Ностромо
Chapter 5
Emaciatedgreybeardsrodebythesideofleandarkyouths,markedbyallthehardshipsofcampaigning,withstripsofrawbeeftwinedroundthecrownsoftheirhats,andhugeironspursfastenedtotheirnakedheels.ThosethatinthepassesofthemountainhadlosttheirlanceshadprovidedthemselveswiththegoadsusedbytheCampocattlemen:slendershaftsofpalmfullytenfeetlong,withalotoflooseringsjinglingundertheironshodpoint.Theywerearmedwithknivesandrevolvers.Ahaggardfearlessnesscharacterizedtheexpressionofallthesesun-blackedcountenances;theyglareddownhaughtilywiththeirscorchedeyesatthecrowd,or,blinkingupwardsinsolently,pointedouttoeachothersomeparticularheadamongstthewomenatthewindows.WhentheyhadriddenintothePlazaandcaughtsightoftheequestrianstatueoftheKingdazzlinglywhiteinthesunshine,toweringenormousandmotionlessabovethesurgesofthecrowd,withitseternalgestureofsaluting,amurmurofsurpriseranthroughtheirranks.“Whatisthatsaintinthebighat?”theyaskedeachother.
TheywereagoodsampleofthecavalryoftheplainswithwhichPedroMonterohadhelpedsomuchthevictoriouscareerofhisbrotherthegeneral.Theinfluencewhichthatman,broughtupincoasttowns,acquiredinashorttimeovertheplainsmenoftheRepubliccanbeascribedonlytoageniusfortreacheryofsoeffectiveakindthatitmusthaveappearedtothoseviolentmenbutlittleremovedfromastateofuttersavagery,astheperfectionofsagacityandvirtue.
