The Mosquito Coast Chapter Summary & Analysis - Chapter 18 Summary

Chapter 18 Summary

Charlie wakes up to see his father slumped on the ground asleep. Fox quickly wakes and denies that he ever shut his eyes. The ice has melted to the size of a football, but Fox refuses to admit defeat. When Charlie remarks that from the mountaintop, the Honduran jungle looks desolate, Fox sarcastically replies, "You've never seen Chicago!"

Finally, the party arrives at a small village just over the mountains. The Indians here are a different tribe, and none of the men from Jeronimo is able to communicate with them. Fox delivers the tiny sliver of remaining ice to the headman of the village, but it fades away. The villagers tell Fox to leave, but he refuses. Eventually, three skinny white men wearing only shorts serve them food. Father assumes the white men are slaves and brags about all the comforts of Jeronimo, including the gardens, houses, running water, showers...
(read more)