| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from St. Ives by Robert Louis Stevenson: 'Here, let's bilk them,' said he.
And we turned back and took our way down hill again.
It was none too soon: voices and alarm bells sounded; watchmen here
and there began to spring their rattles; it was plain the
University of Cramond would soon be at blows with the police of
Edinburgh! Byfield and I, running the semi-inanimate Rowley before
us, made good despatch, and did not stop till we were several
streets away, and the hubbub was already softened by distance.
'Well, sir,' said he, 'we are well out of that! Did ever any one
see such a pack of young barbarians?'
'We are properly punished, Mr. Byfield; we had no business there,'
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Trooper Peter Halket of Mashonaland by Olive Schreiner: Peter Halket started suddenly and listened. But it was only the wind
coming up the kopje like a great wheezy beast creeping upwards; and he
looked back into the fire.
He considered his business prospects. When he had served his time as
volunteer he would have a large piece of land given him, and the Mashonas
and Matabeles would have all their land taken away from them in time, and
the Chartered Company would pass a law that they had to work for the white
men; and he, Peter Halket, would make them work for him. He would make
money.
Then he reflected on what he should do with the land if it were no good and
he could not make anything out of it. Then, he should have to start a
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