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28 - Around The World in Eighty Days - Jules Verne · Classic Adventure Books Collection

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Chapter twenty eight, in which passpar IIU does not succeed in making anybody listen
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to reason. The train, on leaving Great Salt Lake at Ogden, passed
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northward for an hour as far as Weber River, having completed nearly nine hundred
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miles from San Francisco. From this point it took an easterly direction towards the
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jagged Wassatch Mountains. It was in this section included between this range and the
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Rocky Mountains, that the American engineers found the most formidable difficulties in laying the
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road, and that the government granted a subsidy of forty eight thousand dollars per
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mile instead of sixteen thousand allowed for the work done on the plains. But
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the engineers, instead of violating nature, avoided its difficulties by winding around instead
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of penetrating the rocks. One tunnel, only fourteen thousand feet in length,
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was pierced in order to arrive at the Great Basin. The track up to
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this time time had reached its highest elevation at the Great Salt Lake. From
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this point it described a long curve descending towards Bitter Creek Valley to rise again
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to the dividing ridge of the waters between the Atlantic and the Pacific. There
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were many creeks in this mountainous region, and it was necessary to cross Muddy
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Creek, Green Creek, and others upon culverts. Paspartout grew more and more
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impatient as they went on, while Fix longed to get out of this difficult
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region and was more anxious than Phileas Fogg himself to be beyond the danger of
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delays and accidents and set foot on English soil. At ten o'clock at night,
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the train stopped at Fort Bridger's station and twenty minutes later entered Wyoming Territory,
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following the valley of Bitter Creek. Throughout the next day, seventh December,
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they stopped for a quarter of an hour at Green River station. Snow
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had fallen abundantly during the night, but being mixed with the rain, it
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had half melted and did not interrupt their progress. The bad weather, however,
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annoyed Passpartout, for the accumulation of snow by blocking the wheels of the
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cars would certainly have been fatal to mister Fogg's tour. What an idea,
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he said to himself, Why did my master take this journey? In winter.
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Couldn't he have waited for the good season to increase his chances. While
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the worthy Frenchman was absorbed in the state of the sky and the depression of
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the temperature, Aouda was experiencing fears from a totally different cause. Several passengers
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had got off at Green River and were walking up and down the platforms,
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and among these Aouda recognized Colonel Stamp Proctor, the same who had grossly insulted
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Phileas Fogg at the San Francisco meeting. Not wishing to be recognized, the
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young woman drew back from the window, feeling much alarm at her discovery.
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She was attached to the man, who, however coldly, gave her daily
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evidences of the most absolute devotion. She did not comprehend, perhaps the depth
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of the sentiment with which her protector inspired her, which she called gratitude,
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but which, though she was unconscious of it, was really more than that.
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Her heart sank within her when she recognized the man whom mister Fogg desired
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sooner or later to call to account for his conduct. Chance alone, it
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was clear, had brought Colonel Proctor on this train. But there he was,
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and it was necessary at all hazards that Phileas Fogg should not perceive his
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adversary. AoudaS seized a moment when mister Fogg was asleep to tell Fix and
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Passepartout, whom she had seen that broc Dure on this train. Cried Fix,
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well, reassure yourself, madam, before he settles with mister Fogg.
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He has got to deal with me. It seems to me that I was
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the more insulted of the two. And besides, added Passepartout. I'll take
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charge of him, Colonel as he is, mister Fix, resumed Aouda.
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Mister Fogg will allow no one to avenge him. He said that he would
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come back to America to find this man. Should he perceive Colonel Proctor,
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we could not prevent a collision which might have terrible results. He must not
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see him. You are right, madam, replied Fix. A meeting between
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them might ruin all. Whether he was victorious or beaten, mister Fogg would
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be delayed, and and added Passepartout, that would play the game of the
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gentleman of the Reform Club. In four days we shall be in New York.
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Well, if my master does not leave this car during those four days.
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We may hope the chance will not bring him face to face with this
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confounded American. We must, if possible, prevent his stirring out of it.
