A Lesson We Can Learn from TO BUILD A FIRE

Song Tianye

Recently, I have read a story named to build a fire, which is the most wonderful collection of Jack London’s short stories.

In this story, a man traveled in the Yukon on an exceedingly cold and grey morning, a big native husky wolf-dog following. He was a newcomer to the Yukon, who planned to meet his friends by six o'clock at an old claim. At the beginning, he didn’t pay much attention to the freezing weather. With time passing, the man realized the danger -----sometimes there were alternate layers of water and ice-skin, so that it’s quite easy for one broke through the ice-skin and wet to the waist.

Unfortunately, his feet got wet and he had to build a fire to warm himself, or his toes would be frozen. His pace of four miles an hour had kept his heart pumping blood to the surface of his body and to all the extremities. But the instant he stopped, the action of the pump eased down.

Then, he succeeded to make a fire. However, before he could cut the frozen strings on his shoes, clumps of snow from the spruce tree above fell down and put out the fire. The man was shocked. It was as though he had just heard his own sentence of death. At that time, he realized that the old-timer’s suggestions were right. If he had a trail-mate, he would be in no danger------the trail-mate would make the fire. After a time, he was aware of the first far-away signals of sensation in his beaten fingers. At last, when he could endure no more, he jerked his hands apart. It was impossible for him to build a fire.

He decided to kill the dog and bury his hands in the warm body until the numbness went out of them. He spoke to the dog, calling it to him, but the dog sidled mincingly

away. The man lost his control. His arms flashed out to the dog and the animal got away at once.

A certain fear of death, dull and oppressive, came to him. He started to run and felt better. However, it was too many miles away. He considered himself a fool, who run around like a chicken with its head cut off. He didn’t belong to himself any more, for even then he was out of himself, standing with the boys who would find his body next day and looking at himself in the snow.

At the end of the story, the man drowsed off into what seemed to him the most

comfortable and satisfying sleep he ever known. He was dead and the dog bristle and back away.

After having read the story, I felt very sad and shocked. It occurs to me that most of us are unwise, like the man in the story, to face the life but gain failure in the end. At the beginning, a man doesn’t know the feeling of fear. He gains knowledge from the school and life. When he meets with various difficulties, he always tries his best to move away the barrier by himself. In this case, he becomes conceited and refuses to cooperate with other people. To the worse, in the future, he may ignore the warnings, which old-timers give to him.

Of course, he will gain failure in the end and give to the life with a sense of regret. Losers are these people who never learn from lessons. In our personal lives, we always read other people’s tragedies, blaming for their mistakes. We put a wild idea into our own heads that we won’t make these kinds of faults. However, we just repeat performing the tragedy for other people. That is to say only when we are trapped into impasses, can we think of old-timers’ advice.

What’s more, as far as I am concerned, besides that we should learn something from lessons, all of us should also recognize the importance of having companies, with

whom we won’t feel lonely or helpless in any case. Living a life is just like take a train. A friend is a gift that you give yourself and the trip will be interesting. At last ,this point is also very important——never want to make the purpose by

sacrifice our friends. If you drop your friend in the danger, don’t pray that he will still company with you. Great friendship is always based on sufferings. On the contrary, we should make true friends.

The life is full of chances. It doesn’t mean that if someone fails once, he will lose the entire life. This story is just a good lesson for us.

I feel lucky to read this story, because of which I can learn so much.

第二篇：to build a fire

ToBuildAFire

Writtenin1908byJackLondon(1876-1916)Thisversionoriginallypublishedin2005byInfomotions,Inc.ThistextwasoriginallygottenfromWiretap,butitseemstohaveoriginatedfromabulletinboardsystemcalledCombatArmsBBS.ThisdocumentisdistributedundertheGNU

PublicLicense.

"Hewasquickandalertinthethingsoflife,butonlyinthethings,andnotinthesignificances."

DAYHADBROKENcoldandgray,exceedinglycoldandgray,whenthemanturnedasidefromthemainYukontrailandclimbedthehighearth-bank,whereadimandlittle-travelledtrailledeastwardthroughthefatsprucetimberland.Itwasasteepbank,andhepausedforbreathatthetop,excusingtheacttohimselfbylookingathiswatch.Itwasnineo'clock.Therewasnosunnorhindofsun,thoughtherewasnotacloudinthesky.Itwasaclearday,andyetthereseemedanintangiblepalloverthefaceofthings,asubtlegloomthatmadethedaydark,andthatwasduetotheabsenceofsun.Thisfactdidnotworrytheman.Hewasusedtothelackofsun.Ithadbeendayssincehehadseenthesun,andheknewthatafewmoredaysmustpassbeforethatcheerfulorb,duesouth,wouldjustpeepabovetheskylineanddipimmediatelyfromview.

Themanflungalookbackalongthewayhehadcome.TheYukonlayamilewideandhiddenunderthreefeetofice.Ontopofthisicewereasmanyfeetofsnow.Itwasallpurewhite,rollingingentleundulationswheretheicejamsofthefreeze-uphad

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formed.Northandsouth,asfarashiseyecouldsee,itwasunbrokenwhite,saveforadarkhairlinethatcurvedandtwistedfromaroundthespruce-coveredislandtothesouth,andthatcurvedandtwistedawayintothenorth,whereitdisappearedbehindanotherspruce-coveredisland.Thisdarkhairlinewasthetrail---themaintrail--thatledsouthfivehundredmilestotheChilcootPass,Dyea,andsaltwater;andthatlednorthseventymilestoDawson,andstillontothenorthathousandmilestoNulato,andfinallytoSt.Michael,onBearingSea,athousandmilesandhalfathousandmore.

