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