Ностромо

           Theprieststalkofconsecratedground!Bah!AlltheearthmadebyGodisholy;butthesea,whichknowsnothingofkingsandpriestsandtyrants,istheholiestofall.Doctor!Ishouldliketoburyherinthesea.Nomummeries,candles,incense,noholywatermumbledoverbypriests.Thespiritoflibertyisuponthewaters.’...Amazingoldman.Hewassayingallthisinanundertoneasiftalkingtohimself.”

           “Yes,yes,”interruptedCaptainMitchell,impatiently.“Pooroldchap!ButhaveyouanyideahowthatruffianSotilloobtainedhisinformation?HedidnotgetholdofanyofourCargadoreswhohelpedwiththetruck,didhe?Butno,itisimpossible!Thesewerepickedmenwe’vehadinourboatsforthesefiveyears,andIpaidthemmyselfspeciallyforthejob,withinstructionstokeepoutofthewayfortwenty-fourhoursatleast.IsawthemwithmyowneyesmarchonwiththeItalianstotherailwayyards.Thechiefpromisedtogivethemrationsaslongastheywantedtoremainthere.”

           “Well,”saidthedoctor,slowly,“Icantellyouthatyoumaysaygood-byeforevertoyourbestlighter,andtotheCapatazofCargadores.”

           Atthis,CaptainMitchellscrambleduptohisfeetintheexcessofhisexcitement.Thedoctor,withoutgivinghimtimetoexclaim,statedbrieflythepartplayedbyHirschduringthenight.

           CaptainMitchellwasovercome.“Drowned!”hemuttered,inabewilderedandappalledwhisper