bread and water before him and
left him without word or greeting--then Trenck recalled the sacred,
consecrated hours in which love had whispered sweet names and tender
words. This love still lived--it watched over and shone down upon
him--it was a star of hope. Why should Trenck despair, when love lived
and lived only for him? No, he would not die--he would never be buried
under this gravestone. Beyond these thick, damp walls lay the world--the
living, active, blooming world. It was only necessary to break these
chains, to open the five heavy doors which confined him to his dark
prison, and life, liberty, the world, honor, love, belonged to him!

"Is not my will stronger than chains and bolts?" he said. "Has not the
spirit wings by which she can take flight, mocking at prisons and at
torture?"

His spirit was free, for he believed in freedom: when his chains clanked
around him, it seemed to him as if they whispered of speedy liberty--as
if they exhorted him in soft, harmonious tones, to cast them off and
become a free and happy man.

At last there came a day when he could no longer resist these alluring
voices. If he could break these chains the first step was taken, and
only the doors remained to be opened. By close observation, he had
discovered that the inner door of his prison was of wood. The faithful
Gefhart had managed to inform him that the other doors were also
of wood. He had also conveyed to him a small, sharp knife, the most
precious of all earthly treasures, for with this he hoped to obtain his
freedom.

"But the chains!" First must the chains be broken--first must his right
hand be free! And it was free. Although the blood was bursting from the
nails Trenck forced his hand through the manacle. Freedom greeted him
with her first rapturous smile. Alas, the handcuff upon the left hand
was too narrow to be removed in this way. With a piece of his chain he
broke off a fragment of stone which he used as a file, and in this way
he liberated his left hand. The iron ring around his waist was fastened
only by a hook to the chain attached to the wall. Trenck placed his feet
against the wall, and bending forward with all his strength, succeeded
in straightening the hook so far as to remove it from the ring. And now
there only remained the heavy wooden chain fastened to his feet, and
also made fast to the wall. By a powerful effort he broke two of the
links of this chain.

He was free--free--at least to stand ere