o know my misery; listen to me, oh gloomy cell. You have
always been faithful; you have never wished to forsake or leave me; and
when I struggled to escape, you called me always back. But this is our
last day together; you shall hear my confession, I will tell you all my
plans, by what means I shall escape from you, my true friend, my dark,
dreary cell. Know first that this garrison is composed of nine hundred
men, who are much dissatisfied. It will not be difficult to win them,
particularly if they are well bribed. Besides this, there are two majors
and two lieutenants conspiring with me; they will tell their soldiers
what to do. The guard at the star-port, is composed of but fifteen
men, and if they do not obey me willingly, we will know how to compel
obedience. At the end of the star-port lies the city gate. At this
only twelve men and one officer are stationed; these we shall easily
overpower. On the other side, close to the gate, the Austrian Captain
von Kimsky is awaiting me with the remainder of the prisoners of war.
All the officers, who have pledged themselves to assist my undertaking,
are concealed in a safe house rented for this purpose. At my first call
they will rush forward and fall upon the guard; we will overpower them
and enter the city. There other friends await us; one of them, under
some pretext, holds in his quarters arms for his company, and at my
call he will join me with his armed band. Oh my God! my God! I see every
thing so plainly and clearly before me. I see myself rushing joyfully
through the streets, dashing into the casemates, which contain nine
thousand prisoners. I call to them: 'Up, comrades, up; I am Frederick
von Trenck, your captain and your leader; arm yourselves and follow me.'
I hear them greet me joyfully and cry, 'Long live Trenck!' They take
their arms and we rush to the other casemates, where seven thousand
Austrian and Russian prisoners are confined. We free them, and I head
a little army of sixteen thousand men. Magdeburg is mine; the fortress,
the magazine of the army, the treasury, the arsenal, all is in our
power. I shall conquer all for Maria Theresa. Oh, King Frederick! King
Frederick! I shall avenge myself on you for these long years of misery,
for the martyrdom of this fearful imprisonment. Trenck will not be
obliged to leave Magdeburg; he will drive away the Prussians, and make
himself master."

He laughed so loudly that the old walls echoed the sound, and a wailing