\"Wewillwaithere。\"
\"But，monDieu！—theorderispreciseandformal。\"
\"I
ambishopofVannes，MonsieurdeBiscarrat;andtheynomoreshootabishopthantheyhangagentleman。\"
\"Ah！
yes，monsieur—yes，monseigneur，\"repliedBiscarrat;\"itistrue，youareright，thereisstillthatchanceforyou。？Then，Iwilldepart，Iwillrepairtothecommanderoftheexpedition，theking\'slieutenant。？Adieu！then，messieurs，orrather，tomeetagain，Ihope。\"
Theworthyofficer，jumpinguponahorsegivenhimbyAramis，departedinthedirectionofthesoundofcannon，which，bysurgingthecrowdintothefort，hadinterruptedtheconversationofthetwofriendswiththeirprisoner。？Aramiswatchedthedeparture，andwhenleftalonewithPorthos:
\"Well，doyoucomprehend？\"saidhe。
\"Mafoi！no。\"
\"DidnotBiscarratinconvenienceyouhere？\"
\"No;
heisabravefellow。\"
\"Yes;
butthegrottoofLocmaria—isitnecessaryalltheworldshouldknowit？\"
\"Ah！
thatistrue，thatistrue;Icomprehend。？Wearegoingtoescapebythecavern。\"
\"Ifyouplease，\"criedAramis，gayly。？\"Forward，friendPorthos;ourboatawaitsus。？KingLouishasnotcaughtus—yet。\"
ChapterXLVII:
TheGrottoofLocmaria。
ThecavernofLocmariawassufficientlydistantfromthemoletorenderitnecessaryforourfriendstohusbandtheirstrengthinordertoreachit。？Besides，nightwasadvancing;midnighthadstruckatthefort。？PorthosandAramiswereloadedwithmoneyandarms。？Theywalked，then，acrosstheheath，whichstretchedbetweenthemoleandthecavern，listeningtoeverynoise，inorderbettertoavoidanambush。？Fromtimetotime，ontheroadwhichtheyhadcarefullyleftontheirleft，passedfugitivescomingfromtheinterior，atthenewsofthelandingoftheroyaltroops。？AramisandPorthos，concealedbehindsomeprojectingmassofrock，collectedthewordsthatescapedfromthepoorpeople，whofled，trembling，carryingwiththemtheirmostvaluableeffects，andtried，whilstlisteningtotheircomplaints，togathersomethingfromthemfortheirowninterest。？Atlength，afterarapidrace，frequentlyinterruptedbyprudentstoppages，theyreachedthedeepgrottoes，inwhichthepropheticbishopofVanneshadtakencaretohavesecretedabarkcapableofkeepingtheseaatthisfineseason。
\"Mygoodfriend，\"saidPorthos，pantingvigorously，\"wehavearrived，itseems。？ButIthoughtyouspokeofthreemen，threeservants，whoweretoaccompanyus。？Idon\'tseethem—wherearethey？\"
\"Whyshouldyouseethem，Porthos？\"repliedAramis。？\"Theyarecertainlywaitingforusinthecavern，and，nodoubt，areresting，havingaccomplishedtheirroughanddifficulttask。\"
AramisstoppedPorthos，whowaspreparingtoenterthecavern。？\"Willyouallowme，myfriend，\"
saidhetothegiant，\"topassinfirst？？IknowthesignalIhavegiventothesemen;who，nothearingit，wouldbeverylikelytofireuponyouorslashawaywiththeirknivesinthedark。\"
\"Goon，then，Aramis;goon—gofirst;youimpersonatewisdomandforesight;
go。？Ah！thereisthatfatigueagain，ofwhichIspoketoyou。？Ithasjustseizedmeafresh。\"
AramisleftPorthossittingattheentranceofthegrotto，andbowinghishead，hepenetratedintotheinteriorofthecavern，imitatingthecryoftheowl。？Alittleplaintivecooing，ascarcelydistinctecho，repliedfromthedepthsofthecave。？Aramispursuedhiswaycautiously，andsoonwasstoppedbythesamekindofcryashehadfirstuttered，withintenpacesofhim。
\"Areyouthere，Yves？\"saidthebishop。
\"Yes，monseigneur;Goenneisherelikewise。？Hissonaccompaniesus。\"
\"Thatiswell。？Areallthingsready？\"
\"Yes，monseigneur。\"
