首页 >出版文学> AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS>第2章
  Littlebylittlethesceneonthequaybecamemoreanimated;sailorsofvariousnations,merchants,shipbrokers,porters,fellahs,bustledtoandfroasifthesteamerwereimmediatelyexpected。Theweatherwasclear,andslightlychilly。Theminaretsofthetownloomedabovethehousesinthepaleraysofthesun。Ajettypier,sometwothousandyardsalong,extendedintotheroadstead。Anumberoffishing-smacksandcoastingboats,someretainingthefantasticfashionofancientgalleys,werediscernibleontheRedSea。
  Ashepassedamongthebusycrowd,Fix,accordingtohabit,scrutinizedthepassers-bywithakeen,rapidglance。
  Itwasnowhalf-pastten。
  `Thesteamerdoesn'tcome!'heexclaimed,astheportclockstruck。
  `Shecan'tbefaroffnow,'returnedhiscompanion。
  `HowlongwillshestopatSuez?'
  `Fourhours;longenoughtogetinhercoal。ItisthirteenhundredandtenmilesfromSueztoAden,attheotherendoftheRedSea,andshehastotakeinafreshcoalsupply。'
  `AnddoesshegofromSuezdirectlytoBombay?'
  `Withoutputtinginanywhere。'
  `Good,'saidFix。`IftherobberisonboardhewillnodoubtgetoffatSuez,soastoreachtheDutchorFrenchcoloniesinAsiabysomeotherroute。HeoughttoknowthathewouldnotbesafeanhourinIndia,whichisEnglishsoil。'
  `Unless,'objectedtheconsul,`heisexceptionallyshrewd。AnEnglishcriminal,youknow,isalwaysbetterconcealedinLondonthananywhereelse。'
  Thisobservationfurnishedthedetectivefoodforthought,andmeanwhiletheconsulwentawaytohisoffice。Fix,leftalone,wasmoreimpatientthanever,havingapresentimentthattherobberwasonboardthe`Mongolia'。
  IfhehadindeedleftLondonintendingtoreachtheNewWorldhewouldnaturallytaketherouteviâ;India,whichwaslesswatchedandmoredifficulttowatchthanthatoftheAtlantic。ButFix'sreflectionsweresooninterruptedbyasuccessionofsharpwhistles,whichannouncedthearrivalofthe`Mongolia'。Theportersandfellahsrusheddownthequay,andadozenboatspushedofffromtheshoretogoandmeetthesteamer。
  Soonhergigantichullappearedpassingalongbetweenthebanks,andeleveno'clockstruckassheanchoredintheroad。Shebroughtanunusualnumberofpassengers,someofwhomremainedondecktoscanthepicturesquepanoramaofthetown,whilethegreaterpartdisembarkedintheboats,andlandedonthequay。
  Fixtookupaposition,andcarefullyexaminedeachfaceandfigurewhichmadeitsappearance。Presentlyoneofthepassengers,aftervigorouslypushinghiswaythroughtheimportunatecrowdofporters,cameuptohimandpolitelyaskedifhecouldpointouttheEnglishconsulate,atthesametimeshowingapassportwhichhewishedtohavevisaed。Fixinstinctivelytookthepassport,andwitharapidglancereadthedescriptionofitsbearer。Aninvoluntarymotionofsurprisenearlyescapedhim,forthedescriptioninthepassportwasidenticalwiththatofthebankrobberwhichhehadreceivedfromScotlandYard。
  `Isthisyourpassport?'askedhe。
  `No,it'smymaster's。'
  `Andyourmasteris——'
  `Hestayedonboard。'
  `Buthemustgototheconsul'sinperson,soastoestablishhisidentity。'
  `Oh,isthatnecessary?'
  `Quiteindispensable。'
  `Andwhereistheconsulate?'
  `There,onthecornerofthesquare,'saidFix,pointingtoahousetwohundredstepsoff。
  `I'llgoandfetchmymaster,whowon'tbemuchpleased,however,tobedisturbed。'
  ThepassengerbowedtoFix,andreturnedtotheSteamer。
  CHAPTERVIIWHICHONCEMOREDEMONSTRATESTHEUSELESSNESSOFPASSPORTSASAIDSTODETECTIVES。
  Thedetectivepasseddownthequay,andrapidlymadehiswaytotheconsul'soffice,wherehewasatonceadmittedtothepresenceofthatofficial。
  `Consul,'saidhe,withoutpreamble,`Ihavestrongreasonsforbelievingthatmymanisapassengeronthe"Mongolia"。'Andhenarratedwhathadjustpassedconcerningthepassport。
  `Well,MrFix,'repliedtheconsul;`Ishallnotbesorrytoseetherascal'sface;butperhapshewon'tcomehere,-thatis,ifheisthepersonyousupposehimtobe。Arobberdoesn'tquiteliketoleavetracesofhisflightbehindhim;and,besides,heisnotobligedtohavehispassportcountersigned。'
  `IfheisasshrewdasIthinkheis,consul,hewillcome。'
  `Tohavehispassportvisaed?'
