THEDOMINANTPRIMORDIALBEAST

    ThedominantprimordialbeastwasstronginBuduhefierditionsoftraillifeitgrewandgrew.Yetitwasasecretgrowth.Hisnewborninggavehimpoiseandtrol.Hewastoobusyadjustinghimselftothenewlifetofeelatease,andnotonlydidhenotpickfights,butheavoidedthemwheneverpossible.Acertaindeliberatenesscharacterizedhisattitude.Hewasnotproorashnessandprecipitatea;andierhatredbetweenhimandSpitzhebetrayednoimpatience,shunnedalloffes.

    Oherhand,possiblybecausehedivinedinBuckadangerousrival,Spitzneverlostanopportunityofshowinghisteeth.HeeveoutofhiswaytobullyBuck,strivingstantlytostartthefightwhichcouldendonlyihofoheother.

    Earlyiripthismighthavetakenplacehaditnotbeenforanunwontedact.AttheendofthisdaytheymadeableakandmiserablecampontheshoreofLakeLeBarge.Drivingsnow,awindthatcutlikeawhite-hotknife,anddarkness,hadforcedthemtogropeforacampingplace.Theycouldhardlyhavefaredworse.AttheirbacksroseaperpendicularwallofrodPerraultandFrancoiswerepelledtomaketheirfireandspreadtheirsleepingrobesontheiceofthelakeitself.ThetenttheyhaddiscardedatYeairavellight.Afewsticksofdriftwoodfurhemwithafirethatthaweddownthroughtheidleftthemtoeatsupperinthedark.

    CloseiheshelteringrockBuckmadehis.Sosnugandwarmwasit,thathewasloathtoleaveitwhenFrancoisdistributedthefishwhichhehadfirstthawedoverthefire.ButwhenBuishedhisrationaurned,hefoundhisoccupied.Awarningsnarltoldhimthatthetrespasseritz.TillnowBuckhadavoidedtroublewithhisenemy,butthiswastoomuch.Thebeastinhimroared.HespranguponSpitzwith