Athalf-pasttwelvethetrainstoppedatBurhampoor,wherePassepartoutwasabletopurchasesomeIndianslippers,ornamentedwithfalsepearls,inwhich,withevidentvanity,heproceededtoincasehisfeet。ThetravellersmadeahastybreakfastandstartedoffforAssurghur,afterskirtingforalittlethebanksofthesmallriverTapty,whichemptiesintotheGulfofCambray,nearSurat。
Passepartoutwasnowplungedintoabsorbingreverie。UptohisarrivalatBombay,hehadentertainedhopesthattheirjourneywouldendthere;
butnowthattheywereplainlywhirlingacrossIndiaatfullspeed,asuddenchangehadcomeoverthespiritofhisdreams。Hisoldvagabondnaturereturnedtohim;thefantasticideasofhisyouthoncemoretookpossessionofhim。Hecarnetoregardhismaster\'sprojectasintendedingoodearnest,believedintherealityofthebet,andthereforeinthetouroftheworldsandthenecessityofmakingitwithoutfailwithinthedesignatedperiod。
Alreadyhebegantoworryaboutpossibledelays,andaccidentswhichmighthappenontheway。Herecognizedhimselfasbeingpersonallyinterestedinthewager,andtrembledatthethoughtthathemighthavebeenthemeansoflosingitbyhisunpardonablefollyofthenightbefore。Beingmuchlesscool-headedthanMrFogg,hewasmuchmorerestless,countingandrecountingthedayspassedover,utteringmaledictionswhenthetrainstopped,andaccusingitofsluggishness,andmentallyblamingMrFoggfornothavingbribedtheengineer。Theworthyfellowwasignorantthat,whileitwaspossiblebysuchmeanstohastentherateofasteamer,itcouldnotbedoneontherailway。
ThetrainenteredthedefilesoftheSutpourMountains,whichseparatetheKhandeishfromBundelcund,towardsevening。ThenextdaySirFrancisCromartyaskedPassepartoutwhattimeitwas;towhich,onconsultinghiswatch,herepliedthatitwasthreeinthemorning。Thisfamoustimepiece,alwaysregulatedontheGreenwichmeridian,whichwasnowsomeseventy-sevendegreeswestward,wasatleastfourhoursslow。SirFranciscorrectedPassepartout\'stime,whereuponthelattermadethesameremarkthathehaddonetoFix;
anduponthegeneralinsistingthatthewatchshouldberegulatedineachnewmeridian,sincehewasconstantlygoingeast-ward,thatisinthefaceofthesun,andthereforethedayswereshorterbyfourminutesforeachdegreegoneover,Passepartoutobstinatelyrefusedtoalterhiswatch,whichhekeptatLondontime。Itwasaninnocentdelusionwhichcouldharmnoone。
Thetrainstopped,ateighto\'clock,inthemidstofagladesomefifteenmilesbeyondRothal,wheretherewereseveralbungalowsandworkmen\'scabins。
Theconductor,passingalongthecarriages,shouted,`Passengerswillgetouthere!\'
PhileasFogglookedatSirFrancisCromartyforanexplanation;butthegeneralcouldnottellwhatmeantahaltinthemidstofthisforestofdatesandacacias。
Passepartout,notlesssurprised,rushedoutandspeedilyreturned,crying:`Monsieur,nomorerailway!\'
`Whatdoyoumean?\'askedSirFrancis。
`Imeantosaythatthetrainisn\'tgoingon。\'
Thegeneralatoncesteppedout,whilePhileasFoggcalmlyfollowedhim,andtheyproceededtogethertotheconductor。
`Wherearewe?\'askedSirFrancis。
`AtthehamletofKholby。\'
`Dowestophere?\'
`Certainly。Therailwayisn\'tfinished。\'
`What!notfinished?\'
`No。There\'sstillamatteroffiftymilestobelaidfromheretoAllahabad,wherethelinebeginsagain。\'
`Butthepapersannouncedtheopeningoftherailwaythroughout。\'
`Whatwouldyouhave,officer?Thepapersweremistaken。\'
`YetyousellticketsfromBombaytoCalcutta,\'retortedSirFrancis,whowasgrowingwarm。
`Nodoubt,\'repliedtheconductor;`butthepassengersknowthattheymustprovidemeansoftransportationforthemselvesfromKholbytoAllahabad。\'
SirFranciswasfurious。Passepartoutwouldwillinglyhaveknockedtheconductordown,anddidnotdaretolookathismaster。
`SirFrancis,\'saidMrFoggquietly,`wewill,ifyouplease,lookaboutforsomemeansofconveyancetoAllahabad。\'
`MrFogg,thisisadelaygreatlytoyourdisadvantage。\'
`No,SirFrancis;itwasforeseen。\'
`What!Youknewthattheway——\'
`Notatall;butIknewthatsomeobstacleorotherwouldsoonerorlaterariseonmyroute。Nothing,therefore,islost。Ihavetwodays,whichIhavealreadygained,tosacrifice。AsteamerleavesCalcuttaforHongKongatnoon,onthe25th。Thisisthe22nd,andweshallreachCalcuttaintime。\'
Therewasnothingtosaytosoconfidentaresponse。
Itwasbuttootruethattherailwaycametoaterminationatthispoint。
Thepaperswerelikesomewatches,whichhaveawayofgettingtoofast,andhadbeenprematureintheirannouncementofthecompletionoftheline。
Thegreaterpartofthetravellerswereawareofthisinterruption,andleavingthetrain,theybegantoengagesuchvehiclesasthevillagecouldprovide-four-wheeledpalkigharis,waggonsdrawnbyzebus,carriagesthatlookedlikeperambulatingpagodas,palanquins,poniesandwhatnot。
MrFoggandSirFrancisCromarty,aftersearchingthevillagefromendtoend,camebackwithouthavingfoundanything。
`Ishallgoafoot,\'saidPhileasFogg。
Passepartout,whohadnowrejoinedhismaster,madeawrygrimace,ashethoughtofhismagnificent,buttoofrailIndianshoes。Happilyhetoohadbeenlookingabouthim,and,afteramoment\'shesitation,said,`Monsieur,IthinkIhavefoundameansofconveyance。\'
`What?\'
`Anelephant!AnelephantthatbelongstoanIndianwholivesbutahundredstepsfromhere。\'
`Let\'sgoandseetheelephant,\'repliedMrFogg。
