Volume Ii Part 70 (2/2)

The little skiff, left to its own resources, had remained for some time in the same spot; and that delay enabled Paul and his companions to arrive before it foundered. But it was high time that a.s.sistance should reach the two persons afloat in that fragile vessel; a fresh breeze was driving it toward the most dangerous spot.

Paul and Edmond, throwing off their coats, plunged into the stream and swam with powerful strokes toward the boat. But they were forced to contend against the current and against the eddies that are concealed beneath the surface of the Marne. Despite their utmost efforts, they made but slow progress, and it was clear that they could not arrive in time to save the two women--when suddenly a boat appeared in their wake.

Freluchon was seated in it, rowing with all his strength.

”This way,” he cried; ”jump into my skiff--we shall get there sooner.--Gad! what luck! there are more oars floating on the water! I have one of them; push the other this way, Edmond; that's it!”

Edmond and Paul climbed into the boat; having two pairs of oars they overhauled the little boat much more rapidly and reached it at last, as it was on the point of foundering.

Agathe and Honorine leaped on board; they were with their friends--they were saved! They embraced and shook hands; they looked up toward heaven; but for some minutes no one could utter a word.

But the danger past, their emotion finally subsided.

”What were you doing here?” cried Edmond. ”Why did you come here?”

Honorine showed the letter they had received. Edmond instantly recognized Thelenie's handwriting; she had not even tried to disguise it, feeling sure that her victims would carry the letter with them to the bottom of the river.

”Oh! that woman is a monster!” said Paul. ”But for my good Ami, we should never have looked for you in this direction.”

”We had no sooner received the note,” continued Honorine, ”than Agathe and I left the house in haste. When we reached the bank of the river, we saw a man sitting beside a boat; we thanked heaven for the chance, we ran to the man and offered him whatever he chose, to take us to the first island above the mill. He agreed. We got into the boat and he rowed for some time in the direction we had indicated; then, all of a sudden, we saw him take his oars out of the rowlocks, throw them overboard, and jump over after them. We were utterly unable to understand such behavior, but we soon saw that we had stepped into a trap. The man swam ash.o.r.e; but we, abandoned in our boat, without oars, and driven constantly nearer and nearer to a place where the danger was extreme, were at the point of death when you came to our a.s.sistance.”

”But without Freluchon all our efforts would have gone for nothing.--By what miracle did you find this boat?”

”The miracle is easily explained: while you were swimming, I searched the bank, saying to myself that it wasn't possible that there was not a boat to be found on the banks of a river; that it would be like finding no cabs at a cabstand. At last I saw one; there was no driver, but I didn't care for that. It was fastened to a stake by a chain and padlock, but I said to myself: 'We'll see about this; now's the time to be strong!'--Faith, I broke everything, chain and padlock and stake--but I got the boat!”

Edmond and Paul embraced Freluchon. The young women kissed him, whereupon he exclaimed:

”My word! it's very pleasant to be strong!--But I no longer hear Ami's voice. Look, there he is on the other bank; he is pointing at something in front of him.”

”Yes, something that doesn't move. It is your pretended boatman, mesdames, whom Ami has compelled to drown himself; then I presume he went into the water for him and took him ash.o.r.e. Let us spare the ladies that shocking sight; let us put them ash.o.r.e on this side; then I will go across and identify the fellow.”

The boat grounded near the bridge.

Honorine and Agathe stepped ash.o.r.e and started for home under the escort of Edmond, Paul advising him to take them by the least frequented roads, so that they might not be seen, and to enter by the small gate at the foot of the garden.

Then, with Freluchon, he rowed to the other bank, where honest Ami awaited them, still holding his enemy under his feet.

Croque was quite dead. After trying vainly to reach the sh.o.r.e, which Ami prevented him from doing by throwing himself upon him at every attempt, Thelenie's brother had felt his strength abandon him. Afraid to give battle to the dog, whom he recognized perfectly as the one which long before had inflicted the wound of which he still bore the mark, Croque lost courage; he tried to call for help, but his voice failed him, and he soon disappeared under the surface. Then Ami plunged in after him and dragged him to land, as a trophy of his victory, which he desired to exhibit to his master.

”It is the Baron von Schtapelmerg and no mistake!” said Freluchon.

”Yes,” said Paul, ”it is Thelenie's brother, the man who robbed me long ago.”

”The villain won't rob anybody else; he has well earned what has happened to him. Bravo, Ami! embrace me, good dog! Ah! but for you, many disasters would have happened!”

While Freluchon embraced Ami, who made no resistance, like one who receives what is his due, Paul searched Croque's pockets, in which he hoped to find some new proof of the crime Thelenie had plotted.

But he found nothing on the drowned man save the roll of gold, containing a thousand francs, which he had carefully bestowed in his belt.

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