Below deck was a square cabin, of which the walls bulged out in the form of cots, above a circular divan; in the centre was a table provided with a swinging lamp.

Phileas Fogg and Aouda went on board, where they found Fix already installed.

John Bunsby, himself, a man of forty-five or thereabouts, vigorous, sunburnt, with a sprightly expression of the eye, and energetic and self-reliant countenance, would have inspired confidence in the most timid.

The crew of the Tankadere was composed of John Bunsby, the master, and four hardy mariners, who were familiar with the Chinese seas.

Her two masts leaned a trifle backward; she carried brigantine, foresail, storm-jib, and standing-jib, and was well rigged for running before the wind; and she seemed capable of brisk speed, which, indeed, she had already proved by gaining several prizes in pilot-boat races.

Her shining copper sheathing, her galvanised iron-work, her deck, white as ivory, betrayed the pride taken by John Bunsby in making her presentable.

The Tankadere was a neat little craft of twenty tons, as gracefully built as if she were a racing yacht.

It was now three o'clock; and pilot-boat No. 43, with its crew on board, and its provisions stored away, was ready for departure.

The same formalities having been gone through at the French consulate, and the palanquin having stopped at the hotel for the luggage, which had been sent back there, they returned to the wharf.

Phileas Fogg there gave Passepartout's description, and left a sum of money to be spent in the search for him.

While Fix, in a feverish, nervous state, repaired to the pilot-boat, the others directed their course to the police-station at Hong Kong.

"I shall do all I can to find him," replied Phileas Fogg.

"But poor Passepartout?" urged Aouda, who was much disturbed by the servant's disappearance.

In half an hour we shall go on board."

"Here are two hundred pounds on account sir," added Phileas Fogg, turning to Fix.

"Yes; John Bunsby, master of the Tankadere." "Would you like some earnest-money?"

"It is a bargain. Are you the master of the boat?"

"In an hour; as soon as provisions could be got aboard and the sails put up."

"On the 11th, at seven in the evening. We have, therefore, four days before us, that is ninety-six hours; and in that time, if we had good luck and a south-west wind, and the sea was calm, we could make those eight hundred miles to Shanghai."

"And when does the boat leave Shanghai?"