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The conversation dropped. Mister Fogg had just woke up and was looking out
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at the window. Soon after, passepartout, without being heard by his master
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or aouda whispered to the detective, would you really fight for him? I
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would do anything, replied Fix, in a tone which betrayed determined will to
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get him back living to Europe. Passe partout felt something like a shudder shoot
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through his frame, but his confidence in his master remained unbroken. Was there
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any means of detending mister Fogg in the car to avoid a meeting between him
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and the colonel. It ought not to be a difficult task, since that
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gentleman was naturally sedentary and little curious. The detective at least seemed to have
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found a way, for after a few moments, he said to mister Fogg,
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these are long and slow hours, sir, that we are passing on
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the railway. Yes, replied mister Fogg, but they pass you were in
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the habit of playing whist resumed Fix on the steamers. Yes, but it
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would be difficult to do so. Here I have neither cards nor partners.
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Oh, but we can easily buy some cards, for they are sold on
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all the American trains. And as for partners, if Madame plays, certainly,
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Sir Aouda quickly replied, I understand whist. It is part of an
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English education. I myself have some pretensions to playing a good game. Well,
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here are three of us and a dummy. As you please, Sir
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replied Phileas Fogg, heartily glad to resume his favorite pastime even on the railway.
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Passepartout was dispatched in search of the steward, and soon returned with two
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packs of cards, some pins, counters, and a shelf covered with cloth.
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The game commenced. Aouda understood Whist sufficiently well, and even received some
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compliments on her playing from mister Fogg. As for the detective, he was
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simply an adept and worthy of being matched against his present opponent, now thought
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Pasepartout, We've got him. He won't budge. At eleven in the morning,
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the train had reached the dividing ridge of the waters at Bridger Pass seven
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thousand, five hundred and twenty four feet above the level of the sea,
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one of the highest points attained by the track in crossing the Rocky Mountains.
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After going about two hundred miles, the travelers at last found themselves on one
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of those vast plains which extend to the Atlantic, and which nature has made
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so propitious for laying the iron road. On the declivity of the Atlantic basin,
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the first streams branches of the North Platte River already appeared. The whole
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northern and eastern horizon was bounded by the immense semi circular curtain which is formed
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by the southern portion of the Rocky Mountains, the highest being Laramie Peak.
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Between this and the railway extended vast plains, plentifully irrigated. On the right
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rose the lower spurs of the mountainous mass which extends southward to the sources of
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the Arkansas River, one of the great tributaries of the Missouri. At half
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past twelve, the travelers caught sight for an instant of Fort Halleck, which
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commands that section, and in a few more hours the Rocky Mountains were crossed.
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There was reason to hope, then that no accident would mark the journey
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through this difficult country. The snow had ceased falling, and the air became
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crisp and cold. Large birds, frightened by the locomotive, rose and flew
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off in the distance. No wild beast appeared on the plain. It was
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a desert in its vast nakedness. After a comfortable breakfast served in the car,
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mister Fogg and his partners had just resumed whist when a violent whistling was
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heard and the train stopped past. Partou put his head out of the door,
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but saw nothing to cause the delay. No station was in view.
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Aouda and fix feared that mister Fogg might take it into his head to get
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out, but that gentleman contented himself with saying to his servant, see what
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is the matter? Pass Partou rushed out of the car. Thirty or forty
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passengers had already descended, amongst them Colonel stamp Proctor. The train had stopped
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before a red signal which blocked the way. The engineer and conductor were talking
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excitedly with the signalman, whom the station master at Medicine Bow, the next
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stopping place, had sent on before the passengers drew round and took part in
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the discussion in which Colonel Proctor, with his insolent manner, was conspicuous pass
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Partwu joining the group, heard the signal man say, no, you can't
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pass. The bridge at a simbo is shaky and would not bear the weight
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of the train. This was a suspension bridge thrown over some rapids about a
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mile from the place where they now were. According to the signal man,
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it was in a ruinous condition, several of the iron wires being broken,
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and it was impossible to risk the passage. He did not at any way
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exaggerate the condition of the bridge. It may be taken for granted that rash,
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as the Americans usually are when they are prudent, there is good reason
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for it. Passepartout, not daring to apprise his master of what he heard,
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listened with set teeth immovable as a statue. Humph, cried Colonel Proctor.
