第5章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"The Life and Adventures of Baron Trenck",免费读到尾

  MajorDoo,who,asIhavesaid,wasthecreatureofFouquet,ameanandcovetousman,knowingIhadmoney,hadalwaysactedthepartofaprotectorashepretendedtome,andcontinuallytoldmeIwascondemnedforlife。HeperpetuallyturnedtheconversationonthegreatcreditofhisgeneralwiththeKing,andhisowngreatcreditwiththegeneral。Forthepresentofahorse,onwhichIrodetoGlatz,hegavemefreedomofwalkingaboutthefortress;andforanother,worthahundredducats,IrescuedEnsignReitzfromdeath,whohadbeenbetrayedwhenendeavouringtoeffectourescape。I

  havebeenassuredthatonthatverydayonwhichIsnatchedhisswordfromhisside,desperatelypassedthroughthegarrison,andleapedthewallsoftherampart,hewasexpresslycometotellme,aftersomeprefatorythreats,thatbyhisgeneral’sintercession,mypunishmentwasonlytobeayear’simprisonment,andthatconsequentlyIshouldbereleasedinafewdays。

  Howvileweremeanslikethesetowrestmoneyfromtheunfortunate!

  TheKing,afterthismymadflight,certainlywasneverinformedofthemajor’sbasecunning;hecouldonlybetoldthat,ratherthanwaitafewdays,Ihadchosen,inthisdesperatemanner,tomakemyescape,andgoovertotheenemy。

  Thusdeceivedandstrengthenedinhissuspicion,musthenotimaginemydesiretoforsakemycountry,anddeserttotheenemy,wasunbounded?Howcouldhedootherwisethanimprisonasubjectwhothusendeavouredtoinjurehimandaidhisfoes?Thus,bythecalumniesofwickedmen,didmycrueldestinydailybecomemoresevere;andatlengthrenderthedeceivedmonarchirreconcilableandcruel。

  YethowcoulditbesupposedthatIwouldnotwillinglyhaveremainedthreeweekslongerinprison,tohavebeenhonourablyrestoredtoliberty,tohavepreventedtheconfiscationofmyestate,andtohaveoncemorereturnedtomybelovedmistressatBerlin。

  AndnowwasIinBohemia,afugitivestrangerwithoutmoney,protector,orfriend,andonlytwentyyearsofage。

  Inthecampaignof1744IhadbeenquarteredatBraunauwithaweaver,whomIadvisedandassistedtoburyhiseffects,andpreservethemfrombeingplundered。Theworthymanreceiveduswithjoyandgratitude。Ihadlivedinthissamehousebuttwoyearsbeforeasabsolutemasterofhimandhisfate。Ihadthenninehorsesandfiveservants,withthehighestandmostfavourablehopesoffuturity;butnowIcameafugitive,seekingprotection,andhavinglostallayouthlikemehadtolose。

  Ihadbutasinglelouis—d’orinmypurse,andSchellfortykreutzers,orsomethreeshillings;withthissmallsum,inastrangecountry,wehadtocurehissprain,andprovideforallourwants。

  IwasdeterminednottogotomycousinTrenckatVienna,fearfulthisshouldseemajustificationofallmyimputedtreasons;I

  ratherwishedtoembarkfortheEastIndies,thantohaverecoursetothisexpedient。Thegreatermydelicacywasthegreaterbecamemydistress。IwrotetomymistressatBerlin,butreceivednoanswer;possiblybecauseIcouldnotindicateanycertainmodeofconveyance。Mymotherbelievedmeguilty,andabandonedme;mybrotherswerestillminors,andmyfriendatSchweidnitzcouldnotaidme,beinggonetoKonigsberg。

  Afterthreeweeks’abodeatBraunau,myfriendrecoveredofhislameness。Wehadbeenobligedtosellmywatch,withhisscarfandgorget,tosupplyournecessities,andhadonlyfourflorinsremaining。

  FromthepublicpapersIlearnedmycousin,theAustrianTrenck,wasatthistimecloselyconfined,andundercriminalprosecution。Itwilleasilybeimaginedwhateffectthisnewshaduponme。

