Ностромо

           Heperceivedthatnoneofthemhadanyoccasioneventoapproachtheravinewherethesilverlayhidden;letalonetoenterit.Intheharbourhelearnedthatnoonesleptontheisland.Thelabouringgangsreturnedtoporteveryevening,singingchorussongsintheemptylighterstowedbyaharbourtug.Forthemomenthehadnothingtofear.

           Butafterwards?heaskedhimself.Later,whenakeepercametoliveinthecottagethatwasbeingbuiltsomehundredandfiftyyardsbackfromthelowlighttower,andfourhundredorsofromthedark,shaded,junglyravine,containingthesecretofhissafety,ofhisinfluence,ofhismagnificence,ofhispoweroverthefuture,ofhisdefianceofill-luck,ofeverypossiblebetrayalfromrichandpooralike—whatthen?Hecouldnevershakeoffthetreasure.Hisaudacity,greaterthanthatofothermen,hadweldedthatveinofsilverintohislife.Andthefeelingoffearfulandardentsubjection,thefeelingofhisslavery—soirremediableandprofoundthatoften,inhisthoughts,hecomparedhimselftothelegendaryGringos,neitherdeadnoralive,bounddowntotheirconquestofunlawfulwealthonAzuera—weighedheavilyontheindependentCaptainFidanza,ownerandmasterofacoastingschooner,whosesmartappearance(andfabulousgood-luckintrading)weresowellknownalongthewesternseaboardofavastcontinent.