English
Hismusclesweresurchargedwithvitality,andsnappedintoplaysharply,likesteelsprings.
Lifestreamedthroughhiminsplendidflood,gladandrampant,untilitseemedthatitwouldbursthimasunderinsheerecstasyandpourforthgenerouslyovertheworld.
"Neverwastheresuchadog,"saidJohnThorntononeday,asthepartnerswatchedBuckmarchingoutofcamp.
"Whenhewasmade,themouldwasbroke,"saidPete.
"Pyjingo!It'inksomineself,"Hansaffirmed.
Theysawhimmarchingoutofcamp,buttheydidnotseetheinstantandterribletransformationwhichtookplaceassoonashewaswithinthesecrecyoftheforest.Henolongermarched.
Atoncehebecameathingofthewild,stealingalongsoftly,cat-footed,apassingshadowthatappearedanddisappearedamongtheshadows.
Heknewhowtotakeadvantageofeverycover,tocrawlonhisbellylikeasnake,andlikeasnaketoleapandstrike.
Hecouldtakeaptarmiganfromitsnest,killarabbitasitslept,andsnapinmidairthelittlechipmunksfleeingasecondtoolateforthetrees.
Fish,inopenpools,werenottooquickforhim;norwerebeaver,mendingtheirdams,toowary.
Hekilledtoeat,notfromwantonness;buthepreferredtoeatwhathekilledhimself.
Soalurkinghumorranthroughhisdeeds,anditwashisdelighttostealuponthesquirrels,and,whenheallbuthadthem,toletthemgo,chatteringinmortalfeartothetreetops.
Asthefalloftheyearcameon,themooseappearedingreaterabundance,movingslowlydowntomeetthewinterinthelowerandlessrigorousvalleys.
Buckhadalreadydraggeddownastraypart-growncalf;buthewishedstronglyforlargerandmoreformidablequarry,andhecameuponitonedayonthedivideattheheadofthecreek.
Abandoftwentymoosehadcrossedoverfromthelandofstreamsandtimber,andchiefamongthemwasagreatbull.
Hewasinasavagetemper,and,standingoversixfeetfromtheground,wasasformidableanantagonistasevenBuckcoulddesire.
Backandforththebulltossedhisgreatpalmatedantlers,branchingtofourteenpointsandembracingsevenfeetwithinthetips.
Hissmalleyesburnedwithaviciousandbitterlight,whileheroaredwithfuryatsightofBuck.
Fromthebull'sside,justforwardoftheflank,protrudedafeatheredarrow-end,whichaccountedforhissavageness.
Guidedbythatinstinctwhichcamefromtheoldhuntingdaysoftheprimordialworld,Buckproceededtocutthebulloutfromtheherd.Itwasnoslighttask.
Hewouldbarkanddanceaboutinfrontofthebull,justoutofreachofthegreatantlersandoftheterriblesplayhoofswhichcouldhavestampedhislifeoutwithasingleblow.
Unabletoturnhisbackonthefangeddangerandgoon,thebullwouldbedrivenintoparoxysmsofrage.
AtsuchmomentshechargedBuck,whoretreatedcraftily,luringhimonbyasimulatedinabilitytoescape.
Butwhenhewasthusseparatedfromhisfellows,twoorthreeoftheyoungerbullswouldchargebackuponBuckandenablethewoundedbulltorejointheherd.
Thereisapatienceofthewild—dogged,tireless,persistentaslifeitself—thatholdsmotionlessforendlesshoursthespiderinitsweb,thesnakeinitscoils,thepantherinitsambuscade;thispatiencebelongspeculiarlytolifewhenithuntsitslivingfood;anditbelongedtoBuckasheclungtotheflankoftheherd,retardingitsmarch,irritatingtheyoungbulls,worryingthecowswiththeirhalf-growncalves,anddrivingthewoundedbullmadwithhelplessrage.
Forhalfadaythiscontinued.
