Ностромо
Chapter 8
Iuntiedoneofthesmallboatsandpulledmyselfoutoftheharbourwithnothingbutthreecigarsinmypockettohelpmespendthedayonthisisland.Butthewaterofthisrivuletyouhearunderyourfeetiscoolandsweetandgood,senor,bothbeforeandafterasmoke.”Hewassilentforawhile,thenaddedreflectively,“ThatwasthefirstSundayafterIbroughtdownthewhite-whiskeredEnglishricoallthewaydownthemountainsfromtheParamoonthetopoftheEntradaPass—andinthecoach,too!Nocoachhadgoneupordownthatmountainroadwithinthememoryofman,senor,tillIbroughtthisonedowninchargeoffiftypeonsworkinglikeonemanwithropes,pickaxes,andpolesundermydirection.ThatwastherichEnglishmanwho,aspeoplesay,paysforthemakingofthisrailway.Hewasverypleasedwithme.Butmywageswerenotduetilltheendofthemonth.”
Hesliddownthebanksuddenly.Decoudheardthesplashofhisfeetinthebrookandfollowedhisfootstepsdowntheravine.Hisformwaslostamongthebushestillhehadreachedthestripofsandunderthecliff.Asoftenhappensinthegulfwhentheshowersduringthefirstpartofthenighthadbeenfrequentandheavy,thedarknesshadthinnedconsiderablytowardsthemorningthoughtherewerenosignsofdaylightasyet.
Thecargo-lighter,relievedofitspreciousburden,rockedfeebly,half-afloat,withherfore-footonthesand.
