Зов предков
The Toil of Trace and Trail
Andinherzeal,whenshehadfinishedwithherown,sheattackedthebelongingsofhermenandwentthroughthemlikeatornado.
Thisaccomplished,theoutfit,thoughcutinhalf,wasstillaformidablebulk. CharlesandHalwentoutintheeveningandboughtsixOutsidedogs. These,addedtothesixoftheoriginalteam,andTeekandKoona,thehuskiesobtainedattheRinkRapidsontherecordtrip,broughttheteamuptofourteen. ButtheOutsidedogs,thoughpracticallybrokeninsincetheirlanding,didnotamounttomuch. Threewereshort-hairedpointers,onewasaNewfoundland,andtheothertwoweremongrelsofindeterminatebreed. Theydidnotseemtoknowanything,thesenewcomers. Buckandhiscomradeslookeduponthemwithdisgust,andthoughhespeedilytaughtthemtheirplacesandwhatnottodo,hecouldnotteachthemwhattodo. Theydidnottakekindlytotraceandtrail. Withtheexceptionofthetwomongrels,theywerebewilderedandspirit-brokenbythestrangesavageenvironmentinwhichtheyfoundthemselvesandbytheilltreatmenttheyhadreceived. Thetwomongrelswerewithoutspiritatall;bonesweretheonlythingsbreakableaboutthem.
Withthenewcomershopelessandforlorn,andtheoldteamwornoutbytwenty-fivehundredmilesofcontinuoustrail,theoutlookwasanythingbutbright. Thetwomen,however,werequitecheerful.Andtheywereproud,too. Theyweredoingthethinginstyle,withfourteendogs.
