the life and adventures of baron trenck-2-第6章
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This unexpected liberality raised the suspicions of the Saxon post… master； who therefore opened the letter； read the contents； and instead of sending it to Vienna； or at least to the general post… master at Dresden； he preferred the traitorous act of taking it himself to the governor of Magdeburg； who then； as at present； was Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick。
What were my terrors； what my despair； when I beheld the Prince himself； about three o'clock in the afternoon； enter my prison with his attendants； present my letter； and ask； in an authoritative voice； who had carried it to Gummern。 My answer was； 〃I know not。〃 Strict search was immediately made by smiths； carpenters； and masons； and after half an hour's examination； they discovered neither my hole nor the manner in which I disencumbered myself of my chains； they only saw that the middle grating； in the aperture where the light was admitted； had been removed。 This was boarded up the next day； only a small air…hole left； of about six inches diameter。
The Prince began to threaten； I persisted I had never seen the sentinel who had rendered me this service； nor asked his name。 Seeing his attempts all ineffectual； the governor； in a milder tone； said； 〃You have ever complained； Baron Trenck； of not having been legally sentenced； or heard in your own defence； I give you my word of honour； this you shall be； and also that you shall be released from your fetters； if you will only tell me who took your letter。〃 To this I replied； with all the fortitude of innocence； 〃Everybody knows； my lord； I have never deserved the treatment I have met with in my country。 My heart is irreproachable。 I seek to recover my liberty by every means in my power： but were I capable of betraying the man whose compassion has induced him to succour my distress； were I the coward that could purchase happiness at his expense； I then should； indeed； deserve to wear those chains with which I am loaded。 For myself； do with me what you please： yet remember I am not wholly destitute： I am still a captain in the Imperial service； and a descendant of the house of Trenck。〃
Prince Ferdinand stood for a moment unable to answer； then renewed his threats； and left my dungeon。 I have since been told that； when he was out of hearing； he said to those around him； 〃I pity his hard fate； and cannot but admire his strength of mind！〃
I must here remark that； when we remember the usual circumspection of this great man； we are obliged to wonder at his imprudence in holding a conversation of such a kind with me； which lasted a considerable time； in the presence of the guard。 The soldiers of the whole garrison had afterwards the utmost confidence； as they were convinced I would not meanly devote others to destruction； that I might benefit myself。 This was the way to gain me esteem and intercourse among the men； especially as the Duke had said he knew I must have money concealed； for that I had distributed some to the sentinels。
He had scarcely been gone an hour； before I heard a noise near my prison。 I listenedwhat could it be？ I heard talking； and learned a grenadier had hanged himself to the pallisadoes of my prison。
The officer of the town…guard； and the town…major again entered my dungeon to fetch a lanthorn they had forgotten； and the officer at going out； told me in a whisper； 〃One of your associates has just hanged himself。〃
It was impossible to imagine my terror or sensations； I believed it could be only my kind； my honest Gelfhardt。 After many gloomy thoughts； and lamenting the unhappy end of so worthy a fellow； I began to recollect what the Prince had promised me； if I would discover the accomplice。 I knocked at the door； and desired to speak to the officer； he came to the window and asked me what I wanted； I requested he would inform the governor that if he would send me light； pen； ink； and paper； I would discover my whole secret。
These were accordingly sent； an hour's time was granted； the door was shut； and I was left alone。 I sat myself down； began to write on my night…table； and was about to insert the name of Gelfhardt； but my blood thrilled； and shrank back to my heart。 I shuddered； rose； went to the aperture of the window and called； 〃Is there no man who in compassion will tell me the name of him who has hanged himself； that I may deliver many others from destruction？〃 The window was not nailed up till the next day； I therefore wrapped five pistoles in a paper； threw them out； called to the sentinel； and said； 〃Friend； take these； and save thy comrades； or go and betray me； and bring down innocent blood upon thy head！〃
The paper was taken up； a pause of silence ensued： I heard sighs； and presently after a low voice said； 〃his name is Schutz； he belonged to the company of Ripps。〃 I had never heard the name before； or known the man； but I however immediately wrote SCHUTZ； instead of Gelfhardt。 Having finished the letter I called the lieutenant； who took that and the light away； and again barred up the door of my dungeon。 The Duke； however； suspected there must be some evasion； and everything remained in the same state： I obtained neither hearing nor court…martial。 I learned； in the sequel； the following circumstances； which will display the truth of this apparently incredible story。
While I was imprisoned in the citadel； a sentinel came to the post under my window； cursed and blasphemed； exclaiming aloud against the Prussian service； and saying； if Trenck only knew my mind； he would not long continue in his hole！ I entered into discourse with him； and he told me； if I could give him money to purchase a boat； in which he might cross the Elbe； he would soon make my doors fly open； and set me free。
