二十年后-第114部分

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　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　panions。
　　〃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　plain　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　te　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　pared　to　that　in　which　you　wished　to　place　us　and　in　which　you　have　placed　Monsieur　Groslow　and　his　panions。〃
　　〃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　done　what　I　did。〃
　　Mordaunt　wanted　now　only　two　or　three　fathoms　to　reach　the　boat；　for　the　approach　of　death　seemed　to　give　him　supernatural　strength。
　　〃Alas！〃　he　said；　〃I　am　then　to　die？　You　are　going　to　kill　the　son；　as　you　killed　the　mother！　Surely；　if　I　am　culpable　and　if　I　ask　for　pardon；　I　ought　to　be　forgiven。〃
　　Then；　as　if　his　strength　failed　him；　he　seemed　unable　to　sustain　himself　above　the　water　and　a　wave　passed　over　his　head；　which　drowned　his　voice。
　　〃Oh！　this　is　torture　to　me；〃　cried　Athos。
　　Mordaunt　reappeared。
　　〃For　my　part；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃I　say　this　must　e　to　an　end；　murderer；　as　you　were；　of　your　uncle！　executioner；　as　you　were；　of　King　Charles！　incendiary！　I　remend　you　to　sink　forthwith　to　the　bottom　of　the　sea；　and　if　you　e　another　fathom　nearer；　I'll　stave　your　wicked　head　in　with　this　oar。〃
　　〃D'Artagnan！　D'Artagnan！〃　cried　Athos；　〃my　son；　I　entreat　you；　the　wretch　is　dying；　and　it　is　horrible　to　let　a　man　die　without　extending　a　hand　to　save　him。　I　cannot　resist　doing　so；　he　must　live。〃
　　〃Zounds！〃　replied　D'Artagnan；　〃why　don't　you　give　yourself　up　directly；　feet　and　hands　bound；　to　that　wretch？　Ah！　te　de　la　Fere；　you　wish　to　perish　by　his　hands！　I；　your　son；　as　you　call　me　　I　will　not　let　you！〃
　　'Twas　the　first　time　D'Artagnan　had　ever　refused　a　request　from　Athos。
　　Aramis　calmly　drew　his　sword；　which　he　had　carried　between　his　teeth　as　he　swam。
　　〃If　he　lays　his　hand　on　the　boat's　edge　I　will　cut　it　off；　regicide　that　he　is。〃
　　〃And　I；〃　said　Porthos。　〃Wait。〃
　　〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃　asked　Aramis。
　　〃Throw　myself　in　the　water　and　strangle　him。〃
　　〃Oh；　gentlemen！〃　cried　Athos；　〃be　men！　be　Christians！　See！　death　is　depicted　on　his　face！　Ah！　do　not　bring　on　me　the　horrors　of　remorse！　Grant　me　this　poor　wretch's　life。　I　will　bless　you　　I　　〃
　　〃I　am　dying！〃　cried　Mordaunt；　〃e　to　me！　e　to　me！〃
　　D'Artagnan　began　to　be　touched。　The　boat　at　this　moment　turned　around；　and　the　dying　man　was　by　that　turn　brought　nearer　Athos。
　　〃Monsieur　the　te　de　la　Fere；〃　he　cried；　〃I　supplicate　you！　pity　me！　I　call　on　you　　where　are　you？　I　see　you　no　longer　　I　am　dying　　help　me！　help　me！〃
　　〃Here　I　am；　sir！〃　said　Athos；　leaning　and　stretching　out　his　arm　to　Mordaunt　with　that　air　of　dignity　and　nobility　of　soul　habitual　to　him；　〃here　I　am；　take　my　hand　and　jump　into　our　boat。〃
　　Mordaunt　made　a　last　effort　　rose　　seized　the　hand　thus　extended　to　him　and　grasped　it　with　the　vehemence　of　despair。
　　〃That's　right；〃　said　Athos；　〃put　your　other　hand　here。　〃And　he　offered　him　his　shoulder　as　another　stay　and　support；　so　that　his　head　almost　touched　that　of　Mordaunt；　and　these　two　mortal　enemies　were　in　as　close　an　embrace　as　if　they　had　been　brothers。
　　〃Now；　sir；〃　said　the　count；　〃you　are　safe　　calm　yourself。〃
