CHAPTER XII.

Trenck’s first flight.

“This is, then, the day of his liberation?” said Princess Amelia to her confidante, Mademoiselle von Haak.  “To-day, after five months of torture, he will again be free, will again enjoy life and liberty.  And to me, happy princess, will he owe all these blessings; to me, whom God has permitted to survive all these torments, that I might be the means of effecting his deliverance, for, without doubt, our work will succeed, will it not?”

“Undoubtedly,” said Ernestine von Haak; “we shall and must succeed.”

“Let us reconsider the whole plan, if only to enliven the tedious hours with pleasant thought.  When the commandant of the prison, Major von Doo, pays the customary Sunday-morning visit to Trenck’s cell, and while he is carefully examining every nook to assure himself that the captive nobleman has not been endeavoring to make a pathway to liberty, Trenck will suddenly overpower him, deprive him of his sword, and rush past him out of the cell.  At the door he will be met by the soldier Nicolai, who is in our confidence, and will not seem to notice his escape.  Once over the palisades, he will find a horse, which we have placed in readiness.  Concealed by the military cloak thrown over him, and armed with the pistols with which his saddle-holsters have been furnished, he will fly on the wings of the wind toward Bohemia.  Near the border, at the village of Lonnschutz, a second horse will await him.  He will mount and hurry on until the boundary and liberty are obtained.  All seems so safe, Ernestine, so easy of execution, that I can scarcely believe in the possibility of a failure.”

“It will not fail,” said Ernestine von Haak.  “Our scheme is good, and will be ably assisted—­it must succeed.”

“Provided he find the places where the horses stand concealed.”

“These he cannot fail to find.  They are accurately designated in a little note which my lover, when he has charge of the prison-yard, will contrive to convey to him.  Schnell’s known fidelity vouches for the horses being in readiness.  As your royal highness was not willing that we should enlist accomplices among the soldiers, the only question that need give us uneasiness is this:  Will Trenck be able to overcome unaided all obstacles within the fortifications?”

“No,” said Amelia, proudly; “Trenck shall be liberated, but I will not corrupt my brother’s soldiers.  To do the first, is my right and my duty, for I love Trenck.  Should I do the second, I would be guilty of high treason to my king, and this even love could not excuse.  Only to himself and to me shall Trenck owe his freedom.  Our only allies shall be my means and his own strength.  He has the courage of a hero and the strength of a giant.  He will force his way through his enemies like Briareus; they will fall before him like grain before the reaper.  If he cannot kill them all