Part 14 (2/2)

”It's clear!” repeated the worthy servant to himself, proud of his shrewdness ”He's a spy sent to keep us in view! That isn't quite the thing, either, to be spying Mr Fogg, who is so honourable a entlemen of the Reform, this shall cost you dear!”

Passepartout, enchanted with his discovery, resolved to say nothing to his master, lest he should be justly offended at this mistrust on the part of his adversaries But he determined to chaff Fix, when he had the chance, with mysterious allusions, which, however, need not betray his real suspicions

During the afternoon of Wednesday, 30th October, the Rangoon entered the Strait of Malacca, which separates the peninsula of that nay islets intercepted the beauties of this noble island frohed anchor at Singapore the next day at four aained half a day on the prescribed tiain in his journal, and then, accompanied by Aouda, who betrayed a desire for a walk on shore, dise's everyhi in his sleeve at Fix's manoeuvres, went about his usual errands

The island of Singapore is not i in aspect, for there are no mountains; yet its appearance is not without attractions It is a park checkered by pleasant highways and avenues A handsoe, drawn by a sleek pair of New Holland horses, carried Phileas Fogg and Aouda into the e, and of clove-trees, whereof the cloves form the heart of a half-open flower

Pepper plants replaced the prickly hedges of European fields; sago-bushes, large ferns with gorgeous branches, varied the aspect of this tropical clie filled the air with a penetrating perfu bands ofin the jungles

After a drive of two hours through the country, Aouda and Mr Fogg returned to the tohich is a vast collection of heavy-looking, irregular houses, surrounded by charardens rich in tropical fruits and plants; and at ten o'clock they re-embarked, closely followed by the detective, who had kept theht

Passepartout, who had been purchasing several dozen ood-sized apples, of a dark-brown colour outside and a bright red within, and whose white pulp, our for theoes to Aouda, who thanked hioon rode out of Singapore harbour, and in a few hours the high mountains of Malacca, with their forests, inhabited by the ers in the world, were lost to view

Singapore is distant so, which is a little English colony near the Chinese coast

Phileas Fogg hoped to accomplish the journey in six days, so as to be in time for the steamer which would leave on the 6th of November for Yokohaoon had a large quota of passengers,theuese, mostly second-class travellers

The weather, which had hitherto been fine, changed with the last quarter of the moon The sea rolled heavily, and the wind at intervals rose almost to a storm, but happily blew froress The captain as often as possible put up his sails, and under the double action of stea the coasts of Ana to the defective construction of the Rangoon, however, unusual precautions became necessary in unfavourable weather; but the loss of time which resulted from this cause, while it nearly drove Passepartout out of his senses, did not seem to affect his master in the least

Passepartout blaned all ere connected with the shi+p to the land where the pepper grows Perhaps the thought of the gas, which was re at his expense in Saville Row, had soreat hurry, then,” said Fix to hireat hurry!”

”Mr Fogg, I suppose, is anxious to catch the steamer for Yokohama?”

”Terribly anxious”

”You believe in this journey around the world, then?”

”Absolutely Don't you, Mr Fix?”

”I? I don't believe a word of it”

”You're a sly dog!” said Passepartout, winking at him

This expression rather disturbed Fix, without his knohy Had the Frenchuessed his real purpose? He knew not what to think But how could Passepartout have discovered that he was a detective? Yet, in speaking as he did, the man evidently meant more than he expressed

Passepartout went still further the next day; he could not hold his tongue

”Mr Fix,” said he, in a bantering tone, ”shall we be so unfortunate as to lose you e get to Hong Kong?”