Around the World in Eighty Days. Junior Deluxe Edition

by Jules Verne

  Chapter 20

  In Which Fix Comes Face to Face with Phileas Fogg

  While these events were passing at the opium house, Mr. Fogg,unconscious of the danger he was in of losing the steamer, wasquietly escorting Aouda about the streets of the English quarter,making the necessary purchases for the long voyage before them.It was all very well for an Englishman like Mr. Fogg to make thetour of the world with a carpetbag; a lady could not be expectedto travel comfortably under such conditions. He acquitted histask with characteristic serenity, and invariably replied to theobjections of his fair companion, who was confused by hispatience and generosity. "It is in the interest of my journey--apart of my program."

  The purchases made, they returned to the hotel, where they dinedat a sumptuously served table-d'hote; after which Aouda, shakinghands with her protector after the English fashion, retired toher room for rest. Mr. Fogg absorbed himself throughout theevening in the perusal of The Times and Illustrated London News.

  Had he been capable of being astonished at anything, it wouldhave been not to see his servant return at bedtime. But, knowingthat the steamer was not to leave for Yokohama until the nextmorning, he did not disturb himself about the matter. WhenPassepartout did not appear the next morning to answer hismaster's bell, Mr. Fogg, not betraying the least vexation,contented himself with taking his carpetbag, calling Aouda, andsending for a palanquin.

  It was then eight o'clock; at half-past nine, it being then hightide, the Carnatic would leave the harbor. Mr. Fogg and Aouda gotinto the palanquin, their luggage being brought after on awheelbarrow, and half an hour later stepped upon the quay wherethey were to embark. Mr. Fogg then learned that the Carnatic hadsailed the evening before. He had expected to find not only thesteamer, but his servant, and was forced to give up both; but nosign of disappointment appeared on his face, and he merelyremarked to Aouda, "It is an accident, madam, nothing more."

  At this moment a man who had been observing him attentivelyapproached. It was Fix, who, bowing, addressed Mr. Fogg: "Wereyou not, like me, sir, a passenger on the Rangoon, which arrivedyesterday?"

  "I was, sir," replied Mr. Fogg coldly. "But I have not the honor-"

  "Pardon me. I thought I should find your servant here."

  "Do you know where he is, sir?" asked Aouda anxiously.

  "What!" responded Fix, feigning surprise. "Is he not with you?"

  "No," said Aouda. "He has not made his appearance sinceyesterday. Could he have gone on board the Carnatic without us?"

  "Without you, madam?" answered the detective. "Excuse me, did youintend to sail in the Carnatic?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "So did I, madam, and I am excessively disappointed. TheCarnatic, its repairs being completed, left Hong Kong twelvehours before the stated time, without any notice being given. Wemust now wait a week for another steamer."

  As he said "a week" Fix felt his heart leap for joy. Foggdetained at Hong Kong for a week! There would be time for thewarrant to arrive, and fortune at last favored the representativeof the law. His horror may be imagined when he heard Mr. Foggsay, in his placid voice, "But there are other vessels besidesthe Carnatic, it seems to me, in the harbor of Hong Kong."

  And, offering his arm to Aouda, he directed his steps towards thedocks in search of some craft about to start. Fix, stupefied,followed. It seemed as if he were attached to Mr. Fogg by aninvisible thread. Chance, however, appeared really to haveabandoned the man it had hitherto served so well. For threehours Phileas Fogg wandered about the docks, with thedetermination, if necessary, to charter a vessel to carry him toYokohama; but he could only find vessels which were loading orunloading, and which could not therefore set sail. Fix began tohope again.

  But Mr. Fogg, far from being discouraged, was continuing hissearch, resolved not to stop if he had to resort to Macao, whenhe was accosted by a sailor on one of the wharves.

  "Is your honor looking for a boat?"

  "Have you a boat ready to sail?"

  "Yes, your honor; a pilot boat--No. 43--the best in theharbor."

  "Does she go fast?"

  "Between eight and nine knots the hour. Will you look at her?"

  "Yes."

  "Your honor will be satisfied with her. Is it for a seaexcursion?"

  "No, for a voyage."

  "A voyage?"

  "Yes, will you agree to take me to Yokohama?"

  The sailor leaned on the railing, opened his eyes wide, and said,"Is your honor joking?"

  "No. I have missed the Carnatic, and I must get to Yokohama bythe 14th at the latest, to take the boat for San Francisco.

  "I am sorry," said the sailor, "but it is impossible."

  "I offer you a hundred pounds per day, and an additional rewardof two hundred pounds if I reach Yokohama in time."

  "Are you in earnest?"

  "Very much so."

  The pilot walked away a little distance, and gazed out to sea,evidently struggling between the anxiety to gain a large sum andthe fear of venturing so far. Fix was in mortal suspense.

