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the last cry of the despairing Tyrol to the headquarters of the
emperor at Totis； while Eisenstecken was to deliver a copy of the
petition to General Buol； commander…in…chief of the Austrian troops。
Night had now come； the friends and comrades had long since left
Anthony Steeger's house； and Andreas Hofer alone remained with him
to talk with his faithful friend about the disastrous change in
their affairs； and the gloomy prospects of the future。
〃I cannot believe that all is as they say；〃 said Andreas Hofer； with
a sigh。 〃The emperor promised us solemnly never to give up or
forsake again his faithful Tyrol； and it would be high…treason to
suppose that the emperor will not honestly redeem his pledges。 No；
no； I tell you； Anthony； the emperor and our dear Archduke John
certainly do not intend to abandon us； only the Austrian generals
are opposed to the continuance of the war； and long to get away from
our mountains； because they are afraid of Bonaparte； and think he
would punish them if they should stay here any longer and refuse to
deliver the province to his tender mercies。〃
〃I am likewise loth to believe that the Emperor Francis would
forsake us；〃 said Anthony Steeger； nodding his head approvingly。
〃For the emperor loves us； and will not allow us to fall into the
hands of the infidel Bonaparte； who has just committed another
outrage by arresting the Holy Father in Rome and dragging him away
from his capital。〃
〃Well； the Holy Father excommunicated him for this outrage；〃 cried
Andreas Hofer； with flashing eyes； 〃he called down the wrath of God
and man on the head of the Anti…christ； and rendered it incumbent on
every pious Christian to wage war against the criminal who laid his
ruthless hands even upon the holy Church； and trampled under foot
him whom the Almighty has anointed。 Anthony Steeger； let me tell
you； I will not allow the French to return to our country； and never
will I permit the Austrians to evacuate the Tyrol。〃
〃And how will you prevent them from so doing？〃 asked Anthony
Steeger； shrugging his shoulders。
〃I said to…day how I and all of us are going to prevent it。 We shall
not suffer the Austrians to depart； we shall keep them here by
prayers； stratagems； or force。 I have given instructions to all the
commanders to do so； I have given them written orders which they are
to communicate to our other friends； and in which I command them not
to permit the departure of the Austrians。 I believe I am commander…
in…chief as yet； and they will obey my bidding。〃
〃If they can do it； Andy； they certainly will； but what if they
cannot？ What if the Austrians cannot be kept here by prayers or
stratagem？〃
〃In that case we must resort to force；〃 cried Hofer impetuously。 〃We
must compel them to stay here； the whole Tyrol must rise as one man
and with its strong arms keep the Austrians in the country。 Yes；
yes； Anthony； we must do it； it will be best for us all。 It must
look as though we detain the Austrians by force； and this will be
most agreeable to the Emperor Francis； for what fault of his is it
that the Tyrolese prevent him from carrying out what he promised to
Bonaparte in the armistice？ It is not his fault； then； if the
Austrians stay here； and if we prevent them from leaving our
mountains。 We must detain them； we must。 And I will write
immediately to old Red…beard； Father Haspinger； Joseph Speckbacher；
and Anthony Wallner。 I will summon them to a conference with me； and
we will concert measures for a renewed rising of the Tyrol。 Give me
pen and ink； Tony； I will write in the first place to old Red…beard；
and your Joe shall take the letter this very night to his convent。〃
Anthony Steeger hastened to bring him what he wanted； and while
Hofer scrawled the letter； his friend stood behind him； and followed
with attentive eyes every word which Andreas finished with
considerable difficulty。
Both were so much absorbed in the letter that they did not perceive
that the door opened behind them； and that Baron von Hormayr； in a
dusty travelling…dress； entered the room。 For a moment he stood
still at the door and cast a searching glance on the two men； he
then advanced quickly toward Andreas Hofer； and； laying his hand on
his shoulder； he said： 〃Well； Andy； what are you writing there？〃
Andreas looked up； but the unexpected arrival of the baron did not
seem to excite his surprise。 〃I am writing to old Red…beard；〃 he
said； 〃I am writing to him that he is to come to me immediately。 And
after finishing the letter to old Red…beard； I will write the same
thing to Speckbacher and Anthony Wallner； Mr。 Intendant of the
Tyrol。〃
〃Do not apply that title to me any longer； Andy；〃 said Hormayr； with
a slight frown。 〃I am no longer intendant of the Tyrol； for you know
that we must leave the Tyrol and restore it to the French and
Bavarians。〃
〃I for one do not know it； Mr。 Intendant of the Tyrol；〃 cried
Andreas； with an angry glance。 〃I know only that the Archduke John
appointed you military intendant of the Tyrol； and that you took a
solemn oath to aid us in becoming once more； and remaining；
Austrians。〃
〃I think； Andy； I have honestly redeemed my pledges；〃 said Hormayr。
〃I assisted you everywhere to the best of my power； was always in
your midst； encouraging； organizing； fighting； and mediating； and I
think you will admit that I had likewise my little share in the
deliverance of the Tyrol； and proved myself one of its good and
faithful sons。〃
〃Well； yes； it is true；〃 murmured Hofer； 〃you did a great deal of
good； and； above all things； you gained over to our side the
Austrian generals； who would not have anything to do with us
peasants； and refused to make common cause with us； for you possess
a very eloquent tongue； and what can be accomplished by means of the
tongue you do accomplish。 But now； sir； the tongue will no longer
suffice； and we must fight also with the sword。〃
〃God forbid； Andy！〃 exclaimed Hormayr； 〃you know that the emperor
has concluded an armistice with Bonaparte； and while it lasts we are
not allowed to fight with the sword。〃
〃The emperor has concluded an armistice？ Well； then； let there be an
armistice。 But you will not confine yourself to an armisticeyou
intend to evacuate the Tyrol。 That seems to me no fair armistice；
and therefore I shall summon old Red…beard； and my other faithful
friends； and concert with them measures to prevent you from
concluding such an unfair armistice； and forsaking us。〃
〃And Andy is right in doing so！〃 exclaimed Anthony Steeger。 〃We must
not permit the Austrians to leave the province； and we are firmly
resolved that we will not。〃
〃You are fools； both of you；〃 said Hormayr； shrugging his shoulders。
〃The Emperor Francis agreed positively that the Austrian troops
should evacuate the Tyrol during the armistice； hence； the troops
must leave； lest the emperor should break his word。〃
〃But if they do； the emperor breaks the word he pledged to us；〃
cried Anthony Steeger； vehemently。
〃Anthony Steeger；〃 said Hormayr； sternly； 〃I have come hither to
have an interview with Andreas Hofer； to whom I wish to communicate
something of great importance。 Therefore； be so kin