Afewmomentsafter,MrFoggpressedtheyoungwoman'shand,and,havingconfidedtoherhispreciouscarpet-bag,wentoffwiththesergeantandhislittlesquad。But,beforegoing,hehadsaidtothesoldiers,`Myfriends,Iwilldividefivethousanddollarsamongyou,ifwesavetheprisoners。'
Itwasthenalittlepastnoon。
Aoudaretiredtoawaiting-room,andthereshewaitedalone,thinkingofthesimpleandnoblegenerosity,thetranquilcourageofPhileasFogg。
Hehadsacrificedhisfortune,andwadnowriskinghislife,allwithouthesitation,fromduty,insilence。
Fixdidnothavethesamethoughts,andcouldscarcelyconcealhisagitation。
Hewalkedfeverishlyupanddowntheplatform,butsoonresumedhisoutwardcomposure。HenowsawthefollyofwhichhehadbeenguiltyinlettingFogggoalone。What!Thisman,whomhehadjustfollowedaroundtheworld,waspermittednowtoseparatehimselffromhim!Hebegantoaccuseandabusehimself,and,asifheweredirectorofpolice,administeredtohimselfasoundlectureforhisgreenness。
`Ihavebeenanidiot!'hethought。`Andthismanwillseeit。Hehasgone,andwon'tcomeback!ButhowisitthatI,Fix,whohaveinmypocketawarrantforhisarrest,havebeensofascinatedbyhim?Decidedly,I
amnothingbutanass!'
Soreasonedthedetective,whilethehourscreptbyalltooslowly。
Hedidnotknowwhattodo。SometimeshewastemptedtotellAoudaall;
buthecouldnotdoubthowtheyoungwomanwouldreceivehisconfidences。
Whatcourseshouldhetake?HethoughtofpursuingFoggacrossthevastwhiteplains;itdidnotseemimpossiblethathemightovertakehim。Footstepswereeasilyprintedonthesnow!Butsoon,underanewsheet,everyimprintwouldbeeffaced。
Fixbecamediscouraged。Hefeltasortofinsurmountablelongingtoabandonthegamealtogether。HecouldnowleaveFortKearneystation,andpursuehisjourneyhomewardinpeace。
Towardstwoo'clockintheafternoon,whileitwassnowinghard,longwhistleswereheardapproachingfromtheeast。Agreatshadow,precededbyawildlight,slowlyadvanced,appearingstilllargerthroughthemist,whichgaveitafantasticaspect。Notrainwasexpectedfromtheeast,neitherhadtherebeentimeforthesuccouraskedforbytelegraphtoarrive;
thetrainfromOmahatoSanFranciscowasnotduetillthenextday。Themysterywassoonexplained。
Thelocomotive,whichwasslowlyapproachingwithdeafeningwhistles,wasthatwhich,havingbeendetachedfromthetrain,hadcontinueditsroutewithsuchterrificrapidity,carryingofftheunconsciousengineerandstoker。Ithadrunseveralmiles,when,thefirebecominglowforwantoffuel,thesteamhadslackened;andithadfinallystoppedanhourafter,sometwentymilesbeyondFortKearney。NeithertheengIneernorthestokerwasdead,and,afterremainingforsometimeintheirswoon,hadcometothemselves。Thetrainhadthenstopped。Theengineer,whenhefoundhimselfinthedesert,andthelocomotivewithoutcars,understoodwhathadhappened。
Hecouldnotimaginehowthelocomotivehadbecomeseparatedfromthetrain;
buthedidnotdoubtthatthetrainleftbehindwasindistress。
Hedidnothesitatewhattodo。ItwouldbeprudenttocontinueontoOmaha,foritwouldbedangeroustoreturntothetrain,whichtheIndiansmightstillbeengagedinpillaging。Nevertheless,hebegantorebuildthefireinthefurnace;thepressureagainmounted,andthelocomotivereturned,runningbackwardstoFortKearney。Thisitwaswhichwaswhistlinginthemist。
Thetravellersweregladtoseethelocomotiveresumeitsplaceattheheadofthetrain。Theycouldnowcontinuethejourneysoterriblyinterrupted。
Aouda,onseeingthelocomotivecomeup,hurriedoutofthestation,andaskedtheconductor,`Areyougoingtostart?'
`Atonce,madam。'
`Buttheprisoners-ourunfortunatefellowtravellers——'
`Icannotinterruptthetrip,'repliedtheconductor。`Wearealreadythreehoursbehindtime。'
`AndwhenwillanothertrainpassherefromSanFrancisco?'
`Tomorrowevening,madam。'
`Tomorrowevening!Butthenitwillbetoolate!Wemustwait——'
`Itisimpossible,'respondedtheconductor。`Ifyouwishtogo,pleasegetin。'
`Iwillnotgo,'saidAouda。
Fixhadheardthisconversation。Alittlewhilebefore,whentherewasnoprospectofproceedingonthejourney,hehadmadeuphismindtoleaveFortKearney;butnowthatthetrainwasthere,readytostart,andhehadonlytotakehisseatinthecar,anirresistibleinfluenceheldhimback。Thestationplatformburnedhisfeet,andhecouldnotstir。Theconflictinhismindagainbegan;angerandfailurestifledhim。Hewishedtostruggleontotheend。
Meanwhilethepassengersandsomeofthewounded,amongthemColonelProctor,whoseinjurieswereserious,hadtakentheirplacesinthetrain。
Thebuzzingoftheoverheatedboilerwasheard,andthesteamwasescapingfromthevalves。Theengineerwhistled,thetrainstarted,andsoondisappeared,minglingitswhitesmokewiththeeddiesofthedenselyfallingsnow。
Thedetectivehadremainedbehind。
Severalhourspassed。Theweatherwasdismal,anditwasverycold。
Fixsatmotionlessonabenchinthestation;hemighthavebeenthoughtasleep。Aouda,despitethestorm,keptcomingoutofthewaiting-room,goingtotheendoftheplatform,andpeeringthroughthetempestofsnow,asiftopiercethemistwhichnarrowedthehorizonaroundher,andtohear,ifpossible,somewelcomesound。Sheheardandsawnothing。Thenshewouldreturn,chilledthrough,toissueoutagainafterthelapseofafewmoments,butalwaysinvain。
Eveningcame,andthelittlebandhadnotreturned。Wherecouldtheybe?HadtheyfoundtheIndians,andweretheyhavingaconflictwiththem,orweretheystillwanderingamidthemist?Thecommanderofthefortwasanxious,thoughhetriedtoconcealhisapprehensions。Asnightapproached,thesnowfelllessplentifully,butitbecameintenselycold。Absolutesilencerestedontheplains。Neitherflightofbirdnorpassingofbeasttroubledtheperfectcalm。
ThroughoutthenightAouda,fullofsadforebodings,herheartstifledwithanguish,wanderedaboutonthevergeoftheplains。Herimaginationcarriedherfaroff,andshowedherinnumerabledangers。Whatshesufferedthroughthelonghoursitwouldbeimpossibletodescribe。
Fixremainedstationaryinthesameplace,butdidnotsleep。Onceamanapproachedandspoketohim,andthedetectivemerelyrepliedbyshakinghishead。
Thusthenightpassed。Atdawn,thehalf-extinguisheddiscofthesunroseaboveamistyhorizon;butitwasnowpossibletorecognizeobjectstwomilesoff。PhileasFoggandtheSquadhadgonesouthward;inthesouthallwasstillvacancy。Itwasthenseveno'clock。
Thecaptain,whowasreallyalarmed,didnotknowwhatcoursetotake。
Shouldhesendanotherdetachmenttotherescueofthefirst?Shouldhesacrificemoremen,withsofewchancesofSavingthosealreadysacrificed?
HiShesitationdidnotlastlong,however。Callingoneofhislieutenants,hewasonthepointoforderingareconnaissance,whengunshotswereheard。
Wasitasignal?Thesoldiersrushedoutofthefort,andhalf-a-mileofftheyperceivedalittlebandreturningingoodorder。
MrFoggwasmarchingattheirhead,andjustbehindhimwerePassepartoutandtheothertwotravellers,rescuedfromtheSioux。
TheyhadmetandfoughttheIndianstenmilessouthofFortKearney。
Shortlybeforethedetachmentarrived,Passepartoutandhiscompanionshadbeguntostrugglewiththeircaptors,threeofwhomtheFrenchmanhadfelledwithhisfists,whenhismasterandthesoldiershasteneduptotheirrelief。
Allwerewelcomedwithjoyfulcries。PhileasFoggdistributedtherewardhehadpromisedtothesoldiers,whilePassepartout,notwithoutreason,mutteredtohimself,`ItmustcertainlybeconfessedthatIcostmymasterdear!'
