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already seated himself on the port side and was ready to
row. As soon as there was room for rowing, his companion
rejoined him and the boat began to move more rapidly.
“At last we are off!” exclaimed Porthos.
“Alas,” said Athos, “we depart alone.”
“Yes; but all four together and without a scratch; which is
a consolation.”
“We are not yet at our destination,” observed the prudent
D’Artagnan; “beware of misadventure.”
“Ah, my friend!” cried Porthos, “like the crows, you always
bring bad omens. Who could intercept us on such a night as
this, pitch dark, when one does not see more than twenty
yards before one?”
“Yes, but to-morrow morning —- ”
“To-morrow we shall be at Boulogne.”
“I hope so, with all my heart,” said the Gascon, “and I
confess my weakness. Yes, Athos, you may laugh, but as long
as we were within gunshot of the pier or of the vessels
lying by it I was looking for a frightful discharge of
musketry which would crush us.”
“But,” said Porthos, with great wisdom, “that was
impossible, for they would have killed the captain and the
sailors.”
“Bah! much Monsieur Mordaunt would care. You don’t imagine
he would consider a little thing like that?”
“At any rate,” said Porthos, “I am glad to hear D’Artagnan
admit that he is afraid.”
“I not only confess it, but am proud of it,” returned the
Gascon; “I’m not such a rhinoceros as you are. Oho! what’s
that?”
“The Lightning,” answered the captain, “our felucca.”
“So far, so good,” laughed Athos.
They went on board and the captain instantly conducted them
to the berth prepared for them — a cabin which was to serve
for all purposes and for the whole party; he then tried to
slip away under pretext of giving orders to some one.
“Stop a moment,” cried D’Artagnan; “pray how many men have
you on board, captain?”
“I don’t understand,” was the reply.
“Explain it, Athos.”
Groslow, on the question being interpreted, answered,
“Three, without counting myself.”
D’Artagnan understood, for while replying the captain had
raised three fingers. “Oh!” he exclaimed, “I begin to be
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more at my ease, however, whilst you settle yourselves, I
shall make the round of the boat.”
“As for me,” said Porthos, “I will see to the supper.”
“A very good idea, Porthos,” said the Gascon. “Athos lend me
Grimaud, who in the society of his friend Parry has perhaps
picked up a little English, and can act as my interpreter.”
“Go, Grimaud,” said Athos.
D’Artagnan, finding a lantern on the deck, took it up and
with a pistol in his hand he said to the captain, in
English, “Come,” (being, with the classic English oath, the
only English words he knew), and so saying he descended to
the lower deck.
This was divided into three compartments — one which was
covered by the floor of that room in which Athos, Porthos
and Aramis were to pass the night; the second was to serve
as the sleeping-room for the servants, the third, under the
prow of the ship, was under the temporary cabin in which
Mordaunt was concealed.
“Oho!” cried D’Artagnan, as he went down the steps of the
hatchway, preceded by the lantern, “what a number of
barrels! one would think one was in the cave of Ali Baba.
What is there in them?” he added, putting his lantern on one
of the casks.
The captain seemed inclined to go upon deck again, but
controlling himself he answered:
“Port wine.”
“Ah! port wine! ’tis a comfort,” said the Gascon, “since we
shall not die of thirst. Are they all full?”
Grimaud translated the question, and Groslow, who was wiping
the perspiration from off his forehead, answered:
“Some full, others empty.”
D’Artagnan struck the barrels with his hand, and having
ascertained that he spoke the truth, pushed his lantern,
greatly to the captain’s alarm, into the interstices between
the barrels, and finding that there was nothing concealed in
them:
“Come along,” he said; and he went toward the door of the
second compartment.
“Stop!” said the Englishman, “I have the key of that door;”