Part 11 (2/2)
The old rajah's body, indeed, now appeared upon the burning pyre; and the priests, recovered from their terror, perceived that an abduction had taken place They hastened into the forest, followed by the soldiers, who fired a volley after the fugitives; but the latter rapidly increased the distance between the found themselves beyond the reach of the bullets and arrows
Chapter 14
In Which Phileas Fogg Descends the Whole Length of the Beautiful Valley of the Ganges without Ever Thinking of Seeing It
The rash exploit had been accoaily at his success Sir Francis pressed the worthy fellow's hand, and his h commendation; to which Passepartout replied that all the credit of the affair belonged to Mr Fogg
As for hihed to think that for a few eant fire wo Indian wo, and norapped up in a traveling blanket, was reposing in one of the howdahs
The elephant, thanks to the skillful guidance of the Parsee, was advancing rapidly through the still darkso the paGoda, had crossed a vast plain
Theystill in a state of couide made her drink a little brandy and water, but the drowsiness which stupefied her could not yet be shaken off Sir Francis, as familiar with the effects of the intoxication produced by the fumes of hemp, reassured his companions on her account But he was more disturbed at the prospect of her future fate He told Phileas Fogg that, should Aouda reain into the hands of her executioners These fanatics were scattered throughout the country, and would, despite the English police, recover their victim at Madras, Bo India forever
Phileas Fogg replied that he would reflect upon the matter
The station at Allahabad was reached about ten o'clock, and, the interrupted line of railway being resumed, would enable them to reach Calcutta in less than twenty-four hours Phileas Fogg would thus be able to arrive in time to take the steamer which left Calcutta the next day, October 25th, at noon, for Hong Kong
The young wo-rooed with purchasing for her various articles of toilet, a dress, shawl and soave him unlimited credit Passepartout started off forthwith, and found himself in the streets of Allahabad, that is, the City of God One of the most venerated in India, it was built at the junction of the two sacred rivers, Ganges and Juri to the legends of the Raency, it descends to the earth
Passepartout ood look at the city It was formerly defended by a noble fort, which has since become a state prison Its commerce has dwindled away, and Passepartout in vain looked about hient Street At last he came upon an elderly, crusty Jeho sold second-hand articles, and froe mantle and a fine otter-skin pelisse, for which he did not hesitate to pay seventy-five pounds He then returned triumphantly to the station
The influence to which the priests of Pillaji had subjected Aouda began gradually to yield, and she became more herself, so that her fine eyes resu, Ucaf Uddaul, celebrates the charara, he speaks thus: ”Her shi+ning tresses, divided in two parts, encircle the harmonious contour of her white and delicate cheeks, brilliant in their glow and freshness
Her ebony brows have the form and char silken lashes the purest reflections and a celestial light swim, as in the sacred lakes of Hireat clear eyes Her teeth, fine, equal and white, glitter between her s lips like dewdrops in a passion-flower's half-enveloped breast Her delicately formed ears, her vermilion hands, her little feet, curved and tender as the lotus-bud, glitter with the brilliancy of the loveliest pearls of Ceylon, thediamonds of Golconda Her narrow and supple waist, which a hand ure and the beauty of her bosom, where youth in its flower displays the wealth of its treasures; and beneath the silken folds of her tunic she seems to have been modeled in pure silver by the Godlike hand of Vicvarcarh to say, without applying this poetical rhapsody to Aouda, that she was a char woman, in all the European acceptance of the phrase She spoke English with great purity, and the guide had not exaggerated in saying that the young Parsee had been transfor up
The train was about to start frouide the price agreed upon for his service, and not a farthing more This astonished Passepartout, who reuide's devotion He had, indeed, risked his life in the adventure at Pillaji, and, if he should be caught afterwards by the Indians, he would with difficulty escape their vengeance Kiouni, also, must be disposed of What should be done with the elephant, which had been so dearly purchased? Phileas Fogg had already deteruide, ”you have been serviceable and devoted I have paid for your service, but not for your devotion
Would you like to have this elephant? He is yours”
The guide's eyes glistened
”Your honor is giving uide,” returned Mr Fogg, ”and I shall still be your debtor”
”Good!” exclaimed Passepartout ”Take hi up to the elephant, he gave hi, ”Here, Kiouni, here, here”
The elephant grunted out his satisfaction, and, clasping Passepartout around the waist with his trunk, lifted hih as his head Passepartout, not in the least alarround Soon after, Phileas Fogg, Sir Francis Croe with Aouda, who had the best seat, hirling at full speed towards Benares It was a run of eightythe journey, the young woman fully recovered her senses
What was her astonishe, on the railway, dressed in European clothes, and with travelers ere quite strangers to her! Her co her with a little liquor, and then Sir Francis narrated to her what had passed, dwelling upon the courage hich Phileas Fogg had not hesitated to risk his life to save her, and recounting the happy sequel of the venture, the result of Passepartout's rash idea Mr Fogg said nothing; while Passepartout, abashed, kept repeating that ”it wasn't worth telling”
Aouda pathetically thanked her deliverers, rather with tears than words Her fine eyes interpreted her gratitude better than her lips Then, as her thoughts strayed back to the scene of the sacrifice, and recalled the dangers which stillunderstood as passing in Aouda's mind, and offered, in order to reassure her, to escort her to Hong Kong, where she ht remain safely until the affair was hushed up--an offer which she eagerly and gratefully accepted She had, it seems, a Parsee relation, as one of the principal h on an island on the Chinese coast