  `Yes。Passportsareonlygoodforannoyinghonestfolks,andaidingintheflightofrogues。Iassureyouitwillbequitethethingforhimtodo;butIhopeyouwillnotvisathepassport。'
  `Whynot?IfthepassportisgenuineIhavenorighttorefuse。'
  `Still,ImustkeepthismanhereuntilIcangetawarranttoarresthimfromLondon。'
  `Ah,that'syourlook-out。ButIcannot——'
  Theconsuldidnotfinishhissentence,forashespokeaknockwasheardatthedoor,andtwostrangersentered,oneofwhomwastheservantwhomFixhadmetonthequay。Theother,whowashismaster,heldouthispassportwiththerequestthattheconsulwoulddohimthefavourtovisait。Theconsultookthedocumentandcarefullyreadit,whilstFixobserved,orratherdevoured,thestrangerwithhiseyesfromacorneroftheroom。
  `YouareMrPhileasFogg?'saidtheconsul,afterreadingthepassport。
  `Iam。'
  `Andthismanisyourservant?'
  `Heis;aFrenchman,namedPassepartout。'
  `YouarefromLondon?'
  `Yes。'
  `Andyouaregoing——'
  `ToBombay。'
  `Verygood,sir。Youknowthatavisaisuseless,andthatnopassportisrequired?'
  `Iknowit,sir,'repliedPhileasFogg;`ButIwishtoprove,byyourvisa,thatIcamebySuez。'
  `Verywell,Sir。'
  Theconsulproceededtosignanddatethepassport,alterwhichheaddedhisofficialseal。MrFoggpaidthecustomaryfee,coldlybowed,andwentout,followedbyhisservant。
  `Well?'queriedthedetective。
  `Well,helooksandactslikeaperfectlyhonestman,'repliedtheconsul。
  `Possibly;butthatisnotthequestion。Doyouthink,consul,thatthisphlegmaticgentlemanresembles,featurebyfeature,therobberwhosedescriptionIhavereceived?'
  `Iconcedethat;butthen,youknow,alldescriptions——'
  `I'llmakecertainofit,'interruptedFix。`Theservantseemstomelessmysteriousthanthemaster;besides,he'saFrenchman,andcan'thelptalking。Excusemeforalittlewhile,consul。'
  FixstartedoffinsearchofPassepartout。
  MeanwhileMrFogg,afterleavingtheconsulate,repairedtothequay,gavesomeorderstoPassepartout,wentofftothe`Mongolia'inaboat,anddescendedtohiscabin。Hetookuphisnote-book,whichcontainedthefollowingmemoranda:——`LeftLondon,Wednesday,October2nd,at8。45p。m。
  `ReachedParis,Thursday,October3rd,at7。20a。m。
  `LeftParis,Thursday,at8。40a。m。
  `ReachedTurinbyMontCenis,Friday,October4th,at6。35a。m。
  `LeftTurin,Friday,at7。20a。m。
  `ArrivedatBrindisi,Saturday,October5th,at4p。m。
  `Sailedonthe"Mongolia",Saturday,at5p。m。
  `ReachedSuez,Wednesday,October9th,at11a。m。
  `Totalofhoursspent,1581/2;or,indays,sixdaysandahalf。Thesedateswereinscribedinanitinerarydividedintocolumns,indicatingthemonth,thedayofthemonth,andthedayforthestipulatedandactualarrivalsateachprincipalpoint,-Paris,Brindisi,Suez,Bombay,Calcutta,Singapore,HongKong,Yokohama,SanFrancisco,NewYork,andLondon,-
  fromthe2ndofOctobertothe21stofDecember;andgivingaspaceforsettingdownthegainmadeorthelosssufferedonarrivalateachlocality。
  Thismethodicalrecordthuscontainedanaccountofeverythingneeded,andMrFoggalwaysknewwhetherhewasbehindhandorinadvanceofhistime。OnthisFriday,October9th,henotedhisarrivalatSuez,andobservedthathehadasyetneithergainednorlost。Hesatdownquietlytobreakfastinhiscabin,neveroncethinkingofinspectingthetown,beingoneofthoseEnglishmenwhoarewonttoseeforeigncountriesthroughtheeyesoftheirdomestics。
  CHAPTERVIIIINWHICHPASSEPARTOUTTALKSRATHERMORE,PERHAPS,THANISPRUDENT。
  FixsoonrejoinedPassepartout,whowasloungingandlookingaboutonthequay,asifhedidnotfeelthathe,atleast,wasobligednottoseeanything。,`Well,myfriend,'saidthedetective,comingupwithhim,`isyourpassportvisaed?'
  `Ah,it'syou,isit,monsieur?'respondedPassepartout。`Thanks,yes,thepassportisallright。'
  `Andyouarelookingaboutyou?'
  `Yes;butwetravelsofastthatIseemtobejourneyinginadream。
  SothisisSuez?'
  `Yes。'
  `InEgypt?'
  `Certainly,inEgypt。'
  `AndinAfrica?'
  `InAfrica。'
  `InAfrica!'repeatedPassepartout。`Justthink,monsieur,IhadnoideathatweshouldgofartherthanParis;andallthatIsawofPariswasbetweentwentyminutespastsevenandtwentyminutesbeforenineinthemorning,betweentheNorthernandtheLyonsstations,throughthewindowsofacar,andinadrivingrain!HowIregretnothavingseenoncemorePè;relaChaiseandthecircusintheChampsElysé;es!'
  `Youareinagreathurry,then?'
