Formidable women, with uncombed hair and disordered dress, gossiped while leaning on railings, or screamed in frantic quarrels. - Stephen Crane

The slaves toiling in the temple of this god began to feel rebellion at his harsh tasks.

When the roof fell in, a great funnel of smoke swarmed toward the sky, as if the old man's mighty spirit, released from its body — a little bottle — had swelled like the genie of fable. The smoke was tinted rose-hue from the flames, and perhaps the unutterable midnights of the universe will have no power to daunt the colour of this soul.

Nature did not seem cruel to him then, nor kind, nor dangerous, nor wise. But she was not interested, completely not interested.