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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.06/12/01*END* +[Portions of this header are copyright (C) 2001 by Michael S. Hart +and may be reprinted only when these Etexts are free of all fees.] +[Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be used in any sales +of Project Gutenberg Etexts or other materials be they hardware or +software or any other related product without express permission.] + + + + + +This etext was produced by Charles Franks and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + +ANDREAS HOFER + +An HISTORICAL NOVEL + +by Lousia Muhlbach + + + + +CONTENTS. + +CHAPTER + I 1809 + II The Emperor Francis + III The Courier and the Ambassador + IV The Emperor and his Brothers + V The Performance of "The Creation" + VI Andreas Hofer + VII Andreas Hofer at the Theatre + VIII Consecration of the Flags, and Farewell + IX Tis Time! + X Anthony Wallner of Windisch-Matrey + XI The Declaration of Love + XII Farewell! + XIII The Bridegroom + XIV The Bridge of St. Lawrence + XV The Bridge of Laditch + XVI On the Sterzinger Moos + XVII The Hay-Wagons + XVIII Capture of Innspruck + XIX The Capitulation of Wiltau + XX Eliza Wallner's Return + XXI The Catastrophe + XXII Eliza and Ulrich + XXIII The Triumph of Death + XXIV The Archduke John at Comorn + XXV The Emperor Francis at Wolkersdorf + XXVI The Reply of the King of Prussia + XXVII The Battle of Wagram + XXVIII The Armistice of Znaym + XXIX Hofer and Speckbacher + XXX The Capuchin's Oath + XXXI The First Battle + XXXII The Fifteenth of August at Innspruck + XXXIII Andreas Hofer, the Emperor's Lieutenant + XXXIV The Fifteenth of August at Comorn + XXXV A Day of the Emperor's Lieutenant + XXXVI The Lovers + XXXVII Elza's Return +XXXVIII The Wedding + XXXIX The Treaty of Peace + XL Dreadful Tidings + XLI Betrayal and Seizure of Hofer + XLII The Warning + XLIII The Flight + XLIV Andreas Hofer's Death + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +1809. + + +The year 1809 had come; but the war against France, so intensely +longed for by all Austria, had not yet broken out, and the people +and the army were vainly waiting for the war-cry of their sovereign, +the Emperor Francis. It is true, not a few great things bad been +accomplished in the course of the past year: Austria had armed, +organized the militia, strengthened her fortresses, and filled her +magazines; but the emperor still hesitated to take the last and most +decisive step by crowning his military preparations with a formal +declaration of war. + +No one looked for this declaration of war more intensely than the +emperor's second brother, 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 emperor alone could +utter this word, and 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 his report by saying, with +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 compassion, 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 'imperial' 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 highness,' the brother +of a sovereign emperor! Ah, they do not know that this title means +only that I am doomed to everlasting dependence and silence, and +that the emperor's valet de chambre and his private 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 courageously 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!" + +"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 atom which is allowed to +move in the glare of the imperial sun, but which would be +annihilated so soon as it should presume 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 emperor +does not like to see the eyes of his subjects fixed upon me; every +kind word uttered about me sours him and increases the ill-will with +which he regards me." + +"That is impossible, your highness," exclaimed the count. "How can +our excellent emperor help loving his brother, who is so gifted, so +high-minded and learned, and withal so modest and kind-hearted? How +can he help being happy to see that others love and appreciate him +too?" + +"Does the emperor love my brother Charles, who is much more gifted +and high-minded than I am?" asked John, shrugging his shoulders. +"Did he not arrest his victorious career, and recall him from the +army, although, or rather BECAUSE, he knew that the army idolized +him, and that all Austria loved him and hoped in him? Ah, believe +me, the emperor is distrustful of all his brothers, and all our +protestations of love and devotedness do not touch him, but rebound +powerlessly from the armor 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 inward +struggles, and it was long before my heart became calm and resigned. +My 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 most delightful compensation for this loneliness, for I +call you and Hormayr friends; I have my books, which always comfort, +divert, and amuse me; and last, I have my great and glorious hopes +regarding the future of the fatherland. Ah, how could I say that I +was poor and lonely when I am so rich in hopes, and have two noble +and faithful friends? I am sure, Nugent, you will never desert me, +but stand by me to the end--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 suffer 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! +Then, my friend, I shall prove that I am ready, like all of you, to +shed my heart's blood for the fatherland, 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 succumb and have to submit to the same humiliations as +Prussia, the whole of Germany will be but a French province, and the +freedom and independence of our fatherland 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." [Footnote: The Archduke John's own words.--See "Forty-eight +Letters from Archduke John of Austria to Johannes von Muller," p. +90.] + +"German liberty 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 refuses to let me +play a decisive part in the history of the world. My role will +always be but a secondary one; my will will always 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 mistrust and misrepresent every step I take. It +was always so, and will remain so until I die or become a decrepit +old man, whose arm is no longer able to wield the sword or even the +pen. That I am young, that I have a heart for the sufferings 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 against all my plans; and yet I +desired only to contribute to the welfare of the whole; I demanded +nothing for myself, but every thing for the fatherland. To the +fatherland I wished to devote my blood and my life; for the +fatherland I wished to conquer in the disastrous campaign of 1805. +However, such were not the plans of my adversaries; they did not +wish to carry on the war with sufficient energy and perseverance; +they would not give my brother Charles and me an opportunity 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 great deal in those days, and the wounds +which my heart received at that juncture are bleeding yet. I had to +succumb, when the men who had commenced the war at a highly +unfavorable time, conducted it at an equally unfavorable moment, and +made peace. And by that peace Austria lost her most loyal province, +the beautiful Tyrol, one of the oldest states of the Hapsburgs; and +her most fertile province, the territory of Venetia 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 Austria. 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 were bent on blotting out from our memory +all that 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, and we were to lose all that +they bad gained in the days of their greatness. [Footnote: John's +own words.--See "Forty-eight Letters from Archduke John to Johannes +von Muller," p. 103.] 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 Hapsburgs, but also their honor!" + +"This opportunity will not pass!" exclaimed the count. "The throne +of the Hapsburgs will be preserved, for it is protected 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 convert 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 should not be strong enough to set +bounds to such mischief. When the feeling of liberty and +independence does not incite the nations to rise enthusiastically +and defend their rights, God sends them a tyrant as a scourge to +chastise them. And such, I am afraid, is our case. Germany has lost +faith in herself, in her honor; she lies exhausted at the feet of +the tyrant, and is ready to be trampled in the dust by him. Just +look around in our German fatherland. What do you see there? All the +sovereign princes have renounced their independence, and become +Napoleon's vassals; 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 enemies are their +German brethren or not. The German princes have formed 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, the 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 princes. +Bavaria did not disdain to aggrandize her territories at our +expense; Wurtemberg accepts without blushing the territories of +other German princes at the bands 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 always +distrust the intentions of the Emperor Francis. [Footnote: +Schlosser, "History of the Eighteenth Century," vol. vii., p. 488.] +In the middle of the German empire we see a new French kingdom; +Westphalia, established by Napoleon's orders; it is formed of the +spoils taken from Prussia and Hanover; and the German princes suffer +it, and the German people bow 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, it would be dreadful, dreadful, if we +too, had to fall, as the unfortunate Kosciusko did, with the +despairing cry of 'Finis Germaniae!'" + +"No, that will never happen!" cried Nugent. "No, Germany will never +endure the disgrace and debasement of Poland; she will never sink to +ruin and perish like Poland. It is true, 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 with 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 conspirators, 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 throughout +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 boundless enthusiasm, 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!" + +"The enthusiasm of his people will soon compel him and his advisers +to utter that word," 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--" + +A low rapping at the door leading to the small secret corridor +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 he hastened +to the secret door and opened it quickly. + +A tall young man, in the uniform of an Austrian superior officer, +appeared in the open door. The archduke grasped 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, deserted Tyrolese say?" + +Baron von Hormayr fixed 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 deliver them from the +hateful yoke of the Bavarians; the Tyrolese 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 influential and respectable +citizens of the Tyrol have accompanied me to Vienna; they desire to +assure your imperial highness of their loyal devotedness, and +receive instructions from you." + +"Is Andreas Hofer, the landwirth, 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 peasants, 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 friends?" + +"Oh, I will see them at once!" exclaimed John, impatiently. "My +heart longs to gaze into the faithful, beautiful eyes of the +Tyrolese, and read in their honest faces if they really are still +devoted and attached to me. Bring them to me, Hormayr; make haste-- +but no, I forgot that it is broad daylight, and that the spies +watching me have eyes to see, ears to hear, 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, looking +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 appeared on the +threshold. + +"Her majesty the Empress Ludovica sends her respects to the +archduke," said the messenger, approaching the archduke +respectfully. "Her majesty thanks your imperial highness for the +book which you lent her; and she returns it with sincere 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 secret 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 Dionysius. + +"Something of importance must have occurred," whispered John; +"otherwise the empress would not have ventured to send me a direct +message. 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 what it is." + +He hastily tore open the sealed package and drew from it a small +prayer-book bound in black 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 exclaimed, +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 court 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 +fireplace." + +"Ah, sympathetic ink," exclaimed John; "well, we will see." + +He hastily 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 paper, and now he read as follows: + +"The French ambassador 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 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 himself, be our ally, +and by his defiant and arrogant bearing, attain 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 paper. 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," exclaimed +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 devoted subjects. All Austria, nay, all Germany, is +longing for these words, which will be the signal of the deliverance +of the fatherland from the French 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 mantelpiece 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; implore 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 receive them here at twelve o'clock to-night, and +conduct them to me at that hour, my friend. We will hold a council +of war at midnight." + +"And your imperial highness does not forget that you promised to go +to the concert to-night?" asked Nugent. "Your highness is aware that +our friends not only intend to-night to give an ovation to the +veteran master of German art, Joseph Haydn, but wish also to profit +by the German music to make a political demonstration; and they long +for the presence 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 emperor to go to +the concert.--Well, then, my friends, let us go to work, and nay God +grant 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 in finishing a +miniature cup which he had commenced 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 eves only +from time to time to fix them on the drawing, and compare it with +his own work. These comparisons, however, apparently did not lead to +a cheering result, for the emperor frowned and put the cup rather +impetuously 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 diminutive 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 from letting the peach-stones grow crooked. But no +matter--what God does is well done," added the emperor, crossing +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 industriously working +at it with his sharp files, pointed 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 files; but the emperor 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 emperor'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 official 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 all 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 many +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 ambassador, Count Andreossi, and that there were good reasons +to believe that be had brought highly important news. + +It was exactly for the purpose of dispelling the anxiety with which +this unpleasant intelligence had filled him, that. Francis bad laid +aside the report and recommenced his work on the cup; and by this +occupation he bad succeeded in forgetting the burdensome duties of +his imperial office. + +He was just trying very hard to plane one side of his cup, when a +low rap at the small door leading to the narrow corridor, and thence +to the apartments of the empress, interrupted him. The emperor gave +a start and looked toward the door, listening and hoping, perhaps, +that his ear might have deceived him. But no, the rapping was heard +once more: there could no longer be a doubt of it--somebody sought +admittance, and intended to disturb the peaceful solitude of the +emperor. + +"What does the empress want?" murmured Francis. "What does she come +here for? I am afraid something unpleasant 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 the emperor, who had married her only a few +months 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 shoulders. But the countenance of +the empress did not correspond to this coquettish and youthful +dress. She was young and beautiful, but an expression of profound +melancholy overspread her features. Her cheeks were transparently +white, and a sad, touching smile quivered round her finely- +chiselled, narrow lips; her high, expansive forehead was shaded, as +it were, by a cloud of sadness; and her large black eyes shot, from +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 empress had learned to cover her heart with a +veil, and her lips never gave utterance to the sufferings of her +soul. Only her confidantes were allowed to divine them; they alone +knew that, twofold tortures were racking Ludovica's fiery soul, +those of hatred and wounded pride. Napoleon! it was he whom the +empress hated with indescribable bitterness; and the neglect 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 Modena, she had become the +wife of an emperor, and herself an empress; but she had thereby +obtained only an august position, 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 indifference, and not +the slightest murmur, not the mildest reproach, had escaped her +lips. For it was not from love that she had chosen this husband, but +from ambition and pride. She had told herself that it would be +better for her to be Empress of Austria than Princess of Modena 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 him, had not deterred her. She meant to marry the +emperor, and not the man; she wished to play a prominent part, and +exert 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 exalted 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 such 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 overcome her silent grief, and the +presence of her mother, the shrewd and intriguing Duchess of Modena, +seemed to have imparted fresh strength to the empress, and confirmed +her in her determination to conquer the heart and confidence of her +husband. Whereas she had hitherto met his indifference by proud +reticence, and feigned not to notice it, she was kind and even +affectionate toward him; and it often happened that, availing +herself of the privilege of her position, she traversed the private +corridor separating her rooms from those of her husband, and, +without being 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 private door. To-day, too, +the dark cloud covered his forehead even after the empress had +entered his cabinet. Ludovica 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 police, +and have been employed to watch me in order to find out what I am +doing when I am alone in my cabinet. Why, 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 be 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 deplorable secret with which we +alone have hitherto been acquainted. Your majesty will not deprive +me of the only privilege which I enjoy in common with your former +consorts, 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, shrugging his +shoulders; "I say only that it is highly repugnant to me to have my +steps dogged and watched in any manner. It is true, my former +consort had also the keys of this private corridor, but--pardon me +for this remark, your 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 consort, 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 with conversing with my husband on +different subjects; and I desire to share at least his cares when I +cannot share his love. My husband, I beseech you, 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 fulfilled 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, hastily; "never should I dare to +doubt the fidelity of the purest, chastest, and most virtuous +empress and lady--the fidelity of my wife." + +"I did not refer to the wife's fidelity," said Ludovica, sighing, +"but to the fidelity of my friendship, which is joyously ready to +share all your cares and afflictions." + +"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 happy you make me by these words!" exclaimed +Ludovica, and a faint blush beautified her noble face. + +"I will 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 finished 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 order to +straighten the cup. Look at it, and tell me how 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 out 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, I advise you to get rid +of the thing, declare war against the little cup, and remove it +forever by touching it in this manner with your little finger." + +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, smiling, "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 disgrace for +an emperor to be unable to straighten anything which lie himself +made crooked. It seems to me, now, an emperor should extricate +himself from 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 urgent 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 thousand swords, and thousands of cannon +and muskets. If the lion is determined to use his teeth, lie 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 where he has to deal with lambs, arid 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 the battle of Austerlitz over +us, and we had to submit to him, and accept the terms of peace which +he imposed on us." + +"Yes, your majesty had to submit to him." cried the empress, +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. [Footnote: The emperor's own words.--See +"Lebensbilder aus dem Befreiungekriege," vol. i.] Nevertheless, the +truth cannot be gainsaid, and the truth is that the Emperor Napoleon +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, vehemently; "to strengthen +the thrones, and restore at length tranquillity to Europe. And there +is only one way of doing this, my lord and emperor, and that is war! +We must destroy 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. "What 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 humiliating peace? Do you +think that the present position of the 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 means eager to wear a martyr's crown instead +of my imperial crown, and I will rather strive to keep my crown on +my head, regardless 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!' 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 Germany should rise, take up arms, and attack +the enemy with united forces." + +"It is as your majesty says," exclaimed Ludovica, enthusiastically; +"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 waiting for Austria to give the signal? Where are the +German armies which, you say, are only waiting for Austria to +advance, 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, I 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 +blinded by 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 neutrality 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 universal enthusiasm of +the Austrians and Germans, in the universal indignation of the +nations against Napoleon. You have public opinion on your side, and +that is the most powerful ally." + +"Ah, let me alone with that abominable 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 him one day +into the mire, and then he will find out what it really amounts to. +Pray, never speak 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 offers 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 armaments 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 proceed any +further, and, unless something important should occur, all this war- +clamor and all importunities will make no impression on me. The +important 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 everywhere +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 whatever may be the result of the +struggle, people will be unable to say that I rashly plunged into +war and broke the peace. If we succumb, it is the will of God and +the Holy Virgin, and not, our fault. And now, empress," said the +emperor, drawing a deep breath, "I have complied with your wishes +and talked politics with you. I think it will be enough once for +all, and you and you political friends will perceive that you cannot +do any thing with me, and that it will be best for you to let me +entirely 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 tome. I ask you now to give me a proof of your +friendship. Let us speak of something else than polities; 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 'Creation' will be performed there, and +I believe the old maestro himself will be present to receive the +homage of his admirers." + +"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 emperor. "Come in." + +The emperor's private chamberlain slipped softly through the half- +opened door, and, on beholding the empress, be 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 ambassador, 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 says the +Emperor Napoleon gave him express orders to endeavor if possible to +speak with your majesty." + +"And he is already in the anteroom, and waits for an immediate +audience?" + +"Yes, your majesty." + +"Well, then, I will receive him," said the emperor, rising. "Conduct +the ambassador to the small audience-room.--Well?" asked the +emperor, wonderingly, when the chamberlain 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 the 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." + +"The 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 courier from Paris, Counsellor von Hudelist." + +"All right, I shall be back directly!" exclaimed the emperor, and he +conducted the empress with a somewhat accelerated step through the +corridor. In front of the door at its end he stood still and bowed +to the empress with a pleasant smile. + +"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. Farewell!" + +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 personal fate, for the fate of all Austria is at stake +at this juncture. Highly important events must have occurred at +Paris, else Metternich would not have sent his confidant and +assistant 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 ask 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 mysterious little +note which she sent to the Archduke John in the book which she +pretended he had lent to her. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE COURIER AND THE AMBASSADOR. + + +The emperor, in returning to his cabinet, like the empress, +carefully 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 majesty. + +"Hudelist, it is really you, then?" asked the emperor. "You left +your post by the side of Metternich without obtaining my permission +to come to Vienna? Could you not find any other man to bring your +dispatches? I had commissioned you to remain always by the side of +Metternich, watch him carefully, and inform me of what 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 hardly violated it by corning to +Vienna, for I believe the Count will follow me in the course of a +few days. Unless your majesty 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 I came post-haste to Vienna, and arrived +here only a quarter of an hour since; I pray your majesty therefore +to pardon me for appearing before you in my travelling-dress." + +"Sit down, you must be tired," said the emperor, good-naturedly, +seating himself in an arm-chair, and pointing to the opposite 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 frowned. "Why?" he asked. + +"Because he intends to declare war against Austria," said Hudelist, +whose face brightened more and more. "Because Napoleon is +distrustful of us, and convinced that Austria is intent on attacking +him. Besides, he felt no longer at ease in pain, and all sorts of +conspiracies had been entered into in Paris, whereby his return +might have been rendered impossible 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 be had the two gentlemen well watched, +and it seems his spies sent him correct reports, for, after +returning from Spain, he rebuked them unmercifully; be 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 instrument in +putting an end to Napoleon's power and splendor," 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 him, 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 upbraided 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 +ministers if they had not had such a thick skin 'You are impudent +enough to conspire against me!' he shouted, in a thundering voice. +'To whom are you indebted for every thing--for your honors, rank, +and wealth? To me alone! How can you preserve them? By me alone! +Look backward, examine your past. If the Bourbons had reascended the +throne, both of you would have been hanged as regicides and +traitors. And you plot against me? You must be as stupid as you are +ungrateful, if you believe that anybody else could promote your +interest as well as I have done. Had another revolution broken out, +on whatever side you might have placed yourselves, you would +certainly have been the first to be crushed by it!'" [Footnote: +Napoleon's own words--See Schlosser, "History of the Eighteenth +Century," vol. viii., p. 488.] + +"That is very plain talk, indeed," said Francis, laughing. "But +Talleyrand and Fouche have sound stomachs; they will digest it, and +not get congestions in consequence of it provided the emperor does +not punish them in a different manner." + +"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 unobserved +interviews with us. Count Metternich learned also from another very +well-informed quarter many accurate details regarding 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 +Metternich is a very fine-looking man; now, Queen Caroline of +Naples, Murat's wife, and Napoleon's favorite sister, is by no means +insensible to manly beauty, and she accepted with evident +satisfaction the homage which the count offered to her. For the +rest, Napoleon winked at and encouraged this flirtation; for, +previous to his departure for Spain, he said to his sister loud +enough to be overheard by some of our friends, 'Amusez-nous ce +niais, Monsieur de Metternich. Nous en avons besoin a present!' +[Footnote: Hormayr, "The Emperor Francis and Metternich, a +Fragment," p. 55.] Madame Caroline Murat told Count Metternich, for +instance, that it is the Kings of Bavaria and Wurtemburg that keep +their spies for Napoleon here in Vienna, and that they urged +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 array--to which he intends to give the +name of 'the German Army of the Emperor 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 assure him again of the friendly dispositions of the +imperial court of Austria. But Napoleon gave hire 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 been stung by scorpions? +Who threatens you? What would you 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 +disquietude for your existence; but the moment it is transferred to +Spain, you consider yourselves endangered! What can be the end of +these things? What, but that I must arm as you arm, for at length I +am seriously menaces; I am rightly for my former caution.'" +[Footnote: Napoleon's own words.--See Schlosser, vol. vii., p. 480.] + +"What an impudent fellow!" murmured the Emperor Francis to himself. +"And Metternich? What did he reply?" + +"Nothing at all, your 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 has risen to the highest pitch, and the events in Spain +have still more inflamed his rage and vindictiveness." "Then he is +unsuccessful in Spain?" asked the emperor, whose eyes brightened. + +"Spain is still bidding him defiance, and fighting with the +enthusiasm of an heroic people who will suffer death rather than be +subjugated 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 patriots 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! If my brothers should hear it, their heads +would be immediately on fire, for they are very ambitious; hence, it +is much better that they should not learn anything of these chateaux +en Espagne. 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 +dissatisfied 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 moneyed 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 as 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 of France, and feels like the rest of the French +people. The marshals are quarrelling among themselves and some of +them hate Napoleon, who never gives them time to repose on their +laurels and enjoy the riches which they have obtained during their +campaigns. The army 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 Bourbons. +Napoleon, who is served well enough 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, besides, that the fanaticism of the Spaniards may dim his +military 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 between his +German array and the Austrian forces. He is, therefore, firmly +resolved to wage war, and the only question now is, whether your +majesty will anticipate him, or await a declaration of war on his +part. This is about all I have to communicate 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 you, 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, 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. Well, serve me--do you hear?--serve none but +me honestly and faithfully; watch everything 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 satisfied. 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 smile after the +emperor, 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 communicating to him +things capable of rendering the archdukes suspicious to him, or even +convicting them of a wrong committed against him, the emperor will +reward and promote me, and, as he says, satisfy the cravings of my +ambition. Well, well, we shall see. If you watch a man very closely +and are really intent on spying out something suspicious in his +conduct, you will in the end surely 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 +orders, 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 duty of self-preservation for me not to shrink +from the task. I will now go to the chancery and wait there for the +emperor's return. Ah, how his old limbs trembled when he heard of +Napoleon's return. How hard and unpleasant it was for him to swallow +the bad news which I communicated to him! There is no more +interesting spectacle than that presented by a human face passing +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. During my whole +journey from Paris to Vienna I was enjoying, by anticipation, the +moment when I should deliver this Pandora'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 laughter 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 ambassador, was already +waiting for him. + +Francis responded to the respectful greeting of the ambassador 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 ambassador 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 Emperor of the French, has taken deep umbrage at +the hostile course which Austria has of late pursued toward him." + +"And what is it that your emperor complains of?" asked the emperor, +with perfect composure. + +"In the first place, the Emperor Napoleon has taken deep umbrage at +Austria'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 Spanish nation is able to inform me where I may look for the +king it has elected and recognized, I shall immediately dispatch a +minister plenipotentiary to this court. State that to your monarch." + +"Next, his majesty the Emperor Napoleon complains bitterly that +Austria, instead of being intent on maintaining friendly relations +with France, has left nothing undone to reconcile the enemies of +France who were at war with each other, and to restore peace between +them; and that Austria, by 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 Austria, against France; for to reconcile England +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 important to +Austria that there should be no war-troubles and disturbances 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 +umbrage 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 orders of my master, and +it is his will that I shall now communicate to your majesty the +emperor's views in his own words. It has given great offence to the +Emperor Napoleon 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, +notwithstanding the numerous acts of duplicity and evident hostility +of the Austrian court. The Emperor Napoleon informs your majesty +that he is well aware of the ambitious schemes of Austria, but that +lie thinks your majesty is not strong enough to carry them into +effect. He requests your majesty never to forget the magnanimity +which the Emperor Napoleon 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 generosity, +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 Emperor of Austria not to listen +to such insidious advice, nor to yield to the wishes of the war- +party, which is intent only on gratifying its passionate ambition, +and whose eyes refuse to see that it is driving Austria toward the +brink of an abyss where she must perish, as did Prussia, Naples, and +Spain." [Footnote: Hormayr, "Allgemeine Geschichte," vol. iii., p. +205.] + +"It is very kind in his majesty the Emperor Napoleon to give me such +friendly advice," sail the Emperor Francis, smiling. "But I beg his +majesty to believe that, in accordance with his wishes, I rely only +on my own individual sagacity; 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 listen to any +insinuations, 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 communicated 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 majesty, 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 militia, and the +arming of the fortresses on the frontiers, and to inquire against +whom these measures are directed. The 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 measures of an opposite character, war will be +inevitable." [Footnote: Napoleon's own words.--See "Lebensbilder," +vol. ii., and Hormayr, "Allgemeine Geschichte," vol. iii.] + +"In that case, Mr. Ambassador of the Emperor Napoleon, war is +inevitable," cried Francis, who now dropped the mask of cold +indifference, and allowed his face to betray the agitation and rage +filling 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 reverse 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 +treaties, to allow him the permanent use of certain military roads +within the boundaries of my empire; he hurled from their thrones +dynasties which were related to me, and whose existence I had +guaranteed; he deprived, in violation of the law of nations, the +beloved and universally respected head of Christendom of his throne, +and subjected him to a most disgraceful imprisonment; he exerted on +all seas the most arbitrary pressure on the Austrian flag. And now, +after all this has happened, after Austria has endured 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 conscripts for the troops of the line and the +reserves, and arm the fortresses. 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 him 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 master, the +Emperor Napoleon?" + +"I think it will be better for you to convey this answer in person +to your emperor," 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, your majesty gives me my passports, and war will +immediately break out between France and Austria!" sighed Andreossi. +"Your majesty should graciously consider--" + +"I have considered every thing," interrupted Francis, vehemently, +"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 out, +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 Andreossi, with a +sigh; "I will set out, but I 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 countries that have such good reasons +to love each other." + +"Let us quietly await the course of events," replied the emperor. +"Farewell, Count Andreossi. If you will accept my advice, you will +set out this very day; for so soon as my dear Viennese learn that +war is to break out in earnest, they will probably give vent to +their enthusiasm in the most tumultuous and rapturous +demonstrations, and I suppose it would be disagreeable to you to +witness them. Farewell, sir!" + +He waved his hand toward tile ambassador, bent his head slowly and +haughtily, and left the reception-room without vouchsafing another +glance to Count Andreossi. + +"Now my brothers will be in ecstasies," said the 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 wisdom." + +"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 only the third." + +"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 request, 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 really 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 word to my brother Charles there, and +bid welcome to his imperial highness, 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 immediate future." + +So saying, the emperor gazed with a long and searching look at his +brother's form, and a scornful expression overspread his features. + +Indeed, the epithets which the emperor had applied to his brother +corresponded but little to the appearance of the Archduke 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 hung down, was not the face of a bold +captain, confident of achieving brilliant triumphs by his heroic +deeds, and deserving 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 +whole of Germany, caused them really to build their hopes on the +Archduke Charles, despite his very feeble health. The Emperor +Francis was aware of this; he knew that the Archdukes 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 accompany him to your majesty." + +"Ah, then, you are after all not so harmonious as I thought when I +saw you entering here together!" exclaimed the emperor, laughing. +"There are still differences of opinion, then, between the two +pillars of my throne, and were I to lean on one, the other would +totter and give way. Well, what do you want? What brought you here?" + +"Your majesty, only the intense desire to dedicate our services to +Austria and our emperor!" exclaimed John, enthusiastically. "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 nightmare on every heart and every bosom; all +eyes are fixed hopefully on your majesty: 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 +before my lord and emperor, and thus, kneeling and full of +reverence. 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 laurels which he gained at Austerlitz, and of +which he is so proud. Your majesty, your people are filled with +warlike ardor; your faithful Tyrolese are waiting only for a signal +to break their chains and rise for their beloved emperor. Your +Italian provinces are longing 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 interests by +saying that we are 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 before 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 disagreeable impression on +him. + +"Rise, 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 convictions, and when I advance a +step, I must be sure not to fall to 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 +intrusting you, Archduke John, with organizing the militia and the +reserves in accordance with the plan 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 Charles, with a sigh. "Permit me now, your majesty, to open +my heart to you, and lay my innermost thoughts at your feet. To do +so, I accompanied my brother John to you. He said he would implore +your majesty once more to postpone the declaration of war no longer, +but utter at length the decisive word. I implored him 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 demanded 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 Archduke 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 rashly 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 hitherto +victorious legions." + +"Ah, do you hear our Fabius Cunctator, brother John, the Lion- +hearted!" exclaimed the emperor, sarcastically. "Which of you is +right, and whose wise advice shall I follow now--I, the poor +emperor, who is not strong 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, implores me not to do so. What am I, the poor emperor, who +cannot advise himself, and who receives too much advice from others, +to do under such circumstances? Whose will must 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 implore your +majesty to declare war, because I deem it necessary; but, if your +majesty should take a different resolution, I shall submit silently +and obediently." + +"And I," said Charles, "requested you to postpone the declaration of +war, because I do not believe that we are sufficiently prepared for +the contest; but, like my brother, I shall submit silently if your +majesty should take a different resolution." + +"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 his 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 resolved to declare +war!" + +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 approached 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 immediately?" + +"That is what I mean to say," replied the emperor, sarcastically. + +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 grasped 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 been infamously defrauded by Commissary-General von +Fassbender." + +"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 troops did not get the supplies. The scoundrel +sent only sour flour, 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 leaning more +firmly on his brother's arm, in order not to sink to the floor, he +added: "no, your majesty, the criminal is beyond 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 suffers 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 mind before you, my +brothers, entered here to assist me so generously by your wisdom. +War will be declared immediately; my resolution is irrevocable. I +have already informed the French ambassador of it, and ordered him +to leave Vienna this very day. Your warnings come just as much too +late as did John's entreaties. I did what I myself deemed best; and +I deemed it best to declare war against Bonaparte, in reply to his +intolerable arrogance. Every thing is fixed and settled; war will +commence without delay: and you, Archduke Charles, are the +generalissimo of my army." + +The Archduke Charles made no reply; he uttered a painful 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, and that the people rise with one accord and +take up arms. We have made our preparations 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 terror. + +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, that Baron von +Hormayr has returned to Vienna not alone, but accompanied by some +good friends. I believe you did not come here to give me your +advice, but to beg permission to receive your Tyrolese friends at +your palace to-night." + +"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 really important that the German and Italian Tyrol 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 Tyrolese to rise in arms. That would be +setting a bad example to the other nations of our empire. We may at +times profit by popular insurrections, but must beware 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 will 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 +generalissimo has recovered from his fit. It would be bad, indeed, +if these fits should befall him once in the midst of a battle. 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 radiant 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 assistance 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 will get along well enough; they have nothing to do with +politics and public affairs. Farewell, 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, farewell!" + +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 beloved 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 renowned brothers, against whom I must 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 which had always to +lie on it in readiness, and entered upon his favorite amusement, the +pursuit of the flies on the wall and furniture, which his servants +took good care not to drive from the emperor's cabinet, because +Francis would never have pardoned them for spoiling his sport. + +Walking along the walls with a rapid step, the emperor commenced +killing the flies. + +"Ha!" he exclaimed, striking a fly, "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 very +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 writhing +on the floor there. So, now you are dead, confounded little brother +Charles, and we will hunt for your brother John. See, see, there he +sits on the wall, cleaning his wings and making himself tidy and +pretty. There! There is an affectionate blow from your imperial +brother, and you are done for. Now you will never fly to YOUR +mountaineers and BRING 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 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 John 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 had 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 emperor 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 with rapt attention, and whenever Francis, on killing a +fly, pronounced the name of either of his brothers 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 back 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. Therefore, 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 separating 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 most 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 majesty, I succeeded in obtaining for a +considerable sum of money, the receipt for making Spanish 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 swear an oath not to divulge it." + +"And you obtained 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 rendered 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 chancery to +inform the ministers, archdukes, and generals that I wish 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 PERFORMANCE OF "THE CREATION." + + +A brilliant festival was to take place to-night in the large aula of +the Vienna University. All the composers, musicians, dilettanti, and +amateurs of Vienna, had joyously consented to participate in it. The +most distinguished names of the aristocracy and the artistic circles +of Vienna were at the head of the committee of arrangements. Among +those names were those of the Princes Lichnowsky and Lichtenstein, +the Countesses Kaunitz and Spielmann, of Beethoven and Salieri, +Kreutzer and Clementi, and finally, those of the poets Collin and +Carpani. + +Every one wished to participate in this festival, which was to +render homage to the veteran German composer, the great Joseph +Haydn, on the occasion of the twenty-fifth performance of the +maestro's great work, "The Creation." Ten years had elapsed since +the first performance of "The Creation" at Vienna, and already the +sublime composition had made the tour of Europe, and had been +performed amid the most enthusiastic 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 +admiration; everywhere delighted audiences had greeted with +rapturous 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. Although his seventy-seven years were +resting heavily on his head, and had paralyzed his strength, be +could not withstand the honorable request of his friends and +admirers, and he had replied with a touching smile to the committee +of arrangements, 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 render 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 triumph 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 two immense 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 applied 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 building; as they +could not hear Haydn's music, they wished at least to see his face +and cheer him on his arrival at the door. + +But there was a surging crowd also in the festively-decorated +university hall. All had come in their holiday attire, and joy and +profound emotion beamed from all faces. Friends shook hands and +greeted each other with radiant eyes; and even those who did not +know each other exchanged kindly greetings and pleasant smiles on +seating themselves 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 themselves +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 against 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 Emperor of +the French, but yielded with undisturbed equanimity to the enjoyment +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 the Rhine, they +wished to delight 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 splendidly 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 performers 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 artistes, but by the one great desire to +contribute their share to the homage 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 the great +maestro, and to German 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 +persons; 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 audience began +to whisper anxiously: "Will he, perhaps, not come, after all? Will +his physician not permit him 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 radiant, 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, but with a head full +of majestic dignity, his face gloomy and wild, his high forehead, +surrounded by dense dishevelled hair, his eyes now gleaming with +sombre fires, now glancing mildly and amiably. It was Louis von +Beethoven, whom Haydn 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-chair was seen the fine, 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 committee of arrangements. + +Thundering cheers greeted their appearance; the whole audience rose; +even the Empress Ludovica started up 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 expression on the +crowd below, and, turning to the empress, he said: "Perhaps my dear +Viennese may consider Haydn on his easy-chair yonder their emperor, +and I myself may abdicate and go home. They did not even look at us +to-night, and are raising such a fuss now as though God Almighty had +entered the ball!" + +In effect, the exultation of the audience increased at every step +which the procession advanced, and endless cheers accompanied the +composer to 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 German +maestro!" And the orchestra played a ringing flourish, and the +cheers of the audience 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 pallor overspread his +cheeks, and his hands trembled as though he had the fever. + +"Maestro, dear, dear maestro!" said the Princess Esterhazy, 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 +weak 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 shoulders the +costly Turkish shawl in which her form was enveloped; she spread it +out before Haydn and wrapped it carefully round his feet. Her +example was followed immediately by the Princesses Lichtenstein and +Kinsky, and the Countesses Kaunitz and Spielmann. They doffed their +beautiful ermine furs and their Turkish and Persian shawls, and +wrapped them around the old composer, and transformed them into +cushions which they placed under his head and his arms, and blankets +with which they covered him. [Footnote: See "Zeitgenossen," third +series, vol. vi., p. 32] + +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 triumph? Oh, +come, Death! waft me blissfully into the other world, for in this +world I am useless henceforth; 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 German 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 tumultuous 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 horizon brightens, the clouds are +rent, the dissonant sounds pass into a sublime harmony, and in +glorious notes of the most blissful exultation resound through the +struggling universe 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!" [Footnote: +"Zeitgenossen," ibid.] + +The audience had heard these loud and enthusiastic words; it +applauded no longer, but looked in reverent silence toward 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. + +The performance proceeded. But Joseph Haydn hardly heard much of the +music. 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 here, 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 nodded his assent silently and smilingly, and his eyes glanced +dreamily round the hall. + +Suddenly he gave a start as if in great terror, and rose so +impetuously that the furs and Turkish shawls, which had been wrapped +round him, fell to the floor. His face crimsoned as if in 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 fatherland, 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 +toward the imperial box; his eyes beamed with love and exultation, +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 guten Kaiser +Franz!" And the audience rose and gazed with profound emotion upon +Joseph Haydn's gleaming face, and then up to the emperor, 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 +vast crowd commenced singing: + + "Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser, + Unsern guten Kaiser Franz! + Lange lebe Franz der Kaiser + In des Glueckes hellem Kranz! + Ihm erbluehen Lorbeerreiser, + Wo er geht, zum Ehrenkranz. + Gott erhalte--" + + + + [Footnote: + "God preserve the emperor + Francis, our good emperor! + Long live Francis, brightest gem + In fair Fortune's diadem + O'er him see the laurel wave, + Honoring the true, the brave! + God preserve--"] + + + +Haydn's hands dropped exhausted from the keys; his form rocked to +and fro, and, half fainting, he sank back into the arms of Salieri +and Kreutzer. + +The audience paused; all forgot the imperial hymn, and looked only +at the venerable old maestro, whom Salieri and Kreutzer lowered now +softly into the easy-chair, which had been brought to them. + +"Take me home, dear ones," he said, faintly, "sing on, my +'Creation'; my soul will remain with you, but my body can no longer +stay. Old age has broken its strength. Farewell, farewell, all of +you! My soul will always be among you when you sing my music; my +body will go, but the soul will remain. Farewell!" + +And the votaries of art who had conveyed him to the hall now placed +the maestro'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 stillness by +uttering a sound. They bade farewell to the universally beloved and +revered maestro only by bowing their heads to him and shedding tears +of emotion--farewell for evermore! + +The solemn procession had now arrived at the door. Joseph Haydn +lifted his weary head once more; his spirit gleamed once more in his +eyes; an expression of unutterable love beamed from his mild face; +he 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. [Footnote: "Zeitgenossen," third +series, vol iv., p. 33] + +A low rustling and sobbing passed through the hall; no one was +courageous enough to clap his hands; all hearts were profoundly +moved, all eyes filled with tears. + +But now he disappeared, and the door closed behind Joseph Haydn. The +German maestro had to-day celebrated his apotheosis 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 Haydn's favorite hymn-- +the second verse of 'Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser!'" + +"Yes, yes," shouted all, enthusiastically, "the second verse! the +second verse!" + +And hundreds of voices shouted to the orchestra beseechingly, +imperiously, thunderingly, that it should play the accompaniment; +and the musicians complied with this tumultuous request. + +The audience expressed their gratitude by an outburst of applause, +and sang thereupon the second verse: + + "Lass von seiner Fahne Spitzen + Strahlen Sieg and Furchtbarkeit + Lass in seinem Rathe sitzen + Weisheit, Klugheit, Redlichkeit, + Und mit seiner Hoheit Blitzen + Schalten our Gerechtigkeit. + Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser, + Unsern guten Kaiser Franz!" + + + + [Footnote: + "Before his banner floating high + Let victory shout and foemen fly! + In his connsels let preside + Wisdom, prudence, noble pride! + Homely justice delling find! + God preserve the emperor, + Francis, our good emperor!"] + + + +The emperor bowed his thanks to the audience, the orchestra +commenced again playing the air, and the audience sang anew: + + "Lass von seiner Fahne Spitzen + Strahlen Sieg und Furchtbarkeit!" + + +And arms and hands were lifted here and there beseechingly 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 Furchtbarkeit!" + + +And then all shouted loudly, beseechingly, and withal angrily and +courageously, + + "War! war! Lass von seiner Fahne + Spitzen strahlen Sieg and Furchtbarkeit!" + + +The excitement of the audience grew constantly bolder and more +impetuous. The men left their seats and crowded around the imperial +bog, repeating again and again the words + + "Lass von seiner Fahne Spitzen + Strahlen Sieg and Furchtbarkeit!" + + +The emperor withdrew in confusion into the background of his box, +and whispered quickly a few words to the Archduke 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 announces to his dear Viennese that he is +determined to submit no longer to the arrogance of France, and that +war is irrevocably resolved on." + +A cry of rapture burst from all lips; all shouted exultingly, "War! +war! We shall at length bid defiance to the arrogance 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 and acquaintances greeted each other with radiant 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 shall have war, and God will +grant us--" + +The ringing notes of the orchestra interrupted the animated +conversation of the excited audience. Salieri had taken his seat +again, he raised his baton, and the second part of "The Creation" +commenced. + + + + +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 slowly through the lonely +streets, or a belated wanderer was seen to return home with a weary +step. + +Vienna slept and dreamed of the welcome news which, despite 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 imperial 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 permitted the other footmen to +retire from the anteroom to their bedchambers, and had then himself +locked the door of the outer anteroom. + +"I do not trust Conrad, my valet de chambre," 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 possible in my +service, for I know him, and shall be able to mystify him. I shall +always have to suffer a spy by my side, for the 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 the visitors who will be here to-night, and +therefore I dismissed 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 that at this hour," exclaimed John. "The +emperor knows that I am to receive the delegates of the Tyrolese; 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 the 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; his friends were there, and entered +his cabinet now by the secret door. They were headed by Baron von +Hormayr in his brilliant gold-embroidered uniform, which rendered +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 immense; his head was +covered with dense black hair, his bronzed face was radiant with +kind-heartedness and good-humor. His dress was the common habit 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 Tyrolese 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 crucifix fastened to a heavy gold chain, and +over it, down to the girdle, flowed his 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 +"Barbone." + +The second of the Tyrolese who entered the archduke's cabinet was a +man of no less imposing appearance, dressed entirely like Andreas +Hofer; only the long beard was wanting to him, and, instead of a +black hat, he wore 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 +defiance 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 Tyrolese, as proud and strong, as robust +and fine-looking, as his two companions. It was Anthony Wallner, 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, welcome!" he said, in a deeply-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-greetings from the Tyrolese, and the hope of +better times. Say, you three brave men from the Tyrol, Andreas +Hofer, Joseph Speckbacher, Anthony Wallner, is it not so? Have you +not come to tell me that the Tyrol is longing for her emperor and +desirous of getting rid of the Bavarians?" + +"Yes, we have come to say this to our dear John," exclaimed Andreas +Hofer. + +"We have come to ask if Austria does not intend to call upon her +Tyrol to rise and fight under her banners," said Joseph Speckbacher. + +"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 time! 