\"Gototheentranceofthegrottoes，mygoodYves，andyouwilltherefindtheSeigneurdePierrefonds，whoisrestingafterthefatigueofourjourney。？Andifheshouldhappennottobeabletowalk，lifthimup，andbringhimhithertome。\"
Thethreemenobeyed。？Buttherecommendationgiventohisservantswassuperfluous。？Porthos，refreshed，hadalreadycommencedthedescent，andhisheavystepresoundedamongstthecavities，formedandsupportedbycolumnsofporphyryandgranite。？AssoonastheSeigneurdeBracieuxhadrejoinedthebishop，theBretonslightedalanternwithwhichtheywerefurnished，andPorthosassuredhisfriendthathefeltasstrongagainasever。
\"Letusinspecttheboat，\"saidAramis，\"andsatisfyourselvesatoncewhatitwillhold。\"
\"Donotgotoonearwiththelight，\"saidthepatronYves;\"forasyoudesiredme，monseigneur，Ihaveplacedunderthebenchofthepoop，inthecofferyouknowof，thebarrelofpowder，andthemusket—chargesthatyousentmefromthefort。\"
\"Verywell，\"saidAramis;and，takingthelanternhimself，heexaminedminutelyallpartsofthecanoe，withtheprecautionsofamanwhoisneithertimidnorignorantinthefaceofdanger。？Thecanoewaslong，light，drawinglittlewater，thinofkeel;inshort，oneofthosethathavealwaysbeensoaptlybuiltatBelle—Isle;alittlehighinitssides，soliduponthewater，verymanageable，furnishedwithplankswhich，inuncertainweather，formedasortofdeckoverwhichthewavesmightglide，soastoprotecttherowers。？Intwowell—closedcoffers，placedbeneaththebenchesoftheprowandthepoop，Aramisfoundbread，biscuit，driedfruits，aquarterofbacon，agoodprovisionofwaterinleathernbottles;thewholeformingrationssufficientforpeoplewhodidnotmeantoquitthecoast，andwouldbeabletorevictual，ifnecessitycommanded。？Thearms，eightmuskets，andasmanyhorse—pistols，wereingoodcondition，andallloaded。？Therewereadditionaloars，incaseofaccident，andthatlittlesailcalledtrinquet，whichassiststhespeedofthecanoeatthesametimetheboatmenrow，andissousefulwhenthebreezeisslack。？WhenAramishadseentoallthesethings，andappearedsatisfiedwiththeresultofhisinspection，\"LetusconsultPorthos，\"saidhe，\"toknowifwemustendeavortogettheboatoutbytheunknownextremityofthegrotto，followingthedescentandtheshadeofthecavern，orwhetheritbebetter，intheopenair，tomakeitslideuponitsrollersthroughthebushes，levelingtheroadofthelittlebeach，whichisbuttwentyfeethigh，andgives，athightide，threeorfourfathomsofgoodwateruponasoundbottom。\"
\"Itmustbeasyouplease，monseigneur，\"repliedtheskipperYves，respectfully;\"butIdon\'tbelievethatbytheslopeofthecavern，andinthedarkinwhichweshallbeobligedtomaneuverourboat，theroadwillbesoconvenientastheopenair。？Iknowthebeachwell，andcancertifythatitisassmoothasagrass—plotinagarden;
theinteriorofthegrotto，onthecontrary，isrough;withoutreckoning，monseigneur，thatatitsextremityweshallcometothetrenchwhichleadsintothesea，andperhapsthecanoewillnotpassdownit。\"
\"I
havemademycalculation，\"saidthebishop，\"andIamcertainitwillpass。\"
\"Sobeit;Iwishitmay，monseigneur，\"continuedYves;\"butyourhighnessknowsverywellthattomakeitreachtheextremityofthetrench，thereisanenormousstonetobelifted—thatunderwhichthefoxalwayspasses，andwhichclosesthetrenchlikeadoor。\"
\"Itcanberaised，\"saidPorthos;\"thatisnothing。\"
\"Oh！？Iknowthatmonseigneurhasthestrengthoftenmen，\"repliedYves;\"butthatisgivinghimagreatdealoftrouble。\"
\"I
thinktheskippermayberight，\"saidAramis;\"letustrytheopen—airpassage。\"
