Page 364 - nostromo-a-tale-of-the-seaboard

become the prey in person and fortune of the native soldiery,
which, as is well known, behave with regrettable barbarity
to the inhabitants during their civil commotions. And then,
sir, there were the Goulds, for both of whom, man and wife,
I could not but entertain the warmest feelings deserved by
their hospitality and kindness. I felt, too, the dangers of the
gentlemen of the Amarilla Club, who had made me honor-
ary member, and had treated me with uniform regard and
civility, both in my capacity of Consular Agent and as Su-
perintendent of an important Steam Service. Miss Antonia
Avellanos, the most beautiful and accomplished young lady
whom it had ever been my privilege to speak to, was not a
little in my mind, I confess. How the interests of my Com-
pany would be affected by the impending change of officials
claimed a large share of my attention, too. In short, sir, I
was extremely anxious and very tired, as you may suppose,
by the exciting and memorable events in which I had taken
my little part. The Company’s building containing my resi-
dence was within five minutes’ walk, with the attraction of
some supper and of my hammock (I always take my nightly
rest in a hammock, as the most suitable to the climate); but
somehow, sir, though evidently I could do nothing for any
one by remaining about, I could not tear myself away from
that wharf, where the fatigue made me stumble painfully
at times. The night was excessively dark—the darkest I re-
member in my life; so that I began to think that the arrival
of the transport from Esmeralda could not possibly take
place before daylight, owing to the difficulty of navigating
the gulf. The mosquitoes bit like fury. We have been infest-