Fix,withoutsayingaword,lookedatMrFogg,anditwouldhavebeendifficulttoanalyzethethoughtswhichstruggledwithinhim。AsforAouda,shetookherprotector'shandandpresseditinherown,toomuchmovedtospeak。
Meanwhile,Passepartoutwaslookingaboutforthetrain;hethoughtheshouldfinditthere,readytostartforOmaha,andhehopedthatthetimelostmightberegained。
`Thetrain!Thetrain!'criedhe。
`Gone,'repliedFix。
`Andwhendoesthenexttrainpasshere?'saidPhileasFogg。
`Nottillthisevening。'
`Ah!'returnedtheimpassiblegentlemanquietly。
CHAPTERXXXIINWHICHFIXTHEDETECTIVECONSIDERABLYFURTHERSTHEINTERESTSOFPHILEAS
FOGG。
PhileasFoggfoundhimselftwentyhoursbehindtime。Passepartout,theinvoluntarycauseofthisdelay,wasdesperate。Hehadruinedhismaster!
AtthismomentthedetectiveapproachedMrFogg,and,lookinghimintentlyintheface,said——
`Seriously,sir,areyouingreathaste?'
`Quiteseriously。'
`Ihaveapurposeinasking,'resumedFix。`IsitabsolutelynecessarythatyoushouldbeinNewYorkonthe11th,beforenineo'clockintheevening,thetimethatthesteamerleavesforLiverpool?'
`Itisabsolutelynecessary。'
`And,ifyourjourneyhadnotbeeninterruptedbytheseIndians,youwouldhavereachedNewYorkonthemorningofthe11th?'
`Yes;withelevenhourstosparebeforethesteamerleft。'
`Good!youarethereforetwentyhoursbehind。Twelvefromtwentyleaveseight。Youmustregaineighthours。Doyouwishtotrytodoso?'
`Onfoot?'askedMrFogg。
`No;onasledge,'repliedFix。`Onasledgewithsails。Amanhasproposedsuchamethodtome。'
ItwasthemanwhohadspokentoFixduringthenight,andwhoseofferhehadrefused。
PhileasFoggdidnotreplyatonce;butFixhavingpointedouttheman,whowaswalkingupanddowninfrontofthestation,MrFoggwentuptohim。Aninstantalter,MrFoggandtheAmerican,whosenamewasMudge,enteredahutbuiltjustbelowthefort。
ThereMrFoggexaminedacuriousvehicle,akindofframeontwolongbeams,alittleraisedinfrontliketherunnersofasledge,anduponwhichtherewasroomforfiveorsixpersons。Ahighmastwasfixedontheframe,heldfirmlybymetalliclashings,towhichwasattachedalargebrigantinesail。Thismastheldanironstayuponwhichtohoistajib-sail。
Behind,asortofrudderservedtoguidethevehicle。Itwas,inshort,asledgeriggedlikeasloop。Duringthewinter,whenthetrainsareblockedupbythesnow,thesesledgesmakeextremelyrapidjourneysacrossthefrozenplainsfromonestationtoanother。Providedwithmoresailthanacutter,andwiththewindbehindthem,theyslipoverthesurfaceoftheprairieswithaspeedequalifnotsuperiortothatoftheexpresstrains。
Mr,Foggreadilymadeabargainwiththeownerofthisland-craft。Thewindwasfavourable,beingfresh,andblowingfromthewest。Thesnowhadhardened,andMudgewasveryconfidentofbeingabletotransportMr,FogginafewhourstoOmaha。ThencethetrainseastwardrunfrequentlytoChicagoandNewYork。Itwasnotimpossiblethatthelosttimemightyetberecovered;
andsuchanopportunitywasnottoberejected。
NotwishingtoexposeAoudatothediscomfortsoftravellingintheopenair,MrFoggproposedtoleaveherwithPassepartoutatFortKearney,theservanttakinguponhimselftoescorthertoEuropebyabetterrouteandundermorefavourableconditions。ButAoudarefusedtoSeparatefromMrFogg,andPassepartoutwasdelightedwithherdecision;fornothingcouldinducehimtoleavehismasterwhileFixwaswithhim。
Itwouldbedifficulttoguessthedetective'sthoughts。WashisconvictionshakenbyPhileasFogg'sreturn,ordidhestillregardhimasanexceedinglyshrewdrascal,who,hisjourneyroundtheworldcompleted,wouldthinkhimselfabsolutelysafeinEngland?PerhapsFix'sopinionofPhileasFoggwassomewhatmodified;buthewasneverthelessresolvedtodohisduty,andtohastenthereturnofthewholepartytoEnglandasmuchaspossible。
Ateighto'clockthesledgewasreadytostart。Thepassengerstooktheirplacesonit,andwrappedthemselvesupcloselyintheirtravellingcloaks。Thetwogreatsailswerehoisted,andunderthepressureofthewindthesledgeslidoverthehardenedsnowwithavelocityoffortymilesanhour。
ThedistancebetweenFortKearneyandOmaha,asthebirdsfly,isatmosttwohundredmiles。Ifthewindheldgood,thedistancemightbetraversedinfivehours;ifnoaccidenthappenedthesledgemightreachOmahabyoneo'clock。
Whatajourney!Thetravellers,huddledclosetogether,couldnotspeakforthecold,intensifiedbytherapidityatwhichtheyweregoing。Thesledgespedonaslightlyasaboatoverthewaves。Whenthebreezecameskimmingtheearththesledgeseemedtobeliftedoffthegroundbyitssails。Mudge,whowasattherudder,keptinastraightline,andbyaturnofhishandcheckedthelurcheswhichthevehiclehadatendencytomake。Allthesailswereup,andthejibwassoarrangedasnottoscreenthebrigantine。Atop-mastwashoisted,andanotherjib,heldouttothewind,addeditsforcetotheothersails。Althoughthespeedcouldnotbeexactlyestimated,thesledgecouldnotbegoingatlessthanfortymilesanhour。
`Ifnothingbreaks,'saidMudge,`weshallgetthere!'
Mr,FogghadmadeitforMudge'sinteresttoreachOmahawithinthetimeagreedon,bytheofferofahandsomereward。
Theprairie,acrosswhichthesledgewasmovinginastraightline,wasasflatasasea。Itseemedlikeavastfrozenlake。Therailroadwhichranthroughthissectionascendedfromthesouth-westtothenorthwestbyGreatIsland,Columbus,animportantNebraskatown,SchuylerandFremont,toOmaha。ItfollowedthroughouttherightbankofthePlatteRiver。Thesledge,shorteningthisroute,tookachordofthearedescribedbytherailway。MudgewasnotafraidofbeingstoppedbythePlatteRiver,becauseitwasfrozen。Theroad,then,wasquiteclearofobstacles,andPhileasFogghadbuttwothingstofear,-anaccidenttothesledge,andachangeorcalminthewind。
Butthebreeze,farfromlesseningitsforce,blewasiftobendthemast,which,however,themetalliclashingsheldfirmly。Theselashings,likethechordsofastringedinstrument,resoundedasifvibratedbyaviolinbow。Thesledgeslidalonginthemidstofaplaintivelyintensemelody。
`Thesechordsgivethefifthandtheoctave,'saidMrFogg。
Theseweretheonlywordsheutteredduringthejourney。Aouda,cosilypackedinfursandcloaks,wasshelteredasmuchaspossiblefromtheattacksofthefreezingwind。AsforPassepartout,hisfacewasasredasthesun'sdiscwhenitsetsinthemist,andhelaboriouslyinhaledthebitingair。
WithhisnaturalbuoyancyofSpirits,hebegantohopeagain。TheywouldreachNewYorkontheevening,ifnotonthemorning,ofthe11th,andtherewerestillsomechancesthatitwouldbebeforethesteamersailedforLiverpool。
Passepartoutevenfeltastrongdesiretograsphisally,Fix,bythehand。Herememberedthatitwasthedetectivewhoprocuredthesledge,theonlymeansofreachingOmahaintime;but,checkedbysomepresentiment,hekepthisusualreserve。Onething,however,Passepartoutwouldneverforget,andthatwasthesacrificewhichMrFogghadmade,withouthesitation,torescuehimfromtheSioux。MrFogghadriskedhisfortuneandhislife。
No!Hisservantwouldneverforgetthat!
Whileeachofthepartywasabsorbedinreflectionssodifferent,thesledgeflewfastoverthevastcarpetofsnow。Thecreeksitpassedoverwerenotperceived。Fieldsandstreamsdisappearedundertheuniformwhiteness。
Theplainwasabsolutelydeserted。BetweentheUnionPacificroadandthebranchwhichunitesKearneywithSaintJosephitformedagreatuninhabitedisland。Neithervillage,station,norfortappeared。Fromtimetotimetheyspedbysomephantom-liketree,whosewhiteskeletontwistedandrattledinthewind。Sometimesflocksofwildbirdsrose,orbandsofgaunt,famished,ferociousprairie-wolvesranhowlingafterthesledge。Passepartout,revolverinhand,heldhimselfreadytofireonthosewhichcametoonear。Hadanaccidentthenhappenedtothesledge,thetravellers,attackedbythesebeasts,wouldhavebeeninthemostterribledanger;butitheldonitsevencourse,Soongainedonthewolves,anderelongleftthehowlingbandatasafedistancebehind。
AboutnoonMudgeperceivedbycertainlandmarksthathewascrossingthePlatteRiver。Hesaidnothing,buthefeltcertainthathewasnowwithintwentymilesofOmaha。Inlessthananhourhelefttherudderandfurledhissails,whilstthesledge,carriedforwardbythegreatimpetusthewindhadgivenit,wentonhalfamilefurtherwithitssailsunspread。
Itstoppedatlast,andMudge,pointingtoamassofroofswhitewithsnow,said:`Wehavegotthere!'