Buckmultipliedhimself,attackingfromallsides,envelopingtheherdinawhirlwindofmenace,cuttingouthisvictimasfastasitcouldrejoinitsmates,wearingoutthepatienceofcreaturespreyedupon,whichisalesserpatiencethanthatofcreaturespreying.
Asthedayworealongandthesundroppedtoitsbedinthenorthwest(thedarknesshadcomebackandthefallnightsweresixhourslong),theyoungbullsretracedtheirstepsmoreandmorereluctantlytotheaidoftheirbesetleader.
Thedown-comingwinterwasharryingthemontothelowerlevels,anditseemedtheycouldnevershakeoffthistirelesscreaturethatheldthemback.
Besides,itwasnotthelifeoftheherd,oroftheyoungbulls,thatwasthreatened.
Thelifeofonlyonememberwasdemanded,whichwasaremoterinterestthantheirlives,andintheendtheywerecontenttopaythetoll.
Astwilightfelltheoldbullstoodwithloweredhead,watchinghismates—thecowshehadknown,thecalveshehadfathered,thebullshehadmastered—astheyshambledonatarapidpacethroughthefadinglight.
Hecouldnotfollow,forbeforehisnoseleapedthemercilessfangedterrorthatwouldnotlethimgo.
Threehundredweightmorethanhalfatonheweighed;hehadlivedalong,stronglife,fulloffightandstruggle,andattheendhefaceddeathattheteethofacreaturewhoseheaddidnotreachbeyondhisgreatknuckledknees.
Fromthenon,nightandday,Buckneverlefthisprey,nevergaveitamoment'srest,neverpermittedittobrowsetheleavesoftreesortheshootsofyoungbirchandwillow.
Nordidhegivethewoundedbullopportunitytoslakehisburningthirstintheslendertricklingstreamstheycrossed.
Often,indesperation,heburstintolongstretchesofflight.
AtsuchtimesBuckdidnotattempttostayhim,butlopedeasilyathisheels,satisfiedwiththewaythegamewasplayed,lyingdownwhenthemoosestoodstill,attackinghimfiercelywhenhestrovetoeatordrink.
Thegreatheaddroopedmoreandmoreunderitstreeofhorns,andtheshamblingtrotgrewweakandweaker.
Hetooktostandingforlongperiods,withnosetothegroundanddejectedearsdroppedlimply;andBuckfoundmoretimeinwhichtogetwaterforhimselfandinwhichtorest.
Atsuchmoments,pantingwithredlollingtongueandwitheyesfixeduponthebigbull,itappearedtoBuckthatachangewascomingoverthefaceofthings.Hecouldfeelanewstirintheland.
Asthemoosewerecomingintotheland,otherkindsoflifewerecomingin.
Forestandstreamandairseemedpalpitantwiththeirpresence.
Thenewsofitwasborneinuponhim,notbysight,orsound,orsmell,butbysomeotherandsubtlersense.
Heheardnothing,sawnothing,yetknewthatthelandwassomehowdifferent;thatthroughitstrangethingswereafootandranging;andheresolvedtoinvestigateafterhehadfinishedthebusinessinhand.
Atlast,attheendofthefourthday,hepulledthegreatmoosedown.
Foradayandanightheremainedbythekill,eatingandsleeping,turnandturnabout.
Then,rested,refreshedandstrong,heturnedhisfacetowardcampandJohnThornton.
Hebrokeintothelongeasylope,andwenton,hourafterhour,neveratlossforthetangledway,headingstraighthomethroughstrangecountrywithacertitudeofdirectionthatputmanandhismagneticneedletoshame.
Asheheldonhebecamemoreandmoreconsciousofthenewstirintheland.
Therewaslifeabroadinitdifferentfromthelifewhichhadbeentherethroughoutthesummer.
Nolongerwasthisfactborneinuponhiminsomesubtle,mysteriousway.
