haydn nt>dded his assent silently and smilingly, 
 and his eyes glanced dreamily round the hall. 
 
 Suddenly he gave a start as if in gi-eat terror, and rose so 
 impetuously that the furs and Turkish shawls, which had been 
 wrapped round him, fell to the floor. His faoe crimsoned 
 
 * " Zeitgeuosseu," ibid.
 
 58 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 as if iu the light of the setting sun ; his eyes looked up with a 
 radiant expression to the box yonder — to his emperor, whom 
 he had loved so long and ardently, for whom he had wept in 
 the days of adversity, for whom he had prayed and sung at all 
 times. Now he saw him who, in his eyes, represented father- 
 land, home, and human justice ; he felt that it was the last time 
 his eyes would behold him, and he wished to bid farewell at 
 this hour to the world, his fatherland, and his emperor. 
 
 With a vigorous hand he pushed back the friends who 
 would have held him and replaced him in his chair. Now he 
 was no longer a weak and decrepit old man ; he felt strong 
 and active, and he hastened forward with a rapid step through 
 the orchestra toward the conductor's seat and the piano in 
 front of it. He laid his hands, which trembled no longer, on 
 the keys, and struck a full concord. He turned his face to- 
 ward the imperial box ; his eyes beamed with love and exulta- 
 tion, and he began to play his favorite hymn with impressive 
 enthusiasm — the hymn which he had composed ten years ago 
 in -the days of Austria's adversity, and which he had sung 
 every day since then, — the hymn, '* Gott erhalte Franz den 
 Kaiser, unsern ijiiten Kaiser Franz ! " And the audience 
 rose and gazed with pi-ofound emotion upon Joseph Haydn's 
 gleaming face, and then up to the emjieror, who was standing 
 smilingly in his box, and the empress, from whose eyes two 
 large tears rolled down her pale cheeks ; and with one accord 
 the va.st crowd commenced singing : 
 
 " Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser, 
 Unsern guten Kaiser Franz ! 
 Lange lebe Franz der Kaiser 
 In des Gliickes hellem Kranz ! 
 linn erljliihen Jjorbeerreiser, 
 Wo cr geht, ziun Fihrenkranz. 
 Gott erhalte — " * 
 
 * " God preserve the emperor, 
 Francis, our good emperor ! 
 Long live Francis, brightest gem 
 In fair Fortune's diadem ! 
 O'er liim see the laurel wave, 
 
 lliiiiorlng the true, the brave ! , ' 
 
 tJod preserve — "
 
 TOE PERFOFIMAXCK OF "TIIF; CREATION." 59 
 
 Haydn's hands dioppcd cxliaiisU'd from the keys ; liis form 
 rocked to and fro, and, half fainting, he sank back into the 
 arms of Salieri and Kreutzer. 
 
 Tlie aixdience pansed ; all forgot the impei-ial hymn, and 
 looked only at the venorahle old maestro, whom Salieri and 
 Krentzer lowered now softly into the easy-chair, which had 
 been brought to them. 
 
 "Take me home, dear ones," he said, faintly. " sing on, my 
 ' Ci-eation ' ; my soul will remain with you, but my body can 
 no longer sUiy. Old age has broken its strength. Farewell, 
 farewell, all of you ! My soul will always be among you when 
 you sing my nuisic ; my body will go, but the soul will re- 
 main. Farewell ! " 
 
 And the votaries of art who had conveyed him to the hall 
 now placed the maf-stro's chair again on their shoulders, and 
 carried it slowly through the hall toward the entrance. 
 
 The audience stood in silent reverence and looked up to 
 Haydn's passing form, and durst not break this profound still- 
 ness by uttering a sound. They bade farewell to the univer- 
 sally beloved and revered maestro only by bowing their heads 
 to him and .shedding teai"S of emotion — farewell for evermore I 
 
 The solemn procession had now ari'ived at the door. Jo- 
 seph Haydn lifted his weary head once more ; his sjiirit 
 gleamed once more in his eyes ; an expression of unutterable 
 love beamed from his mild face ; lie stretched out his arms 
 toward the orchestra as if to bless it, and greeted it with his 
 smile, with the nodding of his head, and the tears which filled 
 his eyes.* 
 
 A low rustling and sobbing ])assed through the hall ; no 
 one was courageous enough to clap his hands ; all hearts were 
 profoundly moved, all eyes filled with teai-s. 
 
 But now he disappeared, and the door closed behind Joseph 
 Haydn. The German maestro had to-day celebrated his ajjo- 
 theosis amidst the enthusiastic people of Vienna. Life had 
 dedicated to him the laurel-wreath which usually only death 
 grants to poets and artists. 
 
 The audience was still silent, when all at once a powerful 
 voice exclaimed : " Let us sing the .second verse of Havd>»'s 
 
 * " Zeitgenossen," third series, vol. iv., p. 33.
 
 60 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 favorite hymn— the second verse of ' Gott erhalte Franz den 
 Kaiser ! ' " 
 
 "Yes, ves," shouted all, enthusiastically, " the second verse ! 
 the second verse I " 
 
 And hundreds of voices shouted to the orchesti-a beseech- 
 ingly, imperiously, thunderingly, that it should play the ac- 
 companiment ; and the musicians complied with this tumultu- 
 ous request. 
 
 The audience expressed their gratitude by an outburst of 
 applause, and sang thereupon the second verse : 
 
 " Lass von seiner Fahne Spitzen 
 Strahlen Sieg uiid Furchtbarkeit ! 
 Lass ill seinem Rathe sitzen 
 Weislieit, Klugheit, Redlichkeit, 
 XJnd mit seiner liolieit Blitzen 
 Schalten iiur Gerechtigkeit. 
 Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser, 
 Unsern guten Kaiser Franz ! " * 
 
 The empei'or bowed his thanks to the audience, the orches- 
 tra commenced again playing the air, and the audience sang 
 anew : 
 
 " Lass von seiner Fahne Spitzen 
 Strahlen Sieg und Furchtbarkeit I " 
 
 And arms and hands were lifted here and there beseech- 
 ingly toward the emperor ; in vain the orchestra tried to play 
 on ; the audience, with rare unanimity, as if seized with one 
 sentiment and one wish, sang again and again : 
 
 '' Lass von seiner Fahne Spitzen 
 Strahlen Sieg und ^''iirchtbarkeit !" 
 
 And then all sliouted loudly, beseechingly, and withal an- 
 
 * " Before his banner floating high 
 Let victory shout and foemen fly ! 
 In his counsels let preside 
 Wisdom, prudence, noble pride ! 
 And in loftiness enshrined 
 Homely justice dwelling find ! 
 God preserve the emperor, 
 Francis, our good emperor ! "
 
 THE PERFORMANCE OF 'TIIE CREATION." (\1 
 
 grily and courageously, " War 1 war 1 Lass von seiner Fahne 
 Sjjltzen strahlen Sieg unci Fnrchtbnrkeit ! " 
 
 The excitement of the audience f,n'e\v constantly bolder and 
 luoi-e impetuous. The men left their scats and crowded 
 around the imperial box, i-epeating again and again the words : 
 
 " Lass von seiner Fahno Spitzen 
 Strahlen Sieg und Furehtl)iirkeit !" 
 
 The emperor withdrew in confusion into the background 
 of his box, and whispered quickly a few words to the Arch- 
 chike John. The archduke advanced to the railing of the box, 
 and commanded silence by waving his hand to the audience. 
 The singers paused immediately, and amidst the breathless 
 silence which ensued, the Archduke John shouted in a loud 
 and powerful voice : " The emperor annt)unces to his dear 
 V iennese that he is determined to submit no longer to the ar- 
 rogance of France, and that war is irrevocably resolved 
 on." 
 
 A cry of rapture burst from all lips ; all sliouted exulting^ 
 ly, " War ! war ! We shall at length bid dellance to the arro- 
 gance of the French emperor ! We shall have war with 
 France ; we shall avenge the wrongs which we have suffered 
 so long, and set bounds to the encroachments of France ! " 
 
 And friends aiul acquaintances greeted each other with radi- 
 ant eyes and glowing cheeks ; neighbors, entirely unknown to 
 each other, shook hands and said, smilingly : " Now at length 
 we shall have war ! At length we shall remove from our 
 German honor the stains with which France has sullied it. 
 At length we sliall have war, and God will grant us — " 
 
 The ringing notes of the orchestra interrupted the animated 
 conversati(m of the excited audience. Salieri had taken his 
 seat again, he raised his baton, and the second part of " The 
 Creation " commenced.
 
 62 ANDREAS nOFER. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 The streets of Vienna were silent and deserted ; all houses 
 were dark ; everywhere the note of life had died away, and 
 only here and there a hackney-coach was heard to drive slow- 
 ly through the lonely streets, or a helated wanderer was seen 
 to return home with a weary step. 
 
 Vienna slept and dreamed of the welcome news which, de- 
 spite the late hour, had spread like wild-fire from the concert- 
 hall through the city — of the joyful intelligence that war 
 against France was resolved on, and that the time was at 
 length at hand when the wrongs perpetrated by Napoleon 
 were to be avenged. 
 
 Vienna slept and dreamed ; only in the wing of the im- 
 l^erial palace where lay the rooms occupied by the Archduke 
 John, the lights had not yet been extinguished, and at times 
 dark figures were seen moving to and fro behind the windows. 
 
 The Archduke John did not sleep yet, but he had already 
 dismissed Conrad, his valet de chambre; he had iiermitted the 
 other footmen to retire from the anteroom to their bedcham- 
 Ijers, and had then himself locked the door of the outer ante- 
 room. 
 
 " I do not trust Conrad, my valet de cham]>re," he said to 
 Count Nugent, who was with him in his cabinet; "it is he, 
 doubtless, who has been placed as a ' guardian angel ' by my 
 side, and is to report regularly all I am doing." 
 
 " Your highness ought to discharge the fellow forthwith," 
 exclaimed Count Nugent, indignantly. 
 
 "I shall take good care not to do so," said John, .smiling; 
 " on the contrary, I shall try to keep Conrad as long as pos- 
 sible in my service, for I know him, and shall be able to niy.s- 
 tify him. I shall always have to suffer a spy by my side, for 
 tlie love and solicitude of my imperial brother will never 
 leave me for a single moment without close surveillance; and 
 Conrad is less distasteful to me than another spy probably 
 would be. Still, I did not want him to report any thing about
 
 AXDREAS IIOFER. ^3 
 
 the visitors wlio will be here to-night, and therefore I dis- 
 missed him for the night.'' 
 
 " But he will probably stand in the street to watch his 
 master's windows,'' said Nugent, with a shrug; "and the 
 shadows which he will see he may distort into all sorts of 
 spectres which will be mentioned in the emperor's police 
 report to-morrow morning." 
 
 " Oh, I am not afraid of (hat at this hour,'' exclaimed John. 
 "The emperor know^s that I am to receive the delegates of the 
 Ty rolese ; I myself told him so to-day, and he approves of it. 
 But harm might befall my Tyrolese at their homes, if their 
 plans were discovered previous to their deliverance from tli" 
 Bavarian yoke. But hush, did you not hear a rustling sound 
 in the corridor ? " 
 
 " Yes, I did ; it is drawing near — it is at the door now, and 
 — somebody raps already." 
 
 '■ Our friends are there," exclaimed John, hastening to the 
 door, and drawing back the bolt. 
 
 The archduke was not mistaken; bis friends were there, 
 and eiib-rod his cabinet now by the secret door. They woro, 
 headed by Baron von Hormayr in his brilliant gold-embroid- 
 ered uniform, which I'endered doubly conspicuous the beauty 
 of his slender yet firmly-knit form, and the noble expression 
 of his prepossessing, youthful face. He was followed by three 
 Tyrolese, clad in their national costume, and holding their 
 rifles in their arms. 
 
 The first of them was a man about forty years old. His 
 frame was Herculean, his shoulders broad, his strength im- 
 mense ; his head was covered with dense black hair, his 
 bronzed face was radiant with kind henrtedness and good- 
 humor. His dress was the common liabit of the country, 
 with some trifling variations: a large black hat, with a broad 
 brim, black ribbons, and a dark curling feather ; a green 
 jacket, red waistcoat, broad green braces crossed on the breast ; 
 a black leathern girdle, adorned, according to the Tyrole.sc 
 custom, with all sorts of ivory and other ornaments; black 
 breeches, red stockings, and black shoes with buckles. About 
 his neck was always to be seen a silver crucilix fastened to a 
 heavy gold chain, and over it, down to the girdle, flowed his
 
 g4 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 large black beard, which imparted a strange, fantastic air to 
 his whole appearance. This man was Andreas Hofer, the 
 innkeeper of Passeyr, to whom the Italian Tyrolese, on 
 account of his long beard, had given the name of "Bar- 
 bone." 
 
 The second of the Tyrolese who entered the archduke's 
 cabinet was a man of no less imposing appearance, dressed 
 entirely like Andi-eas Hofer ; only the long beard was want- 
 ing to him, and, instead of a black hat, he w^ore the pointed 
 green Tyrolese hat, adorned with hunting ornaments. His 
 face, less good-natured and serene than that of his friend, was 
 expressive of energy and resolution; courage and shrewdness 
 beamed from his black eyes, and a peculiar expression of de- 
 fiance and scorn played around his full lips. This was Joseph 
 Speckbacher, known by every inhabitant of the northern 
 Tyrol as "the bold chamois-hunter." 
 
 He was followed by a third Tyi'olese, as proud and strong, 
 as robust and fine-looking, as his two companions. It was 
 Anthony Wallnei-, the innkeeper of Windisch-Matrey, and, 
 like Speckbacher, Hofer s intimate friend. 
 
 The archduke advanced to meet the Tyrolese, and shook 
 hands with each of them. 
 
 " Welcome, my Tyrolese, Avelcome ! '' he said, in a deepl}'^- 
 moved voice ; " may God and the Holy Virgin grant that no 
 harm result from your visit to me ! You know that I have 
 never ceased to love you, and that when, in the year 1805, I 
 had to bid farewell to Andreas Hofer and the dear Tyrol, my 
 heart almost broke with grief and despair. " 
 
 " Look, look ! '" exclaimed Andreas Hofer, turning with a 
 radiant smile to his two friends; "he is indeed the same man 
 who bade us farewell at that time in Brunecken, and was not 
 ashamed of embracing Andreas Hofer and shedding tears on 
 his shoulder for the poor sacrificed Tyrol." 
 
 "And who is glad to-day to be able to embrace Andreas 
 Hofer again," said the archduke, encircling the Herculean 
 form of the Tyrolese innkeeper with his arms. " But I will 
 shed no tears to-day, Andreas, for I hope the time of tears is 
 over, and you have come to tell me so, to bring me love-greet- 
 ings from the Tyrolese, and the hope of better times. Say,
 
 ANDREA8 HOFER. 65 
 
 you three brave men from the Tyrol, Andreas Ilofer, Joseph 
 Sncckbaoher, Antlioiiy Walhier, is it not so? Have you not 
 come to tell mo that the Tyrol is longing for her emperor and 
 desirous of getting J'id of the Bavarians ?" 
 
 " Yes, we have come to say this to oiw dear John," ex- 
 claimed Andreas Hofer. 
 
 "We have come to ask if Austria does not intend to call 
 uj)on her Tyrol to rise and fight under her l)aiiners," said 
 .loscph Spockl)acher. 
 
 •'We have come to ask our Archduke John if he will help 
 us with his troops and cannon in case we Tyrolese should rise 
 now to expel the Bavarians from the country," said Anthony 
 Wallner, with flashing eyes. 
 
 •' We have come to ask our John, Is it time?" exclaimed 
 Andreas Hofer. 
 
 The archduke held out his hand to him with a firm and 
 resolute glance. "Yes," he said, "yes, Andreas Hofer, it is 
 lime ! Yes, Anthony Wallner, Austria will assist the Tyrolese 
 with her troops and cannon in expelling the Bavarians and 
 French from their country. Yes, Joseph Speckbacher. Austria 
 intends to call upon her faithful Tyrol to rise and fight under 
 her banners; she will engage in a mortal contest for j-ou and 
 with you ! " 
 
 "God grant success to our united efforts I" said Andreas 
 Hofer, folding his hands over the crucifix on his breast. 
 " During all these years I have prayed every day to the Holy 
 Virgin to let me live and see the day when the Austrian eagle 
 shall once more adorn our boundary-posts, and when we may 
 again fondly and faithfully love our Emperor Francis as our 
 legitimate soven ign. The good God in heaven, I hope, will 
 forgive me for having been a very bad and obstinate subject 
 of the King of Bavaria. I would never submit to the new 
 laws, and could not discover in my old Austrian heart a bit of 
 loyalty or love for the ruler who Avas forced upon us," 
 
 " No, you were a stubborn disloyalist, Andy." said Hor- 
 mayr, "and, as spokesman of your whole district, you raised 
 your voice against every new law which the Bavarian goveini- 
 inent promulf>ated in your country. But, it is true, the Tyro- 
 lese love their Andv for this, and .sav that he is the most
 
 66 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 honest, faithfvil, and reliable man in the whole valley of the 
 Adige." 
 
 "To be courageous is not so diilicult if the cause which you 
 fight for is a good one," said Andreas Hofer, calmly. "God 
 Himself engraved on my heart the commandment to be loyal 
 to my emperor, my country, and its laws ; and if you call me 
 reliable, dear friend, you merely say that I do my duty as a 
 Christian, for the Bible says, 'Let your communication be 
 Yea, yea; nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than these cometh 
 of sin.' Therefore, do not praise me for that which is only my 
 duty, and which Speckbacher and Wallner, and all our dear 
 friends in the valley of the Adige, do just as well as I. For 
 the I'est, I must tell you, gentlemen, it is not so strange that 
 we should be attached to the emperor; for the Bavarians are 
 governing our country in such a manner as if they were intent 
 only on making us love our emperor every daj^ more and more, 
 and long for him more intensely. " 
 
 "It is true, Andy is right," exclaimed Anthony Wallner ; 
 " the Bavarians oppress us fearfully, and we will not stand it 
 any longer ; we will become Austrians again, as our fathers 
 were, and will fight for our liberty and our old privileges 
 which Bavaria solqmnly guaranteed, and which her authori- 
 ties basely intend to overthrow." 
 
 "Which they have already overthrown," cried Joseph 
 Speckbacher, his eyes flashing with anger. "The court of 
 Munich seems intent only on making the utmost of their new 
 acquisition. Our old constitution has been overthrown by a 
 royal edict ; the representative estates have been suppressed, 
 and the provincial funds seized. No less than eight new and 
 oppressive taxes have been imposed and are being levied with 
 the utmost rigor ; the very name of our country has been 
 abolished ; the royal property has all been brought into the 
 market ; new imports are daily exacted without any consulta- 
 tion with the estates of the people ; specie has become scarce, 
 from the quantity of it which is being drawn off to the Bava- 
 rian treasury ; the Austrian notes have been reduced to half 
 their value ; and, to ci'own all these wrongs, compulsory levies 
 are held among our young men, who are to serve in the ranks 
 of our oppressors! No, we must break the yoke weighing us
 
 ANDREAS nOFER. C7 
 
 ilowu — we will become freemen again — as freemen we will 
 live ami die — as fi-eemen we will belong again to our beloved 
 Emperor Francis, whose ancestors liave ruled over us for so 
 many centuries past." 
 
 '' If all the Tyrolese think and feel as you three do," said 
 the Archduke John, with sparkling eyes, "you will recover 
 your liberty and your emperor, despite the Bavarians and 
 French." 
 
 "All feel and think as we do," said Hofer, thoughtfully ; 
 " we have ail vowed to God and the Holj- Virgin that we will 
 deliver the Tyrol from the eneni}' ; and every man, every lad 
 in our mountains and valleys, is ready to take up his rifle and 
 tight for his dear Emperor Francis." 
 
 " We are here as delegates of the whole Tyrol," said An- 
 thony V/alluer, " to ascertain the wishes and intentions of the 
 emperor and his government, prefer our bitter complaints, 
 and declare the firm resolution of the Tyrolese to shrink from 
 no sacrifice in order to be reunited with Austria and to recon- 
 quer our ancient rights and liberties." 
 
 ''But we need assistance for this purpose," added Joseph 
 Speckbachei', "speedy and vigoi'ous assistance ; above all, we 
 need troops, money, ammunition, and supplies. Will Austria 
 give them to us ? " 
 
 " She will," said the archduke. "She will send you a corjjs 
 cVarmee, money, ammunition, and supplies. Only you must 
 be ready and prepai'ed to rise as one man when we give you 
 the signal of insurrection." '«' 
 
 "We are ready!" exclaimed Andreas Hofer, nodding joy- 
 ously. " But you must not delay the signal very long, for 
 delays are highly dangerous mider the present circumstances. 
 We and our friends have prepared the insurrection, and it is 
 as if a large torrent of fire were flowijig secretly under the 
 surface of the Tyrol ; if some shrewd Bavarian should scratch 
 away some of the earth, he would discover the fire, fetch 
 water, and extinguish the flames, before the Austrians reach 
 the country and prevent him from so doing. A seci-et known 
 to a great many is seldom well kept ; it is, as it were, a v\\y.' 
 fruit which must fall from the tree, even tliough it shoukl hit 
 and crush the head of the owner of the tree,"
 
 68 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 '' Yes, what is to be done must be done soon," said Anthony 
 Wallner. " The men of Passeyr, Meran, Mays, and Algund, 
 are ready, and have entered into a secret league with the 
 whole valley of the Inn. The district of the Adige, too, has 
 joined us, and the German and Italian Tyrolese, who formerly 
 never liked each other, have now agreed to stand shoulder to 
 shoulder and rise on one day and as one man, in order to drive 
 the Bavarians and French from their mountains." 
 
 " We are waiting only for Austria to give the signal ; pray 
 do not keep us waiting too long, for we men of the Lower Inn- 
 thai, too, are all ready and armed. An enormous worm of 
 insurrection, as it were, is creeping through the Lower Inn 
 valley, and the worm has four heads, which look toward all 
 quarters of the world. One head is Rupert Wintersteller, of 
 Kirchdorf ; the second is Jacob Siebei*er, of Thiersen ; the third 
 is Antony Aschbacher, of Achenthal ; and the fourth is I, 
 Joseph Speckbacher, of Kufstein." 
 
 '• In the Puster valley, too, a storm is brewing, and all ai-e 
 ready and impatient to rise in insurrection," said Hofer. 
 " Therefore, dear brother of our emperor, give us good news, 
 that we may take it home to the men of the Tyrol, for their 
 hearts are longing and crying for their sovereign the empei'or." 
 
 " And the emperor, on his part, is longing for his Tyro- 
 lese," said the archduke. "The time has come when that 
 which belongs together is to be reunited. Let us consult 
 and deliberate, then, my friends, what we should do in order 
 to attain our great object, and reunite the Tyrolese with their 
 emperor." 
 
 " Yes, let us consult," said Hofer, solemnly ; " and let us 
 pray God and the Holy Virgin to enlighten our minds." 
 
 He raised the crucifix from his breast to his face and bent 
 over it, muttering a prayer. 
 
 " Now I am ready," he said, slowly dropping the crucifix ; 
 " Jet us deliberate. But I tell you beforehand, I am no mili- 
 tary hero, nor a wise man in council. I am resolved to do all 
 that is necessary to deliver my dear Tyrol from the enemy, 
 and to strike and fire at the Bavarians and French until they 
 run away terroi'-stricken, and restore us to our dear Emperor 
 Francis. But I am unversed in negotiations and devising
 
 ANDREAS nOFER. ^9 
 
 shrewd tricks and stratap^onis. I am only a plain peasant, 
 who has a p^r»\at deal of lovo and fidelity in his heart, but only 
 few thoughts in his head. Baron von ITorniayr and the arch- 
 duke may do the thinking for me. They shall be the head, 
 and I the arm and heart. Speckbacher and Wallner yonder 
 liave good heads too. though T do not wish to say that their 
 hearts are not also in the right place ; on the cojitrary, I know 
 that they are. Let us consult, then, and bear in mind that 
 God hears us, and that the Tyrolese are waiting for us." 
 
 "You are an excellent man. Andy," exclaimed John, hold- 
 ing out his hand to Hofer with a tender glance — "a childlike 
 soul, full of love, fidelity, and tenderness ; and. in gazing at 
 you, it seems as if the whole dear Tyrol, with its mountains 
 and valleys, its Alpine huts and chapels, its merry singers and 
 pious prayers, were present before me. Come, then, Andy, 
 and you other dear friends, come, let us be seated and hold a 
 council of war." 
 
 They seated themselves around the table standing in the 
 middle of the roo)n. 
 
 Day was ah'eady dawning, the candles had burned down 
 very low, the streets began to become lively, and still the 
 Tyrolese remained in the archduke's cabinet, their faces glow- 
 ing with defiance and resolution, and their ejes flashing with 
 boldness and enthusiasm. For every thing was settled and 
 decided now ; each of them had received his instructions and 
 been informed of the pai't which he was to play in the sti'ug- 
 gle. War with the Bavarians and French, and liberty for the 
 Tyrol, was the battle-cry and goal. 
 
 "The plan is settled, then." said the Archduke John, nod- 
 ding kindly to the Tyrolese. " Eleven poijits. especially, have 
 been agreed upon, after mature deliberation ; and it would be 
 good for us to repeat them briefly." 
 
 "Let us do so," said Andreas Hofer. "Fii-st, then: The 
 Tyrolese will rise against the Bavarians, in order to be re- 
 united with Austria. We shall enlist as many soldiers for 
 the insurgent army as possible, and try to make all Tyrolese 
 our fellow-cons])irators. They will meet on Sundays at the 
 taverns, and the innkeepers in the valleys and mountains are 
 the leaders of the conspiracy ; they will call the meetings and 
 
 /
 
 70 ANDREAS IIOFER. 
 
 facilitate the intercourse of the conspirators with each other. 
 If it please God, the insurrection will hreak out on the 9th of 
 April, when the Austrian troops will cross the frontier of the 
 Tyrol and hasten to our assistance. This is the best point, 
 and God grant that it may be well executed !" 
 
 "The second point," said Joseph Speckbacher, "is as fol- 
 lows : No written communication whatever shall be per- 
 mitted among the conspirators, and those who violate this 
 order shall be severely punished. The secret messages will be 
 carried by reliable and well-tried messengers from court-house 
 to court-house and village to village. To this the third point 
 adds the following : The oldest men in the villages will 
 establish secret tribunals to try and punish those whom fear, 
 self-interest, or bribes may induce to turn traitors. The fami- 
 lies of suspicious persons, and those who betray our secrets 
 from weakness or in a state of intoxication, must be closely 
 watched, and they themselves will be sent to distant Alpine 
 huts and into the mountain fastnesses, where they will be 
 kept in close confinement." ^ 
 
 "Fourth," said Anthony Wallner : "Every innkeeper 
 must strive to amass provisions, forage, wine, and ammuni- 
 tion ; for the inns in the mountains are, as it were, small 
 fortresses for the Tyrolese, and the enemy can reach them 
 only slowly and after surmounting a great many difficulties. 
 Besides, the innkeepers must arrange target-shootings every 
 Sunday, that the men from the neighborhood may assemble 
 at their houses and join the great league of the defenders of 
 the country. The innkeepers at very important places will 
 receive for these purposes bills of exchange on Salzburg, Kla- 
 genfurth, and Trieste; and each of us three, Hofer, Speck- 
 bacher, and I, will take home with us" one hundred and twenty 
 ducats to be distributed among the innkeepers. Fifth : The 
 intercourse between the mountain districts, on one side, and 
 the plains and towns, on the other, must henceforth become 
 rarer and rarer till the hour of the outbi'eak. But the moun- 
 taineers must send out, at intervals of four days, spies to ascer- 
 tain the state of afPairs in other parts of the country." 
 
 " Sixth," exclaimed the Archduke John, with beaming eyes : 
 "On the day when the insurrection is to break out, Field- 
 
 \
 
 ANDREAS IIOFER. 71 
 
 Marshal Jellachich will arrive in front of Innspruck. and the 
 vang-uai-d of Field-Marshal Chasteler will march through the 
 Puster valley to the heights of Schwabs and Ell^ach toward 
 Brixen, and advance the head of his column be^^ond the Bren- 
 ner as far as Botzen. Seventh : All the forces of the enemy 
 moving toward Germany must be chased between these two 
 columns of the Austrians and i)ursued and fired at incessantly 
 by the mountaineers; they "must be prevented night and day 
 from obtaining rest and food ; the best marksmen must pick 
 off their olficers and blow up their ammunition-wagons. The 
 Tyrolese should chase the Bavarians and the French in this 
 manner froTu Botzen to Brixen, up the Brenner, and thence 
 down to Trent. Now, friend Hormayr, repeat the remaining 
 four points." 
 
 " The eighth point is : The removal of the Bavarian treas- 
 ure must be prevented ]>y all means. Ninth : The Tyrolese 
 living on the rivers nmst prevent the enemy by all means 
 from destroying the bridges and roads, so that the Austrians 
 may be able to succor them more rapidly ; but they must also 
 hold men and tools in readiness, that, after the Austrians have 
 arrived, they may destroy the bridges in the rear of the enemy, 
 and render the roads impassable, by obstructing them with 
 piles of wood and rocks. Tenth : The Tyrolese will try cau- 
 tiously to bring about an understanding with Switzerland, and 
 establish connections with the Lower and Upper Engadine, 
 Chur. Appenzell, and St. Gall ; for thence will come the Eng- 
 lish agents who will convey anns and money to the Tyrolese. 
 Eleventh-" 
 
 "Ah, let me state the eleventh point," exclaimed Joseph 
 Speckbacher, with fla.'^hiug eyes. "I intend to take part in 
 carrying out this point of the programme. It is. to take the 
 fortress of Kufstein on the frontier by a nocturnal coujy de 
 ■nuiin. Field-Marshal Jellachich will move several companies 
 of riflemen as close up to the foi-tress as jiossible, and Jacob 
 Sieberer and Joseph Speckbacher, who will beforeb.and enlist 
 assistants in the town and spy out every thing, will join them. 
 The capture of Kufstein is to commence the glorious struggle ; 
 it is to be the first hymn of liberty which the Tyrolese will 
 send up to heaven like a lark in spring, and by which they
 
 72 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 will bless ami pruise llie good God. The eleventh and last 
 point is Kufstein. God protect us in carrying out these eleven 
 points ! " * 
 
 '' Amen ! '' exclaimed Andreas Hofer, raising his crucifix 
 and pressing it to his lijjs. "We have, then, resolved here in 
 council with our Archduke John, and I hope also in council 
 with the good God above, that the Tyrol is to be restored to 
 its beloved imperial house. The'work is to begin on the 9th 
 of Apinl, and we must be ready to rise od that day. On the 
 9th of April the Austrians are to cross the f]'ontiei-, and on the 
 previous evening they will infc^rni us by firing olf three rock- 
 ets that they are at hand. At the same time bale-fires will be 
 lighted on a hundred hills, and on the following morning we 
 shall throw large quantities of blood, flour, or charcoal, into 
 our mountain-torrents, that their blood-red, flour-white, or 
 coal-black waters, flowing into and out of the country, may 
 proclaim to the people that the time has come when all must 
 rise, rifle in hand, to conquer or die for the dear Tyrol and the 
 good Emperor Francis." 
 
 " And I, too, am ready to conquer or die for the Tyrol and 
 the emperor, and so is the corps whose commander I am," ex- 
 claimed the archduke enthusiastically. '' The emperor, my 
 gracious master, intends to intrust me with the command of 
 the army which is to flght with and for the Tyrol, which will 
 check the advance of the enemy approaching the Tyrol from 
 the Italian frontier, and will second and strengthen the insur- 
 rection of the Tyrolese. Now, then, my friends and comrades 
 let us prepare the great work bravely, prudently, and carefully. 
 Collect your forces, as I shall collect mine ; make all youi* 
 dispositions, and exhort all to behave as true sons of the Tyrol. 
 Above all things, be cautious. Keep in check not only your 
 tongues but your faces, especially here in Vienna. For if the 
 Bavarian s))ies here ferret out that Andreas Hofer, Speck- 
 bachei*, and Wallner are in Vienna, and that I have had an 
 interview with them, their keen noses will scent at once what 
 
 * These eleven points were settled in this manner at Vienna by the dele- 
 (L^ates of the Tyrolese, the Archduke John, and Baron von Hormayr, and 
 noted down by the latter. — See Hormayr, "Geschielite Andreas Hofer's," vol. 
 i., p. 193 et seq.
 
 ANDRKAS IIOFKli. 73 
 
 is goin^ on, and they will send, even before we reach the 
 Tyrol, so many Bavarian and French soldiers into your coun- 
 try, that you will be tied hand and f<jot, and cannot raise your 
 arms on the 9th of April to seize your rifles. Thei-efore, I 
 repeat it, keep your faces in check, and do not allow your- 
 selves to be seen in the streets of Vienna in the daytime. 
 Your beard, Andy, especially is a treacherous thing, and it 
 would really be best for the Barbone to shave off his long 
 mourning-flag." 
 
 Andreas Hofer seized his beard with both liis hands, almost 
 in terror, and drew it caressingly through his fingers. 
 
 " No," he said, " niy friends and countrymen know me by 
 my beard, and the Barbone is a welcome guest in the Italian 
 Tyrol. They would not i-ecognize me if I should api)ear 
 among them with a smooth chin ; and they would doubt if it 
 was Andreas Hofer who talked with them about the great 
 conspiracy and insurrection in case they did not see his black 
 beard." 
 
 "No, archduke," said Si)eckbacher, smiling and winking, 
 "you must not object to our Andy's beard, for it is the flag 
 round which the Tyrolese will rally, and with which the Tyrol 
 will adorn itself on the day of insurrection, as they put on 
 their best clothes on the day of Assumption. Moreover, An- 
 di'eas Hofer nuist not be inigrateful ; and he would be un- 
 grateful if he should cut off his beard and throw it away, for 
 his beard gained him one day a couple of fat oxen." 
 
 " Is that true, Andy ? " asked John, laughing. 
 
 " It is," said Andreas Hofer. gravely. " My beard did gain 
 me two oxen. It happened as follows, archduke : I was quite 
 a young man yet, and had married my wife, Anna Gertrude 
 Ladurner, only a year before. I was very fond of my little 
 wife, and did not like to sit for hours in the tavern, as I had 
 done heretofore. I stayed at home often enough instead of 
 attending to my business, and going down to Italy or Germany 
 to carry on my trafTic in corn, wine, hoi'ses, and oxen, by which 
 I had made a great deal of money. My friends sneered at my 
 staying so nmch at home, and said : ' Andy Hofer, the Sand- 
 wii'th, is a henpecked husband, and his wife is master of the 
 house.' This was very disagreeable to me, foi-, although I love 
 6
 
 74 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 my Anna Gertrude from the bottom of my heart, I have always 
 been the master ; and she has been obedient to me, as the Bible 
 says it should be between husband and wife. Well, one day I 
 sat at home with a few friends; we were drinking wine in the 
 bar-room. Suddenly there entered the room an old beggar 
 with a tremendous beard reaching down to his girdle. I 
 laugh at the beard and I'ejoice over its enormous length. One 
 of my friends, Anthony Waidlinger, the rich Amselwirth, asks 
 me : 'Well, Andy, would you like to wear as long a beard as 
 that ? ' ' Why not ? ' I reply merrily. ' Ah,' exclaims An- 
 thony, laughing, 'you must not talk so saucily. You must not 
 wear so long a beard. Your wife will not permit it, Andy !' 
 This makes me very angry ; I start upland hardly know what 
 I am doing. 'What !' I cry, ' my wife ? She must obey me 
 whether she likes it or not. What will you bet I will not 
 shave my beard for a whole year ? ' 'I will bet you two oxen,' 
 says Anthony ; ' but let me warn you, Andy, you will lose the 
 oxen ; for I stick to it, your wife will never permit you to be- 
 come the laughing-stock of the children by appearing in the 
 streets with such a lion's mane. Therefore consider the mat- 
 ter well, Andy, for there is time yet. Admit that you will not 
 win the bet, for two oxen are at stake I ' 'I have already con- 
 sidered everything,' I say ; ' and as for the two oxen, they will 
 be just what I want. A year hence you will bring them to 
 me, Anthony Waidlinger.' And this prediction was fulfilled. 
 I did not shave my beard, and Anna Gerti-ude, my wife, re- 
 joiced at her Andy's beard instead of being angry at it, and 
 thought it made her husband look a great deal better. When 
 the year was up, Anthony Waidlinger drove his two oxen 
 with a sullen air into my stable, and said : 'Now you may cut 
 off your fur and have a pillow made from it for your wife.' 
 ' I need not cut off my beard for that purpose,' I replied ; ' it 
 may be my wife's pillow even while it hangs down on my 
 breast. For she is a good and dutiful wife, and I am fondly 
 attached to her.' Tliat, archduke, is the story of my beard, 
 which I have worn ever since, and which has often been a pil- 
 low when my little boy and my three girls fell asleep on my 
 lap, and under which they have often concealed their little 
 heads when tlioir mother was looking for them. You will
 
 ANDllEAS HOFKIJ. 75 
 
 ask nir no inoro to cut (AY my hoard — flio pillow and plaything' 
 of my children." 
 
 "No, Andreas," said flic archduke, kindly, "I will not. 
 Wear your fine heard as you have done hitherto; may it he, 
 notwithstanding its hlack color, the victorious flag round 
 which the royal Tyrolese shall rally on rising for their lord 
 and emperor! And now, farewell, my friends; it is dawning, 
 and it is time for us to repose a little. Go home, therefore, 
 and what remains to he settled you may talk over to-morrow 
 with Baron you Hormayr, who will give you money for trav- 
 elling expenses, and for distribution among the innkeepers. 
 Day after to-morrow you will set out for home, and bring to 
 all loyal Tyrolese the joyful news that war will break out." 
 
 ''Yes, yes, war will break out!" exclaimed the three Tyro- 
 lese, exultingly. 
 
 " Hush, for God's sake, hush ! " said John, laughing. '* You 
 must keep quiet, and, instead of doing so, you sliout as jubi- 
 lantly as though you were standing on a crest of the Brenner, 
 and had just discovered the hiding-place of a chamois. Let 
 me therefore tell you once more it is necessary that the ])eople 
 of Vienna should not find out that you are in the city. Pledge 
 me your word, then, that you will not go into the street to- 
 morrow in the daytime, nor allow any one to see you." 
 
 " We pledge you our word ! " exclaimed the Tyrolese, with 
 one accord; " we will not appear in the street to-morrow in 
 the daytime, and day after to-morrow we shall set out." 
 
 "Yes, we shall set out then," repeated Andreas Hofer, "and 
 return to our mountains and friends, and wait patiently and 
 faithfully until the day when we shall see rising to the sky 
 the signal which is to tell us that oxn- dear Archduke John sends 
 us his soldiers to assist us in delivering our country from the 
 enemy, and restoring it, w^ith our mountains, our love, and 
 our loyalty, to our dear Emperor Francis. God grant that we 
 may succeed in so doing, and may the Holy Virgin pray for us 
 all, and restore the Tyrol to the emperor ! "
 
 76 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 ANDREAS HOFER AT THE THEATRE. 
 
 Count Stadion, the minister of foreign affairs, was pacing- 
 his cabinet with a quick step and an anxious expression of 
 countenance. At times he stood still, and, bending his head 
 toward the door, seemed to listen intently for some sound; all 
 remaining silent outside, he commenced again striding up and 
 down, and whenever he approached the clock on the mantel- 
 piece he cast an anxious glance on it. 
 
 " I am afraid Hormayr was not at home," he murmui'ed 
 moodily to himself ; " his servants did not know where he 
 was, and therefore the mischief cannot be stopped." 
 
 He drew a golden snuff-box from his pocket and took a 
 large pincli from it. "I said at the very outset," he niur- 
 mured, '' that we ought to keep aloof from these stupid peas- 
 ants, who will only involve us in trouble and mischief. But 
 those gentlemen would not listen to me, and — Really, I be- 
 lieve I hear footsteps in the anteroom. Yes, yes, somebody 
 is coming I " 
 
 Count Stadion was not mistaken. The door opened, and a 
 footman announced, in a loud voice, " Baron von Hormayr ! " 
 
 "Let him come in, let him come in, quick I" said Count 
 Stadion, waving his hand impatiently ; and when Hormayr 
 appeared on the threshold of the door, he hastily went to meet 
 him. 
 
 " In truth, it took my servants a good while to find you ! " 
 exclaimed the minister, angrily, "I have been waiting for 
 you half an hour." 
 
 " I was at the Archduke John's rooms, with whom I had 
 business of im])ortance, your excellency," said Hormayr, 
 emphasizing his last words. " Moreover, I could not guess 
 that your excellency would wish to grant me an audience at 
 so tinusual an hour, and without my asking for it." 
 
 "At so unusual an hour!" cried Count Stadion, putting 
 one pinch of snufF after another into his nose. " Yes, yes, at 
 so unusual an hour I It would have been more agreeable to
 
 ANDREAS IIOKER AT THE T!IEATRE. 77 
 
 me, too, if it liaJ been unnecessary for nie to trouble you and 
 myself. But it is your own fault. You do not keep your 
 word.'' 
 
 "Your excellency !" cried Hormayr, indignantly. 
 
 "Bab! it is true. You do not keep your word. You 
 promised me tbat your Tyrolese sbould not sbow tbemselves, 
 lest we migbt be charged with fomenting an insurrection; 
 :ind it was necessary, also, to prevent the Bavarians from 
 learning prematurely our plans. Can you deny that you 
 promised this to me ? " 
 
 " No, your excellency, I do not deny it at all." 
 
 "Well, your Tyroleso are running around everywhere." 
 
 " Pardon me, your excellency, that cannot be true. You 
 must hav^e been misinformed." 
 
 " What ! misinformed ? How dare you .say so to my face, 
 sir? Your beard man, or bushmau, or Sandwirth Hofer is at 
 the Karuthnerthor Theatre, and is the observed of all ob- 
 servei-s. I saw him with my own eyes; and that was the 
 reason why I left the theatre and sent for you." * 
 
 "Your excellency saw him with your own eyes! Tlien, of 
 course, it must be true, and I would beg leave of your excel- 
 lency to go immediately to the theatre and take him to his 
 hotel." 
 
 "That w^^.s just what I wished to ask you to do. Baron von 
 Hormayr. Make haste and induce this bushman to leave 
 Vienna immediately." 
 
 "He will leave the capital early in the morning. Your 
 excellency will permit me now to withdraw." 
 
 Baron von Hormayr hastened down stairs, left the 
 chancery of state, and crossed the Joseph's Place. On reach- 
 ing the Kiirnthnerthor Theatre, lie bought a ticket at the office 
 and entered the pit. 
 
 "The Marriage of Figaro," by Mozart, was performed at the 
 Karnthnerthor Theatre to-night, and this favorite opera of the 
 Vienne.se had attracted so lai'gc an audience that not a seat 
 was vacant, and the baron had to ell)o\v his way with no little 
 •lithculty through the crowd tilling the pit, in order to reach a 
 
 >* I'ouut Studiou's own words.— Sue Ilonnuyr's ".\iulrous Hot'ur," vol i., 
 p. lioy.
 
 78 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 point where he might be able to see every part of tjjj&teuse, 
 and discover him for whose sake lie had come. 
 
 At length he had succeeded in advancing so far that, lean- 
 ing against one of the pillars supporting Jjie upper tiers of 
 boxes, he was able to survey the lower part of the house. But 
 all faces were averted from it, all eyes were fixed on the stage. 
 The opera had just reached the scene where Count Almaviva 
 lifts the carpet from the chair and finds Cherubino under it. 
 A loud outburst (jf laughter resounded from the pit to the upper 
 gallery. But in the midst of the din, a loud and angry voice 
 exclaimed : '' Ah, you young good-for-nothing, if I had you 
 here I would show you how to behav^e I " And a threatening 
 fist and vigorous arm was raised in the midst of the orchestra- 
 stalls. 
 
 " Good heavens I that is really Andreas Hofer," murmured 
 Baron von Hormayr, concealing himself anxiously behind 
 the pillar. A renewed shout of laughter greeted Hofer s 
 words, and all eyes turned toward the side where they had 
 been uttered. And there sat the good Andreas Hofer, in his 
 handsome national costume, with his long black beard, and his 
 florid, kind-hearted face. There he sat, quite regardless of the 
 gaze which the audience fixed upon him, utterly unaware of 
 the fact that he was the observed of all observers, and quite 
 engrossed in looking at the stage, where proceeded the well- 
 known scene between Cherubino, the count, and Figaro. He 
 followed the progress of the action with rapt attention, and 
 when Cherubino tried to prove his innocence by all sorts of 
 plausible and improbable falsehoods, Hofer's brow became 
 clouded. He averted his eyes from the stage, and turned to 
 his neighbor. " Why," he said, loudly and indignantly, 
 " that boy is as great a liar as though he were Bonaparte 
 himself ! '' 
 
 Now the merriment of the audience knew no longer any 
 bounds. They applauded, they shouted, "Bravo! bravo!" 
 They forgot the scene on the stage entirely, and dev^oted their 
 exclusive attention to the queer, bearded stranger in the or- 
 chestra-stall, on whom all eyes and opera -glasses were fixed. 
 
 Baron von Hormayr behind his pillar wiped the perspira- 
 tion from his forehead, and cast furious glances on Andreas
 
 ANDREAS HOl'ER AT THE THEATRE. 70 
 
 Hofer, who, however, was utterly unaware of hLs presence, 
 and from whose breast, protected as it was by his beard 
 and crucifix, rebounded all such g'lances like blunted ar- 
 rows. 
 
 The actors, who, iutcrrui)te(l by the unexpected cheers and 
 the incident in the audience, had paused a few minutes, and 
 had themselves hardly been able to refrain from burstin^r 
 into laugl.ter, now continued their scene, and the charms of 
 the music and the interestint? character of the action soon 
 succeeded aprain in riveting' the attention of the audience. 
 
 Andreas Hofer, who had in the mean time relapsed into 
 his silent astonishment, gazed fixedly upon the stage. Baron 
 von Hormayr left his place quietly and walked to the en- 
 trance. He slipped a florin into the hand of the doorkeeper, 
 who was leaning against the wall. " Say,"' he whispered fo 
 him hastily, "as soon as the curtain drops, go to the giant 
 with the long beard, who sits in the orchestra-stall yonder, 
 and whose words amused the audience just now. He is a 
 cattle-dealer from Hungary, and I must see him at once. 
 Just whisper in his ear that his countryman with the wine 
 and horses has arrived, and it is necessary he should come 
 and .see him right away. —Thank God, the curtain falls! 
 Now make haste. If you bring the cattle-dealer with you 
 into the corridor, I will give you another florin." 
 
 The doorkeeper's face beamed with satisfaction ; he el- 
 l)Owed himself courageously through the crowd, and succeeded 
 in reaching the "cattle-dealer from Hungary," who sat ab- 
 sorbed in his rellrctions, with his head bent on his breast. He 
 touched his shoulder softly and whispered his message into 
 his ear. 
 
 Andreas Hofer gave a start and stared at the doorkeeper. 
 "What countrymen ?" he asked ; "and how can he bring to 
 me wine and horses here as — " 
 
 " I do not know anything about it." whispered the door- 
 keeper ; " I know only that j'our countryman Avith the wine 
 and the horses is waiting for you, and that he says he must 
 see you right away. " 
 
 "Well, then, come, conduct me lo him," said Andreas, ris- 
 ing from his chair, and drawing up his colossal form to its
 
 80 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 full height. " I should like to know who this countryman 
 is. Lead the way, sir ; I will follow you." 
 
 The doorkeeper retraced his steps through the crowd ; 
 Andreas Hofer followed him, greeting kindly and pleasantly 
 in all directions, and pushing aside the men like flies when- 
 ever they stood in his way. 
 
 At length they reached the door, and stepped into the cor- 
 ridor. Baron von Hormayr, like a tiger pouncing upon his 
 prey, rushed upon Andreas Hofer, seized his arm, and drew 
 him down the corridor into the outer hall, which was so de- 
 serted and silent that there was no danger of their conver- 
 sation being overheard by an eavesdropper. 
 
 Here at length Hormayr stood still and dropped the arm 
 of Andreas Hofer, who had followed him, dumfounded with 
 astonishment, and glancing around as if looking for somebody 
 else. 
 
 " Andy," exclaimed Hormayr, vehemently, " what am I to 
 think of you ? The Tyrolese always keep their promises, and 
 to think that our honest Sandwirth alone should not do so ! 
 You pledged me your word that you would conceal your 
 presence here in Vienna as much as possible, and now you 
 are running about the city in your national costume and with 
 your bearded face to hear the opera-trills and see how the 
 ballet-dancers stretch their legs ! " * 
 
 " Andreas Hofer never breaks his word," said Hofer, 
 gravely. " I promised not to appear in the sti'eets in the day- 
 time, and I have faithfully kept my word. I stayed at home 
 all day. and it was only after nightfall tliat we three went to- 
 gether into the street. Speckbacher and Wallner went to the 
 Archduke John's gunsmith, Anthony Steger, to take leave of 
 him, and I intended to go to St. Stephen's Cathedral to attend 
 vespers. But I am a stranger in the city, and happened to 
 lose my way. All at once I got into a dense crowd, and 
 thought I had arrived at St. Stephen's Cathedral, and that the 
 crowd consisted of pious Christians going to vespers ; hence, 
 I allowed myself to be drawn along into the door, because I 
 thought it was the church." 
 
 * Ilormayr's own words.— Sec Honnajr's "Andreas Hofer," vol. i., p. 
 209.
 
 ANDREAS nOFEK AT TIIF, TIIKATRR. 81 
 
 "And on buyinj? a ticket. Andy, you supposed you pur- 
 chased indnlp^ence, did you not ? " 
 
 "No, I did not,'' said Andreas in a tone of embarrassment. 
 " But, on seeing all those persons step to the odice and gel 
 tickets, I thought there were Christian passion-plays per- 
 formed there, as at lunspruck in Lent ; and on hearing the 
 man standing before me shouting, ' Ticket for an orchestra- 
 stall,' I shouted, also, ' Ticket for an orchestra-stall,' and threw 
 a florin on the table. Thereupon they handed me a tickel. 
 and I followed the others into the hall. The performance^ 
 commenced almost at the same moment, the curtain rose, and 
 the actors began to sing. It is true, it is not a passion-play, 
 and there is nothing from the Bible in it ; but then it is a nice 
 play. I believe the curtain will rise again immediately, and 
 it is time for me to return to my seat. But I should like to 
 know where jny counti-yman with tlie horses and wine is. He 
 insisted on seeing me, sent for me, and does not come now." 
 
 " But, And}', do you not yet know that it was I who sent 
 for you ? '' asked Hormayr. " Why, it was only a stratagem of 
 mine to get the Barbone out of the theatre and take him away 
 from here." 
 
 " But why do you want to take me away from hei'e ? I 
 tell yoii I like the play very well, and have never seen any 
 thing like it. It is true, Cherubino, the boy, is an arrant liar, 
 but he is a jolly fellow% and I do not want him to come to 
 grief. And Figaro is a sly fox, and withal a brave man. I 
 should like to make his acquaintance and ask him if he really 
 promised old Marielle to marry her ; for it would be wrong if 
 he did not keep his word now, and refused to make her his 
 wife because he likes the young woman better than her. If I 
 knew where he lives, I would go to him this very night and 
 tell him what he ought to do." 
 
 "Oh, you foolish old child of Nature ! what you saw on 
 the stage was nothing but a play. Figaro never existed ; and 
 even though he did, you would not go to him, but accompany 
 me and take supper with me." 
 
 "I am sorry," said Andreas, gravely, " I cannot do so ; for, 
 in the first place, I must stay here and wait for the country- 
 man who has arrived here with the horses and wine,"
 
 82 ANDREAS nOFER. 
 
 " Jesus Maria ! what do you say ? The countryman ? Did 
 I not tell you that it is I, Andy ? " * 
 
 " Oh, yes, I had already forgotten it. But, second, I can- 
 not go because I must see the remainder of the play. Let 
 me, therefore, return to my seat, for I paid for the whole per- 
 formance ; I believe 1 have already missed a great deal ; but 
 they will assuredly not return to me at the office a penny for 
 what I did not bear." * 
 
 " They will not, and shall not either," cried Hormayr, an- 
 grily. "You will not return to your seat, Andy, but go and 
 take supper with me. For you know, my dear fellow, that 
 you have come to Vienna, not to go to the theatre, but to ask 
 the dear Archduke John's assistance and succor for the beloved 
 Tyrol, and inquire of the emperor if he will not aid his loyal 
 Tyrolese in their attempt to become his subjects once more. 
 And the emperor and the archduke will help you ; they prom- 
 ise to send soldiers and guns in time to the Tyrol. But, in 
 return, you must do what the archduke asked you to do ; you 
 rausl. carefully conceal yourself, Andy, in order to prevent 
 the Bavarians from learning of your trip to Vienna ; other- 
 wise they would arrest you and your friends after your return 
 to the Tyrol. Hence you must not return to your scat, where 
 so manj' persons would see you, and unfortunately have seen 
 you already." 
 
 " Well, if it must be so, let us go, sir," sighed Andreas. 
 " But just listen how they are singing, shouting, and cheering 
 inside ! Jesus Maria ! Figaro. I believe, will have to marry 
 r)ld Marielle after all, and give up pretty little Susanne. Ah, 
 my God ! she will die heart-broken, foB she loves him so 
 dearly. Pray, sir, let me go in once more, that I may see 
 whether or not he must marry old Majrielle. " 
 
 '"No, Andy," said Hormayr, smiling, "you need not be un- 
 easy ; Figaro will not marry old Marielle, for she is his own 
 mother." 
 
 " What ! " cried Andreas, in dismay ; " she his mother, and 
 lie has promised to marry her ? That is most sinful and in- 
 famous ! No good Christian should listen to such things. 
 Come along, sir. I do not want to hear another word of it. 
 
 * Hofer's own words. — See Ilonnayr, " Andreas Ilofer," vol. i., p. 310.
 
 CONSECHATION OF THE FLAGS, AND FAREWELL. S3 
 
 Good heavens ! what will Auiui Gertrude say wlien I tell her 
 vvliat I have seen hei*e, and that there are here in Vienna men 
 infamous euouf^h to promise to marry their motliei'S i '' 
 
 " But they never do so in reality, Audy, but only on the 
 stage. Otherwise the police would be after tliem at once. 
 For the emijei-or is a very pious aud virtuous gentleman, and 
 lie does not permit any infractions of the sacred laws of God 
 and the Church in his dominions." 
 
 " Yes, the emperor is a very pious and virtuous gentleman," 
 exclaimed Andreas Hofer, enthusiastically, " and that is the 
 reason why the Tj-role.se love him and wish to be again his 
 subjects and children. Come, I will go home with you. I do 
 not want to hear any more of the theatrical nonsense. Let 
 us speak of our emperor and our dear Archduke John. God 
 grant that we may soon be able to say he is our emperor 
 again, and the archduke is our John, and his Tyrolese are 
 again his subjects, because they fought well for their liberty, 
 and because God blessed their efforts and crowned them with 
 victor}". Come, we will go home, and to-morrow I shall re- 
 turn to the Tyrol, to my wife and children, and mountain and 
 valley shall know that the time has come, and that we shall 
 become Austrians again. May the Holy Virgin protect us 
 and grant us a safe return ; may she prevent the Bavai'ians 
 from waylaying us and frustrating our great aud noble pur- 
 pose ! " * 
 
 CHAPTER VHI. 
 
 CONSECRATION OF THE FLAGS, AND FAREWELL. 
 
 The die was cast, then. The war with France was to break 
 out again. There was to be no more procrastination aud hesi- 
 tation. The time for action was at hand. 
 
 * The delegates of the Tyrokse left Vienna on the following morning; 
 tlifir presence there, however, had been reported to the Bavarian officers, who, 
 during their lioincward journey, almost succeeded in arresting them. John 
 von Gratf, a banker of IJotzen, was apprised of their arrival in Vienna by his 
 correspondent in that city and informed the commissary-general at Bri.veu
 
 84 ANDKEAS HOFER. 
 
 Already the French ambassador, Andreossi, had left Vien 
 na, and all the members of the legation had followed him. 
 Already Clement Count Metternich had arrived at Vienna ; 
 but he had not left Paris as Count Andreossi had left Vienna, 
 quietly and unmolested, but Napoleon had caused him to be 
 escorted to the French frontier by a detachment of gens 
 d'arnies. 
 
 And to-day, on the 9th of March, Austria was to proclaim 
 to all Germany, by means of a public festival, that she was re- 
 solved to renew the struggle with France and risk once more 
 the blood of her people and the existence of her imperial dy- 
 nasty in order to deliver Germany from the usurper who was 
 intent on crushing in his iron hands the liberty and independ- 
 ence of the German nation. 
 
 A solemn ceremony was to take place to-day on the Glacis 
 of Vienna. The flags of the militia were to be consecrated by 
 the Archbishop of Vienna, and the whole imperial family was 
 to be present at the solemnity. Hence, all Vienna presented 
 a festive appearance ; all stores were closed, and no one was 
 seen following his every-day avocations. The Viennese had 
 made a holida}' ; no one would toil for his daily bread ; all 
 wished to refresh themselves only with mental food, and greet 
 with their glances and acclamations the noble men who were 
 to take the field for the salvation of the fatherland. 
 
 The people were surging in dense masses toward the glacis, 
 rushing with irresistible impetuosity into the empty ditches, 
 and climbing the trees on their edges, or gaining some other 
 standpoint whence they could survey the solemnity which 
 was to take place on the broad promenade of the glacis. On 
 the large rondel of the glacis had»been erected a tribune whose 
 golden-broidered velvet canopy was surmounted by a very 
 large imperial crown ; four golden double-headed eagles 
 adorned the four corners of the canopj', and held in their 
 beaks the colors of Austria and Hungary. Under the canopy 
 stood gilt arm-chairs, with cushions of purple velvet. This 
 was the tribune destined for the emperor aiid his family ; 
 
 of what he had learned. A warrant for the arrest of the three delegates 
 was issued, but they escaped in time into the mountains. — Hormayr, vol. i., 
 p. 191.
 
 CONSECRATION OF THE FF.AiJS, AND FARKWELL. 85 
 
 all eyes were riveted upon it, and all Jiearls lono^ed to jjreet 
 the sovereign, and thank him for the proud happiness of this 
 hour. 
 
 Furtlier on rose other and no less splendidly decorated 
 tribunes, the seats of which had been sold at enormous rates 
 to the aristocracy and wealthy citizens of Vienna for the bene- 
 fit of the militia ; and thousands had found seats on the trees 
 surrounding the broad promenade and the rondel, and paid 
 for their airy perches only with some pains and bruises. 
 
 Since early dawn this pilgriTiiage to the glacis had been 
 going on ; b^" ten o'clock all seats, roads, tribunes, trees, 
 ditches, and bridges, were occupied by a dense crowd ; and, in 
 order to prevent accidents, the authorities had already ordered 
 all approaches to the glacis to be closed. 
 
 On the broad promenade, too, matters assumed a very 
 lively aspect. The militia marched up with banners unfurled 
 and drums beating. They drew up in line on both sides of 
 tlie road, and their officers and standard-bearers repaired to 
 tlie large rondel where another had been constructed in face 
 of the imperial tribune. They ranged themselves around tlie 
 altar, on whose steps priests in full vestments were kneel- 
 ing, and which was surmounted by a gigantic crucifix, visible 
 to all spectators far and near, and waving to all its blessings 
 and love-greetings. 
 
 And now all the church-steeples commenced ringing their 
 peals ; the iron tongues of their bells proclaimed to the in- 
 habitants of Vienna, and to the many tliousands of strangers 
 who had come to witness the solemnity, that the emperor with 
 his consort and his children had left the Hofburg, and was 
 approaching the glacis, followed by his suite. The militia as- 
 sumed a stiff military attitude, the drimis rolled, the cannon 
 boomed, the bugles sounded merry notes, and the emperor, 
 leading his consort by the hand, entei-ed the tribune. He 
 looked x)ale ; his form was bent, and trembling as if shaken by 
 an inward fever ; and even more singular appeared his down- 
 hanging under-lip and the gloomy, morose expression of his 
 lustreless blue eyes. But the people did not see this ; they saw 
 only that their emperor had arrived— their emperor, who had 
 resolved to deliver Austria from the ignominious foreign yoke ;
 
 86 ANDREAS nOFER. 
 
 who TV'oukl die with his suhjects rather than longer bear the 
 arrogance of France ; and wlio_ boldly and courageously 
 staked all in order to win all, to restore at length a lasting 
 peace to Austria and Germany, and vindicate their bonor and 
 independence. For this i*eason all heai'ts greeted the Emperor 
 Francis with love and exultation, and he was received with 
 deafening and constantly-renewed cheers. 
 
 Tlie emperor received with a forced smile the flattering 
 homage wbicb was rendered to him, but more radiant was the 
 smile of his consort ; in her dark and glowing eyes glistened 
 tears of joyful emotion, when she glanced at this jubilant 
 mass of spectators and the enthusiastic regiments of the militia. 
 She was also full of exultation ; she did not, however, give 
 vent to her feelings, but pent them up in her heart, owing to 
 the moroseness of her imperial husband. 
 
 In the midst of a fresh outburst of popular enthusiasm, 
 Francis bent over the empress. " I suppose you are well sat- 
 isfied now, empress ? " he asked. -'You have attained your 
 object ; all of you have fanned the flame until war is ready to 
 break out, and every thing will go again topsy-turvy. But I 
 tell you, empress, we shall fail again ; I do not believe that 
 we shall conquer." 
 
 " Well, your majesty, then we shall succumb and die, but 
 it will be an honorable defeat. It is better to perish in a just 
 and honorable struggle than submit patiently to foreign usur- 
 pation." 
 
 " A very nice phrase, but the practical execution of such 
 ideas is sometimes by far more unpleasant than the theory 
 which they express. I am afraid you will have good reason 
 to regret this day, and— but what fearful noise is this again ? 
 The people are cheering as though they were welcoming 
 God Almighty Himself. What is it ? " 
 
 " Your majesty," said Ludovica, gazing timidly into her 
 husband's face, " I believe the people are cheering the Arch- 
 dukes Charles and John, for they are just walking along the 
 ranks of the militia." 
 
 " Ah, my brothers ! " murmured the emperor, with an 
 angry expression, which, however, disappeared again imme- 
 diately ; "the people are cheering my brothers as though they
 
 CONSECIIATIDX OF THE FLAGS, AND FAREWELL. g" 
 
 were two divinities from whom alone they expect salvation 
 and prosperity." 
 
 " Your uiujesty, the people cheer the archdukes hecause 
 they are the brothers of the emperor, and hecause the confi- 
 dence of your majesty has placed them at the head of the Aus- 
 trian armies to lead them to battle, and, if it please God, to 
 victory. It is your majesty alone that ai)pointed the Arch- 
 duke Charles generalissimo of all your forces, and the Arch- 
 duke John commander of the army of Lower Austria." 
 
 ''Yes, I did so, for, blessed as I am v.ith brothers so heroic 
 and spirited, I must of course distinguish and employ them in 
 accordance with their merits ; otherwise thej'^ might believe I 
 was jealous of their glory and splendor. This would be entirely 
 false, for, so far from being jealous of tliem. I love them dearly, 
 and give them now again another opi)ortunity to gain laurels, 
 as they did in 1805. It is true, my brother the generalissimo, 
 was not victorious at Austerlitz, and my brother John has 
 likewise sustained many a defeivt ; but that does not prevent 
 lliem from being heroes and great men. Just listen to the 
 roars with \vhich the people gi'cet them ! Jesus ]\Iaria ! I 
 hope the generalissimo will not have- his lits from excessive 
 
 joy." 
 
 Ludovica cast a quick, mournful glance on the maliciously 
 smiling face of her husband. "Your majesty need not be 
 alarmed,'' she said ; " your tender apprehensions ^vill fortu- 
 nately not be fulfilled. Y^)u see that the archduke is quite 
 well ; he is just addressing his troops." 
 
 " y*s, yes, I know his speech. M. von Gentz wrote it for 
 him, and I permitted him to deliver it. Ah, it abounds with 
 line phrases, and my dear Austrians will be astonished on 
 liearing what liberal men we have become all of a sudden, and 
 what grand ideas of liberty, equality, and i)oi)ular sovereignty 
 v,'» have adopted. Just listen to him ! the conclusion is very 
 line, and sounds just as though the Marseillaise had been 
 translated into the language of the Austrians." 
 
 " Soldiers," shouted the archduke, at this moment, in a loud, 
 ringing voice, " the liberty of Europe has taken refuge under 
 the flag of Austria : the rights, freedom, and lumor of all Ger- 
 many expect their salvation only of our armies. Never shall
 
 88 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 they, instruments of oppression, carry on in foreign countries 
 tlie endless wars of a destructive ambition, annihilate innocent 
 nations, and with their own corpses pave for foreign conquer- 
 ors the road leading to usurped thrones. Soldiers, we take up 
 arms only for the liberty, honor, and rights of all Germany ; 
 it is these sacred boons that we have to defend ! '' * 
 
 A long-continued, deafening outburst of applause both of 
 the soldiers and the people was the reply to the stirring ad- 
 dress of the generalissimo ; but suddenly every sound was 
 hushed, for at the altar, yonder by the side of the tall crucifix, 
 appeared now the ai-chbishop, accompanied by the whole body 
 of the high clergy. 
 
 The emperor rose from his seat ftnd bowed humbly and de- 
 voutly to the prelate who had been the teacher of his youth, 
 and had afterward married him three times, the last time only 
 a few months ago. 
 
 And now the archdukes mai'ched the troops into the mid- 
 dle of the place, and the consecration of the flags commenced 
 amid the peals of all the church-bells and the booming of ar- 
 tillery. 
 
 The emperor looked on, standing, bareheaded, and with 
 hands clasped in prayer. Ludovica turned her eyes heaven- 
 ward, and her lips moved in a low, fervent prayer. Behind 
 them stood the young archdukes and archduchesses, muttering 
 prayers, and yet glancing around curiously ; and the cavaliers 
 of the imperial couple, looking glooni3\ and plainly showing 
 in their sombre faces the rage that filled their hearts. 
 
 The ceremony being finished, the archbishop lifted up his 
 hands and stretched them out toward the soldiers. " Adieu, 
 until we meet again," he exclaimed with a radiant air, and in 
 a voice of joyful enthusiasm ; "adieu, until we meet again at 
 the hour of daugei* ! " 
 
 " Adieu, until we meet again at the hour of danger ! " 
 echoed the soldiers with enthusiasm. Seeing then that the 
 archbishop bent his knees, they knelt likewise and bowed their 
 i leads in prayer. Hushed was every sound on the vast place. 
 ()nly the church-bells were pealing and the artillery was boom- 
 ing in the distance, and the murmur of the devout prayers 
 
 * Ilonna^r, " Allgeineiiie Geschichte," vol. iii., d. 219.
 
 CONSECRATION OF THE FLAGS, AND FAREWELL. ftft 
 
 whidi I'ose to God from so many pious hearts broke the 
 silence. 
 
 In the fervent enthusiasm of tliis hour no one felt the least 
 timidity, no one looked anxiously into the future. Even the 
 mothers did not shed tears for their sons who wei-e about to 
 take the field ; the allianced brides allowed their lovei-s to de- 
 part without uttering con)plaints or weeping at the thought of 
 their impending departure ; wives took leave of their husbands 
 with joyous courage, jn-essing their infants to their breasts and 
 commending them trustingly to God's protection. The pa- 
 triotic enthusiasm had seized all, and carried away even the 
 coldest and most selfish hearts. The rich contributed their 
 money with unwonted liberality ; those who were in less fa- 
 vorable circumstances laid down their plate and valuables on 
 the altar of the country ; the mechanics oflFered to work gra- 
 tuitously for the army ; the women scraped lint and organized 
 associations ff>r the relief of the wounded ; the young men 
 offered their life-blood to the fatherland, and considered it as 
 a favor that their services were not rejected. 
 
 The long-concealed hatred against France burst forth in 
 bright flames throughout Austria and Germany ; the war was 
 hailed with rai)turous enthusiasm, and every heart longed to 
 take part in this struggle, which seemed to all a war of holy 
 vengeance and retribution. For the first time in long years 
 Austria felt again thoroughly identified with Germany, 
 while the other Germans were looking upon Austria as a Ger- 
 man state and holding out their hands to their Austrian 
 brethren, telling them that they sympathized most vividly 
 with the ends which they were trying to attain. 
 
 But while the utmost exultation was reigning among the 
 people and the soldiers on this joyful day, a gloomy silence 
 prevailed in the imperial palace. The joyaus mask with which 
 the general issiuH), the Arcluluke Charles, had covered his face 
 while on the glacis, had disappeared from it so soon as he had 
 returned to his rooms. Pale and faint, he rested in an easy- 
 chair, and, fixing his sombre eyes on his quartermaster-gener- 
 al, Count Griinne, he said : " My friend, listen to that which T 
 am going to say to yoti now, and wliich you will reujcmber 
 one day. I have objected three times in the most emphatic 
 7
 
 90 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 inanuer to this declaration of war, for I know that our prep- 
 arations are not sufficiently matured, and I know also that I 
 have here in Austria powerful enemies who are intent on im- 
 peding all my efforts, and who will shrink from nothing in 
 order to ruin me, and with me you too, my poor friend. The 
 whole aristocracy is hostile to me, and will never allow the 
 emperor's brothers to set bounds to its oligarchy by their mer- 
 its and iafluence ; it will always oppose us, even though it 
 should endanger thereby the power and honor of the father- 
 land. I know all the perils and intrigues surrounding me, 
 and because I know them I tried to avoid them, opposed the 
 war, and strove to get rid at least of the command-in-chief. 
 But the emperor would not allow me to do so ; he ordered me 
 to accept the arduous position of generalissimo of his forces, 
 and, as his subject, I had to obey him. But I repeat it, this 
 will be a disastrous war for Austria, and I look with gloomy 
 forebodings into the future." 
 
 And as gloomy as the generalissimo's face was that of his 
 brother, tlie Emperor Francis. He had retired into his cabi- 
 net, and strode growlingly up and down, holding the fly-flap 
 in his hand, and striking savagely at the flies which his search- 
 ing eyes discovered here and there on the wall. 
 
 Suddenly the door opened, and the footman announced the 
 Archduke John. The emperor's face became even more mo- 
 rose. He cast the fly-flap aside, and murmured to himself, 
 " My brothers never leave me any rest." He then said in a 
 loud voice, " Let him come in." 
 
 A minute afterward the archduke entered the cabinet. His 
 face was still joyously lit up by the soul-stirring solemnity in 
 which he had participated in the morning ; his eye was yet 
 radiant with noble enthusiasm and exultation, and a serene 
 smile played around his lips. Thus he appeared before his 
 brother, whose face seemed doubly gloomy in the presence of 
 his own. 
 
 " I come to take leave of your majesty and bid farewell to 
 my brother Francis," he said, in a mild, tender voice. " I in- 
 tend to set out to-night for Gratz, and organize my staff 
 there." 
 
 " God bless you, commander of the Southern army ! " said
 
 C0NS£CKAT1()\ OF THE KI.ACS, AND FAREWELL. 01 
 
 the cniiH'ror, dryly ; " God bless you, brotlior. You were all 
 eager for war ; now you have it ! " 
 
 '* Aud your niajestj' lias witiu^ssed the enthusiasm with 
 which the Austrian people hailed the declaration of war. And 
 not only the people of Austria, but all Germany, looks now 
 with joy, hope, and pride toward Austria, and participates 
 most cordially in our warlike enthusiasm." 
 
 " I do not care for that," said the emperor, di-yly. " Thank 
 God, I cast off the crown of Germany three years ago, and am 
 no longer Emperor of Germany." 
 
 " But one day, when j-our armies have conquered France 
 and delivei-ed the world from the insatiable usurper, Germany 
 will gratefully lie down at your majesty's feet and beseech 
 you to accept the imperial crown again at her hands." 
 
 " Much obliged, sir, but I would not take it," exclaimed the 
 emperor, with a shrug. " But say, brother, are you really con- 
 vinced that we can and shall conquer Bonaparte ? " 
 
 " I am. We shall conquer, if—" 
 
 "Well, if — "'asked the emperor, when the archduke hesi- 
 tated. 
 
 "If we are really determined to do so," said John, looking 
 the emperor full in the face ; "if we act harmoniously, if we 
 do not impede each other, if no petty jealousies favor the ef- 
 forts of one and frustrate those of the other. Oh, brother, 
 permit me at this farewell hour to utter a few frank and truth- 
 ful words, and I beg your majesty to forgive me if my heart 
 opens to you in unreserved confidence. Brother, I confess 
 f i-ankly all is not as it should be here. Where concord should 
 reign, there is discord ; where all sliould have thc^r eyes fixed 
 only on the great goal, and avail themselves of all means and 
 forces, they are split up into factions bitterly hostile to each 
 other. Oh, my gracious emperor, 1 beseech you, do not listen 
 to these factions, do not confide in those who would like to 
 arouse your suspicion against your brothers. Believe me, you 
 have no more loyal, devoted, and obedient subject than I am ; 
 therefore, coniide in me, who wish only to contribute to the 
 greatness, honor, and glory of my country and my emperor, 
 to the best of my power, however insignilicant it maj' be. My 
 brother, there has long been a gulf between us ; God knows
 
 92 ANDREAS HOFBR. 
 
 that I did not dig it. But let us fill it up forever at this fare- 
 well hour. I implore you, believe in my love, my devoted 
 loyalty ; take me by the hand and say, ' John, I trust 3^ou ! I 
 believe in you 1 ' See, I am waiting for these words as for the 
 blessing which is to accompany me into battle, and rest on my 
 heart like a talisman. Brother, speak these words of love and 
 confidenee ! Give me your hand — open your arms to your 
 brother ! " 
 
 " Why should we enact here a sentimental scene ? " asked 
 the emperor, harshly. " I do not like such things, and want 
 to see family dramas only performed on the stage. Thank 
 God, I am not a theatrical emperor, but a real one, and will 
 have nothing to do with scenes from plays. Nor do I know of 
 any gulfs existing between you and me. I never perceived 
 them, and was never disturbed thereby. But why do you pro- 
 test your love and loyalty in so passionate a manner to me ? 
 Who tells you, then, that I suspect them ? That would be 
 equivalent to considering my brother a traitor, and it would 
 be very unfortunate for him ; for toward traitors I shall al- 
 waj-s be inexorable, whosover they may be, and whether they 
 be persons of high or low rank. Let us speak no longer of it. 
 But, besides, you have again advised me, without being re- 
 quested to do so, and demand that I should not listen to any 
 factions. I never do, brother. I never listen to any factions, 
 neither to yours, nor to that of the others. I listen only to 
 myself, and require submissiveness and obedience of my serv- 
 ants. You are one of the latter ; go, then, and obey me. I 
 have resolved on war ; go, then, to your corps and fight, as 
 you are in duty bound, for your emperor and for Austria. 
 Defeat Napoleon if you can. You are playing a game which 
 may easily become dangerous to ourselves. You have stirred 
 up an insurrection in the Tyrol ; you will have to bear the re- 
 sponsibility if this insurrection shall be unsuccessful." 
 
 " I will bear it, and God will forgive what I have done ! " 
 said John, solemnly. '' Your majesty, you would not listen 
 to the brother who offered you his love frankly and honestly. 
 I have nothing to add to what I have said, nor shall I ever 
 make another attempt to gain your confidence." 
 
 " Is that intended as a threat ? " asked the emperor, angrily.
 
 CONSECRATION' OF THE FLAGS, AND FAREWELL. 93 
 
 "No," said John, nioui'ii fully, " I do nut ihivuteu you. I 
 shall always bear in mind that I loved you, and that you 
 are not only my lord and emperor, but also the son of my 
 mother." 
 
 " And I," cried the emperor, veheinently, '' shall always 
 hear in mind that you were the head of the faction which, by 
 its insensate clamoi* for war, first aroused Napoleon's anger, 
 brought about demonstrations and armaments on our part, and 
 finally oblii^-ed me to resolve on v/ar, allhoiigli I know full 
 well that this resolution will inevitably involve Austria in 
 great disaster. Let me likewise speak a farewell word to you, 
 brother. We shall succumb again, although my wise and 
 learned brothers are at the Jiead of the army. I consulted the 
 most experienced and sagaciims men. I myself paid a \'isit to 
 Count Cobenzl, who is lying at the point of death, and asked 
 hisoi)inion. He hates Napoleon as aidently as any one, and 
 yet he is in favor of peace. I consulted the Prince de Ligne 
 and Minister Thugut ; one is an an)bitious captain, the other a 
 vindictive diplomatist, who would like to overthrow Napo- 
 leon ; and yet both were for peace with France, and I will tell 
 you the reason why : because they know that among all my 
 captains and generals there is not one determined and able 
 enough to cope with Napoleon and his marshals : because 
 they knew that even my brother Charles, the generalissimo, is 
 vacillating and irresolute ; and because they do not know what 
 an eminent captain the Archduke John would be, if he only 
 had a chance to show his military talents. If, despite all this, 
 I resolved on war, it was because circumstances, and not my 
 convictions, obliged me to do it— circumstances which were 
 mostly brought about by you and your friends." 
 
 " Your majesty," said John, in a grave and dignified man- 
 ner, '' permit me to say a few woi-ds in reply to what you 
 have just said. You allude to my military talents, which you 
 say I have not had a chance to show. Well, give me such a 
 chance ; deliver me from the surveillance tying my hands ; 
 let me pursue my path as your general freely and without 
 restrictions, and I pledge you my word that T will recoiuiuer 
 the Tyrol and yt)ur Italian provinces." 
 
 ''See, see, what a nice plan!" exclaimed the empei'or.
 
 94 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 laughing. " You wish to be another generalissimo, and inde- 
 pendent of any other commander's will ? " 
 
 '' No, your majesty ; I wish to obtain only equal rights and 
 authority to deliberate and decide jointly with my brother 
 Charles." 
 
 '' It is very bold in you, sir, thus to oppose your generalis- 
 simo," said the emperor, sternly. " To-day you v/ill no longer 
 obey the generalissimo — to-morrow you will perhaps refuse to 
 obey the emperor. Not another word about it ! Go and do 
 your duty. The Archduke Charles is generalissimo, and you 
 will submit to his orders and instructions. Fai^ewell, brother ; 
 may God and the Holy Virgin bless you and your army ! " 
 
 "Farewell, your majesty," said the archduke, bowing cere- 
 moniously to the emperor. He then turned hastily and left 
 the room. 
 
 The emperor looked after him with an angry air. " I be- 
 lieve the two archdukes will thwart each other on ail occa- 
 sions," he said, in a low voice. " There will not only be war 
 with France, but also war bet^veen the factions in Austria, and 
 the consequence will be, that my brothers will gain but very 
 few laurels." 
 
 The Archduke John returned slowly to his rooms. After 
 entering his cabinet, he sank on the divan, as if crushed and 
 heart-broken. He sat a long time in silence, his head bent 
 on his breast, and uttering from time to time heart-rending 
 groans. After a long pause, he slowly lifted his tearful eyes 
 to heaven. 
 
 "Thou knowest, my God," he said, in a low voice, "that 
 my intentions are good and pure, and that I desire nothing 
 but to serve my country and deliver it from the disgrace 
 which it has had to submit to for so many years past. Thou 
 knowest that I wish nothing for myself, but all for the father- 
 land. Help me, my God, help our poor, unfortunate Austria! 
 Let us not succumb and perish! Grant victory to our arms! 
 O Austria, O Germany, why can I not purchase liberty and 
 independence for you with my blood ? But I can at least 
 fight and die for you ! I shall welcome death, if my dying 
 <jyes can behold liberty dawning upon Germany ! "
 
 'TIS TIME! 95 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 'tis time ! 
 
 It was late in the afternoon of the 8th of April. Tlie set- 
 ting sun was shedding his last red rays on the distant moun- 
 tain-ci'ests of the Janfen and the Tinihler Toch, whose hlood- 
 red summits (-(mtrasted wonderfully with the deep azure of 
 the clear sky. On the lower slopes of the mountains twilight 
 had set in ; the pines, the daring chamois of the vegetable 
 kingdom, which had climbed up to the highest parts of the 
 mountaiu.s, cast the gray veil of dusk over these lower slopes. 
 Below, in the Passeyr valley, however, night already pre- 
 vailed, for the nunintains looming up on both sides of the 
 valley lilled it with darkness even before sundown ; and only 
 the wild, roaring Passeyr, which rushes from the mountain 
 through the valley, glistened like a silver belt in the gloom. 
 The church-bells of the villages of St. Leonard and St. Martin, 
 lying on both' sides of the valW, tolled a solemn curfew, 
 awakening here and there a low, sleepy echo ; and from time 
 to time was heard from a mountain-peak a loud, joyous Jodler, 
 by which a Tyrolese hunter, perhaps, announced his speedy- 
 return to his family in the valley. The gloom in the narrow 
 Passeyrthal became deeper and deeper, and, like bright glow- 
 worms, the lights in the houses of St. Leonard and St. Martin 
 glistened now in the darkness. 
 
 Lights appeared not only in the valley below, but also here 
 and there on the mountain-slopes ; and especially in the soli- 
 tary house on the knoll situated half-way between the two 
 villages, was seen the bright glare of many candles, and tlie 
 per-sons passing on the road in the valley looked up and wliis- 
 pered to each other : " Andreas Hofer is at home, and, it seems, 
 has a great many guests at his house, for all the windows of 
 his handsome inn are illuminated." 
 
 The solitary hou.se on the knoll, then, belonged to Andreas 
 Hofer. It was the Gasthaus zitm Sand, far famed through- 
 out the Tyrol. And the pa,ssers-by were not mistaken. An- 
 dreas Hofer was at home, and had a great many guests at his
 
 96 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 house. On the henches of the large bar-room sat his guests, 
 handsome Tyrolese, with flashing eyes and animated faces, 
 which were all turned toward the Sandwirth,* who was sit- 
 ting on the small table yonder, and conversing in a low tone 
 with his friends Eisenstecken and Siebercr. All the guests 
 seemed excited and anxious ; no one opened his mouth to 
 utter merry jests ; none of the gay songs so popular among 
 the Tyrolese resounded : and the guests did not even venture 
 to address playful remarks to Hofer's pretty daughters, who 
 were gliding noiselessly through the room to fill the empty 
 beer-glasses. 
 
 " It seems," murmured Anthony Sieberer, " that the Aus- 
 trian government has again postponed the matter, and we 
 shall vainly look for the arrival of the message. This new 
 delay puts an end to the whole movement." 
 
 " I do not think so," said Hofer, gravely, and loud enough 
 to be heard by all. " Do not despond, my dear friends ! Tlie 
 Austrian government will assuredly keep its word, for the 
 dear brave Archduke John promised me in the emperor's 
 name that Austria would succor the Tyrolese, and send troops 
 into our country, if we would be in readiness on the 9th of 
 April to I'ise against the Bavarians. My dear friends, do you 
 put no confidence, then, in the word of our excellent emperor 
 and the good archduke, who has always loved us so dearly ?" 
 
 " No, no, we put implicit confidence in their word ! " 
 shouted the Tyrolese, with one accord. 
 
 '• The messenger will surely come, just have a little pa- 
 tience," added Hofer, with a pleasant nod ; " tlie day is not 
 yet at an end, and until midnight we may smoke yet many a 
 pipe and drink many a glass of beer. — Anna Gertrude, see to 
 it that the glasses of the guests are always well filled." 
 
 Anna Gertrude, a fine-looking matron of thirty-six, with 
 florid cheeks and flashing hazel eyes, had just placed before 
 her husband another jug, filled with foaming beer, and she 
 nodded now to her Andy with a smile, showing two ro\vs of 
 faultless white teeth. 
 
 "I and the girls will attend to the guests," she said, "but 
 
 * The name usually given to Ilofcr— Sandwirth, landlord of the inn 
 " Zum Sand."
 
 'TIS TIME! 07 
 
 the men ilo not diiiik any tliinp:. Tlie glasses and jugs are all 
 filled, but thoy do not empty them, and — Look! who comes 
 there ? " 
 
 Andreas Ilofer turned his head toward the door ; then 
 suddenly he uttered a cry of surprise and jumped up. 
 
 "Halloo!" he exclaimed, "I believe this is the messenger 
 whom we are looking for." And he jwinted his outstretched 
 arm at the small, dark form entering tlie room at this moment. 
 
 "It is Major Teinier," he continued, joyfully ; "I suppose 
 you know yet our dear major of 1805 'i " 
 
 "Hurrah! Martin Teimer is there," shouted the Tyrolese, 
 rising from their seats, and hastening to the new-comer to 
 shake hands with him and bid him heartily welcome. 
 
 Martin Teimer thanked them warmly for this kind recej)- 
 tion, and a flash of sincere gratification burst from his shrewd 
 blue eyes. 
 
 "I thought I should meet all the brave men of the Passeyr 
 valley at Andy's house to-night," he said, " and I therefore 
 greet you all at once, my dear comrades of 180;"). That jear 
 was disastrous to us. but I think the year 1809 will be a 
 better one. and we shall regain to-day what we lost at that 
 time." 
 
 " Yes, we shall, as sure as there is a God," shouted the 
 Tyrolese ; and Andreas Hofer laid his arm on Teimer's 
 shoulder and gazed deeply into his eyes. 
 
 "Say, Martin Teimer, are all things in readiness, and do 
 you bring us word to rise ? " 
 
 " I do, all things are in readiness," said Teimer, solemnly. 
 " Our countryman. Baron von Hormayr, whom the Austrian 
 government appointed governor and intendant of tlie Austi-ian 
 forces which are to co-operate with us, sends me to Andreas 
 Hofor. whom I am to ijiform that the Austrian troops, com- 
 manded by Marquis von Chasteler and General Hiller, will 
 cross the Tyrolese frontier to-night." 
 
 "Hurrah, hurrah ! the Austrians arc coming!" .shouted 
 the Tyrolese, jubilantly, swinging their pointed hats in the 
 air. "The war has broken out, the Austrians are coming, 
 and we will expel the Bavarians from the couutrj' ! " 
 
 Andreas Hofer's face, too, was radiant with joy ; but, in
 
 98 ANDREAS nOFER. 
 
 stead of siuging and shouting, he was silent, lifted his eyes 
 slowly to heaven, and seized with both his hands the crucifix 
 resting on his breast. 
 
 " Let us pray, my fx'iends," he said in a loud and solemn 
 voice ; " let us thank our Lord God and our patron saint in 
 the stillness of our hearts." 
 
 The men paused ; like Andreas Hofer, they clasped their 
 hands, bent their heads, and muttered fervent prayers. 
 
 After a long pause Hofer raised his head again. "And 
 now, men, listen to what I have to say to you," he exclaimed, 
 cheerfully. " T have invited you all because you are the most 
 infl.uential and respectable men in this part of the country, 
 and because the fatherland has need of you and counts upon 
 3'ou and me. The sharpshooters of the Passeyrthal told me, 
 if war should bi-eak out, I must be their captain ; and I ac- 
 cepted the position because I think that every one is in duty 
 bound to risk his limbs and life for the sake of the fatherland, 
 and place himself just where' he can serve it best. But if I 
 am to be your captain, you nnist all assist me to the best of 
 your power. We must act harmoniously, and strain every 
 nerve to deliver the fatherland and restore the Tyrol to our 
 beloved emperor." 
 
 " We are resolved to do so," shouted the men, with one 
 accord. 
 
 '' I know it full well," said Andreas Hofer, joyously. "Let 
 us go to work, then, and circulate throughout the Tyrol the 
 message that the Austrians are coming, and that it is time. 
 Say, Teimer, did you not bring a written message with 
 you ? " 
 
 "Here is a letter from Hormayr," said Martin Teimer, 
 drawing a large sealed paper from his bosom. 
 
 Andreas took it and opened it quickly. But while he was 
 reading it, a slight cloud overspread his countenance, and for 
 a moment he cast a rapid, searching glance on Martin Teini- 
 er's bright, keen face ; however, no sooner had he met Teim- 
 er's stealthy, inquiring glance, than he quickly turned his 
 eyes again to the paper. 
 
 " Well," he said then, striking the paper with his right hand, 
 " the statements contained in this letter are entirely in accord-
 
 'TIS TIMK! 99 
 
 ance with our wishes. We are to rise at once, for already to- 
 inorrow the Austrians will have crossed our frontiers. Marquis 
 von Chasteler will march from Cariiithia into the Puster val- 
 ley ; General Hiller is moving from Salzburg toward the 
 fjower Inn valley ; the former thinks he will reach Brixen in 
 the course of four days; the latter says he will be at Innspruck 
 within the same time. I and Martin Teimer here, who no 
 longer keeps a tobacco-shop at Klagenfurth, but is again Major 
 Teimer as he was four years ago — we ax'e to direct and man- 
 age every thing in the Tyrol, and are intrusted with the duty 
 of seeing to it that the flames of the insurrection burst 
 forth now as speedily as possible from one end of the Tyrol to 
 the other, and that it shall become a conflagration that will 
 burn up all Frenchmen and Bavarians, or compel them to 
 escape from the country. Assist us, then, my men, in spread- 
 ing the news over the mountains and thi'ough the valleys, 
 that all may rise and partici])ate in the great work of deliver- 
 ;ince. Every able-bodied man is to shoulder his rifle, and the 
 women and children are to carry, from house to house, little 
 balls of paper on which are written the words : ' 'Tis time ! ' 
 as we have agreed at our meetings. And now. in compliance 
 with the promise I gave Hormayr in Vicuna, I will issue a 
 circular to all our friends that they may know what to do 
 under these circmnstances. Is there among j'ou any one who 
 can write well and correctly, and to -whom I may dictate? 
 for my own handwriting is none of the best, and although 
 what I write may be tlunight coi-rectly, it is not s])el]ed as 
 learned men tell us it should be. If there is among you one 
 who can write nicely and correctly what I wish to dictate, let 
 him come forward." 
 
 "I can do it," said a young man, stepping forward. 
 
 ''It is Joseph Ennenioser, sun of John Ennenioser, the 
 Seewirth," said xVndreas Hofer, smiling. " Yes, I believe you 
 are a good scribe ; you have become quite a scholar and an 
 aristocratic gentleman, and are studying medicine at the Uni- 
 versity of Innspi'uck." 
 
 ''For all that, I have remained an lionest mountaineer; 
 and as for my studies, I will not think of them until we have 
 delivered the Tyrol from the Bavarian yoke. I -shall keep
 
 lOU ANDREAS UOFER. 
 
 only my pen, and act as Andreas Hofer's obedient secre- 
 tary."* 
 
 "Sit down, then, my boy, and write. You will find pen 
 and ink in the drawer of yonder table. Take them, and I 
 will dictate to you." 
 
 And amidst the respectful silence of the men, walking up 
 and down slowly, and stroking his long beard with his right 
 hand, Andreas Hofer commenced dictating his " open order," 
 which was as follows : 
 
 " Early in the morning of the 9th of April General Hiller 
 will march from Salzburg to the Lower Inn valley, and 
 General von Chasteler from Carinthia to the Puster valley. 
 On the 11th or 12th of April the former will arrive at Inns- 
 pruck, and the latter at Brixeu. The Archduke John orders 
 that the Miihlbach pass be occupied by peasants from the 
 Puster valley, and the Kiiutersweg by mounted men. They 
 are to allow all forces of the enemy marching from Botzen 
 to Brixen to pass, and will cut off all communications only so 
 soon as they discover that the Bavarian civilians and soldiers 
 are trying to escape from Brixen to Botzen. Not a man must 
 be allowed to pass then." 
 
 While Andreas Hofer was dictating his "open order" 
 with a firm and thoughtful air, the peasants stood dum- 
 fouuded with admiration, staring at him with a feeling of 
 awe, and delighted with his sagacity and understanding. 
 That Hofer cast from time to time a searching glance at Hor- 
 mayr's letter did not disturb the admiration they felt for their 
 chosen leader, and they were silent and stared at hijii long 
 after he was through. 
 
 "So," said Andreas when the writing was finished, "now 
 Martin Teimer and I will affix our names to this open order ; 
 Ennemoser will then copy it half a dozen times, and six of 
 you will carry the copies to the other leaders who are already 
 waiting for them, and who will give the signal to their friends 
 
 * Joseph Ennemoser, son of John Ennemoser, the tailor and Seewirth 
 of the Passeyrthal. was a shepherd in his boyhood. Ilis father sent him to 
 the gymnasium of Innspruck, and afterward to tlie university of the same 
 city, wliere he studied medicine. In 1809 he was Ilofer's secretary. After- 
 ward he became a celebrated professor of medicine at the University of Bonn.
 
 'TIS TIME! 101 
 
 in the lower valley. You, George Lanthaler. will earrj- the 
 onler to Josci)li Sprckliadicr at Kufstcin ; you, Joseph Gufler. 
 will take it to the fanner at the Sohililhof ; you, George Stein- 
 haufcrle, will goto Anthony Wallner, the Aichhergerat Win- 
 disch-Matrey. Quick, quick, my friends, we have no time to 
 lose ; you must walk night and day ; you cannot rest on the 
 road, for we must strike the blow with lightning speed, and 
 it must be done at the same time all over the country." 
 
 •' And I will likewise set out again to spread the news 
 throughout the country," said Martin Teimer. " For two 
 weeks past I have been in all parts of the Tyrol, and have 
 worked everywhere for our cause, and know now that we may 
 count upon all our countrymen. They are waiting for the 
 signal, and we must give it to them. Here, take this package ; 
 it contains a large number of those little paper balls upon 
 which are written the words ' 'Tis time ! ' Each of you can 
 take a handful of them and give them to your wives and chil- 
 dren, that they may carry them to the neighbors and distrib- 
 ute them everywhere. Speckbacher and Wallner, too, have 
 packages of such paper balls, and so soon as our faithful mes- 
 sengers bring them our ' open order,' they will likewise send 
 around their wives and children through the neighborhood ; 
 and everywhere the cry will be, ' 'Tis time 1 ' We must expel 
 the Bavarians I I will go now, for I must concentrate my 
 men in order to prevent the Bavarians from crossing the 
 bridge of Laditch. Farewell, then, and God grant that we 
 may all meet again before long as free and happy men at our 
 good city of Innspruck ! " 
 
 " We must go too," exclaimed the Tyrolese when Martin 
 Teimer had left the house as quickly as he had entered it. 
 " We must go into the mountains and inform our friends that 
 it is time." 
 
 " But go through the kitchen, my dear messengers," 
 said Andreas Hofer ; " there is a bag of flour for each of you ; 
 take it on your back, and on passing during your march 
 a rivulet or a mountain torrent, throw some of the flour into 
 it ; and wherever you find dry brushwood on the road, pile 
 it up and kindle it, that the bale-fires may proclaim to the 
 country, ' 'Tis time ! ' "
 
 102 ANDREAS IIOFER. 
 
 Half an hoar afterward the large bar-rooin was deserted, 
 and profound silence reigned in the inn Ztim Sand. The serv- 
 ants and children of the Saudwirth had gone to bed ; only 
 he himself and his faithful wife, Anna Gertrude, were yet up. 
 Both had retired into the small sitting-room adjoining the har- 
 rooni. Andreas Hofer was walking up and down there 
 silently and thoughtfully, his hands folded on his back ; Ger- 
 trude sat in the leather-covered arm-chair at the stove, and 
 looked at her husband. Every thing was still around them ; 
 only the slow, regular ticking of the clock broke the profound 
 silence, and outside was to be heard the wild roaring of the 
 Passeyr, which hurled its furious foaming waters not far from 
 the inn over pebbles and fragments of rocks. 
 
 Finally, after a long pause, Andreas stood still in front of 
 his wife, and gazed at her with a long, searching, and tender 
 look. Gertrude, as if lifted up by this glance, rose, encircled 
 his neck quickly with her arms, and looked with an expression 
 of terror and anxiety into his face. 
 
 " Andy," she exclaimed, mournfully, " my own, dearest 
 Andy, I am afraid harm will befall you ! " 
 
 '' That is what I expect," he said, sighing, •' and I am sorry 
 for you, my dearest wife. I was just speaking with God and 
 my conscience, and asking them so fervently if it was not wrong 
 in me not to think above all things of my dear wife and my be- 
 loved children, and if I ought not to live and die only for 
 them. For I tell you, and I know, what I am going to do is 
 dangerous, and may easily cost my life. I do not blind my 
 eyes to it ; I may lose my life in either of two ways. A bullet 
 may strike me in battle ; or, if my life should be spared in the 
 struggle, and if we should be defeated, the Bavarians would 
 treat me as a traitor ; and then a bullet would sti'ike me also, 
 for they would shoot me." 
 
 " Oh, Jesus Maria ! my Andy," cried Gertrude, taking 
 Hofer's head in her hands, as if to protect it from the murder- 
 ous bullets. 
 
 " I do not sa}' that this ivill occur ; I say only that it may 
 occur," said Andreas, with a gentle smile. " I wish to tell you 
 only that I am fully alive to the dangers threatening me when 
 I stej) to-morrow morning' out of my street-door, and enter
 
 
 HOFER'S FAUEWELL TO HIS WIFE.
 
 'TIS TIME! 103 
 
 upon the duties of tlio position which thoy liavo conferred on 
 nie ; for I am to command tlie peasants of tlic Passeyr valley 
 and direct the insurrection in all this part of the country. 
 Therefore, I asked God and my conscience whether or not 
 I did rifjht in talcino: upon myself so responsible a task, 
 and pluiif^ing my family, perhaps, into g-rief and distress. 
 But do you know what both of them replied to me? They 
 said : ' It is your duty to love your wife and your children ; 
 but you must also love your emperor and your countiy ; and 
 when the latter call you and say, " Come, we need your arm 
 and assistance," you must, as an honest man, obey the call, g:o 
 to them, and leave your fan)ily ; for to love the fatherland is 
 every man's highest honor, and to be loyal and devoted to 
 the emperor is the hrst duty of every Tyrolese.' God and my 
 conscience spoke to me thus in my breast, and uow I ask you 
 too, dear wife— I ask you before God and your conscience- 
 would you like your husband not to obey the empei'ors call, but 
 stay at lionie, while his brave brethren and friends ai-e talcing 
 the field to defend the country and exi)el the Bavarians ? '* 
 
 " No, indeed, Andy, I would not,"' cried Gertrude, in dis- 
 may ; "I should never dai*e again to lift my eyes before any- 
 body ; I should not even venture to pray to the Holy Virgin 
 and to God, for, as both gave up their divine Son, so an honest 
 wofuan must give up her husband for Iho sake of the father- 
 land." 
 
 Andreas laid his hand on liis wife's head as if to bless her. 
 " It is as you say, Gertrude," he said, soletnnly . " For the sake 
 of the fatherland and the emperor you nnist give up your hus- 
 band, and your children their father ; and we are not allowed 
 to shut our ears in order not to hear that the; dear Tyi'ol and 
 the good Emperor Fi'ancis have called me. I have heard the 
 call, and must obey it. I shall do so joyously and readily, and 
 yet my heart grieves, and there is in my breast here something 
 telling me that our happiness is at an end, that our sun has 
 set, and —Gertrude, I am uo\ asliaeied of it — I weep ! " 
 
 He leaned bis head against his wife's shoulder, and, folding 
 her to his heart, sobbed aloud. But this lastinl only a short 
 time ; then he raised himself again, and drew his hand quickly 
 across his eyes.
 
 104 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 ''There," he said, " it is all over now. I wept as a good 
 Christian is surely allowed to do when he takes leave of his 
 wife and his children, and gives them up for the sake of his 
 country. Did not Abraham weep too, and beg God for mercy, 
 when he was to sacrifice his son to the Almighty ? But he 
 nevertheless was ready to make the sacrifice. And, like Abra- 
 ham, I have wept and lamented now, but I shall make the 
 sacrifice. ^Here I am, my God," he added, lifting his eyes and 
 hands to Heaven ; " here I am, for Thou hast called me. Do 
 with me as thou deemest best. I am nothing but Thy faith- 
 ful servant •, but if Thou wishest to use me for Thy great pur- 
 poses, do so ! I offer Thee my arms, my body, and my life ! 
 Take them ! " 
 
 '' But thou. Holy Virgin," murmured Gertrude, " and thou 
 Saint George, our patron saint, stretch out your arms over 
 him graciously and protect my Andy. Bear in mind that he 
 is my most precious treasure on earth ! Preserve my dear 
 husband to me, and to my children the father whom they love 
 so ardently I " 
 
 " Amen ! " exclaimed Andreas. " And now, deai'est wife, 
 come and give me a kiss, a parting kiss ! " 
 
 "You do not intend to set out this very night?" asked 
 Gertrude, anxiously. 
 
 " No, Gertrude, but still it is a parting kiss. For hence- 
 forth I must become another man— a hard man, who will no 
 longer think of his family, but only of the fatherland and the 
 emperor. I wept a few minutes ago as a good father and 
 husband, but now I must become as hard as a good soldier 
 ought to be. Until the Bavarians have been expelled from 
 the country, I shall no longer think of you and the children, 
 but shall be only a brave and intrepid soldier of my lord and 
 emperor, and the commander of the Passeyr militia. Kiss 
 me, therefore, a last time, Anna Gertrude ! There ! Give me 
 anf)ther kiss ! Who knows but it m:iy be the last time you 
 will ever kiss me, dear Gerfrude ? And here is still another 
 kiss for our girls. Now it is enough. Go to bed now, Ger- 
 trude, and pray for me." 
 
 " You will not go to bed, Andy ? " asked Gertrude, anx- 
 iously.
 
 'TIS TIME! |(j5 
 
 ""No, I will not, Anna Gertrude. I liave business to attend 
 to in the yard with Joe, our laborer. We will kill the brin- 
 dled cow." 
 
 " What ? This very night ? " 
 
 ''Tills very night. We need the blood and meat. We 
 shall pour the blood into the Passeyr, and you will see to-mor- 
 row that we need the meat. f<>i' T believe we shall have a great 
 many guestrs in the morning." 
 
 Andreas Hofer's prophecy was fulfilled. Already early in 
 the morning a great many men assembled in front of the inn 
 Znm Sand. They were the sharpshooters of the Passeyr val- 
 ley, who were Hocking from all parts of the district to Hofer's 
 house to report to the beloved connnander of Passeyr. They 
 came down from the mountains and up from the valleys. 
 They wore their holiday dresses, and their yellow Sunday hats 
 wei'e decorated with bouquets of rosemary and handsome rib- 
 bons. They were merry and in the best of spirits, as if they 
 were going to the dance ; only instead of their rosy-cheeTced 
 girls, they held their trusty rifles in their arms. Nevertheless, 
 they smacked their lips, uttered loud exclamations of joy, and 
 shouted as merrily as larks — " 'Tis time ! The Bavarians 
 must leave the country ! Long live the emperor I Long live 
 the Archduke John !" 
 
 And echo seemed to answer, "The Bavarians must leave 
 the country ! " But it was not echo that had repeated these 
 words. They proceeded from the throats of merry men, and 
 a gay procession descended now from the mountain-path. It 
 consisted of the sharpshooters and peasants of Meran and 
 Algund, who were marching up in the beautiful costumes of 
 the Adige valley. Oh, how their eyes flashed, and the rifles in 
 their arms also. And with what jubilant Jodlers the men of 
 Passeyr received their dear friends from Algund and, Meran. 
 
 All at once every sound was hushed, for in the door of the 
 inn appeared Andreas Hofer, looking like a king in his hand- 
 some holiday attire ; his good-natured, honest face gleamed 
 with joy, and his glance was mild and clear, and yet so firm 
 and connnauding. His whole bearing breathed calm dignity, 
 and it seemed to the men of Passeyr as though the moi-ning 
 sun which illuminated his face surrounded his head with a
 
 106 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 golden halo. Tliey stood aside with timid reverence and awe. 
 Hofer advanced into the middle of the circle wliicli the men 
 of Passeyr, Meran, and Algund formed around him. He then 
 looked around and greeted the men on all sides with a smile, 
 a pleasant nod, and a wave of his hand. 
 
 "My friends," he exclaimed in a loud voice, " the day has 
 come when we must expel the Bavarians from the country 
 and restore the Tyrol to the Austriaus. 'Tis time ! The Bava- 
 rians have amply deserved such treatment at our hands, for 
 they have sorely oppressed us. When you had finished a 
 wooden image, could you carry it to Vienna and sell it ? No. 
 you could not ! Is that freedom ? You are Ty rolese ; at least 
 your fathers called themselves so; now you are to call your- 
 selves Bavarians. And, moreover, our ancient castle of Tyrol 
 in the Passeyr valley was not spared ! Are you satisfied with 
 this ? If you harvest three blades of corn, the government 
 claims two of them; is that happiness and prosperity? But 
 there is a Providence and there are angels ; and it was re- 
 vealed to me that if we resolved to avenge our wrongs, God 
 and St. George, our patron saint, would help us. Up, then, 
 against the Bavarians ! Tear the villains with your teeth 
 while they stand; but when they kneel down ajid pray, give 
 them quarter. Up against the Bavarians ! 'Tis time!" 
 
 " Up against the Bavarians ! 'tis time ! "' shouted all the 
 brave men, enthusiastically; and tlie mountain echoes an- 
 swered : " Up against the Bavarians ! 'tis time I "' 
 
 And the blood-red waters of the Passeyr carried down into 
 ihe valley the message : " Up against the Bavarians ! 'tis 
 time ! " 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 ANTHONY WALLNER OP WINDISCH-MATREY. 
 
 An unusual commotion reigned in the market-place of 
 Windisch-Matrey on the afternoon of the 9lh of April. The 
 men and youths of Windisch-Matrey and its environs were 
 assembled there in deiise groups, and thronged in constantly-
 
 ANTHONY WALI.NKR OF WINF)IS(I[ MATIIHV. I(f7 
 
 inoroasiiif,'' masses njuiul the liouso of the iiuikecper Anfliony 
 Aiclil)orgor, called Wallner. The women, too, liad left their 
 houses and huts, and hastened to the market-place. Their 
 faces were as threatening as those of the men; their eyes shot 
 fire, and their whole bearing betokened unusual excitement. 
 Everywhere loud and vehement woi*ds were uttered, clinched 
 fists were raised menacingly, and glances of secret understand- 
 ing were exchanged. 
 
 The liveliest .scene, however, took place in the large bar- 
 room of the inn. The foremost men of the whole district, 
 sti'ong, well-l)uilt forms, with defiant faces and courageous 
 bearing, had assembled there around Anthony Wallner-Aich- 
 berger. They spoke but little, but sat on the benches against 
 the walls of the room, and stared into their glasses, which 
 Eliza, Wallnei''s eldest daughter, filled again and again with 
 beer. Even the young girl, who was usually so gay and 
 spirited, seemed to-day sad and dejected. Formerly her merry 
 laughter and clear, ringing voice were heard cverj-where; to- 
 day she was moody and taciturn. Formerly her cheeks glowed 
 like purple ro.ses, a charming arch expression played around 
 her beautiful small mouth, and the fire and spirit of youth 
 beamed from her large black eyes ; to-day, only a faint crim- 
 son tinged Eliza s checks, her lips were fii-mly compressed, and 
 her eyes were dim and lustreless. From time to time, while 
 waiting on tlie guests, she cast an anxious, searching glance 
 through the windows over the market-place, and seemed to 
 listen to the hum of voices, which often became as deafening 
 as the wild roar of the storm, and shook the window-panes. 
 
 Anthony Wallner, her father, was likewise gi-ave and 
 anxious, and in walking to the groups of guests seated on the 
 benches here and there, he glanced uneasily toward the win 
 dows. 
 
 "It may be that they will not come, after all, Tony, and 
 that the Viennese have fooled you," whispered old Thurn- 
 walden from Me)'an to him. 
 
 " I cannot conijireheiid it," sighed Anthony "Wallner. " The 
 insurrection was to break out on the 9th of April, and the Aus- 
 trian troops were to cross the frontier on that day ; and this 
 was the reason why we have hitherto resisted the conscription
 
 108 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 and refused to pay the new taxes. But the 9th of April has 
 come now, and we have received no messa<>e from Hofer or 
 the Austrians. '' 
 
 " And to-day (he time which tlie Bavarians have given us 
 is up," growled George Hinnthal; "if our young lads do not 
 report voluntarily to the enrolling officers by this evening, 
 they will be arrested to-morrow." 
 
 " They shall not be arrested," exclaimed one of the Tyrolese, 
 striking the table with his powerful fist. 
 
 " No, they shall not be arrested," echoed all, in loud, defiant 
 tones. 
 
 " But you will not be able to prevent them," said old Thurn- 
 walden, when all were silent again and bad drunk a long 
 draught from their glasses as if to confirm their words. " You 
 know there is a whole companj^ of soldiers at Castle Weissen- 
 stein, and Ulrich von Hohenberg, the castellan's nephew, is 
 their captain. He is a Bavarian, body and soul, and, if we 
 resist the authorities, he will lead his men with muskets and 
 field-pieces against us." 
 
 " Why, you have become greatly discouraged, Caspar Thurn- 
 walden," said Anthony Wallner, sneeringly, " and one would 
 almost think you had turned a friend of the Bavarians. We 
 have got as good muskets as the Bavarians, and if they shoot 
 we shall shoot back. And as for the field-pieces, why, we have 
 got wheels and may roll down cannon from Castle Weissen- 
 stein to Windisch-Matrey. But come, my dear friends, I see 
 the Bavarian tax-collectors walking aci>oss the market-place 
 yonder. They look very grim and stern, as if they meant to 
 devour us all. Let us go out and see what is going on." 
 
 The men rose as if obeying a military order, and followed 
 Anthony Wallner fi-om the room to tlie market-place. Eliza 
 Wallner was for a moment alone in the room ; and now that 
 she had no longer to fear the eyes of the guests, she sank quite 
 exhausted on a chair and buried her face in her trembling 
 hands. 
 
 "What am I to do ?" she murmured in a low voice. "Oh, 
 God in heaven, would I could die this very hour !" 
 
 " Why do you weep, Lizzie ? " asked a gentle voice by her 
 side, and, on looking up, Eliza beheld the grave, sympathetic
 
 ANTHONY VVALLNKU OF WINDISCH-MATREY. H)() 
 
 face of lier mother, who liad just entered the room without he- 
 ing heard by her. Eliza sprang up and embraced her mother 
 witli passionate tenderness. "Dearest mamma," she whis- 
 pered, " I am afraid." 
 
 " Afraid of what ?" asked her mother, in a low voice. " Are 
 you afraid the Austriaus may not come, and the Bavarians 
 may then imprison your dear father, because they have found 
 out that he has instigated the people to disobey their behests?" 
 
 "No," said Eliza, biusliing with shame, " no, that is not 
 what 1 am afraid of. They will not dare to arrest my dear 
 father, for they know full well that the people of the whole 
 district are greatly attached to him, and that the men of the 
 whole Puster valley would rise to deliver Anthony Wallner. 
 It is something else, dearest mother ; come with me into the 
 • hamber ; there I will tell you all." 
 
 She drew her mother hastily into the chamber adjoining 
 the bar-room and closed the door after her. 
 
 " Mother." she said, tremblingly and breathlessly, " listen 
 to me now. I am sure the Austrians are coming, and if the 
 men outside hear of it, they will kill all the Bavarians." 
 
 "Let them do it," said her mother composedly; "the 
 mean, sneaking Bavarians have certainly deserved to be 
 killed after the infamous treatment we have endured at their 
 1 lands." 
 
 " But, mother, there are also good men among them," ex- 
 claimed Eliza. "You know very. well I am a loyal Tyrolese 
 girl, and love my emperor dearl}^ for you have taught me 
 from my earliest youth that it was incumbent on me to do so. 
 But, mother, there are also good men among the Bavarians. 
 There is, for instance, Ulrich von Holienberg up at Castle 
 Weissenstein. You know his cousin has alwaj^s treated me as 
 a sister ; we have grown up together, and I was allowed to 
 participate in her lessons and learn what she learned. We 
 were always together, and even now I have not ceased going 
 to Castle Weissenstein, although it is garrisoned by a detach- 
 ment of Bavarian soldiers. Father himself wished me to go 
 to the young lady as heretofore, for he said it would look sus- 
 ])ici()us if I should stay away all of a sudden. Therefore I 
 went to see niv der.r friend Eliza von Holienberg every day,
 
 110 ANDREAS UOFKK. 
 
 and I always met there her cousin, the ca])tain of the Bavarian 
 soldiers. He is a very kind-hearted and merry gentleman, 
 mother, and it is no fault of his that he is a Bavarian. His 
 father, our castellan's brother, has lived for thirty years past 
 down at Munich, and his son entered the Bavariaii service 
 long before he knew that we people of Windisch-Matrey de- 
 sire to become Austrian subjects again. Now his general sent 
 him hither with his soldiers foi" the purpose of helping the 
 officers to collect the taxes and enroll the names of our young 
 men. Is he to blame for the necessity he is under of obeying 
 the orders of his general ? " 
 
 " No, he is not.'' said her mother, gravely. 
 
 '' But when the Austrians come now, and my father and 
 the other men rise, and expel and kill the Bavarians, they will 
 kill Ulrich von Hohenberg too, although it is not his fault 
 that he is a Bavarian. Oh, dearest mamma, he is such a good, 
 kind-hearted young man ! he is my dear Eliza's cousin and 
 our castellan's nephew, and you know how well Eliza and her 
 father have treated me, and that they take care of me, when- 
 ever I am at the castle, as though I were the castellan's own 
 child. Dearest mamma, shall we permit our men to kill the 
 nephew of our excellent castellan ? " 
 
 " No, we will not, Lizzie," said her mother, resolutely. 
 " Quick, run up the footpath loading to the castle. Tell the 
 young officer that the Tyrolese are going to deliver themselves 
 from the Bavarian yoke, a^jd that he had better effect his es- 
 cape while there is time." 
 
 " Mother, he will not do it, for he is a brave young man !" 
 sighed Eliza; ''and then — I cannot betray father's secret to 
 him. If the Austrians did not come after all, and I had told 
 Ulrich von Hohenberg what father and the other Tyrolese 
 intend to do, would 1 not be a traitress, and would not father 
 curse me ? " 
 
 "True, true, that will not do," said her mother musingly ; 
 " your fallicr would never forgive you. But I know what you 
 must do. Just run up to the castle and act as though you 
 wished only to pay a visit to your friend Eliza ; no one knows 
 as yet what is going to occur. None of your friends have dis- 
 closed the secret ; and the castellan too, though I think he is
 
 ANTHONY WAMiNKK OK WINDISCIl-MATKEY. HI 
 
 a good Austrian at heart, docs not yet know any tiling about 
 it. Your father tokl me so this very morning. You will 
 remain at the castle, and so soon as you hear the report of a 
 rille on the market-place here, you will know that the insur- 
 rection is breaking out. There is father's rifle ; when it is 
 time. I will stej) out of the back gate with it and shoot. You 
 will hear the report, and tell the young ollicer that the Tyro- 
 lese are going to rise, and that he had better conceal himself 
 until the first rage of the insurgents has blown over." 
 
 "Yes, I will do so," exclaimed Eliza; "I will run up to 
 the castle now. Good-by, dearest mamma." 
 
 She imprinted a kiss on the hand of her mother, and then 
 sped away as gracefully as a young roe. 
 
 "She is a very good girl," said her mothei", looking after 
 her smilingly, " and has a soft and compassionate heart. She 
 'vishes to save the castellan's nephew merely because she 
 pities the young man who is exposed to such imminent dan 
 ger. It is very kind of her ! It — But, H0I3' Virgin ! what 
 is the matter outside ? Is the outbreak to commence already ? 
 T believe it is my Tony who is talking outside in so loud a voice. 
 I must go and hear what is the matter." 
 
 She hastened thi-ough the bar-room to the street-door open 
 ing upon the market place. 
 
 Yes, it was Anthony Wallner-Aichberger who was gesticu- 
 lating so violently yonder. Round him stood the men of 
 Windisch-Matre\^, looking with gloomy faces at the three 
 Bavarian revenue officers who were standing in front of Wall- 
 ner. 
 
 "I repeat it, sir," exclaimed Anthony Wallner at this mo- 
 ment with an air of mock gravity, "that we aie all very loyal 
 and obedient subjects, and that it is wrong in you. Mr. Tax- 
 collector, to call us stubborn, seditious fellows. If we were 
 such, would we not, being so numerous here, punish you and 
 your two officers for speaking of us so contemptuously and 
 disrespectfully ? " 
 
 " You know full well that, at a wave of my hand, the com- 
 pany of soldiei-s will rush down from Castle Weissenstein and 
 shoot you all as traitors and rebels," said the tax-collector 
 haughtily.
 
 112 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 " Well, Mr. Tax-collector;' oxclaimed Walliier, smilingly, 
 " as for the shooting, we are likewise well versed in that. We 
 are first-rate marksmen, we Tyrolese ! " 
 
 " What ! " cried the tax-collector, furiously, " do you speak 
 again of Tyrolese ? Did I not forbid you to call yourselves 
 so ? You are no Tyrolese, but inhabitants of South-Bavaria, 
 do you hear ? His majesty the King of Bavaria does not want 
 any T\-rolese as subjects, but only Southern Bavarians, as I 
 have told you twice already." * 
 
 " Very well ; if his majesty does not want any Tyrolese as 
 subjects, you need not tell us so more than once," exclaimed 
 Anthony Wallner. "He prefers Southern Bavarians, does 
 he ? Bear that in mind, Tyrolese ; the King of Bavaria wants 
 only Southern Bavarians." 
 
 " We will bear that in mind," shouted the Tyrolese ; and 
 loud, scornful laughter rolled like threatening thunder across 
 the market place. 
 
 " You laugh," exclaimed the tax-collector, endeavoring to 
 stifle his I'age ; " I am glad you are so merry. To-morrow, 
 perhaps, you will laugh no longer ; for I tell you, if you do 
 not pay to day the fine imposed on you, I shall have it forci- 
 bly collected by the soldiers at daybreak to-morrow morning." 
 
 '' We must really pay the fine, then ? " asked Anthony 
 Wallner, with feigned timidity. " You Avill not relent, then, 
 Mr. Tax-collector ? We really must pay the heavy fine, be- 
 cause we had a little fun the other day ? For you must say 
 yourself, sir, we really did no wrong." 
 
 " You did no wrong ? You were in open insujTection. On 
 the birthday of your gracious master the king, instead of hang- 
 ing out Bavarian flags, as yoii had been ordered, you hung out 
 Austrian flags everywhere." 
 