  `Iamnot,butmymasteris。Bytheway,Imustbuysomeshoesandshirts。
  Wecameawaywithouttrunks,onlywithacarpet-bag。'
  `Iwillshowyouanexcellentshopforgettingwhatyouwant。'
  `Really,monsieur,youareverykind。'
  Andtheywalkedofftogether,Passepartoutchattingvolublyastheywentalong。
  `Aboveall,'saidhe;`don'tletmelosethesteamer。'
  `Youhaveplentyoftime;it'sonlytwelveo'clock。'
  Passepartoutpulledouthisbigwatch。`Twelve!'heexclaimed;`whyit'sonlyeightminutesbeforeten。'
  `Yourwatchisslow。'
  `Mywatch?Afamilywatch,monsieur,whichhascomedownfrommygreat-grandfather!
  Itdoesn'tvaryfiveminutesintheyear,it'saperfectchronometer,lookyou。'
  `Iseehowitis,'saidFix。`YouhavekeptLondontime,whichistwohoursbehindthatofSuez。Yououghttoregulateyourwatchatnoonineachcountry。'
  `Iregulatemywatch?Never!'
  `Well,then,itwillnotagreewiththesun。'
  `Somuchtheworseforthesun,monsieur。Thesunwillbewrong,then!'
  Andtheworthyfellowreturnedthewatchtoitsfobwithadefiantgesture。
  Afterafewminutes'silence,Fixresumed:`YouleftLondonhastily,then?'
  `Iratherthinkso!LastFridayateighto'clockintheevening,MonsieurFoggcamehomefromhisclub,andthree-quartersofanhourafterwardswewereoff。'
  `Butwhereisyourmastergoing?'
  `Alwaysstraightahead。Heisgoingroundtheworld。'
  `Roundtheworld?'criedFix。
  `Yes,andineightydays!Hesaysitisonawager;but,betweenus,Idon'tbelieveawordofit。Thatwouldn'tbecommonsense。There'ssomethingelseinthewind。'
  `Ah!MrFoggisacharacter,ishe?'
  `Ishouldsayhewas。'
  `Isherich?'
  `Nodoubt,forheiscarryinganenormoussuminbrand-newbank-noteswithhim。Andhedoesn'tsparethemoneyontheway,either:hehasofferedalargerewardtotheengineerofthe`Mongolia'ifhegetsustoBombaywellinadvanceoftime。'
  `Andyouhaveknownyourmasteralongtime?'
  `Why,no;IenteredhisservicetheverydayweleftLondon。'
  Theeffectoftheserepliesuponthealreadysuspiciousandexciteddetectivemaybeimagined。ThehastydeparturefromLondonSoonaftertherobbery;thelargesumcarriedbyMrFogg;hiseagernesstoreachdistantcountries;thepretextofaneccentricandfoolhardybet,-allconfirmedFixinhistheory。HecontinuedtopumppoorPassepartout,andlearnedthathereallyknewlittleornothingofhismaster,wholivedasolitaryexistenceinLondon,wassaidtoberich,thoughnooneknewwhencecamehisriches,andwasmysteriousandimpenetrableinhisaffairsandhabits。
  FixfeltsurethatPhileasFoggwouldnotlandatSuez,butwasreallygoingontoBombay。
  `IsBombayfarfromhere?'askedPassepartout。
  `Prettyfar。Itisatendays'voyagebysea。'
  `AndinwhatcountryisBombay?'
  `India。'
  `InAsia?'
  `Certainly。'
  `Thedeuce!Iwasgoingtotellyou-there'sonethingthatworriesme-myburner!'
  `Whatburner?'
  `Mygas-burner,whichIforgottoturnoff,andwhichisatthismomentburning-atmyexpense。Ihavecalculated,monsieur,thatIlosetwoshillingseveryfourandtwentyhours,exactlysixpencemorethanIearn;andyouwillunderstandthatthelongerourjourney——'
  DidFixpayanyattentiontoPassepartout'stroubleaboutthegas?Itisnotprobable。Hewasnotlistening,butwascogitatingaproject。Passepartoutandhehadnowreachedtheshop,whereFixlefthiscompaniontomakehispurchases,afterrecommendinghimnottomissthesteamer,andhurriedbacktotheconsulate。Nowthathewasfullyconvinced,Fixhadquiterecoveredhisequanimity。
  `Consul,'saidhe,`Ihavenolongeranydoubt。Ihavespottedmyman。
  Hepasseshimselfoffasanoddstick,whoisgoingroundtheworldineightydays。
  `Thenhe'sasharpfellow,'returnedtheconsul,andcountsonreturningtoLondonafterputtingthepoliceofthetwocontinentsoffhistrack。'
  `We'llseeaboutthat,'repliedFix。
  `Butareyounotmistaken?'
  `Iamnotmistaken。'
  `Whywasthisrobbersoanxioustoprove,bythevisa,thathehadpassedthroughSuez?'
  `Why?Ihavenoidea;butlistentome。'
  HereportedinafewwordsthemostimportantpartsofhisconversationwithPassepartout。
  `Inshort,'saidtheconsul,`appearancesarewhollyagainstthisman。
  Andwhatareyougoingtodo?'
