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

famous Capataz. Before the steamer, guided by a shriek ortwo (for there could be no more than that, Nostromo said,gnashing his teeth audibly), could find the lighter therewould be plenty of time to sink this treasure tied up roundhis neck.The last words he hissed into Decoud’s ear. Decoud saidnothing. He was perfectly convinced. The usual characteristicquietness of the man was gone. It was not equal tothe situation as he conceived it. Something deeper, somethingunsuspected by everyone, had come to the surface.Decoud, with careful movements, slipped off his overcoatand divested himself of his boots; he did not consider himselfbound in honour to sink with the treasure. His objectwas to get down to Barrios, in Cayta, as the Capataz knewvery well; and he, too, meant, in his own way, to put intothat attempt all the desperation of which he was capable.Nostromo muttered, ‘True, true! You are a politician, senor.Rejoin the army, and start another revolution.’ He pointedout, however, that there was a little boat belonging to everylighter fit to carry two men, if not more. Theirs was towingbehind.Of that Decoud had not been aware. Of course, it was toodark to see, and it was only when Nostromo put his handupon its painter fastened to a cleat in the stern that he experienceda full measure of relief. The prospect of findinghimself in the water and swimming, overwhelmed by ignoranceand darkness, probably in a circle, till he sank fromexhaustion, was revolting. The barren and cruel futility ofsuch an end intimidated his affectation of careless pessi-