CHAPTER 14: Breaking Prison.
"He seems to be a pleasant fellow," Fergus said, "and disposed to do his best to make us comfortable; so if we don't see any chance of getting away, we shall be able to get through the winter very fairly." "You don't think there is any chance of escape, surely, major ?" "Pray, drop the major, Captain Stauffen, and let us call each other by our names, while we are here.

The discipline of the Prussian army is admirable, and must, as a rule, be most stringently maintained by all sorts of forms and observances; but here by our three selves, confined in this casemate for no one can say how long, it is ridiculous that we should be always stiff and ceremonious.

You are both some years older than I am.

I have had the good fortune to have better opportunities than you have had, and have been promoted accordingly; but while here, let us try and forget all about that, and make things as pleasant all round as possible." The two officers agreed, but not without grave doubts; for to them it was quite a serious matter to relax, even in a prison, the stringent rules that guided the relation of officers to each other in the Prussian army.
"It is a strong place," Fergus went on, "but I don't know that it is as difficult to break out of as the last place I was in." "Have you been a prisoner before ?" the two officers asked together, for both belonged to a regiment that was not with Frederick at Lobositz, and had indeed only recently come down from Berlin.
"Yes, I was taken at Lobositz and marched to Spielberg, and managed to get away from there.

It is a long story, and will do to pass away the evening, when we have got the fire and can sit comfortably and talk round it.