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〃I shall indeed go mad。 Joy at my approaching deliverance confuses my poor head； I will try to sleep； to be calmcollect my strength for to…morrow。〃
He lay down upon his miserable couch； and forced himself to be quiet and silentnot to speak aloud to himself in his lonely cell； as he was accustomed to do。 Gradually the mad tension of his nerves relaxed； gradually his eyes closed； and a soft； beneficial slumber came over him。
All was still in the dark cell； nothing was to be heard but the loud breathing of the sleeper； but even in sleep； visions of life and liberty rejoiced his hearthis face beamed with heavenly joy； he murmured softly； 〃I am free！free at last！〃
The hours passed away； but Trenck still slumberedprofound stillness surrounded him。 The outer world had long since been awake… …the sun was up； and had sent a clear beam of its glory through the small； thickly…barred window； even into the comfortless； desolate cell； and changed the gloom of darkness into a faint twilight。
CHAPTER X。
〃TRENCK； ARE YOU THERE？〃
Trenck slept。 Sleep on； sleep on； unfortunate prisoner； for while asleep you are free and joyous； when you awake； your happy dreams will vanish； agony and despair will be your only companions。
Listen！ there are steps in the passage； Trenck does not hear them he still sleeps。 But； now a key is turned； the door is opened； and Trenck springs from his pallet。
〃Are you there； my friends？ Is all ready？〃
But he totters back with a fearful shriek； his eyes fixed despairingly upon the door。 There stood Von Bruckhausen； the prison commandant； beside him several officers； behind them a crowd of soldiers。
This vision explained all to Trenck。 It told him that his plan had miscarriedthat again all had been in vain。 It told him that he must remain what he was； a poor； wretched prisonermore wretched than before； for they would now find out that when alone he could release himself from his chains。 They would find his gold； which he had taken from its hiding…place； and was now lying loosely upon the floor。
〃I am lost！〃 said he； covering his face with his hands； and throwing himself upon his bed。
A malignant smile brightened up Von Bruckhausen's disagreeable countenance； as his eye took in the broken chains； the glittering gold； and the despairing prisoner。 He then ordered the soldiers to raise the chains and fasten them on him。
Trenck made no resistance。 He suffered them quietly to adjust his iron belt； to fasten the chain around his neck。 He seemed insensible to all that was passing。 This fearful blow had annihilated him； and the giant who； but a short time before； had thought to conquer the world； was now a weak； trembling； defenceless child。 When he was ordered to rise to have the chains annexed to his iron girdle； and fastened to the wall； he rose at once； and stretched out his hand for the manacles。 Now the commandant dared approach Trenck； he had no fear of the chained lion； he could jeer at and mock without danger。 He did it with the wrath of a soul hard and pitiless； with the deep； unutterable hate of an implacable enemy； for Trenck was 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 soldi