Part 43 (2/2)
”I am likewise loth to believe that the Emperor Francis would forsake us,” said Anthony Steeger, nodding his head approvingly.
”For the emperor loves us, and will not allow us to fall into the hands of the infidel Bonaparte, who has just committed another outrage by arresting the Holy Father in Rome and dragging him away from his capital.”
”Well, the Holy Father excommunicated him for this outrage,” cried Andreas Hofer, with flas.h.i.+ng eyes; ”he called down the wrath of G.o.d and man on the head of the Anti-christ, and rendered it inc.u.mbent on every pious Christian to wage war against the criminal who laid his ruthless hands even upon the holy Church, and trampled under foot him whom the Almighty has anointed. Anthony Steeger, let me tell you, I will not allow the French to return to our country, and never will I permit the Austrians to evacuate the Tyrol.”
”And how will you prevent them from so doing?” asked Anthony Steeger, shrugging his shoulders.
”I said to-day how I and all of us are going to prevent it. We shall not suffer the Austrians to depart; we shall keep them here by prayers, stratagems, or force. I have given instructions to all the commanders to do so; I have given them written orders which they are to communicate to our other friends, and in which I command them not to permit the departure of the Austrians. I believe I am commander- in-chief as yet, and they will obey my bidding.”
”If they can do it, Andy, they certainly will; but what if they cannot? What if the Austrians cannot be kept here by prayers or stratagem?”
”In that case we must resort to force,” cried Hofer impetuously. ”We must compel them to stay here; the whole Tyrol must rise as one man and with its strong arms keep the Austrians in the country. Yes, yes, Anthony, we must do it; it will be best for us all. It must look as though we detain the Austrians by force, and this will be most agreeable to the Emperor Francis; for what fault of his is it that the Tyrolese prevent him from carrying out what he promised to Bonaparte in the armistice? It is not his fault, then, if the Austrians stay here, and if we prevent them from leaving our mountains. We must detain them, we must. And I will write immediately to old Red-beard, Father Haspinger, Joseph Speckbacher, and Anthony Wallner. I will summon them to a conference with me, and we will concert measures for a renewed rising of the Tyrol. Give me pen and ink, Tony; I will write in the first place to old Red-beard, and your Joe shall take the letter this very night to his convent.”
Anthony Steeger hastened to bring him what he wanted, and while Hofer scrawled the letter, his friend stood behind him, and followed with attentive eyes every word which Andreas finished with considerable difficulty.
Both were so much absorbed in the letter that they did not perceive that the door opened behind them, and that Baron von Hormayr, in a dusty travelling-dress, entered the room. For a moment he stood still at the door and cast a searching glance on the two men; he then advanced quickly toward Andreas Hofer, and, laying his hand on his shoulder, he said: ”Well, Andy, what are you writing there?”
Andreas looked up, but the unexpected arrival of the baron did not seem to excite his surprise. ”I am writing to old Red-beard,” he said; ”I am writing to him that he is to come to me immediately. And after finis.h.i.+ng the letter to old Red-beard, I will write the same thing to Speckbacher and Anthony Wallner, Mr. Intendant of the Tyrol.”
”Do not apply that t.i.tle to me any longer, Andy,” said Hormayr, with a slight frown. ”I am no longer intendant of the Tyrol, for you know that we must leave the Tyrol and restore it to the French and Bavarians.”
”I for one do not know it, Mr. Intendant of the Tyrol,” cried Andreas, with an angry glance. ”I know only that the Archduke John appointed you military intendant of the Tyrol, and that you took a solemn oath to aid us in becoming once more, and remaining, Austrians.”
”I think, Andy, I have honestly redeemed my pledges,” said Hormayr.
”I a.s.sisted you everywhere to the best of my power, was always in your midst, encouraging, organizing, fighting, and mediating; and I think you will admit that I had likewise my little share in the deliverance of the Tyrol, and proved myself one of its good and faithful sons.”
”Well, yes, it is true,” murmured Hofer; ”you did a great deal of good, and, above all things, you gained over to our side the Austrian generals, who would not have anything to do with us peasants, and refused to make common cause with us; for you possess a very eloquent tongue, and what can be accomplished by means of the tongue you do accomplish. But now, sir, the tongue will no longer suffice, and we must fight also with the sword.”
”G.o.d forbid, Andy!” exclaimed Hormayr; ”you know that the emperor has concluded an armistice with Bonaparte, and while it lasts we are not allowed to fight with the sword.”
”The emperor has concluded an armistice? Well, then, let there be an armistice. But you will not confine yourself to an armistice--you intend to evacuate the Tyrol. That seems to me no fair armistice, and therefore I shall summon old Red-beard, and my other faithful friends, and concert with them measures to prevent you from concluding such an unfair armistice, and forsaking us.”
”And Andy is right in doing so!” exclaimed Anthony Steeger. ”We must not permit the Austrians to leave the province, and we are firmly resolved that we will not.”
”You are fools, both of you,” said Hormayr, shrugging his shoulders.
”The Emperor Francis agreed positively that the Austrian troops should evacuate the Tyrol during the armistice; hence, the troops must leave, lest the emperor should break his word.”
”But if they do, the emperor breaks the word he pledged to us,”
cried Anthony Steeger, vehemently.
”Anthony Steeger,” said Hormayr, sternly, ”I have come hither to have an interview with Andreas Hofer, to whom I wish to communicate something of great importance. Therefore, be so kind as to withdraw, and leave me alone with him.”
”I believe Andy does not want to keep any thing secret from me, and I might, therefore, just as well stay here. Say, Andy, is it not so?”
”It is. Speak, Mr. Intendant; Tony may hear it all.”
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