Page 354 - nostromo-a-tale-of-the-seaboard

story that will never grow old. That is why Charles Gould in
his deep, dumb way has countenanced the Ribierist Man-
date, the first public act that promised him safety on other
than venal grounds. Ribierism has failed, as everything
merely rational fails in this country. But Gould remains
logical in wishing to save this big lot of silver. Decoud’s
plan of a counter-revolution may be practicable or not, it
may have a chance, or it may not have a chance. With all
my experience of this revolutionary continent, I can hardly
yet look at their methods seriously. Decoud has been read-
ing to us his draft of a proclamation, and talking very well
for two hours about his plan of action. He had arguments
which should have appeared solid enough if we, members
of old, stable political and national organizations, were not
startled by the mere idea of a new State evolved like this out
of the head of a scoffing young man fleeing for his life, with
a proclamation in his pocket, to a rough, jeering, half-bred
swashbuckler, who in this part of the world is called a gen-
eral. It sounds like a comic fairy tale—and behold, it may
come off; because it is true to the very spirit of the country.’
‘Is the silver gone off, then?’ asked the doctor, moodily.
The chief engineer pulled out his watch. ‘By Captain
Mitchell’s reckoning—and he ought to know—it has been
gone long enough now to be some three or four miles out-
side the harbour; and, as Mitchell says, Nostromo is the sort
of seaman to make the best of his opportunities.’ Here the
doctor grunted so heavily that the other changed his tone.
‘You have a poor opinion of that move, doctor? But why?
Charles Gould has got to play his game out, though he is not