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Dantes,althoughstunnedandalmostsuffocated,hadsufficientpresenceofmindtoholdhisbreath,andashisrighthand(preparedashewasforeverychance)heldhisknifeopen,herapidlyrippedupthesack,extricatedhisarm,andthenhisbody;butinspiteofallhiseffortstofreehimselffromtheshot,hefeltitdragginghimdownstilllower.
Hethenbenthisbody,andbyadesperateeffortseveredthecordthatboundhislegs,atthemomentwhenitseemedasifhewereactuallystrangled.
Withamightyleapherosetothesurfaceofthesea,whiletheshotdraggeddowntothedepthsthesackthathadsonearlybecomehisshroud.
Danteswaitedonlytogetbreath,andthendived,inordertoavoidbeingseen.
Whenhearoseasecondtime,hewasfiftypacesfromwherehehadfirstsunk.
Hesawoverheadablackandtempestuoussky,acrosswhichthewindwasdrivingcloudsthatoccasionallysufferedatwinklingstartoappear;beforehimwasthevastexpanseofwaters,sombreandterrible,whosewavesfoamedandroaredasifbeforetheapproachofastorm.
Behindhim,blackerthanthesea,blackerthanthesky,rosephantom–likethevaststonestructure,whoseprojectingcragsseemedlikearmsextendedtoseizetheirprey,andonthehighestrockwasatorchlightingtwofigures.
Hefanciedthatthesetwoformswerelookingatthesea;doubtlessthesestrangegrave–diggershadheardhiscry.
Dantesdivedagain,andremainedalongtimebeneaththewater.
Thiswasaneasyfeattohim,forheusuallyattractedacrowdofspectatorsinthebaybeforethelighthouseatMarseilleswhenheswamthere,andwasunanimouslydeclaredtobethebestswimmerintheport.
Whenhecameupagainthelighthaddisappeared.
Hemustnowgethisbearings.RatonneauandPomeguearethenearestislandsofallthosethatsurroundtheChateaud’If,butRatonneauandPomegueareinhabited,asisalsotheisletofDaume.
TiboulenandLemairewerethereforethesafestforDantes’venture.
TheislandsofTiboulenandLemairearealeaguefromtheChateaud’If;Dantes,nevertheless,determinedtomakeforthem.
Buthowcouldhefindhiswayinthedarknessofthenight?
AtthismomenthesawthelightofPlanier,gleaminginfrontofhimlikeastar.
Byleavingthislightontheright,hekepttheIslandofTiboulenalittleontheleft;byturningtotheleft,therefore,hewouldfindit.
But,aswehavesaid,itwasatleastaleaguefromtheChateaud’Iftothisisland.
OfteninprisonFariahadsaidtohim,whenhesawhimidleandinactive,“Dantes,youmustnotgivewaytothislistlessness;youwillbedrownedifyouseektoescape,andyourstrengthhasnotbeenproperlyexercisedandpreparedforexertion.”
ThesewordsranginDantes’ears,evenbeneaththewaves;hehastenedtocleavehiswaythroughthemtoseeifhehadnotlosthisstrength.
Hefoundwithpleasurethathiscaptivityhadtakenawaynothingofhispower,andthathewasstillmasterofthatelementonwhosebosomhehadsooftensportedasaboy.
Fear,thatrelentlesspursuer,cloggedDantes’efforts.
Helistenedforanysoundthatmightbeaudible,andeverytimethatherosetothetopofawavehescannedthehorizon,andstrovetopenetratethedarkness.
Hefanciedthateverywavebehindhimwasapursuingboat,andheredoubledhisexertions,increasingrapidlyhisdistancefromthechateau,butexhaustinghisstrength.
Heswamonstill,andalreadytheterriblechateauhaddisappearedinthedarkness.
Hecouldnotseeit,buthefeltitspresence.
Anhourpassed,duringwhichDantes,excitedbythefeelingoffreedom,continuedtocleavethewaves.
“Letussee,”saidhe,“Ihaveswumaboveanhour,butasthewindisagainstme,thathasretardedmyspeed;however,ifIamnotmistaken,ImustbeclosetoTiboulen.ButwhatifIweremistaken?”Ashudderpassedoverhim.
Hesoughttotreadwater,inordertoresthimself;buttheseawastooviolent,andhefeltthathecouldnotmakeuseofthismeansofrecuperation.
