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Until he had secured his extradition, he would not lose sight of him for an hour. `
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It was his duty, and he would fulfil it to the end. At all events, `
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there was one thing to be thankful for; Passepartout was not with his master; `
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and it was above all important, after the confidences Fix had imparted to him, `
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that the servant should never have speech with his master. `
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Phileas Fogg was also thinking of Passepartout, who had so `
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strangely disappeared. Looking at the matter from every point of view, `
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it did not seem to him impossible that, by some mistake, the man might `
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have embarked on the Carnatic at the last moment; and this was also `
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Aouda's opinion, who regretted very much the loss of the worthy fellow `
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to whom she owed so much. They might then find him at Yokohama; `
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for, if the Carnatic was carrying him thither, it would be easy `
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to ascertain if he had been on board. `
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A brisk breeze arose about ten o'clock; but, though it might `
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have been prudent to take in a reef, the pilot, after carefully `
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examining the heavens, let the craft remain rigged as before. `
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The Tankadere bore sail admirably, as she drew a great deal of water, `
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and everything was prepared for high speed in case of a gale. `
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Mr. Fogg and Aouda descended into the cabin at midnight, `
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having been already preceded by Fix, who had lain down on one of the cots. `
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The pilot and crew remained on deck all night. `
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At sunrise the next day, which was 8th November, the boat had made `
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more than one hundred miles. The log indicated a mean speed of between `
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eight and nine miles. The Tankadere still carried all sail, `
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and was accomplishing her greatest capacity of speed. `
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If the wind held as it was, the chances would be in her favour. `
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During the day she kept along the coast, where the currents were favourable; `
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the coast, irregular in profile, and visible sometimes across the clearings, `
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was at most five miles distant. The sea was less boisterous, `
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since the wind came off land--a fortunate circumstance for the boat, `
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which would suffer, owing to its small tonnage, by a heavy surge on the sea. `
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The breeze subsided a little towards noon, and set in from the south-west. `
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The pilot put up his poles, but took them down again within two hours, `
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as the wind freshened up anew. `
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Mr. Fogg and Aouda, happily unaffected by the roughness of the sea, `
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ate with a good appetite, Fix being invited to share their repast, `
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which he accepted with secret chagrin. To travel at this man's `
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expense and live upon his provisions was not palatable to him. `
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Still, he was obliged to eat, and so he ate. `
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When the meal was over, he took Mr. Fogg apart, and said, `
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"sir"--this "sir" scorched his lips, and he had to control himself `
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to avoid collaring this "gentleman"--"sir, you have been very kind `
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to give me a passage on this boat. But, though my means will not admit `
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of my expending them as freely as you, I must ask to pay my share--" `
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"Let us not speak of that, sir," replied Mr. Fogg. `
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"But, if I insist--" `
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"No, sir," repeated Mr. Fogg, in a tone which did not admit of a `
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reply. "This enters into my general expenses." `
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Fix, as he bowed, had a stifled feeling, and, going forward, `
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where he ensconced himself, did not open his mouth for the rest of the day. `
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Meanwhile they were progressing famously, and John Bunsby was `
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in high hope. He several times assured Mr. Fogg that they would `
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reach Shanghai in time; to which that gentleman responded `
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that he counted upon it. The crew set to work in good earnest, `
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inspired by the reward to be gained. There was not a sheet `
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which was not tightened not a sail which was not vigorously hoisted; `
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not a lurch could be charged to the man at the helm. They worked `
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as desperately as if they were contesting in a Royal yacht regatta. `
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By evening, the log showed that two hundred and twenty miles had been `
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accomplished from Hong Kong, and Mr. Fogg might hope that he would be able `
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to reach Yokohama without recording any delay in his journal; in which case, `
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the many misadventures which had overtaken him since he left London `
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would not seriously affect his journey. `
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The Tankadere entered the Straits of Fo-Kien, which separate `
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the island of Formosa from the Chinese coast, in the small hours `
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of the night, and crossed the Tropic of Cancer. The sea was very `
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rough in the straits, full of eddies formed by the counter-currents, `
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and the chopping waves broke her course, whilst it became very difficult `
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to stand on deck. `
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At daybreak the wind began to blow hard again, and the heavens `
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seemed to predict a gale. The barometer announced a speedy change, `
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the mercury rising and falling capriciously; the sea also, `
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in the south-east, raised long surges which indicated a tempest. `
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The sun had set the evening before in a red mist, `
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in the midst of the phosphorescent scintillations of the ocean. `
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John Bunsby long examined the threatening aspect of the heavens, `
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muttering indistinctly between his teeth. At last he said in a low voice `
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to Mr. Fogg, "Shall I speak out to your honour?" `
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"Of course." `
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"Well, we are going to have a squall." `
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"Is the wind north or south?" asked Mr. Fogg quietly. `