  `SendadespatchtoLondonforawarrantofarresttobedespatchedinstantlytoBombay,takepassageonboardthe"Mongolia",followmyroguetoIndia,andthere,onEnglishground,arresthimpolitely,withmywarrantinmyhand,andmyhandonhisshoulder。'
  Havingutteredthesewordswithacool,carelessair,thedetectivetookleaveoftheconsul,andrepairedtothetelegraphoffice,whencehesentthedespatchwhichwehaveseentotheLondonpoliceoffice。A
  quarterofanhourlaterfoundFix,withasmallbaginhishand,proceedingonboardthe`Mongolia';anderemanymomentslonger,thenoblesteamerrodeoutatfullsteamuponthewatersoftheRedSea。
  CHAPTERIXINWHICHTHEREDSEAANDTHEINDIANOCEANPROVEPROPITIOUSTOTHEDESIGNS
  OFPHILEASFOGG。
  ThedistancebetweenSuezandAdenispreciselythirteenhundredandtenmiles,andtheregulationsofthecompanyallowthesteamersonehundredandthirty-eighthoursinwhichtotraverseit。The`Mongolia',thankstothevigorousexertionsoftheengineer,seemedlikely,sorapidwasherspeed,toreachherdestinationconsiderablywithinthattime。ThegreaterpartofthepassengersfromBrindisiwereboundforIndia-someforBombay,othersforCalcuttabywayofBombay,thenearestroutethither,nowthatarailwaycrossestheIndianpeninsula。Amongthepassengerswasanumberofofficialsandmilitaryofficersofvariousgrades,thelatterbeingeitherattachedtotheregularBritishforces,orcommandingtheSepoytroopsandreceivinghighsalarieseversincethecentralgovernmenthasassumedthepowersoftheEastIndiaCompany:forthesub-lieutenantsget280l。,brigadiers,2400l。,andgeneralsofdivision,4000l。Whatwiththemilitarymen,anumberofrichyoungEnglishmenontheirtravels,andthehospitableeffortsofthepurser,thetimepassedquicklyonthe`Mongolia'。Thebestoffarewasspreaduponthecabintablesatbreakfast,lunch,dinnerandtheeighto'clocksupper,andtheladiesscrupulouslychangedtheirtoiletstwiceaday;andthehourswerewhiledaway,whentheseawastranquil,withmusic,dancingandgames。
  ButtheRedSeaisfullofcaprice,andoftenboisterous,likemostlongandnarrowgulfs。WhenthewindcamefromtheAfricanorAsiancoastthe`Mongolia',withherlonghull,rolledfearfully。Thentheladiesspeedilydisappearedbelow;thepianosweresilent;singinganddancingsuddenlyceased。Yetthegoodshipploughedstraighton,unretardedbywindorwave,towardsthestraitsofBab-el-Mandeb。WhatwasPhileasFoggdoingallthistime?Itmightbethoughtthat,inhisanxiety,hewouldbeconstantlywatchingthechangesofthewind,thedisorderlyragingofthebillows-everychance,inshort,whichmightforcethe`Mongolia'toslackenherspeed,andthusinterrupthisjourney。Butifhethoughtofthesepossibilities,hedidnotbetraythefactbyanyoutwardsign。
  AlwaysthesameimpassablememberoftheReformClub,whomnoincidentcouldsurprise,asunvaryingastheship'schronometers,andseldomhavingthecuriosityeventogouponthedeck,hepassedthroughthememorablescenesoftheRedSeawithcoldindifference;didnotcaretorecognizethehistorictownsandvillageswhich,alongitsborders,raisedtheirpicturesqueoutlinesagainstthesky;andbetrayednofearofthedangersoftheArabicGulf,whichtheoldhistoriansalwaysspokeofwithhorror,anduponwhichtheancientnavigatorsneverventuredwithoutpropitiatingthegodsbyamplesacrifices。Howdidthiseccentricpersonagepassthetimeonthe`Mongolia'?Hemadehisfourheartymealseveryday,regardlessofthemostpersistentrollingandpitchingonthepartofthesteamer;
  andheplayedwhistindefatigably,forhehadfoundpartnersasenthusiasticinthegameashimself。Ataxcollector,onthewaytohispostatGoa;
  theRevDecimusSmith,returningtohisparishatBombay;andabrigadier-generaloftheEnglisharmy,whowasabouttorejoinhisbrigadeatBenares,madeuptheparty,and,withMrFogg,playedwhistbythehourtogetherinabsorbingsilence。
  AsforPassepartout,he,too,hadescapedseasickness,andtookhismealsconscientiouslyintheforwardcabin。Heratherenjoyedthevoyage,forhewaswellfedandwelllodged,tookagreatinterestinthescenesthroughwhichtheywerepassing,andconsoledhimselfwiththedelusionthathismaster'swhimwouldendatBombay。Hewaspleased,onthedayafterleavingSuez,tofindondecktheobligingpersonwithwhomhehadwalkedandchattedonthequays。
  `IfIamnotmistaken,'saidhe,approachingthispersonwithhismostamiablesmile,`youarethegentlemanwhosokindlyvolunteeredtoguidemeatSuez?'
  `Ah!Iquiterecognizeyou。YouaretheservantofthestrangeEnglishman——'
  `Justso,Monsieur——'
  `Fix。'
  `MonsieurFix,'resumedPassepartout,`I'mcharmedtofindyouonboard。
  Whereareyoubound?'
  `Likeyou,toBombay。'
  `That'scapital!Haveyoumadethistripbefore?'
  `Severaltimes。IamoneoftheagentsofthePeninsulaCompany。'
  `ThenyouknowIndia?'
  `Why-yes,'repliedFix,whospokecautiously。
  `Acuriousplace,thisIndia?'
