Page 258 - AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS

Around the World in 80 Days

condition, several of the iron wires being broken; and it
was impossible to risk the passage. 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.
Passepartout, not daring to apprise his master of 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 is less than six hours.’
‘Six hours!’ cried Passepartout.
‘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
passengers.
‘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; and Passepartout,

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