the life and adventures of baron trenck-2-第6部分
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！
d patience were all necessary to break out unheard and undiscovered； but few things are impossible； where resolution is not wanting。
The hole I made was obliged to be four feet deep； corresponding with the foundation； and wide enough to kneel and stoop in： the lying down on the floor to work； the continual stooping to throw out the earth； the narrow space in which all must be performed； these made the labour incredible： and； after this daily labour； all things were to be replaced； and my chains again resumed； which alone required some hours to effect。 My greatest aid was in the wax candles； and light I had procured； but as Gelfhardt stood sentinel only once a fortnight； my work was much delayed； the sentinels were forbidden to speak to me under pain of death： and I was too fearful of being betrayed to dare to seek new assistance。
Being without a stove； I suffered much this winter from cold； yet my heart was cheerful as I saw the probability of freedom； and all were astonished to find me in such good spirits。
Gelfhardt also brought me supplies of provisions； chiefly consisting of sausages and salt meats； ready dressed； which increased my strength； and when I was not digging； I wrote satires and verses： thus time was employed； and I contented even in prison。
Lulled into security； an accident happened that will appear almost incredible； and by which every hope was nearly frustrated。
Gelfhardt had been working with me； and was relieved in the morning。 As I was replacing the window； which I was obliged to remove on these occasions； it fell out of my hand； and three of the glass panes were broken。 Gelfhardt was not to return till guard was again relieved： I had therefore no opportunity of speaking with him； or concerting any mode of repair。 I remained nearly an hour conjecturing and hesitating； for certainly had the broken window been seen； as it was impossible I should reach it when fettered； I should immediately have been more rigidly examined； and the false grating must have been discovered。
I therefore came to a resolution； and spoke to the sentinel （who was amusing himself with whistling）； thus： 〃My good fellow； have pity； not upon me； but upon your comrades； who； should you refuse； will certainly be executed： I will throw you thirty pistoles through the window； if you will do me a small favour。〃 He remained some moments silent； and at last answered in a low voice； 〃What； have you money； then？〃I immediately counted thirty pistoles； and threw them through the window。 He asked what he was to do： I told him my difficulty； and gave him the size of the panes in paper。 The man fortunately was bold and prudent。 The door of the pallisadoes； through the negligence of the officer； had not been shut that day： he prevailed on one of his comrades to stand sentinel for him； during half an hour； while he meantime ran into the town； and procured the glass； on the receipt of which I instantly threw him out ten more pistoles。 Before the hour of noon and visitation came； everything was once more reinstated； my glaziery performed to a miracle； and the life of my worthy Gelfhardt preserved！Such is the power of money in this world！ This is a very remarkable incident； for I never spoke after to the man who did me this signal service。
Gelfhardt's alarm may easily be imagined； he some days after returned to his post； and was the more astonished as he knew the sentinel who had done me this good office； that he had five children； and a man most to be depended on by his officers； of any one in the whole grenadier company。
I now continued my labour； and found it very possible to break out under the foundation； but Gelfhardt had been so terrified by the late accident； that he started a thousand difficulties； in proportion as my end was more nearly accomplished； and at the moment when I wished to concert with him the means of flight； he persisted it was necessary to find additional help； to escape in safety； and not bring both him and myself to destruction。 At length we came to the following determination； which； however； after eight months' incessant labour； rendered my whole project abortive。
I wrote once more to Ruckhardt； at Vienna； sent him a new assignment for money； and desired he would again repair to Gummern； where he should wait six several nights； with two spare horses； on the glacis of Klosterbergen； at the time appointed； everything being prepared for flight。 Within these six days Gelfhardt would have found means； either in rotation； or by exchanging the guard； to have been with me。 Alas！ the sweet hope of again beholding the face of the sun； of once more obtaining my freedom； endured but three days： Providence thought proper otherwise to ordain。 Gelfhardt sent his wife to Gummern with the letter； and this silly woman told the post…master her husband had a lawsuit at Vienna； that therefore she begged he would take particular care of the letter； for which purpose she slipped ten rix…dollars into his hand。
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 o
