Зов предков
Into the Primitive
Severaltimesduringthenighthesprangtohisfeetwhenthesheddoorrattledopen,expectingtoseetheJudge,ortheboysatleast. Buteachtimeitwasthebulgingfaceofthesaloon-keeperthatpeeredinathimbythesicklylightofatallowcandle. AndeachtimethejoyfulbarkthattrembledinBuck’sthroatwastwistedintoasavagegrowl.
Butthesaloon-keeperlethimalone,andinthemorningfourmenenteredandpickedupthecrate. Moretormentors,Buckdecided,fortheywereevil-lookingcreatures,raggedandunkempt; andhestormedandragedatthemthroughthebars. Theyonlylaughedandpokedsticksathim,whichhepromptlyassailedwithhisteethtillherealizedthatthatwaswhattheywanted. Whereuponhelaydownsullenlyandallowedthecratetobeliftedintoawagon. Thenhe,andthecrateinwhichhewasimprisoned,beganapassagethroughmanyhands. Clerksintheexpressofficetookchargeofhim;hewascartedaboutinanotherwagon; atruckcarriedhim,withanassortmentofboxesandparcels,uponaferrysteamer; hewastruckedoffthesteamerintoagreatrailwaydepot,andfinallyhewasdepositedinanexpresscar.
Fortwodaysandnightsthisexpresscarwasdraggedalongatthetailofshriekinglocomotives; andfortwodaysandnightsBuckneitheratenordrank. Inhisangerhehadmetthefirstadvancesoftheexpressmessengerswithgrowls,andtheyhadretaliatedbyteasinghim. Whenheflunghimselfagainstthebars,quiveringandfrothing,theylaughedathimandtauntedhim. Theygrowledandbarkedlikedetestabledogs,mewed,andflappedtheirarmsandcrowed. Itwasallverysilly,heknew;butthereforethemoreoutragetohisdignity,andhisangerwaxedandwaxed. Hedidnotmindthehungersomuch,butthelackofwatercausedhimseveresufferingandfannedhiswrathtofever-pitch. Forthatmatter,high-strungandfinelysensitive,theilltreatmenthadflunghimintoafever,whichwasfedbytheinflammationofhisparchedandswollenthroatandtongue.
