Laputa and Henriques were on their way to the Rooirand! I woke with a start to find my forehead damp with sweat.

There was some fever on me, I think, for my teeth were chattering.

Very clear in my mind was the disquieting thought that Laputa and Henriques would soon be in the cave.
One of two things must happen--either Henriques would kill Laputa, get the collar of rubies, and be in the wilds of Mozambique before I could come up with his trail; or Laputa would outwit him, and have the handling himself of the treasure of gold and diamonds which had been laid up for the rising.

If he thought there was a risk of defeat, I knew he would send my gems to the bottom of the Labongo, and all my weary work would go for nothing.

I had forgotten all about patriotism.
In that hour the fate of the country was nothing to me, and I got no satisfaction from the thought that Laputa was severed from his army.
My one idea was that the treasure would be lost, the treasure for which I had risked my life.
There is a kind of courage which springs from bitter anger and disappointment.