English
ThedominantprimordialbeastwasstronginBuck,andunderthefierceconditionsoftraillifeitgrewandgrew.Yetitwasasecretgrowth.
Hisnewborncunninggavehimpoiseandcontrol.
Hewastoobusyadjustinghimselftothenewlifetofeelatease,andnotonlydidhenotpickfights,butheavoidedthemwheneverpossible.
Acertaindeliberatenesscharacterizedhisattitude.
Hewasnotpronetorashnessandprecipitateaction;andinthebitterhatredbetweenhimandSpitzhebetrayednoimpatience,shunnedalloffensiveacts.
Ontheotherhand,possiblybecausehedivinedinBuckadangerousrival,Spitzneverlostanopportunityofshowinghisteeth.
HeevenwentoutofhiswaytobullyBuck,strivingconstantlytostartthefightwhichcouldendonlyinthedeathofoneortheother.
Earlyinthetripthismighthavetakenplacehaditnotbeenforanunwontedaccident.
AttheendofthisdaytheymadeableakandmiserablecampontheshoreofLakeLeBarge.
Drivingsnow,awindthatcutlikeawhite-hotknife,anddarknesshadforcedthemtogropeforacampingplace.Theycouldhardlyhavefaredworse.
Attheirbacksroseaperpendicularwallofrock,andPerraultandFrancoiswerecompelledtomaketheirfireandspreadtheirsleepingrobesontheiceofthelakeitself.
ThetenttheyhaddiscardedatDyeainordertotravellight.
Afewsticksofdriftwoodfurnishedthemwithafirethatthaweddownthroughtheiceandleftthemtoeatsupperinthedark.
CloseinundertheshelteringrockBuckmadehisnest.
Sosnugandwarmwasit,thathewasloathtoleaveitwhenFrancoisdistributedthefishwhichhehadfirstthawedoverthefire.
ButwhenBuckfinishedhisrationandreturned,hefoundhisnestoccupied.
AwarningsnarltoldhimthatthetrespasserwasSpitz.
TillnowBuckhadavoidedtroublewithhisenemy,butthiswastoomuch.Thebeastinhimroared.
HespranguponSpitzwithafurywhichsurprisedthemboth,andSpitzparticularly,forhiswholeexperiencewithBuckhadgonetoteachhimthathisrivalwasanunusuallytimiddog,whomanagedtoholdhisownonlybecauseofhisgreatweightandsize.
Francoiswassurprised,too,whentheyshotoutinatanglefromthedisruptednestandhedivinedthecauseofthetrouble."A-a-ah!"hecriedtoBuck."Gifittoheem,byGar!Gifittoheem,thedirtyt'eef!"
Spitzwasequallywilling.Hewascryingwithsheerrageandeagernessashecircledbackandforthforachancetospringin.
Buckwasnolesseager,andnolesscautious,ashelikewisecircledbackandforthfortheadvantage.
Butitwasthenthattheunexpectedhappened,thethingwhichprojectedtheirstruggleforsupremacyfarintothefuture,pastmanyawearymileoftrailandtoil.
AnoathfromPerrault,theresoundingimpactofaclubuponabonyframe,andashrillyelpofpain,heraldedthebreakingforthofpandemonium.
Thecampwassuddenlydiscoveredtobealivewithskulkingfurryforms,—starvinghuskies,fourorfivescoreofthem,whohadscentedthecampfromsomeIndianvillage.
TheyhadcreptinwhileBuckandSpitzwerefighting,andwhenthetwomensprangamongthemwithstoutclubstheyshowedtheirteethandfoughtback.
Theywerecrazedbythesmellofthefood.
Perraultfoundonewithheadburiedinthegrub-box.
Hisclublandedheavilyonthegauntribs,andthegrub-boxwascapsizedontheground.
Ontheinstantascoreofthefamishedbruteswerescramblingforthebreadandbacon.Theclubsfelluponthemunheeded.