  NevertillnowhadIfeltanyinconveniencefrompoverty;mywantshadallbeenamplysupplied,andIhadeverlivedamong,andbeenhighlylovedandesteemedby,thefirstpeopleoftheland。Iwasdestitute,withoutaid,andundeterminedhowtoseekemployment,orobtainfame。

  AtlengthIdeterminedtotravelonfoottoPrussiatomymother,andobtainmoneyfromher,andafterwardsenterintotheRussianservice。Schell,whosedestinywaslinkedtomine,wouldnotforsakeme。Weassumedfalsenames:IcalledmyselfKnert,andSchell,Lesch;then,obtainingpassports,likecommondeserters,weleftBraunauonthe21stofJanuary,intheevening,unseenofanyperson,andproceededtowardsBielitzinPoland。AfriendIhadatNeurodegavemeapairofpocketpistols,amusket,andthreeducats;themoneywasspentatBraunau。HereletmetakeoccasiontoremarkIhadlentthisfriend,inurgentnecessity,ahundredducats,whichhestillowedme;andwhenIsenttorequestpayment,hereturnedmethree,asifIhadaskedcharity。

  Thoughacircumstantialdescriptionofourtravelsalonewouldfillavolume,Ishallonlyrelatethemostsingularaccidentswhichhappenedtous;Ishallalsoinsertthejournalofourroute,whichSchellhadpreserved,andgavemein1776,whenhecametoseemeatAix—la—Chapelle,afteranabsenceofthirtyyears。

  ThismaybecalledthefirstsceneinwhichIappearedasanadventurer,andperhapsmygoodfortunemayevenhaveoverbalancedthebad,sinceIhaveescapeddeathfullthirtytimeswhenthechanceswereahundredtooneagainstme;certainitisIundertookmanythingsinwhichIseemedtohaveowedmypreservationtotheveryrashnessoftheaction,andinwhichothersequallybravewouldhavefounddeath。

  JOURNALOFTRAVELSONFOOT。

  FromBraunau,inBohemia,throughBielitz,inPoland,toMeseritsch,andfromMeseritsch,byThorn,toEbling;inthewhole169miles,{3}performedwithoutbeggingorstealing。

  January18th,1747。——FromBraunau,byPolitz,toNachod,threemiles,wehavingthreeflorinsforty—fivekreutzersinourpurse。

  Jan。19。——ToNeustadt。HereSchellbarteredhisuniformforanoldcoat,andaJewgavehimtwoflorinsfifteenkreutzersinexchange;

  fromhencewewenttoReichenau;inall,threemiles。

  Jan。20。——WewenttoLeitomischl,fivemiles。HereIboughtaloafhotoutoftheoven,whicheatinggreedily,hadnearlycausedmydeath。Thisobligedustorestaday,andtheextravagantchargeofthelandlordalmostemptiedourpurse。

  Jan。22。——FromTrubau,toZwittau,inMoravia,fourmiles。

  Jan。23。——ToSternberg,sixmiles。Thisday’sjourneyexcessivelyfatiguedpoorSchell,hissprainedanklebeingstillextremelyweak。

  Jan。24。——ToLeipnik,fourmiles,inadeepsnow,andwithemptystomachs。HereIsoldmystock—buckleforfourflorins。

  Jan。25。——ToFreiberg,byWeiskirch,toDrahotusch,fivemiles。

  Earlyinthemorningwefoundaviolinandcaseontheroad;theinnkeeperinWeiskirchgaveustwoflorinsforit,onconditionthatheshouldreturnittotheowneronprovinghisright,itbeingworthatleasttwenty。

  Jan。26。——ToFriedek,inUpperSilesia,twomiles。

  Jan。27。——Toavillage,fourmilesandahalf。

  Jan。28。——ThroughSkotschau,toBielitz,threemiles。ThiswasthelastAustriantownonthefrontiersofPoland,andCaptainCapi,oftheregimentofMarischall,whocommandedthegarrison,demandedourpassports。Wehadfalsenames,andcalledourselvescommonPrussiandeserters;butadrummer,whohaddesertedfromGlatz,knewus,andbetrayedustothecaptain,whoimmediatelyarrestedusveryrudely,andsentusonfoottoTeschin(refusingusahearing),fourmilesdistant。

