CHAPTER 4

  WHOHASWONTOMASTERSHIP

  "Eh?WhatIsay?IspeaktruewhenIsaydatBucktwodevils."

  ThiswasFrancoissspeeextmwhenhediscoveredSpitzmissingandBuckcoveredwithwounds.Hedrewhimtothefireandbyitslightpoihemout.

  "DatSpitzfightlikehell,"saidPerrault,ashesurveyedthegapingripsandcuts.

  "AndatBuckfightliketwohells,"wasFrancoissanswer."Andnowwemakegoodtime.NomoreSpitz,nomoretrouble,sure."

  WhilePerraultpackedthecampoutfitandloadedthesled,thedog-driverproceededtoharhedogs.BucktrotteduptotheplaceSpitzwouldhaveoccupiedasleader;butFrancois,notnotighim,broughtSol-lekstothecovetedposition.Inhisjudgment,Sol-lekswasthebestlead-dogleft.BuckspranguponSol-leksinafury,drivinghimbadstandinginhisplace.

  "Eh?Eh?"Francoiscried,slappinghisthighsgleefully."LookatdatBuck.HimkilldatSpitz,himthinktotakedejob."

  "Goway,Hook!"hecried,butBuckrefusedtobudge.

  HetookBuckbythescruffofthenedthoughthedoggrowledthreateningly,draggedhimtoonesideandreplacedSol-leks.Theolddogdidnotlikeit,andshowedplainlythathewasafraidofBuck.Francoiswasobdurate,butwheurnedhisback,BuckagaindisplacedSol-leks,whowasnotatallunwillingtogo.

  Francoiswasangry."Now,byGar,Ifixyou!"hecried,ingbackwithaheavyclubinhishand.

  Buckrememberedthemanintheredsweater,areatedslowly;nordidheattemptteinwhenSol-lekswasoncemhtforward.Buthecircledjustbeyondtheraheclub,snarlingwithbitternessandrage;andwhilehecircledhewatchedtheclubsoastododgeitifthrownbyFrancois,forhewasbeewiseinthewayofclubs.

  Thedriverwentabouthiswork,andhecalledtoBuckwhenhewasreadytoputhiminhisoldplafrontofDave.Buckretreatedtwoorthreesteps.Francoisfollowedhimup,whereuponheagaireated.Aftersometimeofthis,Francoisthrewdowntheclub,thinkingthatBuckfearedathrashing.ButBuckwasinope.Hewanted,nottoescapeaclubbing,buttohavetheleadership.Itwashisbyright.Hehadear,andhewouldentwithless.

  Perraulttookahaweeheyranhimaboutforthebetterpartofanhour.Theythrewclubsathim.Hedodged.Theycursedhim,andhisfathersandmothersbeforehim,andallhisseedtoeafterhimdowntotheremotestgeion,andeveryhaironhisbodyanddropofbloodinhisveins;andheansweredcursewithsnarlaoutoftheirreach.Hedidnottrytorunaway,butretreatedaroundandaroundthecamp,advertisingplainlythatwhenhisdesirewasmet,hewouldeinandbegood.

  Francoissatdownandscratchedhishead.Perraultlookedathiswatdswore.Timewasflying,andtheyshouldhavebeenorailanhone.Francoisscratchedhisheadagain.Heshookitandgrinnedsheepishlyatthecourier,whedhisshouldersinsignthattheywerebeaten.ThenFrancoiswentuptowhereSol-leksstoodandcalledtoBuck.Bucklaughed,asdogslaugh,yetkepthisdistance.FrancoisunfastenedSol-leksstradputhimbahisoldplace.Theteamstoodharhesledinanunbrokenline,readyforthetrail.TherelaceforBucksaveatthefront.OncemoreFrancoiscalled,andoncemoreBucklaughedaaway.

  "Throwdowndeclub,"Perraultanded.

  Francoisplied,whereuponBucktrottedin,laughingtriumphantly,andswungaroundintopositionattheheadoftheteam.Histraceswerefastehesledbrokenout,andwithbothmenrunningtheydashedoutontotherivertrail.

  Highlyasthedog-driverhadforevaluedBuck,withhistwodevils,hefound,whilethedaywasyetyoung,thathehadundervalued.AtaboundBucktookupthedutiesofleadership;andwherejudgmentwasrequired,andquickthinkingandquickag,heshowedhimselfthesuperiorevenofSpitz,ofwhomFrancoishadneverseenanequal.

