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

the sensations awaked by what he had been told. The voiceof the Capataz was heard again:‘Now, Don Martin, let us take up the sweeps and try tofind the Isabels. It is either that or sinking the lighter if theday overtakes us. We must not forget that the steamer fromEsmeralda with the soldiers may be coming along. We willpull straight on now. I have discovered a bit of a candle here,and we must take the risk of a small light to make a courseby the boat compass. There is not enough wind to blow itout—may the curse of Heaven fall upon this blind gulf!’A small flame appeared burning quite straight. Itshowed fragmentarily the stout ribs and planking in thehollow, empty part of the lighter. Decoud could see Nostromostanding up to pull. He saw him as high as the redsash on his waist, with a gleam of a white-handled revolverand the wooden haft of a long knife protruding on his leftside. Decoud nerved himself for the effort of rowing. Certainlythere was not enough wind to blow the candle out,but its flame swayed a little to the slow movement of theheavy boat. It was so big that with their utmost efforts theycould not move it quicker than about a mile an hour. Thiswas sufficient, however, to sweep them amongst the Isabelslong before daylight came. There was a good six hours ofdarkness before them, and the distance from the harbour tothe Great Isabel did not exceed two miles. Decoud put thisheavy toil to the account of the Capataz’s impatience. Sometimesthey paused, and then strained their ears to hear theboat from Esmeralda. In this perfect quietness a steamermoving would have been heard from far off. As to seeing