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breath； as if relieved from an oppressive burden； 〃yes； I will be
the same as before。 This state of affairs cannot continue。 We must
fight； we had better die than lead such a life。 Go； Doeninger； go；
write a proclamation！〃
〃Hurrah！ Long live our commander…in…chief；〃 shouted the peasants；
triumphantly； 〃long live our dear faithful Andreas Hofer！〃
〃I thank you； my dear countrymen；〃 said Andreas； 〃I am your leader
now； and we will fight again。 But do not hold me responsible for the
events of the future。 You must never forget that you compelled me to
resume war。 I intended to submit humbly and patiently； but you would
not allow me to do so； and dragged me forcibly from my retirement。
The bloody struggle will commence againGod grant us protection；
and further victories！ We are not going to fight from motives of
pride and arrogance； but only for the sake of our countrybecause
we want to remain Germans； and do not want to become French
subjects； and because we want to keep our God； our liberty； and our
constitution。 Amen！〃
CHAPTER XLI。
BETRAYAL AND SEIZURE OF HOFER。
War was now resumed at all points； but the forces brought from all
sides against the Tyrol were so immense that no hope remained to the
inhabitants but by deeds of glory to throw a last radiance around
their fall。 The Tyrolese fought with desperate valor； but their
heroism was unavailing。 The superior forces of the enemy were
everywhere victorious。 The artillery of the Bavarians and French
thinned the ranks of the mountaineers from day to day； whole ranks
of the Tyrolese being mowed down by the balls of the enemy。 They
fled panic…struck into the mountains。 The victorious invaders
penetrated farther and farther into the interior of the country；
burning towns and villages marked the route which they followed； and
wails and lamentations rent the air wherever they made their
appearance。
Before the middle of December all resistance had been overpowered。
The enemy stalked in a merciless manner over the gory； reeking；
groaning Tyrol； and pursued relentlessly all who had dared to rise
against him。 He had promised oblivion and forgiveness in return for
peaceful submission； but as the Tyrolese had not submitted； but
continued the struggle； the enemy now threatened to revenge himself
and punish the vanquished。
A furious chase now commenced。 Every one who had been seized with
arms in hand was shot； every one who concealed one of the pursued
patriots in his house was executed； and his house was burned down。
The leaders of the Tyrolese had fled into the mountains； but the
French generals promised large rewards for the heads of the most
influential patriots； and the soldiers traversed the country；
impelled by thirst for revenge and gain； spying everywhere for the
outlawed mountaineers； and ascending even to the snow…clad summits
of the mountains in order to obtain the large rewards。 As yet；
however； they had not succeeded in seizing one of the pursued
chiefs。 The French generals had vainly promised a reward of ten
thousand florins for the apprehension of Andreas Hofer； and rewards
of five thousand florins for the seizure of Joseph Spechbacher；
Anthony Wallner； and Joachim Haspinger。 They had disappeared； and
the patrols and soldiers； who were hunting for them； had not yet
been able to discover the hiding…place of any of the four great
chiefs of the insurrection。 The mountains； those natural fortresses
of the Tyrol； protected the outlawed commanders； and in the Alpine
huts； amidst the chamois and vultures； which alone saw and knew
their hiding…places； there were no traitors。
Retiring to his native valley； Andreas Hofer long eluded the search
of the victors。 His place of concealment was a solitary Alpine hut；
four leagues distant from his home； in general inaccessible from the
snow which surrounded it。 Love had accompanied Andreas to this
inhospitable spot。 His wife and his son John were with him； and so
was Cajetan Doeninger； his faithful secretary。 Love had accompanied
him to the Alpine hut of his friend Pfandler； love watched over him
in the valley below。 Many peasants there were well aware of Hofer's
place of concealment； but no one betrayed him； no one was tempted by
the reward of ten thousand florins which Baraguay d'Hilliers； the
French general； offered for Hofer's apprehension。 They often saw
Pfandler's servants； loaded with all sorts of provisions； wending
their way slowly and painfully up the snow…clad Alp； but they
averted their heads； as though they did not want to see anything；
and prayed God in a low tone to protect the messengers who conveyed
food to Hofer and his dear ones。 The peasants in the valley forbore
carefully to speak among each other of what they knew； only they
treated Pfandler with reverential tenderness； shook hands with him
quietly； and whispered； 〃God bless you and him！〃 At times； on a
clear winter day； when thin smoke curled up suddenly from the Alp；
the peasants in the valley looked up sighingly and whispered
compassionately； 〃They have built a fire in their hut。 The cold is
so severe。 God bless them！〃 But whenever one whom they did not trust
stepped up to them； wondering at the smoke； and saying that somebody
was concealed up there； and had built a fire in order not to freeze
to death； the others laughed at him； and said there was no smoke at
all； but only snow blown up by the storm。
One day； however； a stranger arrived in the valley； and asked
whisperingly for Andreas Hofer； to whom； he said； he would bring
assistance and safety。 At first no one replied to him； but he showed
them a paper； bearing the name and seal of the Archduke John； and
containing the following words； written by the prince himself： 〃Help
my messenger to find Andreas Hofer； and bring him assistance and
safety。〃
On reading this； the peasants distrusted him no longer。 They glanced
furtively up to the Schneeberg； pointed to the two wanderers； loaded
with baskets； who were toiling up the mountain through the snow； and
whispered almost inaudibly； 〃Follow them！〃
The messenger did so。 He climbed after the two servants； and
ascended with them the inhospitable； dreary； and deserted heights。
At length he arrived in front of the Alpine hut； he knocked at the
door； and asked admittance in the name of God and the Archduke John。
The door opened immediately； and on the threshold appeared Hofer's
tall； bearded form； as erect and vigorous as it had been in the days
of his splendor； and his mild； honest eye greeted the new…comer。
〃He who comes in the name of God and the Archduke John will not
deceive me；〃 said Andreas； kindly。 〃Come in； therefore； for you must
have good intentions toward me； inasmuch as the severe cold did not
deter you from coming up to me。〃
〃Indeed I have good intentions toward you；〃 said the messenger。 〃Do
you not know me； then； Andy？ I am Anthony Steeger； the Archduke
John's gunsmith。〃
〃Oh； yes； now I know you！〃 exclaimed Andreas； joyfully。 〃I saw you
in Vienna at the time we were there to devise plans for the
deliverance of the Tyrol。 Well； come in； Anthony Steeger； come in to
my wife； my son； and my secretary。〃
He conducted Anthon