 " No, Mr. Tax-collector, you did not see right ; we hung 
 out none but Bavarian flags." 
 
 "That is false ! I myself walked through the whole place, 
 and saw every thing with my own eyes. Your flags did not 
 contain the Bavarian colors, blue and white, but black and 
 yellow, the Austrian colors." 
 
 "Pos.sibly they may have looked so," exclaimed Anthony 
 
 * See " Gallery of Heroes : Life of Andreas Hofer," p. 15.
 
 ANTHONY WALLNHK OF WINDISCU-MATREY. 113 
 
 WalliKM-, " l)ut (hut was not our fault. The flaji's wei-o our old 
 Bavarian Hags : hut they were already somewhat old, the hlu<! 
 was faded and looked like yellow, and tlie white liad become 
 quite dii'tj' and looked like black." 
 
 "Thunder and lightning! Wallner is right," exclaimed 
 the Tyrolese, bursting into loud laughter. "The flags were 
 our old Bavarian flags, but they were faded and dirt^'." 
 
 The young lads, who had hitherto stood in groups around 
 the outer edge of the market-place, now mingled with the 
 crowd to listen to the speakers ; and a j'oung Tyrolese, with 
 his rifle on his arm, and his pointed hat over his dark curly 
 hair, approached with such impetuous curiosity that he sud- 
 denly stood close to the tax-collector. However, he took no 
 notice of the olhcer, but looked with eager attention at Wall- 
 ner, and listened to his words. 
 
 But the grim eyes of one of the two bailiffs noticed with 
 dismay that this impudent fellow dared to place hinjself close 
 by the side of the tax-collector without taking off his hat. 
 Striking with his fist on the young fellow's hat, he drove it 
 deep over his forehead. 
 
 ''Villain ! " he shouted, in a threatening voice, "do you 
 not see the tax-collector ? " 
 
 The young fellow drew the hat with an air of embarrass- 
 ment from his forehead, and crimsoning with rage, but in 
 silence, stepped back into the circle of the murmuring men. 
 
 " That is just what you deserve, Joe," said Anthony Wall- 
 ner. "Why did a smart Tyrolese boy like you come near 
 us Southern Bavarians when we were talking about public 
 affairs ? " 
 
 At this moment a lad elbowed himself hastily through tht, 
 crowd. His dress was dusty, his face was flushed and heated, 
 and it seemed as though he had travelled many iniles on foot. 
 To those who stood in his way he said in a breathless, panting 
 voice : "Please stand aside. I have to deliver something to 
 Anthony Wallner-Aichberger ; I must speak with him." 
 
 The men willingly stood aside. Now he was close behind 
 Wallner, and, interrupting him in his speech, he whispered to 
 him : "I come from Andreas Hofer ; he sends ycni his greet- 
 ings and this paper. I have I'un all night to bring it to you."
 
 114 ANDREAS HOFEll. 
 
 He handed a folded paper to Wallner, who opened it with 
 hands ti'embling with impatience. 
 
 It was Andreas Hofer's " open order." 
 
 Wallner's face brightened up, he cast a fiery glance around 
 the place filled with his friends, and fixed his flashing eyes 
 then on the hat of the bailiff uho had rebuked the young 
 Tyrolese in so overbearing a manner. At a bound he was by 
 his side, drove the bailiff's round official hat with one blow of 
 his fist over his head, so that his whole face disappeared in the 
 crown, and exclaimed in a loud, ringing voice : 
 
 '• Villain ! do you not see the Tyrolese ? " 
 
 A loud outburst- of exultation greeted Wallner's bold deed, 
 and all the men crowded around him, ready to protect An- 
 thony Wallner, and looking at tlie tax-collector with flashing, 
 threatening eyes. 
 
 The latter seemed as if stunned by the sudden change in 
 Wallner's demeanor, and he looked in dismay at the audacious 
 innkeeper who was standing close in front of him and staring 
 at him with a laughing face, 
 
 " What does this mean ? " he asked at length, in a tremu- 
 lous voice. 
 
 " It means that we want to be Tyrolese again," shouted 
 Anthony Wallner, exultingly. ''It means that we will no 
 longe)' submit to brutal treatment at the hands of j,Quv Bava- 
 rian bailiffs, and that ive will treat you now as you Boafoks * 
 have treated us for five years past." 
 
 " For God's sake, how have we treated you, then ? " asked 
 the tax-collector, di'awing back from the threatening face of 
 Anthony Wallner toward his bailiffs. 
 
 " Listen to me, Tyrolese," shouted Anthony Wallner, scorn- 
 fully, " he asks me how the Bavarians have treated us ! Shall 
 I tell it to him once more ? " 
 
 " Yes, yes, Tony, do so," replied the Tyrolese on all sidcf>. 
 ''Tell it to him, and if he refuses to listen, we will tie him 
 hand and foot, and compel him to hear what you say." 
 
 "Well, Mr. Tax-collector." said Wallner, with mock polite- 
 ness, " I will tell you, then, how you Bavarians have treated 
 
 * JSoafols, tlie nickname whidi the Tyrolese gave to the Bavarians at tliat 
 time. It signifies " Bavarian pigs."
 
 ANTJIOKY WALLNKR <)V WJ.NDISCM-MATREY. 1 1 .-J 
 
 us for four years past, ami only when you know all our griev- 
 ances will we settle our accounts. Listen, then, to what you 
 have clone to us, and what we complain of. You have be- 
 haved toward us as perjured liars and scoundrels, and I will 
 prove it to you. In the first place, then, in 1805, when, to our 
 intense grief and regret, our emperor was obliged to cede the 
 Tyrol to Bavaria, the King- of Bavaria, in a letter which he 
 wi'ote to us, solemnly guaranteed our constitution and our 
 ancient i)rivileges and liberties. That is what j^our king prom- 
 ised in 1805. To be sure, we did not put much coulidence in 
 what he said, for we well knew that when the big cat wants 
 to devour the little mouse, it treats the victim at first with 
 great kindness and throws a small bit of bacon to it ; but 
 no sooner does the mouse take it than the cat pounces upon its 
 unsuspecting victim and devours it. And such was our fate 
 too ; the cat Bavaria wanted to swallow the little mouse Tyrol ; 
 not even our name Avas to be left to us, and we were to be 
 called Southern Bavarians instead of Tyroiese. Besides, our 
 ancient Castle of Tyrol, the sacred symbol of our country, was 
 dismantled and destroyed. You thought probably we would 
 forget the past and the history of the Tyrol, and all that we 
 are, if we no longer saw the Castle of Tyrol, where the dear 
 Margaret Maultasch solemnly guaranteed to her Tyroiese their 
 liberties, great jirivileges, and independence, for all time to 
 come. But all was written m our hearts, and your infamous 
 conduct engraved it only the more lastingly thereon. You 
 took from us not only our name, but also our constitution, 
 which all Tyroiese love as their most precious treasure. The 
 representative estates were suppressed, and the provincial 
 funds seized. No less than eight new and oppressive taxes 
 were imposed, and levied with the utmost rigor ; the very 
 name of the country, as I said before, was al)o]islied ; and, 
 after the model of revolutionary France, the Tyi'ol was divided 
 into the departments of the Inn, the Adige, and the Eisach ; 
 the passion plays, which formed so large a part of the amuse- 
 ments of our people, were prohibited ; all pilgrimages to chap- 
 els or places of extraordinary sanctity wei-e forbidden. The 
 convents and monasteries were confiscated, and their estates 
 sold ; the church plate and holy vessels were melted down and
 
 116 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 disposed of ; the royal property was all brought into the mar- 
 ket. New imposts were daily exacted without any consulta- 
 tion with the estates of our people ; specie became scarce frona 
 the quantity of it which was drawn off to the royal treasury ; 
 the Austrian notes were reduced to half their value, and the 
 feelings of our people irritated almost to madness by the com- 
 pulsory levy of our young men to serve in the ranks of your 
 army. In this manner you tried to crush us to earth. But I 
 tell you, we shall rise again, the whole Tyrol will rise and no 
 longer allow itself to be trampled under foot. You say the 
 king does not want any Tyrolese as subjects. He shall not 
 have any, for the Tyrolese want to become again subjects of 
 their dear Emperor Francis of Austria. Men of the Tyrol, 
 from Pusterthal, Teffereck, and Virgenthal, you wish to be- 
 come again subjects of the Emperor Francis, do you not ? " 
 
 *' We do, we do ! " shouted the men, uttei'ing deafening 
 cheers. " Our dear Francis is to become again our lord and 
 emperor ! Long live the Emperor Francis I " 
 
 " Silence ! " cried the tax-collector, pale with rage and dis- 
 may ; "silence, or I shall send for the soldiers and have every 
 one of you arrested, and — " 
 
 "Be silent yourself !" said Anthony Wallner, seizing him 
 violently by the arm. " Sir, you are our prisoner, and so are the 
 two bailiffs yonder. Seize them, my friends, and if they shout 
 or resist, shoot them down. And if you utter a cry or a word, 
 Mr. Tax-collector, so help me God if I do not kill you for a 
 Boafok, as you are ! Keep quiet, therefore, be a sensible man, 
 and deliver you^ funds to us. Come, men, we will accompany 
 this gentleman to the tax-collector's office ; and now let us 
 sing a good Tyrolese song : 
 
 " D'Schorgen iind d'Schreiber und d'Richter allsanimt, 
 Siiid'n Teufel auskomma, druck'n iiberall auf s Land, 
 Uiid sehlnden Bauern, es is kam zum sog'n, 
 Es wiir ja koaii Wunder, wir tliiiten's allsamint erschlog n." • 
 
 * Song of" the Tyrolese in 1809.— See Mayr, " Joseph Speckbacher," p. 29, 
 " Tlie pusliing — the writers, and magistrates all, 
 Possessed by the de\nl, our country enthrall, 
 And grind the poor peasants ; ala.s, 'tis a shame I 
 Ko wonder if we too i<hare ruin tlie same."
 
 THE DECLARATION OF LOVE. 117 
 
 He concluded with a long and joyous Jodler, and shouted 
 triumphantly : " Dear brotliren, Andreas Hofer sends you his 
 greetings, and informs you tliat the Austrians have invaded 
 the Tyrol. Hurrah, 'tis lime I " 
 
 "Yes, 'tis time," murmured Anna Maria, Anthony Wall- 
 ner s wife, to herself ; " 'tis time for me to give Lizzie the sig- 
 nal, for the insurrection has broken out." 
 
 She liastened into the house, took her husband's old rifle 
 from the chamber, ran with it out of the back-door of the 
 house, and fired the signal for her daughter. 
 
 " There," she said, returning quietly into the house, " she 
 will have heard the report, and there is time yet to save him. 
 I will do noAv what Tony asked me to do. When he sings the 
 song, I shall take the paper-balls from the table-drawer in the 
 back-room, give a package to each of the two boys and two 
 servant-girls, and tell them to go witl) it into the mountains 
 and circulate the paper-balls everywhere, that the inhabitants 
 of the whole Pusterthal, from one end to the other, from the 
 Gross-Glockner to the Venediger and Krimler Tauern, may 
 learn this very day that it is time, and that the Boafoks are to 
 be ex])elled from the country. Halloo, boys, come here ! Hal 
 loo, girls, your mistress wants to speak to you ! " 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 THE DECLARATION OF LOVE. 
 
 Eliza Wallner, after leaving her mother, had sped with 
 the utmost rapidity thvougli tlie back-door, across the yard, 
 through the garden, out of the small gate leading to the 
 meadow, down the foot-path, up the mountain-road, jumping 
 from stone to stone, courageous and intrepid as a true daughter 
 of the Tyrol. Now she stood at the portal of the castle, in 
 front of which some of the Bavarian soldiers were lying in 
 idle repose on a bench, while others in the side-wing of the 
 castle allotted to them were looking out of the windows, and 
 dreamily hunmiing a Bavarian song, frequently interrupted 
 by loud yawns.
 
 118 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 Eliza walked past them witli a slight greeting and entered 
 the house. The old footman sitting in the hall received her 
 kindly, and told her, in reply to her inquiry, that the castellan, 
 old Baron von Hohenberg, had set ovit early in the morning- 
 for Salzburg to attend court, but that his daughter and her 
 cousin, Captain Ulrich von Hohenberg, were lunching in the 
 small dining-room up-staii's. 
 
 This was all the information Eliza needed ; she nodded to 
 the footman, and ascended the staircase quickly. The old 
 footman did not follow her ; he knew that it was unnecessary 
 for him to announce beautiful Lizzie to his mistress, but that 
 she always was welcome to her. He therefore sat down again 
 quietly, and took up the wood-woi*k with which he had been 
 occupied before. 
 
 Eliza reached the dining-room and thi-ew open the door 
 with a hasty hand ; a blissful smile then overspread her 
 flushed face, for on the balcony yonder, behind the open glass 
 door, she beheld the tall slender form of Captain Ulrich von 
 Hohenberg. She heard him chatting and laughing gayly ; 
 and through the door she also saw her friend Elza von Ho- 
 henberg, who was listening to her cousin's words in smiling 
 repose. Scarcely touching the floor with her feet, she hast- 
 ened through the room. 
 
 " I assure you, cousin," said Elza at this moment, in her 
 clear, distinct voice, " I believe at times that she is the re- 
 suscitated Maid of Orleans, and that she will perform heroic 
 deeds one day. Oh, I know my dear beautiful Eliza Wallner, 
 and—" 
 
 " Do not sx^eak of me, for I am listening to you," exclaimed 
 Eliza, entering the balcony. 
 
 " Ah, my Lizzie," exclaimed Elza, rising and tenderly em- 
 bracing her friend. '' Have you come at length, my merry, 
 beautiful lark ? " 
 
 " Yes, I have, and I am glad that I am here," said Eliza ; 
 and her large hazel cj^es turned for a moment smilingly to the 
 young officer, who, like his cousin, had risen on beholding 
 Eliza Wallner. He did not utter a word of salutation ; never- 
 theless, Eliza blushed on meeting his glance, and averted her 
 eyes timidly from him. turning them toward the distant sum-
 
 THK DECLAUATION OF LOVE. 119 
 
 Tiiits of the fjlaciei's wliich were <;litteiiiijj;' around Uie liori/.on 
 yonder in wondei-ful niajesly. 
 
 " You are ^lad that you are here, luy sweet child? Why 
 did you not come at an eai'lier hour i " asked Elza. '' You are 
 always expected. My dear silent cousin, she is always ex- 
 pected, is she not ! " 
 
 "Most assuredly she is," said the young captain, witli a 
 smile ; '' and she is as welcome as the lirst rose of May." 
 
 " How impudent you are ! " exclaimed Miss Elza, laufifh- 
 ing ; " you hid my Lizzie welcome as the hrst rose of May, and 
 yet I was here before her ! " 
 
 "He means only tlie wild hedge-rose, Elza," said Eliza, 
 smiling archly, " for you know very well that the beautiful 
 and aristoci-atic roses do not yet bloom in May," 
 
 " Well, tell me, cousin, did you really intend tocompai-e my 
 darling here with a wild hedge-rose '( " asked Elza. 
 
 " Do not answer, sir," exclaimed Eliza, eagerly. " You have 
 })lundered in trying to flattei' me, aiid that is good. You will 
 see at length that fine i)hrases amount to nothing, and that 
 they are colors that fade in tlie sunshine. You had better 
 spe-ak frankly and honestly to me, for I have often told you 
 I am a stupid daughter of the Tyrol, and do not know what to 
 rejdy to such fine city phrases." 
 
 " But for all that you are not stupid, my beautiful Eliza," 
 said Ulrich von Hohenlierg. " Tn truth, I who comi)are you 
 witli a rose am not a liar, but he would he who should charge 
 you with stupidity." 
 
 "But if I should, nevertheless, assert that I am stupid, 
 whom would it cojicern ? " asked Eliza, defiantly. 
 
 " Ah, there they are quarrelling again," exclaimed Elza, 
 laughing. " Come to me, sweet Lizzie ; sit down by my side 
 on this bench and give me your hand. I am so glad that you 
 are here, for it always seems to me as though I were a lonely 
 orphan when my dearest Lizzie, with her pretty face and her 
 meri-y laughter, is absent from me. Butliere. Lizzie, you 
 nuist look u]ion me with due awe to-day. for to-day I am not 
 only your friend and sistei', hut I am — the castellan ! My 
 father will be absent four days, and I re]^re'*ent him here. He 
 delegated his whole power to me, and intrusted me with
 
 1<2Q ANDREAS nOFER. 
 
 all the keys. Treat me, therefore, with great respect, Liz- 
 zie." 
 
 " That is what I always do, Elza," said Lizzie, tenderly, 
 pressing the slender white hand of her friend to her lips. 
 " You are always my better self, and I obey you because I love 
 you, and I love you because I obey you so gladly ! " 
 
 " Well, then, I command you. Lizzie, to be our guest all 
 day and stay with us until nightfall. Oh, no objections, Liz- 
 zie ; if you love me, you must obey ! " 
 
 " And I obey you willingly, Elza ; only when my father 
 sends for me, I must go, for you know we must not violate 
 the fourth commandment ; our worthy priest would never 
 forgive us." 
 
 " When your father sends for you, Eliza, I shall myself go 
 down to him and beg him to leave you here. Well, then, you 
 belong to us for the whole day, and we will consider now how 
 we shall spend this day. Cousin, do not stand there in silence 
 all the time, staring at the glaciers, but look at us and propose 
 quickly some excursion for us to make to-day." 
 
 " What could I propose ? " asked the young officer, slinig- 
 ging his shoulders. 
 
 •' I submit rather silently and obediently to your proposals, 
 for Miss Eliza would certainly reject all my proposals merely 
 because I make them." 
 
 Eliza burst into merry laughter. " Elza, dearest Elza," she 
 exclaimed, '' he calls me ' Miss Eliza ! ' No, sir, let me tell you, 
 a poor Tyrolese girl like me is no ' miss,' no aristocratic lady ; 
 people call me Lizzie, only Lizzie ; do not forget that ! " 
 
 "People here call her ' beautiful Lizzie,"" said the officer, 
 in a low voice, casting an admiring glance on the young girl. 
 
 " That does not concern you, sir," she replied, blushing like 
 a crimson rose ; " you do not belong to the people here, and 
 you must not call me anything but Lizzie, do you hear ? I 
 think the notions which city folks entertain about beauty are 
 different from those of peasants like us. We consider the 
 daisy and the Alpine rose beautiful ; though they are but 
 small flowers, yet they suit us. However, the city folks laugh 
 at our taste, and step recklessly on our flowers. They con- 
 sider only the proud white lilies and the large gorgeous roses
 
 THE DFA'LAKATION OF LOVE. ( t> 1 
 
 beautiful flowers. I do not beloug- t(j them, I am only a 
 daisy ; but my P]lza likes this daisy and fasteus me to her 
 bosom, and I rest there so soft and sweetly." 
 
 She encircled Elza's neck with her arms, leaned her head 
 against her breast, and looked tenderly up to lier with her 
 hazel gazelle eyes. 
 
 Elza bent over her and kissed her eyes and white foreliead. 
 Ulrieli v^on Ilohenberg looked at them both with a (oiider, 
 ardent glance ; thou he averted his head to conceal the crim- 
 son glow suffusing his cheeks. 
 
 At this moment the door opened, and the castellan's over- 
 seer entered with an air of hui'ry a>id self-importance. 
 
 " Miss Elza," he said, " the wood-cutters have brought wood 
 and are waiting for a i-eceipt. Besides, the head dairy-woman 
 wishes to see you about the butter which she is to send to 
 town ; and the cattle-dealer has arrived, and — " 
 
 " I am coming, I am coming,'' exclaimed the young lady, 
 laughing. " Do j'ou see, Lizzie, what an important person I 
 aui i But for me the whole machine would stand still and 
 sink in ruins. Fortunately, I am equal to the occasion ; and 
 set the wheels in motion, and the machine can go on. You 
 may stay here and consider how we are to amuse ourselves to- 
 day, lu the mean time I shall regulate our domestic affairs a 
 little, and when I come back, you will inform me what pleas- 
 ure you have devised foi' us to-day." 
 
 " No, Elza, let nie go with you," begged Eliza, almost anx- 
 iously, " I shall assist you — " 
 
 " You cannot help me outside, Lizzie," said Elza, laughing ; 
 "but hei'e you can take my place and be my cousin Ulrich's 
 companion. Be merry, my dear children, until I come 
 back ! " 
 
 She nodded pleasantly to them, took the large bunch of 
 keys from the table, and swinging it noisily in her hand, 
 skipped through the room and out of the door. 
 
 Lizzie had followed her a few steps ; then, as if arrested by 
 a sudden thought, she paused and returned slowly to the bal- 
 cony. She cast a quick glance on the officer, who was leaning 
 against the wall on one side of the balcony, and, with his 
 arms folded on his breast, did not avert his eves from her. 
 9
 
 122 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 Eliza gave a start and withdrew to the other side of the 
 balcony. There she sat down on the bench like a timid little 
 bird, and allowed her eyes to wander dreamily and thought- 
 fully over the landscape. And, indeed, the view which they 
 enjoyed from the balcony was wondrously beautiful. On one 
 side extended the splendid valley, with its meadows clad in 
 the freshest verdure of spring, its foaming white mountain- 
 torrents, its houses and huts, which disappeared gradually in 
 the violet mists bordering the horizon. On both sides of the 
 valley rose the green w'ooded heigbts, interspersed here and 
 there with small verdant pastures and clearings, on which 
 handsome red cows were grazing or lying in majestic repose. 
 Behind the clearings black pines and firs dotted the slopes, 
 which, however, in their more elevated portions became more 
 and more bare ; where the trees ceased, appeared here and 
 there again green pastures, and on them, gray and small, like 
 birds' nests, the huts of the mountain cow-keepers, who, the 
 most advanced sentinels, as it were, were guarding the fron- 
 tiers where the war between nature and man commences, the 
 frontiers of the snowy region and the world of glaciers. Be- 
 hind the cow-keepers' huts flashed already masses of snow 
 from several mountain-gorges ; farther above, the snow had 
 spread its white silver veils far and wide over all the moun- 
 tain-peaks, so that they glittered and sparkled with indesci'ib- 
 able beaiity in the bright morning sun, and loomed like 
 swans' necks up to the azure sky. 
 
 Below, in the foreground of the valley, at the foot of Castle 
 Weissenstein, lay the village of Windisch-Matrey, with its 
 scattering groups of handsome houses, from whose midst 
 arose the church, with its tall, pointed steeple. From the 
 standpoint which she occupied, Eliza was able to distinctly 
 survey the market-place and its crowds of men, which, in the 
 distance, resembled busy black ant-hills. She gazed upon 
 them fixedly, and the small specks seemed to her practised eye 
 like human forms ; she thought she could distinguish several 
 of them, and, among others, the tall and powerful form of her 
 father ; she thoiight — 
 
 " Eliza," said all at once a low voice by lier side — " Eliza, you 
 do not want to see me, then ? You are still angry with me ? "
 
 THE DECLARATION' OK LOVE. \2o 
 
 She gave a start, and crimsoned, when, on looking- up, she 
 saw young Uh'ich von Ilohenljorg standing close iu front of 
 her, and gazing at her with ardent and beseecliiug eyes. 
 
 *' No, sir," she said, '' 1 really did not see you." 
 
 "That is to say, Eliza, you are still angry with me?" he 
 asked, eagerly. "Yon are silent, you avert your head. My 
 God ! Eliza, wliat did I do, then, to incur your anger ? " 
 
 "Not nuich, perhaps, for city folks, but by far too much 
 for a poor peasant-girl," she said, with eyes flashing proudly. 
 "You told me you loved me, you tried forcibly to embrace 
 and kiss me, and begged me to go up early in the morning to 
 the yellow grotto, where you would wait for me. You told 
 me further not to say a word about it to anybody ; it should 
 remain a secret between you and me, and I should not even 
 mention it to the priest at the confessional. That was not 
 honest of you, sir ; nay, it was bad of you to try and pei-suade 
 me to such mean things. It showed me that you cannot be a 
 good man, and that j-our friendship for me is prompted by evil 
 intentions." 
 
 " I do not feel any friendship for you, none whatever," said 
 the young man ardently, seating liimself by her side, seizing 
 her hand in spite of her resistance, and pressing it to his heart. 
 "I do not want to be your friend, my sweet, beautiful, wild 
 Alpine rose ; no, not your friend, but your lover. And I com- 
 mence by loving you with intense ardor, by desiring and long- 
 ing for nothing, and thinking of nothing l)ut you alone. Oh, 
 Eliza, believe me, I love you intensely — by far more than 
 Elza, more than your parents, more than all your friends to- 
 gether." 
 
 " More, perhaps, but not better," she said, shaking her head, 
 and gently withdrawing her hand from him. 
 
 "No, let me keep your hand 1" he exclaimed hastily, seiz- 
 ing it again ; " let me keep it, Eliza, for I tell you I love you 
 better too than all the others ; I love you with my soul, with 
 my heart, with my blood, with my life ! Oh, believe me, 
 sweet, lovely child ; believe me and give me your heart ; fol- 
 low me, and l»e mine — mine foreverniore ! I will give you a 
 happy, brilliant, and beautiful existence ; I will lay at your 
 feet all the pleasures, enjoyments, and charms of this world — "
 
 124 ANDREAS IIOFER. 
 
 " Sir," interrupted Eliza, hastily, jumping up, and fixing 
 her eyes upon him with a strange, ardent expression, " I hoi)e 
 I understand you right, and my ears do not deceive me ? You 
 offer me your hand ? You want to marry me and make me 
 your wife ? " 
 
 The young man gave a slight start and dropped his eyes. 
 Eliza saw it, and a sarcastic smile played round her lips. 
 " Why do you not speak ? " she said. " Reply to me. Did I 
 understand you ? Did you make serious proposals of marriage 
 to me ? Will you go down to my father this very day and 
 say to him : " Listen, sir. I, the aristocratic gentleman, I, Cap- 
 tain Ulrich von Hohenberg, want to marry your daughter 
 Lizzie. I think this country girl, with her manners, her lan- 
 guage, and bearing, is well fitted to associate with my aris- 
 tocratic and distinguished family, and my parents in Munich 
 would be overjoyed if I should bring to them this Tyrolese 
 girl as their daughter-in-law, and a brow^n cow and a white 
 goat as her dower.' Tell me, sii', will you go down to my dear 
 father, the innkeeper of Windisch-Matrey, and say that to 
 him?" 
 
 " But, Eliza," sighed the young man, mournfully, " if you 
 loved me only a little, you would not immediately think of 
 marriage, but would forget every thing else, allow your whole 
 past to sink into oblivion behind you, and think of nothing 
 but the fact that I love you intensely, and that you return my 
 love." 
 
 "But I do not admit at all that I love you," said Eliza, 
 proudly ; " on the contrary, you alone say and swear that you 
 love me, and I reply that I do notbeliev^e you." 
 
 " And why do you not believe me, cruel, beautiful girl ? " 
 
 " Because you utter so many fine phrases which amount 
 to nothing at all. You tell me that you are very fond of me, 
 but I think if you love any body with all your heart, you 
 must be anxious to preserve him from misfortune, and do all 
 you can to make him happy, even though it were at the ex- 
 pense of yoiir own happiness. But you, sir, do not intend to 
 make me happy •, on the contrary, you are bent on plimging 
 me into misery and disgrace, and that is the reason why I 
 contend that you do not love me."
 
 THE DECLARATION' OF LOVE. 125 
 
 "Theu you have a heart of stone," cried Uh'icli von Ho- 
 lienbei'g, despairingly ; '" you will not see what I am suffer- 
 ing, nor how intensely I love you." 
 
 " Sir," said she, smiling, " if I cannot comprehend it, pray 
 explain to me how you love me." 
 
 " I love you as the most beautiful, lovely, arid charming 
 creature I have ever known and adtnii'ed. I love you as a 
 girl whose innocence, naturalness, and goodness, fill my heart 
 with ecst^i-sy and profound emotion ; by whose side I should 
 like to spend my whole life, and united with whom I should 
 wish to seek for a lonely island of happiness to dream there-* 
 remote from the world, it« prejudices and follies— a sweet, 
 blissful love-life, from which only^ death would arouse us." 
 
 '' Sir, if you really love me in this manner, you need not run 
 away with me to seek elsewhere in foreign lands the ' lonely 
 island of happiness,' as you call it, for in that case you would 
 liave it round you wherever we might be, and, above all 
 things, here in our mountains. But, look, it is just as I said ; 
 you are desirous to find a ' lonely^ island of happiness ' — that 
 is to say, nobody is to find out that the aristocratic gentleman 
 loves the poor Tyrolese girl, and that is the reason why you 
 want us to hide in the mountains or elsewhere, and see if we 
 can bo happy without the blessing of the priest, our dear 
 parents, and all other good men." 
 
 " Oh, Eliza, have mercy on me. I swear to you that I love 
 you intensely ; that I would be the happiest of men if I could 
 marry you publicly and make you my wife in the face of the 
 whole world, that — " 
 
 Eliza interrupted him by singing with a smiling air, and 
 in a merry, ringing voice : 
 
 " Und a Bisserle Lieb' und a Bisserle Treu' 
 Und a Bisserle Palschheit ist all'zeit dabei ! " * 
 
 "No, no falsehood," cried Ulrich, "only the irksome, ter- 
 rible necessity, the — " 
 
 The loud crash of a rifle, finding an oft-repeated echo in 
 
 * " And 11 hit nf lovi', and a bit of truth, 
 
 And a bit of falsolidod, make life, forsooth I "
 
 126 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 the mountains, interrupted him. Eliza uttered a cry of dis- 
 may and jumped up. 
 
 " Jesus Maria I " she murmured in a low voice, " it is the 
 signal. It has commenced ! " 
 
 " What ! What has commenced ? " asked the young man, 
 in surprise. 
 
 Eliza looked at him with confused and anxious eyes. 
 " Nothing, oh, nothing at all," she said, in a trenmlous voice. 
 " Only — I mean " — she paused and looked with fixed attention 
 down on the large place. She distinctly saw the groups mov- 
 ing rapidly to and fro^and then pouring with furious haste 
 through the streets. 
 
 "They are coming up here." she murmured ; and her eyes 
 turned toward the wing of the castle on the side of the bal- 
 cony, where the Bavarian soldiers had their quarters. The 
 latter, however, apparently did not suspect the imminent 
 danger. They were sitting at the windows and smoking or 
 cleaning their muskets and uniforms. Eliza could hear them 
 chatting and laxaghing in perfect tranquillitj-. 
 
 "Well, Eliza, beautiful, cruel girl,' asked Ulrich von Ho- 
 henberg, " will you tell me what has suddenly excited you so 
 strangely ? " 
 
 " Nothing, sir, oh, nothing," she said ; but then she leaned 
 far ovei- the railing of the balcony and stared down ; she be- 
 held four young Tyrolese sharpshooters running up the castle- 
 hill at a furious rate, and the host of their comrades following 
 them. The four who led the way now entered the court-yard, 
 and reached with wild bounds the large door forming the en- 
 trance of the wing of the building occupied by the soldiers. 
 With thundering noise they .shut it, turned the large key 
 which was in the lock, and drew it immediately out. 
 
 Two sharp-shooters now ran up from the opposite side. 
 
 " We have locked the back-gate," they shouted exultingly. 
 
 " That door is locked too," replied the others, jubilantly. 
 " They are all prisoners in the castle ! " 
 
 "Sir," cried Eliza, drawing Ulrich von Hohenberg back 
 from the balcony, " you may come with me into the dining- 
 room ; I must tell you something." 
 
 " No," he said, " I shall stay here and see what is the mat-
 
 THE DECLARATION OF LoVE. 127 
 
 tcr. What does lliis mean ? More than fifty Tyroloso are 
 entering the courtyard ; and why did those mad young fel- 
 lows lock the door upon my soldiers ? '' 
 
 " I suppose it is some mad freak of theirs, that is all, " said 
 Eliza, trembling. "' Come, dear sir, leave the balcony and 
 follow mc into the room. I wish to tell you something — 
 quite secretly, sir,— oh, come ! I do not want heaven and 
 God and the snow-clad mountains yonder to hear a word of 
 it." 
 
 " Eliza," he exclaimed, transported, " how you smile, how 
 you blush ! Oh, my God, what do you wish to say to me ? " 
 
 She encircled his arm with her hands and drew him into 
 the room. " Listen,'' she said, looking at him with imi)loring 
 eyes, "if it is true tliat you love me give me, a proof of it and 
 swear (hat you will do what i sluill request of you ! " 
 
 ' I love you, Eliza, and will prove it to you. I swear, 
 therefore, to do what you shall request of me." 
 
 "Thank you, thank you," she exclaimed, joyfully. "• Now 
 come Avith me ; I will conduct you under the roof ; I know of 
 a hiding-i)lace there where no one will find j'ou, and you v»-il1 
 swear to me to stay there until I come to you with a suit of 
 clothes which you will put on. Thereupon I shall conduct 
 you in the dead of night into the mountains, and thus you 
 wull escape." 
 
 " Escape ? Never ! And why, then ? '' 
 
 "Sir, because the peasants will assassinate you if you re- 
 main." 
 
 The young oflicer burst into loud laughter. "They will 
 assassinate me ? Ah, I have my soldiers and my own arms, 
 and am not afraid of the peasants. My soldiers would soon 
 put down the insurgents if they should really rebel to-mor- 
 row." 
 
 "Sir, they will not wait until to-morrow; they have al- 
 ready risen ; the insurrection has commenced this veiy hour. 
 Oh, thank God, you did not find out what was going on ; 
 you felt so secure in your pride and despised the Tyrolese so 
 much that you did not fear them.* But I tell you now, the 
 
 * Tlie Tyrolese kept the secret of their iiiteiulcd in.^urreetion .so well, and 
 the Bu viiriaii.s were, .^o overbearing and careles.s, tliat they did not know any
 
 128 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 insurrection has broken out ; the whole Tyrol is rising ; all 
 our people are in commotion from Innspruck down to Salz- 
 burg. You can no longer prevent or stifle it. You must 
 submit. Save yourself, then, sir ; you have sworn to gi'ant 
 my request, and you must keep your word." 
 
 "' No, I cannot and will not ! I must do my duty. Let mo 
 go, Eliza ! I must go ! I must go to my soldiers ! " 
 
 " You can no longer reach them, for they have locked them 
 up. Come, you must save yourself ! " 
 
 She seized his arm with superhuman strength, and- tried to 
 draw him away, but he disengaged himself and rushed toward 
 the door. But Eliza was quicker than he ; she bounded for- 
 ward like an angry lioness, and just as Ulrich was about to 
 seize the knob, she stood before the door and pushed him 
 back. 
 
 *' T shall not permit you to leave the room," she cried. 
 "You must kill me first; then you may go." 
 
 " Eliza, I cannot stay. I imploi'e you, let me go out. My 
 honor, my good name, are at stake. You say the peasants 
 have risen in insurrection, my soldiers are locked up. and you 
 think I could be cowardly and miserable enough to conceal 
 myself and surrender mj'^ name to well-deserved disgrace ? 
 Let me go out, Eliza; have mercy upon me ! Do not compel 
 me to remove you forcibly from the door ! " 
 
 "Ah," cried Eliza, with scornful laughter, "you think I 
 will step back from the door and let you go to kill my father 
 and my brothers ? Listen, sir ; you said you loved me. G ive 
 me a proof of it. Let me go out first, let me speak with my 
 father — only three words ! Perhaps I may persuade him to 
 release your soldiers and go home with his friends." 
 
 "Very Avell, I will prove to you that I love you. Go down, 
 Eliza, speak with your father. I give you ten minutes' time; 
 that is to say, I sacrifice to you ten minutes of my honor." 
 
 Eliza uttered a cry of joy; she encircled Ulrich's neck im- 
 petuously with her arms and imprinted a glowing kiss on his 
 forehead. 
 
 thing about the plans of the insurf^ents until the day of the rising, and on 
 that day they tried to levy contributions by force of arms. — See " Gallery of 
 Heroes : Andreas Ilofer," p. 50.
 
 FAREWELL! 120 
 
 " Farewell, sir," she whispered, " farewell, and God bless 
 
 you ! 
 
 Then she pushed him back, hastened to the door, threw it 
 open, and sprang out. She closed the door carefully beliind 
 her, locked it with a firm and quick hand, drew the key from 
 the lock, and concealed it in her bosom. 
 
 " Holy Virgin, I thank Thee ! " she exclaimed, joyfully. 
 "He is saved, for the room has no other outlet, and the bal- 
 cony is too high for him to jump down." 
 
 CHAPTER Xn. 
 
 FAREWELL ! 
 
 She sped as gracefully and quickly as a gazelle down the 
 corridor. In the large hall into which it led stood Elza, sur^ 
 rounded by more than twenty Tyrolese sharpshooters, with 
 whom she was talking in a loud, animated voice. Her cheeks 
 were verj^ pale, her lips wei'c quivering, but her eyes flashed 
 courageously, and, notwithstanding the paleness of her face, 
 it did not betray the least anxiety or terror. 
 
 " Have you considered well what you are going to do, men 
 of the Puster valley ?" she asked, in a clear, full voice. " Do 
 you know that you are about to rebel against your govern- 
 nuMit and your king, and that the rebels will be judged and 
 piuiislied with the full rigor of the law ?" 
 
 " But the Bavai'ians will not judge us, for we shall drive 
 tiiem from the country," shouted the Tyrolese. " We do not 
 want a king nor a Bavarian government; we want to get back 
 our Emperor Francis and our old constitution." 
 
 "But you will not succeed," said Elza; "you are too 
 weak against them. There are too many of them and 
 too few of you ; they have cannon, and you have nothing but 
 your rifles, and there are many of you w^ho have not even a 
 "rifle." 
 
 "But we have our God and our emperor, and those two 
 ^ill hel)> us. The Auslrians. as Andreas Hofer has written to
 
 130 ANDREAS IIOFER. 
 
 us, are ali-eady in the couutry, and all the people are rising to 
 drive the French and Bavarians from the coimtry." 
 
 "It is so. Elza," said Eliza, encircling her friend's neck with 
 her arm. " I know you — I know tliat you are a loyal daughter 
 of the Tyrol, and you will be glad to see our dear country de- 
 livered from the foreign yoke and restored to the good Em- 
 peror Francis." 
 
 '* But. Lizzie, think of my poor cousin Ulrich," whispered 
 Elza to her. '' He will defend himself to the last drop of his 
 blood." 
 
 " He is unable to do so," whispered Lizzie, with a cheerful 
 smile. " I have locked him up in the dining-room, and the 
 key is here in my bosom. Ulrich cannot get out, therefore, 
 and though he is furious and grim, he must remain in the 
 room like a mouse in a trap." 
 
 " That reassures me," said Elza, smiling, " and I understand 
 now, too, why my father acted in the mannei' he did. He 
 doubtless suspected what would occur here, and got rid of 
 all responsibility, leaving me entirely free to choose between 
 my Bavarian relative and my Tyrolese countrymen. Here 
 is my hand, Anthony Wallner ; I am a loj^al daughter of 
 the Tyrol, and shout with you, ' Long live our Emperor Fran- 
 cis!'" 
 
 "Hurrah, long live our Emperor Francis I" shouted the 
 Tyrolese. " Long live Miss Elza, the loyal daughter of the 
 Tyrol ! " 
 
 "Thank you," said Elza, smiling. "I think I shall prove 
 my loyalty when dangers and war beset us. I shall establish 
 here in the castle a hospital for our wounded, and the women 
 of Windisch-Matrey will assist me, scrape lint, and help me 
 to nuT'se the wounded. For without wounds and bloodshed 
 we shall not recover our independence, and the Bavarians will 
 not suffer them.selves to be driven from the couutry without 
 offering the most obstinate resistance. Have you considered 
 that well, my fi'iends ? " 
 
 " We have ; we are prepared for every thing," said An- 
 thony, joyously. " We will suffer death rather than give up 
 our emperor and our dear Tyrol. We do not want to become 
 Southern Bavarians, but v/e will remain Tyrolese, and defend
 
 FAREWELL! 131 
 
 our constitution and our liboi'ty to the last drop of our blood. 
 Will we not, my friends ?" 
 
 " Yes, sve will," shouted the Tyrolese. 
 
 "And as for the Bavarians, we are not afraid of them," 
 said Wallner, firmly. "All tlie functionaries have alreadj' 
 liuinbly submitted to the freemen of the Tyrol. They have 
 surrendered with their wives and children, delivered their 
 funds at our demand, and are now guarded in their official 
 dwellings by our men. And as for the Bavarian soldiers at 
 tlie castle here, we need not be afraid of them either, for we 
 have locked them up, like badgers in their holes, and they 
 cannot get out of the door." 
 
 " But if they cannot get out of the door, they will jump out 
 of the windows," said Elza, "and offer the most determined 
 resistance." 
 
 " We shall see if they can," exclaimed Wallner, energet- 
 ically. " We must get through with them right away. Come, 
 men, we uuist see to the Boafoks.''' 
 
 And Anthony Wallner, followed by his shai-j^shooters, 
 hastened out into the coui't-yard. Large numbers of armed 
 men had assembled there in the mean time ; even married 
 women and young girls, carried away by the universal enthu- 
 siaom, had armed themselves and came to take an active part 
 in the struggle for the fatherland and the emperoi-. All 
 shouted and cheered in wild confusion, all swore to remain 
 true to the fatherland and the emperor to their last bi-eath. 
 The .soldiers looked on Avonderingly, and watched in breath- 
 less iri-esolution for their captain from the windows. 
 
 At this moment, Anthony Wallner and a number of cour- 
 ageous sharpshooters took position in front of the windows. 
 
 "Soldiers," he shouted, in a thundering voice, "surrender ! 
 you are our prisoners ! Surrender, throw your muskets and 
 fire-arms out of the windows, and we will open the door of 
 your prison and allow you to return to Bavaria." 
 
 The soldioi-s made no reply, but leaned far out of the win- 
 dows and shouted : " Captain ! Where is our captain ? " 
 
 " Here I am 1 " shouted a powerful voice above the heads of 
 the Tyrolese ; and, looking up in great surprise, they beheld 
 on tlie balcony young Captain Ulrich von Hohenberg. with a
 
 132 ANDREAS IIOFER. 
 
 pale face, his features distorted with rage and grief, and 
 stretching out his right arm, with his flashing sword menac- 
 ingly toward the Tyrolese. 
 
 " Great God ! " murmured Eliza, clinging anxiously to El- 
 za's arm, " if he resists, he is lost." 
 
 "Here I am, my brave soldiers !" shouted Ulrich von Ho- 
 henberg a second time. " Come to me, my brave lads ! I 
 have been locked up here ; hence, I cannot come to you. 
 Come up to me, then. Knock the doors in, and deliver your 
 captain. " 
 
 " First, let them deliver themselves, sir," shouted Wallner 
 up to him. He then turned once more to the soldiers. "Lis- 
 ten to what I am going to say to you in the name of my coun- 
 trymen, in the name of the whole Tyrol," he shouted. " For 
 four long years you have oppressed and maltreated us : you 
 have insulted, humiliated, and mortified us every day. But 
 we are Christians, and will not revenge ourselves ; we want 
 only our rights, our liberty, and our emperor. Therefore, if 
 you submit willingly and with good grace to Avhat cannot be 
 helped, we will let you depart without ijunishing or injuring 
 you in any way, and allow you to return to your accursed 
 Bavaria. But first you will have to do two things, to wit : 
 throw all your muskets out of the windows, and swear a sol- 
 emn oath that you will no longer bear arms against the Tyr- 
 olese." 
 
 " You will never swear that oath, soldiers," shouted Ulrich 
 von Hohenberg from his balcony. " You will keep the oath 
 which you swore to your king and commander-in-chief. You 
 will not incur the disgrace of surrendering to a crowd of rebel- 
 lious i)easants ! " 
 
 " No, no, we will not," shouted the soldiers to him ; and 
 tliereupon they disappeared from the upper floor, and soon re- 
 appeared in dense groups at the windows of the lower story. 
 Tliese windows were only five feet above the ground, and they 
 were therefore able to jump out of them. 
 
 " Shoot down the first soldier who jumps out of the win- 
 dow ! " cried Anthony Wallner to his sharpshooters. 
 
 The soldiers took no notice of his threats ; a soldier ap- 
 peared in each of the windows ready to risk the leap. One of
 
 FAREWELL! 133 
 
 tlioni, more affile and intro])i(l than the others, was the fii-st to 
 jump down. Scarcely liad his feet touehed the ground, when 
 a riHe crashed and a cloud of white smoke enveloped every 
 thing for a moment. When it disappeared, tii(> Bavarian sol- 
 dier was seen to writhe on the ground in the agony of death, 
 while one of the Tyrolese sharpshooters was quietly reloading 
 liis rifle. 
 
 But now crashed another shot, and the Tyrolese rifleman, 
 pierced through the heart, reeled hack into the arms of his 
 fi-iends with the last groan of death. 
 
 " Soldiers," cried Ulrich von Hohenberg, raising his dis- 
 charged gun triumphantly, " I have avenged the death of 
 your comrade. Now forward, jump down ! Forward for 
 yoiu* honor and j'our king 1 '' 
 
 "Yes, forward for our honor and our king ! '' shoiited the 
 soldiers, and one of them jumped out of each of the windows. 
 
 Another shot was fired from the balcony, and wounded 
 one of the Tyrolese sharpshooters. 
 
 Wild cries of rage filled the court-yai'd, all eyes turned 
 menacingly to the balcony. But Ulrich von Hohenberg had 
 stepped back into the room, and nobody saw that' he was re- 
 loading his fowling-piece, which, with his hunting-pouch and 
 powder-horn, had hung in the dining-room. 
 
 • I shall defend myself until my soldiers come to deliver 
 me," he said courageously to himself. Thereupon he moved 
 the large tahle from the room to the l)alcony, ])laced it on its 
 side, and leaned it against the railing ; on the other side of 
 the balcony he placed the bench in the same manner, and, 
 protected behind this three-cornered barricade from the bullets 
 of the Tyrolese, he pushed his gun into the aperture betw^een 
 the bench and the table, and lired again. 
 
 Furious cries again Tilled the court-yard, for the captain's 
 shot had disaljled another Tyrolese. The women wailed and 
 lamented loudly, the men uttered fiei'ce imprecations, and 
 lifted their clinched fists menacingly toward the balcony. 
 The soldiers had withdrawn from the windows, and were de- 
 liberating with their officers as to the course which they were 
 to adopt. A defence was almost impossible, for, although they 
 had their side-arms and carbines, they could not do any thing
 
 134 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 with the former before reaching tlie ground and engaging in 
 a liand-to-hand fight with the peasants ; and thecarl)ines were 
 utterly useless, as noaniniunition had been distributed among 
 them, the cartridges being in the captain's room in the main 
 part of the castle. 
 
 " Ten of you will enter the castle," commanded Anthony 
 Wallner now. '' You will take the captain ijrisoner, and if he 
 refuses to surrender, shoot him down as he has shot three of 
 our brethren." 
 
 Ten of the most courageous sharpshooters stepped from the 
 ranks and rushed into the castle. 
 
 '* He is lost ! " murmured Eliza Wallner, with pale lips, 
 and she sank on her knees by the side of her friend Elza. 
 
 Now were heard resounding in the castle the thundering 
 blows which the Tyrolese struck with the butt-ends of their 
 rifles against the door of the room where Ulrich von Hohen- 
 berg was locked up. 
 
 " The door is old and worni-eatefl, it will give way," sighed 
 Elza, and she hastened resolutely towai^d Anthony Wallner, 
 who was just calling again on the soldiers with cool intrepid- 
 ity to surrender to him. 
 
 " Anthony Wallner," she said, in a soft, suppliant voice, 
 " you will not stain your great and sacred cause by cowardly 
 murder. You will never think of killing in my father's own 
 house his relative and g-uest ? " 
 
 " Let him surrender ; no harm will befall him then," cried 
 Anthony Wallner, in a harsh, stern voice. " He has shed the 
 blood of our men, and if he is killed, it will be done in a fair 
 fight. Leave us now, miss ; the struggle between the Tyrolese 
 and the Boafoks has commenced ; look at the corpses yonder, 
 and say for yourself whether we can retrace our steps, and — " 
 
 A loud, thundering crash, followed by triumphant cheers, 
 resounded in the castle. 
 
 " They have opened the door," murmured Eliza, still on her 
 knees. " Holy Virgin, protect him, or he is lost I " 
 
 A shot cra.shed in the dining-room, a cloud of white smoke 
 issued from the open balcony doors, and a loud cry, accom- 
 panied by wild imprecations, was heard. 
 
 " He has shot another Tyrolese, you will see that he has ! "
 
 TIIK imiDKGUOOM. 135 
 
 shouted Wallner, raising his clinched fists raenacLngh' toward 
 the balcony. 
 
 The cries drew nt^arer aiul nearer, and now Captain Ulrich 
 von Hohenberg', his features j)ale and distorted with rage, 
 rushed out on the balcony. 
 
 "Surrender ! " shouted the Tyi;plese, pursuing him. 
 
 '" Never ! " he cried. '' I will die sooner than surrender to 
 a rabble of peasants like you." 
 
 And forgetful of the dangers besetting hini, and in the de- 
 spair of his rage and grief, the captain jusuped from the bal- 
 cony into the midst of the ci-owd in the court-yard. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THE BRIDEGROOM. 
 
 WllJ) shouts were heard now, and a great commotion arose 
 among the Tyi<)lese. The bold deed of the Bavarian had sur- 
 ])rised and confused them ; they had forgot the soldiers for a 
 moment, and i-iveted their whole attention on the captain. 
 
 He was uninjured, for, in jumping down, he had fallen on 
 the backs of two Tyrolese, dragged them down with him. and 
 thus broken the violence of the fall. 
 
 Before the two men, stunned by their sudden fall, had re- 
 covered from their surprise, Ulrich was again on his feet, and, 
 drawing his sword, cleared himself a passage througli the 
 quickly-receding crowd. 
 
 " Come to me, my soldiers, come to me ! " he shouted, in a 
 panting voice. 
 
 " Here we are, captain," cried twenty soldiers, driving the 
 crowd back with powerful strokes. They had pi-ofited by the 
 favorable moment when the windows had not been watched, 
 and had jumped to the ground. 
 
 Now followed a hand-to-hand struggle of indescribable fury. 
 Nothing was heard but the wild imprecations and shouts of 
 the fighting, the shrieks and groans of the wounded and the 
 screams of the women and ehildien.
 
 13G ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 But amidst the struggle and the general confusion An- 
 thony Wallner did not lose his presence of mind. He had 
 posted twenty sharpshooters in front of the windows, behind 
 which the soldiers were standing, and, with rifles raised, they 
 threatened death to all who should dare to approach the win- 
 dows. Hence, the soldiers had retired into the back part of 
 the rooms, and were deliberating on the course which they 
 were to pui'sue. But their faces wei-e anxious and irresolute, 
 and they whispered to each other : " If our captain should fall, 
 nothing remains for us but to sui'render." 
 
 But their captain had not yet fallen ; he still lived and 
 defended himself courageously, surrounded by his soldiers, 
 against th(; Tyi-olese, who attacked him furiously and parried 
 the sabre-strokes with the butt-ends of their I'ifles, but had 
 no room, and did Jiot dare to shoot at him, for fear of hitting 
 in the wild melee one oi their own men instead of their enemy. 
 
 But the odds were too great ; six of the soldiers had al- 
 ready been knocked down by the butt-ends of the Tyrolese 
 rifles. The Tyrolese had \%'rested the sabres from the hands of 
 the fallen soldiers, and had rushed with them upon their com- 
 rades. Then followed a furious hand-to-hand struggle. The 
 fumes of the blood flowing on the ground, the shouts of the 
 combatants, the hatred and fury with which the enemies 
 stood face to face, had filled their hearts with boundless fe- 
 rocity. Nobody gave, nobody asked quarter. Under the butt- 
 end blows of the Tyrolese, the Bavarians sank to the ground 
 with a glance of hatred ; pierced by the swords of the Bava- 
 rians, the Tyrolese fell, with an imprecation on their lips. 
 
 Ulrich von Hohenberg was still holding his ground ; his 
 sword had spread destruction and death around him ; he 
 was still encouraging his soldiers with loud shouts, but his 
 voice was beginning to grow faint, and his blood was running 
 from a terrible wound in his shoulder. 
 
 "To the rescue, soldiers ! " he shouted now with a last 
 effort; "do not suft'er your captain to be slain by miserable 
 peasants. To the rescue ! help me or shoot me, that I may 
 die an honorable death, and not be assassinated by the trai- 
 tors." 
 
 " I will comply with your wishes,'* cried Anthony Wall-
 
 TIIK URIDEGROOM. 137 
 
 ner, rusliing into the midst of the hh)otly ineUe close up to 
 the eaptuin ; " yes, you shall die ; I will put au end to youi- 
 life ! " 
 
 And liis anil, hrandishing the sword of a fallen Bavarian, 
 rose thrcateiiiui^ly ahove Ulrich's head, while two other Tyr- 
 olese rushed upon him from behind with furious shout.s. 
 
 At this moment two hands clutched Wallner's arm con- 
 vulsively, and a loud, anxious voice exclaimed : 
 
 " Father, do not kill him ! He is my bridegroom ! " 
 
 "Her bridegroom !" echoed the Tyrolese, starting back in 
 surprise. 
 
 "Your bridegroom?" asked Anthony Wallner, casting a 
 look of dismay on his daughter Eliza, who was standing in 
 front of her father, i)ale, with flashing eyes, encircling Ul- 
 rich's neck with one arm, lifting up the other menacingly, 
 and staring at her fathei- with a resolute and defiant expres- 
 sion. 
 
 "Away from him, Lizzie ! " cried Wallner, furiously ; " I 
 cannot believe that my child will inflict on me the disgrace 
 of loving a Bavarian." 
 
 " Yes, I love liim," exclaimed Eliza, with glowing cheeks. 
 " If you wish to kill him, you must kill me first, for we have 
 sworn to live and die together. He is ray bridegroom, father, 
 and shall become my husband, so help me God ! '' 
 
 " No, never I " o-ied Ulrich von Hohenberg, trying to dis- 
 engage himself from Eliza. " Never can the peasant-girl be- 
 come my wife ! Begone, Eliza, I have nothing further to do 
 with you.'' 
 
 "And still you swore a few minutes ago that you loved 
 nothing on earth more dearly than me alone," said Eliza, in 
 a loud voice, "and you implored me to go with you and re- 
 main always by your side ?" 
 
 " But never did I say that I would marry you," exclaimed 
 Ulrich, pale with rage, and still trying to disengage himself 
 from Eliza's arm. 
 
 "You would not marry her !" cried Anthony Wallner; 
 "you intended only to dishonor her, my proud Bavarian gen- 
 tleman ? You thought a Tyrolese peasant-girl's honor au ex- 
 cellent pastime, but you would not marry her ?" 
 10
 
 13S ANDREAS ITOFER. 
 
 " Father, father," cried Eliza, beseechingly, clinging firmly 
 to Ulrich's side, '' father, I love him and cannot live without 
 liim. He is my bridegroom !" 
 
 ■' No, no 1 " shouted XJlrich, and a wild imprecation against 
 Eliza burst from his lips. 
 
 The Tyrolese in the mean time had long since overpowered 
 the few soldiers, and, attracted by the strange scene, crowded 
 around the curious group ; only the twenty sharpshooters 
 were still standing with rifles raised in front of the windows 
 of the imprisoned soldiers, and watching them with threaten- 
 ing eyes. 
 
 Anthony Wallner had dropped his arm and looked down 
 musingly ; on hearing the captain's insulting words, he gave 
 a shout and lifted up his face flushed with pride and indig- 
 nation. 
 
 " Just listen to the traitor, brethren ! " he said in the cold, 
 quiet tone which only the most profound exasperation im- 
 parts to the human voice. " First he turned the girl's head 
 and heai"t by the protestations of his love, causing her even to 
 foi'get her father and her Tyrol ; and now he insults her and 
 refuses to man-y her ! " 
 
 "He said it only in his rage, father, but he loves nie after 
 all." exclaimed Eliza, clinging to the captain notwithstanding 
 his resistance, and trying to wrest his sword from him. 
 
 " Begone, Eliza ! " cried Ulrich, " or " He pushed her 
 
 violently from him, and quickly raised his sword against her. 
 But two Tyrolese prevented him from carrying out his fell 
 design by rushing upon him, seizing his arm with Herculean 
 strength, wresting the sword from his hand, throwing the 
 weapon far away, and exclaiming triumphantly : '' Now sur- 
 render, Bavarian ! You are our prisoner." 
 
 '' Then shoot me at least," shouted Ulrich, beside himself 
 with rage ; " shoot me, I say ; death is preferable to the dis- 
 grace of being a prisoner of such miserable rabble." 
 
 " Hush, beloved, for God's sake, hush ! " said Eliza, cling- 
 ing to him tenderlj- 
 
 He pushed her violently from his side. " Begone, hypo- 
 critical wench ! " he shouted in a paroxysm of fury ; " I do 
 not want to have any thing to do with you ! "
 
 TIIK BKIDEGROOM. 139 
 
 " But you shall have something to do with her," said An- 
 thony Walluer, with proud calinness. " The girl says that she 
 loves you, and that you pi-omised to inai-ry her. It was had 
 in you to persuade her behind the backs of her parents and 
 infatuate her poor heart, and you shall be punished now for 
 your infamy. You shall marry Lizzie. The proud and 
 wealthy baron who despises the Tyrolese peasants so much 
 shall now marry the Tyrolese peasant-girl.'' 
 
 " Yes, yes, that is right," exclaimed the Tyrolese exulting- 
 ly ; "the proud baron shall marry the Tyrolese peasant-girl." 
 
 " Let us go down to the village, then," said Anthony Wall- 
 ner ; " our curate shall marry them immediately at the 
 church ; and then let the two leave the place as quickly as 
 possible, and beware of ever returning to Windisch-Matrey ; 
 for never shall the wife of the Bavarian Captain Ulrich von 
 Plohenberg dare to say that slxe is Eliza Wallnei-. daughter of 
 the Tyrolese Anthony Wallner-Aichberger, the innkeeper of 
 Windisch-Matrey. I have no longer a daughter— I tear her 
 from my heart, as she tore honor, righteousness, and faith 
 from hers." 
 
 Eliza called two Tyrolese with an impetuous wave of her 
 hand to her side. " Hold him," she said, pointing to Ulricb, 
 who. pale and tottering, exhausted from his superhuman 
 (efforts and loss of blood, was scarcely able to stand on his 
 feet ; ''hold him. I must speak to my father." 
 
 She hastened to him, seized l)oth his hands despite his re- 
 sistance, and drew his face so close to hers that his hot, pant- 
 ing breath touched her cheek ; but he averted his eyes with 
 a gloomy expression and avoided meeting her fiery glances, 
 
 '' You do not want to know me. father I " she asked mourn- 
 fulh'. " You avert your eyes from your Lizzie, whom you 
 called only yestertlay your dear, brave Tyrolese girl ?" 
 
 " You are no child of mine, you are no Tyrolese girl," ex- 
 claimed her father, angrily and mournfully. " You want to 
 marry the Bavarian, and become an aristoci-atic lady." 
 
 " It is all the same to me whether Ulrich yonder is an 
 aristocratic gentleman or not," said Eliza, shaking her head 
 px'oudly ; " I love him only becau.^e he pleases me so well, and 
 because he loves me so fondly and ai*dently. But, father, you
 
 140 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 must not say that I am no true daughter of the Tyrol, and do 
 not love the fatherland. I will prove to all of you that I do 
 love it; and to Ulrich yonder, who wished to persuade me to 
 run away with him secretly, and who must marry me now to 
 atone for it, I will prove likewise that T am no baroness although 
 I love him, and that I do not love his king and his brilliant 
 uniform, but that I will remain loyal to my emperor alone. 
 Listen to me, therefore, father, and all of you : Ulrich von 
 Hohenberg is my bridegroom, and therefore you shall not 
 kill him, nor do him any harm, but convey him as a prisoner 
 to my father's house, not for the purpose of being married to 
 me, but to be kept and nursed as a wounded prisoner. I 
 sw^ear by the Lord God and the Holy Virgin, T will not marry 
 him till we have conquered, till all Bavarians have been 
 driven from the country, and the Emperor Francis is once 
 more sovereign of the Tyrol. Nor shall I stay at home to 
 nurse my bridegroom and speak with him of love and mar- 
 riage, but I will go and fight with you for our Tyrol and our 
 emperor. I will fight with my father and my countrymen, 
 and prove that I am a true daughter of the Tyrol. When 
 you have nothing to eat, I will cook for j^ou ; and when you 
 go to fight the Bavarians, I will fight with you. My father's 
 lame porter, our faithful Schropfel, shall have my bride- 
 groom in his custody, and protect him until we return to 
 our homes. But we shall not return before our dear Tyrol is 
 free and restored to the Emperor Francis, and then, father, 
 when your Lizzie has bravely fought for our dear Tyrol, you 
 will permit her to marry the man whom she loves, and you 
 will no longer say that she is not your daughter, will you ? " 
 
 " No, Lizzie, then I shall no longer say or think so," cried 
 Wallner, folding his daughter to his heart, overcome by his 
 emotion. " Yes, you are a brave child of the Tyrol ; you shall 
 march to the field with us, and when we return to our homes, 
 you shall marry your Bavarian. Say, my dear friends, shall 
 it be so ? " 
 
 " Yes, it shall," shouted the Tyrolese. " Her wedding shall 
 take place when we return to our homes, and when the Tyrol 
 is free." 
 
 " No, no," cried Ulrich, raising himself up with a last effort;
 
 THE BRIDEGROOM. 141 
 
 *' never will my father's son dishonor himself so deeply as to 
 marry a peasant-g'ii'l — " 
 
 He said no more ; a stream of blood rushed from his 
 mouth, a mortal pallor overspread his cheeks, his eyes closed, 
 and he sank to the ground with a groan of pain. 
 
 "He is dying! he is dying!" cried Eliza, despairingly. 
 She rushed to hiin, knelt down by his side, and encircled him 
 firmly with both her arms, so that his head reposed on her 
 breast. 
 
 A cry, a loud, painful cry, resounded above her in the air ; 
 all eyes turned toward the balcony, but no one was there ; only 
 for- a moment it seemed to them as though a female form 
 glided through the dining-room. 
 
 '•Elza. it was Elza !" murmured Eliza. "Why does she 
 not come to me ? why — " At this moment Ulrich opened his 
 eyes again, and fixed a look of proud hatred full upon Eliza's 
 face, which was tenderly bent over him. 
 
 " I do not love you, I detest you ! " he hissed, between his 
 firm ly -compressed teeth. 
 
 " He lives, thank God, he lives ! " cried Eliza ; " now all is 
 well, and I am no longer afraid of anything. Schropfel, come 
 here ; take him on your shoulders, dear Schropfel , or let John 
 help you to carry him to my chamber, where you will lay him 
 on my bed. You swear to me by the Holy Virgin that you 
 will watch over him faithfully ? " 
 
 "I swear by the Holy Virgin," said Schropfel, lifting his 
 heavy fists to heaven, and then fixing his small, fiashing eyes 
 on Ulrich, as a watch-dog eyes the bone he fears may be taken 
 from him. 
 
 " And now let us .settle that affair with the soldiers yon- 
 der," said Anthony Wallner, going to the windows, in front 
 of which the sharpshooters were still drawn up in line. 
 
 " Soldiers in the rooms," he shouted in a powerful voice, 
 ' siu'render ! The fight is at an end ; yom* captain is our 
 prisoner. Surrender, or you are lost ; we will set fire to the 
 house, and shoot down whosoever jumps out of the windows. 
 If you wish to save yo\n' lives, surrender." 
 
 One of the sergeants appeared at the window. 
 
 "We are locked up and surrounded," he said ; " we have
 
 ^4:2 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 no ammunition, and our captain is a prisoner. Therefore, 
 we will surrender if you will allow us to evacuate the castle." 
 
 " Yes, but without arms," said Anthony Wallner, impera- 
 tively. " You will all come in squads of four to the windows 
 and hand out your carbines and side-arms. There are yet a 
 hundred of you in the rooms. As soon as we have got a hun- 
 dred carbines and a hundred sabi'es we shall open the portal 
 and let you out. You may return then to Bavaria, and tell 
 your government that no Southern Bavarians, but true Tyro- 
 lese, live in the Pusterthal, the Vintschgau, and the Passeyr- 
 thal." 
 
 " We accept your terms," replied the sergeant ; " come, 
 therefore, and receive our arms." 
 
 The Tyrolese stepped up to the windows, at each of which 
 squads of four soldiers made their appearance, and silently and 
 sullenly handed out their arms, which the Tyrolese took and 
 stacked in the middle of the court-yard. 
 
 " Now I will go and see where my Elza has concealed her- 
 self," murmured Eliza to herself ; and she glided hastily 
 through the ranks of the Tyrolese into the castle. 
 
 No one was to be seen in the large hall, and, unnoticed by 
 anybody, Eliza ascended the staircase, hastened down the cor- 
 ridor, and entered the dining-room. 
 
 The instinct of her heai't had guided her rightly ; yonder, 
 in the most remote coimer of the room, sat Elza, groaning 
 aloud in bitter woe, her hands clasped on her knees, her head 
 bent on her breast, and not perceiving in her agony that Eliza 
 came in, that she hastened rapidly, yet noiselessly and on 
 tiptoe through the room, and stood still now close in front of 
 her. 
 
 "Why do you weep, dearest Elza ?" asked Eliza, kneeling 
 down before her friend. 
 
 Elza gave a start, and quickly raised her face, over which 
 were rolling rivers of scalding tears. " I do not weep at all, 
 Eliza," she said, in a low voice. 
 
 "Eliza?" she asked, wonderingly. "You call me Eliza ? 
 Then I am no longer your darling, your Lizzie ? You did not 
 assist me when I had to save your cousin Ulrich below in the 
 court-yard ^ You uttered a loud cry when he lay more dead
 
 TUK liRllJKCJUOO.M. 143 
 
 than alive in my lap, and you did nol come to help hiin and 
 me ? And now you call me Eliza ?" 
 
 " What should I have done there T' asked Elza, in a bitter, 
 mournful tone. "He reposed well on your breast; he did 
 not need me. I am only his cou.sin, but you, 30U are his affi- 
 anced bride." 
 
 " But formerly, I sujjpose, Elza, he was to be your affianced 
 bridegroom?'' asked Eliza, in a low, tremulous voice. "Oh, 
 I always thought so ; I knew it all the tnne. although you 
 never told me so. I always thought Elza and Ulrich would 
 be a good match ; they are suited to each other, and will love 
 each other and be happy. Elza, Ulrich was to be your bride- 
 groom, was he not ? " 
 
 " What is the use of talking about it now ? " asked Elza, 
 vehemently. "He is your bridegroom, he has sworn eternal 
 fidelity to you, and I shall not dispute him with you. Marry 
 him and be happy." 
 
 " And would your Lizzie be happy if her Elza were not 
 content with her?" asked Eliza, tenderly-. "Tell me only 
 this : your father and his parents thought you were a good 
 match — did they not ? " 
 
 '• Yes, they did," whispered Elza, bursting again into tears. 
 " My father told me yesterday that it was his wish, as well as 
 that of Ulrich's parents." 
 
 "And Ulrich told you, too, that beloved you and would 
 marry you ? Tell me the truth, Elza. Never mind what I 
 said in the court- yard about Ulrich being my bridegroom. 
 Remember only that I am your Lizzie, who loves you better 
 than she can tell you, but who will prove it to you if the good 
 God will ])ermit her to do so. Tell me therefore, my darling, 
 Ulrich said to you he loved you and wished to marry you ? " 
 
 " No, he did not say so, Lizzie, but — but I thought so, I be- 
 lieve, and he thought so, too ; and, O God ! I believe I love 
 him. It seemed to me as though a dagger pierced my heart 
 when you said that he was your bi'idegroom. I could not 
 beiir it, and hastened into the house in order not to see and 
 hear any thing further. I meant to seat myself quietly in the 
 dining-room here and submit to all that might happen ; and 
 yet I was drawn irresistibly towaid the balcony, and on rush-
 
 144 ANDREAS nOFER. 
 
 ingout I saw you holding him in your lap and pi'essing his dear 
 pale head to your bosom. I felt as though the heavens were 
 falling down on me ; I had to cry out aloud in my anguish 
 and despair. I hurried hack into the room, fell on my knees, 
 and prayed that death might deliver me from my pains. O 
 God, God I it did not ; I must carry on life's dreary hurden 
 and cannot die ! " 
 
 She buried her face in her hands and sobbed aloud. 
 
 While Elza was speaking, Eliza had turned paler and 
 paler ; a slight tremor passed through her whole frame, and 
 she compressed her lips firmly, as if to restrain the cry oppress- 
 ing her bosom. 
 
 Now she laid her hand gently on Elza's head. "You love 
 him, Elza," she said mildly. " I understand your heart, dear- 
 est Elza, you love him. And now dry your tears and listen to 
 what I have to say to you. But first you must look at me, 
 Elza, and you must show me your dear face ; otherwise I 
 won't tell you the good news I have got for you." 
 
 Elza dropped her hands from her face, and looked, smiling 
 amid her tears, into Eliza's countenance, which seemed now 
 again entirely calm and serene. 
 
 ''Now listen, Elza," she whispered, hurriedly ; " Ulrich is 
 not my bridegroom, and he never told me that he loved me." 
 
 Elza uttered a cry of joy, and a sunbeam seemed to illumi- 
 nate her face. 
 
 "I merely said so in order to save him," added Lizzie; 
 " that was the reason why I uttered that impudent lie, which 
 God Almighty. I hope, will forgive me. I saw that my father 
 was just about to kill him, and my heart told me I ought to 
 save him at all hazards. I hastened to my father, and the 
 words escaped my lips, I myself do not know how. I said I 
 loved him. he would marry me, and was my affianced bride- 
 groom ; and this saved him, for he was intent on dying rather 
 than fall alive, as he said, into the hands of the peasant-rabble. 
 That was the reason why he was so bold, abused the Tyrolese 
 so violently, and would not cease resisting them. Therefore, 
 I had to save him. not only from my father, but from his own 
 rage ; and I did it." 
 
 " But do you not love him ? " asked Elza, smiling.
 
 THE BRIDEGROOM. 145 
 
 "Do 3'ou not know tliat .Tosopli Thui-nuvaldcT lias boon 
 courting nie for a year past ? My father will, bo glad to have 
 me marry him ; for lie is the son of rieh iiaronts and the most 
 skillful and handsome hunter in the whole Puster valley." 
 
 " But you have often told me that you did not love him ? "' 
 
 " Have you not often told me likewise that you did not love 
 TTlrieh, Elza ? We girls are queer beings, and never say whom 
 we love ! " 
 
 '• But Ulrich ! He loves you ! Yes, j'cs, I know he loves 
 you. I have suspected it a long time, and always teased him 
 with his attachment to you." 
 
 " And he always denied it, did he not ? " 
 
 " Yes, he did, and yet — " 
 
 " And he denied it to-day too, when the lie would have 
 saved him at once. He would die rather than be a peasant- 
 girl's bridegroom ! You see, therefore, that he does not love 
 me, Elza. But my lie saved his life, and no one must find out 
 tiiat Ulrich is not my bridegroom. For if my father and his 
 friends should discover it, they would kill him, because he in- 
 sulted them too deeply to be forgiven. He must remain my 
 l)ridegroom until tranquillity is re-established in the country." 
 
 " Yes, my Lizzie, my darling I " exclaimed Elza, encircling 
 Eliza's neck with her arms ; " yes, let him remain your bride- 
 groom, my sagacious, brave Tyrolese girl. I always said and 
 know that you would 1)0 a heroine if you should have to meet 
 a great danger, and to-day you were a heroine." 
 
 '* Not yet. Elza, but I shall be one. I am going to prove to 
 my father and all his friends that I am a true daughter of the 
 Tyrol, even though the Bavarian captain is my bridegroom. 
 And now, farewell, dearest Elza ; I nuist go down again to my 
 father. But listen, I have to tell you something else yet. I 
 shall leave oi;r village with my father to-day. We shall 
 march with our friends to Andreas Hofer, for the Tyrolese 
 umst concentrate their whole forces in order to be strong 
 enough when they have to meet the enemy. Hence, it was 
 resolved at the very outset, that, so soon as it was time for the 
 people to rise against the Bavarians, Speokbaohor and his 
 friends, and my father with the peasants of the Puster valley, 
 should join the men of the Passeyr valley under Hofer's com-
 
 146 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 mand. I kuow that father will set out to-day, and I shall ac- 
 company him, Elza. I am not afraid of death aud the en- 
 emy ; I know that our cause is just, and that the good God 
 will be ou our side." 
 
 '• But, nevertheless, many noble hearts will be pierced for 
 this just cause, and yours, dearest Lizzie, may be among 
 tbem," exclaimed Elza. tenderly folding her friend to her 
 heart. " Oh, stay here, my darliag, let the men fight it out 
 alone ; stay here ! " 
 
 '' No, Elza, I must go with them. My honor requires it, 
 and forbids me to stay at our house with Ulrich von Hohen- 
 berg, for whose sake mj^ father called me publicly to-day a rec- 
 reant daughter of the Tyrol, and threatened to disown me 
 forever. I must prove to all the world that I am a loyal 
 daughter of the Tyrol ; aud I feel, Elza, that it will do me 
 good to contribute my mite to the deliverance of the father- 
 land. I am not gentle and patient enough to sit quietly at 
 home and wait until dear Libei'ty looks into my door and says 
 to me, ' God bless you, Lizzie ! I am here now. and you also 
 may pi'oflt by the happiness which will be caused by my arri- 
 val.' No, Elza, I must go with my father, I must help him to 
 find this dear Liberty on the mountains and in the valleys, 
 and must say to her, ' God bless thee, Libertj^ ! I am here now, 
 and thou mayst ^profit by my strength, and I will help thee 
 that thou mayst rule again over the mountains and valleys of 
 our dear Tyrol.' " 
 
 " Oh, Lizzie, you are a genuine heroine ! " exclaimed Elza ; 
 " I blush to think that I shall not accompany you and fight by 
 your side for Liberty." 
 
 "You cannot," said Lizzie, gravely. "You have an aged 
 father who will stay at home, and whom you must take care 
 of ; and the poor and sick count upon you, for they know 
 that Elza will always be their good angel. Stay at home and 
 pray for me. But never go down to my father's house, do not 
 inquire for Ulrich, and do not tr}"- to have him bi^ought to the 
 castle here. He is under Schropfel's surveillance, and Sehrop- 
 fel would shoot him if he should suspect that all is not as it 
 should be. But if God should decree my death, Elza, Ulrich 
 would be free at once, and my father would not injure him.
 
 TFIE BRIDGE OF ST. LAWRENCE. 147 
 
 inasmuch as lie was liis Lizzie's affianced bridegroom. He 
 would set him free. Ulrich would tlien conic to you, and, Elza, 
 yoH will tell him not to think that Lizzie Wallner was a bad 
 </}}'], and that she was intent only on getting an aristocratic 
 liusband. You will tell him that my sole object was to save 
 his life, and that I never thought of marrying him. You will 
 tell him also that I forgave him the injury which he did me to- 
 day, and that I shall pray to God Almighty for him. And when 
 you stand before God's altar, and the priest joins your hands, 
 Ibink of me, and do not forget that I loved you, dearest Elza. 
 Ix'tter than any once else on earth. And now. fai-ewell. Elza ; 
 I shall not kiss you again, for it makes my heart heavy." 
 
 " Lizzie, Lizzie ! '' shouted a powerful voice outside at this 
 moment ; " Lizzie, where are you ? 'Tis time to set out I " 
 
 " Here I am, dear father ! " exclaimed Lizzie, stepping 
 quickly out on the balcony. '" I shall come down to j'ou now. 
 I was only taking leave of Elza. Now I am ready to set out and 
 tight for the dear Tyrol and the dear Emperor Francis ! " 
 
 " Hurrah, we will do so 1 " cried the Tyrolese. "We will 
 light for the dear Tyrol and the dear Emperor Francis ! Hur- 
 I'ah I We will expel the Bavarians ! Hurrah ! the Austrians 
 are coming ! Hurrah ! the Tyrol will be free again ! " 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 THE BRIDGE OF ST. LAWRENCE. 
 
 Anthony Wallner and his men marched all day and all 
 night through the Puster valley, along the road to the Miihl- 
 bach pass. His daughter Eliza, and young John Panzl, his 
 friend and sympathizer, walked by his side ; and behind him 
 marched the biave Tyrolese. whose force gained sti-cngth at 
 every step as it advanced, and who, amidst the most enthusi- 
 astic acclamations, appointed Anthony Wallner commander- 
 in-chief of the men- of the Puster valley, and John Panzl his 
 lieutenant and assistant. 
 
 " I accept the position, my friends," said Wallnrr. taking
 
 148 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 off his hat and kindly greeting the men ; " yes, I accept the 
 position, and will be your commander, and will always 
 lead you faithfully and honestly against the enemy. But 
 will you always follow me? Will you not be afraid 
 of the enemy's fire, and take to your heels before his 
 artillery ? " 
 
 "No, we will not,'' shouted the brave men; "we will 
 stand by you faithfully, and fight with you for the father- 
 land and the emperor ! " 
 
 " That is right, men," cried John Panzl, making a leap 
 which drew loud exclamations of admiration from the Tyro- 
 lese. " I tell you it is right in you to think so, and therefore I 
 will likewise joyfully accept the honor which you have offered 
 to me ; I will be your second commander, will always obey the 
 orders of our brave commander-in-chief, and assist him and 
 you in driving the enemy from our country, for the glory of 
 God and our emperor. Ah, my dear Tyrolese, I would we could 
 catch the French and the Boafoks at length, take them by 
 the neck, and hurl them out of the country. I tell you, after 
 we have done it. I shall dance so merrily with Eliza Wallner, 
 my dear cousin, that the snowy heads of the Gross-Glockner 
 and Veuediger will become warm and melt with delight. 
 Lizzie, we two, the most celebrated dancers of the whole 
 Puster valley, will perform a dance in honor of our victory, 
 will we not ? " 
 
 " We will, Cousin Panzl,'' said Eliza, smiling. " But before 
 dancing, we must march on and never j'un back." 
 
 " No, never run back," shouted the merry and courageous 
 Tyrolese. 
 
 " Forward, then, forward ! " commanded Anthony Wall- 
 ner, and the whole force set out again and marched rapidly 
 across the mountains and through the valleys ; it was re- 
 ceived everywhere with deafening clieers, and gained at every 
 step fresh accessions of men, who rushed enthusiastically out 
 of their huts, armed with their rifles, or other weapons, even 
 though they had only wooden clubs, and bravely joined the 
 defenders of the country. 
 
 Already they approached their destination ; in the ex- 
 pansive valley below, yonder, lay the town of Brunecken,
 
 THE BRID(;R ok ST. LAWRE>f('E. 140 
 
 surmounted l)y Castle limmeck ami other ancient and deeay- 
 inp: feudal eastles; and behind it, on the way down toward 
 Brixen, in tiie narrower g'f)r}Te, !)ordered on both sides by pre- 
 eipitous mountains, throuj2:h which the Rienz Imrls its foam- 
 ing waters, they beheld already the small town of St. Law- 
 rence. After reaching St. Lawrence they had only an hour's 
 march to the Miihlbach i)ass, which, in accordance with An- 
 dreas Hofer's ordei-s, the brave men of the Puster valley were 
 to occupy and defend against the enemy moving up from 
 Botzen. 
 
 But all at once, right in the midst of the march, Anthony 
 Wallner stood still, and. turning to Panzl, who was walking 
 by the side of the column, gave him a sign to halt. The 
 whole column stopped and listened. 
 
 Yes, there was no doubt about it, that was the rattle of 
 musketry at a distance ! And now they heard also the loud 
 booming of artillery, and the ringing of the tocsin at Bruneck- 
 en and St. Lawrence. 
 
 "Now forward, Tyrolese, forward!" shouted Anthony 
 Wallner. "At the double-quick down to Brunecken !" 
 
 " Forward ! " shouted the men ; and their exclamations were 
 echoed joj-ously by the women who had courageously accom- 
 panied their husbands, and who were ready, like them, to 
 fight for their country and their emperor. 
 
 They marched with great speed down the Brunecken. The 
 whole town was in the utmost commotion. Young and old 
 men, women, childi-en— all were hurrying toward the gate 
 leading to St. Lawrence. 
 
 " What is the matter ? " shouted Anthony Wallner, grasp- 
 ing the arm of an old man, who, armed with a i)itchfork, was 
 speeding along at a furious rate. 
 
 "What is the matter?" echoed the old man, endeavoring 
 to disengage his arm from Wallner's powerful grasp. " The 
 matter is, that the insurrection has broken out at length. The 
 Bavarians are bent on destroying the bridge of St. Lawrence, 
 in order to prevent the Austrians from crossing it. The 
 whole military detachment left our place some time ago for 
 the bridge, and sappers and mind's, who are to blow it up, 
 have arrived this morning from Brixen. But we will not
 
 150 ANDREAS IIOFER. 
 
 allow them to do it. They must shoot us all before we permit 
 them to destroy the bridge." 
 
 "No, we will not ! " cried Anthony Wallner. ''Forward, 
 men of the Puster valley, forward to the bridge of St. Law- 
 rence ! " 
 
 They continued their march through the valley at the 
 double-qiiick. They heard the rattle of musketry and the 
 booming of artillery more and more distinctly, and now, at 
 a bend in the valley, the most wonderful and striking spec- 
 tacle presented itself to their eyes. 
 
 Yonder at a distance lay the well-known bridge, composed 
 of a single arch, between tremendous rocks ; by its side stood 
 two battalions of Bavarian infantry in serried ranks, and on a 
 knoll, close to the bank of the river Eienz, had been planted 
 three cannon pointed menacingly both against the bridge 
 and the people who were moving up to it in denser and 
 denser masses. Captains and other officers were galloping 
 up and down in front of the Bavarians, and encouraging their 
 men to attack these insurgents who were coming up behind, 
 in front, and on both sides of them. The courageous sons of 
 the Tyi'ol rushed down from all the heights ; the tocsin of 
 Brunecken and St. Lawrence had not called them in vain. 
 They came down the mountains and up the valley ; they 
 came, men and women, old men and children ; and all were 
 armed : he who did not possess a gun had a flail, a pitchfork, 
 or a club. Like a broad, motley liver, the crowd was surging 
 up from all sides, and at the head and in the midst of the war- 
 like groups were to be seen priests in holy vestments, holding 
 aloft the crucifix, blessing the defenders of the country with 
 fervent, pious words, and uttering scathing imprecations 
 against the enemy. 
 
 And amidst this commotion thundered the field-pieces, 
 whose balls crashed again and again against the bridge ; the 
 bells were tolled in the chui'ch-steeples, and the musketry of 
 the Bavarians rattled incessantly. But few of their bullets 
 hit their aim. The Tyrolese were too remote from them, 
 and only occasionally a loud scream indicated that a half- 
 spent bullet had found its way into the breast of a Tyrolese. 
 More fatal and unerring were the bullets of the Tyrolese
 
 THE BlilDGE OF ST LAWFIENTE. 151 
 
 sharpshootei's. who liad coiicoalod tlienisolvos on tlio heights 
 on botli sides of the valley, and fired from their liidiiifj^places 
 at the Bavarians, never missing tlieir aim and picking off a 
 soldier by eveiy shot they discharged. 
 
 Anthony Wallner comprehended the whole situation at a 
 glance. " Boys ! " he shouted, in a ringing voice, " we must 
 take the cannon. We must not perni it the enemy to destroy 
 the bridge which the Austriaus are to cross. Let us attack 
 the Bavarians ! We must take the cannon I '" 
 
 "Yes!" shouted the men, ''we must take the can- 
 non ! " 
 
 And the shouts reached another troop of armed peasants, 
 who repeated it with tumultuous enthusiasm, and soon the 
 men on the heights and in the valley cried, "We must take 
 the cannon ! " 
 
 Anthony Wallner gave the signal to his sharpshooters, and 
 moved with them into a small forest extending up the moun- 
 tain near the cannon. The courageous men disappeared soon 
 in the thicket, and, as if in accordance with a general agree- 
 ment, the other Tyrolese likewise entered the forest. Below, 
 in the valley, knelt the women and children, and before them 
 stood the priests with their crucifixes, pi'otecting them there- 
 with, as it were, from the enemy who was posted on the other 
 side of the valley, and wliose ranks were thinned more and 
 moi-e by the bullets of the Tj-rolese. 
 
 All at once, on the height a,bove the cannon, where there 
 was a clearing, and w^here the rocks were moss-grown and 
 bare, the Tyrolese were seen rushing in dense masses from 
 the forest. They were headed by Anthony Wallner and John 
 Panzl. Each of them jumped on a projection of the rocks 
 and raised his rifle. They fired, and two gunners fell mor- 
 tally wounded near the cannon. 
 
 The Tyrolese greeted this exploit of their leaders with loud 
 cheers ; but up fi-om the Bavarians resounded the commands 
 of the olTicers ; a whole voll(\v crashed, the bullets whistled 
 round the cai'S of Wallner and Panzl, but none hit them ; and 
 when the smoke cleared away, John Panzl was seen to make 
 a triumphant leap in the air, which he accomjianied with a 
 shout of victor}', while Anthony Wallner calmly raised his
 
 152 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 rifle again. He fired, and the gunner at the third field-piece 
 fell dead. 
 
 " Now, boys, at them ; we must take the cannon ! " shouted 
 Wallner, jumping forward, and the Tyrolese followed him 
 down the slope with furious shouts. 
 
 " Forward, forward ! " shouted the lieutenant-colonel in the 
 valley to his Bavarians ; "forward ! the cannon must not fall 
 into the hands of the peasants ; we must defend them to the 
 last man. Therefore, forward at the double-quick ! " 
 
 And the Bavarians rushed forward up the slope. 
 
 But the Tyrolese had already succeeded in shooting or 
 knocking down all the gunners, and taken possession of the 
 cannon. While Anthony Wallner, at the head of a furious 
 detachment of his men, hastened to meet the approaching Ba- 
 varians, and hurled death and destruction into their ranks, 
 John Panzl remained with the others to defend the guns. 
 
 A furious hand-to-hand fight now arose ; the Bavarians 
 were repulsed again and again by the Tyrolese, and the sharp- 
 shooters, jjosted behind the ti^ees and rocks, assisted their fight- 
 ing brethren with their rifles, which, aimed steadily, never 
 missed their man. But the Bavarians, who were drawn up 
 farther down in the valley, likewise endeavored to assist their 
 struggling comrades : but the bullets which they fired up the 
 hill frequently struck into the ranks of their countrymen, and 
 not into those of the Tyrolese. Often, on the other hand, 
 these bullets did not miss their aim, but carried wounds and 
 death into the midst of the insurgents. Whenever this oc- 
 curred a young woman was seen to rush amidst the deadliest 
 .shower of bullets into the ranks of the fighting men, lift up 
 the fallen brave, and carry him in her strong arms out of the 
 thickest of the fight to the quiet spot on the edge of the forest, 
 which a protruding rock protected from the bullets of the 
 enemy. 
 
 This young woman was Eliza Wallner. Behind the rock 
 she had established a sort of field hospital ; a few women and 
 girls had assembled around her there, and taken upon them- 
 selves the sacred care for the wounded, while two priests had 
 joined them to administer extreme unction to the dying. But 
 Eliza Wallner had reserved the most difficult and dangerous
 
 THE BRIDGE OF ST. LAWRENCE. 153 
 
 part of this work of love for hei-self. She aloiio wus cour- 
 ageous enouo-h to pluii^'e into the thickest of the fight to re- 
 move tiie fallen brethren ; she aloue was strong enough to 
 carry them to the quiet asylum, and it was only the joyous 
 enthusiasm inspired by the consciousness of doing good that 
 imparted this strength to her. Her eyes were radiant, her 
 cheeks were flushed, and the face of the young girl, formerly 
 so rosy and serene, exhibited now the transparent paleness, 
 and grave, proud calmness which only great resolves and sub- 
 lime moments impart to the human countenance. 
 
 And the women followed her example with joyous zeal ; 
 they washed the wounds of the brave Tyrolese with water 
 fetched from the neighboring spring, tore their handkerchiefs 
 and dresses to make the necessary bandages of them, and 
 closed, with tears of devout compassion, the eyes of those who 
 gave up the ghost amid the blessings of the priests. 
 
 From these ]nous works of charity the women were sud- 
 denly aroused by the loud cheei-s of the Tyrolese. Eliza 
 sprang forth from behind the rock to see what was the matter. 
 Renewed and still louder cheers resounded, for the victory was 
 gained. Anthony Wallner and his men had attained their 
 object. They had succeeded in hurling the three field-pieces 
 from the height into the Rieuz, which was rolling along far 
 l)el(>\v in its rocky bed. The earth was shaking yet from the 
 terrific crash, and echo w^as resounding still with the thun- 
 dering noise with which the field-pieces had fallen into the 
 Rienz, whose waters had hurled their foaming spray into the 
 air, and were rolling now with an angry roar over the sunken 
 cannon. 
 
 This exploit, which excited the transports of the Tyrolese, 
 exerted a contrary efrect upon the Bavarians. They had lost 
 their artillerj^ and with it the means of blowing up the 
 bridge ; and now they stood before the enemy uncovered and 
 almost defenceless. In obedience to a loud command uttered 
 by Anthony Wallner, the Tyrolese returned quickly into the 
 forest, and, hidden behind trees and rocks, hit a Bavarian 
 with every bullet, while the Bavarians vainly fired at the well- 
 concealed enemy. 
 
 The commander of the Bavarians, Lieutenant-Colonel 
 11
 
 154 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 Wredeii. perceiving the danger and uselessness of a continu- 
 ance of the struggle, ordered his troops to retreat ; and no 
 sooner had the Bavarians received this longed-for order, than 
 they fell back at the double-quick from the bridge and took 
 the road to Sterzing. 
 
 This retreat of the enemy was greeted by the renewed 
 cheers which Eliza Wallner had heard ; and, both laughing 
 and weeping for joy, she hastened to fold her father to hej 
 heart, and thank God that no bullet had hit liim. 
 
 Wallner embraced her tenderly, and im})rinted a kiss on 
 her forehead. 
 
 " You have behave^ very bravely, Lizzie," he said ; " I saw 
 how you cari'ied our poor brethren out of the thickest of the 
 fight. My heart was proud of you, and I should not have 
 wept to-day even though you had fallen in the sacred service 
 of the fatherland. But I thank God that nothing has hap- 
 pened to you, and I beseech you, dearest Lizzie, do not accom- 
 pany us any farther. I now believe again in you, and I know 
 that you are a true daughter of the Tyrol, although you un- 
 fortunately love a Bavarian. Therefore go home ; for it is no 
 woman's work that is in store for us ; we have a hard struggle 
 before us, and a great deal of blood will be shed before we 
 have driven the mean Bavarians and the accursed French 
 from ')ur beloved country." 
 
 '■ No, father, I shall stay with you," exclaimed Eliza, with 
 eager determination. "I am not able to sit at home and spin 
 and pray when my father is fighting for the country. Mother 
 can attend alone to our household affairs, and Shropfel 
 will assist her : but you cannot attend alone to the hard work 
 here, and I will help you, dearest father. I will be the doctor 
 and surgeon of your men until you have found a better and 
 more skilful physician. You must not reject me, dearest 
 father, for you would commit wrong against the poor wounded 
 who have no other assistance than what they receive at my 
 hands and at those of the women wliom I beg and persuade to 
 help me." 
 
 " You are right, Lizzie ; it would be wrong in me to send 
 you home and not permit you to assist and nurse the wound- 
 ed," said her father, gravely. " May God and the Holy Vir-
 
 THE BRIDGE OF LA DITCH. 155 
 
 gin liclp and protect you I I devote you to the fatherland to 
 which I devote myself." 
 
 He kissed her once more, and then turned to the Tyrolese, 
 wlio, encamped in groups on the edge of the fore.st, and repos- 
 ing from the struggle, were partaking of the bread and meat 
 which they had brought along in their haversacks. 
 
 " Brethren," exclaimed Anthony Wallner, in a powerful 
 voice, " now let us be up and doing I We must cut off the 
 enemy's retreat to Sterzing. We must also occupy the Miihl- 
 bach pass, as Andreas Ilofer ordered us to do in the Archduke 
 John's name. The enemy has set out thither, and if he gets 
 before us through the gap of Brixen and reaches the bridge of 
 Laclitch, "we shall be unable to prevent him from passing 
 through the Miihlbach pass and marching to Sterzing. Hence, 
 we are not at liberty to repose now, but must advance rapidly. 
 One detachment of our men, commanded by my Lieutenant 
 Panzl, will push on quickly on the mountain-road to the 
 Miihlbach pass. The rest of us will follow you, but we must 
 previously detain the enemy at the gap of Brixen ; and while 
 we are doing duty, another detachment of our men will go 
 farther down to the bridge of Laditch and destroy it in oi'der 
 to prevent the enemy from crossing the Eisach. Forward, 
 my friends ! Forward to the gap of Brixen ! We must I'oll 
 down trees, detach large fragments from the rocks, and hurl 
 them down on the enemy ; we must fire at them from the 
 heights with deadly certaintj', aiid every bullet must hit its 
 man. Forward ! forward ! To the bridge of Laditch I " 
 
 " Yes, yes ! " exclaimed the Tyrolese, with enthusiastic 
 courage. " Forward to the bridge of Laditch ! " 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 THE BRIDGE OF LADITCH. 
 
 Night had at length brought some repose to the exhausted 
 Bavarians. At no gi-eat distance from the gap of Brixen they 
 had halted late in the evening, and encamped on the bare
 
 156 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 ground in the valley below. The green turf was their bed, a 
 stone their pillow ; nevertheless, they had been able to enjoy 
 a few hours of peaceful slumber, for they were familiar with 
 the habits of the Tyrolese ; they knew that thej^ never under- 
 took any thing, not even a hunting-excursion, in the dead of 
 night, and that they had nothing to fear from them until sun- 
 rise. 
 
 But now the first streaks of dawn illuminated the sky ; it 
 was time, therefore, to continue the march. Lieutenant-Colo- 
 nel von Wreden rose from the couch which the soldiers had 
 prepared for him of moss and branches, and i*eviewed, accom- 
 panied by his officers, his small force, which began sullenly 
 and silently to form in line. A cloud darkened Wreden's 
 face when, marching through the ranks, he coiinted the num- 
 ber of his soldiers. He had arrived yesterday at the bridge of 
 St. Lawrence with nearly four hundred men ; scarcely one- 
 half of them were left now ; the other half lay slain at the 
 bridge of St. Lawrence, or, exhausted by the loss of blood and 
 by the pains of gaping wounds, had sunk down on the road 
 and been unable to continue the march. 
 
 " And these poor men will likewise be killed to-day unless 
 speedy succor comes,'" murmured the lieutenant-colonel to 
 himself ; " we are all lost if the miserable rabble of peasants 
 reach the gap of Brixen before us. We are all lost, for we 
 shall be entirely cut off from our friends and surrounded by 
 our enemies, who are able to avail themselves of their moun- 
 tain fastnesses and hiding-places, while we must march through 
 the valley and across the open plain. But all these com- 
 plaints are useless. We must do our duty ! The soldier's life 
 belongs to his oath and his king ; and if he falls in the service, 
 he has done his duty." 
 
 And with strong determination and bold courage the lieu- 
 tenant-colonel threw back his head, and fixed his eye stead- 
 fastly on his soldiers. 
 
 " Forward," he shouted, " forward, boj^s ! Forward against 
 these miserable peasants, who have violated the faith they 
 plighted to our king. Forward ! forwai'd ! " 
 
 The column, headed by Lieutenant-Colonel von Wreden, 
 commenced moving. His eyes glanced anxiously over the
 
 TIIK HRIDCK ()K LADITCII. 157 
 
 l)l:un now opciiinj^ before them. Suddenly tliey are riveted 
 uii a point yonder on the mountain-road leading southward to 
 Italy. What is that ? Does it not Hash there like a mass of 
 bayonets ? Does it not look as though a brilliant serpent, glit- 
 tering in blue, red, and gold, were moving along the road ? It 
 draws nearer and nearer, and tlu^ lieuteiumt colonel is able to 
 distinguish its parts. Yes. these parts are soldiers ; this ser- 
 pent consists of regiments marching along in serried ranks. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel von Wreden uttered a cry of joy and 
 galloped forward. Already he discerned distinctly the uni- 
 forms of the start'-oflicers riding at the head of the column. 
 They wei-o friends ; they were French soldiers headed by 
 General Bisson. 
 
 Wreden galloped forward to salute the genei'al and com- 
 nnniicate to him in brief, winged words his own disaster and 
 his ajjprehensions regarding the inmiediate future. 
 
 '■ Well, you have nothing to fear now," said General Bis- 
 son, with a jdeasant aiul proud smile. " It was no accident, 
 Itut a decree of Fate, that caused us to meet here. I was or- 
 dered by my emperor to march with a column of four thou- 
 sand men from Mantua to Ratisbon, and I am now on the road 
 to the latter place. Hence, our route leads us through the gap 
 of Brixen. and as a matter of course you will join us with your 
 troo])s. I hope our united forces will succeed in routing these 
 miserable peasants ! " 
 
 " Yes, if we could meet them in the open plain," sighed 
 Lieutenant-Colonel von Wreden. " But in their mountains 
 and gorges our thousands will vainly struggle against their 
 liuiidreds. The bulwarks of their mountains protect them." 
 
 " We shall drive them from these bulwarks," said General 
 Bisson, haughtily. " But I believe the i-abble will not even 
 wait for this, but take to their heels as soon as they see the head 
 of my column. Therefore, join my regiments, lieutenant- 
 colonel, and let us march fearlessly through the ga]) of 
 Brixen." 
 
 Half an hour afterward Hk'.v' had reached tlie dark and 
 awe-inspiring gap of Brixen, and the united Bavarian and 
 French troops marched with a measured step along the nar- 
 I'ow I'oad, on both sides of which rose steej) gray rocks, covered
 
 158 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 here and there with small pine forests, and then again exhibit- 
 ing their naked, moss-grown walls, crowned above with their 
 snowy summits glistening like burnished silver in the morn- 
 ing sun. 
 
 The column under General Bisson penetrated deeper and 
 deeper into the gorge. Enormous rocks now- closed the road 
 in their front and rear. A profound, awful stillness surround- 
 ed them ; only here and there they heard the rustling of a 
 cascade falling down from the mountains with silvery spray, 
 and flowing finally as a murmuring rivulet through the val- 
 ley ; now and then they heard also the hoarse croaking of 
 some bh'd of prey soaring in the air ; otherwise, all was still. 
 
 General Bisson, who was riding in the middle of his 
 column, turned smilingly to Lieutenant-Colonel Wreden : 
 " Did I not tell you, my dear lieutenant-colonel," he said, " that 
 these miserable peasants would take to their heels so soon as 
 ou)' column came in sight ? They were, perhaps, able to cope 
 with your few hundred men, but my four thousand men — " 
 
 The loud crash of a rifle intei'rupted his sentence ; a second, 
 third, and fourth report followed in rapid succession. The 
 heights seemed all at once to bristle with enemies. Like an 
 enormous man-of-war, lying at first calm and peaceful, and 
 then opening her ])oi't-holes, these gray rocks seemed sud- 
 denly to open all their port-holes and pour out death and de- 
 struction. 
 
 From the rock in front yonder, from the steep mountains 
 on both sides, from the precipitous hill jutting out in their 
 rear and closing the gloomy gorge, rifle shots rattled down 
 with unerring aim ; every bullet hit its man, every bullet 
 struck down a soldier in the ranks of the Bavarians and 
 French ; then were heard the triumphant cheers of the Tyro- 
 lese, who, for a moment, stepped forth from their safe hiding- 
 places, danced on the rocks, jeered at the enemy with loud, scorn- 
 ful words, and disappeared again so quickly, that the bullets 
 which the soldiers fired at them glanced harmlessly from the 
 flanks of the rocks. 
 
 But the Tyrolese fought not with their rifles alone against 
 the enemy marching through the deep and awful gorge. 
 Nature had prepared other means of defence for them ; it had
 
 THE HIUDf!!': OF F.AItlTCII. J 50 
 
 given tlieni Iroesand ivx-ks. They hurled llio (rocs, which tlio 
 storms liacl felled ycais ago, and wliich fra^'iiients of rock had 
 held on the brink of the precipice, into the depth of the gorge ; 
 t hey detached large fragments from the rocks, and rolled them 
 down on the soldiers, many of whom were crushed by these 
 tf^rrible missiles. And when these trees and rocks fell into the 
 depth, ;;nd spread death and confusion in the ranks of 
 the soldiers, the Tyrolese profited by this moment to aim 
 and strike down additional victims by their rifle bullets. 
 
 And there was no escape for these poor soldiei-s, who, ex- 
 l^osed to the fury of their enemies, did not even enjoy the con- 
 solation of wreaking vengeance upon them. In silent de- 
 spair, and shedding tears of rage, the French and Bavarians 
 continued their march ; the corpses of their brethren, which 
 the rear-guai'd met on the hoj-rible I'oad, conld not detain 
 them ; they had to pass over them, and abstain even from 
 coming to the assistance of their dying friends ; crushed under 
 their feet, the latter had to give up the ghost. 
 
 At length the gorge widens before them ; the rocks in 
 front recede on both sides, and a bright, expansive plain opens 
 to their view. The soldiers greet this prospect with loud 
 cheers of delight, which their officers dare not repress in the 
 name of discipline ; for, on emerging from an open grave, a 
 soldier feels like a human being, and thanks God for the ])res- 
 ervation of his life. Hundreds had fallen, but .several thou- 
 sands were left, and their ardent rage, their fiery revengeful- 
 ness longed for the struggle in which they might avenge their 
 fallen con n-ades. And Fate seemed intent on fulfilling their 
 wishes. Yonder, at the extremity of the plain through which 
 the .soldiers were now marching ; yonder, on the bank of the 
 Kisach, was seen a motley crowd ascending the slopes of the 
 mountains on both sides of the river. 
 
 "Yes, there are the Tyrolese, there are our enemies," cried 
 the Bavarians and Fi'cnch, with grim .satisfaction ; and they 
 mai'ched at the doul)le-quick toward the bank of the I'iver. 
 
 "The peasants, I believe, intend to prevent us from crossing 
 the river,'' said General Bisson, with a contemptuous shinig. 
 
 " They have taken position in front of the bridge of La- 
 ditch, and so closely that I can see nothing of it," replied
 
 IQQ ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel von Wreden. Suddenly he uttered a cry 
 of surprise, and looked steadfastly toward the extremity of 
 the valley, where the rocks jutted out again into it, and where 
 the furious Eisach makes a sudden bend from one side of the 
 valley to the other. Formerly there had risen here, between 
 tremendous rocks, the majestic arch of the bridge of Laditch. 
 For many centuries past this wonderful arch had spanned the 
 abyss ; it was a monument dating from the era of the ancient 
 Romans, and C»sar himself, perhaps, had crossed this bridge 
 on his march against the free nations of tlie North. But now 
 this arch had disappeared, or rather its central part had been 
 removed, and between its two extremities yaw^ned a terrible 
 abyss, through which the Eisach rushed with thundering 
 noise. 
 
 " The Tyrolese have destroyed the bridge ! " exclaimed 
 Von Wreden, in dismay. 
 
 '• Ah, the brigands ! " said Bisson, contemptuously. " It 
 will, therefore, be necessary for us to construct a temporary 
 bridge in order to get over to the other side." 
 
 Yes, the Tyrolese had destroyed the bridge of Laditch ; and 
 while a small division of their men had quickly moved on to 
 occupy the Miihlbach pass, the others, under the command of 
 Anthony Wallner, had taken position on the opposite bank of 
 the Eisach, in order to prevent the enemy from crossing the 
 river. All the men from the neighboring village of Laditch 
 had joined the forces of Anthony Wallner, and on the moun- 
 tains stood the sharpshooters from the villages far and near, 
 called out by the tocsin, and ready to dispute every inch of the 
 beloved soil Avith the enemy. 
 
 The columns of the Bavarians and French approached, and 
 shots were exchanged on both sides. "Forward !" shouted 
 Anthony Wallner, and he advanced with his brave men to the 
 Puster valley, close to the bridge upon which the enemy was 
 moving up. 
 
 The bullets whistled around him, but he paid no attention 
 to them ; he saw only the enemy, and not the dangers mena- 
 cing him. But the other Tyrolese saw them only too well. 
 Up in the mountains they were brave and resolute ; but in 
 the plain, where they were on equal ground with the enemy.
 
 THE BKlDiiE OF LADITCII. IGl 
 
 they fell ill at ease ami anxious. Mon over, tlie odds of the 
 enemy were truly formidable, not only in numbers but also in 
 arms. Onlj' a part of the Tyrolese were provided with riJies 
 and muskets ; more than half of them were armed only with 
 flails, pitchforks, and clubs. The soldiers had not onlj' their 
 muskets, but also field-pieces, whose balls thundered now 
 across the plain and carried death into the ranks of the Tyro- 
 lese. 
 
 Terror and dismay seized the sharpshooters ; they turned 
 and began to flee into the mountains. But an unexpected ob- 
 stacle obstructed their path. A number of intrepid women, 
 who had flocked to the scene from the neighboring' villages, 
 met them at this moment. They received the fugitives with 
 threatening iiivcctives ; they drove them back with uplifted 
 arms, with flaming eyes, with imprecations, and scornful 
 laughter, down the slope, regardless of the bullets whistling 
 around them, and of the enemy moving up closer and closer 
 to them. The fugitives are obliged to turn and plunge once 
 more into the struggle, which becomes more and more furi- 
 ous. Yonder, close to the fragments of the bridge, stand tlic 
 Tyrolese ; here, near the fragments on this side of the river, 
 are the soldiers and the French engineers advancing to con- 
 struct a temporary bridge across the chasm, and thereby unite 
 again the disrupted ends of the ancient Roman structvn-e. 
 
 The fire of the Tyrolese becomes weaker ; loud lamenta- 
 tions burst from their ranks. They are exhausted and weary, 
 owing to the heavy exertions of the day ; hunger and thirst 
 torment them, and their strength is gone. 
 
 "Give us something to eat ! Give us something to drink I '' 
 they shout to the women occupying the mountain-path in their 
 rear up to the solitary house, the inn Zia- Eiaach, which has 
 already been hit by many a ball from the enemy's guns. 
 
 " Courage, brethren, courage ! " shouted Eliza Wallner. 
 "I will bring you refreshments." 
 
 And, like a gazelle, she haslens uj) the hillside, skipping 
 from rock to rock until she reaches the battered house. The 
 bullets whistle around her, but she laughs at them, and does 
 not even turn to vouchsafe a glance at the danger. She leaps 
 on courageously ; now she reaches the house, she disappears
 
 l(\2 ANDREAS IIOFER. 
 
 thiDiigli the door, and no sooner lias she entered than a can- 
 non-ball strikes the wall right above the door. After a very 
 brief space of time, Eliza Wallner reappears in the door. On 
 her head she carries a keg, which .she supports with both her 
 uplifted arnis. With a serene glance, with rosy cheeks and 
 .smiling lips, a charming picture of grace, loveliness, and coiir 
 ageous innocence, she descends the mountain-path again, and 
 even the bullets of the enemy respect her ; they whistle pari 
 her on both sides, but do not hit her. Eliza hastens down tlii 
 slope, and now she reaches the bridge, and arrives where are 
 posted the Tyrolese, who receive the courageous girl with 
 deafening cheers. 
 
 All at once she feels a jerk in the keg on her head, and 
 immediately after its contents pour in a clear cold stream 
 down on her face and neck. A bullet had struck the keg and 
 passed clear through it. Eliza bursts into merry laughter, 
 lifts the keg with her plump, beautiful arms from her head, 
 and stoj)s the two holes with both her hands, so that the wine 
 can no longer run out. 
 
 " Now come, boys," she shouts, in a loud, merry voice ; 
 "come and drink, else the wine will run out. The enemy has 
 tapped the keg ; he wished to save us the trouble. Come and 
 drink." 
 
 "Stand back, Lizzie," shouts Panzl to her; "step behind 
 the rock yonder, that the bullets may not hit you." 
 
 " I .shall not do it," said Eliza, with a flushed face ; "I shall 
 not conceal myself. I am a true daughter of the Tyrol, and 
 God will protect me here as well as there.— Come, boys, and 
 drink. Bring your glasses, or rather apply your mouth to 
 the keg and drink." 
 
 Two young Tyrolese sharpshooters hastened to her. Eliza 
 held up the keg ; the two young men knelt before her and 
 applied their mouths to the holes made by the bullet, and 
 sucked out the wine, looking with enamoured glances up to 
 the heroic girl who looked down on them smilingly. 
 
 " Now you have drunk enough, go and fight again for the 
 fatherland," she said, and signed to two other sharpshooters 
 to refresh themselves from the keg. The two young men 
 hastened back to their comrades, not knowing whether it Avas
 
 iwmsiM^ 
 
 KLIZA UAI.LNKli HHIXCIiNli Till-; WINK.
 
 THE iminCH (»F LADITCH. 10;i 
 
 the wine or tlie siglit of the h.vcly Tyiolesc f^irl tliat filled 
 ihem with renewed courage and enthusiasm. 
 
 The two other Tyrolese had drunk likewise. Suddenly 
 another bullet whistles along and darts past close to Eliza's 
 chocks, causing her to reel for a moment. A cry of dismay 
 hurst from the lips of those who saw it; but Eliza already 
 smiled again, and she exclaimed, in a merry voice : " Make 
 haste, boys ! else another bullet will come and pierce the keg 
 again, when the wine will run into the grass. Therefore, 
 make haste ! " 
 
 Two other Tyrolese hastened up to drink ; then two more, 
 and so on, until the keg was empty. 
 
 "Now you have refreshed youi-selves,'' cried Eliza, "and 
 you mu.st bravely return to the struggle." 
 
 And the Tyrolese took ])osition (m the river-bank, with re- 
 tloubled courage and enthusiasm, to prevent the French from 
 linishing the tenipoi'ary bridge. 
 
 But the (iie of the enemy thinned the ranks of the Tyrolese 
 fearfully ; their shots became few and far between, and gradu- 
 ally a i-egular panic seized them. They began to give way ; 
 even the scornful cries of the women, wlio tried to obstruct 
 their path, were powerless to keep them back. Tbey pushed 
 the women aside, and rushed resistlessly up the mountain- 
 path. 
 
 At this monient loud cheei*s burst from the lips of the ene- 
 my. The Tyrolese started. They looked back, and saw to 
 their dismay that the engineers had succeeded in finishing the 
 temporary bridge across the Eisach, and that nothing pre- 
 vented the enemj- now from passing over to their side of the 
 river. 
 
 " Surrender ! Lay down youi- arms I " sliouted Lieutenant- 
 Colonel von Wreden, on the othei' bank. 
 
 The Tyrolese were silent, and gazed with mute dismay 
 upon the bridge. All at once they heard a voice resounding 
 on the hills above them as it were from the cloiuls. This voice 
 shouted : " The imperialists are coming ! The Austi-ians, our 
 saviours, are coming I " 
 
 And at the same time a detachment of light-horse appeared 
 on the heights of Schaps. They galloped down the slope, and
 
 164 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 were followed by several companies of chasseurs and infantry, 
 who rushed down at the double-quick. 
 
 Loud, exulting cheers burst from the lips of the Tyro- 
 lese, and found thundering echoes in the mountains and 
 goi-ges. 
 
 The French and Bavarians started, for this sudden ap- 
 parition took them completely by surprise ; they had not 
 even suspected that the Austrians had already invaded 
 the Tyrol. They hesitated, and did not venture to cross the 
 river. 
 
 This hesitation of the enemy and the arrival of the Austrians 
 filled the Tyrolese with transports. Some threw down their 
 rifles to embrace each other and swing their hats iQ^rrily, 
 while others were dancing with their rifles as though they 
 were their sweethearts ; and others again sang and warbled 
 ringing Tyrolese Jodlers. Finally, some of them, filled with 
 profound emotion and fervent gratitude, sank down on their 
 knees to thank God for this wonderful rescue and the long- 
 wished-for sight of the dear Austrian uniforms. 
 
 The French and Bavarians, in the mean time, thunder- 
 struck at the sudden arrival of the Austrians, whose numbers 
 they were as yet unable to ascertain, had made a retrograde 
 movement in their first terror. But this did not last long. 
 '• If we do not want to perish here to the last man, we must try 
 to force a passage," said General Bisson. " Forward, there- 
 fore, forward !" 
 
 The troops moved, and began to march across the bridge. 
 
 But now tlie Austrians had come close up to them. The 
 Tyrolese received them with deafening shouts of "Long live 
 the Emperor Francis ! Long live Austria ! " 
 
 Then they turned once more with fervent enthusiasm to- 
 ward the enemy. " Down with the base Bavarians ! For- 
 ward ! forward ! Down with them ! " they shouted on all 
 sides ; and the Tyrolese rushed with furious impetuosity upon 
 the enemy. Their scythes and flails mowed down whole 
 ranks, and many soldiers were soon laid prostrate by the un- 
 erring aim of the mountain sharpshooters. Mountains of 
 corpses were piled up, rivers of blood flowed down into the 
 waters of the Eisach, and the crimson-colored waves carried
 
 THE RRIDCE OF LADITCH. 1^,5 
 
 down through tlie Tyrol the intelligence that the struggle for 
 the fatherland had ronniienced. 
 
 Nevertheless, the forces of the enemy were too numerous 
 for tlie Tyrolese and the small advanced guard of the Austrians 
 to annihilate them entirely. The Bavarians and French 
 forced a passage through the ranks of their enthusiastic ene- 
 mies with the courage and wrath of despair ; hundreds of them 
 remained dead on the hloody field, but nearly two thousand 
 ascended the Eisach toward Sterzing. 
 
 Anthony Wallner beckoned to his daughter, and stepped 
 with her behind a jutting rock. " First, Lizzie, my heroic girl, 
 give me a kiss," he said, encircling her with one of his arms, 
 and pressing her fondly to his broad breast. " You have been 
 your father's joy and pride to-day, and I saw that the dear 
 little angels were protecting you, and that the bullets for this 
 reason whistled harmlessly around you. Hence, you are now 
 to render an important service to the fatherland. 1 must 
 send a messenger to Andreas Hofer, but I need, the men for 
 fighting here ; and, moreover, the enemy might easily catch 
 my messenger. But he will allow a Tyrolese girl like you 
 to pass through his lines, and will not suspect any thing 
 wrong about her. Now will you take my message to Andreas 
 Hofer ? " 
 
 •'I will, father." 
 
 " Run, then, my daughter, run along the mountain-paths ; 
 you can climl^ and leap like a chamois, and will easily get 
 the start of the enemy, who is marching on the long roads in 
 the valley. Hasten toward Sterzing. If all has passed oif as 
 agreed upon, you will find Andreas Hofer there. Tell him 
 now in my name that the Austrians are coming up from Salz- 
 burg and that I have done my duty and redeemed my pledge. 
 Tell him further that the whole Puster valley is in insurrec- 
 tion, and that we are bravely at work, and driving the Bava- 
 rians and French from the country. But tell him also to be 
 on his guard, for we have not been able to annihilate the ene- 
 my entirely, and they will soon make their appearance at 
 Sterzing. Let him be ready to receive the enemy there as 
 they deserve it." 
 
 " Is that all, dearest father ? "
 
 1(3(3 ANDREAS FIOFER. 
 
 "Yes, Lizzie, it is. Tell Audy what has happened here, 
 and do not forget to tell him how you brought down the keg 
 of wine that the boys might drink courage from it." 
 
 " No, father, I shall not tell him that. It would look as 
 though I thought I had done something great, and wished to 
 be praised for it. But now, farewell, dearest father. I will 
 hasten to Andreas Hofer." 
 
 •' Farewell, dearest Lizzie. The angels and the Holy Vir- 
 gin will protect you. I have no fears for your safety." 
 
 "Nor I either, dearest father. The good spirits of the 
 mountain will accompany me. Farewell I " 
 
 She kissed her hands to him, and bounded up the moun- 
 tain-path with the speed and gracefulness of a gazelle. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 ON THE STERZINGER MOOS. 
 
 While these events were going on below Brixen, Andreas 
 Hofer had marched with the men of the Passeyr valley across 
 the Janfen. The inhabitants everywhere had received him 
 with loud exultation : they had risen everywhere, ready to 
 follow him, to fight under him for the deliverance of the 
 fatherland, and to stake tlieir fortunes and their lives for the 
 emperor and the beloved Tyrol. Hofer's column accordingly 
 gained strength at every step as it advanced. He had set out 
 with a few hundred men on the 9th of April ; and now, on 
 the morning of the 11th of April, already several thousand 
 men liad rallied around him, and with them he had reached 
 the heights of Sterzing. Andreas Hofer halted his men here, 
 where he had a splendid view of the whole plain, and ordered 
 his Tyrolese to encamp and repose after their long and ex- 
 hausting march. He himself did not care for repose, for his 
 heart was heavy and full of anxiety ; and his glance, usually 
 so serene, was clouded and sombre. 
 
 While the others were resting and partaking gayly of the 
 wine and food which the women and girls of the neighboring
 
 ON THE STERZINT.ER MOOS. 107 
 
 villages liad l)rf)uglit to them with joyous readiness, Andreas 
 Hofer ascended a peak from which he had a full view of the 
 mountain-chains all around and the extensive plain at his 
 feet. His friend and adjutant, Anthony Siebercr, had fol- 
 lowed him noiselessly ; and on perceiving him, Andreas Ho- 
 fer smiled and nodded pleasantly to him. 
 
 " See, brother," he said, pointing with a sigh down to the 
 valley, " how calm and peaceful every thing looks ! There 
 lies Sterzing, so cozy and sweet, in the sunshine ; the fruit- 
 trees are blossoming in its gardens ; the daisies, primroses, and 
 hawthorns have opened their little eyes, and are looking up to 
 heaven in silent joy. And now I am to disturb this glorious 
 peace and tranquillity, tear it like a worthle.ss piece of paper, 
 and hurl it like Uriah's letter, into the faces of the people. 
 Ah. Sieberer, war is a cruel thing ; and when I take every 
 tiling into consideration. I cannot help thinking that men 
 commit a heavy sin by taking the field in order to .slay, shoot, 
 and stab, as though they were wild beasts bent on devouring 
 one another, and not men whom God created after His own 
 likeness ; and I ask myself, in the humility of my heart, 
 whether or not I have a right to instigate my dear friends and 
 countrymen to follow me and attack men who are our brethren 
 after all." 
 
