CHAPTER 7

  THESOUNDINGOFTHECALL

  WhenBuckearnedsixteenhundreddollarsinfiveminutesforJohnThornton,hemadeitpossibleforhismastertopayoffcertaisandtojourhhispartnersintotheEastafterafabledlostmihehistoryofwhichwasasoldasthehistoryofthetry.Manymenhadsoughtit;fewhadfoundit;andmorethaherewerewhohadurnedfromthequest.Thislostminewassteepedintragedyandshroudedinmystery.Noohefirstman.Theoldesttraditionstoppedbefotba.Fromthebeginningtherehadbeenanaandramshackle.Dyingmenhadsworntoit,andtothemieofwhichitmarked,gtheirtestimonywithhatwereunlikeanyknowngradeofgoldihland.

  Butnolivingmanhadlootedthistreasurehouse,andthedeadweredead;whereforeJohnThorntonaeandHans,withBudhalfadozens,fatotheEastonanunknowntrailtoachievewheremenanddogsasgoodasthemselveshadfailed.TheysleddedseventymilesuptheYukon,swungtotheleftintotheStewartRiver,passedtheMayoandtheMcQuestion,andheldonuntiltheStewartitselfbecameastreamlet,threadiandingpeakswhichmarkedthebaeoftheti.

  JohnThorntotleofmanornature.Hewasunafraidofthewild.Withahandfulofsaltandariflehecouldpluothewildernessandfarewhereverhepleasedandaslongashepleased.Beinginnohaste,Indianfashioedhisdihecourseofthedaystraveling;andifhefailedtofindit,liketheIndiaontraveling,secureinthekhatsoonerorlaterhewouldetoit.So,onthisgreatjourotheEast,straightmeatwasthebilloffare,ammunitionandtoolsprincipallymadeuptheloadonthesled,aimecardwasdrawnuponthelimitlessfuture.

  ToBuckitwasboundlessdelight,thishunting,fishing,andindefinitewanderingthroughstrangeplaces.Forweeksatatimetheywouldholdonsteadily,dayafterday;andforweeksupoheywouldcamp,hereahedogsloafingandthemenburningholesthroughfrozenmudgravelandwashingtlesspansofdirtbytheheatofthefire.Sometimestheywenthungry,sometimestheyfeastedriotously,allacctotheabundaneauneofhunting.Summerarrived,anddogsandmen,patheirbacks,raftedacrossbluemountainlakes,anddesdedorasdedunknownriversinslenderboatswhipsawedfromthestandingforest.

  Themonthscamea,andbadforththeytwistedthroughtheunchartedvastness,wherenomenwereawheremenhadbeeniftheLostweretrue.Theywentacrossdividesinsummerblizzards,shivereduhemidnightsunonnakedmountaiweeimberliheeternalsnows,droppedintosummervalleysamidswarminggnatsandflies,andintheshadowsofglacierspickedstrawberriesandfloeandfairasahlandcouldboast.Inthefalloftheyeartheypeedaweirdlaketry,sadandsilent,wherewildfowlhadbeen,butwherethentherewasnolifennoflife--onlytheblowingofchillwinds,thefofishelteredplaces,andthemelancholyripplingofwavesonlonelybeaches.

  Andthroughanotherwiheywaheobliteratedtrailsofmenwhohadgonebefore.Oheycameuponapathblazedthroughouttheforest,anapath,aseemedverynear.Butthepathbegannowhereandendednowhere,andremainedamystery,asthemanwhomadeitandthereasonhemadeitremainedamystery.Aimetheycedupoime-gravenwreckageofahuntinglodge,andamidtheshredsofrottedblasJohnThorntonfoundalong-barreledflintlock.HekforaHudsonBaypanygunoftheyoungdaysihwest,whensuchagunwasworthitsweightinbeaverskinspackedflat.Andthatwasall--nohintastothemanwhoinanearlydayhadrearedthelodgeahegunamongtheblas.

