m　new　life。　With　cheerful　resolution　he　stepped　to　the　third　door。　This　was　constructed　like　the　first；　and　gave　him　but　little　troubleit　was　soon　opened；　and　Trenck　passed　on　the　other　side。
  The　sun　went　down；　and　the　twilight　obscured　his　view；　as　this　was　completed。　And　now　his　strength　was　exhausted；　and　his　swollen　and　bleeding　hands；　from　which　the　flesh　hung　in　shreds；　refused　their　service。　With　inexpressible　despair　he　looked　at　the　fourth　door；　which　opened　from　the　outside；　and　it　was　again　necessary　to　cut　through　the　whole　breadth　of　the　door　in　order　to　advance。
  Worn　out　and　trembling；　he　seated　himself　near　the　door　and　leaned　his　aching　head　against　the　cool　wood。　He　sat　thus　a　long　time；　till　he　felt　that　his　blood　was　flowing　more　calmly；　and　the　wild；　quick　beating　of　his　pulse　had　subsidedtill　the　pain　in　his　hands　and　limbs　was　quieted；　and　he　had　won　new　strength。　He　then　rose　from　the　floor；　took　his　knife；　and　recommenced　his　work。　He　moved　more　slowly　than　before；　but　his　work　progressed。　It　could　scarcely　be　midnight；　and　half　the　door　was　cut　through。　The　moon　shed　her　peerless　rays　through　the　little　window　and　lighted　his　work；　and　showed　him　what　remained　to　be　done。　In　two　hours　he　would　finish；　and　then　remained　only　the　fifth　door　which　opened　on　the　wall；　and　which　Gefhart　assured　him　was　not　difficult。　In　three　hours　the　work　would　be　donein　three　hours　he　might　stand　without；　in　the　fresh；　free　air　of　heaven；　himself　a　free　and　happy　man。
  With　renewed　courage　and　renewed　strength；　after　a　short　rest；　he　went　again　to　work。　He　thrust　his　knife　into　the　opening　and　pressed　powerfully　against　the　wood。　Suddenly　his　hand　seemed　paralyzedon　the　other　side　of　the　door　he　heard　a　light　clang；　and　with　a　hollow　cry　of　woe；　Trenck　sank　upon　the　floor。　The　blade　of　the　knife　was　broken　and　had　fallen　on　the　other　side。　Now　he　was　lost！　There　was　no　longer　hope　of　escape！　He　rushed　to　the　window；　would　it　not　be　possible　to　escape　in　that　way？　No；　no！　It　was　not　possible　to　pass　through　this　small　opening。
  Trenck　sank　upon　his　knees　before　the　window　and　stared　into　the　heavens。　His　pallid　lips　murmured　low　words。　Were　they　prayers？　were　they　curses？or　was　it　the　death…rattle　of　dead　hopes　and　dying　liberty？　At　last　he　rose　from　his　knees；　his　face；　which　had　been　that　of　a　corpse；　now　assumed　an　expression　of　firm　resolve。　Staggering　and　creeping　along　by　the　wall；　he　returned　to　his　prison；　which　he　had　left　so　short　a　time　before　full　of　happy　hopes。　He　reached　his　bed　and　laid　down　upon　it；　holding　the　broken　knife　in　his　hand。　Not　to　sleep；　not　to　rest；　but　to　die！　He　could　think　of　no　other　hopeno　other　way　than　this。　〃Yes；　I　will　die！〃　His　life's　courage；　his　life's　energy；　was　exhausted。　He　had　closed　his　account　with　the　world。　Slowly　he　raised　his　hand　aloft　with　the　broken　knife；　and　collecting　all　his　strength　for　one　last；　decisive　blow；　he　bowed　and　cut　the　vein　of　his　left　foot；　then　raised　his　head　with　a　smile　of　triumph；　and　stretching　out　his　left　arm　he　forced　the　stump　of　his　knife　deep　into　the　large　vein　of　his　elbow。　The　deed　was　done！　He　felt　the　warm　blood　flowing　from　his　veinshe　felt　that　with　it　also　was　sweeping　by　the　miserable　remnant　of　his　buried　existence。　His　thoughts　wandered；　and　a　happy　insensibility　overpowered　him；　and　now　his　blessed　spirit　floated　chainless　and　free　beyond　this　drear　prison。　The　necessities　of　this　poor　life　and　its　tortures　were　overcome。
