Longer, more detailed reports traveled by ship and slowly, so the World would "string out the story to maintain the public's interest." Her editors began taking bets on the time Bly would arrive back home, down to the minute. They also reprinted accounts of Bly's journey from papers in the countries she visited.

When Bly arrived in Hong Kong on Christmas day, she reported to the office of the "Oriental and Occidental Steamship Company" to set up her departure for Japan. There, the man in the office told her she was going to lose her race. Bly writes:

"Lose it? I don't understand. What do you mean?" I demanded, beginning to think he was mad. "Aren't you having a race around the world?" he asked, as if he thought Iwas not Nellie Bly. "Yes; quite right. I am running a race with Time," I replied. "Time? I don't think that's her name." "Her! Her!!" I repeated, thinking, "Poor fellow, he is quite unbalanced," and wondering if I dared wink at the doctor to suggest to him the advisability of our making good our escape. "Yes, the other woman; she is going to win. She left here three days ago."

Bly was shocked to discover that Bisland was traveling, as well, but she pressed forward, toward Japan (but not without a small detour to buy a monkey, while she waited for the steamship to be ready). After the long journey across the Pacific to San Francisco, she was greeted in America with celebration. The World chartered a single-car train