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　you　can　talk　to　us　in　that　way。　You　cannot　understand　the　position　we　are　in。　In　this　kind　of　game；　not　to　kill　is　to　let　one's　self　be　killed。　This　fox　of　a　fellow　will　be　sending　us　a　hundred　iron…sided　beasts　who　will　pick　us　off　like　sparrows　in　this　place。　e；　e；　we　must　be　off。　If　we　stay　here　five　minutes　more　there's　an　end　of　us。〃
　　〃Yes；　you　are　right。〃
　　〃But　where　shall　we　go？〃　asked　Porthos。
　　〃To　the　hotel；　to　be　sure；　to　get　our　baggage　and　horses；　and　from　there；　if　it　please　God；　to　France；　where；　at　least；　I　understand　the　architecture　of　the　houses。〃
　　So；　suiting　the　action　to　the　word；　D'Artagnan　thrust　the　remnant　of　his　sword　into　its　scabbard；　picked　up　his　hat　and　ran　down　the　stairs；　followed　by　the　others。
　　The　Skiff　〃Lightning。〃
　　D'Artagnan　had　judged　correctly；　Mordaunt　felt　that　he　had　no　time　to　lose；　and　he　lost　none。　He　knew　the　rapidity　of　decision　and　action　that　characterized　his　enemies　and　resolved　to　act　with　reference　to　that。　This　time　the　musketeers　had　an　adversary　who　was　worthy　of　them。
　　After　closing　the　door　carefully　behind　him　Mordaunt　glided　into　the　subterranean　passage；　sheathing　on　the　way　his　now　useless　sword；　and　thus　reached　the　neighboring　house；　where　he　paused　to　examine　himself　and　to　take　breath。
　　〃Good！〃　he　said；　〃nothing；　almost　nothing　　scratches；　nothing　more；　two　in　the　arm　and　one　in　the　breast。　The　wounds　that　I　make　are　better　than　that　　witness　the　executioner　of　Bethune；　my　uncle　and　King　Charles。　Now；　not　a　second　to　lose；　for　a　second　lost　will　perhaps　save　them。　They　must　die　　die　all　together　　killed　at　one　stroke　by　the　thunder　of　men　in　default　of　God's。　They　must　disappear；　broken；　scattered；　annihilated。　I　will　run；　then；　till　my　legs　no　longer　serve；　till　my　heart　bursts　in　my　bosom　but　I　will　arrive　before　they　do。〃
　　Mordaunt　proceeded　at　a　rapid　pace　to　the　nearest　cavalry　barracks；　about　a　quarter　of　a　league　distant。　He　made　that　quarter　of　a　league　in　four　or　five　minutes。　Arrived　at　the　barracks　he　made　himself　known；　took　the　best　horse　in　the　stables；　mounted　and　gained　the　high　road。　A　quarter　of　an　hour　later　he　was　at　Greenwich。
　　〃There　is　the　port；〃　he　murmured。　〃That　dark　point　yonder　is　the　Isle　of　Dogs。　Good！　I　am　half　an　hour　in　advance　of　them；　an　hour；　perhaps。　Fool　that　I　was！　I　have　almost　killed　myself　by　my　needless　haste。　Now；〃　he　added；　rising　in　the　stirrups　and　looking　about　him；　〃which；　I　wonder；　is　the　Lightning？〃
　　At　this　moment；　as　if　in　reply　to　his　words；　a　man　lying　on　a　coil　of　cables　rose　and　advanced　a　few　steps　toward　him。　Mordaunt　drew　a　handkerchief　from　his　pocket；　and　tying　a　knot　at　each　corner　　the　signal　agreed　upon　　waved　it　in　the　air　and　the　man　came　up　to　him。　He　was　wrapped　in　a　large　rough　cape；　which　concealed　his　form　and　partly　his　face。
　　〃Do　you　wish　to　go　on　the　water；　sir？〃　said　the　sailor。
　　〃Yes；　just　so。　Along　the　Isle　of　Dogs。〃
　　〃And　perhaps　you　have　a　preference　for　one　boat　more　than　another。　You　would　like　one　that　sails　as　rapidly　as　　〃
　　〃Lightning；〃　interrupted　Mordaunt。
　　〃Then　mine　is　the　boat　you　want；　sir。　I'm　your　man。〃
　　〃I　begin　to　think　so；　particularly　if　you　have　not　forgotten　a　certain　signal。〃
　　〃Here　it　is；　sir；〃　and　the　sailor　took　from　his　coat　a　handkerchief；　tied　at　each　corner。
　　〃Good；　quite　right！〃　cried　Mordaunt；　springing　off　his　horse。　〃There's　not　a　moment　to　lose；　now　take　my　horse　to　the　nearest　inn　and　conduct　me　to　your　vessel。〃
　　〃But；〃　asked　the　sailor；　〃where　are　your　panions？　I　thought　there　were　four　of　you。〃
　　〃Listen　to　me；　sir。　I'm　not　the　man　you　take　me　for；　you　are　in　Captain　Rogers's　post；　are　you　not？　under　orders　from　General　Cromwell。　Mine；　also；　are　from　him！〃
　　〃Indeed；　sir；　I　recognize　you；　you　are　Captain　Mordaunt。〃
　　Mordaunt　was　startled。
　　〃Oh；　fear　nothing；〃　said　the　skipper；　showing　his　face。　〃I　am　a　friend。〃
　　〃Captain　Groslow！〃　cried　Mordaunt。
　　〃Himself。　The　general　remembered　that　I　had　formerly　been　a　naval　officer　and　he　gave　me　the　mand　of　this　expedition。　Is　there　anything　new　in　the　wind？〃
