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〃Leap； coward！〃 cried Raoul； swimming on； then addressing
the traveler； who was struggling twenty yards in front of
him： 〃Courage； sir！〃 said he； 〃courage！ we are coming to
your aid。〃
Olivain advanced； retired； then made his horse rear
turned it and then； struck to the core by shame； leaped； as
Raoul had done； only repeating：
〃I am a dead man！ we are lost！〃
In the meantime； the ferryboat had floated away； carried
down by the stream； and the shrieks of those whom it
contained resounded more and more。 A man with gray hair had
thrown himself from the boat into the river and was swimming
vigorously toward the person who was drowning； but being
obliged to go against the current he advanced but slowly。
Raoul continued his way and was visibly gaining ground； but
the horse and its rider； of whom he did not lose sight； were
evidently sinking。 The nostrils of the horse were no longer
above water； and the rider； who had lost the reins in
struggling； fell with his head back and his arms extended。
One moment longer and all would disappear。
〃Courage！〃 cried Raoul； 〃courage！〃
〃Too late！〃 murmured the young man； 〃too late！〃
The water closed above his head and stifled his voice。
Raoul sprang from his horse； to which he left the charge of
its own preservation； and in three or four strokes was at
the gentleman's side； he seized the horse at once by the
curb and raised its head above water； the animal began to
breathe again and； as if he comprehended that they had come
to his aid； redoubled his efforts。 Raoul at the same time
seized one of the young man's hands and placed it on the
mane； which it grasped with the tenacity of a drowning man。
Thus； sure that the rider would not release his hold； Raoul
now only directed his attention to the horse； which he
guided to the opposite bank； helping it to cut through the
water and encouraging it with words。
All at once the horse stumbled against a ridge and then
placed its foot on the sand。
〃Saved！〃 exclaimed the man with gray hair； who also touched
bottom。
〃Saved！〃 mechanically repeated the young gentleman；
releasing the mane and sliding from the saddle into Raoul's
arms； Raoul was but ten yards from the shore； there he bore
the fainting man； and laying him down upon the grass；
unfastened the buttons of his collar and unhooked his
doublet。 A moment later the gray…headed man was beside him。
Olivain managed in his turn to land； after crossing himself
repeatedly； and the people in the ferryboat guided
themselves as well as they were able toward the bank； with
the aid of a pole which chanced to be in the boat。
Thanks to the attentions of Raoul and the man who
accompanied the young gentleman； the color gradually
returned to the pale cheeks of the dying man； who opened his
eyes； at first entirely bewildered； but who soon fixed his
gaze upon the person who had saved him。
〃Ah； sir；〃 he exclaimed； 〃it was you！ Without you I was a
dead man thrice dead。〃
〃But one recovers； sir； as you perceive；〃 replied Raoul；
〃and we have but had a little bath。〃
〃Oh！ sir； what gratitude I feel！〃 exclaimed the man with
gray hair。
〃Ah； there you are； my good D'Arminges； I have given you a
great fright； have I not？ but it is your own fault。 You were
my tutor； why did you not teach me to swim？〃
〃Oh； monsieur le comte；〃 replied the old man； 〃had any
misfortune happened to you； I should never have dared to
show myself to the marshal again。〃
〃But how did the accident happen？〃 asked Raoul。
〃Oh； sir； in the most natural way possible；〃 replied he to
whom they had given the title of count。 〃We were about a
third of the way across the river when the cord of the
ferryboat broke。 Alarmed by the cries and gestures of the
boatmen； my horse sprang into the water。 I cannot swim； and
dared not throw myself into the river。 Instead of aiding the
movements of my horse； I paralyzed them； and I was just
going to drown myself with the best grace in the world； when
you arrived just in time to pull me out of the water；
therefore； sir； if you will agree； henceforward we are
friends until death。〃
〃Sir；〃 replied Raoul； bowing； 〃I am entirely at your
service； I assure you。〃
〃I am called the Count de Guiche；〃 continued the young man；
〃my father is the Marechal de Grammont； and now that you
know who I am； do me the honor to inform me who you are。〃
〃I am the Viscount de Bragelonne；〃 answered Raoul； blushing
at being unable to name his father； as the Count de Guiche
had done。
〃Viscount； your countenance； your goodness and your courage
incline me toward you； my gratitude is already due。 Shake
hands I crave your friendship。〃
〃Sir；〃 said Raoul； returning the count's pressure of the
hand； 〃I like you already； from my heart； pray regard me as
a devoted friend； I beseech you。〃
And now； where are you going； viscount？〃 inquired De Guiche。
〃To join the army； under the prince； count。〃
〃And I； too！〃 exclaimed the young man； in a transport of
joy。 〃Oh； so much the better； we will fire the first shot
together。〃
〃It is well； be friends；〃 said the tutor； 〃young as you both
are； you were perhaps born under the same star and were
destined to meet。 And now；〃 continued he； 〃you must change
your clothes； your servants； to whom I gave directions the
moment they had left the ferryboat； ought to be already at
the inn。 Linen and wine are both being warmed； come。〃
The young men had no objection to this proposition； on the
contrary； they thought it very timely。
They mounted again at once； whilst looks of admiration
passed between them。 They were indeed two elegant horsemen；
with figures slight and upright； noble faces； bright and
proud looks； loyal and intelligent smiles。
De Guiche might have been about eighteen years of age； but
he was scarcely taller than Raoul； who was only fifteen。
30
Skirmishing。
The halt at Noyon was but brief； every one there being
wrapped in profound sleep。 Raoul had desired to be awakened
should Grimaud arrive； but Grimaud did not arrive。
Doubtless； too； the horses on their part appreciated the
eight hours of repose and the abundant stabling which was
granted them。 The Count de Guiche was awakened at five
o'clock in the morning by Raoul； who came to wish him
good…day。 They breakfasted in haste； and at six o'clock had
already gone ten miles。
The young count's conversation was most interesting to
Raoul； therefore he listened much； whilst the count talked
well and long。 Brought up in Paris； where Raoul had been but
once； at the court； which Raoul had never seen； his follies
as page； two duels； which he had already found the means of
fighting； in spite of the edicts against them and； more
especially； in spite of his tutor's vigilance these
things excited the greatest curiosity in Raoul。 Raoul had
only been at M。 Scarron's house； he named to Guiche the
people whom he had seen there。 Guiche knew everybody
Madame de Neuillan； Mademoiselle d'Aubigne； Mademoiselle de
Scudery； Mademoiselle Paulet； Madame de Chevreuse。 He
criticised everybody humorously。 Raoul trembled； lest he
should laugh among the rest at Madame de Chevreuse； for whom
he entertained deep and genuine sympathy； but either
instinctively； or from affection for the duchess