Ностромо
Chapter 8
Wheretheravineopensbetweenthecliffs,andaslender,shallowrivuletmeandersoutofthebushestoloseitselfinthesea,thelighterwasrunashore;andthetwomen,withataciturn,undauntedenergy,begantodischargeherpreciousfreight,carryingeachox-hideboxupthebedoftherivuletbeyondthebushestoahollowplacewhichthecavinginofthesoilhadmadebelowtherootsofalargetree.Itsbigsmoothtrunkleanedlikeafallingcolumnfaroverthetrickleofwaterrunningamongsttheloosestones.
AcoupleofyearsbeforeNostromohadspentawholeSunday,allalone,exploringtheisland.HeexplainedthistoDecoudaftertheirtaskwasdone,andtheysat,wearyineverylimb,withtheirlegshangingdownthelowbank,andtheirbacksagainstthetree,likeapairofblindmenawareofeachotherandtheirsurroundingsbysomeindefinablesixthsense.
“Yes,”Nostromorepeated,“IneverforgetaplaceIhavecarefullylookedatonce.”Hespokeslowly,almostlazily,asiftherehadbeenawholeleisurelylifebeforehim,insteadofthescantytwohoursbeforedaylight.Theexistenceofthetreasure,barelyconcealedinthisimprobablespot,laidaburdenofsecrecyuponeverycontemplatedstep,uponeveryintentionandplanoffutureconduct.Hefeltthepartialfailureofthisdesperateaffairentrustedtothegreatreputationhehadknownhowtomakeforhimself.However,itwasalsoapartialsuccess.Hisvanitywashalfappeased.Hisnervousirritationhadsubsided.