  Springcameononcemore,andattheendofalltheirwanderingtheyfound,nottheLost,butashallowplaabroadvalleywherethegoldshowedlikeyellowbutteracrossthebottomofthewashingpan.Theysoughtnofarther.Eachdaytheyworkedearhemthousandsofdollarsindustands,andtheyworkedeveryday.Thegoldwassackedinmoosehidebags,fiftypoundstothebag,andpiledlikesomuchfirewoodoutsidethespruce-boughlodge.Likegiantstheytoiled,daysflashingontheheelsofdayslikedreamsastheyheapedthetreasureup.

  Therewasnothingforthedogstodo,savethehaulingofmeatnowandagainthatThorntonkilled,andBuckspentlonghoursmusingbythefire.Thevisionoftheshort-leggedhairymaohimmorefrequently,nowthattherewaslittleworktobedone;andoften,blinkingbythefire,Buderedwithhiminthatotherworldwhichheremembered.

  Thesalientthingofthisotherworldseemedfear.Whechedthehairymansleepingbythefire,headbetweenhiskneesandhandsclaspedabove,Bucksawthathesleptrestlessly,withmanystartsandawakeningsatwhichtimeshewouldpeerfearfullyintothedarknessandflingmorewooduponthefire.Didtheywalkbythebeachofasea,wherethehairymangatheredshellfishahemashegathered,itwaswitheyesthatrovedeverywhereforhiddendangerandwithlegspreparedtoruhewindatitsfirstappearahroughtheforesttheycreptnoiselessly,Buckatthehairymansheels;andtheywerealertandvigilant,thepairofthem,earstwitgandmovingandnostrilsquivering,forthemanheardandsmelledaskeenlyasBuck.Thehairymancouldspringupintothetreesandtravelaheadasfastasontheground,swingingbythearmsfromlimbtolimb,sometimesadozeapart,lettinggoandcatg,neverfalling,nevermissinghisgrip.Infact,heseemedasmuchathomeamoreesasontheground;andBuckhadmemoriesofnightsofvigilspehthetreeswhereinthehairymanroosted,holdingontightlyasheslept.

  Andcloselyakintothevisionsofthehairymanwasthecallstillsoundingihsoftheforest.Itfilledhimwithagreatuandstrangedesires.Itcausedhimtofeelavague,sweetgladness,andhewasawareofwildyearningsandstirringsforhekwhat.Sometimeshepursuedthecallintotheforest,lookingforitasthoughitwereatangiblething,barkingsoftlyordefiantly,asthemoodmightdictate.Hewouldthrusthisothecoolwoodmoss,orintotheblacksoilwherelonggrassesgrew,andsnortwithjoyatthefatearthsmells;orhewouldcrouchforhours,asifincealment,behindfunguscoveredtrunksoffallentrees,wide-eyedandwide-earedtoallthatmovedandsoundedabouthim.Itmightbe,lyingthus,thathehopedtosurprisethiscallhecouldnotuand.Buthedidnotknowwhyhedidthesevariousthings.Heelledtodothem,anddidnotreasonaboutthematall.

  Irresistibleimpulsesseizedhim.Hewouldbelyingincamp,dozinglazilyioftheday,whensuddenlyhisheadwouldliftandhisearscockup,iandlistening,andhewouldspringtohisfeetanddashaway,andonandon,forhours,throughtheforestaislesandacrosstheopenspaceswheretheniggerheadsbunched.Helovedtorundowndrywatercourses,andtocreepandspyuponthebirdlifeinthewoods.Foradayatatimehewouldlieintheunderbrushwherehecouldwatchthepartridgesdrummingandstruttingupanddown.Butespeciallyhelovedtoruniwilightofthesummermidnights,listeningtothesubduedandsleepymurmursoftheforest,readingsignsandsoundsasmanmayreadabook,andseekingforthemysterioussomethingthatcalled--called,wakingorsleeping,atalltimes,forhimtoe.

