CHAPTER XXXI
IN WHICH THE DETECTIVE FIX TAKES SERIOUSLY IN CHARGE PHILEAS FOGG'S INTERESTS
Phileas Fogg found himself twenty hours behind time. Passepartout, the involuntary cause of this delay, was desperate. He had certainly ruined his master!
At this moment the detective approached Mr. Fogg, and looking closely in his face, asked: "Very seriously, sir, you are in a hurry?
"Very seriously," replied Phileas Fogg.
"I insist," continued Fix. "It is very much to your interest to be in New York on the 11th, before nine o'clock in the evening, the time of departure of the Liverpool steamer."
"I have a very great interest."
"And if your journey had not been interrupted by this Indian attack, you would have arrived in New York on the morning of the 11th?"
"Yes, twelve hours before the departure of the steamer."
"Well, you are now twenty hours behind time. The difference between twenty and twelve is eight. Eight hours are to be made up. Do you wish to try to do it?"
"On foot?" asked Mr. Fogg.
"No, on a sledge," replied Fix, "on a sledge with sails. A man has proposed this means of conveyance to me." It was the man who had spoken to the detective during the night, and whose offer he had refused.
Phileas Fogg did not reply to Fix; but Fix having shown him the man in question, who was walking up and down before the station, the gentleman went up to him. An instant after, Phileas Fogg and this American, named Mudge, entered a hut built at the foot of Fort Kearney.
There Mr. Fogg examined a very singular vehicle, a sort of frame laid on two long beams, a little raised in front, like the runners of a sledge, and upon which five or six persons could be seated. On the front of the frame was fastened a very high mast, to which an immense brigantine sail was attached. The mast, firmly held by metallic fastenings, held an iron stay, which served to hoist a large jib-sail. At the rear a sort of rudder allowed the apparatus to be steered.
As could be seen, it was a sledge sloop-rigged. During
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