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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 present to hear his misery and wretchedness。 He need not now suppress the sighs and groans that had almost choked him； he could give the tears； welling to his eyes like burning fire； full vent； he could cool his feverish brow upon the stone floor； in the agony of his soul。 As a man trembles at the thought of death； Trenck trembled at the thought of life。 He knew not how long he had sighed； and wept； and groaned。 For him there was no time； no hour； no nightit was all merged into one fearful day。 But still he experienced some hours of pleasure and joy。 These were the hours of sleep； the hours of dreams。 Happier than many a king； than many powerful rulers and rich nobles upon their silken couches； was this prisoner upon his hard pallet。 He could sleephis spirit； busy during the day in forming plans for his escape； needed and found the rest of sleep； his body needed the refreshment and received it。
Yes； he could sleep。 Men were hard and cruel to him； but God had not deserted him； for at night He sent an angel to his cell who consoled and refreshed him。 It was the angel of slumberwhen night came； after all his sorrow； his agony； his despair endured during the day； the consoling angel came and took his seat by the wretched prisoner。 This night he kissed his eyes； he laid his soft wings on the prisoner's wounded heart； he whispered glorious dreams of the future into his ear。 A beautiful smile； seldom seen when he was awake； now rested upon his lips。
Keep quiet； ye guards； without therekeep quiet； the prisoner sleeps； the sleep of man is sacred； and more sacred than all else is the sleep of the unfortunate。 Do not disturb himpass the door stealthily。 Be still； be still！ the prisoner sleepsreverence his rest。
This stillness was now broken by a loud cry。
〃Trenck； Trenck！〃 cried a thundering voice〃Trenck； are you asleep？〃
He woke from his pleasant dreams and rose in terror from his bed。 He thought he had heard the trumpets of the judgment…day； and listened eagerly for the renewing of the sound。
And again the cry resounded through his cell。 〃Trenck； are you there？〃
With a wild fear he raised his hand to his burning brow。
〃Am I mad？〃 murmured he； 〃I hear a voice in my brain calling me； a voice〃
The bolts were pushed back； and Commandant Von Bruckhausen； accompanied by a soldier； with a burning torch； appeared on the threshold。
〃Why did you not answer； Trenck？〃 said he。
〃Answeranswer what？〃
〃The sentinel's call。 As you swore to me you would make new attempts to escape； I was compelled to make arrangements to prevent your succeeding。 The guards at your door are commanded to call you every quarter of an hour during the night。 If you do not answer at once； they will enter your cell to convince themselves of your presence。 Accommodate yourself to this； Trenck。 We shall now see if you are able to free yourself with your nails and teeth！〃
He left the room； the door was closed。 It was night once more in the prisoner's cellbut he did not sleep。 He sat upon his pallet and asked himself if what had passed was true； or if it was not some wild and fearful dream。
〃No； no； it cannot be true； they could not rob me of my last and only pleasuremy sleep！ soft； balmy sleep！〃
But listen。 There is a voice again。 〃Trenck； Trenck； are you there？〃
He answered by a fearful yell； and sprang from his bed； trembling with terror。 It was no dream！
〃It is true！they will let me sleep no more。 Cowardly thieves！ may God curse as I curse you。 May He have no pity with you； who have none with me！ Ah； you cruel men； you increase my misery a thousandfold。 You murder my sleep。 God's curse upon you！〃
CHAPTER XI。
THE KING AND THE GERMAN SCHOLAR。
It was the winter of 1760。 Germany； unhappy Germany； bleeding from a thousand wounds； was for a few months freed from the scourge of war； she could breathe again； and gather new strength for new contests。 Stern winter with its ice and snow had alone given peace to the people for a short time。 The rulers thought of and willed nothing but war； and the winter's rest was