Theysoonreachedasmallhut,nearwhich,enclosedwithinsomehighPalings,wastheanimalinquestion。AnIndiancameoutofthehut,and,attheirrequest,conductedthemwithintheenclosure。Theelephant,whichitsownerhadreared,notforabeastofburden,butforwarlikepurposes,washalldomesticated。TheIndianhadbegunalready,byoftenirritatinghim,andfeedinghimeverythreemonthsonsugarandbutter,toimparttohimaferocitynotinhisnature,thismethodbeingoftenemployedbythosewhotraintheIndianelephantsforbattle。Happily,however,forMrFogg,theanimal\'sinstructioninthisdirectionhadnotgonefar,andtheelephantstillpreservedhisnaturalgentleness。Kiouni-thiswasthenameofthebeast-coulddoubtlesstravelrapidlyforalongtime,and,indefaultofanyothermeansofConveyance,MrFoggresolvedtohirehim。ButelephantsarefarfromcheapinIndia,wheretheyarebecomingscarce;themales,whichalonearesuitableforcircusshows,aremuchsought,especiallyasbutfewofthemaredomesticated。When,therefore,MrFoggproposedtotheIndiantohireKiouni,herefusedpoint-blank。
MrFoggpersisted,offeringtheexcessivesumoftenpoundsanhourfortheloanofthebeasttoAllahabad。Refused。Twentypounds?Refusedalso。
Fortypounds?Stillrefused。Passepartoutjumpedateachadvance;buttheIndiandeclinedtobetempted。Yettheofferwasanalluringone,for,supposingittooktheelephantfifteenhourstoreachAllahabad,hisownerwouldreceivenolessthansixhundredpoundssterling。
PhileasFogg,withoutgettingintheleastflurried,thenproposedtopurchasetheanimaloutright,andatfirstofferedathousandpoundsforhim。TheIndian,perhapsthinkinghewasgoingtomakeagreatbargain,stillrefused。
SirFrancisCromartytookMrFoggaside,andbeggedhimtoreflectbeforehewentanyfurther;towhichthatgentlemanrepliedthathewasnotinthehabitofactingrashly,thatabetoftwentythousandpoundswasatstake,thattheelephantwasabsolutelynecessarytohim,andthathewouldsecurehimifhehadtopaytwentytimeshisvalue。ReturningtotheIndian,whosesmall,sharpeyes,glisteningwithavarice,betrayedthatwithhimitwasonlyaquestionofhowgreatapricehecouldobtain,MrFoggofferedfirsttwelvehundred,thenfifteenhundred,eighteenhundred,twothousandpounds。Passepartout,usuallysorubicund,wasfairlywhitewithsuspense。
AttwothousandpoundstheIndianyielded。
`Whataprice,goodheaven!\'criedPassepartout,`foranelephant!\'
Itonlyremainednowtofindaguide,whichwascomparativelyeasy。
AyoungParsee,withanintelligentface,offeredhisservices,whichMrFoggaccepted,promisingsogenerousarewardastomateriallystimulatehiszeal。Theelephantwasledoutandequipped。TheParsee,whowasanaccomplishedelephantdriver,coveredhisbackwithasortofsaddle-cloth,andattachedtoeachofhisflankssomecuriouslyuncomfortablehowdahs。
PhileasFoggpaidtheIndianwithsomebank-noteswhichheextractedfromthefamouscarpet-bag,aproceedingthatseemedtodeprivepoorPassepartoutofhisvitals。ThenheofferedtocarrySirFrancistoAllahabad,whichthebrigadiergratefullyaccepted,asonetravellerthemorewouldnotbelikelytofatiguethegiganticbeast。ProvisionswerepurchasedatKholby,andwhileSirFrancisandMrFoggtookthehowdahsoneitherside,Passepartoutgotastridethesaddle-clothbetweenthem。TheParseeperchedhimselfontheelephant\'sneck,andatnineo\'clocktheysetoutfromthevillage,theanimalmarchingoffthroughthedenseforestofpalmsbytheshortestcut。
CHAPTERXIIINWHICHPHILEASFOGGANDHISCOMPANIONSVENTUREACROSSTHEINDIANFORESTS,ANDWHATENSUED。
Inordertoshortenthejourney,theguidepassedtotheleftofthelinewheretherailwaywasstillinprocessofbeingbuilt。ThislinedowingtothecapriciousturningsoftheVindhiaMountains,didnotpursueastraightcourse。TheParsee,whowasquitefamiliarwiththeroadsandpathsinthedistrict,declaredthattheywouldgaintwentymilesbystrikingdirectlythroughtheforest。
PhileasFoggandSirFrancisCromartyplungedtotheneckinthepeculiarhowdahsprovidedforthemewerehorriblyjostledbytheswifttrottingoftheelephant,spurredonashewasbytheskilfulParsee;buttheyenduredthediscomfortwithtrueBritishphlegm,talkinglittle,andscarcelyabletocatchaglimpseofeachother。AsforPassepartout,whowasmountedonthebeast\'sback,andreceivedthedirectforceofeachconcussionashetrodalong,hewasverycareful,inaccordancewithhismaster\'sadvice,tokeephistonguefrombetweenhisteeth,asitwouldotherhavebeenbittenoffshort。Theworthyfellowbouncedfromtheelephant\'snecktohisrump,andvaultedlikeaclownonaspring-board;yethelaughedinthemidstofhisbouncing,andfromtimetotimetookapieceofsugaroutofhispocket,andinserteditinKiouni\'strunkswhoreceiveditwithoutintheleastslackeninghisregulartrot。
Aftertwohourstheguidestoppedtheelephant,andgavehimanhourforrest,duringwhichKiouni,afterquenchinghisthirstataneighbouringspring,settodevouringthebranchesandshrubsroundabouthim。NeitherSirFrancisnorMrFoggregrettedthedelay,andbothdescendedwithafeelingofrelief。`Why,he\'smadeofiron!\'exclaimedthegeneral,gazingadmiringlyonKiouni。
`Of-forgediron,\'repliedPassepartout,ashesetaboutpreparingahastybreakfast。
AtnoontheParseegavethesignalofdeparture。
Thecountrysoonpresentedaverysavageaspect。Copsesofdatesanddwarf-palmssucceededthedenseforests;thenvast,dryplains,dottedwithscantyshrubs,andsownwithgreatblocksofsyenite。AllthisportionofBundelcund,whichislittlefrequentedbytravellers,isinhabitedbyafanaticalpopulation,hardenedinthemosthorriblepracticesoftheHindoofaith。TheEnglishhavenotbeenabletosecurecompletedominionoverthisterritory,whichissubjectedtotheinfluenceofrajahs,whomitisalmostimpossibletoreachintheirinaccessiblemountainfastnesses。
ThetravellersseveraltimessawbandsofferociousIndians,who,whentheyperceivedtheelephantstridingacrosscountry,madeangryandthreateningmotions。TheParseeavoidedthemasmuchaspossible。Fewanimalswereobservedontheroute;eventhemonkeyshurriedfromtheirpathwithcontortionsandgrimaceswhichconvulsedPassepartoutwithlaughter。
Inthemidstofhisgaiety,however,onethoughttroubledtheworthyservant。WhatwouldMrFoggdowiththeelephant,whenhegottoAllahabad?
