andreas hofer-第69部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


road　was　quite　deserted；　and　Andreas　could　brood　uninterruptedly
over　his　thoughts　and　conceive　his　plans。　All　at　once　his　musings
were　interrupted　by　the　roll　of　a　wagon　approaching　on　the　road。　It
was　a　large　wagon　with　racks；　drawn　by　four　horses；　and　many　men　sat
in　it。　Andreas　Hofer　was　as　yet　unable　to　see　who　they　were；　but　the
red　and　white　colours　of　their　gold…and…silver…embroidered　coats
showed　him　that　they　were　soldiers。　When　the　wagon　came　closer　up　to
him；　he　recognized　them；　they　were　Austrian　officers　and　soldiers。
But　who　was　he　that　occupied　one　of　the　front　seats　among　them？　Who
was　that　tall；　slender　man　in　the　dress　of　the　Tyrolese；　his　head
covered　with　a　pointed　green　hat？　The　wagon　came　nearer　and　nearer。
Andreas　Hofer　halted　his　horse　and　looked　steadfastly　at　the
Tyrolese　seated　in　the　midst　of　the　Austrian　officers。　〃Good
heavens；〃　he　murmured；　giving　a　start；　〃I　believe　it　is　Joseph
Speckbacher！　Yes；　yes；　it　is。〃

Now　the　wagon　was　close　by　his　side；　and　it　was　really　he；　it　was
Joseph　Speckbacher；　and　it　was　plainly　to　be　seen　that　he　had
likewise　recognized　Andreas　Hofer；　for　he　uttered　a　cry；　and　a　deep
blush　suffused　his　cheeks。　But　the　Austrian　officers　had　also
recognized　the　brave　Sandwirth；　the　universally　beloved　Barbone；　and
they　shouted　to　the　coachman　to　drive　quicker　and　whip　his　horses
into　a　full　gallop。　The　coachman　did　so；　and　the　carriage　sped　away
at　a　furious　rate。　Andreas　Hofer　halted　at　the　roadside；　his　tearful
eyes　gazed　upon　his　friend；　and　when　Speckbacher　was　whirled　past
him；　Andreas　exclaimed　in　a　loud；　mournful　voice；　〃Speckbacher；　are
you　too　going　to　desert　the　country？　They　are　driving　you　to　your
own　disgrace；　Joe！〃　＇Footnote：　Andreas　Hofer's　own　words。See
Mayr's　〃Joseph　Speckbacher；〃　p。　143。＇

The　wagon　passed　him　noisily；　and　Joseph　Speckbacher's　horse；　which
was　tied　behind；　galloped　rapidly　after　it。　Andreas　Hofer　looked
after　his　friend　until　a　cloud　of　dust　enveloped　the　disappearing
wagon；　and　he　heard　only　the　sound　of　the　wheels　at　a　distance。　He
then　heaved　a　deep　sigh；　wiped　a　tear　from　his　eye；　and　rode　on。　But
his　heart　was　heavy　and　melancholy；　and　his　thoughts　returned　again
and　again　during　his　ride　on　the　lonely　road　to　Joseph　Speckbacher；
who　had　turned　his　back　on　the　Tyrol　and　was　about　to　leave　it　in
the　hour　of　its　sorest　distress。　Suddenly　he　thought　he　heard　his
own　name　uttered　behind；　the　call　was　repeated　louder　and　more
urgently。

Andreas　Hofer　halted　his　horse　and　turned。　A　cloud　of　dust　came　up
the　road　like　a　whirlwind；　now　it　opened；　and　the　head　and　neck　of　a
horse　and　the　slender　rider　mounted　on　him　came　in　view。　The　cloud
veils　his　face　as　yet；　but　he　comes　nearer　and　nearer；　his　horse　is
now　by　Andreas　Hofer's　side；　the　rider　stretches　out　his　arms　toward
him　and　exclaims　exultingly：　〃Andy；　here　I　am！　I　heard　what　you
said；　and　jumped　from　the　wagon；　untied　my　horse；　vaulted　into　the
saddle；　and　sped　after　you；　my　Andy。　I　had　to　overtake　you　and　tell
you　that　I　do　not　want　to　be　disgraced；　that　I　will　not　leave　the
Tyrol　unless　you　do　too。〃

