(from http://www.harpenden-history.org.uk/)

"They were so nearly at an end of their abhorred task that they judged it wiser to complete it in the dark. The coffin was exhumed and broken open; the body inserted in the dripping sack and carried between them to the gig; one mounted, to keep it in its place, and the other, taking the horse by the mouth, groped along by wall and bush, until they reached the wider road by the Fisher's Tryst."

"The Body Snatcher (1884) - Robert Louis Stevenson




(from www.david-lupton.com)

"Of a sudden, and all at once, there came wafted over the ocean from the strange vessel (which was now close upon us) a smell, a stench, such as the whole world has no name for--no conception of--hellish--utterly suffocating--insufferable, inconceivable. I gasped for breath, and, turning to my companions, perceived that they were paler than marble."

"We rushed aft, when, suddenly, a wide yaw threw her off full five or six points from the course she had been running, and, as she passed under our stern at the distance of about twenty feet, we had a full view of her decks. Shall I ever forget the triple horror of that spectacle? Twenty-five or thirty human bodies, among whom were several females, lay scattered about between the counter and the galley in the last and most loathsome state of putrefaction. We plainly saw that not a soul lived in that fated vessel!"

"Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket" (1838) - Edgar Allan Poe




(from imdb.com)

"I never ask you, my friend, to bet something you cannot afford. You understand?"
"Then what do I bet?"
"I make it very easy for you, yes?"
"Okay. You make it easy."
"Some small thing you can afford to give away, and if you did happen to lose it you would not feel to bad. Right?"
"Such as what?"
"Such as, perhaps, de little finger on your left hand."

"Man From The South" (1948) - Roald Dahl



(from janeviolette.wixsite.com)

"Whoever done it, they're not going to be carrying a thing like that around with them longer than they need."
One of the belched.
"Personally, I think it's right here on the premises."
"Probably right under our very noses. What do you think, Jack?"
And in the other room, Mary Maloney began to giggle.

"Lamb to the Slaughter" (1953) - Roald Dahl




(from wikipedia.org)

"While I was thus looking on them, I perceiv'd by my perspective, two miserable wretches dragg'd from the boats, where it seems they were laid by, and were now brought out for the slaughter. I perceiv'd one of them immediately fell, being knock'd down, I suppose with a club or wooden sword, for that was their way, and two or three others were at work immediately cutting him open for their cookery, while the other victim was left standing by himself, till they should be ready for him. In that very moment this poor wretch seeing himself a little at liberty, Nature inspir'd him with the hopes of life, and he started away from them, and ran with incredible swiftness along the sands directly towards me, I mean, towards that part of the coast where my habitation was."

"Robinson Crusoe" (1719) - Daniel Defore





"Nei, det var hele speilbildet som forskjøv seg langsomt mot venstre. Plutselig gikk det opp for meg at døren var i ferd med å bli åpnet. Der knirket det i treverket ... hengslene pep ... den mørke åpningen ble bredere.
Jeg var fullstendig paralysert av skrekk; jeg følte det som om jeg lå bundet på hender og føtter i et kar med iskaldt vann. Hvite bølger av frost skyllet over hodehuden min, slo som en brenning sammen i nakken og småboblet videre ned langs ryggraden. Hverken før eller senere i mitt liv har jeg vært så panisk redd. Nå dukket en høy gestalt frem i døråpningen og gled frem mot sengen ... det raslet i oljetøy. Der kom det også en annen til syne ... og der enda én ... du store Gud, en hel prosesjon!"

"Døde menn går i land" (1947) - André Bjerke


(from wikipedia.org)

"Although to-morrow was to end all Amine's hopes and fears—all her short happiness—her suspense and misery—yet Amine slept until her last slumber in this world was disturbed by the unlocking and unbarring of the doors of her cell, and the appearance of the head jailor with a light. Amine started up—she had been dreaming of her husband—of happiness! She awoke to the sad reality. There stood the jailor, with a dress in his hand, which he desired she would put on. He lighted a lamp for her, and left her alone. The dress was of black serge, with white stripes."

"The Phantom Ship" (1839) - Frederick Marryat