ThirtydaysfromthetimeitleftDawson,theSaltWaterMail,withBuckandhismatesatthefore,arrivedatSkaguay. Theywereinawretchedstate,wornoutandworndown. Buck'sonehundredandfortypoundshaddwindledtoonehundredandfifteen. Therestofhismates,thoughlighterdogs,hadrelativelylostmoreweightthanhe. Pike,themalingerer,who,inhislifetimeofdeceit,hadoftensuccessfullyfeignedahurtleg,wasnowlimpinginearnest. Sol-lekswaslimping,andDubwassufferingfromawrenchedshoulder-blade. Theywereallterriblyfootsore.Nospringorreboundwasleftinthem. Theirfeetfellheavilyonthetrail,jarringtheirbodiesanddoublingthefatigueofaday'stravel. Therewasnothingthematterwiththemexceptthattheyweredeadtired. Itwasnotthedead-tirednessthatcomesthroughbriefandexcessiveeffort,fromwhichrecoveryisamatterofhours;butitwasthedead-tirednessthatcomesthroughtheslowandprolongedstrengthdrainageofmonthsoftoil. Therewasnopowerofrecuperationleft,noreservestrengthtocallupon. Ithadbeenallused,thelastleastbitofit. Everymuscle,everyfibre,everycell,wastired,deadtired.Andtherewasreasonforit. Inlessthanfivemonthstheyhadtravelledtwenty-fivehundredmiles,duringthelasteighteenhundredofwhichtheyhadhadbutfivedays'rest. WhentheyarrivedatSkaguaytheywereapparentlyontheirlastlegs. Theycouldbarelykeepthetracestaut,andonthedowngradesjustmanagedtokeepoutofthewayofthesled. "Mushon,poorsorefeets,"thedriverencouragedthemastheytottereddownthemainstreetofSkaguay."Disisdelas'.Denwegetonelongres'.Eh?Forsure.Onebullylongres'." Thedriversconfidentlyexpectedalongstopover. Themselves,theyhadcoveredtwelvehundredmileswithtwodays'rest,andinthenatureofreasonandcommonjusticetheydeservedanintervalofloafing. ButsomanywerethemenwhohadrushedintotheKlondike,andsomanywerethesweethearts,wives,andkinthathadnotrushedin,thatthecongestedmailwastakingonAlpineproportions;also,therewereofficialorders. FreshbatchesofHudsonBaydogsweretotaketheplacesofthoseworthlessforthetrail. Theworthlessonesweretobegotridof,and,sincedogscountforlittleagainstdollars,theyweretobesold. Threedayspassed,bywhichtimeBuckandhismatesfoundhowreallytiredandweaktheywere. Then,onthemorningofthefourthday,twomenfromtheStatescamealongandboughtthem,harnessandall,forasong. Themenaddressedeachotheras"Hal"and"Charles." Charleswasamiddle-aged,lightish-coloredman,withweakandwateryeyesandamustachethattwistedfiercelyandvigorouslyup,givingthelietothelimplydroopinglipitconcealed. Halwasayoungsterofnineteenortwenty,withabigColt'srevolverandahunting-knifestrappedabouthimonabeltthatfairlybristledwithcartridges. Thisbeltwasthemostsalientthingabouthim. Itadvertisedhiscallowness—acallownesssheerandunutterable. Bothmenweremanifestlyoutofplace,andwhysuchastheyshouldadventuretheNorthispartofthemysteryofthingsthatpassesunderstanding. Buckheardthechaffering,sawthemoneypassbetweenthemanandtheGovernmentagent,andknewthattheScotchhalf-breedandthemail-traindriverswerepassingoutofhislifeontheheelsofPerraultandFrancoisandtheotherswhohadgonebefore. Whendrivenwithhismatestothenewowners'camp,Bucksawaslipshodandslovenlyaffair,tenthalfstretched,dishesunwashed,everythingindisorder;also,hesawawoman."Mercedes"themencalledher. ShewasCharles'swifeandHal'ssister—anicefamilyparty. Buckwatchedthemapprehensivelyastheyproceededtotakedownthetentandloadthesled. Therewasagreatdealofeffortabouttheirmanner,butnobusinesslikemethod. Thetentwasrolledintoanawkwardbundlethreetimesaslargeasitshouldhavebeen. Thetindisheswerepackedawayunwashed. Mercedescontinuallyflutteredinthewayofhermenandkeptupanunbrokenchatteringofremonstranceandadvice. Whentheyputaclothes-sackonthefrontofthesled,shesuggesteditshouldgoontheback;andwhentheyhadputitontheback,andcovereditoverwithacoupleofotherbundles,shediscoveredoverlookedarticleswhichcouldabidenowhereelsebutinthatverysack,andtheyunloadedagain. Threemenfromaneighboringtentcameoutandlookedon,grinningandwinkingatoneanother. "You'vegotarightsmartloadasitis,"saidoneofthem;"andit'snotmeshouldtellyouyourbusiness,butIwouldn'ttotethattentalongifIwasyou." "Undreamedof!"criedMercedes,throwingupherhandsindaintydismay."HoweverintheworldcouldImanagewithoutatent?" "It'sspringtime,andyouwon'tgetanymorecoldweather,"themanreplied. Sheshookherheaddecidedly,andCharlesandHalputthelastoddsandendsontopthemountainousload. "Thinkit'llride?"oneofthemenasked. "Whyshouldn'tit?"Charlesdemandedrathershortly. "Oh,that'sallright,that'sallright,"themanhastenedmeeklytosay."Iwasjusta-wonderin',thatisall.Itseemedamitetop-heavy." Charlesturnedhisbackanddrewthelashingsdownaswellashecould,whichwasnotintheleastwell. "An'ofcoursethedogscanhikealongalldaywiththatcontraptionbehindthem,"affirmedasecondofthemen. "Certainly,"saidHal,withfreezingpoliteness,takingholdofthegee-polewithonehandandswinginghiswhipfromtheother."Mush!"heshouted."Mushonthere!" Thedogssprangagainstthebreast-bands,strainedhardforafewmoments,thenrelaxed.Theywereunabletomovethesled. "Thelazybrutes,I'llshowthem,"hecried,preparingtolashoutatthemwiththewhip. ButMercedesinterfered,crying,"Oh,Hal,youmustn't,"asshecaughtholdofthewhipandwrencheditfromhim."Thepoordears! Nowyoumustpromiseyouwon'tbeharshwiththemfortherestofthetrip,orIwon'tgoastep." "Preciouslotyouknowaboutdogs,"herbrothersneered;"andIwishyou'dleavemealone. They'relazy,Itellyou,andyou'vegottowhipthemtogetanythingoutofthem.That'stheirway.Youaskanyone.Askoneofthosemen." Mercedeslookedatthemimploringly,untoldrepugnanceatsightofpainwritteninherprettyface. "They'reweakaswater,ifyouwanttoknow,"camethereplyfromoneofthemen."Plumtuckeredout,that'swhat'sthematter.Theyneedarest." "Restbeblanked,"saidHal,withhisbeardlesslips;andMercedessaid,"Oh!"inpainandsorrowattheoath. Butshewasaclannishcreature,andrushedatoncetothedefenceofherbrother."Nevermindthatman,"shesaidpointedly."You'redrivingourdogs,andyoudowhatyouthinkbestwiththem." AgainHal'swhipfelluponthedogs.Theythrewthemselvesagainstthebreast-bands,dugtheirfeetintothepackedsnow,gotdownlowtoit,andputforthalltheirstrength. Thesledheldasthoughitwereananchor. Aftertwoefforts,theystoodstill,panting. Thewhipwaswhistlingsavagely,whenoncemoreMercedesinterfered. ShedroppedonherkneesbeforeBuck,withtearsinhereyes,andputherarmsaroundhisneck. "Youpoor,poordears,"shecriedsympathetically,"whydon'tyoupullhard?—thenyouwouldn'tbewhipped." Buckdidnotlikeher,buthewasfeelingtoomiserabletoresisther,takingitaspartoftheday'smiserablework. Oneoftheonlookers,whohadbeenclenchinghisteethtosuppresshotspeech,nowspokeup:— "It'snotthatIcareawhoopwhatbecomesofyou,butforthedogs'sakesIjustwanttotellyou,youcanhelpthemamightylotbybreakingoutthatsled.Therunnersarefrozefast. Throwyourweightagainstthegee-pole,rightandleft,andbreakitout." Athirdtimetheattemptwasmade,butthistime,followingtheadvice,Halbrokeouttherunnerswhichhadbeenfrozentothesnow. Theoverloadedandunwieldysledforgedahead,Buckandhismatesstrugglingfranticallyundertherainofblows. Ahundredyardsaheadthepathturnedandslopedsteeplyintothemainstreet. Itwouldhaverequiredanexperiencedmantokeepthetop-heavysledupright,andHalwasnotsuchaman. Astheyswungontheturnthesledwentover,spillinghalfitsloadthroughthelooselashings.Thedogsneverstopped. Thelightenedsledboundedonitssidebehindthem. Theywereangrybecauseoftheilltreatmenttheyhadreceivedandtheunjustload.Buckwasraging. Hebrokeintoarun,theteamfollowinghislead.Halcried"Whoa!whoa!"buttheygavenoheed.Hetrippedandwaspulledoffhisfeet. Thecapsizedsledgroundoverhim,andthedogsdashedonupthestreet,addingtothegayetyofSkaguayastheyscatteredtheremainderoftheoutfitalongitschiefthoroughfare. Kind-heartedcitizenscaughtthedogsandgatheredupthescatteredbelongings.Also,theygaveadvice. Halftheloadandtwicethedogs,iftheyeverexpectedtoreachDawson,waswhatwassaid. Halandhissisterandbrother-in-lawlistenedunwillingly,pitchedtent,andoverhauledtheoutfit. Cannedgoodswereturnedoutthatmademenlaugh,forcannedgoodsontheLongTrailisathingtodreamabout. "Blanketsforahotel"quothoneofthemenwholaughedandhelped. "Halfasmanyistoomuch;getridofthem. Throwawaythattent,andallthosedishes,—who'sgoingtowashthem,anyway? GoodLord,doyouthinkyou'retravellingonaPullman?" Andsoitwent,theinexorableeliminationofthesuperfluous. Mercedescriedwhenherclothes-bagsweredumpedonthegroundandarticleafterarticlewasthrownout. Shecriedingeneral,andshecriedinparticularovereachdiscardedthing. Sheclaspedhandsaboutknees,rockingbackandforthbroken-heartedly. Sheaverredshewouldnotgoaninch,notforadozenCharleses. Sheappealedtoeverybodyandtoeverything,finallywipinghereyesandproceedingtocastoutevenarticlesofapparelthatwereimperativenecessaries. Andinherzeal,whenshehadfinishedwithherown,sheattackedthebelongingsofhermenandwentthroughthemlikeatornado. Thisaccomplished,theoutfit,thoughcutinhalf,wasstillaformidablebulk. CharlesandHalwentoutintheeveningandboughtsixOutsidedogs. These,addedtothesixoftheoriginalteam,andTeekandKoona,thehuskiesobtainedattheRinkRapidsontherecordtrip,broughttheteamuptofourteen. ButtheOutsidedogs,thoughpracticallybrokeninsincetheirlanding,didnotamounttomuch. Threewereshort-hairedpointers,onewasaNewfoundland,andtheothertwoweremongrelsofindeterminatebreed. Theydidnotseemtoknowanything,thesenewcomers. Buckandhiscomradeslookeduponthemwithdisgust,andthoughhespeedilytaughtthemtheirplacesandwhatnottodo,hecouldnotteachthemwhattodo. Theydidnottakekindlytotraceandtrail. Withtheexceptionofthetwomongrels,theywerebewilderedandspirit-brokenbythestrangesavageenvironmentinwhichtheyfoundthemselvesandbytheilltreatmenttheyhadreceived. Thetwomongrelswerewithoutspiritatall;bonesweretheonlythingsbreakableaboutthem. Withthenewcomershopelessandforlorn,andtheoldteamwornoutbytwenty-fivehundredmilesofcontinuoustrail,theoutlookwasanythingbutbright. Thetwomen,however,werequitecheerful.Andtheywereproud,too. Theyweredoingthethinginstyle,withfourteendogs. TheyhadseenothersledsdepartoverthePassforDawson,orcomeinfromDawson,butneverhadtheyseenasledwithsomanyasfourteendogs. InthenatureofArctictraveltherewasareasonwhyfourteendogsshouldnotdragonesled,andthatwasthatonesledcouldnotcarrythefoodforfourteendogs.ButCharlesandHaldidnotknowthis. Theyhadworkedthetripoutwithapencil,somuchtoadog,somanydogs,somanydays,Q.E.D.Mercedeslookedovertheirshouldersandnoddedcomprehensively,itwasallsoverysimple. LatenextmorningBuckledthelongteamupthestreet. Therewasnothinglivelyaboutit,nosnaporgoinhimandhisfellows.Theywerestartingdeadweary. FourtimeshehadcoveredthedistancebetweenSaltWaterandDawson,andtheknowledgethat,jadedandtired,hewasfacingthesametrailoncemore,madehimbitter. Hisheartwasnotinthework,norwastheheartofanydog. TheOutsidesweretimidandfrightened,theInsideswithoutconfidenceintheirmasters. Buckfeltvaguelythattherewasnodependinguponthesetwomenandthewoman. Theydidnotknowhowtodoanything,andasthedayswentbyitbecameapparentthattheycouldnotlearn. Theywereslackinallthings,withoutorderordiscipline. Ittookthemhalfthenighttopitchaslovenlycamp,andhalfthemorningtobreakthatcampandgetthesledloadedinfashionsoslovenlythatfortherestofthedaytheywereoccupiedinstoppingandrearrangingtheload.Somedaystheydidnotmaketenmiles. Onotherdaystheywereunabletogetstartedatall. Andonnodaydidtheysucceedinmakingmorethanhalfthedistanceusedbythemenasabasisintheirdog-foodcomputation. Itwasinevitablethattheyshouldgoshortondog-food. Buttheyhasteneditbyoverfeeding,bringingthedaynearerwhenunderfeedingwouldcommence. TheOutsidedogs,whosedigestionshadnotbeentrainedbychronicfaminetomakethemostoflittle,hadvoraciousappetites. Andwhen,inadditiontothis,theworn-outhuskiespulledweakly,Haldecidedthattheorthodoxrationwastoosmall.Hedoubledit. Andtocapitall,whenMercedes,withtearsinherprettyeyesandaquaverinherthroat,couldnotcajolehimintogivingthedogsstillmore,shestolefromthefish-sacksandfedthemslyly. ButitwasnotfoodthatBuckandthehuskiesneeded,butrest. Andthoughtheyweremakingpoortime,theheavyloadtheydraggedsappedtheirstrengthseverely. Thencametheunderfeeding.Halawokeonedaytothefactthathisdog-foodwashalfgoneandthedistanceonlyquartercovered;further,thatforloveormoneynoadditionaldog-foodwastobeobtained. Sohecutdowneventheorthodoxrationandtriedtoincreasetheday'stravel. 
