The Isabels
Chapter 1
ThroughgoodandevilreportinthevaryingfortuneofthatstrugglewhichDonJosehadcharacterizedinthephrase,“thefateofnationalhonestytremblesinthebalance,”theGouldConcession,“ImperiuminImperio,”hadgoneonworking;thesquaremountainhadgoneonpouringitstreasuredownthewoodenshootstotheunrestingbatteriesofstamps;thelightsofSanTomehadtwinklednightafternightuponthegreat,limitlessshadowoftheCampo;everythreemonthsthesilverescorthadgonedowntotheseaasifneitherthewarnoritsconsequencescouldeveraffecttheancientOccidentalStatesecludedbeyonditshighbarrieroftheCordillera.AllthefightingtookplaceontheothersideofthatmightywallofserratedpeakslordedoverbythewhitedomeofHiguerotaandasyetunbreachedbytherailway,ofwhichonlythefirstpart,theeasyCampopartfromSulacototheIvieValleyatthefootofthepass,hadbeenlaid.Neitherdidthetelegraphlinecrossthemountainsyet;itspoles,likeslenderbeaconsontheplain,penetratedintotheforestfringeofthefoot-hillscutbythedeepavenueofthetrack;anditswireendedabruptlyintheconstructioncampatawhitedealtablesupportingaMorseapparatus,inalonghutofplankswithacorrugatedironroofovershadowedbygiganticcedartrees—thequartersoftheengineerinchargeoftheadvancesection.
Theharbourwasbusy,too,withthetrafficinrailwaymaterial,andwiththemovementsoftroopsalongthecoast.TheO.S.N.Companyfoundmuchoccupationforitsfleet.
