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The Dominant Primordial Beast
OnceBuckwentover,andthewholecircleofsixtydogsstartedup; butherecoveredhimself,almostinmidair,andthecirclesankdownagainandwaited.
ButBuckpossessedaqualitythatmadeforgreatness—imagination. Hefoughtbyinstinct,buthecouldfightbyheadaswell. Herushed,asthoughattemptingtheoldshouldertrick,butatthelastinstantsweptlowtothesnowandin.HisteethclosedonSpitz’sleftforeleg. Therewasacrunchofbreakingbone,andthewhitedogfacedhimonthreelegs. Thricehetriedtoknockhimover,thenrepeatedthetrickandbroketherightforeleg. Despitethepainandhelplessness,Spitzstruggledmadlytokeepup. Hesawthesilentcircle,withgleamingeyes,lollingtongues,andsilverybreathsdriftingupward,closinginuponhimashehadseensimilarcirclescloseinuponbeatenantagonistsinthepast. Onlythistimehewastheonewhowasbeaten.
Therewasnohopeforhim. Buckwasinexorable. Mercywasathingreservedforgentlerclimes. Hemanoeuvredforthefinalrush. Thecirclehadtightenedtillhecouldfeelthebreathsofthehuskiesonhisflanks. Hecouldseethem,beyondSpitzandtoeitherside,halfcrouchingforthespring,theireyesfixeduponhim. Apauseseemedtofall. Everyanimalwasmotionlessasthoughturnedtostone. OnlySpitzquiveredandbristledashestaggeredbackandforth,snarlingwithhorriblemenace,asthoughtofrightenoffimpendingdeath.
