Prostate Health
Prostate Articles
Antioxidant levels key for prostate cancer risk
Obesity and prostate health
Tomatoes for prostate health
Green tea and prostate health
Screening tests for prostate
Books
The Three Musketeers
Twenty Years Later
The Vicomte De Bragelonne
|
|
Twenty Years Later 109 at Prostate Health
their way toward
Bethune, free on the road to diverge to the right and march
to Carvin if necessary.
The counts tutor was well acquainted with the country; he
consequently proposed to take a crossroad, which lay between
that of Lens and that of Bethune. They obtained information
at Ablain, and a statement of their route was left for
Grimaud. About seven oclock in the morning they set out. De
Guiche, who was young and impulsive, said to Raoul, "Here we
are, three masters and three servants. Our valets are well
armed and yours seems to be tough enough."
"I have never seen him put to the test," replied Raoul, "but
he is a Breton, which promises something."
"Yes, yes," resumed De Guiche; "I am sure he can fire a
musket when required. On my side I have two sure men, who
have been in action with my father. We therefore represent
six fighting men; if we should meet a little troop of
enemies, equal or even superior in number to our own, shall
we charge them, Raoul?"
"Certainly, sir," replied the viscount.
"Holloa! young people -- stop there!" said the tutor,
joining in the conversation. "Zounds! how you manoeuvre my
instructions, count! You seem to forget the orders I
received to conduct you safe and sound to his highness the
prince! Once with the army you may be killed at your good
pleasure; but until that time, I warn you that in my
capacity of general of the army I shall order a retreat and
turn my back on the first red coat we come across." De
Guiche and Raoul glanced at each other, smiling.
They arrived at Ablain without accident. There they inquired
and learned that the prince had in reality quitted Bethune
and stationed himself between Cambria and La Venthie.
Therefore, leaving directions at every place for Grimaud,
they took a crossroad which conducted the little troop by
the bank of a small stream flowing into the Lys. The country
was beautiful, intersected by valleys as green as the
emerald. Here and there they passed little copses crossing
the path which they were following. In anticipation of some
ambuscade in each of these little woods the tutor placed his
two servants at the head of the band, thus forming the
advance guard. Himself and the two young men represented the
body of the army, whilst Olivain, with his rifle upon his
knee and his eyes upon the watch, protected the rear.
They had observed for some time before them, on the horizon,
a rather thick wood; and when they had arrived at a distance
of a hundred steps from it, Monsieur dArminges took his
usual precautions and sent on in advance the counts two
grooms. The servants had just disappeared under the trees,
followed by the tutor, and the young men were laughing and
talking about a hundred yards off. Olivain was at the same
distance in the rear, when suddenly there resounded five or
six musket-shots. The tutor cried halt; the young men
obeyed, pulling up their steeds, and at the same moment the
two valets were seen returning at a gallop.
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 dArminges, "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.
"Thats it," said the tutor. "We have fallen in with a party
of Spaniards. Come 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
horses 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
Twenty Years Later page 108 Twenty Years Later page 110 |
