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guards　of　the　rajah；　lighted　by　torches；　were　watching　at　the　doors　and　marching　to　and　fro　with　naked　sabres；　probably　the　priests；　too；　were　watching　within。　
The　Parsee；　now　convinced　that　it　was　impossible　to　force　an　entrance　to　the　temple；　advanced　no　farther；　but　led　his　companions　back　again。　Phileas　Fogg　and　Sir　Francis　Cromarty　also　saw　that　nothing　could　be　attempted　in　that　direction。　They　stopped；　and　engaged　in　a　whispered　colloquy。　
‘It　is　only　eight　now；'　said　the　brigadier；　‘and　these　guards　may　also　go　to　sleep。'　
‘It　is　not　impossible；'　returned　the　Parsee。　They　lay　down　at　the　foot　of　a　tree；　and　waited。　
The　time　seemed　long；　the　guide　ever　and　anon　left　them　to　take　an　observation　on　the　edge　of　the　wood；　but　the　guards　watched　steadily　by　the　glare　of　the　torches；　and　a　dim　light　crept　through　the　windows　of　the　pagoda。　
They　waited　till　midnight；　but　no　change　took　place　among　the　guards；　and　it　became　apparent　that　their　yielding　to　sleep　could　not　be　counted　on。　The　other　plan　must　be　carried　out；　an　opening　in　the　walls　of　the　pagoda　must　be　made。　It　remained　to　ascertain　whether　the　priests　were　watching　by　the　side　of　their　victim　as　assiduously　as　were　the　soldiers　at　the　door。　
After　a　last　consultation；　the　guide　announced　that　he　was　ready　for　the　attempt；　and　advanced；　followed　by　the　others。　They　took　a　roundabout　way；　so　as　to　get　at　the　pagoda　on　the　rear。　They　reached　the　walls　about　half…past　twelve；　without　having　met　anyone；　here　there　was　no　guard；　nor　were　there　either　windows　or　doors。　
The　night　was　dark。　The　moon；　on　the　wane；　scarcely　left　the　horizon；　and　was　covered　with　heavy　clouds；　the　height　of　the　trees　deepened　the　darkness。　
It　was　not　enough　to　reach　the　walls；　an　opening　in　them　must　be　acomomplished；　and　to　attain　this　purpose　the　party　only　had　their　pocket…knives。　Happily　the　temple　walls　were　built　of　brick　and　wood；　which　could　be　penetrated　with　little　difficulty；　after　one　brick　had　been　taken　out；　the　rest　would　yield　easily。　
They　set　noiselessly　to　work；　and　the　Parsee　on　one　side　and　Passepartout　on　the　other　began　to　loosen　the　bricks　so　as　to　make　an　aperture　two　feet　wide。　They　were　getting　on　rapidly；　when　suddenly　a　cry　was　heard　in　the　interior　of　the　temple；　followed　almost　instantly　by　other　cries　replying　from　the　outside。　Passepartout　and　the　guide　stopped。　Had　they　been　heard？　Was　the　alarm　being　given？　Common　prudence　urged　them　to　retire；　and　they　did　so；　followed　by　Phileas　Fogg　and　Sir　Francis。　They　again　hid　themselves　in　the　wood；　and　waited　till　the　disturbance；　whatever　it　might　be；　ceased；　holding　themselves　ready　to　resume　their　attempt　without　delay。　But；　awkwardly　enough；　the　guards　now　appeared　at　the　rear　of　the　temple；　and　there　installed　themselves；　in　readiness　to　prevent　a　surprise。　
It　would　be　difficult　to　describe　the　disappointment　of　the　party；　thus　interrupted　in　their　work。　They　could　not　now　reach　the　victim；　how；　then；　could　they　save　her？　Sir　Francis　shook　his　fists；　Passepartout　was　beside　himself；　and　the　guide　gnashed　his　teeth　with　rage。　The　tranquil　Fogg　waited；　without　betraying　any　emotion。　
