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Andreas　Hofer

An　HISTORICAL　NOVEL

by　Lousia　Muhlbach






CONTENTS。

CHAPTER
　　　　　　I　　　1809
　　　　　II　　　The　Emperor　Francis
　　　　III　　　The　Courier　and　the　Ambassador
　　　　　IV　　　The　Emperor　and　his　Brothers
　　　　　　V　　　The　Performance　of　〃The　Creation〃
　　　　　VI　　　Andreas　Hofer
　　　　VII　　　Andreas　Hofer　at　the　Theatre
　　　VIII　　　Consecration　of　the　Flags；　and　Farewell
　　　　　IX　　　Tis　Time！
　　　　　　X　　　Anthony　Wallner　of　Windisch…Matrey
　　　　　XI　　　The　Declaration　of　Love
　　　　XII　　　Farewell！
　　　XIII　　　The　Bridegroom
　　　　XIV　　　The　Bridge　of　St。　Lawrence
　　　　　XV　　　The　Bridge　of　Laditch
　　　　XVI　　　On　the　Sterzinger　Moos
　　　XVII　　　The　Hay…Wagons
　　XVIII　　　Capture　of　Innspruck
　　　　XIX　　　The　Capitulation　of　Wiltau
　　　　　XX　　　Eliza　Wallner's　Return
　　　　XXI　　　The　Catastrophe
　　　XXII　　　Eliza　and　Ulrich
　　XXIII　　　The　Triumph　of　Death
　　　XXIV　　　The　Archduke　John　at　Comorn
　　　　XXV　　　The　Emperor　Francis　at　Wolkersdorf
　　　XXVI　　　The　Reply　of　the　King　of　Prussia
　　XXVII　　　The　Battle　of　Wagram
　XXVIII　　　The　Armistice　of　Znaym
　　　XXIX　　　Hofer　and　Speckbacher
　　　　XXX　　　The　Capuchin's　Oath
　　　XXXI　　　The　First　Battle
　　XXXII　　　The　Fifteenth　of　August　at　Innspruck
　XXXIII　　　Andreas　Hofer；　the　Emperor's　Lieutenant
　　XXXIV　　　The　Fifteenth　of　August　at　Comorn
　　　XXXV　　　A　Day　of　the　Emperor's　Lieutenant
　　XXXVI　　　The　Lovers
　XXXVII　　　Elza's　Return
XXXVIII　　　The　Wedding
　　XXXIX　　　The　Treaty　of　Peace
　　　　　XL　　　Dreadful　Tidings
　　　　XLI　　　Betrayal　and　Seizure　of　Hofer
　　　XLII　　　The　Warning
　　XLIII　　　The　Flight
　　　XLIV　　　Andreas　Hofer's　Death






CHAPTER　I。

1809。


The　year　1809　had　come；　but　the　war　against　France；　so　intensely
longed　for　by　all　Austria；　had　not　yet　broken　out；　and　the　people
and　the　army　were　vainly　waiting　for　the　war…cry　of　their　sovereign；
the　Emperor　Francis。　It　is　true；　not　a　few　great　things　bad　been
accomplished　in　the　course　of　the　past　year：　Austria　had　armed；
organized　the　militia；　strengthened　her　fortresses；　and　filled　her
magazines；　but　the　emperor　still　hesitated　to　take　the　last　and　most
decisive　step　by　crowning　his　military　preparations　with　a　formal
declaration　of　war。

No　one　looked　for　this　declaration　of　war　more　intensely　than　the
emperor's　second　brother；　the　Archduke　John；　a　young　man　of　scarcely
twenty…seven。　He　had　been　the　soul　of　all　the　preparations　which；
since　the　summer　of　1808；　had　been　made　throughout　Austria；　he　had
conceived　the　plan　of　organizing　the　militia　and　the　reserves；　and
had　drawn　up　the　proclamation　of　the　12th　of　May；　1808；　by　which　all
able…bodied　Austrians　were　called　upon　to　take　up　arms。　But　this
exhausted　his　powers；　he　could　organize　the　army；　but　could　not　say
to　it；　〃Take　the　field　against　the　enemy！〃　The　emperor　alone　could
utter　this　word；　and　he　was　silent。

〃And　he　will　be　silent　until　the　favorable　moment　has　passed；〃
sighed　the　Archduke　John；　when；　on　returning　from　a　very　long
interview　with　the　emperor；　he　was　alone　with　his　friend；　General
Nugent；　in　his　cabinet。

