frederick the great and his family-第46章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
m new life。 With cheerful resolution he stepped to the third door。 This was constructed like the first； and gave him but little troubleit was soon opened； and Trenck passed on the other side。
The sun went down； and the twilight obscured his view； as this was completed。 And now his strength was exhausted； and his swollen and bleeding hands； from which the flesh hung in shreds； refused their service。 With inexpressible despair he looked at the fourth door； which opened from the outside； and it was again necessary to cut through the whole breadth of the door in order to advance。
Worn out and trembling； he seated himself near the door and leaned his aching head against the cool wood。 He sat thus a long time； till he felt that his blood was flowing more calmly； and the wild； quick beating of his pulse had subsidedtill the pain in his hands and limbs was quieted； and he had won new strength。 He then rose from the floor； took his knife； and recommenced his work。 He moved more slowly than before； but his work progressed。 It could scarcely be midnight； and half the door was cut through。 The moon shed her peerless rays through the little window and lighted his work； and showed him what remained to be done。 In two hours he would finish； and then remained only the fifth door which opened on the wall； and which Gefhart assured him was not difficult。 In three hours the work would be donein three hours he might stand without； in the fresh； free air of heaven； himself a free and happy man。
With renewed courage and renewed strength； after a short rest； he went again to work。 He thrust his knife into the opening and pressed powerfully against the wood。 Suddenly his hand seemed paralyzedon the other side of the door he heard a light clang； and with a hollow cry of woe； Trenck sank upon the floor。 The blade of the knife was broken and had fallen on the other side。 Now he was lost！ There was no longer hope of escape！ He rushed to the window； would it not be possible to escape in that way？ No； no！ It was not possible to pass through this small opening。
Trenck sank upon his knees before the window and stared into the heavens。 His pallid lips murmured low words。 Were they prayers？ were they curses？or was it the death…rattle of dead hopes and dying liberty？ At last he rose from his knees； his face； which had been that of a corpse； now assumed an expression of firm resolve。 Staggering and creeping along by the wall； he returned to his prison； which he had left so short a time before full of happy hopes。 He reached his bed and laid down upon it； holding the broken knife in his hand。 Not to sleep； not to rest； but to die！ He could think of no other hopeno other way than this。 〃Yes； I will die！〃 His life's courage； his life's energy； was exhausted。 He had closed his account with the world。 Slowly he raised his hand aloft with the broken knife； and collecting all his strength for one last； decisive blow； he bowed and cut the vein of his left foot； then raised his head with a smile of triumph； and stretching out his left arm he forced the stump of his knife deep into the large vein of his elbow。 The deed was done！ He felt the warm blood flowing from his veinshe felt that with it also was sweeping by the miserable remnant of his buried existence。 His thoughts wandered； and a happy insensibility overpowered him； and now his blessed spirit floated chainless and free beyond this drear prison。 The necessities of this poor life and its tortures were overcome。
But what was that？ Who called his name lightly from without； and made the air of this living grave tremble with unwonted tones？
When this call was repeated the second time； Trenck felt a light trembling in his whole frame。 The whisper of his name had called back his fleeting spirit。 The godlike dream of release was at an end； Trenck lived again； a suffering； defenceless man。 For the third time he heard his name calledfor the third time a voice； as if from heaven； rang； 〃Trenck！ Trenck！〃
Trenck gathered all his little strength； and replied：
〃Who calls me？〃
〃It is I；〃 said the faithful Gefhart； 〃have I not sworn to bring you help？ I have crept over the wall only to say to you that I think of youthat you must not despairthat help is nigh； even at the door。 An unknown friend has sent you a greeting by me； he has given me a roll of gold to be useful in your flight。 Come near； I will throw it to you through the window。〃
〃It is too late； Gefhart； all is too late！ I lie bathed in my blood； to…morrow they will find me dead！〃
〃But why die？〃 cried the fresh； strong voice of Gefhart； 〃why wish for death； now when escape is possible？ Here there are no guards； and I will soon find a way to furnish you with tools。 Try only to break your prisonfor the rest I will remain responsible。〃
〃Alas； I tried to…night and I failed！〃 said Trenck。 A few tears stole from his eyes and rolled slowly over his hollow cheeks。
〃You will succeed better another time； Baron Trenck； whenever I am on guard here I will seek an opportunity to speak with you； and we will arrange all。 Do not despair。 I must go； the sun is rising； and I may be seen。 Do not despair！ God will help youtrust fully in me。〃 ＇Footnote： 〃Frederick von Trenck' Important Memoire。〃＇
The voice had long since died away； but Trenck listened still for those tones； which seemed like the greeting of one of God's angels； they illuminated his prison and gave strength to his soul。 No； no； now he would not die！ He felt his courage revive。 He would defy fate； and oppose its stern decrees by the mighty power of his will。
CHAPTER VI。