  Onenighthesprangfromsleepwithastart,eager-eyed,nostrilsquiveringaing,hismanebristlinginrecurrentwaves.Fromtheforestcamethecall--(oroeofit,forthecallwasmany-noted),distinddefiniteasneverbefore--along-drawnhowl,like,yetunlike,anynoisemadebyhuskydog.Andhek,intheoldfamiliarway,asasoundheardbefore.Hesprangthroughthesleepingcampandinswiftsilencedashedthroughthewoods.Ashedrewclosertothecryhewentmoreslowly,withcautionineverymovement,tillhecametoanopenplaceamorees,andlookingoutsaw,erehaunches,withnosepoihesky,aloimberwolf.

  Hehadmadenoitceasedfromitshowlingandtriedtosensehispresence.Buckstalkedintotheopen,half-croug,bodygatheredpactlytogether,tailstraightandstiff,feetfallingwithunwontedcare.Everymovementadvertisedihreateningaureoffriendliness.Itwasthemenagtrucethatmarksthemeetingofwildbeaststhatprey.Butthewolffledatsightofhim.Hefolloildleapings,ioovertake.Heranhimintoablindel,inthebedofthecreek,whereatimberjambarredtheway.Thewolfwhirledabout,pivotingonhishindlegsafterthefashionofJoeandofalleredhuskydogs,snarlingandbristling,clippinghisteethtogetherinatinuousandrapidsuccessionofsnaps.

  Buckdidnotattack,butcircledhimaboutandhedgedhiminwithfriendlyadvahewolfwassuspiciousandafraid;forBuckmadethreeofhimi,whilehisheadbarelyreachedBucksshoulder.Watghisce,hedartedaway,andthechasewasresumed.Timeandagainhewasered,ahied,thoughheoorditionorBuckcouldnotsoeasilyhaveovertakenhim.HewouldruntillBucksheadwasevenwithhisflank,whenhewouldwhirlaroundatbay,onlytodashawayagainatthefirstopportunity.

  ButintheendBuckspertinacitywasrewarded;forthewolf,findingthatnoharmwasintended,finallysniffedhhim.Thentheybecamefriendly,andplayedaboutinthenervous,half-coyhichfiercebeastsbelietheirfieress.Aftersometimeofthisthewolfstartedoffataneasylopeinamahatplainlyshowedhewasgoingsomewhere.HemadeitcleartoBuckthathewastoe,andtheyransidebysidethroughthesombertwilight,straightupthecreekbed,intothegefromwhichitissued,andacrossthebleakdividewhereittookitsrise.

  Ontheoppositeslopeofthewatershedtheycamedownintoaleveltrywhereweregreatstretchesofforestandmanystreams,andthroughthesegreatstretchestheyransteadily,hourafterhour,thesunrisinghigherandthedaygrowingwarmer.Buckwaswildlyglad.Heknewhewasatlastansweringthecall,runningbythesideofhiswoodbrothertowardtheplawherethecallsurelycame.Oldmemorieswereinguponhimfast,andhewasstirringtothemasofoldhestirredtotherealitiesofwhichtheyweretheshadows.Hehaddohisthingbefore,somewhereinthatotheranddimlyrememberedworld,andhewasdoingitagain,now,runniheopen,theunpackedearthunderfoot,thewideskyoverhead.

  Theystoppedbyarunningstreamtodrink,and,stopping,BuckrememberedJohnThorntodown.Thewolfstartedontowardtheplawherethecallsurelycame,theurohim,sniffingnosesandmakingasasthoughtoencehim.ButBuckturnedaboutandstartedslowlyonthebacktrack.Forthebetterpartofanhourthewildbrotherranbyhisside,whiningsoftly.Thedown,pointedhisnoseupward,andhowled.Itwasamournfulhowl,andasBuckheldsteadilyonhiswayhehearditgrowfaintandfaiilitwaslostiance.

  JohnThorntoingdinnerwhenBuckdashedintocampandspranguponhiminafrenzyofaffe,overturninghim,scramblinguponhim,lighisface,bitinghishand--"playingthegeom-fool,"asJohnThorntoncharacterizedit,thewhileheshookBuckbadforthandcursedhimlovingly.

