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three deafening cheers； and this time Andreas Hofer was not bold
enough to tell the enthusiastic gentlemen to be silent； but he
looked quite respectfully at the mayor in his long black robe； who
was approaching him with a grave step between two members of the
city council。
〃We come；〃 he said； solemnly； 〃not only to thank you for the heroic
deeds which you have performed； but to pray you to do still more for
us and the fatherland。 You have delivered the country from the
enemy； but there is lacking to it a head； a crown。 The Bavarian
government commission； and Count Rechberg the king's lieutenant；
have escaped from Innspruck with the French forces。 We are free from
the Bavarian yoke； we are no longer governed by the king's
lieutenant； and in his place we want a lieutenant of the emperor。
There must be one in whose hands all power is concentrated； and who
rules over the country in the emperor's name。 You must fill this
position； Andreas Hofer。 The authorities and the people of Innspruck
elect you the emperor's lieutenant。 You shall govern the country in
his name； and we will all swear to you obedience； fidelity； and
love。〃
After he had concluded his address； Anthony Wallner stepped forth
from the ranks of the commanders of the Landsturm。 〃Yes；〃 he
exclaimed。 〃you shall be the emperor's lieutenant。 We will all swear
to you obedience； fidelity； and love。 We commanders of the Landsturm
wished to say this to our commander…in…chief； and this was the
reason why we came hither。 We want to pray you to govern the Tyrol
in the emperor's name。 Your consent would give us the greatest
satisfaction。〃
〃We want to pray you；〃 said one of the members of the city council；
coming forward from the midst of his colleagues； 〃to take up your
residence as the emperor's lieutenant in the imperial palace on the
Remplatz。〃
〃That will never do；〃 cried Andreas Hofer； in dismay。 〃How could I
be so impudent as to reside in the palace of his majesty the
emperor？ No； no； that will never do； I cannot consent to it。〃
〃It will do very well； and you must consent to it；〃 said Haspinger；
solemnly。 〃You shall reside in the imperial palace； not to gratify
your own vanity； but to reassure the people； and show them that they
are not entirely destitute of a ruler and protector。 You shall
govern the country for God and the emperor until all our enemies are
worsted and the war is at an end。 The emperor has not time at this
juncture to take care of us： he must devote his whole attention to
the reorganization of his army and prepare for the resumption of
hostilities。 The armistice expires at the end of this month； and war
will then； of course； break out once more； for the French emperor
will not keep quiet and submit before he is worsted and crushed
entirely； and we have still a great deal to do； a great deal to
fight； and much more blood will have to be shed； before we have
delivered the whole Southern Tyrol； Carinthia； and Carniola； from
the yoke of the tyrant。 In order to do so； Speckbacher； Wallner； and
I； will lead the brave Tyrolese against the enemy。 Now； if the
country is to be governed properly while we are fighting； a man in
whom both the people and the authorities have confidence must be at
the head of the government。 You are this man； Andreas Hofer。 The
people； the authorities； and the defenders of the country； pray you
to consent to it； but God commands you through my mouth to accept
the position。〃
〃Well； then；〃 exclaimed Andreas； enthusiastically； lifting his eyes
devoutly to heaven； 〃I will do joyfully what God commands； and what
you request me to do。 I will take upon myself this arduous duty； I
will comply with your wishes。 You say it is necessary for the good
of the country and the emperor that there should be a lieutenant of
the emperor； and if there is no other and better man than I； and if
you have confidence in me； I will accept the position。 I am nothing
but an instrument in the hand of God my Lord； and I do what He wants
me to do； even though it should cost my life。 My life is in His
hand； and what I am； and have； and can be； belongs to my emperor and
my country。 I will be； then； the emperor's lieutenant in the Tyrol
until the emperor issues orders to the contrary； or until peace is
restored to the country； and the emperor is able again to take
charge of the government。 Let us pray God and the Holy Virgin that
that day may soon dawn upon us！〃
〃Long live the emperor's lieutenant！〃 shouted the whole assembly；
joyously。
〃Now；〃 exclaimed the mayor； 〃give me your hand； Andreas Hofer；
lieutenant of the emperor； and commander…in…chief of the Tyrol。 We
will conduct you in solemn procession to the imperial palace； for
the lieutenant must take up his residence there。〃
〃Yes； yes； let us accompany Andreas Hofer to the imperial palace；〃
exclaimed all； in joyful excitement。
〃Well； if it please God。 I will take up my residence in the imperial
palace；〃 exclaimed Andreas Hofer； solemnly； giving his hand to the
mayor and stepping with him to the door of the ballroom。
He was followed by the Capuchin； Joseph Speckbacher； Anthony
Wallner； the other commanders of the Landsturm； and the municipal
authorities。 On stepping into the street； they were received with
thundering cheers by the people who thronged the street and the
neighboring place； and amid singing and deafening acclamations； and
the ringing of all the church…bells； the emperor's lieutenant and
commander…in…chief of the Tyrol； Andreas Hofer； was conducted to the
magnificent imperial palace； where the Sandwirth was to take up his
residence。
CHAPTER XXXIV。
THE FIFTEENTH OF AUGUST AT COMORN。
While the people of Innspruck set no bounds to their rejoicings on
the 15th of August； and accompanied Andreas Hofer； the emperor's
lieutenant； amid the most rapturous manifestations of enthusiasm； to
the imperial palace； while the Emperor Napoleon was celebrating the
15th of August； his birthday； by a great parade at Schoenbrunn； and
the bestowal of orders and rewards on many distinguished persons；
the Emperor Francis was at the fortress of Comorn。 Only a few of his
faithful adherents had followed him thither； only his servants and
officers surrounded him at his mournful court there。 The Empress
Ludovica and the archduchesses had already repaired to Totis； a
country…seat of Prince Lichtenstein； in Hungary； whither the emperor
intended to follow her in the course of a few days。
〃I should set out this very day；〃 he said； pacing his cabinet； to
his confidential agent Hudelist； the Aulic councillor； 〃but I should
like to see previously Count Bubna； whom I have sent to Bonaparte。〃
〃I hope； your majesty； that the count will yet return today；〃
replied Hudelist； in his humble bland voice。
〃God grant it！〃 sighed the emperor。 〃It is very tedious here； and I
hope our sojourn at Totis will not be so mournful and wearisome。
Prince Lichtenstein told me there were excellent fishing…ponds
there； and he added that he had caused to be built a laboratory
where I might manufacture sealing…wax。 I think； Hudelist； we shall
be very industrious there； and manufacture new and beautiful
styles。〃
〃I rece