Buck and his companion dogs were too weak and tired to pull the sledge. They had been on half ration for a long time. Besides they could smell the rotten ice under their feet. It was not safe to move on those insecure ice sheets. Hal, however did not try to realise the condition of the dogs. When harnessed to the sled the dogs lay down and refuesed to get up and move on. Hal whipped them. He whipped Buck mercilessly when he refused to get up. Then Hal brought his club and began to beat Buck. It was a pitiable sight to see how Buck bore the beating.
As Hal was beating Buck, suddenly without warning Thornton flew at him with the cry of an angry animal. Hal was violently thrown backward. Mercedes screamed and Charles was loath to rise because of his stiff joints. Thornton stood over Hal, Struggling to control himself as he spoke. Thornton warned Hal that in case he beat Buck again, he would kill him. Hal replied that it was his dog. He asked Thornton to get away from his way as he was going to Dawson. Thornton stood between him and Buck and had no intention of getting out of the way. Hal drew his long hunting knife. Thornton hit Hall'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 picked up the knife himself and in two strokes cut Buck's traces. Hal had no more energy left in him to fight. Besides Buck had gone away to far.