A lost world of life

—— About The Call of the Wild

Could you remember the excerpt of The Call of the Wild in our Extensive Reading I? Could you still remember the plot? Do you know where the call is from? That’s the very beginning of the Call of the Wild.

I choose this book for two reasons, that the beginning attracts me and that I once read a book about wolf family of three generations, which is an interesting story about the nature.

About the author, Jack London (Jan 12, 1876—Nov 22, 1916)

Jack London (1876-1916) is an American worldwide renowned novelist, journalist and social activist. His representative works include the Call of the Wild, Martin Eden, Son of the Wolf, White Fang, etc.

He is said to be a natural child. In 1889, he began working 12 to 18 hours for a day at Hickmott’s Cannery. In 1894, he spent 30 days for vagrancy in the Erie County Penitentiary at Buffalo. After many experiences as a hobo and a sailor, he returned to Oakland and attended Oakland High School. He contributed a number of articles to the high school's magazine. His first published work was an account of his sailing experiences.

His novels successfully reflect the contradictory views of man’s nature and destiny in and against the wild.

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The Call of the Wild (1903)

The Call of the Wild is London’s most-read book, and generally considered his best, the most masterpiece of his so-called “early period”. The story was set in 19th-century Klondike Gold Rush, in which sled dogs were bought at generous prices.

Buck was a domestic dog in Judge Miller’s home and living a comfortable life until he was sold secretly by the poor gardener and became a sled dog. Buck was a Bernard dog weighed one hundred and forty pounds, tall, strong, and heavy muscled. He couldn’t accommodate to the harsh condition at first. And he wanted to fight, to escape, to go back to his cozy home, but in vain.

The man in red taught him the law of stick and club—one must first adjust himself to his surroundings and learn the rules, and only after that he can do what he wants to do. The club of the man in red called back Buck’s nature as a dog.

When he firstly served for Fran?ois and Perrault, two couriers, he showed his superior ability to adapt to the environment and his smartness to learn everything he wanted to learn. Curly’s death astonished him and taught him to be cautious. And before he had recovered from the shock caused by the tragic passing of Curly, he was harnessed as a sled dog and step by step wanted to be the leader. But the leading dog, Spitz, was 2

already an excellent one, who also considered Buck as enemy and potential competitor. At last, when Spitz once punished him, hurling backward Buck, he knew the time had come. He killed Spitz and took his place.

When they pulled into Dawson, Buck was sold as useless thing to three gold diggers, who weren’t veteran in sledding and even didn’t know how to get to their destination. Food was eaten up half way. So Charles, one of the three, decided to kill Buck when he couldn’t get up. However, when he aimed at Buck, John Thornton sprang upon him, knocked him down and told him that if Charles stroke Buck, Thornton would kill him.

Thus, Thornton took Buck away. He was the only true friend of Buck. But Buck was a thing of the wild, especially when the calling of wolf from the hills. Once when he came back from hills, he found that Thornton was killed by Indians. What would you do if you were Buck when your beloved friend was killed? Buck became a nut and killed those headsmen and stayed with Thornton for two days and nights, never leaving Thornton out of his sight. And then a nearby wolf howl captures his ears, and he follows the sound to an approaching wolf pack, battling several of these creatures to prove his worth.

Beautiful Language

It was beautiful spring weather, but neither dogs nor humans were aware of it. Each day the sun rose earlier and set later. It was dawn by three 3

in the morning, and twilight lingered till nine at night. The whole long day was a blaze of sunshine. The ghostly winter silence had given way to the great spring murmur of awakening life. This murmur arose from all the land, fraught with the joy of living. It came from the things that lived and moved again, things which had been as dead and which had not moved during the long months of frost. The sap was rising in the pines. The willows and aspens were bursting out in young buds. Shrubs and vines were putting on fresh garbs of green. Crickets sang in the nights, and in the days all manner of creeping, crawling things rustled forth into the sun. Partridges and woodpeckers were booming and knocking in the forest. Squirrels were chattering, birds singing, and overhead honked the wild-fowl driving up from the south in cunning wedges that split the air. (Chapter V the Toil of Trace and Trail)

He was beaten (he knew that); but he was not broken. He saw, once for all, that he stood no chance against a man with a club. He had learned the lesson, and in all his after life he never forgot it. (Chapter I into the Primitive)

His cunning was wolf cunning, and wild cunning; his intelligence, shepherd intelligence and St. Bernard intelligence; and all this, plus an experience gained in the fiercest of schools, made him as formidable a creature as any that intelligence roamed the wild. (Chapter VII the Sounding of the Call)

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My understanding

Buck is a cruel, cunning and intelligent image in the Call of the Wild. He killed Spitz to take the leadership, learned apace to sleep under snow and learned fast to steal food without being punished. But in my opinion, Buck in the wild, just as a man in the society, must do what he had done for survival. Jack London compared human to Buck and told us that we must adapt ourselves to the society——learning the rules, learning the necessary knowledge and keeping forging ahead, otherwise we’ll lag behind and be obsolete. That is the life.

