Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-10-07

wards, he told the Baron that it would be
impossible for him to get away safely
unless the officer of the guard went
with him that for himself he was ready
to make any sacrifice for him short
of his honor, and that to desert, being on
guard, would be dishonorable. But he
promised him every assistance, and the next
day he brought to him Lieutenant Schell,
saying. Here's your man." Schell vowed
perfect devotion, and the two immediately
began to concert measures for getting off.
Their project was precipitated in conse.
quence OF Schelfs having discovered that
he had been betrayed to the commandant.
a fellow-oticer, Lieutenant Schroeder,
gave him the intelligence in full time for
him to have saved himself, and even offered
to accompany him but Schell, faithful to
Trenck, refused to abandon him. Unwill-
ing to risk an arrest by delay, however, he
went at once to Trenck's room, carrying
him saber, and said to him
My friend, we are betrayed; follow
me, and do not permit my enemies to take
me alive" Trenck tried to speak, but he
seized his hand, repeating, Follow me,
we have not a moment to lose"
Schell passed the sentinel with Trenck,
saying to that soldier, Remain here /
am to take your prisoner to the officers
quarters" They went rapidly in that di-
rec,ion, but suddenly turned off in the op-
posite one, hoping to pass under the
arsenal as far as the outer work, and
then leap the palisades but meeting two
officers, they were compelled to jump
from the parapet, which at that point
was not very high. Trenck alighted with
only a scratch of the shoulder. Schell
was less fortunate, and sprained his an
kle.
Upon gaining the country the two fugi.
tives were in wretched case indeed.
There was thick fog and a frosty air
the ground was covered with deep snow
crusted over with ice. Schell soon began
to experience great pain, and already they
heard behind them the alarm gun of the
castle, and knew that the stir of pursuit
was going on. Trenck managed to carry
or drag his companion along, and swan
with him across the freezing river Neisse
where, for short distance, it was out OF
ford, and then for many weary hours they
wandered in the cold and darkness, until
morning found them on the verge Of per.
ishing from hunger and the frost
There was no help for it but to apply at
the nearest farm-hous for food and some
means OF transportation. Accordingly,
they invented a story that Trenck, whose
hands Schell tied behind him, and who
had smeared his face with blood, was a
culprit Schell desired TO take with
out delay to the nearest Justice.
He had killed Schelrs horse, SO
the Lieuten ants fiction ran, and caus-
ed him to sprain his ankle, notwith.
standing which Sehell had given him some
saber cuts, disabling him, and had sue.
ceeded In pinioning him, and now what he
wanted was vehicle to convey them TO
town. The story Schell told with great
gravity to two peasants at the door of their
house, when the elder of them, a man ad.
vanced in years, called the Lieutenant by
name, informing him that they were well
known for deserters, as an officer, the even.
ing previous, had been at the house of
farm near by, and had given their names
and description of the clothes they wore,
narratlng, at the same time, all the circum-
stances of their fl ght.
But the old peasant, who had known
Schell from having seen him often at the
village when he was there in garrison, and
who besides had son in. the Lieutenap:'s
company, had no thougtATof informing on
them, and though he begged hard for his
horses, he yet permitted the runaways to
take two from his stable.
And now behold them mounted upon
frantic steeds, barebacked. without their
hats, which they had lost in leaving the
castle, and flying across the country at full
speed. Their garments, their bare heads.
their whole appearance told what they
were; but 1t was Christmas Day, and the
inhabitants were all at church as they gal.
loped along through the villages, and thus
they escaped observation.
On the very confines of Bohemia thew
ran narrow risk of capture by corps of
hussars stationed upon the frontier; but a
friendly brother officer, recognizing Schel,
warned him of their danger, and they
turned off upon another road. Il was not
long before they passed the boundary, and
Trenck was at last free. His courage and
resolution bad at last been rewarded.
But the Baron was far fir, N bsirg 4
happy man. Pursued by the y-ngeaucs OF
Frederick, and sorely beset by Russian
spies, who tried to kidnap HIN, he wan
dered miserably about for many months,
and subsequently took service IN the Aus.
triau army. Finally, after macy woIder.
full ventures, he was 5ase!y gwen up by
the Governor and authorizes of the toyn
OF Danzig to the PTussi2n King. is I'd
mischance completely Ue,nura IL d Tceuck
Though many oppCr. uaities we're afforded
him to get away RON the escort thai con-
veyed him 10 Prussia, he had ROT the spiris
to do so. Again lie was consigned to
prison. This time they took him to Mag.
deburg and locked him up in the citadel
His subsequent life In the fortress of
Magdeburg was but a repetition of his pre-
vious unremitting efforts at escape but ne
never again left the prison until he was re-
leased by order of the Kigg. He lived
many years after his Liberation, and was
guillotined at Paris in the revolution, at
the same time with Andre Chenier.-IJ.
r. Thompson.