Wouldhecarryhimonwithhim?Impossible!Thecostoftransportinghimwouldmakehimruinouslyexpensive。Wouldhesellhim,orsethimfree?
Theestimablebeastcertainlydeservedsomeconsideration。ShouldMrFoggchoosetomakehim,Passepartout,apresentofKiouni,hewouldbeverymuchembarrassed;andthesethoughtsdidnotceaseworryinghimforalongtime。
TheprincipalchainoftheVindhiaswascrossedbyeightintheevening,andanotherhaltwasmadeonthenorthernslope,inaBedbungalow。Theyhadgonenearlytwenty-fivemilesthatday,andanequaldistancestillseparatedthemfromthestationofAllahabad。
Thenightwascold。TheParseelitafireinthebungalowwithafewdrybranches,andthewarmthwasverygrateful。TheprovisionspurchasedatKholbysufficedforsupper,andthetravellersateravenously。Theconversation,beginningwithafewdisconnectedphrases,soongaveplacetoloudandsteadysnores。TheguidewatchedKiouni,whosleptstanding,bolsteringhimselfagainstthetrunkofalargetree。Nothingoccurredduringthenighttodisturbtheslumberers,althoughoccasionalgrowlsfrompanthersandchatteringsofmonkeysbrokethesilence;themoreformidablebeastsmadenocriesorhostiledemonstrationagainsttheoccupantsofthebungalow。
SirFrancissleptheavily,likeanhonestsoldierovercomewithfatigue。
Passepartoutwaswrappedinuneasydreamsofthebouncingofthedaybefore。
AsforMrFogg,heslumberedaspeakfullyasifhehadbeeninhisserenemansioninSavilleRow。
Thejourneywasresumedatsixinthemorning;theguidehopedtoreachAllahabadbyevening。Inthatcase,MrFoggwouldonlyloseapartoftheforty-eighthourssavedsincethebeginningofthetour。Kiouni,resuminghisrapidgait,soondescendedthelowerspursoftheVindhias,andtowardsnoontheypassedbytheageofKallenger,ontheCani,oneofthebranchesoftheGanges。Theguideavoidedinhabitedplaces,tagitsafertokeeptheopencountry,whichliesalongthefirstdepressionsofthebasinofthegreatriver。Allahabadwasnowonlytwelvemilestothenortheast。
Theystoppedunderaclumpofbananas,thefruitofwhich,ashealthyasbreadandassucculentascream,wasamplypartakenofandappreciated。
Attwoo\'clocktheguideenteredathickforestwhichextendedseveralmiles;hepreferredtotravelundercoverofthewoods。Theyhadnotasyethadanyunpleasantencounters,andthejourneyseemedonthepointofbeingsuccessfullyaccomplished,whentheelephant,becomingrestless,suddenlystopped。
Itwasthenfouro\'clock。
`What\'sthematter?\'askedSirFrancis,puttingouthishead。
`Idon\'tknow,officer,\'repliedtheParsee,listeningattentivelytoaconfusedmurmurwhichcamethroughthethickbranches。
Themurmursoonbecamemoredistinct;itnowseemedlikeadistantconcertofhumanvoicesaccompaniedbybrassinstruments。Passepartoutwasalleyesandears。MrFoggpatientlywaitedwithoutaword。TheParseejumpedtotheground,fastenedtheelephanttoatree,andplungedintothethicket。
Hesoonreturned,saying,`AprocessionofBrahminsiscomingthisway。Wemustpreventtheirseeingus,ifpossible。\'
Theguideunloosedtheelephantandledhimintoathicket,atthesametimeaskingthetravellersnottostir。Heheldhimselfreadytobestridetheanimalatamoment\'snotice,shouldflightbecomenecessary;butheevidentlythoughtthattheprocessionofthefaithfulwouldpasswithoutperceivingthemamidthethickfoliage,inwhichtheywerewhollyconcealed。
Thediscordanttonesofthevoicesandinstrumentsdrewnearer,andnowdroningsongsmingledwiththesoundofthetambourinesandcymbals。
Theheadoftheprocessionsoonappearedbeneaththetrees,ahundredpacesaway;andthestrangefigureswhoperformedthereligiousceremonywereeasilydistinguishedthroughthebranches。Firstcamethepriests,withmitresontheirheads,andclothedinlonglacerobes。Theyweresurroundedbymen,women,andchildren,whosangakindoflugubriouspsalm,interruptedatregularintervalsbythetambourinesandcymbals;whilebehindthemwasdrawnacarwithlargewheels,thespokesofwhichrepresentedserpentsentwinedwitheachother。Uponthecar,whichwasdrawnbyfourrichlycaparisonedzebusstoodahideousstatuewithfourarms,thebodycolouredadullred,withhaggardeyes,dishevelledhair,protrudingtongue,andlipstintedwithbetel。Itstooduprightuponthefigureofaprostrateandheadlessgiant。
SirFrancis,recognizingthestatue,whispered,`ThegoddessKali;thegoddessofloveanddeath。\'
`Ofdeath,perhaps,\'mutteredbackPassepartout,`butoflove-thatuglyoldhag?Never!\'
TheParseemadeamotiontokeepsilence。
Agroupofoldfakirswerecaperingandmakingawildadoroundthestatue;tewerestripedwithochre,andcoveredwithcutswhencetheirbloodissueddropbydrop-stupidfanatics,who,inthegreatIndianceremonies,stillthrowthemselvesunderthewheelsofJuggernaut。SomeBrahmins,cladinallthesumptuousnessofOrientalapparel,andleadingawomanwhofalteredateverystep,followed。Thiswomanwasyoung,andasfairasaEuropean。
