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D'Artagnan resumed immediately the attitude of distrust that
was habitual with him。 He found the wharf too completely
deserted； the night too dark； the captain too accommodating。
He had reported to Aramis what had taken place； and Aramis；
not less distrustful than he； had increased his suspicions。
A slight click of the tongue against his teeth informed
Athos of the Gascon's uneasiness。
〃We have no time now for suspicions；〃 said Athos。 〃The boat
is waiting for us； come。〃
〃Besides；〃 said Aramis； 〃what prevents our being distrustful
and going aboard at the same time？ We can watch the
skipper。〃
〃And if he doesn't go straight I will crush him； that's
all。〃
〃Well said； Porthos；〃 replied D'Artagnan。 〃Let us go； then。
You first； Musqueton；〃 and he stopped his friends； directing
the valets to go first； in order to test the plank leading
from the pier to the boat。
The three valets passed without accident。 Athos followed
them； then Porthos； then Aramis。 D'Artagnan went last； still
shaking his head。
〃What in the devil is the matter with you； my friend？〃 said
Porthos。 〃Upon my word you would make Caesar afraid。〃
〃The matter is；〃 replied D'Artagnan； 〃that I can see upon
this pier neither inspector nor sentinel nor exciseman。〃
〃And you complain of that！〃 said Porthos。 〃Everything goes
as if in flowery paths。〃
〃Everything goes too well； Porthos。 But no matter； we must
trust in God。〃
As soon as the plank was withdrawn the captain took his
place at the tiller and made a sign to one of the sailors；
who； boat…hook in hand； began to push out from the labyrinth
of boats in which they were involved。 The other sailor had
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
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；〃
and he opened the door； with a trembling hand； into the
second compartment； where Musqueton and Blaisois were
preparing supper。
Here there was evidently nothing to seek or to apprehend and
they passed rapidly to examine the third compartment。
This was the room appropriated to the sailors。 Two or three
hammocks hung upon the ceiling； a table and two benches
composed the entire furniture。 D'Artagnan picked up two or
three old sails hung on the walls； and meeting nothing to
suspect； regained by the hatchway the deck of the vessel。
〃And this room？〃 he asked； pointing to the captain's cabin。
〃That's my room；〃 replied Groslow。
〃Open the door。〃
The captain obeyed。 D'Artagnan stretched out his arm in
which he held the lantern； put his head in at the half
opened door； and seeing that the cabin was nothing better
than a shed：
〃Good；〃 he said。 〃If there is an army on board it is not
here that it is hidden。 Let us see what Porthos has found
for supper。〃 And thanking the captain； he regained the state
cabin； where his friends were。
Porthos had found nothing； and with him fatigue had
prevailed over hunger。 He had fallen asleep and was in a
profound slumber when D'Artagnan returned。 Athos and Aramis
were beginning to close their eyes； which they half opened
when their companion came in again。
〃Well！〃 said Aramis。
〃All is well； we may sleep tranquilly。〃
On this assurance the two friends fell asleep； and
D'Artagnan； who was very weary； bade good…night to Grimaud
and laid himself down in his cloak； with naked sword at his
side； in such a manner that his body barricad