American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-11-12

tween this curve aud the line of tn,
road extended vast and plentifullv wa
tered pla rs. On the right OF the roa,
rose the trSt spurs of the mountainou,
mass, rounding of To the south "a i'm
rs the sources of the Arkansas River
one of the large tributaries of the Mis-
sisSippi.
AT half past twelve, the traveller,
caught sight for an instant of Fort Hal
lcck, which commands this country
a few hours more, and the crossing oil
the Rocky Mountains would be accom-
plished. 1t was to be hoped then, that
no accident would mark the passage OF
the train through this difficult region.
The snow had stopped falling. The
weather became cold and dry. Large
birds, frightened by the locomotive
were flying in the distance Not q
! deer, bear. or n wolf, showed itself on
| the plain. 1t was the desert in all its
barrenness.
After very comfortable breakfast,
served up in the car, Mr.. Fogg and his
partners had just resumed their in
terminable whist, when sharp whistles
were heard. The tram stopped.
Passepartout put his head out of the
door and saw nothing which could ex-
plain this stop. No station was in
sight. Mrs. Aouda and Fix feared for an
instant that MIR. Fogg would think of
going out on the track. But the gen
tleman contented himself with saving to
his servant:
"See then what it is"
Passepartout rushed out of the car
About forty passengers had left their
seats, and among them Colonel Stamp
Proctor.
The train had stopped in front of a
red signal which blocked the way. The
engineer and conductor, having got out.
discussed quite excitedly with u signal
man, whom the station master at Medi-
cine Bow, the next station, had sent in
advance of the train. Some of the
passengers approached and took part in
the discussion, among others the afore-
said Colonel Proctor, with his loud
voice and imperious gestures.
Passepartout, having rejoined the
group, heard the signal man say:
g Mo- there is no means of passing.
The bridge at Medicine Bow is shaky
and will not bear the weight of the
train
The bridge in question was a suspen-
sion bridge over rapids, about Il mile
from the place where the train had
stopped. According to the signal man,
it threatened to fall, several of the
wires having snapped, and it was i'm
possible to risk its passage. He did not
exaggerate in any way. then, in assert
ing that they could not pass over the
bridge. And besides, with the careless
habits Of the Americans, we may say
that when they are prudent we would
be very foolish not to be so.
Passepartout. not daring to go to in
form his master, listened with set teeth,
as a statue.
"Ah, indeed" cried Colonel Proctor,
1--WE are not going, l imagine, to re-
main here. and take root in the snowr'
Colonel" replied the conductor,
train, but it is not probable that it will
arrive at Medicine Bow before six
hours"
"Six hoursr cried Passepartout.
Without doubt" replied the con-
ductor. Besides, that time will be
necessary for us to reach the station on
foot"
but it is only mile from here"
said one of the passengers.
"A mile, in fact, but on the other
side of the river"
And can not the river be crossed in
4 boat?" asked the Colonel.
"Impossible. The creek is swollen
with the rains. 1t is . torrent. and we
will be compelled to make a detour of
zen miles to the north to find ford"
The Colonel launched volley of |
paths, blaming the company, the con-
fuctor, and Passepartout, furious, was |
lot far from joining with him. There |
was a material obstacle against which, |
his time, all his masters bank-notes
would be of no avail.
The disappointment was general
Imong the passengers, who, without
the delay, saw themselves
obliged to foot it fifteen miles across
he plain covered with snow. There
vas a hubbub, EXPLANATIONS, loud and
leep, which would certainly have at
racted Phileas Fogg's attention, if that
Gentleman had not been absorbed in
lis game.
But Passepartout found himself COM
,elled to inform him, and with droop-
ne head he turned towards the car,
when the engineer of the train. a genu-
ne Yankee, named Forster, raising his
'oice, said:
Gentlemen, there might be a way
# passing"
ION the bridge?" asked a passenger.
"With our train? asked the Colonel.
with our train"
Passepartout stopped and devoured
he engineers words.
.'But the bridge threatens to fall p
ontinued the conductor.
1t don't matter" replied Forster.
i believe that by rushing the train over
t its maximum of speed we would have
ONE chance of passinVn
1.-The deucen said PassepartOut.
But certain number of the passen-
ers were Immediately carried away by
he proposition. 1t pleased Colonel
rector particularly. That hot-head
Dund the thing very feasible. He re-
allied, even, that engineers had had
he idea of passing rivers without
ridges. with trains closely coupled,
ushing at the height of their speed.
tc. And, finally, all those interested
ook sides with the engineers views.
1--WE have fifty chances for passing"
aid one.
Sixty" said another.
Eighty! Ninety out of one hundredn'
Passepartout was perplexed, although
e was willing to try anything to ac-
omplish the passage of Medicine
'reek, but the attempt seemed to him
little too American"
Besides" he thought. there is
luch simpler thing to do, and these
eople don't even think of it. Mon
ieur," he said to one of the passen-
ers, ''the way proposed by the engi-
eer seems n little hazardous to me,
ut - ;
Eighty chancesr' replied the pas
enger. turning his back to him.
81 know very WELL" replied Passe-