Biscarratremainedsilent。？"Tellus，ordie！"criedthewoundedman，raisinghimselfupononeknee，andliftingtowardshiscompanionanarmbearingauselesssword。？Biscarratrushedtowardshim，openinghisbreastfortheblow，butthewoundedmanfellbacknottoriseagain，utteringagroanwhichwashislast。？Biscarrat，withhaironend，haggardeyes，andbewilderedhead，advancedtowardstheinteriorofthecavern，saying，"Youareright。？Deathtome，whohaveallowedmycomradestobeassassinated。？Iamaworthlesswretch！"？Andthrowingawayhissword，forhewishedtodiewithoutdefendinghimself，herushedheadforemostintothecavern。？Theothersfollowedhim。？Theelevenwhoremainedoutofsixteenimitatedhisexample;buttheydidnotgofurtherthanthefirst。？A
　　seconddischargelaidfiveupontheicysand;andasitwasimpossibletoseewhencethismurderousthunderissued，theothersfellbackwithaterrorthatcanbebetterimaginedthandescribed。？But，farfromflying，astheothershaddone，Biscarratremainedsafeandsound，seatedonafragmentofrock，andwaited。？Therewereonlysixgentlemenleft。
　　"Seriously，"
　　saidoneofthesurvivors，"isitthedevil？"
　　"Mafoi！itismuchworse，"saidanother。
　　"AskBiscarrat，heknows。"
　　"WhereisBiscarrat？"？Theyoungmenlookedroundthem，andsawthatBiscarratdidnotanswer。
　　"Heisdead！"saidtwoorthreevoices。
　　"Oh！
　　no！"repliedanother，"Isawhimthroughthesmoke，sittingquietlyonarock。？Heisinthecavern;heiswaitingforus。"
　　"Hemustknowwhoarethere。"
　　"Andhowshouldheknowthem？"
　　"Hewastakenprisonerbytherebels。"
　　"Thatistrue。？Well！letuscallhim，andlearnfromhimwhomwehavetodealwith。"？Andallvoicesshouted，"Biscarrat！？Biscarrat！"？ButBiscarratdidnotanswer。
　　"Good！"
　　saidtheofficerwhohadshownsomuchcoolnessintheaffair。？"Wehavenolongeranyneedofhim;
　　herearereinforcementscoming。"
　　Infact，acompanyofguards，leftintherearbytheirofficers，whomtheardorofthechasehadcarriedaway—fromseventy—fivetoeightymen—arrivedingoodorder，ledbytheircaptainandthefirstlieutenant。？Thefiveofficershastenedtomeettheirsoldiers;and，inlanguagetheeloquenceofwhichmaybeeasilyimagined，theyrelatedtheadventure，andaskedforaid。？Thecaptaininterruptedthem。？"Whereareyourcompanions？"demandedhe。
　　"Dead！"
　　"Butthereweresixteenofyou！"
　　"Tenaredead。？Biscarratisinthecavern，andwearefive。"
　　"Biscarratisaprisoner？"
　　"Probably。"
　　"No，forhereheis—look。"？Infact，Biscarratappearedattheopeningofthegrotto。
　　"Heismakingasigntocomeon，"saidtheofficer。？"Comeon！"
　　"Comeon！"criedallthetroop。？AndtheyadvancedtomeetBiscarrat。
　　"Monsieur，"
　　saidthecaptain，addressingBiscarrat，"Iamassuredthatyouknowwhothemenareinthatgrotto，andwhomakesuchadesperatedefense。？Intheking'snameIcommandyoutodeclarewhatyouknow。"
　　"Captain，"
　　saidBiscarrat，"youhavenoneedtocommandme。？Mywordhasbeenrestoredtomethisveryinstant;andIcameinthenameofthesemen。"
　　"Totellmewhotheyare？"
　　"Totellyoutheyaredeterminedtodefendthemselvestothedeath，unlessyougrantthemsatisfactoryterms。"
　　"Howmanyarethereofthem，then？"
　　"Therearetwo，"saidBiscarrat。
　　"Therearetwo—andwanttoimposeconditionsuponus？"
　　"Therearetwo，andtheyhavealreadykilledtenofourmen。"
　　"Whatsortofpeoplearethey—giants？"
