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　　The　young　men；　impatient　to　learn　the　cause　of　the　firing；　spurred　on　toward　the　servants。　The　tutor　followed　them。
　　〃Were　you　stopped？〃　eagerly　inquired　the　two　youths。
　　〃No；〃　replied　the　servants；　〃it　is　even　probable　that　we　have　not　been　seen；　the　shots　were　fired　about　a　hundred　paces　in　advance　of　us；　in　the　thickest　part　of　the　wood；　and　we　returned　to　ask　your　advice。〃
　　〃My　advice　is　this；〃　said　Monsieur　d'Arminges；　〃and　if　needs　be；　my　will；　that　we　beat　a　retreat。　There　may　be　an　ambuscade　concealed　in　this　wood。〃
　　〃Did　you　see　nothing　there？〃　asked　the　count。
　　〃I　thought　I　saw；〃　said　one　of　the　servants；　〃horsemen　dressed　in　yellow；　creeping　along　the　bed　of　the　stream。
　　〃That's　it；〃　said　the　tutor。　〃We　have　fallen　in　with　a　party　of　Spaniards。　e　back；　sirs；　back。〃
　　The　two　youths　looked　at　each　other；　and　at　this　moment　a　pistol…shot　and　cries　for　help　were　heard。　Another　glance　between　the　young　men　convinced　them　both　that　neither　had　any　wish　to　go　back；　and　as　the　tutor　had　already　turned　his　horse's　head；　they　both　spurred　forward；　Raoul　crying：　〃Follow　me；　Olivain！〃　and　the　Count　de　Guiche：　〃Follow；　Urban　and　Planchet！〃　And　before　the　tutor　could　recover　from　his　surprise　they　had　both　disappeared　into　the　forest。　Whilst　they　spurred　their　steeds　they　held　their　pistols　ready　also。　In　five　minutes　they　arrived　at　the　spot　whence　the　noise　had　proceeded；　and　then　restraining　their　horses；　they　advanced　cautiously。
　　〃Hush；〃　whispered　De　Guiche；　〃these　are　cavaliers。〃
　　〃Yes；　three　on　horseback　and　three　who　have　dismounted。〃
　　〃Can　you　see　what　they　are　doing？〃
　　〃Yes；　they　appear　to　be　searching　a　wounded　or　dead　man。〃
　　〃It　is　some　cowardly　assassination；〃　said　De　Guiche。
　　〃They　are　soldiers；　though；〃　resumed　De　Bragelonne。
　　〃Yes；　skirmishers；　that　is　to　say；　highway　robbers。〃
　　〃At　them！〃　cried　Raoul。　〃At　them！〃　echoed　De　Guiche。
　　〃Oh！　gentlemen！　gentlemen！　in　the　name　of　Heaven！〃　cried　the　poor　tutor。
　　But　he　was　not　listened　to；　and　his　cries　only　served　to　arouse　the　attention　of　the　Spaniards。
　　The　men　on　horseback　at　once　rushed　at　the　two　youths；　leaving　the　three　others　to　plete　the　plunder　of　the　dead　or　wounded　travelers；　for　on　approaching　nearer；　instead　of　one　extended　figure；　the　young　men　discovered　two。　De　Guiche　fired　the　first　shot　at　ten　paces　and　missed　his　man；　and　the　Spaniard；　who　had　advanced　to　meet　Raoul；　aimed　in　his　turn；　and　Raoul　felt　a　pain　in　the　left　arm；　similar　to　that　of　a　blow　from　a　whip。　He　let　off　his　fire　at　but　four　paces。　Struck　in　the　breast　and　extending　his　arms；　the　Spaniard　fell　back　on　the　crupper；　and　the　terrified　horse；　turning　around；　carried　him　off。
　　Raoul　at　this　moment　perceived　the　muzzle　of　a　gun　pointed　at　him；　and　remembering　the　remendation　of　Athos；　he；　with　the　rapidity　of　lightning；　made　his　horse　rear　as　the　shot　was　fired。　His　horse　bounded　to　one　side；　losing　its　footing；　and　fell；　entangling　Raoul's　leg　under　its　body。　The　Spaniard　sprang　forward　and　seized　the　gun　by　its　muzzle；　in　order　to　strike　Raoul　on　the　head　with　the　butt。　In　the　position　in　which　Raoul　lay；　unfortunately；　he　could　neither　draw　his　sword　from　the　scabbard；　nor　his　pistols　from　their　holsters。　The　butt　end　of　the　musket　hovered　over　his　head；　and　he　could　scarcely　restrain　himself　from　closing　his　eyes；　when　with　one　bound　Guiche　reached　the　Spaniard　and　placed　a　pistol　at　his　throat。　〃Yield！〃　he　cried；　〃or　you　are　a　dead　man！〃　The　musket　fell　from　the　soldier's　hands；　who　yielded　on　the　instant。　Guiche　summoned　one　of　his　grooms；　and　delivering　the　prisoner　into　his　charge；　with　orders　to　shoot　him　through　the　head　if　he　attempted　to　escape；　he　leaped　from　his　horse　and　approached　Raoul。
　　〃Faith；　sir；〃　said　Raoul；　smiling；　although　his　pallor　betrayed　the　excitement　consequent　on　a　first　affair；　〃you　are　in　a　great　hurry　to　pay　your　debts　and　have　not　been　long　under　any　obligation　to　me。　Without　your　aid；〃　continued　he；　repeating　the　count's　words　〃I　should　have　been　a　dead　man　　thrice　dead。〃
