T高中生经典英文小说阅读欣赏与写作系列To Build a Fire

T高中生经典英文小说阅读欣赏与写作系列ToBuildaFireToBuildaFireby JackLondonDayhadbrokencoldandgrey,exceedinglycoldandgrey,whenthemanturnedasidefromthemainYukontrailandclimbedthehighearth-bank,whereadimandlittle-travelledtrailledeastwardthroughthefatsprucetimberland.Itwasasteepbank,andhepausedforbreathatthetop,excusingtheacttohimselfbylookingathiswatch.Itwasnineo'clock.Therewasnosunnorhintofsun,thoughtherewasnotacloudinthesky.Itwasaclearday,andyetthereseemedanintangiblepalloverthefaceofthings,asubtlegloomthatmadethedaydark,andthatwasduetotheabsenceofsun.Thisfactdidnotworrytheman.Hewasusedtothelackofsun.Ithadbeendayssincehehadseenthesun,andheknewthatafewmoredaysmustpassbeforethatcheerfulorb,duesouth,wouldjustpeepabovethesky-lineanddipimmediatelyfromview.Themanflungalookbackalongthewayhehadcome.TheYukonlayamilewideandhiddenunderthreefeetofice.Ontopofthisicewereasmanyfeetofsnow.Itwasallpurewhite,rollingingentleundulationswheretheice-jamsofthefreeze-uphadformed.Northandsouth,asfarashiseyecouldsee,itwasunbrokenwhite,saveforadarkhair-linethatcurvedandtwistedfromaroundthespruce-coveredislandtothesouth,andthatcurvedandtwistedawayintothenorth,whereitdisappearedbehindanotherspruce-coveredisland.Thisdarkhair-linewasthetrail--themaintrail--thatledsouthfivehundredmilestotheChilcootPass,Dyea,andsaltwater;andthatlednorthseventymilestoDawson,andstillontothenorthathousandmilestoNulato,andfinallytoSt.MichaelonBeringSea,athousandmilesandhalfathousandmore.Butallthis--themysterious,far-reachinghairlinetrail,theabsenceofsunfromthesky,thetremendouscold,andthestrangenessandweirdnessofitall--madenoimpressionontheman.Itwasnotbecausehewaslongusedtoit.Hewasanew-comerintheland,achechaquo,andthiswashisfirstwinter.Thetroublewithhimwasthathewaswithoutimagination.Hewasquickandalertinthethingsoflife,butonlyinthethings,andnotinthesignificances.Fiftydegreesbelowzeromeanteightyodddegreesoffrost.Suchfactimpressedhimasbeingcoldanduncomfortable,andthatwasall.Itdidnotleadhimtomeditateuponhisfrailtyasacreatureoftemperature,anduponman'sfrailtyingeneral,ableonlytolivewithincertainnarrowlimitsofheatandcold;andfromthereonitdidnotleadhimtotheconjecturalfieldofimmortalityandman'splaceintheuniverse.Fiftydegreesbelowzerostoodforabiteoffrostthathurtandthatmustbeguardedagainstbytheuseofmittens,ear-flaps,warmmoccasins,andthicksocks.Fiftydegreesbelowzerowastohimjustpreciselyfiftydegreesbelowzero.Thatthereshouldbeanythingmoretoitthanthatwasathoughtthatneverenteredhishead.Asheturnedtogoon,hespatspeculatively.Therewasasharp,explosivecracklethatstartledhim.Hespatagain.Andagain,intheair,beforeitcouldfalltothesnow,thespittlecrackled.Heknewthatatfiftybelowspittlecrackledonthesnow,butthisspittlehadcrackledintheair.Undoubtedlyitwascolderthanfiftybelow--howmuchcolderhedidnotknow.Butthetemperaturedidnotmatter.HewasboundfortheoldclaimontheleftforkofHendersonCreek,wheretheboyswerealready.TheyhadcomeoveracrossthedividefromtheIndianCreekcountry,whilehehadcometheroundaboutwaytotakealookatthepossibilitiesofgettingoutlogsinthespringfromtheislandsintheYukon.Hewouldbeintocampbysixo'clock;abitafterdark,itwastrue,buttheboyswouldbethere,afirewouldbegoing,andahotsupperwouldbeready.Asforlunch,hepressedhishandagainsttheprotrudingbundleunderhisjacket.Itwasalsounderhisshirt,wrappedupinahandkerchiefandlyingagainstthenakedskin.Itwastheonlywaytokeepthebiscuitsfromfreezing.Hesmiledagreeablytohimselfashethoughtofthosebiscuits,eachcutopenandsoppedinbacongrease,andeachenclosingageneroussliceoffriedbacon.Heplungedinamongthebigsprucetrees.Thetrailwasfaint.Afootofsnowhadfallensincethelastsledhadpassedover,andhewasgladhewaswithoutasled,travellinglight.Infact,hecarriednothingbutthelunchwrappedinthehandkerchief.Hewassurprised,however,atthecold.Itcertainlywascold,heconcluded,asherubbedhisnumbednoseandcheek-boneswithhismittenedhand.Hewasawarm-whiskeredman,butthehaironhisfacedidnotprotectthehighcheek-bonesandtheeagernosethatthrustitselfaggressivelyintothefrostyair.Attheman'sheelstrottedadog,abignativehusky,theproperwolf-dog,grey-coatedandwithoutanyvisibleortemperamentaldifferencefromitsbrother,thewildwolf.Theanimalwasdepressedbythetremendouscold.Itknewthatitwasnotimefortravelling.Itsinstincttolditatruertalethanwastoldtothemanbytheman'sjudgment.Inreality,itwasnotmerelycolderthanfiftybelowzero;itwascolderthansixtybelow,thanseventybelow.Itwasseventy-fivebelowzero.Sincethefreezing-pointisthirty-twoabovezero,itmeantthatonehundredandsevendegreesoffrostobtained.Thedogdidnotknowanythingaboutthermometers.Possiblyinitsbraintherewasnosharpconsciousnessofaconditionofverycoldsuchaswasintheman'sbrain.Butthebrutehaditsinstinct.Itexperiencedavaguebutmenacingapprehensionthatsubdueditandmadeitslinkalongattheman'sheels,andthatmadeitquestioneagerlyeveryunwontedmovementofthemanasifexpectinghimtogointocamportoseeksheltersomewhereandbuildafire.Thedoghadlearnedfire,anditwantedfire,orelsetoburrowunderthesnowandcuddleitswarmthawayfromtheair.Thefrozenmoistureofitsbreathinghadsettledonitsfurinafinepowderoffrost,andespeciallywereitsjowls,muzzle,andeyelasheswhitenedbyitscrystalledbreath.Theman'sredbeardandmoustachewerelikewisefrosted,butmoresolidly,thedeposittakingtheformoficeandincreasingwitheverywarm,moistbreathheexhaled.Also,themanwaschewingtobacco,andthemuzzleoficeheldhislipssorigidlythathewasunabletoclearhischinwhenheexpelledthejuice.Theresultwasthatacrystalbeardofthecolourandsolidityofamberwasincreasingitslengthonhischin.Ifhefelldownitwouldshatteritself,likeglass,intobrittlefragments.Buthedidnotmindtheappendage.Itwasthepenaltyalltobacco-chewerspaidinthatcountry,andhehadbeenoutbeforeintwocoldsnaps.Theyhadnotbeensocoldasthis,heknew,butbythespiritthermometeratSixtyMileheknewtheyhadbeenregisteredatfiftybelowandatfifty-five.Heheldonthroughthelevelstretchofwoodsforseveralmiles,crossedawideflatofnigger-heads,anddroppeddownabanktothefrozenbedofasmallstream.ThiswasHendersonCreek,andheknewhewastenmilesfromtheforks.Helookedathiswatch.Itwasteno'clock.Hewasmakingfourmilesanhour,andhecalculatedthathewouldarriveattheforksathalf-pasttwelve.Hedecidedtocelebratethateventbyeatinghislunchthere.Thedogdroppedinagainathisheels,withataildroopingdiscouragement,asthemanswungalongthecreek-bed.Thefurrowoftheoldsled-trailwasplainlyvisible,butadozeninchesofsnowcoveredthemarksofthelastrunners.Inamonthnomanhadcomeupordownthatsilentcreek.Themanheldsteadilyon.Hewasnotmuchgiventothinking,andjustthenparticularlyhehadnothingtothinkaboutsavethathewouldeatlunchattheforksandthatatsixo'clockhewouldbeincampwiththeboys.Therewasnobodytotalktoand,hadtherebeen,speechwouldhavebeenimpossiblebecauseoftheice-muzzleonhismouth.Sohecontinuedmonotonouslytochewtobaccoandtoincreasethelengthofhisamberbeard.Onceinawhilethethoughtreiterateditselfthatitwasverycoldandthathehadneverexperiencedsuchcold.Ashewalkedalongherubbedhischeek-bonesandnosewiththebackofhismittenedhand.Hedidthisautomatically,nowandagainchanginghands.Butrubashewould,theinstanthestoppedhischeek-boneswentnumb,andthefollowinginstanttheendofhisnosewentnumb.Hewassuretofrosthischeeks;heknewthat,andexperiencedapangofregretthathehadnotdevisedanose-strapofthesortBudworeincoldsnaps.Suchastrappassedacrossthecheeks,aswell,andsavedthem.Butitdidn'tmattermuch,afterall.Whatwerefrostedcheeks?Abitpainful,thatwasall;theywereneverserious.Emptyastheman'smindwasofthoughts,hewaskeenlyobservant,andhenoticedthechangesinthecreek,thecurvesandbendsandtimber-jams,andalwayshesharplynotedwhereheplacedhisfeet.Once,comingaroundabend,heshiedabruptly,likeastartledhorse,curvedawayfromtheplacewherehehadbeenwalking,andretreatedseveralpacesbackalongthetrail.Thecreekheknewwasfrozencleartothebottom--nocreekcouldcontainwaterinthatarcticwinter--butheknewalsothattherewerespringsthatbubbledoutfromthehillsidesandranalongunderthesnowandontoptheiceofthecreek.Heknewthatthecoldestsnapsneverfrozethesesprings,andheknewlikewisetheirdanger.Theyweretraps.Theyhidpoolsofwaterunderthesnowthatmightbethreeinchesdeep,orthreefeet.Sometimesaskinoficehalfaninchthickcoveredthem,andinturnwascoveredbythesnow.Sometimestherewerealternatelayersofwaterandice-skin,sothatwhenonebrokethroughhekeptonbreakingthroughforawhile,sometimeswettinghimselftothewaist.Thatwaswhyhehadshiedinsuchpanic.Hehadfeltthegiveunderhisfeetandheardthecrackleofasnow-hiddenice-skin.Andtogethisfeetwetinsuchatemperaturemeanttroubleanddanger.Attheveryleastitmeantdelay,forhewouldbeforcedtostopandbuildafire,andunderitsprotectiontobarehisfeetwhilehedriedhissocksandmoccasins.Hestoodandstudiedthecreek-bedanditsbanks,anddecidedthattheflowofwatercamefromtheright.Hereflectedawhile,rubbinghisnoseandcheeks,thenskirtedtotheleft,steppinggingerlyandtestingthefootingforeachstep.Onceclearofthedanger,hetookafreshchewoftobaccoandswungalongathisfour-milegait.Inthecourseofthenexttwohourshecameuponseveralsimilartraps.Usuallythesnowabovethehiddenpoolshadasunken,candiedappearancethatadvertisedthedanger.Onceagain,however,hehadaclosecall;andonce,suspectingdanger,hecompelledthedogtogooninfront.Thedogdidnotwanttogo.Ithungbackuntilthemanshoveditforward,andthenitwentquicklyacrossthewhite,unbrokensurface.Suddenlyitbrokethrough,flounderedtooneside,andgotawaytofirmerfooting.Ithadwetitsforefeetandlegs,andalmostimmediatelythewaterthatclungtoitturnedtoice.Itmadequickeffortstolicktheiceoffitslegs,thendroppeddowninthesnowandbegantobiteouttheicethathadformedbetweenthetoes.Thiswasamatterofinstinct.Topermittheicetoremainwouldmeansorefeet.Itdidnotknowthis.Itmerelyobeyedthemysteriouspromptingthatarosefromthedeepcryptsofitsbeing.Butthemanknew,havingachievedajudgmentonthesubject,andheremovedthemittenfromhisrighthandandhelpedtearouttheice-particles.Hedidnotexposehisfingersmorethanaminute,andwasastonishedattheswiftnumbnessthatsmotethem.Itcertainlywascold.Hepulledonthemittenhastily,andbeatthehandsavagelyacrosshischest.Attwelveo'clockthedaywasatitsbrightest.Yetthesunwastoofarsouthonitswinterjourneytoclearthehorizon.ThebulgeoftheearthintervenedbetweenitandHendersonCreek,wherethemanwalkedunderaclearskyatnoonandcastnoshadow.Athalf-pasttwelve,totheminute,hearrivedattheforksofthecreek.Hewaspleasedatthespeedhehadmade.Ifhekeptitup,hewouldcertainlybewiththeboysbysix.Heunbuttonedhisjacketandshirtanddrewforthhislunch.Theactionconsumednomorethanaquarterofaminute,yetinthatbriefmomentthenumbnesslaidholdoftheexposedfingers.Hedidnotputthemittenon,but,instead,struckthefingersadozensharpsmashesagainsthisleg