第56章

The game commenced.Aouda，understood whist sufficiently well，and even received some compliments on her playing from Mr Fogg.As for the detective，he was simply an adept，and worthy of being matched against his present opponent.

Now，thought Passepartout，we've got him.He won't budge.

At eleven in the morning the train had reached the dividing ridge of the waters at Bridger Pass，seven thousand five hundred and twenty-four feet above the level of the sea，one of the highest points attained by the track in crossing the Rocky Mountains.After going about two hundred miles，the travellers at last found themselves on one of those vast plains which extend to the Atlantic，and which nature has made so propitious for laying the iron road.

On the declivity of the Atlantic basin the first streams，branches of the North Platte River，already appeared.The whole northern and eastern horizon was bounded by the immense semicircular curtain which is formed by the southern portion of the Rocky Mountains，the highest being Laramie Peak.Between this and the railway extended vast plains，plentifully irrigated.On the right rose the lower spurs of the mountainous mass which extends southward to the sources of the Arkansas River，one of the great tributaries of the Missouri.

At half-past twelve the travellers caught sight for an instant of Fort Halleck，which commands that section；and in a few more hours the Rocky Mountains were crossed.There was reason to hope，then，that no accident would mark the journey through this difficult country.The snow had ceased falling，and the air became crisp and cold.Large birds，frightened by the locomotive，rose and flew off in the distance.No wild beast appeared on the plain.It was a desert in its vast nakedness.

After a comfortable breakfast，served in the car，Mr Fogg and his partners had just resumed whist，when a violent whistling was heard，and the train stopped.Passepartout put his head out of the door，but saw nothing to cause the delay；no station was in view.

Aouda and Fix feared that Mr Fogg might take it into his head to get out；but that gentleman contented himself with saying to his servant，See what is the matter.

Passepartout rushed out of the car.Thirty or forty passengers had already descended，amongst them Colonel Stamp proctor.

The train had stopped before a red signal which blocked the way.The engineer and conductor were talking excitedly with a signal-man，whom the station-master at Medicine Bow，the next stopping place，had sent on before.The passengers drew around and took part in the discussion，in which Colonel Proctor，with his insolent manner，was conspicuous.

Passepartout，joining the group，heard the signalman say，No！you can't pass.The bridge at Medicine Bow is shaky，and would not bear the weight of the train.

This was a suspension-bridge thrown over some rapids，about a mile from the place where they now were.According to the signal-man，it was in a ruinous condition，several of the iron wires being broken；and it was impossible to risk the passage.He did not in any way exaggerate the condition of the bridge.It may be taken for granted that，rash as the Americans usually are，when they are prudent there is good reason for it.

Passepartout，not daring to apprise his master of what he heard，listened with set teeth，immovable as a statue.

Hum！cried Colonel Proctor；but we are not going to stay here，I imagine，and take root in the snow？

Colonel，replied the conductor，we have telegraphed to Omaha for a train，but it is not likely that it will reach Medicine Bow in less than six hours.

Six hours！cried Passepartout.

Certainly，returned the conductor.Besides，it will take us as long as that to reach Medicine Bow on foot.

But it is only a mile from here，said one of the passengers.

Yes，but it's on the other side of the river.

And can't we cross that in a boat？asked the colonel.

That's impossible.The creek is swelled by the rains.It is a rapid，and we shall have to make a circuit of ten miles to the north to find a ford.