Зов предков
For the Love of a Man
Hewasinperfectcondition,withoutanounceofsuperfluousflesh,andtheonehundredandfiftypoundsthatheweighedweresomanypoundsofgritandvirility. Hisfurrycoatshonewiththesheenofsilk. Downtheneckandacrosstheshoulders,hismane,inreposeasitwas,halfbristledandseemedtoliftwitheverymovement,asthoughexcessofvigormadeeachparticularhairaliveandactive. Thegreatbreastandheavyforelegswerenomorethaninproportionwiththerestofthebody,wherethemusclesshowedintightrollsunderneaththeskin. Menfeltthesemusclesandproclaimedthemhardasiron,andtheoddswentdowntotwotoone.
"Gad,sir!Gad,sir!"stutteredamemberofthelatestdynasty,akingoftheSkookumBenches. "Iofferyoueighthundredforhim,sir,beforethetest,sir;eighthundredjustashestands."
ThorntonshookhisheadandsteppedtoBuck’sside.
"Youmuststandofffromhim,"Matthewsonprotested. "Freeplayandplentyofroom."
Thecrowdfellsilent;onlycouldbeheardthevoicesofthegamblersvainlyofferingtwotoone. EverybodyacknowledgedBuckamagnificentanimal,buttwentyfifty-poundsacksofflourbulkedtoolargeintheireyesforthemtoloosentheirpouch-strings.
ThorntonkneltdownbyBuck’sside. Hetookhisheadinhistwohandsandrestedcheekoncheek. Hedidnotplayfullyshakehim,aswashiswont,ormurmursoftlovecurses; buthewhisperedinhisear. "Asyouloveme,Buck.Asyouloveme,"waswhathewhispered. Buckwhinedwithsuppressedeagerness.