  Butitwasingivingthelawandmakinghismatesliveuptoit,thatBuckexcelled.DaveandSol-leksdidnotmindthegeinleadership.Itwasheirbusiheirbusinesswastotoil,andtoilmightily,iraces.Solongasthatwasnotinterferedwith,theydidnotcarepened.Billee,thegood-natured,couldleadforalltheycared,solongashekeptorder.Therestoftheteam,however,hadgrownunrulyduridaysofSpitz,andtheirsurprisewasgreatnowthatBuckproceededtolickthemintoshape.

  Pike,whopulledatBucksheels,andwhoanouncemoreofhisweightagainstthebreastbandthanhewaspelledtodo,wasswiftlyaedlyshakenforloafing;ahefirstdaywasdoneheullingmorethaneverbeforeinhislife.Thefirstnightincamp,Joe,thesourone,unishedsoundly--athingthatSpitzhadneversucceededindoing.Bucksimplysmotheredhimbyvirtueofsuperiht,andcuthimuptillheceasedsnappingaowhineformercy.

  Thegeoheteampickedupimmediately.Itrecovereditsold-timesolidarity,andoncemorethedogsleapedasonedogiraces.AttheRinkRapidstwonativehuskies,TeekandKoona,wereadded;andtheceleritywithwhichBuckbrokethemintookawayFrancoissbreath.

  "NeversuchadogasdatBuck!"hecried."No,never!Himworthohousanddollair,byGar!Eh?Whatyousay,Perrault?"

  AndPerraultnodded.Hewasaheadoftherecordthen,andgainingdaybyday.Thetrailwasinexcellentdition,wellpackedandhard,andtherewasnonew-fallensnohichtotend.Itwasnottoocold.Thetemperaturedroppedtofiftybelowzeroandremaiherethewholetrip.Themenrodeandranbyturn,andthedogswerekeptonthejump,withbutinfrequentstop-pages.

  TheThirtyMileRiverwasparativelycoatedwithidtheycoveredinonedaygoingoutwhathadtakeendaysingin.Iheymadeasixty-miledashfromthefootofLakeLeBargetotheWhiteHorseRapids.Aarsh,Tagish,at(seventymilesoflakes),theyflewsofastthatthemanwhoseturnitwastoruntowedbehindthesledattheendofarope.AndonightofthesedweektheytoppedWhitePassanddroppeddowntheseaslopewiththelightsofSkaguayandoftheshippingattheirfeet.

  Itwasarecordrun.Eachdayforfourteendaystheyhadaveragedfortymiles.ForthreedaysPerraultandFrancoisthrewchestsupanddownthemaiofSkaguayandweredelugedwithinvitationstodrink,whiletheteamwasthestaerofaworshipfulcrowdofdogbustersandmushers.Thenthreeorfourwesternbadmenaspiredtooutthetown,wereriddledlikepepperboxesfortheirpains,andpubliterestturootheridols.cameofficialorders.FrancoiscalledBu,threwhisarmsaroundhim,weptoverhim.AndthatwasthelastofFrancoisandPerrault.Likeothermen,theypassedoutofBuckslifefood.

  AScotchhalf-breedtookchargeofhimandhismates,andinpanywithadozen-teamshestartedbackoverthewearytrailtoDawson.Itwasnolightrunningnow,norrecordtime,butheavytoileachday,withaheavyloadbehind;forthiswasthemailtrain,carryingwordfromtheworldtothemenwhosoughtgolduheshadowofthePole.

  Buckdidnotlikeit,butheboreupwelltothework,takingprideinitafterthemannerofDaveandSol-leks,ahathismates,whethertheypridedinitornot,didtheirfairshare.Itwasamonotonouslife,operatingwithmae-likeregularity.Onedaywasverylikeaacertaintimeeachmthecookstur,fireswerebuilt,andbreakfastwaseaten.Then,whilesomebrokecamp,othersharhedogs,andtheywereunderwayanhourorsobeforethedarknessfellwhichgavewarningofdawn.Atnight,campwasmade.Somepitchedthetents,otherscutfireineboughsforthebeds,andstillotherscarriedwateroriceforthecooks.Also,thedogswerefed.Tothem,thiswastheoureoftheday,thoughitwasgoodtoloafaround,afterthefishwaseaten,foranhourorsowiththes,ofwhichtherewerefivescoreandodd.Therewerefiercefightersamongthem,butthreebattleswiththefiercestbroughtBuastery,sothatwhenhebristledandshowedhisteeth,theygotoutofhisway.