Arrived!Arrivedatthestationwhichisindailycommunication,bynumeroustrains,withtheAtlanticseaboard!
PassepartoutandFixjumpedoff,stretchedtheirstiffenedlimbs,andaidedMrFoggandtheyoungwomantodescendfromthesledge。PhileasFogggenerouslyrewardedMudge,whosehandPassepartoutwarmlygrasped,andthepartydirectedtheirstepstotheOmaharailwaystation。
ThePacificRailroadproperfindsitsterminusatthisimportantNebraskatown。OmahaisconnectedwithChicagobytheChicagoandRockIslandRailroad,whichrunsdirectlyeast,andpassesfiftystations。
AtrainwasreadytostartwhenMrFoggandhispartyreachedthestation,andtheyonlyhadtimetogetintothecars。TheyhadseennothingofOmaha;
butPassepartoutconfessedtohimselfthatthiswasnottoberegretted,astheywerenottravellingtoseethesights。
ThetrainpassedrapidlyacrosstheStateofIowa,byCouncilBluffs,DesMoines,,andIowaCity。DuringthenightitcrossedtheMississippiatDavenport,andbyRockIslandenteredIllinois。Thenextday,whichwasthe10th,atfourintheevening,itreachedChicago,alreadyrisenfromitsruins,andmoreproudlyseatedthaneveronthebordersofitsbeautifulLakeMichigan。
NinehundredmilesseparatedChicagofromNewYork;buttrainsarenotwantingatChicago。MrFoggpassedatoncefromonetotheother,andthelocomotiveofthePittsburg,FortWayne,andChicagoRailwayleftatfullspeed,asifitfullycomprehendedthatthatgentlemanhadnotimetolose。
IttraversedIndiana,Ohio,Pennsylvania,andNewJerseylikeaflash,rushingthroughthetownswithantiquenames,someofwhichhadstreetsandcar-tracks,butasyetnohouses。AtlasttheHudsoncameintoview;
andataquarter-pastelevenintheeveningofthe11th,thetrainstoppedinthestationontherightbankoftheriver,beforetheverypieroftheCunardline。
The`China',forLiverpool,hadstartedthree-quartersofanhourbefore!
CHAPTERXXXIIINWHICHPHILEASFOGGENGAGESINADIRECTSTRUGGLEWITHBADFORTUNE。
The`China',inleaving,seemedtohavecarriedoffPhileasFogg'slasthope。Noneoftheothersteamerswereabletoservehisprojects。The`Pereire',oftheFrenchTransatlanticCompany,whoseadmirablesteamersareequaltoanyinspeedandcomfort,didnotleaveuntilthe14th;theHamburgboatsdidnotgodirectlytoLiverpoolorLondon,buttoHavre;andtheadditionaltripfromHavretoSouthamptonwouldrenderPhileasFogg'slasteffortsofnoavail。TheInmansteamerdidnotdeparttillthenextday,andcouldnotcrosstheAtlanticintimetosavethewager。
MrFogglearnedallthisinconsultinghis`Bradshaw',whichgavehimthedailymovementsofthetransatlanticsteamers。
Passepartoutwascrushed;itoverwhelmedhimtolosetheboatbythree-quartersofanhour。Itwashisfault,for,insteadofhelpinghismaster,hehadnotceasedputtingobstaclesinhispath!Andwhenherecalledalltheincidentsofthetour,whenhecountedupthesumsexpendedinpurelossandonhisownaccount,whenhethoughtthattheimmensestake,addedtotheheavychargesofthisuselessjourney,wouldcompletelyruinMrFogg,heoverwhelmedhimselfwithbitterself-accusations。MrFogg,however,didnotreproachhim;and,onleavingtheCunardpier,onlysaid:`Wewillconsultaboutwhatisbesttomorrow。Come。'
ThepartycrossedtheHudsonintheJerseyCityferry-boat,anddroveinacarriagetotheStNicholasHotel,onBroadway。Roomswereengaged,andthenightpassed,brieflytoPhileasFogg,whosleptprofoundly,butverylongtoAoudaandtheothers,whoseagitationdidnotpermitthemtorest。
Thenextdaywasthe12thofDecember。Fromseveninthemorningofthe12th,toaquarterbeforenineintheeveningofthe21st,therewereninedays,thirteenhours,andforty-fiveminutes。IfPhileasFogghadleftinthe`China',oneofthefasteststeamersontheAtlantic,hewouldhavereachedLiverpool,andthenLondon,withintheperiod"agreedupon。
MrFoggleftthehotelalone,aftergivingPassepartoutinstructionstoawaithisreturn,andinformAoudatobereadyataninstant'snotice。
HeproceededtothebanksoftheHudson,andlookedaboutamongthevesselsmooredoranchoredintheriver,foranythatwereabouttodepart。Severalhaddeparturesignals,andwerepreparingtoputtoseaatmorningtide;
forinthisimmenseandadmirableportthereisnotonedayinahundredthatvesselsdonotsetoutforeveryquarteroftheglobe。Buttheyweremostlysailingvessels,ofwhich,ofcourse,PhileasFoggcouldmakenouse。
Heseemedabouttogiveupallhope,whenheespied,anchoredattheBattery,acable'slengthoffatmost,atradingvessel,withascrew,well-shaped,whosefunnel,puffingacloudofsmoke,indicatedthatshewasgettingreadyfordeparture。
PhileasFogghailedaboat,gotintoit,andsoonfoundhimselfonboardthe`Henrietta',iron-hulled,wood-builtabove。Heascendedtothedeck,andaskedforthecaptain,whoforthwithpresentedhimself。Hewasamanoffifty,asortofsea-wolf,withbigeyes,acomplexionofoxidizedcopper,redhairandthickneck,andagrowlingvoice。
`Thecaptain?'askedMrFogg。
`Iamthecaptain。'
`IamPhileasFogg,ofLondon。'
`AndIamAndrewSpeedy,ofCardiff。'
`Youaregoingtoputtosea?'
`Inanhour。'
`Youareboundfor——'
`Bordeaux。'
`Andyourcargo?'
`Nofreight。Goinginballast。'
`Haveyouanypassengers?'
`Nopassengers。Neverhavepassengers。Toomuchintheway。'
`Isyourvesselaswiftone?'
`Betweenelevenandtwelveknots。The"Henrietta",wellknown。'
`WillyoucarrymeandthreeotherpersonstoLiverpool?'
`ToLiverpool?WhynottoChina?'
`IsaidLiverpool。'
`No!'
`No?'
`No。IamsettingoutforBordeaux,andshallgotoBordeaux。'
`Moneyisnoobject?'
`None。'
Thecaptainspokeinatonewhichdidnotadmitofareply。
`Buttheownersofthe"Henrietta"-,'resumedPhileasFogg。
`Theownersaremyself,'repliedthecaptain。`Thevesselbelongstome。'
`Iwillfreightitforyou。'
`No。'
`Iwillbuyitofyou。'
`No。'
PhileasFoggdidnotbetraytheleastdisappointment;butthesituationwasagraveone。ItwasnotatNewYorkasatHongKong,norwiththecaptainofthe`Henrietta'aswiththecaptainofthe`Tankadere'。Uptothistimemoneyhadsmoothedawayeveryobstacle。Nowmoneyfailed。
Still,somemeansmustbefoundtocrosstheAtlanticonaboat,unlessbyballoon,-whichwouldhavebeenventuresome,besidesnotbeingcapableofbeingputinpractice。ItseemedthatPhileasFogghadanidea,forhesaidtothecaptain,`Well,willyoucarrymetoBordeaux?'
`No,notifyoupaidmetwohundreddollars。'
`Iofferyoutwothousand。'
`Apiece?'
`Apiece。'
`Andtherearefourofyou?'
`Four。'
CaptainSpeedybegantoscratchhishead。Therewereeightthousanddollarstogain,withoutchanginghisroute;forwhichitwaswellworthconqueringtherepugnancehehadforallkindsofpassengers。Besides,passengersattwothousanddollarsarenolongerpassengers,butvaluablemerchandise。`Istartatnineo'clock,'saidCaptainSpeedy,simply。`Areyouandyourpartyready?'
`Wewillbeonboardatnineo'clock,'replied,nolesssimply,MrFogg。
Itwashalf-pasteight。Todisembarkfromthe`Henrietta',jumpintoahack,hurrytotheStNicholas,andreturnwithAouda,Passepartout,andeventheinseparableFix,wastheworkofabrieftime,andwasperformedbyMrFoggwiththecoolnesswhichneverabandonedhim。Theywereonboardwhenthe`Henrietta'madereadytoweighanchor。
WhenPassepartoutheardwhathislastvoyagewasgoingtocost,heutteredaprolonged`Oh!'whichextendedthroughouthisvocalgamut。
AsforFix,hesaidtohimselfthattheBankofEnglandwouldcertainlynotcomeoutofthisaffairwellindemnified。WhentheyreachedEngland,evenifMrFoggdidnotthrowsomehandfulsofbank-billsintothesea,morethanseventhousandpoundswouldhavebeenspent!
