8407 lines
381 KiB
Plaintext
8407 lines
381 KiB
Plaintext
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The Project Gutenberg EBook of Around the World in 80 Days, by Jules Verne
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This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
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almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
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re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
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with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net
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Title: Around the World in 80 Days
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Author: Jules Verne
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Release Date: May 15, 2008 [EBook #103]
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Last updated: February 18, 2012
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Last updated: May 5, 2012
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Language: English
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*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS ***
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AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS
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CONTENTS
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CHAPTER
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I IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG AND PASSEPARTOUT ACCEPT EACH OTHER, THE
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ONE AS MASTER, THE OTHER AS MAN
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II IN WHICH PASSEPARTOUT IS CONVINCED THAT HE HAS AT LAST FOUND
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HIS IDEAL
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III IN WHICH A CONVERSATION TAKES PLACE WHICH SEEMS LIKELY TO COST
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PHILEAS FOGG DEAR
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IV IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG ASTOUNDS PASSEPARTOUT, HIS SERVANT
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V IN WHICH A NEW SPECIES OF FUNDS, UNKNOWN TO THE MONEYED MEN,
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APPEARS ON 'CHANGE
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VI IN WHICH FIX, THE DETECTIVE, BETRAYS A VERY NATURAL IMPATIENCE
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VII WHICH ONCE MORE DEMONSTRATES THE USELESSNESS OF PASSPORTS AS
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AIDS TO dETECTIVES
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VIII IN WHICH PASSEPARTOUT TALKS RATHER MORE, PERHAPS, THAN IS PRUDENT
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IX IN WHICH THE RED SEA AND THE INDIAN OCEAN PROVE PROPITIOUS
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TO THE DESIGNS OF PHILEAS FOGG
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X IN WHICH PASSEPARTOUT IS ONLY TOO GLAD TO GET OFF WITH THE LOSS
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OF HIS SHOES
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XI IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG SECURES A CURIOUS MEANS OF CONVEYANCE
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AT A FABULOUS PRICE
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XII IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG AND HIS COMPANIONS VENTURE ACROSS THE
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INDIAN FORESTS, AND WHAT ENSUED
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XIII IN WHICH PASSEPARTOUT RECEIVES A NEW PROOF THAT FORTUNE FAVORS
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THE BRAVE
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XIV IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG DESCENDS THE WHOLE LENGTH OF THE BEAUTIFUL
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VALLEY OF THE GANGES WITHOUT EVER THINKING OF SEEING IT
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XV IN WHICH THE BAG OF BANKNOTES DISGORGES SOME THOUSANDS OF POUNDS
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MORE
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XVI IN WHICH FIX DOES NOT SEEM TO UNDERSTAND IN THE LEAST WHAT IS
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SAID TO HIM
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XVII SHOWING WHAT HAPPENED ON THE VOYAGE FROM SINGAPORE TO HONG KONG
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XVIII IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG, PASSEPARTOUT, AND FIX GO EACH ABOUT HIS
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BUSINESS
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XIX IN WHICH PASSEPARTOUT TAKES A TOO GREAT INTEREST IN HIS MASTER,
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AND WHAT COMES OF IT
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XX IN WHICH FIX COMES FACE TO FACE WITH PHILEAS FOGG
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XXI IN WHICH THE MASTER OF THE "TANKADERE" RUNS GREAT RISK OF LOSING
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A REWARD OF TWO HUNDRED POUNDS
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XXII IN WHICH PASSEPARTOUT FINDS OUT THAT, EVEN AT THE ANTIPODES,
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IT IS CONVENIENT TO HAVE SOME MONEY IN ONE'S POCKET
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XXIII IN WHICH PASSEPARTOUT'S NOSE BECOMES OUTRAGEOUSLY LONG
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XXIV DURING WHICH MR. FOGG AND PARTY CROSS THE PACIFIC OCEAN
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XXV IN WHICH A SLIGHT GLIMPSE IS HAD OF SAN FRANCISCO
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XXVI IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG AND PARTY TRAVEL BY THE PACIFIC RAILROAD
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XXVII IN WHICH PASSEPARTOUT UNDERGOES, AT A SPEED OF TWENTY MILES AN
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HOUR, A COURSE OF MORMON HISTORY
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XXVIII IN WHICH PASSEPARTOUT DOES NOT SUCCEED IN MAKING ANYBODY LISTEN
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TO REASON
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XXIX IN WHICH CERTAIN INCIDENTS ARE NARRATED WHICH ARE ONLY TO BE MET
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WITH ON AMERICAN RAILROADS
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XXX IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG SIMPLY DOES HIS DUTY
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XXXI IN WHICH FIX, THE DETECTIVE, CONSIDERABLY FURTHERS THE INTERESTS
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OF PHILEAS FOGG
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XXXII IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG ENGAGES IN A DIRECT STRUGGLE WITH BAD
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FORTUNE
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XXXIII IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG SHOWS HIMSELF EQUAL TO THE OCCASION
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XXXIV IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG AT LAST REACHES LONDON
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XXXV IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG DOES NOT HAVE TO REPEAT HIS ORDERS TO
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PASSEPARTOUT TWICE
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XXXVI IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG'S NAME IS ONCE MORE AT A PREMIUM ON 'CHANGE
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XXXVII IN WHICH IT IS SHOWN THAT PHILEAS FOGG GAINED NOTHING BY HIS TOUR
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AROUND THE WORLD, UNLESS IT WERE HAPPINESS
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Chapter I
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IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG AND PASSEPARTOUT ACCEPT EACH OTHER,
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THE ONE AS MASTER, THE OTHER AS MAN
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Mr. Phileas Fogg lived, in 1872, at No. 7, Saville Row, Burlington
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Gardens, the house in which Sheridan died in 1814. He was one of the
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most noticeable members of the Reform Club, though he seemed always to
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avoid attracting attention; an enigmatical personage, about whom little
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was known, except that he was a polished man of the world. People said
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that he resembled Byron--at least that his head was Byronic; but he was
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a bearded, tranquil Byron, who might live on a thousand years without
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growing old.
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Certainly an Englishman, it was more doubtful whether Phileas Fogg was
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a Londoner. He was never seen on 'Change, nor at the Bank, nor in the
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counting-rooms of the "City"; no ships ever came into London docks of
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which he was the owner; he had no public employment; he had never been
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entered at any of the Inns of Court, either at the Temple, or Lincoln's
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Inn, or Gray's Inn; nor had his voice ever resounded in the Court of
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Chancery, or in the Exchequer, or the Queen's Bench, or the
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Ecclesiastical Courts. He certainly was not a manufacturer; nor was he
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a merchant or a gentleman farmer. His name was strange to the
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scientific and learned societies, and he never was known to take part
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in the sage deliberations of the Royal Institution or the London
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Institution, the Artisan's Association, or the Institution of Arts and
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Sciences. He belonged, in fact, to none of the numerous societies
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which swarm in the English capital, from the Harmonic to that of the
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Entomologists, founded mainly for the purpose of abolishing pernicious
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insects.
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Phileas Fogg was a member of the Reform, and that was all.
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The way in which he got admission to this exclusive club was simple
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enough.
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He was recommended by the Barings, with whom he had an open credit.
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His cheques were regularly paid at sight from his account current,
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which was always flush.
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Was Phileas Fogg rich? Undoubtedly. But those who knew him best could
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not imagine how he had made his fortune, and Mr. Fogg was the last
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person to whom to apply for the information. He was not lavish, nor,
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on the contrary, avaricious; for, whenever he knew that money was
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needed for a noble, useful, or benevolent purpose, he supplied it
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quietly and sometimes anonymously. He was, in short, the least
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communicative of men. He talked very little, and seemed all the more
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mysterious for his taciturn manner. His daily habits were quite open
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to observation; but whatever he did was so exactly the same thing that
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he had always done before, that the wits of the curious were fairly
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puzzled.
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Had he travelled? It was likely, for no one seemed to know the world
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more familiarly; there was no spot so secluded that he did not appear
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to have an intimate acquaintance with it. He often corrected, with a
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few clear words, the thousand conjectures advanced by members of the
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club as to lost and unheard-of travellers, pointing out the true
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probabilities, and seeming as if gifted with a sort of second sight, so
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often did events justify his predictions. He must have travelled
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everywhere, at least in the spirit.
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It was at least certain that Phileas Fogg had not absented himself from
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London for many years. Those who were honoured by a better
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acquaintance with him than the rest, declared that nobody could pretend
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to have ever seen him anywhere else. His sole pastimes were reading
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the papers and playing whist. He often won at this game, which, as a
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silent one, harmonised with his nature; but his winnings never went
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into his purse, being reserved as a fund for his charities. Mr. Fogg
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played, not to win, but for the sake of playing. The game was in his
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eyes a contest, a struggle with a difficulty, yet a motionless,
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unwearying struggle, congenial to his tastes.
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Phileas Fogg was not known to have either wife or children, which may
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happen to the most honest people; either relatives or near friends,
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which is certainly more unusual. He lived alone in his house in
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Saville Row, whither none penetrated. A single domestic sufficed to
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serve him. He breakfasted and dined at the club, at hours
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mathematically fixed, in the same room, at the same table, never taking
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his meals with other members, much less bringing a guest with him; and
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went home at exactly midnight, only to retire at once to bed. He never
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used the cosy chambers which the Reform provides for its favoured
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members. He passed ten hours out of the twenty-four in Saville Row,
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either in sleeping or making his toilet. When he chose to take a walk
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it was with a regular step in the entrance hall with its mosaic
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flooring, or in the circular gallery with its dome supported by twenty
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red porphyry Ionic columns, and illumined by blue painted windows.
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When he breakfasted or dined all the resources of the club--its
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kitchens and pantries, its buttery and dairy--aided to crowd his table
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with their most succulent stores; he was served by the gravest waiters,
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in dress coats, and shoes with swan-skin soles, who proffered the
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viands in special porcelain, and on the finest linen; club decanters,
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of a lost mould, contained his sherry, his port, and his
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cinnamon-spiced claret; while his beverages were refreshingly cooled
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with ice, brought at great cost from the American lakes.
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If to live in this style is to be eccentric, it must be confessed that
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there is something good in eccentricity.
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The mansion in Saville Row, though not sumptuous, was exceedingly
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comfortable. The habits of its occupant were such as to demand but
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little from the sole domestic, but Phileas Fogg required him to be
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almost superhumanly prompt and regular. On this very 2nd of October he
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had dismissed James Forster, because that luckless youth had brought
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him shaving-water at eighty-four degrees Fahrenheit instead of
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eighty-six; and he was awaiting his successor, who was due at the house
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between eleven and half-past.
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Phileas Fogg was seated squarely in his armchair, his feet close
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together like those of a grenadier on parade, his hands resting on his
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knees, his body straight, his head erect; he was steadily watching a
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complicated clock which indicated the hours, the minutes, the seconds,
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the days, the months, and the years. At exactly half-past eleven Mr.
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Fogg would, according to his daily habit, quit Saville Row, and repair
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to the Reform.
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A rap at this moment sounded on the door of the cosy apartment where
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Phileas Fogg was seated, and James Forster, the dismissed servant,
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appeared.
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"The new servant," said he.
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A young man of thirty advanced and bowed.
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"You are a Frenchman, I believe," asked Phileas Fogg, "and your name is
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John?"
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"Jean, if monsieur pleases," replied the newcomer, "Jean Passepartout,
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a surname which has clung to me because I have a natural aptness for
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going out of one business into another. I believe I'm honest,
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monsieur, but, to be outspoken, I've had several trades. I've been an
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itinerant singer, a circus-rider, when I used to vault like Leotard,
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and dance on a rope like Blondin. Then I got to be a professor of
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gymnastics, so as to make better use of my talents; and then I was a
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sergeant fireman at Paris, and assisted at many a big fire. But I
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quitted France five years ago, and, wishing to taste the sweets of
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domestic life, took service as a valet here in England. Finding myself
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out of place, and hearing that Monsieur Phileas Fogg was the most exact
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and settled gentleman in the United Kingdom, I have come to monsieur in
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the hope of living with him a tranquil life, and forgetting even the
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name of Passepartout."
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"Passepartout suits me," responded Mr. Fogg. "You are well recommended
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to me; I hear a good report of you. You know my conditions?"
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"Yes, monsieur."
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"Good! What time is it?"
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"Twenty-two minutes after eleven," returned Passepartout, drawing an
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enormous silver watch from the depths of his pocket.
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"You are too slow," said Mr. Fogg.
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"Pardon me, monsieur, it is impossible--"
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"You are four minutes too slow. No matter; it's enough to mention the
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error. Now from this moment, twenty-nine minutes after eleven, a.m.,
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this Wednesday, 2nd October, you are in my service."
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Phileas Fogg got up, took his hat in his left hand, put it on his head
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with an automatic motion, and went off without a word.
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Passepartout heard the street door shut once; it was his new master
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going out. He heard it shut again; it was his predecessor, James
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Forster, departing in his turn. Passepartout remained alone in the
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house in Saville Row.
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Chapter II
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IN WHICH PASSEPARTOUT IS CONVINCED THAT HE HAS AT LAST FOUND HIS IDEAL
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"Faith," muttered Passepartout, somewhat flurried, "I've seen people at
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Madame Tussaud's as lively as my new master!"
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Madame Tussaud's "people," let it be said, are of wax, and are much
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visited in London; speech is all that is wanting to make them human.
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During his brief interview with Mr. Fogg, Passepartout had been
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carefully observing him. He appeared to be a man about forty years of
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age, with fine, handsome features, and a tall, well-shaped figure; his
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hair and whiskers were light, his forehead compact and unwrinkled, his
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face rather pale, his teeth magnificent. His countenance possessed in
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the highest degree what physiognomists call "repose in action," a
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quality of those who act rather than talk. Calm and phlegmatic, with a
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clear eye, Mr. Fogg seemed a perfect type of that English composure
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which Angelica Kauffmann has so skilfully represented on canvas. Seen
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in the various phases of his daily life, he gave the idea of being
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perfectly well-balanced, as exactly regulated as a Leroy chronometer.
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Phileas Fogg was, indeed, exactitude personified, and this was betrayed
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even in the expression of his very hands and feet; for in men, as well
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as in animals, the limbs themselves are expressive of the passions.
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He was so exact that he was never in a hurry, was always ready, and was
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economical alike of his steps and his motions. He never took one step
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too many, and always went to his destination by the shortest cut; he
|
||
|
|
made no superfluous gestures, and was never seen to be moved or
|
||
|
|
agitated. He was the most deliberate person in the world, yet always
|
||
|
|
reached his destination at the exact moment.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He lived alone, and, so to speak, outside of every social relation; and
|
||
|
|
as he knew that in this world account must be taken of friction, and
|
||
|
|
that friction retards, he never rubbed against anybody.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
As for Passepartout, he was a true Parisian of Paris. Since he had
|
||
|
|
abandoned his own country for England, taking service as a valet, he
|
||
|
|
had in vain searched for a master after his own heart. Passepartout
|
||
|
|
was by no means one of those pert dunces depicted by Moliere with a
|
||
|
|
bold gaze and a nose held high in the air; he was an honest fellow,
|
||
|
|
with a pleasant face, lips a trifle protruding, soft-mannered and
|
||
|
|
serviceable, with a good round head, such as one likes to see on the
|
||
|
|
shoulders of a friend. His eyes were blue, his complexion rubicund,
|
||
|
|
his figure almost portly and well-built, his body muscular, and his
|
||
|
|
physical powers fully developed by the exercises of his younger days.
|
||
|
|
His brown hair was somewhat tumbled; for, while the ancient sculptors
|
||
|
|
are said to have known eighteen methods of arranging Minerva's tresses,
|
||
|
|
Passepartout was familiar with but one of dressing his own: three
|
||
|
|
strokes of a large-tooth comb completed his toilet.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It would be rash to predict how Passepartout's lively nature would
|
||
|
|
agree with Mr. Fogg. It was impossible to tell whether the new servant
|
||
|
|
would turn out as absolutely methodical as his master required;
|
||
|
|
experience alone could solve the question. Passepartout had been a
|
||
|
|
sort of vagrant in his early years, and now yearned for repose; but so
|
||
|
|
far he had failed to find it, though he had already served in ten
|
||
|
|
English houses. But he could not take root in any of these; with
|
||
|
|
chagrin, he found his masters invariably whimsical and irregular,
|
||
|
|
constantly running about the country, or on the look-out for adventure.
|
||
|
|
His last master, young Lord Longferry, Member of Parliament, after
|
||
|
|
passing his nights in the Haymarket taverns, was too often brought home
|
||
|
|
in the morning on policemen's shoulders. Passepartout, desirous of
|
||
|
|
respecting the gentleman whom he served, ventured a mild remonstrance
|
||
|
|
on such conduct; which, being ill-received, he took his leave. Hearing
|
||
|
|
that Mr. Phileas Fogg was looking for a servant, and that his life was
|
||
|
|
one of unbroken regularity, that he neither travelled nor stayed from
|
||
|
|
home overnight, he felt sure that this would be the place he was after.
|
||
|
|
He presented himself, and was accepted, as has been seen.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At half-past eleven, then, Passepartout found himself alone in the
|
||
|
|
house in Saville Row. He began its inspection without delay, scouring
|
||
|
|
it from cellar to garret. So clean, well-arranged, solemn a mansion
|
||
|
|
pleased him; it seemed to him like a snail's shell, lighted and warmed
|
||
|
|
by gas, which sufficed for both these purposes. When Passepartout
|
||
|
|
reached the second story he recognised at once the room which he was to
|
||
|
|
inhabit, and he was well satisfied with it. Electric bells and
|
||
|
|
speaking-tubes afforded communication with the lower stories; while on
|
||
|
|
the mantel stood an electric clock, precisely like that in Mr. Fogg's
|
||
|
|
bedchamber, both beating the same second at the same instant. "That's
|
||
|
|
good, that'll do," said Passepartout to himself.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He suddenly observed, hung over the clock, a card which, upon
|
||
|
|
inspection, proved to be a programme of the daily routine of the house.
|
||
|
|
It comprised all that was required of the servant, from eight in the
|
||
|
|
morning, exactly at which hour Phileas Fogg rose, till half-past
|
||
|
|
eleven, when he left the house for the Reform Club--all the details of
|
||
|
|
service, the tea and toast at twenty-three minutes past eight, the
|
||
|
|
shaving-water at thirty-seven minutes past nine, and the toilet at
|
||
|
|
twenty minutes before ten. Everything was regulated and foreseen that
|
||
|
|
was to be done from half-past eleven a.m. till midnight, the hour at
|
||
|
|
which the methodical gentleman retired.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg's wardrobe was amply supplied and in the best taste. Each
|
||
|
|
pair of trousers, coat, and vest bore a number, indicating the time of
|
||
|
|
year and season at which they were in turn to be laid out for wearing;
|
||
|
|
and the same system was applied to the master's shoes. In short, the
|
||
|
|
house in Saville Row, which must have been a very temple of disorder
|
||
|
|
and unrest under the illustrious but dissipated Sheridan, was cosiness,
|
||
|
|
comfort, and method idealised. There was no study, nor were there
|
||
|
|
books, which would have been quite useless to Mr. Fogg; for at the
|
||
|
|
Reform two libraries, one of general literature and the other of law
|
||
|
|
and politics, were at his service. A moderate-sized safe stood in his
|
||
|
|
bedroom, constructed so as to defy fire as well as burglars; but
|
||
|
|
Passepartout found neither arms nor hunting weapons anywhere;
|
||
|
|
everything betrayed the most tranquil and peaceable habits.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Having scrutinised the house from top to bottom, he rubbed his hands, a
|
||
|
|
broad smile overspread his features, and he said joyfully, "This is
|
||
|
|
just what I wanted! Ah, we shall get on together, Mr. Fogg and I!
|
||
|
|
What a domestic and regular gentleman! A real machine; well, I don't
|
||
|
|
mind serving a machine."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter III
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH A CONVERSATION TAKES PLACE WHICH SEEMS LIKELY TO COST PHILEAS
|
||
|
|
FOGG DEAR
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg, having shut the door of his house at half-past eleven,
|
||
|
|
and having put his right foot before his left five hundred and
|
||
|
|
seventy-five times, and his left foot before his right five hundred and
|
||
|
|
seventy-six times, reached the Reform Club, an imposing edifice in Pall
|
||
|
|
Mall, which could not have cost less than three millions. He repaired
|
||
|
|
at once to the dining-room, the nine windows of which open upon a
|
||
|
|
tasteful garden, where the trees were already gilded with an autumn
|
||
|
|
colouring; and took his place at the habitual table, the cover of which
|
||
|
|
had already been laid for him. His breakfast consisted of a side-dish,
|
||
|
|
a broiled fish with Reading sauce, a scarlet slice of roast beef
|
||
|
|
garnished with mushrooms, a rhubarb and gooseberry tart, and a morsel
|
||
|
|
of Cheshire cheese, the whole being washed down with several cups of
|
||
|
|
tea, for which the Reform is famous. He rose at thirteen minutes to
|
||
|
|
one, and directed his steps towards the large hall, a sumptuous
|
||
|
|
apartment adorned with lavishly-framed paintings. A flunkey handed him
|
||
|
|
an uncut Times, which he proceeded to cut with a skill which betrayed
|
||
|
|
familiarity with this delicate operation. The perusal of this paper
|
||
|
|
absorbed Phileas Fogg until a quarter before four, whilst the Standard,
|
||
|
|
his next task, occupied him till the dinner hour. Dinner passed as
|
||
|
|
breakfast had done, and Mr. Fogg re-appeared in the reading-room and
|
||
|
|
sat down to the Pall Mall at twenty minutes before six. Half an hour
|
||
|
|
later several members of the Reform came in and drew up to the
|
||
|
|
fireplace, where a coal fire was steadily burning. They were Mr.
|
||
|
|
Fogg's usual partners at whist: Andrew Stuart, an engineer; John
|
||
|
|
Sullivan and Samuel Fallentin, bankers; Thomas Flanagan, a brewer; and
|
||
|
|
Gauthier Ralph, one of the Directors of the Bank of England--all rich
|
||
|
|
and highly respectable personages, even in a club which comprises the
|
||
|
|
princes of English trade and finance.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Well, Ralph," said Thomas Flanagan, "what about that robbery?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Oh," replied Stuart, "the Bank will lose the money."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"On the contrary," broke in Ralph, "I hope we may put our hands on the
|
||
|
|
robber. Skilful detectives have been sent to all the principal ports
|
||
|
|
of America and the Continent, and he'll be a clever fellow if he slips
|
||
|
|
through their fingers."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But have you got the robber's description?" asked Stuart.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"In the first place, he is no robber at all," returned Ralph,
|
||
|
|
positively.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What! a fellow who makes off with fifty-five thousand pounds, no
|
||
|
|
robber?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Perhaps he's a manufacturer, then."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"The Daily Telegraph says that he is a gentleman."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was Phileas Fogg, whose head now emerged from behind his newspapers,
|
||
|
|
who made this remark. He bowed to his friends, and entered into the
|
||
|
|
conversation. The affair which formed its subject, and which was town
|
||
|
|
talk, had occurred three days before at the Bank of England. A package
|
||
|
|
of banknotes, to the value of fifty-five thousand pounds, had been
|
||
|
|
taken from the principal cashier's table, that functionary being at the
|
||
|
|
moment engaged in registering the receipt of three shillings and
|
||
|
|
sixpence. Of course, he could not have his eyes everywhere. Let it be
|
||
|
|
observed that the Bank of England reposes a touching confidence in the
|
||
|
|
honesty of the public. There are neither guards nor gratings to
|
||
|
|
protect its treasures; gold, silver, banknotes are freely exposed, at
|
||
|
|
the mercy of the first comer. A keen observer of English customs
|
||
|
|
relates that, being in one of the rooms of the Bank one day, he had the
|
||
|
|
curiosity to examine a gold ingot weighing some seven or eight pounds.
|
||
|
|
He took it up, scrutinised it, passed it to his neighbour, he to the
|
||
|
|
next man, and so on until the ingot, going from hand to hand, was
|
||
|
|
transferred to the end of a dark entry; nor did it return to its place
|
||
|
|
for half an hour. Meanwhile, the cashier had not so much as raised his
|
||
|
|
head. But in the present instance things had not gone so smoothly.
|
||
|
|
The package of notes not being found when five o'clock sounded from the
|
||
|
|
ponderous clock in the "drawing office," the amount was passed to the
|
||
|
|
account of profit and loss. As soon as the robbery was discovered,
|
||
|
|
picked detectives hastened off to Liverpool, Glasgow, Havre, Suez,
|
||
|
|
Brindisi, New York, and other ports, inspired by the proffered reward
|
||
|
|
of two thousand pounds, and five per cent. on the sum that might be
|
||
|
|
recovered. Detectives were also charged with narrowly watching those
|
||
|
|
who arrived at or left London by rail, and a judicial examination was
|
||
|
|
at once entered upon.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
There were real grounds for supposing, as the Daily Telegraph said,
|
||
|
|
that the thief did not belong to a professional band. On the day of
|
||
|
|
the robbery a well-dressed gentleman of polished manners, and with a
|
||
|
|
well-to-do air, had been observed going to and fro in the paying room
|
||
|
|
where the crime was committed. A description of him was easily
|
||
|
|
procured and sent to the detectives; and some hopeful spirits, of whom
|
||
|
|
Ralph was one, did not despair of his apprehension. The papers and
|
||
|
|
clubs were full of the affair, and everywhere people were discussing
|
||
|
|
the probabilities of a successful pursuit; and the Reform Club was
|
||
|
|
especially agitated, several of its members being Bank officials.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Ralph would not concede that the work of the detectives was likely to
|
||
|
|
be in vain, for he thought that the prize offered would greatly
|
||
|
|
stimulate their zeal and activity. But Stuart was far from sharing
|
||
|
|
this confidence; and, as they placed themselves at the whist-table,
|
||
|
|
they continued to argue the matter. Stuart and Flanagan played
|
||
|
|
together, while Phileas Fogg had Fallentin for his partner. As the
|
||
|
|
game proceeded the conversation ceased, excepting between the rubbers,
|
||
|
|
when it revived again.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I maintain," said Stuart, "that the chances are in favour of the
|
||
|
|
thief, who must be a shrewd fellow."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Well, but where can he fly to?" asked Ralph. "No country is safe for
|
||
|
|
him."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Pshaw!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Where could he go, then?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Oh, I don't know that. The world is big enough."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"It was once," said Phileas Fogg, in a low tone. "Cut, sir," he added,
|
||
|
|
handing the cards to Thomas Flanagan.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The discussion fell during the rubber, after which Stuart took up its
|
||
|
|
thread.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What do you mean by `once'? Has the world grown smaller?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Certainly," returned Ralph. "I agree with Mr. Fogg. The world has
|
||
|
|
grown smaller, since a man can now go round it ten times more quickly
|
||
|
|
than a hundred years ago. And that is why the search for this thief
|
||
|
|
will be more likely to succeed."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And also why the thief can get away more easily."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Be so good as to play, Mr. Stuart," said Phileas Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
But the incredulous Stuart was not convinced, and when the hand was
|
||
|
|
finished, said eagerly: "You have a strange way, Ralph, of proving that
|
||
|
|
the world has grown smaller. So, because you can go round it in three
|
||
|
|
months--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"In eighty days," interrupted Phileas Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"That is true, gentlemen," added John Sullivan. "Only eighty days, now
|
||
|
|
that the section between Rothal and Allahabad, on the Great Indian
|
||
|
|
Peninsula Railway, has been opened. Here is the estimate made by the
|
||
|
|
Daily Telegraph:
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
From London to Suez via Mont Cenis and
|
||
|
|
Brindisi, by rail and steamboats ................. 7 days
|
||
|
|
From Suez to Bombay, by steamer .................... 13 "
|
||
|
|
From Bombay to Calcutta, by rail ................... 3 "
|
||
|
|
From Calcutta to Hong Kong, by steamer ............. 13 "
|
||
|
|
From Hong Kong to Yokohama (Japan), by steamer ..... 6 "
|
||
|
|
From Yokohama to San Francisco, by steamer ......... 22 "
|
||
|
|
From San Francisco to New York, by rail ............. 7 "
|
||
|
|
From New York to London, by steamer and rail ........ 9 "
|
||
|
|
------
|
||
|
|
Total ............................................ 80 days."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes, in eighty days!" exclaimed Stuart, who in his excitement made a
|
||
|
|
false deal. "But that doesn't take into account bad weather, contrary
|
||
|
|
winds, shipwrecks, railway accidents, and so on."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"All included," returned Phileas Fogg, continuing to play despite the
|
||
|
|
discussion.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But suppose the Hindoos or Indians pull up the rails," replied Stuart;
|
||
|
|
"suppose they stop the trains, pillage the luggage-vans, and scalp the
|
||
|
|
passengers!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"All included," calmly retorted Fogg; adding, as he threw down the
|
||
|
|
cards, "Two trumps."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Stuart, whose turn it was to deal, gathered them up, and went on: "You
|
||
|
|
are right, theoretically, Mr. Fogg, but practically--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Practically also, Mr. Stuart."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I'd like to see you do it in eighty days."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"It depends on you. Shall we go?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Heaven preserve me! But I would wager four thousand pounds that such
|
||
|
|
a journey, made under these conditions, is impossible."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Quite possible, on the contrary," returned Mr. Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Well, make it, then!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"The journey round the world in eighty days?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I should like nothing better."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"When?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"At once. Only I warn you that I shall do it at your expense."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"It's absurd!" cried Stuart, who was beginning to be annoyed at the
|
||
|
|
persistency of his friend. "Come, let's go on with the game."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Deal over again, then," said Phileas Fogg. "There's a false deal."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Stuart took up the pack with a feverish hand; then suddenly put them
|
||
|
|
down again.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Well, Mr. Fogg," said he, "it shall be so: I will wager the four
|
||
|
|
thousand on it."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Calm yourself, my dear Stuart," said Fallentin. "It's only a joke."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"When I say I'll wager," returned Stuart, "I mean it."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"All right," said Mr. Fogg; and, turning to the others, he continued:
|
||
|
|
"I have a deposit of twenty thousand at Baring's which I will willingly
|
||
|
|
risk upon it."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Twenty thousand pounds!" cried Sullivan. "Twenty thousand pounds,
|
||
|
|
which you would lose by a single accidental delay!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"The unforeseen does not exist," quietly replied Phileas Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But, Mr. Fogg, eighty days are only the estimate of the least possible
|
||
|
|
time in which the journey can be made."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"A well-used minimum suffices for everything."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But, in order not to exceed it, you must jump mathematically from the
|
||
|
|
trains upon the steamers, and from the steamers upon the trains again."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I will jump--mathematically."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"You are joking."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"A true Englishman doesn't joke when he is talking about so serious a
|
||
|
|
thing as a wager," replied Phileas Fogg, solemnly. "I will bet twenty
|
||
|
|
thousand pounds against anyone who wishes that I will make the tour of
|
||
|
|
the world in eighty days or less; in nineteen hundred and twenty hours,
|
||
|
|
or a hundred and fifteen thousand two hundred minutes. Do you accept?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"We accept," replied Messrs. Stuart, Fallentin, Sullivan, Flanagan, and
|
||
|
|
Ralph, after consulting each other.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Good," said Mr. Fogg. "The train leaves for Dover at a quarter before
|
||
|
|
nine. I will take it."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"This very evening?" asked Stuart.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"This very evening," returned Phileas Fogg. He took out and consulted
|
||
|
|
a pocket almanac, and added, "As today is Wednesday, the 2nd of
|
||
|
|
October, I shall be due in London in this very room of the Reform Club,
|
||
|
|
on Saturday, the 21st of December, at a quarter before nine p.m.; or
|
||
|
|
else the twenty thousand pounds, now deposited in my name at Baring's,
|
||
|
|
will belong to you, in fact and in right, gentlemen. Here is a cheque
|
||
|
|
for the amount."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
A memorandum of the wager was at once drawn up and signed by the six
|
||
|
|
parties, during which Phileas Fogg preserved a stoical composure. He
|
||
|
|
certainly did not bet to win, and had only staked the twenty thousand
|
||
|
|
pounds, half of his fortune, because he foresaw that he might have to
|
||
|
|
expend the other half to carry out this difficult, not to say
|
||
|
|
unattainable, project. As for his antagonists, they seemed much
|
||
|
|
agitated; not so much by the value of their stake, as because they had
|
||
|
|
some scruples about betting under conditions so difficult to their
|
||
|
|
friend.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The clock struck seven, and the party offered to suspend the game so
|
||
|
|
that Mr. Fogg might make his preparations for departure.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I am quite ready now," was his tranquil response. "Diamonds are
|
||
|
|
trumps: be so good as to play, gentlemen."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter IV
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG ASTOUNDS PASSEPARTOUT, HIS SERVANT
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Having won twenty guineas at whist, and taken leave of his friends,
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg, at twenty-five minutes past seven, left the Reform Club.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout, who had conscientiously studied the programme of his
|
||
|
|
duties, was more than surprised to see his master guilty of the
|
||
|
|
inexactness of appearing at this unaccustomed hour; for, according to
|
||
|
|
rule, he was not due in Saville Row until precisely midnight.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg repaired to his bedroom, and called out, "Passepartout!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout did not reply. It could not be he who was called; it was
|
||
|
|
not the right hour.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Passepartout!" repeated Mr. Fogg, without raising his voice.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout made his appearance.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I've called you twice," observed his master.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But it is not midnight," responded the other, showing his watch.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I know it; I don't blame you. We start for Dover and Calais in ten
|
||
|
|
minutes."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
A puzzled grin overspread Passepartout's round face; clearly he had not
|
||
|
|
comprehended his master.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Monsieur is going to leave home?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes," returned Phileas Fogg. "We are going round the world."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout opened wide his eyes, raised his eyebrows, held up his
|
||
|
|
hands, and seemed about to collapse, so overcome was he with stupefied
|
||
|
|
astonishment.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Round the world!" he murmured.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"In eighty days," responded Mr. Fogg. "So we haven't a moment to lose."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But the trunks?" gasped Passepartout, unconsciously swaying his head
|
||
|
|
from right to left.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"We'll have no trunks; only a carpet-bag, with two shirts and three
|
||
|
|
pairs of stockings for me, and the same for you. We'll buy our clothes
|
||
|
|
on the way. Bring down my mackintosh and traveling-cloak, and some
|
||
|
|
stout shoes, though we shall do little walking. Make haste!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout tried to reply, but could not. He went out, mounted to
|
||
|
|
his own room, fell into a chair, and muttered: "That's good, that is!
|
||
|
|
And I, who wanted to remain quiet!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He mechanically set about making the preparations for departure.
|
||
|
|
Around the world in eighty days! Was his master a fool? No. Was this
|
||
|
|
a joke, then? They were going to Dover; good! To Calais; good again!
|
||
|
|
After all, Passepartout, who had been away from France five years,
|
||
|
|
would not be sorry to set foot on his native soil again. Perhaps they
|
||
|
|
would go as far as Paris, and it would do his eyes good to see Paris
|
||
|
|
once more. But surely a gentleman so chary of his steps would stop
|
||
|
|
there; no doubt--but, then, it was none the less true that he was
|
||
|
|
going away, this so domestic person hitherto!
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
By eight o'clock Passepartout had packed the modest carpet-bag,
|
||
|
|
containing the wardrobes of his master and himself; then, still
|
||
|
|
troubled in mind, he carefully shut the door of his room, and descended
|
||
|
|
to Mr. Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg was quite ready. Under his arm might have been observed a
|
||
|
|
red-bound copy of Bradshaw's Continental Railway Steam Transit and
|
||
|
|
General Guide, with its timetables showing the arrival and departure of
|
||
|
|
steamers and railways. He took the carpet-bag, opened it, and slipped
|
||
|
|
into it a goodly roll of Bank of England notes, which would pass
|
||
|
|
wherever he might go.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"You have forgotten nothing?" asked he.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Nothing, monsieur."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"My mackintosh and cloak?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Here they are."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Good! Take this carpet-bag," handing it to Passepartout. "Take good
|
||
|
|
care of it, for there are twenty thousand pounds in it."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout nearly dropped the bag, as if the twenty thousand pounds
|
||
|
|
were in gold, and weighed him down.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Master and man then descended, the street-door was double-locked, and
|
||
|
|
at the end of Saville Row they took a cab and drove rapidly to Charing
|
||
|
|
Cross. The cab stopped before the railway station at twenty minutes
|
||
|
|
past eight. Passepartout jumped off the box and followed his master,
|
||
|
|
who, after paying the cabman, was about to enter the station, when a
|
||
|
|
poor beggar-woman, with a child in her arms, her naked feet smeared
|
||
|
|
with mud, her head covered with a wretched bonnet, from which hung a
|
||
|
|
tattered feather, and her shoulders shrouded in a ragged shawl,
|
||
|
|
approached, and mournfully asked for alms.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg took out the twenty guineas he had just won at whist, and
|
||
|
|
handed them to the beggar, saying, "Here, my good woman. I'm glad that
|
||
|
|
I met you;" and passed on.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout had a moist sensation about the eyes; his master's action
|
||
|
|
touched his susceptible heart.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Two first-class tickets for Paris having been speedily purchased, Mr.
|
||
|
|
Fogg was crossing the station to the train, when he perceived his five
|
||
|
|
friends of the Reform.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Well, gentlemen," said he, "I'm off, you see; and, if you will examine
|
||
|
|
my passport when I get back, you will be able to judge whether I have
|
||
|
|
accomplished the journey agreed upon."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Oh, that would be quite unnecessary, Mr. Fogg," said Ralph politely.
|
||
|
|
"We will trust your word, as a gentleman of honour."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"You do not forget when you are due in London again?" asked Stuart.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"In eighty days; on Saturday, the 21st of December, 1872, at a quarter
|
||
|
|
before nine p.m. Good-bye, gentlemen."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg and his servant seated themselves in a first-class
|
||
|
|
carriage at twenty minutes before nine; five minutes later the whistle
|
||
|
|
screamed, and the train slowly glided out of the station.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The night was dark, and a fine, steady rain was falling. Phileas Fogg,
|
||
|
|
snugly ensconced in his corner, did not open his lips. Passepartout,
|
||
|
|
not yet recovered from his stupefaction, clung mechanically to the
|
||
|
|
carpet-bag, with its enormous treasure.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Just as the train was whirling through Sydenham, Passepartout suddenly
|
||
|
|
uttered a cry of despair.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What's the matter?" asked Mr. Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Alas! In my hurry--I--I forgot--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"To turn off the gas in my room!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Very well, young man," returned Mr. Fogg, coolly; "it will burn--at
|
||
|
|
your expense."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter V
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH A NEW SPECIES OF FUNDS, UNKNOWN TO THE MONEYED MEN, APPEARS ON
|
||
|
|
'CHANGE
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg rightly suspected that his departure from London would
|
||
|
|
create a lively sensation at the West End. The news of the bet spread
|
||
|
|
through the Reform Club, and afforded an exciting topic of conversation
|
||
|
|
to its members. From the club it soon got into the papers throughout
|
||
|
|
England. The boasted "tour of the world" was talked about, disputed,
|
||
|
|
argued with as much warmth as if the subject were another Alabama
|
||
|
|
claim. Some took sides with Phileas Fogg, but the large majority shook
|
||
|
|
their heads and declared against him; it was absurd, impossible, they
|
||
|
|
declared, that the tour of the world could be made, except
|
||
|
|
theoretically and on paper, in this minimum of time, and with the
|
||
|
|
existing means of travelling. The Times, Standard, Morning Post, and
|
||
|
|
Daily News, and twenty other highly respectable newspapers scouted Mr.
|
||
|
|
Fogg's project as madness; the Daily Telegraph alone hesitatingly
|
||
|
|
supported him. People in general thought him a lunatic, and blamed his
|
||
|
|
Reform Club friends for having accepted a wager which betrayed the
|
||
|
|
mental aberration of its proposer.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Articles no less passionate than logical appeared on the question, for
|
||
|
|
geography is one of the pet subjects of the English; and the columns
|
||
|
|
devoted to Phileas Fogg's venture were eagerly devoured by all classes
|
||
|
|
of readers. At first some rash individuals, principally of the gentler
|
||
|
|
sex, espoused his cause, which became still more popular when the
|
||
|
|
Illustrated London News came out with his portrait, copied from a
|
||
|
|
photograph in the Reform Club. A few readers of the Daily Telegraph
|
||
|
|
even dared to say, "Why not, after all? Stranger things have come to
|
||
|
|
pass."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At last a long article appeared, on the 7th of October, in the bulletin
|
||
|
|
of the Royal Geographical Society, which treated the question from
|
||
|
|
every point of view, and demonstrated the utter folly of the enterprise.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Everything, it said, was against the travellers, every obstacle imposed
|
||
|
|
alike by man and by nature. A miraculous agreement of the times of
|
||
|
|
departure and arrival, which was impossible, was absolutely necessary
|
||
|
|
to his success. He might, perhaps, reckon on the arrival of trains at
|
||
|
|
the designated hours, in Europe, where the distances were relatively
|
||
|
|
moderate; but when he calculated upon crossing India in three days, and
|
||
|
|
the United States in seven, could he rely beyond misgiving upon
|
||
|
|
accomplishing his task? There were accidents to machinery, the
|
||
|
|
liability of trains to run off the line, collisions, bad weather, the
|
||
|
|
blocking up by snow--were not all these against Phileas Fogg? Would he
|
||
|
|
not find himself, when travelling by steamer in winter, at the mercy of
|
||
|
|
the winds and fogs? Is it uncommon for the best ocean steamers to be
|
||
|
|
two or three days behind time? But a single delay would suffice to
|
||
|
|
fatally break the chain of communication; should Phileas Fogg once
|
||
|
|
miss, even by an hour; a steamer, he would have to wait for the next,
|
||
|
|
and that would irrevocably render his attempt vain.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This article made a great deal of noise, and, being copied into all the
|
||
|
|
papers, seriously depressed the advocates of the rash tourist.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Everybody knows that England is the world of betting men, who are of a
|
||
|
|
higher class than mere gamblers; to bet is in the English temperament.
|
||
|
|
Not only the members of the Reform, but the general public, made heavy
|
||
|
|
wagers for or against Phileas Fogg, who was set down in the betting
|
||
|
|
books as if he were a race-horse. Bonds were issued, and made their
|
||
|
|
appearance on 'Change; "Phileas Fogg bonds" were offered at par or at a
|
||
|
|
premium, and a great business was done in them. But five days after
|
||
|
|
the article in the bulletin of the Geographical Society appeared, the
|
||
|
|
demand began to subside: "Phileas Fogg" declined. They were offered
|
||
|
|
by packages, at first of five, then of ten, until at last nobody would
|
||
|
|
take less than twenty, fifty, a hundred!
