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The Sounding of the Call
Hewouldbarkanddanceaboutinfrontofthebull,justoutofreachofthegreatantlersandoftheterriblesplayhoofswhichcouldhavestampedhislifeoutwithasingleblow. Unabletoturnhisbackonthefangeddangerandgoon,thebullwouldbedrivenintoparoxysmsofrage. AtsuchmomentshechargedBuck,whoretreatedcraftily,luringhimonbyasimulatedinabilitytoescape. Butwhenhewasthusseparatedfromhisfellows,twoorthreeoftheyoungerbullswouldchargebackuponBuckandenablethewoundedbulltorejointheherd.
Thereisapatienceofthewild—dogged,tireless,persistentaslifeitself—thatholdsmotionlessforendlesshoursthespiderinitsweb,thesnakeinitscoils,thepantherinitsambuscade; thispatiencebelongspeculiarlytolifewhenithuntsitslivingfood; anditbelongedtoBuckasheclungtotheflankoftheherd,retardingitsmarch,irritatingtheyoungbulls,worryingthecowswiththeirhalf-growncalves,anddrivingthewoundedbullmadwithhelplessrage. Forhalfadaythiscontinued. Buckmultipliedhimself,attackingfromallsides,envelopingtheherdinawhirlwindofmenace,cuttingouthisvictimasfastasitcouldrejoinitsmates,wearingoutthepatienceofcreaturespreyedupon,whichisalesserpatiencethanthatofcreaturespreying.