CHAPTERXXXIIIINWHICHPHILEASFOGGSHOWSHIMSELFEQUALTOTHEOCCASION。
Anhourafter,the`Henrietta'passedthelighthousewhichmarkstheentranceoftheHudson,turnedthepointofSandyHook,andputtosea。
DuringthedaysheskirtedLongIsland,passedFireIsland,anddirectedhercourserapidlyeastward。
Atnoonthenextday,amanmountedthebridgetoascertainthevessel'sposition。ItmightbethoughtthatthiswasCaptainSpeedy。Nottheleastintheworld。ItwasPhileasFogg,Esquire。AsforCaptainSpeedy,hewasshutupinhiscabinunderlockandkey,andwasutteringloudcries,whichsignifiedanangeratoncepardonableandexcessive。
Whathadhappenedwasverysimple。PhileasFoggwishedtogotoLiverpool,butthecaptainwouldnotcarryhimthere。ThenPhileasFogghadtakenpassageforBordeaux,and,duringthethirtyhourshehadbeenonboard,hadsoshrewdlymanagedwithhisbank-notesthatthesailorsandstokers,whowereonlyanoccasionalcrew,andwerenotonthebesttermswiththecaptain,wentovertohiminabody。ThiswaswhyPhileasFoggwasincommandinsteadofCaptainSpeedy;whythecaptainwasaprisonerinhiscabin;
andwhy,inshort,the`Henrietta'wasdirectinghercoursetowardsLiverpool。
Itwasveryclear,toseeMrFoggmanagethecraft,thathehadbeenasailor。
Howtheadventureendedwillbeseenanon。Aoudawasanxious,thoughshesaidnothing。AsforPassepartout,hethoughtMrFogg'smanoeuvresimplyglorious。Thecaptainhadsaid`betweenelevenandtwelveknots',andthe`Henrietta'confirmedhisprediction。
If,then-fortherewere`ifs'still-theseadidnotbecometooboisterous,ifthewinddidnotveerroundtotheeast,ifnoaccidenthappenedtotheboatoritsmachinery,the`Henrietta'mightcrossthethreethousandmilesfromNewYorktoLiverpoolintheninedays,betweenthe12thandthe21stofDecember。Itistruethatoncearrived,theaffaironboardthe`Henrietta',addedtothatoftheBankofEngland,-mightcreatemoredifficultiesforMrFoggthanheimaginedorcoulddesire。
Duringthefirstdays,theywentalongsmoothlyenough。Theseawasnotveryunpropitious,thewindseemedstationaryinthenorth-east,thesailswerehoisted,andthe`Henrietta'ploughedacrossthewaveslikearealtransatlanticsteamer。
Passepartoutwasdelighted。Hismaster'slastexploit,theconsequencesofwhichheignored,enchantedhim。Neverhadthecrewseensojollyanddexterousafellow。Heformedwarmfriendshipswiththesailors,andamazedthemwithhisacrobaticfeats。Hethoughttheymanagedthevessellikegentlemen,andthatthestokersfireduplikeheroes。Hisloquaciousgood-humourinfectedeveryone。Hehadforgottenthepast,itsvexationsanddelays。
Heonlythoughtoftheend,sonearlyaccomplished;andsometimesheboiledoverwithimpatience,asifheatedbythefurnacesofthe`Henrietta'。
Often,also,theworthyfellowrevolvedaroundFix,lookingathimwithakeen,distrustfuleye;buthedidnotspeaktohim,fortheiroldintimacynolongerexisted。
Fix,itmustbeconfessed,understoodnothingofwhatwasgoingon。
Theconquestofthe`Henrietta',thebriberyofthecrew,Foggmanagingtheboatlikeaskilledseaman,amazedandconfusedhim。Hedidnotknowwhattothink。For,afterall,amanwhobeganbystealingfifty-fivethousandpoundsmightendbystealingavessel;andFixwasnotunnaturallyinclinedtoconcludethatthe`Henrietta',underFogg'scommand,wasnotgoingtoLiverpoolatall,buttosomepartoftheworldwheretherobber,turnedintoapirate,wouldquietlyputhimselfinsafety。Theconjecturewasatleastaplausibleone,andthedetectivebegantoseriouslyregretthathehadembarkedintheaffair。
AsforCaptainSpeedy,hecontinuedtohowlandgrowlinhiscabin;
andPassepartout,whosedutyitwastocarryhimhismeals,courageousashewas,tookthegreatestprecautions。MrFoggdidnotseemeventoknowthattherewasacaptainonboard。
Onthe13ththeypassedtheedgeoftheBanksofNewfoundland,adangerouslocality;duringthewinter,especially,therearefrequentfogsandheavygalesofwind。Eversincetheeveningbeforethebarometer,suddenlyfalling,hadindicatedanapproachingchangeintheatmosphere;andduringthenightthetemperaturevaried,thecoldbecamesharper,andthewindveeredtothesouth-east。
Thiswasamisfortune。MrFogg,inordernottodeviatefromhiscourse,furledhissailsandincreasedtheforceofthesteam;butthevessel'sspeedslackened,owingtothestateofthesea,thelongwavesofwhichbrokeagainstthestern。Shepitchedviolently,andthisretardedherprogress。
Thebreezelittlebylittleswelledintoatempest,anditwastobefearedthatthe`Henrietta'mightnotbeabletomaintainherselfuprightonthewaves。
Passepartout'svisagedarkenedwiththeskies,andfortwodaysthepoorfellowexperiencedconstantfright。ButPhileasFoggwasaboldmariner,andknewhowtomaintainheadwayagainstthesea;andhekeptonhiscourse,withoutevendecreasinghissteam。The`Henrietta',whenshecouldnotriseuponthewaves,crossedthem,swampingherdeck,butpassingsafely。
Sometimesthescrewroseoutofthewater,beatingitsprotrudingend,whenamountainofwaterraisedthesternabovethewaves;butthecraftalwayskeptstraightahead。
Thewind,however,didnotgrowasboisterousasmighthavebeenfeared;
itwasnotoneofthosetempestswhichburst,andrushonwithaspeedofninetymilesanhour。Itcontinuedfresh,but,unhappily,itremainedobstinatelyinthesouth-east,renderingthesailsuseless。
The16thofDecemberwastheseventy-fifthdaysincePhileasFogg'sdeparturefromLondon,andthe`Henrietta'hadnotyetbeenseriouslydelayed。
Halfofthevoyagewasalmostaccomplished,andtheworstlocalitieshadbeenpassed。Insummer,successwouldhavebeenwell-nighcertain。Inwinter,theywereatthemercyofthebadseason。Passepartoutsaidnothing;buthecherishedhopeinsecret,andcomfortedhimselfwiththereflectionthat,ifthewindfailedthem,theymightstillcountonthesteam。
Onthisdaytheengineercameondeck,wentuptoMrFogg,andbegantospeakearnestlywithhim。
Withoutknowingwhy-itwaspresentiment,perhaps-Passepartoutbecamevaguelyuneasy。Hewouldhavegivenoneofhisearstohearwiththeotherwhattheengineerwassaying。Hefinallymanagedtocatchafewwords,andwassureheheardhismastersay,`Youarecertainofwhatyoutellme?'
`Certain,sir,'repliedtheengineer。`Youmustrememberthat,sincewestarted,wehavekeptuphotfiresinallourfurnaces,andthoughwehadcoalenoughtogoonshortsteamfromNewYorktoBordeaux,wehaven'tenoughtogowithallsteamfromNewYorktoLiverpool。'
`Iwillconsider,'repliedMrFogg。
Passepartoutunderstooditall;hewasseizedwithmortalanxiety。Thecoalwasgivingout!`Ah,ifmymastercangetoverthat,'mutteredhe,`he'llbeafamousman!'HecouldnothelpimpartingtoFixwhathehadoverheard。
ThenyoubelievethatwereallyaregoingtoLiverpool?'
`Ofcourse。'
`Ass!'repliedthedetective,shrugginghisshouldersandturningonhisheel。
Passepartoutwasonthepointofvigorouslyresentingtheepithet,thereasonofwhichhecouldnotforthelifeofhimcomprehend;buthereflectedthattheunfortunateFixwasprobablyverymuchdisappointedandhumiliatedinhisself-esteem,afterhavingsoawkwardlyfollowedafalsescentaroundtheworld,andrefrained。
AndnowwhatcoursewouldPhileasFoggadopt?Itwasdifficulttoimagine。
Neverthelessheseemedtohavedecideduponone,forthateveninghesentfortheengineer,andsaidtohim,`Feedallthefiresuntilthecoalisexhausted。'
Afewmomentsafter,thefunnelofthe`Henrietta'vomitedforthtorrentsofsmoke。Thevesselcontinuedtoproceedwithallsteamon;butonthe18th,theengineer,ashehadpredicted,announcedthatthecoalwouldgiveoutinthecourseoftheday。
`Donotletthefiresgodown,'repliedMrFogg。`Keepthemuptothelast。Letthevalvesbefilled。'
TowardsnoonPhileasFogg,havingascertainedtheirposition,calledPassepartout,andorderedhimtogoforCaptainSpeedy。Itwasasifthehonestfellowhadbeencommandedtounchainatiger。Hewenttothepoop,sayingtohimself,`Hewillbelikeamadman!'
