The little troop, without looking behind them or exchanginga word, fled at a rapid gallop, fording a little stream, ofwhich none of them knew the name, and leaving on their lefta town which Athos declared to be Durham. At last they camein sight of a small wood, and spurring their horses afresh,rode in its direction.

As soon as they had disappeared behind a green curtainsufficiently thick to conceal them from the sight of any onewho might be in pursuit they drew up to hold a counciltogether. The two grooms held the horses, that they mighttake a little rest without being unsaddled, and Grimaud wasposted as sentinel.

"Come, first of all," said Athos to D'Artagnan, "my friend,that I may shake hands with you - you, our rescuer - you,the true hero of us all."

"Athos is right - you have my adoration," said Aramis, inhis turn pressing his hand. "To what are you not equal, withyour superior intelligence, infallible eye, your arm of ironand your enterprising mind!"

"Now," said the Gascon, "that is all well, I accept forPorthos and myself everything - thanks and compliments; wehave plenty of time to spare."

The two friends, recalled by D'Artagnan to what was also dueto Porthos, pressed his hand in their turn.

"And now," said Athos, "it is not our plan to run anywhereand like madmen, but we must map up our campaign. What shallwe do?"

"What are we going to do, i'faith? It is not very difficultto say."

"Tell us, then, D'Artagnan."

"We are going to reach the nearest seaport, unite our littleresources, hire a vessel and return to France. As for me Iwill give my last sou for it. Life is the greatest treasure,and speaking candidly, ours hangs by a thread."

"What do you say to this, Du Vallon?"

"I," said Porthos, "I am entirely of D'Artagnan's opinion;this is a `beastly' country, this England."

"You are quite decided, then, to leave it?" asked Athos ofD'Artagnan.

"Egad! I don't see what is to keep me here."

A glance was exchanged between Athos and Aramis.

"Go, then, my friends," said the former, sighing.

"How, go then?" exclaimed D'Artagnan. "Let us go, you mean?"

"No, my friend," said Athos, "you must leave us."

"Leave you!" cried D'Artagnan, quite bewildered at thisunexpected announcement.

"Bah!" said Porthos, "why separate, since we are alltogether?"

"Because you can and ought to return to France; your missionis accomplished, but ours is not."

"Your mission is not accomplished?" exclaimed D'Artagnan,looking in astonishment at Athos.

"No, my friend," replied Athos, in his gentle but decidedvoice, "we came here to defend King Charles; we have but illdefended him - it remains for us to save him!"

"To save the king?" said D'Artagnan, looking at Aramis as hehad looked at Athos.

Aramis contented himself by making a sign with his head.

D'Artagnan's countenance took an expression of the deepestcompassion; he began to think he had to do with madmen.

"You cannot be speaking seriously, Athos!" said he; "theking is surrounded by an army, which is conducting him toLondon. This army is commanded by a butcher, or the son of abutcher - it matters little - Colonel Harrison. Hismajesty, I can assure you, will be tried on his arrival inLondon; I have heard enough from the lips of Oliver Cromwellto know what to expect."

A second look was exchanged between Athos and Aramis.

"And when the trial is ended there will be no delay inputting the sentence into execution," continued D'Artagnan.

"And to what penalty do you think the king will becondemned?" asked Athos.

"The penalty of death, I greatly fear; they have gone toofar for him to pardon them, and there is nothing left tothem but one thing, and that is to kill him. Have you neverheard what Oliver Cromwell said when he came to Paris andwas shown the dungeon at Vincennes where Monsieur de Vendomewas imprisoned?"

"What did he say?" asked Porthos.

"`Princes must be knocked on the head.'"

"I remember it," said Athos.

"And you fancy he will not put his maxim into execution, nowthat he has got hold of the king?"

"On the contrary, I am certain he will do so. But then thatis all the more reason why we should not abandon the augusthead so threatened."

"Athos, you are becoming mad."

"No, my friend," Athos gently replied, "but De Winter soughtus out in France and introduced us, Monsieur d'Herblay andmyself, to Madame Henrietta. Her majesty did us the honor toask our aid for her husband. We engaged our word; our wordincluded everything. It was our strength, our intelligence,our life, in short, that we promised. It remains now for usto keep our word. Is that your opinion, D'Herblay?"

"Yes," said Aramis, "we have promised."

