2023To Build a Fire大學(xué)英語作文

第頁2023ToBuildaFire大學(xué)英語作文ToBuildaFire高校英語作文

ToBuildaFire高校英語作文一

dayhadbrokencoldandgray,eceedinglycoldandgray,whenthemanturnedasidefromthemainyukontrailandclimbedthehighearth-bank,whereadimandlittletraveledtrailledeastwardthroughthefatsprucetimberland。itwasasteepbank,andhepausedforbreathatthetop,ecusingtheacttohimselfbylookingathiswatch。itwasnineoclock。therewasnosunnorhintofsun,thoughtherewasnotacloudinthesky。itwasaclearday,andyetthereseemedanintangiblepalloverthefaceofthings,asubtlegloomthatmadethedaydark,andthatwasduetotheabsenceofsun。thisfactdidnotworrytheman。hewasusedtothelackofsun。ithadbeendayssincehehadseenthesun,andheknewthatafewmore-daysmustpassbeforethatcheerfulorb,duesouth,wouldjustpeepabovethesky-lineanddipimmediatelyfromview。

themanflungalookbackalongthewayhehadcome。theyukonlayamilewideandhiddenunderthreefeetofice。ontopofthisicewereasmanyfeetofsnow。itwasallpurewhite,rollingingentle,undulationswheretheicejamsofthefreeze-uphadformed。northandsouth,asfarashiseyecouldsee,itwasunbrokenwhite,saveforadarkhairlinethatcurvedandtwistedfromaroundthespruce-coveredislandtothesouth,andthatcurvedandtwistedawayintothenorth,whereitdisappearedbehindanotherspruce-coveredisland。thisdarkhair-linewasthetrail--themaintrail--thatledsouthfivehundredmilestothechilcootpass,dyea,andsaltwater;andthatlednorthseventymilestodawson,andstillontothenorthathousandmilestonulato,andfinallytost。michaelonberingsea,athousandmilesandhalfathousandmore。

butallthis--themysterious,far-reachinghair-linetrail。theabsenceofsunfromthesky,thetremendouscold,andthestrangenessandweirdnessofitall--madenoimpressionontheman。itwasnotbecausehewaslongusedtoit。hewasanewcomer!intheland,achechaquo,andthiswashisfirstwinter。thetroublewithhimwasthathewaswithoutimagination。hewasquickandalertinthethingsoflife,butonlyinthethings,andnotinthesignificances。fiftydegreesbelowzeromeanteighty-odddegreesoffrost。suchfactimpressedhimasbeingcoldanduncomfortable,andthatwasall。itdidnotleadhimtomeditateuponhisfrailtyasacreatureoftemperature,anduponmansfrailtyingeneral,ableonlytolivewithincertainnarrowlimitsofheatandcold;andfromthereonitdidnotleadhimtotheconjecturalfieldofimmortalityandmansplaceintheuniverse。fiftydegreesbelowzerostoodfortebiteoffrostthathurtandthatmustbeguardedagainstbytheuseofmittens,ear-flaps,warmmoccasins,andthicksocks。fiftydegreesbelowzerowastohimjustpreciselyfiftydegreesbelowzero。thatthereshouldbeanythingmoretoitthanthatwasathoughtthatneverenteredhishead。

asheturnedtogoon,hespatspeculatively。therewasasharp,eplosivecracklethatstartledhim。hespatagain。andagain,intheair,beforeitcouldfalltothesnow,thespittlecrackled。heknewthatatfiftybelowspittlecrackledonthesnow,butthisspittlehadcrackledintheair。undoubtedlyitwascolderthanfiftybelow--howmuchcolderhedidnotknow。butthetemperaturedidnotmatter。hewasboundfortheoldclaimontheleftforkofhendersoncreek,wheretheboyswerealready。theyhadcomeoveracrossthedividefromtheindiancreekcountry,whilehehadcometheroundaboutwaytotake;alookatthepossibilitiesofgettingoutlogsinthespringfromtheislandsintheyukon。hewouldbeintocampbysioclock;abitafterdark,itwastrue,buttheboyswouldbethere,afirewouldbegoing,andahotsupperwouldbeready。asforlunch,hepressedhishandagainsttheprotrudingbundleunderhisjacket。itwasalsounderhisshirt,wrappedupinahandkerchiefandlyingagainstthenakedskin。itwastheonlywaytokeepthebiscuitsfromfreezing。hesmiledagreeablytohimselfashethoughtofthosebiscuits,eachcutopenandsoppedinbacongrease,andeachenclosingageneroussliceoffriedbacon。

