Around the World in Eighty Days Part 26

"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 favorite pastime--even on the railway.

Pa.s.separtout 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 playing from Mr. Fogg. As for the detective, he was adept, and worthy of being matched against his present opponent.

"Now," thought Pa.s.separtout, "we've got him. He won't budge."

At eleven in the morning the train had reached the dividing ridge of the waters at Bridger Pa.s.s, seven thousand five hundred and twenty-four feet above the level of the sea, one of the highest points attained by the track in crossing the Rocky Mountains.

After going about two hundred miles, the travelers at last found themselves on one of those vast plains which extend to the Atlantic, and which nature has made so propitious for laying the iron road.

On the declivity of the Atlantic basin the first streams, branches of the North Platte River, already appeared. The whole northern and eastern horizon was bounded by the immense semi-circular curtain which is formed by the southern portion of the Rocky Mountains, the highest being Laramie Peak. Between this and the railway extended vast plains, plentifully irrigated. On the right rose the lower spurs of the mountainous ma.s.s which extends southward to the sources of the Arkansas River, one of the great tributaries of the Missouri.

At half-past twelve the travelers caught sight for an instant of Fort Halleck, which commands that section. In a few more hours the Rocky Mountains were crossed. There was reason to hope, then, that no accident would mark the journey through this difficult country. The snow had ceased falling, and the air became crisp and cold. Large birds, frightened by the locomotive, rose and flew off in the distance. No wild beast appeared on the plain. It was a desert in its vast nakedness.

After a comfortable breakfast, served in the car, Mr. Fogg and his partners had just resumed whist, when a violent whistling was heard, and the train stopped. Pa.s.separtout put his head out of the door, but saw nothing to cause the delay. No station was in view.

Aouda and Fix feared that Mr. Fogg might take it into his head to get out, but that gentleman contented himself with saying to his servant, "See what is the matter."

Pa.s.separtout rushed out of the car. Thirty or forty pa.s.sengers had already descended, amongst them Colonel Stamp Proctor.

The train had stopped before a red signal which blocked the way.

The engineer and conductor were talking excitedly with a signal-man, whom the station-master at Medicine Bow, the next stopping place, had sent on before. The pa.s.sengers drew around and took part in the discussion, in which Colonel Proctor, with his insolent manner, was conspicuous.

Pa.s.separtout, joining the group, heard the signal-man say, "No!

You can't pa.s.s. The bridge at Medicine Bow is shaky, and would not bear the weight of the train."

This was a suspension-bridge thrown over some rapids, about a mile from the place where they now were. According to the signal-man, it was in a ruinous condition, several of the iron wires being broken; and it was impossible to risk the pa.s.sage. He did not in any way exaggerate the condition of the bridge. It may be taken for granted that, rash as the Americans usually are, when they are prudent there is good reason for it.

Pa.s.separtout, not daring to tell his master what he heard, listened with set teeth, immovable as a statue.

"Hum!" cried Colonel Proctor, "but we are not going to stay here, I imagine, and take root in the Snow?"

"Colonel," replied the conductor, "we have telegraphed to Omaha for a train, but it is not likely that it will reach Medicine Bow in less than six hours."

"Six hours!" cried Pa.s.separtout.

"Certainly," returned the conductor, "besides, it will take us as long as that to reach Medicine Bow on foot."

"But it is only a mile from here," said one of the pa.s.sengers.

"Yes, but it's on the other side of the river."

"And can't we cross that in a boat?" asked the colonel.

"That's impossible. The creek is swelled by the rains. It is a rapid, and we shall have to make a circuit of ten miles to the north to find a ford."

The colonel launched a volley of oaths, denouncing the railway company and the conductor. Pa.s.separtout, who was furious, could not help but agree with him. Here was an obstacle, indeed, which all his master's banknotes could not remove.

There was a general disappointment among the pa.s.sengers, who, without reckoning the delay, saw themselves compelled to trudge fifteen miles over a plain covered with snow. They grumbled and protested, and would certainly have thus attracted Phileas Fogg's attention if he had not been completely absorbed in his game.

Pa.s.separtout found that he could not avoid telling his master what had occurred, and, with hanging head, he was turning towards the car, when the engineer--a true Yankee, named Forster--called out, "Gentlemen, perhaps there is a way, after all, to get over."

"On the bridge?" asked a pa.s.senger.

"On the bridge."

"With our train?"

"With our train."

Pa.s.separtout stopped short, and eagerly listened to the engineer.

"But the bridge is unsafe," urged the conductor.

"No matter," replied Forster; "I think that by putting on the very highest speed we might have a chance of getting over."

"The devil!" muttered Pa.s.separtout.

But a number of the pa.s.sengers were at once attracted by the engineer's proposal, and Colonel Proctor was especially delighted, and found the plan a very feasible one. He told stories about engineers leaping their trains over rivers without bridges, by putting on full steam; and many of those present avowed themselves of the engineer's mind.

"We have fifty chances out of a hundred of getting over," said one.

"Eighty! ninety!"

Pa.s.separtout was astounded, and, though ready to attempt anything to get over Medicine Creek, thought the experiment proposed a little too American. "Besides," thought he, "there's a still more simple way, and it does not even occur to any of these people!

Sir," said he aloud to one of the pa.s.sengers, "the engineer's plan seems to me a little dangerous, but--"

"Eighty chances!" replied the pa.s.senger, turning his back on him.

"I know it," said Pa.s.separtout, turning to another pa.s.senger, "but a simple idea--"

"Ideas are no use," returned the American, shrugging his shoulders, "as the engineer a.s.sures us that we can pa.s.s."

"Doubtless," urged Pa.s.separtout, "we can pa.s.s, but perhaps it would be more prudent--"

"What! Prudent!" cried Colonel Proctor, whom this word seemed to excite prodigiously. "At full speed, don't you see, at full speed!"

"I know--I see," repeated Pa.s.separtout; "but it would be, if not more prudent, since that word displeases you, at least more natural--"

"Who! What! What's the matter with this fellow?" cried several.

The poor fellow did not know to whom to address himself.

"Are you afraid?" asked Colonel Proctor.