"Then," continued Athos, "we have another reason; it is this- listen: In France at this moment everything is poor andpaltry. We have a king ten years old, who doesn't yet knowwhat he wants; we have a queen blinded by a belated passion;we have a minister who governs France as he would govern agreat farm - that is to say, intent only on turning out allthe gold he can by the exercise of Italian cunning andinvention; we have princes who set up a personal andegotistic opposition, who will draw from Mazarin's handsonly a few ingots of gold or some shreds of power granted asbribes. I have served them without enthusiasm - God knowsthat I estimated them at their real value, and that they arenot high in my esteem - but on principle. To-day I amengaged in a different affair. I have encountered misfortunein a high place, a royal misfortune, a European misfortune;I attach myself to it. If we can succeed in saving the kingit will be good; if we die for him it will be grand."

"So you know beforehand you must perish!" said D'Artagnan.

"We fear so, and our only regret is to die so far from bothof you."

"What will you do in a foreign land, an enemy's country?"

"I traveled in England when I was young, I speak Englishlike an Englishman, and Aramis, too, knows something of thelanguage. Ah! if we had you, my friends! With you,D'Artagnan, with you, Porthos - all four reunited for thefirst time for twenty years - we would dare not onlyEngland, but the three kingdoms put together!"

"And did you promise the queen," resumed D'Artagnan,petulantly, "to storm the Tower of London, to kill a hundredthousand soldiers, to fight victoriously against the wishesof the nation and the ambition of a man, and when that manis Cromwell? Do not exaggerate your duty. In Heaven's name,my dear Athos, do not make a useless sacrifice. When I seeyou merely, you look like a reasonable being; when youspeak, I seem to have to do with a madman. Come, Porthos,join me; say frankly, what do you think of this business?"

"Nothing good," replied Porthos.

"Come," continued D'Artagnan, who, irritated that instead oflistening to him Athos seemed to be attending to his ownthoughts, "you have never found yourself the worse for myadvice. Well, then, believe me, Athos, your mission isended, and ended nobly; return to France with us."

"Friend," said Athos, "our resolution is irrevocable."

"Then you have some other motive unknown to us?"

Athos smiled and D'Artagnan struck his hand together inanger and muttered the most convincing reasons that he coulddiscover; but to all these reasons Athos contented himselfby replying with a calm, sweet smile and Aramis by noddinghis head.

"Very well," cried D'Artagnan, at last, furious, "very well,since you wish it, let us leave our bones in this beggarlyland, where it is always cold, where fine weather is a fog,fog is rain, and rain a deluge; where the sun represents themoon and the moon a cream cheese; in truth, whether we diehere or elsewhere matters little, since we must die."

"Only reflect, my good fellow," said Athos, "it is but dyingrather sooner."

"Pooh! a little sooner or a little later, it isn't worthquarreling over."

"If I am astonished at anything," remarked Porthos,sententiously, "it is that it has not already happened."

"Oh, it will happen, you may be sure," said D'Artagnan. "Soit is agreed, and if Porthos makes no objection - - "

"I," said Porthos, "I will do whatever you please; andbesides, I think what the Comte de la Fere said just now isvery good."

"But your future career, D'Artagnan - your ambition,Porthos?"

"Our future, our ambition!" replied D'Artagnan, withfeverish volubility. "Need we think of that since we are tosave the king? The king saved - we shall assemble ourfriends together - we will head the Puritans - reconquerEngland; we shall re-enter London - place him securely onhis throne - - "

"And he will make us dukes and peers," said Porthos, whoseeyes sparkled with joy at this imaginary prospect.

"Or he will forget us," added D'Artagnan.

"Oh!" said Porthos.

"Well, that has happened, friend Porthos. It seems to methat we once rendered Anne of Austria a service not muchless than that which to-day we are trying to perform forCharles I.; but, none the less, Anne of Austria hasforgotten us for twenty years."

"Well, in spite of that, D'Artagnan," said Athos, "you arenot sorry that you were useful to her?"

"No, indeed," said D'Artagnan; "I admit even that in mydarkest moments I find consolation in that remembrance."

"You see, then, D'Artagnan, though princes often areungrateful, God never is."

"Athos," said D'Artagnan, "I believe that were you to fallin with the devil, you would conduct yourself so well thatyou would take him with you to Heaven."

"So, then?" said Athos, offering his hand to D'Artagnan.

"'Tis settled," replied D'Artagnan. "I find England acharming country, and I stay - but on one condition only."

"What is it?"

"That I am not forced to learn English."

"Well, now," said Athos, triumphantly, "I swear to you, myfriend, by the God who hears us - I believe that there is apower watching over us, and that we shall all four seeFrance again."

