Reading Help Around the world in eighty days Ch.VII-XIII
and after it passed the sea became smooth. Still, the Tankadere `
` was so light, and her fine sails caught the fickle zephyrs so well, `
` that, with the aid of the currents John Bunsby found himself at six o'clock `
` not more than ten miles from the mouth of Shanghai River. Shanghai itself `
` is situated at least twelve miles up the stream. At seven they were still `
` three miles from Shanghai. The pilot swore an angry oath; the reward of `
` two hundred pounds was evidently on the point of escaping him. He looked `
` at Mr. Fogg. Mr. Fogg was perfectly tranquil; and yet his whole fortune `
` was at this moment at stake. `
` `
` At this moment, also, a long black funnel, crowned with wreaths of smoke, `
` appeared on the edge of the waters. It was the American steamer, `
` leaving for Yokohama at the appointed time. `
` `
` "Confound her!" cried John Bunsby, pushing back the rudder `
` with a desperate jerk. `
` `
` "Signal her!" said Phileas Fogg quietly. `
` `
` A small brass cannon stood on the forward deck of the Tankadere, `
` for making signals in the fogs. It was loaded to the muzzle; `
` but just as the pilot was about to apply a red-hot coal to the touchhole, `
` Mr. Fogg said, "Hoist your flag!" `
` `
` The flag was run up at half-mast, and, this being the signal of distress, `
` it was hoped that the American steamer, perceiving it, would change her `
` course a little, so as to succour the pilot-boat. `
` `
` "Fire!" said Mr. Fogg. And the booming of the little cannon `
` resounded in the air. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter XXII `
` `
` IN WHICH PASSEPARTOUT FINDS OUT THAT, EVEN AT THE ANTIPODES, `
` IT IS CONVENIENT TO HAVE SOME MONEY IN ONE'S POCKET `
` `
` `
` The Carnatic, setting sail from Hong Kong at half-past six on the `
` 7th of November, directed her course at full steam towards Japan. `
` She carried a large cargo and a well-filled cabin of passengers. `
` Two state-rooms in the rear were, however, unoccupied--those which `
` had been engaged by Phileas Fogg. `
` `
` The next day a passenger with a half-stupefied eye, staggering gait, `
` and disordered hair, was seen to emerge from the second cabin, `
` and to totter to a seat on deck. `
` `
` It was Passepartout; and what had happened to him was as follows: `
` Shortly after Fix left the opium den, two waiters had lifted `
` the unconscious Passepartout, and had carried him to the bed `
` reserved for the smokers. Three hours later, pursued even `
` in his dreams by a fixed idea, the poor fellow awoke, `
` and struggled against the stupefying influence of the narcotic. `
` The thought of a duty unfulfilled shook off his torpor, `
` and he hurried from the abode of drunkenness. `
` Staggering and holding himself up by keeping against the walls, `
` falling down and creeping up again, and irresistibly impelled `
` by a kind of instinct, he kept crying out, "The Carnatic! the Carnatic!" `
` `
` The steamer lay puffing alongside the quay, on the point of starting. `
` Passepartout had but few steps to go; and, rushing upon the plank, `
` he crossed it, and fell unconscious on the deck, just as the Carnatic `
` was moving off. Several sailors, who were evidently accustomed `
` to this sort of scene, carried the poor Frenchman down into the second cabin, `
` and Passepartout did not wake until they were one hundred and fifty miles `
` away from China. Thus he found himself the next morning on the deck `
` of the Carnatic, and eagerly inhaling the exhilarating sea-breeze. `
` The pure air sobered him. He began to collect his sense, which he found `
` a difficult task; but at last he recalled the events of the evening before, `
` Fix's revelation, and the opium-house. `
` `
` "It is evident," said he to himself, "that I have been abominably drunk! `
` What will Mr. Fogg say? At least I have not missed the steamer, `
` which is the most important thing." `
` `
` Then, as Fix occurred to him: "As for that rascal, I hope we `
` are well rid of him, and that he has not dared, as he proposed, `
` to follow us on board the Carnatic. A detective on the track `
` of Mr. Fogg, accused of robbing the Bank of England! Pshaw! `
