The match there never was a time when the world was without fire, but there was a time when men did not know how to kindle fire; and after they learned how to kindle one, it was a long, long time before they learned how to kindle one easily. in these days we can kindle a fire without any trouble, because we can easily get a match; but we must remember that the match is one of the most wonderful things in the world, and that it took men thousands of years to learn how to make one. let us learn the history of this familiar little object, the match. fire was first given to man by nature itself. when a forest is set on fire by cinders from a neighboring volcano, or when a tree is set ablaze by a thunderbolt, we may say that nature strikes a match. in the early history of the world, nature had to kindle all the fires, for man by his own effort was unable to produce a spark. the first method, then, of getting fire for use was to light sticks of wood at a flame kindled by nature—by a volcano, perhaps, or by a stroke of lightning. these firebrands were carried to the home and used in kindling the fires there. the fire secured in this way was carefully guarded and was kept burning as long as possible. but the flame, however faithfully watched, would sometimes be extinguished. a sudden gust of wind or a sudden shower would put it out. then a new firebrand would have to be secured, and this often meant a long journey and a deal of trouble. in 1827, john walker, a druggist in a small english town, tipped a splint with sulphur, chlorate of potash, and sulphid of antimony, and rubbed it on sandpaper, and it burst into flame. the druggist had discovered the first friction-chemical match, the kind we use to-day. it is called friction-chemical because it is made by mixing certain chemicals together and rubbing them. although walker's match did not require the bottle of acid, nevertheless it was not a good one. it could be lighted only by hard rubbing, and it sputtered and threw fire in all directions. in a few years, however, phosphorus was substituted on the tip for antimony, and the change worked wonders. the match could now be lighted with very little rubbing, and it was no longer necessary to have sandpaper upon which to rub it. it would ignite when rubbed on any dry surface, and there was no longer any sputtering. this was the phosphorus match, the match with which we are so familiar.

how does the author develop the idea that relying on nature was problematic? respond in three to five complete sentences, using evidence from the text to support your answer.



breakfast eaten and the slim camp-outfit lashed to the sled, the men turned their backs on the cheery fire and launched out into the darkness. at once began to rise the cries that were fiercely sad—cries that called through the darkness and cold to one another and answered back. conversation ceased. daylight came at nine o'clock. at midday the sky to the south warmed to rose-colour, and marked where the bulge of the earth intervened between the meridian sun and the northern world. but the rose-colour swiftly faded. the grey light of day that remained lasted until three o'clock, when it, too, faded, and the pall of the arctic night descended upon the lone and silent land.

as darkness came on, the hunting-cries to right and left and rear drew closer—so close that more than once they sent surges of fear through the toiling dogs, throwing them into short-lived panics.

at the conclusion of one such panic, when he and henry had got the dogs back in the traces, bill said:

"i wisht they'd strike game somewheres, an' go away an' leave us alone."

"they do get on the nerves horrible," henry sympathized.

they spoke no more until camp was made.

what aspects of the developing story would you emphasize in a summary of this section of the text? why would you emphasize them? respond in three to five complete sentences.