The colonists had no library at their disposal; but the engineer was a book which was always at hand, always open at the page which one wanted, a book which answered all their questions, and which they often consulted.

Hunger, prolonged, is temporary madness! The brain is at work without its required food, and the most fantastic notions fill the mind. Hitherto I had never known what hunger really meant. I was likely to understand it now.

Man is never perfect nor contented.

It was obvious that the matter had to be settled, and evasions were distasteful to me.

An English criminal, you know is always better concealed in London than anywhere else.

Anything one man can imagine, other men can make real.

The cold, increased by the tremendous speed, deprived them of the power of speech.