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ThiswasthepridethatboreupSpitzandmadehimthrashthesled-dogswhoblunderedandshirkedinthetracesorhidawayatharness-uptimeinthemorning.
LikewiseitwasthispridethatmadehimfearBuckasapossiblelead-dog.AndthiswasBuck'spride,too.
Heopenlythreatenedtheother'sleadership.
Hecamebetweenhimandtheshirksheshouldhavepunished.Andhediditdeliberately.
Onenighttherewasaheavysnowfall,andinthemorningPike,themalingerer,didnotappear.
Hewassecurelyhiddeninhisnestunderafootofsnow.
Francoiscalledhimandsoughthiminvain.Spitzwaswildwithwrath.
Heragedthroughthecamp,smellinganddiggingineverylikelyplace,snarlingsofrightfullythatPikeheardandshiveredinhishiding-place.
Butwhenhewasatlastunearthed,andSpitzflewathimtopunishhim,Buckflew,withequalrage,inbetween.
Sounexpectedwasit,andsoshrewdlymanaged,thatSpitzwashurledbackwardandoffhisfeet.
Pike,whohadbeentremblingabjectly,tookheartatthisopenmutiny,andspranguponhisoverthrownleader.
Buck,towhomfairplaywasaforgottencode,likewisespranguponSpitz.
ButFrancois,chucklingattheincidentwhileunswervingintheadministrationofjustice,broughthislashdownuponBuckwithallhismight.
ThisfailedtodriveBuckfromhisprostraterival,andthebuttofthewhipwasbroughtintoplay.
Half-stunnedbytheblow,Buckwasknockedbackwardandthelashlaiduponhimagainandagain,whileSpitzsoundlypunishedthemanytimesoffendingPike.
Inthedaysthatfollowed,asDawsongrewcloserandcloser,BuckstillcontinuedtointerferebetweenSpitzandtheculprits;buthediditcraftily,whenFrancoiswasnotaround,WiththecovertmutinyofBuck,ageneralinsubordinationsprangupandincreased.
DaveandSol-lekswereunaffected,buttherestoftheteamwentfrombadtoworse.Thingsnolongerwentright.
Therewascontinualbickeringandjangling.
Troublewasalwaysafoot,andatthebottomofitwasBuck.
HekeptFrancoisbusy,forthedog-driverwasinconstantapprehensionofthelife-and-deathstrugglebetweenthetwowhichheknewmusttakeplacesoonerorlater;andonmorethanonenightthesoundsofquarrellingandstrifeamongtheotherdogsturnedhimoutofhissleepingrobe,fearfulthatBuckandSpitzwereatit.
Buttheopportunitydidnotpresentitself,andtheypulledintoDawsononedrearyafternoonwiththegreatfightstilltocome.
Hereweremanymen,andcountlessdogs,andBuckfoundthemallatwork.
Itseemedtheordainedorderofthingsthatdogsshouldwork.
Alldaytheyswungupanddownthemainstreetinlongteams,andinthenighttheirjinglingbellsstillwentby.
Theyhauledcabinlogsandfirewood,freighteduptothemines,anddidallmannerofworkthathorsesdidintheSantaClaraValley.
HereandthereBuckmetSouthlanddogs,butinthemaintheywerethewildwolfhuskybreed.
Everynight,regularly,atnine,attwelve,atthree,theyliftedanocturnalsong,aweirdandeeriechant,inwhichitwasBuck'sdelighttojoin.
Withtheauroraborealisflamingcoldlyoverhead,orthestarsleapinginthefrostdance,andthelandnumbandfrozenunderitspallofsnow,thissongofthehuskiesmighthavebeenthedefianceoflife,onlyitwaspitchedinminorkey,withlong-drawnwailingsandhalf-sobs,andwasmorethepleadingoflife,thearticulatetravailofexistence.
Itwasanoldsong,oldasthebreeditself—oneofthefirstsongsoftheyoungerworldinadaywhensongsweresad.
Itwasinvestedwiththewoeofunnumberedgenerations,thisplaintbywhichBuckwassostrangelystirred.
Whenhemoanedandsobbed,itwaswiththepainoflivingthatwasofoldthepainofhiswildfathers,andthefearandmysteryofthecoldanddarkthatwastothemfearandmystery.
Andthatheshouldbestirredbyitmarkedthecompletenesswithwhichheharkedbackthroughtheagesoffireandrooftotherawbeginningsoflifeinthehowlingages.
SevendaysfromthetimetheypulledintoDawson,theydroppeddownthesteepbankbytheBarrackstotheYukonTrail,andpulledforDyeaandSaltWater.
Perraultwascarryingdespatchesifanythingmoreurgentthanthosehehadbroughtin;also,thetravelpridehadgrippedhim,andhepurposedtomaketherecordtripoftheyear.Severalthingsfavoredhiminthis.
Theweek'sresthadrecuperatedthedogsandputtheminthoroughtrim.
Thetrailtheyhadbrokenintothecountrywaspackedhardbylaterjourneyers.
Andfurther,thepolicehadarrangedintwoorthreeplacesdepositsofgrubfordogandman,andhewastravellinglight.
TheymadeSixtyMile,whichisafifty-milerun,onthefirstday;andtheseconddaysawthemboominguptheYukonwellontheirwaytoPelly.
ButsuchsplendidrunningwasachievednotwithoutgreattroubleandvexationonthepartofFrancois.
TheinsidiousrevoltledbyBuckhaddestroyedthesolidarityoftheteam.
Itnolongerwasasonedogleapinginthetraces.
TheencouragementBuckgavetherebelsledthemintoallkindsofpettymisdemeanors.
NomorewasSpitzaleadergreatlytobefeared.
Theoldawedeparted,andtheygrewequaltochallenginghisauthority.
Pikerobbedhimofhalfafishonenight,andgulpeditdownundertheprotectionofBuck.
AnothernightDubandJoefoughtSpitzandmadehimforegothepunishmenttheydeserved.
AndevenBillee,thegood-natured,waslessgood-natured,andwhinednothalfsoplacatinglyasinformerdays.
BucknevercamenearSpitzwithoutsnarlingandbristlingmenacingly.
Infact,hisconductapproachedthatofabully,andhewasgiventoswaggeringupanddownbeforeSpitz'sverynose.
Thebreakingdownofdisciplinelikewiseaffectedthedogsintheirrelationswithoneanother.
Theyquarrelledandbickeredmorethaneveramongthemselves,tillattimesthecampwasahowlingbedlam.
DaveandSol-leksalonewereunaltered,thoughtheyweremadeirritablebytheunendingsquabbling.
Francoissworestrangebarbarousoaths,andstampedthesnowinfutilerage,andtorehishair.
Hislashwasalwayssingingamongthedogs,butitwasofsmallavail.
Directlyhisbackwasturnedtheywereatitagain.
HebackedupSpitzwithhiswhip,whileBuckbackeduptheremainderoftheteam.
Francoisknewhewasbehindallthetrouble,andBuckknewheknew;butBuckwastooclevereveragaintobecaughtred-handed.
Heworkedfaithfullyintheharness,forthetoilhadbecomeadelighttohim;yetitwasagreaterdelightslylytoprecipitateafightamongsthismatesandtanglethetraces.
AtthemouthoftheTahkeena,onenightaftersupper,Dubturnedupasnowshoerabbit,blunderedit,andmissed.
Inasecondthewholeteamwasinfullcry.
AhundredyardsawaywasacampoftheNorthwestPolice,withfiftydogs,huskiesall,whojoinedthechase.
Therabbitspeddowntheriver,turnedoffintoasmallcreek,upthefrozenbedofwhichitheldsteadily.
Itranlightlyonthesurfaceofthesnow,whilethedogsploughedthroughbymainstrength.