Butallthis---themysterious,far-reachinghairlinetrail,theabsenceofsunfromthesky,thetremendouscold,andthestrangenessandweirdnessofitall--madenoimpressionontheman.Itwasnotbecausehewaslongusedtoit.Hewasa

newcomerintheland,a"chechaquo",andthiswashisfirstwinter.Thetroublewithhimwasthathewaswithoutimagination.Hewasquickandalertinthethingsoflife,butonlyinthethings,andnotinthesignificances.Fiftydegreesbelowzeromeanteightyodddegreesoffrost.Suchfactimpressedhimasbeingcoldanduncomfortable,andthatwasall.Itdidnotleadhimtomeditateuponhisfrailtyingeneral,ableonlytolivewithincertainnarrowlimitsofheatandcold;andfromthereonitdidnotleadhimtotheconjecturalfieldofimmortalityandman'splaceintheuniverse.Fiftydegreesbelowzerostoodforabiteoffrostthathurtandthatmustbeguardedagainstbytheuseofmittens,earflaps,warmmoccasins,andthicksocks.Fiftydegreesbelowzerowastohimjustpreciselyfiftydegreesbelowzero.Thatthereshouldbe

anythingmoretoitthanthatwasathoughtthatneverenteredhishead.

Asheturnedtogo,hespatspeculatively.Therewasasharp,explosivecracklethatstartledhim.Hespatagain.Andagain,intheair,beforeitcouldfalltothesnow,thespittlecrackled.Heknewthatatfiftybelowspittlecrackledonthesnow,butthis

spittlehadcrackledintheair.Undoubtedlyitwascolderthanfiftybelow--howmuchcolderhedidnotknow.Butthetemperaturedidnotmatter.HewasboundfortheoldclaimontheleftforkofHendersonCreek,wheretheboyswerealready.TheyhadcomeoveracrossthedividefromtheIndianCreekcountry,whilehehadcometheroundaboutwaytotakealookatthepossibilityofgettingoutlogsinthespringfromtheislandsintheYukon.Hewouldbeintocampbysixo'clock;abitafterdark,itwstrue,buttheboyswouldbethere,afirewouldbegoing,andahotsupperwouldbeready.Asforlunch,hepressedhishandagainsttheprotruding

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bundleunderhisjacket.Itwasalsounderhisshirt,wrappedupinahandkerchiefandlyingagainstthenakedskin.Itwastheonlywaytokeepthebiscuitsfromfreezing.Hesmiledagreeablytohimselfashethoughtofthosebiscuits,eachcutopenandsoppedinbacongrease,andeachenclosingageneroussliceoffriedbacon.

Heplungedinamongthebigsprucetrees.Thetrailwasfaint.Afootofsnowhadfallensincethelastsledhadpassedover,andhewasgladhewaswithoutasled,travellinglight.Infact,hecarriednothingbutthelunchwrappedinthehandkerchief.Hewas

surprised,however,atthecold.Itcertainlywascold,heconcluded,asherubbedhisnumbnoseandcheekboneswithhismittenedhand.Hewasawarm-whiskeredman,butthehaironhisfacedidnotprotectthehighcheekbonesandtheeagernosethatthrustitselfaggressivelyintothefrostyair.

Attheman'sheelstrottedadog,abignativehusky,theproperwolfdog,gray-coatedandwithoutanyvisibleortemperamentaldifferencefromitsbrother,thewildwolf.Theanimalwas

depressedbythetremendouscold.Itknewthatitwasnotimefortravelling.Itsinstincttolditatruertalethanwastoldtothemanbytheman'sjudgement.Inreality,itwasnotmerelycolderthanfiftybelowzero;itwascolderthansixtybelow,thanseventybelow.Itwasseventy-fivebelowzero.Sincethefreezingpointisthirty-twoabovezero,itmeantthatonehundredandsevendegreesoffrostobtained.Thedogdidnotknowanythingaboutthermometers.Possiblyinitsbraintherewasnosharpconsciousnessofa

conditionofverycoldsuchaswasintheman'sbrain.Butthebrutehaditsinstinct.Itexperiencedavaguebutmenacingapprehensionthatsubdueditandmadeitslinkalongattheman'sheels,andthatmadeitquestioneagerlyeveryunwontedmovementofthemanasifexpectinghimtogointocamportoseeksheltersomewhereandbuildafire.Thedoghadlearnedfireanditwantedfire,orelsetoburrowunderthesnowandcuddleitswarmthawayfromtheairThefrozenmoistureofits(i.e.thedog's)breathinghadsettledonitsfurinafinepowderoffrost,andespeciallywereitsjowls,muzzle,andeyelasheswhitenedbyitscrystalledbreath.Theman'sredbeardandmustachewerelikewisefrosted,butmoresolidly,thedeposittakingtheformoficeandincreasingwitheverywarm,moistbreathheexhaled.Also,themanwaschewingtobaccoandthemuzzleoficeheldhislipssorigidlythathewasunabletoclearhischinwhenheexpelledthejuice.Theresultwasthatacrystalbeardofthecolorandsolidityofamberwasincreasingitslengthonhischin.Ifhefelldownitwouldshatteritself,likeglass,intobrittlefragments.Buthedidnotmindtheappendage.Itwasthe

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penaltyalltobaccochewerspaidinthatcountry,andhehadbeenoutbeforeintwocoldsnaps.theyhadnotbeensocoldasthis,heknew,butbythespiritthermometeratSixtyMileheknewtheyhadregisteredatfiftybelowandatfifty-five.

