The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Dream Life and Real Life by Olive Schreiner: mother once alive in a hut, with three children."
"You are sure there is no one else on the farm?" said the navvy.
"No, I have told you till I am tired," said Dirk; "The two Kaffirs have
gone with the son to town; and the maids have gone to a dance; there is
only the old man and the two women left."
"But suppose," said the navvy, "he should have the gun at his bedside, and
loaded!"
"He never has," said Dirk; "it hangs in the passage, and the cartridges
too. He never thought when he bought it what work it was for! I only wish
the little white girl was there still," said Dirk; "but she is drowned. We
traced her footmarks to the great pool that has no bottom."
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Case of the Golden Bullet by Grace Isabel Colbron and Augusta Groner: there's a nail sticking out of the post there. The wind tore off
a piece of wood yesterday."
The warning came too late. Muller's sleeve tore apart with a sharp
sound just as Johann spoke, for the detective had already plunged
his hand into the pail. The bottom of the bucket was easy to reach,
as this one hung much lower than the others. Looking regretfully
at the rent in his coat, Muller asked for needle and thread that
he might repair it sufficiently to get home.
"Oh, don't bother about sewing it; I'll lend you one of mine,"
exclaimed Johann. "I'll carry this one home for you, for I'm not
going to stay here alone - I'd be afraid. I'm going to a friend's
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