the life and adventures of baron trenck-2-第14章
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nder some pretence； to hold his company ready； with their muskets loaded； and the plan was such that I should have had four hundred men in arms ready to carry it into execution。
The officer was to have placed the two men we most suspected and feared； as sentinels over me； he was to command them to take away my bed； and when encumbered； I was to spring out； and shut them in the prison。 Clothing and arms were to have been procured； and brought me into my prison； the town…gate was to have been surprised； I was to have run to the casemate； and called to the Croats； 〃Trenck to arms！〃 My friends； at the same instant； were to break forth； and the plan was so well concerted that it could not have failed。 Magdeburg； the magazine of the army； the royal treasury； arsenal； all would have been mine； and sixteen thousand men； who were then prisoners of war； would have enabled me to keep possession。
The most essential secret； by which all this was to have been effected； I dare not reveal； suffice it to say； everything was provided for； everything made secure； I shall only add that the garrison； in the harvest months； was exceedingly weakened； because the farmers paid the captains a florin per man each day； and the men for their labour likewise； to obtain hands。 The sub…governor connived at the practice。
One Lieutenant G… procured a furlough to visit his friends； but； supplied by me with money； he went to Vienna。 I furnished him with a letter； addressed to Counsellors Kempf and Huttner； including a draft for two thousand ducats； wherein I said that； by these means； I should not only soon be at liberty； but in possession of the fortress of Magdeburg； and that the bearer was entrusted with the rest。
The lieutenant came safe to Vienna； underwent a thousand interrogatories； and his name was repeatedly asked。 This； fortunately； he concealed。 They advised him not to be concerned in so dangerous an undertaking； told him I had not so much money due to me； and gave him； instead of two thousand ducats； one thousand florins。 With these he left Vienna； but with very prudent suspicions which prevented him ever returning to Magdeburg。 A month had scarcely passed before the late Landgrave of Hesse…Cassel； then chief governor； entered my prison； showed me my letter； and demanded to know who had carried the letter； and who were to free me and betray Magdeburg。 Whether the letter was sent immediately to the King or the governor I know not； it is sufficient that I was once more betrayed at Vienna。 The truth was； the administrators of my effects had acted as if I were deceased； and did not choose to refund two thousand ducats。 They wished not I should obtain my freedom； in a manner that would have obliged the government to have rewarded me； and restore the effects they had embezzled and the estates they had seized。 What happened afterwards at Vienna； which will be related in its place； will incontestably prove this surmise to be well founded。
These bad men did not； it is true； die in the manner they ought； but they are all dead； and I am still living； an honest； though poor man： they did not die so。 Be this read and remembered by their luxurious heirs； who refuse to restore my children to their rights。
CHAPTER V。
My consternation on the appearance of the Landgrave； with my letter in his hand； may well be supposed； I had the presence of mind； however； to deny my handwriting； and affect astonishment at so crafty a trick。 The Landgrave endeavoured to convict me； told me what Lieutenant Kemnitz had repeated at Vienna concerning my possessing myself of Magdeburg； and thereby showed me how fully I had been betrayed。 But as no such person existed as Lieutenant Kemnitz； and as my friend had fortunately concealed his name； the mystery remained impenetrable； especially as no one could conceive how a prisoner； in my situation； could seduce or subdue the whole garrison。 The worthy prince left my prison； apparently satisfied with my defence； his heart felt no satisfaction in the misfortunes of others。
The next day a formal examination was taken； at which the sub… governor Reichmann presided。 I was accused as a traitor to my country； but I obstinately denied my handwriting。 Proofs or witnesses there were none； and in answer to the principal charge； I said； 〃I was no criminal； but a man calumniated； illegally imprisoned； and loaded with irons； that the King； in the year 1746； had cashiered me； and confiscated my parental inheritance； that therefore the laws of nature enforced me to seek honour and bread in a foreign service； and that； finding these in Austria； I became an officer and a faithful subject of the Empress…Queen； that I had been a second time unoffendingly imprisoned； that here I was treated as the worst of malefactors； and my only resource was to seek my liberty by such means as I could； were I therefore in this attempt to destroy Magdeburg； and occasion the loss of a thousand lives； I should still be guiltless。 Had I been heard and legally sentenced； previous to my imprisonment at Glatz； I should have been； and still continued； a criminal； but not having been guilty of any small； much less of any great crime； equal to my punishment； if such crime could be； I was therefore not accountable for consequences； I owed neither fidelity nor duty to the King of Prussia； for by the word of his power he had deprived me of bread； honour； country； and freedom。〃
Here the examination ended； without further discovery； the officers； however； falling under suspicion； were all removed； and thus I lost my best friends； yet it was not long before I had gained two others； which was no difficult matter； as I knew the national character； and that none but poor men were made militia officers。 Thus was the governor's precaution fruitless； and almost everybody secretly wished I might obtain my freedom。
I shall never forget the noble manner in which I was treated on this occasion by the Landgrave。 This I personally acknowledged； some years afterwards； in the city of Cassel； when I heard many things which confirmed all my surmises concerning Vienna。 The Landgrave received me with all grace； favour； and distinction。 I revere his memory； and seek to honour his name。 He was the friend of misfortune。 When I not long afterwards fell ill； he sent me his own physician； and meat from his table； nor would he suffer me； during two months； to be wakened by the sentinels。 He likewise removed the dreadful collar from my neck； for which he was severely reprimanded by the King； as he himself has since assured me。
I might fill a volume with incidents attending two other efforts to escape； but I will not weary the reader's patience with too much repetition。 I shall merely give an abstract of both。
When I had once more gained the officers； I made a new attempt at mining my way out。 Not wanting for implements； my chains and the flooring were soon cut through； and all was so carefully replaced that I was under no fear of examination。 I here found my concealed money； pistols； and other necessaries； but till I had rid myself of some hundredweight of sand； it was impossible to proceed。 For this purpose I made two different openings in the floor： out of the real hole I threw a great quantity of sand into my prison； after which I closed it with all possible care。 I then worked at the second with so much noise； that I was certain they must hear me without。 About midnight the doors began to thunder； and in they came； detecting me； as I intended they should。 None of them could conceive why I should wish to break out under the door； where there was a triple guard to pass。 The sentinels remained； and in the morning prisoners were sent to wheel away the sand。 The hole was walled up and boarded； and my fetters were renewed。 They laughed at the ridiculousness of my undertaking； but punished me by depriving me of my light and bed； which； however； in a fortnight were both restored。 Of the other hole； out of which most of the earth had been thrown； no one was aware。 The major and lieutenant were too much my friends to remark that they had removed thrice the quantity of sand the false opening could contain。 They supposed this strange attempt having fail
