Зов предков

           Heworkedfaithfullyintheharness,forthetoilhadbecomeadelighttohim; yetitwasagreaterdelightslylytoprecipitateafightamongsthismatesandtanglethetraces. 

           AtthemouthoftheTahkeena,onenightaftersupper,Dubturnedupasnowshoerabbit,blunderedit,andmissed. Inasecondthewholeteamwasinfullcry. AhundredyardsawaywasacampoftheNorthwestPolice,withfiftydogs,huskiesall,whojoinedthechase. Therabbitspeddowntheriver,turnedoffintoasmallcreek,upthefrozenbedofwhichitheldsteadily. Itranlightlyonthesurfaceofthesnow,whilethedogsploughedthroughbymainstrength. Buckledthepack,sixtystrong,aroundbendafterbend,buthecouldnotgain. Helaydownlowtotherace,whiningeagerly,hissplendidbodyflashingforward,leapbyleap,inthewanwhitemoonlight. Andleapbyleap,likesomepalefrostwraith,thesnowshoerabbitflashedonahead. 

           Allthatstirringofoldinstinctswhichatstatedperiodsdrivesmenoutfromthesoundingcitiestoforestandplaintokillthingsbychemicallypropelledleadenpellets,thebloodlust,thejoytokill—allthiswasBuck’s,onlyitwasinfinitelymoreintimate. Hewasrangingattheheadofthepack,runningthewildthingdown,thelivingmeat,tokillwithhisownteethandwashhismuzzletotheeyesinwarmblood. 

           Thereisanecstasythatmarksthesummitoflife,andbeyondwhichlifecannotrise.