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〃Poor beasts；〃 said he； stepping forward； and patting and caressing them〃poor beasts； you also pine for liberty； and hope for my assistance； but I cannot； I dare not aid you。 Like you； I also am a prisoner； and like you also； a prisoner to my will。 If you would use your strength； one movement of your powerful muscles would tear your bonds asunder； and your feet would bear you swiftly like wings through the air。 If I would use the present opportunity； which beckons and smiles upon me； it would be only necessary to spring upon your back and dash off into God's fair and lovely world。 We would reach our goal； we would be free； but we would both be lost； we would be recaptured； and would bitterly repent our short dream of self…acquired freedom。 It is better for us both that we remain as we are； bound； not with chains laid upon our bodies； but by wisdom and discretion。〃
So saying； he smoothed tenderly the glossy throat of the gallant steed； whose joyful neigh filled his heart with an inexplicable melancholy。
〃I must leave you；〃 murmured he； shudderingly； 〃your lusty neighing intoxicates my senses； and reminds me of green fields and fragrant meadows； of the broad highways； and the glad feeling of liberty which one enjoys when flying through the world on the back of a gallant steed。 No！ No！ I dare no longer look upon you； all my wisdom and discretion might melt away； and I might be allured to seek for myself that freedom which I must receive alone at the hands of the king； in Berlin。〃
With hasty steps Trenck left the stable and returned to the house； where he stretched himself upon the sofa； and gave himself up to dreamland。 It was twilight when Halber returned from his long ride。
〃All is quiet and peaceful；〃 said he； as he entered the house。 〃The bird has flown； this time； he found the opportunity favorable。〃
With a contented smile； he entered his room； but his expression changed suddenly； and his trembling lips muttered a soldier's curse。 There lay Trenck in peaceful slumber； his handsome； youthful face was bright and free from care； and those must be sweet dreams which floated around him； for he smiled in his sleep。
〃Poor fellow！〃 said Von Halber； shaking his head； 〃he must be mad； or struck with blindness； and cannot see the yawning abyss at his feet。〃 He awakened Trenck； and asked him how he had amused himself； during the long hours of solitude。
〃I looked through all your house； and then entered the stables and gladdened my heart by the sight of your beautiful horses。〃
〃Thunder and lightning！ You have then seen my horses；〃 cried Halber； thoroughly provoked。 〃Did no wish arise in your heart to mount one and seek your liberty？〃
Frederick Trenck smiled。 〃The wish； indeed； arose in my heart； but I suppressed it manfully。 Do you not see； dear Halber； that it would be unthankful and unknightly to reward in this cowardly and contemptible way the magnanimous confidence you have shown me。〃
〃Truly； you are an honorable gentleman；〃 cried Halber； greatly touched； 〃I had not thought of that。 It would not have been well to flee from my house。〃
〃To…morrow he will fly；〃 thought the good…natured soldier； 〃when once more aloneto…morrow； and the opportunity shall not be wanting。〃
Von Halber left his house early in the morning to conduct his prisoner to Berlin。 No one accompanied them； no one but the coachman； who sat upon the box and never looked behind him。
Their path led through a thick wood。 Von Halber entertained the prisoner as the lieutenant had done who conducted Trenck the day he left Coslin。 He called his attention to the denseness of the forest； and spoke of the many fugitives who had concealed themselves there till pursuit was abandoned。 He then invited Trenck to get down and walk with him； near the carriage。
As Trenck accepted the invitation； and strolled along by his side in careless indifference； Von Halber suddenly observed that the ground was covered with mushrooms。
〃Let us gather a few；〃 said he； 〃the young wife of one of my friends understands how to make a glorious dish of them； and if I take her a large collection； she will consider it a kind attention。 Let us take our hats and handkerchiefs； and fill them。 You will take the right path into the wood； and I the left。 In one hour we will meet here again。〃
Without waiting for an answer； the good Halber turned to the left in the wood； and was lost in the thicket。 In an hour he returned to the carriage； and found Trenck smilingly awaiting him。
He turned pale； and with an expression of exasperation； he exclaimed：
〃You have not then lost yourself in the woods？〃
〃I have not lost myself；〃 said Trenck； quietly； 〃and I have gathered a quantity of beautiful mushrooms。〃
Trenck handed him his handkerchief； filled with small； round mushrooms。 Halber threw them with a sort of despair into the carriage； and then； without saying one word； he mounted and nodded to Trenck to follow him。
〃And now let us be off；〃 said he； shortly。 〃Coachman； drive on！〃
He leaned back in the carriage； and with frowning brow he gazed up into the heavens。
Slowly the carriage rolled through the sand； and it seemed as if the panting； creeping horses shrank back from reaching their goal； the boundary…line of the Wurtembergian dragoons。 Trenck had followed his companion's example； and leaned back in the carriage。 Halber was gloomy and filled with dark forebodings。 Trenck was gay and unembarrassed； not the slightest trace of care or mistrust could be read in his features。
They moved onward silently。 The air was fresh and pure； the heavens clear； but a dark cloud was round about the path of this dazzled； blinded young officer。 The birds sang of it on the green boughs； hut Trenck would not understand them。 They sang of liberty and gladness； they called to him to follow their example； and fly far from the haunts of men！ The dark wood echoed Fly！ fly！ in powerful organ… tones； but Trenck took them for the holy hymns of God's peaceful； sleeping world。 He heard not the trees； as with warning voices they bowed down and murmured； Flee！ flee！ Come under our shadow； we will conceal you till the danger be overpast' Flee！ flee！ Misfortune； like a cruel vulture； is floating over youalready her fangs are extended to grasp you。 The desert winds； in wild haste rushed by and covering this poor child of sorrow with clouds of dust； whispered in his ear； Fly！ fly！follow my example and rush madly backward！ Misfortune advances to meet you； and a river of tears flows down the path you are blindly following。 Turn your head and flee； before this broad； deep stream overtakes you。 The creaking wheels seemed to sob out。 Fly！ fly！ we are rolling you onward to a dark and eternal prison！ Do you not hear the clashing of chains？ Do you not see the open grave at your feet？ These are your chains！that is your grave； already prepared for the living； glowing heart！ Fly！ then； fly！ You are yet free to choose。 The clouds which swayed on over the heavens； traced in purple and gold the warning words； Fly！ fly！ or you look upon us for the last time！ Upon the anxious face of Von Halber was also to be seen； Fly now； it is high time！ I see the end of the wood！I see the first houses of Boslin。 Fly！ then； fly！it is high time！ Alas； Trenck's eyes were blinded； and his ears were filled with dust。
〃Those whom demons will destroy； they first strike with blindness。〃 Trenck's evil genius had blinded his eyeshis destruction was sure。 There remained no hope of escape。 The carriage had reached the end of the wood and rolled now over the chausse to Boslin。
But what means this great crowd before the stately house which is decorated with the Prussian arms？ What means this troop of soldiers who with stern； frowning brows； surround the dark coach with the closed windows？
〃We are in Boslin；〃 said Von Halber； pointing toward the group of soldiers。 〃That is the post…house； and； as you see； we are expected。〃
For the first time Trenck was pale； and horror was written in his face。 〃I am lost！〃 stammered he； completely overcome； and sinking back into the carriage he cast a wild； despairing glance around him； and seized the arm of Halber with a powerful hand。
〃Be merciful； sir！ oh； be merciful！ Let us move more sl