Francois,swinginganaxe,springintothemessofdogs.Threemenwithclubswerehelpinghimtoscatterthem.Itdidnottakelong.TwominutesfromthetimeCurlywentdowofherassailantswereclubbedoff.Butshelaytherelimpandlifelessinthebloody,trampledsnow,almostliterallytorntopieces,theswarthalf-breedstandingoverherandcursinghorribly.TheseoftencamebacktoBucktotroublehiminhissleep.Sothatwastheway.Nofairplay.Oncedown,thatwastheendofyou.Well,hewouldseetoitthatheneverwentdown.Spitzranouthistongueandlaughedagain,andfromthatmomentBuckhatedhimwithabitterahlesshatred.

    BeforehehadrecoveredfromtheshockcausedbythetragicpassingofCurly,hereceivedanothershock.Francoisfasteneduponhimanarraofstrapsandbuckles.Itwasaharness,suchashehadseenthegroomsputonthehorsesathome.Andashehadseenhorseswork,sohewassettowork,haulingFrancoisoheforestthatfrihevalley,aurningwithaloadoffirewood.Thoughhisdignitywassorelyhurtbythusbeingmadeadraughtanimal,hewastoowisetorebel.Hebuckleddownwithawillanddidhisbest,thoughitwasallnewandstrange.Francoiswasstern,demandinginstantobediendbyvirtueofhiswhipreceivinginstantobedience;whileDave,whoeriencedwheeler,nippedBuckshindquarterswheneverhewasinerror.Spitzwastheleader,likewiseexperienced,andwhilehecouldnotalwaysgetatBuck,hegrowledsharpreproofnowandagain,oringlythrewhisweightiracestojerkButothewayheshouldgo.Bucklearnedeasily,anduhebiuitionofhistwomatesandFranaderemarkableprogress.Eretheyreturocampheknewenoughtostopat"ho,"togoaheadat"mush,"toswingwideonthebends,andtokeepclearofth