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

doze under their heavy saddles, while the men, in raggeduniforms and pointed straw hats, lounge on a bench, withtheir naked feet stuck out beyond the strip of shade; and asentry, in a red baize coat with holes at the elbows, stands atthe top of the steps glaring haughtily at the common people,who uncover their heads to him as they pass.Sotillo’s ideas did not soar above the care for his personalsafety and the chance of plundering the town in his charge,but he feared that such a late adhesion would earn but scantgratitude from the victors. He had believed just a little toolong in the power of the San Tome mine. The seized correspondencehad confirmed his previous information of alarge amount of silver ingots lying in the Sulaco CustomHouse. To gain possession of it would be a clear Monteristmove; a sort of service that would have to be rewarded.With the silver in his hands he could make terms for himselfand his soldiers. He was aware neither of the riots, norof the President’s escape to Sulaco and the close pursuit ledby Montero’s brother, the guerrillero. The game seemed inhis own hands. The initial moves were the seizure of thecable telegraph office and the securing of the Governmentsteamer lying in the narrow creek which is the harbour ofEsmeralda. The last was effected without difficulty by a companyof soldiers swarming with a rush over the gangways asshe lay alongside the quay; but the lieutenant charged withthe duty of arresting the telegraphist halted on the way beforethe only cafe in Esmeralda, where he distributed somebrandy to his men, and refreshed himself at the expenseof the owner, a known Ribierist. The whole party became