R. M. Ballantyne

R. M. Ballantyne (circa 1890)

Robert Michael Ballantyne (24 April 1825 – 8 February 1894) was a Scottish author of juvenile fiction, who wrote more than a hundred books. He was also an accomplished artist: he exhibited some of his water-colours at the Royal Scottish Academy.

Quotes

The Gorilla Hunters: A Tale of the Wilds of Africa (1861)

• Oh no! not at all; perfectly well—never was better in my life,” he said, becoming all at once preternaturally grave.
  • Chapter 1

• 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.
  • Chapter 3

• 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.
  • Chapter 3

• 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.
• Chapter 3