The adventurers stepped ashore as calmly as if they; were quite alone, and pushing the two Spaniards before them, advanced resolutely toward the soldiers.
The latter, astonished, confounded at such audacity, watched them coming without daring to make a movement to oppose them.
These three adventurers were Montbarts, Michael the Basque, and L'Olonnais, and seven or eight dogs followed them. The two Spaniards walked unarmed in front of them, being alarmed about their fate, as was proved by the pallor of their faces, and the startled glances which they threw around them.
The Count, on perceiving the adventurers, uttered a cry of rage, and bounded with uplifted sword to meet them.
"Down with the ladrones!" he cried.
The soldiers, ashamed of being held in check by three men, wheeled round, and boldly advanced.
The adventurers were surrounded in an instant; but, without displaying the slightest surprise at this manoeuvre, they also halted, and standing shoulder to shoulder, faced all sides at once.
The soldiers instinctively stopped.
"Death!" the Count cried; "No mercy for the ladrones!"
"Silence," Montbarts replied; "before menacing, listen to the news these two couriers bring you."