andreas hofer-第88章

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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