Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.11-39
visible in the horizon, the waves whitened, a light played `
` over them, and gilded their foaming crests with gold. It was `
` day. `
` `
` Dantes stood mute and motionless before this majestic `
` spectacle, as if he now beheld it for the first time; and `
` indeed since his captivity in the Chateau d'If he had `
` forgotten that such scenes were ever to be witnessed. He `
` turned towards the fortress, and looked at both sea and `
` land. The gloomy building rose from the bosom of the ocean `
` with imposing majesty and seemed to dominate the scene. It `
` was about five o'clock. The sea continued to get calmer. `
` `
` "In two or three hours," thought Dantes, "the turnkey will `
` enter my chamber, find the body of my poor friend, recognize `
` it, seek for me in vain, and give the alarm. Then the tunnel `
` will be discovered; the men who cast me into the sea and who `
` must have heard the cry I uttered, will be questioned. Then `
` boats filled with armed soldiers will pursue the wretched `
` fugitive. The cannon will warn every one to refuse shelter `
` to a man wandering about naked and famished. The police of `
` Marseilles will be on the alert by land, whilst the governor `
` pursues me by sea. I am cold, I am hungry. I have lost even `
` the knife that saved me. O my God, I have suffered enough `
` surely! Have pity on me, and do for me what I am unable to `
` do for myself." `
` `
` As Dantes (his eyes turned in the direction of the Chateau `
` d'If) uttered this prayer, he saw off the farther point of `
` the Island of Pomegue a small vessel with lateen sail `
` skimming the sea like a gull in search of prey; and with his `
` sailor's eye he knew it to be a Genoese tartan. She was `
` coming out of Marseilles harbor, and was standing out to sea `
` rapidly, her sharp prow cleaving through the waves. "Oh," `
` cried Edmond, "to think that in half an hour I could join `
` her, did I not fear being questioned, detected, and conveyed `
` back to Marseilles! What can I do? What story can I invent? `
` under pretext of trading along the coast, these men, who are `
` in reality smugglers, will prefer selling me to doing a good `
` action. I must wait. But I cannot ---I am starving. In a few `
` hours my strength will be utterly exhausted; besides, `
` perhaps I have not been missed at the fortress. I can pass `
` as one of the sailors wrecked last night. My story will be `
` accepted, for there is no one left to contradict me." `
` `
` As he spoke, Dantes looked toward the spot where the `
` fishing-vessel had been wrecked, and started. The red cap of `
` one of the sailors hung to a point of the rock and some `
` timbers that had formed part of the vessel's keel, floated `
` at the foot of the crag. In an instant Dantes' plan was `
` formed. He swam to the cap, placed it on his head, seized `
` one of the timbers, and struck out so as to cut across the `
` course the vessel was taking. `
` `
` "I am saved!" murmured he. And this conviction restored his `
` strength. `
` `
` He soon saw that the vessel, with the wind dead ahead, was `
` tacking between the Chateau d'If and the tower of Planier. `
` For an instant he feared lest, instead of keeping in shore, `
` she should stand out to sea; but he soon saw that she would `
` pass, like most vessels bound for Italy, between the islands `
` of Jaros and Calaseraigne. However, the vessel and the `
` swimmer insensibly neared one another, and in one of its `
` tacks the tartan bore down within a quarter of a mile of `
` him. He rose on the waves, making signs of distress; but no `
` one on board saw him, and the vessel stood on another tack. `
` Dantes would have shouted, but he knew that the wind would `
` drown his voice. `
` `
` It was then he rejoiced at his precaution in taking the `
` timber, for without it he would have been unable, perhaps, `
` to reach the vessel -- certainly to return to shore, should `
` he be unsuccessful in attracting attention. `
` `
` Dantes, though almost sure as to what course the vessel `
` would take, had yet watched it anxiously until it tacked and `
` stood towards him. Then he advanced; but before they could `
` meet, the vessel again changed her course. By a violent `
` effort he rose half out of the water, waving his cap, and `
` uttering a loud shout peculiar to sailers. This time he was `
` both seen and heard, and the tartan instantly steered `
` towards him. At the same time, he saw they were about to `
` lower the boat. `
` `
` An instant after, the boat, rowed by two men, advanced `