Buckledthepack,sixtystrong,aroundbendafterbend,buthecouldnotgain.
Helaydownlowtotherace,whiningeagerly,hissplendidbodyflashingforward,leapbyleap,inthewanwhitemoonlight.
Andleapbyleap,likesomepalefrostwraith,thesnowshoerabbitflashedonahead.
Allthatstirringofoldinstinctswhichatstatedperiodsdrivesmenoutfromthesoundingcitiestoforestandplaintokillthingsbychemicallypropelledleadenpellets,thebloodlust,thejoytokill—allthiswasBuck's,onlyitwasinfinitelymoreintimate.
Hewasrangingattheheadofthepack,runningthewildthingdown,thelivingmeat,tokillwithhisownteethandwashhismuzzletotheeyesinwarmblood.
Thereisanecstasythatmarksthesummitoflife,andbeyondwhichlifecannotrise.
Andsuchistheparadoxofliving,thisecstasycomeswhenoneismostalive,anditcomesasacompleteforgetfulnessthatoneisalive.
Thisecstasy,thisforgetfulnessofliving,comestotheartist,caughtupandoutofhimselfinasheetofflame;itcomestothesoldier,war-madonastrickenfieldandrefusingquarter;anditcametoBuck,leadingthepack,soundingtheoldwolf-cry,strainingafterthefoodthatwasaliveandthatfledswiftlybeforehimthroughthemoonlight.
Hewassoundingthedeepsofhisnature,andofthepartsofhisnaturethatweredeeperthanhe,goingbackintothewombofTime.
Hewasmasteredbythesheersurgingoflife,thetidalwaveofbeing,theperfectjoyofeachseparatemuscle,joint,andsinewinthatitwaseverythingthatwasnotdeath,thatitwasaglowandrampant,expressingitselfinmovement,flyingexultantlyunderthestarsandoverthefaceofdeadmatterthatdidnotmove.
ButSpitz,coldandcalculatingeveninhissuprememoods,leftthepackandcutacrossanarrowneckoflandwherethecreekmadealongbendaround.
Buckdidnotknowofthis,andasheroundedthebend,thefrostwraithofarabbitstillflittingbeforehim,hesawanotherandlargerfrostwraithleapfromtheoverhangingbankintotheimmediatepathoftherabbit.ItwasSpitz.
Therabbitcouldnotturn,andasthewhiteteethbrokeitsbackinmidairitshriekedasloudlyasastrickenmanmayshriek.
Atsoundofthis,thecryofLifeplungingdownfromLife'sapexinthegripofDeath,thefallpackatBuck'sheelsraisedahell'schorusofdelight.
Buckdidnotcryout.Hedidnotcheckhimself,butdroveinuponSpitz,shouldertoshoulder,sohardthathemissedthethroat.
Theyrolledoverandoverinthepowderysnow.
Spitzgainedhisfeetalmostasthoughhehadnotbeenoverthrown,slashingBuckdowntheshoulderandleapingclear.
Twicehisteethclippedtogether,likethesteeljawsofatrap,ashebackedawayforbetterfooting,withleanandliftinglipsthatwrithedandsnarled.
InaflashBuckknewit.Thetimehadcome.Itwastothedeath.
Astheycircledabout,snarling,earslaidback,keenlywatchfulfortheadvantage,thescenecametoBuckwithasenseoffamiliarity.
Heseemedtorememberitall,—thewhitewoods,andearth,andmoonlight,andthethrillofbattle.
Overthewhitenessandsilencebroodedaghostlycalm.
Therewasnotthefaintestwhisperofair—nothingmoved,notaleafquivered,thevisiblebreathsofthedogsrisingslowlyandlingeringinthefrostyair.
Theyhadmadeshortworkofthesnowshoerabbit,thesedogsthatwereill-tamedwolves;andtheywerenowdrawnupinanexpectantcircle.
