登陆注册
14935500000033

第33章 CHAPTER XXXIII

IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG SHOWS HIMSELF EQUAL TO THE OCCASION

AN HOUR after,the‘henrietta'passed the lighthouse which marks the entrance of the Hudson,turned the point of Sandy Hook,and put to sea。During the day she skirted Long Island,passed Fire Island,and directed her course rapidly eastward。

At noon the next day,a man mounted the bridge to ascertain the vessel's position。It might be thought that this was Captain Speedy。Not the least in the world。It was Phileas Fogg,Esquire。As for Captain Speedy,he was shut up in his cabin under lock and key,and was uttering loud cries,which signifed an anger at once pardonable and excessive。

What had happened was very simple。Phileas Fogg wished to go to Liverpool,but the captain would not carry him there。Then Phileas Fogg had taken passage for Bordeaux,and,during the thirty hours he had been on board,had so shrewdly managed with his banknotes that the sailors and stokers,who were only an occasional crew,and were not on the best terms with the captain,went over to him in a body。This was why Phileas Fogg was in command instead of Captain Speedy;why the captain was a prisoner in his cabin;and why,in short,the‘Henrietta'was directing her course towards Liverpool。It was very clear,to see Mr。Fogg manage the craft,that he had been a sailor。

How the adventure ended will be seen anon。Aouda was anxious,though she said nothing。As for Passepartout,he thought Mr。Fogg's manoeuvre simply glorious。The captain had said‘between eleven and twelve knots,'and the‘Henrietta'confrmed his prediction。

If,then—for there were‘ifs'still—the sea did not become too boisterous,if the wind did not veer round to the east,if no accident happened to the boat or its machinery,the‘Henrietta'might cross the three thousand miles from New York to Liverpool in the nine days,between the 12th and the 21st of December。It is true that,once arrived,the affair on board the Henrietta,added to that of the Bank of England,might create more diffculties for Mr。Fogg than he imagined or could desire。

During the first days,they went along smoothly enough。The sea was not very unpropitious,the wind seemed stationary in the north-east,the sails were hoisted,and the Henrietta ploughed across the waves like a real trans-atlantic steamer。

Passepartout was delighted。His master's last exploit,the consequences of which he ignored,enchanted him。Never had the crew seen so jolly and dexterous a fellow。He formed warm friendships with the sailors,and amazed them with his acrobatic feats。He thought they managed the vessel like gentlemen,and that the stokers fired up like heroes。His loquacious good humour infected everyone。He had forgotten the past,its vexations and delays。He only thought of the end,so nearly accomplished;and sometimes he boiled over with impatience,as if heated by the furnaces of the‘Henrietta'。Often,also,the worthy fellow revolved around Fix,looking at him with a keen,distrustful eye;but he did not speak to him,for their old intimacy no longer existed。

Fix,it must be confessed,understood nothing of what was going on。The conquest of the‘Henrietta',the bribery of the crew,Fogg managing the boat like a skilled seaman,amazed and confused him。He did not know what to think。For,after all,a man who began by stealing ffty-fve thousand pounds might end by stealing a vessel;and Fix was not unnaturally inclined to conclude that the‘Henrietta',under Fogg's command,was not going to Liverpool at all,but to some part of the world where the robber,turned into a pirate,would quietly put himself in safety。The conjecture was at least a plausible one,and the detective began to seriously regret that he had embarked in the affair。

As for Captain Speedy,he continued to howl and growl in his cabin;and Passepartout,whose duty it was to carry him his meals,courageous as he was,took the greatest precautions。Mr。Fogg did not seem even to know that there was a captain on board。

On the 13th they passed the edge of the Banks of Newfoundland,a dangerous locality;during the winter,especially,there are frequent fogs and heavy gales of wind。Ever since the evening before the barometer,suddenly falling,had indicated an approaching change in the atmosphere;and during the night the temperature varied,the cold became sharper,and the wind veered to the southeast。

This was a misfortune。Mr。Fogg,in order not to deviate from his course,furled his sails and increased the force of the steam;but the vessel's speed slackened,owing to the state of the sea,the long waves of which broke against the stern。She pitched violently,and this retarded her progress。The breeze little by little swelled into a tempest,and it was to be feared that the‘Henrietta'might not be able to maintain herself upright on the waves。

Passepartout's visage darkened with the skies,and for two days the poor fellow experienced constant fright。But Phileas Fogg was a bold mariner,and knew how to maintain headway against the sea;and he kept on his course,without even decreasing his steam。The‘Henrietta',when she could not rise upon the waves,crossed them,swamping her deck,but passing safely。Sometinies the screw rose out of the water,beating its protruding end,when a mountain of water raised the stern above the waves;but the craft always kept straight ahead。