“Well,”saidhe,“IwillswimonuntilIamwornout,orthecrampseizesme,andthenIshallsink;”andhestruckoutwiththeenergyofdespair.
Suddenlytheskyseemedtohimtobecomestilldarkerandmoredense,andheavycloudsseemedtosweepdowntowardshim;atthesametimehefeltasharppaininhisknee.
Hefanciedforamomentthathehadbeenshot,andlistenedforthereport;butheheardnothing.
Thenheputouthishand,andencounteredanobstacleandwithanotherstrokeknewthathehadgainedtheshore.
Beforehimroseagrotesquemassofrocks,thatresemblednothingsomuchasavastfirepetrifiedatthemomentofitsmostferventcombustion.ItwastheIslandofTiboulen.
Dantesrose,advancedafewsteps,and,withaferventprayerofgratitude,stretchedhimselfonthegranite,whichseemedtohimsofterthandown.
Then,inspiteofthewindandrain,hefellintothedeep,sweetsleepofutterexhaustion.
AttheexpirationofanhourEdmondwasawakenedbytheroarofthunder.
Thetempestwasletlooseandbeatingtheatmospherewithitsmightywings;fromtimetotimeaflashoflightningstretchedacrosstheheavenslikeafieryserpent,lightingupthecloudsthatrolledoninvastchaoticwaves.
Danteshadnotbeendeceived—hehadreachedthefirstofthetwoislands,whichwas,infact,Tiboulen.
Heknewthatitwasbarrenandwithoutshelter;butwhentheseabecamemorecalm,heresolvedtoplungeintoitswavesagain,andswimtoLemaire,equallyarid,butlarger,andconsequentlybetteradaptedforconcealment.
Anoverhangingrockofferedhimatemporaryshelter,andscarcelyhadheavailedhimselfofitwhenthetempestburstforthinallitsfury.
Edmondfeltthetremblingoftherockbeneathwhichhelay;thewaves,dashingthemselvesagainstit,wettedhimwiththeirspray.
Hewassafelysheltered,andyethefeltdizzyinthemidstofthewarringoftheelementsandthedazzlingbrightnessofthelightning.
Itseemedtohimthattheislandtrembledtoitsbase,andthatitwould,likeavesselatanchor,breakmoorings,andbearhimoffintothecentreofthestorm.
Hethenrecollectedthathehadnoteatenordrunkforfour–and–twentyhours.
Heextendedhishands,anddrankgreedilyoftherainwaterthathadlodgedinahollowoftherock.
Asherose,aflashoflightning,thatseemedtorivetheremotestheightsofheaven,illuminedthedarkness.
Byitslight,betweentheIslandofLemaireandCapeCroiselle,aquarterofaleaguedistant,Dantessawafishing–boatdrivenrapidlylikeaspectrebeforethepowerofwindsandwaves.
Asecondafter,hesawitagain,approachingwithfrightfulrapidity.
Dantescriedatthetopofhisvoicetowarnthemoftheirdanger,buttheysawitthemselves.
Anotherflashshowedhimfourmenclingingtotheshatteredmastandtherigging,whileafifthclungtothebrokenrudder.
Themenhebeheldsawhimundoubtedly,fortheircrieswerecarriedtohisearsbythewind.
Abovethesplinteredmastasailrenttotatterswaswaving;suddenlytheropesthatstillhelditgaveway,anditdisappearedinthedarknessofthenightlikeavastsea–bird.
Atthesamemomentaviolentcrashwasheard,andcriesofdistress.
Dantesfromhisrockyperchsawtheshatteredvessel,andamongthefragmentsthefloatingformsofthehaplesssailors.Thenallwasdarkagain.
Dantesrandowntherocksattheriskofbeinghimselfdashedtopieces;helistened,hegropedabout,butheheardandsawnothing—thecrieshadceased,andthetempestcontinuedtorage.
Bydegreesthewindabated,vastgraycloudsrolledtowardsthewest,andthebluefirmamentappearedstuddedwithbrightstars.
Soonaredstreakbecamevisibleinthehorizon,thewaveswhitened,alightplayedoverthem,andgildedtheirfoamingcrestswithgold.Itwasday.
Dantesstoodmuteandmotionlessbeforethismajesticspectacle,asifhenowbehelditforthefirsttime;andindeedsincehiscaptivityintheChateaud’Ifhehadforgottenthatsuchsceneswereevertobewitnessed.
Heturnedtowardsthefortress,andlookedatbothseaandland.