  FortwodaysandnightsBueverleftcamp,Thorntonoutofhissight.Hefollowedhimaboutathiswork,watchedhimwhileheate,sawhimintohisblanightandoutoftheminthem.Butaftertwodaysthecallintheforestbegantosoundmoreimperiouslythanever.Bucksrestlessnesscameba,andhewashauntedbyrecollesofthewildbrother,andofthesmilinglandbeyondthedivideandtherunsidebysidethroughthewideforeststretches.Onceagaiooktowanderinginthewoods,butthewildbrotheromore;andthoughhelistehroughlongvigils,themournfulhowlwasneverraised.

  Hebegantosleepoutatnight,stayingawayfromcampfordaysatatime;andoncehecrossedthedivideattheheadofthecreekadownintothelandoftimberandstreams.Therehewanderedforaweek,seekingvainlyforfreshsignofthewildbrother,killinghismeatashetraveledandtravelingwiththelong,easylopethatseemsire.Hefishedforsalmoninabroadstreamthatemptiedsomewhereintothesea,andbythisstreamhekilledalargeblackbear,blihemosquitoeswhilelikewisefishing,andragingthroughtheforesthelplessandterrible.Evenso,itwasahardfight,anditarousedthelastlatentremnantsofBucksferocity.Andtwodayslater,wheurohiskillandfoundadozenwolverinesquarrelihespoil,hescatteredthemlikechaff;andthosethatfledlefttwobehindwhowouldquarrelnomore.

  Theblood-longingbecamestrohaneverbefore.Hewasakiller,athingthatpreyed,livingohingsthatlived,unaided,alone,byvirtueofhisowhandprowess,survivingtriumphantlyinahostileenvirowhereonlythestrongsurvived.Becauseofallthishebecamepossessedofagreatprideinhimself,whiunicateditselflikeatagiontohisphysicalbeing.Itadvertiseditselfinallhismovements,arentintheplayofeverymuscle,spokeplainlyasspeethewayhecarriedhimself,andmadehisgloriousfurrycoatifanythingmlorious.Butforthestraybrownonhismuzzleandabovehiseyes,andforthesplashofwhitehairthatranmidmostdownhischest,hemightwellhavebeenmistakenfanticwolf,largerthanthelargestofthebreed.FromhisSt.Bernardfatherhehadiedsizea,butitwashisshepherdmotherwhohadgivenshapetothatsizea.Hismuzzlewasthelongwolfmuzzle,savethatitwaslargerthanthemuzzleofanywolf;andhishead,somewhatbroader,wasthewolfheadonamassivescale.

  Hisingwaswolfing,andwilding;hisintelligence,shepherdintelligendSt.Bernardintelligendallthis,plusanexperiencegaihefiercestofsadehimasformidableacreatureasanythatroamedthewild.Aivorousanimal,livingonastraightmeatdiet,hewasinfullflower,atthehightideofhislife,over-spillingwithvigorandvirility.WhenThorntonpassedacaressinghandalonghisback,asnappingandcragfollowedthehand,eachhairdischargingitspentmagismatthetact.Everypart,brainandbody,issueandfiber,waskeyedtothemostexquisitepitdbetweenallthepartsthereerfectequilibriumoradjustment.Tosightsandsoundsaswhichrequireda,herespohlighting-likerapidity.Quicklyasahuskydogcouldleaptodefendfromattackortoattack,hecouldleaptwiceasquickly.Hesawthemovement,orheardsound,andrespondediimethananrequiredtopassthemereseeingorhearing.Heperceivedaerminedandrespohesameinstant.Inpointoffactthethreeasofperceiviermining,andrespondingweresequential;butsoinfinitesimalweretheintervalsoftimebetweehattheyappearedsimultaneous.Hismusclesweresurchargedwithvitality,andsoplaysharply,likesteelsprings.Lifestreamedthroughhiminsplendidflood,gladandrampant,untilitseemedthatitwouldbursthimasunderinsheerecstasyandputfenerouslyovertheworld.

  "Neverwastheresuchadog,"saidJohnThorntononeday,asthepartnerswatchedBuckmargoutofcamp.

