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The Dominant Primordial Beast
Itwasanoldsong,oldasthebreeditself—oneofthefirstsongsoftheyoungerworldinadaywhensongsweresad. Itwasinvestedwiththewoeofunnumberedgenerations,thisplaintbywhichBuckwassostrangelystirred. Whenhemoanedandsobbed,itwaswiththepainoflivingthatwasofoldthepainofhiswildfathers,andthefearandmysteryofthecoldanddarkthatwastothemfearandmystery. Andthatheshouldbestirredbyitmarkedthecompletenesswithwhichheharkedbackthroughtheagesoffireandrooftotherawbeginningsoflifeinthehowlingages.
SevendaysfromthetimetheypulledintoDawson,theydroppeddownthesteepbankbytheBarrackstotheYukonTrail,andpulledforDyeaandSaltWater. Perraultwascarryingdespatchesifanythingmoreurgentthanthosehehadbroughtin; also,thetravelpridehadgrippedhim,andhepurposedtomaketherecordtripoftheyear. Severalthingsfavoredhiminthis. Theweek’sresthadrecuperatedthedogsandputtheminthoroughtrim. Thetrailtheyhadbrokenintothecountrywaspackedhardbylaterjourneyers. Andfurther,thepolicehadarrangedintwoorthreeplacesdepositsofgrubfordogandman,andhewastravellinglight.
TheymadeSixtyMile,whichisafifty-milerun,onthefirstday;andtheseconddaysawthemboominguptheYukonwellontheirwaytoPelly. ButsuchsplendidrunningwasachievednotwithoutgreattroubleandvexationonthepartofFrancois.
