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30 - Around The World in Eighty Days - Jules Verne · Science Fiction Books - Daily

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  Speaker 1: Chapter thirty, in which Phileas Fogg simply does his duty.
• 0:07
  Speaker 1: Three passengers, including Passepartout, had disappeared. Had they been killed
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  Speaker 1: in the struggle? Were they taken prisoners by the Sioux?
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  Speaker 1: It was impossible to tell. There were many wounded, but
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  Speaker 1: none mortally. Colonel Proctor was one of the most seriously hurt.
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  Speaker 1: He had fought bravely and a ball had entered his groin.
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  Speaker 1: He was carried into the station with the other wounded
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  Speaker 1: passengers to receive such attention as could be of avail.
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  Speaker 1: Aouda was safe, and Phileas Fogg, who had been in
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  Speaker 1: the thickest of the fight, had not received a scratch.
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  Speaker 1: Fix was slightly wounded in the arm, but Passepartout was
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  Speaker 1: not to be found, and tears coursed down Aouda's cheeks.
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  Speaker 1: All the passengers had got out of the train, the
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  Speaker 1: wheels of which were stained with blood from the tires
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  Speaker 1: and spokes hung ragged pieces of flesh as far as
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  Speaker 1: the eye could reach. On the white plain, behind, red
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  Speaker 1: trails were visible. The last Sioux were disappearing in the
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  Speaker 1: south along the banks of the Republican River. Mister Fogg,
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  Speaker 1: with folded arms remained motionless. He had a serious decision
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  Speaker 1: to make. Aouda standing near him, looked at him without speaking,
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  Speaker 1: and he understood her look. If his servant was a prisoner,
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  Speaker 1: ought he not to risk everything to rescue him from
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  Speaker 1: the Indians. I will find him living or dead, said
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  Speaker 1: he quietly to Aouda. Ah. Mister mister Fogg cried, she
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  Speaker 1: clasping his hands and covering them with tears. Living, added
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  Speaker 1: mister Fogg, if we do not lose a moment, phileas Fogg,
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  Speaker 1: by this resolution, inevitably sacrificed himself. He pronounced his own doom.
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  Speaker 1: The delay of a single day would make him lose
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  Speaker 1: the steamer at New York, and his beck would be
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  Speaker 1: certainly lost. But as he thought it is my duty,
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  Speaker 1: he did not hesitate. The commanding officer of Fort Kearney
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  Speaker 1: was there. A hundred of his soldiers had placed themselves
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  Speaker 1: in a position to defend the station should the Sioux
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  Speaker 1: attack it, Sir, said mister Fogg to the captain. Three
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  Speaker 1: passengers have disappeared dead, asked the captain, dead or prisoners.
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  Speaker 1: That is the uncertainty which must be solved. Do you
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  Speaker 1: propose to pursue the Sioux that's a serious thing to do, sir,
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  Speaker 1: returned the captain. These Indians may retreat beyond the Arkansas,
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  Speaker 1: and I cannot leave the fort unprotected. The lives of
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  Speaker 1: three men are in question, sir, said Phileas Fogg, doubtless.
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  Speaker 1: But can I risk the lives of fifty men to
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  Speaker 1: say three. I don't know whether you can, sir, but
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  Speaker 1: you ought to do so. Nobody here returned. The other
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  Speaker 1: has a right to teach me my duty very well,
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  Speaker 1: said mister Fogg coldly. I will go alone, you, sir,
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  Speaker 1: cried Fix, coming up. You go alone in pursuit of
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  Speaker 1: the Indians. Would you have me leave this poor fellow
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  Speaker 1: to perish him to whom every one present owes his life.
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  Speaker 1: I shall go. No, sir, you shall not go alone,
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  Speaker 1: cried the captain, touched in spite of himself. No, you
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  Speaker 1: are a brave man. Thirty volunteers, he added, turning to
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  Speaker 1: the soldiers. The whole company started forward at once. The
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  Speaker 1: captain had only to pick his men. Thirty were chosen,
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  Speaker 1: and an old sergeant placed at their head. Thanks captain,
• 3:43
  Speaker 1: said mister Fogg. Would you let me go with you?
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  Speaker 1: Asked Fix, Do as you please, sir, But if you
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  Speaker 1: wish to do me a favor, you will remain with
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  Speaker 1: Aouda in case anything should happen to me, a sudden
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  Speaker 1: pallor overspread the detective's face, separate himself from the man
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  Speaker 1: whom he had so persistently followed step by step, Leave
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  Speaker 1: him to wander about in this desert. Fix gazed attentively
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  Speaker 1: at mister Fogg, and despite his suspicions and of the
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  Speaker 1: struggle which was going on within him, he lowered his
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  Speaker 1: eyes before that, calm and frank, look, I will stay,
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  Speaker 1: said he. A few moments after, mister Fogg pressed the
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  Speaker 1: young woman's hand, and, having confided to her his precious
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  Speaker 1: carpet bag, went off with the sergeant and his little squad.
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  Speaker 1: But before going he had said to the soldiers, my friends,
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  Speaker 1: I will divide five thousand dollars among you if we
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  Speaker 1: save the prisoners. It was then a little past noon.
