Page:Surprising adventures of Frederick Baron Trenck.pdf/11

 who was sitting beside him, tapped me on the shoulder, and said, “This is one of my youthful Matadors!” The horse intended to reconnoitre the enemy was already waiting before his tent, he consequently asked me a few questions, and to those few I could not answer without trembling. Some minutes after he rose from table, cast his eyes on the prisoners, and putting the Order of Merit round my neck, ordered me to go and rest myself. As I was not without money, I gave each non-commissioned officer twenty ducats, and each private soldier a ducat, to induce their silence. I determined, however, to embrace the first opportunity of making the King acquainted with the truth, and found a convenient one two days after. We were on a march, and in quality of Cornet, I was at the head of the troop. The King rode on before the drums, and beckoning to me to comcome [sic] to him, addressed me in these words: “Now, Trenck, tell me the particulars of your late success.” When I heard this question, I did not doubt my being betrayed; but the King asked with such apparent good humour, that I related the matter exactly as it had passed, I observed marks of astonishment in his countenance; but I saw at the same time that he was not displeased with my sincerity. He talked with me half an hour, more like a father than a King, praised my candour and concluded with these words, which I shall never forget:-“Depend upon me, and follow my advice, and I will make a man of you.” It was not long before I perceived the confidence the King placed in me after this explanation, I received many marks of it in the course of the following winter I which we passed at Berlin.

In our retreat from Bohemia, the King entered