Reading Help Around the world in eighty days Ch.I-VI
`
` Fix, who suspected Mr. Fogg's every movement, followed them cautiously, `
` without being himself perceived; while Passepartout, laughing in his sleeve `
` at Fix's manoeuvres, went about his usual errands. `
` `
` The island of Singapore is not imposing in aspect, for there are `
` no mountains; yet its appearance is not without attractions. `
` It is a park checkered by pleasant highways and avenues. `
` A handsome carriage, drawn by a sleek pair of New Holland horses, `
` carried Phileas Fogg and Aouda into the midst of rows of palms `
` with brilliant foliage, and of clove-trees, whereof the cloves `
` form the heart of a half-open flower. Pepper plants replaced `
` the prickly hedges of European fields; sago-bushes, large ferns `
` with gorgeous branches, varied the aspect of this tropical clime; `
` while nutmeg-trees in full foliage filled the air with a penetrating perfume. `
` Agile and grinning bands of monkeys skipped about in the trees, nor were tigers `
` wanting in the jungles. `
` `
` After a drive of two hours through the country, Aouda and Mr. Fogg `
` returned to the town, which is a vast collection of heavy-looking, `
` irregular houses, surrounded by charming gardens rich in tropical fruits `
` and plants; and at ten o'clock they re-embarked, closely followed by `
` the detective, who had kept them constantly in sight. `
` `
` Passepartout, who had been purchasing several dozen mangoes-- `
` a fruit as large as good-sized apples, of a dark-brown colour `
` outside and a bright red within, and whose white pulp, melting in `
` the mouth, affords gourmands a delicious sensation--was waiting `
` for them on deck. He was only too glad to offer some mangoes `
` to Aouda, who thanked him very gracefully for them. `
` `
` At eleven o'clock the Rangoon rode out of Singapore harbour, `
` and in a few hours the high mountains of Malacca, with their forests, `
` inhabited by the most beautifully-furred tigers in the world, `
` were lost to view. Singapore is distant some thirteen hundred miles `
` from the island of Hong Kong, which is a little English colony `
` near the Chinese coast. Phileas Fogg hoped to accomplish the journey `
` in six days, so as to be in time for the steamer which would leave `
` on the 6th of November for Yokohama, the principal Japanese port. `
` `
` The Rangoon had a large quota of passengers, many of whom disembarked `
` at Singapore, among them a number of Indians, Ceylonese, Chinamen, `
` Malays, and Portuguese, mostly second-class travellers. `
` `
` The weather, which had hitherto been fine, changed with the `
` last quarter of the moon. The sea rolled heavily, and the wind `
` at intervals rose almost to a storm, but happily blew from `
` the south-west, and thus aided the steamer's progress. `
` The captain as often as possible put up his sails, `
` and under the double action of steam and sail the vessel made `
` rapid progress along the coasts of Anam and Cochin China. `
` Owing to the defective construction of the Rangoon, however, `
` unusual precautions became necessary in unfavourable weather; `
` but the loss of time which resulted from this cause, while it `
` nearly drove Passepartout out of his senses, did not seem `
` to affect his master in the least. Passepartout blamed the captain, `
` the engineer, and the crew, and consigned all who were connected `
` with the ship to the land where the pepper grows. Perhaps the thought `
` of the gas, which was remorselessly burning at his expense in Saville Row, `
` had something to do with his hot impatience. `
` `
` "You are in a great hurry, then," said Fix to him one day, "to reach Hong Kong?" `
` `
` "A very great hurry!" `
` `
` "Mr. Fogg, I suppose, is anxious to catch the steamer for Yokohama?" `
` `
` "Terribly anxious." `
` `
` "You believe in this journey around the world, then?" `
` `
` "Absolutely. Don't you, Mr. Fix?" `
` `
` "I? I don't believe a word of it." `
` `
` "You're a sly dog!" said Passepartout, winking at him. `
` `
` This expression rather disturbed Fix, without his knowing why. `
` Had the Frenchman guessed his real purpose? He knew not what `
` to think. But how could Passepartout have discovered that he `
` was a detective? Yet, in speaking as he did, the man evidently `
