Strictsearchwasimmediatelymadebysmiths，carpenters，andmasons，andafterhalfanhour’sexamination，theydiscoveredneithermyholenorthemannerinwhichIdisencumberedmyselfofmychains；theyonlysawthatthemiddlegrating，intheaperturewherethelightwasadmitted，hadbeenremoved。Thiswasboardedupthenextday，onlyasmallair—holeleft，ofaboutsixinchesdiameter。
ThePrincebegantothreaten；IpersistedIhadneverseenthesentinelwhohadrenderedmethisservice，noraskedhisname。
Seeinghisattemptsallineffectual，thegovernor，inamildertone，said，\"Youhaveevercomplained，BaronTrenck，ofnothavingbeenlegallysentenced，orheardinyourowndefence；Igiveyoumywordofhonour，thisyoushallbe，andalsothatyoushallbereleasedfromyourfetters，ifyouwillonlytellmewhotookyourletter。\"
TothisIreplied，withallthefortitudeofinnocence，\"Everybodyknows，mylord，IhaveneverdeservedthetreatmentIhavemetwithinmycountry。Myheartisirreproachable。Iseektorecovermylibertybyeverymeansinmypower：butwereIcapableofbetrayingthemanwhosecompassionhasinducedhimtosuccourmydistress；
wereIthecowardthatcouldpurchasehappinessathisexpense，I
thenshould，indeed，deservetowearthosechainswithwhichIamloaded。Formyself，dowithmewhatyouplease：yetrememberIamnotwhollydestitute：IamstillacaptainintheImperialservice，andadescendantofthehouseofTrenck。\"
PrinceFerdinandstoodforamomentunabletoanswer；thenrenewedhisthreats，andleftmydungeon。Ihavesincebeentoldthat，whenhewasoutofhearing，hesaidtothosearoundhim，\"Ipityhishardfate，andcannotbutadmirehisstrengthofmind！\"
Imusthereremarkthat，whenweremembertheusualcircumspectionofthisgreatman，weareobligedtowonderathisimprudenceinholdingaconversationofsuchakindwithme，whichlastedaconsiderabletime，inthepresenceoftheguard。Thesoldiersofthewholegarrisonhadafterwardstheutmostconfidence，astheywereconvincedIwouldnotmeanlydevoteotherstodestruction，thatImightbenefitmyself。Thiswasthewaytogainmeesteemandintercourseamongthemen，especiallyastheDukehadsaidheknewI
musthavemoneyconcealed，forthatIhaddistributedsometothesentinels。
Hehadscarcelybeengoneanhour，beforeIheardanoisenearmyprison。Ilistened——whatcoulditbe？Iheardtalking，andlearnedagrenadierhadhangedhimselftothepallisadoesofmyprison。
Theofficerofthetown—guard，andthetown—majoragainenteredmydungeontofetchalanthorntheyhadforgotten，andtheofficeratgoingout，toldmeinawhisper，\"Oneofyourassociateshasjusthangedhimself。\"
Itwasimpossibletoimaginemyterrororsensations；Ibelieveditcouldbeonlymykind，myhonestGelfhardt。Aftermanygloomythoughts，andlamentingtheunhappyendofsoworthyafellow，I
begantorecollectwhatthePrincehadpromisedme，ifIwoulddiscovertheaccomplice。Iknockedatthedoor，anddesiredtospeaktotheofficer；hecametothewindowandaskedmewhatI
wanted；Irequestedhewouldinformthegovernorthatifhewouldsendmelight，pen，ink，andpaper，Iwoulddiscovermywholesecret。
Thesewereaccordinglysent，anhour’stimewasgranted；thedoorwasshut，andIwasleftalone。Isatmyselfdown，begantowriteonmynight—table，andwasabouttoinsertthenameofGelfhardt，butmybloodthrilled，andshrankbacktomyheart。Ishuddered，rose，wenttotheapertureofthewindowandcalled，\"Istherenomanwhoincompassionwilltellmethenameofhimwhohashangedhimself，thatImaydelivermanyothersfromdestruction？\"Thewindowwasnotnaileduptillthenextday；Ithereforewrappedfivepistolesinapaper，threwthemout，calledtothesentinel，andsaid，\"Friend，takethese，andsavethycomrades；orgoandbetrayme，andbringdowninnocentblooduponthyhead！\"
