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

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  Speaker 1: Chapter twenty five, in which a slight glimpse is had
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  Speaker 1: of San Francisco. It was seven in the morning when
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  Speaker 1: mister fogg Aouda and Passepartout set foot upon the American continent.
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  Speaker 1: If this name can be given to the floating key
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  Speaker 1: upon which they disembarked, These keys, rising and falling with
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  Speaker 1: the tide, thus facilitate the loading and unloading of vessels.
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  Speaker 1: Alongside them were clippers of all sizes, steamers of all nationalities,
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  Speaker 1: and the steamboats with several decks, rising one above the other,
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  Speaker 1: which ply on the Sacramento and its tributaries. There were
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  Speaker 1: also heaped up the products of a commerce which extends
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  Speaker 1: to Mexico, Chili, Peru, Brazil, Europe, Asia, and all the
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  Speaker 1: Pacific islands. Passepartout, in his joy, on reaching at last
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  Speaker 1: the American continent, thought he would manifest it by executing
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  Speaker 1: a perilous vault in style, But tumbling upon some worm
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  Speaker 1: eaten planks, he fell through them. Put out of countenance
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  Speaker 1: by the manner in which he thus set foot upon
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  Speaker 1: the new world, he uttered a loud cry which so
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  Speaker 1: frightened the innumerable comorants and pelicans that are always perched
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  Speaker 1: upon these immovable keys that they flew noisily away. Mister Fogg,
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  Speaker 1: on reaching shore, proceeded to find out at what hour
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  Speaker 1: the first train left for New York, and learned that
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  Speaker 1: this was at six o'clock p m. He had therefore
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  Speaker 1: an entire day to spend in the Californian capital. Taking
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  Speaker 1: a carriage at a charge of three dollars, he and
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  Speaker 1: Aouda entered it, while Passepartout mounted the box beside the driver,
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  Speaker 1: and they set out for the International Hotel. From his
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  Speaker 1: exalted position, Passepartout observed with much curiosity the wide streets,
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  Speaker 1: the low, evenly ranged houses, the Anglo Saxon Gothic churches,
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  Speaker 1: the great docks, the Palatio wooden and brick warehouses, the
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  Speaker 1: numerous conveyances, omnibuses, horse cars, and upon the sidewalks not
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  Speaker 1: only Americans and Europeans, but Chinese and Indians. Paspertout was
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  Speaker 1: surprised at all he saw. San Francisco was no longer
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  Speaker 1: the legendary city of eighteen forty nine, a city of banditti,
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  Speaker 1: assassins and incendiaries who had flucked hither in crowds in
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  Speaker 1: pursuit of plunder. A paradise of outlaws, where they gambled
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  Speaker 1: with gold dust, a revolver in one hand and a
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  Speaker 1: bowie knife in the other. It was now a great
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  Speaker 1: commercial emporium. The lofty tower of its City Hall overlooked
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  Speaker 1: the whole panorama of the streets and avenues, which cut
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  Speaker 1: each other at right angles, and in the midst of
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  Speaker 1: which appeared pleasant, verdant squares, while beyond appeared the Chinese Quarter,
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  Speaker 1: seemingly in ordered from the celestial Empire in a toy box.
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  Speaker 1: Sombreros and red shirts and plumed Indians were rarely to
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  Speaker 1: be seen, but there were silk hats and black coats everywhere,
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  Speaker 1: worn by a multitude of nervously active gentlemen looking men.
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  Speaker 1: Some of the streets, especially Montgomery Street, which is to
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  Speaker 1: San Francisco what Regent Street is to London, The Boulevard
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  Speaker 1: des Italien to Paris and Broadway to New York, were
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  Speaker 1: lined with splendid and spacious stores which exposed in their
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  Speaker 1: windows the products of the entire world. When Passpartu reached
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  Speaker 1: the International Hotel, it did not seem to him as
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  Speaker 1: if he had left England at all. The ground floor
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  Speaker 1: of the hotel was occupied by a large bar a
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  Speaker 1: sort of restaurant freely opened to all passers by, who
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  Speaker 1: might partake of dried beef, oyster soup, biscuits and cheese
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  Speaker 1: without taking out their purses. Payment was made only for
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  Speaker 1: the ale porter or sherry which was drunk. This seemed
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  Speaker 1: very American to passpartout. The hotel refreshment rooms were comfortable,
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  Speaker 1: and mister Fogg and Aouda, installing themselves at a table,
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  Speaker 1: were abundantly served on diminutive plates by negroes of darkest Hue.
