Зов предков
The Toil of Trace and Trail
Aftertheyhadtravelledthreemilestheyunloadedthesled,camebackforher,andbymainstrengthputheronthesledagain.
Intheexcessoftheirownmiserytheywerecalloustothesufferingoftheiranimals. Hal’stheory,whichhepractisedonothers,wasthatonemustgethardened. Hehadstartedoutpreachingittohissisterandbrother-in-law. Failingthere,hehammereditintothedogswithaclub. AttheFiveFingersthedog-foodgaveout,andatoothlessoldsquawofferedtotradethemafewpoundsoffrozenhorse-hidefortheColt’srevolverthatkeptthebighunting-knifecompanyatHal’ship. Apoorsubstituteforfoodwasthishide,justasithadbeenstrippedfromthestarvedhorsesofthecattlemensixmonthsback. Initsfrozenstateitwasmorelikestripsofgalvanizediron,andwhenadogwrestleditintohisstomachitthawedintothinandinnutritiousleatherystringsandintoamassofshorthair,irritatingandindigestible.
AndthroughitallBuckstaggeredalongattheheadoftheteamasinanightmare. Hepulledwhenhecould;whenhecouldnolongerpull,hefelldownandremaineddowntillblowsfromwhiporclubdrovehimtohisfeetagain. Allthestiffnessandglosshadgoneoutofhisbeautifulfurrycoat. Thehairhungdown,limpanddraggled,ormattedwithdriedbloodwhereHal’sclubhadbruisedhim.
