Ностромо
Chapter 2
Alotofsmokehungaboutinthevastgloomyplace,thefirecrackled,and,asifthroughahaze,CaptainMitchellmadeout,surroundedbyshortsoldierswithfixedbayonets,theheadsofthreetallprisoners—thedoctor,theengineer-in-chief,andthewhiteleoninemaneofoldViola,whostoodhalf-turnedawayfromtheotherswithhischinonhisbreastandhisarmscrossed.Mitchell’sastonishmentknewnobounds.Hecriedout;theothertwoexclaimedalso.Buthehurriedon,diagonally,acrossthebigcavern-likehall.Lotsofthoughts,surmises,hintsofcaution,andsoon,crowdedhisheadtodistraction.
“Isheactuallykeepingyou?”shoutedthechiefengineer,whosesingleeyeglassglitteredinthefirelight.
Anofficerfromthetopofthestairswasshoutingurgently,“Bringthemallup—allthree.”
Intheclamourofvoicesandtherattleofarms,CaptainMitchellmadehimselfheardimperfectly:“Byheavens!thefellowhasstolenmywatch.”
Theengineer-in-chiefonthestaircaseresistedthepressurelongenoughtoshout,“What?Whatdidyousay?”
“Mychronometer!”CaptainMitchellyelledviolentlyattheverymomentofbeingthrustheadforemostthroughasmalldoorintoasortofcell,perfectlyblack,andsonarrowthathefetchedupagainsttheoppositewall.Thedoorhadbeeninstantlyslammed.Heknewwheretheyhadputhim.ThiswasthestrongroomoftheCustomHouse,whencethesilverhadbeenremovedonlyafewhoursearlier.
