lls　lay　the　worldthe　living；　active；　blooming　world。　It　was　only　necessary　to　break　these　chains；　to　open　the　five　heavy　doors　which　confined　him　to　his　dark　prison；　and　life；　liberty；　the　world；　honor；　love；　belonged　to　him！
  〃Is　not　my　will　stronger　than　chains　and　bolts？〃　he　said。　〃Has　not　the　spirit　wings　by　which　she　can　take　flight；　mocking　at　prisons　and　at　torture？〃
  His　spirit　was　free；　for　he　believed　in　freedom：　when　his　chains　clanked　around　him；　it　seemed　to　him　as　if　they　whispered　of　speedy　libertyas　if　they　exhorted　him　in　soft；　harmonious　tones；　to　cast　them　off　and　become　a　free　and　happy　man。
  At　last　there　came　a　day　when　he　could　no　longer　resist　these　alluring　voices。　If　he　could　break　these　chains　the　first　step　was　taken；　and　only　the　doors　remained　to　be　opened。　By　close　observation；　he　had　discovered　that　the　inner　door　of　his　prison　was　of　wood。　The　faithful　Gefhart　had　managed　to　inform　him　that　the　other　doors　were　also　of　wood。　He　had　also　conveyed　to　him　a　small；　sharp　knife；　the　most　precious　of　all　earthly　treasures；　for　with　this　he　hoped　to　obtain　his　freedom。
  〃But　the　chains！〃　First　must　the　chains　be　brokenfirst　must　his　right　hand　be　free！　And　it　was　free。　Although　the　blood　was　bursting　from　the　nails　Trenck　forced　his　hand　through　the　manacle。　Freedom　greeted　him　with　her　first　rapturous　smile。　Alas；　the　handcuff　upon　the　left　hand　was　too　narrow　to　be　removed　in　this　way。　With　a　piece　of　his　chain　he　broke　off　a　fragment　of　stone　which　he　used　as　a　file；　and　in　this　way　he　liberated　his　left　hand。　The　iron　ring　around　his　waist　was　fastened　only　by　a　hook　to　the　chain　attached　to　the　wall。　Trenck　placed　his　feet　against　the　wall；　and　bending　forward　with　all　his　strength；　succeeded　in　straightening　the　hook　so　far　as　to　remove　it　from　the　ring。　And　now　there　only　remained　the　heavy　wooden　chain　fastened　to　his　feet；　and　also　made　fast　to　the　wall。　By　a　powerful　effort　he　broke　two　of　the　links　of　this　chain。
  He　was　freefreeat　least　to　stand　erect　and　walk　around　his　miserable　prison。　With　a　feeling　of　inexpressible　joy　he　raised　himself　to　his　full　heightit　enraptured　him　to　move　his　arms；　so　long　and　painfully　confinedhe　extended　them　widely　and　powerfully；　as　if　he　wished　to　clasp　the　whole　outside　world　to　his　heart。
  Could　the　commandant　Bruckhausen　have　cast　one　glance　into　this　horrible；　noiseless　cell；　he　would　have　trembled　with　rage　and　apprehension。　The　unchained　giant　stood　with　glad　smiles；　and　flaming　eyes；　and　outstretched　arms；　as　if　adjuring　the　spirits　of　the　under…world　to　come　to　his　assistance。　But　the　commandant　lay　in　careless　security　upon　his　soft；　white　couch；　his　eyes　were　closed；　they　could　not　pierce　the　dark　cell　where　a　fellow…man；　with　loudly…　beating　heart；　but　silent　lips；　called　rapturously　to　the　fair　goddess　Liberty；　and　hastened　to　clasp　her　in　his　arms。
