"How do you mean?" asked Fogg.
"By going to Nagasaki, which is only eleven hundred miles, or to Shanghai, which is eight hundred. In the latter case we shall be able to keep close in-shore, and have advantage of the current."
"But," replied Fogg, "I must take the American mail steamer at
Yokohama, and not at Shanghai or Nagasaki."
"Well, why not?" replied the pilot. "The San Francisco does not start from Yokohama; it starts from Shanghai, and only calls at Yokohama and Nagasaki."
"Are you quite sure of that?"
"Certain."
"And when does she leave Shanghai?"
On the 11th, at seven o'clock in the evening. So we have four days, which are ninety-six hours; and at the rate of eight knots an hour, if the wind hold, we shall be able to reach Shanghai in time."
"And when will you be able to start?"
"In an hour. I only want to buy some provisions and bend the sails."