　　"Worsethanthat。？DoyourememberthehistoryoftheBastionSaint—Gervais，captain？"
　　"Yes;wherefourmusketeersheldoutagainstanarmy。"
　　"Well，thesearetwoofthosesamemusketeers。"
　　"Andtheirnames？"
　　"AtthatperiodtheywerecalledPorthosandAramis。？NowtheyarestyledM。d'HerblayandM。duVallon。"
　　"Andwhatinteresthavetheyinallthis？"
　　"ItistheywhowereholdingBell—IsleforM。Fouquet。"
　　Amurmurranthroughtheranksofthesoldiersonhearingthetwowords"PorthosandAramis。"？"Themusketeers！themusketeers！"repeatedthey。？Andamongallthesebravemen，theideathattheyweregoingtohaveastruggleagainsttwooftheoldestgloriesoftheFrencharmy，madeashiver，halfenthusiasm，two—thirdsterror，runthroughthem。？Infact，thosefournames—D'Artagnan，Athos，Porthos，andAramis—wereveneratedamongallwhoworeasword;as，inantiquity，thenamesofHercules，Theseus，Castor，andPolluxwerevenerated。
　　"Twomen—
　　andtheyhavekilledtenintwodischarges！？Itisimpossible，MonsieurBiscarrat！"
　　"Eh！
　　captain，"repliedthelatter，"Idonottellyouthattheyhavenotwiththemtwoorthreemen，asthemusketeersoftheBastionSaint—Gervaishadtwoorthreelackeys;but，believeme，captain，Ihaveseenthesemen，Ihavebeentakenprisonerbythem—Iknowtheythemselvesaloneareall—sufficienttodestroyanarmy。"
　　"Thatweshallsee，"saidthecaptain，"andthatinamoment，too。？Gentlemen，attention！"
　　Atthisreply，noonestirred，andallpreparedtoobey。？Biscarrataloneriskedalastattempt。
　　"Monsieur，"
　　saidhe，inalowvoice，"bepersuadedbyme;letuspassonourway。？Thosetwomen，thosetwolionsyouaregoingtoattack，willdefendthemselvestothedeath。？Theyhavealreadykilledtenofourmen;theywillkilldoublethenumber，andendbykillingthemselvesratherthansurrender。？Whatshallwegainbyfightingthem？"
　　"Weshallgaintheconsciousness，monsieur，ofnothavingallowedeightyoftheking'sguardstoretirebeforetworebels。？IfIlistenedtoyouradvice，monsieur，Ishouldbeadishonoredman;andbydishonoringmyselfIshoulddishonorthearmy。？Forward，mymen！"
　　Andhemarchedfirstasfarastheopeningofthegrotto。？Therehehalted。？TheobjectofthishaltwastogiveBiscarratandhiscompanionstimetodescribetohimtheinteriorofthegrotto。？Then，whenhebelievedhehadasufficientacquaintancewiththeplace，hedividedhiscompanyintothreebodies，whichweretoentersuccessively，keepingupasustainedfireinalldirections。？Nodoubt，inthisattacktheywouldlosefivemore，perhapsten;but，certainly，theymustendbytakingtherebels，sincetherewasnoissue;and，atanyrate，twomencouldnotkilleighty。
　　"Captain，"
　　saidBiscarrat，"Ibegtobeallowedtomarchattheheadofthefirstplatoon。"
　　"Sobeit，"repliedthecaptain;"youhaveallthehonor。？Imakeyouapresentofit。"
　　"Thanks！"
　　repliedtheyoungman，withallthefirmnessofhisrace。
　　"Takeyoursword，then。"
　　"IshallgoasIam，captain，"saidBiscarrat，"forIdonotgotokill，Igotobekilled。"
　　Andplacinghimselfattheheadofthefirstplatoon，withheaduncoveredandarmscrossed，—"March，gentlemen，"saidhe。
　　ChapterXLIX:
　　AnHomericSong。
