arful thing. I will make no further resistance, if you
will swear to me that no heavy chains shall be put upon me--that I shall
suffer no unworthy punishment."

The major promised him, in the commandant's name, that if he ceased to
resist, no further notice would be taken of the affair.

"Then," whispered Trenck, with a bitter smile, "I must suffer
anew--suffer forever."

He approached the door and drew off the chains. "Now, guards," said he,
"the door can be opened. The wild beast has become tame."

Then, with a low moan, he sank fainting upon the floor. He was lifted up
and laid upon his bed. Tears were in every eye, but Trenck did not
see them; he did not hear their low, whispered words of sympathy and
friendship. Death, from whom Trenck had once more been torn, had sent
her twin sister, insensibility, to cause him to forget his sufferings
for a while.

CHAPTER VII. THE BATTLE OF COLLIN.

Lost!--the battle was lost! This was the cry of woe throughout the
Prussian camp--this was the fearful cry that palsied the hands of those
who could not endure defeat.

The Prussians who had defeated the enemy at Losovitz and Prague, were
condemned to yield the palm of victory at Collin to their enemy's
commander, Marshal Daun. They had fought bravely, desperately for this
victory; and when all was over, death would have been preferable to
defeat.

The Prussians were beaten, though their king, Ziethen, and Moritz von
Dessau--all of them heroes--were in the field. At the first thought
of the possibility of losing the battle, there was a fearful panic
throughout the army.

"We are lost! lost!"--and this cry caused them to throw down their
arms and fly, as if followed by a thousand furies; as victory--was
impossible, they wished at least to save their lives.

It was in vain that the officers implored them to rally again and fall
upon the enemy. They did not heed. In vain that the king himself rode
among them, pointing with his sword to the enemy, and crying:

"Forward' forward, boys! Would you live forever? Death comes to all!"

They looked at him stubbornly; they feared not now his piercing, eagle
glance, his royal countenance. They looked and said:

"We have worked hard enough to-day for eightpence," and then continued
their flight.

But the king could not yet be brought to believe the truth. He still
trusted in the possibility of victory. He clung with desperation to
this hope; he let his voice be heard--th