The next morning, they continued their journey through the jungle. Suddenly, the guide stopped the elephant. 'We must hide,' he whispered urgently. Through the trees, they could hear strange music and chanting. A large procession was moving through the forest. Priests in colorful robes led the way. Behind them came musicians playing drums and horns. Then came a group of guards carrying torches. In the middle of the procession was a young woman. She was beautiful, with dark hair and sad eyes. She walked as if she were in a dream. 'What is happening?' whispered Passepartout. 'It is a suttee,' explained the guide sadly. 'Her husband has died, and she must die with him.' 'That is terrible!' exclaimed Sir Francis. 'Yes,' said the guide. 'She is Princess Aouda, and tomorrow she will be burned alive.' Fogg looked at the young woman with unusual interest. 'We have twelve hours before the train leaves,' he said. 'Perhaps we can save her.' Sir Francis and Passepartout were surprised by this suggestion. Fogg was willing to risk his bet to save a stranger. They followed the procession at a safe distance. The procession stopped at an old temple. Inside the temple lay the body of the dead rajah. Aouda was taken to a small room next to the temple. Guards stood watch at every door. Fogg and his companions hid in the jungle and watched. 'There are too many guards,' said Sir Francis. 'We cannot fight them all.' 'We will wait until night,' said Fogg. When darkness fell, they crept closer to the temple. But the guards were everywhere, and they could not get near. They tried again and again, but it was impossible. Finally, at midnight, they gave up hope. 'We cannot save her,' said Sir Francis sadly. 'We must leave or we will miss the train.' Suddenly, Passepartout had an idea. 'Wait here,' he whispered. Before anyone could stop him, he disappeared into the darkness. At dawn, the ceremony began. The priests lit a great fire beside the dead rajah. Aouda was brought out, dressed in beautiful silks. She looked calm but very pale. She had been given drugs to make her quiet. The priests placed her beside the body of her husband. They prepared to set the fire. Fogg and Sir Francis watched in horror. Where was Passepartout? Suddenly, something incredible happened. The dead rajah stood up from the fire. The crowd screamed in terror. The priests fell to the ground in fear. The rajah picked up Aouda in his arms. He carried her through the terrified crowd. No one dared to stop him. It was Passepartout, dressed in the rajah's clothes! He had secretly taken the rajah's place during the night. Fogg ran forward and grabbed Aouda. They all ran to where the elephant was waiting. The priests finally realized what had happened. They chased after them, shouting angrily. But the elephant was fast, and soon they were safe. Aouda slowly woke up from the effects of the drugs. She looked at her rescuers with confusion and gratitude. 'You saved my life,' she said in perfect English. 'How can I ever thank you?' Fogg simply nodded and checked his watch. They arrived at the railway station just in time for the train. Aouda would travel with them to Hong Kong, where she had relatives.
B1Chapter 4 / 12554 words70 sentences
Chapter 4: The Rescue
Chapter 4 · Around the World in 80 Days · B1 English. Tip: Click on any word while reading to see its translation. Take your time with each chapter and review the vocabulary before moving on.
Chapter Summary
The travelers discover a young Indian woman who is about to be sacrificed. Passepartout devises a clever plan to rescue her from certain death.
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Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
What was about to happen to the young Indian woman Aouda?
2
How did Passepartout rescue Aouda?
3
What was special about Aouda's background?
4