Thesebadmendidnot，itistrue，dieinthemannertheyought，buttheyarealldead，andIamstillliving，anhonest，thoughpoorman：theydidnotdieso。Bethisreadandrememberedbytheirluxuriousheirs，whorefusetorestoremychildrentotheirrights。
CHAPTERV。
MyconsternationontheappearanceoftheLandgrave，withmyletterinhishand，maywellbesupposed；Ihadthepresenceofmind，however，todenymyhandwriting，andaffectastonishmentatsocraftyatrick。TheLandgraveendeavouredtoconvictme，toldmewhatLieutenantKemnitzhadrepeatedatViennaconcerningmypossessingmyselfofMagdeburg，andtherebyshowedmehowfullyI
hadbeenbetrayed。ButasnosuchpersonexistedasLieutenantKemnitz，andasmyfriendhadfortunatelyconcealedhisname，themysteryremainedimpenetrable，especiallyasnoonecouldconceivehowaprisoner，inmysituation，couldseduceorsubduethewholegarrison。Theworthyprinceleftmyprison，apparentlysatisfiedwithmydefence；hisheartfeltnosatisfactioninthemisfortunesofothers。
Thenextdayaformalexaminationwastaken，atwhichthesub—
governorReichmannpresided。Iwasaccusedasatraitortomycountry；butIobstinatelydeniedmyhandwriting。Proofsorwitnessestherewerenone，andinanswertotheprincipalcharge，I
said，\"Iwasnocriminal，butamancalumniated，illegallyimprisoned，andloadedwithirons；thattheKing，intheyear1746，hadcashieredme，andconfiscatedmyparentalinheritance；thatthereforethelawsofnatureenforcedmetoseekhonourandbreadinaforeignservice；andthat，findingtheseinAustria，IbecameanofficerandafaithfulsubjectoftheEmpress—Queen；thatIhadbeenasecondtimeunoffendinglyimprisoned；thathereIwastreatedastheworstofmalefactors，andmyonlyresourcewastoseekmylibertybysuchmeansasIcould；wereIthereforeinthisattempttodestroyMagdeburg，andoccasionthelossofathousandlives，I
shouldstillbeguiltless。HadIbeenheardandlegallysentenced，previoustomyimprisonmentatGlatz，Ishouldhavebeen，andstillcontinued，acriminal；butnothavingbeenguiltyofanysmall，muchlessofanygreatcrime，equaltomypunishment，ifsuchcrimecouldbe，Iwasthereforenotaccountableforconsequences；IowedneitherfidelitynordutytotheKingofPrussia；forbythewordofhispowerhehaddeprivedmeofbread，honour，country，andfreedom。\"
Heretheexaminationended，withoutfurtherdiscovery；theofficers，however，fallingundersuspicion，wereallremoved，andthusIlostmybestfriends；yetitwasnotlongbeforeIhadgainedtwoothers，whichwasnodifficultmatter，asIknewthenationalcharacter，andthatnonebutpoormenweremademilitiaofficers。Thuswasthegovernor’sprecautionfruitless，andalmosteverybodysecretlywishedImightobtainmyfreedom。
IshallneverforgetthenoblemannerinwhichIwastreatedonthisoccasionbytheLandgrave。ThisIpersonallyacknowledged，someyearsafterwards，inthecityofCassel，whenIheardmanythingswhichconfirmedallmysurmisesconcerningVienna。TheLandgravereceivedmewithallgrace，favour，anddistinction。Ireverehismemory，andseektohonourhisname。Hewasthefriendofmisfortune。WhenInotlongafterwardsfellill，hesentmehisownphysician，andmeatfromhistable，norwouldhesufferme，duringtwomonths，tobewakenedbythesentinels。Helikewiseremovedthedreadfulcollarfrommyneck；forwhichhewasseverelyreprimandedbytheKing，ashehimselfhassinceassuredme。
Imightfillavolumewithincidentsattendingtwoothereffortstoescape，butIwillnotwearythereader’spatiencewithtoomuchrepetition。Ishallmerelygiveanabstractofboth。