Thepaperwastakenup；apauseofsilenceensued：Iheardsighs，andpresentlyafteralowvoicesaid，\"hisnameisSchutz；hebelongedtothecompanyofRipps。\"Ihadneverheardthenamebefore，orknowntheman，butIhoweverimmediatelywroteSCHUTZ，insteadofGelfhardt。HavingfinishedtheletterIcalledthelieutenant，whotookthatandthelightaway，andagainbarredupthedoorofmydungeon。TheDuke，however，suspectedtheremustbesomeevasion，andeverythingremainedinthesamestate：Iobtainedneitherhearingnorcourt—martial。Ilearned，inthesequel，thefollowingcircumstances，whichwilldisplaythetruthofthisapparentlyincrediblestory。
WhileIwasimprisonedinthecitadel，asentinelcametothepostundermywindow，cursedandblasphemed，exclaimingaloudagainstthePrussianservice，andsaying，ifTrenckonlyknewmymind，hewouldnotlongcontinueinhishole！Ienteredintodiscoursewithhim，andhetoldme，ifIcouldgivehimmoneytopurchaseaboat，inwhichhemightcrosstheElbe，hewouldsoonmakemydoorsflyopen，andsetmefree。
MoneyatthattimeIhadnone；butIgavehimadiamondshirt—
buckle，worthfivehundredferns，whichIhadconcealed。Ineverheardmorefromthisman；hespoketomenomore。Heoftenstoodsentineloverme，whichIknewbyhisWestphaliandialect，andIasoftenaddressedmyselftohim，butineffectually；hewouldmakenoanswer。
ThisSchutzmusthavesoldmybuckle，andlethisrichesbeseen；
for，whentheDukeleftme，thelieutenantonguardsaidtohim——
\"YoumustcertainlybetherascalwhocarriedTrenck’sletter；youhave，forsometimepast，spentmuchmoney，andwehaveseenyouwithlouis—d’ors。Howcameyoubythem？\"Schutzwasterrified，hisconscienceaccusedhim，heimaginedIshouldbetrayhim，knowinghehaddeceivedme。He，therefore，inthefirstagoniesofdespair，cametothepallisadoes，andhunghimselfbeforethedoorofmydungeon。
CHAPTERIII。
HowwonderfulisthehandofProvidence！Thewickedmanfellasacrificetohiscrime，afterhavingescapedawholeyear，andthefaithful，thebenevolent—heartedGelfhardtwastherebysaved。
Thesentinelswerenowdoubled，thatanyintercoursewiththemmightberenderedmoredifficult。Gelfhardtagainstoodguard，buthehadscarcelyopportunity，withoutdanger，tospeakafewwords：hethankedmeforhavingpreservedhim，wishedmebetterfortune，andtoldmethegarrison，inafewdays，wouldtakethefield。
Thiswasdreadfulnews：mywholeplanwasdestroyedatabreath。
I，however，soonrecoveredfreshhopes。TheholeIhadsunkenwasnotdiscovered：Ihadfivehundredflorins，candles，andimplements。
Thesevenyears’warbrokeoutaboutaweekafter，andtheregimenttookthefield。MajorWeynercame，forthelasttime，andcommittedmetothecareofthenewmajorofthemilitia，Bruckhausen，whowasoneofthemostsurlyandstupidofmen。Ishalloftenhaveoccasiontomentionthisman。
Allthemajorsandlieutenantsoftheguard，whohadtreatedmewithcompassionandesteem，nowdeparted，andIbecameanoldprisonerinanewworld。Iacquiredgreaterconfidence，however，byrememberingthatbothofficersandmeninthemilitiaweremucheasiertogainoverthanintheregulars；thetruthofwhichopinionwassoonconfirmed。
Fourlieutenantswereappointed，withtheirmen，tomountguardattheStarFortinturn，andbeforeayearhadpassed，threeofthemwereinmyinterest。
