Зов предков
For the Love of a Man
Buttheprogressshorewardwasslow;theprogressdown-streamamazinglyrapid. Frombelowcamethefatalroaringwherethewildcurrentwentwilderandwasrentinshredsandspraybytherockswhichthrustthroughliketheteethofanenormouscomb. Thesuckofthewaterasittookthebeginningofthelaststeeppitchwasfrightful,andThorntonknewthattheshorewasimpossible. Hescrapedfuriouslyoverarock,bruisedacrossasecond,andstruckathirdwithcrushingforce. Heclutcheditsslipperytopwithbothhands,releasingBuck,andabovetheroarofthechurningwatershouted: "Go,Buck!Go!"
Buckcouldnotholdhisown,andsweptondown-stream,strugglingdesperately,butunabletowinback. WhenheheardThornton’scommandrepeated,hepartlyrearedoutofthewater,throwinghisheadhigh,asthoughforalastlook,thenturnedobedientlytowardthebank. HeswampowerfullyandwasdraggedashorebyPeteandHansattheverypointwhereswimmingceasedtobepossibleanddestructionbegan.
Theyknewthatthetimeamancouldclingtoaslipperyrockinthefaceofthatdrivingcurrentwasamatterofminutes, andtheyranasfastastheycouldupthebanktoapointfarabovewhereThorntonwashangingon.