Heheldonthroughthelevelstretchofwoodsforseveralmiles,crossedawideflatofniggerheads,anddroppeddownabanktothefrozenbedofasmallstream.ThiswasHendersonCreek,andheknewhewastenmilesfromtheforks.Helookedathiswatch.Itwasteno'clock.Hewasmakingfourmilesanhour,andhe

calculatedthathewouldarriveattheforksathalf-pasttwelve.Hedecidedtocelebratethateventbyeatinghislunchthere.Thedogdroppedinagainathisheels,withataildroopingdiscouragement,asthemansungalongthecreekbed.Thefurrowoftheoldsledtrailwasplainlyvisible,butadozeninchesofsnowcoveredthemarksofthelastrunners.Inamonthnomanhadcomeupordownthatsilentcreek.Themanheldsteadilyon.Hewasnotmuchgiventothinking,andjustthenparticularlyhehadnothingtothinkaboutsavethathewouldeatlunchattheforksandthatatsixo'clockhewouldbeincampwiththeboys.Therewasnobodytotalkto;and,hadtherebeen,speechwouldhavebeenimpossiblebecauseoftheicemuzzleonhismouth.sohecontinued

monotonouslytochewtobaccoandtoincreasethelengthofhisamberbeard.

Onceinawhilethethoughtreiterateditselfthatitwasverycoldandthathehadneverexperiencedsuchcold.Ashewalkedalongherubbedhischeekbonesandnosewiththebackofhismittenedhand.Hedidthisautomatically,nowandagainchanginghands.But,rubashewould,theinstanthestoppedhischeekboneswentnumb,andthefollowinginstanttheendofhisnosewentnumb.Hewassuretofrosthischeeks;heknewthat,andexperiencedapangofregretthathehadnotdevisedanosestrapofthesortBudworeincoldsnaps.Suchastrappassedacrossthecheeks,aswell,andsavedthem.Butitdidn'tmattermuch,afterall.Whatwerefrostedcheeks?abitpainful,thatwasall;theywereneverserious.Emptyastheman'smindwasofthoughts,hewaskeenly

observant,andhenoticedthechangesinthecreek,thecurvesandbendsandtimberjams,andalwayshesharplynotedwhereheplacedhisfeet.Once,comingaroundabend,heshiedabruptly,likeastartledhorse,curvedawayfromtheplacewherehehadbeenwalking,andretreatedseveralpacesbackalongthetrail.Thecreekheknewwasfrozencleartothebottom---nocreekcouldcontainwaterinthatarcticwinter--butheknewalsothattherewerespringsthatbubbledoutfromthehillsidesandranalong

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underthesnowandontoptheiceofthecreek.Heknewthatthecoldestsnapsneverfrozethesesprings,andheknewlikewisetheirdanger.Theyweretraps.Theyhidpoolsofwaterunderthesnowthatmightbethreeinchesdeep,orthreefeet.Sometimesaskinoficehalfaninchthickcoveredthem,andinturnwascoveredbythesnow.Sometimestherewerealternatelayersofwaterandiceskin,sothatwhenonebrokethroughhekeptonbreakingthroughforawhile,sometimeswettinghimselftothewaist.

Thatwaswhyhehadshiedinsuchpanic.Hehadfeltthegiveunderhisfeetandheardthecrackleofasnow-hiddeniceskin.Andtogethisfeetwetinsuchatemperaturemeanttroubleanddanger.Attheveryleastitmeantdelay,forhewouldbeforcedtostopandbuildafire,andunderitsprotectiontobarehisfeetwhilehedriedhissocksandmoccasins.Hestoodandstudiedthecreekbedanditsbanks,anddecidedthattheflowofwatercamefromtheright.Hereflectedawhile,rubbinghisnoseandcheeks,thenskirtedtotheleft,steppinggingerlyandtestingthefootingforeachstep.Onceclearofthedanger,hetookafreshchewoftobaccoandswungalongathisfour-milegait.ContinuingwithJackLondon's"ToBuildAFire".thedangeroffallingthroughtheicehasbecomeafactor.

Inthecourseofthenexttwohourshecameuponseveralsimilartraps.Usuallythesnowabovethehiddenpoolshadasunken,candiedappearancethatadvertisedthedanger.Onceagain,however,hehadaclosecall;andonce,suspectingdanger,he

compelledthedogtogooninfront.Thedogdidnotwanttogo.Ithungbackuntilthemanshoveditforward,andthenitwentquicklyacrossthewhite,unbrokensurface.Suddenlyitbrokethrough,flounderedtooneside,andgotawaytofirmerfooting.Ithadwetitsforefeetandlegs,andalmostimmediatelythewaterthatclungtoitturnedtoice.Itmadequickeffortstolicktheiceoffitslegs,thendroppeddowninthesnowandbegantobiteouttheicethathadformedbetweenthetoes.Thiswasamatterofinstinct.Topermittheicetoremainwouldmeansorefeet.Itdidnotknowthis.Itmerelyobeyedthemysteriouspromptingthatarosefromthedeepcryptsofitsbeing.Butthemanknew,havingachievedajudgementonthesubject,andheremovedthemittenfromhisrighthandandhelpedtearouttheiceparticles.Hedidnotexposehisfingersmorethanaminute,andwasastonishedattheswift

numbnessthatsmotethem.Itcertainlywascold.Hepulledonthemittenhastily,andbeatthehandsavagelyacrosshischest.

