The wind blew strongly, the boat made six or seven knots an
hour, and they were rapidly reaching the end of their voyage. As
they drew near the island seemed to lift from the sea, and the air
was so clear that they could already distinguish the rocks heaped
on one another, like cannon balls in an arsenal, with green bushes
and trees growing in the crevices. As for the sailors, although
they appeared perfectly tranquil yet it was evident that they were
on the alert, and that they carefully watched the glassy surface
over which they were sailing, and on which a few fishing-boats,
with their white sails, were alone visible. They were within
fifteen miles of Monte Cristo when the sun began to set behind
Corsica, whose mountains appeared against the sky, showing their
rugged peaks in bold relief; this mass of rock, like the giant
Adamastor, rose dead ahead, a formidable barrier, and intercepting
the light that gilded its massive peaks so that the voyagers were
in shadow. Little by little the shadow rose higher and seemed to
drive before it the last rays of the expiring day; at last the
reflection rested on the summit of the mountain, where it paused an
instant, like the fiery crest of a volcano, then gloom gradually
covered the summit as it had covered the base, and the island now
only appeared to be a gray mountain that grew continually darker;
half an hour after, the night was quite dark.
Fortunately, the mariners were used to these latitudes, and knew
every rock in the Tuscan Archipelago; for in the midst of this
obscurity Franz was not without uneasiness — Corsica had long since
disappeared, and Monte Cristo itself was invisible; but the sailors
seemed, like the lynx, to see in the dark, and the pilot who
steered did not evince the slightest hesitation. An hour had passed
since the sun had set, when Franz fancied he saw, at a quarter of a
mile to the left, a dark mass, but he could not precisely make out
what it was, and fearing to excite the mirth of the sailors bywhat it was, and fearing to excite the mirth of the sailors by
mistaking a floating cloud for land, he remained silent; suddenly a
great light appeared on the strand; land might resemble a cloud,
but the fire was not a meteor. "What is this light?" asked he.
"Hush!" said the captain; "it is a fire."
"But you told me the island was uninhabited?"
"I said there were no fixed habitations on it, but I said also
that it served sometimes as a harbor for smugglers."
"And for pirates?"
"And for pirates," returned Gaetano, repeating Franz's words.
"It is for that reason I have given orders to pass the island, for,
as you see, the fire is behind us."
"But this fire?" continued Franz. "It seems to me rather
reassuring than otherwise; men who did not wish to be seen would
not light a fire."
"Oh, that goes for nothing," said Gaetano. "If you can guess the
position of the island in the darkness, you will see that the fire
cannot be seen from the side or from Pianosa, but only from the
sea."
"You think, then, this fire indicates the presence of unpleasant
neighbors?"
"That is what we must find out," returned Gaetano, fixing his
eyes on this terrestrial star.
"How can you find out?"
"You shall see." Gaetano consulted with his companions, and
after five minutes' discussion a manoeuvre was executed which
caused the vessel to tack about, they returned the way they had
come, and in a few minutes the fire disappeared, hidden by an
elevation of the land. The pilot again changed the course of the
boat, which rapidly approached the island, and was soon within
fifty paces of it. Gaetano lowered the sail, and the boat came to
rest. All this was done in silence, and from the moment that their
course was changed not a word was spoken.
Gaetano, who had proposed the expedition, had taken all the
responsibility on himself; the four sailors fixed their eyes on
him, while they got out their oars and held themselves in readiness
to row away, which, thanks to the darkness, would not be difficult.to row away, which, thanks to the darkness, would not be difficult.
As for Franz, he examined his arms with the utmost coolness; he had
two double-barrelled guns and a rifle; he loaded them, looked at
the priming, and waited quietly. During this time the captain had
thrown off his vest and shirt, and secured his trousers round his
waist; his feet were naked, so he had no shoes and stockings to
take off; after these preparations he placed his finger on his
lips, and lowering himself noiselessly into the sea, swam towards
the shore with such precaution that it was impossible to hear the
slightest sound; he could only be traced by the phosphorescent line
in his wake. This track soon disappeared; it was evident that he
had touched the shore. Every one on board remained motionless for
half an hour, when the same luminous track was again observed, and
the swimmer was soon on board. "Well?" exclaimed Franz and the
sailors in unison.
"They are Spanish smugglers," said he; "they have with them two
Corsican bandits."
"And what are these Corsican bandits doing here with Spanish
smugglers?"
"Alas," returned the captain with an accent of the most profound
pity, "we ought always to help one another. Very often the bandits
are hard pressed by gendarmes or carbineers; well, they see a
vessel, and good fellows like us on board, they come and demand
hospitality of us; you can't refuse help to a poor hunted devil; we
receive them, and for greater security we stand out to sea. This
costs us nothing, and saves the life, or at least the liberty, of a
fellow-creature, who on the first occasion returns the service by
pointing out some safe spot where we can land our goods without
interruption."
"Ah!" said Franz, "then you are a smuggler occasionally,
Gaetano?"
"Your excellency, we must live somehow," returned the other,
smiling impenetrably.
"Then you know the men who are now on Monte Cristo?"
"Oh, yes, we sailors are like freemasons, and recognize each
other by signs."
"And do you think we have nothing to fear if we land?"