Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.11-39
who was looking on. `
` `
` "Yes, and pretty tight too, I can tell you," was the answer. `
` `
` "Move on, then." And the bier was lifted once more, and they `
` proceeded. `
` `
` They advanced fifty paces farther, and then stopped to open `
` a door, then went forward again. The noise of the waves `
` dashing against the rocks on which the chateau is built, `
` reached Dantes' ear distinctly as they went forward. `
` `
` "Bad weather!" observed one of the bearers; "not a pleasant `
` night for a dip in the sea." `
` `
` "Why, yes, the abbe runs a chance of being wet," said the `
` other; and then there was a burst of brutal laughter. Dantes `
` did not comprehend the jest, but his hair stood erect on his `
` head. `
` `
` "Well, here we are at last," said one of them. "A little `
` farther -- a little farther," said the other. "You know very `
` well that the last was stopped on his way, dashed on the `
` rocks, and the governor told us next day that we were `
` careless fellows." `
` `
` They ascended five or six more steps, and then Dantes felt `
` that they took him, one by the head and the other by the `
` heels, and swung him to and fro. "One!" said the `
` grave-diggers, "two! three!" And at the same instant Dantes `
` felt himself flung into the air like a wounded bird, `
` falling, falling, with a rapidity that made his blood `
` curdle. Although drawn downwards by the heavy weight which `
` hastened his rapid descent, it seemed to him as if the fall `
` lasted for a century. `
` `
` At last, with a horrible splash, he darted like an arrow `
` into the ice-cold water, and as he did so he uttered a `
` shrill cry, stifled in a moment by his immersion beneath the `
` waves. `
` `
` Dantes had been flung into the sea, and was dragged into its `
` depths by a thirty-six pound shot tied to his feet. The sea `
` is the cemetery of the Chateau d'If. `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 21 `
` The Island of Tiboulen. `
` `
` Dantes, although stunned and almost suffocated, had `
` sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his `
` right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his `
` knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his `
` arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to `
` free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down `
` still lower. He then bent his body, and by a desperate `
` effort severed the cord that bound his legs, at the moment `
` when it seemed as if he were actually strangled. With a `
` mighty leap he rose to the surface of the sea, while the `
` shot dragged down to the depths the sack that had so nearly `
` become his shroud. `
` `
` Dantes waited only to get breath, and then dived, in order `
` to avoid being seen. When he arose a second time, he was `
` fifty paces from where he had first sunk. He saw overhead a `
` black and tempestuous sky, across which the wind was driving `
` clouds that occasionally suffered a twinkling star to `
` appear; before him was the vast expanse of waters, sombre `
` and terrible, whose waves foamed and roared as if before the `
` approach of a storm. Behind him, blacker than the sea, `
` blacker than the sky, rose phantom-like the vast stone `
` structure, whose projecting crags seemed like arms extended `
` to seize their prey, and on the highest rock was a torch `
` lighting two figures. He fancied that these two forms were `
` looking at the sea; doubtless these strange grave-diggers `
` had heard his cry. Dantes dived again, and remained a long `
` time beneath the water. This was an easy feat to him, for he `
` usually attracted a crowd of spectators in the bay before `
` the lighthouse at Marseilles when he swam there, and was `
` unanimously declared to be the best swimmer in the port. `
` When he came up again the light had disappeared. `
` `
` He must now get his bearings. Ratonneau and Pomegue are the `
` nearest islands of all those that surround the Chateau d'If, `
` but Ratonneau and Pomegue are inhabited, as is also the `
` islet of Daume. Tiboulen and Lemaire were therefore the `
` safest for Dantes' venture. The islands of Tiboulen and `
` Lemaire are a league from the Chateau d'If; Dantes, `
` nevertheless, determined to make for them. But how could he `
` find his way in the darkness of the night? At this moment he `
` saw the light of Planier, gleaming in front of him like a `
` star. By leaving this light on the right, he kept the Island `
` of Tiboulen a little on the left; by turning to the left, `
` therefore, he would find it. But, as we have said, it was at `
` least a league from the Chateau d'If to this island. Often `
` in prison Faria had said to him, when he saw him idle and `
` inactive, "Dantes, you must not give way to this `
` listlessness; you will be drowned if you seek to escape, and `
` your strength has not been properly exercised and prepared `
` for exertion." These words rang in Dantes' ears, even `
` beneath the waves; he hastened to cleave his way through `
` them to see if he had not lost his strength. He found with `
` pleasure that his captivity had taken away nothing of his `
