the life and adventures of baron trenck-2-第11章
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with the town…major; and a smith and mason; entered my prison。 I was terrified。 The lieutenant by a sign gave me to understand I was discovered。 An examination was begun; but the officers would not see; and the smith and mason found all; as they thought; safe。 Had they examined my bed; they would have seen the ticking and sheets were gone。
The town…major; who was a dull man; was persuaded the thing was impossible; and said to the sentinel; 〃Blockhead! you have heard some mole underground; and not Trenck。 How; indeed; could it be; that lee should work underground; at such a distance from his dungeon?〃 Here the scrutiny ended。
There was now no time for delay。 Had they altered their hour of coming; they must have found me at work: but this; during ten years; never happened: for the governor and town…major were stupid men; and the others; poor fellows; wishing me all success; were willingly blind。 In a few days I could have broken out; but; when ready; I was desirous to wait for the visitation of the man who had treated me so tyranically; Bruckhausen; that his own negligence might be evident。 But this man; though he wanted understanding; did not want good fortune。 He was ill for some time; and his duty devolved on K… 。
He recovered; and the visitation being over; the doors were no sooner barred than I began my supposed last labour。 I had only three feet farther to proceed; and it was no longer necessary I should bring out the sand; I having room to throw it behind me。 What my anxiety was; what my exertions were; may well be imagined。 My evil genius; however; had decreed that the same sentinel; who had heard me before; should be that day on guard。 He was piqued by vanity; to prove he was not the blockhead he had been called; he therefore again laid his ear to the ground; and again heard me burrowing。 Ho called his comrades first; next thee major; lee came; and heard me likewise; they then went without the pallisadoes; and heard me working near the door; at which place I was to break into the gallery。 This door they immediately opened; entered the gallery with lanthorns; and waited to catch the hunted fox when unearthed。
Through the first small breach I made I perceived a light; and saw the heads of those who were expecting me。 This was indeed a thunder…stroke! I crept back; made my way through the sand I had cast behind me; and awaited my fate with shuddering! I had the presence of mind to conceal my pistols; candles; paper; and some money; under the floor which I could remove。 The money was disposed of in various holes; well concealed also between the panels of the doors; and under different cracks in the floor I hid my small files and knives。 Scarcely were these disposed of before the doors resounded: the floor was covered with sand and sand…bags: my handcuffs; however; and the separating bar; I had hastily resumed that they might suppose I had worked with them on; which they were silly enough to credit; highly to my future advantage。
No man was more busy on this occasion than the brutal and stupid Bruckhausen; who put many interrogatories; to which I made no reply; except assuring him that I should have completed my work some days sooner; had it not been his good fortune to fall sick; and that this only had been the cause of my failure。
The man was absolutely terrified with apprehension; he began to fear me; grew more polite; and even supposed nothing was impossible to me。
It was too late to remove the sand; therefore the lieutenant and guard continued with me; so that this night at least I did not want company。 When the morning came; the hole was first filled up; the planking was renewed。 The tyrant Borck was ill; and could not come; otherwise my treatment would have been still more lamentable。 The smiths had ended before the evening; and the irons were heavier than ever。 The foot chains; instead of being fastened as before; were screwed and riveted; all else remained as formerly。 They were employed in the flooring till the next day; so that I could not sleep; and at last I sank down with weariness。
The greatest of my misfortunes was they again deprived me of my bed; because I had cut it up for sand…bags。 Before the doors were barred Bruckhausen and another major examined my body very narrowly。 They often had asked me where I concealed all my implements? My answer was; 〃Gentlemen; Beelzebub is my best and most intimate friend; he brings me everything I want; supplies me with light: we play whole nights at piquet; and; guard me as you please; he will finally deliver me out of your power。〃
Some were astonished; others laughed。 At length; as they were barring the last door; I called; 〃Come back; gentlemen! you have forgotten something of great importance。〃 In the interim I had taken up one of my hidden files。 When they returned; 〃Look ye; gentlemen;〃 said I; 〃here is a proof of the friendship Beelzebub has for me; he has brought me this in a twinkling。〃 Again they examined; and again they shut their doors。 While they were so doing; I took out a knife; and ten louis…d'ors; called; and they re turned; grumbling curses; I then shewed the knife and the louis… d'ors。 Their consternation was excessive; and I diverted my misfortunes by jesting at such blundering; short…sighted keepers。 It was soon rumoured through Magdeburg; especially among the simple and vulgar; that I was a magician to whom the devil brought all I asked。
One Major Holtzkammer; a very selfish man; profited by this report。 A foolish citizen had offered him fifty dollars if he might only be permitted to see me through the door; being very desirous to see a wizard。 Holtzkammer told me; and we jointly determined to sport with his credulity。 The major gave me a mask with a monstrous nose; which I put on when the doors were opening; and threw myself in an heroic attitude。 The affrighted burger drew back; but Holtzkammer stopped him; and said; 〃Have patience for some quarter of an hour; and you shall see he will assume quite a different countenance。〃 The burger waited; my mask was thrown by; and my face appeared whitened with chalk; and made ghastly。 The burger again shrank back; Holtzkammer kept him in conversation; and I assumed a third farcical form。 I tied my hair under my nose; and a pewter dish to my breast; and when the door a third time opened; I thundered; 〃Begone; rascals; or I'll set your necksawry!〃 They both ran: and the silly burger; eased of his fifty dollars; scampered first。
The major; in vain; laid his injunctions on the burger never to reveal what he had beheld; it being a breach of duty in him to admit any persons whatever to the sight of me。 In a few days; the necromancer Trenck was the theme of every alehouse in Magdeburg; and the person was named who had seen me change my form thrice in the space of one hour。 Many false and ridiculous circumstances were added; and at last the story reached the governor's ears。 The citizen was cited; and offered to take his oath of what himself and the major had seen。 Holtzkammer accordingly suffered a severe reprimand; and was some days under arrest。 We frequently laughed; however; at this adventure; which had rendered me so much the subject of conversation。 Miraculous reports were the more easily credited; because no one could comprehend how; in despite of the load of irons I carried; and all the vigilance of my guards; I should be continually able to make new attempts; while those appointed to examine my dungeon seemed; as it were; blinded and bewildered。 A proof this; how easy it is to deceive the credulous; and whence have originated witchcraft; prophecies; and miracles。
CHAPTER IV。
My last undertaking had employed me more than twelve months; and so weakened me that I appeared little better than a skeleton。 Notwithstanding the greatness of my spirit; I should have sunk into despondency; at seeing an end like this to all my labours; had I not still cherished a secret hope of escaping; founded on the friends I had gained among the officers。
I soon felt the effects of the loss of my bed; and was a second time attacked by a violent fever; which would this time certainly have consumed me had not the officers; unknown to the gove