Thegloomybuildingrosefromthebosomoftheoceanwithimposingmajestyandseemedtodominatethescene.Itwasaboutfiveo’clock.Theseacontinuedtogetcalmer.
“Intwoorthreehours,”thoughtDantes,“theturnkeywillentermychamber,findthebodyofmypoorfriend,recognizeit,seekformeinvain,andgivethealarm.
Thenthetunnelwillbediscovered;themenwhocastmeintotheseaandwhomusthaveheardthecryIuttered,willbequestioned.
Thenboatsfilledwitharmedsoldierswillpursuethewretchedfugitive.
Thecannonwillwarneveryonetorefusesheltertoamanwanderingaboutnakedandfamished.
ThepoliceofMarseilleswillbeonthealertbyland,whilstthegovernorpursuesmebysea.Iamcold,Iamhungry.
Ihavelosteventheknifethatsavedme.
OmyGod,Ihavesufferedenoughsurely!
Havepityonme,anddoformewhatIamunabletodoformyself.”
AsDantes(hiseyesturnedinthedirectionoftheChateaud’If)utteredthisprayer,hesawoffthefartherpointoftheIslandofPomegueasmallvesselwithlateensailskimmingthesealikeagullinsearchofprey;andwithhissailor’seyeheknewittobeaGenoesetartan.
ShewascomingoutofMarseillesharbor,andwasstandingouttosearapidly,hersharpprowcleavingthroughthewaves.
“Oh,”criedEdmond,“tothinkthatinhalfanhourIcouldjoinher,didInotfearbeingquestioned,detected,andconveyedbacktoMarseilles!WhatcanIdo?WhatstorycanIinvent?
underpretextoftradingalongthecoast,thesemen,whoareinrealitysmugglers,willprefersellingmetodoingagoodaction.Imustwait.ButIcannot—–Iamstarving.
Inafewhoursmystrengthwillbeutterlyexhausted;besides,perhapsIhavenotbeenmissedatthefortress.
Icanpassasoneofthesailorswreckedlastnight.
Mystorywillbeaccepted,forthereisnoonelefttocontradictme.”
Ashespoke,Danteslookedtowardthespotwherethefishing–vesselhadbeenwrecked,andstarted.
Theredcapofoneofthesailorshungtoapointoftherockandsometimbersthathadformedpartofthevessel’skeel,floatedatthefootofthecrag.InaninstantDantes’planwasformed.
Heswamtothecap,placeditonhishead,seizedoneofthetimbers,andstruckoutsoastocutacrossthecoursethevesselwastaking.
“Iamsaved!”murmuredhe.Andthisconvictionrestoredhisstrength.
Hesoonsawthatthevessel,withthewinddeadahead,wastackingbetweentheChateaud’IfandthetowerofPlanier.
Foraninstanthefearedlest,insteadofkeepinginshore,sheshouldstandouttosea;buthesoonsawthatshewouldpass,likemostvesselsboundforItaly,betweentheislandsofJarosandCalaseraigne.
However,thevesselandtheswimmerinsensiblynearedoneanother,andinoneofitstacksthetartanboredownwithinaquarterofamileofhim.
Heroseonthewaves,makingsignsofdistress;butnooneonboardsawhim,andthevesselstoodonanothertack.
Danteswouldhaveshouted,butheknewthatthewindwoulddrownhisvoice.
Itwasthenherejoicedathisprecautionintakingthetimber,forwithoutithewouldhavebeenunable,perhaps,toreachthevessel—certainlytoreturntoshore,shouldhebeunsuccessfulinattractingattention.
Dantes,thoughalmostsureastowhatcoursethevesselwouldtake,hadyetwatcheditanxiouslyuntilittackedandstoodtowardshim.
Thenheadvanced;butbeforetheycouldmeet,thevesselagainchangedhercourse.
Byaviolenteffortherosehalfoutofthewater,wavinghiscap,andutteringaloudshoutpeculiartosailers.
Thistimehewasbothseenandheard,andthetartaninstantlysteeredtowardshim.
Atthesametime,hesawtheywereabouttolowertheboat.
Aninstantafter,theboat,rowedbytwomen,advancedrapidlytowardshim.
Dantesletgoofthetimber,whichhenowthoughttobeuseless,andswamvigorouslytomeetthem.
Buthehadreckonedtoomuchuponhisstrength,andthenherealizedhowserviceablethetimberhadbeentohim.
Hisarmsbecamestiff,hislegslosttheirflexibility,andhewasalmostbreathless.