Theregimentshadscarcelytakenthefielderethenewgovernor，GeneralBorck，enteredmyprison，likewhathewas，animperious，crueltyrant。TheKing，ingivinghimthecommand，hadinformedhimhemustanswerformypersonwithhishead：hethereforehadfullpowertotreatmewithwhateverseverityhepleased。
Borckwasastupidman，ofanunfeelingheart，theslaveofdespoticorders；andasoftenashethoughtitpossibleImightridmyselfofmyfettersandescape，hisheartpalpitatedwithfear。Inadditiontothis，heconsideredmeasthevilestofmenandtraitors，seeinghisKinghadcondemnedmetoimprisonmentsocruel，andhisbarbaritytowardsmewasthustheeffectofcharacterandmeannessofsoul。Heenteredmydungeonnotasanofficer，tovisitabrotherofficerinmisery，butasanexecutionertoafelon。Smithsthenmadetheirappearance，andamonstrousironcollar，ofahand’sbreadth，wasputroundmyneck，andconnectedwiththechainsofthefeetbyadditionalheavylinks。Mywindowwaswalledup，exceptasmallair—hole。Heevenatlengthtookawaymybed，gavemenostraw，andquittedmewithathousandrevilingsontheEmpress—
Queen，herwholearmy，andmyself。Inwords，however，Iwaslittleinhisdebt，andhewasenragedeventomadness。
Whatmysituationwasunderthisadditionalloadoftyranny，andthecommandofamansovoidofhumanpity，thereadermayimagine。MygreatestgoodfortuneconsistedintheabilityIstillhadtodisencumbermyselfofalltheironsthatwereconnectedwiththeankle—rims，andtheprovisionIhadoflight，paper，andimplements；
andthoughitwasapparentlyimpossibleIshouldbreakoutundiscoveredbybothsentinels，yethadItheremaininghopeofgainingsomeofficer，bymoney，who，asinGlatz，shouldassistmyescape。
HadthecommandsoftheKingbeenliterallyobeyedescapewouldhavebeenwhollyimpossible；for，bythis，allcommunicationwouldhavebeentotallycutoffwiththesentinels。Tothiseffectthefourkeysofthefourdoorswereeachtobekeptbydifferentpersons；
onewiththegovernor，anotherwiththetown—major，thethirdwiththemajoroftheday，andthefourthwiththelieutenantoftheguard。Inevercouldhavefoundopportunitytohavespokenwithanyoneofthemsingly。Thesecommandsatfirstwererigidlyobserved，withthisexception，thatthegovernormadehisappearanceonlyeveryweek。Magdeburgbecamesofullofprisonersthatthetown—
majorwasobligedtodeliveruphiskeytothemajoroftheday，andthegovernor’svisitationswhollysubsided，thecitadelbeinganEnglishmileandahalfdistantfromtheStarFort。
GeneralWalrabe，whohadbeenaprisonereversincetheyear1746，wasalsoattheStarFort，buthehadapartments，andthreethousandrix—dollarsayear。Themajorofthedayandofficeroftheguarddinedwithhimdaily，andgenerallystayedtillevening。Eitherfromcompassion，oraconcurrenceoffortunatecircumstances，thesegentlemenentrustedthekeystothelieutenantonguard，bywhichmeansIcouldspeakwitheachofthemalonewhentheymadetheirvisits，andtheythemselvesatlengthsoughttheseopportunities。
MyconsequentundertakingsIshallrelate，withalltheartsandinventionsofawretchedprisonerendeavouringtoescape。