.Thenhesatdownonasnow-coveredlogtoeat.Thestingthatfolloweduponthestrikingofhisfingersagainsthislegceasedsoquicklythathewasstartled,hehadhadnochancetotakeabiteofbiscuit.Hestruckthefingersrepeatedlyandreturnedthemtothemitten,baringtheotherhandforthepurposeofeating.Hetriedtotakeamouthful,buttheice-muzzleprevented.Hehadforgottentobuildafireandthawout.Hechuckledathisfoolishness,andashechuckledhenotedthenumbnesscreepingintotheexposedfingers.Also,henotedthatthestingingwhichhadfirstcometohistoeswhenhesatdownwasalreadypassingaway.Hewonderedwhetherthetoeswerewarmornumbed.Hemovedtheminsidethemoccasinsanddecidedthattheywerenumbed.Hepulledthemittenonhurriedlyandstoodup.Hewasabitfrightened.Hestampedupanddownuntilthestingingreturnedintothefeet.Itcertainlywascold,washisthought.ThatmanfromSulphurCreekhadspokenthetruthwhentellinghowcolditsometimesgotinthecountry.Andhehadlaughedathimatthetime!Thatshowedonemustnotbetoosureofthings.Therewasnomistakeaboutit,itwascold.Hestrodeupanddown,stampinghisfeetandthreshinghisarms,untilreassuredbythereturningwarmth.Thenhegotoutmatchesandproceededtomakeafire.Fromtheundergrowth,wherehighwaterofthepreviousspringhadlodgedasupplyofseasonedtwigs,hegothisfirewood.Workingcarefullyfromasmallbeginning,hesoonhadaroaringfire,overwhichhethawedtheicefromhisfaceandintheprotectionofwhichheatehisbiscuits.Forthemomentthecoldofspacewasoutwitted.Thedogtooksatisfactioninthefire,stretchingoutcloseenoughforwarmthandfarenoughawaytoescapebeingsinged.Whenthemanhadfinished,hefilledhispipeandtookhiscomfortabletimeoverasmoke.Thenhepulledonhismittens,settledtheear-flapsofhiscapfirmlyabouthisears,andtookthecreektrailuptheleftfork.Thedogwasdisappointedandyearnedbacktowardthefire.Thismandidnotknowcold.Possiblyallthegenerationsofhisancestryhadbeenignorantofcold,ofrealcold,ofcoldonehundredandsevendegreesbelowfreezing-point.Butthedogknew;allitsancestryknew,andithadinheritedtheknowledge.Anditknewthatitwasnotgoodtowalkabroadinsuchfearfulcold.Itwasthetimetoliesnuginaholeinthesnowandwaitforacurtainofcloudtobedrawnacrossthefaceofouterspacewhencethiscoldcame.Ontheotherhand,therewaskeenintimacybetweenthedogandtheman.Theonewasthetoil-slaveoftheother,andtheonlycaressesithadeverreceivedwerethecaressesofthewhip-lashandofharshandmenacingthroat-soundsthatthreatenedthewhip-lash.Sothedogmadenoefforttocommunicateitsapprehensiontotheman.Itwasnotconcernedinthewelfareoftheman;itwasforitsownsakethatityearnedbacktowardthefire.Butthemanwhistled,andspoketoitwiththesoundofwhip-lashes,andthedogswunginattheman'sheelsandfollowedafter.Themantookachewoftobaccoandproceededtostartanewamberbeard.Also,hismoistbreathquicklypowderedwithwhitehismoustache,eyebrows,andlashes.TheredidnotseemtobesomanyspringsontheleftforkoftheHenderson,andforhalfanhourthemansawnosignsofany.Andthenithappened.Ataplacewheretherewerenosigns,wherethesoft,unbrokensnowseemedtoadvertisesoliditybeneath,themanbrokethrough.Itwasnotdeep.Hewettedhimselfhalf-waytothekneesbeforeheflounderedouttothefirmcrust.Hewasangry,andcursedhisluckaloud.Hehadhopedtogetintocampwiththeboysatsixo'clock,andthiswoulddelayhimanhour,forhewouldhavetobuildafireanddryouthisfoot-gear.Thiswasimperativeatthatlowtemperature--heknewthatmuch;andheturnedasidetothebank,whichheclimbed.Ontop,tangledintheunderbrushaboutthetrunksofseveralsmallsprucetrees,wasahigh-waterdepositofdryfirewood--sticksandtwigsprincipally,butalsolargerportionsofseasonedbranchesandfine,dry,last-year'sgrasses.Hethrewdownseverallargepiecesontopofthesnow.Thisservedforafoundationandpreventedtheyoungflamefromdrowningitselfinthesnowitotherwisewouldmelt.Theflamehegotbytouchingamatchtoasmallshredofbirch-barkthathetookfromhispocket.