He　had　communicated　to　this　confidant　the　full　details　of　his
interview　with　the　emperor；　and　concluded　his　report　by　saying；　with
a　deep　sigh；　〃The　emperor　will　be　silent　until　the　favorable　moment
has　passed！〃

Count　Nugent　gazed　with　a　look　of　heart…felt　sympathy　into　the
archduke's　mournful　face；　he　saw　the　tears　filling　John's　large　blue
eyes；　he　saw　that　he　firmly　compressed　his　lips　as　if　to　stifle　a
cry　of　pain　or　rage；　and　that　he　clinched　his　hands　in　the　agony　of
his　despair。　Animated　by　tender　compassion；　the　general　approached
the　archduke；　who　had　sunk　into　a　chair；　and　laid　his　hand　gently　on
his　shoulder。　〃Courage；　courage！〃　he　whispered；　〃nothing　is　lost　as
yet；　and　your　imperial　highness〃

〃Ah；　why　do　you　address　me　with　‘imperial　highness'？〃　cried　the
archduke；　almost　indignantly。　〃Do　you　not　see；　then；　that　this　is　a
miserable　title　by　which　Fate　seems　to　mock　me；　and　which　it
thunders　constantly；　and；　as　it　were；　sneeringly　into　my　ears；　in
order　to　remind　me　again　and　again　of　my　deplorable　powerlessness？
There　is　nothing　'imperial'　about　me　but　the　yoke　under　which　I　am
groaning；　and　my　‘highness'　is　to　be　compared　only　with　the　crumbs
of　Lazarus　which　fell　from　the　rich　man's　table。　And　yet　there　are
persons；　Nugent；　who　envy　me　these　crumbsmen　who　think　it　a
brilliant　and　glorious　lot　to　be　an　'imperial　highness；'　the　brother
of　a　sovereign　emperor！　Ah；　they　do　not　know　that　this　title　means
only　that　I　am　doomed　to　everlasting　dependence　and　silence；　and
that　the　emperor's　valet　de　chambre　and　his　private　secretary　are
more　influential　men　than　the　Archduke　John；　who　cannot　do　anything
but　submit；　be　silent；　and　look　on　in　idleness。〃

〃Now　your　imperial　highness　slanders　yourself；〃　exclaimed　Count
Nugent。　〃You　have　not　been　silent；　you　have　not　looked　on　in
idleness；　but　have　worked　incessantly　and　courageously　for　the
salvation　of　your　people　and　your　country。　Who　drew　up　the　original
plan　for　the　organization　of　the　militia　and　the　reserves？　Who
elaborated　its　most　minute　details　with　admirable　sagacity？　It　was
the　Archduke　Johnthe　archduke　in　whom　all　Austria　hopes；　and　who
is　the　last　refuge　and　comfort　of　all　patriots！〃

〃Ah；　how　much　all　of　you　are　to　be　pitied；　my　friend；　if　you　hope　in
me！〃　sighed　John。　〃What　am　I；　then？　A　poor　atom　which　is　allowed　to
move　in　the　glare　of　the　imperial　sun；　but　which　would　be
annihilated　so　soon　as　it　should　presume　to　be　an　independent
luminary。　Pray；　Nugent；　do　not　speak　of　such　hopes；　for；　if　the
emperor　should　hear　of　it；　not　only　would　my　liberty　be　endangered；
but　also　yours　and　that　of　all　who　are　of　your　opinion。　The　emperor
does　not　like　to　see　the　eyes　of　his　subjects　fixed　upon　me；　every
kind　word　uttered　about　me　sours　him　and　increases　the　ill…will　with
which　he　regards　me。〃

〃That　is　impossible；　your　highness；〃　exclaimed　the　count。　〃How　can
our　excellent　emperor　help　loving　his　brother；　who　is　so　gifted；　so
high…minded　and　learned；　and　withal　so　modest　and　kind…hearted？　How
can　he　help　being　happy　to　see　that　others　love　and　appreciate　him
too？〃