〃I　never　will；　Joe；　unless　I　should　die；〃　said　Andreas　Hofer；
solemnly。　〃But　God　be　praised　that　I　have　got　you　back；　for　a　piece
of　my　heart　would　have　left　the　country　with　you。　But　you　are　back；
and　I　am　so　glad　of　it！　And　I　must　give　you　a　kiss　in　the　name　of
God；　the　country；　and　the　Emperor　Francis。　Welcome　home；　good　and
faithful　son　of　the　fatherland！〃

He　encircled　Speckbacher's　neck　with　his　arms　and　imprinted　a　kiss
on　his　forehead。　They　remained　locked　in　a　long　embrace；　keeping
their　horses　side　by　side；　and　gazing　at　each　other　with　proud；
smiling　joy。

〃And　now　tell　me；　Andy；　what　are　you　going　to　do？〃　asked
Speckbacher；　after　a　long　pause。　〃I　hope　you　will　not　look　on
quietly　and　peaceably　while　the　Bavarians　and　French　are　re…entering
the　country？　I　could　not　bear　it；　and　this　was　the　very　reason　why　I
did　not　want　to　stay　in　the　country；　for　the　Austrian　officers　told
me；　if　I　wished　to　remain　in　the　Tyrol；　I　should　have　to　keep　very
quiet　and　allow　the　enemy　to　take　possession　of　the　province；　in
accordance　with　the　stipulations　of　the　armistice。　And　you　see；
Andy；　my　heart　revolted　at　that；　therefore　I　wished　to　get　away　and
remain　abroad　until　the　armistice　had　expired；　when　we　would　be　once
more　allowed　to　fight　bravely　for　our　country　and　our　emperor。〃

〃No　one　shall　prevent　us　from　doing　so　now；〃　said　Andreas；　calmly。
〃What　do　we　care　for　the　armistice？　The　emperor　concluded　it；　we　did
not；　and　I　believe　the　emperor　will　not　blame　us　for　disregarding　it
and　continuing　the　war　as　we　commenced　it。〃

〃You　are　right；　we　will　do　so；〃　exclaimed　Speckbacher；　joyfully。
〃And　now　I　will　communicate　to　you　some　important　news　which　the
Austrian　officers　received　only　this　morning。　Anthony　Wallner；　of
Windisch…Matrey　is　also　of　your　opinion；　he　refuses　likewise　to
acknowledge　the　armistice　and　make　peace　with　the　enemy。　When　the
Bavarians；　four　days　ago；　intended　to　cross　the　frontier　near
Windisch…Matrey；　Anthony　Wallner　and　John　Panzl　went　to　meet　them
with　four　hundred　sharpshooters　whom　they　had　gathered　in　great
haste。　They　took　position　at　the　bridge　of　Taxenbach　and　tried　to
prevent　the　Bavarians　from　crossing　it。　The　Bavarians　were　seven
thousand　strong；　and　Wallner　had　only　four　hundred　men；　but　our
friends；　nevertheless；　defended　the　bridge　for　seven　hours；　killed
and　wounded　over　three　hundred　Bavarians；　and　retreated　into　the
mountains　only　because　the　odds　were　too　great。〃　＇Footnote：
Peternader；　〃Die　Tyroler　Landesvertheidigung　im　Jahre　1809；〃　vol。
ii。；　p。　84。＇

　〃I　know　Anthony　Wallner；　and　was　convinced　that　he　would　not　submit
quietly；〃　said　Andreas；　joyfully。　〃And　we　will　follow　his　example；
Joseph。　The　good　God　has　imposed　on　us　the　task　of　defending　the
Tyrol；　and　we　will　fulfil　it　faithfully。〃

〃Yes；　we　will；　and　we　will　begin　this　very　hour。　We　must　find　out；
above　all　things；　if　all　of　our　countrymen　are　of　our　opinion；　and
if　they　are　courageous　enough　to　continue　the　struggle；　even　after
the　Austrians　have　left　us。〃

〃What　good　did　the　Austrians　do　us　while　they　were　here？〃　asked
Andreas；　indignantly。　〃Let　me　tell　you；　Joe；　on　the　whole　I　am　glad
that　the　Austrians　are　evacuating　the　province。　It　is　better　for　us
to　fight　alone；　and　trust　only　our　own　strength。　Regular　troops　and
insurgents　never　fight　well　together　in　the　end；　for　there　are
always　jealousies　between　them；　they　mutually　charge　each　other　with
the　blunders　committed　during　the　campaign；　and　grudge　each　other
the　glory　obtained　in　the　battles。　Hence；　it　is　better　for　us　to　be
alone　and　have　no　other　allies　than　the　good　God；　the　Holy　Virgin；
and　her　blessed　Son。〃　＇Footnote：　Andrew　Hofer's　own　words。See
Mayr's　〃Joseph　Speckbacher；〃　p。145。　22＇