  HerewefoundLieut。—ColonelBaronSchwarzer,aperfectlyworthyman,whowashighlyinterestedinourbehalf,andwhoblamedtheirregulararbitraryconductofCaptainCapi。Ifranklyrelatedmyadventures,andheusedeverypossibleargumenttopersuademe,insteadofcontinuingmyjourneythroughPolandtogotoVienna,butinvain;mygoodgenius,thistime,preservedme——wouldtoGoditeverhad!HowmanymiserieshadIthenavoided,andhoweasilymightIhaveescapedthesnaresspreadformebythepowerful,whohaveseizedonmyproperty,andinordertosecureit,havehithertorenderedmeuselesstothestatebydeprivingmeofallpostorpreferment。

  Ireturned,therefore,asecondtimetoBeilitz,travellingthesefourmilesoncemore。Schwarzerlentushisownhorseandfourducats,whichIhavesincerepaid,butwhichIshallneverforget,astheywereofsignalservicetome,andprocuredmeapairofnewboots。

  IrritatedagainstCaptainCapi,wepassedthroughBeilitzwithoutstopping,wentimmediatelytoBiala,thefirsttowninPoland,andfromthencesentCapiachallengetofightme,withswordorpistol,butreceivednoanswer;andhisnon—appearancehaseverconfirmedhiminmyopinionarascal。

  Andheresuffermetotakearetrospectiveviewofwhatwasmythensituation。BytheordersofCapiIwassentprisonerasacontemptiblecommondeserter,andwasunabletocallhimtoaccount。

  InPoland,indeed,Ihadthatpower,butwasdespisedasavagabondbecauseofmypoverty。What,alas!aretheadvantageswhichtheloveofhonour,science,courage,ordesireoffamecanbestow,wantingthemeansthatshouldintroduceusto,andbiduswalkerectinthepresenceofourequals?Youthdepressedbypoverty,isrobbedofthesocietyofthosewhobestcanaffordexampleandinstruction。Ihadlivedfamiliarwiththegreat,menofgeniushadformedandenlightenedme;Ihadbeenenumeratedamongthefavouritesofacourt;andnowwasIastranger,unknown,unesteemed,nay,condemned,obligedtoenduretheextremesofcold,hunger,andthirst;towandermanyawearymile,sufferingbothinbodyandmind,whileeverystepledmefartherfromherwhommostI

  loved,anddearest;yethadInofixedplan,nocertainknowledgeinwhatthesemylaboursandsufferingsshouldend。

  Iwastooproudtodiscovermyself;and,indeed,towhomcouldI

  discovermyselfinastrangeland?MynamemighthaveavailedmeinAustria,butinAustria,wherethisnamewasknown,wouldInotremain;ratherthanseekmyfortunethere,Iwasdeterminedtoshunwhatevermighttendtorendermesuspiciousintheeyesofmycountry。Howliablewasatempersoardentasmine,inthemidstofdifficulties,fatigues,anddisappointments,hardtoendure,tobetraymeintoallthoseerrorsofwhichrashyouth,unaccustomedtohardship,impatientofcontrariety,aresooftenguilty!ButIhadtakenmyresolution,andmyfaithfulSchell,towhomhungerorease,contemptorfame,formysake,werebecomeindifferent,didwhateverIdesired。

  Oncemoretomyjournal。

  Feb。1。——WeproceededfourmilesfromBialatoOswintzen,Ihavingdeterminedtoaskaidfrommysister,whohadmarriedWaldow,andlivedmuchathercaseonafineestateatHanmer,inBrandenburg,betweenLansberg,ontheWartaandMeseritsch,afrontiertownofPoland。ForthisreasonwecontinuedourrouteallalongtheSilesianconfinestoMeseritsch。