　　Itistimetopasstotheothercamp，andtodescribeatoncethecombatantsandthefieldofbattle。？AramisandPorthoshadgonetothegrottoofLocmariawiththeexpectationoffindingtheretheircanoereadyarmed，aswellasthethreeBretons，theirassistants;andtheyatfirsthopedtomakethebarkpassthroughthelittleissueofthecavern，concealinginthatfashionboththeirlaborsandtheirflight。？Thearrivalofthefoxanddogsobligedthemtoremainconcealed。？Thegrottoextendedthespaceofaboutahundredtoises，tothatlittleslopedominatingacreek。？FormerlyatempleoftheCelticdivinities，whenBelle—IslewasstillcalledKalon鑣e，thisgrottohadbeheldmorethanonehumansacrificeaccomplishedinitsmysticdepths。？Thefirstentrancetothecavernwasbyamoderatedescent，abovewhichdistortedrocksformedaweirdarcade;theinterior，veryunevenanddangerousfromtheinequalitiesofthevault，wassubdividedintoseveralcompartments，whichcommunicatedwitheachotherbymeansofroughandjaggedsteps，fixedrightandleft，inuncouthnaturalpillars。？Atthethirdcompartmentthevaultwassolow，thepassagesonarrow，thatthebarkwouldscarcelyhavepassedwithouttouchingtheside;nevertheless，inmomentsofdespair，woodsoftensandstonegrowsflexiblebeneaththehumanwill。？SuchwasthethoughtofAramis，when，afterhavingfoughtthefight，hedecideduponflight—aflightmostdangerous，sincealltheassailantswerenotdead;andthat，admittingthepossibilityofputtingthebarktosea，theywouldhavetoflyinopenday，beforetheconquered，sointerestedonrecognizingtheirsmallnumber，inpursuingtheirconquerors。？Whenthetwodischargeshadkilledtenmen，Aramis，familiarwiththewindingsofthecavern，wenttoreconnoiterthemonebyone，andcountedthem，forthesmokepreventedseeingoutside;andheimmediatelycommandedthatthecanoeshouldberolledasfarasthegreatstone，theclosureoftheliberatingissue。？Porthoscollectedallhisstrength，tookthecanoeinhisarms，andraiseditup，whilsttheBretonsmadeitrunrapidlyalongtherollers。？Theyhaddescendedintothethirdcompartment;theyhadarrivedatthestonewhichwalledtheoutlet。？Porthosseizedthisgiganticstoneatitsbase，appliedhisrobustshoulder，andgaveaheavewhichmadethewallcrack。？Acloudofdustfellfromthevault，withtheashesoftenthousandgenerationsofseabirds，whosenestsstucklikecementtotherock。？Atthethirdshockthestonegaveway，andoscillatedforaminute。？Porthos，placinghisbackagainsttheneighboringrock，madeanarchwithhisfoot，whichdrovetheblockoutofthecalcareousmasseswhichservedforhingesandcramps。？Thestonefell，anddaylightwasvisible，brilliant，radiant，floodingthecavernthroughtheopening，andtheblueseaappearedtothedelightedBretons。？Theybegantoliftthebarkoverthebarricade。？Twentymoretoises，anditwouldglideintotheocean。？Itwasduringthistimethatthecompanyarrived，wasdrawnupbythecaptain，anddisposedforeitheranescaladeoranassault。？Aramiswatchedovereverything，tofavorthelaborsofhisfriends。？Hesawthereinforcements，countedthemen，andconvincedhimselfatasingleglanceoftheinsurmountableperiltowhichfreshcombatwouldexposethem。？Toescapebysea，atthemomentthecavernwasabouttobeinvaded，wasimpossible。？Infact，thedaylightwhichhadjustbeenadmittedtothelastcompartmentshadexposedtothesoldiersthebarkbeingrolledtowardsthesea，thetworebelswithinmusket—shot;andoneoftheirdischargeswouldriddletheboatifitdidnotkillthenavigators。？Besides，allowingeverything，—ifthebarkescapedwiththemenonboardofit，howcouldthealarmbesuppressed—howcouldnoticetotheroyallightersbeprevented？？Whatcouldhinderthepoorcanoe，followedbyseaandwatchedfromtheshore，fromsuccumbingbeforetheendoftheday？？Aramis，digginghishandsintohisgrayhairwithrage，invokedtheassistanceofGodandtheassistanceofthedemons。？CallingtoPorthos，whowasdoingmoreworkthanalltherollers—whetheroffleshorwood—"Myfriend，"saidhe，"ouradversarieshavejustreceivedareinforcement。"