  Bestofall,perhaps,helovedtoliehefire,hindlegscrouchedunderhim,fsstretchedoutinfront,headraised,andeyesblinkingdrearilyattheflames.SometimeshethoughtofJudgeMillersbighouseinthesun-kissedSantaClaraValley,andofthetswimmingtank,andYsabel,theMexihairless,andToots,theJapanesepug;butoftenerherememberedthemanintheredsweater,thedeathofCurly,thegreatfightwithSpitzandthegoodthingshehadeatenorwouldliketoeat.Hewasnothomesick.TheSunlandwasverydimanddistant,andsuchmemorieshadnopoweroverhim.Farmorepotehememoriesofhishereditythatgavethingshehadneverseenbeforeaseemingfamiliarity;theinstincts(whichwerebutthememoriesofhisaorsbeehabits)whichhadlapsedinlaterdays,andstilllater,inhim,quiedandbecamealiveagain.

  Sometimesashecrouchedthere,blinkingdreamilyattheflames,itseemedthattheflameswereofanotherfire,andthatashecrouchedbythisotherfirehesawanotheranddifferentmanfromthehalf-breedcookbeforehim.Thisothermanwasshorteroflegandlongerofarm,withmusclesthatwerestringyandknottyratherthanroundedandswelling.Thehairofthismanwaslongandmatted,andhisheadslantedbaderitfromtheeyes.Heutteredstrangesounds,andseemedverymuchafraidofthedarkness,intowhichhepeeredtinually,clutginhishand,whigmidwaybetweenkneeandfoot,astickwithaheavystonemadefasttotheend.Hewasallbutnaked,araggedandfire-scorchedskinhangingpartwaydownhisback,butonhisbodytherewasmuchhair.Insomeplaces,acrossthechestandshouldersanddowsideofthearmsandthighs,itwasmattedintoalmostathickfur.Hedidnotsta,butwithtrunkinedforwardfromthehips,ohatbentattheknees.Abouthisbodythereeculiarspringiness,orresiliency,almostcatlike,andaquickalertnessasofonewholivediualfearofthingsseenandunseen.

  Atothertimesthishairymansquattedbythefirewithheadbetweenhislegsa.Onsuchoccasionshiselbowswereonhisknees,hishandsclaspedabovehisheadasthoughtoshedrainbythehairyarms.Andbeyondthatfire,inthecirgdarkness,Buckcouldseemanygleamingcoals,twobytwo,alwaystwobytwo,whichhekobetheeyesofgreatbeastsofprey.Andhecouldhearthecrashingoftheirbodiesthroughtheundergrowth,andtheheymadeinthenight.AnddreamingtherebytheYukonbank,withlazyeyesblinkingatthefire,thesesoundsandsightsofanotherworldwouldmakethehairtorisealonghisbadstandonendacrosshisshouldersanduphisillhewhimperedlowandsuppressedly,rowledsoftly,andthehalf-breedcookshoutedathim,"Hey,youBuck,!"Whereupoherworldwouldvanishandtherealworldeintohiseyes,andhewouldgetupandyawnandstretchasthoughhehadbeenasleep.

  Itwasahardtrip,withthemailbehindthem,andtheheavyworkworethemdown.TheywereshortofweightandinpoorditioheymadeDawson,andshouldhavehadatendaysoraweeksrestatleast.ButintwodaystimetheydroppeddowntheYukonbankfromtheBarracks,loadedwithlettersfortheoutside.Thedogsweretired,thedriversgrumbling,andtomakemattersworse,itsnowedeveryday.Thismeantasofttrail,greaterfriontherunners,andheavierpullingforthedogs;yetthedriverswerefairthroughitall,anddidtheirbestfortheanimals.

  Eaightthedogswereatteofirst.Theyatebeforethedriversate,andnomansoughthissleeping-robetillhehadseentothefeetofthedogshedrove.Still,theirstrengthwentdown.Sihebeginningofthewiheyhadtraveledeighteenhundredmiles,draggihewholewearydistandeighteenhundredmileswilltellupohetoughest.Buckstoodit,keepinghismatesuptotheirworkandmaintainingdisciplihoughhetoowasverytired.Billeecriedandwhimperedregularlyinhissleepeaight.Joewassourerthanever,andSol-lekswasunapproachable,blindsideorotherside.

