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loudly uttered in that sacred place。 He saw several hundred persons
thronging the aisle and fixing their eyes upon him。 All crowded
forward and raised their heads to see Andreas Hofer； admire his fine
beard； and examine his whole appearance。 They bad followed him
quietly； and as the news that Andreas Hofer； commander…in…chief of
the Tyrol； had gone to the church of the Franciscans； spread
rapidly； all had hastened thither to see him and render him homage。
But Andreas Hofer thought this homage decidedly irksome； and he was
angry that the spectators had disturbed his prayer。 He； therefore；
made a bitter…sweet face in response to the enthusiastic
demonstrations and affectionate greetings of the people； and elbowed
his way hastily toward the door。
〃I thank you for your attachment；〃 he said to those who were close
to him； 〃but I should have been better pleased if you had allowed me
quietly to pursue my way； and had not interrupted my prayer。 But now
pray let me go home alone； and do not follow me。 It may be becoming
for aristocratic gentlemen to have a large suite behind them； but I
am only a simple Tyrolese like you all； and do not want to be any
thing else。 Moreover； I am a very ordinary…looking man； and there is
no reason whatever why you should stare at me in this manner。 Pray；
therefore； do not go with me； but let the return quietly to
Niederkircher's tavern； where I am going to dine。〃
They obeyed； of course； and opened a passage for him to step out of
the church door。 But thereupon they rushed out to look after him and
shout； 〃Long live Andreas Hofer； the pious commander…in…chief of the
Tyrol！〃 But no one ventured to follow him； all gazed affectionately
and reverentially after his tall form； as he walked with a slow and
dignified step down the street。
〃There are strange people in these cities；〃 murmured Hofer to
himself； while walking along； 〃they do not even let me pray quietly；
and are as curious as swallows。 They follow me everywhere； and stare
at me as though I were a wild beast。 If that is being a famous man；
I do not care for fame； and for the whole world I would not be an
aristocratic or famous man all my lifetime。 When peace has been
restored to the country； and there is no longer an enemy to fight；
they will forget my humble services； and I shall live again quietly
at my inn in the Passeyr valley。 No one will then run after the
Sandwirth when he comes to Innspruck to sell horses； and I shall sit
again in Niederkircher's back room； eat dumplings； and drink native
wine。 Ah； Holy Virgin； let it soon be so again； that the commander…
in…chief may be again Sandwirth Andreas Hofer。〃
〃Hurrah； long live the commander…in…chief of the Tyrol！〃 shouted at
this moment some men who had recognized him； and stood still to do
homage to him as though he were a sovereign prince。
Andreas Hofer accelerated his step； and was very glad on reaching
the tavern soon afterward。
CHAPTER XXXIII。
ANDREAS HOFER； THE EMPEROR'S LIEUTENANT。
Andreas ascended the staircase hastily； and entered the balcony…
room。
The Capuchin had now risen from the carpet； Joseph Speckbacher was
with him； and both hastened to meet Andreas Hofer。
〃You have kept us waiting a long while； brother；〃 said the Capuchin；
indignantly； 〃you ought to have borne in mind that we have not eaten
any thing； and are； therefore； very hungry。〃
〃Yes； Father Andy；〃 exclaimed Speckbacher； smiling； 〃you hung our
bread…basket very high； we are quite weak from waiting and hunger。〃
〃Now they blame ME for keeping THEM waiting；〃 said Andreas mildly。
〃And yet I think they kept me waiting； and hunger drove me to the
church。 Well； never mind； my dear friends and comrades； we are
together now； and I am very glad of it。 Look at Niederkircher and
his large dish！ How splendidly it smokes and smells； and how good it
will be to eat！ Well； Niederkircher； put the dish on the table here；
and sit down and dine with us。〃
〃No； no； commander…in…chief； it is my duty to…day to wait on you；
for you are now a highly distinguished gentleman； and so are the
other two； hence； it would not behoove me to dine with you。〃
〃If you refuse to do so。 I shall not eat at all；〃 cried Andreas
Hofer。
〃And I shall run away；〃 said Speckbacher； jumping up from his chair。
〃I shall sit still；〃 growled the Capuchin； 〃but I shall henceforth
turn my back upon Neiderkircher if he allows our soup to become cold
instead of sitting down at once and dining with us。〃
〃I will do so；〃 cried Niederkircher； moving a chair to the table；
and seating himself on it。 〃But now my friends； permit me at least
to fill your plates。〃
〃We will not object to that！〃 exclaimed the three friends； laughing；
〃and pray fill them well； Niederkircher。〃
There was a long pause now； nothing was heard but the rattling of
the spoons on the plates。 All at once this comfortable silence was
broken by deafening cheers and shouts uttered on the street。
Hofer dropped his spoon； frowned； and listened。 〃I believe they are
calling me again；〃 he sighed； dolefully。
He was not mistaken。 Hundreds of youthful voices were heard shouting
Andreas Hofer's name； and their cheers were followed by a loud；
ringing flourish of violins； fifes； bugles； and trumpets。
〃They have musicians with them；〃 exclaimed Hofer； anxiously。 〃Holy
Virgin； just listen how they are roaring！ It seems as if they were
intent on upsetting the house。〃
〃They are calling you； they want to see you；〃 said Niederkircher；
who had stepped to the window。 〃They are the students of the
university； they have come in their holiday attire to serenade you。〃
〃And why do they want to serenade ME？〃 asked Andreas Hofer； almost
indignantly。 〃Why not Speckbacher； or the Capuchin； or Peter Mayer；
or Anthony Wallner？ They all did just as much as I did； and perhaps
even more。〃
〃But you are the people's favorite； brother；〃 said the Capuchin；
smiling； 〃the people believe in you； and it would be cruel and
short…sighted in us to shake their faith in you。 Every thing must
come from you； you must have done and accomplished every thing。〃
〃And what we others did； we did only in your name； Father Andy！〃
exclaimed Speckbacher； 〃the people and the sharpshooters would not
have obeyed us so well； had they not believed that you had issued
all the orders and instructions which we gave them。 On hearing your
name they obeyed； fought well； and were confident that we should
succeed。 And for this reason they are justified in coupling your
name with the celebration of the victory。 Just listen how they are
shouting your name！ It is true； the dear boys have tremendous lungs；
and if you do not comply with their wishes； and show yourself on the
balcony； I am afraid they will make us deaf and themselves quite
hoarse。〃
〃Well； I do not care；〃 sighed Andreas； 〃open the door again；
Niederkircher； I must step out on the balcony。〃
〃And make another fine speech as before；〃 said the innkeeper；
throwing open the folding…doors。
Andreas made no reply； but went to the balcony with a grave and
almost angry face。 Deafening cheers greeted him； and the dense crowd
assembled in the street shouted： 〃Long live An