二十年后-第103章

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　　〃Oh！　oh！〃
　　〃And　do　you　know　who　is　his　lieutenant？〃
　　〃His　lieutenant？　There　is　none；〃　said　Athos。　〃They　don't　have　lieutenants　in　a　felucca　manned　by　a　crew　of　four。〃
　　〃Yes；　but　Monsieur　Groslow　is　not　a　captain　of　the　ordinary　kind；　he　has　a　lieutenant；　and　that　lieutenant　is　Monsieur　Mordaunt。〃
　　This　time　the　musketeers　did　more　than　shudder　　they　almost　cried　out。　Those　invincible　men　were　subject　to　a　mysterious　and　fatal　influence　which　that　name　had　over　them；　the　mere　sound　of　it　filled　them　with　terror。
　　〃What　shall　we　do？〃　said　Athos。
　　〃We　must　seize　the　felucca；〃　said　Aramis。
　　〃And　kill　him；〃　said　Porthos。
　　〃The　felucca　is　mined；〃　said　D'Artagnan。　〃Those　casks　which　I　took　for　casks　of　port　wine　are　filled　with　powder。　When　Mordaunt　finds　himself　discovered　he　will　destroy　all；　friends　and　foes；　and　on　my　word　he　would　be　bad　pany　in　going　either　to　Heaven　or　to　hell。〃
　　〃You　have　some　plan；　then？〃　asked　Athos。
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃What　is　it？〃
　　〃Have　you　confidence　in　me？〃
　　〃Give　your　orders；〃　said　the　three　musketeers。
　　〃Wry　well；　e　this　way。〃
　　D'Artagnan　went　toward　a　very　small；　low　window；　just　large　enough　to　let　a　man　through。　He　turned　it　gently　on　its　hinges。
　　〃There；〃　he　said；　〃is　our　road。〃
　　〃The　deuce！　it　is　a　very　cold　one；　my　dear　friend；〃　said　Aramis。
　　〃Stay　here；　if　you　like；　but　I　warn　you　'twill　be　rather　too　warm　presently。〃
　　〃But　we　cannot　swim　to　the　shore。〃
　　〃The　longboat　is　yonder；　lashed　to　the　felucca。　We　will　take　possession　of　it　and　cut　the　cable。　e；　my　friends。〃
　　〃A　moment's　delay；〃　said　Athos；　〃our　servants？〃
　　〃Here　we　are！〃　they　cried。
　　Meantime　the　three　friends　were　standing　motionless　before　the　awful　sight　which　D'Artagnan；　in　raising　the　shutters；　had　disclosed　to　them　through　the　narrow　opening　of　the　window。
　　Those　who　have　once　beheld　such　a　spectacle　know　that　there　is　nothing　more　solemn；　more　striking；　than　the　raging　sea；　rolling；　with　its　deafening　roar；　its　dark　billows　beneath　the　pale　light　of　a　wintry　moon。
　　〃Gracious　Heaven；　we　are　hesitating！〃　cried　D'Artagnan；　〃if　we　hesitate　what　will　the　servants　do？〃
　　〃I　do　not　hesitate；　you　know；〃　said　Grimaud。
　　〃Sir；〃　interposed　Blaisois；　〃I　warn　you　that　I　can　only　swim　in　rivers。〃
　　〃And　I　not　at　all；〃　said　Musqueton。
　　But　D'Artagnan　had　now　slipped　through　the　window。
　　〃You　have　decided；　friend？〃　said　Athos。
　　〃Yes；〃　the　Gascon　answered；　〃Athos！　you；　who　are　a　perfect　being；　bid　spirit　triumph　over　body。　Do　you；　Aramis；　order　the　servants。　Porthos；　kill　every　one　who　stands　in　your　way。〃
　　And　after　pressing　the　hand　of　Athos；　D'Artagnan　chose　a　moment　when　the　ship　rolled　backward；　so　that　he　had　only　to　plunge　into　the　water；　which　was　already　up　to　his　waist。
