Page:Works of Jules Verne - Parke - Vol 7.djvu/89

Rh ion is strongly averse to them. At the same time, in this, which was an uncommon case, the engagement had evidently been voluntarily sought for; the offended had, so to speak, provoked the offender, and my reasonings always tended to the same conclusion, that a meeting between Fabian and Drake was inevitable.

The deck was at this moment crowded with passengers and crew returning from service. At half past twelve the observation resulted in the following note: latitude, 40° 33' north; longitude, 66° 24' west; course, 214 miles. Thus the Great Eastern was only 348 miles from Sandy Hook Point, a narrow tongue of land which forms the entrance to New York harbor; it would not be long before we were in American seas.

I did not see Fabian in his usual place at lunch, but Drake was there, and although talkative, he did not appear to be quite at his ease. Was he trying to drown his fears in wine? I cannot say, but he indulged in bountiful libations with his friends. Several times I saw him leering at me, but insolent as he was, he dared not look me in the face. Was he looking for Fabian among the crowd of guests? I noticed he left the table abruptly before the meal was finished, and I got up immediately, in order to observe him, but he went to his cabin and shut himself up there.

I went up on deck. Not a wave disturbed the calm surface of the sea, and the sky was unsullied by a cloud; the two mirrors mutually reflected their azure hue. I met Doctor Pitferge, who gave me bad news of the wounded sailor. The invalid was getting worse, and, in spite of the doctor's assurance, it was difficult to think that he could recover.

At five o'clock another ship on the horizon, but too far off for her nationality to be recognized. This time it was undoubtedly the City of Paris. This meeting with ships, and the salutation between the Atlantic's visitors, caused great excitement on board. One can understand that as there is little difference between one ship and another, the common danger of facing the uncertain element unites even strangers by a friendly bond. At six o'clock a third ship appeared, the Philadelphia, one of the Inman line, used for the transportation of emigrants from Liverpool to New