“Perfectly.”
“They are two casks, one containing powder, and the other
balls; I wish these casks to be transported to the little
hamlet at the mouth of the river, and which I intend to
occupy to-morrow with two hundred muskets. You understand
that the commission is a secret one, for it is a movement
that may decide the fate of the battle.”
“Oh, general!” murmured the sergeant.
“Mind, then! Let these casks be fastened on to the horse,
and let them be escorted by two men and you to the residence
of this gentleman, who is my friend. But take care that
nobody knows it.”
“I would go by the marsh if I knew the road,” said the
sergeant.
“I know one myself,” said Athos; “it is not wide, but it is
solid, having been made upon piles; and with care we shall
get over safely enough.”
“Do everything this gentleman shall order you to do.”
“Oh! oh! the casks are heavy,” said the sergeant, trying to
lift one.
“They weigh four hundred pounds each, if they contain what
they ought to contain, do they not, monsieur?”
“Thereabouts,” said Athos.
The sergeant went in search of the two men and the horse.
Monk, left alone with Athos, affected to speak to him on
Page 167
Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
nothing but indifferent subjects while examining the vault
in a cursory manner. Then, hearing the horse’s steps, —
“I leave you with your men, monsieur,” said he, “and return
to the camp. You are perfectly safe.”
“I shall see you again, then, my lord?” asked Athos.
“That is agreed upon, monsieur, and with much pleasure.”
Monk held out his hand to Athos.
“Ah! my lord, if you would!” murmured Athos.
“Hush! monsieur, it is agreed that we shall speak no more of
that.” And bowing to Athos, he went up the stairs, meeting
about half-way his men, who were coming down. He had not
gone twenty paces, when a faint but prolonged whistle was
heard at a distance. Monk listened, but seeing nothing and
hearing nothing, he continued his route, Then he remembered
the fisherman, and looked about for him; but the fisherman
had disappeared. If he had, however, looked with more
attention, he might have seen that man, bent double, gliding
like a serpent along the stones and losing himself in the
mist that floated over the surface of the marsh. He might
have equally seen, had he attempted to pierce that mist, a
spectacle that might have attracted his attention; and that
was the rigging of the vessel, which had changed place, and
was now nearer the shore. But Monk saw nothing; and thinking
he had nothing to fear, he entered the deserted causeway
which led to his camp. It was then that the disappearance of
the fisherman appeared strange, and that a real suspicion
began to take possession of his mind. He had just placed at
the orders of Athos the only post that could protect him. He
had a mile of causeway to traverse before he could regain
his camp. The fog increased with such intensity that he
could scarcely distinguish objects at ten paces’ distance.
Monk then thought he heard the sound of an oar over the
marsh on the right. “Who goes there?” said he.
But nobody answered; then he cocked his pistol, took his
sword in his hand, and quickened his pace without, however,
being willing to call anybody. Such a summons, for which
there was no absolute necessity, appeared unworthy of him.
CHAPTER 27
The Next Day
It was seven o’clock in the morning, the first rays of day
lightened the pools of the marsh, in which the sun was
reflected like a red ball, when Athos, awaking and opening
the window of his bed-chamber, which looked out upon the
banks of the river, perceived, at fifteen paces’ distance
from him, the sergeant and the men who had accompanied him
the evening before, and who, after having deposited the
casks at his house, had returned to the camp by the causeway
on the right.
Page 168
Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
Why had these men come back after having returned to the