THE weather was bad during the latter days of the
voyage. The wind, obstinately remaining in the north-
west, blew a gale, and retarded the steamer. The
"Rangoon" rolled heavily, and the passengers became
impatient of the long, monstrous waves which the
wind raised before their path. A sort of tempest arose
on the 3rd of November, the squall knocking the vessel
about with fury, and the waves running high. The
"Rangoon" reefed all her sails, and even the rigging
proved too much, whistling and shaking amid the
squall. The steamer was forced to proceed slowly,
and the captain estimated that she would reach Hong
Kong twenty hours behind time, and more if the storm
lasted.

Phileas Fogg gazed at the tempestuous sea, which
seemed to be struggling especially to delay him, with
his habitual tranquillity. He never changed counte-
nance for an instant, though a delay of twenty hours,
by making him too late for the Yokohama boat, would
almost inevitably cause the loss of the wager. But

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