  Feb。2。——ToBobrekandElkusch,fivemiles。Wesufferedmuchthisdaybecauseofthesnow,andthatthelightnessofourdresswasillsuitedtosuchsevereweather。Schell,negligently,lostourpurse,inwhichwerenineflorins。Ihadstill,however,nineteengroschinmypocket(abouthalf—a—crown)。

  Feb。3。——ToCrumelew,threemiles;andFeb。4。——ToWladowiegudJoreck,threemilesmore;andfromthence,on。

  Feb。5。——ToCzenstochowa,wherethereisamagnificentconvent,concerningwhich,hadIroom,Imightwritemanyremarkablethings,muchtothedisgraceofitsinhabitants。

  Wesleptataninnkeptbyaveryworthyman,whosenamewasLazar。

  HehadbeenalieutenantintheAustrianservice,wherehehadsufferedmuch,andwasnowbecomeapoorinnkeeperinPoland。Wehadnotapennyinourpurse,andrequestedabitofbread。Thegenerousmanhadcompassiononus,anddesiredustositdownandeatwithhimself。Ithentoldhimwhowewere,andtrustedhimwiththemotivesofourjourney。Scarcelyhadwesupped,beforeacarriagearrivedwiththreepeople。Theyhadtheirownhorses,aservantandacoachman。

  Thisisaremarkableincident,andImustrelateitcircumstantially,thoughasbrieflyaspossible。

  WehadbeforemetthiscarriageatElkusch,andoneofthesepeoplehadaskedSchellwhereweweregoing;hehadreplied,toCzenstochowa;wethereforehadnottheleastsuspicionofthem,notwithstandingthedangerweran。

  Theylayattheinn,salutedus,butwithindifference,notseemingtonoticeus,andspokelittle。Wehadnotbeenlonginbed,beforeourhostcametoawakenus,andtolduswithsurprise,thesepretendedmerchantsweresenttoarrestusfromPrussia;thattheyhadoffered,first,fifty,afterwards,ahundredducats,ifhewouldpermitthemtotakeusinhishouse,andcarryusintoSilesia:

  thathehadfirmlyrejectedtheproposal,thoughtheyhadincreasedtheirpromises:andthatatlasttheyhadgivenhimsixducatstoengagehissilence。

  Weclearlysawthesewereanofficerandunder—officerssentbyGeneralFouquet,torecoverus。Weconjecturedbywhatmeanstheyhaddiscoveredourroute,andimaginedtheinformationtheyhadreceivedcouldonlycomefromoneLieutenantMolinie,ofthegarrisonofHabelschwert,whohadcometovisitSchell,asafriend,duringourstayatBraunau。Hehadremainedwithustwodays,andhadaskedmanyquestionsconcerningtheroadweshouldtake,andhewastheonlyonewhoknewit。HewasprobablythespyofFouquet,andthecauseofwhathappenedafterwards,which,however,endedinthedefeatofourenemies。

  ThemomentIheardofthisinfamoustreachery,Iwasforenteringwithmypistolsprimed,intotheenemy’schamber,butwaspreventedbySchellandLazar:thelatterentreatedme,inthestrongestmanner,toremainathishousetillIshouldreceiveasupplyfrommymother,thatImightbeenabledtocontinuemyjourneywithmoreeaseandlessdanger:buthisentreatieswereineffectual;Iwasdeterminedtoseeher,uncertainasIwasofwhateffectmyletterhadproduced。Lazarassuredme,weshould,mostinfallibly,beattackedontheroad。\"Somuchthebetter,\"retortedI;\"thatwillgivemeanopportunityofdespatchingthem,sendingthemtotheotherworld,andshootingthemasIwouldhighwayman。\"Theydepartedatbreakofday,andtooktheroadtoWarsaw。

  Wewouldhavebeengone,likewise,butLazar,insomesort,forciblydetainedus,andgaveusthesixducatshehadreceivedfromthePrussians,withwhichweboughtuseachashirt,anotherpairofpocketpistols,andotherurgentnecessaries;thentookanaffectionateleaveofourhost,whodirectedusonourway,andwetestifiedourgratitudeforthegreatservicesdoneus。

