Зов предков
Into the Primitive
AndoverthisgreatdemesneBuckruled. Herehewasborn,andherehehadlivedthefouryearsofhislife. Itwastrue,therewereotherdogs. Therecouldnotbutbeotherdogsonsovastaplace,buttheydidnotcount. Theycameandwent,residedinthepopulouskennels,orlivedobscurelyintherecessesofthehouseafterthefashionofToots,theJapanesepug,orYsabel,theMexicanhairless—strangecreaturesthatrarelyputnoseoutofdoorsorsetfoottoground. Ontheotherhand,therewerethefoxterriers,ascoreofthematleast,whoyelpedfearfulpromisesatTootsandYsabellookingoutofthewindowsatthemandprotectedbyalegionofhousemaidsarmedwithbroomsandmops.
ButBuckwasneitherhouse-dognorkennel-dog. Thewholerealmwashis. HeplungedintotheswimmingtankorwenthuntingwiththeJudge’ssons; heescortedMollieandAlice,theJudge’sdaughters,onlongtwilightorearlymorningrambles; onwintrynightshelayattheJudge’sfeetbeforetheroaringlibraryfire; hecarriedtheJudge’sgrandsonsonhisback,orrolledtheminthegrass,andguardedtheirfootstepsthroughwildadventuresdowntothefountaininthestableyard,andevenbeyond,wherethepaddockswere,andtheberrypatches. Amongtheterriershestalkedimperiously,andTootsandYsabelheutterlyignored,forhewasking—kingoverallcreeping,crawling,flyingthingsofJudgeMiller’splace,humansincluded.
Hisfather,Elmo,ahugeSt.Bernard,hadbeentheJudge’sinseparablecompanion,andBuckbidfairtofollowinthewayofhisfather. Hewasnotsolarge—heweighedonlyonehundredandfortypounds—forhismother,Shep,hadbeenaScotchshepherddog. Nevertheless,onehundredandfortypounds,towhichwasaddedthedignitythatcomesofgoodlivinganduniversalrespect,enabledhimtocarryhimselfinrightroyalfashion.
