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The Toil of Trace and Trail
Halwashurledbackward,asthoughstruckbyafallingtree. Mercedesscreamed. Charleslookedonwistfully,wipedhiswateryeyes,butdidnotgetupbecauseofhisstiffness.
JohnThorntonstoodoverBuck,strugglingtocontrolhimself,tooconvulsedwithragetospeak.
"Ifyoustrikethatdogagain,I’llkillyou,"heatlastmanagedtosayinachokingvoice.
"It’smydog,"Halreplied,wipingthebloodfromhismouthashecameback. "Getoutofmyway,orI’llfixyou. I’mgoingtoDawson."
ThorntonstoodbetweenhimandBuck,andevincednointentionofgettingoutoftheway. Haldrewhislonghunting-knife. Mercedesscreamed,cried,laughed,andmanifestedthechaoticabandonmentofhysteria. ThorntonrappedHal’sknuckleswiththeaxe-handle,knockingtheknifetotheground. Herappedhisknucklesagainashetriedtopickitup. Thenhestooped,pickedituphimself,andwithtwostrokescutBuck’straces.
Halhadnofightleftinhim. Besides,hishandswerefullwithhissister,orhisarms,rather;whileBuckwastooneardeadtobeoffurtheruseinhaulingthesled. Afewminuteslatertheypulledoutfromthebankanddowntheriver. Buckheardthemgoandraisedhisheadtosee,Pikewasleading,Sol-lekswasatthewheel,andbetweenwereJoeandTeek. Theywerelimpingandstaggering. Mercedeswasridingtheloadedsled.Halguidedatthegee-pole,andCharlesstumbledalongintherear.