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  Speaker 1: After breakfast, mister Fogg, accompanied by Aouda, started for the
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  Speaker 1: English consulate to have his passport visaed. As he was
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  Speaker 1: going out, he met Passepartout, who asked him if it
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  Speaker 1: would not be well before taking the train to purchase
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  Speaker 1: some dozens of Enfield rifles and Colt's revolvers. He had
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  Speaker 1: been listening to stories of attacks upon the trains by
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  Speaker 1: the Sioux and Pawnees. Mister Fogg thought it a useless precaution,
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  Speaker 1: but told him to do as he thought best and
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  Speaker 1: went on to the consulate. He had not proceeded two
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  Speaker 1: hundred steps, however, when by the greatest chance in the world,
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  Speaker 1: he met Fix the detectives seemed wholly taken by surprise.
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  Speaker 1: What had mister Fogg and himself crossed the Pacific together
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  Speaker 1: and not met on the steamer. At least Fix felt
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  Speaker 1: honored to behold once more the gentleman to whom he
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  Speaker 1: owed so much, and as his business recalled him to Europe,
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  Speaker 1: he should be delighted to continue the journey in such
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  Speaker 1: pleasant company. Mister Fogg replied that the honor would be his,
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  Speaker 1: and the detective, who was determined not to lose sight
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  Speaker 1: of him, begged permission to accompany them in their walk
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  Speaker 1: about San Francisco, a request which mister Fogg readily granted.
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  Speaker 1: They soon found themselves in Montgomery Street, where a great
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  Speaker 1: crowd was collected. The sidewalks, street horsecar rails, the shop doors,
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  Speaker 1: the windows of the houses, and even the roofs were
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  Speaker 1: full of people. Men were going about carrying large posters
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  Speaker 1: and flags, and streamers were floating in the wind, while
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  Speaker 1: loud cries were heard on every hand, Hurrah for Camerfield,
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  Speaker 1: Hurrah for man to boy. It was a political meeting,
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  Speaker 1: at least, so Fixed conjectured, who said to mister Fogg,
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  Speaker 1: perhaps we had better not mingle with the crowd. There
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  Speaker 1: may be danger in it, yes, returned mister Fogg, and blows,
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  Speaker 1: even if they are political, are still blows. Vick smiled
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  Speaker 1: at this remark, and, in order to be able to
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  Speaker 1: see without being jostled about, the party took up a
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  Speaker 1: position on the top of a flight of steps situated
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  Speaker 1: at the upper end of Montgomery Street. Opposite them, on
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  Speaker 1: the other side of the street, between a coal wharf
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  Speaker 1: and a petroleum warehouse, a large platform had been erected
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  Speaker 1: in the open air, towards which the current of the
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  Speaker 1: crowd seemed to be directed. For What purpose was this meeting?
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  Speaker 1: What was the occasion of this excited assemblage phileas Fogg
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  Speaker 1: could not imagine. Was it to nominate some high official,
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  Speaker 1: a governor or member of Congress? It was not improbable,
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  Speaker 1: So agitated was the multitude before them. Just at this
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  Speaker 1: moment there was an unusual stir in the human mass.
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  Speaker 1: All the hands were raised in the air, some tightly
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  Speaker 1: closed seemed to disappear suddenly in the midst of the cries,
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  Speaker 1: an energetic way, no doubt of casting a vote. The
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  Speaker 1: crowd swayed back. The banners and flags wavered disappeared an
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  Speaker 1: instant Then reappeared in tatters. The undulations of the human
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  Speaker 1: surge reached the steps, while all the heads floundered on
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  Speaker 1: the surface like a sea agitated by a squall. Many
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  Speaker 1: of the black hats disappeared, and the greater part of
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  Speaker 1: the crowd seemed to have diminished in height. It is
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  Speaker 1: evidently a meeting, said Fix, and its object must be
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  Speaker 1: an exciting one. I should not want wonder if it
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  Speaker 1: were about the Alabama, despite the fact that that question
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  Speaker 1: is settled, perhaps, replied mister Fogg, Simply, at least there
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  Speaker 1: are two champions in presence of each other, the honorable
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  Speaker 1: mister Camerfield and the honorable mister mandoboy Aouda, leaning upon
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  Speaker 1: mister Fogg's arm, observed the tumultuous scene with surprise, while
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  Speaker 1: Fix asked a man near him what the cause of
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  Speaker 1: it all was. Before the man could reply, a fresh
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  Speaker 1: agitation arose. Hurrahs and excited shouts were heard. The staffs
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  Speaker 1: of the banners began to be used as offensive weapons,
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  Speaker 1: and fists flew about in every direction. Thumps were exchanged
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  Speaker 1: from the tops of the carriages and omnibuses which had
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  Speaker 1: been blocked up in the crowd. Boots and shoes went
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  Speaker 1: whirling through the air, and mister Fogg thought he even
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  Speaker 1: heard the crack of revolvers mingling in the din. The
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  Speaker 1: route approached the stairway and flowed over the lower step up.
