ved, gained the pyre under
cover of the smoke, and had rescued the young lady from certain death.
It was Passe-partout himself who, thanks to his happy audacity, was
enabled to pass unharmed through the terrified assemblage.

In an instant the four friends had disappeared in the woods, and the
elephant was trotting rapidly away. But very soon the loud cries and
the clamour that arose told them that the trick had been discovered,
and a bullet whizzed by as an additional confirmation. For there upon
the blazing pile lay the rajah's corpse; and the priests quickly
understood that a rescue had been so far successfully accomplished.
They immediately dashed into the forest, accompanied by the soldiers,
who fired a volley; but the fugitives had got away, and in a few
moments more were out of reach of arrows and bullets both.

CHAPTER XIV.

In which Phileas Fogg descends the charming Valley of the Ganges,
without noticing its Beauties.

The rash attempt had proved successful. An hour later, Passe-partout
was laughing at the result of his venturous plan. Sir Francis Cromarty
had shaken hands with him. His master had said, "Well done!" which
from him was high commendation indeed. To which expressions of
approbation, Passe-partout had replied that all the credit of the
affair belonged to his master. His own share in it had been an absurd
notion after all; and he laughed again when he thought that he,
Passe-partout, the ex-gymnast, ex-sergeant of the fire brigade, had
actually played the part of spouse of a beautiful young lady, the
widow of an embalmed rajah!

As for the young lady herself, she was still insensible, and quite
unconscious of all that was passing or had lately passed. Wrapped up
in a railroad-rug, she was now reclining in one of the howdahs.

Meanwhile the elephant, guided with unerring care by the Parsee, was
progressing rapidly through the still gloomy forest. After an hour's
ride, they arrived at an extensive plain. At seven o'clock they
halted. The young lady was still quite unconscious. The guide poured
some brandy down her throat, but she remained insensible for some time
afterwards. Sir Francis Cromarty, who was aware that no serious evil
effects supervened from the inhalation of the fumes of hemp, was in no
way anxious about her.

But if her restoration to consciousness was not a subject of anxiety
to the brigadier, he was less assured respecting her life in the
future. He did not hesita