Borckhadselectedthreemajorsandfourlieutenantsforthisserviceasthosehecouldbesttrust。Mysituationwastrulydeplorable。Theenormousironroundmyneckpainedme，andpreventedmotion；andIdurstnotattempttodisengagemyselffromthependantchainstillIhad，forsomemonths，carefullyobservedthemodeoftheirexamination，andwhichpartstheysupposedwereperfectlysecure。Thecrueltyofdeprivingmeofmybedwasstillgreater：Iwasobligedtosituponthebareground，andleanwithmyheadagainstthedampwall。Thechainsthatdescendedfromtheneckcollarwereobligedtobesupportedfirstwithoneband，andthenwiththeother；for，ifthrownbehind，theywouldhavestrangledme，andifhangingforwardoccasionedmostexcessiveheadaches。Thebarbetweenmyhandsheldonedown，whileleaningonmyelbow；Isupportedwiththeothermychains；andthissobenumbedthemusclesandpreventedcirculation，thatIcouldperceivemyarmssensiblywasteaway。ThelittlesleepIcouldhaveinsuchasituationmayeasilybesupposed，and，atlength，bodyandmindsankunderthisaccumulationofmiserablesuffering，andIfellillofaburningfever。
ThetyrantBorckwasinexorable；hewishedtoexpeditemydeath，andridhimselfofhistroublesandhisterrors。HeredidIexperiencewhatwasthelamentableconditionofasickprisoner，withoutbed，refreshment，oraidfromhumanbeing。Reason，fortitude，heroism，allthenoblequalitiesofthemind，decaywhenthecorporalfacultiesarediseased；andtheremembranceofmysufferings，atthisdreadfulmoment，stillagitates，stillinflamesmyblood，soasalmosttopreventanattempttodescribewhattheywere。
Yethopehadnottotallyforsakenme。Deliveranceseemedpossible，especiallyshouldpeaceensue；andIsustained，perhaps，whatmortalmanneverbore，exceptmyself，being，asIwas，providedwithpistols，oranysuchimmediatemodeofdespatch。
Icontinuedillabouttwomonths，andwassoreducedatlastthatI
hadscarcelystrengthtoliftthewater—jugtomymouth。Whatmustthesufferingsofthatmanbewhositstwomonthsonthebaregroundinadungeonsodamp，sodark，sohorrible，withoutbedorstraw，hislimbsloadedasminewere，withnorefreshmentbutdryammunitionbread，withoutsomuchasadropofbroth，withoutphysic，withoutconsolingfriend，andwho，underalltheseafflictions，musttrust，forhisrecovery，totheeffortsofnaturealoneSicknessitselfissufficienttohumblethemightiestmind；what，then，issickness，withsuchanadditionoftorment？Theburningfever，theviolentheadaches，myneckswelledandinflamedwiththeirons，enragedmealmosttomadness。Thefeverandthefetterstogetherflayedmybodysothatitappearedlikeonecontinuedwound——Enough！Enough！Themalefactorextendedlivingonthewheel，towhomthecruelexecutionerrefusesthelaststroke——theblowofdeath——mustyet，insomeshortperiod，expire：hesuffersnothingIdidnotthensuffer；andthese，myexcruciatingpangs，continuedtwodreadfulmonths——Yet，canitbesupposed？Therecameaday！Adayofhorror，whenthesemortalpangswerebeyondimaginationincreased。Isatscorchedwiththisintolerablefever，inwhichnatureanddeathwerecontending；andwhenattemptingtoquenchmyburningentrailswithcoldwater，thejugdroppedfrommyfeeblehands，andbroke！Ihadfour—and—twentyhourstoremainwithoutwater。Sointolerable，sodevouringwasmythirst，Icouldhavedrankhumanblood！Ay，inmymadness，haditbeenthebloodofmyfather！
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WillinglywouldIhaveseizedmypistols，butstrengthhadforsakenme，IcouldnotopentheplaceIwasobligedtorendersosecure。
Myvisitorsnextdaysupposedmegoneatlast。Ilaymotionless，withmytongueoutofmymouth。Theypouredwaterdownmythroat，andIrevived。
Oh，God！Oh，God！Howpure，howdelicious，howexquisitewasthiswater！Myinsatiablethirstsoonemptiedthejug；theyfilleditanew，bademefarewell，hopeddeathwouldsoonrelievemymortalsufferings，anddeparted。
