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‘So foul a sky clears without a storm.’- SHAKESPEARETOJOHN GALSWORTHY
AUTHOR’S NOTE‘NOSTROMO’ is the most anxiously meditated of thelonger novels which belong to the period followingupon the publication of the ‘Typhoon’ volume of short stories.I don’t mean to say that I became then conscious of anyimpending change in my mentality and in my attitude towardsthe tasks of my writing life. And perhaps there wasnever any change, except in that mysterious, extraneousthing which has nothing to do with the theories of art; asubtle change in the nature of the inspiration; a phenomenonfor which I can not in any way be held responsible.What, however, did cause me some concern was that afterfinishing the last story of the ‘Typhoon’ volume it seemedsomehow that there was nothing more in the world to writeabout.This so strangely negative but disturbing mood lastedsome little time; and then, as with many of my longer stories,the first hint for ‘Nostromo’ came to me in the shape ofa vagrant anecdote completely destitute of valuable details.As a matter of fact in 1875 or ‘6, when very young, in theWest Indies or rather in the Gulf of Mexico, for my contactswith land were short, few, and fleeting, I heard the story ofsome man who was supposed to have stolen single-handeda whole lighter-full of silver, somewhere on the Tierra
Page 1: Nostromo: A Taleof the SeaboardBy J
Page 5 and 6: him: ‘What’s to prevent me repo
Page 7 and 8: Misrule.’ That work was never pub
Page 9 and 10: ter the usual exordium of his remor
Page 11 and 12: invective. She did not quite unders
Page 13 and 14: CHAPTER ONEIN THE time of Spanish r
Page 15 and 16: the sky above a razor-backed ridge
Page 17 and 18: At night the body of clouds advanci
Page 19 and 20: CHAPTER TWOTHE only sign of commerc
Page 21 and 22: ject with studied negligence.‘Smi
Page 23 and 24: against the rushes of the rabble, t
Page 25 and 26: Mitchell, after directing the comma
Page 27 and 28: CHAPTER THREEIT MIGHT have been sai
Page 29 and 30: ing fowls, pounding corn in wooden
Page 31 and 32: It was trying to the nerves. Old Vi
Page 33 and 34: The children kneeling on the floor
Page 35 and 36: Linda raised her eyes to her face f
Page 37 and 38: fumes floated upwards in sunshine,
Page 39 and 40: while the negro brakesmen sat carel
Page 41 and 42: ters of her hair, and the eyelashes
Page 43 and 44: Italian—the publication of the Br
Page 45 and 46: Giorgio’s old age. It cast a gloo
Page 47 and 48: CHAPTER FIVEIN THIS way only was th
Page 49 and 50: out-of-the-way place Sulaco is!—a
Page 51 and 52: aristocratic old Spanish families,
Page 53 and 54:
showed some talent as guerilla chie
Page 55 and 56:
could set in motion mighty machines
Page 57 and 58:
face, a pair of eyes gazing straigh
Page 59 and 60:
not connected with Nostromo, and in
Page 61 and 62:
here. And I suppose they are homesi
Page 63 and 64:
swift pasotrote, straight out of so
Page 65 and 66:
Perhaps he had just dismounted on h
Page 67 and 68:
Worked in the early days mostly by
Page 69 and 70:
with many arguments and entreaties,
Page 71 and 72:
a votre bonhomme—entendez-vous?
