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The Dominant Primordial Beast
Thiswasagreatrelief,andBuckcausedeventheweazenedfaceofPerraulttotwistitselfintoagrinonemorning,whenFrancoisforgotthemoccasinsandBucklayonhisback,hisfourfeetwavingappealinglyintheair,andrefusedtobudgewithoutthem. Laterhisfeetgrewhardtothetrail,andtheworn-outfoot-gearwasthrownaway.
AtthePellyonemorning,astheywereharnessingup,Dolly,whohadneverbeenconspicuousforanything,wentsuddenlymad. Sheannouncedherconditionbyalong,heartbreakingwolfhowlthatsenteverydogbristlingwithfear,thensprangstraightforBuck. Hehadneverseenadoggomad,nordidhehaveanyreasontofearmadness;yetheknewthatherewashorror,andfledawayfromitinapanic. Straightawayheraced,withDolly,pantingandfrothing,oneleapbehind;norcouldshegainonhim,sogreatwashisterror,norcouldheleaveher,sogreatwashermadness. Heplungedthroughthewoodedbreastoftheisland,flewdowntothelowerend,crossedabackchannelfilledwithroughicetoanotherisland,gainedathirdisland,curvedbacktothemainriver,andindesperationstartedtocrossit. Andallthetime,thoughhedidnotlook,hecouldhearhersnarlingjustoneleapbehind. Francoiscalledtohimaquarterofamileawayandhedoubledback,stilloneleapahead,gaspingpainfullyforairandputtingallhisfaithinthatFrancoiswouldsavehim. Thedog-driverheldtheaxepoisedinhishand,andasBuckshotpasthimtheaxecrasheddownuponmadDolly’shead.
