The Portland daily press., 1873-06-25
CHAPTER XIII.

CHAPTER XIII.
The attempt was foolhardy, difficult, SEEM
inoly impracticabIe. Mr.. Fogg would risk
his life: at all events, his liberty, and conse-
oueptly the success of all his plans. But he
Jatorm;ned auxiliary. As for Passepartout,
he was ready; he was at their disposal. He
felt soul a heart, under this casing of ice F.;
fine idea of his master exalted him, and he
began to love him.
The guide remained. What part would he
take in the affair? Would he not side with
the Hindoos? Ifhe would not assist them,
they must assure themselves OF his neutraiity'
Sir Francis quietly asked the euestlon.
'-Officer," replied the guide, Il am ar-
see, this woman is Parsee, am az your
service"
'Good! guide" replied Mr.. Fogg.
lat the same time, understand that we
risk no. only our lives, if we are taken, put
horrible tortures also," said the guide.
1--WE understand said Mr.. Fogg,
think we must wait until night"
81 think so, too,' replied the guide.
The brave Hindoo gave then little hlsto-
ry of the victim. She was natlVe' oi cele-
brated beauty, of the Parsee race, anu e, uauSn,
received an education entirely English-one
would have believed her European. Her
name was Aouda An orphan, she was mar
ried against her will to an old rajah of Bum
deken: three months after she became a
widow. Knowing the fate that awaited her,
she escaped, was soon taken, and the rela-
tives of the rajah, having an interest in her
death, compelled her to make the sacrifice,
from which 1t seemed that she could not es-
cape
This recital only made Mr.. Fogg and his
uiOnc tho firm in fhair
luton. 1t was decided that the guide
should direct the elephant towards the
pagoda of Pillaji. An half hour after,
they halted under hedge, about five hum
dred steps from the pagoda, where they could
not be seen, but the bowling Of the fanatics
could be distinctly heard. They then discuss
ed the means of reaching the victim The
guide knew this pagoda of Pillaj, in which
he said the young woman was imprisoned.
Should they enter by one of the doors, as
soon as all the band were plunged in the
sleep of drunkenness? Or should they break
the wall? That could only be decided at the
moment and on the spot. But whatever
they did must be accomplished during the
night, and not at daybreak, when they led
the victim to the funeral pile. At that mo-
ment, no human Intervention could save her.
Mr.. Fogg and his companions awaited
night. After dark, near six in the evening,
they resolved to reconnoitre the pagoda.
The last cries of the fakirs had died away
according to their custom, the natives would
soon become stupefied from the effects of the
bang" liquid mixture of opium and hemp,
and it would be possible, perhaps, to glide
between them into the temple The Parsee,
guiding Mr.. Fogg, Sir Francis Cromarty, and
PassepartOut, moved without noise across the
forest. Creeping stealthily along, they soon
reached the bank of rivulet Illuminated by
torches; they perceived heap of wood; it
was the funeral pile, made of precious sandal
wood, impregnated with perfumed oil. On
the summit of this pile, reposed the embalmed
at the same time with his widow. An hum
bred steps from the pyre, above the tops of
the trees, rose the minaret of the pagoda.
"Comew said the low voice of the guide,
and with redoubled precautions, followed by
his companions, he glided silently through
the trees.
The silence was broken only by the MUIR
muir of the wind through the branches.
Soon the guide stopped at a clearing, some
torches lighted it. The ground was covered
with groups of drunken sleepers. One would
have said that it was battlefield covered
with dead. Men. women and children were
all mingled together. In the back ground,
between the trees, was indistinctly seen the
temple, but to the great disappointment of
the guide, the guards Of the rajah, with light
ed torches and bare sabres, watched before
the door. 1t was probable that in the interi-
or, the priests watched also. The guide went
no farther; he understood the impossibilty
of forcing an entrance, and he led his COM
panions to the rear of the temple. They
stopped, and conversed in a low voice.
''Let us watt" said Sir Francis. ''It is
only eight O'Clock, and it is possible that the
guards will yet be overcome by Sleep"
SIT is possble,' answered the guide.
''Phileas Fogg and his companions stretch
ed themselves at the foot of tree, and waited.
The time seemed long; the guide left them
from time to time, to watch through the leaves
of the trees. The guards held their posts, and
vague light glimmered across the windows of
the pagoda. They waited until midnight,
but the situation did not change. 1t was ev-
ldent they could not count upon the stupe-
faction of the guides; they must then pene-
trate the pagoda through an opening in the
walls. The question still remained, whether
the priests watched near their victim, as faith
fully as the soldiers at the door of the temple.
After a brief consultation, the guide, Mr..
Fogg, Sir Francis and Passepartout made an
attempt to reach the opposite side of the tenn
pie. Near half past twelve they reached the
foot of the wall, without meeting any one
No watch was kept here, but there were no
cloudy; the moon, in her last quarter, scarce
ly rose above the horizon. 1t was not enough
to reach the wall, they must now force an
opening; but to accomplish this work, Mr..
Fogg and his companions hal only their
pocket knives. Very fortunately, the walls
were built OF brick and wood, which would
not be difficult to break through. The first
brick removed, the others would easily come
out. They commenced the work, making as
od Al IL
for space of two feet. The work progress
ed, when suddenly cry was heard within,
and answered by some cries without. Passe-
partout and the guide stopped their work.
Had they been observed? was the alarm CIV
en-? They hid themselves again in the thick
wood, ard waited, on the watch, until it
passed away, ready to commence again their
work. But to their great disappointment,
some guards mounted the roof of the pagoda,
thus forbidding all approach. 1t would be
impossible to describe the annoyance of these
four men, defeated so completely. They
could not reach the victim; how could thew
save her?
I'VE must be going away?'' asked Sir
Francis, in low voice.
1--WE must' answered the guide.
"Let us watt" said Mr.. Fogg, ''if ar rive
at Allahabad before noon tomorrow, we shall
be in time"
Sus what DO you hope?' said Sir Francis,
Sin few hours, it will be day, and"-
"The chance, which escapes us now, may
come at the last moment"
Upon what chance could this cold English
man count9 Would he, at the very moment
OF sacrifice, snatch the young woman from
her murderers? Sir Francis consented to
await the terrible scene. The guide did not
leave his companions in the place where they
had taken refuge, but led them to the ex-
tremity of the opening; there sheltered by a
cluster of trees, they could watch the groups
sleeping in the profound night. Passepar-
tout, perched on the lowest branches, medi-
tated upon plan which had at first crossed
his mind like flash of light, an idea which
returned penistently, and took possession of
him.