13. Summary

The lesson 'Journey by Train' is an extract taken from an adventurous novel 'Around the World in Eighty Days', written by Jules Verne. Mr. Phileas Fogg is the main character in the story who challenged his friends to go around the world in eighty days. This extract 'Journey by Train' is just a part of his eighty days journey, which talks about the journey he had undertaken in India (From Bombay to Kholby).

Mr. Fogg had started his journey along with his French attendant Passepartout and friend Sir Francis Cromarty. Though the train had started at the right time, they would find difficulty in reaching Calcutta. The reason behind this was that the Bombay train had got stopped in Kholby. It was due to the fact of rail route incompletion from Kholby to Allahabad; There are about fifty kilometres from Kholby to Allahabad where the rail route begins again from Allahabad to Calcutta.

Mr. Fogg was a man of patience and determination. Unlike Passepartout and Sir Francis, he decided to handle the situation in an excellent way. While there are no other means of transport found in the village of Kholby, Fogg chose to cross the fifty miles by walk. When Passepartout suggested an elephant drive, he accepted that since it was a better option. His only thought was to reach Calcutta in two days and catch the steamer, which leaves Calcutta to Hong Kong.

Fogg did not give up when the elephant owner refused to get his elephant hired. He immediately purchased it for two thousand pounds and restarted his journey, hoping to reach Allahabad. Fogg's determination and confidence in getting things done made his trip successful, breaking out obstacles on his way.