Joseph Conrad: Nostromo

PART SECOND: THE ISABELS 7. CHAPTER SEVEN (continued)

Decoud turned half round in his chair, and asked, "Is there any
bread here?"

Linda's dark head was shaken negatively in response, above the
fair head of her sister nestling on her breast.

"You couldn't get me some bread?" insisted Decoud. The child did
not move; he saw her large eyes stare at him very dark from the
corner. "You're not afraid of me?" he said.

"No," said Linda, "we are not afraid of you. You came here with
Gian' Battista."

"You mean Nostromo?" said Decoud.

"The English call him so, but that is no name either for man or
beast," said the girl, passing her hand gently over her sister's
hair.

"But he lets people call him so," remarked Decoud.

"Not in this house," retorted the child.

"Ah! well, I shall call him the Capataz then."

Decoud gave up the point, and after writing steadily for a while
turned round again.

"When do you expect him back?" he asked.

"After he brought you here he rode off to fetch the Senor Doctor
from the town for mother. He will be back soon."

"He stands a good chance of getting shot somewhere on the road,"
Decoud murmured to himself audibly; and Linda declared in her
high-pitched voice--

"Nobody would dare to fire a shot at Gian' Battista."

"You believe that," asked Decoud, "do you?"

"I know it," said the child, with conviction. "There is no one in
this place brave enough to attack Gian' Battista."