Chapter 18

           Theweatherwasbadduringthelatterdaysofthevoyage.Thewind,obstinatelyremaininginthenorth-west,blewagale,andretardedthesteamer.TheRangoonrolledheavilyandthepassengersbecameimpatientofthelong,monstrouswaveswhichthewindraisedbeforetheirpath.Asortoftempestaroseonthe3rdofNovember,thesquallknockingthevesselaboutwithfury,andthewavesrunninghigh.TheRangoonreefedallhersails,andeventheriggingprovedtoomuch,whistlingandshakingamidthesquall.Thesteamerwasforcedtoproceedslowly,andthecaptainestimatedthatshewouldreachHongKongtwentyhoursbehindtime,andmoreifthestormlasted.

           PhileasFogggazedatthetempestuoussea,whichseemedtobestrugglingespeciallytodelayhim,withhishabitualtranquillity.Heneverchangedcountenanceforaninstant,thoughadelayoftwentyhours,bymakinghimtoolatefortheYokohamaboat,wouldalmostinevitablycausethelossofthewager.Butthismanofnervemanifestedneitherimpatiencenorannoyance;itseemedasifthestormwereapartofhisprogramme,andhadbeenforeseen.Aoudawasamazedtofindhimascalmashehadbeenfromthefirsttimeshesawhim.

           Fixdidnotlookatthestateofthingsinthesamelight.Thestormgreatlypleasedhim.HissatisfactionwouldhavebeencompletehadtheRangoonbeenforcedtoretreatbeforetheviolenceofwindandwaves.Eachdelayfilledhimwithhope,foritbecamemoreandmoreprobablethatFoggwouldbeobligedtoremainsomedaysatHongKong;andnowtheheavensthemselvesbecamehisallies,withthegustsandsqualls.Itmatterednotthattheymadehimsea-sickhemadenoaccountofthisinconvenience;and,whilsthisbodywaswrithingundertheireffects,hisspiritboundedwithhopefulexultation.

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