` rapidly towards him. Dantes let go of the timber, which he `
` now thought to be useless, and swam vigorously to meet them. `
` But he had reckoned too much upon his strength, and then he `
` realized how serviceable the timber had been to him. His `
` arms became stiff, his legs lost their flexibility, and he `
` was almost breathless. `
` `
` He shouted again. The two sailors redoubled their efforts, `
` and one of them cried in Italian, "Courage!" `
` `
` The word reached his ear as a wave which he no longer had `
` the strength to surmount passed over his head. He rose again `
` to the surface, struggled with the last desperate effort of `
` a drowning man, uttered a third cry, and felt himself `
` sinking, as if the fatal cannon shot were again tied to his `
` feet. The water passed over his head, and the sky turned `
` gray. A convulsive movement again brought him to the `
` surface. He felt himself seized by the hair, then he saw and `
` heard nothing. He had fainted. `
` `
` When he opened his eyes Dantes found himself on the deck of `
` the tartan. His first care was to see what course they were `
` taking. They were rapidly leaving the Chateau d'If behind. `
` Dantes was so exhausted that the exclamation of joy he `
` uttered was mistaken for a sigh. `
` `
` As we have said, he was lying on the deck. A sailor was `
` rubbing his limbs with a woollen cloth; another, whom he `
` recognized as the one who had cried out "Courage!" held a `
` gourd full of rum to his mouth; while the third, an old `
` sailer, at once the pilot and captain, looked on with that `
` egotistical pity men feel for a misfortune that they have `
` escaped yesterday, and which may overtake them to-morrow. `
` `
` A few drops of the rum restored suspended animation, while `
` the friction of his limbs restored their elasticity. `
` `
` "Who are you?" said the pilot in bad French. `
` `
` "I am," replied Dantes, in bad Italian, "a Maltese sailor. `
` We were coming from Syracuse laden with grain. The storm of `
` last night overtook us at Cape Morgion, and we were wrecked `
` on these rocks." `
` `
` "Where do you come from?" `
` `
` "From these rocks that I had the good luck to cling to while `
` our captain and the rest of the crew were all lost. I saw `
` your vessel, and fearful of being left to perish on the `
` desolate island, I swam off on a piece of wreckage to try `
` and intercept your course. You have saved my life, and I `
` thank you," continued Dantes. "I was lost when one of your `
` sailors caught hold of my hair." `
` `
` "It was I," said a sailor of a frank and manly appearance; `
` "and it was time, for you were sinking." `
` `
` "Yes," returned Dantes, holding out his hand, "I thank you `
` again." `
` `
` "I almost hesitated, though," replied the sailor; "you `
` looked more like a brigand than an honest man, with your `
` beard six inches, and your hair a foot long." Dantes `
` recollected that his hair and beard had not been cut all the `
` time he was at the Chateau d'If. `
` `
` "Yes," said he, "I made a vow, to our Lady of the Grotto not `
` to cut my hair or beard for ten years if I were saved in a `
` moment of danger; but to-day the vow expires." `
` `
` "Now what are we to do with you?" said the captain. `
` `
` "Alas, anything you please. My captain is dead; I have `
` barely escaped; but I am a good sailor. Leave me at the `
` first port you make; I shall be sure to find employment." `
` `
` "Do you know the Mediterranean?" `
` `
` "I have sailed over it since my childhood." `
` `
` "You know the best harbors?" `
` `
` "There are few ports that I could not enter or leave with a `
` bandage over my eyes." `
` `
` "I say, captain," said the sailor who had cried "Courage!" `
` to Dantes, "if what he says is true, what hinders his `
` staying with us?" `
` `
` "If he says true," said the captain doubtingly. "But in his `
` present condition he will promise anything, and take his `
` chance of keeping it afterwards." `
` `
` "I will do more than I promise," said Dantes. `
` `
` "We shall see," returned the other, smiling. `
` `
` "Where are you going?" asked Dantes. `
` `
` "To Leghorn." `
` `
` "Then why, instead of tacking so frequently, do you not sail `
` nearer the wind?" `
` `
` "Because we should run straight on to the Island of Rion." `
` `
` "You shall pass it by twenty fathoms." `
` `
` "Take the helm, and let us see what you know." The young man `
` took the helm, felt to see if the vessel answered the rudder `
` promptly and seeing that, without being a first-rate sailer, `
` she yet was tolerably obedient, -- `
` `
` "To the sheets," said he. The four seamen, who composed the `
