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people。 I looked forward with a great deal of joy to the day when we
should make our entry into the city； and I thought it would be much
more beautiful； but now I am greatly tired of the whole thing； I
should be glad if they would cease fiddling； and clear a passage for
the carriage to move on more rapidly。 I am hungry； and I would I
were already at the tavern of my dear friend Niederkircher。〃
〃Well； you must learn to put on a pleasant face when the people
cheer you；〃 said Haspinger； laughing。 〃You have now become a prince
too； and I think your people will love you dearly。〃
〃What nonsense is that； brother？〃 asked Hofer； angrily。
〃It is no nonsense at all； Andy； on the contrary； it is quite true。
Just listen to their acclamations。〃
〃Long live Andreas Hofer！〃 shouted the crowd； which was dancing and
singing around the carriage。 〃Long live the commander…in…chief of
the Tyrol！〃
〃They call me commander…in…chief of the Tyrol；〃 said Andreas；
musingly。 〃Tell me； Joachim； is it necessary for me to assume that
title？〃
〃Yes； it is。 There must be a head of the state； a man to whom the
people may look up as its star； and to whom it may apply as its
comfort； support； and judge。 And as the people have confidence in
you and love you； you must be the man to hold the whole together；
lest it should fall asunder。 You shall be the head； and we others
will be your hands and thoughts； and will work and fight； and think
for you and the Tyrol。 We must have a leader； a commander…in…chief
of the Tyrol； and you are the man； Andy。〃
〃If you say so； it must be so；〃 said Andreas； nodding his head
gently。 〃Well； then； I shall be commander…in…chief of the Tyrol
until order and peace are restored； and until the enemy has been
expelled from the country for evermore。 But see； we have arrived in
front of Niederkircher's tavern； and there is Niederkircher himself
with his dear round face。 God bless you； Niederkircher； why do you
look at me so solemnly； and why have you dressed up so nicely？ Why；
you wear your holiday clothes； and yet I think this is neither
Sunday nor a holiday。〃
〃It is a great holiday；〃 exclaimed Niederkircher； 〃the commander…in…
chief of the Tyrol； the great Andreas Hofer； is making his triumphal
entry into the city。 That is why I have put on my Sunday clothes and
look so solemn； for it would not be becoming for me to embrace the
distinguished commander…in…chief of the Tyrol； as I should like to
do under other circumstances。〃
〃You are a fool； old fellow！〃 said Andreas； encircling his friend's
neck with his arm； 〃if I am commander…in…chief before the world； I
am； before my friends； always Andreas Hofer； the Sandwirth and
humble peasant。 Let us go into the house； my dear friend； and you
Joachim； come with us。 There！ Take me to the small back room which I
always occupy during my stay in the city。〃
〃God forbid！〃 exclaimed the innkeeper； 〃you never must occupy the
back room again； that would not be becoming for the commander…in…
chief of the Tyrol。 You must take my best room with the balcony
opening on the street； besides； all is there in readiness for your
reception。〃
〃Must I take it； Joachim？〃 said Andreas to the Capuchin； almost
anxiously。
〃Yes； Andy； you must；〃 replied the friar。 〃You must do honor to your
new dignity； and to us all。〃
〃It is a pity that I must do so；〃 sighed Andreas。 〃I was so glad
that I should soon be in the old back room； where it is so cozy and
quiet； and where you do not hear any thing of the noise and shouting
outside。 But； if it cannot be helped； let us go to the best room；
but pray； if it is possible； give us something to eat there。 Some
sound dumplings and a glass of native wine； friend Niederkircher。〃
〃No； no； Andreas Hofer； that will not do today；〃 replied the
innkeeper； 〃I have had all my servants at work in the kitchen ever
since sunrise； and you will have a dinner suitable for the
commander…in…chief of the Tyrol。〃
〃I should have preferred dumplings and native wine in the small back
room；〃 said Andreas Hofer； dolefully； while he ascended with the
innkeeper and the Capuchin to the best room on the first floor。
This was a very fine room indeed； and even though it was not as cozy
as the back room for which Hofer bad longed； it was at all events
very agreeable to him to be once more under a hospitable roof； and
enjoy a little rest and tranquillity。 In the middle of the room
stood a table handsomely festooned with flowers； and covered with
bottles of wine； cake； and all sorts of fruit。
〃Now； my distinguished friends； make yourselves as comfortable as
possible；〃 said Niederkircher； cheerfully； 〃lie down awhile on the
silken divan and repose。 Meanwhile I will go to the kitchen and
order dinner to be served to the commander…in…chief and his two
generals； Haspinger and Speckbacher。〃
〃I shall comply with your request；〃 growled the Capuchin； 〃and make
myself as comfortable as possible。〃
He burled his heavy； dusty leathern shoes quickly from his feet into
a corner of the room； he then lay down on the carpet in front of the
divan； and stretching his limbs； exclaimed； 〃Forsooth； I have not
been able for a long while to make myself as comfortable as to…day！〃
〃But you； commander…in…chief；〃 said Niederkircher； beseechingly； 〃I
hope； will not disdain my divan？ Rest there a little； Andy； until
the waiters bring you your dinner。〃
〃God forbid！ I must first attend to my horses；〃 exclaimed Andreas。
〃I suppose； Niederkircher； you saw my four splendid white horses？
They are honest war…spoils； I will keep them forever and never sell
them； although I could get a round sum for them； for they are fine
animals； only the first horse on the right…hand side； I believe； is
a little weak in the chest； and ought not to be overworked。 Before
going to dinner and making myself comfortable； I must go and feed
the horses and see if they are comfortable。 You know； Niederkircher；
I have always fed my horses myself； and will do so to…day also。〃
And he hastened toward the door； but Niederkircher ran after him and
kept him back。
〃For God's sake。 Hofer；〃 he cried in dismay； 〃what are you going to
do？ Why； you are not a horse…trader nor the Sandwirth to…day； but
commander…in…chief of the Tyrol。〃
〃It is true； I forgot it；〃 sighed Andreas。 〃Go； then； dear friend；
get us our dinner； and have a large bundle of hay put into the
manger of the horses。But； great God！ what dreadful noise is that
in the street？ Why； those men are shouting so loudly that the walls
are shaking and the windows rattling！ What do they want？ Why do they
always repeat my name？ Look out； Niederkircher； and see what is the
matter。〃
Niederkircher hastened to the window and drew the curtain aside in
order to look out into the street。 A dense crowd was assembled in
front of the tavern； it was incessantly cheering and shouting：
〃Andreas Hofer！ Come out！ Long live the commander…in…chief of the
Tyrol； the liberator！ We want to see him； we must thank him for
delivering us from the enemy。 Andreas Hofer！ Andreas Hofer！〃
〃You cannot get around it； Andy； you must step out on the balcony；〃
said Niederkircher； stepping back from the window。 〃The peopl