Chapter 32
In Which Phileas Fogg Engages in aDirect Struggle with Bad Fortune
The China, in leaving, seemed to have carried off Phileas Fogg'slast hope. None of the other steamers were able to serve hisprojects. The Pereire, of the French Transatlantic Company, whoseadmirable steamers are equal to any in speed and comfort, did notleave until the 14th. The Hamburg boats did not go directly toLiverpool or London, but to Havre; and the additional trip fromHavre to Southampton would render Phileas Fogg's last efforts ofno avail. The Inman steamer did not depart till the next day, andcould not cross the Atlantic in time to save the wager.
Mr. Fogg learned all this in consulting his Bradshaw, which gavehim the daily movements of the trans-Atlantic steamers.
Passepartout was crushed. It overwhelmed him to lose the boat bythree-quarters of an hour. It was his fault, for, instead ofhelping his master, he had not ceased putting obstacles in hispath! And when he recalled all the incidents of the tour, when hecounted up the sums expended in pure loss and on his own account,when he thought that the immense stake, added to the heavycharges of this useless journey, would completely ruin Mr. Fogg,he overwhelmed himself with bitter self-accusations. Mr. Fogg,however, did not reproach him; and, on leaving the Cunard pier,only said: "We will consult about what is best tomorrow. Come."
The party crossed the Hudson in the Jersey City ferryboat, anddrove in a carriage to the St. Nicholas Hotel on Broadway. Roomswere engaged and the night passed, briefly to Phileas Fogg, whoslept profoundly, but very long to Aouda and the others, whoseagitation did not permit them to rest.
The next day was the 12th of December. From seven in the morningof the 12th to a quarter before nine in the evening of the 21stthere were nine days, thirteen hours, and forty-five minutes. IfPhileas Fogg had left in the China, one of the fastest steamerson the Atlantic, he would have reached Liverpool, and thenLondon, within the period agreed upon.
Mr. Fogg left the hotel alone, after giving Passepartoutinstructions to await his return, and inform Aouda to be ready atan instant's notice. He proceeded to the banks of the Hudson, andlooked about among the vessels moored or anchored in the river,for any that were about to depart. Several had departure signals,and were preparing to put to sea at morning tide; for in thisimmense and admirable port there is not one day in a hundred thatvessels do not set out for every quarter of the globe. But theywere mostly sailing vessels, of which, of course, Phileas Foggcould make no use.
He seemed about to give up all hope, when he sighted, anchored atthe Battery, a cable's length off at most, a trading vessel, witha well-shaped screw, whose funnel, puffing a cloud of smoke,indicated that she was getting ready for departure.
Phileas Fogg hailed a boat, got into it, and soon found himselfon board the Henrietta, iron-hulled, wood-built above. Heascended to the deck, and asked for the captain, who presentedhimself. He was a man of fifty, a sort of sea-wolf, with bigeyes, a complexion of oxidized copper, red hair and thick neck,and a growling voice.
"The captain?" asked Mr. Fogg.
"I am the captain."
"I am Phileas Fogg of London."
"And I am Andrew Speedy of Cardiff."
"You are going to put to sea?"
"In an hour."
"You are bound for--"
"Bordeaux."
"And your cargo?"
"No freight. Going in ballast."
"Have you any passengers?"
"No passengers. Never have passengers. Too much in the way."
"Is your vessel a swift one?"
"Between eleven and twelve knots. The Henrietta is well known."
"Will you carry me and three other persons to Liverpool?"
"To Liverpool? Why not to China?"
"I said Liverpool."
"No!"
"No?"
"No. I am setting out for Bordeaux, and shall go to Bordeaux."
"Money is no object?"
"None."
The captain spoke in a tone which did not admit of a reply. "Butthe owners of the Henrietta--" resumed Phileas Fogg.
"The owners are myself," replied the captain. "The vessel belongsto me."
"I will freight it for you."
"No."
"I will buy it of you."
"No."
Phileas Fogg did not betray the least disappointment, but thesituation was a grave one. It was not at New York as at HongKong, nor with the captain of the Henrietta as with the captainof the Tankadere. Up to this time money had smoothed away everyobstacle. Now money failed.
Still, some means must be found to cross the Atlantic on a boat,unless by balloon--which would have been venturesome, besidesnot being capable of being put in practice. It seemed thatPhileas Fogg had an idea for he said to the captain, "Well, willyou carry me to Bordeaux?"
"No, not if you paid me two hundred dollars."
"I offer you two thousand."
"Apiece?"
"Apiece."
"And there are four of you?"
"Four."
Captain Speedy began to scratch his head. There was eightthousand dollars to gain, without changing his route, for whichit was well worth conquering the repugnance he had for all kindsof passengers. Besides, passengers at two thousand dollars are nolonger passengers, but valuable merchandise. "I start at nineo'clock," said Captain Speedy, simply. "Are you and your partyready?"
"We will be on board at nine o'clock," replied Mr. Fogg.
It was half-past eight. To disembark from the Henrietta, jumpinto a hack, hurry to the St. Nicholas, and return with Aouda,Passepartout and even the inseparable Fix was the work of a brieftime, and was performed by Mr. Fogg with the coolness which neverabandoned him. They were on board when the Henrietta made readyto weigh anchor.
When Passepartout heard what this last voyage was going to cost,he uttered a prolonged "Oh!" which extended throughout his vocalgamut.
As for Fix, he said to himself that the Bank of England wouldcertainly not come out of this affair well indemnified. When theyreached England, even if Mr. Fogg did not throw some handfuls ofbank-bills into the sea, more than seven thousand pounds wouldhave been spent!