- Finding themselves stranded in Yokohama, Rigodon and Tico seek work in a local circus to raise the money they need to get home.
- Following the news that Fog has been delayed, the citizens of London have lost interest in his wager. Wesson berates Ralph for writing an article which said Fog missed the ship to Japan, saying sales of the "Morning Chronicle" have declined as a result. Ralph, however, can't understand why he should be blamed when all he was doing was reporting on the latest developments in Fog's journey.
On board the Carnatic, Rigodon and Tico are exhausted after Transfer has worked them non-stop. When a crew member shouts that land has been sighted, they go to the rail to see for themselves and find that they have reached Japan. Just then, Transfer catches them slacking and threatens to never let them off the ship if they don't get on with their work.
When they arrive in the Japanese port of Yokohama, Rigodon and Tico quickly realise the severity of their situation; they are stranded in a foreign land with no money and no way of knowing where Fog and Romy are. As the sun sets, they are facing the prospect of sleeping rough when a monkey named Mr Gawenzi encounters them and offers to help. He takes Rigodon and Tico to his home, where they tell him and his wife how they came to be in Japan. Gawenzi tells Rigodon and Tico they will have to earn some money if they want to return home and asks what they can do; in reply, Rigodon says they used to work in the circus. Since there is currently a circus in Yokohama, Gawenzi offers to take them there to look for work. Transfer, overhearing, grins evilly; he already has a job at the circus.
The next day, Gawenzi takes Rigodon and Tico over to the circus. The pair go to look for the circus manager (a dog named Akita) and eventually find him with one of the performers, a pig girl named Guna, who is rehearsing her tightrope act. Akita demands to know what Rigodon and Tico want, so they introduce themselves and Rigodon explains that they are looking for a job. Asked what he can do, Rigodon lists the skills he picked up in the circus, but Akita is not interested. However, Akita then says he does need replacements for two performers and takes Rigodon and Tico on as the Shadow and the Bullet respectively.
Later, Tico asks Guna what his act will involve. In reply, Guna points to a cannon, telling Tico he will be shot out of it. Tico is filling in for a performer who went straight through the roof after someone put too much gunpowder in the cannon. As for Rigodon, he will have to stand against a board while someone throws knives at it. He too is standing in for someone who was injured in an accident, in this case having an ear pinned to the board. Moments later, the knife-thrower (a wolf named Maximillian, who is actually Transfer in disguise) appears on the scene.
Meanwhile, Fog and the others have arrived in Yokohama. While Fog and Romy look for Rigodon and Tico, Dix and Bully go to the British Consulate to check on the arrest warrant and Dix is overjoyed to learn that it has finally arrived. But he and Bully are then told that, since Japan is not part of the British Empire, the warrant is not valid. And there are no more British territories along Fog's planned route until the travellers return to England.
Later, having learned that Rigodon and Tico have found employment at the circus, Fog and Romy are directed there by Gawenzi. Inside the big top, Rigodon comforts Tico, who is afraid of being shot out of the cannon, saying he has done far more dangerous things without losing his nerve. Tico plucks up the courage to go ahead with the act, only to panic and crawl out of the cannon moments after entering it. Akita puts Tico straight back in the cannon and lights the fuse before he can escape again. Just as the cannon is about to fire, Transfer cuts the rope keeping it pointed straight ahead, causing it to point upwards and sending Tico zooming towards the ceiling. Seeing this, Fog throws Romy's parasol, which catches Tico in mid-flight and acts as a parachute. Caught by Romy, Tico tells her and Fog that Rigodon is in danger.
Tico hurries backstage to tell Rigodon that Fog and Romy are in the audience. Moments later, Guna tells Rigodon that the knife-throwing act is about to begin and Rigodon steels himself before going out to face Transfer's knives. But the first knife Transfer throws barely misses Rigodon and the second is only prevented from hitting him right between the eyes because Fog throws his cane and knocks it off-course. As Transfer readies a third knife, Tico loosens the safety net, entangling Transfer and allowing Tico and Rigodon to escape.
Rigodon and Tico leave the circus with Fog and Romy. The four travellers then board the General Grant to begin the long voyage to North America.
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