twenty years after(二十年后)-第60章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


to　Carvin　if　necessary。
The　count's　tutor　was　well　acquainted　with　the　country；　he
consequently　proposed　to　take　a　crossroad；　which　lay　between
that　of　Lens　and　that　of　Bethune。　They　obtained　information
at　Ablain；　and　a　statement　of　their　route　was　left　for
Grimaud。　About　seven　o'clock　in　the　morning　they　set　out。　De
Guiche；　who　was　young　and　impulsive；　said　to　Raoul；　〃Here　we
are；　three　masters　and　three　servants。　Our　valets　are　well
armed　and　yours　seems　to　be　tough　enough。〃
〃I　have　never　seen　him　put　to　the　test；〃　replied　Raoul；　〃but
he　is　a　Breton；　which　promises　something。〃
〃Yes；　yes；〃　resumed　De　Guiche；　〃I　am　sure　he　can　fire　a
musket　when　required。　On　my　side　I　have　two　sure　men；　who
have　been　in　action　with　my　father。　We　therefore　represent
six　fighting　men；　if　we　should　meet　a　little　troop　of
enemies；　equal　or　even　superior　in　number　to　our　own；　shall
we　charge　them；　Raoul？〃
〃Certainly；　sir；〃　replied　the　viscount。
〃Holloa！　young　people　　stop　there！〃　said　the　tutor；
joining　in　the　conversation。　〃Zounds！　how　you　manoeuvre　my
instructions；　count！　You　seem　to　forget　the　orders　I
received　to　conduct　you　safe　and　sound　to　his　highness　the
prince！　Once　with　the　army　you　may　be　killed　at　your　good
pleasure；　but　until　that　time；　I　warn　you　that　in　my
capacity　of　general　of　the　army　I　shall　order　a　retreat　and
turn　my　back　on　the　first　red　coat　we　come　across。〃　De
Guiche　and　Raoul　glanced　at　each　other；　smiling。
They　arrived　at　Ablain　without　accident。　There　they　inquired
and　learned　that　the　prince　had　in　reality　quitted　Bethune
and　stationed　himself　between　Cambria　and　La　Venthie。
Therefore；　leaving　directions　at　every　place　for　Grimaud；
they　took　a　crossroad　which　conducted　the　little　troop　by
the　bank　of　a　small　stream　flowing　into　the　Lys。　The　country
was　beautiful；　intersected　by　valleys　as　green　as　the
emerald。　Here　and　there　they　passed　little　copses　crossing
the　path　which　they　were　following。　In　anticipation　of　some
ambuscade　in　each　of　these　little　woods　the　tutor　placed　his
two　servants　at　the　head　of　the　band；　thus　forming　the
advance　guard。　Himself　and　the　two　young　men　represented　the
body　of　the　army；　whilst　Olivain；　with　his　rifle　upon　his
knee　and　his　eyes　upon　the　watch；　protected　the　rear。
They　had　observed　for　some　time　before　them；　on　the　horizon；
a　rather　thick　wood；　and　when　they　had　arrived　at　a　distance
of　a　hundred　steps　from　it；　Monsieur　d'Arminges　took　his
usual　precautions　and　sent　on　in　advance　the　count's　two
grooms。　The　servants　had　just　disappeared　under　the　trees；
followed　by　the　tutor；　and　the　young　men　were　laughing　and
talking　about　a　hundred　yards　off。　Olivain　was　at　the　same
distance　in　the　rear；　when　suddenly　there　resounded　five　or
six　musket…shots。　The　tutor　cried　halt；　the　young　men
obeyed；　pulling　up　their　steeds；　and　at　the　same　moment　the
two　valets　were　seen　returning　at　a　gallop。
The　young　men；　impatient　to　learn　the　cause　of　the　firing；
spurred　on　toward　the　servants。　The　tutor　followed　them。
〃Were　you　stopped？〃　eagerly　inquired　the　two　youths。
〃No；〃　replied　the　servants；　〃it　is　even　probable　that　we
have　not　been　seen；　the　shots　were　fired　about　a　hundred
paces　in　advance　of　us；　in　the　thickest　part　of　the　wood；
and　we　returned　to　ask　your　advice。〃
〃My　advice　is　this；〃　said　Monsieur　d'Arminges；　〃and　if　needs
be；　my　will；　that　we　beat　a　retreat。　There　may　be　an
ambuscade　concealed　in　this　wood。〃
〃Did　you　see　nothing　there？〃　asked　the　count。
〃I　thought　I　saw；〃　said　one　of　the　servants；　〃horsemen
dressed　in　yellow；　creeping　along　the　bed　of　the　stream。
〃That's　it；〃　said　the　tutor。　〃We　have　fallen　in　with　a　party
of　Spaniards。　Come　back；　sirs；　back。〃
The　two　youths　looked　at　each　other；　and　at　this　moment　a
pistol…shot　and　cries　for　help　were　heard。　Another　glance
between　the　young　men　convinced　them　both　that　neither　had
any　wish　to　go　back；　and　as　the　tutor　had　already　turned　his
horse's　head；　they　both　spurred　forward；　Raoul　crying：
〃Follow　me；　Olivain！〃　and　the　Count　de　Guiche：　〃Follow；
