Daughter of the Snows

"e;A Daughter of the Snows"e; is Jack London's first novel. The novel features a strong female heroine, Frona Welse. Frona was born into a wealthy family and educated at Stanford but she takes to the Yukon trail after upsetting her father and his wealthy community of friends with her out-spoken ways and her innocent friendship with the town's prostitute. "e;All ready, Miss Welse, though I'm sorry we can't spare one of the steamer's boats."e;Frona Welse arose with alacrity and came to the first officer's side. "e;We're so busy,"e; he explained, "e;and gold-rushers are such perishable freight, at least "e;"e;I understand,"e; she interrupted, "e;and I, too, am behaving as though I were perishable. And I am sorry for the trouble I am giving you, but but "e; She turned quickly and pointed to the shore. "e;Do you see that big log-house? Between the clump of pines and the river? I was born there."e;"e;Guess I'd be in a hurry myself,"e; he muttered, sympathetically, as he piloted her along the crowded deck. Everybody was in everybody else's way; nor was there one who failed to proclaim it at the top of his lungs. A thousand gold-seekers were clamoring for the immediate landing of their outfits. Each hatchway gaped wide open, and from the lower depths the shrieking donkey-engines were hurrying the misassorted outfits skyward. On either side of the steamer, rows of scows received the flying cargo, and on each of these scows a sweating mob of men charged the descending slings and heaved bales and boxes about in frantic search. Men waved shipping receipts and shouted over the steamer-rails to them. Sometimes two and three identified the same article, and war arose. The "e;two-circle"e; and the "e;circle-and-dot"e; brands caused endless jangling, while every whipsaw discovered a dozen claimants. "e;The purser insists that he is going mad,"e; the first officer said, as he helped Frona Welse down the gangway to the landing stage, "e;and the freight clerks have turned the cargo over to the passengers and quit work. But we're not so unlucky as the Star of Bethlehem,"e; he reassured her, pointing to a steamship at anchor a quarter of a mile away. "e;Half of her passengers have pack-horses for Skaguay and White Pass, and the other half are bound over the Chilcoot. So they've mutinied and everything's at a standstill."e;"e;Hey, you!"e; he cried, beckoning to a Whitehall which hovered discreetly on the outer rim of the floating confusion. A tiny launch, pulling heroically at a huge tow-barge, attempted to pass between; but the boatman shot nervily across her bow, and just as he was clear, unfortunately, caught a crab. This slewed the boat around and brought it to a stop. "e;Watch out!"e; the first officer shouted.