The Bruderstroom camp was empty, though sentinels were posted at the approaches.

I beckoned the only white man I saw, and asked where Arcoll was.

He told me that he had no news, but added that the patrols were still on the road as far as Wesselsburg.

From this I gathered that Arcoll must have gone far out into the bush in his chase.
I did not want to see him; above all, I did not want him to find Laputa.

It was my private business that I rode on, and I asked for no allies.
Somebody brought me a cup of thick coffee, which I could not drink, and helped me into the saddle.