| 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: first relays waited. But here, intent to kill their first teams,
if necessary, Harrington and Savoy had had their fresh teams
placed a couple of miles beyond those of the others. In the
confusion of changing sleds they passed full half the bunch.
Perhaps thirty men were still leading them when they shot on to
the broad breast of the Yukon. Here was the tug. When the river
froze in the fall, a mile of open water had been left between two
mighty jams. This had but recently crusted, the current being
swift, and now it was as level, hard, and slippery as a dance
floor. The instant they struck this glare ice Harrington came to
his knees, holding precariously on with one hand, his whip singing
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Chance by Joseph Conrad: incomplete. No doubt the reporters had garbled his evidence. They
were determined to give him no chance either in court or before the
public opinion. It was a conspiracy . . . "My counsel was a fool
too," he added. "Did you notice? A perfect fool."
She laid her hand on his arm soothingly. "Is it worth while talking
about that awful time? It is so far away now." She shuddered
slightly at the thought of all the horrible years which had passed
over her young head; never guessing that for him the time was but
yesterday. He folded his arms on his breast, leaned back in his
corner and bowed his head. But in a little while he made her jump
by asking suddenly:
Chance |
