What Happened on the Voyage from Singapore to Hong Kong

The detective and Passepartout met often on deck after this interview, though Fix was reserved, and did not attempt to induce his companion to divulge any more facts concerning Mr. Fogg. He caught a glimpse of that mysterious gentleman once or twice; but Mr. Fogg usually confined himself to the cabin, where he kept Aouda company, or, according to his inveterate habit, took a hand at whist.

After this conversation, the detective and Passepartout often met on deck. But Fix was reserved and did not try to get Passepartout to reveal any more facts about Mr. Fogg. Fix caught a glimpse of the mysterious gentleman once or twice. But Mr. Fogg usually stayed in the cabin, keeping Aouda company or playing whist, as he habitually did.

Passepartout began very seriously to conjecture what strange chance kept Fix still on the route that his master was pursuing. It was really worth considering why this certainly very amiable and complacent person, whom he had first met at Suez, had then encountered on board the “Mongolia,” who disembarked at Bombay, which he announced as his destination, and now turned up so unexpectedly on the “Rangoon,” was following Mr. Fogg’s tracks step by step. What was Fix’s object? Passepartout was ready to wager his Indian shoes—which he religiously preserved—that Fix would also leave Hong Kong at the same time with them, and probably on the same steamer.

Passepartout began to wonder very seriously what strange coincidence was keeping Fix on the same route as his master. It was worth considering why this certainly very friendly and agreeable man was following Mr. Fogg step by step. Passepartout had first met Fix at Suez, then encountered him aboard the “Mongolia.” Fix had gotten off at Bombay, which he had said was his destination. Now he had turned up unexpectedly on the “Rangoon.” What was Fix’s purpose? Passepartout was ready to wager the Indian shoes he so carefully preserved that Fix would also leave Hong Kong at the same time as they did, probably on the same steamer.

Passepartout might have cudgelled his brain for a century without hitting upon the real object which the detective had in view. He never could have imagined that Phileas Fogg was being tracked as a robber around the globe. But, as it is in human nature to attempt the solution of every mystery, Passepartout suddenly discovered an explanation of Fix’s movements, which was in truth far from unreasonable. Fix, he thought, could only be an agent of Mr. Fogg’s friends at the Reform Club, sent to follow him up, and to ascertain that he really went round the world as had been agreed upon.

Passepartout could have puzzled over the detective’s true purpose for a century without guessing it. He could never have imagined that Phileas Fogg was being followed around the world as a suspected robber. But people naturally try to solve every mystery, and Passepartout suddenly found an explanation for Fix’s movements. His explanation was far from unreasonable. He thought Fix could only be an agent sent by Mr. Fogg’s friends at the Reform Club. Fix had been sent to follow him and make sure he really went around the world as agreed.

“It’s clear!” repeated the worthy servant to himself, proud of his shrewdness. “He’s a spy sent to keep us in view! That isn’t quite the thing, either, to be spying Mr. Fogg, who is so honourable a man! Ah, gentlemen of the Reform, this shall cost you dear!”

“It’s clear!” the good servant repeated to himself, proud of his cleverness. “He’s a spy sent to keep an eye on us! It’s not right to spy on Mr. Fogg, such an honorable man! Ah, gentlemen of the Reform, you’ll pay dearly for this!”

Passepartout, enchanted with his discovery, resolved to say nothing to his master, lest he should be justly offended at this mistrust on the part of his adversaries. But he determined to chaff Fix, when he had the chance, with mysterious allusions, which, however, need not betray his real suspicions.

Delighted by his discovery, Passepartout decided to say nothing to his master. His master might rightly be offended that his opponents distrusted him. But Passepartout decided to tease Fix with mysterious hints when he got the chance. The hints, however, would not reveal what he really suspected.

During the afternoon of Wednesday, 30th October, the “Rangoon” entered the Strait of Malacca, which separates the peninsula of that name from Sumatra. The mountainous and craggy islets intercepted the beauties of this noble island from the view of the travellers. The “Rangoon” weighed anchor at Singapore the next day at four a.m., to receive coal, having gained half a day on the prescribed time of her arrival. Phileas Fogg noted this gain in his journal, and then, accompanied by Aouda, who betrayed a desire for a walk on shore, disembarked.

