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

CHAPTER FOURPERHAPS it was in the exercise of his calling that he hadcome to see the troops depart. The Porvenir of the dayafter next would no doubt relate the event, but its editor,leaning his side against the landau, seemed to look at nothing.The front rank of the company of infantry drawn upthree deep across the shore end of the jetty when pressedtoo close would bring their bayonets to the charge ferociously,with an awful rattle; and then the crowd of spectatorsswayed back bodily, even under the noses of the big whitemules. Notwithstanding the great multitude there was onlya low, muttering noise; the dust hung in a brown haze, inwhich the horsemen, wedged in the throng here and there,towered from the hips upwards, gazing all one way overthe heads. Almost every one of them had mounted a friend,who steadied himself with both hands grasping his shouldersfrom behind; and the rims of their hats touching, madelike one disc sustaining the cones of two pointed crownswith a double face underneath. A hoarse mozo would bawlout something to an acquaintance in the ranks, or a womanwould shriek suddenly the word Adios! followed by theChristian name of a man.General Barrios, in a shabby blue tunic and white pegtoptrousers falling upon strange red boots, kept his headuncovered and stooped slightly, propping himself up with a