  Stepping　forward；　he　sought　the　door　of　his　prison；　and　kneeling　before　it；　he　took　out　his　knife。　He　tried　to　cut　out　a　small　piece　and　to　ascertain　the　thickness　of　the　wall；　this　was　short　workthe　door　opened　inside；　and　it　was　easy　to　cut　around　and　remove　the　lock。　It　was　made　of　simple　oak　boards。　Once　convinced　of　this；　Trenck　prudently　sought　his　mattress　in　order　to　obtain　rest　and　strength。　It　was　impossible　to　commence　his　labor　then。　The　night　was　far　spent；　and　every　morning　at　eight　o'clock　the　jailer　came　to　inspect　him　and　bring　his　bread　and　water。　His　visit　must　be　over　before　he　could　begin　his　workhe　must　possess　his　soul　in　patience。　What　were　a　few　hours'　waiting　to　him　who　had　waited　long；　dreary　years？a　fleeting　moment；　scarcely　sufficient　to　accustom　him　to　his　new　happiness；　to　enable　him　to　collect　his　thoughts　and　bear　quietly　the　rapturous　conviction　of　approaching　freedom。
  〃Yes；　I　will　be　free；　this　is　the　last　night　of　my　imprisonment。〃　But　while　waiting　in　this　dreary　prison　he　could　enjoy　one　pleasure　long　denied　himhe　could　stretch　his　limbs　upon　his　bed　without　being　martyred　and　crushed　by　his　bondswithout　hearing　the　clank　of　chains。　With　what　gladness　he　now　stretched　himself　upon　his　poor　couch！how　grateful　he　was　to　God　for　this　great　happiness！how　sweet　his　sleep！how　glorious　his　dreams！
  Trenck　awaked　in　the　early　morning；　revived　and　strengthened。　It　was　time　to　prepare　for　the　daily　visitationto　replace　his　chains；　and　take　possession　of　his　gravestone。　His　eyes　accustomed　to　the　darkness　soon　discovered　the　broken　link　of　the　chain；　which　he　hid　in　his　mattress。　With　a　piece　of　his　hair…band　he　fastened　the　chain　to　his　feet；　hung　the　second　chain　to　the　ring　upon　his　waist；　and　now　it　only　remained　to　place　his　hands　in　the　manacles　fastened　to　the　iron　bar。　He　had　filed　the　handcuff　from　his　left　hand　and　that　was　easy　to　resume；　but　it　was　impossible　to　force　his　right　hand　through　the　ring；　he　had　succeeded　in　removing　it　by　a　mighty　effort　the　evening　before；　but　it　was　consequently　greatly　swollen。　He　took　again　his　little　piece　of　stone　and　tried　to　file　it　apart；　but　every　effort　was　in　vain。　Nearer　and　nearer　came　the　hour　of　visitation；　and　if　his　right　hand　were　free　when　the　jailer　came；　all　would　be　discovered。　It　seemed　to　him　as　if　he　heard　already　the　bolt　of　the　first　door。　With　a　last；　frightful　effort；　he　forced　his　hand　in　the　manacle；　his　fingers　cracked　as　if　the　bones　were　broken；　it　was　scarcely　possible　for　him　to　suppress　a　shriek　of　anguish。　But　the　danger　was　even　at　the　door；　and　the　blessing　of　freedom　was　not　too　dearly　bought　even　by　this　anguish；　he　bore　it　with　heroic　fortitude；　and　though　his　whole　figure　trembled　with　pain；　he　conquered　himself。　He　leaned　back　breathlessly　and　almost　unconsciously　against　the　wall；　and　now　the　bolt　really　moved；　and　the　jailer；　followed　by　two　officers；　entered。
  The　visitation　began。　In　this　small　cell；　which　held　nothing　but　a　mattress；　a　seat　built　in　the　wall；　and　a　small　table；　there　was　but　little　to　examine。　A　fleeting　glance　at　Trenck's　chains；　which　were　rattling　around　him；　and　the　search　was　over；　and　the　jailer　and　officers　left　the　prison。　Trenck　listened　in　breathless　silence　till　he　heard　the　bolt　of　the　fifth　door　rattling；　and　now　life　and　movement　were　in　his　form　and　features。　It　was　time　to　work。　But　alas！　it　was　impossible。　The　swollen；　blood…red；　throbbing　hand　could　not　possibly　be　withdrawn　from　the　handcuff。　He　must　control　himselfmust　wait　and　be　patient。　He　resolved　to　do　this　with　a　brave　heart；　in　the　full　conviction　that　he　would　attain　his　liberty。