Herheadandneck,shoulders,ears,arms,handsandtoes,wereloadeddownwithjewelsandgems,-withbracelets,earrings,andrings;whileatunicborderedwithgold,andcoveredwithalightmuslinrobe,betrayedtheoutlineofherform。
Theguardswhofollowedtheyoungwomanpresentedaviolentcontrasttoher,armedastheywerewithnakedsabreshungattheirwaists,andlongdamascenedpistols,andbearingacorpseonapalanquin。Itwasthebodyofanoldman,gorgeouslyarrayedinthehabilimentsofarajah,wearing,asinlife,aturbanembroideredwithpearls,arobeoftissueofsilkandgold,ascarfofcashmeresewedwithdiamonds,andthemagnificentweaponsofaHindooprince。Nextcamethemusiciansandarearguardofcaperingfakirs,whosecriessometimesdrownedthenoiseoftheinstruments;
theseclosedtheprocession。
SirFranciswatchedtheprocessionwithasadcountenance,and,turningtotheguide,said,`Asuttee。\'
TheParseenodded,andputhisfingertohislips。Theprocessionslowlywoundunderthetrees,andsoonitslastranksdisappearedinthedepthsofthewood。Thesongsgraduallydiedaway;occasionallycrieswereheardinthedistance,untilatlastallwassilenceagain。
PhileasFogghadheardwhatSirFrancissaid,and,assoonastheprocessionhaddisappeared,asked:
`Whatisa\"suttee\"?\'
`Asuttee,\'returnedthegeneral,`isahumansacrificebutavoluntaryone。Thewomanyouhavejustseenwillbeburnedtomorrowatthedawnofday。\'
`Oh,thescoundrels!\'criedPassepartout,whocouldnotrepresshisindignation。
`Andthecorpse?\'askedMrFogg。
`Isthatoftheprince,herhusband,\'saidtheguide;`anindependentrajahofBundelcund。\'
`Isitpossible,\'resumedPhileasFogg,hisvoicebetrayingnottheleastemotion,`thatthesebarbarouscustomsstillexistinIndia,andthattheEnglishhavebeenunabletoputastoptothem?\'
`ThesesacrificesdonotoccurinthelargerportionofIndia,\'repliedSirFrancis;`butwehavenopoweroverthesesavageterritories,andespeciallyhereinBundelcund。ThewholedistrictnorthoftheVindhiasisthetheatreofincessantmurdersandpillage。\'
`Thepoorwretch!\'exclaimedPassepartout。`Tobeburnedalive!\'
`Yes,\'returnedSirFrancis,`burnedalive。Andifshewerenot,youcannotconceivewhattreatmentshewouldbeobligedtosubmittofromherrelatives。Theywouldshaveoffherhairfeedheronascantyallowanceofrice,treatherwithcontempt;shewouldbelookeduponasanuncleancreature,andwoulddieinsomecorner,likeascurvydog。Theprospectofsofrightfulanexistencedrivesthesepoorcreaturestothesacrificemuchmorethanloveorreligiousfanaticism。Sometimes,however,thesacrificeisreallyvoluntary,anditrequirestheactiveinterferenceoftheGovernmenttopreventit。Severalyearsago,whenIwaslivingatBombay,ayoungwidowaskedpermissionofthegovernortobeburnedalongwithherhusband\'sbody;but,asyoumayimagine,herefused。Thewomanleftthetown,tookrefugewithanindependentrajah,andtherecarriedoutherself-devotedpurpose。\'
WhileSirFranciswasspeaking,theguideshookhisheadseveraltimes,andnowsaid:`Thesacrificewhichwilltakeplacetomorrowatdawnisnotavoluntaryone。\'
`Howdoyouknow?\'
`EverybodyknowsaboutthisaffairinBundelcund。\'
`Butthewretchedcreaturedidnotseemtobemakinganyresistance,\'
observedSirFrancis。
`Thatwasbecausetheyhadintoxicatedherwithfumesofhempandopium。\'
`Butwherearetheytakingher?\'
TothepagodaofPillaji,twomilesfromhere;shewillpassthenightthere。\'
`Andthesacrificewilltakeplace——\'
`To-morrow,atthefirstlightofdawn。\'
Theguidenowledtheelephantoutofthethicket,andleapeduponhisneck。JustatthemomentthathewasabouttourgeKiouniforwardwithapeculiarwhistle,MrFoggstoppedhim,and,turningtoSirFrancisCromarty,said,`Supposewesavethiswoman。\'
`Savethewoman,MrFogg!\'
`Ihaveyettwelvehourstospare;Icandevotethemtothat。\'
`Why,youareamanofheart!\'
`Sometimes,\'repliedPhileasFogg,quietly;`whenIhavethetime。\'
CHAPTERXIIIINWHICHPASSEPARTOUTRECEIVESANEWPROOFTHATFORTUNEFAVOURSTHEBRAVE。
Theprojectwasaboldone,fullofdifficulty,perhapsimpracticable。
MrFoggwasgoingtorisklife,oratleastliberty,andthereforethesuccessofhistour。Buthedidnothesitate,andhefoundinSirFrancisCromartyanenthusiastically。
AsforPassepartout,hewasreadyforanythingthatmightbeproposed。
Hismaster\'sideacharmedhim;heperceivedaheart,asoul,underthaticyexterior。HebegantolovePhileasFogg。
Thereremainedtheguide:whatcoursewouldheadopt?WouldhenottakepartwiththeIndians?Indefaultofhisassistance,itwasnecessarytobeassuredofhisneutrality。
SirFrancisfranklyputthequestiontohim。
`Officers,\'repliedtheguide,`IamaParsee,andthiswomanisaParsee。
Commandmeasyouwill。\'
`Excellent,\'saidMrFogg。
`However,\'resumedtheguide;`itiscertain,notonlythatweshallriskourlives,buthorribletortures,ifwearetaken。\'
`Thatisforeseen,\'repliedMrFogg。`Ithinkwemustwaittillnightbeforeacting。\'
