frederick the great and his family-第50部分

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　what　gladness　he　now　stretched　himself　upon　his　poor　couch！how　grateful　he　was　to　God　for　this　great　happiness！how　sweet　his　sleep！how　glorious　his　dreams！

Trenck　awaked　in　the　early　morning；　revived　and　strengthened。　It　was　time　to　prepare　for　the　daily　visitationto　replace　his　chains；　and　take　possession　of　his　gravestone。　His　eyes　accustomed　to　the　darkness　soon　discovered　the　broken　link　of　the　chain；　which　he　hid　in　his　mattress。　With　a　piece　of　his　hair…band　he　fastened　the　chain　to　his　feet；　hung　the　second　chain　to　the　ring　upon　his　waist；　and　now　it　only　remained　to　place　his　hands　in　the　manacles　fastened　to　the　iron　bar。　He　had　filed　the　handcuff　from　his　left　hand　and　that　was　easy　to　resume；　but　it　was　impossible　to　force　his　right　hand　through　the　ring；　he　had　succeeded　in　removing　it　by　a　mighty　effort　the　evening　before；　but　it　was　consequently　greatly　swollen。　He　took　again　his　little　piece　of　stone　and　tried　to　file　it　apart；　but　every　effort　was　in　vain。　Nearer　and　nearer　came　the　hour　of　visitation；　and　if　his　right　hand　were　free　when　the　jailer　came；　all　would　be　discovered。　It　seemed　to　him　as　if　he　heard　already　the　bolt　of　the　first　door。　With　a　last；　frightful　effort；　he　forced　his　hand　in　the　manacle；　his　fingers　cracked　as　if　the　bones　were　broken；　it　was　scarcely　possible　for　him　to　suppress　a　shriek　of　anguish。　But　the　danger　was　even　at　the　door；　and　the　blessing　of　freedom　was　not　too　dearly　bought　even　by　this　anguish；　he　bore　it　with　heroic　fortitude；　and　though　his　whole　figure　trembled　with　pain；　he　conquered　himself。　He　leaned　back　breathlessly　and　almost　unconsciously　against　the　wall；　and　now　the　bolt　really　moved；　and　the　jailer；　followed　by　two　officers；　entered。

The　visitation　began。　In　this　small　cell；　which　held　nothing　but　a　mattress；　a　seat　built　in　the　wall；　and　a　small　table；　there　was　but　little　to　examine。　A　fleeting　glance　at　Trenck's　chains；　which　were　rattling　around　him；　and　the　search　was　over；　and　the　jailer　and　officers　left　the　prison。　Trenck　listened　in　breathless　silence　till　he　heard　the　bolt　of　the　fifth　door　rattling；　and　now　life　and　movement　were　in　his　form　and　features。　It　was　time　to　work。　But　alas！　it　was　impossible。　The　swollen；　blood…red；　throbbing　hand　could　not　possibly　be　withdrawn　from　the　handcuff。　He　must　control　himselfmust　wait　and　be　patient。　He　resolved　to　do　this　with　a　brave　heart；　in　the　full　conviction　that　he　would　attain　his　liberty。

At　last；　after　three　days；　the　swelling　disappeared；　and　he　found　he　could　withdraw　his　hand　without　difficulty。　The　visit　was　no　sooner　over；　than　his　chains　fell　off。　For　the　last　time！　God　grant　that　for　the　last　time　he　had　heard　them　clank！

A　herculean　work　was　before　him；　but　Freedom　was　without　and　awaiting　him；　and　he　panted　to　embrace　her。　Seizing　his　little　pocket…knife；　he　stepped　to　the　door　and　commenced　his　labor。　The　first　door　was　not　difficult；　it　opened　from　within。　In　half　an　hour　the　work　was　done；　and　Trenck　advanced　and　extended　his　hands　before　him　till　they　encountered　another　obstacle。　This　was　the　second　door。　But　here　was　indeed　a　weary　task。　The　door　opened　on　the　outside　and　a　heavy　cross…bar　besides　the　lock　secured　it。　It　was　necessary　to　cut　entirely　through　the　door　above　the　bar；　and　spring　over　it。　Trenck　did　not　dispairbravely；　unwearily；　he　went　to　workthe　perspiration　fell　from　his　brow　and　mingled　with　the　blood　which　trickled　from　his　lacerated　hands。　Trenck　did　not　regard　it；　he　felt　no　pain；　no　exhaustion。　Freedom　stood　before　the　frowning　citadel；　and　awaited　his　coming。　At　last　it　was　achieved；　with　trembling　hands　he　lifted　the　upper　part　of　the　door　from　the　hinges　and　sprang　into　the　outer　room。

Here　light　and　sunshine　greeted　him。　Weary　months　had　gone　by　since　he　had　seen　the　sunthe　soft　light　of　heaven　on　the　fresh　green　of　earthand　now　all　this　was　his　once　more。　There　was　a　small　window　in　this　corridor；　and　not　too　high　for　him　to　look　abroad。　He　turned　his　eyes；　filled　with　tears　of　the　purest　joy；　upon　the　cloudless　heavens；　he　followed　with　longing　eyes　the　flight　of　the　doves；　who　moved　like　a　black　cloud　across　the　sky　and　disappeared　on　the　horizon。　He　inhaled　with　long…drawn　breath　the　fresh；　glad　air；　which　appeared　to　him　laden　with　the　fragrance　of　all　the　flowers　of　the　world。　He　gave　himself　up　for　a　few　moments　to　this　first　rapturous　enjoyment；　then　conquered　himself　and　examined　his　surroundings　with　a　thoughtful；　searching　eye。

He　saw　that　his　prison　was　built　against　the　first　wall　of　the　fortress；　and　was　exactly　opposite　an　entrance；　before　which　stood　a　high　palisade；　this　he　must　climb　before　he　could　reach　the　outer　wall。　But　the　night　was　long；　and　he　saw　that　the　guard　patrolling　upon　the　wall　disappeared　from　time　to　time　for　more　than　five　minutes；　he　must　therefore　have　some　distance　to　walk　before　he　returned　to　the　same　spot。　While　his　back　was　turned；　must　Trenck　climb　the　palisade　and　wall。

Trenck　sprang　back　upon　the　floor　with　a　glad　and　happy　heart。　What　he　had　seen　of　the　free；　outer　world　had　given　him　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