  Mr. Fogg turned to Aouda and asked her, "You would not be afraid,would you, madam?"

  "Not with you, Mr. Fogg," was her answer. The pilot now returned,shuffling his hat in his hands.

  "Well, pilot?" said Mr. Fogg.

  "Well, your honor," replied he, "I could not risk myself, my men,or my little boat of scarcely twenty tons on so long a voyage atthis time of year. Besides, we could not reach Yokohama in time,for it is sixteen hundred and sixty miles from Hong Kong."

  "Only sixteen hundred," said Mr. Fogg.

  "It's the same thing."

  Fix breathed more freely.

  "But," added the pilot, "it might be arranged another way." Fixceased to breathe at all.

  "How?" asked Mr. Fogg.

  "By going to Nagasaki, at the extreme south of Japan, or even toShanghai, which is only eight hundred miles from here. In goingto Shanghai we should not be forced to sail wide of the Chinesecoast, which would be a great advantage, as the currents runnorthward, and would aid us."

  "Pilot," said Mr. Fogg, "I must take the American steamer atYokohama, and not at Shanghai or Nagasaki."

  "Why not?" returned the pilot. "The San Francisco steamer doesnot start from Yokohama. It puts in at Yokohama and Nagasaki, butit starts from Shanghai."

  "You are sure of that?"

  "Perfectly."

  "And when does the boat leave Shanghai?"

  "On the 11th, at seven in the evening. We have, therefore, fourdays before us, that is ninety-six hours; and in that time, if wehad good luck and a southwest wind, and the sea was calm, wecould make those eight hundred miles to Shanghai."

  "And you could go--"

  "In an hour. As soon as provisions could be got aboard and thesails put up."

  "It is a bargain. Are you the master of the boat?"

  "Yes, John Bunsby, master of the Tankadere."

  "Would you like some money?"

  "If it would not put your honor out--"

  "Here are two hundred pounds on account, sir," added PhileasFogg, turning to Fix, "if you would like to take advantage--"

  "Thanks, sir; I was about to ask the favor."

  "Very well. In half an hour we shall go on board."

  "But poor Passepartout?" urged Aouda, who was much disturbed bythe servant's disappearance.

  "I shall do all I can to find him," replied Phileas Fogg.

  While Fix, in a feverish, nervous state, repaired to the pilotboat, the others directed their course to the police-station atHong Kong. Phileas Fogg there gave Passepartout's description,and left a sum of money to be spent in the search for him. Thesame formalities having been gone through at the Frenchconsulate, and the palanquin having stopped at the hotel for theluggage, which had been sent back there, they returned to thewharf.

  It was now three o'clock; and pilot boat No.43, with its crew onboard, and its provisions stored away, was ready for departure.

  The Tankadere was a neat little craft of twenty tons, asgracefull
y built as if she were a racing yacht. Her shiningcopper sheathing, her galvanized iron-work, her deck, white asivory, betrayed the pride taken by John Bunsby in making herpresentable. Her two masts leaned a trifle backward. She carriedbrigantine, foresail, storm-jib and standing-jib, and was wellrigged for running before the wind; and she seemed capable ofbrisk speed, which, indeed, she had already proved by gainingseveral prizes in pilot-boat races. The crew of the Tankadere wascomposed of John Bunsby, the master, and four hardy mariners, whowere familiar with the Chinese seas. John Bunsby, himself, a manof forty-five or thereabouts, vigorous, sunburnt, with asprightly expression of the eye, and energetic and self-reliantcountenance, would have inspired confidence in the most timid.

  Phileas Fogg and Aouda went on board, where they found Fixalready installed. Below deck was a square cabin, of which thewalls bulged out in the form of cots, above a circular divan; inthe center was a table provided with a swinging lamp. Theaccommodation was confined, but neat.

  "I am sorry to have nothing better to offer you," said Mr. Foggto Fix, who bowed without responding.

  The detective had a feeling akin to humiliation in profiting bythe kindness of Mr. Fogg.

  "It's certain," thought he, "though rascal he is, he is a politeone!"

  The sails and the English flag were hoisted at ten minutes pastthree. Mr. Fogg and Aouda, who were seated on deck, cast a lastglance at the quay, in the hope of seeing Passepartout. Fix wasnot without his fears lest chance should direct the steps of theunfortunate servant, whom he had so badly treated, in thisdirection. In that case an explanation the reverse ofsatisfactory to the detective would have been necessary. But theFrenchman did not appear, and, without doubt, was still lyingunder the stupefying influence of the opium. At length JohnBunsby, master, gave the order to start, and the Tankadere,taking the wind under her brigantine, foresail and standing-jib,bounded briskly forward over the waves.