`Ithinkso,\'saidtheguide。
TheworthyIndianthengavesomeaccountofthevictim,who,hesaid,wasacelebratedbeautyoftheParseerace,andthedaughterofawealthyBombaymerchant。ShehadreceivedathoroughlyEnglisheducationinthatcity,and,fromhermannersandintelligence,wouldbethoughtanEuropean。
HernamewasAouda。Leftanorphan,shewasmarriedagainstherwilltotheoldrajahofBundelcund;and,knowingthefatethatawaitedher,sheescaped,wasretaken,anddevotedbytherajah\'srelatives,whohadaninterestinherdeath,tothesacrificefromwhichitseemedshecouldnotescape。
TheParsee\'snarrativeonlyconfirmedMrFoggandhiscompanionsintheirgenerousdesign。ItwasdecidedthattheguideshoulddirecttheelephanttowardsthepagodaofPillaji,whichheaccordinglyapproachedasquicklyaspossible。Theyhalted,half-an-hourafterwards,inacopse,somefivehundredfeetfromthepagoda,wheretheywerewellconcealed;
buttheycouldhearthegroansandcriesofthefakirsdistinctly。
Theythendiscussedthemeansofgettingatthevictim。TheguidewasfamiliarwiththepagodaofPillaji,inwhich,ashedeclared,theyoungwomanwasimprisoned。CouldtheyenteranyofitsdoorswhilethewholepartyofIndianswasplungedinadrunkensleeporwasitsafertoattempttomakeaholeinthewalls?Thiscouldonlybedeterminedatthemomentandtheplacethemselves;butitwascertainthattheabductionmustbemadethatnight,andnotwhen,atbreakofday,thevictimwasledtoherfuneralpyre。Thennohumaninterventioncouldsaveher。
Assoonasnightfell,aboutsixo\'clock,theydecidedtomakeareconnaissancearoundthepagoda。Thecriesofthefakirswerejustceasing;theIndianswereintheactofplungingthemselvesintothedrunkennesscausedbyliquidOpiummingledwithhemp,anditmightbepossibletoslipbetweenthemtothetempleitself。
TheParsee,leadingtheothers,noiselesslycreptthroughthewood,andintenminutestheyfoundthemselvesonthebanksofasmallstream,whence,bythelightoftherosintorches,theyperceivedapyreofwood,onthetopofwhichlaytheembalmedbodyoftherajah,whichwastobeburnedwithhiswife。Thepagoda,whoseminaretsloomedabovethetreesinthedeepeningdusk,Stoodahundredstepsaway。
`Come!\'whisperedtheguide。
Heslippedmorecautiouslythaneverthroughthebrush,followedbyhiscompanions;thesilencearoundwasonlybrokenbythelowmurmuringofthewindamongthebranches。
SoontheParseestoppedonthebordersoftheglade,whichwaslitupbythetorches。ThegroundwascoveredbygroupsoftheIndians,motionlessintheirdrunkensleep;itseemedabattle-fieldstrewnwiththedead。
Men,women,andchildrenlaytogether。
Inthebackground,amongthetrees,thepagodaofPillajiloomedindistinctly。
Muchtotheguide\'sdisappointment,theguardsoftherajah,lightedbytorches,werewatchingatthedoorsandmarchingtoandfrowithnakedsabres;probablythepriests,too,werewatchingwithin。
TheParsee,nowconvincedthatitwasimpossibletoforceanentrancetothetemple,advancednofarther,butledhiscompanionsbackagain。
PhileasFoggandSirFrancisCromartyalsosawthatnothingcouldbeattemptedinthatdirection。Theystopped,andengagedinawhisperedcolloquy。
`Itisonlyeightnow,\'saidthebrigadier,`andtheseguardsmayalsogotosleep。\'
`Itisnotimpossible,\'returnedtheParsee。Theylaydownatthefootofatree,andwaited。
Thetimeseemedlong;theguideeverandanonleftthemtotakeanobservationontheedgeofthewood,buttheguardswatchedsteadilybytheglareofthetorches,andadimlightcreptthroughthewindowsofthepagoda。
Theywaitedtillmidnight;butnochangetookplaceamongtheguards,anditbecameapparentthattheiryieldingtosleepcouldnotbecountedon。Theotherplanmustbecarriedout;anopeninginthewallsofthepagodamustbemade。Itremainedtoascertainwhetherthepriestswerewatchingbythesideoftheirvictimasassiduouslyaswerethesoldiersatthedoor。
Afteralastconsultation,theguideannouncedthathewasreadyfortheattempt,andadvanced,followedbytheothers。Theytookaroundaboutway,soastogetatthepagodaontherear。Theyreachedthewallsabouthalf-pasttwelve,withouthavingmetanyone;heretherewasnoguard,norwerethereeitherwindowsordoors。
Thenightwasdark。Themoon,onthewane,scarcelyleftthehorizon,andwascoveredwithheavyclouds;theheightofthetreesdeepenedthedarkness。
Itwasnotenoughtoreachthewalls;anopeninginthemmustbeaccomplished,andtoattainthispurposethepartyonlyhadtheirpocket-knives。Happilythetemplewallswerebuiltofbrickandwood,whichcouldbepenetratedwithlittledifficulty;afteronebrickhadbeentakenout,therestwouldyieldeasily。
Theysetnoiselesslytowork,andtheParseeononesideandPassepartoutontheotherbegantoloosenthebrickssoastomakeanaperturetwofeetwide。Theyweregettingonrapidly,whensuddenlyacrywasheardintheinteriorofthetemple,followedalmostinstantlybyothercriesreplyingfromtheoutside。Passepartoutandtheguidestopped。Hadtheybeenheard?