heplungedinamongthebigsprucetrees。thetrailwasfaint。afootofsnowhadfallensincethelastsledhadpassedover,andhewasgladhewaswithoutasled,travelinglight。infact,hecarriednothingbutthelunchwrappedinthehandkerchief。hewassurprised,however,atthecold。itcertainlywascold,heconcludedasherubbedhisnumbnoseandcheek-boneswithhismittenedhand。hewasawarm-whiskeredman,butthehaironhisfacedidnotprotectthehighcheek-bonesandtheeagernosethatthrustitselfaggressivelyintothefrostyair。

atthemansheelstrottedadog,abignativehusky,theproperwolfdog,gray-coatedandwithoutanyvisibleortemperamentaldifferencefromitsbrother,thewildwolf。theanimalwasdepressedbythetremendouscold。itknewthatitwasnotimefortraveling。itsinstincttolditatruertalethanwastoldtothemanbythemansjudgment。inreality,itwasnotmerelycolderthanfiftybelowzero;itwascolderthansitybelow,thanseventybelow。itwasseventy-fivebelowzero。sincethefreezingpointisthirty-twoabovezero,itmeantthatonehundredandsevendegreesoffrostobtained。thedogdidnotknowanythingaboutthermometers。possiblyinitsbraintherewasnosharpconsciousnessofaconditionofverycoldsuchaswasinthemansbrain。butthebrutehaditsinstinct。iteperiencedavaguebutmenacingapprehensionthatsubdueditandmadeitslinkalongatthemansheels,andthatmadeitquestioneagerlyeveryunwontedmovementofthemanasifepectinghimtogointocamportoseeksheltersomewhereandbuildafire。thedoghadlearnedfire,anditwantedfire,orelsetoburrowunderthesnowandcuddleitswarmthawayfromtheair。

thefrozenmoistureofitsbreathinghadsettledonitsfurinafinepowderoffrost,andespeciallywereitsjowls,muzzle,andeyelasheswhitenedbyitscrystalledbreath。themansredbeardandmustachewerelikewisefrosted,butmoresolidly,thedeposittakingtheformoficeandincreasingwitheverywarm,moistbreathheehaled。also,themanwaschewingtobacco,andthemuzzleoficeheldhislipssorigidlythathewasunabletoclearhischinwhenheepelledthejuice。theresultwasthatacrystalbeardofthecolorandsolidityofamberwasincreasingitslengthonhischin。ifhefelldownitwouldshatteritself,likeglass,intobrittlefragments。buthedidnotmindtheappendage。itwasthepenaltyalltobacco-chewerspaidinthatcountry,andhehadbeenoutbeforeintwocoldsnaps。theyhadnotbeensocoldasthis,heknew,butbythespiritthermometeratsitymileheknewtheyhadbeenregisteredatfiftybelowandatfifty-five。

heheldonthroughthelevelstretchofwoodsforseveralmiles,crossedawideflatofrigger-heads,anddroppeddownabanktothefrozenbedofasmallstream。thiswashendersoncreek,andheknewhewastenmilesfromtheforks。helookedathiswatch。itwastenoclock。hewasmakingfourmilesanhour,andhecalculatedthathewouldarriveattheforksathalf-pasttwelve。hedecidedtocelebratethateventbyeatinghislunchthere。

thedogdroppedinagainathisheels,withataildroopingdiscouragement,asthemanswungalongthecreek-bed。thefurrowoftheoldsled-trailwasplainlyvisible,butadozeninchesofsnowcoveredthemarksofthelastrunners。inamonthnomanhadcomeupordownthatsilentcreek。themanheldsteadilyon。hewasnotmuchgiventothinking,andjustthenparticularlyhehadnothingtothinkaboutsavethathewouldeatlunchat-theforksandthatatsioclockhewouldbeincampwiththeboys。therewasnobodytotalkto;and,hadtherebeen,speechwouldhavebeenimpossiblebecauseoftheice-muzzleonhismouth。sohecontinuedmonotonouslytochewtobac