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.Hispaceoffourmilesanhourhadkepthisheartpumpingbloodtothesurfaceofhisbodyandtoalltheextremities.Buttheinstanthestopped,theactionofthepumpeaseddown.Thecoldofspacesmotetheunprotectedtipoftheplanet,andhe,beingonthatunprotectedtip,receivedthefullforceoftheblow.Thebloodofhisbodyrecoiledbeforeit.Thebloodwasalive,likethedog,andlikethedogitwantedtohideawayandcoveritselfupfromthefearfulcold.Solongashewalkedfourmilesanhour,hepumpedthatblood,willy-nilly,tothesurface;butnowitebbedawayandsankdownintotherecessesofhisbody.Theextremitieswerethefirsttofeelitsabsence.Hiswetfeetfrozethefaster,andhisexposedfingersnumbedthefaster,thoughtheyhadnotyetbeguntofreeze.Noseandcheekswerealreadyfreezing,whiletheskinofallhisbodychilledasitlostitsblood.Buthewassafe.Toesandnoseandcheekswouldbeonlytouchedbythefrost,forthefirewasbeginningtoburnwithstrength.Hewasfeedingitwithtwigsthesizeofhisfinger.Inanotherminutehewouldbeabletofeeditwithbranchesthesizeofhiswrist,andthenhecouldremovehiswetfoot-gear,and,whileitdried,hecouldkeephisnakedfeetwarmbythefire,rubbingthematfirst,ofcourse,withsnow.Thefirewasasuccess.Hewassafe.Herememberedtheadviceoftheold-timeronSulphurCreek,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;thethickGermansockswerelikesheathsofironhalf-waytotheknees;andthemocassinstringswerelikerodsofsteelalltwistedandknottedasbysomeconflagration.Foramomenthetuggedwithhisnumbedfingers,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,hewouldmostlikelylosesometoes.Hisfeetmustbebadlyfrozenbynow,andtherewouldbesometimebeforethesecondfirewasready.Suchwerehisthoughts,buthedidnotsitandthinkthem.Hewasbusyallthetimetheywerepassingthroughhismind,hemadeanewfoundationforafire,thistimeintheopen;wherenotreacheroustreecouldblotitout.Next,hegathereddrygrassesandtinytwigsfromthehigh-waterflotsam.Hecouldnotbringhisfingerstogethertopullthemout,buthewasabletogatherthembythehandful.Inthiswayhegotmanyrottentwigsandbitsofgreenmossthatwereundesirable,butitwasthebesthecoulddo.Heworkedmethodically,evencollectinganarmfulofthelargerbranchestobeusedlaterwhenthefiregatheredstrength.Andallthewhilethedogsatandwatchedhim,acertainyearningwistfulnessinitseyes,foritlookeduponhimasthefire-provider,andthefirewasslowincoming.Whenallwasready,themanreachedinhispocketforasecondpieceofbirch-bark.Heknewthebarkwasthere,and,thoughhecouldnotfeelitwithhisfingers,hecouldhearitscrisprustlingashefumbledforit.Tryashewould,hecouldnotclutchholdofit.Andallthetime,inhisconsciousness,wastheknowledgethateachinstanthisfeetwerefreezing.Thisthoughttendedtoputhiminapanic,buthefoughtagainstitandkeptcalm.Hepulledonhismittenswithhisteeth,andthreshedhisarmsbackandforth,beatinghishandswithallhismightagainsthissides.Hedidthissittingdown,andhestooduptodoit;andallthewhilethedogsatinthesnow,itswolf-brushofatailcurledaroundwarmlyoveritsforefeet,itssharpwolf-earsprickedforwardintentlyasitwatchedtheman.Andthemanashebeatandthreshedwithhisarmsandhands,feltagreatsurgeofenvyasheregardedthecreaturethatwaswarmandsecureinitsnaturalcovering.Afteratimehewasawareofthefirstfar-awaysignalsofsensationinhisbeatenfingers.Thefainttinglinggrewstrongertillitevolvedintoastingingachethatwasexcruciating,butwhichthemanhailedwithsatisfaction.Hestrippedthemitte