Ностромо
Chapter 8
Ayoungmaninholidayattire,boundingin,thrustoneinNostromo’shandandboundedbackintotheranks,veryproudofhimself.Nostromohadnotevenlookedathim.
“Standonmyfoot,”hecommandedthegirl,who,suddenlysubdued,roselightly,andwhenhehadherup,encirclingherwaist,herfaceneartohis,hepressedtheknifeintoherlittlehand.
“No,Morenita!Youshallnotputmetoshame,”hesaid.“Youshallhaveyourpresent;andsothateveryoneshouldknowwhoisyourloverto-day,youmaycutallthesilverbuttonsoffmycoat.”
Therewereshoutsoflaughterandapplauseatthiswittyfreak,whilethegirlpassedthekeenblade,andtheimpassiveriderjingledinhispalmtheincreasinghoardofsilverbuttons.Heeasedhertothegroundwithbothherhandsfull.Afterwhisperingforawhilewithaverystrenuousface,shewalkedaway,staringhaughtily,andvanishedintothecrowd.
Thecirclehadbrokenup,andthelordlyCapatazdeCargadores,theindispensableman,thetriedandtrustyNostromo,theMediterraneansailorcomeashorecasuallytotryhisluckinCostaguana,rodeslowlytowardstheharbour.TheJunowasjustthenswinginground;andevenasNostromoreinedupagaintolookon,aflagranupontheimprovisedflagstafferectedinanancientanddismantledlittlefortattheharbourentrance