  `Oh,verycurious。Mosques,minarets,temples,fakirs,pagodas,tigers,snakes,elephants!Ihopeyouwillhaveampletimetoseethesights。'
  `Ihopeso,MonsieurFix。Yousee,amanofsoundsenseoughtnottospendhislifejumpingfromasteameruponarailwaytrain,andfromarailwaytrainuponasteameragain,pretendingtomakethetouroftheworldineightydays!No;allthesegymnastics,youmaybesure,willceaseatBombay。'
  `AndMrFoggisgettingonwell?'askedFix,inthemostnaturaltoneintheworld。
  `Quitewell,andItoo。Ieatlikeafamishedogre;it,theseaair。'
  `ButIneverseeyourmasterondeck。'
  `Never;hehasn'ttheleastcuriosity。'
  `Doyouknow,MrPassepartout,thatthispretendedtourineightydaysmayconcealsomesecreterrand-perhapsadiplomaticmission?'
  `Faith,MonsieurFix,IassureyouIknownothingaboutit,norwouldIgivehalf-a-crowntofindout。'
  Afterthismeeting,PassepartoutandFixgotintothehabitofchattingtogether,thelattermakingitapointtogaintheworthyman'sconfidence。
  Hefrequentlyofferedhimaglassofwhiskyorpalealeinthesteamerbar-room,whichPassepartoutneverfailedtoacceptwithgracefulalacrity,mentallypronouncingFixthebestofgoodfellows。
  Meanwhilethe`Mongolia'waspushingforwardrapidly;onthe13th,Mocha,surroundedbyitsruinedwallswhereondate-treesweregrowing,wassighted,andonthemountainsbeyondwereespiedvastcoffee-fields。Passepartoutwasravishedtobeholdthiscelebratedplace,andthoughtthat,withitscircularwallsanddismantledfort,itlookedlikeanimmensecoffeecupandsaucer。ThefollowingnighttheypassedthroughtheStraitofBab-el-Mandeb,whichmeansinArabic`TheBridgeofTears',andthenextdaytheyputinatSteamerPoint,north-westofAdenharbour,totakeincoal。Thismatteroffuellingsteamersisaseriousoneatsuchdistancesfromthecoalmines;itcoststhePeninsularCompanysomeeighthundredthousandpoundsayear。Inthesedistantseas,coalisworththreeorfourpoundssterlingaton。
  The`Mongolia'hadstillsixteenhundredandfiftymilestotraversebeforereachingBombay,andwasobligedtoremainfourhoursatSteamerPointtocoalup。Butthisdelay,asitwasforeseen,didnotaffectPhileasFogg'sprogramme;besides,the`Mongolia',insteadofreachingAdenonthemorningofthe15th,whenshewasdue,arrivedthereontheeveningofthe14th,againoffifteenhours。
  MrFoggandhisservantwentashoreatAdentohavethepassportagainvisaed;Fix,unobserved,followedthem。Thevisaprocured,MrFoggreturnedonboardtoresumehisformerhabits;whilePassepartout,accordingtocustom,saunteredaboutamongthemixedpopulationofSomalis,Banyans,Parsees,Jews,ArabsandEuropeanswhocomprisethetwenty-fivethousandinhabitantsofAden。HegazedwithwonderuponthefortificationswhichmakethisplacetheGibraltaroftheIndianOcean,andthevastcisternswheretheEnglishengineerswerestillatwork,twothousandyearsaftertheengineersofSolomon。
  `Verycurious,verycurious,'saidPassepartouttohimself,onreturningtothesteamer。`Iseethatitisbynomeansuselesstotravel,ifamanwantstoseesomethingnew。'Atsixp。m。the`Mongolia'slowlymovedoutoftheroadstead,andwassoononcemoreontheIndianOcean。
  Shehadahundredandsixty-eighthoursinwhichtoreachBombay,andtheseawasfavourable,thewindbeinginthenorth-west,andallsailsaidingtheengine。Thesteamerrolledbutlittle,theladies,infreshtoilets,reappearedondeck,andthesinginganddancingwereresumed。Thetripwasbeingaccomplishedmostsuccessfully,andPassepartoutwasenchantedwiththecongenialcompanionwhichchancehadsecuredhiminthepersonofthedelightfulFix。OnSunday,October20th,towardsnoon,theycameinsightoftheIndiancoast:twohourlaterpilotcameonboard。Arangeofhillslayagainsttheskyinthehorizon,andsoontherowsofpalmswhichadornBombaycamedistinctlyintoview。Thesteamerenteredtheroadformedbytheislandsinthebay,andathalf-pastfourshehauledupatthequaysofBombay。
  PhileasFoggwasintheactoffinishingthethirty-thirdrubberofthevoyage,andhispartnerandhimselfhaving,byaboldstroke,capturedallthirteenofthetricks,concludedthisfinecampaignwithabrilliantvictory。
  The`Mongolia'wasdueatBombayonthe22nd;shearrivedonthe20th。