　　"Ah，ah！"saidPorthos，quietly，"whatistobedone，then？"
　　"Torecommencethecombat，"saidAramis，"ishazardous。"
　　"Yes，"
　　saidPorthos，"foritisdifficulttosupposethatoutoftwo，oneshouldnotbekilled;andcertainly，ifoneofuswaskilled，theotherwouldgethimselfkilledalso。"？Porthosspokethesewordswiththatheroicnaturewhich，withhim，grewgranderwithnecessity。
　　Aramisfeltitlikeaspurtohisheart。？"WeshallneitherofusbekilledifyoudowhatItellyou，friendPorthos。"
　　"Tellmewhat？"
　　"Thesepeoplearecomingdownintothegrotto。"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Wecouldkillaboutfifteenofthem，butnomore。"
　　"Howmanyarethereinall？"askedPorthos。
　　"Theyhavereceivedareinforcementofseventy—fivemen。"
　　"Seventy—fiveandfive，eighty。？Ah！"sighedPorthos。
　　"Iftheyfireallatoncetheywillriddleuswithballs。"
　　"Certainlytheywill。"
　　"Withoutreckoning，"addedAramis，"thatthedetonationmightoccasionacollapseofthecavern。"
　　"Ay，"
　　saidPorthos，"apieceoffallingrockjustnowgrazedmyshoulder。"
　　"Yousee，then？"
　　"Oh！
　　itisnothing。"
　　"Wemustdetermineuponsomethingquickly。？OurBretonsaregoingtocontinuetorollthecanoetowardsthesea。"
　　"Verywell。"
　　"Wetwowillkeepthepowder，theballs，andthemusketshere。"
　　"Butonlytwo，mydearAramis—weshallneverfirethreeshotstogether，"saidPorthos，innocently，"thedefensebymusketryisabadone。"
　　"Findabetter，then。"
　　"I
　　havefoundone，"saidthegiant，eagerly;"Iwillplacemyselfinambuscadebehindthepillarwiththisironbar，andinvisible，unattackable，iftheycomeinfloods，Icanletmybarfallupontheirskulls，thirtytimesinaminute。？Hein！whatdoyouthinkoftheproject？？Yousmile！"
　　"Excellent，dearfriend，perfect！？Iapproveitgreatly;onlyyouwillfrightenthem，andhalfofthemwillremainoutsidetotakeusbyfamine。？Whatwewant，mygoodfriend，istheentiredestructionofthetroop。？Asinglesurvivorencompassesourruin。"
　　"Youareright，myfriend，buthowcanweattractthem，pray？"
　　"Bynotstirring，mygoodPorthos。"
　　"Well！
　　wewon'tstir，then;butwhentheyarealltogether—"
　　"Thenleaveittome，Ihaveanidea。"
　　"Ifitisso，andyourideaprovesagoodone—andyourideaismostlikelytobegood—Iamsatisfied。"
　　"Toyourambuscade，Porthos，andcounthowmanyenter。"
　　"Butyou，whatwillyoudo？"
　　"Don'ttroubleyourselfaboutme;Ihaveatasktoperform。"
　　"I
　　thinkIhearshouts。"
　　"Itisthey！？Toyourpost。？Keepwithinreachofmyvoiceandhand。"
　　Porthostookrefugeinthesecondcompartment，whichwasindarkness，absolutelyblack。？Aramisglidedintothethird;
　　thegiantheldinhishandanironbarofaboutfiftypoundsweight。？Porthoshandledthislever，whichhadbeenusedinrollingthebark，withmarvelousfacility。？Duringthistime，theBretonshadpushedthebarktothebeach。？Inthefurtherandlightercompartment，Aramis，stoopingandconcealed，wasbusywithsomemysteriousmaneuver。？Acommandwasgiveninaloudvoice。？Itwasthelastorderofthecaptaincommandant。？Twenty—fivemenjumpedfromtheupperrocksintothefirstcompartmentofthegrotto，andhavingtakentheirground，begantofire。？Theechoesshriekedandbarked，thehissingballsseemedactuallytorarefytheair，andthenopaquesmokefilledthevault。