The wind,however,did not grow as boisterous as might have been feared;it was not one of those tempests which burst,and rush on with a speed of ninety miles an hour。It continued fresh,but,unhappily,it remained obstinately in the southeast,rendering the sails useless。

The 16th of December was the seventy-fifth day since Phileas Fogg's departure from London,and the‘Henrietta'

had not yet been seriously delayed。Half of the voyage was almost accomplished,and the worst localities had been passed。In summer,success would have been well-nigh certain。In winter,they were at the mercy of the bad season。Passepartout said nothing;but he cherished hope in secret,and comforted himself with the reflection that,if the wind failed them,they might still count on the steam。

On this day the engineer came on deck,went up to Mr。Fogg,and began to speak earnestly with him。Without knowing why it was a presentiment,perhaps Passepartout became vaguely uneasy。He would have given one of his ears to hear with the other what the engineer was saying。He fnally managed to catch a few words,and was sure he heard his master say,‘You are certain of what you tell me?'

‘Certain,sir,'replied the engineer。‘You must remember that,since we started,we have kept up hot fires in all our furnaces,and though we had coal enough to go on short steam from New York to Bordeaux,we haven't enough to go with all steam from New York to Liverpool。'

‘I will consider,'replied Mr。Fogg。

Passepartout understood it all;he was seized with mortal anxiety。The coal was giving out!‘Ah,if my master can get over that,'muttered he,‘he'll be a famous man!'He could not help imparting to Fix what he had overheard。

‘Then you believe that we really are going to Liverpool?'

‘Of course。'

‘Ass!'replied the detective,shrugging his shoulders and turning on his heel。

Passepartout was on the point of vigorously resenting the epithet,the reason of which he could not for the life of him comprehend;but he reflected that the unfortunate Fix was probably very much disappointed and humiliated in his self-esteem,after having so awkwardly followed a false scent around the world,and refrained。

And now what course would Phileas Fogg adopt?It was diffcult to imagine。Nevertheless he seemed to have decided upon one,for that evening he sent for the engineer,and said to him,‘Feed all the fres until the coal is exhausted。'

A few moments after,the funnel of the‘Henrietta'vomited forth torrents of smoke。The vessel continued to proceed with all steam on;but on the 18th,the engineer,as he had predicted,announced that the coal would give out in the course of the day。

‘Do not let the fires go down,'replied Mr。Fogg。‘Keep them up to the last。Let the valves be flled。'

Towards noon Phileas Fogg,having ascertained their position,called Passepartout,and ordered him to go for Captain Speedy。It was as if the honest fellow had been commanded to unchain a tiger。He went to the poop,saying to himself,‘He will be like a madman!'

In a few moments,with cries and oaths,a bomb appeared on the poop-deck。The bomb was Captain Speedy。It was clear that he was on the point of bursting。‘Where are we?'were the frst words his anger permitted him to utter。Had the poor man been apoplectic,he could never have recovered from his paroxysm of wrath。

‘Where are we?'he repeated,with purple face。

‘Seven hundred and seven miles from Liverpool,'replied Mr。Fogg,with imperturbable calmness。

‘Pirate!'cried Captain Speedy。

‘I have sent for you,sir—'

‘Pickaroon!'

‘—Sir,'continued Mr。Fogg,‘to ask you to sell me your vessel。'

‘No!By all the devils,no!'

‘But I shall be obliged to burn her。'

‘Burn the Henrietta!'

‘Yes;at least the upper part of her。The coal has given out。'

‘Burn my vessel!'cried Captain Speedy,who could scarcely pronounce the words。‘A vessel worth ffty thousand dollars!'

‘Here are sixty thousand,'replied Phileas Fogg,handing the captain a roll of bank-bills。This had a prodigious effect on Andrew Speedy。An American can scarcely remain unmoved at the sight of sixty thousand dollars。The captain forgot in an instant his anger,his imprisonment,and all his grudges against his passenger。The‘Henrietta'was twenty years old;it was a great bargain。The bomb would not go off after all。Mr。Fogg had taken away the match。

‘And I shall still have the iron hull,'said the captain in a softer tone。

‘The iron hull and the engine。Is it agreed?'

‘Agreed。'

And Andrew Speedy,seizing the banknotes,counted them and consigned them to his pocket。

During this colloquy,Passepartout was as white as a sheet and Fix seemed on the point of having an apoplectic fit。Nearly twenty thousand pounds had been expended,and Fogg left the hull and engine to the captain,that is,near the whole value of the craft!It is true,however,that fifty-five thousand pounds had been stolen from the Bank。

When Andrew Speedy had pocketed the money,Mr。Fogg said to him,‘Don't let this astonish you,sir。You must know that I shall lose twenty thousand pounds,unless I arrive in London by a quarter before nine on the evening of the 21st of December。I missed the steamer at New York,and as you refused to take me to Liverpool—'

‘And I did well!'cried Andrew Speedy;‘for I have gained at least forty thousand dollars by it!'He added,more sedately,‘Do you know one thing,Captain—'

‘Fogg。'

‘Captain Fogg,you've got something of the Yankee about you。'

And,having paid his passenger what he considered a high compliment,he was going away,when Mr。Fogg said,‘The vessel now belongs to me?'