ToBuildaFire高校英語作文二

onceinawhilethethoughtreiterateditselfthatitwasverycoldandthathehadnevereperiencedsuchcold。ashewalkedalongherubbedhischeek-bonesandnosewiththebackofhismittenedhand。hedidthisautomatically,nowandagainchanginghands。butrubashewould,theinstanthestoppedhischeek-boneswentnumb,andthefollowinginstanttheendofhisnosewentnumb。hewassuretofrosthischeeks;heknewthat,andeperiencedapangofregretthathehadnotdevisedanose-strapofthesortbudworeincoldsnaps。suchastrappassedacrossthecheeks,aswell,andsavedthem。butitdidntmattermuch,afterall。whatwerefrostedcheeks?abitpainful,thatwasall;theywereneverserious。

emptyasthemansmindwasofthoughts,hewaskeenlyobservant,andhenoticedthechangesinthecreek,thecurvesandbendsandtimberjams,andalwayshesharplynotedwhereheplacedhisfeet。oncecomingaroundabend,heshiedabruptly,likeastartledhorse,curvedawayfromtheplacewherehehadbeenwalking,andretreatedseveralpacesbackalongthetrail。thecreekheknewwasfrozencleartothebottom,--nocreekcouldcontainwaterinthatarcticwinter,--butheknewalsothattherewerespringsthatbubbledoutfromthehillsidesandranalongunderthesnowandontoptheiceofthecreek。heknewthatthecoldestsnapsneverfrozethesesprings,andheknewlikewisetheirdanger。theyweretraps。theyhidpoolsofwaterunderthesnowthatmightbethreeinchesdeep,orthreefeet。sometimesaskinofice。halfaninchthickcoveredthem,andinturnwascoveredbythesnowsometimestherewerealternatelayersofwaterandice-skin,sothatwhenonebrokethroughhekeptonbreakingthroughforawhile,sometimeswettinghimselftothewaist。

thatwaswhyhehadshiedinsuchpanic。hehadfeltthegiveunderhisfeetandheardthecrackleofasnow-hiddenice-skin。andtogethisfeetwetinsuchatemperaturemeanttroubleanddanger。attheveryleastitmeantdelay,forhewouldbeforcedtostopandbuildafire,andunderitsprotectiontobarehisfeetwhilehedriedhissocksandmoccasins。hestoodandstudiedthecreek-bedanditsbanks,anddecidedthattheflowofwatercamefromtheright。hereflectedawhile,rubbinghisnoseandcheeks,thenskirtedtotheleft,steppinggingerlyandtestingthefootingforeachstep。onceclearofthedanger,hetookafreshchewoftobaccoandswungalongathisfour-milegait。

inthecourseofthenettwohourshecameuponseveralsimilartraps。usuallythesnowabovethehiddenpoolshadasunken,candiedappearancethatadvertisedthedanger。onceagain,however,hehadaclosecall;andonce,suspectingdanger,hecompelledthedogtogooninfront。thedogdidnotwanttogo。ithungbackuntilthemanshoveditforward,andthenitwentquicklyacrossthewhite,unbrokensurface。suddenlyitbrokethrough,flounderedtooneside,andgotawaytofirmerfooting。ithadwetitsforefeetandlegs,andalmostimmediatelythewaterthatclungtoitturnedtoice。itmadequickeffortstolicktheiceoffitslegs,thendroppeddowninthesnowandbegantobiteouttheicethathadformedbetweenthetoes。lhiswasamatterofinstinct。topermittheicetoremainwouldmeansorefeet。itdidnotknowthis。itmerelyobeyedthemysteriouspromptingthatarosefromthedeepcryptsofitsbeing。butthemanknew,havingachievedajudgmentonthesubject,andheremovedthemittenfromhisrighthandandhelpedtearouttheice-particles。hedidnoteposehisfingersmorethanaminute,andwasastonishedattheswiftnumbnessthatsmotethem。itcertainlywascold。hepulledonthemittenhastily,andbeatthehandsavagelyacrosshischest。

