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eckon me on。 I will not be so foolish as to fly； life opens to me new and flowery paths； greets me with laughing hopes。〃 ＇Footnote： 〃Frederick Trenck's Memoirs。〃＇
Wholly occupied with these thoughts； Trenck leaned back in the carriage and gave himself up to bright dreams of the future。 Slowly the horses moved through the deep； white sand； which made the roll of the wheels noiseless； and effaced instantaneously the footprints of men。 The officer still slept； the coachman had dropped the reins； and nodded here and there as if intoxicated。 The wood was drear and empty； no human dwelling； no human face was seen。 Had Trenck wished to escape； one spring from the low； open carriage； a hundred hasty steps would have brought him to a thicket where discovery was impossible； the carriage would have rolled on quietly； and when the sleepers aroused themselves； they would have had no idea of the direction Trenck had taken。 The loose and rolling sand would not have retained his footprints； and the whispering trees would not have betrayed him。
Trenck would not fly； he was full of romance； faith； and hope； his sanguine temper painted his future in enchanting colors。 No； he would not flee； he had faith in his star。 Life's earnest tragedy had yet for him a smiling face； and life's bitter truths seemed alluring visions。 No； the king only wished to try him； he wished to see if he could frighten him into an effort to escape； he gave him the opportunity for flight； but if he made use of it； he would be lost forever in the eyes of Frederick； and his prospects utterly destroyed。 If he bravely suffered the chance of escape to pass by； and arrived in Berlin； to all appearance a prisoner； the king would have the agreeable task of undeceiving him； and Trenck would have shown conclusively that he had faith in the king's magnanimity； and gave himself up to him without fear。 He would have proved also that his conscience was clear； and that； without flattering； he could yield himself to the judgment of the king。 No； Trenck would not fly。 In Berlin； liberty； love； and Amelia awaited him； he would lose all this by flight； it would all remain his if he did not allow himself to be enticed by the flattering goddess； opportunity； who now beckoned and nodded smilingly from behind every tree and every thicket。 Trenck withstood these enticements during three long days； with careless indifference he passed slowly on through this lonely region； in his arrogant blindness and self…confidence he did not observe the careworn and anxious looks of the officers who conducted him； he did not hear or understand the low； hesitating insinuations they dared to speak。
〃This is your last resting…point；〃 said the officer who had conducted him from the last station。 〃You will remain here this afternoon； and early to…morrow morning the cavalry officer Von Halber will conduct you to Berlin； where the last barracks of our regiment are to be found； from that point the infantry garrison will take charge of your further transportation。〃
〃I shall not make their duties difficult；〃 said Trenck； gayly。 〃You see I am a good…natured prisoner； no Argus eyes are necessary； as I have no intention to flee。〃
The officer gazed into his calm； smiling face with amazement； and then stepped out with the officer Von Halber； into whose house they had now entered； to make known his doubts and apprehensions。
〃Perhaps the opportunities which have been offered him have not been sufficiently manifest；〃 said Von Halber。 〃Perhaps he has not regarded them as safe； and he fears a failure。 In that he is right； a vain attempt at flight would be much more prejudicial to him than to yield himself without opposition。 Well； I will see that he has now a sure chance to escape； and you may believe he will be cunning enough to take advantage of it。 You may say this much to his highness the duke。〃
〃But do not forget that the duke commanded us not to betray his intention to prepare these opportunities by a single word。 This course would compromise the duke and all of us。〃
〃I understand perfectly；〃 said Von Halber； 〃I will speak eloquently by deeds； and not with words。〃
True to this intention； Von Halber； after having partaken of a gay dinner with Trenck and several officers； left his house； accompanied by all his servants。
〃The horses must be exercised；〃 said he； and； as he was unmarried； no one remained in the house but Trenck。
