"There are sixteen," said Aramis, "at least, up at present."
"And well armed," added Porthos, with a smile of consolation.
"It will last about ten minutes," said Aramis. "To work!"
And with a resolute air he took up a musket, and placed his hunting-knife between his teeth.
"Yves, Goenne, and his son," continued Aramis, "will pass the muskets to us. You, Porthos, will fire when they are close. We shall have brought down eight before the others are aware of anything—that is certain; then all, there are five of us, we will dispatch the other eight, knife in hand."
"And poor Biscarrat?" said Porthos.
Aramis reflected a moment. "Biscarrat the first," replied he, coolly; "he knows us."