  ThiswasagaintoPhileasFoggoftwodayssincehisdeparturefromLondon,andhecalmlyenteredthefactintheitinerary,inthecolumnofgains。
  CHAPTERXINWHICHPASSEPARTOUTISONLYTOOGLADTOGETOFFWITHTHELOSSOFHIS
  SHOES。
  Everybodyknowsthatthegreatreversedtriangleofland,withitsbaseinthenorthanditsapexinthesouth,whichiscalledIndia,embracesfourteenhundredthousandsquaremiles,uponwhichisspreadunequallyapopulationofonehundredandeightymillionsofsouls。TheBritishCrownexercisesarealanddespoticdominionoverthelargerportionofthisvastcountry,andhasagovernor-generalstationedatCalcutta,governorsatMadras,Bombay,andinBengal,andalieutenant-governoratAgra。
  ButBritishIndia,properlysocalled,onlyembracessevenhundredthousandsquaremiles,andapopulationoffromonehundredtoonehundredandtenmillionsofinhabitants。AconsiderableportionofIndiaisstillfreefromBritishauthority;andtherearecertainferociousrajahsintheinteriorwhoareabsolutelyindependent。ThecelebratedEastIndiaCompanywasall-powerfulfrom1756,whentheEnglishfirstgainedafootholdonthespotwherenowstandsthecityofMadras,downtothetimeofthegreatSepoyinsurrection。
  Itgraduallyannexedprovinceafterprovince,purchasingthemofthenativechiefs,whomitseldompaid,andappointedthegovernor-generalandhissubordinates,civilandmilitary。ButtheEastIndiaCompanyhasnowpassedaway,leavingtheBritishpossessionsinIndiadirectlyunderthecontroloftheCrown。Theaspectofthecountry,aswellasthemannersanddistinctionsofrace,isdailychanging。
  FormerlyonewasobligedtotravelinIndiabytheoldcumbrousmethodsofgoingonfootoronhorseback,inpalanquinsorunwieldycoaches;now,faststeamboatsplyontheIndusandtheGanges,andagreatrailway,withbranchlinesjoiningthemainlineatmanypointsonitsroute,traversesthepeninsulafromBombaytoCalcuttainthreedays。ThisrailwaydoesnotruninadirectlineacrossIndia。ThedistancebetweenBombayandCalcutta,asthebirdflies,isonlyfromonethousandtoelevenhundredmiles;butthedeflectionsoftheroadincreasethisdistancebymorethanathird。
  ThegeneralrouteoftheGreatIndianPeninsulaRailwayisasfollows:-
  LeavingBombay,itpassesthroughSalcette,crossingtothecontinentoppositeTannah,goesoverthechainoftheWesternGhauts,runsthencenorth-eastasfarasBurhampoor,skirtsthenearlyindependentterritoryofBundelcund,ascendstoAllahabad,turnsthenceeastwardly,meetingtheGangesatBenares,thendepartsfromtheriveralittle,and,descendingsouth-eastwardbyBurdivanandtheFrenchtownofChandernagor,hasitsterminusatCalcutta。
  Thepassengersofthe`Mongolia'wentashoreathalf-pastfourp。m。;
  atexactlyeightthetrainwouldstartforCalcutta。
  MrFogg,afterbiddinggood-byetohiswhistpartners,leftthesteamer,gavehisservantseveralerrandstodo,urgedituponhimtobeatthestationpromptlyateight,and,withhisregularstep,whichbeattothesecond,likeanastronomicalclock,directedhisStepstothepassportoffice。AsforthewondersofBombay-itsfamouscityhall,itssplendidlibrary,itsfortsanddocks,itsbazaars,mosques,synagogues,itsArmenianchurches,andthenoblepagodaonMalabarHillwithitstwopolygonaltowers-hecarednotastrawtoseethem。HewouldnotdeigntoexamineeventhemasterpiecesofElephanta,orthemysterioushypogea,concealedsoutheastfromthedocks,orthosefineremainsofBuddhistarchitecture,theKanheriangrottoesoftheislandofSalcette。
  Havingtransactedhisbusinessatthepassportoffice,PhileasFoggrepairedquietlytotherailwaystation,whereheordereddinner。Amongthedishesserveduptohim,thelandlordespeciallyrecommendedacertaingibletof`nativerabbit',onwhichhepridedhimself。
  MrFoggaccordinglytastedthedish,but,despiteitsspicedsauce,founditfarfrompalatable。Herangforthelandlord,andonhisappearance,said,fixinghiscleareyesuponhim,`Isthisrabbit,sir?'
  `Yes,mylord,'therogueboldlyreplied,`rabbitfromthejungles。'
  `Andthisrabbitdidnotmewwhenhewaskilled?'
  `Mew,mylord!What,arabbitmew!Isweartoyou——'
  `Besogood,landlord,asnottoswear,butrememberthis:catswereformerlyconsidered,inIndia,assacredanimals。Thatwasagoodtime。'
  `Forthecats,mylord?'
  `Perhapsforthetravellersaswell!'
