Page:Works of Jules Verne - Parke - Vol 7.djvu/281

Rh those produced by the new direction of the wind. Thence a shock of counter-rolling waves, which would have crushed a less solidly built bark.

From time to time through the broken mist the coast could be perceived, but not a ship in sight The Tankadere was the only one keeping the sea.

At noon there were some signs of a calm, which, with the sinking of the sun towards the horizon, were more distinct. The short duration of the tempest was owing to its very violence. The passengers, completely worn out, could eat a little and take some rest.

The night was comparatively quiet. The pilot had the sails again hoisted at a low reef. The speed of the vessel was considerable. The next day, the 11th, at day-dawn, the coast being sighted, John Bunsby was able to assert that they were not one hundred miles from the wharfs at Shanghai.

One hundred miles, and only this day left to make the distance! That very evening Mr. Fogg ought to arrive at Shanghai, if he did not wish to miss the departure of the Yokohama steamer. Without this storm, during which he lost several hours, he would not, at this moment, have been thirty miles from port.

The breeze sensibly slackened, but fortunately the sea fell with it. The schooner was covered with canvas. Poles, stay-sails, counter-jibs, all were carried, and the sea foamed under her keel.

At noon, the Tankadere was not more than forty-five miles from Shanghai. She had six hours more to make that port before the departure of the steamer for Yokohama.

The fears of all were great; they wanted to arrive at any cost. All felt their hearts impatiently beating—Phileas Fogg doubtless excepted. The little schooner must keep up an average of nine knots an hour, and the wind was constantly going down! It was an irregular breeze, with capricious puffs coming from the coast. They passed, and the sea became more smooth immediately after.

But the vessel was so light, and her high sails, of a fine material, caught the capricious breeze so well that, with the current in their favor, at six o'clock John Bunsby counted only ten miles to Shanghai river, for the city itself is situ-