\"Themoreso，monseigneur，\"continuedthefisherman，\"thatweshouldnotbeabletoembarkbeforeday，itwillrequiresomuchlabor，andthatassoonasdaylightappears，agoodvedetteplacedoutsidethegrottowouldbenecessary，indispensableeven，towatchthemaneuversofthelightersorcruisersthatareonthelook—outforus。\"
\"Yes，yes，Yves，yourreasonsaregood;wewillgobythebeach。\"
AndthethreerobustBretonswenttotheboat，andwerebeginningtoplacetheirrollersunderneathittoputitinmotion，whenthedistantbarkingofdogswasheard，proceedingfromtheinterioroftheisland。
Aramisdartedoutofthegrotto，followedbyPorthos。？Dawnjusttintedwithpurpleandwhitethewavesandplain;throughthedimlight，melancholyfir—treeswavedtheirtenderbranchesoverthepebbles，andlongflightsofcrowswereskimmingwiththeirblackwingstheshimmeringfieldsofbuckwheat。？Inaquarterofanhouritwouldbecleardaylight;thewakenedbirdsannouncedittoallnature。？Thebarkingswhichhadbeenheard，whichhadstoppedthethreefishermenengagedinmovingtheboat，andhadbroughtAramisandPorthosoutofthecavern，nowseemedtocomefromadeepgorgewithinaboutaleagueofthegrotto。
\"Itisapackofhounds，\"saidPorthos;\"thedogsareonascent。\"
\"Whocanbehuntingatsuchamomentasthis？\"saidAramis。
\"Andthisway，particularly，\"continuedPorthos，\"wheretheymightexpectthearmyoftheroyalists。\"
\"Thenoisecomesnearer。？Yes，youareright，Porthos，thedogsareonascent。？But，Yves！\"criedAramis，\"comehere！comehere！\"
Yvesrantowardshim，lettingfallthecylinderwhichhewasabouttoplaceundertheboatwhenthebishop\'scallinterruptedhim。
\"Whatisthemeaningofthishunt，skipper？\"saidPorthos。
\"Eh！
monseigneur，Icannotunderstandit，\"repliedtheBreton。？\"ItisnotatsuchamomentthattheSeigneurdeLocmariawouldhunt。？No，andyetthedogs—\"
\"Unlesstheyhaveescapedfromthekennel。\"
\"No，\"
saidGoenne，\"theyarenottheSeigneurdeLocmaria\'shounds。\"
\"Incommonprudence，\"saidAramis，\"letusgobackintothegrotto;thevoicesevidentlydrawnearer，weshallsoonknowwhatwehavetotrustto。\"
Theyre—entered，buthadscarcelyproceededahundredstepsinthedarkness，whenanoiselikethehoarsesighofacreatureindistressresoundedthroughthecavern，andbreathless，rapid，terrified，afoxpassedlikeaflashoflightningbeforethefugitives，leapedovertheboatanddisappeared，leavingbehinditssourscent，whichwasperceptibleforseveralsecondsunderthelowvaultsofthecave。
\"Thefox！\"criedtheBretons，withthegladsurpriseofbornhunters。
\"Accursedmischance！\"criedthebishop，\"ourretreatisdiscovered。\"
\"Howso？\"saidPorthos;\"areyouafraidofafox？\"
\"Eh！
myfriend，whatdoyoumeanbythat？whydoyouspecifythefox？？Itisnotthefoxalone。？Pardieu！？Butdon\'tyouknow，Porthos，thatafterthefoxescomehounds，andafterhoundsmen？\"
Porthoshunghishead。？AsthoughtoconfirmthewordsofAramis，theyheardtheyelpingpackapproachwithfrightfulswiftnessuponthetrail。？Sixfoxhoundsburstatonceuponthelittleheath，withminglingyelpsoftriumph。
\"Therearethedogs，plainenough！\"saidAramis，postedonthelook—outbehindachinkintherocks;\"now，whoarethehuntsmen？\"
\"IfitistheSeigneurdeLocmaria\'s，\"repliedthesailor，\"hewillleavethedogstohuntthegrotto，forheknowsthem，andwillnotenterinhimself，beingquitesurethatthefoxwillcomeouttheotherside;itistherehewillwaitforhim。\"
\"ItisnottheSeigneurdeLocmariawhoishunting，\"repliedAramis，turningpaleinspiteofhiseffortstomaintainaplacidcountenance。
\"Whoisit，then？\"saidPorthos。
\"Look！\"