  "Whenhewasmade,themoldwasbroke,"saidPete.

  "PyJingo!Ithinksomineself,"Hansaffirmed.

  Theysawhimmargoutofcamp,buttheydidheinstantandterribletransformationwhichtookplaceassoonashewaswithinthesecrecyoftheforest.Henolongermarched.Atoncehebecameathingofthewild,stealingalongsoftly,cat-footed,apassingshadoearedanddisappearedamongtheshadows.Heknewhowtotakeadvantageofeverycover,tocrawlonhisbellylikeasnake,andlikeasoleapandstrike.Hecouldtakeaptarmiganfromits,killarabbitasitslept,andsnapinmid-airthelittlechipmunksfleeingasedtoolateforthetrees.Fish,inopenpools,werenottooqui;norwerebeaver,mendingtheirdams,toowary.hekilledtoeat,notfromwantonness;buthepreferredtoeatwhathekilledhimself.Shumorranthroughhisdeeds,anditwashisdelighttostealuponthesquirrels,and,whenheallbuthadthem,toletthemgo,chatteringinmortalfeartothetree-tops.

  Asthefalloftheyearcameon,themooseappearedierabundance,movingslowlydowhewihelowerandlessrigorousvalleys.Buckhadalreadydraggeddownastraypart-growncalf;buthewishedstronglyferandmoreformidablequarry,andhecameuponitonedayonthedivideattheheadofthecreek.Abandoftwentymoosehadcrossedoverfromthelandofstreamsandtimber,andchiefamongthemwasagreatbull.Hewasinasavagetemper,and,standingoversixfeetfromtheground,wasasformidableanantagonistasevenBuckcoulddesire.Badforththebulltossedhisgreatpalmatedantlers,brangtofourteenpointsandembragsevehthetips.Hissmalleyesburhaviciousandbitterlight,whileheroaredwithfuryatsightofBuck.

  Fromthebullsside,justforwardoftheflank,protrudedafeatheredarrow-end,whichatedforhissavageness.Guidedbythatinstinctwhichcamefromtheoldhuntingdaysoftheprimordialworld,Buckproceededtocutthebulloutfromtheherd.Itwasnoslighttask.Hewouldbarkanddanceaboutinfrontofthebull,justoutofreachofthegreatantlersandoftheterriblesplayhoofswhichcouldhavestampedhislifeoutwithasingleblow.Uurnhisbathefangeddangerandgoon,thebullwouldbedrivenintoparoxysmse.AtsuentshechargedBuck,whoretreatedcraftily,luringhimonbyasimulatedinabilitytoescape.Butwhehusseparatedfromhisfellows,twoorthreeoftheyoungerbullswouldchargebackuponBudehewoundedbulltorejointheherd.

  Thereisapatiehewild--dogged,tireless,persistentaslifeitself--thatholdsmotionlessforendlesshoursthespiderinitsweb,thesscoils,thepantherinitsambuscade;thispatiencebelongspeculiarlytolifewhenithuntsitslivingfood;anditbelooBuckashegtotheflankoftheherd,retardingitsmarch,irritatingtheyoungbulls,wthecowswiththeirhalf-growncalves,anddrivingthewoundedbullmadwithhelplessrage.Forhalfadaythistinued.Buckmultipliedhimself,attagfromallsides,envelopingtheherdinawhirlwindofmetingouthisvictimasfastasitcouldrejoinitsmates,wearingoutthepatienceofcreaturespreyedupon,whichisalesserpatiehanthatofcreaturespreying.

  Asthedayworealongandthesundroppedtoitsbedihwest(thedarknesshadebadthefallnightsweresixhourslong),theyoungbullsretracedtheirstepsmoreandmorerelutlytotheaidoftheirbesetleader.Thedown-ingwinterwashurryiothelowerlevels,anditseemedtheycouldnevershakeoffthistirelesscreaturethatheldthemback.Besides,itwasnotthelifeoftheherd,oroftheyoungbulls,thatwasthreatehelifeofonlyonememberwasdemanded,whichwasaremoterihantheirlives,andiheyweretenttopaythetoll.

