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er made the same remark that he had done to Fix； and upon the general insisting that the watch should be regulated in each new meridian； since he was constantly going east…ward； that is in the face of the sun； and therefore the days were shorter by four minutes for each degree gone over； Passepartout obstinately refused to alter his watch； which he kept at London time。 It was an innocent delusion which could harm no one。
The train stopped； at eight o'clock； in the midst of a glade some fifteen miles beyond Rothal； where there were several bungalows and workmen's cabins。
The conductor； passing along the carriages； shouted； ‘Passengers will get out here！'
Phileas Fogg looked at Sir Francis Cromarty for an explanation； but the general could not tell what meant a halt in the midst of this forest of dates and acacias。
Passepartout； not less surprised； rushed out and speedily returned； crying： ‘Monsieur； no more railway！'
‘What do you mean？' asked Sir Francis。
‘I mean to say that the train isn't going on。'
The general at once stepped out； while Phileas Fogg calmly followed him； and they proceeded together to the conductor。
‘Where are we？' asked Sir Francis。
‘At the hamlet of Kholby。'
‘Do we stop here？'
‘Certainly。 The railway isn't finished。'
‘What！ not finished？'
‘No。 There's still a matter of fifty miles to be laid from here to Allahabad； where the line begins again。'
‘But the papers announced the opening of the railway throughout。'
‘What would you have； officer？ The papers were mistaken。'
‘Yet you sell tickets from Bombay to Calcutta；' retorted Sir Francis； who was growing warm。
‘No doubt；' replied the conductor； ‘but the passengers know that they must provide means of transportation for themselves from Kholby to Allahabad。'
Sir Francis was furious。 Passepartout would willingly have knocked the conductor down； and did not dare to look at his master。
‘Sir Francis；' said Mr Fogg quietly； ‘we will； if you please； look about for some means of conveyance to Allahabad。'
‘Mr Fogg； this is a delay greatly to your disadvantage。'
‘No； Sir Francis； it was foreseen。'
‘What！ You knew that the way'
‘Not at all； but I knew that some obstacle or other would sooner or later arise on my route。 Nothing； therefore； is lost。 I have two days； which I have already gained； to sacrifice。 A steamer leaves Calcutta for Hong Kong at noon； on the 25th。 This is the 22nd； and we shall reach Calcutta in time。'
There was nothing to say to so confident a response。
It was but too true that the railway came to a termination at this point。 The papers were like some watches； which have a way of getting too fast； and had been premature in their announcement of the completion of the line。 The greater part of the travellers were aware of this interruption； and leaving the train； they began to engage such vehicles as the village could provide … four…wheeled palkigharis； waggons drawn by zebus； carriages that looked like perambulating pagodas； palanquins； ponies and what not。
Mr Fogg and Sir Francis Cromarty； after searching the village from end to end； came back without having found anything。
‘I shall go afoot；' said Phileas Fogg。
Passepartout； who had now rejoined his master； made a wry grimace； as he thought of his magnificent； but too frail Indian shoes。 Happily he too had been looking about him； and； after a moment's hesitation； said； ‘Monsieur； I think I have found a means of conveyance。'
‘What？'
‘An elephant！ An elephant that belongs to an Indian who lives but a hundred steps from here。'
‘Let's go and see the elephant；' replied Mr Fogg。
They soon reached a small hut； near which； enclosed within some high Palings； was the animal in question。 An Indian came out of the hut； and； at their request； conducted them within the enclosure。 The elephant； which its owner had reared； not for a beast of burden； but for warlike purposes； was hall domesticated。 The Indian had begun already； by often irritating him； and feeding him every three months on sugar and butter； to impart to him a ferocity not in his nature； this method being often employed by those who train the Indian elephants for battle。 Happily； how ever； for Mr Fogg； the animal's instruction in this direction had not gone far； and the elephant still preserved his natural gentleness。 Kiouni … this was the name of the beast … could doubtless travel rapidly for a long time； and； in default of any other means of Conveyance； Mr Fogg resolved to hire him。 But elephants are far from cheap in India； where they are becoming scarce； the males； which alone are suitable for circus shows； are much sought； especially as but few of them are domesticated。 When； therefore； Mr Fogg proposed to the Indian to hire Kiouni； he refused point…blank。 Mr Fogg persisted； offering the excessive sum of ten pounds an hour for the loan of the beast to Allahabad。 Refused。 Twenty pounds？ Refused also。 Forty pounds？ Still refused。 Passepartout jumped at each advance； but the Indian declined to be tempted。 Yet the offer was an alluring one； for； supposing it took the elephant fifteen hours to reach Allahabad； his owner would receive no less than six hundred pounds sterling。