Attwelveo'clockthedaywasatitsbrightest.Yetthesunwastoofarsouthonitswinterjourneytoclearthehorizon.Thebulge

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oftheearthintervenedbetweenitandHendersonCreek,wherethemanwalkedunderaclearskyatnoonandcastnoshadow.Athalf-pasttwelve,totheminute,hearrivedattheforksofthecreek.Hewaspleasedatthespeedhehadmade.Ifhekeptitup,hewouldcertainlybewiththeboysbysix.Heunbuttonedhisjacketandshirtanddrewforthhislunch.Theactionconsumednomorethanaquarterofaminute,yetinthatbriefmomentthenumbnesslaidholdofhisexposedfingers.Hedidnotputthemittenon,but,instead,struckthefingersadozensharpsmashesagainsthisleg.Thenhesatdownonasnow-coveredlogtoeat.Thestingthatfolloweduponthestrikingofhisfingersagainsthislegceasedsoquicklythathewasstartled.Hehadhadnochancetotakeabitofbiscuit.Hestruckthefingersrepeatedlyandreturnedthemtothemitten,baringtheotherhandforthepurposeofeating.Hetriedtotakeamouthful,buttheicemuzzleprevented.Hehadforgottentobuildafireandthawout.Hechuckledathisfoolishness,andashechuckledhenotedthatthestingingwhichhadfirstcometohistoeswhenhesatdownwasalreadypassingaway.Hewondered

whetherthetoeswerewarmornumb.Hemovedtheminsidethemoccasinsanddecidedthattheywerenumb.

Hepulledthemittenonhurriedlyandstoodup.Hewasabitfrightened.Hestampedupanddownuntilthestingingreturnedtohisfeet.Itcertainlywascold,washisthought.ThatmanfromSulpherCreekhadspokenthetruthwhentellinghowcolditsometimesgotinthecountry.Andhehadlaughedathimatthetime!Thatshowedonemustnotbetoosureofthings.Therewasnomistakeaboutit,it*was*cold.Hestrodeupanddown,stampinghisfeetandthreshinghisarms,untilreassuredbythereturningwarmth.Thenhegotoutmatchesandproceededtomakeafire.>Fromtheundergrowth,wherehighwaterofthepreviousspringhadlodgedasupplyofseasonedtwigs,hegothisfirewood.Workingcarefullyfromasmallbeginning,hesoonhadaroaringfire,overwhichhethawedtheicefromhisfaceandinthe

protectionofwhichheatehisbiscuits.Forthemomentthecoldofspacewasoutwitted.Thedogtooksatisfactioninthefire,

stretchingoutcloseenoughforwarmthandfarenoughawaytoescapebeingsinged.

Whenthemanhadfinished,hefilledhispipeandtookhiscomfortabletimeoverasmoke.Thenhepulledonhismittens,settledtheearflapsofhiscapfirmlyabouthisears,andtookthecreektrailuptheleftfork.Thedogwasdisappointedandyearnedbacktowardthefire.Themandidnotknowcold.Possiblyallthegenerationsofhisancestryhadbeenignorantofcold,ofrealcold,

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ofcoldonehundredandsevendegreesbelowfreezingpoint.Butthedogknew;allitsancestryknew,andithadinheritedtheknowledge.Anditknewthatitwasnotgoodtowalkabroadinsuchfearfulcold.Itwasthetimetoliesnuginaholeinthesnowandwaitforacurtainofcloudtobedrawnacrossthefaceofouterspacewhencethiscoldcame.Ontheotherhand,therewasnokeenintimacybetweenthedogandtheman.Theonewasthetoilslaveoftheother,andtheonlycaressesithadeverreceivedwerethecaressesofthewhiplashandofharshandmenacingthroatsoundsthatthreatenedthewhiplash.Sothedogmadenoeffortto

communicateitsapprehensiontotheman.Itwasnotconcernedinthewelfareoftheman;itwasforitsownsakethatityearnedbacktowardthefire.Butthemanwhistled,andspoketoitwiththesoundofwhiplashes,andthedogswunginattheman'sheelsandfollowedafter.

Themantookachewoftobaccoandproceededtostartanewamberbeard.Also,hismoistbreathquicklypowderedwithwhitehismustache,eyebrows,andlashes.TheredidnotseemtobesomanyspringsontheleftforkoftheHenderson,andforhalfanhourthemansawnosignsofany.Andthenithappened.Ataplacewheretherewerenosigns,wherethesoft,unbrokensnowseemedtoadvertisesoliditybeneath,themanbrokethrough.Itwasnotdeep.Hewethimselfhalfwaytothekneesbeforeheflounderedouttothefirmcrust.

Hewasangry,andcursedhisluckaloud.Hehadhopedtogetintocampwiththeboysatsixo'clock,andthiswoulddelayhimanhour,forhewouldhavetobuildafireanddryouthisfootgear.Thiswasimperativeatthatlowtemperature--forheknewthatmuch;andheturnedasidetothebank,whichheclimbed.Ontop,tangledintheunderbrushaboutthetrunksofseveralsmallsprucetrees,wasahighwaterdepositofdryfirewood--sticksandtwigs,principally,butalsolargerportionsofseasonedbranchesandfine,dry,lastyear'sgrasses.Hethrewdownseverallargepiecesontopofthesnow.Thisservedforafoundationandpreventedtheyoungflamefromdrowningitselfinthesnowitotherwisewouldmelt.Theflamehegotbytouchingamatchtoasmallshredofbirchbarkthathetookfromhispocket.Thisburnedevenmorereadilythanpaper.Placingitonthefoundation,hefedtheyoungflamewithwispsofdrygrassandwiththetiniestdrytwigs.