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  Speaker 1: One of the parties had evidently been repulsed, but the
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  Speaker 1: mere lookers on could not tell whether Mando Boy or
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  Speaker 1: Camerfield had gained the upper hand. It would be prudent
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  Speaker 1: for us to retire, said Fix, who was anxious that
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  Speaker 1: mister Fogg should not receive any injury, at least until
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  Speaker 1: they got back to London. If there is any question
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  Speaker 1: about England and all this, and we were recognized, I
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  Speaker 1: feared would go hard with us, an English subject, began
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  Speaker 1: mister Fogg. He did not finish his sentence, for a
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  Speaker 1: terrific hubub now arose on the terrace behind the flight
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  Speaker 1: of steps where they stood, and they were frantic shouts
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  Speaker 1: of hurrah for man to boy, Hippy Hurrah. It was
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  Speaker 1: a band of voters coming to the rescue of their
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  Speaker 1: allies and taking the Camerfield forces in flank. Mister Fogg,
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  Speaker 1: auDA and Fix found themselves between two fires. It was
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  Speaker 1: too late to escape. The torrent of men are with
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  Speaker 1: loaded canes and sticks was irresistible. Phileas Fogg and Fix
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  Speaker 1: were roughly hustled in their attempts to protect their fair companion.
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  Speaker 1: The former, as cool as ever, tried to defend herself
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  Speaker 1: with the weapons which nature has placed at the end
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  Speaker 1: of every Englishman's arm. But in vain, a big, brawny
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  Speaker 1: fellow with a red beard, flushed face, and broad shoulders,
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  Speaker 1: who seemed to be the chief of the band, raised
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  Speaker 1: his clenched fist to strike mister Fogg, whom he would
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  Speaker 1: have given a crushing blow had not Fix rushed in
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  Speaker 1: and received it in his stead. An enormous bruise immediately
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  Speaker 1: made its appearance under the detective's silk hat, which was
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  Speaker 1: completely smashed in Yankee, exclaimed mister Fogg, darting a contemptuous
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  Speaker 1: look at the ruffian Englishmen, returned the other. We will
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  Speaker 1: meet again when you please. What is your name, Phileas Fogg,
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  Speaker 1: and you, Colonel Stamp Proctor. The human tide now swept by,
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  Speaker 1: after overturning Fix, who speedily got upon his feet again,
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  Speaker 1: though with tattered clothes. Happily he was not seriously hurt.
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  Speaker 1: His traveling overcoat was divided into two unequal parts, and
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  Speaker 1: his trousers resembled those of certain Indians, which fit less
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  Speaker 1: compactly than they are easy to put on. Aouda had
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  Speaker 1: escaped unharmed, and Fix alone bore marks of the fray
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  Speaker 1: in his black and blue bruise. Thanks, said mister Fogg
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  Speaker 1: to the detective, as soon as they were out of
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  Speaker 1: the crowd. No thanks are necessary, replied Fix, but let
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  Speaker 1: us go where to a tailor's. Such a visit was
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  Speaker 1: indeed opportune. The clothing of both mister Fogg and Fix
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  Speaker 1: was in rags, as if they had themselves been actively
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  Speaker 1: engaged in the contest between Camerfield de mand A boy.
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  Speaker 1: An hour after they were once more suitably attired, and
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  Speaker 1: with Aouda returned to the International Hotel, Passepartout was waiting
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  Speaker 1: for his master, armed with half a dozen six barreled revolvers.
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  Speaker 1: When he perceived Fix, he knit his brows, but Aouda,
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  Speaker 1: having in a few words told him of their adventure,
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  Speaker 1: his countenance resumed its placid expression. Fix evidently was no
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  Speaker 1: longer an enemy, but an ally, and he was faithfully
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  Speaker 1: keeping his word. Dinner over the coach, which was to
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  Speaker 1: convey the passengers and their luggage to the station, drew
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  Speaker 1: up to the door. As he was getting in. Mister
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  Speaker 1: Fogg said to fix, you have not seen this Colonel
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  Speaker 1: Proctor again. No, I will come back to America to
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  Speaker 1: find him, said Phileas Fogg, calmly. It would not be
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  Speaker 1: right for an Englishman to permit himself to be treated
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  Speaker 1: in that way without retaliating. The detective smiled but did
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  Speaker 1: not reply. It was clear that mister Fogg was one
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  Speaker 1: of those Englishmen who, while they do not tolerate dueling
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  Speaker 1: at home, fight abroad when their honor is attacked. At
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  Speaker 1: a quarter before six, the travelers reached the station and
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  Speaker 1: found the train ready to depart. As he was about
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  Speaker 1: to enter it, mister Fogg called a porter and said
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  Speaker 1: to him, my friend, was there not some trouble to
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  Speaker 1: day in San Francisco? It was a political meeting, sir,
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  Speaker 1: replied the porter. But I thought there was a great
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  Speaker 1: deal of disturbance in the streets. It was only a
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  Speaker 1: meeting assembled for an election, the election of a general
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  Speaker 1: in chief, no doubt, asked mister Fogg. No, sir, I've
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  Speaker 1: a justice of the peace. Phileas Fogg got into the train,
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  Speaker 1: which started off at full speed end of chapter