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Lord Albemarle, an elderly paralytic gentleman, was now the only
|
||
|
|
advocate of Phileas Fogg left. This noble lord, who was fastened to
|
||
|
|
his chair, would have given his fortune to be able to make the tour of
|
||
|
|
the world, if it took ten years; and he bet five thousand pounds on
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg. When the folly as well as the uselessness of the
|
||
|
|
adventure was pointed out to him, he contented himself with replying,
|
||
|
|
"If the thing is feasible, the first to do it ought to be an
|
||
|
|
Englishman."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The Fogg party dwindled more and more, everybody was going against him,
|
||
|
|
and the bets stood a hundred and fifty and two hundred to one; and a
|
||
|
|
week after his departure an incident occurred which deprived him of
|
||
|
|
backers at any price.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The commissioner of police was sitting in his office at nine o'clock
|
||
|
|
one evening, when the following telegraphic dispatch was put into his
|
||
|
|
hands:
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Suez to London.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Rowan, Commissioner of Police, Scotland Yard:
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I've found the bank robber, Phileas Fogg. Send with out delay warrant
|
||
|
|
of arrest to Bombay.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix, Detective.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The effect of this dispatch was instantaneous. The polished gentleman
|
||
|
|
disappeared to give place to the bank robber. His photograph, which
|
||
|
|
was hung with those of the rest of the members at the Reform Club, was
|
||
|
|
minutely examined, and it betrayed, feature by feature, the description
|
||
|
|
of the robber which had been provided to the police. The mysterious
|
||
|
|
habits of Phileas Fogg were recalled; his solitary ways, his sudden
|
||
|
|
departure; and it seemed clear that, in undertaking a tour round the
|
||
|
|
world on the pretext of a wager, he had had no other end in view than
|
||
|
|
to elude the detectives, and throw them off his track.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter VI
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH FIX, THE DETECTIVE, BETRAYS A VERY NATURAL IMPATIENCE
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The circumstances under which this telegraphic dispatch about Phileas
|
||
|
|
Fogg was sent were as follows:
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The steamer Mongolia, belonging to the Peninsular and Oriental Company,
|
||
|
|
built of iron, of two thousand eight hundred tons burden, and five
|
||
|
|
hundred horse-power, was due at eleven o'clock a.m. on Wednesday, the
|
||
|
|
9th of October, at Suez. The Mongolia plied regularly between Brindisi
|
||
|
|
and Bombay via the Suez Canal, and was one of the fastest steamers
|
||
|
|
belonging to the company, always making more than ten knots an hour
|
||
|
|
between Brindisi and Suez, and nine and a half between Suez and Bombay.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Two men were promenading up and down the wharves, among the crowd of
|
||
|
|
natives and strangers who were sojourning at this once straggling
|
||
|
|
village--now, thanks to the enterprise of M. Lesseps, a fast-growing
|
||
|
|
town. One was the British consul at Suez, who, despite the prophecies
|
||
|
|
of the English Government, and the unfavourable predictions of
|
||
|
|
Stephenson, was in the habit of seeing, from his office window, English
|
||
|
|
ships daily passing to and fro on the great canal, by which the old
|
||
|
|
roundabout route from England to India by the Cape of Good Hope was
|
||
|
|
abridged by at least a half. The other was a small, slight-built
|
||
|
|
personage, with a nervous, intelligent face, and bright eyes peering
|
||
|
|
out from under eyebrows which he was incessantly twitching. He was
|
||
|
|
just now manifesting unmistakable signs of impatience, nervously pacing
|
||
|
|
up and down, and unable to stand still for a moment. This was Fix, one
|
||
|
|
of the detectives who had been dispatched from England in search of the
|
||
|
|
bank robber; it was his task to narrowly watch every passenger who
|
||
|
|
arrived at Suez, and to follow up all who seemed to be suspicious
|
||
|
|
characters, or bore a resemblance to the description of the criminal,
|
||
|
|
which he had received two days before from the police headquarters at
|
||
|
|
London. The detective was evidently inspired by the hope of obtaining
|
||
|
|
the splendid reward which would be the prize of success, and awaited
|
||
|
|
with a feverish impatience, easy to understand, the arrival of the
|
||
|
|
steamer Mongolia.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"So you say, consul," asked he for the twentieth time, "that this
|
||
|
|
steamer is never behind time?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No, Mr. Fix," replied the consul. "She was bespoken yesterday at Port
|
||
|
|
Said, and the rest of the way is of no account to such a craft. I
|
||
|
|
repeat that the Mongolia has been in advance of the time required by
|
||
|
|
the company's regulations, and gained the prize awarded for excess of
|
||
|
|
speed."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Does she come directly from Brindisi?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Directly from Brindisi; she takes on the Indian mails there, and she
|
||
|
|
left there Saturday at five p.m. Have patience, Mr. Fix; she will not
|
||
|
|
be late. But really, I don't see how, from the description you have,
|
||
|
|
you will be able to recognise your man, even if he is on board the
|
||
|
|
Mongolia."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"A man rather feels the presence of these fellows, consul, than
|
||
|
|
recognises them. You must have a scent for them, and a scent is like a
|
||
|
|
sixth sense which combines hearing, seeing, and smelling. I've
|
||
|
|
arrested more than one of these gentlemen in my time, and, if my thief
|
||
|
|
is on board, I'll answer for it; he'll not slip through my fingers."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I hope so, Mr. Fix, for it was a heavy robbery."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"A magnificent robbery, consul; fifty-five thousand pounds! We don't
|
||
|
|
often have such windfalls. Burglars are getting to be so contemptible
|
||
|
|
nowadays! A fellow gets hung for a handful of shillings!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Mr. Fix," said the consul, "I like your way of talking, and hope
|
||
|
|
you'll succeed; but I fear you will find it far from easy. Don't you
|
||
|
|
see, the description which you have there has a singular resemblance to
|
||
|
|
an honest man?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Consul," remarked the detective, dogmatically, "great robbers always
|
||
|
|
resemble honest folks. Fellows who have rascally faces have only one
|
||
|
|
course to take, and that is to remain honest; otherwise they would be
|
||
|
|
arrested off-hand. The artistic thing is, to unmask honest
|
||
|
|
countenances; it's no light task, I admit, but a real art."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fix evidently was not wanting in a tinge of self-conceit.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Little by little the scene on the quay became more animated; sailors of
|
||
|
|
various nations, merchants, ship-brokers, porters, fellahs, bustled to
|
||
|
|
and fro as if the steamer were immediately expected. The weather was
|
||
|
|
clear, and slightly chilly. The minarets of the town loomed above the
|
||
|
|
houses in the pale rays of the sun. A jetty pier, some two thousand
|
||
|
|
yards along, extended into the roadstead. A number of fishing-smacks
|
||
|
|
and coasting boats, some retaining the fantastic fashion of ancient
|
||
|
|
galleys, were discernible on the Red Sea.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
As he passed among the busy crowd, Fix, according to habit, scrutinised
|
||
|
|
the passers-by with a keen, rapid glance.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was now half-past ten.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"The steamer doesn't come!" he exclaimed, as the port clock struck.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"She can't be far off now," returned his companion.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"How long will she stop at Suez?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Four hours; long enough to get in her coal. It is thirteen hundred
|
||
|
|
and ten miles from Suez to Aden, at the other end of the Red Sea, and
|
||
|
|
she has to take in a fresh coal supply."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And does she go from Suez directly to Bombay?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Without putting in anywhere."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Good!" said Fix. "If the robber is on board he will no doubt get off
|
||
|
|
at Suez, so as to reach the Dutch or French colonies in Asia by some
|
||
|
|
other route. He ought to know that he would not be safe an hour in
|
||
|
|
India, which is English soil."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Unless," objected the consul, "he is exceptionally shrewd. An English
|
||
|
|
criminal, you know, is always better concealed in London than anywhere
|
||
|
|
else."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This observation furnished the detective food for thought, and
|
||
|
|
meanwhile the consul went away to his office. Fix, left alone, was
|
||
|
|
more impatient than ever, having a presentiment that the robber was on
|
||
|
|
board the Mongolia. If he had indeed left London intending to reach
|
||
|
|
the New World, he would naturally take the route via India, which was
|
||
|
|
less watched and more difficult to watch than that of the Atlantic.
|
||
|
|
But Fix's reflections were soon interrupted by a succession of sharp
|
||
|
|
whistles, which announced the arrival of the Mongolia. The porters and
|
||
|
|
fellahs rushed down the quay, and a dozen boats pushed off from the
|
||
|
|
shore to go and meet the steamer. Soon her gigantic hull appeared
|
||
|
|
passing along between the banks, and eleven o'clock struck as she
|
||
|
|
anchored in the road. She brought an unusual number of passengers,
|
||
|
|
some of whom remained on deck to scan the picturesque panorama of the
|
||
|
|
town, while the greater part disembarked in the boats, and landed on
|
||
|
|
the quay.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix took up a position, and carefully examined each face and figure
|
||
|
|
which made its appearance. Presently one of the passengers, after
|
||
|
|
vigorously pushing his way through the importunate crowd of porters,
|
||
|
|
came up to him and politely asked if he could point out the English
|
||
|
|
consulate, at the same time showing a passport which he wished to have
|
||
|
|
visaed. Fix instinctively took the passport, and with a rapid glance
|
||
|
|
read the description of its bearer. An involuntary motion of surprise
|
||
|
|
nearly escaped him, for the description in the passport was identical
|
||
|
|
with that of the bank robber which he had received from Scotland Yard.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Is this your passport?" asked he.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No, it's my master's."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And your master is--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"He stayed on board."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But he must go to the consul's in person, so as to establish his
|
||
|
|
identity."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Oh, is that necessary?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Quite indispensable."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And where is the consulate?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"There, on the corner of the square," said Fix, pointing to a house two
|
||
|
|
hundred steps off.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I'll go and fetch my master, who won't be much pleased, however, to be
|
||
|
|
disturbed."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The passenger bowed to Fix, and returned to the steamer.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter VII
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
WHICH ONCE MORE DEMONSTRATES THE USELESSNESS OF PASSPORTS AS AIDS TO
|
||
|
|
DETECTIVES
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The detective passed down the quay, and rapidly made his way to the
|
||
|
|
consul's office, where he was at once admitted to the presence of that
|
||
|
|
official.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Consul," said he, without preamble, "I have strong reasons for
|
||
|
|
believing that my man is a passenger on the Mongolia." And he narrated
|
||
|
|
what had just passed concerning the passport.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Well, Mr. Fix," replied the consul, "I shall not be sorry to see the
|
||
|
|
rascal's face; but perhaps he won't come here--that is, if he is the
|
||
|
|
person you suppose him to be. A robber doesn't quite like to leave
|
||
|
|
traces of his flight behind him; and, besides, he is not obliged to
|
||
|
|
have his passport countersigned."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"If he is as shrewd as I think he is, consul, he will come."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"To have his passport visaed?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes. Passports are only good for annoying honest folks, and aiding in
|
||
|
|
the flight of rogues. I assure you it will be quite the thing for him
|
||
|
|
to do; but I hope you will not visa the passport."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Why not? If the passport is genuine I have no right to refuse."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Still, I must keep this man here until I can get a warrant to arrest
|
||
|
|
him from London."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Ah, that's your look-out. But I cannot--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The consul did not finish his sentence, for as he spoke a knock was
|
||
|
|
heard at the door, and two strangers entered, one of whom was the
|
||
|
|
servant whom Fix had met on the quay. The other, who was his master,
|
||
|
|
held out his passport with the request that the consul would do him the
|
||
|
|
favour to visa it. The consul took the document and carefully read it,
|
||
|
|
whilst Fix observed, or rather devoured, the stranger with his eyes
|
||
|
|
from a corner of the room.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"You are Mr. Phileas Fogg?" said the consul, after reading the passport.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I am."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And this man is your servant?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"He is: a Frenchman, named Passepartout."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"You are from London?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And you are going--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"To Bombay."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Very good, sir. You know that a visa is useless, and that no passport
|
||
|
|
is required?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I know it, sir," replied Phileas Fogg; "but I wish to prove, by your
|
||
|
|
visa, that I came by Suez."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Very well, sir."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The consul proceeded to sign and date the passport, after which he
|
||
|
|
added his official seal. Mr. Fogg paid the customary fee, coldly
|
||
|
|
bowed, and went out, followed by his servant.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Well?" queried the detective.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Well, he looks and acts like a perfectly honest man," replied the
|
||
|
|
consul.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Possibly; but that is not the question. Do you think, consul, that
|
||
|
|
this phlegmatic gentleman resembles, feature by feature, the robber
|
||
|
|
whose description I have received?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I concede that; but then, you know, all descriptions--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I'll make certain of it," interrupted Fix. "The servant seems to me
|
||
|
|
less mysterious than the master; besides, he's a Frenchman, and can't
|
||
|
|
help talking. Excuse me for a little while, consul."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix started off in search of Passepartout.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Meanwhile Mr. Fogg, after leaving the consulate, repaired to the quay,
|
||
|
|
gave some orders to Passepartout, went off to the Mongolia in a
|
||
|
|
boat, and descended to his cabin. He took up his note-book, which
|
||
|
|
contained the following memoranda:
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Left London, Wednesday, October 2nd, at 8.45 p.m. "Reached Paris,
|
||
|
|
Thursday, October 3rd, at 7.20 a.m. "Left Paris, Thursday, at 8.40
|
||
|
|
a.m. "Reached Turin by Mont Cenis, Friday, October 4th, at 6.35 a.m.
|
||
|
|
"Left Turin, Friday, at 7.20 a.m. "Arrived at Brindisi, Saturday,
|
||
|
|
October 5th, at 4 p.m. "Sailed on the Mongolia, Saturday, at 5 p.m.
|
||
|
|
"Reached Suez, Wednesday, October 9th, at 11 a.m. "Total of hours
|
||
|
|
spent, 158+; or, in days, six days and a half."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
These dates were inscribed in an itinerary divided into columns,
|
||
|
|
indicating the month, the day of the month, and the day for the
|
||
|
|
stipulated and actual arrivals at each principal point Paris, Brindisi,
|
||
|
|
Suez, Bombay, Calcutta, Singapore, Hong Kong, Yokohama, San Francisco,
|
||
|
|
New York, and London--from the 2nd of October to the 21st of December;
|
||
|
|
and giving a space for setting down the gain made or the loss suffered
|
||
|
|
on arrival at each locality. This methodical record thus contained an
|
||
|
|
account of everything needed, and Mr. Fogg always knew whether he was
|
||
|
|
behind-hand or in advance of his time. On this Friday, October 9th, he
|
||
|
|
noted his arrival at Suez, and observed that he had as yet neither
|
||
|
|
gained nor lost. He sat down quietly to breakfast in his cabin, never
|
||
|
|
once thinking of inspecting the town, being one of those Englishmen who
|
||
|
|
are wont to see foreign countries through the eyes of their domestics.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter VIII
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH PASSEPARTOUT TALKS RATHER MORE, PERHAPS, THAN IS PRUDENT
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix soon rejoined Passepartout, who was lounging and looking about on
|
||
|
|
the quay, as if he did not feel that he, at least, was obliged not to
|
||
|
|
see anything.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Well, my friend," said the detective, coming up with him, "is your
|
||
|
|
passport visaed?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Ah, it's you, is it, monsieur?" responded Passepartout. "Thanks, yes,
|
||
|
|
the passport is all right."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And you are looking about you?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes; but we travel so fast that I seem to be journeying in a dream.
|
||
|
|
So this is Suez?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"In Egypt?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Certainly, in Egypt."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And in Africa?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"In Africa."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"In Africa!" repeated Passepartout. "Just think, monsieur, I had no
|
||
|
|
idea that we should go farther than Paris; and all that I saw of Paris
|
||
|
|
was between twenty minutes past seven and twenty minutes before nine in
|
||
|
|
the morning, between the Northern and the Lyons stations, through the
|
||
|
|
windows of a car, and in a driving rain! How I regret not having seen
|
||
|
|
once more Pere la Chaise and the circus in the Champs Elysees!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"You are in a great hurry, then?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I am not, but my master is. By the way, I must buy some shoes and
|
||
|
|
shirts. We came away without trunks, only with a carpet-bag."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I will show you an excellent shop for getting what you want."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Really, monsieur, you are very kind."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
And they walked off together, Passepartout chatting volubly as they
|
||
|
|
went along.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Above all," said he; "don't let me lose the steamer."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"You have plenty of time; it's only twelve o'clock."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout pulled out his big watch. "Twelve!" he exclaimed; "why,
|
||
|
|
it's only eight minutes before ten."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Your watch is slow."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"My watch? A family watch, monsieur, which has come down from my
|
||
|
|
great-grandfather! It doesn't vary five minutes in the year. It's a
|
||
|
|
perfect chronometer, look you."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I see how it is," said Fix. "You have kept London time, which is two
|
||
|
|
hours behind that of Suez. You ought to regulate your watch at noon in
|
||
|
|
each country."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I regulate my watch? Never!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Well, then, it will not agree with the sun."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"So much the worse for the sun, monsieur. The sun will be wrong, then!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
And the worthy fellow returned the watch to its fob with a defiant
|
||
|
|
gesture. After a few minutes silence, Fix resumed: "You left London
|
||
|
|
hastily, then?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I rather think so! Last Friday at eight o'clock in the evening,
|
||
|
|
Monsieur Fogg came home from his club, and three-quarters of an hour
|
||
|
|
afterwards we were off."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But where is your master going?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Always straight ahead. He is going round the world."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Round the world?" cried Fix.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes, and in eighty days! He says it is on a wager; but, between us, I
|
||
|
|
don't believe a word of it. That wouldn't be common sense. There's
|
||
|
|
something else in the wind."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Ah! Mr. Fogg is a character, is he?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I should say he was."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Is he rich?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No doubt, for he is carrying an enormous sum in brand new banknotes
|
||
|
|
with him. And he doesn't spare the money on the way, either: he has
|
||
|
|
offered a large reward to the engineer of the Mongolia if he gets us to
|
||
|
|
Bombay well in advance of time."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And you have known your master a long time?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Why, no; I entered his service the very day we left London."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The effect of these replies upon the already suspicious and excited
|
||
|
|
detective may be imagined. The hasty departure from London soon after
|
||
|
|
the robbery; the large sum carried by Mr. Fogg; his eagerness to reach
|
||
|
|
distant countries; the pretext of an eccentric and foolhardy bet--all
|
||
|
|
confirmed Fix in his theory. He continued to pump poor Passepartout,
|
||
|
|
and learned that he really knew little or nothing of his master, who
|
||
|
|
lived a solitary existence in London, was said to be rich, though no
|
||
|
|
one knew whence came his riches, and was mysterious and impenetrable in
|
||
|
|
his affairs and habits. Fix felt sure that Phileas Fogg would not land
|
||
|
|
at Suez, but was really going on to Bombay.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Is Bombay far from here?" asked Passepartout.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Pretty far. It is a ten days' voyage by sea."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And in what country is Bombay?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"India."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"In Asia?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Certainly."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"The deuce! I was going to tell you there's one thing that worries
|
||
|
|
me--my burner!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What burner?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"My gas-burner, which I forgot to turn off, and which is at this moment
|
||
|
|
burning at my expense. I have calculated, monsieur, that I lose two
|
||
|
|
shillings every four and twenty hours, exactly sixpence more than I
|
||
|
|
earn; and you will understand that the longer our journey--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Did Fix pay any attention to Passepartout's trouble about the gas? It
|
||
|
|
is not probable. He was not listening, but was cogitating a project.
|
||
|
|
Passepartout and he had now reached the shop, where Fix left his
|
||
|
|
companion to make his purchases, after recommending him not to miss the
|
||
|
|
steamer, and hurried back to the consulate. Now that he was fully
|
||
|
|
convinced, Fix had quite recovered his equanimity.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Consul," said he, "I have no longer any doubt. I have spotted my man.
|
||
|
|
He passes himself off as an odd stick who is going round the world in
|
||
|
|
eighty days."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Then he's a sharp fellow," returned the consul, "and counts on
|
||
|
|
returning to London after putting the police of the two countries off
|
||
|
|
his track."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"We'll see about that," replied Fix.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But are you not mistaken?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I am not mistaken."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Why was this robber so anxious to prove, by the visa, that he had
|
||
|
|
passed through Suez?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Why? I have no idea; but listen to me."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He reported in a few words the most important parts of his conversation
|
||
|
|
with Passepartout.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"In short," said the consul, "appearances are wholly against this man.
|
||
|
|
And what are you going to do?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Send a dispatch to London for a warrant of arrest to be dispatched
|
||
|
|
instantly to Bombay, take passage on board the Mongolia, follow my
|
||
|
|
rogue to India, and there, on English ground, arrest him politely, with
|
||
|
|
my warrant in my hand, and my hand on his shoulder."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Having uttered these words with a cool, careless air, the detective
|
||
|
|
took leave of the consul, and repaired to the telegraph office, whence
|
||
|
|
he sent the dispatch which we have seen to the London police office. A
|
||
|
|
quarter of an hour later found Fix, with a small bag in his hand,
|
||
|
|
proceeding on board the Mongolia; and, ere many moments longer, the
|
||
|
|
noble steamer rode out at full steam upon the waters of the Red Sea.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter IX
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH THE RED SEA AND THE INDIAN OCEAN PROVE PROPITIOUS TO THE
|
||
|
|
DESIGNS OF PHILEAS FOGG
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The distance between Suez and Aden is precisely thirteen hundred and
|
||
|
|
ten miles, and the regulations of the company allow the steamers one
|
||
|
|
hundred and thirty-eight hours in which to traverse it. The Mongolia,
|
||
|
|
thanks to the vigorous exertions of the engineer, seemed likely, so
|
||
|
|
rapid was her speed, to reach her destination considerably within that
|
||
|
|
time. The greater part of the passengers from Brindisi were bound for
|
||
|
|
India some for Bombay, others for Calcutta by way of Bombay, the
|
||
|
|
nearest route thither, now that a railway crosses the Indian peninsula.
|
||
|
|
Among the passengers was a number of officials and military officers of
|
||
|
|
various grades, the latter being either attached to the regular British
|
||
|
|
forces or commanding the Sepoy troops, and receiving high salaries ever
|
||
|
|
since the central government has assumed the powers of the East India
|
||
|
|
Company: for the sub-lieutenants get 280 pounds, brigadiers, 2,400
|
||
|
|
pounds, and generals of divisions, 4,000 pounds. What with the
|
||
|
|
military men, a number of rich young Englishmen on their travels, and
|
||
|
|
the hospitable efforts of the purser, the time passed quickly on the
|
||
|
|
Mongolia. The best of fare was spread upon the cabin tables at
|
||
|
|
breakfast, lunch, dinner, and the eight o'clock supper, and the ladies
|
||
|
|
scrupulously changed their toilets twice a day; and the hours were
|
||
|
|
whirled away, when the sea was tranquil, with music, dancing, and games.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
But the Red Sea is full of caprice, and often boisterous, like most
|
||
|
|
long and narrow gulfs. When the wind came from the African or Asian
|
||
|
|
coast the Mongolia, with her long hull, rolled fearfully. Then the
|
||
|
|
ladies speedily disappeared below; the pianos were silent; singing and
|
||
|
|
dancing suddenly ceased. Yet the good ship ploughed straight on,
|
||
|
|
unretarded by wind or wave, towards the straits of Bab-el-Mandeb. What
|
||
|
|
was Phileas Fogg doing all this time? It might be thought that, in his
|
||
|
|
anxiety, he would be constantly watching the changes of the wind, the
|
||
|
|
disorderly raging of the billows--every chance, in short, which might
|
||
|
|
force the Mongolia to slacken her speed, and thus interrupt his
|
||
|
|
journey. But, if he thought of these possibilities, he did not betray
|
||
|
|
the fact by any outward sign.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Always the same impassible member of the Reform Club, whom no incident
|
||
|
|
could surprise, as unvarying as the ship's chronometers, and seldom
|
||
|
|
having the curiosity even to go upon the deck, he passed through the
|
||
|
|
memorable scenes of the Red Sea with cold indifference; did not care to
|
||
|
|
recognise the historic towns and villages which, along its borders,
|
||
|
|
raised their picturesque outlines against the sky; and betrayed no fear
|
||
|
|
of the dangers of the Arabic Gulf, which the old historians always
|
||
|
|
spoke of with horror, and upon which the ancient navigators never
|
||
|
|
ventured without propitiating the gods by ample sacrifices. How did
|
||
|
|
this eccentric personage pass his time on the Mongolia? He made his
|
||
|
|
four hearty meals every day, regardless of the most persistent rolling
|
||
|
|
and pitching on the part of the steamer; and he played whist
|
||
|
|
indefatigably, for he had found partners as enthusiastic in the game as
|
||
|
|
himself. A tax-collector, on the way to his post at Goa; the Rev.
|
||
|
|
Decimus Smith, returning to his parish at Bombay; and a
|
||
|
|
brigadier-general of the English army, who was about to rejoin his
|
||
|
|
brigade at Benares, made up the party, and, with Mr. Fogg, played whist
|
||
|
|
by the hour together in absorbing silence.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
As for Passepartout, he, too, had escaped sea-sickness, and took his
|
||
|
|
meals conscientiously in the forward cabin. He rather enjoyed the
|
||
|
|
voyage, for he was well fed and well lodged, took a great interest in
|
||
|
|
the scenes through which they were passing, and consoled himself with
|
||
|
|
the delusion that his master's whim would end at Bombay. He was
|
||
|
|
pleased, on the day after leaving Suez, to find on deck the obliging
|
||
|
|
person with whom he had walked and chatted on the quays.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"If I am not mistaken," said he, approaching this person, with his most
|
||
|
|
amiable smile, "you are the gentleman who so kindly volunteered to
|
||
|
|
guide me at Suez?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Ah! I quite recognise you. You are the servant of the strange
|
||
|
|
Englishman--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Just so, monsieur--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Fix."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Monsieur Fix," resumed Passepartout, "I'm charmed to find you on
|
||
|
|
board. Where are you bound?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Like you, to Bombay."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"That's capital! Have you made this trip before?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Several times. I am one of the agents of the Peninsular Company."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Then you know India?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Why yes," replied Fix, who spoke cautiously.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"A curious place, this India?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Oh, very curious. Mosques, minarets, temples, fakirs, pagodas,
|
||
|
|
tigers, snakes, elephants! I hope you will have ample time to see the
|
||
|
|
sights."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I hope so, Monsieur Fix. You see, a man of sound sense ought not to
|
||
|
|
spend his life jumping from a steamer upon a railway train, and from a
|
||
|
|
railway train upon a steamer again, pretending to make the tour of the
|
||
|
|
world in eighty days! No; all these gymnastics, you may be sure, will
|
||
|
|
cease at Bombay."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And Mr. Fogg is getting on well?" asked Fix, in the most natural tone
|
||
|
|
in the world.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Quite well, and I too. I eat like a famished ogre; it's the sea air."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But I never see your master on deck."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Never; he hasn't the least curiosity."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Do you know, Mr. Passepartout, that this pretended tour in eighty days
|
||
|
|
may conceal some secret errand--perhaps a diplomatic mission?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Faith, Monsieur Fix, I assure you I know nothing about it, nor would I
|
||
|
|
give half a crown to find out."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
After this meeting, Passepartout and Fix got into the habit of chatting
|
||
|
|
together, the latter making it a point to gain the worthy man's
|
||
|
|
confidence. He frequently offered him a glass of whiskey or pale ale
|
||
|
|
in the steamer bar-room, which Passepartout never failed to accept with
|
||
|
|
graceful alacrity, mentally pronouncing Fix the best of good fellows.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Meanwhile the Mongolia was pushing forward rapidly; on the 13th, Mocha,
|
||
|
|
surrounded by its ruined walls whereon date-trees were growing, was
|
||
|
|
sighted, and on the mountains beyond were espied vast coffee-fields.
|
||
|
|
Passepartout was ravished to behold this celebrated place, and thought
|
||
|
|
that, with its circular walls and dismantled fort, it looked like an
|
||
|
|
immense coffee-cup and saucer. The following night they passed through
|
||
|
|
the Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb, which means in Arabic The Bridge of Tears,
|
||
|
|
and the next day they put in at Steamer Point, north-west of Aden
|
||
|
|
harbour, to take in coal. This matter of fuelling steamers is a
|
||
|
|
serious one at such distances from the coal-mines; it costs the
|
||
|
|
Peninsular Company some eight hundred thousand pounds a year. In these
|
||
|
|
distant seas, coal is worth three or four pounds sterling a ton.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The Mongolia had still sixteen hundred and fifty miles to traverse
|
||
|
|
before reaching Bombay, and was obliged to remain four hours at Steamer
|
||
|
|
Point to coal up. But this delay, as it was foreseen, did not affect
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg's programme; besides, the Mongolia, instead of reaching
|
||
|
|
Aden on the morning of the 15th, when she was due, arrived there on the
|
||
|
|
evening of the 14th, a gain of fifteen hours.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg and his servant went ashore at Aden to have the passport again
|
||
|
|
visaed; Fix, unobserved, followed them. The visa procured, Mr. Fogg
|
||
|
|
returned on board to resume his former habits; while Passepartout,
|
||
|
|
according to custom, sauntered about among the mixed population of
|
||
|
|
Somalis, Banyans, Parsees, Jews, Arabs, and Europeans who comprise the
|
||
|
|
twenty-five thousand inhabitants of Aden. He gazed with wonder upon
|
||
|
|
the fortifications which make this place the Gibraltar of the Indian
|
||
|
|
Ocean, and the vast cisterns where the English engineers were still at
|
||
|
|
work, two thousand years after the engineers of Solomon.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Very curious, very curious," said Passepartout to himself, on
|
||
|
|
returning to the steamer. "I see that it is by no means useless to
|
||
|
|
travel, if a man wants to see something new." At six p.m. the
|
||
|
|
Mongolia slowly moved out of the roadstead, and was soon once more on
|
||
|
|
the Indian Ocean. She had a hundred and sixty-eight hours in which to
|
||
|
|
reach Bombay, and the sea was favourable, the wind being in the
|
||
|
|
north-west, and all sails aiding the engine. The steamer rolled but
|
||
|
|
little, the ladies, in fresh toilets, reappeared on deck, and the
|
||
|
|
singing and dancing were resumed. The trip was being accomplished most
|
||
|
|
successfully, and Passepartout was enchanted with the congenial
|
||
|
|
companion which chance had secured him in the person of the delightful
|
||
|
|
Fix. On Sunday, October 20th, towards noon, they came in sight of the
|
||
|
|
Indian coast: two hours later the pilot came on board. A range of
|
||
|
|
hills lay against the sky in the horizon, and soon the rows of palms
|
||
|
|
which adorn Bombay came distinctly into view. The steamer entered the
|
||
|
|
road formed by the islands in the bay, and at half-past four she hauled
|
||
|
|
up at the quays of Bombay.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg was in the act of finishing the thirty-third rubber of the
|
||
|
|
voyage, and his partner and himself having, by a bold stroke, captured
|
||
|
|
all thirteen of the tricks, concluded this fine campaign with a
|
||
|
|
brilliant victory.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The Mongolia was due at Bombay on the 22nd; she arrived on the 20th.
|
||
|
|
This was a gain to Phileas Fogg of two days since his departure from
|
||
|
|
London, and he calmly entered the fact in the itinerary, in the column
|
||
|
|
of gains.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter X
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH PASSEPARTOUT IS ONLY TOO GLAD TO GET OFF WITH THE LOSS OF HIS
|
||
|
|
SHOES
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Everybody knows that the great reversed triangle of land, with its base
|
||
|
|
in the north and its apex in the south, which is called India, embraces
|
||
|
|
fourteen hundred thousand square miles, upon which is spread unequally
|
||
|
|
a population of one hundred and eighty millions of souls. The British
|
||
|
|
Crown exercises a real and despotic dominion over the larger portion of
|
||
|
|
this vast country, and has a governor-general stationed at Calcutta,
|
||
|
|
governors at Madras, Bombay, and in Bengal, and a lieutenant-governor
|
||
|
|
at Agra.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
But British India, properly so called, only embraces seven hundred
|
||
|
|
thousand square miles, and a population of from one hundred to one
|
||
|
|
hundred and ten millions of inhabitants. A considerable portion of
|
||
|
|
India is still free from British authority; and there are certain
|
||
|
|
ferocious rajahs in the interior who are absolutely independent. The
|
||
|
|
celebrated East India Company was all-powerful from 1756, when the
|
||
|
|
English first gained a foothold on the spot where now stands the city
|
||
|
|
of Madras, down to the time of the great Sepoy insurrection. It
|
||
|
|
gradually annexed province after province, purchasing them of the
|
||
|
|
native chiefs, whom it seldom paid, and appointed the governor-general
|
||
|
|
and his subordinates, civil and military. But the East India Company
|
||
|
|
has now passed away, leaving the British possessions in India directly
|
||
|
|
under the control of the Crown. The aspect of the country, as well as
|
||
|
|
the manners and distinctions of race, is daily changing.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Formerly one was obliged to travel in India by the old cumbrous methods
|
||
|
|
of going on foot or on horseback, in palanquins or unwieldy coaches;
|
||
|
|
now fast steamboats ply on the Indus and the Ganges, and a great
|
||
|
|
railway, with branch lines joining the main line at many points on its
|
||
|
|
route, traverses the peninsula from Bombay to Calcutta in three days.
|
||
|
|
This railway does not run in a direct line across India. The distance
|
||
|
|
between Bombay and Calcutta, as the bird flies, is only from one
|
||
|
|
thousand to eleven hundred miles; but the deflections of the road
|
||
|
|
increase this distance by more than a third.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The general route of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway is as follows:
|
||
|
|
Leaving Bombay, it passes through Salcette, crossing to the continent
|
||
|
|
opposite Tannah, goes over the chain of the Western Ghauts, runs thence
|
||
|
|
north-east as far as Burhampoor, skirts the nearly independent
|
||
|
|
territory of Bundelcund, ascends to Allahabad, turns thence eastwardly,
|
||
|
|
meeting the Ganges at Benares, then departs from the river a little,
|
||
|
|
and, descending south-eastward by Burdivan and the French town of
|
||
|
|
Chandernagor, has its terminus at Calcutta.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The passengers of the Mongolia went ashore at half-past four p.m.; at
|
||
|
|
exactly eight the train would start for Calcutta.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg, after bidding good-bye to his whist partners, left the
|
||
|
|
steamer, gave his servant several errands to do, urged it upon him to
|
||
|
|
be at the station promptly at eight, and, with his regular step, which
|
||
|
|
beat to the second, like an astronomical clock, directed his steps to
|
||
|
|
the passport office. As for the wonders of Bombay--its famous city
|
||
|
|
hall, its splendid library, its forts and docks, its bazaars, mosques,
|
||
|
|
synagogues, its Armenian churches, and the noble pagoda on Malabar
|
||
|
|
Hill, with its two polygonal towers--he cared not a straw to see them.
|
||
|
|
He would not deign to examine even the masterpieces of Elephanta, or
|
||
|
|
the mysterious hypogea, concealed south-east from the docks, or those
|
||
|
|
fine remains of Buddhist architecture, the Kanherian grottoes of the
|
||
|
|
island of Salcette.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Having transacted his business at the passport office, Phileas Fogg
|
||
|
|
repaired quietly to the railway station, where he ordered dinner.
|
||
|
|
Among the dishes served up to him, the landlord especially recommended
|
||
|
|
a certain giblet of "native rabbit," on which he prided himself.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg accordingly tasted the dish, but, despite its spiced sauce,
|
||
|
|
found it far from palatable. He rang for the landlord, and, on his
|
||
|
|
appearance, said, fixing his clear eyes upon him, "Is this rabbit, sir?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes, my lord," the rogue boldly replied, "rabbit from the jungles."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And this rabbit did not mew when he was killed?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Mew, my lord! What, a rabbit mew! I swear to you--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Be so good, landlord, as not to swear, but remember this: cats were
|
||
|
|
formerly considered, in India, as sacred animals. That was a good
|
||
|
|
time."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"For the cats, my lord?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Perhaps for the travellers as well!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
After which Mr. Fogg quietly continued his dinner. Fix had gone on
|
||
|
|
shore shortly after Mr. Fogg, and his first destination was the
|
||
|
|
headquarters of the Bombay police. He made himself known as a London
|
||
|
|
detective, told his business at Bombay, and the position of affairs
|
||
|
|
relative to the supposed robber, and nervously asked if a warrant had
|
||
|
|
arrived from London. It had not reached the office; indeed, there had
|
||
|
|
not yet been time for it to arrive. Fix was sorely disappointed, and
|
||
|
|
tried to obtain an order of arrest from the director of the Bombay
|
||
|
|
police. This the director refused, as the matter concerned the London
|
||
|
|
office, which alone could legally deliver the warrant. Fix did not
|
||
|
|
insist, and was fain to resign himself to await the arrival of the
|
||
|
|
important document; but he was determined not to lose sight of the
|
||
|
|
mysterious rogue as long as he stayed in Bombay. He did not doubt for
|
||
|
|
a moment, any more than Passepartout, that Phileas Fogg would remain
|
||
|
|
there, at least until it was time for the warrant to arrive.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout, however, had no sooner heard his master's orders on
|
||
|
|
leaving the Mongolia than he saw at once that they were to leave Bombay
|
||
|
|
as they had done Suez and Paris, and that the journey would be extended
|
||
|
|
at least as far as Calcutta, and perhaps beyond that place. He began
|
||
|
|
to ask himself if this bet that Mr. Fogg talked about was not really in
|
||
|
|
good earnest, and whether his fate was not in truth forcing him,
|
||
|
|
despite his love of repose, around the world in eighty days!
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Having purchased the usual quota of shirts and shoes, he took a
|
||
|
|
leisurely promenade about the streets, where crowds of people of many
|
||
|
|
nationalities--Europeans, Persians with pointed caps, Banyas with round
|
||
|
|
turbans, Sindes with square bonnets, Parsees with black mitres, and
|
||
|
|
long-robed Armenians--were collected. It happened to be the day of a
|
||
|
|
Parsee festival. These descendants of the sect of Zoroaster--the most
|
||
|
|
thrifty, civilised, intelligent, and austere of the East Indians, among
|
||
|
|
whom are counted the richest native merchants of Bombay--were
|
||
|
|
celebrating a sort of religious carnival, with processions and shows,
|
||
|
|
in the midst of which Indian dancing-girls, clothed in rose-coloured
|
||
|
|
gauze, looped up with gold and silver, danced airily, but with perfect
|
||
|
|
modesty, to the sound of viols and the clanging of tambourines. It is
|
||
|
|
needless to say that Passepartout watched these curious ceremonies with
|
||
|
|
staring eyes and gaping mouth, and that his countenance was that of the
|
||
|
|
greenest booby imaginable.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Unhappily for his master, as well as himself, his curiosity drew him
|
||
|
|
unconsciously farther off than he intended to go. At last, having seen
|
||
|
|
the Parsee carnival wind away in the distance, he was turning his steps
|
||
|
|
towards the station, when he happened to espy the splendid pagoda on
|
||
|
|
Malabar Hill, and was seized with an irresistible desire to see its
|
||
|
|
interior. He was quite ignorant that it is forbidden to Christians to
|
||
|
|
enter certain Indian temples, and that even the faithful must not go in
|
||
|
|
without first leaving their shoes outside the door. It may be said
|
||
|
|
here that the wise policy of the British Government severely punishes a
|
||
|
|
disregard of the practices of the native religions.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout, however, thinking no harm, went in like a simple tourist,
|
||
|
|
and was soon lost in admiration of the splendid Brahmin ornamentation
|
||
|
|
which everywhere met his eyes, when of a sudden he found himself
|
||
|
|
sprawling on the sacred flagging. He looked up to behold three enraged
|
||
|
|
priests, who forthwith fell upon him; tore off his shoes, and began to
|
||
|
|
beat him with loud, savage exclamations. The agile Frenchman was soon
|
||
|
|
upon his feet again, and lost no time in knocking down two of his
|
||
|
|
long-gowned adversaries with his fists and a vigorous application of
|
||
|
|
his toes; then, rushing out of the pagoda as fast as his legs could
|
||
|
|
carry him, he soon escaped the third priest by mingling with the crowd
|
||
|
|
in the streets.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At five minutes before eight, Passepartout, hatless, shoeless, and
|
||
|
|
having in the squabble lost his package of shirts and shoes, rushed
|
||
|
|
breathlessly into the station.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix, who had followed Mr. Fogg to the station, and saw that he was
|
||
|
|
really going to leave Bombay, was there, upon the platform. He had
|
||
|
|
resolved to follow the supposed robber to Calcutta, and farther, if
|
||
|
|
necessary. Passepartout did not observe the detective, who stood in an
|
||
|
|
obscure corner; but Fix heard him relate his adventures in a few words
|
||
|
|
to Mr. Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I hope that this will not happen again," said Phileas Fogg coldly, as
|
||
|
|
he got into the train. Poor Passepartout, quite crestfallen, followed
|
||
|
|
his master without a word. Fix was on the point of entering another
|
||
|
|
carriage, when an idea struck him which induced him to alter his plan.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No, I'll stay," muttered he. "An offence has been committed on Indian
|
||
|
|
soil. I've got my man."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Just then the locomotive gave a sharp screech, and the train passed out
|
||
|
|
into the darkness of the night.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter XI
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG SECURES A CURIOUS MEANS OF CONVEYANCE AT A
|
||
|
|
FABULOUS PRICE
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The train had started punctually. Among the passengers were a number
|
||
|
|
of officers, Government officials, and opium and indigo merchants,
|
||
|
|
whose business called them to the eastern coast. Passepartout rode in
|
||
|
|
the same carriage with his master, and a third passenger occupied a
|
||
|
|
seat opposite to them. This was Sir Francis Cromarty, one of Mr.
|
||
|
|
Fogg's whist partners on the Mongolia, now on his way to join his corps
|
||
|
|
at Benares. Sir Francis was a tall, fair man of fifty, who had greatly
|
||
|
|
distinguished himself in the last Sepoy revolt. He made India his
|
||
|
|
home, only paying brief visits to England at rare intervals; and was
|
||
|
|
almost as familiar as a native with the customs, history, and character
|
||
|
|
of India and its people. But Phileas Fogg, who was not travelling, but
|
||
|
|
only describing a circumference, took no pains to inquire into these
|
||
|
|
subjects; he was a solid body, traversing an orbit around the
|
||
|
|
terrestrial globe, according to the laws of rational mechanics. He was
|
||
|
|
at this moment calculating in his mind the number of hours spent since
|
||
|
|
his departure from London, and, had it been in his nature to make a
|
||
|
|
useless demonstration, would have rubbed his hands for satisfaction.
|
||
|
|
Sir Francis Cromarty had observed the oddity of his travelling
|
||
|
|
companion--although the only opportunity he had for studying him had
|
||
|
|
been while he was dealing the cards, and between two rubbers--and
|
||
|
|
questioned himself whether a human heart really beat beneath this cold
|
||
|
|
exterior, and whether Phileas Fogg had any sense of the beauties of
|
||
|
|
nature. The brigadier-general was free to mentally confess that, of
|
||
|
|
all the eccentric persons he had ever met, none was comparable to this
|
||
|
|
product of the exact sciences.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg had not concealed from Sir Francis his design of going
|
||
|
|
round the world, nor the circumstances under which he set out; and the
|
||
|
|
general only saw in the wager a useless eccentricity and a lack of
|
||
|
|
sound common sense. In the way this strange gentleman was going on, he
|
||
|
|
would leave the world without having done any good to himself or
|
||
|
|
anybody else.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
An hour after leaving Bombay the train had passed the viaducts and the
|
||
|
|
Island of Salcette, and had got into the open country. At Callyan they
|
||
|
|
reached the junction of the branch line which descends towards
|
||
|
|
south-eastern India by Kandallah and Pounah; and, passing Pauwell, they
|
||
|
|
entered the defiles of the mountains, with their basalt bases, and
|
||
|
|
their summits crowned with thick and verdant forests. Phileas Fogg and
|
||
|
|
Sir Francis Cromarty exchanged a few words from time to time, and now
|
||
|
|
Sir Francis, reviving the conversation, observed, "Some years ago, Mr.
|
||
|
|
Fogg, you would have met with a delay at this point which would
|
||
|
|
probably have lost you your wager."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"How so, Sir Francis?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Because the railway stopped at the base of these mountains, which the
|
||
|
|
passengers were obliged to cross in palanquins or on ponies to
|
||
|
|
Kandallah, on the other side."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Such a delay would not have deranged my plans in the least," said Mr.
|
||
|
|
Fogg. "I have constantly foreseen the likelihood of certain obstacles."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But, Mr. Fogg," pursued Sir Francis, "you run the risk of having some
|
||
|
|
difficulty about this worthy fellow's adventure at the pagoda."
|
||
|
|
Passepartout, his feet comfortably wrapped in his travelling-blanket,
|
||
|
|
was sound asleep and did not dream that anybody was talking about him.
|
||
|
|
"The Government is very severe upon that kind of offence. It takes
|
||
|
|
particular care that the religious customs of the Indians should be
|
||
|
|
respected, and if your servant were caught--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Very well, Sir Francis," replied Mr. Fogg; "if he had been caught he
|
||
|
|
would have been condemned and punished, and then would have quietly
|
||
|
|
returned to Europe. I don't see how this affair could have delayed his
|
||
|
|
master."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The conversation fell again. During the night the train left the
|
||
|
|
mountains behind, and passed Nassik, and the next day proceeded over
|
||
|
|
the flat, well-cultivated country of the Khandeish, with its straggling
|
||
|
|
villages, above which rose the minarets of the pagodas. This fertile
|
||
|
|
territory is watered by numerous small rivers and limpid streams,
|
||
|
|
mostly tributaries of the Godavery.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout, on waking and looking out, could not realise that he was
|
||
|
|
actually crossing India in a railway train. The locomotive, guided by
|
||
|
|
an English engineer and fed with English coal, threw out its smoke upon
|
||
|
|
cotton, coffee, nutmeg, clove, and pepper plantations, while the steam
|
||
|
|
curled in spirals around groups of palm-trees, in the midst of which
|
||
|
|
were seen picturesque bungalows, viharis (sort of abandoned
|
||
|
|
monasteries), and marvellous temples enriched by the exhaustless
|
||
|
|
ornamentation of Indian architecture. Then they came upon vast tracts
|
||
|
|
extending to the horizon, with jungles inhabited by snakes and tigers,
|
||
|
|
which fled at the noise of the train; succeeded by forests penetrated
|
||
|
|
by the railway, and still haunted by elephants which, with pensive
|
||
|
|
eyes, gazed at the train as it passed. The travellers crossed, beyond
|
||
|
|
Milligaum, the fatal country so often stained with blood by the
|
||
|
|
sectaries of the goddess Kali. Not far off rose Ellora, with its
|
||
|
|
graceful pagodas, and the famous Aurungabad, capital of the ferocious
|
||
|
|
Aureng-Zeb, now the chief town of one of the detached provinces of the
|
||
|
|
kingdom of the Nizam. It was thereabouts that Feringhea, the Thuggee
|
||
|
|
chief, king of the stranglers, held his sway. These ruffians, united
|
||
|
|
by a secret bond, strangled victims of every age in honour of the
|
||
|
|
goddess Death, without ever shedding blood; there was a period when
|
||
|
|
this part of the country could scarcely be travelled over without
|
||
|
|
corpses being found in every direction. The English Government has
|
||
|
|
succeeded in greatly diminishing these murders, though the Thuggees
|
||
|
|
still exist, and pursue the exercise of their horrible rites.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At half-past twelve the train stopped at Burhampoor where Passepartout
|
||
|
|
was able to purchase some Indian slippers, ornamented with false
|
||
|
|
pearls, in which, with evident vanity, he proceeded to encase his feet.
|
||
|
|
The travellers made a hasty breakfast and started off for Assurghur,
|
||
|
|
after skirting for a little the banks of the small river Tapty, which
|
||
|
|
empties into the Gulf of Cambray, near Surat.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout was now plunged into absorbing reverie. Up to his arrival
|
||
|
|
at Bombay, he had entertained hopes that their journey would end there;
|
||
|
|
but, now that they were plainly whirling across India at full speed, a
|
||
|
|
sudden change had come over the spirit of his dreams. His old vagabond
|
||
|
|
nature returned to him; the fantastic ideas of his youth once more took
|
||
|
|
possession of him. He came to regard his master's project as intended
|
||
|
|
in good earnest, believed in the reality of the bet, and therefore in
|
||
|
|
the tour of the world and the necessity of making it without fail
|
||
|
|
within the designated period. Already he began to worry about possible
|
||
|
|
delays, and accidents which might happen on the way. He recognised
|
||
|
|
himself as being personally interested in the wager, and trembled at
|
||
|
|
the thought that he might have been the means of losing it by his
|
||
|
|
unpardonable folly of the night before. Being much less cool-headed
|
||
|
|
than Mr. Fogg, he was much more restless, counting and recounting the
|
||
|
|
days passed over, uttering maledictions when the train stopped, and
|
||
|
|
accusing it of sluggishness, and mentally blaming Mr. Fogg for not
|
||
|
|
having bribed the engineer. The worthy fellow was ignorant that, while
|
||
|
|
it was possible by such means to hasten the rate of a steamer, it could
|
||
|
|
not be done on the railway.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The train entered the defiles of the Sutpour Mountains, which separate
|
||
|
|
the Khandeish from Bundelcund, towards evening. The next day Sir
|
||
|
|
Francis Cromarty asked Passepartout what time it was; to which, on
|
||
|
|
consulting his watch, he replied that it was three in the morning.
|
||
|
|
This famous timepiece, always regulated on the Greenwich meridian,
|
||
|
|
which was now some seventy-seven degrees westward, was at least four
|
||
|
|
hours slow. Sir Francis corrected Passepartout's time, whereupon the
|
||
|
|
latter made the same remark that he had done to Fix; and upon the
|
||
|
|
general insisting that the watch should be regulated in each new
|
||
|
|
meridian, since he was constantly going eastward, that is in the face
|
||
|
|
of the sun, and therefore the days were shorter by four minutes for
|
||
|
|
each degree gone over, Passepartout obstinately refused to alter his
|
||
|
|
watch, which he kept at London time. It was an innocent delusion which
|
||
|
|
could harm no one.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The train stopped, at eight o'clock, in the midst of a glade some
|
||
|
|
fifteen miles beyond Rothal, where there were several bungalows, and
|
||
|
|
workmen's cabins. The conductor, passing along the carriages, shouted,
|
||
|
|
"Passengers will get out here!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg looked at Sir Francis Cromarty for an explanation; but the
|
||
|
|
general could not tell what meant a halt in the midst of this forest of
|
||
|
|
dates and acacias.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout, not less surprised, rushed out and speedily returned,
|
||
|
|
crying: "Monsieur, no more railway!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What do you mean?" asked Sir Francis.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I mean to say that the train isn't going on."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The general at once stepped out, while Phileas Fogg calmly followed
|
||
|
|
him, and they proceeded together to the conductor.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Where are we?" asked Sir Francis.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"At the hamlet of Kholby."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Do we stop here?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Certainly. The railway isn't finished."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What! not finished?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No. There's still a matter of fifty miles to be laid from here to
|
||
|
|
Allahabad, where the line begins again."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But the papers announced the opening of the railway throughout."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What would you have, officer? The papers were mistaken."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yet you sell tickets from Bombay to Calcutta," retorted Sir Francis,
|
||
|
|
who was growing warm.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No doubt," replied the conductor; "but the passengers know that they
|
||
|
|
must provide means of transportation for themselves from Kholby to
|
||
|
|
Allahabad."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Sir Francis was furious. Passepartout would willingly have knocked the
|
||
|
|
conductor down, and did not dare to look at his master.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Sir Francis," said Mr. Fogg quietly, "we will, if you please, look
|
||
|
|
about for some means of conveyance to Allahabad."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Mr. Fogg, this is a delay greatly to your disadvantage."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No, Sir Francis; it was foreseen."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What! You knew that the way--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Not at all; but I knew that some obstacle or other would sooner or
|
||
|
|
later arise on my route. Nothing, therefore, is lost. I have two days,
|
||
|
|
which I have already gained, to sacrifice. A steamer leaves Calcutta
|
||
|
|
for Hong Kong at noon, on the 25th. This is the 22nd, and we shall
|
||
|
|
reach Calcutta in time."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
There was nothing to say to so confident a response.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was but too true that the railway came to a termination at this
|
||
|
|
point. The papers were like some watches, which have a way of getting
|
||
|
|
too fast, and had been premature in their announcement of the
|
||
|
|
completion of the line. The greater part of the travellers were aware
|
||
|
|
of this interruption, and, leaving the train, they began to engage such
|
||
|
|
vehicles as the village could provide four-wheeled palkigharis, waggons
|
||
|
|
drawn by zebus, carriages that looked like perambulating pagodas,
|
||
|
|
palanquins, ponies, and what not.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg and Sir Francis Cromarty, after searching the village from end
|
||
|
|
to end, came back without having found anything.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I shall go afoot," said Phileas Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout, who had now rejoined his master, made a wry grimace, as
|
||
|
|
he thought of his magnificent, but too frail Indian shoes. Happily he
|
||
|
|
too had been looking about him, and, after a moment's hesitation, said,
|
||
|
|
"Monsieur, I think I have found a means of conveyance."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"An elephant! An elephant that belongs to an Indian who lives but a
|
||
|
|
hundred steps from here."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Let's go and see the elephant," replied Mr. Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They soon reached a small hut, near which, enclosed within some high
|
||
|
|
palings, was the animal in question. An Indian came out of the hut,
|
||
|
|
and, at their request, conducted them within the enclosure. The
|
||
|
|
elephant, which its owner had reared, not for a beast of burden, but
|
||
|
|
for warlike purposes, was half domesticated. The Indian had begun
|
||
|
|
already, by often irritating him, and feeding him every three months on
|
||
|
|
sugar and butter, to impart to him a ferocity not in his nature, this
|
||
|
|
method being often employed by those who train the Indian elephants for
|
||
|
|
battle. Happily, however, for Mr. Fogg, the animal's instruction in
|
||
|
|
this direction had not gone far, and the elephant still preserved his
|
||
|
|
natural gentleness. Kiouni--this was the name of the beast--could
|
||
|
|
doubtless travel rapidly for a long time, and, in default of any other
|
||
|
|
means of conveyance, Mr. Fogg resolved to hire him. But elephants are
|
||
|
|
far from cheap in India, where they are becoming scarce, the males,
|
||
|
|
which alone are suitable for circus shows, are much sought, especially
|
||
|
|
as but few of them are domesticated. When therefore Mr. Fogg proposed
|
||
|
|
to the Indian to hire Kiouni, he refused point-blank. Mr. Fogg
|
||
|
|
persisted, offering the excessive sum of ten pounds an hour for the
|
||
|
|
loan of the beast to Allahabad. Refused. Twenty pounds? Refused
|
||
|
|
also. Forty pounds? Still refused. Passepartout jumped at each
|
||
|
|
advance; but the Indian declined to be tempted. Yet the offer was an
|
||
|
|
alluring one, for, supposing it took the elephant fifteen hours to
|
||
|
|
reach Allahabad, his owner would receive no less than six hundred
|
||
|
|
pounds sterling.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg, without getting in the least flurried, then proposed to
|
||
|
|
purchase the animal outright, and at first offered a thousand pounds
|
||
|
|
for him. The Indian, perhaps thinking he was going to make a great
|
||
|
|
bargain, still refused.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Sir Francis Cromarty took Mr. Fogg aside, and begged him to reflect
|
||
|
|
before he went any further; to which that gentleman replied that he was
|
||
|
|
not in the habit of acting rashly, that a bet of twenty thousand pounds
|
||
|
|
was at stake, that the elephant was absolutely necessary to him, and
|
||
|
|
that he would secure him if he had to pay twenty times his value.
|
||
|
|
Returning to the Indian, whose small, sharp eyes, glistening with
|
||
|
|
avarice, betrayed that with him it was only a question of how great a
|
||
|
|
price he could obtain. Mr. Fogg offered first twelve hundred, then
|
||
|
|
fifteen hundred, eighteen hundred, two thousand pounds. Passepartout,
|
||
|
|
usually so rubicund, was fairly white with suspense.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At two thousand pounds the Indian yielded.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What a price, good heavens!" cried Passepartout, "for an elephant."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It only remained now to find a guide, which was comparatively easy. A
|
||
|
|
young Parsee, with an intelligent face, offered his services, which Mr.