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 you and with you!" + +"God grant success to our united efforts!" 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 sovereign. 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 was forced upon us." + +"No, you were a stubborn disloyalist, Andy." said Hormayr, "and, as +spokesman of your whole district, you raised your voice against +every new law which the Bavarian government promulgated in your +country. But, it is true the Tyrolese love their Andy for this, and +say that he is the most honest, faithful, and reliable man in the +whole valley of the Adige." + +"To be courageous is not so difficult 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 rest, 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 day 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 solemnly +guaranteed, and which her authorities 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 consultation with the estates of the +people; specie has become scarce, from the quantity of it which is +being drawn off to the Bavarian treasury; the Austrian notes have +been reduced to half their value; and, to crown 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 +down--we will become freemen again--as freemen we will live and die- +-as freemen we will belong again to our beloved Emperor Francis, +whose ancestors have 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 +all vowed to God and the Holy Virgin that we will deliver the Tyrol +from the enemy; and every man, every lad in our mountains and +valleys, is ready to take up his rifle and fight for his dear +Emperor Francis." + +"We are here as delegates of the whole Tyrol," said Anthony Wallner, +"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 reconquer our ancient rights and +liberties." + +"But we need assistance for this purpose," added Joseph Speckbacher, +"speedy and vigorous 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 corps d'armee, +money, ammunition, and supplies. Only you must be ready and prepared +to rise as one man when we give you the signal of insurrection." + +"We are ready!" exclaimed Andreas Hofer, nodding joyously. "But you +must not delay the signal very long, for delays are highly-- +dangerous under the present circumstances. We and our friends have +prepared the insurrection, and it is as if a large torrent of fire +were flowing 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 secret +known to a great many is seldom well kept; it is, as it were, a ripe +fruit which must fall from the tree, even though it should hit and +crush the head of the owner of the tree." + +"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 Innthal, 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 Sieberer, 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 are 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 emperor." + +"And the emperor, on his part, is longing for his Tyrolese," 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; "let us +deliberate. But I tell you beforehand, I am no military 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 terror-stricken, and +restore us to our dear Emperor Francis. But I am unversed in +negotiations and devising shrewd tricks and stratagems. I am only a +plain peasant, who has a great deal of love and fidelity in his +heart, but only few thoughts in his head. Baron von Hormayr and the +archduke may do the thinking for me. They shall be the head, and I +the arm and heart. Speckbacher and Wallner yonder have good heads +too, though I do not wish to say that their hearts are not also in +the right place; on the contrary, 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, holding 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 room. + +Day was already 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 glowing with defiance and +resolution, and their eyes 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 part which he was +to play in the struggle. 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, nodding kindly +to the Tyrolese. "Eleven points, 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. "First, then: The Tyrolese will +rise against the Bavarians, in order to be reunited with Austria. We +shall enlist as many soldiers for the insurgent army as possible, +and try to make all Tyrolese our fellow-conspirators. 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 facilitate the intercourse of the conspirators with +each other. If it please God, the insurrection will break 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 follows: No +written communication whatever shall be permitted 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 families 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 ammunition; 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, Klagenfurth, and Trieste; and each of us three, Hofer, +Speckbacher, 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 outbreak. But the mountaineers must send +out, at intervals of four days, spies to ascertain the state of +affairs 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-Marshal Jellachich will +arrive in front of Innspruck, and the vanguard of Field-Marshal +Chasteler will march through the Puster valley to the heights of +Schwabs and Elbach toward Brixen, and advance the head of his column +beyond the Brenner 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 pursued 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 officers and +blow up their ammunition-wagons. The Tyrolese should chase the +Bavarians and the French in this manner from 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 treasure must be +prevented by all means. Ninth: The Tyrolese living on the rivers +must 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 cautiously 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 +English agents who will convey arms and money to the Tyrolese. +Eleventh--" + +"Ah, let me state the eleventh point," exclaimed Joseph Speckbacher, +with flashing 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 coup de main. Field-Marshal Jellachich +will move several companies of riflemen as close up to the fortress +as possible, and Jacob Sieberer and Joseph Speckbacher, who will +beforehand 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 will +bless and praise the good God. The eleventh and last point is +Kufstein. God protect us in carrying out these eleven points!" +[Footnote: These eleven points were settled in this manner at Vienna +by the delegates of the Tyrolese, the Archduke John, and Baron von +Hormayr, and noted down by the latter.--See Hormayr, "Geschichte +Andreas Hofer's," vol. i, p. 193 et seq.] + +"Amen!" exclaimed Andreas Hofer, raising his crucifix and pressing +it to his lips. "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 April, and we must be ready to rise +on that day. On the 9th of April the Austrians are to cross the +frontier, and on the previous evening they will inform us by firing +off three rockets 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," exclaimed the +archduke enthusiastically. "The emperor, my gracious master, intends +to intrust me with the command of the army which is to fight 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 insurrection 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 +your 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 spies here ferret out that Andreas Hofer, Speckbacher, and +Wallner are in Vienna, and that I have had an interview with them, +their keen noses will scent at once what is going on, and they will +send, even before we reach the Tyrol, so many Bavarian and French +soldiers into your country, that you will be tied hand and foot, and +cannot raise your arms on the 9th of April to seize your rifles. +Therefore, I repeat it, keep your faces in check, and do not allow +yourselves 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 his hands, almost in +terror, and drew it caressingly through his fingers. + +"No," he said, "my friends and countrymen know me by my beard, and +the Barbone is a welcome guest in the Italian Tyrol. They would not +recognize me if I should appear 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 Speckbacher, 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, Andreas Hofer must not be ungrateful; +and he would be ungrateful 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 traffic in corn, wine, horses, and oxen, +by which I had made a great deal of money. My friends sneered at my +staying so much at home, and said: 'Andy Hofer, the Sandwirth, is a +henpecked husband, and his wife is master of the house.' This was +very disagreeable to me, for, although I love 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 rejoice 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 Anthony, 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 up, and 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 become the laughing-stock of +the children by appearing in the streets with such a lion's mane. +Therefore consider the matter well, Andy, for there is time yet. +Admit that you will not win the bet, for two oxen are at stake!' 'I +have already considered 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 Gertrude, my wife, rejoiced 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.' That, archduke, is the story of my beard, which I have worn +ever since, and which has often been a pillow when my little boy and +three girls fell asleep on my lap, and under which they have often +concealed their little heads when their mother was looking for them. +You will ask me no more to cut off my beard--the pillow and +plaything of my children." + +"No, Andreas," said the archduke, kindly, "I will not. Wear your +fine beard as you have done hitherto; may it be, notwithstanding its +black 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 be settled you may talk over +to-morrow with Baron von Hormayr, who will give you money for +travelling 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 Tyrolese, +exultingly. + +"Hush, for God's sake, hush!" said John, laughing. "You must keep +quiet, and, instead of doing so, you shout as jubilantly 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 people 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 tomorrow 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 the rising to the sky the signal which is +to tell us that our dear Archduke John sends us his soldiers to +assist us in delivering our country from the enemy, and restoring +it, with 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!" + + + + +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 mantelpiece he cast an anxious glance on +it. + +"I am afraid Hormayr was not at home," he murmured 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 pinch +from it. "I said at the very outset," he murmured, "that we ought to +keep aloof from these stupid peasants, who will only involve us in +trouble and mischief. But those gentlemen would not listen to me, +and--Really, I believe I hear footsteps in the anteroom. Yes, yes, +somebody is coming!" + +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!" 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 +importance, 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 unusual 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! +It would have been more agreeable to me, too, if it had been +unnecessary for me to trouble you and myself. But it is your own +fault. You do not keep your word." + +"Your excellency!" cried Hormayr, indignantly. + +"Bah! it is true. You do not keep your word. You promised me that +your Tyrolese should not show themselves, lest we might be charged +with fomenting an insurrection; and 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 Tyrolese are running around everywhere." + +"Pardon me, your excellency, that cannot be true. You must have been +misinformed." + +"What! misinformed? How dare you say so to my face, sir? Your +beardman, or bushman, or Sandwirth Hofer is at the Karnthnerthor +Theatre, and is the observed of all observers. I saw him with my own +eyes; and that was the reason why I left the theatre and sent for +you."[Footnote: Count Stadion's own words.--See Hormayr's "Andreas +Hofer," vol i., p. 209] + +"Your excellency saw him with your own eyes! Then, of course, it +must be true, and I would beg leave of your excellency to go +immediately to the theatre and take him to his hotel." + +"That was 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 reaching the Karnthnerthor +Theatre, he 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 +Viennese had attracted so large an audience that not a seat was +vacant, and the baron had to elbow his way with no little difficulty +through the crowd filling the pit, in order to reach a point where +he might be able to see every part of the house, and discover him +for whose sake he had come. + +At length he had succeeded in advancing so far that, leaning against +one of the pillars supporting the 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 of 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 behave!" And a +threatening fist and vigorous arm was raised in the midst of the +orchestra-stalls. + +"Good heavens! 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 devoted their exclusive attention to the +queer, bearded stranger in the orchestra-stall, on whom all eyes and +opera-glasses were fixed. + +Baron von Hormayr behind his pillar wiped the perspiration from his +forehead, and cast furious glances on Andreas Hofer, who, however, +was utterly unaware of his presence, and from whose breast, +protected as it was by his beard and crucifix, rebounded all such +glances like blunted arrows. + +The actors, who, interrupted by the unexpected cheers, and the +incident in the audience, had paused a few minutes, and had +themselves hardly been able to refrain from bursting into laughter, +now continued their scene, and the charms of the music and the +interesting character of the action soon succeeded again 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 entrance. He slipped a florin +into the hand of the doorkeeper, who was leaning against the wall. +"Say," he whispered to 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 elbowed himself +courageously through the crowd, and succeeded. in reaching the +"cattle-dealer from Hungary," who sat absorbed in his reflections, +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 your countryman with the wine and the horses is +waiting for you, and that he says he must see you right away." + +" Well, then, come, conduct me to him," said Andreas, rising from +his chair, and drawing up his colossal form to its 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 whenever they stood in his way. + +At length they reached the door, and stepped into the corridor. +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 deserted and silent that there was no +danger of their conversation 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!" [Footnote: Hormayr's own +words.--See Hormayr's "Andreas Hofer," vol. i., p. 209.] + +"Andreas Hofer never breaks his word," said Hofer, gravely. "I +promised not to appear in the streets in the day-time, and I have +faithfully kept my word. I stayed at home all day, and it was only +after nightfall that we three went together 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." + +"And on buying a ticket. Andy, you supposed you purchased +indulgence, did you not? " + +"No, I did not," said Andreas in a tone of embarrassment. "But, on +seeing all those persons step to the office and get tickets, I +thought there were Christian passion-plays performed there, as at +Innspruck 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 ticket, 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 +my countryman with the horses and wine is. He insisted on seeing me, +sent for me, and does not come now." + +"But, Andy, 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 here? I tell you 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 countryman who has +arrived here with the horses and wine." + +"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 cannot go +because I must see the remainder of the play. Let me, therefore, +return to my seat, for I paid for the whole performance; I believe I +have already missed a great deal; but they will assuredly not return +to me at the office a penny for what I did not hear." [Footnote: +Hofer's own words.--See Hormayr, "Andreas Hofer," vol. i., p. 810.] + +"They will not, and shall not either," cried Hormayr, angrily. "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 promise to send soldiers and guns in time to the Tyrol. But, in +return, you must do what the archduke asked you to do; you must +carefully conceal yourself, Andy, in order to prevent the Bavarians +from learning of your trip to Vienna; otherwise they would arrest +you and your friends after your return to the Tyrol. Hence you must +not return to your seat, where so many 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 old Marielle after all, +and give up pretty little Susanne. Ah, my God! she will die heart- +broken, for she loves him so dearly. Pray, sir, let me go in once +more, that I may see whether or not he must marry old Marielle." + +"No, Andy," said Hormayr, smiling, "you need not be uneasy; Figaro +will not marry old Marielle, for she is his own mother." + +"What!" cried Andreas, in dismay; "she his mother, and he has +promised to marry her! That is most sinful and infamous! No good +Christian should listen to such things. Come along, sir. I do not +want to hear another word of it. Good heavens! what will Anna +Gertrude say when I tell her what I have seen here, and that there +are here in Vienna men infamous enough to promise to marry their +mothers?" + +"But they never do so in reality, Andy, but only on the stage. +Otherwise the police would be after them at once. For the emperor is +a very pious and virtuous gentleman, and he 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 +Tyrolese 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 victory. +Come, we will go home, and to-morrow I shall return 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 Bavarians from waylaying us and frustrating our great and noble +purpose!" [Footnote: The delegates of the Tyrolese left Vienna on +the following morning; their presence there, however, had been +reported to the Bavarian officers, who, during their homeward +journey, almost succeeded in arresting them. John von Graff, a +banker of Botzen, was apprised of their arrival in Vienna by his +correspondent in that city and informed the commissary-general at +Brixen 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.] + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +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 and hesitation. The time for +action was at hand. + + Already the French ambassador, Andreossi, had left Vienna, 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'armes. + +And to-day, on the 9th of March, Austria was to proclaim to all +Germany, by means of a public festival, that she was resolved to +renew the struggle with France and risk once more the blood of her +people and the existence of her imperial dynasty in order to deliver +Germany from the usurper who was intent on crushing in his iron +hands the liberty and independance 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 holiday; 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 canopy, 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 and his family; all eyes were riveted upon +it, and all hearts longed to greet the sovereign, and thank him for +the proud happiness of this hour. + +Further 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 benefit 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 pilgrimage to the glacis had been going on; by +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 the road, and their officers and +standard-bearers repaired to the large rondel where another had been +constructed in face of the imperial tribune. They ranged themselves +around the altar, on whose steps priests in full vestments were +kneeling, 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 inhabitants of Vienna, +and to the many thousands of strangers who had come to witness the +solemnity, that the emperor with his con-art and his children had +left the Hofburg, and was approaching the glacis, followed by his +suite. The militia assumed a stiff military attitude, the drums +rolled, the cannon boomed, the bugles sounded merry notes, and the +emperor, leading his consort by the hand, entered the tribune. He +looked pale; 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; who would die with his +subjects rather than longer bear the arrogance of France; and who +boldly and courageously staked all in order to win all, to restore +at length a lasting peace to Austria and Germany, and vindicate +their honor and independence. For this reason all hearts greeted the +Emperor Francis with love and exultation, and he was received with +deafening and constantly-renewed cheers. + +The emperor received with a forced smile the flattering homage which +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 satisfied 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 usurpation." + +"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 Archdukes 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 immediately; "the people are +cheering my brothers as though they were two divinities from whom +alone they expect salvation and prosperity." + +"Your majesty, the people cheer the archdukes because they are the +brothers of the emperor, and because the confidence of your majesty +has placed them at the head of the Austrian armies to lead them to +battle, and, if it please God, to victory. It is your majesty alone +that appointed the Archduke Charles generalissimo of all your +forces, and the Archduke John commander of the army of Lower +Austria." + +"Yes, I did so, for, blessed as I am with brothers so heroic and +spirited, I must of course distinguish and employ them in accordance +with their merits; otherwise they might believe I was jealous of +their glory and splendor. This would be entirely false, for, so far +from being jealous of them, I love them dearly, and give them now +again another opportunity 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 +defeat; but that does not prevent them from being heroes and great +men. Just listen to the roars with which the people greet them! +Jesus Maria! I hope the generalissimo will not have his fits 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 will fortunately not be fulfilled. You +see that the archduke is quite well; he is just addressing his +troops." + +"Yes, yes, I know his speech. M. von Gentz wrote it for him and I +permitted him to deliver it. Ah, it abounds with fine phrases, and +my dear Austrians will be astonished on hearing what liberal men we +have become all of a sudden, and what grand ideas of liberty, +equality, and popular sovereignty we have adopted. Just listen to +him! the conclusion is very fine, 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 honor of all Germany expect their +salvation only of our armies. Never shall they, instruments of +oppression, carry on in foreign countries the endless wars of a +destructive ambition, annihilate innocent nations, and with their +own corpses pave for foreign conquerors 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!" [Footnote: Hormayr, "Allgemeine Geschichte," vol. iii., p. +219.] + +A long-continued, deafening outburst of applause both of the +soldiers and the people was the reply to the stirring address of the +generalissimo; but suddenly every sound was hushed, for at the +altar, yonder by the side of the tall crucifix, appeared now the +archbishop, accompanied by the whole body of the high clergy. + +The emperor rose from his seat and bowed humbly and devoutly 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 marched the troops into the middle of the +place, and the consecration of the flags commenced amid the peals of +all the church-bells and the booming of artillery. + +The emperor looked on, standing, bareheaded, and with hands clasped +in prayer. Ludovica turned her eyes heavenward, 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 gloomy, 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 danger!" + +"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 heads in prayer. Hushed +was every sound on the vast place. Only the church-bells were +pealing and the artillery was booming in the distance, and the +murmur of the devout prayers which rose to God from so many pious +hearts broke the silence. + +In the fervent enthusiasm of this 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 were about to take the field; +the affianced brides allowed their lovers to depart without uttering +complaints or weeping at the thought of their impending departure; +wives took leave of their husbands with joyous courage, pressing +their infants to their breasts and commending them trustingly to +God's protection. The patriotic 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 favorable circumstances laid down their plate and valuables on +the altar of the country; the mechanics offered to work gratuitously +for the army; the women scraped lint and organized associations for +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 +rapturous 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 German state and holding out their hands +to their Austrian brethren, telling them that they sympathized most +vividly with the ends which then 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 joyous mask with which the generalissimo, the +Archduke 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 +an his quartermaster-general, Count Gruenne, he said: "My friend, +listen to that which I am going to say to you now, and which you +will remember one day. I have objected three times in the most +emphatic manner to this declaration of war, for I know that our +preparations are not sufficiently matured, and I know also that I +have here in Austria powerful enemies who are intent on impeding 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 merits and influence; it will +always oppose us, even though it should endanger thereby the power +and honor of the fatherland. 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, +the Emperor Francis. He had retired into his cabinet, and strode +growlingly up and down, holding the fly-flap in his hand, and +striking savagely at the flies which his searching 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 morose. 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 intend to set out to- +night for Gratz, and organize my staff there." + +"God bless you, commander of the Southern army!" said the emperor, +dryly; "God bless you, brother. You were all eager for war; now you +have it!" + +"And your majesty has witnessed 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, dryly. "Thank God, I +cast off the crown of Germany three years ago, and am no longer +Emperor of Germany." + +"But one day, when your armies have conquered France and delivered +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 convinced that we +can and shall conquer Bonaparte?" + +"I am. We shall conquer, if--" + +"Well, if--"asked the emperor, when the archduke hesitated. + +"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 efforts of one +and frustrate those of the other. Oh, brother, permit me at this +farewell hour to utter a few frank and truthful words, and I beg +your majesty to forgive me if my heart opens to you in unreserved +confidence. Brother, I confess frankly all is not as it should be +here. Where concord should reign; there is discord; where all should +have their 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, I 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, +confide 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 insignificant it may be. My brother, there has long been a +gulf between us; God knows that I did not dig it. But let us fill it +up forever at this farewell hour. I implore you, believe in my love, +my devoted loyalty; take me by the hand and say, `John, I trust you! +I believe in you!' 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 confidence! +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 protest 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 always be +inexorable, whosoever 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 requested 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 servants. 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 responsibility 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 snake another attempt to gain +your confidence." + +"Is that intended as a threat?" asked the emperor, angrily. + +"No," said John, mournfully, "I do not threaten 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, vehemently, "shall always bear in mind +that you were the head of the faction which, by its insensate clamor +for war, first aroused Napoleon's anger, brought about +demonstrations and armaments on our part, and finally obliged me to +resolve on war, although 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 head of the army. I consulted +the most experienced and sagacious men. I myself paid a visit to +Count Cobenzl, who is lying at the point of death, and asked his +opinion. He hates Napoleon as ardently as any one, and yet he is in +favor of peace. I consulted the Prince de Ligne and Minister Thugut; +one is an ambitious captain, the other a vindictive diplomatist, who +would like to overthrow Napoleon; 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 manner, "permit +me to say a few words 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 I +will reconquer the Tyrol and your Italian provinces." + +"See, see, what a nice plan!" exclaimed the emperor, laughing. "You +wish to be another generalissimo, and independent 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 generalissimo," +said the emperor, sternly. "To-day you will 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. Farewell, brother; may God and the Holy Virgin +bless you and your army!" + +"Farewell, your majesty," said the archduke, bowing ceremoniously to +the emperor. He then turned hastily and left the room. + +The emperor looked after him with an angry air. "I believe the two +archdukes will thwart each other on all occasions," he said, in a +low voice. "There will not only be war with France, but also war +between 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 fatherland. 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 I shall welcome this if +my dying eyes can behold liberty dawning upon Germany!" + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +'TIS TIME + + +It was late in the afternoon of the 8th of April. The setting sun +was shedding his last red rays on the distant mountain-crests of the +Janfen and the Timbler Toch, whose blood-red summits contrasted +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 mountains, cast the gray veil of dusk over +these lower slopes. Below, in the Passeyr valley, however, night +already prevailed, for the mountains looming up on both sides of the +valley filled 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 valley, 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 solitary house +on the knoll situated half-way between the two villages, was seen +the bright glare of many candles, and the persons passing on the +road in the valley looked up and whispered 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 house on the knoll, then, belonged to Andreas Hofer. It +was the Gasthaus zum Sand, far famed throughout the Tyrol. And the +passers-by were not mistaken. Andreas Hofer was at home, and had a +great many guests at his house. On the benches of the large bar-room +sat his guests, handsome Tyrolese, with flashing eyes and animated +faces, which were all turned toward the Sandwirth, [Footnote: The +name usually given to Hofer--"Sandwirth, landlord of the inn Zum +Sand."] who was sitting on the small table yonder, and conversing in +a low tone with his friends Eisenstecken and Sieberer. 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 Austrian government +has again postponed the matter, and we shall vainly look far 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! The 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 rise 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 patience," added +Hofer, with a pleasant nod; "the 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 rows of faultless white teeth. + +"I and the girls will attend to the guests," she said, "but the men +do not drink any thing. The glasses and jugs are all filled, but +they do not empty them, and--Look! who comes there?" + +Andreas Hofer 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 pointed his outstretched arm at the small, dark +form entering the room at this moment. + +"It is Major Teimer," he continued, joyfully; "I suppose you know +yet our dear major of 1805?" + +"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 reception, 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 1805. That year 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 the Austrian forces which are to +co-operate with us, sends me to Andreas Hofer, whom I am to inform +that the Austrian troops, commanded by Marquis von Chasteler and +General Hiller, will cross the Tyrolese frontier to-night." + +"Hurrah, hurrah! the Austrians are 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 country!" + +Andreas Hofer's face, too, was radiant with joy; but, instead of +singing 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 friends," 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. "I +have invited you all because you are the most influential and +respectable men in this part of the country, and because the +fatherland has need of you and counts upon you and me. The +sharpshooters of the Passeyrthal told me, if war should break out, I +must be their captain; and I accepted 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 must 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 yon 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 Teimer's bright, keen face; +however, no sooner had he met Teimer'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 accordance with +our wishes. We are to rise at once, for already tomorrow the +Austrians will have crossed our frontiers. Marquis von Chasteler +will march from Carinthia into the Puster valley; General Hiller is +moving from Salzburg toward the Lower 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 are to direct and manage +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 spreading the news over the mountains and through +the valleys, that all may rise and participate in the great work of +deliverance. 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 Vienna, I will issue a circular to all our friends +that they may know what to do under these circumstances. Is there +among you 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 thought correctly, it is not spelled 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 Ennemoser, son of John Ennemoser, the Seewirth," said +Andreas 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 University of Innspruck." + +"For all that, I have remained an honest 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 only my pen, and act as Andreas +Hofer's obedient secretary." [Footnote: Joseph Ennemoser, son of +John Ennemoser, the tailor and Seewirth of the Passeyrthal, was a +shepherd in his boyhood. His father sent him to the gymnasium of +Innsbruck, and afterward to the university of the same city, where +he studied medicine. In 1809 he was Hofer's secretary. Afterward he +became a celebrated professor of medicine at the University of +Bonn.] + + "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 yon Chasteler +from Carinthia to the Puster valley. On the 11th or 12th of April +the former will arrive at Innsbruck, and the latter at Brixen. The +Archduke John orders that the Muhlbach pass be occupied by peasants +from the Puster valley, and the Kuntersweg 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 dumfounded 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 Hormayr's letter did not disturb the admiration +they felt for their chosen leader, and they were silent and stared +at him 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 in the lower valley. You, George +Lanthaler, will carry the order to Joseph Speckbacher at Kufstein; +you, Joseph Gufler, will take it to the farmer at the Schildhof; +you, George Steinhauferle, will go to Anthony Wallner, the +Aichberger at Windisch-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 children, that they +may carry them to the neighbors and distribute them everywhere. +Speckbacher and Wallner, too, have packages of such paper balls, and +so soon as our faithful messengers 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!' We must +expel the Bavarians! 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!" + +Half an hour afterward the large bar-room was deserted, and profound +silence reigned in the inn Zum Sand. The servants and children of +the Sandwirth 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 barroom. Andreas Hofer was walking up and +down there silently and thoughtfully, his hands folded on his back; +Gertrude 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 beloved 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 strike 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 murderous bullets. + +"I do not say that this will 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 step to-morrow +morning out of my street-door, and enter upon the duties of the +position which they have conferred on me; for I am to command the +peasants of the 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 right in taking upon myself so responsible a +task, and plunging my family, perhaps, into grief 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 country; and when the latter call you and say, +"Come, we need your arm and assistance," you must, as an honest man, +obey the call, go to them, and leave your family; for to love the +fatherland is every man's highest honor, and to be loyal and devoted +to the emperor is the first duty of every Tyrolese.' God and my +conscience spoke to me thus in my breast, and now I ask you too, +dear wife--I ask you before God and your conscience--would you like +your husband not to obey the emperor's call, but stay at home, while +his brave brethren and friends are taking the field to defend the +country and expel the Bavarians?" + +"No, indeed, Andy, I would not," cried Gertrude, in dismay; "I +should never dare again to lift my eyes before anybody; 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 woman must give up her +husband for the sake of the fatherland." + +Andreas laid his hand on his wife's head as if to bless her. "It is +as you say, Gertrude," he said, solemnly. "For the sake of the +fatherland and the emperor you must give up your husband and your +children their father; and we are not allowed to shut our ears in +order not to hear that the dear Tyrol and the good Emperor Francis +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 not ashamed of it--I +weep!" + +He leaned his head against his wife's shoulder, and, folding her to +his heart, sobbed aloud. But this lasted only a short time; then be +raised himself again, and drew his hand quickly across his eyes. + +"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 Abraham, 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 faithful servant; +but if Thou wishest to use me for Thy great purposes, 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!" + +"Amen!" exclaimed Andreas. "And now, dearest 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 henceforth 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 another kiss! +Who knows but it may be the last time you will ever kiss me, dear +Gertrude? And here is still another kiss for our girls. Now it is +enough. Go to bed now, Gertrude, and pray for me." + +"You will not go to bed, Andy?" asked Gertrude, anxiously. + +"No, I will not, Anna Gertrude. I have business to attend to in the +yard with Joe, our laborer. We will kill the brindled cow." + +"What? This very night?" + +"This very night. We need the blood and meat. We shall pour the +blood into the Passeyr, and you will see tomorrow that we need the +meat, for I believe we shall have a great many guests in the +morning." + +Andreas Hofer's prophecy was fulfilled. Already early in the morning +a great many men assembled in front of the inn Zum Sand. They were +the sharpshooters of the Passeyr valley, who were flocking from all +parts of the district to Hofer's house to report to the beloved +commander of Passeyr. They came down from the mountains and up from +the valleys. They wore their holiday dresses, and their yellow +Sunday hats were decorated with bouquets of rosemary and handsome +ribbons. They were merry and in the best of spirits, as if they were +going to the dance; only instead of their rosy-cheeked 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! 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 handsome holiday +attire; his good-natured, honest face gleamed with joy, and his +glance was mild and clear, and yet so firm and commanding. His whole +bearing breathed calm dignity, and it seemed to the men of Passeyr +as though the morning sun which illuminated his face surrounded his +head with a golden halo. They stood aside with timid reverence and +awe. Hofer advanced into the middle of the circle which 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 Austrians. 'Tis time! The Bavarians 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 Tyrolese; at least +your fathers called themselves so; now you are to call yourselves +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 revealed 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 and pray, give them quarter. Up +against the Bavarians! 'Tis time!" + +"Up against the Bavarians! 'tis time!" shouted all the brave men, +enthusiastically; and the mountain echoes answered: "Up against the +Bavarians! 'tis time!" + +And the blood-red waters of the Passeyr carried down into the valley +the message: "Up against the Bavarians! 'tis time!" + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +ANTHONY WALLNER OF WINDISCH-MATREY. + + +An unusual commotion reigned in the market-place of Windisch-Matrey +on the afternoon of the 9th of April. The men and youths of +Windisch-Matrey and its environs were assembled there in dense +groups, and thronged in constantly-increasing masses round the house +of the innkeeper Anthony Aichberger, called Wallner. The women, too, +had 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 words were uttered, clinched fists were +raised menacingly, and glances of secret understanding were +exchanged. + +The liveliest scene, however, took place in the large barroom of the +inn. The foremost men of the whole district, strong, well-built +forms, with defiant faces and courageous bearing, had assembled +there around Anthony Wallner-Aichberger. They spoke but little, but +sat on the benches against the walls of the room, and stared into +their glasses, which Eliza, Wallner'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 everywhere; to-day she +was moody and taciturn. Formerly her checks glowed like purple +roses, 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 crimson tinged Eliza's cheeks, her lips +were firmly compressed, and her eyes were dim and lustreless. From +time to time, while waiting on the 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 grave and anxious, and in +walking to the groups of guests seated on the benches here and +there, he glanced uneasily toward the windows. + +"It may be that they will not come, after all, Tony, and that the +Viennese have fooled you," whispered old Thurnwalden from Meran to +him. + +"I cannot comprehend it," sighed Anthony Wallner. "The insurrection +was to break out on the 9th of April, and the Austrian troops were +to cross the frontier on that day; and this was the reason why we +have hitherto resisted the conscription and refused to pay the new +taxes. But the 9th of April has come now, and we have received no +message from Hofer or the Austrians." + +"And to-day the time which the 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 Thurnwalden, +when all were silent again and had drunk a long draught from their +glasses as if to confirm their words. "You know there is a whole +company of soldiers at Castle Weissenstein, 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 Thurnwalden," 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 Weissenstein to Windisch-Matrey. But come, my dear friends, I +see the Bavarian tax-collectors walking across 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 from the room to the 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 face of her mother, +who had just entered the room without being heard by her. Eliza +sprang up and embraced her mother with passionate tenderness. +"Dearest mamma," she whispered, "I am afraid." + +"Afraid of what?" asked her mother, in a low voice. "Are you afraid +the Austrians 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, blushing with shame, "no, that is not what I 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 chamber; 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 hands." + +"But, mother, there are also good men among them," exclaimed Eliza. +"You know very well I am a loyal Tyrolese girl, and love my emperor +dearly, 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 Hohenberg up at +Castle Weissenstein. You know his cousin has always 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 snot ceased going to Castle Weissenstein, +although it is garrisoned by a detachment of Bavarian soldiers. +Father himself wished me to go to the young lady as heretofore, for +he said it would look suspicious if I should stay away all of a +sudden. Therefore I went to see my dear friend Eliza von Hohenberg +every day, and I always met there her cousin, the captain 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 Bavarian service long before he knew +that we people of Windisch-Matrey desire to become Austrian subjects +again. Now his general sent him hither with his soldiers for 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, whenever 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 leading to the castle. Tell the young officer that +the Tyrolese are going to deliver themselves from the Bavarian yoke, +and that he had better effect his escape 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 I +not be a traitress, and would not father curse me?" + +"True, true, that will not do," said her mother musingly; "your +father 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 disclosed the secret; and the +castellan too, though I think he is a good Austrian at heart, does +not yet know any thing about it. Your father told me so this very +morning. You will remain at the castle, and so soon as you hear the +report of a rifle on the market-place here, you will know that the +insurrection is breaking out. There is father's rifle; when it is +time, I will step out of the back gate with it and shoot. You will +hear the report, and tell the young officer that the Tyrolese 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 mother, looking after her +smilingly, "and has a soft and compassionate heart. She wishes to +save the castellan's nephew merely because she pities the young man +who is exposed to such imminent danger. It is very kind of her! It-- +But, Holy Virgin! what is the matter outside? Is the outbreak to +commence already? I 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 through the bar-room to the street-door opening upon +the market place. + +Yes, it was Anthony Wallner-Aichberger who was gesticulating so +violently yonder. Round him stood the men of Windisch-Matrey, +looking with gloomy faces at the three Bavarian revenue officers who +were standing in front of Wallner. + +"I repeat, sir," exclaimed Anthony Wallner at this moment with an +air of mock gravity, "that we are 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 company of +soldiers will rush down from Castle Weissenstein and shoot you all +as traitors and rebels," said the tax-collector haughtily. + +"Well, Mr. Tax-collector," exclaimed Wallner, 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 Tyrolese as subjects, but only +Southern Bavarians, as I have told you twice already." [Footnote: +See "Gallery of Heroes; Life of Andreas Hofer," p. 15.] + +"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 +rage; "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 forcibly collected by the soldiers +at daybreak to-morrow morning." + +"We must really pay the fine, then?" asked Anthony Wallner, with +feigned timidity. "You will not relent, then, Mr. Tax-collector? We +really must pay the heavy fine, because 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 insurrection. On the birthday of +your gracious master the king, instead of hanging out Bavarian +flags, as you 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." + +"Possibly they may have looked so," exclaimed Anthony Wallner, "but +that was not our fault. The flags were our old Bavarian flags: but +they were already somewhat old, the blue was faded and looked like +yellow, and the white had become quite dirty 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 dirty." + +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 young Tyrolese, with his rifle on his arm, and +his pointed hat over his dark curly hair, approached with such +impetuous curiosity that he suddenly stood close to the tax- +collector. However, he took no notice of the officer, but looked +with eager attention at Wallner, 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 himself 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 embarrassment 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 Wallner. "Why did +a smart Tyrolese boy like you come near us Southern Bavarians when +we were talking about public parlour?" + +At this moment a lad elbowed himself hastily through the crowd. His +dress was dusty, his face was flushed and heated and it seemed as +though he had travelled many miles 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 be was close behind Wallner, and, +interrupting him in his speech, he whispered to him: "I come from +Andreas Hofer; he sends you his greetings and this paper. I have run +all night to bring it to you." + +He handed a folded paper to Wallner, who opened it with hands +trembling 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 who 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 Anthony Wallner, and +looking at the 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 tremulous voice. + +"It means that we want to be Tyrolese again," shouted Anthony +Wallner, exultingly. "It means that we will no longer submit to +brutal treatment at the hands of your Bavarian bailiffs, and that we +will treat you now as you Boafoks have treated us for five years +past." [Footnote: Boafok, the nickname which the Tyrolese gave to +the Bavarians at that time. It signifies "Bavarian pigs."] + +"For God's sake, how have we treated you, then?" asked the tax- +collector, drawing back from the threatening face of Anthony Wallner +toward his bailiffs. + +"Listen to me, Tyrolese," shouted Anthony Wallner, scornfully, "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 sides. + +"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 politeness, "I +will tell you, then, how you Bavarians have treated us for four +years past, and only when you know all our grievances will we settle +our accounts. Listen, then, to what you have done to us, and what we +complain of. You have behaved 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 wrote to us, solemnly guaranteed our constitution and our ancient +privileges and liberties. That is what your king promised in 1805. +To be sure, we did not put much confidence 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 was to be left to us, and we were to be +called Southern Bavarians instead of Tyrolese. 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 Tyrolese their liberties, great privileges, and +independence, for all time to come. But all was written in 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 Tyrolese 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 abolished; and, after the model of +revolutionary France, the Tyrol was divided into the departments of +the Inn, the Adige, and the Eisach; the passion plays, which formed +so large a part of the amusements of our people, were prohibited; +all pilgrimages to chapels or places of extraordinary sanctity were +forbidden. The convents and monasteries were confiscated, and their +estates sold; the church plate and holy vessels were melted down and +disposed of; the royal property was all brought into the market. New +imposts were daily exacted without any consultation with the estates +of our people; specie became scarce from 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 compulsory 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 become again subjects of the Emperor +Francis, do you not?" + +"We do, we do!" shouted the men, uttering deafening cheers. "Our +dear Francis is to become again our lord and emperor! Long live the +Emperor Francis!" + +"Silence!" cried the tax-collector, pale with rage and dismay; +"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 your 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'Schoergen and d'Schreiber and d'Richter allsammt, + Sind'n Teufel auskomma, druck'n ueberall auf's Land, + Und schinden Bauern, es is kam zum sog'n, + Es waer ja koan Wunder, wir thaeten's allsammt erschlog'n." + + +[Footnote: Song of the Tyrolese in 1809.--See Mayr, "Joseph +Spechbacher," p. 22. + "The pushing--the writers, and magistrates all, + Possessed by the devil, our country enthrall, + And grind the poor peasants; alas, 'tis a shame! + No wonder if we too share ruin the same."] + + +He concluded with a long and joyous Jodler, and shouted +triumphantly: "Dear brethren, Andreas Hofer sends you his greetings, +and informs you that the Austrians have invaded the Tyrol. Hurrah, +'tis time!" + +"Yes, 'tis time," murmured Anna Maria, Anthony Wallner's wife, to +herself; "'tis time for me to give Lizzie the signal, for the +insurrection has broken out." She hastened 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 now +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 +with 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 expelled from the country. Halloo, boys, come here! Halloo, +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 through the 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 humming a Bavarian song, frequently +interrupted by loud yawns. + +Eliza walked past them with 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 out 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-stairs. + +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-work +with which he had been occupied before. + +Eliza reached the dining-room and threw 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 Hohenberg, who was listening to her cousin's words in +smiling repose. Scarcely touching the floor with her feet, she +hastened 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 resuscitated +Maid of Orleans, and that she will perform heroic deeds one day. Oh, +I know my dear beautiful Eliza Wallner, and--" + +"Don not speak of me, for I am listening to you," exclaimed Eliza, +entering the balcony. + +"Ah, my Lizzie," exclaimed Elza, rising and tenderly embracing 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 eyes 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; nevertheless, Eliza blushed on +meeting his glance, and averted her eyes timidly from him, turning +them toward the distant summits of the glaciers which were +glittering around the horizon yonder in wonderful majesty. + +"You are glad that you are here, my sweet child? Why did you not +come at an earlier hour?" asked Elza. "You are always expected. My +dear silent cousin, she is always expected, is she not? " + +"Most assuredly she is," said the young captain, with a smile; "and +she is as welcome as the first rose of May." + +"How impudent you are!" exclaimed Miss Elza, laughing; "you bid my +Lizzie welcome as the first rose of May, and yet I was here before +her!" + +"He means only the wild hedge-rose, Elza," said Eliza, smiling +archly, "for you know very well that the beautiful and aristocratic +roses do not yet bloom in May." + +"Well, tell me, cousin, did you really intend to compare my darling +here with a wild hedge-rose?" asked Elza. + +"Do not answer, sir," exclaimed Eliza, eagerly. "You have blundered +in trying to flatter me, and that is good. You will see at length +that fine phrases amount to nothing, and that they are colors that +fade in the sunshine. You had better speak 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 reply to such fine city phrases." + +"But for all that you are not stupid, my beautiful Eliza," said +Ulrich von Hohenberg. "In truth, I who compare you with a rose am +not a liar, but he would be who should charge you with stupidity." + +"But if I should, nevertheless, assert that I am stupid, whom would +it concern?" 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 merry laughter, is absent from me. But +here, Lizzie, you must look upon me with due awe to-day, for to-day +I am not only your friend and sister, but I am the castellan! My +father will be absent four days, and I represent him here. He +delegated his whole power to me, and intrusted me with all the keys. +Treat me, therefore, with great respect, Lizzie." + +"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, Lizzie; 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, shrugging 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 consider only the proud white lilies and the large +gorgeous roses beautiful flowers. I do not belong to them, I am only +a daisy; but my Elza likes this daisy and fastens 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 her with her hazel gazelle eyes. + +Elza bent over her and kissed her eyes and white forehead. Ulrich +von Hohenberg looked at them both with a tender, ardent glance; then +he averted his head to conceal the crimson glow suffusing his +cheeks. + +At this moment the door opened, and the castellan's overseer entered +with an air of hurry and self-importance. + +"Miss Elza," he said, "the wood-cutters have brought wood and are +waiting for a receipt. 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 +you see, Lizzie, what an important person I am? 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. In the mean time I shall regulate our domestic affairs a +little, and when I come back, you will inform me what pleasure you +have devised for us to-day." + +"No, Elza, let me go with you," begged Eliza, almost anxiously, "I +shall assist you--" + +"You cannot help me outside, Lizzie," said Elza, laughing; "but here +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 balcony. 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 eyes from her. + +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 thoughtfully 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 wooded heights, 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 frontiers where the war between nature and +man commences, the frontiers of the snowy region and the world of +glaciers. Behind 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 mountain- +peaks, so that they glittered and sparkled with indescribable beauty +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 thought-- + +"Eliza," said all at once a low voice by her side--"Eliza, you do +not want to see me, then? You are still angry with me?" + +She gave a start, and crimsoned, when, on looking up, she saw young +Ulrich von Hohenberg standing close in front of her, and gazing at +her with ardent and beseeching eyes. + +"No, sir," she said, "I really did not see you." + +"That is to say, Eliza, you are still angry with me?" he asked, +eagerly. "You are silent, you avert your head. My God! Eliza, what +did I do, then, to incur your anger?" + +"Not much, 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 persuade me to +such mean things. It showed me that you cannot be a good man, and +that your friendship for me is prompted by evil intentions." + +"I do not feel any friendship for you, none whatever," said the +young man ardently, seating himself 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 commence by loving you with +intense ardor, by desiring and longing for nothing, and thinking of +nothing but you alone. Oh, Eliza, believe me, I love you intensely-- +by far more than Elza, more than your parents, more than all your +friends together." + +"More, perhaps, but not better," she said, shaking her head, and +gently withdrawing her hand from him. + +"No, let me keep your hand!" he exclaimed hastily, seizing 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; follow me, and be mine--mine forevermore! 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--" + +"Sir," interrupted Eliza, hastily, jumping up, and fixing her eyes +upon him with a strange, ardent expression, "I hope 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, Captain Ulrich von Hohenberg, want to marry your +daughter Lizzie. I think this country girl, with her manners, her +language and bearing, is well fitted to associate with my +aristocratic 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 brown cow and a white goat as her +dower.' Tell me, sir, 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 not believe 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 expense of your own happiness. But you, sir, +do not intend to make me happy; on the contrary, you are bent on +plunging me into misery and disgrace, and that is the reason why I +contend that you do not love me." + +"Then you have a heart of stone," cried Ulrich von Hohenberg, +despairingly; "you will not see what I am suffering, 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, and charming creature I +have ever known and admired. I love you as a girl whose innocence, +naturalness, and goodness, fill my heart with ecstasy 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, its 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 have 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 be 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 Falschheit ist all'zeit dabei!" + + +[Footnote: + "And a bit of love, and a bit of truth, + And a bit of falsehood, make life, forsooth!"] + + +"No, no falsehood," cried Ulrich, "only the irksome, terrible +necessity, the--" + +The loud crash of a rifle, finding an oft-repeated echo in the +mountains, interrupted him. Eliza uttered a cry of dismay and jumped +up. + +"Jesus Maria!" 