His senses were deadened, and did not carry the usual vivid impression to the mind; he saw things as if they were afar off.
Accidentally looking back, he found that his footmarks, as far as he could see, shone with a phosphoric light like that of "touchwood" in the dark.

Near at hand they did not shine; the appearance did not come till some few minutes had elapsed.

His track was visible behind till the vapour hid it.

As the evening drew on the vapour became more luminous, and somewhat resembled an aurora.
Still anxious for water, he proceeded as straight ahead as he could, and shortly became conscious of an indefinite cloud which kept pace with him on either side.

When he turned to look at either of the clouds, the one looked at disappeared.