  ButitwasDavewhosufferedmostofall.Somethinghadgwithhim.Hebecamemoremoroseandirritable,andwhencampitchedatoncemadehis,wherehisdriverfedhim.Ooftheharnessanddown,hedidonhisfeetagaintillharness-uptimeinthem.Sometimes,iraces,whenjerkedbyasuddenstoppageofthesled,orbystrainingtostartit,hewouldcryoutwithpain.Thedriverexaminedhim,butcouldfindnothing.Allthedriversbecameiedinhiscase.Theytalkeditoveratmeal-time,aheirlastpipesbefoingtobed,andonenighttheyheldasultation.Hewasbroughtfromhisothefireandressedandproddedtillhecriedoutmanytimes.Somethingwaswrongitheycouldloobrokenbones,couldnotmakeitout.

  BythetimeCassiarBarwasreached,hewassoweakthathewasfalliedlyiraces.TheScotchhalf-breedcalledahaltandtookhimoutoftheteam,makidog,Sol-leks,fasttothesled.HisiionwastorestDave,lettinghimrunfreebehindthesled.Sickashewas,Daveresentedbeingtakenout,gruntingandgrowlingwhilethetraceswereunfastened,andwhimperingbrokeedlywhenhesawSol-leksinthepositionhehadheldandservedsolong.Fortheprideoftradtrailwashis,and,sitodeath,hecouldhatanshoulddohiswork.

  Whenthesledstarted,heflouhesoftsnowalongsidethebeatentrail,attagSol-lekswithhisteeth,rushingagainsthimandtryingtothrusthimoffintothesoftsnowoherside,strivingtoleapiradgetbetweenhimandthesled,andallthewhilewhiningandyelpingandgwithgriefandpain.Thehalf-breedtriedtodrivehimawaywiththewhip;buthepaidhestinginglash,andthemanhadnotthehearttostrikeharder.Daverefusedtorulyorailbehindthesled,wherethegoingwaseasy,buttioflounderalongsideisnow,wherethegoingwasmostdifficult,tillexhausted.Thenhefell,andlaywherehefell,howlinglugubriouslyasthelongtrainofsledsedby.

  Withthelastremnantofhisstrengthhemaostaggeralongbehindtillthetraiherstop,whenheflounderedpastthesledstohisown,wherehestoodalongsideSol-leks.Hisdriverlingeredamomenttogetalightforhispipefromthemanbehind.Theurnedandstartedhisdogs.Theyswungoutorailwithremarkablelackofexertion,turheirheadsuneasily,andstoppedinsurprise.Thedriverwassurprised,too;thesledhadnotmoved.Hecalledhisradestowithesight.DavehadbittenthroughbothofSol-lekstraces,andwasstandingdirectlyinfrontofthesledinhisproperplace.

  Hepleadedwithhiseyestoremaihedrivererplexed.Hisradestalkedofhowadogcouldbreakitsheartthroughbeingdeheworkthatkilledit,andrecalledinstaheyhadknown,wheredogs,toooldforthetoil,orinjured,haddiedbecausetheywerecutoutofthetraces.Also,theyhelditamercy,sinceDavewastodieanyway,thatheshoulddieiraces,heart-easyandtent.Sohewasharnessedinagain,andproudlyhepulledasofold,thoughmorethanoncehecriedoutinvoluntarilyfromthebiteofhisinwardhurt.Severaltimesfelldownandwasdraggediraces,andohesledranuponhimsothathelimpedthereafterononeofhishindlegs.

  Butheheldouttillcampwasreached,whenhisdrivermadeaplabythefire.Mfoundhimtooweaktotravel.Atharness-uptimehetriedtocrawltohisdriver.Byvulsiveeffortshegotonhisfeet,staggered,ahenhewormedhiswayforwardslowlytowardwheretheharnesseswerebeingputonhismates.Hewouldadvancehisfsanddraguphisbodywithasortofhitgmovement,whenhewouldadvancehisfsandhitchaheadagainforafewmoreinches.Hisstrengthlefthim,ahismatessawofhimhelaygaspinginthesnowandyearningtowardthem.Buttheycouldhearhimmournfullyhowlingtilltheypassedoutofsightbehiofrivertimber.

  Herethetrainwashalted.TheScotchhalf-breedslowlyretracedhisstepstothecamptheyhadleft.Themenceasedtalking.Arevolver-shout.Themancamebackhurriedly.Thewhipsshebellstinkledmerrily,thesledsedalorail;butBuew,andeverydogknew,whathadtakenplacebehiofrivertrees.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读

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