〃You will be my house…guard for several hours；〃 said the officer to Trenck； who was standing at the door as he drove off。 〃I hope no one will come to disturb your solitude。 My officers all accompany me； and I have no acquaintance in this little village。 You will be entirely alone； and if； on my return； I find that you have disappeared in mist and fog； I shall believe that ennui has extinguished youreduced you to a bodiless nothing。〃
〃Well； I think he must have understood that；〃 said Von Halber； as he dashed down the street； followed by his staff。 〃He must be blind and deaf if he does not flee from the fate before him。〃
Trenck； alas； had not understood。 He believed in no danger； and did not； therefore； see the necessity for flight。 He found this quiet； lonely house inexpressibly wearisome。 He wandered through the rooms； seeking some object of interest； or some book which would enable him to pass the tedious hours。 The cavalry officer was a gallant and experienced soldier； but he was no scholar； and had nothing to do with books。 Trenck's search was in vain。 Discontented and restless； he wandered about； and at last entered the little court which led to the stable。 A welcome sound fell on his ears； and made his heart beat joyfully； with rapid steps he entered the stable。 Two splendid horses stood in the stalls； snorting and stamping impatiently； they were evidently riding…horses； for near them hung saddles and bridles。 Their nostrils dilated proudly as they threw their heads back to breathe the fresh air which rushed in at the open door。 It appeared to Trenck that their flashing eyes were pleading to him for liberty and action。
〃Poor beasts；〃 said he； stepping forward； and patting and caressing them〃poor beasts； you also pine for liberty； and hope for my assistance； but I cannot； I dare not aid you。 Like you； I also am a prisoner； and like you also； a prisoner to my will。 If you would use your strength； one movement of your powerful muscles would tear your bonds asunder； and your feet would bear you swiftly like wings through the air。 If I would use the present opportunity； which beckons and smiles upon me； it would be only necessary to spring upon your back and dash off into God's fair and lovely world。 We would reach our goal； we would be free； but we would both be lost； we would be recaptured； and would bitterly repent our short dream of self…acquired freedom。 It is better for us both that we remain as we are； bound； not with chains laid upon our bodies； but by wisdom and discretion。〃
So saying； he smoothed tenderly the glossy throat of the gallant steed； whose joyful neigh filled his heart with an inexplicable melancholy。
〃I must leave you；〃 murmured he； shudderingly； 〃your lusty neighing intoxicates my senses； and reminds me of green fields and fragrant meadows； of the broad highways； and the glad feeling of liberty which one enjoys when flying through the world on the back of a gallant steed。 No！ No！ I dare no longer look upon you； all my wisdom and discretion might melt away； and I might be allured to seek for myself that freedom which I must receive alone at the hands of the king； in Berlin。〃
With hasty steps Trenck left the stable and returned to the house； where he stretched himself upon the sofa； and gave himself up to dreamland。 It was twilight when Halber returned from his long ride。
〃All is quiet and peaceful；〃 said he； as he entered the house。 〃The bird has flown； this time； he found the opportunity favorable。〃
With a contented smile； he entered his room； but his expression changed suddenly； and his trembling lips muttered a soldier's curse。 There lay Trenck in peaceful slumber； his handsome； youthful face was bright and free from care； and those must be sweet dreams which floated around him； for he smiled in his sleep。
〃Poor fellow！〃 said Von Halber； shaking his head； 〃he must be mad； or struck with blindness； and cannot see the yawning abyss at his feet。〃 He awakened Trenck； and asked him how he had amused himself； during the long hours of solitude。
〃I looked through all your house； and then entered the stables and gladdened my heart by the sight of your beautiful horses。〃
〃Thunder and lightning！ You have then seen my horses；〃 cried Halber； thoroughly provoked。 〃Did no wish arise in your heart to mount one and seek your liberty？〃
Frederick Trenck smiled。 〃The wish； indeed； arose in my heart； but I suppressed it manfully。 Do you not see； dear Halber； that it would be unthankful and unknightly to reward in this cowardly and contemptible way the magnanimous confidence you have shown me。〃
〃Truly； you are an honorable gentleman；〃 cried Halber； greatly touched； 〃I had not thought of that。 It would not have been well to flee from my house。〃
〃To…morrow he will fly；〃 thought the good…natured soldier； 〃when once more aloneto…morrow； and the