|
||
|
|
Fogg accepted, promising so generous a reward as to materially
|
||
|
|
stimulate his zeal. The elephant was led out and equipped. The
|
||
|
|
Parsee, who was an accomplished elephant driver, covered his back with
|
||
|
|
a sort of saddle-cloth, and attached to each of his flanks some
|
||
|
|
curiously uncomfortable howdahs. Phileas Fogg paid the Indian with
|
||
|
|
some banknotes which he extracted from the famous carpet-bag, a
|
||
|
|
proceeding that seemed to deprive poor Passepartout of his vitals.
|
||
|
|
Then he offered to carry Sir Francis to Allahabad, which the brigadier
|
||
|
|
gratefully accepted, as one traveller the more would not be likely to
|
||
|
|
fatigue the gigantic beast. Provisions were purchased at Kholby, and,
|
||
|
|
while Sir Francis and Mr. Fogg took the howdahs on either side,
|
||
|
|
Passepartout got astride the saddle-cloth between them. The Parsee
|
||
|
|
perched himself on the elephant's neck, and at nine o'clock they set
|
||
|
|
out from the village, the animal marching off through the dense forest
|
||
|
|
of palms by the shortest cut.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter XII
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG AND HIS COMPANIONS VENTURE ACROSS THE INDIAN
|
||
|
|
FORESTS, AND WHAT ENSUED
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
In order to shorten the journey, the guide passed to the left of the
|
||
|
|
line where the railway was still in process of being built. This line,
|
||
|
|
owing to the capricious turnings of the Vindhia Mountains, did not
|
||
|
|
pursue a straight course. The Parsee, who was quite familiar with the
|
||
|
|
roads and paths in the district, declared that they would gain twenty
|
||
|
|
miles by striking directly through the forest.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg and Sir Francis Cromarty, plunged to the neck in the
|
||
|
|
peculiar howdahs provided for them, were horribly jostled by the swift
|
||
|
|
trotting of the elephant, spurred on as he was by the skilful Parsee;
|
||
|
|
but they endured the discomfort with true British phlegm, talking
|
||
|
|
little, and scarcely able to catch a glimpse of each other. As for
|
||
|
|
Passepartout, who was mounted on the beast's back, and received the
|
||
|
|
direct force of each concussion as he trod along, he was very careful,
|
||
|
|
in accordance with his master's advice, to keep his tongue from between
|
||
|
|
his teeth, as it would otherwise have been bitten off short. The
|
||
|
|
worthy fellow bounced from the elephant's neck to his rump, and vaulted
|
||
|
|
like a clown on a spring-board; yet he laughed in the midst of his
|
||
|
|
bouncing, and from time to time took a piece of sugar out of his
|
||
|
|
pocket, and inserted it in Kiouni's trunk, who received it without in
|
||
|
|
the least slackening his regular trot.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
After two hours the guide stopped the elephant, and gave him an hour
|
||
|
|
for rest, during which Kiouni, after quenching his thirst at a
|
||
|
|
neighbouring spring, set to devouring the branches and shrubs round
|
||
|
|
about him. Neither Sir Francis nor Mr. Fogg regretted the delay, and
|
||
|
|
both descended with a feeling of relief. "Why, he's made of iron!"
|
||
|
|
exclaimed the general, gazing admiringly on Kiouni.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Of forged iron," replied Passepartout, as he set about preparing a
|
||
|
|
hasty breakfast.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At noon the Parsee gave the signal of departure. The country soon
|
||
|
|
presented a very savage aspect. Copses of dates and dwarf-palms
|
||
|
|
succeeded the dense forests; then vast, dry plains, dotted with scanty
|
||
|
|
shrubs, and sown with great blocks of syenite. All this portion of
|
||
|
|
Bundelcund, which is little frequented by travellers, is inhabited by a
|
||
|
|
fanatical population, hardened in the most horrible practices of the
|
||
|
|
Hindoo faith. The English have not been able to secure complete
|
||
|
|
dominion over this territory, which is subjected to the influence of
|
||
|
|
rajahs, whom it is almost impossible to reach in their inaccessible
|
||
|
|
mountain fastnesses. The travellers several times saw bands of
|
||
|
|
ferocious Indians, who, when they perceived the elephant striding
|
||
|
|
across-country, made angry and threatening motions. The Parsee avoided
|
||
|
|
them as much as possible. Few animals were observed on the route; even
|
||
|
|
the monkeys hurried from their path with contortions and grimaces which
|
||
|
|
convulsed Passepartout with laughter.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
In the midst of his gaiety, however, one thought troubled the worthy
|
||
|
|
servant. What would Mr. Fogg do with the elephant when he got to
|
||
|
|
Allahabad? Would he carry him on with him? Impossible! The cost of
|
||
|
|
transporting him would make him ruinously expensive. Would he sell
|
||
|
|
him, or set him free? The estimable beast certainly deserved some
|
||
|
|
consideration. Should Mr. Fogg choose to make him, Passepartout, a
|
||
|
|
present of Kiouni, he would be very much embarrassed; and these
|
||
|
|
thoughts did not cease worrying him for a long time.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The principal chain of the Vindhias was crossed by eight in the
|
||
|
|
evening, and another halt was made on the northern slope, in a ruined
|
||
|
|
bungalow. They had gone nearly twenty-five miles that day, and an
|
||
|
|
equal distance still separated them from the station of Allahabad.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The night was cold. The Parsee lit a fire in the bungalow with a few
|
||
|
|
dry branches, and the warmth was very grateful, provisions purchased at
|
||
|
|
Kholby sufficed for supper, and the travellers ate ravenously. The
|
||
|
|
conversation, beginning with a few disconnected phrases, soon gave
|
||
|
|
place to loud and steady snores. The guide watched Kiouni, who slept
|
||
|
|
standing, bolstering himself against the trunk of a large tree.
|
||
|
|
Nothing occurred during the night to disturb the slumberers, although
|
||
|
|
occasional growls from panthers and chatterings of monkeys broke the
|
||
|
|
silence; the more formidable beasts made no cries or hostile
|
||
|
|
demonstration against the occupants of the bungalow. Sir Francis slept
|
||
|
|
heavily, like an honest soldier overcome with fatigue. Passepartout
|
||
|
|
was wrapped in uneasy dreams of the bouncing of the day before. As for
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg, he slumbered as peacefully as if he had been in his serene
|
||
|
|
mansion in Saville Row.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The journey was resumed at six in the morning; the guide hoped to reach
|
||
|
|
Allahabad by evening. In that case, Mr. Fogg would only lose a part of
|
||
|
|
the forty-eight hours saved since the beginning of the tour. Kiouni,
|
||
|
|
resuming his rapid gait, soon descended the lower spurs of the
|
||
|
|
Vindhias, and towards noon they passed by the village of Kallenger, on
|
||
|
|
the Cani, one of the branches of the Ganges. The guide avoided
|
||
|
|
inhabited places, thinking it safer to keep the open country, which
|
||
|
|
lies along the first depressions of the basin of the great river.
|
||
|
|
Allahabad was now only twelve miles to the north-east. They stopped
|
||
|
|
under a clump of bananas, the fruit of which, as healthy as bread and
|
||
|
|
as succulent as cream, was amply partaken of and appreciated.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At two o'clock the guide entered a thick forest which extended several
|
||
|
|
miles; he preferred to travel under cover of the woods. They had not
|
||
|
|
as yet had any unpleasant encounters, and the journey seemed on the
|
||
|
|
point of being successfully accomplished, when the elephant, becoming
|
||
|
|
restless, suddenly stopped.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was then four o'clock.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What's the matter?" asked Sir Francis, putting out his head.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I don't know, officer," replied the Parsee, listening attentively to a
|
||
|
|
confused murmur which came through the thick branches.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The murmur soon became more distinct; it now seemed like a distant
|
||
|
|
concert of human voices accompanied by brass instruments. Passepartout
|
||
|
|
was all eyes and ears. Mr. Fogg patiently waited without a word. The
|
||
|
|
Parsee jumped to the ground, fastened the elephant to a tree, and
|
||
|
|
plunged into the thicket. He soon returned, saying:
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"A procession of Brahmins is coming this way. We must prevent their
|
||
|
|
seeing us, if possible."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The guide unloosed the elephant and led him into a thicket, at the same
|
||
|
|
time asking the travellers not to stir. He held himself ready to
|
||
|
|
bestride the animal at a moment's notice, should flight become
|
||
|
|
necessary; but he evidently thought that the procession of the faithful
|
||
|
|
would pass without perceiving them amid the thick foliage, in which
|
||
|
|
they were wholly concealed.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The discordant tones of the voices and instruments drew nearer, and now
|
||
|
|
droning songs mingled with the sound of the tambourines and cymbals.
|
||
|
|
The head of the procession soon appeared beneath the trees, a hundred
|
||
|
|
paces away; and the strange figures who performed the religious
|
||
|
|
ceremony were easily distinguished through the branches. First came
|
||
|
|
the priests, with mitres on their heads, and clothed in long lace
|
||
|
|
robes. They were surrounded by men, women, and children, who sang a
|
||
|
|
kind of lugubrious psalm, interrupted at regular intervals by the
|
||
|
|
tambourines and cymbals; while behind them was drawn a car with large
|
||
|
|
wheels, the spokes of which represented serpents entwined with each
|
||
|
|
other. Upon the car, which was drawn by four richly caparisoned zebus,
|
||
|
|
stood a hideous statue with four arms, the body coloured a dull red,
|
||
|
|
with haggard eyes, dishevelled hair, protruding tongue, and lips tinted
|
||
|
|
with betel. It stood upright upon the figure of a prostrate and
|
||
|
|
headless giant.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Sir Francis, recognising the statue, whispered, "The goddess Kali; the
|
||
|
|
goddess of love and death."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Of death, perhaps," muttered back Passepartout, "but of love--that
|
||
|
|
ugly old hag? Never!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The Parsee made a motion to keep silence.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
A group of old fakirs were capering and making a wild ado round the
|
||
|
|
statue; these were striped with ochre, and covered with cuts whence
|
||
|
|
their blood issued drop by drop--stupid fanatics, who, in the great
|
||
|
|
Indian ceremonies, still throw themselves under the wheels of
|
||
|
|
Juggernaut. Some Brahmins, clad in all the sumptuousness of Oriental
|
||
|
|
apparel, and leading a woman who faltered at every step, followed.
|
||
|
|
This woman was young, and as fair as a European. Her head and neck,
|
||
|
|
shoulders, ears, arms, hands, and toes were loaded down with jewels and
|
||
|
|
gems with bracelets, earrings, and rings; while a tunic bordered with
|
||
|
|
gold, and covered with a light muslin robe, betrayed the outline of her
|
||
|
|
form.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The guards who followed the young woman presented a violent contrast to
|
||
|
|
her, armed as they were with naked sabres hung at their waists, and
|
||
|
|
long damascened pistols, and bearing a corpse on a palanquin. It was
|
||
|
|
the body of an old man, gorgeously arrayed in the habiliments of a
|
||
|
|
rajah, wearing, as in life, a turban embroidered with pearls, a robe of
|
||
|
|
tissue of silk and gold, a scarf of cashmere sewed with diamonds, and
|
||
|
|
the magnificent weapons of a Hindoo prince. Next came the musicians
|
||
|
|
and a rearguard of capering fakirs, whose cries sometimes drowned the
|
||
|
|
noise of the instruments; these closed the procession.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Sir Francis watched the procession with a sad countenance, and, turning
|
||
|
|
to the guide, said, "A suttee."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The Parsee nodded, and put his finger to his lips. The procession
|
||
|
|
slowly wound under the trees, and soon its last ranks disappeared in
|
||
|
|
the depths of the wood. The songs gradually died away; occasionally
|
||
|
|
cries were heard in the distance, until at last all was silence again.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg had heard what Sir Francis said, and, as soon as the
|
||
|
|
procession had disappeared, asked: "What is a suttee?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"A suttee," returned the general, "is a human sacrifice, but a
|
||
|
|
voluntary one. The woman you have just seen will be burned to-morrow
|
||
|
|
at the dawn of day."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Oh, the scoundrels!" cried Passepartout, who could not repress his
|
||
|
|
indignation.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And the corpse?" asked Mr. Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Is that of the prince, her husband," said the guide; "an independent
|
||
|
|
rajah of Bundelcund."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Is it possible," resumed Phileas Fogg, his voice betraying not the
|
||
|
|
least emotion, "that these barbarous customs still exist in India, and
|
||
|
|
that the English have been unable to put a stop to them?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"These sacrifices do not occur in the larger portion of India," replied
|
||
|
|
Sir Francis; "but we have no power over these savage territories, and
|
||
|
|
especially here in Bundelcund. The whole district north of the
|
||
|
|
Vindhias is the theatre of incessant murders and pillage."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"The poor wretch!" exclaimed Passepartout, "to be burned alive!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes," returned Sir Francis, "burned alive. And, if she were not, you
|
||
|
|
cannot conceive what treatment she would be obliged to submit to from
|
||
|
|
her relatives. They would shave off her hair, feed her on a scanty
|
||
|
|
allowance of rice, treat her with contempt; she would be looked upon as
|
||
|
|
an unclean creature, and would die in some corner, like a scurvy dog.
|
||
|
|
The prospect of so frightful an existence drives these poor creatures
|
||
|
|
to the sacrifice much more than love or religious fanaticism.
|
||
|
|
Sometimes, however, the sacrifice is really voluntary, and it requires
|
||
|
|
the active interference of the Government to prevent it. Several years
|
||
|
|
ago, when I was living at Bombay, a young widow asked permission of the
|
||
|
|
governor to be burned along with her husband's body; but, as you may
|
||
|
|
imagine, he refused. The woman left the town, took refuge with an
|
||
|
|
independent rajah, and there carried out her self-devoted purpose."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
While Sir Francis was speaking, the guide shook his head several times,
|
||
|
|
and now said: "The sacrifice which will take place to-morrow at dawn is
|
||
|
|
not a voluntary one."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"How do you know?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Everybody knows about this affair in Bundelcund."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But the wretched creature did not seem to be making any resistance,"
|
||
|
|
observed Sir Francis.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"That was because they had intoxicated her with fumes of hemp and
|
||
|
|
opium."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But where are they taking her?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"To the pagoda of Pillaji, two miles from here; she will pass the night
|
||
|
|
there."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And the sacrifice will take place--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"To-morrow, at the first light of dawn."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The guide now led the elephant out of the thicket, and leaped upon his
|
||
|
|
neck. Just at the moment that he was about to urge Kiouni forward with
|
||
|
|
a peculiar whistle, Mr. Fogg stopped him, and, turning to Sir Francis
|
||
|
|
Cromarty, said, "Suppose we save this woman."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Save the woman, Mr. Fogg!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I have yet twelve hours to spare; I can devote them to that."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Why, you are a man of heart!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Sometimes," replied Phileas Fogg, quietly; "when I have the time."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter XIII
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH PASSEPARTOUT RECEIVES A NEW PROOF THAT FORTUNE FAVORS THE BRAVE
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The project was a bold one, full of difficulty, perhaps impracticable.
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg was going to risk life, or at least liberty, and therefore the
|
||
|
|
success of his tour. But he did not hesitate, and he found in Sir
|
||
|
|
Francis Cromarty an enthusiastic ally.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
As for Passepartout, he was ready for anything that might be proposed.
|
||
|
|
His master's idea charmed him; he perceived a heart, a soul, under that
|
||
|
|
icy exterior. He began to love Phileas Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
There remained the guide: what course would he adopt? Would he not
|
||
|
|
take part with the Indians? In default of his assistance, it was
|
||
|
|
necessary to be assured of his neutrality.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Sir Francis frankly put the question to him.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Officers," replied the guide, "I am a Parsee, and this woman is a
|
||
|
|
Parsee. Command me as you will."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Excellent!" said Mr. Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"However," resumed the guide, "it is certain, not only that we shall
|
||
|
|
risk our lives, but horrible tortures, if we are taken."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"That is foreseen," replied Mr. Fogg. "I think we must wait till night
|
||
|
|
before acting."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I think so," said the guide.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The worthy Indian then gave some account of the victim, who, he said,
|
||
|
|
was a celebrated beauty of the Parsee race, and the daughter of a
|
||
|
|
wealthy Bombay merchant. She had received a thoroughly English
|
||
|
|
education in that city, and, from her manners and intelligence, would
|
||
|
|
be thought an European. Her name was Aouda. Left an orphan, she was
|
||
|
|
married against her will to the old rajah of Bundelcund; and, knowing
|
||
|
|
the fate that awaited her, she escaped, was retaken, and devoted by the
|
||
|
|
rajah's relatives, who had an interest in her death, to the sacrifice
|
||
|
|
from which it seemed she could not escape.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The Parsee's narrative only confirmed Mr. Fogg and his companions in
|
||
|
|
their generous design. It was decided that the guide should direct the
|
||
|
|
elephant towards the pagoda of Pillaji, which he accordingly approached
|
||
|
|
as quickly as possible. They halted, half an hour afterwards, in a
|
||
|
|
copse, some five hundred feet from the pagoda, where they were well
|
||
|
|
concealed; but they could hear the groans and cries of the fakirs
|
||
|
|
distinctly.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They then discussed the means of getting at the victim. The guide was
|
||
|
|
familiar with the pagoda of Pillaji, in which, as he declared, the
|
||
|
|
young woman was imprisoned. Could they enter any of its doors while
|
||
|
|
the whole party of Indians was plunged in a drunken sleep, or was it
|
||
|
|
safer to attempt to make a hole in the walls? This could only be
|
||
|
|
determined at the moment and the place themselves; but it was certain
|
||
|
|
that the abduction must be made that night, and not when, at break of
|
||
|
|
day, the victim was led to her funeral pyre. Then no human
|
||
|
|
intervention could save her.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
As soon as night fell, about six o'clock, they decided to make a
|
||
|
|
reconnaissance around the pagoda. The cries of the fakirs were just
|
||
|
|
ceasing; the Indians were in the act of plunging themselves into the
|
||
|
|
drunkenness caused by liquid opium mingled with hemp, and it might be
|
||
|
|
possible to slip between them to the temple itself.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The Parsee, leading the others, noiselessly crept through the wood, and
|
||
|
|
in ten minutes they found themselves on the banks of a small stream,
|
||
|
|
whence, by the light of the rosin torches, they perceived a pyre of
|
||
|
|
wood, on the top of which lay the embalmed body of the rajah, which was
|
||
|
|
to be burned with his wife. The pagoda, whose minarets loomed above
|
||
|
|
the trees in the deepening dusk, stood a hundred steps away.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Come!" whispered the guide.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He slipped more cautiously than ever through the brush, followed by his
|
||
|
|
companions; the silence around was only broken by the low murmuring of
|
||
|
|
the wind among the branches.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Soon the Parsee stopped on the borders of the glade, which was lit up
|
||
|
|
by the torches. The ground was covered by groups of the Indians,
|
||
|
|
motionless in their drunken sleep; it seemed a battlefield strewn with
|
||
|
|
the dead. Men, women, and children lay together.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
In the background, among the trees, the pagoda of Pillaji loomed
|
||
|
|
distinctly. Much to the guide's disappointment, the guards of the
|
||
|
|
rajah, lighted by torches, were watching at the doors and marching to
|
||
|
|
and fro with naked sabres; probably the priests, too, were watching
|
||
|
|
within.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The Parsee, now convinced that it was impossible to force an entrance
|
||
|
|
to the temple, advanced no farther, but led his companions back again.
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg and Sir Francis Cromarty also saw that nothing could be
|
||
|
|
attempted in that direction. They stopped, and engaged in a whispered
|
||
|
|
colloquy.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"It is only eight now," said the brigadier, "and these guards may also
|
||
|
|
go to sleep."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"It is not impossible," returned the Parsee.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They lay down at the foot of a tree, and waited.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The time seemed long; the guide ever and anon left them to take an
|
||
|
|
observation on the edge of the wood, but the guards watched steadily by
|
||
|
|
the glare of the torches, and a dim light crept through the windows of
|
||
|
|
the pagoda.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They waited till midnight; but no change took place among the guards,
|
||
|
|
and it became apparent that their yielding to sleep could not be
|
||
|
|
counted on. The other plan must be carried out; an opening in the
|
||
|
|
walls of the pagoda must be made. It remained to ascertain whether the
|
||
|
|
priests were watching by the side of their victim as assiduously as
|
||
|
|
were the soldiers at the door.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
After a last consultation, the guide announced that he was ready for
|
||
|
|
the attempt, and advanced, followed by the others. They took a
|
||
|
|
roundabout way, so as to get at the pagoda on the rear. They reached
|
||
|
|
the walls about half-past twelve, without having met anyone; here there
|
||
|
|
was no guard, nor were there either windows or doors.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The night was dark. The moon, on the wane, scarcely left the horizon,
|
||
|
|
and was covered with heavy clouds; the height of the trees deepened the
|
||
|
|
darkness.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was not enough to reach the walls; an opening in them must be
|
||
|
|
accomplished, and to attain this purpose the party only had their
|
||
|
|
pocket-knives. Happily the temple walls were built of brick and wood,
|
||
|
|
which could be penetrated with little difficulty; after one brick had
|
||
|
|
been taken out, the rest would yield easily.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They set noiselessly to work, and the Parsee on one side and
|
||
|
|
Passepartout on the other began to loosen the bricks so as to make an
|
||
|
|
aperture two feet wide. They were getting on rapidly, when suddenly a
|
||
|
|
cry was heard in the interior of the temple, followed almost instantly
|
||
|
|
by other cries replying from the outside. Passepartout and the guide
|
||
|
|
stopped. Had they been heard? Was the alarm being given? Common
|
||
|
|
prudence urged them to retire, and they did so, followed by Phileas
|
||
|
|
Fogg and Sir Francis. They again hid themselves in the wood, and
|
||
|
|
waited till the disturbance, whatever it might be, ceased, holding
|
||
|
|
themselves ready to resume their attempt without delay. But, awkwardly
|
||
|
|
enough, the guards now appeared at the rear of the temple, and there
|
||
|
|
installed themselves, in readiness to prevent a surprise.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It would be difficult to describe the disappointment of the party, thus
|
||
|
|
interrupted in their work. They could not now reach the victim; how,
|
||
|
|
then, could they save her? Sir Francis shook his fists, Passepartout
|
||
|
|
was beside himself, and the guide gnashed his teeth with rage. The
|
||
|
|
tranquil Fogg waited, without betraying any emotion.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"We have nothing to do but to go away," whispered Sir Francis.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Nothing but to go away," echoed the guide.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Stop," said Fogg. "I am only due at Allahabad tomorrow before noon."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But what can you hope to do?" asked Sir Francis. "In a few hours it
|
||
|
|
will be daylight, and--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"The chance which now seems lost may present itself at the last moment."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Sir Francis would have liked to read Phileas Fogg's eyes. What was
|
||
|
|
this cool Englishman thinking of? Was he planning to make a rush for
|
||
|
|
the young woman at the very moment of the sacrifice, and boldly snatch
|
||
|
|
her from her executioners?
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This would be utter folly, and it was hard to admit that Fogg was such
|
||
|
|
a fool. Sir Francis consented, however, to remain to the end of this
|
||
|
|
terrible drama. The guide led them to the rear of the glade, where
|
||
|
|
they were able to observe the sleeping groups.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Meanwhile Passepartout, who had perched himself on the lower branches
|
||
|
|
of a tree, was resolving an idea which had at first struck him like a
|
||
|
|
flash, and which was now firmly lodged in his brain.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He had commenced by saying to himself, "What folly!" and then he
|
||
|
|
repeated, "Why not, after all? It's a chance,--perhaps the only one; and
|
||
|
|
with such sots!" Thinking thus, he slipped, with the suppleness of a
|
||
|
|
serpent, to the lowest branches, the ends of which bent almost to the
|
||
|
|
ground.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The hours passed, and the lighter shades now announced the approach of
|
||
|
|
day, though it was not yet light. This was the moment. The slumbering
|
||
|
|
multitude became animated, the tambourines sounded, songs and cries
|
||
|
|
arose; the hour of the sacrifice had come. The doors of the pagoda
|
||
|
|
swung open, and a bright light escaped from its interior, in the midst
|
||
|
|
of which Mr. Fogg and Sir Francis espied the victim. She seemed,
|
||
|
|
having shaken off the stupor of intoxication, to be striving to escape
|
||
|
|
from her executioner. Sir Francis's heart throbbed; and, convulsively
|
||
|
|
seizing Mr. Fogg's hand, found in it an open knife. Just at this
|
||
|
|
moment the crowd began to move. The young woman had again fallen into
|
||
|
|
a stupor caused by the fumes of hemp, and passed among the fakirs, who
|
||
|
|
escorted her with their wild, religious cries.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg and his companions, mingling in the rear ranks of the
|
||
|
|
crowd, followed; and in two minutes they reached the banks of the
|
||
|
|
stream, and stopped fifty paces from the pyre, upon which still lay the
|
||
|
|
rajah's corpse. In the semi-obscurity they saw the victim, quite
|
||
|
|
senseless, stretched out beside her husband's body. Then a torch was
|
||
|
|
brought, and the wood, heavily soaked with oil, instantly took fire.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At this moment Sir Francis and the guide seized Phileas Fogg, who, in
|
||
|
|
an instant of mad generosity, was about to rush upon the pyre. But he
|
||
|
|
had quickly pushed them aside, when the whole scene suddenly changed.
|
||
|
|
A cry of terror arose. The whole multitude prostrated themselves,
|
||
|
|
terror-stricken, on the ground.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The old rajah was not dead, then, since he rose of a sudden, like a
|
||
|
|
spectre, took up his wife in his arms, and descended from the pyre in
|
||
|
|
the midst of the clouds of smoke, which only heightened his ghostly
|
||
|
|
appearance.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fakirs and soldiers and priests, seized with instant terror, lay there,
|
||
|
|
with their faces on the ground, not daring to lift their eyes and
|
||
|
|
behold such a prodigy.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The inanimate victim was borne along by the vigorous arms which
|
||
|
|
supported her, and which she did not seem in the least to burden. Mr.
|
||
|
|
Fogg and Sir Francis stood erect, the Parsee bowed his head, and
|
||
|
|
Passepartout was, no doubt, scarcely less stupefied.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The resuscitated rajah approached Sir Francis and Mr. Fogg, and, in an
|
||
|
|
abrupt tone, said, "Let us be off!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was Passepartout himself, who had slipped upon the pyre in the midst
|
||
|
|
of the smoke and, profiting by the still overhanging darkness, had
|
||
|
|
delivered the young woman from death! It was Passepartout who, playing
|
||
|
|
his part with a happy audacity, had passed through the crowd amid the
|
||
|
|
general terror.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
A moment after all four of the party had disappeared in the woods, and
|
||
|
|
the elephant was bearing them away at a rapid pace. But the cries and
|
||
|
|
noise, and a ball which whizzed through Phileas Fogg's hat, apprised
|
||
|
|
them that the trick had been discovered.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The old rajah's body, indeed, now appeared upon the burning pyre; and
|
||
|
|
the priests, recovered from their terror, perceived that an abduction
|
||
|
|
had taken place. They hastened into the forest, followed by the
|
||
|
|
soldiers, who fired a volley after the fugitives; but the latter
|
||
|
|
rapidly increased the distance between them, and ere long found
|
||
|
|
themselves beyond the reach of the bullets and arrows.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter XIV
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG DESCENDS THE WHOLE LENGTH OF THE BEAUTIFUL VALLEY
|
||
|
|
OF THE GANGES WITHOUT EVER THINKING OF SEEING IT
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The rash exploit had been accomplished; and for an hour Passepartout
|
||
|
|
laughed gaily at his success. Sir Francis pressed the worthy fellow's
|
||
|
|
hand, and his master said, "Well done!" which, from him, was high
|
||
|
|
commendation; to which Passepartout replied that all the credit of the
|
||
|
|
affair belonged to Mr. Fogg. As for him, he had only been struck with
|
||
|
|
a "queer" idea; and he laughed to think that for a few moments he,
|
||
|
|
Passepartout, the ex-gymnast, ex-sergeant fireman, had been the spouse
|
||
|
|
of a charming woman, a venerable, embalmed rajah! As for the young
|
||
|
|
Indian woman, she had been unconscious throughout of what was passing,
|
||
|
|
and now, wrapped up in a travelling-blanket, was reposing in one of the
|
||
|
|
howdahs.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The elephant, thanks to the skilful guidance of the Parsee, was
|
||
|
|
advancing rapidly through the still darksome forest, and, an hour after
|
||
|
|
leaving the pagoda, had crossed a vast plain. They made a halt at
|
||
|
|
seven o'clock, the young woman being still in a state of complete
|
||
|
|
prostration. The guide made her drink a little brandy and water, but
|
||
|
|
the drowsiness which stupefied her could not yet be shaken off. Sir
|
||
|
|
Francis, who was familiar with the effects of the intoxication produced
|
||
|
|
by the fumes of hemp, reassured his companions on her account. But he
|
||
|
|
was more disturbed at the prospect of her future fate. He told Phileas
|
||
|
|
Fogg that, should Aouda remain in India, she would inevitably fall
|
||
|
|
again into the hands of her executioners. These fanatics were
|
||
|
|
scattered throughout the county, and would, despite the English police,
|
||
|
|
recover their victim at Madras, Bombay, or Calcutta. She would only be
|
||
|
|
safe by quitting India for ever.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg replied that he would reflect upon the matter.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The station at Allahabad was reached about ten o'clock, and, the
|
||
|
|
interrupted line of railway being resumed, would enable them to reach
|
||
|
|
Calcutta in less than twenty-four hours. Phileas Fogg would thus be
|
||
|
|
able to arrive in time to take the steamer which left Calcutta the next
|
||
|
|
day, October 25th, at noon, for Hong Kong.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The young woman was placed in one of the waiting-rooms of the station,
|
||
|
|
whilst Passepartout was charged with purchasing for her various
|
||
|
|
articles of toilet, a dress, shawl, and some furs; for which his master
|
||
|
|
gave him unlimited credit. Passepartout started off forthwith, and
|
||
|
|
found himself in the streets of Allahabad, that is, the City of God,
|
||
|
|
one of the most venerated in India, being built at the junction of the
|
||
|
|
two sacred rivers, Ganges and Jumna, the waters of which attract
|
||
|
|
pilgrims from every part of the peninsula. The Ganges, according to
|
||
|
|
the legends of the Ramayana, rises in heaven, whence, owing to Brahma's
|
||
|
|
agency, it descends to the earth.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout made it a point, as he made his purchases, to take a good
|
||
|
|
look at the city. It was formerly defended by a noble fort, which has
|
||
|
|
since become a state prison; its commerce has dwindled away, and
|
||
|
|
Passepartout in vain looked about him for such a bazaar as he used to
|
||
|
|
frequent in Regent Street. At last he came upon an elderly, crusty
|
||
|
|
Jew, who sold second-hand articles, and from whom he purchased a dress
|
||
|
|
of Scotch stuff, a large mantle, and a fine otter-skin pelisse, for
|
||
|
|
which he did not hesitate to pay seventy-five pounds. He then returned
|
||
|
|
triumphantly to the station.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The influence to which the priests of Pillaji had subjected Aouda began
|
||
|
|
gradually to yield, and she became more herself, so that her fine eyes
|
||
|
|
resumed all their soft Indian expression.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
When the poet-king, Ucaf Uddaul, celebrates the charms of the queen of
|
||
|
|
Ahmehnagara, he speaks thus:
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Her shining tresses, divided in two parts, encircle the harmonious
|
||
|
|
contour of her white and delicate cheeks, brilliant in their glow and
|
||
|
|
freshness. Her ebony brows have the form and charm of the bow of Kama,
|
||
|
|
the god of love, and beneath her long silken lashes the purest
|
||
|
|
reflections and a celestial light swim, as in the sacred lakes of
|
||
|
|
Himalaya, in the black pupils of her great clear eyes. Her teeth,
|
||
|
|
fine, equal, and white, glitter between her smiling lips like dewdrops
|
||
|
|
in a passion-flower's half-enveloped breast. Her delicately formed
|
||
|
|
ears, her vermilion hands, her little feet, curved and tender as the
|
||
|
|
lotus-bud, glitter with the brilliancy of the loveliest pearls of
|
||
|
|
Ceylon, the most dazzling diamonds of Golconda. Her narrow and supple
|
||
|
|
waist, which a hand may clasp around, sets forth the outline of her
|
||
|
|
rounded figure and the beauty of her bosom, where youth in its flower
|
||
|
|
displays the wealth of its treasures; and beneath the silken folds of
|
||
|
|
her tunic she seems to have been modelled in pure silver by the godlike
|
||
|
|
hand of Vicvarcarma, the immortal sculptor."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It is enough to say, without applying this poetical rhapsody to Aouda,
|
||
|
|
that she was a charming woman, in all the European acceptation of the
|
||
|
|
phrase. She spoke English with great purity, and the guide had not
|
||
|
|
exaggerated in saying that the young Parsee had been transformed by her
|
||
|
|
bringing up.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The train was about to start from Allahabad, and Mr. Fogg proceeded to
|
||
|
|
pay the guide the price agreed upon for his service, and not a farthing
|
||
|
|
more; which astonished Passepartout, who remembered all that his master
|
||
|
|
owed to the guide's devotion. He had, indeed, risked his life in the
|
||
|
|
adventure at Pillaji, and, if he should be caught afterwards by the
|
||
|
|
Indians, he would with difficulty escape their vengeance. Kiouni,
|
||
|
|
also, must be disposed of. What should be done with the elephant,
|
||
|
|
which had been so dearly purchased? Phileas Fogg had already
|
||
|
|
determined this question.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Parsee," said he to the guide, "you have been serviceable and devoted.
|
||
|
|
I have paid for your service, but not for your devotion. Would you
|
||
|
|
like to have this elephant? He is yours."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The guide's eyes glistened.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Your honour is giving me a fortune!" cried he.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Take him, guide," returned Mr. Fogg, "and I shall still be your
|
||
|
|
debtor."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Good!" exclaimed Passepartout. "Take him, friend. Kiouni is a brave
|
||
|
|
and faithful beast." And, going up to the elephant, he gave him
|
||
|
|
several lumps of sugar, saying, "Here, Kiouni, here, here."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The elephant grunted out his satisfaction, and, clasping Passepartout
|
||
|
|
around the waist with his trunk, lifted him as high as his head.
|
||
|
|
Passepartout, not in the least alarmed, caressed the animal, which
|
||
|
|
replaced him gently on the ground.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Soon after, Phileas Fogg, Sir Francis Cromarty, and Passepartout,
|
||
|
|
installed in a carriage with Aouda, who had the best seat, were
|
||
|
|
whirling at full speed towards Benares. It was a run of eighty miles,
|
||
|
|
and was accomplished in two hours. During the journey, the young woman
|
||
|
|
fully recovered her senses. What was her astonishment to find herself
|
||
|
|
in this carriage, on the railway, dressed in European habiliments, and
|
||
|
|
with travellers who were quite strangers to her! Her companions first
|
||
|
|
set about fully reviving her with a little liquor, and then Sir Francis
|
||
|
|
narrated to her what had passed, dwelling upon the courage with which
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg had not hesitated to risk his life to save her, and
|
||
|
|
recounting the happy sequel of the venture, the result of
|
||
|
|
Passepartout's rash idea. Mr. Fogg said nothing; while Passepartout,
|
||
|
|
abashed, kept repeating that "it wasn't worth telling."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Aouda pathetically thanked her deliverers, rather with tears than
|
||
|
|
words; her fine eyes interpreted her gratitude better than her lips.
|
||
|
|
Then, as her thoughts strayed back to the scene of the sacrifice, and
|
||
|
|
recalled the dangers which still menaced her, she shuddered with terror.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg understood what was passing in Aouda's mind, and offered,
|
||
|
|
in order to reassure her, to escort her to Hong Kong, where she might
|
||
|
|
remain safely until the affair was hushed up--an offer which she
|
||
|
|
eagerly and gratefully accepted. She had, it seems, a Parsee relation,
|
||
|
|
who was one of the principal merchants of Hong Kong, which is wholly an
|
||
|
|
English city, though on an island on the Chinese coast.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At half-past twelve the train stopped at Benares. The Brahmin legends
|
||
|
|
assert that this city is built on the site of the ancient Casi, which,
|
||
|
|
like Mahomet's tomb, was once suspended between heaven and earth;
|
||
|
|
though the Benares of to-day, which the Orientalists call the Athens of
|
||
|
|
India, stands quite unpoetically on the solid earth, Passepartout
|
||
|
|
caught glimpses of its brick houses and clay huts, giving an aspect of
|
||
|
|
desolation to the place, as the train entered it.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Benares was Sir Francis Cromarty's destination, the troops he was
|
||
|
|
rejoining being encamped some miles northward of the city. He bade
|
||
|
|
adieu to Phileas Fogg, wishing him all success, and expressing the hope
|
||
|
|
that he would come that way again in a less original but more
|
||
|
|
profitable fashion. Mr. Fogg lightly pressed him by the hand. The
|
||
|
|
parting of Aouda, who did not forget what she owed to Sir Francis,
|
||
|
|
betrayed more warmth; and, as for Passepartout, he received a hearty
|
||
|
|
shake of the hand from the gallant general.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The railway, on leaving Benares, passed for a while along the valley of
|
||
|
|
the Ganges. Through the windows of their carriage the travellers had
|
||
|
|
glimpses of the diversified landscape of Behar, with its mountains
|
||
|
|
clothed in verdure, its fields of barley, wheat, and corn, its jungles
|
||
|
|
peopled with green alligators, its neat villages, and its still
|
||
|
|
thickly-leaved forests. Elephants were bathing in the waters of the
|
||
|
|
sacred river, and groups of Indians, despite the advanced season and
|
||
|
|
chilly air, were performing solemnly their pious ablutions. These were
|
||
|
|
fervent Brahmins, the bitterest foes of Buddhism, their deities being
|
||
|
|
Vishnu, the solar god, Shiva, the divine impersonation of natural
|
||
|
|
forces, and Brahma, the supreme ruler of priests and legislators. What
|
||
|
|
would these divinities think of India, anglicised as it is to-day, with
|
||
|
|
steamers whistling and scudding along the Ganges, frightening the gulls
|
||
|
|
which float upon its surface, the turtles swarming along its banks, and
|
||
|
|
the faithful dwelling upon its borders?
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The panorama passed before their eyes like a flash, save when the steam
|
||
|
|
concealed it fitfully from the view; the travellers could scarcely
|
||
|
|
discern the fort of Chupenie, twenty miles south-westward from Benares,
|
||
|
|
the ancient stronghold of the rajahs of Behar; or Ghazipur and its
|
||
|
|
famous rose-water factories; or the tomb of Lord Cornwallis, rising on
|
||
|
|
the left bank of the Ganges; the fortified town of Buxar, or Patna, a
|
||
|
|
large manufacturing and trading-place, where is held the principal
|
||
|
|
opium market of India; or Monghir, a more than European town, for it is
|
||
|
|
as English as Manchester or Birmingham, with its iron foundries,
|
||
|
|
edgetool factories, and high chimneys puffing clouds of black smoke
|
||
|
|
heavenward.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Night came on; the train passed on at full speed, in the midst of the
|
||
|
|
roaring of the tigers, bears, and wolves which fled before the
|
||
|
|
locomotive; and the marvels of Bengal, Golconda ruined Gour,
|
||
|
|
Murshedabad, the ancient capital, Burdwan, Hugly, and the French town
|
||
|
|
of Chandernagor, where Passepartout would have been proud to see his
|
||
|
|
country's flag flying, were hidden from their view in the darkness.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Calcutta was reached at seven in the morning, and the packet left for
|
||
|
|
Hong Kong at noon; so that Phileas Fogg had five hours before him.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
According to his journal, he was due at Calcutta on the 25th of
|
||
|
|
October, and that was the exact date of his actual arrival. He was
|
||
|
|
therefore neither behind-hand nor ahead of time. The two days gained
|
||
|
|
between London and Bombay had been lost, as has been seen, in the
|
||
|
|
journey across India. But it is not to be supposed that Phileas Fogg
|
||
|
|
regretted them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter XV
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH THE BAG OF BANKNOTES DISGORGES SOME THOUSANDS OF POUNDS MORE
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The train entered the station, and Passepartout jumping out first, was
|
||
|
|
followed by Mr. Fogg, who assisted his fair companion to descend.
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg intended to proceed at once to the Hong Kong steamer, in
|
||
|
|
order to get Aouda comfortably settled for the voyage. He was
|
||
|
|
unwilling to leave her while they were still on dangerous ground.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Just as he was leaving the station a policeman came up to him, and
|
||
|
|
said, "Mr. Phileas Fogg?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I am he."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Is this man your servant?" added the policeman, pointing to
|
||
|
|
Passepartout.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Be so good, both of you, as to follow me."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg betrayed no surprise whatever. The policeman was a
|
||
|
|
representative of the law, and law is sacred to an Englishman.
|
||
|
|
Passepartout tried to reason about the matter, but the policeman tapped
|
||
|
|
him with his stick, and Mr. Fogg made him a signal to obey.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"May this young lady go with us?" asked he.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"She may," replied the policeman.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg, Aouda, and Passepartout were conducted to a palkigahri, a
|
||
|
|
sort of four-wheeled carriage, drawn by two horses, in which they took
|
||
|
|
their places and were driven away. No one spoke during the twenty
|
||
|
|
minutes which elapsed before they reached their destination. They
|
||
|
|
first passed through the "black town," with its narrow streets, its
|
||
|
|
miserable, dirty huts, and squalid population; then through the
|
||
|
|
"European town," which presented a relief in its bright brick mansions,
|
||
|
|
shaded by coconut-trees and bristling with masts, where, although it
|
||
|
|
was early morning, elegantly dressed horsemen and handsome equipages
|
||
|
|
were passing back and forth.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The carriage stopped before a modest-looking house, which, however, did
|
||
|
|
not have the appearance of a private mansion. The policeman having
|
||
|
|
requested his prisoners--for so, truly, they might be called--to descend,
|
||
|
|
conducted them into a room with barred windows, and said: "You will
|
||
|
|
appear before Judge Obadiah at half-past eight."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He then retired, and closed the door.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Why, we are prisoners!" exclaimed Passepartout, falling into a chair.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Aouda, with an emotion she tried to conceal, said to Mr. Fogg: "Sir,
|
||
|
|
you must leave me to my fate! It is on my account that you receive
|
||
|
|
this treatment, it is for having saved me!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg contented himself with saying that it was impossible. It
|
||
|
|
was quite unlikely that he should be arrested for preventing a suttee.
|
||
|
|
The complainants would not dare present themselves with such a charge.
|
||
|
|
There was some mistake. Moreover, he would not, in any event, abandon
|
||
|
|
Aouda, but would escort her to Hong Kong.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But the steamer leaves at noon!" observed Passepartout, nervously.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"We shall be on board by noon," replied his master, placidly.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was said so positively that Passepartout could not help muttering to
|
||
|
|
himself, "Parbleu that's certain! Before noon we shall be on board."
|
||
|
|
But he was by no means reassured.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At half-past eight the door opened, the policeman appeared, and,
|
||
|
|
requesting them to follow him, led the way to an adjoining hall. It
|
||
|
|
was evidently a court-room, and a crowd of Europeans and natives
|
||
|
|
already occupied the rear of the apartment.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg and his two companions took their places on a bench opposite
|
||
|
|
the desks of the magistrate and his clerk. Immediately after, Judge
|
||
|
|
Obadiah, a fat, round man, followed by the clerk, entered. He
|
||
|
|
proceeded to take down a wig which was hanging on a nail, and put it
|
||
|
|
hurriedly on his head.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"The first case," said he. Then, putting his hand to his head, he
|
||
|
|
exclaimed, "Heh! This is not my wig!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No, your worship," returned the clerk, "it is mine."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"My dear Mr. Oysterpuff, how can a judge give a wise sentence in a
|
||
|
|
clerk's wig?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The wigs were exchanged.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout was getting nervous, for the hands on the face of the big
|
||
|
|
clock over the judge seemed to go around with terrible rapidity.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"The first case," repeated Judge Obadiah.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Phileas Fogg?" demanded Oysterpuff.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I am here," replied Mr. Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Passepartout?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Present," responded Passepartout.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Good," said the judge. "You have been looked for, prisoners, for two
|
||
|
|
days on the trains from Bombay."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But of what are we accused?" asked Passepartout, impatiently.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"You are about to be informed."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I am an English subject, sir," said Mr. Fogg, "and I have the right--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Have you been ill-treated?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Not at all."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Very well; let the complainants come in."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
A door was swung open by order of the judge, and three Indian priests
|
||
|
|
entered.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"That's it," muttered Passepartout; "these are the rogues who were
|
||
|
|
going to burn our young lady."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The priests took their places in front of the judge, and the clerk
|
||
|
|
proceeded to read in a loud voice a complaint of sacrilege against
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg and his servant, who were accused of having violated a
|
||
|
|
place held consecrated by the Brahmin religion.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"You hear the charge?" asked the judge.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes, sir," replied Mr. Fogg, consulting his watch, "and I admit it."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"You admit it?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I admit it, and I wish to hear these priests admit, in their turn,
|
||
|
|
what they were going to do at the pagoda of Pillaji."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The priests looked at each other; they did not seem to understand what
|
||
|
|
was said.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes," cried Passepartout, warmly; "at the pagoda of Pillaji, where
|
||
|
|
they were on the point of burning their victim."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The judge stared with astonishment, and the priests were stupefied.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What victim?" said Judge Obadiah. "Burn whom? In Bombay itself?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Bombay?" cried Passepartout.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Certainly. We are not talking of the pagoda of Pillaji, but of the
|
||
|
|
pagoda of Malabar Hill, at Bombay."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And as a proof," added the clerk, "here are the desecrator's very
|
||
|
|
shoes, which he left behind him."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Whereupon he placed a pair of shoes on his desk.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"My shoes!" cried Passepartout, in his surprise permitting this
|
||
|
|
imprudent exclamation to escape him.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The confusion of master and man, who had quite forgotten the affair at
|
||
|
|
Bombay, for which they were now detained at Calcutta, may be imagined.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix the detective, had foreseen the advantage which Passepartout's
|
||
|
|
escapade gave him, and, delaying his departure for twelve hours, had
|
||
|
|
consulted the priests of Malabar Hill. Knowing that the English
|
||
|
|
authorities dealt very severely with this kind of misdemeanour, he
|
||
|
|
promised them a goodly sum in damages, and sent them forward to
|
||
|
|
Calcutta by the next train. Owing to the delay caused by the rescue of
|
||
|
|
the young widow, Fix and the priests reached the Indian capital before
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg and his servant, the magistrates having been already warned by
|
||
|
|
a dispatch to arrest them should they arrive. Fix's disappointment
|
||
|
|
when he learned that Phileas Fogg had not made his appearance in
|
||
|
|
Calcutta may be imagined. He made up his mind that the robber had
|
||
|
|
stopped somewhere on the route and taken refuge in the southern
|
||
|
|
provinces. For twenty-four hours Fix watched the station with feverish
|
||
|
|
anxiety; at last he was rewarded by seeing Mr. Fogg and Passepartout
|
||
|
|
arrive, accompanied by a young woman, whose presence he was wholly at a
|
||
|
|
loss to explain. He hastened for a policeman; and this was how the
|
||
|
|
party came to be arrested and brought before Judge Obadiah.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Had Passepartout been a little less preoccupied, he would have espied
|
||
|
|
the detective ensconced in a corner of the court-room, watching the
|
||
|
|
proceedings with an interest easily understood; for the warrant had
|
||
|
|
failed to reach him at Calcutta, as it had done at Bombay and Suez.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Judge Obadiah had unfortunately caught Passepartout's rash exclamation,
|
||
|
|
which the poor fellow would have given the world to recall.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"The facts are admitted?" asked the judge.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Admitted," replied Mr. Fogg, coldly.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Inasmuch," resumed the judge, "as the English law protects equally and
|
||
|
|
sternly the religions of the Indian people, and as the man Passepartout
|
||
|
|
has admitted that he violated the sacred pagoda of Malabar Hill, at
|
||
|
|
Bombay, on the 20th of October, I condemn the said Passepartout to
|
||
|
|
imprisonment for fifteen days and a fine of three hundred pounds."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Three hundred pounds!" cried Passepartout, startled at the largeness
|
||
|
|
of the sum.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Silence!" shouted the constable.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And inasmuch," continued the judge, "as it is not proved that the act
|
||
|
|
was not done by the connivance of the master with the servant, and as
|
||
|
|
the master in any case must be held responsible for the acts of his
|
||
|
|
paid servant, I condemn Phileas Fogg to a week's imprisonment and a
|
||
|
|
fine of one hundred and fifty pounds."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix rubbed his hands softly with satisfaction; if Phileas Fogg could be
|
||
|
|
detained in Calcutta a week, it would be more than time for the warrant
|
||
|
|
to arrive. Passepartout was stupefied. This sentence ruined his
|
||
|
|
master. A wager of twenty thousand pounds lost, because he, like a
|
||
|
|
precious fool, had gone into that abominable pagoda!
