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

saw the irony of it. Father Corbelan must have found messengersto send into the town, for early on the second dayof the disturbances there were rumours of Hernandez beingon the road to Los Hatos ready to receive those whowould put themselves under his protection. A strange-lookinghorseman, elderly and audacious, had appeared in thetown, riding slowly while his eyes examined the fronts ofthe houses, as though he had never seen such high buildingsbefore. Before the cathedral he had dismounted, and,kneeling in the middle of the Plaza, his bridle over his armand his hat lying in front of him on the ground, had bowedhis head, crossing himself and beating his breast for somelittle time. Remounting his horse, with a fearless but notunfriendly look round the little gathering formed about hispublic devotions, he had asked for the Casa Avellanos. Ascore of hands were extended in answer, with fingers pointingup the Calle de la Constitucion.The horseman had gone on with only a glance of casualcuriosity upwards to the windows of the Amarilla Club atthe corner. His stentorian voice shouted periodically in theempty street, ‘Which is the Casa Avellanos?’ till an answercame from the scared porter, and he disappeared under thegate. The letter he was bringing, written by Father Corbelanwith a pencil by the camp-fire of Hernandez, was addressedto Don Jose, of whose critical state the priest was not aware.Antonia read it, and, after consulting Charles Gould, sentit on for the information of the gentlemen garrisoning theAmarilla Club. For herself, her mind was made up; shewould rejoin her uncle; she would entrust the last day—the