Зов предков
Who Has Won to Mastership
Sohewasharnessedinagain,andproudlyhepulledasofold,thoughmorethanoncehecriedoutinvoluntarilyfromthebiteofhisinwardhurt. Severaltimeshefelldownandwasdraggedinthetraces,andoncethesledranuponhimsothathelimpedthereafterinoneofhishindlegs.
Butheheldouttillcampwasreached,whenhisdrivermadeaplaceforhimbythefire. Morningfoundhimtooweaktotravel. Atharness-uptimehetriedtocrawltohisdriver. Byconvulsiveeffortshegotonhisfeet,staggered,andfell. Thenhewormedhiswayforwardslowlytowardwheretheharnesseswerebeingputonhismates. Hewouldadvancehisforelegsanddraguphisbodywithasortofhitchingmovement,whenhewouldadvancehisforelegsandhitchaheadagainforafewmoreinches. Hisstrengthlefthim,andthelasthismatessawofhimhelaygaspinginthesnowandyearningtowardthem. Buttheycouldhearhimmournfullyhowlingtilltheypassedoutofsightbehindabeltofrivertimber.
Herethetrainwashalted. TheScotchhalf-breedslowlyretracedhisstepstothecamptheyhadleft. Themenceasedtalking. Arevolver-shotrangout. Themancamebackhurriedly. Thewhipssnapped,thebellstinkledmerrily,thesledschurnedalongthetrail; butBuckknew,andeverydogknew,whathadtakenplacebehindthebeltofrivertrees.