 "If yoii really ask yourself such questions, and have lost 
 your courage, then we are all lost," said Sieberer, gloomily. 
 " Tt is Andreas Hofer in whom the men of the Passeyr valley 
 believe, and whom thej'' are following into the bloody strug- 
 gle. If Hofer hesitates, all will soon despond ; and it would 
 be better for us to retrace our steps at once, and allow Bona- 
 parte and the French to trample us again in the dust, in- 
 stead of lifting our heads like freemen, and fighting for our 
 rights.'" 
 
 "We have gone too far, we can no longer retrace our 
 steps," said Andi-eas Hofer, shaking his head gently, and 
 lifting his eyes to heaven. After a pause he added in a loud, 
 strong voice : " And even though it were otherwise, even 
 though we could still retrace our steps, I should not consent 
 to it. T shall never repent of having raised my voice in be- 
 half of the Tyrol and the emperor : nor have I lost my cour-
 
 108 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 age, as you seem to think, brother Sieberer. I know full well 
 that we owe it to our good emperor and the fatherland to de- 
 fend it to the last breath, and I do not tremble for myself. I 
 have dedicated my life to the dear fatherland ; I have taken 
 leave of my wife and my children, and belong now only to 
 the Tyrol and the emperor. If my blood were sufficient to 
 deliver our country, I should joyously and with a grateful 
 prayer throw myself down from this peak and shatter my 
 bones ; and dying, I should thank God for vouchsafing such 
 an honor to me, and allowing me to purchase the liberty of 
 the country with my blood. But I am but a poor and humble 
 servant and soldier of the Lord, and ra.y blood will not be suffi- 
 cient ; but many will have to spill theirs and die, that the rest 
 may be free and belong again to our dear emperor. And this is 
 the reason why, on contemplating the brave men and coura- 
 geous lads who have followed my call, I feel pity, and ask myself 
 again and again. Had I a right to call them away from their 
 homes, their wives and children, and lead them, perhaps, into 
 the jaws of death ? Will not the Lord curse me for preach- 
 ing insurrection and war instead of submissiveness and hu- 
 mility ? " 
 
 " Well, you are a pious man, Andy."' said Sieberer, with a 
 reproachful glance, " and yet you have forgotten what our Re- 
 deemer said to the Pharisees." 
 
 '" What do you mean, Anthony ? Tell me, if it will com- 
 fort me." 
 
 " He said, ' Eender unto Caesar the things which are Csesar's, 
 and unto God the things that are God's.' Now, I think that 
 our Tyrol is the emperor's, and that the Bavarians and French 
 have nothing to do with it, but have merely stolen it from the 
 emperor. Thei*efore. we act only in accordance with the pre- 
 cepts of our Lord Jesus Christ, if we stake our lives and for- 
 tunes to restore to the emperor that which is the emperor's. 
 And I think, too, that the churches and convents are the 
 houses of the Lord and belong to Him alone. Now, the Bava- 
 rians have stolen the houses of the Lord in the Tyrol, and 
 have ignominiously driven out His servants. Hence we act 
 again in accordance v.'ith the precepts of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 if we stake (jur lives and fortunes to restore to God that which
 
 ON TIIK STEUZINGER MOOS. 169 
 
 is God's ; and if, in doing' so, we should all lose our lives, we 
 should die in the holy service of God and the emperor ! " 
 
 " You are right, brother Sieberer," exclaimed Hofer, joy- 
 fully, *' and I thank you for comforting and sti'engtheningf 
 my heart. Yes, we are in the service of God, oui- emperor, 
 and the beloved Tyrol." 
 
 '"And God and the emperor have imposed on Andreas 
 Hofer the duty of acting at the same time as prophet of the 
 Lord and as captain of the emperor. Go, then, Andreas, and 
 do your duty ! " said Sieberer, solemnly. 
 
 " I shall do my duty bravely and faithfully to the last ! " 
 exclaimed Hofer, enthusiastically. Then he raised the small 
 crucifix from his breast, kissed it devoutly, and prayed in a 
 low voice. 
 
 A sarcastic smile overspread Anthony Siebei*er's face, but 
 it disappeared quickl,y when he happened to turn his eyes to 
 the neighboring mountains. Pie looked keenly and search- 
 ingly toward the mountain-path leading to Mittewald. He 
 saw there a small black speck which was advancing with great 
 rapidity. Was it a bird ? No, the speck had already become 
 larger ; he saw it was a human beiug — a woman speeding 
 along the mountain-path. Now she was so close to them that 
 he could distinguish her face ; it was that of a young girl ; 
 her cheeks flushed, her eyes radiant ; bold and intrepid as a 
 chamois, she hastened forward ; her long, black tresses were 
 waving round her head, and her bosom heaved violently un- 
 der tlie folds of her white corset. 
 
 Now, she stood still for a moment, and seemed to listen ; 
 then she bent far ov^er the precipice, on the brink of which 
 she was standing, and below which the Tyrolese were en- 
 camped. No sooner had she perceived them than she uttered 
 a loud cry of exultation, and bounding forward, she exclaimed 
 jovously : " There are the men of the Passeyr valley ! Now 1 
 shall find their leader, Andreas Hofer, too ! — Andreas Hofer ! 
 where are you, Andreas Hofer?" 
 
 '' Here I am I " shouted Andreas Hofer, starting up from 
 his fervent prayer, and advancing a few steps. 
 
 The young girl gave a start on discovering the two men, 
 who had hitherto been concealed fi'om her by a large rock : 
 12
 
 ;L70 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 but she looked at them searchingly, and did not seem to be 
 frightened or anxious. 
 
 " Are you really Andreas Hofer ? " she asked, breathlessly. 
 
 "Ask him if I am," said Hofer, smiling and pointing to 
 Sieberer. 
 
 " That is unnecessary," she replied calmly ; " I see that you 
 are Andreas Hofer. You look precisely as my father described 
 you to me. There is the long beard, the crucifix, the saint's 
 image on your breast ; and there are the kind eyes, and the 
 whole dear face. God bless you, Andreas Hofer ! I bring 
 you many cordial greetings from my father, Anthony Wall- 
 ner- Aichberger. " 
 
 " God bless you, maiden," exclaimed x\ndreas Hofer, hold- 
 ing out both his hands to her. Eliza took them, bent over 
 Hofer's right hand, and imprinted a glowing kiss on it. 
 
 " Girl, what are you doing ?" asked Hofer, blushing with 
 confusion. 
 
 " I kiss the dear hand which the Lord has chosen to de- 
 liver the Tyrol," she said ; " the dear hand which holds the 
 rosary so piously and the sword so bravely ; the hand into 
 which my father laid his hand, as if on an altar, when he 
 swore to God that he would assist in delivering the Tyrol from 
 the enemy and restoring it to the emperor." 
 
 " Look at this girl, Sieberer ; how well she knows how to 
 Hatter me," exclaimed Andreas, smilingly patting her flushed 
 cheek. " And you say your father sent you to me ? " 
 
 " Yes, he did, Andreas Hofer. I ran all day yesterday ; 
 and this morning I rose with the sun and continued my trip 
 in oi-der ^o reach you as soon as possible, and deliver my 
 father's message to you." 
 
 " You must be tired, poor little girl ! " said Hofer, com- 
 passionately. " Sit down on the rock yonder. There ! And 
 now speak I " 
 
 " In tlie first place, Anthony Wallner sends greeting, and 
 informs you that he has kept his word faitlif iilly. The whole 
 Puster valley has already risen in insurrection ; all the men 
 followed him, and were ready and eager to fight for the Tyrol 
 and the dear Emperor Francis. We have fought already a 
 bloodv battle at the bridge of St. Lawrence, and another at
 
 ON Tin: STFRZIXGKR MOOS. 171 
 
 the brid<?o of Laditcli. Many soldiers of the enemy were 
 killed in the gap of Bi-ixen, and many French and Bavarians 
 fell at the bridf,''e of Laditoh ; but we also lost a great many 
 men there. Our men fought l)ravely, but there were too many 
 of the Bavarians and French, and so they finally succeeded in 
 breaking through our ranks and continued their march to- 
 ward Sterzing. Hence, my father sent me to you in the great- 
 est haste to inform you of what has occurred, and tell you 
 to be on your guard. There are several thousand Bavarians 
 and French on the march to Sterzing. It is true, our men 
 have occupied the Miihlbach pass; but the enemy is too strong, 
 our men will not be able to annihilate him entirely." 
 
 "Then he will come hither," exclaimed Andreas Hofer. 
 
 " Yes, and we shall have a fight at length," said Anthony 
 Sieberer, joyously. " I am glad that our men will at length 
 be face to face with the enemy and see bloodshed." 
 
 " And the Austrians are not coming yet," sighed Andreas 
 Hofer. 
 
 "Yes! they are !" exclaimed Eliza. "Anthony Wallner 
 instructed me to tell you that too. Several hundred Austi-ians 
 joined us already at the bi'idge of Laditcli. It was their ad- 
 vanced guard, and they said that all the others would follow 
 them soon." 
 
 "It is General Hiller with the troops moving up from Salz- 
 burg," said Hofer. "But where are Chasteler a7id Hormayr, 
 who were to join us from Carinthia ? I think they are tarry- 
 ing too long." 
 
 " But the Bavarians do not tarry," said Eliza, " and tliey 
 are savage and cruel men. I did not enter the town of 
 Stei-zing, but the people on th.e road told me liow the Bava- 
 rians killed, burned, and plundered there yesterday ; and 
 those who told me cried with rage and grief. The whole 
 town is in insurrection ; all have armed for the Emperor 
 Francis, and will die rather than longer obey the Bavarians 
 and French. Major von Barenklau, the commander of the 
 Bavarians in Sterzing, finalh* got frightened ; and on being 
 informed that Andreas Hofer was moving against him on one 
 side with tlio men of the Passeyr valley, and that Anthony 
 Wallner with the men of the Puster vallev, on the other side.
 
 172 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 had occupied the bridge of Laditch, he deemed it prudent to 
 evacuate Sterzing and await our men in the open plain. I 
 saw his troops marching througli the valley while I was 
 walking on the heights ; and I think it will not be long' until 
 we can see them below in the plain.'' 
 
 " See, there they are already I " exclaimed Anthony Sie- 
 berer, who, while Eliza was speaking, had spied with his keen 
 eyes far into the plain called the Sterzinger Moos. 
 
 In fact, a large, motley mass was to be seen moving up in 
 the distance yonder ; yes, they were Bavarian soldiers, and 
 they were drawing i^eai'er and nearer. 
 
 " Hurrah ! the Bavarians are coming, the struggle begins," 
 exclaimed Anthony Sieberer, joyously ; and the Tyrolese en- 
 camped below echoed his shout with loud exultation : " The 
 Bavarians are coming ! The struggle begins ! " 
 
 "The struggle begins," said Hofer, "and God grant, in His 
 mercy, that not too nmch blood may be shed, and that we 
 may be victorious ! Come, dear girl, I will take you under 
 my protection, for you cannot immediately set out for home, 
 but must stay here with me. I shall see to it that no harm 
 befalls you, and, while we are fighting, we will try to find a 
 cave or nook in the rocks where we may conceal you." 
 
 "• I do not want to conceal myself, Andreas Hofer," said 
 Eliza, proudly. " The priests and women have likewise to per- 
 form their parts in war-times : they must carry the wounded 
 out of the range of the enemy's bullets and dress their 
 wounds ; they must pray with the dying, and nurse those 
 whose lives are spared." 
 
 " You are a brave daughter of the Tyrol ; I like to listen 
 to your soul-stirring words," exclaimed Andreas Hofer. " Now 
 come, we will speak with our men." 
 
 He grasped Eliza's hand, beckoned to his adjutant Sieberer, 
 and descended with them the path toward tlie Tyrolese. 
 
 They were no longer reposing, but all had risen and were 
 looking with rapt attention in the direction of the enemy. On 
 beholding Hofer, they burst into loud cheers, and asked him 
 enthusiastically to lead them against the enemy. 
 
 " Let us ascertain first where he is going, and what his in- 
 tentions are," said Hofer, thoughtfully. "Perhaps he does
 
 ON TUE STEliZIXGER MOOS. 173 
 
 not know that wo are here, and intends to eontinue his march. 
 In tliat case we will let him pass us, follow him, and attack 
 him only after he has entered the Mvihlbach pass." 
 
 " No, he does not intend to continue his march," exclaimed 
 Sieberer. " Look, he takes position in the plain and forms in 
 squares as he has learned to do from Bonaparte. Oh, breth- 
 ren, let us attack him now. Nevei- fear. I know such 
 squares, for, in 1805, I often attacked them with our men, and 
 we broke them. Forward, then, my friends, forward ! Now 
 let us fight for God and our emperor ! " 
 
 '' For God and our emperor ! " shouted the Tyrolese ; and 
 all seized their arms and prejiared for the struggle. 
 
 ''Hold on !" cried Hofer, in a powerful voice. " As you 
 have elected me commander, you must be obedient to me and 
 comply with my orders." 
 
 •'We will, vre will !" shouted the Tyrolese. "Just tell us, 
 commander, what we are to do, and Ave shall obey." 
 
 "You shall not descend into the plain, nor attack the enemy 
 on all sides. For you see, the squares are ready to shoot in all 
 directions, and if you attack them on all sides in the open 
 plain, you will be exposed to their most destructive fire ; more- 
 over, as they are by far better armed than we, and have can- 
 non, many of our men would be uselessly sacrificed in such an 
 attack." 
 
 '• What the commander says is true," gi'owled the Tyrolese. 
 " It is by far better for us to attack the enemy from a covered 
 position, and have our rear protected by the mountains." 
 
 " And I will show you now such a covered position from 
 which you are to attack the enemy." said Andi-eas Hofer, with 
 inipressiv-e calmness. "Look there, to the left. Do you see 
 the ravine leading into the mountains yonder ? Well, we will 
 now ascend the mountain-path rapidly,descend into the ravine, 
 and thence rush upon the enemy." 
 
 " Yes, yes, that is right! We will do so. Andreas Hofer 
 is a good cajjtain I " .said the Tyrolese to each other. 
 
 Hofer waved his hand imperatively toward them. "Now 
 keep very quiet," he said, "that we may not atti-act the atten- 
 tit)n of the enemy prematurely, and thereby cause him to oc- 
 cupy the i-avine before we have reached it. Forward, then.
 
 114: ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 quickly through the forest, and then descend noiselessly into 
 the valley. But before setting out, we will pray two rosaries. 
 If we long for success in battle, we must invoke God's assist- 
 ance."" 
 
 He took his rosary and prayed ; and the Tyrolese bent their 
 heads devoutly, and prayed like their commander. Then they 
 glided quickly and noiselessly through the thick forest, headed 
 by Andreas Hofer, who led Eliza Wallner with tender solici- 
 tude by the hand. At length they reached the gorge, and 
 Andreas Hofer was just about entering it with the others, 
 wdien Anthony Sieberer. Jacob Eisenstocken, and a few other 
 prominent Tyrolese, stepped to him and kept him back with 
 tender violence. 
 
 " A general does not accompany his soldiers into the thick- 
 est of the tight,"' said Eisenstocken. " That is not his province. 
 He has to direct tbe battle with his head, but not to tight it 
 out with his arm.'' 
 
 "But bear in mind tliat Bonaparte does not leave his sol- 
 diers even in battle," said Andreas Hofer, trying to push them 
 aside and advance. 
 
 "No, dearest commander," exclaimed Anthony Sieberer, 
 "you must not go down with the men. Think of it, what 
 w-ould become of us and our cause if an accident befell our 
 commander and a bullet shattered his beloved head ! Our 
 friends and sharpshooters would feel as though that bullet 
 had shattered all their heads ; they would be discouraged and 
 give up our cause as lost. No, no, Andreas Hofer, you owe it 
 to your fatherland, your emperor, and your Tyrolese, not to 
 expose yourself to too great dangers ; for your life is necessary 
 to us, and you are the standard which the Tyrolese are follow- 
 ing. If our standard sinks to the ground, our Tyrolese will be 
 panic-sti'icken and run away. Consequently you must not go 
 into battle, either to-day or at any tim<? hereafter." 
 
 " You are right, I see it,'' said Hofer, mournfully. "They 
 would be thunderstruck if a bullet should hit their com- 
 mander ; hence I submit, and shall stay here. You will stay 
 with me, Lizzie Wallner, and Ennemoser, my secretary, shall 
 do so too. Now go, all of you, and God grant that we may 
 all meet again. I shall stay at this very spot, and he who
 
 ON TUK STERZINGKR ^fOOS. 1 V5 
 
 wants to sec mo ninsl r()in<> hither. T ciin survey from here 
 the whole plaiji of the Ster/.iiinfer Moos. Now, my dear 
 friends and hrethren," he shouted in a loud, rin<;'-ing' voice, 
 '• for God, the fatherland, and your empei-or !" 
 
 " For God, the fatherland, and our emperor ! " shouted the 
 Tyrolese, rushinjr down the mountain-path into the ravine 
 whence they were to attack the enemy. 
 
 But the Bavarians had been on their guard, and their com- 
 mander, Colonel Barenklau, divining the tactics of the Tyr- 
 olese, had ordered his two guns to be pointed against the 
 ravine. 
 
 Now the first shots thundered from their mouths, and vol- 
 leys of musketi'y were discharged from all the squares at the 
 same time, at the advancing column of the Tyrolese. The 
 Tj'rolese, not prepared for so sudden and violent an attack, 
 dismayed at the havoc produced in their ranks by the balls 
 and bullets of the Bavarians, gave way and ran over the 
 corpses of their brethren back to the ravine. But there stood 
 the crowd of wf)men who had accompanied the column, who 
 had hastened up from Sterzing, and the whole neighborhood, 
 and had advanced with the Tyrolese out of the ravine almost 
 close to the squares of the enemy. They received the fugi- 
 tives with invectives and angry glances ; they sti'ove to kindle 
 tlieir courage ; they went and begged them with clasped hands 
 and tearful eyes not to desert the cause of the fatherland, be- 
 come discouraged in so disgi-aceful a manner in the very first 
 battle, and thereby make themselves the laughing-stock of the 
 hateful Bavarians and French. 
 
 And the men listened to these voices ; they drank courage 
 from the wine which the women handed to thcni. and rushed 
 forward a second time Their rifles crashed and mowed down 
 the front ranks of the Bavarians, but behind the corpses stood 
 the rear ranks, and their volleys responded to the Tyrolese, 
 and the cannon thundered aci'oss the plain reeking with gore 
 and powder. 
 
 The Tyrolese gave way a second time, for the mui-derous 
 fire of the Bavarians filled them with stupor and dismay 
 
 " In this manner we shall never gain a victory, and our 
 nien will be uselesslv slaughtered," said Andreas Hofer, who
 
 176 ANDREAS riOFER. 
 
 was watching the struggle with breathless suspense. "But we 
 mast not incur the disgrace of losing the first battle, for that 
 would discourage our men for all time to come. Come, Enne- 
 moser, run down to them and tell them to try a third time. 
 If they do not, Andreas Hofer will rush all alone upon the 
 enemy and wait for a bullet to shatter his head." 
 
 Young Ennemoser, the secretary, sped down the ravine ; 
 Hofer pressed his crucifix to his lips and prayed ; Eliza Wall- 
 ner advanced close to the edge of the precipice, and peered 
 down into the plain. Her eyes filled with tears when she per- 
 ceived the many corpses piled up on both sides of the ravine, 
 but the squares of the enemy likewise had been considerably 
 thinned, and death had made fearful havoc in their ranks. 
 
 "Andreas Hofer," she cried, exultingly, "your message 
 was successful. Our men are rushing forward. Do you not 
 hear their cheers ? " 
 
 " I do, and may the good God grant them success ! " sighed 
 Andreas Hofer, stepping close up to Eliza. 
 
 They saw the Tyrolese emerging again at the double-quick 
 from the ravine, and rushing upon the enemy, who received 
 them with volleys of musketry and artillery-fire. But, alas ! 
 they saw the Tyrolese give way again and retreat, though 
 more slowly than before, to the ravine. 
 
 " This will never do," cried Hofer, despairingly. " Our men 
 are slaughtered in this way, and cannot reach the enemy, 
 whose cannon are mowing them down like scythes. God, 
 show me a way to help our men ! " 
 
 His eyes glanced despairingly over the plain, as if searcli- 
 ing for relief. All at once a bright flash of joy lit up his 
 features. 
 
 " I have found a way ! I thank Thee, my God 1 " he ex- 
 claimed, aloud. " See. Lizzie, look tliere ! What do you see 
 in the plain yonder behind the ravine ? " 
 
 " I see there four large wagons filled with hay," said Lizzie ; 
 "yes, four wagons filled with hay, nothing else." 
 
 " And these wagons filled with hay will save us. They 
 must be driven toward the ravine directly toward the enemy ; 
 our sliarpshooters will conceal themselves behind them, and 
 will safely advance ; and when close enough to the enemy,
 
 THE HAY-WAGONS. ] 
 
 i i 
 
 they will discharge their rifles, and first pick off the gunnei's, 
 ill order to silence the guns which have made such havoc 
 iiniong our men. Come, Lizzie, we will go down to Sieherer 
 and the other captains, and give them my orders. I hope 
 liiere will be four lads intrepid enough to drive the hay- 
 wagons toward the enemy." 
 
 " There will be ! " exclaimed Eliza, enthusiastically. 
 
 " It is only necessary for one to risk his life, and drive the 
 fii*st wagon. The other wagons will be covered by the first. 
 But the driver of the first wagon will doubtless be killed, 
 and I shall be re#{)onsible for his death." 
 
 "He will die for the fatherland," exclaimed Eliza. "Go, 
 Andreas Hofer, descend and tell our men what is to be done, 
 for it is high time for the hay- wagons to come up and cover 
 our men." 
 
 '' Come, let us go, Lizzie ; give me your hand." 
 
 " No, lead the way ; I will follow you immediately." 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 THE HAY-WAGONS, 
 
 Andreas Hofer had already descended half the mountain- 
 path with a rapid step, and he did not once look behind him, 
 for he was sure that Wallncr'.s daughter v.as following him, 
 and he kept his eyes steadfastly fixed on his friends and 
 brethren. 
 
 But Eliza did not follow him. She looked after him until 
 the dense shrubbery below concealed her from his eyes ; then 
 she knelt down, and, lifting both her hands to heaven, ex- 
 claimed, in a loud, beseeching voice : "Holy Virgin, protect 
 me I Grant success to my enterprise for the beloved father- 
 land ! " 
 
 She then jumped up, and, quick as a chamois, scarcely 
 touching the ground with her feet, she hastened toward the 
 point where the hay-wagons were standing. 
 
 Meanwhile, Andreas Hofer had descended into the ravine
 
 J 78 ANDREAS IIOFER. 
 
 ■■Ahence constantly new crowds of Tyrolese were rushing for- 
 Avard, although they were driven hack again and again by the 
 murderous fire of the enemy. On beholding Hofer's erect and 
 imposing form, and his fine head, wnth the splendid long 
 licard, the Tyrolese burst into loud cheers, and his presence 
 seemed to inspire them with fi'esh courage. They advanced 
 with the most intrepid impetuosity. Andreas Hofer called the 
 brave captains of his sharpshooters to his side, and communi- 
 cated to them briefly the stratagem he had devised, 
 
 " That is a splendid and very shrewd idea," said Anthony 
 Sieberer. 
 
 " The hay-wagon is your Trojan horse with which, like 
 Ulysses, you will conquer your Troy," exclaimed the learned 
 Ennemoser, Hofer's young secretary. 
 
 "I do not know where Troy is situated," said Andi-eas 
 Hofer, quietly, " but I know where the Sterzinger Moos lies, 
 and what should be done there. For the rest, there are ho 
 horses before the hay- wagons, but oxen, and it is all-impor- 
 tant that the gunners should not immediately hit the driver of 
 the fii'st wagon." 
 
 " But his last hour has surely corae, and he may rely on 
 going to paradise to-day ! " exclaimed Ennemoser. " But 
 look, what throng is yonder in the ravine, and wliat causes 
 the women to shout so vociferously ? Their shouts sound like 
 iriumphant cheers. And the lads now join in the acclama- 
 tions too, and all are rushing forward so impetuously." 
 
 Indeed, the whole mass of men and w-omen assembled in 
 the rear of the ravine rushed forward wnth loud shouts, like a 
 single immense wave, surging with extraordinary impetuosity 
 up to Andreas Hofer and the captains standing by his side. 
 
 All at once this wave parted, and in the midst of all this 
 eager, shouting throng, which took position on both sides of 
 the ravine, appeared two of those broad-horned, brown red 
 oxen, of a beauty, n)aje.sty, and strength such as can be found 
 only in the Tyrol and in Switzerland. Behind these two oxen 
 came the wagon filled up with hay. 
 
 But who drove the hay-wagon ? Was it really the lovely 
 young girl hanging on the back of the ox— the beautiful 
 creature whose face was radiant with enthusiasm, whose
 
 THE HAY-WAGONS. 179 
 
 cheeKS were f^lowiiio- HUe the morning' sun, and whose eyes 
 flaslied like stars ? 
 
 Yes, it was she — it was Eliza Wallner, who, with sublime 
 courage, had mounted t!io back of the ox, and who now was 
 driving forward with loud shouts and lashes of the whip the 
 two animals, frightened by the crowd and the shots crashing 
 incessantly. 
 
 "Eliza Wallner!" cried Andreas Hofer, with an air of 
 dismay, as the heavily-laden wagon rolled more rapidly for- 
 ward. 
 
 She turned her head toward him, and a wondrous smile 
 illuminated her face. " Send greetings to my dear father!" 
 she exclaimed. " Send greetings to him in my name, if I 
 should die." 
 
 " I cannot allow her to do it— it is certain death ! " cried 
 Andreas Hofer, anxiously. " Let me go and lift her from the 
 ox." 
 
 " No, no, Andreas," said Anthony Sieberer. '' Let her pro- 
 ceed. The intrepidity of this young girl will fire the courage 
 of the lads; and, for the rest, if lives have to be sacrificed, the 
 life of a girl is not worth any more than that of a lad. We 
 ai-e all in God's hand." 
 
 " May God and His heavenly host protect her ! " said An- 
 ilreas Hofer, laying his hand on the image of St. George, 
 which adorned his breast. 
 
 " Now. boys," shouted Anthony Sieberer, " do not allow the 
 girl to make you blush. Quick, march behind the hay-wagon, 
 and when you are close enough to the enemy, step forward 
 and shoot down the gunners." 
 
 Ten young lads hastened foi-ward, amid loud cheers, and 
 took position in pairs behind the wagon, which advanced 
 heavil}' and slowlj', like an enormous avalanche. 
 
 There was a breathless silence. All eyes followed the 
 wagon, all hearts throbbed and addressed to heaven praj'crs 
 in behalf of the courageous girl who was driving it. 
 
 Suddenly a cry of hori-or burst from all lips. A cannon- 
 ball had struck the hay-wagon, which was shaking violently 
 from the li-emcndous shock. 
 
 But now a ringing cheer was heard in front of (lie wagon.
 
 130 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 By this cheer Eliza Wallner announced to the Tyrolese that 
 the ball had not hit her, and that she was uninjured. 
 
 The cannon boomed again, and Eliza's ringing voice an- 
 nounced once more that the balls had penetrated harmlessly 
 into the closely compressed hay. 
 
 Meanwhile the wagon rolled out farther and farther into 
 the plain of the Sterzinger Moos. Even the oxen seemed to 
 be infected with the heroism of their fair driver, and trotted 
 more rapidly toward the enemy, whose balls whistled round 
 them without hitting them. 
 
 Suddenly Eliza stopped their courageous trot, and, turning 
 back her head, she shouted : " Forward now, boys ! Do not 
 be afraid of the Bavarian dumplings. They do not hit us, 
 and we do not swallow them as hot as the Bavarians send 
 them to us ! " 
 
 The young sharpshooters concealed behind the wagon re- 
 plied to Eliza, amid merry laughter : "No, we are not afraid 
 of the Bavarian dumplings, but we are going to pick off the 
 cooks that send them to us." 
 
 And -with their rifles lifted to their cheeks, five sharp- 
 shooters rushed forward on either side of their green bul- 
 wai'k. Before the Bavarians had time to aim at the ten dar- 
 ing sharpshooters, the latter raised their rifles and fired, and 
 the gunners fell dead by the sides of their guns. 
 
 The Bavarians uttered loud shouts of fury, and aimed at 
 the sharpshooters ; but the Tyrolese had already disappeared 
 again, whistling and cheering, behind the wagon, which was 
 still advancing toward the enemy. 
 
 The other hay-wagons now rolled likewise from the ra- 
 vine. The first of them was driven by another young girl. 
 Imitating the heroic example set by Eliza Wallner, Anna Gam- 
 per, daughter of a tailor of Sterzing, had courageously mounted 
 the back of an ox, and drove forward the wagon, filled with 
 an enormous quantity of hay. Twenty young sharpshooters, 
 encouraged by the success of their comrades, followed this 
 second wagon. Behind them came the third and fourth wag- 
 ons, followed by twenty or thirty more sharpshooters, who 
 were well protected by the broad bulwark which the wagons 
 formed in front of them.
 
 THK IIAY-WAGOXS. 181 
 
 The "gunners had fallen ; hence the cannon no longer 
 thundered or carried destruction and death into the ranKs of 
 the Tyrolese ; only the musketry of the Bavarians was still 
 rattling, but they only hit the hay, and not the brave girls 
 driving the oxen, nor the sharpshooters, who. concealed be- 
 liind the hay, rushed from their covert whenever the enemy 
 had tired a volley, raised their rifles triumphantly, and struck 
 down a Bavarian at every shot. 
 
 All four hay-vvagous had now driven up close enough, and 
 the Tyrolese, who were nearly one hundred strong, burst with 
 cheers from behind them, and rushing forward in loose array, 
 but with desperate resolution, using the butt-ends of their 
 rifles, fell with savage impetuosity upon the Bavarians, who 
 were thundei-struck at this unexpected and sudden attack. 
 
 Loud cheers also resounded from the ravine. The whole 
 force of the Tyrolese advanced at the double-quick to assist 
 their brethren in anuiiiilating the enemy. 
 
 A violent struggle, a fierce hand-to-hand fight now ensued. 
 The Bavarians, overwhelmed hj the terrible onset of ^e peas- 
 ants, gave way ; the squares dissolved ; and the soldiers, as if 
 paralyzed with terror, had neither courage nor strength left 
 to avoid the furious butt-end blows of the peasants. 
 
 Vainly did Colonel von Barenklau strive to reform his 
 lines ; vainly did those who had rallied round him at his 
 command, make a desperate effort to force tlieir way through 
 the ranks of the infuriated Tyrolese. The fierce bravery of 
 the latter overcame all resistance, and rendered their escape 
 impossible. 
 
 "Surrender I" thundered Andreas Hofer to the Bavarians. 
 " Lay down your arms, and sun*ender at discretion ! " 
 
 A cry of rage burst from the pale lips of Colonel von Bar- 
 enklau, and he would have rushed upon the impudent peas- 
 ants who dared to fa.sten such a disgrace upon him. But his 
 own men kept him back. 
 
 "We do not want to bo slaughtered," they cried, perfectly 
 beside themselves with terror ; " we will surrender, we will 
 lay down our arms I " 
 
 A deathly pallor overspread the cheeks of the unfortunate 
 officer.
 
 152 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 " Do so, then," he cried. " Surrender yourselves and me 
 to utter dishonor ! I am no longer able to restrain you from 
 
 it.'' 
 
 And with a sigh resembling the groan of a dying man, 
 Colonel von Barenklau fainted away, exhausted by the ter- 
 rible exertion and the loss of blood which was rushing from 
 a gunshot wound on his neck. 
 
 " We surrender 1 " We are ready to lay down our arms ! " 
 shouted the Bavarians to the Tyrolese, who were still thin- 
 ning their ranks by the deadly fire of their rifles and their 
 terrible butt-end blows. 
 
 '' Very well, lay down your arms," cried Andreas Hofer, in 
 a powerful voice. " Stop, Tyrolese ! If they surrender, no- 
 body shall hurt a hair of their heads, for then they are no 
 longer our enemies, but our brethren.— Lay down your arms, 
 Bavarians ! " 
 
 The Tyrolese, obedient to the orders of their commander, 
 stopped the furious slaughter, and gazed with gloomy eyes at 
 their haled enemies. 
 
 There was a moment of breathless silence, and then the 
 Bavarian officers were heard to command in tremulous 
 voices, " Lay down your arms ! " 
 
 And their men obeyed readily. Three hundred and eighty 
 soldiers, and nine officers, laid down their arms here on the 
 plain of the Sterzinger Moos, and surrendered at discretion to 
 the Tyrolese.* 
 
 On seeing this, the Tyrolese burst into loud cheers, and 
 Andreas Hofer lifted his beaming eyes to heaven. " I thank 
 Thee. Lord God," he said ; " with Thy assistance we have 
 achieved a victory. It is the first love-oifering which we pre- 
 sent to fatherland and our Emperor Francis." 
 
 '• Lojig live the Tyrol and our Emperor Francis ! " shouted 
 the Tyrolese, enthusiastically. 
 
 The Bavarians stood silent, with downcast eyes and pale 
 faces, while the active Tyrolese lads hastily collected the arms 
 they had laid down and placed them on one of the wagons, 
 from which they had quickly removed the hay. 
 
 " What is to be done with our prisoners, the Bavarians ? " 
 
 * "Gallery of Heroes: Andreas Hofer," p. 31.
 
 THE HAY-WAGONS. 183 
 
 said Aiitliouy Sieberer to Andreas Hofer. "We cannot take 
 iheni witli us." 
 
 " No, we eanuot, uor will the enemy give us time for doing 
 so," replied Hofer. " Anthony Wallner has informed me that 
 a strong- corps of Bavarians and French is approaching in the 
 direction of the Miihlbacher Klause. They must not meet ixs 
 here on the plain, for a light under such circumstances would 
 manifestly be to our disadvantage. They would be a great 
 deal stronger here than we. But in the mountains we are 
 able to overcome them. They are the fortresses which the 
 good God built for our country ; and when the enemy passes, 
 we shall attack and defeat him." 
 
 " And shall we take the prisoners "with us into the moun- 
 tains, commander ? " 
 
 "No, we will not, for we cannot guard them well up tliere, 
 and they would escape. We will not take the prisoners with 
 us, but convey them to the Baroness von Sternberg at Castle 
 Steinach. She is ardently devoted to our cause, and loves 
 the Tyrol and the emperor. She will take care of the pris- 
 oners, and they will be unable to escape from the large tower, 
 the Wolfsthurm, on the crest yonder, which you can see from 
 here." 
 
 " But who is to convey the prisoners to Castle Steinach ? 
 Arc we all to march thither and deliver them before advanc- 
 ing farther ?" 
 
 "No, no, Anthony Sieberer; we have not time for that. 
 We must bury the corpses here quickly, and remove every 
 trace of the contest, in order that the French, on arriving 
 here, may not discover what has occurred, and that we are 
 close by. Only thirty of our men shall escort the prisoners to 
 Castle Steinach." 
 
 " Only thirty, commander ? Will that be sufficient for 
 three hundred and eighty prisoners ? If they should attack 
 our men on the road, they would beat them, for they would 
 be twelve to one." 
 
 "That is true," said Andreas Hofer in confusion ; "what 
 are we to do to get a stronger escort for the prison ci'S ? " 
 
 He stroked his beard nervously, as was his Avont in 
 moments of great excitement, and he glanced uneasily,
 
 134 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 now here, now there. All at once a smile illuminated his 
 face. 
 
 " I have got it," he said merrily. " Look there, Sieberer, 
 look there. What do you see there ? " 
 
 "The women who have accompanied us, and who are 
 kissing Eliza Wallner and Anna Gamper for their heroic con- 
 duct." 
 
 " The women shall help our thirty sharpshooters to escort 
 the prisoners to Castle Steinach. Our women have brave 
 hearts and strong arms, and they know how to use the rifle 
 for the fatherland and the emperor. Let them, then, take 
 some of the arms which we have conquered, and, jointly 
 with thirty of our men, escort the prisoners to the good 
 Baroness von Sternberg. Oh, Lizzie Wallner, Lizzie Wall- 
 ner ! " 
 
 " Here I am, commander," cried Eliza, hastening to An- 
 dreas Hofer with flushed cheeks and beaming eyes. 
 
 He patted her cheeks smilingly. " You are a brave, noble 
 girl," he said, "and none of us will ever forget what you 
 have done to day ; and the whole Tyrol shall learn what a 
 splendid and intrepid girl you are. But I wish to confer a 
 special reward on you, Lizzie ; I wish to appoint you captain 
 of a company, and your company is to consist of all those 
 women." 
 
 " And what does the commander-in-chief order me to do 
 with my company of wom.en ? " asked Eliza Wallner. 
 
 " Captain Lizzie, you are to escort with your company and 
 thu'ty Tyrolese sharpshooters the three hundred and eighty 
 Bavarians to Castle Steinach. Your arms you will take from 
 the wagon yonder, which Captain Lizzie drove so heroically 
 toward the enemy. Will you undertake to escort the prison- 
 ers safely to Steinach ? " 
 
 " I will, commander. But after that I should like to return 
 to my father. He must be uneasy about me by this time, and 
 he would like also to know how the Tyrolese have succeeded 
 on this side. Oh ! he will be exceedingly glad when I bring 
 him greetings from his beloved Andreas Hofer." 
 
 " Go, then, my dear child," said Andreas Hofer, nodding to 
 her tenderly, and laying his hand on her beautiful head.
 
 CAPTURE OF INNSPIUJCK. 185 
 
 "Go. witli God's blessinp:, and greet your father in my name. 
 Tell him that God and the Holy Virgin are with us and hav^e 
 hlessed our cause ; therefore we will never despond, but al- 
 ways fight bravely and cheerfully for our liberty and our dear 
 enipei'or. Go, Lizzie ; escort the prisoners to Steinach, and 
 then return to your father." 
 
 Eliza kissed his hand ; then left him and communicated 
 Andreas Hofer's order to the women. They received it joy- 
 ously, and hastened to the wagon to get the arms. 
 
 Half an hour afterw-ard a strange procession was seen 
 moving along the road leading to Castle Steinach. A long 
 column of soldiers, without arms, with heads bent down and 
 gloomy faces, marched on the road. On both sides of them 
 walked the women, Avith heads erect, and proud, triumphant 
 faces, each shouldering a musket or a sword. Here and there 
 marched two Tyrolese sharpshooters, who were watching 
 with the keen and distrustful eyes of shepherds' dogs the sol- 
 diers marching in their midst. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIH. 
 
 CAPTURE OF INNSPRUCK. 
 
 General Kinkel, governor of Innspruck, had just finished 
 his dinner, and repaired to his cabinet, whither he had sum- 
 moned some of the superior ot^cers to give them fresh instruc- 
 tions. To-day, the 11th of April, all sorts of news had ar- 
 rived from the Tyrol ; and although this news did not alarm 
 the Bavarian general, he thought it nevertheless somewhat 
 sti'ange and unusual. He had learned that Lieutenant-Colonel 
 von Wreden, despite General Kinkel's exi)ress orders, had 
 r.i.shly evacuated his ]iosition at Brunecken and destroyed the 
 ))ridge of Laditcli. Besides, vague rumors had reached him 
 about an insurrection among the peasants in the neighborhood 
 of Innspruck ; and even on the surrounding mountains, it 
 was said, bands of armed insurgents had been seen. 
 
 "We have treated these miserable peasants by far too leni- 
 ently and kindly," said General Kinkel, with a shrug, when 
 U ^
 
 186 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 his officer communicated this intelligence to him. " We 
 shall adopt a more rigorous course, make examples of a few, 
 and all will be quiet and submissive again. What do these 
 peasants want ? Are they already so arrogant as to think 
 themselves capable of coping with our brave regular troops ? " 
 
 " They count upon the assistance of Austria," replied Colo- 
 nel Dittfurt ; '' and General von Chasteler is said to have 
 promised ttie peasants that he will invade the Tyrol one of 
 these days." 
 
 " It is a miserable lie ! " cried the general, with a disdainful 
 smile. "The Austrians will not be so bold as to take the 
 ofiPensive, for they know full well that the great Emperor Na- 
 poleon will consider every invasion of Bavarian territory an 
 attack upon France herself, and that we ourselves should 
 drive the impudent invaders fi'om our mountains." 
 
 " That is to say, so long as the mountains are still ours, and 
 not yet occupied by the peasants, your excellency," said Major 
 Beim, who entered the room at this moment. 
 
 " What do you mean ? " asked the general, 
 
 "I mean that larger and larger bands of peasants are ad- 
 vancing upon Innspruck, that they have already attacked and 
 driven in our pickets, and that the latter have just escaped 
 from them into the city." 
 
 " Then it is time for us to resort to energetic and severe 
 steps," cried General Kinkel, angrily. " Colonel Dittfurt, send 
 immediately a dispatch to Lieutenant-Colonel von Wreden, 
 who is stationed at Brixen. Write to him in my name that I am 
 highly indignant at his evacuating his position at Brunecken 
 and destroying the bridge of Laditch. Tell him I order him 
 to act with the utmost energy ; every peasant arrested with 
 arms in his hands is to be shot ; every village participating in 
 the insurrection is to be burned down ; and he is to advance 
 his patrols again to and beyond Brunecken. These patrols 
 are to ascertain if Austrian troops are i-eally follo\viug the in- 
 surgent peasants. Bring this dispatch to me that I may sign 
 it, and then immediately send off a courier with it to Lieuten- 
 ant-Colonel von Wreden." * 
 
 * General Kinkel sent otf this dispatch a day after Wreden had been de- 
 feated by the Tyrolese, and after the Austrians had invaded the Tyrol. The
 
 CAPTURE OF INNSPRUCK. 187 
 
 Colonel Dittfurt \v(Mit to the deslc and commenced writing 
 the dispatch. " Miserahle peasants ! " he mnrmured, on liand- 
 ing the dispatch to the general ; "it is already a humiliation 
 that we must devote attention to them and occupy ourselves 
 with them." 
 
 "Yes, you are right/' sighed the general, signing the dis- 
 patch ; " these people, who know only how to handle the flail, 
 become every day more impudent and intolerable ; and I am 
 n ally glad that I shall now at length have an opportunity to 
 humiliate them and reduce them to obedience. Henceforth 
 we will no longer spare them. No quarter ! He who is 
 taken sword in hand, wnll be executed on the spot. We must 
 nip this insurrection in the bud, and chastise the traitors with 
 inexorable rigor. Well, what is it ? " he asked vehemently, 
 turning to the orderly who entered the room at this moment. 
 
 " Your excellency, I have to inform you that all our pickets 
 have been driven into the city. The peasants have assembled 
 in large masses on the neighboring mountains and opened 
 thence a most murderous fire upon our pickets. Only a few 
 men of each picket have returned ; the others lie dead outside 
 the city." 
 
 "Matters seem to become serious," murmured General 
 Kinkel. "All our pickets driven in ! That is to say, then, 
 the peasants are in the immediate neighborhood of the city ? "' 
 
 " All the environs of Innspruck are in full insurrection, 
 your excellency, and the citizens of Innspruck seem likewise 
 strongly inclined to join the insurrection. Thei-e are riotous 
 groups in the sti-eets, and on my way hither I heard all sorts 
 of menacing phrases, and met everywhere with sullen, defiant 
 faces." - 
 
 " Ah, I will silence this seditious rabble and make their 
 faces mild and modest !" cried the general, in a threatening 
 voice. " Let all the public places in the city be occupied by 
 troops, and field-pieces be placed on the bridges of the Inn. 
 Let patrols march through the streets all night, and every 
 citizen who is found in the street after nine o'clock, or keeps 
 his house lighted up after that hour, shall be shot. Make 
 
 Hiiviirian autliorltios ut Iiinspruok wuru iu complete ignorance of all theee 
 events.
 
 188 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 haste, gentlemen, and carry my orders literally into execution. 
 Have the patrols call upon all citizens to keep quiet and not 
 appear in the streets after nine o'clock. Sentence of death 
 will be passed upon those who violate this order." 
 
 Owing to these orders issued by the general, a profound 
 stillness reigned at night in the streets of Innspruck ; no one 
 was to be seen in the streets, and on marching through them 
 the patrols did not find a single offender whom they might 
 have subjected to the inexorable rigor of martial law. But 
 no sooner had the patrols turned round a corner than dark 
 forms emerged here and there from behind the pillars of the 
 houses, the wells, and the crucifixes, glided with the noiseless 
 agility of cats along the houses, and knocked here and there 
 at the window-panes. The windows opened softly, whispers 
 were heard and the rustling of paper, and the forms glided on 
 to commence the same working and whispering at the next 
 house. 
 
 The Bavarian patrols had no inkling of these dark ravens 
 flitting everywhere behind them, as if scenting in them al- 
 ready the prey of death ; but the citizens of Innspruck con- 
 sidered these birds of the night, who knocked at their windows, 
 auspicious doves, even though, instead of the olive-branch, 
 they brought only a sheet of paper with them. But this sheet 
 of paper contained words that thrilled all hearts with joy and 
 happiness ; it announced that the Austrians had already in- 
 vaded the Tyrol ; that General von Chasteler was already ad- 
 vancing upon Innspruck ; that the Emperor Francis sent the 
 Tyrolese the greetings of his love ; and that the Archduke 
 John was preventing the French troops in Italy from succor- 
 ing the Bavarians in the Tyrol ; nay, that he and tis army 
 would deliver and protect the Tyrol. Some of the brave 
 sharpshooters of the Passeyr valley had been bold enough to 
 steal into the city of Innspruck despite the presence of the 
 Bavarian troops, and the patrols could not prevent the citizens 
 from receiving the joyful tidings of the approach of the Aus- 
 trians, nor the Tyrolese shai'pshooters from whispering to 
 them : " Be ready early to-morrow morning. To-morrow we 
 shall attack the city ; assist us then, hurl down from the roofs 
 of your houses on the Bavarians stones, jars, and whatever
 
 CAPTri{K OF INXSPRUCK 189 
 
 you may have at liatid ; keep your doors open, tliat we may 
 get in, and liold food and refreslmients in readiness. We 
 shall come to-morrow. Iiinspruck must be deliveied from 
 the Bavarians to-morrow ! " 
 
 The morrow came at last. The i2th of April dawned upon 
 the city of Innspruck. 
 
 The Bavarians had carried out the orders of General Kin- 
 kel ; they had occupied all the public places, and planted bat- 
 teries on the bridges of the Inn. 
 
 But so ardent was the enthusiasm of the Tyrolese, that 
 these batteries did not deter them. They rushed forward with 
 loud shouts ; using their spears, halberds, and the butt-ends of 
 their nmskets, they fell with resistless impetuosity upon the 
 Bavarians, drove them back, shot the gunners at the guns, and 
 cari'ied the important bridge of Miihlau. 
 
 Tremendous cheers announced this first victory to the in- 
 habitants of Innspruck. The Tyrolese then rushed forward 
 over the bridge and penetrated into the streets of the Hot- 
 tinger suburb. The str(H>t-(looi's of the houses opened to them ; 
 they entered them, oi- took ])osilion behind the ])il]ar.s, and 
 tired from the windows and their hiding-])laces. at the Bavari- 
 ans who were stationed on the upper bridge of the Inn, and 
 were firing thence at the Tyrolese. The Bavarian bullets, 
 however, whistled harmlessly thi-ough the streets, the alert 
 Tyrolese concealing themselves, before every volley, in the 
 houses or behind the walls. But no sooner had the bullets 
 dropped than they stei)i>ed forward, sang, and laughed, and 
 discharged their rifles, until the exasperated Bavarians fired 
 at them again, when the singing Tyi'olese disappeared once 
 more in their hiding-places. 
 
 All at once hnxd clieers and hurrahs resounded on the con- 
 quered bridge of Miihlau, and a tall, hennc form, surrounded 
 by a detachment of armed Tyrolese, appeared on the bridge. 
 
 It was Joseph Speckbacher, who. after capturing Hall by a 
 daring coup de main, had now arrived with his brave men 
 to assist the Tyrolese in delivering Innspruck from the Ba- 
 varians. 
 
 The Tvi'olese thronged exultingly around him, informing 
 him of the struggle Ihi'.t had already taken place, and telling
 
 190 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 him that the Bavarians had been driven from the bridge and 
 hurled back into the city. 
 
 '■ And now you stand still here, instead of advancing ? " 
 asked Speckbacher, casting fiery glances toward the enemy. 
 " What are 3'ou waiting for, my friends ? Why do you not 
 attack the enemy ? " 
 
 Withovit waiting for a reply, Speckbacher took off his hat, 
 swung it in the air, and shouted in a loud, enthusiastic voice : 
 " Long live the Emperor Francis ! Down with the Bavari- 
 ans ! " 
 
 All repeated this shout amid the most tximultuous cheers. 
 All cried, " Long live the Emperor Francis ! Down with the 
 Bavarians ! '' 
 
 " Now forward ! forward ! We must take the bridge ! " 
 shouted Speckbacher. " Those who love the Tyrol will follow 
 me ! " 
 
 And he rushed forward, like an angry bear, toward the 
 bridge of the Inn. 
 
 The Tyrolese, carried away by their enthusiasm, followed 
 him at the double-quick toward the bridge, where the mouths 
 of the cannon were staring at them menacingly. But the 
 Tyrolese were not afraid of the cannon ; death had no longer 
 any terrors for them ! their courage imparted to them resist- 
 less power and impetuosity. They rushed up to the cannon, 
 slew the gunners with the butt-ends of their rifles, or lifted 
 them up by the hair and hurled them over the railing of the 
 bridge into the foaming waters of the Inn. Then they turned 
 the cannon, and some students from Innspruck, who had 
 joined the Tyrolese, undertook to man them. 
 
 A dense column of -Bavarians advanced upon them ; the 
 })easants uttered loud cheers, the cannon thundered and 
 mowed down whole ranks of them. They gave way, and the 
 Tyrolese, who saw it, advanced with triumphant shouts into 
 the city and took street after street. And wherever they 
 came, they met with willing assistance at the hands of the 
 citizens ; in every street which they entered, the window^s 
 opened, and shots were fired from them at the Bavarian 
 troops ; every hou.se became a fortress, every tower a citadel. 
 A frightful scene ensued : the Bavarians in some places sur-
 
 rAPTIlIK OF INNSrRUCK. 191 
 
 rcntlerod and bcgjrod for quarter ; in others tliey continued 
 the combat with undaunted resolution ; and in the meUe sev- 
 eral bloody deeds were conmntted, which, in their cooler mo- 
 ments, the Tyrolesc would have been the first to condemn. 
 
 All at once loud cheers burst forth in the streets, and the 
 Tyrolesc repeated again and again the joyful news : "Major 
 Teimer has arrived ; he has several companies of the militia 
 under his command, and with these brave meii ho has already 
 penetrated into the heart of the city, up to the principal guard- 
 house ! He has already surrounded the Engelhcms, General 
 Kinkel's headquartei-s, and is negotiating a capitulation with 
 the general." This almost incredible intelligence raised the 
 enthusiasm of the Tyrolesc to the highest pitch. They rushed 
 forward with irresistible impetuosity toward the barracks and 
 disarmed all the soldiers who had remained there in order to 
 relieve their exhausted comrades. Then they rushed again 
 into the street, toward the principal guard-house, where an 
 obstmate struggle was going on. There, at the head of his 
 regiment, stood Colonel Dittfurt, firmly determined to die 
 rather than surrender to the peasants. 
 
 But the peasants came up in overwhelming numbers, and 
 a detachment of sharpshooters, headed by Major Teimer, had 
 already penetrated into the general's house, and entered his 
 sitting-room. From the houses all around, the Tyrolese were 
 firing at the soldiers, who, gnashing their teeth with rage and 
 grief, did not even enjoy the satisfaction of wreaking venge- 
 ance on them ; foi- tlieir enemies were concealed behind the 
 walls and pillars, while the soldiers were defenceless, and had 
 to allow themselves to be laid prostrate by tlie unerring aim 
 of the sharpshooters. 
 
 Angry, scolding, imperious voices were now heard at Gen- 
 eral Kinkel's window, and a strange sight was presented to the 
 eyes of the dismayed soldiers. Teimer's face, flushed with 
 anger and excitement, appeared at the window. He was seen 
 approaching it hastily and thrusting General Kinkel's head 
 and sliouldei*s forcibly out of it. 
 
 "Surrender !" threatened Teimer v "surrender, or I shall 
 hurl 3'ou out of the window !'' 
 
 * Horniayr's " History of An^lreius Hofcr," vol. i., p. 24'.*.
 
 ;|92 ANDRKAS HOFER. 
 
 "Colonel Diltfurt," cried General Kinkel, in a doleful 
 voice, "yon sec that further resistance is useless. We must 
 surrender ! " 
 
 "No ! " shouted the colonel, pale with rage ; " no, we shall 
 not surrender ; no. we shall not incur the disgrace of laying 
 down our arms before this ragged mob. We can die, but 
 shall not surrender ! Forward, my brave soldiers, forward ! " 
 
 And Dittfurt rushed furiously, followed by his soldiers, 
 upon the Tyrolese who were approaching at this moment. 
 Suddenly he reeled back. Two bullets had hit him at the 
 same time, and the blood streamed from two wounds. But 
 these wounds, instead' of paralyzing his coui-age, inflamed it 
 still more. He overcame his pain and weakness, and, bran- 
 dishing his sword, rushed forward. 
 
 A third bullet whistled up and j)euetrated his breast. He 
 sank down ; blood streamed from his mouth and his nose. 
 The Tyrolese burst into deafening cheei's, and approached the 
 fallen officer to take his sword from him. But he sprang 
 once more to his feet ; he would not fall alive into the hands 
 of the peasants ; he felt that he had to die, but he would die 
 like a soldier on the field of honor, and not as a prisoner of 
 the peasants. Livid as a corpse, his face covered with gore, 
 his uniform saturated with blood, Dittfurt reeled forward, and 
 drove his soldiers, with wild imprecations, entreaties, and 
 threats toward the hospital, whence the Tyrolese poured their 
 murderous fire into the ranks of the Bavarians. But scarcely 
 had he advanced a few steps when a fourth bullet struck him 
 and laid him prostrate. 
 
 His regiment, seized with dismay, shouted out that it would 
 surrender, and, in proof of this intention, the soldiers laid 
 down their arms. 
 
 The Bavarian cavalry, to avoid the disgrace of such a ca- 
 pitulation, galloped in wild disorder toward the gate and the 
 Hofgarten. But there Speckbacher had taken position with 
 the peasants, who, mostly armed only witli pitchforks, had 
 hurried to the scene of the combat from the immediate en- 
 virons of Inspruck. But these pitchforks seemed to the pan- 
 ic-stricken cavalrj' to be terrible, murderous weapons ; can- 
 non would have appeared to them less di'eadful than the
 
 CAPTURE OF INNSPRUCK. ll»3 
 
 glittering pitcliforks, with wliirli the sliouting poasmits nislicd 
 upon them, and whicli startled not onVy the soldiers l)nt their 
 horses also. The soldiers tliought the wounds made by i)itch- 
 forks more horrible, and ignominious than utter defeat, and 
 even deith. Thundcrstruek at their desperate position, hardly 
 knowing what befell them, unable to offer further resistance, 
 they allowed themselves to be torn from their horses by the 
 peasants, to whom they handed their arms in silence. The 
 Tyrolese then mounted tlie hor.ses, and in a triumphant pro- 
 cession, headed by Joseph Speckbaclier, they conducted their 
 prisoners back to Innspruck.* 
 
 There the enemy had likewise surrendered in the mean 
 time, and the barracks which, until yesterday, had been the 
 <iuarters of tlie oppressors of the Tyrole.se, the Bavarian .sol- 
 diers, became now the prisons of the defeated. Escorted by 
 the peasants, the disarmed and defenceless Bavarians were 
 hurried into the barracks, whose doors closed noisil}' behind 
 them. 
 
 Innspruck was now free ; not an armed Bavarian soldier 
 remained in the city, but the Tyrolese, to the nvimber of up- 
 Avard of fifteen thousand, poured into the streets, and the citi- 
 zens joined them exultingly, and thanked the courageous 
 peasants for delivering them from the foreign yoke. The 
 city, which foi- three hours had been a wild scene of terror, 
 havoc, bloodshed, and death, resounded now at the hour of 
 mid-day with cheers and exultation ; nothing was heard but 
 hurrah.s, songs, and cheers for the Emperor Francis and the 
 beloved Tyrol. 
 
 Every minute added to the universal joy. The victorious 
 Tyi'olese, mounted on the horses of the Bavarian cavah-y, and 
 headed by the proud and triumphant Sj^eckbacher a!id a rural 
 band of music, appeared witli their jn-isoners. Two badly- 
 tuned violins, two shrill fifes, two iron pot-lids, and several 
 jews'-liarp.s, were the instruments of this band. But the 
 musicians tried to make as much noise with them as possible, 
 and the citizens considered their nnisic sweeter and finer than 
 the splendid tunes vrhich the bands of the Bavarian regiments 
 had played to them up to this time. 
 
 * Honiiiiyr's " History of .Viulnas Ilofer," vol. i., p. 250.
 
 194 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 New cheers rent the air at this moment. A squad of peas- 
 ants brought the greflt imperial eagle, wliich they had taken 
 down from the tomb of Maximilian in the High Church of 
 Innspruck. They had decorated it with red ribbons, and 
 carried it amid deafening acclamations through the streets. 
 On beholding the eagle of Austria, the excited masses set no 
 bounds to their rejoicings ; they flocked in crowds to gaze at 
 it ; citizens and peasants vied in manifesting their devotion to 
 the precious emblem ; they blessed it and kissed it. No one 
 was permitted to stay a long while near it, for the impatience 
 of his successor compelled him to j)ass on. But an aged man, 
 with silvery hair, but with a form still Angorous and unbent, 
 would not allow himself to be pushed on in this manner. An 
 hour ago he had fought like a lion in the ranks of the Tyro- 
 lese, and anger and rage had flashed from his face ; but now, 
 at the sight of the Austrian eagle, he was as mild and gentle 
 as a lamb, and only love and blissful emotion beamed from 
 his face. He encircled the eagle with both his arms, kissed 
 the two heads and gilded crowns, and, stroking the carved 
 plumes tenderly, exclaimed : "Well, old eagle, have your 
 plumes really grown again ? Have you returned to the loyal 
 Tyrol to stay here for all time to come ? Will — " 
 
 Loud cheers interrupted him at this moment. x\nother 
 crowd of Tyrolese came up the street, preceded by four peas- 
 ants, who were carrying two portraits in fine golden frames. 
 Deafening acclamations rent the air as soon as the people be- 
 held these two portraits. Everybody recognized them as those 
 of the Emperor Francis and the Archduke John. The peas- 
 ants had found them in the old imperial palace. 
 
 " Long live the Emperor Francis ! Long live our Archduke 
 John ! " shouted the people in the streets, and in the houses 
 which the procession passed on its march through the city. 
 Even the Austrian eagle, which had been greeted so tenderly, 
 was forgotten at the sight of the two portraits, and all accom- 
 panied this solemn procession of love and loyalty. 
 
 This pi'ocession moved through the whole city until it 
 finally reached the triumphal arch which Maria Theresa liad 
 ordered to be erected in honor of the wedding of her son Leo- 
 pold. The Tyrolese placed the portraits of Leopold's two sons
 
 CAPTURE OF INNSPRUCK. 195 
 
 on this triumphal arch, and surrounded them by candles kept 
 constantly burning ; every one then bent his knee, and ex- 
 claimed : "Long live the Emperor Francis! Long live our 
 dear Archduke John !" Woe unto him wlio should have 
 dared to pass these poi'traits witliout taking off his hat I the 
 Tyrolese would have compelled liim to do it, and to bend his 
 knee. 
 
 "Well," they exclaimed, " there is our Francis, and there is 
 our John. Look, does it not seem as though he were smiling 
 at us, and were glad of being here again and able to gaze at 
 us ? Long live our dear Archduke Jolui ! " 
 
 And they again burst into cheers which, if the Archduke 
 John had been able to hear them, would have filled his heart 
 with delight and his ej'cs with tears. 
 
 These icjoicings around the eagle and tlie portraits lasted 
 all day. The whole city presented a festive spectacle, and the 
 overjoyed Tyrolese scarcely thought to-day of eating and 
 drinking, miich less of the dangers which might menace them. 
 They sang, and shouted, and laughed ; and when night came 
 they sank down exhausted by the efforts of the fight, and still 
 more by their l)oundless rejoicings, to the ground where 
 they were standing, in the streets, in the gardens, in the fields, 
 and fell asleep. 
 
 Profound silence reigned now in the streets of Innspruck. 
 It was dark everywhere ; bright lights beamed only from the 
 portraits of the emperor and the Archduke John ; and the 
 stars of heaven looked down upon the careless and happy 
 sleepei-s, the victors of Innspruck. 
 
 They slept, dreaming of victory and happiness. Woe to 
 them if they sleep too long and awake too late, for the ene- 
 my does not sleep I He is awake and approaching, while 
 the victors are sleeping.
 
 X96 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 THE CAPITULATION OF WILTAU. 
 
 The Tyrolese were were still asleep, and profound stillness 
 reigned yet in the streets of Innspruck, although it was already 
 after daybreak, and the fii'st rays of the rising sun shed a crim- 
 son lustre on the summits of the mountains. All at once this 
 silence was broken by a strange, loud, and plaintive note which 
 seemed to resound in the air ; it was followed by a second and 
 third note ; and, as if responding to these distant calls, the 
 large bell of the High Church of Innspruck aroused with its 
 ringing voice the weary sleepers to renewed efforts. 
 
 Thej'^ raised themselves from the ground ; they listened, 
 still drowsy, to these strange notes in the air. Suddenly two 
 horsemen galloped through the streets, and their clarion voices 
 struck the ears of the Tyrolese. 
 
 " Up, sleepers 1 " cried Joseph Speckbacher ; "(Jo you not 
 hear the tocsin ? Rise, rise, take your rifles ! the French and 
 Bavarians are at the gates of the city, and we must meet them 
 again.'' 
 
 " Rise, Tyrolese ! " shouted Major Teimer ; " the French 
 and Bavarians are coming. We must prevent them from 
 penetrating into Innspruck. We must barricade the gates, 
 and erect barricades in the streets." 
 
 The Tyrolese juni])ed up, fresh, lively, and ready for the 
 fray. Their sleep had strengthened them, and yesterday's vic- 
 tory had steeled their courage. The enemy was there, and 
 they were ready to defeat him a second time. 
 
 The bells of all the churches of Innspruck were now rung, 
 and those of the neighboi^ng village steeples responded to 
 them. They called upon the able-bodied men to take up arms 
 again.st the enemy, wh6se advanced guard could be seen al- 
 ready on the crests yonder. Yes, there was no mistake aboul 
 it : those men were the French and Bavarians, who were de- 
 scending the slope and approaching in strong columns. 
 
 A Tyrolese rushed into the city. " The Fi'ench are com- 
 ing ! " he exclaimed, panting and breathless. " I have hurried
 
 THE (WPITrLATIOX OF WILTAU. 197 
 
 across the mountains to ln'ing you tlie news. It is General 
 Bisson with several thousand French troops, and Lieutenant- 
 Cok)nel Wreden with a few liundrcd Bavarians. We liad a 
 hard fif»'ht witli tlieni yesterday at the hridge of Laditch and 
 in tlie Mlihlbacher Khiuse ; but they were too strong, and 
 wei'e joined yesterday by another French column ; therefore, 
 we were unable to capture them, and had to let them march 
 on. We killed hundreds of their soldiers ; but several thou- 
 .sands of them esca])cd, and are coming now to Innspruck.'" 
 
 "They will not come to Innspruck, for we are much 
 stronger than they are, and we will not let them enter the 
 city," exclaimed Speckbacher, courageously. 
 
 " No. we will not, except in the same manner in which you 
 Vjrought the cavalry into the city yesterday, that is, to imprison 
 them in the barracks,'' said Major Teimer. 
 
 " Yes, yes, we will do so," shouted the Tyrolese ; '' we will 
 let the French come to Innspruck, but only as our prisonei-s." 
 
 " Well, let us be up and doing now, my friends," exclaimed 
 Speckbaclier. " We nnist fortify the city against the enemy. 
 Having gone thus far yesterday, we cannot retrace our steps 
 to-day. But we do not want to retrace them, do we ? " 
 
 " No, we do not ! " cried the Tyrolese. 
 
 " We have raised the Austrian eagle again," said Major 
 T(Mraer. " and the portraits of the emperor and our dear Arch- 
 duke John are looking down upon us from the triumphal 
 arch. They shall see that we are good soldiers and loyal sons 
 of our country. Forward, men, let us be up and doing ! 
 Barricade the city, the streets, and the houses ; make bullets, 
 and pvit your arms in readiness. The French are coming ! 
 Hurrah I Long live the emperor Francis and the Archduke 
 John ! " 
 
 Deafeiaing cheers responded to him. and then the Tyrolese 
 rushed through the streets to bari-icade tlie city in accordance 
 with Teimer's orders. 
 
 The gates were immediately barricaded with casks, wagons, 
 carts, and evei\v thing that could be found for that purpose ; 
 and the approaches to the city were filled with armed men, 
 ready to give the enemy a warm reception. The dooi's of the 
 houses were locked and bolted, and frantic women within
 
 198 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 them boiled oil and water which they intended to pour on the 
 heads of the soldiers in case they should succeed in forcing 
 their Avay into the city ; bullets were made and stones were 
 carried to the roofs, whence they were to be hurled on the 
 enenij^. Meanwhile the tocsin resounded incessantly, as if to 
 invite the Tyrolese to redoubled efforts and increased vigi- 
 lance. 
 
 The tocsin, however, had aroused not only the Tyrolese, 
 but also the Bav'arians who were locked up in the barracks ; 
 the prisoners understood fidl well what the bells w^ere pro- 
 claiming. To the Tyrolese they said : " The enemy, your 
 enemy, is approaching. He will attack you. Be on your 
 guard ! " To the prisoners they proclaimed : " Your friends 
 are approaching. They will deliver you. Be ready for 
 them ! " And now the Bavarians began to become excited, 
 theu" eyes flashed again, the clouds disappeared from their 
 humiliated browns; and with loud, scornful cheers and fists 
 clinched menacingly, they stepped before their Tyrolese guards 
 and cried : " Our friends are coming. They will deliver us and 
 punish you, and we shall wreak bloody vengeance on you for 
 the disgrace you have heaped upon us. Hurrah, our friends 
 are coming ! We shall soon be free again ! " 
 
 " No, you will not," shouted a loud, thundering voice ; and 
 in the middle of the large dormitory occuiDied by the Bava- 
 rians appeared suddenly the tall, herculean form of Joseph 
 Speckbacher. On passing the barracks, he happened to hear 
 the cheers of the prisoners and had entered in order to learn 
 what was the matter. " No," he said once more, " you will 
 not ; you must not suppose that we shall be so stujjid as to 
 allow you to escape. Do not rejoice therefore at the approach 
 of the French and your countrymen ; for I tell you, and I 
 swear by the Holy Mother of God, if the French should enter 
 the city victoriously, our last step before evacuating it would 
 be to kill every one of you. Do you hear, Tyrolese guards ? 
 If the prisoners do not keep quiet, if they make any noise, or 
 even threaten you, shoot dow^n the ringleaders ! But if the 
 enemy penetrates into the city, then shoot them all, and do 
 not spare a single one of them.* We will not incur the dis- 
 
 * Hormayr's " History of Andreas Ilofer," vol. i., p. 253.
 
 THE CAPITULATIOX OF WHTAII. 190 
 
 ffrace of re-euforcing the enemy by several thousand men. 
 The guards at all doors here must be quadrupled, and at the 
 first symptom of mischief among' the prisoners, you will fire at 
 them. Now you know, Bavarians, what is going to be done. 
 Beware, therefore ! " 
 
 And Joseph Speckbacher left the hall with a proud nod of 
 the head. The listening Bavarians heard him repeating his 
 rigoi'ous instructions to the sentinels outside ; they heard also 
 the acclamations with which the Tyi-olese responded to him. 
 The prisoners, therefoi-e, became silent ; they forced back 
 their hopes and wishes into the depths of their hearts, and 
 only prayed inwardly for their approaching friends, and 
 cursed in the same manner their enemies, the ragged mob of 
 the peasants. 
 
 The tocsin was still i-inging, and its sinister notes pene- 
 trated likewise into the large guard-house, and spoke to the 
 prisoners confined there. One of these prisoners was a 
 gloomy, broken-down old man. General Kinkel; the other 
 was a youth, mortally wounded and violently delirious. It 
 was Colonel Dittfurt. The bullet of the Tyrolese had not 
 killed him ; he still lived, a prisoner of the peasants, and, 
 amidst his delirium and his agony, he was fully conscious of 
 his disgrace. This consciousness rendex-ed him raving mad ; 
 it brought words of wild imprecation to his cold, bloodless 
 jips ; he howled with rage and pain ; he called down the 
 vengeance of Heaven upon " the ragged mob,'' the peasants, 
 who had dared to lay hands upon him, the pj-oud, aristocratic 
 colonel, and rob him not only of his life, but also of his 
 honor. All the night long he had raved in this manner ; 
 and it was truly horrible to hear these words, full of con- 
 tempt, hatred, and fury, in the mouth of a dying man ; it 
 was dreadful to see this scarred form on the bloody couch, 
 writhing in the convulsions of death, and yet unable to die, 
 because anger and rage revived it again and again. At day- 
 break Major Teimer had entered the guard-house with a 
 detachment of Tyrolese; and while he repaired with some 
 oi them to General Kinkel, the other Tyrolese had en- 
 tered Colonel Dittfurt's room, to see the mii-acle of a 
 man whose head had been pierced by a bullet having vi-
 
 200 ANDREAS IIOFER. 
 
 talitj^ enough left to rave, swear, and curse, for tweuty-fout 
 hours. 
 
 Gradually the whole room became crowded with Tyrolese, 
 who yesterday had bcei^ the mortal foes of the colonel, but 
 who gazed to-day with profound compassion and conciliated 
 hearts at the poor, mutilated being that disdained even on the 
 brink of the grave to consider a peasant as entitled to equal 
 rights and as a brother of the nobleman. 
 
 Colonel Dittfiu-t lay on his couch with his eyes distended 
 to their utmost, and stared at the Tyrolese assembled round 
 him. For some minutes the curses and invectives had 
 died away on his lips, and he seemed to listen attentively to 
 the sinister notes of tbe alarm-bells which were calling inces- 
 santly upon the Tyrolese to prepai'c for the struggle. 
 
 "Is that my death-knell?'' he asked wearily. "Have I, 
 then, died already, and is it death that is lying so heavily on 
 my breast ? " 
 
 '' No, sir, you still live," said one of the Tyrolese, in a low, 
 gentle voice. " You still live ; the bells you hear are ringing 
 the tocsin ; they aroused us because the French and Bava- 
 rians are advancing upon the city." 
 
 "The Bavarians are coming! Our men are coming!" 
 cried Dittfurt exultingly, and he lifted his head as if to rise 
 from his couch. But the iron hand of death had ah'eady 
 touched him and kept him enthralled. His head sank heavily 
 back upon the pillow, and his eyes became more lustreless 
 and fixed. 
 
 " They vanquislied me," he said, after a pause ; " I know I 
 - am a prisoner of the peasants, and it is they who keep me 
 chained to this couch and prevent me from going out to par- 
 ticipate in the contest. Oh, oh, how it grieves me ! A pi-ison- 
 er of the peasants ! But they fought like men, and their lead- 
 er must be an able and brave officer. Who was the leader of 
 the peasants ? " 
 
 "No one, sir," said the Tyrolese, on whom the dying officer 
 fixed his eyes. " We had no leader ; we fought equally for 
 God, the emperor, and our native country." 
 
 " No, no," said Ditffurt, " that is false; I know better, for I 
 saw the leader of the peasants pass me often. He was mounted
 
 THE CAriT[:LATIO.V OF WILTAU. 2(»1 
 
 on a wliifo horse ; his face was as i-adiaut as lieaven, his eyes 
 twinkl.'d like stars, and in his hand lie hekl a sword fkishing 
 like a sunbeam. I saw the leader of the peasants, he always 
 rode at their head, he led them into battle, I — " 
 
 He paused, the expression of his eyes hecame more fixed, 
 tlie shades of death descended deeper and deeper on his fore- 
 liead, which was covered with cold perspiration. 
 
 Tlie Tyrolese minded him no h)nger. They looked at each 
 other with exultant and enthusiastic glances. "He saw a 
 leader at our head ? " they asked each other. " A leader 
 mounted on a white horse, and holding in his hand a sword 
 Hashing like a sunbeam? It must have been St. James, the 
 patron of the city of Innspruck. He was our leader yester- 
 day. Yes, yes, that is it ! St. James combated at our head, 
 unknown to us ; but he showed himself to the enemy and de- 
 feated him. Did you not hear, brethren, what the pious 
 priests told us of the Spaniards who have likewise risen 
 to fight against Bonaparte, the enemy of the Pope and all 
 good Christians? St. James placed himself in Spain like- 
 wise at the head of the pious peasants ; he led them against 
 Bonaparte and the French, and made them victorious over 
 the enemy, who was bent upon stealing their country and 
 their liberties. And since St. Jailies got through with the 
 Spaniards in Spain, he has come to the Tyrol to lend us his 
 assistance. St. James, our patron saint, is our leader I He 
 assists us and combats at our head ! " 
 
 And the Tyrolese, regardless of the colonel, who at this 
 moment was writhing in the last convulsions of death, rushed 
 out of the room to communicate the miracle to their brethren 
 outside. The news spread like wildfire from house to house, 
 from street to street ; all shouted joyously : " St. James, our 
 l)atron saint, is oui- leader. He assists us and combats at our 
 head ! " * 
 
 And this bflief eiihanced the enthusiasm of the Tyrolese, 
 and with the most inti-epid courage they looked upon tlie 
 enemy, who had by this time come clo.se up to tlie city, and 
 was forming in line of battle on the plain adjoining the vil- 
 lage of Wiltau. Fi'om the houses in the neighborhood of 
 
 * " Gallery of Heroes : Andreas Hofer," p. 41. 
 U
 
 202 ANDREAS nOFER. 
 
 the triumphal arch the Tyrolese were able to survey the 
 whole position of the enemy ; they could discern even the 
 various unifoi-ms of the French and Bavarian soldiers. Up 
 yonder, on the roof of a house, stood Speckbacher and Teimer, 
 and with their eyes, which were as keen and flashing as those 
 of the eagle, they gazed searchingly upon the position of the 
 enemy and that of their own forces. The line from the vil- 
 lage of Wiltau down to the river Sill was occupied by the 
 French troops under General Bisson ; on the right side of 
 Wiltau to the Inn stood Lieutenant-Colonel Wreden with the 
 Bavarians, his front turned toward the city. 
 
 " Now we must surround them as in a mouse-trap, and 
 leave them no outlet for escape," said Major Teimer, with a 
 shrewd wink. " Is not that your opinion too, Speckbacher ?" 
 
 '• Certainly it is." replied Speckbacher. '' Mount Isel yon- 
 der, in the I'ear of the Bavarians, must be occupied by several 
 thousands of our best sharpshooters, and a cloud of our peas- 
 ants must constantly harass their rear and drive them toward 
 Innspruck. Here we will receive them in fine style, and 
 chase them until they are all dead or lay down their arms. 
 The only important thing for us is to cut off their retreat and 
 keep them between two fires." 
 
 "You are right, Speckbacher; you are a skilful soldier, 
 and are better able to be a general than many an officer — for 
 instance. General Kinkel. Kinkel is an old woman ; he wept 
 and swore in one breath when I was with him just now ; he 
 says all the time that he will commit suicide, and yet he is not 
 courageous enough to do it, but preferred to comply with my 
 demands." 
 
 " And what were your demands, Teimer ? " 
 
 " I demanded that he should give me an open letter to Gen- 
 ei"al Bisson, urging him to send some confidential person into 
 the town who might report the state of affairs, and convince 
 him of the immense superiority and enthusiasm of the Tyro- 
 lese, and of the impossibility of defeating us or forcing his way 
 through our ranks." 
 
 " And did old General Kinkel give you such a letter ? " 
 
 " He did, and I will send it out now to the French camp. 
 We must make all necessary dispositions, that when the gen-
 
 THE CAPrTULATION OF WILTAU. 203 
 
 era! sends a confidential envoy into the town he may become 
 fully alive to the fact that it is impossible for him to defeat 
 us. Above all things, we must send several thousand sharp- 
 shooters to Mount Isel and the adjoining heights, in order to 
 cut otf the enemy's retreat." 
 
 The letter which Major Teinier liad extorted from General 
 Kinkel had really the etlect which he had expected from it. 
 General Bisson sent to lunspruck one of his staflt-oflicers, 
 accompanied by Lieutenant-Colonel von Wreden, the com- 
 mander of the Bavarians. A few other officers followed these 
 two, and repaired with them to Major Teimer, who received 
 them at the principal guard-house in the presence of the most 
 prominent Tj-rolese. 
 
 Meanwhile General Bisson awaited with painful impatience 
 the return of the two ambassadors whom he had sent into the 
 town ; and, his eyes constantly fixed on Innspruck, he walked 
 uneasily up an 1 down. But already upward of an hour had 
 elapsed, and the ambassadors had not yet made their appear- 
 ance. He had good reason to be uneasy and anxious, for the 
 situation of the French and Bavarians was now almost des- 
 l)ei'ate. He had found out at the bridge of the Eisach, on the 
 plain of the Sterzinger Moos, and at the Miihlbacher Klause, 
 that the French had to deal with an enemy who was terribly 
 in earnest ; that the whole Tyrol was in insurrection ;.that 
 Chasteler, with a body of armed peasants, as well as a few- 
 regular troops, was descending the Brenner, and already 
 menacing his rear ; while the rocks and thickets in his front 
 and flanks were ])ristling with the peasants of the lunthal, 
 who, in great strength, obstructed his advance. 
 
 "We shall die here, for we are hemmed in on all sides." 
 said General Bisson, gloomily, to himself. " There is no hope 
 left, and in the end we may be obliged to submit to the dis- 
 grace of surrendering to the mob of peasants. But what on 
 earth prevents llie oHiceis from returning to me ?" 
 
 And Bisson turned his searching eyes again toward Inn- 
 spruck. Now he perceived two men approaching at a run. 
 He recognized them ; they were the companions of his statf- 
 officer and lieutenant-colonel. Von Wreden, and their pale, 
 dismayed faces told him that they were bearers of bad tidings.
 
 204 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 "Where are the two gentlemen whom I sent to Inn- 
 spruck ? " he asked, advancing rapidly toward them. 
 
 " They were taken into custody at Innspruck," faltered out 
 one of them. 
 
 " Major Teimer said he had taken upon himself no obliga- 
 tion in regard to these officers, and would retain them as 
 hostages," panted the other. " He then caused us to be con- 
 ducted through the whole city, that we might satisfy ourselves 
 of the tremendous strength of the Tyrolese and their for- 
 midable preparations. Oh, your excellency, the peasants are 
 much superior to us in strength, for there are at least twentj^ 
 thousand able-bodied men in their ranks ; they are well 
 armed, and the most celebrated marksmen and the most dar- 
 ing leaders of the Tyrol are among them.''' 
 
 "Bah ! it would make no difference, even though they 
 were ten to one ! " cried General Bissou ; " for ten peasants 
 cannot have as much courage as one soldier of the grand arm3' 
 of my glorious emperor. We will prove to them that we are 
 not afraid of them. W^e will attack them. A detachment of 
 Tyrolese yonder has ventured to leave the city. Fire at them ! 
 Shoot them down until not one of them is left ! " 
 
 The shots crashed, the ai'tillery boomed, but not a Tj-rolese 
 had fallen ; they had thi-own themselves on the ground, so 
 that the bullets and balls had whistled harmlessly over their 
 heads. But now they jumped up and responded to the shots 
 of the enemy ; and not one of their bullets missed its aim, but 
 all carried death into the ranks of the French. At the same 
 time the sharpshooters posted on Mount Isel, in the rear of the 
 French and Bavarians, commenced tiring, and mowed down 
 whole ranks of the soldiers. 
 
 General BLsson turned in dismay toward this new enemy, 
 covered by the thicket, which, rising almost to the summit of 
 Mount Isel, made the Tyrolese invisible, and protected them 
 from the missiles of the soldiers. 
 
 "W^e are between two fires," he murmured to himself, in 
 dismay. "We are caught, as it were, in a net, and will be 
 annihilated to the last man." 
 
 And this conviction seized all the soldiers, as was plainly 
 to be seen from their pale faces and terror-stricken looks.
 
 THK CAl'ITULATION OF WII.TAU. 205 
 
 There was a siuUUmi lull iu the fire of the Tyrolese, which 
 had already struck down several hundred French soldiers, 
 and from tlie triinniilial arch of Innspruck issued several 
 men, waviui? white liandkerchiefs, and advancinj,^ directly 
 toward the Fi-ench. It was Major Teimer, accompanied by 
 some officers and citizens of Innspruck. He sent one of them 
 to General Bisson to invite him to an interview to be held on 
 the public square of the village of Wiltau. 
 
 General Bisson accepted the invitation, and repaired with 
 his staff and some Bavarian officers to the designated place. 
 
 Major Teimer and his companions were already there. 
 Teimer received the general and his distinguished compan- 
 ions with a proud, condescending nod. 
 
 " General," he said, without waiting for the eminent officer 
 to address him. "I have come here to ask you to surrender, 
 and order your soldiers to lay down their arms." 
 
 General Bisson looked with a smile of amazement at the 
 peasant who dared to address to him so unheard-of a demand 
 with so much calmness and composure. 
 
 " My dear sir," he said, " I am convinced that you are not 
 in earnest, but know full well that we never can or will com- 
 ply with such a demand. Moreover, our situation does not by 
 any means compel us to allow conditions to be dictated to us. 
 Nevertheless, T am i-eady to make some concessions to you. 
 Hence, I will pledge you my word of honor that I will neither 
 attack you, nor injure the city of Innspruck in the least. But 
 in return I demand that you allow us to pass without molesta- 
 tation through Innsjjruck. that we may march to Augsburg in 
 obedience to the ordei-s of my emperor." 
 
 " And you believe we can be so stupid as to grant this de- 
 mand, general ?" asked Teimer, shrugging his shoulders. "I 
 do not want to be beaten down. l)ut stick to my first demand. 
 Either you order your troojis to lay down tlieir ai'tiis. or you 
 will all be put to the sword." 
 
 " No, so help me God ! never will I accept so arrogant a 
 demand," cried the general, indignantly : "never will I incur 
 the disgrace of signing so ignominious a capitulation." 
 
 "Then, genei-al, you will appear this very day before the 
 throne of God to account for the lives of the thousands whom
 
 206 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 you devote to an unnecessary death. For all of you will and 
 must die ; there is no escape for you. You know it full well, 
 general, for otherwise you, the proud general of Monsieur 
 Bonaparte, and commander of several thousand splendid 
 French soldiers, would not have come to negotiate liere with 
 the leader of the peasants, who knows nothing of tactics and 
 strategy. You know that there are enemies both in your front 
 and rear. Our men occupy Mount Isel, and the whole country 
 back of Mount Isel is in insurrection. You cannot retrace 
 your steps, nor can you advance, for you will never get to 
 Innspmck, and there is no other road to Augsburg. We have 
 bai'ricaded the city, and have nearly twenty thousand men in 
 and around Innspruck." 
 
 '' But I pledged you my v/ord that I would not attack you, 
 nor take any hostile steps whatever. All I want is to march 
 peaceably througli the city ; and, in order to convince you of 
 my pacific intentions, I promise to continue my march with 
 flints unscrewed from our muskets, and without ammunition." 
 
 " I do not accept your promises, they are not sufficient," said 
 Teimer, coldly. 
 
 " Well, then," cried General Bisson, in a tremulous voice, 
 " hear my last words. I will march on with my ti'oops with- 
 out arms ; our arms and ammunition may be sent after us on 
 wagons." 
 
 '' If that is your last word, general, our negotiations are at 
 an end," replied Teimer, with perfect sang-froid. " You have 
 rejected my well-meaning solicitude for your safety ; nothing 
 remains for me now but to sui'render you and your troops to 
 the tender mercies of our infuriated people. Farewell, 
 general." 
 
 He turned his back on him and advanced several steps to- 
 ward Innspruck. At the same time he waved his arm three 
 times. Inmiediately, as liad been agreed upon, the Tyrolese 
 on Mount Isel, and in front of Innspruck, commenced firing, 
 and their close discharges, admirably directed, thinned the 
 ranks of the French grenadiers, while the shouts with which 
 the mountains resounded on all sides were so tremendous that 
 they were completely panic-struck. 
 
 General Bisson saw it, and a deadly pallor overspread his
 
 THE CAPITULATION OF WILTAU. ^07 
 
 face. Teiraer stood still and gazed sneeringly at the disheart' 
 ened and terrified soldiers, and then glanced at their general. 
 
 Bisson caught this glance. " Sir," he cried, and his cry re- 
 sembled almost an outburst of despair, " pray return to me. 
 Let us negotiate I '' 
 
 Teimer did not approach him, he only stood still. " Come 
 to me, if you have any thing to say to me," he shouted ; 
 " come, and — " 
 
 The rattle of musketry, and the furious shouts of the Tyro- 
 lese, now ])ouring down from all the mountains, and advanc- 
 ing upon the French, drowned his voice. 
 
 To render his words intelligible to Teimer, and to hear his 
 replies. General Bis.son was obliged to approach him, and he 
 stepped up to him with his staff -officers in greater haste per- 
 haps than was compatihle with his dignity. 
 
 "What else do you demand?" he asked, in a tremulous 
 voice. 
 
 " What I demanded at the outset," said Teimer, firmly. " I 
 want your troops to lay down their arms and surrender to the 
 Tyrolese. I have already drawn up a capitulation ; it is only 
 necessary for you and your officers to sign it. The capitula- 
 tion is brief and to the point, general. It consists only of 
 four paragraphs. But just listen to the shouts and cheers 
 of my dear Tyrolese, and see what excellent marksmen they 
 are ! " 
 
 Indeed, the bullets of the Tyrolese whistled again at this 
 moment through the ranks of the enemy, and every bullet hit 
 its man. Loud shouts of despair hurst from the ranks of the 
 French and Bavarians, who were in the wildest confusion, and 
 did not even dare to flee, because they knew full well that 
 they were hemmed in on all sides. " 
 
 General Bisson perceived the despair of his troops, and a 
 groan escai)ed from his breast. " Read the capitulation to me, 
 sir," he said, drying the cold perspiration on his forehead. 
 
 Teimer drew a paper from his bosom and unfolded it. He 
 then commenced reading, in a loud, ringing voice, which 
 drowned even the rattle of musketry : 
 
 " In the name of his majesty the Emperor Francis I. of Aus- 
 tria, a capitiilation is entered into at this moment with the
 
 208 ANDREAS IIOFER. 
 
 French and Bavarian troops which advanced to day from 
 Steinach to Wiltau ; the following terms were accepted : 
 
 " First. The French and Bavarian soldiers lay down their 
 arms on the spot now occupied by them. 
 
 '' Secondly. The members of the whole eighth corps are 
 prisoners of war ; and will be delivered as snch to the Aus- 
 trian troops at Schwatz, whither they will be conveyed imme- 
 diately. 
 
 Thirdly. The Tyrolese patriots in the custody of these 
 troops will be released on the spot. 
 
 Fourthly. The field and staff-officers of the French and 
 Bavarian troops will retain their baggage, horses, and side- 
 arms, and their property will be respected." 
 
 " You see, sir, it is impossible for me to sign this," cried 
 General Bisson. " You cannot expect me to subscribe my own 
 disgrace." 
 
 " If you refuse to subscribe the capitulation, you sign there- 
 by not only your own death-warrant, but that of all your sol- 
 diers," said Teimer calmly. " See, general, here is fortunately 
 a table, for this is the place where the people of Wiltau assem- 
 ble on Sundays, and dance and di'ink. Fate placed this table 
 here for us that we might use it for signing the capitulation. 
 There is the capitulation ; I have already affixed to it my 
 name and title as commissioner of the Emperor Francis. I 
 have also brought pen and ink with me, that you might have 
 no trouble in signing the document. Subscribe it. therefore, 
 general, and let your staff-officers do so too. Spare the lives 
 of your poor soldiers, for you see every minute's delay costs 
 you additional losses." 
 
 " I cannot sign it, I cannot ! " cried Bisson, despairing- 
 ly. He burst into tears, and in his boundless grief he .struck 
 his forehead with his fist and tore out his thin gray hair 
 with his trembling hands. * "I cannot sign it," he wailed 
 loudly. 
 
 '' Sign it," cried his officers, thronging round the table. 
 " You must refuse no longer, for the lives of all our soldiers 
 are at stake." 
 
 " But my honor and good name are likewise at stake," 
 
 * Ilornun r'rt " Androiis Ilofor," vol. i., p. 257.
 
 THE CAIMTULATION OF WII.TAII. 0(19 
 
 proaned Bissoii, •■ and if I si^^n tlie capitulation, I shall lose 
 both forever." 
 
 " But you will tlierehy preserve to the emperor the lives of 
 upward of three thousand of his soldiers," exclaimed the of- 
 licers, urgently. 
 
 " Never will the emperor helieve that this disaster inigh* 
 not have been averted," wailed General BLsson. "Even w-eic 
 I merely unfortunate, he would impute it to nie as a crime. 
 He will forgive me no more than Villcneuve and Dupont. 
 His anger is inexorable, and it will crush me." 
 
 " Then let it crush you, general,'' said Teinier, calmly. •' It 
 is better that you should be crushed than that several thou- 
 sand men should now be crushed by the Tyrolese." 
 
 " Sign, sign I " ci-ied the French officers, stepping close up 
 to the table, taking up the pen, and px-esenting it to the gen- 
 eral. 
 
 " Then you are all determined to sign the capitulation after 
 I liave done so?" asked General Bisson, still hesitating. 
 
 " We are," cried the officers. 
 
 "We are ready to do so," said Major Armance, "and in 
 proof hereof I affix my name to the capitulation before you 
 have signed it, general." 
 
 He subscribed the paper with a quick but steady hand. 
 Another staff-officer stepped up, took the pen, and also wrote 
 his name, '' Varin." 
 
 " Now, general," he said, presenting the pen to Bisson. 
 
 The general took the pen, cast a last despairing glance to- 
 ward heaven and then toward his soldiers, bent over the pa- 
 per, and signed it. 
 
 The pen dropped from his hand, and he liad to lean against 
 the table in order not to .sink to the ground. Major Teimer 
 drew a white haiulkcrchief h'om his pocket and waved it in 
 the air. Tlie Tyrolese ceased firing immediately, and deafen- 
 ing clieers burst forth on all sides. 
 
 "You see. general, you have saved the lives of your sol- 
 diers," said Teimer. 
 
 Bisson only sighed, and turned to his officers. "Now, gen- 
 tlemen,'' he faltered out, "give orders to the troops to lay 
 down their arms on the spot now occupied by them."
 
 210 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 The officers hastened away, aud General Bisson started to 
 leave likewise', when Teimer quickly laid his hand on his arm 
 and detained him. 
 
 '" General." he said, " pray issue still another order." 
 " What order, sir ? " 
 
 " You have of course brought your carriage with you ; order 
 your coachman to drive up with it, and permit me and these 
 gentlemen here to enter it with you, and ride to Innspruck." 
 
 " That is to say, I am your prisoner, and you wish to make 
 your triumphal entrance into the city with me ? " 
 
 " That is about my intention. I should like to return to 
 the city seated by your side ; and as the good inhabitants of 
 Innspruck are very anxious to see a French general, one of 
 Bonaparte's generals, who does not come with his troops to 
 devastate the city, to rob and plunder, I i^equest you to let us 
 make our entrance in an open, uncovered carriage." 
 
 " We will do so," said Sisson, casting a sombre glance on 
 Teimer s shrewd face. " You are merciless to-day, sir. What 
 is your name ? " 
 
 "My name is Martin Teimer ; I hold the i-ank of major in 
 the Austrian army, and Archduke John has appointed me 
 commissioner for the Tyi'ol." 
 
 " Ah, one of the two commissioners who signed the ' open 
 order,' with which the country was instigated to rise in insur- 
 rection ? " 
 
 "Yes, general." 
 
 "And Andreas Hofer, the Barbone, is the other commis- 
 sioner, is he not ? I will remember it in case we should meet 
 again." 
 
 "You will then take your revenge ; that is quite^ natural. 
 But to-day ive take our revenge for the long oppressions and 
 insults which we have endured at the hands of the French. 
 Come, general, let us ride to Innspruck." 
 
 An hour aftei'ward a long and brilliant procession moved 
 through the triumphal arch. It was headed by the band of 
 the captured Bavarian regiment, which had to play to glorify 
 its own disgrace to-day ; next came an open carriage in which 
 Martin Teimer sat with a radiant face, and by his side Gen- 
 eral Bisson, pale, and hanging his head. In another carriage
 
 THE CAPITULATION OF WILTAU. 211 
 
 followed the staff-officers, esoorted by the municipal authori- 
 ties and clergy of Innspruck, and afterward appeared the 
 whole enormous force of the Tyrolese conducting the dis- 
 armed prisoners in their midst.* 
 
 All Innspruck had put on its holiday attire ; at all the 
 windows were to be' seen gayly-dressed ladies and rej(jicing 
 girls, holding in their hands wreaths, which they threw down 
 on the victors. The bells of all the churches were ringing, 
 not the tocsin, but peals of joy and thanksgiving. 
 
 For the task was accomplished, the Tyrol was free ! In 
 three days after the insurrection broke out, the Tyrolese, by 
 means solely of their own valor and patriotism, aided by the 
 natural strength of the country, had entii-ely delivered the 
 province from the enemy. The capitulation of Wiltau 
 crowned the work of deliverance, to the everlasting glory of 
 the brave Martin Teimer, and to the disgrace of General Bis- 
 son and the French and Bavarians, t 
 
 There were great rejoicings in Innspruck all the day long; 
 glad faces were to be met with everywhere, and all shouted 
 enthusiastically : '" We have become Austrians again ! We 
 are subjects of the Emperor of Austria again ! Long live the 
 free Tyrol ! Long live ihe Emperor Francis ! " 
 
 The streets i)resented a very lively appearance; all the 
 jniinters of the city were occuined in removing the hateful Ba- 
 varian colors, blue and white, from the signs and houses, and 
 putting on them the Austrian, black and gold; and the Tyro- 
 lese marksmen held a regular target-shooting at the Bavarian 
 lion, which, to the great disgust of the Tyrolese, had been 
 raised four years ago over the entrance of the imperial pal- 
 ace. Prizes were awarded for every piece which was shot 
 fi'oai it, and the principal reward was granted to him who 
 ]»ierced the crown of the lion. 
 
 Yes, the northern Tyrol was free; but the South, the Ital- 
 jau Tyrol, was groaning yet under the yoke of French oppres- 
 sion, and Andreas Hofer intended to march thither with his 
 
 * Hormayr's "Life of Andreas Hofer," vol. i., p. 259. 
 
 + Major Teimer was rewarded for tiiis capitulation of Wiltau with tho 
 title of Barou von Wiltau, and with the order of ^[aria Theresa. The Em- 
 peror of Austria, besides, presented liim with valuable estates in Styria.
 
 0[2 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 forces, as he had concerted at Vienna with the Archduke 
 John and Horniayr, in order to bring to the Italian Tyrolese 
 the liberty which the German Tyrolese had already con- 
 quered. 
 
 Hence Andreas Hofer, though his heart yearned for it. had 
 refrained from making his solemn entrance into Innspruck, 
 and had gone on the 17th of April to Meran, where he was to 
 review the Landstiirm of that town and its environs, the 
 brave men who were to accompany him on his expedition to 
 the Italian Tyrol. 
 
 The Tyrolese were drawn up in four lines; at their head 
 was to be seen Hormayr, surrounded l)y the priests and civil 
 officers w'ho had been exiled by the Bavarians, and who were 
 returning now with him and the Austrian army. 
 
 A cloud of dust arose from the neighboring gorges of the 
 Passeyr valley, and a joyous murmui' ran through the ranks 
 of the Tyrolese. Deafening cheers rent the air then, for An- 
 di'eas Hofer galloped up on a fine chargei-, followed by the 
 men of the Passeyr valley. His face glowed, his eyes beamed 
 with delight, and his whole bearing breathed unbounded sat- 
 isfaction and happiness. 
 
 He shook hands wdth Hormayr, laughing mei^rily. " We 
 have kept," he exclaimed. " the pi*omises we made at Vienna, 
 have we not ? And our dear Archduke John, I suppose, will 
 be content with us ? " 
 
 "He sends the best greetings of his love to his dear An- 
 dreas Hofer," said Hormayr, "and thanks him for all he has 
 done here." 
 
 "He thanks me?" asked Hofer, in surprise. "We have 
 done only what our hearts longed for, and fulfilled our own 
 wishes. We wished to become Austrians again, for Austrians 
 means Germans ; we \vanted no longer to be Bavarians, for 
 Bavarians meant French ; hence, we were anxious to rid our 
 mountains of the disgrace and make our country again free 
 and a province of Germany. V7e have succeeded in doing so, 
 for the good God blessed our efforts and helped us in our sore 
 distress. Now we are once more the faithful children of our 
 dear emperor, and the dear Archduke John will come to us 
 and stay with us as governoi" of the Tyrol."
 
 THE CAPITULATION' OF WILTAU. 213 
 
 "He certainly will, and I know that he longs to live again 
 in the midst of his faithful Tyrolese. But for this reason, 
 And\', we must help him that he may soon come to us, and 
 aid him in delivering the Southern Tyrol. I have great news 
 for you, Andy, from the Archduke John. I wished to com- 
 nmnicate it to you fii'st of all. No one was to hear of it previ- 
 ous to you.'' 
 
 " I hope it is good news, Baron von Horraayr, said Andreas 
 Hofer, anxiously. "The dear archduke, I trust, has not met 
 with a disaster ? Tell me quick, for my heart throbs as though 
 one of my dear children were in imminent peril." 
 
 " You yourself are a child, Andy. Do you suppose I should 
 look so cheerful if our dear archduke had met with a disaster ? 
 And even though such were the case, w^ould I then be so stu- 
 pid as to inf(n'm you of it now. at this .joyful hour, when it is 
 all-important that we should be in high spirits ? No, Andy, I 
 bring splendid news. The Archduke John achieved yester- 
 day a glorious victory at Sacile over the Viceroy of Italy. Eu- 
 gene Beauharnais ; it was a great triumph, for he took eight 
 thousand prisoners, and captured a great many guns. But 
 amidst this ti'ium])h he thought of his dear T^-rolese, and di.s- 
 ])atched from the battle-field a courier who wa.s to bring to me 
 the news and his order to tell his dear Tyrolese that he de- 
 feated the French yesterday." 
 
 Andrea.'S Hofer, overjoN'ed and with his countenance full of 
 sunshine and happine.ss, galloped down the long line of his 
 sharpshooters. 
 
 " Hurrah I my dear friends and brethren," he shouted. 
 " the Archduke John sends his greetings to you, and informs 
 you that he defeated the French yesterday at Sacile and took 
 eight thousand pi-isoners and a great many gun.s. Hurrali I 
 long live the Archduke John, the future governor of the 
 Tyrol ! " 
 
 And the Tyrolese repeated, with deafening cheers : " Hur- 
 rah ! long live the Archduke John, the future governor of the 
 Tyrol ! " 
 
 " And I have to bring you still another greeting from the 
 Archduke John," shouted Baron von Hormayr. " But you 
 shall not hear it here in the plain, but up at the ancient castle
 
 2U A^^DREAS HOFER. 
 
 of Tyrol. It is true, the Bavarians and the miserable Fi^nch 
 have destroyed the fine castle, but the ruins of the ancient 
 seat of our princes remain to us. We will now ascend to 
 those ruins, and up there you shall hear the message which 
 the Archduke John sends to you." 
 
 The whole force of the Tyrolese thereupon moved up the 
 mountain-path leading to the castle of Tyrol, headed by An- 
 dreas Hofer and Baron von Hormayr. 
 
 On reaching the crest of the hill, Hofer stopped and 
 alighted from his horse. He knelt down amidst the ruins of 
 the castle with a solemn, deeply-moved face, and holding the 
 crucifix on his breast between his hands, and lifting his eyes 
 to heaven, he exclaimed with fervent devotion : '" Thanks, 
 Lord God, thanks for the aid that thou hast hitherto vouch- 
 safed to us 1 Thanks for delivering the country and permit- 
 ting us to be Austrians again ! O God, grant now stability to 
 our work — and pi'eserve it from falling to ruin I If Thou art 
 content with me, let me further serve and be useful to my na- 
 tive country I I am but a weak instrument in Thy hand, my 
 God, but Thou hast used it, and I pray Thee not to cast it aside 
 now, but impai't to it strength and durability, that it may 
 last until the enemy has been driven from the country, and 
 the whole Tyrol is free again for evermore ! I kiss the dear 
 soil where our princes walked in former times, and where they 
 swore to their Tyrolese tbat they should be fi'eemen, and 
 that their free constitution should be sacred for all time to 
 come ! " 
 
 He bent down, kissed the moss-grown stones, and encircled 
 them tenderly with his arms as though they were an altar 
 before wbich he was uttering devout vows and prayers. The 
 Tyrolese, who had gradually reached the summit, had si- 
 lently knelt down behind Andreas Hofer, and were praying 
 like him. 
 
 One sentiment animated them all and illuminated their 
 faces with the radiant lustre of joy : the Tyrol was delivered 
 from the foreign yoke, and they, the sons of the country, had 
 alone liberated their beloved fatherland. 
 
 "Now, men of the Tyrol," shouted Hormayr, "listen to the 
 message which the Archduke John sends to you."
 
 ELIZA WALLNtirs RETURN. 215 
 
 And amid the solemn silence of the Tyrolese, and the peals 
 of the MtTun church-bells penetrating up to them, Hormayr 
 read to them a document drawn up by tlie Archduke John, by 
 virtue of which he resumed possession of the Tyrol in the 
 name of the emperor, declared it to be incorporated with the 
 imperial states, and solemnly vowed that, as a reward of its 
 loyalty, it should remain united with Austria for all future 
 time. At the same time, the ancient constitution and the 
 former privileges were restored to the Tyrolese, and Baron von 
 Hormayr was appointed governor of the Tyrol. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 ELIZA WALLNER'S RETURN. 
 
 All Windisch Matrey was again in joyful commotion to- 
 day, for a twofold festival was to be celebrated : the i-eturn of 
 the men of Windisch-Matrey, who had so bravely fought for 
 the country and so aided in delivering it ; and then, as had 
 been resolved previous to their departure, Eliza Walluer's 
 wedding was to come oil: to-day. 
 
 She had redeemed her pledge, she had proved that she was 
 a true and brave daughter of the Tyrol, and Anthony Wall- 
 nei', her fathei-, was no longer angry with her ; he wished to 
 reward her for her courage and intrepidity, and make her 
 liappy. Therefore, he liad sent a messenger secretly and with- 
 out her knowledge to Windisch-Matrey, and had ordered his 
 w ife to decorate the house festively, and request the curate to 
 repair to the church and perform the marriage rites. The re- 
 turning Tyrolese were to march to the church, and, after 
 thanking God for the dclivei-ance of the Tyrol, the curate was 
 to marry Eliza Wallner and her lover in presence of the whole 
 congregation. 
 
 Since early dawn, therefore, all the married women and 
 girls of Windisch-Matrey, dressed in their handsome holiday 
 attire, had been in the street, and had decorated the route 
 which the returning men were to take, and adorned the church 
 with wreaths and garlands of flowers.
 
 216 ANDREAS HOFEK. 
 
 Wallner's wife alone had remained at home, for she had to 
 attend to tlie preparations for the wedding-banquet, with 
 which slie and her servant-girls had been occupied during the 
 whole of the pi'evious day. There were a great many things 
 to be done yet ; the table had to be set in the large bar- 
 room for the wedding-guests ; the roasts had to be looked 
 after in the kitchen ; and the whole house had to be deco- 
 rated, and festoons of flowers to be suspended round its en- 
 trance. 
 
 "Schropfel might render me good service now," said 
 Wallner's wife, eagerly. '' I have so many things to attend 
 to, and he does not move his hands, but sits like a log at 
 the door of dear Ulrich von Hohenberg, and cares for noth- 
 ing else. Oh, Schropfel. Schropfel, come here ! I want to 
 .see you ! "' 
 
 At the staircase leading down into the hall appeared the 
 sunburnt, furrowed face of old Schropfel. 
 
 '' If you want to see me, you must come up here," he 
 .shouted. '■ I have been told to stand guard here, and I will 
 not desert my post, even for the sake of Mrs. Wallner, until I 
 am relieved." 
 
 '' He is a queer fellow," said Mrs. Wallner, laughing, " but 
 I must do what he says." 
 
 She hastened up-staij'S. At the door of the room where 
 the prisoner was confined stood the servant, pressing his face 
 to the brown panels of the door. 
 
 "Now, Schropfel," asked Mrs. Wallner, laughing, "can 
 you see through the boards ? For you put your eyes to the 
 door as though it were a window." 
 
 "It is a window," said Schrdpfel, in a low voice, limping 
 up a few steps to his mistress. *' I have bored four small 
 holes in the door, and through them I am able to see the 
 whole room and all that the prisoner is doing. Look, Mrs. 
 Wallner ! the hole below there is my window when he Ls in 
 bed and asleep ; I can see his face through it. The hole a 
 little above it enables me to watch him while he is seated at 
 the table, and writing or reading ; and through the hole up 
 here I can see his face when he is pacing the room." 
 
 " You are a strange fellow," said Mrs. Wallner, shaking
 
 ELIZA WALLNEK'S KETUUN. 217 
 
 her liead. " You watch the poor sick prisoner as though he 
 were an eagle, always ready to ily fr(jin the nest." 
 
 "He is ahout what you say," said Schropfel, thoughtfully. 
 " He is no longer sick, and his wings have grown a great 
 ileal during the week since he was here. I believe he would 
 like to fly from here." 
 
 " Oh, no," said Mrs. Wallner, with a shrug. " He loves my 
 Lizzie, and I do not believe that he who loves that girl will 
 wish to fly away before she flies with him." 
 
 " I do not know about that ; I have my own notions about 
 it," said Schropfel. " He is a Bavarian for all that, and the 
 Bavarians are all faithless and dishonest. 1 swore to watch 
 him and not lose sight of him, and I nmst keep my oath ; 
 hence, I shall not leave the door until I am relieved." 
 
 " Then you will not come down-stairs and help me fix the 
 wreaths and garlands, set the table, and clean the knives ? " 
 
 " No, dear Mrs. Wallner, I am not allowed to do so, much 
 as I would like to assist you. A sentinel must never leave his 
 post, or he will be called a desertei", and Mr. Wallner always 
 told me that that was a great disgrace for an honest fellow. 
 Now, as I am an honest fellow, and, owing to my lame leg, 
 cannot serve the country in any other way than watching 
 this prisoner. I shall stay here as a sentinel and take good care 
 not to desert." 
 
 "Well, do so, then," exclaimed Mrs. Wallner, half angrily, 
 half laughingly. " Biat you may go in to the gentleman and 
 tell him to be of good cheer, for Eliza will come back to-day, 
 and the wedding will take place immediately after her return, 
 when he will be free. Tell him to prepare for the ceremony ; 
 for, when the bells connnence ringing, the returning defend- 
 ers of the country will have reached the village, and we are 
 to go with him to the church, where the curate will await 
 us." 
 
 " Of course, I shall tell him all this," growled Schropfel, 
 and Mrs. Wallner hastened down-stairs again. 
 
 "Yes, I shall tell him," nmimured Schropfel to himself, 
 
 "but I wonder if it will gladden his heart ? During the first 
 
 few daj's, when he had tlio wound-fever, he talked strange 
 
 things in his delirium, and doi-ided and scorned oui- beautiful 
 
 15
 
 218 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 Lizzie, who, lie said, was bent upon becoming an aristocratic 
 lady. Since he is well again, he abuses her no longer, but he 
 looks very sombre, and during the whole week he has not 
 once inquired after his betrothed. God blast the accursed 
 Boafok if he should love the girl no longer, and if he did not 
 honestly intend to make her his wife ! I will go in to him 
 and see how he receives the news." 
 
 Ulrich von Hohenberg was seated in his armchair, and 
 gazing musingly out of the window. He did not turn when 
 the old servant entered his room ; he seemed not to have 
 noticed his arrival, but continued staring at the sky even 
 when Schropfel stood close to him. The face of the young 
 man was still pale and wan, and under his eyes, formerly so 
 clear and cheerful, were to be seen those bluish circles indica- 
 tive of internal sufferings of the body or the soul. However, 
 since the wound-fever liad left him, he had never uttered a 
 complaint, and the wound, which was not very severe, had 
 already closed and was healing rapidly. Hence, it was doubt- 
 ' less grief that imparted so gloomy and sickly an appearance 
 to Captain Ulrich von Hohenberg, and it was this very sus- 
 picion that rendered Schropfel distrustful, and caused him to 
 watch his prisoner night and day with sombre vigilance. 
 
 He stood a few minutes patiently, and waited for the cap- 
 tain to address him; but Hohenberg continuing to take no 
 notice of him, he resolutely laid his hand on his shoulder. 
 
 ''Sir, awake !" he exclaimed sullenly. 
 
 The captain gave a slight start, and pushed the servant's 
 hand with an angrj' gesture from his shoulder. 
 
 " I am awake,'' he said ; " it is therefore quite unnecessary 
 for you to lay hands on me. What is it ? What do you want 
 of me ? " 
 
 "I want to tell you only that our men will return this 
 morning, and that this will be a great holiday in Windisch- 
 Matrey, For our men are victorious, and the country is de- 
 livered from the enemy. Mr. Wallnor has written to us that 
 the brave Tyrolese delivered the whole country in three days, 
 that they have taken prisoners eight thousand infantry and 
 one thousand cavalry, and captured eight guns, two stands of 
 colors, and two French eagles. Besides, several thousand
 
 ELIZA WALLNER'S RETtlRX. 219 
 
 French and Bavarians have jjerished in the gorg'es and on th( 
 battle fields. Very few of our own men have been killed, and 
 not one of them made prisoner. Now the whole country is 
 free, and our victorious men are coming home.'' 
 
 Not a muscle in the cajjtain's face had betrayed tha. he 
 had heard Schropfol's report. He still stared quietly at the 
 sky, and his features expressed neither grief nor surprise at 
 the astounding news. 
 
 "You do not ask at all, sir, if Eliza Wallner will return 
 with the men?" asked Schropfel, angrily. "I should think 
 you ought to take .some interest in that, for Lizzie is your be- 
 trothed." 
 
 " She is not ! " cried the captain, starting up indignantly, 
 with flushed cheeks and flashing eyes. 
 
 " Yes, she is," said Schropfel, composedly. " I myself 
 heard the girl say to her father and the men of Windisch- 
 Matrey : ' He is my bridegi'oom ; I love him, and you must 
 not kill him.' And because she said so, the men spared your 
 life, although Anthony "Walluer-Aichberger was very angry, 
 and would not forgive his daughter for having given her 
 heart to an enemy of her country, a Bavarian, and, moreover, 
 a nobleman, and not to an honest peasant. But Lizzie begged 
 and wailed so nuich that her father could not but yield, and 
 promised her to forgive all if she proved that she was no trait- 
 ore.ss to her country, but a true and brave daughter of the Tyr- 
 ol ; after doing so, he would permit her to marry her Bava- 
 rian betrothed. And now she has proved that she is a true 
 and brave daughter of the Tyrol, and the whole country' is 
 full of the heroic deods performed by Lizzie Wallner, and of 
 the intrepidity which she displayed under the most trying cir- 
 cumstances. And to-day, captain, you will meet again your 
 betrothed, who saved your life, and who went with the men 
 only to perform heroic deeds that \vould induce her father to 
 consent to her union with you. I tell you, sir, beautiful 
 Lizzie Wallner. your betrothed, will return in an hour or 
 two." 
 
 The young man's face crimsoned for a moment, and when 
 the color disappeared from his cheeks, their pallor was even 
 more striking and ghastly than before.
 
 220 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 " Eliza Walluer fought, then, very bravely against— against 
 my countrymen ? " he asked, pantingly. 
 
 "No, she did not fight, sir, but she went into the thickest 
 shower of bullets to carry away the wounded Tyrolese, and 
 attend to their injuries; and she drove a hay- wagon directly 
 toward the enemy, and our men were concealed behind the 
 hay, and she brought a keg of wine to our men while the 
 bullets were whistling round her ; and, finally, she and the 
 other "women escorted the Bavarian prisoners to Castle Stein- 
 ach." 
 
 The young man uttered a cry, and buried his face in his 
 hands. 
 
 " What a disgrace, oh, what a disgrace ! " he groaned, de- 
 spairingly; and in his grief beseemed to have entirely for- 
 gotten the presence of the servant, for he wept, wept so bit- 
 terly that large scalding tears trickled down between his 
 fingers. "Our brave soldiers were defeated by miserable 
 peasants," he wailed. "' The Bavarian prisoners were marched 
 ofi^ under an escort of women ! " 
 
 Schropfel stood as if petrified, and this outburst of the 
 grief of the usually haughty and laconic young man filled 
 him with the utmost surprise and confusion. 
 
 However, the captain suddenly dried his tears and dropped 
 his hands from his face. 
 
 " And Eliza Wallner, you say, led the women who escorted 
 the Bavarian prisoners ?" he asked, in a firm, almost menac- 
 ing voice. 
 
 " Yes, sir, she did," said Schropfel. " And now her father 
 is reconciled with her, and, to prove it, he will marry his 
 daughter to you to-day." 
 
 The captain said nothing ; only a proud, scornful smile 
 played around his lips for a moment. 
 
 " Yes," added Schropfel, " the wedding will come ofi' to-da3^ 
 Immediately after their return the procession will move to 
 the church, where a thanksgiving service will be held ; it 
 will be followed by the marriage ceremony. Mr. Wallner 
 wrote to his wife to send you to the church as soon as the 
 bells commenced ringing, and to keep you in the vestry until 
 you were sent for. Remember, therefore, as soon as the bells
 
 ELIZA WALLNER'S RETURN. 221 
 
 commence ringing, I sliall call for you and take you to the 
 vestry." 
 
 Tlie young man was silent, and gazed thoughtfully before 
 him; he then threw back his head with an air of bold reso- 
 lution. 
 
 " All right," he said, " I shall accompany you. Did you not 
 say that my baggage had been sent hitlier from the castle ? " 
 
 " Yes, yes, Miss Elza sent every thing hither by her serv- 
 ants, and she herself canio with them. And during the first 
 days, when you had the wound-fever, she came here at least 
 three times a day and asked how you were, and cried and 
 lamented, aud entreated me for God's sake to admit her to 
 your room only for a brief moment. But I had sworn not to 
 admit any one to my prisoner, nor to permit him to speak 
 with any one; hence, I could not make an exception even in 
 favor of the kind-hearted young lady. She comes neverthe- 
 less every day and inquii'es about you ; and she begged hard 
 and long until Mrs. Wallner permitted her to send your din- 
 ner always from the castle. As you will be free to-day, I may 
 tell you all this, for it will no longer do any harm." 
 
 "No, it will no longer do any harm," said the captain, with 
 a peculiar smile. " Listen, I wish to dress up for to-day's cere- 
 mony, and don my gala uniform. Therefore be so kind as to 
 fetch it." 
 
 "I will, captain, I will fetch the uniform and be back di- 
 rectly," said Schropfel, cheerfully, limping hastily toward the 
 door. But outside he stood still and pressed his finger 
 thoughtfully to his nose. " I do not know exactly what to 
 think of it," he murmured to himself. " At first he uttered a 
 loud cry and said Lizzie Wallner was not his betrothed ; after- 
 ward he lamented piteously because Lizzie Wallner escorted 
 the Bavarian prisoners ; and finally he asked for his gala 
 uniform in order to dress up for the ceremony. Well, we 
 shall see very soon if he has honest intentions toward Lizzie 
 and really loves her. If he thinks he can play her a trick, he 
 had better beware, for I shall never lose sight of him : T shall 
 always be behind him, and if he does not treat the girl as lie 
 ought to, I will strike him down with my lists like a mad 
 bull ! I will do it, so help me God ! "
 
 222 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 THE CATASTROPHE. 
 
 The bells were ringing, the men were rejoicing, and the 
 girls of Windisch-Matrey and its environs took position with 
 baskets of flowers on both sides of the street. For the victori- 
 ous defenders of the country were approaching ; their cheers 
 were already heard at a distance ; and they already saw the 
 merr\' boys who had gone out to meet them, and who now 
 headed the procession amid manifestations of the liveliest de- 
 light. Yes, they were coming, they were coming ! Yonder, 
 down the mountain-slope, moved the motley procession of the 
 Tyrolese, resembling a glittering serpent of gigantic propor- 
 tions. How their rifles flashed in the sun ! How beautifully 
 the bouquets adorned their pointed green hats ! And now 
 they v/ere already able to distinguish the faces and the indi- 
 vidual forms. Immediately behiod the boys, at the head of 
 the procession, walked Anthony Wallner-Aichberger. How 
 splendid the commander-in-chief looked ; and how beautiful 
 was Lizzie, walking by his side, handsomely dressed, and wear- 
 ing a beautiful bouquet in her Bosom ! Her attentive father 
 had despatched a special messenger to his wife for Lizzie's 
 holiday dress and her trinkets, so that Lizzie, the pride and 
 joy of his heart, might make her entrance in a becoming man- 
 ner into AVindisch-Matrey. 
 
 Lizzie looked really splendid in her holiday attire. Her 
 raven hair, flowing down in heavj' tresses on her neck, was 
 interwoven with dark-red ribbons, and large rosettes of the 
 same color were fastened with silver pins to her head.. Her 
 low-necked corset, adorned with silver trimmings, was fast- 
 ened on the breast with silver chains ; and above it rose a 
 white chemisette trimmed with laces, and veiling chastely her 
 faultless bust and beautifully-shaped shoulders. Large white 
 sleeves covered her arms and were fastened to her wrists with 
 dark-red rosettes. An ample skirt of fine dark-red wool, 
 trimmed with black velvet, fell from her slender waist down 
 to her ankles, and her small feet were enca.sed in handsome
 
 THE CATASTROPHE. 223 
 
 stockings and shoos adorned with large silver buckles. The 
 hoys had brought to Ik r the si)iendid bouquet which she wore 
 in her bosom, and had told her, amid laughter and cheers, 
 that her betrothed sent her the bouquet as a wedding-present. 
 