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  Speaker 1: Aouda retired to a waiting room, and there she waited alone,
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  Speaker 1: thinking of the simple and noble generosity, the tranquil courage
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  Speaker 1: of Phileas Fogg. He had sacrificed his fortune and was
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  Speaker 1: now risking his life, all without hesitation from duty. In silence,
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  Speaker 1: Fix did not have the same thoughts and could scarcely
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  Speaker 1: conceal his agitation. He walked feverishly up and down the platform,
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  Speaker 1: but soon resumed his outward composure. He now saw the
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  Speaker 1: folly of which he had been guilty in letting Fogg
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  Speaker 1: go alone. What this man, whom he had just followed
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  Speaker 1: around the world, was permitted now to separate himself from him.
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  Speaker 1: He began to accuse and abuse himself, and, as if
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  Speaker 1: he were director of police, administered to himself a sound
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  Speaker 1: lecture for his greenness. I have been an idiot, he thought,
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  Speaker 1: and this man will see it. He has gone and
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  Speaker 1: won't come back. But how is it that I Fix,
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  Speaker 1: who have in my pocket a warrant for his arrest,
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  Speaker 1: had been so fascinated by him? Decidedly, I am nothing
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  Speaker 1: but an ass so reasoned the detective. While the hours
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  Speaker 1: crept by all too slowly, he did not know what
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  Speaker 1: to do. Sometimes he was tempted to tell Aouda all,
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  Speaker 1: but he could not doubt how the young woman would
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  Speaker 1: receive his confidences. What course should he take? He thought
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  Speaker 1: of pursuing Fog across the vast white plains. It did
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  Speaker 1: not seem impossible that he might overtake him. Footsteps were
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  Speaker 1: easily printed on the snow, but soon under a new
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  Speaker 1: sheet every imprint would be effaced. Fix became discouraged. He
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  Speaker 1: felt a sort of insurmountable longing to abandon the game altogether.
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  Speaker 1: He could now leave Fort Kearney Station and pursue his
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  Speaker 1: journey homeward in peace. Towards two o'clock in the afternoon,
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  Speaker 1: while it was snowing hard, long whistles were heard approaching
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  Speaker 1: from the east, a great shadow, preceded by a wild
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  Speaker 1: light slowly advanced, appearing still larger through the mist, which
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  Speaker 1: gave it a fantastic aspect. No train was expected from
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  Speaker 1: the east, neither had there been time for the sucker
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  Speaker 1: asked for by telegraph to arrive. The train from Omaha
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  Speaker 1: to San Francisco was not due till the next day.
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  Speaker 1: The mystery was soon explained. The locomotive, which was slowly
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  Speaker 1: approaching with deafening whistles, was that which, having been detached
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  Speaker 1: from the train, had continued its route with such terrific rapidity,
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  Speaker 1: carrying off the unconscious engineer in Stoker. It had run
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  Speaker 1: several miles when the fire becoming low for want of fuel,
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  Speaker 1: the steam had slackened, and it had finally stopped an
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  Speaker 1: hour after, some twenty miles beyond Fort Kearney. Neither the
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  Speaker 1: engineer nor the stoker was dead, and after remaining for
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  Speaker 1: some time in their swoon, had come to themselves. The
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  Speaker 1: train had then stopped. The engineer, when he found himself
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  Speaker 1: in the desert and the locomotive without cars, understood what
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  Speaker 1: had happened. He could not i imagine how the locomotive had
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  Speaker 1: become separated from the train, but he did not doubt
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  Speaker 1: that the train left behind was in distress. He did
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  Speaker 1: not hesitate what to do. It would be prudent to
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  Speaker 1: continue on to Omaha, for it would be dangerous to
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  Speaker 1: return to the train, which the Indians might still be
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  Speaker 1: engaged in pillaging. Nevertheless, he began to rebuild the fire
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  Speaker 1: in the furnace. The pressure again mounted, and the engineer returned,
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  Speaker 1: running backwards to Fort Kearney. This it was which was
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  Speaker 1: whistling in the mist. The travelers were glad to see
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  Speaker 1: the locomotive resume its place at the head of the train.
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  Speaker 1: They could now continue the journey so terribly interrupted. Aouda,
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  Speaker 1: on seeing the locomotive come up, hurried out of the station,
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  Speaker 1: and asked the conductor are you going to start at once? Madam?
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  Speaker 1: But the prisoners are unfortunate fellow travelers. I cannot interrupt
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  Speaker 1: the trip, replied the conductor. We are already three hours
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  Speaker 1: behind time. And when will another train pass here from
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  Speaker 1: San Francisco tomorrow evening? Madam? Tomorrow evening. But then it
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  Speaker 1: will be too late. We must wait. It is impossible,
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  Speaker 1: responded the conductor. If you wish to go, please get in.