attwelveoclockthedaywasatitsbrightest。yetthesunwastoo;farsouthanitswinterjourneytoclearthehorizon。thebulgeoftheearthintervenedbetweenitaridhendersoncreek,wherethemanwalkedunderaclearskyatnoonandcastnoshadow。athalf-pasttwelve,totheminute,hearrivedattheforksofthecreek。hewas。pleasedatthespeedhehadmade。ifhekeptitup,hewouldcertainlybewiththeboysbysi。heunbuttonedhisjacketandshirtanddrewforthhislunch。theactionconsumednomorethanaquarterofaminute,yetinthatbriefmomentthenumbnesslaidholdoftheeposedfingers。hedidnotputthemittenon,but,insteadstruckthefingersadozensharpsmashesagainsthisleg。thenhesatdownonasnow-coveredlogtoeat。thestingthatfolloweduponthestrikingofhisfingersagainsthislegceasedsoquicklythathewasstartled。hehadhadnochancetotakeabiteofbiscuit。hestruckthefingersrepeatedlyandreturnedthemtothemitten,baringtheotherhandforthepurposeofeating,hetriedtotakeamouthful,buttheice-muzzleprevented。hehadforgottentobuildafireandthawout。hechuckledathisfoolishness,andashechuckledhenotedthenumbnesscreepingintotheeposedfingers。also,henotedthatthestingingwhichhadfirstcometohistoeswhenhesatdownwasalreadypassingaway。hewanderedwhetherthetoeswerewarmornumb。hemovedtheminsidethemoccasinsanddecidedthattheywerenumb。

hepulledthemittenonhurriedlyandstoodup。hewasabitfrightened。hestampedupanddownuntilthestingingreturnedintothefeet。itcertainlywascold,washisthought。thatmanfromsulphurcreekhadspokenthetruthwhentellinghowcolditsometimesgotinthecountry。andhehadlaughedathimatthetime!thatshowedonemustnotbetoosureofthings。therewasnomistakeaboutit,itwascold。hestrodeupanddown,stampinghisfeetandthreshinghisarms,untilreassuredbythereturningwarmth。thenhegotoutmatchesandproceededtomakeafire。fromtheundergrowth,wherehighwaterofthepreviousspringhadlodgedasupplyofseasonedtwigs,hegothisfirewood。workingcarefullyfromasmallbeginning,hesoonhadaroaringfire,overwhichhethawedtheicefromhisfaceandintheprotectionofwhichheatehisbiscuits。forthemomentthecoldspacewasoutwitted。thedogtooksatisfactioninthefire,stretchingoutcloseenoughforwarmthandfarenoughawaytoescapebeingsinged。

whenthemanhadfinished,befilledhispipeandtookhiscomfortabletimeoverasmoke。thenhepulledonhismittens,settledtheear-flapsofhiscapfirmlyabouthisears,andtookthecreektrailuptheleftfork。thedogwasdisappointedandyearnedbacktowardthefire。thismandidnotknowcold。possiblyallthegenerationsofhisancestryhadbeenignorantofcoldofrealcold,ofcoldonehundredandsevendegreesbelowfreezingpoint。butthedogknew;allitsancestryknew,andithadinheritedtheknowledge。anditknewthatitwasnotgoodtowalkabroadinsuchfearfulcold。itwasthetimetoliesnuginaholeinthesnowandwaitforacurtainofcloudtobedrawnacrossthefaceofouterspacewhencethiscoldcame。ontheotherhand,therewasnokeenintimacybetweenthedogandtheman。theonewasthetoil-slaveoftheother,andtheonlycaressesithadeverreceivedwerethecaressesofthewhiplashandofharshandmenacingthroat-soundsthatthreatenedthewhiplash。so,thedogmadenoefforttocommunicateitsapprehensiontotheman。itwasnotconcernedinthewelfareoftheman,itwasforitsownsakethatityearnedbacktowardthefire。butthemanwhistled,andspoketoitwiththesoundofwhiplashesandthedogswunginatthemansheelandfollowedafter。

