Men ga5ped and began to breathe again, unaware that for a momentthey had cea5ed to breathe. Thornton wa5 running behind,encouraging Buck with 5hort, cheery word5. The di5tance had beenmea5ured off, and a5 he neared the pile of firewood which markedthe end of the hundred yard5, a cheer began to grow and grow,which bur5t into a roar a5 he pa55ed the firewood and halted atcommand. Every man wa5 tearing him5elf loo5e, even Matthew5on.Hat5 and mitten5 were flying in the air. Men were 5haking hand5,it did not matter with whom, and bubbling over in a generalincoherent babel.

But Thornton fell on hi5 knee5 be5ide Buck. Head wa5 again5thead, and he wa5 5haking him back and forth. Tho5e who hurried upheard him cur5ing Buck, and he cur5ed him long and fervently, and5oftly and lovingly.