The Count of Monte Cristo

Arrival at the Island

At ten o’clock at night, La Jeune Amélie anchors at the rendezvous. Despite his usual composure, Dantès cannot restrain his impetuosity and is the first to jump ashore. The moon rises at eleven o’clock, silvering every wave of the ocean and casting pale light upon the rocky hills. Though the island is familiar to La Jeune Amélie’s crew as one of their regular haunts, Dantès himself has only passed it on previous voyages without ever touching at it.

Inquiring About the Grotto

Dantès asks Jacopo where they will pass the night and suggests staying in the grottos. When questioned about these caves, Jacopo knows of no grottos on Monte Cristo. A cold sweat springs forth on Dantès’s brow as he confirms there are none. He remembers that these caves might have been filled up or stopped up for security by Cardinal Spada, making the discovery of the hidden entrance his primary task. He decides to delay investigation until morning.

Discovering the Guide-Marks

The next day, Dantès sets off alone to explore the island, taking a fowling-piece and feigning a desire to hunt wild goats. Following a path worn by a torrent through a cleft between two walls of rock—a path that human foot has likely never before tread—he examines the smallest objects with serious attention. He believes he can trace marks on certain rocks that appear made by the hand of man with some degree of regularity and definite purpose. These guide-marks are occasionally hidden under tufts of myrtle or parasitic lichen, requiring him to separate branches or brush away moss to find them. The marks seem to lead toward a large round rock placed solidly on its base, though they appear to cease about sixty paces from the harbor.