Porthosappliedhiseyetotheslit，andsawatthesummitofahillockadozenhorsemenurgingontheirhorsesinthetrackofthedogs，shouting，\"Ta颽ut！ta颽ut！\"
\"Theguards！\"saidhe。
\"Yes，myfriend，theking\'sguards。\"
\"Theking\'sguards！doyousay，monseigneur？\"criedtheBretons，growingpaleinturn。
\"WithBiscarratattheirhead，mounteduponmygrayhorse，\"continuedAramis。
Thehoundsatthesamemomentrushedintothegrottolikeanavalanche，andthedepthsofthecavernwerefilledwiththeirdeafeningcries。
\"Ah！
thedevil！\"saidAramis，resumingallhiscoolnessatthesightofthiscertain，inevitabledanger。？\"Iamperfectlysatisfiedwearelost，butwehave，atleast，onechanceleft。？Iftheguardswhofollowtheirhoundshappentodiscoverthereisanissuetothegrotto，thereisnohelpforus，foronenteringtheymustseebothourselvesandourboat。？Thedogsmustnotgooutofthecavern。？Theirmastersmustnotenter。\"
\"Thatisclear，\"saidPorthos。
\"Youunderstand，\"addedAramis，withtherapidprecisionofcommand;
\"therearesixdogsthatwillbeforcedtostopatthegreatstoneunderwhichthefoxhasglided—butatthetoonarrowopeningofwhichtheymustbethemselvesstoppedandkilled。\"
TheBretonssprangforward，knifeinhand。？Inafewminutestherewasalamentableconcertofangrybarksandmortalhowls—andthen，silence。
\"That\'swell！\"saidAramis，coolly，\"nowforthemasters！\"
\"Whatistobedonewiththem？\"saidPorthos。
\"Waittheirarrival，concealourselves，andkillthem。\"
\"Killthem！\"repliedPorthos。
\"Therearesixteen，\"saidAramis，\"atleast，atpresent。\"
\"Andwellarmed，\"addedPorthos，withasmileofconsolation。
\"Itwilllastabouttenminutes，\"saidAramis。？\"Towork！\"
Andwitharesoluteairhetookupamusket，andplacedahunting—knifebetweenhisteeth。
\"Yves，Goenne，andhisson，\"continuedAramis，willpassthemusketstous。？You，Porthos，willfirewhentheyareclose。？Weshallhavebroughtdown，atthelowestcomputation，eight，beforetheothersareawareofanything—thatiscertain;thenall，therearefiveofus，willdispatchtheothereight，knifeinhand。\"
\"AndpoorBiscarrat？\"saidPorthos。
Aramisreflectedamoment—\"Biscarratfirst，\"repliedhe，coolly。？\"Heknowsus。\"
ChapterXLVIII:
TheGrotto。
InspiteofthesortofdivinationwhichwastheremarkablesideofthecharacterofAramis，theevent，subjecttotherisksofthingsoverwhichuncertaintypresides，didnotfalloutexactlyasthebishopofVanneshadforeseen。？Biscarrat，bettermountedthanhiscompanions，arrivedfirstattheopeningofthegrotto，andcomprehendedthatfoxandhoundswereoneandallengulfedinit。？Only，struckbythatsuperstitiousterrorwhicheverydarkandsubterraneouswaynaturallyimpressesuponthemindofman，hestoppedattheoutsideofthegrotto，andwaitedtillhiscompanionsshouldhaveassembledroundhim。
\"Well！\"
askedtheyoungmen，comingup，outofbreath，andunabletounderstandthemeaningofthisinaction。
\"Well！？Icannothearthedogs;theyandthefoxmustallbelostinthisinfernalcavern。\"
\"Theyweretoocloseup，\"saidoneoftheguards，\"tohavelostscentallatonce。？Besides，weshouldhearthemfromonesideoranother。？Theymust，asBiscarratsays，beinthisgrotto。\"
\"Butthen，\"saidoneoftheyoungmen，\"whydon\'ttheygivetongue？\"
\"Itisstrange！\"mutteredanother。
\"Well，but，\"saidafourth，\"letusgointothisgrotto。？Doesithappentobeforbiddenweshouldenterit？\"
\"No，\"
repliedBiscarrat。？\"Only，asitlooksasdarkasawolf\'smouth，wemightbreakournecksinit。\"
\"Witnessthedogs，\"saidaguard，\"whoseemtohavebrokentheirs。\"