WhenIhadoncemoregainedtheofficers，Imadeanewattemptatminingmywayout。Notwantingforimplements，mychainsandtheflooringweresooncutthrough，andallwassocarefullyreplacedthatIwasundernofearofexamination。Iherefoundmyconcealedmoney，pistols，andothernecessaries，buttillIhadridmyselfofsomehundredweightofsand，itwasimpossibletoproceed。ForthispurposeImadetwodifferentopeningsinthefloor：outoftherealholeIthrewagreatquantityofsandintomyprison；afterwhichI
closeditwithallpossiblecare。Ithenworkedatthesecondwithsomuchnoise，thatIwascertaintheymusthearmewithout。Aboutmidnightthedoorsbegantothunder，andintheycame，detectingme，asIintendedtheyshould。NoneofthemcouldconceivewhyIshouldwishtobreakoutunderthedoor，wheretherewasatripleguardtopass。Thesentinelsremained，andinthemorningprisonersweresenttowheelawaythesand。Theholewaswalledupandboarded，andmyfetterswererenewed。Theylaughedattheridiculousnessofmyundertaking，butpunishedmebydeprivingmeofmylightandbed，which，however，inafortnightwerebothrestored。Oftheotherhole，outofwhichmostoftheearthhadbeenthrown，noonewasaware。Themajorandlieutenantweretoomuchmyfriendstoremarkthattheyhadremovedthricethequantityofsandthefalseopeningcouldcontain。Theysupposedthisstrangeattempthavingfailed，itwouldbemylast，andBruckhausengrewnegligent。
Thegovernorandsub—governorbothvisitedmeaftersomeweeks，butfarfromimitatingthebrutalityofBorck，theLandgravespoketomewithmildness，promisedmehisinteresttoregainmyfreedom，whenpeaceshouldbeconcluded；toldmeIhadmorefriendsthanI
supposed，andassuredmeIhadnotbeenforgottenbytheCourtatVienna。
Hepromisedmeeveryalleviation，andIgavehimmywordIwouldnomoreattempttoescapewhileheremainedgovernor。Mymannerenforcedconvictionandheorderedmyneck—collartobetakenoff，mywindowtobeunclosed，mydoorstobeleftopentwohourseveryday，astovetobeputinmydungeon，finerlinenformyshirts，andpapertoamusemyselfbywritingmythoughts。Thesheetsweretobenumberedwhengiven，andthenreturned，bythetown—major，thatI
mightnotabusethisliberty。
Inkwasnotallowedme，Ithereforeprickedmyfingers，sufferedthebloodtotrickleintoapot；bythesemeansIprocuredasubstituteforink，bothtowriteanddraw。
Inowengravedmycups，andversified。Ihadopportunitytodisplaymyabilitiestoawakencompassion。MyemulationwasincreasedbyknowingthatmyworkswereseenatCourts，thatthePrincessAmeliaandtheQueenherselftestifiedtheirsatisfaction。Ihadsubjectstoengravefromsentme；andthewretchwhomtheKingintendedtoburyalive，whosenamenomanwastomention，neverwasmorefamousthanwhileheventedhisgroansinhisdungeon。Mywritingsproducedtheireffect，andreallyregainedmyfreedom。TomycultivationofthesciencesandpresenceofmindIamindebtedforall；theseallthepowerofFredericcouldnotdeprivemeof。Yes！
ThislibertyIprocured，thoughheansweredallpetitionsinmybehalf——\"Heisadangerousman：andsolongasIliveheshallneverseethelight！\"YethaveIseenitduringhislife：afterhisdeathIhaveseenitwithoutrevengingmyself，otherwisethanbyprovingmyvirtuetoamonarchwhooppressedbecauseheknewmenot，becausebewouldnotrecallthehastysentenceofanger，orownhemightbemistaken。Hediedconvincedofmyintegrity，yetwithoutaffordingmeretribution！Manisformedbymisfortune；virtueisactiveinadversity。Itisindifferenttomethatthecompanionsofmyyouthhavetheirearsgratified，delightedwiththetitlesofGeneral！Field—MarshalIhavelearnedtolivewithoutsuchadditions；Iamknowninmyworks。
