Ностромо
Chapter 5
Anotherstorywasthattheirfatherhadbeennothingbutacharcoalburnerinthewoods,andtheirmotherabaptisedIndianwomanfromthefarinterior.
Howeverthatmightbe,theCostaguanaPresswasinthehabitofstylingMontero’sforestmarchfromhiscommandanciatojointheBlancoforcesatthebeginningofthetroubles,the“mostheroicmilitaryexploitofmoderntimes.”Aboutthesametime,too,hisbrotherhadturnedupfromEurope,wherehehadgoneapparentlyassecretarytoaconsul.Having,however,collectedasmallbandofoutlaws,heshowedsometalentasguerillachiefandhadbeenrewardedatthepacificationbythepostofMilitaryCommandantofthecapital.
TheMinisterofWar,then,accompaniedtheDictator.TheboardoftheO.S.N.Company,workinghand-in-handwiththerailwaypeopleforthegoodoftheRepublic,hadonthisimportantoccasioninstructedCaptainMitchelltoputthemail-boatJunoatthedisposalofthedistinguishedparty.DonVincente,journeyingsouthfromSta.Marta,hadembarkedatCayta,theprincipalportofCostaguana,andcametoSulacobysea.Butthechairmanoftherailwaycompanyhadcourageouslycrossedthemountainsinaramshacklediligencia,mainlyforthepurposeofmeetinghisengineer-in-chiefengagedinthefinalsurveyoftheroad.
