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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 more； his forehead and face colored；
and a smile illuminated his hard features。
〃Listen； men；〃 he exclaimed triumphantly； waving the paper as though
it were a flag； 〃listen to what Andreas writes to me！〃 And the friar
read in a clarion voice：
〃Dear brother Red…beard！ Beloved Father Joachim Haspinger： You know；
brother； that all has been in vain； the Austrians are evacuating the
country； and the emperor； or rather not the emperor； but his
ministers and secretaries； stipulated in the armistice concluded
with Bonaparte； that the French and Bavarians should re…enter the
Tyrol and recommence the infamous old system。 But I think； even
though the emperor has abandoned us； God Almighty will not do so；
and even though the Austrian soldiers are crossing our frontiers；
our mountains and glaciers remain to us； God placed them there to
protect our frontiers； and He gave us strong arms and good rifles
and keen eyes to discern the enemy and hit him。 We are the
inhabitants of the Tyrol； and the Austrian soldiers are not； hence
it is incumbent on us to protect our frontiers； and prevent the
enemy from invading our territory。 If you are of my opinion； gather
about you as many brave sharpshooters as you can； call out the
Landsturm where it is possible； tell the other commanders to do the
same； and advance； if possible； at once toward the Brenner； where I
hope you will meet me or hear further news from me。 Joseph
Speckbacher did not leave the country either； he is enlisting
sharpshooters and calling out the Landsturm in his district。 It is
the Lord's will that the Tyrol be henceforth protected only by the
Tyrolese。 Bear this in mind； and go to work。Your faithful Andreas
Hofer； at present not knowing where he is。〃 ＇Footnote： Andreas Hofer
signed all his letters and orders in this strange manner while he
was concealed in his cave。＇
〃Well；〃 asked the friar； exultingly； 〃do you think that Andreas
Hofer is right； and that we ought not to allow the enemy to re…enter
the country？〃
〃I think he is；〃 said Peter Kemnater； joyously。 〃I think it will be
glorious for us to expel the French and Bavarians once more from our
frontiers。〃
〃Or； if they have already crossed them； drive them ignominiously
from the country；〃 added Peter Mayer。
〃I have passed； during the last few days； through the whole of
Puster valley；〃 said Martin Schenk。 〃Everywhere I found the men
determined to die； rifle in hand； on the field of battle； rather
than stay peaceably at home and bend their necks before the enemy。
'It is a misfortune；' said the men； 'that the Austrians are
abandoning us at this critical juncture； but it would be a greater
misfortune still for us to abandon ourselves and consent to
surrender at discretion。'〃
〃And I say it is no misfortune at all that the Austrians have left
us；〃 cried the Capuchin； vehemently。 〃The cause of the fatherland
has not suffered much by the retreat of the Austrians。 Who assisted
us at the battle of Mount Isel？ Who helped us to drive the enemy
twice from the country？ Not an Austrian did！ We accomplish