Page:Ten Years Later.djvu/64

Rh 54 TEN TEAES LATER. lonne, "but as to fighting with oars against waves, I have no taste for that!" "And for myself," said Manicamp, "even were I to suc- ceed in reaching the ships, I should not be indifferent to the loss of the only good dress which I have left — salt-water would splash and 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 taking a bath 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 we should do so." The fact is, that Eaoul, uninfluenced by any devotion, measuring the risk they would 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 gentle- men." "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 w£Cves. The interest taken in this hazardous expedition was universal; the whole popu- lation of Havre hurried toward the jetties, and every look