 B\it these words had rendered Lizzie silent and sad. Th( 
 smile had disappeared from her lips, and the color had faded 
 from her cheeks ; she looked anxiously at her father, but he 
 nodded to her and said laughingly: "Do not a.sk me any 
 questions to-day, Lizzie, for I will not tell you any thing. 
 Await quietly the events that will take place, and bear in 
 mind that your father loves you dearly, and is anxious to 
 make his little daughter happy and contented." 
 
 Eliza tried to divine what these words of her father meant, 
 and a gloomy foreboding, a terror which she was unable toex- 
 plain to herself, tilled her heart. 
 
 She listened no longer to the joyous .shouts of the boys, 
 and ceased singing with Panzl the fine songs of the Tyrolese 
 mountains, but walked along, pale, silent, and hanging her 
 head. 
 
 Now they reached Windisch-Matrey, and stood still at the 
 enti-ance of the street, where the clergy, municipal authorities, 
 and the beautifully-dressed girls, bade them welcome. Oh. it 
 was a soul-stirring moment, a sacred festival of welcome ! 
 The brave men had goiie out to fight for their native country, 
 their emperor, and the liberties of the Tyrol ; and God had 
 granted them victory. He had assisted them in all contests, 
 tlie country was free, the emperor was again master of the 
 Tyrol, and the men of "Windisch-Matrey returned victoriously 
 to their homes. All seemed to greet them with glowing looks 
 of love ; the whole earth .^^eemed to shout *' Welcome ! " to 
 them. Even the glistening snow-clad summits of the Gross- 
 Glockuer seemed to look at them over the other mountains 
 with an air of curiosity and solemn kindness ; and on the 
 green mountain-pastures stood the red cows so proud and 
 handsome, as if they had placed themselves there for the pur- 
 pose of adorning the landscape for the returning heroes. 
 And the wild Iselbach mui-mured merrily at the roadside and 
 sent its silvery spray into the air, and the boys laughed and 
 sang ; the bells pealed so loudly and solemnly, and received
 
 224 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 ringing responses from the villages farther down in the val- 
 ley ; the priests stood with solemn, devout faces at the en- 
 trance of the place, blessing the heroes with uplifted hands, 
 and eyes turned to heaven ; and the girls and matrons, strew- 
 ing flowers to the returning men, stood on both sides of the 
 street, and greeted them with beaming smiles. 
 
 Oh, this sweet, sublime moment silenced all cares and 
 doubts. The smile returned to Eliza's lips, her cheeks crim- 
 soned, and her eyes beamed with the purest joy. With a loud 
 cry of delight she threw herself into the arms of her mother, 
 and kissed her a thousand times, and scarcely listened to the 
 address of the curate, who returned thanks to her in the name 
 of the whole parish for her courage and the assistance she had 
 rendered to her countrymen wounded in battle. 
 
 But now Eliza heard a dear familiar voice, which caused 
 her to raise herself from her mother's arms and look up. 
 
 Yes, it was the old, kind-hearted Baron von Hohenberg 
 who was standing before her, and held out his hand to her 
 with his sunniest and kindest smile. " My brave daughter," 
 he said, feelingly, " give me your hand. You know that I 
 love you as though you were my own child ; and now I am 
 provid of you, for you have become a heroine, and have done 
 honor to our Tyrol. Elza was right after all in always call- 
 ing you another Maid of Orleans, and saying you were a born 
 heroine." 
 
 •'But where is Elza?" said Lizzie, anxiously, to the old 
 castellan. 
 
 " Here I am, dearest Eliza," said the young lady, who had 
 hitherto kept herself behind her father and the clergyman. 
 
 " Oh, my Elza, my dear, dear Elza !" exclaimed Eliza, rap- 
 turously ; and she encircled her fi'iend's neck with her arms, 
 and imprinted a glowing kiss on her lips. 
 
 But she felt that Elza's lips quivered, that she did not re- 
 turn the kiss, nor press the friend to her heart ; and it seemed 
 to Eliza as though a cold hand suddenly touched her heart and 
 pressed it rudely and cruelly. She raised her head from Elza's 
 shoulder, and looked her full in the face. It was not until 
 now that she saw how pale Elza was, how red her eyes with 
 weeping, and how forced her smile.
 
 THE CATASTROPHE. 225 
 
 "You are sick, Elza," she said, anxiously. 
 
 "No," whispered Elza, "'I am not." 
 
 "Then you love your Lizzie no longer ?" asked Eliza, press- 
 ingly. 
 
 " Yes, I do," said Elza, in a hollow voice, and with a won- 
 drously luouniful smile. "I do love you, and, to prove it, I 
 pi'escnt you with this wreath. God bless you, dear Lizzie ; 
 may He grant you happiness ! " 
 
 "Elza," cried Eliza, anxiously, " Elza, pi-ay come to me and 
 tell me what it means, what — " 
 
 " Husli, Lizzie, husli," said her father, seizing her hand and 
 drawing her forward. " Do you not sec tliat the procession is 
 moving on, and that we nmst go with it ? See, the curate and 
 the castellan are already far ahead, and we must go too." 
 
 " But where, father, where ? " 
 
 " To the church, you dear little goose ! " 
 
 " To the church ? What are we to do there ? Why do we 
 not go home ? " 
 
 '* Have you become so impious during your campaign, Liz- 
 zie, as not to know that we must always render homage to 
 God first and above all things ? We are going to church to 
 return thanks ; come with me, and ask no more questions." 
 
 " But I will take off the myrtle-wreath ! " exclaimed Lizzie, 
 lifting her hand anxiously to the wreath. But her father drew 
 back her hand. 
 
 " No, Lizzie," he said, " do not remove the wreath. It fits 
 well on your head." 
 
 " But I am no bride going to church on her wedding-day." 
 
 "Really, Lizzie, are you not ?" asked her father, laughing. 
 "But hush now, mj' child, we are already at the church-door, 
 and do you not hear the glorious swelling notes of the organ ? 
 Let us enter the church, dear Lizzie." 
 
 He drew her forward, and Eliza followed him : but inde- 
 scribable anguish oppressed her soul ; she did not know why, 
 and she fc^lt as though something dreadful wei-e about to hap- 
 pen here, and as though she ouglit to flee, llee far into the 
 mountain.s, into solitude. 
 
 But her father held her by the liand. and walked witli lier 
 up the main aisle to the large altar. Rows of chairs, decorated
 
 226 AXJJKEAS HOFER. 
 
 with tiowers, had been placed here, aud Eliza had to seat her- 
 self on one of these chaii-s ; by her side sat her father ; op- 
 posite her, the castellan and her friend Elza ; then came the 
 municipality, and John Panzl, lieutenant-commander of the 
 men of Windisch-Mati'ey, and behind them stood the dense 
 crowd of the sharpshooters of the Pusterthal. 
 
 Eliza cast a searching glance on the dense crowd ; she 
 looked at all the i^ews, and yet she did not know what she was 
 looking for, nor what alarmed her heart so much. 
 
 All at once she started in sudden terror, and her cheek 
 turned deadly pale. Yonder, behind the windows of the 
 vestry, she beheld a young man in a handsome uniform ; it 
 was he, he whom she had looked for without knowing it her- 
 self ; he from whose sight her heart had shrunk with anxiety 
 and dismay. And yet Eliza had longed to see him, for she had 
 been uneasy on his account ; she had feared lest he should still 
 suffer gi-avely from the consequences of his wound. But she 
 had not dared to ask any one about him ; hence, she was glad 
 to see that he was well, and showed her gladness in her gaze 
 at him. Their eyes met, but he looked upon her with an ex- 
 pression of hatred and contempt ; a haughty, disdainful smile 
 played round his lips, and he threw back his head supercil- 
 iously, instead of nodding pleasantly to her. 
 
 Eliza felt a terrible pain in her heart ; she wished to jump 
 up, she — All at once she heard her name drop from the lips 
 of the curate, who was standing before the altar, and who had 
 just concluded the thanksgiving prayer. What did he say — 
 why did he mention her ? She held her breath to listen to 
 him. Great heavens ! another name fell from the curate's 
 lips. He uttered the name of Ulrich von Hohenberg ; he pro- 
 claimed him the bridegroom of Eliza Wallner, who was 
 present ; he called vipon Captain Ulrich von Hohenberg to 
 appear before the altar, and receive the consecration of his 
 union with his betrothed in the presence of all these witnesses. 
 
 With a hollow groan, crushed, aud as if bi'oken-hearted, 
 Eliza sank back into her cliair, and her pale lips murmured : 
 '■ Now I am lost, and so is he ! " 
 
 '* Ulrich von Hohenberg," shouted the priest at the altar, 
 " come hither and take your bride by the hand,"
 
 THE CATASTROPHE. 227 
 
 The door of the vesti-y opened, and Uh-ich von Hohenberg 
 stepped in. His tall, slender form presented a very fine ap- 
 pearance in the brilliant gala uniform ; a flashing cross 
 adorned his breast ; in his hand he held his gold-laced hat, 
 with the waving white plume ; only the sword was wanting 
 to his side, and this alone betokened his humiliating position, 
 and showed that he was a prisoner amidst all these armed 
 men. But the consciousness of this fact seemed not to 
 hnrailiate him, for he walked up, his head proudly raised, 
 and his stern, cold eyes gazing scornfully upon the assembly. 
 
 He stepped clo.se up to the altar. '' Reverend father," ha 
 said, in a clear, loud voice to the priest, " you have called me. 
 Here 1 am. What do you want of me ;■ '' 
 
 " I have called you, Ulrich von Hohenberg, to marry you 
 to your betrothed. Eliza Wallner, step to the side of your 
 bi'idegroom." 
 
 But Eliza Wallner did not rise from her chair ; she leaned 
 her head, almost in a swoon, against the back of her chair, 
 and stared, as if unconscious of what was going on around 
 her, at the priest and the young man, who fixed his eyes on 
 her at this moment with an air of cold contemj)t. 
 
 " Eliza Wallner," he cried aloud, "do not come hither, for 
 I am not your betrothed, and never shall you become my 
 wife ! " 
 
 A deafening cry of rage burst from all lips : the eyes of all 
 the brave men in the church flashed with anger, and they laid 
 their hands menacingly on tlicir rifles. 
 
 But Anthony Wallner sprang to his feet, pale with rage, 
 his eyes shooting fire, like those of an angry tiger, rushed to- 
 ward the captiiin, and seized his arm. 
 
 " What ! " he cried, furiously, " you infamous, perjured 
 scoundrel, refuse to marry my daughter ? First you stole her 
 love, you promised to marry her, and now that I would givd 
 her to you, you refuse to take her I " 
 
 "Yes, I do," cried Ulrich von Hohenberg, almost joyously. 
 "Never will Eliza Wallner, the peasant-girl, become my wife ; 
 never will I stoop so low as to allow a wife to be forced upon 
 me, merely to .save my life, and least of all her who has fought 
 agaiiist my countrynien and brethren ; who participated in
 
 228 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 the studied insult inflicted upon the brave soldiers of my king, 
 and in the infamous treason you have all committed against 
 your king and lord. Yes, I tell you, you are infamous rebels 
 and traitors, and you think I, Captain Ulrich von Hohenberg, 
 a soldier who took the oath of allegiance to his king, could act 
 so dishonorably and meanly as to join the rebels ! No, never ! 
 Never will the daughter of the rebel Anthony Wallner become 
 my wife ! Kill me now if you want to do so. You may take 
 my life, but you cannot dishonor me ! " 
 
 Eliza sat still motionless, and as if petrified. She had 
 •heard, as if in a dream, the captain's words ; and, as if in a 
 dream, she saw that Schropfel rushed forward and raised his 
 powerful arm against him, and that all the men crowded up 
 to him with menacing gestures ; as if in a dream, she heard 
 wild shouts and imprecations. 
 
 All at once two ice-cold, trembling hands seized Eliza's 
 ai'ms, and a beloved voice penetrated her ear with the vehe- 
 mence of mortal anguish and terror. 
 
 " Eliza 1 " cried this voice — " Eliza, will you allow them to 
 kill him ? " 
 
 " Elza ! " murmured Eliza, as if starting up from a trance, 
 " Elza, what is the matter ? '' 
 
 " They will assassinate him, Eliza I " wailed Elza. " They 
 have tied and gagged him, and say that they will take him 
 out and shoot him. Eliza, you alone can save him ! Have 
 mercy, forget what he said in his rage and grief. Have mercy 
 upon him, upon me ! For I tell you, they will assassinate 
 him. Oh, see, they are forming a circle round him, and drag- 
 ging him down the aisle ! They are taking him out to the 
 public place ! They intend to shoot him ! Save him, Eliza, 
 save him ! " 
 
 Eliza made no reply ; she sprang up from her seat and 
 hastened down the aisle after tiie men, who were just issuing 
 from the church-door, and in whose midst was walking Cap- 
 tain Ulrich von Hohenberg, conducted by Anthony Wallner, 
 and his servant, lame old Schropfel, his hands tied on his back, 
 and a gag in his mouth. 
 
 But the sharpshooters surrounded the prisoner like a thick, 
 impenetrable wall. Vainly did Eliza beg and implore the
 
 THE CATASTROriTE. 220 
 
 nicu to let her pass ; vainly did she try with the strength of 
 despair to elbow her way throug-h the ranks. The men pushed 
 her back impetuously. 
 
 "You shall not intercede in behjilf of the infamous vil- 
 lain," they said ; " you shall not save the life of the mean 
 Bavarian who calls us rebels and traitors, and yet did not 
 keep his own word. He shall and must die, he has forfeited 
 his life." And tlieir strong arms pushed her from the circle 
 which they now formed on the large place in front of the 
 church. In its middle stood the captain, by his side Anthony 
 Wallner, and behind him Schropfel, like a watch-dog ready 
 at any moment to tear his enemy. 
 
 Anthony lifted his arm with slow, solemn tranquillity, 
 and dropped it heavily on the captain's shoulder. 
 
 " Ulrich von Hohenberg," he said, " you are an infamous 
 villain, for you pledged j'our word to my daughter that you 
 would marry her, and now you repudiate her. You are a 
 liar and a slanderer, for you call us infamous rebels and 
 traitors merely because we fought for our country and oui* 
 emperor. Therefore, you have sinned against God, man, and 
 honor. Uli'ich von Hobenberg, you nmst die ! " 
 
 ''Yes, you must die!" shouted the men; and they took 
 the rifles from their shoulders and loaded them. 
 
 Anthony "VVallner and Schropfel stepped back from the 
 prisoner, and the men who had stood behind him moved out 
 of the way. Hence the circle, Avhich had hitherto been im- 
 penetrable, now opened. Eliza saw it, and sprang forward, 
 regardless of the sharpshooters, who were just raising their 
 muskets, regardless of the danger menacing herself. Pale, 
 with panting breath, her hands lifted to heaven, she sped 
 across the open space toward the captain, and, jilacing herself 
 before him, exclaimed, with flashing eyes, and in an exulting 
 voice : "' Now shoot, men, shoot ! For I tell you he shall 
 not die alone, and if you shoot him, you shall kill me too." 
 
 " Eliza ! " cried her father, beseechingly, and withal 
 angrily, " Eliza, stand back ! He is a traitor, and must 
 die." 
 
 ''He is no traitor, nor must he die ; and if you assassinate 
 him you shall assassinate me too," cried Eliza.
 
 230 ANDREAS IIOFER. 
 
 '' But, Lizzie, did jou not hear, then, how he repudiated 
 and a1)uscd you, the faithless Bavarian ? "' asked her father. 
 
 "I did, and I forgive him,"' slic said gently, "for I know 
 full well that he does not mean what he says. Are you 
 so stupid, men, as Tiot to comprehend that he cannot act 
 otherwise, and that he must speak thus and not other- 
 wise ? Father, you said I was a true daughter of the Tyrol, 
 and that you loved me and were content with me. I pray 
 you, then, dearest father, spare the life of my betrothed until 
 to-morroAv morning, and have him taken hack as a prisoner 
 to our house until then. Schropfel may watch him, and not 
 take his eyes from him. Oh, dear, kind friends, brave men, 
 have mercy upon me ! Bear in mind that we fought together 
 for our beloved country, and that you told me you would 
 never forget me, and would comply with my wishes when- 
 ever you could. I wish now that you spare the life of my be- 
 trothed only until to-morrow morning." 
 
 " He says he is not your beti'othed, Lizzie, and will never 
 marry you ! " exclaimed the men, with irresolute faces, and 
 already half softened by the beseeching, touching expression 
 of Eliza's countenance. 
 
 "He says so," she said, casting a fiery glance on the cap- 
 tain, who stood pale and motionles.s, heard every word, and 
 was unable to make a reply ; " he says so, but I know that he 
 loves me, and will be joyously ready to-morrow morning to 
 do what I ask of him. Father," she added, in a low voice, 
 seizing Anthony Wallner's arm, and drawing him aside 
 quickly, " do you not comprehend, then, that Ulrich cannot 
 speak differently ? Would not his king, after his return to 
 Bavaria, pronounce him a traitor, and charge him with hav- 
 ing joined us and the Austrians, and with having convicted 
 himself by marrying a Tyrolese girl ? Be wise, dearest father, 
 and see how shrewdly Ulrich manages every thing, and that 
 he acts precisely as I told him. It must look as though he 
 did not marry me of his own accord, but compelled by you ; 
 otherwise his king and his father, who is a very proud man, 
 would never forgive him. But when they hear what has oc- 
 curred here, and that you threatened to shoot Ulrich because 
 he would not marry me, the gentlemen at Munich will under-
 
 THE Cx\.TASTROriIE. 231 
 
 stand that Ulrich had to take me in order to save his 
 life." 
 
 "And are you satisfied to have it look as though he 
 married you only under compulsion?" asked her father, 
 ffloomily. 
 
 " I am, father," she said, " for I love my betrothed ; and 
 he shall not become unhappy for m^' sake and forfeit the 
 good graces of his king and his father. State all this to your 
 friends, dear father, and tell them to let Ulrich and me alone 
 for to-day; but ask them all to come to our house to-morrow 
 moriiiiig and accompany the bride and bridegroom to the 
 church, for Ulrich will marry me at nine to-morrow morn- 
 ing." 
 
 " But, Lizzie, why not to-day ? " asked her father. " Why 
 not at this hour ? " 
 
 " It will not do, father. If j-ou had told me beforehand 
 what was to be done here, I should have told you at once 
 what I am telling you now : it will not do for a young girl 
 to appear before God's altar without due preparation, and as 
 though she were going to a dance. What I am going to do is 
 something very serious, and I will do it seriously. I will 
 pray to God to-day, go to confession, and have a great many 
 things to talk over with Ulrich, for I know he wants me to 
 set out with him immediately after we have been married, and 
 that it may not look as though he had stayed voluntai'ily with 
 you in our valley. I must, therefore, pack up my things and 
 prepare for departing as soon as we have been mari-ied. Let 
 us alone, then, dear fathei', to day, and invite the men to come 
 to-morrow morning and attend my marriage with Captain 
 Ulrich von Hohenberg." 
 
 "Well, then, Lizzie, I will comply with your wishes," said 
 Wallner, after a short reflection. "I will give you and him 
 time until to-morrow morning ; but I tell you, my daughter, 
 if he continues the same game to-morrow, and talks then in 
 the same strain as to-day, I shall take the jest in dead earnest, 
 and will not believe a word of all you say to excuse him: and 
 then his life is forfeited, and he must die. — No, Schropfel, 
 come here ; take the prisoner back to my house, and confine 
 him where you have kept him for a week past. But I tell
 
 232 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 you, watch bim well, aud admit no one to liim except Lizzie, 
 and prevent him from talking with anybody but his be- 
 trothed. " 
 
 " I will do so, and watch him as I have done up to this 
 time," said Schropfel, gloomily. "He shall not talk with 
 anybody, and I should like it best if he were not permitted 
 either to speak with Lizzie, for I do not believe at all that she 
 is his betrothed." 
 
 " We shall see to-morrow morning, when the mari'iage is 
 to take place," said Anthony Wallner.—" Take the prisoner 
 away." 
 
 " You let him go ? " exclaimed the men. " You spare his 
 life?" 
 
 " Only until to-morrow morning, because Lizzie begged 
 me to do so," said Anthony Wallner. " The wedding will 
 take place at nine to-morrow morning ; I invite you all to 
 attend it, men, and we shall see then. To-morrow morning 
 there will be a wedding or an execution. Now let us speak 
 no more of it to-day ; let us forget what has happened to 
 Anthony Wallner and his daughter ; and let us bear in mind 
 only that we have returned after delivering our dear Tyrol 
 from the French and Bavarians. Let us go now to my house, 
 where my wife awaits us with a keg of excellent wine. Come, 
 we will drink to the welfare of our fatherland, and to the 
 health of our dear Emperor Francis ! " 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 ELIZA AND ULRICH. 
 
 Schropfel, the faithful servant, had taken Ulrich von 
 Hohenberg, in obedience to Anthony Wallner's order, back 
 to the small room where he had passed the last eight days as 
 a prisoner. Since he had him again in his custody, no ad- 
 ditional precautions were necessary, for Schropfel knew that 
 ho could rely on his own vigilance, and that the prisoner 
 surelv would never escane from him. Hence, he loosened
 
 ELIZA AND ULUICII. 233 
 
 the cords witli wliicli he Imtl heou lied, and removed the 
 handkerchief with whicli la; luul heen j^af^ged. 
 
 '' If it all'ords you pleasure,'' said Scliropfel, "you uiay use 
 your mouth aud inveigh against Lizzie \Vallner, who has 
 saved your life to-day a second time, and whom j'^ou rewarded, 
 like a genuine Bavarian, that is to say, with black ingratitude 
 and treachery. But I advise you not to abuse her loud enough 
 for me to hear you outside, for I am not as patient as Lizzie, 
 and I shall never permit you to abuse and treat so contemptu- 
 ously the noblest and best girl in the whole country. She 
 acted toward you to day as a good Christian and a brave girl, 
 for you insulted her, and she not only forgave you, but pro- 
 tected you, and saved your life. And now, sir, abuse her if 
 you cannot help it ; but I tell you once more, do not speak too 
 loud, lest I should hear you." 
 
 And Schropfel turned with a last threatening glance and 
 left the room. Outside he sat down on the cane-settee which, 
 for the past eight days, had heen his seat by day and his couch 
 by night ; and he pressed his eye to the middle hole which he 
 had bored in the door. He could distinctly see and watch the 
 captain througli it. Ulrich had sunk down on a chair and 
 leaned his head on his hand ; he lifted his sombre eyes to 
 lieaven, and there was a strange expression of emotion and 
 grief upon his face. But he seemed not to intend availing 
 himself of the permission which Schropfel had given him to 
 abuse Lizzie Wallner, for his lips were firmly compressed, and 
 not a sound fell from them. Or could Schropfel. perhaps, not 
 hear him, because the men down in the bar-room were laugh- 
 ing and shouting so meriily, and speaking so loudly and en- 
 thusiastically of the Tyrol, and drinking the health of the em- 
 peror and the Archduke John, wlio had again taken posses- 
 sion of their country and solemnly proclaimed that he would 
 restore the ancient and liberal constitution of the Tyrolese ? 
 
 "How merry they are down-stairs!" growled Schropfel. 
 " I might be there too ; I have amply deserved to have a little 
 exercise and pleasure. Instead of that I must sit here with a 
 drj^ mouth ; and if this goes on much longer, I shall surely 
 grow fast to my settee. And all that for the sake of the 
 mean, perfidious Bavarian, who is so utterly dishonest, aud 
 10
 
 234 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 who ti'eated our beautiful, uoble Lizzie in so infamous a man- 
 ner ! Well, if I were in the girl's place, I would not take the 
 perfidious wretch who has denied her twice already. Oh. 
 how merry they are down-stairs ! No one thinks of me and 
 gives me a drop of wine that I may likewise drink to the wel- 
 fare of the fatherland." 
 
 But Schropfel was mistaken for once, for quick footsteps 
 ascended the staii'case at this moment, and now appeared the 
 lovely head of Eliza Wallner above the railing, then her whole 
 form, and a second afterward she stood in the passage close 
 before Schropfel. In her hands she held a plate with a large 
 piece of the fine cake which her mother herself had baked, and 
 a large glass of excellent red wine. 
 
 " There, good, faithful Schropfel," she said in her gentle 
 voice, nodding to him pleasantly, and handing the plate to 
 him, " eat and drink, and let nie in the mean time go and see 
 your prisoner." 
 
 " What do you want of him ? " asked Schropfel, moodily. 
 
 " I want to see him about our wedding to-morrow," said 
 Eliza calmly ; " and you know father has given me permission 
 to go to him and speak with him." 
 
 " Yes, he did, and I cannot prevent you from entering, 
 which I would do otherwise," growled Schropfel. " Go in, 
 then, but do not stay too long ; and if lie should abuse you 
 again, pray call me, and I will assist you." 
 
 "Thank you, dear Schropfel," said Eliza, "but pray admit 
 me now." 
 
 Schropfel withdrew his settee from the door and allowed 
 Eliza to open it, and, entering to the prisoner, closed it again 
 behind her. 
 
 Ulrich von Hohenberg still sat, as Schropfel had seen 
 him, at the table, leaning his head on his hand ; only he 
 had now covered his eyes with his hands, and long sighs 
 issued from his breast. He seemed not to know that the 
 door had opened and some one had entered, or rather perhaps 
 he thought it was only Schropfel, and he did not wish to take 
 any notice of him. 
 
 Eliza Wallner stood leaning against the wall, and gazed at 
 him a long time with a wondrous expression of love and grief ;
 
 ELIZA AND ULRICH. 235 
 
 for a moment she luid her hand on her hosom. as if to stifle 
 the cry which hei- lips were ah-eady ahout to utter ; tlien she 
 cast a beseeching ghmce toward heaven, and, as if strength- 
 ened by tliis mute invocation, slie stepped forward. 
 
 '• Captain Ulrich von Holienberg I " she said, in her sweet, 
 melodious voice. 
 
 He gave a start, dropped his hand from his face, and 
 jumped up. 
 
 " Eliza Wallner 1 " he said, breathlessly and in great con- 
 fusion. 
 
 She only nodded her head, and fixed her clear, piercing 
 eyes with a proud, reproachful expression on his face ; he 
 dropped his eyes befoi-e her gaze. On seeing this, Eliza 
 smiled, and, crossing the room with a rapid step, went to the 
 window. 
 
 " Come here, sir, and look at that. What do you see yon- 
 der ? " 
 
 Ulrich stepped to her and looked out. "I .see the nioun- 
 tahis and the summits of the glacier.s," he said ; "and in the 
 direction in which you are pointing your finger, I see also my 
 uncle's castle." 
 
 "Do you see also the balcony, Ulrich von Hohenberg?" 
 she asked, somewhat sarcastically. 
 
 "I do," he replied, almost timidly. 
 
 She looked at him with the })roiKl and lofty air of a queen. 
 
 " When we met last and spoke with each other, we stood 
 on yonder balcony," added Eliza. " Do you remember what 
 we said at the time, sir ? " 
 
 "Eliza," he murmured — 
 
 " You remember it no longer," she interrupted him, " but 
 I do. On yonder balcony you swore to me that you loved 
 me boundlessly ; and when I laughed at you, you invoked 
 heaven and earth to bear witness of your love. Now. sir, 
 heaven and earth gave you an opportunity to prove your ar- 
 dent love for Eliza Wallner. Did you profit by that opportu- 
 nity ? " 
 
 "No," he said, in a low voice ; "it is true, I acted harshly 
 and cruellj' toward you. I occasioned you bitter grief, I — " 
 
 "I do not complain," she exclaimed, proudly. " I do not
 
 23fi ANDREAS nOFER. 
 
 speak of myself, but only of you. You swore eternal love to 
 me at that time, but you did so as a mendacious Bavarian ; I 
 did not believe you, and knew full well that you had no 
 honest intentions toward me. For this reason I laughed at 
 you, and said the peasant-girl was no suitable match for you, 
 and rejected all your oaths and protestations of passionate 
 love." 
 
 "But afterwards, to punish me for venturing to speak of 
 love to you,'' he exclaimed, impetuoiisly, "you feigned to 
 have believed my protestations and oaths ; and although you 
 had previously laughed at me, you wished now to become my 
 wife." 
 
 " No," she said, with a fiery glance of disdain ; " no, after- 
 wards I only wished to save your life. You have utterly mis- 
 taken Eliza Wallner's character, Ulrich von Hohenberg. 
 You thought Lizzie Wallner would deem herself exceedingly 
 fortunate to become the wife of an aristocratic gentleman, 
 even though he took her only by compulsion : you thought 
 she would be content to leave the Tyrol by the side of the 
 nobleman who disdained her, and go to the large foreign city 
 of Munich, where the aristocracy would scorn and mock the 
 poor Tyrolese girl. No, sir, I tell you, you have utterly mis- 
 taken njy character. I attach no value whatever to your 
 aristocratic name, nor to the distinguished position of your 
 family ; when I marry, I shall choose a husband who loves 
 me with all his heart, and who does not wish to live without 
 me, and takes me of his own accord, and with the full en- 
 thusiasm of a noble heart. But he would have to remain in 
 the mountains and be a son of the Tyrol ; for my heart is at- 
 tached to the mountains, and never would I or could I leave 
 them to remove to a large city. You see. therefore, Uli-ich, 
 that a marriage with you would by no means appear to me a 
 very fortunate thing ; and, moreover, if you had allowed your- 
 self to be compelled to mai*ry me, had you not refused to do 
 so, I should have despised you all my life long as a miserable 
 coward. 1 thank you, therefore, for resistmg the men so 
 bravely, for I should have been sorry to be obliged to despise 
 you ; you are my dear Elza's cousin, and I myself have always 
 liked you so well."
 
 KLIZA AND ILRICH. 237 
 
 "Eliza,'' lie exclaimed, im])rtuously, "you are an augel of 
 •Toodness and lenity, and I stand before you filled with sliame 
 and grief. You say you always liked mc so well, and I treated 
 you with so much ingratitude and disdain ! Oh, let me press 
 this dear hand to my lips, let me thank you for all that you 
 have done for me I " 
 
 He tried to seize her hand, but she withdi'ew it from him 
 quickly. 
 
 " Captain von Hohenbei'g," she said, " we are no longer on 
 the balcony yonder ; nor is it necessary that you should kiss 
 my hand. That may be suitable when you have fair ladies 
 from the city before you, but not when you are speaking with 
 a Tyrolese girl. Besides, I did not tell you all this to obtain 
 praise and admiration from you, but to prevent you from tak- 
 ing me for a mean-spirited girl, respecting herself so little as 
 to try to get a husband in so dishonorable a manner. No, by 
 the Holy Virgin, I would rather die and be Iniricd under an 
 avalanche than act so meanly and disgracefully. But v.hen 
 the peasants were going to kill you, there was no other way 
 for me to save your life than that of saying that you were n)y 
 betrothed, and that was the only reason why I said so. How- 
 ever, I had no idea that the wedding was to take place to-day, 
 for my dear fathci" had concealed it from me, and wished to 
 surprise me, because he really believed that I loved 3-ou. If 1 
 had known beforehand what father had in view, I sliould have 
 devised some way of preventing him from carrying his plan 
 into effect. But I swear to you, I had no inkling of it. There- 
 fore, I beg your pardon, sir, for the harsh treatment you re- 
 ceived at their hands for my sake." 
 
 "Eliza," he said, mournfully, "your words rend my heart. 
 Oh, do not be so gentle and generous ! Be angry with me, 
 call me an infamous villain, who, in his blindness, did not 
 penetrate your magnanimity and heroic self-sacrifice ; do not 
 treat me with tliis charming nuldness which crushes me ! 
 You acted like an angel toward me, and T treated you like a 
 heartless barbarian." 
 
 "I forgive you with all my heart, and therefore you may 
 forgive your.self," she said, with a gentle smile. "But let us 
 speak no lonijei- of the past ; let us think only of the future.
 
 238 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 You heard what father said : ' To-morrow morning there will 
 be a wedding or an execution.' " 
 
 " Well, then, there will be a wedding to-morrow morning," 
 exclaimed Ulrich, casting an ardent glance on the young 
 girl ; " yes, there will be a wedding to-morrow morning. 
 Pray, Eliza, save my life a third time to-morrow ; become my 
 wife ! " 
 
 " I will save your life," she said, throwing back her head, 
 proudly ; " but fortunately it is unnecessary for me to become 
 your wife for that purpose. I have come here only to save 
 you. Sir, you must escape to-night." 
 
 " Escape," he .said, shrugging his shoulders ; "escape, when 
 Schropfel is guarding my door ? " 
 
 " Hush ! do not speak so loud, sir ; he might hear you, and 
 he must know nothing about it. Bend your head closer to 
 me and listen : Go to bed early this evening, but extinguish 
 your liglit beforehand, lest Schropfel should see any thing. 
 My mother told me Schropfel had bored holes in the door, 
 and was watching you all the time. Therefoi-e, go to bed 
 early, and leave your window open. When the church-clock 
 strikes two, listen for any noise, and hold yourself in readi- , 
 ness. That is all I have to say to you, and now good-by." 
 
 She nodded to him, and turned to the door. 
 
 " But I, Eliza— I have to tell you many things yet," said 
 Ulrich, detaining her. " Pray, stay yet awhile and listen to 
 me ! " 
 
 " No, sir, it is time for me to go ; my mother is waiting for 
 me," replied Eliza, withdrawing her hand from his. " Good- 
 by, and if you can pray, pray to God to protect you to- 
 night ! " 
 
 She opened the door hastily and stepped out, and smiled 
 at Schropfel, but the old servant looked at her gloomily. 
 
 " You stayed a long while with the Bavarian," he growled. 
 
 " And yet you did not eat your cake nor empty your glass 
 in the mean time," said Eliza, with a smile. " You looked 
 again through the hole in thedoor, did you not ? You saw, 
 then, Schropfel, that we stood together like a pair of sensible 
 lovers." 
 
 "I did not see any thing," exclaimed Schropfel, angrily,
 
 EF.IZA AND ULRICII. 239 
 
 " for you placed yourself close to the window, and my hole 
 does not enable nie to look around the corner ; nor did I hear 
 any thing, for you whispered as softly as though you were a 
 couple of sparrows which undei-sland each other when hilling 
 and cooing." 
 
 •' Fie, Schropfel 1 do not talk such lujnsense," cried Eliza, 
 blushing deeply. " Behave yourself, Schropfel, and I will 
 bring you another bottle of wine to-day, and beg father to let 
 you come down to supjier to-night, and pei-mit you to sleep in 
 your bedchauiber." 
 
 "I shall take good care to do no such thing," growled 
 Schropfel. " I am a sentinel here, and must not desert my 
 post." 
 
 " But you may take your sentry-box with you," said Eliza, 
 pointing to his settee. "When a soldier remains close to his 
 sentry-box, he does not desert his post. Well, good-by, 
 Schropfel ; the sentinel will be i-clieved to-night." 
 
 Eliza's words were fulfilled. Toward nightfall she in- 
 formed Schropfel that her father permitted him to take his 
 supper at the talkie down-stairs, and afterward go to bed in 
 his own chamber. 
 
 "Well, and who is to watch the prisoner in the mean 
 time ? " asked Schropfel. 
 
 " You yourself ! Look, you will lock the door and put the 
 key in your pocket. In addition, you may put that heavy box 
 yonder against the door ; then you will be sure that your pris- 
 oner cannot get out, for I think his chamber has no other out- 
 let." 
 
 "Yes, it has— the window ! " 
 
 "Do you think the Bavarian has wings and will fly out of 
 the window to-night ?" 
 
 "It is true ho cannot fly out, nor can he jump out, for he 
 would simply break his nock. But, nevertheless, I do not like 
 this arrangement at all. Something tells me that it will turn 
 out wrong. I shall, at least, unchain the watch-dog, who will 
 prevent the Bavarian from escaping through the window. 
 For the rest, I feel that all my limbs are stiff, and that I have 
 at length deserved some repose. As it is your father's will, I 
 will go down-stairs, take supper, and afterward go to bed in
 
 240 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 my chamber. If any thing happens, I shall wash my hands 
 of" it." 
 
 " Wash them as much as you please, Schropfel, but come 
 down to supper," cried Eliza, hastening down-stairs with the 
 agility of a bird. 
 
 Schropfel looked after her, shakiug his heud ; he then 
 locked the door, put the key in his pocket, and placed the 
 heavy iron-bound box against the door. 
 
 " And before going to bed 1 shall unchain Phylax," he 
 said, as if to console himself, while he was going slowly and 
 stiffly down-stairs. 
 
 Schropfel kept his word. Weary and exhausted as he was, 
 he waited until all the inmates of the house had gone to bed, 
 and until all noise had died away. He then went into the 
 yard and unchained the formidable and ill-humored watch- 
 dog. Phylax howled and trembled with joy and delight at 
 being released ; but Schropfel seized his ear and pointed his 
 other hand at the prisoner s window, which was brightly il- 
 luminated by the moon. 
 
 " Watch that window w^ell, Phylax," he said, " watch it 
 well ; and if you see anything suspicious, call me at once. I 
 shall not sleep so fast as not to hear your barking. Watch it 
 well, Phylax." 
 
 The dog looked up to the window as if he had understood 
 the order ; he then fixed his clear, lustrous eyes on Schropfel, 
 and uttered a threatening growl. 
 
 " Very well," said Schropfel, " you have understood me. 
 You will watch him, and I may go to bed." 
 
 He dropped the ear of the dog, who thereupon bounded 
 wildly through the yard, while Schropfel limped back into 
 the house. He was heard slowly ascending the staircase and 
 opening the creaking door of his bed-chamber, and then all 
 became silent. 
 
 Night spread its pall over the weary, the sleepers, and the 
 weeping ; the moon -stood with silvery lustre high in the 
 heavens, and illuminated the snow-clad summits of the moun- 
 tains rising in the rear of the outlmildings in Wallner's yard. 
 Hour after hour passed by, and all remained silent ; not a 
 sound broke the holy stillness of night.
 
 ELIZA AND ULRICH. 241 
 
 Hour after hour passed by ; nothing stirred in the yard ; 
 tlie dog sat, as if he had really understood Schropfol's words, 
 in the middle of the yard, and stared steadfastly at the pris- 
 oner's window. Phylax watched, as Sclu-opfel had gone to 
 bed ; Phylax watched, and did not avert his eyes from the 
 window on which his whole attention seemed to be con- 
 centrated, for he did not stir, he did not even disturb the 
 flies buzzing round his ears ; he v/as all attention and vigi- 
 lance. All at once something occurred that had never hap- 
 pened to him during his nocturnal service ; a wondrous, apjje- 
 tizing scent was wafted to him on the wings of the night- 
 breeze. Phylax averted his eyes for a moment from the win- 
 dow and glanced searchingly round the yard. Nothing stirred 
 in it, but this wonderful scent of a roast sausage still impreg- 
 nated the air, and seemed to grow even stronger and more 
 tempting ; for Phylax pricked up his ears, raised his nose, 
 snuffing eagerly to inhale the scent, and rose from the ground. 
 He glanced again round the yard, and then advanced a few 
 steps toward the window yonder on the side of the house. 
 This window was open, and the keen nose of the dog told liira 
 that the appetizing scent had come from it. All at once, how- 
 ever, Phylax stood still, as if remembering his master's orders, 
 and looked again toward the prisoner's window. 
 
 At this moment a low voice called him : " Phylax ! come 
 here, Phylax ! " 
 
 The dog hesitated no longer ; he had recognized the voice 
 of his friend and playmate, Eliza Wallner. "With two tre- 
 mendous bounds he was at the window, and. raising himself 
 up, laid his forepaws on the window-sill, and stretched out his 
 head, waiting longingly for the appetizing sausage. 
 
 "Come, Phylax, come," whispered Eliza ; and she stepi^ed 
 back with the sausage into the interior of the room. "Come 
 to me, Phylax, come to me." 
 
 The temptation was too strong. Phylax hesitated no 
 longer ; he moved back a step, and leaped through the win- 
 dow into the room. 
 
 The window was closed behind hini inimediatcly. and (he 
 four-footed custodian of the prisoner was now a pi-isoner him- 
 self.
 
 242 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 The yard was empty now. Scliropfel slept soundly in his 
 hed-chamber up-stairs, and Phylax was revelling in epicurean 
 joys in the larder. 
 
 The yard was empty now, but not long, for the door of the 
 house opened noiselessly, and a human form stepped out. 
 For a moment it stood still near the door, and two voices were 
 heard whispering in a low tone. 
 
 " Good-by, dearest mother," said one voice. " It is time 
 now, I must go." 
 
 " God and the Holy Virgin will protect you, dear Lizzie," 
 said the other voice : " for that wliich you are going to do is 
 right and noble ; and father himself will see before long that 
 you did right. Go, Lizzie, and return safely." 
 
 " I shall be back at eight in the morning," whispered Lizzie. 
 "Until then, you must say nothing about it, dear mother, 
 but tell father I wished to be alone in my chamber till the 
 wedding-hour. Good-by until then." 
 
 She imprinted a kiss on her mother's lips, and hastened 
 into the yard. The door was closed softly. At this moment 
 the church-clock struck two. 
 
 Eliza glided noiselessly across the yard toward the large 
 ladder leaning against the stable. She lifted it up with vig- 
 orous hands, carried it across the yard, and placed it against 
 the dwelling-house, so that its top reached the open window 
 of the prisoner. She examined if the ladder stood firm, laid a 
 few stones at its foot, to prevent it from sliding, and then as- 
 cended it with cat like agility, carrying a small bundle on her 
 arm, v.hilc she had put down another in the yard. 
 
 Now she had reached the captain's window. 
 
 " Are you awake, sir ? " she asked, in a low voice. 
 
 "I am, Eliza," whispered a voice inside. "I have been 
 awake and waiting for you an horn*." 
 
 "Take this, sir," she said, handing the bundle into the 
 window. " It is a suit of clothes which you nmst put on. It 
 is my father's holiday dress, for you must not wear tlie Bava- 
 rian uniform now. You must put up for a few days with 
 being disguised as a Tyrolese. Put it on quickly, and then 
 wrap up your uniform in the blanket in which I brought the 
 suit of clothes. But make haste, and when you are i^eady,
 
 ELIZA AND ULRICH. 243 
 
 descend the ladder, and come down into the yard, where I 
 shall await you. Bring the package witli the uniform with 
 you, and, above all things, make haste." 
 
 She gave the captain no time for reply, but glided rapidly 
 and noiselessly down the ladder. On arriving in the yard, 
 she took the haversack which she had left there, hung it over 
 her shoulder, and took up the rifle. Then she seated hei-self 
 quietly on a large log close to the ladder, and looked up to 
 the moon, which illuminated her face and her whole form. 
 Her face wore a wondei-fuUy calm expression ; only round 
 her crimson lips quivered at times something like hidden 
 grief, and a tear glistened in her large, dark eyes. But when 
 this tear roiled down her cheek slowly, Eliza shook her head 
 indignantly, and brushed it away with her hand. 
 
 "Foolish gii'l ! ■' she murmured, ''how can you weep now ? 
 You must bravely take your heart in your hands now, and 
 hold it so firmly that it can neither cry nor tremble. You 
 must be proud and stilf, and never forget what is due to your 
 lionor, and what you owe to your friend Elza. Therefore, do 
 not weep, but be a brave Tyrolese girl. To-morrow night you 
 may weep in your chamber, for nobody will see you there ; 
 but not to-night — no, no, not to-night ! " 
 
 She shook her head violently, forced herself to smile, and 
 gazed ploa.santly up to the moon. ''God bless thee, golden, 
 rapid wanderer!" she said. ''Thou shalt accompany us to- 
 night, and pray, dear moon, send all clouds home, and remain 
 as bright and clear as now ; for our route is a dangerous one, 
 and if thou dost not help us, we may easily fall into an abyss, 
 and — Hush, hush, he is coming." 
 
 She rose and looked up to the window, whence the captain 
 emerged at this moment, and appeat'ed on the ladder. 
 
 "Throw down your package, sir— I will catch it," whis- 
 pered Eliza. 
 
 "Thank you. I can carry it myself," said Uli'ich, in a low- 
 voice ; and he was soon at the foot of the ladder, and standing 
 in the yard close to Eliza. 
 
 "Now come," she said; "tread lightly, and do not speak, 
 but go softly behind me." 
 
 She left him no time for ro])ly. but walked across, opciicd
 
 24:4 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 the door of the small shed, which was ajar, went quickly 
 through it, and passed through the opposite door into the 
 orchard lying behind it. She stood still in front of the door 
 of the shed, and when Ulrich had emerged from it, she locked 
 it, and put the key into her pocket. 
 
 '' Now let us walk as fast as possible, sir," she whispered. 
 "We must walk for three hours. Keep your eyes on me, and 
 follow me wherever I go.'' 
 
 " I will follow you, Eliza," said the captain, earnestly, 
 " wherever you go. You see I have implicit confidence in 
 you, for I do not even ask whither you intend to conduct me, 
 or what you wish to do with me. I place my life and my 
 future in your hands, and shall do whatever you want me to." 
 
 " It will be the best for you," she said, nodding her head 
 slightly. ''Now come." 
 
 And with the quick, firm step peculiar to the Tyrolese, she 
 advanced through the garden, out of the gate, and into the 
 narrow path leading through the valley and up to the moun- 
 tains rising on the opposite side. The moon still shone 
 brightly upon the valley, and illuminated the two forms rap- 
 idly walking behind each other, casting their long, dark 
 shadows on the side of the road. 
 
 Ulrich von Hohenberg saw in the moonlight that Eliza 
 was carrying the haversack and rifl^e ; he therefore advanced 
 quickly until he stood by her side, and laid his hand on her 
 arm. 
 
 " Eliza," he said, vehemently, " pray let me carry the rifle 
 and the haversack ; let me take your burden upon myself." 
 
 She looked at him with a singular expression. " Every one 
 has to carry his own burden," she said ; "you have yours, and 
 I have mine." 
 
 " Bvit what are the arms for, Eliza ? You have armed your- 
 self against me?" 
 
 She shrugged her shoulders carelessly. " Were I afraid of 
 you, I would not allow you to walk behind me. But grant 
 me one request, will you ? " 
 
 " Speak, Eliza, and whatever it may be, I will comply with 
 it." 
 
 " Well, then, sir, be so kind as not to speak with me.
 
 ELIZA AND ULRK'n. 245 
 
 Speaking: exhausts us and makes us absent-minded. We 
 have a lonj? march before us, and must save our breath, and 
 devote our whole attention to the route ; for it will lead us 
 over the narrow i)aths of the chamois-hunters, and a single 
 false step may hurl us into an abyss. Therefore, sir, pray do 
 not address me until I speak to you." 
 
 " I will obey," said Ulrich, humbly. " Lead the way ; I 
 will follow." 
 
 She nodded to him, and advanced through the narrow 
 valley. The road soon became steeper, and led tliem past 
 precipices, from one rock to another, all of which were spanned 
 by narrow planks, under which unfathomable chasms yawned. 
 Then it led thx-ough thickets of shrubbery and pine-forests, or 
 down precipitous slopes, and over small fragments of rock, 
 which gave way at every step, and rolled into the depth. 
 Eliza suddenly stood still and broke the silence for the first 
 time. 
 
 " You must not go behind me here, sir," she said, " for 
 the loose stones would not permit you to advance. Come 
 to me, and give me your hand. We must walk side by 
 side." 
 
 He was immediately by her side, and took her hand. 
 " May I speak now, Eliza ? " he asked. 
 
 " No," she said, imperatively, " we have no time for chat- 
 ting. Forward ! " 
 
 And they continued ascending the mountain. The valley, 
 and even the mountain-forost, lay already deep under them. 
 Only scattered and stunted trees stood here and there, and 
 finally even these disappeared entirely. The moon commenced 
 paling in the heavens, and yet it did not become darker, for 
 the gray twilight was lit uj) at times with a purple lustre ; the 
 small, scudding clouds began to turn red ; the pale, foggy 
 mountaiii-iieaks colored, and a strange whispering passed 
 through the air. 
 
 Now they had reached the summit, and the peak on which 
 they were standing aifordcd them a strikingly beautiful view. 
 
 " This is the place where we may rest," said Eliza, drawing 
 a deep breath. 
 
 " And may 1 speak now, Eliza ? " asked Ulrich.
 
 246 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 " No," she said ; " do you not see that God is speaking 
 now ? " 
 
 And she pointed to the part of the horizon which, radiant 
 in its crimson histre, lay at the end of the lovely valley open- 
 ing before them. Gazing at it, Eliza sank noiselessly down 
 on the fragment of a rock, and clasping her hands on her 
 knees, she contemplated the glorious spectacle by which God 
 speaks to man every morning. 
 
 The valley was still wrapped in the gloom of tvnlight, but 
 behind the flat and gently-rounded mountains yonder rose 
 the flaming glow of radiant crimson, and sent a few purple 
 clouds as heralds of the approaching majesty into the azui'e 
 sky. A rosy hue covered the glaciers of the Venediger and 
 Gross-Glockner, which looked down in proud majesty on the 
 mountains bordering the valley, and which had hitherto 
 wrapped their summits in veils of glistening silver. On be- 
 holding the divine majesty of the sun, they dropped their 
 veils, their summits crimsoned and loomed up to the sky in 
 dazzling splendor. The rays gilding them shed a lustre on 
 the lower wooded mountains, greeted the spires of the churches 
 rising amidst the villages, dissipated the mist which had hither- 
 to filled the valley, and converted the waters of the foaming 
 Isel, meandering through the valley, into liquid gold. The 
 gloom entirely disappeared, and the whole landscape was radi- 
 ant in its morning beauty. God had willed that there should 
 be light, and the earth lay smiling and surpassingly beautiful 
 under the first glowing rays of the sun. 
 
 Eliza gazed with a rapt smile upon the sublime scene ; the 
 clouds had disappeared from her brow also, and the gloom 
 had vanished from her eyes. 
 
 " Oh, how beautiful is the world ! how beautiful is my 
 dear Tyrol I " she exclaimed, fervently. " I greet you, beloved 
 mountains guarding our frontiers ! I greet you, Gross-Glock- 
 ner and Venediger ! Yes, gaze upon the Tyrol, for now you 
 may rejoice over it ! The enemy is no longer in the country, 
 and I am bringing you the last Bavarian who is still here, 
 that you may send him across the border. Sir," she added, 
 turning her face, illuminated by the sun, slowly to the young 
 man, who had not contemplated the sun, but only her face.
 
 ELIZA AND ULRICH. 247 
 
 "we must part here. I ouly intended to conduct you hitlier, 
 to the Kaiser Tliorl. You will now descend to the village of 
 Kals, which you see in the valley yonder. Look, hack there, 
 its red i-oofs are rising out of the green shriihbery. You will 
 go to the inn there, and give this letter to Lebrecht Panzl, the 
 innkeeper. He is my mother's brother, and she writes him 
 in this letter to give you a reliable guide, who is to conduct 
 you over the Pruschler Thorl and the Katzeustein to Heili- 
 genblut. You will reach Heiligenblut in seven hours. Its 
 inhabitants speak Bavarian German ; your Bavarian dialect 
 will not be suspicious to them, and you will easily find there 
 a guide to conduct you wherever you wish to go. You will 
 find some food for to-day in the haversack here, and also 
 some money, and powder and lead. Take it, sir ; here is the 
 rifle, and here the haversack. Unless you have them with 
 you, no one will take you for a genuine Tyrolese. There. 
 Put your clothes into the sack, you can carry them better 
 that way ; hang the rifle round your shoulder, and then 
 adieu ! " 
 
 "And you think, Eliza, I can accept all this kindness and 
 magnanimity '< " cried Ulricli, vehemently; "' you think I can 
 accept at your hands food, money — nay, more, my life, my 
 honor, and leave you with a cold ' thank you,' after denying 
 and insulting you in the despair of my wounded military 
 honor? No, Eliza, you have mistaken my character. I will 
 not go, I will not leave you. I followed yovi here to see how 
 far your magnanimity and noble self-abnegation would go ; 
 but now I shall return with you to Windisch-Matrey. Your 
 father invited to the wedding the men who wished to kill me 
 yesterday ; they will await us at the church at nine this morn- 
 ing, and they shall not wait in vain. Cotne, Eliza, let us re- 
 turn to Wi7idisch-Matrey; for all your kindness and magna- 
 nimity I shall give you the only thing I have to give, my 
 name. You will, you shall become my wife I Come, your 
 father and your friends await us at the church ; I will con- 
 duct you thither and to the altar." 
 
 " I will not do it," she exclaimed proudly : " for, as sure as 
 there is a God in heaven, I should say ' no ' before the altar, 
 and reject 3' our hand. "
 
 248 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 " Well, then, do that," he said, gently ; " I have deserved 
 this humiliation ; I owe yon an opportunity to wreak your 
 vengeance on me." / 
 
 " I do not want to avenge myself. I have sworn to myself 
 and to my dear Elza to save you, and I will. Go, sir ; 
 time is fleeting, and you have a march of sev^en hours before 
 you." 
 
 " No, I will not go," cried Ulrich, vehemently; "I cannot 
 go, for I love you, Eliza. Oh, I have loved you a long while, 
 but my haughty heart revolted at this love, and would not 
 yield to it ; and yet I was deeply, passionately enamoured of 
 you. But my heart did not know itself, it believed at last 
 that it might hate you, when all at once your generosity, len- 
 ity, and magnanimity dissipated all mists concealing my heart 
 from my eyes, and I perceived how passionately I loved you. 
 Oh, Eliza, beloved girl, do not turn from me ! Give me your 
 hand ; let us go home ; accept my hand, become my wife ! 
 Love beseeches of you now what pride refused to you befoi*e : 
 accept my hand, my name ! Let us descend into the valley, 
 go to the church, and be married." 
 
 She shook her head slowly. " I have already told you," 
 she said, " that 1 should say ' no ' before the altar. We do 
 not belong together. You are a nobleman, and I, as you 
 have often called me in your anger, am a peasant girl ; you 
 are a Bavarian, and I, thank God, am again an Austrian. We 
 do not belong together, and I believe it would not behoove you 
 to appear with me now before the altar and marry me. For 
 every one would think you took me only to save your life, 
 and your honor would be lost, not only in Bavaria, but also 
 here among us. The brave men would despise you, and con- 
 tempt — I felt it when you looked at me so disdainfully yester- 
 day — is worse than death. Go, therefore, my dear sir ; your 
 honor requires it." 
 
 '' Well, then, you are right ; I will go. I see that I must 
 not apply for your hand at this juncture. But I shall return 
 so .soon as peace is restored to the country, and when all these 
 troubles are over. Promise me, Eliza, that you will wait for 
 me and not forget me. For I swear to you, I shall return and 
 marry you, in spite of the whole world."
 
 ELIZA AND ULKICll. 249 
 
 " You will not," she said, shaking lier liead, " for I shall 
 not take you. I tlo not love you." 
 
 " Eliza," he cried, seizint^- her hand impetuously, and gazing 
 deep into her eyes, "you are just as much mistaken as I was 
 myself. I loved you a long time without knowing it, and 
 thus, sweet one, you love me too ! " 
 
 " No," she exclaimed, vehemently, and turning very pale, 
 " no, T do not love you ! " 
 
 " Yes, you do," lie said, tenderly. " I felt it, and knew^ it 
 by the tone in which, stepping before me, and shielding me 
 with your body, you exclaimed yesterday, ' If you shoot him, 
 you sliall kill me too.' Pity and compassion do not speak 
 thus ; only love has such tones of anguish, desi)air. and hero- 
 ism. I felt it at that moment, and the blissful delight which 
 tilled my heart on recognizing it, made meat length conscious 
 of my own love. I confessed to myself that I never should 
 be able to love any other woman on earth, and never would 
 marry any other woman than you. Oh, Eliza, let us no 
 longer resist the happiness that is in store for us. Let the 
 whole past be buried behind us. Let the future be ours, and 
 with it love and happiness ! " 
 
 She shook her head slowly. " You have read badly in my 
 heart," she said ; " you do not understand the letters written 
 in it, and what you spell fnmi it is false. I do not love j-ou, 
 and would never consent to become your wife. Let us drop 
 the subject. We two can never be husband and wife, but we 
 may remember each other as good friends. And so. sir, I will 
 always remember you, and shall be glad to hear that you are 
 well and happy. But let us say no more about it, and go. 
 You have a march of seven hours before you ; I must be at 
 home again by eight o'clock, in order not to keep the men 
 waiting. Let us part, therefore." 
 
 '' Well, then." sighed Ulrich, " it is your will, and we must 
 part, but not forever. I swear, by God Almighty and my 
 love, I shall return when the war is over, and when the quar- 
 rels of the nations are settled. I shall return to ask j'ou if 
 you will be mine, my beloved wife, and if you will at last 
 crown my love with happiness. Hush, do not contradict me, 
 and do not tell me again that you do not love me. I hope in 
 17
 
 250 ANDREAS nOFER. 
 
 the futiire, and we shall see whether it will hring me happi- 
 ness or doom me to despair. Farewell, then, Eliza ; and if 
 you will yet give to the poor wanderer, to whom you have 
 given life, food, money, and clothes, a priceless treasure, a tal- 
 isman that will shield him from all temptations of the world, 
 then give me a kiss ! " 
 
 " No, sir ; an honest Tyrolese girl never kisses any man 
 but the one whose wife she is to he. You see, therefore, that 
 I cannot give you a kiss. Go, sir. But have you no commis- 
 sions to give me for your uncle and my dear Elza ? " 
 
 " Greet them both ; tell them that I love you, Eliza, and 
 that you rejected my proposals." 
 
 " That does not concern anybody, and only we two and the 
 good God shall know it, but no one else. But, sir, give me a 
 souvenir for Elza ; it will gladden her heart." 
 
 "I have nothing to give her," he said, shrugging his 
 shoulders. 
 
 She pointed to the crimson Alpine roses blooming at their 
 feet amidst the grass and moss. 
 
 " Gather some of these flowers, and give them to me," she 
 said ; " 1 will take them to Elza, and tell her that you gathered 
 the flowers for her." 
 
 He knelt down, gathered a handful of Alpine roses, and 
 tied them together with a few blades of grass. " I would," he 
 said, still kneeling in the grass, " they were myrtles that I 
 was gathering for you, Eliza, for yovi. my affianced bride, and 
 that you would accept them at my hands as the sacred gift of 
 love. There, take the bouquet for Elza, and give it to her 
 with my greetings." 
 
 She stretched out her hand to take it ; but Uirich, instead 
 of giving it to her. i)ressed the bouquet to his lips, and im- 
 printed an ardent kiss on the flowers ; then only did he hand 
 it to Eliza. — " Now, Eliza," he said, " take it. You refused me 
 a kiss, but you will carry my glowing kiss home with you, 
 and with it also my heart. I shall come back one day to de- 
 mand of you your heart and my kiss. Farewell ! It is your 
 will, and so I must go. I do not say, forget me not ; but I 
 shall return, and a^k you then : ' Have you forgotten me ? 
 Will vou l)ecomc mv wife ?' Until then, farewell I "
 
 ELIZA AM) rr-RiCH. 251 
 
 He g^zed at her with a, lono^ look of love and tenderness ; 
 she avoided mcctinj;: liis look, and when he saw this, a smile, 
 radiant as sunshine and bliss, illuminated his features. 
 
 " Go, sir," she said, in a low voice, averting her face. 
 
 " T am going, Eliza," he exclaimed. " Farewell ! " 
 
 He seized her luind impolaousl3^ imprinted on it a burning 
 kiss befoi-e she was able to prevent him, dropped it, and turned 
 to descend the slope with a slow stei?. 
 
 Eliza stood motionless, and as if fascinated ; she gazed after 
 him, and followed with an absorbed look his tall, noble form, 
 descending the mountain, surrounded by a halo of sunshine. 
 
 All at once Ulrich stood still and turned to her. *' Eliza," 
 he shouted, '" did you call me ? Shall I return to you ? " 
 
 She shook her head and made a violent gesture indicating 
 that he should not return, but said nothing ; the words choked 
 in lier breast. 
 
 He waved his hand to her, turned again, and continued de- 
 scending the slope. 
 
 Eliza looked after him ; her face turned paler and paler, 
 and her lips quivered more painfully. Once they opened as 
 if to call him back with a cry of anguish and love ; but Eliza, 
 pressing her hand violently upon her movith, forced the cry 
 back into her heart, and gazed down on Ulrich's receding 
 form. 
 
 Already he had descended half the slope ; now he reached 
 the edge of the forest, and alas ! dlsappeai-ed in the thicket, 
 
 Eliza, uttering a loud cry, knelt down, and tears, her long- 
 restrained, scalding tears, streamed like rivei's down her 
 cheeks. She lifted her arms, her clasped hands, to heaven, 
 and murnuired with quivering lips : " Protect him, my God, 
 for Thou knowest how intensely I love him ! " 
 
 She remained a long time on her knees, weeping, praying, 
 struggling with her grief and her love. But then all at once 
 she sprang to lier feet, brushed the teai"S from her eyes, and 
 drew a deep breath. 
 
 '' I must and will no longer weep," she said to herself in a 
 loud, imperative voice. " Otherwise they would see that I 
 had been weeping, and no one must know that. I must de- 
 scend in order to be at home in time, and then I will tell
 
 252 ANDREAH HOFER. 
 
 father and the other men *phat Ulrich never was my betrothed, 
 and that I said so only to save his life. They will forgive me 
 for helping him to escape when I tell them that I never loved 
 him nor would have taken him, because he is a Bavarian, but 
 that I saved him because he is a near relative of my dear Elza. 
 And after telling and explaining all this to the men, I shall 
 go to Elza, give her the flowers, and tell her that Ulrich sent 
 them to her, and that his last word was a love-greeting for 
 her. God, forgive me this falsehood I But Elza loves him, 
 and it will gladden her heart. She will preserve this bouquet 
 to her wedding-day, and she will not notice that I kept one 
 flower from it for myself. It is the flower which he kissed ; 
 it shall be mine. I suppose, good God, that I may take it, and 
 that it is no theft for me to do so ? " 
 
 She looked up to heaven v.ith a beseeching glance ; then 
 she softly drew one of the flowers from the bouquet, pressed it 
 to her lips, and concealed it in her bosom. 
 
 " I will preserve this flower while I live," she exclaimed. 
 " God strengthened my heart so that I was able to reject him ; 
 but I shall love him forever, find this flower is my wedding- 
 bouquet. I shall never wear another I " 
 
 She extended her arms in the direction where Ulrich had 
 disappeared. "Farewell!" she cried. "I greet you a thou- 
 sand times, and my heart goes with you ! " 
 
 Then she turned and hastily descended the path which she 
 had ascended with Ulrich von Hohenberg. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 THE TRIUMPH OF DEATH. 
 
 It was a wondrously beautiful morning in May ; the sun 
 shone clear and bright ; the birds sang in all the shrubs and 
 trees, and the gay spring flowers exhaled their fragrant odors 
 in all the gardens. Nature had donned its holiday attire, and 
 yet humanity was in mourning ; the sun shone clear and 
 bright, and yet the eyes of men were sombre and lustreless,
 
 THE Tiai'Mril OV DKATII. 253 
 
 and instead of rejoicing over tlic fresh verdure and the blos- 
 soms of spring, they grieved, and their hearts were frozen 
 with care and pain. 
 
 For the Emperor Napoleon liad raised his ])r()ud hand again 
 against Germany ; he had defeated the xVustrians at Ratisl)on 
 and Landshut, and made liis triumphant entrance into Vienna 
 on the 12th of May, 1809. 
 
 For the second time the imperial family, fleeing from the 
 victorious Napoleon, had been compelled to leave the capital ; 
 for the second time the foreign emperor occupied the ]mlace 
 of Schonbrunn, and Vienna had to bow again to the will of 
 the all-powerful conqueror. The Emperor Francis had es- 
 caped with his wife and children to Hungary, and Vienna, 
 whose inhabitants had at first sworn enthusiastically to defend 
 their city to the last man, and lay it in ashes rather than sur- 
 render it to the French, had nevertheless opened its gates al- 
 ready on the 12th of May to the Emperor Napoleon and his 
 army. It had to bow to stern necessity, for during the pre- 
 vious night the Archduke Maximilian, with the weak forces 
 with which he had been ordered to defend Vienna, had evacu- 
 ated the city, had Inirned the great bridge of Thabor to pre- 
 vent Napoleon from pursuing him, and had succeeded in es- 
 caping, leaving it to the Viennese to make terms with the 
 conqueror and invoke his clemency and generosity. They 
 had thus been obliged to conceal their rage and exasperation 
 in their hearts, and surrendei- to the tender mercies of the 
 French emperor ; they had o])ened their gates to the enemy, 
 but not their hearts. Their hearts were filled with boundless 
 rage and shame, which brought wild imprecations to the lips 
 of the men, and tears to the eyes of the women. 
 
 Joseph Haydn, the silver-haired octogenarian, had still the 
 heart of a fiorv man in his bosom, and his trembling lips 
 cursed the conqueror, the relentless foe of Austria, and called^ 
 down the wrath of Heaven on the Fi'ench emi)eror, who al- 
 ways spoke of peace and conciliation, and always stirred up 
 quarrels and enmities. The latest reverses of Austria had pro- 
 duced a most painful impression upon the aged )Ui.i(.stro, and 
 the ravishing joy whicli liad ilhiminated Tosoph Haydn's face 
 at the pevfornianco of "The Creation," had long since disap-
 
 254 y ANDREAS IIOFER. 
 
 peared from his careworn and mournful countenance. His 
 eyes were gloomy and dim, and often veiled with tears ; and 
 when he played his imperial hymn, as he did every moj-uing, 
 he could not sing to it, for tears choked his voice, and the 
 words, so full of confidence and triumphant hope, seemed to 
 him a bitter mockery. 
 
 He led nov.' a very quiet and lonely life at his small house 
 in the Mariahilf suburb, and he did not even leave it, as he 
 had formerly always done, on Sundays in order to go to mass. 
 The sight of the French uniforms wounded his heart, and 
 he grieved on seeing his beloved Viennese oppressed and hu- 
 miliated. 
 
 " God is every where," said Haydn to his faithful sei'vant 
 Coni-ad, " and He will hear my prayer even though I should 
 utter it in my quiet closet, and not at church. But to-day, 
 my friend, I will pray to God in the open air. See how glori- 
 ously the sun shines, and how blue the sky is I To-day is 
 Sunday. Let us, therefore, put on our Sunday clothes. Con- 
 rad, give me the fine ring which the great King of Prussia 
 presented to me, and then come to hear mass in my little 
 garden. " 
 
 Conrad fetched quickly the Suiiday clothes of his master ; 
 he helped him to put on the silken and silver-embroidered 
 coat, and put the large diamond ring, which Frederick the 
 Great had one day sent to the great master of harmony, on 
 his finger. Then he handed him his hat and his strong cane, 
 which was adorned with a golden cross-piece, that the totter- 
 ing octogenarian might lean on it. Joseph Haydn now left 
 the room slowly, his right hand leaning on his cane, his left 
 arm resting on the shoulder of his servant. Behind him 
 walked with a grave step the old cat, an heirloom from 
 Haydn's lamented wife, and hence highly prized and hon- 
 ored by the aged maestro. Purring softly, now raising 
 its beautiful long tail, now rolling it up, the cat followed close 
 in the footsteps of its master, through the hall and across the 
 yard to the small garden. 
 
 " How beautiful it is here ! " said Haydn, standing still in 
 the door of the garden, and slowly looking around at the 
 flowers and shrubbeiy, the humming bees and flitting butter-
 
 TIIK TKIlMril OF DKATH. 255 
 
 flies. ''Oh, liow gloriously beautiful is God's creation, and 
 how radiant — " 
 
 "How radiant is nature," interrupted Conrad; "how 
 brilliantly the sun shines, and how splendid the lawn looks ! " 
 
 " You are a fool, old Conrad, to repeat these words from 
 mij • Creation,' " said Haydn, with a gentle smile. " I was not 
 thinking of my ' Creation ' at this moment, but of God's crea- 
 tion. And He certainly knew more about the music of the 
 creation than I did, and — just listen how the nightingale 
 sings in the elder-bush yonder ! It is an air such as is to be 
 found only in God's Creation, and, as Joseph Haydn, with all 
 his talents and enthusiasm, never was able to compose. Oh, 
 how sweetly this prima donna assoluta of the good God sings, 
 and what divine melodies, modulations, and harmonies she 
 warbles forth, and^But what is that ? '' 
 
 '' That is the parrot singing an air from Joseph Haydn's 
 ' Creation,' '' exclaimed Conrad, bursting into triumphant 
 laughter. '' And just li.sten, doctor, the ^)r?'wa donna assohita 
 of the good God has become entirely silent, and li.stens with 
 delight to the divine melodies, modulations, and harmonies of 
 my dear master Joseph Haydn." 
 
 " You are a fool, Conrad, despite your seventy years," said 
 Haydn, "to call old Paperl my prima donna assoluta, and 
 compare him ^^ ith the nightingale. But tell me, for God's 
 sake, where did the bird hear that melody ? Why. Paperl 
 whistles the great base-air from ' The Creation ' as though he 
 were the first singer. Where did he learn it ? " 
 
 "I taught him the melody, doctor," said Conrad, proudly ; 
 " I gave him lessons for three months, and he took pains to 
 learn the melody, for he knew full well that we two were pre- 
 paring a little surprise and joy for our dear master, the great 
 Joseph Haj'dn.'' 
 
 " And that is the reason why I have not seen Paperl for so 
 long," said Haydn, nodding his head gently. " I did not wish 
 to inquire after him, for I was afraid the answer would be 
 that the bird was dead and had gone home to my dear old 
 wife."' 
 
 " Well. I am sure Paperl would never go to her,'' said Con- 
 rad, laughing; "the two could never get along with each
 
 256 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 other, and were always quarrelling. Whenever Paperl could 
 catch one of your wife's fingers, he hit it with his thick beak, 
 and she hated the bird cordially for it, and would have pre- 
 ferred sending him to the grave than descending into it her- 
 self. But Paperl did not die, and you need not be anxious on 
 his account, doctor. Such parrots live a thousand years. 
 Therefore, I locked him up in my chamber for three months, 
 and taught him the beautiful air, that the bird might whistle 
 it to mankind a thousand years hence, and I'emind all of the 
 great composer, Joseph Haydn." 
 
 " Ah, my dear old Conrad," sighed Haydn, sinking into tbe 
 easy -chair which Conrad had placed for him under the fra- 
 grant elder-bush, " a thousand years hence no one will know 
 any thing about us, and we shall be nothing but dust returned 
 t ) dust. But God will remain, and His sun will shine a thou- 
 sand years hence as gloriously as it does to-day ; and His 
 nightingales will sing the same wonderful melodies from His 
 creation long after my ' Creation ' has been forgotten." 
 
 He paused, and clasping liis hands devoutly, lifted his eyes 
 to heaven. By his side, on the high pole, its right leg fastened 
 to it with a small silver chain, the parrot sat, and fixed its 
 piercing, sagacious eyes upon him ; the cat lay at Haydn's 
 feet, and gazed with philosophical equanimity at the flies 
 which were buzzing from flower to flower, and pricked up its 
 ears attentively whenever a small bird rustled in the shrub- 
 bery, or skipped merrily from branch to branch in the fra- 
 grant walnut tree. Beside the easy-chair stood Conrad, the old 
 servant, his faithful, honest face turned toward his master 
 with an expression of ijifinite tenderness, and quite absorbed 
 in contemplating this mild, smiling, and calm octogenarian, 
 whose eyes were looking around sloAvly, and seemingly greet- 
 ing God and Nature. In the distance bells were ringing and 
 calling devout worshipers to divine service ; their notes re- 
 sounded tremulously through the air like a solemn accompani- 
 ment to the voices of Nature. 
 
 "Oh, how beautiful, how beautiful !" murmured Haydn. 
 " Why can I not exhale with this sigh of joy my old life, 
 which is no longer good for an\" thing ? Why can I not die 
 with this prayer of gratitude toward God on my lips, and waft
 
 THE TRIUMPH OF DflATH. 257 
 
 my soul up (o heaven, as that ))ir(l yonder is at this moment 
 soaring' toward the sun I " 
 
 "Oh, sir, wliy do you talk ah-oady of dying?" cried 
 Conrad, anxiously; ''you must live yet a long while, a 
 joy to mankind, and honored and esteemed by the whole 
 world." 
 
 "And a burden to myself,'' sighed Haydn. "I am ex- 
 hausted, Conrad ; T have no longer strength enough to live. 
 This unfortunate war cruslied to the ground and broke my 
 poor heart.* Wlien Napoleon made his .second entrance into 
 Vienna, and our good Emperor Francis had to escape again 
 from the capital, I felt as though my heart were rent asunder, 
 and this rent will never heal again. The misfortunes of my 
 fatherland will cause me to bleed to death I Ah, how dread- 
 ful it is that Austria and my emperor were humiliated so pro- 
 foundly, and that they had to bow to the Emperor of the 
 French ! I cannot comprehend why the Lord permits it, and 
 why He does not hurl down His thunderbolts upon the head 
 of this liypocritical French emperor, who throws the firebrand 
 of war into all parts of Europe, who always has pharisaical 
 words of peace in his mouth, and gives himself the appearance 
 of wishing to reconcile all, when he is intent only on setting 
 all at variance. Oh, Conrad, when I think of this Emperor 
 NapoleQii, of the innocent blood which he has already shed, 
 and of the many thousand victims which have already fallen 
 to his ambition, my heart swells up in boundless exasperation, 
 and I begin to doubt even the goodness and justice of God ! — 
 But hush, hush, my wild heart," he interrupted himself, lifting 
 his eyes with a beseeching glance to heaven. "God will man- 
 age everything for the best. He will one day, with a beck of 
 His hand, hurl the French usurper from his throne, and cause 
 Austria to rise great and powerful from her lumiiliating posi- 
 tion. He will protect Germany from the wrongs inflicted 
 upon her bj' France, and avenge the disgrace which evei-y 
 German has to suffer at the hands of the French. That is the 
 hope which I shall take with me into my grave ; that is the 
 confidence I have in Thee, O nu' God ! " 
 
 He lifted both his hands toward heaven, and prayed in a 
 
 * Haydifs own words. — " Zeitgenossen," vol. iv., p. 36.
 
 258 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 low voice. Then he rose slowly from his chair, and turned 
 his head with smiling greetings on all sides. 
 
 " Conrad," he said, gently, " I take leave of Nature to-day, 
 for it seems to me as if I never should see again my dear little 
 garden, the flowers and birds, the sun and the sky. Oh, fare- 
 well, then, great and holy Nature ! I have loved thee pas- 
 sionately all my life, and glorified thee in my works to the 
 best of the power which God imparted to me. Farewell, 
 Nature ! farewell, svmshine and fragrant flowers I Joseph 
 Haydn takes leave of you, for his task is fulfilled, and his 
 soul is weary. Come, my old Conrad, conduct me back to the 
 house. I will return to mj^ room. I am tired, ah, so exceed- 
 ingly tired !" 
 
 He passed his arm around Conrad's neck, and, leaning his 
 other hand on his cane, walked slowly and pantingly up the 
 narrow path. 
 
 At this moment the nightingale in the elder-bush recom- 
 menced its jubilant song, and at the same time the parrot 
 raised its shrill voice, and began to whistle the sweet notes of 
 the air from Haydn's " Creation." 
 
 Haydn stood still and listened. " Conrad," he said, in a 
 low voice, " we will now consult an oracle as to my life and 
 death. If the parrot pauses first, I shall die soon ; if the 
 nightingale pauses, God will permit me to live % while 
 longer." 
 
 He lifted his eyes devoutly to the sky, over whose azure 
 plain white cloudlets were scudding like silver swans, and his 
 lips muttered a low prayer. 
 
 The nightingale still sang its wonderful love-songs, and 
 the parrot tried to drown its notes with Haydn's beautiful 
 melody. 
 
 Conrad smiled blissfully. " My Paperl has a long breath," 
 he said, "and the nightingale will be unable to cope with 
 him ; Rupert will outsing it." 
 
 But the nightingale, as if irritated by this rivalry, now 
 seemed to put forth its whole art and strength. The ringing 
 trills were followed by long, sweet, flute-notes, which filled 
 the air like a joyous hymn of tenderness, drowning the 
 voices of all other birds, and the sighing breeze, and seemed
 
 THE TRIUMPH OF DEATH. 259 
 
 to arouse the flowers fi-om their sweet slumber, till thej' trem- 
 bled with blissful transju^rts, atid softly raised their flowery 
 ci'owns toward the blooiuiug elder, in whose dark foliage was 
 concealed the nightingale, Nature's great and yet modest 
 artiste. 
 
 Yes, all Nature seemed to listen with l)lissful attention to 
 ihis wonderful song of the nightingale, and even the parrot 
 could no longer resist the charm. Paperl hesitated, then com- 
 menced again, hesitated a second time, and was silent. 
 
 Haydn dropped his clasped hands slowly, and turned his 
 eyes from heaven to earth. " I knew it full well," he mur- 
 mured ; " the oracle has decided my fate, and Joseph Haydn's 
 'Creation' is silenced by God's creation. Come into the 
 house, Conrad ; I am cold and tired. But first give me a few 
 of my fragrant friends, my dear flowers. They shall speak to 
 me in my room of the splendor and beauty of the world." 
 
 Conrad gathered hastily a full bouquet of roses, pinks, and 
 elder-flowers, dried the tears filling his eyes, and conducted 
 his master carefully back into the house. 
 
 He had just seated him in his easy-chair, and placed the 
 embroidered cushion under his feet, when the shrill street-bell 
 resounded in the hall. 
 
 " Go and see who is there," said Haydn, holding the bou- 
 quet in both his hands, and contemplating it with loving e^^es. 
 
 Conrad slipped out of the room and returned in a few min- 
 utes. 
 
 " There is a stranger from Berlin," he said, '' who begged 
 me urgently to admit him to Dr. Haydn. Mr. Schmid, the 
 manager of the theati'e, is with him, and requests you to see 
 the stranger, who, he says, is a celebi-ated poet." 
 
 "If Schmid is with him, let them come in," said Haydn, 
 mildly ; " it will doubtless be the last time I shall see my dear 
 old friend on earth." 
 
 Conrad threw open the door, and beckoned the gentlemen, 
 who were standing outside, to come in. The two cro.^sed the 
 threshold softly on tiptoe, and with faces expressive of pro- 
 found reverence ; as if seized with compassion or pious awe, 
 they stood still at the door, and gazed with eyes full of tender- 
 ness upon Haydn, who, at this moment, overcome perhaps
 
 260 ANDREAS HOPER. 
 
 by the spring air, had closed his eyes, and not heard the en- 
 trance of the visitors. 
 
 *' That is he," whispered one of the two, a man of a tall, erect 
 form, with a face radiant with understanding and sagacity. 
 " That is he I " he repeated, fixing his ardent eyes on the com- 
 poser. 
 
 "Yes, that is Joseph Haydn." said the otlier, in a low voice, 
 and an expression of profound grief overspread his broad, 
 good-natured face. " But hush ! he opens his eyes." 
 
 And he approached Haydn, who held out both his hands 
 to him, and greeted him with a gentle smile. 
 
 " Do you come to bid farewell to your old friend once more 
 previous to his death ? " he asked, mildly. " Do you wish to 
 take leave of me, my dear friend Schmid ? " 
 
 " No, I do not come to bid you farewell, but wi.sh you good- 
 day," said Schmid, warmly, "and pray you to receive this 
 gentleman here kindly. It is Iffiand, the celebrated actor and 
 poet from Berlin. He had come to Vienna before the French 
 took the city, and after its capture he could no longer get out : 
 they detained him, and it was not until now that, by dint of 
 the most pi-essing solicitations, he received permission to re- 
 turn to Berlin." 
 
 '• But I could not leave Vienna without seeing the great 
 Haydn," exclaimed Iffland, in his fine, sonorous voice. 
 " What would the people of Berlin think of me if I had 
 not seen the most illustrious genius of our time ? " 
 
 " Sir." said Haydn, vv ith a sigh, " look at me, and learn 
 from my weakness how fragile man is with all his glory." 
 
 " Man alone is fragile, but genius is immortal," exclaimed 
 Iffland, "and Joseph Haydn is a genius whose glory will 
 never die." 
 
 " Let my footman tell you the glory of the nightingale 
 and the pari'ot," said Haydn, with a faint smile. "The 
 works of man are perishable, but the works of God last 
 forever." 
 
 " But the woi-ks of man come likewise from God, for it was 
 He who gave him the strength to create them," replied Iffland, 
 warmly. " Did not the great and glorious creations of your 
 genius come just as much from God as the flowers which you
 
 THE TKIUMrn OF DEATH. 261 
 
 hold in your hand, and tlic perfumes of whieli delight you 
 so visibly ?" 
 
 "Yes, these flowers are beautiful," said Haydn, musingly. 
 
 "The bouquet is doubtless a gift from one of the many 
 fair admirers of our maestro 1 " asked Schmid. laughing. 
 
 Haydn looked up to him smilingly and shook his head 
 peiitly. '* No,'' he .said, "it is the last souvenir of Nature, to 
 whieh I have bidden farewell. I worshipped to-day in the 
 open air, and this is the rosary with which I will pray. Ah, 
 I love Nature so passionately ! " 
 
 " And you have taught those whose eyes and ear.s were 
 elosed against the holy charms of Nature, how to see and 
 hear,'" .said Iffland. "Your "Seasons' is the most glorious 
 hymn on God's splendid world." 
 
 "Yes, the 'Seasons,'" cried Haydn, almost vehemently, 
 " gave me the death-blow. It was so difficult for me to de- 
 rive enthusiasm from the words of the text. The words said 
 ii^^ little, really so very little ! Frequently a single passage 
 cuised nie a great deal of trouble for several days, and I did 
 not succeed after all in expressing the idea I wished to convey 
 to the hearers. Tlie words were a dead weight on my music. 
 Well, it is all over now. Yes, you see, it is all over now. 
 The 'Seasons' is to blame for it, for it exhausted my last 
 strength. I have had to work hard all my lifetime; I had to 
 suflfer hunger, thirst, and cold in my wretched attic, whence 
 I had to descend a hundred and thirty steps before reaching 
 the street. Privations, hard work, hunger, in short, all that 
 I suffered in my youth, are now exerting their effects on me 
 and prostrating ine. But it is an hcmorable defeat — it is hard 
 work to which I am succumbing. However, God a.ssLsted 
 me. I never felt it more .strikingly than this very daj', and 
 therefore I am so happy, oh I so happy, that I must shed tears of 
 blissful emotion. Do not laugh at me on this account. I am 
 a weak old man, and when any thing affects me profoundly, 
 I must weep. It was otherwise in former years. Ah, m 
 former yeai-s ! " He turned his tearful eyes toward the win- 
 dow, and gazed into vacancy. " In former years my mind 
 was strong and vigorous," he sighed, " and when I wrote my 
 'Creation,' a manly fire filled mv heart."
 
 262 ANDREAS IIOFER. 
 
 " Your enthusiasm is imprinted on your great work, and it 
 will never disappear from it," said Iffland. " Joseph Haydn's 
 'Creation' is immortal and full of eternal youth. The 
 Viennese proved it to you on hearing your sublime music the 
 other day." 
 
 " But I proved to them that I had become so feeble that I 
 could no longer bear listening to my own music. I had 
 to leave the room long before the performance was at an 
 end. " 
 
 " You ought not to have gone to the concert at all," said 
 Schmid. The excitement might have been injurious to your 
 health." 
 
 " It w^as injurious to me," said Haydn, " but considerations 
 of health had no right to prevent me from being present. It 
 Avas not the first time that homage had been rendered to 
 Haydn, and 1 wished to show that I was able to bear it this 
 time too. Ah, it was a glorious evening, and never did I hear 
 a better performance of my ' Creation.' " 
 
 " It was the great composer's apotheosis which the musi- 
 cians and singers were celebrating," said Ififland, deeply 
 moved. 
 
 " It is true the Viennese have done a great deal for me. 
 They are so good, and they love me dearly." 
 
 '' Oh, the Viennese are not ahead of the people of Berlin in 
 this respect," exclaimed Iffland. " In Berlin, too, every one 
 knows and loves the great Joseph Haydn, and his ' Creation' 
 is likewise recognized there as a masterpiece. It was per- 
 formed in Berlin quite recently at a charity concert, the re- 
 ceipts of which amounted to over two thousand dollars." 
 
 " Over two thousand dollars for the poor," said Joseph 
 Haydn, with beaming eyes; "oh, my work, then, gave the 
 poor a good day. That is splendid, that is the most beautiful 
 rew^ard for a life of toils and privations. But," he added, after 
 a brief pause, " it is all over now. I can no longer do any 
 thing. I am a leafless tree, which will break down to-day or 
 to-morrow." 
 
 '' The fall of this tree will move the whole of Germany as 
 a great calamity befalling every lover of his country." 
 
 " Yes, it is trufi, much love has been jfianifested for me,
 
 TIIK TKir.MI'll OF DEATH. 263 
 
 much homage has been rendered to me," said Haydn, mus- 
 ingly. 
 
 " All natioii.s and all princes have rendered homage to you," 
 exclaimed Iffland. "The laurel- wreath, for which we other 
 poets and artists are struggling all our lifetime, and which is 
 generally bestowed upon us only after we are in the grave, 
 was long since granted to you in the most flatterhig and grati- 
 fying manner. Europe has presented j^ou, not with one, but 
 with many laurel wreaths, and you may look back on your 
 life like a victorious hero, for each of your exploits was a 
 triumph for which you received laurel-wreaths and trophies." 
 
 " Yes. I have many souvenirs of my past," said Haydn, 
 smilingly. " T will show them to you.— Conrad, give me mj' 
 treasures."' 
 
 Conrad opened the di-awer of the large writing-table which 
 was standing close to Haydn, and which contained a great 
 many large and small etuis, caskets and boxes. 
 
 "You shall see my treasures now," exclaimed Haydn, 
 cheerfully. In the first place, he showed them a beautiful 
 casket made of ebony and gold. It was a gift with which the 
 young Princess Esterhazy had presented the beloved and 
 adored fiiend of her house only a few weeks ago, and on 
 Avhose lid was painted a splendid miniature representing the 
 scene at the last jierformance of " The Creation," when Haydn 
 received the enthusiastic homage of tiie audience. He then 
 showed them the large gold medal sent him, in 1800, from 
 Paris, by the two hundred and fifty musicians who, on Christ- 
 mas evening in that year, had performed '' The Creation," and 
 thereby delighted all Paris. Then followed many other med- 
 als from musical societies and conservatories, and valuable 
 diamond rings, snufp- boxes, and breastpins from kings and 
 emjierors. Last, Haydn showed them, with peculiar emotion, 
 the diploma of citizenship which the city of Vienna had con- 
 ferred on him. It was contained in a silver case, and its 
 sight caused his eyes even now to flash with the most intense 
 satisfaction. 
 
 He had placed on the lable bef(n'e him every piece, after 
 showing it to them and e\])laini7ig its meaning ; and now 
 that all the treasures were spread out before him, he con-
 
 0(54 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 templated tliem with a blissful smile, and nodded to them as 
 if to dear old friends. 
 
 " Do not laugh at me," he said, lifting his eyes to Iffland, 
 almost beseechingly. "I am fondly attached to these things, 
 and hence it delighted me to look at them from time to time 
 with my friends. You will say they are the playthings of an 
 old man. But they are more than that to me ; on beholding 
 them, I think of my past life, and my recollections I'ender me 
 young again for a few moments. After, my death all these 
 things will pass into dear hands, and I hope that, when I am 
 slumbering in my grave, my souvenirs will be carefully pre- 
 served and honored if only for my sake."* 
 
 "I hope the day is distant when Germany will have to 
 lament the death of her favorite, Joseph Haydn," exclaimed 
 Iffland. 
 
 "That day is close at hand," said Haydn, calmly ; "I feel 
 to-day more distinctly than ever before that my end is dz-aw- 
 ing nigh. My strength is exhausted." 
 
 "Let us go," whispered Schmid, pointing to Haydn, who 
 had feebly sunk back into his easy -chair, and was leaning his 
 pale head against the cushions. 
 
 Iffland fixed his eyes for a long time with an expression of 
 heart-felt grief on the groaning, broken form reposing in the 
 easy -chair. 
 
 " And that is all that is left of a great composer, of a genius 
 who delighted the whole world ! " he sighed. " Ah, what a 
 fragile shell our body is, a miserable dwelling for the soul 
 living in it ! Come, my friend, let us softly leave the i-oom. 
 Only I would like to take a souvenir with me, a flower from 
 the bouquet which Haydn held in his hands. May I venture 
 to take one ? " 
 
 At this moment Haydn opened his eyes again, and fixed 
 them with a gentle expression on Iffland. "I heard all you 
 said," he remarked ; " but I was too feeble to si)eak. You 
 wish to get one of my flowers ? No, you shall have them 
 all." 
 
 He took the bouquet, looked at it tenderly, and buried his 
 
 * Ilaydn bequeutlied all his trinkets and manuscripts to tlie Esterhazy 
 family, who had hoaorud him so highly during \m whole lifu.
 
 THE TUllMl'll OK DKATII. 205 
 
 whole face for a moment in the flowers, and then lianded it to 
 Itfland with a {gentle smile. 
 
 ''Farewell," he said ; "remember me on If^oking at tlies(> 
 flowers. I would I had known you in happier days, when I 
 should have been able to enjoy your genius and admire your 
 art. You must be a great actor, for you have a wonderfully 
 sonorous and pliable voice. I should like to hear you de- 
 claim, even though you should recite but a few verses." 
 
 " Permit me. then, to recite the lines in which Wieland 
 celebrated your ' Creation,' " said Iffland ; and, advancing a 
 few steps, holding the bouquet in his hand, and fLxiug his 
 gleaming eyes on Haydn, who gazed at him with a gentle 
 smile, Iffland recited in his full sonorous voice Wieland's 
 beautiful lines : 
 
 " Wie strum't dciii wogomlor Gosung 
 In uiis'ro lliTzeii eiu ! Wir sehen 
 Der ychi)j)fuiig luiu'ht'gen Gang, 
 Den Hauch des Henn auf dem Gewiisser wehen ; 
 Jetzt durch I'in blitzend Wort tlas erste Licht entstehen, 
 Und die Gestinie sich durch ihre liahueii dreheii ; 
 Wie Hauui und Pflanze wird, wie sich der Berg erhebt, 
 Und froh drs Lebens sieii die jungen Thiere regen. 
 Der Dounor rollet uiis entgegen ; 
 Der Regen siiuselt, jedes Wesen strobt 
 
 In's Dasein ; und bcstiinmt, des Scln^pfors Werk zn krOnen 
 Sehn wir das erste Paar, gcfiilu'l von Dcinen T()nen. 
 Oh, jedes Ilochgefuhl, das in dein Ilerzon scliliof, 
 1st wach ! Wer rufet nicht: wie schun ist diese Erdef 
 Und schiiner, nun ihr Herr auch dich in's Dasein rief, 
 Auf dass sein Werk vollendet werde ! " * 
 
 * " Thy wondrous song in melting strains 
 To our unite hearts swift entrance gains; 
 By magical yet unfult force. 
 We see creation's miLchty course: 
 The firmament appeal's in space — 
 God breatlies upon the water's face. 
 One fla.'ihing word bids primal light appear, 
 Revolving stars begin their vast career; 
 Upheaving mountains now are seen. 
 Tall trees and tender lierbage green ; 
 18
 
 266 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 After concluding his recitation, Iffland approached the 
 old man quickly, knelt down before him and imprinted a 
 kiss on his clasped hands. Then, without adding- another 
 word, he rose, and, walking backward as if before a king, ap 
 proached the door, opened it softly, and went out, followed by 
 Schm^id.* 
 
 " Farewell ! "' exclaimed Haydn, in a deeply-moved voice, 
 and sank back in the easy-chair. Profound silence now 
 reigned around him ; but all at once this silence was broken 
 by a thundering crash, which caused the windows to rattle 
 and shook the walls. The deafening noise was repeated again 
 and again, and rolled through the air like the angry voice of 
 God. 
 
 And now the door opened, and Conrad and Kate, the aged 
 servant-woman, rushed into the room. " Ah, master, master, 
 it is all up now, and we are all lost ! The Austrians and the 
 French are in force close to Vienna, and the battle has al- 
 ready commenced." 
 
 " The battle has commenced ! " exclaimed Joseph Haydn, 
 rising from his easy-chair, and lifting his hand to heaven. 
 " The battle has commenced ! Good and great God in heaven, 
 protect our fatherland, and grant Austria a glorioiis victory 
 over her arrogant foe ! Do not allow Austria and Ger- 
 many to succumb ; help us to defeat the proud enemy who 
 has humiliated and oppressed us so long ! O Lord ray God, 
 
 Youni^f animals to being rise, 
 
 And animate by living cries; 
 
 We hear the mighty thunder roar, 
 
 And rains in gusliing torrents pour. 
 
 All creatures struggle into life ; and stand 
 
 Before our eyes, fresh from their Maker's hand, 
 
 The first pair, led by thy sweet tones. 
 
 Now waked by inspiration's art. 
 
 Enthusiasm stirs our heart. 
 
 Who cries not, ' Earth is passing fair ! ' 
 
 Yet far more fair her Maker is, 
 
 How perfect every work of his ! " 
 * The wliole account of this interview between Joseph Haydn and Iffland 
 is in strict accordance with Iffland's own report of it in bis " Theutre-Alma- 
 uac," pp. 181-207.
 
 THE THir.MPH f)F DEATH. 267 
 
 shield the honor of Germany and Austria ! Protect the em- 
 peror ! " 
 
 And Joseph Haydn walked through the room with the 
 vigor and alacrity of a yoiuli, dropped his hands on the keys 
 of the piano, and ])egan to play in full concords the melody of 
 his imperial hymn, '' Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser I"" 
 
 Conrad and Kate stood behind him, singing in a low, 
 tremulous tone ; but outside, the booming of artillery con- 
 tinued incessantly, and they heard also the cries of the people 
 who were hurrying in dismay through the streets, and the 
 tolling of all the church-bells, which called upon the Viennese 
 to pray to God. • 
 
 All at once Haydn paused in the middle of the tune ; his 
 hands dropped from the keys, a long sigh burst from his lips, 
 and he sank fainting into the arms of his faithful Conrad. 
 His servants carried hiin to his couch, and soon succeeded in 
 restoring him to con.sciousness. He opened his eyes slowly, 
 and his fii*st glance fell upon Conrad, who stood weeping at 
 his bedside. 
 
 *' The nightingale was right ; my end is drawing nigh," he 
 said, with a faint smile. ''But I will not die before learning 
 that the Austrians have defeated the enemy, and that my em- 
 peror has gained a battle." 
 
 And in truth Joseph Haydn's strong will once more over- 
 powered death, which had already touched him with its fin- 
 ger. He raised himself upon his couch ; he would not die 
 while Austria was struggling on the reeking, gory field of 
 battle for the regeneration or her end. 
 
 Two daj's followed, two dreadful days of uncertainty and 
 terror ; they heard incessantly the booming of artillery ; but 
 although the Viennese gazed down from their church-steeples 
 all day, they were unable to discern any thing. Tremendous 
 clouds of smoke covered the country all aromul, and wrapped 
 the villages of Aspern and Essling and the island of Lobau in 
 an impenetrable veil of mist. 
 
 Joseph Haydn passed these days, the 21st and 22d of May, 
 in silent grief and gentle resignation ; he prayed often, and 
 played his imperial hymn three times a day. 
 
 Thus the morning of the 22d of Kay had come, Conrad
 
 208 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 had gone iuto the street to ask for news, for the hooming of 
 artillci-y had ceased, and the battle was over. " Whicli side 
 was victorious ? " That was the question which caused all to 
 tremhle, and which filled all hearts with intense anxiety. 
 
 Haydn's heart, too, was full of grave anxiety, and, to over- 
 come his impatience till Conrad's return, he had caused Kate 
 to conduct him to his jiiano. 
 
 "I will play my imperial hymn," he said, hastily ; " I have 
 often derived comfort and relief from it in the days of un- 
 easiness and anxiety ; and when I play it my heart is always 
 so much at ease. Its strength will not fail me to-day either." * 
 
 He commenced playing ; a blissful smile illuminated his 
 features ; he lifted his radiant eyes to heaven, and his music 
 gx'ew louder and fierier, and his fingers glided more power- 
 fully over the keys of the piano. Suddenly the door was 
 thrown open, and Conrad rushed in, panting from the rapid 
 run, flushed with excitement, but with a joyful face. 
 
 "Victory !" he shouted. "Victory !" And he sank down 
 at Haydn's feet. 
 
 "Which side was victorious?" asked Haydn, anxiously. 
 
 "The Austrians were victorious," said Conrad, pantingly. 
 " Our Archduke Charles has defeated the Emperor Napoleon 
 at Aspern ; the whole French army retreated to the island of 
 Lobau, whence it can no longer escape. Thousands of French 
 corpses are floating down the Danube, and proclaiming to the 
 world that Austria has conquered the French ! Hurrah ! 
 hui'rah ! Our hero, the Archduke Charles, has defeated the 
 villainous Bonaparte ! Hurrah ! " 
 
 " Hurrah ! hurrah ! " repeated the parrot on its pole ; and 
 ilie cat raised its head from the cushion on whicli it had lain, 
 ftnd gazed wath keen, searching eyes at the parrot, as if it had 
 understood Paperl's jubilant notes. 
 
 Jo.seph Haydn said nothing, but clasped his hands and 
 looked rapturously upward. After a pause he exclaimed, in a 
 loud and joyous voice : '' Lord God, I thank Thee for not dis- 
 appointing my firm trust, but protecting Austria and helping 
 her to vanquish her foe. I knew full well that the just cause 
 would triumpli, and the just cause is that of Austria ; for 
 
 * Haydn's own words. — See " Zeitgenosson," vol. iv., third series, p. 36.
 
 THE ARCHDUKE JOHN AT COMORN. 269 
 
 France, hyjxjcritical France alone provoked this war, and 
 Austria drew the sword only to defend her honor and her 
 frontiers. The just cause could not but triumph, and hence 
 Austria had to conque^', and France, had to succumb in this 
 struggle. God protct^t the Emperor Francis ! I may lay 
 down now and die. Austria is victorious ! That is the last 
 joyful greeting which the woi-ld sends to me. With this greet- 
 ing I will die — ay, die ! Death is already drawing nigh. But 
 Death wears a laurel-wreath on its head, and its eye is radiant 
 with triumphant joy. Glory to Austria ! Glory to the Ger- 
 man fatherland ! '' 
 
 These were Joseph Haydn's last words. He fainted away. 
 It is true the physicians succeeded in restoring him to life, and 
 he breathed yet for six days ; but his life resembled only the 
 last feeble flicker of the d^'ing flame, and in the night of the 
 30th of May death came to extinguish this flickering flame. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 THE ARCHDUKE JOHN AT COMORN. 
 
 The unheard-of event, then, had taken place. Napoleon 
 bad been defeated by the Austrians. The Archduke Charles 
 hatl gained a brilliant victory ; Napoleon had transferred his 
 whole army to the island of Lobau ; he himself passed his time 
 in moody broodiugs at the castle of Ebersberg, and the unex- 
 pected disaster which had befallen him, ond which at the same 
 time had brought about the death of one of his favorites, Mar- 
 shal Lannes, seemed to have suddenly deprived the emperor 
 of all his energ;\'. He did not speak, he did not eat ; he sat for 
 whole days in his cabinet, staring at the maps spi-ead out be- 
 fore liim on his table, and yet forgetting to cover them, as he 
 used to do on conceiving the plans of his campaigns, Avith the 
 colored pins which represented the different armies. Victory 
 had no longer been able to soften this marble Cesarean face, 
 but defeat caused his features now to wear an expression of 
 profound anger and grief. Nevertheless, he did not complain.
 
 270 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 aud never did he confess even to his confidants that he was 
 sutl'ering. Only once, for a brief moment, he lifted the veil 
 concealing his feelings, and permitted his marshals to see into 
 the innermost recesses of his soul. Marmont had dared to 
 pray the emj)eror, in the name of all the marshals, to yield no 
 longer to his grief at what had occurred, but bear in mind that 
 it was incumbent on him to preserve himself for the welfare 
 of his subjects and the glory of his future. Napoleon had an- 
 swered with a faint smile : " You think I am sitting here to 
 brood over my misfortune ? It is true, I am burying my dead, 
 and, as there are unfortunately a great many of them, it takes 
 me a long time to do it. But over the tomb of the dead of 
 EsslingT am going to erect a monument which will be radiant 
 with the splendor of victory, and on its frontispiece shall be 
 read the word ' Vengeance ! ' The Emperor of Austria is lost. 
 Had I defeated him in this battle, I should, perhaps, have for- 
 given his arrogance and perfidy ; but as he defeated me, 
 I must and shall annihilate him and his army." 
 
 While Napoleon was thus burying his dead, and reflecting 
 on his " monument of vengeance," the utmost rejoicings 
 reigned at the headquarters of the Archduke Charles, the vic- 
 tor of Aspern ; and all Austria, all Germany joined in these 
 i-ejoicings, and blessed the glorious day of Bonaparte's first 
 humiliation. 
 
 And this victory was soon followed by the news of a tri^ 
 umph hardly less glorious than the battle of Aspern. The Tyr 
 olese, those despised peasants, had gained a brilliant victory 
 over the French veterans, and their Bavarian auxiliaries, on 
 the 21st of May. on Mount Isel, near the city of Innspruck. 
 Andreas Hofer, commander-in-chief of the united forces of 
 the Tyrolese, jointly with Speckbacher, Wallner, and the Cap- 
 uchin Haspinger, had again defeated the Bavarians and 
 French, wlio had re-entered the Tyrol, and delivered the pro- 
 vince a second time from the enemy. 
 
 Count Nugent, quartermaster-general of the Archduke 
 John, had entered the latter's room with this joyful news, and 
 told him with sparkling eyes of the heroic deeds of the T^^ro- 
 lese ; of Hofer's pious zeal ; of the bold exploits of Wallner 
 and Speckbacher, whose deeds recalled the ancient heroes of
 
 THE ARCHDUKE JOHN AT COMORN. 271 
 
 Homer ; of the intrepid Capuchin friar, Haspinger, who, with 
 a huge wooden cross in his hand, led on tlie attack, and ani- 
 mated his followers not less by his example than the assurances 
 of Divine protection which he held fortli. Count Nugent had 
 related all these heroic deeds with fervid eloquence to the 
 archduke, and yet, to his utter astonishment, the latter's 
 face had remained gloomy, and not a ray of joy had illumi- 
 nated it. 
 
 " Your imperial highness, then, does not share my exulta- 
 tion ? " he lusked, mournfully. '' You receive the news quite 
 coldly and indifferently, and yet I am speaking of your be- 
 loved Tyrolese, of your heroes, Andreas Hofer, Joseph Speck- 
 bacher, and Anthony Wallner ! They and their heroic men 
 have delivered the Tyrol a second time from the enemy, and 
 your imperial highness does not rejoice at it ? " 
 
 " No, my dear Count," said the archduke, sighing, '' for 
 they will lose it again. All this blood will have been shed in 
 vain, and my poor Tyrol will be lost in spite of it." 
 
 " You believe so ? — you who called upon the Tyrolese to 
 take up arms, who invited its heroes and champions to such 
 daring efforts, who are ready yourself to fight for the cour- 
 ageous mountaineers to the last extremity ? '' 
 
 "Yes, I am always ready to do so," cried John, laughing 
 bitterly, "but what good will it do? They will wind cun- 
 ning shackles enough round my feet to make me fall to the 
 ground ; they will manacle my hands again, and put my will 
 into the strait-jacket of loyalty and obedience. I cannot 
 do what I want to ; I am only a tool in the hands of others, 
 and this will cause both my ruin and that of the TjtoI. I am 
 willing to sacrifice my life for the Tyrol, and yet I shall be 
 unable to save it. For the rest, my friend, I knew already 
 all these particulars of the battle on Mount Isel. A courier 
 from IIoT'mayr had just reached me and bi'ought me full 
 details. I was able to send back by the courier a fine reward 
 for the brave Tyrolese, a letter from the emperor, my august 
 brother, which I received this morning with the order to 
 forward it to them. I kept a copy of the imperial letter, for 
 there may be a day when it will be necessary for me to re- 
 mind the emperor of this letter. Here is the copy. Read it
 
 272 . ANDREAS IIOFER. 
 
 aloud, that I may hear, too, how fine the imperial words 
 sound." 
 
 The archduke handed a paper to Count Nugent, who read 
 as follows : 
 
 " After our arms had suffered heavy reverses, and after the 
 enemy had captured even the capital of the empire, my army 
 succeeded in defeating the French army under Napoleon on 
 the 21st and 22d of May, on the Marshfield, and driving it in 
 disorder across the Danube. The army and people of Austria 
 are animated with gi-eater enthusiasm than ever ; every thing 
 justifies the most sanguine hopes. Trusting in God and my 
 just cause, I declare to my loyal provinces of the Tyrol and 
 Yorarlberg, that they shall never again be seimrated from the 
 Austrian empire, and that I will sign no peace but one which 
 will indissolubly incorporate these provinces with my other 
 states. Your noble conduct has sunk deep into my heart ; I 
 will never abandon you. My beloved brother, the Archduke 
 John, will speedily be among you, and put himself at your 
 head. Francis."* 
 
 " And your imperial highness doubts, even after this sol- 
 emn promise given to the Tyrolese by his majesty the em- 
 peror ? " 
 
 "My friend," said the archduke, casting a long, searching 
 look round the room, " we are alone ; no one watches, and, I 
 trust, no one hears us. Let me, therefore, for once, speak 
 frankly with you ; let me unbosom to you, my friend, what I 
 have hitherto said to God alone ; let me forget for a quarter of 
 an houi^ that I am a subject of the emperor, and that his 
 majesty is my brother ; permit me to examine the situation 
 with the eyes of an impartial observer, and to judge of men as 
 a man. Well, then, I must confess to you that I cannot share 
 the universal joy at the recent events, and — may God forgive 
 me ! — T do not believe even in the promises which the emperor 
 makes to the Tyrolese. He himself may at the present hour 
 be firmly resolved to fulfil them ; he may have made up his 
 mind never to sign any peace but one which will indissolubly 
 incorporate the Tyrol with his empire ; but the events, and 
 
 * Homiayr, "Daa Heer von Inner- Oesterreich untcr den Befehlen des 
 Krzherzogs Johann," p. 189,
 
 THE ARCIIDrKF, JOHN AT COMORN. 273 
 
 especially men, will assuredly compel IiItu to consent to 
 another treaty of peace. You know full well that there are 
 two parties about the emperor, and that there is a constant feud 
 between these two parties. One wants war, the other wants 
 ])eace ; and the peace-party is unfortunately headed by the 
 Archduke Charles, the generalissimo of our army. You 
 know the fawning and submissive letter which the generali.s- 
 simo addressed to Napoleon after the defeat of Ratisbon, and 
 which Napoleon disdained to answer.* The war-party is 
 headed by the empress and Count Stadion. But the empress 
 has unfortunately little influence over her husband, and Count 
 Stadion is no more influential than her majesty. His gener- 
 ous enthusiasm and fiery impetuosity are repugnant to the 
 emperoi', who will remove him so soon as he has discovered a 
 more submissive and obsequious successor who has as much 
 work in him as Stadion. But thei-e is one point as to which 
 these incessantly quarrelling parties are agreed and join 
 hands, and that is their common hostility against the arch- 
 dukes, the emperor's brothers ; so virulent is this hatretl, that 
 the peace- pai'ty deserts its leader in order to operate with the 
 war-party against him and his intere.sts. The Austrian no- 
 bility has always claimed the privilege of filling all superior 
 offices, and it is furious at seeing the archdukes animated with 
 the desire of dedicating their abilities to their fatherland and 
 their emperor. Hence, the nobility is decidedly opposed to 
 the success of the archdukes, which might set bounds to its 
 
 * T]ic Arcluluke Charles wrote to Napoleon ou the 30th of April, 1809 : 
 " Your Majesty announced your arrival by a salvo of artillery ; I had no time 
 to reply to it. But, though liardly informed of your presence, I speedily dis- 
 covered it by the losses which I experienced. You have taken many prison- 
 ers from mo, sire, and I have taken some thousands from you in quarters 
 where you were not personally present. I propose to your majesty to ex- 
 change them, man for man, rank for rank ; and, if that proposal proves agree- 
 able to you, point out the place where it may be possible to carry it into 
 effect. I feel flattered, sire, in combating the greatest captain of tlie age; but 
 I should esteem myself much happier if Heaven had cliosen me to be the in- 
 strument of procuring for my country a durable peace, "^'liatever may be the 
 events of war, or the chances of an accommodation, I pray your majesty to 
 believe that my desires will always outstrip your wishes, and that lamequally 
 honored by meeting your majesty either with the sword or the olive-branch 
 in your hand."
 
 274 ANDREAS nOFER. 
 
 oligarch}'. It opposes me as well as the other archdukes, 
 whether this ojiposition may endanger the interests of the 
 fatherland, and even the emperor, or not. Things would be 
 even more prosperous in this campaign, if the generals serv- 
 ing under the archdukes had carried out the orders of their 
 superiors with greater zeal, promptness, and willingness. But 
 they have been intentionally slow ; they have often hesitated, 
 misunderstood, or purposely forgotten their orders. They are 
 intent on proving the incapacity of the archdukes in order to 
 overthrow them ; and they well know that they are rendering 
 a service to the emperor by doing so, for they are aware that 
 the empei'or does not love his brothers." 
 
 " No, your imperial highness," exclaimed Nugent, when the 
 archduke paused with a sigh. " I hope that this is going too 
 far, and that you are likewise mistaken about it. It is impos- 
 sible that the emperor should not love his brothers, who are 
 doing so much honor to the imperial house by their surpassing 
 accomplishments, virtues, and talents." 
 
 "My friend, you speak like a courtier," said John, shaking 
 his head, "and you exaggerate as a friend. But even though 
 you were right, those qualities would not be calculated to ren- 
 der the emperor's heart more attached to us. He wants the 
 emperor alone to shed lustre on, and do honor to the imperial 
 house, and not the archdukes, his father's younger sons, whom 
 he hates. '' 
 
 " No, no, your imperial highness, it is impossible that the 
 emperor should hate his brothers ! " 
 
 " And why impossible ? " asked John, shnigging his shoul- 
 ders. " Do not his brothers, the ai'chdukes, hate each other ? 
 Or do you believe, perhaps, that the Archduke Charles, our 
 generalissimo, loves me, or even wishes me well ? I was so 
 unfortunate as to be twice victorious during the xirescnt cam- 
 paign, while he was twice defeated ; I beat the French at 
 Sacile and St. Boniface, while he lost tiie battles of Landshut 
 and Ratisbon. This is a crime which the archduke will never 
 forgive me, and for which he will revenge himself." 
 
 " Perhaps he thinks that he took a noble and glorious re- 
 venge at the battle of Aspern ? " 
 
 " Oh, my friend, you forgot that our mother was a daughter
 
 THE ARCHDUKE JOllN AT COMORN. 275 
 
 of Italy, and that we, therefore, do not care for a noble and 
 fjflorious revenf^e, but long for an Italian vendi'tta. The gen- 
 eralissimo will not content himself with having obtained 
 glory, but I must suffer a defeat, a disgrace, which will neu- 
 tralize what few laurels I gathered at Sacile and St. Boniface. 
 Oh, I know my brother the generalissimo ; I see all the little 
 threads which he is spinning around me, and which, as soon as 
 they are strong enough, he will convert into a net, iu which 
 he will catch me, in order to exhibit me to the world as an 
 ignoramus and dreamer, destitute both of ability and luck as 
 a general. Do not tell me that I am mistaken, my friend ; I 
 have hitherto observed every thing with close attention, and 
 my observations unfortunately do not deceive me. The gen- 
 eralissimo is desirous of pvniishing me for my victories at 
 Sacile and St. Boniface, and for advocating a declaration of 
 war when he pronounced three times against it. He has al- 
 ready several times told the emperor that I am self-willed, dis- 
 obedient, and always inclined to oppose his ordei*s by vvordsor 
 oven deeds ; and the emperor always takes pleasure in inform- 
 ing me of the generalissimo's complaints." 
 
 "It is true," sighed Count Nugent ; "this aversion of the 
 generalissimo to your imperial highness unfortunately cannot 
 be denied, and you yourself have to suffer by it." 
 
 " Oh," cried John, impetuously, " if tliat were all, I should 
 not complain ; I should add it to the many other pin-pricks of 
 my fate, and strive to bear it without murmuring. But my 
 soldiei-s and the glory of the Austrian arms suffer by it, and it 
 will destroy the liberty of the Tyi'ol. It is well known that 
 this is my most vulnerable point ; that I love the Tyrol, and 
 am determined to leave nothing undone in order to redeem 
 the emperor's pledges to preserve the Tyrol to the imperial 
 house, and restore its ancient privileges and liberties. It is 
 known, too, that I long intensely to live iu the future days 
 of peace as the emperor's lieutenant in the Tyrol ; to live, far 
 from the noisy bustle of the capital, in the peaceful seclusion 
 of the mountain country, for myself, my studies, and the men 
 whom I love, and who love me. Oh, my poor, mi fortunate 
 Tyrol will grievously suffer for the love which I bear it ; 
 Austria will lose it a second time, and now, perhaps, forever."
 
 276 ANDREAS IIOFER. 
 
 '* Does your imperial highness believe so ? '' cried Nugent, 
 in dismay. " You believe so, even after communicating to me 
 the letter in which the emperor promises to the Tyrolese never 
 to sign a peace that will not indissolubly incorporate the Tyrol 
 and Vorarlberg with his monarchy, and in which he an- 
 nounces the speedy arrival of his beloved brother John, who 
 is to put himself at the head of the Tyrolese ? " 
 
 "My friend, these numerous and liberal promises are the 
 very things that make me distrustfvil, and convince me that 
 they are not meant seriously. If the emperor had the pres- 
 ervation of the Tyrol really at heart, and intended earnestly 
 that my army should succor and save the Tyrolese, would he 
 not have left me at liberty to operate according to the dictates 
 of my own judgment and in full harmony with the Tyrolese, 
 instead of tying my hands, and regarding and employing my 
 force only as a secondary and entirely dependent corps of the 
 generalissimo's army ? Look into the past, Nugent, bear in 
 mind all tliat has happened since we took the field, and tell 
 me then whether I am i-ight or not ? " 
 
 '^ Unfortunately you are," sighed Nugent; "I can no 
 longer contradict your imperial highness, I cannot deny that 
 many a wrong has been inflicted on you and us ; that you 
 have have always been prevented from taking the initiative 
 in a vigorous. maimer ; that you and your army have con- 
 stantly been kept in a secondary and dependent position ; that 
 your plans have incessantly been frustrated ; and that your 
 superiors have often done the reverse of what you wished and 
 deemed prudent and advisable." 
 
 " And yet they will hereafter say that I was alone to 
 blame for the failure of my plans," cried the archduke, 
 with a mo\irnful smile; "they will charge me with having 
 been unable to carry out the grandiloquent promises which 
 I made to the emperor and the Tyi*olese, and the emperor 
 will exult at the discomfiture of the boastful archduke who 
 took it upon himself to call out the whole people of the 
 Tyrol, put himself at their head, and successfully defend 
 against all enemies this fortress which God and Nature 
 erected for Austria. The faithful Tyrolese have taken up 
 arms ; I am ready to put myself at their head, but already I
 
 TIIH ARrilDL-RE JOHN AT COMOKN. 277 
 
 have been reaioved from the Tyrol, and my arm is pai-alyzod 
 so that I can no longer stretch it out to take the liatid which 
 the Tyrol is holding out to me beseechingly. If I had been 
 permitted to advance after the victories which my army 
 gained over the Viceroy of Italy and Marmont, I should prob- 
 ably now already have expelled the enemy from Upper Italy 
 and the Southern Tyrol. But I was not allowed to follow up 
 my successes ; I was stopped in the midst of my victorious 
 career. Because the generalissimo's army had been defeated 
 at Eatisbon, I was compelled, instead of pursuing the enemy 
 energetically and obliging him to keep on the defensive, to re- 
 treat myself, and, instead of being the pursuer, be pursued by 
 the forces of the viceroy. Instead of going to the Tyrol, I was 
 ordered by the generalissimo to turn toward Hungary and 
 unite with the volunteers in that country. No sooner had I 
 done so, than I was ordered to advance again toward the 
 Southern Tyrol, march upon Villach and Salzburg, unite with 
 Jellachich, form a connection with Field-Marshal Giulay. 
 and operate with them in the rear of the enemy, who was 
 already in the immediate neighborhood of Vienna. And he 
 who gave me these ordei'S did not know that Jellachich had 
 in the meantime been beaten at Wiirzl ; that Villach had 
 been occupied by the French ; that I was not in the rear of 
 the enemy, but that the enemy was in my rear ; he did not or 
 would not know that the Viceroy of Italy was in my rear 
 with thirty-six thousand men, and that the Duke of Dantzic 
 was in front of my position at Salzburg. Since then we 
 have been moving about amidst incessant skirmishes and in- 
 cessant losses ; and scarcely had we reached Comorn to re- 
 organize and re-enforce my little army, Avhen we received 
 orders to march to the island of Schiitt and toward Presburg. 
 I vainly tried to remonstrate and point to the weakness and 
 exhaustion of my troops ; I vainly asked for time to reorgan- 
 ize my forces, when I would attack Macdonald and prevent 
 him from uniting with Napoleon. I vainly proved that this 
 was his intention, and that no one could hinder him from 
 carrying it into effect, so soon as I had to turn toward Pres- 
 burg and open to Macdonald the road to Vienna. My remon- 
 strances were disregarded ; pains were taken to prove to me
 
 278 AiTdreas iiofer. 
 
 tliat I was but a tool, a wheel in the great machine of state, 
 and the orders were renewed for me to march into Hungary. 
 Well, I will submit again — I will obey again ; but I will not do 
 so in silence ; I will, at least, tell the emperor that I do it in 
 spite of myself, and will march to Presburg and Raab only if 
 he approves of the generalissimo's orders." 
 