ThelamentablestateinwhichIlayatlengthbecamethesubjectofgeneralconversation，thatalltheladiesofthetownunitedwiththeofficers，andprevailedonthetyrant，Borck，torestorememybed。
Oh，Nature，whatarethyoperations？FromthedayIdrankwaterinsuchexcessIgatheredstrength，andtotheastonishmentofeveryone，soonrecovered。Ihadmovedtheheartoftheofficerwhoinspectedmyprison；andaftersixmonths，sixcruelmonthsofintensemisery，thedayofhopeagainbegantodawn。
OneofthemajorsofthedayentrustedhiskeytoLieutenantSonntag，whocamealone，spokeinconfidence，andrelatedhisownsituation，complainedofhisdebts，hispoverty，hisnecessities；
andImadehimapresentoftwenty—fivelouis—d’ors，forwhichhewassogratefulthatourfriendshipbecameunshaken。
Thethreelieutenantsallcommiseratedme，andwouldsithourswithme，whenacertainmajorhadtheinspection；andhehimself，afteratime，wouldevenpasshalfthedaywithme。He，too，waspoor：andIgavehimadraftforthreethousandflorins；hencenewprojectstookbirth。
Moneybecamenecessary；IhaddisbursedallIpossessed，ahundredflorinsexcepted，amongtheofficers。TheeldestsonofCaptainK—
，whoofficiatedasmajor，hadbeencashiered：hisfathercomplainedtomeofhisdistress，andIsenthimtomysister，notfarfromBerlin，fromwhomhereceivedahundredducats。Hereturnedandrelatedherjoyathearingfromme。Hefoundherexceedinglyill；andsheinformedme，inafewlines，thatmymisfortunes，andthetreacheryofWeingarten，hadentailedpovertyuponher，andanillnesswhichhadenduredmorethantwoyears。Shewishedmeahappydeliverancefrommychains，and，inexpectationofdeath，committedherchildrentomyprotection。She，however，grewbetter，andmarriedasecondtime，ColonelPape；butdiedintheyear1758。Ishallforbeartorelateherhistory：itindeeddoesnohonourtotheashesofFrederic，andwouldbutlessdisposemyownhearttoforgiveness，byrevivingthememoryofheroppressionsandgriefs。
K—nreturnedhappywiththemoney：allthingswereconcertedwiththefather。IwrotetotheCountessBestuchef，alsototheGrandDuke，afterwardsPeterIII。，recommendedtheyoungsoldier，andentreatedeverypossiblesuccourformyself。
K—ndepartedthroughHamburg，forPetersburg，where，inconsequenceofmyrecommendation，hebecameacaptain，andinashorttimemajor。HetookhismeasuressowellthatI，bytheinterventionofhisfather，andaHamburgmerchant，receivedtwothousandrublesfromtheCountess，whiletheserviceherenderedmemadehisownfortuneinRussia。
TooldK—，whowasaspoorashewashonest，Igavethreehundredducats；andhe，tilldeath，continuedmygratefulfriend。I
distributednearlyasmuchtotheotherofficers；andmattersproceededsofarthatLieutenantGlotingavebackthekeystothemajorwithoutlockingmyprison，himselfpassinghalfthenightwithme。Moneywasgiventotheguardtodrink；andthuseverythingsucceededtomywish，andthetyrantBorckwasdeceived。Ihadasupplyoflight；hadbooks，newspapers，andmydayspassedswiftlyaway。Iread，Iwrote，IbusiedmyselfsothoroughlythatIalmostforgotIwasaprisoner。When，indeed，thesurly，dullblockhead，MajorBruckhausen，hadtheinspection，everythinghadtobecarefullyreinstated。MajorZ—，thesecondofthethree，wasalsowhollymine。Hewasparticularlyattachedtome；forIhadpromisedtomarryhisdaughter，and，shouldIdieinprison，tobequeathhimalegacyoftenthousandflorins，LieutenantSonntaggotfalsehandcuffsmadeforme，thatweresowideIcouldeasilydrawmyhandsout；thelieutenantsonlyexaminedmyirons，thenewhandcuffsweremadeperfectlysimilartotheold，andBruckhausenhadtoomuchstupiditytoremarkanydifference。
