Ностромо
Chapter 2
Buthisthoughtsmainlyclungaroundtheastoundingandunanswerablequestion:Howthedevilthefellowgottoknowthatthesilverhadgoneoffinthelighter?Itwasobviousthathehadnotcapturedit.And,obviously,hecouldnothavecapturedit!InthislastconclusionCaptainMitchellwasmisledbytheassumptiondrawnfromhisobservationoftheweatherduringhislongvigilonthewharf.Hethoughtthattherehadbeenmuchmorewindthanusualthatnightinthegulf;whereas,asamatteroffact,thereversewasthecase.
“Howinthenameofallthat’smarvellousdidthatconfoundedfellowgetwindoftheaffair?”wasthefirstquestionheaskeddirectlyafterthebang,clatter,andflashoftheopendoor(whichwasclosedagainalmostbeforehecouldlifthisdroppedhead)informedhimthathehadacompanionofcaptivity.Dr.Monygham’svoicestoppedmutteringcursesinEnglishandSpanish.
“Isthatyou,Mitchell?”hemadeanswer,surlily.“Istruckmyforeheadagainstthisconfoundedwallwithenoughforcetofellanox.Whereareyou?”
CaptainMitchell,accustomedtothedarkness,couldmakeoutthedoctorstretchingouthishandsblindly.
“Iamsittinghereonthefloor.Don’tfallovermylegs,”CaptainMitchell’svoiceannouncedwithgreatdignityoftone.Thedoctor,entreatednottowalkaboutinthedark,sankdowntotheground,too.ThetwoprisonersofSotillo,withtheirheadsnearlytouching,begantoexchangeconfidences.