 " That is to say, your imperial highness is going to declare 
 openly against the generalissimo ? " 
 
 " No ; it is to say that I am going to inform my sovereign 
 of my doubts and fears, and unbosom to him my wishes and 
 convictions. You smile, my friend. It is true, I am yet a 
 poor dreamer, speculating on the heart, and believing that 
 the truth must triumph in the end. I shall, however, at least 
 be able to say that I have done my duty, and had the courage 
 to inform the emperor of the true state of afFairs. I shall re- 
 pair this very day to his majesty's headquarters at Wolkers- 
 dorf. I wnll dare once more to speak frankly and fearlessly 
 to him. I will oppose my enemies at least with open visor, 
 and show to them that I am not afraid of them. God knows, 
 if only my own personal honor and safety were at stake, I 
 should withdraw in silence, and shut up my grief and my ap- 
 prehensions in my bosom ; but my fatherland is at stake, and 
 so is the ])oor Tyrol, so enthusiastic in its love, so unwavering 
 in its fidelity; and so are the honor and glory of our arms. 
 Hence, I will dare once more to speak the truth, and may God 
 impart strength to my words ! " 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 THE EMPEROR FRANCIS AT WOLKERSDORF. 
 
 The Emperor of Austria was still -at his headquarters at 
 Wolkersdorf. The news of the victory at Aspern had illumi- 
 nated the Emperor's face with the first rays of hope, and 
 greatly lessened the influence of the peace-party over him. 
 The war-party became more confident ; the beautiful, pale 
 face of the Empress Ludovica became radiant as it had never
 
 THE EMPEROR FRANCIS AT WoLKERSDORF. 270 
 
 been seen before; and Count Stadion told the emperor he 
 would soon be able to return to Vienna. 
 
 But the Emperor Francis shook his head with an incredu- 
 lous smile. " You do not know Bonaparte," he said, " if you 
 think he will, IjecaiLse he luis suffered a defeat, be immediately 
 ready to make peace and return to Fi-ance. Now he will not 
 rest before lie trains a victory and i-ei)aii's the blundeis he has 
 committed. There is wild and insidious blood circulating in 
 Bonaparte's veins, and the battle of Aspern has envenomed it 
 more than ever. Did you not hear, Stadion, of what Bona- 
 parte is reported to have said ? He declared that there was 
 no longer a dynasty of the Hajisburgs, but only the petty 
 princes of Lorraine. And do you not know that he has ad- 
 dressed to the Hungarians a pi-oclamation advising them to 
 depose me without further ceremony, and elect another king, 
 of course one of the new-fangled French princes ? Do you not 
 know that he has sent to Hungary emissaries who are calling 
 upon the people to rise against me and conquer their liberty, 
 which he, Bonaparte, would protect ? In truth, it is laughable 
 to hear Bonaparte still prating about liberty as though it 
 were a piece of sugar which he has only to put into the mouth 
 of the nations, when they are crying like babies, in order to 
 silence them, and thereupon pull the wool quietly over their 
 eyes. But it is true, the nations i-eally are like babies ; they 
 do not become reasonable and wise, and the accursed word 
 'liberty,' wliich Bonaparte puts as a flea into their ears, mad- 
 dens them still as though a tarantula had bitten them. They 
 have seen in Italy and France what sort of liberty Napoleon 
 brings to them, and what a yoke he intends to lay on their 
 necks while telling them that he wishes to make freemen of 
 them. But they do not become wi.se, and who knows if the 
 Magyars will not likewise allow themselves to be fooled and 
 believe in the liberty which Bonaparte promises to them ? " 
 
 " No, your majesty.'' said Count Stadion, " the Magyars are 
 no children ; they are men who know full well what to think 
 of Bonaparte's insidious flatteries, and will not permit him to 
 mislead them by his deceptive promises. They received the 
 Archduke John with genuine enthusiasm, and every day vol- 
 unteers are flocking to his standards to light against the des-
 
 280 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 pot "who. like a demon of terror, tramples the peace and pros 
 perity of all Europe under his bloody feet. No, Bonaparte 
 can no longer count upon the sympathies of the nations ; they 
 are all ready to rise against him, and in the end hatred will 
 accomplish that which love and reason wei'e unable to bring 
 about. The hatred of the nations will crush Bonaparte aud 
 hurl him from his throne." 
 
 ''Provided the princes of the Rhenish Confederation do 
 not support him, or provided the Emperor Alexander of Rus- 
 sia does not catch him in his arms," said Francis, shrugging 
 his shoulders. "I have no great confidence in what you call 
 the nations ; they are really reckless and childish people. If 
 Bonaparte is lucky again, even the Germans will idohze him 
 before long ; but if he is unlucky, they will stone him. Just 
 look at my illustrious brother, the generalissimo. After the 
 defeats of Landshut and Ratisbon, and the humble letter which 
 lie wrote to Bonajiarte, you. Count Stadion, thought it would 
 be good for the Archduke Charles if we gave him a successor, 
 and if we removed him, tormented as he is by a painful dis- 
 ease, from the command-in-chief of the army. We, there- 
 fore, suggested to the archduke quietly to present his resigna- 
 tion, which would be promptly acceiited. But the generalis- 
 simo would not hear of it, and thought he would have fb'st to 
 make amends for the defeats which he had sustained at Lands- 
 hut and Ratisbon. Now he has done so ; he has avenged his 
 l"<jrmer defeats and achieved a victory at Aspern ; and after 
 this brilliant victory he comes and offers his resignation, stat- 
 ing that his feeble health compels him to lay down the com- 
 mand and surrender it to some one else. But all at once my 
 minister of foreign affaii's has changed his mind : the victory 
 of Aspern has converted him, and he thinks now that the gen- 
 eralissimo must remain at the head of the army. If so saga- 
 cious and eminent a man as Count Stadion allows success to 
 mould his opinion, am I not right in not believing that the 
 frivolous fellows whom you call 'the nations' have no well- 
 settled opinions at all ? " 
 
 " Pardon me, sire," said Count Stadion, smiling ; " your 
 majesty commits a slight error. Your majesty confounds 
 principles with opinions. An honorable man and an honor-
 
 THE EMPKROR Fl'.ANc IS AT WOLKERSDORF. <2>>\ 
 
 able natiou may change their oiiinions, but never will they 
 change their principles. Now the firmer and more immov- 
 able their princijjles are, the more easily thej' may come to 
 change their opinions ; for they seek for instruments to carry 
 out tlu'ir principles ; they profit to-day by the services of a 
 tool wliich seems to them sufficiently sharp to perform its 
 task, and they cast it aside to-morrow because it has become 
 l)lunt, and nmst l>e replaced by another. This is what hap- 
 pens to the nations and to myself at this juncture. The na- 
 tions are bitterly opposed to France ; the whole German peo- 
 ple, both nortli and south, is unanimous in its intense hatred 
 •ugainst Napolecm. The nations do not allow him to deceive 
 them; they see through the Ca'sarean mask, and perceive the 
 face of the tyrant, despot, and intriguer, lurking behind it. 
 They do not believe a w'ord of his pacific protestations and 
 l)romises of freedom and liberal reforms ; for they see that he 
 always means war when ho prates about peace, that he means 
 tyranny when he promises liberty, and that he gives Draconic 
 laws instead of establishing liberal institutions. The nations 
 hate Napoleon and abhor his despotic system. They seek for 
 means to annihilate him and deliver at length the bloody and 
 trembiiug world from him. If the princes were as iniani- 
 mous in their hatred as the nations are, Germany would stand 
 as one man, sword in hand; and this sublime and imposing 
 spectacle would cause Napoleon to retreat with his host be- 
 yond the Rhine, the German Rhine, v^hose banks would be 
 guarded by the united people of Germany." 
 
 "You speak like a Utopian, my dear count," said the em- 
 peror, with a shrug. " If the united people of Germany are 
 alone able to defeat and expel Bonaparte, he w ill never be de- 
 feated and expelled, for Germany will never be united ; she 
 will never stand up as one inan, but always resemble a num- 
 ber of rats grow'n together by their tails, and striving to move 
 in opposite directions. Let us speak no more of a united Ger- 
 many ; it was the phantom that ruined my uncle, the Em- 
 peror Joseph, whom enthusiasts call the Great Joseph. But I 
 do not want to be ruined, and therefore I do not want to hear 
 any thing of a united Germany. Thank God, since 180G, I am 
 no longer Emperor of Germany, but only Emperor of Austria, 
 19
 
 282 ANDREAS IIOFER. 
 
 aud tliat is enoiigli for me. I do not care what the princes of 
 the Confederation of the Rhine are doing, nor what intrigues 
 Prussia is entering into in order to rise from its humiliating 
 prostration ; I fix my eyes only on Austria, and think only 
 whether Austria will be able to cope with Bonaparte, or 
 whether she may not ultimately fare as badl}' as Prussia 
 did. We have unfortunately experienced already one Aus- 
 terlitz ; if we should suffer another defeat like it, we would 
 be lost ; hence we must be cautious, and I ask you, there- 
 fore, why you do not want me now to accept the resigna- 
 tion of the generalissimo, when, only a fortnight ago, you 
 advocated his removal from the command-in-chief of the 
 army ? " 
 
 '' Your majesty, because a fortnight ago he had been re- 
 peatedly defeated, and because he has now gained a brilliant 
 victory. This shows your majesty again the difference be- 
 tween opinions and principles. Opinions change and are in- 
 fluenced by success. After the battle of Ratisbon, the gener- 
 alissimo was looked upon with distrust and anxiety by his 
 army, nay, by the whole people of Austria, who* turned their 
 eyes to the Archduke John, the victor of Sacile and St. Boni- 
 face, aud wanted to see at the head of the army a victorious 
 general, instead of the defeated Archduke Charles ; but the 
 latter has acted the hero, and been victorious at Aspern, and 
 the love and confidence of the army and people are restored 
 to him ; all look upon him as the liberator of the fatherland, 
 and will stand by him until — " 
 
 "Until he loses another battle,'' interrupted the emperor, 
 sneeringly. " My dear count, one swallow does not make a 
 summer, and — Well, what is it, Leonard?'' said the em- 
 peror, turning quickly to his footman, who entered the room 
 at this moment. 
 
 " Your majesty, his imperial highness the Archduke John 
 has just arrived, and requests an audience." 
 
 ''Let the archduke come in," said the emperor ; and when 
 the footman had withdrawn, Francis tui-ned again to the 
 minister. " He is the second swallow in which the childish 
 people here are hoping," he said. " But two swallows do not 
 make a summer either ; there may still be a frost under which
 
 THE EMPEKOR FRANCIS AT WOLKRRi^DORF. 283 
 
 John's y<nmg laurels of Sacile and St. Boniface will wither. — 
 All. liere is my brothor."' 
 
 The eniperor advaiu'cd a few stops to meet the Archduke 
 John, who had just crossed tlie threshold, and stood still at 
 tlip door to bow deeply and reverentially to his imperial 
 1)i'other. 
 
 "No ceremonies, brother, no ceremonies,"' said the em- 
 ])cror. smilinpf ; "we are here not in the imperial palace, but 
 ill the camp ; my crown is in Vienna, and my head is there- 
 fore bare, while yours is wreathed with laurels." 
 
 The emperor said this in so sarcastic a tone that the arch- 
 duke gave a start, and his cheeks crimsoned with indignation. 
 Bui he restrained his anger, and fixed his eyes calmly on the 
 sneering face of the eniperor. 
 
 '* Your majesty condescends to jest," he said, composedly, 
 " and I am glad to see from this that my brother, the victor of 
 Aspern, has gladdened your majesty's heart." 
 
 '•Your majesty," said Count Stadion, in a low, pressing 
 tone, " will you not graciously permit me to withdraw V 
 
 "Ah, you think your presence would be inconvenient dur- 
 ing our interview, and might hindei* the free exchange of our 
 confidential comnnmications ? But I do not believe that I 
 and my bi'other have any special .secrets to communicate to 
 each other, so that the presence of my minister would be in- 
 convenient to us. However, let the archduke decide this 
 ])()int. Tell me therefore, brother, is it necessary that you 
 should sec me alone and without witnesses ?" 
 
 "On the contrary, your majesty," said John, calmly, "it 
 will be agreeable to me if the minister of foreign affairs is 
 pi'csent at our interview ; for, as \'our majesty deigned to ob- 
 serve, we never have confidential coininiinications to make to 
 each other, and as we shall speak only of business affairs, the 
 minister may take part in the conversation." 
 
 "Stay, then, count. And now, my esteemed brother, may 
 T take the liberty of asking what induced the connnanding- 
 gcneral of my army of Upper Austria, now stationed at Co- 
 morn, to leave his post and pay me a friendly visit here at 
 Wolkersdorf ? " 
 
 " Your majesty, I come to implore my sovereign to gra-
 
 284 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 ciously fulfil the promise which your majesty vouchsafed to 
 me at Vienna. Your majesty promised me that I should suc- 
 cor with the forces intrusted to me the Tyrolese in their heroic 
 strug-gle for deliverance from the foreign yoke, and that I 
 might devote all my efforts to aiding this noble and heroic 
 people, which has risen as one man in order to be incorporated 
 again with Austria. It was I who organized the insurrection 
 of the Tyrol, who appointed the leaders of the peasants, and 
 fixed the day and hour when the insurrection was to break 
 out." 
 
 " Yes, yes, it is true," interrupted the emperor ; " you 
 proved that you were a skilful and shrewd revolutionist, and 
 it was really fortunate for me that you availed yourself of 
 your revolutionary talents, not against me, but for me. If I 
 shall ever recover full possession of the Tyrol, I shall be in- 
 debted for it only to the revolutionary skill of my brother 
 John ; and I shall always look upon it as an act of great dis- 
 interestedness on your part to leave me the Tyrol, and not 
 keep it for yourself ; for it is in your hands, and it is you 
 whom the Tyrolese in their hearts call their real emperor." 
 
 " Your majesty is distrustful of the love of the faithful Tyr- 
 olese," said John, mournfully, " and yet they have sealed it 
 with their blood since the insurrection broke out ; it was al- 
 ways the name of their Emperor Francis with which they 
 went into battle, the name of the Emperor Francis with which 
 they exulted triu iphantly when God and their intrepidity 
 made them victorious." 
 
 " No, archduke, I know better ! " exclaimed the Emperor, 
 vehemently. " They did not confine themselves to rendering 
 homage to me, but when the peasants had taken Innspruck, 
 they placed the Archduke John's picture on the triumphal 
 arch by the side of my own portrait, surrounded it with 
 candles, and rendered the same homage to it as to that of the 
 emperor." 
 
 " It is true, the honest peasants know nothing of etiquette," 
 said John, sadly. " They believed in their simplicity that 
 they might love a little their emperor's brother, who had been 
 sent to their assistance by his majesty, and that they might 
 place his picture without further ceremony by the side of that
 
 THE KMl'KliuU FRAN'CI.^ AT WuI.KLlRSDOiiF. 2S5 
 
 of tlie emperor. ]5ut that tliey /leveiilielf'ss knew very well 
 liow to distinguish the enii)cror from the archduke, and that 
 they granted to tlie emperor the first place in their hearts, and 
 deemed him the sole ohject of their loyalty, is prov^ed hy the 
 song which the Tyrolese sang with enthusiastic unanimity on 
 fastening the Austrian eagle to the imperial palace at Inns- 
 pruck. As such full particulars of the events in the Tyrol 
 were sent to your majesty-, I am sure this beautiful song was 
 likewise connnunicated to you," 
 
 " No, it was not," said the emperor, carelessly. " What 
 song is it ? " 
 
 " Your majesty, it is a hymn of joy aiul triumph which, ever 
 since that day, is sung by all Tyrolese, not only by the men, 
 Init also by the women and children, and which resounds 
 now as the spring-hymn of the new era both in the valleys 
 and on the summits of the mountains. T am sorry that I do 
 not know the words by hearts, but I shall have the honor of 
 sending them to your majest,y. I remember only the refrain 
 of every verse, which is as follows : 
 
 "'Ueberall lebt'st sch tnMi uud bicder, 
 Wo der Adler uns angei^chaut, 
 Und liu' habeii wir uiisern Fraiizel wioder, 
 Weil wir halt auf Gotl uiid ihii verlraut.' " * 
 
 " That is quite pretty,'' said the emperor, smiling. '' And 
 is th .t th song they are singing now in the Tyrol ? " 
 
 " Your majesty, they not only sing it, but they believe in it 
 too. Yes, th Tyrolese confide in your majesty ; they believe 
 implicitly in the promises which your majesty has made to 
 them, and they would punish as a traitor any one who should 
 dai'e to loll them that these promises would not be fulfilled.'' 
 
 •' And who asserts that they will not 1«,' fulfilled ? " asked 
 the emperor. 
 
 " Your majesty, the facts will unfortunately soon convince 
 the Tyi'olese that they must not look for the fulfilment of the.se 
 
 *"Far reaching iis tlie eajrle's view. 
 Are beating loyal hearts and true; 
 Once more our FrancLs can we claim, 
 Booau.se we tru.^t in GodV great name ! "
 
 986 ANDREAS IIOFER, 
 
 promises," said the archduke, sighing. " At the very moment 
 when the Tyrol is heing threatened by two hostile armies, 
 those of the Viceroy of Italy and the Duke of Dantzic, and 
 when the Tyrol, therefore, if it is not to succumb again to 
 such enormous odds, urgently needs assistance and succor, I 
 receive orders to leave the Tyrol and march to Hungary. 
 That is to say, I am to give up Salzburg, which is occupied 
 by the French ; I am not to succor Inuspruck, which is men- 
 aced by Bai'aguay d'ililliers. Not only am I not to lend any 
 assistance to the Tyrolese, but I am to break their moral 
 courage and pai-alyze their energy, by showing to them by my 
 retreat that the emperor's promises will not be fulfilled, and 
 that the army of Upper Austria abandons the Tyrol to succor 
 Himgary." 
 
 " Well, the Tyrol is not yet abandoned, even though the 
 Archduke Jolin is no longer there," said the emperor, shrug- 
 ging his shouldei'S. " We have two generals with corps there, 
 have we not ? Are not the Marquis of Chasteler and Count 
 Buol there ? " 
 
 " They are, your majesty ; but the Marquis of Chasteler is 
 morally paralyzed by the sentence of outlawry which Napo- 
 leon has issued against him, and Count Buol has too few troops 
 to oppose the enemy's opei'ations, which are not checked by 
 any corps outside the Tyrol." 
 
 " Ah, yoii wish to give rae another proof of the fraternal 
 love reigning between you and the Archduke Charles ? " 
 asked tlie emperor sarcastically. " You wish to oppose the 
 orders of your generalissimo ? " 
 
 " I wish to ask the emperor, my sovei*eign, whether I am to 
 give up the Tyrol or not ; I wish to ask him if he orders me 
 to march my army to Presburg, unite with the insurgent 
 forces, and ojjerate there against the enemy." 
 
 " Are these the generalissimo's orders ? " 
 
 "They are, your majesty." 
 
 " And what else does he command ? " 
 
 " He commands me, further, to make myself master of the 
 two islands of Schiitt in front of Presburg, take Altenburg by 
 a coup de main, and gari-ison, supply, and provision the two 
 fortresses of Raab and Comorn for six months. "
 
 THE EMPEItOR FRANCIS AT WoLKERSDORF. 2S7 
 
 A sarcastic expression overspread the emperor's face. 
 "Well, these are excellent and most energetic orders," he said. 
 "Carry them out, therefore.'' 
 
 "But, your majesty, it is not in my power to do so. 
 These orders look very fine on paper, but they cannot be car- 
 ried into effect. I have neither troops nor supplies enough to 
 gari'isou, supply, and provision Raab and Comorn, and hold 
 Presburg, even after effecting a jiniction with the troops of 
 the Archduke Palatine and the Hungarian volunteers. And 
 the generalissimo is well aware of it, for I have always ac- 
 quainted him with what occurred in my army ; he knows 
 that my forces and those of the Archduke Palatine together 
 are scarcely twenty-five thousand strong, and that one-half of 
 these troops consists of undisciplined recruits. He knows that 
 the enemy is threatening us on all sides with forty thousand 
 veteran troops. The generalissimo is so well aware of this, 
 that he spoke of the weakness of the remnants of my army in 
 tlie dispatches which he addressed to me only a few days ago. 
 But the victory of Aspern seems suddenly to have made the 
 generali.ssimo believe that, inasmuch as he himself has per- 
 formed extraordinary things, he may demand of me what 
 is impossible." 
 
 " What is impossible ! " said the emperor, with mischie- 
 vous joy. " So brave and heroic a soldier as you, archduke, 
 will iiot deem impossible what his chief ordei*s him to do. 
 The Archduke Charles is your chief, and you have to obey 
 him. He orders you to hold Raab and Presburg. Go, then, 
 and carry out the orders of your commander-in-chief." 
 
 " As your majesty commands me to do so, T shall obey," 
 said John, calmly ; "only I call your majesty's attention to the 
 fact that, if the enemy accelerates his operations and compels 
 me soon to give battle, I shall be unable to hold Raab, for 
 which so little has heen done hitherto, and that I shall lo.se 
 the battle unless the generalissimo sends a strong corps to my 
 assistance." 
 
 " It is your business to come to an undei*standing with the 
 generalissimo as to that point. He po.ssesses my full confi- 
 dence, for he showed excellent generalship at Aspern. There 
 is no reason whv I should distrust him."
 
 288 ANDREAS IIOFER. 
 
 " And God forbid tliat I should wish to render you distrust- 
 ful of liini !" exclaimed John, vehemently. "I hope my 
 brother Charles will remain yet a long while at the head of 
 the army, and give many successors to the victory of As- 
 pern." 
 
 " But you doubt if he will, do you not ? " asked the em- 
 peror, fixing his small light-blue eyes with a searching ex- 
 pression on John's face. " You do not rejoice much at the 
 brilliant victory of Aspern ? You do not think that Bona- 
 parte is entirely crushed and will hasten to offer us peace ? " 
 
 "Your majesty, you yourself do not believe it," said John, 
 with a smile. '' Napoleon is not the man to be deterred by a 
 defeat from following up his plans ; he will pursue them only 
 the more energetically, and he will attain his ends, though, 
 perhaps, somewhat less rapidly, unless we adopt more decisive 
 measui'es." 
 
 " Look, Stadion." exclaimed the emperor, smiling, " I am 
 glad that the Archduke John agrees with me. He repeats 
 only what I said to you about Bonajjarte." 
 
 "But, your majesty, the archduke added something to it," 
 said Count Stadion, quickly ; " he said Austria ought to adopt 
 more decisive measures." 
 
 " Ah, and now you hope that the archduke will say to me 
 what you have already said so often, and that he will make 
 the same proposals in regard to more decisive measures as you 
 did, minister ? " 
 
 "Yes, I do hope it, your majestj'." 
 
 "Well, let us see," exclaimed the emperor, with great vi- 
 vacity, " Tell me, therefore, archduke, what more decisive 
 measures you referred to," 
 
 " Your majesty," replied John, quickly, " I meant that we 
 should strive to get rid of our isolated position, and look 
 around for allies who will aid us not only with money, as 
 England does, but also with troops." 
 
 " And what allies would be most desirable for Austria, ac- 
 cording to your opinion, archduke ? " 
 
 The archduke cast a rapid, searching glance on the face of 
 the minister, who responded to it by a scarcely perceptible 
 nod of his head.
 
 TlIK KMPEKOR FRANCIS AT WOLKERSDORF. 0^9 
 
 "Your majesty," said Arcluluko Joliii, ([uickly, "Prussia 
 would be the most desirnble ally for Austria." 
 
 The emperor stiirted back, and then turned almost angrily 
 to Stadion. " In truth," he said, "it is just as I thought ; the 
 archduke repeats your own proposals. It seems, then, that 
 the formerly so ooura<.,''eous war-party at my coui-t suddenly 
 droops its wings, and thinks no longer that we are able to cope 
 single-handed with Bonaparte. Hence, its members have 
 agreed to urge nie to conclude an alliance with Prussia, and 
 now come the besieging forces which are to overcome my re- 
 pugnance. The minister liimself was the first to break the 
 subject to me ; now he calls the Airhduke John to his assist- 
 ance, and takes pains to be present at the very hour when the 
 archduke arrives here to second his efforts in attacking me. 
 Half an hour later, and the empre,ss will make her appearance 
 to assist you, and convince me that we ought to secure, above 
 all things, the alliance of Prussia." 
 
 " Pardon me, your majesty," said Count Stadion, earnestly ; 
 "I have, unfortunately, not the honor of being one of the 
 archduke's confidants, and I pledge you my word of honor 
 tliat I did not know at all that his royal highness was coming 
 hither." 
 
 " And I pledge your majesty mj' word of honor that neither 
 the ein])ress nor Count Stadion ever intimated to me, directly 
 or indirectly, that they share my views, and have advocated 
 them already before your majesty." 
 
 " Then you "bave come quite independently, and of your 
 own accord, to the conclusion that we ought to form an alli- 
 ance with Prussia ? " 
 
 " Yes. your majesty ; I believe that this has now become a 
 necessity for us." 
 
 "But Prussia is a humiliated and exhausted state, which 
 exists only by Bonaparte's grace and the intercession of the 
 Emperor of Russia." 
 
 " Your majesty speaks of Prussia as it was in 1807," said 
 Count Stadion, "after the defeats of Jena, Eylau, and Fried- 
 land. But since then two years have elapsed, and Prussia has 
 risen again from her prostration ; she has armed secretly, ren- 
 dered her resomces available, and found sagacious and ener-
 
 290 ANDREAS ITOFER. 
 
 getic men, who are at work silently, but with unflagging zeal, 
 upon the reorganization of the army, and preparing every 
 thing for the day of vengeance." 
 
 " Let us ally ourselves with regenerated Prussia, which is 
 longing for vengeance ! " cried John, ai-dently ; "let us unite 
 witli hei" in the struggle against our common foe. Prussia 
 and Austria should be harmonious, and jointly protect Ger- 
 many." 
 
 " No," said the emperor, almost angrily, " Prussia and 
 Austria are natural enemies ; they have been enemies ever 
 since Prussia existed, for Prussia, instead of contenting herself 
 with her inferior position, dared to be Austria's rival ; and, 
 moreover, Austria can never forgive her the rapacious con- 
 quest of Silesia." 
 
 " Oh, your majesty," exclaimed John, impetuously, " let us 
 forget the past, and fix our eyes on the present and future ! 
 France is the common enemy of all Europe ; all Europe ought 
 to unite in subduing her, and we will not even solicit the co- 
 operation of our neighbor ! But an alliance between Austria 
 and Prussia will render all Germany united, and Germany 
 will then be, as it were, a threatening rock, and France will 
 shrink from her impregnable bvilwarks, and retire within her 
 natural borders." 
 
 " Words, words ! " said the emperor, shrugging his shoul- 
 ders. " You enthusiasts always talk of a united Germany, but 
 in reality it has never existed yet." 
 
 " But it will exist when Prussia and Austria are allied ; only 
 this alliance must be concluded soon, for we have no time to 
 lose, and every delay is fraught with great danger. France is 
 intent on establishing a universal monarchy ; Napoleon does 
 not conceal it any longer. If France really succeeds in keep- 
 ing the German powers at variance and enmity, and uniting 
 with Russia against them, our last hour will strike ; for these 
 two powers, if united, will easily come to an imderetanding as 
 to the division of Europe ; and even though Eussia did not 
 entertain such an intention. France would communicate it to 
 her.* Hence, Russia should likewise be gained, and its alli- 
 
 * The archduke's own words. — See " Letters from tlie Archduke John to 
 Johannes von Miiller," p. 81.
 
 THE EMPEROR FRANCIS AT WOLKERSDORF. v>91 
 
 auce, by Russia's intercession, bo secured, so tbat Germany, in 
 days of adversity, niigbt count upon her." 
 
 " You believe then, arcl)duke, that days of adversity are 
 yet in store for us ? " asked the emperor. 
 
 "Your majesty, I am afraid they are, if we stand alone. 
 All is at stake now, and all must be risked. We are no longer 
 fighting for provinces, but for our future existence. We shall 
 fight well ; but even the best strength is exhausted in tlie 
 long run, and he who holds out longest remains victorious. 
 Which side has better chances ? Austria, so long as she op- 
 poses P' ranee single-handed, has not ; l^it Austria and Prus- 
 sia, if united, a.ssuredly have. If Austria falls now, the bei5t 
 adversary of Fi-ance falls, and with her falls Prussia, and 
 Germany is lost." 
 
 " And what would you do, archduke, if Austria, as you say, 
 were lost ? " 
 
 "Your majesty, if Austria should sink into ruin, I should 
 know how to die ! " 
 
 " You would, like Brutus of old, throw yourself upon your 
 sword, would you not ? Well, I hope we shall not fare so 
 badly as that, for you have pointed out to me a way of saving 
 the country. You have proved to me that Austria can be 
 saved by an alliance with Prussia. Fortunately, I have some- 
 times ideas of my own, and even a head of my own. I had 
 this morning a long interview with the Prince of Orange, 
 who has just arrived from Konigsberg-, where he saw the 
 King of Prussia. He laid before me a detailed report of 
 what he had seen there, and I made up my mind before I 
 had heard your advice. — Count Stadion, be so kind as to 
 take the paper lying on the desk. Do you laiow the hand- 
 writing '{ " 
 
 "I believe it is your majesty'.-; handwriling," said Count 
 Stadion, who, in accordance with the emperor's order, hacT* 
 taken the paper fi-om the desk. 
 
 "Yes, it is my handwriting ; for, though not as learned us 
 my brotlier John, I am at least able, if need be, to write a let- 
 ter. Be so kind, minister, as to read my letter aloud." 
 
 Count Stadion bowed, and i-ead as follows :
 
 292 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 " To his majesty, King Frederick William of Prussia : 
 
 " Headqiarteks, Wulkersdorf, June <?, 1809. 
 
 " Sir, my Brother : The Prince of Orange, who has arrived 
 at my headquaz'ters here, has told me unreservedly, and y^\\\\ 
 full confidence, of the repeated conversations he had with 
 your majesty during his recent sojourn at Konigsberg. You 
 left no doubt in his mind as to your firm conviction that the 
 existence of our two monarchies can be protected from the 
 rapacious system of the Emperor Napoleon only by an active 
 and cordial alliance. For a long time past, aware of the 
 opinions and wisdom of your majesty, I covild foresee that 
 your majesty would not refuse to take a step, justified not less 
 by the logic of events than the loyalty of the nations which 
 Providence has confided to our care. 
 
 '' The bearer. Colonel Baron Steigentesch, a distinguished 
 staff -officer of my army, will confer with your majesty's gov- 
 ernment as to the questions which may arise in regard to an 
 alliance between the two countries : he is authorized to regu- 
 late the proportions of the forces to be employed on both 
 sides, and the other arrangements not less salutary than indis- 
 pensable for the security of the two states. For the same 
 reasons I shall speedily send instructions to my ambassador at 
 Berlin in conformity with the overtures made by Count von 
 der Goltz. 
 
 " Your majesty will permit me to assure you that I remain 
 as ever. Your most obedient, 
 
 " Francis, Emperor of Austria." * 
 
 While Count Stadion was reading the letter, the emperor 
 closely watched the effect it produced upon the archduke. He 
 saw that John was at first surprised, that his eyes gradually 
 brightened, that his face crimsoned with joy, and that a smile 
 played round his lips. 
 
 When Count Stadion was through, the archduke stepped 
 up to the emperor with an expression of profound emotion 
 and intense gratitude. 
 
 "Your Majesty," he cried, "you have filled me both with 
 shame and ecstasy. Oh, give me your hand, let me press it to 
 
 * "Lebeiishilder," vol. iii., \\. 2G6.
 
 THE REPLY OF THE KING OF PRUSSIA. 293 
 
 my lips ; let me tluiiik you for this gracious i)unis]im('nt ! I 
 am grateful, too, for the gracious coniid.eace with whii-li you 
 initiate mc into yonv plans/' 
 
 " That is unnecessary," said the emperor, without giving 
 him his hand ; "you need not tliank me. Nor was it my in- 
 tention to give you a special pi'oof of my confidence. I did 
 not cause the letter to he read to you in ordei" to have you par- 
 ticipate in my plans, but only to prove to you that I can make 
 up my mind without your advice, and to request you not to 
 molest me henceforth Avith any such suggestions. Now, 
 brother, we have nothing further to say to each other. Re- 
 turn to Coniorn, and carry out the generalissimo's order, as 
 behooves a good officer, promptly, carefully, and without 
 grumbling. Fortify and hold Raab, defend Presburg, take 
 Altenburg by a coujy de main ; in short, do all that the gen- 
 eralissimo wants you to do. If I should need your advice 
 and wisdom, I shall send for you ; and when Baron Steigen- 
 tescli returns from his mission to Prussia, you shall be in- 
 formed of the results Farewell, brother, and let me soon 
 hear of new victories ! " 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 THE REPLY OF THE KING OF PRUSSU.. 
 
 Two weeks after this interview between the Archduke 
 John and the emperor, the archduke, at the request of the 
 emperor, repaired again to tlie imperial headquarters at Wol- 
 kersdorf, and sent in his name to his brother. 
 
 ''You come just in time, brother," said the emperor, when 
 John entered his cabinet. '' I knew that Baron Steigentesch 
 would arrive here to-day, hence T sent for you, for I promised 
 to let you hear the reply of the King of Prussia to my pro- 
 posal. The colonel did arrive a few minutes ago, and waits 
 in the anteroom for an audience.'' 
 
 " Before admitting him, your majesty, pray listen to me," 
 said John, in a grave, tremulous voice.
 
 294 ANDREAS IIOFER. 
 
 " I hope you do not intend to reveal a secret to me ? " asked 
 the emperor. 
 
 " No, your majesty ; unfortunately that which I have to say 
 to you will soon be known to everybody, and our enemies will 
 take care to let their triumphant bulletins circulate the news 
 throughout Europe." 
 
 "It is a defeat, then, that you have to announce to me ?" 
 asked the emperor, gloomily. 
 
 " Yes, your majesty, a defeat. I met the enemy yesterday 
 at Raab [June 14, 1809]. Our men fought bravely ; some per- 
 formed the most heroic exploits ; but the odds of the enemy 
 were too overwhelming. The Viceroy of Italy attacked us 
 with his well-disciplined veteran troops, thirty-nine thousand 
 strong. In the outset, we, that is, the Archduke Palatine and 
 I, were about as strong, including the Hungarian volunteers. 
 But the very~Brst attack of the enemy, the fli'st volleys of 
 musketry, caused the volunteers to fall back ; they fled panic- 
 struck, abandoned the hill where I had posted them, and 
 rushed in wild dii-order from the field of battle. The enemy 
 then occTipied the hill, and this decided the fate of the day 
 against us, shortly after the commencement of the battle. 
 However, we might have held out and gained a victory, if all 
 had carried out my orders promptly and carefully, and if, as 
 usually during this campaign, no obstacles had been placed 
 in my way." 
 
 " Ah, archduke, to avoid charges being preferred against 
 yourself, you intend to prefer charges against others ! " ex- 
 claimed the emperor, shrugging his shoulders. 
 
 "Yes, your majesty; I charge Ignatius Giulay, Ban of 
 Croatia, with violation of my orders, disobedience, and inten- 
 tional delays in making the movements I had prescribed. I 
 had ordered the Ban in time to join me at Comorn on the 13th 
 of June, and he had positively assured me, by letter and ver- 
 bally, that he would promptly be on hand on the stated day. 
 I counted upon his arrival, and made my dispositions accord- 
 ingly. The generalissimo had instructed me to keep open my 
 communications with the main army on the right bank of the 
 Danube by way of Raab ; and I, therefore, started on the 
 morning of the 13th from Comorn, firmly convinced that
 
 THE REPLY UF THE KliHi OF PRUSSIA. 2i^5 
 
 Giulay's troops would join me in tiiiic and lollow me. But I 
 waited for him in vain ; ho failed me at the critical moment, 
 despite my ordei-s and liis promises, and this was the principal 
 reason why we lost the battle." * 
 
 " You prefer a grave charge against a man whom I have 
 always found to be faithful, brave, and h()noral)le," said the 
 emperor, with cutting coldness. 
 
 " Your majesty, I beg you to be so gracious as to call the 
 Ban of Croatia to a strict account," exclaimed John, vehement- 
 ly, " I beg you to be so gracious as to send for the orders 
 which I gave him, and ask him why he did not obey them." 
 
 '• I shall do so," replied the emperor, "and it is my convic- 
 tion that he will be able to justify himself completely." 
 
 The Archduke John gave a stai-t, a deathly pallor over- 
 spread )iis cheeks, his eyes shot fire, his lips opened to utter an 
 impetuous word, but he restrained it forcibly ; compressing his 
 lips, pale and panting, he hastily moved back a few steps and 
 approached the door. 
 
 •'Stay !" ordered the emperor, in a hai-sh voice. '' I have 
 yet some questions to put to you. Y''ou are responsible for this 
 battle of Raab, and you owe me some explanations concerning 
 it. How was the retreat effected '( Where are your forces 
 now ? " 
 
 "Tlie retreat was effected in good oi-der," said John, in a 
 low, trenmlous voice. " I marched with four battalions of 
 grenadiers and two battalions of Gratz militia slowly along 
 the heights to Als, where we arrived at midnight ; and to-day 
 we went back to Comorn. Thoi'O our forces are now." 
 
 "And Eaab ? Have the enemy taken it already ?" 
 
 " No, your majesty, it still holds out : but it will fall, as I 
 told your majesty two weeks ago, for the generalissimo has 
 sent me neither amunition nor re-enforcements, despite my 
 most pressing requests." 
 
 " Is that to be another charge ? " asked the emperor, 
 sternly. 
 
 "No," said John, mournfully ; "it is- only to be my de- 
 fence, for unfortunately it is always necessary for me to de- 
 fend myself." 
 
 * See Sclilosser's "History of Uk- Eii/liteenth Century," vol. vii., p. 540.
 
 296 aKDreas hofer. 
 
 " Ah, archduke, you always consider yourself the victim of 
 cabals," exclaimed the emperor : " you believe yourself al- 
 ways persecuted and calumniated ; you suspect invariably 
 that you are slighted and placed in false positions by those 
 who are jealous of your exalted qualities, and envious of your 
 talents. You think that your greatness excites apprehen- 
 sions, and your genius and learning create misgivings, and 
 that you are therefore persecuted ; that intrigues are entered 
 upon against you, and that not sufficent elbow-room is given 
 lo your abilities. But you are mistaken, archduke. I am not 
 afraid of you, and although I admire you, and think, like 
 you, that you are the greatest captain of the age — " 
 
 "Your majesty," interrupted John, in a loud, vehement 
 voice, " your majesty, I — " 
 
 " Well, what is it ? " cried the emperor, hastily advancing 
 a few steps toward his brother, and staring at him with de- 
 fiant eyes. " What have you got to say to me ? " 
 
 " Nothing, your majesty," said John, in a hollow voice ; 
 " you are the emperor ! I am silent, and submit." 
 
 " And you are very prudent in doing so, for, as you say, I 
 am the emperor, and I will remain the emperor, despite all 
 my great and august brothers. If your imperial highness 
 does not like this, if you think you are treated unjustly, if 
 you consider yourself a martyr, why do you not imitate what 
 the generalissimo has done already three times during the 
 present campaign — why do you not oflPer yoxxr resignation ? 
 Why do you not request your emperor to dismiss yon from 
 his service ? " 
 
 " Will youi' majesty permit me to make a frank and hon 
 est reply to this question ? " asked John, looking at the em- 
 peror firmly and gravely. 
 
 '•I will." 
 
 "Well, then, your majesty, I do not offer my resignation 
 because I am not an invalid ; l)ecau^e I am young, strong, 
 and able to work. I request the emperor not to dismiss me 
 from the service, because I serve not only him, but the father- 
 land, and because I owe to it my services and strength. I 
 know well that many would like me to retire into privacy 
 and withdraw entirely from public affairs ; but I cannot fulfil
 
 TIIR RKPLV OF TlIK KlN(i ("F rUISSIA. 207 
 
 their wishes, and never sliall I withdraw vohmtarily from the 
 service. No matter what wrongs and slights may be inflicted 
 upon me, tliey will be fruitless, for they will never shake my 
 purpose. All the disagfreeable things that happen to me in 
 my career. I think proceed from individuals, and not from 
 the fatherland ; why should I, then, avenge myself on the 
 fatherland !)y resigning and depriving it of my services when 
 it has done me no wrong r* I serve the fatherland in serv- 
 ing your majesty; should I resign, I should be unfaithful to 
 both my masters, and only then would your majesty have a 
 right to despise me." 
 
 " Listen," said the emperor ; " the word fatherland is a 
 dangerous and two-edged one, and I do not think much of it. 
 The insurgents and revolutionists have it always in their 
 mouths ; and when rising against their prince and refusing 
 him obedience, they likewise say that they do so in the serv- 
 ice of the fatherland, and devote their strength and fidelity 
 to it. The soldier, above all, has nothing to do with the 
 fatherland, but only with his sovereign ; it is to him alone 
 that he has sworn allegiance, and to him alone he must re- 
 main faithful. Now, as you are a soldier and wish to remain 
 in the service, pray bear in mind that you have sworn alle- 
 giance to your empei'or, and let me hear no longer any of your 
 subtle distinctions between your emperor and your father- 
 land. And now that you have reported to me the result of 
 the disastrous battle of Rjiab, Baron Steigentesch may come iu 
 and report the results of his mission to Konigsberg. Stay, 
 therefore, and listen to him." 
 
 The emperor rang the bell, and ordered the footman who 
 entered the room to admit innnediately ]\Iinister Count Sta- 
 dion and Colonel Baron Steigentesch. A few minutes later 
 the two gentlemen entered the cabinet. 
 
 " Now, colonel," said the emperor to him, " you are to re- 
 port the results of your mission to Konigsberg. and I confess 
 I am quite an.xious to hear them. But before 3-ou commence, 
 I wish to say a few words to your mini.ster of foreign aft'aii-s. 
 On the same day that I dispatched Colonel Steigentesch to 
 
 * The archduku'd own words. — See his "Letters to Johannes von MuUer," 
 * 20
 
 298 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 Konigsberg, I handed you a sealed paper and ordered you to 
 preserve it till my ambassador's return. Have you done so ? " 
 
 " I have, your majesty. " 
 
 " And have you brought it with you now ? " 
 
 " Here it is, your majesty," said Count Stadion, drawing a 
 sealed envelope from his bosom, and presenting it to the em- 
 peror, with a low bow. Francis took it, and examined the 
 seal with close attention, then held it to his nose and 
 stnelled it. 
 
 " Indeed," he exclaimed joyfully, " it has retained its per- 
 fume, and is as fresh and brilliant as though it had been put 
 on only at the present moment. And what a beautiful crim- 
 son it is ! I have, then, at length, found the right receipt for 
 good sealing-wax, and this, which I made myself, may vie with 
 that made at the best Spanish factories. Oh, I see, this seal- 
 ing-wax will drive my black cabinet to despair, for it will l>e 
 impossible to open a letter sealed with it ; even the finest 
 knife will be unable to do it. Do you not think so too, minis- 
 ter ? " 
 
 " I am no judge of sealing-wax," said Count Stadion, coldly, 
 " and I confess that I did not even look at the seal of this en- 
 velope ; your majesty ordered me to keep it and return it to 
 you after Baron Steigentesch's return. I complied with your 
 majesty's orders, that is all." 
 
 The emperor smiled, and laid the sealed paper with a 
 slight nod on the table by his side ; then he sank into an easy- 
 chair, and beckoned to the gentlemen to take seats on the- 
 chairs on the other side of the table. 
 
 " Now, Colonel Steigentesch, let me hear the results of 
 your mission. In the first place, tell me, has King Frederick 
 William sent no letter to me in reply to mine ? " 
 
 " No, your majesty," replied Colonel Steigentesch, with a 
 significant smile ; '' I am only the bearer of a verbal reply. I 
 believe the king thought a written answer too dangerou.s, or 
 he was afraid lest he should thereby compromise himself. 
 But after every interview I had wdth the king or the queen, 
 I noted down every word their majesties spoke to me ; and if 
 your majesty permits, I shall avail myself of my diary in re- 
 plying to you."
 
 THE HRPLY OF TIIK KINC (»F TltUSSIA. 299 
 
 " Do so," said Francis, " let us hear what you noted down 
 iiv your diary." 
 
 Colonel Stcigentescli drew a meinoranduin-book from his 
 bosom and opened it. 
 
 "Well, then, how did the king receive you?'' inquired 
 Francis, after a pause. 
 
 " The king received me rather coldly and stitfly," read 
 Colonel Steigentesch from his diary ; " he asked me what was 
 the object of my mission. I replied that my emperor's letter 
 stated this in a sutBciently lucid manner. The king was 
 silent for a while ; then he said rather morosely : ' The em- 
 jieror a-sks for succor now ; but hereafter he will, perhaps, 
 conclude a separate peace and sacrifice me.' I replied, 'The 
 Emperor Francis, my august master, does not ask for succor. 
 The battle of Aspern has proved that means of defence are 
 not wanting to Austria. But as it is the avowed object of 
 this war that the powers should recover their former posses- 
 sions, it is but just and equita])lc that they should take an 
 active part in the contest, whose only object can be attained 
 by seizing the favorable moment. I have not been sent to 
 you to ai'gue a question which should l>e settled already, 
 btd to make the arrangements necessary for carrying it into 
 effect.' " 
 
 "An expedient reply," exclaimed the emperor, nodding his 
 head eagerly. " And what did the King of Pru.ssia answer to 
 you?" 
 
 "The king was silent a while, and paced his i*oom repeat- 
 edly, his hands clasjjed on his back. Then he .stood still in 
 front of me, and said in a loud, firm voice : ' Despite the 
 fear which I might have of being deserted by Austria, I am 
 determined to ally myself one day with your court ; but it is 
 not yet time. Continue the war ; in the mean time I will 
 gradually strengthen my forces ; only then shall I be able to 
 take a useful part in the contest. I lack powder, muskets, 
 and money ; my artillerists are all young and inexperioiced 
 soldiei-s. It is painful to me to avow the whole wretchedness 
 of my position to an Austrian officer : but I must do so to 
 prove to youi- master what it is that keeps me back at this 
 juncture. You will easily convince yourself that I am striv-
 
 300 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 iug to be useful to you l)y all iiieaus. Your sick soldiers 
 are nursed at my hospitals and sent to their homes ; I give 
 leave of absence to all my officers who wish to serve in your 
 army. But to ask me to declare now in your favor, is to call 
 upon me to sign my own ruin. Deal the eueniy another 
 blow, and I will send an officer out of uniform to your em- 
 peror's headquarters to make all necessary arrangements.' * 
 After these words the king bowed to me and dismissed me." 
 
 '■ Ah, indeed, the King of Prussia gives very wise advice," 
 exclaimed the emperor ; " we ai'e to deal Bonaparte another 
 blow, and then Prussia will negotiate with us. After we have 
 gained another victory, the cautious King of Prussia will enter 
 into secret negotiations with me. and send to my headquarters 
 an officer, but, do you hear, out of uniform, in order not to 
 compromise himself. Did you not wear your uniform, then, 
 colonel ? " 
 
 "Pardon me, your majesty, I did. But this seemed to be 
 disagreeable to the king, and he asked me to doff my uni- 
 form at Konigsberg ; but I replied, that I was, since the 
 battle of Aspern, so proud of my uniform that I could not 
 doff it. t The king thereupon requested me to state publicly 
 that I had come to Prussia only for the purpose of asking of 
 the king permission to buy corn in Silesia and horses in Prus- 
 sia.'' 
 
 " And you complied with this request, colonel ! " 
 
 " I did not, your majesty. I replied that I could not even 
 state this, for it was repugnant to my sense of honor ; how- 
 ever, I would not contradict such a rumor if it v/ere circu- 
 lated." 
 
 "Very well, colonel," said the emperor, smiling; "you 
 have acted in a manner worthy of a true Austrian. And 
 now tell me, did you see the queen also ? " 
 
 " I did, your majesty. Her majesty sent for me on the 
 day of my arrival. Tlie queen looked pale and feeble, but she 
 seemed to take pains to conceal her sufferings under a smile 
 which illuminated her face like a sunbeam." 
 
 "See, see," exclaimed the emperor, sai'castically ; "ourcolo- 
 
 * The king's own words. — See " Lebensbilder," vol. iii., p. 262. 
 t Ibid.
 
 THE KEl'LY OF TIJE KINO OF PRUSSIA. 3fn 
 
 nel talks in the enthusiastic stiain of a poet now that he re- 
 fers to the queen. Is she so very beautiful, then ? " 
 
 "Your majesty, slie is more than beautiful ; she is at the 
 same time a noble, high-spirited woman, and an august 
 queen. Her misfortunes aiul humiliations have not bent her 
 neck, but this noble lady seems even more august and ma- 
 jestic in the days of adversity than in those of splendoi' and 
 prosperity." 
 
 " And v.l'.at did the queen say to you ? Was she of her 
 husband's oi)inion that Austi-ia should not be succored at 
 this juncture, and that Prussia, before declaring in our favor, 
 ought to wait and see if Austria can defeat Fi-ance single- 
 handed ? " 
 
 " Your majesty, the queen was more unreserved and frank 
 in her utterances than the king. She openly avowed her 
 hatred against Napoleoii, and it is her opinion that Prussia 
 should take a decided stand against Fi-ance. ' For,' she said, 
 'I am convinced that the hatred of the French emperor 
 against Austria, and his intention to overthrow all dynasties, 
 leave no hope of peace. I am the mother of nine children, to 
 whom I am anxious to preserve their inheritance ; you may, 
 therefore, judge of the wishes which I entertain.' " * 
 
 '' If such were the queen's sentiments, I suppo.se she pi-olited 
 l)y tiie great influence which she is said to have over her hus- 
 l)and, to prevail upon him to take a bold stand, and you bring 
 me the news of it as the (inal result of your mission, do you 
 not 't ■' 
 
 '■ Pardon me, your majesty, I do not. It seems the influ- 
 ence of the queen does not go far enough to induce the king 
 to change his mind after he has once made it up. Now, the 
 king has resolved not to ally himself with Austria at this 
 juncture, but to wait until Austria, as he says, 'has dealt the 
 Kmperor of the French another blow.' All my interviews 
 with the king were, as it were, only variations of this theme. 
 In the last interview which I had with the king, he did not 
 express any thing but what he liad already told me in the 
 first. He re])eated that he would, as soon as Austria had 
 dealt France another decisive blow, send an (jllicer out of uni- 
 
 *■ Tlic iiiHiu's own words — See " J.ebensbildiT," vol. iii., p. 200.
 
 302 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 form to the lieadquarters of your majesty ; but then, he 
 added, ' I hope to come myself, and not alone. ' When I took 
 leave of the queen, she was even sadder than usual, and her 
 voice was tremulous, and her eyes filled with tears, when she 
 said to me she hoped to meet me^oon again under more favor- 
 able circumstances." 
 
 " And what did the other persons at the Prussian court 
 say ? How did the princes, the generals, and ministers ex- 
 press themselves ? " 
 
 " Prince William, the king's brother, said to me with a 
 shrug : ' You will not liud the spirit reigning here much to 
 your taste. The king's irresolution will ruin him again.' 
 The princess, his wife, apologized for not inviting me to din- 
 ner, the king having positively forbidden her to do so. The 
 king's generals and ministers unreservedly gave vent to their 
 impatience and indignation. Grand-chancellor von Beyme 
 said to me : ' The king would like to unite with you, but he 
 cannot make up his mind to do so. However, as everybody 
 about him is earnestly in favor of an alliance with Austria, I 
 hope that the king will be carried away.' * General Blxicher 
 wrote to the king in his impetuous, frank manner, that ' he 
 would not witness the downfall of the throne, and would pre- 
 fer serving in a foreign army, pro^nded it were at war with 
 the French.' Scharnhorst, the minister of war, spoke as vi- 
 olently, and with as undisguised hostility against France. 
 He presented to the king a memoir, in which he said : 'I will 
 not go dishonored into my grave ; I should be dishonored did 
 I not advise the king to profit by the present moment, and de- 
 clare war against France. Can your majesty wish that Austria 
 should return your states to you as alms, if she were still gener- 
 ous enough to do so ; or that Napoleon, if victorious, should 
 disarm your soldiers like the militia of a free city ?' But all 
 these remonstrances, these supplications, nay, even the tears 
 of the queen, were in vain. The king repeated that he Avould 
 unite with Austria one day, but it was not yet time. Austria 
 ought first to deal France another blow, and gain a decisive 
 victory ; then would have come for Prussia the moment to 
 declare openly against France. This, your majesty, is the 
 * "Lebeiiribilder," vol. iii., p. 262.
 
 TIIR RHI'I.Y OF TIIK KINC OF I'RUSSTA. 303 
 
 only reply whicli 1 hi-iiir; witli me from iny mission to 
 Prussia." 
 
 "Well, I must confess that this reply is decidedly cautious 
 and wise!" exclaimed the emperor, huiyhing. "After we 
 have drawn the chestnuts ovit of the lire, Prussia will be kind 
 enough to sit down with Austria and help her to eat tliem. 
 Well, what do you think of it, brother John 'i " 
 
 "I think that this hesitating policy of Prussia is a misfor- 
 tune not only for Austria and Prussia, but for Germany. For 
 if France and Russia join hands now against our disunited 
 country. Germany will be lost. The welfare of Europe is now 
 inseparably bound up with an alliance between Austria and 
 Prussia, which can alone prevent the outbreak of a European 
 war. But this alliance must be concluded openly, unre- 
 servedly, and with mutual confidence. No private interests, 
 no secondary interests calculated to fri'strate the enterprise, 
 but the great ends of saving the states, and restoi-ing peace 
 and prosperity to humanity, .should be kept constantly in 
 view ; then, and then only, success will crown the great un- 
 dertaking.''* 
 
 "And Prussia seems little inclined to keep such ends in 
 view," said the emperor. "Well, minister, you do not say a 
 word. You were so eloquent in trying to gain me over to this 
 alliance with Prussia ; joxi assured me so often that Prussia 
 Avas waiting only for me to call upon her, when she would ally 
 herself with me : and now — " 
 
 " Now, your majesty," .said Count Stadion, mournfully, " I 
 see, to my profound sorrow, that Prussia pi-efers her separate 
 interests, to the intei-ests of Germany ; and I confess that I 
 was mistaken in Prussia." 
 
 " And you tried to convince me that I was wrong in enter- 
 taining a different opinion ; and my esteemed brother yonder 
 spoke so wisely and loftily of our Prussian brethren, and the 
 united Germany which we would form together ! Well, you 
 shall see at least that, although I yielded, and, to get rid of all 
 you wise men, applied to Prussia, I did not believe in the suc- 
 cess of the mission. Minister, be kind enough now to take 
 
 * The archdukcV own words. — See his" Letters to Joliannes von Miiller," 
 p. 91.
 
 304 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 the letter which 3011 have kept for me so long. There ! Now 
 break the nice seal, open the letter, and read to us what I 
 wrote on the day when I dispatched Colonel Steigentesch to 
 the King of Prussia. Read ! '" 
 
 Stadion unfolded the letter and read : 
 
 " Colonel Steigentesch will return from his mission with- 
 out accomplishing any thiug. Prussia and Austria are rivals 
 in Germany, and will never join hands iu a common under- 
 taking. Austria can never forgive Prussia for taking Silesia 
 from her, and Prussia will always secretly suspect that Austria 
 is intent iipon weakening her rising power and humbling her 
 ambition. Hence, Prussia will hesitate and temporize even at 
 this junctui-e, although it is all-important now for Germany 
 to take a bold stand against her common enemy, rapacious 
 and insatiable France ; she will hesitate because she secretly 
 wishes that Austria should be humiliated ; and she will not 
 bear in mind that the weakening of Austria is fraught with 
 danger for Prussia, nay, the whole of Germany." 
 
 '■ Now, gentlemen," said the empei'or, when Count Stadion 
 was through, " you see that my o])inion was right, and that I 
 well knew what I had to exi^ect from Prussia. We must now 
 carry on the struggle against France single-handed ; but. after 
 d(>alingher another blow, for which the King of Prussia longs, 
 we shall take good care not to invite Prussia to our victorious 
 repast. It would be just in us even to compel her to give us 
 the sweet morsel of Silesia for our dessert. Well, we shall see 
 what time will bring about. Our first blow against France 
 was successful. — Archduke, go and help us to succeed in dealing 
 her another ; and, after defeating France single-handed, we 
 shall also be masters of Germany." 
 
 CHAPTEPv XXVII. 
 
 THE BATTLE OF AVAGRAM. 
 
 " At length ! " exclaimed the Archduke John, joyously, 
 holding up the letter which a courier of the generalissimo had 
 just brougiit him from tlie headquarters of Wagram. "At
 
 TIIM HATII.E OK WACiUAM. 305 
 
 lonjxlli a decisive blow is to be struck.— C«)nnt Nugent, Gen- 
 eral Frinionl, come in liere I A courier from the generalis- 
 sinio ! " 
 
 So sayijig, the archduke had opened the dooj of his cabinet, 
 juid called the otntlcnien who were in the anteroom. 
 
 " A courier fi-oni the generalissimo,'' he rei)eated once more, 
 when the two generals came in. 
 
 " Your highness's wish is fulfilled now. is it not?" asked 
 Nugent. "The generalissimo acceuts the assistance which 
 you offered to him. He permits you to leave this position 
 with your troops and tliose of the Archduke Palatine and re- 
 enforce his own army ?" 
 
 "No, he does not reply to my offer. It seems the general- 
 issimo thinks that he docs not need us to heat the French. 
 But he wi-ites to me that he is about to advance with his whole 
 ai'uiy, and that a decisive battle may be looked for. He says 
 the enemy is still on the island of Lobau, busily engaged in 
 erecting a tetede-pont, and building a bridge across the 
 Danube." 
 
 " And our troops do not try to prevent this by all means ! " 
 cried General Frimont, vehemently. " They allow the enemy 
 to bviild bridges ? They look on quietly while the enemy is 
 preparing to leave the island, and do not prevent him from so 
 doing ? " 
 
 " My friend," said the archduke, gently, "let us never for- 
 get that it does not behcove ns to criticise the actions of the 
 generalissimo, and that our sole duty is to obey. Do as I do ; 
 let us bo silent and submit. But let us rejoice that something 
 will bo done at length. Just bear in mind how long this 
 inactivity and suspense have lasted already. The battle of 
 Aspern was fought on the 22d of May, to-day is the 3d of 
 July ; and in the mean time nothing has been done. The en- 
 emy remained quietly on the island of Lobau, nursing his 
 woundod. reorganizing his troops, erecting tctefi-de-pont. and 
 building bridges ; and the generalissimo stood with his whole 
 army on the bank of the Danube, and took great pains to 
 watch in idleness the busy enemy. Let us thank God, there- 
 fore, that at last the enemy is tired of this situation, that he at 
 length takes the initiative again, and brings about a decision.
 
 306 ANDREAS nOFER. 
 
 The generalissimo informs me that the enemy's artillery dis- 
 lodged our outposts yesterday, and that some French infantry 
 crossed over to the Miihlau. The generalissimo, as I told you 
 hefore, advanced with his troops, and hopes for a decisive hat- 
 tie within a few days." 
 
 " And yet the generalissimo does not accept the assistance 
 which your imperial highness offered to him ? " asked Count 
 Nugent, shaking his head. 
 
 " No, he does not. The generalissimo orders me, on the 
 contrary, to stay here at Presburg and operate in such a man- 
 ner against the corps stationed here, that it may not be able to 
 join Napoleon's main army. Well, then, gentlemen, let us 
 comply with this order, and perform at least our humble part 
 of the generalissimo's grand plan. Let us help him to gain a 
 victory, for the victory wall be useful to the fatherland. We 
 will, therefore, form a pontoon-bridge to-day, and make a sortie 
 from the tete-de-pont. You, General Frimont, will order up 
 the batteries from Comorn. You, General Nugent, will inform 
 the Archduke Palatine of the generalissimo's orders. Write 
 liim also that it is positive that the enemy is moving all his 
 troops to Vienna, and that all his columns are already on the 
 march thither. Tell him that it is all-important for us to de- 
 tain him, and that I, therefore, have resolved to make a sortie 
 from the tete-de-pont, and request the Archduke Palatine to 
 co-operate with me on the right bank of the Danube. Let us 
 go to work, gentlemen, to work ! We liave no time to lose. 
 The order is to keep the enemy here by all means ; let us strive 
 to do it ! " 
 
 And they went to work with joyous zeal and untiring en- 
 ergy ; all necessary dispositions were made for forming a pon- 
 toon-bridge, and preventing the enemy from joining Napo- 
 leon's main army. The Archduke John superintended every 
 thing in person ; he was present wherever dilficulties were to 
 be surmounted, or obstacles to be removed. In his ardent zeal, 
 he did not hesitate to take part in the toils of his men, and the 
 soldiers cheered enthusiastically on seeing him work so hard 
 in the midst of their ranks. 
 
 Early in the morning of the 5th of July the bridge was 
 completed, the tMe-de-pont was fully armed, and every thing
 
 THE BATTLE OF WAGRAM. 307 
 
 was in readiness for the sortie. The Archduke, who had not 
 slept all the night long, was just returning from an inspection 
 of the preparations, when a courier galloped up to him in the 
 middle of the bridge. On beholding the archduke, he jumped 
 from his hoi-se, and handed him, panting and in trembling 
 haste, a letter from the ginieralissimo. 
 
 " You have ridden very rapidly ? You were instructed 
 then to make great haste ? " asked John. 
 
 "I rode hither from Wagram in ten hours, your imperial 
 highness,'' said the courier, breathlessly ; " I was instructed to 
 ride as rapidly as possible." 
 
 " You have done your duty faithfully. Go and rest." 
 
 He nodded kindly to the courier, and repaii-ed to his head- 
 quarters to read the letter he liad just received from his 
 brother. 
 
 This letter revoked all orders which had been sent to him 
 up to this time. The archduke had vainly offered his co- 
 operation and that of tlie Archduke Palatine four days ago. 
 At that time not even a reply had been made to his offer ; 
 now, at the last moment, the generalissimo called impetuouslv 
 upon his brother to hasten to his assistance. He demanded 
 that the Archduke John should set out at once, leave only 
 troops enough to hold the iefe-de-pont. and hasten up with the 
 remainder of his forces to the scene of action. 
 
 When the archduke read this order, a bitter smile played 
 round his lips. ''See," he said, mournfully, to General Fri- 
 mont, " now I am needed all at once, and it seems as if the 
 battle cannot lie gained without us. It is all-important for us 
 to arrive in time at the potnt to which we are called so late, 
 perhaps too late. Ah, what is that ? What do you bring to 
 me, Nugent?" ' 
 
 "Another courier from the generalissimo has arrived ; he 
 brought this letter." 
 
 "You see, much dofei-euce is paid to us all of a sudden ; we 
 are treated as highly important assistants," sighed the arch- 
 duke. He then unfolded the paper quickly and read it. 
 
 "The generalissimo," he said, "informs me now that he 
 has changed his plan, and will not give battle on the bank of 
 the Danube, but take position in the rear of Wagram. He
 
 308 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 instructs me to make a forced march to Marchegg, advance, 
 after resting there for three hours, to Siebenbrunn, and take 
 position there. Very well, gentlemen, let us carry the gen- 
 eralissimo's orders into effect. At one o'clock to-night, all 
 must be in readiness for setting out. We need the time be- 
 tween now and then to concentrate the extended lines of 
 our troops. If we are ready at an earlier hour, we shall set 
 out at once. Make haste ! Let that be the password to- 
 niglit ! " 
 
 Thanks to this passw((ird, all the troops had been concen- 
 trated by midnight, and' the march was just about to begin 
 when another courier arrived from the generalissimo, and 
 informed the archduke that the enemy was advancing, and 
 that it was now the generalissimo's intention to attack him 
 and force him to give battle. The Archduke John was ordered 
 to march as rapidly as possible to Siebenbrunn, whither a 
 strong corps of the enemy had set out. 
 
 The Archduke John now advanced with his ten thousaiid 
 men with the utmost rapidity toward Marchegg. The troops 
 were exhausted by the toils and fatigues of the last days ; they 
 had not eaten any thing for twenty-four hours ; but the arch- 
 duke and his generals and staff-oflTicers always knew how to 
 stir them vip and induce them to continue their march with 
 unflagging energy. Thus they at length reached Marchegg, 
 where they were to rest for three hours. 
 
 But no sooner had they arrived there than Count Eeuss, 
 the generalissimo's aide-de-camp, galloped up on a charger 
 covered all over with foam. The count had ridden in seven 
 hours from Wagram to Marchegg, for it was all-important 
 that the ai'chduke should accelerate his march. The battle 
 was raging already with great fury. The generalissimo was 
 in urgent need of the archduke's assistance. Hence, the latter 
 was not to rest with his troops at Marchegg, but continue his 
 march and advance with the utmost speed by Siebenbrunn to 
 Loibersdorf. At Siebenbrunn he would find Field-Marshal 
 Rosenberg ; he should then, jointly with him, attack the 
 enemy. 
 
 "Lot us set out, then, for Loibersdorf," said John, sighing ; 
 •'we will do all we can, and thus avoid being charged with
 
 THE I?.\TTLE OF WAGRAM. 309 
 
 tardiness. Up, n]\ my braves ! Tlie fathei'laiid calls u.s ; we 
 must obey it ! " 
 
 But the soldiers obeyed this order only with low murmurs, 
 and many remained at Marcheg-":, exliausted to deatli. 
 
 The troo])s continued their march with restless speed, and 
 nnite resij^'nation. The archduke's face was pale, his flashing 
 eyes were constantly prying into the distance, his breast was 
 panting, his heart was filled with indescribable anxiety, and 
 he exhorted his troops incessantly to accelerate their steps. 
 Now they heard the dull roar of artillerj^ at a distance ; and 
 the farther they advanced, the louder and more terrific re- 
 sounded the cannon. The battle, therefore, was going on, and 
 the utmost rapidity was necessary on their pai-t. Forward, 
 therefore, forward ! At five o'clock in the afternoon they at 
 last reached Siebenbrunn. But where was Field-Marshal 
 Rosenberg ? What did it mean that the roar of artillery had 
 almost entirely died away ? And what dreadful signs sur- 
 rounded the horizon on all sides 'i Tremendous clouds of 
 smoke, burning villages everywhere, and added to them now 
 the stillness of death, which was even more horrible after the 
 booming of artillery which had shaken the earth up to this 
 time. Where was Field-Marslial Rosenberg ? 
 
 An officer galloped up at full speed. It was a messenger 
 from Field-Marshal Rosenberg, who informed the archduke 
 that he had been repulsed, that all was over, and that the day 
 was irretrievably lost. 
 
 "I have been ordered to march to Loibersdorf,'' said the 
 archduke, re.solutely ; '" I must comply with my instructions." 
 
 And he continued his march toward Loibersdoi-f. Patrols 
 were sent out and approached Wagram. The fields were cov- 
 ered with the dead and wounded, and the latter stated amid 
 moans and lamentations that a dreadful battle had been 
 fought, and that the Austrians had been defeated. 
 
 The archduke listened to these iept)rts with a pale face and 
 quivering lijjs. But he was still in hopes that he would re- 
 ceive a message from the generalissimo ; hence, he remained 
 at Loibersdorf and waited for news from his brother. Night 
 came ; profound stillness reigned all around, broken only now 
 and then by dull reports of cannon and musketry fired at a
 
 310 ANDREAS IIOFER. 
 
 distance ; and there was no news yet from the generalissi- 
 mo ! 
 
 One of tlie patrols now brought in a French officer who 
 had got separated from his men, and whom the Anstrians had 
 taken prisoner. The archduke sent for him, and asked him 
 for information regarding the important events of the day. 
 
 The officer gave him the required information with spark- 
 ling eyes and in a jubilant voice. A great battle had been 
 fought during the previous two days. The French army had 
 left the Island of Lobau on four bridges, whicli Napoleon had 
 caused to be built in a single night by two hundred carpenters, 
 and had given battle to the Archduke Charles at Wagram. 
 A furious combat had raged on the 5th and 6th of July. 
 Both armies had fought with equal boldness, bravery, and ex- 
 asperation ; but finally the Archduke Charles had been com- 
 pelled to evacuate the field of battle and retreat. The Em- 
 peror Napoleon had remained in possession of the field ; he 
 had gained the battle of Wagram. 
 
 Large drops of sweat stood on the archduke's forehead 
 while he was listening to this report ; his eyes filled with tears 
 of indignation and anger ; his lips quivered, and lie lifted his 
 eyes reproachfully to heaven. Then lie turned slowly to Gen- 
 eral Frimont, who was halting by his side, and behind vrhom 
 were to be seen the gloomy, mournful faces of the other 
 officers. 
 
 "The generalissimo has lost a battle," he said, with a sigh. 
 " This is a twofold calamity for us. You know that we could 
 not come sooner. We arrived even at an eai'lier hour than I 
 had promised. You will see that the whole blame for the loss 
 of the battle will be laid at our door, and we shall be charged 
 with undue tardiness. This pretendcfi tardiness will be wel- 
 come to Tuany a one. A scapegoat is needed, and I shall have 
 to be this sca])egoat ! " * 
 
 The Archduke John was not mistaken ; he had predicted 
 his fate. Pie was really to be the scapegoat for the loss of the 
 battle. In the proclamation which the Archduke Charles 
 issued to his army a few days afterward at Znaym, and in 
 
 * The archduke's own words. — Sec lionnayr's work on " Tlie (.'aiupaigu 
 of 1 sort," p. 236.
 
 THE ARMISTICE (>F ZN'AVM. :>,\\ 
 
 wliicli Im' inror-incd it tli;it he liad coiicliulcd uii ai'Miistice with 
 the Emperor Napoleon, he deplored that, owing to the too late 
 arrival of the Ai-chdiike John, the battle had not been won. 
 despite the admirable bravery which the troops had displayed 
 at Wagram, and that the generalissimo had been compelled 
 thereby to retreat. 
 
 The Archduke John did not defend himself. He lifted his 
 tearful eyes to heaven and sighed : '• Another battle lost, and 
 this battle decides the fate of Austria ! Now Prussia will not 
 ally herself with us, for we did not strike the second blow 
 which the king demanded, and she will look on quietly while 
 Austi'ia is being humiliated I () G(jd, God, piotect Austria ! 
 Pi'otect Germanv I save us from utter ruin !" 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 THE ARMISTICE OF ZNAYM. 
 
 The guests of Anthony Steeger. the innkeeper of Lienz, had 
 been greatly excited to-day ; they had talked, debated, lamented, 
 and swoi-n a great deal. In accordance with the request 
 of Andreas Hofer. the most inliuential leaders of the Tyrolese 
 had met there and drawn up, as Hofer proposed, a petition to 
 the Emjieror Francis, who was now in Hungary at one of the 
 palaces l)elonging to the Prince of Lichtensteiu. The disas- 
 trous tidings of the battle of Wagram had been followed a few 
 days afterward by news fully as disheartening. The Arch- 
 duke Charles had concluded an armistice with the Emperor 
 Napoleon at Znaym, on the 12th of July, 1809. By this armis- 
 tice hostilities were to be suspended till the 20th of August ; 
 but in the mean time the Axistrians were to evacuate the Tyrol. 
 Styria. and Carinthia entirely, and restore to the Bavaiians 
 and Fj-ench the foi-tified cities which they had occupied. 
 
 These calamitous terms of the armistice had induced An- 
 dreas Hofer to summon some of his friends to Lienz, and draw 
 up with them a petition to the em])eror. in which they im- 
 l)lored him with touching humility to have mercy uj)()ii them 
 in their distress, and not to forsake his faitlifiil Tvrul. Thev
 
 312 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 stated that they had been tokl that the Austrian troops, in 
 accordance with the stipalations of the armistice, were to 
 evacute the Tyrol, but this did not confer upon the Frencli 
 and Bavarians the right of occupying the Tyrol. They he- 
 sought tlie emperor to prevent this, and not to permit the 
 enemy to occupy the country. 
 
 Such were the contents of the petition which Andreas 
 Hofer aud the other leaders of the Tyrolese had signed to-day 
 at the inn of Anthony Steeger, at Lienz, and which Jacob 
 Sieberer was to convey as the last cry of the despairing Tyrol 
 to the headquarters of the emperor at Totis, while Eisen- 
 stecken was to deliver a copy of the petition to General Buol, 
 commander-in-chief of the Austrian troops. 
 
 Night had now come ; the friends and comrades had long 
 since left Anthony Steeger's house, and Andreas Hofer alone 
 remained with him to talk with his faithful friend about the 
 disasti'ous change in their affairs, and the gloomy prospects of 
 the future. 
 
 "I cannot believe that all is as they say," said Andreas 
 Hofer, with a sigh. " The emperor promised us solemnly 
 never to give up or forsake again his faithful Tyrol, and it 
 would be high-treason to suppose that the emperor will not 
 honestly redeem his pledges. No, no ; I tell you, Anthony, 
 the emperor and our dear Archduke John certainly do not 
 intend to abandon us ; only the Austrian generals are op- 
 posed to the continuance of the war, and long to get away 
 from our mountains, because they are afraid of Bonaparte, 
 and think he would punish them if they should stay here any 
 longer and refuse to deliver the province to his tender mer- 
 cies." 
 
 "I am likewise loth to believe that the Emperor Francis 
 would forsake us," said Anthony Steeger, nodding his head 
 approvingly. " For the emperor loves us, and will not allow 
 us to fall into the hands of the infidel Bonaparte, who has 
 just committed another outi-age by arresting the Holy Fathei- 
 in Rome and dragging him away from his capital." 
 
 "Well, the Holy Father excommunicated him for this 
 outrage," cried Andreas Hofer, with flashing eyes; "he called 
 down the wrath of God and man on the head of the Anti-
 
 THE ARMISTICE OF ZNAYM. 313 
 
 christ, and rendered it incumbent on every pious Christian to 
 wage war ag-ainst tlie criminal who laid his ruthless hands even 
 upon t\\v holy Church, and tramplcdunder foot him whom the 
 Ahiiighty has anointed. Anthony Steeger, let me tell you, I 
 will not allow the French to return to our country, and never 
 will I permit the Austrians to evacuate the Tyrol." 
 
 " And how will you prevent tliem from so doing ? " asked 
 Anthony Steeger, shrugging his shoulders. 
 
 " I said to-day how I and all of us are going to prevent it. 
 We shall not suffer the Austrians to depart ; we shall keep 
 them here by prayers, stratagems, or force. I have given in- 
 structions to all the conmianders to do so ; I have given 
 them written orders which they are to communicate to our 
 other friends, and in which I command them not to permit 
 the departure of the Austrians. I believe I am commander- 
 in-chief as yet, and they will obey my bidding." 
 
 " If they can do it, Andy, they certainly will ; but what if 
 they cannot ? What if the Austrians cannot be kept here by 
 prayers or stratagem ? " 
 
 '' In that case we must resort to force," cried Hofer, im- 
 petuouslj'. " We must compel them to stay here ; the whole 
 Tyi'ol must rise as one man and with its sti'ong arms keep the 
 Austrians in the country. Yes, yes, Anthony, we must do it ; 
 it will be best for us all. It must look as though we de- 
 tain the Austrians by force, and this will be most agreeable 
 to the Emperor Francis ; for what fault of his is it that tlie 
 Tyrolese prevent hijn from carrying out what he promised to 
 Bonaparte in the armistice ? It is not his fault, then, if the 
 Austrians stay here, and if we prevent them from leaving our 
 mountains. We must detain them, we must. And I will 
 vri'ite immediately to old Red-beard, Father Haspinger, Jo- 
 seph Speckbacher, and Anthony Wallner. I will summon 
 them to a conference with mo, and we will concert measures 
 for a i-enewed rising of the Tyrol. Give me pen and ink, 
 Tony; I will write in the first place to old Red-beard, and 
 your Joe shall take the letter this very night to his con- 
 vent." 
 
 Anthonj' Steeger hastened to bring him what he wanted, 
 and while Hofer scrawled the letter, his friend stood behind 
 21
 
 314 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 him, and followed with attentive eyes every word which An- 
 dreas finished with considerable difficulty. 
 
 Both were so much absorbed in the letter that they did not 
 perceive that the door opened behind them, and that Baron 
 von Hormayr, in a dusty travelling-dress, entered the room. 
 For a moment he stood still at the door and cast a searching 
 glance on the two men ; he then advanced quickly toward 
 Andreas Hofei', and, laying his hand on his shoulder, he said : 
 '* Well, Andy, what are you wi'iting there ? " 
 
 Andreas looked up, but the unexpected arrival of the 
 baron did not seem to excite his surpi'ise. '' I am writing to 
 old Red-beard," he said ; " I am writing to him that he is to 
 come to me immediately. And after finishing the letter to 
 old Red-beard, I will write the same thing to Speckbacher 
 and Anthony Wallner, Mr. Intendant of the Tyrol." 
 
 " Do not apply that title to me any longer, Andy," said 
 Hormayr, with a slight frown. '' I am no longer intendant 
 of the Tyrol, for you know that we must leave the Tyrol and 
 restore it to the French and Bavarians." 
 
 " I for one do not know it, Mr. Intendant of the Tyrol," 
 cried Andreas, with an angry glance. " I know only that the 
 Archduke John appointed you military intendant of the Tyr- 
 ol, and that you took a solemn oath to aid us in becoming 
 once more, and remaining, Austrians." 
 
 "I think. xVndy, I have honestly redeemed my pledges," 
 said Hormayr. " I assisted you everywhere to the best of my 
 power, was always in your midst, encouraging, organizing, 
 fighting, and mediating ; and I think you will admit that I 
 had likewise my little share in the deliverance of the Tyrol, 
 and proved myself one of its good and faithful sons." 
 
 " Well, yes, it is true," murmured Hofer ; " you did a great 
 deal of good, and, above all things, you gained over to our 
 side the Austrian generals, who would not have anything to 
 do with us peasants, and refused to make common cause with 
 us ; for you possess a very eloquent tongue, and what can be 
 accomplished by means of the tongue you do accomplish. 
 But now, sir, the tongue will no longer suffice, and we must 
 fight also with the sword." 
 
 " God forbid. Andy ! " exclaimed Hormayr ; " you know
 
 THE ARMISTICE OF ZNAVM. 315 
 
 that the emperor has concluded an armistice with Bona- 
 parte, and while it lasts we are not allowed to fight with the 
 sword." 
 
 "The emperor has concluded an armistice? Well, then, 
 let there he an arnustice. But you will not confine yourself 
 to an armistice — you intend to evacuate the Tyrol. That 
 seems to me no fair armistice, and therefore I shall summon 
 old Red-heard, and my other faithful friends, and concert 
 with them measures to prevent you from concluding such an 
 unfair armistice, and forsaking us." 
 
 " And Andy is right in doing so ! " exclaimed Anthony 
 Steeger. '• We must not permit the Austrians to leave the 
 province, and we are firmly resolved that we will not." 
 
 "You are fools, hoth of you," said Hormayr, shrugging his 
 shoulders. " The Emperor Francis agreed positively that the 
 Austrian troops should evacuate the Tyrol during the armis- 
 tice ; hence, the troops must leave, lest the emperor should 
 break his word." 
 
 " But if they do, the emperor breaks the word he pledged 
 to us," cried Anthony Steeger, vehemently. 
 
 " Anthony Steeger," said Hormayr, sternly, " I have come 
 hither to have an interview with Andreas Hofer, to whom I 
 wish to communicate something of great importance. There- 
 fore, be so kind as to withdraw, and leave me alone with 
 him." 
 
 " I believe Andy does not want to keep any thing secret 
 from me, and I might, therefoi'e, just as well stay here. Say, 
 Andy, is it not so ? " 
 
 "It is. Speak, Mr. Intendant ; Tony may hear it all." 
 " No, Andy, I shall not speak unless I am alone with you ; 
 >and what I have to say to you is highlj' important to the 
 Tyrol. But no one but yourself must hear it." 
 
 '' If that is the case, go out and leave me alone with the in- 
 tendant," said Hofer, shaking hands with his friend. 
 
 Anthony Steeger cast an angry glance on Hormayr, and 
 left the room. "I know very well why he wanted to get rid 
 of me," he growled, as soon as he was out in the hall. " He 
 intends to persuade x\ndreas Hofer to leave with the Austrians 
 and abandon the Tyrol. He thinks when he is alone with
 
 316 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 Hofer, he will yield sooner because he is a weak and good- 
 hearted man, who would like to comply with every one's 
 wishes. He thinks if I were present I should tell Andy the 
 truth, and not permit him to desert our cause, and set a bad 
 example to the others. Well, I wall keep a sharp lookout, and 
 if the intendant really tries to take him away with him, I will 
 endeavor to detain him forcibly." 
 
 When the door had closed after Anthony Steeger, Hor- 
 mayr nodded kindly to Andreas Hofer and shook hands witb 
 him. 
 
 '• Now we are alone, Andy," he said, " and will speak con- 
 fidentially a word which no one is to hear save us two." 
 
 " But you should always bear in mind that God Almighty 
 is present, and listens to us," said Hofer, lifting his eyes de- 
 voutly to heaven. 
 
 " We shall si)eak nothing that can offend the good God ! " 
 exclaimed Hormayr, laughing. " We shall speak of you, 
 Andy, and the Tyrol. I wish to pray you, Andy, in the name 
 of the Archduke John, who sent me to you, and who sent his 
 kindest greetings with me, not to close your ears against good 
 and well-meant advice. " 
 
 " What did the archduke say ? What does he want of 
 me ? " asked Andreas, quickly. 
 
 " He wishes Andreas Hofer, like himself, to submit to the 
 emperor s orders quietly and patiently ; he wishes Andreas 
 Hofer to yield to stern necessity, and no longer sow the seeds 
 of hatred and discord, but obey the will of his master with 
 Christian humility and resignation. He wishes Andreas Hofer 
 to set a good example to all the Tyrolese, and undertake noth- 
 ing in opposition to the stipulations of the armistice ; and the 
 Archduke John finally wishes his beloved Andreas Hofer to 
 secure his life and li])erty by leaving the Tyrol with the Aus- 
 trian troops, and remaining for some time under the protec- 
 tion of the imperial army." 
 
 " Never, never will I do that ! " cried Andreas, vehe- 
 mently ; " never will I leave my beloved country ! I swore to 
 the priest, and in my own heart, that, while I lived, I would 
 be faithful to my God, my emperor, and my country, and that 
 I would spill the last drop of blood for our liberty, our consti-
 
 THE ARMIPTRE (>K ZN-VVM. 317 
 
 tution, and our emperor ; and never will 1 break my oath, 
 never will I desert my flag like a faithless soldier I " 
 
 •'But, Andy, you are not to desei-t it, but only convey it to 
 a place of safety for a short time. Listen to me, Andy, and 
 let me tell you all about it. You tliink all may be changed 
 yet, and you may prevent the Austrians from leaving your 
 mountains. But unfortunately it is already too late. Already 
 the Austrian general-iu-chief, Baron von Buol. has concen- 
 trated his scattered forces, and marched them to-night from 
 Brixen to Schabs. There you can do nothing against him ; 
 his artillery and annnunition are safe there, and you cannot 
 liindiM- him from marching with his troops this very day into 
 Carinthia." 
 
 " But we can prevent General Schmidt from surrendering 
 the fortress of Sachsenburg to General Rusca," cried Andreas, 
 triumphantly. 
 
 " Do you think Commander Joseph Turk, in Upper Carin- 
 thia, surprised and occupied the fortress of Sachsenburg im- 
 mediately, because you wrote to him to do so previous to Eus- 
 ca's arrival ? You look at me so wondei'ingly, you big child ? 
 See, here is your letter to Joseph Tiirk ! Our men intercepted 
 it ; hence, Joseph Tiirk did not occupy the fortress, and Gen- 
 eral Rusca has arrived there ah'oady." 
 
 " It is m}' l(4ter, indeed," sighed Andreas Hofer, staring at 
 the paper which Hormayr had handed to him. " They did 
 not allow it to reach Joseph Tiirk ; they no longer respect 
 what I say and do." 
 
 "They cannot, Andy for your and their superior, the em- 
 peror, has ordered the soldiers to evacuate the Tyrol. It was 
 surely most rei)ngnant to tiie emperor to do so, and I know- 
 that the Archduke John shed tears of grief and rage on being 
 obliged to instruct General Buol to evacuate the Tyrol. But 
 he submitted to stern necessity, and you will do so too, 
 Andy." 
 
 "What am I to do, then ? What do you want of me ?" 
 asked Andreas, with teal's in his eyes. 
 
 •'The Archduke John wants you to preserve yom\self for 
 better times, Andy. He implores you to repair to a place of 
 Siifety, not only for the sake of your wife and children, but
 
 318 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 also for that of your fatherland. Believe me, Audreas, a 
 gloomy time is dawning upon the Tyrol. The enemy is ap- 
 proaching on all sides, and the French and Bavarians have 
 already crossed the frontiers of the Tyrol in order to occupy it 
 again." 
 
 " And all our hlood has been shed in vain 1 " cried Hofer, 
 bursting into tears. " All the faithful Tyrolese who have fall- 
 en in battle gave up their lives for nothing. We fought 
 bravely ; the good God helped us in battle ; but men deserted 
 us, and even the empei'or, for whom we fought, will not redeem 
 the pledges he gave us, nor help us in our sore distress." 
 
 " The emperor will never abandon his faithful Tyrolese," 
 said Hormayr ; "only you must be patient. He cannot do 
 any thing now : he can not endanger his whole empire to 
 serve the small province of the Tyrol. For the time being, 
 further resistance is out of the question, but the emperor profits 
 by the armistice to concentrate a new army ; and when hos- 
 tilities are resumed, he will first think of the Tyrol, and de- 
 liver it from the enemy." 
 
 " But until then the Tyrol itself ought to maintain its lib- 
 erty ! " exclaimed Andreas Hofer, with flashing eyes. " Lis- 
 ten to what I wish to say to you, Mr. Intendaut, and what God 
 Himself prom.pts me to tell you. I sec full well that the em- 
 peror himself is unable to speak for the Tyrol, and cannot or- 
 der his troops to remain in the country ; I see full well that 
 the emperor, sorely pressed as he is by Bonaparte, cannot do 
 any thing for us. But until he is ready again, some one ought 
 to be courageous enough to take his place, and, as the em- 
 peror's lieutenant, defend the Tyrol against the enemy. You, 
 Mr. Intendant, are the man to do it. You have often assured 
 us that you were a brave and ])atriotic son of the Tyrol ; prove 
 now that you told us the truth. Instead of leaving the Tyrol 
 at this hour of its greatest peril, and surrendering it to the en- 
 emy, place yourself at its head, protect it against the enemy, 
 and preserve it to the emperor. * Become Duke of Tyrol, take 
 charge of the government and defence of the country. As pro- 
 visional duke, call upon the faithful people to take up arms, 
 and they will rise as one man and defend its frontiers against 
 " Gallery of Heroes : Andreas Hofer," p. 103.
 
 TIIK ARMISTK'K oF ZXAYM. 3)9 
 
 every enemy. Rule over the Tyrol in the emperor's place, 
 nnlil he himself is able again to do so and fold us again to his 
 heart." 
 
 ''What you say is nonsense, Andy," exclaimed Hormayr, 
 shrugging his slioulders. "You want me to become provi- 
 sional Duke of Tyro] ? Why, the whole world would laugh at 
 me, and the emperor would punish me as a rebel ! " 
 
 " Well, then," cried Andreas Hofer, in a powerful voice. 
 " if you will not do it, I will ! I shall take charge of the gov- 
 ernment and call myself 'Andreas Hofer, Sandwirth of Pas- 
 seyr and Duke of Tyrol,' as long as it pleases God ! " * 
 
 " No, you will not, Andy," said Hormayr, gravely ; " you 
 will be sensible, on the contrary, and not, from worldlj* pride, 
 endanger your country, your friends, and yourself. Bear in 
 mind, Andy, that you would be responsible for the blood that 
 would be shed, if you should incite the people to rebellion, 
 ajid that you would be the murderer of all those who should 
 fall in th(^ struggle provoked by you so recklessly and in open 
 opposition to the ordei's of your emperor. Bow your head, 
 Andy, and submit as we ail do. Intrust your and our cause to 
 God ; as it is good and just. He will not forsake it. but ren- 
 der it victoriovis when it is time." 
 
 " I believe you," sighed Andreas ; " but how caji I keep quiet 
 when, as you have often told me, I am God's instrument and 
 destined by Him to deliver the dear Tyrol from the enemy ? 
 And what would my brave lieuten mts say if their com- 
 mander-in-chief, Andreas Hofer, were to leave the country in 
 its soie distress, after he had taken an oath to defend it while 
 he lived ? Would they not point their fingers at me, and call 
 me a traitor, a Judas Iscariot who sold his country for the 
 sake of his own safety ? " 
 
 '' You are mistaken, Andy. You think your friends, the 
 captains and other conimandei's, with whom you fought for 
 the deliverance of the Tyrol, would despise you if you fol- 
 lowed the Austrians now and saved your life ? Now listen to 
 me, my friend. Your best friends, the brave Tyi'olese cap- 
 tains, in whom you repose the greatest confidence, will leave 
 
 * Andreas Ilofer's own word*. — Sec Honnayr's " Andreas Hofer," vol. ii.. 
 p. 361.
 
 320 ANDREAS nOFER. 
 
 the Tyrol this very day of their own accord and accompany 
 oui' Austrian troops to Carinthia." 
 
 " That is false, that is impossible ! " cried Andreas, ve- 
 hemently. '' Speckbachcr will never do so." 
 
 "Yes, he will, Andy. I saw him this morning. He re 
 sisted and fought as long as he could ; but since the armistice 
 compels him to lay down the sword, and since, moreover, the 
 French and Bavarians are entering the country once more, ho 
 feels that it is better for him to save his life than be caught 
 and hung here by the vindictive enemy. Hence, Speck- 
 bacher accepted the offer of the Austrian officers, and will ac- 
 company them." 
 
 " Joseph Speckbacher will leave the Tyrol ? " murmured 
 Andreas Hofer, mournfully. 
 
 " And he is not the only one, Andreas : Aschbacher, Piich- 
 ler, Sieberer, and many other brave cajitains of the Tyrolese, 
 will likewise leave with the Austrians. All have asked me to 
 implore you to follow their example, and flee from the perils 
 menacing you all. Oh, believe them, believe me, Andreas ! 
 If you stay here, the Bavarians will not rest until they have 
 taken you j)risoner — until their hated enemy, the formidable 
 Barbone, has fallen into their hands. Dear Andy, think of 
 your wife at home, the faithful Anna Gertrude, who prays for 
 you morning and evening, and beseeches the Almighty to 
 spare the life of her dear husband ; think of your dear chil- 
 dren, whose only protector and supporter you are ; do not 
 make your dear wife a widow, nor your sweet children or- 
 phans ! Andreas Hofer, you cannot now be useful to the 
 fatherland ; save yourself, then, for your wife and children ! " 
 
 " My good wife, my dear children ! " sighed Andreas, pi-o- 
 foundly moved ; "' it is true, they love me dearly, and would 
 be very lonely on earth if their father should be taken from 
 them ! " 
 
 " Preserve their father to them, then, and preserve yourself 
 also to the fatherland ! Follow the example of your brave 
 friends Speckbacher, Aschbacher, Sieberer, and all the others; 
 accompany us, leave the Tyrol for a while, and when the time 
 has come, return with them and fight once more for the de- 
 liverance of the country."
 
 TIIH ARMISTICK OF ZNAYM. 321 
 
 "Speokbaclior will leave, aud so will all the others,"" imir- 
 raiired Andreas to himself. "The Tyrol will fall again into 
 the enemy's hands, and all has been in vain ! " 
 
 He huny his head and heaved a deep sigh. 
 
 *'Conio, Andreas, be sensible ; think of yourself and your 
 family,'' said Hcrmayr, T)eseechingly. '" I have come hithoi 
 for the sole purpose of taking you with me ; let me not have 
 travelled in vain from Brixen to Lienz. Come, Andreas, 
 come ! My carriage is in readiness at the door ; let us ride to- 
 gether to Matrey. Speckbacher, the other friends, and the 
 Austrians are waiting for us there ; we shall cross the Tj-ro- 
 lese frontier with them this very day, and you and all your 
 friends will be safe. Therefore, do not hesitate any longer, 
 but cmie ! " 
 
 "I cannot make up my mind so suddenly," said Hofer, dis- 
 engaging himself gejitly fi'oni the hand of Hormayr, who was 
 trying to draw him up from his chair. "It is a grave, mo- 
 mentous step which you ask nw to take, and before I can do 
 so I must consult God and pray to him fervently. Therefore, 
 pray leave me alone a little while, that I may speak to the 
 good God and ccmsult him and my con.science." 
 
 "Very well. Andy, I give you a quarter of an hour to 
 make u\) your mind," exclaimed Hormayr, approaching the 
 door. 
 
 " A quarter of an hour is not enough,'' said Andreas, shak- 
 ing his head. " It is late at night, and night is the time for 
 i-epose and piayer. Therefore, stay here. Mr. Intendant ; sleep 
 a few^ hours, and to-morrow morning, at sunrise, come to my 
 chamber and awaken me. I will tell you then what God in 
 heaven has told me to do." 
 
 "You pledge me your word, Andreas, that you will not 
 leave during the present night ?" 
 
 "I do. I shall stay here. And iiow good-night. My 
 heart is profoundly moved, and I long for repose. This is my 
 chamber ; I begged Anthony Steeger to let me have it ; he 
 has fine rooms for aristocratic guests up-stairs, and he will 
 give you one of them. "Now good-night, sir I " 
 
 He bowed kindly to the baron, shook hands with him. and 
 conducted him to the door.
 
 322 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 HOFER AND SPECKBACHER. 
 
 Scarcely had the sun risen next morning when Baron 
 von Horniayr arose and quickly prepared every thing for 
 their departure. After seeing chat his carriage was at the 
 street door, lie descended the staircase in order to go to An- 
 dreas Hofer. 
 
 Anthony Steeger followed him with a gloomy face, and 
 watched his every movement attentively. " If he tries to take 
 Andy with him." he said to himself, '' I will strangle him. It 
 is true, he has told me already that Hofer will accompany 
 him, but I do not believe it, and he shall not coax him away. 
 This time I shall be present, and see what he is after." 
 
 They stood now in front of Hofer's door, and Hormayr put 
 his hand on the knob to open it, but it was locked on the 
 inside. 
 
 " Andreas Hofer, Andreas Hofer ! " he shouted out almost 
 imperatively. " The time is up ; come to me, Andreas Ho- 
 fer ! " 
 
 The door opened, and the tall, powerful form of the Sand- 
 wirth appeared in it. 
 
 " Here I am," he said, smiling calmly, " and you see I am 
 ready to set out." 
 
 " You will accompany me then, Andy ? " asked Hormayr, 
 joyfully. 
 
 " You will leave us ? " cried Anthonj'^ Steeger, indignantly. 
 
 " I was waiting for you, sir," said Andreas, quietly ; •' and 
 if you had not come of your own accord, Tony, I should have 
 called you, for you shall hear what I have got to say to the 
 intendant. Come in, then, both of you, and let us speak a 
 la.st word with each other. Anthony Steeger, Baron von 
 Hormayr, our countryman, came hither to persuade me to ac- 
 company him and leave the Tyrol. Our friends will do the 
 same thing, for the Bavarians and French are already enter- 
 ing the country. Speckbacher, Sieberer, and others, will save 
 their lives for this reason, and go with the Austrians ; and
 
 HOFER AND SPECKBACUER. 323 
 
 tlie intendaiit thinks I ought to do the saiije, for the sake of 
 my wife and children. However, I wished fii'st to consult the 
 good God. 1 did .so all night long. I prayed and reflected a 
 great deal, and it seemed to me as though the Lord spoke to 
 me and enlightened my soul to find the true path. Listen 
 then, Mr. lutendant of the Tyrol, and you, too, friend Anthony 
 Steeger, to what I have resolved to do with God's assistance, 
 I took an oath to serve the fatherland as long as I lived ; as 
 an honest man, I must keep my word, and stay in the Tyrol." 
 
 Anthony Steeger uttered a loud cry of joy, but Hormayr's 
 face grew very sombre. " You do not see, then, that you are 
 rushing upon your own destruction .' " he asked. '" You are 
 intent on rendering your wife and children unhappy ? You 
 are bent on incurring the most imminent peril ?" 
 
 " I will incur it courageously,'' said Hofer, kindly. " I know 
 very well that what I am about to do is not prudent, but it is 
 right. When the tempter took Jesus up into an exceeding 
 high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world 
 and their glory, and said, ' All these things will I give Thee, 
 if thou wilt fall down and worship me,' the Saviour did not 
 accept the offer, but remained true to Himself, and sealed His 
 teachings with his death I will follow the Saviour's ex- 
 ample, and never, while I live, prove recreant to the love 
 which I vowed to the dear Tyrol ; never will I leave it, but I 
 will stand by it and serve it to the last. Depart, then. Baron 
 von Hormayr ; I cannot accompany you, for the country 
 keeps me here, and never will I abandon it whatever may 
 happen ! " * 
 
 " Is that your last vrord, Andreas ? " asked Hormayr, 
 gloomily. 
 
 "It is," said Hofer, gently. ''But pray, sir, do not be 
 angry with me for it. Were I more prudent and sagacious, 
 I should c(M"tainly follow your advice ; but I am only a plain 
 peasant, and cannot but obey the promptings of my heart. 
 Let the Austrians leave the Tyrol. Andreas Hofer cannot 
 accompany them, nor can he look on quietly while the enemy 
 is i-e-entering the country. Many brave men, many excellent 
 sharpshooters will remain in the Tyrol, and I shall call upon 
 
 * "Giillury of Heroes: Aiulrcas Hofer," vol. iii., p. loi.
 
 324 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 them to rally round me. We have twice delivered the country 
 from the enemy without any outside assistance, and we shall, 
 perhaps, succeed a third time." 
 
 '* But if you should fail," cried Hormayr, '' if the seduced 
 Tyrolese should curse you, if the tears and lamentations of 
 your family should accuse you, if you ruin yourself and your 
 country, then remember this hour, and the warning I gave 
 you in order to save you ! " 
 
 " I will, Mr. Intendant," said Andreas, calmly. " Every 
 one must do his duty after his own fashion. You think you 
 are doing yours by leaving the Tyrol ; I think I do mine by 
 staying in the country. God will decide which did right. 
 And now, God bless you, sir ! Greet Speckbacher and all the 
 others ; and when you see the Archduke John, tell him that 
 my heart has not lost faith in him, and that I know full well 
 he would never have given up the poor Tyrol if he could have 
 helped it. And now, sir, do not look at me so indignantly ; 
 shake hands with me, and let us part in peace." 
 
 He held out his hand, but Hormayr. overcome by his emo- 
 tion, spread out his ai-ms and threw them around Hofer's neck 
 with an air of impassioned tenderness. 
 
 " Farewell, Andy, farewell," he said, in a low voice. " I 
 cannot approve of what you are doing, but I must love and 
 admire you for all that. Farewell, farewell ! " 
 
 He disengaged himself quickly, hastened out of the room, 
 and walked hurriedly through the hall. A few minutes after- 
 ward his carriage rolled away with thundering noise. 
 
 '' He is gone ! " cried Anthony Steeger, joyously ; " the tempt- 
 er has left us, and you have remained firm, Andy ; you did 
 not allow yourself to be seduced by his blandishments. The 
 Tyrol will reward you and love you for it for evermore ! " 
 
 " If you speak the truth, it is well ; if you do not, it is well 
 too," said Andreas, calmly. " I remain because it is my duty, 
 and because I feel that the Tyrol needs me. Anthony, the 
 enemy is re-entering the country ; we must drive him out a 
 third time ; that is my opinion." 
 
 •'It is mine, too," replied Anthony Steeger, exultingly. 
 " After succeeding twice in so doing, we shall expel him a 
 third time also."
 
 HDFER AND SPECKBACHER. 325 
 
 "It is true, it is a bad uiid luoui-uful thing that Speck- 
 bacher is going to desert us," said Andreas, musingly; but 
 Antliony Wallner and th(! Capuchin will surely standby us, 
 and Peter Mayer will not leave us either. Besides, you are 
 hei-e, and so am I, and we five men will raise our voices and 
 call upon tlie people to rise and expel the enemy once 
 more. I believe the brave men will listen to our voices, and 
 not one of them will stay at home ; all will come to us, 
 bring their rifles with them, and fight the French and Bava- 
 rians." 
 
 " I think so too, Andy. When the brave Tyrolese bear 
 your voice, they will come to a man, and we will achieve 
 another Iimspiuck triumph, and gain another victory on 
 Mount Isel." 
 
 " God grant it in His mercy ! " exclaimed Andreas, toucli- 
 iiig the crucifix on his breast. '' But I nmst set out now, my 
 friend. So long as we are unable to cope with the enemy, we 
 nmst avoid meeting him, conceal our forces, and i^repare 
 actively for the struggle. Hence, I shall not tell you where 
 I am going, and no one shall learn of my whereabouts until 
 the time has come for me to appear once more at the head of 
 a strong and brave army. Do your duty here, Tony, and en- 
 list courageous sharpshooters for the fatherland. Inform all 
 the patriots secretly of n»y plan, and tell them that we must 
 not heed the armistice concluded by Austria, but must fight 
 on for our liberty and our emperor. Have my horse brought 
 to the door, my friend ; the sun is already over the moun- 
 tains, and it is time for me to start." 
 
 Anthony Steeger hastened away ; he saddled his friend's 
 horse with his own hands and brought him to the door. 
 Andreas vaulted with the agility of a youth into the saddle, 
 and shook hands with his friend. 
 
 ''Farewell, Anthony Steeger," he said ; "you shall hear 
 fi'om me soon." 
 
 He then spurred his horse and galloped along the high- 
 way leading through the Puster valley. His horse knew the 
 way very well ; it was unnecessary for Andreas Hofer to 
 guide him ; he could let him trot along quietly, and absorb 
 himself in his plans and thoughts. He was animated only
 
 32B ANDREAS IIOFER. 
 
 by one idea, that his beloved country was in danger, and that 
 it needed him. 
 
 " I do not know if I shall be able to save it," he murmured 
 to himself, " but I do know that I must not run away. I shall 
 hide as long as it is necessary, and prepare myself by prayer 
 and devotion. Forward, my horse, forward ! " 
 
 And he rode on through the valley and across the heights. 
 Profound silence reigned everywhere. It was yet early in the 
 morning, the road was quite deserted, and Andreas could 
 brood unmterruptedly over his thoughts and conceive his 
 plans. All at once his musings v^ere interrupted by the roll of 
 a wagon af»proachiug on the road. It was a large wagon 
 with racks, di-awu by four horses, and many men sat in it. 
 Andreas liofer was as yet unable to see who they were, but 
 the red and white colours of their gold-and-silver-embroidered 
 coats showed him that they were soldiers. When the wagon 
 came closer up to him, he recognized them ; they were Aus- 
 trian officers and soldiers. But who was he that occupied 
 one of the front seats among them ? Who was that tall, 
 slender man in the dress of the Tyrolese, his head covered 
 with a pointed green hat ? The wagon came nearer and 
 nearer. Andreas Hofer halted his horse and looked stead- 
 fastly at the Tyrolese seated in the midst of the Austrian 
 officers. " Good heavens," he murmured, giving a start, " I 
 believe it is Joseph Speckbacher ! Yes, yes, it is." 
 
 Now the wagon was close by his side, and it was really 
 he, it was Joseph Speckbacher ; and it was plainly to be seen 
 that he had likewise recognized Andreas Hofer, for he uttered 
 a cry, and a deep blush suffused his cheeks. But the Aus- 
 trian officers had also recognized the brave Sandwirth, the uni- 
 versally beloved Barbone, and tbey shouted to the coachman 
 to drive quicker and whij) his horses into a full gallop. The 
 coachman did so, and the carriage sped away at a furious rate. 
 Andreas Hofer halted at the roadside ; his tearful eyes gazed 
 upon his friend, and when Speckbacher was whirled past him, 
 Andreas exclaimed in a loud, mournful voice, '' Speckbacher, 
 are you too going to desei-t the country ? They are driving 
 you to your own disgrace, Joe ! " * 
 
 * Andreas Hofer's own words. — Sec Mayr's '' Joseph Speck Ijacher," p. 143.
 
 HOFEFl ANT) SPKCKBArilKR. 327 
 
 The wag-on passed him noisily, and Joseph Speckbacher's 
 horse, which was tied behind, j^aHoped vapidly after it. An- 
 dreas Hofer looked after his fi-iend until a cloud of dust en- 
 veloi^ed the disappearing'' wagon, and he heard only the sound 
 of the wheels at a distance. He then heaved a deep sigh, 
 wiped a tear from his eye, and rode on. But his heart was 
 heavy and melancholy, and his thoughts returned again and 
 again during his ride on the lonely road to Joseph Speck- 
 bacher, who had tui-ned his back on the Tyrol and was about 
 to leave it in the hour of its sorest distress. Suddenly he 
 thougtit he heard his own name uttered behind ; the call was 
 repeated louder and more urgentl}'. 
 
 Andreas llofer halted his horse and turned. A cloud of 
 dust came uj) the road like a whirlwind ; now it opened, and 
 the head and neck of a hoi-se and the slender rider mounted 
 on him came in view. The cloud veils his face as yet, but he 
 comes nearer and nearer ; his hor.se is now by Andreas Hofer's 
 side, the rider sti-etches out his arms toward him and exclaims 
 exultingly : *' Andy, here I am ! I heard what you said, and 
 jumped from the wagon, untied my horse, vaulted into the 
 saddle, and sped after you, my Andy. I had to overtake you 
 and tell you that I do not want to be disgraced ; that I will 
 not leave the Tyrol unless you do too." 
 
 "I never will, Joe, luiless I should die," said Andreas 
 Hofei'. solennily. " But God be praised that I have got you 
 back, for a piece of my heart would have left the country with 
 you. But you are back, and I am so glad of it ! And I must 
 give you a kiss in the name of God, the country, and the Em- 
 ])(>ror Francis. Welcome home, good and faithful son of the 
 fatherland ! " 
 
 He encii'cled Speckbacher's neck with his arms and im- 
 printed a kiss on his forehead. They rejuained locked in a 
 long embi'ace, keeping their horses side by side, and gazing 
 at each other with proud, smiling joy. 
 
 "And now tell me, Andy, what are you going to do?" 
 asked Speckbacher, after a long ]iause. "I hope you will not 
 look on quietly and peaceably wlnle the Bavarians and French 
 ai'e re-entering the country ? I could not bear it, and this was 
 the very reason why I did not want to stiiy in the country ;
 
 328 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 for the Austrian officers told me, if I wished to remain in the 
 Tyrol, I should have to keep very quiet and allow the enemy 
 to take possession of the province, in accordance with the 
 stipulations of the armistice. And you see, Andy, my heart 
 revolted at that ; therefore I wished to get away and remain 
 abroad until the armistice had expired, when we would be 
 once more allowed to fight bravely for our country and our 
 emperor." 
 
 "No one shall prevent us from doing so now," said An- 
 dreas, calmly. " What do we care for the armistice ? The 
 emperor concluded it ; we did not, and I believe the emperor 
 will not blame us for disregarding it and continuing the war 
 as we commenced it." 
 
 "You are right, we will do so," exclaimed Speckbacher, 
 joyfully. " And now I will communicate to you some impor- 
 tant news which the Austrian officers received only this morn- 
 ing. Anthony Wallner, of Windisch-Mati'ey is also of your 
 opinion ; he refuses likewise to acknowledge the armistica 
 and make peace with the enemy. When the Bavarians, four 
 days ago, intended to cross the frontier near Windisch-Ma- 
 trey, Anthony Wallner and John Panzl went to meet them 
 with four hundred sharpshooters whom they had gathered in 
 great haste. They took position at the bridge of Taxenbach 
 and tried to prevent the Bavarians from crossing it. The Ba- 
 varians were seven thousand strong, and Wallner had only 
 four hundred men ; but our friends, nevertheless, defended 
 the bridge for seven hours, killed and wounded over three 
 hundred Bavarians, and i-etreated into the mountains only be- 
 cause the odds were too great." * 
 
 "1 know Anthony Wallner, and was convinced that he 
 would not submit quietly," said Andreas, joyfully. "And we 
 will follow his example, Joseph. The good God has imposed 
 on us the task of defending the Tyrol, and we will fulfil it 
 faithfully." 
 
 "Yes, we will, and we will begin this very hour. We 
 
 must find out, ahove all things, if all of our countrymen 
 
 are of our opinion, and if they are courageous enough 
 
 * Peternader, "Die Tyroler Landesvertbeidigung iiii Jalire 1809," vol. ii., 
 
 p. 84.
 
 HOFER AND SPECKBAOHEft. 320 
 
 to continue tlie struggle, even after tlie Austrians have 
 left us." 
 
 "What ixoiid did the Austrians do us while they wore 
 here ?" asked Andreas, iiidisnautly. "Let nie tell you, Joe, 
 on the whole I am ghid that the Austrians are evacuating 
 the province. It is better for us to fight alone, and trust 
 only our own strength. Regular troops and insurgents 
 never fight well together in the end, for there are always 
 jealousies between them ; they mutually charge each other 
 with the blunders committed dui-ing the campaign, and 
 grudge each other the glory obtained in the battles. Hence, 
 it is better for us to be alone and have no other allies 
 than the good God, the Holy Virgin, and her blessed 
 Son."* 
 
 "You are right, always right, Andy," said Speckbacher. 
 "We will go courageously to work, then ; and you shall see, 
 my Andy, that Speckbacher is still what he always was, and 
 that he will henceforth never think of leaving the country, 
 but will stand faithfully by it and fight until the enemy has 
 been expelled once more, and we are free again. T will ride 
 now thiough tlic whole Pnster valley, and then from Brun- 
 eckcn tliiough tlie Dux valley to my home, the Rinn ; and I 
 will stir up the people everywhere, and call upon the men to 
 follow me and tight once more for liberty and tlie fatlier- 
 land." 
 
 " Do so, Joe, and I will follow your example. I will re- 
 turn to the Passeyr valley ; you sliall all hoar from me be- 
 fore long, and then my voice shall resound throughout the 
 Tyrol. God will make it strong enough to iienetrate to every 
 ear, and fill every heart with enthusiastic devotion to the 
 country and the emperor. Farewell, then, Joseph ! The 
 Tyrol and I have recovered you, and my heart thanks God 
 fervently for it. Farewell, you shall hear from me before 
 long 1 " 
 
 He nodded once more kindly to Joseph Spockbacher and 
 galloped down the valley, while Speckbacher trotted up the 
 mountain-path. 
 
 Andreas Hofer i"ode all day long through the country. He 
 
 * Aiiilroa.s llofer's own wordsi. — See Mayr's " Joscpli Spu^'kbaclKT," p. 145. 
 22
 
 330 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 saw the people everywhere in commotion and uproar ; they 
 greeted him with jubilant cheers, and the men swore every- 
 where that they would not allow the enemy to re-enter the 
 country- without resistance ; that they did not believe in the 
 pacific assurances of tbe proclamations wuth which the Bava- 
 rians had flooded the country ; that they were satisfied, on the 
 contrary, that the enemy would revenge himself as cruelly as 
 he had done after his return in May ; and that they were, 
 therefore, firmly resolved to fight and expel the enemy once 
 more. 
 
 "Get your rifles and ammunition, then, and prepare for 
 the struggle," said Andreas Hofer everywhere to the men who 
 were so full of ardor. " You shall heai- from me soon, and 
 learn what God wants us to do." 
 
 Andi-eas Hofer did not rest even at night. The great task 
 which was imposed upon him urged him on incessantly. He 
 therefore profited by the clear moonlight to ride across the 
 Janfen, and at daybreak his horse neighed joyously and 
 stopped at the bank of the foaming Passeyr, at no great dis- 
 tance from the white house of the Sandwirth, the home which 
 contained his greatest treasures on earth, his wife and chil- 
 dren. 
 
 But Andreas Hofer did not intend to return to them now ; 
 he did not want to have his heart softened by the sight of his 
 wife, who would certainly weep and lament on learning of his 
 resolve to renew the war against the Bavarians and French. 
 And for the same reason he wished to avoid meeting his chil- 
 dren, whose dear faces might remind him that he was about 
 to endanger the life of their father, and that their bright eyes 
 might soon fill with tears of hitter grief. He would speak only 
 to God, and solitude was to be his sole adviser. Andreas 
 Hofer greeted his house and its beloved inmates with a long, 
 tearful look ; he then di-iod his eyes and alighted. The horse 
 neighed joyously and sped merrily down the hill toward his 
 stable. But Andreas Hofer took a by-path and ascended the 
 mountain through the forest and shrubbery to the Kellerlahn, 
 a cave known only to him and some of his intimate friends, 
 where his faithful servant had prepared him a couch, and 
 kept always in reatliness for hiin, in a secret cupboard fixed in
 
 TIIK CArrciTIN'S OATIT. 331 
 
 the rock, wine and food, some prajer-books, and writing-ma- 
 terials. 
 
 Iti this cave Andreas Hofer intended to pass a few days in 
 prayer and solitude. 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 THE capuchin's OATH. 
 
 A GREAT festival was to be celebrated at Brixen to-day. It 
 was the 2d of August, the day of St. Cassian, and not only 
 were the bones of this saint, which reposed in the cathedral 
 adorned with two splendid towers, to be exhibited, as they 
 were every year, to the devout pilgrims, but tbe pious bishop 
 had resolved that these sacred relics should be carried in sol- 
 emn procession through tlie whole city, that all might have 
 an opportunity to see the saint's remains anil implore the as- 
 sistance of God in the sore distress which had befallen the 
 Tyrol again. Since early morning, therefore, the peasantry 
 had been flocking from all sides toward the gates of Brixen ; 
 women and children, joung and old men, came from all parts 
 of the country to take part in the solenni procession and the 
 devout prayere for the Avelfare of the country. 
 
 Among those who were wandering along the road to Brixen, 
 was a monk of strikingly bold and martial appearance. His 
 tall, broad-shouldered form was remarkable for its military 
 bearing ; his long, well-kept red whiskers and mustache did 
 not correspond to the tonsure on his head, which was covered 
 with thin i-eddish ringlets ; and in striking contrast with it 
 were likewise the broad red scar on his healthy sunburnt 
 countenance, and the bright, defiant glance of his eyes, which 
 indicated boldness and intrepidity I'ather than piety and hu- 
 mility. He had tucked up his brown robe, and thus exhibited 
 his stout legs, which seemed to mock the soft sandals encasing 
 his broad, powerful feet. In iiis hand he held a long brown 
 staflF, terminatiiig at its upper end in a carved image of St. 
 Francis ; and the Capuchin did not carry this staff in order 
 to lean upon it, but he brandished it in the air like a sword.
 
 332 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 or held it up triumpliantly as though it were a victorious 
 banner. 
 
 But however strange and unusual the Capuchin's appear- 
 ance might be, no one laughed at him, but he was greeted 
 everywhere with demonstrations of love and reverence ; and 
 when he passed some slow wanderers with his rapid step, they 
 looked after him with joyful surprise, and said to each other, 
 " Look at old Red-beard, look at brave Father Haspinger ! He 
 has fought often enough for the fatherland. Now he is going 
 to pray for the Tyrol." 
 
 '' Pray, and fight again, if need be," said the friar, turning 
 to the speakers. 
 
 '' You think, then, reverend father, that there will be war 
 again ? " asked many voices ; and dense groups surrounded 
 the friar, and asked him anxiously if he advised them to allow 
 the enemy to re-enter the country ; if it would not be better to 
 drive him back forcibly, or if he thought it would be preferable 
 for them to keep quiet and submit to stem necessity ? 
 
 " I think there is a time for every thing— for keeping quiet 
 as well as for fighting, for praying as well as for politics." 
 said Father .Haspinger, shmgging his shoulders. "If you 
 wish to pray and confess your sins, come to me. I am ready 
 to teach you how to pray, and exhort you with true earnest- 
 ness. But if you want to fight and expel the enemy from the 
 country, why do you not apply to your commandei's, and con- 
 sult, above all, the brave and pious Andreas Hofer ? " 
 
 " We cannot find him anywhere," shouted several voices. 
 '' He is not at home, and even his wife does not know w^here 
 he has concealed himself." 
 
 " Do you, impious wretches, think that the most pious man 
 in the whole Tyrol, Andreas Hofer, has concealed himself be- 
 cause he is afraid of the Bavarians who are re-entering the 
 country ?" asked the friar, in a thundering voice. 
 
 " No, your reverence, w-e do not. We know well that An- 
 dreas Hofer will not act like Ashbacher. Sieberer, Teimer. 
 Eisenstecken, and Speckbacher, and abandon us in our sore 
 distress." 
 
 " He who does not extricate himself from his sore distress 
 will not be saved by others," cried the friar, indignantly.
 
 THE CAPUCHINS OATH. 333 
 
 " Do you not know tlio eleventh commandment you white- 
 livered cowards, who think you are lost when there is no 
 leader to ])ut himself at your head ? Do you not know^ the 
 eleventh conunandment, saying that he who trusts in God 
 and fights well will overpower his enemies ? But you Avill 
 never overpower your enemies ; you do not trust in God, and 
 hence you can not fight well." 
 
 " But we will fight well, your reverence," replied the men, 
 with hold, defiant glances ; '' only our leadei-s do not stand hy 
 us. Every one cannot fight alone and at random, but there 
 must be some one at the lead to lead the whole movement. 
 Since Andreas Hofer cannot be found, pray put yourself at 
 our head, your reverence, and become our leader ! " 
 
 " That request is not so stupid," said the Capuchin, smiling, 
 and slrokinrr his red beard. "You know very well that old 
 Red-beai-d does not .stay at home when an effort is to be made 
 to save the fatherland, and perhaps I may soon be able to ac- 
 cept your olfer and call upon you to defend tlie Tyrol." 
 
 " Do so, do call upon us," shouted the men enthusiastically. 
 " We will not permit the French and Bavarians to murder 
 our ))i'0))le and burn our houses as they did last May ; we will 
 fight rather until we have driven them from the country or 
 ]jei-ished to a man ! " 
 
 " These are brave and pious sentiments," said Father Has- 
 pinger. his eyes flashing for joy : " and we will speak further 
 about them. Come up to the church of Latzfons to-morrow, 
 and hear me preach ; and after the sermon we will confer as 
 to the state of the country. But now keep quiet, for you see 
 we are at the gate of Brixen ; turn your souls, therefore, to 
 God, and pray St. Cassian to have mercy upon you, and inter- 
 rodo for you with God and the Redeemer." 
 