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg, as self-composed as if the judgment did not in the least
|
||
|
|
concern him, did not even lift his eyebrows while it was being
|
||
|
|
pronounced. Just as the clerk was calling the next case, he rose, and
|
||
|
|
said, "I offer bail."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"You have that right," returned the judge.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix's blood ran cold, but he resumed his composure when he heard the
|
||
|
|
judge announce that the bail required for each prisoner would be one
|
||
|
|
thousand pounds.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I will pay it at once," said Mr. Fogg, taking a roll of bank-bills
|
||
|
|
from the carpet-bag, which Passepartout had by him, and placing them on
|
||
|
|
the clerk's desk.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"This sum will be restored to you upon your release from prison," said
|
||
|
|
the judge. "Meanwhile, you are liberated on bail."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Come!" said Phileas Fogg to his servant.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But let them at least give me back my shoes!" cried Passepartout
|
||
|
|
angrily.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Ah, these are pretty dear shoes!" he muttered, as they were handed to
|
||
|
|
him. "More than a thousand pounds apiece; besides, they pinch my feet."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg, offering his arm to Aouda, then departed, followed by the
|
||
|
|
crestfallen Passepartout. Fix still nourished hopes that the robber
|
||
|
|
would not, after all, leave the two thousand pounds behind him, but
|
||
|
|
would decide to serve out his week in jail, and issued forth on Mr.
|
||
|
|
Fogg's traces. That gentleman took a carriage, and the party were soon
|
||
|
|
landed on one of the quays.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The Rangoon was moored half a mile off in the harbour, its signal of
|
||
|
|
departure hoisted at the mast-head. Eleven o'clock was striking; Mr.
|
||
|
|
Fogg was an hour in advance of time. Fix saw them leave the carriage
|
||
|
|
and push off in a boat for the steamer, and stamped his feet with
|
||
|
|
disappointment.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"The rascal is off, after all!" he exclaimed. "Two thousand pounds
|
||
|
|
sacrificed! He's as prodigal as a thief! I'll follow him to the end
|
||
|
|
of the world if necessary; but, at the rate he is going on, the stolen
|
||
|
|
money will soon be exhausted."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The detective was not far wrong in making this conjecture. Since
|
||
|
|
leaving London, what with travelling expenses, bribes, the purchase of
|
||
|
|
the elephant, bails, and fines, Mr. Fogg had already spent more than
|
||
|
|
five thousand pounds on the way, and the percentage of the sum
|
||
|
|
recovered from the bank robber promised to the detectives, was rapidly
|
||
|
|
diminishing.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter XVI
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH FIX DOES NOT SEEM TO UNDERSTAND IN THE LEAST WHAT IS SAID TO
|
||
|
|
HIM
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The Rangoon--one of the Peninsular and Oriental Company's boats plying
|
||
|
|
in the Chinese and Japanese seas--was a screw steamer, built of iron,
|
||
|
|
weighing about seventeen hundred and seventy tons, and with engines of
|
||
|
|
four hundred horse-power. She was as fast, but not as well fitted up,
|
||
|
|
as the Mongolia, and Aouda was not as comfortably provided for on board
|
||
|
|
of her as Phileas Fogg could have wished. However, the trip from
|
||
|
|
Calcutta to Hong Kong only comprised some three thousand five hundred
|
||
|
|
miles, occupying from ten to twelve days, and the young woman was not
|
||
|
|
difficult to please.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
During the first days of the journey Aouda became better acquainted
|
||
|
|
with her protector, and constantly gave evidence of her deep gratitude
|
||
|
|
for what he had done. The phlegmatic gentleman listened to her,
|
||
|
|
apparently at least, with coldness, neither his voice nor his manner
|
||
|
|
betraying the slightest emotion; but he seemed to be always on the
|
||
|
|
watch that nothing should be wanting to Aouda's comfort. He visited
|
||
|
|
her regularly each day at certain hours, not so much to talk himself,
|
||
|
|
as to sit and hear her talk. He treated her with the strictest
|
||
|
|
politeness, but with the precision of an automaton, the movements of
|
||
|
|
which had been arranged for this purpose. Aouda did not quite know
|
||
|
|
what to make of him, though Passepartout had given her some hints of
|
||
|
|
his master's eccentricity, and made her smile by telling her of the
|
||
|
|
wager which was sending him round the world. After all, she owed
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg her life, and she always regarded him through the exalting
|
||
|
|
medium of her gratitude.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Aouda confirmed the Parsee guide's narrative of her touching history.
|
||
|
|
She did, indeed, belong to the highest of the native races of India.
|
||
|
|
Many of the Parsee merchants have made great fortunes there by dealing
|
||
|
|
in cotton; and one of them, Sir Jametsee Jeejeebhoy, was made a baronet
|
||
|
|
by the English government. Aouda was a relative of this great man, and
|
||
|
|
it was his cousin, Jeejeeh, whom she hoped to join at Hong Kong.
|
||
|
|
Whether she would find a protector in him she could not tell; but Mr.
|
||
|
|
Fogg essayed to calm her anxieties, and to assure her that everything
|
||
|
|
would be mathematically--he used the very word--arranged. Aouda
|
||
|
|
fastened her great eyes, "clear as the sacred lakes of the Himalaya,"
|
||
|
|
upon him; but the intractable Fogg, as reserved as ever, did not seem
|
||
|
|
at all inclined to throw himself into this lake.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The first few days of the voyage passed prosperously, amid favourable
|
||
|
|
weather and propitious winds, and they soon came in sight of the great
|
||
|
|
Andaman, the principal of the islands in the Bay of Bengal, with its
|
||
|
|
picturesque Saddle Peak, two thousand four hundred feet high, looming
|
||
|
|
above the waters. The steamer passed along near the shores, but the
|
||
|
|
savage Papuans, who are in the lowest scale of humanity, but are not,
|
||
|
|
as has been asserted, cannibals, did not make their appearance.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The panorama of the islands, as they steamed by them, was superb. Vast
|
||
|
|
forests of palms, arecs, bamboo, teakwood, of the gigantic mimosa, and
|
||
|
|
tree-like ferns covered the foreground, while behind, the graceful
|
||
|
|
outlines of the mountains were traced against the sky; and along the
|
||
|
|
coasts swarmed by thousands the precious swallows whose nests furnish a
|
||
|
|
luxurious dish to the tables of the Celestial Empire. The varied
|
||
|
|
landscape afforded by the Andaman Islands was soon passed, however, and
|
||
|
|
the Rangoon rapidly approached the Straits of Malacca, which gave
|
||
|
|
access to the China seas.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
What was detective Fix, so unluckily drawn on from country to country,
|
||
|
|
doing all this while? He had managed to embark on the Rangoon at
|
||
|
|
Calcutta without being seen by Passepartout, after leaving orders that,
|
||
|
|
if the warrant should arrive, it should be forwarded to him at Hong
|
||
|
|
Kong; and he hoped to conceal his presence to the end of the voyage.
|
||
|
|
It would have been difficult to explain why he was on board without
|
||
|
|
awakening Passepartout's suspicions, who thought him still at Bombay.
|
||
|
|
But necessity impelled him, nevertheless, to renew his acquaintance
|
||
|
|
with the worthy servant, as will be seen.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
All the detective's hopes and wishes were now centred on Hong Kong; for
|
||
|
|
the steamer's stay at Singapore would be too brief to enable him to
|
||
|
|
take any steps there. The arrest must be made at Hong Kong, or the
|
||
|
|
robber would probably escape him for ever. Hong Kong was the last
|
||
|
|
English ground on which he would set foot; beyond, China, Japan,
|
||
|
|
America offered to Fogg an almost certain refuge. If the warrant
|
||
|
|
should at last make its appearance at Hong Kong, Fix could arrest him
|
||
|
|
and give him into the hands of the local police, and there would be no
|
||
|
|
further trouble. But beyond Hong Kong, a simple warrant would be of no
|
||
|
|
avail; an extradition warrant would be necessary, and that would result
|
||
|
|
in delays and obstacles, of which the rascal would take advantage to
|
||
|
|
elude justice.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix thought over these probabilities during the long hours which he
|
||
|
|
spent in his cabin, and kept repeating to himself, "Now, either the
|
||
|
|
warrant will be at Hong Kong, in which case I shall arrest my man, or
|
||
|
|
it will not be there; and this time it is absolutely necessary that I
|
||
|
|
should delay his departure. I have failed at Bombay, and I have failed
|
||
|
|
at Calcutta; if I fail at Hong Kong, my reputation is lost: Cost what
|
||
|
|
it may, I must succeed! But how shall I prevent his departure, if that
|
||
|
|
should turn out to be my last resource?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix made up his mind that, if worst came to worst, he would make a
|
||
|
|
confidant of Passepartout, and tell him what kind of a fellow his
|
||
|
|
master really was. That Passepartout was not Fogg's accomplice, he was
|
||
|
|
very certain. The servant, enlightened by his disclosure, and afraid
|
||
|
|
of being himself implicated in the crime, would doubtless become an
|
||
|
|
ally of the detective. But this method was a dangerous one, only to be
|
||
|
|
employed when everything else had failed. A word from Passepartout to
|
||
|
|
his master would ruin all. The detective was therefore in a sore
|
||
|
|
strait. But suddenly a new idea struck him. The presence of Aouda on
|
||
|
|
the Rangoon, in company with Phileas Fogg, gave him new material for
|
||
|
|
reflection.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Who was this woman? What combination of events had made her Fogg's
|
||
|
|
travelling companion? They had evidently met somewhere between Bombay
|
||
|
|
and Calcutta; but where? Had they met accidentally, or had Fogg gone
|
||
|
|
into the interior purposely in quest of this charming damsel? Fix was
|
||
|
|
fairly puzzled. He asked himself whether there had not been a wicked
|
||
|
|
elopement; and this idea so impressed itself upon his mind that he
|
||
|
|
determined to make use of the supposed intrigue. Whether the young
|
||
|
|
woman were married or not, he would be able to create such difficulties
|
||
|
|
for Mr. Fogg at Hong Kong that he could not escape by paying any amount
|
||
|
|
of money.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
But could he even wait till they reached Hong Kong? Fogg had an
|
||
|
|
abominable way of jumping from one boat to another, and, before
|
||
|
|
anything could be effected, might get full under way again for Yokohama.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix decided that he must warn the English authorities, and signal the
|
||
|
|
Rangoon before her arrival. This was easy to do, since the steamer
|
||
|
|
stopped at Singapore, whence there is a telegraphic wire to Hong Kong.
|
||
|
|
He finally resolved, moreover, before acting more positively, to
|
||
|
|
question Passepartout. It would not be difficult to make him talk;
|
||
|
|
and, as there was no time to lose, Fix prepared to make himself known.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was now the 30th of October, and on the following day the Rangoon
|
||
|
|
was due at Singapore.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix emerged from his cabin and went on deck. Passepartout was
|
||
|
|
promenading up and down in the forward part of the steamer. The
|
||
|
|
detective rushed forward with every appearance of extreme surprise, and
|
||
|
|
exclaimed, "You here, on the Rangoon?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What, Monsieur Fix, are you on board?" returned the really astonished
|
||
|
|
Passepartout, recognising his crony of the Mongolia. "Why, I left you
|
||
|
|
at Bombay, and here you are, on the way to Hong Kong! Are you going
|
||
|
|
round the world too?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No, no," replied Fix; "I shall stop at Hong Kong--at least for some
|
||
|
|
days."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Hum!" said Passepartout, who seemed for an instant perplexed. "But
|
||
|
|
how is it I have not seen you on board since we left Calcutta?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Oh, a trifle of sea-sickness--I've been staying in my berth. The Gulf
|
||
|
|
of Bengal does not agree with me as well as the Indian Ocean. And how
|
||
|
|
is Mr. Fogg?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"As well and as punctual as ever, not a day behind time! But, Monsieur
|
||
|
|
Fix, you don't know that we have a young lady with us."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"A young lady?" replied the detective, not seeming to comprehend what
|
||
|
|
was said.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout thereupon recounted Aouda's history, the affair at the
|
||
|
|
Bombay pagoda, the purchase of the elephant for two thousand pounds,
|
||
|
|
the rescue, the arrest, and sentence of the Calcutta court, and the
|
||
|
|
restoration of Mr. Fogg and himself to liberty on bail. Fix, who was
|
||
|
|
familiar with the last events, seemed to be equally ignorant of all
|
||
|
|
that Passepartout related; and the later was charmed to find so
|
||
|
|
interested a listener.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But does your master propose to carry this young woman to Europe?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Not at all. We are simply going to place her under the protection of
|
||
|
|
one of her relatives, a rich merchant at Hong Kong."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Nothing to be done there," said Fix to himself, concealing his
|
||
|
|
disappointment. "A glass of gin, Mr. Passepartout?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Willingly, Monsieur Fix. We must at least have a friendly glass on
|
||
|
|
board the Rangoon."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter XVII
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
SHOWING WHAT HAPPENED ON THE VOYAGE FROM SINGAPORE TO HONG KONG
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The detective and Passepartout met often on deck after this interview,
|
||
|
|
though Fix was reserved, and did not attempt to induce his companion to
|
||
|
|
divulge any more facts concerning Mr. Fogg. He caught a glimpse of
|
||
|
|
that mysterious gentleman once or twice; but Mr. Fogg usually confined
|
||
|
|
himself to the cabin, where he kept Aouda company, or, according to his
|
||
|
|
inveterate habit, took a hand at whist.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout began very seriously to conjecture what strange chance
|
||
|
|
kept Fix still on the route that his master was pursuing. It was
|
||
|
|
really worth considering why this certainly very amiable and complacent
|
||
|
|
person, whom he had first met at Suez, had then encountered on board
|
||
|
|
the Mongolia, who disembarked at Bombay, which he announced as his
|
||
|
|
destination, and now turned up so unexpectedly on the Rangoon, was
|
||
|
|
following Mr. Fogg's tracks step by step. What was Fix's object?
|
||
|
|
Passepartout was ready to wager his Indian shoes--which he religiously
|
||
|
|
preserved--that Fix would also leave Hong Kong at the same time with
|
||
|
|
them, and probably on the same steamer.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout might have cudgelled his brain for a century without
|
||
|
|
hitting upon the real object which the detective had in view. He never
|
||
|
|
could have imagined that Phileas Fogg was being tracked as a robber
|
||
|
|
around the globe. But, as it is in human nature to attempt the
|
||
|
|
solution of every mystery, Passepartout suddenly discovered an
|
||
|
|
explanation of Fix's movements, which was in truth far from
|
||
|
|
unreasonable. Fix, he thought, could only be an agent of Mr. Fogg's
|
||
|
|
friends at the Reform Club, sent to follow him up, and to ascertain
|
||
|
|
that he really went round the world as had been agreed upon.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"It's clear!" repeated the worthy servant to himself, proud of his
|
||
|
|
shrewdness. "He's a spy sent to keep us in view! That isn't quite the
|
||
|
|
thing, either, to be spying Mr. Fogg, who is so honourable a man! Ah,
|
||
|
|
gentlemen of the Reform, this shall cost you dear!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout, enchanted with his discovery, resolved to say nothing to
|
||
|
|
his master, lest he should be justly offended at this mistrust on the
|
||
|
|
part of his adversaries. But he determined to chaff Fix, when he had
|
||
|
|
the chance, with mysterious allusions, which, however, need not betray
|
||
|
|
his real suspicions.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
During the afternoon of Wednesday, 30th October, the Rangoon entered
|
||
|
|
the Strait of Malacca, which separates the peninsula of that name from
|
||
|
|
Sumatra. The mountainous and craggy islets intercepted the beauties of
|
||
|
|
this noble island from the view of the travellers. The Rangoon weighed
|
||
|
|
anchor at Singapore the next day at four a.m., to receive coal, having
|
||
|
|
gained half a day on the prescribed time of her arrival. Phileas Fogg
|
||
|
|
noted this gain in his journal, and then, accompanied by Aouda, who
|
||
|
|
betrayed a desire for a walk on shore, disembarked.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix, who suspected Mr. Fogg's every movement, followed them cautiously,
|
||
|
|
without being himself perceived; while Passepartout, laughing in his
|
||
|
|
sleeve at Fix's manoeuvres, went about his usual errands.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The island of Singapore is not imposing in aspect, for there are no
|
||
|
|
mountains; yet its appearance is not without attractions. It is a park
|
||
|
|
checkered by pleasant highways and avenues. A handsome carriage, drawn
|
||
|
|
by a sleek pair of New Holland horses, carried Phileas Fogg and Aouda
|
||
|
|
into the midst of rows of palms with brilliant foliage, and of
|
||
|
|
clove-trees, whereof the cloves form the heart of a half-open flower.
|
||
|
|
Pepper plants replaced the prickly hedges of European fields;
|
||
|
|
sago-bushes, large ferns with gorgeous branches, varied the aspect of
|
||
|
|
this tropical clime; while nutmeg-trees in full foliage filled the air
|
||
|
|
with a penetrating perfume. Agile and grinning bands of monkeys
|
||
|
|
skipped about in the trees, nor were tigers wanting in the jungles.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
After a drive of two hours through the country, Aouda and Mr. Fogg
|
||
|
|
returned to the town, which is a vast collection of heavy-looking,
|
||
|
|
irregular houses, surrounded by charming gardens rich in tropical
|
||
|
|
fruits and plants; and at ten o'clock they re-embarked, closely
|
||
|
|
followed by the detective, who had kept them constantly in sight.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout, who had been purchasing several dozen mangoes--a fruit
|
||
|
|
as large as good-sized apples, of a dark-brown colour outside and a
|
||
|
|
bright red within, and whose white pulp, melting in the mouth, affords
|
||
|
|
gourmands a delicious sensation--was waiting for them on deck. He was
|
||
|
|
only too glad to offer some mangoes to Aouda, who thanked him very
|
||
|
|
gracefully for them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At eleven o'clock the Rangoon rode out of Singapore harbour, and in a
|
||
|
|
few hours the high mountains of Malacca, with their forests, inhabited
|
||
|
|
by the most beautifully-furred tigers in the world, were lost to view.
|
||
|
|
Singapore is distant some thirteen hundred miles from the island of
|
||
|
|
Hong Kong, which is a little English colony near the Chinese coast.
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg hoped to accomplish the journey in six days, so as to be
|
||
|
|
in time for the steamer which would leave on the 6th of November for
|
||
|
|
Yokohama, the principal Japanese port.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The Rangoon had a large quota of passengers, many of whom disembarked
|
||
|
|
at Singapore, among them a number of Indians, Ceylonese, Chinamen,
|
||
|
|
Malays, and Portuguese, mostly second-class travellers.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The weather, which had hitherto been fine, changed with the last
|
||
|
|
quarter of the moon. The sea rolled heavily, and the wind at intervals
|
||
|
|
rose almost to a storm, but happily blew from the south-west, and thus
|
||
|
|
aided the steamer's progress. The captain as often as possible put up
|
||
|
|
his sails, and under the double action of steam and sail the vessel
|
||
|
|
made rapid progress along the coasts of Anam and Cochin China. Owing
|
||
|
|
to the defective construction of the Rangoon, however, unusual
|
||
|
|
precautions became necessary in unfavourable weather; but the loss of
|
||
|
|
time which resulted from this cause, while it nearly drove Passepartout
|
||
|
|
out of his senses, did not seem to affect his master in the least.
|
||
|
|
Passepartout blamed the captain, the engineer, and the crew, and
|
||
|
|
consigned all who were connected with the ship to the land where the
|
||
|
|
pepper grows. Perhaps the thought of the gas, which was remorselessly
|
||
|
|
burning at his expense in Saville Row, had something to do with his hot
|
||
|
|
impatience.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"You are in a great hurry, then," said Fix to him one day, "to reach
|
||
|
|
Hong Kong?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"A very great hurry!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Mr. Fogg, I suppose, is anxious to catch the steamer for Yokohama?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Terribly anxious."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"You believe in this journey around the world, then?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Absolutely. Don't you, Mr. Fix?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I? I don't believe a word of it."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"You're a sly dog!" said Passepartout, winking at him.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This expression rather disturbed Fix, without his knowing why. Had the
|
||
|
|
Frenchman guessed his real purpose? He knew not what to think. But
|
||
|
|
how could Passepartout have discovered that he was a detective? Yet,
|
||
|
|
in speaking as he did, the man evidently meant more than he expressed.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout went still further the next day; he could not hold his
|
||
|
|
tongue.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Mr. Fix," said he, in a bantering tone, "shall we be so unfortunate as
|
||
|
|
to lose you when we get to Hong Kong?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Why," responded Fix, a little embarrassed, "I don't know; perhaps--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Ah, if you would only go on with us! An agent of the Peninsular
|
||
|
|
Company, you know, can't stop on the way! You were only going to
|
||
|
|
Bombay, and here you are in China. America is not far off, and from
|
||
|
|
America to Europe is only a step."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix looked intently at his companion, whose countenance was as serene
|
||
|
|
as possible, and laughed with him. But Passepartout persisted in
|
||
|
|
chaffing him by asking him if he made much by his present occupation.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes, and no," returned Fix; "there is good and bad luck in such
|
||
|
|
things. But you must understand that I don't travel at my own expense."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Oh, I am quite sure of that!" cried Passepartout, laughing heartily.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix, fairly puzzled, descended to his cabin and gave himself up to his
|
||
|
|
reflections. He was evidently suspected; somehow or other the
|
||
|
|
Frenchman had found out that he was a detective. But had he told his
|
||
|
|
master? What part was he playing in all this: was he an accomplice or
|
||
|
|
not? Was the game, then, up? Fix spent several hours turning these
|
||
|
|
things over in his mind, sometimes thinking that all was lost, then
|
||
|
|
persuading himself that Fogg was ignorant of his presence, and then
|
||
|
|
undecided what course it was best to take.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Nevertheless, he preserved his coolness of mind, and at last resolved
|
||
|
|
to deal plainly with Passepartout. If he did not find it practicable
|
||
|
|
to arrest Fogg at Hong Kong, and if Fogg made preparations to leave
|
||
|
|
that last foothold of English territory, he, Fix, would tell
|
||
|
|
Passepartout all. Either the servant was the accomplice of his master,
|
||
|
|
and in this case the master knew of his operations, and he should fail;
|
||
|
|
or else the servant knew nothing about the robbery, and then his
|
||
|
|
interest would be to abandon the robber.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Such was the situation between Fix and Passepartout. Meanwhile Phileas
|
||
|
|
Fogg moved about above them in the most majestic and unconscious
|
||
|
|
indifference. He was passing methodically in his orbit around the
|
||
|
|
world, regardless of the lesser stars which gravitated around him. Yet
|
||
|
|
there was near by what the astronomers would call a disturbing star,
|
||
|
|
which might have produced an agitation in this gentleman's heart. But
|
||
|
|
no! the charms of Aouda failed to act, to Passepartout's great
|
||
|
|
surprise; and the disturbances, if they existed, would have been more
|
||
|
|
difficult to calculate than those of Uranus which led to the discovery
|
||
|
|
of Neptune.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was every day an increasing wonder to Passepartout, who read in
|
||
|
|
Aouda's eyes the depths of her gratitude to his master. Phileas Fogg,
|
||
|
|
though brave and gallant, must be, he thought, quite heartless. As to
|
||
|
|
the sentiment which this journey might have awakened in him, there was
|
||
|
|
clearly no trace of such a thing; while poor Passepartout existed in
|
||
|
|
perpetual reveries.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
One day he was leaning on the railing of the engine-room, and was
|
||
|
|
observing the engine, when a sudden pitch of the steamer threw the
|
||
|
|
screw out of the water. The steam came hissing out of the valves; and
|
||
|
|
this made Passepartout indignant.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"The valves are not sufficiently charged!" he exclaimed. "We are not
|
||
|
|
going. Oh, these English! If this was an American craft, we should
|
||
|
|
blow up, perhaps, but we should at all events go faster!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter XVIII
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG, PASSEPARTOUT, AND FIX GO EACH ABOUT HIS BUSINESS
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The weather was bad during the latter days of the voyage. The wind,
|
||
|
|
obstinately remaining in the north-west, blew a gale, and retarded the
|
||
|
|
steamer. The Rangoon rolled heavily and the passengers became
|
||
|
|
impatient of the long, monstrous waves which the wind raised before
|
||
|
|
their path. A sort of tempest arose on the 3rd of November, the squall
|
||
|
|
knocking the vessel about with fury, and the waves running high. The
|
||
|
|
Rangoon reefed all her sails, and even the rigging proved too much,
|
||
|
|
whistling and shaking amid the squall. The steamer was forced to
|
||
|
|
proceed slowly, and the captain estimated that she would reach Hong
|
||
|
|
Kong twenty hours behind time, and more if the storm lasted.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg gazed at the tempestuous sea, which seemed to be
|
||
|
|
struggling especially to delay him, with his habitual tranquillity. He
|
||
|
|
never changed countenance for an instant, though a delay of twenty
|
||
|
|
hours, by making him too late for the Yokohama boat, would almost
|
||
|
|
inevitably cause the loss of the wager. But this man of nerve
|
||
|
|
manifested neither impatience nor annoyance; it seemed as if the storm
|
||
|
|
were a part of his programme, and had been foreseen. Aouda was amazed
|
||
|
|
to find him as calm as he had been from the first time she saw him.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix did not look at the state of things in the same light. The storm
|
||
|
|
greatly pleased him. His satisfaction would have been complete had the
|
||
|
|
Rangoon been forced to retreat before the violence of wind and waves.
|
||
|
|
Each delay filled him with hope, for it became more and more probable
|
||
|
|
that Fogg would be obliged to remain some days at Hong Kong; and now
|
||
|
|
the heavens themselves became his allies, with the gusts and squalls.
|
||
|
|
It mattered not that they made him sea-sick--he made no account of this
|
||
|
|
inconvenience; and, whilst his body was writhing under their effects,
|
||
|
|
his spirit bounded with hopeful exultation.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout was enraged beyond expression by the unpropitious weather.
|
||
|
|
Everything had gone so well till now! Earth and sea had seemed to be
|
||
|
|
at his master's service; steamers and railways obeyed him; wind and
|
||
|
|
steam united to speed his journey. Had the hour of adversity come?
|
||
|
|
Passepartout was as much excited as if the twenty thousand pounds were
|
||
|
|
to come from his own pocket. The storm exasperated him, the gale made
|
||
|
|
him furious, and he longed to lash the obstinate sea into obedience.
|
||
|
|
Poor fellow! Fix carefully concealed from him his own satisfaction,
|
||
|
|
for, had he betrayed it, Passepartout could scarcely have restrained
|
||
|
|
himself from personal violence.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout remained on deck as long as the tempest lasted, being
|
||
|
|
unable to remain quiet below, and taking it into his head to aid the
|
||
|
|
progress of the ship by lending a hand with the crew. He overwhelmed
|
||
|
|
the captain, officers, and sailors, who could not help laughing at his
|
||
|
|
impatience, with all sorts of questions. He wanted to know exactly how
|
||
|
|
long the storm was going to last; whereupon he was referred to the
|
||
|
|
barometer, which seemed to have no intention of rising. Passepartout
|
||
|
|
shook it, but with no perceptible effect; for neither shaking nor
|
||
|
|
maledictions could prevail upon it to change its mind.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
On the 4th, however, the sea became more calm, and the storm lessened
|
||
|
|
its violence; the wind veered southward, and was once more favourable.
|
||
|
|
Passepartout cleared up with the weather. Some of the sails were
|
||
|
|
unfurled, and the Rangoon resumed its most rapid speed. The time lost
|
||
|
|
could not, however, be regained. Land was not signalled until five
|
||
|
|
o'clock on the morning of the 6th; the steamer was due on the 5th.
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg was twenty-four hours behind-hand, and the Yokohama
|
||
|
|
steamer would, of course, be missed.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The pilot went on board at six, and took his place on the bridge, to
|
||
|
|
guide the Rangoon through the channels to the port of Hong Kong.
|
||
|
|
Passepartout longed to ask him if the steamer had left for Yokohama;
|
||
|
|
but he dared not, for he wished to preserve the spark of hope, which
|
||
|
|
still remained till the last moment. He had confided his anxiety to
|
||
|
|
Fix who--the sly rascal!--tried to console him by saying that Mr. Fogg
|
||
|
|
would be in time if he took the next boat; but this only put
|
||
|
|
Passepartout in a passion.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg, bolder than his servant, did not hesitate to approach the
|
||
|
|
pilot, and tranquilly ask him if he knew when a steamer would leave
|
||
|
|
Hong Kong for Yokohama.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"At high tide to-morrow morning," answered the pilot.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Ah!" said Mr. Fogg, without betraying any astonishment.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout, who heard what passed, would willingly have embraced the
|
||
|
|
pilot, while Fix would have been glad to twist his neck.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What is the steamer's name?" asked Mr. Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"The Carnatic."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Ought she not to have gone yesterday?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes, sir; but they had to repair one of her boilers, and so her
|
||
|
|
departure was postponed till to-morrow."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Thank you," returned Mr. Fogg, descending mathematically to the saloon.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout clasped the pilot's hand and shook it heartily in his
|
||
|
|
delight, exclaiming, "Pilot, you are the best of good fellows!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The pilot probably does not know to this day why his responses won him
|
||
|
|
this enthusiastic greeting. He remounted the bridge, and guided the
|
||
|
|
steamer through the flotilla of junks, tankas, and fishing boats which
|
||
|
|
crowd the harbour of Hong Kong.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At one o'clock the Rangoon was at the quay, and the passengers were
|
||
|
|
going ashore.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chance had strangely favoured Phileas Fogg, for had not the Carnatic
|
||
|
|
been forced to lie over for repairing her boilers, she would have left
|
||
|
|
on the 6th of November, and the passengers for Japan would have been
|
||
|
|
obliged to await for a week the sailing of the next steamer. Mr. Fogg
|
||
|
|
was, it is true, twenty-four hours behind his time; but this could not
|
||
|
|
seriously imperil the remainder of his tour.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The steamer which crossed the Pacific from Yokohama to San Francisco
|
||
|
|
made a direct connection with that from Hong Kong, and it could not
|
||
|
|
sail until the latter reached Yokohama; and if Mr. Fogg was twenty-four
|
||
|
|
hours late on reaching Yokohama, this time would no doubt be easily
|
||
|
|
regained in the voyage of twenty-two days across the Pacific. He found
|
||
|
|
himself, then, about twenty-four hours behind-hand, thirty-five days
|
||
|
|
after leaving London.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The Carnatic was announced to leave Hong Kong at five the next morning.
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg had sixteen hours in which to attend to his business there,
|
||
|
|
which was to deposit Aouda safely with her wealthy relative.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
On landing, he conducted her to a palanquin, in which they repaired to
|
||
|
|
the Club Hotel. A room was engaged for the young woman, and Mr. Fogg,
|
||
|
|
after seeing that she wanted for nothing, set out in search of her
|
||
|
|
cousin Jeejeeh. He instructed Passepartout to remain at the hotel
|
||
|
|
until his return, that Aouda might not be left entirely alone.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg repaired to the Exchange, where, he did not doubt, every one
|
||
|
|
would know so wealthy and considerable a personage as the Parsee
|
||
|
|
merchant. Meeting a broker, he made the inquiry, to learn that Jeejeeh
|
||
|
|
had left China two years before, and, retiring from business with an
|
||
|
|
immense fortune, had taken up his residence in Europe--in Holland the
|
||
|
|
broker thought, with the merchants of which country he had principally
|
||
|
|
traded. Phileas Fogg returned to the hotel, begged a moment's
|
||
|
|
conversation with Aouda, and without more ado, apprised her that
|
||
|
|
Jeejeeh was no longer at Hong Kong, but probably in Holland.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Aouda at first said nothing. She passed her hand across her forehead,
|
||
|
|
and reflected a few moments. Then, in her sweet, soft voice, she said:
|
||
|
|
"What ought I to do, Mr. Fogg?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"It is very simple," responded the gentleman. "Go on to Europe."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But I cannot intrude--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"You do not intrude, nor do you in the least embarrass my project.
|
||
|
|
Passepartout!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Monsieur."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Go to the Carnatic, and engage three cabins."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout, delighted that the young woman, who was very gracious to
|
||
|
|
him, was going to continue the journey with them, went off at a brisk
|
||
|
|
gait to obey his master's order.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter XIX
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH PASSEPARTOUT TAKES A TOO GREAT INTEREST IN HIS MASTER, AND
|
||
|
|
WHAT COMES OF IT
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Hong Kong is an island which came into the possession of the English by
|
||
|
|
the Treaty of Nankin, after the war of 1842; and the colonising genius
|
||
|
|
of the English has created upon it an important city and an excellent
|
||
|
|
port. The island is situated at the mouth of the Canton River, and is
|
||
|
|
separated by about sixty miles from the Portuguese town of Macao, on
|
||
|
|
the opposite coast. Hong Kong has beaten Macao in the struggle for the
|
||
|
|
Chinese trade, and now the greater part of the transportation of
|
||
|
|
Chinese goods finds its depot at the former place. Docks, hospitals,
|
||
|
|
wharves, a Gothic cathedral, a government house, macadamised streets,
|
||
|
|
give to Hong Kong the appearance of a town in Kent or Surrey
|
||
|
|
transferred by some strange magic to the antipodes.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout wandered, with his hands in his pockets, towards the
|
||
|
|
Victoria port, gazing as he went at the curious palanquins and other
|
||
|
|
modes of conveyance, and the groups of Chinese, Japanese, and Europeans
|
||
|
|
who passed to and fro in the streets. Hong Kong seemed to him not
|
||
|
|
unlike Bombay, Calcutta, and Singapore, since, like them, it betrayed
|
||
|
|
everywhere the evidence of English supremacy. At the Victoria port he
|
||
|
|
found a confused mass of ships of all nations: English, French,
|
||
|
|
American, and Dutch, men-of-war and trading vessels, Japanese and
|
||
|
|
Chinese junks, sempas, tankas, and flower-boats, which formed so many
|
||
|
|
floating parterres. Passepartout noticed in the crowd a number of the
|
||
|
|
natives who seemed very old and were dressed in yellow. On going into
|
||
|
|
a barber's to get shaved he learned that these ancient men were all at
|
||
|
|
least eighty years old, at which age they are permitted to wear yellow,
|
||
|
|
which is the Imperial colour. Passepartout, without exactly knowing
|
||
|
|
why, thought this very funny.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
On reaching the quay where they were to embark on the Carnatic, he was
|
||
|
|
not astonished to find Fix walking up and down. The detective seemed
|
||
|
|
very much disturbed and disappointed.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"This is bad," muttered Passepartout, "for the gentlemen of the Reform
|
||
|
|
Club!" He accosted Fix with a merry smile, as if he had not perceived
|
||
|
|
that gentleman's chagrin. The detective had, indeed, good reasons to
|
||
|
|
inveigh against the bad luck which pursued him. The warrant had not
|
||
|
|
come! It was certainly on the way, but as certainly it could not now
|
||
|
|
reach Hong Kong for several days; and, this being the last English
|
||
|
|
territory on Mr. Fogg's route, the robber would escape, unless he could
|
||
|
|
manage to detain him.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Well, Monsieur Fix," said Passepartout, "have you decided to go with
|
||
|
|
us so far as America?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes," returned Fix, through his set teeth.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Good!" exclaimed Passepartout, laughing heartily. "I knew you could
|
||
|
|
not persuade yourself to separate from us. Come and engage your berth."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They entered the steamer office and secured cabins for four persons.
|
||
|
|
The clerk, as he gave them the tickets, informed them that, the repairs
|
||
|
|
on the Carnatic having been completed, the steamer would leave that
|
||
|
|
very evening, and not next morning, as had been announced.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"That will suit my master all the better," said Passepartout. "I will
|
||
|
|
go and let him know."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix now decided to make a bold move; he resolved to tell Passepartout
|
||
|
|
all. It seemed to be the only possible means of keeping Phileas Fogg
|
||
|
|
several days longer at Hong Kong. He accordingly invited his companion
|
||
|
|
into a tavern which caught his eye on the quay. On entering, they
|
||
|
|
found themselves in a large room handsomely decorated, at the end of
|
||
|
|
which was a large camp-bed furnished with cushions. Several persons
|
||
|
|
lay upon this bed in a deep sleep. At the small tables which were
|
||
|
|
arranged about the room some thirty customers were drinking English
|
||
|
|
beer, porter, gin, and brandy; smoking, the while, long red clay pipes
|
||
|
|
stuffed with little balls of opium mingled with essence of rose. From
|
||
|
|
time to time one of the smokers, overcome with the narcotic, would slip
|
||
|
|
under the table, whereupon the waiters, taking him by the head and
|
||
|
|
feet, carried and laid him upon the bed. The bed already supported
|
||
|
|
twenty of these stupefied sots.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix and Passepartout saw that they were in a smoking-house haunted by
|
||
|
|
those wretched, cadaverous, idiotic creatures to whom the English
|
||
|
|
merchants sell every year the miserable drug called opium, to the
|
||
|
|
amount of one million four hundred thousand pounds--thousands devoted
|
||
|
|
to one of the most despicable vices which afflict humanity! The
|
||
|
|
Chinese government has in vain attempted to deal with the evil by
|
||
|
|
stringent laws. It passed gradually from the rich, to whom it was at
|
||
|
|
first exclusively reserved, to the lower classes, and then its ravages
|
||
|
|
could not be arrested. Opium is smoked everywhere, at all times, by
|
||
|
|
men and women, in the Celestial Empire; and, once accustomed to it, the
|
||
|
|
victims cannot dispense with it, except by suffering horrible bodily
|
||
|
|
contortions and agonies. A great smoker can smoke as many as eight
|
||
|
|
pipes a day; but he dies in five years. It was in one of these dens
|
||
|
|
that Fix and Passepartout, in search of a friendly glass, found
|
||
|
|
themselves. Passepartout had no money, but willingly accepted Fix's
|
||
|
|
invitation in the hope of returning the obligation at some future time.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They ordered two bottles of port, to which the Frenchman did ample
|
||
|
|
justice, whilst Fix observed him with close attention. They chatted
|
||
|
|
about the journey, and Passepartout was especially merry at the idea
|
||
|
|
that Fix was going to continue it with them. When the bottles were
|
||
|
|
empty, however, he rose to go and tell his master of the change in the
|
||
|
|
time of the sailing of the Carnatic.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix caught him by the arm, and said, "Wait a moment."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What for, Mr. Fix?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I want to have a serious talk with you."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"A serious talk!" cried Passepartout, drinking up the little wine that
|
||
|
|
was left in the bottom of his glass. "Well, we'll talk about it
|
||
|
|
to-morrow; I haven't time now."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Stay! What I have to say concerns your master."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout, at this, looked attentively at his companion. Fix's face
|
||
|
|
seemed to have a singular expression. He resumed his seat.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What is it that you have to say?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix placed his hand upon Passepartout's arm, and, lowering his voice,
|
||
|
|
said, "You have guessed who I am?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Parbleu!" said Passepartout, smiling.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Then I'm going to tell you everything--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Now that I know everything, my friend! Ah! that's very good. But go
|
||
|
|
on, go on. First, though, let me tell you that those gentlemen have
|
||
|
|
put themselves to a useless expense."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Useless!" said Fix. "You speak confidently. It's clear that you
|
||
|
|
don't know how large the sum is."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Of course I do," returned Passepartout. "Twenty thousand pounds."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Fifty-five thousand!" answered Fix, pressing his companion's hand.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What!" cried the Frenchman. "Has Monsieur Fogg dared--fifty-five
|
||
|
|
thousand pounds! Well, there's all the more reason for not losing an
|
||
|
|
instant," he continued, getting up hastily.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix pushed Passepartout back in his chair, and resumed: "Fifty-five
|
||
|
|
thousand pounds; and if I succeed, I get two thousand pounds. If
|
||
|
|
you'll help me, I'll let you have five hundred of them."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Help you?" cried Passepartout, whose eyes were standing wide open.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes; help me keep Mr. Fogg here for two or three days."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Why, what are you saying? Those gentlemen are not satisfied with
|
||
|
|
following my master and suspecting his honour, but they must try to put
|
||
|
|
obstacles in his way! I blush for them!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What do you mean?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I mean that it is a piece of shameful trickery. They might as well
|
||
|
|
waylay Mr. Fogg and put his money in their pockets!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"That's just what we count on doing."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"It's a conspiracy, then," cried Passepartout, who became more and more
|
||
|
|
excited as the liquor mounted in his head, for he drank without
|
||
|
|
perceiving it. "A real conspiracy! And gentlemen, too. Bah!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix began to be puzzled.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Members of the Reform Club!" continued Passepartout. "You must know,
|
||
|
|
Monsieur Fix, that my master is an honest man, and that, when he makes
|
||
|
|
a wager, he tries to win it fairly!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But who do you think I am?" asked Fix, looking at him intently.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Parbleu! An agent of the members of the Reform Club, sent out here to
|
||
|
|
interrupt my master's journey. But, though I found you out some time
|
||
|
|
ago, I've taken good care to say nothing about it to Mr. Fogg."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"He knows nothing, then?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Nothing," replied Passepartout, again emptying his glass.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The detective passed his hand across his forehead, hesitating before he
|
||
|
|
spoke again. What should he do? Passepartout's mistake seemed
|
||
|
|
sincere, but it made his design more difficult. It was evident that
|
||
|
|
the servant was not the master's accomplice, as Fix had been inclined
|
||
|
|
to suspect.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Well," said the detective to himself, "as he is not an accomplice, he
|
||
|
|
will help me."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He had no time to lose: Fogg must be detained at Hong Kong, so he
|
||
|
|
resolved to make a clean breast of it.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Listen to me," said Fix abruptly. "I am not, as you think, an agent
|
||
|
|
of the members of the Reform Club--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Bah!" retorted Passepartout, with an air of raillery.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I am a police detective, sent out here by the London office."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"You, a detective?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I will prove it. Here is my commission."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout was speechless with astonishment when Fix displayed this
|
||
|
|
document, the genuineness of which could not be doubted.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Mr. Fogg's wager," resumed Fix, "is only a pretext, of which you and
|
||
|
|
the gentlemen of the Reform are dupes. He had a motive for securing
|
||
|
|
your innocent complicity."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But why?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Listen. On the 28th of last September a robbery of fifty-five
|
||
|
|
thousand pounds was committed at the Bank of England by a person whose
|
||
|
|
description was fortunately secured. Here is his description; it
|
||
|
|
answers exactly to that of Mr. Phileas Fogg."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What nonsense!" cried Passepartout, striking the table with his fist.
|
||
|
|
"My master is the most honourable of men!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"How can you tell? You know scarcely anything about him. You went
|
||
|
|
into his service the day he came away; and he came away on a foolish
|
||
|
|
pretext, without trunks, and carrying a large amount in banknotes. And
|
||
|
|
yet you are bold enough to assert that he is an honest man!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes, yes," repeated the poor fellow, mechanically.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Would you like to be arrested as his accomplice?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout, overcome by what he had heard, held his head between his
|
||
|
|
hands, and did not dare to look at the detective. Phileas Fogg, the
|
||
|
|
saviour of Aouda, that brave and generous man, a robber! And yet how
|
||
|
|
many presumptions there were against him! Passepartout essayed to
|
||
|
|
reject the suspicions which forced themselves upon his mind; he did not
|
||
|
|
wish to believe that his master was guilty.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Well, what do you want of me?" said he, at last, with an effort.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"See here," replied Fix; "I have tracked Mr. Fogg to this place, but as
|
||
|
|
yet I have failed to receive the warrant of arrest for which I sent to
|
||
|
|
London. You must help me to keep him here in Hong Kong--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I! But I--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I will share with you the two thousand pounds reward offered by the
|
||
|
|
Bank of England."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Never!" replied Passepartout, who tried to rise, but fell back,
|
||
|
|
exhausted in mind and body.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Mr. Fix," he stammered, "even should what you say be true--if my
|
||
|
|
master is really the robber you are seeking for--which I deny--I have
|
||
|
|
been, am, in his service; I have seen his generosity and goodness; and
|
||
|
|
I will never betray him--not for all the gold in the world. I come
|
||
|
|
from a village where they don't eat that kind of bread!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"You refuse?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I refuse."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Consider that I've said nothing," said Fix; "and let us drink."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes; let us drink!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout felt himself yielding more and more to the effects of the
|
||
|
|
liquor. Fix, seeing that he must, at all hazards, be separated from
|
||
|
|
his master, wished to entirely overcome him. Some pipes full of opium
|
||
|
|
lay upon the table. Fix slipped one into Passepartout's hand. He took
|
||
|
|
it, put it between his lips, lit it, drew several puffs, and his head,
|
||
|
|
becoming heavy under the influence of the narcotic, fell upon the table.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"At last!" said Fix, seeing Passepartout unconscious. "Mr. Fogg will
|
||
|
|
not be informed of the Carnatic's departure; and, if he is, he will
|
||
|
|
have to go without this cursed Frenchman!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
And, after paying his bill, Fix left the tavern.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter XX
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH FIX COMES FACE TO FACE WITH PHILEAS FOGG
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
While these events were passing at the opium-house, Mr. Fogg,
|
||
|
|
unconscious of the danger he was in of losing the steamer, was quietly
|
||
|
|
escorting Aouda about the streets of the English quarter, making the
|
||
|
|
necessary purchases for the long voyage before them. It was all very
|
||
|
|
well for an Englishman like Mr. Fogg to make the tour of the world with
|
||
|
|
a carpet-bag; a lady could not be expected to travel comfortably under
|
||
|
|
such conditions. He acquitted his task with characteristic serenity,
|
||
|
|
and invariably replied to the remonstrances of his fair companion, who
|
||
|
|
was confused by his patience and generosity:
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"It is in the interest of my journey--a part of my programme."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The purchases made, they returned to the hotel, where they dined at a
|
||
|
|
sumptuously served table-d'hote; after which Aouda, shaking hands with
|
||
|
|
her protector after the English fashion, retired to her room for rest.
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg absorbed himself throughout the evening in the perusal of The
|
||
|
|
Times and Illustrated London News.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Had he been capable of being astonished at anything, it would have been
|
||
|
|
not to see his servant return at bedtime. But, knowing that the
|
||
|
|
steamer was not to leave for Yokohama until the next morning, he did
|
||
|
|
not disturb himself about the matter. When Passepartout did not appear
|
||
|
|
the next morning to answer his master's bell, Mr. Fogg, not betraying
|
||
|
|
the least vexation, contented himself with taking his carpet-bag,
|
||
|
|
calling Aouda, and sending for a palanquin.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was then eight o'clock; at half-past nine, it being then high tide,
|
||
|
|
the Carnatic would leave the harbour. Mr. Fogg and Aouda got into the
|
||
|
|
palanquin, their luggage being brought after on a wheelbarrow, and half
|
||
|
|
an hour later stepped upon the quay whence they were to embark. Mr.
|
||
|
|
Fogg then learned that the Carnatic had sailed the evening before. He
|
||
|
|
had expected to find not only the steamer, but his domestic, and was
|
||
|
|
forced to give up both; but no sign of disappointment appeared on his
|
||
|
|
face, and he merely remarked to Aouda, "It is an accident, madam;
|
||
|
|
nothing more."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At this moment a man who had been observing him attentively approached.
|
||
|
|
It was Fix, who, bowing, addressed Mr. Fogg: "Were you not, like me,
|
||
|
|
sir, a passenger by the Rangoon, which arrived yesterday?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I was, sir," replied Mr. Fogg coldly. "But I have not the honour--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Pardon me; I thought I should find your servant here."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Do you know where he is, sir?" asked Aouda anxiously.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What!" responded Fix, feigning surprise. "Is he not with you?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No," said Aouda. "He has not made his appearance since yesterday.
|
||
|
|
Could he have gone on board the Carnatic without us?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Without you, madam?" answered the detective. "Excuse me, did you
|
||
|
|
intend to sail in the Carnatic?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes, sir."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"So did I, madam, and I am excessively disappointed. The Carnatic, its
|
||
|
|
repairs being completed, left Hong Kong twelve hours before the stated
|
||
|
|
time, without any notice being given; and we must now wait a week for
|
||
|
|
another steamer."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
As he said "a week" Fix felt his heart leap for joy. Fogg detained at
|
||
|
|
Hong Kong for a week! There would be time for the warrant to arrive,
|
||
|
|
and fortune at last favoured the representative of the law. His horror
|
||
|
|
may be imagined when he heard Mr. Fogg say, in his placid voice, "But
|
||
|
|
there are other vessels besides the Carnatic, it seems to me, in the
|
||
|
|
harbour of Hong Kong."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
And, offering his arm to Aouda, he directed his steps toward the docks
|
||
|
|
in search of some craft about to start. Fix, stupefied, followed; it
|
||
|
|
seemed as if he were attached to Mr. Fogg by an invisible thread.
|
||
|
|
Chance, however, appeared really to have abandoned the man it had
|
||
|
|
hitherto served so well. For three hours Phileas Fogg wandered about
|
||
|
|
the docks, with the determination, if necessary, to charter a vessel to
|
||
|
|
carry him to Yokohama; but he could only find vessels which were
|
||
|
|
loading or unloading, and which could not therefore set sail. Fix
|
||
|
|
began to hope again.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
But Mr. Fogg, far from being discouraged, was continuing his search,
|
||
|
|
resolved not to stop if he had to resort to Macao, when he was accosted
|
||
|
|
by a sailor on one of the wharves.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Is your honour looking for a boat?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Have you a boat ready to sail?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes, your honour; a pilot-boat--No. 43--the best in the harbour."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Does she go fast?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Between eight and nine knots the hour. Will you look at her?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Your honour will be satisfied with her. Is it for a sea excursion?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No; for a voyage."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"A voyage?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes, will you agree to take me to Yokohama?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The sailor leaned on the railing, opened his eyes wide, and said, "Is
|
||
|
|
your honour joking?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No. I have missed the Carnatic, and I must get to Yokohama by the
|
||
|
|
14th at the latest, to take the boat for San Francisco."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I am sorry," said the sailor; "but it is impossible."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I offer you a hundred pounds per day, and an additional reward of two
|
||
|
|
hundred pounds if I reach Yokohama in time."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Are you in earnest?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Very much so."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The pilot walked away a little distance, and gazed out to sea,
|
||
|
|
evidently struggling between the anxiety to gain a large sum and the
|
||
|
|
fear of venturing so far. Fix was in mortal suspense.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg turned to Aouda and asked her, "You would not be afraid, would
|
||
|
|
you, madam?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Not with you, Mr. Fogg," was her answer.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The pilot now returned, shuffling his hat in his hands.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Well, pilot?" said Mr. Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Well, your honour," replied he, "I could not risk myself, my men, or
|
||
|
|
my little boat of scarcely twenty tons on so long a voyage at this time
|
||
|
|
of year. Besides, we could not reach Yokohama in time, for it is
|
||
|
|
sixteen hundred and sixty miles from Hong Kong."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Only sixteen hundred," said Mr. Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"It's the same thing."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix breathed more freely.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But," added the pilot, "it might be arranged another way."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix ceased to breathe at all.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"How?" asked Mr. Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"By going to Nagasaki, at the extreme south of Japan, or even to
|
||
|
|
Shanghai, which is only eight hundred miles from here. In going to
|
||
|
|
Shanghai we should not be forced to sail wide of the Chinese coast,
|
||
|
|
which would be a great advantage, as the currents run northward, and
|
||
|
|
would aid us."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Pilot," said Mr. Fogg, "I must take the American steamer at Yokohama,
|
||
|
|
and not at Shanghai or Nagasaki."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Why not?" returned the pilot. "The San Francisco steamer does not
|
||
|
|
start from Yokohama. It puts in at Yokohama and Nagasaki, but it
|
||
|
|
starts from Shanghai."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"You are sure of that?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Perfectly."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And when does the boat leave Shanghai?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"On the 11th, at seven in the evening. We have, therefore, four days
|
||
|
|
before us, that is ninety-six hours; and in that time, if we had good
|
||
|
|
luck and a south-west wind, and the sea was calm, we could make those
|
||
|
|
eight hundred miles to Shanghai."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And you could go--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"In an hour; as soon as provisions could be got aboard and the sails
|
||
|
|
put up."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"It is a bargain. Are you the master of the boat?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes; John Bunsby, master of the Tankadere."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Would you like some earnest-money?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"If it would not put your honour out--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Here are two hundred pounds on account sir," added Phileas Fogg,
|
||
|
|
turning to Fix, "if you would like to take advantage--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Thanks, sir; I was about to ask the favour."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Very well. In half an hour we shall go on board."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But poor Passepartout?" urged Aouda, who was much disturbed by the
|
||
|
|
servant's disappearance.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I shall do all I can to find him," replied Phileas Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
While Fix, in a feverish, nervous state, repaired to the pilot-boat,
|
||
|
|
the others directed their course to the police-station at Hong Kong.
