Ностромо
Chapter 2
TheJunowasknownonlyforhercomfortablecabinsamidships,theSaturnforthegenialityofhercaptainandthepaintedandgiltluxuriousnessofhersaloon,whereastheGanymedewasfittedoutmainlyforcattletransport,andtobeavoidedbycoastwisepassengers.ThehumblestIndianintheobscurestvillageonthecoastwasfamiliarwiththeCerberus,alittleblackpufferwithoutcharmorlivingaccommodationtospeakof,whosemissionwastocreepinshorealongthewoodedbeachesclosetomightyuglyrocks,stoppingobliginglybeforeeveryclusterofhutstocollectproduce,downtothree-poundparcelsofindiarubberboundinawrapperofdrygrass.
Andastheyseldomfailedtoaccountforthesmallestpackage,rarelylostabullock,andhadneverdrownedasinglepassenger,thenameoftheO.S.N.stoodveryhighfortrustworthiness.PeopledeclaredthatundertheCompany’scaretheirlivesandpropertyweresaferonthewaterthanintheirownhousesonshore.
TheO.S.N.‘ssuperintendentinSulacoforthewholeCostaguanasectionoftheservicewasveryproudofhisCompany’sstanding.Heresumeditinasayingwhichwasveryoftenonhislips,“Wenevermakemistakes.”TotheCompany’sofficersittooktheformofasevereinjunction,“Wemustmakenomistakes.I’llhavenomistakeshere,nomatterwhatSmithmaydoathisend.”
Smith,onwhomhehadneverseteyesinhislife,wastheothersuperintendentoftheservice,quarteredsomefifteenhundredmilesawayfromSulaco.
