Indeed, my doings of the past days were all hazy and trivial in my mind.

I only saw one sight clearly--two men, one tall and black, the other little and sallow, slowly creeping nearer to the Rooirand, and myself, a midget on a horse, spurring far behind through the bush on their trail.
I saw the picture as continuously and clearly as if I had been looking at a scene on the stage.

There was only one change in the setting; the three figures seemed to be gradually closing together.
I had no exhilaration in my quest.

I do not think I had even much hope, for something had gone numb and cold in me and killed my youth.
I told myself that treasure-hunting was an enterprise accursed of God, and that I should most likely die.

That Laputa and Henriques would die I was fully certain.