TheremainderofmychainsIcoulddisencumbermyselfofatpleasure。WhenIexercisedmyself，Iheldtheminmyhands，thatthesentinelmightbedeceivedbytheirclanking。Theneck—ironwastheonlyoneIdurstnotremove；itwaslikewisetoostronglyriveted。Ifiledthroughtheupperlinkofthependantchain，however，bywhichmeansIcouldtakeitoff，andthisIconcealedwithbreadinthemannerbeforementioned。
SoIcoulddisencumbermyselfofmostofmyfetters，andsleepinease。Iagainobtainedsausagesandcoldmeat，andthusmysituation，badasitstillwas，becamelessmiserable。Liberty，however，wasmostdesirable：but，alas！notoneofthethreelieutenantshadthecourageofaSchell：Saxony，too，wasinthehandsofthePrussians，andflight，therefore，moredangerous。
Persuasionwasinvainwithmendeterminedtorisknothing，but，iftheywent，togoinsafety。Will，indeed，wasnotwantinginGlotinandSonntag；butthefirstwasapoltroon，andthelatteramanofscruples，whothoughtthisstepmightlikewisebetheruinofhisbrotheratBerlin。
Thesentinelsweredoubled，thereforemyescapethroughmyhole，whichhadbeentwoyearsdug，couldnot，unperceivedbythem，beeffected：stilllesscouldI，inthefaceoftheguard，clamberthetwelvefeethighpallisadoes。Thefollowinglabour，therefore，thoughHerculean，wasundertaken。
LieutenantSonntag，measuringtheintervalbetweentheholeIhaddugandtheentranceinthegalleryintheprincipalrampart，foundittobethirty—sevenfeet。IntothisitwaspossibleImight，bymining，penetrate。Thedifficultyoftheenterprisewaslessenedbythenatureoftheground，afinewhitesand。CouldIreachthegallerymyfreedomwascertain。Ihadbeeninformedhowmanystepstotherightorleftmustbetaken，tofindthedoorthatledtothesecondrampart：and，onthedaywhenIshouldbereadyforflight，theofficerwassecretlytoleavethisdooropen。Ihadlight，andminingtools，andwasfurthertorelyonmoneyandmyowndiscretion。
Ibeganandcontinuedthislabouraboutsixmonths。Ihavealreadynoticedthedifficultyofscrapingouttheearthwithmyhands，asthenoiseofinstrumentswouldhavebeenheardbythesentinels。I
hadscarcelyminedbeyondmydungeonwallbeforeIdiscoveredthefoundationoftherampartwasnotmorethanafootdeep；acapitalerrorcertainlyinsoimportantafortress。Mylabourbecamethelighter，asIcouldremovethefoundationstonesofmydungeon，andwasnotobligedtominesodeep。
Myworkatfirstproceededsorapidly，that，whileIhadroomtothrowbackmysand，Iwasableinonenighttogainthreefeet；butereIhadproceededtenfeetIdiscoveredallmydifficulties。
BeforeIcouldcontinuemyworkIwasobligedtomakeroomformyself，byemptyingthesandoutofmyholeupontheflooroftheprison，andthisitselfwasanemploymentofsomehours。Thesandwasobligedtobethrownoutbythehand，andafteritthuslayheapedinmyprison，mustagainbereturnedintothehole；andI
havecalculatedthatafterIhadproceededtwentyfeet，Iwasobligedtocreepunderground，inmyhole，fromfifteenhundredtotwothousandfathoms，withintwenty—fourhours，intheremovalandreplacingofthesand。Thislabourended，carewastobetakenthatinnoneofthecrevicesofthefloortheremightbeanyappearanceofthisfinewhitesand。Theflooringwasthenexttobeexactlyreplaced，andmychainstoberesumed。Soseverewasthefatigueofoneday，inthismode，thatIwasalwaysobligedtorestthethreefollowing。
