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We were obliged still to continue fast by the shore till noon, when the wind abating, the boat advanced about two miles by the help of the cordel, so far as to arrive at a small bend in the river, which brought the wind a little in our favor, so as to pass by its aid to the other side, in the hope, if the wind continued the same on the morrow, to profit by it and proceed.
At all events, there is the Spanish war in sight, and Cordel isn't likely to follow me to Flanders." I spoke lightly, but this second attempt on my life was really a serious matter, showing as it did that my enemy had not abandoned his design. The next few days, however, were very busy ones, and the course of events gave me little leisure for brooding over my own dangerous position.
"If I learn anything more," he said, "I will send you a note by a trusty messenger, and that you may be sure it comes from me I will sign it D'Angely." "A good suggestion, monsieur. Now, there is still time for an hour or two's sleep before starting on your journey." "I must not be here at daylight: if Cordel recognizes me, I can do you no more good."
My visitor came all the way from Paris in this wretched weather and at some risk to himself to warn me against Etienne Cordel"; and thereupon I told Jacques the story, though without revealing the adventurer's identity. "The tale rings true," said he, "but we ought to be a match for the lawyer's cut-throats. 'Tis a pity that Cordel won't give us a chance of measuring swords with him."
I had always been a favourite with them, and the death of my father, of whose prowess at D'Angely they had heard, increased their love. "Ho, ho!" exclaimed one burly fellow, "now that our young lord has come back Monsieur Cordel can take himself off, or he will get a taste of my cudgel!" "No, no, my friend!"
Not a soul, unless ! Ah, the name leaped of itself into my mind. Who was the maker of mischief but Etienne Cordel? I put together all that I had heard of this man whom Jacques detested so thoroughly. He was a lawyer, who, by some means, had amassed wealth and lands.
"Well?" I said, startled by this statement, and yet puzzled to understand how it affected us. "If so, he must be trying to obtain possession of the papers. He would follow the wounded man, and suddenly lose him. He failed to get any information from old Pierre, and he learned little from us; but the advocate would tell him everything." "What could Cordel tell?" I asked, still puzzled.
When the river is full, and the flood, of course, strong, this cataract must, in my opinion, be almost impassable upwards, as, on account of the strange direction of the river, little or no aid can be derived from the wind, and the current in some places, from the straitness of the passages between the rocks and islands, must, in the time of the inundation, be very furious, while the cordel, from the natural obstacles which cover the shore of this cataract, could hardly overcome the difficulties which every mile or two would present.
Set out very early in the morning, it being dead calm, and the boat in consequence unable to proceed, except by the cordel, to see the strangers, and to be informed of their accommodations, as I feared that they too were obliged to participate in the privations to which we were all exposed. After about two hours walk at length came up with the boat, on board of which these gentlemen were.
Some one had started the report that my enemy was Etienne Cordel, and a cry had been raised to march to his house and burn it about his ears. "But they do not mean it?" I exclaimed. "As far as words go, they do," replied Jacques; "but dogs that are so ready to bark rarely bite."
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