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walls； were in danger of being crushed against the spokes of the wheels and the panels of the carriages。 The cries which the police officer repeated twenty times： 〃In the king's name；〃 were powerless against this formidable multitude seemed； on the contrary； to exasperate it still more； when； at the shout； 〃In the name of the king；〃 an officer ran up； and seeing the uniforms ill…treated； he sprang into the scuffle sword in hand； and brought unexpected help to the guards。 This gentleman was a young man； scarcely sixteen years of age； now white with anger。 He leaped from his charger； placed his back against the shaft of the carriage； making a rampart of his horse； drew his pistols from their holsters and fastened them to his belt； and began to fight with the back sword； like a man accustomed to the handling of his weapon。
During ten minutes he alone kept the crowd at bay； at last minges appeared； pushing Broussel before him。
〃Let us break the carriage！〃 cried the people。
〃In the king's name！〃 cried minges。
〃The first who advances is a dead man！〃 cried Raoul； for it was in fact he； who； feeling himself pressed and almost crushed by a gigantic citizen； pricked him with the point of his sword and sent him howling back。
minges； so to speak； threw Broussel into the carriage and sprang in after him。 At this moment a shot was fired and a ball passed through the hat of minges and broke the arm of one of the guards。 minges looked up and saw amidst the smoke the threatening face of Louvieres appearing at the window of the second floor。
〃Very well； sir；〃 said minges； 〃you shall hear of this anon。〃
〃And you of me； sir；〃 said Louvieres； 〃and we shall see then who can speak the loudest。〃
Friquet and Nanette continued to shout； the cries； the noise of the shot and the intoxicating smell of powder produced their usual maddening effects。
〃Down with the officer！ down with him！〃 was the cry。
〃One step nearer；〃 said minges； putting down the sashes； that the interior of the carriage might be well seen； and placing his sword on his prisoner's breast； 〃one step nearer； and I kill the prisoner； my orders were to carry him off alive or dead。 I will take him dead； that's all。〃
A terrible cry was heard； and the wife and daughters of Broussel held up their hands in supplication to the people； the latter knew that this officer； who was so pale； but who appeared so determined； would keep his word； they continued to threaten； but they began to disperse。
〃Drive to the palace；〃 said minges to the coachman； who was by then more dead than alive。
The man whipped his animals； which cleared a way through the crowd； but on arriving on the Quai they were obliged to stop； the carriage was upset； the horses carried off； stifled； mangled by the crowd。 Raoul； on foot； for he had not time to mount his horse again； tired； like the guards； of distributing blows with the flat of his sword； had recourse to its point。 But this last and dreaded resource served only to exasperate the multitude。 From time to time a shot from a musket or the blade of a rapier flashed among the crowd； projectiles continued to hail down from the windows and some shots were heard； the echo of which； though they were probably fired in the air； made all hearts vibrate。 Voices； unheard except on days of revolution； were distinguished； faces were seen that only appeared on days of bloodshed。 Cries of 〃Death！ death to the guards！ to the Seine with the officer！〃 were heard above all the noise； deafening as it was。 Raoul； his hat in ribbons； his face bleeding； felt not only his strength but also his reason going； a red mist covered his sight； and through this mist he saw a hundred threatening arms stretched over him； ready to seize upon him when he fell。 The guards were unable to help any one each one was occupied with his self…preservation。 All was over； carriages； horses； guards； and perhaps even the prisoner were about to be torn to shreds； when all at once a voice well known to Raoul was heard； and suddenly a great sword glittered in the air； at the same time the crowd opened； upset； trodden down； and an officer of the musketeers； striking and cutting right and left； rushed up to Raoul and took him in his arms just as he was about to fall。
〃God's blood！〃 cried the officer； 〃have they killed him？ Woe to them if it be so！〃
And he turned around； so stern with anger； strength and threat； that the most excited rebels hustled back on one another； in order to escape； and some of them even rolled into the Seine。
〃Monsieur d'Artagnan！〃 murmured Raoul。
〃Yes； 'sdeath！ in person； and fortunately it seems for you； my young friend。 e on； here； you others；〃 he continued； rising in his stirrups； raising his sword； and addressing those musketeers who had not been able to follow his rapid onslaught。 〃e； sweep away all that for me！ Shoulder muskets！ Present arms！ Aim 〃
At this mand the mountain of populace thinned so suddenly that D'Artagnan could not repress a burst of Homeric laughter。
〃Thank you； D'Artagnan；〃 said minges； showing half of his body through the window of the broken vehicle； 〃thanks； my young friend； your name that I may mention it to the queen。〃
Raoul was about to reply when D'Artagnan bent down to his ear。
〃Hold your tongue；〃 said he； 〃and let me answer。 Do not lose time； minges；〃 he continued； 〃get out of the carriage if you can and make another draw up； be quick； or in five minutes the mob will be on us again with swords and muskets and you will be killed。 Hold！ there's a carriage ing over yonder。〃
Then bending again to Raoul； he whispered： 〃Above all things do not divulge your name。〃
〃That's right。 I will go；〃 said minges； 〃and if they e back； fire！〃
〃Not at all not at all；〃 replied D'Artagnan； 〃let no one move。 On the contrary； one shot at this moment would be paid for dearly to…morrow。〃
minges took his four guards and as many musketeers and ran to the carriage； from which he made the people inside dismount； and brought them to the vehicle which had upset。 But when it was necessary to convey the prisoner from one carriage to the other； the people； catching sight of him whom they called their liberator； uttered every imaginable cry and knotted themselves once more around the vehicle。
〃Start； start！〃 said D'Artagnan。 〃There are ten men to acpany you。 I will keep twenty to hold in check the mob； go； and lose not a moment。 Ten men for Monsieur de minges。〃
As the carriage started off the cries were redoubled and more than ten thousand people thronged the Quai and overflowed the Pont Neuf and adjacent streets。 A few shots were fired and one musketeer was wounded。
〃Forward！〃 cried D'Artagnan； driven to extremities； biting his moustache； and then he charged with his twenty men and dispersed them in fear。 One man alone remained in his place； gun in hand。
〃Ah！〃 he exclaimed； 〃it is thou who wouldst have him assassinated？ Wait an instant。〃 And he pointed his gun at D'Artagnan； who was riding toward him at full speed。 D'Artagnan bent down to his horse's neck the young man fired； and the ball severed the feathers from the hat。 The horse started； brushed against the impru