would treat me as a traitor; and then a bullet would strike me also,
for they would shoot me."

"Oh, Jesus Maria! my Andy," cried Gertrude, taking Hofer's head in
her hands, as if to protect it from the murderous bullets.

"I do not say that this will occur; I say only that it may occur,"
said Andreas, with a gentle smile. "I wish to tell you only that I
am fully alive to the dangers threatening me when I step to-morrow
morning out of my street-door, and enter upon the duties of the
position which they have conferred on me; for I am to command the
peasants of the Passeyr valley and direct the insurrection in all
this part of the country. Therefore, I asked God and my conscience
whether or not I did right in taking upon myself so responsible a
task, and plunging my family, perhaps, into grief and distress. But
do you know what both of them replied to me? They said: 'It is your
duty to love your wife and your children; but you must also love
your emperor and your country; and when the latter call you and say,
"Come, we need your arm and assistance," you must, as an honest man,
obey the call, go to them, and leave your family; for to love the
fatherland is every man's highest honor, and to be loyal and devoted
to the emperor is the first duty of every Tyrolese.' God and my
conscience spoke to me thus in my breast, and now I ask you too,
dear wife--I ask you before God and your conscience--would you like
your husband not to obey the emperor's call, but stay at home, while
his brave brethren and friends are taking the field to defend the
country and expel the Bavarians?"

"No, indeed, Andy, I would not," cried Gertrude, in dismay; "I
should never dare again to lift my eyes before anybody; I should not