| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Youth by Joseph Conrad: could remain more than a minute below. Mahon, who
went first, fainted there, and the man who went to fetch
him out did likewise. We lugged them out on deck.
Then I leaped down to show how easily it could be done.
They had learned wisdom by that time, and contented
themselves by fishing for me with a chain-hook tied to a
broom-handle, I believe. I did not offer to go and fetch
up my shovel, which was left down below.
"Things began to look bad. We put the long-boat
into the water. The second boat was ready to swing out.
We had also another, a fourteen-foot thing, on davits
Youth |
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: "Kate? What--of her?" whispered George Young with lips as dry as corn husks.
"I did my best," said the hunter with a simple dignity. Nothing but the
agonized appeal in the young man's eyes could have made Wetzel speak of his
achievement.
"Tell us," broke in Heckewelder, seeing that fear had stricken George dumb.
"We trailed 'em an' got away with the golden-haired lass. The last I saw of
Joe he was braced up agin a rock fightin' like a wildcat. I tried to cut Jim
loose as I was goin' by. I s'pect the wust fer the brothers an' the other
lass."
"Can we do nothing?" asked Mr. Wells.
"Nothin'!"
The Spirit of the Border |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Red Seal by Natalie Sumner Lincoln: to the latter's sister, Barbara. The two men had one bond in common.
Colonel McIntyre disliked them and discouraged their calling, to the
secret fury of both, but love had found a way - Kent's eyes kindled
at the recollection of Barbara's half-shy, wholly tender reception
of his ardent pleading.
Turnbull's courtship had met with a set-back where he had least
expected it - Philip Rochester had fallen deeply in love with Helen
and, encouraged by her father, had pressed his suit with ardor.
Frequent quarrels between the two close friends had been the outcome,
and Jimmie had confided to Kent, before the latter left on the
business trip to Chicago from which he had returned that morning,
The Red Seal |