  But　what　was　that？　Who　called　his　name　lightly　from　without；　and　made　the　air　of　this　living　grave　tremble　with　unwonted　tones？
  When　this　call　was　repeated　the　second　time；　Trenck　felt　a　light　trembling　in　his　whole　frame。　The　whisper　of　his　name　had　called　back　his　fleeting　spirit。　The　godlike　dream　of　release　was　at　an　end；　Trenck　lived　again；　a　suffering；　defenceless　man。　For　the　third　time　he　heard　his　name　calledfor　the　third　time　a　voice；　as　if　from　heaven；　rang；　〃Trenck！　Trenck！〃
  Trenck　gathered　all　his　little　strength；　and　replied：
  〃Who　calls　me？〃
  〃It　is　I；〃　said　the　faithful　Gefhart；　〃have　I　not　sworn　to　bring　you　help？　I　have　crept　over　the　wall　only　to　say　to　you　that　I　think　of　youthat　you　must　not　despairthat　help　is　nigh；　even　at　the　door。　An　unknown　friend　has　sent　you　a　greeting　by　me；　he　has　given　me　a　roll　of　gold　to　be　useful　in　your　flight。　Come　near；　I　will　throw　it　to　you　through　the　window。〃
  〃It　is　too　late；　Gefhart；　all　is　too　late！　I　lie　bathed　in　my　blood；　to…morrow　they　will　find　me　dead！〃
  〃But　why　die？〃　cried　the　fresh；　strong　voice　of　Gefhart；　〃why　wish　for　death；　now　when　escape　is　possible？　Here　there　are　no　guards；　and　I　will　soon　find　a　way　to　furnish　you　with　tools。　Try　only　to　break　your　prisonfor　the　rest　I　will　remain　responsible。〃
  〃Alas；　I　tried　to…night　and　I　failed！〃　said　Trenck。　A　few　tears　stole　from　his　eyes　and　rolled　slowly　over　his　hollow　cheeks。
  〃You　will　succeed　better　another　time；　Baron　Trenck；　whenever　I　am　on　guard　here　I　will　seek　an　opportunity　to　speak　with　you；　and　we　will　arrange　all。　Do　not　despair。　I　must　go；　the　sun　is　rising；　and　I　may　be　seen。　Do　not　despair！　God　will　help　youtrust　fully　in　me。〃　＇Footnote：　〃Frederick　von　Trenck'　Important　Memoire。〃＇
  The　voice　had　long　since　died　away；　but　Trenck　listened　still　for　those　tones；　which　seemed　like　the　greeting　of　one　of　God's　angels；　they　illuminated　his　prison　and　gave　strength　to　his　soul。　No；　no；　now　he　would　not　die！　He　felt　his　courage　revive。　He　would　defy　fate；　and　oppose　its　stern　decrees　by　the　mighty　power　of　his　will。
  CHAPTER　VI。
  THE　PRISON　BARRICADE。
  No；　he　would　not　die！　With　trembling　hands　he　tore　his　coarse　shirt　into　strips；　and　bound　with　it　his　bleeding　veins。　When　he　had　thus　closed　the　portals　upon　death；　he　seated　himself　to　meditate　upon　the　means　of　avoiding　still　severer　punishment。　He　soon　arose　from　his　bed；　much　strengthened　by　the　short　rest　he　had　had。　With　an　iron　bar　that　he　had　forced　from　his　bed　he　hammered　into　the　wall　until　the　stones；　around　which　the　mortar　had　become　loosened　owing　to　the　dampness　of　the　cell；　fell　at　his　feet。　He　piled　them　together　in　the　centre　of　his　ceil；　and　then　hastened　to　barricade　the　second　door　he　had　attempted　to　force。　The　lower　part　of　it　was　still　held　on　by　the　lock；　over　the　opening　at　the　top　he　passed　the　chains　several　times　that　he　had　forced　from　his　limbs；　forming　a　sort　of　trellis…work；　which　rendered　entrance　from　without　impossible。
