Page 149 - AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS

Around the World in 80 Days

storm exasperated him, the gale made him furious, and he
longed to lash the obstinate sea into obedience. Poor
fellow! Fix carefully concealed from him his own
satisfaction, for, had he betrayed it, Passepartout could

scarcely have restrained himself from personal violence.
Passepartout remained on deck as long as the tempest
lasted, being unable to remain quiet below, and taking it
into his head to aid the progress of the ship by lending a
hand with the crew. He overwhelmed the captain,
officers, and sailors, who could not help laughing at his
impatience, with all sorts of questions. He wanted to
know exactly how long the storm was going to last;
whereupon he was referred to the barometer, which
seemed to have no intention of rising. Passepartout shook
it, but with no perceptible effect; for neither shaking nor
maledictions could prevail upon it to change its mind.
On the 4th, however, the sea became more calm, and
the storm lessened its violence; the wind veered
southward, and was once more favourable. Passepartout
cleared up with the weather. Some of the sails were
unfurled, and the Rangoon resumed its most rapid speed.
The time lost could not, however, be regained. Land was
not signalled until five o’clock on the morning of the 6th;
the steamer was due on the 5th. Phileas Fogg was twenty-

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