s　his　enemy；　his　much…feared　enemy；　he　drove　sleep　from　his　eyeshe　followed　him　in　his　dreams。　Often　at　midnight　Von　Bruckhausen　rose　in　terror　from　his　couch；　because　he　dreamed　that　Trenck　had　escaped；　and　that　he　must　now　take　his　place　in　that　dark；　fearful　tomb。　Surrounded　by　gay　companions；　he　would　turn　pale　and　shudder　at　the　thought　of　Trenck's　escapingTrenck；　whose　fearful　cell　was　then　destined　to　be　his。　This　constant　fear　and　anxiety　caused　the　commandant　to　see　in　Trenck　not　the　king's　prisoner；　but　his　own　personal　enemy；　with　whom　he　must　do　battle　to　his　utmost　strength；　with　all　the　wrath　and　fear　of　a　timid　soul。　With　a　cold；　malicious　smile　he　informed　him　that　his　plot　had　been　discovered；　that　his　mad　plan　was　known；　he　had　wished　to　take　the　fortress　of　Magdeburg　and　place　upon　it　the　Austrian　flag。　With　a　jeering　smile　he　held　up　to　him　the　letter　Trenck　had　sent　to　his　friend　in　Vienna；　in　which；　without　mentioning　names；　he　had　made　a　slight　sketch　of　his　plan。
  〃Will　you　deny　that　you　wrote　this　letter？〃　cried　the　commandant；　in　a　threatening　voice。
  Trenck　did　not　answer。　His　head　was　bowed　upon　his　breast；　he　was　gazing　down　in　silence。
  〃You　will　be　forced　to　name　your　accomplices；〃　cried　the　enraged　commandant；　〃there　is　no　palliation　for　a　traitor；　and　if　you　do　not　name　them　at　once；　I　shall　subject　you　to　the　lash。〃
  An　unearthly　yell　issued　from　Trenck's　pale　lips；　and　as　he　raised　his　head；　his　countenance　was　expressive　of　such　wild；　such　terrible　rage；　that　Bruckhausen　drew　away　from　him　in　affright。　Trenck　had　awakened　from　his　lethargy；　he　had　found　again　his　strength　and　energy；　he　was　Trenck　once　morethe　Trenck　feared　by　Von　Bruckhausen；　though　lying　in　chains；　the　Trenck　whom　nothing　could　bend；　nothing　discourage。
  〃He　who　dares　to　whip　me　shall　die；〃　said　he；　gazing　wildly　at　the　commandant。　〃With　my　nails；　with　my　teeth；　will　I　kill　him。〃
  〃Name　your　accomplices！〃　cried　Bruckhausen；　stamping　upon　the　ground　in　his　rage。
  It　was　Trenck　who　now　laughed。　〃Ah；　you　think　to　intimidate　me　with　your　angry　voice；〃　said　he。　〃You　think　your　word　has　power　to　make　me　disclose　that　which　I　wish　to　keep　secret。　You　think　I　will　betray　my　friends；　do　you？　Learn　what　a　poor；　weak；　incapable　human　being　you　are；　for　not　one　of　the　things　you　wish　shall　occur。　No；　I　shall　not　be　so　contemptible　as　to　betray　my　friends。　Were　I　to　do　so；　then　were　I　a　traitor　deserving　of　this　wretched　cell；　of　these　fearful　chains；　for　I　would　then　be　a　stranger　to　the　first；　the　holiest　virtue；　gratitude。　But　no；　I　will　not。　I　was　innocent　when　these　chains　were　put　on　meinnocent　I　will　remain。〃
  〃Innocent！〃　cried　the　commandant；　〃you　who　wished　to　deliver　to　the　enemy　a　fortress　of　your　sovereign！　You　call　yourself　innocent？〃
