《Around the World In 80 Days》 CHAPTER25
by Jules Verne
It was seven in the morning when Mr Fogg, Aouda and Passepartout set
foot upon the American continent, if this name can be given to the floating
quay upon which they disembarked. These quays, rising and falling with
the tide, thus facilitate the loading and unloading of vessels. Alongside
them were clippers of all sizes, steamers of all nationalities, and
the steamboats, with several decks rising one above the other, which
ply on the Sacramento and its tributaries. There were also heaped up
the products of a commerce which extends to Mexico, Chile, Peru, Brazil,
Europe, Asia and all the Pacific islands.
Passepartout, in his joy on reaching at last the American continent,
thought he would manifest it by executing a perilous vault in fine style;
but, tumbling upon some worm-eaten planks, he fell through them. Put
out of countenance by the manner in which he thus `set foot' upon the
New World, he uttered a loud cry, which so frightened the innumerable
cormorants and pelicans that are always perched upon these movable quays,
that they flew noisily away.
Mr Fogg, on reaching shore, proceeded to find out at what hour the
firsimprobable, so agitated was the multitude before them.
Just at this moment there was an unusual stir in the human mass. All
the hands were raised in the air. Some, tightly closed, seemed to disappear
suddenly in the midst of the cries - an energetic way, no doubt, of
casting a vote. The crowd swayed back, the banners and flags wavered,
disappeared an instant, then reappeared in tatters. The undulations
of the human surge reached the steps, while all the heads floundered
on the surface like a sea agitated by a squall. Many of the black hats
disappeared, and the greater part of the crowd seemed to have diminished
in height.
`It is evidently a meeting,' said Fix, `and its object must be an exciting
one. Inger the legendary city of 1849 - a city of banditti, assassins
and incendiaries, who had flocked hither in crowds in pursuit of plunder;
a paradise of outlaws, where they gambled with gold-dust, a revolver
in one hand and a bowie-knife in the other: it was now a great commercial
emporium.
The lofty tower of its City Hall overlooked the whole panorama of the
streets and avenues, which cut each other at right angles, and in the
midst of which appeared pleasant, verdant squares, while beyond appeared
the Chinese quarter, seemingly imported from the celestial Empire in
a toy-box. Sombreros and red shirts and plumed Indians were rarely to
be seen; but there were silk hats and black coats everywhere worn by
a multitude of nervously active, gentlemanly-looking men. Some of the
streets - especially Montgomery Street, which is to San Francisco what
Regent Street is to London, the Boulevard des Italians to Paris, and
Broadway to New York - were lined with splendid and spacious stores,
which exposed in their windows the products of the entire world.
When Passepartout reached the International Hotel, it did not seem
to him as if he had left England at all.
The ground floor of the hotel was occupied by a large bar, a sort of
restaurant freely open to all passers-by, who might partake of dried
beef, oyster soup, biscuits, and cheese, without taking out their purses.
Payment was made only for the ale, porter, or sherry which was drunk.
This seemed `very American' to Passepartout. The hotel refreshment-rooms
were comfortable, and Mr Fogg and Aouda, installing themselves at a
table, were abundantly served on diminutive plates by negroes of darkest
hue.
After breakfast, Mr Fogg, accompanied by Aouda, started for the English
consulate to have his passport visaed. As he was going out, he met Passepartout,
who asked him if it would not be well, before taking the train, to purchase
some dozens of Enfield rifles and Colt's revolvers. He had been listening
to stories of attacks upon the trains by the Sioux and Pawnees. Mr Fogg
thought it a useless precaution, but told him to do as he thought best,
and went on to the consulate.
He had not proceeded two hundred steps, however, when, `by the greatest
chance in the world', he met Fix. The detective seemed wholly taken
by surprise. What! Had Mr Fogg and himself crossed the Pacific together,
and not met on the steamer! At least Fix felt honoured to behold once
more the gentleman to whom he owed so much, and as his business recalled
him to Europe, he should be delighted to continue the journey in such
pleasant company.
Mr Fogg replied that the honour would be his; and the detective - who
was determined not to lose sight of him - begged permission to accompany
them in their walk about San Francisco - a request which Mr Fogg readily
granted.
They soon found themselves in Montgomery Street, where a great crowd
was collected; the side-walks, street, horse-car rails, the shop-doors,
the windows of the houses, and even the roofs, were full of people.
Men were going about carrying large posters, and flags and streamers
were floating in the wind; while loud cries were heard on every hand.
`Hurrah for Camerfield!'
`Hurrah for Mandiboy!'
It was a political meeting; at least so Fix conjectured, who said to
Mr Fogg, `Perhaps we had better not mingle with the crowd. There may
be danger in it.'
`Yes,' returned Mr Fogg; `and blows, even if they are political, are
still blows.'
Fix smiled at this remark; and in order to be able to see without being
jostled about, the party took up a position on top of a flight of steps
situated at the upper end of Montgomery Street. Opposite them, on the
other side of the street, between a coal wharf and a petroleum warehouse,
a large platform had been erected in the open air, towards which the
current of the crowd seemed to be directed.
For what purpose was this meeting? What was the occasion of this excited
assemblage? Phileas Fogg could not imagine. Was it to nominate some
high official - a governor or member of Congress? It was not improbable,
so agitated was the multitude before them.
