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bronzed cheeks into his red beard。
〃Great God in heaven；〃 he murmured in a voice tremulous with
emotion； 〃I thank Thee for letting me see this hour； and hear the
soul…stirring words of these patriotic men。 What can I say now； what
have I to sacrifice to the fatherland？ I have no wife； no children；
no property； I am but a poor Capuchin！ I have nothing but my blood
and my life。 But I will give it to the country； even though the
bishop and the abbot should excommunicate me for it and condemn my
soul to burn in everlasting fire。 It is better that a poor
Capuchin's soul should burn in hell than that the fatherland should
groan with pain and wear the brand of disgrace and slavery on its
forehead。 It is better to be a faithless son of the bishop and
abbot； than a faithless son of the fatherland。 It is better to be a
bad Christian than a bad patriot。 Therefore； whatever may happen； I
shall share every thing with you； danger or victory； triumph or
death。 Henceforth I am no longer a Capuchin； but old Red…beard
Joachim Haspinger； the defender of his country； and I swear that I
will no more lay down my head and repose before we have delivered
the country from the enemy and concluded an honorable peace。 If that
is your sentiment also； swear here before God that you will fight
henceforth for the country； devote your whole strength to it； and
perish rather than give up the struggle； make peace with the enemy；
and submit to the Bavarian yoke。〃
And the three men lifted their hands and eyes to heaven； and
exclaimed with one accord； in a loud and solemn tone： 〃We swear by
God Almighty； and by all that is sacred and dear to us on earth；
that we will fight henceforth for the country； devote our whole
strength to it； and perish rather than give up the struggle； make
peace with the enemy； and submit to the Bavarian yoke！〃
〃Benedictus！ benedictus！〃 cried Father Haspinger； laying his hands
on those which the three men had joined on taking the oath。 〃The
Lord has heard and accepted your oath； the Lord will bless you； the
Holy Virgin will protect you！ Amen！〃
〃And now let us concert measures for the struggle； and consider what
we ought to do；〃 said the friar； after a pause。 〃In the first place；
we will inform Andreas Hofer that his wishes shall be complied with；
and that we will call out the Landsturm and all our forces。 Let me
write to him； therefore； and then we will hold a council of war。〃
The council of war lasted until midnight； and while all Europe was
truckling to the 〃invincible Emperor Napoleon；〃 while all Germany
was lying humbly prostrate at his feet； and while all the princes
were basking in the sunshine of his favor； four poor men； neither
learned nor even well educated； three peasants and a monk； were
concerting measures to bid defiance to 〃Bonaparte； the robber of
crowns；〃 and expel his powerful armies from their mountains！ All
Germany was subjugated； and had given up all further resistance to
the all…powerful conqueror； only the small Tyrol would not suffer
herself to be subjugated； only the brave sons of the German
mountains were still intent on braving the tyrant； and upholding
their liberty and independence； despite the formidable efforts he
was making to crush them。
Already on the following morning the tocsin sounded in all the
valleys and on all the heights； and called upon the men to fight for
the fatherland。 After midnight the three brave men had left Brixen；
each had set out in a different direction to incite the men to
insurrection； inform them of Andreas Hofer's order； and implore them
in the name of the fatherland to take up their rifles again and risk
once more their lives for the deliverance of the Tyrol。
Father Haspinger had walked all night to Latzfons； and on the
following morning he preached to the people at the church of that
place an enthusiastic sermon； in which he called upon them to make
one more effort in behalf of their beloved country； and promised
entire absolution for one year to every one who should kill a dozen
French soldiers； and absolution for five years to any who should
kill twice as many。 ＇Footnote： Mayer's 〃Speckbacher；〃 p。 151。＇
Carried away by the soul…stirring words and promises of the
Capuchin； full of ardor to serve the fatherland； and desirous of
obtaining absolution； the men took up arms； and even a company of
women was formed for the holy service of the fatherland。
At night on the same day three hundred sharpshooters had rallied
around the martial friar； and with them he marched toward Unterau；
constantly receiving re…enforcements on the road； for the
inhabitants everywhere rose again as one man； and with their
redoubted rifles on their shoulders descended every lateral glen and
ravine； and joined his command to conquer or die under him。
And joyful news arrived from all sides； announcing that the
inhabitants were rising throughout the Tyrol。 Already Peter Mayer
and Peter Kemnater had gathered around them all the sharpshooters of
the neighboring towns and villages； and their four companies now
united with the friar's troops。 News also came from Andreas Hofer：
he had emerged again from the cave； and at his call all the
sharpshooters of the Passeyr valley had rallied around him； and
companies had flocked to him from all parts of the country to fight
again under their beloved commander…in…chief。 Andreas Hofer had
marched with them across the crest of the precipitous Janfen； and
his army gathering strength like a mountain…torrent from every
tributary stream which crossed its course； soon embraced all the
able…bodied men of Passeyr； Meran； and Algund。
The Tyrolese bad risen a third time to defend the independence of
their country。
CHAPTER XXXI。
THE FIRST BATTLE。
What the four men had sworn at the inn of Brixen； and what Andreas
Hofer had agreed upon with his friend Speckbacher； had succeeded。
The whole Tyrol had risen and was eager for the fray。 A small army；
commanded by Father Haspinger； was encamped near Brixen； and
received hourly fresh accessions。 Peter Kemnater and Peter Mayer
were still traversing the country； and calling upon the peasants to
repair to Father Red…beard's camp near Brixen； and their appeals
were readily complied with。 The brave peasants of Rodeneck；
Weitenthal； and Schoneck； led by their courageous pastor； George
Schoneck； came into camp； and so did Anthony Wallner with the four
hundred men who had followed him from the Puster valley。
Father Haspinger received these brave men exultingly； and folded
their leader； Anthony Wallner； tenderly to his heart。
〃You have fought again like a hero；〃 he exclaimed； patting his
cheeks affectionately； 〃the whole Tyrol is extolling your exploits
at the murderous battle of Taxenbach； and they are telling wonderful
stories about the surpassing heroism and bravery you displayed on
that occasion。〃
〃It is true； we fought bravely；〃 said Anthony Wallner； sighing； 〃but
it did not do much good； for the enemy was ten to one； and we were
finally unable to check his advance。 But we followed him； and will
now unite with you； reverend father； in order to expel him once more
from the country。 I believe there wi