r
the roller to be introduced. There can be no doubt that every time the
stone escaped them, they bounded quickly backwards, to keep their
feet from being crushed by the refalling stone. Every time, the stone,
abandoned by them, sunk deeper into the damp earth, which rendered the
operation more and more difficult. A third effort was followed by no
better success, but with progressive discouragement. And yet, when
the six men were bent towards the stone, the man with the feathers had
himself, with a powerful voice, given the word of command, "_Ferme!_"
which regulates maneuvers of strength. Then he drew himself up.

"Oh! oh!" said he, "what is this all about? Have I to do with men of
straw? _Corne de boeuf!_ stand on one side, and you shall see how this
is to be done."

"_Peste!_" said D'Artagnan, "will he pretend to raise that rock? that
would be a sight worth looking at."

The workmen, as commanded by the engineer, drew back with their ears
down, and shaking their heads, with the exception of the one who held
the plank, who prepared to perform the office. The man with the feathers
went up to the stone, stooped, slipped his hands under the face lying
upon the ground, stiffened his Herculean muscles, and without a strain,
with a slow motion, like that of a machine, lifted the end of the rock
a foot from the ground. The workman who held the plank profited by the
space thus given him, and slipped the roller under the stone.

"That's the way," said the giant, not letting the rock fall again, but
placing it upon its support.

"_Mordioux!_" cried D'Artagnan, "I know but one man capable of such a
feat of strength."

"_Hein!_" cried the colossus, turning round.

"Porthos!" murmured D'Artagnan, seized with stupor, "Porthos at
Belle-Isle!"

On his part, the man with the feathers fixed his eyes upon the disguised
lieutenant, and, in spite of his metamorphosis, recognized him.
"D'Artagnan!" cried he; and the color mounted to his face. "Hush!" said
he to D'Artagnan.

"Hush!" in his turn, said the musketeer. In fact, if Porthos had just
been discovered by D'Artagnan, D'Artagnan had just been discovered by
Porthos. The interest of the particular secret of each struck them both
at the same instant. Nevertheless the first movement of the two men was
to throw their arms around each other. What they wished to conceal from
the bystanders, was not their friendship, but their names. But, after
the embrace, came reflection.

"Wh