` meant more than he expressed. `
` `
` Passepartout went still further the next day; he could not hold his tongue. `
` `
` "Mr. Fix," said he, in a bantering tone, "shall we be so unfortunate `
` as to lose you when we get to Hong Kong?" `
` `
` "Why," responded Fix, a little embarrassed, "I don't know; perhaps--" `
` `
` "Ah, if you would only go on with us! An agent of the Peninsular Company, `
` you know, can't stop on the way! You were only going to Bombay, `
` and here you are in China. America is not far off, and from America `
` to Europe is only a step." `
` `
` Fix looked intently at his companion, whose countenance was `
` as serene as possible, and laughed with him. But Passepartout `
` persisted in chaffing him by asking him if he made much by his `
` present occupation. `
` `
` "Yes, and no," returned Fix; "there is good and bad luck in such things. `
` But you must understand that I don't travel at my own expense." `
` `
` "Oh, I am quite sure of that!" cried Passepartout, laughing heartily. `
` `
` Fix, fairly puzzled, descended to his cabin and gave himself `
` up to his reflections. He was evidently suspected; somehow `
` or other the Frenchman had found out that he was a detective. `
` But had he told his master? What part was he playing in all this: `
` was he an accomplice or not? Was the game, then, up? Fix spent `
` several hours turning these things over in his mind, sometimes `
` thinking that all was lost, then persuading himself that Fogg `
` was ignorant of his presence, and then undecided what course `
` it was best to take. `
` `
` Nevertheless, he preserved his coolness of mind, and at last `
` resolved to deal plainly with Passepartout. If he did not find it `
` practicable to arrest Fogg at Hong Kong, and if Fogg made preparations `
` to leave that last foothold of English territory, he, Fix, would tell `
` Passepartout all. Either the servant was the accomplice of his master, `
` and in this case the master knew of his operations, and he should fail; `
` or else the servant knew nothing about the robbery, and then his interest `
` would be to abandon the robber. `
` `
` Such was the situation between Fix and Passepartout. Meanwhile Phileas Fogg `
` moved about above them in the most majestic and unconscious indifference. `
` He was passing methodically in his orbit around the world, regardless of `
` the lesser stars which gravitated around him. Yet there was near by what `
` the astronomers would call a disturbing star, which might have produced `
` an agitation in this gentleman's heart. But no! the charms of Aouda `
` failed to act, to Passepartout's great surprise; and the disturbances, `
` if they existed, would have been more difficult to calculate than those `
` of Uranus which led to the discovery of Neptune. `
` `
` It was every day an increasing wonder to Passepartout, who read `
` in Aouda's eyes the depths of her gratitude to his master. `
` Phileas Fogg, though brave and gallant, must be, he thought, `
` quite heartless. As to the sentiment which this journey might `
` have awakened in him, there was clearly no trace of such a thing; `
` while poor Passepartout existed in perpetual reveries. `
` `
` One day he was leaning on the railing of the engine-room, `
` and was observing the engine, when a sudden pitch of the steamer `
` threw the screw out of the water. The steam came hissing out `
` of the valves; and this made Passepartout indignant. `
` `
` "The valves are not sufficiently charged!" he exclaimed. "We are `
` not going. Oh, these English! If this was an American craft, `
` we should blow up, perhaps, but we should at all events go faster!" `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter XVIII `
` `
` IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG, PASSEPARTOUT, AND FIX GO EACH ABOUT HIS BUSINESS `
` `
` `
` The weather was bad during the latter days of the voyage. `
` The wind, obstinately remaining in the north-west, blew a gale, `
` and retarded the steamer. The Rangoon rolled heavily and the `
` passengers became impatient of the long, monstrous waves which `
` the wind raised before their path. A sort of tempest arose on `
` the 3rd of November, the squall knocking the vessel about with fury, `
` and the waves running high. The Rangoon reefed all her sails, and even `