Wasthealarmbeinggiven?Commonprudenceurgedthemtoretire,andtheydidso,followedbyPhileasFoggandSirFrancis。Theyagainhidthemselvesinthewood,andwaitedtillthedisturbance,whateveritmightbe,ceased,holdingthemselvesreadytoresumetheirattemptwithoutdelay。But,awkwardlyenough,theguardsnowappearedattherearofthetemple,andthereinstalledthemselves,inreadinesstopreventasurprise。
Itwouldbedifficulttodescribethedisappointmentoftheparty,thusinterruptedintheirwork。Theycouldnotnowreachthevictim;how,then,couldtheysaveher?SirFrancisshookhisfists,Passepartoutwasbesidehimself,andtheguidegnashedhisteethwithrage。ThetranquilFoggwaited,withoutbetrayinganyemotion。
`Wehavenothingtodobuttogoaway,\'whisperedSirFrancis。
`Nothingbuttogoaway,\'echoedtheguide。
`Stop,\'saidFogg。`IamonlydueatAllahabadto-morrowbeforenoon。
`Butwhatcanyouhopetodo?\'askedSirFrancis。`Inafewhoursitwillbedaylight,and——\'
`Thechancewhichnowseemslostmaypresentitselfatthelastmoment。\'
SirFranciswouldhavelikedtoreadPhileasFogg\'seyes。
WhatwasthiscoolEnglishmanthinkingof?Washeplanningtomakearushfortheyoungwomanattheverymomentofthesacrifice,andboldlysnatchherfromherexecutioners?
Thiswouldbeutterfolly,anditwashardtoadmitthatFoggwassuchafool。SirFrancisconsented,however,toremaintotheendofthisterribledrama。Theguideledthemtotherearoftheglade,wheretheywereabletoobservethesleepinggroups。
MeanwhilePassepartout,whohadperchedhimselfonthelowerbranchesofatree,wasresolvinganideawhichhadatfirststruckhimlikeaflash,andwhichwasnowfirmlylodgedinhisbrain。
Hehadcommencedbysayingtohimself,`Whatfolly!\'andthenherepeated,`Whynot,afterall?It\'sachance-perhapstheonlyone;andwithsuchsots!\'Thinkingthus,heslipped,withthesupplenessofaserpent,tothelowestbranches,theendsofwhichbentalmosttotheground。
Thehourspassed,andthelightershadesnowannouncedtheapproachofday,thoughitwasnotyetlight。Thiswasthemoment。Theslumberingmultitudebecameanimated,thetambourinessounded,songsandcriesarose;
thehourofthesacrificehadcome。Thedoorsofthepagodaswungopen,andabrightlightescapedfromitsinterior,inthe-midstofwhichMrFoggandSirFrancisespiedthevictim。Sheseemed,havingshakenoffthestuporofintoxication,tobestrivingtoescapefromherexecutioner。
SirFrancis\'sheartthrobbed;andconvulsivelyseizingMrFogg\'shand,foundinitanopenknife。Justatthismomentthecrowdbegantomove。
Theyoungwomanhadagainfallenintoastuporcausedbythefumesofhemp,andpassedamongthefakirs,whoescortedherwiththeirwild,religiouscries。
PhileasFoggandhiscompanions,minglingintherearranksofthecrowd,followed;andintwominutestheyreachedthebanksofthestream,andstoppedfiftypacesfromthepyre,uponwhichstilllaytherajah\'scorpse。
Inthesemi-obscuritytheysawthevictim,quitesenseless,stretchedoutbesideherhusband\'sbody。Thenatorchwasbrought,andthewood,soldwithoil,instantlytookfire。
AtthismomentSirFrancisandtheguideseizedPhileasFogg,who,inaninstantofmadgenerosity,wasabouttorushuponthepyre。Buthehadquicklypushedthemaside,whenthewholescenesuddenlychanged。Acryofterrorarose。Thewholemultitudeprostratedthemselves,terror-stricken,ontheground。
Theoldrajahwasnotdead,then,sinceheroseofasudden,likeaspectre,tookuphiswifeinhisarms,anddescendedfromthepyreinthemidstofthecloudsofsmoke,whichonlyheightenedhisghostlyappearance。
Fakirsandsoldiersandpriests,seizedwithinstantterror,laythere,withtheirfacesontheground,notdaringtolifttheireyesandbeholdsuchaprodigy。
Theinanimatevictimwasbornealongbythevigorousarmswhichsupportedher,andwhichshedidnotseemintheleasttoburden。MrFoggandSirFrancisstooderect,theParseebowedhishead,andPassepartoutwas,nodoubt,scarcelylessstupefied。
TheresuscitatedrajahapproachedSirFrancisandMrFogg,and,inanabrupttone,said,`Letusbeoff!\'
ItwasPassepartouthimself,whohadslippeduponthepyreinthemidstofthesmokeand,profitingbythestilloverhangingdarkness,haddeliveredtheyoungwomanfromdeath!ItwasPassepartoutwho,playinghispartwithahappyaudacity,hadpassedthroughthecrowdamidthegeneralterror。
Amomentafterallfourofthepartyhaddisappearedinthewoods,andtheelephantwasbearingthemawayatarapidpace。Butthecriesandnoise,andaballwhichwhizzedthroughPhileasFogg\'shat,apprisedthemthatthetrickhadbeendiscovered。
Theoldrajah\'sbody,indeed,nowappearedupontheburningpyre;andthepriests,recoveredfromtheirterror,perceivedthatanabductionhadtakenplace。Theyhastenedintotheforest,followedbythesoldiers,whofiredavolleyafterthefugitives;butthelatterrapidlyincreasedthedistancebetweenthem,anderelongfoundthemselvesbeyondthereachofthebulletsandarrows。
CHAPTERXIVINWHICHPHILEASFOGGDESCENDSTHEWHOLELENGTHOFTHEBEAUTIFULVALLEY
OFTHEGANGESWITHOUTEVERTHINKINGOFSEEINGIT。
