andreas hofer-第78节

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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　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　mus