Page 73 and 74:
teen, a matter of prime importance
Page 75 and 76:
a personal point of view, too, as o
Page 77 and 78:
‘That’s different. I’ve been
Page 79 and 80:
and generosity, had the fastidious
Page 81 and 82:
with that girl, and his mind of the
Page 83 and 84:
aspect of the world.The latest phas
Page 85 and 86:
fat coachman sat muffled up on the
Page 87 and 88:
mine by the hour with her husband w
Page 89 and 90:
face, and his whole, long-limbed, l
Page 91 and 92:
thought that no one could know her
Page 93 and 94:
there was an implication of calm an
Page 95 and 96:
on facts; and Charles Gould, whose
Page 97 and 98:
lip is what you’ll want; and you
Page 99 and 100:
inaccessible to profane eyes. Some
Page 101 and 102:
me whether his talk is the voice of
Page 103 and 104:
stairs, and before he gave her the
Page 105 and 106:
the heat of the day, she rode on a
Page 107 and 108:
of lust between bands of absurd dev
Page 109 and 110:
ents must have been great, after al
Page 111 and 112:
tercourse was to strike as offensiv
Page 113 and 114:
When in Sulaco it was his practice
Page 115 and 116:
enclosures within the old ramparts,
Page 117 and 118:
Thus professionally spoke Don Pepe,
Page 119 and 120:
sword and in a shabby uniform with
Page 121 and 122:
first, in a pointed straw hat, then
Page 123 and 124:
dying on hillsides, in the long gra
Page 125 and 126:
and weight, would be caught up by t
Page 127 and 128:
ment. From the heavy family coaches
Page 129 and 130:
had been fitted out; a price had be
Page 131 and 132:
fore she had settled in her town-ho
Page 133 and 134:
gling spurs and riding-whip under h
Page 135 and 136:
the white gleam of ranging eyes; an
Page 137 and 138:
at the end of his rule (which had k
Page 139 and 140:
were badly wanted for this great de
Page 141 and 142:
Chief of the State Costaguana had e
Page 143 and 144:
which I, having been in my time acc
Page 145 and 146:
Going ashore in the same boat with
Page 147 and 148:
carriage, who returned smiles and f
Page 149 and 150:
murs of recognition and obsequious
Page 151 and 152:
‘Is that true?’ she cooed, joyo
Page 153 and 154:
Nostromo, the Mediterranean sailor
Page 155 and 156:
PART SECONDThe Isabels
Page 157 and 158:
The harbour was busy, too, with the
Page 159 and 160:
ing company of nearly naked skeleto
Page 161 and 162:
It was the rule for all the women o
Page 163 and 164:
cific mandate to establish the pros
Page 165 and 166:
much of the ignominy of the situati
Page 167 and 168:
could unsettle the public opinion i
Page 169 and 170:
in Tonoro. They had come to offer h
Page 171 and 172:
otic send-off. It was not his part
Page 173 and 174:
of a lover ensconced in a doorway o
Page 175 and 176:
tion to become a poet like that oth
Page 177 and 178:
‘It’s like a tile falling on my
Page 179 and 180:
formed that she ventured to treat s
Page 181 and 182:
‘I am inexpressibly grateful for
Page 183 and 184:
French language. The big black lett
Page 185 and 186:
thick stick. No! He had earned enou
Page 187 and 188:
costume caused by the anxious lende
Page 189 and 190:
ars of a strong wooden cage. Si, se
Page 191 and 192:
The carriage rolled noiselessly on
Page 193 and 194:
‘Yes,’ muttered old Viola, sava
Page 195 and 196:
‘I shall want a horse presently,
Page 197 and 198:
shriek, and Decoud, from his back s
Page 199 and 200:
ciple is old.’He ruminated his di
Page 201 and 202:
of feminine and intimate delicacy.D
Page 203 and 204:
aising her hand. After a time he wh
Page 205 and 206:
Decoud talking publicly with Antoni
Page 207 and 208:
make war you may retreat, but not w
Page 209 and 210:
and all his Negro Liberals hanging
Page 211 and 212:
She made an energetic gesture of ne
Page 213 and 214:
have ploughed the sea.’ He did no
Page 215 and 216:
first pause. Their comparative isol
Page 217 and 218:
Jose Avellanos. Don Jose, lifting u
Page 219 and 220:
have carried so far, though there w
Page 221 and 222:
something unlawful behind his pries