Ireturnedtomydungeon。Here，aftermylastconferencewiththeLandgrave，Iwaitedmyfatewithamindmoreateasethanthatofaprinceinapalace。Thenewspaperstheybroughtmebespokeapproachingpeace，onwhichmydependencewasplaced，andIpassedeighteenmonthscalmly，andwithoutfurtherattempttoescape。
ThefatheroftheLandgravedied；andMagdeburgnowlostitsgovernor。TheworthyReichmann，however，testifiedformeallcompassionandesteem；Ihadbooks，andmytimewasemployed。
Imprisonmentandchainstomewerebecomehabitual，andfreedominhopeapproached。
AboutthistimeIwrotethepoems，\"TheMacedonianHero，\"\"TheDreamRealised，\"andsomefables。Thebestofmypoemsarenowlosttome。Themind’ssensibilitywhenthebodyisimprisonedisstronglyroused，norcanalltheaidsofthelibraryequalthisadvantage。
PerhapsImayrecoversomeinBerlin；ifso，theworldmaylearnwhatmythoughtsthenwere。WhenIwasatliberty，IhadnonebutsuchasIremembered，andtheseIcommittedtowriting。OnmyfirstvisittotheLandgraveofHesse—CasselIreceivedavolumeofthemwritteninmyownblood；buttherewereeightofthesewhichIshallneverregain。
ThedeathofElizabeth，thedeposingofPeterIII。，andtheaccessionofCatherineII。producedpeace。OnthereceiptofthisintelligenceItriedtoprovideforallcontingencies。TheworthyCaptainK—hadopenedmeacorrespondencewithVienna：Iwasassuredofsupport；butwasassuredtheadministratorsandthosewhopossessedmyestateswouldthroweveryimpedimentinthewayoffreedom。Itriedtopersuadeanotherofficertoaidmyescape，butinvain。
Ithereforeopenedmyoldhole，andmyfriendsassistedmetodisembarrassmyselfofsand。Mymoneymeltedaway，buttheyprovidedmewithtools，gunpowder，andagoodsword。Ihadremainedsolongquietthatmyflooringwasnotexamined。
Myintentwastowaitthepeace；andshouldIcontinueinchains，thenwouldIhavemysubterraneanpassagetotherampartreadyforescape。Formyfurthersecurity，anoldlieutenanthadpurchasedahouseinthesuburbs，whereImightlieconcealed。Gummern，inSaxony，istwomilesfromMagdeburg；hereafriend，withtwogoodhorses，wastowaitayear，torideontheglacisofKlosterbergenonthefirstandfifteenthofeachmonth，andatagivensignaltohastentomyassistance。
Mypassagehadtobereadyincaseofemergency；Iremovedtheupperplanking，brokeupthetwobeds，cuttheboardsintochips，andburnttheminmystove。BythisIobtainedsomuchadditionalroomastoproceedhalfwaywithmymine。Linenagainwasbroughtme，sand—bagsmade，andthusIsuccessfullyproceededtoallbutthelastoperation。EverythingwassowellconcealedthatIhadnothingtofearfrominspection，especiallyasthenewcomegarrisoncouldnotknowwhatwastheoriginallengthoftheplanks。
Imusthererelateadreadfulaccident，whichIcannotrememberwithoutshuddering，andtheterrorofwhichhasoftenhauntedmyverydreams。
Whileminingundertherampart，asIwascarryingoutthesand—bag，Istruckmyfootagainstastonewhichfelldownandclosedupthepassage。
Whatwasmyhorrortofindmyselfburiedalive！Afterashortreflection，Ibegantoworkthesandawayfromtheside，thatI
mightturnround。Thereweresomefeetofemptyspace，intowhichI
threwthesandasIworkeditaway；butthesmallquantityofairsoonmadeitsofoulthatIathousandtimeswishedmyselfdead，andmadeseveralattemptstostranglemyself。Thirstalmostdeprivedmeofmysenses，butasoftenasIputmymouthtothesandIinhaledfreshair。Mysufferingswereincredible，andIimagineIpassedeighthoursinthissituation。Myspiritsfainted；againI
recoveredandbegantolabour，buttheearthwasashighasmychin，andIhadnomorespacewhereImightthrowthesand。Imadeamoredesperateeffort，drewmybodyintoaball，andturnedround；Inowfacedthestone；therebeinganopeningatthetop，Irespiredfresherair。Irootedawaythesandunderthestone，andletitsinksothatImightcreepover；atlengthIoncemorearrivedinmydungeon！