themantookachewoftobaccoandproceededtostartanewamberbeard。also,hismoistbreathquicklypowderedwithwhitehismustache,eyebrows,andlashes。theredidnotseemtobesomanyspringsontheleftforkofthehenderson,andforhalfanhourthemansawnosignsofany。andthenithappened。ataplacewheretherewere

ToBuildaFire高校英語作文三

nosigns,wherethesoft,unbrokensnowseemedtoadvertisesoliditybeneath,teemanbrokethrough。itwasnotdeep。hewethimselfhalfwaytothekneesbeforeheflounderedouttothefirmcrust。

hewasangry,andcursedhisluckaloud。hehadhopedtogetintocampwiththeboysatsioclock,andthiswoulddelayhimanhour,forhewouldhavetobuildafireanddryouthisfoot-gear。thiswasimperativeatthatlowtemperature--heknewthatmuch;andheturnedasidetothebank,whichheclimbed。ontop,tangledintheunderbrushaboutthetrunksofseveralsmallsprucetrees,wasahigh-waterdepositofdryfirewood--sticksandtwigs,principally,butalsolargerportionsofseasonedbranchesandfine,dry,last-yearsgrasses。hethrewdownseverallargepiecesontopofthesnow。thisservedforafoundationandpreventedtheyoungflamefromdrowningitselfinthesnowitotherwisewouldmelt。theflamehegotbytouchingamatchtoasmallshredofbirchbarkthathetookfromhispocket。thisburnedevenmorereadilythanpaper。placingitonthefoundation,hefedtheyoungflamewithwispsofdrygrassandwiththetiniestdrytwigs。

heworkedslowlyandcarefully,keenlyawareofhisdanger。gradually,astheflamegrewstronger,heincreasedthesizeofthetwigswithwhichhefedit。hesquattedinthesnow,pullingthetwigsoutfromtheirentanglementinthebrushandfeedingdirectlytotheflame。heknewtheremustbenofailure。whenitisseventy-fivebelowzero,amanmustnotfailinhisfirstattempttobuildafire--thatis,ifhisfeetarewet。ifhisfeetaredry,andhefails,hecanrunalongthetrailforhalfamileandrestorehiscirculation。butthecirculationofwetandfreezingfeetcannotberestoredbyrunningwhenitisseventy-fivebelow。nomatterhowfastheruns,thewetfeetwillfreezetheharder。

allthisthemanknew。theold-timeronsulphurcreekhadtoldhimaboutitthepreviousfall,andnowhewasappreciatingtheadvice。alreadyallsensationhadgoneoutofhisfeet。tobuildthefirehehadbeenforcedtoremovehismittens,andthefingershadquicklygonenumb。hispaceoffourmilesanhourhadkepthisheartpumpingbloodtothesurfaceofhisbodyandtoalltheetremities。buttheinstanthestopped,theactionofthepumpeaseddown。thecoldofspacesmotetheunprotectedtipoftheplanet,andhe,beingonthatunprotectedtip,receivedthefullforceoftheblow。thebloodofhisbodyrecoiledbeforeit。thebloodwasalive,likethedog,andlikethedogitwantedtohideawayandcoveritselfupfromthefearfulcold。solongashewalkedfourmilesanhour,hepumpedthatblood,willy-nilly,tothesurface;butnowitebbedawayandsankdownintotherecessesofhisbody。theetremitieswerethefirsttofeelitsabsence。hiswetfeetfrozethefaster,andhiseposedfingersnumbedthefaster,thoughtheyhadnotyetbeguntofreeze。noseandcheekswerealreadyfreezing,whiletheskinofallhisbodychilledasitlostitsblood。

