| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne: watches. Having filled them with water and rendered their edges adhesive by
means of a little clay, he thus fabricated a regular burning-glass, which,
concentrating the solar rays on some very dry moss, soon caused it to
blaze.
The sailor considered the apparatus; then he gazed at the engineer
without saying a word, only a look plainly expressed his opinion that if
Cyrus Harding was not a magician, he was certainly no ordinary man. At last
speech returned to him, and he cried,--
"Note that, Mr. Spilett, note that down on your paper!"
"It is noted," replied the reporter.
Then, Neb helping him, the seaman arranged the spit, and the capybara,
The Mysterious Island |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Moon-Face and Other Stories by Jack London: I am on him I don't consider he has feet at all. And he's quick as a cat, and
instantly obedient. Bridle-wise is no name for it! You could guide him with
silken threads. Oh, I know I'm enthusiastic, but if you don't buy him, Chris.
I shall. Remember, I've second refusal."
Chris smiled agreement as he changed the saddles. Meanwhile she compared the
two horses.
"Of course he doesn't match Dolly the way Ban did," she concluded regretfully;
"but his coat is splendid just the same. And think of the horse that is under
the coat!"
Chris gave her a hand into the saddle, and followed her up the slope to the
county road. She reined in suddenly, saying:
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Under the Red Robe by Stanley Weyman: answered grimly. 'But choose, and be quick about it.'
They were three to one, and they had firearms. In effect I had
no choice.
'Well, if I must I must?' I cried, making up my mind with
seeming recklessness. 'VOGUE LA GALERE! Spain be it. It will
not be the first time I have heard the dons talk.'
The men nodded, as much as to say that they had known what the
end would be; the landlord released my rein; and in a trice we
were riding down the narrow track, with our faces set towards the
mountains.
On one point my mind was now more easy. The men meant fairly by
|
The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from The White Moll by Frank L. Packard: "Get back into bed," she said steadily. "Do you want to make
yourself worse? You'll kill yourself!"
Gypsy Nan pushed her away.
"Don't make me use up what little strength I've got left in talking,"
she cried out piteously, and suddenly wrung her hands together.
"I'm wanted by the police. If I'm caught, it's - it's that 'chair.'
I couldn't have a doctor brought here, could I? How long would
it be before he saw that Gypsy Nan was a fake? I can't let you go
and have an ambulance, say, come and get me, can I, even with the
disguise hidden away? They'd say this is where Gypsy Nan lives.
There's something queer here. Where is Gypsy Nan? I've got to get
|
