Ностромо
Chapter 7
Itwassobigthatwiththeirutmosteffortstheycouldnotmoveitquickerthanaboutamileanhour.Thiswassufficient,however,tosweepthemamongsttheIsabelslongbeforedaylightcame.Therewasagoodsixhoursofdarknessbeforethem,andthedistancefromtheharbourtotheGreatIsabeldidnotexceedtwomiles.DecoudputthisheavytoiltotheaccountoftheCapataz’simpatience.Sometimestheypaused,andthenstrainedtheirearstoheartheboatfromEsmeralda.Inthisperfectquietnessasteamermovingwouldhavebeenheardfromfaroff.Astoseeinganythingitwasoutofthequestion.Theycouldnotseeeachother.Eventhelighter’ssail,whichremainedset,wasinvisible.Veryoftentheyrested.
“Caramba!”saidNostromo,suddenly,duringoneofthoseintervalswhentheylolledidlyagainsttheheavyhandlesofthesweeps.“Whatisit?Areyoudistressed,DonMartin?”
Decoudassuredhimthathewasnotdistressedintheleast.Nostromoforatimekeptperfectlystill,andtheninawhisperinvitedMartintocomeaft.
WithhislipstouchingDecoud’searhedeclaredhisbeliefthattherewassomebodyelsebesidesthemselvesuponthelighter.Twicenowhehadheardthesoundofstifledsobbing.
“Senor,”hewhisperedwithawedwonder,“Iamcertainthatthereissomebodyweepinginthislighter.”
Decoudhadheardnothing.Heexpressedhisincredulity.However,itwaseasytoascertainthetruthofthematter
