Onward! onward! the sun sets and a heavy fog rises suddenly from out of the earth. "Trenck, Trenck, do you not hear the alarm--guns thundering from the citadel? Our pursuers are after us." "I hear the cannon," said Trenck, hastening on. "We have a half hour's start." "A half hour will not suffice. No one has ever escaped from Glatz who did not have two hours' advance of pursuit. Leave me, Trenck, and save yourself." "I will not leave you. I would rather die with you. Let us rest a moment, and gather breath." Gently, carefully, he laid his friend upon the ground. Schnell suppressed his cries of pain, and Trenck restrained his panting breath--they rested and listened. The white, soft mist settled more thickly around them. The citadel and the town was entirely hidden from view. "God is with us," said Trenck. "He covers us with an impenetrable veil, and conceals us from our enemies." "God is against us--our flight was too soon discovered. Already the whole border is alarmed. Listen to the signals in every village. The three shots from the citadel have announced that a prisoner has escaped. The commanding officers are now flying from point to point, to see if the peasants are doing duty, and if every post is strictly guarded. The cordon is alarmed; the whole Bohemian boundary has been signalled. It is too late--we cannot reach the border." "We will not go then, friend, in the direction our enemies expect us," said Trenck, merrily. "They saw us running toward the Bohemian boundary, and they will follow in that direction through night and fog. We will fly where they are not seeking us--we will cross the Reise. Do you see there a line of silver shimmering through the fog, and advancing to meet us? Spring upon my back, Schnell. We must cross the Reise!" "I cannot, Trenck, I suffer agony with my foot. It is impossible for me to swim." "I can swim for both." He knelt down, took his friend upon his back, and ran with him to the river. And now they stood upon the shore. Solemnly, drearily, the waves dashed over their feet, sweeping onward large blocks of ice which obstructed the current. "Is the river deep, comrade?" "In the middle of the stream, deep enough to cover a giant like yourself." "Onward, then! When I can no longer walk, I can swim. Hold fast, Schnell!" Onward, in the dark, ice-cold water, bravely onward, with his friend upon his back! Higher and higher rose the waves! Now they reached his shoulder! "Hold fast to my hair, Schnell, we must swim!" With herculean strength he swam through the dark, wild waters, and dashed the ice-blocks which rushed against him from his path. Now they have reached the other shore. Not yet safe--but safe from immediate danger. The blessed night conceals their course, and their pursuers seek them on the other shore.