Latest / Adventure Books Collection / 09 - Around The World in Eighty Days - Jules Verne
Transcript
- Chapter nine, in which the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean prove propitious to the designs of Phileas Fogg. The distance between Suez and Aden is precisely thirteen hundred and ten miles, and the regulations of the company allow the steamers one hundred and thirty eight hours in which to traverse it. The Mongolia, thanks to the vigorous exertions of the engineer, seemed likely, so rapid was her speed to reach her destination considerably within that time. The greater part of the passengers from Brindisi were bound for India, some for Bombay, others for Calcutta by way of Bombay, the nearest route thither now that a railway crosses the Indian peninsula. Among the passengers was a number of officials and military officers of various grades, the latter being either attached to the regular British forces or commanding the sea troops and receiving high salaries ever since the Central government had assumed the powers of the East India Company. For the sub lieutenants get two hundred and eighty pounds, brigadiers twenty four hundred pounds, and generals of divisions four thousand pounds. What with the military men, a number of rich young Englishmen on their travels, and the hospitable efforts of the purser, the time passed quickly on the Mongolia. The best of fare was spread upon the cabin tables at breakfast, launch, dinner, and the eight o'clock supper, and the ladies scrupulously changed their toilets twice a day, and the hours were whirled away when the sea was tranquil with music, dancing and games. But the Red Sea is full of caprice and often boisterous, like most long and narrow gulfs. When the wind came from the African or Asian coast, the Mongolia, with her long hull, rolled fearfully. Then the ladies speedily disappeared. Below, the pianos were silent, singing and dancing suddenly ceased. Yet the good ship plowed straight on, unretarded by wind or wave, towards the straits of bab El Mandeb. What was Phileas Fogg doing all this time? It might be thought that, in his anxiety, he would be constantly watching the changes of the wind, the disorderly raging of the billows, every chance in short which might force the Mongolia to slacken her speed and thus interrupt his journey. But if he thought of these possibilities, he did not betray the fact by any outward sign. Always the same impassable member of the reform Club, whom no incident could surprise, as unvarying as the ship's chronometers, and seldom having the curiosity even to go upon the deck, He passed through the memorable scenes of the Red Sea with cold indiation difference, did not care to recognize the historic towns and villages which along its borders raised their picturesque guidelines against the sky, and betrayed no fear of the dangers of the Arabic Gulf, which the old historians always spoke of with horror, and upon which the ancient navigators never ventured without propitiating the gods by ample sacrifices. How did this eccentric personage pass his time on the Mongolia. He made his four hearty meals every day, regardless of the most persistent rolling and pitching on the part of the steamer, and he played whist indefatigably, for he had found partners as enthusiastic in the game as himself. A tax collector on the way to his post at Goa. The Reverend Decimus Smith returning to his paraship Bombay, and a brigadier general of the English Army who was about to rejoin his brigade at Benaris, made up the party, and with mister Fogg, played whist by the hour together in absorbing silence. As for passepartout, he too had escaped sea sickness, and took his meals conscientiously in the forward cabin. He rather enjoyed the voyage, for he was well fed and well lodged, took great interest in the scenes through which they were passing, and consoled himself with the delusion that his master's whim would end at Bombay. He was pleased on the day after leaving Suez to find on deck the obliging person with whom he had walked and chatted on the keys. If I am not mistaken, said he, approaching this person with his most amiable smile. You are the gentleman who so kindly volunteered to guide me at Suez. Ah, I quite recognize you. You are the servant of the strange Englishman. Just so, Monsieur Fix. Monsieur Fix resumed passepartout, I'm charmed to find you on board. Where are you bound? Like you to Bombay, that's capital. Have you made this trip before several times? I am one of the agents of the Peninsular Company. Then you know India, Why yes, replied Fix, who spoke cautiously. A curious place this India, Oh, very