Зов предков
The Dominant Primordial Beast
Spitzwasapractisedfighter. FromSpitzbergenthroughtheArctic,andacrossCanadaandtheBarrens,hehadheldhisownwithallmannerofdogsandachievedtomasteryoverthem. Bitterragewashis,butneverblindrage. Inpassiontorendanddestroy,heneverforgotthathisenemywasinlikepassiontorendanddestroy. Heneverrushedtillhewaspreparedtoreceivearush; neverattackedtillhehadfirstdefendedthatattack.
InvainBuckstrovetosinkhisteethintheneckofthebigwhitedog. Whereverhisfangsstruckforthesofterflesh,theywerecounteredbythefangsofSpitz. Fangclashedfang,andlipswerecutandbleeding,butBuckcouldnotpenetratehisenemy’sguard. ThenhewarmedupandenvelopedSpitzinawhirlwindofrushes. Timeandtimeagainhetriedforthesnow-whitethroat,wherelifebubbledneartothesurface,andeachtimeandeverytimeSpitzslashedhimandgotaway. ThenBucktooktorushing,asthoughforthethroat,when,suddenlydrawingbackhisheadandcurvinginfromtheside,hewoulddrivehisshoulderattheshoulderofSpitz,asarambywhichtooverthrowhim. Butinstead,Buck’sshoulderwasslasheddowneachtimeasSpitzleapedlightlyaway.
Spitzwasuntouched,whileBuckwasstreamingwithbloodandpantinghard. Thefightwasgrowingdesperate. Andallthewhilethesilentandwolfishcirclewaitedtofinishoffwhicheverdogwentdown. AsBuckgrewwinded,Spitztooktorushing,andhekepthimstaggeringforfooting.
