- On arriving in Liverpool, Dix tells Fog he is under arrest. Though Fog is soon freed, he and the others have only a few hours to reach London.
- Farrel tells his fellows at the Reform Club that he has good news; the China has just docked in Liverpool, with neither Fog nor anyone from his party on board. This appears to confirm that the snowstorm which delayed Fog in Chicago has ultimately cost him the wager. Indeed, even Ralph has pretty much given up hope and only Lord Guinness still believes Fog has any chance of completing his journey on time.
However, despite missing the China, Fog and his companions are even now within sight of Liverpool. But there is barely enough steam pressure in the Henrietta's engines to keep the ship moving and Rigodon tells Fog there is no more wood to burn. Luckily, the Henrietta manages to make it to the dock. Before the travellers disembark, Fog advises Speedy (who plans to rebuild the Henrietta) to make sure he is well-stocked with coal in future. Speedy assures Fog that he will follow his advice.
But as Fog and the others are about to head for the train station, Dix tells Fog he is under arrest and produces the arrest warrant he has been carrying with him since the travellers passed through Japan. Rigodon, still believing Dix is not a real police inspector, leaps to Fog's defence and a fight starts to brew. Separating Rigodon and Dix, Fog says it is all a misunderstanding and agrees to go to the police station and get the matter cleared up. Dix has Bully fetch a coach, which the two detectives use to take the travellers to the police station. On arriving, they escort Fog and Rigodon inside and detain them in one of the cells.
Dix is about to go and inform Rowan of Fog's arrest when he and Bully discover that Rowan is in Liverpool. Rowan welcomes Dix back to England, then tells him that the thief who robbed the Bank of England has recently been caught. But Dix continues to believe Fog is the thief, even when a dog working for the Liverpool police appears with the thief (a lion) and says the latter has confessed. Rowan has the thief hold his head up so Dix can take a good look at him, but Dix is still not convinced, saying Fog was identified at the crime scene. In response, Rowan shows Dix the picture used to identify Fog and a picture of the thief; Dix immediately notices the strong resemblance between them. It is now becoming clear that Fog is innocent, but Dix has to admit that he has already arrested him. Rowan then calls Dix a simpleton and orders Fog released.
In the cells, Rowan says it was a case of mistaken identity arising from Fog's resemblance to the thief. Ordered to do so by Rowan, Dix apologises and invites Fog to punch him in the face, but Fog says he doesn't have time and requests help to catch the train to London. Rowan asks for a coach to be brought round to the front of the police station, then informs Dix and Bully that they are both demoted.
Outside, Fog and Rigodon are greeted by Romy and Tico (who have been waiting for them) and the four travellers board the steam-powered coach which will take them to the train station. As the coach leaves, Dix (who is deeply remorseful over his wrongful arrest of Fog) asks Bully to give him a punch, saying it will clear his conscience. Though initially taken aback, Bully does as Dix asks, but says that punch doesn't count because it was payback for the way Dix constantly ordered him about during their pursuit of Fog. Bully then hits Dix on Fog's behalf, striking his partner so hard that he ends up on the ground.
Even at this late stage, Transfer is still determined to stop Fog. He is the driver of the coach and, when Rigodon asks if he can drive a little faster, he does so - in the wrong direction. The travellers quickly realise they are not being taken to the station, but back to the dock. With time rapidly running out, Rigodon climbs on top of the coach and, after a lengthy fight, manages (with a little help from Tico) to eject Transfer and turn the coach in the direction of the station.
When Fog and the others arrive at the station, they find that they have missed the train to London and learn that there won't be another until 6:00 PM. But it takes six hours to travel from Liverpool to London by rail, so the travellers cannot afford to wait. Moments later, a freight train bound for London pulls into the station. Fog, knowing this is the only chance he and his party have of reaching London on time, goes to speak to the driver, who knows about Fog's wager and agrees to take the travellers along for the ride, even though he is not supposed to carry passengers and risks being fired if he is found out.
The travellers set off in the freight train, with Fog and Rigodon riding on the locomotive, while Tico and Romy travel in the guard's van. But the heavy freight cars prevent the train from moving fast enough and, as the train reaches Birmingham, Fog decides they will have to be left behind. Rigodon uncouples the freight cars, leaving only the guard's van. Despite the driver's best efforts, however, the travellers arrive in London to find that the station clock shows 8:50 PM, five minutes after their 8:45 PM deadline. Their only hope now is that the clock is running fast, but Fog checks it against his watch and confirms that it shows the correct time. Dejected, Fog and the others head home to face an uncertain future.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content