"So be it!" said D'Artagnan, "but I - I confess I have acontrary conviction."

"Our good D'Artagnan," said Aramis, "represents among us theopposition in parliament, which always says no, and alwaysdoes aye."

"But in the meantime saves the country," added Athos.

"Well, now that everything is decided," cried Porthos,rubbing his hands, "suppose we think of dinner! It seems tome that in the most critical positions of our lives we havealways dined."

"Oh! yes, speak of dinner in a country where for a feastthey eat boiled mutton, and as a treat drink beer. What thedevil did you come to such a country for, Athos? But Iforgot," added the Gascon, smiling, "pardon, I forgot youare no longer Athos; but never mind, let us hear your planfor dinner, Porthos."

"My plan!"

"Yes, have you a plan?"

"No! I am hungry, that is all."

"Pardieu, if that is all, I am hungry, too; but it is noteverything to be hungry, one must find something to eat,unless we browse on the grass, like our horses - - "

"Ah!" exclaimed Aramis, who was not quite so indifferent tothe good things of the earth as Athos, "do you remember,when we were at Parpaillot, the beautiful oysters that weate?"

"And the legs of mutton of the salt marshes," said Porthos,smacking his lips.

"But," suggested D'Artagnan, "have we not our friendMusqueton, who managed for us so well at Chantilly,Porthos?"

"Yes," said Porthos, "we have Musqueton, but since he hasbeen steward, he has become very heavy; never mind, let uscall him, and to make sure that he will reply agreeably - -

"Here! Mouston," cried Porthos.

Mouston appeared, with a most piteous face.

"What is the matter, my dear M. Mouston?" asked D'Artagnan."Are you ill?"

"Sir, I am very hungry," replied Mouston.

"Well, it is just for that reason that we have called you,my good M. Mouston. Could you not procure us a few of thosenice little rabbits, and some of those delicious partridges,of which you used to make fricassees at the hotel - - ?'Faith, I do not remember the name of the hotel."

"At the hotel of - - ," said Porthos; "by my faith - nordo I remember it either."

"It does not matter; and a few of those bottles of oldBurgundy wine, which cured your master so quickly of hissprain!"

"Alas! sir," said Musqueton, "I much fear that what you askfor are very rare things in this detestable and barrencountry, and I think we should do better to go and seekhospitality from the owner of a little house we see on thefringe of the forest."

"How! is there a house in the neighborhood?" askedD'Artagnan.

"Yes, sir," replied Musqueton.

"Well, let us, as you say, go and ask a dinner from themaster of that house. What is your opinion, gentlemen, anddoes not M. Mouston's suggestion appear to you full ofsense?"

"Oh!" said Aramis, "suppose the master is a Puritan?"

"So much the better, mordioux!" replied D'Artagnan; "if heis a Puritan we will inform him of the capture of the king,and in honor of the news he will kill for us his fattedhens."

"But if he should be a cavalier?" said Porthos.

"In that case we will put on an air of mourning and he willpluck for us his black fowls."

"You are very happy," exclaimed Athos, laughing, in spite ofhimself, at the sally of the irresistible Gascon; "for yousee the bright side of everything."

"What would you have?" said D'Artagnan. "I come from a landwhere there is not a cloud in the sky."

"It is not like this, then," said Porthos stretching out hishand to assure himself whether a chill sensation he felt onhis cheek was not really caused by a drop of rain.

"Come, come," said D'Artagnan, "more reason why we shouldstart on our journey. Halloo, Grimaud!"

Grimaud appeared.

"Well, Grimaud, my friend, have you seen anything?" askedthe Gascon.

"Nothing!" replied Grimaud.

"Those idiots!" cried Porthos, "they have not even pursuedus. Oh! if we had been in their place!"

"Yes, they are wrong," said D'Artagnan. "I would willinglyhave said two words to Mordaunt in this little desert. It isan excellent spot for bringing down a man in proper style."

"I think, decidedly," observed Aramis, "gentlemen, that theson hasn't his mother's energy."

"What, my good fellow!" replied Athos, "wait awhile; we havescarcely left him two hours ago - he does not know yet inwhat direction we came nor where we are. We may say that heis not equal to his mother when we put foot in France, if weare not poisoned or killed before then."

"Meanwhile, let us dine," suggested Porthos.

"I'faith, yes," said Athos, "for I am hungry."

"Look out for the black fowls!" cried Aramis.

And the four friends, guided by Musqueton, took up the waytoward the house, already almost restored to their formergayety; for they were now, as Athos had said, all four oncemore united and of single mind.