On the afternoon of Wednesday, 30th October, the “Rangoon” entered the Strait of Malacca. The strait separates the Malacca peninsula from Sumatra. Mountainous, rocky islets blocked the travellers’ view of the beautiful island. The “Rangoon” anchored at Singapore at four a.m. the next day to take on coal. She had arrived half a day ahead of schedule. Phileas Fogg noted the gain in his journal. Then he went ashore with Aouda, who had shown a desire to take a walk.

Fix, who suspected Mr. Fogg’s every movement, followed them cautiously, without being himself perceived; while Passepartout, laughing in his sleeve at Fix’s manœuvres, went about his usual errands.

Fix was suspicious of Mr. Fogg’s every move, so he followed them cautiously without being seen. Meanwhile, Passepartout went about his usual errands, secretly amused by Fix’s tactics.

The island of Singapore is not imposing in aspect, for there are no mountains; yet its appearance is not without attractions. It is a park checkered by pleasant highways and avenues. A handsome carriage, drawn by a sleek pair of New Holland horses, carried Phileas Fogg and Aouda into the midst of rows of palms with brilliant foliage, and of clove-trees, whereof the cloves form the heart of a half-open flower. Pepper plants replaced the prickly hedges of European fields; sago-bushes, large ferns with gorgeous branches, varied the aspect of this tropical clime; while nutmeg-trees in full foliage filled the air with a penetrating perfume. Agile and grinning bands of monkeys skipped about in the trees, nor were tigers wanting in the jungles.

Singapore is not imposing to look at, because it has no mountains. Yet the island has its attractions. It is like a park crossed by pleasant roads and avenues. A handsome carriage, drawn by a sleek pair of New Holland horses, carried Phileas Fogg and Aouda among rows of palms with brilliant foliage and clove trees. Cloves form the heart of a half-open flower. Pepper plants took the place of the prickly hedges found in European fields. Sago bushes and large ferns with gorgeous branches added variety to the tropical landscape. Nutmeg trees in full leaf filled the air with a strong fragrance. Agile, grinning bands of monkeys leaped about in the trees, and there were tigers in the jungles too.

After a drive of two hours through the country, Aouda and Mr. Fogg returned to the town, which is a vast collection of heavy-looking, irregular houses, surrounded by charming gardens rich in tropical fruits and plants; and at ten o’clock they re-embarked, closely followed by the detective, who had kept them constantly in sight.

After a two-hour drive through the countryside, Aouda and Mr. Fogg returned to town. The town was a vast collection of heavy-looking, irregular houses, surrounded by charming gardens full of tropical fruits and plants. At ten o’clock, they boarded the ship again, closely followed by the detective, who had kept them in sight the whole time.

Passepartout, who had been purchasing several dozen mangoes—a fruit as large as good-sized apples, of a dark-brown colour outside and a bright red within, and whose white pulp, melting in the mouth, affords gourmands a delicious sensation—was waiting for them on deck. He was only too glad to offer some mangoes to Aouda, who thanked him very gracefully for them.

Passepartout had been buying several dozen mangoes and was waiting for them on deck. The fruit was as large as good-sized apples, dark brown on the outside and bright red inside. Its white pulp melted in the mouth, giving food lovers a delicious sensation. He was delighted to offer some mangoes to Aouda, who thanked him very graciously.

At eleven o’clock the “Rangoon” rode out of Singapore harbour, and in a few hours the high mountains of Malacca, with their forests, inhabited by the most beautifully-furred tigers in the world, were lost to view. Singapore is distant some thirteen hundred miles from the island of Hong Kong, which is a little English colony near the Chinese coast. Phileas Fogg hoped to accomplish the journey in six days, so as to be in time for the steamer which would leave on the 6th of November for Yokohama, the principal Japanese port.

At eleven o’clock, the “Rangoon” sailed out of Singapore harbour. Within a few hours, the high mountains of Malacca disappeared from view. Their forests were home to the most beautifully furred tigers in the world. The island of Hong Kong is about thirteen hundred miles from Singapore. It is a small English colony near the Chinese coast. Phileas Fogg hoped to make the journey in six days. That would allow him to catch the steamer leaving on the 6th of November for Yokohama, Japan’s principal port.

The “Rangoon” had a large quota of passengers, many of whom disembarked at Singapore, among them a number of Indians, Ceylonese, Chinamen, Malays, and Portuguese, mostly second-class travellers.