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 tremulous voice. "Only--I mean"--she +paused and looked with fixed attention down on the large place. She +distinctly saw the groups moving 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 balcony, 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 laughing in perfect tranquillity. + +"Well, Eliza, beautiful, cruel girl," asked Ulrich von Hohenberg, +"will you tell me what has suddenly excited you so strangely?" + +"Nothing, sir, oh, nothing," she said; but then she leaned far over +the railing of the balcony and stared down; she beheld 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 entrance 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 sharpshooters 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 matter." + +"What does this mean? More than fifty Tyrolese are entering the +court-yard; and why did those mad young fellows 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 me 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 imploring eyes, "if it is +true that you love me give me a proof of it and swear that you will +do what I shall 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 with me; +I will conduct you under the roof; I know of a hiding-place there +where no one will find you, and you will 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 will escape." + +"Escape? Never! And why, then?" + +"Sir, because the peasants will assassinate you if you remain." + +The young officer 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-morrow." + +"Sir, they will not wait until to-morrow; they have already risen; +the insurrection has commenced this very 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. +[Footnote: The Tyrolese kept the secret of their intended +insurrection so well, and the Bavarians were so overbearing and +careless, that they did not know anything about the plans of the +insurgents until the day of the rising, and on that day they tried +to levy contributions by force of arms.--See "Gallery of Heroes: +Andreas Hofer," p. 50.] But I tell you now, the insurrection has +broken out; the whole Tyrol is rising; all our people are in +commotion from Innspruck down to Salzburg. You can no longer prevent +or stifle it. You must submit. Save yourself, then, sir; you have +sworn to grant my request, and you must keep your word." + +"No, I cannot and will not! I must do my duty. Let me 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 forward like an angry +lioness, and just as Ulrich was about to seize the knob, she stood +before the door and pushed him back. + +"I shall not permit you to leave the room," she cried. "You must +kill me first; then you may go." + +"Eliza, I cannot stay. I implore 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 my +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. Give 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 well, 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 impetuously +with her arms and imprinted a glowing kiss on his forehead. + +"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 behind 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 balcony is too high for +him to jump down." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +FAREWELL! + + +She sped as gracefully and quickly as a gazelle down the corridor. +In the large hall into which it led stood Elza, surrounded by more +than twenty Tyrolese sharpshooters, with whom she was talking in a +loud, animated voice. Her cheeks were very pale, her lips were +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 government and your king, and +that the rebels will be judged and punished with the full rigor of +the law? " + +"But the Bavarians will not judge us, for we shall drive them 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 who have not even a rifle." + +"But we have our God and our emperor, and those two will help us. +The Austrians, as Andreas Hofer has written to us, are already in +the country, and all the people are rising to drive the French and +Bavarians from the country." + +"It is so, Elza," said Eliza, encircling her friend's neck with her +arm. "I know you--I know that you are a loyal daughter of the Tyrol, +and you will be glad to see our dear country delivered from the +foreign yoke and restored to the good Emperor 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 manner 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 loyal daughter +of the Tyrol, and shout with you, 'Long live our Emperor Francis!'" + +"Hurrah, long live our Emperor Francis!" 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 nurse the wounded. For +without wounds and bloodshed we shall not recover our independence, +and the Bavarians will not suffer themselves to be driven from the +country without offering the most obstinate resistance. Have you +considered that well, my friends?" + +"We have; we are prepared for every thing," said Anthony, joyously. +"We will suffer death rather than give up our emperor and our dear +Tyrol. We do not want to become Southern Bavarians, but we will +remain Tyrolese, and defend our constitution and our liberty to the +last drop of our blood. Will we not, my friends?" + +"Yes, we will," shouted the Tyrolese. + +"And as for the Bavarians, we are not afraid of them," said Wallner, +firmly. "All the functionaries have already humbly 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 the 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, energetically. "We +must get through with them right away. Come, men, we must see to the +Boafoks." + +And Anthony Wallner, followed by his sharpshooters, hastened out +into the court-yard. Large numbers of armed men had assembled there +in the mean time; even married women and young girls, carried away +by the universal enthusiasm, had armed themselves and came to take +an active part in the struggle for the fatherland and the emperor. +All shouted and cheered in wild confusion, all swore to remain true +to the fatherland and the emperor to their last breath. The soldiers +looked on wonderingly, and watched in breathless irresolution for +their captain from the windows. + +At this moment, Anthony Wallner and a number of courageous +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 soldiers made no reply, but leaned far out of the windows and +shouted: "Captain! Where is our captain?" + +"Here I am!" shouted a powerful voice above the heads of the +Tyrolese; and, looking up in great surprise, they beheld on the +balcony young Captain Ulrich von Hohenberg, with a pale face, his +features distorted with rage and grief, and stretching out his right +arm, with his flashing sword menacingly toward the Tyrolese. + +"Great God!" murmured Eliza, clinging anxiously to Elza's arm, "If +he resists, he is lost." + +"Here I am, my brave soldiers!" shouted Ulrich von Hohenberg 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. "Listen to what I am +going to say to you in the name of my countrymen, 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 what cannot be helped, +we will let you depart without punishing 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 solemn oath that you will no longer bear arms +against the Tyrolese." + +"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 rebellious peasants." + +"No, no, we will not," shouted the soldiers to him; and thereupon +they disappeared from the upper floor, and soon reappeared in dense +groups at the windows of the lower story. These 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 window!" cried +Anthony Wallner to his sharpshooters. + +The soldiers took no notice of his threats; a soldier appeared in +each of the windows ready to risk the leap. One of them, more agile +and intrepid than the others, was the first to jump down. Scarcely +had his feet touched the ground, when a rifle crashed and a cloud of +white smoke enveloped every thing for a moment. When it disappeared, +the Bavarian soldier was seen to writhe on the ground in the agony +of death, while one of the Tyrolese sharpshooters was quietly +reloading his rifle. + +But now crashed another shot, and the Tyrolese rifleman, pierced +through the heart, reeled back into the arms of his friends with the +last groan of death. + +"Soldiers," cried Ulrich von Hohenberg, raising his discharged gun +triumphantly, "I have avenged the death of your comrade. Now +forward, jump down! Forward for your honor and your king!" + +"Yes, forward for our honor and our king!" shouted 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-yard, all eyes turned menacingly +to the balcony. But Ulrich von Hohenberg had stepped back into the +room, and nobody saw that he was reloading 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 table +from the room to the balcony, placed 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 between the bench and the table, and fired again. + +Furious cries again filled the court-yard, for the captain's shot +had disabled another Tyrolese. The women wailed and lamented loudly, +the men uttered fierce imprecations, and lifted their clinched fists +menacingly toward the balcony. The soldiers had withdrawn from the +windows, and were deliberating 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 with the former before reaching the ground and engaging in +a hand-to-hand fight with the peasants; and the carbines were +utterly useless, as no ammunition 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 prisoner, 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 rides against the +door of the room where Ulrich von Hohenberg was locked up. + +"The door is old and worm-eaten, it will give way," sighed Elza, and +she hastened resolutely toward Anthony Wallner, who was just calling +again on the soldiers with cool intrepidity 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 +guest?" + +"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!" + +A shot crashed in the dining-room, a cloud of white smoke issued +from the open balcony doors, and a loud cry, accompanied by wild +imprecations, was heard. + +"He has shot another Tyrolese, you will see that he has!" shouted +Wallner, raising his clinched fists menacingly toward the balcony. + +The cries drew nearer and nearer, and now Captain Ulrich von +Hohenberg, his features pale and distorted with rage, rushed out on +the balcony. + +"Surrender!" shouted the Tyrolese, pursuing him. + +"Never!" he cried. "I will die sooner than surrender to a rabble of +peasants like you." + +And forgetful of the dangers besetting him, and in the despair of +his rage and grief, the captain jumped from the balcony into the +midst of the crowd in the court-yard. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE BRIDEGROOM. + + +Wild shouts were heard now, and a great commotion arose among the +Tyrolese. The bold deed of the Bavarian had surprised and confused +them; they had forgot the soldiers for a moment, and riveted 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 recovered from +their surprise, Ulrich was again on his feet, and, drawing his +sword, cleared himself a passage through 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 profited 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 +children. + +But amidst the struggle and the general confusion Anthony 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 windows. Hence, the soldiers bad +retired into the back part of the rooms, and were deliberating on +the course which they were to pursue. But their faces were anxious +and irresolute, and they whispered to each other: "If our captain +should fall, nothing remains for us but to surrender." + +But their captain had not yet fallen; he still lived and defended +himself courageously, surrounded by his soldiers, against the +Tyrolese, who attacked him furiously and parried the sabre-strokes +with the butt-ends of their rifles, but had no room, and did not +dare to shoot at him, for fear of hitting in the wild melee one of +their own men instead of their enemy. + +But the odds were too great; six of the soldiers had already been +knocked down by the butt-ends of the Tyrolese rifles. The Tyrolese +had wrested the sabres from the hands of the fallen soldiers, and +had rushed with them upon their comrades. 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 +ferocity. 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 Bavarians, 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 suffer 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 traitors." + +"I will comply with your wishes," cried Anthony Wallner, rushing +into the midst of the bloody melee close up to the captain; "yes, +you shall die; I will put an end to your life!" + +And his arm, brandishing the sword of a fallen Bavarian, rose +threateningly above Ulrich's head, while two other Tyrolese rushed +upon him from behind with furious shouts. + +At this moment two hands clutched Wallner's arm convulsively, 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, +pale, with flashing eyes, encircling Ulrich's neck with one arm, +lifting up the other menacingly, and staring at her father with a +resolute and defiant expression. + +"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 him," 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 my bridegroom, father, and shall become my +husband, so help me God!" + +"No, never!" cried Ulrich von Hohenberg, trying to disengage himself +from Eliza. "Never can the peasant-girl become 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 remain 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 gentleman? You thought a Tyrolese +peasant-girl's honor an excellent pastime, but you would not marry +her?" + +"Father, father," cried Eliza, beseechingly, clinging firmly to +Ulrich's side, "father, I love him and cannot live without him. He +is my bridegroom!" + +"No, no!" shouted Ulrich, 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 threatening 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 indignation. + +"Just listen to the traitor, brethren!" he said in the cold, quiet +tone which only the most profound exasperation imparts to the human +voice. "First he turned the girl's head and heart by the +protestations of his love, causing her even to forget her father and +her Tyrol; and now he insults her and refuses to marry her!" + +"He said it only in his rage, father, but he loves me 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 tar away, and exclaiming triumphantly: +"Now surrender, 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 disgrace of being a +prisoner of such miserable rabble." + +"Hush, beloved, for God's sake, hush!" said Eliza, clinging to him +tenderly. + +He pushed her violently from his side. "Begone, hypocritical wench!" +he shouted in a paroxysm of fury; "I do not want to have any thing +to do with you!" + +"But you shall have something to do with her," said Anthony Wallner, +with proud calmness. "The girl says that she loves you, and that you +promised to marry her. It was bad 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 exultingly; "the +proud baron shall marry the Tyrolese peasant-girl." + +"Let us go down to the village, then," said Anthony Wallner; "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 Hohenberg dare to say that she is Eliza +Wallner, 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 Ulrich, 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 both his hands despite his resistance, +and drew his face so close to hers that his hot, panting 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!" she asked mournfully. "You +avert your eyes from your Lizzie, whom you called only yesterday +your dear, brave Tyrolese girl?" + +"You are no child of mine, you are no Tyrolese girl," exclaimed her +father, angrily and mournfully. "You want to marry the Bavarian, and +become an aristocratic lady." + +"It is all the same to me whether Ulrich yonder is an aristocratic +gentleman or not," said Eliza, shaking her head proudly; "I love him +only because he pleases me so well, and because he loves me so +fondly and ardently. But, father, you 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 I 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 swear by the Lord God and the +Holy Virgin, I 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 marriage, 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 +you; and when you go to fight the Bavarians, I will fight with you. +My father's lame porter, our faithful Schroepfel, shall have my +bridegroom 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: +"never will my father's son dishonor himself so deeply as to marry a +peasant-girl--" + +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 +him, 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 firmly- +compressed teeth. + +"He lives, thank God, he lives!" cried Eliza; "now all is well, and +I am no longer afraid of anything. Schroepfel, come here; take him +on your shoulders, dear Schroepfel, 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 Schroepfel, lifting his heavy +fists to heaven, and then fixing his small, flashing 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 yonder," 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, "surrender! +The fight is at an end; your 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 your lives, +surrender." + +One of the sergeants appeared at the window. + +"We are locked up and surrounded," he said; "we have 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, imperatively. "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 hundred carbines and a hundred sabres 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 Tyrolese, live in the Pusterthal, the Vintschgau, and the +Passeyrthal." + +"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 herself," +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 corridor, and +entered the dining-room. + +The instinct of her heart had guided her rightly; yonder, in the +most remote corner 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 than alive in my lap, and you did not +come to help him and me? And now you call me Eliza?" + +"What should I have done there?" asked Elza, in a bitter, mournful +tone. "He reposed well on your breast; he did not need me. I am only +his cousin, but you, you are his affianced bride." + +"But formerly, I suppose, 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 time, 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 bridegroom, 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 he loved 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 permit 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 believe, +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 bridegroom. I could not hear 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 toward the balcony, and orb rushing +out I saw you holding him in your lap and pressing 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 +back into the room, fell on my knees, and prayed that death might +deliver me from my pains. O God, God! it did not; I must carry on +life's dreary burden 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 oppressing her bosom. + +Now she laid her hand gently on Elza's head. "You love him, Elza," +she said mildly. "I understand your heart, dearest 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 illuminate 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 hill 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. + +"Do you not know that Joseph Thurmwalder has been courting me for a +year past? My father will be glad to have me marry him; for he is +the son of rich parents 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 Ulrich, +Elza? We girls are queer beings, and never say whom we love!" + +"But Ulrich! He loves you! Yes, yes, 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 that Ulrich is not my bridegroom. For +if my father and his friends should discover it, they would kill +him, because he insulted them too deeply to be forgiven. He must +remain my bridegroom until tranquillity is re-established in the +country." + +"Yes, my Lizzie, my darling!" exclaimed Elza, encircling Eliza's +neck with her arms; "yes, let him remain your bridegroom, my +sagacious, brave Tyrolese girl. I always said and knew that you +would be 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 must go down again to my father. But listen, I have +to tell you something else yet. I shall leave our village with my +father to-day. We shall march with our friends to Andreas Hofer, for +the Tyrolese must 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, Speckbacher and his friends, +and my father with the peasants of the Puster valley, should join +the men of the Passeyr valley under Hofer's command. I know that +father will set out to-day, and I shall accompany him, Elza. I am +not afraid of death and the enemy; I know that our cause is just, +and that the good God will be on our side." + +"But, nevertheless, many noble hearts will be pierced for this just +cause, and yours, dearest Lizzie, may be among them," exclaimed +Elza, tenderly folding her friend to her heart. "Oh, stay here, my +darling, 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 Hohenberg, for whose sake my +father called me publicly to-day a recreant 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; and I feel, Elza, that it +will do me good to contribute my mite to the deliverance of the +fatherland. I am not gentle and patient enough to sit quietly at +home and wait until dear Liberty looks into my door and says to me, +'God bless you, Lizzie! I am here now. and you also may profit by +the happiness which will be caused by my arrival.' 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, +Liberty! 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 try to have +him brought to the castle here. He is under Schroepfel's +surveillance, and Schroepfel 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, inasmuch as he was his Lizzie's affianced bridegroom. He would +set him free. Ulrich would then come to you, and, Elza, you will +tell him not to think that Lizzie Wallner was a bad girl, and that +she was intent only on getting an aristocratic husband. 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, think of me, and do not forget that I loved +you, dearest Elza, better than any once else on earth. And now, +farewell, 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!" + +"Here I am, dear father!" exclaimed Lizzie, stepping quickly out on +the balcony. "I shall come down to you now. I was only taking leave +of Elza. Now I am ready to set out and fight for the dear Tyrol and +the dear Emperor Francis!" + +"Hurrah, we will do so!" cried the Tyrolese. "We will fight for the +dear Tyrol and the dear Emperor Francis! Hurrah! 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 Muhlbach pass. His daughter +Eliza, and young John Panzl, his friend and sympathizer, walked by +his side; and behind him marched the brave Tyrolese, whose force +gained strength at every step as it advanced, and who, amidst the +most enthusiastic 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 Wallner, taking 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 fatherland and the emperor!" + +"That is right, men," cried John Panzl, making a leap which drew +loud exclamations of admiration from the Tyrolese. "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 Venediger +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 run back." + +"No, never run back," shouted the merry and courageous Tyrolese. + +"Forward, then, forward!" commanded Anthony Wallner, and the whole +force set out again and marched rapidly across the mountains and +through the valleys; it was received everywhere with deafening +cheers, and gained at every step fresh accessions of men, who rushed +enthusiastically out of their buts, 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 expansive valley +below, yonder, lay the town of Brunecken, surmounted by Castle +Bruneck and other ancient and decaying feudal castles; and behind +it, on the way down toward Brixen, in the narrower gorge, bordered +on both sides by precipitous mountains, through which the Rienz +hurls its foaming waters, they beheld already the small town of St. +Lawrence. After reaching St. Lawrence they had only an hour's march +to the Muhlbach pass, which, in accordance with Andreas Hofer's +orders, 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 Brunecken 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 +joyously by the women who had courageously accompanied 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, children--all +were hurrying toward the gate leading to St. Lawrence. + +"What is the matter?" shouted Anthony Wallner, grasping the arm of +an old man, who, armed with a pitchfork, 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 miners, who are +to blow it up, have arrived this morning from Brixen. But we will +not 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. Lawrence!" + +They continued their march through the valley at the double-quick. +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 spectacle 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 Rienz, 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 Tyrol +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 river, 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 church-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 +sharpshooters, who bad concealed themselves on the heights on both +sides of the valley, and fired from their hiding-places at the +Bavarians, never missing their aim and picking off a soldier by +every 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 permit the enemy to destroy the bridge which the Austrians +are to cross. Let us attack the Bavarians! We must take the cannon!" + +"Yes!" shouted the men, "we must take the cannon!" + +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 mountain near the cannon. +The courageous men disappeared soon in the thicket, and, as if in +accordance with a general agreement, 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, +protecting them therewith, as it were, from the enemy who was posted +on the other side of the valley, and whose ranks were thinned more +and more by the bullets of the Tyrolese. + +All at once, on the height above the cannon, where there was a +clearing, and where 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 mortally wounded near the cannon. + +The Tyrolese greeted this exploit of their leaders with loud cheers; +but up from the Bavarians resounded the commands of the officers; a +whole volley crashed, the bullets whistled round the ears of Wallner +and Panzl, but none hit them; and hen the smoke cleared away, John +Panzl was seen to make a triumphant leap in the air, which he +accompanied with a shout of victory, while Anthony Wallner calmly +raised his 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 Bavarians, 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, posted +behind the trees and rocks, assisted their fighting 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 occurred 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 themselves 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 part of this work of love +for herself. She alone was courageous enough to plunge into the +thickest of the fight to remove the fallen brethren; she alone 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 sublime 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 pious works of charity the women were suddenly aroused by +the loud cheers 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 Rienz, which was rolling along +far below in its rocky bed. The earth was shaking yet from the +terrific crash, and echo was resounding still with the thundering +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 effect upon the Bavarians. They had lost their artillery, +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 Wreden, +perceiving the danger and uselessness of a continuance 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 her heart, and thank God that no +bullet had hit him. + +Wallner embraced her tenderly, and imprinted a kiss on her forehead. + +"You have behaved very bravely, Lizzie," he said; "I saw how you +carried 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 happened to you, and I beseech you, dearest Lizzie, +do not accompany us any farther. I now believe again in you, and I +know that you are a true daughter of the Tyrol, although you +unfortunately 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 our 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 Schroepfel 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 whom 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 wounded," said her father, +gravely. "May God and the Holy Virgin help and protect you! I devote +you to the fatherland to which I devote myself." + +He kissed her once more, and then turned to the Tyrolese, who, +encamped in groups on the edge of the forest, and reposing 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! We must cut off the enemy's retreat to Sterzing. +We must also occupy the Muhlbach pass, as Andreas Hofer 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 Laditch, we shall be unable to prevent him from passing +through the Muhlbach 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 Muhlbach 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 +order to prevent the enemy from crossing the Eisach. Forward, my +friends! Forward to the gap of Brixen! We must roll 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 certainty, +and every bullet must hit its man. Forward! forward! To the bridge +of Laditch!" + +"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 great distance from the gap of Brixen they had halted late in +the evening, and encamped on the bare 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 +they never undertook any thing, not even a hunting-excursion, in the +dead of night, and that they had nothing to fear from them until +sunrise. + +But now the first streaks of dawn illuminated the sky; it was time, +therefore, to continue the march. Lieutenant-Colonel von Wreden rose +from the couch which the soldiers had prepared for him of moss and +branches, and reviewed, accompanied 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 counted +the number 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 mountain fastnesses and hiding-places, while we +must march through the valley and across the open plain. But all +these complaints 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 lieutenant- +colonel threw back his head, and fixed his eye steadfastly on his +soldiers. + +"Forward," he shouted, "forward, boys! Forward against these +miserable peasants, who have violated the faith they plighted to our +king. Forward! forward!" + +The column, headed by Lieutenant-Colonel von Wreden, commenced +moving. His eyes glanced anxiously over the plain now opening before +them. Suddenly they are riveted on a point yonder on the mountain- +road leading southward to Italy. What is that? Does it not flash +there like a mass of bayonets? Does it not look as though a +brilliant serpent, glittering in blue, red, and gold, were moving +along the road? It draws nearer and nearer, and the Lieutenant- +Colonel is able to distinguish its parts. Yes, these parts are +soldiers; this serpent 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 uniforms of the staff- +officers riding at the bead of the column. They were friends; they +were French soldiers headed by General Bisson. + +Wreden galloped forward to salute the general and communicate to him +in brief, winged words his own disaster and his apprehensions +regarding the immediate future. + +"Well, you have nothing to fear now," said General Bisson, with a +pleasant and proud smile. "It was no accident, but a decree of Fate, +that caused us to meet here. I was ordered by my emperor to march +with a column of four thousand 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 troops. 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 hundreds. The bulwarks of their +mountains protect them." + +"We shall drive them from these bulwarks." said General Bisson, +haughtily. "But I believe the rabble 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 gap of Brixen." + +Half an hour afterward they had reached the dark and awe-inspiring +gap of Brixen; and the united Bavarian and French troops marched +with a measured step along the narrow road, on both sides of which +rose steep gray rocks, covered here and there with small pine +forests, and then again exhibiting their naked, moss-grown walls, +crowned above with their snowy summits glistening like burnished +silver in the morning 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 surrounded 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 valley; now and then they heard also the hoarse +croaking of some bird 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 our 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 interrupted 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 port-holes, +these gray rocks seemed suddenly to open all their port-holes and +pour out death and destruction. + +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 Tyrolese, who, for a moment, stepped forth +from their safe hiding-places, danced on the rocks, jeered at the +enemy with loud, scornful 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 given them trees and rocks. +They hurled the trees, which the storms had felled years ago, and +which fragments of rock had held on the brink of the precipice, into +the depth of the gorge; they detached large fragments from the +rocks, and rolled them down on the soldiers, many of whom were +crushed by these terrible missiles. And when these trees and rocks +fell into the depth, and 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 soldiers, who, exposed to the +fury of their enemies, did not even enjoy the consolation of +wreaking vengeance upon them. In silent despair, and shedding tears +of rage, the French and Bavarians continued their march; the corpses +of their brethren, which the rear-guard met on the horrible road, +could not detain them; they bad 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 preservation of his life. Hundreds had fallen, +but several thousands were left, and their ardent rage, their fiery +revengefulness longed for the struggle in which they might avenge +their fallen comrades. 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 Eisach, 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 French, with grim satisfaction; and they marched at +the double-quick toward the bank of the river. + +"The peasants, I believe, intend to prevent us from crossing the +river," said General Bisson, with a contemptuous shrug. "They have +taken position in front of the bridge of Laditch, and so closely +that I can see nothing of it," replied 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 Caesar himself, perhaps, had crossed this bridge +on his march against the free nations of the North. But now this +arch had disappeared, or rather its central part had been removed, +and between its two extremities yawned 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 +Muhlbach 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 mountains stood the sharpshooters from the +villages far and near, called out by the tocsin, and ready to +dispute every inch of the beloved soil with 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 menacing 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 they felt ill at ease and anxious. Moreover, +the odds of the enemy were truly formidable, not only in numbers but +also in arms. Only a part of the Tyrolese were provided with rifles +and muskets; more than half of them were armed only with flails, +pitchforks, and clubs. The soldiers had not only their muskets, but +also field-pieces, whose balls thundered now across the plain and +carried death into the ranks of the Tyrolese. + +Terror and dismay seized the sharpshooters; they turned and began to +flee into the mountains. But an unexpected obstacle 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 invectives; 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 furious. Yonder, close to the +fragments of the bridge, stand the Tyrolese; here, near the +fragments on this side of the river, are the soldiers and the French +engineers advancing to construct a temporary bridge across the +chasm, and thereby unite again the disrupted ends of the ancient +Roman structure. + +The fire of the Tyrolese becomes weaker; loud lamentations 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!" they shout +to the women occupying the mountain-path in their rear up to the +solitary house, the inn Zur Eisach, 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 hastens up 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 through the door, and no sooner +has she entered than a cannonball 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 arms. With a serene glance, with rosy cheeks and +smiling lips, a charming picture of grace, loveliness, and +courageous innocence, she descends the mountain-path again, and even +the bullets of the enemy respect her; they whistle past her on both +sides, but do not hit her. Eliza hastens down the 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 stops 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 was the wine or the sight of the +lovely Tyrolese girl that filled them with renewed courage and +enthusiasm. + +The two other Tyrolese had drunk likewise. Suddenly another bullet +whistles along and darts past close to Eliza's cheeks, causing her +to reel for a moment. A cry of dismay burst 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 yourselves," cried Eliza, "and you must +bravely return to the struggle." + +And the Tyrolese took position on the river-bank, with redoubled +courage and enthusiasm, to prevent the French from finishing the +temporary bridge. + +But the fire of the enemy thinned the ranks of the Tyrolese +fearfully; their shots became few and far between, and gradually a +regular panic seized them. They began to give way; even the scornful +cries of the women, who tried to obstruct their path, were powerless +to keep them back. They pushed the women aside, and rushed +resistlessly up the mountain-path. + +At this moment loud cheers burst from the lips of the enemy. 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 prevented the enemy now from passing over +to their side of the river. + +"Surrender! Lay down your arms!" shouted Lieutenant-Colonel von +Wreden, on the other 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 clouds. This voice shouted. "The +imperialists are coming! The Austrians, our saviours, are coming!" + +And at the same time a detachment of light-horse appeared on the +heights of Schaps. They galloped down the slope, and 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 Tyrolese, and found +thundering echoes in the mountains and gorges. + +The French and Bavarians started, for this sudden apparition 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 merrily, 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, thunderstruck 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, therefore, forward!" + +The troops moved, and began to march across the bridge. + +But now the 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 toward the enemy. +"Down with the base Bavarians! Forward! 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 +unerring 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 down through the Tyrol +the intelligence that the struggle for the fatherland had commenced. + +Nevertheless, the forces of the enemy were too numerous for the +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 enemies with the courage and wrath of +despair; hundreds of them remained dead on the bloody 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. I 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 climb +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 off as agreed upon, you will find +Andreas Hofer there. Tell him now in my name that the Austrians are +coming up from Salzburg and that I have done my duty and redeemed my +pledge. Tell him further that the whole Puster valley is in +insurrection, and that we are bravely at work, and driving the +Bavarians and French from the country. But tell him also to be on +his guard, for we have not been able to annihilate the enemy +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?" + +"Yes, Lizzie, it is. Tell Andy 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 Virgin 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!" + +She kissed her hands to him, and bounded up the mountain-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 their 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 had +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 exhausting 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 villages had +brought 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 +Sieberer, had followed him noiselessly; and on perceiving him, +Andreas Hofer 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 +worthless 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 thing 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 you really ask yourself such questions, and have lost your +courage, then we are all lost," said Sieberer, gloomily. "It is +Andreas Hofer in whom the men of the Passeyr valley believe, and +whom they are following into the bloody struggle. If Hofer +hesitates, all will soon despond; and it would be better for us to +retrace our steps at once, and allow Bonaparte and the French to +trample us again in the dust, instead of lifting our heads like +freemen, and fighting for our rights." + +"We have gone too far, we can no longer retrace our steps," said +Andreas 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 through we still retrace our steps, I +should not consent to it. I shall never repent of having raised my +voice in behalf of the Tyrol and the emperor; nor have I lost my +courage, as you seem to think, brother Sieberer. I know full well +that we owe it to our good emperor and the fatherland to defend 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 my blood will not be +sufficient; but many will have to spill theirs and die, that the +rest maybe free and belong again to our dear emperor. And this is +the reason why, on contemplating the brave men and courageous 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 preaching insurrection and war instead of +submissiveness and humility?" + +"Well, you are a pious man, Andy," said Sieberer, with a reproachful +glance," and yet you have forgotten what our Redeemer said to the +Pharisees." + +"What do you mean, Anthony? Tell me, if it will comfort me." + +"He said, `Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar'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. Therefore, we +act only in accordance with the precepts of our Lord Jesus Christ, +if we stake our lives and fortunes 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 Bavarians have stolen the houses of the Lord in the Tyrol, and +have ignominiously driven out His servants. Hence we act again in +accordance with the precepts of our Lord Jesus Christ, if we stake +our lives and fortunes to restore to God that which 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, joyfully, "and I +thank you for comforting and strengthening my heart. Yes, we are in +the service of God, our 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 Sieberer's face, but it +disappeared quickly when he happened to turn his eyes to the +neighboring mountains. He looked keenly and searchingly 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 being--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 under the folds of her white +corset. + +Now, she stood still for a moment, and seemed to listen; then she +bent far over the precipice, on the brink of which she was standing, +and below which the Tyrolese were encamped. No sooner had she +perceived them than she uttered a loud cry of exultation, and +bounding forward, she exclaimed joyously: "There are the men of the +Passeyr valley! Now I shall find their leader, Andreas Hofer, too!-- +Andreas Hofer where are you, Andreas Hofer?" + +"Here I am!" 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 from her by a large rock; 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 Wallner-Aichberger." + +"God bless you, maiden," exclaimed Andreas Hofer, holding 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 deliver 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 +flatter 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 order to reach +you as soon as possible, and deliver my father's message to you." + +"You must be tired, poor little girl!" said Hofer, compassionately. +"Sit down on the rock yonder. There! And now speak!" + +"In the first place, Anthony Wallner sends greeting, and informs you +that he has kept his word faithfully. 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 bloody battle at the bridge of St. +Lawrence, and another at the bridge of Laditch. Many soldiers of the +enemy were killed in the gap of Brixen, and many French and +Bavarians fell at the bridge of Laditch; but we also lost a great +many men there. Our men fought bravely, but there were too many of +the Bavarians and French, and so they finally succeeded in breaking +through our ranks and continued their march toward Sterzing. Hence, +my father sent me to you in the greatest 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 Muhlbach 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 Austrians joined us already at +the bridge of Laditch. It was their advanced guard, and they said +that all the others would follow them soon." + +"It is General Hiller with the troops moving up from Salzburg," said +Hofer. "But where are Chasteler and Hormayr, who were to join us +from Carinthia? I think they are tarrying too long." + +"But the Bavarians do not tarry," said Eliza, "and they are savage +and cruel men. I did not enter the town of Sterzing, but the people +on the road told me how the Bavarians 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 Baerenklau, the commander of the Bavarians in +Sterzing, finally got frightened; and on being informed that Andreas +Hofer moving against him on one side with the men of the Passeyr +valley, and that Anthony Wallner with the men of the Puster valley, +on the other side, 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 through 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!" exclaimed Anthony Sieberer, 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 nearer and nearer. + +"Hurrah! the Bavarians are coming, the struggle begins," exclaimed +Anthony Sieberer, joyously; and the Tyrolese encamped 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 much 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 perform 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 the 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 intentions +are," said Hofer, thoughtfully. "Perhaps he does not know that we +are here, and intends to continue his march. In that case we will +let him pass us, follow him, and attack him only after he has +entered the Muhlbach 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, brethren, let us attack him now. +Never 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 prepared 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, we will!" shouted the Tyrolese. "Just tell us, commander, +what we are to do, and we 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; moreover, as +they are by far better armed than we, and have cannon, many of our +men would be uselessly sacrificed in such an attack." + +"What the commander says is true," growled 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 Andreas Hofer, with impressive 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 +captain!" said the Tyrolese to each other. + +Hofer waved his hand imperatively toward them. "Now keep very +quiet," he said, "that we may not attract the attention of the enemy +prematurely, and thereby cause him to occupy the ravine before we +have reached it. Forward, then, 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 assistance." + +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 solicitude by the hand. At length +they reached the gorge, and Andreas Hofer was just about entering it +with the others, when 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 thickest of the +fight," said Eisenstocken. "That is not his province. He has to +direct the battle with his head, but not to fight it out with his +arm." + +"But bear in mind that Bonaparte does not leave his soldiers 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 would 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 beads; 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 following. If our +standard sinks to the ground, our Tyrolese will be panic-stricken +and run away. Consequently you must not go into battle, either to- +day or at any time hereafter." "You are right, I see it," said +Hofer, mournfully. "They would be thunderstruck if a bullet should +hit their commander; 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 wants to see me +must come hither. I can survey from here the whole plain of the +Sterzinger Moos. Now, my dear friends and brethren," he shouted in a +loud, ringing voice, "for God, the fatherland, and your emperor!" + +"For God, the fatherland, and our emperor!" shouted the Tyrolese, +rushing down the mountain-path into the ravine whence they were to +attack the enemy. + +But the Bavarians had been on their guard, and their commander, +Colonel Baerenklau, divining the tactics of the Tyrolese, had +ordered his two guns to be pointed against the ravine. + +Now the first shots thundered from their mouths, and volleys of +musketry were discharged from all the squares at the same time, at +the advancing column of the Tyrolese. The Tyrolese, 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 women 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 fugitives with invectives +and angry glances; they strove to kindle their courage; they went +and begged them with clasped hands and tearful eyes not to desert +the cause of the fatherland, become discouraged in so disgraceful 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 them, 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 across +the plain reeking with gore and powder. + +The Tyrolese gave way a second time, for the murderous fire of the +Bavarians filled them with stupor and dismay + +"In this manner we shall never gain a victory, and our men will be +uselessly slaughtered," said Andreas Hofer, who was watching the +struggle with breathless suspense. "But we must not incur the +disgrace of losing the first battle, for that would discourage our +men for all time to come. Come, Ennemoser, run down to them and tell +them to try a third time. If they do not, Andreas Hofer will rush +ail 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 Wallner advanced close to +the edge of the precipice, and peered down into the plain. Her eyes +filled with tears when she perceived 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. O God, show the a way to help our +men!" + +His eyes glanced despairingly over the plain, as if searching for +relief. All at once a bright flash of joy lit up his features. + +"I have found a way! I thank Thee, my God!" he exclaimed, aloud. +"See, Lizzie, look there! What do you see in the plain yonder behind +the ravine?" + +"I see there four large wagons tilled 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 sharpshooters will +conceal themselves behind them, and will safely advance; and when +close enough to the enemy, they will discharge their rifles, and +first pick off the gunners, in order to silence the guns which have +made such havoc among our men. Come, Lizzie, we will go down to +Sieberer and the other captains, and give them my orders. I hope +there 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 first +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 +responsible 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 +tune 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 Wallner's daughter was 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, exclaimed, in a loud, +beseeching voice: "Holy Virgin, protect me! Grant. success to my +enterprise for the beloved fatherland!" + +She then jumped up, and, quick as a chamois, scarcely with her feet, +she hastened toward the point where the hay-wagons were standing. + +Meanwhile, Andreas Hofer had descended into the ravine whence +constantly new crowds of Tyrolese were rushing forward, although +they were driven back again and again by the murderous fire of the +enemy. On beholding Hofer's erect and imposing form, and his fine +head, with the splendid long beard, the Tyrolese burst into loud +cheers, and his presence seemed to inspire them with fresh courage. +They advanced with the most intrepid impetuosity. Andreas Hofer +called the brave captains of his sharpshooters to his side, and +communicated 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 Andreas Hofer, quietly, +"but I know where the Sterzinger Moos lies, and what should be done +there. For the rest, there are no horses before the hay-wagons, but +oxen, and it is all-important that the gunners should not +immediately hit the driver of the first wagon." + +"But his last hour has surely come, and he may rely on going to +paradise to-day!" exclaimed Ennemoser. "But look! what throng is +yonder in the ravine, and what causes the women to shout so +vociferously? Their shouts sound like triumphant cheers. And the +lads now join in the acclamations too, and all are rushing forward +so impetuously." + +Indeed, the whole mass of men and women assembled in the rear of the +ravine rushed forward with 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, +majesty, 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 cheers were glowing like the morning +sun, and whose eyes flashed like stars? + +Yes, it was she--it was Eliza Wallner, who, with sublime courage, +had mounted the 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 forward. + +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 proceed. 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 are all in God's +hand." + +"May God and His heavenly host protect her!" said Andreas 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 forward, amid loud cheers, and took position +in pairs behind the wagon, which advanced heavily and slowly, like +an enormous avalanche. + +There was a breathless silence. All eyes followed the wagon, all +hearts throbbed and addressed to heaven prayers in behalf of the +courageous girl who was driving it. + +Suddenly a cry of horror burst from all lips. A cannon-ball had +struck the hay-wagon, which was shaking violently from the +tremendous shock. + +But now a ringing cheer was heard in front of the wagon. 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 announced 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 replied 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 sharpshooters +rushed forward on either side of their green bulwark. Before the +Bavarians had time to aim at the ten daring 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 ravine. The first +of them was driven by another young girl. Imitating the heroic +example set by Eliza Wallner, Anna Gamper, 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 +wagons, followed by twenty or thirty more sharpshooters, who were +well protected by the broad bulwark which the wagons formed in front +of them. + +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 behind the hay, rushed from their +covert whenever the enemy had fired a volley, raised their rifles +triumphantly, and struck down a Bavarian at every shot. + +All four hay-wagons 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 thunderstruck 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 +annihilating the enemy. + +A violent struggle, a fierce hand-to-hand fight now ensued. + +The Bavarians, overwhelmed by the terrible onset of the peasants, +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 Baerenklau strive to reform his lines; vainly +did those who had rallied round him at his command, make a desperate +effort to force their way through the ranks of the infuriated +Tyrolese. The fierce bravery of the latter overcame all resistance, +and rendered their escape impossible. + +"Surrender!" thundered Andreas Hofer to the Bavarians. + +"Lay down your arms, and surrender at discretion!" + +A cry of rage burst from the pale lips of Colonel von Baerenklau, +and he would have rushed upon the impudent peasants who dared to +fasten such a disgrace upon him. But his own men kept him back. + +"We do not want to be slaughtered," they cried, perfectly beside +themselves with terror; "we will surrender, we will lay down our +arms!" + +A deathly pallor overspread the cheeks of the unfortunate officer. + +"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 +Baerenklau fainted away, exhausted by the terrible exertion and the +loss of blood which was rushing from a gunshot wound on his neck. + +"We surrender! We are ready to lay down our arms!" shouted the +Bavarians to the Tyrolese, who were still thinning their ranks by +the deadly fire of their rifles and their terrible butt-end blows. + +"Very well, lay down your arms," cried Andrews Hofer, in a powerful +voice. "Stop, Tyrolese! If they surrender, nobody 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 hated +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. +[Footnote: "Gallery of Heroes: Andrews Hofer," p. 3l.] + +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-offering which we present to fatherland and our Emperor +Francis." + +"Long 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 bad 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?" said Anthony +Sieberer to Andreas Hofer. "We cannot take them with us." + +"No, we cannot, nor 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 +Muhlbacher Klause. They must not meet us here on the plain, for a +fight 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 mountains, +commander?" + +"No, we will not, for we cannot guard them well up there, 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 prisoners, 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? Are we all +to march thither and deliver them before advancing 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 +occured, 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 prisoners?" + +He stroked his beard nervously, as was his wont in moments of great +excitement, and he glanced uneasily, 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 conduct." + +"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 +Wallner!" + +"Here I am, commander," cried Eliza, hastening to Andreas 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 women?" asked Eliza Wallner. + +"Captain Lizzie, you are to escort with your company and thirty +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 prisoners 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, acid 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. + +"Go, with God's blessing, and greet your father in my name. Tell him +that God and the Holy Virgin are with us and have blessed our cause; +therefore we will never despond, but always fight bravely and +cheerfully for our liberty and our dear emperor. 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 joyously, and hastened +to the wagon to get the arms. + +Half an hour afterward 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, with 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 soldiers +marching in their midst. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +CAPTURE OF INNSPRUCK. + + +General Kinkel, governor of Innspruck, had just finished his dinner, +and repaired to his cabinet, whither he had summoned some of the +superior officers to give them fresh instructions. To-day, the 11th +of April, all sorts of news had arrived from the Tyrol; and although +this news did not alarm the Bavarian general, he thought it +nevertheless somewhat strange and unusual. He had learned that +Lieutenant-Colonel von Wreden, despite General Kinkel's express +orders, had rashly evacuated his position at Brunecken and destroyed +the bridge of Laditch. 