Phileas Fogg； without getting in the least flurried； then proposed to purchase the animal outright； and at first offered a thousand pounds for him。 The Indian； perhaps thinking he was going to make a great bargain； still refused。
Sir Francis Cromarty took Mr Fogg aside； and begged him to reflect before he went any further； to which that gentleman replied that he was not in the habit of acting rashly； that a bet of twenty thousand pounds was at stake； that the elephant was absolutely necessary to him； and that he would secure him if he had to pay twenty times his value。 Returning to the Indian； whose small； sharp eyes； glistening with avarice； betrayed that with him it was only a question of how great a price he could obtain； Mr Fogg offered first twelve hundred； then fifteen hundred； eighteen hundred； two thousand pounds。 Passepartout； usually so rubicund； was fairly white with suspense。
At two thousand pounds the Indian yielded。
‘What a price； good heaven！' cried Passepartout； ‘for an elephant！'
It only remained now to find a guide； which was comparatively easy。 A young Parsee； with an intelligent face； offered his services； which Mr Fogg accepted； promising so generous a reward as to materially stimulate his zeal。 The elephant was led out and equipped。 The Parsee； who was an accomplished elephant driver； covered his back with a sort of saddle…cloth； and attached to each of his flanks some curiously uncomfortable howdahs。
Phileas Fogg paid the Indian with some bank…notes which he extracted from the famous carpet…bag； a proceeding that seemed to deprive poor Passepartout of his vitals。 Then he offered to carry Sir Francis to Allahabad； which the brigadier gratefully accepted； as one traveller the more would not be likely to fatigue the gigantic beast。 Provisions were purchased at Kholby； and while Sir Francis and Mr Fogg took the howdahs on either side； Passepartout got astride the saddle…cloth between them。 The Parsee perched himself on the elephant's neck； and at nine o'clock they set out from the village； the animal marching off through the dense forest of palms by the shortest cut。
CHAPTER XII
IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG AND HIS COMPANIONS VENTURE ACROSS THE INDIAN FORESTS； AND WHAT ENSUED。
In order to shorten the journey； the guide passed to the left of the line where the railway was still in process of being built。 This lined owing to the capricious turnings of the Vindhia Mountains； did not pursue a straight course。 The Parsee； who was quite familiar with the roads and paths in the district； declared that they would gain twenty miles by striking directly through the forest。
Phileas Fogg and Sir Francis Cromarty plunged to the neck in the peculiar howdahs provided for theme were horribly jostled by the swift trotting of the elephant； spurred on as he was by the skilful Parsee； but they endured the discomfort with true British phlegm； talking little； and scarcely able to catch a glimpse of each other。 As for Passepartout； who was mounted on the beast's back； and received the direct force of each concussion as he trod along； he was very careful； in accordance with his master's advice； to keep his tongue from between his teeth； as it would other have been bitten off short。 The worthy fellow bounced from the elephant's neck to his rump； and vaulted like a clown on a spring…board； yet he laughed in the midst of his bouncing； and from time to time took a piece of sugar out of his pocket； and inserted it in Kiouni's trunks who received it without in the least slackening his regular trot。
After two hours the guide stopped the elephant； and gave him an hour for rest； during which Kiouni； after quenching his thirst at a neighbouring spring； set to devouring the branches and shrubs round about him。 Neither Sir Francis nor Mr Fogg regretted the delay； and both descended with a feeling of relief。 ‘Why； he's made of iron！' exclaimed the general； gazing admiringly on Kiouni。
‘Of … forged iron；' replied Passepartout； as he set about preparing a hasty breakfast。
At noon the Parsee gave the signal of departure。
The c