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg there gave Passepartout's description, and left a sum of
|
||
|
|
money to be spent in the search for him. The same formalities having
|
||
|
|
been gone through at the French consulate, and the palanquin having
|
||
|
|
stopped at the hotel for the luggage, which had been sent back there,
|
||
|
|
they returned to the wharf.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was now three o'clock; and pilot-boat No. 43, with its crew on
|
||
|
|
board, and its provisions stored away, was ready for departure.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The Tankadere was a neat little craft of twenty tons, as gracefully
|
||
|
|
built as if she were a racing yacht. Her shining copper sheathing, her
|
||
|
|
galvanised iron-work, her deck, white as ivory, betrayed the pride
|
||
|
|
taken by John Bunsby in making her presentable. Her two masts leaned a
|
||
|
|
trifle backward; she carried brigantine, foresail, storm-jib, and
|
||
|
|
standing-jib, and was well rigged for running before the wind; and she
|
||
|
|
seemed capable of brisk speed, which, indeed, she had already proved by
|
||
|
|
gaining several prizes in pilot-boat races. The crew of the Tankadere
|
||
|
|
was composed of John Bunsby, the master, and four hardy mariners, who
|
||
|
|
were familiar with the Chinese seas. John Bunsby, himself, a man of
|
||
|
|
forty-five or thereabouts, vigorous, sunburnt, with a sprightly
|
||
|
|
expression of the eye, and energetic and self-reliant countenance,
|
||
|
|
would have inspired confidence in the most timid.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg and Aouda went on board, where they found Fix already
|
||
|
|
installed. Below deck was a square cabin, of which the walls bulged
|
||
|
|
out in the form of cots, above a circular divan; in the centre was a
|
||
|
|
table provided with a swinging lamp. The accommodation was confined,
|
||
|
|
but neat.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I am sorry to have nothing better to offer you," said Mr. Fogg to Fix,
|
||
|
|
who bowed without responding.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The detective had a feeling akin to humiliation in profiting by the
|
||
|
|
kindness of Mr. Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"It's certain," thought he, "though rascal as he is, he is a polite
|
||
|
|
one!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The sails and the English flag were hoisted at ten minutes past three.
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg and Aouda, who were seated on deck, cast a last glance at the
|
||
|
|
quay, in the hope of espying Passepartout. Fix was not without his
|
||
|
|
fears lest chance should direct the steps of the unfortunate servant,
|
||
|
|
whom he had so badly treated, in this direction; in which case an
|
||
|
|
explanation the reverse of satisfactory to the detective must have
|
||
|
|
ensued. But the Frenchman did not appear, and, without doubt, was
|
||
|
|
still lying under the stupefying influence of the opium.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
John Bunsby, master, at length gave the order to start, and the
|
||
|
|
Tankadere, taking the wind under her brigantine, foresail, and
|
||
|
|
standing-jib, bounded briskly forward over the waves.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter XXI
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH THE MASTER OF THE "TANKADERE" RUNS GREAT RISK OF LOSING A
|
||
|
|
REWARD OF TWO HUNDRED POUNDS
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This voyage of eight hundred miles was a perilous venture on a craft of
|
||
|
|
twenty tons, and at that season of the year. The Chinese seas are
|
||
|
|
usually boisterous, subject to terrible gales of wind, and especially
|
||
|
|
during the equinoxes; and it was now early November.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It would clearly have been to the master's advantage to carry his
|
||
|
|
passengers to Yokohama, since he was paid a certain sum per day; but he
|
||
|
|
would have been rash to attempt such a voyage, and it was imprudent
|
||
|
|
even to attempt to reach Shanghai. But John Bunsby believed in the
|
||
|
|
Tankadere, which rode on the waves like a seagull; and perhaps he was
|
||
|
|
not wrong.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Late in the day they passed through the capricious channels of Hong
|
||
|
|
Kong, and the Tankadere, impelled by favourable winds, conducted
|
||
|
|
herself admirably.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I do not need, pilot," said Phileas Fogg, when they got into the open
|
||
|
|
sea, "to advise you to use all possible speed."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Trust me, your honour. We are carrying all the sail the wind will let
|
||
|
|
us. The poles would add nothing, and are only used when we are going
|
||
|
|
into port."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"It's your trade, not mine, pilot, and I confide in you."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg, with body erect and legs wide apart, standing like a
|
||
|
|
sailor, gazed without staggering at the swelling waters. The young
|
||
|
|
woman, who was seated aft, was profoundly affected as she looked out
|
||
|
|
upon the ocean, darkening now with the twilight, on which she had
|
||
|
|
ventured in so frail a vessel. Above her head rustled the white sails,
|
||
|
|
which seemed like great white wings. The boat, carried forward by the
|
||
|
|
wind, seemed to be flying in the air.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Night came. The moon was entering her first quarter, and her
|
||
|
|
insufficient light would soon die out in the mist on the horizon.
|
||
|
|
Clouds were rising from the east, and already overcast a part of the
|
||
|
|
heavens.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The pilot had hung out his lights, which was very necessary in these
|
||
|
|
seas crowded with vessels bound landward; for collisions are not
|
||
|
|
uncommon occurrences, and, at the speed she was going, the least shock
|
||
|
|
would shatter the gallant little craft.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix, seated in the bow, gave himself up to meditation. He kept apart
|
||
|
|
from his fellow-travellers, knowing Mr. Fogg's taciturn tastes;
|
||
|
|
besides, he did not quite like to talk to the man whose favours he had
|
||
|
|
accepted. He was thinking, too, of the future. It seemed certain that
|
||
|
|
Fogg would not stop at Yokohama, but would at once take the boat for
|
||
|
|
San Francisco; and the vast extent of America would ensure him impunity
|
||
|
|
and safety. Fogg's plan appeared to him the simplest in the world.
|
||
|
|
Instead of sailing directly from England to the United States, like a
|
||
|
|
common villain, he had traversed three quarters of the globe, so as to
|
||
|
|
gain the American continent more surely; and there, after throwing the
|
||
|
|
police off his track, he would quietly enjoy himself with the fortune
|
||
|
|
stolen from the bank. But, once in the United States, what should he,
|
||
|
|
Fix, do? Should he abandon this man? No, a hundred times no! Until
|
||
|
|
he had secured his extradition, he would not lose sight of him for an
|
||
|
|
hour. It was his duty, and he would fulfil it to the end. At all
|
||
|
|
events, there was one thing to be thankful for; Passepartout was not
|
||
|
|
with his master; and it was above all important, after the confidences
|
||
|
|
Fix had imparted to him, that the servant should never have speech with
|
||
|
|
his master.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg was also thinking of Passepartout, who had so strangely
|
||
|
|
disappeared. Looking at the matter from every point of view, it did
|
||
|
|
not seem to him impossible that, by some mistake, the man might have
|
||
|
|
embarked on the Carnatic at the last moment; and this was also Aouda's
|
||
|
|
opinion, who regretted very much the loss of the worthy fellow to whom
|
||
|
|
she owed so much. They might then find him at Yokohama; for, if the
|
||
|
|
Carnatic was carrying him thither, it would be easy to ascertain if he
|
||
|
|
had been on board.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
A brisk breeze arose about ten o'clock; but, though it might have been
|
||
|
|
prudent to take in a reef, the pilot, after carefully examining the
|
||
|
|
heavens, let the craft remain rigged as before. The Tankadere bore
|
||
|
|
sail admirably, as she drew a great deal of water, and everything was
|
||
|
|
prepared for high speed in case of a gale.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg and Aouda descended into the cabin at midnight, having been
|
||
|
|
already preceded by Fix, who had lain down on one of the cots. The
|
||
|
|
pilot and crew remained on deck all night.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At sunrise the next day, which was 8th November, the boat had made more
|
||
|
|
than one hundred miles. The log indicated a mean speed of between
|
||
|
|
eight and nine miles. The Tankadere still carried all sail, and was
|
||
|
|
accomplishing her greatest capacity of speed. If the wind held as it
|
||
|
|
was, the chances would be in her favour. During the day she kept along
|
||
|
|
the coast, where the currents were favourable; the coast, irregular in
|
||
|
|
profile, and visible sometimes across the clearings, was at most five
|
||
|
|
miles distant. The sea was less boisterous, since the wind came off
|
||
|
|
land--a fortunate circumstance for the boat, which would suffer, owing
|
||
|
|
to its small tonnage, by a heavy surge on the sea.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The breeze subsided a little towards noon, and set in from the
|
||
|
|
south-west. The pilot put up his poles, but took them down again
|
||
|
|
within two hours, as the wind freshened up anew.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg and Aouda, happily unaffected by the roughness of the sea, ate
|
||
|
|
with a good appetite, Fix being invited to share their repast, which he
|
||
|
|
accepted with secret chagrin. To travel at this man's expense and live
|
||
|
|
upon his provisions was not palatable to him. Still, he was obliged to
|
||
|
|
eat, and so he ate.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
When the meal was over, he took Mr. Fogg apart, and said, "sir"--this
|
||
|
|
"sir" scorched his lips, and he had to control himself to avoid
|
||
|
|
collaring this "gentleman"--"sir, you have been very kind to give me a
|
||
|
|
passage on this boat. But, though my means will not admit of my
|
||
|
|
expending them as freely as you, I must ask to pay my share--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Let us not speak of that, sir," replied Mr. Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But, if I insist--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No, sir," repeated Mr. Fogg, in a tone which did not admit of a reply.
|
||
|
|
"This enters into my general expenses."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix, as he bowed, had a stifled feeling, and, going forward, where he
|
||
|
|
ensconced himself, did not open his mouth for the rest of the day.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Meanwhile they were progressing famously, and John Bunsby was in high
|
||
|
|
hope. He several times assured Mr. Fogg that they would reach Shanghai
|
||
|
|
in time; to which that gentleman responded that he counted upon it.
|
||
|
|
The crew set to work in good earnest, inspired by the reward to be
|
||
|
|
gained. There was not a sheet which was not tightened, not a sail which
|
||
|
|
was not vigorously hoisted; not a lurch could be charged to the man at
|
||
|
|
the helm. They worked as desperately as if they were contesting in a
|
||
|
|
Royal yacht regatta.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
By evening, the log showed that two hundred and twenty miles had been
|
||
|
|
accomplished from Hong Kong, and Mr. Fogg might hope that he would be
|
||
|
|
able to reach Yokohama without recording any delay in his journal; in
|
||
|
|
which case, the many misadventures which had overtaken him since he
|
||
|
|
left London would not seriously affect his journey.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The Tankadere entered the Straits of Fo-Kien, which separate the island
|
||
|
|
of Formosa from the Chinese coast, in the small hours of the night, and
|
||
|
|
crossed the Tropic of Cancer. The sea was very rough in the straits,
|
||
|
|
full of eddies formed by the counter-currents, and the chopping waves
|
||
|
|
broke her course, whilst it became very difficult to stand on deck.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At daybreak the wind began to blow hard again, and the heavens seemed
|
||
|
|
to predict a gale. The barometer announced a speedy change, the
|
||
|
|
mercury rising and falling capriciously; the sea also, in the
|
||
|
|
south-east, raised long surges which indicated a tempest. The sun had
|
||
|
|
set the evening before in a red mist, in the midst of the
|
||
|
|
phosphorescent scintillations of the ocean.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
John Bunsby long examined the threatening aspect of the heavens,
|
||
|
|
muttering indistinctly between his teeth. At last he said in a low
|
||
|
|
voice to Mr. Fogg, "Shall I speak out to your honour?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Of course."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Well, we are going to have a squall."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Is the wind north or south?" asked Mr. Fogg quietly.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"South. Look! a typhoon is coming up."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Glad it's a typhoon from the south, for it will carry us forward."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Oh, if you take it that way," said John Bunsby, "I've nothing more to
|
||
|
|
say." John Bunsby's suspicions were confirmed. At a less advanced
|
||
|
|
season of the year the typhoon, according to a famous meteorologist,
|
||
|
|
would have passed away like a luminous cascade of electric flame; but
|
||
|
|
in the winter equinox it was to be feared that it would burst upon them
|
||
|
|
with great violence.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The pilot took his precautions in advance. He reefed all sail, the
|
||
|
|
pole-masts were dispensed with; all hands went forward to the bows. A
|
||
|
|
single triangular sail, of strong canvas, was hoisted as a storm-jib,
|
||
|
|
so as to hold the wind from behind. Then they waited.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
John Bunsby had requested his passengers to go below; but this
|
||
|
|
imprisonment in so narrow a space, with little air, and the boat
|
||
|
|
bouncing in the gale, was far from pleasant. Neither Mr. Fogg, Fix,
|
||
|
|
nor Aouda consented to leave the deck.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The storm of rain and wind descended upon them towards eight o'clock.
|
||
|
|
With but its bit of sail, the Tankadere was lifted like a feather by a
|
||
|
|
wind, an idea of whose violence can scarcely be given. To compare her
|
||
|
|
speed to four times that of a locomotive going on full steam would be
|
||
|
|
below the truth.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The boat scudded thus northward during the whole day, borne on by
|
||
|
|
monstrous waves, preserving always, fortunately, a speed equal to
|
||
|
|
theirs. Twenty times she seemed almost to be submerged by these
|
||
|
|
mountains of water which rose behind her; but the adroit management of
|
||
|
|
the pilot saved her. The passengers were often bathed in spray, but
|
||
|
|
they submitted to it philosophically. Fix cursed it, no doubt; but
|
||
|
|
Aouda, with her eyes fastened upon her protector, whose coolness amazed
|
||
|
|
her, showed herself worthy of him, and bravely weathered the storm. As
|
||
|
|
for Phileas Fogg, it seemed just as if the typhoon were a part of his
|
||
|
|
programme.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Up to this time the Tankadere had always held her course to the north;
|
||
|
|
but towards evening the wind, veering three quarters, bore down from
|
||
|
|
the north-west. The boat, now lying in the trough of the waves, shook
|
||
|
|
and rolled terribly; the sea struck her with fearful violence. At
|
||
|
|
night the tempest increased in violence. John Bunsby saw the approach
|
||
|
|
of darkness and the rising of the storm with dark misgivings. He
|
||
|
|
thought awhile, and then asked his crew if it was not time to slacken
|
||
|
|
speed. After a consultation he approached Mr. Fogg, and said, "I
|
||
|
|
think, your honour, that we should do well to make for one of the ports
|
||
|
|
on the coast."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I think so too."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Ah!" said the pilot. "But which one?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I know of but one," returned Mr. Fogg tranquilly.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And that is--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Shanghai."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The pilot, at first, did not seem to comprehend; he could scarcely
|
||
|
|
realise so much determination and tenacity. Then he cried, "Well--yes!
|
||
|
|
Your honour is right. To Shanghai!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
So the Tankadere kept steadily on her northward track.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The night was really terrible; it would be a miracle if the craft did
|
||
|
|
not founder. Twice it could have been all over with her if the crew
|
||
|
|
had not been constantly on the watch. Aouda was exhausted, but did not
|
||
|
|
utter a complaint. More than once Mr. Fogg rushed to protect her from
|
||
|
|
the violence of the waves.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Day reappeared. The tempest still raged with undiminished fury; but
|
||
|
|
the wind now returned to the south-east. It was a favourable change,
|
||
|
|
and the Tankadere again bounded forward on this mountainous sea, though
|
||
|
|
the waves crossed each other, and imparted shocks and counter-shocks
|
||
|
|
which would have crushed a craft less solidly built. From time to time
|
||
|
|
the coast was visible through the broken mist, but no vessel was in
|
||
|
|
sight. The Tankadere was alone upon the sea.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
There were some signs of a calm at noon, and these became more distinct
|
||
|
|
as the sun descended toward the horizon. The tempest had been as brief
|
||
|
|
as terrific. The passengers, thoroughly exhausted, could now eat a
|
||
|
|
little, and take some repose.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The night was comparatively quiet. Some of the sails were again
|
||
|
|
hoisted, and the speed of the boat was very good. The next morning at
|
||
|
|
dawn they espied the coast, and John Bunsby was able to assert that
|
||
|
|
they were not one hundred miles from Shanghai. A hundred miles, and
|
||
|
|
only one day to traverse them! That very evening Mr. Fogg was due at
|
||
|
|
Shanghai, if he did not wish to miss the steamer to Yokohama. Had
|
||
|
|
there been no storm, during which several hours were lost, they would
|
||
|
|
be at this moment within thirty miles of their destination.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The wind grew decidedly calmer, and happily the sea fell with it. All
|
||
|
|
sails were now hoisted, and at noon the Tankadere was within forty-five
|
||
|
|
miles of Shanghai. There remained yet six hours in which to accomplish
|
||
|
|
that distance. All on board feared that it could not be done, and
|
||
|
|
every one--Phileas Fogg, no doubt, excepted--felt his heart beat with
|
||
|
|
impatience. The boat must keep up an average of nine miles an hour,
|
||
|
|
and the wind was becoming calmer every moment! It was a capricious
|
||
|
|
breeze, coming from the coast, and after it passed the sea became
|
||
|
|
smooth. Still, the Tankadere was so light, and her fine sails caught
|
||
|
|
the fickle zephyrs so well, that, with the aid of the currents John
|
||
|
|
Bunsby found himself at six o'clock not more than ten miles from the
|
||
|
|
mouth of Shanghai River. Shanghai itself is situated at least twelve
|
||
|
|
miles up the stream. At seven they were still three miles from
|
||
|
|
Shanghai. The pilot swore an angry oath; the reward of two hundred
|
||
|
|
pounds was evidently on the point of escaping him. He looked at Mr.
|
||
|
|
Fogg. Mr. Fogg was perfectly tranquil; and yet his whole fortune was
|
||
|
|
at this moment at stake.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At this moment, also, a long black funnel, crowned with wreaths of
|
||
|
|
smoke, appeared on the edge of the waters. It was the American
|
||
|
|
steamer, leaving for Yokohama at the appointed time.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Confound her!" cried John Bunsby, pushing back the rudder with a
|
||
|
|
desperate jerk.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Signal her!" said Phileas Fogg quietly.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
A small brass cannon stood on the forward deck of the Tankadere, for
|
||
|
|
making signals in the fogs. It was loaded to the muzzle; but just as
|
||
|
|
the pilot was about to apply a red-hot coal to the touchhole, Mr. Fogg
|
||
|
|
said, "Hoist your flag!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The flag was run up at half-mast, and, this being the signal of
|
||
|
|
distress, it was hoped that the American steamer, perceiving it, would
|
||
|
|
change her course a little, so as to succour the pilot-boat.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Fire!" said Mr. Fogg. And the booming of the little cannon resounded
|
||
|
|
in the air.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter XXII
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH PASSEPARTOUT FINDS OUT THAT, EVEN AT THE ANTIPODES, IT IS
|
||
|
|
CONVENIENT TO HAVE SOME MONEY IN ONE'S POCKET
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The Carnatic, setting sail from Hong Kong at half-past six on the 7th
|
||
|
|
of November, directed her course at full steam towards Japan. She
|
||
|
|
carried a large cargo and a well-filled cabin of passengers. Two
|
||
|
|
state-rooms in the rear were, however, unoccupied--those which had been
|
||
|
|
engaged by Phileas Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The next day a passenger with a half-stupefied eye, staggering gait,
|
||
|
|
and disordered hair, was seen to emerge from the second cabin, and to
|
||
|
|
totter to a seat on deck.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was Passepartout; and what had happened to him was as follows:
|
||
|
|
Shortly after Fix left the opium den, two waiters had lifted the
|
||
|
|
unconscious Passepartout, and had carried him to the bed reserved for
|
||
|
|
the smokers. Three hours later, pursued even in his dreams by a fixed
|
||
|
|
idea, the poor fellow awoke, and struggled against the stupefying
|
||
|
|
influence of the narcotic. The thought of a duty unfulfilled shook off
|
||
|
|
his torpor, and he hurried from the abode of drunkenness. Staggering
|
||
|
|
and holding himself up by keeping against the walls, falling down and
|
||
|
|
creeping up again, and irresistibly impelled by a kind of instinct, he
|
||
|
|
kept crying out, "The Carnatic! the Carnatic!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The steamer lay puffing alongside the quay, on the point of starting.
|
||
|
|
Passepartout had but few steps to go; and, rushing upon the plank, he
|
||
|
|
crossed it, and fell unconscious on the deck, just as the Carnatic was
|
||
|
|
moving off. Several sailors, who were evidently accustomed to this
|
||
|
|
sort of scene, carried the poor Frenchman down into the second cabin,
|
||
|
|
and Passepartout did not wake until they were one hundred and fifty
|
||
|
|
miles away from China. Thus he found himself the next morning on the
|
||
|
|
deck of the Carnatic, and eagerly inhaling the exhilarating sea-breeze.
|
||
|
|
The pure air sobered him. He began to collect his sense, which he
|
||
|
|
found a difficult task; but at last he recalled the events of the
|
||
|
|
evening before, Fix's revelation, and the opium-house.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"It is evident," said he to himself, "that I have been abominably
|
||
|
|
drunk! What will Mr. Fogg say? At least I have not missed the
|
||
|
|
steamer, which is the most important thing."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Then, as Fix occurred to him: "As for that rascal, I hope we are well
|
||
|
|
rid of him, and that he has not dared, as he proposed, to follow us on
|
||
|
|
board the Carnatic. A detective on the track of Mr. Fogg, accused of
|
||
|
|
robbing the Bank of England! Pshaw! Mr. Fogg is no more a robber than
|
||
|
|
I am a murderer."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Should he divulge Fix's real errand to his master? Would it do to tell
|
||
|
|
the part the detective was playing? Would it not be better to wait
|
||
|
|
until Mr. Fogg reached London again, and then impart to him that an
|
||
|
|
agent of the metropolitan police had been following him round the
|
||
|
|
world, and have a good laugh over it? No doubt; at least, it was worth
|
||
|
|
considering. The first thing to do was to find Mr. Fogg, and apologise
|
||
|
|
for his singular behaviour.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout got up and proceeded, as well as he could with the rolling
|
||
|
|
of the steamer, to the after-deck. He saw no one who resembled either
|
||
|
|
his master or Aouda. "Good!" muttered he; "Aouda has not got up yet,
|
||
|
|
and Mr. Fogg has probably found some partners at whist."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He descended to the saloon. Mr. Fogg was not there. Passepartout had
|
||
|
|
only, however, to ask the purser the number of his master's state-room.
|
||
|
|
The purser replied that he did not know any passenger by the name of
|
||
|
|
Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I beg your pardon," said Passepartout persistently. "He is a tall
|
||
|
|
gentleman, quiet, and not very talkative, and has with him a young
|
||
|
|
lady--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"There is no young lady on board," interrupted the purser. "Here is a
|
||
|
|
list of the passengers; you may see for yourself."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout scanned the list, but his master's name was not upon it.
|
||
|
|
All at once an idea struck him.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Ah! am I on the Carnatic?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"On the way to Yokohama?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Certainly."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout had for an instant feared that he was on the wrong boat;
|
||
|
|
but, though he was really on the Carnatic, his master was not there.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He fell thunderstruck on a seat. He saw it all now. He remembered
|
||
|
|
that the time of sailing had been changed, that he should have informed
|
||
|
|
his master of that fact, and that he had not done so. It was his
|
||
|
|
fault, then, that Mr. Fogg and Aouda had missed the steamer. Yes, but
|
||
|
|
it was still more the fault of the traitor who, in order to separate
|
||
|
|
him from his master, and detain the latter at Hong Kong, had inveigled
|
||
|
|
him into getting drunk! He now saw the detective's trick; and at this
|
||
|
|
moment Mr. Fogg was certainly ruined, his bet was lost, and he himself
|
||
|
|
perhaps arrested and imprisoned! At this thought Passepartout tore his
|
||
|
|
hair. Ah, if Fix ever came within his reach, what a settling of
|
||
|
|
accounts there would be!
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
After his first depression, Passepartout became calmer, and began to
|
||
|
|
study his situation. It was certainly not an enviable one. He found
|
||
|
|
himself on the way to Japan, and what should he do when he got there?
|
||
|
|
His pocket was empty; he had not a solitary shilling, not so much as a
|
||
|
|
penny. His passage had fortunately been paid for in advance; and he
|
||
|
|
had five or six days in which to decide upon his future course. He
|
||
|
|
fell to at meals with an appetite, and ate for Mr. Fogg, Aouda, and
|
||
|
|
himself. He helped himself as generously as if Japan were a desert,
|
||
|
|
where nothing to eat was to be looked for.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At dawn on the 13th the Carnatic entered the port of Yokohama. This is
|
||
|
|
an important port of call in the Pacific, where all the mail-steamers,
|
||
|
|
and those carrying travellers between North America, China, Japan, and
|
||
|
|
the Oriental islands put in. It is situated in the bay of Yeddo, and
|
||
|
|
at but a short distance from that second capital of the Japanese
|
||
|
|
Empire, and the residence of the Tycoon, the civil Emperor, before the
|
||
|
|
Mikado, the spiritual Emperor, absorbed his office in his own. The
|
||
|
|
Carnatic anchored at the quay near the custom-house, in the midst of a
|
||
|
|
crowd of ships bearing the flags of all nations.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout went timidly ashore on this so curious territory of the
|
||
|
|
Sons of the Sun. He had nothing better to do than, taking chance for
|
||
|
|
his guide, to wander aimlessly through the streets of Yokohama. He
|
||
|
|
found himself at first in a thoroughly European quarter, the houses
|
||
|
|
having low fronts, and being adorned with verandas, beneath which he
|
||
|
|
caught glimpses of neat peristyles. This quarter occupied, with its
|
||
|
|
streets, squares, docks, and warehouses, all the space between the
|
||
|
|
"promontory of the Treaty" and the river. Here, as at Hong Kong and
|
||
|
|
Calcutta, were mixed crowds of all races, Americans and English,
|
||
|
|
Chinamen and Dutchmen, mostly merchants ready to buy or sell anything.
|
||
|
|
The Frenchman felt himself as much alone among them as if he had
|
||
|
|
dropped down in the midst of Hottentots.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He had, at least, one resource,--to call on the French and English
|
||
|
|
consuls at Yokohama for assistance. But he shrank from telling the
|
||
|
|
story of his adventures, intimately connected as it was with that of
|
||
|
|
his master; and, before doing so, he determined to exhaust all other
|
||
|
|
means of aid. As chance did not favour him in the European quarter, he
|
||
|
|
penetrated that inhabited by the native Japanese, determined, if
|
||
|
|
necessary, to push on to Yeddo.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The Japanese quarter of Yokohama is called Benten, after the goddess of
|
||
|
|
the sea, who is worshipped on the islands round about. There
|
||
|
|
Passepartout beheld beautiful fir and cedar groves, sacred gates of a
|
||
|
|
singular architecture, bridges half hid in the midst of bamboos and
|
||
|
|
reeds, temples shaded by immense cedar-trees, holy retreats where were
|
||
|
|
sheltered Buddhist priests and sectaries of Confucius, and interminable
|
||
|
|
streets, where a perfect harvest of rose-tinted and red-cheeked
|
||
|
|
children, who looked as if they had been cut out of Japanese screens,
|
||
|
|
and who were playing in the midst of short-legged poodles and yellowish
|
||
|
|
cats, might have been gathered.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The streets were crowded with people. Priests were passing in
|
||
|
|
processions, beating their dreary tambourines; police and custom-house
|
||
|
|
officers with pointed hats encrusted with lac and carrying two sabres
|
||
|
|
hung to their waists; soldiers, clad in blue cotton with white stripes,
|
||
|
|
and bearing guns; the Mikado's guards, enveloped in silken doubles,
|
||
|
|
hauberks and coats of mail; and numbers of military folk of all
|
||
|
|
ranks--for the military profession is as much respected in Japan as it
|
||
|
|
is despised in China--went hither and thither in groups and pairs.
|
||
|
|
Passepartout saw, too, begging friars, long-robed pilgrims, and simple
|
||
|
|
civilians, with their warped and jet-black hair, big heads, long busts,
|
||
|
|
slender legs, short stature, and complexions varying from copper-colour
|
||
|
|
to a dead white, but never yellow, like the Chinese, from whom the
|
||
|
|
Japanese widely differ. He did not fail to observe the curious
|
||
|
|
equipages--carriages and palanquins, barrows supplied with sails, and
|
||
|
|
litters made of bamboo; nor the women--whom he thought not especially
|
||
|
|
handsome--who took little steps with their little feet, whereon they
|
||
|
|
wore canvas shoes, straw sandals, and clogs of worked wood, and who
|
||
|
|
displayed tight-looking eyes, flat chests, teeth fashionably blackened,
|
||
|
|
and gowns crossed with silken scarfs, tied in an enormous knot behind
|
||
|
|
an ornament which the modern Parisian ladies seem to have borrowed from
|
||
|
|
the dames of Japan.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout wandered for several hours in the midst of this motley
|
||
|
|
crowd, looking in at the windows of the rich and curious shops, the
|
||
|
|
jewellery establishments glittering with quaint Japanese ornaments, the
|
||
|
|
restaurants decked with streamers and banners, the tea-houses, where
|
||
|
|
the odorous beverage was being drunk with saki, a liquor concocted from
|
||
|
|
the fermentation of rice, and the comfortable smoking-houses, where
|
||
|
|
they were puffing, not opium, which is almost unknown in Japan, but a
|
||
|
|
very fine, stringy tobacco. He went on till he found himself in the
|
||
|
|
fields, in the midst of vast rice plantations. There he saw dazzling
|
||
|
|
camellias expanding themselves, with flowers which were giving forth
|
||
|
|
their last colours and perfumes, not on bushes, but on trees, and
|
||
|
|
within bamboo enclosures, cherry, plum, and apple trees, which the
|
||
|
|
Japanese cultivate rather for their blossoms than their fruit, and
|
||
|
|
which queerly-fashioned, grinning scarecrows protected from the
|
||
|
|
sparrows, pigeons, ravens, and other voracious birds. On the branches
|
||
|
|
of the cedars were perched large eagles; amid the foliage of the
|
||
|
|
weeping willows were herons, solemnly standing on one leg; and on every
|
||
|
|
hand were crows, ducks, hawks, wild birds, and a multitude of cranes,
|
||
|
|
which the Japanese consider sacred, and which to their minds symbolise
|
||
|
|
long life and prosperity.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
As he was strolling along, Passepartout espied some violets among the
|
||
|
|
shrubs.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Good!" said he; "I'll have some supper."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
But, on smelling them, he found that they were odourless.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No chance there," thought he.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The worthy fellow had certainly taken good care to eat as hearty a
|
||
|
|
breakfast as possible before leaving the Carnatic; but, as he had been
|
||
|
|
walking about all day, the demands of hunger were becoming importunate.
|
||
|
|
He observed that the butchers stalls contained neither mutton, goat,
|
||
|
|
nor pork; and, knowing also that it is a sacrilege to kill cattle,
|
||
|
|
which are preserved solely for farming, he made up his mind that meat
|
||
|
|
was far from plentiful in Yokohama--nor was he mistaken; and, in
|
||
|
|
default of butcher's meat, he could have wished for a quarter of wild
|
||
|
|
boar or deer, a partridge, or some quails, some game or fish, which,
|
||
|
|
with rice, the Japanese eat almost exclusively. But he found it
|
||
|
|
necessary to keep up a stout heart, and to postpone the meal he craved
|
||
|
|
till the following morning. Night came, and Passepartout re-entered
|
||
|
|
the native quarter, where he wandered through the streets, lit by
|
||
|
|
vari-coloured lanterns, looking on at the dancers, who were executing
|
||
|
|
skilful steps and boundings, and the astrologers who stood in the open
|
||
|
|
air with their telescopes. Then he came to the harbour, which was lit
|
||
|
|
up by the resin torches of the fishermen, who were fishing from their
|
||
|
|
boats.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The streets at last became quiet, and the patrol, the officers of
|
||
|
|
which, in their splendid costumes, and surrounded by their suites,
|
||
|
|
Passepartout thought seemed like ambassadors, succeeded the bustling
|
||
|
|
crowd. Each time a company passed, Passepartout chuckled, and said to
|
||
|
|
himself: "Good! another Japanese embassy departing for Europe!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter XXIII
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH PASSEPARTOUT'S NOSE BECOMES OUTRAGEOUSLY LONG
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The next morning poor, jaded, famished Passepartout said to himself
|
||
|
|
that he must get something to eat at all hazards, and the sooner he did
|
||
|
|
so the better. He might, indeed, sell his watch; but he would have
|
||
|
|
starved first. Now or never he must use the strong, if not melodious
|
||
|
|
voice which nature had bestowed upon him. He knew several French and
|
||
|
|
English songs, and resolved to try them upon the Japanese, who must be
|
||
|
|
lovers of music, since they were for ever pounding on their cymbals,
|
||
|
|
tam-tams, and tambourines, and could not but appreciate European talent.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was, perhaps, rather early in the morning to get up a concert, and
|
||
|
|
the audience prematurely aroused from their slumbers, might not
|
||
|
|
possibly pay their entertainer with coin bearing the Mikado's features.
|
||
|
|
Passepartout therefore decided to wait several hours; and, as he was
|
||
|
|
sauntering along, it occurred to him that he would seem rather too well
|
||
|
|
dressed for a wandering artist. The idea struck him to change his
|
||
|
|
garments for clothes more in harmony with his project; by which he
|
||
|
|
might also get a little money to satisfy the immediate cravings of
|
||
|
|
hunger. The resolution taken, it remained to carry it out.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was only after a long search that Passepartout discovered a native
|
||
|
|
dealer in old clothes, to whom he applied for an exchange. The man
|
||
|
|
liked the European costume, and ere long Passepartout issued from his
|
||
|
|
shop accoutred in an old Japanese coat, and a sort of one-sided turban,
|
||
|
|
faded with long use. A few small pieces of silver, moreover, jingled
|
||
|
|
in his pocket.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Good!" thought he. "I will imagine I am at the Carnival!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
His first care, after being thus "Japanesed," was to enter a tea-house
|
||
|
|
of modest appearance, and, upon half a bird and a little rice, to
|
||
|
|
breakfast like a man for whom dinner was as yet a problem to be solved.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Now," thought he, when he had eaten heartily, "I mustn't lose my head.
|
||
|
|
I can't sell this costume again for one still more Japanese. I must
|
||
|
|
consider how to leave this country of the Sun, of which I shall not
|
||
|
|
retain the most delightful of memories, as quickly as possible."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It occurred to him to visit the steamers which were about to leave for
|
||
|
|
America. He would offer himself as a cook or servant, in payment of
|
||
|
|
his passage and meals. Once at San Francisco, he would find some means
|
||
|
|
of going on. The difficulty was, how to traverse the four thousand
|
||
|
|
seven hundred miles of the Pacific which lay between Japan and the New
|
||
|
|
World.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout was not the man to let an idea go begging, and directed
|
||
|
|
his steps towards the docks. But, as he approached them, his project,
|
||
|
|
which at first had seemed so simple, began to grow more and more
|
||
|
|
formidable to his mind. What need would they have of a cook or servant
|
||
|
|
on an American steamer, and what confidence would they put in him,
|
||
|
|
dressed as he was? What references could he give?
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
As he was reflecting in this wise, his eyes fell upon an immense
|
||
|
|
placard which a sort of clown was carrying through the streets. This
|
||
|
|
placard, which was in English, read as follows:
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
ACROBATIC JAPANESE TROUPE,
|
||
|
|
HONOURABLE WILLIAM BATULCAR, PROPRIETOR,
|
||
|
|
LAST REPRESENTATIONS,
|
||
|
|
PRIOR TO THEIR DEPARTURE TO THE UNITED STATES,
|
||
|
|
OF THE
|
||
|
|
LONG NOSES! LONG NOSES!
|
||
|
|
UNDER THE DIRECT PATRONAGE OF THE GOD TINGOU!
|
||
|
|
GREAT ATTRACTION!
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"The United States!" said Passepartout; "that's just what I want!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He followed the clown, and soon found himself once more in the Japanese
|
||
|
|
quarter. A quarter of an hour later he stopped before a large cabin,
|
||
|
|
adorned with several clusters of streamers, the exterior walls of which
|
||
|
|
were designed to represent, in violent colours and without perspective,
|
||
|
|
a company of jugglers.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This was the Honourable William Batulcar's establishment. That
|
||
|
|
gentleman was a sort of Barnum, the director of a troupe of
|
||
|
|
mountebanks, jugglers, clowns, acrobats, equilibrists, and gymnasts,
|
||
|
|
who, according to the placard, was giving his last performances before
|
||
|
|
leaving the Empire of the Sun for the States of the Union.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout entered and asked for Mr. Batulcar, who straightway
|
||
|
|
appeared in person.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What do you want?" said he to Passepartout, whom he at first took for
|
||
|
|
a native.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Would you like a servant, sir?" asked Passepartout.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"A servant!" cried Mr. Batulcar, caressing the thick grey beard which
|
||
|
|
hung from his chin. "I already have two who are obedient and faithful,
|
||
|
|
have never left me, and serve me for their nourishment and here they
|
||
|
|
are," added he, holding out his two robust arms, furrowed with veins as
|
||
|
|
large as the strings of a bass-viol.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"So I can be of no use to you?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"None."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"The devil! I should so like to cross the Pacific with you!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Ah!" said the Honourable Mr. Batulcar. "You are no more a Japanese
|
||
|
|
than I am a monkey! Who are you dressed up in that way?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"A man dresses as he can."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"That's true. You are a Frenchman, aren't you?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes; a Parisian of Paris."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Then you ought to know how to make grimaces?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Why," replied Passepartout, a little vexed that his nationality should
|
||
|
|
cause this question, "we Frenchmen know how to make grimaces, it is
|
||
|
|
true but not any better than the Americans do."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"True. Well, if I can't take you as a servant, I can as a clown. You
|
||
|
|
see, my friend, in France they exhibit foreign clowns, and in foreign
|
||
|
|
parts French clowns."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Ah!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"You are pretty strong, eh?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Especially after a good meal."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And you can sing?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes," returned Passepartout, who had formerly been wont to sing in the
|
||
|
|
streets.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But can you sing standing on your head, with a top spinning on your
|
||
|
|
left foot, and a sabre balanced on your right?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Humph! I think so," replied Passepartout, recalling the exercises of
|
||
|
|
his younger days.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Well, that's enough," said the Honourable William Batulcar.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The engagement was concluded there and then.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout had at last found something to do. He was engaged to act
|
||
|
|
in the celebrated Japanese troupe. It was not a very dignified
|
||
|
|
position, but within a week he would be on his way to San Francisco.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The performance, so noisily announced by the Honourable Mr. Batulcar,
|
||
|
|
was to commence at three o'clock, and soon the deafening instruments of
|
||
|
|
a Japanese orchestra resounded at the door. Passepartout, though he
|
||
|
|
had not been able to study or rehearse a part, was designated to lend
|
||
|
|
the aid of his sturdy shoulders in the great exhibition of the "human
|
||
|
|
pyramid," executed by the Long Noses of the god Tingou. This "great
|
||
|
|
attraction" was to close the performance.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Before three o'clock the large shed was invaded by the spectators,
|
||
|
|
comprising Europeans and natives, Chinese and Japanese, men, women and
|
||
|
|
children, who precipitated themselves upon the narrow benches and into
|
||
|
|
the boxes opposite the stage. The musicians took up a position inside,
|
||
|
|
and were vigorously performing on their gongs, tam-tams, flutes, bones,
|
||
|
|
tambourines, and immense drums.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The performance was much like all acrobatic displays; but it must be
|
||
|
|
confessed that the Japanese are the first equilibrists in the world.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
One, with a fan and some bits of paper, performed the graceful trick of
|
||
|
|
the butterflies and the flowers; another traced in the air, with the
|
||
|
|
odorous smoke of his pipe, a series of blue words, which composed a
|
||
|
|
compliment to the audience; while a third juggled with some lighted
|
||
|
|
candles, which he extinguished successively as they passed his lips,
|
||
|
|
and relit again without interrupting for an instant his juggling.
|
||
|
|
Another reproduced the most singular combinations with a spinning-top;
|
||
|
|
in his hands the revolving tops seemed to be animated with a life of
|
||
|
|
their own in their interminable whirling; they ran over pipe-stems, the
|
||
|
|
edges of sabres, wires and even hairs stretched across the stage; they
|
||
|
|
turned around on the edges of large glasses, crossed bamboo ladders,
|
||
|
|
dispersed into all the corners, and produced strange musical effects by
|
||
|
|
the combination of their various pitches of tone. The jugglers tossed
|
||
|
|
them in the air, threw them like shuttlecocks with wooden battledores,
|
||
|
|
and yet they kept on spinning; they put them into their pockets, and
|
||
|
|
took them out still whirling as before.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It is useless to describe the astonishing performances of the acrobats
|
||
|
|
and gymnasts. The turning on ladders, poles, balls, barrels, &c., was
|
||
|
|
executed with wonderful precision.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
But the principal attraction was the exhibition of the Long Noses, a
|
||
|
|
show to which Europe is as yet a stranger.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The Long Noses form a peculiar company, under the direct patronage of
|
||
|
|
the god Tingou. Attired after the fashion of the Middle Ages, they
|
||
|
|
bore upon their shoulders a splendid pair of wings; but what especially
|
||
|
|
distinguished them was the long noses which were fastened to their
|
||
|
|
faces, and the uses which they made of them. These noses were made of
|
||
|
|
bamboo, and were five, six, and even ten feet long, some straight,
|
||
|
|
others curved, some ribboned, and some having imitation warts upon
|
||
|
|
them. It was upon these appendages, fixed tightly on their real noses,
|
||
|
|
that they performed their gymnastic exercises. A dozen of these
|
||
|
|
sectaries of Tingou lay flat upon their backs, while others, dressed to
|
||
|
|
represent lightning-rods, came and frolicked on their noses, jumping
|
||
|
|
from one to another, and performing the most skilful leapings and
|
||
|
|
somersaults.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
As a last scene, a "human pyramid" had been announced, in which fifty
|
||
|
|
Long Noses were to represent the Car of Juggernaut. But, instead of
|
||
|
|
forming a pyramid by mounting each other's shoulders, the artists were
|
||
|
|
to group themselves on top of the noses. It happened that the
|
||
|
|
performer who had hitherto formed the base of the Car had quitted the
|
||
|
|
troupe, and as, to fill this part, only strength and adroitness were
|
||
|
|
necessary, Passepartout had been chosen to take his place.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The poor fellow really felt sad when--melancholy reminiscence of his
|
||
|
|
youth!--he donned his costume, adorned with vari-coloured wings, and
|
||
|
|
fastened to his natural feature a false nose six feet long. But he
|
||
|
|
cheered up when he thought that this nose was winning him something to
|
||
|
|
eat.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He went upon the stage, and took his place beside the rest who were to
|
||
|
|
compose the base of the Car of Juggernaut. They all stretched
|
||
|
|
themselves on the floor, their noses pointing to the ceiling. A second
|
||
|
|
group of artists disposed themselves on these long appendages, then a
|
||
|
|
third above these, then a fourth, until a human monument reaching to
|
||
|
|
the very cornices of the theatre soon arose on top of the noses. This
|
||
|
|
elicited loud applause, in the midst of which the orchestra was just
|
||
|
|
striking up a deafening air, when the pyramid tottered, the balance was
|
||
|
|
lost, one of the lower noses vanished from the pyramid, and the human
|
||
|
|
monument was shattered like a castle built of cards!
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was Passepartout's fault. Abandoning his position, clearing the
|
||
|
|
footlights without the aid of his wings, and, clambering up to the
|
||
|
|
right-hand gallery, he fell at the feet of one of the spectators,
|
||
|
|
crying, "Ah, my master! my master!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"You here?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Myself."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Very well; then let us go to the steamer, young man!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg, Aouda, and Passepartout passed through the lobby of the
|
||
|
|
theatre to the outside, where they encountered the Honourable Mr.
|
||
|
|
Batulcar, furious with rage. He demanded damages for the "breakage" of
|
||
|
|
the pyramid; and Phileas Fogg appeased him by giving him a handful of
|
||
|
|
banknotes.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At half-past six, the very hour of departure, Mr. Fogg and Aouda,
|
||
|
|
followed by Passepartout, who in his hurry had retained his wings, and
|
||
|
|
nose six feet long, stepped upon the American steamer.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter XXIV
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
DURING WHICH MR. FOGG AND PARTY CROSS THE PACIFIC OCEAN
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
What happened when the pilot-boat came in sight of Shanghai will be
|
||
|
|
easily guessed. The signals made by the Tankadere had been seen by the
|
||
|
|
captain of the Yokohama steamer, who, espying the flag at half-mast,
|
||
|
|
had directed his course towards the little craft. Phileas Fogg, after
|
||
|
|
paying the stipulated price of his passage to John Busby, and rewarding
|
||
|
|
that worthy with the additional sum of five hundred and fifty pounds,
|
||
|
|
ascended the steamer with Aouda and Fix; and they started at once for
|
||
|
|
Nagasaki and Yokohama.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They reached their destination on the morning of the 14th of November.
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg lost no time in going on board the Carnatic, where he
|
||
|
|
learned, to Aouda's great delight--and perhaps to his own, though he
|
||
|
|
betrayed no emotion--that Passepartout, a Frenchman, had really arrived
|
||
|
|
on her the day before.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The San Francisco steamer was announced to leave that very evening, and
|
||
|
|
it became necessary to find Passepartout, if possible, without delay.