buthewassafe。toesandnoseandcheekswouldbeonlytouchedbythefrost,forthefirewasbeginningtoburnwithstrength。hewasfeedingitwithtwigsthesizeofhisfinger。inanotherminutehewouldbeabletofeeditwithbranchesthesizeofhiswrier,andthenhecouldremovehiswettoot-gear,and,whileitdried,hecouldkeephisnakedfeetwarmbythefire,rubbingthematfirst,ofcourse,withsnow。thefirewasasuccess。hewassafe。herememberedtheadviceoftheoldtimeronsulphurcreek,andsmiled。theold-timerhadbeenveryseriousinlayingdownthelawthatnomanmusttravelaloneintheklondikeafterfiftybelow。well,herehewas;hehadhadtheaccident;hewasalone;andhehadsavedhimself。thoseold-timerswereratherwomanish,someofthem,hethought。allamanhadtodowastokeephishead,andhewasallright。anymanwhowasamancouldtravelalone。butitwassurprising,therapiditywithwhichhischeeksandnosewerefreezing。andhehadnotthoughthisfingerscouldgolifelessinsoshortatime。lifelesstheywere,forhecouldscarcelymakethemmovetogethertogripatwig,andtheyseemedremotefromhisbodyandfromhim。whenhetouchedatwig,hehadtolookandseewhetherornothehadholdofit。thewireswereprettywelldownbetweenhimandhisfinger-ends。

allofwhichcountedforlittle。therewasthefire,snappingandcracklingandpromisinglifewitheverydancingflame。hestartedtountiehismoccasins。theywerecoatedwithice;thethickgermansockswerelikesheathsofironhalfwaytotheknees;andthemoccasinstringswerelikerodsofsteelalltwistedandknottedasbysomeconflagration。foramomenthetuggedwithhisnumbfingers,then,realizingthefollyofit,hedrewhissheath-knife。

butbeforehecouldcutthestrings,ithappened。itwashisownfaultor,rather,hismistake。heshouldnothavebuiltthefireunderthesprucetree。heshouldhavebuiltitintheopen。butithadbeeneasiertopullthetwigsfromthebrushanddropthemdirectlyonthefire。nowthetreeunderwhichhehaddonethiscarriedaweightofsnowonitsboughs。nowindhadblownforweeks,andeachboughwasfullyfreighted。eachtimehehadpulledatwighehadcommunicatedaslightagitationtothetree--animperceptibleagitation,sofarashewasconcerned,butanagitationsufficienttobringaboutthedisaster。highupinthetreeoneboughcapsizeditsloadofsnow。thisfellontheboughsbeneath,capsizingthem。thisprocesscontinued,spreadingoutandinvolvingthewholetree。itgrewlikeanavalanche,anditdescendedwithoutwarninguponthemanandthefire,andthefirewasblottedout!whereithadburnedwasamantleoffreshanddisorderedsnow。

themanwasshocked。itwasasthoughhehadjustheardhisownsentenceofdeath。foramomenthesatandstaredatthespotwherethefirehadbeen。thenhegrewverycalm。perhapstheold-timeronsulphurcreekwasright。ifhehadonlyhadatrail-matehewouldhavebeeninnodangernow。thetrail-matecouldhavebuiltthefire。well,itwasuptohimtobuildthefireoveragain,andthissecondtimetheremustbenofailure。evenifhesucceeded,hewouldmostlikelylosesometoeshisfeetmustbebadlyfrozenbynow,andtherewouldbesometimebeforethesecondfirewasready。

suchwerehisthoughts,buthedidnotsitandthinkthem。hewasbusyallthetimetheywerepassingthroughhismind。hemadeanewfoundationforafire,thistimeintheopen,wherenotreacheroustreecouldblotitout。net,hegathereddrygrassesandtinytwigsfromthehigh-waterflotsam。hecouldnotbringhisfingerstogethertopullthemout,buthewasabletogatherthembythehandful。inthiswayhegotmanyrottentwigsandbitsofgreenmossthatwereundesirable,butitwasthebesthecoulddo。heworkedmethodically,evencollectinganarmfulofthelargerbranchestobeusedlaterwhenthefiregatheredstrength。andallthewhilethedogsatandwatchedhim,acertainyearningwistfulnessinitseyes,foritlookeduponhimasthefire-provider,andthefirewasslowincoming。

