Porthos tells Aramis how his father and grandfather died in accidents preceded by an unexpected fatigue in their legs. Porthos claims he has experienced similar fatigues in his legs four times at Belle-Isle. Aramis tries to comfort him with the assumption that D’Artagnan is likely clearing the seas so they can escape, but at that moment, the fleet, under the leadership of a new commander, opens fire. Aramis and Porthos go out to engage in hand-to-hand combat as the musketeers come ashore, and Porthos takes one back inside as a prisoner.

Aramis and Porthos interrogate their prisoner, who reveals that their orders are to kill during the battle and hang whoever was left. The musketeer they captured turns out to be the son of a Cardinal they knew in their youth, and he tells them that to avoid being killed, they simply must not be caught. Aramis hears the sounds of artillery on the other side of the isle and realizes they are surrounded. He devises a plan by which they can escape by canoe through the caverns under the isle.