Just at this moment there was an unusual stir in the human mass. All
the hands were raised in the air. Some, tightly closed, seemed to disappear
suddenly in the midst of the cries - an energetic way, no doubt, of
casting a vote. The crowd swayed back, the banners and flags wavered,
disappeared an instant, then reappeared in tatters. The undulations
of the human surge reached the steps, while all the heads floundered
on the surface like a sea agitated by a squall. Many of the black hats
disappeared, and the greater part of the crowd seemed to have diminished
in height.
`It is evidently a meeting,' said Fix, `and its object must be an exciting
one. I should not wonder if it were about the "Alabama", despite
the fact that that question is settled.'
`Perhaps,' replied Mr Fogg simply.
`At least, there are two champions in presence of each other, the Honourable
Mr Camerfield and the Honourable Mr Mandiboy.'
Aouda, leaning upon Mr Fogg's arm, observed the tumultuous scene with
surprise, while Fix asked a man near him what the cause of it all was.
Before the man could reply, a fresh agitation arose; hurrahs and excited
shouts were heard; the staffs of the banners began to be used as offensive
weapons; and fists flew about in every direction. Thumps were exchanged
from the tops of the carriages and omnibuses which had been blocked
up in the crowd. Boots and shoes went whirling through the air, and
Mr Fogg thought he even heard the crack of revolvers mingling in the
din. The rout approached the stairway, and flowed over the lower step.
One of the parties had evidently been repulsed; but the mere lookers-on
could not tell whether Mandiboy or Camerfield had gained the upper hand.
`It would be prudent for us to retire,' said Fix, who was anxious that
Mr Fogg should not receive any injury, at least until they got back
to London. `If there is any question about England in all this, and
we were recognized, I fear it would go hard with us.'
`An English subject--' began Mr Fogg.
He did not finish his sentence; for a terrific hubbub now arose on
the terrace behind the flight of steps where they stood, and there were
frantic shouts of, `Hurrah for Mandiboy! Hip, hip, hurrah!'
It was a band of voters coming to the rescue of their allies, and taking
the Camerfield forces in flank. Mr Fogg, Aouda and Fix found themselves
between two fires; it was too late to escape. The torrent of men, armed
with loaded canes and sticks, was irresistible. Phileas Fogg and Fix
were roughly hustled in their attempts to protect their fair companion;
the former, as cool as ever, tried to defend himself with the weapons
which nature has placed at the end of every Englishman's arm, but in
vain. A big brawny fellow with a red beard, flushed face, and broad
shoulders, who seemed to be the chief of the band, raised his clenched
fist to strike Mr Fogg, whom he would have given a crushing blow, had
not Fix rushed in and received it in his stead. An enormous bruise immediately
made its appearance under the detective's silk hat, which was completely
smashed in.
`Yankee!' exclaimed Mr Fogg, darting a contemptuous look at the ruffian.
`Englishman!' returned the other. `We will meet again!'
`When you please.'
`What is your name?'
`Phileas Fogg. And yours?'
`Colonel Stamp Proctor.'
The human tide now swept by, after overturning Fix, who speedily got
upon his feet again, though with tattered clothes. Happily, he was not
seriously hurt. His travelling overcoat was divided into two unequal
parts, and his trousers resembled those of certain Indians, which fit
less compactly than they are easy to put on. Aouda had escaped unharmed,
and Fix alone bore marks of the fray in his black and blue bruise.
`Thanks,' said Mr Fogg to the detective, as soon as they were out of
the crowd.
`No thanks are necessary,' replied Fix; `but let us go.'
`Where?'
`To a tailor's.'
Such a visit was, indeed, opportune. The clothing of both Mr Fogg and
Fix was in rags, as if they had themselves been actively engaged in
the contest between Camerfield and Mandiboy. An hour after, they were
once more suitably attired, and with Aouda returned to the International
Hotel.
Passepartout was waiting for his master, armed with half-a-dozen six-barrelled
revolvers. When he perceived Fix, he knit his brows; but Aouda having,
in a few words, told him of their adventure, his countenance resumed
its placid expression. Fix evidently was no longer an enemy, but an
ally; he was faithfully keeping his word.
Dinner over, the coach which was to convey the passengers and their
luggage to the station drew up to the door. As he was getting in, Mr
Fogg said to Fix; `You have not seen this Colonel Proctor again?'
`No.'
`I will come back to America to find him,' said Phileas Fogg calmly.
`It would not be right for an Englishman to permit himself to be treated
in that way, without retaliating.'
The detective smiled, but did not reply. It was clear that Mr Fogg
was one of those Englishmen who, while they do not tolerate duelling
at home, fight abroad when their honour is attacked.
At a quarter before six the travellers reached the station, and found
the traready to depart. As he was about to enter it, Mr Fogg called
a porter, and said to him: `My friend, was there not some trouble today
in San Francisco?'
`It was a political meeting, sir,' replied the porter.
`But I thought there was a great deal of disturbance in the streets.'
`It was only a meeting assembled for an election.'
`The election of a general-in-chief, no doubt?' asked Mr Fogg.
`No, sir; of a justice of the peace.'
Phileas Fogg got into the train, which started off at full speed.
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