the life and adventures of baron trenck-2-第14节
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My passage had to be ready in case of emergency； I removed the upper planking； broke up the two beds； cut the boards into chips； and burnt them in my stove。 By this I obtained so much additional room as to proceed half way with my mine。 Linen again was brought me； sand…bags made； and thus I successfully proceeded to all but the last operation。 Everything was so well concealed that I had nothing to fear from inspection； especially as the new come garrison could not know what was the original length of the planks。
I must here relate a dreadful accident； which I cannot remember without shuddering； and the terror of which has often haunted my very dreams。
While mining under the rampart； as I was carrying out the sand…bag； I struck my foot against a stone which fell down and closed up the passage。
What was my horror to find myself buried alive！ After a short reflection； I began to work the sand away from the side； that I might turn round。 There were some feet of empty space； into which I threw the sand as I worked it away； but the small quantity of air soon made it so foul that I a thousand times wished myself dead； and made several attempts to strangle myself。 Thirst almost deprived me of my senses； but as often as I put my mouth to the sand I inhaled fresh air。 My sufferings were incredible； and I imagine I passed eight hours in this situation。 My spirits fainted； again I recovered and began to labour； but the earth was as high as my chin； and I had no more space where I might throw the sand。 I made a more desperate effort； drew my body into a ball； and turned round； I now faced the stone； there being an opening at the top； I respired fresher air。 I rooted away the sand under the stone； and let it sink so that I might creep over； at length I once more arrived in my dungeon！
The morning was advanced； I sat down so exhausted that I supposed it was impossible I had strength to conceal my hole。 After half an hour's rest； my fortitude returned： again I went to work； and scarcely had I ended before my visitors approached。
They found me pale： I complained of headache； and continued some days affected by the fatigue I had sustained。 After a time strength returned； but perhaps of all my nights of horror this was the most horrible。 I repeatedly dreamt I was buried in the centre of the earth； and now； though three and twenty years are elapsed； my sleep is still haunted by this vision。
After this accident； when I worked in my cavity； I hung a knife round my neck； that if I should be enclosed I might shorten my miseries。 Over the stone that had fallen several others hung tottering； under which I was obliged to creep。 Nothing； however； could deter me from trying to obtain my liberty。
When my passage was ready； I wrote letters to my friends at Vienna； and also a memorial to my Sovereign。 When the militia left Magdeburg and the regulars returned； I took leave of my friends who had behaved so benevolently。 Several weeks elapsed before they departed and I learnt that General Reidt was appointed ambassador from Vienna to Berlin。
I had seen the world； I knew this General was not averse to a bribe： I wrote him a letter； conjuring him to act with ardour in my behalf。 I enclosed a draft for six thousand florins on my effects at Vienna； and he received four thousand from one of my relations。 I have to thank these ten thousand florins for my freedom； which I obtained nine months after。 My vouchers show the six thousand florins were paid in April； 1763； to the order of General Reidt。 The other four thousand I repaid； when at liberty； to my friend。
I received intelligence before the garrison departed that no stipulation had been made on my behalf at the peace of Hubertsberg。 The Vienna plenipotentiaries； after the articles were signed； mentioned my name to Hertzberg； with but few assurances of every effort being made to move Frederic； a promise on which I could much better rely than on my protectors at Vienna； who had left me in misfortune。 I determined to wait three months longer； and should I still find myself neglected； to owe my escape to myself。
On the change of the garrison； the officers were more difficult to gain than the former。 The majors obeyed their orders； their help was unnecessary； but still I sighed for my old friends。 I had only ammunition…bread again for food。
My time hung very heavy； everything was examined on the change of the garrison。 A stricter scrutiny might occur； and my projects be discovered。 This had nearly been effected； as I shall here relate。 I had so tamed a mouse that it would eat from my mouth； in this small animal I discovered proofs of intelligence。
This mouse had nearly been my ruin。 I had diverted myself with it one night； it had been nibbling at my door and capering on a trencher。 The sentinels hearing our amusement； called the officers： they heard also； and thought all was not right。 At daybreak the town…major； a smith； and mason entered； strict search was begun； flooring； walls； chains； and my own person were all scrutinised； but in vain。 They asked what was the noise they had heard； I mentioned the mouse； whistled； and it came and jumped upon my shoulder。 Orders were given I should be deprived of its society； I entreated they would spare its life。 The officer on guard gave me his word he would present it to a lady； who would treat it with tenderness。
He took it away and turned it loose in the guardroom； but it was tame to me alone； and sought a hiding place。 It had fled to my prison door； and； at the hour of visitation； ran into my dungeon； testifying its joy by leaping between my legs。 It is worthy of remark that it had been taken away blindfold； that is to say； wrapped in a handkerchief。 The guard…room was a hundred paces from the dungeon。
All were desirous of obtaining this mouse； but the major carried it off for his lady； she put it into a cage； where it pined； and in a few days died。
The loss of this companion made me quite melancholy； yet； on the last examination； I perceived it had so eaten the bread by which I had concealed the crevices I had made in cutting the floor； that the examiners must be blind not to discover them。 I was convinced my faithful little friend had fallen a necessary victim to its master's safety。 This accident determined me not to wait the three months。
I have related that horses were to be kept ready； on the first and fifteenth； and I only suffered the first of August to pass； because I would not injure Major Pfuhl； who had treated me with more compassion than his comrades； and whose day of visitation it was。 On the fifteenth I determined to fly。 This resolution formed； I waited in expectation of the day； when a new and remarkable succession of accidents happened。
An alarm of fire had obliged the major to repair to the town； he committed the keys to the lieutenant。 The latter； coming to visit me； asked〃Dear Trenck； have you never； during seven years that you have been under the guard of the militia； found a man like Schell？〃 〃Alas！ sir；〃 answered I； 〃such friends are rare； the will of many has been good； each knew I could make his fortune； but none had courage enough for so desperate an attempt！ Money I have distributed freely； but have received little help。〃
〃How do you obtain money in this dungeon？〃 〃From a correspondent at Vienna； by whom I am still supplied。〃 〃If I can serve you； command me： I will do it without asking any return。〃 So saying； I took fifty ducats from between the panels； and gave them to the lieutenant。 At first he refused； but at length accepted them with fear。 He left me； promised to return； pretended to shut the door； and kept his word。 He now said debt obliged him to desert； that this had long been his determination； and that； desirous to assist me at the same time if he could find the means； I had only to show how this might be effected。
We continued two hours in conference： a plan was formed； approved； and a certainty of success demonstrated； especially when I told him I had two horses waiting。 We vowed eternal friendship； I gave him fifty ducats； and his debts； not amounting to more than two hundred rix…dollars； which he never could have discharged out of his pay。
He was to prepare four keys to resemble those of my dungeon； the latter were to be exchanged on the day of flight； being kept in the guard…room while the major was with General Walrabe。 He was to give the grenadiers on guard leave of absence； or send them into the town on various pretences。 The sentinels he was to call from their duty； and those placed over me were to be sent into my dungeon to take away my bed； while encumbered with this； I was to spring out and lock them in； after which we were to mount our horses； which were kept ready； and ride to Gummern。 Every thing was to be prepared within a week； when he was to mount guard。 We had scarcely formed our project before the sentinels called the major was coming； he accordingly barred the door； and the major passed to General Walrabe。
No man was happier than myself； my hopes of escape were triple； the mediation at Berlin； the mine I had made； and my friend the lieutenant。
When most my mind ought to have been clear； I seemed to have lost my