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But we are not going to stay here, I imagine, and take
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root in the snow, Colonel replied the conductor. We have telegraphed to Omaha
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for a train, but it is not likely that it will reach Metis Bow
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in less than six six hours, cried Passepartout. Certainly returned the conductor.
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Besides, it will take us as long as that to reach medicine Bow on
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foot. But it is only a mile from here, said one of the
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passengers. Yes, but it's on the other side of the river, and
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can't we cross that in a boat, asked the colonel. That's impossible.
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The creek is swelled by the rains. It is a rapid and we shall
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have to make a circuit of ten miles to the north to find a ford.
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The colonel launched a volley of oaths, denouncing the railway company and the
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conductor, and Passepartout, who was furious, was not disinclined to make common
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cause with him. Here was an obstacle, indeed, which all his master's
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bank notes could not remove. There was a general disappointment among the passengers,
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who, without reckoning the delay, saw themselves compelled to trudge fifteen miles over
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a plane covered with snow. They grumbled and protested, and would certainly have
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thus attracted Phileas Fogg's attention if he had not been completely absorbed in his game.
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Passepartou found that he could not avoid telling his master what had occurred,
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and with hanging ahead, he was turning towards the car, when the engineer,
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a true Yankee named Forster, called out, gentlemen, perhaps there is
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a way after all to get over on the bridge, asked the passenger on
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the bridge with our train, with our train, pass Partou stopped short and
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eagerly listened to the engineer. But the bridge is unsafe, urged the conductor.
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No matter, replied Forster. I think that by putting on the very
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highest speed we might have a chance of getting over the devil, muttered Passepartout.
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But a number of the passengers were at once attracted by the engineer's proposal,
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and Colonel Proctor was especially delighted and found the plan a very feasible one.
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He told stories about engineers leaping their trains over rivers without bridges by putting
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on full steam, and many of those present avowed themselves of the engineer's mind,
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we have fifty chances out of a hundred of getting over, said one
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eighty ninety. Passepartout was astounded, and, though ready to attempt anything to
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get over Medicine Creek thought the experiment proposed a little too American. Besides,
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thought he there's a still more simple way, and it does not even occur
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to any of these people, Sir, said he aloud to one of the
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passengers. This the engineer's plan seems to me a little dangerous, but eighty
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chances, replied the passenger, turning his back on him. I know it,
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said Passepartout, turning to another passenger. But a simple idea ideas are
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of no use, returned the American, shrugging his shoulders. As the engineer
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assures us that we can pass, doubtless, urged Passepartout. We can pass,
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but perhaps it would be more prudent. What prudent? Cried Colonel Proctor,
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whom this word seemed to excite prodigiously at full speed, don't you see?
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At full speed? I know I see, repeated Passepartout, But it
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would be, if not more prudent, since that word displeases you, at
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least more natural. Who what what's the matter with this fellow? Cried several
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The poor fellow did not know to whom to address himself. Are you afraid,
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asked Colonel Proctor. I afraid very well. I will show these people
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that a Frenchman can be as American as they all aboard, cried the conductor.
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Yes, all aboard, repeated Passepartout, and immediately, but they can't
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prevent me from thinking that it would be more natural for us to cross the
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bridge on foot and let the train come after. But no one heard the
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sage reflection, nor would anyone have acknowledged its justice. The passengers resumed their
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places in the cars. Passepartout took his seat without telling what it passed.
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The whist players were quite absorbed in their game. The locomotive whistled vigorously.
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The engineer, reversing the steam, backed the train for nearly a mile,
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retiring like a jumper in order to take a longer leap. Then with another
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whistle, he began to move forward. The train increased its speed, and
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soon its rapidity became frightful. A prolonged screech issued from their locomotive. The
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piston work up and down twenty strokes to the second. They perceived that the
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whole train, rushing on at the rate of a hundred miles an hour,
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hardly bore upon the rails at all, and they passed over. It was
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like a flash. No one saw the bridge. The train leaped, so
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to speak, from one bank to the other, and the engineer could not
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stop it until it had gone five miles beyond the station, But scarcely had
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the train passed the river when the bridge completely ruined, fell with a crash
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into the rapids of Medicine Bow. End of chapter