  AfterwhichMrFoggquietlycontinuedhisdinner。FixhadgoneonshoreshortlyafterMrFogg,andhisfirstdestinationwastheheadquartersoftheBombaypolice。HemadehimselfknownasaLondondetective,toldhisbusinessatBombay,andthepositionofaffairsrelativetothesupposedrobber,andnervouslyaskedifawarranthadarrivedfromLondon。Ithadnotreachedtheoffice;indeed,therehadnotyetbeentimeforittoarrive。
  Fixwassorelydisappointed,andtriedtoobtainanorderofarrestfromthedirectoroftheBombaypolice。Thisthedirectorrefused,asthematterconcernedtheLondonoffice,whichalonecouldlegallydeliverthewarrant。
  Fixdidnotinsist,andwasfaintoresignhimselftoawaitthearrivaloftheimportantdocument;buthewasdeterminednottolosesightofthemysteriousrogueaslongashestayedinBombay。Hedidnotdoubtforamoment,anymorethanPassepartout,thatPhileasFoggwouldremainthere,atleastuntilitwastimeforthewarranttoarrive。
  Passepartout,however,hadnosoonerheardhismaster'sordersonleavingthe`Mongolia',thanhesawatoncethattheyweretoleaveBombayastheyhaddoneSuezandParis,andthatthejourneywouldbeextendedatleastasfarasCalcutta,andperhapsbeyondthatplace。HebegantoaskhimselfifthisbetthatMrFoggtalkedaboutwasnotreallyingoodearnest,andwhetherhisfatewasnotintruthforcinghim,despitehisloveofrepose,aroundtheworldineightydays!
  Havingpurchasedtheusualquotaofshirtsandshoes,hetookaleisurelypromenadeaboutthestreets,wherecrowdsofpeopleofmanynationalities-Europeans,Persianswithpointedcaps,Banyaswithroundturbans,Sindiswithsquarebonnets,Parseeswithblackmitresandlong-robedArmenians-werecollected。IthappenedtobethedayofaParseefestival。ThesedescendantsofthesectofZoroaster-themostthrifty,civilized,intelligentandaustereoftheEastIndians,amongwhomarecountedtherichestnativemerchantsofBombay-werecelebratingasortofreligiouscarnival,withprocessionsandshows,inthemidstofwhichIndiandancing-girls,clothedinrose-colouredgauze,loopedupwithgoldandsilver,dancedairily,butwithperfectmodesty,tothesoundofviolsandtheclangingoftambourines。
  ItisneedlesstosaythatPassepartoutwatchedthesecuriousceremonieswithstaringeyesandgapingmouth,andthathiscountenancewasthatofthegreenestboobyimaginable。
  Unhappilyforhismaster,aswellashimself,hiscuriositydrewhimunconsciouslyfartheroffthanheintendedtogo。Atlast,havingseentheParseecarnivalwindawayinthedistance,hewasturninghisstepstowardsthestation,whenhehappenedtoespythesplendidpagodaonMalabarHill,andwasseizedwithanirresistibledesiretoseeitsinterior。HewasquiteignorantthatitisforbiddentoChristianstoentercertainIndiantemples,andthateventhefaithfulmustnotgoinwithoutfirstleavingtheirshoesoutsidethedoor。ItmaybesaidherethatthewisepolicyoftheBritishGovernmentseverelypunishesadisregardofthepracticesofthenativereligions。
  Passepartout,however,thinkingnoharm,wentinlikeasimpletourist,andwassoonlostinadmirationofthesplendidBrahminornamentationwhicheverywheremethiseyes,whenofasuddenhefoundhimselfsprawlingonthesacredflagging。Helookeduptobeholdthreeenragedpriests,whoforthwithfelluponhim,toreoffhisshoes,andbegantobeathimwithloud,savageexclamations。TheagileFrenchmanwassoonuponhisfeetagain,andlostnotimeinknockingdowntwoofhislong-gownedadversarieswithhisfistsandavigorousapplicationofhistoes;then,rushingoutofthepagodaasfastashislegscouldcarryhim,hesoonescapedthethirdpriestbyminglingwiththecrowdinthestreets。
  Atfiveminutesbeforeeight,Passepartout,hatless,shoeless,andhavinginthesquabblelosthispackageofshirtsandshoes,rushedbreathlesslyintothestation。
  Fix,whohadfollowedMrFoggtothestation,andsawthathewasreallygoingtoleaveBombay,wasthere,upontheplatform。HehadresolvedtofollowthesupposedrobbertoCalcutta,andfarther,ifnecessary。Passepartoutdidnotobservethedetective,whostoodinanobscurecomer;butFixheardhimrelatehisadventuresinafewwordstoMrFogg。
  `Ihopethatthiswillnothappenagain,'saidPhileasFogg,coldly,ashegotintothetrain。PoorPassepartout,quitecrestfallen,followedhismasterwithoutaword。Fixwasonthepointofenteringanothercarriage,whenanideastruckhimwhichinducedhimtoalterhisplan。
  `No,I'llstay,'mutteredhe。`AnoffencehasbeencommittedonIndiansoil。I'vegotmyman。'
  Justthenthelocomotivegaveasharpscreech,andthetrainpassedoutintothedarknessofthenight。
  CHAPTERXIINWHICHPHILEASFOGGSECURESACURIOUSMEANSOFCONVEYANCEATAFABULOUS
  PRICE。