` crew, obeyed, while the pilot looked on. "Haul taut." -- `
`
` over them, and gilded their foaming crests with gold. It was `
` day. `
` `
` Dantes stood mute and motionless before this majestic `
` spectacle, as if he now beheld it for the first time; and `
` indeed since his captivity in the Chateau d'If he had `
` forgotten that such scenes were ever to be witnessed. He `
` turned towards the fortress, and looked at both sea and `
` land. The gloomy building rose from the bosom of the ocean `
` with imposing majesty and seemed to dominate the scene. It `
` was about five o'clock. The sea continued to get calmer. `
` `
` "In two or three hours," thought Dantes, "the turnkey will `
` enter my chamber, find the body of my poor friend, recognize `
` it, seek for me in vain, and give the alarm. Then the tunnel `
` will be discovered; the men who cast me into the sea and who `
` must have heard the cry I uttered, will be questioned. Then `
` boats filled with armed soldiers will pursue the wretched `
` fugitive. The cannon will warn every one to refuse shelter `
` to a man wandering about naked and famished. The police of `
` Marseilles will be on the alert by land, whilst the governor `
` pursues me by sea. I am cold, I am hungry. I have lost even `
` the knife that saved me. O my God, I have suffered enough `
` surely! Have pity on me, and do for me what I am unable to `
` do for myself." `
` `
` As Dantes (his eyes turned in the direction of the Chateau `
` d'If) uttered this prayer, he saw off the farther point of `
` the Island of Pomegue a small vessel with lateen sail `
` skimming the sea like a gull in search of prey; and with his `
` sailor's eye he knew it to be a Genoese tartan. She was `
` coming out of Marseilles harbor, and was standing out to sea `
` rapidly, her sharp prow cleaving through the waves. "Oh," `
` cried Edmond, "to think that in half an hour I could join `
` her, did I not fear being questioned, detected, and conveyed `
` back to Marseilles! What can I do? What story can I invent? `
` under pretext of trading along the coast, these men, who are `
` in reality smugglers, will prefer selling me to doing a good `
` action. I must wait. But I cannot ---I am starving. In a few `
` hours my strength will be utterly exhausted; besides, `
` perhaps I have not been missed at the fortress. I can pass `
` as one of the sailors wrecked last night. My story will be `
` accepted, for there is no one left to contradict me." `
` `
` As he spoke, Dantes looked toward the spot where the `
` fishing-vessel had been wrecked, and started. The red cap of `
` one of the sailors hung to a point of the rock and some `
` timbers that had formed part of the vessel's keel, floated `
` at the foot of the crag. In an instant Dantes' plan was `
` formed. He swam to the cap, placed it on his head, seized `
` one of the timbers, and struck out so as to cut across the `
` course the vessel was taking. `
` `
` "I am saved!" murmured he. And this conviction restored his `
` strength. `
` `
` He soon saw that the vessel, with the wind dead ahead, was `
` tacking between the Chateau d'If and the tower of Planier. `
` For an instant he feared lest, instead of keeping in shore, `
` she should stand out to sea; but he soon saw that she would `
` pass, like most vessels bound for Italy, between the islands `
` of Jaros and Calaseraigne. However, the vessel and the `
` swimmer insensibly neared one another, and in one of its `
` tacks the tartan bore down within a quarter of a mile of `
` him. He rose on the waves, making signs of distress; but no `
` one on board saw him, and the vessel stood on another tack. `
` Dantes would have shouted, but he knew that the wind would `
` drown his voice. `
` `
` It was then he rejoiced at his precaution in taking the `
` timber, for without it he would have been unable, perhaps, `
` to reach the vessel -- certainly to return to shore, should `
` he be unsuccessful in attracting attention. `
` `
` Dantes, though almost sure as to what course the vessel `
` would take, had yet watched it anxiously until it tacked and `
` stood towards him. Then he advanced; but before they could `
` meet, the vessel again changed her course. By a violent `
` effort he rose half out of the water, waving his cap, and `
` uttering a loud shout peculiar to sailers. This time he was `
` both seen and heard, and the tartan instantly steered `
` towards him. At the same time, he saw they were about to `
` lower the boat. `
` `
` An instant after, the boat, rowed by two men, advanced `
` rapidly towards him. Dantes let go of the timber, which he `