Inafewmoments,withcriesandoaths,abombappearedonthepoop-deck。
ThebombwasCaptainSpeedy。Itwasclearthathewasonthepointofbursting。
`Wherearewe?'werethefirstwordshisangerpermittedhimtoutter。
Hadthepoormanbeenapoplectic,hecouldneverhaverecoveredfromhisparoxysmofwrath。
`Wherearewe?'herepeated,withpurpleface。`SevenhundredandsevenmilesfromLiverpool,'repliedMrFogg,withimperturbablecalmness。
`Pirate!'criedCaptainSpeedy。`Ihavesentforyou,sir——'
`Pickaroon!'
`-Sir,'continuedMrFogg,`toaskyoutosellmeyourvessel。'
`No!Byallthedevils,no!'
`ButIshallbeobligedtoburnher。'
`Burnthe"Henrietta"!'
`Yes;atleasttheupperpartofher。Thecoalhasgivenout。'
`Burnmyvessel!'criedCaptainSpeedy,whocouldscarcelypronouncethewords。`Avesselworthfiftythousanddollars!'
`Herearesixtythousand,'repliedPhileasFogg,handingthecaptainarollofbankbills。ThishadaprodigiouseffectonAndrewSpeedy。AnAmericancanscarcelyremainunmovedatthesightofsixtythousanddollars。
Thecaptainforgotinaninstanthisanger,hisimprisonment,andallhisgrudgesagainsthispassenger。The`Henrietta'wastwentyyearsold;itwasagreatbargain。Thebombwouldnotgooffafterall。MrFogghadtakenawaythematch。
`AndIshallstillhavetheironhull,'saidthecaptaininasoftertone。
`Theironhullandtheengine。Isitagreed?'
`Agreed。'
AndAndrewSpeedy,seizingthebank-notes,countedthemandconsignedthemtohispocket。
Duringthiscolloquy,Passepartoutwasaswhiteasasheet,andFixseemedonthepointofhavinganapoplecticfit。Nearlytwentythousandpoundshadbeenexpended,andFoggleftthehullandenginetothecaptain,thatis,nearthewholevalueofthecraft!Itwastrue,however,thatfifty-fivethousandpoundshadbeenstolenfromthebank。
WhenAndrewSpeedyhadpocketedthemoney,MrFoggsaidtohim,`Don'tletthisastonishyou,sir。YoumustknowthatIshalllosetwentythousandpounds,unlessIarriveinLondonbyaquarterbeforenineontheeveningofthe21stofDecember。ImissedthesteameratNewYork,andasyourefusedtotakemetoLiverpool——'
`AndIdidwell!'criedAndrewSpeedy;`forIhavegainedatleastfortythousanddollarsbyit!'Headded,moresedately,`Doyouknowonething,Captain——'
`Fogg。'
`CaptainFogg,you'vegotsomethingoftheYankeeaboutyou。'
And,havingpaidhispassengerwhatheconsideredahighcompliment,hewasgoingaway,whenMrFoggsaid,`Thevesselnowbelongstome?'
`Certainly,fromthekeeltothetruckofthemasts,allthewood,thatis。'
`Verywell。Havetheinteriorseats,bunks,andframespulleddown,andburnthem。'
Itwasnecessarytohavedrywoodtokeepthesteamuptotheadequatepressure,andonthatdaythepoop,cabins,bunks,andthesparedeckweresacrificed。Onthenextday,the19thofDecember,themasts,raftsandsparswereburned;thecrewworkedlustily,keepingupthefires。Passepartouthewed,cutandsawedawaywithallhismight。Therewasaperfectragefordemolition。
Therailings,fittings,thegreaterpartofthedeck,andtopsidesdisappearedonthe20th,andthe`Henrietta'wasnowonlyaflathulk。
ButonthisdaytheysightedtheIrishcoastandFastnetLight。BytenintheeveningtheywerepassingQueenstown。PhileasFogghadonlytwenty-fourhoursmoreinwhichtogettoLondon;thatlengthoftimewasnecessarytoreachLiverpool,withallsteamon。Andthesteamwasabouttogiveoutaltogether!
`Sir,'saidCaptainSpeedy,whowasnowdeeplyinterestedinMrFogg'sproject,`Ireallycommiserateyou。Everythingisagainstyou。WeareonlyoppositeQueenstown。'
`Ah,'saidMrFogg,`isthatplacewhereweseethelightsQueenstown?'
`Yes。'
`Canweentertheharbour?'
`Notunderthreehours。Onlyathightide。'
`Stay,'repliedMrFoggcalmly,withoutbetrayinginhisfeaturesthatbyasupremeinspirationhewasabouttoattemptoncemoretoconquerill-fortune。
QueenstownistheIrishportatwhichthetransatlanticsteamersstoptoputoffthemails。ThesemailsarecarriedtoDublinbyexpresstrainsalwaysheldinreadinesstostart;fromDublintheyaresentontoLiverpoolbythemostrapidboats,andthusgaintwelvehoursontheAtlanticsteamers。
PhileasFoggcountedongainingtwelvehoursinthesameway。InsteadofarrivingatLiverpoolthenexteveningbythe`Henrietta',hewouldbetherebynoon,andwouldthereforehavetimetoreachLondonbeforeaquarterbeforenineintheevening。
The`Henrietta'enteredQueenstownHarbouratoneo'clockinthemorning,itthenbeinghightide;andPhileasFogg,afterbeinggraspedheartilybythehandbyCaptainSpeedy,leftthatgentlemanonthelevelledhulkofhiscraft,whichwasstillworthhalfwhathehadsolditfor。
Thepartywentonshoreatonce。FixwasgreatlytemptedtoarrestMrFoggonthespot;buthedidnot。Why?Whatstrugglewasgoingonwithinhim?Hadhechangedhismindabout`hisman'?Didheunderstandthathehadmadeagravemistake?Hedidnot,however,abandonMrFogg。Theyallgotuponthetrain,whichwasjustreadytostart,athalf-pastone;atdawnofdaytheywereinDublin;andtheylostnotimeinembarkingonasteamerwhich,disdainingtoriseuponthewaves,invariablycutthroughthem。
PhileasFoggatlastdisembarkedontheLiverpoolquay,attwentyminutesbeforetwelve,December21st。HewasonlysixhoursdistantfromLondon。
ButatthismomentFixcameup,puthishanduponMrFogg'sshoulder,and,showinghiswarrant,said,`YouarereallyPhileasFogg?'
`Iam。'
`IarrestyouintheQueen'sname!'
CHAPTERXXXIVINWHICHPHILEASFOGGATLASTREACHESLONDON。
PhileasFoggwasinprison。HehadbeenshutupintheCustomHouse,andhewastobetransferredtoLondonthenextday。
Passepartout,whenhesawhismasterarrested,wouldhavefallenuponFixhadhenotbeenheldbackbysomepolicemen。Aoudawasthunderstruckatthesuddennessofaneventwhichshecouldnotunderstand。PassepartoutexplainedtoherhowitwasthatthehonestandcourageousFoggwasarrestedasarobber。Theyoungwoman'sheartrevoltedagainstsoheinousacharge,andwhenshesawthatshecouldattemptordonothingtosaveherprotector,sheweptbitterly。
AsforFix,hehadarrestedMrFoggbecauseitwashisduty,whetherMrFoggwereguiltyornot。
ThethoughtthenstruckPassepartout,thathewasthecauseofthisnewmisfortune!HadhenotconcealedFix'serrandfromhismaster?WhenFixrevealedhistruecharacterandpurpose,whyhadhenottoldMrFogg?
Ifthelatterhadbeenwarned,hewouldnodoubthavegivenFixproofofhisinnocence,andsatisfiedhimofhismistake;atleast,Fixwouldnothavecontinuedhisjourneyattheexpenseandontheheelsofhismaster,onlytoarresthimthemomenthesetfootonEnglishsoil。Passepartoutwepttillhewasblind,andfeltlikeblowinghisbrainsout。
Aoudaandhehadremained,despitethecold,undertheporticooftheCustomHouse。Neitherwishedtoleavetheplace;bothwereanxioustoseeMrFoggagain。
Thatgentlemanwasreallyruined,andthatatthemomentwhenhewasabouttoattainhisend。Thisarrestwasfatal。HavingarrivedatLiverpoolattwentyminutesbeforetwelveonthe21stofDecember,hehadtillaquarterbeforeninethateveningtoreachtheReformClub,thatis,ninehoursandaquarter;thejourneyfromLiverpooltoLondonwassixhours。
Ifanyone,atthismoment,hadenteredtheCustomHouse,hewouldhavefoundMrFoggseated,motionless,calm,andwithoutapparentanger,uponawoodenbench。Hewasnot,itistrue,resigned;butthislastblowfailedtoforcehimintoanoutwardbetrayalofanyemotion。Washebeingdevouredbyoneofthosesecretrages,allthemoreterriblebecausecontained,andwhichonlyburstforth,withanirresistibleforce,atthelastmoment?
