Ностромо
Chapter 8
Nostromo’sfaculties,workingonparallellines,enabledhimtosteerstraight,tokeepalook-outforHermosa,nearwhichhehadtopass,andtotrytoimaginewhatwouldhappentomorrowinSulaco.To-morrow,or,asamatteroffact,to-day,sincethedawnwasnotveryfar,Sotillowouldfindoutinwhatwaythetreasurehadgone.AgangofCargadoreshadbeenemployedinloadingitintoarailwaytruckfromtheCustomHousestore-rooms,andrunningthetruckontothewharf.Therewouldbearrestsmade,andcertainlybeforenoonSotillowouldknowinwhatmannerthesilverhadleftSulaco,andwhoitwasthattookitout.
Nostromo’sintentionhadbeentosailrightintotheharbour;butatthisthoughtbyasuddentouchofthetillerhethrewthelighterintothewindandcheckedherrapidway.Hisre-appearancewiththeveryboatwouldraisesuspicions,wouldcausesurmises,wouldabsolutelyputSotilloonthetrack.Hehimselfwouldbearrested;andonceintheCalabozotherewasnosayingwhattheywoulddotohimtomakehimspeak.Hetrustedhimself,buthestooduptolookround.Nearby,Hermosashowedlowitswhitesurfaceasflatasatable,withtheslightrunofthesearaisedbythebreezewashingoveritsedgesnoisily.Thelightermustbesunkatonce.
Heallowedhertodriftwithhersailaback.Therewasalreadyagooddealofwaterinher.Heallowedhertodrifttowardstheharbourentrance,and,lettingthetillerswingabout,squatteddownandbusiedhimselfinlooseningtheplug