Nostromo - A Tale of the Seaboard.pdf - Planet eBook

had been fitted out; a price had been put upon his head;even attempts had been made, treacherously of course, toopen negotiations with him, without in the slightest wayaffecting the even tenor of his career. At last, in true Costaguanafashion, the Fiscal of Tonoro, who was ambitious ofthe glory of having reduced the famous Hernandez, offeredhim a sum of money and a safe conduct out of the countryfor the betrayal of his band. But Hernandez evidently wasnot of the stuff of which the distinguished military politiciansand conspirators of Costaguana are made. This cleverbut common device (which frequently works like a charmin putting down revolutions) failed with the chief of vulgarSalteadores. It promised well for the Fiscal at first, but endedvery badly for the squadron of lanceros posted (by theFiscal’s directions) in a fold of the ground into which Hernandezhad promised to lead his unsuspecting followersThey came, indeed, at the appointed time, but creeping ontheir hands and knees through the bush, and only let theirpresence be known by a general discharge of firearms, whichemptied many saddles. The troopers who escaped came ridingvery hard into Tonoro. It is said that their commandingofficer (who, being better mounted, rode far ahead of therest) afterwards got into a state of despairing intoxicationand beat the ambitious Fiscal severely with the flat of hissabre in the presence of his wife and daughters, for bringingthis disgrace upon the National Army. The highest civilofficial of Tonoro, falling to the ground in a swoon, was furtherkicked all over the body and rowelled with sharp spursabout the neck and face because of the great sensitiveness