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg applied in vain to the French and English consuls, and, after
|
||
|
|
wandering through the streets a long time, began to despair of finding
|
||
|
|
his missing servant. Chance, or perhaps a kind of presentiment, at
|
||
|
|
last led him into the Honourable Mr. Batulcar's theatre. He certainly
|
||
|
|
would not have recognised Passepartout in the eccentric mountebank's
|
||
|
|
costume; but the latter, lying on his back, perceived his master in the
|
||
|
|
gallery. He could not help starting, which so changed the position of
|
||
|
|
his nose as to bring the "pyramid" pell-mell upon the stage.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
All this Passepartout learned from Aouda, who recounted to him what had
|
||
|
|
taken place on the voyage from Hong Kong to Shanghai on the Tankadere,
|
||
|
|
in company with one Mr. Fix.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout did not change countenance on hearing this name. He
|
||
|
|
thought that the time had not yet arrived to divulge to his master what
|
||
|
|
had taken place between the detective and himself; and, in the account
|
||
|
|
he gave of his absence, he simply excused himself for having been
|
||
|
|
overtaken by drunkenness, in smoking opium at a tavern in Hong Kong.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg heard this narrative coldly, without a word; and then
|
||
|
|
furnished his man with funds necessary to obtain clothing more in
|
||
|
|
harmony with his position. Within an hour the Frenchman had cut off
|
||
|
|
his nose and parted with his wings, and retained nothing about him
|
||
|
|
which recalled the sectary of the god Tingou.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The steamer which was about to depart from Yokohama to San Francisco
|
||
|
|
belonged to the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, and was named the
|
||
|
|
General Grant. She was a large paddle-wheel steamer of two thousand
|
||
|
|
five hundred tons; well equipped and very fast. The massive
|
||
|
|
walking-beam rose and fell above the deck; at one end a piston-rod
|
||
|
|
worked up and down; and at the other was a connecting-rod which, in
|
||
|
|
changing the rectilinear motion to a circular one, was directly
|
||
|
|
connected with the shaft of the paddles. The General Grant was rigged
|
||
|
|
with three masts, giving a large capacity for sails, and thus
|
||
|
|
materially aiding the steam power. By making twelve miles an hour, she
|
||
|
|
would cross the ocean in twenty-one days. Phileas Fogg was therefore
|
||
|
|
justified in hoping that he would reach San Francisco by the 2nd of
|
||
|
|
December, New York by the 11th, and London on the 20th--thus gaining
|
||
|
|
several hours on the fatal date of the 21st of December.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
There was a full complement of passengers on board, among them English,
|
||
|
|
many Americans, a large number of coolies on their way to California,
|
||
|
|
and several East Indian officers, who were spending their vacation in
|
||
|
|
making the tour of the world. Nothing of moment happened on the
|
||
|
|
voyage; the steamer, sustained on its large paddles, rolled but little,
|
||
|
|
and the Pacific almost justified its name. Mr. Fogg was as calm and
|
||
|
|
taciturn as ever. His young companion felt herself more and more
|
||
|
|
attached to him by other ties than gratitude; his silent but generous
|
||
|
|
nature impressed her more than she thought; and it was almost
|
||
|
|
unconsciously that she yielded to emotions which did not seem to have
|
||
|
|
the least effect upon her protector. Aouda took the keenest interest
|
||
|
|
in his plans, and became impatient at any incident which seemed likely
|
||
|
|
to retard his journey.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
She often chatted with Passepartout, who did not fail to perceive the
|
||
|
|
state of the lady's heart; and, being the most faithful of domestics,
|
||
|
|
he never exhausted his eulogies of Phileas Fogg's honesty, generosity,
|
||
|
|
and devotion. He took pains to calm Aouda's doubts of a successful
|
||
|
|
termination of the journey, telling her that the most difficult part of
|
||
|
|
it had passed, that now they were beyond the fantastic countries of
|
||
|
|
Japan and China, and were fairly on their way to civilised places
|
||
|
|
again. A railway train from San Francisco to New York, and a
|
||
|
|
transatlantic steamer from New York to Liverpool, would doubtless bring
|
||
|
|
them to the end of this impossible journey round the world within the
|
||
|
|
period agreed upon.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
On the ninth day after leaving Yokohama, Phileas Fogg had traversed
|
||
|
|
exactly one half of the terrestrial globe. The General Grant passed,
|
||
|
|
on the 23rd of November, the one hundred and eightieth meridian, and
|
||
|
|
was at the very antipodes of London. Mr. Fogg had, it is true,
|
||
|
|
exhausted fifty-two of the eighty days in which he was to complete the
|
||
|
|
tour, and there were only twenty-eight left. But, though he was only
|
||
|
|
half-way by the difference of meridians, he had really gone over
|
||
|
|
two-thirds of the whole journey; for he had been obliged to make long
|
||
|
|
circuits from London to Aden, from Aden to Bombay, from Calcutta to
|
||
|
|
Singapore, and from Singapore to Yokohama. Could he have followed
|
||
|
|
without deviation the fiftieth parallel, which is that of London, the
|
||
|
|
whole distance would only have been about twelve thousand miles;
|
||
|
|
whereas he would be forced, by the irregular methods of locomotion, to
|
||
|
|
traverse twenty-six thousand, of which he had, on the 23rd of November,
|
||
|
|
accomplished seventeen thousand five hundred. And now the course was a
|
||
|
|
straight one, and Fix was no longer there to put obstacles in their way!
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It happened also, on the 23rd of November, that Passepartout made a
|
||
|
|
joyful discovery. It will be remembered that the obstinate fellow had
|
||
|
|
insisted on keeping his famous family watch at London time, and on
|
||
|
|
regarding that of the countries he had passed through as quite false
|
||
|
|
and unreliable. Now, on this day, though he had not changed the hands,
|
||
|
|
he found that his watch exactly agreed with the ship's chronometers.
|
||
|
|
His triumph was hilarious. He would have liked to know what Fix would
|
||
|
|
say if he were aboard!
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"The rogue told me a lot of stories," repeated Passepartout, "about the
|
||
|
|
meridians, the sun, and the moon! Moon, indeed! moonshine more
|
||
|
|
likely! If one listened to that sort of people, a pretty sort of time
|
||
|
|
one would keep! I was sure that the sun would some day regulate itself
|
||
|
|
by my watch!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout was ignorant that, if the face of his watch had been
|
||
|
|
divided into twenty-four hours, like the Italian clocks, he would have
|
||
|
|
no reason for exultation; for the hands of his watch would then,
|
||
|
|
instead of as now indicating nine o'clock in the morning, indicate nine
|
||
|
|
o'clock in the evening, that is, the twenty-first hour after midnight
|
||
|
|
precisely the difference between London time and that of the one
|
||
|
|
hundred and eightieth meridian. But if Fix had been able to explain
|
||
|
|
this purely physical effect, Passepartout would not have admitted, even
|
||
|
|
if he had comprehended it. Moreover, if the detective had been on
|
||
|
|
board at that moment, Passepartout would have joined issue with him on
|
||
|
|
a quite different subject, and in an entirely different manner.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Where was Fix at that moment?
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He was actually on board the General Grant.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
On reaching Yokohama, the detective, leaving Mr. Fogg, whom he expected
|
||
|
|
to meet again during the day, had repaired at once to the English
|
||
|
|
consulate, where he at last found the warrant of arrest. It had
|
||
|
|
followed him from Bombay, and had come by the Carnatic, on which
|
||
|
|
steamer he himself was supposed to be. Fix's disappointment may be
|
||
|
|
imagined when he reflected that the warrant was now useless. Mr. Fogg
|
||
|
|
had left English ground, and it was now necessary to procure his
|
||
|
|
extradition!
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Well," thought Fix, after a moment of anger, "my warrant is not good
|
||
|
|
here, but it will be in England. The rogue evidently intends to return
|
||
|
|
to his own country, thinking he has thrown the police off his track.
|
||
|
|
Good! I will follow him across the Atlantic. As for the money, heaven
|
||
|
|
grant there may be some left! But the fellow has already spent in
|
||
|
|
travelling, rewards, trials, bail, elephants, and all sorts of charges,
|
||
|
|
more than five thousand pounds. Yet, after all, the Bank is rich!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
His course decided on, he went on board the General Grant, and was
|
||
|
|
there when Mr. Fogg and Aouda arrived. To his utter amazement, he
|
||
|
|
recognised Passepartout, despite his theatrical disguise. He quickly
|
||
|
|
concealed himself in his cabin, to avoid an awkward explanation, and
|
||
|
|
hoped--thanks to the number of passengers--to remain unperceived by Mr.
|
||
|
|
Fogg's servant.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
On that very day, however, he met Passepartout face to face on the
|
||
|
|
forward deck. The latter, without a word, made a rush for him, grasped
|
||
|
|
him by the throat, and, much to the amusement of a group of Americans,
|
||
|
|
who immediately began to bet on him, administered to the detective a
|
||
|
|
perfect volley of blows, which proved the great superiority of French
|
||
|
|
over English pugilistic skill.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
When Passepartout had finished, he found himself relieved and
|
||
|
|
comforted. Fix got up in a somewhat rumpled condition, and, looking at
|
||
|
|
his adversary, coldly said, "Have you done?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"For this time--yes."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Then let me have a word with you."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But I--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"In your master's interests."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout seemed to be vanquished by Fix's coolness, for he quietly
|
||
|
|
followed him, and they sat down aside from the rest of the passengers.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"You have given me a thrashing," said Fix. "Good, I expected it. Now,
|
||
|
|
listen to me. Up to this time I have been Mr. Fogg's adversary. I am
|
||
|
|
now in his game."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Aha!" cried Passepartout; "you are convinced he is an honest man?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No," replied Fix coldly, "I think him a rascal. Sh! don't budge, and
|
||
|
|
let me speak. As long as Mr. Fogg was on English ground, it was for my
|
||
|
|
interest to detain him there until my warrant of arrest arrived. I did
|
||
|
|
everything I could to keep him back. I sent the Bombay priests after
|
||
|
|
him, I got you intoxicated at Hong Kong, I separated you from him, and
|
||
|
|
I made him miss the Yokohama steamer."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout listened, with closed fists.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Now," resumed Fix, "Mr. Fogg seems to be going back to England. Well,
|
||
|
|
I will follow him there. But hereafter I will do as much to keep
|
||
|
|
obstacles out of his way as I have done up to this time to put them in
|
||
|
|
his path. I've changed my game, you see, and simply because it was for
|
||
|
|
my interest to change it. Your interest is the same as mine; for it is
|
||
|
|
only in England that you will ascertain whether you are in the service
|
||
|
|
of a criminal or an honest man."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout listened very attentively to Fix, and was convinced that
|
||
|
|
he spoke with entire good faith.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Are we friends?" asked the detective.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Friends?--no," replied Passepartout; "but allies, perhaps. At the
|
||
|
|
least sign of treason, however, I'll twist your neck for you."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Agreed," said the detective quietly.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Eleven days later, on the 3rd of December, the General Grant entered
|
||
|
|
the bay of the Golden Gate, and reached San Francisco.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg had neither gained nor lost a single day.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter XXV
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH A SLIGHT GLIMPSE IS HAD OF SAN FRANCISCO
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was seven in the morning when Mr. Fogg, Aouda, and Passepartout set
|
||
|
|
foot upon the American continent, if this name can be given to the
|
||
|
|
floating quay upon which they disembarked. These quays, rising and
|
||
|
|
falling with the tide, thus facilitate the loading and unloading of
|
||
|
|
vessels. Alongside them were clippers of all sizes, steamers of all
|
||
|
|
nationalities, and the steamboats, with several decks rising one above
|
||
|
|
the other, which ply on the Sacramento and its tributaries. There were
|
||
|
|
also heaped up the products of a commerce which extends to Mexico,
|
||
|
|
Chili, Peru, Brazil, Europe, Asia, and all the Pacific islands.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout, in his joy on reaching at last the American continent,
|
||
|
|
thought he would manifest it by executing a perilous vault in fine
|
||
|
|
style; but, tumbling upon some worm-eaten planks, he fell through them.
|
||
|
|
Put out of countenance by the manner in which he thus "set foot" upon
|
||
|
|
the New World, he uttered a loud cry, which so frightened the
|
||
|
|
innumerable cormorants and pelicans that are always perched upon these
|
||
|
|
movable quays, that they flew noisily away.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg, on reaching shore, proceeded to find out at what hour the
|
||
|
|
first train left for New York, and learned that this was at six o'clock
|
||
|
|
p.m.; he had, therefore, an entire day to spend in the Californian
|
||
|
|
capital. Taking a carriage at a charge of three dollars, he and Aouda
|
||
|
|
entered it, while Passepartout mounted the box beside the driver, and
|
||
|
|
they set out for the International Hotel.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
From his exalted position Passepartout observed with much curiosity the
|
||
|
|
wide streets, the low, evenly ranged houses, the Anglo-Saxon Gothic
|
||
|
|
churches, the great docks, the palatial wooden and brick warehouses,
|
||
|
|
the numerous conveyances, omnibuses, horse-cars, and upon the
|
||
|
|
side-walks, not only Americans and Europeans, but Chinese and Indians.
|
||
|
|
Passepartout was surprised at all he saw. San Francisco was no longer
|
||
|
|
the legendary city of 1849--a city of banditti, assassins, and
|
||
|
|
incendiaries, who had flocked hither in crowds in pursuit of plunder; a
|
||
|
|
paradise of outlaws, where they gambled with gold-dust, a revolver in
|
||
|
|
one hand and a bowie-knife in the other: it was now a great commercial
|
||
|
|
emporium.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The lofty tower of its City Hall overlooked the whole panorama of the
|
||
|
|
streets and avenues, which cut each other at right-angles, and in the
|
||
|
|
midst of which appeared pleasant, verdant squares, while beyond
|
||
|
|
appeared the Chinese quarter, seemingly imported from the Celestial
|
||
|
|
Empire in a toy-box. Sombreros and red shirts and plumed Indians were
|
||
|
|
rarely to be seen; but there were silk hats and black coats everywhere
|
||
|
|
worn by a multitude of nervously active, gentlemanly-looking men. Some
|
||
|
|
of the streets--especially Montgomery Street, which is to San Francisco
|
||
|
|
what Regent Street is to London, the Boulevard des Italiens to Paris,
|
||
|
|
and Broadway to New York--were lined with splendid and spacious
|
||
|
|
stores, which exposed in their windows the products of the entire world.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
When Passepartout reached the International Hotel, it did not seem to
|
||
|
|
him as if he had left England at all.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The ground floor of the hotel was occupied by a large bar, a sort of
|
||
|
|
restaurant freely open to all passers-by, who might partake of dried
|
||
|
|
beef, oyster soup, biscuits, and cheese, without taking out their
|
||
|
|
purses. Payment was made only for the ale, porter, or sherry which was
|
||
|
|
drunk. This seemed "very American" to Passepartout. The hotel
|
||
|
|
refreshment-rooms were comfortable, and Mr. Fogg and Aouda, installing
|
||
|
|
themselves at a table, were abundantly served on diminutive plates by
|
||
|
|
negroes of darkest hue.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
After breakfast, Mr. Fogg, accompanied by Aouda, started for the
|
||
|
|
English consulate to have his passport visaed. As he was going out, he
|
||
|
|
met Passepartout, who asked him if it would not be well, before taking
|
||
|
|
the train, to purchase some dozens of Enfield rifles and Colt's
|
||
|
|
revolvers. He had been listening to stories of attacks upon the trains
|
||
|
|
by the Sioux and Pawnees. Mr. Fogg thought it a useless precaution,
|
||
|
|
but told him to do as he thought best, and went on to the consulate.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He had not proceeded two hundred steps, however, when, "by the greatest
|
||
|
|
chance in the world," he met Fix. The detective seemed wholly taken by
|
||
|
|
surprise. What! Had Mr. Fogg and himself crossed the Pacific
|
||
|
|
together, and not met on the steamer! At least Fix felt honoured to
|
||
|
|
behold once more the gentleman to whom he owed so much, and, as his
|
||
|
|
business recalled him to Europe, he should be delighted to continue the
|
||
|
|
journey in such pleasant company.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg replied that the honour would be his; and the detective--who
|
||
|
|
was determined not to lose sight of him--begged permission to accompany
|
||
|
|
them in their walk about San Francisco--a request which Mr. Fogg
|
||
|
|
readily granted.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They soon found themselves in Montgomery Street, where a great crowd
|
||
|
|
was collected; the side-walks, street, horsecar rails, the shop-doors,
|
||
|
|
the windows of the houses, and even the roofs, were full of people.
|
||
|
|
Men were going about carrying large posters, and flags and streamers
|
||
|
|
were floating in the wind; while loud cries were heard on every hand.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Hurrah for Camerfield!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Hurrah for Mandiboy!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was a political meeting; at least so Fix conjectured, who said to
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg, "Perhaps we had better not mingle with the crowd. There may
|
||
|
|
be danger in it."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes," returned Mr. Fogg; "and blows, even if they are political are
|
||
|
|
still blows."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix smiled at this remark; and, in order to be able to see without
|
||
|
|
being jostled about, the party took up a position on the top of a
|
||
|
|
flight of steps situated at the upper end of Montgomery Street.
|
||
|
|
Opposite them, on the other side of the street, between a coal wharf
|
||
|
|
and a petroleum warehouse, a large platform had been erected in the
|
||
|
|
open air, towards which the current of the crowd seemed to be directed.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
For what purpose was this meeting? What was the occasion of this
|
||
|
|
excited assemblage? Phileas Fogg could not imagine. Was it to
|
||
|
|
nominate some high official--a governor or member of Congress? It was
|
||
|
|
not improbable, so agitated was the multitude before them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Just at this moment there was an unusual stir in the human mass. All
|
||
|
|
the hands were raised in the air. Some, tightly closed, seemed to
|
||
|
|
disappear suddenly in the midst of the cries--an energetic way, no
|
||
|
|
doubt, of casting a vote. The crowd swayed back, the banners and flags
|
||
|
|
wavered, disappeared an instant, then reappeared in tatters. The
|
||
|
|
undulations of the human surge reached the steps, while all the heads
|
||
|
|
floundered on the surface like a sea agitated by a squall. Many of the
|
||
|
|
black hats disappeared, and the greater part of the crowd seemed to
|
||
|
|
have diminished in height.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"It is evidently a meeting," said Fix, "and its object must be an
|
||
|
|
exciting one. I should not wonder if it were about the Alabama,
|
||
|
|
despite the fact that that question is settled."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Perhaps," replied Mr. Fogg, simply.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"At least, there are two champions in presence of each other, the
|
||
|
|
Honourable Mr. Camerfield and the Honourable Mr. Mandiboy."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Aouda, leaning upon Mr. Fogg's arm, observed the tumultuous scene with
|
||
|
|
surprise, while Fix asked a man near him what the cause of it all was.
|
||
|
|
Before the man could reply, a fresh agitation arose; hurrahs and
|
||
|
|
excited shouts were heard; the staffs of the banners began to be used
|
||
|
|
as offensive weapons; and fists flew about in every direction. Thumps
|
||
|
|
were exchanged from the tops of the carriages and omnibuses which had
|
||
|
|
been blocked up in the crowd. Boots and shoes went whirling through
|
||
|
|
the air, and Mr. Fogg thought he even heard the crack of revolvers
|
||
|
|
mingling in the din, the rout approached the stairway, and flowed over
|
||
|
|
the lower step. One of the parties had evidently been repulsed; but
|
||
|
|
the mere lookers-on could not tell whether Mandiboy or Camerfield had
|
||
|
|
gained the upper hand.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"It would be prudent for us to retire," said Fix, who was anxious that
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg should not receive any injury, at least until they got back to
|
||
|
|
London. "If there is any question about England in all this, and we
|
||
|
|
were recognised, I fear it would go hard with us."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"An English subject--" began Mr. Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He did not finish his sentence; for a terrific hubbub now arose on the
|
||
|
|
terrace behind the flight of steps where they stood, and there were
|
||
|
|
frantic shouts of, "Hurrah for Mandiboy! Hip, hip, hurrah!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was a band of voters coming to the rescue of their allies, and
|
||
|
|
taking the Camerfield forces in flank. Mr. Fogg, Aouda, and Fix found
|
||
|
|
themselves between two fires; it was too late to escape. The torrent
|
||
|
|
of men, armed with loaded canes and sticks, was irresistible. Phileas
|
||
|
|
Fogg and Fix were roughly hustled in their attempts to protect their
|
||
|
|
fair companion; the former, as cool as ever, tried to defend himself
|
||
|
|
with the weapons which nature has placed at the end of every
|
||
|
|
Englishman's arm, but in vain. A big brawny fellow with a red beard,
|
||
|
|
flushed face, and broad shoulders, who seemed to be the chief of the
|
||
|
|
band, raised his clenched fist to strike Mr. Fogg, whom he would have
|
||
|
|
given a crushing blow, had not Fix rushed in and received it in his
|
||
|
|
stead. An enormous bruise immediately made its appearance under the
|
||
|
|
detective's silk hat, which was completely smashed in.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yankee!" exclaimed Mr. Fogg, darting a contemptuous look at the
|
||
|
|
ruffian.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Englishman!" returned the other. "We will meet again!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"When you please."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What is your name?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Phileas Fogg. And yours?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Colonel Stamp Proctor."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The human tide now swept by, after overturning Fix, who speedily got
|
||
|
|
upon his feet again, though with tattered clothes. Happily, he was not
|
||
|
|
seriously hurt. His travelling overcoat was divided into two unequal
|
||
|
|
parts, and his trousers resembled those of certain Indians, which fit
|
||
|
|
less compactly than they are easy to put on. Aouda had escaped
|
||
|
|
unharmed, and Fix alone bore marks of the fray in his black and blue
|
||
|
|
bruise.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Thanks," said Mr. Fogg to the detective, as soon as they were out of
|
||
|
|
the crowd.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No thanks are necessary," replied. Fix; "but let us go."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Where?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"To a tailor's."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Such a visit was, indeed, opportune. The clothing of both Mr. Fogg and
|
||
|
|
Fix was in rags, as if they had themselves been actively engaged in the
|
||
|
|
contest between Camerfield and Mandiboy. An hour after, they were once
|
||
|
|
more suitably attired, and with Aouda returned to the International
|
||
|
|
Hotel.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout was waiting for his master, armed with half a dozen
|
||
|
|
six-barrelled revolvers. When he perceived Fix, he knit his brows; but
|
||
|
|
Aouda having, in a few words, told him of their adventure, his
|
||
|
|
countenance resumed its placid expression. Fix evidently was no longer
|
||
|
|
an enemy, but an ally; he was faithfully keeping his word.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Dinner over, the coach which was to convey the passengers and their
|
||
|
|
luggage to the station drew up to the door. As he was getting in, Mr.
|
||
|
|
Fogg said to Fix, "You have not seen this Colonel Proctor again?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I will come back to America to find him," said Phileas Fogg calmly.
|
||
|
|
"It would not be right for an Englishman to permit himself to be
|
||
|
|
treated in that way, without retaliating."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The detective smiled, but did not reply. It was clear that Mr. Fogg
|
||
|
|
was one of those Englishmen who, while they do not tolerate duelling at
|
||
|
|
home, fight abroad when their honour is attacked.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At a quarter before six the travellers reached the station, and found
|
||
|
|
the train ready to depart. As he was about to enter it, Mr. Fogg
|
||
|
|
called a porter, and said to him: "My friend, was there not some
|
||
|
|
trouble to-day in San Francisco?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"It was a political meeting, sir," replied the porter.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But I thought there was a great deal of disturbance in the streets."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"It was only a meeting assembled for an election."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"The election of a general-in-chief, no doubt?" asked Mr. Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No, sir; of a justice of the peace."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg got into the train, which started off at full speed.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter XXVI
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG AND PARTY TRAVEL BY THE PACIFIC RAILROAD
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"From ocean to ocean"--so say the Americans; and these four words
|
||
|
|
compose the general designation of the "great trunk line" which crosses
|
||
|
|
the entire width of the United States. The Pacific Railroad is,
|
||
|
|
however, really divided into two distinct lines: the Central Pacific,
|
||
|
|
between San Francisco and Ogden, and the Union Pacific, between Ogden
|
||
|
|
and Omaha. Five main lines connect Omaha with New York.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
New York and San Francisco are thus united by an uninterrupted metal
|
||
|
|
ribbon, which measures no less than three thousand seven hundred and
|
||
|
|
eighty-six miles. Between Omaha and the Pacific the railway crosses a
|
||
|
|
territory which is still infested by Indians and wild beasts, and a
|
||
|
|
large tract which the Mormons, after they were driven from Illinois in
|
||
|
|
1845, began to colonise.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The journey from New York to San Francisco consumed, formerly, under
|
||
|
|
the most favourable conditions, at least six months. It is now
|
||
|
|
accomplished in seven days.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was in 1862 that, in spite of the Southern Members of Congress, who
|
||
|
|
wished a more southerly route, it was decided to lay the road between
|
||
|
|
the forty-first and forty-second parallels. President Lincoln himself
|
||
|
|
fixed the end of the line at Omaha, in Nebraska. The work was at once
|
||
|
|
commenced, and pursued with true American energy; nor did the rapidity
|
||
|
|
with which it went on injuriously affect its good execution. The road
|
||
|
|
grew, on the prairies, a mile and a half a day. A locomotive, running
|
||
|
|
on the rails laid down the evening before, brought the rails to be laid
|
||
|
|
on the morrow, and advanced upon them as fast as they were put in
|
||
|
|
position.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The Pacific Railroad is joined by several branches in Iowa, Kansas,
|
||
|
|
Colorado, and Oregon. On leaving Omaha, it passes along the left bank
|
||
|
|
of the Platte River as far as the junction of its northern branch,
|
||
|
|
follows its southern branch, crosses the Laramie territory and the
|
||
|
|
Wahsatch Mountains, turns the Great Salt Lake, and reaches Salt Lake
|
||
|
|
City, the Mormon capital, plunges into the Tuilla Valley, across the
|
||
|
|
American Desert, Cedar and Humboldt Mountains, the Sierra Nevada, and
|
||
|
|
descends, via Sacramento, to the Pacific--its grade, even on the Rocky
|
||
|
|
Mountains, never exceeding one hundred and twelve feet to the mile.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Such was the road to be traversed in seven days, which would enable
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg--at least, so he hoped--to take the Atlantic steamer at
|
||
|
|
New York on the 11th for Liverpool.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The car which he occupied was a sort of long omnibus on eight wheels,
|
||
|
|
and with no compartments in the interior. It was supplied with two
|
||
|
|
rows of seats, perpendicular to the direction of the train on either
|
||
|
|
side of an aisle which conducted to the front and rear platforms.
|
||
|
|
These platforms were found throughout the train, and the passengers
|
||
|
|
were able to pass from one end of the train to the other. It was
|
||
|
|
supplied with saloon cars, balcony cars, restaurants, and smoking-cars;
|
||
|
|
theatre cars alone were wanting, and they will have these some day.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Book and news dealers, sellers of edibles, drinkables, and cigars, who
|
||
|
|
seemed to have plenty of customers, were continually circulating in the
|
||
|
|
aisles.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The train left Oakland station at six o'clock. It was already night,
|
||
|
|
cold and cheerless, the heavens being overcast with clouds which seemed
|
||
|
|
to threaten snow. The train did not proceed rapidly; counting the
|
||
|
|
stoppages, it did not run more than twenty miles an hour, which was a
|
||
|
|
sufficient speed, however, to enable it to reach Omaha within its
|
||
|
|
designated time.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
There was but little conversation in the car, and soon many of the
|
||
|
|
passengers were overcome with sleep. Passepartout found himself beside
|
||
|
|
the detective; but he did not talk to him. After recent events, their
|
||
|
|
relations with each other had grown somewhat cold; there could no
|
||
|
|
longer be mutual sympathy or intimacy between them. Fix's manner had
|
||
|
|
not changed; but Passepartout was very reserved, and ready to strangle
|
||
|
|
his former friend on the slightest provocation.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Snow began to fall an hour after they started, a fine snow, however,
|
||
|
|
which happily could not obstruct the train; nothing could be seen from
|
||
|
|
the windows but a vast, white sheet, against which the smoke of the
|
||
|
|
locomotive had a greyish aspect.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At eight o'clock a steward entered the car and announced that the time
|
||
|
|
for going to bed had arrived; and in a few minutes the car was
|
||
|
|
transformed into a dormitory. The backs of the seats were thrown back,
|
||
|
|
bedsteads carefully packed were rolled out by an ingenious system,
|
||
|
|
berths were suddenly improvised, and each traveller had soon at his
|
||
|
|
disposition a comfortable bed, protected from curious eyes by thick
|
||
|
|
curtains. The sheets were clean and the pillows soft. It only
|
||
|
|
remained to go to bed and sleep which everybody did--while the train
|
||
|
|
sped on across the State of California.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The country between San Francisco and Sacramento is not very hilly.
|
||
|
|
The Central Pacific, taking Sacramento for its starting-point, extends
|
||
|
|
eastward to meet the road from Omaha. The line from San Francisco to
|
||
|
|
Sacramento runs in a north-easterly direction, along the American
|
||
|
|
River, which empties into San Pablo Bay. The one hundred and twenty
|
||
|
|
miles between these cities were accomplished in six hours, and towards
|
||
|
|
midnight, while fast asleep, the travellers passed through Sacramento;
|
||
|
|
so that they saw nothing of that important place, the seat of the State
|
||
|
|
government, with its fine quays, its broad streets, its noble hotels,
|
||
|
|
squares, and churches.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The train, on leaving Sacramento, and passing the junction, Roclin,
|
||
|
|
Auburn, and Colfax, entered the range of the Sierra Nevada. 'Cisco was
|
||
|
|
reached at seven in the morning; and an hour later the dormitory was
|
||
|
|
transformed into an ordinary car, and the travellers could observe the
|
||
|
|
picturesque beauties of the mountain region through which they were
|
||
|
|
steaming. The railway track wound in and out among the passes, now
|
||
|
|
approaching the mountain-sides, now suspended over precipices, avoiding
|
||
|
|
abrupt angles by bold curves, plunging into narrow defiles, which
|
||
|
|
seemed to have no outlet. The locomotive, its great funnel emitting a
|
||
|
|
weird light, with its sharp bell, and its cow-catcher extended like a
|
||
|
|
spur, mingled its shrieks and bellowings with the noise of torrents and
|
||
|
|
cascades, and twined its smoke among the branches of the gigantic pines.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
There were few or no bridges or tunnels on the route. The railway
|
||
|
|
turned around the sides of the mountains, and did not attempt to
|
||
|
|
violate nature by taking the shortest cut from one point to another.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The train entered the State of Nevada through the Carson Valley about
|
||
|
|
nine o'clock, going always northeasterly; and at midday reached Reno,
|
||
|
|
where there was a delay of twenty minutes for breakfast.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
From this point the road, running along Humboldt River, passed
|
||
|
|
northward for several miles by its banks; then it turned eastward, and
|
||
|
|
kept by the river until it reached the Humboldt Range, nearly at the
|
||
|
|
extreme eastern limit of Nevada.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Having breakfasted, Mr. Fogg and his companions resumed their places in
|
||
|
|
the car, and observed the varied landscape which unfolded itself as
|
||
|
|
they passed along the vast prairies, the mountains lining the horizon,
|
||
|
|
and the creeks, with their frothy, foaming streams. Sometimes a great
|
||
|
|
herd of buffaloes, massing together in the distance, seemed like a
|
||
|
|
moveable dam. These innumerable multitudes of ruminating beasts often
|
||
|
|
form an insurmountable obstacle to the passage of the trains; thousands
|
||
|
|
of them have been seen passing over the track for hours together, in
|
||
|
|
compact ranks. The locomotive is then forced to stop and wait till the
|
||
|
|
road is once more clear.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This happened, indeed, to the train in which Mr. Fogg was travelling.
|
||
|
|
About twelve o'clock a troop of ten or twelve thousand head of buffalo
|
||
|
|
encumbered the track. The locomotive, slackening its speed, tried to
|
||
|
|
clear the way with its cow-catcher; but the mass of animals was too
|
||
|
|
great. The buffaloes marched along with a tranquil gait, uttering now
|
||
|
|
and then deafening bellowings. There was no use of interrupting them,
|
||
|
|
for, having taken a particular direction, nothing can moderate and
|
||
|
|
change their course; it is a torrent of living flesh which no dam could
|
||
|
|
contain.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The travellers gazed on this curious spectacle from the platforms; but
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg, who had the most reason of all to be in a hurry, remained
|
||
|
|
in his seat, and waited philosophically until it should please the
|
||
|
|
buffaloes to get out of the way.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout was furious at the delay they occasioned, and longed to
|
||
|
|
discharge his arsenal of revolvers upon them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What a country!" cried he. "Mere cattle stop the trains, and go by in
|
||
|
|
a procession, just as if they were not impeding travel! Parbleu! I
|
||
|
|
should like to know if Mr. Fogg foresaw this mishap in his programme!
|
||
|
|
And here's an engineer who doesn't dare to run the locomotive into this
|
||
|
|
herd of beasts!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The engineer did not try to overcome the obstacle, and he was wise. He
|
||
|
|
would have crushed the first buffaloes, no doubt, with the cow-catcher;
|
||
|
|
but the locomotive, however powerful, would soon have been checked, the
|
||
|
|
train would inevitably have been thrown off the track, and would then
|
||
|
|
have been helpless.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The best course was to wait patiently, and regain the lost time by
|
||
|
|
greater speed when the obstacle was removed. The procession of
|
||
|
|
buffaloes lasted three full hours, and it was night before the track
|
||
|
|
was clear. The last ranks of the herd were now passing over the rails,
|
||
|
|
while the first had already disappeared below the southern horizon.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was eight o'clock when the train passed through the defiles of the
|
||
|
|
Humboldt Range, and half-past nine when it penetrated Utah, the region
|
||
|
|
of the Great Salt Lake, the singular colony of the Mormons.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter XXVII
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH PASSEPARTOUT UNDERGOES, AT A SPEED OF TWENTY MILES AN HOUR, A
|
||
|
|
COURSE OF MORMON HISTORY
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
During the night of the 5th of December, the train ran south-easterly
|
||
|
|
for about fifty miles; then rose an equal distance in a north-easterly
|
||
|
|
direction, towards the Great Salt Lake.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout, about nine o'clock, went out upon the platform to take
|
||
|
|
the air. The weather was cold, the heavens grey, but it was not
|
||
|
|
snowing. The sun's disc, enlarged by the mist, seemed an enormous ring
|
||
|
|
of gold, and Passepartout was amusing himself by calculating its value
|
||
|
|
in pounds sterling, when he was diverted from this interesting study by
|
||
|
|
a strange-looking personage who made his appearance on the platform.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This personage, who had taken the train at Elko, was tall and dark,
|
||
|
|
with black moustache, black stockings, a black silk hat, a black
|
||
|
|
waistcoat, black trousers, a white cravat, and dogskin gloves. He
|
||
|
|
might have been taken for a clergyman. He went from one end of the
|
||
|
|
train to the other, and affixed to the door of each car a notice
|
||
|
|
written in manuscript.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout approached and read one of these notices, which stated
|
||
|
|
that Elder William Hitch, Mormon missionary, taking advantage of his
|
||
|
|
presence on train No. 48, would deliver a lecture on Mormonism in car
|
||
|
|
No. 117, from eleven to twelve o'clock; and that he invited all who
|
||
|
|
were desirous of being instructed concerning the mysteries of the
|
||
|
|
religion of the "Latter Day Saints" to attend.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I'll go," said Passepartout to himself. He knew nothing of Mormonism
|
||
|
|
except the custom of polygamy, which is its foundation.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The news quickly spread through the train, which contained about one
|
||
|
|
hundred passengers, thirty of whom, at most, attracted by the notice,
|
||
|
|
ensconced themselves in car No. 117. Passepartout took one of the
|
||
|
|
front seats. Neither Mr. Fogg nor Fix cared to attend.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At the appointed hour Elder William Hitch rose, and, in an irritated
|
||
|
|
voice, as if he had already been contradicted, said, "I tell you that
|
||
|
|
Joe Smith is a martyr, that his brother Hiram is a martyr, and that the
|
||
|
|
persecutions of the United States Government against the prophets will
|
||
|
|
also make a martyr of Brigham Young. Who dares to say the contrary?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
No one ventured to gainsay the missionary, whose excited tone
|
||
|
|
contrasted curiously with his naturally calm visage. No doubt his
|
||
|
|
anger arose from the hardships to which the Mormons were actually
|
||
|
|
subjected. The government had just succeeded, with some difficulty, in
|
||
|
|
reducing these independent fanatics to its rule. It had made itself
|
||
|
|
master of Utah, and subjected that territory to the laws of the Union,
|
||
|
|
after imprisoning Brigham Young on a charge of rebellion and polygamy.
|
||
|
|
The disciples of the prophet had since redoubled their efforts, and
|
||
|
|
resisted, by words at least, the authority of Congress. Elder Hitch,
|
||
|
|
as is seen, was trying to make proselytes on the very railway trains.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Then, emphasising his words with his loud voice and frequent gestures,
|
||
|
|
he related the history of the Mormons from Biblical times: how that, in
|
||
|
|
Israel, a Mormon prophet of the tribe of Joseph published the annals of
|
||
|
|
the new religion, and bequeathed them to his son Mormon; how, many
|
||
|
|
centuries later, a translation of this precious book, which was written
|
||
|
|
in Egyptian, was made by Joseph Smith, junior, a Vermont farmer, who
|
||
|
|
revealed himself as a mystical prophet in 1825; and how, in short, the
|
||
|
|
celestial messenger appeared to him in an illuminated forest, and gave
|
||
|
|
him the annals of the Lord.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Several of the audience, not being much interested in the missionary's
|
||
|
|
narrative, here left the car; but Elder Hitch, continuing his lecture,
|
||
|
|
related how Smith, junior, with his father, two brothers, and a few
|
||
|
|
disciples, founded the church of the "Latter Day Saints," which,
|
||
|
|
adopted not only in America, but in England, Norway and Sweden, and
|
||
|
|
Germany, counts many artisans, as well as men engaged in the liberal
|
||
|
|
professions, among its members; how a colony was established in Ohio, a
|
||
|
|
temple erected there at a cost of two hundred thousand dollars, and a
|
||
|
|
town built at Kirkland; how Smith became an enterprising banker, and
|
||
|
|
received from a simple mummy showman a papyrus scroll written by
|
||
|
|
Abraham and several famous Egyptians.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The Elder's story became somewhat wearisome, and his audience grew
|
||
|
|
gradually less, until it was reduced to twenty passengers. But this
|
||
|
|
did not disconcert the enthusiast, who proceeded with the story of
|
||
|
|
Joseph Smith's bankruptcy in 1837, and how his ruined creditors gave
|
||
|
|
him a coat of tar and feathers; his reappearance some years afterwards,
|
||
|
|
more honourable and honoured than ever, at Independence, Missouri, the
|
||
|
|
chief of a flourishing colony of three thousand disciples, and his
|
||
|
|
pursuit thence by outraged Gentiles, and retirement into the Far West.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Ten hearers only were now left, among them honest Passepartout, who was
|
||
|
|
listening with all his ears. Thus he learned that, after long
|
||
|
|
persecutions, Smith reappeared in Illinois, and in 1839 founded a
|
||
|
|
community at Nauvoo, on the Mississippi, numbering twenty-five thousand
|
||
|
|
souls, of which he became mayor, chief justice, and general-in-chief;
|
||
|
|
that he announced himself, in 1843, as a candidate for the Presidency
|
||
|
|
of the United States; and that finally, being drawn into ambuscade at
|
||
|
|
Carthage, he was thrown into prison, and assassinated by a band of men
|
||
|
|
disguised in masks.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout was now the only person left in the car, and the Elder,
|
||
|
|
looking him full in the face, reminded him that, two years after the
|
||
|
|
assassination of Joseph Smith, the inspired prophet, Brigham Young, his
|
||
|
|
successor, left Nauvoo for the banks of the Great Salt Lake, where, in
|
||
|
|
the midst of that fertile region, directly on the route of the
|
||
|
|
emigrants who crossed Utah on their way to California, the new colony,
|
||
|
|
thanks to the polygamy practised by the Mormons, had flourished beyond
|
||
|
|
expectations.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And this," added Elder William Hitch, "this is why the jealousy of
|
||
|
|
Congress has been aroused against us! Why have the soldiers of the
|
||
|
|
Union invaded the soil of Utah? Why has Brigham Young, our chief, been
|
||
|
|
imprisoned, in contempt of all justice? Shall we yield to force?
|
||
|
|
Never! Driven from Vermont, driven from Illinois, driven from Ohio,
|
||
|
|
driven from Missouri, driven from Utah, we shall yet find some
|
||
|
|
independent territory on which to plant our tents. And you, my
|
||
|
|
brother," continued the Elder, fixing his angry eyes upon his single
|
||
|
|
auditor, "will you not plant yours there, too, under the shadow of our
|
||
|
|
flag?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No!" replied Passepartout courageously, in his turn retiring from the
|
||
|
|
car, and leaving the Elder to preach to vacancy.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
During the lecture the train had been making good progress, and towards
|
||
|
|
half-past twelve it reached the northwest border of the Great Salt
|
||
|
|
Lake. Thence the passengers could observe the vast extent of this
|
||
|
|
interior sea, which is also called the Dead Sea, and into which flows
|
||
|
|
an American Jordan. It is a picturesque expanse, framed in lofty crags
|
||
|
|
in large strata, encrusted with white salt--a superb sheet of water,
|
||
|
|
which was formerly of larger extent than now, its shores having
|
||
|
|
encroached with the lapse of time, and thus at once reduced its breadth
|
||
|
|
and increased its depth.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The Salt Lake, seventy miles long and thirty-five wide, is situated
|
||
|
|
three miles eight hundred feet above the sea. Quite different from
|
||
|
|
Lake Asphaltite, whose depression is twelve hundred feet below the sea,
|
||
|
|
it contains considerable salt, and one quarter of the weight of its
|
||
|
|
water is solid matter, its specific weight being 1,170, and, after
|
||
|
|
being distilled, 1,000. Fishes are, of course, unable to live in it,
|
||
|
|
and those which descend through the Jordan, the Weber, and other
|
||
|
|
streams soon perish.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The country around the lake was well cultivated, for the Mormons are
|
||
|
|
mostly farmers; while ranches and pens for domesticated animals, fields
|
||
|
|
of wheat, corn, and other cereals, luxuriant prairies, hedges of wild
|
||
|
|
rose, clumps of acacias and milk-wort, would have been seen six months
|
||
|
|
later. Now the ground was covered with a thin powdering of snow.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The train reached Ogden at two o'clock, where it rested for six hours,
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg and his party had time to pay a visit to Salt Lake City,
|
||
|
|
connected with Ogden by a branch road; and they spent two hours in this
|
||
|
|
strikingly American town, built on the pattern of other cities of the
|
||
|
|
Union, like a checker-board, "with the sombre sadness of right-angles,"
|
||
|
|
as Victor Hugo expresses it. The founder of the City of the Saints
|
||
|
|
could not escape from the taste for symmetry which distinguishes the
|
||
|
|
Anglo-Saxons. In this strange country, where the people are certainly
|
||
|
|
not up to the level of their institutions, everything is done
|
||
|
|
"squarely"--cities, houses, and follies.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The travellers, then, were promenading, at three o'clock, about the
|
||
|
|
streets of the town built between the banks of the Jordan and the spurs
|
||
|
|
of the Wahsatch Range. They saw few or no churches, but the prophet's
|
||
|
|
mansion, the court-house, and the arsenal, blue-brick houses with
|
||
|
|
verandas and porches, surrounded by gardens bordered with acacias,
|
||
|
|
palms, and locusts. A clay and pebble wall, built in 1853, surrounded
|
||
|
|
the town; and in the principal street were the market and several
|
||
|
|
hotels adorned with pavilions. The place did not seem thickly
|
||
|
|
populated. The streets were almost deserted, except in the vicinity of
|
||
|
|
the temple, which they only reached after having traversed several
|
||
|
|
quarters surrounded by palisades. There were many women, which was
|
||
|
|
easily accounted for by the "peculiar institution" of the Mormons; but
|
||
|
|
it must not be supposed that all the Mormons are polygamists. They are
|
||
|
|
free to marry or not, as they please; but it is worth noting that it is
|
||
|
|
mainly the female citizens of Utah who are anxious to marry, as,
|
||
|
|
according to the Mormon religion, maiden ladies are not admitted to the
|
||
|
|
possession of its highest joys. These poor creatures seemed to be
|
||
|
|
neither well off nor happy. Some--the more well-to-do, no doubt--wore
|
||
|
|
short, open, black silk dresses, under a hood or modest shawl; others
|
||
|
|
were habited in Indian fashion.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout could not behold without a certain fright these women,
|
||
|
|
charged, in groups, with conferring happiness on a single Mormon. His
|
||
|
|
common sense pitied, above all, the husband. It seemed to him a
|
||
|
|
terrible thing to have to guide so many wives at once across the
|
||
|
|
vicissitudes of life, and to conduct them, as it were, in a body to the
|
||
|
|
Mormon paradise with the prospect of seeing them in the company of the
|
||
|
|
glorious Smith, who doubtless was the chief ornament of that delightful
|
||
|
|
place, to all eternity. He felt decidedly repelled from such a
|
||
|
|
vocation, and he imagined--perhaps he was mistaken--that the fair ones
|
||
|
|
of Salt Lake City cast rather alarming glances on his person. Happily,
|
||
|
|
his stay there was but brief. At four the party found themselves again
|
||
|
|
at the station, took their places in the train, and the whistle sounded
|
||
|
|
for starting. Just at the moment, however, that the locomotive wheels
|
||
|
|
began to move, cries of "Stop! stop!" were heard.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Trains, like time and tide, stop for no one. The gentleman who uttered
|
||
|
|
the cries was evidently a belated Mormon. He was breathless with
|
||
|
|
running. Happily for him, the station had neither gates nor barriers.
|
||
|
|
He rushed along the track, jumped on the rear platform of the train,
|
||
|
|
and fell, exhausted, into one of the seats.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout, who had been anxiously watching this amateur gymnast,
|
||
|
|
approached him with lively interest, and learned that he had taken
|
||
|
|
flight after an unpleasant domestic scene.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
When the Mormon had recovered his breath, Passepartout ventured to ask
|
||
|
|
him politely how many wives he had; for, from the manner in which he
|
||
|
|
had decamped, it might be thought that he had twenty at least.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"One, sir," replied the Mormon, raising his arms heavenward--"one, and
|
||
|
|
that was enough!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter XXVIII
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH PASSEPARTOUT DOES NOT SUCCEED IN MAKING ANYBODY LISTEN TO
|
||
|
|
REASON
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The train, on leaving Great Salt Lake at Ogden, passed northward for an
|
||
|
|
hour as far as Weber River, having completed nearly nine hundred miles
|
||
|
|
from San Francisco. From this point it took an easterly direction
|
||
|
|
towards the jagged Wahsatch Mountains. It was in the section included
|
||
|
|
between this range and the Rocky Mountains that the American engineers
|
||
|
|
found the most formidable difficulties in laying the road, and that the
|
||
|
|
government granted a subsidy of forty-eight thousand dollars per mile,
|
||
|
|
instead of sixteen thousand allowed for the work done on the plains.
|
||
|
|
But the engineers, instead of violating nature, avoided its
|
||
|
|
difficulties by winding around, instead of penetrating the rocks. One
|
||
|
|
tunnel only, fourteen thousand feet in length, was pierced in order to
|
||
|
|
arrive at the great basin.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The track up to this time had reached its highest elevation at the
|
||
|
|
Great Salt Lake. From this point it described a long curve, descending
|
||
|
|
towards Bitter Creek Valley, to rise again to the dividing ridge of the
|
||
|
|
waters between the Atlantic and the Pacific. There were many creeks in
|
||
|
|
this mountainous region, and it was necessary to cross Muddy Creek,
|
||
|
|
Green Creek, and others, upon culverts.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout grew more and more impatient as they went on, while Fix
|
||
|
|
longed to get out of this difficult region, and was more anxious than
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg himself to be beyond the danger of delays and accidents,
|
||
|
|
and set foot on English soil.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At ten o'clock at night the train stopped at Fort Bridger station, and
|
||
|
|
twenty minutes later entered Wyoming Territory, following the valley of
|
||
|
|
Bitter Creek throughout. The next day, 7th December, they stopped for
|
||
|
|
a quarter of an hour at Green River station. Snow had fallen
|
||
|
|
abundantly during the night, but, being mixed with rain, it had half
|
||
|
|
melted, and did not interrupt their progress. The bad weather,
|
||
|
|
however, annoyed Passepartout; for the accumulation of snow, by
|
||
|
|
blocking the wheels of the cars, would certainly have been fatal to Mr.
|
||
|
|
Fogg's tour.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What an idea!" he said to himself. "Why did my master make this
|
||
|
|
journey in winter? Couldn't he have waited for the good season to
|
||
|
|
increase his chances?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
While the worthy Frenchman was absorbed in the state of the sky and the
|
||
|
|
depression of the temperature, Aouda was experiencing fears from a
|
||
|
|
totally different cause.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Several passengers had got off at Green River, and were walking up and
|
||
|
|
down the platforms; and among these Aouda recognised Colonel Stamp
|
||
|
|
Proctor, the same who had so grossly insulted Phileas Fogg at the San
|
||
|
|
Francisco meeting. Not wishing to be recognised, the young woman drew
|
||
|
|
back from the window, feeling much alarm at her discovery. She was
|
||
|
|
attached to the man who, however coldly, gave her daily evidences of
|
||
|
|
the most absolute devotion. She did not comprehend, perhaps, the depth
|
||
|
|
of the sentiment with which her protector inspired her, which she
|
||
|
|
called gratitude, but which, though she was unconscious of it, was
|
||
|
|
really more than that. Her heart sank within her when she recognised
|
||
|
|
the man whom Mr. Fogg desired, sooner or later, to call to account for
|
||
|
|
his conduct. Chance alone, it was clear, had brought Colonel Proctor
|
||
|
|
on this train; but there he was, and it was necessary, at all hazards,
|
||
|
|
that Phileas Fogg should not perceive his adversary.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Aouda seized a moment when Mr. Fogg was asleep to tell Fix and
|
||
|
|
Passepartout whom she had seen.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"That Proctor on this train!" cried Fix. "Well, reassure yourself,
|
||
|
|
madam; before he settles with Mr. Fogg; he has got to deal with me! It
|
||
|
|
seems to me that I was the more insulted of the two."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And, besides," added Passepartout, "I'll take charge of him, colonel
|
||
|
|
as he is."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Mr. Fix," resumed Aouda, "Mr. Fogg will allow no one to avenge him.
