Slowly, quietly, they passed down the whole length of the corridor; they reached the officer’s room, and opened the door.  The guard walked with measured step slowly before the open door of Trenck’s cell, suspecting nothing.  The door closed behind the fugitives—­the first step toward liberty was taken.

“And now, quickly onward to the side door.  When we have passed the sentry-box, we will be at the outer works.  We must spring over the palisades, and woe to the obstacle that lies in our path!—­advance! forward!”

They reached the wall, they greeted fair Freedom with golden smiles, but turning a corner, they stood suddenly before the major and his adjutant!

A cry of horror burst from Schnell’s lips.  With one bold leap, he sprang upon the breastworks, and jumped below.  With a wild shout of joy Trenck followed him.  His soul bounded with rapture and gladness.  He has mounted the wall, and what he finds below will be liberty in death, or liberty in life.

He lives!  He stretches himself after his wondrous leap, and he is not injured—­he recovers strength and presence of mind quickly.

But where is his friend? where is Schnell?  There—­there; he lies upon the ground, with a dislocated ankle, impossible to stand—­ impossible to move.

“Remember your oath, friend—­kill me!  I can go no farther.  Here is my sword—­thrust it into my bosom, and fly for your life!”

Trenck laughed gayly, took him in his arms as lovingly and tenderly as a mother.  “Swing yourself on my back, friend, and clasp your arms about my neck, and hold fast.  We will run a race with the reindeer.”

“Trenck!  Trenck! kill me Leave me here, and hasten on.  Escape is impossible with such a burden.”

“You are as light as a feather, and I will die with you rather than leave you.”

Onward! onward! the sun sets and a heavy fog rises suddenly from out of the earth.

“Trenck, Trenck, do you not hear the alarm—­guns thundering from the citadel?  Our pursuers are after us.”

“I hear the cannon,” said Trenck, hastening on.  “We have a half hour’s start.”

“A half hour will not suffice.  No one has ever escaped from Glatz who did not have two hours’ advance of pursuit.  Leave me, Trenck, and save yourself.”

“I will not leave you.  I would rather die with you.  Let us rest a moment, and gather breath.”

Gently, carefully, he laid his friend upon the ground.  Schnell suppressed his cries of pain, and Trenck restrained his panting breath—­they rested and listened.  The white, soft mist settled more thickly around them.  The citadel and the town was entirely hidden from view.

“God is with us,” said Trenck.  “He covers us with an impenetrable veil, and conceals us from our enemies.”

“God is against us—­our flight was too soon discovered.  Already the whole border is alarmed.  Listen to the signals in every village.  The three shots from the citadel have announced that a prisoner has escaped.  The commanding officers are now flying from point to point, to see if the peasants are doing duty, and if every post is strictly guarded.  The cordon is alarmed; the whole Bohemian boundary has been signalled.  It is too late—­we cannot reach the border.”