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 leniently and +kindly," said General Kinkel, with a shrug; when 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 Colonel +Dittfurt; "and General von Chasteler is said to have promised the +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 offensive, for +they know full well that the great Emperor Napoleon will consider +every invasion of Bavarian territory an attack upon France herself, +and that we ourselves should drive the impudent invaders from 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 advancing 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 really following the insurgent +peasants. Bring this dispatch to me that I may sign it, and then +immediately send off a courier with it to Lieutenant-Colonel von +Wreden." [Footnote: General Kinkel sent of this dispatch a day after +Wreden had been defeated by the Tyrolese, and after the Austrians +had invaded the Tyrol. The Bavarian authorities at Innspruck were in +complete ignorance of all these events.] + +Colonel Dittfurt went to the desk and commenced writing the +dispatch. "Miserable peasants!" he murmured, on handing 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 dispatch; +"these people, who know only how to handle the flail, become every +day more impudent and intolerable; and I am really 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, will 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. There are riotous groups in the +streets, 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 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 already the prey of +death; but the citizens of Innspruck considered 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 invaded the Tyrol; that General von Chasteler was already +advancing 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 succoring the Bavarians in the +Tyrol; nay, that he and his army would deliver and protect the +Tyrol. Some of the brave sharp-shooters 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 Austrians, nor the Tyrolese sharpshooters from whispering to +them: "Be ready early tomorrow morning. Tomorrow we shall attack the +city; assist us then, hurl down from the roofs of your houses on the +Bavarians stones, jars, and whatever you may have at hand; keep your +doors open, that we may get in, and hold food and refreshments in +readiness. We shall come to-morrow. Innspruck must be delivered from +the Bavarians to-morrow!" + +The morrow came at last. The 12th of April dawned upon the city of +Innspruck. + +The Bavarians had carried out the orders of General Kinkel; they had +occupied all the public places, and planted batteries 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 muskets, +they fell with resistless impetuosity upon the Bavarians, drove them +back, shot the gunners at the guns, and carried the important bridge +of Muhlau. + +Tremendous cheers announced this first victory to the inhabitants of +Innspruck. The Tyrolese then rushed forward over the bridge and +penetrated into the streets of the Hottinger suburb. The street- +doors of the houses opened to them; they entered them, or took +position behind the pillars, and fired from the windows and their +hiding-places, at the Bavarians who were stationed on the upper +bridge of the Inn, and were firing thence at the Tyrolese. The +Bavarian bullets, however, whistled harmlessly through 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 stepped forward, sang, and laughed, and discharged +their rifles, until the exasperated Bavarians fired at them again, +when the singing Tyrolese disappeared once more in their hiding- +places. + +All at once loud cheers and hurrahs resounded on the conquered +bridge of Muhlau, and a tall, heroic 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 Bavarians. + +The Tyrolese thronged exultingly around him, informing him of the +struggle that had already taken place, and telling 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 you +waiting for, my friends? Why do you not attack the enemy?" + +Without 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 Bavarians!" + +All repeated this shout amid the roost tumultuous 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 resistless 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 burled 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 peasants 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 windows +opened, and shots were fired from them at the Bavarian troops; every +house became a fortress, every tower a citadel. A frightful scene +ensued: the Bavarians in some places surrendered and begged for +quarter; in others they continued the combat with undaunted +resolution; and in the melee several bloody deeds were committed, +which, in their cooler moments, the Tyrolese would have been the +first to condemn. + +All at once loud cheers burst forth in the streets, and the Tyrolese +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 men he has already penetrated into the heart of the +city, up to the principal guardhouse! He has already surrounded the +Engelhaus, General Kinkel's headquarters, and is negotiating a +capitulation with the general." This almost incredible intelligence +raised the enthusiasm of the Tyrolese 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 obstinate 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 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 vengeance on them; for their enemies were concealed +behind the walls and pillars, while the soldiers were defenceless, +and had to allow themselves to be laid prostrate by the unerring aim +of the sharpshooters. + +Angry, scolding, imperious voices were now heard at General 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 shoulders forcibly out of it. + +"Surrender!" threatened Teimer; "surrender, or I shall hurl you out +of the window!" [Footnote: Hormayr's "History of Andreas Hofer," +vol. i., p. 249.] + +"Colonel Dittfurt," cried General Kinkel, in a doleful voice, "you +see 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 courage, inflamed it still more. He overcame his pain +and weakness, and, brandishing his sword, rushed forward. + +A third bullet whistled up and penetrated his breast. He sank down; +blood streamed from his mouth and his nose. + +The Tyrolese burst into deafening cheers, 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 capitulation, +galloped in wild disorder toward the gate and the Hofgarten. But +there Speckbacher had taken position with the peasants, who, mostly +armed only with pitchforks, had hurried to the scene of the combat +from the immediate environs of Innspruck. But these pitchforks +seemed to the panic-stricken cavalry to be terrible, murderous +weapons; cannon would have appeared to them less dreadful than the +glittering pitchforks, with which the shouting peasants rushed upon +them, and which startled not only the soldiers but their horses +also. The soldiers thought the wounds made by pitchforks more +horrible and ignominious than utter defeat, and even death. +Thunderstruck 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 the +horses, and in a triumphant procession, headed by Joseph +Speckbacher, they conducted their prisoners back to Innspruck. +[Footnote: Hormayr's "History of Andreas Hofer," vol. i., p. 250.] + +There the enemy had likewise surrendered in the mean time, and the +barracks which, until yesterday, had been the quarters of the +oppressors of the Tyrolese, the Bavarian soldiers, became now the +prisons of the defeated. Escorted by the peasants, the disarmed and +defenceless Bavarians were hurried into the barracks, whose doors +closed noisily behind them. + +Innspruck was now free; not an armed Bavarian soldier remained in +the city, but the Tyrolese, to the number of upward of fifteen +thousand, poured into the streets, and the citizens joined them +exultingly, and thanked the courageous peasants for delivering them +from the foreign yoke. The city, which for 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 hurrahs, songs, and cheers for the Emperor Francis and the +beloved Tyrol. + +Every minute added to the universal joy. The victorious Tyrolese, +mounted on the horses of Cite Bavarian cavalry, and headed by the +proud and triumphant Speckbacher and a rural band of music, appeared +with their prisoners. Two badly-tuned violins, two shrill fifes, two +iron pot-lids, and several jews'-harps, were the instruments of this +band. But the musicians tried to make as much noise with them as +possible, and the citizens considered their music sweeter and finer +than the splendid tunes which the bands of the Bavarian regiments +had played to them up to this time. + +New cheers rent the air at this moment. A squad of peasants brought +the great imperial eagle, which 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 pass on. But an aged man, with silvery hair, but +with a form still vigorous 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 Tyrolese, 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. Another crowd of +Tyrolese came up the street, preceded by four peasants, who were +carrying two portraits in fine golden frames. + +Deafening acclamations rent the air as soon as the people beheld +these two portraits. Everybody recognized them as those of the +Emperor Francis and the Archduke John. The peasants had found them +in the old imperial palace. + +"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 accompanied this solemn +procession of love and loyalty. + +This procession moved through the whole city until it finally +reached the triumphal arch which Maria Theresa had ordered to be +erected in honor of the wedding of her son Leopold. The Tyrolese +placed the portraits of Leopold's two sons on this triumphal arch, +and surrounded them by candles kept constantly burning; every one +then bent his knee, and exclaimed: "Long live the Emperor Francis! +Long live our dear Archduke John!" Woe unto him who should have +dared to pass these portraits without taking off his hat! the +Tyrolese would have compelled him 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 John!" + +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 eyes with tears. + +These rejoicings around the eagle and the portraits lasted all day. +The whole city presented a festive spectacle, and the overjoyed +Tyrolese scarcely thought to-day of eating and drinking, much 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 boundless 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 sleepers, 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 enemy does not sleep! He +is awake and approaching, while the victors are sleeping. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE CAPITULATION OF WILTAU. + + +The Tyrolese were still asleep, and profound stillness reigned yet +in the streets of Innspruck, although it was already after daybreak, +and the first rays of the rising sun shed a crimson 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. + +They 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!" cried Joseph Speckbacher; "do you not hear the +tossing? 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 jumped up, fresh, lively, and ready for the fray. Their +sleep had strengthened them, and yesterday's victory had steeled +their courage. The enemy was there, and they were ready to defeat +him the second time. + +The bells of all the churches of Innspruck were now rung, and those +of the neighboring village steeples responded to them. They called +upon the able-bodied men to take up arms against the enemy, whose +advanced guard could be seen already on the crests yonder. Yes, +there was no mistake about it: those men were the French and +Bavarians, who were descending the slope and approaching in strong +columns. + +A Tyrolese rushed into the city. "The French are coming!" he +exclaimed, panting and breathless. "I have hurried across the +mountains to bring you the news. It is General Bisson with several +thousand French troops, and Lieutenant-Colonel Wreden with a few +hundred Bavarians. We had a hard fight with them yesterday at the +bridge of Laditch and in the Muhlbacher Klause; but they were too +strong, and were 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 thousands of +them escaped, 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 brought 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 prisoners." + +"Well, let us be up and doing now, my friends," exclaimed +Speckbacher. "We must 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 Teimer, "and +the portraits of the emperor and our dear Archduke 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 put your arms ready. The French are coming Hurrah! Long +live the emperor Francis and the Archduke John!" + +Deafening cheers responded to him, and then the Tyrolese rushed +through the streets to barricade the city in accordance with +Teimer's orders. + +The gates were immediately barricaded with casks, wagons, carts, and +every 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 doors of the houses were locked and bolted, and +frantic women within them boiled oil and water which they intended +to pour on the heads of the soldiers in case they should succeed in +forcing their way into the city; bullets were made and stones were +carried to the roofs, whence they were to be hurled on the enemy. +Meanwhile the tocsin resounded incessantly, as if to invite the +Tyrolese to redoubled efforts and increased vigilance. + +The tocsin, however, had aroused not only the Tyrolese, but also the +Bavarians who were locked up in the barracks; the prisoners +understood full well what the bells were proclaiming. 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, their eyes +flashed again, the clouds disappeared from their humiliated brows; +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 occupied by the Bavarians 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; yon must not suppose that we shall be so +stupid 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 +down the ringleaders! But if the enemy penetrates into the city, +then shoot them all, and do not spare a single one of them. +[Footnote: Hormayr's "History of Andreas Hofer," vol. i., p. 258. ] +We will not incur the disgrace of re-enforcing 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 rigorous +instructions to the sentinels outside; they heard also the +acclamations with which the Tyrolese responded to him. The +prisoners, therefore, 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 ringing, and its sinister notes penetrated +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 rendered him raving +mad; it brought words of wild imprecation to his cold, bloodless +lips; 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 proud, 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 contempt, 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 of them to General Kinkel, the other Tyrolese had +entered Colonel Dittfurt's room, to see the miracle of a man whose +head had been pierced by a bullet having vitality enough left to +rave, swear, and curse, for twenty-four hours. + +Gradually the whole room became crowded with Tyrolese, who yesterday +had been 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 Dittfurt 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 the alarm- +bells which were calling incessantly upon the Tyrolese to prepare +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 Bavarians are +advancing upon the city." + +"The Bavarians are coming! Our men are coming!" cried Dittfurt +exultingly, and be lifted his head as if to rise from his couch. But +the iron hand of death had already touched him and kept him +enthralled. His head sank heavily back upon the pillow, and his eyes +became more lustreless and fixed. + +"They vanquished 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 participate in the contest. +Oh, oh, how it grieves me! A prisoner of the peasants! But they +fought like men, and their leader 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 Dittfurt, "that is false; I know better, for I saw +the leader of the peasants pass me often. He was mounted on a white +horse; his face was as radiant as heaven, his eyes twinkled like +stars, and in his hand he held a sword flashing 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 became more fixed, the shades +of death descended deeper and deeper on his forehead, which was +covered with cold perspiration. + +The Tyrolese minded him no longer. 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 flashing like a sunbeam? It must have +been St. James, the patron of the city of Innspruck. He was our +leader yesterday. Yes, yes, that is it! St. James combated at our +head, unknown to us; but he showed himself to the enemy and defeated +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 likewise 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. James got through with the Spaniards in +Spain, lie has come to the Tyrol to lend us his assistance. St. +James, our patron saint, is our leader! 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 patron saint, is our leader. He +assists us and combats at our head!" [Footnote: "Gallery of heroes: +Andreas Hofer," p. 41.] + +And this belief enhanced the enthusiasm of the Tyrolese, and with +the most intrepid courage they looked upon the enemy, who had by +this time come close up to the city, and was forming in line of +battle on the plain adjoining the village of Wiltau. From the houses +in the neighborhood of the triumphal arch the Tyrolese were able to +survey the whole position of the enemy; they could discern even the +various uniforms 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 village 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 yonder, in the +rear of the Bavarians, must be occupied by several thousands of our +best sharpshooters, and a cloud of our peasants 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 General 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 Tyrolese, 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 general 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 off the enemy's retreat." + +The letter which Major Teimer had extorted from General Kinkel had +really the effect which he had expected from it. General Bisson sent +to Innspruck one of his staff-officers, accompanied by Lieutenant- +Colonel von Wreden, the commander 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 Tyrolese. + +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 and down. But +already upward of an hour had elapsed, and the ambassadors had not +yet made their appearance. He had good reason to be uneasy and +anxious, for the situation of the French and Bavarians was now +almost desperate. He had found out at the bridge of the Eisach, on +the plain of the Sterzinger Moos, and at the Muhlbacher 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 bristling with the +peasants of the Innthal, 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 disgrace of surrendering to the +mob of peasants. But what on earth prevents the officers from +returning to me?" + +And Bisson turned his searching eyes again toward Innspruck. Now he +perceived two men approaching at a run. + +He recognized them; they were the companions of his staff-officer +and Lieutenant-Colonel Von Wreden, and their pale, dismayed faces +told him that they were bearers of bad tidings. + +"Where are the two gentlemen whom I sent to Innspruck?" 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 obligation in regard +to these officers, and would retain them as hostages," panted the +other. "He then caused us to be conducted through the whole city, +that we might satisfy ourselves of the tremendous strength of the +Tyrolese and their formidable preparations. Oh, your excellency, the +peasants are much superior to us in strength, for there are at least +twenty thousand able-bodied men in their ranks; they are well armed, +and the most celebrated marksmen and the most daring leaders of the +Tyrol are among them." + +"Bah! it would make no difference, even though they were ten to +one!" cried General Bisson; "for ten peasants cannot have as much +courage as one soldier of the grand army of my glorious emperor. We +will prove to them that we are not afraid of them. We 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 artillery boomed, but not a Tyrolese had +fallen; they had thrown 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 +firing, and mowed down whole ranks of the soldiers. + +General Bisson 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. + +"We 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. + +There was a sudden lull in the fire of the Tyrolese, which had +already struck down several hundred French soldiers, and from the +triumphal arch of Innspruck issued several men, waving white +handkerchiefs, and advancing directly toward the French. 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 companions 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 comply with such a +demand. Moreover, our situation does not by any means compel us to +allow conditions to be dictated to us. Nevertheless, I am ready 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 molestation through Innspruck, that we may march to +Augsburg in obedience to the orders of my emperor." + +"And you believe we can be so stupid as to grant this demand, +general?" asked Teimer, shrugging his shoulders. "I do not want to +be beaten down, but stick to my first demand. Either you order your +troops to lay down their arms, 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, general, you will appear this very day before the throne of +God to account for the lives of the thousands whom 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 +here 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 Innspruck, and there is no other +road to Augsburg. We have barricaded the city, and have nearly +twenty thousand men in and around Innspruck." + +"But I pledged you my word that I would not attack you, nor take any +hostile steps whatever. All I want is to march peaceably through 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 troops without 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 surrender you and your troops to the tender mercies of our +infuriated people. Farewell, general." + +He turned his back on him and advanced several steps toward +Innspruck. At the same time he waved his arm three times. +Immediately, as had 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 face. +Teimer stood still and gazed sneeringly at the disheartened and +terrified soldiers, and then glanced at their general. + +Bisson caught this glance. "Sir," he cried, and his cry resembled +almost an outburst of despair, "pray return to me." + +"Let us negotiate!" + +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 Tyrolese, now +pouring down from all the mountains, and advancing upon the French, +drowned his voice. + +To render his words intelligible to Teimer, and to hear his replies, +General Bisson was obliged to approach him, and he stepped up to him +with his staff-officers in greater haste perhaps than was compatible +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 capitulation 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 burst 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 +escaped 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 Austria, a +capitulation is entered into at this moment with the 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 such to the Austrian troops at +Schwatz, whither they will be conveyed immediately." + +"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 thereby not +only your own death-warrant, but that of all your soldiers," said +Teimer calmly. "See, general, here is fortunately a table, for this +is the place where the people of Wiltau assemble on Sundays, and +dance and drink. 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, despairingly. 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. +[Footnote: Hormayr's "Andreas Hofer," vol. 1, p. 257.] "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," groaned Bisson, +"and if I sign the capitulation, I shall lose both forever." + +"But you will thereby preserve to the emperor the lives of upward of +three thousand of his soldiers," exclaimed the officers, urgently. + +"Never will the emperor believe that this disaster might not have +been averted," wailed General Bisson. "Even were I merely +unfortunate, he would impute it to me as a crime. He will forgive me +no more than Villeneuve and Dupont. His anger is inexorable, and it +will crush me." + +"Then let it crush you, general," said Teimer, calmly. "It is better +that you should be crushed than that several thousand men should now +be crushed by the Tyrolese." + +"Sign, sign!" cried the French officers, stepping close up to the +table, taking up the pen, and presenting it to the general. + +"Then you are all determined to sign the capitulation after I have +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 toward +heaven and then toward his soldiers, bent over the paper to sign it. + +The pen dropped from his hand, and he had to lean against the table +in order not to sink to the ground. Major Teimer drew a white +handkerchief from his pocket and waved it in the air. The Tyrolese +ceased firing immediately, and deafening cheers burst forth on all +sides. + +"You see, general, you have saved the lives of your soldiers," said +Teimer. + +Bisson only sighed, and turned to his officers. "Now, gentlemen," he +faltered out, "give orders to the troops to lay down their arms on +the spot now occupied by them." + +The officers hastened away, and 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 request you to let us make our entrance in an open, +uncovered carriage." + +"We will do so," said Bisson, 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 rank of major in the Austrian +army, and Archduke John has appointed me commissioner for the +Tyrol." + +"Ah, one of the two commissioners who signed the `open order,' with +which the country was instigated to rise in insurrection?" + +"Yes, general." + +"And Andreas Hofer the Barbone, is the other commissioner, 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 +WE 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 afterward 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 General Bisson, pale, and hanging his head. In +another carriage followed the staff-officers, escorted by the +municipal authorities and clergy of Innspruck, and afterward +appeared the whole enormous force of the Tyrolese conducting the +disarmed prisoners in their midst. [Footnote: Hormayr's "Life of +Andreas Hofer," vol. i., p. 259.] + +All Innspruck had put on its holiday attire; at all the windows were +to be seen gayly-dressed ladies and rejoicing 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 entirely 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 Bisson and the French and Bavarians. [Footnote: Major Teimer +was rewarded for this capitulation of Wiltau with the title of Baron +von Wiltau, and with the order of Maria Theresa. The Emperor of +Austria, besides, presented him with valuable estates in Styria.] + + 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 +the Emperor Francis!" + +The streets presented a very lively appearance; all the painters of +the city were occupied in removing the hateful Bavarian colors, blue +and white, from the signs and houses, and putting on them the +Austrian, black and gold; and the Tyrolese 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 palace. Prizes were awarded for every piece which was +shot from it, and the principal reward was granted to him who +pierced the crown of the lion. + +Yes, the northern Tyrol was free; but the South, the Italian Tyrol, +was groaning yet under the yoke of French oppression, and Andreas +Hofer intended to march thither with his forces, as he had concerted +at Vienna with the Archduke John and Hormayr, in order to bring to +the Italian Tyrolese the liberty which the German Tyrolese had +already conquered. + +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 Landsturm 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 by the priests and civil officers who 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 murmur ran through the ranks of the Tyrolese. +Deafening cheers rent the air then, for Andreas Hofer galloped up on +a fine charger, followed by the men of the Passeyr valley. His face +glowed, his eyes beamed with delight, and his whole bearing breathed +unbounded satisfaction and happiness. + +He shook hands with Hormayr, laughing merrily. "We have kept," he +exclaimed, "the promises 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 Andreas 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 wanted 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. We 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 governor of the Tyrol." + +"He certainly will, and I know that he longs to live again in the +midst of his faithful Tyrolese. But for this reason, Andy, 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 communicate it to you first of all. No one was to +hear of it previous to you." + +"I hope it is good news, Baron von Hormayr," 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, would I then be so stupid as to inform +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 yesterday glorious victory at Sacile over the +Viceroy of Italy, Eugene Beauharnais; it was a great triumph, for he +took eight thousand prisoners, and captured a great many guns. But +amidst this triumph he thought of his dear Tyrolese, and dispatched +from the battle-field a courier who was to bring to me the news and +his order to tell his dear Tyrolese that he defeated the French +yesterday." + +Andreas Hofer, overjoyed and with his countenance full of sunshine +and happiness, galloped down the long line of his sharpshooters. + +"Hurrah! 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 prisoners and +a great many guns. Hurrah! long live the Archduke John, the future +governor of the Tyrol!" + +And the Tyrolese repeated, with deafening cheers: "Hurrah! 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 of Tyrol. It is true, the +Bavarians and the miserable French 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 Andreas 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 +halt hitherto vouchsafed to us! Thanks for delivering the country +and permitting us to be Austrians again! O God, grant now stability +to our work--and preserve it from falling to ruin! If Thou art +content with me, let me further serve and be useful to my native +country! 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 impart +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 that they should be +freemen, 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 which he +was uttering devout vows and prayers. The Tyrolese, who had +gradually reached the summit, had silently 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." + +And amid the solemn silence of the Tyrolese, and the peals of the +Meran church--bells penetrating up to them, Hormayr read to them a +document drawn up by the 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 return 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 Wallner's wedding was to come off to-day. + +She had redeemed her pledge, she had proved that she was a true and +brave daughter of the Tyrol, and Anthony Wallner, her father, was no +longer angry with her; he wished to reward her for her courage and +intrepidity, and make her happy. Therefore, he had sent a messenger +secretly and without her knowledge to Windisch-Matrey, and had +ordered his wife to decorate the house festively, and request the +curate to repair to the church and perform the marriage rites. The +returning Tyrolese were to march to the church, and, after thanking +God for the deliverance 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. + +Wallner's wife alone had remained at home, for she had to attend to +the preparations for the wedding-banquet, with which she and her +servant-girls had been occupied during the whole of the previous +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 +decorated, and festoons of flowers to be suspended round its +entrance. + +"Schroepfel 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 nothing else. Oh, Schroepfel, Schroepfel, +come here! I want to see you!" + +At the staircase leading down into the hall appeared the sunburnt, +furrowed face of old Schroepfel. + +"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-stairs. 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, Schroepfel," 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 Schroepfel, 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 is 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 her head. +"You watch the poor sick prisoner as though he were an eagle, always +ready to fly from the nest." + +"He is about what you say," said Schroepfel, thoughtfully. "He is no +longer sick, and his wings have grown a great deal 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 +Schroepfel. "He is a Bavarian for all that, and the Bavarians are +all faithless and dishonest. I swore to watch him and not lose sight +of him, and I must 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 deserter, 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. "But 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 commence +ringing the returning defenders 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 Schroepfel, and Mrs. +Wallner hastened down-stairs again. + +"Yes, I shall tell him," murmured Schroepfel to himself, "but I +wonder if it will gladden his heart? During the first few days, when +he had the wound-fever, he talked strange things in his delirium, +and derided and scorned our beautiful Lizzie, who, he 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 Schroepfel 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 +indicative of internal sufferings of the body or the soul. However, +since the wound-fever had 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 doubtless grief that +imparted so gloomy and sickly an appearance to Captain Ulrich von +Hohenberg, and it was this very suspicion that rendered Schroepfel +distrustful, and caused him to watch his prisoner night and day with +sombre vigilance. + +He stood a few minutes patiently, and waited for the captain 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 angry 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 delivered from the enemy. Mr. +Wallner 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 French and Bavarians have perished in the gorges and on the +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 captain's face had betrayed that he had heard +Schroepfel'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 Schroepfel, angrily. "I should think you ought to take +some interest in that, for Lizzie is your betrothed." + +"She is not!" cried the captain, starting up indignantly, with +flushed cheeks and flashing eyes. + +"Yes, she is," said Schroepfel, composedly. "I myself heard the girl +say to her father and the men of Windisch-Matrey: 'He is my +bridegroom; I love him, and you must not kill him.' And because she +said so, the men spared your life, although Anthony Wallner- +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 much that her father could not but yield, and +promised her to forgive all if she proved that she was no traitoress +to her country, but a true and brave daughter of the Tyrol; after +doing so, he would permit her to marry her Bavarian 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 deeds performed +by Lizzie Wallner, and of the intrepidity which she displayed under +the most trying circumstances. 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 would 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. + +"Eliza Wallner 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 +Steinach." + +The young man uttered a cry, and buried his face in his hands. + +"What a disgrace, oh, what a disgrace!" he groaned, despairingly; +and in his grief he seemed to have entirely forgotten the presence +of the servant, for he wept, wept so bitterly that large scalding +tears trickled down between his fingers. "Our brave soldiers were +defeated by miserable peasants," he wailed. "The Bavarian prisoners +were marched off under an escort of women!" + +Schroepfel 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 menacing voice. + +"Yes, sir, she did," said Schroepfel. "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 Schroepfel, "the wedding will come off to-day. +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 commence ringing, I shall call for +you and take you to the vestry." + +The young man was silent, and gazed thoughtfully before him; be then +threw back his head with an air of bold resolution. + +"All right," he said, "I shall accompany you. Did you not say that +my baggage had been sent hither from the castle?" + +"Yes, yes, Miss Elza sent every thing hither by her servants, and +she herself came 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, and 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 nevertheless every +day and inquires about you; and she begged hard and long until Mrs. +Wallner permitted her to send your dinner 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 ceremony, +and don my gala uniform. Therefore be so kind as to fetch it." + +"I will, captain, I will fetch the uniform and be back directly," +said Schroepfel, 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; afterward 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; I shall always +be behind him, and if he does not treat the girl as he ought to, I +will strike him down with my fists like a mad bull! I will do it, so +help me God!" + + + + +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 victorious defenders of +the country were approaching; their cheers were already heard at a +distance; and they already saw the merry boys who had gone out to +meet them, and who now headed the procession amid manifestations of +the liveliest delight. 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 proportions. +How their rifles flashed in the sun! How beautifully the bouquets +adorned their pointed green hats! And now they were already able to +distinguish the faces and the individual forms. Immediately behind +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 +wearing 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 manner into Windisch- +Matrey. + +Lizzie looked really splendid in her holiday attire. Her raven hair, +flowing down in heavy 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 fastened 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 encased in handsome stockings and shoes adorned +with large silver buckles. The boys had brought to her the splendid +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. + +But these words had rendered Lizzie silent and sad. The 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 ask 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 to explain to +herself, filled 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 entrance 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 +gone 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, the 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 seemed to shout "Welcome!" to them. +Even the glistening snow-clad summits of the Gross-Glockner 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 purpose of adorning the landscape for the returning +heroes. And the wild Iselbach murmured 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 ringing +responses from the villages farther down in the valley; the priests +stood with solemn, devout faces at the entrance of the place, +blessing the heroes with uplifted hands, and eyes turned to heaven; +and the girls and matrons, strewing 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 crimsoned, 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 proud +of you, for you have become a heroine, and have done honor to our +Tyrol. Elza was right after all in always calling 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, rapturously; and +she encircled her friend'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 return 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. + +"You are sick, Elza," she said, anxiously. + +"No," whispered Elza, "I am not." + +"Then you love your Lizzie no longer?" asked Eliza, pressingly. + +"Yes, I do," said Elza, in a hollow voice, and with a wondrously +mournful smile. "I do love you, and, to prove it, I present you with +this wreath. God bless you, dear Lizzie; may He grant you +happiness!" + +"Elza," cried Eliza, anxiously, "Elza, pray come to me and tell me +what it means, what--" + +"Hush, Lizzie, hush," said her father, seizing her hand and drawing +her forward. "Do you not see that the procession is moving on, and +that we must 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, Lizzie, 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, my 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 indescribable +anguish oppressed her soul; she did not know why, and she felt as +though something dreadful were about to happen here, and as though +she ought to flee, flee far into the mountains, into solitude. + +But her father held her by the hand, and walked with her up the main +aisle to the large altar. Rows of chairs, decorated with flowers, +had been placed here, and Eliza had to seat herself on one of these +chairs; by her side sat her father; opposite her, the castellan and +her friend Elza; then came the municipality, and John Panzl, +lieutenant-commander of the men of Windisch-Matrey, 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 pews, 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 herself; 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 gravely 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 expression of hatred +and contempt; a haughty, disdainful smile played round his lips, and +he threw back his head superciliously, 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 proclaimed him the bridegroom of Eliza Wallner, who was present; +he called upon 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, and as if broken-hearted, Eliza sank +back into her chair, 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 door of the vestry opened, and Ulrich von Hohenberg stepped in. +His tall, slender form presented a very fine appearance 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 +humiliate him, for he walked up, his head proudly raised, and his +stern, cold eyes gazing scornfully upon the assembly. + +He stepped close up to the altar. "Reverend father," he said, in a +clear, loud voice to the priest, "you have called me. Here I 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 bridegroom." + +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 contempt. + +"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 their rifles. + +But Anthony Wallner sprang to his feet, pale with rage, his eyes +shooting fire, like those of an angry tiger, rushed toward the +captain, and sized 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 give her to you, you refuse to +take her!" + +"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 against my countrymen +and brethren; who participated in 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 Schroepfel 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 arms, and a +beloved voice penetrated her ear with the vehemence of mortal +anguish and terror. + +"Eliza!" 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!" 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 dragging 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 the men, who were just issuing from the church-door, +and in whose midst was walking Captain Ulrich von Hohenberg, +conducted by Anthony Wallner, and his servant, lame old Schroepfel, +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 men to let +her pass; vainly did she try with the strength of despair to elbow +her way through the ranks. The men pushed her back impetuously. + +"You shall not intercede. in behalf of the infamous villain," 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 their 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 Schroepfel, 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 your 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 our emperor. Therefore, you have sinned against God, +man, and honor. Ulrich von Hohenberg, you must die!" + +"Yes, you must die!" shouted the men; and they took the rifles from +their shoulders and loaded them. + +Anthony Wallner and Schroepfel stepped back from the prisoner, and +the men who had stood behind him moved out of the way. Hence the +circle, which had hitherto been impenetrable, 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, placing 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. + +"But, Lizzie, did you not hear, then, how he repudiated and abused +you, the faithless Bavarian?" asked her father. + +"I did, and I forgive him," she said gently, "for I know full well +that he does not mean what he says. Are you so stupid, men, as not +to comprehend that he cannot act otherwise, and that he must speak +thus and not otherwise? 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- +morrow morning, and have him taken back as a prisoner to our house +until then. Schroepfel 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 +whenever you could. I wish now that you spare the life of my +betrothed only until to-morrow morning." + +"He says he is not your betrothed, 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 captain, who +stood pale and motionless, 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 having 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 +occurred here, and that you threatened to shoot Ulrich because he +would not marry me, the gentlemen at Munich will understand 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, gloomily. + +"I am, father," she said, "for I love my betrothed; and he shall not +become unhappy for my 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 morning and accompany the bride and +bridegroom to the church, for Ulrich will marry me at nine to-morrow +morning." + +"But, Lizzie, why not to-day?" asked her father. "Why not at this +hour?" + +"It will not do, father. If you 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 voluntarily with you in our +valley. I must, therefore, pack up my things and prepare for +departing as soon as we have been married. Let us alone, then, dear +father, 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, Schroepfel, come here; take the prisoner back to my +house, and confine him where you have kept him for a week past. But +I tell you, watch him well, and admit no one to him except Lizzie, +and prevent him from talking with anybody but his betrothed." + +"I will do so, and watch him as I have done up to this time," said +Schroepfel, 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 marriage 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 + + +Schroepfel, 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 additional precautions were necessary, for +Schroepfel knew that he could rely on his own vigilance, and that +the prisoner surely would never escape from him. Hence, he loosened +the cords with which he had been tied, and removed the handkerchief +with which he had been gagged. + +"If it affords you pleasure," said Schroepfel, "you may use your +mouth and inveigh against Lizzie Wallner, who has saved your life +to-day a second time, and whom you 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 a patient as Lizzie, and I shall never permit you to abuse +and treat so contemptuously 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 +protected 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 Schroepfel 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 been 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 through it. Ulrich had +sunk down on a chair and leaned his head on his hand; he lifted his +sombre eyes to heaven, 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 Schroepfel had given him to abuse +Lizzie Wallner, for his lips were firmly compressed, and not a sound +fell from them. Or could Schroepfel, perhaps, not hear him, because +the men down in the bar-room were laughing and shouting so merrily, +and speaking so loudly and enthusiastically of the Tyrol, and +drinking the health of the emperor and the Archduke John, who had +again taken possession of the country and solemnly proclaimed that +he would restore the ancient and liberal constitution of the +Tyrolese? + +"How merry they are down-stairs!" growled Schroepfel. "I might be +there to; I have amply deserved to have a little exercise and +pleasure. Instead of that I must site here with a dry 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 +utterly dishonest, and who treated our beautiful, noble Lizzie in so +infamous a manner! 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 welfare of the fatherland." + +But Schroepfel was mistaken for once, for quick footsteps ascended +the staircase 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 Schroepfel. 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 Schroepfel," she said in her gentle voice, +nodding to him pleasantly, and handing the plate to him, "eat and +drink, and let me in the mean time go and see your prisoner." + +"What do you want of him?" asked Schroepfel, 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 Schroepfel. "Go in, then, but do not stay too +long; and if he should abuse you again, pray call me, and I will +assist you." + +"Thank you, dear Schroepfel," said Eliza, "but pray admit me now." + +Schroepfel 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 Schroepfel 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 Schroepfel, 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; for a moment +she laid her hand on her bosom, as if to stifle the cry which her +lips were already about to utter; then she cast a beseeching glance +toward heaven, and, as if strengthened by this mute invocation, she +stepped forward. + +"Captain Ulrich von Hohenberg!" she said, in her sweet, melodious +voice. + +He gave a start, dropped his hand from his face, and jumped up. + +"Eliza Wallner!" he said, breathlessly and in great confusion. + +She only nodded her head, and fixed her clear, piercing eyes with a +proud, reproachful expression on his face; he dropped his eyes +before 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 yonder?" + +Ulrich stepped to her and looked out. "I see the mountains and the +summits of the glaciers," 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 proud 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 ardent love for Eliza Wallner. Did you profit by that +opportunity?" + +"No," he said, in a low voice; "it is true, I acted harshly and +cruelly toward you, I occasioned you bitter grief, I--" + +"I do not complain," she exclaimed, proudly. "I do not 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, impetuously, "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, afterwards I +only wished to save your life. You have utterly mistaken 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 +mistaken my 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 enthusiasm of a noble heart. But he +would have to remain in the mountains and be a son of the Tyrol; for +my heart is attached to the mountains, and never would I or could I +leave them to remove to a large city. You see, therefore, Ulrich, +that a marriage with you would by no means appear to me a very +fortunate thing; and, moreover, if you had allowed yourself to be +compelled to marry me, had you not refused to do so, I should have +despised you all my life long as a miserable coward. I thank you, +therefore, for resisting 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." + +"Eliza," he exclaimed, impetuously, "you are an angel of goodness +and lenity, and I stand before you filled with shame and grief. You +say you always liked me 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!" + +He tried to seize her hand, but she withdrew it from him quickly. + +"Captain von Hohenberg," 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 taking 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 buried +under an avalanche than act so meanly and disgracefully. But when +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 my 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 father had +concealed it from me, and wished to surprise me, because he really +believed that I loved you. If I had known beforehand what father had +in view, I should have devised some way of preventing him from +carrying his plan into effect. But I swear to you, I had no inkling +of it. Therefore, I beg your pardon, sir, for the harsh treatment +you received 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 this charming +mildness which crushes me! You acted like an angel toward me, and I +treated you like a heartless barbarian." + +"I forgive you with all my heart, and therefore you may forgive +yourself," she said, with a gentle smile. "But let us speak no +longer of the past; let us think only of the future. 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 Schroepfel +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 light beforehand, lest +Schroepfel should see any thing. My mother told me Schroepfel had +bored holes in the door, and was watching you all the time. +Therefore, go to bed early, and leave your window open. When the +church-clock strikes two, listen for any noise, and hold yourself in +readiness. 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 +Schroepfel, 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 the door, did you not? You saw, then, Schroepfel, that we stood +together like a pair of sensible lovers." + +"I did not see any thing," exclaimed Schroepfel, angrily, "for you +placed yourself close to the window, and my hole does not enable me +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 +understand each other when billing and cooing." + +"Fie, Schroepfel! do not talk such nonsense," cried Eliza, blushing +deeply. "Behave yourself, Schroepfel, and I will bring you another +bottle of wine to-day, and beg father to let you come down to supper +to-night, and permit you to sleep in your bedchamber." + +"I shall take good care to do no such thing," growled Schroepfel. "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, Schroepfel; the sentinel will be +relieved to-night." + +Eliza's words were fulfilled. Toward nightfall she informed +Schroepfel that her father permitted him to take his supper at the +table down-stairs, and afterward go to bed in his own chamber. + +"Well, and who is to watch the prisoner in the mean time?" asked +Schroepfel. + +"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 prisoner cannot get out, for I +think his chamber has no other outlet." + +"Yes, it has--the window!" + +"Do you think the Bavarian has wings and will fly out of the window +to-night?" + +"It is true he cannot fly out, nor can he jump out, for he would +simply break his neck. 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 my chamber. If any thing happens, +I shall wash my hands of it." + +"Wash them as much as you please, Schroepfel, but come down to +supper," cried Eliza, hastening down-stairs with the agility of a +bird. + +Schroepfel looked after her, shaking his head; 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 I shall unchain Phylax," he said, as if to +console himself, while he was going slowly and stiffly down-stairs. + +Schroepfel kept his word. Weary and exhausted as he was, he waited +until all the inmates of the house bad 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 Schroepfel seized his +ear and pointed his other hand at the prisoner's window, which was +brightly illuminated by the moon. + +"Watch that window well, 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 basking. 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 Schroepfel, and uttered a +threatening growl. + +"Very well," said Schroepfel, "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 Schroepfel 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 mountains rising in the +rear of the outbuildings in Wallner's yard. Hour after hour passed +by, and all remained silent; not a sound broke the holy stillness of +night. + +Hour after hour passed by; nothing stirred in the yard; the dog sat, +as if he had really understood Schroepfel's words, in the middle of +the yard, and stared steadfastly at the prisoner's window. Phylax +watched, as Schroepfel had gone to bed; Phylax watched, and did not +avert his eyes from the window on which his whole attention seemed +to be concentrated, for he did not stir, he did not even disturb the +flies buzzing round his ears; be was all attention and vigilance. +All at once something occurred that had never happened to him during +his nocturnal service; a wondrous, appetizing scent was wafted to +him on the wings of the night-breeze. Phylax averted his eyes for a +moment from the window and glanced searchingly round the yard. +Nothing stirred in it, but this wonderful scent of a roast sausage +still impregnated 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 him that the appetizing scent had come +from it. All at once, however, 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 tremendous 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 stepped 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 window into the room. + +The window was closed behind him immediately, and the four-footed +custodian of the prisoner was now a prisoner himself. + +The yard was empty now. Schroepfel slept soundly in his bed-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 which 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 vigorous 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 ascended it with cat-like agility, +carrying a small bundle on her arm, while 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 hour." + +"Take this, sir," she said, handing the bundle into the window. "It +is a suit of clothes which you must put on. It is my father's +holiday dress, for you must not wear the Bavarian 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 +ready, descend the ladder, and come down into the yard, where I +shall await you. Bring the package with 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 herself 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 wonderfully 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 rolled down her cheek slowly, Eliza shook her head +indignantly, and brushed it away with her hand. + +"Foolish girl!" 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 stiff, +and never forget what is due to your honor, 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 +pleasantly 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 appeared on the ladder. + +"Throw down your package, sir--I will catch it," whispered Eliza. + +"Thank you, I can carry it myself," said Ulrich, 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 reply, but walked across, opened 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 mountains rising on the +opposite side. The moon still shone brightly upon the valley, and +illuminated the two forms rapidly walking behind each other, casting +their long, dark shadows on the side of the road. + +Ulrich yon Hohenberg saw in the moonlight that Eliza was carrying +the haversack and rifle; 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." + +"But what are the arms for, Eliza? You have armed yourself 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. Speaking +exhausts us and makes us absent-minded. We have a long march before +us, and must save our breath, and devote our whole attention to the +route; for it will lead us over the narrow paths 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 them past precipices, from one rock to +another, all of which were spanned by narrow planks, under which +unfathomable chasms yawned. Then it led through 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 chatting. +Forward!" + +And they continued ascending the mountain. The valley, and even the +mountain-forest, 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 up at +times with a purple lustre; the small, scudding clouds began to turn +red; the pale, foggy mountain-peaks colored, and a strange +whispering passed through the air. + +Now they had reached the summit, and the peak on which they were +standing afforded them a strikingly beautiful view. + +"This is the place where we may rest," said Eliza, drawing a deep +breath. + +"And may I speak now, Eliza?" asked Ulrich. + +"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 lustre, lay at the end of the lovely valley opening 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 twilight, 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 azure 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 +beholding 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 hitherto 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 radiant 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!" +she exclaimed, fervently. "I greet you, beloved mountains guarding +our frontiers! I greet you, Gross-Glockner 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, "we must +part here. I only intended to conduct you hither, to the Kalser +Thoerl. You will now descend to the village of Kals, which you see +in the valley yonder. Look, back there, its red roofs are rising out +of the green shrubbery. 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 Thoerl and the Katzenstein to +Heiligenblut. 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 Ulrich, 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 you +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 morning, and they shall not +wait in vain. Come, Eliza, let us return to Windisch-Matrey; for all +your kindness and magnanimity I shall give you the only thing I have +to give, my name. You will, you shall become my wife! Come, your +father and your friends await us at the church; I will conduct 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 your +hand." + +"Well, then, do that," he said, gently; "I have deserved this +humiliation; I owe you 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 seven 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, lenity, 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 before 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 I 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 the tempt--I felt it when +you looked at me so disdainfully yesterday--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." + +"You will not," she said, shaking her bead, "for I shall not take +you. I do not love you." + +"Eliza," he cried, seizing 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, I do +not love you!" + +"Yes, you do," he 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 shall kill me too.' +Pity and compassion do not speak thus; only love has such tones of +anguish, despair, and heroism. I felt it at that moment, and the +blissful delight which filled my heart on recognizing it, made me at +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. Ob, 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 from it is false. I do not love you, 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 quarrels of the nations are +settled. I shall return to ask you 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 the future, and we shall see whether it will bring me +happiness 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 talisman 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 be. You see, therefore, that I cannot give you +a kiss. Go, sir. But have you no commissions 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; "I +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 you, 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 Ulrich, instead of giving +it to her, pressed the bouquet to his lips, and imprinted 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 demand 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 ask you then: `Have you forgotten me? Will you +become my wife?' Until then, farewell!" + +He gazed at her with a long look of love and tenderness; she avoided +meeting his 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. + +"I am going, Eliza," he exclaimed. "Farewell!" + +He seized her hand impetuously, imprinted on it a burning kiss +before she was able to prevent him, dropped it, and turned to +descend the slope with a slow step. + +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 her breast. + +He waved his hand to her, turned again, and continued descending 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 mouth, 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! disappeared in the thicket. + +Eliza, uttering a loud cry, knelt down, and tears, her long- +restrained, scalding tears, streamed like rivers down her cheeks. +She lifted her arms, her clasped bands, to heaven, and murmured 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 her +feet, brushed the tears 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 descend in order to be at home in +time, and then I will tell father and the other men that 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! 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 with 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, and this flower is my wedding-bouquet. I shall +never wear another!" + +She extended her arms in the direction where Ulrich had disappeared. +"Farewell!" she cried. "I greet you a thousand 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, and instead of rejoicing over the fresh +verdure and the blossoms of spring, they grieved, and their hearts +were frozen with care and pain. + +For the Emperor Napoleon had raised his proud hand again against +Germany; he had defeated the Austrians at Ratisbon and Landshut, and +made his 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 palace of Schoenbrunn, and +Vienna had to bow again to the will of the all-powerful conqueror. +The Emperor Francis had escaped 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 surrender it to the French, had nevertheless +opened its gates already on the 12th of May to the Emperor Napoleon +and his army. It had to bow to stern necessity, for during the +previous night the Archduke Maximilian, with the weak forces with +which he had been ordered to defend Vienna, had evacuated the city, +had burned the great bridge of Thabor to prevent Napoleon from +pursuing him, and had succeeded in escaping, 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 surrender to the tender mercies of +the French emperor; they had opened 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 fiery 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 French emperor, who always spoke of peace and +conciliation, and always stirred up quarrels and enmities. The +latest reverses of Austria had produced a most painful impression +upon the aged maestro, and the ravishing joy which had illuminated +Joseph Haydn's face at the performance of "The Creation," had long +since disappeared 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 morning, 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 now 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 humiliated. + +"God is every where," said Haydn to his faithful servant Conrad, +"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 gloriously the sun shines, and how +blue the sky is! To-day is Sunday. Let us, therefore, put on our +Sunday clothes. Conrad, 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 Sunday 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 tottering 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 honored 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 +shrubbery, the humming bees and flitting butter-flies. "Oh, how +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 MY +'Creation,'" said Haydn, with a gentle smile. "I was not thinking of +MY 'Creation' at this moment, but of God's creation. 