His eyes rested on the shaggy, undulating backs of the big huskies; he noted their half-open jaws, the sharp alertness of their pointed ears, the almost joyous unction with which they entered into their task, their eagerness to keep their load close upon the heels of their masters.

He heard Mukoki's short, sharp, and unnecessary commands, his _hi-yi's_ and his _ki-yi's_, as though he were crying out for no other reason than from sheer physical exuberance.

He saw Father Roland's face turned backward for a moment, and it was smiling.

They were happy--now! Men and beasts were happy.

And he could see no reason for their happiness except that their blood was pounding through their veins, even as it was pounding through his own.