Chapter 23 - The Island of Monte Cristo

Summary

Edmond Dantès arrives at the island of Monte Cristo with the crew of the Jeune-Amélie, eagerly disembarking to search for the entrance to Cardinal Spada's cave while the crew prepares to unload goods. After following a trail of marks on the rocks to a large boulder, Dantès loses his footing from a height and suffers a severe injury. As the master prepares to leave the island to deliver his cargo, Jacopo offers to stay with Dantès by giving up his share of the bounty, but Dantès insists on remaining alone. The rest of the crew departs, and Dantès, though injured, manages to rise and runs toward the boulder, shouting the command to open.

Characters

• Edmond / the Maltese / Edmond Dantès (Monsieur Baldi) — Dantès arrives on Monte Cristo with the Jeune-Amélie, descends into a feverish state of anticipation, and follows a trail of rock notches to a large boulder before falling and injuring his back. He refuses to be carried away by the departing crew, instructs Jacopo to stay behind in exchange for a bribe, and then forces himself up to run toward the boulder, shouting for it to open.
• Jacopo — A sailor on the Jeune-Amélie who rescued and attached himself to Dantès on the island offered to stay and care for the injured Dantès after forfeiting his share of the bounty, but instead departed with the rest of the crew.
• the_captain (the old seaman, the old master, the master) — The master of the Jeune-Amélie who allows Dantès to take the helm during the approach to Monte Cristo and later attempts to carry the injured Dantès before deciding to leave him on the island with supplies after Dantès insists on staying alone.