Page 288 - AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS

Around the World in 80 Days

by the snow, these sledges make extremely rapid journeys
across the frozen plains from one station to another.
Provided with more sails than a cutter, and with the wind
behind them, they slip over the surface of the prairies with

a speed equal if not superior to that of the express trains.
Mr. Fogg readily made a bargain with the owner of this
land-craft. The wind was favourable, being fresh, and
blowing from the west. The snow had hardened, and
Mudge was very confident of being able to transport Mr.
Fogg in a few hours to Omaha. Thence the trains eastward
run frequently to Chicago and New York. It was not
impossible that the lost time might yet be recovered; and
such an opportunity was not to be rejected.
Not wishing to expose Aouda to the discomforts of
travelling in the open air, Mr. Fogg proposed to leave her
with Passepartout at Fort Kearney, the servant taking upon
himself to escort her to Europe by a better route and
under more favourable conditions. But Aouda refused to
separate from Mr. Fogg, and Passepartout was delighted
with her decision; for nothing could induce him to leave
his master while Fix was with him.
It would be difficult to guess the detective’s thoughts.
Was this conviction shaken by Phileas Fogg’s return, or
did he still regard him as an exceedingly shrewd rascal,

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