` the rigging proved too much, whistling and shaking amid the squall. `
` The steamer was forced to proceed slowly, and the captain estimated `
` that she would reach Hong Kong twenty hours behind time, and more `
` if the storm lasted. `
` `
` Phileas Fogg gazed at the tempestuous sea, which seemed to be struggling `
` especially to delay him, with his habitual tranquillity. He never changed `
` countenance for an instant, though a delay of twenty hours, by making him `
` too late for the Yokohama boat, would almost inevitably cause the loss `
` of the wager. But this man of nerve manifested neither impatience `
` nor annoyance; it seemed as if the storm were a part of his programme, `
` and had been foreseen. Aouda was amazed to find him as calm as he had been `
` from the first time she saw him. `
` `
` Fix did not look at the state of things in the same light. `
` The storm greatly pleased him. His satisfaction would have `
` been complete had the Rangoon been forced to retreat before `
` the violence of wind and waves. Each delay filled him with hope, `
` for it became more and more probable that Fogg would be obliged `
` to remain some days at Hong Kong; and now the heavens themselves `
` became his allies, with the gusts and squalls. It mattered not `
` that they made him sea-sick--he made no account of this inconvenience; `
` and, whilst his body was writhing under their effects, his spirit bounded `
` with hopeful exultation. `
` `
` Passepartout was enraged beyond expression by the unpropitious weather. `
` Everything had gone so well till now! Earth and sea had seemed to be `
` at his master's service; steamers and railways obeyed him; wind and steam `
` united to speed his journey. Had the hour of adversity come? `
` Passepartout was as much excited as if the twenty thousand pounds `
` were to come from his own pocket. The storm exasperated him, `
` the gale made him furious, and he longed to lash the obstinate sea `
` into obedience. Poor fellow! Fix carefully concealed from him `
` his own satisfaction, for, had he betrayed it, Passepartout could `
` scarcely have restrained himself from personal violence. `
` `
`
` Fix, who suspected Mr. Fogg's every movement, followed them cautiously, `
` without being himself perceived; while Passepartout, laughing in his sleeve `
` at Fix's manoeuvres, went about his usual errands. `
` `
` The island of Singapore is not imposing in aspect, for there are `
` no mountains; yet its appearance is not without attractions. `
` It is a park checkered by pleasant highways and avenues. `
` A handsome carriage, drawn by a sleek pair of New Holland horses, `
` carried Phileas Fogg and Aouda into the midst of rows of palms `
` with brilliant foliage, and of clove-trees, whereof the cloves `
` form the heart of a half-open flower. Pepper plants replaced `
` the prickly hedges of European fields; sago-bushes, large ferns `
` with gorgeous branches, varied the aspect of this tropical clime; `
` while nutmeg-trees in full foliage filled the air with a penetrating perfume. `
` Agile and grinning bands of monkeys skipped about in the trees, nor were tigers `
` wanting in the jungles. `
` `
` After a drive of two hours through the country, Aouda and Mr. Fogg `
` returned to the town, which is a vast collection of heavy-looking, `
` irregular houses, surrounded by charming gardens rich in tropical fruits `
` and plants; and at ten o'clock they re-embarked, closely followed by `
` the detective, who had kept them constantly in sight. `
` `
` Passepartout, who had been purchasing several dozen mangoes-- `
` a fruit as large as good-sized apples, of a dark-brown colour `
` outside and a bright red within, and whose white pulp, melting in `
` the mouth, affords gourmands a delicious sensation--was waiting `
` for them on deck. He was only too glad to offer some mangoes `
` to Aouda, who thanked him very gracefully for them. `
` `
` At eleven o'clock the Rangoon rode out of Singapore harbour, `
` and in a few hours the high mountains of Malacca, with their forests, `
` inhabited by the most beautifully-furred tigers in the world, `
` were lost to view. Singapore is distant some thirteen hundred miles `
` from the island of Hong Kong, which is a little English colony `
