Зов предков
The Sounding of the Call
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.
