Page 91 - AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS
P. 91
Around the World in 80 Days
Mr. Fogg would only lose a part of the forty-eight hours
saved since the beginning of the tour. Kiouni, resuming
his rapid gait, soon descended the lower spurs of the
Vindhias, and towards noon they passed by the village of
Kallenger, on the Cani, one of the branches of the
Ganges. The guide avoided inhabited places, thinking it
safer to keep the open country, which lies along the first
depressions of the basin of the great river. Allahabad was
now only twelve miles to the north-east. They stopped
under a clump of bananas, the fruit of which, as healthy as
bread and as succulent as cream, was amply partaken of
and appreciated.
At two o’clock the guide entered a thick forest which
extended several miles; he preferred to travel under cover
of the woods. They had not as yet had any unpleasant
encounters, and the journey seemed on the point of being
successfully accomplished, when the elephant, becoming
restless, suddenly stopped.
It was then four o’clock.
‘What’s the matter?’ asked Sir Francis, putting out his
head.
‘I don’t know, officer,’ replied the Parsee, listening
attentively to a confused murmur which came through the
thick branches.
90 of 339
