按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
master； and obey me。 Ah； I believe I have played a bad trick on my
brothers。 The Archduke John will not become Duke of Tyrol； the
Grand…duke Ferdinand of Wuertzburg will not be Emperor of Austria；
for Napoleon will become my son…in…law； and he will take good care
not to deprive his father…in…law of his throne。 I alone am； and
shall remain； Emperor of Austria。〃
CHAPTER XL。
DREADFUL TIDINGS。
All the Tyrolese were in the highest excitement and terror。 Pale
faces were to be seen everywhere； and nothing was heard but the
anxious query： 〃Is it true？ Has our emperor really made peace with
Bonaparte？ Is it true that he has abandoned us entirely； and that we
are to become again subjects of France and Bavaria？〃
And some； of the timid and disheartened sighed： 〃It is true！ We read
so yesterday in the Innspruck Gazette； and the Viceroy of Italy has
sent two messengers through the Puster valley to proclaim that the
Emperors of Austria and France concluded a treaty of peace on the
14th of October； and that the Tyrolese are to lay down their arms
and become again subjects of France and Bavaria。〃
〃It is not true！〃 cried the bold and courageous。 〃The Emperor
Francis has not made peace with Bonaparte； and if he has； he has
certainly not abandoned the Tyrol； but stipulated that we remain
with Austria； for he pledged us his word that we； should； and the
emperor will redeem his promise。〃
〃It is not true； there is no peace； and we are still at war with the
Bavarians and French；〃 cried Joseph Speckbacher； 〃and we will
continue the war。〃
〃Yes； we will；〃 shouted his brave men。
And as Speckbacher said； so did Andreas Hofer； so did Joachim
Haspinger； so did Anthony Wallner； Jacob Sieberer； and all the
intrepid commanders of the sharpshooters。
Led by these heroic men； the Tyrolese formed again a large army；
which took position on Mount Isel； and awaited there the Bavarians
who were marching upon Innspruck under the command of the crown
prince Louis。
This time； however； the Tyrolese were not victorious； the Bavarians
expelled them from Innspruck； and； on the 29th of October； the crown
prince Louis of Bavaria made his triumphal entry into the city；
after a bloody battle of four days' duration on Mount Isel and near
the Judenstein。 A part of the Tyrolese forces remained on Mount
Isel； and another part hastened with unbroken courage to other
regions； to meet the armies of the enemy and drive them beyond the
frontiers of the country。
Anthony Wallner returned with his sharpshooters to the Puster
valley； and advanced thence against General Rusca； who was coming up
from Carinthia with his corps； he intended to defend the frontiers
of his country； against him and General Baraguay d'Hilliers； who was
also approaching with a strong force。
Joseph Speckbacher marched his intrepid men to the Ziller valley and
the Muhlbach Pass； where he united with Joachim Haspinger； and
advanced with him upon the enemy。
All were in good spirits； and no one believed in the dreadful
tidings which at first had frightened them all so much： no one
believed that peace had been made。
Andreas Hofer himself thought the news was false。 He had remained
courageous and undaunted in spite of the disastrous battle on Mount
Isel； and he sent messengers throughout the country； calling upon
all able…bodied men to take up arms and attack the enemy； who had
invaded the Tyrol once more。 He was still encamped with his army
near Mount Isel； and had established his headquarters at Steinach。
The crown prince of Bavaria had sent to him hither two
plenipotentiaries； who informed him that peace had really been
concluded； and that the Tyrolese had no course left but submission。
But Andreas Hofer replied to these plenipotentiaries； shaking his
head indignantly； 〃That is a mean lie； the Emperor Francis； our
beloved master； will never abandon his loyal Tyrolese。 He pledged us
his word； and he will keep it。 Your intention is to deceive us； but
you cannot catch us by such stratagems。 We believe in the emperor
and the good God； and neither of them will ever abandon us！〃
And Andreas Hofer returned to his room with a calm smile and went to
bed。
In the dead of night； however； he was suddenly aroused from his
sleep。 Cajetan Doeninger stood at his bedside and informed him that
the intendant of the Puster valley； Baron von Worndle； had arrived
with an envoy of the Emperor Francis； Baron von Lichtenthurn； and
both wished urgently to see the commander…in…chief。
〃I will admit them；〃 said Hofer； rising hastily； 〃God grant that
they are the bearers of good news！〃
He dressed himself quickly and followed Doeninger into the room；
where he found the two envoys and several members of his suite。
〃Now tell me； gentlemen； what news do you bring to us？〃 asked Hofer；
shaking hands with the two envoys。
〃No good news； commander…in…chief；〃 sighed Baron von Worndle； 〃but
there is no use in complaining； we must submit patiently to what
cannot be helped。 The Emperor Francis has mane peace with France。〃
〃Do you sing in that strain too； Mr。 Intendant？〃 asked Andreas； with
a mournful smile。 〃I shall never believe it until I see it in black
and white； and until the emperor or the dear Archduke John informs
me of it。〃
〃I bring it to you in black and white；〃 exclaimed Baron von
Lichtenthurn； drawing a paper from his bosom and handing it to
Andreas。 〃Here is a letter from the Archduke John； which I am to
deliver to you。〃
Hofer hastily seized the paper； which contained that proclamation
which the Archduke John had written at Totis； and read it again and
again slowly and attentively。 While he was doing so； his cheeks
turned pale； his breath issued heavily and painfully from his
breast； and the paper rustled in his trembling hands。
〃It is impossible！ I cannot believe it！〃 he exclaimed； mournfully；
gazing upon the paper。 〃The Archduke John did not write this。 Just
look at it； his seal is not affixed to the paper。 Sir； how can you
say that this letter is from the Archduke John？ Where is the seal？
Where is the address？〃
〃Well； it is no private letter；〃 said Baron von Lichtenthurn； 〃it is
an open letter； a proclamation； which I am instructed to show to
everybody in the Tyrol。 A proclamation cannot contain a seal and an
address。 But the Archduke John sent it； he himself wrote every word
of it。〃
〃I do not believe it！〃 cried Andreas； in a triumphant voice； 〃no； I
do not believe it。 You are a liar； and want to betray us。 Look at
him； my friends； see how pale he turns； and how he trembles！ For I
tell you he has a bad conscience。 Bring me the Archduke John's seal；
and then I will believe that the paper is from him。 But； as it is； I
look upon it as a cunning device got up by the enemy to entrap me。
Arrest him； he must confess all。 I will not allow myself to be
caught by cunning and treachery！〃 ＇Footnote： Andreas Hofer's own
words。See Hormayr's 〃Andreas Hofer；〃 vol。 ii； p。 490。＇
He laid his heavy hand upon the shoulder of the baron； who sank to
the floor； uttering a loud cry of distress； and fell into fearful
convulsions。
〃See！〃 cried Andreas； 〃that is the punishment of Heaven！ The hand of