Page 223 and 224:
for reparation from a penitent coun
Page 225 and 226:
‘Very well,’ he agreed with the
Page 227 and 228:
the skirt of his soutane at each en
Page 229 and 230:
confirmatory word, a grunt of assen
Page 231 and 232:
sign, made no sound. The impenetrab
Page 233 and 234:
so.’ And now he was going. It was
Page 235 and 236:
stairs, where the Madonna with the
Page 237 and 238:
there was to say a long time ago. T
Page 239 and 240:
upon the great bare wall. ‘It is
Page 241 and 242:
Decoud affected suddenly the utmost
Page 243 and 244:
country, whatever Father Corbelan m
Page 245 and 246:
ceptibilities, and at the present m
Page 247 and 248:
do no harm. And it was quite possib
Page 249 and 250:
sentimentalists to deal with.’‘
Page 251 and 252:
iously.‘Upon the whole,’ he con
Page 253 and 254:
CHAPTER SEVENIT WAS part of what De
Page 255 and 256:
death. That man seems to have a par
Page 257 and 258:
for that, senor?’ Then it dawned
Page 259 and 260:
dismantled houses acquired by the C
Page 261 and 262:
vaguely about him, then dropped int
Page 263 and 264:
man or beast,’ said the girl, pas
Page 265 and 266:
holding a bottle, and sobbing gentl
Page 267 and 268:
handfuls of type, blown in the wind
Page 269 and 270:
it were to an assembly of trained m
Page 271 and 272:
clothed in the fair robes of an ide
Page 273 and 274:
emaining forces had melted away dur
Page 275 and 276:
‘Never mind, there is no lack of
Page 277 and 278:
holds to it as some men hold to the
Page 279 and 280:
humanity.‘He joined me on the har
Page 281 and 282:
the paper was going through the pre
Page 283 and 284:
‘Teresa wants to see you, Nostrom
Page 285 and 286:
for the glow of a heap of charcoal
Page 287 and 288:
and hopes, had a great regard for h
Page 289 and 290:
the one which they say is guarded b
Page 291 and 292:
the stairs backwards, with the usua
Page 293 and 294:
‘What bargain would your worship
Page 295 and 296:
‘We are out in the gulf now,’ s
Page 297 and 298:
In the featureless night Nostromo w
Page 299 and 300:
and years to come. And yet, the day
Page 301 and 302:
er. No, senor; there is no rest til
Page 303 and 304:
the sensations awaked by what he ha
Page 305 and 306:
was limp—lifeless.The light of th
Page 307 and 308:
shouts and imprecations, looking fo
Page 309 and 310:
angry and threatening voice, ordere
Page 311 and 312:
had been making use of him, had tri
Page 313 and 314:
‘They are trying to make out wher
Page 315 and 316:
a naked mast. I will do it now, bef
Page 317 and 318:
windows of the houses, and showing
Page 319 and 320:
mism. In comparison to it, the chan
Page 321 and 322:
daylight? He began to think that th
Page 323 and 324:
him, and Barrios, with a rude and j
Page 325 and 326:
intoxicated, and proceeded on their
Page 327 and 328:
This was the first time Nostromo an
Page 329 and 330:
would have passed on, leaving the l
Page 331 and 332:
the breast of Senor Hirsch, who sim
Page 333 and 334:
in aim, in view, in character, and
Page 335 and 336:
I was in love with. Poor Teresa cou
Page 337 and 338:
one of the two spades which belonge
Page 339 and 340:
Nostromo detected the ironic tone.
Page 341 and 342:
certainly before noon Sotillo would
Page 343 and 344:
PART THIRDTHE LIGHTHOUSE
Page 345 and 346:
of those imported workmen with the
Page 347 and 348:
losing party. But I did not tell th
Page 349 and 350:
of the far interior where the great
Page 351 and 352:
ing by himself. I shall be sorry.
Page 353 and 354:
story that will never grow old. Tha
Page 355 and 356:
the treasure was of enormous import
Page 357 and 358:
the wall, and narrow enough to be d
Page 359 and 360:
the engineer. ‘When this question
Page 361 and 362:
CHAPTER TWOCAPTAIN MITCHELL, pacing
Page 363 and 364:
ecome the prey in person and fortun
Page 365 and 366:
infuriated. Captain Mitchell, howev
Page 367 and 368:
The long building was surrounded by
Page 369 and 370:
ing half a hundred-weight of sand.
