Part 96 (1/2)

”It is not the Seigneur de Loc pale in spite of his efforts to maintain a placid countenance

”Who is it, then?” said Porthos

”Look!”

Porthos applied his eye to the slit, and saw at the su on their horses in the track of the dogs, shouting, ”_Taiaut! taiaut!_”

”The guards!” said he

”Yes, uards! do you say,pale in turn

”With Biscarrat at their head, ray horse,” continued Ararotto like an avalanche, and the depths of the cavern were filled with their deafening cries

”Ah! the devil!” said Araht of this certain, inevitable danger ”I am perfectly satisfied we are lost, but we have, at least, one chance left If the guards who follow their hounds happen to discover there is an issue to the grotto, there is no help for us, for on entering they s o out of the cavern Their masters must not enter”

”That is clear,” said Porthos

”You understand,” added Aras that will be forced to stop at the great stone under which the fox has glided--but at the too narrow opening of which they must be the forward, knife in hand In a few ry barks and mortal howls--and then, silence

”That's well!” said Aramis, coolly, ”now for the masters!”

”What is to be done with them?” said Porthos

”Wait their arrival, conceal ourselves, and kill them”

”_Kill them!_” replied Porthos

”There are sixteen,” said Aramis, ”at least, at present”

”And well armed,” added Porthos, with a smile of consolation

”It will last about ten minutes,” said Aramis ”To work!”

And with a resolute air he took up a -knife between his teeth

”Yves, Goenne, and his son,” continued Aramis, ”will pass the muskets to us You, Porthos, will fire when they are close We shall have brought down, at the lowest co--that is certain; then all, there are five of us, will dispatch the other eight, knife in hand”