Heshoutedagain.Thetwosailorsredoubledtheirefforts,andoneofthemcriedinItalian,“Courage!”
Thewordreachedhisearasawavewhichhenolongerhadthestrengthtosurmountpassedoverhishead.
Heroseagaintothesurface,struggledwiththelastdesperateeffortofadrowningman,utteredathirdcry,andfelthimselfsinking,asifthefatalcannonshotwereagaintiedtohisfeet.
Thewaterpassedoverhishead,andtheskyturnedgray.
Aconvulsivemovementagainbroughthimtothesurface.
Hefelthimselfseizedbythehair,thenhesawandheardnothing.Hehadfainted.
WhenheopenedhiseyesDantesfoundhimselfonthedeckofthetartan.
Hisfirstcarewastoseewhatcoursetheyweretaking.
TheywererapidlyleavingtheChateaud’Ifbehind.
Danteswassoexhaustedthattheexclamationofjoyheutteredwasmistakenforasigh.
Aswehavesaid,hewaslyingonthedeck.
Asailorwasrubbinghislimbswithawoollencloth;another,whomherecognizedastheonewhohadcriedout“Courage!”
heldagourdfullofrumtohismouth;whilethethird,anoldsailer,atoncethepilotandcaptain,lookedonwiththategotisticalpitymenfeelforamisfortunethattheyhaveescapedyesterday,andwhichmayovertakethemto–morrow.
Afewdropsoftherumrestoredsuspendedanimation,whilethefrictionofhislimbsrestoredtheirelasticity.
“Whoareyou?”saidthepilotinbadFrench.
“Iam,”repliedDantes,inbadItalian,“aMaltesesailor.WewerecomingfromSyracuseladenwithgrain.ThestormoflastnightovertookusatCapeMorgion,andwewerewreckedontheserocks.”
“Wheredoyoucomefrom?”
“FromtheserocksthatIhadthegoodlucktoclingtowhileourcaptainandtherestofthecrewwerealllost.
Isawyourvessel,andfearfulofbeinglefttoperishonthedesolateisland,Iswamoffonapieceofwreckagetotryandinterceptyourcourse.
Youhavesavedmylife,andIthankyou,”continuedDantes.
“Iwaslostwhenoneofyoursailorscaughtholdofmyhair.”
“ItwasI,”saidasailorofafrankandmanlyappearance;“anditwastime,foryouweresinking.”
“Yes,”returnedDantes,holdingouthishand,“Ithankyouagain.”
“Ialmosthesitated,though,”repliedthesailor;“youlookedmorelikeabrigandthananhonestman,withyourbeardsixinches,andyourhairafootlong.”
DantesrecollectedthathishairandbeardhadnotbeencutallthetimehewasattheChateaud’If.
“Yes,”saidhe,“Imadeavow,toourLadyoftheGrottonottocutmyhairorbeardfortenyearsifIweresavedinamomentofdanger;butto–daythevowexpires.”
“Nowwhatarewetodowithyou?”saidthecaptain.
“Alas,anythingyouplease.Mycaptainisdead;Ihavebarelyescaped;butIamagoodsailor.Leavemeatthefirstportyoumake;Ishallbesuretofindemployment.”
“DoyouknowtheMediterranean?”
“Ihavesailedoveritsincemychildhood.”
“Youknowthebestharbors?”
“TherearefewportsthatIcouldnotenterorleavewithabandageovermyeyes.”
“Isay,captain,”saidthesailorwhohadcried“Courage!”toDantes,“ifwhathesaysistrue,whathindershisstayingwithus?”
“Ifhesaystrue,”saidthecaptaindoubtingly.“Butinhispresentconditionhewillpromiseanything,andtakehischanceofkeepingitafterwards.”
“IwilldomorethanIpromise,”saidDantes.
“Weshallsee,”returnedtheother,smiling.
“Whereareyougoing?”askedDantes.
“ToLeghorn.”
“Thenwhy,insteadoftackingsofrequently,doyounotsailnearerthewind?”
“BecauseweshouldrunstraightontotheIslandofRion.”
“Youshallpassitbytwentyfathoms.”
“Takethehelm,andletusseewhatyouknow.”
Theyoungmantookthehelm,felttoseeifthevesselansweredtherudderpromptlyandseeingthat,withoutbeingafirst–ratesailer,sheyetwastolerablyobedient,—
“Tothesheets,”saidhe.Thefourseamen,whocomposedthecrew,obeyed,whilethepilotlookedon.“Haultaut.”—Theyobeyed.
