When the passengers checked the train, they discovered that three people were missing, including Passepartout. No one knew if they had been killed or taken prisoner by the Indians.
Many people were injured, including Colonel Proctor, who had fought bravely but was shot. He was carried into the military station. Aouda was safe, and Mr. Fogg was completely unharmed. But without his loyal servant, Mr. Fogg knew he had a difficult decision to make.
He looked at Aouda's crying eyes. He knew he had to rescue the brave Frenchman. If he delayed his journey by even a single day, he would definitely miss his ship to England and lose his bet. His entire fortune was at risk, but he did not hesitate. It was his duty.
Mr. Fogg walked up to the military captain. “Sir, three passengers have disappeared. We must go after the Indians and rescue them.”
“That is dangerous,” the captain said. “I cannot risk the lives of my soldiers.”
“Very well,” Mr. Fogg said coldly. “I will go alone.”
“No, you will not!” the captain replied, moved by Fogg's absolute bravery. “Thirty volunteers!”
Thirty soldiers immediately stepped forward. Mr. Fogg thanked the captain. He turned to Fix and asked him to stay at the station and protect Aouda. Fix was shocked. He had followed this man around the world to arrest him. Now, he had to let him walk away into the wild desert alone. Unable to look Mr. Fogg in the eye, Fix simply nodded and agreed to stay.
Before leaving, Mr. Fogg promised to pay the soldiers a huge reward of five thousand dollars if they found the prisoners alive. Then, he marched away into the snow.
Aouda sat in the waiting room. She thought about Fogg’s noble and generous heart. He had sacrificed his fortune and was now risking his own life for a poor servant.
Fix paced nervously on the platform. He felt like an absolute idiot. Fogg was gone, and he would probably never come back. The detective wanted to abandon his mission completely. He was tired of chasing a man who acted more like a hero than a criminal.
A few hours later, a loud whistle echoed through the snow. The heavy locomotive returned! The engine driver had finally woken up and realized he had lost all the passenger cars. He had reversed the engine and driven all the way back to the fort.
The passengers were relieved. The conductor announced that the train would leave for New York immediately.
Aouda ran up to him. “But we must wait for Mr. Fogg and the prisoners!”
“Impossible,” the conductor replied. “We are already three hours late. We must go now. The next train will not come until tomorrow evening.”
“I will not go,” Aouda said firmly.
Fix also decided to stay. He watched the train steam away into the falling snow, leaving them behind.
Evening came, and the rescue party had still not returned. The weather turned terribly cold. Throughout the long, silent night, Aouda wandered near the edge of the snowy plains, her heart full of dark fears. Fix sat perfectly still on a bench, unable to sleep.
At dawn, the captain became very worried. He was just about to send another team of soldiers when they heard gunshots in the distance.
Everyone rushed out of the fort. Half a mile away, a small group of men was walking back through the snow. Mr. Fogg was marching at the front. Right behind him was Passepartout and the other two missing passengers!
They had successfully fought the Indians and saved the prisoners. Everyone cheered loudly. Mr. Fogg calmly handed out the promised reward to the soldiers. Passepartout smiled and muttered to himself, “I certainly cost my master a lot of money!”
Aouda took Fogg’s hand, too emotional to speak. Fix simply stared at the gentleman in complete silence.
Passepartout looked around for the train. “Where is the train?” he asked eagerly.
“It is gone,” Fix replied.
“And when does the next train arrive?” Mr. Fogg asked.
“Not until this evening.”
“Ah,” Mr. Fogg replied quietly, without showing a single trace of anger.