Toreducemylabourasmuchaspossible，Iwasconstrainedtomakethepassagesosmallthatmybodyonlyhadspacetopass，andIhadnotroomtodrawmyarmbacktomyhead。Thework，too，mustallbedonenaked，otherwisethedirtinessofmyshirtmusthavebeenremarked；thesandwaswet，waterbeingfoundatthedepthoffourfeet，wherethestratumofthegravelbegan。Atlengththeexpedientofsand—bagsoccurredtome，bywhichitmightberemovedoutandinmoreexpeditiously。Iobtainedlinenfromtheofficers，butnotinsufficientquantities；suspicionswouldhavebeenexcitedatobservingsomuchlinenbroughtintotheprison。AtlastItookmysheetsandthetickingthatenclosedmystraw，andcutthemupforsand—bags，takingcaretoliedownonmybed，asifill，whenBruckhausenpaidhisvisit。
Thelabour，towardstheconclusion，becamesointolerableastoincitedespondency。Ifrequentlysatcontemplatingtheheapsofsand，duringamomentaryrespitefromwork；andthinkingitimpossibleIcouldhavestrengthortimeagaintoreplaceallthingsastheywere，resolvedpatientlytowaittheconsequence，andleaveeverythinginitspresentdisorder。Yes！Icanassurethereaderthat，toeffectconcealment，Ihavescarcelyhadtimeintwenty—fourhourstositdownandeatamorselofbread。Recollecting，however，theefforts，andalltheprogressIhadmade，hopewouldagainrevive，andexhaustedstrengthreturn：againwouldIbeginmylabours，thatImightpreservemysecretandmyexpectations：yethasitfrequentlyhappenedthatmyvisitorshaveenteredafewminutesafterIhadreinstatedeverythinginitsplace。
Whenmyworkwaswithinsixorsevenfeetofbeingaccomplished，anewmisfortunehappenedthatatoncefrustratedallfurtherattempts。Iworked，asIhavesaid，underthefoundationoftherampartnearwherethesentinelsstood。Icoulddisencumbermyselfofmyfetters，exceptmyneckcollaranditspendentchain。This，asIworked，thoughitwasfastened，gotloose，andtheclankingwasheardbyoneofthesentinelsaboutfifteenfeetfrommydungeon。
Theofficerwascalled，theylaidtheirearstotheground，andheardmeasIwentbackwardandforwardtobringmyearthbags。
Thiswasreportedthenextday；andthemajor，whowasmybestfriend，withthetown—major，andasmithandmason，enteredmyprison。Iwasterrified。ThelieutenantbyasigngavemetounderstandIwasdiscovered。Anexaminationwasbegun，buttheofficerswouldnotsee，andthesmithandmasonfoundall，astheythought，safe。Hadtheyexaminedmybed，theywouldhaveseenthetickingandsheetsweregone。
Thetown—major，whowasadullman，waspersuadedthethingwasimpossible，andsaidtothesentinel，\"Blockhead！youhaveheardsomemoleunderground，andnotTrenck。How，indeed，coulditbe，thatleeshouldworkunderground，atsuchadistancefromhisdungeon？\"Herethescrutinyended。
Therewasnownotimefordelay。Hadtheyalteredtheirhourofcoming，theymusthavefoundmeatwork：butthis，duringtenyears，neverhappened：forthegovernorandtown—majorwerestupidmen，andtheothers，poorfellows，wishingmeallsuccess，werewillinglyblind。InafewdaysIcouldhavebrokenout，but，whenready，Iwasdesiroustowaitforthevisitationofthemanwhohadtreatedmesotyranically，Bruckhausen，thathisownnegligencemightbeevident。Butthisman，thoughhewantedunderstanding，didnotwantgoodfortune。Hewasillforsometime，andhisdutydevolvedonK—。
Herecovered；andthevisitationbeingover，thedoorswerenosoonerbarredthanIbeganmysupposedlastlabour。Ihadonlythreefeetfarthertoproceed，anditwasnolongernecessaryI
shouldbringoutthesand，Ihavingroomtothrowitbehindme。