Noonecouldtell。Therehesat,calmlywaiting-forwhat?Didhestillcherishhope?Didhestillbelieve,nowthatthedoorofthisprisonwascloseduponhim,thathewouldsucceed?
Howeverthatmayhavebeen,MrFoggcarefullyputhiswatchuponthetable,andobserveditsadvancinghands。Notawordescapedhislips,buthislookwassingularlysetandstern。Thesituation,inanyevent,wasaterribleone,andmightbethusstated:IfPhileasFoggwashonesthewasruined;ifhewasaknave,hewascaught。
Didescapeoccurtohim?Didheexaminetoseeiftherewereanypracticableoutletfromhisprison?Didhethinkofescapingfromit?Possibly;foroncehewalkedslowlyaroundtheroom。Butthedoorwaslocked,andthewindowheavilybarredwithironrods。Hesatdownagain,anddrewhisjournalfromhispocket。Onthelinewherethesewordswerewritten,`December21st,Saturday,Liverpool,'headded,`80thday,11。40a。m。,'andwaited。
TheCustomHouseclockstruckone。MrFoggobservedthathiswatchwastwohourstoofast。
Twohours!Admittingthathewasatthismomenttakinganexpresstrain;
hecouldreachLondonandtheReformClubbyaquarterbeforenine,P。M。
Hisforeheadslightlywrinkled。
Atthirty-threeminutespasttwoheheardasingularnoiseoutside,thenahastyopeningofdoors。Passepartout'svoicewasaudible,andimmediatelyafterthatofFix。PhileasFogg'seyesbrightenedforaninstant。
Thedoorswungopen,andhesawPassepartout,AoudaandFix,whohurriedtowardshim。
Fixwasoutofbreath,andhishairwasindisorder。Hecouldnotspeak。
`Sir,'hestammered,`Sir-forgiveme-amost-unfortunateresemblance-robberarrestedthreedaysago-you-arefree!'
PhileasFoggwasfree!Hewalkedtothedetective,lookedhimsteadilyintheface,andwiththeonlyrapidmotionhehadevermadeinhislife,orwhichheeverwouldmake,drewbackhisarms,andwiththeprecisionofamachine,knockedFixdown。
`Wellhit!'criedPassepartout。`Parbleu!that'swhatyoumightcallagoodapplicationofEnglishfists!'
Fix,whofoundhimselfonthefloor,didnotutteraword。Hehadonlyreceivedhisdeserts。MrFogg,AoudaandPassepartoutlefttheCustomHousewithoutdelay,gotintoacab,andinafewmomentsdescendedatthestation。
PhileasFoggaskediftherewasanexpresstrainabouttoleaveforLondon。Itwasfortyminutespasttwo。Theexpresstrainhadleftthirty-fiveminutesbefore。
PhileasFoggthenorderedaspecialtrain。
Therewereseveralrapidlocomotivesonhand;buttherailwayarrangementsdidnotpermitthespecialtraintoleaveuntilthreeo'clock。
AtthathourPhileasFogg,havingstimulatedtheengineerbytheofferofagenerousreward,atlastsetouttowardsLondonwithAoudaandhisfaithfulservant。
Itwasnecessarytomakethejourneyinfivehoursandahalf;andthiswouldhavebeeneasyonaclearroadthroughout。Buttherewereforceddelays,andwhenMrFoggsteppedfromthetrainattheterminus,alltheclocksinLondonwerestrikingtenminutesbeforenine。
Havingmadethetouroftheworld,hewasbehindhandfiveminutes。Hehadlostthewager!
CHAPTERXXXVINWHICHPHILEASFOGGDOESNOTHAVETOREPEATHISORDERSTOPASSEPARTOUT
TWICE。
ThedwellersinSavilleRowwouldhavebeensurprised,thenextday,iftheyhadbeentoldthatPhileasFogghadreturnedhome。Hisdoorsandwindowswerestillclosed;noappearanceofchangewasvisible。
Afterleavingthestation,MrFogggavePassepartoutinstructionstopurchasesomeprovisions,andquietlywenttohisdomicile。
Heborehismisfortunewithhishabitualtranquillity。Ruined!Andbytheblunderingofthedetective!Afterhavingsteadilytraversedthatlongjourney,overcomeahundredobstacles,bravedmanydangers,andstillfoundtimetodosomegoodonhisway,tofailnearthegoalbyasuddeneventwhichhecouldnothaveforeseen,andagainstwhichhewasunarmed;itwasterrible!Butafewpoundswereleftofthelargesumhehadcarriedwithhim。ThereonlyremainedofhisfortunethetwentythousandpoundsdepositedatBarings,andthisamountheowedtohisfriendsoftheReformClub。Sogreathadbeentheexpenseofhistour,that,evenhadhewon,itwouldnothaveenrichedhim;anditisprobablethathehadnotsoughttoenrichhimself,beingamanwhoratherlaidwagersforhonour'ssakethanforthestakeproposed。Butthiswagertotallyruinedhim。
MrFogg'scourse,however,wasfullydecidedupon;heknewwhatremainedforhimtodo。
AroominthehouseinSavilleRowwassetapartforAouda,whowasoverwhelmedwithgriefatherprotector'smisfortune。FromthewordswhichMrFoggdropped,shesawthathewasmeditatingsomeseriousproject。
KnowingthatEnglishmengovernedbyafixedideasometimesresorttothedesperateexpedientofsuicide,Passepartoutkeptanarrowwatchuponhismaster,thoughhecarefullyconcealedtheappearanceofsodoing。
Firstofall,theworthyfellowhadgoneuptohisroom,andhadextinguishedegasburner,which-hadbeenburningforeightydays。Hehadfoundintheletter-boxabillfromthegascompany,andhethoughtitmorethantimetoputastoptothisexpense,whichhehadbeendoomedtobear。
Thenightpassed。MrFoggwenttobed,butdidhesleep?Aoudadidnotonceclosehereyes。Passepartoutwatchedallnight,likeafaithfuldog,athismaster'sdoor。
MrFoggcalledhiminthemorning,andtoldhimtogetAouda'sbreakfast,andacupofteaandachopforhimself。HedesiredAoudatoexcusehimfrombreakfastanddinner,ashistimewouldbeabsorbedalldayinputtinghisaffairstorights。Intheeveninghewouldaskpermissiontohaveafewmoments'conversationwiththeyounglady。
Passepartout,havingreceivedhisorders,hadnothingtodobutobeythem。Helookedathisimperturbablemaster,andcouldscarcelybringhismindtoleavehim。Hisheartwasfull,andhisconsciencetorturedbyremorse;
forheaccusedhimselfmorebitterlythaneverofbeingthecauseoftheirretrievabledisaster。Yes!ifhehadwarnedMrFogg,andhadbetrayedFix'sprojectstohim,hismasterwouldcertainlynothavegiventhedetectivepassagetoLiverpool,andthen——
Passepartoutcouldholdinnolonger。
`Mymaster!MrFogg!'hecried。`Whydoyounotcurseme?Itwasmyfaultthat——'
`Iblamenoone,'returnedPhileasFogg,withperfectcalmness。`Go!'
Passepartoutlefttheroom,andwenttofindAouda,towhomhedeliveredhismaster'smessage。
`Madam,'headded,`Icandonothingmyself-nothing!Ihavenoinfluenceovermymaster;butyou,perhaps——'
`WhatinfluencecouldIhave?'repliedAouda。`MrFoggisinfluencedbynoone。Hasheeverunderstoodthatmygratitudetohimisoverflowing?
Hasheeverreadmyheart?Myfriend,hemustnotbeleftaloneaninstant!
Yousayheisgoingtospeakwithmethisevening?'