Themorningwasadvanced；IsatdownsoexhaustedthatIsupposeditwasimpossibleIhadstrengthtoconcealmyhole。Afterhalfanhour’srest，myfortitudereturned：againIwenttowork，andscarcelyhadIendedbeforemyvisitorsapproached。
Theyfoundmepale：Icomplainedofheadache，andcontinuedsomedaysaffectedbythefatigueIhadsustained。Afteratimestrengthreturned；butperhapsofallmynightsofhorrorthiswasthemosthorrible。IrepeatedlydreamtIwasburiedinthecentreoftheearth；andnow，thoughthreeandtwentyyearsareelapsed，mysleepisstillhauntedbythisvision。
Afterthisaccident，whenIworkedinmycavity，Ihungakniferoundmyneck，thatifIshouldbeenclosedImightshortenmymiseries。Overthestonethathadfallenseveralothershungtottering，underwhichIwasobligedtocreep。Nothing，however，coulddetermefromtryingtoobtainmyliberty。
Whenmypassagewasready，IwroteletterstomyfriendsatVienna，andalsoamemorialtomySovereign。WhenthemilitialeftMagdeburgandtheregularsreturned，Itookleaveofmyfriendswhohadbehavedsobenevolently。SeveralweekselapsedbeforetheydepartedandIlearntthatGeneralReidtwasappointedambassadorfromViennatoBerlin。
Ihadseentheworld；IknewthisGeneralwasnotaversetoabribe：
Iwrotehimaletter，conjuringhimtoactwithardourinmybehalf。
IenclosedadraftforsixthousandflorinsonmyeffectsatVienna，andhereceivedfourthousandfromoneofmyrelations。Ihavetothankthesetenthousandflorinsformyfreedom，whichIobtainedninemonthsafter。MyvouchersshowthesixthousandflorinswerepaidinApril，1763，totheorderofGeneralReidt。TheotherfourthousandIrepaid，whenatliberty，tomyfriend。
IreceivedintelligencebeforethegarrisondepartedthatnostipulationhadbeenmadeonmybehalfatthepeaceofHubertsberg。
TheViennaplenipotentiaries，afterthearticlesweresigned，mentionedmynametoHertzberg，withbutfewassurancesofeveryeffortbeingmadetomoveFrederic，apromiseonwhichIcouldmuchbetterrelythanonmyprotectorsatVienna，whohadleftmeinmisfortune。Ideterminedtowaitthreemonthslonger，andshouldI
stillfindmyselfneglected，toowemyescapetomyself。
Onthechangeofthegarrison，theofficersweremoredifficulttogainthantheformer。Themajorsobeyedtheirorders；theirhelpwasunnecessary；butstillIsighedformyoldfriends。Ihadonlyammunition—breadagainforfood。
Mytimehungveryheavy；everythingwasexaminedonthechangeofthegarrison。Astricterscrutinymightoccur，andmyprojectsbediscovered。Thishadnearlybeeneffected，asIshallhererelate。
Ihadsotamedamousethatitwouldeatfrommymouth；inthissmallanimalIdiscoveredproofsofintelligence。
Thismousehadnearlybeenmyruin。Ihaddivertedmyselfwithitonenight；ithadbeennibblingatmydoorandcaperingonatrencher。Thesentinelshearingouramusement，calledtheofficers：
theyheardalso，andthoughtallwasnotright。Atdaybreakthetown—major，asmith，andmasonentered；strictsearchwasbegun；
flooring，walls，chains，andmyownpersonwereallscrutinised，butinvain。Theyaskedwhatwasthenoisetheyhadheard；Imentionedthemouse，whistled，anditcameandjumpeduponmyshoulder。
OrdersweregivenIshouldbedeprivedofitssociety；Ientreatedtheywouldspareitslife。Theofficeronguardgavemehiswordhewouldpresentittoalady，whowouldtreatitwithtenderness。
Hetookitawayandturneditlooseintheguardroom，butitwastametomealone，andsoughtahidingplace。Ithadfledtomyprisondoor，and，atthehourofvisitation，ranintomydungeon，testifyingitsjoybyleapingbetweenmylegs。Itisworthyofremarkthatithadbeentakenawayblindfold，thatistosay，wrappedinahandkerchief。Theguard—roomwasahundredpacesfromthedungeon。