  Trenck　raised　himself　from　his　bed；　and　threw　back　his　head　proudly。　〃I　am　no　longer　a　subject　of　the　King　of　Prussia；〃　said　he；　〃he　is　no　longer　my　sovereign。　Many　years　ago　I　was　thrown　into　prison　at　Glatz　without　court…martial　or　trial。　When　I　escaped；　all　my　property　was　confiscated。　If　I　had　not　sought　my　bread　elsewhere；　I　would　have　starved　to　death；　or　gone　to　ruin。　Maria　Theresa　made　me　a　captain　in　her　armyto　her　I　gave　my　allegiance。　She　alone　is　my　sovereign。　I　owe　no　duty　to　the　King　of　Prussiahe　condemned　me　unheardby　one　act　he　deprived　me　of　bread；　honor；　country；　and　freedom。　He　had　me　thrown　into　prison；　and　fettered　like　some　fearful　criminal。　He　has　degraded　me　to　an　animal　that　lies　grovelling　in　his　cage；　and　who　only　lives　to　eat；　who　only　eats　to　live。　I　do　not　speak　to　you；　sir　commandant；〃　continued　he〃I　speak；　soldiers；　to　you；　who　were　once　my　comrades　in　arms。　I　would　not　have　you　call　Trenck　a　traitor。　Look　at　me；　see　what　the　king　has　made　of　me；　and　then　tell　me；　was　I　not　justified　in　fleeing　from　these　tortures？　Even　if　Magdeburg　had　been　stormed；　and　thousands　of　lives　lost；　would　you　have　called　me　a　traitor？　Am　I　a　traitor　because　I　strive　to　conquer　for　myself　what　you；　what　every　man；　receives　from　God　as　his　holy　rightmy　freedom？〃　While　he　spoke；　his　pale；　wan　countenance　beamed　with　inspiration。
  The　soldiers　were　struck　and　touched　with　ittheir　low　murmurs　of　applause　taught　the　commandant　that　he　had　committed　a　mistake　in　having　so　many　witnesses　to　his　conversation　with　the　universally　pitied　and　admired　prisoner。
  〃You　will　not　name　your　accomplices？〃　said　he。
  〃No；〃　said　Trenck；　〃I　will　not　betray　my　friends。　And　what　good　would　it　do　you　to　know　their　names？　You　would　punish　them；　and　would　thereby　sow　dragons'　teeth　from　which　new　friends　would　rise　for　me。　For　undeserved　misfortune；　and　unmerited　reproach；　make　for　us　friends　in　heaven　and　on　earth。　Look　there；　sir　commandantlook　there　at　your　soldiers。　They　came　here　indifferent　to　methey　leave　as　my　friends；　and　if　they　can　do　no　more；　they　will　pray　for　me。〃
  〃Enough！　enough　of　this；〃　cried　the　commandant。　〃Be　silent！　And　you；〃　speaking　to　the　soldiers；　〃get　out　of　here！　Send　the　blacksmith　to　solder　these　chains　at　once。　Go　into　the　second　passageI　want　no　one　but　the　blacksmith。〃
  The　soldiers　withdrew；　and　the　smith　entered　with　his　hot　coals；　his　glowing　iron；　and　his　panful　of　boiling　lead。　The　commandant　leaned　against　the　prison…door　gazing　at　the　smith；　Trenck　was　looking　eagerly　at　the　ceiling　of　his　cell　watching　the　shadows　thrown　there　by　the　glowing　coals。
  〃It　is　the　ignus　fatuus　of　my　freedom；〃　said　he；　with　a　weary　smile。　〃It　is　the　fourth　time　they　have　danced　on　this　ceilingit　is　the　fourth　time　my　chains　have　been　forged。　But　I　tell　you；　commandant；　I　will　break　them　again；　and　the　shadows　flickering　on　these　walls　will　be　changed　to　a　glorious　sun　of　freedomit　will　illuminate　my　path　so　that　I　can　escape　from　this　dungeon；　in　which　I　will　leave　nothing　but　my　curse　for　you　my　cruel　keeper。〃
  〃You　have　not；　then；　despaired？〃　said　the　commandant；　with　a　cold　smile。　〃You　will　still　attempt　to　escape？〃
