The Man in the Iron Mask by Alexandre Dumas (the beginning after the end novel read txt) ๐
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- Author: Alexandre Dumas
Read book online ยซThe Man in the Iron Mask by Alexandre Dumas (the beginning after the end novel read txt) ๐ยป. Author - Alexandre Dumas
โAh, ah!โ said Porthos, quietly, โwhat is to be done, then?โ
โTo recommence the combat,โ said Aramis, โis hazardous.โ
โYes,โ said Porthos, โfor it is difficult to suppose that out of two, one should not be killed; and certainly, if one of us was killed, the other would get himself killed also.โ Porthos spoke these words with that heroic nature which, with him, grew grander with necessity.
Aramis felt it like a spur to his heart. โWe shall neither of us be killed if you do what I tell you, friend Porthos.โ
โTell me what?โ
โThese people are coming down into the grotto.โ
โYes.โ
โWe could kill about fifteen of them, but no more.โ
โHow many are there in all?โ asked Porthos.
โThey have received a reinforcement of seventy-five men.โ
โSeventy-five and five, eighty. Ah!โ sighed Porthos.
โIf they fire all at once they will riddle us with balls.โ
โCertainly they will.โ
โWithout reckoning,โ added Aramis, โthat the detonation might occasion a collapse of the cavern.โ
โAy,โ said Porthos, โa piece of falling rock just now grazed my shoulder.โ
โYou see, then?โ
โOh! it is nothing.โ
โWe must determine upon something quickly. Our Bretons are going to continue to roll the canoe towards the sea.โ
โVery well.โ
โWe two will keep the powder, the balls, and the muskets here.โ
โBut only two, my dear Aramisโwe shall never fire three shots together,โ said Porthos, innocently, โthe defense by musketry is a bad one.โ
โFind a better, then.โ
โI have found one,โ said the giant, eagerly; โI will place myself in ambuscade behind the pillar with this iron bar, and invisible, unattackable, if they come in floods, I can let my bar fall upon their skulls, thirty times in a minute. Hein! what do you think of the project? You smile!โ
โExcellent, dear friend, perfect! I approve it greatly; only you will frighten them, and half of them will remain outside to take us by famine. What we want, my good friend, is the entire destruction of the troop. A single survivor encompasses our ruin.โ
โYou are right, my friend, but how can we attract them, pray?โ
โBy not stirring, my good Porthos.โ
โWell! we wonโt stir, then; but when they are all togetherโโ
โThen leave it to me, I have an idea.โ
โIf it is so, and your idea proves a good oneโand your idea is most likely to be goodโI am satisfied.โ
โTo your ambuscade, Porthos, and count how many enter.โ
โBut you, what will you do?โ
โDonโt trouble yourself about me; I have a task to perform.โ
โI think I hear shouts.โ
โIt is they! To your post. Keep within reach of my voice and hand.โ
Porthos took refuge in the second compartment, which was in darkness, absolutely black. Aramis glided into the third; the giant held in his hand an iron bar of about fifty pounds weight. Porthos handled this lever, which had been used in rolling the bark, with marvelous facility. During this time, the Bretons had pushed the bark to the beach. In the further and lighter compartment, Aramis, stooping and concealed, was busy with some mysterious maneuver. A command was given in a loud voice. It was the
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