| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from 'Twixt Land & Sea by Joseph Conrad: opening, a sort of square for hauling the sails out, which gives
straight on the quarter-deck and which is never closed in fine
weather, so as to give air to the sails. ' When the ship's way is
deadened in stays and all the hands are aft at the main-braces you
shall have a clear road to slip out and get overboard through the
open quarter-deck port. I've had them both fastened up. Use a
rope's end to lower yourself into the water so as to avoid a splash
- you know. It could be heard and cause some beastly
complication."
He kept silent for a while, then whispered, "I understand."
"I won't be there to see you go," I began with an effort. "The
'Twixt Land & Sea |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells: "We're working well," he said. He put down his spade.
"Let us knock off a bit" he said. "I think it's time we recon-
noitred from the roof of the house."
I was for going on, and after a little hesitation he resumed
his spade; and then suddenly I was struck by a thought.
I stopped, and so did he at once.
"Why were you walking about the common," I said,
"instead of being here?"
"Taking the air," he said. "I was coming back. It's safer
by night."
"But the work?"
War of the Worlds |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Lin McLean by Owen Wister: rider, till, suddenly, he was close and hailing me.
"They've caved!" he shouted.
"Who?" I cried, thus awakened.
"Ah, the fool company," said he, quieting his voice as he drew near.
"They've shed their haughtiness," he added, confidingly, as if I must
know all about it.
"Where did they learn that wisdom?" I asked, not knowing in the least.
"Experience," he called over his shoulder (for already we had met and
passed); "nothing like experience for sweating the fat off the brain."
He yelled me a brotherly good-bye, and I am sorry never to have known
more of him, for I incline to value any stranger so joyous. But now I
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