 And Father Haspinger's face became suddenly very grave 
 mid devoiit ; he lifted the rosaiy hanging at his belt, and, 
 while entering the city by the gate, he commenced praying a 
 Pafcr-noster in an undertone. 
 
 The city meanwhile was alreadv in great commotion. The 
 bells had begun to ring their solemn peals, and all devout 
 worshi]ipers, consisting on this occasion of the whole popula- 
 tion of tlae citv, were flocking to the cathedral. All at once
 
 334 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 the doors of the cathedral were thrown open, and under a 
 gold embroidered baldachin borne bj^ four priests appeared 
 the pious bishoj^, carrying in his uplifted right hand the casket 
 containing the bones of Saint Cassian. Behind the bishop 
 came the priests bearing wax-lights, and singing soul-stirring 
 hymns. Next followed the long line of acolytes with smok- 
 ing censers ; and pious worshippers, carrying torches, and re- 
 peating the hymns intoned by the priests, closed the pro- 
 cession. This procession gained strength at every step as it 
 advanced, and soon it had been joined by the whole popula- 
 tion of the city and the hundreds of pious pilgrims who had 
 flocked to Brixen to take part in the holy festival. 
 
 Haspinger, the Capuchin friar, was likewise in the proces- 
 sion ; he walked in the midst of the brave peasants with whom 
 he had conversed, singing v/ith head erect and in a tone of sol- 
 emn earnestness the hymns with which the holy relics were 
 being invoked. Only it seemed to the peasants who heard his 
 powerful voice as though he somewhat changed the passage 
 imploring Saint Cassian to grant the Tyrolese peace, protec- 
 tion, and tranquillity, and prayed for the very reverse. The 
 passage was as follows : '' Have mercy upon our weakness, and 
 grant us peace and tranquillity." But Father Haspinger, 
 brandishing his staff with the image of Saint Francis, sang in 
 a tone of fervent piety : " Have mercy upon our valor, and 
 grant us war ! '' To those who looked at him wonderingly on 
 account of this change of the text, he nodded with a shrewd 
 twinkle of his eyes, and murmured : " Come to-morrow to the 
 churcli of Latzfons. We will hold a council of war there ! " 
 
 The procession had not yet finished one-half of its route, 
 and had just reached the market-place when a liorseman gal- 
 loped up the street leading from the gate to the market-place. 
 It was probably a belated worshipper, who intended to take 
 part in the procession. He alighted hurriedly from his horse, 
 and tied it to the brass Icnob of a street-door, and then walked 
 close up to tlie procession. However, he did not join it, but 
 stood still and contemplated every passer-by with prying 
 eyes. Now he seemed to have found him whom he sought, 
 for a smile illuminated his sunburnt face, and he advanced 
 directly toward Father Haspinger, who was singing again :
 
 THE CAPUCHIN'S OATH. 335 
 
 " Have mercy upon our valor, aiul grant us war ! " But on 
 perceiving the young lad who was approaching him, he 
 paused, and a bright gleam of joy ovei-spread his features. 
 
 "It is Andreas Hofer's servant, Anthony Wild,'' mur- 
 mured Father Haspiuger, joyfully, holding out his hand to 
 the lad. " Say, Tony, do you come to bring me a message 
 from brother Andreas ? " 
 
 " I do, reverend sir. The Sandwirth sends me to you, and 
 as I did not meet you at your convent of Seeben near Klausen, 
 I followed you to Brixen ; for my master instructed me to 
 deliver my message as quickly as possible into your hands and 
 return with your answer." 
 
 " What message do you bring me, Tony ? " 
 
 "This letter, reverend sir." 
 
 The friar took it and put it quickly into his belt. " Where 
 is brother Andi*eas ? " he asked. 
 
 "In the cave which is known only to him, to you, and to 
 myself," whispered Anthony Wild, into the friar's ear. " He 
 awaits your reply there, reverend sir." 
 
 " And you shall have it this very day, Tony. Now, how- 
 ever, we will not forget our divine service, but worship God 
 with sincere piety. Take the place behind me in the pi-oces- 
 sion ; and when we return to the cathedral, follow me where- 
 ever I may go." 
 
 And the friar commenced singing again; his hand, how- 
 ever, no longer held the rosary, but he put it firmly on the 
 letter which was concealed in his belt, and whose contents 
 engrossed his thoughts. 
 
 At length the jirocession had returned to the portals of the 
 cathedral. Father Ilaspinger signed to the Sandwirth's serv- 
 ant, who was walking behind him, and instead of accompany- 
 ing the other worshippers into the church, he walked along 
 the procession until he reached a tall, slender young man, 
 with whom he had already exchanged many a glance. 
 
 "Martin Schenk," said the friar to him, "will you go 
 home now ?" 
 
 "I will, and I request you, reverend sir, to acconij)any me," 
 said the young man, hastily. " I believe you will find a num- 
 ber of friends at mv house. Peter Kemnater, the innkeeper of
 
 336 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 Schabs, and Peter Mayer, the innkeeper of Mahr, will be there. 
 I invited them, and had I known that you would be here, I 
 should have invited you too." 
 
 " You see that I come without being invited, for I think the 
 fatherland has invited us all ; and I believe we will not par- 
 take of an ei^icurean breakfast at your tavern to day, but con- 
 fer as to the terrible calamities of our country. "We are the 
 cooks that will prepare a very spicy and unhealthy breakfast 
 for the French and Bavarians, and I believe I am the bearer 
 of some salt and pepper from Andreas Hofer for this purpose. 
 See, Martin Schenck, in my belt here, by the side of the rosary, 
 is a letter from our dear brother Andreas Hofer." 
 
 " And what does he write to you ? I hope he does not 
 w^ant us to keep quiet and permit the enemy to re-enter the 
 country, as all prudent and cautious people advise us to do ? " 
 
 '' Hush, hush, Martin ! do not insult our commander-in- 
 chief V)y such a supposition. I have not read the letter yet, 
 but I believe I know its contents, and could tell you before- 
 hand every word that the good and faithful Andreas has 
 written to us. Ah, here is your tavern, and let me ask a favor 
 of you now. The lad who is following us is Andreas Hofer's 
 faithful servant, Anthony Wild, Avho brought me the letter 
 from his master, and who must wait for my answer. Give 
 him a place where he may rest, and a good breakfast, for he 
 must set out for home this very day." 
 
 "Come in, Anthony Wild ; you are welcome," said the 
 young innkeeper, shaking hands with Hofer's servant. 
 
 "Thank you, but I nu^st first fetch my horse, which I tied 
 to a pole somewhere down the street. I rode very fast, and 
 must first attend to the horse ; afterward I will request you to 
 let me have some breakfast." 
 
 And Hofer's servant hastened down the street. The inn 
 keeper and the friar entered the house and stepped into the 
 large bar-room. Two men came to meet them there. 
 
 One of them, a man about forty-five years old, dressed in 
 the simple costume of the Tyrolese, and of a tall, powerful 
 form, was Peter Mayer, known throughout the Tyrol as one 
 of the most ardent and faithful patriots, and a man of extraor- 
 dinary inti-epidity, firmness, and energy.
 
 THE CAPUCHIN'S OATH. 337 
 
 The oUior, a young nian of scarcely twenty-two, slender yet 
 well built, and far-famed for his fine appearance, boldness, and 
 wealth, was Peter Kemnater, the most faithful and devoted 
 friend of the fine-looking and patriotic young innkeeper, Mar- 
 tin Schenk. 
 
 The two men shook hands with the new-comers and bowed 
 to them, but their faces were gloomy, and not the faintest 
 gleam of a smile illuminated tliem. 
 
 "Have you come hither, Father Joachim Haspinger, only 
 to join in the peace-prayers?'' asked Peter Mayer in his 
 laconic style, fixing his dark, pieix-ing eyes on the friar's face. 
 
 ''No, Peter Mayer,'' said the Capuchin, gravely ; "I have 
 come hither because I wanted to see you three, and because I 
 have to say many things to you. But previously let me read 
 what our pious and patrit)tic brother Andreas Hofer has writ- 
 ten to nie." 
 
 '"You have a h'tt(>r from Andreas Hofer ! " exclaimed Mayer 
 and Kemnater, joyfully. 
 
 "Here it is," said the friar, drawing it from his belt. 
 "Now give me a moment's time to read the letter, and then 
 we will confer upon the matter that brought us here." 
 
 He stepi)ed to the window and unfolded the letter. While 
 he was reading it, the three men k)oked at him with rapt sus- 
 pense, seeking to read in his features the impression produced 
 by Andi'eas Hofer's words on the heart of the brave Capuchin. 
 Indeed, the friar's features brightened more and more, liis 
 forehead and face colored, and a smile illuminated his hard 
 f eatu i-es. 
 
 " Listen, men," he exckiimed triumphantly, waving the 
 ixxper as though it were a flag ; " listen to w^hat Andreas writes 
 to me ! " And the friar read in a clarion voice : 
 
 " Dear brother Red-beard ! Beloved Father Joachim Has 
 j)inger : You know, brother, that all has been in vain; the 
 Austrians are evacuating the country, and th-P emperor, or 
 rather not the emperor, but his ministers and secretaries, stipu- 
 lated in the armistice concluded with Bonaparte, that the 
 French and Bavarians should i-e-enter the Tyrol and recom- 
 mence the infamous old system. But I think, even though 
 the emperor has abandoned us, God Almighty will not do so ;
 
 338 ANDREAS IIOFER. 
 
 and even though the Austrian soldiers are crossing our fron- 
 tiers, our mountains and glaciers remain to us ; God placed 
 them there to i^rotect our frontiers, and He gave us strong 
 arms and good rifles and keen eyes to discern the enemy and 
 hit him. We are the inhabitants of the Tyrol, and the Aus- 
 trian soldiers are not, hence it is incumbent on \\h to protect 
 our frontiers, and pi'event the enemy from invading our terri- 
 tory. If you are of my opinion, gather about you as many 
 brave sharpshooters as you can, call out the Landsturm where 
 it is possible, tell the other commanders to do the same, and 
 advance, if possible, at once toward the Brenner, where I hope 
 you will meet me or hear further news from me. Joseph 
 Speckbacher did not leave the country either ; he is enlisting 
 sharp-shooters and calling out the Landsturm in his district. 
 It is the Lord's will that the Tyrol be henceforth protected 
 only by the Tyrolese. Bear this in mind, and go to work. — 
 Your faithful Andreas Hofer, at present not knowing where 
 he is."* 
 
 ''Well," asked the friar, exultingly, "do you think that 
 Andreas Hofer is right, and that we ought not to allow the 
 enemy to re-enter the country ? " 
 
 "I think he is," said Peter Kemnater, joyously. "I think 
 it will be glorious for us to expel the French and Bavarians 
 once more from our frontiers." 
 
 "Or, if they have already crossed them, drive them igno- 
 miniously from the country," added Peter Mayer. 
 
 "I have passed, during the last few days, through tlie 
 whole of Puster valley," said Martin Schenk. "Everywhere 
 I found the men determined to die, rifle in hand, on the field 
 of battle, rather than stay peaceablj' at home and bend their 
 necks before the enemy. 'It is a misfortune,' said the men, 
 ' that the Au.strians are abandoning us at this critical juncture ; 
 but it would be a greater misfortune still for us to abandon 
 ourselves and consent to surrender at disci-etion.'" 
 
 "And I say it is no misfortune at all that the Austrians 
 have left us," cried the Capuchin, vehemently. "The cause 
 of the fatherland has not suffered much by the retreat of the 
 
 * Andreas Ilofer siprned all his letters aud orders iu this strange manner 
 while he was concealed in his cave.
 
 THE CAPUCHIN'S OATH. 339 
 
 Austrians. Wlio assisted us at the battle of Mount Isel ? 
 Who helped us to drive the enemy twice from the country ? 
 Not an Austrian did ! We accomplished all that was great 
 and glorious in the short and decisive struggle. Let us not 
 complain, then, that no one stands by us now, and that we 
 know that no one will help us but God and we ourselves. 
 But we must not plunge blindly and furiously into the strug- 
 gle ; on the contrary, we nmst consider whether we ax'e able 
 to defeat the enemy. The French and Bavarians are sending 
 large forces on all sides to the poor Tyrol. I cannot conceal 
 from you that the enterprise which we are going to undertake, 
 and to which Andreas Hofer invites u.s, is a dangerous one. 
 Let me tell you that that miserable assassin and ruffian Lefebre, 
 whom they call the Duke of Dantsic, is approaching from the 
 north with twenty -five thousand men, and is already close to 
 Innspruck. General Deroi, too, is coming ; he intends to 
 mai'ch through the whole Vintschgau, and force his way over 
 the Gerlos Mountains to the district of Innspruck. Rusca's 
 wild legions are already near Lienz ; General Pery is moving 
 up from the south with his Italian troops; and the exasperated 
 Bavarians, under Generals Wreden and Arco, are alreadj- at 
 Salzbui-g. In short, more than fifty thousand men are com- 
 ing up from all sides to trauiple the poor Tyrol under foot. 
 They are veteran soldiers ; they have got artilleiy and better 
 arms than we, and are superior to us in numbei's, equipments, 
 and strength. Consider, therefore, whether you are willing 
 to undertake the heavy task nevertheless ; consider that you 
 risk your property, your blood, and your lives, and that, if you 
 should be so unfortunate as to fall into tlie enemy's hands, he 
 would perhaps punish you as criminals and rebels. It is true, 
 you are ready to risk your property, your blood, and your 
 lives, for the fatherland and the libei-ty of the Tyrol ; but then 
 you have also duties to your families, your parents, your 
 brides; you have a duty to yourselves— that of not endanger- 
 ing your lives recklessly. It is true, even though the enemy 
 should punish you as rebels, you would die the beautiful death 
 of martyrs for your fatherland, and the halo of your virtue 
 and love of country will inmiortalize your names; but you 
 must consider, also, whether your death will be useful to the
 
 340 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 counti'y, and whether you will not shed 3-our blood in vain. 
 Ask your hearts, ujy friends, whether they will be courageous 
 and strong enough to brave cheerfully whatever reverses and 
 calamities may befall us, and whether they really will risk 
 death, imprisonment, and the scafFold, without flinching 
 and trembling ? That is what I wished to say to you 
 before concerting measures with j^ou and sending an an- 
 swer to Andreas Hofer. Consider it all, my friends, and then 
 speak." 
 
 " We are to ask our hearts if they will not flinch and trem- 
 ble ? " said Peter Mayer, almost contemptuously. " When the 
 enemy returned to the Tyrol last May, he burned down eight 
 houses which belonged to me, and for some time I did not 
 know but that my wife and children had perished in the 
 conflagration. Did you see me tremble — did you hear me 
 complain at that time ? Did I not stand up cheerfully in the 
 battle on Mount Tsel, without weeping or murmuring, and 
 bearing in mind only that I was fighting for liberty, the 
 fatherland, and the emperor ? It was not until we liad gained 
 the victory, and obtained our freedom, that I went home to 
 mourn and weep on the smoking ruins of my houses. But I 
 found my wife and my children alive and well ; a friend had 
 concealed them and taken care of them ; and after thanking 
 God for our victory, I thanked Him for preserving my wife 
 and children ; and only now, when we were happy and free, 
 did I shed tears. But since the enemy is re-entering the 
 country, and fresh misfortunes are to befall us, my tears are 
 dried again ; my heart is full of courage and constancy ; and 
 I believe we must risk all, because otherwise every thing that 
 we have done hitherto will be in vain. I love my wife dearly; 
 but, if she came now to dissuade me from taking part in the 
 struggle, and if I felt that my heart was giving way to her 
 persuasion, I would strangle her with my own hands, lest .she 
 should prevent me from serving the great cause of the father- 
 land. It is true, our task is dilRcult, but it is not impossible; 
 and that which is not impossible should be tried for the father- 
 land ! I have given you my opinion ; it is your turn now, my 
 young friends. Peter Kemnater, speak ! Tell Father Red- 
 beard whether your heart is trembling and flinching, and
 
 THE rAPTJCHIN'S OATH 341 
 
 whether you think we had better keep quiet, because the ene- 
 my is so powerful and superior to us." 
 
 "I have an atlianced bridi- of whom I am very fond," said 
 Peter Kemnator, with fhislied cheeks and flashing eyes; "a 
 girl whom I love better than my parents, than anything in 
 the world, and whom I intended to marrj' a fortnight hence; 
 but I swear to God and the Holy Virgin that my wedding 
 shall not take place until the Tyrol is free again, and we have 
 expelled the enemy once more from the country. And if my 
 bride should be angry at this, and demand that I should think 
 more of her than of the fatherland, and prefei- living for her 
 alone to dying perhaps for the fatherland, I should break with 
 her, and never look at her again, never speak another word 
 with her. I have many houses and lands; but even though 
 I knew that my fields and meadows were to be devastated, 
 and my houses burned down, like those of Peter Mayer, T 
 should say, nevertheless, we will fight for the fatherland! 
 We will defeat the enemy, even though we should all become 
 beggars, and even though I knew that I should die before see- 
 ing my affianced bride again, and that she would curse me in 
 my grave. That is what 1 have got to say. Now you may 
 speak, Martin Schenk: tell the father whether your heart is 
 flinching and tremblinfr." 
 
 "Yes, it is," cried Martin Schenk, "but only when I think 
 the men of the Tyrol could be so cowardly and mean-spirited 
 as to keep quiet and submit to their oppressors, because the 
 latter are powerful and superior to us in numbers. I have 
 a young wife whom 1 married only a year ago, and who gave 
 birth to a little boy a week since, and I assure you that I love 
 her and her child with all my heart. But if I knew that their 
 death would be useful to the fatherland, and would contribute 
 to its salvation, I would shoot them with my own rifle, and 
 should not weep on seeing tlieir corpses at my feet; but I 
 should rejoice and exclaim, ' I did it for the sake of the father- 
 land; I sacrificed my most precious treasures for the beloved 
 Tyrol.' Even though the enemy is very strong and numer- 
 ous, even though the emperor has abandoned us, God stands 
 by us. The mountains stand firm yet : they are our fortresses, 
 and we will fight in them until we ai-e all dead, or until w«
 
 3-i2 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 have defeated the enemy, and delivered the Tyrol a third time. 
 Now yon know my opinion, Father Joachim Haspinger." 
 
 The Capuchin made no reply. He stood with hands 
 clasped iu prayer and eyes lifted to heaven, and two large 
 tears rolled down his bronzed cheeks into his red beard. 
 
 " Great God in heaven," he murmured in a voice tremu- 
 lous with emotion, "I thank Thee for letting me see this hour, 
 and hear the soul-stiri-ing words of these patriotic men. What 
 can I say now, what have I to sacrifice to the fatherland ? I 
 have no wife, no children, no property ; I am but a poor Capu- 
 chin! I have nothing but my blood and my life. But I will 
 give it to the country, even though the bishop and the abbot 
 should excommunicate me for it and condemn my soul to 
 burn in everlasting fire. It is better that a jjoor Capucliin's 
 soul should burn in hell than that the fatherland should 
 groan with jiain and wear the brand of disgrace and slavery 
 on its forehead. It is better to be a faithless son of the bishop 
 and abbot, than a faithless son of the fathei-land. It is better 
 to be a bad Christian than a bad patriot. Therefore, what- 
 ever may happen, I shall share every thing with you, danger 
 or victory, triumph or death. Henceforth I am no longer a 
 Capuchin, but old Red-beard Joachim Haspinger, the de- 
 fender of his country ; and I swear that I will no more lay 
 down my head and repose before we have delivered the coun- 
 try from the enemy aud concluded an honorable peace. If 
 that is your sentiment also, swear here before God that you 
 will fight henceforth for the country, devote your whole 
 strength to it, and perish rather than give up the struggle, 
 make peace w^th the enemy, and submit to the Bavarian 
 yoke." 
 
 And the three men lifted their hands and eyes to heaven, 
 and exclaimed with one accord, in a loud and solemn tone : 
 " We swear by God Almighty, and by all that is sacred and 
 dear to us on earth, that we will fight henceforth for the 
 country, devote our whole strength to it, and perish rather 
 than give up the struggle, make peace with the enemy, and 
 submit to the Bavarian yoke ! " 
 
 " Benedictus I bcnedictus I " cried Father Haspinger, laying 
 his hands on those which the three men hud joined on taking
 
 THE CAPUCHIN'S OATH. 343 
 
 the oiith. ''The Lord has heard and accepted your oath ; the 
 Lord will bless you, the Holy Virgin will protect you ! 
 Amen ! " 
 
 " And now let us concert measures for the struggle, and 
 consider what we ought to do,'" said the friar, after a pause. 
 " In the first place, we will inform Andreas Hofer that his 
 wishes shall be complied with, and that we will call out the 
 Landstnrm and all our forces. Let me write to him, therefore, 
 and then we will hold a council of war."' 
 
 The council of war lasted until midnight ; and while all 
 Europe was truckling to the " invincible Emperor Napoleon," 
 while all Germany was lying humbly prostrate at his feet, and 
 while all the princes were basking in the sunshine of his favor, 
 four poor men, neither learned nor even Avell educated, three 
 peasants and a monk, were concerting measures to bid de- 
 fiance to " Bonaparte, the robber of crowns," and expel his 
 powerful armies from their mountains ! All Germany was 
 subjugated, and had given up all further resistance to the all- 
 powerful conqueror ; only the small Tyrol would not suffer 
 herself to be subjugated ; only the brave sons of the German 
 mountains were still intent on braving the tyrant, and uphold- 
 ing their libert}'' and independence, despite the formidable 
 efforts he was making to crush them. 
 
 Already on the following morning the tocsin sounded in 
 all the valleys and on all the heights, and called upon the men 
 to fight for the fatherland. After midnight the three brave 
 men had left Brixeu ; each had set out in a different direction 
 to incite the men to insurrection, inform them of Andreas 
 Hofer's order, and im)>l<)re them in Ihe name of the fatherland 
 to lake up their rifles again and risk once more their lives for 
 the deliverance of the Tyrol. 
 
 Father Haspinger had walked all night to Latzfous, and 
 on the following morning he preached to the people at the 
 church of that place an entluisiastic sermon, in which he 
 called upon them to make one more elfort in behalf of their 
 beloved countiw, and i)romised entire absolution for one year 
 to every one who should kill a dozen Fi-encb soldiei-s, and ab- 
 solution for five years to any who should kill twice as many.* 
 
 *MayerV " Sj.i'fkliacliur," p. 151.
 
 344 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 Carried away by the soul-stirring words and promises of 
 the Capuchin, full of ardor to serve the fatherland, and de- 
 sirous of obtaining absolution, the men took up arms, and even 
 a company of women was formed for the holy service of the 
 fatherland. 
 
 At night on the same day three hundred sharpshooters had 
 rallied around the martial friar, and with them he marched 
 toward Unterau, constantly receiving re-enforcements on the 
 road ; for the inhabitants everywhere rose again as one man, 
 and with their redoubted rifles on their shoulders descended 
 every lateral glen and ravine, and joined his command to con- 
 quer or die under him. 
 
 And joyful news arrived from all sides, announcing that 
 the inhabitants were rising throughout the Tyrol. Already 
 Peter Mayer and Peter Kemnater had gathered ai^ound them 
 all the sharpshooters of the neighboring towns and villages, 
 and their four companies now united with the friar's troops. 
 News also came from Andreas Hofer : he had emerged again 
 from the cave, and at his call all the sharpshooters of the Pas- 
 seyr valley had rallied around him, and companies had flocked 
 to him from all parts of the country to fight again under their 
 beloved cornraander-in-chief. Andreas Hofer had marched 
 with them across the crest of the precipitous Janfen, and his 
 army gathering strength like a mountain-torrent from every 
 tributary stream which crossed its course, soon embraced all 
 the able-bodied men of Passeyr, Meran, and Algund. 
 
 The Tyrolese had risen a third time to defend the inde- 
 pendence of their country. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 THE FIRST BATTLE. 
 
 What the four men had sworn at the inn of Brixen, and 
 what Andreas Hofer had agreed upon with his friend Speck- 
 bacher, had succeeded. The whole Tyrol had risen and was 
 eager for the fray. A small army, commanded by Father
 
 THE FIRST BATTLE. 345 
 
 Haspinger, was encamped near Brixen, and received liourly 
 fresli accessions. Peter Keinuator and Peter Mayer were still 
 trav'ersing the country, and calling upon the peasants to repair 
 t<i Fathei- Red-heard's camp near Brixen, and their appeals 
 were readily complied with. The brave peasants of Rodeneck, 
 Weitenthal, and Schoneck, led by their courageous pastor, 
 George Schoneck, came into camp ; and so did Anthony Wall- 
 ner with the four hundred men who had followed him from 
 the Puster valley. 
 
 Father Haspinger received these brave men exultingly, 
 and folded their leader, Anthony Wallner, tenderly to his 
 heart. 
 
 " You have fought again like a hero," he exclaimed, pat- 
 ting his cheeks atfectionately ; "the whole Tyrol is extolling 
 your ex])loits at the murderous battle of Taxenbach, and they 
 are telling wonderful stories about the surpassing heroism and 
 bravery you displayed on that occasion." 
 
 "It is true, we fought bravely," said Anthony Wallner, 
 sighing ; " but it did not do much good, for t he enemy was 
 ten to one, and we wei-e finally unable to check his advance. 
 But we followed him, and will now unite with you, reverend 
 father, in order to expel him once more from the coiintry. I 
 believe there will be another battle on Mount Isel, for the en- 
 emy is always intent on forcing his way to Innspruck, believ- 
 ing that the whole Tyrol is subjugated so soon as the capital 
 has fallen into his hands. We must strive, therefore, to meet 
 him there once more ; for you know the old prophecy, saying 
 that Mount Isel will be a lucky place for the Tyrolese." 
 
 " I do know it," said the friar ; " and if it please God we 
 will verify it. The freedom of the Tyrol is buried on Mount 
 Isel near Innspruck, and we will disinter the golden treasure 
 there and cause it to shed its lustre once more on our moun- 
 tains and valleys. Yon shall help me to do it, Anthony Wall- 
 ner, you and your famous shai'pshooters of Windisch-Matrey. 
 But previously I think, my friend, we shall have something 
 to do here ; for our scouts have returned with the news that 
 the enemy is approaching. His colunni is headed by Saxon 
 and Bavarian troops under the French general, Royer ; his 
 forces are followed by the main army under the commander- 
 23
 
 346 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 in-chief, Marshal Lefebvre, or as he proudly call himself, the 
 Duke of Dantsic. General Royer has got already as far as 
 Sterzing, and if we do not interfere the Saxons will soon reach 
 Brixen." 
 
 " But we will interfere,'' cried Anthony Walluer ; '' we 
 will not allow them to advance to Brixen, and I will occupy 
 imraediately with my sharpshooters the mountain-passes on 
 the route of the enemy. We will receive the Duke of Dantsic 
 with fireworks which will sadden his heart." 
 
 "Do so, dear x\nthony," exclaimed Haspinger, joyfully. 
 " I myself will first go to Brixen and teach the members of 
 the municipality better manners. Their terror and anguish 
 have rendered them quite eloquent, and they have dissuaded 
 many hundred peasants, who were passing through Brixen to 
 join my command, from so doing, and induced tliem to return 
 to their homes. I shall speak a serious word with those gen- 
 tlemen, and teach them a little patriotism." 
 
 Haspinger nodded kindly to Anthony Walluer, and calling 
 ten of his best sharpshooters to him repaired to the city hall 
 of Brixen, where the members of the nuniicipality were as- 
 sembled. He made them a furious speech, which, however, 
 did not impress the gentlemen as forcibly as the threats which 
 he added to it. He swore that, if the members of the munici- 
 pality would not have the tocsin sounded immediately and 
 send out mounted messengers to call out the peasants and 
 send them to him, he would cause every one of them to be 
 hanged or shot in the morning ! And this oath was effectual 
 enough, for the terrified gentlemen knew full well that Father 
 Haspinger had the power and the will to fulfil his oaths. 
 Hence, the tocsin was sounded, mounted messengers were sent 
 out in all directions, and on the following morning upward 
 of two thousand able-bodied men arrived at Haspinger's 
 camp.* 
 
 " All right," said the friar ; " if Andi'cas Hofer and Speck- 
 bacher join us with their forces, I believe we shall succeed, 
 and St. Cassian will have understood our ])rayers." 
 
 While Anthony Wallner and his sharpshooters occupied 
 the mountain-gorges this side of Brixen on the road to Mitte- 
 
 * " Gallery of Heroes : Andreas Hofer,'' p. 110.
 
 TUE FIRST BATTLE. 347 
 
 wald, Joseph Speckbacher and liis iiwii liad penetrated far be- 
 yond Mitlowald toward Sterziiig, and had learned tliat the 
 Saxons, under (leiural Hoyor, were restinji- al Hterzing witli 
 the intention of advancing in flic nioiniiig tiiiougli the wild 
 valley of the Eisacli toward Brixen. 
 
 "Well, if the Saxons are resting we must work in order t<! 
 prepai'e eternal i-epose for them," said Joseph Speckbacher, 
 gayly. "Now come, my brave lads, we must take the Saxons 
 between two fires. They are miserable scoundrels and trai- 
 tors. Ah, the}' do not shrink from serving the rapacious con- 
 queror Bonaparte, and turning their arms against their Ger- 
 man countrymen, merely because the French emperor orders 
 them to do so, and because we refuse to submit to the foreign 
 yoke and are determined to preserve our German tongue and 
 our German rights ! How disgraceful it is that Gei'mans 
 should attack Germans at the bidding of the foreign oppress- 
 or ! Therefore, we will punish the Saxons and Bavarians in 
 the name of God and the Holy Virgin. We will let them ad- 
 vance down the defile, and attack them only after they are in 
 it. They cannot retrace their steps, for we are behind them ; 
 nor can they advance very far, for Father Red-beard will meet 
 them in front. Now come and let us make festive prepara- 
 tions, as it behooves those who are expecting distinguished 
 guests. We will erect a few triumphal arches to them, and 
 show them how avalanches roll down our mountains. Ah. 
 we will build u^) for them artificial ruins which will excite 
 their sincere admiration '. '' 
 
 "Yes, yes, we will!" shouted llio peasants, who went to 
 work, singing and laughing. In the first place, they erected 
 " triumjihal arches " to the enemy ; that is to say, they ob- 
 structed the road by raising a number of abatis, besmeared 
 with pitch the wooden railing of the bridge built across the 
 Eisach near the village of Pleis, loosened the j^lauks of the 
 bridge, and began to build "avalanches.'' They felled a con- 
 siderable number of tall larches, tied ropes to both ends of 
 them, lowered them half-way down the precipitous side of the 
 mountain, and fastened the ropes above to the strong branches 
 of trees firmly rooted in the soil of the crest. Then they 
 threw huge masses of rock and heaps of rubbish on these
 
 348 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 hanging scaffolds ; and after the " avalanches " had thus been 
 completed, they withdrew cautiously and rapidly into the 
 mountain-gorges. Only Zoppcl, Joseph Speckbacher's servant, 
 and an old peasant remained near the ''avalanches." They 
 stood on both sides of the ropes, hatchet in hand, casting fiery 
 glances into the defile on the bank of the Eisach, and between 
 ovei'hanging wood-clad precipices. 
 
 Profound silence reigned all around ; only from time to 
 time a rustling noise v.as heard in the shrubbery ; the flash- 
 ing barrel of a rifle was then seen, and it seemed as though 
 the fleet-footed chamois appeared on the heights above. But 
 they were T^'rolese sharpshootei's who had climbed up to the 
 wa tch-towers of their natural fortresses to espy the enemy 
 and on his appearance to welcome him with the bullets of 
 their rifles. 
 
 Profound silence reigned all around, and the two men were 
 still standing, hatchet in hand, by the side of the ropes hold- 
 ing the artificial avalanches. 
 
 All at once a loud, shrill whistle resounded in front of the 
 entrance to the defile ; it was repeated all around the gloomy 
 gorge. 
 
 " That is the signal that the enemy has passed the inn am 
 Sack and is entering the defile of the Eisach," murmured Zop- 
 pel, examining once more the edge of his hatchet with his 
 hand. Then he looked down attentively into the depth, where 
 only a footpath meandered close along the bank of the foam- 
 ing Eisach. 
 
 A few soldiers were now seen entering the defile yonder, 
 where the road projected between two jutting rocks forming 
 the background of the gorge. 
 
 The form of a Tyrolese sharpshooter appeared at the same 
 moment on the top of the precipitous rock. He stepped close 
 to the edge of the rock, allowed the soldiers, who looked 
 around slowly and distrustfully, to advance a few steps, and 
 then raised his rifle. He fired ; one of the soldiers fell im- 
 mediately to the ground, and the Tyrolese sharpshooter re- 
 loaded his rifle. He fired again, and laid another soldier pros- 
 trate. 
 
 The two reports had accelerated the march of the enemy.
 
 THE FIRST BATTLE. 349 
 
 The soldiers entered the defile with a liasty step ; iti oider to 
 advance, they had to remove the two soldiers who were writh- 
 ing in the agony of death and obstructing the narrow path, 
 and throw tlioni into the waters of the Eisaeh. which received 
 with a wild roar the two corpses, the lirst victims of the reopen 
 ing struggle. 
 
 Meanwhile the Tyrolese sharpshooter on the height above 
 had reloaded his ritie and shot another soldiei-. On seeing 
 this, he uttered a loud Jodler, made a leap of joy, and nodded 
 laughingly to the enemy, who cast threatening glances on 
 him. i5ut he did not see that one of the ofhcei-s below called 
 four soldiers to him, pointed his hand at the top of the rock, 
 and gave them a quick order. The four soldiers sprang at 
 once from the ranks and disapi)eared in the slirubbery cover- 
 ing the base of the rock. 
 
 The sharpshooter was reloading his rifle, when the shrub- 
 bery behind him rustled, aiid. on turning hastily, he saw one 
 of the soldiei*s rushing tow^ard him. A cry of rage bui-st from 
 the lips of the sharpshooter. He then raised his rifle and 
 fii'ed. The soldier fell, but at the same moment one of his 
 comrades hastened from the thicket toward the top of the 
 rock. Another cry burst from the sharpshooter's lips, but 
 this time it sounded like a death-cry. He saw that he was 
 lost, for alreatly the uniforms of the other two soldiers were 
 glittering among the trees, and the second soldier was only a 
 few steps from the edge of the rock where the sharpshooter 
 was standing. The Tyrolese cast a last despairing glance 
 around him, as if to take leave of heaven and earth, and of 
 tlie mountains and valleys of his beloved Tyrol. Then he 
 threw down his rifle and seized the soldier furiously. His 
 arms encircled the body of his enemy like iron clasps, and he 
 forced him with irresistible impetuosity towai'd the edge of 
 the rock. 
 
 " In God's name, then," he shouted in a loud voice echoed 
 by the rocks all around. '' In Cod's name, then ! " 
 
 With a last effort he threw himself with the soldier 
 into the depth, and both disappeared in the watei*s of the 
 Eisaeh. 
 
 Speckbacher's sei'vant the faithful Zojipel, had seen and
 
 350 ANDREAS HOPER. 
 
 understood everything ; and when the two sank into the 
 foaming torrent, he wiped a tear from his eyes. 
 
 " He died like a brave son of the Tyrol,'' he murmured, " and 
 the Holy Virgin will assuredly bid him kindly welcome. 
 But we, Hisel, will avenge his death on the accursed enemy 
 below." 
 
 '' Yes, we will," cried the peasant grimly ; and he raised 
 his hatchet with a furious gesture. 
 
 '• It is not yet time," said Zoppel thoughtfully. " Just wait 
 until a larger body of troops has entered the defile. See, Hisel, 
 how splendid they look in their gorgeous uniform, and how 
 proudly they are marching on ! " 
 
 The Saxons did march on proudly, but not with drums 
 beating. They advanced in silence, filled with misgivings by 
 the profound stillness which surrounded them all at once. 
 listening attentively to every sound, and examining anxiously 
 the top of every projecting rock. 
 
 The head of the serried column had arrived now dij-ectly 
 under the hanging '" avalanche " in tlie middle of the gloomy 
 defile. The silence was suddenly broken by a loud angry 
 voice, which seemed to resound in the air like the croaking of 
 the death-angel. 
 
 This voice asked, '' Zoppel, shall I cut the rope now ? " 
 
 " Not yet ! not yet ! " replied another voice ; and the pre- 
 cipitous roclcs all around echoed " Not yet ! not yet ! " 
 
 The Saxons gave a start and looked up. Whence came 
 these voices ? What meant that huge black mass suspended 
 on the precipitous side of the mountain right over their 
 heads ? 
 
 Thus they asked each other shudderingly and stood still, 
 fixing their eyes on the black mass of rock and rubbish, which 
 filled tlieir hearts with v/onder and dismay. 
 
 " Let us retrace our steps ! Let us not penetrate farther 
 into the defile," murmured the soldiers with trembling lips, 
 but in so low a tone that the officers marching by their sides 
 could not hear them. 
 
 But the officers, too, were filled with strange misgivings ; 
 tlicy ordered the soldiers to Jialt, and hastened back to General 
 Royer to report to him the mysterious words which they had
 
 THE FIRST BATTLE. 35 1 
 
 heard, aiul to ask him wliether thoy were to liah or retrace 
 their steps. 
 
 '' Advance at the double-quick ! " commanded the general, 
 sternly. 
 
 "Advance at the double-quick !" tliey repeated to their .sol- 
 diers along the whole line ; the latter, in obedience to this or- 
 der, hurried on under the black mass which .still hung threat- 
 eningly over their beads. 
 
 All at once a powerful voice above shouted out : " Nov/, 
 Hisel, in the name of the Holy Trinity, cut the ropes ! " 
 Thereupon they heard the strokes of two hatchets. 
 
 The soldiers, who were rushing forward in serried ranks, 
 looked up again, and indescribable horror seized them. The 
 black mass of rock and rubliish which had hitherto hung over 
 them, connnenced moving and rolling down with a terrible 
 crash. A cloud of dust rose and filled the gloomy defile as 
 with the smoke of powder. At the same tmie a heavy fire 
 burst forth on all sides, and from amid the leafy screen the 
 deadly bullets of the sharpshooters brouglit death with every 
 discbarge into the allied ranks. A death-like silence then en- 
 sued for a moment, for out of the depths rose the wails and 
 lamentations of the hvmdreds(»f soldiers who had been crushed 
 and mutilated by the "avalanche." The Tyrolese, fd led with 
 curiosity and compassion, looked dow?i into the defile. The 
 smoke and dust had disappeared, and they could distinctly 
 survey the scene of horror, deva.station, and death, in the 
 gorge. 
 
 Happy tliose whom the falling "avahiiiche " had hurled 
 from the narrow footpath into the foaming ton-ent I It is 
 true, death had been in store for them there, but it had quickly 
 put aji end to their sufferings. But what was the "gony of 
 tliose who lay buried under the fragments of the rocks, their 
 limbs fearfully mutilated ! What were tlio sufferings of the 
 hundreds of .soldiers lying on the i-oad, oji this nari'ow, gory 
 path, upon which the "avalanche'' had thundered down ! 
 
 Tt was a hoiTi])Io si^jht : even the Tyrolese ti'endiled on be- 
 holding this rubbish, these fragments, whence la'ge numbers 
 of bloody corp.ses protruded, and amidst which toi-n, mutilated 
 limbs were moving, while here and there soldiei-s, covered all
 
 352 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 over with dust, and bleeding- from fearful wounds, tried pain- 
 fully to raise themselves from the grovmd. 
 
 Those of the Saxons who had not been struck by the ter- 
 rible avalanche, fell back shuddering. When the Tyrolese 
 saw this, their compassion at the cruel fate of the dead gave 
 way, and with deafening shouts they burst forth from their 
 concealment, and, mingling with the enemy, a frightful 
 slaughter took place. 
 
 The Saxons rallied, however ; courageous discii>line pre- 
 sided over unskilled valor, and the column advanced slowly 
 and painfully in the direction of the bridge, through a mur- 
 derous fire, and surmounting the ruins which obstructed the 
 road and covered the bodies of their comrades. 
 
 All at once exultant shouts and cheers resounded at the 
 entrance of the defile, and the clarion-notes of martial music 
 joined in these stirring acclamations. Fresh troops, re-enforce- 
 ments of the Saxons, were coming up from the rear. The Ba- 
 varians had arrived with their artillery, which they had placed 
 in a very favorable position ; they had already taken the two 
 farm-houses at the entrance of the gorge ^vhere the Tyrolese 
 had taken position, and were now rushing into the defile. 
 The Tyrolese, dismayed at this impetuous advance, retreated 
 into the mountains. 
 
 For two days the struggle was continued in these gorges 
 near Mittewald. For two days Saxons and Tyrolese opposed 
 each other in this fratricidal contest, in which Germans fought 
 against Germans in obedience to the behests of the tyrant 
 who had subjugated all Germany, and to whom only the un- 
 daunted Tyrol still offered a stubborn resistance. 
 
 The victory was long undecided. Once the forces of the 
 Duke of Dantsic succeeded at one extremity of the defile in 
 driving back the shar^jshooters under Joachim Haspinger, the 
 Capuchin, and clearing a passage for the Saxons struggling in 
 the goi'ge. But the Capuchin had retreated only to bring uj) 
 fresh forces, dispatch messengers to Speckbacher, Peter Mayer, 
 Andreas Hofer, and Anthony Wallner, sound the tocsin, and 
 concentrate more armed jieasants. And Speckbacher came 
 up With his brave sharpshooters in the rear of the Saxons : 
 Anthony Wallner and his men made their appearance like
 
 THE FIFrEMNTll OF AICJIST AT INXSPRUCK. 353 
 
 wise ; Peter Mayer brought up fresli forces ; and Andreas 
 Hofer sent word that he would be on hand speedily. But the 
 Saxons were likewise re-enforced, both by the French, who 
 moved up from Brixen, and the Bavarians, who approached 
 from Sterzing. 
 
 The contest was continued witli unabated violence, and 
 both sides struggled obstinately for the victory. But the 
 Tyrolese fought for their rights, their liberty, their German 
 country ; the Saxons and Bavarians fought for tyranny, for 
 the foreign oppressor, and the subjugation of their country- 
 men. God granted victory to the Tyiolese, and in the defile 
 of Mittewald ui)\vard of a thousand Saxons had to atone by 
 their death for having fought at the bidding of the French 
 conqueror on German soil against their German countrymen. 
 
 The Tyrolese fought for their rights, their liberty, their 
 German country ; and the Duke of Dantsic, the proud mar- 
 shal of France, was defeated l)y the despised peasants ; he had 
 to flee from their wrath, and arrived without his cloak and 
 hat, trenil)ling and deathly pale, on his foaming horse at Ster- 
 zing, which he had left a few hours previously with the firm 
 conviction that he would inflict a crushing defeat upon the 
 "haughty peasant-rabble." Now this "haughty peasant-rab- 
 ble" had defeated him. 
 
 God is with those who fight for the rights and liberty of 
 Germany. God is with those who rise boldly against French 
 tyranny and French arrogance ! 
 
 CHAPTf:R XXXII. 
 
 THE FIFTEENTH OF AUGUST AT INNSPRDCK. 
 
 God is witli those wlio fight for the rights and liberty of 
 Germany. He had granted another victoi-y to the Tyrolese. 
 
 Animated by their brilliant successes, the patriots no longer 
 stood on the defensive, but, flocking from all quartei-s to the 
 standard of Hofer, assembled in great nniltiludes on Mount 
 Isel, the scene of their former triumphs, ai:d destined to be
 
 354 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 iniiuovtalized by a still more extraordinary victory. Lefebvre 
 had collected his whole force, consisting of twenty-six thou- 
 sand men, of whom two thousand were horse, with forty 
 pieces of cannon, on the little plain which lies between Inn- 
 spruck and the foot of the mountains on the southern side of 
 the Inn. They were far from being animated, however, by 
 their wonted spirit ; the repeated defeats they had experienced 
 had inspired them with that mysterious dread of the moun- 
 taineers with which regular troops are so often seized, when, 
 contrary to expectation, they have been worsted by undisci- 
 plined bodies of men ; and a secret feeling of the in.justice of 
 their cause, and the heroism with which they had been re- 
 sisted, paral^^'zed many an arm which had never trembled 
 before a regular army. 
 
 The Tyrolese consisted of eighteen thousand men, three 
 hundred of whom w^ere Austrian soldiers who had refused to 
 follow their officers, and remained to share the fate of the in- 
 habitants. They were tolerably supplied with ammunition, 
 but had little provisions, in consequence of which several 
 hundred peasants had already gone back to their homes. 
 
 Joseph Speckbacher commanded the right wing, whose 
 line extended from the heights of Passberg to (he bridges of 
 Hall and Volders ; Hofer was with the centre, and had his 
 headquarters at the inn of Spade, on the Schonberg ; Haspin- 
 ger directed the left, and advanced by Mutters. 
 
 At four in the morning, the brave Capuchin roused Hofer 
 from sleep, and, having first united with him in fervent 
 prayer, hurried out to communicate his orders to the outposts. 
 
 The battle commenced at six, and continued without inter- 
 mission till midnight, the Bavarians constantly endeaA^oring 
 to drive the Tyrolese from their position on Mount Isel, and 
 they, in their turn, to force the enemy back into the town of 
 Innspruck. 
 
 For a long time the contest was undecided, the superior 
 discipline and admirable artillery of the enemy j)rc vailing 
 over the impetuous but disorderly assaults aiid deadly aim of 
 the mountaineers ; but toward nightfall the bridge of the Sill 
 was carried after a desperate struggle, and their left flank be- 
 ing thus turned, the French and Bavarians gave way on all
 
 THE FIl-TKEXTIl OF AUGUST AT INNSPliUCK. 355 
 
 sides, and were pursued witli j^reat slaughter into the city. 
 They lost six thousand men, of whom seventeen hmidred 
 wounded fell into the hands of the Tyrolese, while on the side 
 of the latter not more than nine hundred had fallen. Le- 
 febvre had to retx-eat hastily tinvard Sal/burj,^ where his whole 
 army was collected on the 2Uth. 
 
 This great victory was immediately followed by the libera- 
 tion of the whole Tyrol ; and when, on the morning of the 
 15th of August, the sun rose over Innspi-uck, Andreas Hofer 
 and his victorious host stood on Mount Isel, gazing with pro- 
 found emotion on the reeking, gory battle-field, on which, 
 two days ago, war had raged with all its hoirors, and on the 
 city of Innspruck, whose smoking and burning houses beto- 
 kened the last outburst of the rage of the fugitive French mar- 
 shal.* 
 
 " See how much blood it has cost, and how many wrongs 
 had to be committed, that we might obtain our rights ! " 
 sighed Andreas Hofer, pointing to the battle-field. " My heart 
 overflows with pity on seeing these horrors, and I implore 
 you all to be merciful with the wounded and to treat the pris- 
 oners leniently. Among these j)risoners are about one thou- 
 sand Bavarians and Saxons. See, they are standing down 
 yonder in dense groups, and our men surround them, mock- 
 ing and abusing them. Go down to them, dear Secretary 
 Doninger ; tell them to be merciful and compassionate, and 
 to bear always in mind that the prisonei-s are no longer their 
 enemies, but their German brethren ; that they are Saxons 
 and Bavarians, speak one and the same language with us, and 
 are our countrymen. Repeat this to our men, Doninger, and 
 say to them in my name, ' Do not injure the prisoners ; they 
 are Saxons and Bavarians, and good and brave men ! '" f 
 
 "They are not exactly good men," said Speckbaclier, who 
 was standing on the right side of Andreas Hofer ; " no, they 
 are not exactly good men, Andy ; otherwise thoy would not 
 have fought against us, who are assuredly good men and have 
 done nothing but defend our dear country-." 
 
 Instead of replying to him, Andreas Hofer turned smil- 
 
 ' "Giillory of ller.>e.s : Andreas Ilof.-r," p. l^'l- 
 t AnJivas IIoI'it's own words. - Ibid., p. I'.i5.
 
 356 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 ingly to the Capuchin, who was standing on his left side. 
 " Brother Joachim," he said gently, " you ought to exhort our 
 Joseph here a little, that he may comply with the Redeemer's 
 precept and forgive his enemies. He is a very good, but very 
 stubborn fellow ; a brave and excellent soldier, but it Avould 
 do him no harm if he were a better Christian." 
 
 ■' If we had been good Christians latterly we should never 
 have defeated the enemy," growled the Capuchin, shaking his 
 head. " If we were good Christians, we should have to love our 
 enemies, do good to them that hate us, and pray for those who 
 despitefully use us and persecute us. So long as we are sol- 
 diers, Andy, we cannot be good Christians ; and I tliauk God 
 for it that we fought like downright brave heathens. But 
 after the enemy has been expelled from the country, and peace 
 prevails again everywhere, and I have returned to my tedious 
 convent at Seeben, I will become again a pious Capuchin, and 
 exhort our dear brave Joseph Speckbacher to become as good 
 a Christian as our Andreas Hofer." 
 
 " No, no, brother Joachim, we will not wait until then to 
 show to the world that we are good Christians," exclaimed 
 Andi'eas. '• God stood by us in the battle of Mount Isel and 
 made us victorious over our enemies. Let us thank Him, 
 therefore, for His surpassing goodness and mercy ; let us pray 
 Him to bless our victory and grant a glorious resurrection to 
 those who had to sacrifice their lives for it." 
 
 He drew his large rosary from his bosom, and. lifting his 
 eyes devoutly to heaven, sank down on his knees. 
 
 '■ Yes, let us pray God to bless our victor^'," said Father 
 Haspinger, bending his knees like Andreas Hofer ; and Joseph 
 Speckbacher followed his example. 
 
 And the pious Tyrolese, seeing their leaders kneeling on the 
 height above, were filled with devout emotion ; they Icnelt 
 likewise ; their cheers and Jodlers, their shouts and laughter 
 died away ; only prayers wei'e heard from their lips, and, as 
 an accompaniment to them, the melodious peals of the bells, 
 ■with which the people of Innspruck were celebrating the de- 
 parture of the French marshals, and the approach of the de- 
 fenders of the country. 
 
 At this moment the sun burst forth from the clouds, and
 
 THE FIFTEENTH OF AUGUST AT INNSPRCCK. 357 
 
 shed a radiant lustre on this whole sublime scene— the three 
 kneeling heroes on the height above, and all around the Tvro- 
 lese, clad in their picturesque national costume, kneeling and 
 thanking God, with tears in their eyes, for the victory He had 
 vouchsafed to them. 
 
 The Bavarian and Saxon prisoners, carried away by this 
 spectacle, knelt down like the Tyrolese, and prayed to God, 
 like their enemies- not thanking Him, as the latter did, for 
 the victory, but for having made them prisoners, of good and 
 pious victors.* 
 
 All at once this pious scene was interrupted by loud cheers, 
 shouts, and Jodlers, and a long, imposing procession of sing- 
 ing, jubilant men ascended the mountain. The new-comers 
 were the students of Innspruck, who came to congratulate 
 Andreas Hofer on his brilliant victory, and accompany him 
 on his triumphal entry into the city. Many persons followed 
 them, and all shouted exultingly, " Where is Andreas Hofer, 
 the savior of the country ? Where is Andreas Hofer, the lib- 
 erator ? " 
 
 The band heading the procession of the students, struck up 
 a ringing flourish on beholding Andi*eas, who had risen from 
 his knees at their approach. But he raised his arm impera- 
 tively ; the band ceased playing immediately, and the cheers 
 died away on the lips of the students, who bowed respectfully 
 to the tall, imposijig foi-m of the Barbone. 
 
 " Hush, hush," said Andreas, gravely ; " pray ! No cheers, 
 no music ! Neither I nor any of us did it ; all the glory is 
 due to Him above 1 " t 
 
 "But you helpetl the good God a little," said the speaker of 
 the students, " and therefore you must submit to accept the 
 thanks of the whole Tyrol, and to being called the savior and 
 liberator of the country. We come to you as messengers of 
 the capital of the Tyrol, and are instructed to request you to 
 tarry no longer, but make your triumphal entry into the 
 city." 
 
 " Yes, I will come," exclaimed Andreas, joyfully ; " what I 
 implored of the Lord as the highest boon has been realized 
 
 * Mayer's '' Josepli Speckbacher," p. 196. 
 t Andreas Hofer's own words. — Ibid., p. 197.
 
 358 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 now : we shall make our triumphal entry into the city, where 
 the mean enemy behaved so shamefully. Return to Inn- 
 spruck, my friends, and say to the inhabitants that we shall be 
 in the city in the course of an hour— old Rpd-beard, Speck- 
 bacher, and I— and that we shall be glad to meet all our ex- 
 cellent friends there again.'' 
 
 And an hour afterward Andreas Hofer and his friends 
 made their entry into Innspruck. He sat in a gorgeous car- 
 riage, drawn by four splendid white horses, which he himself 
 had taken from a French colonel during his flight across the 
 Brenner. By the side of the Sandwirth sat Joachim Haspin- 
 ger, the Capuchin, and beside the carriage rode Joseph Speciv- 
 bacher, with a radiant face, and his dark, fiery eyes beaming 
 with triumphant joy ; he was mounted on the proud magnifi- 
 cently-caparisoned charger that had borne the haughty Duke 
 of Dantsic two days ago. 
 
 The carriage was preceded by a crowd of rejoicing peasants, 
 and a band of fifers and fiddlers ; carpets and banners hung 
 from all the windows and balconies ; ladies in beautiful attire 
 greeted the conquering hero with waving handkerchiefs ; and 
 the people in the streets, the ladies on the balconies, and the 
 boys on the roofs and in the trees, shouted enthusiastically, 
 " Long live Andreas Hofer ! Long live the commander-in- 
 chief of the Tyrol ! " And the bells pealed, the cannon jiosted 
 on the market-place thundered, and the fifers and fiddlers 
 made as much noise as possible. 
 
 " Listen, brother Haspiuger," said Andreas Hofer, turning 
 to the Capuchin, while the carriage was moving on slowly, "I 
 should really dislike to enter the city always amid such fuss 
 and noise ; and I believe it is heavy work for princes always 
 to look well pleased and cheerful when they are so much 
 molested by the enthusiasm of the people. I looked forward 
 with a gi'eat deal of joy to the day when we should make our 
 entry into the city, and I thought it would be much more 
 beautiful ; but now I am greatly tired of the whole thing : I 
 should be glad if they would cease fiddling, and clear a pas- 
 sage for the carriage to move on more rapidly. I am hungry, 
 and I would I were already at the tavern of my dear friend 
 Niederkircher."
 
 THE FIFTRKNTII OF AU(;rST AT IXXSPRUCK. 359 
 
 " Well, you must learn to put on a pleasant face when the 
 people cheer you," said Haspinj^er, lau'^liing'. '' You have 
 now become a prince too, and I think your people will love 
 you dearly." 
 
 " What nonsense is that, brother ? " asked Hofer, angrily. 
 
 " It is no nonsense at all, Andy ; on the contrary, it is quite 
 true. Just listen to their acclamations." 
 
 "Long- live Andreas Hofer!" shouted the crowd, which 
 was dancing and singing around the carriage. "Long live 
 the commander-in-chief of the Tyrol I" 
 
 "They call me commander-in-chief of the Tyrol," said An- 
 dreas, musingly. " Tell me, Joachim, is it necessary for me to 
 assume that title ? " 
 
 " Yes, it is. There must be a head of the state, a man to 
 whom the people may look up as its star, and to whom it may 
 apply as its comfort, support, and judge. And as the people 
 have confidence in you and love you, you must be the man to 
 hold the whole together, lest it should fall asunder. You 
 shall be the head, and we otliers will be your hands and 
 thoughts, and will work and fight, and think for you and the 
 Tyrol. We must have a leader, a com7iiander-in chief of the 
 T3'rol, and you are the man, Andy." 
 
 " If you say so, it must be so,'' said Andreas, nodding his 
 head gently. '' Well, then, I shall be commander-in-chief of 
 the Tyrol until order and peace are restored, and until the 
 enemy has been expelled from the country foi- evermore. But 
 see, we have arrived in front of Niederkircher's tiivern, and 
 there is Niederkircher himself with his dear round face. God 
 bless you, Niederkircher, why do you look at me so solemnly, 
 and why have you di'essed up so nicely ? Why, j'ou wear 
 your holiday clothes, and yet I think this is neither Sunday 
 nor a holiday." 
 
 " It is a great holiday," exclaimed Niederkircher, '' the com- 
 mander-in-chief of the Tyrol, the great Andreas Hofer, is 
 making his triumphal entry into the cit3'. That is why I have 
 put on my Sunday clothes and look so solemn ; for it would 
 not be becoming for me to embrace the distinguished com- 
 mander-in-chief of the Tyrol, as I should like to do under 
 other circumstances."
 
 360 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 " You are a fool, old fellow ! " said Andreas, eucircling his 
 f rieud's aeck with his arm ; '' if I am commander-in-chief he- 
 fore the world, I am, before my friends, always Andreas Hofer, 
 the Saudwirth and humble peasant. Let us go into the house, 
 my dear friend ; and you Joachim, come vvdth us. There ! 
 Take me to the small hack room which I always occupy dur- 
 ing my stay in the city." 
 
 " God forbid ! " exclaimed the innkeeper ; " you nev^er 
 must occupy the hack room again ; that would not he be- 
 coming for the commander-in-chief of the Tyrol. You must 
 take my best room with the balcony opening on the street ; 
 besides, all is there in readiness for your reception." 
 
 '• Must I take it, Joachim ? " said Andreas to the Capuchin, 
 almost anxiously. 
 
 " Yes, Andy, you must," replied the friar. " You must do 
 honor to your new dignity, and to lis all." 
 
 " It is a pity that I must do so," sighed Andreas. " I was 
 so glad that I should soon be in the old back room, where it is 
 so cozy and quiet, and where you do not hear any thing of the 
 noise and shouting outside. But, if it cannot be helped, let us 
 go to the best room ; but pray, if it is possible, give us some- 
 thing to eat there. Some sound duuiplings and a glass of na- 
 tive wine, friend Niederkircher. " 
 
 " No, no, Andreas Hofer, that will not do to-day," replied 
 the innkeeper ; " I have had all my servants at work in the 
 kitchen ever since sunrise, and you will have a dinner suitable 
 for tlie conimander-in-chief of the Tyrol." 
 
 " I should have preferred dumplings and native wine in the 
 small back room," said Andreas Hofer, dolefully, while he as- 
 cended with the innkeeper and the Capuchin to the best room 
 on the fir.st floor. 
 
 This was a very fine room indeed, and even though it was 
 not as cozy as the back room for which Hofer had longed, it 
 was at all events very agreeable to him to be once more under 
 a hospitable roof, and enjoy a little rest and tranquillity. In 
 the middle of the room stood a fable handsomely festooned 
 with flowers, and covered with bottles of wine, cake, and all 
 sorts of fruit. 
 
 ''Now, my diotinguished friends, make yourselves as com-
 
 THE FIFTEENTH OF AUGUST AT IXNSPRUCK. 3G1 
 
 rortablc as possible," said Niederkircher, cheerfully ; "lie 
 down awhile on the silken divan and repose. Meanwhile I 
 will go to the kitchen and order dinner to be served to the 
 coninmnder-in-chief and his two generals, Haspinger and 
 Speckbacher." 
 
 " I shall comply with your request," growled the Capuchin, 
 ''and make myself as comfortable as possible." 
 
 He hurled his heavy, dusty leathern shoes quickly from 
 his feet into a corner of the room ; he then lay down on tlie 
 carpet in front of the divan, and stretching his limbs, ex- 
 claimed, " Forsooth, I have not been able for a long while to 
 make myself as comfortable as to-day ! " 
 
 ■'But you, commander-in-chief," said Niederkircher, be- 
 seechingly, " I hope, will not disdain my cUvan ? Rest there 
 a little, Andy, iintil the waitei-s bring you your dinner." 
 
 " God forl)id ! I must lirst attend to my horses," exclaimed 
 Andreas. " I suppose, Niederkircher, you saw my four splen- 
 did white horses ? They are honest war-spoils ; I will keep 
 them forever and never sell them, although I could get a 
 round sum for them, for they arc fine animals ; only the first 
 horse on the right-liand side, I believe, is a little weak in the 
 chest, and ought not to be overworked. Before going to din- 
 ner and making myself comfortable, I must go and feed the 
 horses and see if they are comfortable. You know, Nieder- 
 kircher, I have always fed my horses myself, and will do so 
 to-day also." 
 
 And he hastened toward the door ; but Niederkircher i-au 
 after him and kept him back. 
 
 '' For God's sake, Hofer," he cried in dismay, " w'hat are 
 you going to do ? Why, j^ou are not a horse-trader nor the 
 Sandwirth to-day, but eon\mander-in-chief of the Tyrol." 
 
 " It is true, I forgot it," sighed Andi-eas. "' Go, then, dear 
 friend, get us our dinner, and have a large bundle of hay pixt 
 into the manger of the hor.ses. — But, great God i what di-ead- 
 ful noise is that in the street? Why, those men are shouting 
 so loudly tliat the walls are shaking and the windows rattling ! 
 What do they want ? Why do thoy always repeat my name ? 
 Look out, Niederkircher, and see what is the niatler." 
 
 Niederkircher hastened to the window and drew the cur- 
 24
 
 3G2 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 tain aside in order to look out into the street. A dense crowd 
 was assembled in front of the tavern ; it was incessantly 
 cheering and shouting : " Andi'eas Hofer ! Come out ! Long 
 live the commander-in-chief of the Tyrol, the libei'ator ! We 
 want to see him, we must thank him for delivering us from 
 the enemy. Andreas Hofer ! Andreas Hofer ! " 
 
 " You cannot get around it, Andy ; you nuist step out on 
 the balcony," said Niederkircher, stepping back from the win- 
 dow. "The people are perfectly beside themselves with love 
 and enthusiasm, and will not keep quiet until you come out 
 and make a speech to them. Do, my friend, step out on the 
 balcony I " 
 
 " Must I do it ? '' asked Andreas, dolefully, turning to the 
 Capuchin, who was stretching himself comfortably on the 
 carpet. 
 
 " You must, brother," said Haspinger, gravely. " The peo- 
 ple wish to see their beloved leader, and it would be ungrate- 
 ful not to accept their love." 
 
 Andreas Hofer sighed, but he yielded and approached the 
 balcony, the doors of which w^ere thrown open by the inn- 
 keeper. 
 
 No sooner had the thousands assembled in front of the 
 house beheld the tall form of their favorite leader, than thun- 
 dering cheers rent the air ; all waved their hats and shouted, 
 " Long live Andreas Hofer ! Long live the commander-in- 
 chief of the Tyrol ! " 
 
 And now a feeling of profound emotion overcame the ten- 
 der, grateful heart of Andreas Hofer ; joy and ecstasy filled 
 his soul in the face of so much love and enthusiasm, and tears 
 of the most unalloyed b]i.ss glistened in his eyes, which greeted 
 the jubilant people with tender, loving glances. He was 
 anxious to thank these kind people and give utterance to his 
 love ; and he lifted up his arm, asking them to be quiet that 
 he might address them. 
 
 The cheers and acclamations ceased immediately, and 
 Hofer spoke amidst the breathless silence of the crowd in a 
 loud, ringing voice : 
 
 " God bless you, dear people of Innspruck ! As you 
 wanted me to become your commander-in-chief, I am now in
 
 TUE FIFTEENTH OF AUCiU^T AT IN'NSPRUCK. 303 
 
 your midst. But there are many othei- Tvroleso wlio are not 
 iiihal)ilants of lunspi'uck. All who wish to be my comrades 
 must light as brave and honest Tyrolese for God, the emperor, 
 and our fatherland. Those who are unwilling to do so must 
 go back to ihoir homes. Those who wish to become my com- 
 i-ades nuist never desert me. I shall not desert you either, 
 as sure as my name is Andreas Hofer ! You have seen me 
 now, and heard what I had to say to you ; therefore good- 
 by ! " * 
 
 When Hofer had concluded his speech, thundering cheere 
 rent again the air ; they continued even after he had left the 
 balc(jny, closed the door after him, and stepped back into the 
 room. 
 
 " That was a very fine speech, Andy," said Niederkircher, 
 shaking hands with him, and gazing tenderly into his flushed 
 face. •' It was evident that your words were not learned by 
 rote, but came from your heart, and hence they could not but 
 make a profound impression. But now, commander-in-chief 
 of the Tyrol, dinner is ready. The soup is already on the 
 table, and I myself shall have the honor of waiting on you." 
 
 " But Speckbacher is not yet here," said Andreas Hofer, 
 '• and we cannot dine without him. We fought and worked 
 together ; now we will also rest and attend to our comforts 
 together. Do you not think so too, brother Red-beard ? " 
 
 But the CaiJuchin made no reply, or rather he responded 
 only by a loud and long snore. 
 
 "By the Holy Virgin ! Haspinger has fallen asleep on the 
 floor yonder," exclaimed Andreas, smiling. 
 
 " Let us waken him, then," said Niederkircher, turning to 
 the sleeper. 
 
 •' No, my friend, no, we Avill not do so," whispered Andreas, 
 drawing him back. " Our faithful and brave brother Red- 
 beard has been so long awake and at work that we nmst let 
 him rest, and it woixld be very wrong in us to arouse him 
 from his sleep. Let us defer dinner, therefore, until Speck- 
 bacher is here, and until Haspinger has slept enough." 
 
 " But you said you were huugi-y, Andreas. Why do you 
 want to wait, then ? Why do you not dine now and let the 
 
 * lIof«i-'s own words.— See " Giilkry of IKroci;: Audiuu-s Hofer," p. 126.
 
 364 ' ANDREAS llOFER. 
 
 oilier two diue afterward ? You are commander-in-chief, the 
 highest olBcer of all, and they must do as it suits you, and you 
 must not do as it suits them." 
 
 " Do not repeat such nonsense," cried Andreas, vehemently, 
 "lam commander-in-chief only because it is necessary that 
 there should be one to hold the whole together lest it should 
 fall asunder. That is what Father Haspinger said, and it is 
 true. But even though I am commander-in-chief of the Tyrol, 
 I am not commander-in-chief of my friends in my intimate in- 
 tercourse with them. All three of us have worked to the best 
 of our power for the fatherland, and I have not done more 
 than Speckbacher or the Capuchin. It is true, I am hungry, 
 but I shall not go to dinner without my friends ; moreover, it 
 is good that they are not here yet, and that I have a little time 
 left. The cravings of my stomach made me almost forget 
 my duty to God, and by the absence of my friends He reminds 
 me that I owe Him something and must come to Him. Keep 
 your fine soup, therefore, a little while, Niederkircher ; I will, 
 in the mean time, go to the church of the Franciscans to re- 
 port there to the Lord as His faithful servant and soldier." 
 
 He took his black Tyrolese hat, descended hastily the stair- 
 case, and went into the street. He had not noticed the dissat- 
 isfied air of Niederkircher, and the fact that the innkeeper had 
 not even thanked him for his greeting ; for all his thoughts 
 were now fi:xed upon God, and he reproached himself con- 
 tritely with almost forgetting God, owing to the cravings of 
 his stomach. 
 
 "Forgive me, my Lord and God," he murmured, on en- 
 tering the gloomy nave of the church, " for not coming to 
 Thee at once ! " 
 
 He walked up the aisle with a noiseless, hurried step, in 
 oi'der not to disturb the worsliippers, to one of the small altai*s, 
 before which he knelt down devoutly. 
 
 " Here I am, my Lord and God," he murmured, clasping 
 his hands, "to render homage to Thee and thank Thee for de- 
 livering us from the enemy and granting victory to us. I 
 thank Thee for it from the bottom of my heart, for Thy mei'cy 
 was with us, and Thou didst lead us as a true general. Guide 
 us henceforth likewise, my Lord and God, and stand by Thy
 
 THE KIKTEENTH OK AUGUST AT INNSPRUCK. 3G5 
 
 faithful servant, that he may not fail in the difficult task which 
 he has now taken upon himself. Lord, Thou knowest that 
 vanity and pride do not prom])t me to become more than I 
 ought to be ; Thou knowest that I would rather be quietly at 
 home witli my wife and children, than play the distinguished 
 gentlen)aii here and assume an aristocratic title. But the 
 Capuchin, who is wiser than I, says it must be so, and I must 
 be commander-in-chief. Hence, I submit patiently, and con- 
 sent to play the ruler here until Thou, my Lord and God, al- 
 lowest me aj.'^ain to be Thy humble and simple servant, and to 
 return to my beloved Anna Gertrude, my three little daugh- 
 ters, and my dear little boy. O Holy Virgin, watch with ma- 
 ternal care over my dear ones at home ; pi'otect them, and 
 grant peace to their hearts, that they may not tremble for my 
 safety. G)'ant peace to us all, Holy Mother of God, and — " 
 
 " Look, look, there he is I " shouted a loud voice behind 
 him, interrupting him in his prayer. " See, there is the great 
 hero ! How humbly he is kneeling before the altar 1 Look 
 at Andreas Hofer." 
 
 Andreas Hofer turned, indignant at the interruption and 
 the words so loudly uttered in that saci-ed place. He saw sev- 
 eral hundred persons thronging the aisle and fixing their eyes 
 upon him. All crowded forward and raised their heads to see 
 Andreas Hofer, admire his fine beard, and examine his wliole 
 appearance. They had followed him quietly, and as the news 
 that Andreas Hofer, commander-in-chief of the Tyrol, had 
 goiu^ to the church of the Franciscans, spread rapidly, all had 
 hastened thither to see him and render him homage. 
 
 But Andreas Hofer thought this homage decidedly ii-k- 
 some, and he was angry that the spectators had disturbed 
 his prayer. He, therefore, made a bitter-sweet face in re- 
 sponse to the enthusiastic demonstrations and affectionate 
 greetings of the people, and elbowed his way hastily toward 
 the door. 
 
 "I thank you for your attachment," he said to those who 
 were close to him, " but I should have been better pleased if 
 you had allowed me quietly to pursue my waj', and had not 
 interrupted my prayer. But now pray let me go home alone, 
 and do not follow me. It niav be becoming for aristocratic
 
 366 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 geutlemeu to have a large suite behind them, but I am only a 
 simple Tyrolese like you all, and do not want to be any thing 
 else. Moreover, I am a very ordinary-looking man, and 
 there is no reason whatever why you should stare at me in 
 this manner. Pray, therefore, do not go with me, but let 
 me return quietly to Niederkircher's tav^ern, where I am going 
 to dine." 
 
 They obeyed, of course, and opened a passage for him to 
 step out of tlie chui^ch door. But thereupon they rushed out 
 to look after him and shout, " Long live Andreas Hofer, the 
 pious commander-in-chief of the Tyrol I '' But no one ven- 
 tured to follow him ; all gazed affectionately and reverentially 
 after his tall form, as he walked with a slow and dignified step 
 down the street. 
 
 "There are strange people in these cities," murnmred Hofer 
 to himself, while walking along ; '' they do not even let me 
 pray quietly, and are as curious as swallows. They follow 
 me everywhere, and stare at me as though I were a wild beast. 
 If that is being a famous man, I do not care for fame ; and 
 for the whole world I would not be an aristocratic or famous 
 man all my lifetime. When peace has been restored to the 
 country, and there is no longer an enemy to fight, they will 
 forget my humble services, and I shall live again quietly at 
 my inn in the Passeyr valley. No one will then run after 
 the Sandwirth Avhen he comes to Innspruck to sell horses ; 
 and I shall sit again in Niederkircher's back room, eat dump- 
 lings, and drink native wine. Ah, Holy A^irgin, let it soon be 
 so again, that the commander-in-chief may be again Sand- 
 wirth Andreas Hofer." 
 
 " Hurrah, long live the commander-in-chief of the Tyrol I " 
 shouted at this moment some men who had recognized him, 
 and stood still to do homage to him as though he were a sov- 
 ereign piince. 
 
 Andreas Hofer accelerated his step, and was very glad on 
 reaching the tavern soon afterward.
 
 ANDREAS HUKEK, TUE EiMPERUR'S LJEUTENANT. ;307 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 ANDREAS HOFER, THE EMPEROR's LIEUTENANT. 
 
 Andreas ascended the !>tairca.se hastily, and entered the 
 balcony -room. 
 
 The Capuchin had now risen from the carpet ; Joseph 
 Speckbachei' was with him. and both hastened to meet Andreas 
 Hofer. 
 
 "You have kept us waiting a long while, brother," said the 
 Capuchin, indignantly ; " you ought to have borne in mind that 
 we have not eaten any thing, and are. therefore, very hungry." 
 
 "Yes, Father Andy," exclaimed Speckbacher, smiling, 
 "you hung our bread-basket very high ; we are quite weak 
 from waiting and hunger." 
 
 "Now they blame me for keeping them waiting," said An- 
 dreas mildly. "And yet I think they kept me waiting, and 
 hungei- drove me to the church. Well, never mind, my deiir 
 friends and comrades ; we are together now. and I am very 
 fflad of it. Look at Nicderkircher and his large dish ! How 
 splendidly it smokes and smells, and how good it will be to 
 eat I Well, Niederkircher. put the dish on the table here, and 
 sit down and dine with us." 
 
 " No, no, commander-in-chief, it is my duty to-day to wait 
 on you, for you are now a highly distinguished gentleman, 
 and so are the other two ; hence, it would luA behoove me to 
 dine with you." 
 
 "If you refuse to do so, I shall not eat at all," cried An- 
 dreas Hofer. 
 
 "And I shall run away," said Speckbachei", jumping u]) 
 from his chair. 
 
 "I shall sit still," growled the Capuchin, "but I shall 
 henceforth turn my back upon Neiderkircher if he allows our 
 soup to become cold instead of sitting down at once and din- 
 ing with us." 
 
 "I will do so," cried Niederkircher, moving a chair to the 
 table, and seating himself on it. " But now my friends, per- 
 mit me at least to fill your plates."
 
 368 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 "We will uot object to that ! "' exclaimed the three friends, 
 laughing ; "and pray fill them well, Niederkircher." 
 
 There was a long pause now ; nothing was heard but the 
 rattling of the spoojis on the plates. All at once this com- 
 fortable silence was broken by deafening cheere and shouts 
 uttered on the street. 
 
 Hofer dropped his spoon, fi'owned, and listened. " I believe 
 they are calling me again," he sighed, dolefully. 
 
 He. was not mistaken. Hundreds of youthful voices were 
 heard shouting Andreas Hofer's name, and their cheers were 
 followed by a loud, ringing flourish of violins, fifes, bugles, 
 and trumpets. 
 
 "They have musicians with them," exclaimed Hofer, anx- 
 iously. " Holy Virgin, just listen how they are roaring ! It 
 seems as if they were intent on upsetting the house." 
 
 " They are calling you, they vrant to see you," said Nieder- 
 kircher, who had stepped to the window. " Tliey are the 
 students of the university ; they have come in their holiday 
 attire to serenade you.-" 
 
 " And why do they want to serenade me ? " asked An- 
 dreas Hofer, almost indignantly. "Wby not Speckbach- 
 er, or the Capuchin, or Peter Mayer, or Anthony Wall- 
 ner ? They all did just as much as I did, and perhaps even 
 more." 
 
 ''But you are the people's favorite, brother," said the Cap- 
 uchin, smiling ; " the people believe in you, and it would be 
 cruel and short-sighted in us to shake their faith in you. 
 Every thing must come from you ; you must have done and 
 accomplisbed every thing." 
 
 " And what we others did, we did only in your name, Fa- 
 ther Andy ! " exclaimed Speckbacher ; '' the people and the 
 sharp-shooters would not have obeyed us so well, had they not 
 believed that you had issued all tlie oi'ders and instructions 
 which we gave them. On hearing your name they obeyed, 
 fouglr well, and were confident that we should succeed. And 
 fur this reasoii they are justified in coupling your name with 
 the celebration of the victory. Just listen how they are 
 shoutiug your name ! It is true, the dear boys have tremen- 
 dous lungs, and if you do not comply with their wishes, and
 
 ANDREAS HOFER, THE EMPEROR'S LIEUTENANT. 3C9 
 
 show yourself on tlie balcony, I am afraid they will make us 
 (leaf and themselves quite lioarse." 
 
 ''Well, I do not care/' sighed Andi-eas ; "open the door 
 again, Niederkireher, I must step out on the balcony." 
 
 "And make another fine speech as before,'' said the inn- 
 keeper, throwing open the folding-doors. 
 
 Andreas made no reply, but went to the balcony with a 
 grave and almost angry face. Deafening cheers greeted him, 
 and the dense crowd assembled in the street sliouted : " Long 
 live Andreas Hofer, the conunander-in-chief 1 Long live An- 
 dreas Hofer, the liberator ! " 
 
 " My brave son, Joseph Speckbacher," said the Capuchin, 
 lilling his glass, " you see every one gets his due in the end. 
 Day before yestei-day, while we were fighting in the sweat of 
 our brows on Mount Isel, my dear brother Andreas Hofer sat 
 up at his friend Etschmann's tavern. A bottle of wine stood 
 before him, and his rosary lay on the table ; and while we 
 were fighting, he prayed and drank, and sent us from time to 
 time his orders, which sounded like oracles, which no one 
 understood, and which every one interpi'eted as he deemed 
 l)rudent. Now he must toil in his turn and fight with 
 his tongue, while we are sitting here snugly and drink- 
 ing our wine. There is another flourish outside ! Trara ! 
 trai-a ! " 
 
 And the Capuchin waved his glass and emptied it at one 
 draught. 
 
 Suddenly the crowd in the street became silent ; a student 
 came forward and advanced several steps toward the bal- 
 cony. 
 
 "Andreas Hofer, beloved commander-in-chief of the Tyr- 
 ol," he said, in a loud, solemii voice, "our hearts are full of 
 love for you and praise of your heroic deed.s, and our lips, too, 
 would like to overflow. Permit us, therefore, noble hero, be- 
 loved liberator, to sing before you a song glorifying your ex- 
 ploits ; a song ]iraising yovir struggles and victories ; a song 
 which will henceforth be sung by every man, woman, and 
 child, throughout the Tyrol. We students Avrote the song, 
 for your heroic deeds filled our hearts with enthusiasm, and 
 our attachment to vou taught us the finest music for it. Per-
 
 370 AxXDREAS [lOFER. 
 
 mit us, therefore, to sing before you the song of the victorious 
 hero Andreas Hofer." 
 
 '' No, no, my dear friends, do not sing,'' exclaimed Hofer, 
 gravely and almost angrily. " Do not sing, and do not play 
 any longer on your fifes and violins. We did not take the 
 field to sing and dance, and I did not leave my wife and chil- 
 dren at home with a light heart, but with tears and anxiety. 
 But I did it because it was the Lord's will ; and as He accom- 
 panied me into battle we succeeded in defeating the enemy. 
 But it was a hard and mournful task ; many brave and excel- 
 lent men lost their limbs or even their lives, and many wounded 
 pati-iots are yet imploring God to relieve them of their terrible 
 agony. And while they are groaning and wailing, can you 
 wish to sing ? While so many fathers and mothers are la- 
 menting their fallen sons, can you wish to exult here and 
 make music ? No, my dear friends, that would not be becom- 
 ing for a Christian and charitable people. You had better lay 
 your violins aside and take up your rosaries. Do not sing, 
 but pray. Pray aloud and fervently for our beloved emperor, 
 and. if you like, you may add a low prayer for poor Andreas 
 Hofer. But you shall not sing any songs in his honor, for 
 God alone accomplished it all, and homage should be rendered 
 to none but Him. Therefore, do not sing, but pray. Pray in 
 my name, too, for I have not much time now, and cannot pray 
 as much as I should like to do. Say to the good God that 
 we toiled honestly and bravely ; say to Him that we suffered 
 privations, watched, fought, and conquered, for the father- 
 land ; and pray to Him for the brave men who accompanied 
 us to the holy struggle, and who will never return, but have 
 succumbed to their mortal wounds. Do not sing, but pray 
 for their poor souls. Play your merry melodies no longer, 
 but go home (puctly and pray God to protect ;is henceforth as 
 He has herelofoi-e. That is what I wish to tell you, my dear 
 friends. And now God bless you, and accei)t my heart-felt 
 thanks for your love and attachment." * 
 
 The students, seized with profound emotion, and deeply 
 impressed by the simple yet soul-stirring words of Andreas 
 Hofer, complied qiiietly and willingly with his request. Their 
 
 * " Gallery of Heroes ; Andreas Ilofer,"' p. 1.30.
 
 ANDREAS IIOFER, THE EMPEROR'S LIEUTENANT. ;i7l 
 
 fifes, violins, and bugles became silent, and tbe crowd dis- 
 persed noiselessly, witbout uttering any more cheers and ac- 
 clamations. 
 
 "They are fine, dear lads," said Andreas Hofer, looking 
 after them with beaming eyes ; " strong and hearty lads, full 
 of spirits and impetuosity, but on the other hand so gentle and 
 submissive I — Well, now," he exclaimed joyfully, stepping 
 back into the room, " I hope we shall have some rest, and 
 shall be able to finish our dinner in peace." 
 
 This hope, however, was not to be fulfilled. The dinner 
 was not yet over by any means, when cheers and loud noise 
 resounded once more in the street, and another solemn pro- 
 cession approached the tavern. This time, however, the 
 members of the procession did not remain in the street, but 
 entered the house, and the landlord, who had Just gone down- 
 stairs to fetch some more bottles of wine from the cellar, has- 
 tened back to the balcony-room and announced that all the 
 commanders of the Landsiurm and the municipal officei's 
 had arrived to pay their respects to the conmiander-in-chief of 
 the Tyrol and communicate a request to him. 
 
 '•Well, then," sighed Hofer. rising, "let them come in 
 here. I see that our dinner is spoiled anyhow. Let them 
 come in here, Niederkircher." 
 
 '■ God forbid ! there are so many of them that they would 
 not have room here ; besides, it would not be becoming for 
 you to receive all these gentlemen here where there is a din- 
 ner-table. I have conducted them all to the large ballroom ; 
 they await yon there, Andreas Hofer." 
 
 '* I would I knew what they want of me," sighed Hofer, 
 stroking his long beai-d. 
 
 " I know what they want. Father Andy," said 8])eckbacher, 
 smiling. "I myself suggested to the commanders of the 
 Landsturm the plan of asking of you what they are going to 
 conuiumicate to you now. And you must not refuse to com- 
 ply with their request. Father Andy ; for the good of the 
 country demands that you should yield, and the enjperor 
 himself will thank you for so doing." 
 
 "I know likewise what these gentlemen want of you, 
 brother Andy," exclaimed the Capuchin, filling his glass. "I
 
 372 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 was yesterday already in Innspruck, where 1 conferred with 
 the mayor and the members of the city council, and they will 
 tell you now what we resolved then. You must not resist, 
 brother ; you must, on the contrary, comply with their re- 
 quest ; for it is God's will that you should, and therefore you 
 must. Now go to the ballroom, dear Andy." 
 
 " I shall not, unless you two accompany me thither," an- 
 swered Andreas Hofer, emphatically. " They will finally be- 
 lieve I wish to monopolize all honors, and will charge me with 
 forgetting that Haspinger and Speckbacher, day before yester- 
 day, did a great deal more than myself at the battle of Mount 
 Isel, and that we should never liave gained a victory there 
 without them. Therefore, you must walk side by side with 
 me, one on my right, the other on my left hand ; and we will 
 enter the balh^oom just as we fought in battle." 
 
 On entering the ballroom, where the commanders of the 
 Landsturm in their uniforms and the officers of the munici- 
 pality had ranged themselves along the walls, the three heroes 
 were received -with three deafening cheers ; and this time An- 
 dreas Hofer was not bold enough to tell the enthusiastic gen- 
 tlemen to be silent, but he looked quite respectfully at the 
 mayor in his long black robe, who was approaching him with 
 a grave step between two members of the city council. 
 
 " We come," he said, solemnly, " not only to thank you for 
 the heroic deeds which you have performed, but to pray you to 
 do still more for us and the fatherland. You have delivered 
 the country from the enemy, but there is lacking to it a head, 
 a crown. The Bavarian government commission, and Count 
 Rechberg. the king's lieutenant, have escaped from Innspruck 
 with the French forces. We are free from the Bavarian yoke ; 
 we are no longer governed by the king's lieutenant, and in his 
 place we want a lieutenant of the emperor. There must be 
 one in wliose hands all power is concentrated, and who rules 
 over the country in the empei'or's name. You must fill this 
 position, Andreas Hofer. The authorities and the people of 
 Innspruck elect you the emperor's lieutenant. You shall 
 govern the country in his name, and we will all swear to you 
 obedience, fidelity, and love." 
 
 After he had concluded his address, Anthony Wallner
 
 ANDREAS HUl'Elt, TlIK EMPEROR'S LIEUTENANT. 373 
 
 stopped forth from llie ranks of the commanders of the Land- 
 stiirm. " Yes," he exclaimed. " you sliall be the emperor's 
 lieutenant. We will all swear to you obedience, fidelity, and 
 love. We commanders of the Landsturm wished to say this 
 to our comniaiuler in-chief, and this was the reason why we 
 came hither. We want to pray you to govern the Tyrol in 
 the emperor's name. Your consent would give us the greatest 
 satisfaction." 
 
 " We want to pray you," said one of the members of the 
 city council, coming forward from the midst of his colleagues, 
 " to take up your residence a.s the emperor's lieutenant in the 
 imperial palace on tlie Remplatz." 
 
 " That will never do," cried Andreas Hofer, in dismay. 
 " How could I be so impudent as to reside in the palace of his 
 majesty the emperor ? No, no, that will never do ; I cannot 
 consent to it." 
 
 " It will do very well, and you must consent to it," said 
 Haspinger, solemnly. " You shall reside in the imperial pal- 
 ace, not to gratify your own vanity, but to reassure the people, 
 and show them that they are not entirelj^ destitute of a ruler 
 and protector. You shall govern the country for God and 
 the emperor until all our enemies are worsted and the war is 
 at an end. The emperor has not time at this juncture to take 
 care of us ; he must devote his whole attention to the I'eorgan- 
 ization of his army and prepare for the resumption of hostili- 
 ties. The armistice expires at the end of this month, and 
 war will then, of course, break out once more, for the 
 French emperor will not keep quiet and submit before 
 he is worsted and crushed entirely ; and we have still a 
 great deal to do, a great deal to fight, and much more blood 
 will have to be shed, before we have delivered the whole 
 Southern Tyrol, Carinthia, and Carniola, from the yoke 
 of the tyrant. In order to do so, Speckbacher. Wallner, 
 and I, will lead the bi>ave Tyrolese against the enemy. 
 Now, if the countiy is to be governed properly while we 
 are fighting, a man in whom both the people and the au- 
 thorities have confidence must be at the head of the govern- 
 ment. You are this man, Andreas Hofer. The people, the 
 authorities, and the defenders of the country, pray you to
 
 374 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 consent to it ; biit God commands yon through my mouth 
 to accept the position." 
 
 "Well, then," exclaimed Andreas, enthusiastically, lifting 
 his eyes devoutly to heaven, " I will do joyfully what God 
 commands, and what you request me to do. I will take upon 
 myself this arduous duty ; I will complj^ with your wishes. 
 You say it is necessary for the good of the country and the 
 emperor that there should be a lieutenant of the emperor ; 
 and if there is no other and better man than I, and if you 
 have confidence in me, I will accept the position. I am noth- 
 ing but an instrument in the hand of God my Lord, and I do 
 what He wants me to do, even though it should cost my life. 
 My life is in His hand, and what I am, and have, and can be, 
 belongs to my emperor and my country. I will be, then, the 
 emperor's lieutenant in the Tyrol until the emperor issues or- 
 ders to the contrary, or until peace is restored to the country, 
 and the emperor is able again to take charge of the govern- 
 ment. Let us pray God and the Holy Virgin that that day 
 may soon daAvn upon us ! " 
 
 " Long live the emperor's lieutenant ! " shouted the whole 
 assembly, joyously. 
 
 " Now," exclaimed the mayor, " give me your hand, An- 
 dreas Hofer, lieutenant of the emperor, and commander-in- 
 chief of the Tyrol. We will conduct you in solemn proces- 
 sion to the imperial palace, for the liexxtenant must take up his 
 residence there." 
 
 "Yes, yes, let us accomjiany Andreas Hofer to the imperial 
 palace," exclaimed all, in joyful excitement. 
 
 " Well, if it please God, I will take up my residence in the 
 imperial palace," exclaimed Andreas Hofei-, solemnly, giving 
 his hand to the mayor and stepping with him to the door of 
 the ballroom. 
 
 He was followed by the Capuchin, Joseph Speckbacher, 
 Anthony Wallner. the other commanders of the Landstnrm, 
 and the municipal authorities. On stepping into the street, 
 they Vv'ere received with tliundering cheers by the people v.ho 
 thronged the street and the neighboring place : and amid 
 singing and deafening acclamations, and the ringing of all 
 the church-bells, the emperor's lieutenant and commander-in-
 
 THE FIFTKKNTH Ol-' AUGUST AT CO.MORN. 375 
 
 chief of tlie T,\i'ol, Andreas Hofer, was conducted to tlie raag- 
 uificoiit imperial palace, where the Sandwirth was to take up 
 his residence. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 THE FIFTEENTH OF AUGUST AT COMORN. 
 
 While the people of Innspruck set no hounds to their re- 
 joicings on the 15th of August, and accompanied Andreas Ho- 
 fer, the emperor's lieutenant, amid the most rapturous mani- 
 festations of enthusiasm, to the imperial palace ; while the 
 Emperor Napoleon was celehrating tlie 15th of August, his 
 birthday, by a great parade at Schonbrunn, and the bestowal 
 of orders and rewards on many distinguished jicrsons, the 
 Emperor Francis was at the fortress of Comorn. Only a few 
 of his faithful adherents had followed him thither ; only his 
 servants and officers surrounded him at his mournful court 
 there. The Empi-ess Ludovica and the archduchesses had al- 
 ready repaired to Totis, a country-seat of Prince Lichlenstein, 
 in Hungai-y, whither the emperor intended to follow her in 
 the coui-se of a few days. 
 
 " I should set out this very day," he said, pacing his cabinet, 
 to his confidential agent Hudelist, the Aulic councillor, "but 
 I should like to see previously Count Bubna, whom I have 
 sent to Bonaparte." 
 
 " I hope, your majesty, that the count will j^et return to- 
 day," replied Hudelist, in his humble bland voice. 
 
 "God grant it ! " sighed the emperor. "It is very tedious 
 here, and I hojie our sojourn at Totis will not be so mournful 
 and wearisome. Pi-ince Lichtenstein told mo thire were ex- 
 cellent fishing-ponds there, and he added that he had caused 
 to he built a laboratory where I might manufacture sealing- 
 wax. I think, Hudelist, we shall be very industrious there, 
 and manufacture new and beautiful styles." 
 
 "I received to-day a new receipt for making carmine seal- 
 ing-wax, perfumed a la rose" said Hudelist, smiling. 
 
 " Ah, that is nice," exclaimed the emperor ; " give it to me 
 — let me read it."
 
 376 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 The Aalic councillor drew a paper from his bosom and 
 lianded it with a low bow to the emperor. Francis took it 
 quickly, and fixed his eyes smilingly on it. 
 
 His features, however, suddenly became very gloomy, 
 and he threw the paper indignantly on the table. " What 
 do you give me this for ? " he asked, angrily. '* In speaking 
 of the receipt, I had forgotten the abominable political 
 situation for a moment, but you must at once remind me 
 of it." 
 
 " My God ! " faltered out Hudelist, " what did I do, then, to 
 excite your majesty's indignation ? " 
 
 The emperor took the paper from the table and handed it 
 to him. " See," he said, already half jjacified, " is that a receipt 
 for making sealing-wax ? " 
 
 " Good heavens ! " groaned Hudelist, in dismay, '' I made a 
 mistake. In place of the receipt, I handed to your majesty the 
 draft of the proclamation to your sul)jects, which your ma- 
 jesty ordered me to write. Oh, I humbly beg your majesty's 
 pardon for having made so lamentable a blunder ; I — ' 
 
 "Well, never mind," interrupted the emperor; "there is 
 no harm done. You handed me one receipt, in place of an- 
 other ; and it is true, the sealing-wax receipt may remain in 
 your pocket until we arrive at Totis, but the other receipt is 
 needed immediately, for it is destined to reduce the people to 
 submissiveness and tranquillity. Well, read the proclama- 
 tion you have drawn up." 
 
 " Your majesty, I have carried out carefully the orders of 
 your majesty, and the instructions of yovir minister, Count 
 Metternich, and written only what ^our majesty had agreed 
 upon with the minister." 
 
 " Eead it,'' said the emperor, taking the fly-flap from the 
 table ; and, while he was slowly gliding along the walls, and 
 killing now and then a fly, Hudelist read as follows : 
 
 "To my people and my army !— My beloved subjects, and 
 even my enemies know that, in entering upon the present 
 war, I was induced to take up arms neither by thirst for con- 
 quest nor by moi'tified personal feelings. 
 
 " Self-preservation and independence, a peace which would 
 be compatible with the honor of my crown, and which Avould
 
 THE FIFTEENTH OF AUGUST AT COMORX. 3^7 
 
 give security and tranquillity to my people, were the lofty and 
 only objects which I strove to attain. 
 
 "The lickle fortunes of war have not fultilled niy expecta- 
 tions ; the enemy penetrated into the heart of my states, and 
 exposed them to the devastations of a war carried on with the 
 most relentless exasperation and barbarity ; but, at the same 
 time, he became acquainted with the patricjtic spirit of my peo- 
 ple and the bravery of my army. 
 
 "This experience, which he purchased after fearful blood- 
 shed, and my unvarying solicitude for the happiness of my 
 subjects, brought about mutual advances for peace negotia- 
 tions. My plenipotentiaries met with those of the French 
 emperor. 
 
 ''I am desirous of concluding an honorable peace, tiie 
 terms of which offer the possibility and prospect of its dura- 
 tion. The bravery of my army, its unwavering courage, its 
 ardent patriotism, its emphatic wish not to lay down its arms 
 pi-ior to the conclusion of an honorable peace, prevent me from 
 submitting to terms which would shake the foundations of 
 the empire, and dishonor us after such great and genei-ous 
 sacrifices and so much bloodshed. 
 
 ''The noble spirit animating the army is a sufficient guar- 
 anty that, if the enemy should after all mistake our intentions 
 and strength, we shall certainly obtain the reward of con- 
 stancy in the end."* 
 
 " There," cried the empei'or at this moment, striking with 
 the tl^'-flap at the wall, '' that will at length put an end to your 
 iiiimming, with which you have dinned my ears for a quarter 
 (»t' an hour. Come here, Hudelist, and look at this bluebottle 
 tly. The whole tune while you were reading I was chasing it, 
 and have only just got it. Did you ever see so large a fly ? " 
 
 "It is a very large fly indeed," said Hudelist, with a grin. 
 
 " I do not believe that it is a bluebottle fly," exclaimed the 
 emperor. " It is Bonaparte, who has transformed himself 
 into a bluebottle fly, as Jove once transformed liimself into an 
 ox ; and he came hither to annoy me and din my ears until I 
 am quite sick. Yes, yes, Hudelist. believe me, Bonaparte is a 
 huge bluebottle fly, which drives all Europe mad. Ah, would 
 
 * Sue Iloniiayr'* " .Vinliv as llulVr,"' vol. ii., y. 440.
 
 378 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 I could treat him as I treat this abominable bluebottle fly now, 
 and crush him under my foot ! " 
 
 And the emperor crushed the writhing insect under his 
 heel. 
 
 '' Your majesty will surely enjoy one day the pleasure of 
 crushing Bonaparte, the huge bluebottle fly, under your heel," 
 said Hudelist. " Only your majesty must be gracious enough 
 to have patience, and not now try to attain what ;\ou will 
 surely accomplish at a later time. At this juncture Bonaparte 
 is strong and superior to us ; but let us wait until there is a 
 moment when he is weak ; your majesty will profit by this 
 moment, and crush him." 
 
 "See, see how kind you are !" exclaimed the emperor, with 
 a sardonic smile ; " you are so obliging as to give me advice 
 which I did not ask for. I thank you, Mr. Aulic Councillor, 
 but I believe it will be better for me to follow my own under- 
 standing. As God Almighty has placed me at the head of 
 Austria and made me emperor, He must confide in my ability 
 to discharge the duties of my imperial office. Well, you need 
 not look so dismayed ; I know that your intentions are good, 
 and I confide in you." 
 
 " Your majesty knows that I am ready to die for you, and 
 that I should shed my blood for you unhesitatingly and joy- 
 ously," exclaimed Hudelist, enthusiastically. " It was, there- 
 fore, only my intense love and veneration which made me 
 venture to communicate my views freely and openly to your 
 majesty ; but I shall never do so again, for I was unfortunate 
 enough to displease your majesty tliereby."' 
 
 " On the contrary, you shall always do so, you shall always 
 tell me your opmion freely and openly," cried the emperor, 
 vehemently. "You shall tell me all that you believe, all that 
 you know, and all that you hear and learn from others. Your 
 eai^, eyes, and tongue, shall belong to me." 
 
 " And my heart, above all things, bcloi-.gs to my adored em- 
 peror, your majesty." 
 
 " Have you really got a heart ? " asked the emperor, smil- 
 ing. " I do not believe it, Hudelist ; you are a clever, saga- 
 cious man, but you had better say nothing about your lieart. for 
 I think you have used it up in your countless love-afTairs.
 
 TlIK FIITKENTH OF AUGIST AT COMORO. 379 
 
 Moreover, I do not cave for it. I do not think a great deal of 
 men who have too nnu-h heart, and who always allow their 
 rash heart to iutlucnce their actions. My distinguished 
 brother, the Ai'chduke John, for instance, has this fault and 
 weakness ; his heart frequently runs away with his head, and 
 his legs finally run after it.'' 
 
 " But he is a very brave general," said Hudelist, gently ; 
 "a courageous captain, and a most defiant and foolhardy ene- 
 my of France. How unwavering were the courage and in- 
 trepidity with which he met the Viceroy of Italy everywhere, 
 and attacked him, even though he knew beforehand that he 
 would be unable to worst the superior enemy ! How great 
 was the magnanimity with which he risked all, and did not 
 shrink from sacrificing the lives of thousands in attempting 
 to carry out an insignificant cou}} against the enemy ! And 
 how sublime was the heroism with which he has often dared 
 to brave the orders of the commander-in-chief and pursue his 
 own way, on finding that these orders were dangerous and 
 pernicious to his armj' I " 
 
 "Yes," cried the emperor, bursting into scornful laughter, 
 " it was owing to this disobedience and stubbornness that we 
 lost the battle of Wagram. If the Archduke John had been 
 more obedient, and arrived with his troops in time, we should 
 have gained the battle, I should not be in this miserable hole, 
 and it would not be necessary for me to sue Bonaparte so 
 humbly and contritely for generous terms of peace. The 
 good heart of my distinguished brother subjected me to this 
 unpleasant necessity, and I shall one day manifest to him my 
 gratitude for it." 
 
 " Oh, your majesty," said Hudelist, in his blandest voice, 
 "if the archduke should have unwittingly committed a blun- 
 der on this occasion, he has made a thousand amends for it. 
 Your majesty should bear in mind all that the noble Ai'ch- 
 duke John accomplished in the Tyrol. Your majesty owes it 
 only to the archduke that the Tyrol rose as one man, that it 
 fought, and is lighting stiil, with the utmost heroism. He ar- 
 ranged it all ; he organized a conspiracy in the Tyrol while 
 the country was yet under the Bavarian yoke— a vast, gigantic 
 conspiracy ; owing to his secret instigation, the revolution
 
 380 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 broke out simultaneously iu all parts of the Tyrol, and it is 
 the name of the Archduke John which fills this people of 
 heroes with the sublime courage which it displays in the most 
 murderous battles." 
 
 '' It is bad enough that it is so," exclaimed the emperor, 
 striding uneasily up and down the room. "The Archduke 
 John sowed the seeds of jiei^nicious weeds, and played a very 
 dangerous game." 
 
 " It is true, it is dangerous to preach rebellion to a people, 
 and teach it how to rise in insurrection," said Hudelist, 
 thoughtfully. " And it cannot be denied that the insurrection 
 of the Tyrolese sets a deplorable example in some respects. It 
 is true, the archduke organized the conspiracy only for the 
 good of Austria and her emperor ; but what the Tyrolese are 
 doing to-day for the emperor, they might another time do 
 against hiva' ; and if the archduke were not so exceedingly 
 loyal and entirely above suspicion, one might think he had 
 stirred up the insurrection for his own purposes and benefit. 
 At all events, it only depends on him to have himself pro- 
 claimed King of the Tyrol, for his influence is all-powerful in 
 that province." 
 
 The emperor uttered a cry of rage. His eyes shot fire, his 
 lips quivered and muttered incoherent threats, his cheeks had 
 turned livid, and he paced his room in indescribable agitation. 
 Then, as if to give vent to the rage filling his breast, he took 
 up the fly-flap and struck violently at the flies seated here and 
 there on the wall. 
 
 Hudelist followed his every motion with his cold, stealthy 
 ej^es, and an expression of scorn and malicious joy illumi- 
 nated his sombre face for a moment. 
 
 "It was efPectual," he murmured to himself ; "jealousy 
 and suspicion have struck roots in his heart, and we shall suc- 
 ceed in neutralizing the influeiice of the archduke, who con- 
 stantly preaches war, and w^ar at any cost." 
 
 Suddenly the emperor cast his fly-flap aside, and turned 
 to Hudelist, whose face had quickly resumed its quiet, humble, 
 and impenetrable expression. 
 
 " Hudelist," said the emperor, in a low and mysterious tone, 
 "always tell me all you know about the archduke, and do not
 
 TUii FIFTEENTH UF AUGUST AT COMOKN. 381 
 
 conceal any thing from nie. 1 must know all, and count ujjon 
 your sincerity and talent of observation." 
 
 " Your majesty," cried Hudelist, ardently, '' I swear that I 
 will faithfully carry out the orders of my emperor. Not a 
 word, not a step, not a manifestation of public opinion shall 
 be concealed from your majesty ; for, as your majesty was 
 gracious enough to observe, my ears, eyes, and tongue, belong 
 to your majesty." 
 
 At this moment the door of the anteroom opened, and a 
 footman announced Count Bubna. 
 
 " Let him come in," said the emperor ; and he dismissed, 
 with a (luick wave of his hand, Hudelist, who. bowing respect- 
 fully, and walking backward, left the emperor's cabinet at the 
 same moment that Count Bubna appeared on the threshold of 
 the opposite door. 
 
 The emperor hastened to meet him. " Now speak, count ! " 
 he exclaimed, eagerly ; " did j'ou see Bonaparte ? Did he ad- 
 mit you ? " 
 
 •' Yes, your majesty," said Count Bubna, with gloomy 
 gravity, " the Emperoi- Napoleon did admit me. 1 had a long 
 interview with him." 
 
 The emperor nodded his head. " Did he offer you terms of 
 peace ? " 
 
 " He did, but I cannot conceal from your majesty that the 
 Emperor Napoleon will impose very harsh and oppressive 
 conditions. He is exceedingly irritated, atid the hei-oic resist- 
 ance which our army offered to him, our bi'illiant victory at 
 Aspem, and the fact that his victory at Wagram was after all 
 little better than a drawn battle, seem to have exasperated hnn 
 in the extreme. For this reason he is resolved to imjio.se rig- 
 orous terms of peace cm us, because, if Austria sliould submit 
 to them, she would thereby admit that the Emperor of the 
 French gained a great victory at Wagram." 
 
 " Well, I am glad that he is irritated," said the emperor, 
 shrugging his shoulders ; " so am I, and I shall not accept any 
 peace which wH)uld impose humiliating terms on Austria. 
 That is what I have promised this very day to my people in 
 the proclamation lying on the table yonder ; and I o\^'e it, 
 moreover, to myself. Either an honorable peace, or a deci-
 
 382 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 sioii by the fortune of war. If need be, I will call upon my 
 whole people to take up arms ; I will place myself at the head 
 of this grand army, and either defeat Bonapai'te, or succumb 
 honorably. " 
 
 " Ah, if your people could see your majesty in your gener- 
 ous excitement, with how much enthusiasm they would follow 
 their emperor and expel the enemy !" exclaimed Count Bubna. 
 " And yet even the most intense enthusiasm might fail, for 
 circumstances are more powerful than your majesty's heroism. 
 The Empenjr Napoleon is determined to follow up his success 
 to its most extreme consequences, and we are at this juncture 
 unable to cope with him in the long run. All the gaps in his 
 army have been filled up, and his soldiers are flushed with 
 victory, and eager to meet our own forces. Our army is 
 greatly weakened, disorganized, and disheartened ; and, more- 
 over, it has no commander-in-chief, inasmuch as your majesty 
 has accepted the resignation of the generalissimo. To con- 
 tinue the war would be equivalent to endangering the exist- 
 ence of Austria and the imperial dynasty itself.'' 
 
 " Ah, you mean that Bonaparte would be pleased to say of 
 my dynasty what he said of Naples and Spain : ' The Bourbons 
 have ceased to reign' ?" 
 
 " Your majesty, although the Emperor Napoleon did not 
 dare to use such unmeasured language, he did not fail to hint 
 at such an event. Having admitted me after repeated refusals 
 and hearing my fii-st words, ' My august master, the Emperor 
 of Austria,' the Empei'or Napoleon interrupted me, and cried 
 vehemently, ' There is no longer an Emperor of Austria, but 
 only a Prince of Lorraine ! ' '' 
 
 " Ah, indeed, he permits me at least to retain the title of a 
 Prince of Lorraine ! And what else did he say ? Do not con- 
 ceal any thing from me. Count Bubna, but bear in mind that 
 I must know all, in order to take my resolutions accord- 
 ingly." 
 
 " Your majesty, if I did not bear this in mind, I should 
 never venture to repeat what the Emperor Napoleon permitted 
 himself to say to me. He seemed to speak quite unreservedly 
 in my presence ; lying on the floor by the side of his maps, or 
 sitting on the table and placing his feet on a chair, or stand-
 
 TUK lllTKKNTII OF ALUiTST AT (()M»>F{N. 383 
 
 ins before mo with folilod iinns, he spoke to nie with a fi'aiik- 
 ncss which almost frightened me, and wliicli at times seemed 
 to me quite iuvoluntaiy." 
 
 " There you were mistaken, at all events," said Francis, 
 shruggin'"- his shoulders. '"Bonaparte never does anything 
 unintentionally, and not a word escapes him but what he 
 wants to utter. I know him better than you all, though I 
 have seen him oul}- once in my life ; and God knows that, 
 after my interview with him subsequent to the battle of Aus- 
 terlitz, my heart was filled with intense hatred against him. 
 Now, my lieart is more constant in hatred than in love ; and 
 if it is said that love makes us blind, hatred, on the other 
 hand, renders lis keen-sighted, and that is the reason why I 
 am able to see through Bonaparte and know him better than 
 you all. Tell me, therefore, what he said so frankly to you, 
 and I shall know what to think of his statements which seem 
 to you uninlenticjiial expressions of his real sentiments. 
 What does he think of the armistice ? Is he really intent on 
 drawing the sword once more, or is he inclined to conclude 
 peace ? " 
 
 " Inclined, your majesty, is not the right word. He in- 
 tends to grant peace to your majesty in i-eturn for heavy sac- 
 rifices. Your majesty will have to sacrifice much territory, 
 many fortresses, and finally a gi-eat deal of money, in order to 
 obtain peace." 
 
 " And what if I should not do so ?" cried Fx-ancis, impetu- 
 ously. '' What if I should prefer to resume hostilities and die 
 honorably on the ruins of my empire rather than purcha.se a 
 dishonorable peace ? What would he say then ? " 
 
 " Then he would resume hostilities with his strong and en- 
 thusiastic army ; he would, as he told me more than once in 
 his thundering voice, he inexorable, and no considerations of 
 generosity would ])revenl him from wreaking vengeance on 
 his personal enemy ; for as .such he would regard your majes- 
 ty in that event." 
 
 '* But the people of Nuremberg do not hang any one before 
 they have got him," said the emperor, calmly. ''Bonaparte 
 has not got me yet, and I thinlc he will not catch me soon. 
 Despite all his braggadocio, he will be obliged to allow the con
 
 384 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 tiuued existence of the Austrian Empire, for all Europe would 
 rise against him ; even Russia herself would become his en- 
 emy, and draw the sword against him, if he should be daring 
 enough to appropriate the Austrian Empire and swallow it as 
 he swallowed Italy." 
 
 " Your majesty, I also do not believe that he would menaae 
 Austria in case he should be driven again to hostilities ; he 
 threatens only the Emperor of Austria." 
 
 " What do you mean, Bubna ? " asked the emperor, vehe- 
 mently. 
 
 "Your majesty," said Count Bubna, in a low, timid voice, 
 " the Emperor Napoleon thinks you are his personal and in- 
 exorable enemy, and he believes if a monarch more favorable 
 to him were seated on the throne of Austria, he would not 
 only soon conclude peace with Austria, but also have a faithful 
 ally in her hereafter. If hostilities should be resumed, and if 
 the fortune of war should decide in favor of the Emperor 
 Napoleon — " 
 
 " Proceed, proceed," cried the emperor, impatiently, when 
 Count Bubna hesitated ; " I must know all, and am not so 
 cowardly as to be frightened by mere words." 
 
 '' But I, your majesty, am afraid of uttering words whose 
 meaning fills me with loathing and horror — words whicli, 
 thank God, will never become deeds ! " 
 
 " No preamble, count, but speak out," cried the emperor, 
 impatiently. " What would Bonaparte do in case he should 
 defeat us again ? " 
 
 '* Your majesty, he would place another emperor on the 
 Austrian throne." 
 
 "Ah. always the same old strain," exclaimed the emperor, 
 contemptuously. " One of his brothers or brothers-in-law is 
 to become Emperor of Austria, I suppose ? ' The Hapsburg 
 dynasty has ceased to reign '—that is it. is it not ? " 
 
 "No, another prince of the Hapsl)urg dynastj^ is to be 
 placed on the throne, one of the brothers of the Empei-or 
 Francis." 
 
 " Ah, ah ! he thinks of my brothers," nuirmured the em- 
 peror, whose cheeks turned very pale. "Well, which of my 
 brothers did he designate as future Emperor of Austria ? "
 
 THE FIFTEENTH (»K AFGUST AT COMORX. 335 
 
 "He thoug-lil it would be best for France if tbe (brone were 
 ceded to tbe Grand-duke of Wiii'lzbnrg^, the Archduke Ferdi- 
 nand. He said be bad bad conlidenc(! in the grand-duke ever 
 since he had been in Tuscany, and he believed that the grand- 
 duke was likewise fj-iendly to him. He would make him Em- 
 peror of Austria, and add tbe grand duchy of Wiirtzburg to 
 tbe kingdom of Bavaria.'' 
 
 "And the Tyrol?" asked tbe Emperor Francis. "Will 
 Bonaparte, in bis liberality, give that also to Bavaria, or will 
 he leave it to my brother Ferdinand, the future Emperor of 
 Austria ? " 
 
 " No, your majesty. Tbe Emperor Napoleon seems to have 
 entirely new and rather singular plans in regard to the Tyrol. 
 According to these plans, Bavaria is not to keep it, for Napo- 
 leon said angrily that Bavaria had not at all known how to 
 deal witb the simple and honest Tyrolese. He added tbat pro- 
 found tranquillity should reign in the mountains ; hence, he 
 could not restore the Tyi'ol to Bavaria, against which the Tyr- 
 olese were animated by intense hatred. As tbe Tyrolese had 
 manifested their attachment and fidelity to Austria in so ad- 
 mirable a manner, it would be best to make the Tyrol an in- 
 dependent ])rincipality, and give it also to one of the arcb- 
 dukes, tbe brothers of the emperor."* 
 
 " By tbe Eternal I my brothers seem to be the special fa- 
 vorites of the Emperor Napoleon," exclaimed the emperor. 
 '' Which of the archdukes is to receive the new principality of 
 the Tyrol at Bonaparte's bands ? " 
 
 "Your majesty, he said tbe Tyrol should be given to 
 tbat archduke for whom the Tyrolese bad always mani- 
 fested tbe greatest love and enthusiasm, the Archduke 
 John." 
 
 "John!" cried the emperor, giving a start; "John is to 
 become sovereign of the Tyrol ? Ah, my sagacious and 
 learned brother has speculated correctly, then ! He first stirred 
 up a rebellion in tbe Tyi-ol in the shrewdest manner, and 
 he will now quiet the beloved Tyrol, by becoming its sovereign 
 and ruler." 
 
 " Your majesty," exclaimed the count, in dismay, " it is not 
 * Napoleon's own word.i. — See " Lebensbilder," vol. v., p. 217.
 
 386 ANDREAS JIOFER. 
 
 the noble Archduke John who conceived sncli phiiis, but the 
 Emj)eror Napoleon." 
 
 " He seems at least to keep up a touching understanding 
 with my brothers. I should like to know whether Jiis gener- 
 osity will not provide crowns and states for the other arch- 
 dukes too. And then, you have not told me yet what he in- 
 tends to do with me after hurling me from the throne. Does 
 he want to keep me confined like the King of Spain and Pope 
 Pius, or will he permit me to live as a refugee in foreign lands, 
 like the King of Naples ? " 
 
 " Your majesty, Napoleon only dreamed of the future, and 
 dreams never arc logical and consistent. I myself listened to 
 his dreams in silence, and they amused me as the merry fairy- 
 stories of my childhood did — fairy-stories invented only for 
 the purpose of making us laugh." 
 
 " Yes, let us laugh at them," exclaimed the emperor, burst- 
 ing into loud laughter, which, however, sounded so unnatural 
 that Count Bubna did not join in it. "And now," said the 
 emperor, v»^hose face suddenly became very gloomy. "' having 
 spoken enough about Bonaparte's funny dreams, let us turn 
 to more serious matters. What are the terms on which the 
 Emperor of the French Avould make peace with me ? What 
 does he demand ? " 
 
 "Your majesty, his demands are so exorbitant that I 
 scarcely dare to repeat them." 
 
 " Never mind," said the emperor, dryly. "If I could lis- 
 ten quietly to the plan regarding my brothers, I believe I shall 
 be able to bear the rest. Speak, therefore. What are the 
 terms on which Napoleon would conclude peace ? " 
 
 " He demands the cession of all the provinces actually oc- 
 cupied by the French armies ; the surrender of the fortresses 
 still occupied by our troops in these provinces, with their 
 magazines, arsenals, stores, and supplies ; the surrender of the 
 fortresses of Gratz and Brunn ; and large contributions in 
 kind, to be collected by M. Daru, the French intendant-gen- 
 eral." 
 
 " He intends to spoliate Austria as mercilessly as he for- 
 merly plundered Hambui'g and the whole of Northern Ger- 
 many," said the emperor, shrugging his shoulders, "And
 
 THE riFTEENTH OK AUGUST AT (^O.MoHN. 3,v^7 
 
 does not Bonaparte demaiid any uiouey this time ? Will he 
 content himself with provinces, fortresses, and contributions 
 in kind ? Will he extort no money from us ? " 
 
 " Your majesty, he demands an enormous sum. He de- 
 mands the immediate payment of two huiulred and thirty- 
 seven millions of francs."* 
 
 " Well, well, he will take less than that," exclaimed the 
 emperor. 
 
 " Then your majesty will graciously negotiate with him on 
 his terms of peace?" asked Count Buhna, joyously. "Bear- 
 ing in mind only the welfare of janir monarchy, you will not 
 reject his i-igorous denuinds entirely, and not allow the armis- 
 tice to lead to a resumption of hostilities, which, under the 
 present circumstances, could not but involve Austria in utter 
 ruin ?" 
 
 "I shall think of it." said the emperor; "at all events, I 
 have al)-eady shown my desire for peace by sending my min- 
 isters, Counts Stadion and Metternich, to Altenburg, to nego- 
 tiate there with Bona])arte's minister Champagny. I shall 
 not recall them, but allow them to continue the negotiations. 
 They are skilled diplomatists, and men of great sagacity. The 
 labors of diplomatists generally make slow headway ; hence, 
 it will be good for us to lend them a little secret assistance. 
 While the plenipotentiaries aie negotiating publicly at Alten- 
 l)urg in Hungary, I will secretly begin to negotiate with the 
 emperor himself ; and you, Count Bubna, shall be my agent 
 for this ]>urpose." 
 
 " Your majesty," exclaimed Count Bubna, in a tone of sur- 
 pi'ise rather than joy, " your majesty reposes in me so nuich 
 confidence — " 
 
 " Which, I hope, you will appreciate, and strive to render 
 youi'self worthy of," interrupted the emperoi*. " I count on 
 your skill, your zeal, and, above all, your discretion. You 
 will take new proposals of peace to-morrow, on my part, to 
 the headquarters of the Emperor Napoleon, at SchonbiMinn. 
 But no ono must learn of your mission, and, least of all. my 
 two ministers who are negotiating at Altenburg." 
 
 '■ Sire, I shall keep as silent as the grave.'' 
 
 * See Schlosser's " Ui-story of the NiiKtoentli (.\iitury," v..l. viii., p. 113.
 
 388 ANDREAS UUFER. 
 
 "A bad comparison, Bubna, for new life is to blossom for 
 Austria from your secret negotiations. Well, go now aud 
 repose ; we will afterward confer again in regard to this mat- 
 ter, and I will explain my views to you. But say, Bubna, do 
 you really think that Bonaparte was in earnest about his 
 dreams, and that, in case he should defeat us again, he would 
 seriously think of carrying into effect his plans regarding the 
 Archdukes Ferdinand and John ? " 
 
 '' I am afraid, your majesty, he was in earnest." 
 
 " The Emperor Napoleon, then, hates me intensely ?' " 
 
 " He believes that your majesty hates him intensely. He 
 told me once fi'ankly that only your majesty's personal hatred 
 had brought about this war, and that he was afraid this hatred 
 would frustrate all peace negotiations. I ventured to contradict 
 him, but he shook his head vehemently and exclaimed, ' The 
 Emperor Francis hates me so intensely, that I believe he 
 would lose his crown and empire sooner than ally himself 
 with me in a cordial maiancr, even though he should derive 
 the greatest advantages therefrom. Do you think, for in- 
 stance, that the Emperor Francis, if I wished to become his 
 son-in-law, would give me the hand of his daughter, even 
 though I should relinquish half the war contribution, and re- 
 store to him all the provinces occupied by my armies ? '' 
 
 '' What ? Did Napoleon really say that ? '' asked the em- 
 peror, with unusual, almost joyful vivacity. " But,'' he added, 
 gloomily, " this is nothing but one of Napoleon's dreams. He 
 has a wife, and the Empress Josephine is so young and gay 
 yet that she does not think of dying."' 
 
