At Sea.
The following day was somewhat calmer, although the gale still continued.The sun had, however, risen through a bank of orange clouds, tingeing with its cheerful rays the crests of the black waves.Watch was impatiently kept from the different look-outs.Towards eleven o'clock in the morning a ship, with sails full set, was signalled as in view; two others followed at the distance of about half a knot.They approached like arrows shot from the bow of a skillful archer; and yet the sea ran so high that their speed was as nothing compared to the rolling of the billows in which the vessels were plunging first in one direction and then in another.The English fleet was soon recognized by the line of the ships, and by the color of their pennants; the one which had the princess on board and carried the admiral's flag preceded the others.
The rumor now spread that the princess was arriving.The whole French court ran to the harbor, while the quays and jetties were soon covered by crowds of people.Two hours afterwards, the other vessels had overtaken the flagship, and the three, not venturing perhaps to enter the narrow entrance of the harbor, cast anchor between Havre and La Heve.When the maneuver had been completed, the vessel which bore the admiral saluted France by twelve discharges of cannon, which were returned, discharge for discharge, from Fort Francis I.Immediately afterwards a hundred boats were launched; they were covered with the richest stuffs, and destined for the conveyance of the different members of the French nobility towards the vessels at anchor.But when it was observed that even inside the harbor the boats were tossed to and fro, and that beyond the jetty the waves rose mountains high, dashing upon the shore with a terrible uproar, it will readily be believed that not one of those frail boats would be able with safety to reach a fourth part of the distance between the shore and the vessels at anchor.
A pilot-boat, however, notwithstanding the wind and the sea, was getting ready to leave the harbor, for the purpose of placing itself at the admiral's disposal.
De Guiche, who had been looking among the different boats for one stronger than the others, which might offer a chance of reaching the English vessels, perceiving the pilot-boat getting ready to start, said to Raoul: "Do you not think, Raoul, that intelligent and vigorous men, as we are, ought to be ashamed to retreat before the brute strength of wind and waves?""That is precisely the very reflection I was silently making to myself," replied Bragelonne.
"Shall we get into that boat, then, and push off? Will you come, De Wardes?""Take care, or you will get drowned," said Manicamp.
"And for no purpose," said De Wardes, "for with the wind in your teeth, as it will be, you will never reach the vessels.""You refuse, then?"
"Assuredly I do; I would willingly risk and lose my life in an encounter against men," he said, glancing at Bragelonne, "but as to fighting with oars against waves, I have no taste for that.""And for myself," said Manicamp, "even were I to succeed in reaching the ships, I should not be indifferent to the loss of the only good dress which I have left, -- salt water would spoil it.""You, then, refuse also?" exclaimed De Guiche.
"Decidedly I do; I beg you to understand that most distinctly.""But," exclaimed De Guiche, "look, De Wardes -- look, Manicamp -- look yonder, the princesses are looking at us from the poop of the admiral's vessel.""An additional reason, my dear fellow, why we should not make ourselves ridiculous by being drowned while they are looking on.""Is that your last word, Manicamp?"
"Yes."
"And then yours, De Wardes?"
"Yes."
"Then I go alone."
"Not so," said Raoul, "for I shall accompany you; I thought it was understood I should do so."The fact is, that Raoul, uninfluenced by devotion, measuring the risk they run, saw how imminent the danger was, but he willingly allowed himself to accept a peril which De Wardes had declined.
The boat was about to set off when De Guiche called to the pilot."Stay," said he: "we want two places in your boat;"and wrapping five or six pistoles in paper, he threw them from the quay into the boat.
"It seems you are not afraid of salt water, young gentlemen.""We are afraid of nothing," replied De Guiche.
"Come along, then."
The pilot approached the side of the boat, and the two young men, one after the other, with equal vivacity, jumped into the boat."Courage, my men," said De Guiche; "I have twenty pistoles left in this purse, and as soon as we reach the admiral's vessel they shall be yours." The sailors bent themselves to their oars, and the boat bounded over the crest of the waves.The interest taken in this hazardous expedition was universal; the whole population of Havre hurried towards the jetties and every look was directed towards the little bark; at one moment it flew suspended on the crest of the foaming waves, then suddenly glided downwards towards the bottom of a raging abyss, where it seemed utterly lost.At the expiration of an hour's struggling with the waves, it reached the spot where the admiral's vessel was anchored, and from the side of which two boats had already been dispatched towards their aid.