Money at that time I had none； but I gave him a diamond shirt… buckle； worth five hundred ferns； which I had concealed。 I never heard more from this man； he spoke to me no more。 He often stood sentinel over me； which I knew by his Westphalian dialect； and I as often addressed myself to him； but ineffectually； he would make no answer。
This Schutz must have sold my buckle； and let his riches be seen； for； when the Duke left me； the lieutenant on guard said to him 〃You must certainly be the rascal who carried Trenck's letter； you have； for some time past； spent much money； and we have seen you with louis…d'ors。 How came you by them？〃 Schutz was terrified； his conscience accused him； he imagined I should betray him； knowing he had deceived me。 He； therefore； in the first agonies of despair； came to the pallisadoes； and hung himself before the door of my dungeon。
CHAPTER III。
How wonderful is the hand of Providence！ The wicked man fell a sacrifice to his crime； after having escaped a whole year； and the faithful； the benevolent…hearted Gelfhardt was thereby saved。
The sentinels were now doubled； that any intercourse with them might be rendered more difficult。 Gelfhardt again stood guard； but he had scarcely opportunity； without danger； to speak a few words： he thanked me for having preserved him； wished me better fortune； and told me the garrison； in a few days； would take the field。
This was dreadful news： my whole plan was destroyed at a breath。 I； however； soon recovered fresh hopes。 The hole I had sunken was not discovered： I had five hundred florins； candles； and implements。
The seven years' war broke out about a week after； and the regiment took the field。 Major Weyner came； for the last time； and committed me to the care of the new major of the militia； Bruckhausen； who was one of the most surly and stupid of men。 I shall often have occasion to mention this man。
All the majors and lieutenants of the guard； who had treated me with compassion and esteem； now departed； and I became an old prisoner in a new world。 I acquired greater confidence； however； by remembering that both officers and men in the militia were much easier to gain over than in the regulars； the truth of which opinion was soon confirmed。
Four lieutenants were appointed； with their men； to mount guard at the Star Fort in turn； and before a year had passed； three of them were in my interest。
The regiments had scarcely taken the field ere the new governor； General Borck； entered my prison； like what he was； an imperious； cruel tyrant。 The King； in giving him the command； had informed him he must answer for my person with his head： he therefore had full power to treat me with whatever severity he pleased。
Borck was a stupid man； of an unfeeling heart； the slave of despotic orders； and as often as he thought it possible I might rid myself of my fetters and escape； his heart palpitated with fear。 In addition to this； he considered me as the vilest of men and traitors； seeing his King had condemned me to imprisonment so cruel； and his barbarity towards me was thus the effect of character and meanness of soul。 He entered my dungeon not as an officer； to visit a brother officer in misery； but as an executioner to a felon。 Smiths then made their appearance； and a monstrous iron collar； of a hand's breadth； was put round my neck； and connected with the chains of the feet by additional heavy links。 My window was walled up； except a small air…hole。 He even at length took away my bed； gave me no straw； and quitted me with a thousand revilings on the Empress… Queen； her whole army； and myself。 In words； however； I was little in his debt； and he was enraged even to madness。
What my situation was under this additional load of tyranny； and the command of a man so void of human pity； the reader may imagine。 My greatest good fortune consisted in the ability I still had to disencumber myself of all the irons that were connected with the ankle…rims； and the provision I had of light； paper； and implements； and though it was apparently impossible I should break out undiscovered by both sentinels； yet had I the remaining hope of gaining some officer； by money； who； as in Glatz； should assist my escape。
Had the commands of the King been literally obeyed escape would have been wholly impossible； for； by this； all communication would have been totally cut off with the sentinels。 To this effect the four keys of the four doors were each to be kept by different persons； one with the governor； another with the town…major； the third with the major of the day； and the fourth with the lieutenant of the guard。 I never could have found opportunity to have spoken with any one of them singly。 These commands at first were rigidly observed； with this exception； that the governor made his appearance only every week。 Magdeburg became so full of prisoners that the town… major was obliged to deliver up his key to the major of the day； and the governor's visitations wholly subsided； the citadel being an English mile and a half distant from the Star Fort。
General Walrabe； who had been a prisoner ever since the year 1746； was also at the Star Fort； but he had apartments； and three thousand rix…dollars a year。 The major of the day and officer of the guard dined with him daily； and generally stayed till evening。 Either from compassion； or a concurrence of fortunate circumstances； these gentlemen entrusted the keys to the lieutenant on guard； by which means I could speak with each of them alo
