Page 181 - AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS
P. 181
Around the World in 80 Days
him since he left London would not seriously affect his
journey.
The Tankadere entered the Straits of Fo-Kien, which
separate the island of Formosa from the Chinese coast, in
the small hours of the night, and crossed the Tropic of
Cancer. The sea was very rough in the straits, full of
eddies formed by the counter-currents, and the chopping
waves broke her course, whilst it became very difficult to
stand on deck.
At daybreak the wind began to blow hard again, and
the heavens seemed to predict a gale. The barometer
announced a speedy change, the mercury rising and falling
capriciously; the sea also, in the south-east, raised long
surges which indicated a tempest. The sun had set the
evening before in a red mist, in the midst of the
phosphorescent scintillations of the ocean.
John Bunsby long examined the threatening aspect of
the heavens, muttering indistinctly between his teeth. At
last he said in a low voice to Mr. Fogg, ‘Shall I speak out
to your honour?’
‘Of course.’
‘Well, we are going to have a squall.’
‘Is the wind north or south?’ asked Mr. Fogg quietly.
‘South. Look! a typhoon is coming up.’
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