Ностромо
Chapter 2
Hehadtolowerthesegentlemenattheendofaropeoutofaholeinthewallattheback,whilethemobwhich,pouringoutofthetown,hadspreaditselfallalongtheshore,howledandfoamedatthefootofthebuildinginfront.Hehadtohurrythemthenthewholelengthofthejetty;ithadbeenadesperatedash,neckornothing—andagainitwasNostromo,afellowinathousand,who,atthehead,thistime,oftheCompany’sbodyoflightermen,heldthejettyagainsttherushesoftherabble,thusgivingthefugitivestimetoreachthegiglyingreadyforthemattheotherendwiththeCompany’sflagatthestern.Sticks,stones,shotsflew;knives,too,werethrown.CaptainMitchellexhibitedwillinglythelongcicatriceofacutoverhisleftearandtemple,madebyarazor-bladefastenedtoastick—aweapon,heexplained,verymuchinfavourwiththe“worstkindofniggerouthere.”
CaptainMitchellwasathick,elderlyman,wearinghigh,pointedcollarsandshortside-whiskers,partialtowhitewaistcoats,andreallyverycommunicativeunderhisairofpompousreserve.
“Thesegentlemen,”hewouldsay,staringwithgreatsolemnity,“hadtorunlikerabbits,sir.Iranlikearabbitmyself.Certainformsofdeathare—er—distastefultoa—a—er—respectableman.Theywouldhavepoundedmetodeath,too.Acrazymob,sir,doesnotdiscriminate.