` near the Chinese coast. Phileas Fogg hoped to accomplish the journey `
` in six days, so as to be in time for the steamer which would leave `
` on the 6th of November for Yokohama, the principal Japanese port. `
` `
` The Rangoon had a large quota of passengers, many of whom disembarked `
` at Singapore, among them a number of Indians, Ceylonese, Chinamen, `
` Malays, and Portuguese, mostly second-class travellers. `
` `
` The weather, which had hitherto been fine, changed with the `
` last quarter of the moon. The sea rolled heavily, and the wind `
` at intervals rose almost to a storm, but happily blew from `
` the south-west, and thus aided the steamer's progress. `
` The captain as often as possible put up his sails, `
` and under the double action of steam and sail the vessel made `
` rapid progress along the coasts of Anam and Cochin China. `
` Owing to the defective construction of the Rangoon, however, `
` unusual precautions became necessary in unfavourable weather; `
` but the loss of time which resulted from this cause, while it `
` nearly drove Passepartout out of his senses, did not seem `
` to affect his master in the least. Passepartout blamed the captain, `
` the engineer, and the crew, and consigned all who were connected `
` with the ship to the land where the pepper grows. Perhaps the thought `
` of the gas, which was remorselessly burning at his expense in Saville Row, `
` had something to do with his hot impatience. `
` `
` "You are in a great hurry, then," said Fix to him one day, "to reach Hong Kong?" `
` `
` "A very great hurry!" `
` `
` "Mr. Fogg, I suppose, is anxious to catch the steamer for Yokohama?" `
` `
` "Terribly anxious." `
` `
` "You believe in this journey around the world, then?" `
` `
` "Absolutely. Don't you, Mr. Fix?" `
` `
` "I? I don't believe a word of it." `
` `
` "You're a sly dog!" said Passepartout, winking at him. `
` `
` This expression rather disturbed Fix, without his knowing why. `
` Had the Frenchman guessed his real purpose? He knew not what `
` to think. But how could Passepartout have discovered that he `
` was a detective? Yet, in speaking as he did, the man evidently `
` meant more than he expressed. `
` `
` Passepartout went still further the next day; he could not hold his tongue. `
` `
` "Mr. Fix," said he, in a bantering tone, "shall we be so unfortunate `
` as to lose you when we get to Hong Kong?" `
` `
` "Why," responded Fix, a little embarrassed, "I don't know; perhaps--" `
` `
` "Ah, if you would only go on with us! An agent of the Peninsular Company, `
` you know, can't stop on the way! You were only going to Bombay, `
` and here you are in China. America is not far off, and from America `
` to Europe is only a step." `
` `
` Fix looked intently at his companion, whose countenance was `
` as serene as possible, and laughed with him. But Passepartout `
` persisted in chaffing him by asking him if he made much by his `
` present occupation. `
` `
` "Yes, and no," returned Fix; "there is good and bad luck in such things. `
` But you must understand that I don't travel at my own expense." `
` `
` "Oh, I am quite sure of that!" cried Passepartout, laughing heartily. `
` `
` Fix, fairly puzzled, descended to his cabin and gave himself `
` up to his reflections. He was evidently suspected; somehow `
` or other the Frenchman had found out that he was a detective. `
` But had he told his master? What part was he playing in all this: `
` was he an accomplice or not? Was the game, then, up? Fix spent `
` several hours turning these things over in his mind, sometimes `
` thinking that all was lost, then persuading himself that Fogg `
` was ignorant of his presence, and then undecided what course `
` it was best to take. `
` `
` Nevertheless, he preserved his coolness of mind, and at last `
` resolved to deal plainly with Passepartout. If he did not find it `
` practicable to arrest Fogg at Hong Kong, and if Fogg made preparations `
` to leave that last foothold of English territory, he, Fix, would tell `
` Passepartout all. Either the servant was the accomplice of his master, `
` and in this case the master knew of his operations, and he should fail; `
` or else the servant knew nothing about the robbery, and then his interest `
` would be to abandon the robber. `
` `