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 +listen, doctor, the prima donna assoluta of the good God has become +entirely silent, and listens 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 with +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 preparing a little surprise and +joy for our dear master, the great Joseph Haydn." + +"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 Conrad, +laughing; "the two could never get along with each other, and were +always quarrelling. Whenever Paperl could catch one of your wife's +fingers, he bit it with his thick beak, and she hated the bird +cordially for it, and would have preferred sending him to the grave +than descending into it herself. 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 remind all of the +great composer, Joseph Haydn." + +"Ah, my dear old Conrad," sighed Haydn, sinking into the easy-chair +which Conrad had placed for him under the fragrant elder-bush, "a +thousand years hence no one will know any thing about us, and we +shall be nothing but dust returned to dust. But God will remain, and +His sun will shine a thousand 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 his 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 shrubbery, or skipped merrily from branch to branch +in the fragrant walnut tree. Beside the easy-chair stood Conrad, the +old servant, his faithful, honest face turned toward his master with +an expression of infinite tenderness, and quite absorbed in +contemplating this mild, smiling, and calm octogenarian, whose eyes +were looking around slowly, and seemingly greeting God and Nature. +In the distance bells were ringing and calling devout worshipers to +divine service; their notes resounded tremulously through the air +like a solemn accompaniment 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 any thing? Why can I not die with this prayer of gratitude +toward God on my lips, and waft my soul up to heaven, as that bird +yonder is at this moment soaring toward the sun!" + +"Oh, sir, why do you talk already 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 exhausted, Conrad; I +have no longer strength enough to live. This unfortunate war crushed +to the ground and broke my poor heart. [Footnote: Haydn's own +words.--"Zeitgenossen," vol. iv., p. 36.] When 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! Ah, how dreadful it is +that Austria and my emperor were humiliated so profoundly, 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 hypocritical 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 +Napoleon, 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 manage 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 +humiliating position. He will protect Germany from the wrongs +inflicted upon her by France, and avenge the disgrace which every +German has to suffer at the bands 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 my God!" + +He lifted both his hands toward heaven, and prayed in a 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, farewell, then, +great and holy Nature! I have loved thee passionately all my life, +and glorified thee in my works to the best of the power which God +imparted to me. Farewell, Nature! farewell, sunshine and fragrant +flowers! 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 my room. I am tired, ah, so exceedingly +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 recommenced 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 a 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 +out-sing 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 to arouse the flowers from their +sweet slumber, till they trembled with blissful transports, and +softly raised their flowery crowns toward the blooming elder, in +whose dark foliage was concealed the nightingale, Nature's great and +yet modest artiste. + +Yes, all Nature seemed to listen with blissful attention to this +wonderful song of the nightingale, and even the parrot could no +longer resist the charm. Paperl hesitated, then commenced 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 murmured; "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 bouquet in both +his hands, and contemplating it with loving eyes. + +Conrad slipped out of the room and returned in a few minutes. + +"There is a stranger from Berlin," he said, "who begged me urgently +to admit hint to Dr. Haydn, Mr. Schmid, the manager of the theatre, +is with him, and requests you to see the stranger, who, he says, is +a celebrated 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 crossed the threshold softly +on tiptoe, and with faces expressive of profound reverence; as if +seized with compassion or pious awe, they stood still at the door, +and gazed with eyes full of tenderness upon Haydn, who, at this +moment, overcome perhaps by the spring air, had closed his eyes, and +not heard the entrance 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!" +he repeated, fixing his ardent eyes on the composer. + +"Yes, that is Joseph Haydn," said the other, 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 wish you good-day," said +Schmid, warmly, "and pray you to receive this gentleman here kindly. +It is Iffland, 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 pressing solicitations, he +received permission to return 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, with 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 +parrot," said Haydn, with a faint smile. "The works of man are +perishable, but the works of God last forever." + +"But the works 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 hold in your hand, and the +perfumes of which 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?" asked Schmid, laughing. + +Haydn looked up to him smilingly and shook his head gently. "No," he +said, "it is the last souvenir of Nature, to which 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 ears were closed 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 derive enthusiasm from the +words of the text. The words said so little, really so very little! +Frequently a single passage caused me 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. The 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 suffer +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 me. But +it is an honorable defeat--it is hard work to which I am succumbing. +However, God assisted me. I never felt it more strikingly than this +very day, and therefore I am so happy, oh! 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, in former years!" +He turned his tearful eyes toward the window, 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 my +heart." + +"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 was injurious to me," said Haydn, "but considerations of health +had no right to prevent me from being present. It was not the first +time that homage had been rendered to Haydn, and I 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 musicians and +singers were celebrating," said Iffland, 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 performed in Berlin quite +recently at a charity concert, the receipts 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 reward 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 true, much love has been manifested for me, much homage +has been rendered to me," said Haydn, musingly. + +"All nations and all princes have rendered homage to you," exclaimed +Iffland. "The laurel-wreath, for which we other poets and artists +arc 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 flattering and gratifying manner. Europe has +presented you, 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. "I +will show. them to you.--Conrad, give me my treasures." + +Conrad opened the drawer 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 friend of her house only a few +weeks ago, and on whose lid was painted a splendid miniature +representing the scene at the last performance of "The Creation," +when Haydn received the enthusiastic homage of the audience. He then +showed them the large gold medal sent him; in 1800, from Paris, by +the two hundred and fifty musicians who, on Christmas evening in +that year, had performed "The Creation," and thereby delighted all +Paris. Then followed many other medals from musical societies and +conservatories, and valuable diamond rings, snuff-boxes, and +breastpins from kings and emperors. Last, Haydn showed them, with +peculiar emotion, the diploma of citizenship which the city of +Vienna had conferred 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 table before him every piece, after showing it +to them and explaining its meaning; and now that all the treasures +were spread out before him, he contemplated them 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 render 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 +preserved and honored if only for my sake." [Footnote: Haydn +bequeathed all his trinkets and manuscripts to the Esterhazy family, +who had honored him so highly during his whole life.] + +"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 drawing 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 room. 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 speak. 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 whole +face for a moment in the flowers, and then handed it to Iffland with +a gentle smile. + +"Farewell," he said; "remember me on looking at these 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 declaim, 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 fixing 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 stroem't dein wogender Gesang + In uns're Herzen ein! Wir sehen + Der Schoepfung maecht'gen Gang, + Den Hauch des Herrn auf dem Gewaesser wehen; + Jetzt durch ein blitzend Wort das erste Licht entstehen, + Und die Gestirne sich durch ihre Bahnen drehen; + Wie Baum und Pflanze wird, wie sich der Berg erhebt, + Und froh des Lebens sich die jungen Thiere regen. + Der Donner rollet uns entgegen; + Der Regen saeuselt, jedes Wesen strebt + In's Dasein; und bestimmt, des Schoepfers Werk zu kroenen + Sehn wir das erste Paar, gefuehrt von Deinen Toenen. + Oh, jedes Hochgefuehl, das in dem Herzen schlief, + Ist wach! Wer rufet nicht: wie schoen ist diese Erde? + Und schoener, nun ihr Herr anch dich in's Dasein rief, + Auf dass sein Werk vollendet werde!" + + + [Footnote: + "Thy wondrous song in melting strains + To our mute hearts swift entrance gains; + By magical yet unfelt force, + We see creation's mighty course: + The firmament appears in space-- + God breathes upon the water's face. + One flashing word bids primal light appear, + Revolving stars begin their vast career; + Upheaving mountains now are seen, + Tall trees and tender herbage green; + Young animals to being rise, + And animate by living cries; + We hear the mighty thunder roar, + And rains in gushing 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!" + +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, approached the door, opened it softly, +and went out, followed by Schmid. [Footnote: The whole account of +this interview between Joseph Haydn and Iffland is in strict +accordance with Iffland's own report of it in his "Theatre-Almanac," +pp. 181-207.] + +"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 already 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 glorious victory over her arrogant foe! Do not allow +Austria and Germany to succumb; help us to defeat the proud enemy +who has humiliated and oppressed us so long! O Lord my God, shield +the honor of Germany and Austria! Protect the emperor!" + +And Joseph Haydn walked through the room with the vigor and alacrity +of a youth, dropped his hands on the keys of the piano, and began to +play in full concords the melody of his imperial hymn, "Gott erhalte +Franz den Kaiser!" Conrad and Kate stood behind him, singing in a +low, tremulous tone; but outside, the booming of artillery continued +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 +him to his couch, and soon succeeded in restoring him to +consciousness. He opened his eyes slowly, and his first 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 emperor has gained a battle." + +And in truth Joseph Haydn's strong will once more over-powered +death, which had already touched him with its finger. 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 days 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 around, 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 May had come. Conrad had gone into +the street to ask for news, for the booming of artillery had ceased, +and the battle wars over. "Which side was victorious?" That was the +question which caused all to tremble, and which filled all hearts +with intense anxiety. + +Haydn's heart, too, was full of grave anxiety, and, to overcome his +impatience till Conrad's return, he had caused Kate to conduct him +to his piano. + +"I will play my imperial hymn," he said, hastily; "I have often +derived comfort and relief from it in the days of uneasiness and +anxiety; and when I play, it my heart is always so much at ease. Its +strength will not fail me to-day either." [Footnote: Haydn's own +words.--See "Zeitgonosson," vol. iv., third series, p. 36.] + +He commenced playing; a blissful smile illuminated his features; he +lifted his radiant eyes to heaven, and his music grew louder and +fierier, and his fingers glided more powerfully 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! hurrah! Our hero, the Archduke Charles, has defeated +the villainous Bonaparte! Hurrah!" + +"Hurrah! hurrah!" repeated the parrot on its pole; and the cat +raised its head from the cushion on which it had lain, and gazed +with keen, searching eyes at the parrot, as if it had understood +Paperl's jubilant notes. + +Joseph 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 disappointing my firm trust, +but protecting Austria and helping her to vanquish her foe. I knew +full well that the just cause would triumph, and the just cause is +that of Austria; for France, hypocritical 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 conquer, and France, had to succumb in this struggle. God +protect the Emperor Francis! I may lay down now and die. Austria is +victorious! That is the last joyful greeting which the world sends +to me. With this greeting 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 +German 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 dying 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 had been +defeated by the Austrians. The Archduke Charles had gained a +brilliant victory; Napoleon had transferred his whole army to the +island of Lobau; he himself passed his time in moody broodings at +the castle of Ebersberg, and the unexpected disaster which had +befallen him and which at the same time had brought about the death +of one of his favorites, Marshal Lannes, seemed to have suddenly +deprived the emperor of all his energy. He did not speak, he did not +eat; he sat for whole days in his cabinet, staring at the maps +spread out before him on his table, and yet forgetting to cover +them, as he used to do on conceiving the plans of his campaigns, +with the colored pins which represented the different armies. +Victory had no longer been able to soften this marble Caesarean +face, but defeat caused his features now to wear an expression of +profound anger and grief. Nevertheless, he did not complain, and +never did he confess even to his confidants that he was suffering. +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 emperor, 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 answered 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 Essling I 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 forgiven 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 victor of Aspern; and all +Austria, all Germany joined in these rejoicings, and blessed the +glorious day of Bonaparte's first humiliation. + +And this victory was soon followed by the news of a triumph hardly +less glorious than the battle of Aspern. The Tyrolese, 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 Capuchin Haspinger, had again defeated +the Bavarians and French, who had re-entered the Tyrol, and +delivered the province 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 Tyrolese; of Hofer's pious +zeal; of the bold exploits of Wallner and Speckbacher, whose deeds +recalled the ancient heroes of Homer; of the intrepid Capuchin +friar, Haspinger, who, with a huge wooden cross in his hand, led on +the attack, and animated his followers not less by his example than +the assurances of Divine protection which he held forth. 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 illuminated it. + +"Your imperial highness, then, does not share my exultation?" he +asked, mournfully. "You receive the news quite coldly and +indifferently, and yet I am speaking of your beloved Tyrolese, of +your heroes, Andreas Hofer, Joseph Speckbacher, 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 courageous 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 cunning 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 Tyrol. 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 Hormayr had +just reached me and brought 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 +remind the emperor of this letter. Here is the copy. Read it 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 greater 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 +Vorarlberg, that they shall never again be separated 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." + +[Footnote: Hormayr, "Das Heer von Inner-Oesterreich unter den +Befehlen des Erzherzogs Johann," p. 189.] + +"And your imperial highness doubts, even after this solemn promise +given to the Tyrolese by his majesty the emperor?" + +"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 hour 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!--I 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 especially men, will assuredly +compel him 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 peace; 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 generalissimo addressed to +Napoleon after the defeat of Ratisbon, and which Napoleon disdained +to answer. [Footnote: The Archduke Charles wrote to Napoleon on 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 hardly +informed of your presence, I speedily discovered it by the losses +which I experienced. You have taken many prisoners from me, sire, +and I have taken some thousands from you in quarters where you were +not personally present. I propose to your majesty to exchange them, +man for man, rank for rank; and, if that proposal proves agreeable +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 the age; but I should esteem myself much happier if +Heaven had chosen me to be the instrument of procuring for my +country a durable peace. Whatever 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 I am equally +honored by meeting your majesty either with the sword or the olive- +branch in your hand."] 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 generous enthusiasm and fiery impetuosity are repugnant +to the emperor, 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 there 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 hatred, that the peace-party deserts its leader in +order to operate with the war-party against him and his interests. +The Austrian nobility 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 oligarchy. It opposes me as well as the other archdukes, whether +this opposition 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 serving 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 emperor 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 impossible 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 render 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, shrugging his shoulders. "Do not +his brothers, the archdukes, 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 present campaign, while he was twice defeated; I beat the +French at Sacile and St. Boniface, while he lost the 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 revenge at the +battle of Aspern?" + +"Oh, my friend, you forgot that our mother was a daughter of Italy, +and that we, therefore, do not care for a noble and glorious +revenge, but long for an Italian vendetta. The generalissimo will +not content himself with having obtained glory, but I must suffer a +defeat, a disgrace, which will neutralize 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, in 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 +generalissimo is desirous of punishing 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 already several times told +the emperor that I am self-willed, disobedient, and always inclined +to oppose his orders by words or even deeds; and the emperor always +takes pleasure in informing 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 that 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 soldiers and the +glory of the Austrian arms suffer by it, and it will destroy the +liberty of the Tyrol. 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 in +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, unfortunate Tyrol +will grievously suffer for the love which I bear it; Austria will +lose it a second time, and now, perhaps, forever." + +"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 announces 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 distrustful, and convince me that they are not meant +seriously. If the emperor had the preservation 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 that has happened since we took the field, and tell me then +whether I am right 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 manner; that you and your +army have constantly 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." + +"My friend at they will hereafter say that I was alone to blame for +the failure of my plans," cried the archduke, with a mournful smile; +"they will charge me with having been unable to carry out the +grandiloquent promises which I made to the emperor and the Tyrolese, +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 have been removed from the +Tyrol, and my arm is paralyzed so that I can no longer stretch it +out to take the hand 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 +probably 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 Ratisbon, I was compelled, +instead of pursuing the enemy energetically and obliging him to keep +on the defensive, to retreat 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 orders did not know that Jellachich +had in the meantime been beaten at Wurzl; 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; be 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 +incessant losses; and scarcely had we reached Comorn to re-organize +and re-enforce my little army, when we received orders to march to +the island of Schutt and toward Presburg. I vainly tried to +remonstrate and point to the weakness and exhaustion of my troops; I +vainly asked for time to reorganize 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 +Presburg and open to Macdonald the road to Vienna. My remonstrances +were disregarded; pains were taken to prove to me that 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 generalissmo'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 repair this very day to his majesty's headquarters +at Wolkersdorf. I will 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 apprehensions in my +bosom; but my fatherland is at stake, and so is the poor 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 WOLBERSDORF. + + +The Emperor of Austria was still at his headquarters at Wolkersdorf. +The news of the victory at Aspern had illuminated 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 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 incredulous smile. +"You do not know Bonaparte," he said, "if you think he will, because +he has suffered a defeat, be immediately ready to make peace and +return to France. Now he will not rest before he gains a victory and +repairs the blunders 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 +Bonaparte is reported to have said? He declared that there was no +longer a dynasty of the Hapsburgs, but only the petty princes of +Lorraine. And do you not know that he has addressed to the +Hungarians a proclamation 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 really are like babies; they do not +become reasonable and wise, and the accursed word 'liberty,' which +Bonaparte puts as a flea into their ears, maddens 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 wise, 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 volunteers are flocking to his +standards to fight against the despot who, like a demon of terror, +tramples the peace and prosperity 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 were unable to +bring about. The hatred of the nations will crush Bonaparte and hurl +him from his throne." + +"Provided the princes of the Rhenish Confederation do not support +him, or provided the Emperor Alexander of Russia 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 idolize 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 he wrote to Bonaparte, 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 +disease, from the command-in-chief of the army. We, therefore, +suggested to the archduke quietly to present his resignation which +would be promptly accepted. But the generalissimo would not hear of +it, and thought he would have first to make amends for the defeats +which he had sustained at Landshut and Ratisbon. Now he has done so; +he has avenged his former defeats and achieved a victory at Aspern; +and after this brilliant victory he comes and offers his +resignation, stating that his feeble health compels him to lay down +the command and surrender if to some one else. But all at once my +minister of foreign affairs has changed his mind: the victory of +Aspern has converted him, and he thinks now that the generalissimo +must remain at the head of the army. If so sagacious 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 honorable nation may change their +opinions, but never will they change their principles. Now the +firmer and more immovable their principles are, the more easily they +may come to change their opinions; for they seek for instruments to +carry out their principles; they profit to-day by the cervices of a +tool which seems to them sufficiently sharp to perform its task, and +they cast it aside to-morrow because it has become blunt, and must +be replaced by another. This is what happens to the nations and to +myself at this juncture. The nations are bitterly opposed to France; +the whole German people, both north and south, is unanimous in its +intense hatred against Napoleon. The nations do not allow him to +deceive them; they see through the Caesarean mask, and perceive the +face of the tyrant, despot, and intriguer, lurking behind it. They +do not believe a word of his pacific protestations and promises of +freedom and liberal reforms; for they see that he always means war +when he 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 trembling world from him. If the princes +were as unanimous 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 beyond the +Rhine, the German Rhine, whose banks would be guarded by the united +people of Germany." "You speak like a Utopian, my dear count," said +the emperor, with a shrug. "If the united people of Germany are +alone able to defeat and expel Bonaparte, he will never he defeated +and expelled, for Germany will never be united; she will never stand +up as one man, but always resemble a number of rats grown together +by their tails, and striving to move in opposite directions. Let us +speak no more of a united Germany; it was the phantom that ruined my +uncle, the Emperor 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 1806, I am no longer +Emperor of Germany, but only Emperor of Austria, and that is enough +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 badly as +Prussia did. We have unfortunately experienced already one +Austerlitz; if we should suffer another defeat like it, we would be +lost; hence we must be cautious, and I ask you, therefore, why you +do not want me now to accept the resignation 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 repeatedly +defeated, and because he has now gained a brilliant victory. This +shows your majesty again the difference between opinions and +principles. Opinions change and are influenced by success. After the +battle of Ratisbon, the generalissimo 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. +Boniface, and 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 emperor, 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 turned 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 John's young laurels of Sacile and St. +Boniface will wither.--Ah, here is my brother." + +The emperor advanced a few steps to meet the Archduke John, who had +just crossed the threshold, and stood still at the door to bow +deeply and reverentially to his imperial brother. + +"No ceremonies, brother, no ceremonies," said the emperor, smiling; +"we are here not in the imperial palace, but in the camp; my crown +is in Vienna, and my head is therefore bare, while yours is wreathed +with laurels." + +The emperor said this in so sarcastic a tone that the archduke gave +a start, and his cheeks crimsoned with indignation. But he +restrained his anger, and fixed his eyes calmly on the sneering face +of the emperor. + +"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?" + +"Ah, you think your presence would be inconvenient during our +interview, and might hinder the free exchange of our confidential +communications? But I do not believe that I and my brother have any +special secrets to communicate to each other, so that the presence +of my minister would be inconvenient to us. However, let the +archduke decide this point. Tell me therefore, brother, is it +necessary that you should see 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 present at our +interview; for, as your majesty deigned to observe, we never have +confidential communications 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 I take the +liberty of asking what induced the commanding-general of my army of +Upper Austria, now stationed at Comorn, to leave his post and pay me +a friendly visit here at Wolkersdorf?" + +"Your majesty, I come to implore my sovereign to graciously fulfil +the promise which your majesty vouchsafed to me at Vienna. Your +majesty promised me that I should succor with the forces intrusted +to me the Tyrolese in their heroic struggle 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 indebted for it only to the +revolutionary skill of my brother John; and I shall always look upon +it as an act of great disinterestedness 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 Tyrolese," +said John, mournfully, "and yet they have sealed it with their blood +since the insurrection broke out; it was always the name of their +Emperor Francis with which they went into battle, the name of the +Emperor Francis with which they exulted triumphantly 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 of the emperor. But +that they nevertheless knew very well how to distinguish the emperor +from the archduke, and that they granted to the emperor the first +place in their hearts, and deemed him the sole object of their +loyalty, is proved by the song which the Tyrolese sang with +enthusiastic unanimity on fastening the Austrian eagle to the +imperial palace at Innspruck. As such full particulars of the events +in the Tyrol were sent to your majesty, I am sure this beautiful +song was likewise communicated to you." + +"No, it was not," said the emperor, carelessly. "What song is it?" + +"Your majesty, it is a hymn of joy and triumph which, ever since +that day, is sung by all Tyrolese, not only by the men, but 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. +I am sorry that I do not know the words by hearts, but I shall have +the honor of sending them to your majesty. I remember only the +refrain of every verse, which is as follows:" + +"'Ueberall lebt'st seh treu und bieder, Wo der Adler uns angeschaut, +Und nu' haben wir unsern Franzel wieder, Weil wir halt auf Gott and +ihn vertraut.'" [Footnote: "Far reaching as the eagle's view, Are +beating loyal hearts and true; Once more our Francis can we claim, +Because we trust in God's great name!"] + +"That is quite pretty," said the emperor, smiling. "And is that the +song they are singing now in the Tyrol?" + +"Your majesty, they not only sing it, but they believe in it too. +Yes, the 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 dare to tell them that these +promises would not be fulfilled." + +"And who asserts that they will not be fulfilled?" asked the +emperor. + +"Your majesty, the facts will unfortunately soon convince the +Tyrolese that they must not look for the fulfilment of these +promises," said the archduke, sighing. "At the very moment when the +Tyrol is being 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 +Innspruck, which is menaced by Baraguay d'Hilliers. Not only am I +not to lend any assistance to the Tyrolese, but I am to break their +moral courage and paralyze 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 Hungary." + +"Well, the Tyrol is not yet abandoned, even though the Archduke John +is no longer there," said the emperor, shrugging his shoulders. "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 Napoleon has issued +against him, and Count Buol has too few troops to oppose the enemy's +operations, which are not checked by any corps outside the Tyrol." + +"Ah, you wish to give me another proof of the fraternal love +reigning between you and the Archduke Charles?" asked the emperor +sarcastically. "You wish to oppose the orders of your +generalissimo?" + +"I wish to ask the emperor, my sovereign, 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 operate 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 Schutt in front of Presburg, take Altenburg by a coup de main, +and garrison, supply, and provision the two fortresses of Raab and +Comorn for six months." + +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 carried into effect. I +have neither troops nor supplies enough to garrison, supply, and +provision Raab and Comorn, and hold Presburg, even after effecting a +junction with the troops of the Archduke Palatine and the Hungarian +volunteers. And the generalissimo is well aware of it, for I have +always acquainted 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 the dispatches which he +addressed to me only a few days ago. But the victory of Aspern seems +suddenly to have made the generalissimo believe that, inasmuch as he +himself has performed extraordinary things, he may demand of me what +is impossible." + +"What is impossible?" said the emperor, with mischievous joy. "So +brave and heroic a soldier as you, archduke, will not deem +impossible what his chief orders 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, I 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 hag been +done hitherto, and that I shall lose the battle unless the +generalissimo sends a strong corps to my assistance." + +"It is your business to come to an understanding with the +generalissimo as to that point. He possesses my full confidence, for +he showed excellent generalship at Aspern. There is no reason why I +should distrust him." + +"And God forbid that I should wish to render you distrustful of +him!" 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 Aspern." + +"But you doubt if he will, do you not?" asked the emperor, fixing +his small light-blue eyes with a searching expression on John's +face. "You do not rejoice much at the brilliant victory of Aspern? +You do not think that Bonaparte 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 measures." + +"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 Bonaparte." + +"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 majesty." + +"Well, let us see," exclaimed the emperor, with great vivacity. +"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, according 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. + +"Your majesty," said Archduke John, quickly, "Prussia would be the +most desirable ally for Austria." + +The emperor started 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 courageous +war-party at my court 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 me to conclude an alliance with +Prussia, and now come the besieging forces which are to overcome my +repugnance. The minister himself was the first to break the subject +to me; now he calls the Archduke John to his assistance, 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 +empress 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 that I did not know at +all that his royal highness was coming hither." + +"And I pledge your majesty my word of honor that neither the empress +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 have come quite independently, and of your own accord, to +the conclusion that we ought to form an alliance 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 Friedland. But since +then two years have elapsed, and Prussia has risen again from her +prostration; she has armed secretly, rendered her resources +available, and found sagacious and energetic 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, ardently; "let us unite with her in the +struggle against our common foe. Prussia and Austria should be +harmonious, and jointly protect Germany." + +"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 conquest 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 cooperation 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 bulwarks, and retire +within her natural borders." + +"Words, words!" said the emperor, shrugging his shoulders. "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 keeping 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 understanding as to the division of Europe; and even though +Russia did not entertain such an intention, France would communicate +it to her. [Footnote: The archduke's own words.--See "Letters from +the Archduke John to Johannes von Mueller," p. 81.] Hence, Russia. +should likewise be gained, and its alliance, by Russia's +intercession, be secured, so that Germany, in days of adversity, +might count upon her." + +"You believe then, archduke, 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 the long run, and he who +holds out longest remains victorious. Which side has better chances? +Austria, so long as she opposes France single-handed, has not; but +Austria and Prussia, if united, assuredly have. If Austria falls +now, the best adversary of France 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 sometimes 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 Koenigsberg, 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 +know the handwriting?" + +"I believe it is your majesty's handwriting," said Count Stadion, +who, in accordance with the emperor's order, had taken the paper +from the desk. + +"Yes, it is my handwriting; for, though not as learned as my brother +John, I am at least able, if need be, to write a letter. Be so kind, +minister, as to read my letter aloud." + +Count Stadion bowed, and read as follows: + +"To his majesty, King Frederick William of Prussia: "Headquarters, +Wolkersdorf, June 8, 1809. + +"SIR, MY BROTHER: The Prince of Orange, who has arrived at my +headquarters here, has told me unreservedly, and with full +confidence, of the repeated conversations he had with your majesty +during his recent sojourn at Koenigsberg. 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 could +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 government as to +the questions which may arise in regard to an alliance between the +two countries: he is authorized to regulate the proportions of the +forces to be employed on both sides, and the other arrangements not +less salutary than indispensable 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." [Footnote: +"Lebensbilder," vol, iii., p. 266.] + +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 my lips; let me +thank you for this gracious punishment! I am grateful, too, for the +gracious confidence with which you initiate me into your plans." + +"That is unnecessary," said the emperor, without giving him his +hand; "you need not thank me. Nor was it my intention to give you a +special proof of my confidence. I did not cause the letter to be +read to you in order to have you participate 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 with any such +suggestions. Now, brother, we have nothing further to say to each +other. Return to Comorn, 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 coup de +main; in short, do all that the generalissimo wants you to do. If I +should need your advice and wisdom, I shall send for you; and when +Baron Steigentesch returns from his mission to Prussia, you shall be +informed of the results. Farewell, brother, and let me soon hear of +new victories!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +THE REPLY OF THE KING OF PRUSSIA. + + +Two weeks after this interview between the Archduke John and the +emperor, the archduke, at the request of the emperor, repaired again +to the imperial headquarters at Wolkersdorf, 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 I sent for you, for I promised to let you hear +the reply of the King of Prussia to my proposal. 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. + +"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 performed 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 first attack of the enemy, the +first 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 disorder from the field of battle. The enemy then +occupied 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!" exclaimed the emperor, +shrugging his shoulders. + +"Yes your majesty; I charge Ignatius Giulay, Ban of Croatia, with +violation of my orders, disobedience, and intentional 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 verbally, that he would promptly be on +hand on the stated day. I counted upon his arrival, and made my +dispositions accordingly. 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 Giulay's troops would +join me in time and follow me. But I waited for him in vain; he +failed me at the critical moment, despite my orders and his +promises, and this was the principal reason why we lost the battle." +[Footnote: See Schlosser's "History of the Eighteenth Century," vol. +vii., p. 540.] + +"You prefer a grave charge against a man whom I have always found to +be faithful, brave, and honorable," 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, vehemently. "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 conviction that +he will be able to justify himself completely." + +The Archduke John gave a start, a deathly pallor overspread his +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 harsh voice. "I have yet some +questions to put to you. You 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?" + +"The retreat was effected in good order," said John, in a low, +tremulous 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. +There our forces are now." + +"And Raab? 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 ammunition 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 defence, for +unfortunately it is always necessary for me to defend myself." + +"Ah, archduke, you always consider yourself the victim of cabals," +exclaimed the emperor; "you believe yourself always 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 apprehensions, and your genius and learning create +misgivings, and that you are therefore persecuted; that intrigues +are entered upon against you, and that not sufficient elbow-room is +given to 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 defiant 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 +offer your resignation? Why do you not request your emperor to +dismiss you from his service?" + +"Will your majesty permit me to make a frank and honest reply to +this question?" asked John, looking at the emperor firmly and +gravely. + +"I will." + +"Well, then, your majesty, I do not offer my resignation because I +am not an invalid; because 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 fatherland, 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 their wishes, and never shall I withdraw voluntarily from the +service. No matter what wrongs and slights may be inflicted upon me, +they will be fruitless, for they will never shake my purpose. All +the disagreeable 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 by resigning and depriving it +of my services when it has done me no wrong? [Footnote: The +archduke's own words.--See his "Letters to Johannes von Mailer," P. +92.] I serve the fatherland in serving 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 service 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 remain +faithful. Now, as you are a soldier and wish to remain in the +service, pray bear in mind that you have sworn allegiance to your +emperor, and let me bear no longer any of your subtle distinctions +between your emperor and your fatherland. And now that you have +reported to me the result of the disastrous battle of Raab, Baron +Steigentesch may come in and report the results of his mission to +Koenigsberg. Stay, therefore, and listen to him." + +The emperor rang the bell, and ordered the footman who entered the +room to admit immediately Minister Count Stadion and Colonel Baron +Steigentesch. A few minutes later the two gentlemen entered the +cabinet. + +"Now, colonel," said the emperor to him, "you are to report the +results of your mission to Koenigsberg, and I confess I am quite +anxious to hear them. But before you commence, I wish to say a few +words to your minister of foreign affairs. On the same day that I +dispatched Colonel Steigentesch to Koenigsberg, 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 emperor, with a +low bow. Francis took it, and examined the seal with close +attention, then held it to his nose and smelled it. + +"Indeed," he exclaimed joyfully, "it has retained its perfume, and +is as fresh and brilliant as though it had been put on only at the +present moment. And what a beautiful crimson 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 sealing-wax will drive my black cabinet +to despair, for it will be impossible to open a letter sealed with +it; even the finest knife will be unable to do it. Do you not think +so too, minister?" + +"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 envelope; 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 dangerous, or he was afraid lest he +should thereby compromise himself. But after every interview I had +with 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 replying to you." + +"Do so," said Francis, "let us hear what you noted down in your +diary." + +Colonel Steigentesch drew a memorandum-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 stiffly," 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 +sufficiently lucid manner. The king was silent for a while; then he +said rather morosely: 'The emperor asks 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 possessions, it is +but just and equitable 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 argue a question which should +be settled already, but 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 Prussia answer to you?" + +"The king was silent a while, and paced his room repeatedly, his +hands clasped 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 inexperienced +soldiers. 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 your +master what it is that keeps me back at this juncture. You will +easily convince yourself that I am striving to be useful to you by +all means. 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 enemy another blow, +and I will send an officer out of uniform to your emperor's +headquarters to make all necessary arrangements.' [Footnote: The +king's own words.--See "Lebensbilder," vol. iii., p. 262.] 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 are 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 uniform at Koenigsberg; but +I replied, that I was, since the battle of Aspern, so proud of my +uniform that I could not doff it. [Footnote: Ibid] 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 Prussia." + +"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; however, I would +not contradict such a rumor if it were circulated." + +"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. The 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, sarcastically; "our colonel talks +in the enthusiastic strain of a poet now that he refers to the +queen. Is she so very beautiful, then?" + +"Your majesty, she is more than beautiful; she is at the same time a +noble, high-spirited woman, and an august queen. Her misfortunes and +humiliations have not bent her neck, but this noble lady seems even +more august and majestic in the days of adversity than in those of +splendor and prosperity." + +"And what did the queen say to you? Was she of her husband's opinion +that Austria should not be succored at this juncture, and that +Prussia, before declaring in our favor, ought to wait and see if +Austria can defeat France single-handed?" + +"Your majesty, the queen was more unreserved and frank in her +utterances than the king. She openly avowed her hatred against +Napoleon, and it is her opinion that Prussia should take a decided +stand against France. `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.'" +[Footnote: The queen's own words. See "Lebensbilder," vol. iii., p. +280.] + +"If such were the queen's sentiments, I suppose she profited by the +great influence which she is said to have over her husband, to +prevail upon him to take a bold stand, and you bring me the news of +it as the final result of your mission, do you not?" + +"Pardon me, your majesty, I do not. It seems the influence 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 Emperor 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 had already told me in the first. He +repeated that he would, as soon as Austria had dealt France another +decisive blow, send an officer out of uniform to the headquarters 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 soon again under more +favorable circumstances." + +"And what did the other persons at the Prussian court say? How did +the princes, the generals, and ministers express themselves?" + +"Prince William, the king's brother, said to me with a shrug: `You +will not find 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 dinner, 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.'[Footnote: "Lebensbilder," vol. +iii., p.262] General Blucher wrote to the king in his impetuous, +frank manner, that 'he would not witness the downfall of the throne, +and would prefer serving in a foreign army provided it were at war +with the French.' Scharnhorst, the minister of war, spoke as +violently, 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 declare war against +France. Can your majesty wish that Austria should return your states +to you as alms, if she were still generous 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 would 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 only +reply which I bring with me from my mission to Prussia." + +"Well, I must confess that this reply is decidedly cautious and +wise!" exclaimed the emperor, laughing. "After we have drawn the +chestnuts out of the fire, Prussia will be kind enough to sit down +with Austria and help her to eat them. Well, what do you think of +it, brother John?" + +"I think that this hesitating policy of Prussia is a misfortune 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, unreservedly, and with mutual confidence. No private +interest, no secondary interests calculated to frustrate the +enterprise, but the great ends of saving the states, and restoring +peace and prosperity to humanity, should be kept constantly in view; +then, and then only, success will crown the great undertaking." +[Footnote: The archduke's own words.--See his "Letters to Johannes +von Willer,"] + +"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; +you assured me so often that Prussia was 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 prefers her separate interests to the +interests of Germany; and I confess that I was mistaken in Prussia." + +"And you tried to convince me that I was wrong in entertaining 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 success of the mission. Minister; be kind +enough now to take the letter which you 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 without +accomplishing anything. Prussia and Austria are rivals in Germany, +and will never join hands in a common undertaking. Austria can never +forgive Prussia for taking Silesia from her, and Prussia will always +secretly suspect that Austria is intent upon weakening her rising +power and humbling her ambition. Hence, Prussia will hesitate and +temporize even at this juncture, 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 emperor, when Count Stadion was through, +"you see that my opinion was right, and that I well knew what I had +to expect from Prussia. We must now carry on the struggle against +France single-handed; but, after dealing her 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." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +THE BATTLE OF WAGRAM. + + +"At length!" exclaimed the Archduke John, joyously, holding up the +letter which a courier of the generalissimo had just brought him +from the headquarters of Wagram. "At length a decisive blow is to be +struck.--Count Nugent, General Frimont, come in here! A courier from +the generalissimo!" + +So saying, the archduke had opened the door of his cabinet, and +called the gentlemen who were in the anteroom. + +"A courier from the generalissimo," he repeated once more, when the +two generals came in. + +"Your highness's wish is fulfilled now, is it not?" asked Nugent. +"The generalissimo accepts the assistance which you offered to him. +He permits you to leave this position with your troops and those of +the Archduke Palatine and re-enforce his own army?" + +"No, he does not reply to my offer. It seems the generalissimo +thinks that he does not need us to beat the French. But he writes to +me that he is about to advance with his whole army, 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 TETE-DE-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 build 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 forget that it +does not behoove us to criticise the actions of the generalissimo, +and that our sole duty is to obey. Do as I do; let us be silent and +submit. But let us rejoice that something will be 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 +enemy remained quietly on the island of Lobau, nursing his wounded, +reorganizing his troops, erecting TETES-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, therefore, that at last the enemy is tired +of this situation, that he at length takes the initiative again, and +brings about a decision. The generalissimo informs me that the +enemy's artillery dislodged our outposts yesterday, and that some +French infantry crossed over to the Muhlau. The generalissimo, as I +told you before, advanced with his troops, and hopes for a decisive +battle 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 manner 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 will 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 him 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 detain 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 have +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 energy; all +necessary dispositions were made for forming a pontoon-bridge, and +preventing the enemy from joining Napoleon's main army. The Archduke +John superintended every thing in person; he was present wherever +difficulties 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 TETE-DE-PONT was fully armed, and every thing 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 horse, and handed him, panting and +in trembling haste, a letter from the generalissimo. + +"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 repaired to his head-quarters +to read the letter he had 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 cooperation and that of +the 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 impetuously 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 TET-DE-PONT, and hasten +up with the remainder of his forces to the scene of action. + +When the archduke real this order, a bitter smile played round his +lips. "See," he said, mournfully, to General Frimont, "now I am +needed all at once, and it seems as if the battle cannot be gained +without us. It is all-important for us to arrive in time at the +point 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 deference is paid to us all of a sudden; we are +treated as highly important assistants," sighed the archduke. 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 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 generalissimo's orders into effect. At +one o'clock to-night, all must be in readiness for setting out. We +need the time between now and then to concentrate the extended lines +of our troops. If we are ready at all earlier hour, we shall set out +at once. Make haste; Let that be the password to-night!" + +Thanks to this password, all the troops had been concentrated 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 thousand 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 archduke and his generals and staff- +officers always knew how to stir them up 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 Reuss, 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 archduke 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. + +"Let us set out, then, for Loibersdorf," said John, sighing; "we +will do all we can, and thus avoid being charged with tardiness. Up, +up, my braves! The fatherland calls us; we must obey it!" + +But the soldiers obeyed this order only with low murmurs, and many +remained at Marchegg, exhausted to death. + +The troops continued their march with restless speed, and mute +resignation. 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 artillery at a distance; and the farther they advanced, +the louder and more terrific resounded the cannon. The battle, +therefore, was going on, and the utmost rapidity was necessary on +their part. 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 surrounded the +horizon on all sides? 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-Marshal 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, +resolutely; "I must comply with my instructions." + +And he continued his march toward Loibersdorf. Patrols were sent out +and approached Wagram. The fields were covered 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 reports with a pale face and +quivering lips. But he was still in hopes that he would receive 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 distance, and there was no news yet +from the generalissimo! + +One of the patrols now brought in a French officer who had got +separated from his men, and whom the Austrians 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 sparkling 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, which 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 exasperation; but finally the Archduke Charles had been +compelled to evacuate the field of battle and retreat. The Emperor +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 he lifted his eyes reproachfully +to heaven. Then he turned slowly to General Frimont, who was halting +by his side, and behind whom 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 earlier 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 +pretended tardiness will be welcome to many a one. A scapegoat is +needed, and I shall have to be this scapegoat!" [Footnote: The +archduke's own words.--See Hormayr's work on "The Campaign of 1809," +p. 286.] + +The Archduke John was not mistaken; he had predicted his fate. He +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 which he informed it that he had +concluded an armistice with the Emperor Napoleon, he deplored that, +owing to the too late arrival of the Archduke 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 Austria is being humiliated! O God, God, +protect Austria! Protect Germany! 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 +sworn a great deal. In accordance with the request of Andreas Hofer, +the most influential leaders of the Tyrolese had met there and drawn +up, as Hofer proposed, a petition to the Emperor Francis, who was +now in Hungary at one of the palaces belonging to the Prince of +Lichtenstein. The disastrous tidings of the battle of Wagram had +been followed a few days afterward by news fully as disheartening. +The Archduke Charles had concluded an armistice with the Emperor +Napoleon at Znaym, on the 12th of July, 1809. By this armistice +hostilities were to be suspended till the 20th of August; but in the +mean time the Austrians were to evacuate the Tyrol, Styria, and +Carinthia entirely, and restore to the Bavarians and French the +fortified cities which they had occupied. + +These calamitous terms of the armistice had induced Andreas Hofer to +summon some of his friends to Lienz, and draw up with them a +petition to the emperor, in which they implored him with touching +humility to have mercy upon them in their distress, and not to +forsake his faithful Tyrol. They stated that they had been told that +the Austrian troops, in accordance with the stipulations of the +armistice, were to evacuate the Tyrol, but this did not confer upon +the French and Bavarians the right of occupying the Tyrol. They +besought the emperor to prevent this, and not to permit the enemy to +occupy the country. + +Such were the contents of the petition which Andreas Hofer and 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 Eisenstecken 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 disastrous 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 opposed 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 mercies." + +"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 +outrage by arresting the Holy Father 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-christ, and rendered it incumbent on +every pious Christian to wage war against the criminal who laid his +ruthless hands even upon the holy Church, and trampled under foot +him whom the Almighty 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 them 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 instructions to all the +commanders 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 impetuously. "We +must compel them to stay here; the whole Tyrol must rise as one man +and with its strong 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 detain the Austrians by force, and this will be +most agreeable to the Emperor Francis; for what fault of his is it +that the Tyrolese prevent him 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 write +immediately to old Red-beard, Father Haspinger, Joseph Speckbacher, +and Anthony Wallner. I will summon them to a conference with me, and +we will concert measures for a renewed 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 convent." + +Anthony Steeger hastened to bring him what he wanted, and while +Hofer scrawled the letter, his friend stood behind him, and followed +with attentive eyes every word which Andreas 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 Hofer, and, laying his hand on +his shoulder, he said: "Well, Andy, what are you writing there?" + +Andreas looked up, but the unexpected arrival of the baron did not +seem to excite his surprise. "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 Tyrol, and that you took a +solemn oath to aid us in becoming once more, and remaining, +Austrians." + +"I think, Andy, 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 that the emperor +has concluded an armistice with Bonaparte, and while it lasts we are +not allowed to fight with the sword." + +"The emperor has concluded an armistice? Well, then, let there be an +armistice. 