The Quitter; A Novel (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1914 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XII THE SECRET OF LIFE MORNING found them both up with the earliest beam of sunlight. The sledge had been overhauled the day before and put in good condition. The girl directed Hallam to bring it to the door and turn it bottom up. He did so, wondering, and watched her bring from the house a pan full of what appeared to be soft mud. "Your men didn't know how to make a sled slip easily," she said, "or else they were too lazy." As she talked she smeared the runners thickly and smoothly with the contents of the pan. "That looks like mud," remarked Hallam. "It is," she said. "It will freeze directly. It makes the best runner for this country. If we have warm weather it will melt, but while it sticks it will make it easier for the team." When the mud was frozen she brought water and made on the surface a thin, glassy. coating of ice. "We shall have to do this every day," she said, "the ice, I mean. The mud lasts better." _JThe sledge was loaded with food for themselves and for the dogs, cooked caribou meat, wheat flour, tea and salt. Hallam's primus stove and supply of oil were taken, and the sleeping bags, tent, ice-chisel, extra clothing and several pairs of sealskin boots, a supply of which Norma's father had procured from the Eskimos, and which would keep out water like rubber. Last came the rifles and ammunition. Their snow-shoes topped the load. Before the sun was over the ridge they were ready. Fires in the cabin were extinguished and the door barred from the inside, Norma proudly showing an arrangement of rawhide thongs concealed under the step by which the bar could be raised again from without. "Father always laughed at that," she said. The dogs, sleek and in good condition after their rest, were harnessed and at once fell to fighting. But the g...