Ностромо
Chapter 7
Twomozosdecampo,picturesqueingreathats,withspurredbareheels,inwhiteembroideredcalzoneras,leatherjacketsandstripedponchos,rodeaheadwithcarbinesacrosstheirshoulders,swayinginunisontothepaceofthehorses.Atropillaofpackmulesbroughtuptherearinchargeofathinbrownmuleteer,sittinghislong-earedbeastverynearthetail,legsthrustfarforward,thewidebrimofhishatsetfarback,makingasortofhaloforhishead.AnoldCostaguanaofficer,aretiredseniormajorofhumbleorigin,butpatronizedbythefirstfamiliesonaccountofhisBlancoopinions,hadbeenrecommendedbyDonJoseforcommissaryandorganizerofthatexpedition.Thepointsofhisgreymoustachehungfarbelowhischin,and,ridingonMrs.Gould’slefthand,helookedaboutwithkindlyeyes,pointingoutthefeaturesofthecountry,tellingthenamesofthelittlepueblosandoftheestates,ofthesmooth-walledhaciendaslikelongfortressescrowningtheknollsabovetheleveloftheSulacoValley.Itunrolleditself,withgreenyoungcrops,plains,woodland,andgleamsofwater,park-like,fromthebluevapourofthedistantsierratoanimmensequiveringhorizonofgrassandsky,wherebigwhitecloudsseemedtofallslowlyintothedarknessoftheirownshadows.
Menploughedwithwoodenploughsandyokedoxen,smallonaboundlessexpanse,asifattackingimmensityitself.