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Tyrolese； and send troops into our country； if we would be in
readiness on the 9th of April to rise against the Bavarians。 My dear
friends； do you put no confidence； then； in the word of our
excellent emperor and the good archduke； who has always loved us so
dearly？〃
〃No； no； we put implicit confidence in their word！〃 shouted the
Tyrolese； with one accord。
〃The messenger will surely come； just have a little patience；〃 added
Hofer； with a pleasant nod； 〃the day is not yet at an end； and until
midnight we may smoke yet many a pipe and drink many a glass of
beer。Anna Gertrude see to it that the glasses of the guests are
always well filled。〃
Anna Gertrude； a fine…looking matron of thirty…six； with florid
cheeks and flashing hazel eyes； had just placed before her husband
another jug； filled with foaming beer； and she nodded now to her
Andy with a smile； showing two rows of faultless white teeth。
〃I and the girls will attend to the guests；〃 she said； 〃but the men
do not drink any thing。 The glasses and jugs are all filled； but
they do not empty them； andLook！ who comes there？〃
Andreas Hofer turned his head toward the door； then suddenly he
uttered a cry of surprise and jumped up。
〃Halloo！〃 he exclaimed； 〃I believe this is the messenger whom we are
looking for。〃 And he pointed his outstretched arm at the small； dark
form entering the room at this moment。
〃It is Major Teimer；〃 he continued； joyfully； 〃I suppose you know
yet our dear major of 1805？〃
〃Hurrah！ Martin Teimer is there；〃 shouted the Tyrolese； rising from
their seats； and hastening to the new…comer to shake hands with him
and bid him heartily welcome。
Martin Teimer thanked them warmly for this kind reception； and a
flash of sincere gratification burst from his shrewd blue eyes。
〃I thought I should meet all the brave men of the Passeyr valley at
Andy's house to…night；〃 he said； 〃and I therefore greet you all at
once； my dear comrades of 1805。 That year was disastrous to us。 but
I think the year 1809 will be a better one； and we shall regain to…
day what we lost at that time。〃
〃Yes； we shall； as sure as there is a God；〃 shouted the Tyrolese；
and Andreas Hofer laid his arm on Teimer's shoulder and gazed deeply
into his eyes。
〃Say； Martin Teimer； are all things in readiness； and do you bring
us word to rise？〃
〃I do； all things are in readiness；〃 said Teimer； solemnly。 〃Our
countryman； Baron von Hormayr； whom the Austrian government
appointed governor and intendant of the Austrian forces which are to
co…operate with us； sends me to Andreas Hofer； whom I am to inform
that the Austrian troops； commanded by Marquis von Chasteler and
General Hiller； will cross the Tyrolese frontier to…night。〃
〃Hurrah； hurrah！ the Austrians are coming！〃 shouted the Tyrolese；
jubilantly； swinging their pointed hats in the air。 〃The war has
broken out； the Austrians are coming； and we will expel the
Bavarians from the country！〃
Andreas Hofer's face； too； was radiant with joy； but； instead of
singing and shouting； he was silent； lifted his eyes slowly to
heaven； and seized with both his hands the crucifix resting on his
breast。
〃Let us pray； my friends；〃 he said in a loud and solemn voice； 〃let
us thank our Lord God and our patron saint in the stillness of our
hearts。〃
The men paused； like Andreas Hofer； they clasped their hands； bent
their heads； and muttered fervent prayers。
After a long pause Hofer raised his head again。 〃And now； men；
listen to what I have to say to you；〃 he exclaimed； cheerfully。 〃I
have invited you all because you are the most influential and
respectable men in this part of the country； and because the
fatherland has need of you and counts upon you and me。 The
sharpshooters of the Passeyrthal told me； if war should break out； I
must be their captain； and I accepted the position because I think
that every one is in duty bound to risk his limbs and life for the
sake of the fatherland； and place himself just where he can serve it
best。 But if I am to be your captain； you must all assist me to the
best of your power。 We must act harmoniously； and strain every nerve
to deliver the fatherland and restore the Tyrol to our beloved
emperor。〃
〃We are resolved to do so；〃 shouted the men； with one accord。
〃I know it full well；〃 said Andreas Hofer； joyously。 〃Let us go to
work； then。 and circulate throughout the Tyrol the message that the
Austrians are coming； and that it is time。 Say； Teimer； did yon not
bring a written message with you？〃
〃Here is a letter from Hormayr；〃 said Martin Teimer； drawing a large
sealed paper from his bosom。
Andreas took it and opened it quickly。 But while he was reading it；
a slight cloud overspread his countenance； and for a moment he cast
a rapid； searching glance on Martin Teimer's bright； keen face；
however； no sooner had he met Teimer's stealthy； inquiring glance；
than he quickly turned his eyes again to the paper。
〃Well；〃 he said then； striking the paper with his right hand； 〃the
statements contained in this letter are entirely in accordance with
our wishes。 We are to rise at once； for already tomorrow the
Austrians will have crossed our frontiers。 Marquis von Chasteler
will march from Carinthia into the Puster valley； General Hiller is
moving from Salzburg toward the Lower Inn valley； the former thinks
he will reach Brixen in the course of four days； the latter says he
will be at Innspruck within the same time。 I and Martin Teimer here；
who no longer keeps a tobacco…shop at Klagenfurth； but is again
Major Teimer as he was four years agowe are to direct and manage
every thing in the Tyrol； and are intrusted with the duty of seeing
to it that the flames of the insurrection burst forth now as
speedily as possible from one end of the Tyrol to the other； and
that it shall become a conflagration that will burn up all Frenchmen
and Bavarians； or compel them to escape from the country。 Assist us；
then； my men； in spreading the news over the mountains and through
the valleys； that all may rise and participate in the great work of
deliverance。 Every able…bodied man is to shoulder his rifle； and the
women and children are to carry； from house to house； little balls
of paper on which are written the words： ''Tis time！' as we have
agreed at our meetings。 And now； in compliance with the promise I
gave Hormayr in Vienna； I will issue a circular to all our friends
that they may know what to do under these circumstances。 Is there
among you any one who can write well and correctly； and to whom I
may dictate？ for my own handwriting is none of the best； and
although what I write may be thought correctly； it is not spelled as
learned men tell us it should be。 If there is among you one who can
write nicely and correctly what I wish to dictate； let him come
forward。〃
〃I can do it；〃 said a young man； stepping forward。
〃It is Joseph Ennemoser； son of John Ennemoser； the Seewirth；〃 said
Andreas Hofer； smiling。 〃Yes； I believe you are a good scribe； you
have become quite a scholar and an aristocratic gentleman； and are
studying medicine at the University of Innspruck。〃
〃For all that； I have remained an honest mountaineer；