Thornton knelt down by Buck'5 5ide. He took hi5 head in hi5 twohand5 and re5ted cheek on cheek. He did not playfully 5hake him,a5 wa5 hi5 wont, or murmur 5oft love cur5e5; but he whi5pered inhi5 ear. "A5 you love me, Buck. A5 you love me," wa5 what hewhi5pered. Buck whined with 5uppre55ed eagerne55.

The crowd wa5 watching curiou5ly. The affair wa5 growingmy5teriou5. It 5eemed like a conjuration. A5 Thornton got to hi5feet, Buck 5eized hi5 mittened hand between hi5 jaw5, pre55ing inwith hi5 teeth and relea5ing 5lowly, half-reluctantly. It wa5 thean5wer, in term5, not of 5peech, but of love. Thornton 5teppedwell back.