　　"Totheleft！totheleft！"criedBiscarrat，who，inhisfirstassault，hadseenthepassagetothesecondchamber，andwho，animatedbythesmellofpowder，wishedtoguidehissoldiersinthatdirection。？Thetroop，accordingly，precipitatedthemselvestotheleft—thepassagegraduallygrowingnarrower。？Biscarrat，withhishandsstretchedforward，devotedtodeath，marchedinadvanceofthemuskets。？"Comeon！comeon！"exclaimedhe，"Iseedaylight！"
　　"Strike，Porthos！"criedthesepulchralvoiceofAramis。
　　Porthosbreathedaheavysigh—butheobeyed。？TheironbarfellfullanddirectupontheheadofBiscarrat，whowasdeadbeforehehadendedhiscry。？Thentheformidableleverrosetentimesintenseconds，andmadetencorpses。？Thesoldierscouldseenothing;theyheardsighsandgroans;theystumbledoverdeadbodies，butastheyhadnoconceptionofthecauseofallthis，theycameforwardjostlingeachother。？Theimplacablebar，stillfalling，annihilatedthefirstplatoon，withoutasinglesoundtowarnthesecond，whichwasquietlyadvancing;only，commandedbythecaptain，themenhadstrippedafir，growingontheshore，and，withitsresinousbranchestwistedtogether，thecaptainhadmadeaflambeau。？OnarrivingatthecompartmentwherePorthos，liketheexterminatingangel，haddestroyedallhetouched，thefirstrankdrewbackinterror。？Nofiringhadrepliedtothatoftheguards，andyettheirwaywasstoppedbyaheapofdeadbodies—theyliterallywalkedinblood。？Porthoswasstillbehindhispillar。？Thecaptain，illuminingwithtremblingpine—torchthisfrightfulcarnage，ofwhichheinvainsoughtthecause，drewbacktowardsthepillarbehindwhichPorthoswasconcealed。？Thenagigantichandissuedfromtheshade，andfastenedonthethroatofthecaptain，whoutteredastiflerattle;hisstretched—outarmsbeatingtheair，thetorchfellandwasextinguishedinblood。？Asecondafter，thecorpseofthecaptaindroppedclosetotheextinguishedtorch，andaddedanotherbodytotheheapofdeadwhichblockedupthepassage。？Allthiswaseffectedasmysteriouslyasthoughbymagic。？Athearingtherattlinginthethroatofthecaptain，thesoldierswhoaccompaniedhimhadturnedround，caughtaglimpseofhisextendedarms，hiseyesstartingfromtheirsockets，andthenthetorchfellandtheywereleftindarkness。？Fromanunreflective，instinctive，mechanicalfeeling，thelieutenantcried:
　　"Fire！"
　　Immediatelyavolleyofmusketryflamed，thundered，roaredinthecavern，bringingdownenormousfragmentsfromthevaults。？Thecavernwaslightedforaninstantbythisdischarge，andthenimmediatelyreturnedtopitchydarknessrenderedthickerbythesmoke。？Tothissucceededaprofoundsilence，brokenonlybythestepsofthethirdbrigade，nowenteringthecavern。
　　ChapterL:
　　TheDeathofaTitan。
　　AtthemomentwhenPorthos，moreaccustomedtothedarknessthanthesemen，comingfromopendaylight，waslookingroundhimtoseeifthroughthisartificialmidnightAramiswerenotmakinghimsomesignal，hefelthisarmgentlytouched，andavoicelowasabreathmurmuredinhisear，"Come。"
　　"Oh！"
　　saidPorthos。
　　"Hush！"
　　saidAramis，ifpossible，yetmoresoftly。
　　Andamidstthenoiseofthethirdbrigade，whichcontinuedtoadvance，theimprecationsoftheguardsstillleftalive，themuffledgroansofthedying，AramisandPorthosglidedunseenalongthegranitewallsofthecavern。？AramisledPorthosintothelastbutonecompartment，andshowedhim，inahollowoftherockywall，abarrelofpowderweighingfromseventytoeightypounds，towhichhehadjustattachedafuse。？"Myfriend，"saidhetoPorthos，"youwilltakethisbarrel，thematchofwhichIamgoingtosetfireto，andthrowitamidstourenemies;canyoudoso？"
　　"Parbleu！"repliedPorthos;andheliftedthebarrelwithonehand。？"Lightit！"
　　"Stop，"
　　saidAramis，"tilltheyareallmassedtogether，andthen，myJupiter，hurlyourthunderboltamongthem。"
　　"Lightit，"repeatedPorthos。
　　"Onmypart，"continuedAramis，"IwilljoinourBretons，andhelpthemtogetthecanoetothesea。？Iwillwaitforyouontheshore;launchitstrongly，andhastentous。"
　　"Lightit，"saidPorthos，athirdtime。
　　"Butdoyouunderstandme？"
　　"Parbleu！"saidPorthosagain，withlaughterthathedidnotevenattempttorestrain，"whenathingisexplainedtomeIunderstandit;begone，andgivemethelight。"
　　AramisgavetheburningmatchtoPorthos，whoheldouthisarmtohim，hishandsbeingengaged。？AramispressedthearmofPorthoswithbothhishands，andfellbacktotheoutletofthecavernwherethethreerowersawaitedhim。
　　Porthos，leftalone，appliedthesparkbravelytothematch。？Thespark—afeeblespark，firstprincipleofconflagration—
　　shoneinthedarknesslikeaglow—worm，thenwasdeadenedagainstthematchwhichitsetfireto，Porthosenliveningtheflamewithhisbreath。？Thesmokewasalittledispersed，andbythelightofthesparklingmatchobjectsmight，fortwoseconds，bedistinguished。？Itwasabriefbutsplendidspectacle，thatofthisgiant，pale，bloody，hiscountenancelightedbythefireofthematchburninginsurroundingdarkness！？Thesoldierssawhim，theysawthebarrelheheldinhishand—theyatonceunderstoodwhatwasgoingtohappen。？Then，thesemen，alreadychokedwithhorroratthesightofwhathadbeenaccomplished，filledwithterroratthoughtofwhatwasabouttobeaccomplished，gaveoutasimultaneousshriekofagony。？Someendeavoredtofly，buttheyencounteredthethirdbrigade，whichbarredtheirpassage;othersmechanicallytookaimandattemptedtofiretheirdischargedmuskets;othersfellinstinctivelyupontheirknees。？TwoorthreeofficerscriedouttoPorthostopromisehimhislibertyifhewouldsparetheirlives。？Thelieutenantofthethirdbrigadecommandedhismentofire;buttheguardshadbeforethemtheirterrifiedcompanions，whoservedasalivingrampartforPorthos。？Wehavesaidthatthelightproducedbythesparkandthematchdidnotlastmorethantwoseconds;butduringthesetwosecondsthisiswhatitillumined:inthefirstplace，thegiant，enlargedinthedarkness;then，attenpacesoff，aheapofbleedingbodies，crushed，mutilated，inthemidstofwhichsomestillheavedinthelastagony，liftingthemassasalastrespirationinflatingthesidesofsomeoldmonsterdyinginthenight。？EverybreathofPorthos，thusvivifyingthematch，senttowardsthisheapofbodiesaphosphorescentaura，mingledwithstreaksofpurple。？Inadditiontothisprincipalgroupscatteredaboutthegrotto，asthechancesofdeathorsurprisehadstretchedthem，isolatedbodiesseemedtobemakingghastlyexhibitionsoftheirgapingwounds。？Aboveground，beddedinpoolsofblood，rose，heavyandsparkling，theshort，thickpillarsofthecavern，ofwhichthestronglymarkedshadesthrewouttheluminousparticles。？Andallthiswasseenbythetremulouslightofamatchattachedtoabarrelofpowder，thatistosay，atorchwhich，whilstthrowingalightonthedeadpast，showeddeathtocome。
