twenty years after(二十年后)-第140章

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little　boat；〃　said　Musqueton。
〃And　I　know　I　shall　drown　before　reaching　it；〃　continued
Blaisois。
〃Come　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　complaint；　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　companions；　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。
〃Come；　Athos！〃　said　D'Artagnan；　giving　his　hand　to　the
count；　〃you　are　going　to　see　something　curious；〃　added　the
Gascon。


73
Fatality。

Scarcely　had　D'Artagnan　uttered　these　words　when　a　ringing
and　sudden　noise　was　heard　resounding　through　the　felucca；
which　had　now　become　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　accompanied　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；　coming　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
companions。
〃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　complain
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！〃　said　Porthos　to　Mordaunt；　〃I　think　we　have　you
now；　my　hero！　and　there　are　no　doors　by　which　you　can　escape
this　time　but　those　of　hell。〃
〃Oh！　Porthos！〃　murmured　the　Comte　de　la　Fere。
〃Oh；　pray；　for　mercy's　sake；　don't　fly　from　me。　For　pity's
sake！〃　cried　the　young　man；　whose　agony…drawn　breath　at
times；　when　his　head　went　under　water；　under　the　wave；
exhaled　and　made　the　icy　waters　bubble。
D'Artagnan；　however；　who　had　consulted　with　Aramis；　spoke　to
the　poor　wretch。　〃Go　away；〃　he　said；　〃your　repentance　is　too
recent　to　inspire　confidence。　See！　the　vessel　in　which　you
wished　to　fry　us　is　still　smoking；　and　the　situation　in
which　you　are　is　a　bed　of　roses　compared　to　that　in　which
you　wished　to　place　us　and　in　which　you　have　placed　Monsieur
Groslow　and　his　companions。〃
〃Sir！〃　replied　Mordaunt；　in　a　tone　of　deep　despair；　〃my
penitence　is　sincere。　Gentlemen；　I　am　young；　scarcely
twenty…three　years　old。　I　was　drawn　on　by　a　very　natural
resentment　to　avenge　my　mother。　You　would　have　do