The Lamar register., 1922-01-11
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the rock as dentist cleans a
crumbling tooth, cOaxed and cursed,
blamed and praised and bullied, and
did the actual work of three of them.
Dead with fatigue, filed with food,
drowsy from the liberal grog allow
ance at the end of the day, the men
slept in a torpor every night and
showed less inclination to respond,
though the end of their labors was al
most in sight.
whats the use, we got enough"
was the comment beginning to be
heard more and more frequently.
"Lund. he's got more'n he can spend
in lifetimei"
Rainey could not trace these NUT
terings TO Deming's instigation, but
he suspected the hunter. There was
no poker; all hands were too tired for
play.
As for Peggy Simms, she did not lose
the polish of her culture. she was al
ways feminine, even dainty at times,
despite her work, that could not help
but be coarse to a certain extent. She
was full of vigor, she showed uneX-
pected strength. she was source Of
encouragement to the men as she
waited on them. And also a source
of undisguised admiration, all of which
she shed as duck sheds water.
Rainey gained an increasing respect
IN her prowess, and n swift conversion
TO the equality of the sexes. There
were times when he doubted his own
equality. Had she met him on his
own ground In his own realm of what
he considered vaguely as culture. he
would have known mastery that he
now lacked. As II was. she averaged
higher and she had an attraction of
sex that was compelling.
Here was girl who would demand
certain standards in the man with
whom she would mate, not merely ac-
company through life. There were
times when Rainey felt irresistibly
the charm of her as woman, longed
for her in the powerful sex reactions
that Inevitably follow hard labor. There
were times when he felt that she did
not consider that he measured up to
her guages. and he would strive to
change the atmosphere. TO dominate
the situation In which Lund was the
greater figure Of the two men.
Lund was centered on one achieve
ment. the gold harvest. He ordered
the girl with the rest there were even
times when he reprimanded her. while
Rainey burned with the resentment
she apparently did not share.
A little before dawn on the eight
eenth day Of the work up the
beach. Lund was out upon the foe ex-
aminIng the condition of the ice. He
had declared TINT two days more of
hard endeavor would complete their
labors. What dirt remained at the
end Of that time they would trarsship.
Rainey had Joined the girl and Tamada
Mt the cook fires.
The sky was bright with the aurora
borealis that would pale before the
sun. The men were not vet out OF
their hunks. They We're bone and
muscle tired. and Rainey doubted
whether Lund gaunt and lean himself
could get two DAYS of top work out
II them. Near the fires for the cook
.ng, the melting of water and the forge,
that We're kept glowing all night. the
tools were stacked to help preserve
their temper.
The aurora quivered In varying In
candescence as Rainey watched Lund
prodding at the foe Ice with a steel
bar. The girl was busy with the
coffee. and Tamada was compromising
two pots of stew and bubbling peas
pudding for the breakfast, food for
heat and muscle making.
Sandy appeared on deck and came
swiftly over the side of the vessel and
up the worn trail to the fires. He
showed excitement. Rainey fancied.
sure of 1t as the lad got within speak
ing distance.
'Where is Mr.. LundT" he painted.
Rainey pointed to Lund. now ex-
amining a crack that had opened up
in the loe, a possible line of exit for
the Karluk. later on. The men were
beginning to show on the schooner.
They. too, he noted somewhat Idly,
acted differently this morning. Usually
they were sluggish until they had
eaten. sleepy and Indifferent until the
coffee stimulated them, and Lpnd took
m this stimulus and famed 1t to n