  At　last；　after　three　days；　the　swelling　disappeared；　and　he　found　he　could　withdraw　his　hand　without　difficulty。　The　visit　was　no　sooner　over；　than　his　chains　fell　off。　For　the　last　time！　God　grant　that　for　the　last　time　he　had　heard　them　clank！
  A　herculean　work　was　before　him；　but　Freedom　was　without　and　awaiting　him；　and　he　panted　to　embrace　her。　Seizing　his　little　pocket…knife；　he　stepped　to　the　door　and　commenced　his　labor。　The　first　door　was　not　difficult；　it　opened　from　within。　In　half　an　hour　the　work　was　done；　and　Trenck　advanced　and　extended　his　hands　before　him　till　they　encountered　another　obstacle。　This　was　the　second　door。　But　here　was　indeed　a　weary　task。　The　door　opened　on　the　outside　and　a　heavy　cross…bar　besides　the　lock　secured　it。　It　was　necessary　to　cut　entirely　through　the　door　above　the　bar；　and　spring　over　it。　Trenck　did　not　dispairbravely；　unwearily；　he　went　to　workthe　perspiration　fell　from　his　brow　and　mingled　with　the　blood　which　trickled　from　his　lacerated　hands。　Trenck　did　not　regard　it；　he　felt　no　pain；　no　exhaustion。　Freedom　stood　before　the　frowning　citadel；　and　awaited　his　coming。　At　last　it　was　achieved；　with　trembling　hands　he　lifted　the　upper　part　of　the　door　from　the　hinges　and　sprang　into　the　outer　room。
  Here　light　and　sunshine　greeted　him。　Weary　months　had　gone　by　since　he　had　seen　the　sunthe　soft　light　of　heaven　on　the　fresh　green　of　earthand　now　all　this　was　his　once　more。　There　was　a　small　window　in　this　corridor；　and　not　too　high　for　him　to　look　abroad。　He　turned　his　eyes；　filled　with　tears　of　the　purest　joy；　upon　the　cloudless　heavens；　he　followed　with　longing　eyes　the　flight　of　the　doves；　who　moved　like　a　black　cloud　across　the　sky　and　disappeared　on　the　horizon。　He　inhaled　with　long…drawn　breath　the　fresh；　glad　air；　which　appeared　to　him　laden　with　the　fragrance　of　all　the　flowers　of　the　world。　He　gave　himself　up　for　a　few　moments　to　this　first　rapturous　enjoyment；　then　conquered　himself　and　examined　his　surroundings　with　a　thoughtful；　searching　eye。
  He　saw　that　his　prison　was　built　against　the　first　wall　of　the　fortress；　and　was　exactly　opposite　an　entrance；　before　which　stood　a　high　palisade；　this　he　must　climb　before　he　could　reach　the　outer　wall。　But　the　night　was　long；　and　he　saw　that　the　guard　patrolling　upon　the　wall　disappeared　from　time　to　time　for　more　than　five　minutes；　he　must　therefore　have　some　distance　to　walk　before　he　returned　to　the　same　spot。　While　his　back　was　turned；　must　Trenck　climb　the　palisade　and　wall。
  Trenck　sprang　back　upon　the　floor　with　a　glad　and　happy　heart。　What　he　had　seen　of　the　free；　outer　world　had　given　him　new　life。　With　cheerful　resolution　he　stepped　to　the　third　door。　This　was　constructed　like　the　fir