Ностромо
Chapter 8
Hernandez,therobber,hadbeenaninoffensive,smallranchero,kidnappedwithcircumstancesofpeculiaratrocityfromhishomeduringoneofthecivilwars,andforcedtoserveinthearmy.Therehisconductassoldierwasexemplary,till,watchinghischance,hekilledhiscolonel,andmanagedtogetclearaway.Withabandofdeserters,whochosehimfortheirchief,hehadtakenrefugebeyondthewildandwaterlessBolsondeTonoro.Thehaciendaspaidhimblackmailincattleandhorses;extraordinarystoriesweretoldofhispowersandofhiswonderfulescapesfromcapture.Heusedtoride,single-handed,intothevillagesandthelittletownsontheCampo,drivingapackmulebeforehim,withtworevolversinhisbelt,gostraighttotheshoporstore,selectwhathewanted,andrideawayunopposedbecauseoftheterrorhisexploitsandhisaudacityinspired.Poorcountrypeopleheusuallyleftalone;theupperclasswereoftenstoppedontheroadsandrobbed;butanyunluckyofficialthatfellintohishandswassuretogetasevereflogging.Thearmyofficersdidnotlikehisnametobementionedintheirpresence.Hisfollowers,mountedonstolenhorses,laughedatthepursuitoftheregularcavalrysenttohuntthemdown,andwhomtheytookpleasuretoambushmostscientificallyinthebrokengroundoftheirownfastness.Expeditionshadbeenfittedout;apricehadbeenputuponhishead;evenattemptshadbeenmade,treacherouslyofcourse,toopennegotiationswithhim,withoutintheslightestwayaffectingtheeventenorofhiscareer.
