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were together in a flash。 It was the missionary at Sunrise； a
newcomer in the country； who spoke the kind word and gave the soft
stroke of the hand。 And for six months after； he wrote no letters
home to the States； and the surgeon at McQuestion travelled two
hundred miles on the ice to save him from blood…poisoning。
Men and dogs looked askance at Batard when he drifted into their
camps and posts。 The men greeted him with feet threateningly
lifted for the kick； the dogs with bristling manes and bared fangs。
Once a man did kick Batard； and Batard； with quick wolf snap；
closed his jaws like a steel trap on the man's calf and crunched
down to the bone。 Whereat the man was determined to have his life；
only Black Leclere； with ominous eyes and naked hunting…knife；
stepped in between。 The killing of Batardah； SACREDAM； THAT was
a pleasure Leclere reserved for himself。 Some day it would happen；
or elsebah！ who was to know？ Anyway； the problem would be
solved。
For they had become problems to each other。 The very breath each
drew was a challenge and a menace to the other。 Their hate bound
them together as love could never bind。 Leclere was bent on the
coming of the day when Batard should wilt in spirit and cringe and
whimper at his feet。 And BatardLeclere knew what was in Batard's
mind； and more than once had read it in Batard's eyes。 And so
clearly had he read； that when Batard was at his back； he made it a
point to glance often over his shoulder。
Men marvelled when Leclere refused large money for the dog。 〃Some
day you'll kill him and be out his price；〃 said John Hamlin once；
when Batard lay panting in the snow where Leclere had kicked him；
and no one knew whether his ribs were broken； and no one dared look
to see。
〃Dat；〃 said Leclere； dryly； 〃dat is my biz'ness； M'sieu'。〃
And the men marvelled that Batard did not run away。 They did not
understand。 But Leclere understood。 He was a man who lived much
in the open； beyond the sound of human tongue； and he had learned
the voices of wind and storm； the sigh of night； the whisper of
dawn； the clash of day。 In a dim way he could hear the green
things growing； the running of the sap； the bursting of the bud。
And he knew the subtle speech of the things that moved； of the
rabbit in the snare； the moody raven beating the air with hollow
wing； the baldface shuffling under the moon； the wolf like a grey
shadow gliding betwixt the twilight and the dark。 And to him
Batard spoke clear and direct。 Full well he understood why Batard
did not run away； and he looked more often over his shoulder。
When in anger； Batard was not nice to look upon； and more than once
had he leapt for Leclere's throat； to be stretched quivering and
senseless in the snow； by the butt of the ever ready dogwhip。 And
so Batard learned to bide his time。 When he reached his full
strength and prime of youth； he thought the time had come。 He was
broad…chested； powerfully muscled； of far more than ordinary size；
and his neck from head to shoulders was a mass of bristling hair
to all appearances a full…blooded wolf。 Leclere was lying asleep
in his furs when Batard deemed the time to be ripe。 He crept upon
him stealthily； head low to earth and lone ear laid back； with a
feline softness of tread。 Batard breathed gently； very gently； and
not till he was close at hand did he raise his head。 He paused for
a moment and looked at the bronzed bull throat； naked and knotty；
and swelling to a deep steady pulse。 The slaver dripped down his
fangs and slid off his tongue at the sight； and in that moment he
remembered his drooping ear； his uncounted blows and prodigious
wrongs； and without a sound sprang on the sleeping man。
Leclere awoke to the pang of the fangs in his throat； and； perfect
animal that he was； he awoke clear…headed and with full
comprehension。 He closed on Batard's windpipe with both his hands；
and rolled out of his furs to get his weight uppermost。 But the
thousands of Batard's ancestors had clung at the throats of
unnumbered moose and caribou and dragged them down； and the wisdom
of those ancestors was his。 When Leclere's weight came on top of
him； he drove his hind legs upwards and in； and clawed down chest
and abdomen； ripping and tearing through skin and muscle。 And when
he felt the man's body wince above him and lift； he worried and
shook at the man's throat。 His team…mates closed around in a
snarling circle； and Batard； with failing breath and fading sense；
knew that their jaws were hungry for him。 But that did not matter…
…it was the man； the man above him； and he ripped and clawed； and
shook and worried； to the last ounce of his strength。 But Leclere
choked him with both his hands； till Batard's chest heaved and
writhed for the air denied； and his eyes glazed and set； and his
jaws slowly loosened； and his tongue protruded black and swollen。
〃Eh？ Bon； you devil！〃 Leclere gurgled mouth and throat clogged
with his own blood； as he shoved the dizzy dog from him。
And then Leclere cursed the other dogs off as they fell upon
Batard。 They drew back into a wider circle； squatting alertly on
their haunches and licking their chops； the hair on every neck
bristling and erect。
Batard recovered quickly； and at sound of Leclere's voice； tottered
to his feet and swayed weakly back and forth。
〃A…h…ah！ You beeg devil！〃 Leclere spluttered。 〃Ah fix you； Ah fix
you plentee； by GAR！〃
Batard； the air biting into his exhausted lungs like wine； flashed
full into the man's face； his jaws missing and coming together with
a metallic clip。 They rolled over and over on the snow； Leclere
striking madly with his fists。 Then they separated； face to face；
and circled back and forth before each other。 Leclere could have
drawn his knife。 His rifle was at his feet。 But the beast in him
was up and raging。 He would do the thing with his handsand his
teeth。 Batard sprang in； but Leclere knocked him over with a blow
of the fist； fell upon him； and buried his teeth to the bone in the
dog's shoulder。
It was a primordial setting and a primordial scene； such as might
have been in the savage youth of the world。 An open space in a
dark forest； a ring of grinning wolf…dogs； and in the centre two
beasts； locked in combat； snapping and snarling raging madly about
panting； sobbing； cursing； straining； wild with passion； in a fury
of murder； ripping and tearing and clawing in elemental
brutishness。
But Leclere caught Batard behind the ear with a blow from his fist；
knocking him over； and； for the instant； stunning him。 Then
Leclere leaped upon him with his feet； and sprang up and down；
striving to grind him into the earth。 Both Batard's hind legs were
broken ere Leclere ceased that he might catch breath。
〃A…a…ah！ A…a…ah！〃 he screamed； incapable of speech； shaking his
fist； through sheer impotence of throat and larynx。
But Batard was indomit