Allweredesirousofobtainingthismouse，butthemajorcarrieditoffforhislady；sheputitintoacage，whereitpined，andinafewdaysdied。
Thelossofthiscompanionmademequitemelancholy，yet，onthelastexamination，IperceivedithadsoeatenthebreadbywhichI
hadconcealedthecrevicesIhadmadeincuttingthefloor，thattheexaminersmustbeblindnottodiscoverthem。Iwasconvincedmyfaithfullittlefriendhadfallenanecessaryvictimtoitsmaster’ssafety。Thisaccidentdeterminedmenottowaitthethreemonths。
Ihaverelatedthathorsesweretobekeptready，onthefirstandfifteenth，andIonlysufferedthefirstofAugusttopass，becauseIwouldnotinjureMajorPfuhl，whohadtreatedmewithmorecompassionthanhiscomrades，andwhosedayofvisitationitwas。
OnthefifteenthIdeterminedtofly。Thisresolutionformed，I
waitedinexpectationoftheday，whenanewandremarkablesuccessionofaccidentshappened。
Analarmoffirehadobligedthemajortorepairtothetown；hecommittedthekeystothelieutenant。Thelatter，comingtovisitme，asked——\"DearTrenck，haveyounever，duringsevenyearsthatyouhavebeenundertheguardofthemilitia，foundamanlikeSchell？\"
\"Alas！sir，\"answeredI，\"suchfriendsarerare；thewillofmanyhasbeengood；eachknewIcouldmakehisfortune，butnonehadcourageenoughforsodesperateanattempt！MoneyIhavedistributedfreely，buthavereceivedlittlehelp。\"
\"Howdoyouobtainmoneyinthisdungeon？\"\"FromacorrespondentatVienna，bywhomIamstillsupplied。\"\"IfIcanserveyou，commandme：Iwilldoitwithoutaskinganyreturn。\"Sosaying，Itookfiftyducatsfrombetweenthepanels，andgavethemtothelieutenant。Atfirstherefused，butatlengthacceptedthemwithfear。Heleftme，promisedtoreturn，pretendedtoshutthedoor，andkepthisword。Henowsaiddebtobligedhimtodesert；thatthishadlongbeenhisdetermination，andthat，desiroustoassistmeatthesametimeifhecouldfindthemeans，Ihadonlytoshowhowthismightbeeffected。
Wecontinuedtwohoursinconference：aplanwasformed，approved，andacertaintyofsuccessdemonstrated；especiallywhenItoldhimIhadtwohorseswaiting。Wevowedeternalfriendship；Igavehimfiftyducats，andhisdebts，notamountingtomorethantwohundredrix—dollars，whichhenevercouldhavedischargedoutofhispay。
Hewastopreparefourkeystoresemblethoseofmydungeon；thelatterweretobeexchangedonthedayofflight，beingkeptintheguard—roomwhilethemajorwaswithGeneralWalrabe。Hewastogivethegrenadiersonguardleaveofabsence，orsendthemintothetownonvariouspretences。Thesentinelshewastocallfromtheirduty，andthoseplacedovermeweretobesentintomydungeontotakeawaymybed；whileencumberedwiththis，Iwastospringoutandlockthemin，afterwhichweweretomountourhorses，whichwerekeptready，andridetoGummern。Everythingwastobepreparedwithinaweek，whenhewastomountguard。Wehadscarcelyformedourprojectbeforethesentinelscalledthemajorwascoming；heaccordinglybarredthedoor，andthemajorpassedtoGeneralWalrabe。
Nomanwashappierthanmyself；myhopesofescapeweretriple；themediationatBerlin，themineIhadmade，andmyfriendthelieutenant。
Whenmostmymindoughttohavebeenclear，Iseemedtohavelostmyunderstanding。Icametoaresolutionwhichwillappearextravagantandpitiable。Iwasstupidenough，madenough，toformthedesignofcastingmyselfonthemagnanimityoftheGreatFrederic！Shouldthisfail，Istillthoughtmylieutenantasaviour。
Havingheatedmyimaginationwiththisscheme，Iwaitedthevisitationwithanxiety。Themajorentered，Ibespokehimthus：