` Such was the situation between Fix and Passepartout. Meanwhile Phileas Fogg `
` moved about above them in the most majestic and unconscious indifference. `
` He was passing methodically in his orbit around the world, regardless of `
` the lesser stars which gravitated around him. Yet there was near by what `
` the astronomers would call a disturbing star, which might have produced `
` an agitation in this gentleman's heart. But no! the charms of Aouda `
` failed to act, to Passepartout's great surprise; and the disturbances, `
` if they existed, would have been more difficult to calculate than those `
` of Uranus which led to the discovery of Neptune. `
` `
` It was every day an increasing wonder to Passepartout, who read `
` in Aouda's eyes the depths of her gratitude to his master. `
` Phileas Fogg, though brave and gallant, must be, he thought, `
` quite heartless. As to the sentiment which this journey might `
` have awakened in him, there was clearly no trace of such a thing; `
` while poor Passepartout existed in perpetual reveries. `
` `
` One day he was leaning on the railing of the engine-room, `
` and was observing the engine, when a sudden pitch of the steamer `
` threw the screw out of the water. The steam came hissing out `
` of the valves; and this made Passepartout indignant. `
` `
` "The valves are not sufficiently charged!" he exclaimed. "We are `
` not going. Oh, these English! If this was an American craft, `
` we should blow up, perhaps, but we should at all events go faster!" `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter XVIII `
` `
` IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG, PASSEPARTOUT, AND FIX GO EACH ABOUT HIS BUSINESS `
` `
` `
` The weather was bad during the latter days of the voyage. `
` The wind, obstinately remaining in the north-west, blew a gale, `
` and retarded the steamer. The Rangoon rolled heavily and the `
` passengers became impatient of the long, monstrous waves which `
` the wind raised before their path. A sort of tempest arose on `
` the 3rd of November, the squall knocking the vessel about with fury, `
` and the waves running high. The Rangoon reefed all her sails, and even `
` the rigging proved too much, whistling and shaking amid the squall. `
` The steamer was forced to proceed slowly, and the captain estimated `
` that she would reach Hong Kong twenty hours behind time, and more `
` if the storm lasted. `
` `
` Phileas Fogg gazed at the tempestuous sea, which seemed to be struggling `
` especially to delay him, with his habitual tranquillity. He never changed `
` countenance for an instant, though a delay of twenty hours, by making him `
` too late for the Yokohama boat, would almost inevitably cause the loss `
` of the wager. But this man of nerve manifested neither impatience `
` nor annoyance; it seemed as if the storm were a part of his programme, `
` and had been foreseen. Aouda was amazed to find him as calm as he had been `
` from the first time she saw him. `
` `
` Fix did not look at the state of things in the same light. `
` The storm greatly pleased him. His satisfaction would have `
` been complete had the Rangoon been forced to retreat before `
` the violence of wind and waves. Each delay filled him with hope, `
` for it became more and more probable that Fogg would be obliged `
` to remain some days at Hong Kong; and now the heavens themselves `
` became his allies, with the gusts and squalls. It mattered not `
` that they made him sea-sick--he made no account of this inconvenience; `
` and, whilst his body was writhing under their effects, his spirit bounded `
` with hopeful exultation. `
` `
` Passepartout was enraged beyond expression by the unpropitious weather. `
` Everything had gone so well till now! Earth and sea had seemed to be `
` at his master's service; steamers and railways obeyed him; wind and steam `
` united to speed his journey. Had the hour of adversity come? `
` Passepartout was as much excited as if the twenty thousand pounds `
` were to come from his own pocket. The storm exasperated him, `
` the gale made him furious, and he longed to lash the obstinate sea `
` into obedience. Poor fellow! Fix carefully concealed from him `
` his own satisfaction, for, had he betrayed it, Passepartout could `
` scarcely have restrained himself from personal violence. `
` `
`