whenallwasready,themanreachedinhispocketforasecondpieceofbirchbark。heknewthebarkwasthere,and,thoughhecouldnotfeelitwithhisfingers,hecouldhearitscrisprustlingashefumbledforit。tryashewould,hecouldnotclutchholdofit。andallthetimeinhisconsciousness,wastheknowledgethateachinstanthisfeetwerefreezing。thisthoughttendedtoputhiminapanic,buthefoughtagainstitandkeptcalm。hepulledonhismittenswithhisteeth,andthreshedhisarmsbackandforth,beatinghishandswithallhismightagainsthissides。hedidthissittingdown,andhestooduptodoit;andallthewhilethedo,gsatinthesnow,itswolf-brushofatailcurledaroundwarmlyoveritsforefeet,itssharpwolf

ToBuildaFire高校英語作文四

-earsprickedforwardintentlyasitwatchedthemanandtheman,ashebeatandthreshedwithhisarmsandhands,feltagreatsurgeofenvyasheregardedthecreaturethatwaswarmantsecureinitsnaturalcovering。

afteratimehewasawareofthefirstfar-awaysignalsofsensationinhisbeatenfingers。thefainttinglinggrewstrongertillitevolvedintoastingingachethatwasecruciating,butwhichthemanhailedwithsatisfaction。hestrippedthemittenfromhisrighthandandfetchedforththebirchbark。theeposedfingerswerequicklygoingnumbagain。nethebroughtouthisbunchofsulphurmatches。butthetremendouscoldhadalreadydriventhelifeoutofhisfingers。inhisefforttoseparateonematchfromtheothers,thewholebunchfellinthesnow。hetriedtopickitoutofthesnow,butfailed。thedeadfingerscouldneithertouchnorclutch。hewasverycareful。hedrovethethoughtofhisfreezingfeet,andnose,andcheeks,outofhismind,devotinghiswholesoultothematches。hewatched,usingthesenseofvisioninplaceofthatoftouch,andwhenhesawhisfingersoneachsidethebunch,hedosedthem--thatis,hewilledtoclosethem,forthewiresweredown,andthefingersdidnotobey。hepulledthemittenontherighthandandbeatitfiercelyagainsthisknee。then。withbothmittenedhands,hescoopedthebunchofmatches,alongwithmuchsnow,intohislap。yethewasnobetteroff。

aftersomemanipulationhemanagedtogetthebunchbetweentheheelsofhismittenedhands。inthisfashionhecarriedittohismouth。theicecrackledandsnappedwhenbyaviolenteffortheopenedhismouth。hedrewthelowerjawin,curledtheupperlipoutoftheway,andscrapedthebunchwithhisupperteethinordertoseparateamatch。hesucceededingettingone,whichhedroppedonhislap。hewasnobetteroff。hecouldnotpickitup。thenhedevisedaway。hepickeditupinhisteethandscratcheditonhisleg。twentytimeshescratchedbeforehesucceededinlightingit。asitflamedhehelditwithhisteethtothebirchbark。buttheburningbrimstonewentuphisnostrilsandintohislungs,causinghimtocoughspasmodically。thematchfellintothesnowandwentout。

theold-timeransulphurcreekwasright,hethoughtinthemomentofcontrolleddespairthatensuedafterfiftybelow,amanshouldtravelwithapartner。hebeathishands,butfailedinecitinganysensation。suddenlyhebaredbothhands,removingthemittenswithhisteeth。hecaughtthewholebunchbetweentheheelsofhishands。hisarmmusclesnotbeingfrozenenabledhimtopressthehand-heelstightlyagainstthematches。thenhescratchedthebunchalonghislegitflaredintoflame,seventysulphurmatchesatonce!therewasnowindtoblowthemouthekepthish