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-beard, 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, both of you," said Hormayr, shrugging his shoulders. +"The Emperor Francis agreed positively that the Austrian troops +should evacuate the Tyrol during the armistice; 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. Therefore, 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, therefore, 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 highly 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 intendant," +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 Andreas +Hofer to leave with the Austrians and abandon the Tyrol. He thinks +when he is alone with 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 will 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, Hormayr nodded +kindly to Andreas Hofer and shook hands with him. + +"Now we are alone, Andy," he said, "and will speak confidentially 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 devoutly to heaven. + +"We shall speak 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 nothing in opposition to the +stipulations of the armistice; and the Archduke John finally wishes +his beloved Andreas Hofer to secure his life and liberty by leaving +the Tyrol with the Austrian troops, and remaining for some time +under the protection of the imperial army." + +"Never, never will I do that!" cried Andreas, vehemently; "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 constitution, and our emperor; and never +will I break my oath, never will I desert my flag like a faithless +soldier!" + +"But, Andy, you are not to desert 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 think 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-in-chief, Baron von +Buol, has concentrated his scattered forces, and marched them to- +night from Brixen to Schabs. There you can do nothing against him; +his artillery and ammunition are safe there, and you cannot hinder +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 Carinthia, surprised +and occupied the fortress of Sachsenburg immediately, because you +wrote to him to do so previous to Rusca's arrival? You look at me so +wonderingly, you big child? See, here is your letter to Joseph Turk! +Our men intercepted it; hence, Joseph Turk did not occupy the +fortress, and General Rusca has arrived there already." + +"It is my letter, indeed," sighed Andreas Hofer, staring at the +paper which Hormayr had handed to him. "They did not allow it to +reach Joseph Turk; they no longer respect what I say and do." + +"They cannot, Andy, for your and their superior, the emperor, has +ordered the soldiers to evacuate the Tyrol. It was surely most +repugnant to the 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 +tears in his eyes. + +"The Archduke John wants you to preserve yourself for better times, +Andy. He implores you to repair to a place of safety, not only for +the sake of your wife and children, but also for that of your +fatherland. Believe me, Andreas, a gloomy time is dawning upon the +Tyrol. The enemy is approaching 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 blood has been shed in vain!" cried Hofer, bursting +into tears. "All the faithful Tyrolese who have fallen 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 emperor, 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 hostilities are resumed, he will first think of +the Tyrol, and deliver it from the enemy." + +"But until then the Tyrol itself ought to maintain its liberty!" +exclaimed Andreas Hofer, with flashing eyes. "Listen to what I wish +to say to you, Mr. Intendant, and what God Himself prompts me to +tell you. I see full well that the emperor himself is unable to +speak for the Tyrol, and cannot order 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, someone ought to be courageous enough to take his place and, +as the emperor'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 patriotic 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 enemy, place yourself +at its head, protect it against the enemy, and preserve it to the +emperor. [Footnote: "Gallery of Heroes: Andreas Hofer," p. 103.] +Become Duke of Tyrol, take charge of the government and defence of +the country. As provisional duke, call upon the faithful people to +take up arms, and they will rise as one man and defend its frontiers +against every enemy. Rule over the Tyrol in the emperor's place, +until 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 +shoulders. "You want me to become provisional Duke of Tyrol? 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 government and call +myself 'Andreas Hofer, Sandwirth of Passeyr and Duke of Tyrol,' as +long as it pleases God!" [Footnote: Andreas Hofer's own words.--See +Hormayr's "Andreas Hofer," vol. ii., p. 361.] + +"No, you will not, Andy," said Hormayr, gravely; "you will be +sensible, on the contrary, and not, from worldly 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, and that you would be the +murderer of all those who should fall in the struggle provoked by +you so recklessly and in open opposition to the orders of your +emperor. Bow your head, Andy, and submit as we all do. Intrust your +and our cause to God; as it is good and just, He will not forsake +it, but render it victorious when it is time." + +"I believe you," sighed Andreas; "but how can 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 +lieutenants say if their commander-in-chief, Andreas Hofer, were to +leave the country in its sore 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 commanders, with whom you fought for the deliverance of the +Tyrol, would despise you if you followed the Austrians now and saved +your life? Now listen to me, my friend. Your best friends, the brave +Tyrolese captains, in whom you repose the greatest confidence, will +leave the Tyrol this very day of their own accord and accompany our +Austrian troops to Carinthia." + +"That is false, that is impossible!" cried Andreas, vehemently. +"Speckbacher will never do so." + +"Yes, he will, Andy. I saw him this morning. Here resisted 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, he feels that it is better for +him to save his life than be caught and hung here by the vindictive +enemy. Hence, Speckbacher accepted the offer of the Austrian +officers, and will accompany them." + +"Joseph Speckbacher will leave the Tyrol?" murmured Andreas Hofer, +mournfully. + +"And he is not the only one, Andreas: Aschbacher, Puechler, +Sieberer, and many other brave captains 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 prisoner--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 +children, whose only protector and supporter you are; do not make +your dear wife a widow, nor your sweet children orphans! 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, profoundly 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 deliverance of the country." + +"Speckbacher will leave, and so will all the others," murmured +Andreas to himself. "The Tyrol will fall again into the enemy's +hands, and all has been in vain!" + +He hung his head and heaved a deep sigh. + +"Come, Andreas, be sensible; think of yourself and your family," +said Hormayr, beseechingly. "I have come hither 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 together to Matrey. Speckbacher, the other +friends, and the Austrians are waiting for us there; we shall cross +the Tyrolese frontier with them this very day, and you and all your +friends will be safe. Therefore, do not hesitate any longer, but +come!" + +"I cannot make up my mind so suddenly," said Hofer, disengaging +himself gently from the hand of Hormayr, who was trying to draw him +up from his chair. "It is a grave, momentous step which you ask me +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 consult him and my conscience." + +"Very well, Andy, I give you a quarter of an hour to make up your +mind," exclaimed Hormayr, approaching the door. + +"A quarter of an hour is not enough," said Andreas, shaking his +head. "It is late at night, and night is the time for repose and +prayer. 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 now 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!" + +He bowed kindly to the baron, shook hands with him, and conducted +him to the door. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +HOFER AND SPECBBACHER. + + +Scarcely had the sun risen next morning when Baron von Hormayr arose +and quickly prepared every thing for their departure. After seeing +that his carriage was at the street door, he descended the staircase +in order to go to Andreas 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 Hofer!" + +The door opened, and the tall, powerful form of the Sandwirth +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 Anthony 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 last word with each other. Anthony +Steeger, Baron von Hormayr, our countryman, came hither to persuade +me to accompany him and leave the Tyrol. Our friends will do the +same thing, for the Bavarians and French are already entering the +country. Speckbacher, Sieberer, and others, will save their lives +for this reason, and go with the Austrians; and the intendant thinks +I ought to do the same, for the sake of my wife and children. +However, I wished first to consult the good God. I 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. Intendant 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 example, 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!" [Footnote: "Gallery of +Heroes: Andreas Hofer," vol. iii., p. 104.] "Is that your last word, +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 certainly 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 re-entering the country. Many brave men, many excellent +sharpshooters will remain in the Tyrol, and I shall call upon 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 emotion, spread +out his arms 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 afterward his carriage +rolled away with thundering noise. + +"He is gone!" cried Anthony Steeger, joyously; "the tempter 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." + +"It is true, it is a bad and mournful thing that Speckbacher is +going to desert us," said Andreas, musingly; "but Anthony Wallner +and the Capuchin will surely stand by us, and Peter Mayer will not +leave us either. Besides, you are here, and so am I, and we five men +will raise our voices and call upon the 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 Bavarians." + +"I think so too, Andy. When the brave Tyrolese bear your voice, they +will come to a man, and we will achieve another Innspruck triumph, +and gain another victory on Mount Isel." + +"God grant it in His mercy;" exclaimed Andreas, touching the +crucifix on his breast. "But I must set out now, my friend. So long +as we are unable to cope with the enemy, we must avoid meeting him, +conceal our forces, and prepare 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 +enlist courageous sharpshooters for the fatherland. Inform all the +patriots secretly of my 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 mountains, 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 from 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 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 uninterruptedly +over his thoughts and conceive his plans. All at once his musings +were interrupted by the roll of a wagon approaching on the road. It +was a large wagon with racks, drawn by four horses, and many men sat +in it. Andreas Hofer 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 Austrian 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 steadfastly 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 Austrian officers had also +recognized the brave Sandwirth, the universally beloved Barbone, and +they shouted to the coachman to drive quicker and whip 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 desert the country? They are driving you to your +own disgrace, Joe!" [Footnote: Andreas Hofer's own words.--See +Mayr's "Joseph Speckbacher," p. 143.] + +The wagon passed him noisily, and Joseph Speckbacher's horse, which +was tied behind, galloped rapidly after it. Andreas Hofer looked +after his friend until a cloud of dust enveloped 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 Speckbacher, +who had turned his back on the Tyrol and was about to leave it in +the hour of its sorest distress. Suddenly he thought he heard his +own name uttered behind; the call was repeated louder and more +urgently. + +Andreas Hofer halted his horse and turned. A cloud of dust came up +the road like a whirlwind; now it opened, and the head and neck of a +horse and the slender rider mounted on him came in view. The cloud +veils his face as yet, but he comes nearer and nearer; his horse is +now by Andreas Hofer's side, the rider stretches 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, unless I should die," said Andreas Hofer, +solemnly. "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 Emperor Francis. Welcome home, good and +faithful son of the fatherland!" + +He encircled Speckbacher's neck with his arms and imprinted a kiss +on his forehead. They remained locked in a long embrace, 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 pause. "I hope you will not look on +quietly and peaceably while the Bavarians and French are re-entering +the country? I could not bear it, and this was the very reason why I +did not want to stay in the country; 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 Andreas, 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 important news which the +Austrian officers received only this morning. Anthony Wallner, of +Windisch-Matrey is also of your opinion; he refuses likewise to +acknowledge the armistice and make peace with the enemy. When the +Bavarians, four days ago, intended to cross the frontier near +Windisch-Matrey, 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 Bavarians 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 retreated into the +mountains only because the odds were too great." [Footnote: +Peternader, "Die Tyroler Landesvertheidigung im Jahre 1809," vol. +ii., p. 84.] + + "I 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, +above all things, if all of our countrymen are of our opinion, and +if they are courageous enough to continue the struggle, even after +the Austrians have left us." + +"What good did the Austrians do us while they were here?" asked +Andreas, indignantly. "Let me tell you, Joe, on the whole I am glad +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 during 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." [Footnote: Andrew Hofer's own words.--See +Mayr's "Joseph Speckbacher," p.145. 22] + +"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. I will ride now through the whole Puster valley, and +then from Brunecken through the Dux valley to my home, the Rinn; and +I will stir up the people everywhere, and call upon the men to +follow me and fight once more for liberty and the fatherland." + +"Do so, Joe, and I will follow your example. I will return to the +Passeyr valley; you shall all hear from me before long, and then my +voice shall resound throughout the Tyrol. God will make it strong +enough to penetrate 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!" + +He nodded once more kindly to Joseph Speckbacher and galloped down +the valley, while Speckbacher trotted up the mountain-path. + +Andreas Hofer rode all day long through the country. He saw the +people everywhere in commotion and uproar; they greeted him with +jubilant cheers, and the men swore everywhere that they would not +allow the enemy to re-enter the country without resistance; that +they did not believe in the pacific assurances of the proclamations +with which the Bavarians 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 hear from me soon, and learn what God wants us +to do." + +Andreas 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 distance from the white house of the Sandwirth, +the home which contained his greatest treasures on earth, his wife +and children. + +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 children, 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 bitter 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 dried 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 readiness for him, in a +secret cupboard fixed in the rock, wine and food, some prayer-books, +and writing materials. + +In 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 today. It was the +2nd 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 the pious bishop had resolved that these sacred +relics should be carried in solemn procession through the whole +city, that all might have an opportunity to see the saint's remains +and implore the assistance of God in the sore distress which bad +befallen the Tyrol again. Therefore, since early this morning the +peasantry had been flocking from all sides toward the gates of +Brixen. Women and children, young and old men, came from all parts +of the country to take part in the solemn procession and the devout +prayers for the welfare 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 reddish 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 rather than piety +and humility. 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 his hand he held a long brown staff, +terminating 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, or held it up triumphantly +as though it were a victorious banner. + +But however strange and unusual the Capuchin's appearance 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 +be thought it would be preferable for them to keep quiet and submit +to stern 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, shrugging 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 earnestness. But if you want to fight and expel +the enemy from the country, why do you not apply to your commanders, +and consult, 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 where he has concealed +himself." + +"Do you, impious wretches, think that the most pious man in the +whole Tyrol, Andreas Hofer, has concealed himself because he is +afraid of the Bavarians who are re-entering the country?" asked the +friar, in a thundering voice. + +"No, your reverence, we do not. We know well that Andreas 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. + +"Do you not know the eleventh commandment you white-livered cowards, +who think you are lost when there is no leader to put himself at +your head? Do you not know the eleventh commandment, saying that he +who trusts in God and fights well will overpower his enemies? But +you will 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 +bold, defiant glances; "only our leaders do not stand by 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 +stroking his red beard. "You know very well that old Red-beard does +not stay at home when an effort is to be made to save the +fatherland, and perhaps I may soon be able to accept your offer and +call upon you to defend the Tyrol." + +"Do so, do call upon us," shouted the men enthusiastically. "We will +not permit the French and Bavarians to murder our people and burn +our houses as they did last May; we will fight rather until we have +driven them from the country or perished to a man!" + +"These are brave and pious sentiments," said Father Haspinger, 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 intercede for you with God and the Redeemer." + +And Father Haspinger's face became suddenly very grave and devout; +he lifted the rosary hanging at his belt, and, while entering the +city by the gate, he commenced praying a Pater-noster in an +undertone. + +The city meanwhile was already in great commotion. The bells had +begun to ring their solemn peals, and all devout worshippers, +consisting on this occasion of the whole population of the city, +were flocking to the cathedral. All at once the doors of the +cathedral were thrown open, and under a gold-embroidered baldachin +borne by four priests appeared the pious bishop, 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 smoking censers; and pious worshippers, carrying torches, and +repeating 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 population 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 procession; he +walked in the midst of the brave peasants with whom he had +conversed, singing with head erect and in a tone of solemn +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, protection, 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 tomorrow to the church 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 horseman 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 knob of +a street-door, and then walked close up to the 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: "Have mercy upon our +valor, and grant us war!" But on perceiving the young lad who was +approaching him, he paused, and a bright gleam of joy overspread his +features. + +"It is Andreas Hofer's servant, Anthony Wild," murmured Father +Haspinger, 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 Andreas?" 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, however, we will +not forget our divine service, but worship God with sincere piety. +Take the place behind me in the procession; and when we return to +the cathedral, follow me where-ever I may go." + +And the friar commenced singing again; his hand, however, 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 procession had returned to the portals of the +cathedral. Father Haspinger signed to the Sandwirth's servant, who +was walking behind him, and instead of accompanying 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 accompany me," said the +young man, hastily. "I believe you will find a number of friends at +my house. Peter Kemnater, the innkeeper of 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 partake of +an epicurean breakfast at your tavern to-day, but confer 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 want 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 by such a +supposition. I have not read the letter yet, but I believe I know +its contents, and could tell you beforehand 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, who 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 must 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 innkeeper 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 extraordinary intrepidity, firmness, +and energy. + +The other, a young man 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, Martin 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 them. + +"Have you come hither, Father Joachim Haspinger, only to join in the +peace-prayers?" asked Peter Mayer in his laconic style, fixing his +dark, piercing 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 +patriotic brother Andreas Hofer has written to me." + +"You have a letter 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 stepped to the window and unfolded the letter. While he was +reading it, the three men looked at him with rapt suspense, seeking +to read in his features the impression produced by Andreas Hofer's +words on the heart of the brave Capuchin. Indeed, the friar's +features brightened more and more, his forehead and face colored, +and a smile illuminated his hard features. + +"Listen, men," he exclaimed triumphantly, waving the paper as though +it were a flag; "listen to what Andreas writes to me!" And the friar +read in a clarion voice: + +"Dear brother Red-beard! Beloved Father Joachim Haspinger: You know, +brother, that all has been in vain; the Austrians are evacuating the +country, and the emperor, or rather not the emperor, but his +ministers and secretaries, stipulated in the armistice concluded +with Bonaparte, that the French and Bavarians should re-enter the +Tyrol and recommence the infamous old system. But I think, even +though the emperor has abandoned us, God Almighty will not do so; +and even though the Austrian soldiers are crossing our frontiers, +our mountains and glaciers remain to us; God placed them there to +protect 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 Austrian soldiers are not, hence +it is incumbent on us to protect our frontiers, and prevent the +enemy from invading our territory. 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 +sharpshooters 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." [Footnote: Andreas Hofer +signed all his letters and orders in this strange manner while he +was concealed in his cave.] + +"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 ignominiously +from the country," added Peter Mayer. + +"I have passed, during the last few days, through the 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 peaceably at home and bend their necks before the enemy. +'It is a misfortune,' said the men, 'that the Austrians 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 discretion.'" + +"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 Austrians. Who 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 struggle; on the contrary, +we must consider whether we are 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 us, 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 march +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 already at Salzburg. In short, more than fifty +thousand men are coming up from all sides to trample the poor Tyrol +under foot. They are veteran soldiers; they have got artillery and +better arms than we, and are superior to us in numbers, 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 the 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 liberty 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 endangering 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 immortalize your names; but you must +consider, also, whether your death will be useful to the country, +and whether you will not shed your blood in vain. Ask your hearts, +my 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 you and sending an answer to Andreas +Hofer. Consider it all, my friends, and then speak." + +"We are to ask our hearts if they will not flinch and tremble?" 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 Isel, 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 had 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 fatherland. It is true, our task is difficult, but it is not +impossible; and that which is not impossible should be tried for the +fatherland! 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 whether you think we had +better keep quiet, because the enemy is so powerful and superior to +us." + +"I have an affianced bride of whom I am very fond," said Peter +Kemnater, with flushed cheeks and flashing eyes; "a girl whom I love +better than my parents, than anything in the world, and whom I +intended to marry 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 prefer 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, I 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 +seeing my affianced bride again, and that she would curse me in my +grave. That is what I have got to say. Now you may speak, Martin +Schenk; tell the father whether your heart is flinching and +trembling." + +"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 I 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 their corpses at my feet; but I should +rejoice and exclaim, 'I did it for the sake of the fatherland; I +sacrificed my most precious treasures for the beloved Tyrol.' Even +though the enemy is very strong and numerous, 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 are +all dead, or until we have defeated the enemy, and delivered the +Tyrol a third time. Now you know my opinion, Father Joachim +Haspinger." + +The Capuchin made no reply. He stood with hands clasped in 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 tremulous with +emotion, "I thank Thee for letting me see this hour, and hear the +soul-stirring 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 Capuchin! 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 poor +Capuchin's soul should burn in hell than that the fatherland should +groan with pain 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 fatherland. It is better to be a +bad Christian than a bad patriot. Therefore, whatever 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 defender of his country; and I swear that I +will no more lay down my head and repose before we have delivered +the country from the enemy and 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 with 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! benedictus!" cried Father Haspinger, laying his hands +on those which the three men had joined on taking the oath. "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 Landsturm 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 well educated, three peasants and a monk, were +concerting measures to bid defiance 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 upholding +their liberty 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 Brixen; +each had set out in a different direction to incite the men to +insurrection, inform them of Andreas Hofer's order, and implore them +in the name of the fatherland to take up their rifles again and risk +once more their lives for the deliverance of the Tyrol. + +Father Haspinger had walked all night to Latzfons, and on the +following morning he preached to the people at the church of that +place an enthusiastic sermon, in which he called upon them to make +one more effort in behalf of their beloved country, and promised +entire absolution for one year to every one who should kill a dozen +French soldiers, and absolution for five years to any who should +kill twice as many. [Footnote: Mayer's "Speckbacher," p. 151.] + +Carried away by the soul-stirring words and promises of the +Capuchin, full of ardor to serve the fatherland, and desirous 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 conquer 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 around 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 Passeyr valley had rallied around him, and +companies had flocked to him from all parts of the country to fight +again under their beloved commander-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 bad risen a third time to defend the independence 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 Speckbacher, had succeeded. +The whole Tyrol had risen and was eager for the fray. A small army, +commanded by Father Haspinger, was encamped near Brixen, and +received hourly fresh accessions. Peter Kemnater and Peter Mayer +were still traversing the country, and calling upon the peasants to +repair to Father Red-beard'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 Wallner 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, patting his +cheeks affectionately; "the whole Tyrol is extolling your exploits +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 the enemy was ten to one, and we were +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 country. I believe there will be another battle on Mount +Isel, for the enemy is always intent on forcing his way to +Innspruck, believing 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 mountains and valleys. You shall help me +to do it, Anthony Wallner, you and your famous sharpshooters 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 column is headed by Saxon and +Bavarian troops under the French general, Royer; his forces are +followed by the main army under the commander-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 Wallner; "we will not allow +them to advance to Brixen, and I will occupy immediately 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 Anthony," 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 them +to return to their homes. I shall speak a serious word with those +gentlemen, and teach them a little patriotism." + +Haspinger nodded kindly to Anthony Wallner, and calling ten of his +best sharpshooters to him repaired to the city hall of Brixen, where +the members of the municipality were assembled. 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 municipality 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 Neat out in all directions, and on +the following morning upward of two thousand able-bodied men arrived +at Haspinger's camp. [Footnote: "Gallery of Heroes: Andreas Hofer," +p. 110.] + +"All right," said the friar; "if Andreas Hofer and Speckbacher join +us with their forces, I believe we shall succeed, and St. Cassian +will have understood our prayers." + +While Anthony Wallner and his sharpshooters occupied the mountain- +gorges this side of Brixen on the road to Mittewald, Joseph +Speckbacher and his men had penetrated far beyond Mittewald toward +Sterzing, and had learned that the Saxons, under General Royer, were +resting at Sterzing with the intention of advancing in the morning +through the wild valley of the Eisach toward Brixen. + +"Well, if the Saxons are resting we must work in order to prepare +eternal repose for them," said Joseph Speckbacher, gayly. "Now come, +my brave lads, we must take the Saxons between two fires. They are +miserable scoundrels and traitors. Ah, they do not shrink from +serving the rapacious conqueror Bonaparte, and turning their arms +against their German 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 Germans should attack +Germans at the bidding of the foreign oppressor! Therefore, we will +punish the Saxons and Bavarians in the name of God and the Holy +Virgin. We will let them advance 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 +preparations, 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 up for +them artificial ruins which will excite their sincere admiration!" + +"Yes, yes, we will!" shouted the peasants, who went to work, singing +and laughing. In the first place, they erected "triumphal arches" to +the enemy; that is to say, they obstructed 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 planks of the bridge, and began to build "avalanches." They +felled a considerable 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 hanging scaffolds; and +after the "avalanches" had thus been completed, they withdrew +cautiously and rapidly into the mountain-gorges. Only Zoppel, 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 overhanging wood-clad precipices. + +Profound silence reigned all around; only from time to time a +rustling noise was heard in the shrubbery; the flashing barrel of a +rifle was then seen, and it seemed as though the fleet-footed +chamois appeared on the heights above. But they were Tyrolese +sharpshooters who had climbed up to the watch-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 holding 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 Zoppel, 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 foaming 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 immediately to the ground, and the +Tyrolese sharpshooter reloaded his rifle. He fired again, and laid +another soldier prostrate. + +The two reports had accelerated the march of the enemy. The soldiers +entered the defile with a hasty step; in order to advance, they had +to remove the two soldiers who were writhing in the agony of death +and obstructing the narrow path, and throw them into the waters of +the Eisach, which received with a wild roar the two corpses, the +first victims of the reopening struggle. + +Meanwhile the Tyrolese sharpshooter on the height above had reloaded +his rifle and shot another soldier. 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. But he did not see that one of +the officers 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 disappeared in the shrubbery +covering the base of the rock. + +The sharpshooter was reloading his rifle, when the shrubbery behind +him rustled, and, on turning hastily, be saw one of the soldiers +rushing toward him. A cry of rage burst from the lips of the +sharpshooter. He then raised his rifle and fired. 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 already 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 the 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 toward the edge of the rock. + +"In God's name, then," he shouted in a loud voice echoed by the +rocks all around. "In God's name, then!" + +With a last effort he threw himself with the soldier into the depth, +and both disappeared in the waters of the Eisach. + +Speckbacher's servant the faithful Zoppel, had seen and 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 directly under the +hanging "avalanche" in the 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 precipitous rocks +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 their +hearts with wonder 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; they +ordered the soldiers to halt, and hastened back to General Royer to +report to him the mysterious words which they had heard, and to ask +him whether they were to halt or retrace their steps. + +"Advance at the double-quick!" commanded the general, sternly. + +"Advance at the double-quick!" they repeated to their soldiers along +the whole line; the latter, in obedience to this order, hurried on +under the black mass which still hung threateningly over their +heads. + +All at once a powerful voice above shouted out: "Now, 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 rubbish which had hitherto hung over them, commenced 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 time a +heavy fire burst forth on all sides, and from amid the leafy screen +the deadly bullets of the sharpshooters brought death with every +discharge into the allied ranks. A death-like silence then ensued +for a moment, for out of the depths rose the wails and lamentations +of the hundreds of soldiers who had been crushed and mutilated by +the "avalanche." The Tyrolese, filled with curiosity and compassion, +looked down into the defile. The smoke and dust had disappeared, and +they could distinctly survey the scene of horror, devastation, and +death, in the gorge. + +Happy those whom the falling "avalanche" had hurled from the narrow +footpath into the foaming torrent! It is true, death had been in +store for them there, but it had quickly put an end to their +sufferings. But what was the agony of those who lay buried under the +fragments of the rocks, their limbs fearfully mutilated! What were +the sufferings of the hundreds of soldiers lying on the road, on +this narrow, gory path, upon which the "avalanche" had thundered +down! + +It was a horrible sight; even the Tyrolese trembled on beholding +this rubbish, these fragments, whence large numbers of bloody +corpses protruded, and amidst which torn, mutilated limbs were +moving, while here and there soldiers, covered all over with dust, +and bleeding from fearful wounds, tried painfully to raise +themselves from the ground. + +Those of the Saxons who had not been struck by the terrible +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 discipline presided over +unskilled valor, and the column advanced slowly and painfully in the +direction of the bridge, through a murderous 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-enforcements of the Saxons, +were coming up from the rear. The Bavarians 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 +where 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 undaunted 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 +sharpshooters under Joachim Haspinger, the Capuchin, and clearing a +passage for the Saxons struggling in the gorge. But the Capuchin had +retreated only to bring up fresh forces, dispatch messengers to +Speckbacher, Peter Mayer, Andreas Hofer, and Anthony Wallner, sound +the tocsin, and concentrate more armed peasants. And Speckbacher +came up with his brave sharpshooters in the rear of the Saxons: +Anthony Wallner and his men made their appearance like-wise; Peter +Mayer brought up fresh 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 with 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 countrymen. God granted victory to the +Tyrolese, and in the defile of Mittewald upward 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 marshal of France, was +defeated by the despised peasants; he had to flee from their wrath, +and arrived without his cloak and hat, trembling and deathly pale, +on his foaming horse at Sterzing, 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- +rabble" 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! + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +THE FIFTEENTH OF AUGUST AT INNSPRUCK. + + +God is with those who fight for the rights and liberty of Germany. +He had granted another victory to the Tyrolese. + +Animated by their brilliant successes, the patriots no longer stood +on the defensive, but, flocking from all quarters to the standard of +Hofer, assembled in great multitudes on Mount Isel, the scene of +their former triumphs, and destined to be immortalized by a still +more extraordinary victory. Lefebvre had collected his whole force, +consisting of twenty-six thousand men, of whom two thousand were +horse, with forty pieces of cannon, on the little plain which lies +between Innspruck 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 mountaineers with +which regular troops are so often seized, when, contrary to +expectation, they have been worsted by undisciplined bodies of men; +and a secret feeling of the injustice of their cause, and the +heroism with which they had been resisted, paralyzed many an arm +which had never trembled before a regular army. + +The Tyrolese consisted of eighteen thousand men, three hundred of +whom were Austrian soldiers who had refused to follow their +officers, and remained to share the fate of the inhabitants. 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 the bridges of Hall and Volders; +Hofer was with the centre, and had his headquarters at the inn of +Spade, on the Schoenberg; Haspinger 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 intermission till +midnight, the Bavarians constantly endeavoring 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 prevailing over the impetuous +but disorderly assaults and deadly aim of the mountaineers; but +toward nightfall the bridge of the Sill was carried after a +desperate struggle, and their left flank being thus turned, the +French and Bavarians gave way on all sides, and were pursued with +great slaughter into the city. They lost six thousand men, of whom +seventeen hundred wounded fell into the hands of the Tyrolese, while +on the side of the latter not more than nine hundred had fallen. +Lefebvre had to retreat hastily toward Salzburg, where his whole +army was collected on the 20th. + +This great victory was immediately followed by the liberation of the +whole Tyrol; and when, on the morning of the 15th of August, the sun +rose over Innspruck, Andreas Hofer and his victorious host stood on +Mount Isel, gazing with profound emotion on the reeking, gory +battle-field, on which, two days ago, war had raged with all its +horrors, and on the city of Innspruck, whose smoking and burning +houses betokened the last outburst of the rage of the fugitive +French marshal. [Footnote: "Gallery of Heroes: Andreas Hofer," p. +126.] + +"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 prisoners leniently. Among these prisoners +are about one thousand Bavarians and Saxons. See, they are standing +down yonder in dense groups, and our men surround them, mocking and +abusing them. Go down to them, dear Secretary Doeninger; tell them +to be merciful and compassionate, and to bear always in mind that +the prisoners 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, +Doeninger, and say to them in my name, 'Do not injure the prisoners; +they are Saxons and Bavarians, and good and brave men!'" [Footnote: +Andreas Hofer's own words.--Ibid., p. 125.] + +"They are not exactly good men," said Speckbacher, who was standing +on the right side of Andreas Hofer; "no, they are not exactly good +men, Andy; otherwise they 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 smilingly 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 would 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 soldiers, Andy, we cannot be good +Christians; and I thank 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 Andreas. "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 victory," 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 knelt likewise; their +cheers and Jodlers, their shouts and laughter died away; only +prayers were 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 departure of the French marshals, and +the approach of the defenders of the country. + +At this moment the sun burst forth from the clouds, and shed a +radiant lustre on this whole sublime scene--the three kneeling +heroes on the height above, and all around the Tyrolese, 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. [Footnote: +Mayer's "Joseph Speckbacher," p. 196.] + +All at once this pious scene was interrupted by loud cheers, shouts, +and Jodlers, and a long, imposing procession of singing, 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 liberator?" + +The band heading the procession of the students, struck up a ringing +flourish on beholding Andrews, who had risen from his knees at their +approach. But he raised his arm imperatively; the band ceased +playing immediately, and the cheers died away on the lips of the +students, who bowed respectfully to the tall, imposing form 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!" +[Footnote: Andreas Hofer's own words, Ibid., p. 197.] + +"But you helped 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 now: we shall make +our triumphal entry into the city, where the mean enemy behaved so +shamefully. Return to Innspruck, my friends, and say to the +inhabitants that we shall be in the city in the course of an hour-- +old Red-beard, Speckbacher, and I--and that we shall be glad to meet +all our excellent friends there again." + +And an hour afterward Andreas Hofer and his friends made their entry +into Innspruck. He sat in a gorgeous carriage, 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 Haspinger, the Capuchin, and beside the +carriage rode Joseph Speckbacher, with a radiant face, and his dark, +fiery eyes beaming with triumphant joy, he was mounted on the proud +magnificently-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 posted on the market-place thundered, and the +fifers and fiddlers made as much noise as possible. + +"Listen, brother Haspinger," 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 great 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 passage 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." + +"Well, you must learn to put on a pleasant face when the people +cheer you," said Haspinger, laughing. "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!" + +"They call me commander-in-chief of the Tyrol," said Andreas, +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 others +will be your hands and thoughts, and will work and fight, and think +for you and the Tyrol. We must have a leader, a commander-in-chief +of the Tyrol, 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 for evermore. But see, we have arrived in +front of Niederkircher's tavern, 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 dressed up so nicely? Why, +you wear your holiday clothes, and yet I think this is neither +Sunday nor a holiday." + +"It is a great holiday," exclaimed Niederkircher, "the commander-in- +chief of the Tyrol, the great Andreas Hofer, is making his triumphal +entry into the city. 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 commander-in-chief of the Tyrol, as I should like to +do under other circumstances." + +"You are a fool, old fellow!" said Andreas, encircling his friend's +neck with his arm; "if I am commander-in-chief before the world, I +am, before my friends, always Andreas Hofer, the Sandwirth and +humble peasant. Let us go into the house, my dear friend; and you +Joachim, come with us. There! Take me to the small back room which I +always occupy during my stay in the city." + +"God forbid!" exclaimed the innkeeper; "you never must occupy the +back room again; that would not be becoming 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 us 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 something to eat there. Some +sound dumplings and a glass of native wine, friend Niederkircher." + +"No, no, Andreas Hofer, that will not do today," 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 the +commander-in-chief of the Tyrol." + +"I should have preferred dumplings and native wine in the small back +room," said Andreas Hofer, dolefully, while he ascended with the +innkeeper and the Capuchin to the best room on the first floor. + +This was a very fine room indeed, and even though it was not as cozy +as the back room for which Hofer bad 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 table handsomely festooned with flowers, and covered with +bottles of wine, cake, and all sorts of fruit. + +"Now, my distinguished friends, make yourselves as comfortable 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 commander-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 burled his heavy, dusty leathern shoes quickly from his feet into +a corner of the room; he then lay down on the carpet in front of the +divan, and stretching his limbs, exclaimed, "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, beseechingly, "I +hope, will not disdain my divan? Rest there a little, Andy, until +the waiters bring you your dinner." + +"God forbid! I must first attend to my horses," exclaimed Andreas. +"I suppose, Niederkircher, you saw my four splendid 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 are fine +animals; only the first horse on the right-hand side, I believe, is +a little weak in the chest, and ought not to be overworked. Before +going to dinner and making myself comfortable, I must go and feed +the horses and see if they are comfortable. You know, Niederkircher, +I have always fed my horses myself, and will do so to-day also." + +And he hastened toward the door; but Niederkircher ran after him and +kept him back. + +"For God's sake. Hofer," he cried in dismay, "what are you going to +do? Why, you are not a horse-trader nor the Sandwirth to-day, but +commander-in-chief of the Tyrol." + +"It is true, I forgot it," sighed Andreas. "Go, then, dear friend, +get us our dinner, and have a large bundle of hay put into the +manger of the horses.--But, great God! what dreadful noise is that +in the street? Why, those men are shouting so loudly that the walls +are shaking and the windows rattling! What do they want? Why do they +always repeat my name? Look out, Niederkircher, and see what is the +matter." + +Niederkircher hastened to the window and drew the curtain 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: +"Andreas Hofer! Come out! Long live the commander-in-chief of the +Tyrol, the liberator! 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 must step out on the balcony," +said Niederkircher, stepping back from the window. "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!" + +"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 people wish to +see their beloved leader, and it would be ungrateful not to accept +their love." + +Andreas Hofer sighed, but he yielded and approached the balcony, the +doors of which were thrown open by the innkeeper. + +No sooner had the thousands assembled in front of the house beheld +the tall form of their favorite leader, than thundering 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 tender, 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 +bliss 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 your midst. But there are many +other Tyrolese who are not inhabitants of Innspruck. All who wish to +be my comrades must fight as brave and honest Tyrolese for God, the +emperor, and our fatherland. Those who are unwilling to do so must +go back to their homes. Those who wish to become my comrades must +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!" [Footnote: Hofer's own words.--See +"Gallery of Heroes: Andreas Hofer," p.126.] + +When Hofer had concluded his speech, thundering cheers rent again +the air; they continued even after he had left the balcony, 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 Capuchin 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 will 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 must let him rest, and it would be very +wrong in us to arouse him from his sleep. Let us defer dinner, +therefore, until Speckbacher is here, and until Haspinger has slept +enough." + +"But you said you were hungry, Andreas--Why do you want to wait, +then? Why do you not dine now and let the other two dine afterward? +You are commander-in-chief, the highest officer 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. + +"I am 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 intercourse 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 report there to +the Lord as His faithful servant and soldier." + +He took his black Tyrolese hat, descended hastily the staircase, and +went into the street. He had not noticed the dissatisfied air of +Niederkircher, and the fact that the innkeeper had not even thanked +him for his greeting; for all his thoughts were now fixed upon God, +and he reproached himself contritely with almost forgetting God, +owing to the cravings of his stomach. + +"Forgive me, my Lord and God," he murmured, on entering the gloomy +nave of the church, "for not coming to Thee at once!" + +He walked up the aisle with a noiseless, hurried step, in order not +to disturb the worshippers, to one of the small altars, 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 delivering us from the +enemy and granting victory to us. I thank Thee for it from the +bottom of my heart, for Thy mercy was with us, and Thou didst lead +us as a true general. Guide us henceforth likewise, my Lord and God, +and stand by Thy 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 prompt me to become more than I +ought to be; Thou knowest that I would rather be quietly at home +with my wife and children, than play the distinguished gentleman +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 consent to play the ruler here until +Thou, my Lord and God, allowest me again to be Thy humble and simple +servant, and to return to my beloved Anna Gertrude, my three little +daughters, and my dear little boy. O Holy Virgin, watch with +maternal care over my dear ones at home; protect them, and grant +peace to their hearts, that they may not tremble for my safety. +Grant peace to us all, Holy Mother of God, and--" + +"Look, look, there he is!" 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! Look at Andreas Hofer." + +Andreas Hofer turned, indignant at the interruption and the words so +loudly uttered in that sacred place. He saw several 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 whole appearance. They bad followed him +quietly, and as the news that Andreas Hofer, commander-in-chief of +the Tyrol, had gone 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 irksome, and he was +angry that the spectators had disturbed his prayer. He, therefore, +made a bitter-sweet face in response 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 way, and had not interrupted my prayer. But now +pray let me go home alone, and do not follow me. It may be becoming +for aristocratic gentlemen 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 the return quietly to +Niederkircher's tavern, where I am going to dine." + +They obeyed, of course, and opened a passage for him to step out of +the church door. But thereupon they rushed out to look after him and +shout, "Long live Andreas Hofer, the pious commander-in-chief of the +Tyrol!" But no one ventured 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," murmured 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 when he comes to Innspruck to sell horses; and I shall sit +again in Niederkircher's back room, eat dumplings, and drink native +wine. Ah, Holy Virgin, let it soon be so again, that the commander- +in-chief may be again Sandwirth Andreas Hofer." + +"Hurrah, long live the commander-in-chief of the Tyrol!" shouted at +this moment some men who had recognized him, and stood still to do +homage to him as though he were a sovereign prince. + +Andreas Hofer accelerated his step, and was very glad on reaching +the tavern soon afterward. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +ANDREAS HOFER, THE EMPEROR'S LIEUTENANT. + + +Andreas ascended the staircase hastily, and entered the balcony- +room. + +The Capuchin had now risen from the carpet; Joseph Speckbacher 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 Andreas mildly. +"And yet I think they kept me waiting, and hunger drove me to the +church. Well, never mind, my dear friends and comrades; we are +together now, and I am very glad of it. Look at Niederkircher and +his large dish! How splendidly it smokes and smells, and how good it +will be to eat! 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 not behoove me to dine with you." + +"If you refuse to do so. I shall not eat at all," cried Andreas +Hofer. + +"And I shall run away," said Speckbacher, jumping up 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 dining with us." + +"I will do so," cried Niederkircher, moving a chair to the table, +and seating himself on it. "But now my friends, permit me at least +to fill your plates." + +"We will not 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 spoons on the plates. All at once this comfortable silence was +broken by deafening cheers and shouts uttered on the street. + +Hofer dropped his spoon, frowned, 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, anxiously. "Holy +Virgin, just listen how they are roaring! It seems as if they were +intent on upsetting the house." + +"They are calling you, they want to see you," said Niederkircher, +who had stepped to the window. "They 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 Andreas Hofer, almost +indignantly. "Why not Speckbacher, or the Capuchin, or Peter Mayer, +or Anthony Wallner? They all did just as much as I did, and perhaps +even more." + +"But you are the people's favorite, brother," said the Capuchin, +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 accomplished every thing." + +"And what we others did, we did only in your name, Father Andy!" +exclaimed Speckbacher; "the people and the sharpshooters would not +have obeyed us so well, had they not believed that you had issued +all the orders and instructions which we gave them. On hearing your +name they obeyed, fought well, and were confident that we should +succeed. And for this reason they are justified in coupling your +name with the celebration of the victory. Just listen how they are +shouting your name! It is true, the dear boys have tremendous lungs, +and if you do not comply with their wishes, and show yourself on the +balcony, I am afraid they will make us deaf and themselves quite +hoarse." + +"Well, I do not care," sighed Andreas; "open the door again, +Niederkircher, I must step out on the balcony." + +"And make another fine speech as before," said the innkeeper, +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 shouted: "Long live Andreas Hofer, the +commander-in-chief! Long live Andreas Hofer, the liberator!" + +"My brave son, Joseph Speckbacher," said the Capuchin, filling his +glass, "you see every one gets his due in the end. Day before +yesterday, 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 interpreted as he deemed +prudent. Now he must toil in his turn and fight with his tongue, +while we are sitting here snugly and drinking our wine. There is +another flourish outside! Trara! trara!" + +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 balcony. + +"Andreas Hofer, beloved commander-in-chief of the Tyrol," he said, +in a loud, solemn voice, "our hearts are full of love for you and +praise of your heroic deeds, and our lips, too, would like to +overflow. Permit us, therefore, noble, hero, beloved liberator, to +sing before you a song glorifying your exploits; a song praising +your struggles and victories; a song which will henceforth be sung +by every man, woman, and child, throughout the Tyrol. We students +wrote the song, for your heroic deeds filled our hearts with +enthusiasm, and our attachment to you taught us the finest music for +it, Permit 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 children 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 accompanied me into battle we succeeded in defeating the +enemy. But it was a hard and mournful task; many brave and excellent +men lost their limbs or even their lives, and many wounded patriots +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 lamenting their fallen sons, can you +wish to exult here and make music? No, my dear friends, that would +not be becoming 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 +fatherland; 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 quietly and pray God +to protect us henceforth as He has heretofore. That is what I wish +to tell you, my dear friends. And now God bless you, and accept my +heart-felt thanks for your love and attachment." [Footnote: "Gallery +of Heroes: Andreas Hofer," p. 130.] + +The students, seized with profound emotion, and deeply impressed by +the simple yet soul-stirring words of Andreas Hofer, complied +quietly and willingly with his request. Their fifes, violins, and +bugles became silent, and the crowd dispersed noiselessly, without +uttering any more cheers and acclamations. + +"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!--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 procession 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, +hastened back to the balcony-room and announced that all the +commanders of the Landsturm, and the municipal officers had arrived +to pay their respects to the commander-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 dinner-table. I have conducted them +all to the large ballroom; they await you there, Andreas Hofer." + +"I would I knew what they want of me," sighed Hofer, stroking his +long beard. + +" I know what they want, Father Andy," said Speckbacher, smiling. "I +myself suggested to the commanders of the Landsturm the plan of +asking of you what they are going to communicate to you now. And you +must not refuse to comply with their request, Father Andy; for the +good of the country demands that you should yield, and the emperor +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 was yesterday already +in Innspruck, where I 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 request; 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," answered Andreas +Hofer, emphatically. "They will finally believe I wish to monopolize +all honors, and will charge me with forgetting that Haspinger and +Speckbacher, day before yesterday, did a great deal more than myself +at the battle of Mount Isel, and that we should never have 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 ballroom just as we fought in battle." + +On entering the ballroom, where the commanders of the Landsturm in +their uniforms and the officers of the municipality had ranged +themselves along the walls, the three heroes were received with +three deafening cheers; and this time Andreas Hofer was not bold +enough to tell the enthusiastic gentlemen 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 whose hands all power is concentrated, and who +rules over the country in the emperor'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 stepped forth +from the ranks of the commanders of the Landsturm. "Yes," he +exclaimed. "you shall 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 commander-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 as the emperor's lieutenant in the imperial palace on the +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 palace, not to gratify +your own vanity, but to reassure the people, and show them that they +are not entirely 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 reorganization of his army and prepare for the resumption of +hostilities. 