"It will be comparatively easy," said Father Joachim, "for Bavaria to penetrate our country as far as Innsbruck; but, from that point, our enemies will find themselves in a complete network of defiles, ravines, gorges, and valleys--" "From which, if we let them escape, we shall be fools!" cried Speckbacher. "They are many, and we are few, my son." "They fight for kreutzers, and we for freedom, father." "True; and therefore I believe we shall win the day, but it will be a hard-fought one. From Carinthia the foe will approach us through the valley of the Drave; from Italy through the valley of the Adige. We must hem them in, and cut them off, before they effect a junction. No time must be lost in fortifying the mountain passes. On the 9th of April, a division of Austrian troops will advance--" "God be thanked! Under the Archduke John?" "Under General Chastelar and Baron Hormayr. You look disappointed, Hofer; but they are good men and true.--Directly they begin to march, the Tyrol must rise. You must ring your alarm-bells and kindle your beacons; send messages to every dwelling within reach, and billets inscribed '_'Tis time_' to those afar off. Saw-dust scattered on the rivers will be a signal to the men lower down the valleys that you are in arms. The foe will probably endeavour to reach the Brenner by way of Brixen--" "He must be intercepted!" "Undoubtedly. Who will lead the men of the Passeyrthal over the Jauffen? Andreas Hofer, will _you_?" A deep red flush rose to the Sandwirth's temples. He rose; and, in a low, firm voice, replied-- "I will." "Let us make some memoranda, then, of men and places--" Some humble writing implements were placed on the table; and Hofer, after trying the point of a stumpy pen on his thumb, offered it, with a crumpled piece of paper, to Father Joachim, who, however, produced his own pocket-book, while the Sandwirth and Speckbacher reckoned up to him the number of men they thought they might muster. Rudolf presently went round to Theresa, and whispered, "Can you give me some bits of wood? I might be cutting some billets and inscribing them." She mutely nodded, went out, and returned with her apron full. He took out his clasp-knife and quietly set to work; and Franz, after a lazy fashion, helped him. "Five thousand strong," at length said the Capuchin. "There or thereabouts," said Hofer. "Speckbacher must count up the men about Halle." His little boy here stole up to him. "So, Johann," said his father, in a lowered voice, while Speckbacher reckoned up the men of Halle, "you set the stranger on his way. Did he say anything to you?" "Only asked a heap of questions about the shooting match, father." "Humph! Nothing else?" "Only about Speckbacher--" "What of me?" hastily said Speckbacher, overhearing him. "Only who you were. I said you took wood to the salt-works." "Humph! Was that all?" "He asked me about Franz." "What did you tell him?" said Franz.