　　Athos　followed　him　before　the　felucca　rose　again　on　the　waves；　the　cable　which　tied　the　boat　to　the　vessel　was　then　seen　plainly　rising　out　of　the　sea。
　　D'Artagnan　swam　to　it　and　held　it；　suspending　himself　by　this　rope；　his　head　alone　out　of　water。
　　In　one　second　Athos　joined　him。
　　Then　they　saw；　as　the　felucca　turned；　two　other　heads　peeping；　those　of　Aramis　and　Grimaud。
　　〃I　am　uneasy　about　Blaisois；〃　said　Athos；　〃he　can；　he　says；　only　swim　in　rivers。〃
　　〃When　people　can　swim　at　all　they　can　swim　anywhere。　To　the　boat！　to　the　boat！〃
　　〃But　Porthos；　I　do　not　see　him。〃
　　〃Porthos　is　ing　　he　swims　like　Leviathan。〃
　　In　fact；　Porthos　did　not　appear；　for　a　scene；　half　tragedy　and　half　edy；　had　been　performed　by　him　with　Musqueton　and　Blaisois；　who；　frightened　by　the　noise　of　the　sea；　by　the　whistling　of　the　wind；　by　the　sight　of　that　dark　water　yawning　like　a　gulf　beneath　them；　shrank　back　instead　of　going　forward。
　　〃e；　e！〃　said　Porthos；　〃jump　in。〃
　　〃But；　monsieur；〃　said　Musqueton；　〃I　can't　swim；　let　me　stay　here。〃
　　〃And　me；　too；　monsieur；〃　said　Blaisois。
　　〃I　assure　you；　I　shall　be　very　much　in　the　way　in　that　little　boat；〃　said　Musqueton。
　　〃And　I　know　I　shall　drown　before　reaching　it；〃　continued　Blaisois。
　　〃e　along！　I　shall　strangle　you　both　if　you　don't　get　out；〃　said　Porthos　at　last；　seizing　Musqueton　by　the　throat。　〃Forward；　Blaisois！〃
　　A　groan；　stifled　by　the　grasp　of　Porthos；　was　all　the　reply　of　poor　Blaisois；　for　the　giant；　taking　him　neck　and　heels；　plunged　him　into　the　water　headforemost；　pushing　him　out　of　the　window　as　if　he　had　been　a　plank。
　　〃Now；　Musqueton；〃　he　said；　〃I　hope　you　don't　mean　to　desert　your　master？〃
　　〃Ah；　sir；〃　replied　Musqueton；　his　eyes　filling　with　tears；　〃why　did　you　re…enter　the　army？　We　were　all　so　happy　in　the　Chateau　de　Pierrefonds！〃
　　And　without　any　other　plaint；　passive　and　obedient；　either　from　true　devotion　to　his　master　or　from　the　example　set　by　Blaisois；　Musqueton　leaped　into　the　sea　headforemost。　A　sublime　action；　at　all　events；　for　Musqueton　looked　upon　himself　as　dead。　But　Porthos　was　not　a　man　to　abandon　an　old　servant；　and　when　Musqueton　rose　above　the　water；　blind　as　a　new…born　puppy；　he　found　he　was　supported　by　the　large　hand　of　Porthos　and　that　he　was　thus　enabled；　without　having　occasion　even　to　move；　to　advance　toward　the　cable　with　the　dignity　of　a　very　triton。
　　In　a　few　minutes　Porthos　had　rejoined　his　panions；　who　were　already　in　the　boat；　but　when；　after　they　had　all　got　in；　it　came　to　his　turn；　there　was　great　danger　that　in　putting　his　huge　leg　over　the　edge　of　the　boat　he　would　upset　the　little　vessel。　Athos　was　the　last　to　enter。
　　〃Are　you　all　here？〃　he　asked。
　　〃Ah！　have　you　your　sword；　Athos？〃　cried　D'Artagnan。
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃Cut　the　cable；　then。〃