  Feb。6。——FromCzenstochowatoDankow,twomiles。Hereweexpectedanattack。Lazarhadtoldusourenemieshadonemusket:Ialsohadamusket,andanexcellentsabre,andeachofuswasprovidedwithapairofpistols。Theyknewnotweweresowellarmed,whichperhapswasthecauseoftheirpanic,whentheycametoengage。

  Feb。7。——WetooktheroadtoParsemechi:wehadnotbeenanhourontheroad,beforewesawacarriage;aswedrewnear,weknewittobethatofourenemies,whopretendeditwassetinthesnow。Theywereroundit,andwhentheysawusapproach,begantocallforhelp。This,weguessed,wasanartificetoentrapus。Schellwasnotstrong;theywouldallhavefallenuponme,andweshouldeasilyhavebeencarriedoff,fortheywantedtotakeusalive。

  Weleftthecausewayaboutthirtypaces,answering——\"wehadnottimetogivethemhelp;\"atwhichtheyallrantotheircarriage,drewouttheirpistols,andreturningfullspeedafterus,called,\"Stop,rascals!\"Webegantorun,butIsuddenlyturninground,presentedmypiece,andshotthenearestdeadonthespot。Schellfiredhispistols;ouroppressorsdidthesame,andSchellreceivedaballintheneckatthisdischarge。Itwasnowmyturn;Itookoutmypistols,oneoftheassailantsfled,andIenraged,pursuedhimthreehundredpaces,overtookhim,andashewasdefendinghimselfwithhissword,perceivinghebled,andmadeafeebleresistance,presseduponhim,andgavehimastrokethatbroughthimdown。I

  instantlyreturnedtoSchell,whomIfoundinthepoweroftwoothersthatweredragginghimtowardsthecarriage,butwhentheysawmeattheirheels,theyfledoverthefields。Thecoachman,perceivingwhichwaythebattlewent,leapedonhisbox,anddroveofffullspeed。

  Schell,thoughdelivered,waswoundedwithaballintheneck,andbyacutintherighthand,whichhadmadehimdrophissword,thoughheaffirmedhehadrunoneofhisadversariesthrough。

  ItookasilverwatchfromthemanIhadkilled,andwasgoingtomakefreewithhispurse,whenSchellcalled,andshowedmeacoachandsixcomingdownahill。Tostaywouldhaveexposedustohavebeenimprisonedashighwaymen;forthetwofugitiveswhohadescapeduswouldcertainlyhavebornewitnessagainstus。Safetycouldonlybefoundinflight。I,however,seizedthemusketandhatofhimI

  hadfirstkilled,andwethengainedthecopse,andafterthattheforest。Theroadwasroundabout,anditwasnightbeforewereachedParsemechi。

  Schellwasbesmearedwithblood;IhadbounduphiswoundthebestI

  could;butinPolishvillagesnosurgeonsaretobefound:andheperformedhisjourneywithgreatdifficulty。WemetwithtwoSaxonunder—officershere,whowererecruitingfortheregimentofguardsatDresden。Mysixfeetheightandpersonpleasedthem,andtheyimmediatelymadethemselvesacquaintedwithme。Ifoundthemintelligent,andentrustedthemwithoursecret,toldthemwhowewere,relatedthebattlewehadthatdayhadwithourpursuers,andIhadnotreasontorepentofmyconfidenceinthem。Schellhadhiswoundsdressed,andweremainedsevendayswiththesegoodSaxons,whofaithfullykeptuscompany。