〃You　are　right；　always　right；　Andy；〃　said　Speckbacher。　〃We　will　go
courageously　to　work；　then；　and　you　shall　see；　my　Andy；　that
Speckbacher　is　still　what　he　always　was；　and　that　he　will　henceforth
never　think　of　leaving　the　country；　but　will　stand　faithfully　by　it
and　fight　until　the　enemy　has　been　expelled　once　more；　and　we　are
free　again。　I　will　ride　now　through　the　whole　Puster　valley；　and
then　from　Brunecken　through　the　Dux　valley　to　my　home；　the　Rinn；　and
I　will　stir　up　the　people　everywhere；　and　call　upon　the　men　to
follow　me　and　fight　once　more　for　liberty　and　the　fatherland。〃

〃Do　so；　Joe；　and　I　will　follow　your　example。　I　will　return　to　the
Passeyr　valley；　you　shall　all　hear　from　me　before　long；　and　then　my
voice　shall　resound　throughout　the　Tyrol。　God　will　make　it　strong
enough　to　penetrate　to　every　ear；　and　fill　every　heart　with
enthusiastic　devotion　to　the　country　and　the　emperor。　Farewell；
then；　Joseph！　The　Tyrol　and　I　have　recovered　you；　and　my　heart
thanks　God　fervently　for　it。　Farewell；　you　shall　hear　from　me　before
long！〃

He　nodded　once　more　kindly　to　Joseph　Speckbacher　and　galloped　down
the　valley；　while　Speckbacher　trotted　up　the　mountain…path。

Andreas　Hofer　rode　all　day　long　through　the　country。　He　saw　the
people　everywhere　in　commotion　and　uproar；　they　greeted　him　with
jubilant　cheers；　and　the　men　swore　everywhere　that　they　would　not
allow　the　enemy　to　re…enter　the　country　without　resistance；　that
they　did　not　believe　in　the　pacific　assurances　of　the　proclamations
with　which　the　Bavarians　had　flooded　the　country；　that　they　were
satisfied；　on　the　contrary；　that　the　enemy　would　revenge　himself　as
cruelly　as　he　had　done　after　his　return　in　May；　and　that　they　were；
therefore；　firmly　resolved　to　fight　and　expel　the　enemy　once　more。

〃Get　your　rifles　and　ammunition；　then；　and　prepare　for　the
struggle；〃　said　Andreas　Hofer　everywhere　to　the　men　who　were　so　full
of　ardor。　〃You　shall　hear　from　me　soon；　and　learn　what　God　wants　us
to　do。〃

Andreas　Hofer　did　not　rest　even　at　night。　The　great　task　which　was
imposed　upon　him　urged　him　on　incessantly。　He　therefore　profited　by
the　clear　moonlight　to　ride　across　the　Janfen；　and　at　daybreak　his
horse　neighed　joyously　and　stopped　at　the　bank　of　the　foaming
Passeyr；　at　no　great　distance　from　the　white　house　of　the　Sandwirth；
the　home　which　contained　his　greatest　treasures　on　earth；　his　wife
and　children。

But　Andreas　Hofer　did　not　intend　to　return　to　them　now；　he　did　not
want　to　have　his　heart　softened　by　the　sight　of　his　wife；　who　would
certainly　weep　and　lament　on　learning　of　his　resolve　to　renew　the
war　against　the　Bavarians　and　French。　And　for　the　same　reason　he
wished　to　avoid　meeting　his　children；　whose　dear　faces　might　remind
him　that　he　was　about　to　endanger　the　life　of　their　father；　and　that
their　bright　eyes　might　soon　fill　with　tears　of　bitter　grief。　He
would　speak　only　to　God；　and　solitude　was　to　be　his　sole　adviser。
Andreas　Hofer　greeted　his　house　and　its　beloved　inmates　with　a　long；
tearful　look；　he　then　dried　his　eyes　and　alighted。　The　horse　neighed
joyously　and　sped　merrily　down　the　hill　toward　his　stable。　But
Andreas　Hofer　took　a　by…path　and　ascended　the　mountain　through　the
forest　and　shrubbery　to　the　Kellerlahn；　a　cave　known　only　to　him　and
some　of　his　intimate　friends；　where　his　faithful　servant　had
prepared　him　a　couch