　　Athos　drew　a　sharp　poniard　from　his　belt　and　cut　the　cord。　The　felucca　went　on；　the　boat　continued　stationary；　rocked　only　by　the　swashing　waves。
　　〃e；　Athos！〃　said　D'Artagnan；　giving　his　hand　to　the　count；　〃you　are　going　to　see　something　curious；〃　added　the　Gascon。
　　Fatality
　　Scarcely　had　D'Artagnan　uttered　these　words　when　a　ringing　and　sudden　noise　was　heard　resounding　through　the　felucca；　which　had　now　bee　dim　in　the　obscurity　of　the　night。
　　〃That；　you　may　be　sure；〃　said　the　Gascon；　〃means　something。〃
　　They　then　at　the　same　instant　perceived　a　large　lantern　carried　on　a　pole　appear　on　the　deck；　defining　the　forms　of　shadows　behind　it。
　　Suddenly　a　terrible　cry；　a　cry　of　despair；　was　wafted　through　space；　and　as　if　the　shrieks　of　anguish　had　driven　away　the　clouds；　the　veil　which　hid　the　moon　was　cleated　away　and　the　gray　sails　and　dark　shrouds　of　the　felucca　were　plainly　visible　beneath　the　silvery　light。
　　Shadows　ran；　as　if　bewildered；　to　and　fro　on　the　vessel；　and　mournful　cries　acpanied　these　delirious　walkers。　In　the　midst　of　these　screams　they　saw　Mordaunt　upon　the　poop　with　a　torch　in　hand。
　　The　agitated　figures；　apparently　wild　with　terror；　consisted　of　Groslow；　who　at　the　hour　fixed　by　Mordaunt　had　collected　his　men　and　the　sailors。　Mordaunt；　after　having　listened　at　the　door　of　the　cabin　to　hear　if　the　musketeers　were　still　asleep；　had　gone　down　into　the　cellar；　convinced　by　their　silence　that　they　were　all　in　a　deep　slumber。　Then　he　had　run　to　the　train；　impetuous　as　a　man　who　is　excited　by　revenge；　and　full　of　confidence；　as　are　those　whom　God　blinds；　he　had　set　fire　to　the　wick　of　nitre。
　　All　this　while　Groslow　and　his　men　were　assembled　on　deck。
　　〃Haul　up　the　cable　and　draw　the　boat　to　us；〃　said　Groslow。
　　One　of　the　sailors　got　down　the　side　of　the　ship；　seized　the　cable；　and　drew　it；　it　came　without　the　least　resistance。
　　〃The　cable　is　cut！〃　he　cried；　〃no　boat！〃
　　〃How！　no　boat！〃　exclaimed　Groslow；　〃it　is　impossible。〃
　　〃'Tis　true；　however；〃　answered　the　sailor；　〃there's　nothing　in　the　wake　of　the　ship；　besides；　here's　the　end　of　the　cable。〃
　　〃What's　the　matter？〃　cried　Mordaunt；　who；　ing　up　out　of　the　hatchway；　rushed　to　the　stern；　waving　his　torch。
　　〃Only　that　our　enemies　have　escaped；　they　have　cut　the　cord　and　gone　off　with　the　boat。〃
　　Mordaunt　bounded　with　one　step　to　the　cabin　and　kicked　open　the　door。
　　〃Empty！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃the　infernal　demons！〃
　　〃We　must　pursue　them；〃　said　Groslow；　〃they　can't　be　gone　far；　and　we　will　sink　them；　passing　over　them。〃
　　〃Yes；　but　the　fire；〃　ejaculated　Mordaunt；　〃I　have　lighted　it。〃
　　〃Ten　thousand　devils！〃　cried　Groslow；　rushing　to　the　hatchway；　〃perhaps　there　is　still　time　to　save　us。〃
