Chapter 3

           ITMIGHThavebeensaidthattherehewasonlyprotectinghisown.Fromthefirsthehadbeenadmittedtoliveintheintimacyofthefamilyofthehotel-keeperwhowasacountrymanofhis.OldGiorgioViola,aGenoesewithashaggywhiteleoninehead—oftencalledsimply“theGaribaldino”(asMohammedansarecalledaftertheirprophet)—was,touseCaptainMitchell’sownwords,the“respectablemarriedfriend”bywhoseadviceNostromohadlefthisshiptotryforarunofshoreluckinCostaguana.

           Theoldman,fullofscornforthepopulace,asyouraustererepublicansooftenis,haddisregardedthepreliminarysoundsoftrouble.Hewentonthatdayasusualpotteringaboutthe“casa”inhisslippers,mutteringangrilytohimselfhiscontemptofthenon-politicalnatureoftheriot,andshrugginghisshoulders.Intheendhewastakenunawaresbytheout-rushoftherabble.Itwastoolatethentoremovehisfamily,and,indeed,wherecouldhehaveruntowiththeportlySignoraTeresaandtwolittlegirlsonthatgreatplain?So,barricadingeveryopening,theoldmansatdownsternlyinthemiddleofthedarkenedcafewithanoldshot-gunonhisknees.Hiswifesatonanotherchairbyhisside,mutteringpiousinvocationstoallthesaintsofthecalendar.

           Theoldrepublicandidnotbelieveinsaints,orinprayers,orinwhathecalled“priest’sreligion.”LibertyandGaribaldiwerehisdivinities;buthetolerated“superstition”inwomen,preservinginthesemattersaloftyandsilentattitude.