Ностромо

           AlongropestretchedawaylikeablackcottonthreadacrossthestripofwhitebeachtothegrapnelNostromohadcarriedashoreandhookedtothestemofatree-likeshrubintheveryopeningoftheravine.

           TherewasnothingforDecoudbuttoremainontheisland.HereceivedfromNostromo’shandswhateverfoodtheforesightofCaptainMitchellhadputonboardthelighteranddepositedittemporarilyinthelittledinghywhichontheirarrivaltheyhadhauledupoutofsightamongstthebushes.Itwastobeleftwithhim.Theislandwastobeahiding-place,notaprison;hecouldpullouttoapassingship.TheO.S.N.Company’smailboatspassedclosetotheislandswhengoingintoSulacofromthenorth.ButtheMinerva,carryingofftheex-president,hadtakenthenewsupnorthofthedisturbancesinSulaco.Itwaspossiblethatthenextsteamerdownwouldgetinstructionstomisstheportaltogethersincethetown,asfarastheMinerva’sofficersknew,wasforthetimebeinginthehandsoftherabble.Thiswouldmeanthattherewouldbenosteamerforamonth,asfarasthemailservicewent;butDecoudhadtotakehischanceofthat.Theislandwashisonlyshelterfromtheproscriptionhangingoverhishead.TheCapatazwas,ofcourse,goingback.Theunloadedlighterleakedmuchless,andhethoughtthatshewouldkeepafloatasfarastheharbour.

           HepassedtoDecoud,standingknee-deepalongside,oneofthetwospadeswhichbelongedtotheequipmentofeachlighterforusewhenballastingships.