They,too,weresilent,theireyesonlygleamingandtheirbreathsdriftingslowlyupward.
ToBuckitwasnothingneworstrange,thissceneofoldtime.
Itwasasthoughithadalwaysbeen,thewontedwayofthings.
Spitzwasapractisedfighter.FromSpitzbergenthroughtheArctic,andacrossCanadaandtheBarrens,hehadheldhisownwithallmannerofdogsandachievedtomasteryoverthem.
Bitterragewashis,butneverblindrage.
Inpassiontorendanddestroy,heneverforgotthathisenemywasinlikepassiontorendanddestroy.
Heneverrushedtillhewaspreparedtoreceivearush;neverattackedtillhehadfirstdefendedthatattack.
InvainBuckstrovetosinkhisteethintheneckofthebigwhitedog.
Whereverhisfangsstruckforthesofterflesh,theywerecounteredbythefangsofSpitz.
Fangclashedfang,andlipswerecutandbleeding,butBuckcouldnotpenetratehisenemy'sguard.
ThenhewarmedupandenvelopedSpitzinawhirlwindofrushes.
Timeandtimeagainhetriedforthesnow-whitethroat,wherelifebubbledneartothesurface,andeachtimeandeverytimeSpitzslashedhimandgotaway.
ThenBucktooktorushing,asthoughforthethroat,when,suddenlydrawingbackhisheadandcurvinginfromtheside,hewoulddrivehisshoulderattheshoulderofSpitz,asarambywhichtooverthrowhim.
Butinstead,Buck'sshoulderwasslasheddowneachtimeasSpitzleapedlightlyaway.
Spitzwasuntouched,whileBuckwasstreamingwithbloodandpantinghard.Thefightwasgrowingdesperate.
Andallthewhilethesilentandwolfishcirclewaitedtofinishoffwhicheverdogwentdown.
AsBuckgrewwinded,Spitztooktorushing,andhekepthimstaggeringforfooting.
OnceBuckwentover,andthewholecircleofsixtydogsstartedup;butherecoveredhimself,almostinmidair,andthecirclesankdownagainandwaited.
ButBuckpossessedaqualitythatmadeforgreatness—imagination.
Hefoughtbyinstinct,buthecouldfightbyheadaswell.
Herushed,asthoughattemptingtheoldshouldertrick,butatthelastinstantsweptlowtothesnowandin.
HisteethclosedonSpitz'sleftforeleg.
Therewasacrunchofbreakingbone,andthewhitedogfacedhimonthreelegs.
Thricehetriedtoknockhimover,thenrepeatedthetrickandbroketherightforeleg.
Despitethepainandhelplessness,Spitzstruggledmadlytokeepup.
Hesawthesilentcircle,withgleamingeyes,lollingtongues,andsilverybreathsdriftingupward,closinginuponhimashehadseensimilarcirclescloseinuponbeatenantagonistsinthepast.
Onlythistimehewastheonewhowasbeaten.
Therewasnohopeforhim.Buckwasinexorable.
Mercywasathingreservedforgentlerclimes.Hemanoeuvredforthefinalrush.
Thecirclehadtightenedtillhecouldfeelthebreathsofthehuskiesonhisflanks.
Hecouldseethem,beyondSpitzandtoeitherside,halfcrouchingforthespring,theireyesfixeduponhim.Apauseseemedtofall.
Everyanimalwasmotionlessasthoughturnedtostone.
OnlySpitzquiveredandbristledashestaggeredbackandforth,snarlingwithhorriblemenace,asthoughtofrightenoffimpendingdeath.
ThenBuckspranginandout;butwhilehewasin,shoulderhadatlastsquarelymetshoulder.
Thedarkcirclebecameadotonthemoon-floodedsnowasSpitzdisappearedfromview.
Buckstoodandlookedon,thesuccessfulchampion,thedominantprimordialbeastwhohadmadehiskillandfounditgood.
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