the life and adventures of baron trenck-2-第7章
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！
e inner grating： finding I succeeded tolerably； I cut the real grating totally away； and substituted an artificial one of my own fabricating； by which I obtained a free communication with the outside； additional fresh air； together with all necessary implements； tinder； and candles。
That the light might not be seen； I hung the coverlid of my bed before the window； so that I could work fearless and undetected。
Every thing prepared； I went to work。 The floor of my dungeon was not of stone； but oak plank； three inches thick； three beds of which were laid crossways； and were fastened to each other by nails half an inch in diameter； and a foot long。 Raving worked round the head of a nail； I made use of the hole at the end of the bar； which separated my hands； to draw it out； and this nail； sharpened upon my tombstone； made an excellent chisel。
I now cut through the board more than an inch in width； that I might work downwards； and having drawn away a piece of board which was inserted two inches under the wall； I cut this so as exactly to fit； the small crevice it occasioned I stopped up with bread and strewed over with dust； so as to prevent all suspicious appearance。 My labour under this was continued with less precaution； and I had soon worked through my nine…inch planks。 Under them I came to a fine white sand； on which the Star Fort was built。 My chips I carefully distributed beneath the boards。 If I had not help from without； I could proceed no farther； for to dig were useless； unless I could rid myself of my rubbish。 Gelfhardt supplied me with some ells of cloth； of which I made long narrow bags； stuffed them with earth； and passed them between the iron bars； to Gelfhardt； who； as he was on guard； scattered or conveyed away their contents。
Furnished with room to secrete them under the floor； I obtained more instruments； together with a pair of pistols； powder； ball； and a bayonet。
I now discovered that the foundation of my prison； instead of two； was sunken four feet deep。 Time； labour； and patience were all necessary to break out unheard and undiscovered； but few things are impossible； where resolution is not wanting。
The hole I made was obliged to be four feet deep； corresponding with the foundation； and wide enough to kneel and stoop in： the lying down on the floor to work； the continual stooping to throw out the earth； the narrow space in which all must be performed； these made the labour incredible： and； after this daily labour； all things were to be replaced； and my chains again resumed； which alone required some hours to effect。 My greatest aid was in the wax candles； and light I had procured； but as Gelfhardt stood sentinel only once a fortnight； my work was much delayed； the sentinels were forbidden to speak to me under pain of death： and I was too fearful of being betrayed to dare to seek new assistance。
Being without a stove； I suffered much this winter from cold； yet my heart was cheerful as I saw the probability of freedom； and all were astonished to find me in such good spirits。
Gelfhardt also brought me supplies of provisions； chiefly consisting of sausages and salt meats； ready dressed； which increased my strength； and when I was not digging； I wrote satires and verses： thus time was employed； and I contented even in prison。
Lulled into security； an accident happened that will appear almost incredible； and by which every hope was nearly frustrated。
Gelfhardt had been working with me； and was relieved in the morning。 As I was replacing the window； which I was obliged to remove on these occasions； it fell out of my hand； and three of the glass panes were broken。 Gelfhardt was not to return till guard was again relieved： I had therefore no opportunity of speaking with him； or concerting any mode of repair。 I remained nearly an hour conjecturing and hesitating； for certainly had the broken window been seen； as it was impossible I should reach it when fettered； I should immediately have been more rigidly examined； and the false grating must have been discovered。
I therefore came to a resolution； and spoke to the sentinel （who was amusing himself with whistling）； thus： 〃My good fellow； have pity； not upon me； but upon your comrades； who； should you refuse； will certainly be executed： I will throw you thirty pistoles through the window； if you will do me a small favour。〃 He remained some moments silent； and at last answered in a low voice； 〃What； have you money； then？〃I immediately counted thirty pistoles； and threw them through the window。 He asked what he was to do： I told him my difficulty； and gave him the size of the panes in paper。 The man fortunately was bold and prudent。 The door of the pallisadoes； through the negligence of the officer； had not been shut that day： he prevailed on one of his comrades to stand sentinel for him； during half an hour； while he meantime ran into the town； and procured the glass； on the receipt of which I instantly threw him out ten more pistoles。 Before the hour of noon and visitation came； everything was once more reinstated； my glaziery performed to a miracle； and the life of my worthy Gelfhardt preserved！Such is the power of money in this world！ This is a very remarkable incident； for I never spoke after to the man who did me this signal service。
Gelfhardt's alarm may easily be imagined； he some days after returned to his post； and was the more astonished as he knew the sentinel who had done me this good office； that he had five children； and a man most to be depended on by his officers； of any one in the whole grenadier company。
I now continued my labour； and found it very possible to break out under the foundation； but Gelfhardt had been so terrified by the late accident； that he started a thousand difficulties； in proportion as my end was more nearly accomplished； and at the moment when I wished to concert with him the means of flight； he persisted it was necessary to find additional help； to escape in safety； and not bring both him and myself to destruction。 At length we came to the following determination； which； however； after eight months' incessant labour； rendered my whole project abortive。
I wrote once more to Ruckhardt； at Vienna； sent him a new assignment for money； and desired he would again repair to Gummern； where he should wait six several nights； with two spare horses； on the glacis of Klosterbergen； at the time appointed； everything being prepared for flight。 Within these six days Gelfhardt would have found means； either in rotation； or by exchanging the guard； to have been with me。 Alas！ the sweet hope of again beholding the face of the sun； of once more obtaining my freedom； endured but three days： Providence thought proper otherwise to ordain。 Gelfhardt sent his wife to Gummern with the letter； and this silly woman told the post…master her husband had a lawsuit at Vienna； that therefore she begged he would take particular care of the letter； for which purpose she slipped ten rix…dollars into his hand。
This unexpected liberality raised the suspicions of the Saxon post… master； who therefore opened the letter； read the contents； and instead of sending it to Vienna； or at least to the general post… master at Dresden； he preferred the traitorous act of taking it himself to the governor of Magdeburg； who then； as at present； was Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick。
What were my terrors； what my despair； when I beheld the Prince himself； about three o'clock in the afternoon； enter my prison with his attendants； present my letter； and ask； in an authoritative voice； who had carried it to Gummern。 My answer was； 〃I know not。〃 Strict search was immediately made by smiths； carpenters； and masons； and after half an hour's examination； they discovered neither my hole nor the manner in which I disencumbered myself of my chains； they only saw that the middle grating； in the aperture where the light was admitted； had been removed。 This was boarded up the next day； only a small air…hole left； of about six inches diameter。
The Prince began to threaten； I persisted I had never seen the sentinel who had rendered me this service； nor asked his name。 Seeing his attempts all ineffectual； the governor； in a milde
