Lakhasly

Fogg and Passepartout, travelling across India by train with Sir Francis Cromarty, faced a setback when the railway unexpectedly ended. Cromarty warned Fogg about Passepartout's earlier mistake at a temple. Despite this, Fogg, unfazed, purchased an elephant and hired a guide to continue their journey. They encountered a suttee ceremony, where a young woman, Aouda, was to be burned alive with her deceased husband. Though initially unable to intervene due to the large crowd, Passepartout, disguised as the dead husband, dramatically rescued Aouda. They escaped on the elephant, reaching Allahabad where they continued their journey to Calcutta with Aouda, arriving on October 25th, neither early nor late for their bet. Fogg generously gifted the elephant and guide, Aouda revealed she had an uncle in Hong Kong, a destination Fogg offered to take her to.

Fogg and Passepartout were now on their way across India by train. They travelled through forests full
of wild animals and groups of dangerous people who often attacked others.
A British army officer, Sir Francis Cromarty, sat with them. He knew India well, and he said to Fogg,
‘Your friend made a big mistake at the temple. If the British police catch him, he will have big problems.’
‘Perhaps,’ Fogg replied calmly. ‘But that won’t stop me. I’ve done nothing wrong, so I will continue
my journey.’
A little later, the train suddenly stopped. A man walked through the train and asked everyone to get off.
‘Why have we stopped?’ Fogg asked.
‘The railway stops here,’ the train conductor said. ‘It isn’t finished. It starts again at Allahabad, fifty miles
from here.’
The three men left the train and started looking for other transport. Fogg found and bought an
elephant for £2,000. He also found a guide. The three travellers climbed on the elephant, and their guide
led them through the dangerous forest.
Hours later, they heard something strange. They hid and watched. It was a group of people who were
singing, dancing and playing sad music. They were carrying the dead body of someone rich, and they were
making a beautiful young woman walk next to the body.
Sir Francis knew what was happening. ‘This is a suttee.’ he said. ‘They will burn the woman alive with her
dead husband tomorrow morning.’
Fogg said, ‘I think we should save this woman.’
‘I do, too,’ said Sir Francis, ‘but it will be very dangerous.’
They followed the crowd to a temple, but they could not rescue her there: there were too many people.
Morning came, and Fogg and Sir Francis watched while the woman was put on a pile of wood with her
dead husband. They did not know what to do. The fire was started, and there seemed nothing they could
do to help the poor young victim. The fire grew stronger.
Then, suddenly, the dead body on top of the fire stood up. It picked up the woman and jumped down.
Everyone around was very afraid.
The ‘dead man’ rushed to Fogg with the woman and said, ‘Let’s go!’ It was Passepartout! Quickly,
they lifted the young woman up on the elephant and raced away before the crowd understood what was
happening.
After the successful rescue, they finally reached Allahabad. There, Fogg paid their
guide – and also gave him the elephant. The guide was very pleased.
The beautiful young woman thanked everyone in excellent
English. Her name was Aouda, and she had an
uncle in Hong Kong. Fogg offered
to take her there, and they
caught the next train
together. This reached
Calcutta at 7am on 25th
October. Fogg was no
longer two days early,
but he was not late,
either. He was happy