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For the Love of a Man
Thorntonsawhimcoming,and,asBuckstruckhimlikeabatteringram,withthewholeforceofthecurrentbehindhim,hereachedupandclosedwithbotharmsaroundtheshaggyneck. Hanssnubbedtheropearoundthetree,andBuckandThorntonwerejerkedunderthewater. Strangling,suffocating,sometimesoneuppermostandsometimestheother,draggingoverthejaggedbottom,smashingagainstrocksandsnags,theyveeredintothebank.
Thorntoncameto,bellydownwardandbeingviolentlypropelledbackandforthacrossadriftlogbyHansandPete. HisfirstglancewasforBuck,overwhoselimpandapparentlylifelessbodyNigwassettingupahowl,whileSkeetwaslickingthewetfaceandclosedeyes. Thorntonwashimselfbruisedandbattered,andhewentcarefullyoverBuck’sbody,whenhehadbeenbroughtaround,findingthreebrokenribs.
"Thatsettlesit,"heannounced. "Wecamprighthere." Andcamptheydid,tillBuck’sribsknittedandhewasabletotravel.
Thatwinter,atDawson,Buckperformedanotherexploit,notsoheroic,perhaps,butonethatputhisnamemanynotcheshigheronthetotem-poleofAlaskanfame. Thisexploitwasparticularlygratifyingtothethreemen;fortheystoodinneedoftheoutfitwhichitfurnished,andwereenabledtomakealong-desiredtripintothevirginEast,whereminershadnotyetappeared. ItwasbroughtaboutbyaconversationintheEldoradoSaloon,inwhichmenwaxedboastfuloftheirfavoritedogs.