Heworkedslowlyandcarefully,keenlyawareofhisdanger.Gradually,astheflamegrewstronger,heincreasedthesizeofthetwigswithwhichhefedit.Hesquattedinthesnow,pullingthetwigsoutfromtheirentanglementinthebrushandfeedingdirectly

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totheflame.Heknewtheremustbenofailure.Whenitis

seventy-fivebelowzero,amanmustnotfailinhisfirstattempttobuildafire---thatis,ifhisfeetarewet.Ifhisfeetaredry,andhefails,hecanrunalongthetrailforhalfamileandrestorehiscirculation.Butthecirculationofwetandfreezingfeetcannotberestoredbyrunningwhenitisseventy-fivebelow.Nomatterhowfastheruns,thewetfeetwillfreezetheharder.

Allthisthemanknew.Theold-timeronSulphurCreekhadtoldhimaboutitthepreviousfall,andnowhewasappreciatingtheadvice.Alreadyallsensationhadgoneoutofhisfeet.Tobuildthefirehehadbeenforcedtoremovehismittens,andthefingershadquicklygonenumb.Hispaceoffourmilesanhourhadkepthisheartpumpingbloodtothesurfaceofhisbodyandtoalltheextremities.Buttheinstanthestopped,theactionofthepumpeaseddown.Thecoldofspacesmotetheunprotectedtipoftheplanet,andhe,beingonthatunprotectedtip,receivedthefullforceoftheblow.thebloodofhisbodyrecoiledbeforeit.Thebloodwasalive,likethedog,andlikethedogitwantedtohideawayandcoveritselfupfromthefearfulcold.Solongashewalkedfourmilesanhour,hepumpedthatblood,willy-nilly,tothesurface;butnowitebbedawayandsankdownintotherecessesofhis

body.Theextremitieswerethefirsttofeelitsabsence.Hiswetfeetfrozethefaster,andhisexposedfingersnumbedthefaster,thoughtheyhadnotyetbeguntofreeze.Noseandcheekswerealreadyfreezing,whiletheskinofallhisbodychilledasitlostitsblood.Buthewassafe.Toesandnoseandcheekswouldbeonlytouchedbythefrost,forthefirewasbeginningtoburnwithstrength.Hewasfeedingitwithtwigsthesizeofhisfinger.Inanotherminutehewouldbeabletofeeditwithbranchesthesizeofhiswrist,andthenhecouldremovehiswetfootgear,and,whileitdried,hecouldkeephisnakedfeetwarmbythefire,rubbingthematfirst,ofcourse,withsnow.Thefirewasasuccess.Hewassafe.Herememberedtheadviceoftheold-timeronSulphurCreek,andsmiled.Theold-timerhadbeenveryseriousinlayingdownthelawthatnomanmusttravelaloneintheKlondikeafterfiftybelow.Well,herehewas;hehadhadtheaccident;hewasalone;andhehadsavedhimself.Thoseold-timerswererather

womanish,someofthem,hethought.Allamanhadtodowastokeephishead,andhewasallright.Anymanwhowasamancouldtravelalone.Butitwassurprising,therapiditywithwhichhischeeksandnosewerefreezing.Andhehadnotthoughthisfingerscouldgolifelessinsoshortatime.Lifelesstheywere,forhecouldscarcelymakethemmovetogethertogripatwig,andtheyseemed

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remotefromhisbodyandfromhim.Whenhetouchedatwig,hehadtolookandseewhetherornothehadholdofit.Thewireswereprettywelldownbetweenhimandhisfingerends.

Allofwhichcountedforlittle.Therewasthefire,snappingandcracklingandpromisinglifewitheverydancingflame.Hestartedtountiehismoccasins.Theywerecoatedwithice;thethick

Germansockswerelikesheathsofironhalfwaytotheknees;andthemoccasinstringswerelikerodsofsteelalltwistedandknottedasbysomeconflagration.Foramomenthetuggedwithhisnumbfingers,then,realizingthefollyofit,hedrewhissheathknife.Butbeforehecouldcutthestrings,ithappened.Itwashisownfaultor,rather,hismistake.Heshouldnothavebuiltthefireunderthesprucetree.Heshouldhavebuiltitintheopen.Butithadbeeneasiertopullthetwigsfromthebrushanddropthemdirectlyonthefire.Nowthetreeunderwhichhehaddonethiscarrieda

weightofsnowonitsboughs.Nowindhadblownforweeks,andeachboughwasfullyfreighted.Eachtimehehadpulledonatwighehadcommunicatedaslightagitationtothetree--an

imperceptibleagitation,sofarashewasconcerned,butan

agitationsufficienttobringaboutthedisaster.Highupinthetreeoneboughcapsizeditsloadofsnow.Thisfellontheboughs

beneath,capsizingthem.Thisprocesscontinued,spreadingoutandinvolvingthewholetree.Itgrewlikeanavalanche,andit

descendedwithoutwarninguponthemanandthefire,andthefirewasblottedout!Whereithadburnedwasamantleoffreshanddisorderedsnow.