Urban　and　Planchet！〃　And　before　the　tutor　could　recover　from
his　surprise　they　had　both　disappeared　into　the　forest。
Whilst　they　spurred　their　steeds　they　held　their　pistols
ready　also。　In　five　minutes　they　arrived　at　the　spot　whence
the　noise　had　proceeded；　and　then　restraining　their　horses；
they　advanced　cautiously。
〃Hush；〃　whispered　De　Guiche；　〃these　are　cavaliers。〃
〃Yes；　three　on　horseback　and　three　who　have　dismounted。〃
〃Can　you　see　what　they　are　doing？〃
〃Yes；　they　appear　to　be　searching　a　wounded　or　dead　man。〃
〃It　is　some　cowardly　assassination；〃　said　De　Guiche。
〃They　are　soldiers；　though；〃　resumed　De　Bragelonne。
〃Yes；　skirmishers；　that　is　to　say；　highway　robbers。〃
〃At　them！〃　cried　Raoul。　〃At　them！〃　echoed　De　Guiche。
〃Oh！　gentlemen！　gentlemen！　in　the　name　of　Heaven！〃　cried　the
poor　tutor。
But　he　was　not　listened　to；　and　his　cries　only　served　to
arouse　the　attention　of　the　Spaniards。
The　men　on　horseback　at　once　rushed　at　the　two　youths；
leaving　the　three　others　to　complete　the　plunder　of　the　dead
or　wounded　travelers；　for　on　approaching　nearer；　instead　of
one　extended　figure；　the　young　men　discovered　two。　De　Guiche
fired　the　first　shot　at　ten　paces　and　missed　his　man；　and
the　Spaniard；　who　had　advanced　to　meet　Raoul；　aimed　in　his
turn；　and　Raoul　felt　a　pain　in　the　left　arm；　similar　to　that
of　a　blow　from　a　whip。　He　let　off　his　fire　at　but　four
paces。　Struck　in　the　breast　and　extending　his　arms；　the
Spaniard　fell　back　on　the　crupper；　and　the　terrified　horse；
turning　around；　carried　him　off。
Raoul　at　this　moment　perceived　the　muzzle　of　a　gun　pointed
at　him；　and　remembering　the　recommendation　of　Athos；　he；
with　the　rapidity　of　lightning；　made　his　horse　rear　as　the
shot　was　fired。　His　horse　bounded　to　one　side；　losing　its
footing；　and　fell；　entangling　Raoul's　leg　under　its　body。
The　Spaniard　sprang　forward　and　seized　the　gun　by　its
muzzle；　in　order　to　strike　Raoul　on　the　head　with　the　butt。
In　the　position　in　which　Raoul　lay；　unfortunately；　he　could
neither　draw　his　sword　from　the　scabbard；　nor　his　pistols
from　their　holsters。　The　butt　end　of　the　musket　hovered　over
his　head；　and　he　could　scarcely　restrain　himself　from
closing　his　eyes；　when　with　one　bound　Guiche　reached　the
Spaniard　and　placed　a　pistol　at　his　throat。　〃Yield！〃　he
cried；　〃or　you　are　a　dead　man！〃　The　musket　fell　from　the
soldier's　hands；　who　yielded　on　the　instant。　Guiche　summoned
one　of　his　grooms；　and　delivering　the　prisoner　into　his
charge；　with　orders　to　shoot　him　through　the　head　if　he
attempted　to　escape；　he　leaped　from　his　horse　and　approached
Raoul。
〃Faith；　sir；〃　said　Raoul；　smiling；　although　his　pallor
betrayed　the　excitement　consequent　on　a　first　affair；　〃you
are　in　a　great　hurry　to　pay　your　debts　and　have　not　been
long　under　any　obligation　to　me。　Without　your　aid；〃
continued　he；　repeating　the　count's　words　〃I　should　have
been　a　dead　man　　thrice　dead。〃
〃My　antagonist　took　flight；〃　replied　De　Guiche　〃and　left　me
at　liberty　to　come　to　your　assistance。　But　are　you　seriously
wounded？　I　see　you　are　covered　with　blood！〃
〃I　believe；〃　said　Raoul；　〃that　I　have　got　something　like　a
scratch　on　the　arm。　If　you　will　help　me　to　drag　myself　from
under　my　horse　I　hope　nothing　need　prevent　us　continuing　our
journey。〃
Monsieur　d'Arminges　and　Olivain　had　already　dismounted　and
were　attempting　to　raise　the　struggling　horse。　At　last　Raoul
succeeded　in　drawing　his　foot　from　the　stirrup　and　his　leg
from　under　the　animal；　and　in　a　second　he　was　on　his　feet
again。
〃Nothing　broken？〃　asked　De　Guiche。
〃Faith；　no；　thank　Heaven！〃　replied　Raoul；　〃but　what　has
become　of　the　poor　wretches　whom　these　scoundrels　were
murdering？〃
〃I　fear　we　arrived　too　late。　They　have　killed　them；　I　think；
and　taken　flight；　carrying　off　their　booty。　My　servants　are
examining　the　bodies。〃
〃Let　us　go　and　see　whether　they　are　quite　dead；　or　if　they
can　still　be　helped；〃　suggested　Raoul。　〃Olivain；　we　have
come　into　possession　of　two　horses；　but　I　have　lost　my　own。
Take　for　yourself　the　better　of　the　two　and　give　me　yours。〃
They　approached　the　spot　where　the　unfortunate　victims　lay。

31
The　Monk。

Two　men　lay　prone　upon　the　ground