At last it came within musket-shot.

All the men were on deck, arms in hand; the cannoniers were at their guns, the matches burning.

It might be thought they were about to board a frigate and to fight a crew superior in number to their own, not to attempt the capture of a canoe manned by four people.
"Surrender!" cried the commander of the _balancelle_, with the aid of his speaking-trumpet.
The sailors looked at Aramis.

Aramis made a sign with his head.

Yves waved a white cloth at the end of a gaff.