\"Whatthedevilcanhavebecomeofthem？\"askedtheyoungmeninchorus。？Andeverymastercalledhisdogbyhisname，whistledtohiminhisfavoritemode，withoutasingleonereplyingtoeithercallorwhistle。
\"Itisperhapsanenchantedgrotto，\"saidBiscarrat;\"letussee。\"？And，jumpingfromhishorse，hemadeastepintothegrotto。
\"Stop！
stop！？Iwillaccompanyyou，\"saidoneoftheguards，onseeingBiscarratdisappearintheshadesofthecavern\'smouth。
\"No，\"
repliedBiscarrat，\"theremustbesomethingextraordinaryintheplace—
don\'tletusriskourselvesallatonce。？Ifintenminutesyoudonothearofme，youcancomein，butnotallatonce。\"
\"Beitso，\"saidtheyoungman，who，besides，didnotimaginethatBiscarratranmuchriskintheenterprise，\"wewillwaitforyou。\"？Andwithoutdismountingfromtheirhorses，theyformedacircleroundthegrotto。
Biscarratenteredthenalone，andadvancedthroughthedarknesstillhecameincontactwiththemuzzleofPorthos\'smusket。？Theresistancewhichhischestmetwithastonishedhim;henaturallyraisedhishandandlaidholdoftheicybarrel。？Atthesameinstant，Yvesliftedaknifeagainsttheyoungman，whichwasabouttofalluponhimwithallforceofaBreton\'sarm，whentheironwristofPorthosstoppedithalf—way。？Then，likelowmutteringthunder，hisvoicegrowledinthedarkness，\"Iwillnothavehimkilled！\"
Biscarratfoundhimselfbetweenaprotectionandathreat，theonealmostasterribleastheother。？Howeverbravetheyoungmanmightbe，hecouldnotpreventacryescapinghim，whichAramisimmediatelysuppressedbyplacingahandkerchiefoverhismouth。？\"MonsieurdeBiscarrat，\"saidhe，inalowvoice，\"wemeanyounoharm，andyoumustknowthatifyouhaverecognizedus;
but，atthefirstword，thefirstgroan，thefirstwhisper，weshallbeforcedtokillyouaswehavekilledyourdogs。\"
\"Yes，Irecognizeyou，gentlemen，\"saidtheofficer，inalowvoice。？\"Butwhyareyouhere—whatareyoudoing，here？？Unfortunatemen！？Ithoughtyouwereinthefort。\"
\"Andyou，monsieur，youweretoobtainconditionsforus，Ithink？\"
\"I
didallIwasable，messieurs，but—\"
\"Butwhat？\"
\"Buttherearepositiveorders。\"
\"Tokillus？\"
Biscarratmadenoreply。？Itwouldhavecosthimtoomuchtospeakofthecordtogentlemen。？Aramisunderstoodthesilenceoftheprisoner。
\"MonsieurBiscarrat，\"saidhe，\"youwouldbealreadydeadifwehadnotregardforyouryouthandourancientassociationwithyourfather;butyoumayyetescapefromtheplacebyswearingthatyouwillnottellyourcompanionswhatyouhaveseen。\"
\"I
willnotonlyswearthatIwillnotspeakofit，\"saidBiscarrat，\"butIstillfurtherswearthatIwilldoeverythingintheworldtopreventmycompanionsfromsettingfootinthegrotto。\"
\"Biscarrat！？Biscarrat！\"criedseveralvoicesfromtheoutside，cominglikeawhirlwindintothecave。
\"Reply，\"
saidAramis。
\"HereIam！\"criedBiscarrat。
\"Now，begone;wedependonyourloyalty。\"？Andhelefthisholdoftheyoungman，whohastilyreturnedtowardsthelight。
\"Biscarrat！？Biscarrat！\"criedthevoices，stillnearer。？Andtheshadowsofseveralhumanformsprojectedintotheinteriorofthegrotto。？Biscarratrushedtomeethisfriendsinordertostopthem，andmetthemjustastheywereadventuringintothecave。？AramisandPorthoslistenedwiththeintenseattentionofmenwhoselifedependsuponabreathofair。
\"Oh！
oh！\"exclaimedoneoftheguards，ashecametothelight，\"howpaleyouare！\"
\"Pale！\"
criedanother;\"yououghttosaycorpse—color。\"
\"I！\"
saidtheyoungman，endeavoringtocollecthisfaculties。
\"InthenameofHeaven！whathashappened？\"exclaimedallthevoices。
\"Youhavenotadropofbloodinyourveins，mypoorfriend，\"saidoneofthem，laughing。
