by Verne, Jules, 1828-1905
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"And," added Passepartout, "that would play the game of the gentlemen of the Reform Club. In four days we shall be in New York. Well, if my master does not leave this car during those four days, we may hope that chance will not bring him face to face with this confounded American. We must, if possible, prevent his stirring out of it."
The conversation dropped. Mr. Fogg had just woke up, and was looking out of the window. Soon after Passepartout, without being heard by his master or Aouda, whispered to the detective, " Would you really fight for him ^ "
" I would do anything," replied Fix, in a tone which betrayed determined will, "to get him back, living, to Europe!"
Passepartout felt something like a shudder shoot through his frame, but his confidence in his master remained unbroken.
Was there any means of detaining I\Ir. Fogg in the car, to avoid a meeting between him and the colonel ? It ought not to be a difficult task, since that gentleman was naturally sedentary and little curious. The detective, at least, seemed to have found a way ; for, after a few moments, he said to Mr. Fogg, "These are long and slow hours, sir, that we are passing on the railway."
*'Yes," replied ]\Ir. Fogg; "but they pass."
"You were in the habit of playing whist," resumed Fix^ " on the steamers."
"Yes; but it would be difficult to do so here. I have neither cards nor partners."
'' Oh, but we can easily buy some cards, for they are sold on all the American trains. And as for partners, if madam plays?"
" Certainly, sir," Aouda quickly replied ; " I understand whist. It is part of an English education."
" I myself have some pretensions to playing a good game. Well, here are three of us, and a dummy?"
" As you please, sir," replied Phileas Fogg, heartily glad to resume his favourite pastime,?even on the railway.
Passepartout was despatched in search of the steward, and soon returned with two packs of cards, some pins, counters, and a shelf covered with cloth.
The game commenced. Aouda understood whist sufficiently well, and even received some compliments on her
east, neither had there been time for the succour asked for hy telegraph to arrive; the train from Omaha to San Francisco was not due till the next day. The mystery was 5O0n explained.
The locomotive, which was slowly approaching wi:h deafening whistles, was that which, having been detached from the train, had continued its route with such terrific rapidity, carrying off the unconscious engineer and stoker. It had run several miles, when, the fire becoming low for want of fuel, the steam had slackened ; and it had finally stopped an hour after, some twenty miles beyond Fort Kearney. Neither the engineer nor the stoker was dead, and, after remaining for some time in their swoon, had come to themselves. The train had then stopped. The engineer, when he found himself in the desert, and the locomotive without cars, understood what had happened. He could not imagine how the locomotive had become separated from the train; but he did not doubt that the train left behind was in distress.
He did not hesitate what to do. It would be prudent to continue on to Omaha, for it would be dangerous to return to the train, which the Indians might still be engaged in pillaging. Nevertheless, he began to rebuild the fire in the furnace ; the pressure again mounted, and the locomotive returned, running backwards to Fort Kearne}'. This it was which was whistling in the mist.
The travellers were glad to see the locomotive resume its place at the head of the train. They could now continue the journey so terribly interrupted.
Aouda, on seeing- the locomotive come up, hurried out of the station, and asked the conductor, ''Are you going to start?"
" At once, madam."
"But the prisoners ? our unfortunate fellow-travellers?"
*' I cannot interrupt the trip," replied the conductor. *'We are already three hours behind time."
" And when will another train pass here from San Francisco ?"
" To-morrow evening, madam."
" To-morrow evening! But then it will be too late ! We must w^ait?"
'' It is impossible," responded the conductor. " If you wish to go, please get in."
" I will not go," said Aouda.
