Page 307 - AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS

Around the World in 80 Days

passed. In summer, success would have been well-nigh
certain. In winter, they were at the mercy of the bad
season. Passepartout said nothing; but he cherished hope
in secret, and comforted himself with the reflection that, if

the wind failed them, they might still count on the steam.
On this day the engineer came on deck, went up to
Mr. Fogg, and began to speak earnestly with him.
Without knowing why it was a presentiment, perhaps
Passepartout became vaguely uneasy. He would have
given one of his ears to hear with the other what the
engineer was saying. He finally managed to catch a few
words, and was sure he heard his master say, ‘You are
certain of what you tell me?’
‘Certain, sir,’ replied the engineer. ‘You must
remember that, since we started, we have kept up hot fires
in all our furnaces, and, though we had coal enough to go
on short steam from New York to Bordeaux, we haven’t
enough to go with all steam from New York to
Liverpool.’ ‘I will consider,’ replied Mr. Fogg.
Passepartout understood it all; he was seized with
mortal anxiety. The coal was giving out! ‘Ah, if my master
can get over that,’ muttered he, ‘he’ll be a famous man!’
He could not help imparting to Fix what he had
overheard.

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