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am to disturb this glorious peace and tranquillity； tear it like a
worthless piece of paper； and hurl it like Uriah's letter； into the
faces of the people。 Ah； Sieberer； war is a cruel thing； and when I
take every thing into consideration； I cannot help thinking that men
commit a heavy sin by taking the field in order to slay； shoot； and
stab； as though they were wild beasts bent on devouring one another；
and not men whom God created after His own likeness； and I ask
myself； in the humility of my heart； whether or not I have a right
to instigate my dear friends and countrymen to follow me and attack
men who are our brethren after all。〃
〃If you really ask yourself such questions； and have lost your
courage； then we are all lost；〃 said Sieberer； gloomily。 〃It is
Andreas Hofer in whom the men of the Passeyr valley believe； and
whom they are following into the bloody struggle。 If Hofer
hesitates； all will soon despond； and it would be better for us to
retrace our steps at once； and allow Bonaparte and the French to
trample us again in the dust； instead of lifting our heads like
freemen； and fighting for our rights。〃
〃We have gone too far； we can no longer retrace our steps；〃 said
Andreas Hofer； shaking his head gently； and lifting his eyes to
heaven。 After a pause he added in a loud； strong voice： 〃And even
though it were otherwise； even through we still retrace our steps； I
should not consent to it。 I shall never repent of having raised my
voice in behalf of the Tyrol and the emperor； nor have I lost my
courage； as you seem to think； brother Sieberer。 I know full well
that we owe it to our good emperor and the fatherland to defend it
to the last breath； and I do not tremble for myself。 I have
dedicated my life to the dear fatherland； I have taken leave of my
wife and my children； and belong now only to the Tyrol and the
emperor。 If my blood were sufficient to deliver our country； I
should joyously and with a grateful prayer throw myself down from
this peak and shatter my bones； and dying； I should thank God for
vouchsafing such an honor to me； and allowing me to purchase the
liberty of the country with my blood。 But I am but a poor and humble
servant and soldier of the Lord； and my blood will not be
sufficient； but many will have to spill theirs and die； that the
rest maybe free and belong again to our dear emperor。 And this is
the reason why； on contemplating the brave men and courageous lads
who have followed my call； I feel pity； and ask myself again and
again； Had I a right to call them away from their homes； their wives
and children； and lead them； perhaps； into the jaws of death？ Will
not the Lord curse me for preaching insurrection and war instead of
submissiveness and humility？〃
〃Well； you are a pious man； Andy；〃 said Sieberer； with a reproachful
glance；〃 and yet you have forgotten what our Redeemer said to the
Pharisees。〃
〃What do you mean； Anthony？ Tell me； if it will comfort me。〃
〃He said； ‘Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's； and
unto God the things that are God's。' Now； I think that our Tyrol is
the emperor's； and that the Bavarians and French have nothing to do
with it； but have merely stolen it from the emperor。 Therefore； we
act only in accordance with the precepts of our Lord Jesus Christ；
if we stake our lives and fortunes to restore to the emperor that
which is the emperor's。 And I think； too； that the churches and
convents are the houses of the Lord and belong to Him alone。 Now；
the Bavarians have stolen the houses of the Lord in the Tyrol； and
have ignominiously driven out His servants。 Hence we act again in
accordance with the precepts of our Lord Jesus Christ； if we stake
our lives and fortunes to restore to God that which is God's； and
if； in doing so； we should all lose our lives； we should die in the
holy service of God and the emperor！〃
〃You are right； brother Sieberer；〃 exclaimed Hofer； joyfully； 〃and I
thank you for comforting and strengthening my heart。 Yes； we are in
the service of God； our emperor； and the beloved Tyrol。〃
〃And God and the emperor have imposed on Andreas Hofer the duty of
acting at the same time as prophet of the Lord and as captain of the
emperor。 Go； then； Andreas； and do your duty！〃 said Sieberer；
solemnly。
〃I shall do my duty bravely and faithfully to the last！〃 exclaimed
Hofer； enthusiastically。 Then he raised the small crucifix from his
breast； kissed it devoutly； and prayed in a low voice。
A sarcastic smile overspread Anthony Sieberer's face； but it
disappeared quickly when he happened to turn his eyes to the
neighboring mountains。 He looked keenly and searchingly toward the
mountain…path leading to Mittewald。 He saw there a small black speck
which was advancing with great rapidity。 Was it a bird？ No； the
speck had already become larger； he saw it was a human beinga
woman speeding along the mountain…path。 Now she was so close to them
that he could distinguish her face； it was that of a young girl； her
cheeks flushed； her eyes radiant； bold and intrepid as a chamois；
she hastened forward； her long； black tresses were waving round her
head； and her bosom heaved violently under the folds of her white
corset。
Now； she stood still for a moment； and seemed to listen； then she
bent far over the precipice； on the brink of which she was standing；
and below which the Tyrolese were encamped。 No sooner had she
perceived them than she uttered a loud cry of exultation； and
bounding forward； she exclaimed joyously： 〃There are the men of the
Passeyr valley！ Now I shall find their leader； Andreas Hofer； too！
Andreas Hofer where are you； Andreas Hofer？〃
〃Here I am！〃 shouted Andreas Hofer； starting up from his fervent
prayer； and advancing a few steps。
The young girl gave a start on discovering the two men； who had
hitherto been concealed from her by a large rock； but she looked at
them searchingly； and did not seem to be frightened or anxious。
〃Are you really Andreas Hofer〃 she asked； breathlessly。
〃Ask him if I am；〃 said Hofer； smiling and pointing to Sieberer。
〃That is unnecessary；〃 she replied calmly； 〃I see that you are
Andreas Hofer。 You look precisely as my father described you to me。
There is the long beard； the crucifix； the saint's image on your
breast； and there are the kind eyes； and the whole dear face。 God
bless you； Andreas Hofer！ I bring you many cordial greetings from my
father； Anthony Wallner…Aichberger。〃
〃God bless you； maiden；〃 exclaimed Andreas Hofer； holding out both
his hands to her。 Eliza took them； bent over Hofer's right hand； and
imprinted a glowing kiss on it。
〃Girl； what are you doing？〃 asked Hofer； blushing with confusion。
〃I kiss the dear hand which the Lord has chosen to deliver the
Tyrol；〃 she said； 〃the dear hand which holds the rosary so piously
and the sword so bravely； the hand into which my father laid his
hand； as if on an altar； when he swore to God that he would assist
in delivering the Tyrol from the enemy and restoring it to the
emperor。〃 〃Look at this girl； Sieberer； how well she knows how to
flatter me；〃 exclaimed Andreas； smilingly patting her flushed cheek。
〃And you say your father sent you