‘We　have　nothing　to　do　but　to　go　away；'　whispered　Sir　Francis。　
‘Nothing　but　to　go　away；'　echoed　the　guide。　
‘Stop；'　said　Fogg。　‘I　am　only　due　at　Allahabad　to…morrow　before　noon。　
‘But　what　can　you　hope　to　do？'　asked　Sir　Francis。　‘In　a　few　hours　it　will　be　daylight；　and……'　
‘The　chance　which　now　seems　lost　may　present　itself　at　the　last　moment。'　
Sir　Francis　would　have　liked　to　read　Phileas　Fogg's　eyes。　
What　was　this　cool　Englishman　thinking　of？　Was　he　planning　to　make　a　rush　for　the　young　woman　at　the　very　moment　of　the　sacrifice；　and　boldly　snatch　her　from　her　executioners？　
This　would　be　utter　folly；　and　it　was　hard　to　admit　that　Fogg　was　such　a　fool。　Sir　Francis　consented；　however；　to　remain　to　the　end　of　this　terrible　drama。　The　guide　led　them　to　the　rear　of　the　glade；　where　they　were　able　to　observe　the　sleeping　groups。　
Meanwhile　Passepartout；　who　had　perched　himself　on　the　lower　branches　of　a　tree；　was　resolving　an　idea　which　had　at　first　struck　him　like　a　flash；　and　which　was　now　firmly　lodged　in　his　brain。　
He　had　commenced　by　saying　to　himself；　‘What　folly！'　and　then　he　repeated；　‘Why　not；　after　all？　It's　a　chance　…　perhaps　the　only　one；　and　with　such　sots！'　Thinking　thus；　he　slipped；　with　the　suppleness　of　a　serpent；　to　the　lowest　branches；　the　ends　of　which　bent　almost　to　the　ground。　
The　hours　passed；　and　the　lighter　shades　now　announced　the　approach　of　day；　though　it　was　not　yet　light。　This　was　the　moment。　The　slumbering　multitude　became　animated；　the　tambourines　sounded；　songs　and　cries　arose；　the　hour　of　the　sacrifice　had　come。　The　doors　of　the　pagoda　swung　open；　and　a　bright　light　escaped　from　its　interior；　in　the　…midst　of　which　Mr　Fogg　and　Sir　Francis　espied　the　victim。　She　seemed；　having　shaken　off　the　stupor　of　intoxication；　to　be　striving　to　escape　from　her　executioner。　Sir　Francis's　heart　throbbed；　and　convulsively　seizing　Mr　Fogg's　hand；　found　in　it　an　open　knife。　Just　at　this　moment　the　crowd　began　to　move。　The　young　woman　had　again　fallen　into　a　stupor　caused　by　the　fumes　of　hemp；　and　passed　among　the　fakirs；　who　escorted　her　with　their　wild；　religious　cries。　
Phileas　Fogg　and　his　companions；　mingling　in　the　rear　ranks　of　the　crowd；　followed；　and　in　two　minutes　they　reached　the　banks　of　the　stream；　and　stopped　fifty　paces　from　the　pyre；　upon　which　still　lay　the　rajah's　corpse。　In　the　semi…obscurity　they　saw　the　victim；　quite　senseless；　stretched　out　beside　her　husband's　body。　Then　a　torch　was　brought；　and　the　wood；　sold　with　oil；　instantly　took　fire。　
At　this　moment　Sir　Francis　and　the　guide　seized　Phileas　Fogg；　who；　in　an　instant　of　mad　generosity；　was　about　to　rush　upon　the　pyre。　But　he　had　quickly　pushed　them　aside；　when　the　whole　scene　suddenly　changed。　A　cry　of　terror　arose。　The　whole　multitude　prostrated　themselves；　terror…stricken；　on　the　ground。　
The　old　rajah　was　not　dead；　then；　since　he　rose　of　a　sudden；　like　a　spectre；　took　up　his　wife　in　his　arms；　and　descended　from　the　pyre　in　the　midst　of　the　clouds　of　smoke；　which　only　heightened　his　ghostly　appearance。　
