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！
we rush to the other casemates； where seven thousand Austrian and Russian prisoners are confined。 We free them； and I head a little army of sixteen thousand men。 Magdeburg is mine； the fortress； the magazine of the army； the treasury； the arsenal； all is in our power。 I shall conquer all for Maria Theresa。 Oh； King Frederick！ King Frederick！ I shall avenge myself on you for these long years of misery； for the martyrdom of this fearful imprisonment。 Trenck will not be obliged to leave Magdeburg； he will drive away the Prussians； and make himself master。〃
He laughed so loudly that the old walls echoed the sound； and a wailing sigh seemed to glide along the building。 Trenck started and looked timidly around him。
〃I am still alone；〃 he murmured； 〃no one has heard my words； no； no one but you；〃 he continued cheerfully； 〃my old silent friend； my faithful prison。 To…morrow morning the officer on guard will enter and order the sentinels to remove the bed； as soon as they enter I shall rush out and lock the door。 The sentinels being locked up； I put on the clothes which are lying in readiness for me in the passage； and then forward to my soldiers。 I shall distribute gold freely among thema friend will meet me with the money at the house of Captain von Kleist； and if he has not sufficient； Amelia has richly supplied me。 Arise； arise from your grave； my secret treasures。〃
He crouched close to the wall and removed the mortar and chalk carefully； he then drew out a stone and took from under it a purse full of gold。
His eye； accustomed to the darkness； saw the gold through the silk net； he nodded to it and laughed with delight as he poured it out and played madly with it。 His countenance suddenly assumed an earnest expression。
〃Poor Amelia；〃 he murmured softly； 〃you have sacrificed your life； your beauty； and your youth for me。 With never…failing zeal you have moved around me like my guardian angel； and how am I repaying you？ By taking from your brother； King Frederick； his finest fortress； his money； his provisions； by compelling you and yours to fly from a city which no longer belongs to you； but to the Empress of Austria； your enemy。 With your money I have taken this city； Amelia； you are ignorant of this now； and when you learn it； perhaps you will curse me and execrate the love which has poisoned your whole life。 Oh； Amelia！ Amelia； forgive me for betraying you also。 My unfortunate duty is forcing me onward； and I must obey。 Yes；〃 he said； springing from his seat； 〃I must yield to my fate； I must be free againI must be a man once more； I can sit no longer like a wild animal in his cage； and tell my grief and my despair to the cold walls。 I must reconquer lifeI must again see the sun； the world； and mankindI must live； suffer； and act。〃
He walked violently to and fro； his whole being was in feverish expectation and excitement； and he felt alarmed。 Suddenly he remained standing； pressing his two hands against his beating temples； he murmured：
〃I shall indeed go mad。 Joy at my approaching deliverance confuses my poor head； I will try to sleep； to be calmcollect my strength for to…morrow。〃
He lay down upon his miserable couch； and forced himself to be quiet and silentnot to speak aloud to himself in his lonely cell； as he was accustomed to do。 Gradually the mad tension of his nerves relaxed； gradually his eyes closed； and a soft； beneficial slumber came over him。
All was still in the dark cell； nothing was to be heard but the loud breathing of the sleeper； but even in sleep； visions of life and liberty rejoiced his hearthis face beamed with heavenly joy； he murmured softly； 〃I am free！free at last！〃
The hours passed away； but Trenck still slumberedprofound stillness surrounded him。 The outer world had long since been awake… …the sun was up； and had sent a clear beam of its glory through the small； thickly…barred window； even into the comfortless； desolate cell； and changed the gloom of darkness into a faint twilight。
CHAPTER X。
〃TRENCK； ARE YOU THERE？〃
Trenck slept。 Sleep on； sleep on； unfortunate prisoner； for while asleep you are free and joyous； when you awake； your happy dreams will vanish； agony and despair will be your only companions。
Listen！ there are steps in the passage； Trenck does not hear them he still sleeps。 But； now a key is turned； the door is opened； and Trenck springs from his pallet。
〃Are you there； my friends？ Is all ready？〃
But he totters back with a fearful shriek； his eyes fixed despairingly upon the door。 There stood Von Bruckhausen； the prison commandant； beside him several officers； behind them a crowd of soldiers。
This vision explained all to Trenck。 It told him that his plan had miscarriedthat again all had been in vain。 It told him that he must remain what he was； a poor； wretched prisonermore wretched than before； for they would now find out that when alone he could release himself from his chains。 They would find his gold； which he had taken from its hiding…place； and was now lying loosely upon the floor。
〃I am lost！〃 said he； covering his face with his hands； and throwing himself upon his bed。
A malignant smile brightened up Von Bruckhausen's disagreeable countenance； as his eye took in the broken chains； the glittering gold； and the despairing prisoner。 He then ordered the soldiers to raise the chains and fasten them on him。
Trenck made no resistance。 He suffered them quietly to adjust his iron belt； to fasten the chain around his neck。 He seemed insensible to all that was passing。 This fearful blow had annihilated him； and the giant who； but a short time before； had thought to conquer the world； was now a weak； trembling； defenceless child。 When he was ordered to rise to have the chains annexed to his iron girdle； and fastened to the wall； he rose at once； and stretched out his hand for the manacles。 Now the commandant dared approach Trenck； he had no fear of the chained lion； he could jeer at and mock without danger。 He did it with the wrath of a soul hard and pitiless； with the deep； unutterable hate of an implacable enemy； for Trenck was his enemy； his much…feared enemy； he drove sleep from his eyeshe followed him in his dreams。 Often at midnight Von Bruckhausen rose in terror from his couch； because he dreamed that Trenck had escaped； and that he must now take his place in that dark； fearful tomb。 Surrounded by gay companions； he would turn pale and shudder at the thought of Trenck's escapingTrenck； whose fearful cell was then destined to be his。 This constant fear and anxiety caused the commandant to see in Trenck not the king's prisoner； but his own personal enemy； with whom he must do battle to his utmost strength； with all the wrath and fear of a timid soul。 With a cold； malicious smile he informed him that his plot had been discovered； that his mad plan was known； he had wished to take the fortress of Magdeburg and place upon it the Austrian flag。 With a jeering smile he held up to him the letter Trenck had sent to his friend in Vienna； in which； without mentioning names； he had made a slight sketch of his plan。
〃Will you deny that you wrote this letter？〃 cried the commandant； in a threatening voice。
Trenck did not answer。 His