How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Then the rope tightened. There was a large noose-knot on the end and it tightened and started pulling up and when the knot hit I grabbed and held and the dogs pulled me out of the hole and back up onto the ice. (1.15)
Paulsen's work dogs were very good at sledding…and also at saving human lives. Just another day's work. Sled dogs need to be fast and strong, but Cookie had special skills—she was very alert and very protective of Paulsen.
Quote #2
I would have died if not for Cookie. She saw me drop, instantly analyzed the situation, got the team up—she must have jerked them to their feet—got them pulling, and they pulled me out. (1.16-1.17)
In a book filled with awesome dog feats, Cookie's quick thinking and heroic pulling are especially awesome.
Quote #3
The gun had a long barrel and a full choke, and with number four shot seemed to reach out forever. I never became really good with it, but could hit now and then when the ducks were flying at the right angle. (3.7)
In sharp contrast to his extremely skillful dogs, the author often describes himself as unskilled or inept.
Quote #4
I was so startled that I froze, mouth half open. Then I let go of the shrub and fell back down the mud incline. (3.18)
Sometimes Paulsen is comically clumsy, like when a dog startles him (he thinks it's a bear) and he falls down an embankment. Do you think that animals have the advantage over people in the wilderness?
Quote #5
With the smell of powder still in the air, almost before the duck finished falling, the dog was off the bank in a great leap, hit the water swimming, his shoulders pumping as he churned the surface and made a straight line to the dead duck. He took it in his mouth gently, turned and swam back, climbed the bank and put the duck by my right foot […]. (3.35)
In sharp contrast to Paulsen, who has trouble shooting ducks, Ike the dog knows exactly what to do. This description oozes skill.
Quote #6
He knew hunting. Clearly somebody had trained him well. […] On those occasions when I missed—I think more often than not—he would watch the ducks fly away, turn to me and give me a look of such uncompromising pity and scorn that I would feel compelled to apologize and make excuses. (3.43)
Ike the dog's reaction to Paulsen's inexpert shooting is pretty hilarious. But which do you think is harder—shooting a flying duck and hitting your target, or retrieving the dead duck in the water?
Quote #7
I worked in construction, mostly hitting my fingers with a hammer and making serious attempts at cutting something off my body with power saws while I tried to build houses during the day and write at night. (6.2)
Paulsen is probably exaggerating his own lack of skill here for humorous effect. This makes it easier for readers to relate to him, since we all have times where it seems we can't do anything right.
Quote #8
"He's a good watchdog. Look how he defends that box." (7.12)
A young boy wants to sell Paulsen a dog. This is what he says when the dog bites Paulsen. We're not sure about the dog, but the boy sure was a skilled salesman.