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

the column. Near by a loud voice directed hurriedly, ‘Pushthat railway car out of the way!’ At the rush of bare feet toexecute the order Captain Mitchell skipped back a pace ortwo; the car, suddenly impelled by many hands, flew awayfrom him along the rails, and before he knew what had happenedhe found himself surrounded and seized by his armsand the collar of his coat.‘We have caught a man hiding here, mi teniente!’ criedone of his captors.‘Hold him on one side till the rearguard comes along,’ answeredthe voice. The whole column streamed past CaptainMitchell at a run, the thundering noise of their feet dyingaway suddenly on the shore. His captors held him tightly,disregarding his declaration that he was an Englishmanand his loud demands to be taken at once before their commandingofficer. Finally he lapsed into dignified silence.With a hollow rumble of wheels on the planks a couple offield guns, dragged by hand, rolled by. Then, after a smallbody of men had marched past escorting four or five figureswhich walked in advance, with a jingle of steel scabbards,he felt a tug at his arms, and was ordered to come along.During the passage from the wharf to the Custom House itis to be feared that Captain Mitchell was subjected to certainindignities at the hands of the soldiers—such as jerks,thumps on the neck, forcible application of the butt of a rifleto the small of his back. Their ideas of speed were not inaccord with his notion of his dignity. He became flustered,flushed, and helpless. It was as if the world were coming toan end.