Anditwasrequiredofmethatthisshouldbethegravestofresponsibilities，forshewastheonewomanintheworld——theonesmallwoman，asIlovedtothinkofher。TheSeaWolf：Chapter30CHAPTER30
NowonderwecalleditEndeavorIsland。Fortwoweekswetoiledatbuildingahut。Maudinsistedonhelping，andIcouldhaveweptoverherbruisedandbleedinghands。Andstill，Iwasproudofherbecauseofit。Therewassomethingheroicaboutthisgentlybredwomanenduringourterriblehardshipandwithherpittanceofstrengthbendingtothetasksofapeasantwoman。ShegatheredmanyofthestoneswhichIbuiltintothewallsofthehut；also，sheturnedadeafeartomyentreatieswhenIbeggedhertodesist。Shecompromised，however，bytakinguponherselfthelighterlaborsofcookingandgatheringdriftwoodandmossforourwinter’ssupply。
Thehut’swallsrosewithoutdifficulty，andeverythingwentsmoothlyuntiltheproblemoftheroofconfrontedme。Ofwhatusethefourwallswithoutaroof？Andofwhatcouldaroofbemade？Therewerethespareoars，verytrue。Theywouldserveasroof—beams；butwithwhatwasItocoverthem？Mosswouldneverdo。Tundragrasswasimpracticable。Weneededthesailfortheboat，andthetarpaulinhadbeguntoleak。
\"Wintersusedwalrusskinsonhishut，\"Isaid。
\"Therearetheseals，\"shesuggested。