‘Certainly,from the keel to the truck of the masts,—all the wood,that is。'

‘Very well。Have the interior seats,bunks,and frames pulled down,and burn them。'

It was necessary to have dry wood to keep the steam up to the adequate pressure,and on that day the poop,cabins,bunks,and the spare deck were sacrificed。On the next day,the 19th of December,the masts,rafts,and spars were burned;the crew worked lustily,keeping up the fres。Passepartout hewed,cut,and sawed away with all his might。There was a perfect rage for demolition。

The railings,fttings,the greater part of the deck,and top sides disappeared on the 20th,and the‘Henrietta'was now only a fat hulk。But on this day they sighted the Irish coast and Fastnet Light。By ten in the evening they were passing Queenstown。Phileas Fogg had only twenty-four hours more in which to get to London;that length of time was necessary to reach Liverpool,with all steam on。And the steam was about to give out altogether!

‘Sir,'said Captain Speedy,who was now deeply interested in Mr。Fogg's project,‘I really commiserate you。Everything is against you。We are only opposite Queenstown。'

‘Ah,'said Mr。Fogg,‘is that place where we see the lights Queenstown?'

‘Yes。'

‘Can we enter the harbour?'

‘Not under three hours。Only at high tide。'

‘Stay,'replied Mr。Fogg calmly,without betraying in his features that by a supreme inspiration he was about to attempt once more to conquer ill-fortune。

Queenstown is the Irish port at which the transatlantic steamers stop to put off the mails。These mails are carried to Dublin by express trains always held in readiness to start;from Dublin they are sent on to Liverpool by the most rapid boats,and thus gain twelve hours on the Atlantic steamers。

Phileas Fogg counted on gaining twelve hours in the same way。Instead of arriving at Liverpool the next evening by the Henrietta,he would be there by noon,and would therefore have time to reach London before a quarter before nine in the evening。

The Henrietta entered Queenstown Harbour at one o'clock in the morning,it then being high tide;and Phileas Fogg,after being grasped heartily by the hand by Captain Speedy,left that gentleman on the levelled hulk of his craft,which was still worth half what he had sold it for。

The party went on shore at once。Fix was greatly tempted to arrest Mr。Fogg on the spot;but he did not。Why?What struggle was going on within him?Had he changed his mind about‘his man'?Did he understand that he had made a grave mistake?He did not however,abandon Mr。Fogg。They all got upon the train,which was just ready to start,at half-past one;at dawn of day they were in Dublin;and they lost no time in embarking on a steamer which,disdaining to rise upon the waves,invariably cut through them。

Phileas Fogg at last disembarked on the Liverpool quay,at twenty minutes before twelve,21st December。He was only six hours distant from London。

But at this moment Fix came up,put his hand upon Mr。Fogg's shoulder,and,showing his warrant,said,‘You are really Phileas Fogg?'

‘I am。'

‘I arrest you in the Queen's name!'

同类推荐
  • 英国学生文学读本(套装共6册)

    英国学生文学读本(套装共6册)

    《英国学生文学读本(套装共6册)》以英文原版形式出版,图文并茂。编写体例统一严谨,包括生词、课文、语音、拼读练习、词汇解释等,同时还附加了单词拓展练习。可以伴随学生从小学直至高中或大学阶段。同时也适合成人英语学习者提高英语阅读水平使用,让众多国内读者在了解西方文学的同时,也感受英语语言的魅力。
  • Beijngtourguide

    Beijngtourguide

    Beijingitisalsoanancientcitythathasbeenthenationiscapitalfor850yearsinitstotalhistoryofmorethan3,000years.Itisagreatcitywiththemagnitudeofavastcountryandthehustleandbustleofathrivingcosmopolis.
  • 青春阅读——聆听人生真谛(双语)

    青春阅读——聆听人生真谛(双语)

    人生的真谛其实很简单:那就是为实现自己的宏伟理想美好梦想而好好活着!只有活着,你才会有希望!否则,一切的一切皆为泡影!当你遭遇失败和挫折的时候,你绝不要仅仅停留在悲观、伤心、失望的状态上。因为,这样下去,只会让自己的人生越来越迷茫!
  • 美国学生文学读本(第6册)

    美国学生文学读本(第6册)

    这套由美国芝加哥大学第二任校长哈里亲自主编,众多教授共同编写的经典文课本,能让国内读者更好地了解西方文学,感受英语语言的魅力。从文章所涉内容来看,有故事、童话、传记、诗歌、旅游、历险、历史、自然、科学等。每课列出了重点难点词汇并英文注释,并附有作者介绍。加强原文阅读,是提高英语水平的一个最好的途径之一。
热门推荐
  • 蛇谷谜窟