Thebirdstalkedofit,thesquirrelschatteredaboutit,theverybreezewhisperedofit.
Severaltimeshestoppedanddrewinthefreshmorningairingreatsniffs,readingamessagewhichmadehimleaponwithgreaterspeed.
Hewasoppressedwithasenseofcalamityhappening,ifitwerenotcalamityalreadyhappened;andashecrossedthelastwatershedanddroppeddownintothevalleytowardcamp,heproceededwithgreatercaution.
Threemilesawayhecameuponafreshtrailthatsenthisneckhairripplingandbristling,ItledstraighttowardcampandJohnThornton.
Buckhurriedon,swiftlyandstealthily,everynervestrainingandtense,alerttothemultitudinousdetailswhichtoldastory—allbuttheend.
Hisnosegavehimavaryingdescriptionofthepassageofthelifeontheheelsofwhichhewastravelling.
Heremarkedthepregnantsilenceoftheforest.Thebirdlifehadflitted.Thesquirrelswereinhiding.
Oneonlyhesaw,—asleekgrayfellow,flattenedagainstagraydeadlimbsothatheseemedapartofit,awoodyexcrescenceuponthewooditself.
AsBuckslidalongwiththeobscurenessofaglidingshadow,hisnosewasjerkedsuddenlytothesideasthoughapositiveforcehadgrippedandpulledit.
HefollowedthenewscentintoathicketandfoundNig.
Hewaslyingonhisside,deadwherehehaddraggedhimself,anarrowprotruding,headandfeathers,fromeithersideofhisbody.
Ahundredyardsfartheron,Buckcameupononeofthesled-dogsThorntonhadboughtinDawson.
Thisdogwasthrashingaboutinadeath-struggle,directlyonthetrail,andBuckpassedaroundhimwithoutstopping.
Fromthecampcamethefaintsoundofmanyvoices,risingandfallinginasing-songchant.
Bellyingforwardtotheedgeoftheclearing,hefoundHans,lyingonhisface,featheredwitharrowslikeaporcupine.
AtthesameinstantBuckpeeredoutwherethespruce-boughlodgehadbeenandsawwhatmadehishairleapstraightuponhisneckandshoulders.
Agustofoverpoweringragesweptoverhim.
Hedidnotknowthathegrowled,buthegrowledaloudwithaterribleferocity.
Forthelasttimeinhislifeheallowedpassiontousurpcunningandreason,anditwasbecauseofhisgreatloveforJohnThorntonthathelosthishead.
TheYeehatsweredancingaboutthewreckageofthespruce-boughlodgewhentheyheardafearfulroaringandsawrushinguponthemananimalthelikeofwhichtheyhadneverseenbefore.
ItwasBuck,alivehurricaneoffury,hurlinghimselfupontheminafrenzytodestroy.
Hesprangattheforemostman(itwasthechiefoftheYeehats),rippingthethroatwideopentilltherentjugularspoutedafountainofblood.
Hedidnotpausetoworrythevictim,butrippedinpassing,withthenextboundtearingwidethethroatofasecondman.Therewasnowithstandinghim.
Heplungedaboutintheirverymidst,tearing,rending,destroying,inconstantandterrificmotionwhichdefiedthearrowstheydischargedathim.
Infact,soinconceivablyrapidwerehismovements,andsocloselyweretheIndianstangledtogether,thattheyshotoneanotherwiththearrows;andoneyounghunter,hurlingaspearatBuckinmidair,droveitthroughthechestofanotherhunterwithsuchforcethatthepointbrokethroughtheskinofthebackandstoodoutbeyond.
ThenapanicseizedtheYeehats,andtheyfledinterrortothewoods,proclaimingastheyfledtheadventoftheEvilSpirit.
AndtrulyBuckwastheFiendincarnate,ragingattheirheelsanddraggingthemdownlikedeerastheyracedthroughthetrees.ItwasafatefuldayfortheYeehats.
