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

had been making use of him, had tried to understand hisman thoroughly. He had discovered a complete singlenessof motive behind the varied manifestations of a consistentcharacter. This was why the man remained so astonishinglysimple in the jealous greatness of his conceit. And now therewas a complication. It was evident that he resented havingbeen given a task in which there were so many chances offailure. ‘I wonder,’ thought Decoud, ‘how he would behaveif I were not here.’He heard Nostromo mutter again, ‘No! there is no roomfor fear on this lighter. Courage itself does not seem goodenough. I have a good eye and a steady hand; no man cansay he ever saw me tired or uncertain what to do; but porDios, Don Martin, I have been sent out into this black calmon a business where neither a good eye, nor a steady hand,nor judgment are any use….’ He swore a string of oaths inSpanish and Italian under his breath. ‘Nothing but sheerdesperation will do for this affair.’These words were in strange contrast to the prevailingpeace—to this almost solid stillness of the gulf. A showerfell with an abrupt whispering sound all round the boat,and Decoud took off his hat, and, letting his head get wet,felt greatly refreshed. Presently a steady little draught ofair caressed his cheek. The lighter began to move, but theshower distanced it. The drops ceased to fall upon his headand hands, the whispering died out in the distance. Nostromoemitted a grunt of satisfaction, and grasping the tiller,chirruped softly, as sailors do, to encourage the wind. Neverfor the last three days had Decoud felt less the need for what