Поклик предків
The Dominant Primordial Beast
Pike,themalingerer,leapeduponthecrippledanimal,breakingitsneckwithaquickflashofteethandajerk,Buckgotafrothingadversarybythethroat,andwassprayedwithbloodwhenhisteethsankthroughthejugular. Thewarmtasteofitinhismouthgoadedhimtogreaterfierceness. Heflunghimselfuponanother,andatthesametimefeltteethsinkintohisownthroat. ItwasSpitz,treacherouslyattackingfromtheside.
PerraultandFrancois,havingcleanedouttheirpartofthecamp,hurriedtosavetheirsled-dogs. Thewildwaveoffamishedbeastsrolledbackbeforethem,andBuckshookhimselffree. Butitwasonlyforamoment. Thetwomenwerecompelledtorunbacktosavethegrub,uponwhichthehuskiesreturnedtotheattackontheteam. Billee,terrifiedintobravery,sprangthroughthesavagecircleandfledawayovertheice. PikeandDubfollowedonhisheels,withtherestoftheteambehind. AsBuckdrewhimselftogethertospringafterthem,outofthetailofhiseyehesawSpitzrushuponhimwiththeevidentintentionofoverthrowinghim. Onceoffhisfeetandunderthatmassofhuskies,therewasnohopeforhim. ButhebracedhimselftotheshockofSpitz’scharge,thenjoinedtheflightoutonthelake.
Later,thenineteam-dogsgatheredtogetherandsoughtshelterintheforest. Thoughunpursued,theywereinasorryplight. Therewasnotonewhowasnotwoundedinfourorfiveplaces,whilesomewerewoundedgrievously.
