Ностромо

           Thetroopsingarrisontherehadgonetohiminabody.Thebrotherswereorganizinganarmy,gatheringmalcontents,sendingemissariesprimedwithpatrioticliestothepeople,andwithpromisesofplundertothewildllaneros.EvenaMonteristpresshadcomeintoexistence,speakingoracularlyofthesecretpromisesofsupportgivenby“ourgreatsisterRepublicoftheNorth”againstthesinisterland-grabbingdesignsofEuropeanpowers,cursingineveryissuethe“miserableRibiera,”whohadplottedtodeliverhiscountry,boundhandandfoot,forapreytoforeignspeculators.

           Sulaco,pastoralandsleepy,withitsopulentCampoandtherichsilvermine,heardthedinofarmsfitfullyinitsfortunateisolation.Itwasneverthelessintheveryforefrontofthedefencewithmenandmoney;buttheveryrumoursreacheditcircuitously—fromabroadeven,somuchwasitcutofffromtherestoftheRepublic,notonlybynaturalobstacles,butalsobythevicissitudesofthewar.TheMonteristoswerebesiegingCayta,animportantpostallink.Theoverlandcouriersceasedtocomeacrossthemountains,andnomuleteerwouldconsenttoriskthejourneyatlast;evenBonifacioononeoccasionfailedtoreturnfromSta.Marta,eithernotdaringtostart,orperhapscapturedbythepartiesoftheenemyraidingthecountrybetweentheCordilleraandthecapital.Monteristpublications,however,foundtheirwayintotheprovince,mysteriouslyenough;andalsoMonteristemissariespreachingdeathtoaristocratsinthevillagesandtownsoftheCampo.