Зов предков
The Toil of Trace and Trail
SeveraltimesThorntonstarted,asthoughtospeak,butchangedhismind. Amoisturecameintohiseyes,and,asthewhippingcontinued,hearoseandwalkedirresolutelyupanddown.
ThiswasthefirsttimeBuckhadfailed,initselfasufficientreasontodriveHalintoarage. Heexchangedthewhipforthecustomaryclub. Buckrefusedtomoveundertherainofheavierblowswhichnowfelluponhim. Likehismates,hewasbarelyabletogetup,but,unlikethem,hehadmadeuphismindnottogetup. Hehadavaguefeelingofimpendingdoom. Thishadbeenstronguponhimwhenhepulledintothebank,andithadnotdepartedfromhim. Whatofthethinandrottenicehehadfeltunderhisfeetallday,itseemedthathesenseddisastercloseathand,outthereaheadontheicewherehismasterwastryingtodrivehim. Herefusedtostir. Sogreatlyhadhesuffered,andsofargonewashe,thattheblowsdidnothurtmuch. Andastheycontinuedtofalluponhim,thesparkoflifewithinflickeredandwentdown. Itwasnearlyout. Hefeltstrangelynumb. Asthoughfromagreatdistance,hewasawarethathewasbeingbeaten. Thelastsensationsofpainlefthim.Henolongerfeltanything,thoughveryfaintlyhecouldheartheimpactoftheclubuponhisbody. Butitwasnolongerhisbody,itseemedsofaraway.
Andthen,suddenly,withoutwarning,utteringacrythatwasinarticulateandmorelikethecryofananimal,JohnThorntonspranguponthemanwhowieldedtheclub.
