The distance between Suez and Aden is precisely thirteen hundred and ten miles, and the regulations of the company allow the steamers one hundred and thirty–eight hours in which to traverse it. The Mongolia, thanks to the vigorous exertions of the engineer, seemed likely, so rapid was her speed, to reach her destination considerably within that time. The greater part of the passengers from Brindisi were bound for India some for Bombay, others for Calcutta by way of Bombay, the nearest route thither, now that a railway crosses the Indian peninsula. Among the passengers was a number of officials and military officers of various grades, the latter being either attached to the regular British forces or commanding the Sepoy troops, and receiving high salaries ever since the central government has assumed the powers of the East India Company: for the sub–lieutenants get 280 pounds, brigadiers, 2,400 pounds, and generals of divisions, 4,000 pounds. What with the military men, a number of rich young Englishmen on their travels, and the hospitable efforts of the purser, the time passed quickly on the Mongolia. The best of fare was spread upon the cabin tables at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and the eight o'clock supper, and the ladies scrupulously changed their toilets twice a day; and the hours were whirled away, when the sea was tranquil, with music, dancing, and games.
But the Red Sea is full of caprice, and often boisterous, like most long and narrow gulfs. When the wind came from the African or Asian coast the Mongolia, with her long hull, rolled fearfully. Then the ladies speedily disappeared below; the pianos were silent; singing and dancing suddenly ceased. Yet the good ship ploughed straight on, unretarded by wind or wave, towards the straits of Bab–el–Mandeb. What was Phileas Fogg doing all this time? It might be thought that, in his anxiety, he would be constantly watching the changes of the wind, the disorderly raging of the billows—every chance, in short, which might force the Mongolia to slacken her speed, and thus interrupt his journey. But, if he thought of these possibilities, he did not betray the fact by any outward sign.
Always the same impassible member of the Reform Club, whom no incident could surprise, as unvarying as the ship's chronometers, and seldom having the curiosity even to go upon the deck, he passed through the memorable scenes of the Red Sea with cold indifference; did not care to recognise the historic towns and villages which, along its borders, raised their picturesque outlines against the sky; and betrayed no fear of the dangers of the Arabic Gulf, which the old historians always spoke of with horror, and upon which the ancient navigators never ventured without propitiating the gods by ample sacrifices. How did this eccentric personage pass his time on the Mongolia? He made his four hearty meals every day, regardless of the most persistent rolling and pitching on the part of the steamer; and he played whist indefatigably, for he had found partners as enthusiastic in the game as himself. A tax–collector, on the way to his post at Goa; the Rev. Decimus Smith, returning to his parish at Bombay; and a brigadier–general of the English army, who was about to rejoin his brigade at Benares, made up the party, and, with Mr. Fogg, played whist by the hour together in absorbing silence.
As for Passepartout, he, too, had escaped sea–sickness, and took his meals conscientiously in the forward cabin. He rather enjoyed the voyage, for he was well fed and well lodged, took a great interest in the scenes through which they were passing, and consoled himself with the delusion that his master's whim would end at Bombay. He was pleased, on the day after leaving Suez, to find on deck the obliging person with whom he had walked and chatted on the quays.
"If I am not mistaken," said he, approaching this person, with his most amiable smile, "you are the gentleman who so kindly volunteered to guide me at Suez?"
"Ah! I quite recognise you. You are the servant of the strange Englishman—"
"Just so, monsieur—"
"Fix."
"Monsieur Fix," resumed Passepartout, "I'm charmed to find you on board. Where are you bound?"
"Like you, to Bombay."
"That's capital! Have you made this trip before?"
"Several times. I am one of the agents of the Peninsular Company."
"Then you know India?"
"Why yes," replied Fix, who spoke cautiously.
"A curious place, this India?"
"Oh, very curious. Mosques, minarets, temples, fakirs, pagodas, tigers, snakes, elephants! I hope you will have ample time to see the sights."
"I hope so, Monsieur Fix. You see, a man of sound sense ought not to spend his life jumping from a steamer upon a railway train, and from a railway train upon a steamer again, pretending to make the tour of the world in eighty days! No; all these gymnastics, you may be sure, will cease at Bombay."
"And Mr. Fogg is getting on well?" asked Fix, in the most natural tone in the world.
"Quite well, and I too. I eat like a famished ogre; it's the sea air."
"But I never see your master on deck."
"Never; he hasn't the least curiosity."
"Do you know, Mr. Passepartout, that this pretended tour in eighty days may conceal some secret errand—perhaps a diplomatic mission?"
"Faith, Monsieur Fix, I assure you I know nothing about it, nor would I give half a crown to find out."
After this meeting, Passepartout and Fix got into the habit of chatting together, the latter making it a point to gain the worthy man's confidence. He frequently offered him a glass of whiskey or pale ale in the steamer bar–room, which Passepartout never failed to accept with graceful alacrity, mentally pronouncing Fix the best of good fellows.
Meanwhile the Mongolia was pushing forward rapidly; on the 13th, Mocha, surrounded by its ruined walls whereon date–trees were growing, was sighted, and on the mountains beyond were espied vast coffee–fields. Passepartout was ravished to behold this celebrated place, and thought that, with its circular walls and dismantled fort, it looked like an immense coffee–cup and saucer. The following night they passed through the Strait of Bab–el–Mandeb, which means in Arabic The Bridge of Tears, and the next day they put in at Steamer Point, north–west of Aden harbour, to take in coal. This matter of fuelling steamers is a serious one at such distances from the coal–mines; it costs the Peninsular Company some eight hundred thousand pounds a year. In these distant seas, coal is worth three or four pounds sterling a ton.
