"And what is being done now, Anderl?"
"Much. The regular troops are assisting the Tyrolese to hem in the enemy in the Lower Tyrol. The landsturm from Meran and the Vintsghaw are advancing on the right side of the Etsch; and those of Etsch and Fleims are keeping the passes of Rochetta and Bucco di Vela. Baron Hormayr and Martin Teimer want General Chastelar to attack the enemy in the Lower Tyrol at once; but he's too slow, too slow. By not coming up in time, he let us take Innsbruck without him: and Martin Teimer won all the glory of making Bisson and Wrede lay down their arms."
"Martin Teimer is no favourite of mine," said Anna, pouring out the porridge.
"Ah, he has done good service, nevertheless. General Chastelar finds fault with our training, calls us round-shouldered, and who knows what?—and wants to drill us a little. He won't be able to turn a wild lark into a piping bulfinch, though, it's my opinion. As long as we beat the enemy, what does it signify how we do it? He is doing real good service, however, by giving muskets to those who have no fire-arms, but only spears and such like of their own manufacture. Now, then, where are the children?"
Theresa went to the door to give a jödel, which would answer the purpose of a dinner-bell; but, changing her purpose, returned, saying, "Father, here is a young, olive-coloured man, who looks something like a soldier, coming up to the house; in quest, apparently, of you."
Almost at the same instant, the young man stepped in, taking off his cap and saluting Hofer in a foreign accent as Signor Andrea.
"Come sta?" returned Hofer, who rather piqued himself on a smattering of Italian. "Sedete voi. Andiamo pranzare—Fate lo stesso."
"Mille grazie," returned the youth, who, however, preferred his own German to Hofer's Italian. "The Signor Barone has sent me, Giuseppe Eisenstecken, with the desire you will accept me as adjutant."
"What want have I of an adjutant?" inquired the Sandwirth. "What are you to do?"
"Che vi piace," returned Giuseppe, spreading out his hands; "I am quite at your service."