Fakirs　and　soldiers　and　priests；　seized　with　instant　terror；　lay　there；　with　their　faces　on　the　ground；　not　daring　to　lift　their　eyes　and　behold　such　a　prodigy。　
The　inanimate　victim　was　borne　along　by　the　vigorous　arms　which　supported　her；　and　which　she　did　not　seem　in　the　least　to　burden。　Mr　Fogg　and　Sir　Francis　stood　erect；　the　Parsee　bowed　his　head；　and　Passepartout　was；　no　doubt；　scarcely　less　stupefied。　
The　resuscitated　rajah　approached　Sir　Francis　and　Mr　Fogg；　and；　in　an　abrupt　tone；　said；　‘Let　us　be　off！'　
It　was　Passepartout　himself；　who　had　slipped　upon　the　pyre　in　the　midst　of　the　smoke　and；　profiting　by　the　still　overhanging　darkness；　had　delivered　the　young　woman　from　death！　It　was　Passepartout　who；　playing　his　part　with　a　happy　audacity；　had　passed　through　the　crowd　amid　the　general　terror。　
A　moment　after　all　four　of　the　party　had　disappeared　in　the　woods；　and　the　elephant　was　bearing　them　away　at　a　rapid　pace。　But　the　cries　and　noise；　and　a　ball　which　whizzed　through　Phileas　Fogg's　hat；　apprised　them　that　the　trick　had　been　discovered。　
The　old　rajah's　body；　indeed；　now　appeared　upon　the　burning　pyre；　and　the　priests；　recovered　from　their　terror；　perceived　that　an　abduction　had　taken　place。　They　hastened　into　the　forest；　followed　by　the　soldiers；　who　fired　a　volley　after　the　fugitives；　but　the　latter　rapidly　increased　the　distance　between　them；　and　ere　long　found　themselves　beyond　the　reach　of　the　bullets　and　arrows。　

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CHAPTER　XIV
IN　WHICH　PHILEAS　FOGG　DESCENDS　THE　WHOLE　LENGTH　OF　THE　BEAUTIFUL　VALLEY　OF　THE　GANGES　WITHOUT　EVER　THINKING　OF　SEEING　IT。
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The　rash　exploit　had　been　acomomplished；　and　for　an　hour　Passepartout　laughed　gaily　at　his　sucomess。　Sir　Francis　pressed　the　worthy　fellow's　hand；　and　his　master　said；　‘Well　done！'　which；　from　him；　was　high　commendation；　to　which　Passepartout　replied　that　all　the　credit　of　the　affair　belonged　to　Mr　Fogg。　As　for　him；　he　had　only　been　struck　with　a　‘queer'　idea；　and　he　laughed　to　think　that　for　a　few　moments　he；　Passepartout；　the　ex…gymnast；　ex…sergeant　fireman；　had　been　the　spouse　of　a　charming　woman；　a　venerable；　embalmed　rajah！　As　for　the　young　Indian　woman；　she　had　been　unconscious　throughout　of　what　was　passing；　and　now；　wrapped　up　in　a　travelling…blanket；　was　reposing　in　one　of　the　howdahs。　
The　elephant；　thanks　to　the　skilful　guidance　of　the　Parsee；　was　advancing　rapidly　through　the　still　dark…some　forest；　and；　an　hour　after　leaving　the　pagoda；　had　crossed　a　vast　plain。　They　made　a　halt　at　seven　o'clock；　the　young　woman　being　still　in　a　state　of　complete　prostration。　The　guide　made　her　drink　a　little　brandy　and　water；　but　the　drowsiness　which　stupefied　her　could　not　yet　be　shaken　off。　Sir　Francis；　who　was　familiar　with　the　effects　of　the　intoxication　produced　by　the　fumes　of　hemp；　reassured　his　companions　on　her　acomount。　But　he　was　more　disturbed　at　the　prospect　of　her　future　fate。　He　told　Phileas　Fogg　that；　should　Aouda　remain　in　India；　she　would　inevitably　fall　again　into　the　hands　of　her　executioners。　These　fanatics　were　scattered　throughout　the　country；　and　would；　despite　the　English　police；　recover　their　victim　at　Madras；　Bombay；　or　Calcutta。　She　would　only　be　safe　by　quitting　India　for　ever。　
