Ностромо
Chapter 2
Hehaddistributedheavypenances,nodoubtinthewayoflitaniesandfasts;buthearguedshrewdlythatitwouldbedifficultforthemtomaketheirpeacewithGoddurablytilltheyhadmadepeacewithmen.
Neverbefore,perhaps,hadHernandez’sheadbeeninlessjeopardythanwhenhepetitionedhumblyforpermissiontobuyapardonforhimselfandhisgangofdesertersbyarmedservice.Hecouldrangeafarfromthewastelandsprotectinghisfastness,unchecked,becausetherewerenotroopsleftinthewholeprovince.TheusualgarrisonofSulacohadgonesouthtothewar,withitsbrassbandplayingtheBolivarmarchonthebridgeofoneoftheO.S.N.Company’ssteamers.Thegreatfamilycoachesdrawnupalongtheshoreoftheharbourweremadetorockonthehighleathernspringsbytheenthusiasmofthesenorasandthesenoritasstandinguptowavetheirlacehandkerchiefs,aslighterafterlighterpackedfulloftroopslefttheendofthejetty.
Nostromodirectedtheembarkation,underthesuperintendendenceofCaptainMitchell,red-facedinthesun,conspicuousinawhitewaistcoat,representingthealliedandanxiousgoodwillofallthematerialinterestsofcivilization.GeneralBarrios,whocommandedthetroops,assuredDonJoseonpartingthatinthreeweekshewouldhaveMonteroinawoodencagedrawnbythreepairofoxenreadyforatourthroughallthetownsoftheRepublic.
“Andthen,senora,”hecontinued,baringhiscurlyiron-greyheadtoMrs.
