andreas hofer-第76节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


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
acc