To Build a Fire

To Build a Fire by Jack London tells the story of a man who travels with his dog in the Arctic cold, oblivious of the danger posed to him by the sub-zero freezing temperature. He had been warned by an old-timer in the region about the risk of venturing alone - that a companion is indispensable in the trail. Nonetheless, the man has persisted, confident of reaching the camp that is his destination before nightfall. Only the dog seems afraid, but could not leave its master.

This story reminds us that man by himself is a puny creature, lacking the animal instinct to survive. It may have been written as a warning to the men who rushed to the Klondike, unmindful or ignorant of the dangers that awaited them in the hostile wilderness.

This eBook is a short story. 7,000 words.