Ностромо
Chapter 7
“Ribierahadyieldedtotheurgentsolicitationsofhisfriends,andhadlefttheheadquartersofhisdiscomfitedarmyalone,undertheguidanceofBonifacio,themuleteer,whohadbeenwillingtotaketheresponsibilitywiththerisk.Hehaddepartedatdaybreakofthethirdday.Hisremainingforceshadmeltedawayduringthenight.BonifacioandherodehardonhorsestowardstheCordillera;thentheyobtainedmules,enteredthepasses,andcrossedtheParamoofIviejustbeforeafreezingblastsweptoverthatstonyplateau,buryinginadriftofsnowthelittleshelter-hutofstonesinwhichtheyhadspentthenight.AfterwardspoorRibierahadmanyadventures,gotseparatedfromhisguide,losthismount,struggleddowntotheCampoonfoot,andifhehadnotthrownhimselfonthemercyofarancherowouldhaveperishedalongwayfromSulaco.Thatman,who,asamatteroffact,recognizedhimatonce,lethimhaveafreshmule,whichthefugitive,heavyandunskilful,hadriddentodeath.AnditwastruehehadbeenpursuedbyapartycommandedbynolessapersonthanPedroMontero,thebrotherofthegeneral.ThecoldwindoftheParamoluckilycaughtthepursuersonthetopofthepass.Somefewmen,andalltheanimals,perishedintheicyblast.Thestragglersdied,butthemainbodykepton.TheyfoundpoorBonifaciolyinghalf-deadatthefootofasnowslope,andbayonetedhimpromptlyinthetrueCivilWarstyle.