  Trenck　fixed　his　keen；　sparkling　eyes　upon　Von　Bruckhausen；　and　stretching　out　his　left　arm　to　the　smith；　he　said：　〃Listen；　sir　commandant；　to　what　I　have　to　say　to　you；　and　may　my　words　creep　like　deadly　poison　through　your　veins！　Hear　me；　as　soon　as　you　have　left　my　cellas　soon　as　that　door　has　closed　behind　youI　will　commence　a　new　plan　of　escape。　You　have　thrown　me　in　a　cell　under　the　earth。　The　floor　in　my　other　cell　was　of　woodI　cut　my　way　through　it。　This　is　of　stoneI　shall　remove　it。　You　come　daily　and　search　my　room　to　see　if　there　is　not　some　hole　or　some　instrument　hidden　by　which　I　might　effect　my　escape。　Nevertheless　I　shall　escape。　God　created　the　mole；　and　of　it　I　will　learn　how　to　burrow　in　the　ground；　and　thus　I　will　escape。　You　will　see　that　I　have　no　instruments；　no　weapons；　but　God　gave　me　what　He　gave　the　moleHe　gave　my　fingers　nails；　and　my　mouth　teeth；　and　if　there　is　no　other　way；　I　will　make　my　escape　by　them。〃
  〃It　is　certainly　very　kind　of　you　to　inform　me　of　all　this；〃　cried　the　commandant。　〃Be　assured　I　shall　not　forget　your　words。　I　shall　accommodate　myself　to　them。　You　seek　to　escapeI　seek　to　detain　you　here。　I　am　convinced　I　shall　find　some　means　of　assuring　myself　every　quarter　of　an　hour　that　your　nails　and　teeth　have　not　freed　you。　The　smith's　work　I　see　is　done；　and　we　dare　entertain　the　hope　that　for　the　present　you　will　remain　with　us。　Or　perhaps　you　mean　to　bite　your　chains　in　two　as　soon　as　I　leave？〃
  〃God　gave　Samson　strength　to　crush　with　his　arms　the　temple　columns；〃　said　Trenck；　gazing　at　the　blacksmith；　who　was　now　leaving　the　room。　〃See；　the　ignis　fatuus　has　disappeared　from　my　cell；　the　sun　will　soon　shine。〃
  〃Trenck；　be　reasonable；〃　said　Von　Bruckhausen；　in　an　entreating　tone。　〃Do　not　increase　your　miserydo　not　force　me　to　be　more　cruel　to　you。　Promise　to　make　no　more　attempts　to　escape；　and　you　shall　not　be　punished　for　your　treacherous　plot！〃
  Trenck　laughed　aloud。　〃You　promise　not　to　punish　me。　How　could　you　accomplish　it？　Has　not　your　cruelty　bound　me　in　irons；　in　chains；　whose　invention　can　only　be　attributed　to　the　devil？　Do　I　not　live　in　the　deepest；　most　forlorn　cell　in　the　fortress？　Is　not　my　nourishment　bread　and　water？　Do　you　not　condemn　me　to　pass　my　days　in　idleness；　my　nights　in　fearful　darkness？　What　more　could　you　do　to　me？how　could　you　punish　any　new　attempt　to　escape？　No；　no；　sir　commandant；　as　soon　as　that　door　has　closed　on　you；　the　mole　will　commence　to　burrow；　and　some　day；　in　spite　of　all　your　care；　he　will　escape。〃
  〃That　is　your　last　word！〃　cried　Von　Bruckhausen；　infuriated。　〃You　will　not　promise　to　abandon　these　idle　attempts　at　escape？　You　will　not　name　your　accomplices？〃
  〃No！　and　again　no！〃
  〃Well；　then；　farewell。　You　shall　remember　this　hour；　and　I　promise　you；　you　shall　regret　it。〃
  Throwing　a　fearful　look　of　malignant　wrath　at　Trenck；　who　was　leaning　against　his　pallet；　laughing　at　his　rage；　the　commandant　left　the　prison。　The　iron　door　closed　slowly；　the　firm；　even　tread　of　the　disappearing　soldiers　was　audible；　then　all　was　quiet。
  A　death…like　stillness　reigned　in　the　prisoner's　cell；　no　sound　of　life　disturbed　the　fearful　quiet。　Trenck　shuddered；　a　feeling　of　inexpressible　woe；　of　inconsolable　despair　came　over　him。　He　could　now　yield　to　it；　no　one　was