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

dred or so from the dark, shaded, jungly ravine, containingthe secret of his safety, of his influence, of his magnificence,of his power over the future, of his defiance of ill-luck, of everypossible betrayal from rich and poor alike—what then?He could never shake off the treasure. His audacity, greaterthan that of other men, had welded that vein of silver intohis life. And the feeling of fearful and ardent subjection, thefeeling of his slavery—so irremediable and profound thatoften, in his thoughts, he compared himself to the legendaryGringos, neither dead nor alive, bound down to theirconquest of unlawful wealth on Azuera—weighed heavilyon the independent Captain Fidanza, owner and master ofa coasting schooner, whose smart appearance (and fabulousgood-luck in trading) were so well known along thewestern seaboard of a vast continent.Fiercely whiskered and grave, a shade less supple in hiswalk, the vigour and symmetry of his powerful limbs lostin the vulgarity of a brown tweed suit, made by Jews in theslums of London, and sold by the clothing department of theCompania Anzani, Captain Fidanza was seen in the streetsof Sulaco attending to his business, as usual, that trip. And,as usual, he allowed it to get about that he had made a greatprofit on his cargo. It was a cargo of salt fish, and Lent wasapproaching. He was seen in tramcars going to and fro betweenthe town and the harbour; he talked with people in acafe or two in his measured, steady voice. Captain Fidanzawas seen. The generation that would know nothing of thefamous ride to Cayta was not born yet.Nostromo, the miscalled Capataz de Cargadores, had