  Astwilightfelltheoldbullstoodwithloweredhead,watghismates--thecowshehadknown,thecalveshehadfathered,thebullshehadmastered--astheyshambledonatarapidpacethroughthefadinglight.Hecouldnotfollow,forbeforehisnoseleapedthemercilessfaerrorthatwouldhimgo.Threehundredweightmorethanhalfatonheweighed;hehadlivedalong,stronglife,fulloffightandstruggle,andattheendhefaceddeathattheteethofacreaturewhoseheaddidnotreachbeyondhisgreatknuckledknees.

  Fromthenon,nightandday,Bueverlefthisprey,nevergaveitamome,neverpermittedittobrowsetheleavesoftreesortheshootsofyoungbirdwillow.Nordidhegivethewoundedbullopportunitytoslakehisburningthirstintheslerigstreamstheycrossed.Often,indesperation,heburstintolongstretchesofflight.AtsuchtimeBuckdidnotattempttostayhim,butlopedeasilyathisheels,satisfiedwiththewaythegamelayed,lyingdowhemoosestoodstill,attaghimfiercelywherovetoeatordrink.

  Thegreatheaddroopedmoreandmoreustreeofhorns,andtheshamblingtrotgrewweakerandweaker.Hetooktostandingfperiods,withhegroundaedearsdroppedlimply;andBuoretimeinwhichtogetwaterforhimselfandinwhichtorest.Atsuents,pantingwithredlollingtongueandwitheyesfixeduponthebigbull,itappearedtoBuckthatagewasihefaceofthings.Hecouldfeelairintheland.Asthemoosewereingintotheland,otherkindsoflifewereingin.Forestandstreamandairseemedpalpitantwiththeirpresehenewsofitwasborneinuponhim,notbysight,orsound,orsmell,butbysomeotherandsubtlersense.Heheardnothing,sawnothikhatthelandwassomehowdifferent;thatthroughitstrahingswereafootandranging;andheresolvedtoiigateafterhehadfihebusinessinhand.

  Atlast,attheendofthefourthday,hepulledthegreatmoosedown.Foradayandanightheremaihekill,eatingandsleeping,turnandturnabout.Theed,refreshedandstrournedhisfacetowardcampandJohnThornton.Hebrokeintothelongeasylope,aon,hourafterhour,lossforthetangledway,headingstraighthomethroughstrangetrywithacertitudeofdirethatputmanandhismagieedletoshame.

  Asheheldonhebecamemoreandmoresciousoftheirintheland.Therewaslifeabroadinitdifferentfromthelifewhichhadbeehroughoutthesummer.Nolongerwasthisfactborneinuponhimile,mysteriousway.Thebirdstalkedofit,thesquirrelschatteredaboutit,theverybreezewhisperedofit.Severaltimeshestoppedahefreshmairisniffs,readingamessagewhichmadehimleaponwithgreaterspeed.Heressedwithasenseofcalamityhappening,ifitwerenotcalamityalreadyhappened,andashecrossedthelastwatershedanddroppeddownintothevalleytowardcamp,heproceededwithgreatercaution.

  Threemilesawayhecameuporailthatsenthisneckhairripplingandbristling.ItledstraighttowardcampandJohnThornton.Buckhurriedon,swiftlyahily,everyrainingandtense,alerttothemultitudinousdetailswhichtoldastory--allbuttheend.Hisnosegavehimavaryingdescriptionofthepassageofthelifeontheheelsofwhichhewastraveling.Heremarkedthepregnantsileheforest.Thebirdlifehadflitted.Thesquirrelswereinhiding.Oneonlyhesaw--asleekgrayfellow,flattenedagainstagraydeadlimbsothatheseemedapartofit,awoodyexcresceuponthewooditself.

  AsBuckslidalongwiththeobsessofaglidingshadow,hisnosewasjerkedsuddenlytothesideasthoughapositiveforcehadgrippedandpulledit.HefollowedthenewstintoathicketandfoundNig.Hewaslyingonhisside,deadwherehehaddraggedhimself,anarrowprotruding,headahers,fromeithersideofhisbody.