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  Speaker 1: I will not go, said aouda Fix had heard this
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  Speaker 1: conversation a little while before, when there was no prospect
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  Speaker 1: of proceeding on the journey, he had made up his
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  Speaker 1: mind to leave Fort Kearney. But now that the train
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  Speaker 1: was there, ready to start, and he had only to
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  Speaker 1: take his seat in the car, an irresistible influence held
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  Speaker 1: him back. The station platform burned his feet, and he
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  Speaker 1: could not stir. The conflict in his mind began again.
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  Speaker 1: Anger and failure stifled him. He wished to struggle on
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  Speaker 1: to the end. Meanwhile, the passengers and some the wounded,
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  Speaker 1: among them Colonel Proctor, whose injuries were serious, had taken
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  Speaker 1: their places in the train. The buzzing of the overheated
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  Speaker 1: boiler was heard and the steam was escaping from the valves.
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  Speaker 1: The engineer whistled, The train started and soon disappeared, mingling
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  Speaker 1: its white smoke with the eddies of the densely falling snow.
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  Speaker 1: The detective had remained behind. Several hours passed, The weather
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  Speaker 1: was dismal and was very cold. Fix sat motionless on
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  Speaker 1: a bench at the station. He might have been thought asleep. Aouda,
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  Speaker 1: despite the storm, kept coming out of the waiting room,
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  Speaker 1: going to the end of the platform and peering through
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  Speaker 1: the tempest of snow, as if to pierce the mist
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  Speaker 1: that narrowed the horizon around her, and to hear, if possible,
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  Speaker 1: some welcome sound. She heard and saw nothing, then she
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  Speaker 1: would return, chilled through, to issue out again after the
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  Speaker 1: lapse of a few moments, but always in vain. Evening
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  Speaker 1: came and the little man had not returned. Where could
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  Speaker 1: they be? Had they found the Indians and were they
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  Speaker 1: having a conflict with them? Or were they still wandering
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  Speaker 1: amid the mist. The commander of the fort was anxious,
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  Speaker 1: though he tried to conceal his apprehensions. As night approached,
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  Speaker 1: the snow fell as plentifully, but it became intensely cold,
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  Speaker 1: absolute silence rested on the plains. Neither flight of bird
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  Speaker 1: nor passing of beast troubled the perfect calm. Throughout the night,
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  Speaker 1: aouda full of sad forebodings, her heart stifled with anguish,
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  Speaker 1: wandered about on the verge of the plains. Her imagination
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  Speaker 1: carried her far off and showed her innumerable dangers. What
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  Speaker 1: she suffered through the long hours it would be impossible
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  Speaker 1: to describe. Fix remained stationary in the same place, but
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  Speaker 1: did not sleep. Once a man approached and spoke to him,
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  Speaker 1: and the detective merely replied by shaking his head. Thus
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  Speaker 1: the night passed. At dawn, the half extinguished disc of
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  Speaker 1: the sun rose above a misty horizon, but it was
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  Speaker 1: now possible to recognized objects two miles off Phileas Fogg
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  Speaker 1: and the squad had gone southward. In the south, all
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  Speaker 1: was still vacancy. It was then seven o'clock. The captain,
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  Speaker 1: who was really alarmed, did not know what course to take.
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  Speaker 1: Should he send another detachment to the rescue of the first,
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  Speaker 1: should he sacrifice more men with so few chances of
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  Speaker 1: saving those already sacrificed. His hesitation did not last long, however,
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  Speaker 1: Calling one of his lieutenants. He was on the point
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  Speaker 1: of ordering a reconnaissance when gunshots were heard. Was it
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  Speaker 1: a signal? The soldiers rushed out of the fort, and
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  Speaker 1: half a mile off they perceived a little band returned
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  Speaker 1: arning in good order. Mister Fogg was marching at their head,
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  Speaker 1: and just behind him were Passepartout and the other two travelers,
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  Speaker 1: rescued from the Sioux. They had met and fought the
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  Speaker 1: Indians ten miles south of Fort Kearney. Shortly before the
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  Speaker 1: detachment arrived, Passepartout and his companions had begun to struggle
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  Speaker 1: with their captors, three of which the Frenchman had felled
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  Speaker 1: with his fists. When his master and the soldiers hastened
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  Speaker 1: up to their relief, all were welcomed with joyful cries.
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  Speaker 1: Phileas Fogg distributed the reward he had promised to the soldiers,
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  Speaker 1: while Passepartout, not without reason, muttered to himself, it must
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  Speaker 1: certainly be confessed that I cost my master dear fix
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  Speaker 1: without saying a word. Looked at mister Fogg, and it
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  Speaker 1: would have been difficult to analyze the thoughts which struggled
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  Speaker 1: within him. As for Aouda, she took her Protector's hand
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  Speaker 1: and pressed it in her own. Too much moved to speak. Meanwhile,
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  Speaker 1: Passepartout was looking about for the train. He thought he
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  Speaker 1: should find it there, ready to start for Omaha, and
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  Speaker 1: he hoped that the time loss might be regained. The train,
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  Speaker 1: the train cried, he gone, replied, fix, and when does
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  Speaker 1: the next train pass? Here, said Phileas Fogg. Not till
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  Speaker 1: this evening, Ah returned the impassable gentleman quietly. End of
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  Speaker 1: chapter