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

monstrated about this affair. Directly I heard what waswanted I saw what a desperate affair it must be, and I madeup my mind to see it out. Every minute was of importance. Ihad to wait for you first. Then, when we arrived at the ItaliaUna, old Giorgio shouted to me to go for the English doctor.Later on, that poor dying woman wanted to see me, as youknow. Senor, I was reluctant to go. I felt already this cursedsilver growing heavy upon my back, and I was afraid that,knowing herself to be dying, she would ask me to ride offagain for a priest. Father Corbelan, who is fearless, wouldhave come at a word; but Father Corbelan is far away, safewith the band of Hernandez, and the populace, that wouldhave liked to tear him to pieces, are much incensed againstthe priests. Not a single fat padre would have consented toput his head out of his hiding-place to-night to save a Christiansoul, except, perhaps, under my protection. That was inher mind. I pretended I did not believe she was going to die.Senor, I refused to fetch a priest for a dying woman …’Decoud was heard to stir.‘You did, Capataz!’ he exclaimed. His tone changed. ‘Well,you know—it was rather fine.’‘You do not believe in priests, Don Martin? Neither doI. What was the use of wasting time? But she—she believesin them. The thing sticks in my throat. She may be dead already,and here we are floating helpless with no wind at all.Curse on all superstition. She died thinking I deprived herof Paradise, I suppose. It shall be the most desperate affairof my life.’Decoud remained lost in reflection. He tried to analyze