  Ilearned,meantime,thatofthefourmenbywhomwehadbeenassaulted,oneonly,andthecoachman,returnedtoGlatz。ThenameoftheofficerwhoundertookthisvilebusinesswasGersdorf;hehadahundredandfiftyducatsinhispocketwhenfounddead。Howgreatwouldourgoodfortunehavebeen,hadnotthatcursedcoachandsix,byitsappearance,madeustaketoflight;sincethebootywouldhavebeenmostjust!Fortune,thistime,didnotfavourtheinnocent;andthoughtreacherouslyattacked,Iwasobligedtoescapelikeaguiltywretch。WesoldthewatchtoaJewforfourducats,thehatforthreeflorinsandahalf,andthemusketforaducat,Schellbeingunabletocarryitfarther。WeleftmostofthismoneybehindusatParsemechi。AJewsurgeonsoldussomedearplaisters,whichwetookwithusanddeparted。

  Feb。15。——FromParsemechi,throughVielum,toBiala,fourmiles。

  Feb。16。——ThroughJerischowtoMisorcen,fourmilesandahalf。

  Feb。17。——ToOsterkowandSchwarzwald,threemiles。

  Feb。18。——ToSdune,fourmiles。

  Feb。19。——ToGoblintwomiles。

  Herewearrivedwhollydestituteofmoney。IsoldmycoattoaJew,whogavemefourflorinsandacoarsewaggoner’sfrock,inexchange,whichIdidnotthinkIshouldlongneed,aswenowdrewnearertowheremysisterlived,andwhereIhopedIshouldbebetterequipped。Schell,however,grewweakerandweaker;hiswoundshealedslowly,andwereexpensive;thecoldwasalsoinjurioustohim,and,ashewasnotbynaturecleanlyinhisperson,hisbodysoonbecametheharbourofeveryspeciesofvermintobepickedupinPoland。Weoftenarrivedwetandweary,tooursmoky,reekingstove—room。Oftenwereweobligedtolieonstraw,orbareboards;

  andthevarioushardshipswesufferedarealmostincredible。

  Wanderingaswedid,inthemidstofwinter,throughPoland,wherehumanity,hospitality,andgentlepity,arescarcelysomuchasknownbyname;wheremercilessJewsdenythepoortravellerabed,andwherewedisconsolatelystrayed,withoutbread,andalmostnaked:theseweresufferings,thefullextentofwhichheonlycanconceivebywhomtheyhavebeenfelt。Mymusketnowandthenprocuredusanoccasionalmealoftamegeese,andcocksandhens,whentheseweretobehad;otherwise,wenevertookortouchedanythingthatwasnotourown。WemetwithSaxonandPrussianrecruitersatvariousplaces;allofwhom,onaccountofmyyouthandstature,wereeagertoinveigleme。Iwashighlydivertedtohearthemenumerateallthepossibilitiesoffuturegreatness,andhowliableIwashereaftertobecomeacorporal:norwasIlessmerrywiththeirmead,ale,andbrandy,givenwithanintenttomakemedrunk。Thuswehadmanyartificestoguardagainst;butthushadwelikewise,veryluckilyforus,manyagoodmealgratis。

  Feb。21。——WewentfromGoblintoPugnitz,threemilesandahalf。

  Feb。22。——ThroughStorchnesttoSchmiegel,fourmiles。

  Herehappenedasingularadventure。Thepeasantsatthisplaceweredancingtoavilescraperontheviolin:Itooktheinstrumentmyself,andplayedwhiletheycontinuedtheirhilarity。Theyweremuchpleasedwithmyplaying:butwhenIwastired,anddesiredtohavedone,theyobligedme,firstbyimportunities,andafterwardsbythreats,toplayonallnight。Iwassofatigued,IthoughtI

  shouldhavefainted;atlengththeyquarrelledamongthemselves。

  Schellwassleepingonabench,andsomeofthemfelluponhiswoundedhand:herosefurious:Iseizedourarms,begantolayaboutme,andwhileallwasinconfusion,weescaped,withoutfurtherill—treatment。

  Whatamplesubjectofmeditationonthevariousturnsoffatedidthisnightafford!ButtwoyearsbeforeIdancedatBerlinwiththedaughtersandsistersofkings:andherewasI,inaPolishhut,aragged,almostnakedmusician,playingforthesportofignorantrustics,whomIwasatlastobligedtofight。

