d.

"But where is the train?" he exclaimed.

"Gone," replied Fix.

"When is the next train due here?" asked Mr. Fogg.

"Not until this evening."

"Ah!" replied the impassible gentleman simply.

CHAPTER XXXI.

In which the Detective forwards Mr. Fogg's Interest considerably.

Phileas Fogg was twenty hours behind time, and Passe-partout, the
involuntary cause of the delay, was desperate; he had decidedly ruined
his master.

The detective approached Mr. Fogg, and, looking at him attentively,
said, "Seriously, sir, are you really in such a hurry?"

"Very seriously I am," replied Fogg.

"It is absolutely necessary, then, for you to be in New York on the
11th--before the departure of the English mail-steamer?"

"I have a very great interest in so doing."

"If, then, your voyage had not been interrupted, you would have
reached New York on the morning of the 11th?"

"Yes, with twelve hours to spare."

"Well, you are now twenty hours late. Twelve from twenty leaves
eight--you must regain those eight hours. Do you wish to try?"

"On foot?"

"No, on a sledge," replied Fix; "on a sledge with sails; a man has
proposed it to me."

It was, in fact, the man who had spoken to Fix during the night, and
whose offer he had refused.

Mr. Fogg did not immediately reply, but Fix pointed out the man, and
Fogg went up and spoke to him. Shortly after they entered a hut built
just beyond the fort. Here Mr. Fogg was shown a very curious
vehicle--a sort of sledge, with room for five or six people. A high
mast was firmly supported by wire rigging, and carried a large sail;
it was also furnished with a rudder. In fact it was a sledge rigged
like a cutter. During the winter, on the frozen plains, the trains
cannot run, and these sledges make rapid passages from station to
station, and when running before the wind they equal, if they do not
exceed, the speed of the train.

The arrangement was soon made. The strong west wind was in their
favour. The snow was hard, and Mr. Mudge, the owner, was confident of
being able to reach Omaha in a few hours. Thence were plenty of trains
to Chicago and New York. It was just possible to recover the lost
time, and they did not hesitate to make the attempt.

Mr. Fogg did not wish to expose Aouda to the cold, and suggested that
she should remain at the station with Passe-partout, who would escort
her to England under more favourable circumstances; but she refused to
leave Mr. Fo