I picked up a weathered old copy of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Korak, Son of Tarzan (1916) the other day and started reading. On page 1, crew members from a sailing ship called the Marjorie W, take what they refer to as a long boat, up the Ugambi River for a paddle. On the northern bank of the river they suddenly hear and see a white man, 'naked, but for a loin cloth' screaming for help.

The following is a one line excerpt:

"Wot the 'ell?" ejaculated one of the crew.

What was going on in the mind of Burroughs when he began this novel, I wondered. Was it memories of perhaps the previous night's encounter that caused him to confuse his dialogue? 

 Did he really mean:

“Wot the 'ell?” One of the crew ejaculated, upon seeing a naked white man? 

On page 2, I came across a six line sentence that took me several minutes to decipher. Angered by my inability to comprehend both the author's thoughts and his long sentences, I slammed the book shut and went for a swim.