At eight o'clock in the morning,
and fifteen mile before they reached Rothal, the train
stopped in the midst of an immense opening, on the edge
of which were some bungalows and workmen's huts. The
conductor of the train passed along the cars calling
out, "The passengers will get out here!"
Phileas Fogg looked at Sir Francis Cromarty, who appeared
not to understand this stop in the midst of a forest
of tamarinds and acacias. Passepartout, not less surprised
rushed on to the track and returned almost immediately,
crying, "Monsieur, no more railway!"
"What do you mean?" asked Sir Francis Cromarty.
"I mean that the train goes no farther".
The brigadier-general immediately got out of the car.
Phileas Fogg, in no hurry, followed him. Both spoke
to the conductor.
"Where are we?" asked Sir Francis Cromarty.
"At the hamlet of Kholby," replied the conductor.
"We stop here?"
"Without a doubt. The railway is not finished-"
"How! It is not finished?"
"No! There is still a section of fifty mile to
construct between this point and Allahabad, where the
track commences again".
"But the papers have announced the opening of the
entire line".
"But, generally, the papers were mistaken".
"And you give tickets from Bombay to Calcutta!"
replied Sir Francis Cromarty, who was beginning to be
excited.
"Of course," replied the conductor; "but
travellers know very well that they have to be otherwise
transported from Kholby to Allahabad" |
