Ностромо
Chapter 5
TheircourseraninthemorepopuloussouthernpartsoftheRepublic,andthegreatvalleyofSta.Marta,whichwaslikeonegreatbattlefieldoftheparties,withthepossessionofthecapitalforaprizeandanoutlettoanotherocean.Theyweremoreadvancedoverthere.HereinSulacotheyheardonlytheechoesofthesegreatquestions,and,ofcourse,theirofficialworldchangedeachtime,comingtothemovertheirrampartofmountainswhichhehimselfhadtraversedinanolddiligencia,withsucharisktolifeandlimb.
Thechairmanoftherailwayhadbeenenjoyingherhospitalityforseveraldays,andhewasreallygratefulforit.ItwasonlysincehehadleftSta.MartathathehadutterlylosttouchwiththefeelingofEuropeanlifeonthebackgroundofhisexoticsurroundings.InthecapitalhehadbeentheguestoftheLegation,andhadbeenkeptbusynegotiatingwiththemembersofDonVincente’sGovernment—culturedmen,mentowhomtheconditionsofcivilizedbusinesswerenotunknown.
Whatconcernedhimmostatthetimewastheacquisitionoflandfortherailway.IntheSta.MartaValley,wheretherewasalreadyonelineinexistence,thepeopleweretractable,anditwasonlyamatterofprice.Acommissionhadbeennominatedtofixthevalues,andthedifficultyresolveditselfintothejudiciousinfluencingoftheCommissioners.ButinSulaco—theOccidentalProvinceforwhoseverydevelopmenttherailwaywasintended—therehadbeentrouble.
