s 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 to see his face even if the night had not been so dark as to render precaution superfluous； nevertheless； the keen glance of Athos perceived at once it was not Rogers who stood before them。
〃What do you want with us？〃 he asked of Groslow。
〃I wish to inform you； my lord；〃 replied Groslow； with an Irish accent； feigned of course； 〃that if you are looking for Captain Rogers you will not find him。 He fell down this morning and broke his leg。 But I'm his cousin； he told me everything and desired me to watch instead of him； and in his place to conduct； wherever they wished to go； the gentlemen who should bring me a handkerchief tied at each corner； like that one which you hold and one which I have in my pocket。〃
And he drew out the handkerchief。
〃Was that all he said？〃 inquired Athos。
〃No； my lord； he said you had engaged to pay seventy pounds if I landed you safe and sound at Boulogne or any other port you choose in France。〃
〃What do you think of all this？〃 said Athos； in a low tone to D'Artagnan； after explaining to him in French what the sailor had said in English。
〃It seems a likely story to me。〃
〃And to me； too。〃
〃Besides； we can but blow out his brains if he proves false；〃 said the Gascon； 〃and you； Athos； you know something of everything and can be our captain。 I dare say you know how to navigate； should he fail us。〃
〃My dear friend； you guess well。 My father meant me for the navy and I have some vague notions about navigation。〃
〃You see！〃 cried D'Artagnan。
They then summoned their friends； who； with Blaisois； Musqueton and Grimaud； promptly joined them； leaving Parry behind them； who was to take back to London the horses of the gentlemen and of their lackeys； which had been sold to the host in settlement of their account with him。 Thanks to this stroke of business the four friends were able to take away with them a sum of money which； if not large； was sufficient as a provision against delays and accidents。
Parry parted from his friends regretful