to escape by
the cavern."

"If you please," replied Aramis joyously. "Forward, my friend Porthos;
our boat awaits us, and the king has not caught us yet."

CHAPTER CXXI.

THE GROTTO OF LOCMARIA.

The cavern of Locmaria was sufficiently distant from the mole to render
it necessary for our friends to husband their strength to arrive there.
Besides, night was advancing; midnight had struck at the fort. Porthos
and Aramis were loaded with money and arms. They walked then, across the
heath, which is between the mole and the cavern, listening to every
noise, and endeavoring to avoid ambushes. From time to time, on the
road, which they had carefully left on their left hand, passed fugitives
coming from the interior, at the news of the landing of the royal
troops. Aramis and Porthos, concealed behind some projecting mass of
rock, collected the words which escaped from the poor people who fled
trembling, carrying with them their most valuable effects, and tried,
while listening to their complaints, to draw something from them for
their own interest. At length, after a rapid course, frequently
interrupted by prudent stoppages, they reached the deep grottos, into
which the foreseeing bishop of Vannes had taken care to have rolled upon
cylinders a good bark capable of keeping the sea at this fine season.

"My good friend," said Porthos, after having respired vigorously, "we
are arrived, it seems. But I thought you spoke of three men, three
servants who were to accompany us. I don't see them--where are they?"

"Why should you see them, dear Porthos?" replied Aramis. "They are
certainly waiting for us in the cavern, and, no doubt, are resting for a
moment, after having accomplished their rough and difficult task."

Aramis stopped Porthos, who was preparing to enter the cavern. "Will you
allow me, my friend," said he to the giant, "to pass in first? I know
the signal I have given to these men; who, not hearing it, would be very
likely to fire upon you or slash away with their knives in the dark."

"Go on, then, Aramis; go on--go first; you are all wisdom and prudence;
go on. Ah! there is that fatigue again, of which I spoke to you. It has
just seized me again."

Aramis left Porthos sitting at the entrance of the grotto, and bowing
his head, he penetrated into the interior of the cavern, imitating the
cry of the owl. A little plaintive cooing, a scarcely distinct cry,
replied from the depths of the cave. Aramis pursu