\"Messieurs，itisserious，\"saidanother，\"heisgoingtofaint;doesanyoneofyouhappentohaveanysalts？\"？Andtheyalllaughed。
ThishailofjestsfellroundBiscarrat\'searslikemusket—ballsinam阬閑。？Herecoveredhimselfamidstadelugeofinterrogations。
\"WhatdoyousupposeIhaveseen？\'askedhe。？\"IwastoohotwhenIenteredthegrotto，andIhavebeenstruckwithachill。？Thatisall。\"
\"Butthedogs，thedogs;haveyouseenthemagain—didyouseeanythingofthem—
doyouknowanythingaboutthem？\"
\"Isupposetheyhavegotoutsomeotherway。\"
\"Messieurs，\"
saidoneoftheyoungmen，\"thereisinthatwhichisgoingon，inthepalenessandsilenceofourfriend，amysterywhichBiscarratwillnot，orcannotreveal。？Only，andthisiscertain，Biscarrathasseensomethinginthegrotto。？Well，formypart，Iamverycurioustoseewhatitis，evenifitisthedevil！？Tothegrotto！
messieurs，tothegrotto！\"
\"Tothegrotto！\"repeatedallthevoices。？AndtheechoofthecaverncarriedlikeamenacetoPorthosandAramis，\"Tothegrotto！tothegrotto！\"
Biscarratthrewhimselfbeforehiscompanions。？\"Messieurs！messieurs！\"criedhe，\"inthenameofHeaven！
donotgoin！\"
\"Why，whatistheresoterrificinthecavern？\"askedseveralatonce。？\"Come，speak，Biscarrat。\"
\"Decidedly，itisthedevilhehasseen，\"repeatedhewhohadbeforeadvancedthathypothesis。
\"Well，\"
saidanother，\"ifhehasseenhim，heneednotbeselfish;hemayaswellletushavealookathiminturn。\"
\"Messieurs！
messieurs！？Ibeseechyou，\"urgedBiscarrat。
\"Nonsense！？Letuspass！\"
\"Messieurs，Iimploreyounottoenter！\"
\"Why，youwentinyourself。\"
Thenoneoftheofficers，who—ofariperagethantheothers—hadtillthistimeremainedbehind，andhadsaidnothing，advanced。？\"Messieurs，\"saidhe，withacalmnesswhichcontrastedwiththeanimationoftheyoungmen，\"thereisintheresomeperson，orsomething，thatisnotthedevil;butwhich，whateveritmaybe，hashadsufficientpowertosilenceourdogs。？Wemustdiscoverwhothissomeoneis，orwhatthissomethingis。\"
Biscarratmadealastefforttostophisfriends，butitwasuseless。？Invainhethrewhimselfbeforetherashest;
invainheclungtotherockstobarthepassage;thecrowdofyoungmenrushedintothecave，inthestepsoftheofficerwhohadspokenlast，butwhohadsprunginfirst，swordinhand，tofacetheunknowndanger。？Biscarrat，repulsedbyhisfriends，unabletoaccompanythem，withoutpassingintheeyesofPorthosandAramisforatraitorandaperjurer，withpainfullyattentiveearandunconsciouslysupplicatinghandsleanedagainsttheroughsideofarockwhichhethoughtmustbeexposedtothefireofthemusketeers。？Astotheguards，theypenetratedfurtherandfurther，withexclamationsthatgrewfainterastheyadvanced。？Allatonce，adischargeofmusketry，growlinglikethunder，explodedintheentrailsofthevault。？TwoorthreeballswereflattenedagainsttherockonwhichBiscarratwasleaning。？Atthesameinstant，cries，shrieks，imprecationsburstforth，andthelittletroopofgentlemenreappeared—somepale，somebleeding—allenvelopedinacloudofsmoke，whichtheouterairseemedtosuckfromthedepthsofthecavern。？\"Biscarrat！？Biscarrat！\"criedthefugitives，\"youknewtherewasanambuscadeinthatcavern，andyoudidnotwarnus！？Biscarrat，youarethecausethatfourofusaremurderedmen！？Woebetoyou，Biscarrat！\"
\"Youarethecauseofmybeingwoundeduntodeath，\"saidoneoftheyoungmen，lettingagushofscarletlife—bloodvomitinhispalm，andspatteringitintoBiscarrat\'slividface。？\"Mybloodbeonyourhead！\"？Andherolledinagonyatthefeetoftheyoungman。
\"But，atleast，telluswhoisthere？\"criedseveralfuriousvoices。