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.