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not my nourishment bread and water？ Do you not condemn me to pass my days in idleness； my nights in fearful darkness？ What more could you do to me？how could you punish any new attempt to escape？ No； no； sir commandant； as soon as that door has closed on you； the mole will commence to burrow； and some day； in spite of all your care； he will escape。〃
〃That is your last word！〃 cried Von Bruckhausen； infuriated。 〃You will not promise to abandon these idle attempts at escape？ You will not name your accomplices？〃
〃No！ and again no！〃
〃Well； then； farewell。 You shall remember this hour； and I promise you； you shall regret it。〃
Throwing a fearful look of malignant wrath at Trenck； who was leaning against his pallet； laughing at his rage； the commandant left the prison。 The iron door closed slowly； the firm； even tread of the disappearing soldiers was audible； then all was quiet。
A death…like stillness reigned in the prisoner's cell； no sound of life disturbed the fearful quiet。 Trenck shuddered； a feeling of inexpressible woe； of inconsolable despair came over him。 He could now yield to it； no one was present to hear his misery and wretchedness。 He need not now suppress the sighs and groans that had almost choked him； he could give the tears； welling to his eyes like burning fire； full vent； he could cool his feverish brow upon the stone floor； in the agony of his soul。 As a man trembles at the thought of death； Trenck trembled at the thought of life。 He knew not how long he had sighed； and wept； and groaned。 For him there was no time； no hour； no nightit was all merged into one fearful day。 But still he experienced some hours of pleasure and joy。 These were the hours of sleep； the hours of dreams。 Happier than many a king； than many powerful rulers and rich nobles upon their silken couches； was this prisoner upon his hard pallet。 He could sleephis spirit； busy during the day in forming plans for his escape； needed and found the rest of sleep； his body needed the refreshment and received it。
Yes； he could sleep。 Men were hard and cruel to him； but God had not deserted him； for at night He sent an angel to his cell who consoled and refreshed him。 It was the angel of slumberwhen night came； after all his sorrow； his agony； his despair endured during the day； the consoling angel came and took his seat by the wretched prisoner。 This night he kissed his eyes； he laid his soft wings on the prisoner's wounded heart； he whispered glorious dreams of the future into his ear。 A beautiful smile； seldom seen when he was awake； now rested upon his lips。
Keep quiet； ye guards； without therekeep quiet； the prisoner sleeps； the sleep of man is sacred； and more sacred than all else is the sleep of the unfortunate。 Do not disturb himpass the door stealthily。 Be still； be still！ the prisoner sleepsreverence his rest。
This stillness was now broken by a loud cry。
〃Trenck； Trenck！〃 cried a thundering voice〃Trenck； are you asleep？〃
He woke from his pleasant dreams and rose in terror from his bed。 He thought he had heard the trumpets of the judgment…day； and listened eagerly for the renewing of the sound。
And again the cry resounded through his cell。 〃Trenck； are you there？〃
With a wild fear he raised his hand to his burning brow。
〃Am I mad？〃 murmured he； 〃I hear a voice in my brain calling me； a voice〃
The bolts were pushed back； and Commandant Von Bruckhausen； accompanied by a soldier； with a burning torch； appeared on the threshold。
〃Why did you not answer； Trenck？〃 said he。
〃Answeranswer what？〃
〃The sentinel's call。 As you swore to me you would make new attempts to escape； I was compelled to make arrangements to prevent your succeeding。 The guards at your door are commanded to call you every quarter of an hour during the night。 If you do not answer at once； they will enter your cell to convince themselves of your presence。 Accommodate yourself to this； Trenck。 We shall now see if you are able to free yourself with your nails and teeth！〃
He left the room； the door was closed。 It was night once more in the prisoner's cellbut he did not sleep。 He sat upon his pallet and asked himself if what had passed was true； or if it was not some wild and fearful dream。
〃No； no； it cannot be true； they could not rob me of my last and only pleasuremy sleep！ soft； balmy sleep！〃
But listen。 There is a voice again。 〃Trenck； Trenck； are you there？〃
He answered by a fearful yell； and sprang from his bed； trembling with terror。 It was no dream！
〃It is true！they will let me sleep no more。 Cowardly thieves！ may God curse as I curse you。 May He have no pity with you； who have none with me！ Ah； you cruel men； you increase my misery a thousandfold。 You murder my sleep。 God's curse upon you！〃
CHAPTER XI。
THE KING AND THE GERMAN SCHOLAR。
It was the winter of 1760。 Germany； unhappy Germany； bleeding from a thousand wounds； was for a few months freed from the scourge of war； she could breathe again； and gather new strength for new contests。 Stern winter with its ice and snow had alone given peace to the people for a short time。 The rulers thought of and willed nothing but war； and the winter's rest was only a time of preparation for new battles。 The allies had never yet succeeded in vanquishing the little King of Prussia。 Notwithstanding the disappointments and adversities crowded upon himthough good fortune and success seemed forever to have abandoned himFrederick stood firm and undaunted； and his courage and his confidence augmented with the dangers which surrounded him。
But his condition appeared so sad。 so desperate； that even the heroic Prince Henry despaired。 The king had in some degree repaired the disasters of Kunersdorf and Mayen by his great victories at Leignitz and Torgau； but so mournful； so menacing was his position on every side； that even the victories which had driven his enemies from Saxony； and at least assured him his winter quarters； brought him no other advantages； and did not lessen the dangers which threatened him。 His enemies stood round about himthey burned with rage and thirst to destroy utterly that king who was always ready to tear from them their newly…won laurels。 Only by his complete destruction could they hope to quench the glowing enthusiasm which the people of all Europe expressed by shouts and exultation。
The Russians had their winter quarters for the first time in Pomerania。 The Austrians lay in Silesia and Bohemia。 The newly… supplied French army； and the army of the States； were on the Rhine。 While the enemies of Frederick remained thus faithful to each other in their war against him； he had just lost his only ally。
King George II。 of England was dead； and the weak George III。 yielded wholly to the imperious will of his mother and to that of Lord Bute。 He broke off his league with Prussia； and refused to pay the subsidy。
Thus Prussia stood alonewithout money； without soldiers； without friendssurrounded by powerful and eager enemiesalone and seemingly hopeless； with so many vindictive adversaries。
All this made Prince Henry not only unhappy； but dispiritedpalsied his courage； and made him wish to leave the army and take refuge in some vast solitude where he