Page 512 - nostromo-a-tale-of-the-seaboard

Sotillo.’
And Dr. Monygham stopped short in the doorway as
if intimidated by the difficulty. He had made the sacrifice
of his life. He considered this a fitting opportunity. But he
did not want to throw his life away too soon. In his quality
of betrayer of Don Carlos’ confidence, he would have ul-
timately to indicate the hiding-place of the treasure. That
would be the end of his deception, and the end of himself
as well, at the hands of the infuriated colonel. He wanted to
delay him to the very last moment; and he had been rack-
ing his brains to invent some place of concealment at once
plausible and difficult of access.
He imparted his trouble to Nostromo, and concluded—
‘Do you know what, Capataz? I think that when the time
comes and some information must be given, I shall indicate
the Great Isabel. That is the best place I can think of. What
is the matter?’
A low exclamation had escaped Nostromo. The doctor
waited, surprised, and after a moment of profound silence,
heard a thick voice stammer out, ‘Utter folly,’ and stop with
a gasp.
‘Why folly?’
‘Ah! You do not see it,’ began Nostromo, scathingly,
gathering scorn as he went on. ‘Three men in half an hour
would see that no ground had been disturbed anywhere on
that island. Do you think that such a treasure can be bur-
ied without leaving traces of the work—eh! senor doctor?
Why! you would not gain half a day more before having
your throat cut by Sotillo. The Isabel! What stupidity! What

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