|
||
|
|
He said that he would come back to America to find this man. Should he
|
||
|
|
perceive Colonel Proctor, we could not prevent a collision which might
|
||
|
|
have terrible results. He must not see him."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"You are right, madam," replied Fix; "a meeting between them might ruin
|
||
|
|
all. Whether he were victorious or beaten, Mr. Fogg would be delayed,
|
||
|
|
and--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And," added Passepartout, "that would play the game of the gentlemen
|
||
|
|
of the Reform Club. In four days we shall be in New York. Well, if my
|
||
|
|
master does not leave this car during those four days, we may hope that
|
||
|
|
chance will not bring him face to face with this confounded American.
|
||
|
|
We must, if possible, prevent his stirring out of it."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The conversation dropped. Mr. Fogg had just woke up, and was looking
|
||
|
|
out of the window. Soon after Passepartout, without being heard by his
|
||
|
|
master or Aouda, whispered to the detective, "Would you really fight
|
||
|
|
for him?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I would do anything," replied Fix, in a tone which betrayed determined
|
||
|
|
will, "to get him back living to Europe!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout felt something like a shudder shoot through his frame, but
|
||
|
|
his confidence in his master remained unbroken.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Was there any means of detaining Mr. Fogg in the car, to avoid a
|
||
|
|
meeting between him and the colonel? It ought not to be a difficult
|
||
|
|
task, since that gentleman was naturally sedentary and little curious.
|
||
|
|
The detective, at least, seemed to have found a way; for, after a few
|
||
|
|
moments, he said to Mr. Fogg, "These are long and slow hours, sir, that
|
||
|
|
we are passing on the railway."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes," replied Mr. Fogg; "but they pass."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"You were in the habit of playing whist," resumed Fix, "on the
|
||
|
|
steamers."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes; but it would be difficult to do so here. I have neither cards
|
||
|
|
nor partners."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Oh, but we can easily buy some cards, for they are sold on all the
|
||
|
|
American trains. And as for partners, if madam plays--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Certainly, sir," Aouda quickly replied; "I understand whist. It is
|
||
|
|
part of an English education."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I myself have some pretensions to playing a good game. Well, here are
|
||
|
|
three of us, and a dummy--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"As you please, sir," replied Phileas Fogg, heartily glad to resume his
|
||
|
|
favourite pastime even on the railway.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout was dispatched in search of the steward, and soon returned
|
||
|
|
with two packs of cards, some pins, counters, and a shelf covered with
|
||
|
|
cloth.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The game commenced. Aouda understood whist sufficiently well, and even
|
||
|
|
received some compliments on her playing from Mr. Fogg. As for the
|
||
|
|
detective, he was simply an adept, and worthy of being matched against
|
||
|
|
his present opponent.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Now," thought Passepartout, "we've got him. He won't budge."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At eleven in the morning the train had reached the dividing ridge of
|
||
|
|
the waters at Bridger Pass, seven thousand five hundred and twenty-four
|
||
|
|
feet above the level of the sea, one of the highest points attained by
|
||
|
|
the track in crossing the Rocky Mountains. After going about two
|
||
|
|
hundred miles, the travellers at last found themselves on one of those
|
||
|
|
vast plains which extend to the Atlantic, and which nature has made so
|
||
|
|
propitious for laying the iron road.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
On the declivity of the Atlantic basin the first streams, branches of
|
||
|
|
the North Platte River, already appeared. The whole northern and
|
||
|
|
eastern horizon was bounded by the immense semi-circular curtain which
|
||
|
|
is formed by the southern portion of the Rocky Mountains, the highest
|
||
|
|
being Laramie Peak. Between this and the railway extended vast plains,
|
||
|
|
plentifully irrigated. On the right rose the lower spurs of the
|
||
|
|
mountainous mass which extends southward to the sources of the Arkansas
|
||
|
|
River, one of the great tributaries of the Missouri.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At half-past twelve the travellers caught sight for an instant of Fort
|
||
|
|
Halleck, which commands that section; and in a few more hours the Rocky
|
||
|
|
Mountains were crossed. There was reason to hope, then, that no
|
||
|
|
accident would mark the journey through this difficult country. The
|
||
|
|
snow had ceased falling, and the air became crisp and cold. Large
|
||
|
|
birds, frightened by the locomotive, rose and flew off in the distance.
|
||
|
|
No wild beast appeared on the plain. It was a desert in its vast
|
||
|
|
nakedness.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
After a comfortable breakfast, served in the car, Mr. Fogg and his
|
||
|
|
partners had just resumed whist, when a violent whistling was heard,
|
||
|
|
and the train stopped. Passepartout put his head out of the door, but
|
||
|
|
saw nothing to cause the delay; no station was in view.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Aouda and Fix feared that Mr. Fogg might take it into his head to get
|
||
|
|
out; but that gentleman contented himself with saying to his servant,
|
||
|
|
"See what is the matter."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout rushed out of the car. Thirty or forty passengers had
|
||
|
|
already descended, amongst them Colonel Stamp Proctor.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The train had stopped before a red signal which blocked the way. The
|
||
|
|
engineer and conductor were talking excitedly with a signal-man, whom
|
||
|
|
the station-master at Medicine Bow, the next stopping place, had sent
|
||
|
|
on before. The passengers drew around and took part in the discussion,
|
||
|
|
in which Colonel Proctor, with his insolent manner, was conspicuous.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout, joining the group, heard the signal-man say, "No! you
|
||
|
|
can't pass. The bridge at Medicine Bow is shaky, and would not bear
|
||
|
|
the weight of the train."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This was a suspension-bridge thrown over some rapids, about a mile from
|
||
|
|
the place where they now were. According to the signal-man, it was in
|
||
|
|
a ruinous condition, several of the iron wires being broken; and it was
|
||
|
|
impossible to risk the passage. He did not in any way exaggerate the
|
||
|
|
condition of the bridge. It may be taken for granted that, rash as the
|
||
|
|
Americans usually are, when they are prudent there is good reason for
|
||
|
|
it.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout, not daring to apprise his master of what he heard,
|
||
|
|
listened with set teeth, immovable as a statue.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Hum!" cried Colonel Proctor; "but we are not going to stay here, I
|
||
|
|
imagine, and take root in the snow?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Colonel," replied the conductor, "we have telegraphed to Omaha for a
|
||
|
|
train, but it is not likely that it will reach Medicine Bow in less
|
||
|
|
than six hours."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Six hours!" cried Passepartout.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Certainly," returned the conductor, "besides, it will take us as long
|
||
|
|
as that to reach Medicine Bow on foot."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But it is only a mile from here," said one of the passengers.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes, but it's on the other side of the river."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And can't we cross that in a boat?" asked the colonel.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"That's impossible. The creek is swelled by the rains. It is a rapid,
|
||
|
|
and we shall have to make a circuit of ten miles to the north to find a
|
||
|
|
ford."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The colonel launched a volley of oaths, denouncing the railway company
|
||
|
|
and the conductor; and Passepartout, who was furious, was not
|
||
|
|
disinclined to make common cause with him. Here was an obstacle,
|
||
|
|
indeed, which all his master's banknotes could not remove.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
There was a general disappointment among the passengers, who, without
|
||
|
|
reckoning the delay, saw themselves compelled to trudge fifteen miles
|
||
|
|
over a plain covered with snow. They grumbled and protested, and would
|
||
|
|
certainly have thus attracted Phileas Fogg's attention if he had not
|
||
|
|
been completely absorbed in his game.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout found that he could not avoid telling his master what had
|
||
|
|
occurred, and, with hanging head, he was turning towards the car, when
|
||
|
|
the engineer, a true Yankee, named Forster called out, "Gentlemen,
|
||
|
|
perhaps there is a way, after all, to get over."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"On the bridge?" asked a passenger.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"On the bridge."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"With our train?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"With our train."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout stopped short, and eagerly listened to the engineer.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But the bridge is unsafe," urged the conductor.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No matter," replied Forster; "I think that by putting on the very
|
||
|
|
highest speed we might have a chance of getting over."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"The devil!" muttered Passepartout.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
But a number of the passengers were at once attracted by the engineer's
|
||
|
|
proposal, and Colonel Proctor was especially delighted, and found the
|
||
|
|
plan a very feasible one. He told stories about engineers leaping
|
||
|
|
their trains over rivers without bridges, by putting on full steam; and
|
||
|
|
many of those present avowed themselves of the engineer's mind.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"We have fifty chances out of a hundred of getting over," said one.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Eighty! ninety!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout was astounded, and, though ready to attempt anything to
|
||
|
|
get over Medicine Creek, thought the experiment proposed a little too
|
||
|
|
American. "Besides," thought he, "there's a still more simple way, and
|
||
|
|
it does not even occur to any of these people! Sir," said he aloud to
|
||
|
|
one of the passengers, "the engineer's plan seems to me a little
|
||
|
|
dangerous, but--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Eighty chances!" replied the passenger, turning his back on him.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I know it," said Passepartout, turning to another passenger, "but a
|
||
|
|
simple idea--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Ideas are no use," returned the American, shrugging his shoulders, "as
|
||
|
|
the engineer assures us that we can pass."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Doubtless," urged Passepartout, "we can pass, but perhaps it would be
|
||
|
|
more prudent--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What! Prudent!" cried Colonel Proctor, whom this word seemed to
|
||
|
|
excite prodigiously. "At full speed, don't you see, at full speed!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I know--I see," repeated Passepartout; "but it would be, if not more
|
||
|
|
prudent, since that word displeases you, at least more natural--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Who! What! What's the matter with this fellow?" cried several.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The poor fellow did not know to whom to address himself.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Are you afraid?" asked Colonel Proctor.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I afraid? Very well; I will show these people that a Frenchman can be
|
||
|
|
as American as they!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"All aboard!" cried the conductor.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes, all aboard!" repeated Passepartout, and immediately. "But they
|
||
|
|
can't prevent me from thinking that it would be more natural for us to
|
||
|
|
cross the bridge on foot, and let the train come after!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
But no one heard this sage reflection, nor would anyone have
|
||
|
|
acknowledged its justice. The passengers resumed their places in the
|
||
|
|
cars. Passepartout took his seat without telling what had passed. The
|
||
|
|
whist-players were quite absorbed in their game.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The locomotive whistled vigorously; the engineer, reversing the steam,
|
||
|
|
backed the train for nearly a mile--retiring, like a jumper, in order
|
||
|
|
to take a longer leap. Then, with another whistle, he began to move
|
||
|
|
forward; the train increased its speed, and soon its rapidity became
|
||
|
|
frightful; a prolonged screech issued from the locomotive; the piston
|
||
|
|
worked up and down twenty strokes to the second. They perceived that
|
||
|
|
the whole train, rushing on at the rate of a hundred miles an hour,
|
||
|
|
hardly bore upon the rails at all.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
And they passed over! It was like a flash. No one saw the bridge.
|
||
|
|
The train leaped, so to speak, from one bank to the other, and the
|
||
|
|
engineer could not stop it until it had gone five miles beyond the
|
||
|
|
station. But scarcely had the train passed the river, when the bridge,
|
||
|
|
completely ruined, fell with a crash into the rapids of Medicine Bow.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter XXIX
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH CERTAIN INCIDENTS ARE NARRATED WHICH ARE ONLY TO BE MET WITH
|
||
|
|
ON AMERICAN RAILROADS
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The train pursued its course, that evening, without interruption,
|
||
|
|
passing Fort Saunders, crossing Cheyne Pass, and reaching Evans Pass.
|
||
|
|
The road here attained the highest elevation of the journey, eight
|
||
|
|
thousand and ninety-two feet above the level of the sea. The
|
||
|
|
travellers had now only to descend to the Atlantic by limitless plains,
|
||
|
|
levelled by nature. A branch of the "grand trunk" led off southward to
|
||
|
|
Denver, the capital of Colorado. The country round about is rich in
|
||
|
|
gold and silver, and more than fifty thousand inhabitants are already
|
||
|
|
settled there.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Thirteen hundred and eighty-two miles had been passed over from San
|
||
|
|
Francisco, in three days and three nights; four days and nights more
|
||
|
|
would probably bring them to New York. Phileas Fogg was not as yet
|
||
|
|
behind-hand.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
During the night Camp Walbach was passed on the left; Lodge Pole Creek
|
||
|
|
ran parallel with the road, marking the boundary between the
|
||
|
|
territories of Wyoming and Colorado. They entered Nebraska at eleven,
|
||
|
|
passed near Sedgwick, and touched at Julesburg, on the southern branch
|
||
|
|
of the Platte River.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was here that the Union Pacific Railroad was inaugurated on the 23rd
|
||
|
|
of October, 1867, by the chief engineer, General Dodge. Two powerful
|
||
|
|
locomotives, carrying nine cars of invited guests, amongst whom was
|
||
|
|
Thomas C. Durant, vice-president of the road, stopped at this point;
|
||
|
|
cheers were given, the Sioux and Pawnees performed an imitation Indian
|
||
|
|
battle, fireworks were let off, and the first number of the Railway
|
||
|
|
Pioneer was printed by a press brought on the train. Thus was
|
||
|
|
celebrated the inauguration of this great railroad, a mighty instrument
|
||
|
|
of progress and civilisation, thrown across the desert, and destined to
|
||
|
|
link together cities and towns which do not yet exist. The whistle of
|
||
|
|
the locomotive, more powerful than Amphion's lyre, was about to bid
|
||
|
|
them rise from American soil.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fort McPherson was left behind at eight in the morning, and three
|
||
|
|
hundred and fifty-seven miles had yet to be traversed before reaching
|
||
|
|
Omaha. The road followed the capricious windings of the southern
|
||
|
|
branch of the Platte River, on its left bank. At nine the train
|
||
|
|
stopped at the important town of North Platte, built between the two
|
||
|
|
arms of the river, which rejoin each other around it and form a single
|
||
|
|
artery, a large tributary, whose waters empty into the Missouri a
|
||
|
|
little above Omaha.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The one hundred and first meridian was passed.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg and his partners had resumed their game; no one--not even the
|
||
|
|
dummy--complained of the length of the trip. Fix had begun by winning
|
||
|
|
several guineas, which he seemed likely to lose; but he showed himself
|
||
|
|
a not less eager whist-player than Mr. Fogg. During the morning,
|
||
|
|
chance distinctly favoured that gentleman. Trumps and honours were
|
||
|
|
showered upon his hands.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Once, having resolved on a bold stroke, he was on the point of playing
|
||
|
|
a spade, when a voice behind him said, "I should play a diamond."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg, Aouda, and Fix raised their heads, and beheld Colonel Proctor.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Stamp Proctor and Phileas Fogg recognised each other at once.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Ah! it's you, is it, Englishman?" cried the colonel; "it's you who are
|
||
|
|
going to play a spade!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And who plays it," replied Phileas Fogg coolly, throwing down the ten
|
||
|
|
of spades.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Well, it pleases me to have it diamonds," replied Colonel Proctor, in
|
||
|
|
an insolent tone.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He made a movement as if to seize the card which had just been played,
|
||
|
|
adding, "You don't understand anything about whist."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Perhaps I do, as well as another," said Phileas Fogg, rising.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"You have only to try, son of John Bull," replied the colonel.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Aouda turned pale, and her blood ran cold. She seized Mr. Fogg's arm
|
||
|
|
and gently pulled him back. Passepartout was ready to pounce upon the
|
||
|
|
American, who was staring insolently at his opponent. But Fix got up,
|
||
|
|
and, going to Colonel Proctor said, "You forget that it is I with whom
|
||
|
|
you have to deal, sir; for it was I whom you not only insulted, but
|
||
|
|
struck!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Mr. Fix," said Mr. Fogg, "pardon me, but this affair is mine, and mine
|
||
|
|
only. The colonel has again insulted me, by insisting that I should
|
||
|
|
not play a spade, and he shall give me satisfaction for it."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"When and where you will," replied the American, "and with whatever
|
||
|
|
weapon you choose."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Aouda in vain attempted to retain Mr. Fogg; as vainly did the detective
|
||
|
|
endeavour to make the quarrel his. Passepartout wished to throw the
|
||
|
|
colonel out of the window, but a sign from his master checked him.
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg left the car, and the American followed him upon the
|
||
|
|
platform. "Sir," said Mr. Fogg to his adversary, "I am in a great
|
||
|
|
hurry to get back to Europe, and any delay whatever will be greatly to
|
||
|
|
my disadvantage."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Well, what's that to me?" replied Colonel Proctor.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Sir," said Mr. Fogg, very politely, "after our meeting at San
|
||
|
|
Francisco, I determined to return to America and find you as soon as I
|
||
|
|
had completed the business which called me to England."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Really!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Will you appoint a meeting for six months hence?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Why not ten years hence?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I say six months," returned Phileas Fogg; "and I shall be at the place
|
||
|
|
of meeting promptly."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"All this is an evasion," cried Stamp Proctor. "Now or never!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Very good. You are going to New York?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"To Chicago?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"To Omaha?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What difference is it to you? Do you know Plum Creek?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No," replied Mr. Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"It's the next station. The train will be there in an hour, and will
|
||
|
|
stop there ten minutes. In ten minutes several revolver-shots could be
|
||
|
|
exchanged."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Very well," said Mr. Fogg. "I will stop at Plum Creek."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And I guess you'll stay there too," added the American insolently.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Who knows?" replied Mr. Fogg, returning to the car as coolly as usual.
|
||
|
|
He began to reassure Aouda, telling her that blusterers were never to
|
||
|
|
be feared, and begged Fix to be his second at the approaching duel, a
|
||
|
|
request which the detective could not refuse. Mr. Fogg resumed the
|
||
|
|
interrupted game with perfect calmness.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At eleven o'clock the locomotive's whistle announced that they were
|
||
|
|
approaching Plum Creek station. Mr. Fogg rose, and, followed by Fix,
|
||
|
|
went out upon the platform. Passepartout accompanied him, carrying a
|
||
|
|
pair of revolvers. Aouda remained in the car, as pale as death.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The door of the next car opened, and Colonel Proctor appeared on the
|
||
|
|
platform, attended by a Yankee of his own stamp as his second. But
|
||
|
|
just as the combatants were about to step from the train, the conductor
|
||
|
|
hurried up, and shouted, "You can't get off, gentlemen!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Why not?" asked the colonel.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"We are twenty minutes late, and we shall not stop."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But I am going to fight a duel with this gentleman."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I am sorry," said the conductor; "but we shall be off at once.
|
||
|
|
There's the bell ringing now."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The train started.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I'm really very sorry, gentlemen," said the conductor. "Under any
|
||
|
|
other circumstances I should have been happy to oblige you. But, after
|
||
|
|
all, as you have not had time to fight here, why not fight as we go
|
||
|
|
along?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"That wouldn't be convenient, perhaps, for this gentleman," said the
|
||
|
|
colonel, in a jeering tone.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"It would be perfectly so," replied Phileas Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Well, we are really in America," thought Passepartout, "and the
|
||
|
|
conductor is a gentleman of the first order!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
So muttering, he followed his master.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The two combatants, their seconds, and the conductor passed through the
|
||
|
|
cars to the rear of the train. The last car was only occupied by a
|
||
|
|
dozen passengers, whom the conductor politely asked if they would not
|
||
|
|
be so kind as to leave it vacant for a few moments, as two gentlemen
|
||
|
|
had an affair of honour to settle. The passengers granted the request
|
||
|
|
with alacrity, and straightway disappeared on the platform.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The car, which was some fifty feet long, was very convenient for their
|
||
|
|
purpose. The adversaries might march on each other in the aisle, and
|
||
|
|
fire at their ease. Never was duel more easily arranged. Mr. Fogg and
|
||
|
|
Colonel Proctor, each provided with two six-barrelled revolvers,
|
||
|
|
entered the car. The seconds, remaining outside, shut them in. They
|
||
|
|
were to begin firing at the first whistle of the locomotive. After an
|
||
|
|
interval of two minutes, what remained of the two gentlemen would be
|
||
|
|
taken from the car.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Nothing could be more simple. Indeed, it was all so simple that Fix
|
||
|
|
and Passepartout felt their hearts beating as if they would crack.
|
||
|
|
They were listening for the whistle agreed upon, when suddenly savage
|
||
|
|
cries resounded in the air, accompanied by reports which certainly did
|
||
|
|
not issue from the car where the duellists were. The reports continued
|
||
|
|
in front and the whole length of the train. Cries of terror proceeded
|
||
|
|
from the interior of the cars.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Colonel Proctor and Mr. Fogg, revolvers in hand, hastily quitted their
|
||
|
|
prison, and rushed forward where the noise was most clamorous. They
|
||
|
|
then perceived that the train was attacked by a band of Sioux.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This was not the first attempt of these daring Indians, for more than
|
||
|
|
once they had waylaid trains on the road. A hundred of them had,
|
||
|
|
according to their habit, jumped upon the steps without stopping the
|
||
|
|
train, with the ease of a clown mounting a horse at full gallop.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The Sioux were armed with guns, from which came the reports, to which
|
||
|
|
the passengers, who were almost all armed, responded by revolver-shots.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The Indians had first mounted the engine, and half stunned the engineer
|
||
|
|
and stoker with blows from their muskets. A Sioux chief, wishing to
|
||
|
|
stop the train, but not knowing how to work the regulator, had opened
|
||
|
|
wide instead of closing the steam-valve, and the locomotive was
|
||
|
|
plunging forward with terrific velocity.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The Sioux had at the same time invaded the cars, skipping like enraged
|
||
|
|
monkeys over the roofs, thrusting open the doors, and fighting hand to
|
||
|
|
hand with the passengers. Penetrating the baggage-car, they pillaged
|
||
|
|
it, throwing the trunks out of the train. The cries and shots were
|
||
|
|
constant. The travellers defended themselves bravely; some of the cars
|
||
|
|
were barricaded, and sustained a siege, like moving forts, carried
|
||
|
|
along at a speed of a hundred miles an hour.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Aouda behaved courageously from the first. She defended herself like a
|
||
|
|
true heroine with a revolver, which she shot through the broken windows
|
||
|
|
whenever a savage made his appearance. Twenty Sioux had fallen
|
||
|
|
mortally wounded to the ground, and the wheels crushed those who fell
|
||
|
|
upon the rails as if they had been worms. Several passengers, shot or
|
||
|
|
stunned, lay on the seats.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was necessary to put an end to the struggle, which had lasted for
|
||
|
|
ten minutes, and which would result in the triumph of the Sioux if the
|
||
|
|
train was not stopped. Fort Kearney station, where there was a
|
||
|
|
garrison, was only two miles distant; but, that once passed, the Sioux
|
||
|
|
would be masters of the train between Fort Kearney and the station
|
||
|
|
beyond.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The conductor was fighting beside Mr. Fogg, when he was shot and fell.
|
||
|
|
At the same moment he cried, "Unless the train is stopped in five
|
||
|
|
minutes, we are lost!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"It shall be stopped," said Phileas Fogg, preparing to rush from the
|
||
|
|
car.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Stay, monsieur," cried Passepartout; "I will go."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg had not time to stop the brave fellow, who, opening a door
|
||
|
|
unperceived by the Indians, succeeded in slipping under the car; and
|
||
|
|
while the struggle continued and the balls whizzed across each other
|
||
|
|
over his head, he made use of his old acrobatic experience, and with
|
||
|
|
amazing agility worked his way under the cars, holding on to the
|
||
|
|
chains, aiding himself by the brakes and edges of the sashes, creeping
|
||
|
|
from one car to another with marvellous skill, and thus gaining the
|
||
|
|
forward end of the train.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
There, suspended by one hand between the baggage-car and the tender,
|
||
|
|
with the other he loosened the safety chains; but, owing to the
|
||
|
|
traction, he would never have succeeded in unscrewing the yoking-bar,
|
||
|
|
had not a violent concussion jolted this bar out. The train, now
|
||
|
|
detached from the engine, remained a little behind, whilst the
|
||
|
|
locomotive rushed forward with increased speed.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Carried on by the force already acquired, the train still moved for
|
||
|
|
several minutes; but the brakes were worked and at last they stopped,
|
||
|
|
less than a hundred feet from Kearney station.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The soldiers of the fort, attracted by the shots, hurried up; the Sioux
|
||
|
|
had not expected them, and decamped in a body before the train entirely
|
||
|
|
stopped.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
But when the passengers counted each other on the station platform
|
||
|
|
several were found missing; among others the courageous Frenchman,
|
||
|
|
whose devotion had just saved them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter XXX
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG SIMPLY DOES HIS DUTY
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Three passengers including Passepartout had disappeared. Had they been
|
||
|
|
killed in the struggle? Were they taken prisoners by the Sioux? It
|
||
|
|
was impossible to tell.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
There were many wounded, but none mortally. Colonel Proctor was one of
|
||
|
|
the most seriously hurt; he had fought bravely, and a ball had entered
|
||
|
|
his groin. He was carried into the station with the other wounded
|
||
|
|
passengers, to receive such attention as could be of avail.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Aouda was safe; and Phileas Fogg, who had been in the thickest of the
|
||
|
|
fight, had not received a scratch. Fix was slightly wounded in the
|
||
|
|
arm. But Passepartout was not to be found, and tears coursed down
|
||
|
|
Aouda's cheeks.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
All the passengers had got out of the train, the wheels of which were
|
||
|
|
stained with blood. From the tyres and spokes hung ragged pieces of
|
||
|
|
flesh. As far as the eye could reach on the white plain behind, red
|
||
|
|
trails were visible. The last Sioux were disappearing in the south,
|
||
|
|
along the banks of Republican River.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg, with folded arms, remained motionless. He had a serious
|
||
|
|
decision to make. Aouda, standing near him, looked at him without
|
||
|
|
speaking, and he understood her look. If his servant was a prisoner,
|
||
|
|
ought he not to risk everything to rescue him from the Indians? "I
|
||
|
|
will find him, living or dead," said he quietly to Aouda.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Ah, Mr.--Mr. Fogg!" cried she, clasping his hands and covering them
|
||
|
|
with tears.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Living," added Mr. Fogg, "if we do not lose a moment."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg, by this resolution, inevitably sacrificed himself; he
|
||
|
|
pronounced his own doom. The delay of a single day would make him lose
|
||
|
|
the steamer at New York, and his bet would be certainly lost. But as
|
||
|
|
he thought, "It is my duty," he did not hesitate.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The commanding officer of Fort Kearney was there. A hundred of his
|
||
|
|
soldiers had placed themselves in a position to defend the station,
|
||
|
|
should the Sioux attack it.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Sir," said Mr. Fogg to the captain, "three passengers have
|
||
|
|
disappeared."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Dead?" asked the captain.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Dead or prisoners; that is the uncertainty which must be solved. Do
|
||
|
|
you propose to pursue the Sioux?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"That's a serious thing to do, sir," returned the captain. "These
|
||
|
|
Indians may retreat beyond the Arkansas, and I cannot leave the fort
|
||
|
|
unprotected."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"The lives of three men are in question, sir," said Phileas Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Doubtless; but can I risk the lives of fifty men to save three?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I don't know whether you can, sir; but you ought to do so."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Nobody here," returned the other, "has a right to teach me my duty."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Very well," said Mr. Fogg, coldly. "I will go alone."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"You, sir!" cried Fix, coming up; "you go alone in pursuit of the
|
||
|
|
Indians?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Would you have me leave this poor fellow to perish--him to whom every
|
||
|
|
one present owes his life? I shall go."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No, sir, you shall not go alone," cried the captain, touched in spite
|
||
|
|
of himself. "No! you are a brave man. Thirty volunteers!" he added,
|
||
|
|
turning to the soldiers.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The whole company started forward at once. The captain had only to
|
||
|
|
pick his men. Thirty were chosen, and an old sergeant placed at their
|
||
|
|
head.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Thanks, captain," said Mr. Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Will you let me go with you?" asked Fix.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Do as you please, sir. But if you wish to do me a favour, you will
|
||
|
|
remain with Aouda. In case anything should happen to me--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
A sudden pallor overspread the detective's face. Separate himself from
|
||
|
|
the man whom he had so persistently followed step by step! Leave him
|
||
|
|
to wander about in this desert! Fix gazed attentively at Mr. Fogg,
|
||
|
|
and, despite his suspicions and of the struggle which was going on
|
||
|
|
within him, he lowered his eyes before that calm and frank look.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I will stay," said he.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
A few moments after, Mr. Fogg pressed the young woman's hand, and,
|
||
|
|
having confided to her his precious carpet-bag, went off with the
|
||
|
|
sergeant and his little squad. But, before going, he had said to the
|
||
|
|
soldiers, "My friends, I will divide five thousand dollars among you,
|
||
|
|
if we save the prisoners."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was then a little past noon.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Aouda retired to a waiting-room, and there she waited alone, thinking
|
||
|
|
of the simple and noble generosity, the tranquil courage of Phileas
|
||
|
|
Fogg. He had sacrificed his fortune, and was now risking his life, all
|
||
|
|
without hesitation, from duty, in silence.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix did not have the same thoughts, and could scarcely conceal his
|
||
|
|
agitation. He walked feverishly up and down the platform, but soon
|
||
|
|
resumed his outward composure. He now saw the folly of which he had
|
||
|
|
been guilty in letting Fogg go alone. What! This man, whom he had
|
||
|
|
just followed around the world, was permitted now to separate himself
|
||
|
|
from him! He began to accuse and abuse himself, and, as if he were
|
||
|
|
director of police, administered to himself a sound lecture for his
|
||
|
|
greenness.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I have been an idiot!" he thought, "and this man will see it. He has
|
||
|
|
gone, and won't come back! But how is it that I, Fix, who have in my
|
||
|
|
pocket a warrant for his arrest, have been so fascinated by him?
|
||
|
|
Decidedly, I am nothing but an ass!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
So reasoned the detective, while the hours crept by all too slowly. He
|
||
|
|
did not know what to do. Sometimes he was tempted to tell Aouda all;
|
||
|
|
but he could not doubt how the young woman would receive his
|
||
|
|
confidences. What course should he take? He thought of pursuing Fogg
|
||
|
|
across the vast white plains; it did not seem impossible that he might
|
||
|
|
overtake him. Footsteps were easily printed on the snow! But soon,
|
||
|
|
under a new sheet, every imprint would be effaced.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix became discouraged. He felt a sort of insurmountable longing to
|
||
|
|
abandon the game altogether. He could now leave Fort Kearney station,
|
||
|
|
and pursue his journey homeward in peace.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Towards two o'clock in the afternoon, while it was snowing hard, long
|
||
|
|
whistles were heard approaching from the east. A great shadow,
|
||
|
|
preceded by a wild light, slowly advanced, appearing still larger
|
||
|
|
through the mist, which gave it a fantastic aspect. No train was
|
||
|
|
expected from the east, neither had there been time for the succour
|
||
|
|
asked for by telegraph to arrive; the train from Omaha to San Francisco
|
||
|
|
was not due till the next day. The mystery was soon explained.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The locomotive, which was slowly approaching with deafening whistles,
|
||
|
|
was that which, having been detached from the train, had continued its
|
||
|
|
route with such terrific rapidity, carrying off the unconscious
|
||
|
|
engineer and stoker. It had run several miles, when, the fire becoming
|
||
|
|
low for want of fuel, the steam had slackened; and it had finally
|
||
|
|
stopped an hour after, some twenty miles beyond Fort Kearney. Neither
|
||
|
|
the engineer nor the stoker was dead, and, after remaining for some
|
||
|
|
time in their swoon, had come to themselves. The train had then
|
||
|
|
stopped. The engineer, when he found himself in the desert, and the
|
||
|
|
locomotive without cars, understood what had happened. He could not
|
||
|
|
imagine how the locomotive had become separated from the train; but he
|
||
|
|
did not doubt that the train left behind was in distress.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He did not hesitate what to do. It would be prudent to continue on to
|
||
|
|
Omaha, for it would be dangerous to return to the train, which the
|
||
|
|
Indians might still be engaged in pillaging. Nevertheless, he began to
|
||
|
|
rebuild the fire in the furnace; the pressure again mounted, and the
|
||
|
|
locomotive returned, running backwards to Fort Kearney. This it was
|
||
|
|
which was whistling in the mist.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The travellers were glad to see the locomotive resume its place at the
|
||
|
|
head of the train. They could now continue the journey so terribly
|
||
|
|
interrupted.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Aouda, on seeing the locomotive come up, hurried out of the station,
|
||
|
|
and asked the conductor, "Are you going to start?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"At once, madam."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But the prisoners, our unfortunate fellow-travellers--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I cannot interrupt the trip," replied the conductor. "We are already
|
||
|
|
three hours behind time."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And when will another train pass here from San Francisco?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"To-morrow evening, madam."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"To-morrow evening! But then it will be too late! We must wait--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"It is impossible," responded the conductor. "If you wish to go,
|
||
|
|
please get in."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I will not go," said Aouda.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix had heard this conversation. A little while before, when there was
|
||
|
|
no prospect of proceeding on the journey, he had made up his mind to
|
||
|
|
leave Fort Kearney; but now that the train was there, ready to start,
|
||
|
|
and he had only to take his seat in the car, an irresistible influence
|
||
|
|
held him back. The station platform burned his feet, and he could not
|
||
|
|
stir. The conflict in his mind again began; anger and failure stifled
|
||
|
|
him. He wished to struggle on to the end.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Meanwhile the passengers and some of the wounded, among them Colonel
|
||
|
|
Proctor, whose injuries were serious, had taken their places in the
|
||
|
|
train. The buzzing of the over-heated boiler was heard, and the steam
|
||
|
|
was escaping from the valves. The engineer whistled, the train
|
||
|
|
started, and soon disappeared, mingling its white smoke with the eddies
|
||
|
|
of the densely falling snow.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The detective had remained behind.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Several hours passed. The weather was dismal, and it was very cold.
|
||
|
|
Fix sat motionless on a bench in the station; he might have been
|
||
|
|
thought asleep. Aouda, despite the storm, kept coming out of the
|
||
|
|
waiting-room, going to the end of the platform, and peering through the
|
||
|
|
tempest of snow, as if to pierce the mist which narrowed the horizon
|
||
|
|
around her, and to hear, if possible, some welcome sound. She heard
|
||
|
|
and saw nothing. Then she would return, chilled through, to issue out
|
||
|
|
again after the lapse of a few moments, but always in vain.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Evening came, and the little band had not returned. Where could they
|
||
|
|
be? Had they found the Indians, and were they having a conflict with
|
||
|
|
them, or were they still wandering amid the mist? The commander of the
|
||
|
|
fort was anxious, though he tried to conceal his apprehensions. As
|
||
|
|
night approached, the snow fell less plentifully, but it became
|
||
|
|
intensely cold. Absolute silence rested on the plains. Neither flight
|
||
|
|
of bird nor passing of beast troubled the perfect calm.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Throughout the night Aouda, full of sad forebodings, her heart stifled
|
||
|
|
with anguish, wandered about on the verge of the plains. Her
|
||
|
|
imagination carried her far off, and showed her innumerable dangers.
|
||
|
|
What she suffered through the long hours it would be impossible to
|
||
|
|
describe.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix remained stationary in the same place, but did not sleep. Once a
|
||
|
|
man approached and spoke to him, and the detective merely replied by
|
||
|
|
shaking his head.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Thus the night passed. At dawn, the half-extinguished disc of the sun
|
||
|
|
rose above a misty horizon; but it was now possible to recognise
|
||
|
|
objects two miles off. Phileas Fogg and the squad had gone southward;
|
||
|
|
in the south all was still vacancy. It was then seven o'clock.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The captain, who was really alarmed, did not know what course to take.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Should he send another detachment to the rescue of the first? Should
|
||
|
|
he sacrifice more men, with so few chances of saving those already
|
||
|
|
sacrificed? His hesitation did not last long, however. Calling one of
|
||
|
|
his lieutenants, he was on the point of ordering a reconnaissance, when
|
||
|
|
gunshots were heard. Was it a signal? The soldiers rushed out of the
|
||
|
|
fort, and half a mile off they perceived a little band returning in
|
||
|
|
good order.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg was marching at their head, and just behind him were
|
||
|
|
Passepartout and the other two travellers, rescued from the Sioux.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They had met and fought the Indians ten miles south of Fort Kearney.
|
||
|
|
Shortly before the detachment arrived, Passepartout and his companions
|
||
|
|
had begun to struggle with their captors, three of whom the Frenchman
|
||
|
|
had felled with his fists, when his master and the soldiers hastened up
|
||
|
|
to their relief.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
All were welcomed with joyful cries. Phileas Fogg distributed the
|
||
|
|
reward he had promised to the soldiers, while Passepartout, not without
|
||
|
|
reason, muttered to himself, "It must certainly be confessed that I
|
||
|
|
cost my master dear!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix, without saying a word, looked at Mr. Fogg, and it would have been
|
||
|
|
difficult to analyse the thoughts which struggled within him. As for
|
||
|
|
Aouda, she took her protector's hand and pressed it in her own, too
|
||
|
|
much moved to speak.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Meanwhile, Passepartout was looking about for the train; he thought he
|
||
|
|
should find it there, ready to start for Omaha, and he hoped that the
|
||
|
|
time lost might be regained.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"The train! the train!" cried he.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Gone," replied Fix.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And when does the next train pass here?" said Phileas Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Not till this evening."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Ah!" returned the impassible gentleman quietly.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter XXXI
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH FIX, THE DETECTIVE, CONSIDERABLY FURTHERS THE INTERESTS OF
|
||
|
|
PHILEAS FOGG
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg found himself twenty hours behind time. Passepartout, the
|
||
|
|
involuntary cause of this delay, was desperate. He had ruined his
|
||
|
|
master!
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At this moment the detective approached Mr. Fogg, and, looking him
|
||
|
|
intently in the face, said:
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Seriously, sir, are you in great haste?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Quite seriously."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I have a purpose in asking," resumed Fix. "Is it absolutely necessary
|
||
|
|
that you should be in New York on the 11th, before nine o'clock in the
|
||
|
|
evening, the time that the steamer leaves for Liverpool?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"It is absolutely necessary."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And, if your journey had not been interrupted by these Indians, you
|
||
|
|
would have reached New York on the morning of the 11th?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes; with eleven hours to spare before the steamer left."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Good! you are therefore twenty hours behind. Twelve from twenty
|
||
|
|
leaves eight. You must regain eight hours. Do you wish to try to do
|
||
|
|
so?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"On foot?" asked Mr. Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No; on a sledge," replied Fix. "On a sledge with sails. A man has
|
||
|
|
proposed such a method to me."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was the man who had spoken to Fix during the night, and whose offer
|
||
|
|
he had refused.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg did not reply at once; but Fix, having pointed out the
|
||
|
|
man, who was walking up and down in front of the station, Mr. Fogg went
|
||
|
|
up to him. An instant after, Mr. Fogg and the American, whose name was
|
||
|
|
Mudge, entered a hut built just below the fort.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
There Mr. Fogg examined a curious vehicle, a kind of frame on two long
|
||
|
|
beams, a little raised in front like the runners of a sledge, and upon
|
||
|
|
which there was room for five or six persons. A high mast was fixed on
|
||
|
|
the frame, held firmly by metallic lashings, to which was attached a
|
||
|
|
large brigantine sail. This mast held an iron stay upon which to hoist
|
||
|
|
a jib-sail. Behind, a sort of rudder served to guide the vehicle. It
|
||
|
|
was, in short, a sledge rigged like a sloop. During the winter, when
|
||
|
|
the trains are blocked up by the snow, these sledges make extremely
|
||
|
|
rapid journeys across the frozen plains from one station to another.
|
||
|
|
Provided with more sails than a cutter, and with the wind behind them,
|
||
|
|
they slip over the surface of the prairies with a speed equal if not
|
||
|
|
superior to that of the express trains.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg readily made a bargain with the owner of this land-craft. The
|
||
|
|
wind was favourable, being fresh, and blowing from the west. The snow
|
||
|
|
had hardened, and Mudge was very confident of being able to transport
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg in a few hours to Omaha. Thence the trains eastward run
|
||
|
|
frequently to Chicago and New York. It was not impossible that the
|
||
|
|
lost time might yet be recovered; and such an opportunity was not to be
|
||
|
|
rejected.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Not wishing to expose Aouda to the discomforts of travelling in the
|
||
|
|
open air, Mr. Fogg proposed to leave her with Passepartout at Fort
|
||
|
|
Kearney, the servant taking upon himself to escort her to Europe by a
|
||
|
|
better route and under more favourable conditions. But Aouda refused
|
||
|
|
to separate from Mr. Fogg, and Passepartout was delighted with her
|
||
|
|
decision; for nothing could induce him to leave his master while Fix
|
||
|
|
was with him.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It would be difficult to guess the detective's thoughts. Was this
|
||
|
|
conviction shaken by Phileas Fogg's return, or did he still regard him
|
||
|
|
as an exceedingly shrewd rascal, who, his journey round the world
|
||
|
|
completed, would think himself absolutely safe in England? Perhaps
|
||
|
|
Fix's opinion of Phileas Fogg was somewhat modified; but he was
|
||
|
|
nevertheless resolved to do his duty, and to hasten the return of the
|
||
|
|
whole party to England as much as possible.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At eight o'clock the sledge was ready to start. The passengers took
|
||
|
|
their places on it, and wrapped themselves up closely in their
|
||
|
|
travelling-cloaks. The two great sails were hoisted, and under the
|
||
|
|
pressure of the wind the sledge slid over the hardened snow with a
|
||
|
|
velocity of forty miles an hour.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The distance between Fort Kearney and Omaha, as the birds fly, is at
|
||
|
|
most two hundred miles. If the wind held good, the distance might be
|
||
|
|
traversed in five hours; if no accident happened the sledge might reach
|
||
|
|
Omaha by one o'clock.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
What a journey! The travellers, huddled close together, could not
|
||
|
|
speak for the cold, intensified by the rapidity at which they were
|
||
|
|
going. The sledge sped on as lightly as a boat over the waves. When
|
||
|
|
the breeze came skimming the earth the sledge seemed to be lifted off
|
||
|
|
the ground by its sails. Mudge, who was at the rudder, kept in a
|
||
|
|
straight line, and by a turn of his hand checked the lurches which the
|
||
|
|
vehicle had a tendency to make. All the sails were up, and the jib was
|
||
|
|
so arranged as not to screen the brigantine. A top-mast was hoisted,
|
||
|
|
and another jib, held out to the wind, added its force to the other
|
||
|
|
sails. Although the speed could not be exactly estimated, the sledge
|
||
|
|
could not be going at less than forty miles an hour.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"If nothing breaks," said Mudge, "we shall get there!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg had made it for Mudge's interest to reach Omaha within the
|
||
|
|
time agreed on, by the offer of a handsome reward.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The prairie, across which the sledge was moving in a straight line, was
|
||
|
|
as flat as a sea. It seemed like a vast frozen lake. The railroad
|
||
|
|
which ran through this section ascended from the south-west to the
|
||
|
|
north-west by Great Island, Columbus, an important Nebraska town,
|
||
|
|
Schuyler, and Fremont, to Omaha. It followed throughout the right bank
|
||
|
|
of the Platte River. The sledge, shortening this route, took a chord
|
||
|
|
of the arc described by the railway. Mudge was not afraid of being
|
||
|
|
stopped by the Platte River, because it was frozen. The road, then,
|
||
|
|
was quite clear of obstacles, and Phileas Fogg had but two things to
|
||
|
|
fear--an accident to the sledge, and a change or calm in the wind.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
But the breeze, far from lessening its force, blew as if to bend the
|
||
|
|
mast, which, however, the metallic lashings held firmly. These
|
||
|
|
lashings, like the chords of a stringed instrument, resounded as if
|
||
|
|
vibrated by a violin bow. The sledge slid along in the midst of a
|
||
|
|
plaintively intense melody.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Those chords give the fifth and the octave," said Mr. Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
These were the only words he uttered during the journey. Aouda, cosily
|
||
|
|
packed in furs and cloaks, was sheltered as much as possible from the
|
||
|
|
attacks of the freezing wind. As for Passepartout, his face was as red
|
||
|
|
as the sun's disc when it sets in the mist, and he laboriously inhaled
|
||
|
|
the biting air. With his natural buoyancy of spirits, he began to hope
|
||
|
|
again. They would reach New York on the evening, if not on the
|
||
|
|
morning, of the 11th, and there was still some chances that it would be
|
||
|
|
before the steamer sailed for Liverpool.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout even felt a strong desire to grasp his ally, Fix, by the
|
||
|
|
hand. He remembered that it was the detective who procured the sledge,
|
||
|
|
the only means of reaching Omaha in time; but, checked by some
|
||
|
|
presentiment, he kept his usual reserve. One thing, however,
|
||
|
|
Passepartout would never forget, and that was the sacrifice which Mr.
|
||
|
|
Fogg had made, without hesitation, to rescue him from the Sioux. Mr.
|
||
|
|
Fogg had risked his fortune and his life. No! His servant would never
|
||
|
|
forget that!
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
While each of the party was absorbed in reflections so different, the
|
||
|
|
sledge flew past over the vast carpet of snow. The creeks it passed
|
||
|
|
over were not perceived. Fields and streams disappeared under the
|
||
|
|
uniform whiteness. The plain was absolutely deserted. Between the
|
||
|
|
Union Pacific road and the branch which unites Kearney with Saint
|
||
|
|
Joseph it formed a great uninhabited island. Neither village, station,
|
||
|
|
nor fort appeared. From time to time they sped by some phantom-like
|
||
|
|
tree, whose white skeleton twisted and rattled in the wind. Sometimes
|
||
|
|
flocks of wild birds rose, or bands of gaunt, famished, ferocious
|
||
|
|
prairie-wolves ran howling after the sledge. Passepartout, revolver in
|
||
|
|
hand, held himself ready to fire on those which came too near. Had an
|
||
|
|
accident then happened to the sledge, the travellers, attacked by these
|
||
|
|
beasts, would have been in the most terrible danger; but it held on its
|
||
|
|
even course, soon gained on the wolves, and ere long left the howling
|
||
|
|
band at a safe distance behind.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
About noon Mudge perceived by certain landmarks that he was crossing
|
||
|
|
the Platte River. He said nothing, but he felt certain that he was now
|
||
|
|
within twenty miles of Omaha. In less than an hour he left the rudder
|
||
|
|
and furled his sails, whilst the sledge, carried forward by the great
|
||
|
|
impetus the wind had given it, went on half a mile further with its
|
||
|
|
sails unspread.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It stopped at last, and Mudge, pointing to a mass of roofs white with
|
||
|
|
snow, said: "We have got there!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Arrived! Arrived at the station which is in daily communication, by
|
||
|
|
numerous trains, with the Atlantic seaboard!
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout and Fix jumped off, stretched their stiffened limbs, and
|
||
|
|
aided Mr. Fogg and the young woman to descend from the sledge. Phileas
|
||
|
|
Fogg generously rewarded Mudge, whose hand Passepartout warmly grasped,
|
||
|
|
and the party directed their steps to the Omaha railway station.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The Pacific Railroad proper finds its terminus at this important
|
||
|
|
Nebraska town. Omaha is connected with Chicago by the Chicago and Rock
|
||
|
|
Island Railroad, which runs directly east, and passes fifty stations.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
A train was ready to start when Mr. Fogg and his party reached the
|
||
|
|
station, and they only had time to get into the cars. They had seen
|
||
|
|
nothing of Omaha; but Passepartout confessed to himself that this was
|
||
|
|
not to be regretted, as they were not travelling to see the sights.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The train passed rapidly across the State of Iowa, by Council Bluffs,
|
||
|
|
Des Moines, and Iowa City. During the night it crossed the Mississippi
|
||
|
|
at Davenport, and by Rock Island entered Illinois. The next day, which
|
||
|
|
was the 10th, at four o'clock in the evening, it reached Chicago,
|
||
|
|
already risen from its ruins, and more proudly seated than ever on the
|
||
|
|
borders of its beautiful Lake Michigan.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Nine hundred miles separated Chicago from New York; but trains are not
|
||
|
|
wanting at Chicago. Mr. Fogg passed at once from one to the other, and
|
||
|
|
the locomotive of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne, and Chicago Railway left
|
||
|
|
at full speed, as if it fully comprehended that that gentleman had no
|
||
|
|
time to lose. It traversed Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey
|
||
|
|
like a flash, rushing through towns with antique names, some of which
|
||
|
|
had streets and car-tracks, but as yet no houses. At last the Hudson
|
||
|
|
came into view; and, at a quarter-past eleven in the evening of the
|
||
|
|
11th, the train stopped in the station on the right bank of the river,
|
||
|
|
before the very pier of the Cunard line.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The China, for Liverpool, had started three-quarters of an hour before!
