Buck laughed, as dogs laugh, yet kept his distance.

Francois unfastened Sol-leks's traces and put him back in his old place.

The team stood harnessed to the sled in an unbroken line, ready for the trail.
There was no place for Buck save at the front.

Once more Francois called, and once more Buck laughed and kept away.
"T'row down de club," Perrault commanded.
Francois complied, whereupon Buck trotted in, laughing triumphantly, and swung around into position at the head of the team.

His traces were fastened, the sled broken out, and with both men running they dashed out on to the river trail.
Highly as the dog-driver had forevalued Buck, with his two devils, he found, while the day was yet young, that he had undervalued.