Theyscatteredfarandwideoverthecountry,anditwasnottillaweeklaterthatthelastofthesurvivorsgatheredtogetherinalowervalleyandcountedtheirlosses.
AsforBuck,wearyingofthepursuit,hereturnedtothedesolatedcamp.
HefoundPetewherehehadbeenkilledinhisblanketsinthefirstmomentofsurprise.
Thornton'sdesperatestrugglewasfresh-writtenontheearth,andBuckscentedeverydetailofitdowntotheedgeofadeeppool.
Bytheedge,headandforefeetinthewater,laySkeet,faithfultothelast.
Thepoolitself,muddyanddiscoloredfromthesluiceboxes,effectuallyhidwhatitcontained,anditcontainedJohnThornton;forBuckfollowedhistraceintothewater,fromwhichnotraceledaway.
AlldayBuckbroodedbythepoolorroamedrestlesslyaboutthecamp.
Death,asacessationofmovement,asapassingoutandawayfromthelivesoftheliving,heknew,andheknewJohnThorntonwasdead.
Itleftagreatvoidinhim,somewhatakintohunger,butavoidwhichachedandached,andwhichfoodcouldnotfill,Attimes,whenhepausedtocontemplatethecarcassesoftheYeehats,heforgotthepainofit;andatsuchtimeshewasawareofagreatprideinhimself,—apridegreaterthananyhehadyetexperienced.
Hehadkilledman,thenoblestgameofall,andhehadkilledinthefaceofthelawofclubandfang.Hesniffedthebodiescuriously.Theyhaddiedsoeasily.
Itwashardertokillahuskydogthanthem.
Theywerenomatchatall,wereitnotfortheirarrowsandspearsandclubs.
Thenceforwardhewouldbeunafraidofthemexceptwhentheyboreintheirhandstheirarrows,spears,andclubs.
Nightcameon,andafullmoonrosehighoverthetreesintothesky,lightingthelandtillitlaybathedinghostlyday.
Andwiththecomingofthenight,broodingandmourningbythepool,BuckbecamealivetoastirringofthenewlifeintheforestotherthanthatwhichtheYeehatshadmade,Hestoodup,listeningandscenting.
Fromfarawaydriftedafaint,sharpyelp,followedbyachorusofsimilarsharpyelps.
Asthemomentspassedtheyelpsgrewcloserandlouder.
AgainBuckknewthemasthingsheardinthatotherworldwhichpersistedinhismemory.
Hewalkedtothecentreoftheopenspaceandlistened.
Itwasthecall,themany-notedcall,soundingmoreluringlyandcompellinglythaneverbefore.
Andasneverbefore,hewasreadytoobey.JohnThorntonwasdead.Thelasttiewasbroken.
Manandtheclaimsofmannolongerboundhim.
Huntingtheirlivingmeat,astheYeehatswerehuntingit,ontheflanksofthemigratingmoose,thewolfpackhadatlastcrossedoverfromthelandofstreamsandtimberandinvadedBuck'svalley.
Intotheclearingwherethemoonlightstreamed,theypouredinasilveryflood;andinthecentreoftheclearingstoodBuck,motionlessasastatue,waitingtheircoming.
Theywereawed,sostillandlargehestood,andamoment'spausefell,tilltheboldestoneleapedstraightforhim.
LikeaflashBuckstruck,breakingtheneck.
Thenhestood,withoutmovement,asbefore,thestrickenwolfrollinginagonybehindhim.
Threeotherstrieditinsharpsuccession;andoneaftertheothertheydrewback,streamingbloodfromslashedthroatsorshoulders.
Thiswassufficienttoflingthewholepackforward,pell-mell,crowdedtogether,blockedandconfusedbyitseagernesstopulldowntheprey.
Buck'smarvellousquicknessandagilitystoodhimingoodstead.
Pivotingonhishindlegs,andsnappingandgashing,hewaseverywhereatonce,presentingafrontwhichwasapparentlyunbrokensoswiftlydidhewhirlandguardfromsidetoside.
