Ностромо
Chapter 8
TheseizedcorrespondencehadconfirmedhispreviousinformationofalargeamountofsilveringotslyingintheSulacoCustomHouse.TogainpossessionofitwouldbeaclearMonteristmove;asortofservicethatwouldhavetoberewarded.Withthesilverinhishandshecouldmaketermsforhimselfandhissoldiers.Hewasawareneitheroftheriots,norofthePresident’sescapetoSulacoandtheclosepursuitledbyMontero’sbrother,theguerrillero.Thegameseemedinhisownhands.TheinitialmovesweretheseizureofthecabletelegraphofficeandthesecuringoftheGovernmentsteamerlyinginthenarrowcreekwhichistheharbourofEsmeralda.Thelastwaseffectedwithoutdifficultybyacompanyofsoldiersswarmingwitharushoverthegangwaysasshelayalongsidethequay;butthelieutenantchargedwiththedutyofarrestingthetelegraphisthaltedonthewaybeforetheonlycafeinEsmeralda,wherehedistributedsomebrandytohismen,andrefreshedhimselfattheexpenseoftheowner,aknownRibierist.Thewholepartybecameintoxicated,andproceededontheirmissionupthestreetyellingandfiringrandomshotsatthewindows.Thislittlefestivity,whichmighthaveturnedoutdangeroustothetelegraphist’slife,enabledhimintheendtosendhiswarningtoSulaco.Thelieutenant,staggeringupstairswithadrawnsabre,wasbeforelongkissinghimonbothcheeksinoneofthoseswiftchangesofmoodpeculiartoastateofdrunkenness.