  Ahundredyardsfartheron,BuckcameupohesleddogsThorntonhadboughtinDawson.Thisdogwasthrashingaboutih-struggle,directlyorail,andBuckpassedaroundhimwithoutstopping.Fromthecampcamethefaintsoundofmanyvoices,risingandfallinginasing-songt.Bellyingforwardtotheedgeoftheclearing,hefoundHans,lyingonhisface,featheredwitharrowslikeapore.AtthesameinstantBuckpeeredoutwherethespruce-boughlodgehadbeenandsawwhatmadehishairleapstraightuponhisnedshoulders.Agustofoverpragesweptoverhim.Hedidnotknowthathegrowled,buthegrowledaloudwithaterribleferocity.Forthelasttimeinhislifeheallowedpassiontousurpingandreason,anditwasbecauseofhisgreatloveforJohnThorntonthathelosthishead.

  TheYeehatsweredangaboutthewreckageofthespruce-boughlodgewhentheyheardafearfulrandsawrushinguponthemananimalthelikeofwhichtheyhadneverseenbefore.ItwasBuck,alivehurrieoffury,hurlinghimselfuponthemiodestroy.Hesprangattheforemostman--itwasthechiefoftheYeehats--rippihroatwideopentilltherentjugularspoutedafountainofblood.Hedidnotpausetoworrythevictim,butrippedinpassing,withtheboundtearingwidethethroatofasean.Therewasnowithstandinghim.Heplungedaboutintheirverymidst,tearing,rendiroying,instantandterrificmotionwhichdefiedthearrowstheydischargedathim.Infact,soinceivablyrapidwerehismovements,andsocloselyweretheIndianstaogether,thattheyshotoherwiththearrows;andoneyounghunter,hurlingaspearatBumid-air,droveitthroughthechestofanotherhuhsuchforcethatthepointbrokethroughtheskinofthebadstoodoutbeyond.thenapanicseizedtheYeehats,andtheyfledinterrortothewoods,proclaimingastheyfledtheadventoftheEvilSpirit.

  AndtrulyBuckwastheFiendinate,ragingattheirheelsanddraggingthemdownlikedeerastheyracedthroughthetrees.ItwasafatefuldayfortheYeehats.Theyscatteredfarandwideoverthetry,anditwasnottillaweeklaterthatthelastofthesurvivatheredtogetherinalowervalleyandtedtheirlosses.AsforBuck,wearyingofthepursuit,hereturhedesolatedcamp.Hefouewherehehadbeenkilledinhisblasinthefirstmomentofsurprise.Thorntonsdesperatestrugglewasfresh-writtenohandBuckstedeverydetailofitdowntotheedgeofadeeppool.Bytheedge,headandforefeetier,laySkeet,faithfultothelast.Thepoolitself,muddyanddiscoloredfromthesluiceboxes,effectuallyhidwhatittained,andittainedJohnThornton;forBuckfollowedhistratothewater,fromwhiotraceledaway.

  AlldayBuckbroodedbythepoolorroamedrestlesslyaboutthecamp.Death,asacessationofmovement,asapassingoutandawayfromthelivesoftheliving,heknew,andheknewJohnThorntonwasdead.Itleftagreatvoidinhim,somewhatakintohunger,butavoidwhichachedandached,andwhichfoodcouldnotfill.Attimes,whenhepausedtoplatethecarcassesoftheYeehats,hefotthepainofit;andatsuchtimeshewasawareofagreatprideinhimself--apridegreaterthananyhehadyetexperienced.Hehadkilledman,thegameofall,andhehadkilledinthefaceofthelawofclubandfang.Heshebodiescuriously.Theyhaddiedsoeasily.Itwashardertokillahuskydogthaheywerenomatchatall,wereitnotfortheirarroearsandclubs.Thenceforwardhewouldbeunafraidofthemexceptwhentheyboreintheirhandstheirarrows,spearsandclubs.

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