第3章

类别:其他 作者:Jules Verne字数:18908更新时间:19/01/04 14:46:06
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。