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The Sounding of the Call
Andwiththecomingofthenight,broodingandmourningbythepool,BuckbecamealivetoastirringofthenewlifeintheforestotherthanthatwhichtheYeehatshadmade. Hestoodup,listeningandscenting. Fromfarawaydriftedafaint,sharpyelp,followedbyachorusofsimilarsharpyelps. Asthemomentspassedtheyelpsgrewcloserandlouder. AgainBuckknewthemasthingsheardinthatotherworldwhichpersistedinhismemory. Hewalkedtothecentreoftheopenspaceandlistened. Itwasthecall,themany-notedcall,soundingmoreluringlyandcompellinglythaneverbefore. Andasneverbefore,hewasreadytoobey. JohnThorntonwasdead. Thelasttiewasbroken. Manandtheclaimsofmannolongerboundhim.
Huntingtheirlivingmeat,astheYeehatswerehuntingit,ontheflanksofthemigratingmoose,thewolfpackhadatlastcrossedoverfromthelandofstreamsandtimberandinvadedBuck’svalley. Intotheclearingwherethemoonlightstreamed,theypouredinasilveryflood;andinthecentreoftheclearingstoodBuck,motionlessasastatue,waitingtheircoming. Theywereawed,sostillandlargehestood,andamoment’spausefell,tilltheboldestoneleapedstraightforhim. LikeaflashBuckstruck,breakingtheneck. Thenhestood,withoutmovement,asbefore,thestrickenwolfrollinginagonybehindhim. Threeotherstrieditinsharpsuccession;andoneaftertheothertheydrewback,streamingbloodfromslashedthroatsorshoulders.
