Зов предков
Into the Primitive
Duringthefouryearssincehispuppyhoodhehadlivedthelifeofasatedaristocrat;hehadafineprideinhimself,wasevenatrifleegotistical,ascountrygentlemensometimesbecomebecauseoftheirinsularsituation. Buthehadsavedhimselfbynotbecomingamerepamperedhouse-dog. Huntingandkindredoutdoordelightshadkeptdownthefatandhardenedhismuscles; andtohim,astothecold-tubbingraces,theloveofwaterhadbeenatonicandahealthpreserver.
AndthiswasthemannerofdogBuckwasinthefallof1897,whentheKlondikestrikedraggedmenfromalltheworldintothefrozenNorth. ButBuckdidnotreadthenewspapers,andhedidnotknowthatManuel,oneofthegardener’shelpers,wasanundesirableacquaintance. Manuelhadonebesettingsin. HelovedtoplayChineselottery. Also,inhisgambling,hehadonebesettingweakness—faithinasystem;andthismadehisdamnationcertain. Fortoplayasystemrequiresmoney,whilethewagesofagardener’shelperdonotlapovertheneedsofawifeandnumerousprogeny.
TheJudgewasatameetingoftheRaisinGrowers’Association,andtheboyswerebusyorganizinganathleticclub,onthememorablenightofManuel’streachery. NoonesawhimandBuckgooffthroughtheorchardonwhatBuckimaginedwasmerelyastroll. Andwiththeexceptionofasolitaryman,noonesawthemarriveatthelittleflagstationknownasCollegePark. ThismantalkedwithManuel,andmoneychinkedbetweenthem.
"Youmightwrapupthegoodsbeforeyoudeliver‘m,"thestrangersaidgruffly,andManueldoubledapieceofstoutropearoundBuck’sneckunderthecollar.
"Twistit,an’you’llchoke‘mplentee,"saidManuel,andthestrangergruntedareadyaffirmative.
