r enemies have escaped you. They have cut the
rope, and saved themselves in the boat."

With a single bound Mordaunt was at the cabin-door, which he burst
open with his foot. It was empty.

"We will follow them," said Groslow; "they cannot be far off. We will
give them the stem; sail right over them."

"Yes; but the powder--I have fired the train!"

"Damnation!" roared Groslow, rushing to the hatchway. "Perhaps there
is still time."

A horrible laugh and a frightful blasphemy were Mordaunt's reply; and
then, his features distorted by rage and disappointed hate rather than
by fear, he hurled his torch into the sea, and precipitated himself
after it. At the same moment, and before Groslow had reached the
powder barrels, the ship opened like the crater of a volcano, a gush
of fire rose from it with a noise like that of fifty pieces of
artillery, and blazing fragments of the doomed vessel were seen
careering through the air in every direction. It lasted but an
instant; the red glow that had lit up the sea for miles around
vanished; the burning fragments fell hissing into the water; and, with
the exception of a vibration in the air, all was calm as before. The
felucca had disappeared; Groslow and his men were annihilated.

Our four guardsmen had witnessed this terrible spectacle with mute awe
and horror, and when it was over, they remained for a moment downcast
and silent. Porthos and D'Artagnan, who had each taken an oar, forgot
to use them, and sat gazing at their companions, whilst the boat
rocked to and fro at the will of the waves.

"_Ma foi!_" said Aramis, who was the first to break the pause, "this
time I think we are fairly rid of him."

"Help, gentlemen, help!" just then cried a voice that came sweeping in
piteous accents over the troubled surface of the sea. "Help! for
heaven's sake, help!"

The guardsmen looked at each other. Athos shuddered.

"It is his voice!" said he.

All recognised the voice, and strained their eyes in the direction in
which the felucca had disappeared. Presently a man was seen swimming
vigorously towards them. Athos extended his arm, pointing him out to
his companions.

"Yes, yes," said D'Artagnan; "I see him."

"Will nothing kill him?" said Porthos.

Aramis leaned forward and spoke in a whisper to D'Artagnan. Mordaunt
advanced a few yards, and raised one hand out of the water in sign of
distress.

"Pity! gentlemen," cried he; "pity and mercy! My strength is leaving
me,