Ностромо
Chapter 1
NotoneoftheEuropeansthenintheserviceofCostaguanahadbeensomuchlikedandtrustedbythefierceoldDictator.
Afterwardshisstorywasnotsoclear.Itlostitselfamongsttheinnumerabletalesofconspiraciesandplotsagainstthetyrantasastreamislostinanaridbeltofsandycountrybeforeitemerges,diminishedandtroubled,perhaps,ontheotherside.ThedoctormadenosecretofitthathehadlivedforyearsinthewildestpartsoftheRepublic,wanderingwithalmostunknownIndiantribesinthegreatforestsofthefarinteriorwherethegreatrivershavetheirsources.Butitwasmereaimlesswandering;hehadwrittennothing,collectednothing,broughtnothingforscienceoutofthetwilightoftheforests,whichseemedtoclingtohisbatteredpersonalitylimpingaboutSulaco,whereithaddriftedincasually,onlytogetstrandedontheshoresofthesea.
ItwasalsoknownthathehadlivedinastateofdestitutiontillthearrivaloftheGouldsfromEurope.DonCarlosandDonaEmiliahadtakenupthemadEnglishdoctor,whenitbecameapparentthatforallhissavageindependencehecouldbetamedbykindness.Perhapsitwasonlyhungerthathadtamedhim.InyearsgonebyhehadcertainlybeenacquaintedwithCharlesGould’sfatherinSta.Marta;andnow,nomatterwhatwerethedarkpassagesofhishistory,asthemedicalofficeroftheSanTomeminehebecamearecognizedpersonality.Hewasrecognized,butnotunreservedlyaccepted.
