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

last hours perhaps—of her father’s life to the keeping of thebandit, whose existence was a protest against the irresponsibletyranny of all parties alike, against the moral darknessof the land. The gloom of Los Hatos woods was preferable; alife of hardships in the train of a robber band less debasing.Antonia embraced with all her soul her uncle’s obstinate defianceof misfortune. It was grounded in the belief in theman whom she loved.In his message the Vicar-General answered upon hishead for Hernandez’s fidelity. As to his power, he pointedout that he had remained unsubdued for so many years. Inthat letter Decoud’s idea of the new Occidental State (whoseflourishing and stable condition is a matter of commonknowledge now) was for the first time made public and usedas an argument. Hernandez, ex-bandit and the last generalof Ribierist creation, was confident of being able to hold thetract of country between the woods of Los Hatos and thecoast range till that devoted patriot, Don Martin Decoud,could bring General Barrios back to Sulaco for the reconquestof the town.‘Heaven itself wills it. Providence is on our side,’ wroteFather Corbelan; there was no time to reflect upon or tocontrovert his statement; and if the discussion started uponthe reading of that letter in the Amarilla Club was violent, itwas also shortlived. In the general bewilderment of the collapsesome jumped at the idea with joyful astonishment asupon the amazing discovery of a new hope. Others becamefascinated by the prospect of immediate personal safety fortheir women and children. The majority caught at it as a