Поклик предків
The Law of Club and Fang
Hesprangback,bristlingandsnarling,fearfuloftheunseenandunknown. Butafriendlylittleyelpreassuredhim,andhewentbacktoinvestigate. Awhiffofwarmairascendedtohisnostrils,andthere,curledupunderthesnowinasnugball,layBillee. Hewhinedplacatingly,squirmedandwriggledtoshowhisgoodwillandintentions,andevenventured,asabribeforpeace,tolickBuck’sfacewithhiswarmwettongue.
Anotherlesson. Sothatwasthewaytheydidit,eh? Buckconfidentlyselectedaspot,andwithmuchfussandwasteeffortproceededtodigaholeforhimself. Inatricetheheatfromhisbodyfilledtheconfinedspaceandhewasasleep. Thedayhadbeenlongandarduous,andhesleptsoundlyandcomfortably,thoughhegrowledandbarkedandwrestledwithbaddreams.
Nordidheopenhiseyestillrousedbythenoisesofthewakingcamp. Atfirsthedidnotknowwherehewas. Ithadsnowedduringthenightandhewascompletelyburied. Thesnowwallspressedhimoneveryside,andagreatsurgeoffearsweptthroughhim—thefearofthewildthingforthetrap. Itwasatokenthathewasharkingbackthroughhisownlifetothelivesofhisforebears;forhewasacivilizeddog,anundulycivilizeddog,andofhisownexperienceknewnotrapandsocouldnotofhimselffearit. Themusclesofhiswholebodycontractedspasmodicallyandinstinctively,thehaironhisneckandshouldersstoodonend,andwithaferocioussnarlheboundedstraightupintotheblindingday,thesnowflyingabouthiminaflashingcloud. Erehelandedonhisfeet,hesawthewhitecampspreadoutbeforehimandknewwherehewasandrememberedallthathadpassedfromthetimehewentforastrollwithManueltotheholehehaddugforhimselfthenightbefore.
AshoutfromFrancoishailedhisappearance. "WotIsay?"thedog-drivercriedtoPerrault. "DatBuckforsurelearnqueekasanyt’ing."