 " But the Emperor Napoleon, I have been told, thinks a 
 great deal of getting a divorce from her.'" 
 
 " The pope, whom he keeps imprisoned, will never grant it 
 to him," exclaiined the emperor. 
 
 '' I think he will not even apply to him for it, your majesty. 
 The Emperor Napoleon never had his union with the Empress 
 Josephine consecrated by the Church, and the dissolution of a 
 civil marriage does not require the pope's consent. The em- 
 peror can dissolve it by virtue of his own authority." 
 
 "That is a very convenient arrangement 'for M. Bona- 
 parte," said Francis, smiling. "Well, go now, count, and re
 
 THE FIFTEENTH <)F AUGUST AT rOMORX. DSO 
 
 ])OR0. T Mill very coiitcul witli your servicos. and I tliiiik I 
 shall be so liovraftor also. Aflicii. I shall sond for yon 
 again." 
 
 Ho noddod kindly to the count, and stood slill smiling-ly at 
 his writing-table in the middle of the cabinet, until the door 
 of the anteroom closed behind Count Bubna. But thereupon 
 his face assumed a gloomy, bitter expression, and he lifted up 
 his clinched fist with a menacing gesture. 
 
 " My brothers ! " he cried, in an angry voice ; " always my 
 brothei-s ! They are always eager to push me aside, /am al- 
 ways to be kept in the shade, that their light may shine more 
 brightly. Ah, we shall see who is Emperor of Austria, and to 
 whom the Tyrol belongs ; we shall see who is the master, 
 and who has to obey. As yet I am emperor, as yet I have 
 to decide on war and peace. And I will decide. I will 
 humiliate them and compel them to be obedient, these boast- 
 ful archdukes, who always preach war and are woi'sted in 
 every battle ! Oh, they are stirring up rebellion, and stretch- 
 ing out their hands for my property ! But one stroke of 
 Tiiy pen will shatter their crowns, stifle their rebellion, and 
 reduce them to submissiveness. I will make peace with 
 Napoleon, and the seditious Tyrol shall be quieted without 
 being bestowed upon the Archduke John. I would rather 
 have it restored to Bavaria than that it should be con- 
 ferred on my brother. That would be a just retribution for 
 the seditious peasants ; they have set a bad example, and 
 should be punished for it. I do not want any conspirators 
 among my subjects. Let Bavaria see how she will get along 
 with the rebellious Tyrolese ! I shall withdraw my hand 
 fi'om them. I want peace. I will remain Emperor of Aus- 
 tria despite all my brothers ! "
 
 390 ANDREAS IIOFER. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 A DAY OF THE EMPEROR'S LIEUTENANT. 
 
 The imperial palace at Innspruck was still the residence of 
 Sandwirth Andreas Hofer, commander-in-chief of the Tyrol, 
 and lieutenant of the Emperor Francis. He had lived there 
 since the 15th of August ; but as simply, quietly, and modestly 
 as he had lived when he was a horse-dealer and innkeeper, so 
 he lived now when he was ruler of the T^- rol, and the emperor's 
 lieutenant. Instead of occupying the large state apartments 
 of the imperial palace, as his friends had often asked him to do, 
 Andreas had selected the plainest and humblest rooms for his 
 quarters, and his style of living was as simple and modest as 
 his dwelling-place. Vainly his suite tried to persuade him to 
 hold levees and receive guests at his festive table. Andreas 
 rejected all such .suggestions with proud and withal humble 
 indignation. 
 
 " Do you think I took this arduous task upon myself to 
 play the aristocratic gentleman, and revel in luxury ? " he re- 
 plied to those who asked him to adopt such a course. " I did 
 not become the empei'or's lieutenant to display vain and empty 
 splendor, but to serve my dear Tyrol and preserve it to the 
 emperor. I am only a simple jjeasaut, and do not want to 
 live like a prince. I am accustomed to have bread, butter, and 
 cheese for breakfast, and I do not know why I should change 
 this now, merely because I am no longer at home with my 
 dear wife, but here at Innspruck at the emperor's palace. I 
 am also accu.stomed to dine very plainly, and am therefore 
 opposed to any expensive repasts being got up for me here. I 
 do not like the meats prepared by the cooks of the aristocracy ; 
 and while I do not want anything but bread, butter, cheese, 
 and wine, I shall send to Niedei-kircher's tavern for my dinner. 
 But it must never cost more than half a florin. I will invite 
 guests, for I like to have merry peojjle about me ; but the 
 guests must not come for the sake of the repast, but for that 
 of our pleasant conversation. I shall send to Niederkii-chev 
 for the dinner of all my guests, and he must send enough,
 
 A DAY OK Till': MMl'KKOIt'S LIKIJTENANT. ;',91 
 
 lost any ()f tliom slioiild remain luui<>-i-y. But there must 
 never be more than six o-uests, for it would be too bad if I, 
 who intend to pi-esei-ve tlie Tyrol to the emperor, were to cost 
 liim a o-i-eat deal of money here. In order to prevent mi.s- 
 take, Niederkircher must send' in his bill every morning for 
 me to examine ; the financial secretary shall pay it every 
 week, and .send me the receipt."* 
 
 Andreas Hofer remained in these days of his splendor as 
 active, industrious, and simple as he always had been. The 
 welfare of his beloved country engrossed all his thoughts, and 
 he was desirou,s of devoting his whole strength to it. He is- 
 sued a number of useful and liberal decrees, which, it is true, 
 Ennemoser, Doninger, Kolb, or other friends of his had drawn 
 up, but which he had ap{)roved and signed. 
 
 Andreas Hofej- gave public audiences every morning like a 
 real prince, and the sentinels placed in front of the imperial 
 palace and at the door of the commander-in-chief had received 
 stringent orders not to refuse admittance to the audience-room 
 to any one, but allow all to come in, how poorly soever they 
 might be dressed. Andreas listened to ev^ery one with kind 
 patience and cordial sympathy, and always took care to help 
 console the distressed, make peace, and conciliate ; and every 
 one who needed comfort and assistance hastened to apply to 
 the always helpful commander-in-chief. 
 
 To-day again many persons were in tlie audience-room, 
 waiting impaliently for the moment when the door should 
 open, and when Andreas Ilofer should make his appearance on 
 the threshold, greet all with a pleasant nod of his head, and 
 then beckon to him who was nearest to the door to enter his 
 cabinet. 
 
 But the hour fixed for the audience had struck long ago, 
 and the commander-in-chief, who was usually so punctual and 
 conscientious, had not yet opened the door of his audience- 
 room. He had already been half an hour in his cabinet, and 
 Doninger sat at tlic desk, ready to write down the names of all 
 applicants for audience, and add a hrief statement of -their 
 
 * Tlie expenses of Ilofer ami hi.s wliole suite, duriM>( their six week.s' 
 sojourn in the city of Innspruek, cost the public exchequer only five hundred 
 florins.
 
 392 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 wishes and petitions. But Andreas was still pacing the room, 
 his hands behind his back ; and although he had already laid 
 his hand twice on the door-knob, he had stepped back as if in 
 terror, and continued striding up and down. 
 
 " Commander-in-chief," said Ddninger, after a long pause, 
 during which he had watched Hofer's irresolute bearing 
 smilingly, '' there is soraethiug that disquiets you, is there 
 not ? " 
 
 " Yes, Cajetau," sighed Andreas. " As you have found it 
 out, I will no longer deny that there is something that dis- 
 quiets me." 
 
 " And what is it, commander-in-chief ? Will you not com- 
 municate it to your faithful and discreet Cajetan ?" 
 
 "Yes, I will, my dear Cajetan," said Hofer. "' I am afi*aid 
 I did somethiiig very stupid yesterday, and I am ashamed 
 of it." 
 
 " Ah, you allude to the lawsuit which you decided yester- 
 day," exclaimed Doninger. 
 
 " You see, no sooner did I say that I did something very 
 stupid, than you at once knew what I meant ; what I did must, 
 therefore, have been very stupid indeed. Yes, I alluded to the 
 lawsuit, Cajetan, for I am afraid I did not decide it, but made 
 it only more complicated." 
 
 " On the whole, there was nothing to be decided," said 
 Doninger, dryly. "The lawsuit was already decided; the 
 supreme court had given jvidgment in favor of the plaintiff 
 and awarded to him the sum of one thousand florins, which 
 was at issue, and sentenced the defendant to pay that sum 
 and the costs. But the defendant — " 
 
 " It was no man, Cajetan," interrupted Andreas ; "it was a 
 woman, and tliat was the worst of it. I cannot bear to see 
 women weep. They know so well how to touch my heart by 
 their tears and lamentations, that I long to help them. Lord 
 Jesus, how that woman, the defendant in the lawsuit, wept ! 
 And was it the poor woman's fault, Cajetan, that her deceased 
 husband was head over ears in debt, that he borrowed one 
 thousand florins from a friend, and meanly affixed his wife's 
 name without her knowledge to the note which he gave for 
 it?"
 
 A DAY OF THE EMPEliOR'S LIEUTENANT. 393 
 
 " But that is just the trouble, commander-in-chief ; not 
 only did she know it, but she herself put her name under the 
 note. I myself asked the judges about it yesterday-. They 
 say that the woman is known to be avaricious, greedy, and 
 mean, and they would not have given judgment against her 
 if there had not been sworn evidence to the effect that she 
 hei"self signed the note. They add that she is rich enough to 
 pay back the thousand ilorins which her husband certainly 
 borrowed from his fi-iend." 
 
 " I cannot believe it," exclaimed Andreas. " She wept and 
 lamented so very unaffectedly ; during my whole wedded life 
 I have not seen my wife weep so much as the woman wept 
 during that quarter of an hour yesterday ; and I think one 
 that can weep so much must be innocent. Hence, I did what 
 I had a perfect right to do ; I wrote to the judges and re- 
 versed their decision." 
 
 '' Well, commander-in-chief, if you think you were justified 
 in what you did, why does it disquiet you ?" 
 
 " It does," said Andreas Hofer, '' because I think now that 
 the plaiutitf, who lost his suit, raaj' feel verj' sore over it, and 
 blame me for depriving liini of what he thought was due to 
 bim ; and I shudder to think he may be in the otliei- room, 
 and intend to reproach me with ruining bim and taking from 
 liiui what the judges had alreadj'^ awarded to him." 
 
 " And, Andy, because you would not like to see one man, 
 you keep the others wailing outside." 
 
 '• You are right, Cajetan. I ought not to do that ; I am a 
 selfish, cowardly fellow," cried Andreas, contritely. " I w'ill 
 no longer keep them waiting, but admit them at once." 
 
 And he went with a hasty step to the door of the audience- 
 room, threw it open, and stepped upon the threshold. The 
 large room was crowded with persons of every age and rank ; 
 all thronged toward the door, and every one was desirous of 
 being the first to greet the commander-in-chief, and to be in- 
 vited by him into his cabinet. 
 
 Aiulreas Hofer bowed kindly to all; his eyes fell on an old 
 man with silver-white hair, who was striving to penetrate to 
 him, and cast besooching glances on him. 
 
 " My old friend," said Andreas, mildly, " it is true you are 
 2G
 
 394 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 not nearest to the door, but you are the oldest person in the 
 room, and tiierefore it is right for ine to listen to you first. 
 Come in, then, and tell me what you want of me." 
 
 The old man, leaning on his cane, hastened forward and 
 entered the cabinet, the door of which Andreas Hofer himself 
 closed behind him. 
 
 " Now tell me, my aged friend, who are you, and what I 
 can do for you." 
 
 " Much, very much, commander-in-chief," replied the old 
 man, in a tremulous voice. " You can grant me justice. My 
 name is Friedel Hofmeier, and I am the unfortunate man who 
 gained his lawsuit yesterday, and who was to get his thousand 
 florins back, but from whom you took them again by virtue of 
 your supreme authority." 
 
 "Cajetan, it is as I said," sighed Andreas, turning with a 
 doleful air to Doninger, who sat at the desk, pen in hand, 
 and bovfed to the commander-in-chief with a shrug. 
 
 "I come to you, the emperor's lieutenant, to demand jus- 
 tice," added the old man. *' Your decree was unjust and con- 
 trary to law. The judges had decided in my favor, and by 
 reversing their judgment, you treat with harshness and cruel- 
 ty an old jnan who stands on the brink of the grave, and de- 
 prive my poor grandchild of its whole inheritance." 
 
 " May God and the Holy Virgin preserve me from commit- 
 ting such a crime," murnuired Andreas Hofer, crossing him- 
 self devoutly. '' Ah, my friend, why did you not come to me 
 ere this, and tell me all about it ? I should have gladly as- 
 sisted you in recovering what was due to you." 
 
 " And yet it is your fault that I cannot recover what is due 
 to me," cried the old man, mournfully. " Why should I have 
 come hither ere this, and robbed you of your precious time ? 
 I confided in my good and just cause; I knew tliat the good 
 God would not abandon me, and that He would not take from 
 me, after losing innocently most of my property by the cruel- 
 ty of the enemy, w^ho burned down my house and outbuild- 
 ings, the last remnant of my little fortune, the thousand florins 
 which I lent to my friend, and which his rich wife engaged in 
 her own handwriting to pay back ten years after date. The 
 ten years had expired ; the good God did not abandon me. ^or
 
 A DAY OK TIIK liMPEHUR'.S LIEUTENANT. 395 
 
 He caused the judges to grant me justice and adjudge tlie thou- 
 sand florins to me.'' 
 
 "And I took them from him again," murmured Andreas 
 Hofer, witli tears in his eyes ; " and it is my fault that he will 
 die witli a grief-stricken heart. Cajetan, I have ruined the 
 old man ; tell me. advise me how to make amends fur it." 
 
 " You reversed the decision of the judges," said Douiuger, 
 slowly ; " you possess the power of reversing all decisions." 
 
 Andreas Hofer was silent for a moment, and gazed 
 thoughtfully into vacancy, as if to fathom the meaning of an 
 ohscure oracle ; all at once his face brightened, and a joyovis 
 smile played round his lips. 
 
 " I know it now, Cajetan," he exclaimed. '' I have the 
 power to reverse all decisions, and therefoi'c my own also." 
 
 Cajetan Diininger nodded with silent satisfaction. The 
 old man clasped his hands and ga/.ed at Hofer with an ex- 
 pression of ardent gratitude. 
 
 " Will you really do so, Andreas Hofer V he asked ti'eni- 
 blingly. " Will you reverse your own decree for the sake of 
 justice ? " 
 
 "Yes, I will," exclaimed Hofer, joyfully; "and I will do 
 it immediately. Cajetan, take up your pen and write what I 
 am going to dictate to you. Tliere I now write as follows : 
 ' I, the undersigned, confess by these presents that T committed 
 a mistake yesterday, and violated the laws. To confess mis- 
 takes and avow faults is no disgrace; hence, I do so now. and 
 beg pardon of the good God and the judges for doing wrong. 
 I hereby reverse the decision which I made yesterday. Frie- 
 del Hofmeier is to receive the thousand florins which the su- 
 ])reme court adjudged to him, and the decision of the judges 
 is to be valid, notwithstanding my decree issued yesterday.' 
 Now give me the pen and let me sign the document." 
 
 "Oh, dear commander-in-chief," exclaimed the delighted 
 old man, " what a noble and kind-hearted man you are, 
 and-- " 
 
 " Hush ! " interrupted Andreas, looking up from the paper; 
 " if I make a mistake now, the whole document will be in- 
 valid, and we must commence anew. Now I tell you it is 
 hard work to write one's name with such a pointed pen on the
 
 396 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 paper, and my name, moreover, has such a long-tailed title. 
 Therefore, keep quiet and let me write. There, it is done now 
 — 'Andreas Hofer, commander-in-chief of the Tyrol.' Now, 
 my dear old friend, your document is valid. Take it to the 
 city hall, and permit me to congratulate you on having re- 
 covered your thousand florins. Say nothing ahout it now, 
 hut hasten to the city hall. There are outside a great many 
 persons who wish to see me." 
 
 He handed the paper to the old man, and condvicted him to 
 the door, which he himself opened for him. He was about to 
 follow him, when he suddenly drew back and closed the door 
 after him. 
 
 " Cajetan," he whispered, anxiously, '' I saw something 
 dreadful ! " 
 
 " "What was it, commander-in-chief ? " 
 
 " Cajetan, I saw the woman whom Friedel Hofmeier sued, 
 and to whom I gave the decree yesterday. Cajetan, I was not 
 afraid when we were on Mount Isel and at Brixen, but I am 
 afraid of that woman and her dreadful lamentations. I do 
 not know what to do, Doninger, if she should have found 
 out what I have done, and come in here to reproach me with 
 it." 
 
 " We shall not admit her, commander-in-chief," said Do- 
 ninger, laughing. 
 
 " But, Cajetan, I made a vow never to refuse admittance 
 to any one, and not, as many princes do, to allow distressed 
 pei'sons to wait in my anteroom and send them away with- 
 out listening to them and comforting them." 
 
 " But you heard, Andreas, that the w^oman is not in dis- 
 tress, for she is rich and very avai'icious. She told you the 
 most impudent falsehoods ; hence, she must not be admitted ; 
 for, if you allow her to come in again, she would lie as she 
 did yesterday." 
 
 " You are right, Cajetan, she must not come in ; and now, 
 my friend, pray go and admit the next applicant, but not that 
 bad woman." 
 
 Doninger went to the door, and, opening it, beckoned to the 
 person .standing nearest to it. 
 
 A young woman, dressed plainly, but very neatly,
 
 A DAY OP THE EMPERUK'S LIEUTENANT. 397 
 
 eariie iu, and remained at the door, in visible confusion and 
 grief. 
 
 "Well, niadanie," said Andeas to her, ''do you come to tell 
 me that all is right, and that your husband and you, his pretty 
 young wife, live together in happiness and content ? Well, it 
 was heavy work to reconcile you two, and persuade you to re- 
 main together and love each other, as it behooves a Christian 
 couple. It cost me a whole forenoon, but I do not regret it, 
 for I accomplished my task, and reconciled you, and all was 
 right again between you. And I made you promise to return 
 in two weeks and tell me how you got along with each other. 
 The two weeks are up to-day, and here comes the pretty 
 young wife to tell me that Andreas Hofer did his work well, 
 and that her husband is now faithful, tender, and good. Is he 
 not ? " 
 
 " Alas, he is not ! " sobbed the young wife, bursting into 
 tears. " Tony, my husband, never stays at home in the even- 
 ing ; he returns only late at night, scolds me for weeping and 
 upbraiding him with his bad conduct, and yesterday— yester- 
 day he wanted even to beat me ! " 
 
 •' What a bad man ! " cried Andreas, vehemently. " Why 
 did he want to beat you, then ? What had you done ? " 
 
 " I had locked the street-door, and would not let him have 
 the key when he wanted to leave the house." 
 
 " H'em ! that was a little too severe," said Hofer, hesitat- 
 ingly. " Why should a young man be prevented from going 
 out a little ? He cannot always stay at home." 
 
 " But he shall not go out without me, and he would not 
 take me with him. I had requested him to do so, and he had 
 refused ; therefore, I locked the house and would not permit 
 liim to leave it. He shall not go out without me, for he is 
 such a fine-looking man, that all the pretty women of Inn- 
 spruck admire him in his haTidsome national dress, and ogle 
 him when he passes by." 
 
 '• Well^ let them admire and ogle him," exclaimed Andreas, 
 smiling. " What do you care for it, provided your husband 
 does not ogle them ? "' 
 
 " But he does, commander-in-chief ; he runs after the pret- 
 ty women i he goes to the theatre and the concerts to see them,
 
 398 ANDREAS UOFER. 
 
 and speak and flirt witli them. Believe me, dearest com- 
 mander-in-chief, he deserts me, he is faithless, and all your fine 
 and pious exhortations were in vain. He loves me no longer, 
 and I love him so dearly, and would like lo be always with him 
 and never desert him. But he says it would be inconvenient 
 to him, and make him ridiculous, if he should always appear 
 together with his wife, like a convict with his jailer." 
 
 "What a bad, hard-hearted man !" cried Andreas, indig- 
 nantly. 
 
 " He is hard-hearted, indeed," sobbed the young wife. " He 
 scolds me for my love, and when I like to be with him all the 
 time, he says my jealousy is disagreeable to him, and there is 
 nothing more abominable than a jealous wife ! " 
 
 " Well, he may be right so far as that is concerned," said 
 Doninger, busily engaged in cutting his pen. 
 
 " What did you say, Cajetan ? " asked Hofer, turning to 
 him. 
 
 '• I did not say anything, but thought aloud," said Donin- 
 ger, trying his pen. 
 
 Hofer was silent for a moment, and gazed into vacancy. 
 " Yes, my dear woman," he then said boldly, " your husband 
 may not be altogether wrong in complaining of your jealousy. 
 I really believe that you are a little jealous, and beg you to try 
 to overcome your jealousy ; for jealousy is a grievous fault, 
 and makes many husbands very wretched." 
 
 " But must I not be jealous ? " she cried, vehemently, weep- 
 ing bitterly. " Do I not see that the women are trying to se- 
 duce him and make him desert me ? Do I not see him at the 
 theatre gazing at the finely-dressed ladies and admiring their 
 bare arms and shoulders ? " 
 
 " What ! " exclaimed Hofer. " Is it true, then, that the 
 women here appear in public with bare arms and shoulders ?" 
 
 "Yes, sir, it is," sobbed the young wife. "You can see it 
 everywhere ; it is the new fashion which the French brought 
 here ; the women wear low-necked dresses with verj^ short 
 sleeves, so that their shoulders and arms are entirely bare. 
 All the aristocratic ladie.s of Innspruck have already adopted 
 this new fashion ; and on seeing them in their boxes at the 
 theatre, you would believe they were in a bath, precisely as
 
 A DAY OK THK EMT'EKORS LIEUTENANT. 899 
 
 (1h> good (Jod created them. And it is owing onl^' to these 
 hare arms and shouldei's that my dear husband deserts nic and 
 loves me no k)uger. Tlie aristocratic ladies, with their naked 
 charms, liave seduced him ; and just think of it. he wants me 
 to adopt the new fashion too, and go as naked as the other 
 women ! " 
 
 "You nnist not do it," said Hofer in dismay ; "it is a 
 shameless, unchristian fashion, and no decent woman should 
 adopt it. This is not the first complaint that I have heard in 
 regard to the indecent di'ess of the women here. Some of my 
 neighbors were at the theatre yesterday, and were indignant 
 at the indecent api)earance of the women there ; they told me 
 the women sat thei-e dressed in the highest fashion, their husts 
 entirely bare and not covex'ed with a handkerchief such as 
 every decent woman in the Passeyr valley wears, and their 
 arms adorned with all sorts of golden trinkets such as we see 
 only on those of strolling j^laycrs who perform in barns. But 
 I will put an end to it ; I will preserve the good and virtuous 
 men from seduction, and will not suffer vice to dress up, and 
 sliamelessness to stalk by the side of decency. Just wait, my 
 dear woman ; I will protect your husband and all other good 
 men from the seductive wiles of frivolous Avomen, and issue a 
 decree which will tell all the beautiful women how to behave. 
 Sit down there and listen to the decree which I shall dictate to 
 Cajetan Doninger. Cajetan, take a large sheet of stamped 
 paper and write what I shall dictate to you." 
 
 And pacing the room, and slowly stroking his fine black 
 beard with his right hand, Andreas Hofer dictated as follows : 
 
 '•Every one will perceive that we have good reason to 
 thank the kind and almighty God for helping us so signally 
 to deliver the fatherland from a powerful and cruel enemy ; 
 and every one will desire that we should hencefoi'th remain 
 free from this scourge, with which the Lord, as He punished 
 His chosen people often in the Old and New Testament, visited 
 and chastised our fatherland, that we might turn to Him and 
 mend our ways. We will, therefore, turn to God with heart- 
 felt thanks for his great mercy, and with the sincere purpose 
 of improving our morals, and pray Him to protect us from 
 furtlicr persecution. We must l;y (o gain His paternal love
 
 400 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 by a devout, chaste, and virtuous life, and discard hatred, 
 envy, covetousness, and all vices, obey our superiors, lend as 
 much assistance as possible to our fellow-citizens, and avoid 
 everything that might give offence to God and man. Now, 
 many of my excellent comrades and defenders of the country 
 have been scandalized at the neglect of many women to cover 
 their arms and breasts, whereby they give rise to sinful desires 
 which must be highly offensive to God and all good Chris- 
 tians. It is to be hoped that they will repent, lest God should 
 punish them ; but if they do not, it w^ll be their own fault 
 if they should be covered with mire in an unpleasant man- 
 ner." * 
 
 '• Shall I really write that ? " asked Doninger, looking up 
 from his paper. 
 
 "Yes, you shall ; and you shall not omit a word of it," ex- 
 claimed Andreas Hofer. ''Give me the paper, Cajetan ; I 
 want to see if you have not scratched out the last words. No, 
 there it is : 'But if they do not, it will be their own fault if 
 they should be covered with mire in an unpleasant manner.' 
 That is right — now give nie the pen, Cajetan, that I may sign 
 the document. Then seal it up and send it to tlie Official Jour- 
 nal and the Gazette ; they are to publish it at once, that all the 
 women of Innspruck may read it to-morrow and know what 
 to do. Now, my dear woman, I hope you will have some rest, 
 and need not be afraid of the seductive wiles of those ladies. 
 Go home, then ; and if you will permit me to give you good 
 advice, be very gentle and kind towaixl your husband ; and 
 for God's sake do not torment him with jealousy, for that is a 
 bitter herb which even the best husband cannot digest, and 
 which renders him morose and angry. Go, then, with God's 
 blessing, and come back a week hence, and tell me whether my 
 decree has been effectual, and whether your husband goes any 
 longer to the theatre and ogles the women there." 
 
 " May God and the Holy Virgin have mercy on us ! " 
 sighed the woman, going to the door ; " for I shall not bear it 
 if my dear husband ogles other women, and something dread- 
 ful will happen if he does not mend his ways. " 
 
 * Sec "Gallery of Heroes: Andreas Hofer," p. 135; and Hormayr's "Ho- 
 fer," vol. ii., p. 445.
 
 THE LOVERS. .101 
 
 " God be praisofl ! " said Doninger, witli a dcop sifcli, when 
 the woman had left the rdora. 
 
 '' Why do you say ' God be praised' ? " asked Andreas, in 
 surprise. 
 
 " God be praised that I am not the husband of this jealous 
 woman. She will torment her husband to death, and leave 
 him not a moment's repose before he dies." 
 
 " It is true, she does not seem to be very gentle," said An- 
 (h-eas, smiling. "But tlien, Cajetan, slie loves her husband 
 dearly, is doubtless a virtuous woman, and will never sin 
 against the seventh commandment. Well, my friend, do not 
 grumble so much, but go and admit another person." 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 
 THE LOVERS. 
 
 Doninger went 1o ihe door and opened it. and a beautiful 
 young girl slipped immediately into the room. "Hush, 
 hush.'' she whimpered to Donijiger ; " do not say anything to 
 him." And she hastened on tiptoe to Andreas Hofer, who 
 was r(>ading once more with close attention the pi'oclamation 
 wliich he liad dictated lo Doninger. 
 
 She bent down and kissed the hand in which Hofer lield 
 the paper. " God bless you, dear, great father and liberator of 
 the people !" she said, in a silver voice. 
 
 " Lizzie Wallner ! " exclaimed Andreas, joyfully, casting 
 aside tlie paper. "Yes, by the Eternal, it is she ! It is Lizzie, 
 Jie dearest child of my best friend— the most heroic girl in the 
 Tyrol. Come. Lizzi(>, embrace your second father, Andy, and 
 give me a kiss for father and mother, and one for yourself, 
 my dear girl." 
 
 Eliza encii'cled Hofer's neck, and imprinted a tender kiss 
 on his ]ii)s. " God bless you, dear father, for you are the 
 father of the whole Tyrol," she whisjjered, " and must not scold 
 me for calling you my father too." 
 
 " On the contrary, it gladdens niy lieart," exclaimed An-
 
 402 ANDREAS nOFEK. 
 
 dreas, folding lier tenderly to his breast. " It seems to me as 
 though I were holding one of my own gii-ls in my arms, and 
 as though I heard her dear voice calling me father. Lizzie, I 
 can tell you I often long for ray pretty daughters and their 
 mother, Anna Gertrude, and sometimes I feel very lonely in- 
 deed." 
 
 " And why do you not send for your wife and children, 
 father Andy, and have them brought here ? I am sure there 
 is room enough for them in this large house.'' 
 
 " No, they shall stay at home," exclaimed Andreas, vehe- 
 mently. " The mother must attend to household affairs, and 
 keep every thing in good order, and the girls must help her 
 do it. Otherwise all would go amiss, and when I should have 
 no longer to work for the emperor here, and went back to my 
 home, the inn in the Passeyr valley would be Avorthless ; we 
 should be destitute, and become beggars. Besides, I do not 
 want ray girls to become proud, and think they are aristocratic 
 young ladies now, because their father is commaudei'-in-chief 
 of the Tyrol, and the emperor's lieutenant. We are peasants, 
 and will remain peasants. However, let us speak no more of 
 myself, but of jon, Lizzie. Where do you come from, what 
 do you want here, and how did you get into the midst of the 
 crowd in the audience-room ? " 
 
 " I canie to see you, father Andreas. I asked the sentinel 
 in the passage outside where I would find you, as I had to see 
 you on important business. The sentinel told me to enter the 
 audience-room. It was already crowded with ijersons who 
 wished to see you, and who told me that one was admitted to 
 you after another ; but, on hearing that I had come all the 
 way from Windisch-Matrey, and had walked two days and 
 two nights without intermission, they took pity on me, and 
 would not let me wait until my turn came, but allowed me to 
 advance close to the door, so as to be the first to enter your 
 room." 
 
 " The people of Innspruck are very kind-hearted indeed." 
 exclaimed Andreas, joyously. " Then you have come all the 
 way from Windisch-Matrey, Lizzie ? And where is your 
 father?" 
 
 " He and his sharpshooters joined Joachim Haspingcr and
 
 THE LOVERS. 403 
 
 Joseph SpeckbaclKM', and the united forces of the three com- 
 manders marched against the Bavarians. Father and his 
 seven liundred sharpshooters expelled tlie 1 Bavarians from 
 the Unken valley, and is now encamped near Berchlesga- 
 den and Reichenhall. Speckbacher is stationed at Ncuhau- 
 serand Schwarzhach, and Haspinger is still at Werfen. They 
 are going to reunite their forces and advance against the Ba- 
 varians, in order, if possible, to drive them fi-om the pass of 
 Lueg, which the enemy has occupied with a large force." 
 
 " And you are not with your father, Lizzie, nor with your 
 friend the Capuchin, who speaks of you only as a heroine ? 
 You no longer carry the wounded out of the thickest of the 
 tiglit, to dress their wounds and nurse theui ? " 
 
 " I have another duty to fullil now, and my father has per- 
 mitted me to come to you in regard to it, dear father Andrea-s 
 ilofer. I am in great distress, and you alone, dear, all-power- 
 ful commander-in-chief of the Tyrol, are able to help me." 
 
 " Tell me (piick, Lizzie, what can I do for you ?" asked An- 
 dreas, eagerly. " I owe you yet a reward for your heroic deed 
 on the day of the hay-wagons, and I should like to discharge 
 this debt of the fatherland. Tell me. therefore, dear girl, what 
 can I do for you ? " 
 
 'You can restore to me the dearest friend I have on earth," 
 said Eliza, beseechingly. "You can deliver a patriotic girl 
 fi'om Bavarian captivity, and an excellent nobleman, who has 
 done no other wrong than that he possesses a loyal Tyrolese 
 heart, from grief and despair." 
 
 " I will do so with all my heai't," exclaimed Andreas ; 
 "only tell me, Lizzie, whom you refer to." 
 
 "I refer to Baron von Hohenberg, who lived at the castle 
 of Windisch-Matrey, and his daughter, my dear and only 
 friend Elza. The old baron was always a very pious and affa- 
 ble gentleman, a benefactor and father of the poor ; and not a 
 poor man, not a woman in distress applied to him, but whom 
 lie willingly relieved and assisted. He lived for twenty yeai-s 
 in the Tyrol, at his castle at Windisch-Matrey, and became in 
 this manner an ardent son of the Tyrol, although he is a na- 
 tive of Bavaria, and his whole aristocratic family lives in 
 Munich. His daughter Elza is my dearest friend ; we grew
 
 404 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 up together, and I am so fond of her that I would readily give 
 up my heart's blood for her. Now, think of it, dear Andy ! 
 the Bavarians, on returning to the Tyrol two months ago, 
 made the two prisoners, the dear old baron and my Elza, and 
 carried them as hostages to Munich ; they charged them there 
 with high-treason, because they stood faithfully by the Tyrol, 
 and because, at the very outset of the insurrection, the Bava- 
 rian soldiers and their captain were surrounded at their castle 
 and compelled to lay down their arms." 
 
 '' Yes, yes, I know the story," exclaimed Andreas, gayly ; 
 " it was an heroic deed by which Anthony Wallner inaugu- 
 rated our glorious war of liberation. And now the mean Ba- 
 varians call the good Baron von Hohenberg a traitor, when 
 he was quite innocent of the whole affair, and was not even 
 at home when it took place. They say he left his castle at the 
 time in order not to prevent the Tyrolese from capturing the 
 Bavarians, and that he was aware of the plans of the Tyrolese, 
 and should have warned the Bavarians. But I say that he 
 acted like a good patriot, and they ought neither to charge him 
 with ti'eason noi' imprison him and his daughter." 
 
 ''Ah, and both long .so intensely to return to their dear 
 Tyrol and their castle ! Elza wrote me a letter which I re- 
 ceived a week ago, and tears had blotted out half of its con- 
 tents. Both feel so wretched in the large city of Munich ; 
 their aristocratic relatives upbraid them constantly for their 
 hostility to the Bavarians ; the confinement and prison-air 
 have already made the old baron quite sick, and Elza thinks 
 he will surely die of grief if he is not soon released and al- 
 lowed to go home. Therefore, I implore you, dear, all-power- 
 ful commander-in-chief of the Tyrol, save the old baron's life, 
 restore my Elza to me, and release them both from their cap- 
 tivity. This is what I came for, father Andy ; and if you 
 think that I have ever done any thing for the fatherland that 
 deserves thanks and a reward, thank and reward me by releas- 
 ing Elza and her father from their captivity and allowing 
 them to return to their home." 
 
 "I will do all I can," exclaimed Andreas, profoundly 
 moved ; '' and the good God sent you to me to-day, for to-day 
 I can help you. — Can 1 not, Doninger ?"
 
 THE LOVERS. 405 
 
 " You refer to the Bavarian officer wliom you are going to 
 send to Munich ?" asked Dcininger. 
 
 " Yes, the Bavarian olticer is to procure their release," ex- 
 claimed A ndreas. " Look at the fortunate coincidence, Lizzie ! 
 Among the prisoners we took on Mount Isel was a Bavarian 
 captain, a sensible, excellent man, who, it seems to me, sym- 
 pathizes cordially with the cause of the Tyrolese. We re- 
 solved to release him on i)arole and send him to Munich, 
 where he was to negotiate an exchange of prisoners, and may- 
 he bring about an amicable undei'standing hetweeu us and the 
 King of Bavaria. The Bavarian captain— I believe his name 
 is Ulrich— " 
 
 " Ulrich ? " asked Eliza, trembling, and blushing deeply. 
 
 '' I believe that is his name," said Hofer, quietly ; " his 
 other name I have forgotten ; we call him only Captain Ul- 
 rich, as you call uie Andi-eas. Well, Captain Ulrich has al- 
 ready received his instructions and the list of prisoners whose 
 release he is to advocate. It will only remain for us to add Ho- 
 henberg's name to the list, and you yourself, my Lizzie, shall 
 urge Captain Ulrich to restore to you the old baron and your 
 friend Elza.— Pi-ay, dearest Cajetan, go and fetch the captain ; 
 he was to set out in an hour, and he nuist, therefore, he here 
 yet." 
 
 " He is certainly here yet, for there are his papers, which I 
 intended to take to him, and without which he cannot depart," 
 said Dcininger. " And here is the list of the prisoners whose 
 release he is to procure. " 
 
 " Add to it the names of the old baron and his daughter, 
 Cajetan, and state that their release is ui"gently desired." 
 
 " But for whom are they to be exchanged ? " ^ 
 
 "Yes, yes, for whom ? Well, for Captain Ulrich himself. 
 If he procures tlieir release, and returns hither, as he solemnly 
 swore he would, with the reply of the Bavarian government, 
 and, perhaps, brings the old baron and his daughter with him, 
 lie shall be free and at liberty to go wherever he pleases. Go, 
 Cajetan, say that to the captain, and give him the papers, and 
 repeat to him once more all that he is to do. And you, Lizzie, 
 will you not send by him a note to your friend ? But it is true, 
 you have not yet written a letter to her. It is better for you
 
 406 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 to tell him what he is to say in your name to your friend.— 
 Go, therefore, Cajetan, take the papers to the captain, and con- 
 duct him to Lizzie. But do not bring him in here, for there 
 are in the anteroom still a great many persons whom I must 
 see before I can converse further with you. Take him, there- 
 fore, into the other room ; and when he is there, return to me, 
 Cajetan. Lizzie may then go in there and see the captain ; 
 and we shall speak with the poor people in the audience-room 
 who have had to wait already so long to-day. — But 1 shall not 
 let you go again, my Lizzie," added Hofer, after Doninger had 
 left the room ; " no, I shall not let you go again. You must 
 stay with me at the palace here, and be my dear little daughter 
 until the captain returns from his mission, and until you know 
 if he brings your friend and her father along with him. Will 
 you do so, Lizzie ? " 
 
 " I will, dear father Andreas ; I will stay with you until 
 then, and take care of you as a good daughter, until my dear 
 Elza, if it please God, returns, when I will go back with her to 
 AVindisch-Matrey . " 
 
 At this moment Doninger re-entered the room. " The cap- 
 tain is in the room yonder," he said, pointing to a side-door ; 
 " he awaits you, and will set out after seeing you. The car- 
 riage is already at the door. Go, therefore, Eliza Wallner." 
 
 " I am going already,"' said Eliza. She nodded to Andreas 
 with a sweet smile and opened the door of the adjoining room, 
 while Doninger admitted another person from the audience- 
 room into Hofer's cabinet. 
 
 The room which Eliza entered v;as one of the large state 
 apartments of the palace, which Andreas did not occupy, and 
 which he used only on rare occasions. It was a wade room 
 with heavy silken hangings on the walls ; curtains of the 
 same description covered the windows, so that only a dim twi- 
 light I'cigned in the large apartment. Magnificent gilt furni- 
 ture lined the walls ; between the windows stood large Vene- 
 tian mirrors in broad carved golden frames, and gorgeous 
 lustres of rock-crystal were suspended from the ceiling. 
 
 Was it the splendor and magnificence surrounding her all 
 at once that rendered Eliza so timid and anxious ? She leaned 
 for a moment in great embarrassment against the door, as if
 
 THE LOVERS. 407 
 
 she could not veuture to advance on the glittering: floor. Her 
 hu'ge, bright eyes glanced uneasily around the great room, and 
 now she saw in the window-niche yonder the tall form of a 
 gentleman ; his head was averted from her, and he seemed to 
 be looking eagerly out of the window. 
 
 " I do not know him ; surely, I do not know him," said 
 Eliza to herself. "It is foolish in me to think so ; be strong, 
 therefore, my heart, strong and calm, and do not throb so very 
 impetuously !" 
 
 And overcoming her bashfulness with a courageous effort, 
 she advanced toward the officer, who was still turning his back 
 upon her. 
 
 Now she was close behind him, and said in a low, bashful 
 voice : " Captain, I — " 
 
 He turned quickly, and gazed at her with eyes radiant with 
 joy and intense love. 
 
 Eliza uttered a cr\' ; she raised her hands involuntarily, 
 made a step forward, and lay in his arms before knowing it ; 
 she felt his burning kisses on her lips, in her heart, and 
 thought and knew nothing but — "It is he I It is he ! I see 
 liin\ again ! He still loves me ! '' 
 
 " See, dearest Eliza," whispered Ulrich, drawing her close 
 to his heart, " I had to act thus in order to elicit your heavenly 
 secret from you. I knew it was you who wished to see me ; 
 I wanted to take you by surpi'ise, and I .succeeded. Yovir sur- 
 j)t'ise betrayed what the timid and chaste lips of my Eliza 
 would not confess to me. Yes, you love me ! Oh, deny it no 
 longer, for your heart betrayed yoij when yovi recognized me, 
 and when joy illuminated your face like a bright ray of sun- 
 shine. Now you are mine, Eliza, and nothing on earth must 
 or shall separate us any longer. No, do not try to disengage 
 yourself from my arms, my beautiful, sweet, affianced bride ! 
 I shall not leave you ; even though the whole world should 
 come to take you from mc, I should not leave 3'ou--no, not for 
 the whole world and all its treasures ! " 
 
 •' The whole world will not come," said Eliza, disengaging 
 herself gently from his arms ; "the world does not concern 
 itself in the affairs of a poor peasant-girl like me. But I my- 
 self intend to leave you, sir ; you must let me go, that we may
 
 408 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 converse in a sensible manner, as it behooves two decent 
 young persons. Take your arms away, Captain von Hob en- 
 berg ; it is not right in you to embrace me here while we are 
 all alone. You would certainly be ashamed of it if any one 
 should see you folding the peasant-girl to your heart." 
 
 " No, Eliza, I would not ; I should fold you only the more 
 tenderly to my heart, and exclaim proudly in the face of the 
 whole world : ' Eliza Wallner, the peasaut-girl, is my affianced 
 bride ; I love and adore her as the most faithful, noble, and 
 generous heart ; she is to become my wife, and I will love and 
 cherish her all my life ! " 
 
 " And if you said so, the world would laugh at you ; but 
 your parents and my dear Elza would weep for you. Now, 
 my Elza shall never weep on my account, and never shall 
 your aristocratic parents be obliged to blush for the daughter- 
 in-law whom you bring into their house. As a daughter-in- 
 law I can never be welcome to them ; hence, they could never 
 be welcome to me as parents-in-law." 
 
 " Oh, Eliza, your beauty, your angelic purity and goodness 
 would surmount their resistance, for no heai*t is able to with- 
 stand you ; and when my parents are once acquainted with 
 you, when they have submitted to stern necessity, they will 
 soon love you, and fold you as a daughter to their hearts." 
 
 " But first they would have to submit to stern necessity, 
 and I should have to be forced upon them, that they might 
 afterward learn to love me. Miich obliged to you, sir; I am 
 only a peasant-girl, but I have my pride too, and will never 
 allow myself to be forced upon a family, but will onl^'^ take a 
 husband whose parents would come to meet me aff'ection- 
 ately, and giv^e me their blessing on the thi-eshold of my new 
 home. And now let us drop the subject, and tell me what has 
 happened to you during our separation." 
 
 " You see, Eliza, what has hai^pened to me," said Ulrich, 
 mournfully. " After your divine magnanimity^ had set me 
 free, I succeeded in passing through the insurgent country to 
 the Bavarian lines and re-entered the service. V/e fought 
 and suffered a great deal, and at length, on the IJtli of Au- 
 gust, I was made prisoner by the Tyrolese at the battle of 
 Mount Isel and taken io lunspruck. However, they do not
 
 TIIK LOVERS. 409 
 
 know my real name here, for I ditl not want the news of my 
 captivity to reach my parents : I jjreforred that they should 
 lament me as killed in battle, rather than as a pi-isoner in the 
 hands of the insurgents. But fate decreed that it should be 
 otherwise; I am no longer to be allowed to keep my mournful 
 incognito ; I am to repair to Munich to negotiate there an ex- 
 change of the prisoners for the hostages whom our troops car- 
 ried off." 
 
 '' Your uncle and my Elza are among the hostages," ex- 
 claimed Eliza. "Oh, sir, if you really tliink that you are 
 under obligations to me, if you have not forgotten that I saved 
 your life, pray procure the release of j^our dear old uncle, and 
 bring him back hither ; for he has indeed a hard time of it in 
 Munich, where they charge him with treason, and where even 
 his own relatives inveigh bitterly against him. This gnaws 
 at his heart, and, unless released speedily, he will die of 
 grief." 
 
 " I did not know that so sad a fate had befallen him," said 
 Ulrich, gently ; " Doninger was the first to tell me of it, on 
 bringing me the papers, and conducting me hither. But, I 
 confess, in n)y intense joy on meeting you, my dear, sweet 
 Eliza, my ungrateful heart had forgotten my old uncle, who 
 gave me so many proofs of his love and kindness, and treated 
 me for months as a son at his house. I will try to reward his 
 love by availing myself of my influential connections and my 
 whole eloquence to bring abo\it his release ; I will go myself 
 to the king to intercede in his behalf." 
 
 " But you must bring my Elza with you too, sir," ex- 
 claimed Eliza. '' Oh, I implore you, by all that is sacred and 
 dear to you — " 
 
 "Then implore me by your name, by your sweet face," he 
 interrupted her, enthusiastically. 
 
 " I implore you from the bottom of my heart," she con- 
 tinued, without taking any notice of his words, "bring my 
 Elza back to me. She is the better half of my soul ; we grew up 
 together, we shared all joys and afflictions, and have sworn to 
 shed our heart's blood and die for each other, if need be, and 
 to stand by each other in faithful friendship to the last day of 
 our lives. Now, I am only b;ilf alive when my Elza is not 
 27
 
 410 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 with rae. Therefore, dear Ulrich, restore my Elza to me, and 
 I will thank you, and bless you, and love you as a brother." 
 
 " As a brother ! " he cried mournfully. '' But I do not 
 want you to love me as a brother. I want your heart, your 
 whole heart, Eliza ; and it is mine in spite of you — mine ! 
 But you are vindictive, and cannot forget and forgive; and 
 because I denied and misunderstood you once in my blind 
 stubbornness, you wish to wreak vengeance on me, drive me 
 to despair, and make me unhappy for my whole life ! " 
 
 "I!" she exclaimed, mournfully; '* I wish to make you 
 unhappy ? " 
 
 '■ Yes, J ou," he said bitterly ; " you see my suffermgs, and 
 gloat over them ; you feel that I love you boundlessly, and 
 with cold, sneering pride you try to resent my former con- 
 temptible haughtiness. You ojipose your peasant pride to my 
 insensate aristocratic pride ; you want to make me go mad or 
 die heart-broken, and your coolness never leaves you for a 
 moment, and my grief makes no impression on you ; for, 
 when I am dead, you will be able to exclaim : ' I fought for 
 my country as a brave daughter of the Tyrol ! I killed a 
 Bavarian, I broke his heart laughingly ! ' " 
 
 " You lie, I shall never say so ! " cried Eliza, in an out- 
 burst of generous indignation ; "you lie if you think me 
 capable of so miserable a revenge; j'ou lie if you believe 
 that I have a cold and cruel heart. I Avish I had, for then I 
 should not suffer what I am sufPering now, and I should at 
 least be able to forget you. You really charge me with hav- 
 ing a cold heart, with hating and despising you ? Do you not 
 see, do you not even suspect what I am suffering for your 
 sake ? Look at me, then ; see how pale my cheeks are ; see 
 how dim my eyes arc ! I do not take any notice of it, I do 
 not look at myself in the mirror — wby should I, and for 
 whom ? — but mother tells me so every day, and weeps for me. 
 And winy am I so pale and thin, and why are my eyes so 
 dim ? Because my heart is full of grief ; because I have no 
 rest day or night ; because there is in my heart a voice which 
 T can never rsilence, not even when I am praying or kneeling 
 in the confessional. Do you think I am grieving for the 
 sake of the country or the bloody war ? What does the
 
 THE LOVKRS. 411 
 
 rountry r<inoprn inc ? T think no lonfror of ii. and vol every 
 battlo makes mo tremble : and on liearinj^ the booming of 
 artillery, I kneel down and jmiy with tears of anguish to the 
 Holy Virgin. Oh, may God forgive me I I do not pray for 
 my father, nor for our soldiers; I pray for a Bavarian, I pray 
 for you ! " 
 
 " Eliza 1 '" exclaimed Ulrich, I'adiant with joy. and stretch- 
 ing out bis arms toward her, " Eliza I '' 
 
 " Hush I " she said, stepping back proudly, " do not speak. 
 1 have told you the truth, for I do not want you to accuse and 
 curse me, when I am blessing you every day. But now go, 
 sir; forget what I have said, but remember me ahvays as one 
 who never hated you, and never thought of revenging herself 
 upon you." 
 
 " Eliza," said Ulrich, gravely, taking her hand, and gazing 
 deeply into her eyes, "let us now be honest and frank toward 
 each other. Our hearts have spoken with each other, and 
 God has heard them. You love me, and I love you. Do j^ou 
 remember what I said to you when taking leave of you on 
 the mountain ? " 
 
 "I do not, sir," she whispered, dropping her eyes. 
 
 " But I do," he continued, gravely and firmly. " I said to 
 you : ' I will go now, but I shall return and ask you : " Do 
 yovi remember me ? Will you become my wife ? " ' Now, 
 Eliza, I have retui-ned, and ask you as I asked you on the 
 mountain, Eliza, Avill you become my wife?" 
 
 "And I reply as 1 replied to you on the mountain," she 
 said solemnly. '' We can never belong to each other as hus- 
 band and wife, but we can remember each other as good 
 friends. And so, sir, I will always remember you, and it 
 will always gladden my heai-t to hear that you are well and 
 happy." 
 
 " Is that your last word ? " asked Ulrich, angrily. 
 
 "Yes, sir, it is my last word.'' 
 
 "Then you are intent on making us unhappy ?" he cried, 
 mournfully. "Oh. you crystal-heart, so transparent and 
 clear, so hard, so hard ! will you never, then, allow youi-self 
 to be softened by the sunbeams of love ? Will they always 
 only harden your heart ? "
 
 412 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 "I cannot act otherwise, sir, I assure you I cannot," she 
 said, heseechiugly. 
 
 "Well, then, I cannot act otherwise either," he cried. "I 
 shall not accept this mission, 1 shall not go to Munich, I shall 
 stay here." 
 
 " No, no, I implore you to go ! " exclaimed Eliza. " Save 
 my imprisoned countrymen; save, above all, my Elza and her 
 father ! Oh, she is unhappy, she longs for her home ; she is 
 weeping for me, for you, sir ! Make haste, make haste ; have 
 mercy upon Elza and myself ! " 
 
 "Wliy should I have mercy when you have none?" he 
 asked, quickly. " Let the prisoners die of grief ; I am a pris- 
 oner too, and shall know also how to die. I shall not leave 
 Innspruck unless you promise me that you will become my 
 wife on my return, and plight me your faith before the altar 
 of God. I swear by all that is sacred to me, I will not leave 
 this city unless I take with me your solemn pledge that you 
 will overcome your pride and become my wife." 
 
 " Well, then," she said, blushing deeply, " go, then. Pro- 
 cure my Elza's release, bring her home, and then — " 
 
 " And then ? " he asked, as she hesitated. 
 
 " Then you shall receive at the hands of the priest a bride 
 who loves you, loves you with infinite tenderness," she said, in 
 a low voice. 
 
 He uttered a cry of joy, and folded her to his heart. But 
 she disengaged herself gently*. " Make haste now," she said ; 
 " for the sooner you depart, the sooner you will return." 
 
 •'I will set out immediately," he cried, radiant with joy. 
 " But swear to me, Eliza, that I shall receive immediately on 
 my return, even though it should be early in the morning, at 
 the hands of the priest, my bride — the bride who loves me 
 with infinite tenderness." 
 
 " I swear by the Holy Virgin," said Eliza, solemnly, " that 
 if you bring my Elza to me here, you shall receive your bride 
 at the hands of the priest on the day of your return, whether 
 it be early in the morning or late at night." 
 
 '' Captain Ulrich," shouted Cajetan Doninger, opening the 
 door, "it is high time for you to set out. The carriage has 
 been at the door for upward of an hour."
 
 ELZA'S RETURN. 4-1 ;j 
 
 "I am ready," said Ulricli, holding- out liis hand to Eliza 
 with a happy smile. " Farewell, Eliza ; I shall return with 
 your Elza in two weeks." 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 elza's return. 
 
 A SPLENDID festival was being- celebrated at Innspruck on 
 the 3d of October, and there were great rejoicings in the city. 
 A message of love and joy had reached Innspruck from the 
 headquarters of the Emperor Francis at Totis. Three of the 
 former leaders of the Tyrolese insurrection, who had escaped 
 to Austria at the time of the second invasion of the Bavarians 
 — Sieberer, Frischmann, and Eisenstecken — had arrived at 
 Innspruck as couriers of the emperor. They had succeeded in 
 passing through Styria and Carintliia, although both these 
 provinces were occupied by French troops, and had safely ar- 
 rived at Innspruck amid the jubilant acclamations of the 
 population. They brought cheering news from the Emjjeror 
 Francis. He sf^nt to the connnander-in-chief of the Tyrol, his 
 beloved and faithful Andreas Hofer, a large gold chain and 
 medal containing the emperor's portrait ; and he sent also 
 three thousand florins as a gift to the brave sharpshooters. 
 But bettor than all this was an autograph letter from the em- 
 peror, who extolled in it the bravery of the Tyrolese, called 
 upon them to persevere in their resistance, and promised that 
 Austria would succor them vigorously with money and troops. 
 The letter stated that the emperor would soon dispatch Baron 
 von Reschmann with funds and full insti-uctions to the Tyrol, 
 where he would act as commissioner and intendant of the 
 army, and that the Tyrolese might confidently look for the 
 speedy resumption of hostilities. 
 
 These joyful tidings were received with unbovinded en- 
 tbusiasm. and Andreas Hofer's face beamed with delight when 
 he was formally invested with the gold medal and chain in 
 the great church of Innspruck, at the foot of the tomb of
 
 414 ANDREAS IIOFER. 
 
 Maximilian, by the Abbot of Wiltau, amid tlie tears and aecla> 
 Illations of a vast concoui'se of spectatoi'S, who afterward, pre- 
 ceded by the nmuioipal authorities, accompanied him in sol- 
 emn pi-ocession to the imperial i^alace. Andreas presented a 
 splendid appearance in the line gold-em broidei-ed uniform 
 which he wore to-day in honor of the celebration, in place of 
 his Tyrolese costume ; his heavy gold chain and the medal 
 with the emperor's portrait, glittei'ed under his fine black 
 beard on hLs breast, and he wore a black hat with a plume and 
 inscription to him as the connnander-in-chief of the Tyrol, the 
 gift of the holy sisterhood of Innspruck. 
 
 Andreas Hofer's face shone with hapijiness as he walked 
 along in this manner amid the acclamations of the whole 
 population and the ringing of all the bells ; but his heart was 
 nevertheless full of humility, and lifting his beaming eyes to 
 heaven, he murmured to himself, " O my Lord and God, Thou 
 hast accomplished every thing ; Thou hast protected us and 
 vouchsafed us victory ! Glory to Thee alone ! Preserve me. 
 O Lord, from pride and arrogance, and let me recognize al- 
 ways that I am nothing but Thy unworthy servant, and that 
 Thou alone vouchsafest us victory and blessest our cause ! " 
 
 The impei-ial palace was festively decorated to-day, and a 
 splendid banquet was to take place there in honor of the cele- 
 bration. All the functionaries of Innspruck had been invited ^ 
 a brilliant ball was to be given at night in the large throne- 
 hall, and the beautiful girls of Innspruck were to dance to the 
 inspiring notes of the orchestra in honor of the festive day. 
 For the first time Andreas Hofer had permitted music and 
 dancing, and all the beautiful girls of Innspruck were prepar- 
 ing to take part in the brilliant festival and enjoy the rare 
 amusement. 
 
 All faces were radiant ; even Eliza's sweet countenance 
 was lit up to-day with the sunshine of happiness. A great joy 
 liad fallen to her share to-day, for Ulrich von Hohenberg had 
 arrived early in the morning, and with him his uncle, old 
 Baron von Hohenberg, and his daughter Elza. Ulrich had 
 redeemed his promise ; precisely two weeks had elapsed since 
 his departure, and now, after these terrible da>'s of suspense, 
 whicli Eliza had passed in tears, in silence, and at the same
 
 ELZA'S RETURN. 415 
 
 time in mysterious activity, Uli'i<'li liad rotnrnotl, and with him 
 Klza, Eliza's dearest friend. 
 
 Ulrich had looked on with an expression of quiet happi- 
 ness when Eliza emhraced her Elza again and again with tears 
 of joy ; she knelt down rejx'atedly by the side of the couch on 
 which had been laid the old baron, whose stiength had been 
 utterly exhausted by the journey, the excitement, and the suf- 
 ferings he had endured in prison ; she pressed his hands to 
 her lips tenderly, and withal humbly, and thanked God that 
 her good old fi-iend and her Elza, the better half of her life, 
 had been restored to her. 
 
 But after this impetuous and joyous meeting, tlie old baron 
 felt so very feeble that he urgently needed repose and silence, 
 and Elza had to conduct him to the bedroom which had been 
 prepared for him. 
 
 Eliza and Ulrich were alone now. She trendded, and, 
 wishing to avoid this tete-a-tet<\ glided softly to the door ; but 
 Ulrich hastened after her and seized her hand. 
 
 " Eliza," he said, solemnly, "I have fulfilled all your wisli- 
 es. I have brought back with me my uncle and your friend 
 Elza ; the King of Bavaria accepted the exchange which I of- 
 fered ; he released the baron and bis daughter, and Andi-eas 
 Hofer sets me free in his turn. I am. therefore, no longer a 
 prisoner, and as a fi'ee man I ask you now, do you remember 
 the oath you swore to me on the day of my departure ? '' 
 
 " I do," she whispered in a low voice. 
 
 " Repeat the oath to me," he said, imperatively. 
 
 "Mj-oath was as follows: 'T swear by the Holy Virgin 
 that, if you bring my Elza to me here, you shall receive your 
 bride, who loves you with infinite tenderness, at the hands of 
 the priest.'" 
 
 " You have not forgotten the words, Eliza. But will you 
 fulfil them now ? " 
 
 " You insist on it ? " she asked, looking up to him timidly 
 and mournfully. 
 
 "Yes, I do," he said, with a blissful smile. 
 
 "Well, then," she whispered, almost inaudiblv, "I shall 
 keep ray oath." ' 
 
 He uttered a joyous cry, pressed b^r hand to his lips, and
 
 416 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 gazed with an expression of infinite tenderness into her blush- 
 ing, quivering face. 
 
 " Oh, do not tremble, love," he said ; " do not look anxious- 
 ly into the future. I shall know how to protect my wife from 
 grief and humiliation. To make you happy shall be m.y sweet- 
 est joy ; to see you honored and recognized by society will be 
 my incessant effort, as it will be my boundeu duty. You will 
 fulfil your oath, and you must do it this very day. Let me 
 go, then, and get a priest ; and you, my sweet girl, place a 
 myrtle-wreath on your head, for I shall call for you soon and 
 conduct you triumphantly to tbe great chui-ch of Innspruck ; 
 for our marriage shall take place publicly and in the face of 
 the whole population." 
 
 " No, sir," she said, shaking her head gently. " I will re- 
 deem ray promise, but I beg, nay, I implore you, permit me to 
 make all necessary arrangements, and let me have for once 
 my own way." 
 
 " And what do you wish, then, beloved ? " 
 
 " T wish that no one should learn of our plan, and that you 
 should conceal it all day long from every one, and speak of it 
 to no one, neither witb yovir uncle, nor with Elza, nor with 
 Andreas Hofer." 
 
 " But how am I to get a priest to marry us ? " 
 
 " Leave it all to me, sir. I will get a priest. I have con- 
 fided only to my dear old friend Joachim Has])inger, the Cap- 
 uchin, who was lately in Innspruck, what would take place 
 in case you should return with my Elza, and be promised that 
 he himself would marry us. Accordingly', on being informed 
 this morning by the courier of your speedy arrival, I sent at 
 once a mounted messenger to Father Haspinger, and I am sure 
 that he will come to Innspruck to-day." 
 
 '■ You intentled, then, to redeem your promise of your own 
 accord!" exclaimed Ulrich, joyfully; ".you thought of it 
 without being remiuded of it. Oh, I thank you, my Eliza, for 
 I see now that you really love me." 
 
 " Yes, sir, I really love you," said Eliza, solemnly. " You 
 will find it out this very day. Will you promise nie now to 
 conceal our plan from every one, and let me make all neces- 
 sary arrangements ? "
 
 ELZA'S RETURN 417 
 
 "I do, my sweet gfirl. Tell me wliat I am to do, aud I will 
 obey you silently and unconditionally." 
 
 " Well, then, dear Ulrich,'' she said, in a tremulous voice, 
 '' come to-uight, at nine o'clock, to the chapel here in the im- 
 perial palace. As a witness, I hope you will find there our 
 dear commander in-chief, Andreas Hofer. Father Haspinp:er 
 will stand before the altar, and youi- betrothed will kneel be- 
 fore the altar too, ready to become your wife, and love and 
 serve you all her life." 
 
 " And I shall find there my betrothed, to whom I shall 
 plight my faith before the altar, and whoni I will love and 
 cherisli all my Ufv ! " exclaimed the captain, in profound emo- 
 tion. 
 
 She bent her head gently, as if to accept his solemn vow. 
 " Then you will come to the chapel at nine ? " she asked. 
 
 "I will," he said, smilijigly, ''and you may be sure that I 
 shall be pi'omptly on hand. I shall be as ])unctua] as the dig- 
 ger after a hidden treasure, who nnist disinter it at the stated 
 hour, if he does not want to lose it entirely. I shall be at the 
 chapel at nine o'clock." 
 
 " Very well, at nine o'clock. And now farewell until then, 
 sir. I have a great deal to attend to yet in getting up the 
 bridal dress and ornaments, for I do not want 3'ou to be 
 ashamed of me to-day, Ulrich. Your bride must not look like 
 a peasant-girl. She must be dressed up beautifully, like an 
 aristocratic lady— like Elza, for instance." 
 
 '' Dress as you please," he said, siru'lingly, " but do not be- 
 lieve that I shall ever be ashamed of the ])easant-girl, and try 
 to conceal the descent of my sweet, lovely wife." 
 
 "And will you ride with me to-morrow to my father's 
 house ? " she asked. " Will you present yourself to my father, 
 Anthonj^ Wallner, conmiander of the Puster valley, as his 
 son-in-law ? Oh, you know full well, Anthony Wallner is a 
 hero ; not only the Tyrol, but all Germany is familiar with 
 the heroic deeds which he performed at the battle of Taxen- 
 bach against the Bavarians. He has taken the field again, 
 and, after joining the forces under Joseph Speckbacher. and 
 Father Haspiuger, he will attack the Bavarians at the Pass of 
 Lueg, and, if it please God, defeat them. I .suppose, Ulrich, you
 
 418 ANDREAS IIOFEK. 
 
 \vill accompany me to my father, Anthony Walluer, and ask 
 your father-in-law to g'ive you his blessing ? " 
 
 " But you told me just now, Eliza, that he is not at 
 home ? " 
 
 " Well, then," she exclaimed, earnestly, " we will ride to the 
 Pass of Lueg." 
 
 Ulrich was silent, and looked down in evident confusion ; 
 he did not see that Eliza fixed her eyes on him with a search- 
 ing, mournful expression. 
 
 "Eliza," he said, after a pause, lifting his head slowly, 
 " you possess a magnanimous heart and a delicate soul. Your 
 heart will forgive me, therefore, for not fulfilling your wish, 
 and your soul will understand that I cannot fulfil it. Your 
 father is the commander of the Tyrolese, who have risen in re- 
 bellion against Bavaria, and he is fighting against the Bavari- 
 ans, my countrymen and comrades. I have recovered my 
 liberty, but I had to swear not to take up arms again during 
 the present war against the Tyrolese. The King of Bavaria 
 permitted me to take this oath, and ordered me to return to 
 Munich, w^hei-e I am to remain till the end of the war. I must 
 set out for the Bavarian capital to-moiTow, and my sweet, be- 
 loved wife will accompany me. After the war is over, and 
 when there is peace again in the beautiful Tyrol, I shall return 
 with my Eliza to her home, and ask my father-in-law, Anthony 
 Wallner, to give me his blessing. I shall be at liberty then to 
 ])raise his heroism loudly, and love and honor him as my wife's 
 father. Do you understand that I cannot act otherwise, be- 
 loved ? " 
 
 "I do," she replied; "I do undcr.stand that the Bavarian 
 Captain Ulrich von Hohenberg cannot now go to the Tyrolese 
 commander, Anthony Wallner, ask him, v.iiile he is fighting 
 against the Bavarians, to bless him, and call him father-in- 
 law. Let us leave it to the future to grant us peace and happi- 
 ness." 
 
 "You understand that I cannot act otherwise," he said, 
 anxiously. " But you are sad ? I see a cloud on your fore- 
 head, Eliza." 
 
 "No, not a cloud," she exclaimed, shaking her head. 
 " Every thing is clear in my mind, and I see distinctly what I
 
 ELZA'S HF.TIHN. 419 
 
 must do. Come, then, to the chapel at niue ; every thing will 
 be in readiness thei'e." 
 
 " You will be there, my lovely bride/' exclaimed Ulrich, 
 blissfully, opening- his arms to her. " Oh, do not avoid nie, 
 Eliza ; you are mine now, your place is on my heart, do not 
 avoid me ! See, I am submissive and obedient, and 1 will not 
 take what you do not give me of your own accord. But give 
 me now your bridal present, Eliza ; give nie the first kiss of 
 love I '" 
 
 " No, sir," she said, almost anxiously ; " on the wedding- 
 day no pious bride must desecrate her lips l)y kissing or par- 
 taking of food before going to the altar. Only devout thoughts 
 should fill her heart ; aud she ought to pray and implore the 
 saints to vouclisafe happiness to her. Let me go, therefore, 
 and fulfil my sacred duties." 
 
 " Yes, my sweet, innocent dove, I will let you go," said Ul- 
 rich, g(-ntly. " Pray to God and the saints for you and me, 
 but be punctual to-night." 
 
 " I shall, sir. Now, farewell. Go out by this door, for 
 Elza is coming to me. I have to tell her a great many things 
 yet." 
 
 *'Slie will know your secret then ? You will confide to her 
 what I am not to betray to any one ? " 
 
 " No, sir, I shall tell her nothing about it. No one but 
 God must know my secret. For the last time, then, farewell, 
 sir ! " 
 
 " Farewell, Eliza I Oh, give me your hand ! " Let me 
 press it once to my heart ! Oh, fear nothing, Eliza, my un- 
 holy lips shall not desecrate even your hand to-day. Now I 
 will go, my child ; farewell until to-night, my sweet love ! " 
 
 He bowed to her with a blissful smile, aud left the room 
 quickly. Eliza looked after him, motionless, breathless, listen- 
 ing to his footsteps, and heaving a deep sigh when they died 
 away in the distance. Then she laid both her hands convul- 
 sively on her heart. 
 
 " Oh, it is in great pain ! " she murmured. '• It seemed at 
 one time as though it would bi-eak, and as though 1 should ilie 
 on the spot. But T must not die, nor even weep. And I feel 
 that the good God helps me, and that he apjjroves of whai I
 
 420 ANDREAS HOFER, 
 
 ain going to do. It was God Himself who prompted me to ask 
 Ulricii if he would accompany me to my father. He was 
 obliged to reply that he could uot go to the enemy, though 
 this enemy was to become his father-in-law. When he told 
 me that, my heart bridled up, and was once more glad and 
 strong. I knew all at once that I was doing right, and I will 
 carry out my plan to tlie bitter end. But hush, hush ! here 
 comes Elza ! I must put on a cheerful face now." 
 
 '' Lizzie, my Lizzie, are you here ? " asked Elza, opening the 
 door. 
 
 " Yes, here I am, Elza," exclaimed Eliza, who hastened with 
 a smiling face to her friend. 
 
 " And where is Ulrich ? Why is he not here ? Oh, I sat 
 with such a throbbing heart at father's bedside ; I longed so 
 much for him to fall asleep ! Oh, Lizzie, I have to tell you so 
 many things ! Ah, you do not know how happy I was during 
 this splendid, charming journey ! To be always by Ulrich's 
 side, what a bliss ! And how tenderly and attentively he took 
 care of my dear old father, just like a good, grateful son, who 
 would like to guess from his fathes's eyes every wish he 
 might entertain. I often wept tears of joy on seeing him sup- 
 port my father, almost carrying him into the carriage, and 
 arranging his seat for him, and on hearing him comfort the 
 old man in gentle yet manly Words. Ulrich did not speak of 
 God and the saints, and yet what he said was pious, pious as a 
 prayer of holy charity. Oh, how noble, good, brave, and 
 gentle, Ulrich is ! " 
 
 " And you love him, Elza, do you not ? " 
 '* Yes, I love him with all my heart, and shall for ever- 
 more. But where is he ? Where is Ulrich ? Was he not 
 with you ? " 
 
 " H? was, Elza ; he left me at the moment when you 
 came." 
 
 " He was here so long ? And what did you speak of ? Oh, 
 tell me, Eliza, what did you speak of ? " 
 
 " Of you, Elza," said Eliza, with a wondrous, radiant ex- 
 pression. 
 
 •' Ah, of me ! " exclaimed Elza, joyfully. " Oh, tell me, 
 Lizzie, do you think he loves me ?"
 
 THE WEDDING. 421 
 
 "I do not believe it, Elza, I know it for ccriMin. He in- 
 trusted me with an important commission for you, and asks of 
 you a great proof of your love. Come, Elzu. let us go to my 
 room. We will be sure there not to be overheard by any one. 
 I will tell you everything there." 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
 
 THE ■WEDDING. 
 
 Night had come, and the people of Innspruck had not yet 
 set bounds to their rejoicings. All the streets were brilliantly 
 illuminated ; a festive performance was jjlayed at the theatre, 
 and the apartments at the imperial palace began to fill with 
 the guests who had been invited to the ball. 
 
 But while the palace was shining with splendid lustre for 
 the first and last time during the reign of Andreas Hofer, one 
 of its wings had remained gloomy and silent. It seemed as 
 though the loud voices of the world shrank from penetrating 
 hither. Even the sentinel pacing the long, deserted corridor, 
 trod more softly and crossed himself every time he reached 
 the end of the passage. For the imperial chapel lay at the end 
 of the corridor in this wing of the palace, and through the 
 high windows there one could look down ui)on the altar and 
 the holy lamp. 
 
 The sentinel had just walked up the corridor once more 
 slowly and dreamily, when he suddenly saw two men coming 
 along. He stood still respcctfullj- and presented arms. These 
 two men were Andreas Hofer, the commander-in-chief, and 
 Old Red-beard, Joachim Haspinger, who was walking by his 
 side, in his brown cowl and his heavy leather slmes. 
 
 On approaching the sentinel, Andreas Hofer stood still and 
 nodded kindly to him. " It is not necessary for you, Joe, to 
 stand here all alone and present arms. I know you are one 
 of the best dancers in the Passeyr valley, and as there is a ball 
 at the palace, you had bettei* go there and dance. I believe 
 the good God Himself will watch over His chapel here."
 
 422 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 ''Much ohlicod to you, couiniander-in-cliief — inucli obliged 
 to you !" exclaimed the soldier, joyfully ; and he ran down 
 the corridor as fast as his feet would carry him. 
 
 "How gay and high-spirited these young folks are!" 
 sighed Hofer. 
 
 "And why are you not merry too, brother Andy ?" asked 
 the Capuchin. " A great honor was conferred upon you to- 
 day ; they paid you homage and cheered you as though you 
 were the Messiah. The whole city is illuminated for your 
 sake to-night ; at the theatre, the orchestra played flourishes 
 three times, and the whole audience rose the moment the 
 commander-in-chief entered the house. But scarcely had the 
 morose hero been there a quarter of an hour when he sneaked 
 off again. I followed him stealthily, and found him at last in 
 his ofSce ; and while the whole city is rejoicing, he sits at the 
 table covered with papers, and weeps big tears into his 
 beard ! " 
 
 " But I told you, brother, tliat couriers had arrived from 
 the valley of the Adige, and informed me that the prospects 
 of our cause are very gloomy there. The people are split up 
 into factions, which are engaged in bitter wranglings. How 
 can I rejoice at the extraordinary honoi's j)aid to me, when 
 there are such dark spots in the country ? " * 
 
 " Do not think of that now, Andy. The Lord has helped 
 us hitherto, and He will help us henceforward ; for our cause 
 is just, and no enemy is able to stand up against it." 
 
 "And do you think, brother, that what we are going 
 to do now is also good and just?" asked Hofer, hesitat- 
 ingly. 
 
 " Yes, I do, Barbone. Lizzie Wallner is a noble, brave girl, 
 and the good God and His angels love her." 
 
 " Well, if you say so, brother Capuchin, it must be all 
 right ; for you are a priest of the Lord, and would certainly 
 not consent to cheat God in so holy a place." 
 
 " God cannot be cheated," said the Capuchin, solemnly ; 
 " only short-sighted man can. Now, Lizzie Wallner has keen 
 eyes and a pure heart ; hence she looks into the future, and 
 
 * Andreas Hofer's own words.— Sec " Bilder iind Erinnerungen aus Tyrols 
 Freiheitskampfen von 1809," hy Loritza, p. 13.
 
 THE WEDDING. 493 
 
 sees what the sliort-sig-hted Bavarian cannot see, and helps 
 liini and lierself to escape fioni the abyss into which both of 
 them would otherwise fall. She is a genuine heroine, and I 
 am proud and fond of ber. Otlierwise I shculd not have 
 come to Iinispruck to-day. I came only for her sake and at 
 her urgent j'equest. We are exceedingly busy at the eartb- 
 works near the Pass of Lueg, and look from day to day for 
 the Bavarians to attack us. Hence I must return there this 
 very night, tbat I may be with our men to-moi-i'ow in case 
 tliere should be a fight." 
 
 •■ God grant that j-ou may be victorious ! " sighed Andreas. 
 "But hark I the clock strikes nine, and the sexton is already 
 lighting the candles on the altar." 
 
 " But be has been instructed to light only two of them, lest 
 there should be too much light," said the Capuchin. " Let us 
 go down now, brotber Andreas, and do not forget what you 
 have to do. When the bride enters I)}- the small side-door, 
 you go to meet her, take her hand, and conduct her to the 
 altar. After they are married, you offer her your hand again 
 and beg of her permission to accompany her to the door of her 
 room." 
 
 ''All right, I will do .so," said Andreas. "Come, let us go 
 down to the cbapel." 
 
 A dim twilight reigned in the small chapel. Only two of 
 the tall wax-lights burned on the altar, and shed their flicker- 
 ing rays on the vigorous form of tbe Capuchin, who was 
 standing in front of it, and i)raying in a low voice with 
 clasped bands. Close to him, near the ste])s of the altar, .stood 
 .\ndrea.s Ilofer, his head bent down, and his hands clasped on 
 tbe small crucifix which was to be seen about his neck by the 
 •side of the gold medal and chain. 
 
 Footsteps were heard now in tbe aisle of the chapel, and a 
 iall man in dark civilian's di-ess ajiproacbcd llie altar. An- 
 ilr<'as llofcr drew bim.self up to his full height and went to 
 meet bim. 
 
 "God bless you, Captain Ulrich !" he said, kindly; "I 
 liope you will accept me as witness of your marriage." 
 
 "I thank y«^u, commander-in-chief, for consenting to be 
 our witness," said Ulrich, cordi:illy; " aiul I thank you also,
 
 424 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 Father Haspiuger, for coming to Innspruck from such a dis- 
 tauce to marry us." 
 
 '• I come whenever Eliza Wallner calls me and needs me," 
 said the Capuchin, solemnly. 
 
 A small side-door now opened, and a female form in a long 
 white silk dress came in. Her head was covered and con- 
 cealed with a white veil, which surrounded her whole form 
 like a cloud, and flowed down to the ground. On her head, 
 over the veil, she wore the diadem of the virgin and bride, a 
 blooming myrtle-wreath. 
 
 While Andi'eas Hofer went to meet her and took her hand 
 to conduct her to the altar, Ulrich contemplated her with a 
 throbbing heart, and unutterable bliss filled his bosom. 
 
 " She has kept her word,'' he thought; " she has dofi'ed the 
 costume of the Tyrolese girls and thereby divested herself of 
 her whole past. Oh, how splendid her form looks in this 
 dress ; she seeras taller and prouder, and yet so lovely and 
 sweet." 
 
 He gazed at her as she approached slowly with a light spring- 
 ing step, leaning on Andreas Hofer's arm; he saw only her! 
 He did not hear a door opening softly yonder in the vestry, 
 which contained several latticed windows ; he did not see the 
 dark female form which approached the windows, and whose 
 pale face Rooked out for a moment and then disappeared has- 
 tily. He saw only her, his beloved, his bride, who stood now 
 by his side, whose hot, trembling hand now rested in his 
 own, and who returned gently the tender pressure of his 
 hand. 
 
 And now Father Haspinger raised his voice and spoke in 
 devout and impressive words to the bride and bridegroom of 
 the solemnity of this sacred hour, of the importance of the 
 union which tliey were about to enter upon before God, and 
 of the sacred duties the fulfilment of which they were to vow 
 before the altar. 
 
 " And now I ask you. Captain Ulrich von Hohenberg," he 
 said, in a loud voice, " will you take your betrothed here for 
 your wife, and love and cherish her all your life long ?" 
 
 He replied in a loud, joyous voice. "Yes." 
 
 "And you, young maiden," added the Capuchin, " will you
 
 THE WEDDING. 425 
 
 take your betrothed here for j^our husband, and love and cher- 
 ish liim all your life long i'' 
 
 A low, timid "Yes" fell from her lips. Stifled sobs and 
 groans resounded in the direction of the vestry. 
 
 "Join hands, then," said the Capuchin, solemnly, " and let 
 me exchange your rings in token of your union. I marry 
 you now in the name of God, and henceforth you are man 
 and wife. What God hath joined togethei-, let not man put 
 asunder. Kneel down now and receive the benediction." 
 
 The bride and bridegroom knelt down hand-in-hand before 
 the altar ; the concealed woman knelt down in the vestry 
 alone, trembling and quivering with anguish. 
 
 When the benediction had been given and the bride and 
 bridegroom rose, she rose likewise from her knees. " Holy 
 Virgin," she prayed in a low voice, "give me strength now ! 
 Thou beholdest my heart, and seest what I am suffering ! 
 Oh, be with me in Thy mercy, and give me strength and con- 
 stancy !" 
 
 The ceremony was over now, and Andreas Hofer ap- 
 proached the bride. 
 
 "As your father was prevented from being present," he 
 said. " permit me to take his place and conduct yon to your 
 room. I suppose you do not object to it, Captain Ulrich !" 
 
 " On the contrar}', I am obliged to you for takiiig the place 
 of ray sweet bride's father. Lead the way, I will follow you." 
 
 "No, sir, wait a moment," exclaimed Father Haspinger, 
 solemnly. " I must speak a few words with you privately." 
 
 " And I liave to thank you for your kindness in coming to 
 our wedding," said Ulrich, standing still in front of the 
 altar, and following only with his eyes his bride, who was just 
 leaving the chapel with Andivas Hofer by the side-door. 
 
 " Captain Ulrich," said the Capuchin, after the door had 
 closed behind the two, "I have complied with Eliza Wallner's 
 request, and mai-ried you to your betrothed. You are now 
 man and wife, and nothing but death can separate you from 
 your wife. Do not forget this, sir. But will you also do what 
 I am now about to ask of you ? " 
 
 " I promise to do it, if it be in my power." 
 
 " In the vestry yonder is one who wishes to see you. Go to 
 28
 
 426 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 her. But promise me by all that is sacred to you that you will 
 listen to her calmly ; that, whatever she may say to you, you 
 will not inveigh against her ; and that you will overcome 
 your heart and submit like a brave man to thut which cannot 
 be helped." 
 
 '' I do not comprehend what you mean," said Ulrich, smil- 
 ingly, " but I promise to submit like a brave man to that which 
 cannot be helped." 
 
 " Go, then, to the vestry," said Father Haspinger ; " I will 
 leave the chapel, for no one except God sliould hear what she 
 has to say to you." 
 
 He bowed to Ulrich, and quickly walked down the passage 
 to the large door of the chapel. Ulrich hastened to the vestry, 
 and, opening the door, murmured to himself : " What a strange 
 mystery ! Who can await me here ?" 
 
 " I await you here, sir," said a low, tremulous voice. 
 
 Ulrich looked up, and stared at her who stood before him 
 with clasped hands and gazed at him with beseeching eyes. 
 
 "Eliza !" he exclaimed, starting back with a cry of horror; 
 " Eliza, you are here ? " 
 
 "' Yes, I am here," slie said ; " I am here to implore your 
 forgiveness." 
 
 " My forgiveness ? " he asked, trembling, and pressing both 
 his hands to his temples. " My God! my head swims — I be- 
 lieve I shall go mad ! Eliza is here, she stands before me in 
 her peasant costume, and she left me only a few moments ago 
 in a white bridal dress, and with a myrtle- wreath on her head. 
 What does this quick transformation mean, and how was it 
 possible ?" 
 
 " It is no transformation, sir," said Eliza, bashfully. " I am 
 Eliza Wallner, the peasant-girl, and she who left you in the 
 chapel is your wedded wife, the young Baroness von Hohen- 
 berg — " 
 
 "You are my wedded wife, you alone ?" he cried, impetu- 
 ously. 
 
 " No, sir, I am not ! " 
 
 " You are not ?" he cried, vehemently. "And who is she 
 who went from me there ?" 
 
 " She is your wife, who loves you with all her heart," said
 
 THE WEDDIN*;. 427 
 
 Eliza, solemnly ; "she is the wife whotu your parents selected 
 for you from your earliest youth ; she is l<]Iza von Hohen- 
 bernr." 
 
 Ulrich uttered a cry of rage and despair, and rushed upon 
 Eliza with uplifted hand, pale as a corpse, and with flashing- 
 eyes. 
 
 She bent her head and whole form before him. " Strike 
 me. I deserve your anger," she said, humbly. 
 
 Ulrieh dropped his arm with a groan. "Then you have 
 cheated me, wretched girl ! '' he ci-ied, furiously. " You wished 
 to revenge yourself on me, you lied to me, you betrayed me, 
 you enmeshed me with hypocritical falsehoods, and played an 
 infamous game with me ! Well, why do you not laugh ? Your 
 efforts were successful, you have revenged yourself. Oh, lam 
 in despair ; my rage and grief will break my heart. Why do 
 you not laugh ? " 
 
 " I do not laugh, sir, because I see that you grieve, and be- 
 cause God knows that I would give up my heart's blood to 
 spare you an hour of suflPering." 
 
 He burst into scornful laughter. "And yet you have 
 treated me so infamously ? You have played a miserable 
 comedy Avith me, and perjured yourself ?" 
 
 " Sir, I have not perjured myself," cried Eliza. " I have 
 fulTilled faithfully the oath I swore to you when you took 
 leave of me and went to jH'ocure my Elza's i-eleasc." 
 
 "You have fuHilliHl it? False girl! repeat your oath to 
 me, that I may convict you of perjury." 
 
 " I said that if you would bi'ing back Elza, you should re- 
 ceive your bride, who loved you with infinite tenderness, at 
 the hands of the priest, whether it was early in the morning 
 or late at night! " 
 
 " Well, then, have you fulfilled your oath ? Have you not 
 perjured yourself ? " 
 
 " I have fulfilled my oath ; I have not perjured my- 
 self. Elza loves yoti, sir ; she loves you Avith infinite tender- 
 ness." 
 
 "Oh. what miserable, insidious sophistry I" cried Ulrich. 
 sinking despairingly on a chair. "Your words were as full 
 of duplicity as your heart is ; and I, poor, short-sighted dupe,
 
 428 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 believed vour words ! And not you alone, but Elza, too, 
 has cheated me— she whom I loved as a sister, and whom I 
 should have loved even better, if you had not stepped in be- 
 tween us, if I had not seen you. Elza has betrayed me too; 
 she did not shrink from playing so unworthy a part ! Oh, it 
 will break my heart, it will break my heart ; I lose in this 
 hour all that I loved ! Nothing remains to me but contempt, 
 scorn, and dreadful loneliness ! " 
 
 He buried his face in his hands and wept bitterly. 
 
 "Sir," exclaimed Eliza, with a cry of despair, kneeling 
 down before him, " you weep ? " 
 
 " Yes, I weep," he sobbed ; " I weep for my fallen angels, 
 my lost paradise ! I am a man ; therefore I am not ashamed 
 of my teai's." 
 
 Eliza lifted her eyes and clasped hands to heaven. " Holy 
 Virgin," she exclaimed, " give strength to my words, that he 
 may hear and understand me ! *' 
 
 She rose from her knees, stepped close up to Ulrich, and 
 laid her hand on his shoulder. " Sir," she said, " do you re- 
 member yet what I said to you on taking leave of you on the 
 mountain ? I reminded you of it the other day, but you for- 
 got it again. I said to you : 'You are a nobleman, and I am 
 a peasant-gij'l ; you are a Bavarian, and I, thank God, am again 
 an Austrian. We do not suit each other, and can never be- 
 come husband and wife.' That is what I said to you, and 
 I repeated it to you the other day, but you would not under- 
 stand it." 
 
 "Because I loved you, Eliza; because I felt that my love 
 would be strong enough to surmount all obstacles 1 " 
 
 " Was your love strong enough to prevail on you, sir. to 
 go to my father, Anthony Walliier, and ask him to bless you, 
 his son-in-law ? See, I asked you to do so, because I knew 
 that you would refuse, and because I thought it would con- 
 vince you that we could never become man and wife and 
 ought to part. For without the blessing of my parents I 
 could never follow a husband into the world ; nor would you 
 want a wife who did not bring with her either the blessing of 
 her parents or that of your own, for you are a good and ex- 
 cellent man. That was the reason, sir, why we could not
 
 THE WEDDING. 429 
 
 iM'conie man unci wife, even though it should break our 
 hearts." 
 
 "'Our hearts?'' he cried, impetuously. '' Do not speak of 
 your heart; it is cold and hard." 
 
 " What do you know about my heart ? " she asked. '• I do 
 not bear it on my lips, nor in my eyes either. It i-ests deep 
 in my bosom, and God alone sees and knows it. But I, sii*. 
 know another heai't; I gazed deeply into it, and discovered in 
 it the most fervent love for you, sir. This other heart is that 
 of my Elza: Elza loves you ! And you know that I love Elza, 
 and therefore you must believe me, even though you distj-ust 
 me in other respects. I shall love my Elza as long as I live, 
 and I swore to her never to abandon her, never to deceive 
 her. She confides in me, sir; she did not conceal from me a 
 single fold of her heart. Should I have told her, 'Captain 
 Ulrich, whom you love, and whom j^our father wants to be- 
 come your husband, loves me; and I, whom j-ou call your 
 best friend, although she is but a peasant-girl, while you are 
 the daughter of a nobleman, will take your lover from you 
 and make him my husband ? ' No, sir, never could I have 
 .said so; never should I have been capable of breaking Elza's 
 heart : I preferred to break my own ! " 
 
 " She does not know that I love you ? She ought to have 
 known it, inasmuch as .she consented to play this unworthy 
 part and take yoiu' place before the altar." 
 
 " She did not know any thing about it ; I deceived her. I 
 told her you sent me as a love-messenger to her, and that I 
 had taken it upon myself to obtain her consent to a clandes- 
 tine marriage with you, because you were obliged to set out 
 for Munich this very night, and because you wished to take 
 with you the certainty that she would be yours forever, and 
 that you might have the right of protecting her after God had 
 taken her father from her and made her an orphan. Sir, 
 Elza loves you, and therefore she consented, and became your 
 wife." 
 
 " And her father ? Did he, too, consent to the decej)- 
 tion ? " 
 
 "Her father, sir, is very sick, and I believe he is on liis 
 deathbed. F.h.n told him nothing of it, for the excitement.
 
 430 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 the joy might Ijave killed him. I told her it was your will 
 that she should be silent ; and because she loves you and 
 would comply with all j-our wishes, she was silent, obeyed 
 your call, and came all alone to the altar to become yoiu' 
 wife." 
 
 " My wife ! she is not my wife ! The marriage is null and 
 void, and I shall never acknowledge it." 
 
 '' Elza is your wife, sir, your wife before God and man. A 
 priest married you, and you swore before the altar to love 
 and cherish her. Oh, sir, I beseech you, do not repudiate my 
 Elza, for she loves you; and by repudiating Elza yoii will re- 
 pudiate me, for Elza is the better half of my heart. In mak- 
 ing her happy, think that you make me happy; and in loving 
 her, think I feel that you love ?ne .' " 
 
 " Oh, Eliza," cried Ulrich, gazing at her as she stood be- 
 fore him with a glowing countenance, " Eliza, you angel, why 
 can I not possess you ? " 
 
 " Because it is not God's will, sir ! ' The blessing of the 
 parents builds houses for the children,' says the proverb ; 
 hence we could not build a house, sir, for we had not the 
 blessing of our parents. Now you have it, Elza brings it to 
 you, and she brings you love, sir, and happiness. No, do not 
 shake your head; she brings you happiness. You do not be- 
 lieve it now, for your heart gi'ieves, and he who has such a 
 wound thinks that ic never will heal. But love is a good sur- 
 geon. Elza will dress your heart and heal it." 
 
 '' And your heart, Eliza, will it heal, too ? For your heart 
 has likewise a w-ound, and, whatever you may say to the con- 
 trary, you loved me." 
 
 " I loved you ! " she exclaimed. " No, say rather I still 
 love you ! If I had not loved you, should I have been strong 
 enough to withstand your supplications and resist my own 
 heart in order to secure your happiness ? Oh, be happy, then, 
 —be happy through me and for my sake ! Fold Elza to your 
 heart, love her and let her love you ; and when in future 
 days, happy in Elza's arms, and surrounded by her sweet 
 children, you remember the past and its grief smilingly, do 
 not forget me, but say, ' Lizzie was right after all ! She loved 
 me faithfully!'"
 
 TlIK \VI-:i>DI\G. ^0,1 
 
 " Faithfully ?" lie asked, burstinft- into tears. '" Your heart 
 will heal likewise, Eliza ; you will for<,'-<'t um' in tin; arms of 
 another husband." 
 
 "No, sir ! My heai-t, I hope, will heal, Ijut God alone will 
 heal it, and no other husband. I am not able to love another 
 man, and I believe, moreover, I have .something else to do. 
 Tlie fatherland needs brave hands, and I belong to my fathei-- 
 land and my father. We shall have war again, six*, war with 
 the Bavarians. Thank God, you will not be among our ene- 
 mies ! I shall carry our wounded out of the thickest of the 
 light, and nurse them ; and if a bullet hits me, well, then. 1 
 shall die for the fatherland, and it will gbulden your heart, 
 also, to hear that Ijizzie Wallner died as a brave daughter of 
 the Tyrol. I pray God to let me die in this manner. Amen! 
 But now, sir, go to your yoiing bride. She will be wonder- 
 ing already at your long absence Oh, go to her, sir, and be 
 kind and loving to her ; let her never suspect what has taken 
 ])lace between us, and that you did not marry her of your 
 own accord." 
 
 '' I cannot dissemble. Eliza ; T cannot turn my heart like 
 a glove." 
 
 "Do I ask you to do so? Have you not always loved 
 Elza ? Love her now, then ; love her for my sake, love me in 
 her! Go, sir; Elza is waiting for you. I shall go too. Our 
 good Ilaspinger is waiting for me, and I shall go with bin) to 
 my father. Wc shall never meet again, and therefore I will 
 give you now' my wedding-present. You asked me for it this 
 morning, and I i-efused ; but now I will give it to you volun- 
 tarily. Close your eyes, sir. for you must not see what I give 
 you; and do not open them until I tell you to." 
 
 " I will close my eyes, Eliza, but I shall see you neverthe- 
 less in mj' heart." 
 
 She glided up to him with a noi.seless step. Faithful to 
 his word, he had closed his eyes firmly. She gazed at him 
 lon'g and tenderly, as if to engrave his features dee{)ly on her 
 heart; then she bent over him and imprinted a kiss on his 
 forehead. 
 
 " God bless you, Ulrich." she whispered, and ki.ssed his fore- 
 head once more. " Farewell ! "
 
 432 ANDREAS IIOFER. 
 
 And before he was able to prevent it, or even know it, she 
 glided to the small door leading from the vestry into the 
 street. 
 
 Ulrich heard the jar of the door, and opened his eyes. 
 Eliza stood in tlie open dooj*, and cast a last, parting glance on 
 him. Joachim Haspinger stood behind her. 
 
 •'Eliza," cried Ulrich, hastening to her, " you will leave 
 me?" 
 
 He would have seized her hand, but Haspinger stepped 
 between them. "' Go to your bride, sir," he said, imperatively. 
 " Eliza will accompany me and go to her father ! " 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX. 
 
 THE TREATY OF PEACE. 
 
 The Emperor Francis was still at Prince Lichtensteiu's 
 castle of Totis, in Hungary, but for some days past there had 
 no longer reigned there the profound silence and calm mo- 
 notony which had prevailed during the first days of the im- 
 perial sojourn. Couriers came and went, equipages rolled 
 up, and conveyed to the castle some of the Austrian diploma- 
 tists, with whom the emperor conversed a long while in 
 his cabinet, whereupon tliey departed again. Even Baron 
 von Thugut, the all-powerful ex-minister, had been drawn 
 from his tranquil retirement, and called to the headquarters 
 of the Emperor Francis at Totis. Francis had locked himself 
 up with him in his cabinet, and conversed with him in so low 
 a tone that Hudelist, althou.gh he had ai)plied his ear to the 
 keyhole, had been unable to hear a single word of importance ; 
 and the emperor was so reticent as to the subject of his con- 
 versation v^'ith Thugut, that the Empress Ludovica, although, 
 after Thugut's departure, she had soiight frequently to fathom 
 the meaning of his presence there in her interviews with the 
 emperor, did not receive the slightest information from her 
 husband. 
 
 * Great commotion reigned at Castle Totis already early in
 
 THE TKKATY OF PEACE. 433 
 
 (lie inoriiiiijf of the 12th of October. Prince Lichtenstein had 
 arrived in the first place, and Count Bubna had come soon 
 afterward. The eniperoi" had gone with the two diphmiatists 
 to his cabinet ; they had left it several hours afterward, and 
 departed ininiediatcly. 
 
 Count Metternich had like\vi.se arrived at Totis, and re- 
 paii-ed at once to the emperor's rooms. Tlic count ordered 
 the footman in the anteroom to announce liir.i to his majesty, 
 but the servant sliook his head with a polite smile. 
 
 " It is unnecessary for me to announce your excellency," 
 lie said. " His majesty ordered me to conduct your excellency 
 at once to his ca])inet. Be so gracious, therefore, as to follow 
 me, your exceHoncy." 
 
 And he hastened, with a noiseless step, through the apart- 
 .ments. Count Metternich followed liim quickly, and an im- 
 perceptible sneer played over his fiiie youthful face as he was 
 walking through these sumptuous rooms, whose deserted ap- 
 peai-ance was the best proof of the precarious situation of the 
 emperor. 
 
 The footman stood now before the door of the imperial cab- 
 inet ; after waiting until his excellency had come close up to 
 him, he opened this door, and said, in a loud voice, "His ex- 
 cellency, Count Metternich I ' 
 
 When the co.nit entered the cabinet, the emperor was sit- 
 ting at his writing-table, and holding in his hand a paper which 
 he had read, but which he laid down now, to rise and greet the 
 count. It did not escape Metternich's keen, prying eyes, that 
 the emperoi*'s fa^e was more serene to-day than it had been for 
 a long time past ; and, on bowing deeply to his majesty, he 
 asked himself what might be the cause of this unusual seren- 
 ity, and who might have brought the glad tidings which had 
 awakened so i-emarkable a change. 
 
 " Welcome, count, welcome ! " said the emperor, in his 
 sonorous voice, and with a graceful smile. " I sent for you 
 because I am exceedingly anxious to learn the progress of your 
 peace-negotiations at Altenburg. Is thci-e no prospect yet of 
 a speedy termination of this abominable war?" 
 
 " Your majesty, I regret to .say that the negotiations are 
 progressing very slowly," said Count Metternich. mournfully.
 
 434 ANDREAS IIOFER. 
 
 "The Emperor of the Freuch persists with stubborn petulancy 
 in all his demands, and i-efuses firmly to abate them." 
 
 " Indeed, is Bonaparte so stubborn ? " asked the emperor, 
 kindly. ''How far have you advanced in your conferences 
 Avith Minister Champagny ? " 
 
 '' Your majesty, we have not advanced yet beyond the diffi- 
 cult qviestions concerning the contributions in money and the 
 fortresses. France refuses obstinately to take less than two 
 hundred and thirty-seven millions of francs, and insists on the 
 cession of the fortresses of Gratz and Briinn, w^hich her troops 
 have not even occupied up to this time." 
 
 "That is to say, you have not advanced in j^our peace ne- 
 gotiations beyond what both sides were willing to concede at 
 the outset ? " 
 
 " Pardon me, your majesty. In the beginning of the nego- 
 tiations we were entirely ignorant of the demands of France, 
 while wc are j^amiliar with them now, and know what course 
 to adopt in regard to them. After learning the adversary's 
 intentions, one may more easily devise ways and means to 
 frustrate them." 
 
 " But you have been devising them a long time already 
 without obtaining any results," said the emperor, shrugging 
 his shoulders. "Well, what do you think, my dear count, 
 wmII be the upshot of j^our peace negotiations ? " 
 
 " Will your majesty permit me to tell you the truth ? " 
 asked Count Mettcrnich. with his most winning smile. 
 
 The emperor nodded his head. 
 
 "Well, then, your majesty, I believe that war will be thf^ 
 upshot of all these peace negotiations. The demands of 
 France are so exorhitant that Austria cannot submit to them. 
 Austria's honor will con)pel us to resume hostilities ; for a 
 government may, if need be, acquiesce in the loss of some of 
 its territories, but it must never submit to a violation of its 
 honor." 
 
 " But do you know that a resumption of hostilities will en- 
 danger not only some of our territories, but our existence ? 
 Our armies are disorganized, disheartened, and Avithout a 
 competent commander-in-chief ; and my distinguished ])roth- 
 ers, who are at the head of the different corps, are quarrelin;?
 
 THE TKKATY Ol' I'EACK. 4:;^ 
 
 as ibouuli tliov woic old women, and not princes. Besides, 
 money, the best geuoral in war times, is wanting to us." 
 
 " Only declare your determination to resume hostilities, 
 your majesty, and money will not be wanting to you. Your 
 ])eople will gladl}' sacrifice all their property foi- this purpose, 
 foj' your people hate Napoleon and desire vehemently that 
 hostilities should be resumed." 
 
 ''See here," exclaimed the emperor, almost menacingly, 
 " let me advise you not to allude to my peoi)le, if you want 
 ine to remain on good terms with you. I have no people ; I 
 have subjects, and want only subjects.* If I need money, I 
 shall impose additional taxes on my subjects, and they will be 
 compelled to pay them ; but they need not offer me any pres- 
 ents, for I think it would be incompatible with my imperial 
 honor to accept them. An emperor must not accept any thing 
 as a present at tlie hands of his subjects, not even their love, 
 for it is the dut}' of the subjects to love their emperor. Bear 
 this in mind, count, and do not repeat again this new-fash- 
 ioned word ' people ;' I cannot bear it, it smells so much of the 
 republic and guillotine. Well, I have told you that, if we re- 
 sumed hostilities, we should be destitute of three very es.seutial 
 things, namely, a good army, a great captain, and money. 
 There is no doubt whatever that we should lose the fii-st battle 
 again •, and if we were compelled then to sue for peace, Bona- 
 parte would impose still more rigorous terms upon us : we 
 .should be obliged to accept them, and should lose both ter- 
 ritories and honor. Now you know my views, count, and you 
 .shall know alsq the principal reason why I sent for you. Look 
 at this paper. Do you know what it contains ? The treaty of 
 peace I " 
 
 ''The ti'eaty of peace?" cried Metternich, in dismay. 
 " Your majesty does not mean to say — " 
 
 ''I mean to say that I have made peace witii the Emperoi* 
 of the French. Here is the paper ; take it. The whole thing 
 is done now." 
 
 " Your majesty," exclaimed Metternich, looking at the 
 paper which the emperor had handed to him, " it is really 
 true, then 'i Y''ou have already signed the treaty without be 
 
 *Schlosser's "Ilislory of the Eighteenth Century."
 
 436 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 ing so gracious as to employ your ministers or even inform 
 them of it ? " 
 
 " Yes, I have, for I thought we needed peace ; heuce, I 
 signed the treaty, and Prince Lichtenstein and Count Bubna 
 have taken a copy of it to the headquarters of the Emperor 
 Napoleon at Sclionbrunn, and I believe he will sign it also. 
 Well, do not look so dumbfounded, count, and do not wonder 
 auy longer that I succeeded in making peace without your 
 assistance. I allowed you and Stadion to go on with the ne- 
 gotiations, and did not prevent you from displaying your 
 whole diplomatic skill at Altenburg against Bonaparte's min- 
 ister, Chami^agny ; but all this could not prevent me either from 
 promoting the affair a little here at Totis, after my own fashion, 
 and now all is over. For the rest, my dear count, bear in mind 
 what I now say to you. I appointed you my ministei-, because 
 you are an able and clear-headed man, and an industrious and 
 reliable functionary. I shall let you act, decide, and govern, 
 and not complain if people say that you are all-powerful in 
 Austj'ia, and that j^our will alone guides the ship of state. Let 
 people say and think so, but you shall not think so, count; you 
 shall know once for all what our mutual position is. I 
 allow you to govern so long as you govern in accordance 
 with my views ; but if I am not satisfied with the course 
 you are pursuing, I shall pursue my own course, and it will 
 only remain for you to follow me, or retire from public 
 affairs. Now decide, my dear count ; will you follow me, 
 
 OJ-— " 
 
 "Sire, there is no 'or,'" interrupted Count Metternich. 
 " It is your majesty's incontestable right to lead the way, and 
 indicate to me the course I am to |)ursue." 
 
 " That is right; I like to hear that kind of language ! " ex- 
 claimed the emperor, holding out his hand kindly to the count. 
 " You may depend upon it now that we two shall remain yet 
 a long while together, and that, since we are going to have 
 })eace in the country, we shall rule together in tranquillity 
 and harmony. There, take the paper now to your room, and 
 read it attentively, that you may become thoroughly familiar 
 with it ; above all things, do not forget the secret articles, for 
 j'ou know they are always the most important of all. Pray
 
 THE TREATY OF PKACE. 437 
 
 return to me in an liour from now ; we will tlicu work to- 
 gether." 
 
 "Sire, I shall he here punctually," said Count Metternich, 
 bowing' deeply, and wallcing backward to the door. 
 
 '' I believe he ?<;/// be hei'e punctually," .said the emperor, 
 smilijig', after Metternich had h.'t't the room. " He is afraid, if 
 he should not be promptly at my door, it might never open to 
 him again. I want them all to feel that I am their ma.ster 
 and emperor — I alone! Now I am through with Metternich, 
 and it is my brother's turn. I will give him today a lesson 
 which he will not forget all his life long." 
 
 The emperor rang the bell. "Has my brother, the Arch- 
 duke John, not yet arrived ? " he asked the footman who en- 
 tered the room. 
 
 " Your majesty, the archduke has just arrived, and is wait- 
 ing for your orders." 
 
 *' I request my brother to come to me immediately," said 
 the emperor. After the footman had glided noiselessly out of 
 the room, Francis walked repeatedly up and down, and his 
 face assumed a gloomy expression. " He shall learn now that 
 I am his master," he murmured ; " I will break his haughty 
 spirit, and humiliate him so deeply that he will never think 
 any more of plotting against me." 
 
 At this moment the door opened, and the Archduke John, 
 whom the footman announced, entered the room. He looked 
 l)ale and sad ; the last months, full of care and grief, had 
 gnawed deeply into his soul, and dejirived his eyes of their 
 fire, and his form of its youthful fulness. 
 
 The emperor saw it, and a sjirdonic smile illuminated for a 
 moment his features, which, however, quickly resumed their 
 gloomy expression. " Ah, brother." exclaimed the emperor, 
 greeting the archduke with a slight nod of his head, '' we have 
 not seen each other for a long time ; lience, I sent for you. I 
 wish to communicate important news to you. The war is at 
 an end. T have concluded peace with the Emperor of the 
 French." 
 
 " Peace ? " asked John, incredulously. '" Your majesty con- 
 descends to jest, and that is a good symptom of your majesty's 
 excellent health."
 
 43S Alv^DREAS IIOFER. 
 
 " I never jest with you," said the enip©ror, dryly. " I tell 
 you in dead earnest, I have concluded peace with Napoleon. 
 Austria loses a great deal by this peace ; she cedes one-third 
 of her territory, and pays, moreover, besides the contributions 
 imposed heretofore, the sum of eighty-six millious of franc." * 
 " But what of the Tyrol ? " asked John. " I am sure your 
 majesty will keep the faithful Tyrol ? " 
 
 " No," said Francis, looking his brother full in the face, 
 " the Tyrol will be divided ; one part of it will be restored to 
 Bavaria ; the other part will be given to the Viceroy of Italy, 
 and become a province of French Italy." 
 
 " That is impossible ! " cried John, in dismay ; "that can- 
 not be your will — " 
 
 "And why not? Why is it impossible?" asked the em- 
 peror, sternly. 
 
 "Your majesty," said John, facing his brother boldly, 
 " you pledged your word to the Tyrolese solemnly, in the face 
 of God and the whole world, that you would not conclude a 
 peace which would separate the Tyrol from your monarchy." 
 " Ah, you dare to remind me of it ? " cried Francis, in a 
 threatening tone. 
 
 "Yes, I do," said John, vehemently ; "and I have a right 
 to do so, for it is I who pledged my honor that the imperial 
 promise would be redeemed. It was I who stirred up the in- 
 surrection of the Tyrolese, who repeated the promises of their 
 beloved emperor to them ; it was I who called upon them in 
 the emperor's name to organize a conspiracy and rebellion, 
 and who induced them to draw the sword and fight for- their 
 liberty. Your majesty, thousands of the noblest Tyit ole.se 
 have lost their lives in this contest ; thousands lie wounded 
 and in great pain ; the soil of the Tyrol, formerly so tranquil 
 and peaceful, is reeking yet with gore ; the fields are not cul- 
 tivated; where prosperity formerly reigned, there is now dis- 
 tress and starvation ; where peace and tranquillity prevailed, 
 there rages an insurrection : where merry and happy people 
 used to live, and where nothing was heard formerly but the 
 ringing notes of the Ranz cZe.s Vetches and the merry Jodlers 
 of the herdsmen, there are to be seen now only pale, mournful 
 * Napoleon signed the treaty of SchOnbrunn on the 14th of Octobei 1800.
 
 THE TREATY OF PEACE. 489 
 
 iuvaliils, tottering along painfully, and nothing is heard but 
 the booming of artillery and the lamentations of the impover- 
 ished and starving mountaineers. And yet, despite all their 
 ilisasters and privations, the faithful Tyrolese stand firm, for 
 tht'ir heai-ts are full of hope and love for their emperor. They 
 risked all in order to become Austrians again; and even now, 
 when the deplorable armistice has comi)elkHl your troops to 
 sheathe their swords, the faithful and confiding Tyrolese con- 
 tinue their struggle for their emperor and the liberty of their 
 beloved country. All Europe gazes with astonishment and 
 admiration upon this heroic people, which alone is yet coura- 
 geous enough to resist the French despot; which alone does 
 not yet bow to his decrees, and still draws its sword against 
 him, while all Europe is crouching before him in the dust. 
 Oh, your majestj^ cannot and will not abandon this faithful 
 people, which loves you and believes in you. It would be 
 high treason to think your majesty capable of such a step, for 
 you pledged your woi'd to the Tyrolese, and never will an Em- 
 peror of Austria break his word and incur the disgrace of per- 
 juring himself." 
 
 The empei'or uttered a cry of rage, and, entirely foi-getful 
 of his assumed calmness, rushed upon the archduke with flash- 
 ing eyes and u])lift('d arm. 
 
 " You dare to insult me ! " he cried. " You are impudent 
 enough to charge me with perjury ! You — " 
 
 The archduke on seeing his brother so close before him, 
 furious and with clinched fist, stai-^ed back a few steps. "Your 
 majesty," he said, " I am sure you do not intend to insidt your 
 l)rother. Pray take your hand away, for if it should touch 
 my face, my forehead, I should be obliged to forget that you 
 are the emperor, that you are my brother, and should demand 
 satisfaction of 3'ou." 
 
 "The emperor would not give satisfaction to a iel)el," said 
 Francis, dropping his arm slowly ; "he wt)uld crush the rebel 
 by a word, and deliver the traitor into the hands of his 
 judges." 
 
 " Well, then, do so," exclaimed John ; " pimish me, let me 
 expiate with ray blood the boldness with wdiich I reminded you 
 of the sacred pi-omise which you gave to the Tyrolese. But do
 
 440 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 not forget your word ; do not abandon the faithful Tyrol ; do 
 not destroy the only hope of these honest, innocent children 
 of nature, who confide so touchiugly in their emperor I Oh, 
 your majesty, let us both forget the vehement words which 
 anger and grief caused us to utter just now ! I implore your 
 majesty's forgiveness — I confess that I sinned grievously 
 against my emperor. But now have mercy in your turn ! 
 See, I bow to you, I kneel down before you, and implore you, 
 by your imperial honor and in the name of the Tyrol, do not 
 abandon the Tyrol and its commander-in-chief, Andreas Ho- 
 fer, and do not forget your solemn promise that you would 
 never consent to a'treaty of peace that would not forever in- 
 corporate the Tyrol with your states. You want to make 
 peace with Napoleon ; but the treaty has not been proclaimed 
 yet, the world does not know of it yet, and it is still j)ossible 
 for your majesty to break off the negotiations. Oh, do so, 
 your majesty ; redeem the word you pledged to the Tyrol, and 
 do not conclude a peace which will not indissolubly unite the 
 Tyrol with your monarchy. Permit the Tyrolese at least to 
 conquer their liberty once more, and, after they have done so, 
 protect it. Send me to the Tyrol, permit me to place myself 
 at the head of the brave mountaineers, and you shall see that 
 the Tyrolese will rise as one man and fight with the courage 
 of lions. Oh, your majesty, send me to the Tyrol, that the 
 Tyrolese and the whole world may learn that the emperor of 
 Austria keeps his word and does not abandon them, and that 
 he sends his own brother to them in order to tell them that he 
 will not consent to any peace which will not incorporate their 
 country with Austria ! " 
 
 The emperor burst into loud and scornful laughter. " Ah, 
 you are very slu'ewd, brotlier," he said ; "you think I jnyself 
 should give you permission to go to the Tyrol antl play there, 
 with redoubled splendor, your part as savior and libei-ator of 
 the province. You think I ain ignorant of your nice little 
 plan, and do not know why you wish to go to the Tyrol, and 
 what intentions you entertain in regard to it. Yes, sir, I know 
 all ! I am aware of your plans. I know that you are a revo- 
 lutionist and rebel. You wanted to make yourself sovereign 
 of the Tyrol. That is the reason why you incited the people
 
 THE TREATY OF PEACE. 441 
 
 to rebellion, and intrigued and plotted until the poor peaceable 
 peasants became insurgents and rebels against their Bavarian 
 king, and unfurled the banner of blood with frantic fanati- 
 cism. You say thousands have fallen in the Tyrol in the 
 struggle for liberty ; you say thousands lie wounded on the 
 gory soil of their native country ; that prosperity has disap- 
 peared, and poverty and starvation i-eign in the Tyrol ? Well, 
 then, all tliis is your work ; it is your fault. You stirred up 
 the insurrection, and committed the heavy crime of inciting a 
 people to revolution. The Tyrol belonged to Bavaria ; the 
 Tyrolese were subjects of the King of Bavaria ; nothing gave 
 them the right to shake off the rule of their king and choose 
 another sovereign. And you think I should be so weak as to 
 approve of the bad example set by the Tyrolese, and encourage 
 the crimes committed by the revolutionists ? You think I 
 should sanction your work and consecrate your traitorous 
 schemes by permitting you to go to the Tyrol in order to 
 preach insurrection once more, make yourself sovereign of 
 the Tyrol, come to an under.standing with M. Bonaparte, and 
 be recognized and confirmed by him as Duke of Tyrol ? " 
 
 " Brother," cried John, in dismay, " I — " 
 
 " Hush," interrupted the emperor, imperiously ; " no one 
 has a right to say a word when I am speaking. I am not 
 speaking to you as your brother, but as your emperor. And 
 as your emperor, I tell you now, you will not go to the Tyr- 
 ol, you will not dare to cross again the frontiers of the Tyrol 
 without my permission ; and I promise you that you will have 
 to wait a long while for this permission. And as your em- 
 peror I order you further to inform the Tyrolese that I have 
 concluded peace with France, and to call upon them to lay 
 down their arms and submit to their fate." 
 
 "Your majesty, never, never will I do that!" cried John. 
 
 "Oh, you think the good Tyrolese would then begin to 
 doubt the honesty of their adored archduke, and withdraw 
 from him their love, which was to erect a throne for him ? " 
 
 "No, your majesty," said John, looking him full in the 
 face ; '' I mean that I have pledged my word to protect the 
 Tyrolese, and help and succor them in their struggle for lib- 
 erty and for their omporov, and that I will not incur the dis- 
 29
 
 442 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 grace of having cheated a whole people and abused their con- 
 fidence and love in the most revolting manner." 
 
 "Oh, you want to intimate to me once more that I have 
 done so — that I have abused the confidence and love of the 
 Tyrolese in a revolting manner?" asked the emperor, with 
 a freezing smile. " No matter, keep your opinion ; but you 
 shall surely obey me, and do it at once in my presence. Seat 
 yourself at my writing-table yonder. You are a scholar, and 
 know how to wield the pen quickly and skilfully. Write, 
 therefore. Inform the faithful Tyrolese that peace has been 
 concluded ; order them to lay down their arms and submit 
 obediently to their new master." 
 
 "I cannot, brother," cried John, mournfully. "Have 
 mercy upon me ! I cannot deliver a whole i)eople to the exe- 
 cutioner's axe. For, if you withdraw your hand from the 
 Tyrol, if you surrender it to the tender mercies of the Bava- 
 rians and French, they will wreak a fearful revenge on the 
 Tyrolese for all the defeats and humiliations which the heroic 
 mountaineers have made them undergo." 
 
 " That will deter the mountaineers from entering into any 
 more conspiracies and revolutions, and teach them to be pa- 
 tient and submissive ; and they will thereby become an awful 
 example to my own subjects. Do not disobey me any longer. 
 Seat yourself and write, archduke ! " 
 
 " No," cried John, vehemently, " your majesty may punish 
 me as a I'ebel, take my life, or sentence me to everlasting im- 
 prisoinment, but I cannot obey ! I cannot w^rite such a procla- 
 mation ! " 
 
 "I shall not punish j^ou as a rebel," said the emperor, 
 shrugging his shoulders ; "I shall not take your life, I shall 
 not sentence you to everlasting imprisonment ; but I will 
 withdraw^ my hand entirely from the Tyrol. I will not, as I 
 had resolved aud stipulated expressly, give the fugitive Tyro- 
 lese, if they should succeed in crossing the frontier, an asylum 
 here in Austria, and protect them to th<\ best of niy power ; 
 but I will delivei' them as escaped criminals to their legiti- 
 mate sovereigns, that they may punish tliem according to 
 their deserts. Nor shall I, as I intended to do, stii)ulate in the 
 treaty of peace that the ancient constitution shall be con-
 
 THE TRHATV OK PEACE. 443 
 
 firmed and {juariuitced to the Tyrolcse ; nor shall I, finally, 
 as I had resolved to do, appoint a commission wliich will afford 
 relief to the fugitives who escajw with their families to Aus- 
 tria. It will l)c your fault if the poor Tyrolese are deprived 
 of tlie.se hoons, and you will expo.se the deserted people to the 
 most fearful persecutions." 
 
 " No, your majesty ; no one shall ever be able to say that," 
 cried John, profoundly moved. "I will obey your order and 
 draw up the proclamation.'' 
 
 He hastened to the writing-table, and, throwing' himself on 
 a chair in front of it, uttei-ed a deep groan and dropped his 
 head on his breast as though he were dying. 
 
 '" Well, do not reflect so long, brother,'' said Francis, " but 
 write ! " 
 
 John took up the pen, and, restraining the tears which 
 filled liis eyes, wrote quickly a few lines. He then rose as 
 ])ale as a corpse, and, approachhig the emperor slowly, handed 
 the paper to him. 
 
 "Your majesty," he said, solemnly, "T have comi)lied with 
 your order. I inform the Tyrolese that peace has been con- 
 cluded, and exhort them to submit. Will you now fulfil the 
 conditions, on account of which I have written this to the 
 Tyrolese ? Will you grant an asylum here in Austria to those 
 who shall succeed in escaping their tormentors and execution- 
 ers ? Will you appoint an imjierial commission which will 
 aflTord relief to the fugitives and their families? And last, 
 will you see to it tliat the ancient constitution is guaranteed to 
 the Tyrolese in the treaty of peace ?'' 
 
 " I pledged y<iu my word that I would do so, dear brother," 
 said the emperor, smiling ; " and you yourself said a while 
 ago, ' Never will an Emperor of Austria break his word and 
 incur the disgrace of perjuring himself.' Well, read to me 
 now what you have written. I should like to hear it from 
 your own lips." 
 
 The archduke bowed and read in a tremulous voice: 
 
 " Dear, Brave Tyrolese : The news that peace has been 
 concluded will soon reach you. The emperor has ordei'cd me 
 to conflrni tliis intelligence to you. The emperor would have,
 
 444 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 done every thing to fulfil the wishes of the Tyrol, but, how- 
 ever great an interest the emperor takes in the fate of the 
 honest and excellent inhabitants of that province, he has had 
 to submit to the stern necessity of making peace. I inform 
 you of this by order of his majesty, with the addition that it 
 is his majesty's wish that the Tyrolese should keep quiet and 
 not sacrifice themselves needlessly. 
 