` Mr. Fogg is no more a robber than I am a murderer." `
` `
` Should he divulge Fix's real errand to his master? Would it `
` do to tell the part the detective was playing. Would it not be `
` better to wait until Mr. Fogg reached London again, and then `
` impart to him that an agent of the metropolitan police had been `
` following him round the world, and have a good laugh over it? `
` No doubt; at least, it was worth considering. The first thing to `
` do was to find Mr. Fogg, and apologise for his singular behaviour. `
` `
` Passepartout got up and proceeded, as well as he could with `
` the rolling of the steamer, to the after-deck. He saw no one `
` who resembled either his master or Aouda. "Good!" muttered he; `
` "Aouda has not got up yet, and Mr. Fogg has probably found some `
` partners at whist." `
` `
` He descended to the saloon. Mr. Fogg was not there. `
` Passepartout had only, however, to ask the purser the number `
` of his master's state-room. The purser replied that he `
` did not know any passenger by the name of Fogg. `
` `
` "I beg your pardon," said Passepartout persistently. "He is a tall gentleman, `
` quiet, and not very talkative, and has with him a young lady--" `
` `
` "There is no young lady on board," interrupted the purser. `
` "Here is a list of the passengers; you may see for yourself." `
` `
` Passepartout scanned the list, but his master's name was not upon it. `
` All at once an idea struck him. `
` `
` "Ah! am I on the Carnatic?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "On the way to Yokohama?" `
` `
` "Certainly." `
` `
` Passepartout had for an instant feared that he was on the wrong boat; `
` but, though he was really on the Carnatic, his master was not there. `
` `
` He fell thunderstruck on a seat. He saw it all now. `
` He remembered that the time of sailing had been changed, `
` that he should have informed his master of that fact, `
` and that he had not done so. It was his fault, then, `
` that Mr. Fogg and Aouda had missed the steamer. `
` Yes, but it was still more the fault of the traitor who, `
` in order to separate him from his master, and detain `
` the latter at Hong Kong, had inveigled him into getting drunk! `
` He now saw the detective's trick; and at this moment Mr. Fogg `
` was certainly ruined, his bet was lost, and he himself perhaps `
` arrested and imprisoned! At this thought Passepartout tore his hair. `
` Ah, if Fix ever came within his reach, what a settling of accounts `
` there would be! `
` `
` After his first depression, Passepartout became calmer, `
` and began to study his situation. It was certainly not `
` an enviable one. He found himself on the way to Japan, `
` and what should he do when he got there? His pocket was empty; `
` he had not a solitary shilling, not so much as a penny. `
` His passage had fortunately been paid for in advance; `
` and he had five or six days in which to decide upon his future course. `
` He fell to at meals with an appetite, and ate for Mr. Fogg, Aouda, `
` and himself. He helped himself as generously as if Japan were a desert, `
` where nothing to eat was to be looked for. `
` `
` At dawn on the 13th the Carnatic entered the port of Yokohama. `
` This is an important port of call in the Pacific, where all the `
` mail-steamers, and those carrying travellers between North America, `
` China, Japan, and the Oriental islands put in. It is situated `
` in the bay of Yeddo, and at but a short distance from that `
` second capital of the Japanese Empire, and the residence of the Tycoon, `
` the civil Emperor, before the Mikado, the spiritual Emperor, `
` absorbed his office in his own. The Carnatic anchored at the quay `
` near the custom-house, in the midst of a crowd of ships bearing `
` the flags of all nations. `
` `
` Passepartout went timidly ashore on this so curious territory `
` of the Sons of the Sun. He had nothing better to do than, `
` taking chance for his guide, to wander aimlessly through the streets `
` of Yokohama. He found himself at first in a thoroughly European quarter, `
` the houses having low fronts, and being adorned with verandas, `
` beneath which he caught glimpses of neat peristyles. This quarter occupied, `
