Chapter 4 Who Has Won to Mastership
The morning after the fight, Franois notices that Spitz is missing and that Buck
is covered with wounds. He surmises that Buck has killed Spitz, but
proceeds with harnessing the dogs. Buck walks to take Spitz's position
at the head of the traces. Yet Franois harnesses Sol-leks there.
Buck, indignant, lunges at Sol-leks, who stands back. Franois grabs
Buck by the scruff of his neck, removing him from the traces, then
threatens him with the club when Buck
attempts to assume Spitz's position again. Buck eludes the club's
reach, until Franois and Perrault relent by fastening Buck in the lead
position.
On the trail, Buck proves to be an excellent lead dog. He conducts the difficulties of the trail with quick judgment, keeps his teammates in line, and sets high work expectations. The team makes record time from Thirty Mile River to Skaguay, covering an average of forty miles a day over fourteen days.
In Skaguay, Franois and Perrault become minor celebrities for the record timing of their run. They celebrate for a week's time, but official orders from the government force them to depart the town, thereby leaving Buck and his team behind. Franois weeps over Buck as he and Perrault exit Buck's life "for good."
Another courier, called the Scotch half-breed, (also referred to as the Scotsman), takes charge of Buck's sled dog team, adding a dozen more dogs to the pack. Under a heavy load of mail, the dogs toil their way slowly towards Dawson to make the delivery. The labor is monotonous and wearing, but in the evenings, Buck begins to have visions of a "hairy," "short-legged" caveman, clad in animal skins, squatting by the fire.
Buck awakens from his dream-like state to face the harsh realities of life on the trail. Dave comes down with a mysterious illness, becoming so weak that he can barely stand in the traces. The Scotsman removes Dave from the traces, putting Sol-leks in his place. Dave resents being displaced; he refuses to walk alongside the sled by firmly standing in his place at the rear. In a merciful gesture, the Scotsman harnesses Dave in the traces. They drive on, but the next morning Dave, collapsed, cannot even walk over to the sled that's pulling away. The Scotsmen halts the sleigh, retraces his steps, and the dogs hear a gunshot ring out.
On the trail, Buck proves to be an excellent lead dog. He conducts the difficulties of the trail with quick judgment, keeps his teammates in line, and sets high work expectations. The team makes record time from Thirty Mile River to Skaguay, covering an average of forty miles a day over fourteen days.
In Skaguay, Franois and Perrault become minor celebrities for the record timing of their run. They celebrate for a week's time, but official orders from the government force them to depart the town, thereby leaving Buck and his team behind. Franois weeps over Buck as he and Perrault exit Buck's life "for good."
Another courier, called the Scotch half-breed, (also referred to as the Scotsman), takes charge of Buck's sled dog team, adding a dozen more dogs to the pack. Under a heavy load of mail, the dogs toil their way slowly towards Dawson to make the delivery. The labor is monotonous and wearing, but in the evenings, Buck begins to have visions of a "hairy," "short-legged" caveman, clad in animal skins, squatting by the fire.
Buck awakens from his dream-like state to face the harsh realities of life on the trail. Dave comes down with a mysterious illness, becoming so weak that he can barely stand in the traces. The Scotsman removes Dave from the traces, putting Sol-leks in his place. Dave resents being displaced; he refuses to walk alongside the sled by firmly standing in his place at the rear. In a merciful gesture, the Scotsman harnesses Dave in the traces. They drive on, but the next morning Dave, collapsed, cannot even walk over to the sled that's pulling away. The Scotsmen halts the sleigh, retraces his steps, and the dogs hear a gunshot ring out.