Does it please your honor that I should accompany you ?" "You or another; it is of very little consequence, provided I have a light." "It is strange!" thought Athos; "what a singular voice that man has!" "Some fire, you fellows!" cried the fisherman; "come, make haste!" Then addressing his companion nearest to him in a low voice:--"Get ready a light, Menneville," said he, "and hold yourself ready for anything." One of the fishermen struck light from a stone, set fire to some tinder, and by the aid of a match lit a lantern.

The light immediately spread all over the tent.
"Are you ready, monsieur ?" said Monk to Athos, who had turned away, not to expose his face to the light.
"Yes, general," replied he.
"Ah! the French gentleman!" said the leader of the fishermen to himself.
"_Peste!_ I have a great mind to charge you with the commission, Menneville; he may know me.

Light! light!" This dialogue was pronounced at the back of the tent, and in so low a voice that Monk could not hear a syllable of it; he was, besides, talking with Athos.

Menneville got himself ready in the meantime, or rather received the orders of his leader.
"Well ?" said Monk.
"I am ready, general," said the fisherman.
Monk, Athos, and the fisherman left the tent.
"It is impossible!" thought Athos.

"What dream could put that into my head ?" "Go forward; follow the middle causeway, and stretch out your legs," said Monk to the fisherman.
They were not twenty paces on their way when the same shadow that had appeared to enter the tent came out of it again, crawled along as far as the piles, and, protected by that sort of parapet placed along the causeway, carefully observed the march of the general.