Page 371 and 372:
and had been dragged along for some
Page 373 and 374:
es, wanting in the misty idealism o
Page 375 and 376:
tain Mitchell could meet the realit
Page 377 and 378:
with his chin on his breast and his
Page 379 and 380:
founded fellow get wind of the affa
Page 381 and 382:
was sitting at the foot of the bed,
Page 383 and 384:
their eyes on the doctor. But at th
Page 385 and 386:
dark.‘Yes, that is exactly what I
Page 387 and 388:
friend’s character is not my idea
Page 389 and 390:
Only the slight limping shuffle cou
Page 391 and 392:
tance.’Captain Mitchell was very
Page 393 and 394:
creased. The guerrillero brother of
Page 395 and 396:
saw the irony of it. Father Corbela
Page 397 and 398:
drowning man catches at a straw. Fa
Page 399 and 400:
over his shoulder.‘Drive carefull
Page 401 and 402:
with the sergeant’s stripes on th
Page 403 and 404:
day to join the democrats. We are g
Page 405 and 406:
to turn, where the only chance of s
Page 407 and 408:
his back against the rim of the fou
Page 409 and 410:
had planned revolutions, who had be
Page 411 and 412:
efusing, almost touched by the anxi
Page 413 and 414:
senora had given into her charge th
Page 415 and 416:
eyes, and in a tempestuous voice, b
Page 417 and 418:
make a full confession, Father Bero
Page 419 and 420:
fetters were struck off by the ligh
Page 421 and 422:
of account the safety of her husban
Page 423 and 424:
cident had brought to a point all t
Page 425 and 426:
‘Antonia will kill herself!’ sh
Page 427 and 428:
the cathedral. Three single strokes
Page 429 and 430:
CHAPTER FIVEDURING the night the ex
Page 431 and 432:
duplicity and cunning, together wit
Page 433 and 434:
court, and had conceived the idea o
Page 435 and 436:
and the bullet-speckled walls of th
Page 437 and 438:
‘The brute!’ observed his Excel
Page 439 and 440:
cho howled with conviction, was the
Page 441 and 442:
patrol duty, strolling, carbine in
Page 443 and 444:
Don Pepe, in a mild and humorous vo
Page 445 and 446:
the hammock. With less confidence,
Page 447 and 448:
ecause whatever happened his honour
Page 449 and 450:
CHAPTER SEVENAT ABOUT that time, in
Page 451 and 452:
(which were accessible to His Excel
Page 453 and 454:
as a great captain of industry and
Page 455 and 456:
on the table.‘You will have to ta
Page 457 and 458:
gadores could have been employed wi
Page 459 and 460:
the Custom House, appeared lonely,
Page 461 and 462:
CHAPTER EIGHTAFTER landing from his
Page 463 and 464:
the cupolas, towers, and miradors r
Page 465 and 466:
as a boy on one of these feluccas b
Page 467 and 468:
made a few steps, then stopped agai
Page 469 and 470:
Sharing in the anti-priestly freeth
Page 471 and 472:
sensible his profound isolation. Hi
Page 473 and 474:
meditating—or, perhaps, reading a
Page 475 and 476:
ing his lips slightly, and not look
Page 477 and 478:
der-blades. From there his eyes tra
Page 479 and 480:
membered that much. What do you wan
Page 481 and 482:
where he would be of the greatest u
Page 483 and 484:
ought never to have left the mounta
Page 485 and 486:
pest in his ears in time to hear th
Page 487 and 488:
‘Am I to understand, senor,’ No
Page 489 and 490:
such a fool as when I started. I ha
Page 491 and 492:
CHAPTER NINEDISTRACTED between doub
Page 493 and 494:
that treasure, for that wealth of s
Page 495 and 496:
come entangled in a perfect welter
Page 497 and 498:
Complete silence. He quaked. It was
Page 499 and 500:
whose one end was fastened to Senor
