Mercedes screamed, cried, laughed, and manifested the chaotic abandonment of hysteria.
Thornton rapped Hal's knuckles with the axe-handle, knocking the knife to the ground.

He rapped his knuckles again as he tried to pick it up.
Then he stooped, picked it up himself, and with two strokes cut Buck's traces.
Hal had no fight left in him.

Besides, his hands were full with his sister, or his arms, rather; while Buck was too near dead to be of further use in hauling the sled.

A few minutes later they pulled out from the bank and down the river.

Buck heard them go and raised his head to see, Pike was leading, Sol-leks was at the wheel, and between were Joe and Teek.