    蛇谷谜窟

    这年盛夏,西南地区接连爆发强烈地震,四艺研究会云南分会会长宫岳临危受命,前往江源解除地震危机。然而,宫岳手下的得力干将——最有望完成任务的靳风,却是个脑功能有缺陷的精神病人。靳风有暴力倾向,而且完全不听指挥。不得已,宫岳千里迢迢“请”来一个对靳风有特别影响的人,希望他能说服靳风前往雨林深处,用一局围棋解除这次百年不遇的地震危机……
  • 恨灵:女王之怨

    恨灵:女王之怨

    她被闺蜜无情背叛后来她才知道这一切的一切都是因为他!夜赫夜赫是她的男朋友而他也是她闺蜜的心中的真命所以她的闺蜜无情的利用任何手段想把她从这个世界上消失!终于他知道,她闺蜜是蓝狐族族长之女而她是吸血鬼界的女王。“她区区一个蓝狐族族长又能奈我何!”
  • 三日恋

    三日恋

    高中毕业当晚,彼此暗恋彼此的青梅竹马——小赤与星杏香,两人约好明日一同约会,可因为异常意外让星杏香失去了生命。在“灵魂引渡扉间”,出现一个神秘人,这个人赋予星杏香三天生命。由此,星杏香复活表白,让他在这三天里成为世界上最幸福的女人。。。。。。
  • 武霸皇天

    武霸皇天

    少年杨天赐,穿越异界,身怀前世老爹所留的神秘玉佩,获得武魂,在异界,斗群雄,谱血歌,成为武道霸皇。世界不会改变,改变的从来只有自己!以实力去征服一切,征服世界!“云空在次拜谢各位读者大大,若喜欢帮忙推广支持一下。”
  • 宁醉一场青春

    宁醉一场青春

    我是一个很悲观的人,在我的世界中所有人都是戴着面具生活的,对于这个世界我一直觉得很无奈,我以为我也将戴着面具生活下去,不过很庆幸的是我的生命中出现了一个人,他照亮了我的世界……
  • 我是鬼记者

    我是鬼记者

    死灵咒、恶胎变、掘墓鬼——我记录着死人说的话,经历着平常人永远都不会有的经历。我是鬼记者,我的死亡笔记实录。
  • 传承召唤

    传承召唤

    一个神奇的世界,一个带着梦想的少年,两者时间会发生什么。一个没有体会过亲情人,意外后获得了他梦想的一切,而他要做的就是守护。这事实上从来就没有所谓的强者,一生不犯错误的人是不存在的。喂喂喂,我啥时候说过我是一个人!你问我我的背后是谁,我的背后是地球!——王凯
  • 八荒绝书

    八荒绝书

    梁家、农家、金家、道家......百家争鸣,何不多出一家?毕方、饕餮、孰湖、胜遇......万兽率舞,岂能缺此一兽?气象、重剑、斋醮、机甲......三教九流,如何独秀一枝?九曲、暴君、燎原、奎宿......兵戈相接,看他惊世一剑!他们说古往今来皆如此。他们说命里无时莫强求。他们说的都很对!但是......我偏偏不是他们,我想要的我自己来拿!......一次需要理由的穿越,一个小人物的成长史。
  • 汪精卫第五卷遗臭万年

    汪精卫第五卷遗臭万年

    提到汪精卫,大多数人想到的就是两个字——汉奸!汪精卫在中国是一个完全被否定的人物,甚至被认为是中国人的耻辱。因此现在的中国历史教科书中,把汪精卫从辛亥革命和国民党的历史中完全抹杀,只是抗日战争的历史中实在无法抹杀汪精卫的存在,才简单地提到了汪精卫和他的维新政府。这种出于主观愿望而随意修改历史的作法,使国人对历史产生了错误和虚假的理解。重新去纵观汪精卫的一生,历史不仅仅是记录事件,还需要真实、公正、客观。
  • 周仓是个大帅哥

    周仓是个大帅哥

    作者获得过冰心儿童图书奖。周仓长得和张飞差不多,铜铃样的大眼睁开来总好像随时要跟人打架,乱蓬蓬的胡子能经常把他喜欢的小孩吓哭。三国时代不仅会经常打仗,偶尔也会举行类似于现在的选美比赛——当然,周仓有一次参加了,本来选美不一定轮得到他,可是一场突如其来的事件改变了大家对他的看法……《周仓是个大帅哥》受欢迎的原因,我觉得可能是作者的写法让我们充满了薪鲜感——他试图用童话的眼光打量那些在我们眼前渐渐模糊的历史,这和时下的“恶搞”“戏说”“穿越”都不同,它使厚重的历史有了温度,可感可触。