Nebraska advertiser., 1881-11-24

the open air, with the cold rendered
more unbearable by the speed, proposed
to her To remain under PasseDartout's :
care at kearney Station. The honest
lellow would undertake to bring her to
Europe by better route and under
more acceptable conditions.
Mrs. Aouda refused to be separated
from Mr.. Fogg, and Passepartout felt
very happy at this determination. In
deed, nothing in the world would have
induced him to leave his master, since
Fin was to accompany him.
Asto what the detective then thought.
il would be difficult to say. Had his
convictions been shaken by Plilcas
Fog IS return, or rather did he consider
him n very shrewd rogue, who. having
accomplished his tour OF the world.
believed that he would be entirely safe
in En- LlandP Perhaps FiY's opinion
concerning Phloas Fogg was really
modified. But he was none the less de-
cided TO do his duty, and more imra-
ticnt than all of them to hasten with all
his mi hit the return to England.
At eight O'Clock the sedgo was ready
to start. The travellers we were
tempted to say the passengers took
their places, and wrapped themselves
closely in their travelling cloaks. The
two immense sails were hOisted, and,
under the pressure OF the wind, the
vehicle slipped over the hardened snow
with Il speed of forty miles an hour.
The distance between Fort Kejr.ey
and Omaha is, in straight line--in a
bee-line, as the Americans say-t two
hundred miles at the most. If the wind
contiSued, this distance could be ac.
compl shed in five hours. If no acci-
dent happened, the sledge ought to
reach Omaha at one in the afternoon
What journey! The travellers. hud-
speak. The cod, increased by the
speed, cut of their words. The sledge
glided rs lightly over the surface of the
plain as vessel over the surface of the
waterwith the swell at least. When
the breeze came, skmming the EARTH
it seemed as if the sledge was lifted
from the ground by its sails, which
were like huge wings. Nudge, at the
rudder, kept tn" straight line, and
with turn of the tiller he corrected
the lurches which the apparatus had
tendency to make. All sail was carried.
The jib had been arranged so that it
no longer was screened by the brigan-
tine. A top-maSt was hoisted, and an
other jib stretched TO the wind added
its force to that of the other sails II
could not be exactly estimated, but GER
tainly the speed of the sledge could not
be less than forty miles All hour.
"If nothing breaks" said Nudge,
eve shall arrlver'
1t was Mudge's interest to arrive at
the time agreed upon, for Mr. Fogg,
adherlng to his plan, had stimulated
him by the promise of a handsome re-
ward.
The prairie, which the sledge was
crossing in a straight line, was aS fiat
frozen pond. The railroad which ran
through this section asccnded from
southwest to northwest by Grand Isl
and, Columbus, an important Nebraska
town, Schuyler, Fremont, then Omaha.
During its entire course, il followed
the right bank of Platte River. The
sledgc, shortening this route, took the
chord Of the arc described by the rail
road. Nudge did not fear being
stopped by the Platte River at the short
bend in front OF Fremont, Us it was
frozen over The way was then entire
ly free of distractions, and Phleas Fopp
had only two things to fear an acci-
dent TO the apparatus, II change or
calm of the wind.
But the breeze did not abate. On
the contrary, it blew so hard that il
bent the mast, which the iron fasten-
ings kept firm, These metal faSten-
ings, like the chords OF an instrument,
resounded as if violin-bow had pro.
duced their vibrations. The sledoc
slid along in the midst of a plaintive
harmony, OF Il very peculiar intensity.
These chords give the fifth and the
octave said Mr.. Fogg.
And these were the only words he
uttered during this trip. Mrs. Aouda,
wrapped in furs and cloaks,
was preserved rs much rs possible from
the attacks of the cold.
Passepartout, his face red as the |.
solar disc when it sets in the mist drew /.
in the biting air With the depth of
confidence that he possessed, |
he was ready to hope again. Instead /
of arriving in New York in the morn /
ing, they would arrive there in the .
evening, but there might be some
chances that it would be before the de- .
parture of the Liverpool steamer.
Passepartout even experienced a |
strong desire to grasp the hand of his .
ally Fix. He did not forget that it
was the detective himself who had pro-
cured the sIedge with sails, and conse-
quently the only meaus there wan to
reach Omaha in good time. But by
some unknown presentiment, he kept |
himself in his accustomed reserve.
Al all events, one thing which Passe |
partout would never forget was the |
sacrifice which Mr. Fogg had unhesi- ,
tatingly made TO rescue him from the .
Sioux. As for that, Mr.. FOgg had .
:. -l.--l J. &. r-...L 4 J. -