INTO THE PRIMITIVE CHAPTER 6
INTO THE PRIMITIVE CHAPTER 6
He was friendly, in a treacherous sort of way, smiling into one's face the while he meditated some underhand trick, as, for instance, when he stole from Buck's food at the first meal. Buck sprang to punish him, the lash of Francois's whip sang through the air, reaching the culprit first; and nothing remained to Buck but to recover the bone.That was fair of Francois, he decided, and the half-breed began his rise in Buck's estimation. The other dog made no advances, nor received any; also, he did not attempt to steal from the newcomers. Buck and Curly grew excited, half-wild with fear, he raised his head though annoyed, favored them with an incurious glance, yawned, and went to sleep again. Day and night the ship throbbed to the tireless pulse of the propeller, and though one day was very like another, it was apparent to Buck that the weather was steadily growing colder.He was a gloomy, morose fellow, he showed Curly plainly that all he desired was to be left alone, and further, that there would be trouble he were left alone. "Dave" he was called, and he ate and slept, yawned between times, and took interest in nothing, not even the Narwhal crossed Queen Charlotte Sound and rolled and pitched and bucked like a thing .one morning, the propeller was quiet, and the Narwhal was pervaded an atmosphere of excitement. He felt it, did the other dogs, and knew that a change was at hand.He sniffed it curiously, then licked some up on his tongue. It bit like fire, and the next instant was gone. This puzzled him. He tried it again, with the same results. The onlookers laughed uproariously, and he felt ashamed, he knew not why, for it was his first snow.Francois leashed them and brought them on deck. At the first step upon the cold surface, Buck's feet sank into a white mushy something very like mud. He sprang back with a snort. More of this white stuff was falling through the air. He shook himself, but more of it fell upon him.