　　〃Ah！　my　mother；〃　cried　Mordaunt；　with　eyes　on　fire　with　a　look　of　hate　impossible　to　paint；　〃I　can　only　offer　thee　one　victim；　but　it　shall　at　any　rate　be　the　one　thou　wouldst　thyself　have　chosen！〃
　　And　whilst　D'Artagnan　uttered　a　cry；　Porthos　raised　the　oar；　and　Aramis　sought　a　place　to　strike；　a　frightful　shake　given　to　the　boat　precipitated　Athos　into　the　sea；　whilst　Mordaunt；　with　a　shout　of　triumph；　grasped　the　neck　of　his　victim；　and　in　order　to　paralyze　his　movements；　twined　arms　and　legs　around　the　musketeer。　For　an　instant；　without　an　exclamation；　without　a　cry　for　help；　Athos　tried　to　sustain　himself　on　the　surface　of　the　waters；　but　the　weight　dragged　him　down；　he　disappeared　by　degrees；　soon　nothing　was　to　be　seen　except　his　long；　floating　hair；　then　both　men　disappeared　and　the　bubbling　of　the　water；　which；　in　its　turn；　was　soon　effaced；　alone　indicated　the　spot　where　these　two　had　sunk。
　　Mute　with　horror；　the　three　friends　had　remained　open…mouthed；　their　eyes　dilated；　their　arms　extended　like　statues；　and；　motionless　as　they　were；　the　beating　of　their　hearts　was　audible。　Porthos　was　the　first　who　came　to　himself。　He　tore　his　hair。
　　〃Oh！〃　he　cried；　〃Athos！　Athos！　thou　man　of　noble　heart；　woe　is　me！　I　have　let　thee　perish！〃
　　At　this　instant；　in　the　midst　of　the　silver　circle　illumined　by　the　light　of　the　moon　the　same　whirlpool　which　had　been　made　by　the　sinking　men　was　again　obvious；　and　first　were　seen；　rising　above　the　waves；　a　wisp　of　hair；　then　a　pale　face　with　open　eyes；　yet；　nevertheless；　the　eyes　of　death；　then　a　body；　which；　after　rising　of　itself　even　to　the　waist　above　the　sea；　turned　gently　on　its　back；　according　to　the　caprice　of　the　waves；　and　floated。
　　In　the　bosom　of　this　corpse　was　plunged　a　poniard；　the　gold　hilt　of　which　shone　in　the　moonbeams。
　　〃Mordaunt！　Mordaunt！〃　cried　the　three　friends；　〃'tis　Mordaunt！〃
　　〃But　Athos！〃　exclaimed　D'Artagnan。
　　Suddenly　the　boat　leaned　on　one　side　beneath　a　new　and　unexpected　weight　and　Grimaud　uttered　a　shout　of　joy；　every　one　turned　around　and　beheld　Athos；　livid；　his　eyes　dim　and　his　hands　trembling；　supporting　himself　on　the　edge　of　the　boat。　Eight　vigorous　arms　lifted　him　up　immediately　and　laid　him　in　the　boat；　where　directly　Athos　was　warmed　and　reanimated；　reviving　with　the　caresses　and　cares　of　his　friends；　who　were　intoxicated　with　joy。
　　〃You　are　not　hurt？〃　asked　D'Artagnan。
　　〃No；〃　replied　Athos；　〃and　he　　〃
　　〃Oh；　he！　now　we　may　say　at　last；　thank　Heaven！　he　is　really　dead。　Look！〃　and　D'Artagnan；　obliging　Athos　to　look　in　the　direction　he　pointed；　showed　him　the　body　of　Mordaunt　floating　on　its　back；　which；　sometimes　submerged；　sometimes　rising；　seemed　still　to　pursue　the　four　friends　with　looks　of　insult　and　mortal　hatred。
　　At　last　he　sank。　Athos　had　followed　him　with　a　glance　in　which　the　deepest　melancholy　and　pity　were　expressed。
　　〃Bravo！　Athos！〃　cried　Aramis；　with　an　emotion　very　rare　in　him。
　　〃A　capital　blow　you　gave！〃　cried　Porthos。
　　〃I　have　a　son。　I　wished　to　live；〃　said　Athos。
　　〃In　short；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃this　has　been　the　will　of　God。〃
　　〃It　was　not　I　who　killed　him；〃　said　Athos　in　a　soft；　low　tone；　〃'twas　destiny。〃
　　How　Musqueton；　after　being　very　nearly　roasted；　had　a　Narrow　Escape　of　being　eaten
　　A　deep　silence　reigned　for　a　long　time　in　the　boat　after　the　fearful　s