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"South. Look! a typhoon is coming up." `
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"Glad it's a typhoon from the south, for it will carry us forward." `
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"Oh, if you take it that way," said John Bunsby, "I've nothing more to say." `
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John Bunsby's suspicions were confirmed. At a less advanced season of the year `
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the typhoon, according to a famous meteorologist, would have passed away `
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like a luminous cascade of electric flame; but in the winter equinox `
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it was to be feared that it would burst upon them with great violence. `
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The pilot took his precautions in advance. He reefed all sail, `
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the pole-masts were dispensed with; all hands went forward to the bows. `
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A single triangular sail, of strong canvas, was hoisted as a storm-jib, `
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so as to hold the wind from behind. Then they waited. `
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John Bunsby had requested his passengers to go below; but this `
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imprisonment in so narrow a space, with little air, and the boat `
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bouncing in the gale, was far from pleasant. Neither Mr. Fogg, `
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Fix, nor Aouda consented to leave the deck. `
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The storm of rain and wind descended upon them towards eight o'clock. `
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With but its bit of sail, the Tankadere was lifted like a feather by a wind, `
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an idea of whose violence can scarcely be given. To compare her speed `
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to four times that of a locomotive going on full steam would be below `
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the truth. `
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The boat scudded thus northward during the whole day, borne on `
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by monstrous waves, preserving always, fortunately, a speed equal `
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to theirs. Twenty times she seemed almost to be submerged by `
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these mountains of water which rose behind her; but the adroit `
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management of the pilot saved her. The passengers were often `
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bathed in spray, but they submitted to it philosophically. `
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Fix cursed it, no doubt; but Aouda, with her eyes fastened upon `
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her protector, whose coolness amazed her, showed herself worthy `
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of him, and bravely weathered the storm. As for Phileas Fogg, `
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it seemed just as if the typhoon were a part of his programme. `
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Up to this time the Tankadere had always held her course to the north; `
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but towards evening the wind, veering three quarters, bore down from `
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the north-west. The boat, now lying in the trough of the waves, `
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shook and rolled terribly; the sea struck her with fearful violence. `
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At night the tempest increased in violence. John Bunsby saw the approach `
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of darkness and the rising of the storm with dark misgivings. `
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He thought awhile, and then asked his crew if it was not time to slacken speed. `
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After a consultation he approached Mr. Fogg, and said, "I think, your honour, `
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that we should do well to make for one of the ports on the coast." `
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"I think so too." `
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"Ah!" said the pilot. "But which one?" `
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"I know of but one," returned Mr. Fogg tranquilly. `
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"And that is--" `
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"Shanghai." `
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The pilot, at first, did not seem to comprehend; he could `
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scarcely realise so much determination and tenacity. `
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Then he cried, "Well--yes! Your honour is right. To Shanghai!" `
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So the Tankadere kept steadily on her northward track. `
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The night was really terrible; it would be a miracle if the `
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craft did not founder. Twice it could have been all over with her `
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if the crew had not been constantly on the watch. Aouda was exhausted, `
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but did not utter a complaint. More than once Mr. Fogg rushed `
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to protect her from the violence of the waves. `
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Day reappeared. The tempest still raged with undiminished fury; `
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but the wind now returned to the south-east. It was a favourable change, `
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and the Tankadere again bounded forward on this mountainous sea, `
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though the waves crossed each other, and imparted shocks and counter-shocks `
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which would have crushed a craft less solidly built. From time to time `
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the coast was visible through the broken mist, but no vessel was in sight. `
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The Tankadere was alone upon the sea. `
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There were some signs of a calm at noon, and these became more distinct `
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as the sun descended toward the horizon. The tempest had been as brief `
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as terrific. The passengers, thoroughly exhausted, could now eat a little, `
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and take some repose. `
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The night was comparatively quiet. Some of the sails were again hoisted, `
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and the speed of the boat was very good. The next morning at dawn `
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they espied the coast, and John Bunsby was able to assert that they were `
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not one hundred miles from Shanghai. A hundred miles, and only one day `
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to traverse them! That very evening Mr. Fogg was due at Shanghai, `
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if he did not wish to miss the steamer to Yokohama. Had there been no storm, `
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during which several hours were lost, they would be at this moment within `
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thirty miles of their destination. `
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The wind grew decidedly calmer, and happily the sea fell with it. `
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All sails were now hoisted, and at noon the Tankadere was within `
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forty-five miles of Shanghai. There remained yet six hours `
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in which to accomplish that distance. All on board feared `
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that it could not be done, and every one--Phileas Fogg, no doubt, `
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excepted--felt his heart beat with impatience. The boat must keep up `
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an average of nine miles an hour, and the wind was becoming calmer `
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every moment! It was a capricious breeze, coming from the coast, `
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and after it passed the sea became smooth. Still, the Tankadere `
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