Heclimbedthestairs，thencheckedhimself，becausehehadseenwithintheshadowofamancastupononeofthewalls。Itwasashapeless，high-shoulderedshadowofsomebodystandingstill，withloweredhead，outofhislineofsight。TheCapataz，rememberingthathewastotallyunarmed，steppedaside，and，effacinghimselfuprightinadarkcorner，waitedwithhiseyesfixedonthedoor。
Thewholeenormousruinedbarrackofaplace，unfinished，withoutceilingunderitsloftyroof，waspervadedbythesmokeswayingtoandfrointhefaintcross-draughtsplayingintheobscurityofmanyloftyroomsandbarnlikepassages。Onceoneoftheswingingshutterscameagainstthewallwithasinglesharpcrack，asifpushedbyanimpatienthand。Apieceofpaperscurriedoutfromsomewhere，rustlingalongthelanding。Theman，whoeverhewas，didnotdarkenthelighteddoorway。TwicetheCapataz，advancingacoupleofstepsoutofhiscorner，cranedhisneckinthehopeofcatchingsightofwhathecouldbeat，soquietly，inthere。Buteverytimehesawonlythedistortedshadowofbroadshouldersandbowedhead。Hewasdoingapparentlynothing，andstirrednotfromthespot，asthoughheweremeditating——or，perhaps，readingapaper。Andnotasoundissuedfromtheroom。
OncemoretheCapatazsteppedback。Hewonderedwhoitwas——someMonterist?
Buthedreadedtoshowhimself。Todiscoverhispresenceonshore，unlessaftermanydays，would，hebelieved，endangerthetreasure。Withhisownknowledgepossessinghiswholesoul，itseemedimpossiblethatanybodyinSulacoshouldfailtojumpattherightsurmise。Afteracoupleofweeksorsoitwouldbedifferent。WhocouldtellhehadnotreturnedoverlandfromsomeportbeyondthelimitsoftheRepublic?Theexistenceofthetreasureconfusedhisthoughtswithapeculiarsortofanxiety，asthoughhislifehadbecomeboundupwithit。Itrenderedhimtimorousforamomentbeforethatenigmatic，lighteddoor。Deviltakethefellow！Hedidnotwanttoseehim。Therewouldbenothingtolearnfromhisface，knownorunknown。Hewasafooltowastehistimethereinwaiting。
LessthanfiveminutesafterenteringtheplacetheCapatazbeganhisretreat。Hegotawaydownthestairswithperfectsuccess，gaveoneupwardlookoverhisshoulderatthelightonthelanding，andranstealthilyacrossthehall。Butattheverymomenthewasturningoutofthegreatdoor，withhismindfixeduponescapingthenoticeofthemanupstairs，somebodyhehadnotheardcomingbrisklyalongthefrontranfullintohim。Bothmutteredastifledexclamationofsurprise，andleapedbackandstoodstill，eachindistincttotheother。Nostromowassilent。Theothermanspokefirst，inanamazedanddeadenedtone。