Therashexploithadbeenaccomplished;andforanhourPassepartoutlaughedgailyathissuccess。SirFrancispressedtheworthyfellow\'shand,andhismastersaid,`Welldone!\'which,fromhim,washighcommendation;
towhichPassepartoutrepliedthatallthecreditoftheaffairbelongedtoMrFogg。Asforhim,hehadonlybeenstruckwitha`queer\'idea;andhelaughedtothinkthatforafewmomentshe,Passepartout,theex-gymnast,ex-sergeantfireman,hadbeenthespouseofacharmingwoman,avenerable,embalmedrajah!AsfortheyoungIndianwoman,shehadbeenunconsciousthroughoutofwhatwaspassing,andnow,wrappedupinatravelling-blanket,wasreposinginoneofthehowdahs。
Theelephant,thankstotheskilfulguidanceoftheParsee,wasadvancingrapidlythroughthestilldark-someforest,and,anhourafterleavingthepagoda,hadcrossedavastplain。Theymadeahaltatseveno\'clock,theyoungwomanbeingstillinastateofcompleteprostration。Theguidemadeherdrinkalittlebrandyandwater,butthedrowsinesswhichstupefiedhercouldnotyetbeshakenoff。SirFrancis,whowasfamiliarwiththeeffectsoftheintoxicationproducedbythefumesofhemp,reassuredhiscompanionsonheraccount。Buthewasmoredisturbedattheprospectofherfuturefate。HetoldPhileasFoggthat,shouldAoudaremaininIndia,shewouldinevitablyfallagainintothehandsofherexecutioners。Thesefanaticswerescatteredthroughoutthecountry,andwould,despitetheEnglishpolice,recovertheirvictimatMadras,Bombay,orCalcutta。ShewouldonlybesafebyquittingIndiaforever。
PhileasFoggrepliedthathewouldreflectuponthematter。
ThestationatAllahabadwasreachedaboutteno\'clock,andtheinterruptedlineofrailwaybeingresumed,wouldenablethemtoreachCalcuttainlessthantwenty-fourhours。PhileasFoggwouldthusbeabletoarriveintimetotakethesteamerwhichleftCalcuttathenextday,October25th,atnoon,forHongKong。
Theyoungwomanwasplacedinoneofthewaiting-roomsofthestation,whilstPassepartoutwaschargedwithpurchasingforhervariousarticlesoftoilet,adress,shawl,andsomefurs;forwhichhismastergavehimunlimitedcredit。Passepartoutstartedoffforthwith,andfoundhimselfinthestreetsofAllahabad,thatis,the`CityofGod\',oneofthemostveneratedinIndia,beingbuiltatthejunctionofthetwosacredrivers,GangesandJumna,thewatersofwhichattractpilgrimsfromeverypartofthepeninsula。TheGanges,accordingtothelegendsoftheRamayana,risesinheaven,whenceowingtoBrahma\'sagency,itdescendstotheearth。
Passepartoutmadeitapoint,ashemadehispurchases,totakeagoodlookatthecity。Itwasformerlydefendedbyanoblefort,whichhassincebecomeastateprison;itscommercehasdwindledaway,andPassepartoutinvainlookedabouthimforsuchabazaarasheusedtofrequentinRegentStreet。Atlasthecameuponanelderly,crustyJew,whosoldsecond-handarticles,andfromwhomhepurchasedadressofScotchstuff,alargemantle,andafineotter-skinpelisse,forwhichhedidnothesitatetopayseventy-fivepounds。Hethenreturnedtriumphantlytothestation。
TheinfluencetowhichthepriestsofPillajihadsubjectedAoudabegangraduallytoyield,andshebecamemoreherself,sothatherfineeyesresumedalltheirsoftIndianexpression。
Whenthepoet-king,UcafUddaul,celebratesthecharmsofthequeenofAhmehnagara,hespeaksthus:——
`Hershiningtresses,dividedintwoparts,encircletheharmoniouscontourofherwhiteanddelicatecheeks,brilliantintheirglowandfreshness。
HerebonybrowshavetheformandcharmofthebowofKama,thegodoflove,andbeneathherlongsilkenlashesthepurestreflectionsandacelestiallightswim,asinthesacredlakesofHimalaya,intheblackpupilsofhergreatcleareyes。Herteeth,fine,equalandwhite,glitterbetweenhersmilinglipslikedew-dropsinapassion-flower\'shalf-envelopedbreast。
Herdelicatelyformedears,hervermillionhands,herlittlefeet,curvedandtenderasthelotus-bud,glitterwiththebrilliancyoftheloveliestpearlsofCeylon,themostdazzlingdiamondsofGolconda。Hernarrowandsupplewaist,whichahandmayclasparound,setsforththeoutlineofherroundedfigureandthebeautyofherbosom,whereyouthinitsflowerdisplaysthewealthofitstreasures;andbeneaththesilkenfoldsofhertunicsheseemstohavebeenmodelledinpuresilverbythegodlikehandofVicvarcarma,theimmortalsculptor。\'
Itisenoughtosay,withoutapplyingthispoeticalrhapsodytoAouda,thatshewasacharmingwoman,inalltheEuropeanacceptationofthephrase。
ShespokeEnglishwithgreatpurity,andtheguidehadnotexaggeratedinsayingthattheyoungParseehadbeentransformedbyherbringingup。
ThetrainwasabouttostartfromAllahabad,andMrFoggproceededtopaytheguidethepriceagreedforhisservice,andnotafarthingmore;
whichastonishedPassepartout,whorememberedallthatthismasterowedtotheguide\'sdevotion。Hehad,indeed,riskedhislifeintheadventureatPillaji,andheshouldbecaughtafterwardsbytheIndians,hewouldwithdifficultyescapetheirvengeance。Kiouni,also,mustbedisposedof。Whatshouldbedonewiththeelephant,whichhadbeensodearlypurchased?
