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Chapter 31

           PhileasFoggdidnotreplyatonce;butFix,havingpointedouttheman,whowaswalkingupanddowninfrontofthestation,Mr.Foggwentuptohim.Aninstantafter,Mr.FoggandtheAmerican,whosenamewasMudge,enteredahutbuiltjustbelowthefort.

           ThereMr.Foggexaminedacuriousvehicle,akindofframeontwolongbeams,alittleraisedinfrontliketherunnersofasledge,anduponwhichtherewasroomforfiveorsixpersons.Ahighmastwasfixedontheframe,heldfirmlybymetalliclashings,towhichwasattachedalargebrigantinesail.Thismastheldanironstayuponwhichtohoistajib-sail.Behind,asortofrudderservedtoguidethevehicle.Itwas,inshort,asledgeriggedlikeasloop.Duringthewinter,whenthetrainsareblockedupbythesnow,thesesledgesmakeextremelyrapidjourneysacrossthefrozenplainsfromonestationtoanother.Providedwithmoresailsthanacutter,andwiththewindbehindthem,theyslipoverthesurfaceoftheprairieswithaspeedequalifnotsuperiortothatoftheexpresstrains.

           Mr.Foggreadilymadeabargainwiththeownerofthisland-craft.Thewindwasfavourable,beingfresh,andblowingfromthewest.Thesnowhadhardened,andMudgewasveryconfidentofbeingabletotransportMr.FogginafewhourstoOmaha.ThencethetrainseastwardrunfrequentlytoChicagoandNewYork.Itwasnotimpossiblethatthelosttimemightyetberecovered;andsuchanopportunitywasnottoberejected.

           NotwishingtoexposeAoudatothediscomfortsoftravellingintheopenair,Mr.FoggproposedtoleaveherwithPassepartoutatFortKearney,theservanttakinguponhimselftoescorthertoEuropebyabetterrouteandundermorefavourableconditions.ButAoudarefusedtoseparatefromMr.Fogg,andPassepartoutwasdelightedwithherdecision;fornothingcouldinducehimtoleavehismasterwhileFixwaswithhim.

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