The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-10-17

the iurcheS winch the apparatus mad
tendency to make. All sail was carried.
The lib 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 1t
could not be exactly estimated, but GER
tainly the speed of the sledge could not
be less than forty miles an hour.
If nothing breaks" said Nudge,
1--WE shall arrivep'
1t was Mudge's interest to arrive at
the time agreed upon, for MIR. Fogg,
adhering to his plan. had stimulated
him by the promise of handsome re-
ward.
The prairie, which the sledge was
crossing in a straight line. was as flat
as a sea. 1t might have been called a
frozen pond. The railroad which ran
through this section assembled from
southwest to northwest by Grand ISL
and, Columbus, an important Nebraska
town, Schuyler, Fremont. then Omaha
During its entire course, it followed
the right bank of Platte River. The
sledge, 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, as it was
frozen over The way was then entire
ly free of distractions, and Phileas Fogg
had only two things to fear an acct
dent to the apparatus, a change or
calm of the wind.
But the breeze did not abate On
the contrary, it blew so hard that it
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 sledee
slid along in the midst of a plaintive
harmony, of very peculiar intensity.
These chords give the fifth and the
octave, said Mr.. Fogg
And these we're the only words he
uttered during this trip. Mrs. Aouda,
carefully wrapped in furs and cloaks,
was preserved as much as 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
mistaken 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 sledge with sails. and conse-
quently the only means there was to
reach Omaha in good time. But by
some unknown presentiment, he kept
himself in his accustomed reserve.
At 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
risked his fortune and his life = Mo-
his servant would not forget him!
| Whilst each one of the travellers
allowed himself to wander off in such
various reflections the sledge flew over
the immense carpet of snow. If ii
passed over creeks, tributaries, or sub
tributaries of Little Blue River, they
did not perceive it. The fields and the
streams disappeared under uniform
whiteness.
The plain was absolutely deserted.
Comprised between the Union Pacific
Road and the branch uniting Kearney
to ST. Joseph, it formed as it were g
large uninhabited island. Not vii
lage, not station. not even fort
From time to time they saw passing
like flash some grimacing tree, whose
white skeleton was twisted about by the
wind. Sometimes flocks of wild birds
rose; sometimes, also. prairie wolves il
large bands, gaunt. famished, urged BY
O ferocious demand of nature, vice
with the sledge in swiftness Their
Passepartout, with revolver in hand
held himself ready to fire upon those
that came nearest. If any accident haC
then stopped the sledge, the travellers
attacked by these ferocious carnivorou:
beasts. would have run the creates
risks. But the sledge kept on its course
it was not long in getting ahead, anC
soon the whole bowling band was lel
behind.
At noon, Nudge recognized, by Ger
tain landmarks, that he was crossing
the frozen course of the Platte River
He said nothing, but he was sure tina
in twenty miles more he would reacl
Omaha.
And, indeed, one hour afterward thi
, skillful guide, abandoning the helm
, hastened to the halyards of the sail
and furled them, whilst the sledge, car
ried on by its irresistible force, accom-
plished another half mile under bar
> poles. Finally it stopped, and Mudg
pointing out mass of roofs white wit
snow, said:
"We have arrived"
Arrived! Arrived, indeed, at the sta
!, ton which, by numerous trains, is il
daily communication with the easter
part of the United States!
: Passepartout and Fix jumped to tn
l ground and shook their stiffened limbs
b They helped Mr.. Fogg and the youn
woman to descend from the sledge
7 Phileas Fogg settled generously wit
Nudge, whose hand Passepartout shoe
: like friends, and all hurried towar
the depot in Omaha.
8 The Pacific Railroad, properly s
called, has its terminus at this impol
/. tant city in Nebraska, placing the Mis-
n sissippi basin in connection with tn
/ great ocean. To go from Omaha t
d Chicago, the Chicago. Rock Island I
S Pacific Road is taken, running directl
t to the east and passing fifty stations.
o A through train was ready to star
r Phileas Fogg and his companions onl
had time to hurry into car. The
d had seen nothing of Omaha; but Passs
It partout acknowledged to himself that
/ was not to be regretted, as they wer
e not on sightseeing tour.
Q The train passed with very gres
speed into the State of Iowa, throug
!, Council Bluffs. Des Moines and low
s City. During the night it crossed tn
s Mississippi at Davenport and entere
r Illinois at Rock Island The next day
g the 10th, at four OF clock in the aftel
!, noon, they arrived at Chicago, alread
e risen from its ruins, and sitting NOR