Adventure stories; Voyages around the world -- Fiction
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 signified 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 manœuvre
simply glorious. The captain had said “between eleven and twelve
knots,” and the “Henrietta” confirmed 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 difficulties 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 transatlantic 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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account