Read the chapter
Around the World in Eighty Days
Chapter 20. IN WHICH FIX COMES FACE TO FACE WITH PHILEAS FOGG
While these events were passing at the opium-house, Mr. Fogg was unconscious of the danger he faced of losing the steamer.
He quietly escorted Aouda about the streets of the English quarter.
They made the necessary purchases for the long voyage before them.
It was all very well for an Englishman like Mr. Fogg to make the tour of the world with a carpet-bag.
A lady could not be expected to travel comfortably under such conditions.
He acquitted his task with characteristic serenity, and invariably replied to the remonstrances of his fair companion, who was confused by his patience and generosity,
"It's in the interest of my journey, a part of my programme."
The purchases made, they returned to the hotel, where they dined at a well-served table-d'hote.
After dinner Aouda shook hands with her protector in the English way and then went to her room to rest.
Mr. Fogg absorbed himself throughout the evening in the perusal of the Times and Illustrated London News.
Had he been capable of being astonished at anything, it would have been not to see his servant return at bedtime.
But, knowing that the steamer wasn't to leave for Yokohama until the next morning, he didn't disturb himself about the matter.
When Passepartout didn't appear the next morning to answer his master's bell, Mr. Fogg was not upset.
He contented himself with taking his carpet-bag, calling Aouda, and sending for a palanquin.
It was then eight o'clock, at half-past nine, it being then high tide, the "Carnatic" would leave the harbour.
Mr. Fogg and Aouda got into the palanquin, their luggage being brought after on a wheelbarrow.
Half an hour later they stepped upon the quay from which they were to embark.
Mr. Fogg then learned that the "Carnatic" had sailed the evening before.
He had expected to find not only the steamer but his domestic, and was forced to give up both.
No sign of disappointment appeared on his face.
He merely remarked to Aouda, "It's an accident, madam, nothing more."
At this moment a man who had been observing him attentively approached.
It was Fix, who, bowing, addressed Mr. Fogg, "Were you not, like me, sir, a passenger by the 'Rangoon,' which arrived yesterday?"
"I was, sir," replied Mr. Fogg coldly.
"But I haven't the honour, "
"Pardon me. I thought I should find your servant here."
"Do you know where he's, sir?" asked Aouda anxiously.
"What!" responded Fix, feigning surprise.
"Is he not with you?"
"No," said Aouda.
"He hasn't made his appearance since yesterday. Could he have gone on board the 'Carnatic' without us?"
"Without you, madam?" answered the detective.
"Excuse me, did you intend to sail in the 'Carnatic'?"
"Yes, sir."
"So did I, madam, and I'm excessively disappointed."
"The 'Carnatic', its repairs being completed, left Hong Kong twelve hours before the stated time, without any notice being given,"
"And we must now wait a week for another steamer."
As he said "a week" Fix felt his heart leap for joy.
Fogg detained at Hong Kong for a week!
There would be time for the warrant to arrive, and fortune at last favoured the representative of the law.
His horror may be imagined when he heard Mr. Fogg say, in his placid voice,
"But there are other vessels besides the 'Carnatic,' it seems to me, in the harbour of Hong Kong."
And, offering his arm to Aouda, he directed his steps toward the docks in search of some craft about to start.
Fix, stupefied, followed, it seemed as if he were attached to Mr. Fogg by an invisible thread.
Chance, however, appeared really to have abandoned the man it had hitherto served so well.
For three hours Phileas Fogg wandered about the docks with the determination, if necessary, to charter a vessel to carry him to Yokohama.
He could only find vessels that were loading or unloading and therefore couldn't set sail, Fix began to hope again.
But Mr. Fogg, far from being discouraged, continued his search.
He was resolved not to stop, even if he had to go to Macao, when a sailor accosted him on a wharf.
"Is your honour looking for a boat?"
"Have you a boat ready to sail?"
"Yes, your honour, a pilot-boat. No. 43, the best in the harbour."
"Does she go fast?"
"Between eight and nine knots the hour. Will you look at her?"
"Yes."
"Your honour will be satisfied with her. Is it for a sea excursion?"
"No, for a voyage."
"A voyage?"
"Yes, will you agree to take me to Yokohama?"
The sailor leaned on the railing, opened his eyes wide, and said, "Is your honour joking?"
"No. I have missed the 'Carnatic,' and I must get to Yokohama by the 14th at the latest, to take the boat for San Francisco."
"I'm sorry," said the sailor, "but it's impossible."
"I offer you a hundred pounds per day, and an additional reward of two hundred pounds if I reach Yokohama in time."
"Are you in earnest?"
"Very much so."
The pilot walked a short way and looked to sea, in doubt between getting the money and fear of going so far.