` now thought to be useless, and swam vigorously to meet them. `
` But he had reckoned too much upon his strength, and then he `
` realized how serviceable the timber had been to him. His `
` arms became stiff, his legs lost their flexibility, and he `
` was almost breathless. `
` `
` He shouted again. The two sailors redoubled their efforts, `
` and one of them cried in Italian, "Courage!" `
` `
` The word reached his ear as a wave which he no longer had `
` the strength to surmount passed over his head. He rose again `
` to the surface, struggled with the last desperate effort of `
` a drowning man, uttered a third cry, and felt himself `
` sinking, as if the fatal cannon shot were again tied to his `
` feet. The water passed over his head, and the sky turned `
` gray. A convulsive movement again brought him to the `
` surface. He felt himself seized by the hair, then he saw and `
` heard nothing. He had fainted. `
` `
` When he opened his eyes Dantes found himself on the deck of `
` the tartan. His first care was to see what course they were `
` taking. They were rapidly leaving the Chateau d'If behind. `
` Dantes was so exhausted that the exclamation of joy he `
` uttered was mistaken for a sigh. `
` `
` As we have said, he was lying on the deck. A sailor was `
` rubbing his limbs with a woollen cloth; another, whom he `
` recognized as the one who had cried out "Courage!" held a `
` gourd full of rum to his mouth; while the third, an old `
` sailer, at once the pilot and captain, looked on with that `
` egotistical pity men feel for a misfortune that they have `
` escaped yesterday, and which may overtake them to-morrow. `
` `
` A few drops of the rum restored suspended animation, while `
` the friction of his limbs restored their elasticity. `
` `
` "Who are you?" said the pilot in bad French. `
` `
` "I am," replied Dantes, in bad Italian, "a Maltese sailor. `
` We were coming from Syracuse laden with grain. The storm of `
` last night overtook us at Cape Morgion, and we were wrecked `
` on these rocks." `
` `
` "Where do you come from?" `
` `
` "From these rocks that I had the good luck to cling to while `
` our captain and the rest of the crew were all lost. I saw `
` your vessel, and fearful of being left to perish on the `
` desolate island, I swam off on a piece of wreckage to try `
` and intercept your course. You have saved my life, and I `
` thank you," continued Dantes. "I was lost when one of your `
` sailors caught hold of my hair." `
` `
` "It was I," said a sailor of a frank and manly appearance; `
` "and it was time, for you were sinking." `
` `
` "Yes," returned Dantes, holding out his hand, "I thank you `
` again." `
` `
` "I almost hesitated, though," replied the sailor; "you `
` looked more like a brigand than an honest man, with your `
` beard six inches, and your hair a foot long." Dantes `
` recollected that his hair and beard had not been cut all the `
` time he was at the Chateau d'If. `
` `
` "Yes," said he, "I made a vow, to our Lady of the Grotto not `
` to cut my hair or beard for ten years if I were saved in a `
` moment of danger; but to-day the vow expires." `
` `
` "Now what are we to do with you?" said the captain. `
` `
` "Alas, anything you please. My captain is dead; I have `
` barely escaped; but I am a good sailor. Leave me at the `
` first port you make; I shall be sure to find employment." `
` `
` "Do you know the Mediterranean?" `
` `
` "I have sailed over it since my childhood." `
` `
` "You know the best harbors?" `
` `
` "There are few ports that I could not enter or leave with a `
` bandage over my eyes." `
` `
` "I say, captain," said the sailor who had cried "Courage!" `
` to Dantes, "if what he says is true, what hinders his `
` staying with us?" `
` `
` "If he says true," said the captain doubtingly. "But in his `
` present condition he will promise anything, and take his `
` chance of keeping it afterwards." `
` `
` "I will do more than I promise," said Dantes. `
` `
` "We shall see," returned the other, smiling. `
` `
` "Where are you going?" asked Dantes. `
` `
` "To Leghorn." `
` `
` "Then why, instead of tacking so frequently, do you not sail `
` nearer the wind?" `
` `
` "Because we should run straight on to the Island of Rion." `
` `
` "You shall pass it by twenty fathoms." `
` `
` "Take the helm, and let us see what you know." The young man `
` took the helm, felt to see if the vessel answered the rudder `
` promptly and seeing that, without being a first-rate sailer, `
` she yet was tolerably obedient, -- `
` `
` "To the sheets," said he. The four seamen, who composed the `
` crew, obeyed, while the pilot looked on. "Haul taut." -- `
`