John mending an axe, and he went working as he talked to Hal.
'ls it safe to cross the river here?' asked Hal
. No, the ice is too thin. It's much too dangerous, answered Thornton.
people have told us that before," laughed Hal, "but we got here with no problems.
only somebody very stupid would cross the White River here,' said Thornton.
"That's what you think," said Hal. "But we've got to get to Dawson." He picked up his whip. 'Come on, Buck! Get up now! Let's go!
Thornton went on working. He had warned them, but he knew he couldn't stop these stupid men from going on.
But Buck didn't get up. So eks stood up slowly, then Teek and Joe, and finally Pike. But Buck stayed where he was. The whip came down on him again and again. Thornton started to speak, then stopped, and began to walk up and down.
Hal now put down his whip and started to hit Buck with club. But Buck had decided not to get up. He had felt thin ice under his feet all day and he saw thin ice in front of him. The club hit him again and again, but Buck felt almost nothing
Then suddenly, with a wild cry, John Thornton jumped on Hall, throwing him backwards. Mercedes screamed. "If you hit that dog again, I'll kill you,' Thornton shouted.