They were not half living, or quarter living. They were simply so many bags of bones in which sparks of life fluttered faintly. When a halt was made, they dropped down in the traces like dead dogs, and the spark dimmed and paled and seemed to go out.
Shorn of its glamour and romance, Arctic travel became to them a reality too harsh for their manhood and womanhood. Mercedes ceased weeping over the dogs, being too occupied with weeping over herself and with quarrelling with her husband and brother.
1 answer
Based on the descriptions provided, here are the best summaries for each passage:
First Passage Summary: The travelers are physically exhausted and barely alive, resembling mere skeletons striving to survive despite their fading vitality.
Second Passage Summary: The harsh realities of Arctic travel strip away any romantic notions, leading to emotional breakdowns and conflicts among the group, particularly affecting Mercedes.
