Ностромо
Chapter 6
Beforethecasaofthealcalde,theforemenofthenight-shift,alreadyassembledtoleadtheirmen,squattedonthegroundinacircleofleatherskull-caps,and,bowingtheirbronzebacks,werepassingroundthegourdofmate.Themozofromthetown,havingfastenedhishorsetoawoodenpostbeforethedoor,wastellingthemthenewsofSulacoastheblackenedgourdofthedecoctionpassedfromhandtohand.Thegravealcaldehimself,inawhitewaistclothandafloweredchintzgownwithsleeves,openwideuponhisnakedstoutpersonwithaneffectofagaudybathingrobe,stoodby,wearingaroughbeaverhatatthebackofhishead,andgraspingatallstaffwithasilverknobinhishand.TheseinsigniaofhisdignityhadbeenconferreduponhimbytheAdministrationofthemine,thefountainofhonour,ofprosperity,andpeace.Hehadbeenoneofthefirstimmigrantsintothisvalley;hissonsandsons-in-lawworkedwithinthemountainwhichseemedwithitstreasurestopourdownthethunderingoreshootsoftheuppermesa,thegiftsofwell-being,security,andjusticeuponthetoilers.Helistenedtothenewsfromthetownwithcuriosityandindifference,asifconcerninganotherworldthanhisown.Anditwastruethattheyappearedtohimso.Inaveryfewyearsthesenseofbelongingtoapowerfulorganizationhadbeendevelopedintheseharassed,half-wildIndians.Theywereproudof,andattachedto,themine.Ithadsecuredtheirconfidenceandbelief.
