about nine A.M. the wind arose, and shortly after became so violent that we were unabled to proceed, in short it was with much difficulty and some risk that I was enabled to get the canoes and perogues into a place of tolerable safety, there being no timber on either side of the river at this place.
— from The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806 by William Clark

Again she saw the beautiful fall of the steps, the dark garden ringed with glittering ivy, the willows, the big bright sky.
— from Bliss, and Other Stories by Katherine Mansfield

There is the little domestic scenery of the well-known apartment; the chairs, with each its separate individuality; the centre-table, sustaining a work-basket, a volume or two, and an extinguished lamp; the sofa; the book-case; the picture on the wall—all these details, so completely seen, are so spiritualised by the unusual light, that they seem to lose their actual substance, and become things of intellect.
— from The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Except eighteen galleys of some force, the rest of their fleet consisted of open boats, rudely constructed and awkwardly managed, crowded with troops, and destitute of cannon; and since courage arises in a great measure from the consciousness of strength, the bravest of the Janizaries might tremble on a new element.
— from The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Table of Contents with links in the HTML file to the two Project Gutenberg editions (12 volumes) by Edward Gibbon

It is an odd thing, but every one who disappears is said to be seen at San Francisco.
— from The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

The doctor then took the birch in hand, and with his arm round the boy’s waist, drew him to him, but before laying him across his knee, he slipped the boy’s shirt over his head, leaving him stark naked in all the glorious fairness of skin and beauty of form.
— from The Romance of Lust: A classic Victorian erotic novel by Anonymous

“I marvel,” said the Black Knight, “that any man of worship will fight with him.”
— from The Legends of King Arthur and His Knights by Knowles, James, Sir

“Some women’s intended from the start to be old maids, and I’m afraid I’m one of them, Miss Shirley, ma’am, because I’ve awful little patience with the men.
— from Anne of Avonlea by L. M. (Lucy Maud) Montgomery

It was, that she did believe me false to her with Jane, and did rip up three or four silly circumstances of her not rising till I come out of my chamber, and her letting me thereby see her dressing herself; and that I must needs go into her chamber and was naught with her; which was so silly, and so far from truth, that I could not be troubled at it, though I could not wonder at her being troubled, if she had these thoughts, and therefore she would lie from me, and caused sheets to be put on in the blue room, and would have Jane to lie with her lest I should come to her.
— from The Diary of Samuel Pepys — Complete by Samuel Pepys

Though the black man’s faith in ghosts had received a severe knock, still, to be all alone about the place after dark—well, it was a bit fearsome, anyway!
— from The Motor Boat Club in Florida; or, Laying the Ghost of Alligator Swamp by H. Irving (Harrie Irving) Hancock

But another feeling he had, I could see, which was a doubt whether my father's credit was sufficient to bear this inordinately increased burden; nay, whether he would not repudiate the note I had so ineptly set hand to, staying his conscience on the satisfaction of his proper bond.
— from Idonia: A Romance of Old London by Arthur Frederick Wallis

It seems to be deeply impressed upon our minds that the Saints ought to lay hold of every door that shall seem to be opened unto them, to obtain foothold on the earth, and be making all the preparation that is within their power for the terrible storms that are now gathering in the heavens, "a day of clouds, with darkness and gloominess, and of thick darkness," as spoken of by the Prophets, which cannot be now of a long time lingering, for there seems to be a whispering that the angels of heaven who have been entrusted with the counsel of these {299} matters for the last days, have taken counsel together; and among the rest of the general affairs that have to be transacted in their honorable council, they have taken cognizance of the testimony of those who were murdered at Haun's Mills, and also those who were martyred with David W. Patten, and elsewhere, and have passed some decisions peradventure in favor of the Saints, and those who were called to suffer without cause.
— from History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Volume 3 by Smith, Joseph, Jr.

I felt myself go cold and hot, horribly uncertain whether my interference might work harm or good, but before I quite knew what I did, I had sent the boy flying with a sounding box on the ear.
— from The Motor Maid by A. M. (Alice Muriel) Williamson

In the wild state the eggs are said to be from six to eight, never exceeding the last number.
— from A History of North American Birds; Land Birds; Vol. 3 of 3 by Robert Ridgway

Now the names θεὸς and θεοὶ seem to be higher with Homer than any mythological name.
— from Studies on Homer and the Homeric Age, Vol. 2 of 3 Olympus; or, the Religion of the Homeric Age by W. E. (William Ewart) Gladstone

The way thither from the city by the electric tramway lies along the river-side, and past the charming tropical-looking 32 public gardens at the Foz de Douro, where in the summer heat the citizens of Oporto idle, flirt, and disport themselves in the surf that breaks upon the sandy beach.
— from Through Portugal by Martin A. S. (Martin Andrew Sharp) Hume

When the book is all done, we will sell the book either to mother or Aunt Annie and divide the money; (although on erudition bent, still of commercial mind!)
— from My Brother, Theodore Roosevelt by Corinne Roosevelt Robinson

I suppose the giver’s name is [55] upon the paper, and after the Feast the baskets seem to be restored to the persons who brought them; the rice can then be taken away, and eaten at home.
— from Wonder Stories of Travel by Ernest Ingersoll