Зов предков

           Hewasgladforonething:theropewasoffhisneck. Thathadgiventhemanunfairadvantage;butnowthatitwasoff,hewouldshowthem. Theywouldnevergetanotherropearoundhisneck. Uponthathewasresolved. Fortwodaysandnightsheneitheratenordrank,andduringthosetwodaysandnightsoftorment,heaccumulatedafundofwraththatbodedillforwhoeverfirstfellfoulofhim. Hiseyesturnedblood-shot,andhewasmetamorphosedintoaragingfiend. SochangedwashethattheJudgehimselfwouldnothaverecognizedhim;andtheexpressmessengersbreathedwithreliefwhentheybundledhimoffthetrainatSeattle. 

           Fourmengingerlycarriedthecratefromthewagonintoasmall,high-walledbackyard. Astoutman,witharedsweaterthatsaggedgenerouslyattheneck,cameoutandsignedthebookforthedriver. Thatwastheman,Buckdivined,thenexttormentor,andhehurledhimselfsavagelyagainstthebars. Themansmiledgrimly,andbroughtahatchetandaclub. 

           "Youain’tgoingtotakehimoutnow?"thedriverasked. 

           "Sure,"themanreplied,drivingthehatchetintothecrateforapry. 

           Therewasaninstantaneousscatteringofthefourmenwhohadcarrieditin,andfromsafeperchesontopthewalltheypreparedtowatchtheperformance. 

           Buckrushedatthesplinteringwood,sinkinghisteethintoit,surgingandwrestlingwithit. Whereverthehatchetfellontheoutside,hewasthereontheinside,snarlingandgrowling,asfuriouslyanxioustogetoutasthemanintheredsweaterwascalmlyintentongettinghimout. 

           "Now,youred-eyeddevil,"hesaid,whenhehadmadeanopeningsufficientforthepassageofBuck’sbody. Atthesametimehedroppedthehatchetandshiftedtheclubtohisrighthand.