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 brave Tyrolese against the enemy. Now, if the +country is to be governed properly while we are fighting, a man in +whom both the people and the authorities have confidence must be at +the head of the government. You are this man, Andreas Hofer. The +people, the authorities, and the defenders of the country, pray you +to consent to it; but God commands you 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 comply 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 nothing +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 orders to the contrary, or until peace is +restored to the country, and the emperor is able again to take +charge of the government. Let us pray God and the Holy Virgin that +that day may soon dawn upon us!" + +"Long live the emperor's lieutenant!" shouted the whole assembly, +joyously. + +"Now," exclaimed the mayor, "give me your hand, Andreas Hofer, +lieutenant of the emperor, and commander-in-chief of the Tyrol. We +will conduct you in solemn procession to the imperial palace, for +the lieutenant must take up his residence there." + +"Yes, yes, let us accompany 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 Hofer, 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 Landsturm, and the municipal +authorities. On stepping into the street, they were received with +thundering cheers by the people who 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-chief of the Tyrol, Andreas Hofer, was conducted to the +magnificent 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 bounds to their rejoicings on +the 15th of August, and accompanied Andreas Hofer, the emperor's +lieutenant, amid the most rapturous manifestations of enthusiasm, to +the imperial palace; while the Emperor Napoleon was celebrating the +15th of August, his birthday, by a great parade at Schoenbrunn, and +the bestowal of orders and rewards on many distinguished persons, +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 Empress +Ludovica and the archduchesses had already repaired to Totis, a +country-seat of Prince Lichtenstein, in Hungary, whither the emperor +intended to follow her in the course 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 yet return today," +replied Hudelist, in his humble bland voice. + +"God grant it!" sighed the emperor. "It is very tedious here, and I +hope our sojourn at Totis will not be so mournful and wearisome. +Prince Lichtenstein told me there were excellent fishing-ponds +there, and he added that he had caused to be 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 sealing-wax, +perfumed a la rose," said Hudelist, smiling. + +"Ah, that is nice," exclaimed the emperor; "give it to me--let me +read it." + +The Aulic councillor drew a paper from his bosom and handed 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 pacified, "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 subjects, which your majesty 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 another; 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 proclamation you have drawn up." + +"Your majesty, I have carried out carefully the orders of your +majesty, and the instructions of your minister, Count Metternich, +and written only what your majesty had agreed upon with the +minister." + +"Read 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 conquest nor by mortified personal +feelings." + +"Self-preservation and independence, a peace which would be +compatible with the honor of my crown, and which would give security +and tranquillity to my people, were the lofty and only objects which +I strove to attain." + +"The fickle fortunes of war have not fulfilled my expectations; 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 patriotic spirit of my people and the bravery of +my army." + +"This experience, which he purchased after fearful bloodshed, and my +unvarying solicitude for the happiness of my subjects, brought about +mutual advances for peace negotiations. My plenipotentiaries met +with those of the French emperor." + +"I am desirous of concluding an honorable peace, the terms of which +offer the possibility and prospect of its duration. The bravery of +my army, its unwavering courage, its ardent patriotism, its emphatic +wish not to lay down its arms prior 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 generous sacrifices and so much bloodshed." + +"The noble spirit animating the army is a sufficient guaranty that, +if the enemy should after all mistake our intentions and strength, +we shall certainly obtain the reward of constancy in the end." +[Footnote: See Hormayr's "Andreas Hofer," vol. ii., p. 440.] + +"There," cried the emperor at this moment, striking with the fly- +flap at the wall, "that will at length put an end to your humming, +with which you have dinned my ears for a quarter of an hour. Come +here, Hudelist, and look at this bluebottle fly. The whole time +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 himself 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 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 you 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 understanding. 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 joyously," exclaimed +Hudelist, enthusiastically. "It was, therefore, 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 thereby." + +"On the contrary, you shall always do so, you shall always tell me +your opinion 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 ears, eyes, and tongue, shall +belong to me." + +"And my heart, above all things, belongs to my adored emperor, your +majesty." + +"Have you really got a heart?" asked the emperor, smiling. "I do not +believe it, Hudelist; you are a clever, sagacious man, but you had +better say nothing about your heart, for I think you have used it up +in your countless love-affairs. Moreover, I do not care for it. I do +not think a great deal of men who have too much heart, and who +always allow their rash heart to influence their actions. My +distinguished brother, the Archduke 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 enemy of +France. How unwavering were the courage and intrepidity 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 coup 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 +army!" + +"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 blunder on this +occasion, he has made a thousand amends for it. Your majesty should +bear in mind all that the noble Archduke 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 fighting still, with the utmost +heroism. He arranged 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 broke +out simultaneously in 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 +pernicious 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 him; 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 proclaimed +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 be 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 eyes, and +an expression of scorn and malicious joy illuminated his sombre face +for a moment. + +"It was effectual," he murmured to himself; "jealousy and suspicion +have struck roots in his heart, and we shall succeed in neutralizing +the influence of the archduke, who constantly preaches war, and war +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 conceal any +thing from me. I must know all, and count upon 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 quick +wave of his hand, Hudelist, who, bowing respectfully, 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 you see Bonaparte? Did he admit you?" + +"Yes, your majesty," said Count Bubna, with gloomy gravity, "the +Emperor Napoleon did admit me. I 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, and the heroic resistance which our army +offered to him, our brilliant victory at Aspern, and the fact that +his victory at Wagram was after all little better than a drawn +battle, seem to have exasperated him in the extreme. For this reason +he is resolved to impose rigorous terms of peace on us, because, if +Austria should 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 +would 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 owe it, moreover, to myself. Either an honorable +peace, or a decision 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 Bonaparte, or succumb +honorably." + +"Ah, if your people could see your majesty in your generous +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 Emperor 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, moreover, it has no +commander-in-chief, inasmuch as your majesty has accepted the +resignation of the generalissimo. To continue the war would be +equivalent to endangering the existence 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 first +words, 'My august master, the Emperor of Austria,' the Emperor +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 conceal any thing from +me, Count Bubna, but bear in mind that I must know all, in order to +take my resolutions accordingly." + +"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 standing before me with folded arms, +he spoke to me with a frankness which almost frightened me, and +which at times seemed to me quite involuntary." + +"There you were mistaken, at all events," said Francis, shrugging +his shoulders. "Bonaparte never does any thing 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 only once in my life; and God +knows that, after my interview with him subsequent to the battle of +Austerlitz, my heart was filled with intense hatred against him. +Now, my heart is more constant in hatred than in love; and if it is +said that love makes us blind, hatred, on the other hand, renders us +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 unintentional 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 intends to GRANT +peace to your majesty in return for heavy sacrifices. Your majesty +will have to sacrifice much territory, many fortresses, and finally +a great deal of money, in order to obtain peace." + +"And what if I should not do so?" cried Francis, impetuously. "What +if I should prefer to resume hostilities and die honorably on the +ruins of my empire rather than purchase a dishonorable peace? What +would he say then?" + +"Then he would resume hostilities with his strong and enthusiastic +army; he would, as he told me more than once in his thundering +voice, be inexorable, and no considerations of generosity would +prevent him from wreaking vengeance on his personal enemy; for as +such he would regard your majesty 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 think he will not catch me soon. Despite all his braggadocio, +he will be obliged to allow the continued existence of the Austrian +Empire, for all Europe would rise against him; even Russia herself +would become his enemy, 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 menace 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, vehemently. + +"Your majesty," said Count Bubna, in a low, timid voice, "the +Emperor Napoleon thinks you are his personal and inexorable 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 which, 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 Hapsburg dynasty is to be placed on the +throne, one of the brothers of the Emperor Francis." + +"Ah, ah! he thinks of my brothers," murmured the emperor, whose +cheeks turned very pale. "Well, which of my brothers did he +designate as future Emperor of Austria?" + +"He thought it would be best for France if the throne were ceded to +the Grand-duke of Wurtzburg, the Archduke Ferdinand. He said he had +had confidence in the grand-duke ever since he had been in Tuscany, +and he believed that the grand-duke was likewise friendly to him. He +would make him Emperor of Austria, and add the grand duchy of +Wurtzburg to the kingdom of Bavaria." + +"And the Tyrol?" asked the Emperor Francis. "Will Bonaparte, in his +liberality, give that also to Bavaria, or will he leave it to my +brother Ferdinand, the future Emperor of Austria?" + +"No, your majesty. The 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 Napoleon said angrily that +Bavaria had not at all known how to deal with the simple and honest +Tyrolese. He added that profound tranquillity should reign in the +mountains; hence, he could not restore the Tyrol to Bavaria, against +which the Tyrolese were animated by intense hatred. As the Tyrolese +had manifested their attachment and fidelity to Austria in so +admirable a manner, it would be best to make the Tyrol an +independent principality, and give it also to one of the arch-dukes, +the brothers of the emperor." [Footnote: Napoleon's own words.--See +"Lebensbilder," vol. v., p. 217.] + +"By the Eternal! my brothers seem to be the special favorites of the +Emperor Napoleon," exclaimed the emperor. "Which of the archdukes is +to receive the new principality of the Tyrol at Bonaparte's hands?" + +"Your majesty, he said the Tyrol should be given to that archduke +for whom the Tyrolese had always manifested the 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 the +Tyrol 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 the noble +Archduke John who conceived such plans, but the Emperor Napoleon." + +"He seems at least to keep up a touching understanding with my +brothers. I should like to know whether his generosity will not +provide crowns and states for the other arch-dukes too. And then, +you have not told me yet what he intends 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 +are 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, bursting into +loud laughter, which, however, sounded so unnatural that Count Bubna +did not join in it. "And now," said the emperor, whose 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 would 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 listen 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 occupied 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-general." + +"He intends to spoliate Austria as mercilessly as he formerly +plundered Hamburg and the whole of Northern Germany," said the +emperor, shrugging his shoulders. "And does not Bonaparte demand any +money 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 demands the immediate +payment of two hundred and thirty-seven millions of francs." +[Footnote: See Schlosser's "History of the Nineteenth Century," vol. +viii., p. 115.] + +"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 Bubna, joyously. "Bearing in mind only the +welfare of your monarchy, you will not reject his rigorous demands +entirely, and not allow the armistice 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 +already shown my desire for peace by sending my ministers, Counts +Stadion and Metternich, to Altenburg, to negotiate there with +Bonaparte'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 are negotiating +publicly at Altenburg in Hungary, I will secretly begin to negotiate +with the emperor himself; and you, Count Bubna, shall be my agent +for this purpose." + +"Your majesty," exclaimed Count Bubna, in a tone of surprise rather +than joy, "your majesty reposes in me so much confidence--" + +"Which, I hope, you will appreciate, and strive to render yourself +worthy of," interrupted the emperor. "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 Schoenbrunn. But no one 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." + +"A bad comparison, Bubna, for new life is to blossom for Austria +from your secret negotiations. Well, go now and repose; we will +afterward confer again in regard to this matter, 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 +frankly 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 be 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 manner, even though he should +derive the greatest advantages therefrom. Do you think, for +instance, 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 restore to him all the +provinces occupied by my armies?'" + +"What? Did Napoleon really say that?" asked the emperor, 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," +exclaimed 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 emperor can dissolve it by +virtue of his own authority." + +"That is a very convenient arrangement for M. Bonaparte," said +Francis, smiling. "Well, go now, count, and repose. I am very +content with your services, and I think I shall be so hereafter +also. Adieu. I shall send for you again." + +He nodded kindly to the count, and stood still smilingly 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 brothers! +They are always eager to push me aside. I am always 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 +boastful archdukes, who always preach war and are worsted in every +battle! Oh, they are stirring up rebellion, and stretching out their +hands for my property! But one stroke of my 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 conferred +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 from them. I want peace. I will remain Emperor of +Austria despite all my brothers!" + + + + +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 Tyrol, 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 replied to those +who asked him to adopt such a course. "I did not become the +emperor'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 peasant, 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 accustomed 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 Niederkircher'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 people 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 Niederkircher for the dinner of all my guests, and he must send +enough, lest any of them should remain hungry. But there must never +be more than six guests, for it would be too bad if I, who intend to +preserve the Tyrol to the emperor, were to cost him a great deal of +money here. In order to prevent mistake, 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." [Footnote: The +expenses of Hofer and his whole suite, during their six weeks' +sojourn in the city of Innspruck, cost the public exchequer only +five hundred florins.] + +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 desirous of +devoting his whole strength to it. He issued a number of useful and +liberal decrees, which, it is true, Ennemoser, Doeninger, Kolb, or +other friends of his had drawn up, but which he had approved and +signed. + +Andreas Hofer 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 every 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 the audience-room, waiting +impatiently for the moment when the door should open, and when +Andreas Hofer 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 Doeninger sat at the desk, +ready to write down the names of all applicants for audience, and +add a brief statement of their 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 Doeninger, after a long pause, during +which he had watched Hofer's irresolute bearing smilingly, "there is +something that disquiets you, is there not?" + +"Yes, Cajetan," sighed Andreas. "As you have found it out, I will no +longer deny that there is something that disquiets me." + +"And what is it, commander-in-chief? Will you not communicate it to +your faithful and discreet Cajetan?" + +"Yes, I will, my dear Cajetan," said Hofer. "I am afraid I did +something very stupid yesterday, and I am ashamed of it." + +"Ah, you allude to the lawsuit which you decided yesterday," +exclaimed Doeninger. + +"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 Doeninger, +dryly. "The lawsuit was already decided; the supreme court had given +judgment 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 +that 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?" + +"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 herself signed the note. They add that she is rich +enough to pay back the thousand florins which her husband certainly +borrowed from his friend." + +"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 reversed 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 +plaintiff, who lost his suit, may feel very sore over it, and blame +me for depriving him of what he thought was due to him; and I +shudder to think he maybe in the other room, and intend to reproach +me with ruining him and taking from him what the judges had already +awarded to him." + +"And, Andy, because you would not like to see one man, you keep the +others waiting outside." + +"You are right, Cajetan. I ought not to do that; I am a selfish, +cowardly fellow," cried Andreas, contritely. "I will 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 invited by him into his cabinet. + +Andreas 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 +beseeching glances on him. + +"My old friend," said Andreas, mildly, "it is true you are not +nearest to the door, but you are the oldest person in the room, and +therefore it is right for me 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 Doeninger, who sat at the desk, pen in hand, and bowed to the +commander-in-chief with a shrug. + +"I come to you, the emperor's lieutenant, to demand justice," added +the old man. "Your decree was unjust and contrary to law. The judges +had decided in my favor, and by reversing their judgment, you treat +with harshness and cruelty an old man who stands on the brink of the +grave, and deprive my poor grandchild of its whole inheritance." + +"May God and the Holy Virgin preserve me from committing such a +crime," murmured Andreas Hofer, crossing himself devoutly. "Ah, my +friend, why did you not come to me ere this, and tell me all about +it? I should have gladly assisted 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 that the good God would not abandon me, and +that He would not take from me, after losing innocently most of my +property by the cruelty of the enemy, who burned down my house and +outbuildings, 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; for He caused +the judges to grant me justice and adjudge the thousand florins to +me." + +"And I took them from him again," murmured Andreas Hofer, with tears +in his eyes; "and it is my fault that he will die with a grief- +stricken heart. Cajetan, I have ruined the old man; tell me, advise +me how to make amends for it." + +"You reversed the decision of the judges," said Doeninger, 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 obscure oracle; all at +once his face brightened, and a joyous smile played round his lips. + +"I know it now, Cajetan," he exclaimed. "I have the power to reverse +all decisions, and therefore my own also." + +Cajetan Doeninger nodded with silent satisfaction. The old man +clasped his hands and gazed at Hofer with an expression of ardent +gratitude. + +"Will you really do so, Andreas Hofer?" he asked tremblingly. "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. There I now write as follows: 'I, the undersigned, +confess by these presents that I committed a mistake yesterday, and +violated the laws. To confess mistakes 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. Friedel Hofmeier is to receive the thousand florins which +the supreme 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 invalid, 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 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 recovered +your thousand florins. Say nothing about it now, but 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 conducted 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, Doeninger, 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 Doeninger, +laughing. + +"But, Cajetan, I made a vow never to refuse admittance to any one, +and not, as many princes do, to allow distressed persons to wait in +my anteroom and send them away without listening to them and +comforting them." + +"But you heard, Andreas, that the woman is not in distress, for she +is rich and very avaricious. 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." + +Doeninger went to the door, and, opening it, beckoned to the person +standing nearest to it. + +A young woman, dressed plainly, but very neatly, came in, and +remained at the door, in visible confusion and grief. + +"Well, madame," said Andreas 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 remain 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 evening; he returns +only late at night, scolds me for weeping and upbraiding him with +his bad conduct, and yesterday--yesterday 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, hesitatingly. "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 him to leave it. He shall not +go out without me, for he is such a fine-looking man, that all the +pretty women of Innspruck admire him in his handsome 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 pretty women, he +goes to the theatre and the concerts to see them, and speak and +flirt with them. Believe me, dearest commander-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 to 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, indignantly. + +"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 Doeninger, +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 Doeninger, 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, weeping +bitterly. "Do I not see that the women are trying to seduce 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 very short sleeves, so that their +shoulders and arms are entirely bare. All the aristocratic ladies 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 the good God created them. And it is owing only +to these bare arms and shoulders that my dear husband deserts me and +loves me no longer. The aristocratic ladies, with their naked charms +have 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 must 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 +dress of the women here. Some of my neighbors were at the theatre +yesterday, and were indignant at the indecent appearance of the +women there; they told me the women sat there dressed in the highest +fashion, their busts entirely bare and not covered 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 players 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 +shamelessness 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 women, 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 Doeninger. +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 henceforth 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 heartfelt thanks for his great mercy, and with the sincere +purpose of improving our morals, and pray Him to protect us from +further persecution. We must try to gain His paternal love 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 Christians. It is to be hoped that they will repent, +lest God should punish them; but if they do not, it will be their +own fault if they should be covered with mire in an unpleasant +manner." [Footnote: See "Gallery of Heroes: Andreas Hofer," p. 135; +and Hormayr's "Hofer," vol. ii., p. 445.] + +"Shall I really write that?" asked Doeninger, looking up from his +paper. + +"Yes, you shall; and you shall not omit a word of it," exclaimed +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 me the pen, +Cajetan, that I may sign the document. Then seal it up and send it +to the Official Journal 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 toward 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 dreadful will happen if he does not mend +his ways." + +"God be praised!" said Doeninger, with a deep sigh, when the woman +had left the room. + +"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 be dies." + +"It is true, she does not seem to be very gentle," said Andreas, +smiling. "But then, Cajetan, she 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. + + +Doeninger went to the door and opened it, and a beautiful young girl +slipped immediately into the room. "Hush, hush," she whispered to +Doeninger; "do not say anything to him." And she hastened on tiptoe +to Andreas Hofer, who was reading once more with close attention the +proclamation which he had dictated to Doeninger. + +She bent down and kissed the hand in which Hofer held 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 the +paper. "Yes, by the Eternal, it is she! It is Lizzie, the dearest +child of my best friend--the most heroic girl in the Tyrol. Come, +Lizzie, embrace your second father, Andy, and give me a kiss for +father and mother, and one for yourself, my dear girl." + +Eliza encircled Hofer's neck, and imprinted a tender kiss on his +lips. "God bless you, dear father, for you are the father of the +whole Tyrol," she whispered, "and must not scold me for calling you +my father too." + +"On the contrary, it gladdens my heart," exclaimed Andreas, folding +her tenderly to his breast. "It seems to me as though I were holding +one of my own girls in my arms, and as though I heard her dear voice +calling me father. Lizzie, I can tell you I often long for my pretty +daughters and their mother, Anna Gertrude, and sometimes I feel very +lonely indeed." + +"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, vehemently. "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 worthless; we should be destitute, and become beggars. Besides, I +do not want my girls to become proud, and think they are +aristocratic young ladies now, because their father is commander-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 you, 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 came 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 persons 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 Haspinger and Joseph +Speckbacher, and the united forces of the three commanders marched +against the Bavarians. Father and his seven hundred sharpshooters +expelled the Bavarians from the Unken valley, and is now encamped +near Berchtesgaden and Reichenhall. Speckbacher is stationed at +Neuhauser and Schwarzbach, and Haspinger is still at Werfen. They +are going to reunite their forces and advance against the Bavarians, +in order, if possible, to drive them from 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 fight, to dress their wounds +and nurse them?" + +"I have another duty to fulfil now, and my father has permitted me +to come to you in regard to it, dear father Andreas Hofer. I am in +great distress, and you alone, dear, all-powerful commander-in-chief +of the Tyrol, are able to help me." + +"Tell me quick, Lizzie, what can I do for you ?" asked Andreas, +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 from 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 heart," 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 affable gentleman, a +benefactor and father of the poor; and not a poor man, not a woman +in distress applied to him, but whom he willingly relieved and +assisted. He lived for twenty years in the Tyrol, at his castle at +Windisch-Matrey, and became in this manner an ardent son of the +Tyrol, although he is a native of Bavaria, and his whole +aristocratic family lives in Munich. His daughter Elza is my dearest +friend; we grew 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 Bavarian 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 inaugurated our glorious war of +liberation. And now the mean Bavarians 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 +treason nor 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 received a week ago, +and tears had blotted out half of its contents. 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 allowed to go home. Therefore, I implore you, dear, +all-powerful commander-in-chief of the Tyrol, save the old baron's +life, restore my Elza to me, and release them both from their +captivity. 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 releasing 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 I +not, Doeninger?" + +"You refer to the Bavarian officer whom you are going to send to +Munich?" asked Doeninger. + +"Yes, the Bavarian officer is to procure their release," exclaimed +Andreas. "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, sympathizes cordially with the +cause of the Tyrolese. We resolved to release him on parole and send +him to Munich, where he was to negotiate an exchange of prisoners, +and maybe bring about an amicable understanding between 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 Ulrich, as you call me +Andreas. Well, Captain Ulrich has already received his instructions +and the list of prisoners whose release he is to advocate. It will +only remain for us to add Hohenberg'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.--Pray, dearest Cajetan, go and fetch +the captain; he was to set out in an hour, and he must, therefore, +be 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 +Doeninger. "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 urgently desired." + +"But for whom are they to be exchanged?" + +"Yes, yes, for whom? Well, for Captain Ulrich himself. If he +procures their release, and returns hither, as he solemnly swore be +would, with the reply of the Bavarian government, and, perhaps, +brings the old baron and his daughter with him, he 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 to tell him what he is to say in your name +to your friend.--Go, therefore, Cajetan, take the papers to the +captain, and conduct 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, therefore, +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 I shall not let you go again, my +Lizzie," added Hofer, after Doeninger 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 Windisch- +Matrey." + +At this moment Doeninger re-entered the room. "The captain is in the +room yonder," he said, pointing to a side-door; "he awaits you, and +will set out after seeing you. The carriage 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 Doeninger +admitted another person from the audience-room into Hofer's cabinet. + +The room which Eliza entered was 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 wide room with heavy silken hangings on +the walls; curtains of the same description covered the windows, so +that only a dim twilight reigned in the large apartment. Magnificent +gilt furniture lined the walls; between the windows stood large +Venetian 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 she could not venture to +advance on the glittering floor. Her large, 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 cry; 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! It is he! I see him 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 surprise, and I succeeded. Your surprise 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 you when you +recognized me, and when joy illuminated your face like a bright ray +of sunshine. 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 +me, I should not leave you--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 myself intend to leave +you, sir; you must let me go, that we may converse in a sensible +manner, as it behooves two decent young persons. Take your arms +away, Captain von Hohenberg; 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 peasant-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 heart is able to withstand 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. Much 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 only take a husband whose parents would come to +meet me affectionately, and give me, their blessing on the threshold +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 happened 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. We fought and suffered a great deal, and at +length, on the 14th of August, I was made prisoner by the Tyrolese +at the battle of Mount Isel and taken to Innspruck. However, they do +not know my real name here, for I did not want the news of my +captivity to reach my parents; I preferred that they should lament +me as killed in battle, rather than as a prisoner 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 exchange of the prisoners for +the hostages whom our troops carried off." + +"Your uncle and my Elza are among the hostages," exclaimed Eliza. +"Oh, sir, if you really think that you are under obligations to me, +if you have not forgotten that I saved your life, pray procure the +release of your 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; "Doeninger was the first to tell me of it, on bringing me +the papers, and conducting me hither. But, I confess, in my 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 about his release; I +will go myself to the king to intercede in his behalf." + +"But you must bring my Elza with you too, sir," exclaimed 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 continued, 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 half alive +when my Elza is not with me. 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, you," he said bitterly; "you see my sufferings, and gloat over +them; you feel that I love you boundlessly, and with cold, sneering +pride you try to resent my former contemptible haughtiness. You +oppose 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 outburst of +generous indignation; "you lie if you think me capable of so +miserable a revenge; you lie if you believe that I have a cold and +cruel heart. I wish I had, for then I should not suffer what I am +suffering now, and I should at least be able to forget you. You +really charge me with having 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 are! I do not take any notice of it, I do not look at myself +in the mirror--why should I, and for whom?--but mother tells me so +every day, and weeps for me. And why 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 I can never silence, 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 country concern me? I think +no longer of it, and yet every battle makes me tremble; and on +nearing the booming of artillery, I kneel down and pray with tears +of anguish to the Holy Virgin. Oh, may God forgive me! I do not pray +for my father, nor for our soldiers; I pray for a Bavarian, I pray +for you!" + +"Eliza!" exclaimed Ulrich, radiant with joy, and stretching out his +arms toward her, "Eliza!" + +"Hush!" she said, stepping back proudly, "do not speak. I 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 always 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 you 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 you remember me? +Will you become my wife?'" Now, Eliza, I have returned, and ask you +as I asked you on the mountain, Eliza, will you become my wife?" + +"And I reply as I replied to you on the mountain," she said +solemnly. "We can never belong to each other as husband 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 heart 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 yourself to be softened by the sunbeams +of love? Will they always only harden your heart?" + +"I cannot act otherwise, sir, I assure you I cannot," she said, +beseechingly. + +"Well, then, I cannot act otherwise either," he cried. "I shall not +accept this mission, I 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!" + +"Why should I have mercy when you have none?" he asked, quickly. +"Let the prisoners die of grief; I am a prisoner 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. Procure 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 yon 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 Doeninger, opening the door, "it +is high time for you to set out. The carriage has been at the door +for upward of an hour." + +"I am ready," said Ulrich, holding out his 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 Carinthia, although +both these provinces were occupied by French troops, and had safely +arrived at Innspruck amid the jubilant acclamations of the +population. They brought cheering news from the Emperor Francis. He +sent to the commander-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 better than all this was an +autograph letter from the emperor, 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 instructions 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 unbounded enthusiasm, 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 Maximilian, by the Abbot of +Wiltau, amid the tears and acclamations of a vast concourse of +spectators, who afterward, preceded by the municipal authorities, +accompanied him in solemn procession to the imperial palace. Andreas +presented a splendid appearance in the fine gold-embroidered 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, glittered under his fine black beard on his +breast, and he wore a black hat with a plume and inscription to him +as the commander-in-chief of the Tyrol, the gift of the holy +sisterhood of Innspruck. + +Andreas Hofer's face shone with happiness 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 +always that I am nothing but Thy unworthy servant, and that Thou +alone vouchsafest us victory and blessest our cause!" + +The imperial palace was festively decorated to-day, and a splendid +banquet was to take place there in honor of the celebration. 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 preparing 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 had 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 bad redeemed his promise; precisely two weeks +had elapsed since his departure, and now, after these terrible days +of suspense, which Eliza had passed in tears, in silence, and at the +same time in mysterious activity, Ulrich had returned, and with him +Elza, Eliza's dearest friend. + +Ulrich had looked on with an expression of quiet happiness when +Eliza embraced her Elza, again and again with tears of joy; she +knelt down repeatedly by the side of the couch on which had been +laid the old baron, whose strength had been utterly exhausted by the +journey, the excitement, and the sufferings he had endured in +prison; she pressed his hands to her lips tenderly, and withal +humbly, and thanked God that her good old friend and her Elza, the +better half of her life, bad been restored to her. + +But after this impetuous and joyous meeting, the 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 trembled, and, wishing to avoid +this tete-a-tete, glided softly to the door; but Ulrich hastened +after her and seized her hand. + +"Eliza," he said, solemnly, "I have fulfilled all your wishes. I +have brought back with me my uncle and your friend Elza; the King of +Bavaria accepted the exchange which I offered; he released the baron +and his daughter, and Andreas Hofer sets me free in his turn. I am, +therefore, no longer a prisoner, and as a free 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. + +"My oath was as follows: 'I 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 inaudibly, "I shall keep my +oath." + +He uttered a joyous cry, pressed her hand to his lips, and gazed +with an expression of infinite tenderness into her blushing, +quivering face. + +"Oh, do not tremble, love," he said; "do not look anxiously into the +future. I shall know how to protect my wife from grief and +humiliation. To make you happy shall be my sweetest joy; to see you +honored and recognized by society will be my incessant effort, as it +will be my bounden 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 the great church 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 redeem my +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?" + +"I 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 with your 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 confided only +to my dear old friend Joachim Haspinger, the Capuchin, who was +lately in Innspruck, what would take place in case you should return +with my Elza, and he 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 intended, then, to redeem your promise of your own accord!" +exclaimed Ulrich, joyfully; "you thought of it without being +reminded 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 me now to conceal our plan +from every one, and let me make all necessary arrangements?" + +"I do, my sweet girl. Tell me what I am to do, and I will obey you +silently and unconditionally." + +"Well, then, dear Ulrich," she said, in a tremulous voice, "come to- +night, at nine o'clock, to the chapel here in the imperial palace. +As a witness, I hope you will find there our dear commander-in- +chief, Andreas Hofer. Father Haspinger will stand before the altar, +and your betrothed will kneel before 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 whom I will love and cherish all my +life!" exclaimed the captain, in profound emotion. + +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, smilingly, "and you may be sure that I shall be +promptly on hand. I shall be as punctual as the digger after a +hidden treasure, who must 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 you 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, smilingly, "but do not believe that +I shall ever be ashamed of the peasant-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, Anthony Wallner, +commander 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 Taxenbach against the Bavarians. He has taken the field again, +and, after joining the forces under Joseph Speckbacher, and Father +Haspinger, he will attack the Bavarians at the Pass of Lueg, and, if +it please God, defeat them. I suppose, Ulrich, you will accompany me +to my father, Anthony Wallner, and ask your father-in-law to give +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 searching, 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 rebellion against +Bavaria, and he is fighting against the Bavarians, 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, where I am to remain till the end of the war. I +must set out for the Bavarian capital to-morrow, and my sweet, +beloved 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 praise his +heroism loudly, and love and honor him as my wife's father. Do you +understand that I cannot act otherwise, beloved?" + +"I do," she replied; "I do understand that the Bavarian Captain +Ulrich von Hohenberg cannot now go to the Tyrolese commander, +Anthony Wallner, ask him, while 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 happiness." + +"You understand that I cannot act otherwise," he said, anxiously. +"But you are sad? I see a cloud on your forehead, Eliza." + +"No, not a cloud," she exclaimed, shaking her head. "Every thing is +clear in my mind, and I see distinctly what I must do. Come, then, +to the chapel at nine; every thing will be in readiness there." + +"You will be there, my lovely bride," exclaimed Ulrich, blissfully, +opening his arms to her. "Oh, do not avoid me, Eliza; you are mine +now, your place is on my heart, do not avoid me! See, I am +submissive and obedient, and I will not take what you do not give me +of your own accord. But give me now your bridal present, Eliza; give +me the first kiss of love!" + +"No, sir," she said, almost anxiously; "on the wedding-day no pious +bride must desecrate her lips by kissing or partaking of food before +going to the altar. Only devout thoughts should fill her heart; and +she ought to pray and implore the saints to vouchsafe happiness to +her. Let me go, therefore, and fulfil my sacred duties." + +"Yes, my sweet, innocent dove, I will let you go," said Ulrich, +gently. "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." + +"She 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! Oh, give me your hand! Let me press it once to my +heart! Oh, fear nothing, Eliza, my unholy 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, and left the room quickly. +Eliza looked after him, motionless, breathless, listening to his +footsteps, and heaving a deep sigh when they died away in the +distance. Then she laid both her hands convulsively on her heart. + +"Oh, it is in great pain!" she murmured. "It seemed at one time as +though it would break, and as though I should die on the spot. But I +must not die, nor even weep. And I feel that the good God helps me, +and that he approves of what I am going to do. It was God Himself +who prompted me to ask Ulrich if he would accompany me to my father. +He was obliged to reply that he could not 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 the +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 father's eyes every +wish he might entertain. I often wept tears of joy on seeing him +support 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 evermore. But +where is he? Where is Ulrich? Was he not with you?" + +"He 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 expression. + +"Ah, of me!" exclaimed Elza, joyfully. "Oh, tell me, Lizzie, do you +think he loves me?" + +"I do not believe it, Elza, I know it for certain. He intrusted me +with an important commission for you, and asks of you a great proof +of your love. Come, Elza, 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 played 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 upon +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 +respectfully 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 +shoes. 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 better go there and dance. I believe the good God Himself +will watch over His chapel here." + +"Much obliged to you, commander-in-chief--much 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 +office; 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, that 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 +honors paid to me, when there are such dark spots in the country?" +[Footnote: Andreas Hofer's own words.--See "Bilder und Erinnerungen +aus Tyrols Freiheitskampfen von 1809," by Loritza, p. 13.] + +"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, hesitatingly. + +"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 sees what the short-sighted +Bavarian cannot see, and helps him and herself to escape from the +abyss into which both of them would otherwise fall. She is a genuine +heroine, and I am proud and fond of her. Otherwise I should not have +come to Innspruck to-day. I came only for her sake and at her urgent +request. We are exceedingly busy at the earthworks 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, that I may be with our men to- +morrow in case there should be a fight." + +"God grant that you may be victorious!" sighed Andreas. + +"But hark! the clock strikes nine, and the sexton is already +lighting the candles on the altar." + +"But he has been instructed to light only two of them, lest there +should be too much light," said the Capuchin. "Let us go down now, +brother Andreas, and do not forget what you have to do. When the +bride enters by 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 chapel." + +A dim twilight reigned in the small chapel. Only two of the tall +wax-lights burned on the altar, and shed their flickering rays on +the vigorous form of the Capuchin, who was standing in front of it, +and praying in a low voice with clasped hands. Close to him, near +the steps of the altar, stood Andreas Hofer, his head bent down, and +his hands clasped on the small crucifix which was to be seen about +his neck by the side of the gold medal and chain. + +Footsteps were heard now in the aisle of the chapel, and a tall man +in dark civilian's dress approached the altar. Andreas Hofer drew +himself up to his full height and went to meet him. + +"God bless you, Captain Ulrich!" he said, kindly; "I hope you will +accept me as witness of your marriage." + +"I thank you, commander-in-chief, for consenting to be our witness," +said Ulrich, cordially; "and I thank you also, Father Haspinger, for +coming to Innspruck from such a distance 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 concealed 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 Andreas 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 doffed the costume of +the Tyrolese girls and thereby divested herself of her whole past. +Oh, how splendid her form looks in this dress; she seems taller and +prouder, and yet so lovely and sweet." + +He gazed at her as she approached slowly with alight springing 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 looked out +for a moment and then disappeared hastily. 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 they 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 take your +betrothed here for your husband, and love and cherish him all your +life long?" + +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 together, 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 +arose, 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 constancy!" + +The ceremony was over now, and Andreas Hofer approached the bride. +"As your father was prevented from being present," he said, "permit +me to take his place and conduct you to your room. I suppose you do +not object to it, Captain Ulrich!" + +"On the contrary, I am obliged to you for taking the place of my +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 have to thank you for your kindness in coming to our +wedding," said Ulrich, standing still in front of the alter and +following only with his eyes his bride, who was just leaving the +chapel with Andreas 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 +married 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 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 that which cannot be helped." + +"I do not comprehend what you mean," said Ulrich, smilingly, "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 should 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," she 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 believe 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 Hohenberg--" + +"You are my wedded wife, you alone?" he cried, impetuously. + +"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 Eliza, +solemnly; "she is the wife whom your parents selected for you from +your earliest youth; she is Elza von Hohenberg." + +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. + +Ulrich dropped his arm with a groan. "Then you have cheated me, +wretched girl!" he cried, 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, I am 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 because God +knows that I would give up my heart's blood to spare you an hour of +suffering." + +He burst into scornful laughter. "And yet you have treated me so +infamously? You have played a miserable comedy with me, and perjured +yourself?" + +"Sir, I have not perjured myself," cried Eliza. "I have fulfilled +faithfully the oath I swore to you when you took leave of me and +went to procure my Elza's release." + +"You have fulfilled it? False girl! repeat your oath to me, that I +may convict you of perjury." + +"I said that if you would bring back Elza, you should receive 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 myself. Elza loves +you, sir; she loves you with infinite tenderness." + +"Oh, what miserable, insidious sophistry!" cried Ulrich, sinking +despairingly on a chair. "Your words were as full of duplicity as +your heart is; and I, poor, short-sighted dupe, believed your 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 between 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 tears." + +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 remember yet what I +said to you on taking leave of you on the mountain? I reminded you +of it the other day, but you forgot it again. I said to you: 'You +are a nobleman, and I am a peasant-girl; you are a Bavarian, and I, +thank God, am again an Austrian. We do not suit each other, and can +never become husband and wife.' That is what I said to you, and I +repeated it to you the other day, but you would not understand it." + +"Because I loved you, Eliza; because I felt that my love would be +strong enough to surmount all obstacles!" + +"Was your love strong enough to prevail on you, sir, to go to my +father, Anthony Wallner, 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 convince 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 excellent man. +That was the reason, sir, why we could not become man and 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 of my heart?" she asked. "I do not bear it on my +lips, nor in my eyes either. It rests deep in my bosom, and God +alone sees and knows it. But I, sir, know another heart; 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 distrust 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 your father wants to become your husband, +loves me; and I, whom you 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 your +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 clandestine 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 deception?" + +"Her father, sir, is very sick, and I believe he is on his death- +bed. Elza told him nothing of it, for the excitement, the joy might +have killed him. I told her it was your will that she should be +silent; and because she loves you and would comply with all your +wishes, she was silent, obeyed your call, and came all alone to the +altar to become your 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 you will repudiate me, for Elza is the +better half of my heart. In making her happy, think that you make me +happy; and in loving her, think I feel that you love one me!" + +"Oh, Eliza," cried Ulrich, gazing at her as she stood before 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 believe it now, for your heart grieves, and he +who has such a wound thinks that it never will heal. But love is a +good surgeon. Elza will dress your heart and heal it." + +"And your heart, Eliza, will it heal, too? For your heart has +likewise a wound, and, whatever you may say to the contrary, 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!'" + +"Faithfully?" he asked, bursting into tears. "Your heart will heal +likewise, Eliza; you will forget me in the arms of another husband." + +"No, sir! My heart I hope, will heal, but 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. The fatherland needs +brave hands, and I belong to my fatherland and my father. We shall +have war again, sir, war with the Bavarians. Thank God, you will not +be among our enemies! I shall carry our wounded out of the thickest +of the fight, and nurse them; and if a bullet hits me, well, then, I +shall die for the fatherland, and it will gladden your heart, also, +to hear that Lizzie 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 young bride. She will be wondering already at your long +absence. Oh, go to her, sir, and be kind and loving to her; let her +never suspect what has taken place between us, and that you did not +marry her of your own accord." + +"I cannot dissemble, Eliza; I 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 Haspinger is waiting for +me, and I shall go with him to my father. We shall never meet again, +and therefore I will give you now my wedding-present. You asked me +for it this morning, and I refused; but now I will give it to you +voluntarily. 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 nevertheless in my +heart." + +She glided up to him with a noiseless step. Faithful to his word, he +had closed his eyes firmly. She gazed at him long and tenderly, as +if to engrave his features deeply on her heart; then she bent over +him and imprinted a kiss on his forehead. + +"God bless you, Ulrich," she whispered, and kissed his forehead once +more. "Farewell!" + +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 the open door, 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 Lichtenstein's castle of +Totis, in Hungary, but for some days past there had no longer +reigned there the profound silence and calm monotony which had +prevailed during the first days of the imperial sojourn. Couriers +came and went, equipages rolled up, and conveyed to the castle some +of the Austrian diplomatists, with whom the emperor conversed a long +while in his cabinet, whereupon they 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, +although he had applied 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 conversation with Thugut, that the Empress +Ludovica, although, after Thugut's departure, she had sought +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 morning +of the 12th of October. Prince Lichtenstein had arrived in the first +place, and Count Bubna had come soon afterward. The emperor had gone +with the two diplomatists to his cabinet; they had left it several +hours afterward, and departed immediately. + +Count Metternich had likewise arrived at Totis, and repaired at once +to the emperor's rooms. The count ordered the footman in the +anteroom to announce him to his majesty, but the servant shook his +head with a polite smile. + +"It is unnecessary for me to announce your excellency," he said. +"His majesty ordered me to conduct your excellency at once to his +cabinet. Be so gracious, therefore, as to follow me, your +excellency." + +And he hastened, with a noiseless step, through the apartments: +Count Metternich followed him quickly, and an imperceptible sneer +played over his fine youthful face as he was walking through these +sumptuous rooms, whose deserted appearance was the best proof of the +precarious situation of the emperor. + +The footman stood now before the door of the imperial cabinet; after +waiting until his excellency had come close up to him, he opened +this door, and said, in a loud voice, "His excellency, Count +Metternich!" + +When the count entered the cabinet, the emperor was sitting 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 emperor's face was +more serene to-day than it had been for along time past; and, on +bowing deeply to his majesty, he asked himself what might be the +cause of this unusual serenity, and who might have brought the glad +tidings which had awakened so remarkable 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 there 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. + +"The Emperor of the French persists with stubborn petulancy in all +his demands, and refuses firmly to abate them." + +"Indeed, is Bonaparte so stubborn?" asked the emperor, kindly. "How +far have you advanced in your conferences with Minister Champagny?" + +"Your majesty, we have not advanced yet beyond the difficult +questions 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 Brunn, which her troops have not even +occupied up to this time." + +"That is to say, you have not advanced in your peace negotiations +beyond what both sides were willing to concede at the outset?" + +"Pardon me, your majesty. In the beginning of the negotiations we +were entirely ignorant of the demands of France, while we are +familiar 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, will be the upshot of your +peace negotiations?" + +"Will your majesty permit me to tell you the truth?" asked Count +Metternich, with his most winning smile. + +The emperor nodded his head. + +"Well then, your majesty, I believe that war will be the upshot of +all these peace negotiations. The demands of France are so +exorbitant that Austria cannot submit to them. Austria's HONOR will +compel 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 endanger not +only some of our territories, but our existence? Our armies are +disorganized, disheartened, and without a competent commander-in- +chief; and my distinguished brothers, who are at the head of the +different corps, are quarreling as though they were old women, and +not princes. Besides, money, the best general 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 people will +gladly sacrifice all their property for this purpose, for 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 people, if you want me to remain on good +terms with you. I have no people; I have subjects, and want only +subjects. [Footnote: Schlosser's "History of the Eighteenth +Century."] 