The thing advanced to the table. The bright flame of the slush
lamp caught its eye. It was amused, and gave voice to eldritch
cackles which betokened mirth.
Then, suddenly, he--for it was a man--swayed back, with a hitch
to his skin trousers, and began to sing a chantey, such as men
lift when they swing around the capstan circle and the sea snorts
in their ears: Yan-kee ship come down de ri-ib-er, Pull! my bully
boys! Pull! D'yeh want--to know de captain ru-uns her? Pull! my
bully boys! Pull! Jon-a-than Jones ob South Caho-li-in-a, Pull!
my bully. He broke off abruptly, tottered with a wolfish snarl to
the meat shelf, and before they could intercept was tearing with
his teeth at a chunk of raw bacon. The struggle was fierce
between him and Malemute Kid; but his mad strength left him as
suddenly as it had come, and he weakly surrendered the spoil.
Between them they got him upon a stool, where he sprawled with
half his body across the table.
A small dose of whiskey strengthened him, so that he could dip a
spoon into the sugar caddy which Malemute Kid placed before him.
After his appetite had been somewhat cloyed, Prince, shuddering
as he did so, passed him a mug of weak beef tea.
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