Page 501 and 502:
its mouth closed askew. The colonel
Page 503 and 504:
any future treacheries of that scou
Page 505 and 506:
He was absolutely the only one. The
Page 507 and 508:
You are safe because you are needed
Page 509 and 510:
‘I don’t know,’ burst out the
Page 511 and 512:
Sotillo.’And Dr. Monygham stopped
Page 513 and 514:
no divers, but he has a ship, boats
Page 515 and 516:
Custom House, before he managed to
Page 517 and 518:
laying about you with a stick among
Page 519 and 520:
had left it twenty-four hours befor
Page 521 and 522:
keen blade piercing his breast.The
Page 523 and 524:
decaying strength.He extended his h
Page 525 and 526:
The Capataz drank greedily. A sligh
Page 527 and 528:
CHAPTER TENTHE next day was quiet i
Page 529 and 530:
lish, French, Italians, all sorts
Page 531 and 532:
of his safe. It was even for that s
Page 533 and 534:
priest, everlastingly worrying the
Page 535 and 536:
ticle to him and the force he has o
Page 537 and 538:
see framed under glass in the Munic
Page 539 and 540:
the land gate, was not able to oppo
Page 541 and 542:
do?’ ‘You know very well I was,
Page 543 and 544:
confines of waking and sleep with r
Page 545 and 546:
they thought up to the last on that
Page 547 and 548:
Ha! ha! ha! He wants me to admit th
Page 549 and 550:
without loss of time and undetected
Page 551 and 552:
ments and barren tasks for the peop
Page 553 and 554:
endary treasure.At the end of his f
Page 555 and 556:
universe as a succession of incompr
Page 557 and 558:
dark, he ceased rowing and flung th
Page 559 and 560:
He had made up his mind that nothin
Page 561 and 562:
CHAPTER ELEVENSULACO outstripped No
Page 563 and 564:
ing tenderness.‘Don’t expect to
Page 565 and 566:
the Bolson de Tonoro. And the heroi
Page 567 and 568:
Gould. She had brought her uncle ov
Page 569 and 570:
him that position? Who can say? Gen
Page 571 and 572:
know how really good you are. You w
Page 573 and 574:
that incorruptible Capataz. Moreove
Page 575 and 576:
the Violas. As late as midnight at
Page 577 and 578:
an old negro, who had been sitting
Page 579 and 580:
Gould added to the grace of her sea
Page 581 and 582:
success for the last of the Goulds.
Page 583 and 584:
qualities was destroyed. He felt it
Page 585 and 586:
ed and feared Captain Fidanza, the
Page 587 and 588:
made for himself, under his rightfu
Page 589 and 590:
He went to see his friend Captain M
Page 591 and 592:
A sudden dread came upon the fearle
Page 593 and 594:
you for the earth to become empty t
Page 595 and 596:
her raised eyes remained fixed on n
Page 597 and 598:
‘Be allowed to listen to your Ram
Page 599 and 600:
his little flower.It had grown dark
Page 601 and 602:
and the triumphant excitement of hi
Page 603 and 604:
‘Where is it? Where? Tell me that
Page 605 and 606:
There was something in that immobil
Page 607 and 608:
CHAPTER THIRTEENON THE day Mrs. Gou
Page 609 and 610:
hills, for which we are starving ou
Page 611 and 612:
Linda had a good share of the Viola
Page 613 and 614:
ious and shameless innocence with k
Page 615 and 616:
stairs. At the moment of opening th
Page 617 and 618:
sala. The prosperous majordomo rema
Page 619 and 620:
has something to say to you alone.
Page 621 and 622:
aim. I myself could have done no be
Page 623 and 624:
lost for ever.’After hearing thes
Page 625 and 626:
photographer, small, frail, bloodth
Page 627:
‘You have killed Gian’ Battista
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