Chapter 30

           NowonderwecalleditEndeavourIsland.Fortwoweekswetoiledatbuildingahut.Maudinsistedonhelping,andIcouldhaveweptoverherbruisedandbleedinghands.Andstill,Iwasproudofherbecauseofit.Therewassomethingheroicaboutthisgently-bredwomanenduringourterriblehardshipandwithherpittanceofstrengthbendingtothetasksofapeasantwoman.ShegatheredmanyofthestoneswhichIbuiltintothewallsofthehut;also,sheturnedadeafeartomyentreatieswhenIbeggedhertodesist.Shecompromised,however,bytakinguponherselfthelighterlaboursofcookingandgatheringdriftwoodandmossforourwinter’ssupply.

           Thehut’swallsrosewithoutdifficulty,andeverythingwentsmoothlyuntiltheproblemoftheroofconfrontedme.Ofwhatusethefourwallswithoutaroof?Andofwhatcouldaroofbemade?Therewerethespareoars,verytrue.Theywouldserveasroof-beams;butwithwhatwasItocoverthem?Mosswouldneverdo.Tundragrasswasimpracticable.Weneededthesailfortheboat,andthetarpaulinhadbeguntoleak.

           "Wintersusedwalrusskinsonhishut,"Isaid.

           "Therearetheseals,"shesuggested.

           Sonextdaythehuntingbegan.Ididnotknowhowtoshoot,butIproceededtolearn.AndwhenIhadexpendedsomethirtyshellsforthreeseals,IdecidedthattheammunitionwouldbeexhaustedbeforeIacquiredthenecessaryknowledge.IhadusedeightshellsforlightingfiresbeforeIhituponthedeviceofbankingtheemberswithwetmoss,andthereremainednotoverahundredshellsinthebox.

Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 310 из 396