the life and adventures of baron trenck-2-第7章
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them alone when they made their visits； and they themselves at length sought these opportunities。 My consequent undertakings I shall relate； with all the arts and inventions of a wretched prisoner endeavouring to escape。
Borck had selected three majors and four lieutenants for this service as those he could best trust。 My situation was truly deplorable。 The enormous iron round my neck pained me； and prevented motion； and I durst not attempt to disengage myself from the pendant chains till I had； for some months； carefully observed the mode of their examination； and which parts they supposed were perfectly secure。 The cruelty of depriving me of my bed was still greater： I was obliged to sit upon the bare ground； and lean with my head against the damp wall。 The chains that descended from the neck collar were obliged to be supported first with one band； and then with the other； for； if thrown behind； they would have strangled me； and if hanging forward occasioned most excessive headaches。 The bar between my hands held one down； while leaning on my elbow； I supported with the other my chains； and this so benumbed the muscles and prevented circulation； that I could perceive my arms sensibly waste away。 The little sleep I could have in such a situation may easily be supposed； and； at length； body and mind sank under this accumulation of miserable suffering； and I fell ill of a burning fever。
The tyrant Borck was inexorable； he wished to expedite my death； and rid himself of his troubles and his terrors。 Here did I experience what was the lamentable condition of a sick prisoner； without bed； refreshment； or aid from human being。 Reason； fortitude； heroism； all the noble qualities of the mind； decay when the corporal faculties are diseased； and the remembrance of my sufferings； at this dreadful moment； still agitates； still inflames my blood； so as almost to prevent an attempt to describe what they were。
Yet hope had not totally forsaken me。 Deliverance seemed possible； especially should peace ensue； and I sustained； perhaps； what mortal man never bore； except myself； being； as I was； provided with pistols； or any such immediate mode of despatch。
I continued ill about two months； and was so reduced at last that I had scarcely strength to lift the water…jug to my mouth。 What must the sufferings of that man be who sits two months on the bare ground in a dungeon so damp； so dark； so horrible； without bed or straw； his limbs loaded as mine were； with no refreshment but dry ammunition bread； without so much as a drop of broth； without physic； without consoling friend； and who； under all these afflictions； must trust； for his recovery； to the efforts of nature alone
Sickness itself is sufficient to humble the mightiest mind； what； then； is sickness； with such an addition of torment？ The burning fever； the violent headaches； my neck swelled and inflamed with the irons； enraged me almost to madness。 The fever and the fetters together flayed my body so that it appeared like one continued woundEnough！ Enough！ The malefactor extended living on the wheel； to whom the cruel executioner refuses the last strokethe blow of deathmust yet； in some short period； expire： he suffers nothing I did not then suffer； and these； my excruciating pangs； continued two dreadful monthsYet； can it be supposed？ There came a day！ A day of horror； when these mortal pangs were beyond imagination increased。 I sat scorched with this intolerable fever； in which nature and death were contending； and when attempting to quench my burning entrails with cold water； the jug dropped from my feeble hands； and broke！ I had four…and…twenty hours to remain without water。 So intolerable； so devouring was my thirst； I could have drank human blood！ Ay； in my madness； had it been the blood of my father！
* * * * * *
Willingly would I have seized my pistols； but strength had forsaken me； I could not open the place I was obliged to render so secure。
My visitors next day supposed me gone at last。 I lay motionless； with my tongue out of my mouth。 They poured water down my throat； and I revived。
Oh； God！ Oh； God！ How pure； how delicious； how exquisite was this water！ My insatiable thirst soon emptied the jug； they filled it anew； bade me farewell； hoped death would soon relieve my mortal sufferings； and departed。
The lamentable state in which I lay at length became the subject of general conversation； that all the ladies of the town united with the officers； and prevailed on the tyrant； Borck； to restore me my bed。
Oh； Nature； what are thy operations？ From the day I drank water in such excess I gathered strength； and to the astonishment of every one； soon recovered。 I had moved the heart of the officer who inspected my prison； and after six months； six cruel months of intense misery； the day of hope again began to dawn。
One of the majors of the day entrusted his key to Lieutenant Sonntag； who came alone； spoke in confidence； and related his own situation； complained of his debts； his poverty； his necessities； and I made him a present of twenty…five louis…d'ors； for which he was so grateful that our friendship became unshaken。
The three lieutenants all commiserated me； and would sit hours with me； when a certain major had the inspection； and he himself； after a time； would even pass half the day with me。 He； too； was poor： and I gave him a draft for three thousand florins； hence new projects took birth。