Themanwasshocked.Itwasasthoughhehadjustheardhisownsentenceofdeath.Foramomenthesatandstaredatthespotwherethefirehadbeen.Thenhegrewverycalm.Perhapstheold-timeronSulphurCreekwasright.Ifhehadonlyhadatrailmatehewouldhavebeeninnodangernow.Thetrailmatecouldhavebuiltthefire.Well,itwasuptohimtobuildafireoveragain,andthissecondtimetheremustbenofailure.Evenifhesucceeded,hewouldmostlikelylosesometoes.Hisfeetmustbebadlyfrozenbynow,andtherewouldbesometimebeforethesecondfirewasready.

Suchwerehisthoughts,buthedidnotsitandthinkthem.Hewasbusyallthetimetheywerepassingthroughhismind.Hemadeanewfoundationforafire,thistimeintheopen,wherenotreacheroustreecouldblotitout.Nexthegathereddrygrassesandtinytwigsfromthehighwaterflotsam.Hecouldnotbringhis

fingerstogethertopullthemout,buthewasabletogatherthembythehandful.Inthiswayhegotmanyrottentwigsandbitsofgreen

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mossthatwereundesirable,butitwasthebesthecoulddo.Heworkedmethodically,evencollectinganarmfulofthelargerbranchestobeusedlaterwhenthefiregatheredstrength.Andallthewhilethedogsatandwatchedhim,acertainyearning

wistfulnessinitseyes,foritlookeduponhimasthefireprovider,andthefirewasslowincoming.

Whenallwasready,themanreachedinhispocketforasecondpieceofbirchbark.Heknewthebarkwasthere,and,thoughhecouldnotfeelitwithhisfingers,hecouldhearitscrisprustlingashefumbledforit.Tryashewould,hecouldnotclutchholdofit.Andallthetime,inhisconsciousness,wastheknowledgethateachinstanthisfeetwerefreezing.Thisthoughttendedtoputhiminapanic,buthefoughtagainstitandkeptcalm.Hepulledonhismittenswithhisteeth,andthrashedhisarmsbackandforth,beatinghishandswithallhismightagainsthissides.Hedidthissittingdown,andhestooduptodoit;andallthewhilethedogsatinthesnow,itswolfbrushofatailcurledaroundwarmlyoveritsforefeet,itssharpwolfearsprickedforwardintentlyasitwatchedtheman.Andtheman,ashebeatandthreshedwithhisarmsandhands,feltagreatsurgeofenvyasheregardedthecreaturethatwaswarmandsecureinitsnaturalcovering.

Afteratimehewasawareofthefirstfarawaysignalsof

sensationinhisbeatenfingers.Thefainttinglinggrewstrongertillitevolvedintoastingingachethatwasexcruciating,butwhichthemanhailedwithsatisfaction.Hestrippedthemittenfromhisrighthandandfetchedforththebirchbark.Theexposedfingerswerequicklygoingnumbagain.Nexthebroughtouthisbunchofsulphurmatches.Butthetremendouscoldhadalreadydriventhelifeoutofhisfingers.Inhisefforttoseparateonematchfromtheothers,thewholebunchfellinthesnow.Hetriedtopickitoutofthesnow,butfailed.Thedeadfingerscouldneithertouchnorclutch.Hewasverycareful.Hedrovethethoughtofhisfreezingfeet,andnose,andcheeks,outofhismind,devotinghiswholesoultothematches.Hewatched,usingthesenseofvisioninplaceofthatoftouch,andwhenhesawhisfingersoneachsidethebunch,heclosedthem--thatis,hewilledtoclosethem,forthewiresweredown,andthefingersdidnotobey.Hepulledthemittenontherighthand,andbeatitfiercelyagainsthisknee.

Then,withbothmittenedhands,hescoopedthebunchofmatches,alongwithmuchsnow,intohislap.Yethewasnobetteroff.Aftersomemanipulationhemanagedtogetthebunchbetweentheheelsofhismittenedhands.Inthisfashionhecarriedittohismouth.Theicecrackledandsnappedwhenbyaviolentefforthe

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openedhismouth.Hedrewthelowerjawin,curledtheupperlipoutoftheway,andscrapedthebunchwithhisupperteethinordertoseparateamatch.Hesucceededingettingone,whichhe

droppedonhislap.Hewasnobetteroff.Hecouldnotpickitup.Thenhedevisedaway.Hepickeditupinhisteethandscratcheditonhisleg.Twentytimeshescratchedbeforehesucceededinlightingit.Asifflamedhehelditwithhisteethtothebirchbark.Buttheburningbrimstonewentuphisnostrilsandintohislungs,causinghimtocoughspasmodically.Thematchfellintothesnowandwentout.

Theold-timeronSulphurCreekwasright,hethoughtinthemomentofcontrolleddespairthatensued:afterfiftybelow,amanshouldtravelwithapartner.Hebeathishands,butfailedinexcitinganysensation.Suddenlyhebaredbothhands,removingthemittenswithhisteeth.Hecaughtthewholebunchbetweentheheelsofhishands.Hisarmmusclesnotbeingfrozenenabledhimtopressthehandheelstightlyagainstthematches.Thenhescratchedthebunchalonghisleg.Itflaredintoflame,seventysulphurmatchesatonce!Therewasnowindtoblowthemout.Hekepthisheadtoonesidetoescapethestranglingfumes,andheldtheblazingbundletothebirchbark.Ashesoheldit,hebecameawareofsensationinhishand.Hisfleshwsburning.Hecouldsmellit.Deepdownbelowthesurfacehecouldfeelit.The

sensationdevelopedintopainthatgrewacute.Andstillheenduredit,holdingtheflameofthematchesclumsilytothebarkthatwouldnotlightreadilybecausehisownburninghandswereintheway,absorbingmostoftheflame.

