Part 47 (1/2)

”Perfectly”

”They are two casks, one containing powder, and the other balls; I wish these casks to be transported to the little hamlet at the mouth of the river, and which I intend to occupy to-morroith two hundred muskets

You understand that the commission is a secret one, for it is a eneral!” eant

”Mind, then! Let these casks be fastened on to the horse, and let theentleman, who is my friend But take care that nobody knows it”

”I would go by the eant

”I know onebeen h”

”Do everything this gentleman shall order you to do”

”Oh! oh! the casks are heavy,” said the sergeant, trying to lift one

”They weigh four hundred pounds each, if they contain what they ought to contain, do they not, eant went in search of the two men and the horse Monk, left alone with Athos, affected to speak to hi the vault in a cursorythe horse's steps,--

”I leave you with your men, monsieur,” said he, ”and return to the caain, then, reed upon, monsieur, and with much pleasure”

Monk held out his hand to Athos

”Ah! my lord, if you would!” reed that we shall speak noto Athos, he went up the stairs,down He had not gone twenty paces, when a faint but prolonged whistle was heard at a distance Monk listened, but seeing nothing and hearing nothing, he continued his route Then he remembered the fisherman, and looked about for him; but the fisherman had disappeared If he had, however, looked with liding like a serpent along the stones and losing himself in the ht equally have seen, had he atteht have attracted his attention; and that was the rigging of the vessel, which had changed place, and was now nearer the shore But Monk saw nothing; and thinking he had nothing to fear, he entered the deserted causehich led to his camp It was then that the disappearance of the fisheran to take possession of his mind He had just placed at the orders of Athos the only post that could protect hiain his ca increased with such intensity that he could scarcely distinguish objects at ten paces' distance Monk then thought he heard the sound of an oar over the oes there?” said he

But nobody answered; then he cocked his pistol, took his sword in his hand, and quickened his pace, without, however, being willing to call anybody Such a summons, for which there was no absolute necessity, appeared unworthy of him

Chapter XXVII The Next Day

It was seven o'clock in the htened the pools of the marsh, in which the sun was reflected like a red ball, when Athos, awakening and opening theof his bed-chamber, which looked out upon the banks of the river, perceived, at fifteen paces' distance froeant and thebefore, and who, after having deposited the casks at his house, had returned to the caht

Why had thesereturned to the camp? That was the question which first presented itself to Athos The sergeant, with his head raised, appeared to be watching the entleman should appear to address him Athos, surprised to see these ht before, could not refrain fro surprising in that, eneral coht to obey that order”

”Is the general at the camp?” asked Athos

”No doubt he is,back”

”Well, wait forthither to render an account of the fidelity hich you fulfilled your duty, and to get my sword, which I left upon the table in the tent”