course
to its point. But this last and dreaded resource served only to
exasperate the multitude. From time to time a shot from a musket or the
blade of a rapier flashed among the crowd; projectiles continued to
hail down from the windows and some shots were heard, the echo of which,
though they were probably fired in the air, made all hearts vibrate.
Voices, unheard except on days of revolution, were distinguished; faces
were seen that only appeared on days of bloodshed. Cries of "Death!
death to the guards! to the Seine with the officer!" were heard above
all the noise, deafening as it was. Raoul, his hat in ribbons, his face
bleeding, felt not only his strength but also his reason going; a
red mist covered his sight, and through this mist he saw a hundred
threatening arms stretched over him, ready to seize upon him when he
fell. The guards were unable to help any one--each one was occupied
with his self-preservation. All was over; carriages, horses, guards, and
perhaps even the prisoner were about to be torn to shreds, when all at
once a voice well known to Raoul was heard, and suddenly a great sword
glittered in the air; at the same time the crowd opened, upset, trodden
down, and an officer of the musketeers, striking and cutting right and
left, rushed up to Raoul and took him in his arms just as he was about
to fall.

"God's blood!" cried the officer, "have they killed him? Woe to them if
it be so!"

And he turned around, so stern with anger, strength and threat, that the
most excited rebels hustled back on one another, in order to escape, and
some of them even rolled into the Seine.

"Monsieur d'Artagnan!" murmured Raoul.

"Yes, 'sdeath! in person, and fortunately it seems for you, my young
friend. Come on, here, you others," he continued, rising in his
stirrups, raising his sword, and addressing those musketeers who had not
been able to follow his rapid onslaught. "Come, sweep away all that for
me! Shoulder muskets! Present arms! Aim----"

At this command the mountain of populace thinned so suddenly that
D'Artagnan could not repress a burst of Homeric laughter.

"Thank you, D'Artagnan," said Comminges, showing half of his body
through the window of the broken vehicle, "thanks, my young friend; your
name--that I may mention it to the queen."

Raoul was about to reply when D'Artagnan bent down to his ear.

"Hold your tongue," said he, "and let me answer. Do not lose time,
Comminges," he continued; "get out