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

‘But that is talk—good for the politicos. I am a militaryman. I do not know what may happen. But I know whatought to be done—the mine should march upon the townwith guns, axes, knives tied up to sticks—por Dios. That iswhat should be done. Only—‘His folded hands twitched on the hilt. The cigar turnedfaster in the corner of his lips.‘And who should lead but I? Unfortunately—observe—Ihave given my word of honour to Don Carlos not to let themine fall into the hands of these thieves. In war—you knowthis, Padre—the fate of battles is uncertain, and whom couldI leave here to act for me in case of defeat? The explosives areready. But it would require a man of high honour, of intelligence,of judgment, of courage, to carry out the prepareddestruction. Somebody I can trust with my honour as I cantrust myself. Another old officer of Paez, for instance. Or—or—perhaps one of Paez’s old chaplains would do.’He got up, long, lank, upright, hard, with his martialmoustache and the bony structure of his face, from whichthe glance of the sunken eyes seemed to transfix the priest,who stood still, an empty wooden snuff-box held upsidedown in his hand, and glared back, speechless, at the governorof the mine.