 " The Archduke John." 
 
 " H'm ! " said the emperor, taking the paper from John's 
 hand and contemplating it attentively, " it is written quite 
 laconically indeed. But, no matter, you have complied with 
 my order and done your duty.'' 
 
 "I thank your majesty for this acknowledgment. And 
 now that I have done my duty, I request your majesty to be 
 so gracious as to dismiss me from your service, and permit me 
 to retire from the court into private life. I feel weak and ex- 
 hausted, and need repose. Moreover, since we have peace 
 now, my services are superfluous and may be easily dispensed 
 with." 
 
 '' And you wish me to dismiss you very speedily, do you 
 not ? " asked the emperor, sarcastically. " You wovild like to 
 retire as quickly as possible into private life, that the whole 
 world, and, above all, the dear Tyrolese, may perceive that the 
 noble and beloved Archduke John is dissatisfied with the 
 treaty, and has therefore withdi-awn in anger from the court 
 and service of his emperor ? I am sorry that I cannot afford 
 you this satisfaction. You will remain in the service ; I do 
 not accept your resignation, I do not permit you to retire into 
 private life. You should devote your abilities to the state ; 
 you are not allowed to withhold your services from it at this 
 juncture." 
 
 " Your majesty, I can no longer be useful to the state. I 
 am exhausted to death. I repeat my request in the most ur- 
 gent manner : dismiss me from the service, and permit me to 
 retire into private life." 
 
 " What ! " cried Francis, vehemently. " Your emperor 
 has informed you of his will, and you dare to oppose it ? Tliat 
 is a violation of subordination, for which the emperor, as su-
 
 THE TREATY OF PEACE. 445 
 
 prerne commander of liis army, would punish his rehellious 
 general rigoroush', but for the fact that this general unfortu- 
 nately is his brotluM'. I repeat it, I do not accept your resigna- 
 tion. You remain in the service ; I demand it a.s your gen- 
 eral-in-chief ; I remind you of the t)ath of allegiance which 
 you have sworn to me, your emperor and master." 
 
 " Your majesty does right in reminding me of the oath I 
 took," said the archduke, with freezing coldness. " It is true, 
 I swore that oath ; and as T am in the habit of keeping my 
 word, and as it is disgra<eful for any one to break his word 
 and perjure himself, I sliall fulfil my oath. Hence, I shall 
 obey my emperor and general-in-chief, and not leave the serv- 
 ice. But now I ask leave of your majesty to withdraw for to- 
 day, if your majesty has nothing further to say to me." 
 
 *' Yes, I iiave something else to say to you, my dear broth- 
 er," said tbe emperor, smilingly. '' I will give you a proof of 
 the great confidence which I repose in you, and with which I 
 count upon your discretion. I will communicate to you a 
 family secret which is known at present only to the Emperor 
 Napoleon, Baron von Thugut, who acted as my agent on this 
 occasitm, and myself." 
 
 ''What!" asked John, in surpri.se; "the Emperor Napo- 
 leon is aware of a family secret of your majesty ? " 
 
 "As it concerns him.self, he nmst be aware of it," said the 
 emperor. " Napoleon intends to marry a second time." 
 
 " A second time ? Has his first wife, the Empress Josephine, 
 then, died suddenly ? " 
 
 "No, she still lives, and is acting yet at this moment in 
 Paris as the emperor's legitimate consoi't. But Napoleon, im- 
 mediately after his return from Germany, will annul this mar- 
 riage, which was never consecrated by a priest ; he will divorce 
 himself solemnly from his wife, and have then the right of 
 marrying a second time. He requested my secret agent, Baron 
 von Thugut, to ask me if I would consent to a marriage be- 
 tween him and aji archduchess of Austria. I replied in the 
 affirmative, and this agreement forms one of the secret articles 
 of the treat}' of peace." 
 
 " An archduchess of Austria is to become the con.soi't of 
 the French despot!" cried John, in dismay. "And who,
 
 44:G ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 your majesty, is to be sacrificed to the Minotaur ? Which of 
 your sisters or cousins will you let him have ? " 
 
 " None of my cousins or sisters,'' said Francis, calmly, " but 
 my eldest daughter, Maria Louisa, is to become the consort of 
 the Emperor Napoleon." 
 
 " Maria Louisa ! " cried John, with an expression of dismay. 
 " Maria Louisa ! " 
 
 And John staggered back several steps, as pale as a corpse, 
 and grasped the back of the chair in order not to sink to the 
 floor. 
 
 Francis did not seem to perceive this. " Yes, Maria Louisa 
 will be Napoleon's second consort," he said. " Every thing is 
 settled already, and the marriage will take place next March. 
 I think, brother, you may stand proxy for Napoleon on that 
 occasion." 
 
 The archduke gave a start, and pressed his hands to his 
 temples as if he were afraid lest this dreadful " famih^ secret " 
 would burst his head. 
 
 " Your majesty," he said, in a tremulous and almost in- 
 audible voice, " I beg leave to withdraw." 
 
 Without waiting for a reply, the archduke turned and left 
 the room with a tottering step, and leaning now and then 
 against the wall in order not to sink to the floor. 
 
 The emperor looked after him, smilingly. " It seems Hu- 
 delist was not mistaken," he said. " My dear brother really 
 loved Maria Louisa, and intended to become my son-in-law. 
 What a nice idea ! But he must give it up now. He — Holy 
 Virgin ! What noise is that in the anteroom ? What fell to 
 the floor there ? " 
 
 Tlie emperor stepped quickly to the door and opened it. 
 " Whiit is the matter here ? " he asked. 
 
 '"Your majesty," exclaimed the footman, who hastened to 
 him, '■ the archduke fainted and fell to the floor, striking with 
 his head against the corner of a chair, and wounding his fore- 
 head, which is bleeding copiously." 
 
 "Well, I hoi)e it is only a slight scratch," said the em- 
 peror, composedly. " Carry the archduke to his bedchamber 
 and send for my surgeon. I will afterward call on him my- 
 self."
 
 DREADFUL TII)IN(iS. 447 
 
 Without taking any further notice of the archduke, the 
 emperor returned into his cabinet and ck)scd the door after 
 him. 
 
 " He fainted," said Francis, triumphantly. '' Henceforth 
 ho shall be entirely powerless. No one shall have any power 
 liere but myself. Ah, I have broken his pride, bent his will, 
 and prostrated him at my feet. All my brolhcrs shall bow to 
 me, acknowledge me as their master, and obey me. Ah, I be- 
 lieve I have played a bad trick on my brothers. The Arch- 
 duke John will not become Duke of Tyrol ; the Grand-duke 
 Ferdinand of Wiirtzburg will not be Emperor of Austria, for 
 Napoleon w-ill become my son-in-law, and he will take good 
 care not to deprive his father-in-law of his throne. I alone 
 am, and shall remain, Emperor of Austria." 
 
 CHAPTER XL. 
 
 DREADFUL TIDINGS. 
 
 All the Tyrolese were in the highest excitement and ter- 
 ror. Pale faces were to be seen everywhere', and nothing was 
 heard but the anxious query : "Is it true ? Has our emperor 
 really made peace with Bonaparte? Is it true that he has 
 abandoned us entirely, and that we are to become again sub- 
 jects of France and Bavaria ? " 
 
 And some of the timid and disheartened sighed : " It is 
 true ! We read so yesterday in the Innspruch Gazette, and 
 the Viceroy of Italy has sent two messengers through the 
 Puster valiey to proclaim that the Emperors of Austria and 
 France concluded a treaty of peace on the 14th. of October, and 
 that the Tyrolese are to lay down their arms and become again 
 subjects of France and Bavaria." 
 
 "It is not true!" cried the bold and courageous. "The 
 Emperor Francis has not made peace with Bonajiarte ; and if 
 he has, he has certainly not abandoned the Tyrol, but stipu- 
 lated that we remain with Austria : for he pledged us his 
 word that we should, and the emperor will redeem his prom- 
 ise."
 
 448 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 " It is not true ; there is no peace, and we are still at war 
 with the Bavarians and French," cried Joseph Speckbacher, 
 *'and we will continue the war." 
 
 "Yes, we will," shouted his brave men. 
 
 And as Speckbacher said, so did Andi-eas Hofer, so did Joa- 
 chim Haspinger, so did Anthony Wallner, Jacob Sieberer, and 
 all the intrepid connnanders of the sharpshooters. 
 
 Led by these heroic men, the Tyrolese formed again a large 
 army, which took position on Mount Isel, and awaited there 
 the Bavarians who were marching upon Innspruck under the 
 command of the crown prince Louis. 
 
 This time, however, the Tyrolese were not victorious ; the 
 Bavarians expelled them from Innspi'uck, and, on the 20th of 
 October, the crown prince Louis of Bavaria made his tri- 
 umphal entry into the city, after a bloody battle of four days' 
 duration on Mount Isel and near the Judenstein. A part of 
 the Tyrolese forces remained on Mount Isel, and another part 
 hastened with unbroken courage to other regions, to meet the 
 armies of the enemy and drive them beyond the frontiers of 
 the country. 
 
 Anthony Wallner returned with his sharpshooters to the 
 Puster valley, and advanced thence against General Rusca, 
 who was coming up from Carinthia with his corps; he in- 
 tended to defend the frontiers of his country, against him and 
 General Baraguay d'Hilliers, who was also approaching with 
 a strong force. 
 
 Joseph Speckbacher marched his intrepid men to the 
 Ziller valley and the Miihlbach Pass, where he united with 
 Joachim Haspinger, and advanced with him upon the enemy. 
 
 All were in good spirits, and no one believed in the dread- 
 ful tidings which at first had frightened them all so much : no 
 one believed that peace had been made. 
 
 Andreas Hofer himself thought the news was false. He 
 had remained courageous and undaunted in spite of the dis- 
 astrous battle on Mount Isel. and he sent messengers through- 
 out the country, calling upon all able-bodied men to take up 
 arms and attack the enemy, who had invaded the Tyrol once 
 more. He was still encamped with his army near Mount Isel, 
 and had established his headquarters at Steinach. The crown
 
 DRRADFf L TIDINGS. 449 
 
 prince of Baviiria liad sent to liiin liithcr t \\v plcnipotontiuries, 
 who informed him that peaee had really been concluded, and 
 that the Tyrolese had no course left but submission. But An- 
 dreas Hofer replied to these plenipotentiaries, shaking his head 
 indignantly, " That is a mean lie ; the Emperor Francis, our 
 beloved master, will never abandon his loyal Tyrolese. He 
 ])ledged us his word, and he will keep it. Your intention is 
 to deceive us, but you cannot catch us by such stratagems. 
 We believe in the emperor and the good God, and neither of 
 them will ever abandon us ! " 
 
 And Andreas Hofer i-eturned to his room with a calm smile 
 and went to bed. 
 
 In the dead of night, however, he was suddenly aroused 
 from his sleep. Cajetau Doninger stood at his bedside and 
 informed him that the intendant of the Puster valley, Baron 
 von Worndle, had arrived with an envoy of the Emperor 
 Francis, Baron von Lichtenthurn, and both wished urgently 
 to see the commander-in-chief. 
 
 "I will admit them," said Hofer, rising hastily ; "God 
 grant that they are the bearers of good news I " 
 
 He dressed himself quickly and followed Doninger into the 
 roou), where he found the two envoys and several members of 
 his suite. 
 
 " Now tell me, gentlemen, what news do you bring to us ?" 
 asked Hofer, shaking hands with the two envoys. 
 
 "No good news, commander-in chief," sighed Baron von 
 Worndle, "but there is no use in conijdaining : we must sub- 
 mit patiently to what cannot be helped. The Emperor Fran- 
 cis has made peac^? with France." 
 
 "Do you sing in that strain too, Mr. Intendant ?"' asked 
 Andreas, with a mournful smile. " I shall never believe it 
 initil I see it in black and white, and until the emperor or the 
 dear Archduke John informs me of it." 
 
 "I bring it to you in black and while," exclaimed Baron 
 von Lichtenthurn, drawing a paper from his bosom and hand- 
 ing it to Andreas. "Here is a letter from the Archduke John, 
 which I am to deliver to you." 
 
 Hofer hastily seized the paper, whicli contained that proc- 
 lamation which tlie Archduke John liad written at Totis, and
 
 45(1 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 read it again and agaiu slowly and attentively. While he was 
 doing so, his cheeks turned pale, his breath issued heavily and 
 painfully from his breast, and the paper rustled in his trem- 
 bling hands. 
 
 " It is impossible ! I cannot believe it ! " he exclaimed, 
 mournfully, gazing upon the paper. ''■ The Archduke John 
 did not write this. Just look at it, his seal is not affixed to the 
 paf>er. Sir, how can you say that this letter is from the 
 Archduke John ? Where is the seal ? Where is the ad- 
 dress ? '' 
 
 •' Well, it is no private letter," said Baron von Lichten- 
 thurn ; '' it is an open letter, a proclamation, which I am in- 
 structed to show to everybody in the T^^rol. A proclamation 
 cannot contain a seal and an address. But the Archduke 
 John sent it ; he himself wrote every word of it." 
 
 ■' I do not believe it ! " cried Andreas, in a triumphant 
 voice ; " no, I do not believe it. You are a liar, and want to 
 betray us. Look at him, my friends ; see how pale he turns, 
 and how he trembles ! For I tell you he has a bad conscience. 
 Bring me the Archduke John's seal, and then I will believe 
 tliat the paper is from him. But, as it is, 1 look upon it as a 
 cunning device got up by the enemy to cnti'ap me. Arrest 
 him ; he must confess all. I will not allow myself to bo 
 caught by cunning and treachery ! " * 
 
 He laid his heavy hand upon the shoulder of the baron, 
 who sank to the floor, uttering a loud cry of distress, and fell 
 into fearful convulsions. 
 
 " See ! " cried Andreas, " that is the punishment of Heaven ! 
 The hand of God has struck him. He is a traitor, who in- 
 tended to sell us to the French." 
 
 "No, he is an honorable man, and has told you the truth," 
 said Baron von Worndlo. gravely. " Your violent accusation 
 frightened him, and he fell into an epileptic fit. He is afl'ected 
 with that disease." t 
 
 He and some of the bystanders raised the unfortunate 
 baron from the ground, and carried him into the adjoining 
 
 * Andreas Hofer's own words.— See IIormayr\s " Andreas Ilofer," vol. ii., 
 p. 490. 
 
 t Ibid.
 
 DREADFUL TIDINGS. 451 
 
 i-oom. lie then returned to Andi-eas, who was walking up 
 unci down with a hasty step, and nuirnniring to himself, "I 
 cannot believe it ! The Ai-cliduke John did not write it. 
 His hand would have withered wliiU- writing it. He did not 
 do it." 
 
 '' Yes, Andreas, he did," said Worndle, gravely ; " he was 
 obliged to submit, as we all shall have to do. The Archduke 
 John was obliged to yield to the will of his emperor as we 
 shall have to do. The treaty of peace has been concluded. 
 There is no doubt of it." 
 
 "Lord God ! the treaty of peace has been concluded, and 
 the emperor abandons us ? " cried Andreas. 
 
 " The emperor, it seems, was unable to do any thing for the 
 Tyrol," said Wdrndle in a low voice. "He had to consent 
 lliat the Tyrol should be restored to the French and Bava- 
 rians." 
 
 " But that is impossible ! " cried Andreas, despairingly. 
 •• He pledged us his word, his sacred word, that he would never 
 consent to a peace that would detach the Tyrol from Austria. 
 How can you now insult the dear emperor by saying that he 
 has broken his word i " 
 
 "He has not broken his word, but he was unable to keep 
 it. Look, commander-in-chief, I bring you another letter, to 
 which, as you see, is affixed a large imperial seal, the seal of 
 the Viceroy of Italy, who wrote the letter to you and all the 
 Tyrolese." 
 
 " Read it," exclaimed Andreas, mournfully ; " I cannot, my 
 eyes are filled with tears. Read it to me, sir." 
 
 Worndle read as follows : 
 
 " To the people of the Tyi'ol : His majesty the Emperor of 
 the French, Kiii<i- of Italy, Protector of (he Confederation of 
 the Rhine, my august father and sovereign, alid his majesty, 
 the Emperor of Austria, have made peace. Peace, thei-efore, 
 reigns evei'y where around you. You are the only peo})le which 
 does not enjoy its blessings. Seduced by foreign instigations, 
 you took up arms against your goverinnent and dvorthit'w 
 it. The melancholy conseqiiences of your seditit)us course 
 have overtak.'n yo'i. Terror reigns now in your towns, idle-
 
 452 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 ness aud misery in your fields, and discord and disorder are 
 to be found in all parts of the country. His majesty the em- 
 peror and king, profoundly moved by your wretched condi- 
 tion, and the proofs of repentance which some of you have 
 manifested to him, has consented in the treaty to forgive your 
 errors. I bring you peace and forgiveness, but I warn you of 
 the fact, that you will be forgiven only if you return of your 
 own accord to law and order, lay down your arms, and offer 
 no longer any resistance whatever. As commander-in-chief 
 of the armies surrounding you, I shall accept your submission 
 or compel you to surrender. Commissioners will precede the 
 armies ; they have been instructed to listen to whatever com- 
 plaints and gi'ievances you may wish to prefer. But, do not 
 forget that these commissioners are authorized to listen to you 
 only after you have laid down your arms. Tyrolese ! I promise 
 that you shall obtain justice if your complaints and grievances 
 ai-e well-grounded. Headquarters at Villach, October 25, 1809. 
 
 " Eugene Napoleon." * 
 
 Baron von Worndle had long since ceased to read, and still 
 Andreas Hofer stood motionless, his hands folded on his breast, 
 his head thrown back, and his eyes turned toward heaven. 
 All gazed in respectful silence upon that tall, imposing form 
 which seemed frozen by grief, and at that pale, mournful face, 
 and those pious eyes, which seemed to implore consolation 
 and salvation from heaven. 
 
 At lastDoninger ventured to put his hand softly on Hofer's 
 arm. " Awake, dear commander-in-chief," he said in a low 
 voice, " awake from your grief. These gentlemen here are 
 waiting for an answer. Tell them what you think — " 
 
 " What I think ? " cried Hofer, giving a start and dropping 
 his eyes slowly. " What I think ? I think that we are poor, 
 unhappy men, who have vainly risked our property and our 
 blood, our liberty and our lives. Tell me, then, my friends, 
 is it possible that the Emperor Francis, whom we all loved 
 so dearly, and who pledged us his word so solemnly and often, 
 has abandoned us after all ? Cajetan, do you believe it ? " 
 
 " It is in black and white here," said Doninger, in his ha- 
 
 * Ilormayr's " Andreas Hofer," vol. i., p. 490.
 
 DREADFUL TIDINGS. 453 
 
 bilual laconic style, pointing to the proclamation of the Arch- 
 duke John. " It is the archduke's handwriting ; I am famil- 
 iar with it. You need no longer question its authenticity. 
 Peace has been concluded." 
 
 " Peace has been concluded, the enii)eror has abandoned 
 his Tyrol, the Tyrol is lost ! " cried Andreas, in a loud out- 
 burst of grief ; and his long-restrained tears streamed from his 
 eyes. Andreas was not ashamed of them. He threw himself 
 on a chair, buried his face in his hands, and wept aloud. 
 
 " The Tyrol is lost," he sobbed ; all my dear countrymen 
 are in profound distress, and, moreover, in the utmost danger ; 
 our beloved, beautiful counliy will have to shed rivers of blood, 
 and nothing will be heard but wails and lamentations. For 
 the emperor has abandoned us, the enemy will re enter the 
 country, kill and burn, and wreak a terrible revenge upon our 
 people !— Lord God," he exclaimed all at once, " can I not do 
 any thing, then, for my dear country ? Tell me, my friends, 
 can I not do any thing to avert this great calamity and save 
 the lives of my dear countryn)en ? " 
 
 " Yes, Andreas," said Baron von Worndle, " you can do a 
 great deal for the Tyrol and your countrymen. You can pre- 
 vent bloodshed, soften the vindictiveness of tbe enemy, and 
 induce hira to spare the vanquished and wreak no revenge on 
 the disarmed. Write a proclamation to the Tyrolese, admon- 
 ish them to keep quiet, and order them to lay down their 
 arms. Return yourself to your home, your inn, and you will 
 have done on this mournful day more for the Tyrol than you 
 have been able to do for it up to this time ; for you will there- 
 by save the Tyrol from untold disasters, which will surely be- 
 fall the country if you resume hostilities against enemies 
 who are a hundred times superior to us. It is impos.sible for 
 us to withstand them successfully. Their columns, well pro- 
 vided with ai'tillery, are moving upon all sides, and the 
 whole Tyi'ol, as the Viceroy of Italy writes, is surrounded. 
 We have no course left but submission. Order the Tyrolese, 
 therefore, to submit, set a good example to them yourself, and 
 the Tyrol is saved, and no more blood will be shed." 
 
 " No more blood will be shed 1 " repeated Andreas Hofer, joy- 
 ously. " Well, then. I sec that you arc right, and that we
 
 454 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 have no c(nirso loft but submission. It is true, the emi)eror- 
 has abandoned us. but the good God will still stand b}^ us ; 
 and on seeing that we are humble and submissive, He will 
 have mercy upon us. Sit down, Cajetan ; I will dictate a 
 letter to you. To whom must I write on behalf of my beloved 
 country ? " 
 
 "Write to General Drouet," said Doninger. "It was he 
 who wrote to you yesterday from Innspruck, informing you 
 of the conclusion of peace, and promising that, if you and a1] 
 the Tyrolese would submit, no harm should befall any one. 
 You refused to answer his letter because you did not believe 
 him." 
 
 " I did not believe him," said Andreas, gently, " for I still 
 helieved in my empei'or. But I see now that General Drouet 
 was right ; I will, therefore, write to him, and recommend 
 my country and the good and brave Tyrolese to his mercy. 
 Take up the pen, Cajetan, and write." 
 
 And Andreas Hofer dictated in a low, tremulous voice, oft- 
 en interrupted >)y sjghs which issued from his breast like the 
 groans of a dying man, a letter to General Drouet, in which 
 he promised in touching words that the Tyrolese would lay 
 down their arms, and said they would trust, for pardon and 
 oblivion of the past, to the magnanimity of Napoleon, whose 
 footsteps wei'e guided by a superior power, which it was no 
 longer permitted them to resist. 
 
 "There," he said, after convincing himself that Doniuger 
 had written exactly what he had dictated, '' now give me the 
 pen, Cajetan. I will sign it myself." 
 
 He bent over the table, and wrote quickly what he had so 
 often Vt'ritten under his decrees, " Andreas Hofer, commander- 
 in-chief of the Tyrol." 
 
 But then he gave a start, and contemplated his signature 
 long and musingly. Heaving a profound sigh, and casting a 
 mournful glance toward heaven, he took up the pen a second 
 time, and added the word "late," slowly and with a trembling 
 hand, to his title "commander-in-chief of the Tyrol." * 
 
 " Now come, Cajetan," he exclaimed, throwing down the 
 pen, as if it was a viper which had wounded him, " come, 
 * " Gallery of Heroes : Andreas IJoler," p. 173.
 
 DREADFUL TIDINGS. 455 
 
 Oujotun. I will o-o to my sharpshooters and exhort them to 
 tlisbaml, and afterward i will return with j'ou to my inn in 
 the Passeyr valley, in order to set a ffood exaniide to all, and 
 show them how to submit qnietly and i)atiently." 
 
 And Andreas llofer acted accordingly. He ordered his 
 men to disband, and after they had obeyed his order in sullen 
 silence, he himself, accompanied only by his faithful Cajetan 
 l)6ning-er, went back to his home. 
 
 But neither the joyous welcome, with which liis wife, faith- 
 ful An»)a Gertrude, received him, nor the jubilant shouts of 
 liis cliildren, could arouse Andreas Hofer from his mournful 
 bro-Mhiig, or bring a smile to his lips. He did not rejoice at 
 bis i-eturn to his dear ones ; he paid no attention to his 
 bi'siness, he did not go to the stables and barns as he used 
 (o do ; but he sat hanging his head, his hands folded on his 
 knees, staring at the lloor, and sighing from time to lime, 
 " My poor country ! How could the emperor abandon 
 us?" 
 
 Only when Cajetan Doninger was not with him, Andreas 
 llofer became uneasy ; he glanced around anxiously and 
 called for his secretary ; when the latter hastened to him, he 
 held out his hand and said in a low, tremulous voice, " Caje- 
 tan, do not leave me. I always think I may have something 
 to write yet, and it seems to me as though what I dictated to 
 you at Steinach, declaring my readiness to submit, were not 
 the last of my oflicial papers. Something else nnist come yet, 
 —yes, something else. I know it, for this state of afPaii-s can- 
 not last. Therefore, Cajetan, stay with me that you may be 
 ready and able to w^'ite when the hour has come." 
 
 Cajetan stiiyed with him ; both sat together in silence, and 
 absorbed in their gloomy reflections, and the days pas.sed 
 slowly and mournfully. 
 
 It was on the afternoon of the fifth day, and Andreas llofer 
 sat in silence, as usual, in the gloomy room. Every thing was 
 still without. All at once this profound silence was broken 
 by a hum of many voices and loud noise. 
 
 Hofer looked up and listened. " That sounds as if we were 
 still at war, and us if my sharpshooters were marching up," 
 he said.
 
 456 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 "Andreas Hofer, commander-in-chief of the Tyrol!" 
 shouted loud voices under the windows. 
 
 Hofer jumped up. "Who calls me?" he shouted, in a 
 powerful voice. 
 
 At this moment the door was thrown open violently, and 
 four mountaineers, armed with their rifles, came in. Hofer 
 saw through the open door that the yard in front of the house 
 was thronged with peasants, and all looked with flashing 
 eyes through the door at Hofei" ; and they shouted now, " An- 
 dreas Hofer, commander-in-chief of the Tju'ol, come with us, 
 come I " 
 
 Andreas Hofer seemed all at once animated by new life ; 
 his eyes shot fire, his form was drawn up to its full height, 
 and his head rose again proudly between his powerful shoul- 
 ders. 
 
 " Wliat do you want of me, my dear countrymen ? '' he 
 asked, going to meet them. 
 
 One of the four sharpshooters who had entered the room 
 now came forward, and placed himself with a defiant face in 
 front of Hofer. 
 
 " We want you," he said. " Three thousand French soh 
 diers are marching across the Jan fen. There is great excite-, 
 ment in the Puster valley, and some fighting has taken place, 
 Anthony Wallner has driven the Bavarians long since across 
 the frontier, and Speckbacher and the Capuchin have marched 
 to the Miihlbach Pass in order to attack Rusca. And why are 
 we to keep quiet, then ? Why are we to allow the French to 
 enter the Passeyr valley ? " 
 
 " We will not allow them to do it ! " shouted the peasants 
 outside. " No, we will not allow the French to enter the Pas- 
 seyr valley." 
 
 " You hear it, commander-in-chief," said the first speaker. 
 "We are all ready and determined. Now say what we 
 are to do with tho French. Will you do any thing or 
 not ? " 
 
 "Yes, will you do any thing or not ?" repeated the peas- 
 ants, penetrating with furious gestures into the room. 
 
 " If you do not want to do any thing," cried the peasant, 
 raising his rifle menacingly, " my rifle is loaded for you as
 
 DREADFUL TIDINGS. 457 
 
 well as for any Frenchman. You commenced the in.surrec- 
 tion, now put it through.'' * 
 
 " But you know, countrymen, that I cannot ! " cried Hofer, 
 '' The emperor lias made peace with Bonaparte and abandoned 
 us. What course have we left but that of submission ? We 
 must yield, or the Tyrol Avill be ruined entirely.'' 
 
 " But we do not want to submit," shouted the peasants, 
 furiously. " And the whole country is of our opinion ; no 
 one is willing to submit. We will die rather than submit." 
 
 *' Issue another proclamation calling out the able-bodied 
 men ! " said the first speaker. 
 
 '' Yes, issue another proclamation, commander-in-chief,"' 
 shouted the crowd. " We will fight, we must fight I " 
 
 "And you shall and must be our leader ! " exclaimed the 
 peasant, laying his heavy hand on Hofer's shoulder. " We 
 will compel you to go with us or kill you as a traitor. Issue 
 another proclamation. We men are still the same as before, 
 and so is our cause ; now you must likewise be the same An- 
 di-eas Hofer, commander-in-chief of the Tyrol ! " 
 
 '' Yes, exclaimed Andreas, with a radiant face, drawing a 
 deep breath, as if relieved from an oppressive burden, '' yes. I 
 will be the same as before. This state of affairs cannot con- 
 tinue. We must fight ; we had better die than lead such a 
 life. Go, Doninger, go ; write a proclamation ! " 
 
 "Hurrah ! Long live our commander-in-chief," shouted 
 the peasants, triumphantly ; "long live our dear faithful An- 
 dreas Hofer ! " 
 
 "I thank you, my dear countrymen," said Andreas; "1 
 am your leader now, and we will fight again. But do not 
 hold me responsible for the events of the future. You must 
 never forget that you compelled me to resmne war. I in- 
 tended to submit humbly and ])atiently, but you would not 
 allow me to do so, and dragged me forcibly from my retire- 
 ment. The bloody struggle will commence again — God grant 
 us protection, and further victories ! We are not going to 
 fight from motives of pride and arrogance, but only for the 
 sake of our country — because we want to remain Germans, 
 
 * Loritza, " Bildcr uud Erinncrungen aua Tyrol's Freilieitakainpfeu von 
 1809," p. 14. 
 
 30
 
 4^58 ANDREAS nOFEU. 
 
 and do not want to become Frencli subjects, and because we 
 want to keep our God, our liberty, and our constitution. 
 Amen ! " 
 
 CHAPTER XLI. 
 
 BETRAYAL AND SEIZURE OF HOPER. 
 
 War was now resumed at all points ; but tbe forces brought 
 from all sides against the Tyrol were so immense that no hope 
 remained to the inhabitants but by deeds of glory to throw a 
 last radiance around their fall. The Tyrolese fought with 
 desperate valor, but their heroism was unavailing. The supe- 
 rior forces of the enemy were everywhere victorious. The 
 artillery of the Bavarians and French thinned the ranks of the 
 mountaineers from day to day ; whole ranks of the Tyrolese 
 being mowed down by the balls of the enemy. They fled 
 panic-struck into the mountains. The victorious invaders 
 penetrated farther and farther into the interior of the country ; 
 burning towns and villages marked the route which they fol- 
 lowed, and waDs and lamentations rent the air wherever they 
 made their appearance. 
 
 Before the middle of December all resistance had been 
 overpowered. The enemy stalked in a merciless manner over 
 the gory, reeking, groaning Tyrol, and pursued relentlessly all 
 who had dared to rise against him. He had promised ob- 
 livion and forgiveness in return for peaceful submission ; but 
 as the Tyrolese had not submitted, but continued the struggle, 
 the enemy now threatened to revenge himself and punish the 
 vanquished. 
 
 A furious chase now commenced. Every one who had 
 been seized with arms in hand was shot ; every one who con- 
 cealed one of the pursued patriots in his house was executed, 
 and his house was burned down. 
 
 The leaders of the Tyrolese had fled into the mountains, 
 but the French generals proniis(!d laj'ge rewards for the heads 
 of the most influential patriots ; and the soldiers traversed the 
 country, impelled by thirst for revenge and gain, spying
 
 BFTRAVAI, AND SEIZUHE OF IlofKU. 459 
 
 evorvwluM'o for the outlawed mountaineers, and ascending 
 even to the snow-clad summits of the mountains in order to 
 ohtain the large rewards. As yet, liowever, they liad not suc- 
 ceeded in seizing one of the pursued chiefs. The Fi'ench gen- 
 erals had vainly promised a reward of ten thousand florins 
 for the ai)prehension of Andreas Hofer, and rewards of five 
 tliousand llorius for the seizure of Joseph Speclibacher, An- 
 thony Wallner, and .Toachini Ilaspinger. They had disap- 
 peared, and the patrols and soldiers, who were hunting for them, 
 had not yet been able to discover the hiding-place of any of 
 the four great chiefs of the insurrection. The mountains, 
 those natural fortresses of the Tyrol, protected the outlawed 
 commanders ; and in the Alpine huts, amidst the cliamois 
 and ATiltures, which alone saw and knew their liidiug-places, 
 tliere were no traitors. 
 
 Retiring to his native valley, Andreas Hofer long eluded 
 llie search of the victors. His place of concealment was a sol- 
 itary' Al])ine hut, four leagues distant from his home, in gen- 
 eral inaccessible from the snow which surrounded it. Love 
 had accompanied Andreas to this inhospitable spot. His wife 
 and his son John were with bun, and so was Cajetan Donin- 
 ger, his faithful secretary. Love had accompanied him to the 
 Alpine hut of his friend Pfandler ; love watched over him in 
 the valle}' below. Many peasants there were well aware of 
 Hofer's place of concealmejit ; but no one betrayed him, no 
 one was tempted by the reward of ten thousand florins which 
 Baraguay d'Hilliers, the French general, offered for Hofer's 
 apprehension. They often saw Pfandler's servants, loaded 
 with all soris of provisions, wending their way slowly and 
 jiainfully up the snow-clad Alp ; hut they averted their heads, 
 as though they did not want to see anything, and prayed God 
 in a low tone to pi-otect the messengers who conveyed food to 
 Hofer and his dear ones. The peasants in the valley forbore 
 carefully to speak among each other of what they knew ; only 
 they treated Pfandler with reverential tenderness, shook 
 hands with him quietly, and whispered, ''God bless you and 
 him I " At times, on a clear winter day, when thin smoke 
 curled uj) suddenly from the Alp, the peasants in the valley 
 looked up sighingly and Avhispered compassionately, "They
 
 460 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 have built a fire in their hut. The cold is so severe. God 
 bless them ! " But vphenever one whom they did not trust 
 stepped up to them, wondering at the smoke, and saying that 
 somebody was concealed up there, and had bmlt a fire in or- 
 der not to freeze to death, the othei's laughed at him, and said 
 there was no smoke at all, but only snow blown up by the 
 storm. 
 
 One day, however, a stranger arrived in the valley, and 
 asked whisperingly for Andreas Hofer, to whom, he said, he 
 would bring assistance and safety. At first no one replied to 
 him ; but he showed them a paper, bearing the name and seal 
 of the Archduke John, and containing the following words, 
 written by the prince himself : " Help my messenger to find 
 Andreas Hofer, and bring him assistance and safety." 
 
 On reading this, the peasants distrusted him no longer. 
 They glanced furtively up to the Schneeberg, pointed to the 
 two wanderers, loaded with baskets, who were toiling up the 
 mountain through the snow, and whispered almost inaudibly, 
 " Follow them ! " 
 
 The messenger did so. He climbed after the two servants, 
 and ascended with them the inhospitable, dreary, and deserted 
 heights. At length he arrived in front of the Alpine hut ; he 
 knocked at the door, and asked admittance in the name of God 
 and the Archduke John. 
 
 The door opened immediately, and on the threshold ap- 
 peared Hofer's tall, bearded form, as erect and vigorous as it 
 had been in the days of his splendor, and his mild, honest eye 
 greeted the new-comer. 
 
 " He who comes in the name of God and the Archduke 
 John will not deceive me," said Andreas, kindly. " Come in, 
 therefore ; for you must have good intentions toward me, ui- 
 asmuch as the severe cold did not deter you from coming up 
 to me." 
 
 " Indeed I have good intentions toward you," said the mes- 
 senger. " Do you not know me, then, Andy ? I am Anthony 
 Sbeeger, the Archduke John's gunsmith." 
 
 " Oh, yes, now I know you ! " exclaimed Andreas, joyfully. 
 " I saw you in Vienna at the time we were there to devise 
 plans for the deliverance of the Tyrol. Well, come in. An-
 
 BETRAYAL AND SEIZURE OF HOFER. 461 
 
 thony Steeger ; come iu to my wife, my son, and my secre- 
 tary." 
 
 He couductod Anthony Steeger into the room, where the 
 three greeted him, and made room for him in front of tlie 
 hearth, on which large billets of wood were burning. 
 
 Anthony Steeger looked around in this wretched room, 
 which contained notliiugbut a few rickety wooden chairs, and 
 a rough-hewn pine table, and the walls and windows of which 
 were protected from the cold by thick linings of hay and 
 straw. 
 
 " Yes, you may well look around in my palace," said An- 
 dreas, smilingly ; " it is not very gorgeous here, but the good 
 God is with us, aud He will help us to get along.'' 
 
 " And the Archduke John will help you also,'' said An- 
 thony Steeger. " Listen tome, Andreas. The archduke sends 
 ine to you. He sends you his greetings, and entreats you to 
 come with your family to him and stay with him all your life 
 long, or, if you should not like to do that, at least until you 
 can live again safely iu the Tyrol. The archduke has already 
 fitted up a house for you in a village which belongs to him ; 
 you shall live there with your whole family as the beloved 
 and honored guests of the archduke. He implores you to ac- 
 cept his invitation. I have with me every thing that is neces- 
 sary for your flight. Andy. The ai'chduke has given me 
 money, a passport for you and your family, and safeguards is- 
 sued by the French generals. I am familiar with the roads 
 and by-paths in this vicinity, and will convey you safely 
 through the mountains. The archduke has thought of every 
 thing and provided for every thing." 
 
 " It is very kind in the dear Archduke John not to have 
 forgotten me.'' said Andreas, deeply moved ; '' it is honest and 
 faithful that lie should like to take care of me and reward my 
 love. And it is very kind iu you, too, Anthony Steeger, to 
 have acted in this spirit of self-denial. You have come from 
 a great distance to save us, and are not afraid of venturing 
 with us upon this most dangei"ous flight." 
 
 "And you accept my otfer, Andy, and consent to accom- 
 l)any me, do you not ? " 
 
 " And what of them ? " asked Andrea.s, casting a tender
 
 4.62 ANDREAS IIOFER. 
 
 glance on his wife and his son. " The route across the gla- 
 ciers is impassable for a woman and a child." 
 
 " First save yourself, my Andy," exclaimed Anna Ger- 
 trude ; " save yourself for us and the country. After you are 
 gone and have arrived at a place of safety, the enemy will 
 liardly trouble us any more, and I will follow you then with 
 the children.'' 
 
 "You need not be anxious, so far as your wife and children 
 are concerned," said Doninger. " I will not leave them, but 
 bring them to you." 
 
 '• Pray do not hesitate, Andy," said Anthony Steeger, ur- 
 gently. " The archduke implores you not to grieve him by 
 rejecting his offer, but to relieve his conscience from the heavy 
 debt which he has hitherto been unable to discharge to the 
 Tyrol. You shall escape for his sake and for the good of the 
 fatherland, and save youi- life for better times, which will 
 surely dawn upon the Tyrol. Do it, Andreas. Let us go to 
 work immediately. See, I have with me all that you need, 
 and wear two suits of clothes ; one is destined for you, and 
 you will put it on. And here is the razor, with which we 
 shall shave ofiP your beard ; and when it is gone, and you have 
 put on the new clothes, no one will scent the Barbone in the 
 man with a foreign dress and a smooth chin. Come, now, 
 Andy, and do not hesitate." 
 
 " I am to make quite another man of myself," said Andreas, 
 shaking his head, " merely to save my miserable life ? I am 
 to deny my dear Passeyr ? I am to shave off my beard, which 
 I have worn so long in an honorable manner, and by which 
 every one knows me throughout the Tyrol ? No, Anthony 
 Steeger, I will never do that ! " 
 
 '' If you do not, Andreas, you are lost," said Anthony Stee- 
 ger. '' I am afraid the French are already on your track. A 
 peasant said he had seen you up here tlie other day." 
 
 "Yes, it was Raff el. He came up here to look for his 
 cow, and met me here. But I gave him money not to be- 
 tray my secret, and he promised me solemnly that he would 
 
 not." 
 
 " He must have violated his pledge already, Andy ; for he 
 told Donay, the priest, about it, and the latter boasted pub-
 
 J5ETKAYAL AND SKIZl'RE (»r II'ilER. .\{]:^ 
 
 licly yesterday tliat he was aware of Audreas Hofcr's place of 
 concealment." 
 
 "It is true, Douay is a bad aiid mean man," said Andreas 
 llofer, musingly ; " but I do not believe he will be so mean as 
 to betray me. whom he always called his best commander-in- 
 chief and dearest friend." 
 
 " He is mean enough to do it," murmured Doninger. " The 
 magnitude of the price set on your head will induce him to be- 
 tray his benefactor." 
 
 " And}'," cried Anna Gertrude, bursting into tears, and 
 clinging to her husband, '' save yourself ! If you love me and 
 the children, save youi-self ; cut off your beard, put on the 
 new suit of clothes, and escape from your bloodthirsty ene- 
 mies. Save yourself, for the sake of your wife and your 
 poor children ! " 
 
 '' I cannot," said Andreas, mournfully, embracing bis wife 
 (enderly • " no, so help me God, I cannot leave my dear, uu- 
 hap. country. I know full well that I shall not avert any 
 calamities from the Tyrol by staying here, but I will at least 
 share its misfortunes. I was unable to save my native 
 country ; I will therefore suffer with it. A good capt^iin does 
 not desert his shipwrecked vessel, but dies with it ; and thus 
 1 will not desert my country either, but die with it. I will do 
 all I can to save myself, but I will not leave the Tyrol ; I will 
 not cut off my beard nor put on other clothes. I will not 
 mask and disguise myself, but will remain in adversity what 
 I was in the days of prosperity, Andreas Hofer, the Barbone. 
 State that to the dear archdiike, Anthony Steeger, and tell him 
 also that I am veiy grateful to him for wishing to save me in 
 It is way, and that I hope he will not be angry with me for 
 being luiable to accept his kind offer, or for washing to live 
 and die with my country. If he wishes to do any thing for 
 me, let him go to the Empei'or Francis, and tell him I am. 
 well aware that he himself would never have forgotten us, but 
 that his bad ministers did it all, and betrayed the poor Tyrol 
 so perfidiously. Let him beseech the emperor to intercede 
 vigorously in behalf of the Tyrol and of myself, but not to 
 separate me from the Tyrol."* 
 
 * "Gallery of Heroes: Andreas Ilofcr," p. 188.
 
 464 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 " Andreas," cried his wife, despairingly, " you are lost — I 
 feel it here in my heart — you are lost, if you do not flee with 
 Steeger this very night." 
 
 *' And I feel it here in my heart that I must stay here, even 
 though I should be lost," said Andreas, firmly. " Well, you 
 must weep no more, Anna Gertrude ; and you, Anthony Stee- 
 ger, accept my cordial thanks for your kind and generous in- 
 tentions." 
 
 " Then you have made up your mind, Andy, not to go with 
 me?" 
 
 " I have, Anthony. But if you will do me a great favor, 
 take my wife and my boy with you, for the enemy threatens 
 them as well as me. Take them with you, Anthony, convey 
 them across the mountains, and conduct them to the Archduke 
 John." 
 
 '' It is impossible," said Anthony Steeger, mournfully, " the 
 roads are so full of snow that they are utterly impassable for 
 women and children." 
 
 " And you would advise me to leave them here ? " asked 
 Andreas Hofer, reproachfully. " I am to leave here my most 
 precious treasures merely to save my miserable life ? No, my 
 friend, I shall stay here with my wife and child and Doninger 
 there. But you must go now and save yourself ; for, if the 
 enemy should really come, it would be bad for you to be found 
 here." 
 
 " I will go, Andy, not to save myself, however, but to con- 
 vey your message speedily to the archduke, that he may save 
 you in another way by the emperor's intercession. In the 
 valley I shall tell every one that you are no longer in this Al- 
 pine hut, but have already succeeded in escaping to Vienna, 
 so that it will be unnecessary for the enemy to pursue you 
 any longer." 
 
 " Do so, Anthony Steeger ; and if they believe you, I shall 
 be glad of it. But go now ; I am anxious on your account, 
 and think something might happen to you here. Go, my dear 
 friend." 
 
 He drew Steeger to the door, and, not permitting him to 
 take a long leave of the others, conducted him out of the hut, 
 and then embraced him tenderly. " Now listen to what I wish
 
 BETRAYAL AND SEIZURE OF IIOFER. 405 
 
 to tell you," lie whispered, in a low voice. "I must stay here 
 to Siive my wife aud my boy. The two cannot flee now, as 
 you yourself admitted to me. If I should escape now, and 
 leave them here, the enemy would spy out their place of con- 
 cealment and revenge himself upon them ; he would torture 
 and kill them in his rage at not having captured me. But if 
 I stiiy, and the French should find me, I believe they would 
 I'elease my wife and my sou and do no harm to them ; for 
 then they would have got me, and they are entirely innocent. 
 Go, then, my dear friend ; tell the archduke all I have said to 
 you, and greet him a thousand times from his faithful Andy. 
 Now farewell, and go with God's blessing !" 
 
 lie nodded once more kindly to Anthony Steeger, and re- 
 turned quickly into the Alpme hut. He found his wife in 
 tears ; little John, her son, was kneeling before her, with his 
 head against his mother's knees, and weeping also. Doninger 
 stood at the hearth and stared into the fire. 
 
 Andreas Hofer went to him and laid his hand gently on 
 his shoulder. " Cajetan," he asked, mildl}^ " did I do right ? " 
 
 " Yes, commander-in-chief, you did," said Doninger, sol- 
 emnly. 
 
 " I want to tell you something more, Cajetan," added An- 
 dreas. " What Steeger said about EnfTel and Donay may be 
 ti'ue ; the French may have discovered my place of conceal- 
 ment, and may come up hei'c. Hence, dear Cajetan, you nnist 
 leave me and escape, lest they shoiild seize you, too." 
 
 " A good servant leaves his master no more than a captain 
 deserts his shipwrecked vessel," said Doninger, firmly. " You 
 refuse to leave your native country in its adversity because 
 you love it. I I'efuse, likewise, to leave you in the days of 
 your adversity, because I love j'^ou. I shall stay here." 
 
 Andreas Hofer encircled Doninger Nvith his arms and fold- 
 ed him tenderlj' to his heart. '"Stay with me, then, my Caje- 
 tan," he said, affectionately. "God knows my heart would 
 liave grieved had you consented to leave me. And now, Anna 
 Gertrude, do not weep any longer. ^Make haste, dear wife, 
 pack up all your things, and let us go early to bed. For early 
 in the morning we will leave this hut. I know another Al- 
 pine hut at no great distance from here ; I believe we will be
 
 46G ANDREAS IIOFER. 
 
 able to get thither, and we will take with us as niatiy thing's 
 as we can carry. Make haste, therefore, dear Anna Ger- 
 trude!" 
 
 Anna Gertrude dried her tears, and, tlushod with new hope, 
 packed up their things in four small bundles, so that each 
 might carry one according to his strength. 
 
 Night came at last— the last night which they were to pass 
 at this hnt. At the break of day they were to set out for their 
 new place of concealment. 
 
 They went to bed at an early hour. Andreas Hofer had sent 
 the two servants down to Brandach, where they were to get 
 some ai-ticles necessary for the trip on the morrow. Hofer 
 and his wife slept in the room below. Cajetan Doninger and 
 little John Hofer lay in the small hay-loft, to which a ladder 
 led up fi'om the room. 
 
 But Doninger did not sleep. He thought all the while of 
 RafPel, who had come up there three days ago and seen An- 
 dreas ; he thought of Donay, the priest, to whom Raff el had 
 betrayed Hofer's place of concealment. He knew that Donay, 
 who, up to the days of adversity, had always professed to be 
 Hofer's friend and an extreme partisan of the insurrection, 
 had sudd' ily, since the enemy had reoccupied the Tyrol, 
 changed his colors, become a preacher of peace and submission, 
 and an ardent adherent of the French, with whose officers he 
 held a great deal of intercourse. He knew Donay's avaricious 
 and treacherous character, and, therefore, he trembled for An- 
 dreas Hofer's safety. He lay uneasy and full of anxiety on 
 his couch, listening all the while for suspicious sounds. But 
 nothing was heard but the storm howling and whistling about 
 the hut, and the regular respirations of the two sleepers in the 
 room below. 
 
 Hour passed after hour ; all remained silent, and Doninger 
 felt somewhat relieved, for day would soon dawn, when the 
 hour of flight would be at hand. Doninger dropped his head 
 slowly on the hay to sleep an hour and invigorate himself for 
 to-morrow's trip. However, no sooner had he done so than 
 he gave a start, lifted up his head again, and listened. He had 
 heard a sound outside. The sound, as it were, of many ap- 
 proaching footste])s which creaked on the frozen snow.
 
 BETRAYAL AND SEIZURE OF HOFER. 4C>7 
 
 Donlnger crept cautiously to the small hole in the roof and 
 looked out. The moon shed her pale light on the white snow- 
 field around the hut, and Doninger could see and i-ecognizc 
 every thiny. He saw a detachment of soldiers coming up yon- 
 der. He saw them hall at a short distance from tlie liut. He 
 then saw two forms approaching the hut. Now they stood 
 still in front of it. The moon shone brightly into the face of 
 one of them ; Doninger recognized him him at once ; it was 
 Raff el, the betrayer. The other was a French officer. The 
 latter stood still at a distance of some steps from the hut, but 
 Ralfel went close up to the door, applied his car to it and 
 listened. 
 
 " They are here," he then said to the officer in a low voice. 
 The officer immediately lifted up his arm and shouted '' For- 
 ward ! " The soldiers advanced and surrounded the hut. All 
 was lost ! 
 
 Doninger awakened the sleeping boy. " John," he said 
 in a low voice, '" let us go down to father. The French have 
 come." 
 
 The boy uttered a loud cry. " The French have come ! " 
 he exclaimed, despairingly ; '' thej' want to arrest my fa- 
 tlier ! " 
 
 " Come," said Doninger, imperatively ; and he took the 
 boy in his arms, and hastened with him down the ladder into 
 the room below. 
 
 " Awake," he said, bending over Andreas Hofer ; " the ene- 
 my has come. 
 
 Andreas started up and stared incredulously at Doninger ; 
 but his wife rose, uttering low lamentations, and dressed her- 
 self hurriedly. 
 
 " Let us fie " sh^ murmured ; "quick, quick, let us escape 
 !)y the back door." 
 
 " The hut is surrounded." sai Doninger, assisting Hofer in 
 dressing. "W can no longer flee." 
 
 " Is that true ? " asked Andreas, calmly. 
 
 "It is, commander-in-chief." 
 
 ''Well, then, as it pleases GoJ," said Hofer, crossing him- 
 self ; and, traversing the room quickly, he opened the front 
 door.
 
 468 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 The soldiers stood four files deep, shouldering their mus- 
 kets. Audreas advanced feai'lessly close up to the enemy. 
 
 " Is there one of you, gentlemen, who speaks German ? " he 
 asked, with entire calmness. 
 
 '' I do," said the officer, stej^ping rapidly forward. 
 
 Andreas greeted him with a proud nod of the head. 
 " Well, then," he said, " I am Andreas Hofer, late commander- 
 in-chief of the Tyrolese. I ask for quarter and good treat- 
 ment." 
 
 " I cannot promise any thing to a rebel," replied the officer, 
 contemptuously. 
 
 " But you have come to seize me, and none but me," con- 
 tinued Andreas, in a gentle voice. " Well, then, here I am ; 
 do with me as you please. But I ask you to have mercy upon 
 my wife and my son, and this young man, for they are en- 
 tirely innocent." * 
 
 The officer made no reply. He signed to his soldiers, and 
 ordered them to bind Andreas Hofer and the others in such 
 a manner as to render it utterly impossible for them to es- 
 cape. 
 
 Tl. J soldiei's rushed furiously upon the defenseless captives, 
 tied their hands on their backs, and wound the ropes round 
 their necks, so that they could drag them forward like oxen. 
 Aiid after binding Andreas Hofer, so that they were no longer 
 afraid of his strong arms, they surrounded him with scornful 
 laughter, tore h:.ndfuls of hair from his beard, and said they 
 would keep them " as sou ve irs f General Barbone." Blood 
 .streamed from his lacerated face, but the cold froze it and 
 transformed the gory beard into ^ blood-red icicle, v/hich 
 pricked the numerous wounds in his chin every moment, and 
 inflicted intense pain. 
 
 Andreas did not complain ; he looked only at his wife, his 
 son, and his friend, who, bound like himself, scantily dressed 
 and barefooted like himself, were dragged down the moun- 
 tain, which was covered with snow and ice, into the plain be- 
 low. His hands, into which the rope was cutting all the while, 
 were very sore ; his bare feet swelled from walking on the 
 snow and were torn by the icicles. Still Andreas did not com- 
 
 * Andreas IIofer'.s own words. — See " Gallery of Heroes."
 
 BETRAYAL AND SlilZl RE OK llOFER. 4(^9 
 
 plain ; but on hearing the low wails of Lis son, on seeing that 
 every footstep of his wife, who was dragged along before him, 
 left a bloody spot in the snow, he burst into loud sobs, and two 
 tears rolled slowly down his cheeks into his beard, where they 
 froze in the blood. 
 
 The dreadful march was continued to Meran. French gen- 
 erals, stalf-officers, and soldiers awaited the tottering prisoners 
 at the gate. The soldiers greeted the captured " bandit chief 
 Barbone" with loud cheers and scornful laughter ; and An- 
 dreas Hofer and the others entered the city, preceded by a 
 band which played a ringing march. The French were over- 
 joyed, but the citizens stood in fi'ont of their houses, and, re- 
 gardless of the presence of their cruel enemies, greeted Andreae 
 flofer with tears and loud lamentations. 
 
 The journey was continued on the following day to Bot- 
 zen ; only the prisoners, whose bleeding and lacerated feet 
 refused to carry them any longer, had been laid on a com- 
 mon farm-wagon, and some clothing had been thrown over 
 them. 
 
 At Botzen Andreas Hofer received cheering news. A noble 
 German lady, the wife of Baron de Giovanelli, had dared to 
 implore the French General Bai'aguay d'Hilliers to have 
 mercy on Hofer's unfortunate and innocent family ; to save 
 them, she had knelt down before the general and besought 
 him with heart-rending lamentations. Baraguay d'Hilliers 
 had been unable to withstand her supplications, and consented 
 to release those for whom sbe pleaded. 
 
 " The viceroy's oi-ders," he said, " are only to the eflFect that 
 the Sandwirth Hofer be conveyed to Mantua. I yield to your 
 prayers, therefore, madame ; his companions shall be released, 
 and shall not be molested again. His wife may return with 
 her son to her home, and carry on the inn as heretofore ; but 
 she must be cautious and not expose hei'self to new dangers 
 by imprudent words. The young man may go wherever he 
 pleases." 
 
 This was the cheering intelligence which Andreas Hofer 
 received on the third day of his captivity in the jail where he 
 and his dear ones lay on wet straw. 
 
 "See, Cajetan," he exclaimed, joyfully, "it turns out just
 
 470 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 as I said. My seizui^e releases my wife and my child, and re- 
 lieves them from all dangers." 
 
 '' But I will not leave you," cried Anna Gertrude, embrac- 
 ing him tenderly ; " I will stay and die with you." 
 
 " And is our son yonder to die too ? " asked Andreas, point- 
 ing to his boy. " And our three little girls, are they to become 
 entirely hel])less, and have neither father nor mother to pro- 
 tect them ? Anna Gertrude, you must be father and mother 
 to them ; you must not leave them and our boy. You must 
 preserve their small inheritance to them, bi-ing them up in the 
 fear of the Lord, and teach them, also, to love their poor father 
 and honor his memory." 
 
 " Husband, dear husband, I cannot leave you, I cannot ! " 
 sobbed the poor woman. " Do not thrust me from your heart, 
 do not leave me behind, all alone and without consolation." 
 
 Andreas lifted his arm and pointed up to heaven. " There 
 is our Consoler," he said ; " He will help you. Confide in 
 Him, Anna Gertrude, Go to your cliildren, be father and 
 mother to them, and love them in my and your name." 
 
 At this n)oment the door of the prison opened, and the 
 jailer, followed by soldiers, came in. 
 
 " Andreas Hofer," said the jailer, imperatively, " come ! 
 The wagon which is to convey you to Mantua is in readiness. 
 As for you others, begone ; you liave no longer any busi- 
 ness here. Come, Andreas Hofer, come ! " 
 
 "Let me first bless my wafe and my son, mj^ friend," said 
 Hofer, and, laying his hands on the heads of his wife and 
 child, he blessed them in a loud voice, and commended them 
 to the protection of the Lord. Doninger knelt behind him, 
 and Andreas Hofer laid his hand on his head also, blessed him, 
 and thanked him for his love and fidelity. 
 
 "Come now, come!" cried the soldiers ; and they seized 
 him with rude violence and dragged him forward. 
 
 Anna Gertrude burst into loud lamentations in her grief 
 and despair, and clung to Hofer in the anguish of her love. 
 
 " Do not lament any longer," said Andreas, mildly ; "bring 
 your grief as an oiTering to the crucified Eedeemer, and .show 
 now that you are Hofer s wife. Farewell, love ! Kiss our 
 children ! Forward now ! "
 
 BETRAYAI, AM) SKI/.UUK OF IIOFEU. 471 
 
 Ami he Itul the way with a rapid step. Anna Gertrude, 
 pule as a corpse, trembling and tottering, seized her son's hand 
 and rushed after her husband. Cajetan Doninger folknvtd 
 them resohitely and witli a defiant expi-ession of countenance. 
 
 At the street-door stood tlie farm-wagon, covered with 
 straw, whicli was to convey Andreas Hofer to Mantua. Ten 
 soldiers with loaded muskets stood upon it, and a crowd of sol- 
 tliers surrounded it. 
 
 Andreas llofer walked calmly and with head erect througli 
 their ranks to the wagon. His wife had knelt down ; she 
 wept and .sobbed bitterly, and embraced convulsively her son, 
 who gazed in dismay at his father. 
 
 Audreas Hofer had now ascended the wagon. The soldiers 
 stepped back, and the driver whipped up the horses. 
 
 Suddenly, Cajetan Doninger elbowed his way to the wagon, 
 and signed to the driver to stop. 
 
 " I shall accompany Hofer," he said, grasping the side-rail- 
 ing of the wagon in order to mount it. 
 
 "No, no," cried the jailer, hastening to him. "You are 
 uiistaken, you are free." 
 
 Doninger, still cliugijig to tlie i-ailing of the wagon, turned 
 to him. ■' What said the general's order ? " he asked. 
 
 " It said, ' the young man is free, and can go wherever he 
 , (leases.' " 
 
 "Well, then," said Doninger, mounting the wagon, quickly, 
 "the young man will accompany Andreas Hofer to Mantua. 
 Forward, driver, forwai'd ! " 
 
 The driver whipped up the horses, and tbe wagon started 
 for Mantua.* 
 
 * l)oiiay,the priest who betrayed Andreas Hofer, according to the general 
 l.i'lit'fof the Tyrolese, was soon afterwards appointed imperial chaplain at tlie 
 chapel of Loretto, by a special decree of tlie Emperor Napoleon, and received, 
 I'csides, large donations in lands and money. — Sec Ilormayr's " Andrctu* 
 Itofer," vol. ii., p. 507. — Tlie peasant Francis Joscpli KatTcl, who liad betrayed 
 I'ofer's placeof conceahuent to Donay, was artcrward called Judas Iscariot 
 throughout the Tyrol. F^very one turned his back upon him with the ut' 
 most horror, and the men of the Passeyr valley told him they would slioot 
 him if he did not liang himself witliin a week. Rallel fled in great dismay 
 l(.i Bavaria, where the government gave him a small office in the revenue de- 
 partment.— See " Gallery of Heroes : .Vndreas Hofei-," p. 191.
 
 472 ANDREAS IIOFER. 
 
 CHAPTER XLII. 
 
 THE WARNING. 
 
 The French hunted throughout the Tyrol for the unfor- 
 tunate men who had hitherto heen the heroes of the father- 
 land, but who, since their cause had succumbed, were called 
 rebels and traitors. The soldiers who were in search of this 
 noble game, for which large rewards were offered to them, had 
 already succeeded in arresting one of the heroes of the Tyrol ; 
 Peter Mayer had fallen into their hands, and, having been 
 tried by a military commission at Botzen, was shot. But they 
 had been unable as yet to discover the hiding-places of the 
 other insurgent leaders, despite the large prices which the 
 government had set upon their heads. Joseph Speckbacher, 
 for whom the soldiers were hunting most eagerly, had disap- 
 peared. The French and Bavarians ransacked every house 
 where they suspected he might be concealed ; they inflicted 
 the heaviest fines and most cruel tortures on the friends of the 
 fugitive chief, because they would not betray the place where 
 their beloved commander was concealed ; but all was in vain. 
 Joseph Speckbacher had disappeared, and so had Father Has- 
 pinger and Anthony Wallner.* 
 
 * Speckbacher had fled to the higher mountains, where, on one of the 
 summits of the Ei.sgletscher, in a cavern discovered by him in former times 
 when pm'suing the cliamois, he lay for several weeks in the depth of winter, 
 supported by salt provisions, eaten raw, lest the smoke of a flre should betray 
 his place of concealment to his pur.suers. Happening one day, in the begin- 
 ning of March, to walk to the entrance for a few minutes to enjoy the as- 
 cending sun, an avalanche, descending from the summit of the mountain 
 above, swept him along with it, down to the distance of half a mile on the 
 slope beneath, and dislocated his hip-bone in the fall. Unable now to stand, 
 surrounded only by ice and snow, tracked on every side by ruthless pursuers, 
 his situation was, to all appearance, desperate; but even then the unconquer- 
 able energy of his mind and the incorruptible fidelity of his friends saved 
 liim from destruction. Summoning up all his courage, he contrived to drag 
 liimself along the snow for several leagues, during the night, to the village of 
 Volderberg, where, to avoid discovery, he crept into the stable. His faithful 
 friend gave him a kind reception, and carried him on his back to Einn, where 
 his wife and children were, and where Zoppel, his devoted domestic, con-
 
 THE WARNING. 473 
 
 General Broussier was especially exasperated at the last 
 named, the valiant commander of Windisch-Matrey, and he 
 had promised a reward of one thousand ducats to him who 
 would arrest "that dangerous demagogue and bandit-chief, 
 Anthony Aichberger-Wallner," and deliver him to the Freuch 
 authorities. But Wallner and his two sons, who, although 
 hardly above the age of boyhood, liad seemed to the French 
 authorities so dangerous that they had set prices upon their 
 heads, were not to be found anywhere. Schropfel, Wallner's 
 faithful servant, had taken the boys into the mountains, where 
 he stayed with them ; after nightfall he went down to Mati ey 
 to fetch provisions for the lonely fugitives. 
 
 Anthony Wallner's tine house was silent and deserted now. 
 Only his wife and his daughter Eliza lived in it, and they 
 passed their days in dreary loneliness and incessant fear and 
 anguish. Eliza Wallner was alone, all alone and joyless. 
 She had not seen her beloved Elza since the day when she was 
 married. She herself had started the same night with Has- 
 pinger for her father's headquarters. Elza had remained with 
 lier young husband in Innspruck, where her father died on 
 the following day ; and aftei' the old Baron had been buried, 
 Elza had accompanied her husband to Munich. From thence 
 she wrote from time to time letters overflowing with fervent 
 
 cealed liim in a Imle in the cowliou.so, beneath wliere the cattle stooil, thuiigh 
 beyond the reacli of tlieir feet, where he was covered up with cow-dung and 
 fodder, and remained for two months, till his leg was set and he was able to 
 walk. The town was full of Bavarian troops; but this extraordinary place 
 of concealment was never discovered, even when the Bavarian dragoons, as 
 was frequently the ease, were in the stable looking after tlicir iiorses. Zoppel 
 did not even inform Speckbacher's wife of her liusband's return, lest lu-r 
 emotions or visits to the place might betray his place of concealment. At 
 length, in the beginning of May, the Bavarian soldiers having left the liouse, 
 Speck bncher was lifted from his living grave and restored to his wite and 
 cliildren. As soon as he was able to walk, he set out, and, journeying chietly 
 in the niglit, through the wildest and most seclude«.l Alps, by Dux anil the 
 sources of the Salza, lie passed the Styrian Alps, where he crossed the frontier 
 and reached Vienini in safety. There he was soon arter joined by his family 
 and liberally provided for. 
 
 liaspinirer succeeded in escaping into Switzerhuid, whence he travelled 
 by cross-paths through Friuli and CttrLutUia to Vieuua, where he received 
 protection from the emperor. 
 31
 
 474 ANDREAS HOPER. 
 
 tenderness to her beloved friend, and these letters were the 
 only sunbeams which illuminated Eliza's cheerless life ; these 
 lettei-s told her of her friend's happiness, of her attachment to 
 her young husband, who treated her with the utmost kindness 
 and tenderness. 
 
 Eliza had received this afternoon another letter from her 
 friend ; with a melancholy smile she read Elza's description 
 of her domestic happiness, and her eyes had unconsciously 
 filled with tears which rolled slowly down her pale cheeks. 
 She dried them quickly, but her mother, who sat opposite her 
 near the lamp and seemed to be busily sewing, had already 
 seen them. 
 
 " Why do you weep, Lizzie ? " she asked. " Have you got 
 bad news from Elza ? " 
 
 Eliza shook her head with a mournful smile. " No, dear 
 mother," she said ; " thank God, my Elza is happy and well, 
 and that is my only joy." 
 
 " And yet you weep, Eliza ?" 
 
 " Did I weep, then ? " she asked. " It was probably a tear 
 of joy at my Elza's happiness." 
 
 " No, Lizzie, it was no tear of joy," cried her mother, 
 mournfully. " I see you often in tears, when you think that 
 I do not notice it. You are grieving, Lizzie, do not deny it ; 
 you are grieving. You sacrificed your love and happiness to 
 Elza, and she does not even know it ; she does not thank you, 
 and you will pine away. I see very well how sad you are ; 
 and you become i^aler and more emaciated from day to day. 
 Yes, yes, you will die of grief, for you still love Ulrich von 
 Hohenberg." 
 
 " No," cried Eliza, vehemently, blushing deejily, " I do not 
 love him. I have buried my love in my heart, and it reposes 
 there as in a shrine. It is true I think of it very often, I pray 
 to it, but I have no unholy thoughts and feel no sinful desii'es. 
 I am glad that my Elza is so happy ; yes, I am glad of it and 
 thank God for it. But how can I be merry and laugh, mother, 
 so long as my dear, dear father has not returned to us ? He 
 must hide like a criminal ; they are chasing him like a wild 
 beast ; he is always in danger, and we must constantly tremble 
 for his safety. And I cannot do any thing for him, I cannot
 
 THE WARNING. 475 
 
 .sliare liis dunp^oi's, I cminnt be with liini in llio dreadful soli- 
 tude on the Alp above. I must look on in idleness, and can- 
 m)t be useful to any one. neither to my father, nor to my 
 brothers, nor to you. dear mother. I cannot help my father 
 and brothers, and cannot comfort you, mother ; for I my.self 
 am in despair, and would — what was that, mother i Did not 
 some one knock at the window-shutter T' 
 
 " Hush, hush ! " whispered her mother ; " let us listen. " 
 
 They listened with bated breath. Eliza had not been mis- 
 taken ; some one knocked a second time at the window-shutter 
 and the voice of a man whispered, " Mrs. Wallner, are you in 
 the room ? Open the door to me ! " 
 
 " It must be a <^ood friend of ours, for the dogs do not 
 bark," said Eliza; " we will let him come in." 
 
 She took the lamp and went out courageously to draw the 
 bolt from the street-door and open it. 
 
 Yes, she had not been mistaken, it was really a good friend 
 of theirs; the man who entered the house was one of the few 
 friends who had not denied Anthony Wallner, and who had 
 not turned their backs upon his family since it was outlawed 
 and in distress. 
 
 " You bring us bad news, Peter Siebermeicr ? " asked Eliza, 
 an.\iously, gazing into the mountaineer's pale and dismayed 
 face. 
 
 " Unfortimately I do," sighed Siebermeier, stepping hastily 
 into the sitting-room and shaking hands with Eliza's mother. 
 " Mrs. Wallner," he said, in breathless hurry, " your husband 
 is in the greatest danger, and only speedy flight can sjive 
 him." 
 
 Mrs. Wallner uttered a piercing cry, sank back into her 
 chair, wrung her hands, and wept aloud. Eliza did not weep; 
 she was calm and courageous. " Tell me, Siebermeier, what 
 can we do for father ? What danger threatens him ? " 
 
 " A bad man, I believe, the clerk of the court, has informed 
 the French that Anthony Wallner is still on one of the 
 heights in this neighborhood. General Broussier intends to 
 have him arrested. A whole battalion of .soldiers will march 
 to-morrow morning to the mountain of Ober-Peischlag and 
 occupy it."
 
 476 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 " Great God ! my husband is lost, then ! " cried Eliza's 
 mother, despairing ; " nothing can save him now." 
 
 '' Hush, mother, hush ! " said Eliza, almost imperatively ; 
 " we must not weep now, we must think only of saving him. 
 Tell me, friend Siebermeier, is there no way of saving him ? " 
 
 " There is one," said Siebermeier, " but how shall we get up 
 to him ? A friend of mine, who is acquainted with the mem- 
 bers of the court, informed me quite stealthily that, if Aich- 
 berger could be saved yet, it should be done this very night. 
 Now listen to the plan I have devised. I intended to set out 
 to-morrow morning to peddle carpets and blankets, for money 
 is very scarce in these hard times. I procured, therefore, a 
 passport for myself and my boy, who is to carry my bundle. 
 Here is the passport — and look I the description corresponds 
 nearly to Wallner's appearance. He is of my stature and age, 
 has hair and whiskers like mine, and might be passed off for 
 myself. I am quite willing to let him have my passport, and 
 conceal myself meanwhile at home and feign sickness. The 
 passport would enable him to escape safely ; of course he would 
 have to journey thi'ough the Alps, for every one knows him in 
 the plain. However, the passport cannot do him any good, for 
 there is no one to take it up to him. I would do so, but the 
 wound which I received in our last skirmish with the Bava- 
 rians, in my side here, prevents me from ascending the moun- 
 tain-paths; and, even though I could go up to him, it would 
 be useless, for we two could not travel together, the passport 
 being issued to two persons, Siebermeier, the carpet- dealer, and 
 the boy carrying his bundle. The boy is not described in the 
 passport; therefore, I thought, if one of your sons were in the 
 neighborhood, he might go up to his father, warn him of his 
 danger, and accompany him on his trip through the moun- 
 tains." 
 
 " But neither of the boys is here," said Mrs. Wallner, de- 
 spairingly ; " Schropfel took them to the Alpine hut near Upper 
 Lindeau, and is with them. We two are all alone, and there 
 is, therefore, no way of saving my dear husband." 
 
 "Yes, mother, there is," cried Eliza, flushed with excite- 
 ment. " I will go up to father. I will warn him of his danger, 
 carry him the passport, and flee with him."
 
 THK WAHMNG. 477 
 
 "You! "cried her inothei-, in disiiuiy. "It is impossible! 
 You caunot ascend the road, which is almost impassable evea 
 for men. How should a girl, then, be able to get over it. 
 particularly in the night, and in so heavy a snow-storm ?" 
 
 "You will be unable to reach your father, Lizzie," said 
 Siebermeier; "the road is precipitous and very long ; you will 
 sink into the snow ; your shoes will stick in it, and the storm 
 will catch your dress." 
 
 " No road is too precipitous for me if I can save my father," 
 exclaimed Eliza, enthusiastically. '" I must reach him, and 
 God will enable me to do so. Wait here a moment, I will be 
 back immediately. I will prepare myself for the trip, and 
 then give me the passport." 
 
 " She will lose her life in the attempt," said Mrs. Wallner, 
 moui-nf uUy, after she had hastened out of the room. " Alas ! 
 alas ! I shall lose my husband, my sons, and my daughter 
 too ! And all has been in vain, for the Tyrol is ruined, and we 
 have to suffer these dreadful misfortunes without having ac- 
 complished anything ! " 
 
 " And the enemy acts with merciless cruelty in the coun- 
 try," said Siebermeier, furiously; " he sets whole villages on 
 tire if he thinks that one of the fugitives is concealed here ; ho 
 imposes on the people heavy war-taxes, which we are unable 
 to pay ; and if we say we have no money, he takes our cattle 
 and other property from us. Wails and lamentations are to 
 be heard throughout the valley; that is all we have gained by 
 our bloody struggle ! " 
 
 At this moment the door opened, and Eliza came in, not 
 however in her own dress, but in the costume of a Tyrolese 
 peasant-lad. 
 
 "Heavens ! she has put on her brother William's Sunday 
 clothes," cried her mother, with a mournful smile ; " and they 
 sit as well on her as if they had been made for her." 
 
 " Now. Siebermeier," said Eliza, holding out her hand to 
 him, " give me the passport. The moon is rising now, and I 
 must go." 
 
 " But listen, my daughter, how the wind howls ! " cried her 
 mother, in deep anguish. "It beats against tlu^ windows as if 
 tL ,varu us not to go out. Oh, Lizzie, my last joy, do not leave
 
 478 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 me ! I have no one left but you ; stay with me, my Lizzie, do 
 not leave your poor mother ! You will die in the attempt, 
 Lizzie ! Stay here ; have mercy upon me, and stay here ! " 
 
 "I must go to father," replied Eliza, disengaging herself 
 gently from her mother's arms. "Give me the passport, friend 
 Siebermeier." 
 
 "You ai'e a brave girl,"' said Siebermeiei", pi'ofoundly 
 moved ; " the good God and the Holy Virgin will protect you. 
 There, take the passport ; you are worthy to carry it to your 
 father." 
 
 " And I shall carry it to him or die on the road," cried Eliza, 
 enthusiastically, waving the paper. " Now, dear mother, do 
 not weep, but give me your blessing ! " 
 
 She knelt down before her mother, who had laid lier hand 
 on her head. 
 
 "Lord, my God," she exclaimed, solemnly, "protect hei' 
 graciously in her pious effort to save her father. Take your 
 mother's blessing, my Lizzie, and think that hei- heart and 
 love accompany you." 
 
 She bent over her, aiid imi)rintod a long kiss on her 
 daughter's forehead. 
 
 " I must go now, it is high time," .said Eliza, making a 
 violent effort to restrain her tears. " P^arewell, friend Sieber- 
 meier ; God and the .saints will rewai'd you for the service you 
 have rendered us.'' 
 
 " My best reward will be to learn that Wallner is safe," 
 said Siebermeier, .shaking hands with her. 
 
 " Now, a last kiss, dearest mother," said Eliza. She en- 
 circled her mother's neck with both her arms, and kissed her 
 tenderly. "Pray for me and love me," she whispered ; "and 
 if I should not come back, if I shovild lose my life, mother, 
 write it to Elza and to him, and write that I died with love 
 and fidelity in my heart. Farewell ! " 
 
 She disengaged herself quickly and hastened out of the 
 I'oom, regardless of the despairing cries of her mother, and not 
 even looking back to her. It was high time for her to set out. 
 
 She was in the street now. The snow rushed furiously into 
 her face ; the howling storm dashed madly against her cheeks 
 until they became very sore, but the moon was in the heavens
 
 TIIK FLIGHT. 470 
 
 and liolitpfl lior path. Tt was (lie same path which sho liad 
 asrotulcd with Uli-ioh when ."^avin^- him. Sho was alone now, hut 
 lior coui'ayp ajid her trust in God were with her ; strengthened 
 and refreshed hy her love for her fatlier, she ascended the 
 steep nioxmtain path. At times the piercing wind rendered 
 her breathless and seized her with such violence that she had 
 to cling to a projecting rock in order not to fall from the nar- 
 row path into the abyss yawning at her feet. At times ava- 
 lanches rolled close to her with thunderirg noise into the 
 depth and enveloped her in a cloiid of snow ; but the moon 
 shed her silver light on her path, and Eliza looked up cour- 
 ageously. Forgetful of her own danger, she prayed in her 
 heart only, "God grant that I may save my father ! Let me 
 not die before reaching him ! " 
 
 CHAPTER XLIII. 
 
 THE FLIGHT. 
 
 Anthony Wallner sat in his lonely Alpine hut on the 
 height near the village of Ober-Peischlag, and listened to the 
 storm, which howled so loudly to-night that the hut shook and 
 he was unable to sleep on his couch of straw. He had lighted 
 his lamp, and sat nnisingly at the pine table, leaning his head 
 on his hand, and brooding mournfully over his dreary future. 
 How long would he have to remain here in his open grave ? 
 How long would he be chased yet, like a wild beast, from 
 iiiouutain to mountain ? How long would he he obliged yet 
 to lead an idle and unprofitable life in this frozen solitude, cx- 
 l)osed to the fury of the elements, and in constant dread of 
 losing this miserable life ? These were the questions that he 
 asked himself ; intense rage seized his heart, tears of bitter 
 gTief filled his eyes — not, however, at his own misfortunes, but 
 at the miseries of his fatherland. 
 
 " What am I suffering for ? What did I fight and risk my 
 life for ? What did we all shed our blood for ? What did 
 our brethren die for on the field of battle ? The fatherland
 
 4H0 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 was not saved, the French defeated ns, and our emperor aban- 
 doned us. We were brave defenders of our country, and now 
 they call us criminals ; we intended to save the fatherland, 
 and now they call us rebels and traitors ! The emperor gives 
 us aw^ay like a piece of merchandise, regardless of his sacred 
 pledges, and the French are chasing us as though we were 
 thieves and murderers ! And Thou sufferest it, God in heav- 
 en ? Thou — Hai'k ! did not that sound like a shot ? Is it the 
 wind that is knocking so loudly at my door ? " 
 
 He sprang to his feet, took up his rifle, cocked it, and aimed 
 at the door. 
 
 There was another Icnocking at the door ; no, it was assur- 
 edly not the storm that was rapping and hammering at it so 
 regularly. No, no, it was the enemy ! He had spied him out, 
 he had discovered his track, he had come to seize him ! 
 
 "I will sell my life dearly," murmured Anthony Wallner, 
 grimly. "I will shoot down the first man who opens the 
 door ; then I will force a passage through the ranks with the 
 butt-end of my rifle, and — " 
 
 " Father," cried a voice outside, " father, open the door ! '' 
 
 " Great God ! " murmured Wallner, " did not that sound 
 like my Lizzie calling me ? But that is impossible ; it cannot 
 be she ; she cannot have ascended the mountain-path ; the 
 storm would have killed her, and — " 
 
 "Father, dear father, pray open the door," shouted the 
 voice again, and somebody shook the door. 
 
 Wallner laid down his rifle and hastened to the door. 
 " May God protect me if they deceive me, but I believe it is 
 Lizzie. " 
 
 He threw open the door ; the little Tyrolese lad ru.shed in, 
 embraced him tenderly, kissed him with his cold lips, and 
 whispered, " My father ! thank God. I am v.ith you ! " 
 
 " It is Lizzie ! " cried Wallner, in a ringing voice. " She 
 has come to me through night and storm ! It is my daughter, 
 my dear, dear daughter ! Oh, joy of my heart, how were you 
 able to get up here in this terrible night ? No man would 
 have dared to attempt it." 
 
 "But I dared it, father, for I am your child, and love you.'" 
 
 " You love me, and I thank God ! " he exclaimed, folding
 
 THE FI.KJllT. 481 
 
 her tendoi'ly and anxiously to his heart ; " 1 thank Ood for 
 saving you, and — '' 
 
 He faltered and burst into toars, which he did not try to 
 conceal. He wept aloud and bitterly, and Eliza wept with 
 him, and neither of them knew whether they wept for joy or 
 grief. 
 
 Eliza was the first to overcome her emotion. " Father,'* 
 she said, raising her head quickly, "the enemy is on your 
 track, and early to-mori-ow morning the French are going to 
 occupy the mountain in order to arrest you. That is (he rea- 
 son why I have come up to you, for you must flee this very 
 hour." 
 
 "Flee !" he cried, mournfully. "How can I? The first 
 Bavarian or French gendarme on the frontier, who meets me 
 and asks me for my passport, will arrest me. I have no pass- 
 port." 
 
 " Here is a passport," said Eliza, joyfully, handing him the 
 paper, "Siebermeier sends it to you." 
 
 "The faithful friend ! Yes, that is help in need. Now 1 
 will try with God's aid to escape. You, Lizzie, will return 
 to mother, and bring her a thousand greetings from me ; 
 and as soon as I am across the frontier, you shall hear from 
 me." 
 
 " I must go with you, father," said Eliza, smiling. "The 
 pas.sport is valid for Siebermeier, the carpet-dealer, and his 
 son. Now you see, dear father, I am your son, and shall flee 
 with you." 
 
 "No," cried her father, in dismay ; "no, you shall never 
 do so, Lizzie. I must journey through the wildest and most 
 secluded Alps, and you would die in the attempt to follow me, 
 Lizzie." 
 
 " And even though I knew that I should die, father, I 
 should go with you,' said Lizzie, joyfully. "You cannot flee 
 without me, and I do not love my life very dearly if it cannot 
 be useful to you, dear father. Therefore, say no more about 
 it, and do not reject my offer any longer ; for if you do. it will 
 be in vain, because I shall follow you for all that, and no road 
 is too precipitous for me when I see you before me. There- 
 fore, come, dear father ; do not hesitate any longer, but come
 
 482 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 Tvitli your little boy. Yoii cannoi flop without me ; therefore, 
 let us try it courageously together." 
 
 '' Well, I will do so, my brave little boy ; 1 believe I must 
 comply with your wish," exclaimed Wallner, folding her 
 tenderly to his heart. " You shall accompany me, you shall 
 save your father's life. Oh, it would be glorious if God should 
 grant me the satisfaction of being indebted for my life to my 
 dear daughter Lizzie ! " 
 
 " Come, now, father, come ; every minute's delay increases 
 the danger." 
 
 " I am ready, Lizzie. Let me only see if my rifle is in good 
 order and ])ut on my powder-pouch." 
 
 " You cannot take your rifle with you, nor your powder- 
 pouch either. You are no longer the brave commander of 
 the sharpshooters of Windisch-Matrey, hut Siebermeier, the 
 carpet-dealer, a very peaceable man, who does not take his rifle 
 and powder-pouch with him on his travels." 
 
 " You are right, Lizzie. But it is hard indeed to flee with- 
 out arms, and to be defenceless even in case of an attack by 
 the enemy. And I do not want to let my rifle fall into the 
 hands of the French when they come up here. I know a hole 
 in the rock close by ; I will take it there and conceal it till 
 my return. Come, now, Lizzie, and let us attemjit, with God's 
 aid, to escape from the enemy." 
 
 He wrapped himself in his cloak, took the rifle, and both 
 left the hut. 
 
 Day was now dawning ; some rosy streaks appeared al- 
 ready in the eastei-n horizon, and the summits of the glaciers 
 were faintly illuminated. Eliza saw it, but she did not rejoice 
 this time at the majestic beauty of the sunrise ; it made her 
 only uneasy and sad, and while her father concealed his rifle 
 carefully in the hole in the rock, Eli/a glanced around anxious 
 iy. murmuring to herself : " They intend to start at daybreak. 
 It is now after daybreak ; the sun has risen, and they have 
 doubtless set out already to arrest him." 
 
 " Now come," said her father, returning to her ; " we have 
 a long journey before us to-day, for we must pass the Alps by 
 hunters' paths up to the Isel-Tauerkamm. We shall pass the 
 night at the inn there; in the moi'ning we shall continue the
 
 THE FLIGHT. 483 
 
 journey, and, if it please God, we sliall i-eacLi the Austrian 
 frontier within three liours." 
 
 And they descended the mountain, hand in liund and with 
 firm steps, and entered the forest. 
 
 Nothinuf was to be heard all around ; not a sound broke the 
 peaceful stillness of awaking nature ; only the wind howled 
 and whistled, and caused the branches of the trees to creak. 
 The sun had risen higher and higher, and slicd ali-eady its 
 golden rays tlirougli the forest. 
 
 '"I would we had pa.ssed through the thicket and readied 
 the heights again," said Antliony Wallner, in a low voice. 
 " We were obliged to descend in order to pass round the preci- 
 pice and the steep slope ; we shall afterwards a.scend the 
 mountain again and remain on the heights. But if the sol- 
 diei-s ivom Windisch-Matrey meet us hei-e. we arc lost, for 
 tliey know me and will not pay any attention to my pass- 
 port." 
 
 " God will not pei-mit them to meet us," sighed Lizzie, ac- 
 celerating her steps. They kept silent a long while, and not 
 a sound was to be heard urouiid them. All at once both gave 
 a stait. for they had heard tlie noise of heavy footsteps and the 
 clang of arms. They had just passed through the clearing in 
 the forest and were now again clo.se to the thicket, by the side 
 of which there wns a small chapel with a large crucifix. They 
 turned aiul looked back. 
 
 " The enemy ! the enemy I " cried Anthony Wallner, point- 
 ing to the soldiers who were just stepping from the other side 
 of the forest. " Lizzie, we are lost ! Ah, and I have not even 
 got my rifle ! I must allow myself to be seized without resist- 
 ance ! '* 
 
 " No, we are not yet lost, father ; look at the chapel. May- 
 be they have not yet seen us. Let us enter the chai)el (luickly. 
 There is room enough for us two under the altar.' 
 
 Without giving her father time to reply, Eliza hastened in- 
 to the chapel and disappeared behind the altar. In a seconci 
 Wallner was with her, and, clinging close to each other and 
 with stifled breath, they awaited the arrival of the enemy. 
 
 Xow they heard footsteps approaching i-ajiidly and voices 
 shouting out aloud. Thev came nearer and nearer, and were
 
 484 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 now close to the chapel. It was a Bavarian patrol, and tlie 
 two, therefore, could understand every word they spoke, and 
 every word froze their hearts. The Bavarians had seen them : 
 they were convinced that they must be close by ; they ex- 
 horted each other to look diligently for the fugitives, and al- 
 luded to the reward which awaited them in case they should 
 ai-rest Anthony Wallner. 
 
 Both lay under the altar with hearts throbbing impetu- 
 ously, and almost senseless from fear and anguish ; Eliza 
 murmuring a prayer with quivering lips ; Anthony Wall- 
 ner clinching his fists, and firmly resolved to sell his life 
 dearly and defend himself and his child to the last drop of 
 blood. 
 
 The enemies were now close to them ; they entered the 
 chapel and advanced to the altar. Eliza, pale and almost 
 fainting from terror, leaned her head on her father's shoulder. 
 The Bavarians struck now with the butt-ends of their muskets 
 against the closed front-side of the altar ; it gave a dull, hard 
 sound, for the fugitives filled the cavity. 
 
 " There is no one in there, for the altar is not hollow," said 
 one of the soldiers. The footsteps thereupon moved away 
 from the altar, and soon all was silent in the chapel. Wall- 
 ner and Lizzie heard only footsteps and voices outside ; they 
 nioved away farther and farther, and after a few seconds not a 
 sound broke the silence. 
 
 The fugitives lay still behind the altar, motionless, listen- 
 ing, with hearts throbbing impetuously. Could they dare to 
 leave their ijlace of concealment ? Was it not. perhaps, a 
 mere stratagem of the enemy to keep silent ? Had the soldiers 
 surrounded the chapel, and were they waiting merely for them 
 to come out ? They waited and listened for hours, but their 
 cowering position benumhed their blood ; it stiffened their 
 limbs and made their heads ache. 
 
 '' Father, I can no longer stand it," murmured Eliza ; " I 
 will die rather than stay here any longer. " 
 
 " Come, Lizzie," said Wallner, raising himself up and jump- 
 ing over the altar, " come ! I, too, think it is better for us to 
 die than hide thus like thieves." 
 
 They joined hands and left the chapel, looking anxiously
 
 THE FLIGHT. 485 
 
 in all directions. But every thinp: remained silent, and not a 
 Bavarian soldier made his appearance. 
 
 "They are gone, indeed they are gone," said Wallner, 
 triumphantly. " Now we rau.st make haste, my girl ; we 
 shall ascend the height ; the footpath leads up here in the rear 
 of the chapel ; within two hours we shall reach the summit, 
 and, if our feet do not slip, if we do not fall into the depth, if 
 no avalanche overwlielms us, and if the storm does not freeze 
 us, I think we shall reach the Isel-Tauerkamm to-night, and 
 sleep at the inn there. May the Holy Virgin protect us ! '' 
 
 And the Holy Virgin did seem to guard the intrepid wan- 
 derers — to enable them to cross abysses on frail bridges ; to 
 prevent them from sinking into invisible clefts and pits cov- 
 ered with snow ; to make them safely escape the avalanches 
 falling down here and there, and protect them from freezing 
 to death. 
 
 Toward dusk they reached at length the inn on the Isel- 
 Tauerkamm, utterly exhausted by fatigue, hunger, and frost, 
 and entered the bar-room on the ground-floor. Nobody was 
 there but the landlord, a gloomy, morose-looking man, who 
 eyed the new-comers with evident distrust. 
 
 When the two wanderers, scarcely able to utter a word, 
 seated themselves on the bench at the narrow table, the land- 
 lord stepped u]) to thorn. 
 
 " I am not allowed to harbor any one without seeing his 
 passport," he said. '* There are all sorts of fugitive vagabonds 
 prowling around here to hide from the Bavarians, who are 
 searching the whole district to-day. Give me your passport, 
 therefore." 
 
 Wallner handed him the paper in silence. The landlord 
 read it attentively, and seemed to compare the two with the 
 description in the passport. 
 
 " H'm ! " he said, " the carpet-dealer and his son — that cor- 
 responds to what the passport says ; but where is the bundle 
 of carpets ? " 
 
 Anthony Wallner gave a slight start ; he recovered his 
 presence of mind immediately, however, and said calmly, 
 " The carpets are all sold already ; we are on our return to 
 Windisch-Matrey. "
 
 486 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 " See, see how luck}' you have been," said the landlord, 
 laughing ; " the passport says you started only yesterday 
 morning, and to-day you have already sold all your carpets. 
 Well, in that case, you are certainly justified in returning to 
 your home. Your passport is in good order, and the Bava- 
 rians, therefore, will not molest you." 
 
 " As my passport is in good order, I suppose you will give 
 us beds, and, above all things, something to eat and drink." 
 
 '' You shall have everything, that is to say, every thing that 
 I can give you. I am all alone here, and have nothing but a 
 piece of ham, bread, and cheese, and a glass of wine. As for 
 beds, I have not got any ; you must sleep on the bench here." 
 
 " Well, we will do so ; but give us something to eat now," 
 said Wallner, "and add a little fuel to the fire, that we may 
 warm ourselves." 
 
 The landlord added some brushwood and a few billets to 
 the fire, fetched the provisions, and looked on while the wan- 
 derers were partaking of the food with eager appetite. All at 
 once he stepped quickly up to them, seated himself on the 
 bench opposite them, and drew a paper f rojn his pocket. " I 
 will read something to you now," he said. " There were Ba- 
 varian soldiers here to-day ; they gave me a new decree, and 
 ordered me to obey it under pain of death. Listen to me." 
 
 And he read, in a loud, scornful voice : 
 
 " Know all men by these presents, that any inhabitant of 
 the German or Italian Tyrol, who dares to harbor Anthony 
 Wallner, called Aichberger, late commander of the sharp- 
 shooters of Windisch-Matrey, or his two sons, shall lose his 
 whole property by confiscation, and his house shall be burned 
 down." * 
 
 "Did you hear it? " asked the landlord, after reading the 
 proclamation. 
 
 " I did," said Wallner, with perfect composure, " but it does 
 not concern us." 
 
 " Yes, it does. I believe you are Anthony Wallner, and 
 the lad there is one of your sons." 
 
 Anthony Wallner laughed. " Forsooth, " he said, " if I were 
 Wallner I should not be so stupid as to show myself. I be- 
 
 *Loritza, p. 130.
 
 THE FLIGHT. 487 
 
 lievehe is liiding somewhere in the mountains near Windisch- 
 Matrey. But I tliiiik I respuible liim a little, for you are not 
 the fiist man who has taken me for Anthony Wallner. And 
 that the lad there is ngt one of Anthony Wallner's sons, I will 
 swear on the crucifix, if you want me to do so." 
 
 '' Well, well, it is all right, I believe you," growled the 
 landlord. '"Now lie down and sleep ; there is a pillow for 
 each of you. and now good-night ; I will go to my chamber 
 and sleep too." 
 
 He nodded to them morosely, and left the room. 
 
 " Lizzie, do you think we can trust him ? " asked Wallner, 
 in a low voice. 
 
 Eliza made no reply ; she only beckoned to her father, 
 slipped on tiptoe across the room to the door, and applied her 
 ear to it. 
 
 There was a pause. Then they lieard the front dooi- jar. 
 
 " Father," whispered Eliza, hastening to Wallner, " he has 
 left the house to fetch the soldiers. I heard him walk through 
 the hall to the front door and open it. He has left, and 
 locked us up." 
 
 " Locked us up ? " cried Wallner, and hastened to the door. 
 He shook it with the strength of a giant, but the lock did not 
 yield ; the bolts did not give way. 
 
 " It is in vain, in vain I " cried Wallner. stanii)ing the floor 
 furiously ; " the door does not yield ; we are caught in the trap, 
 for there is no other outlet." 
 
 "Yes, father, there is ; there is the window," said Eliza. 
 "Come, we must jumj) out of the window." 
 
 "But did you not see, Lizzie, that the house stands on a 
 slope, and that a sUiircase leads outside to the front door ? If 
 we jump out of the window, we shall fall at least twenty feet." 
 
 " But there is a great deal of snow on the ground, and we 
 shall fall softly. I will jump out first, father, and you nmst 
 follow me immediately." 
 
 And Eliza disappeared out of the window. Wallner waited 
 a few seconds and then followed her. They reached the 
 ground safely ; the deep snow prevented the leap from being 
 dangerous ; they sprang quickly to their feet, and hastened on 
 as fast as their wearv limbs would carrv them.
 
 488 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 It was a cold, dark night. The moon, which shone so 
 brightly during the previous night, was covered with heavy 
 clouds ; the storm swept clouds of snow before it, and whistled 
 and howled across the extensive snow-fields. But the wan- 
 derers continued their journey with undaunted heai'ts. 
 
 All at once something stirred behind them ; they saw 
 torches gleaming up, and Bavarian soldiers accompanying the 
 bearers of the torches. The soldiers, headed by the landlord 
 who had fetched them, rushed forward with wild shovits and 
 imprecations. But Walluer and Eliza likewise rushed forward 
 like roes hunted down. They panted heavily, the piercing- 
 storm almost froze their faces, their feet bled, but they con- 
 tinued their flight at a rajiid rate. Nevertheless, the distance 
 separating them from their pursuers became shorter and 
 shorter. The Bavarians, provided with torches, could see the 
 road and the footsteps of the fugitives in the snow, while the 
 latter had to run blindly into the night, unable to see whither 
 their feet were carrying them, and exhausted by the long jour- 
 ney of the preceding day. 
 
 The distance between inirsuers and pursued rapidly di- 
 minished ; scarcely twenty yards now lay between them, and 
 the soldiers extended their hands already to seize them. At 
 this moment of extreme peril the storm came up howling with 
 redoubled fury and drove whole clouds of snow before it, 
 extinguished the torches of the Bavai'ians, and shrouded every 
 thing in utter darkness. The joyful cries of the pursued and 
 the imprecations of their pursuers were heard at the same 
 time. 
 
 Wallner and Eliza, whose eyes were already accustomed to 
 the darkness, advanced at a rapid rate ; the soldiers followed 
 ihem, but blinded by the darkness, unable to see the road, and 
 calling each other in order to remain together. These calls 
 and shouts added to the advantages of the fugitives, for they 
 indicated to them the direction which they had to take in 
 order to avoid the enemy. Finally, the shouts became weaker 
 and weaker, and died away entii'ely. 
 
 The fugitives continued their flight more leisurely ; but 
 they could not rest and stand still in the dark, cold night, for 
 the storm would have frozen them, the cold would have killed
 
 THE FLIGHT. 480 
 
 them. They did not speak, but advanced breathlessly and 
 hand in liand. All at once they beheld a light twinkling in 
 the distance like a star. There was a house, then, and men 
 also. They walked on briskly, and the light came nearer and 
 nearer. Now they saw already the house through whose win- 
 dows it gleamed. In a few minutes they were close to the 
 house, in front of which they beheld a tall post. 
 
 " Great God ! " cried Anthony Wallner ; " I believe that is 
 a boundary-post, and we are now on Austrian soil." 
 
 He knocked hastily at the door ; it opened, and the two 
 wanderers entered the small, warm, and cozy I'oom, where 
 they were received by a man in uniform, who sat at the table 
 eating his supper. 
 
 Anthony Wallner went close up to him and pointed to his 
 uniform, 
 
 " You wear the Austrian uniform ? " he asked. 
 
 " I do, sir," said the man, smilingly. 
 
 " And we are here on Austrian soil ? " 
 
 " Yes, sir. The boundary-post is in front of this house. 
 This is an Austrian custom-house." 
 
 Anthony Wallner threw his arm around Eliza's neck and 
 knelt down. He burst into tears, and exclaimed in a loud, 
 joyous voice, " Lord God in heaven, I thank Thee 1 " 
 
 Eliza said nothing, but her tears spoke for her, and so did 
 the smile with which she looked up to heaven and then at her 
 father. 
 
 The custom-house officer had risen and stood profoundly 
 moved by the side of the two. 
 
 "Who are you, my friend ? " he asked ; " and why do you 
 weep and thank God ?" 
 
 " Who am I ? " asked Wallner, rising and drawing Eliza 
 up with him. " I am Anthony Wallner, and this is my 
 daughter Lizzie, who has saved me from the Bavarians. The 
 good God — " 
 
 He said no more, but leaned totteringly on Eliza's shoulder, 
 and sank senseless to the ground. 
 
 Eliza threw herself upon him, uttering loud cries of 
 
 anguish. " He is dead," she cried, despairingly ; " he is 
 
 dead ! " 
 
 32
 
 400 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 " No, he is not dead," said the officei' ; " the excitement 
 and fatigue have produced a swoon. He will soon be restored 
 to consciousness and get over it. Careful nursing sliall not he 
 wanting to Anthony Wallner in my house." 
 
 He had prophesied correctly. Anthony Wallner awoke 
 again, and seemed to recover rapidly under the kind nui-sing 
 of his host and his daughter. 
 
 They remained two days at the custom-house on the fron- 
 tier. The news of Anthony Wallner's arrival spread like 
 wildfire through the whole neighborhood, and the landed 
 proprietors of the district hastened to the custom-house to see 
 the heroic Tyrolese chief and his intrepid daughter, and offered 
 their services to both of them. 
 
 It was no longer necessary for them to journey on foot. 
 Wherever they came, the carriages of the wealthy and 
 aristocratic inhabitants were in readiness for them, and they 
 were greeted everywhere with jubilant acclamations. Their 
 journey to Vienna was an incessant triumphal procession, a 
 continued chain of demonstrations of enthusiasm and manifes- 
 tations of love. 
 
 Anthony Wallner, however, remained silent, gloomy, and 
 downcast, amid all these triumphs ; and on arousing himself 
 sometimes from his sombre broodings, and seeing the painful 
 expression with which Eliza's eyes rested on him, lie tried to 
 smile, but the smile died away on his trembling lips. 
 
 " I believe I shall be taken very sick," he said, faintly. 
 "My head aches dreadfully, and all my limbs are trembling. 
 I was too long in the Alpine hut, and the numerous previous 
 fatigues. The excitement, grief, cold, and hunger, and last, the 
 long journey on foot, have been too nuich for me. Ah, Lizzie, 
 Lizzie, I shall be taken sick. Great God ! it would be dreadful 
 if I should die now and leave you all alone in this foreign 
 country ! No, no, I do not want to be taken sick, I have no 
 time for it. Oh, listen to me, my God! I do not want to be 
 taken sick, for Lizzie must not be left an orphan here. No, 
 no, no ! " 
 
 And he lifted his clinched fist to heaven, screamed, and 
 wept, and uttered senseless and incoherent woi'ds. 
 
 " I am afraid he has got the nervous fever," said Baron
 
 TFIK FLIGHT. 49 J 
 
 Engenberji:, who was conveying Wallnor and Eliza in his 
 carriago from the last station to Yiouna. " It will he neces- 
 sary for us to take him at once to a hospitiil." 
 
 '' Can I stay with him there and nurse him ? " asked Eliza, 
 repressing- her tears. 
 
 " Of course you can." 
 
 "Then let us take him to a hospital," she said, calmly. 
 "He will die, but /shall be there to close his eyes." 
 
 And it was Eliza that closed her father's eyes. The vio- 
 lent nervous fever which had seized Anthony Wallner was 
 too much for his exhausted body. He died five days after his 
 arrival at Vienna, on the 15th of February, 1810, at the city 
 hospital. 
 
 Many pei*sous attended his funeral ; many persons came to 
 see Eliza Wallner, the young heroine of the Tyrol. But Eliza 
 would not see anybody. She remained in the room which 
 had been assigned to her at the hospital, and she spoke and 
 prayed only with the priest who had administered the last 
 unction to her fathei". 
 
 On the daj^ after the funeral the Emperor Francis sent one 
 of his chamberlains to Eliza, to induce her to remain in Vien- 
 na. He would provide for her bountifully, and reward her 
 for what her father had done. The chamberlain was also in- 
 structed to conduct Eliza to the emperor, that he might thank 
 and console her personally. 
 
 Eliza shook her head, gravely. "The emperor need not 
 thank me," she said, " for I did no more for him than he did 
 for the Tyrol. He is unable to console me ; God alone can 
 do that, and Ho will also provide for mo. I cannot see the 
 emperor, for my heart is too deeply atfiictod. But if you will 
 give me money enough, sir, to return quickly to my dear 
 Tyrol and my beloved mother, I shall accept it and be grate- 
 ful to you. I must return to my mother and weep with her ; 
 and my dear home, my dear mountains will console me." 
 
 "You can set out as soon as you please," said the chamber- 
 lain. "The empoi'or has interceded in your behalf and ob- 
 tained this safeguard for you in ca.se you wished to return to 
 your native country. No one will molest you, and you and 
 your family can live quietly at your home."
 
 492 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 " If the emperor had done as much for my father as he 
 does for me, my father would not have died," said Eliza, 
 gravely, accepting the paper. " Now he has no longer need 
 of an emperor. He is with God, and I would I were with him 
 above ! But I must not leave my mother. I must console 
 her and stay with her as long as it pleases God."* 
 
 CHAPTER XLIV. 
 
 ANDREAS HOFER'S DEATH. 
 
 The court-martial at Mantua had passed sentence of death 
 upon Andreas Hofer for fighting against the French after the 
 last proclamation of Eugene Beauharnais offering a general 
 amnesty. But the court-martial had not adopted this decis- 
 ion unanimously ; several members had voted for long con- 
 finement, and two had had the courage to vote for his entire 
 deliverance. By a singular revolution of fortune, the same 
 General Bisson, who had been taken prisoner at Innspruck at 
 the outbreak of the insurrection, and with whom Major Tei- 
 mer had made his triumphal entry into Innspruck, was now 
 governor of Mantua, and president of the court-martial which 
 tried the commander-in-chief of the Tyrolese. The general, 
 in consideration of his captivity among the Tyrolese, wished 
 to act mildly and impartially, and sent a telegraphic dispatch 
 to the viceroy at Milan to inquire what was to be done with 
 Andreas Hofer, inasmuch as the sentence of the court-martial 
 had not been passed unanimously. An answer was returned 
 very soon. It contained the categorical order that Andreas 
 Hofer should be shot within twenty-four hours. 
 
 * Eliza Walhier returned to Wiudisch-Matrey, and lived there in quiet 
 retirement. She never married. After the death of her mother she yielded 
 to Joachim Haspincrer's entreaties and went to live at his house. The Capu- 
 chin was ordained and appointed pastor of Jetelsee, and afterward of Traun- 
 feld. Eliza lived with him as his adopted daughter, and wa« still with him 
 at the time of his death, which took place in 1856, at Salzburg.— See Schall- 
 hamiiier's "Joachim Haspingcr," p. 134.
 
 ANDUKAS IIOFER'S bEATU. 493 
 
 Commissioners of tlie military authorities, therefore, en- 
 tered Andreas Hofer's cell on the 21st of February, and in- 
 formed him that he would suffer death within two hours. 
 
 He listened to them standing, and with unshaken firmness. 
 " I shall die, then, at least as a soldier, and not as a criminal," 
 he said, nodding his head gently. " I am not afraid of bullets, 
 nor of the good God either ; He was always kind to me, and 
 it is even now kind in Him to relieve me from my sufferings 
 Lere. I am ready to appear before the judgment seat of 
 God." 
 
 " If you have any special wishes to prefer, communicate 
 them to us now ; and if it is possible, they shall be granted," 
 said one of the officers, profoundly moved. 
 
 " There are some wishes which I should like to prefer," re- 
 plied Hofer, musingly. " In the first place, I wish to see once 
 more my dear Cajetan Doninger, who was separated from me 
 and confined in another cell ; and then I wish to dictate a 
 letter and my last will, and would request that both be sent to 
 my dear brother-in-law." 
 
 "These wishes shall be complied with ; I promise it to you 
 in the name of General Bisson. Do you desire to prefer any 
 additional requests ? " 
 
 " I wish further that a priest be sent to me, that he may re- 
 ceive my confes.sion, and grant me absolution ; and finally, I 
 should like to see once more my dear countrymen, who are 
 imprisoned in the casemates here, and take leave of them in a 
 few words." 
 
 " A confessor will be sent to you, but your last request can 
 not be complied with," was the reply. " An exciting and per- 
 haps disorderly scene would ensue, and such things must be 
 avoided." 
 
 "Well, then," said Andreas, sighing, "send me my dear 
 secretary, and afterward the priest." 
 
 A few minutes after the officers had withdrawn, the door 
 opened, and Cajetan Doninger came in. He burst into tears, 
 rushed toward Andreas Hofer, and folding him to his heart, 
 exclaimed mournfully : "Is it true, then, that they intend to 
 kill you ? Is it true that they are going to assassinate the 
 noHest and best man like a criminal ? "
 
 494 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 "Hush, hush, Cajetan," said Andreas, gently, presshig 
 Doninger tenderly to his heart ; " do not scold, but submit as 
 I do. I die gladl}', for it is better that I should sacrifice my- 
 self for my native countiy than that others should die for my 
 sake, or for the fatherland." * 
 
 " Oh, would that I could die for you ! " sobbed Doninger ; 
 ''my life is worthless without you. Is it possible that you 
 must suffer now so ignominious a punishment for all your 
 noble deeds and aspirations ? " 
 
 "God alone knows what is good," said Andreas, mildly, 
 "and I have doubtless committed many errors, for which I 
 have to suffer now. But, Cajetan, will you fulfil my last re- 
 quest ? " 
 
 "Name it, and I will comply with it." 
 
 " Then weep no more, my dear friend, for your tears give 
 me pain. Be, as formerly, manful and firm." 
 
 "I will," said Doninger ; and he dried his tears and forced 
 himself to be calm and composed. 
 
 " And now, Cajetan, be my secretary for the last time," 
 said Andreas, gently. "I will dictate to you a letter to my 
 brother-in-law Pohler, at Neustadt. The jailer has already 
 laid papei", pen, and ink on the table. Sit down, therefore, 
 and write." 
 
 Cajetan went to the table and seated himself. "I am 
 ready, commander-in-chief," he said ; "dictate to me now." 
 
 Andreas walked up and down several times musingly ; he 
 then stood still near the table ; a wondrous expression of se- 
 rene calmness and peace beamed from his face, and he dic- 
 tated in a clear, quiet voice, which did not once tremble with 
 emotion. 
 
 " Dearest brother-in-law : It was God's will that I should 
 exchange here at Mantua my earthly life for a better one. 
 But — God 1)6 praised for his divine mercy ! — it seems to me as 
 little painful as if I were to be led out for another purpose. 
 God in His mercy will doubtless be with me to the last mo- 
 ment, when 1 shall ascend to that eternal dwelling-place where 
 my soul will i-ejoice for evermore with all the chosen spirit^ 
 
 * liofei's own words. — See "Giillery of Heroes : Audreus llofer," p. 195.
 
 ANDREAS nOFERS DEATH. 495 
 
 ati(^ where I shall pray for all, and particularly for those to 
 whom I owe my ijitercession ; ahove all, for you. too, and 
 your dear wife, on account of the book which you j)resented 
 to me, and of other kind acts. Let all my dear friends and 
 acquaintances pray for me too, and help me to i-ise from the 
 devouring' flames, when I have to expiate my sins in purga- 
 tory. My beloved wife, Anna Gertrude, is to have masses 
 read for me at St. Martitt''s Zuni roscnfarhnen Bint. She 
 shall have prayers read in both of the parisli-churcbes, and 
 treat my friends at the lower inn to soup and meat, and give 
 every one half a bottle of wine. The money I had about me 
 will be distributed among the poor of this city ; for the rest, 
 settle with my debtors and creditors as honestly as you can, 
 lest I should havC to atone for it also. Farewell, all of you, 
 for this world, until we shall meet in heaven and praise God 
 for evermore. Dearest brother-in-law, repair to the Passeyr 
 valley, and inform the landlord of the lower inn of my in- 
 structions. He will make all necessarj' dispositions. Let 
 all the inhabitants of Passeyr, and all my acquaintances re- 
 member me in their prayers. Dearest brother-in-law, tell 
 my wife, Anna Gertrude, not to grieve for me. I shall pray 
 to God for her and for all. Adieu, beautiful world ! Dy- 
 ing seems to me so easy that there are not even tears in my 
 eyes. 
 
 " Written at nine o'clock ; at ten I shall ascend to God 
 with the aid of all the saints. 
 
 "Your . 
 
 "Mantua, February 20, 1810."* 
 
 "I will write the signature as I always did," said Andreas 
 Hofer ; and, taking up the pen quickly, he wrote : 
 
 "Your Andreas Hofer, from Sand in Passeyr, wliom you 
 loved in this life. I will set out on my last journey in the 
 Lord's name." t 
 
 " I thank you, Cajetan, for rendering me this last service." 
 said Andreas, kindly. " And now, my dear friend, let us take 
 
 * " Gallery of heroes : Andreas Hofer," p. 197. 
 t " Gallery of Heroes."
 
 496 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 leave of each other. The confessor will he here soon, and then 
 I must no longer speak to any one but God." 
 
 Cajetan came to him with a tottering step, and leaned his 
 head silently on Hofer's shoulder. He did not speak, he 
 wanted to be firm, but he was unable to restrain the sobs and 
 sighs which issued from his breast. 
 
 " My dear Cajetan, why do you weep ? " asked Hofer, press- 
 ing Doninger's head gently to his heart. " Did you weep 
 when I went into battle, where the enemy's bullets might have 
 hit me at any second ? You did not weep then. Think, there- 
 fore, that I am going into battle to-day too, and that it is bet- 
 ter for me to be hit by the bullets than suffer any longer in 
 this manner." 
 
 At this moment the door opened, and the priest, Giovanni 
 Giacomo Manifesti, dressed in full vestments, came in. The 
 guards who followed him led away Doninger, who obeyed 
 them in silence, as if stunned by his terrible grief.* 
 
 Andreas Hofer remained alone with his confessor. 
 
 At eleven o'clock the doors of the prison were thrown 
 open, and Andreas Hofer was led out to execution. His face 
 was serene, and in his hands he held the small crucifix which 
 he had ahvays worn on his breast. His confessor, Manifesti, 
 walked by his side, and a battalion of grenadiers followed 
 him. 
 
 Andreas Hofer walked along the ramparts of the fortress 
 with a firm step. As he passed by the barracks of the Porta 
 Molina, where the Tyrolese prisoners were confined, they fell 
 on their knees and wept aloud. Andreas turned quickly to 
 Manifesti, the priest. "Your reverence," he said, "you will 
 distribute among my poor countrymen the five hundred 
 florins, my last property, which I gave to you, will you not ? " 
 
 "I will, my son." 
 
 " And take my greetings to all," said Andreas Hofer, in a 
 grave, loud voice, " and tell them not to be disheartened, nor 
 to think that all is lost, and that we have fought and bled in 
 
 * Cajetan Doninger was taken "unrnediately after Hofer's e.xecution, from 
 liis prison, and sent to the Island of Corsica, as a private in a regiment of light 
 infantry. He succeeded, some time afterward, in escaping from thence, and 
 returning to his native country.
 
 ANDREAS nOFER'S DEATH. 497 
 
 vain. Better times will dawn upon my beloved Tyrol, and 
 one day it will be ap^ain a free German country. Tell them to 
 hope and believe in this prediction." 
 
 On the broad bastion, a little distance h'om tlie Porta Ce- 
 resa, the grenadiej's formed a square, open in the rear. An- 
 dreas Hofer entered this open space with the priest, bowed 
 kindly to all sides, and prayed aloud with the priest. 
 
 "Now, farewell, dear reverend father," he then said, "and 
 accept this crucifix as a souvenir from me. I have worn it on 
 my breast for twenty years past, and it will ren)ind you of 
 Andreas Hofer. Inform my wife that I suffered death joy- 
 ously, and that I know we shall meet again above. You prom- 
 ised me to do so, and you will redeem your promise, rever- 
 end father, will you not ? " 
 
 " Certainly I will, my beloved, pious .son," said Manifesti ; 
 and with teai-s in bis eyes he embraced and blessed Andreas 
 Hofer for the last time.* 
 
 The priest thereupon left the squai'e, while twelve men and 
 
 * Manilesti redeemed his promise. He sent to the Tyrol tlie followinor let- 
 ter regarding Hofer's death : 
 
 Mantoya, li 21, Febrajo, 1810. 
 "leri poco prime del mezzo giorno e stato fucillato il Signore Andrea Ho- 
 fer, gia commandante del Tirolo. Dalla commissione niilitare, chc I'ha sen- 
 tentiato, fu invitato ad assisterlo, e sebbene fossi eonvalescente per una mala- 
 dia pocchi giorno avanti sofferta, ho volonteri assento I'impegno, e con soiimia 
 niia consolazionc ed edificatione ho ammirato un uomo, che e andato alia 
 morte d'un eroc Chri.«itiano e I'lia sostenuto di niartire intrepido. Egll con 
 tutta segrctezza mi ha consegnata una carta di somma importanza per I'orfona 
 Bua famiglia, incaricando mi dirigcrla a V. Sig. Rio M. — Sono con perfetta 
 stima, 
 
 " Di V. S. Rio M. 
 
 " Divotissimo, 
 
 "Giov. Batt. (Akcipkete) Manifesti." 
 
 "Mantua, Feb. 21,1810. — Yesterday, a few minutes before twelve, Mr. 
 Andreas Hofer, late commander of the Tyrol, was shot here. The military 
 commission which tried him requested me to attend him, and although 1 had 
 recovered hut a few days since from sickness, I gladly complied with the re- 
 quest, and admired, to my consolation and edification, a man who went to 
 death as a Christian hero, and suffered it as an intrepid martyr. Under the 
 seal of profound silence he intrusted to me a paper of tlie highest impor- 
 tance to his family," &c. — See Hormayr's " Lebenshildor," vol. i. p. 224.
 
 498 ANDREAS HOFER. 
 
 a corporal stood forth with loaded muskets. The corporal of- 
 fered Hofer a white handkerchief to bandage his eyes. 
 
 "No," said Hofer. ''I have often already faced death ; it 
 is a dear friend of mine, and I want to see it, therefore, when 
 it comes to me." 
 
 " Kneel down, then," said the corporal. 
 
 "I shall not," replied Hofer, gravely and almost imperi- 
 ously. " I am used to stand upright before my Creator, and 
 in that posture I will deliver up my spirit to Him. But pray," 
 he added in a milder voice, " aim well. Come, corporal, I will 
 give you yet a souvenir ; it is my whole remaining property. 
 Look at this Zwanziger ; I had it coined when I w^as com- 
 mander-in-chief of the Tyrol ; and it reminds me now of my 
 beloved country, and it seems to me as though its snow-clad 
 mountains were looking down on me and greeting me. There, 
 keep it as a remembrancer, and aim well ! " 
 
 The corporal stepped back and commanded in a voice 
 tremulous with emotion, " Fire ! " 
 
 " Fire ! " shouted Hofer. "' Long live the Tyrol ! " 
 Six shots rang out, but Andreas Hofer was not dead ; he 
 had sunk only on one knee and leaned on his right hand. 
 
 Six shots crashed again. They struck him to the ground, 
 but did not yet kill him. He raised his bleeding head once 
 more. 
 
 The corporal, filled with pity, stepped now close up to him, 
 put his musket to Hofer's forehead, and filled. 
 
 This thirteenth shot dispatched him at length ! 
 
 The grenadiers raised the corpse and carried it on a black 
 bier to St. Michael's church, where it lay in state during the 
 requiem, that the people might convince themselves of the 
 death of the beloved and feared commander-in-chief of the 
 Tyrol, Le General Sanvird, Andreas^Hofer, the Barbone, and 
 of the final subjugation of the Tyrol.* 
 
 * Ilofer's remains were buried in Manifesti's garden. A simple slab on 
 his grave bore the following inscription : " Qui giace la spoglia del fu Andrea 
 Hofer, detto il Generale Barbone, comraandante supremo delle milicie del 
 Tirolo, fucillato in questa forterezza nel giorno 20 Febrajo 1810, sepolto in 
 questo luogo." (" Here rest the remains of the late Andreas Ilofer, called 
 General Barbone, commander-in-chief of the Tyrolese militia, shot in this for-
 
 ANDREAS HOFER'S DEATH. 499 
 
 This occurred on the 2()tli (jf Fehruary, 1810 ; aud on the 
 same day on which Andreas Hofer was sliot at Mantua, be- 
 cause he had loved his country and his Emperor Francis too 
 faithfully, almost at the very hour of his death, the booming' 
 of artillery was to be heard on the ramparts of Vienna. 
 
 It proclaimed to the Viennese the joyful news that the 
 A-rehduchess Maria Louisa, the emperor's daug-hter, was the 
 affianced bride of the Emperor Napoleon ! 
 
 tress on the '2utli of February, 1810, and buried in this place.") Fourteen 
 years afterward llufor's remains were disinterred by three Austrian otiicers, 
 wlio had obtained Manifesti's consent, and conveyed to Botzen. The Em- 
 peror Francis gave ordei-s to transfer them to lunspruck, wliere they were 
 buried in the eliurch of the Franciscans by the side of the monument of the 
 Archduke Ferdinand and his beloved Philippina VVelser. — See Ilorniayr's 
 " Andreas Hofer," vol. ii., p. 539. 
 
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