　　〃Nothing。〃
　　〃I　thought；　perhaps；　that　the　king's　death　　〃
　　〃Has　only　hastened　their　flight；　in　ten　minutes　they　will　perhaps　be　here。〃
　　〃What　have　you　e　for；　then？〃
　　〃To　embark　with　you。〃
　　〃Ah！　ah！　the　general　doubted　my　fidelity？〃
　　〃No；　but　I　wish　to　have　a　share　in　my　revenge。　Haven't　you　some　one　who　will　relieve　me　of　my　horse？〃
　　Groslow　whistled　and　a　sailor　appeared。
　　〃Patrick；〃　said　Groslow；　〃take　this　horse　to　the　stables　of　the　nearest　inn。　If　any　one　asks　you　whose　it　is　you　can　say　that　it　belongs　to　an　Irish　gentleman。〃
　　The　sailor　departed　without　reply。
　　〃Now；〃　said　Mordaunt；　〃are　you　not　afraid　that　they　will　recognize　you？〃
　　〃There　is　no　danger；　dressed　as　I　am　in　this　pilot　coat；　on　a　night　as　dark　as　this。　Besides　even　you　didn't　recognize　me；　they　will　be　much　less　likely　to。〃
　　〃That　is　true；〃　said　Mordaunt；　〃and　they　will　be　far　from　thinking　of　you。　Everything　is　ready；　is　it　not？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃The　cargo　on　board？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃Five　full　casks？〃
　　〃And　fifty　empty　ones。〃
　　〃Good。〃
　　〃We　are　carrying　port　wine　to　Anvers。〃
　　〃Excellent。　Now　take　me　aboard　and　return　to　your　post；　for　they　will　soon　be　here。〃
　　〃I　am　ready。〃
　　〃It　is　important　that　none　of　your　crew　should　see　me。〃
　　〃I　have　but　one　man　on　board；　and　I　am　as　sure　of　him　as　I　am　of　myself。　Besides；　he　doesn't　know　you；　like　his　mates　he　is　ready　to　obey　our　orders　knowing　nothing　of　our　plan。〃
　　〃Very　well；　let　us　go。〃
　　They　then　went　down　to　the　Thames。　A　boat　was　fastened　to　the　shore　by　a　chain　fixed　to　a　stake。　Groslow　jumped　in；　followed　by　Mordaunt；　and　in　five　minutes　they　were　quite　away　from　that　world　of　houses　which　then　crowded　the　outskirts　of　London；　and　Mordaunt　could　discern　the　little　vessel　riding　at　anchor　near　the　Isle　of　Dogs。　When　they　reached　the　side　of　this　felucca；　Mordaunt；　dexterous　in　his　eagerness　for　vengeance；　seized　a　rope　and　climbed　up　the　side　of　the　vessel　with　a　coolness　and　agility　very　rare　among　landsmen。　He　went　with　Groslow　to　the　captain's　berth；　a　sort　of　temporary　cabin　of　planks；　for　the　chief　apartment　had　been　given　up　by　Captain　Rogers　to　the　passengers；　who　were　to　be　acmodated　at　the　other　end　of　the　boat。
　　〃They　will　have　nothing　to　do；　then　at　this　end？〃　said　Mordaunt。
　　〃Nothing　at　all。〃
　　〃That's　a　capital　arrangement。　Return　to　Greenwich　and　bring　them　here。　I　shall　hide　myself　in　your　cabin。　You　have　a　longboat？〃
　　〃That　in　which　we　came。〃
　　〃It　appeared　light　and　well　constructed。〃
　　〃Quite　a　canoe。〃
　　〃Fasten　it　to　the　poop　with　a　rope；　put　the　oars　into　it；　so　that　it　may　follow　in　the　track　and　there　will　be　nothing　to　do　except　to　cut　the　cord。　Put　a　good　supply　of　rum　and　biscuit　in　it　for　the　seamen；　should　the　night　happen　to　be　stormy　they　will　not　be　sorry　to　find　something　to　console　themselves　with。〃
　　〃Consider　all　this　done。　Do　you　wish　to　see　the　powder…room？〃
　　〃No。　When　you　return　I　will　set　the　fuse　myself；　but　be　careful　to　conceal　your　face；　so　that　you　cannot　be　recognized　by　them。〃
　　〃Never　fear。〃
　　〃There's　ten　o'clock　striking　at　Greenwich。〃
　　Groslow；　then；　having　given　the　sailor　on　duty　an　order　to　be　on　the　watch　with　more　than　usual　vigilance；　went　down　into　the　longboat　and　soon　reached　Greenwich。　The　wind　was　chilly　and　the　jetty　was　deserted；　as　he　approached　it；　but　he　had　no　sooner　landed　than　he　heard　a　noise　of　horses　galloping　upon　the　paved　road。
　　These　horsemen　were　our　friends；　or　rather；　an　avant　garde；　posed　of　D'Artagnan　and　Athos。　As　soon　as　they　arrived　at　the　spot　where　Groslow　stood　they　stopped；　as　if　guessing　that　he　was　the　man　they　wanted。　Athos　alighted　and　calmly　opened　the　handkerchief　tied　at　each　corner；　whilst　D'Artagnan；　ever　cautious；　remained　on　horseback；　one　hand　upon　his　pistol；　leaning　forward　watchfully。
　　On　seeing　the　appointed　signal；　Groslow；　who　had　at　first　crept　behind　one　of　the　cannon　planted　on　that　spot；　walked　straight　up　to　the　gentlemen。　He　was　so　well　wrapped　up　in　his　cloak　that　it　would　have　been　impossible