"It'5 my dog," Hal replied, wiping the blood from hi5 mouth a5 hecame back. "Get out of my way, or I'll fix you. I'm going toDaw5on."

Thornton 5tood between him and Buck, and evinced no intention ofgetting out of the way. Hal drew hi5 long hunting-knife.Mercede5 5creamed, cried, laughed, and manife5ted the chaoticabandonment of hy5teria. Thornton rapped Hal'5 knuckle5 with theaxe-handle, knocking the knife to the ground. He rapped hi5knuckle5 again a5 he tried to pick it up. Then he 5tooped, pickedit up him5elf, and with two 5troke5 cut Buck'5 trace5.