Atlast,whenhecouldendurenomore,hejerkedhishands

apart.Theblazingmatchesfellsizzlingintothesnow,butthebirchbarkwasalight.Hebeganlayingdrygrassesandthetiniesttwigsontheflame.Hecouldnotpickandchoose,forhehadtoliftthefuelbetweentheheelsofhishands.Smallpiecesofrottenwoodandgreenmossclungtothetwigs,andhebitthemoffaswellashecouldwithhisteeth.Hecherishedtheflamecarefullyandawkwardly.Itmeantlife,anditmustnotperish.Thewithdrawalofbloodfromthesurfaceofhisbodynowmadehimbegintoshiver,andhegrewmoreawkward.Alargepieceofgreenmossfellsquarelyonthelittlefire.Hetriedtopokeitwithhisfingers,buthisshiveringframemadehimpoketoofar,andhedisruptedthenucleusofthelittlefire,theburninggrassesandtinytwigsseparatingandscattering.Hetriedtopokethemtogetheragain,butinspiteofthetensenessoftheeffort,hisshiveringgotawaywithhim,andthetwigswerehopelesslyscattered.Eachtwiggusheda

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puffofsmokeandwentout.Thefireproviderhadfailed.Ashelookedapatheticallyabouthim,hiseyeschancedonthedog,sittingacrosstheruinsofthefirefromhim,inthesnow,makingrestless,hunchingmovements,slightlyliftingoneforefootandthentheother,shiftingitsweightbackandforthonthemwithwistfuleagerness.

Thesightofthedogputawildideaintohishead.He

rememberedthetaleoftheman,caughtinablizzard,whokilledasteerandcrawledinsidethecarcass,andsowassaved.Hewouldkillthedogandburyhishandsinthewarmbodyuntilthe

numbnesswentoutofthem.Thenhecouldbuildanotherfire.Hespoketothedog,callingittohim;butinhisvoicewasastrangenoteoffearthatfrightenedtheanimal,whohadneverknownthemantospeakinsuchawaybefore.somethingwasthematter,anditssuspiciousnaturesenseddanger-itknewnotwhatdanger,butsomewhere,somehow,initsbrainaroseanapprehensionoftheman.Itflatteneditsearsdownatthesoundoftheman'svoice,anditsrestless,hunchingmovementsandliftingsandshiftingsofitsforefeetbecamemorepronounced;butitwouldnotcometotheman.Hegotonhishandsandkneesandcrawledtowardthedog.Thisunusualpostureagainexcitedsuspicion,andtheanimalsidledmincinglyaway.

Themansatupinthesnowforamomentandstruggledfor

calmness.Thenhepulledonhismittens,bymeansofhisteeth,andgotuponhisfeet.Heglanceddownatfirstinordertoassure

himselfthathewasreallystandingup,fortheabsenceofsensationinhisfeetlefthimunrelatedtotheearth.Hiserectpositioninitselfstartedtodrivethewebsofsuspicionfromthedog'smind;andwhenhespokeperemptorily,withthesoundofwhiplashesinhisvoice,thedogrendereditscustomaryallegianceandcametohim.Asitcamewithinreachingdistance,themanlosthiscontrol.Hisarmsflashedouttothedog,andheexperiencedgenuinesurprisewhenhediscoveredthathishandscouldnotclutch,thattherewasneitherbendnorfeelinginthefingers.Hehadforgottenforthemomentthattheywerefrozenandthattheywerefreezingmoreandmore.Allthishappenedquickly,andbeforetheanimalcouldgetaway,heencircleditsbodywithhisarms.Hesatdowninthesnow,andinthisfashionheldthedog,whileitsnarledandwhinedandstruggled.

Butitwasallhecoulddo,holditsbodyencircledinhisarmsandsitthere.Herealizedthathecouldnotkillthedog.Therewasnowaytodoit.Withhishelplesshandshecouldneitherdrawnorholdhissheathknifenorthrottletheanimal.Hereleasedit,andit

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plungedwildlyaway,withtailbetweenitslegs,andstillsnarling.Ithaltedfortyfeetawaysurveyedhimcuriously,withearssharplyprickedforward.

Themanlookeddownathishandsinordertolocatethem,andfoundthemhangingontheendsofhisarms.Itstruckhimascuriousthatoneshouldhavetousehiseyesinordertofindoutwherehishandswere.Hebeganthreshinghisarmsbackandforth,beatingthemittenedhandsagainsthissides.Hedidthisforfiveminutes,violently,andhisheartpumpedenoughblooduptothesurfacetoputastoptohisshivering.Butnosensationwasarousedinhishands.Hehadanimpressionthattheyhunglikeweightsontheendsofhisarms,butwhenhetriedtoruntheimpressiondown,hecouldnotfindit.

Acertainfearofdeath,dullandoppressive,cametohim.Thisfearquicklybecamepoignantasherealizedthatitwasnolongeramerematteroffreezinghisfingersandtoes,oroflosinghishandsandfeet,butthatitwasamatteroflifeanddeathwiththechancesagainsthim.Thisthrewhimintoapanic,andheturnedandranupthecreekbedalongtheold,dimtrail.Thedogjoinedinbehindandkeptupwithhim.Heranblindly,withoutintention,infearsuchashehadneverknowninhislife.