The “Rangoon” carried many passengers, and many of them got off at Singapore. Among them were Indians, Sri Lankans, Chinese, Malays, and Portuguese, mostly traveling in second class.

The weather, which had hitherto been fine, changed with the last quarter of the moon. The sea rolled heavily, and the wind at intervals rose almost to a storm, but happily blew from the south-west, and thus aided the steamer’s progress. The captain as often as possible put up his sails, and under the double action of steam and sail the vessel made rapid progress along the coasts of Anam and Cochin China. Owing to the defective construction of the “Rangoon,” however, unusual precautions became necessary in unfavourable weather; but the loss of time which resulted from this cause, while it nearly drove Passepartout out of his senses, did not seem to affect his master in the least. Passepartout blamed the captain, the engineer, and the crew, and consigned all who were connected with the ship to the land where the pepper grows. Perhaps the thought of the gas, which was remorselessly burning at his expense in Saville Row, had something to do with his hot impatience.

The weather had been fine until the last quarter of the moon, when it changed. The sea was rough, and the wind sometimes rose almost to storm strength. Luckily, it blew from the southwest and helped the steamer along. The captain raised the sails whenever possible. With both steam and sail, the vessel made rapid progress along the coasts of Anam and Cochin China. But because the “Rangoon” was poorly built, extra precautions were needed in bad weather. The resulting delays nearly drove Passepartout out of his senses, but his master seemed completely unaffected. Passepartout blamed the captain, the engineer, and the crew. He told everyone connected with the ship to go to the land where the pepper grows. Perhaps he was so impatient partly because he knew the gas was still burning relentlessly at his expense in Saville Row.

“You are in a great hurry, then,” said Fix to him one day, “to reach Hong Kong?”

“So you’re in a great hurry to reach Hong Kong?” Fix asked him one day.

“A very great hurry!”

“In a very big hurry!”

“Mr. Fogg, I suppose, is anxious to catch the steamer for Yokohama?”

“I suppose Mr. Fogg is eager to catch the steamship to Yokohama?”

“Terribly anxious.”

“Extremely worried.”

“You believe in this journey around the world, then?”

“So you believe in this journey around the world?”

“Absolutely. Don’t you, Mr. Fix?”

“Absolutely. Don’t you, Mr. Fix?”

“I? I don’t believe a word of it.”

“Me? I don’t believe a word of it.”

“You’re a sly dog!” said Passepartout, winking at him.

“You’re a sneaky one!” said Passepartout, winking at him.

This expression rather disturbed Fix, without his knowing why. Had the Frenchman guessed his real purpose? He knew not what to think. But how could Passepartout have discovered that he was a detective? Yet, in speaking as he did, the man evidently meant more than he expressed.

The remark disturbed Fix, though he did not know why. Had the Frenchman guessed his real purpose? Fix did not know what to think. But how could Passepartout have discovered that he was a detective? Yet Passepartout had clearly meant more than he said.

Passepartout went still further the next day; he could not hold his tongue.

Passepartout went even further the next day. He couldn't keep quiet.

“Mr. Fix,” said he, in a bantering tone, “shall we be so unfortunate as to lose you when we get to Hong Kong?”

“Mr. Fix,” he said teasingly, “will we be so unlucky as to lose you when we get to Hong Kong?”

“Why,” responded Fix, a little embarrassed, “I don’t know; perhaps—”

“Well,” Fix replied, a little embarrassed, “I don’t know. Perhaps…”

“Ah, if you would only go on with us! An agent of the Peninsular Company, you know, can’t stop on the way! You were only going to Bombay, and here you are in China. America is not far off, and from America to Europe is only a step.”

“Oh, if only you would come with us! You know an agent of the Peninsular Company can’t stop along the way! You were only going to Bombay, and now here you are in China. America isn’t far away, and Europe is just a short step from America.”

Fix looked intently at his companion, whose countenance was as serene as possible, and laughed with him. But Passepartout persisted in chaffing him by asking him if he made much by his present occupation.

Fix looked closely at his companion, whose expression was perfectly calm, and laughed with him. But Passepartout kept teasing Fix, asking if he earned much from his current occupation.

“Yes, and no,” returned Fix; “there is good and bad luck in such things. But you must understand that I don’t travel at my own expense.”

