that favoured our enterprise.

The sun had just set as we took to flight; the hoar frost fell. No
one would run the risk that we had done, by making so dangerous a
leap. We heard a terrible noise behind us. Everybody knew us; but
before they could go round the citadel, and through the town, in
order to pursue us, we had got a full half league.

The alarm guns were fired before we were a hundred paces distant; at
which my friend was very much terrified, knowing that in such cases
it was generally impossible to escape from Glatz, unless the
fugitives had got the start full two hours before the alarm guns
were heard; the passes being immediately all stopped by the peasants
and hussars, who are exceedingly vigilant. No sooner is a prisoner
missed than the gunner runs from the guard-house, and fires the
cannon on the three sides of the fortress, which are kept loaded day
and night for that purpose.

We were not five hundred paces from the walls, when all before us
and behind us were in motion. It was daylight when we leaped, yet
was our attempt as fortunate as it was wonderful: this I attributed
to my presence of mind, and the reputation I had already acquired,
which made it thought a service of danger for two or three men to
attack me.

It was besides imagined we were well provided with arms for our
defence; and it was little suspected that Schell had only his sword,
and I an old corporal's sabre.

Among the officers commanded to pursue us was Lieutenant Bart, my