The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Island of Doctor Moreau by H. G. Wells: up on the edge of the ravine, and like a bar across its face drove
the spire of vapour that was for ever streaming from the fumaroles of
the island.
"Walk by me," said I, nerving myself; and side by side we walked
down the narrow way, taking little heed of the dim Things that peered
at us out of the huts.
None about the fire attempted to salute me. Most of them
disregarded me, ostentatiously. I looked round for the Hyena-swine,
but he was not there. Altogether, perhaps twenty of the Beast
Folk squatted, staring into the fire or talking to one another.
"He is dead, he is dead! the Master is dead!" said the voice
 The Island of Doctor Moreau |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Virginian by Owen Wister: for; but none of the steers had been suddenly picked from the
herd and set above his fellows. Moreover, Chicago finished up the
steers; but the new-made deputy foreman had then to lead his six
highly unoccupied brethren away from towns, and back in peace to
the ranch, or disappoint the Judge, who needed their services.
These things sometimes go wrong in a land where they say you are
all born equal; and that quarter of a nod in Colonel Cyrus
Jones's eating palace held more equality than any whole nod you
could see. But the Virginian did not see it, there being a time
for all things.
We trundled down the flopping, heavy-eddied Missouri to
 The Virginian |