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

es, wanting in the misty idealism of the Northerners, whoat the smallest encouragement dream of nothing less thanthe conquest of the earth. Sotillo was fond of jewels, goldtrinkets, of personal adornment. After a moment he turnedabout, and with a commanding gesture made all his officersfall back. He laid down the watch on the table, then, negligently,pushed his hat over it.‘Ha!’ he began, going up very close to the chair. ‘You darecall my valiant soldiers of the Esmeralda regiment, thieves.You dare! What impudence! You foreigners come here torob our country of its wealth. You never have enough! Youraudacity knows no bounds.’He looked towards the officers, amongst whom therewas an approving murmur. The older major was moved todeclare—‘Si, mi colonel. They are all traitors.’‘I shall say nothing,’ continued Sotillo, fixing the motionlessand powerless Mitchell with an angry but uneasystare. ‘I shall say nothing of your treacherous attempt to getpossession of my revolver to shoot me while I was trying totreat you with consideration you did not deserve. You haveforfeited your life. Your only hope is in my clemency.’He watched for the effect of his words, but there was noobvious sign of fear on Captain Mitchell’s face. His whitehair was full of dust, which covered also the rest of his helplessperson. As if he had heard nothing, he twitched aneyebrow to get rid of a bit of straw which hung amongstthe hairs.Sotillo advanced one leg and put his arms akimbo. ‘It is