L. Frank Baum

“ He had come from the direction of the bay and was at first headed toward the mountain, but in one of his pauses, whether to regain his breath or look behind, he caught sight of the aëroplane and at once turned directly toward it.
"Do you think," asked Sybil, uneasily, "it is one of our people come to look for us?"
"No," returned Orissa, positively. "That man is a fugitive. He has escaped over the rock hills and is trying to find some hiding place." ”

“ Get ready, girl! We will fly to my island, or——" He laughed harshly. "Or you will both ruin your beautiful toilets, and—the mire is dangerous," he added.
"We have no gasoline," pleaded Orissa.
"Pah! a trick to deceive me."
"No; it is true," cried Sybil, who grew more quiet as fear possessed her.
He hesitated, a look of despair flashing across his features. Then he said with grim determination: "I will see for myself," and stepped recklessly into the pool of oil that lay between him and the hummock where the aëroplane perched. ”

“ Shall we sing songs? If you will accompany the chorus I will delight your ears with my excellent tenor voice."
This bravado, coming from a man stuck fast in the mire, was so gruesome that it made the girls shudder with aversion. But Sybil, happening to glance up, cried with sudden animation: "Look, Orissa!" and pointed with a trembling finger.
In the distance a group of men had appeared over the edge of the rock hills. They saw the stalled aëroplane and waved their arms encouragingly. ”