The Portland daily press., 1873-06-25

|
peared in the woods, and the elephant carried
them away at a rapid trot Soon the priests,
awakening from their fright, saw that an au-
dacious abduction had been accomplished.
They ran into the forest, the guards following
them: they fired some shots but the kidnap-
pers passed rapidly away and in few mo-
ments, they were out OF reach.
CHAPTER XIV.
The daring removal had been successful
and for an hour after, Passepartout laughed
at his success. Sir Francis clasped the , hand 40
of the brave servant. His master said wen
done,' words of high approve, rom IN MI si
| Fogg. Passepartout answered that all the
honor belonged to his master-lt was droll
idea-and he laughed again, thinking that for
some moments, he-an old gymnast, and an
ex-sereeant of firemen had been the defunct
husband of a charming woman-an old en-
balmed rajah. As for the young lady, she
had no consciousness of what was passing.
Wrapped in shawls, she rested quietly in one
of the baskets.
The elephant guided with extreme care by
the Passee passed quickly through the forest.
An hour after leaving the pagoda of Pillaji
ne crossed an immense plain. At seven
O'Clock they made halt. The young lady
was still unconscious. Sir Francis Cromarty
who knew the effects of the stupor produced
by the "bang'' had no anxiety about her.
But if the recovery of the young native did
not trouble the mind of the brigadier, he felt
less assured for her future safety and he did
not hesitate to say to Mr.. Fogg, that if Mad
anne Aouda remained in India, she would fall
inevitably into the hands of her tormentors.
These fanatics would retake their victim,
were she at Madras, B )mbay or Calcutta, des-
pite the power of the English police. In his
| opinion the young lady would not be safe un
less she left India. Mr. Fogg replied that he
would follow his advice.
About ten o'clock the guide announced the
station of Allahabad-there they could take
again the rallroad-the trains in less than
day and night running the distance from
Allahabad to Calcutta Mr.. FOgg would then
arrive in time to take the steamer which
would leave the next day 25th of Oct. at noon
for Hong Kong.
Madame Aouda was placed in room az
the station, and PassepartOut was sent out to
purchase some article for her-a dress, shawl,
furs and his master giving him unlimited cred
it. He went through the streets OF Alfalfa
bad and found at the pawn brOkers-an old
| Jew-the articles he sought-Scotch plaid, a
large cloak, and magnificent pelisse of fur
| seal-then he returned triumphantly to the
| station.
Alahabad is called the city of God. 1t is
| one of the most venerated in India, situated
| as it is, at the confluence of the two sacred
rivers, the Ganges and Jumma, whose waters
draw pilgrims from all parts Of the peninsula.
| We know that, following the legends of Ra-
mayana, the Ganges takes its rise in Heaven,
tom whence, thanks to Brahma, it descends
to the earth.
The train would soon leave the station of
Allahabad. The Parsee waited. Mr.. Fogg
paid him the sum agreed upon not a farthing
more. 1t astonished Passepartout very much
who knew all that his master owed to the de-
votion of the guide. The Parsee had really
risked voluntarily his life in the affair at Pilla
il, and if the Hindoos knew it, he would not
easily escape their vengeance. The question
of the elephant alone remained. What
would be done with this animal SO dearly
bought? But Phileas Fogg had already made
up his mind in the matter.
'Parsee," said he to the guide" You
have been faithful, and devoted. Do you
wish this elephant? It is yours"
The eyes of the guide sparkled. at is
fortune that your honor gives mef'
"Accept it guide, and shall still be your
debtor"
Some moments after, the train,-in which
Phileas Fogg, Sir Francis Cromarty, and Pas
separtout were installed in a comfortable car,
Madame Aouda occupying the best place
ran express towards Benares. Eighty miles or
more separated this city from Alahabad-
and they made the distance in two hours.
During the journey, the young lady recov-
cred herself completely-the deadly vapors of
the bang passed away. What was her sur
prise to find herself on the railroad in a COM
partment covered with English wrappings-
in the midst of travellers totally unknown to
her. Her thoughtful companions gave her
some wine, and then the brigadier recounted
| her story. He dwelt upon the devotion of
| Mr.. Fogg, who had not hesitated to sacrifice
his life to save her, and the issue of the adj
venture, due to the audacious Imagination of
Passepartout.
Madame Aouda thanked her preservers
with tears, rather than words. Her beautiful
eyes spoke her gratitude, better than her lips
| Then her thoughts returned to the scenes of
the suffice. She saw again this Indian earth
| where so many dangers yet awaited her-and
she trembled with terror.
Mr.. Fogg quieted her fears offering to take
her to Hong Kong where she could remain
until her story was forgotten.
Madame Aouda accepted the offer with
thanks. One of her relatives-Parsee as her.
SELF and one of the principal merchants of
the city-resided there.
At half past twelve the train reached the
| station at Benares. Brahnic legends at
firm that this city is built on the site of the
ancient Casi-which was at one time sus-
pended in space-between heaven and earth,
like Mahomet's coffin: But at this realistic
| age, Benares, the Athens of India, as the
orientals call it, rested prosaically on the
| ground-its houses of bricks and huts of mud
gave it an aspect very desolate.
Sir Francis Cromarty must leave his friends
here. His troops were encamped some miles
to the north of the city. He made his adieus
to Phileas Fogg, and wished him all possible
success, expressing the hope that he might
make the voyage again in a less original but
lightly the fingers of his companion.
The compliments of Madame Aouda were
more affectionate. She would never forget
what she owed to Sir Francis. As for Passe-
partout, he was honored by warm grasp
from the hand of the brigadier general
Then they separated. Leaving Benares the
iron way follows for some distance the valley
of the Ganges. Through the windows of
the car, one could catch variel gimpses of
the country of Behar-mountains covered
with verdure-felds of barley corn and
wheat-pretty villages-forests yet green
rivers and ponds, inhabited by alligators-
elephants, and zebras coming to battle in the
sacred stream-and despite the season, ALREADY
cold, bands of Hindoos of both sexes going
through their pious additions. All this PAN
Drama passed as fash of light, and often a
cloud concealed it altogether. Then night
came, and, in the midst of the roaring of til
gers, wolves, and bears, who ran before the
locomotive, the train passed SO quickly that
one could see nothing of the marvels of Ben
gal, or Golconda, the ruins of Gour, or the
former capital Mourshedabad-Bun
Roughly, or the city of Chandernagn, the
French point on Indian territory, over which
Passepartout was rejoiced to see flying the
flag of his country.
AT seven O'Clock in the morning they reach
ed Calcutta. The steamer for Hong Kong
would not leave until noon. Phileas Fogg
had five hours before him-according to his
calculation, he ought to arrive in India the
25th of October, twenty-three days after
leaving London-and he arrived at the day