Page 218 - nostromo-a-tale-of-the-seaboard

Jose Avellanos. Don Jose, lifting up his voice, cried out to
them over the high back of his chair, ‘Sulaco has answered
by sending to-day an army upon his flank. If all the other
provinces show only half as much patriotism as we Occi-
dentals—‘
A great outburst of acclamations covered the vibrating
treble of the life and soul of the party. Yes! Yes! This was
true! A great truth! Sulaco was in the forefront, as ever! It
was a boastful tumult, the hopefulness inspired by the event
of the day breaking out amongst those caballeros of the
Campo thinking of their herds, of their lands, of the safety
of their families. Everything was at stake…. No! It was im-
possible that Montero should succeed! This criminal, this
shameless Indio! The clamour continued for some time, ev-
erybody else in the room looking towards the group where
Don Juste had put on his air of impartial solemnity as if
presiding at a sitting of the Provincial Assembly. Decoud
had turned round at the noise, and, leaning his back on the
balustrade, shouted into the room with all the strength of
his lungs, ‘Gran’ bestia!’
This unexpected cry had the effect of stilling the noise.
All the eyes were directed to the window with an approving
expectation; but Decoud had already turned his back upon
the room, and was again leaning out over the quiet street.
‘This is the quintessence of my journalism; that is the su-
preme argument,’ he said to Antonia. ‘I have invented this
definition, this last word on a great question. But I am no
patriot. I am no more of a patriot than the Capataz of the
Sulaco Cargadores, this Genoese who has done such great

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