Page 536 - nostromo-a-tale-of-the-seaboard

ticle to him and the force he has organized—the renowned
Carabineers of the Campo.’
Captain Mitchell’s guest, staring curiously, would see
a figure in a long-tailed black coat walking gravely, with
downcast eyelids in a long, composed face, a brow furrowed
horizontally, a pointed head, whose grey hair, thin at the
top, combed down carefully on all sides and rolled at the
ends, fell low on the neck and shoulders. This, then, was
the famous bandit of whom Europe had heard with interest.
He put on a high-crowned sombrero with a wide flat brim;
a rosary of wooden beads was twisted about his right wrist.
And Captain Mitchell would proceed—
‘The protector of the Sulaco refugees from the rage of Pe-
drito. As general of cavalry with Barrios he distinguished
himself at the storming of Tonoro, where Senor Fuentes
was killed with the last remnant of the Monterists. He is the
friend and humble servant of Bishop Corbelan. Hears three
Masses every day. I bet you he will step into the cathedral to
say a prayer or two on his way home to his siesta.’
He took several puffs at his cigar in silence; then, in his
most important manner, pronounced:
‘The Spanish race, sir, is prolific of remarkable characters
in every rank of life…. I propose we go now into the billiard-
room, which is cool, for a quiet chat. There’s never anybody
there till after five. I could tell you episodes of the Separa-
tionist revolution that would astonish you. When the great
heat’s over, we’ll take a turn on the Alameda.’
The programme went on relentless, like a law of Nature.
The turn on the Alameda was taken with slow steps and