To escape by sea, at the moment the cavern was about to be invaded, was impossible.

In fact, the daylight which had just been admitted to the last compartments had exposed to the soldiers the bark being rolled towards the sea, the two rebels within musket-shot; and one of their discharges would riddle the boat if it did not kill the navigators.

Besides, allowing everything,--if the bark escaped with the men on board of it, how could the alarm be suppressed--how could notice to the royal lighters be prevented?
What could hinder the poor canoe, followed by sea and watched from the shore, from succumbing before the end of the day?
Aramis, digging his hands into his gray hair with rage, invoked the assistance of God and the assistance of the demons.

Calling to Porthos, who was doing more work than all the rollers--whether of flesh or wood--"My friend," said he, "our adversaries have just received a reinforcement." "Ah, ah!" said Porthos, quietly, "what is to be done, then ?" "To recommence the combat," said Aramis, "is hazardous." "Yes," said Porthos, "for it is difficult to suppose that out of two, one should not be killed; and certainly, if one of us was killed, the other would get himself killed also." Porthos spoke these words with that heroic nature which, with him, grew grander with necessity.
Aramis felt it like a spur to his heart.

"We shall neither of us be killed if you do what I tell you, friend Porthos." "Tell me what ?" "These people are coming down into the grotto." "Yes." "We could kill about fifteen of them, but no more." "How many are there in all ?" asked Porthos.
"They have received a reinforcement of seventy-five men." "Seventy-five and five, eighty.