In The Call of the Wild, what were the men's reactions when they discovered that Spitz was missing?

At the beginning of Chapter 4, Francois discovers that Spitz is missing. He draws Buck to the light of the fire to point out the big dog's wounds to Perrault, who comments that 'Dat Spitz fight lak hell.' Francois responds that Buck's fighting spirit is twice that of Spitz's.

Both men are glad that Spitz will not be coming back, as it means that the wily Spitz will not be there to make trouble among...

At the beginning of Chapter 4, Francois discovers that Spitz is missing. He draws Buck to the light of the fire to point out the big dog's wounds to Perrault, who comments that 'Dat Spitz fight lak hell.' Francois responds that Buck's fighting spirit is twice that of Spitz's.

Both men are glad that Spitz will not be coming back, as it means that the wily Spitz will not be there to make trouble among the dogs. They also imagine that they will make their needed journey in better time now that there will no longer be any disturbances. From the wounds that Buck has sustained, Francois and Perrault assume that Buck has defeated his nemesis.

However, the men make an error in assuming that Buck will go back to just being one of the dogs in the group; in light of his victory, Buck fully intends on taking the lead at the head of the pack. Francois puts Sol-leks at the front, but each time, Buck challenges him for the head position. Frustrated, Francois takes up the club, but Buck bides his time.

Both Francois and Perrault try to intimidate Buck by running after him, throwing clubs at him, and cursing him for the better part of an hour. However, Buck refuses to surrender his desire. In the end, both men realize that they have no choice but to give in to Buck. They call to him, but he stands apart laughing at them. Not until they throw down their clubs does Buck take his place confidently at the front of the pack. As he leads, Buck shows that he is superior in every way to Spitz:

At a bound, Buck took up the duties of leadership, and where judgment was required, and quick thinking and quick acting, he showed himself the superior even of Spitz, of whom Francois had never seen an equal.