` with its streets, squares, docks, and warehouses, all the space between `
` the "promontory of the Treaty" and the river. Here, as at Hong Kong `
` and Calcutta, were mixed crowds of all races, Americans and English, `
` Chinamen and Dutchmen, mostly merchants ready to buy or sell anything. `
` The Frenchman felt himself as much alone among them as if he had dropped `
` down in the midst of Hottentots. `
` `
` He had, at least, one resource to call on the French and English consuls `
` at Yokohama for assistance. But he shrank from telling the story `
` of his adventures, intimately connected as it was with that of his master; `
` and, before doing so, he determined to exhaust all other means of aid. `
` As chance did not favour him in the European quarter, he penetrated `
` that inhabited by the native Japanese, determined, if necessary, `
` to push on to Yeddo. `
` `
` The Japanese quarter of Yokohama is called Benten, after the `
` goddess of the sea, who is worshipped on the islands round about. `
` There Passepartout beheld beautiful fir and cedar groves, sacred `
` gates of a singular architecture, bridges half hid in the midst `
` of bamboos and reeds, temples shaded by immense cedar-trees, `
` holy retreats where were sheltered Buddhist priests and sectaries `
` of Confucius, and interminable streets, where a perfect harvest of `
` rose-tinted and red-cheeked children, who looked as if they had been `
` cut out of Japanese screens, and who were playing in the midst `
` of short-legged poodles and yellowish cats, might have been gathered. `
` `
` The streets were crowded with people. Priests were passing `
` in processions, beating their dreary tambourines; police and `
` custom-house officers with pointed hats encrusted with lac and `
` carrying two sabres hung to their waists; soldiers, clad in blue `
` cotton with white stripes, and bearing guns; the Mikado's guards, `
` enveloped in silken doubles, hauberks and coats of mail; `
` and numbers of military folk of all ranks--for the military `
` profession is as much respected in Japan as it is despised `
` in China--went hither and thither in groups and pairs. `
` Passepartout saw, too, begging friars, long-robed pilgrims, `
`
` was so light, and her fine sails caught the fickle zephyrs so well, `
` that, with the aid of the currents John Bunsby found himself at six o'clock `
` not more than ten miles from the mouth of Shanghai River. Shanghai itself `
` is situated at least twelve miles up the stream. At seven they were still `
` three miles from Shanghai. The pilot swore an angry oath; the reward of `
` two hundred pounds was evidently on the point of escaping him. He looked `
` at Mr. Fogg. Mr. Fogg was perfectly tranquil; and yet his whole fortune `
` was at this moment at stake. `
` `
` At this moment, also, a long black funnel, crowned with wreaths of smoke, `
` appeared on the edge of the waters. It was the American steamer, `
` leaving for Yokohama at the appointed time. `
` `
` "Confound her!" cried John Bunsby, pushing back the rudder `
` with a desperate jerk. `
` `
` "Signal her!" said Phileas Fogg quietly. `
` `
` A small brass cannon stood on the forward deck of the Tankadere, `
` for making signals in the fogs. It was loaded to the muzzle; `
` but just as the pilot was about to apply a red-hot coal to the touchhole, `
` Mr. Fogg said, "Hoist your flag!" `
` `
` The flag was run up at half-mast, and, this being the signal of distress, `
` it was hoped that the American steamer, perceiving it, would change her `
` course a little, so as to succour the pilot-boat. `
` `
` "Fire!" said Mr. Fogg. And the booming of the little cannon `
` resounded in the air. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter XXII `
` `
` IN WHICH PASSEPARTOUT FINDS OUT THAT, EVEN AT THE ANTIPODES, `
` IT IS CONVENIENT TO HAVE SOME MONEY IN ONE'S POCKET `
` `
` `
` The Carnatic, setting sail from Hong Kong at half-past six on the `
` 7th of November, directed her course at full steam towards Japan. `
` She carried a large cargo and a well-filled cabin of passengers. `
` Two state-rooms in the rear were, however, unoccupied--those which `
` had been engaged by Phileas Fogg. `
` `
` The next day a passenger with a half-stupefied eye, staggering gait, `
