Robert Michael Ballantyne

If I go to sleep and the fires die down, who knows but wild beasts may come upon us and kill us before we can seize our arms.

I know something about the monkey tribes, but I cannot say that at this moment I remember any particular habit of which we might avail ourselves.

To sleep at your post! shame on you! Had you been a sentinel in time of war that nod would have cost you your life, supposing you to have been caught in the act.

Oh no! not at all; perfectly well—never was better in my life,” he said, becoming all at once preternaturally grave.