oach,"
continued D'Artagnan, "and let not the bird which passes over our heads,
the rabbit which sports on the downs, the fish which bounds from the
waters, hear us. Our business is to learn and to report to monsieur
le surintendant of the finances to what extent English smuggling is
injurious to the French merchants. I shall enter every place, and see
everything. We are poor Picard fishermen, thrown upon the coast by a
storm. It is certain that we must sell fish, neither more nor less, like
true fishermen. Only people might guess who we are, and might molest
us; it is therefore necessary that we should be in a condition to defend
ourselves. And this is why I have selected men of spirit and courage. We
shall lead a steady life, and not incur much danger, seeing that we
have behind us a powerful protector, thanks to whom no embarrassment
is possible. One thing alone puzzles me; but I hope that after a short
explanation, you will relieve me from that difficulty. The thing which
puzzles me is taking with me a crew of stupid fishermen, which crew will
annoy me immensely, whilst if, by chance, there were among you any who
have seen the sea--"

"Oh! don't let that trouble you," said one of the recruits; "I was a
prisoner among the pirates of Tunis three years, and can maneuver a boat
like an admiral."

"See," said D'Artagnan, "what an admirable thing chance is!" D'Artagnan
pronounced these words with an indefinable tone of feigned _bonhomie_,
for he knew very well that the victim of the pirates was an old corsair,
and had engaged him in consequence of that knowledge. But D'Artagnan
never said more than there was need to say, in order to leave people in
doubt. He paid himself with the explanation, and welcomed the effect,
without appearing to be preoccupied with the cause.

"And I," said a second, "I, by chance, had an uncle who directed the
works of the port of La Rochelle. When quite a child, I played about
the boats, and I know how to handle an oar or a sail as well as the best
Ponantais sailor." The latter did not lie much more than the first, for
he had rowed on board his majesty's galleys six years, at Ciotat. Two
others were more frank: they confessed honestly that they had served
on board a vessel as soldiers as punishment, and did not blush for it.
D'Artagnan found himself, then, the leader of ten men of war and four
sailors, having at once an land army and a sea force, which would have
carried the pride of Planche