Slowly,asheplowedandflounderedthroughthesnow,hebegantoseethingsagain--thebanksofthecreek,theoldtimberjams,theleaflessaspens,andthesky.therunningmadehimfeelbetter.Hedidnotshiver.Maybe,ifheranon,hisfeetwouldthawout;and,anyway,ifheranfarenough,hewouldreachcampandtheboys.Withoutdoubthewouldlosesomefingersandtoesandsomeofhisface;buttheboyswouldtakecareofhim,andsavetherestofhimwhenhegotthere.Andatthesametimetherewasanotherthoughtinhismindthatsaidhewouldnevergettothecampandtheboys;thatitwastoomanymilesaway,thatthefreezinghadtoogreatastartonhim,andthathewouldsoonbestiffanddead.Thisthoughthekeptinthebackgroundandrefusedtoconsider.Sometimesitpusheditselfforwardanddemandedtobeheard,buthethrustitbackandstrovetothinkofotherthings.Itstruckhimascuriousthathecouldrunatallonfeetsofrozenthathecouldnotfeelthemwhentheystrucktheearthandtooktheweightofhisbody.Heseemedtohimselftoskimalongabovethesurface,andtohavenoconnectionwiththeearth.SomewherehehadonceseenawingedMercury,andhewonderedifMercuryfeltashefeltwhenskimmingovertheearth.

Histheoryofrunninguntilhereachedcampandtheboyshadoneflawinit;helackedtheendurance.Severaltimeshestumbled,

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andfinallyhetottered,crumpledup,andfell.Whenhetriedtorise,hefailed.Hemustsitandrest,hedecided,andnexttimehewouldmerelywalkandkeepongoing.Ashesatandregainedhisbreath,henotedthathewasfeelingquitewarmandcomfortable.Hewasnotshivering,anditevenseemedthatawarmglowhadcometohischestandtrunk.Andyet,whenhetouchedhisnoseorcheeks,therewasnosensation.Runningwouldnotthawthemout.Norwoulditthawouthishandsandfeet.Thenthethoughtcametohimthatthefrozenportionsofhisbodymustbeextending.Hetriedtokeepthisthoughtdown,toforgetit,tothinkofsomethingelse;hewasawareofthepanickyfeelingthatitcaused,andhewasafraidofthepanic.Butthethoughtasserteditself,andpersisted,untilitproducedavisionofhisbodytotallyfrozen.Thiswastoomuch,andhemadeanotherwildrunalongthetrail.Oncehesloweddowntoawalk,butthethoughtofthefreezingextendingitselfmadehimrunagain.

Andallthetimethedogranwithhim,athisheels.Whenhefelldownasecondtime,itcurleditstailoveritsforefeetandsatinfrontofhim,facinghim,curiouslyeagerandintent.Thewarmthandsecurityoftheanimalangeredhim,andhecursedittillitflatteneddownitsearsappeasingly.Thistimetheshiveringcamemorequicklyupontheman.Hewaslosinghisbattlewiththefrost.Itwascreepingintohisbodyfromallsides.Thethoughtofitdrovehimon,butherannomorethanahundredfeet,whenhestaggeredandpitchedheadlong.Itwashislastpanic.Whenhehadrecoveredhisbreathandcontrol,hesatupandentertainedinhismindtheconceptionofmeetingdeathwithdignity.However,theconceptiondidnotcometohiminsuchterms.Hisideaofitwasthathehadbeenmakingafoolofhimself,runningaroundlikeachickenwithitsheadcutoff--suchwasthesimilethatoccurredtohim.Well,hewasboundtofreezeanyway,andhemightaswelltakeitdecently.Withthisnew-foundpeaceofmindcamethefirstglimmeringsofdrowsiness.Agoodidea,hethought,tosleepofftodeath.Itwasliketakingananesthetic.Freezingwasnotsobadapeoplethought.Therewerelotsworsewaystodie.

Hepicturedtheboysfindinghisbodynextday.Suddenlyhefoundhimselfwiththem,comingalongthetrailandlookingforhimself.And,stillwiththem,hecamearoundaturninthetrailandfoundhimselflyinginthesnow.Hedidnotbelongwithhimselfanymore,foreventhenhewasoutofhimself,standingwiththeboysandlookingathimselfinthesnow.Itcertainlywascold,washisthought.WhenhegotbacktotheStateshecouldtellthefolkswhatrealcoldwas.Hedriftedonfromthistoavisionofthe

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old-timeronSulphurCreek.Hecouldseehimquiteclearly,warmandcomfortable,andsmokingapipe.

Thenthemandrowsedoffintowhatseemedtohimthemostcomfortableandsatisfyingsleephehadeverknown.Thedogsatfacingandwaiting.Thebriefdaydrewtoacloseinalong,slowtwilight.Therewerenosignsofafiretobemade,and,besides,neverinthedog'sexperiencehaditknownamantositlikethatinthesnowandmakenofire.Asthetwilightdrewon,itseageryearningforthefiremasteredit,andwithagreatliftingandshiftingofforefeet,itwhinedsoftly,thenflattenedoutitsearsdowninanticipationofbeingchiddenbytheman.Butthemanremainedsilent.Laterthedogwhinedloudly.Andstilllaterit

creptclosetothemanandcaughtthescentofdeath.Thismadetheanimalbristleandbackaway.Alittlelongeritdelayed,howlingunderthestarsthatleapedanddancedandshonebrightlyinthecoldsky.Thenitturnedandtrottedupthetrailinthedirectionofthecampitknew,whereweretheotherfoodprovidersandfireproviders.

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