  When　all　his　preparations　were　made；　when　he　was　ready　for　the　contest；　he　seated　himself　upon　his　strange　barricade；　and　there；　wearied　out　by　suffering　and　anxiety；　he　fell　into　a　sweet　sleep。　He　was　awakened　by　the　sound　of　many　loud　voices。　Through　the　iron　lattice　of　the　second　door　he　saw　the　wondering；　terrified　countenances　of　the　city　guard；　who　were　endeavoring　to　unloose　the　chains。　With　one　bound　Trenck　was　beside　his　door；　balancing　in　his　right　hand　a　large　stone；　and　in　the　left　his　broken　knife。　He　cried　out；　in　a　furious　voice：
  〃Back！　back！let　no　one　dare　to　enter　here。　My　stones　shall　have　good　aim；　I　will　kill　any　one　who　ventures　to　enter　this　room。　Major；　tell　his　excellency；　the　commandant；　that　I　will　remain　no　longer　in　chains。　I　wish　him　to　have　me　shot　down　at　once！　I　will　thank　him　for　my　death；　but　I　will　curse　him　if　he　forces　me　to　become　a　murderer。　For　I　swear；　before　God；　I　will　stone　any　one　who　seeks　to　overpower　me。　I　will　dieyes；　die！〃
  It　was　a　fearful　sightthis　man；　thin；　wan；　naked；　and　bleeding；　who　seemed　to　have　risen　from　the　grave　to　revenge　the　sufferings　of　his　life。　His　countenance　was　ghastly　pale；　his　hair　lying　in　matted　locks　on　his　neck；　and　the　long　beard；　covering　the　lower　part　of　his　face；　and　falling　almost　to　his　waist；　gave　him　a　wild；　insane　look；　which　was　heightened　by　the　fearful　brightness　of　his　eyes。
  With　terror　and　pity　they　gazed　at　the　poor　unfortunate　one　whom　despair　had　driven　to　this　extremity；　who　remained　deaf　to　all　their　representations；　all　their　entreaties；　still　swearing　that　he　would　kill　any　one　who　approached　him。　It　was　in　vain　that　the　officers　besought　him　in　the　most　tender　manner　to　submitthat　the　prison　chaplain　came　and　implored　him；　in　the　name　of　God；　to　give　up　this　useless　resistance。　God's　name　had　no　effect　whatever　upon　him。　What　was　God　to　himto　him　on　whom　no　one　had　pity；　neither　God　nor　man；　he　whom　they　treated　like　a　wild　beast；　and　fastened　in　a　cage？　It　was　in　vain　that　the　commandant　ordered　the　guard　to　storm　the　fortified　door。　Trenck　received　them　with　stones；　and　sent　the　two　foremost　ones　reeling　to　the　floor；　causing　the　others　to　fall　back　in　disamy。
  Trenck　raised　his　hand　with　a　shout　of　exultation；　armed　with　another　stone；　and　fixing　his　wild；　triumphant　glance　upon　the　commandant；　he　cried：
  〃You　see　it　is　useless　to　endeavor　to　take　me　while　living。　Order　the　guards　to　fire！　Let　me　die！〃
  The　commandant　lacked　the　power　to　do　as　Trenck　requested；　however　willing　he　may　have　been　to　grant　his　request。　Instead　of　continuing　his　threats；　he　withdrew　into　another　chamber；　signing　to　the　major　to　follow　him。
  Trench　still　stood　with　uplifted　arm　when　the　major　returned。　And　now；　as　the　stern；　much…feared　comman