  Iwasmyselfthecauseofthetriflingmisfortunethatbefellmeonthisoccasion。HadnotmyvanityledmetoshowthesepoorpeasantsIwasamusician,Imighthavesleptinpeaceandsafety。ThesamevaindesireofprovingIknewmorethanothermen,mademethroughlifethecontinuedvictimofenvyandslander。Hadnature,too,bestowedonmeaweakeroradeformedbody,Ihadbeenlessobserved,lesscourted,lesssought,andmyadventuresandmishapshadbeenfewer。Thusthemeritsofthemanoftenbecomehismiseries;andthusthebear,havinglearnedtodance,mustliveanddieinchains。

  Thisardour,thisvanity,or,ifyouplease,thisemulation,has,however,taughtmetovanquishathousanddifficulties,underwhichothersofcoolerpassionsandmoretemperatedesireswouldhavesunk。Maymyexampleremainawarning;andthusmaymysufferingsbecomesomewhatprofitabletotheworld,cruelastheyhavebeentomyself!Crueltheywere,andcrueltheymustcontinue;forthewoundsIhavereceivedarenot,willnot,cannotbehealed。

  Feb。23。——FromSchmiegeltoRakonitz,andfromthencetoKargerHolland,fourmilesandahalf。Herewesold,topreventdyingofhunger,ashirtandSchell’swaistcoatforeighteengrosch,ornineschostacks。Ihadshotapulletthedaybefore,whichnecessityobligedustoeatraw。Ialsokilledacrow,whichIdevouredalone,Schellrefusingtotaste。Youthandhardtravellingcreatedavoraciousappetite,andoureighteengroschweresoonexpended。

  Feb。24。——WecamethroughBenzentoLettel,fourmiles。Herewehaltedaday,tolearntheroadtoHammer,inBrandenburg,wheremysisterlived。IhappenedluckilytomeetwiththewifeofaPrussiansoldierwholivedatLettel,andbelongedtoKolschen,whereshewasbornavassalofmysister’shusband。ItoldherwhoIwas,andshebecameourguide。

  Feb。26。——ToKurschenandFalkenwalde。

  Feb。27。——ThroughNeuendorfandOost,andafterwardsthroughapathlesswood,fivemilesandahalftoHammer,andhereIknockedatmysister’sdooratnineo’clockintheevening。

  CHAPTERVIII。

  Amaidservantcametothedoor,whomIknew;hernamewasMary,andshehadbeenbornandbroughtupinmyfather’shouse。Shewasterrifiedatseeingasturdyfellowinabeggar’sdress;whichperceiving,Iasked,\"Molly,donotyouknowme?\"Sheanswered,\"No;\"andIthendiscoveredmyselftoher。Iaskedwhethermybrother—in—lawwasathome。Maryreplied,\"Yes;butheissickinbed。\"\"Tellmysister,then,\"saidI,\"thatIamhere。\"Sheshowedmeintoaroom,andmysisterpresentlycame。

  Shewasalarmedatseeingme,notknowingthatIhadescapedfromGlatz,andrantoinformherhusband,butdidnotreturn。

  AquarterofanhourafterthegoodMarycameweeping,andtoldushermastercommandedustoquitthepremisesinstantly,orheshouldbeobligedtohaveusarrested,anddeliveredupasprisoners。Mysister’shusbandforciblydetainedher,andIsawhernomore。

  Whatmyfeelingsmustbe,atsuchamoment,letthereaderimagine。

  Iwastooproud,tooenraged,toaskmoney;Ifuriouslyleftthehouse,utteringathousandmenacesagainstitsinhabitants,whilethekind—heartedMary,stillweeping,slippedthreeducatsintomyhand,whichIaccepted。

  And,nowbeholdusoncemoreinthewood,whichwasnotaboveahundredpacesfromthehouse,halfdeadwithhungerandfatigue,notdaringtoenteranyhabitation,whileinthestatesofBrandenburg,anddraggingourwearystepsallnightthroughsnowandrain,untilourguideatlengthbroughtusback,atdaybreak,onceagaintothetownofLettel。

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