By degrees it dwindled till it became a mere speck and vanished.

As it grew smaller my spirits sank, and when it was quite gone, I felt very low indeed.
Another of your fool's errands, Allan my boy, I said to myself.

I wonder how many more you are destined to survive.
The others, too, did not seem in the best of spirits.

Brother John stared at the horizon, his lips moving as though he were engaged in prayer, and even Stephen was temporarily depressed.

Jerry had fallen asleep, as a native generally does when it is warm and he has nothing to do.