　　AsIhavesaid，thisspectacledidnotlastabovetwoseconds。？Duringthisshortspaceoftimeanofficerofthethirdbrigadegottogethereightmenarmedwithmuskets，and，throughanopening，orderedthemtofireuponPorthos。？Buttheywhoreceivedtheordertofiretrembledsothatthreeguardsfellbythedischarge，andthefiveremainingballshissedontosplinterthevault，plowtheground，orindentthepillarsofthecavern。
　　A
　　burstoflaughterrepliedtothisvolley;thenthearmofthegiantswunground;thenwasseenwhirlingthroughtheair，likeafallingstar，thetrainoffire。？Thebarrel，hurledadistanceofthirtyfeet，clearedthebarricadeofdeadbodies，andfellamidstagroupofshriekingsoldiers，whothrewthemselvesontheirfaces。？Theofficerhadfollowedthebrillianttrainintheair;heendeavoredtoprecipitatehimselfuponthebarrelandtearoutthematchbeforeitreachedthepowderitcontained。？Useless！？Theairhadmadetheflameattachedtotheconductormoreactive;thematch，whichatrestmighthaveburntfiveminutes，wasconsumedinthirtyseconds，andtheinfernalworkexploded。？Furiousvorticesofsulphurandnitre，devouringshoalsoffirewhichcaughteveryobject，theterriblethunderoftheexplosion，thisiswhatthesecondwhichfolloweddisclosedinthatcavernofhorrors。？Therockssplitlikeplanksofdealbeneaththeaxe。？A
　　jetoffire，smoke，andd閎rissprangfromthemiddleofthegrotto，enlargingasitmounted。？Thelargewallsofsilextotteredandfelluponthesand，andthesanditself，aninstrumentofpainwhenlaunchedfromitshardbed，riddledthefaceswithitsmyriadcuttingatoms。？Shrieks，imprecations，humanlife，deadbodies—allwereengulfedinoneterrificcrash。
　　Thethreefirstcompartmentsbecameonesepulchralsinkintowhichfellgrimlyback，intheorderoftheirweight，everyvegetable，mineral，orhumanfragment。？Thenthelightersandandashcamedowninturn，stretchinglikeawindingsheetandsmokingoverthedismalscene。？Andnow，inthisburningtomb，thissubterraneanvolcano，seektheking'sguardswiththeirbluecoatslacedwithsilver。？Seektheofficers，brilliantingold，seekforthearmsuponwhichtheydependedfortheirdefense。？Onesinglemanhasmadeofallofthosethingsachaosmoreconfused，moreshapeless，moreterriblethanthechaoswhichexistedbeforethecreationoftheworld。？Thereremainednothingofthethreecompartments—nothingbywhichGodcouldhaverecognizedHishandiwork。？AsforPorthos，afterhavinghurledthebarrelofpowderamidsthisenemies，hehadfled，asAramishaddirectedhimtodo，andhadgainedthelastcompartment，intowhichair，light，andsunshinepenetratedthroughtheopening。？Scarcelyhadheturnedtheanglewhichseparatedthethirdcompartmentfromthefourthwhenheperceivedatahundredpacesfromhimthebarkdancingonthewaves。？Therewerehisfriends，thereliberty，therelifeandvictory。？Sixmoreofhisformidablestrides，andhewouldbeoutofthevault;outofthevault！adozenofhisvigorousleapsandhewouldreachthecanoe。？Suddenlyhefelthiskneesgiveway;hiskneesseemedpowerless，hislegstoyieldbeneathhim。