elves and
protect each other; but the gentleman had exhibited a certain paper, at
the sight of which the syndic, bowing to the very ground, had enjoined
obedience from the fisherman, and abused him for having been refractory.
They then departed with the freight.

"But all this does not tell us," said Athos, "how you have injured your
boat."

"This is the way. I was steering toward St. Honorat as the gentleman had
desired me; but he changed his mind, and pretended that I could not pass
to the south of the abbey."

"And why not?"

"Because, monsieur, there is in front of the square tower of the
Benedictines, toward the southern point, the bank of the Moines."

"A rock?" asked Athos.

"Level with the water, and below the water; a dangerous passage, but one
I have cleared a thousand times; the gentleman required me to land him
at St. Marguerite's."

"Well?"

"Well, monsieur!" cried the fisherman, with his Provencal accent, "a man
is a sailor, or he is not; he knows his course, or he is nothing but a
fresh-water lubber. I was obstinate, and wished to try the channel. The
gentleman took me by the collar, and told me quietly he would strangle
me. My mate armed himself with a hatchet, and so did I. We had the
affront of the night before to pay him out for. But the gentleman drew
his sword, and used it in such an astonishingly rapid manner, that we
neither of us could get near him. I was about to hurl my hatchet at his
head, and I had a right to do so, hadn't I, monsieur? for a sailor
aboard is master, as a citizen is in his chamber; I then, in
self-defense, to cut the gentleman in two, when all at once--believe me
or not, monsieur--the great carriage case opened of itself, I don't know
how, and there came out of it a sort of a phantom, his head covered with
a black helmet and a black mask, something terrible to look upon, which
came toward me threatening with its fist."

"And that was--?" said Athos.

"That was the devil, monsieur; for the gentleman, with great glee, cried
out on seeing him: 'Ah! thank you, monseigneur!'"

"A strange story!" murmured the comte, looking at Raoul.

"And what did you do?" asked the latter of the fisherman.

"You must know, monsieur, that two poor men, such as we are, could be no
match for two gentlemen; but when one of them is the devil we had no
chance! My companion and I did not stop to consult one another; we made
but one jump into the sea, for we were within seven or eight hun