〃Does　the　emperor　love　my　brother　Charles；　who　is　much　more　gifted
and　high…minded　than　I　am？〃　asked　John；　shrugging　his　shoulders。
〃Did　he　not　arrest　his　victorious　career；　and　recall　him　from　the
army；　although；　or　rather　BECAUSE；　he　knew　that　the　army　idolized
him；　and　that　all　Austria　loved　him　and　hoped　in　him？　Ah；　believe
me；　the　emperor　is　distrustful　of　all　his　brothers；　and　all　our
protestations　of　love　and　devotedness　do　not　touch　him；　but　rebound
powerlessly　from　the　armor　of　jealousy　with　which　he　has　steeled　his
heart　against　us。　You　see；　I　tell　you　all　this　with　perfect
composure；　but　I　confess　it　cost　me　once　many　tears　and　inward
struggles；　and　it　was　long　before　my　heart　became　calm　and　resigned。
My　heart　long　yearned　for　love；　confidence；　and　friendship。　I　have
got　over　these　yearnings　now；　and　resigned　myself　to　be　lonely；　and
remain　so　all　my　life　long。　That　is　to　say；〃　added　the　archduke；
with　a　gentle　smile；　holding　out　his　hand　to　the　count；　〃lonely；
without　a　sister；　without　a　brotherlonely　in　my　family。　However；　I
have　found　a　most　delightful　compensation　for　this　loneliness；　for　I
call　you　and　Hormayr　friends；　I　have　my　books；　which　always　comfort；
divert；　and　amuse　me；　and　last；　I　have　my　great　and　glorious　hopes
regarding　the　future　of　the　fatherland。　Ah；　how　could　I　say　that　I
was　poor　and　lonely　when　I　am　so　rich　in　hopes；　and　have　two　noble
and　faithful　friends？　I　am　sure；　Nugent；　you　will　never　desert　me；
but　stand　by　me　to　the　endto　the　great　day　of　victory；　or　to　the
end　of　our　humiliation　and　disgrace？〃

〃Your　imperial　highness　knows　full　well　that　my　heart　will　never
turn　from　you；　that　I　love　and　revere　you；　that　you　are　to　me　the
embodiment　of　all　that　is　noble；　great；　and　beautiful；　that　I　would
be　joyfully　ready　at　any　hour　to　suffer　death　for　you；　and　that
neither　prosperity　nor　adversity　could　induce　me　to　forsake　you。　You
are　the　hope　of　my　heart；　you　are　the　hope　of　my　countrynay；　the
hope　of　all　Germany。　We　all　need　your　assistance；　your　heart；　your
arm；　for　we　expect　that　you　will　place　yourself　at　the　head　of
Germany；　and　lead　us　to　glorious　victories！〃

〃God　grant　that　the　hour　when　we　shall　take　the　field　may　soon　come！
Then；　my　friend；　I　shall　prove　that　I　am　ready；　like　all　of　you；　to
shed　my　heart's　blood　for　the　fatherland；　and　conquer　or　die　for　the
liberty　of　Austria；　the　liberty　of　Germany。　For　in　the　present　state
of　affairs　the　fate　of　Germany；　too；　depends　on　the　success　of　our
arms。　If　we　succumb　and　have　to　submit　to　the　same　humiliations　as
Prussia；　the　whole　of　Germany　will　be　but　a　French　province；　and　the
freedom　and　independence　of　our　fatherland　will　be　destroyed　for
long　years　to　come。　I　am　too　weak　to　survive　such　a　disgrace。　If
Austria　falls；　I　shall　fall　too；　if　German　liberty　dies；　I　shall　die
too。〃　＇Footnote：　The　Archduke　John's　own　words。See　〃Forty…eight
Letters　from　Archduke　John　of　Austria　to　Johannes　von　Muller；〃　p。
90。＇

〃German　liberty　will　not　die！〃　exclaimed　Count　Nugent；
enthusiastically；　〃it　will　take　the　field　one　day　against　all　the
powerful　and　petty　tyrants　of　the　fatherland。　Then　it　will　choose
the　Archduke　John　its　general…in…chief；　and　he　will　lead　it　to
victory！〃

〃No；　no；　my　friend；〃　said　John；　mournfully；　〃Fate　refuses　to　let　me
play　a　decisive　part　in　the　history　of　the　world。　My　role　will
always　be　but　a　secondary　one；　my　will　will　always　be　impeded；　my
arm　will　be　paralyzed　forever。　You　know　it。　You　know　that　I　am
constantly　surrounded　by　secret　spies　and　eavesdroppers；　who　watch
me　with　lynx…eyed　mistrust　and　misrepresent　every　step　I　take。　It
was　always　so；　and　will　remain　so　until　I　die　or　become　a　decrepit
old　man；　whose　arm　is　no　longer　able　to　wield　the　sword　or　even　the
pen。　That　I　am　young；　that　I　have　a　heart　for　the　sufferings　of　my
country；　a　heart　not　only　for　the　honor　of　Austria；　but　for　that　of
Germanythat　is　what　gives　umbrage　to　them；　what　renders　me
suspicious　in　their　eyes；　and　causes　them　to　regard　me　as　a
revolutionist。　I　had　to　suffer　a　good　deal　for　my　convictions；　a
great　many　ob