“Yes and no,” replied Fix. “There’s good luck and bad luck in such things. But you should understand that I don’t pay for my own travel.”

“Oh, I am quite sure of that!” cried Passepartout, laughing heartily.

“Oh, I’m absolutely sure of that!” Passepartout exclaimed, laughing heartily.

Fix, fairly puzzled, descended to his cabin and gave himself up to his reflections. He was evidently suspected; somehow or other the Frenchman had found out that he was a detective. But had he told his master? What part was he playing in all this: was he an accomplice or not? Was the game, then, up? Fix spent several hours turning these things over in his mind, sometimes thinking that all was lost, then persuading himself that Fogg was ignorant of his presence, and then undecided what course it was best to take.

Fix, thoroughly puzzled, went down to his cabin and thought things over. Clearly, the Frenchman suspected him. Somehow, he had found out that Fix was a detective. But had he told his master? What role was the Frenchman playing in all this? Was he an accomplice or not? Was the game up? Fix spent several hours thinking about these questions. At times, he thought all was lost. Then he convinced himself that Fogg did not know he was there. He could not decide what to do.

Nevertheless, he preserved his coolness of mind, and at last resolved to deal plainly with Passepartout. If he did not find it practicable to arrest Fogg at Hong Kong, and if Fogg made preparations to leave that last foothold of English territory, he, Fix, would tell Passepartout all. Either the servant was the accomplice of his master, and in this case the master knew of his operations, and he should fail; or else the servant knew nothing about the robbery, and then his interest would be to abandon the robber.

Nevertheless, Fix kept his cool and finally decided to speak plainly with Passepartout. If he could not arrest Fogg in Hong Kong, and Fogg prepared to leave that last foothold of English territory, Fix would tell Passepartout everything. Either Passepartout was his master's accomplice, in which case Fogg knew about Fix's activities and Fix would fail. Or Passepartout knew nothing about the robbery, in which case he would have good reason to abandon the robber.

Such was the situation between Fix and Passepartout. Meanwhile Phileas Fogg moved about above them in the most majestic and unconscious indifference. He was passing methodically in his orbit around the world, regardless of the lesser stars which gravitated around him. Yet there was near by what the astronomers would call a disturbing star, which might have produced an agitation in this gentleman’s heart. But no! the charms of Aouda failed to act, to Passepartout’s great surprise; and the disturbances, if they existed, would have been more difficult to calculate than those of Uranus which led to the discovery of Neptune.

That was how things stood between Fix and Passepartout. Meanwhile, Phileas Fogg moved above them with majestic indifference, unaware of their troubles. He followed his orbit around the world methodically, paying no attention to the lesser stars that revolved around him. Yet nearby was what astronomers would call a disturbing star, one that might have stirred this gentleman’s heart. But no! To Passepartout’s great surprise, Aouda’s charms had no effect on Fogg. And if his heart was stirred, the disturbance would have been harder to calculate than the disturbances of Uranus that led to the discovery of Neptune.

It was every day an increasing wonder to Passepartout, who read in Aouda’s eyes the depths of her gratitude to his master. Phileas Fogg, though brave and gallant, must be, he thought, quite heartless. As to the sentiment which this journey might have awakened in him, there was clearly no trace of such a thing; while poor Passepartout existed in perpetual reveries.

Passepartout could see in Aouda’s eyes how deeply grateful she was to his master. This puzzled him more each day. He thought Phileas Fogg must be quite heartless, though he was brave and gallant. There was clearly no trace of any feeling the journey might have awakened in Fogg. Meanwhile, poor Passepartout was constantly lost in daydreams.

One day he was leaning on the railing of the engine-room, and was observing the engine, when a sudden pitch of the steamer threw the screw out of the water. The steam came hissing out of the valves; and this made Passepartout indignant.

One day, Passepartout was leaning on the engine room railing, watching the engine. Suddenly, the steamer pitched, lifting its propeller out of the water. Steam hissed from the valves, and Passepartout was indignant.

“The valves are not sufficiently charged!” he exclaimed. “We are not going. Oh, these English! If this was an American craft, we should blow up, perhaps, but we should at all events go faster!”

“The valves don’t have enough pressure!” he exclaimed. “We’re not moving. Oh, these English! If this were an American ship, we might blow up, but at least we’d go faster!”