| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Tales of the Klondyke by Jack London: twelve o'clock--can you? 'Cos if you do, it'll 'appen as 'ow I'll
'aunt you. D'ye 'ear? A minute, a second too quick, an' I'll
'aunt you, so 'elp me, I will!"
Jacob Kent looked dubious, but declined to talk.
"'Ow's your chronometer? Wot's your longitude? 'Ow do you know
as your time's correct?" Cardegee persisted, vainly hoping to beat
his executioner out of a few minutes. "Is it Barrack's time you
'ave, or is it the Company time? 'Cos if you do it before the
stroke o' the bell, I'll not rest. I give you fair warnin'. I'll
come back. An' if you 'aven't the time, 'ow will you know?
That's wot I want--'ow will you tell?"
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Allan Quatermain by H. Rider Haggard: Umslopogaas simplified matters by volunteering to go and reconnoitre,
which he did, creeping off into the bush like a snake, while
we hung off in the stream waiting for him. In half an hour he
returned, and told us that there was not a Masai to be seen anywhere
about, but that he had discovered a spot where they had recently
been encamped, and that from various indications he judged that
they must have moved on an hour or so before; the man we saw
having, no doubt, been left to report upon our movements.
Thereupon we landed; and, having posted a sentry, proceeded to
cook and eat our evening meal. This done, we took the situation
into our serious consideration. Of course, it was possible that
Allan Quatermain |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Secret Sharer by Joseph Conrad: for the master of the tug when he came to fetch away our letters,
had not been hauled in as it should have been. I became annoyed at this,
for exactitude in some small matters is the very soul of discipline.
Then I reflected that I had myself peremptorily dismissed my
officers from duty, and by my own act had prevented the anchor
watch being formally set and things properly attended to.
I asked myself whether it was wise ever to interfere with the
established routine of duties even from the kindest of motives.
My action might have made me appear eccentric. Goodness only knew
how that absurdly whiskered mate would "account" for my conduct,
and what the whole ship thought of that informality of their new captain.
The Secret Sharer |
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 Lady Baltimore by Owen Wister: whose subtlety likewise eludes my powers of analysis.
It was already five minutes after three o'clock, my dinner hour, when he
at length appeared in the Library; and possibly I put some reproach into
my greeting: "Won't you walk along with me to Mrs. Trevise's?" (That was
my boarding house.)
"I could not get away from the Custom House sooner," he explained; and
into his eyes there came for a moment that look of unrest and pre-
occupation which I had observed at times while we had discussed Newport
and alcoholic girls. The two subjects seemed certainly far enough apart!
But he immediately began upon a conversation briskly enough--so briskly
that I suspected at once he had got his subject ready in advance; he
didn't want me to speak first, lest I turn the talk into channels
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