Ten Years Later by Dumas, Alexandre. Part two

getting ready to start, said to Raoul: “Do you not think,

Raoul, that intelligent and vigorous men, as we are, ought

to be ashamed to retreat before the brute strength of wind

and waves?”

“That is precisely the very reflection I was silently making

to myself,” replied Bragelonne.

“Shall we get into that boat, then, and push off? Will you

come, De Wardes?”

“Take care, or you will get drowned,” said Manicamp.

“And for no purpose,” said De Wardes, “for with the wind in

your teeth, as it will be, you will never reach the

vessels.”

“You refuse, then?”

“Assuredly I do; I would willingly risk and lose my life in

an encounter against men,” he said, glancing at Bragelonne,

“but as to fighting with oars against waves, I have no taste

for that.”

“And for myself,” said Manicamp, “even were I to succeed in

reaching the ships, I should not be indifferent to the loss

of the only good dress which I have left, — salt water

would spoil it.”

“You, then, refuse also?” exclaimed De Guiche.

“Decidedly I do; I beg you to understand that most

distinctly.”

“But,” exclaimed De Guiche, “look, De Wardes — look,

Manicamp — look yonder, the princesses are looking at us

from the poop of the admiral’s vessel.”

“An additional reason, my dear fellow, why we should not

make ourselves ridiculous by being drowned while they are

looking on.”

“Is that your last word, Manicamp?”

“Yes.”

“And then yours, De Wardes?”

“Yes.”

“Then I go alone.”

“Not so,” said Raoul, “for I shall accompany you; I thought

it was understood I should do so.”

The fact is, that Raoul, uninfluenced by devotion, measuring

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Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later

the risk they run, saw how imminent the danger was, but he

willingly allowed himself to accept a peril which De Wardes

had declined.

The boat was about to set off when De Guiche called to the

pilot. “Stay,” said he: “we want two places in your boat;”

and wrapping five or six pistoles in paper, he threw them

from the quay into the boat.

“It seems you are not afraid of salt water, young

gentlemen.”

“We are afraid of nothing,” replied De Guiche.

“Come along, then.”

The pilot approached the side of the boat, and the two young

men, one after the other, with equal vivacity, jumped into

the boat. “Courage, my men,” said De Guiche; “I have twenty

pistoles left in this purse, and as soon as we reach the

admiral’s vessel they shall be yours.” The sailors bent

themselves to their oars, and the boat bounded over the

crest of the waves. The interest taken in this hazardous

expedition was universal; the whole population of Havre

hurried towards the jetties and every look was directed

towards the little bark; at one moment it flew suspended on

the crest of the foaming waves, then suddenly glided

downwards towards the bottom of a raging abyss, where it

seemed utterly lost. At the expiration of an hour’s

struggling with the waves, it reached the spot where the

admiral’s vessel was anchored, and from the side of which

two boats had already been dispatched towards their aid.

Upon the quarter-deck of the flagship, sheltered by a canopy

of velvet and ermine, which was suspended by stout supports,

Henrietta, the queen dowager, and the young princess — with

the admiral, the Duke of Norfolk — standing beside them —

watched with alarm this slender bark, at one moment tossed

to the heavens, and the next buried beneath the waves, and

against whose dark sail the noble figures of the two French

gentlemen stood forth in relief like two luminous

apparitions. The crew, leaning against the bulwarks and

clinging to the shrouds, cheered the courage of the two

daring young men, the skill of the pilot, and the strength

of the sailors. They were received at the side of the vessel

by a shout of triumph. The Duke of Norfolk, a handsome young

man, from twenty-six to twenty-eight years of age, advanced

to meet them. De Guiche and Bragelonne lightly mounted the

ladder on the starboard side, and conducted by the Duke of

Norfolk, who resumed his place near them, they approached to

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