Around the World in Eighty Days
Literature
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By evening, the log showed that two hundred and twenty miles had been accomplished from Hong Kong, and Mr. Fogg might hope that he would be able to reach Yokohama without recording any delay in his journal; in which case, the many misadventures which had overtaken him since he left London would not seriously affect his journey.
The Tankadere entered the Straits of Fo-Kien, which separate the island of Formosa from the Chinese coast, in the small hours of the night, and crossed the Tropic of Cancer. The sea was very rough in the straits, full of eddies formed by the counter-currents, and the chopping waves broke her course, whilst it became very difficult to stand on deck.
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At daybreak the wind began to blow hard again, and the heavens seemed to predict a gale. The barometer announced a speedy change, the mercury rising and falling capriciously; the sea also, in the south-east, raised long surges which indicated a tempest. The sun had set the evening before in a red mist, in the midst of the phosphorescent scintillations of the ocean.
John Bunsby long examined the threatening aspect of the heavens, muttering indistinctly between his teeth. At last he said in a low voice to Mr. Fogg, "Shall I speak out to your honour?"
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"No." "I will come back to America to find him," said Phileas Fogg calmly. "It would not be right for an Englishman to permit himself to be treated in that way, without retaliating." The detective smiled, but did not reply.
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The next morning poor, jaded, famished Passepartout said to himself that he must get something to eat at all hazards, and the sooner he did so the better. He might, indeed, sell his watch; but he would have starved first. Now or never he must use the strong, if not melodious voice which nature had bestowed upon him.
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He knew several French and English songs, and resolved to try them upon the Japanese, who must be lovers of music, since they were for ever pounding on their cymbals, tam-tams, and tambourines, and could not but appreciate European talent.
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"It would be perfectly so," replied Phileas Fogg.
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"Well, we are really in America," thought Passepartout, "and the conductor is a gentleman of the first order!"
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"It would not be right for an Englishman to permit himself to be treated in that way, without retaliating."
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The detective smiled, but did not reply.
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It was clear that Mr. Fogg was one of those Englishmen who, while they do not tolerate duelling at home, fight abroad when their honour is attacked.
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At a quarter before six the travellers reached the station, and found the train ready to depart.
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As he was about to enter it, Mr. Fogg called a porter, and said to him: "My friend, was there not some trouble to-day in San Francisco?"
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"It was a political meeting, sir," replied the porter.
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"But I thought there was a great deal of disturbance in the streets."
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"It was only a meeting assembled for an election."
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"The election of a general-in-chief, no doubt?" asked Mr. Fogg.
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"No, sir; of a justice of the peace." Phileas Fogg got into the train, which started off at full speed.
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The Pacific Railroad is, however, really divided into two distinct lines: the Central Pacific, between San Francisco and Ogden, and the Union Pacific, between Ogden and Omaha.
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Five main lines connect Omaha with New York. New York and San Francisco are thus united by an uninterrupted metal ribbon, which measures no less than three thousand seven hundred and eighty-six miles.
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The journey from New York to San Francisco consumed, formerly, under the most favourable conditions, at least six months.
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It is now accomplished in seven days.
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It was in 1862 that, in spite of the Southern Members of Congress, who wished a more southerly route, it was decided to lay the road between the forty-first and forty-second parallels.
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President Lincoln himself fixed the end of the line at Omaha, in Nebraska.
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The work was at once commenced, and pursued with true American energy; nor did the rapidity with which it went on injuriously affect its good execution.
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The road grew, on the prairies, a mile and a half a day.