Theyyelpedandhowledundertherainofblows,butstrugglednonethelessmadlytillthelastcrumbhadbeendevoured.
Inthemeantimetheastonishedteam-dogshadburstoutoftheirnestsonlytobesetuponbythefierceinvaders.NeverhadBuckseensuchdogs.
Itseemedasthoughtheirboneswouldburstthroughtheirskins.
Theyweremereskeletons,drapedlooselyindraggledhides,withblazingeyesandslaveredfangs.
Butthehunger-madnessmadethemterrifying,irresistible.Therewasnoopposingthem.
Theteam-dogsweresweptbackagainstthecliffatthefirstonset.
Buckwasbesetbythreehuskies,andinatricehisheadandshoulderswererippedandslashed.Thedinwasfrightful.Billeewascryingasusual.
DaveandSol-leks,drippingbloodfromascoreofwounds,werefightingbravelysidebyside.Joewassnappinglikeademon.
Once,histeethclosedontheforelegofahusky,andhecruncheddownthroughthebone.
Pike,themalingerer,leapeduponthecrippledanimal,breakingitsneckwithaquickflashofteethandajerk,Buckgotafrothingadversarybythethroat,andwassprayedwithbloodwhenhisteethsankthroughthejugular.
Thewarmtasteofitinhismouthgoadedhimtogreaterfierceness.
Heflunghimselfuponanother,andatthesametimefeltteethsinkintohisownthroat.
ItwasSpitz,treacherouslyattackingfromtheside.
PerraultandFrancois,havingcleanedouttheirpartofthecamp,hurriedtosavetheirsled-dogs.
Thewildwaveoffamishedbeastsrolledbackbeforethem,andBuckshookhimselffree.Butitwasonlyforamoment.
Thetwomenwerecompelledtorunbacktosavethegrub,uponwhichthehuskiesreturnedtotheattackontheteam.
Billee,terrifiedintobravery,sprangthroughthesavagecircleandfledawayovertheice.
PikeandDubfollowedonhisheels,withtherestoftheteambehind.
AsBuckdrewhimselftogethertospringafterthem,outofthetailofhiseyehesawSpitzrushuponhimwiththeevidentintentionofoverthrowinghim.
Onceoffhisfeetandunderthatmassofhuskies,therewasnohopeforhim.
ButhebracedhimselftotheshockofSpitz'scharge,thenjoinedtheflightoutonthelake.
Later,thenineteam-dogsgatheredtogetherandsoughtshelterintheforest.
Thoughunpursued,theywereinasorryplight.
Therewasnotonewhowasnotwoundedinfourorfiveplaces,whilesomewerewoundedgrievously.
Dubwasbadlyinjuredinahindleg;Dolly,thelasthuskyaddedtotheteamatDyea,hadabadlytornthroat;Joehadlostaneye;whileBillee,thegood-natured,withanearchewedandrenttoribbons,criedandwhimperedthroughoutthenight.
Atdaybreaktheylimpedwarilybacktocamp,tofindthemaraudersgoneandthetwomeninbadtempers.Fullyhalftheirgrubsupplywasgone.
Thehuskieshadchewedthroughthesledlashingsandcanvascoverings.
Infact,nothing,nomatterhowremotelyeatable,hadescapedthem.
TheyhadeatenapairofPerrault'smoose-hidemoccasins,chunksoutoftheleathertraces,andeventwofeetoflashfromtheendofFrancois'swhip.
Hebrokefromamournfulcontemplationofittolookoverhiswoundeddogs.
"Ah,myfrien's,"hesaidsoftly,"mebbeitmekyoumaddog,dosemanybites.Mebbeallmaddog,sacredam!Wotyout'ink,eh,Perrault?"
Thecouriershookhisheaddubiously.WithfourhundredmilesoftrailstillbetweenhimandDawson,hecouldillaffordtohavemadnessbreakoutamonghisdogs.