　　Mordaunt　answered　only　by　a　terrible　laugh；　threw　his　torch　into　the　sea　and　plunged　in　after　it。　The　instant　Groslow　put　his　foot　upon　the　hatchway　steps　the　ship　opened　like　the　crater　of　a　volcano。　A　burst　of　flame　rose　toward　the　skies　with　an　explosion　like　that　of　a　hundred　cannon；　the　air　burned；　ignited　by　flaming　embers；　then　the　frightful　lightning　disappeared；　the　brands　sank；　one　after　another；　into　the　abyss；　where　they　were　extinguished；　and　save　for　a　slight　vibration　in　the　air；　after　a　few　minutes　had　elapsed　one　would　have　thought　that　nothing　had　happened。
　　Only　　the　felucca　had　disappeared　from　the　surface　of　the　sea　and　Groslow　and　his　three　sailors　were　consumed。
　　The　four　friends　saw　all　this　　not　a　single　detail　of　this　fearful　scene　escaped　them。　At　one　moment；　bathed　as　they　were　in　a　flood　of　brilliant　light；　which　illumined　the　sea　for　the　space　of　a　league；　they　might　each　be　seen；　each　by　his　own　peculiar　attitude　and　manner　expressing　the　awe　which；　even　in　their　hearts　of　bronze；　they　could　not　help　experiencing。　Soon　a　torrent　of　vivid　sparks　fell　around　them　　then；　at　last；　the　volcano　was　extinguished　　then　all　was　dark　and　still　　the　floating　bark　and　heaving　ocean。
　　They　sat　silent　and　dejected。
　　〃By　Heaven！〃　at　last　said　Athos；　the　first　to　speak；　〃by　this　time；　I　think；　all　must　be　over。〃
　　〃Here；　my　lords！　save　me！　help！〃　cried　a　voice；　whose　mournful　accents；　reaching　the　four　friends；　seemed　to　proceed　from　some　phantom　of　the　ocean。
　　All　looked　around；　Athos　himself　stared。
　　〃'Tis　he！　it　is　his　voice！〃
　　All　still　remained　silent；　the　eyes　of　all　were　turned　in　the　direction　where　the　vessel　had　disappeared；　endeavoring　in　vain　to　penetrate　the　darkness。　After　a　minute　or　two　they　were　able　to　distinguish　a　man；　who　approached　them；　swimming　vigorously。
　　Athos　extended　his　arm　toward　him；　pointing　him　out　to　his　panions。
　　〃Yes；　yes；　I　see　him　well　enough；〃　said　D'Artagnan。
　　〃He　　again！〃　cried　Porthos；　who　was　breathing　like　a　blacksmith's　bellows；　〃why；　he　is　made　of　iron。〃
　　〃Oh；　my　God！〃　muttered　Athos。
　　Aramis　and　D'Artagnan　whispered　to　each　other。
　　Mordaunt　made　several　strokes　more；　and　raising　his　arm　in　sign　of　distress　above　the　waves：　〃Pity；　pity　on　me；　gentlemen；　in　Heaven's　name！　my　strength　is　failing　me；　I　am　dying。〃
　　The　voice　that　implored　aid　was　so　piteous　that　it　awakened　pity　in　the　heart　of　Athos。
　　〃Poor　fellow！〃　he　exclaimed。
　　〃Indeed！〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃monsters　have　only　to　plain　to　gain　your　sympathy。　I　believe　he's　swimming　toward　us。　Does　he　think　we　are　going　to　take　him　in？　Row；　Porthos；　row。〃　And　setting　the　example　he　plowed　his　oar　into　the　sea；　two　strokes　took　the　bark　on　twenty　fathoms　further。
　　〃Oh！　you　will　not　abandon　me！　You　will　not　leave　me　to　perish！　You　will　not　be　pitiless！〃　cried　Mordaunt。
　　〃Ah！　ah！〃