` power, and that he was still master of that element on whose `
` bosom he had so often sported as a boy. `
` `
` Fear, that relentless pursuer, clogged Dantes' efforts. He `
` listened for any sound that might be audible, and every time `
` that he rose to the top of a wave he scanned the horizon, `
` and strove to penetrate the darkness. He fancied that every `
` wave behind him was a pursuing boat, and he redoubled his `
` exertions, increasing rapidly his distance from the chateau, `
` but exhausting his strength. He swam on still, and already `
` the terrible chateau had disappeared in the darkness. He `
` could not see it, but he felt its presence. An hour passed, `
` during which Dantes, excited by the feeling of freedom, `
` continued to cleave the waves. "Let us see," said he, "I `
` have swum above an hour, but as the wind is against me, that `
` has retarded my speed; however, if I am not mistaken, I must `
` be close to Tiboulen. But what if I were mistaken?" A `
` shudder passed over him. He sought to tread water, in order `
` to rest himself; but the sea was too violent, and he felt `
` that he could not make use of this means of recuperation. `
` `
` "Well," said he, "I will swim on until I am worn out, or the `
` cramp seizes me, and then I shall sink;" and he struck out `
` with the energy of despair. `
` `
` Suddenly the sky seemed to him to become still darker and `
` more dense, and heavy clouds seemed to sweep down towards `
` him; at the same time he felt a sharp pain in his knee. He `
` fancied for a moment that he had been shot, and listened for `
` the report; but he heard nothing. Then he put out his hand, `
` and encountered an obstacle and with another stroke knew `
` that he had gained the shore. `
` `
` Before him rose a grotesque mass of rocks, that resembled `
` nothing so much as a vast fire petrified at the moment of `
` its most fervent combustion. It was the Island of Tiboulen. `
` Dantes rose, advanced a few steps, and, with a fervent `
` prayer of gratitude, stretched himself on the granite, which `
` seemed to him softer than down. Then, in spite of the wind `
` and rain, he fell into the deep, sweet sleep of utter `
` exhaustion. At the expiration of an hour Edmond was awakened `
` by the roar of thunder. The tempest was let loose and `
` beating the atmosphere with its mighty wings; from time to `
` time a flash of lightning stretched across the heavens like `
` a fiery serpent, lighting up the clouds that rolled on in `
` vast chaotic waves. `
` `
` Dantes had not been deceived -- he had reached the first of `
` the two islands, which was, in fact, Tiboulen. He knew that `
` it was barren and without shelter; but when the sea became `
` more calm, he resolved to plunge into its waves again, and `
` swim to Lemaire, equally arid, but larger, and consequently `
` better adapted for concealment. `
` `
` An overhanging rock offered him a temporary shelter, and `
` scarcely had he availed himself of it when the tempest burst `
` forth in all its fury. Edmond felt the trembling of the rock `
` beneath which he lay; the waves, dashing themselves against `
` it, wetted him with their spray. He was safely sheltered, `
` and yet he felt dizzy in the midst of the warring of the `
` elements and the dazzling brightness of the lightning. It `
` seemed to him that the island trembled to its base, and that `
` it would, like a vessel at anchor, break moorings, and bear `
` him off into the centre of the storm. He then recollected `
` that he had not eaten or drunk for four-and-twenty hours. He `
` extended his hands, and drank greedily of the rainwater that `
` had lodged in a hollow of the rock. `
` `
` As he rose, a flash of lightning, that seemed to rive the `
` remotest heights of heaven, illumined the darkness. By its `
` light, between the Island of Lemaire and Cape Croiselle, a `
` quarter of a league distant, Dantes saw a fishing-boat `
` driven rapidly like a spectre before the power of winds and `
` waves. A second after, he saw it again, approaching with `
` frightful rapidity. Dantes cried at the top of his voice to `
` warn them of their danger, but they saw it themselves. `
` Another flash showed him four men clinging to the shattered `
` mast and the rigging, while a fifth clung to the broken `
` rudder. `
` `
` The men he beheld saw him undoubtedly, for their cries were `
` carried to his ears by the wind. Above the splintered mast a `
` sail rent to tatters was waving; suddenly the ropes that `
` still held it gave way, and it disappeared in the darkness `
` of the night like a vast sea-bird. At the same moment a `
` violent crash was heard, and cries of distress. Dantes from `
` his rocky perch saw the shattered vessel, and among the `
` fragments the floating forms of the hapless sailors. Then `
` all was dark again. `
` `
` Dantes ran down the rocks at the risk of being himself `
` dashed to pieces; he listened, he groped about, but he heard `
` and saw nothing -- the cries had ceased, and the tempest `
` continued to rage. By degrees the wind abated, vast gray `
` clouds rolled towards the west, and the blue firmament `
` appeared studded with bright stars. Soon a red streak became `