`Yes,madam;probablytoarrangeforyourprotectionandcomfortinEngland。'
`Weshallsee,'repliedAouda,becomingsuddenlypensive。
Throughoutthisday(Sunday)thehouseinSavilleRowwasasifuninhabited,andPhileasFogg,forthefirsttimesincehehadlivedinthathouse,didnotsetoutforhisclubwhenWestminsterclockstruckhalf-pasteleven。
WhyshouldhepresenthimselfattheReform?Hisfriendsnolongerexpectedhimthere。AsPhileasFogghadnotappearedinthesaloonontheeveningbefore(Saturday,the21stofDecember,ataquarterbeforenine),hehadlosthiswager。Itwasnotevennecessarythatheshouldgotohisbankersforthetwentythousandpounds;forhisantagonistsalreadyhadhischequeintheirhands,andtheyhadonlytofillitoutandsendittotheBaringstohavetheamounttransferredtotheircredit。
MrFogg,therefore,hadnoreasonforgoingout,andsoheremainedathome。Heshuthimselfupinhisroom,andbusiedhimselfputtinghisaffairsinorder。Passepartoutcontinuallyascendedanddescendedthestairs。
Thehourswerelongforhim。Helistenedathismaster'sdoor,andlookedthroughthekeyhole,asifhehadaperfectrightsotodo,andasifhefearedthatsomethingterriblemighthappenatanymoment。SometimeshethoughtofFix,butnolongerinanger。Fix,likealltheworld,hadbeenmistakeninPhileasFogg,andhadonlydonehisdutyintrackingandarrestinghim;whilehe,Passepartout。Thisthoughthauntedhim,andheneverceasedcursinghismiserablefolly。
Findinghimselftoowretchedtoremainalone,heknockedatAouda'sdoor,wentintoherroom,seatedhimself,withoutspeaking,inacorner,andlookedruefullyattheyoungwoman。Aoudawasstillpensive。
Abouthalf-pastsevenintheeveningMrFoggsenttoknowifAoudawouldreceivehim,andinafewmomentshefoundhimselfalonewithher。
PhileasFoggtookachair,andsatdownnearthefireplace,oppositeAouda。Noemotionwasvisibleonhisface。FoggreturnedwasexactlytheFoggwhohadgoneaway;therewasthesamecalm,thesameimpassibility。
Hesatseveralminuteswithoutspeaking;then,bendinghiseyesonAouda,`Madam,'saidhe,`willyoupardonmeforbringingyoutoEngland?'
`I,MrFogg!'repliedAouda,checkingthepulsationsofherheart。
`Pleaseletmefinish,'returnedMrFogg。`WhenIdecidedtobringyoufarawayfromthecountrywhichwassounsafeforyou,Iwasrich,andcountedonputtingaportionofmyfortuneatyourdisposal;thenyourexistencewouldhavebeenfreeandhappy。ButnowIamruined。'
`Iknowit,MrFogg,'repliedAouda;`andIaskyouinmyturn,willyouforgivemeforhavingfollowedyou,and-whoknows?-forhaving,perhaps,delayedyou,andthuscontributedtoyourruin?'
`Madam,youcouldnotremaininIndia,andyoursafetycouldonlybeassuredbybringingyoutosuchadistancethatyourpersecutorscouldnottakeyou。'
`So,MrFogg,'resumedAouda,`notcontentwithrescuingmefromaterribledeath,youthoughtyourselfboundtosecuremycomfortinaforeignland?'
`Yes,madam;butcircumstanceshavebeenagainstme。Still,IbegtoplacethelittleIhaveleftatyourservice。'
`Butwhatwillbecomeofyou,MrFogg?'
`Asforme,madam,'repliedthegentleman,coldly,`Ihaveneedofnothing。'
`Buthowdoyoulookuponthefate,sir,whichawaitsyou?'
`AsIaminthehabitofdoing。'
`Atleast,'saidAouda,`wantshouldnotovertakeamanlikeyou。Yourfriends——'
`Ihavenofriends,madam。'
`Yourrelatives——'
`Ihavenolongeranyrelatives。'
`Ipityyou,then,MrFogg,forsolitudeisasadthing,withnohearttowhichtoconfideyourgriefs。Theysay,though,thatmiseryitself,sharedbytwosympatheticsoulsmaybebornewithpatience。
`Theysayso,madam。'
`MrFogg,'saidAouda,risingandseizinghishand,`doyouwishatonceakinswomanandfriend?Willyouhavemeforyourwife?'
MrFogg,atthis,roseinturn。Therewasanunwontedlightinhiseyes,andslighttremblingofhislips。Aoudalookedintohisface。Thesincerity,rectitude,firmnessandsweetnessofthissoftglanceofanoblewoman,whocoulddarealltosavehimtowhomsheowedall,atfirstastonished,thenpenetratedhim。Heshuthiseyesforaninstant,asiftoavoidherlook。Whenheopenedthemagain,`Iloveyou!'hesaid,simply。`Yes,byallthatisholiest,Iloveyou,andIamentirelyyours!'
`Ah!'criedAouda,pressinghishandtoherheart。
Passepartoutwassummonedandappearedimmediately。MrFoggstillheldAouda'shandinhisown;Passepartoutunderstood,andhisbig,roundfacebecameasradiantasthetropicalsunatitszenith。
MrFoggaskedhimifitwasnottoolatetonotifytheReverendSamuelWilson,ofMaryleboneParish,thatevening。
Passepartoutsmiledhismostgenialsmile,andsaid,`Nevertoolate。'
Itwasfiveminutespasteight。
`Willitbefortomorrow,Monday?'
`Fortomorrow,Monday,'saidFogg,turningtoAouda。
`Yes;fortomorrow,Monday,'shereplied。
Passepartouthurriedoffasfastashislegscouldcarryhim。
CHAPTERXXXVIINWHICHPHILEASFOGG'SNAMEISONCEMOREATAPREMIUMON'CHANGE。
ItistimetorelatewhatachangetookplaceinEnglishpublicopinion,whenittranspiredthattherealbankrobber,acertainJamesStrand,hadbeenarrested,onthe17thofDecember,atEdinburgh。Threedaysbefore,PhileasFogghadbeenacriminal,whowasbeingdesperatelyfollowedupbythepolice;nowhewasanhonourablegentleman,mathematicallypursuinghiseccentricjourneyroundtheworld。
Thepapersresumedtheirdiscussionaboutthewager;allthosewhohadlaidbets,fororagainsthim,revivedtheirinterest,asifbymagic;
the`PhileasFoggbends'againbecamenegotiable,andmanynewwagersweremade。PhileasFogg'snamewasoncemoreatapremiumon'Change。
HisfivefriendsoftheReformClubpassedthesethreedaysinastateoffeverishsuspense。WouldPhileasFogg,whomtheyhadforgotten,reappearbeforetheireyes!Wherewasheatthismoment?The17thofDecember,thedayofJamesStrand'sarrest,wastheseventy-sixthsincePhileasFogg'sdeparture,andnonewsofhimhadbeenreceived。Washedead?Hadheabandonedtheeffort,orwashecontinuinghisjourneyalongtherouteagreedupon?
AndwouldheappearonSaturday,the21stofDecember,ataquarterbeforenineintheevening,onthethresholdoftheReformClubsaloon?
Theanxietyinwhich,forthreedays,Londonsocietyexisted,cannotbedescribed。TelegramsweresenttoAmericaandAsiafornewsofPhileasFogg。MessengersweredespatchedtothehouseinSavilleRowmorningandevening。Nonews。Thepolicewereignorantwhathadbecomeofthedetective,Fix,whohadsounfortunatelyfollowedupafalsescent。Betsincreased,nevertheless,innumberandvalue。PhileasFogg,likearacehorse,wasdrawingnearhislastturning-point。Thebondswerequoted,nolongeratahundredbelowpar,butattwenty,atten,andatfive;andparalyticoldLordAlbemarlebeteveninhisfavour。
AgreatcrowdwascollectedinPallMailandtheneighbouringstreetsonSaturdayevening;itseemedlikeamultitudeofbrokerspermanentlyestablishedaroundtheReformClub。Circulationwasimpeded,andeverywheredisputes,discussions,andfinancialtransactionsweregoingon。Thepolicehadgreatdifficultyinkeepingbackthecrowd,andasthehourwhenPhileasFoggwasdueapproached,theexcitementrosetoitshighestpitch。
ThefiveantagonistsofPhileasFogghadmetinthegreatsaloonoftheclub。JohnSullivanandSamuelFallentin,thebankers,AndrewStuart,theengineer,GauthierRalph,thedirectoroftheBankofEngland,andThomasFlanagan,thebrewer,oneandallwaitedanxiously。
Whentheclockindicatedtwentyminutespasteight,AndrewStuartgotup,saying,`Gentlemen,intwentyminutesthetimeagreeduponbetweenMrFoggandourselveswillhaveexpired。'
`WhattimedidthelasttrainarrivefromLiverpool?'askedThomasFlanagan。
`Attwenty-threeminutespastseven,'repliedGauthierRalph;`andthenextdoesnotarrivetilltenminutesaftertwelve。'
`Well,gentlemen,'resumedAndrewStuart,`ifPhileasFogghadcomeinthe7。23train,hewouldhavegotherebythistime。Wecan,therefore,regardthebetaswon。'
`Wait;don'tletusbetoohasty,'repliedSamuelFallentin。`YouknowthatMrFoggisveryeccentric。Hispunctualityiswellknown;heneverarrivestoosoon,ortoolate;andIshouldnotbesurprisedifheappearedbeforeusatthelastminute。'
`Why,'saidAndrewStuartnervously,`ifIshouldseehim,Ishouldnotbelieveitwashe。'
`Thefactis,'resumedThomasFlanagan,`MrFogg'sprojectwasabsurdlyfoolish。Whateverhispunctuality,hecouldnotpreventthedelayswhichwerecertaintooccur;andadelayofonlytwoorthreedayswouldbefataltohistour。'
`Observe,too,'addedJohnSullivan,`thatwehavereceivednointelligencefromhim,thoughtherearetelegraphiclinesallalonghisroute。'
`Hehaslost,gentlemen,'saidAndrewStuart,-`hehasahundredtimeslost!Youknow,besides,thatthe"China"-theonlysteamerhecouldhavetakenfromNewYorktogethereintime-arrivedyesterday。IhaveseenalistofthepassengersandthenameofPhileasFoggisnotamongthem。
Evenifweadmitthatfortunehasfavouredhim,hecanscarcelyhavereachedAmerica。Ithinkhewillbeatleasttwentydaysbehindhand,andthatLordAlbemarlewillloseacoolfivethousand。'
`Itisclear,'repliedGauthierRalph;`andwehavenothingtodobuttopresentMrFogg'schequeatBaringstomorrow。'
Atthismoment,thehandsoftheclubclockpointedtotwentyminutestonine。
`Fiveminutesmore,'saidAndrewStuart。
Thefivegentlemenlookedateachother。Theiranxietywasbecomingintense;but,notwishingtobetrayit,theyreadilyassentedtoMrFallentin'sproposalofarubber。
`Iwouldn'tgiveupmyfourthousandofthebet,'saidAndrewStuart,ashetookhisseat,`forthreethousandninehundredandninety-nine。'
Theclockindicatedeighteenminutestonine。
Theplayerstookuptheircards,butcouldnotkeeptheireyesofftheclock。Certainly,howeversecuretheyfelt,minuteshadneverseemedsolongtothem!
