1
Are you too frightened to go any farther?" asked the silk-monkey, who found all this very easy, having four legs herself." I'm never afraid, " answered Sniff. "But I think the view is better from here.Tove Jansson
2
Not one adventure in a whole day, " said Sniff, who was taking his turn at steering now the current was slower. "Just grey banks and grey banks, and not even an adventure."" I think it's very adventurous to float down a winding river, " said Moomintroll. "You never know what you'll meet round the next corner. You always want adventures, Sniff, and when they come you're so frightened you don't know what to do."" Well, I'm not a lion, " said Sniff reproachfully. "I like small adventures. Just the right size.Tove Jansson
3
Where's your home, then?" asked the Snork Maiden."Nowhere" said Snufkin a little sadly, "or everywhere. It depends on how you look at it."" Haven't you got a mother?" asked Moomintroll, looking very sorry for him." I don't know, " said Snufkin. "They tell me I was found in a basket."" Like Moses, " said Sniff."I like the story about Moses, " said the Snork. "But I think his mother could have found a better way of saving him, don't you? The crocodiles might have eaten him up."" They nearly ate us up, " said Sniff. .Tove Jansson
4
What are you thinking of discovering?" Moomintroll cleared his throat and felt very proud. "Oh, everything, " he said. "Stars, for example! " Snufkin was deeply impressed." Stars! " he exclaimed. "Then I must come with you. Stars are my favorite things. I always lie and look at them before I go to sleep, and wonder who is on them and how one could get there. The sky looks so friendly with all those little eyes twinkling in it. .Tove Jansson
5
When they reached the top of the hill they turned and looked down at the valley. Moominhouse was just a blue dot, and the river a narrow ribbon of green: the swing they couldn't see at all. "We've never been such a long way from home before, " said Moomintroll, and a little goose-fleshy thrill of excitement came over them at the thought.Tove Jansson
6
The star we're looking for isn't so very friendly, " said Moomintroll. "Quite the contrary, in fact."" What did you say?" said Sniff.Moomintroll went a bit red. "I mean -- stars in general, " he said, "big and small, friendly and unfriendly, and so on."" Can they be unfriendly?" asked Snufkin."Yes -- ones with tails, " answered Moomintroll. "Comets."At last it dawned on Sniff. "You're hiding something from me! " he said accusingly. "That pattern we saw everywhere, and you said it didn't mean anything! "" You're too small to be told everything, " answered Moomintroll."Too small! " screamed Sniff. "I must say it's a fine thing to take me on an expedition of discovery and not tell me what I'm supposed to be discovering!.Tove Jansson
7
Moominmamma had got up very early to pack their rucksacks, and was bustling to and fro with wooly stockings and packets of sandwiches, while down by the bridge Moominpappa was getting their raft in order." Mamma, dar, " said Moomintroll, "we can't possibly take all that with us. Everyone will laugh."" It's cold in the Lonely Mountains, " said Moominmamma, stuffing in an umbrella and a frying pan. "Have you got a compass?"" Yes, " answered Moomintroll, "but couldn't you at least leave out the plates -- we can easily eat off rhubarb leaves.Tove Jansson
8
Damp veils of mist swirled around them. They were dreadfully cold (Moomintroll thought longingly of his woolly trousers) and surrounded completely by an awful floating emptiness." I always thought clouds were soft and woolly and nice to be in, " said Sniff, sneezing. "Ugh! I'm beginning to be sorry I ever came on this expedition.Tove Jansson