midnight
before
I was quite convinced of all this , and quite apathetic . It really did not matter so long as I came up with Laputa and Henriques , and settled scores with them . That mattered everything in the world , for it was my destiny . I had no means of knowing how long I took , but it was after midnight before I passed Umvelos ' , and ere I got to the Rooirand there was a fluttering of dawn in the east . I must have passed east of Arcoll 's men , who were driving the bush towards Majinje 's . I had ridden the night down and did not feel so very tired . My horse was stumbling , but my own limbs scarcely pained me .