"Clearly they wanted to know what he had accomplished, and in all probability this extreme haste meant that they were having some difficulty in representing the matter in a favourable or even tolerable light to their Spanish allies" (p. 20).

"As he did so a blackbird shot across the road right under the horse's nose, cackling loud. Abhorson gave a violent sideways leap, a turning leap that threw Jack with perfect ease—a heavy, heavy fall, jack's head hitting the stone that marked his boundary" (p. 29).

"'Let the flower open'" (p. 62).

"'Listen,' said Stephen, 'I think the balance is exceedingly delicate at this point and I dare not make any move at all—dare not rush blundering in'" (p. 63).

"He looked coldly at each in turn, and then in a carefully controlled voice he said 'I have just discovered that this—this vessel, for I will...