Page:Surprising adventures and sufferings of Frederick Baron Trenck.pdf/21

21 heard the dreadful creaking of four doors, which shut close upon one another.

The name of Trenck had incrusted on the wall, with red bricks; and under my feet was a tomb intended for me, on which also was my name and a Death’s head. There were two oaken doors into the dungeon; and in the way to it a kind of lobby, into which a window had been opened, which was likewise secured by two doors of the same kind. It was the King’s intention that this dungeon should be built in such a manner, as to put it out of my power to have the least communication with the sentinel; it was surrounded with pallisades twelve feet high, forming a kind of park; and the key was deposited with the guard-officer. I had tamed a mouse so perfectly, that the little animal was continually playing with me, and used to eat out of my mouth. One night it skipped about so much, that the sentinels hearing a noise, made their report to the officer of the guard. The Town Major arrived early in the morning, accompanied by locksmiths and masons. The floor, the walls, my chains and my body, were strictly examined: but finding all in order, they asked me the cause of last evening’s bustle. I frankly told them by what it had been occasioned; on which they desired me to call my little favourite. I whistled and it immediately leaped upon my shoulder. I solicited its pardon, but the officer of the guard took it into his possession, promising, however, to give it to a lady, for whose care he would answer. Turning it afterwards loose in his chamber, the mouse soon disappeared, and hid itself in a hole. But at the usual hour of visiting my prison, when the