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

uy a pardon for himself and his gang of deserters by armedservice. He could range afar from the waste lands protectinghis fastness, unchecked, because there were no troops left inthe whole province. The usual garrison of Sulaco had gonesouth to the war, with its brass band playing the Bolivarmarch on the bridge of one of the O.S.N. Company’s steamers.The great family coaches drawn up along the shore ofthe harbour were made to rock on the high leathern springsby the enthusiasm of the senoras and the senoritas standingup to wave their lace handkerchiefs, as lighter after lighterpacked full of troops left the end of the jetty.Nostromo directed the embarkation, under the superintendendenceof Captain Mitchell, red-faced in the sun,conspicuous in a white waistcoat, representing the alliedand anxious goodwill of all the material interests of civilization.General Barrios, who commanded the troops,assured Don Jose on parting that in three weeks he wouldhave Montero in a wooden cage drawn by three pair of oxenready for a tour through all the towns of the Republic.‘And then, senora,’ he continued, baring his curly irongreyhead to Mrs. Gould in her landau—‘and then, senora,we shall convert our swords into plough-shares and growrich. Even I, myself, as soon as this little business is settled,shall open a fundacion on some land I have on the llanosand try to make a little money in peace and quietness. Senora,you know, all Costaguana knows—what do I say?—thiswhole South American continent knows, that Pablo Barrioshas had his fill of military glory.’Charles Gould was not present at the anxious and patri-