andreas hofer-第26章

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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；　andLook！　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　frontie