Money became necessary； I had disbursed all I possessed； a hundred florins excepted； among the officers。 The eldest son of Captain K… ； who officiated as major； had been cashiered： his father complained to me of his distress； and I sent him to my sister； not far from Berlin； from whom he received a hundred ducats。 He returned and related her joy at hearing from me。 He found her exceedingly ill； and she informed me； in a few lines； that my misfortunes； and the treachery of Weingarten； had entailed poverty upon her； and an illness which had endured more than two years。 She wished me a happy deliverance from my chains； and； in expectation of death； committed her children to my protection。 She； however； grew better； and married a second time； Colonel Pape； but died in the year 1758。 I shall forbear to relate her history： it indeed does no honour to the ashes of Frederic； and would but less dispose my own heart to forgiveness； by reviving the memory of her oppressions and griefs。
K…n returned happy with the money： all things were concerted with the father。 I wrote to the Countess Bestuchef； also to the Grand Duke； afterwards Peter III。； recommended the young soldier； and entreated every possible succour for myself。
K…n departed through Hamburg； for Petersburg； where； in consequence of my recommendation； he became a captain； and in a short time
major。 He took his measures so well that I； by the intervention of his father； and a Hamburg merchant； received two thousand rubles from the Countess； while the service he rendered me made his own fortune in Russia。
To old K… ； who was as poor as he was honest； I gave three hundred ducats； and he； till death； continued my grateful friend。 I distributed nearly as much to the other officers； and matters proceeded so far that Lieutenant Glotin gave back the keys to the major without locking my prison； himself passing half the night with me。 Money was given to the guard to drink； and thus everything succeeded to my wish； and the tyrant Borck was deceived。 I had a supply of light； had books； newspapers； and my days passed swiftly away。 I read； I wrote； I busied myself so thoroughly that I almost forgot I was a prisoner。 When； indeed； the surly； dull blockhead； Major Bruckhausen； had the inspection； everything had to be carefully reinstated。 Major Z… ； the second of the three； was also wholly mine。 He was particularly attached to me； for I had promised to marry his daughter； and； should I die in prison； to bequeath him a legacy of ten thousand florins；
Lieutenant Sonntag got false handcuffs made for me； that were so wide I could easily draw my hands out； the lieutenants only examined my irons； the new handcuffs were made perfectly similar to the old； and Bruckhausen had too much stupidity to remark any difference。
The remainder of my chains I could disencumber myself of at pleasure。 When I exercised myself； I held them in my hands； that the sentinel might be deceived by their clanking。 The neck…iron was the only one I durst not remove； it was likewise too strongly riveted。 I filed through the upper link of the pendant chain； however； by which means I could take it off； and this I concealed with bread in the manner before mentioned。
So I could disencumber myself of most of my fetters； and sleep in ease。 I again obtained sausages and cold meat； and thus my situation； bad as it still was； became less miserable。 Liberty； however； was most desirable： but； alas！ not one of the three lieutenants had the courage of a Schell： Saxony； too； was in the hands of the Prussians； and flight； therefore； more dangerous。 Persuasion was in vain with men determined to risk nothing； but； if they went； to go in safety。 Will； indeed； was not wanting in Glotin and Sonntag； but the first was a poltroon； and the latter a man of scruples； who thought this step might likewise be the ruin of his brother at Berlin。
The sentinels were doubled； therefore my escape through my hole； which had been two years dug； could not； unperceived by them； be effected： still less could I； in the face of the guard； clamber the twelve feet high pallisadoes。 The following labour； therefore； though Herculean； was undertaken。
Lieutenant Sonntag； measuring the interval between the hole I had dug and the entrance in the gallery in the principal rampart； found it to be thirty…seven feet。 Into this it was possible I might； by mining； penetrate。 The difficulty of the enterprise was lessened by the nature of the ground； a fine white sand。 Could I reach the gallery my freedom was certain。 I had been informed how many steps to the right or left must be taken； to find the door that led to the second rampart： and； on the day when I should be ready for flight； the officer was secretly to leave this door open。 I had light； and mining tools； and was further to rely on money and my own discretion。
I began and continued this labour about six months。 I have already noticed the difficulty of scraping out the earth with my hands； as the noise of instruments would have been heard by the sentinels。 I had scarcely mined beyond my dungeon wall before I discovered the foundation of the rampart was not more than a foot deep； a capital error certainly in so important a fortress。 My labour became the lighter； as I could remove the foundation stones of my dungeon； and was not obliged to mine so deep。
My work at first proceeded so rapidly； that； while I had room to throw back my sand； I was able in one night to gain three feet； but ere I had proceeded ten feet I discovered all my difficulties。 Before I could continue my work I was obliged to make room for myself； by emptying the sand out of my hole upon the floor of the prison； and this itself was an employment of some hours。 The sand was obliged to be thrown out by the hand
