Ностромо
Chapter 8
Byworkingwithitcarefullyassoonastherewasdaylightenoughtosee,Decoudcouldloosenamassofearthandstonesoverhangingthecavityinwhichtheyhaddepositedthetreasure,sothatitwouldlookasifithadfallennaturally.Itwouldcoverupnotonlythecavity,butevenalltracesoftheirwork,thefootsteps,thedisplacedstones,andeventhebrokenbushes.
“Besides,whowouldthinkoflookingeitherforyouorthetreasurehere?”Nostromocontinued,asifhecouldnottearhimselfawayfromthespot.“Nobodyiseverlikelytocomehere.Whatcouldanymanwantwiththispieceofearthaslongasthereisroomforhisfeetonthemainland!Thepeopleinthiscountryarenotcurious.Thereareevennofishermenheretointrudeuponyourworship.AllthefishingthatisdoneinthegulfgoesonnearZapiga,overthere.Senor,ifyouareforcedtoleavethisislandbeforeanythingcanbearrangedforyou,donottrytomakeforZapiga.Itisasettlementofthievesandmatreros,wheretheywouldcutyourthroatpromptlyforthesakeofyourgoldwatchandchain.And,senor,thinktwicebeforeconfidinginanyonewhatever;evenintheofficersoftheCompany’ssteamers,ifyouevergetonboardone.Honestyaloneisnotenoughforsecurity.Youmustlooktodiscretionandprudenceinaman.Andalwaysremember,senor,beforeyouopenyourlipsforaconfidence,thatthistreasuremaybeleftsafelyhereforhundredsofyears.Timeisonitsside,senor.