`Seventeenminutestonine,'saidThomasFlanagan,ashecutthecardswhichRalphhandedtohim。
Thentherewasamomentofsilence。Thegreatsaloonwasperfectlyquiet;
butthemurmursofthecrowdoutsidewereheard,withnowandthenashrillcry。Thependulumbeattheseconds,whicheachplayereagerlycounted,ashelistenedwithmathematicalregularity。
`Sixteenminutestonine!'saidJohnSullivan,inavoicewhichbetrayedhisemotion。
Oneminutemore,andthewagerwouldbewon。AndrewStuartandhispartnerssuspendedtheirgame。Theylefttheircards,andcountedtheseconds。
Atthefortiethsecond,nothing。Atthefiftieth,stillnothing。
Atthefifty-fifth,aloudcrywasheardinthestreet,followedbyapplause,hurrahs,andsomefiercegrowls。
Theplayersrosefromtheirseats。
Atthefifty-seventhsecondthedoorofthesaloonopened;andthependulumhadnotbeatthesixtiethsecondwhenPhileasFoggappeared,followedbyanexcitedcrowdwhohadforcedtheirwaythroughtheclubdoors,andinhiscalmvoice,said,`HereIam,gentlemen!'
CHAPTERXXXVIIINWHICHITISSHOWNTHATPHILEASFOGGGAINEDNOTHINGBYHISTOURAROUND
THEWORLD,UNLESSITWEREHAPPINESS。
Yes;PhileasFogginperson。
Thereaderwillrememberthatatfiveminutespasteightintheevening-aboutfiveandtwentyhoursafterthearrivalofthetravellersinLondon-PassepartouthadbeensentbyhismastertoengagetheservicesoftheReverendSamuelWilsoninacertainmarriageceremony,whichwastotakeplacethenextday。
Passepartoutwentonhiserrandenchanted。Hesoonreachedtheclergyman'shouse,butfoundhimnotathome。Passepartoutwaitedagoodtwentyminutes,andwhenheleftthereverendgentleman,itwasthirty-fiveminutespasteight。Butinwhatastatehewas!Withhishairindisorder,andwithouthishat,heranalongthestreetasnevermanWasseentorunbefore,overturningpassers-by,rushingoverthesidewalklikeawaterspout。
InthreeminuteshewasinSavilleRowagain,andstaggeredbreathlesslyintoMrFogg'sroom。
Hecouldnotspeak。`Whatisthematter?'askedMrFogg。
`Mymaster!'gaspedPassepartout,-`marriage-impossible——'
`Impossible?'
`Impossible-fortomorrow。'
`Whyso?'
`Becausetomorrow-isSunday!'
`Monday,'repliedMrFogg。`No-today-isSaturday。'
`Saturday?Impossible!'
`Yes,yes,yes,yes!'criedPassepartout。`Youhavemadeamistakeofoneday!Wearrivedtwenty-fourhoursaheadoftime;butthereareonlytenminutesleft!'
Passepartouthadseizedhismasterbythecollar,andwasdragginghimalongwithirresistibleforce。
PhileasFogg,thuskidnapped,withouthavingtimetothink,lefthishouse,jumpedintoacab,promisedahundredpoundstothecabman,and,havingrunovertwodogsandoverturnedfivecarriages,reachedtheReformClub。
Theclockindicatedaquarterbeforeninewhenheappearedinthegreatsaloon。
PhileasFogghadaccomplishedthejourneyroundtheworldineightydays!
PhileasFogghadwonhiswageroftwentythousandpounds!
Howwasitthatamansoexactandfastidiouscouldhavemadethiserrorofaday?HowcamehetothinkthathehadarrivedinLondononSaturday,thetwenty-firstdayofDecember,whenitwasreallyFriday,thetwentieth,theseventy-ninthdayonlyfromhisdeparture?
Thecauseoftheerrorisverysimple。
PhileasFogghad,withoutsuspectingit,gainedonedayonhisjourney,andthismerelybecausehehadtravelledconstantlyeastward;hewould,onthecontrary,havelostadayhadhegoneintheoppositedirection,thatiswestward。
Injourneyingeastwardhehadgonetowardsthesun,andthedaysthereforediminishedforhimasmanytimesfourminutesashecrosseddegreesinthisdirection。Therearethreehundredandsixtydegreesonthecircumferenceoftheearth;andthesethreehundredandsixtydegrees,multipliedbyfourminutes,givespreciselytwenty-fourhours-thatis,thedayunconsciouslygained。Inotherwords,whilePhileasFogg,goingeastward,sawthesunpassthemeridianeightytimes,hisfriendsinLondononlysawitpastthemeridianseventy-ninetimes。ThisiswhytheyawaitedhimattheReformClubonSaturday,andnotSunday,asMrFoggthought。
AndPassepartout'sfamousfamilywatch,whichhadalwayskeptLondontime,wouldhavebetrayedthisfact,ifithadmarkedthedaysaswellasthehoursandminutes!
PhileasFogg,then,hadwonthetwentythousandpounds;butashehadspentnearlynineteenthousandontheway,thepecuniarygainwassmall。
Hisobjectwas,however,tobevictorious,andnottowinmoney。HedividedtheonethousandpoundsthatremainedbetweenPassepartoutandtheunfortunateFix,againstwhomhecherishednogrudge。Hededucted,however,fromPassepartout'ssharethecostofthegaswhichhadburnedinhisroomfornineteenhundredandtwentyhours,forthesakeofregularity。
Thatevening,MrFogg,astranquilandphlegmaticasever,saidtoAouda:
`Isourmarriagestillagreeabletoyou?'
`MrFogg,'repliedshe,`itisformetoaskthatquestion。Youwereruined,butnowyouarerichagain。'
`Pardonme,madam;myfortunebelongstoyou。Ifyouhadnotsuggestedourmarriage,myservantwouldnothavegonetotheReverendSamuelWilson's,Ishouldnothavebeenapprisedofmyerror,and——'
`DearMrFogg!'saidtheyoungwoman。
`DearAouda!'repliedPhileasFogg。Itneednotbesaidthatthemarriagetookplaceforty-eighthoursafter,andthatPassepartout,glowinganddazzling,gavethebrideaway。Hadhenotsavedher,andwashenotentitledtothishonour?
Thenextday,assoonasitwaslight,Passepartoutrappedvigorouslyathismaster'sdoor。MrFoggopenedit,andasked,`What'sthematter,Passepartout?'
`Whatisit,sir?Why,I'vejustthisinstantfoundout——'
`What?'
`Thatwemighthavemadethetouroftheworldinonlyseventy-eightdays。'
`Nodoubt,'returnedMrFogg,`bynotcrossingIndia。ButifIhadnotcrossedIndia,IshouldnothavesavedAouda;shewouldnothavebeenmywife,and——'
MrFoggquietlyshutthedoor。
PhileasFogghadwonhiswager,andhadmadehisjourneyaroundtheworldineightydays。Todothishehademployedeverymeansofconveyance-steamers,railways,carriages,yachts,trading-vessels,sledges,elephants。Theeccentricgentlemanhadthroughoutdisplayedallhismarvellousqualitiesofcoolnessandexactitude。Butwhatthen?Whathadhereallygainedbyallthistrouble?
Whathadhebroughtbackfromthislongandwearyjourney?
Nothing,sayyou?Perhapsso;nothingbutacharmingwoman,who,strangeasitmayappear,madehimthehappiestofmen!
Truly,wouldyounotforlessthanthatmakethetouraroundtheworld?