THE PRISON BARRICADE。
No； he would not die！ With trembling hands he tore his coarse shirt into strips； and bound with it his bleeding veins。 When he had thus closed the portals upon death； he seated himself to meditate upon the means of avoiding still severer punishment。 He soon arose from his bed； much strengthened by the short rest he had had。 With an iron bar that he had forced from his bed he hammered into the wall until the stones； around which the mortar had become loosened owing to the dampness of the cell； fell at his feet。 He piled them together in the centre of his ceil； and then hastened to barricade the second door he had attempted to force。 The lower part of it was still held on by the lock； over the opening at the top he passed the chains several times that he had forced from his limbs； forming a sort of trellis…work； which rendered entrance from without impossible。
When all his preparations were made； when he was ready for the contest； he seated himself upon his strange barricade； and there； wearied out by suffering and anxiety； he fell into a sweet sleep。 He was awakened by the sound of many loud voices。 Through the iron lattice of the second door he saw the wondering； terrified countenances of the city guard； who were endeavoring to unloose the chains。 With one bound Trenck was beside his door； balancing in his right hand a large stone； and in the left his broken knife。 He cried out； in a furious voice：
〃Back！ back！let no one dare to enter here。 My stones shall have good aim； I will kill any one who ventures to enter this room。 Major； tell his excellency； the commandant； that I will remain no longer in chains。 I wish him to have me shot down at once！ I will thank him for my death； but I will curse him if he forces me to become a murderer。 For I swear； before God； I will stone any one who seeks to overpower me。 I will dieyes； die！〃
It was a fearful sightthis man； thin； wan； naked； and bleeding； who seemed to have risen from the grave to revenge the sufferings of his life。 His countenance was ghastly pale； his hair lying in matted locks on his neck； and the long beard； covering the lower part of his face； and falling almost to his waist； gave him a wild； insane look； which was heightened by the fearful brightness of his eyes。
With terror and pity they gazed at the poor unfortunate one whom despair had driven to this extremity； who remained deaf to all their representations； all their entreaties； still swearing that he would kill any one who approached him。 It was in vain that the officers besought him in the most tender manner to submitthat the prison chaplain came and implored him； in the name of God； to give up this useless resistance。 God's name had no effect whatever upon him。 What was God to himto him on whom no one had pity； neither God nor man； he whom they treated like a wild beast； and fastened in a cage？ It was in vain that the commandant ordered the guard to storm the fortified door。 Trenck received them with stones； and sent the two foremost ones reeling to the floor； causing the others to fall back in disamy。
Trenck raised his hand with a shout of exultation； armed with another stone； and fixing his wild； triumphant glance upon the commandant； he cried：
〃You see it is useless to endeavor to take me while living。 Order the guards to fire！ Let me die！〃
The commandant lacked the power to do as Trenck requested； however willing he may have been to grant his request。 Instead of continuing his threats； he withdrew into another chamber； signing to the major to follow him。
Trench still stood with uplifted arm when the major returned。 And now； as the stern； much…feared commandant had left； no one withheld the tender sympathy that was almost breaking the hearts of the lookers…on。 Trenck saw it written upon every countenance； and he to whom a look and word of pity had been so long unknown； felt deeply touched。 His expression became milder； and as the major； whom he had known in the other prison； commenced to speak to him in gentle； loving tones； and implored him not to cause his ruin； for all the punishment would fall upon his head； as； through his negligence； Trenck had been allowed to retain his knifeas he finished； Trenck's arm fell to his side； and tears streamed from his eyes。
〃No one；〃 said he； gently〃no one shall become unhappy through me； for misery is a fearful thing。 I will make no further resistance； if you will swear to me that no heavy chains shall be put upon methat I shall suffer no unworthy punishment。〃
The major promised him； in the commandant's name； that if he ceased to resist； no further notice would be taken of the affair。
〃Then；〃 whispered Trenck； with a bitter smile； 〃I must suffer anew suffer forever。〃
He approached the door and drew off the chains。 〃Now； guards；〃 said he； 〃the door can be opened。 The wild beast has become tame。〃
Then； with a low moan； he sank fainting upon the floor。 He was lifted up and laid upon his bed。 Tears were in every eye； but Trenck did not see them； he did not hear their low； whispered words of sympathy and friendship。 Death； from whom Trenck had once more been torn； had sent her twin sister； insensibility； to cause him to forget his sufferings for a while。
CHAPTER VII。
THE BATTLE OF COLLIN。
Lost！the battle was lost！ This was the cry of woe throughout the Prussian campthis was the fearful cry that palsied the hands of those who could not endure defeat。
The Prussians who had defeated the enemy at Losovitz and Prague； were condemned to yield the palm of victory at Collin to their enemy's commander； Marshal Daun。 They had fought bravely； desperately for this victory； and when all was over； death would h