` visible in the horizon, the waves whitened, a light played `
`
` `
` "Yes, and pretty tight too, I can tell you," was the answer. `
` `
` "Move on, then." And the bier was lifted once more, and they `
` proceeded. `
` `
` They advanced fifty paces farther, and then stopped to open `
` a door, then went forward again. The noise of the waves `
` dashing against the rocks on which the chateau is built, `
` reached Dantes' ear distinctly as they went forward. `
` `
` "Bad weather!" observed one of the bearers; "not a pleasant `
` night for a dip in the sea." `
` `
` "Why, yes, the abbe runs a chance of being wet," said the `
` other; and then there was a burst of brutal laughter. Dantes `
` did not comprehend the jest, but his hair stood erect on his `
` head. `
` `
` "Well, here we are at last," said one of them. "A little `
` farther -- a little farther," said the other. "You know very `
` well that the last was stopped on his way, dashed on the `
` rocks, and the governor told us next day that we were `
` careless fellows." `
` `
` They ascended five or six more steps, and then Dantes felt `
` that they took him, one by the head and the other by the `
` heels, and swung him to and fro. "One!" said the `
` grave-diggers, "two! three!" And at the same instant Dantes `
` felt himself flung into the air like a wounded bird, `
` falling, falling, with a rapidity that made his blood `
` curdle. Although drawn downwards by the heavy weight which `
` hastened his rapid descent, it seemed to him as if the fall `
` lasted for a century. `
` `
` At last, with a horrible splash, he darted like an arrow `
` into the ice-cold water, and as he did so he uttered a `
` shrill cry, stifled in a moment by his immersion beneath the `
` waves. `
` `
` Dantes had been flung into the sea, and was dragged into its `
` depths by a thirty-six pound shot tied to his feet. The sea `
` is the cemetery of the Chateau d'If. `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 21 `
` The Island of Tiboulen. `
` `
` Dantes, although stunned and almost suffocated, had `
` sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his `
` right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his `
` knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his `
` arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to `
` free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down `
` still lower. He then bent his body, and by a desperate `
` effort severed the cord that bound his legs, at the moment `
` when it seemed as if he were actually strangled. With a `
` mighty leap he rose to the surface of the sea, while the `
` shot dragged down to the depths the sack that had so nearly `
` become his shroud. `
` `
` Dantes waited only to get breath, and then dived, in order `
` to avoid being seen. When he arose a second time, he was `
` fifty paces from where he had first sunk. He saw overhead a `
` black and tempestuous sky, across which the wind was driving `
` clouds that occasionally suffered a twinkling star to `
` appear; before him was the vast expanse of waters, sombre `
` and terrible, whose waves foamed and roared as if before the `
` approach of a storm. Behind him, blacker than the sea, `
` blacker than the sky, rose phantom-like the vast stone `
` structure, whose projecting crags seemed like arms extended `
` to seize their prey, and on the highest rock was a torch `
` lighting two figures. He fancied that these two forms were `
` looking at the sea; doubtless these strange grave-diggers `
` had heard his cry. Dantes dived again, and remained a long `
` time beneath the water. This was an easy feat to him, for he `
` usually attracted a crowd of spectators in the bay before `
` the lighthouse at Marseilles when he swam there, and was `
` unanimously declared to be the best swimmer in the port. `
` When he came up again the light had disappeared. `
` `
` He must now get his bearings. Ratonneau and Pomegue are the `
` nearest islands of all those that surround the Chateau d'If, `
` but Ratonneau and Pomegue are inhabited, as is also the `
` islet of Daume. Tiboulen and Lemaire were therefore the `
` safest for Dantes' venture. The islands of Tiboulen and `
` Lemaire are a league from the Chateau d'If; Dantes, `
` nevertheless, determined to make for them. But how could he `
` find his way in the darkness of the night? At this moment he `
` saw the light of Planier, gleaming in front of him like a `
` star. By leaving this light on the right, he kept the Island `
` of Tiboulen a little on the left; by turning to the left, `
` therefore, he would find it. But, as we have said, it was at `
` least a league from the Chateau d'If to this island. Often `
` in prison Faria had said to him, when he saw him idle and `
` inactive, "Dantes, you must not give way to this `
` listlessness; you will be drowned if you seek to escape, and `
` your strength has not been properly exercised and prepared `
` for exertion." These words rang in Dantes' ears, even `
` beneath the waves; he hastened to cleave his way through `
` them to see if he had not lost his strength. He found with `
` pleasure that his captivity had taken away nothing of his `
` power, and that he was still master of that element on whose `
