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。