Fix was in deep fear and waited, hardly breathing, watching every move.
Mr. Fogg turned to Aouda and asked her, "You wouldn't be afraid, would you, madam?"
"Not with you, Mr. Fogg," was her answer.
The pilot now returned, shuffling his hat in his hands.
"Well, pilot?" said Mr. Fogg.
"Well, your honour," replied he.
"I couldn't risk myself, my men, or my little boat of scarcely twenty tons on so long a voyage at this time of year."
"Besides, we couldn't reach Yokohama in time, for it's sixteen hundred and sixty miles from Hong Kong."
"Only sixteen hundred," said Mr. Fogg.
"It's the same thing."
Fix breathed more freely, feeling a sudden hope rise in his heart.
"But," added the pilot, "it might be arranged another way."
Fix ceased to breathe at all.
"How?" asked Mr. Fogg.
"By going to Nagasaki, at the extreme south of Japan, or even to Shanghai, which is only eight hundred miles from here."
If we go to Shanghai we need not sail far out from the Chinese coast, which helps because the currents run to the north.
"Pilot," said Mr. Fogg, "I must take the American steamer at Yokohama, and not at Shanghai or Nagasaki."
"Why not?" returned the pilot.
"The San Francisco steamer doesn't start from Yokohama. It puts in at Yokohama and Nagasaki, but it starts from Shanghai."
"You're sure of that?"
"Perfectly."
"And when does the boat leave Shanghai?"
"On the 11th, at seven in the evening".
We have, therefore, four days before us, that's ninety-six hours.
In that time, if we had good luck, a south-west wind, and a calm sea, we could make those eight hundred miles to Shanghai.
"And you could go, "
"In an hour, as soon as provisions could be got aboard and the sails put up."
"It's a bargain. Are you the master of the boat?"
"Yes. John Bunsby, master of the 'Tankadere.'"
"Would you like some earnest-money?"
"If it wouldn't put your honour out, "
"Here are two hundred pounds on account sir," added Phileas Fogg, turning to Fix, "if you'd like to take advantage, "
"Thanks, sir. I was about to ask the favour."
"Very well. In half an hour we shall go on board."
"But poor Passepartout?" urged Aouda, who was much disturbed by the servant's disappearance.
"I shall do all I can to find him," replied Phileas Fogg.
While Fix, in a feverish, nervous state, repaired to the pilot-boat, the others directed their course to the police-station at Hong Kong.
Phileas Fogg there gave Passepartout's description, and left a sum of money to be spent in the search for him.
They completed the same formalities at the French consulate.
The palanquin stopped at the hotel for the luggage that had been sent back there, and they returned to the wharf.
It was now three o'clock, and pilot-boat No. 43, with its crew on board, and its provisions stored away, was ready for departure.
The "Tankadere" was a neat little craft of twenty tons, as gracefully built as if she were a racing yacht.
Her shining copper sheathing, her galvanised iron-work, her deck, white as ivory, betrayed the pride taken by John Bunsby in making her presentable.
Her two masts leaned a trifle backward, she carried brigantine, foresail, storm-jib, and standing-jib, and was well rigged for running before the wind.
She seemed capable of brisk speed, which she had already proved by gaining several prizes in pilot-boat races.
The crew of the "Tankadere" was composed of John Bunsby, the master, and four hardy mariners, who were familiar with the Chinese seas.
John Bunsby was a man of about forty-five, vigorous and sunburnt with a lively look in his eye.
His energetic, confident face would have given courage to the most timid.
Phileas Fogg and Aouda went on board, where they found Fix already installed.
Below deck there was a square cabin whose walls bulged out to form cots above a circular divan.
In the centre stood a table with a swinging lamp.
The accommodation was confined, but neat.
"I'm sorry to have nothing better to offer you," said Mr. Fogg to Fix, who bowed without responding.
The detective had a feeling akin to humiliation in profiting by the kindness of Mr. Fogg.
"It's certain," thought he, "though rascal as he's, he's a polite one!"
The sails and the English flag were hoisted at ten minutes past three.
Mr. Fogg and Aouda, who were seated on deck, cast a last glance at the quay, in the hope of espying Passepartout.
Fix wasn't without his fears lest chance should direct the steps of the unfortunate servant, whom he had so badly treated, in this direction.
In that case an explanation the reverse of satisfactory to the detective must have ensued.
But the Frenchman didn't appear, and, without doubt, was still lying under the stupefying influence of the opium.
John Bunsby, master, at length gave the order to start, and the "Tankadere,"
Taking the wind under her brigantine, foresail, and standing-jib, bounded briskly forward over the waves.