andreas hofer-第87章

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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　thingfor　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　g