curious mosques, minarets, temples, fakirs, pagodas, tigers, snakes, elephants. I hope you have ample time to see the sights. I hope so, monsieur Fix, You see a man of sound sense ought not to spend his life jumping from a steamer upon a railway train, and from a railway train upon a steamer again, pretending to make the tour of the world in eighty days. No, all these gymnastics, you may be sure, will see at Bombay. And mister Fogg is getting on well, asked Fix, in the most natural tone in the world. Quite well, And I too, I eat like a famished ogre. It is the sea air. But I never see your master on deck. Never. He hasn't the least curiosity. Do you know, mister Passepartout, that this pretended tour in eighty days may conceal some secret errand perhaps a diplomatic mission. Faith, Monsieur Fix, I assure you I know nothing about it, nor would I give half a crown to find out. After this meeting, Passepartout and Fix got into the habit of chatting together, the latter making it a point to gain the worthy man's confidence. He frequently offered him a glass of whiskey or pale ale in the steamer bar room, which Passepartout never failed to accept with graceful alacrity, mentally pronouncing Fixed the best of good fellows. Meanwhile, the Mongolia was pushing forward rapidly. On the thirteenth Mocha, surrounded by its ruined walls, whereon date trees were growing, was sighted, and on the mountains beyond were spied vast coffee fields. Passepartout was ravished to behold the celebrated place, and thought that, with its circular walls and dismantled fort, it looked like an immense coffee cup and saucer. The following night they passed through the strait of bab El Mandeb, which means in Arabic the bridge of tears, and the next day they put in its steamer Point northwest of Aden Harbor to take in coal. This matter of fueling steamers is a serious one. At such distances from the coal mines. It cost the Peninsular Company some eight hundred thousand pounds a year. In these distant seas, coal is worth three or four pound sterling a ton. The Mongolia had still sixteen hundred and fifty miles to traverse before reaching Bombay, and was obliged to remain four hours at steamer Point to coal up. But this delay, as it was foreseen, did not affect Phileas Fogg's program. Besides, the Mongolia, instead of reaching Aiden on the morning of the fifteenth when she was due, arrived there on the evening of the fourteenth, a gain of fifteen hours. Mister Fogg and his servant went ashore at Aiden to have the passport again visaed. Fix Unobserved followed them. The visa procured, mister Fogg returned on board to resume his former habits, while passepartout according to custom sauntered about among the mixed population of Somalis, Banyans, Parsis, Jews, Arabs and Europeans who comprised the twenty five thousand inhabitants of Aiden. He gave raised with wonder upon the fortifications which make this place the Gibraltar of the Indian Ocean, and the vast cisterns, where the English engineers were still at work two thousand years after the engineers of Solomon. Very curious, Very curious, said Passepartout to himself, on returning to the steamer. I see that it is by no means useless to travel if a man wants to see something new. At six p m. The Mongolia slowly moved out of the roadstead and was soon once more on the Indian Ocean. She had one hundred and sixty eight hours in which to reach Bombay, and the sea was favorable, the wind being to the northwest, and all sails aiding the engine. The steamer rolled but little. The ladies in fresh toilets reappeared on deck, and the singing and dancing were resumed. The trip was being accomplished most successfully, and Passepartout was enchanted with the congenial companion which chance had secured him, in the person of the delightful fix. On Sunday, October twentieth, towards noon, they came in sight of the Indian coast. Two hours later the pilot came on board. A range of hills lay against the sky in the horizon, and soon the rows of palms which adorned Bombay came distinctly into view. The steamer entered the road formed by the islands in the bay, and at half past four she hauled up at the keys of Bombay. Phileas Fogg was in the act of finishing the thirty third rubber of the voyage, and his partner and himself, having by a bold stroke captured all thirteen of the tricks, concluded this fine campaign with a brilliant victory. The Mongolia was due at Bombay on the twenty second. She arrived on the twentieth. This was again to Phileas Fogg, of two days since his departure from London. Calmly entered the fact in the itinerary in the column of Gains, end of Chapter