p. 72-73: While on the subject of salvage [from the dying Endurance], I might add that I recovered the volumes of the encyclopaedia from the chief’s cabin and a large part of my own personal library, as well as several packs of cards. Many a day we had cause to bless the fact. What tedious hours were whiled away in reading; what wonderful and purely imaginary fortunes changed hands at poker patience.
p. 82: Each afternoon, Sir Ernest and I made it a regular practice to play six games of poker patience, and at the end of eight weeks are aggregate scores were within a few points of each other. I had become the possessor of an imaginary shaving-glass, several top hats, enough walking-canes to equip a regiment, several sets of sleeve-links, and a library of books. … Sir Ernest had become the owner of scores of fine linen handkerchiefs, silk umbrellas, a mirror, a coveted collector’s copy of Paradise Regained; and had been my guest at dinner at the Savoy and visited at my expense, most of the theatres in London.
p. 116, poetic description of the hut on Elephant Island:
Our hut is double-storied, with bedrooms twenty-two,
A library and a drawing room, although indeed ‘tis true,
We haven’t any bathroom, at which perhaps you’ll smile,
But we found it warmer not to wash in our hut on Elephant Isle.
p. 130: Then I discovered that cigarettes could be made with the India paper of the only remaining volume of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, and pages of this went up in smoke.
p. 139: Those who have read this story must have marveled that we survived the perils and ordeals without loss of life. Sir Ernest had absolute faith in Providential guidance, faith in himself, and faith in his men. His unconquerable spirit inspired his team and made them invincible.