o more. Then, the dog still refusing to rise, the
big man leapt over the harness and came down on the animal with both
feet. There was a scream of pitiful agony, and the snap of breaking
bones. But the big man slipped and fell. Down he came, and like a flash
the whole pack piled onto him.

For a moment there was a confused muddle of dogs and master. This was
the time for which they had waited, these savage semi-wolves. This man
had beaten them, had starved them, had been a devil to them, and now he
was down and at their mercy. Ferociously they sprang on him, and their
white fangs snapped like traps in his face. They fought to get at his
throat. They tore at his parka. Oh, if they could only make their teeth
meet in his warm flesh! But no; they were all tangled up in the harness,
and the man was fighting like a giant. He had the leader by the throat
and was using her as a shield against the others. His right hand swung
the whip with flail-like blows. Foiled and confused the dogs fell to
fighting among themselves, and triumphantly the man leapt to his feet.

He was like a fiend now. Fiercely he raged among the snarling pack,
kicking, clubbing, cursing, till one and all he had them beaten into
cowering subjection.

He was still panting from his struggle. His face was deathly pale, and
his eyes were glittering. He strode up to the little man, who had
watched the performance stolidly.

"Why didn't you help me, you dirty little whelp?" he hissed. "You wanted
to see them chew me up; you know you did. You'd like to have them rip me
to ribbons. You wouldn't move a finger to save me. Oh, I know, I know.
I've had enough of you this trip to last me a lifetime. You've bucked me
right along. Now, blast your dirty little soul, I hate you, and for the
rest of the way I'm going to make your life hell. See! Now I'll begin."

The little man was afraid. He seemed to grow smaller, while over him
towered the other, dark, fierce and malignant. The little man was
desperate. Defensively he crouched, yet the next instant he was
overthrown. Then, as he lay sprawling in the snow, the big man fell to
lashing him with the whip. Time after time he struck, till the screams
of his victim became one long, drawn-out wail of agony. Then he
desisted. Jerking the other on his feet once more, he bade him go on
breaking trail.

Again they struggled on. The light was beginning to fail, and there was
no thought in their minds but to reach that dark belt o