Twohoursofcursingandexertiongottheharnessesintoshape,andthewound-stiffenedteamwasunderway,strugglingpainfullyoverthehardestpartofthetrailtheyhadyetencountered,andforthatmatter,thehardestbetweenthemandDawson.
TheThirtyMileRiverwaswideopen.Itswildwaterdefiedthefrost,anditwasintheeddiesonlyandinthequietplacesthattheiceheldatall.
Sixdaysofexhaustingtoilwererequiredtocoverthosethirtyterriblemiles.
Andterribletheywere,foreveryfootofthemwasaccomplishedattheriskoflifetodogandman.
Adozentimes,Perrault,nosingthewaybrokethroughtheicebridges,beingsavedbythelongpolehecarried,whichhesoheldthatitfelleachtimeacrosstheholemadebyhisbody.
Butacoldsnapwason,thethermometerregisteringfiftybelowzero,andeachtimehebrokethroughhewascompelledforverylifetobuildafireanddryhisgarments.
Nothingdauntedhim.Itwasbecausenothingdauntedhimthathehadbeenchosenforgovernmentcourier.
Hetookallmannerofrisks,resolutelythrustinghislittleweazenedfaceintothefrostandstrugglingonfromdimdawntodark.
Heskirtedthefrowningshoresonrimicethatbentandcrackledunderfootanduponwhichtheydarednothalt.
Once,thesledbrokethrough,withDaveandBuck,andtheywerehalf-frozenandallbutdrownedbythetimetheyweredraggedout.
Theusualfirewasnecessarytosavethem.
Theywerecoatedsolidlywithice,andthetwomenkeptthemontherunaroundthefire,sweatingandthawing,soclosethattheyweresingedbytheflames.
AtanothertimeSpitzwentthrough,draggingthewholeteamafterhimuptoBuck,whostrainedbackwardwithallhisstrength,hisforepawsontheslipperyedgeandtheicequiveringandsnappingallaround.
ButbehindhimwasDave,likewisestrainingbackward,andbehindthesledwasFrancois,pullingtillhistendonscracked.
Again,therimicebrokeawaybeforeandbehind,andtherewasnoescapeexceptupthecliff.
Perraultscaleditbyamiracle,whileFrancoisprayedforjustthatmiracle;andwitheverythongandsledlashingandthelastbitofharnessroveintoalongrope,thedogswerehoisted,onebyone,tothecliffcrest.
Francoiscameuplast,afterthesledandload.
Thencamethesearchforaplacetodescend,whichdescentwasultimatelymadebytheaidoftherope,andnightfoundthembackontheriverwithaquarterofamiletotheday'scredit.
BythetimetheymadetheHootalinquaandgoodice,Buckwasplayedout.
Therestofthedogswereinlikecondition;butPerrault,tomakeuplosttime,pushedthemlateandearly.
Thefirstdaytheycoveredthirty-fivemilestotheBigSalmon;thenextdaythirty-fivemoretotheLittleSalmon;thethirddayfortymiles,whichbroughtthemwelluptowardtheFiveFingers.
Buck'sfeetwerenotsocompactandhardasthefeetofthehuskies.
Hishadsoftenedduringthemanygenerationssincethedayhislastwildancestorwastamedbyacave-dwellerorriverman.
Alldaylonghelimpedinagony,andcamponcemade,laydownlikeadeaddog.
Hungryashewas,hewouldnotmovetoreceivehisrationoffish,whichFrancoishadtobringtohim.
Also,thedog-driverrubbedBuck'sfeetforhalfanhoureachnightaftersupper,andsacrificedthetopsofhisownmoccasinstomakefourmoccasinsforBuck.
Thiswasagreatrelief,andBuckcausedeventheweazenedfaceofPerraulttotwistitselfintoagrinonemorning,whenFrancoisforgotthemoccasinsandBucklayonhisback,hisfourfeetwavingappealinglyintheair,andrefusedtobudgewithoutthem.
