| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley: if John Hawkins did as much for a Spanish fleet in time of peace,
there is more than one old sea-dog in Appledore who will do as much
for a single ship in time of war, if he can find even an iron pot
to burn powder withal.
The strange sail passed out of sight behind the hill of Appledore;
and then there rose into the quiet evening air a cheer, as from a
hundred throats. Mrs. Leigh stood still, and listened. Another
gun thundered among the hills; and then another cheer.
It might have been twenty minutes before the vessel hove in sight
again round the dark rocks of the Hubbastone, as she turned up the
Bideford river. Mrs. Leigh had stood that whole time perfectly
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Records of a Family of Engineers by Robert Louis Stevenson: the beacon the interstices were to be stuffed with moss, as a
light substance that would resist dampness and check sifting
winds; the whole interior was then to be lined with green
baize cloth, so that both without and within the cabins were
to have a very comfortable appearance.
Although the building artificers generally remained on
the rock throughout the day, and the millwrights, joiners, and
smiths, while their number was considerable, remained also
during the night, yet the tender had hitherto been considered
as their night quarters. But the wind having in the course of
the day shifted to the N.W., and as the passage to the tender,
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