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter XXXII
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG ENGAGES IN A DIRECT STRUGGLE WITH BAD FORTUNE
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The China, in leaving, seemed to have carried off Phileas Fogg's last
|
||
|
|
hope. None of the other steamers were able to serve his projects. The
|
||
|
|
Pereire, of the French Transatlantic Company, whose admirable steamers
|
||
|
|
are equal to any in speed and comfort, did not leave until the 14th;
|
||
|
|
the Hamburg boats did not go directly to Liverpool or London, but to
|
||
|
|
Havre; and the additional trip from Havre to Southampton would render
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg's last efforts of no avail. The Inman steamer did not
|
||
|
|
depart till the next day, and could not cross the Atlantic in time to
|
||
|
|
save the wager.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg learned all this in consulting his Bradshaw, which gave him
|
||
|
|
the daily movements of the trans-Atlantic steamers.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout was crushed; it overwhelmed him to lose the boat by
|
||
|
|
three-quarters of an hour. It was his fault, for, instead of helping
|
||
|
|
his master, he had not ceased putting obstacles in his path! And when
|
||
|
|
he recalled all the incidents of the tour, when he counted up the sums
|
||
|
|
expended in pure loss and on his own account, when he thought that the
|
||
|
|
immense stake, added to the heavy charges of this useless journey,
|
||
|
|
would completely ruin Mr. Fogg, he overwhelmed himself with bitter
|
||
|
|
self-accusations. Mr. Fogg, however, did not reproach him; and, on
|
||
|
|
leaving the Cunard pier, only said: "We will consult about what is best
|
||
|
|
to-morrow. Come."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The party crossed the Hudson in the Jersey City ferryboat, and drove in
|
||
|
|
a carriage to the St. Nicholas Hotel, on Broadway. Rooms were engaged,
|
||
|
|
and the night passed, briefly to Phileas Fogg, who slept profoundly,
|
||
|
|
but very long to Aouda and the others, whose agitation did not permit
|
||
|
|
them to rest.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The next day was the 12th of December. From seven in the morning of
|
||
|
|
the 12th to a quarter before nine in the evening of the 21st there were
|
||
|
|
nine days, thirteen hours, and forty-five minutes. If Phileas Fogg had
|
||
|
|
left in the China, one of the fastest steamers on the Atlantic, he
|
||
|
|
would have reached Liverpool, and then London, within the period agreed
|
||
|
|
upon.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg left the hotel alone, after giving Passepartout instructions
|
||
|
|
to await his return, and inform Aouda to be ready at an instant's
|
||
|
|
notice. He proceeded to the banks of the Hudson, and looked about
|
||
|
|
among the vessels moored or anchored in the river, for any that were
|
||
|
|
about to depart. Several had departure signals, and were preparing to
|
||
|
|
put to sea at morning tide; for in this immense and admirable port
|
||
|
|
there is not one day in a hundred that vessels do not set out for every
|
||
|
|
quarter of the globe. But they were mostly sailing vessels, of which,
|
||
|
|
of course, Phileas Fogg could make no use.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He seemed about to give up all hope, when he espied, anchored at the
|
||
|
|
Battery, a cable's length off at most, a trading vessel, with a screw,
|
||
|
|
well-shaped, whose funnel, puffing a cloud of smoke, indicated that she
|
||
|
|
was getting ready for departure.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg hailed a boat, got into it, and soon found himself on
|
||
|
|
board the Henrietta, iron-hulled, wood-built above. He ascended to the
|
||
|
|
deck, and asked for the captain, who forthwith presented himself. He
|
||
|
|
was a man of fifty, a sort of sea-wolf, with big eyes, a complexion of
|
||
|
|
oxidised copper, red hair and thick neck, and a growling voice.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"The captain?" asked Mr. Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I am the captain."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I am Phileas Fogg, of London."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And I am Andrew Speedy, of Cardiff."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"You are going to put to sea?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"In an hour."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"You are bound for--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Bordeaux."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And your cargo?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No freight. Going in ballast."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Have you any passengers?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No passengers. Never have passengers. Too much in the way."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Is your vessel a swift one?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Between eleven and twelve knots. The Henrietta, well known."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Will you carry me and three other persons to Liverpool?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"To Liverpool? Why not to China?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I said Liverpool."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No. I am setting out for Bordeaux, and shall go to Bordeaux."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Money is no object?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"None."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The captain spoke in a tone which did not admit of a reply.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But the owners of the Henrietta--" resumed Phileas Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"The owners are myself," replied the captain. "The vessel belongs to
|
||
|
|
me."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I will freight it for you."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I will buy it of you."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg did not betray the least disappointment; but the situation
|
||
|
|
was a grave one. It was not at New York as at Hong Kong, nor with the
|
||
|
|
captain of the Henrietta as with the captain of the Tankadere. Up to
|
||
|
|
this time money had smoothed away every obstacle. Now money failed.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Still, some means must be found to cross the Atlantic on a boat, unless
|
||
|
|
by balloon--which would have been venturesome, besides not being
|
||
|
|
capable of being put in practice. It seemed that Phileas Fogg had an
|
||
|
|
idea, for he said to the captain, "Well, will you carry me to Bordeaux?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No, not if you paid me two hundred dollars."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I offer you two thousand."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Apiece?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Apiece."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And there are four of you?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Four."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Captain Speedy began to scratch his head. There were eight thousand
|
||
|
|
dollars to gain, without changing his route; for which it was well
|
||
|
|
worth conquering the repugnance he had for all kinds of passengers.
|
||
|
|
Besides, passengers at two thousand dollars are no longer passengers,
|
||
|
|
but valuable merchandise. "I start at nine o'clock," said Captain
|
||
|
|
Speedy, simply. "Are you and your party ready?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"We will be on board at nine o'clock," replied, no less simply, Mr.
|
||
|
|
Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was half-past eight. To disembark from the Henrietta, jump into a
|
||
|
|
hack, hurry to the St. Nicholas, and return with Aouda, Passepartout,
|
||
|
|
and even the inseparable Fix was the work of a brief time, and was
|
||
|
|
performed by Mr. Fogg with the coolness which never abandoned him.
|
||
|
|
They were on board when the Henrietta made ready to weigh anchor.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
When Passepartout heard what this last voyage was going to cost, he
|
||
|
|
uttered a prolonged "Oh!" which extended throughout his vocal gamut.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
As for Fix, he said to himself that the Bank of England would certainly
|
||
|
|
not come out of this affair well indemnified. When they reached
|
||
|
|
England, even if Mr. Fogg did not throw some handfuls of bank-bills
|
||
|
|
into the sea, more than seven thousand pounds would have been spent!
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter XXXIII
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG SHOWS HIMSELF EQUAL TO THE OCCASION
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
An hour after, the Henrietta passed the lighthouse which marks the
|
||
|
|
entrance of the Hudson, turned the point of Sandy Hook, and put to sea.
|
||
|
|
During the day she skirted Long Island, passed Fire Island, and
|
||
|
|
directed her course rapidly eastward.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At noon the next day, a man mounted the bridge to ascertain the
|
||
|
|
vessel's position. It might be thought that this was Captain Speedy.
|
||
|
|
Not the least in the world. It was Phileas Fogg, Esquire. As for
|
||
|
|
Captain Speedy, he was shut up in his cabin under lock and key, and was
|
||
|
|
uttering loud cries, which signified an anger at once pardonable and
|
||
|
|
excessive.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
What had happened was very simple. Phileas Fogg wished to go to
|
||
|
|
Liverpool, but the captain would not carry him there. Then Phileas
|
||
|
|
Fogg had taken passage for Bordeaux, and, during the thirty hours he
|
||
|
|
had been on board, had so shrewdly managed with his banknotes that the
|
||
|
|
sailors and stokers, who were only an occasional crew, and were not on
|
||
|
|
the best terms with the captain, went over to him in a body. This was
|
||
|
|
why Phileas Fogg was in command instead of Captain Speedy; why the
|
||
|
|
captain was a prisoner in his cabin; and why, in short, the Henrietta
|
||
|
|
was directing her course towards Liverpool. It was very clear, to see
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg manage the craft, that he had been a sailor.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
How the adventure ended will be seen anon. Aouda was anxious, though
|
||
|
|
she said nothing. As for Passepartout, he thought Mr. Fogg's manoeuvre
|
||
|
|
simply glorious. The captain had said "between eleven and twelve
|
||
|
|
knots," and the Henrietta confirmed his prediction.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
If, then--for there were "ifs" still--the sea did not become too
|
||
|
|
boisterous, if the wind did not veer round to the east, if no accident
|
||
|
|
happened to the boat or its machinery, the Henrietta might cross the
|
||
|
|
three thousand miles from New York to Liverpool in the nine days,
|
||
|
|
between the 12th and the 21st of December. It is true that, once
|
||
|
|
arrived, the affair on board the Henrietta, added to that of the Bank
|
||
|
|
of England, might create more difficulties for Mr. Fogg than he
|
||
|
|
imagined or could desire.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
During the first days, they went along smoothly enough. The sea was
|
||
|
|
not very unpropitious, the wind seemed stationary in the north-east,
|
||
|
|
the sails were hoisted, and the Henrietta ploughed across the waves
|
||
|
|
like a real trans-Atlantic steamer.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout was delighted. His master's last exploit, the
|
||
|
|
consequences of which he ignored, enchanted him. Never had the crew
|
||
|
|
seen so jolly and dexterous a fellow. He formed warm friendships with
|
||
|
|
the sailors, and amazed them with his acrobatic feats. He thought they
|
||
|
|
managed the vessel like gentlemen, and that the stokers fired up like
|
||
|
|
heroes. His loquacious good-humour infected everyone. He had
|
||
|
|
forgotten the past, its vexations and delays. He only thought of the
|
||
|
|
end, so nearly accomplished; and sometimes he boiled over with
|
||
|
|
impatience, as if heated by the furnaces of the Henrietta. Often,
|
||
|
|
also, the worthy fellow revolved around Fix, looking at him with a
|
||
|
|
keen, distrustful eye; but he did not speak to him, for their old
|
||
|
|
intimacy no longer existed.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix, it must be confessed, understood nothing of what was going on.
|
||
|
|
The conquest of the Henrietta, the bribery of the crew, Fogg managing
|
||
|
|
the boat like a skilled seaman, amazed and confused him. He did not
|
||
|
|
know what to think. For, after all, a man who began by stealing
|
||
|
|
fifty-five thousand pounds might end by stealing a vessel; and Fix was
|
||
|
|
not unnaturally inclined to conclude that the Henrietta under Fogg's
|
||
|
|
command, was not going to Liverpool at all, but to some part of the
|
||
|
|
world where the robber, turned into a pirate, would quietly put himself
|
||
|
|
in safety. The conjecture was at least a plausible one, and the
|
||
|
|
detective began to seriously regret that he had embarked on the affair.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
As for Captain Speedy, he continued to howl and growl in his cabin; and
|
||
|
|
Passepartout, whose duty it was to carry him his meals, courageous as
|
||
|
|
he was, took the greatest precautions. Mr. Fogg did not seem even to
|
||
|
|
know that there was a captain on board.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
On the 13th they passed the edge of the Banks of Newfoundland, a
|
||
|
|
dangerous locality; during the winter, especially, there are frequent
|
||
|
|
fogs and heavy gales of wind. Ever since the evening before the
|
||
|
|
barometer, suddenly falling, had indicated an approaching change in the
|
||
|
|
atmosphere; and during the night the temperature varied, the cold
|
||
|
|
became sharper, and the wind veered to the south-east.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This was a misfortune. Mr. Fogg, in order not to deviate from his
|
||
|
|
course, furled his sails and increased the force of the steam; but the
|
||
|
|
vessel's speed slackened, owing to the state of the sea, the long waves
|
||
|
|
of which broke against the stern. She pitched violently, and this
|
||
|
|
retarded her progress. The breeze little by little swelled into a
|
||
|
|
tempest, and it was to be feared that the Henrietta might not be able
|
||
|
|
to maintain herself upright on the waves.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout's visage darkened with the skies, and for two days the
|
||
|
|
poor fellow experienced constant fright. But Phileas Fogg was a bold
|
||
|
|
mariner, and knew how to maintain headway against the sea; and he kept
|
||
|
|
on his course, without even decreasing his steam. The Henrietta, when
|
||
|
|
she could not rise upon the waves, crossed them, swamping her deck, but
|
||
|
|
passing safely. Sometimes the screw rose out of the water, beating its
|
||
|
|
protruding end, when a mountain of water raised the stern above the
|
||
|
|
waves; but the craft always kept straight ahead.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The wind, however, did not grow as boisterous as might have been
|
||
|
|
feared; it was not one of those tempests which burst, and rush on with
|
||
|
|
a speed of ninety miles an hour. It continued fresh, but, unhappily,
|
||
|
|
it remained obstinately in the south-east, rendering the sails useless.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The 16th of December was the seventy-fifth day since Phileas Fogg's
|
||
|
|
departure from London, and the Henrietta had not yet been seriously
|
||
|
|
delayed. Half of the voyage was almost accomplished, and the worst
|
||
|
|
localities had been passed. In summer, success would have been
|
||
|
|
well-nigh certain. In winter, they were at the mercy of the bad
|
||
|
|
season. Passepartout said nothing; but he cherished hope in secret,
|
||
|
|
and comforted himself with the reflection that, if the wind failed
|
||
|
|
them, they might still count on the steam.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
On this day the engineer came on deck, went up to Mr. Fogg, and began
|
||
|
|
to speak earnestly with him. Without knowing why it was a
|
||
|
|
presentiment, perhaps Passepartout became vaguely uneasy. He would
|
||
|
|
have given one of his ears to hear with the other what the engineer was
|
||
|
|
saying. He finally managed to catch a few words, and was sure he heard
|
||
|
|
his master say, "You are certain of what you tell me?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Certain, sir," replied the engineer. "You must remember that, since
|
||
|
|
we started, we have kept up hot fires in all our furnaces, and, though
|
||
|
|
we had coal enough to go on short steam from New York to Bordeaux, we
|
||
|
|
haven't enough to go with all steam from New York to Liverpool." "I
|
||
|
|
will consider," replied Mr. Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout understood it all; he was seized with mortal anxiety. The
|
||
|
|
coal was giving out! "Ah, if my master can get over that," muttered
|
||
|
|
he, "he'll be a famous man!" He could not help imparting to Fix what
|
||
|
|
he had overheard.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Then you believe that we really are going to Liverpool?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Of course."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Ass!" replied the detective, shrugging his shoulders and turning on
|
||
|
|
his heel.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout was on the point of vigorously resenting the epithet, the
|
||
|
|
reason of which he could not for the life of him comprehend; but he
|
||
|
|
reflected that the unfortunate Fix was probably very much disappointed
|
||
|
|
and humiliated in his self-esteem, after having so awkwardly followed a
|
||
|
|
false scent around the world, and refrained.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
And now what course would Phileas Fogg adopt? It was difficult to
|
||
|
|
imagine. Nevertheless he seemed to have decided upon one, for that
|
||
|
|
evening he sent for the engineer, and said to him, "Feed all the fires
|
||
|
|
until the coal is exhausted."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
A few moments after, the funnel of the Henrietta vomited forth torrents
|
||
|
|
of smoke. The vessel continued to proceed with all steam on; but on
|
||
|
|
the 18th, the engineer, as he had predicted, announced that the coal
|
||
|
|
would give out in the course of the day.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Do not let the fires go down," replied Mr. Fogg. "Keep them up to the
|
||
|
|
last. Let the valves be filled."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Towards noon Phileas Fogg, having ascertained their position, called
|
||
|
|
Passepartout, and ordered him to go for Captain Speedy. It was as if
|
||
|
|
the honest fellow had been commanded to unchain a tiger. He went to
|
||
|
|
the poop, saying to himself, "He will be like a madman!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
In a few moments, with cries and oaths, a bomb appeared on the
|
||
|
|
poop-deck. The bomb was Captain Speedy. It was clear that he was on
|
||
|
|
the point of bursting. "Where are we?" were the first words his anger
|
||
|
|
permitted him to utter. Had the poor man been an apoplectic, he could
|
||
|
|
never have recovered from his paroxysm of wrath.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Where are we?" he repeated, with purple face.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Seven hundred and seven miles from Liverpool," replied Mr. Fogg, with
|
||
|
|
imperturbable calmness.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Pirate!" cried Captain Speedy.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I have sent for you, sir--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Pickaroon!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"--sir," continued Mr. Fogg, "to ask you to sell me your vessel."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No! By all the devils, no!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But I shall be obliged to burn her."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Burn the Henrietta!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes; at least the upper part of her. The coal has given out."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Burn my vessel!" cried Captain Speedy, who could scarcely pronounce
|
||
|
|
the words. "A vessel worth fifty thousand dollars!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Here are sixty thousand," replied Phileas Fogg, handing the captain a
|
||
|
|
roll of bank-bills. This had a prodigious effect on Andrew Speedy. An
|
||
|
|
American can scarcely remain unmoved at the sight of sixty thousand
|
||
|
|
dollars. The captain forgot in an instant his anger, his imprisonment,
|
||
|
|
and all his grudges against his passenger. The Henrietta was twenty
|
||
|
|
years old; it was a great bargain. The bomb would not go off after
|
||
|
|
all. Mr. Fogg had taken away the match.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And I shall still have the iron hull," said the captain in a softer
|
||
|
|
tone.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"The iron hull and the engine. Is it agreed?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Agreed."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
And Andrew Speedy, seizing the banknotes, counted them and consigned
|
||
|
|
them to his pocket.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
During this colloquy, Passepartout was as white as a sheet, and Fix
|
||
|
|
seemed on the point of having an apoplectic fit. Nearly twenty
|
||
|
|
thousand pounds had been expended, and Fogg left the hull and engine to
|
||
|
|
the captain, that is, near the whole value of the craft! It was true,
|
||
|
|
however, that fifty-five thousand pounds had been stolen from the Bank.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
When Andrew Speedy had pocketed the money, Mr. Fogg said to him, "Don't
|
||
|
|
let this astonish you, sir. You must know that I shall lose twenty
|
||
|
|
thousand pounds, unless I arrive in London by a quarter before nine on
|
||
|
|
the evening of the 21st of December. I missed the steamer at New York,
|
||
|
|
and as you refused to take me to Liverpool--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"And I did well!" cried Andrew Speedy; "for I have gained at least
|
||
|
|
forty thousand dollars by it!" He added, more sedately, "Do you know
|
||
|
|
one thing, Captain--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Fogg."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Captain Fogg, you've got something of the Yankee about you."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
And, having paid his passenger what he considered a high compliment, he
|
||
|
|
was going away, when Mr. Fogg said, "The vessel now belongs to me?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Certainly, from the keel to the truck of the masts--all the wood, that
|
||
|
|
is."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Very well. Have the interior seats, bunks, and frames pulled down,
|
||
|
|
and burn them."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was necessary to have dry wood to keep the steam up to the adequate
|
||
|
|
pressure, and on that day the poop, cabins, bunks, and the spare deck
|
||
|
|
were sacrificed. On the next day, the 19th of December, the masts,
|
||
|
|
rafts, and spars were burned; the crew worked lustily, keeping up the
|
||
|
|
fires. Passepartout hewed, cut, and sawed away with all his might.
|
||
|
|
There was a perfect rage for demolition.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The railings, fittings, the greater part of the deck, and top sides
|
||
|
|
disappeared on the 20th, and the Henrietta was now only a flat hulk.
|
||
|
|
But on this day they sighted the Irish coast and Fastnet Light. By ten
|
||
|
|
in the evening they were passing Queenstown. Phileas Fogg had only
|
||
|
|
twenty-four hours more in which to get to London; that length of time
|
||
|
|
was necessary to reach Liverpool, with all steam on. And the steam was
|
||
|
|
about to give out altogether!
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Sir," said Captain Speedy, who was now deeply interested in Mr. Fogg's
|
||
|
|
project, "I really commiserate you. Everything is against you. We are
|
||
|
|
only opposite Queenstown."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Ah," said Mr. Fogg, "is that place where we see the lights Queenstown?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Can we enter the harbour?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Not under three hours. Only at high tide."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Stay," replied Mr. Fogg calmly, without betraying in his features that
|
||
|
|
by a supreme inspiration he was about to attempt once more to conquer
|
||
|
|
ill-fortune.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Queenstown is the Irish port at which the trans-Atlantic steamers stop
|
||
|
|
to put off the mails. These mails are carried to Dublin by express
|
||
|
|
trains always held in readiness to start; from Dublin they are sent on
|
||
|
|
to Liverpool by the most rapid boats, and thus gain twelve hours on the
|
||
|
|
Atlantic steamers.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg counted on gaining twelve hours in the same way. Instead
|
||
|
|
of arriving at Liverpool the next evening by the Henrietta, he would be
|
||
|
|
there by noon, and would therefore have time to reach London before a
|
||
|
|
quarter before nine in the evening.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The Henrietta entered Queenstown Harbour at one o'clock in the morning,
|
||
|
|
it then being high tide; and Phileas Fogg, after being grasped heartily
|
||
|
|
by the hand by Captain Speedy, left that gentleman on the levelled hulk
|
||
|
|
of his craft, which was still worth half what he had sold it for.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The party went on shore at once. Fix was greatly tempted to arrest Mr.
|
||
|
|
Fogg on the spot; but he did not. Why? What struggle was going on
|
||
|
|
within him? Had he changed his mind about "his man"? Did he
|
||
|
|
understand that he had made a grave mistake? He did not, however,
|
||
|
|
abandon Mr. Fogg. They all got upon the train, which was just ready to
|
||
|
|
start, at half-past one; at dawn of day they were in Dublin; and they
|
||
|
|
lost no time in embarking on a steamer which, disdaining to rise upon
|
||
|
|
the waves, invariably cut through them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg at last disembarked on the Liverpool quay, at twenty
|
||
|
|
minutes before twelve, 21st December. He was only six hours distant
|
||
|
|
from London.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
But at this moment Fix came up, put his hand upon Mr. Fogg's shoulder,
|
||
|
|
and, showing his warrant, said, "You are really Phileas Fogg?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I am."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I arrest you in the Queen's name!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter XXXIV
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG AT LAST REACHES LONDON
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg was in prison. He had been shut up in the Custom House,
|
||
|
|
and he was to be transferred to London the next day.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout, when he saw his master arrested, would have fallen upon
|
||
|
|
Fix had he not been held back by some policemen. Aouda was
|
||
|
|
thunderstruck at the suddenness of an event which she could not
|
||
|
|
understand. Passepartout explained to her how it was that the honest
|
||
|
|
and courageous Fogg was arrested as a robber. The young woman's heart
|
||
|
|
revolted against so heinous a charge, and when she saw that she could
|
||
|
|
attempt to do nothing to save her protector, she wept bitterly.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
As for Fix, he had arrested Mr. Fogg because it was his duty, whether
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg were guilty or not.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The thought then struck Passepartout, that he was the cause of this new
|
||
|
|
misfortune! Had he not concealed Fix's errand from his master? When
|
||
|
|
Fix revealed his true character and purpose, why had he not told Mr.
|
||
|
|
Fogg? If the latter had been warned, he would no doubt have given Fix
|
||
|
|
proof of his innocence, and satisfied him of his mistake; at least, Fix
|
||
|
|
would not have continued his journey at the expense and on the heels of
|
||
|
|
his master, only to arrest him the moment he set foot on English soil.
|
||
|
|
Passepartout wept till he was blind, and felt like blowing his brains
|
||
|
|
out.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Aouda and he had remained, despite the cold, under the portico of the
|
||
|
|
Custom House. Neither wished to leave the place; both were anxious to
|
||
|
|
see Mr. Fogg again.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
That gentleman was really ruined, and that at the moment when he was
|
||
|
|
about to attain his end. This arrest was fatal. Having arrived at
|
||
|
|
Liverpool at twenty minutes before twelve on the 21st of December, he
|
||
|
|
had till a quarter before nine that evening to reach the Reform Club,
|
||
|
|
that is, nine hours and a quarter; the journey from Liverpool to London
|
||
|
|
was six hours.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
If anyone, at this moment, had entered the Custom House, he would have
|
||
|
|
found Mr. Fogg seated, motionless, calm, and without apparent anger,
|
||
|
|
upon a wooden bench. He was not, it is true, resigned; but this last
|
||
|
|
blow failed to force him into an outward betrayal of any emotion. Was
|
||
|
|
he being devoured by one of those secret rages, all the more terrible
|
||
|
|
because contained, and which only burst forth, with an irresistible
|
||
|
|
force, at the last moment? No one could tell. There he sat, calmly
|
||
|
|
waiting--for what? Did he still cherish hope? Did he still believe,
|
||
|
|
now that the door of this prison was closed upon him, that he would
|
||
|
|
succeed?
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
However that may have been, Mr. Fogg carefully put his watch upon the
|
||
|
|
table, and observed its advancing hands. Not a word escaped his lips,
|
||
|
|
but his look was singularly set and stern. The situation, in any
|
||
|
|
event, was a terrible one, and might be thus stated: if Phileas Fogg
|
||
|
|
was honest he was ruined; if he was a knave, he was caught.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Did escape occur to him? Did he examine to see if there were any
|
||
|
|
practicable outlet from his prison? Did he think of escaping from it?
|
||
|
|
Possibly; for once he walked slowly around the room. But the door was
|
||
|
|
locked, and the window heavily barred with iron rods. He sat down
|
||
|
|
again, and drew his journal from his pocket. On the line where these
|
||
|
|
words were written, "21st December, Saturday, Liverpool," he added,
|
||
|
|
"80th day, 11.40 a.m.," and waited.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The Custom House clock struck one. Mr. Fogg observed that his watch
|
||
|
|
was two hours too fast.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Two hours! Admitting that he was at this moment taking an express
|
||
|
|
train, he could reach London and the Reform Club by a quarter before
|
||
|
|
nine, p.m. His forehead slightly wrinkled.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At thirty-three minutes past two he heard a singular noise outside,
|
||
|
|
then a hasty opening of doors. Passepartout's voice was audible, and
|
||
|
|
immediately after that of Fix. Phileas Fogg's eyes brightened for an
|
||
|
|
instant.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The door swung open, and he saw Passepartout, Aouda, and Fix, who
|
||
|
|
hurried towards him.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix was out of breath, and his hair was in disorder. He could not
|
||
|
|
speak. "Sir," he stammered, "sir--forgive me--most--unfortunate
|
||
|
|
resemblance--robber arrested three days ago--you are free!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg was free! He walked to the detective, looked him steadily
|
||
|
|
in the face, and with the only rapid motion he had ever made in his
|
||
|
|
life, or which he ever would make, drew back his arms, and with the
|
||
|
|
precision of a machine knocked Fix down.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Well hit!" cried Passepartout, "Parbleu! that's what you might call a
|
||
|
|
good application of English fists!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Fix, who found himself on the floor, did not utter a word. He had only
|
||
|
|
received his deserts. Mr. Fogg, Aouda, and Passepartout left the
|
||
|
|
Custom House without delay, got into a cab, and in a few moments
|
||
|
|
descended at the station.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg asked if there was an express train about to leave for
|
||
|
|
London. It was forty minutes past two. The express train had left
|
||
|
|
thirty-five minutes before. Phileas Fogg then ordered a special train.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
There were several rapid locomotives on hand; but the railway
|
||
|
|
arrangements did not permit the special train to leave until three
|
||
|
|
o'clock.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At that hour Phileas Fogg, having stimulated the engineer by the offer
|
||
|
|
of a generous reward, at last set out towards London with Aouda and his
|
||
|
|
faithful servant.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was necessary to make the journey in five hours and a half; and this
|
||
|
|
would have been easy on a clear road throughout. But there were forced
|
||
|
|
delays, and when Mr. Fogg stepped from the train at the terminus, all
|
||
|
|
the clocks in London were striking ten minutes before nine.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Having made the tour of the world, he was behind-hand five minutes. He
|
||
|
|
had lost the wager!
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter XXXV
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG DOES NOT HAVE TO REPEAT HIS ORDERS TO
|
||
|
|
PASSEPARTOUT TWICE
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The dwellers in Saville Row would have been surprised the next day, if
|
||
|
|
they had been told that Phileas Fogg had returned home. His doors and
|
||
|
|
windows were still closed, no appearance of change was visible.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
After leaving the station, Mr. Fogg gave Passepartout instructions to
|
||
|
|
purchase some provisions, and quietly went to his domicile.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He bore his misfortune with his habitual tranquillity. Ruined! And by
|
||
|
|
the blundering of the detective! After having steadily traversed that
|
||
|
|
long journey, overcome a hundred obstacles, braved many dangers, and
|
||
|
|
still found time to do some good on his way, to fail near the goal by a
|
||
|
|
sudden event which he could not have foreseen, and against which he was
|
||
|
|
unarmed; it was terrible! But a few pounds were left of the large sum
|
||
|
|
he had carried with him. There only remained of his fortune the twenty
|
||
|
|
thousand pounds deposited at Barings, and this amount he owed to his
|
||
|
|
friends of the Reform Club. So great had been the expense of his tour
|
||
|
|
that, even had he won, it would not have enriched him; and it is
|
||
|
|
probable that he had not sought to enrich himself, being a man who
|
||
|
|
rather laid wagers for honour's sake than for the stake proposed. But
|
||
|
|
this wager totally ruined him.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg's course, however, was fully decided upon; he knew what
|
||
|
|
remained for him to do.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
A room in the house in Saville Row was set apart for Aouda, who was
|
||
|
|
overwhelmed with grief at her protector's misfortune. From the words
|
||
|
|
which Mr. Fogg dropped, she saw that he was meditating some serious
|
||
|
|
project.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Knowing that Englishmen governed by a fixed idea sometimes resort to
|
||
|
|
the desperate expedient of suicide, Passepartout kept a narrow watch
|
||
|
|
upon his master, though he carefully concealed the appearance of so
|
||
|
|
doing.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
First of all, the worthy fellow had gone up to his room, and had
|
||
|
|
extinguished the gas burner, which had been burning for eighty days.
|
||
|
|
He had found in the letter-box a bill from the gas company, and he
|
||
|
|
thought it more than time to put a stop to this expense, which he had
|
||
|
|
been doomed to bear.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The night passed. Mr. Fogg went to bed, but did he sleep? Aouda did
|
||
|
|
not once close her eyes. Passepartout watched all night, like a
|
||
|
|
faithful dog, at his master's door.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg called him in the morning, and told him to get Aouda's
|
||
|
|
breakfast, and a cup of tea and a chop for himself. He desired Aouda
|
||
|
|
to excuse him from breakfast and dinner, as his time would be absorbed
|
||
|
|
all day in putting his affairs to rights. In the evening he would ask
|
||
|
|
permission to have a few moment's conversation with the young lady.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout, having received his orders, had nothing to do but obey
|
||
|
|
them. He looked at his imperturbable master, and could scarcely bring
|
||
|
|
his mind to leave him. His heart was full, and his conscience tortured
|
||
|
|
by remorse; for he accused himself more bitterly than ever of being the
|
||
|
|
cause of the irretrievable disaster. Yes! if he had warned Mr. Fogg,
|
||
|
|
and had betrayed Fix's projects to him, his master would certainly not
|
||
|
|
have given the detective passage to Liverpool, and then--
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout could hold in no longer.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"My master! Mr. Fogg!" he cried, "why do you not curse me? It was my
|
||
|
|
fault that--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I blame no one," returned Phileas Fogg, with perfect calmness. "Go!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout left the room, and went to find Aouda, to whom he
|
||
|
|
delivered his master's message.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Madam," he added, "I can do nothing myself--nothing! I have no
|
||
|
|
influence over my master; but you, perhaps--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What influence could I have?" replied Aouda. "Mr. Fogg is influenced
|
||
|
|
by no one. Has he ever understood that my gratitude to him is
|
||
|
|
overflowing? Has he ever read my heart? My friend, he must not be
|
||
|
|
left alone an instant! You say he is going to speak with me this
|
||
|
|
evening?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes, madam; probably to arrange for your protection and comfort in
|
||
|
|
England."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"We shall see," replied Aouda, becoming suddenly pensive.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Throughout this day (Sunday) the house in Saville Row was as if
|
||
|
|
uninhabited, and Phileas Fogg, for the first time since he had lived in
|
||
|
|
that house, did not set out for his club when Westminster clock struck
|
||
|
|
half-past eleven.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Why should he present himself at the Reform? His friends no longer
|
||
|
|
expected him there. As Phileas Fogg had not appeared in the saloon on
|
||
|
|
the evening before (Saturday, the 21st of December, at a quarter before
|
||
|
|
nine), he had lost his wager. It was not even necessary that he should
|
||
|
|
go to his bankers for the twenty thousand pounds; for his antagonists
|
||
|
|
already had his cheque in their hands, and they had only to fill it out
|
||
|
|
and send it to the Barings to have the amount transferred to their
|
||
|
|
credit.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg, therefore, had no reason for going out, and so he remained at
|
||
|
|
home. He shut himself up in his room, and busied himself putting his
|
||
|
|
affairs in order. Passepartout continually ascended and descended the
|
||
|
|
stairs. The hours were long for him. He listened at his master's door,
|
||
|
|
and looked through the keyhole, as if he had a perfect right so to do,
|
||
|
|
and as if he feared that something terrible might happen at any moment.
|
||
|
|
Sometimes he thought of Fix, but no longer in anger. Fix, like all the
|
||
|
|
world, had been mistaken in Phileas Fogg, and had only done his duty in
|
||
|
|
tracking and arresting him; while he, Passepartout. . . . This thought
|
||
|
|
haunted him, and he never ceased cursing his miserable folly.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Finding himself too wretched to remain alone, he knocked at Aouda's
|
||
|
|
door, went into her room, seated himself, without speaking, in a
|
||
|
|
corner, and looked ruefully at the young woman. Aouda was still pensive.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
About half-past seven in the evening Mr. Fogg sent to know if Aouda
|
||
|
|
would receive him, and in a few moments he found himself alone with her.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg took a chair, and sat down near the fireplace, opposite
|
||
|
|
Aouda. No emotion was visible on his face. Fogg returned was exactly
|
||
|
|
the Fogg who had gone away; there was the same calm, the same
|
||
|
|
impassibility.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He sat several minutes without speaking; then, bending his eyes on
|
||
|
|
Aouda, "Madam," said he, "will you pardon me for bringing you to
|
||
|
|
England?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I, Mr. Fogg!" replied Aouda, checking the pulsations of her heart.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Please let me finish," returned Mr. Fogg. "When I decided to bring
|
||
|
|
you far away from the country which was so unsafe for you, I was rich,
|
||
|
|
and counted on putting a portion of my fortune at your disposal; then
|
||
|
|
your existence would have been free and happy. But now I am ruined."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I know it, Mr. Fogg," replied Aouda; "and I ask you in my turn, will
|
||
|
|
you forgive me for having followed you, and--who knows?--for having,
|
||
|
|
perhaps, delayed you, and thus contributed to your ruin?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Madam, you could not remain in India, and your safety could only be
|
||
|
|
assured by bringing you to such a distance that your persecutors could
|
||
|
|
not take you."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"So, Mr. Fogg," resumed Aouda, "not content with rescuing me from a
|
||
|
|
terrible death, you thought yourself bound to secure my comfort in a
|
||
|
|
foreign land?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes, madam; but circumstances have been against me. Still, I beg to
|
||
|
|
place the little I have left at your service."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But what will become of you, Mr. Fogg?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"As for me, madam," replied the gentleman, coldly, "I have need of
|
||
|
|
nothing."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"But how do you look upon the fate, sir, which awaits you?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"As I am in the habit of doing."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"At least," said Aouda, "want should not overtake a man like you. Your
|
||
|
|
friends--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I have no friends, madam."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Your relatives--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I have no longer any relatives."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I pity you, then, Mr. Fogg, for solitude is a sad thing, with no heart
|
||
|
|
to which to confide your griefs. They say, though, that misery itself,
|
||
|
|
shared by two sympathetic souls, may be borne with patience."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"They say so, madam."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Mr. Fogg," said Aouda, rising and seizing his hand, "do you wish at
|
||
|
|
once a kinswoman and friend? Will you have me for your wife?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg, at this, rose in his turn. There was an unwonted light in
|
||
|
|
his eyes, and a slight trembling of his lips. Aouda looked into his
|
||
|
|
face. The sincerity, rectitude, firmness, and sweetness of this soft
|
||
|
|
glance of a noble woman, who could dare all to save him to whom she
|
||
|
|
owed all, at first astonished, then penetrated him. He shut his eyes
|
||
|
|
for an instant, as if to avoid her look. When he opened them again, "I
|
||
|
|
love you!" he said, simply. "Yes, by all that is holiest, I love you,
|
||
|
|
and I am entirely yours!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Ah!" cried Aouda, pressing his hand to her heart.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout was summoned and appeared immediately. Mr. Fogg still
|
||
|
|
held Aouda's hand in his own; Passepartout understood, and his big,
|
||
|
|
round face became as radiant as the tropical sun at its zenith.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg asked him if it was not too late to notify the Reverend Samuel
|
||
|
|
Wilson, of Marylebone parish, that evening.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout smiled his most genial smile, and said, "Never too late."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was five minutes past eight.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Will it be for to-morrow, Monday?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"For to-morrow, Monday," said Mr. Fogg, turning to Aouda.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes; for to-morrow, Monday," she replied.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout hurried off as fast as his legs could carry him.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter XXXVI
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG'S NAME IS ONCE MORE AT A PREMIUM ON 'CHANGE
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It is time to relate what a change took place in English public opinion
|
||
|
|
when it transpired that the real bankrobber, a certain James Strand,
|
||
|
|
had been arrested, on the 17th day of December, at Edinburgh. Three
|
||
|
|
days before, Phileas Fogg had been a criminal, who was being
|
||
|
|
desperately followed up by the police; now he was an honourable
|
||
|
|
gentleman, mathematically pursuing his eccentric journey round the
|
||
|
|
world.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The papers resumed their discussion about the wager; all those who had
|
||
|
|
laid bets, for or against him, revived their interest, as if by magic;
|
||
|
|
the "Phileas Fogg bonds" again became negotiable, and many new wagers
|
||
|
|
were made. Phileas Fogg's name was once more at a premium on 'Change.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
His five friends of the Reform Club passed these three days in a state
|
||
|
|
of feverish suspense. Would Phileas Fogg, whom they had forgotten,
|
||
|
|
reappear before their eyes! Where was he at this moment? The 17th of
|
||
|
|
December, the day of James Strand's arrest, was the seventy-sixth since
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg's departure, and no news of him had been received. Was he
|
||
|
|
dead? Had he abandoned the effort, or was he continuing his journey
|
||
|
|
along the route agreed upon? And would he appear on Saturday, the 21st
|
||
|
|
of December, at a quarter before nine in the evening, on the threshold
|
||
|
|
of the Reform Club saloon?
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The anxiety in which, for three days, London society existed, cannot be
|
||
|
|
described. Telegrams were sent to America and Asia for news of Phileas
|
||
|
|
Fogg. Messengers were dispatched to the house in Saville Row morning
|
||
|
|
and evening. No news. The police were ignorant what had become of the
|
||
|
|
detective, Fix, who had so unfortunately followed up a false scent.
|
||
|
|
Bets increased, nevertheless, in number and value. Phileas Fogg, like
|
||
|
|
a racehorse, was drawing near his last turning-point. The bonds were
|
||
|
|
quoted, no longer at a hundred below par, but at twenty, at ten, and at
|
||
|
|
five; and paralytic old Lord Albemarle bet even in his favour.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
A great crowd was collected in Pall Mall and the neighbouring streets
|
||
|
|
on Saturday evening; it seemed like a multitude of brokers permanently
|
||
|
|
established around the Reform Club. Circulation was impeded, and
|
||
|
|
everywhere disputes, discussions, and financial transactions were going
|
||
|
|
on. The police had great difficulty in keeping back the crowd, and as
|
||
|
|
the hour when Phileas Fogg was due approached, the excitement rose to
|
||
|
|
its highest pitch.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The five antagonists of Phileas Fogg had met in the great saloon of the
|
||
|
|
club. John Sullivan and Samuel Fallentin, the bankers, Andrew Stuart,
|
||
|
|
the engineer, Gauthier Ralph, the director of the Bank of England, and
|
||
|
|
Thomas Flanagan, the brewer, one and all waited anxiously.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
When the clock indicated twenty minutes past eight, Andrew Stuart got
|
||
|
|
up, saying, "Gentlemen, in twenty minutes the time agreed upon between
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg and ourselves will have expired."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What time did the last train arrive from Liverpool?" asked Thomas
|
||
|
|
Flanagan.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"At twenty-three minutes past seven," replied Gauthier Ralph; "and the
|
||
|
|
next does not arrive till ten minutes after twelve."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Well, gentlemen," resumed Andrew Stuart, "if Phileas Fogg had come in
|
||
|
|
the 7:23 train, he would have got here by this time. We can,
|
||
|
|
therefore, regard the bet as won."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Wait; don't let us be too hasty," replied Samuel Fallentin. "You know
|
||
|
|
that Mr. Fogg is very eccentric. His punctuality is well known; he
|
||
|
|
never arrives too soon, or too late; and I should not be surprised if
|
||
|
|
he appeared before us at the last minute."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Why," said Andrew Stuart nervously, "if I should see him, I should not
|
||
|
|
believe it was he."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"The fact is," resumed Thomas Flanagan, "Mr. Fogg's project was
|
||
|
|
absurdly foolish. Whatever his punctuality, he could not prevent the
|
||
|
|
delays which were certain to occur; and a delay of only two or three
|
||
|
|
days would be fatal to his tour."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Observe, too," added John Sullivan, "that we have received no
|
||
|
|
intelligence from him, though there are telegraphic lines all along his
|
||
|
|
route."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"He has lost, gentleman," said Andrew Stuart, "he has a hundred times
|
||
|
|
lost! You know, besides, that the China the only steamer he could have
|
||
|
|
taken from New York to get here in time arrived yesterday. I have seen
|
||
|
|
a list of the passengers, and the name of Phileas Fogg is not among
|
||
|
|
them. Even if we admit that fortune has favoured him, he can scarcely
|
||
|
|
have reached America. I think he will be at least twenty days
|
||
|
|
behind-hand, and that Lord Albemarle will lose a cool five thousand."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"It is clear," replied Gauthier Ralph; "and we have nothing to do but
|
||
|
|
to present Mr. Fogg's cheque at Barings to-morrow."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At this moment, the hands of the club clock pointed to twenty minutes
|
||
|
|
to nine.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Five minutes more," said Andrew Stuart.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The five gentlemen looked at each other. Their anxiety was becoming
|
||
|
|
intense; but, not wishing to betray it, they readily assented to Mr.
|
||
|
|
Fallentin's proposal of a rubber.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"I wouldn't give up my four thousand of the bet," said Andrew Stuart,
|
||
|
|
as he took his seat, "for three thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The clock indicated eighteen minutes to nine.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The players took up their cards, but could not keep their eyes off the
|
||
|
|
clock. Certainly, however secure they felt, minutes had never seemed
|
||
|
|
so long to them!
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Seventeen minutes to nine," said Thomas Flanagan, as he cut the cards
|
||
|
|
which Ralph handed to him.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Then there was a moment of silence. The great saloon was perfectly
|
||
|
|
quiet; but the murmurs of the crowd outside were heard, with now and
|
||
|
|
then a shrill cry. The pendulum beat the seconds, which each player
|
||
|
|
eagerly counted, as he listened, with mathematical regularity.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Sixteen minutes to nine!" said John Sullivan, in a voice which
|
||
|
|
betrayed his emotion.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
One minute more, and the wager would be won. Andrew Stuart and his
|
||
|
|
partners suspended their game. They left their cards, and counted the
|
||
|
|
seconds.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At the fortieth second, nothing. At the fiftieth, still nothing.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At the fifty-fifth, a loud cry was heard in the street, followed by
|
||
|
|
applause, hurrahs, and some fierce growls.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The players rose from their seats.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
At the fifty-seventh second the door of the saloon opened; and the
|
||
|
|
pendulum had not beat the sixtieth second when Phileas Fogg appeared,
|
||
|
|
followed by an excited crowd who had forced their way through the club
|
||
|
|
doors, and in his calm voice, said, "Here I am, gentlemen!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chapter XXXVII
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IN WHICH IT IS SHOWN THAT PHILEAS FOGG GAINED NOTHING BY HIS TOUR
|
||
|
|
AROUND THE WORLD, UNLESS IT WERE HAPPINESS
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Yes; Phileas Fogg in person.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The reader will remember that at five minutes past eight in the
|
||
|
|
evening--about five and twenty hours after the arrival of the
|
||
|
|
travellers in London--Passepartout had been sent by his master to
|
||
|
|
engage the services of the Reverend Samuel Wilson in a certain marriage
|
||
|
|
ceremony, which was to take place the next day.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout went on his errand enchanted. He soon reached the
|
||
|
|
clergyman's house, but found him not at home. Passepartout waited a
|
||
|
|
good twenty minutes, and when he left the reverend gentleman, it was
|
||
|
|
thirty-five minutes past eight. But in what a state he was! With his
|
||
|
|
hair in disorder, and without his hat, he ran along the street as never
|
||
|
|
man was seen to run before, overturning passers-by, rushing over the
|
||
|
|
sidewalk like a waterspout.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
In three minutes he was in Saville Row again, and staggered back into
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg's room.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He could not speak.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What is the matter?" asked Mr. Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"My master!" gasped Passepartout--"marriage--impossible--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Impossible?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Impossible--for to-morrow."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Why so?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Because to-morrow--is Sunday!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Monday," replied Mr. Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No--to-day is Saturday."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Saturday? Impossible!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Yes, yes, yes, yes!" cried Passepartout. "You have made a mistake of
|
||
|
|
one day! We arrived twenty-four hours ahead of time; but there are
|
||
|
|
only ten minutes left!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Passepartout had seized his master by the collar, and was dragging him
|
||
|
|
along with irresistible force.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg, thus kidnapped, without having time to think, left his
|
||
|
|
house, jumped into a cab, promised a hundred pounds to the cabman, and,
|
||
|
|
having run over two dogs and overturned five carriages, reached the
|
||
|
|
Reform Club.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The clock indicated a quarter before nine when he appeared in the great
|
||
|
|
saloon.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg had accomplished the journey round the world in eighty
|
||
|
|
days!
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg had won his wager of twenty thousand pounds!
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
How was it that a man so exact and fastidious could have made this
|
||
|
|
error of a day? How came he to think that he had arrived in London on
|
||
|
|
Saturday, the twenty-first day of December, when it was really Friday,
|
||
|
|
the twentieth, the seventy-ninth day only from his departure?
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The cause of the error is very simple.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg had, without suspecting it, gained one day on his journey,
|
||
|
|
and this merely because he had travelled constantly eastward; he would,
|
||
|
|
on the contrary, have lost a day had he gone in the opposite direction,
|
||
|
|
that is, westward.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
In journeying eastward he had gone towards the sun, and the days
|
||
|
|
therefore diminished for him as many times four minutes as he crossed
|
||
|
|
degrees in this direction. There are three hundred and sixty degrees
|
||
|
|
on the circumference of the earth; and these three hundred and sixty
|
||
|
|
degrees, multiplied by four minutes, gives precisely twenty-four
|
||
|
|
hours--that is, the day unconsciously gained. In other words, while
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg, going eastward, saw the sun pass the meridian eighty
|
||
|
|
times, his friends in London only saw it pass the meridian seventy-nine
|
||
|
|
times. This is why they awaited him at the Reform Club on Saturday,
|
||
|
|
and not Sunday, as Mr. Fogg thought.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
And Passepartout's famous family watch, which had always kept London
|
||
|
|
time, would have betrayed this fact, if it had marked the days as well
|
||
|
|
as the hours and the minutes!
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg, then, had won the twenty thousand pounds; but, as he had
|
||
|
|
spent nearly nineteen thousand on the way, the pecuniary gain was
|
||
|
|
small. His object was, however, to be victorious, and not to win
|
||
|
|
money. He divided the one thousand pounds that remained between
|
||
|
|
Passepartout and the unfortunate Fix, against whom he cherished no
|
||
|
|
grudge. He deducted, however, from Passepartout's share the cost of
|
||
|
|
the gas which had burned in his room for nineteen hundred and twenty
|
||
|
|
hours, for the sake of regularity.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
That evening, Mr. Fogg, as tranquil and phlegmatic as ever, said to
|
||
|
|
Aouda: "Is our marriage still agreeable to you?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Mr. Fogg," replied she, "it is for me to ask that question. You were
|
||
|
|
ruined, but now you are rich again."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Pardon me, madam; my fortune belongs to you. If you had not suggested
|
||
|
|
our marriage, my servant would not have gone to the Reverend Samuel
|
||
|
|
Wilson's, I should not have been apprised of my error, and--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Dear Mr. Fogg!" said the young woman.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Dear Aouda!" replied Phileas Fogg.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It need not be said that the marriage took place forty-eight hours
|
||
|
|
after, and that Passepartout, glowing and dazzling, gave the bride
|
||
|
|
away. Had he not saved her, and was he not entitled to this honour?
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The next day, as soon as it was light, Passepartout rapped vigorously
|
||
|
|
at his master's door. Mr. Fogg opened it, and asked, "What's the
|
||
|
|
matter, Passepartout?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What is it, sir? Why, I've just this instant found out--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"What?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"That we might have made the tour of the world in only seventy-eight
|
||
|
|
days."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"No doubt," returned Mr. Fogg, "by not crossing India. But if I had
|
||
|
|
not crossed India, I should not have saved Aouda; she would not have
|
||
|
|
been my wife, and--"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mr. Fogg quietly shut the door.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Phileas Fogg had won his wager, and had made his journey around the
|
||
|
|
world in eighty days. To do this he had employed every means of
|
||
|
|
conveyance--steamers, railways, carriages, yachts, trading-vessels,
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sledges, elephants. The eccentric gentleman had throughout displayed
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all his marvellous qualities of coolness and exactitude. But what
|
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then? What had he really gained by all this trouble? What had he
|
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brought back from this long and weary journey?
|
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Nothing, say you? Perhaps so; nothing but a charming woman, who,
|
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|
|
strange as it may appear, made him the happiest of men!
|
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||
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Truly, would you not for less than that make the tour around the world?
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End of Project Gutenberg's Around the World in 80 Days, by Jules Verne
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