The Mongolia had still sixteen hundred and fifty miles to traverse before reaching Bombay, and was obliged to remain four hours at Steamer Point to coal up. But this delay, as it was foreseen, did not affect Phileas Fogg's programme; besides, the Mongolia, instead of reaching Aden on the morning of the 15th, when she was due, arrived there on the evening of the 14th, a gain of fifteen hours.
Mr. Fogg and his servant went ashore at Aden to have the passport again visaed; Fix, unobserved, followed them. The visa procured, Mr. Fogg returned on board to resume his former habits; while Passepartout, according to custom, sauntered about among the mixed population of Somalis, Banyans, Parsees, Jews, Arabs, and Europeans who comprise the twenty–five thousand inhabitants of Aden. He gazed with wonder upon the fortifications which make this place the Gibraltar of the Indian Ocean, and the vast cisterns where the English engineers were still at work, two thousand years after the engineers of Solomon.
"Very curious, very curious," said Passepartout to himself, on returning to the steamer. "I see that it is by no means useless to travel, if a man wants to see something new." At six p.m. the Mongolia slowly moved out of the roadstead, and was soon once more on the Indian Ocean. She had a hundred and sixty–eight hours in which to reach Bombay, and the sea was favourable, the wind being in the north–west, and all sails aiding the engine. The steamer rolled but little, the ladies, in fresh toilets, reappeared on deck, and the singing and dancing were resumed. The trip was being accomplished most successfully, and Passepartout was enchanted with the congenial companion which chance had secured him in the person of the delightful Fix. On Sunday, October 20th, towards noon, they came in sight of the Indian coast: two hours later the pilot came on board. A range of hills lay against the sky in the horizon, and soon the rows of palms which adorn Bombay came distinctly into view. The steamer entered the road formed by the islands in the bay, and at half–past four she hauled up at the quays of Bombay.
Phileas Fogg was in the act of finishing the thirty–third rubber of the voyage, and his partner and himself having, by a bold stroke, captured all thirteen of the tricks, concluded this fine campaign with a brilliant victory.
The Mongolia was due at Bombay on the 22nd; she arrived on the 20th. This was a gain to Phileas Fogg of two days since his departure from London, and he calmly entered the fact in the itinerary, in the column of gains.
背景介紹與作者介紹
這段摘錄出自儒勒·凡爾納的經典冒險小說《八十天環遊世界》，這位法國作家被廣泛認為是科幻小說和冒險文學的先驅之一。這部小說寫於1873年，捕捉了19世紀的探險精神和科技進步的興奮之情。凡爾納富有想像力的故事講述和對地理與文化的詳細描述，使他的作品歷久彌新，深受各年齡層讀者的喜愛。
故事概述與重要性
故事講述了福克先生，一位冷靜而有條理的英國紳士，他打賭自己能在短短八十天內環遊世界。福克先生與他忠誠的法國僕人路路通一起，踏上了一段充滿意想不到的挑戰、多元文化和非凡景觀的驚險旅程。這段特別的描述了他們乘坐蒸汽船蒙古號穿越紅海的航行，突出了乘客的多樣性、海洋的自然挑戰以及福克先生堅定的決心。
這部小說不僅是一部令人興奮的遊記，也是對人類智慧、毅力和冒險精神的讚頌。它展示了當時的交通運輸進步——蒸汽船、鐵路和電報——使世界比以往任何時候都更加緊密地聯繫在一起。
學生可以學到什麼
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在壓力下的毅力和冷靜： 福克先生在風暴和不確定的情況下，仍然保持著堅定的冷靜，這教導了學生在面對困難時保持鎮定和專注的價值。
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好奇心和開放的心態： 路路通對他們所到之地的著迷，鼓勵年輕讀者對不同的文化和歷史產生好奇心，培養全球視野。
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規劃和時間管理的重要性： 福克先生精確的行程安排和謹慎的時間管理，突出了規劃和紀律如何幫助實現雄心勃勃的目標。
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友誼和信任： 福克先生和路路通之間的關係，表明了忠誠和團隊合作在克服挑戰中的重要性。
生活應用和性格發展
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在學習中： 學生可以運用福克先生有條理的方法，安排他們的學習時間表，並在考試或壓力大的專案中保持冷靜。
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在社交場合中： 像路路通一樣，對他人的背景和文化表現出真正的興趣，可以建立同情心，豐富友誼。
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在個人成長中： 將挑戰視為成長的機會，而不是障礙，有助於培養韌性——這是成功的關鍵特質。
鼓勵積極的價值觀
老師和家長可以使用這個故事來鼓勵年輕人培養耐心、紀律和冒險精神。討論人物的特質和決定，可以激勵學生在日常生活中，無論是在學校、運動還是社交互動中，都採取類似的態度。
反思與欣賞
閱讀完這段文章後，學生可能會反思旅行和探索如何拓寬一個人的視野——不僅是地理上的，也是智力上和情感上的。他們可以欣賞到進行偉大旅程所涉及的興奮和責任的結合，以及每一次經歷，即使是具有挑戰性的經歷，如何促進個人成長。
透過閱讀《八十天環遊世界》，年輕讀者不僅能獲得一個有趣的故事，還能獲得寶貴的教訓，鼓勵他們敢於夢想，仔細規劃，並以好奇心和勇氣擁抱世界。
