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。