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 presents, 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 the hands of his subjects, not even their love, for +it is the duty of the subjects to love their emperor. Bear this in +mind, count, and do not repeat again this new-fashioned word +'people;' I cannot bear it, it smells so much of the republic and +guillotine. Well, I have told you that, if we resumed hostilities, +we should be destitute of three very essential things, namely, a +good army, a great captain, and money. There is no doubt whatever +that we should lose the first battle again; and if we were compelled +then to sue for peace, Bonaparte would impose still more rigorous +terms upon us: we should be obliged to accept them, and should lose +both territories and honor. Now you know my views, count, and you +shall know also the principal reason why I sent for you. Look at +this paper. Do you know what it contains? The treaty of peace!" + +"The treaty of peace?" cried Metternich, in dismay. "Your majesty +does not mean to say--" + +"I mean to say that I have made peace with the Emperor 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? You have +already signed the treaty without being so gracious as to employ +your ministers or even inform them of it?" + +"Yes, I have, for I thought we needed peace; hence, I signed the +treaty, and Prince Lichtenstein and Count Bubna have taken a copy of +it to the headquarters of the Emperor Napoleon at Schoenbrunn, and I +believe he will sign it also. Well, do not look so dumbfounded, +count, and do not wonder any longer that I succeeded in making peace +without your assistance. I allowed you and Stadion to go on with the +negotiations, and did not prevent you from displaying your whole +diplomatic skill at Altenburg against Bonaparte's minister, +Champagny; 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 minister, 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 Austria, and that your 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, or--" + +"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 pursue." + +"That is right; I like to hear that kind of language!" exclaimed 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 peace 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 you know they are always the most important of all. +Pray return to me in an hour from now; we will then work together." + +"Sire, I shall be here punctually," said Count Metternich, bowing +deeply, and walking backward to the door. + +"I believe he WILL be here punctually," said the emperor, smiling, +after Metternich had left 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 master and emperor--I alone! Now I +am through with Metternich, and it is my brother's turn. I will give +him to-day a lesson which he will not forget all his life long." + +The emperor rang the bell. "Has my brother, the Archduke John, not +yet arrived?" he asked the footman who entered the room. + +"Your majesty, the archduke has just arrived, and is waiting 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 pale and sad; the +last months, full of care and grief, had gnawed deeply into his +soul, and deprived his eyes of their fire, and his form of its +youthful fulness. + +The emperor saw it, and a sardonic 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; hence, I sent for you. I wish to communicate +important news to you. The war is at an end. I have concluded peace +with the Emperor of the French." + +"Peace?" asked John, incredulously. "Your majesty condescends to +jest, and that is a good symptom of your majesty's excellent +health." + +"I never jest with you," said the emperor, 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 millions of franc." [Footnote: Napoleon signed the +treaty of Schoenbrunn on the 14th of October 1809.] + +"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 cannot be your +will--" + +"And why not? Why is it impossible?" asked the emperor, 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 insurrection 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 Tyrolese 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 cultivated; where +prosperity formerly reigned, there is now distress 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 des Vaches and the +merry Jodlers of the herdsmen, there are to be seen now only pale, +mournful invalids, tottering along painfully, and nothing is heard +but the booming of artillery and the lamentations of the +impoverished and starving mountaineers. And yet, despite all their +disasters and privations, the faithful Tyrolese stand firm, for +their hearts 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 compelled your troops to sheathe their +swords, the faithful and confiding Tyrolese continue 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 courageous 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 majesty 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 word to the Tyrolese, and never will an Emperor of +Austria break his word and incur the disgrace of perjuring himself." + +The emperor uttered a cry of rage, and, entirely forgetful of his +assumed calmness, rushed upon the archduke with flashing eyes and +uplifted 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, started back a few steps. "Your majesty," he +said, "I am sure you do not intend to insult your brother. 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 you." + +"The emperor would not give satisfaction to a rebel," said Francis, +dropping his arm slowly; "he would crush the rebel by a word, and +deliver the traitor into the hands of his judges." + +"Well, then, do so," exclaimed John; "punish me, let me expiate with +my blood the boldness with which I reminded you of the sacred +promise which you gave to the Tyrolese. But do 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 touchingly +in their emperor! 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 Hofer, and do not forget your solemn +promise that you would never consent to a treaty of peace that would +not forever incorporate 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 possible 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 +shrewd, brother," he said; "you think I myself should give you +permission to go to the Tyrol and play there, with redoubled +splendor, your part as savior and liberator of the province. You +think I am 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 revolutionist and rebel. You wanted to make yourself +sovereign of the Tyrol. That is the reason why you incited the +people 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 +fanaticism. 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 disappeared, and +poverty and starvation reign in the Tyrol? Well, then, all this 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 +understanding 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 Tyrol, 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 +emperor 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 liberty and for their emperor, and +that I will not incur the disgrace of having cheated a whole people +and abused their confidence 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 people to the executioner's axe. For, if you +withdraw your hand from the Tyrol, if you surrender it to the tender +mercies of the Bavarians 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 patient 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 +rebel, take my life, or sentence me to everlasting imprisonment, but +I cannot obey! I cannot write such a proclamation!" + +"I shall not punish you 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 and stipulated expressly, +give the fugitive Tyrolese, if they should succeed in crossing the +frontier, an asylum here in Austria, and protect them to the best of +my power; but I will deliver them as escaped criminals to their +legitimate sovereigns, that they may punish them according to their +deserts. Nor shall I, as I intended to do, stipulate in the treaty +of peace that the ancient constitution shall be confirmed and +guaranteed to the Tyrolese; nor shall I, finally, as I had resolved +to do, appoint a commission which will afford relief to the +fugitives who escape with their families to Austria. It will be your +fault if the poor Tyrolese are deprived of these boons, and you will +expose 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, uttered 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 his +eyes, wrote quickly a few lines. He then rose as pale as a corpse, +and, approaching the emperor slowly, handed the paper to him. + +"Your majesty," he said, solemnly, "I have complied with your order. +I inform the Tyrolese that peace has been concluded, 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 +executioners? Will you appoint an imperial commission which will +afford relief to the fugitives and their families?, And last, will +you see to it that the ancient constitution is guaranteed to the +Tyrolese in the treaty of peace you?" + +"I pledged you 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 ordered me to confirm this +intelligence to you. The emperor would have done every thing to +fulfil the wishes of the Tyrol, but, however 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 exhausted, 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 would 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 withdrawn 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 urgent 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? That is a violation of +subordination, for which the emperor, as supreme commander of his +army, would punish his rebellious general rigorously, but for the +fact that this general unfortunately is his brother. I repeat it, I +do not accept your resignation. You remain in the service; I demand +it as your general-in-chief; I remind you of the oath 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 I am in the habit of keeping my word, and as it is +disgraceful for any one to break his word and perjure himself, I +shall fulfil my oath. Hence, I shall obey my emperor and general-in- +chief, and not leave the service. 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 have something else to say to you, my dear brother," said +the 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 occasion, and myself." + +"What!" asked John, in surprise; "the Emperor Napoleon is aware of a +family secret of your majesty?" + +"As it concerns himself, he must 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 consort. But Napoleon, immediately after +his return from Germany, will annul this marriage, 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 between him and an archduchess of Austria. I +replied in the affirmative, and this agreement forms one of the +secret articles of the treaty of peace." + +"An archduchess of Austria is to become the consort of the French +despot!" cried John, in dismay. "And who, 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 "family secret" would burst his +head. + +"Your majesty," he said, in a tremulous and almost inaudible 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 Hudelist 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?" + +The emperor stepped quickly to the door and opened it. "What 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 forehead, which is +bleeding copiously." + +"Well, I hope it is only a slight scratch," said the emperor, +composedly. "Carry the archduke to his bedchamber and send for my +surgeon. I will afterward call on him myself." + +Without taking any further notice of the archduke, the emperor +returned into his cabinet and closed the door after him. + +"He fainted," said Francis, triumphantly. "Henceforth he shall be +entirely powerless. No one shall have any power here but myself. Ah, +I have broken his pride, bent his will, and prostrated him at my +feet. All my brothers shall bow to me, acknowledge me as their +master, and obey me. Ah, I believe I have played a bad trick on my +brothers. The Archduke John will not become Duke of Tyrol; the +Grand-duke Ferdinand of Wuertzburg will not be Emperor of Austria, +for Napoleon will 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 terror. 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 subjects of France and Bavaria?" + +And some, of the timid and disheartened sighed: "It is true! We read +so yesterday in the Innspruck Gazette, and the Viceroy of Italy has +sent two messengers through the Puster valley 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 Bonaparte; and if he has, he has +certainly not abandoned the Tyrol, but stipulated that we remain +with Austria; for he pledged us his word that we, should, and the +emperor will redeem his promise." + +"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 Andreas Hofer, so did Joachim +Haspinger, so did Anthony Wallner, Jacob Sieberer, and all the +intrepid commanders 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 Innspruck, and, on the 29th of October, the crown +prince Louis of Bavaria made his triumphal 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 intended 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 Muhlbach 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 dreadful +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 disastrous battle on Mount +Isel, and he sent messengers throughout 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 prince of Bavaria had sent to him hither two +plenipotentiaries, who informed him that peace had really been +concluded, and that the Tyrolese had no course left but submission. +But Andreas 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 pledged 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 returned to his room with a calm smile and went to +bed. + +In the dead of night, however, he was suddenly aroused from his +sleep. Cajetan Doeninger 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!" + +He dressed himself quickly and followed Doeninger into the room, +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 complaining; we must submit patiently to what +cannot be helped. The Emperor Francis has mane peace with France." + +"Do you sing in that strain too, Mr. Intendant?" asked Andreas, with +a mournful smile. "I shall never believe it until 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 white," exclaimed Baron von +Lichtenthurn, drawing a paper from his bosom and handing it to +Andreas. "Here is a letter from the Archduke John, which I am to +deliver to you." + +Hofer hastily seized the paper, which contained that proclamation +which the Archduke John had written at Totis, and read it again and +again 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 trembling 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 paper. Sir, how can you +say that this letter is from the Archduke John? Where is the seal? +Where is the address?" + +"Well, it is no private letter," said Baron von Lichtenthurn; "it is +an open letter, a proclamation, which I am instructed to show to +everybody in the Tyrol. 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 that the paper is from him. But, as it is, I +look upon it as a cunning device got up by the enemy to entrap me. +Arrest him; he must confess all. I will not allow myself to be +caught by cunning and treachery!" [Footnote: Andreas Hofer's own +words.--See Hormayr's "Andreas Hofer," vol. ii, p. 490.] + +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 intended to sell us to the +French." + +"No, he is an honorable man, and has told you the truth," said Baron +von Worndle, gravely. "Your violent accusation frightened him; and +he fell into an epileptic fit. He is affected with that disease." +[Footnote: Ibid.] + +He and some of the bystanders raised the unfortunate baron from the +ground, and carried him into the adjoining room. He then returned to +Andreas, who was walking up and down with a hasty step, and +murmuring to himself, "I cannot believe it! The Archduke John did +not write it. His hand would have withered while 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 Worndle in a low voice. "He had to consent that the Tyrol +should be restored to the French and Bavarians." + +"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?" + +"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 Tyrol: His majesty the Emperor of the French, +King of Italy, Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine, my +august father and sovereign, and his majesty, the Emperor of +Austria, have made peace. Peace, therefore, reigns everywhere around +you. You are the only people which does not enjoy its blessings. +Seduced by foreign instigations, you took up arms against your +government and overthrew it. The melancholy consequences of your +seditious course have overtaken you. Terror reigns now in your +towns, idleness and misery in your fields, and discord and disorder +are to be found in all parts of the country. His majesty the emperor +and king, profoundly moved by your wretched condition, 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 +complaints and grievances 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 are well-grounded. +Headquarters at Villach, October 25, 1809." + +"EUGENE NAPOLEON." [Footnote: Hormayr's "Andreas Hofer," vol. 1., p. +490.] + +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 last Doeninger 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 Doeninger, in his habitual +laconic style, pointing to the proclamation of the Archduke John. +"It is the archduke's handwriting; I am familiar with it. You need +no longer question its authenticity. Peace has been concluded." + +"Peace has been concluded, the emperor has abandoned his Tyrol, the +Tyrol is lost!" cried Andreas, in a loud outburst 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 country 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 countrymen?" + +"Yes, Andreas," said Baron von Worndle, "you can do a great deal for +the Tyrol and your countrymen. You can prevent bloodshed, soften the +vindictiveness of the enemy, and induce him to spare the vanquished +and wreak no revenge on the disarmed. Write a proclamation to the +Tyrolese, admonish 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 thereby save the +Tyrol from untold disasters, which will surely befall the country if +you resume hostilities against enemies who are a hundred times +superior to us. It is impossible for us to withstand them +successfully. Their columns, well provided with artillery, are +moving upon all sides, and the whole Tyrol, 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!" repeated Andreas Hofer, joyously. +"Well, then, I see that you are right, and that we have no course +left but submission. It is true, the emperor has abandoned us, but +the good God will still stand by 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 Doeninger. "It was he who wrote to +you yesterday from Innspruck, informing you of the conclusion of +peace, and promising that, if you and all 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 believed +in my emperor. 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, often +interrupted by sighs 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 were guided by a superior +power, which it was no longer permitted them to resist. + +"There," he said, after convincing himself that Doeninger had +written exactly what be 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 +written 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." [Footnote: "Gallery of Heroes: Andreas +Hofer," p. 173.] + +"Now come, Cajetan," he exclaimed, throwing down the pen, as if it +was a viper which had wounded him, "come, Cajetan. I will go to my +sharpshooters and exhort them to disband, and afterward I will +return with you to my inn in the Passeyr valley, in order to set a +good example to all, and show them how to submit quietly and +patiently." + +And Andreas Hofer 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 Doeninger, went back to his +home. + +But neither the joyous welcome, with which his wife, faithful Anna +Gertrude, received him, nor the jubilant shouts of his children, +could arouse Andreas Hofer from his mournful brooding, or bring a +smile to his lips. He did not rejoice at his return to his dear +ones; he paid no attention to his business, he did not go to the +stables and barns as he used to do; but he sat hanging his head, his +hands folded on his knees, staring at the floor, and sighing from +time to time, "My poor country! How could the emperor abandon us?" + +Only when Cajetan Doeninger was not with him, Andreas Hofer 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, "Cajetan, 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 official papers. Something else must come yet,-- +yes, something else. I know it, for this state of affairs cannot +last. Therefore, Cajetan, stay with me that you may be ready and +able to write when the hour has come." + +Cajetan stayed with him; both sat together in silence, and absorbed +in their gloomy reflections, and the days passed slowly and +mournfully. + +It was on the afternoon of the fifth day, and Andreas Hofer 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 as if my sharpshooters were marching up," he said. + +"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 +Hofer; and they shouted now, "Andreas Hofer, commander-in-chief of +the Tyrol, come with us, come!" + +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 shoulders. + +"What 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 soldiers are marching +across the Janfen. There is great excitement 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 Muhlbach 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 Passeyr 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 the French. +Will you do any thing or not?" + +"Yes, will you do any thing or not?" repeated the peasants, +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 well as for any +Frenchman. You commenced the insurrection, now put it through." +[Footnote: Loritza, "Bilder and Erinnerungen aus Tyrol's +Freiheitskampfen von 1809," p. 14.] + +"But you know, countrymen, that I cannot!" cried Hofer. "The emperor +has made peace with Bonaparte and abandoned us. What course have we +left but that of submission? We must yield, or the Tyrol will 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!" + +"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 Andreas 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 continue. We must +fight; we had better die than lead such a life. Go, Doeninger, go; +write a proclamation!" + +"Hurrah! Long live our commander-in-chief," shouted the peasants, +triumphantly; "long live our dear faithful Andreas Hofer!" + +"I thank you, my dear countrymen," said Andreas; "I 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 +resume war. I intended to submit humbly and patiently, but you would +not allow me to do so, and dragged me forcibly from my retirement. +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, and do not want to become French +subjects, and because we want to keep our God, our liberty, and our +constitution. Amen!" + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + +BETRAYAL AND SEIZURE OF HOFER. + + +War was now resumed at all points; but the 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 superior 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 followed, and +wails 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 oblivion 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 concealed 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 promised large rewards for the heads of the most +influential patriots; and the soldiers traversed the country, +impelled by thirst for revenge and gain, spying everywhere for the +outlawed mountaineers, and ascending even to the snow-clad summits +of the mountains in order to obtain the large rewards. As yet, +however, they had not succeeded in seizing one of the pursued +chiefs. The French generals had vainly promised a reward of ten +thousand florins for the apprehension of Andreas Hofer, and rewards +of five thousand florins for the seizure of Joseph Spechbacher, +Anthony Wallner, and Joachim Haspinger. They had disappeared, 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 chamois and vultures, which alone saw and knew +their hiding-places, there were no traitors. + +Retiring to his native valley, Andreas Hofer long eluded the search +of the victors. His place of concealment was a solitary Alpine hut, +four leagues distant from his home, in general inaccessible from the +snow which surrounded it. Love had accompanied Andreas to this +inhospitable spot. His wife and his son John were with him, and so +was Cajetan Doeninger, his faithful secretary. Love had accompanied +him to the Alpine hut of his friend Pfandler; love watched over him +in the valley below. Many peasants there were well aware of Hofer's +place of concealment, 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 sorts of provisions, wending +their way slowly and painfully up the snow-clad Alp; but they +averted their heads, as though they did not want to see anything, +and prayed God in a low tone to protect 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!" At times, on a +clear winter day, when thin smoke curled up suddenly from the Alp, +the peasants in the valley looked up sighingly and whispered +compassionately, "They have built a fire in their hut. The cold is +so severe. God bless them!" But whenever one whom they did not trust +stepped up to them, wondering at the smoke, and saying that somebody +was concealed up there, and had built a fire in order not to freeze +to death, the others 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 appeared 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, inasmuch as the severe cold did not +deter you from coming up to me." + +"Indeed I have good intentions toward you," said the messenger. "Do +you not know me, then, Andy? I am Anthony Steeger, 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, Anthony Steeger; come in to +my wife, my son, and my secretary." + +He conducted Anthony Steeger into the room, where the three greeted +him, and made room for him in front of the hearth, on which large +billets of wood were burning. Anthony Steeger looked around in this +wretched room, which contained nothing but 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 Andreas, +smilingly; "it is not very gorgeous here, but the good God is with +us, and He will help us to get along." + +"And the Archduke John will help you also," said Anthony Steeger. +"Listen to me, Andreas. The archduke sends me 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 in 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 +accept his invitation. I have with me every thing that is necessary +for your flight, Andy. The archduke has given me money, a passport +for you and your family, and safeguards issued 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 he +should like to take care of me and reward my love. And it is very +kind in 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 dangerous flight." + +"And you accept my offer, Andy, and consent to accompany me, do you +not?" + +"And what of them?" asked Andreas, casting a tender glance on his +wife and his son. "The route across the glaciers is impassable for a +woman and a child." + +"First save yourself, my Andy," exclaimed Anna Gertrude; "save +yourself for us and the country. After you are gone and have arrived +at a place of safety, the enemy will hardly 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 Doeninger. "I will not leave them, but bring them +to you." + +"Pray do not hesitate, Andy," said Anthony Steeger, urgently. "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 your 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 off 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 everyone knows me throughout the +Tyrol? No, Anthony Steeger, I will never do that!" + +"If you do not, Andreas, you are lost," said Anthony Steeger. "I am +afraid the French are already on your track. A peasant said he had +seen you up here the other day." + +"Yes, it was Raffel. He came up here to look for his cow, and met me +here. But I gave him money not to betray my secret, and he promised +me solemnly that be would not." + +"He must have violated his pledge already, Andy; for he told Donay, +the priest, about it, and the latter boasted publicly yesterday that +he was aware of Andreas Hofer's place of concealment." + +"It is true, Donay is a bad and mean man," said Andreas Hofer, +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 Doeninger. "The magnitude of +the price set on your head will induce him to betray his +benefactor." + +"Andy," cried Anna Gertrude, bursting into tears, and clinging to +her husband, "save yourself! If you love me and the children, save +yourself; cut off your beard, put on the new suit of clothes, and +escape from your bloodthirsty enemies. Save yourself, for the sake +of your wife and your poor children!" + +"I cannot," said Andreas, mournfully, embracing his wife tenderly; +"no, so help me God, I cannot leave my dear, unhappy 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 captain does not desert his shipwrecked vessel, but dies with +it; and thus I 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 archduke, Anthony Steeger, and tell him also that I am very +grateful to him for wishing to save me in his way, and that I hope +he will not be angry with me for being unable to accept his kind +offer, or for wishing to live and die with my country. If he wishes +to do any thing for me, let him go to the Emperor 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." [Footnote: "Gallery of Heroes: Andreas Hofer," p. 188.] + +"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 Steeger, accept my cordial thanks +for your kind and generous intentions." + +"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 Doeninger 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 convey 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 Alpine 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 to tell you," he whispered, +in a low voice. "I must stay here to save my wife and 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 concealment and revenge himself upon them; he would torture and +kill them in his rage at not having captured me. But if I stay, and +the French should find me, I believe they would release my wife and +my son 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!" + +He nodded once more kindly to Anthony Steeger. and returned quickly +into the Alpine 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. Doeninger 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, mildly, "did I do right?" + +"Yes, commander-in-chief, you did," said Doeninger, solemnly. + +"I want to tell you something more, Cajetan," added Andreas. "What +Steeger said about Rafel and Donay may be true; the French may have +discovered my place of concealment, and may come up here. Hence, +dear Cajetan, you must leave me and escape, lest they should seize +you, too." + +"A good servant leaves his master no more than a captain deserts his +shipwrecked vessel," said Doeninger, firmly. "You refuse to leave +your native country in its adversity because you love it. I refuse, +likewise, to leave you in the days of your adversity, because I love +you. I shall stay here." + +Andreas Hofer encircled Doeninger with his arms and folded him +tenderly to his heart. "Stay with me, then, my Cajetan," he said, +affectionately. "God knows my heart would have 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 Alpine hut at no great distance from here; I believe we +will be able to get thither, and we will take with us as many things +as we can carry. Make haste, therefore, dear Anna Gertrude!" + +Anna Gertrude dried her tears, and, flushed 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 +hut. 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 articles +necessary for the trip on the morrow. Hofer and his wife slept in +the room below. Cajetan Doeninger and little John Hofer lay in the +small hay-loft, to which a ladder led up from the room. + +But Doeninger did not sleep. He thought all the while of Raffel, who +had come up there three days ago and seen Andreas; he thought of +Donay, the priest, to whom Raffel 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 suddenly, 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 Andreas 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 Doeninger felt +somewhat relieved, for day would soon dawn, when the hour of flight +would be at hand. Doeninger 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 approaching footsteps which creaked on the frozen +snow. + +Doeninger crept cautiously to the small hole in the roof and looked +out. The moon shed her pale light on the white snowfield around the +hut, and Doeninger could see and recognize everything. He saw a +detachment of soldiers coming up yonder. He saw them halt at a short +distance from the hut. 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; Doeninger recognized him at once; it was +Raffel, the betrayer. The other was a French officer. The latter +stood still at a distance of some steps from the hut, but Raffel +went close up to the door, applied his ear 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 "Forward!" The +soldiers advanced and surrounded the hut. All was lost! + +Doeninger 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; "they want to arrest my father!" + +"Come," said Doeninger, 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 enemy has come." + +Andreas started up and stared incredulously at Doeninger; but his +wife rose, uttering low lamentations, and dressed herself hurriedly. + +"Let us flee," she murmured; "quick, quick, let us escape by the +back door." + +"The hut is surrounded," said Doeninger, assisting Hofer in +dressing. "We can no longer flee." + +"Is that true?" asked Andreas, calmly. + +"It is, commander-in-chief." + +"Well, then, as it pleases God," said Hofer, crossing himself; and, +traversing the room quickly, he opened the front door. + +The soldiers stood four files deep, shouldering their muskets. +Andreas advanced fearlessly close up to the enemy. + +"Is there one of you, gentlemen, who speaks German?" he asked, with +entire calmness. + +"I do," said the officer, stepping 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 treatment." + +"I cannot promise any thing to a rebel," replied the officer, +contemptuously. + +"But you have come to seize me, and none but me," continued 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 entirely innocent." [Footnote: Andreas Hofer's own +words. See "Gallery of Heroes."] + +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 escape. + +The soldiers 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. And after binding +Andreas Hofer, so that they were no longer afraid of his strong +arms, they surrounded him with scornful laughter, tore handfuls of +hair from his beard, and said they would keep them "as souvenirs of +General Barbone." Blood streamed from his lacerated face, but the +cold froze it and transformed the gory beard into a blood red +icicle, which 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 mountain, which was covered with +snow and ice, into the plain below. 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 complain; but on hearing the low wails of his 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 generals, staff- +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 Andreas Hofer and the others +entered the city, preceded by a band which played a ringing march. +The French were overjoyed, but the citizens stood in front of their +houses, and, regardless of the presence of their cruel enemies, +greeted Andreas Hofer with tears and loud lamentations. + +The journey was continued on the following day to Botzen; only the +prisoners, whose bleeding and lacerated feet refused to carry them +any longer, had been laid on a common 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 Baraguay 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 she pleaded. + +"The viceroy's orders," he said, "are only to the effect 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 herself 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 as I +said. My seizure releases my wife and my child, and relieves them +from all dangers." + +"But I will not leave you," cried Anna Gertrude, embracing him +tenderly; "I will stay and die with you." + +"And is our son yonder to die too?" asked Andreas, pointing to his +boy. "And our three little girls, are they to become entirely +helpless, and have neither father nor mother to protect 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, +bring 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 children, be father and mother to them, and +love them in my and your name." + +At this moment 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 have no longer any business here. Come, Andreas Hofer, +come!" + +"Let me first bless my wife and my son, my 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. +Doeninger 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 offering to the crucified Redeemer, and show now that you are +Hofer's wife. Farewell, love! Kiss our children! Forward now!" + +And he led the way with a rapid step. Anna Gertrude, pale as a +corpse, trembling and tottering, seized her son's hand and rushed +after her husband. Cajetan Doeninger followed them resolutely and +with a defiant expression of countenance. + +At the street-door stood the farm-wagon, covered with straw, which +was to convey Andreas Hofer to Mantua. Ten soldiers with loaded +muskets stood upon it, and a crowd of soldiers surrounded it. + +Andreas Hofer walked calmly and with head erect through 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. + +Andreas Hofer had now ascended the wagon. The soldiers stepped back, +and the driver whipped up the horses. + +Suddenly, Cajetan Doeninger elbowed his way to the wagon, and signed +to the driver to stop. + +"I shall accompany Hofer," he said, grasping the side-railing of the +wagon in order to mount it. + +"No, no," cried the jailer, hastening to him. "You are mistaken, you +are free." + +Doeninger, still clinging to the railing 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 pleases.'" + +"Well, then," said Doeninger, mounting the wagon, quickly, "the +young man will accompany Andreas Hofer to Mantua. Forward, driver, +forward!" + +The driver whipped up the horses, and the wagon started for Mantua. +[Footnote: Donay, the priest who betrayed Andreas Hofer, according +to the general belief of the Tyrolese, was soon afterwards appointed +imperial chaplain at the chapel of Loretto, by a special decree of +the Emperor Napoleon, and received, besides, large donations in +lands and money.--See Hormayr's "Andreas Hofer," vol. ii., p. 507.-- +The peasant Francis Joseph Raffel, who had betrayed Hofer's place of +concealment to Donay, was afterward called Judas Iscariot throughout +the Tyrol. Every one turned his back upon him with the utmost +horror, and the men of the Passeyr valley told him they would shoot +him if he did not hang himself within a week. Raffel fled in great +dismay to Bavaria, where the government gave him a small office in +the revenue department--See "Gallery of Heroes; Andreas Hofer," p. +191.] + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + +THE WARNING. + + +The French hunted throughout the Tyrol for the unfortunate men who +had hitherto been the heroes of the fatherland, 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 disappeared. 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 +Haspinger and Anthony Wallner. [Footnote: Speckbacher had fled to +the higher mountains, where, on one of the summits of the +Eisgletscher, in a cavern discovered by him in former times when +pursuing the chamois, he lay for several weeks in the depth of +winter, supported by salt provisions, eaten raw, lest the smoke of a +fire should betray his place of concealment to his pursuers. +Happening one day, in the beginning of March, to walk to the +entrance for a few minutes to enjoy the ascending 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 unconquerable energy of his mind and the incorruptible +fidelity of his friends saved him from destruction. Summoning up all +his courage, he contrived to drag himself 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 Rinn, where his +wife and children were, and where Zoppel, his devoted domestic, +concealed him in a hole in the cowhouse, beneath where the cattle +stood, though beyond the reach of their 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 +case, were in the stable looking after their horses. Zoppel did not +even inform Speckbacher's wife of her Husband's return, lest her +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 house, Speckbacher was lifted from his +living grave and restored to his wife and children. As soon as he +was able to walk, he set out, and, journeying chiefly in the night, +through the wildest and most secluded Alps, by Dux and the sources +of the Salza, he passed the Styrian Alps, where he crossed the +frontier and reached Vienna in safety. There he was soon after +joined by his family and liberally provided for. + +Haspinger succeeded in escaping into Switzerland, whence he +travelled by cross-paths through Friuli and Carinthia to Vienna, +where he received protection from the emperor.] + +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 French authorities. But Wallner and his two sons, who, +although hardly above the age of boyhood, had seemed to the French +authorities so dangerous that they had set prices upon their heads, +were not to be found anywhere. Schroepfel, Wallner's faithful +servant, had taken the boys into the mountains, where he stayed with +them; after nightfall he went down to Matrey to fetch provisions for +the lonely fugitives. + +Anthony Wallner's fine 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 Haspinger for her father's headquarters. Elza had +remained with her young husband in Innspruck, where her father died +on the following day; and after 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 tenderness to her +beloved friend, and these letters were the only sunbeams which +illuminated Eliza's cheerless life; these letters 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 paler 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 deeply, "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 desires. 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 share his dangers, I cannot be with him in the +dreadful solitude on the Alp above. I must look on in idleness, and +cannot 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 myself am in +despair, and would--what was that, mother? Did not some one knock at +the window-shutter?" + +"Hush, hush!" whispered her mother; "let us listen." + +They listened with bated breath. Eliza had not been mistaken; 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 good 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 Siebermeier?" asked Eliza, anxiously, +gazing into the mountaineer's pale and dismayed face. + +"Unfortunately 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 save 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." + +"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 members of the court, +informed me quite stealthily that, if Aichberger 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! 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 +through 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 Bavarians, in my side here, prevents me from +ascending the mountain-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 mountains." + +"But neither of the boys is here," said Mrs. Wallner, despairingly; +"Schroepfel took them to the Alpine but 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 excitement. "I +will go up to father. I will warn him of his danger, carry him the +passport, and flee with him." + +"You!" cried her mother, in dismay. "It is impossible! You cannot +ascend the road, which is almost impassable even 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, +mournfully, 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 accomplished anything!" + +"And the enemy acts with merciless cruelty in the country," said +Siebermeier, furiously; "he sets whole villages on fire if he thinks +that one of the fugitives is concealed here; he 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 the windows as if to warn us not to +go out. Oh, Lizzie, my last joy, do not leave 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 are a brave girl," said Siebermeier, profoundly 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 her hand on her head. + +"Lord, my God," she exclaimed, solemnly, "protect her graciously in +her pious effort to save her father. Take your mother's blessing, my +Lizzie, and think that her heart and love accompany you." + +She bent over her, and imprinted 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. "Farewell, friend Siebermeier; God and +the saints will reward 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 encircled her +mothers 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 +should 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 room, +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 bowling storm dashed madly against her cheeks until they became +very sore, but the moon was in the heavens and lighted her path. It +was the same path which she had ascended with Ulrich when saving +him. She was alone now, but her courage and her trust in God were +with her; strengthened and refreshed by her love for her father, she +ascended the steep mountain 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 +barrow path into the abyss yawning at her feet. At times avalanches +rolled close to her with thundering noise into the depth and +enveloped her in a cloud of snow; but the moon shed her silver light +on her path, and Eliza looked up courageously. + +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 but shook and he was unable to sleep on +his couch of straw. He had lighted his lamp, and sat musingly at the +pine table, leaning his head on his hand, and brooding mournfully +over his dreary future. How long would he have to remain herein his +open grave? How lone would he be chased yet, like a wild beast, from +mountain to mountain? How long would he be obliged yet to lead an +idle and unprofitable life in this frozen solitude, exposed 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 grief 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 was not saved, the French +defeated us, and our emperor abandoned 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 away 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 heaven? Thou-- +Hark! 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 knocking at the door; no, it was assuredly 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 rushed in, embraced +him tenderly, kissed him with his cold lips, and whispered, "My +father! thank God, I am with you!" + +"It is Lizzie!" cried Wallner, in a ringing voice. "She has come +tome 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 her tenderly +and anxiously to his heart; "I thank God for saving you, and--" + +He faltered and burst into tears, 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- +morrow morning the French are going to occupy the mountain in order +to arrest you. That is the reason 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 passport." + +"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 I 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 passport 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 the. Therefore, come, dear father; do not hesitate +any longer, but come with your little boy. You cannot flee without +me; therefore, let us try it courageously together." + +"Well, I will do so, my brave little boy; I 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 put 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, but 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 without 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 attempt, 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 already in the +eastern 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, Eliza glanced around anxiously, 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 morning we shall continue the journey, and, if it +please God, we shall reach the Austrian frontier within three +hours." + +And they descended the mountain, hand in hand and with firm steps, +and entered the forest. + +Nothing 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 shed already its golden rays through the forest. + +"I would we had passed through the thicket and reached the heights +again," said Anthony Wallner, in a low voice. "We were obliged to +descend in order to pass round the precipice and the steep slope; we +shall afterwards ascend the mountain again and remain on the +heights. But if the soldiers from Windisch-Matrey meet us here, we +are lost, for they know me and will not pay any attention to my +passport." + +"God will not permit them to meet us," sighed Lizzie, accelerating +her steps. They kept silent a long while, and not a sound was to be +heard around them. All at once both gave a start, for they had heard +the noise of heavy footsteps and the clang of arms. They had just +passed through the clearing in the forest and were now again close +to the thicket, by the side of which there was a small chapel with a +large crucifix. They turned and looked back. + +"The enemy! the enemy!" cried Anthony Wallner, pointing 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 resistance!" + +"No, we are not yet lost, father; look at the chapel. Maybe they +leave not yet seen us. Let us enter the chapel quickly. There is +room enough for us two under the altar." + +Without giving her father time to reply, Eliza hastened into the +chapel and disappeared behind the altar. In a second Wallner was +with her, and, clinging close to each other and with stifled breath, +they awaited the arrival of the enemy. + +Now they heard footsteps approaching rapidly and voices shouting out +aloud. They came nearer and nearer, and were now close to the +chapel. It was a Bavarian patrol, and the 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 exhorted each other to look diligently for the +fugitives, and alluded to the reward which awaited them in case they +should arrest Anthony Wallner. + +Both lay under the altar with hearts throbbing impetuously, and +almost senseless from fear and anguish; Eliza murmuring a prayer +with quivering lips; Anthony Wallner 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. Wallner and Lizzie heard only +footsteps and voices outside, they moved away farther and farther, +and after a few seconds not a sound broke the silence. + +The fugitives lay still behind the altar, motionless, listening, +with hearts throbbing impetuously. Could they dare to leave their +place 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 benumbed 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 jumping 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 in all +directions. But every thing remained silent, and not a Bavarian +soldier made his appearance. + +"They are gone, indeed they are gone," said Wallner, triumphantly. +"Now we must 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 overwhelms 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 wanderers--to +enable them to cross abysses on frail bridges; to prevent them from +sinking into invisible clefts and pits covered 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 +up to them. + +"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 +corresponds 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." + +"See, see how lucky 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 Bavarians, 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 wanderers 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 from his pocket. "I will read something to you now," he +said. "There were Bavarian 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." [Footnote: Loritza, p. 130.] + +"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 believe he is hiding +somewhere in the mountains near Windisch-Matrey. But I think I +resemble him a little, for you are not the first man who has taken +me for Anthony Wallner. And that the lad there is not 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 heard the front door 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!" cried Wallner, stamping 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 jump out of the window." + +"But did you not see, Lizzie, that the house stands on a slope, and +that a staircase 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 must 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 weary limbs +would carry them. + +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 wanderers continued their journey +with undaunted hearts. + +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 shouts and imprecations. But Wallner and Eliza +likewise rushed forward like roes hunted down. They panted heavily, +the piercing storm almost froze their faces, their feet bled, but +they continued their flight at a rapid 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 journey of the preceding +day. + +The distance between pursuers and pursued rapidly diminished; +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 Bavarians, 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 them, 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 +entirely. + +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 them. They did +not speak, but advanced breathlessly and hand in hand. 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 +windows 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 room, 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!" + +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!" + +"No, he is not dead," said the officer; "the excitement and fatigue +have produced a swoon. He will soon be restored to consciousness and +get over it. Careful nursing shall not be wanting to Anthony Wallner +in my house." + +He had prophesied correctly. Anthony Wallner awoke again, and seemed +to recover rapidly under the kind nursing of his host and his +daughter. + +They remained two days at the custom-house on the frontier. 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 manifestations 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, he 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 much 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 words. + +"I am afraid he has got the nervous fever," said Baron Engenberg, +who was conveying Wallner and Eliza in his carriage from the last +station to Vienna. "It will be necessary for us to take him at once +to a hospital." + +"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 I shall be there to close his eyes." + +And it was Eliza that closed her father's eyes. The violent 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 persons 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 father. + +On the day after the funeral the Emperor Francis sent one of his +chamberlains to Eliza, to induce her to remain in Vienna. He would +provide for her bountifully, and reward her for what her father had +done. The chamberlain was also instructed 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 He will also +provide for me. I cannot see the emperor, for my heart is too deeply +afflicted. 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 grateful 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 chamberlain. "The +emperor has interceded in your behalf and obtained this safeguard +for you in case you wished to return to your native country. No one +will molest you, and you and your family can live quietly at your +home." + +"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." +[Footnote: Eliza Wallner returned to Windisch-Matrey, and lived +there in quiet retirement. She never married. After the death of her +mother she yielded to Joachim Haspinger's entreaties and went to +live at his house. The Capuchin was ordained and appointed pastor of +Jotelsee, and afterward of Traunfeld. Eliza lived with him as his +adopted daughter, and was still with him at the time of his death, +which took place in 1856, at Salzburg.--See Sehallhammer's "Joachim +Haspinger," p. 184.] + + + + +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 decision unanimously; several +members had voted for long confinement, 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 +Teimer 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. + +Commissioners of the military authorities, therefore, entered +Andreas Hofer's cell on the 21st of February, and informed 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 here. 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," replied +Hofer, musingly. "In the first place, I wish to see once more my +dear Cajetan Doeninger, 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 receive my +confession, 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 perhaps 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 Doeninger 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 noblest and best man like a +criminal?" + +"Hush, hush, Cajetan," said Andreas, gently, pressing Doeninger +tenderly to his heart; "do not scold, but submit as I do. I die +gladly, for it is better that I should sacrifice myself for my +native country than that others should die for my sake, or for the +fatherland." [Footnote: Hofer's own words--See "Gallery of Heroes: +Andreas Hofer," p. 195.] + +"Oh, would that I could die for you!" sobbed Doeninger; "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 request?" + +"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 Doeninger; 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 paper, 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 serene calmness and +peace beamed from his face, and he dictated 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 be 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 moment, when I shall ascend to that eternal +dwelling-place where my soul will rejoice for evermore with all the +chosen spirit! and where I shall pray for all, and particularly for +those to whom I owe my intercession; above all, for you, too, and +your dear wife, on account of the book which you presented to me. +and of other kind acts. Let all my dear friends and acquaintances +pray for me too, and help me to rise from the devouring flames, when +I have to expiate my sins in purgatory. My beloved wife, Anna +Gertrude, is to have masses read for me at St. Martin's Zum +rosenfarbnen Blut. She shall have prayers read in both of the +parish-churches, 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 have 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 instructions. He will +make all necessary dispositions. Let all the inhabitants of Passeyr, +and all my acquaintances remember 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! Dying +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." +[Footnote: "Gallery of heroes: Andreas Hofer," p. 197.] + +"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, whom you loved in this +life. I will set out on my last journey in the Lord's name." +[Footnote: "Gallery of Heroes."] + +"I thank you, Cajetan, for rendering me this last service," said +Andreas, kindly. "And now, my dear friend, let us take leave of each +other. The confessor will be 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, pressing +Doeninger'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, therefore, that I am going into battle +to-day too, and that it is better 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 Doeninger, who obeyed them in silence, as if +stunned by his terrible grief. [Footnote: Cajetan Doeninger was +taken immediately after Hofer's execution, from his 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 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 always 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 vain. Better times will +dawn upon my beloved Tyrol, and one day it will be again a free +German country. Tell them to hope and believe in this prediction." + +On the broad bastion, a little distance from the Porta Ceresa, the +grenadiers formed a square, open in the rear. Andreas 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 remind you of Andreas Hofer. Inform +my wife that I suffered death joyously, and that I know we shall +meet again above. You promised me to do so, and you will redeem your +promise, reverend father, will you not?" + +"Certainly I will, my beloved, pious son," said Manifesti; and with +tears in his eyes he embraced and blessed Andreas Hofer for the last +time. [Footnote: Manifesti redeemed his promise. He sent to the +Tyrol the following letter regarding Hofer's death: + +MANTOVA, li 21, Febrajo, 1810. "Ieri poco primo del mezzo giorno e +stato fueillato il Signore Andreas Hofer, gia commandante del +Tirolo. Dalla commissione militare, che l'ha sententiato, fu +invitato ad assisterio, e sebbene fossi convalescente per una +maladia pocchi giorno avanti sofferta, ho volonteri assento +l'impegno, e con somma mia consolazione ed edificatione ho ammirato +un uomo, che e andato alla morte d'un eroe Christiano a l'ha +sostenuto di martire intrepido. Egli con tutta segretezza mi ha +consegnata una carta di somma importanza per l'orfona sua famiglia +incaricando mi dirigerla a V. Sig. Rio M.--Sono con perfetta stima, +"Di V. S. Rio M." + "Divotissimo," + "GIOV. BATT. (AROIPRETE) 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 I had recovered but a few days since from sickness, I +gladly complied with the request, 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 the highest importance to his +family," &c.--See Hormayr's "Lebensbilder," vol. i. p. 224.] + +The priest thereupon left the square, while twelve men and a +corporal stood forth with loaded muskets. The corporal offered 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 imperiously. "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 was commander-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 fired. + +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. +[Footnote: Hofer's remains were buried in Manifesti's garden. A +simple slab on his grave bore the following inscription: "Qui giace +la apoglia del fu Andrea Hofer, detto il Generale Barbone, +commandants 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 Hofer, called General +Barbone, commander-in-chief of the Tyrolese militia, shot in this +for tress on the 20th of February, 1810, and buried in this place.") +Fourteen years afterward Hofer's remains were disinterred by three +Austrian officers, who had obtained Manifesti's consent, and +conveyed to Botzen. The Emperor Francis gave orders to transfer them +to Innspruck, where they were buried in the church of the +Franciscans by the side of the monument of the Archduke Ferdinand +and his beloved Philippina Welser.--See Hormayr's "Andreas Hofer," +vol. ii., p. 539.] + +This occurred on the 20th of February, 1810; and on the same day on +which Andreas Hofer was shot at Mantua, because 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 Archduchess +Maria Louisa, the emperor's daughter, was the affianced bride of the +Emperor Napoleon! + + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Andreas Hofer, by Lousia Muhlbach + diff --git a/3666.zip b/3666.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b6aa526 --- /dev/null +++ b/3666.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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