` and disordered hair, was seen to emerge from the second cabin, `
` and to totter to a seat on deck. `
` `
` It was Passepartout; and what had happened to him was as follows: `
` Shortly after Fix left the opium den, two waiters had lifted `
` the unconscious Passepartout, and had carried him to the bed `
` reserved for the smokers. Three hours later, pursued even `
` in his dreams by a fixed idea, the poor fellow awoke, `
` and struggled against the stupefying influence of the narcotic. `
` The thought of a duty unfulfilled shook off his torpor, `
` and he hurried from the abode of drunkenness. `
` Staggering and holding himself up by keeping against the walls, `
` falling down and creeping up again, and irresistibly impelled `
` by a kind of instinct, he kept crying out, "The Carnatic! the Carnatic!" `
` `
` The steamer lay puffing alongside the quay, on the point of starting. `
` Passepartout had but few steps to go; and, rushing upon the plank, `
` he crossed it, and fell unconscious on the deck, just as the Carnatic `
` was moving off. Several sailors, who were evidently accustomed `
` to this sort of scene, carried the poor Frenchman down into the second cabin, `
` and Passepartout did not wake until they were one hundred and fifty miles `
` away from China. Thus he found himself the next morning on the deck `
` of the Carnatic, and eagerly inhaling the exhilarating sea-breeze. `
` The pure air sobered him. He began to collect his sense, which he found `
` a difficult task; but at last he recalled the events of the evening before, `
` Fix's revelation, and the opium-house. `
` `
` "It is evident," said he to himself, "that I have been abominably drunk! `
` What will Mr. Fogg say? At least I have not missed the steamer, `
` which is the most important thing." `
` `
` Then, as Fix occurred to him: "As for that rascal, I hope we `
` are well rid of him, and that he has not dared, as he proposed, `
` to follow us on board the Carnatic. A detective on the track `
` of Mr. Fogg, accused of robbing the Bank of England! Pshaw! `
` Mr. Fogg is no more a robber than I am a murderer." `
` `
` Should he divulge Fix's real errand to his master? Would it `
` do to tell the part the detective was playing. Would it not be `
` better to wait until Mr. Fogg reached London again, and then `
` impart to him that an agent of the metropolitan police had been `
` following him round the world, and have a good laugh over it? `
` No doubt; at least, it was worth considering. The first thing to `
` do was to find Mr. Fogg, and apologise for his singular behaviour. `
` `
` Passepartout got up and proceeded, as well as he could with `
` the rolling of the steamer, to the after-deck. He saw no one `
` who resembled either his master or Aouda. "Good!" muttered he; `
` "Aouda has not got up yet, and Mr. Fogg has probably found some `
` partners at whist." `
` `
` He descended to the saloon. Mr. Fogg was not there. `
` Passepartout had only, however, to ask the purser the number `
` of his master's state-room. The purser replied that he `
` did not know any passenger by the name of Fogg. `
` `
` "I beg your pardon," said Passepartout persistently. "He is a tall gentleman, `
` quiet, and not very talkative, and has with him a young lady--" `
` `
` "There is no young lady on board," interrupted the purser. `
` "Here is a list of the passengers; you may see for yourself." `
` `
` Passepartout scanned the list, but his master's name was not upon it. `
` All at once an idea struck him. `
` `
` "Ah! am I on the Carnatic?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "On the way to Yokohama?" `
` `
` "Certainly." `
` `
` Passepartout had for an instant feared that he was on the wrong boat; `
` but, though he was really on the Carnatic, his master was not there. `
` `
` He fell thunderstruck on a seat. He saw it all now. `
` He remembered that the time of sailing had been changed, `
` that he should have informed his master of that fact, `
` and that he had not done so. It was his fault, then, `
` that Mr. Fogg and Aouda had missed the steamer. `
` Yes, but it was still more the fault of the traitor who, `
` in order to separate him from his master, and detain `
` the latter at Hong Kong, had inveigled him into getting drunk! `
