by Verne, Jules, 1828-1905
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I\Ir. Fogg and Aouda, happily unaffected by the roughness of the sea, ate with a good appetite, Fix being invited to share their repast, which he accepted^wlth secret chagrin. To travel at this man's expense and llve^upon his provisions was not palatable to him. Still, he was obliged to eat, and so he ate.
When the meal was over, he took Mr. Fogg apart, and said,''Sir,"?this ''sir" scorched his lips, and he had to control himself to avoid collaring this ''gentleman,"?''sir, you have been very kind to give me a passage on this boat. But, though my means will not admit of my expending them as freely as you, I must ask to pay my share?"
" Let us not speak of that, sir," replied Mr. Fogg.
*' But, if I insist?"
" No, sir," repeated Mr. Fogg, in a tone which did not admit of a reply. " This enters Into my general expenses."
Fix, as he bowed, had a stifled feelinc:, and crolng- for-ward, where he ensconced himself, did not open his mouth for the rest of the day.
Meanwhile they were progressing famously, and John
THE "TANKADEEE" "WAS TOSSED ABOUT LIKE A FEATHEE.
Bunsby was in high hope. He several times assured Mr. Fogg that they would reach Shanghai in time ; to which that gentleman responded that he counted upon it. The crew set to work in good earnest, inspired by the reward to be gained. There was not a sheet which was not tightened, not a sail which was not vigorously hoisted ; not a lurch could be charged to the man at the helm. They worked as desperately as if they were contesting in a Royal Yacht regatta.
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 Avhich case, the only misadventure 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.
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-cast, 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 .''" *' Of course."
" Well, we are going to have a squall." " Is the wind north or south ? " asked i\Ir. Fogg quietly. " South. Look ! a typhoon is coming up." " Glad It's a typhoon from the south, for It will carry us forward."
" Oh, if you take It that way," said John Bunsby, " Fve nothing more to say." John Bunsby's suspicions were confirmed. At a less advanced season of the year the typhoon, according to a famous meteorologist, would have passed away like a luminous cascade of electric flame ; but In the winter equinox, It was to be feared that It would burst upon them with great violence.
The pilot took his precautions In advance. He reefed all sail, the pole-masts were dispensed with ; all hands went forward to the bows. A single triangular sail, of strong canvas, was hoisted as a storm-jib, so as to hold the wind from behind. Then they waited.
John Bunsby had requested his passengers to go below ; but this imprisonment in so narrow a space, with Httle air, and the boat bouncing in the gale, was far from pleasant. Neither Mr. Fogg, Fix, nor Aouda consented to leave the deck.
The storm of rain and Avind descended upon them towards eight o'clock. With but its bit of sail, the " Tankadere " was lifted like a feather by a wind an idea of whose violence can scarcely be given. To compare her speed to four times that of a locomotive going on full steam would be below the truth.
