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The Dominant Primordial Beast
TheinsidiousrevoltledbyBuckhaddestroyedthesolidarityoftheteam. Itnolongerwasasonedogleapinginthetraces. TheencouragementBuckgavetherebelsledthemintoallkindsofpettymisdemeanors. NomorewasSpitzaleadergreatlytobefeared. Theoldawedeparted,andtheygrewequaltochallenginghisauthority. Pikerobbedhimofhalfafishonenight,andgulpeditdownundertheprotectionofBuck. AnothernightDubandJoefoughtSpitzandmadehimforegothepunishmenttheydeserved. AndevenBillee,thegood-natured,waslessgood-natured,andwhinednothalfsoplacatinglyasinformerdays. BucknevercamenearSpitzwithoutsnarlingandbristlingmenacingly. Infact,hisconductapproachedthatofabully,andhewasgiventoswaggeringupanddownbeforeSpitz’sverynose.
Thebreakingdownofdisciplinelikewiseaffectedthedogsintheirrelationswithoneanother. Theyquarrelledandbickeredmorethaneveramongthemselves,tillattimesthecampwasahowlingbedlam. DaveandSol-leksalonewereunaltered,thoughtheyweremadeirritablebytheunendingsquabbling. Francoissworestrangebarbarousoaths,andstampedthesnowinfutilerage,andtorehishair. Hislashwasalwayssingingamongthedogs,butitwasofsmallavail. Directlyhisbackwasturnedtheywereatitagain. HebackedupSpitzwithhiswhip,whileBuckbackeduptheremainderoftheteam. Francoisknewhewasbehindallthetrouble,andBuckknewheknew; butBuckwastooclevereveragaintobecaughtred-handed.
