Dia 37 - A caminho da China
Soavam três horas. O barco-piloto n.° 43, estava pronto para largar. O Tankadère era uma pequena goleta de vinte toneladas muito alongada em suas linhas de água, parecendo um iate de corrida que John Bunsby sabia conservar em bom estado. Os seus dois mastros inclinavam-se um pouco para trás, levava velas latinas, mezena, traquete, e, com vento pela popa, podia cortar o mar maravilhosamente. Devia navegar rápido, e, de fato, já ganhara diversos prêmios nos “matches” de barcos de pilotagem.
A tripulação da Tankadère era composta pelo mestre John Bunsby e quatro homens, desses marinheiros valorosos que, com qualquer tempo, se aventuram à busca dos navios, e conheciam muito bem estes mares.
Phileas Fogg e Mrs. Aouda passaram ao navio onde já se encontrava Fix.
Às três e dez as velas foram içadas e o pavilhão inglês tremulava no casco da goleta. Mr. Fogg e Mrs. Aouda lançaram um último olhar para o cais, para ver se Passepartout aparecia.
Fix estava apreensivo porque o acaso poderia conduzir àquele lugar o infeliz rapaz a quem tratara tão indignamente, e então dar-se-iam explicações das quais Fix não se sairia muíto bem. Mas o francês não apareceu. Sem dúvida o narcótico embrutecedor ainda o tinha sob sua influência.
O mestre John Bunsby fez-se ao largo e o Tankadère, com o vento nas suas velas, lançou-se balouçando sobre as ondas.
Day 37 - On their way to China
Three o’clock was striking. Pilot-boat No. 43, was ready to set sail. The Tankadère was a charming little schooner: twenty tons with a very easy appearance, and graceful lines. You would have said a racing yacht that skipper John Bunsby knew how to keep her in good condition. Her two masts leaned back a little, carrying spanker, mizzen, forestay, jib, and topsails, and could rig indefinitely with a following wind. Her speed was clearly outstanding, and she had in fact won several prizes in pilot-boat races.
The crew of the Tankadère consisted of John Bunsby plus four men. They were sturdy seamen who knew these seas admirably well and who ventured out in all weathers to bring ships in.
Phileas Fogg and Mrs Aouda went on board. Fix was already there.
At ten past three the sails were hoisted. The Union Jack flapped on the schooner’s gaff. Mr Fogg and Mrs Aouda scanned the quayside one last time to see whether Passepartout might appear.
Fix was a little worried, for chance might have brought to that very spot the unfortunate fellow he had treated so badly, and then an argument would have broken out, in which the detective would have suffered some disadvantage. But the Frenchman did not show up: he was undoubtedly still under the influence of the narcotic.
Skipper John Bunsby finally headed out for the open sea. The Tankadère caught the wind under its spanker, mizzen, and jib sails, and shot forward as it bounded over the waves.
Leia o livro completo "A Volta ao Mundo em 80 Dias", esta parte no capítulo XX.
Read the complete book at "Around the World in 80 Days", this part in chapter XX.
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