　　〃My　antagonist　took　flight；〃　replied　De　Guiche　〃and　left　me　at　liberty　to　e　to　your　assistance。　But　are　you　seriously　wounded？　I　see　you　are　covered　with　blood！〃
　　〃I　believe；〃　said　Raoul；　〃that　I　have　got　something　like　a　scratch　on　the　arm。　If　you　will　help　me　to　drag　myself　from　under　my　horse　I　hope　nothing　need　prevent　us　continuing　our　journey。〃
　　Monsieur　d'Arminges　and　Olivain　had　already　dismounted　and　were　attempting　to　raise　the　struggling　horse。　At　last　Raoul　succeeded　in　drawing　his　foot　from　the　stirrup　and　his　leg　from　under　the　animal；　and　in　a　second　he　was　on　his　feet　again。
　　〃Nothing　broken？〃　asked　De　Guiche。
　　〃Faith；　no；　thank　Heaven！〃　replied　Raoul；　〃but　what　has　bee　of　the　poor　wretches　whom　these　scoundrels　were　murdering？〃
　　〃I　fear　we　arrived　too　late。　They　have　killed　them；　I　think；　and　taken　flight；　carrying　off　their　booty。　My　servants　are　examining　the　bodies。〃
　　〃Let　us　go　and　see　whether　they　are　quite　dead；　or　if　they　can　still　be　helped；〃　suggested　Raoul。　〃Olivain；　we　have　e　into　possession　of　two　horses；　but　I　have　lost　my　own。　Take　for　yourself　the　better　of　the　two　and　give　me　yours。〃
　　They　approached　the　spot　where　the　unfortunate　victims　lay。
　　The　Monk
　　Two　men　lay　prone　upon　the　ground；　one　bathed　in　blood　and　motionless；　with　his　face　toward　the　earth；　this　one　was　dead。　The　other　leaned　against　a　tree；　supported　there　by　the　two　valets；　and　was　praying　fervently；　with　clasped　hands　and　eyes　raised　to　Heaven。　He　had　received　a　ball　in　his　thigh；　which　had　broken　the　bone。　The　young　men　first　approached　the　dead　man。
　　〃He　is　a　priest；〃　said　Bragelonne；　〃he　has　worn　the　tonsure。　Oh；　the　scoundrels！　to　lift　their　hands　against　a　minister　of　God。〃
　　〃e　here；　sir；〃　said　Urban；　an　old　soldier　who　had　served　under　the　cardinal　duke　in　all　his　campaigns；　〃e　here；　there　is　nothing　to　be　done　with　him；　whilst　we　may　perhaps　be　able　to　save　the　other。〃
　　The　wounded　man　smiled　sadly。　〃Save　me！　Oh；　no！〃　said　he；　〃but　help　me　to　die；　if　you　can。〃
　　〃Are　you　a　priest？〃　asked　Raoul。
　　〃No　sir。〃
　　〃I　ask；　as　your　unfortunate　panion　appeared　to　me　to　belong　to　the　church。〃
　　〃He　is　the　curate　of　Bethune；　sir；　and　was　carrying　the　holy　vessels　belonging　to　his　church；　and　the　treasure　of　the　chapter；　to　a　safe　place；　the　prince　having　abandoned　our　town　yesterday；　and　as　it　was　known　that　bands　of　the　enemy　were　prowling　about　the　country；　no　one　dared　to　acpany　the　good　man；　so　I　offered　to　do　so。
　　〃And；　sir；〃　continued　the　wounded　man；　〃I　suffer　much　and　would　like；　if　possible；　to　be　carried　to　some　house。〃
　　〃Where　you　can　be　relieved？〃　asked　De　Guiche。
　　〃No；　where　I　can　confess。〃
　　〃But　perhaps　you　are　not　so　dangerously　wounded　as　you　think；〃　said　Raoul。
　　〃Sir；〃　replied　the　wounded　man；　〃believe　me；　there　is　no　time　to　lose；　the　ball　has　broken　the　thigh　bone　and　entered　the　intestines。〃
　　〃Are　you　a　surgeon？〃　asked　De　Guiche。
　　〃No；　but　I　know　a　little　about　wounds；　and　mine；　I　know；　is　mortal。　Try；　therefore；　either　to　carry　me　to　some　place　where　I　may　see　a　priest　or　take　the　trouble　to　send　one　to　me　here。　It　is　my　soul　that　must　be　saved；　as　for　my　body；　it　is　lost。〃
　　〃To　die　whilst　doing　a　good　deed！　It　is　impossible。　God　will　help　you。〃
　　〃Gentlemen；　in　the　name　of　Heaven！〃　said　the　wounded　man；　collecting　all　his　forces；　as　if　to　get　up；　〃let　us　not　lose　time　in　useless　words。　Either　help　me　to　gain　the　nearest　village　or　swear　to　me　on　your　salvation　that　you　will　send　me　the　first　monk；　the　first　cure；　the　first　priest　you　may　meet。　But；〃　he　added　in　a　despairing　tone；　〃perhaps　no　one　will　dare　to　e　for　it　is　known　that　the　Spaniards　are　ranging　through　the　country；　and　I　shall　die　without　absolution。　My　God！　my　God！　Good　God！　good　God！〃　added　the　wounded　man；　in　an　accent　of　terror　which　made　the　young　men　shudder；　〃you　will　not　allow　that？　that　would　be　too　terrible！〃
　　〃Calm　yourself；　sir；〃　replied　De　Guiche。　〃I　swear　to　you；　you　shall　receive　the　consolation　that　you　ask。　Only　tell　us　where　we　shall　find　a　house　at　which　we　can　demand　aid　and　a　village　from　which　we　can　fetc