\"Iknow，sir，thegreatPrinceFerdinandisagaininMagdeburg。
Informhimthathemayexaminemyprison，doublethesentinels，andgivemehiscommands，statingwhathourwillpleasehimIshouldmakemyappearanceontheglacisofKlosterbergen。IfIprovemyselfcapableofthis，IthenhopefortheprotectionofPrinceFerdinand：andthathewillrelatemyproceedingtotheKing，whomayheconvincedofmyinnocence。\"
Themajorwasastonished；theproposalheheldtoberidiculous，andtheperformanceimpossible。Ipersisted；hereturnedwiththesub—
governor，Reichmann，thetown—major，Riding，andthemajorofinspection。Theanswertheydeliveredwas，thatthePrincepromisedmehisprotection，theKing’sfavour，andareleasefrommychains，shouldIprovemyassertion。Irequiredtheywouldappointatime；
theyridiculedthethingasimpossible，andsaidthatitwouldbesufficientcouldIprovethepracticabilityofsuchascheme；butshouldIrefuse，theywouldbreakuptheflooring，andplacesentinelsinmydungeon，adding，thegovernorwouldnotadmitofanybreakingout。
Afterpromisesofgoodfaith，Idisencumberedmyselfofmychains，raisedmyflooring，gavethemmyimplements，andtwokeys，myfriendshadprocuredme，tothedoorsofthesubterraneangallery。
ThisgalleryIdesiredthemtosoundwiththeirswordhilts，attheplacethroughwhichIwastobreak，whichmightbedoneinafewminutes。IdescribedtheroadIwastotakethroughthegallery，informedthemthattwoofthedoorshadnotbeenshutforsixmonths，andtotheotherstheyhadthekeys；adding，Ihadhorseswaitingattheglacis，thatwouldbenowready；thestablesforwhichwereunknowntothem。Theywent，examined，returned，putquestions，whichIansweredwithprecision。Theyleftmewithseemingfriendship，cameback，toldmethePrincewasastonishedatwhathehadheard，thathewishedmeallhappiness，andthentookmeunfettered，totheguard—house。Themajorcameintheevening，treateduswithasupper，assuredmeeverythingwouldhappentomywishes，andthatPrinceFerdinandhadwrittentoBerlin。
Theguardwasreinforcednextday。Thewholeguardloadedwithballbeforemyeyes，thedrawbridgeswereraisedinopenday，andprecautionsweretakenasifIintendedtomakeattemptsasdesperateasthoseIhadmadeatGlatz。
Inowsawworkmenemployedonmydungeon，andcartsbringingquarry—
stones。Theofficersonguardbehavedwithkindness，keptagoodtable，atwhichIate；buttwosentinels，andanunder—officer，neverquittedtheguard—room。Conversationwascautious，andthiscontinuedfiveorsixdays；atlength，itwasthelieutenant’sturntomountguard；heappearedtobeasfriendlyasformerly，butconferencewasdifficult；hefoundanopportunitytoexpresshisastonishmentatmyill—timeddiscovery，toldmethePrinceknewnothingoftheaffair，andthatthereportthroughthegarrisonwas，Ihadbeensurprisedinmakinganewattempt。
Mydungeonwascompletedinaweek。Thetown—majorre—conductedmetoit。Myfootwaschainedtothewallwithlinkstwiceasstrongasformerly；theremainderofmyironswereneverafteradded。
Thedungeonwaspavedwithflag—stones。ThatpartofmymoneyonlywassavedwhichIhadconcealedinthepanelsofthedoor，andthechimneyofmystove；somethirtylouis—d’ors，hiddenaboutmyclothes，weretakenfromme。
Whilethesmithwasrivetingmychains，Iaddressedthesub—
governor。\"IsthisthefulfilmentofthepledgeofthePrince？
Thinknotyoudeceiveme，Iamacquaintedwiththefalsereportsthathavebeenspread；thetruthwillsooncometolight，andtheunworthybeputtoshame。Nay，IforewarnyouthatTrenckshallnotbemuchlongerinyourpower；forwereyoutobuildyourdungeonofsteel，itwouldbeinsufficienttocontainme。\"