“I will stand by you, and assist you to escape.  More than that, I will fly with you.  The commandant, Fouquet, hates me—­he says I know too much for an officer; that I do not confine myself to my military duties, but love books, and art, and science.  He has often railed at me, and I have twice demanded my dismissal, which he refused, and threatened me with arrest if I should again demand it.  Like yourself, I am not free, and, like you, I wish to fly from bondage.  And now let us consult together, and arrange our plan of escape.”

“Yes,” said Trenck, with a glowing countenance, and embracing his new-found friend, “we will be unconquerable.  Like Briareus, we will have a hundred arms and a hundred heads.  When two young and powerful men unite their wills, nothing can restrain them—­nothing withstand them.  Let us make our arrangements.”

The plan of escape was marked out, and was, indeed, ripe for action.  On the last day of the year, Lieutenant Schnell was to be Trenck’s night-guard, and then they would escape.  The dark shadows of night would assist them.  Horses were already engaged.  There was gold to bribe the guard, and there were loaded pistols for those who could not be tempted.  These had been already smuggled into Trenck’s cell, and concealed in the ashes of the fireplace.

And now it was Christmas eve.  This was a grand festal day even for all the officers of the citadel.  With the exception of the night-watch, they were all invited to dine with the commandant.  A day of joy and rejoicing to all but the poor prisoner, who sat solitary in his cell, and recalled, with a sad heart, the happy days of his childhood.  “The holy evening” had been to him a golden book of promise, and a munificent cornucopia of happiness and peace.

The door of his cell was hastily opened, and Schnell rushed in.

“Comrade, we are betrayed!” said he breathlessly.  “Our plan of flight has been discovered.  The adjutant of the commander has just secretly informed me that when the guard is changed I am to be arrested.  You see, then, we are lost, unless we adopt some rash and energetic resolution.”

“We will fly before the hour of your arrest,” said Trenck, gayly.

“If you think that possible, so be it!” said Schnell.  He drew a sword from under his mantle, and handed it to Trenck.  “Swear to me upon this sword, that come what may, you will never allow me to fall alive into the hands of my enemies.”

“I swear it, so truly as God will help me!  And now, Schnell, take the same oath.”

“I swear it!  And now friend, one last grasp of the hand, and then forward.  May God be with us!  Hide your sword under your coat.  Let us assume an indifferent and careless expression—­come!”

Arm in arm, the two young men left the prison door.  They appeared calm and cheerful; each one kept a hand in his bosom, and this hand held a loaded pistol.

The guard saluted the officer of the night-watch, who passed by him in full uniform.  In passing, he said:  “I am conducting the prisoner to the officers’ room.  Remain here—­I will return quickly.”