  Thetrainhadstartedpunctually。Amongthepassengerswereanumberofofficers,Governmentofficials,andopiumandindigomerchants,whosebusinesscalledthemtotheeasterncoast。Passepartoutrodeinthesamecarriagewithhismaster,andathirdpassengeroccupiedaseatoppositetothem。ThiswasSirFrancisCromarty,oneofMrFogg'swhistpartnersonthe`Mongolia',nowonhiswaytojoinhiscorpsatBenares。SirFranciswasatall,fairmanoffifty,whohadgreatlydistinguishedhimselfinthelastSepoyrevolt。HemadeIndiahishomeronlypayingbriefvisitstoEnglandatrareintervals;andwaralmostasfamiliarasanativewiththecustoms,historyandcharacterofIndiaanditspeople。ButPhileasFogg,whowasnottravelling,butonlydescribingacircumference,tooknopainstoinquireintothesesubjects;hewasasolidbody,traversinganorbitaroundtheterrestrialglobe,accordingtothelawsofrationalmechanics。HewasatthismomentcalculatinginhismindthenumberofhoursspentsincehisdeparturefromLondon,and,haditbeeninhisnaturetomakeauselessdemonstration,wouldhaverubbedhishandsforsatisfaction。
  SirFrancisCromartyhadobservedtheoddityofhistravellingcompanion-althoughtheonlyopportunityhehadforstudyinghimhadbeenwhilehewasdealingthecards,andbetweentworubbers-andquestionedhimselfwhetherahumanheartreallybeatbeneaththiscoldexterior,andwhetherPhileasFogghadanysenseofthebeautiesofnature。Thebrigadier-generalwasfreetomentallyconfess,that,ofalltheeccentricpersonshehadevermet,nonewascomparabletothisproductoftheexactsciences。
  PhileasFogghadnotconcealedfromSirFrancishisdesignofgoingroundtheworld,northecircumstancesunderwhichhesetout;andthegeneralonlysawinthewagerauselesseccentricityandalackofsoundcommonsense。Inthewaythisstrangegentlemanwasgoingon,hewouldleavetheworldwithouthavingdoneanygoodtohimselforanybodyelse。
  AnhourafterleavingBombaythetrainhadpassedtheviaductsandtheislandSalcette,andhadgotintotheopencountry。AtCallyantheyreachedthejunctionofthebranchlinewhichdescendstowardssoutheasternIndiabyKandallahandPounah;and,passingPauwell,theyenteredthedefilesofthemountains,withtheirbasaltbases,andtheirsummitscrownedwiththickandverdantforests。PhileasFoggandSirFrancisCromartyexchangedafewwordsfromtimetotime,andnowSirFrancis,revivingtheconversation,observed,`Someyearsago,MrFogg,youwouldhavemetwithadelayatthispointwhichwouldprobablyhavelostyouyourwager。'
  `Howso,SirFrancis?'
  `Becausetherailwaystoppedatthebaseofthesemountains,whichthepassengerswereobligedtocrossinpalanquinsoronponiestoKandallah,ontheotherside。'
  `Suchadelaywouldnothavederangedmyplansintheleast,'saidMrFogg。`Ihaveconstantlyforeseenthelikelihoodofcertainobstacles。'
  `But,MrFogg,'pursuedSirFrancis,`youruntheriskofhavingsomedifficultyaboutthisworthyfellow'sadventureatthepagoda。'Passepartout,hisfeetcomfortablywrappedinhistravelling-blanket,wassoundasleep,anddidnotdreamthatanybodywastalkingabouthim。TheGovernmentisverysevereuponthatkindofoffence。IttakesparticularcarethatthereligiouscustomsoftheIndiansshouldberespected,andifyourservantwerecaught——'
  `Verywell,SirFrancis,'repliedMrFogg;`ifhehadbeencaughthewouldhavebeencondemnedandpunished,andthenwouldhavequietlyreturnedtoEurope。Idon'tseehowthisaffaircouldhavedelayedhismaster。'
  Theconversationfellagain。Duringthenightthetrainleftthemountainsbehind,andpassedNassik,andthenextdayproceededovertheflat,well-cultivatedcountryofthekhandeish,withitsstragglingvillages,abovewhichrosetheminaretsofthepagodas。Thisfertileterritoryiswateredbynumeroussmallriversandlimpidstreams,mostlytributariesoftheGodavery。
  Passepartout,onwakingandlookingout,couldnotrealizethathewasactuallycrossingIndiainarailwaytrain。Thelocomotive,guidedbyanEnglishengineerandfedwithEnglishcoal,threwoutitssmokeuponcotton,coffee,nutmeg,cloveandpepperplantations,whilethesteamcurledinspiralsaroundgroupsofpalm-trees,inthemidstofwhichwereseenpicturesquebungalows,viharis(asortofabandonedmonasteries),andmarvelloustemplesenrichedbytheexhaustlessornamentationofIndianarchitecture。Thentheycameuponvasttractsextendingtothehorizon,withjunglesinhabitedbysnakesandtigers,whichfledatthenoiseofthetrain;succeededbyforestspenetratedbytherailway,andstillhauntedbyelephantswhich,withpensiveeyes,gazedatthetrainasitpassed。Thetravellerscrossed,beyondMalligaum,thefatalcountrysooftenstainedwithbloodbythesectariesofthegoddessKali。NotfaroffroseEllora,withitsgracefulpagodas,andthefamousAurungabad,capitaloftheferociousAureng-Zeb,nowthechieftownofoneofthedetachedprovincesofthekingdomoftheNizam。ItwasthereaboutsthatFeringhea,theThuggeechief,kingofthestranglers,heldhissway。Theseruffians,unitedbyasecretbond,strangledvictimsofeveryageinhonourofthegoddessDeath,withouteversheddingblood;therewasaperiodwhenthispartofthecountrycouldscarcelybetravelledoverwithoutcorpsesbeingfoundineverydirection。TheEnglishGovernmenthassucceededingreatlydiminishingthesemurders,thoughtheThuggeesstillexist,andpursuetheexerciseoftheirhorriblerites。