andreas hofer-第25节

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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　wifeI　ask　you　before　God　and　your　consciencewould　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；　andGertrude；　I　am　not　ashamed　of　itI
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　mana　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；　a