` bosom he had so often sported as a boy. `
` `
` Fear, that relentless pursuer, clogged Dantes' efforts. He `
` listened for any sound that might be audible, and every time `
` that he rose to the top of a wave he scanned the horizon, `
` and strove to penetrate the darkness. He fancied that every `
` wave behind him was a pursuing boat, and he redoubled his `
` exertions, increasing rapidly his distance from the chateau, `
` but exhausting his strength. He swam on still, and already `
` the terrible chateau had disappeared in the darkness. He `
` could not see it, but he felt its presence. An hour passed, `
` during which Dantes, excited by the feeling of freedom, `
` continued to cleave the waves. "Let us see," said he, "I `
` have swum above an hour, but as the wind is against me, that `
` has retarded my speed; however, if I am not mistaken, I must `
` be close to Tiboulen. But what if I were mistaken?" A `
` shudder passed over him. He sought to tread water, in order `
` to rest himself; but the sea was too violent, and he felt `
` that he could not make use of this means of recuperation. `
` `
` "Well," said he, "I will swim on until I am worn out, or the `
` cramp seizes me, and then I shall sink;" and he struck out `
` with the energy of despair. `
` `
` Suddenly the sky seemed to him to become still darker and `
` more dense, and heavy clouds seemed to sweep down towards `
` him; at the same time he felt a sharp pain in his knee. He `
` fancied for a moment that he had been shot, and listened for `
` the report; but he heard nothing. Then he put out his hand, `
` and encountered an obstacle and with another stroke knew `
` that he had gained the shore. `
` `
` Before him rose a grotesque mass of rocks, that resembled `
` nothing so much as a vast fire petrified at the moment of `
` its most fervent combustion. It was the Island of Tiboulen. `
` Dantes rose, advanced a few steps, and, with a fervent `
` prayer of gratitude, stretched himself on the granite, which `
` seemed to him softer than down. Then, in spite of the wind `
` and rain, he fell into the deep, sweet sleep of utter `
` exhaustion. At the expiration of an hour Edmond was awakened `
` by the roar of thunder. The tempest was let loose and `
` beating the atmosphere with its mighty wings; from time to `
` time a flash of lightning stretched across the heavens like `
` a fiery serpent, lighting up the clouds that rolled on in `
` vast chaotic waves. `
` `
` Dantes had not been deceived -- he had reached the first of `
` the two islands, which was, in fact, Tiboulen. He knew that `
` it was barren and without shelter; but when the sea became `
` more calm, he resolved to plunge into its waves again, and `
` swim to Lemaire, equally arid, but larger, and consequently `
` better adapted for concealment. `
` `
` An overhanging rock offered him a temporary shelter, and `
` scarcely had he availed himself of it when the tempest burst `
` forth in all its fury. Edmond felt the trembling of the rock `
` beneath which he lay; the waves, dashing themselves against `
` it, wetted him with their spray. He was safely sheltered, `
` and yet he felt dizzy in the midst of the warring of the `
` elements and the dazzling brightness of the lightning. It `
` seemed to him that the island trembled to its base, and that `
` it would, like a vessel at anchor, break moorings, and bear `
` him off into the centre of the storm. He then recollected `
` that he had not eaten or drunk for four-and-twenty hours. He `
` extended his hands, and drank greedily of the rainwater that `
` had lodged in a hollow of the rock. `
` `
` As he rose, a flash of lightning, that seemed to rive the `
` remotest heights of heaven, illumined the darkness. By its `
` light, between the Island of Lemaire and Cape Croiselle, a `
` quarter of a league distant, Dantes saw a fishing-boat `
` driven rapidly like a spectre before the power of winds and `
` waves. A second after, he saw it again, approaching with `
` frightful rapidity. Dantes cried at the top of his voice to `
` warn them of their danger, but they saw it themselves. `
` Another flash showed him four men clinging to the shattered `
` mast and the rigging, while a fifth clung to the broken `
` rudder. `
` `
` The men he beheld saw him undoubtedly, for their cries were `
` carried to his ears by the wind. Above the splintered mast a `
` sail rent to tatters was waving; suddenly the ropes that `
` still held it gave way, and it disappeared in the darkness `
` of the night like a vast sea-bird. At the same moment a `
` violent crash was heard, and cries of distress. Dantes from `
` his rocky perch saw the shattered vessel, and among the `
` fragments the floating forms of the hapless sailors. Then `
` all was dark again. `
` `
` Dantes ran down the rocks at the risk of being himself `
` dashed to pieces; he listened, he groped about, but he heard `
` and saw nothing -- the cries had ceased, and the tempest `
` continued to rage. By degrees the wind abated, vast gray `
` clouds rolled towards the west, and the blue firmament `
` appeared studded with bright stars. Soon a red streak became `
` visible in the horizon, the waves whitened, a light played `
`