Phileas　Fogg　replied　that　he　would　reflect　upon　the　matter。　
The　station　at　Allahabad　was　reached　about　ten　o'clock；　and　the　interrupted　line　of　railway　being　resumed；　would　enable　them　to　reach　Calcutta　in　less　than　twenty…four　hours。　Phileas　Fogg　would　thus　be　able　to　arrive　in　time　to　take　the　steamer　which　left　Calcutta　the　next　day；　October　25th；　at　noon；　for　Hong　Kong。　
The　young　woman　was　placed　in　one　of　the　waiting…rooms　of　the　station；　whilst　Passepartout　was　charged　with　purchasing　for　her　various　articles　of　toilet；　a　dress；　shawl；　and　some　furs；　for　which　his　master　gave　him　unlimited　credit。　Passepartout　started　off　forthwith；　and　found　himself　in　the　streets　of　Allahabad；　that　is；　the　‘City　of　God'；　one　of　the　most　venerated　in　India；　being　built　at　the　junction　of　the　two　sacred　rivers；　Ganges　and　Jumna；　the　waters　of　which　attract　pilgrims　from　every　part　of　the　peninsula。　The　Ganges；　acomording　to　the　legends　of　the　Ramayana；　rises　in　heaven；　whence　owing　to　Brahma's　agency；　it　descends　to　the　earth。　
Passepartout　made　it　a　point；　as　he　made　his　purchases；　to　take　a　good　look　at　the　city。　It　was　formerly　defended　by　a　noble　fort；　which　has　since　become　a　state　prison；　its　commerce　has　dwindled　away；　and　Passepartout　in　vain　looked　about　him　for　such　a　bazaar　as　he　used　to　frequent　in　Regent　Street。　At　last　he　came　upon　an　elderly；　crusty　Jew；　who　sold　second…hand　articles；　and　from　whom　he　purchased　a　dress　of　Scotch　stuff；　a　large　mantle；　and　a　fine　otter…skin　pelisse；　for　which　he　did　not　hesitate　to　pay　seventy…five　pounds。　He　then　returned　triumphantly　to　the　station。　
The　influence　to　which　the　priests　of　Pillaji　had　subjected　Aouda　began　gradually　to　yield；　and　she　became　more　herself；　so　that　her　fine　eyes　resumed　all　their　soft　Indian　expression。　
When　the　poet…king；　Ucaf　Uddaul；　celebrates　the　charms　of　the　queen　of　Ahmehnagara；　he　speaks　thus：……　
‘Her　shining　tresses；　divided　in　two　parts；　encircle　the　harmonious　contour　of　her　white　and　delicate　cheeks；　brilliant　in　their　glow　and　freshness。　Her　ebony　brows　have　the　form　and　charm　of　the　bow　of　Kama；　the　god　of　love；　and　beneath　her　long　silken　lashes　the　purest　reflections　and　a　celestial　light　swim；　as　in　the　sacred　lakes　of　Himalaya；　in　the　black　pupils　of　her　great　clear　eyes。　Her　teeth；　fine；　equal　and　white；　glitter　between　her　smiling　lips　like　dew…drops　in　a　passion…flower's　half…enveloped　breast。　Her　delicately　formed　ears；　her　vermillion　hands；　her　little　feet；　curved　and　tender　as　the　lotus…bud；　glitter　with　the　brilliancy　of　the　loveliest　pearls　of　Ceylon；　the　most　dazzling　diamonds　of　Golconda。　Her　narrow　and　supple　waist；　which　a　hand　may　clasp　around；　sets　forth　the　outline　of　her　rounded　figure　and　the　beauty　of　her　bosom；　where　youth　in　its　flower　displays　the　wealth　of　its　treasures；　and　beneath　the　silken　folds　of　her　tunic　she　seems　to　have　been　modelled　in　pure　silver　by　the　godlike　hand　of　Vicvarcarma；　the　immortal　sculptor。'　