Buttopreventthemfromgettingbehindhim,hewasforcedback,downpastthepoolandintothecreekbed,tillhebroughtupagainstahighgravelbank.
Heworkedalongtoarightangleinthebankwhichthemenhadmadeinthecourseofmining,andinthisanglehecametobay,protectedonthreesidesandwithnothingtodobutfacethefront.
Andsowelldidhefaceit,thatattheendofhalfanhourthewolvesdrewbackdiscomfited.
Thetonguesofallwereoutandlolling,thewhitefangsshowingcruellywhiteinthemoonlight.
Somewerelyingdownwithheadsraisedandearsprickedforward;othersstoodontheirfeet,watchinghim;andstillotherswerelappingwaterfromthepool.
Onewolf,longandleanandgray,advancedcautiously,inafriendlymanner,andBuckrecognizedthewildbrotherwithwhomhehadrunforanightandaday.
Hewaswhiningsoftly,and,asBuckwhined,theytouchednoses.
Thenanoldwolf,gauntandbattle-scarred,cameforward.
Buckwrithedhislipsintothepreliminaryofasnarl,butsniffednoseswithhim,Whereupontheoldwolfsatdown,pointednoseatthemoon,andbrokeoutthelongwolfhowl.Theotherssatdownandhowled.
AndnowthecallcametoBuckinunmistakableaccents.He,too,satdownandhowled.
Thisover,hecameoutofhisangleandthepackcrowdedaroundhim,sniffinginhalf-friendly,half-savagemanner.
Theleadersliftedtheyelpofthepackandsprangawayintothewoods.
Thewolvesswunginbehind,yelpinginchorus.
AndBuckranwiththem,sidebysidewiththewildbrother,yelpingasheran.
AndheremaywellendthestoryofBuck.
TheyearswerenotmanywhentheYeehatsnotedachangeinthebreedoftimberwolves;forsomewereseenwithsplashesofbrownonheadandmuzzle,andwithariftofwhitecentringdownthechest.
Butmoreremarkablethanthis,theYeehatstellofaGhostDogthatrunsattheheadofthepack.
TheyareafraidofthisGhostDog,forithascunninggreaterthanthey,stealingfromtheircampsinfiercewinters,robbingtheirtraps,slayingtheirdogs,anddefyingtheirbravesthunters.
Nay,thetalegrowsworse.Hunterstherearewhofailtoreturntothecamp,andhunterstherehavebeenwhomtheirtribesmenfoundwiththroatsslashedcruellyopenandwithwolfprintsabouttheminthesnowgreaterthantheprintsofanywolf.
Eachfall,whentheYeehatsfollowthemovementofthemoose,thereisacertainvalleywhichtheyneverenter.
AndwomentherearewhobecomesadwhenthewordgoesoverthefireofhowtheEvilSpiritcametoselectthatvalleyforanabiding-place.
Inthesummersthereisonevisitor,however,tothatvalley,ofwhichtheYeehatsdonotknow.
Itisagreat,gloriouslycoatedwolf,like,andyetunlike,allotherwolves.
Hecrossesalonefromthesmilingtimberlandandcomesdownintoanopenspaceamongthetrees.
Hereayellowstreamflowsfromrottedmoose-hidesacksandsinksintotheground,withlonggrassesgrowingthroughitandvegetablemouldoverrunningitandhidingitsyellowfromthesun;andherehemusesforatime,howlingonce,longandmournfully,erehedeparts.
Butheisnotalwaysalone.Whenthelongwinternightscomeonandthewolvesfollowtheirmeatintothelowervalleys,hemaybeseenrunningattheheadofthepackthroughthepalemoonlightorglimmeringborealis,leapinggiganticabovehisfellows,hisgreatthroata-bellowashesingsasongoftheyoungerworld,whichisthesongofthepack.
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