Laterhisfeetgrewhardtothetrail,andtheworn-outfoot-gearwasthrownaway.
AtthePellyonemorning,astheywereharnessingup,Dolly,whohadneverbeenconspicuousforanything,wentsuddenlymad.
Sheannouncedherconditionbyalong,heartbreakingwolfhowlthatsenteverydogbristlingwithfear,thensprangstraightforBuck.
Hehadneverseenadoggomad,nordidhehaveanyreasontofearmadness;yetheknewthatherewashorror,andfledawayfromitinapanic.
Straightawayheraced,withDolly,pantingandfrothing,oneleapbehind;norcouldshegainonhim,sogreatwashisterror,norcouldheleaveher,sogreatwashermadness.
Heplungedthroughthewoodedbreastoftheisland,flewdowntothelowerend,crossedabackchannelfilledwithroughicetoanotherisland,gainedathirdisland,curvedbacktothemainriver,andindesperationstartedtocrossit.
Andallthetime,thoughhedidnotlook,hecouldhearhersnarlingjustoneleapbehind.
Francoiscalledtohimaquarterofamileawayandhedoubledback,stilloneleapahead,gaspingpainfullyforairandputtingallhisfaithinthatFrancoiswouldsavehim.
Thedog-driverheldtheaxepoisedinhishand,andasBuckshotpasthimtheaxecrasheddownuponmadDolly'shead.
Buckstaggeredoveragainstthesled,exhausted,sobbingforbreath,helpless.ThiswasSpitz'sopportunity.
HespranguponBuck,andtwicehisteethsankintohisunresistingfoeandrippedandtorethefleshtothebone.
ThenFrancois'slashdescended,andBuckhadthesatisfactionofwatchingSpitzreceivetheworstwhippingasyetadministeredtoanyoftheteams.
"Onedevil,datSpitz,"remarkedPerrault."SomedamdayheemkeeldatBuck."
"DatBucktwodevils,"wasFrancois'srejoinder.
"AlldetamIwatchdatBuckIknowforsure.
Lissen:somedamfinedayheemgetmadlakhellan'denheemchewdatSpitzallupan'spitheemoutondesnow.Sure.Iknow."
Fromthenonitwaswarbetweenthem.Spitz,aslead-dogandacknowledgedmasteroftheteam,felthissupremacythreatenedbythisstrangeSouthlanddog.
AndstrangeBuckwastohim,forofthemanySouthlanddogshehadknown,notonehadshownupworthilyincampandontrail.
Theywerealltoosoft,dyingunderthetoil,thefrost,andstarvation.Buckwastheexception.
Healoneenduredandprospered,matchingthehuskyinstrength,savagery,andcunning.
Thenhewasamasterfuldog,andwhatmadehimdangerouswasthefactthattheclubofthemanintheredsweaterhadknockedallblindpluckandrashnessoutofhisdesireformastery.
Hewaspreeminentlycunning,andcouldbidehistimewithapatiencethatwasnothinglessthanprimitive.
Itwasinevitablethattheclashforleadershipshouldcome.Buckwantedit.
Hewanteditbecauseitwashisnature,becausehehadbeengrippedtightbythatnameless,incomprehensibleprideofthetrailandtrace—thatpridewhichholdsdogsinthetoiltothelastgasp,whichluresthemtodiejoyfullyintheharness,andbreakstheirheartsiftheyarecutoutoftheharness.
ThiswastheprideofDaveaswheel-dog,ofSol-leksashepulledwithallhisstrength;thepridethatlaidholdofthematbreakofcamp,transformingthemfromsourandsullenbrutesintostraining,eager,ambitiouscreatures;thepridethatspurredthemonalldayanddroppedthematpitchofcampatnight,lettingthemfallbackintogloomyunrestanduncontent.
Share this article to
FINISH