| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from End of the Tether by Joseph Conrad: the ship closed with it obliquely, would show several
clean shining fractures--the brimful estuary of a river.
Then on through a brown liquid, three parts water and
one part black earth, on and on between the low shores,
three parts black earth and one part brackish water, the
Sofala would plow her way up-stream, as she had
done once every month for these seven years or more,
long before he was aware of her existence, long before
he had ever thought of having anything to do with her
and her invariable voyages. The old ship ought to have
known the road better than her men, who had not been
 End of the Tether |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Spirit of the Border by Zane Grey: him to one of the Indian towns. He watched the supple figure before him,
wondering at the quick step, light as the fall of a leaf, and tried to walk as
softly. He found, however, that where the Indian readily avoided the sticks
and brush, he was unable to move without snapping twigs. Now and then he would
look up and study the lay of the land ahead; and as he came nearer to certain
rocks and trees he scrutinized them closely, in order to remember their shape
and general appearance. He believed he was blazing out in his mind this
woodland trail, so that should fortune favor him and he contrive to escape, he
would be able to find his way back to the river. Also, he was enjoying the
wild scenery.
This forest would have appeared beautiful, even to one indifferent to such
 The Spirit of the Border |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Mistress Wilding by Rafael Sabatini: bungled matter at Newlington's may have shaken it?" quoth Blake. "With
Feversham, perhaps. But Albemarle, remember, trusts me very fully.
There are ugly happenings in the town here. Men are being hung like
linen on a washing-day. Be not too sure that yourself are free from
all danger." Richard paled under the baronet's baleful, half-sneering
glance. "Be not in too great haste to cast me aside, for you may find
me useful."
"Do you threaten, sir?" cried Ruth.
"Threaten?" quoth he. He turned up his eyes and showed the whites of
them. "Is it to threaten to promise you my protection; to show you
how I can serve you? - than which I ask no sweeter boon of heaven.
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