It　is　enough　to　say；　without　applying　this　poetical　rhapsody　to　Aouda；　that　she　was　a　charming　woman；　in　all　the　European　acomeptation　of　the　phrase。　She　spoke　English　with　great　purity；　and　the　guide　had　not　exaggerated　in　saying　that　the　young　Parsee　had　been　transformed　by　her　bringing　up。　
The　train　was　about　to　start　from　Allahabad；　and　Mr　Fogg　proceeded　to　pay　the　guide　the　price　agreed　for　his　service；　and　not　a　farthing　more；　which　astonished　Passepartout；　who　remembered　all　that　this　master　owed　to　the　guide's　devotion。　He　had；　indeed；　risked　his　life　in　the　adventure　at　Pillaji；　and　he　should　be　caught　afterwards　by　the　Indians；　he　would　with　difficulty　escape　their　vengeance。　Kiouni；　also；　must　be　disposed　of。　What　should　be　done　with　the　elephant；　which　had　been　so　dearly　purchased？　Phileas　Fogg　had　already　determined　this　question。　
‘Parsee；'　said　he　to　the　guide；　‘you　have　been　serviceable　and　devoted。　I　have　paid　for　your　service；　but　not　for　your　devotion。　Would　you　like　to　have　this　elephant？　He　is　yours。'　
The　guide's　eyes　glistened。　
‘Your　honour　is　giving　me　a　fortune！'　cried　he。　
‘Take　him；　guide；'　returned　Mr　Fogg；　‘and　I　shall　still　be　your　debtor。'　
‘Good！'　exclaimed　Passepartout。　‘Take　him；　friend。　Kiouni　is　a　brave　and　faithful　beast。'　And；　going　up　to　the　elephant；　he　gave　him　several　lumps　of　sugar；　saying；　‘Here；　Kiouni；　here；　here。'　
The　elephant　grunted　out　his　satisfaction；　and；　clasping　Passepartout　around　the　waist　with　his　trunk；　lifted　him　as　high　as　his　head。　Passepartout；　not　in　the　least　alarmed；　caressed　the　animal；　which　replaced　him　gently　on　the　ground。　
Soon　after；　Phileas　Fogg；　Sir　Francis　Cromarty；　and　Passepartout；　installed　in　a　carriage　with　Aouda；　who　had　the　best　seat；　were　whirling　at　full　speed　towards　Benares。　It　was　a　run　of　eighty　miles；　and　was　acomomplished　in　two　hours。　During　the　journey；　the　young　woman　fully　recovered　her　senses。　What　was　her　astonishment　to　find　herself　in　this　carriage；　on　the　railway；　dressed　in　European　habiliments；　and　with　travellers　who　were　quite　strangers　to　her！　Her　companions　first　set　about　fully　reviving　her　with　a　little　liquor；　and　then　Sir　Francis　narrated　to　her　what　had　passed；　dwelling　upon　the　courage　with　which　Phileas　Fogg　had　not　hesitated　to　risk　his　life　to　save　her；　and　recounting　the　happy　sequel　of　the　venture；　the　result　of　Passepartout's　rash　idea。　Mr　Fogg　said　nothing；　while　Passepartout；　abashed；　kept　repeating　that　‘it　wasn't　worth　telling'。　
Aouda　pathetically　thanked　her　deliverers；　rather　with　tears　than　words；　her　fine　eyes　interpreted　her　gratitude　better　than　her　lips。　Then；　as　her　thoughts　strayed　back　to　the　scene　of　the　sacrifice；　and　recalled　the　dangers　which　still　menaced　her；　she　shuddered　with　terror。　
Phileas　Fogg　understood　what　was　passing　in　Aouda's　mind；　and　offered；　in　order　to　reassure　her；　to　escort　her　to　Hong　Kong；　where　she　might　remain　safely　until　the　affai