PhileasFogghadalreadydeterminedthisquestion。
`Parsee,\'saidhetotheguide,`youhavebeenserviceableanddevoted。
Ihavepaidforyourservice,butnotforyourdevotion。Wouldyouliketohavethiselephant?Heisyours。\'
Theguide\'seyesglistened。
`Yourhonourisgivingmeafortune!\'criedhe。
`Takehim,guide,\'returnedMrFogg,`andIshallstillbeyourdebtor。\'
`Good!\'exclaimedPassepartout。`Takehim,friend。Kiouniisabraveandfaithfulbeast。\'And,goinguptotheelephant,hegavehimseverallumpsofsugar,saying,`Here,Kiouni,here,here。\'
Theelephantgruntedouthissatisfaction,and,claspingPassepartoutaroundthewaistwithhistrunk,liftedhimashighashishead。Passepartout,notintheleastalarmed,caressedtheanimal,whichreplacedhimgentlyontheground。
Soonafter,PhileasFogg,SirFrancisCromarty,andPassepartout,installedinacarriagewithAouda,whohadthebestseat,werewhirlingatfullspeedtowardsBenares。Itwasarunofeightymiles,andwasaccomplishedintwohours。Duringthejourney,theyoungwomanfullyrecoveredhersenses。
Whatwasherastonishmenttofindherselfinthiscarriage,ontherailway,dressedinEuropeanhabiliments,andwithtravellerswhowerequitestrangerstoher!Hercompanionsfirstsetaboutfullyrevivingherwithalittleliquor,andthenSirFrancisnarratedtoherwhathadpassed,dwellinguponthecouragewithwhichPhileasFogghadnothesitatedtoriskhislifetosaveher,andrecountingthehappysequeloftheventure,theresultofPassepartout\'srashidea。MrFoggsaidnothing;whilePassepartout,abashed,keptrepeatingthat`itwasn\'tworthtelling\'。
Aoudapatheticallythankedherdeliverers,ratherwithtearsthanwords;
herfineeyesinterpretedhergratitudebetterthanherlips。Then,asherthoughtsstrayedbacktothesceneofthesacrifice,andrecalledthedangerswhichstillmenacedher,sheshudderedwithterror。
PhileasFoggunderstoodwhatwaspassinginAouda\'smind,andoffered,inordertoreassureher,toescorthertoHongKong,whereshemightremainsafelyuntiltheaffairwashushedup-anofferwhichsheeagerlyandgratefullyaccepted。Shehad,itseems,aParseerelation,whowasoneoftheprincipalmerchantsofHongKong,whichiswhollyanEnglishcity,thoughonanislandontheChinesecoast。
Athalf-pasttwelvethetrainstoppedatBenares。TheBrahminlegendsassertthatthiscityisbuiltonthesiteoftheancientCasi,which,likeMahomet\'stomb,wasoncesuspendedbetweenheavenandearth;thoughtheBenaresofto-day,whichtheOrientalistscalltheAthensofIndia,standsquiteunpoeticallyonthesolidearth。Passepartoutcaughtglimpsesofitsbrickhousesandclayhuts,givinganaspectofdesolationtotheplace,asthetrainenteredit。
BenareswasSirFrancisCromarty\'sdestination,thetroopshewasrejoiningbeingencampedsomemilesnorthwardofthecity。HebadeadieutoPhileasFogg,wishinghimallsuccess,andexpressingthehopethathewouldcomethatwayagaininalessoriginalbutmoreprofitablefashion。MrFogglightlypressedhimbythehand。ThepartingofAouda,whodidnotforgetwhatsheowedtoSirFrancis,betrayedmorewarmth;and,asforPassepartout,hereceivedaheartyshakeofthehandfromthegallantgeneral。
Therailway,onleavingBenares,passedforawhilealongthevalleyoftheGanges。ThroughthewindowsoftheircarriagethetravellershadglimpsesofthediversifiedlandscapeofBehar,withitsmountainsclothedinverdure,itsfieldsofbarley,wheat,andcorn,itsjunglespeopledwithgreenalligators,itsneatvillages,anditsstillthickly-leavedforests。Elephantswerebathinginthewatersofthesacredriver,andgroupsofIndians,despitetheadvancedseasonandchillyair,wereperformingsolemnlytheirpiousablutions。ThesewereferventBrahmins,thebitterestfoesofBuddhism,theirdeitiesbeingVishnu,thesolargod,Shiva,thedivineimpersonationofnaturalforces,andBrahma,thesupremerulerofpriestsandlegislators。WhatwouldthesedivinitiesthinkofIndia,anglicizedasitisto-day,withsteamerswhistlingandscuddingalongtheGanges,frighteningthegullswhichfloatuponitssurface,theturtlesswarmingalongitsbanks,andthefaithfuldwellinguponitsborders?
Thepanoramapassedbeforetheireyeslikeaflash,savewhenthesteamconcealeditfitfullyfromtheview;thetravellerscouldscarcelydiscernthefortofChupenie,twentymilessouth-westwardfromBenares,theancientstrongholdoftherajahsofBehar;orGhazipuranditsfamousrose-waterfactories;orthetombofLordCornwallis,risingontheleftbankoftheGanges;thefortifiedtownofBuxar,orPatna,alargemanufacturingandtradingplace,whereisheldtheprincipalopiummarketofIndia;orMonghir,amorethanEuropeantown,foritisasEnglishasManchesterorBirmingham,withitsironfoundries,edge-toolfactories,andhighchimneyspuffingcloudsofblacksmokeheavenward。
Nightcameon;thetrainpassedonatfullspeed,inthemidstoftheroaringoftigers,bears,andwolveswhichfledbeforethelocomotive;
andthemarvelsofBengal,Golconda,ruinedGour,Murshedabad,theancientcapital,Burdwan,Hugly,andtheFrenchtownofChandernagor,wherePassepartoutwouldhavebeenproudtoseehiscountry\'sflagflying,werehiddenfromtheirviewinthedarkness。