Page 404 - nostromo-a-tale-of-the-seaboard

day to join the democrats. We are going to put ourselves
under the protection of Father Corbelan, of your sainted
uncle, Antonia. He has wrought a miracle in the heart of a
most merciless robber. A miracle!’
She raised her voice gradually up to a scream as she was
borne along by the pressure of people getting out of the way
of some carts coming up out of the ford at a gallop, with
loud yells and cracking of whips. Great masses of sparks
mingled with black smoke flew over the road; the bamboos
of the walls detonated in the fire with the sound of an ir-
regular fusillade. And then the bright blaze sank suddenly,
leaving only a red dusk crowded with aimless dark shadows
drifting in contrary directions; the noise of voices seemed
to die away with the flame; and the tumult of heads, arms,
quarrelling, and imprecations passed on fleeing into the
darkness.
‘I must leave you now,’ repeated Charles Gould to Anto-
nia. She turned her head slowly and uncovered her face. The
emissary and compadre of Hernandez spurred his horse
close up.
‘Has not the master of the mine any message to send to
Hernandez, the master of the Campo?’
The truth of the comparison struck Charles Gould heav-
ily. In his determined purpose he held the mine, and the
indomitable bandit held the Campo by the same precari-
ous tenure. They were equals before the lawlessness of the
land. It was impossible to disentangle one’s activity from
its debasing contacts. A close-meshed net of crime and
corruption lay upon the whole country. An immense and

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