Page 282 - AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS
P. 282
Around the World in 80 Days
‘And when will another train pass here from San
Francisco?’
‘To-morrow evening, madam.’
‘To-morrow evening! But then it will be too late! We
must wait—‘
‘It is impossible,’ responded the conductor. ‘If you wish
to go, please get in.’
‘I will not go,’ said Aouda.
Fix had heard this conversation. A little while before,
when there was no prospect of proceeding on the journey,
he had made up his mind to leave Fort Kearney; but now
that the train was there, ready to start, and he had only to
take his seat in the car, an irresistible influence held him
back. The station platform burned his feet, and he could
not stir. The conflict in his mind again began; anger and
failure stifled him. He wished to struggle on to the end.
Meanwhile the passengers and some of the wounded,
among them Colonel Proctor, whose injuries were
serious, had taken their places in the train. The buzzing of
the over-heated boiler was heard, and the steam was
escaping from the valves. The engineer whistled, the train
started, and soon disappeared, mingling its white smoke
with the eddies of the densely falling snow.
The detective had remained behind.
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