| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Betty Zane by Zane Grey: part in these dances. In the bright light of huge fires, and watched by the
chiefs, the old men, the squaws, and the children, the maidens and the braves,
arrayed in their gaudiest apparel, marched into the circle. They formed two
lines a few paces apart. Each held in the right hand a dry gourd which
contained pebbles. Advancing toward one another they sang the courting song,
keeping time to the tune with the rattling of the pebbles. When they met in
the center the braves bent forward and whispered a word to the maidens. At a
certain point in the song, which was indicated by a louder note, the maidens
would change their positions, and this was continued until every brave had
whispered to every maiden, when the dance ended.
Isaac took part in all these pleasures; he entered into every phase of the
Betty Zane |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The People That Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs: and his followers approached the edge of the horrible swamp.
I saw that Al-tan was with him and many other Kro-lu warriors.
The alliance against Jor the chief had, therefore, been
consummated, and this horde was already marching upon the
Galu city. I sighed as I thought how close I had been to saving
not only Ajor but her father and his people from defeat and death.
Beyond the swamp was a dense wood. Could we have reached this,
we would have been safe; but it might as well have been a
hundred miles away as a hundred yards across that hidden lake
of sticky mud. Upon the edge of the swamp Du-seen and his
horde halted to revile us. They could not reach us with their
The People That Time Forgot |
