As the train climbed higher into the snowy mountains, Aouda noticed something terrible. Several passengers were walking on the platform during a short stop. Among them was Colonel Stamp Proctor, the aggressive man who had insulted Mr. Fogg back in San Francisco.
Aouda knew that if Mr. Fogg saw him, they would immediately fight, and the journey would be delayed. She quietly warned Fix and Passepartout while Mr. Fogg was sleeping.
"We must keep him in his seat," Passepartout whispered.
They needed a way to distract Mr. Fogg. Fix had a clever idea. He knew Mr. Fogg loved playing cards. When Mr. Fogg finally woke up, Fix politely invited him to play a game. Aouda happily agreed to join them. Passepartout quickly found a deck of cards, and soon Mr. Fogg was completely focused on the game. He did not look out the window a single time.
Later that afternoon, a loud whistle blew, and the train suddenly stopped. Passepartout rushed outside to see what was wrong. A railway worker explained that the suspension bridge over the river ahead was badly damaged. Several heavy iron cables were broken, and the bridge was completely ruined. It could not support the heavy train safely.
Waiting for another train meant a six-hour delay. Colonel Proctor was standing in the crowd, shouting angrily at the railway workers. Passepartout was just as frustrated. This massive obstacle could destroy Mr. Fogg's tight schedule.
Suddenly, the train engineer spoke up. "Gentlemen, I think there is a way to get across."
"On the bridge?" asked a passenger.
"Yes. If we drive at the absolute highest speed, we might have a good chance to fly over before it breaks."
Passepartout thought this was a crazy risk. He tried to suggest a much safer solution.
"Excuse me," Passepartout said to the crowd. "Maybe we should walk across the bridge first, and then the empty train can follow us—"
But the proud Americans completely ignored him. They loved the engineer's dangerous idea and started cheering.
"What is wrong with this guy?" one man complained.
"Are you afraid?" Colonel Proctor asked Passepartout with a mean smile.
"Afraid? Fine! I will show you that a Frenchman can be as brave as an American!" Passepartout shouted.
Everyone hurried back onto the train. Passepartout did not tell his master anything about the broken bridge. Mr. Fogg was still calmly playing his card game.
The engineer reversed the train for a full mile to get a long start. Then, he pushed the engine to its maximum power. The train moved forward, gaining incredible speed. Soon, they were flying forward at a hundred miles an hour. The train was moving so fast that it barely touched the tracks.
In a flash, they crossed the river. No one even saw the bridge. But the exact moment the train reached the other side, the heavy structure finally broke apart. With a loud crash, the entire bridge collapsed into the wild river behind them.