Зов предков
The Sounding of the Call
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.
