首页 >出版文学> The Life and Adventures of Baron Trenck>第5章
  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。