Зов предков
Who Has Won to Mastership
Buckrememberedthemanintheredsweater,andretreatedslowly; nordidheattempttochargeinwhenSol-lekswasoncemorebroughtforward. Buthecircledjustbeyondtherangeoftheclub,snarlingwithbitternessandrage;andwhilehecircledhewatchedtheclubsoastododgeitifthrownbyFrancois,forhewasbecomewiseinthewayofclubs. Thedriverwentabouthiswork,andhecalledtoBuckwhenhewasreadytoputhiminhisoldplaceinfrontofDave. Buckretreatedtwoorthreesteps. Francoisfollowedhimup,whereuponheagainretreated. Aftersometimeofthis,Francoisthrewdowntheclub,thinkingthatBuckfearedathrashing. ButBuckwasinopenrevolt.Hewanted,nottoescapeaclubbing,buttohavetheleadership. Itwashisbyright. Hehadearnedit,andhewouldnotbecontentwithless.
Perraulttookahand. Betweenthemtheyranhimaboutforthebetterpartofanhour.Theythrewclubsathim.Hedodged. Theycursedhim,andhisfathersandmothersbeforehim,andallhisseedtocomeafterhimdowntotheremotestgeneration,andeveryhaironhisbodyanddropofbloodinhisveins; andheansweredcursewithsnarlandkeptoutoftheirreach. Hedidnottrytorunaway,butretreatedaroundandaroundthecamp,advertisingplainlythatwhenhisdesirewasmet,hewouldcomeinandbegood.
Francoissatdownandscratchedhishead. Perraultlookedathiswatchandswore. Timewasflying,andtheyshouldhavebeenonthetrailanhourgone. Francoisscratchedhisheadagain. Heshookitandgrinnedsheepishlyatthecourier,whoshruggedhisshouldersinsignthattheywerebeaten.