` He now saw the detective's trick; and at this moment Mr. Fogg `
` was certainly ruined, his bet was lost, and he himself perhaps `
` arrested and imprisoned! At this thought Passepartout tore his hair. `
` Ah, if Fix ever came within his reach, what a settling of accounts `
` there would be! `
` `
` After his first depression, Passepartout became calmer, `
` and began to study his situation. It was certainly not `
` an enviable one. He found himself on the way to Japan, `
` and what should he do when he got there? His pocket was empty; `
` he had not a solitary shilling, not so much as a penny. `
` His passage had fortunately been paid for in advance; `
` and he had five or six days in which to decide upon his future course. `
` He fell to at meals with an appetite, and ate for Mr. Fogg, Aouda, `
` and himself. He helped himself as generously as if Japan were a desert, `
` where nothing to eat was to be looked for. `
` `
` At dawn on the 13th the Carnatic entered the port of Yokohama. `
` This is an important port of call in the Pacific, where all the `
` mail-steamers, and those carrying travellers between North America, `
` China, Japan, and the Oriental islands put in. It is situated `
` in the bay of Yeddo, and at but a short distance from that `
` second capital of the Japanese Empire, and the residence of the Tycoon, `
` the civil Emperor, before the Mikado, the spiritual Emperor, `
` absorbed his office in his own. The Carnatic anchored at the quay `
` near the custom-house, in the midst of a crowd of ships bearing `
` the flags of all nations. `
` `
` Passepartout went timidly ashore on this so curious territory `
` of the Sons of the Sun. He had nothing better to do than, `
` taking chance for his guide, to wander aimlessly through the streets `
` of Yokohama. He found himself at first in a thoroughly European quarter, `
` the houses having low fronts, and being adorned with verandas, `
` beneath which he caught glimpses of neat peristyles. This quarter occupied, `
` with its streets, squares, docks, and warehouses, all the space between `
` the "promontory of the Treaty" and the river. Here, as at Hong Kong `
` and Calcutta, were mixed crowds of all races, Americans and English, `
` Chinamen and Dutchmen, mostly merchants ready to buy or sell anything. `
` The Frenchman felt himself as much alone among them as if he had dropped `
` down in the midst of Hottentots. `
` `
` He had, at least, one resource to call on the French and English consuls `
` at Yokohama for assistance. But he shrank from telling the story `
` of his adventures, intimately connected as it was with that of his master; `
` and, before doing so, he determined to exhaust all other means of aid. `
` As chance did not favour him in the European quarter, he penetrated `
` that inhabited by the native Japanese, determined, if necessary, `
` to push on to Yeddo. `
` `
` The Japanese quarter of Yokohama is called Benten, after the `
` goddess of the sea, who is worshipped on the islands round about. `
` There Passepartout beheld beautiful fir and cedar groves, sacred `
` gates of a singular architecture, bridges half hid in the midst `
` of bamboos and reeds, temples shaded by immense cedar-trees, `
` holy retreats where were sheltered Buddhist priests and sectaries `
` of Confucius, and interminable streets, where a perfect harvest of `
` rose-tinted and red-cheeked children, who looked as if they had been `
` cut out of Japanese screens, and who were playing in the midst `
` of short-legged poodles and yellowish cats, might have been gathered. `
` `
` The streets were crowded with people. Priests were passing `
` in processions, beating their dreary tambourines; police and `
` custom-house officers with pointed hats encrusted with lac and `
` carrying two sabres hung to their waists; soldiers, clad in blue `
` cotton with white stripes, and bearing guns; the Mikado's guards, `
` enveloped in silken doubles, hauberks and coats of mail; `
` and numbers of military folk of all ranks--for the military `
` profession is as much respected in Japan as it is despised `
` in China--went hither and thither in groups and pairs. `
` Passepartout saw, too, begging friars, long-robed pilgrims, `
`