"Under any other circumstances I should have been happy to oblige you. But, after all, as you have not had time to fight here, why not fight as we go along?"

The train started. "I'm really very sorry, gentlemen," said the conductor.

"I am sorry," said the conductor; "but we shall be off at once. There's the bell ringing now."

"But I am going to fight a duel with this gentleman."

"We are twenty minutes late, and we shall not stop."

"Why not?" asked the colonel.

But just as the combatants were about to step from the train, the conductor hurried up, and shouted, "You can't get off, gentlemen!"

The door of the next car opened, and Colonel Proctor appeared on the platform, attended by a Yankee of his own stamp as his second.

Aouda remained in the car, as pale as death.

Passepartout accompanied him, carrying a pair of revolvers.

Mr. Fogg rose, and, followed by Fix, went out upon the platform.

At eleven o'clock the locomotive's whistle announced that they were approaching Plum Creek station.

Mr. Fogg resumed the interrupted game with perfect calmness.

He began to reassure Aouda, telling her that blusterers were never to be feared, and begged Fix to be his second at the approaching duel, a request which the detective could not refuse.

"Who knows?" replied Mr. Fogg, returning to the car as coolly as usual.

"Very well," said Mr. Fogg. "I will stop at Plum Creek." "And I guess you'll stay there too," added the American insolently.

"It's the next station. The train will be there in an hour, and will stop there ten minutes. In ten minutes several revolver-shots could be exchanged."

"No," replied Mr. Fogg.

"What difference is it to you? Do you know Plum Creek?"

"To Omaha?"