“Belay.”Thisorderwasalsoexecuted;andthevesselpassed,asDanteshadpredicted,twentyfathomstowindward.
“Bravo!”saidthecaptain.
“Bravo!”repeatedthesailors.Andtheyalllookedwithastonishmentatthismanwhoseeyenowdisclosedanintelligenceandhisbodyavigortheyhadnotthoughthimcapableofshowing.
“Yousee,”saidDantes,quittingthehelm,“Ishallbeofsomeusetoyou,atleastduringthevoyage.
IfyoudonotwantmeatLeghorn,youcanleavemethere,andIwillpayyououtofthefirstwagesIget,formyfoodandtheclothesyoulendme.”
“Ah,”saidthecaptain,“wecanagreeverywell,ifyouarereasonable.”
“Givemewhatyougivetheothers,anditwillbeallright,”returnedDantes.
“That’snotfair,”saidtheseamanwhohadsavedDantes;“foryouknowmorethanwedo.”
“Whatisthattoyou,Jacopo?”returnedtheCaptain.“Everyoneisfreetoaskwhathepleases.”
“That’strue,”repliedJacopo;“Ionlymakearemark.”
“Well,youwoulddomuchbettertofindhimajacketandapairoftrousers,ifyouhavethem.”
“No,”saidJacopo;“butIhaveashirtandapairoftrousers.”
“ThatisallIwant,”interruptedDantes.JacopodivedintotheholdandsoonreturnedwithwhatEdmondwanted.
“Now,then,doyouwishforanythingelse?”saidthepatron.
“ApieceofbreadandanotherglassofthecapitalrumItasted,forIhavenoteatenordrunkforalongtime.”Hehadnottastedfoodforfortyhours.
Apieceofbreadwasbrought,andJacopoofferedhimthegourd.
“Larboardyourhelm,”criedthecaptaintothesteersman.Dantesglancedthatwayasheliftedthegourdtohismouth;thenpausedwithhandinmid–air.
“Hollo!what’sthematterattheChateaud’If?”saidthecaptain.
Asmallwhitecloud,whichhadattractedDantes’attention,crownedthesummitofthebastionoftheChateaud’If.
Atthesamemomentthefaintreportofagunwasheard.Thesailorslookedatoneanother.
“Whatisthis?”askedthecaptain.
“AprisonerhasescapedfromtheChateaud’If,andtheyarefiringthealarmgun,”repliedDantes.
Thecaptainglancedathim,buthehadliftedtherumtohislipsandwasdrinkingitwithsomuchcomposure,thatsuspicions,ifthecaptainhadany,diedaway.
“Atanyrate,”murmuredhe,“ifitbe,somuchthebetter,forIhavemadearareacquisition.”
Underpretenceofbeingfatigued,Dantesaskedtotakethehelm;thesteersman,gladtoberelieved,lookedatthecaptain,andthelatterbyasignindicatedthathemightabandonittohisnewcomrade.
DantescouldthuskeephiseyesonMarseilles.
“Whatisthedayofthemonth?”askedheofJacopo,whosatdownbesidehim.
“The28thofFebruary.”
“Inwhatyear?”
“Inwhatyear—youaskmeinwhatyear?”
“Yes,”repliedtheyoungman,“Iaskyouinwhatyear!”
“Youhaveforgottenthen?”
“Igotsuchafrightlastnight,”repliedDantes,smiling,“thatIhavealmostlostmymemory.Iaskyouwhatyearisit?”
“Theyear1829,”returnedJacopo.ItwasfourteenyearsdayfordaysinceDantes’arrest.
HewasnineteenwhenheenteredtheChateaud’If;hewasthirty–threewhenheescaped.
Asorrowfulsmilepassedoverhisface;heaskedhimselfwhathadbecomeofMercedes,whomustbelievehimdead.
Thenhiseyeslightedupwithhatredashethoughtofthethreemenwhohadcausedhimsolongandwretchedacaptivity.
HerenewedagainstDanglars,Fernand,andVilleforttheoathofimplacablevengeancehehadmadeinhisdungeon.
Thisoathwasnolongeravainmenace;forthefastestsailerintheMediterraneanwouldhavebeenunabletoovertakethelittletartan,thatwitheverystitchofcanvassetwasflyingbeforethewindtoLeghorn.
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