The Call of the Wild conjures up a lost world, filled with people and place names that were so common at the turn of the twentieth century, but which have since faded away into history, lost and forgotten. It is by reading Buck's story that one can once more remember life as it was, digging up this hidden wealth from deep caves of time.

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第二篇：[野性的呼唤].(The.Call.of.the.Wild).杰克·伦敦.英文文字版

The Call of the Wild

London, Jack

Published:1903

Categories(s):Fiction, Action & AdventureSource:Wikisource

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About London:

JackLondon(January12,1876–November22,1916),wasanAmericanauthorwhowroteTheCalloftheWildandotherbooks.Apioneerinthethen-burgeoningworldofcommercialmagazinefiction,hewasoneofthefirstAmericanstomakeahugefinancialsuccessfromwriting.Source: Wikipedia

Note:This book is brought to you by Feedbooks.

Strictly for personal use, do not use this file for commercial purposes.

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ChapterInto the Primitive

"Old longings nomadic leap,

Chafing at custom's chain;

Again from its brumal sleep

Wakens the ferine strain."

Buckdidnotreadthenewspapers,orhewouldhaveknownthattroublewasbrewing,notaloneforhimself,butforeverytide-waterdog,strongofmuscleandwithwarm,longhair,fromPugetSoundtoSanDiego.Becausemen,gropingintheArcticdarkness,hadfoundayellowmetal,andbecausesteamshipandtransportationcompanieswereboom-ingthefind,thousandsofmenwererushingintotheNorthland.Thesemenwanteddogs,andthedogstheywantedwereheavydogs,withstrongmusclesbywhichtotoil,andfurrycoatstoprotectthemfromthefrost.

Bucklivedatabighouseinthesun-kissedSantaClaraValley.JudgeMiller'splace,itwascalled.Itstoodbackfromtheroad,halfhiddenamongthetrees,throughwhichglimpsescouldbecaughtofthewidecoolverandathatranarounditsfoursides.Thehousewasapproachedbygravelleddrivewayswhichwoundaboutthroughwide-spreadinglawnsandundertheinterlacingboughsoftallpoplars.Attherearthingswereonevenamorespaciousscalethanatthefront.Thereweregreatstables,whereadozengroomsandboysheldforth,rowsofvine-cladservants'cottages,anendlessandorderlyarrayofouthouses,longgrapearbors,greenpastures,orchards,andberrypatches.Thentherewasthepumpingplantfortheartesianwell,andthebigcementtankwhereJudgeMiller'sboystooktheirmorningplungeandkeptcoolinthehotafternoon.

AndoverthisgreatdemesneBuckruled.Herehewasborn,andherehehadlivedthefouryearsofhislife.Itwastrue,therewereotherdogs,Therecouldnotbutbeotherdogsonsovastaplace,buttheydidnotcount.Theycameandwent,residedinthepopulouskennels,orlived

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obscurelyintherecessesofthehouseafterthefashionofToots,theJapanesepug,orYsabel,theMexicanhairless,—strangecreaturesthatrarelyputnoseoutofdoorsorsetfoottoground.Ontheotherhand,therewerethefoxterriers,ascoreofthematleast,whoyelpedfearfulpromisesatTootsandYsabellookingoutofthewindowsatthemandprotected by a legion of housemaids armed with brooms and mops.

ButBuckwasneitherhouse-dognorkennel-dog.Thewholerealmwashis.HeplungedintotheswimmingtankorwenthuntingwiththeJudge'ssons;heescortedMollieandAlice,theJudge'sdaughters,onlongtwilightorearlymorningrambles;onwintrynightshelayattheJudge'sfeetbeforetheroaringlibraryfire;hecarriedtheJudge'sgrand-sonsonhisback,orrolledtheminthegrass,andguardedtheirfootstepsthroughwildadventuresdowntothefountaininthestableyard,andevenbeyond,wherethepaddockswere,andtheberrypatches.Amongtheterriershestalkedimperiously,andTootsandYsabelheutterlyig-nored,forhewasking,—kingoverallcreeping,crawling,flyingthingsof Judge Miller's place, humans included.

Hisfather,Elmo,ahugeSt.Bernard,hadbeentheJudge'sinseparablecompanion,andBuckbidfairtofollowinthewayofhisfather.Hewasnotsolarge,—heweighedonlyonehundredandfortypounds,—forhismother,Shep,hadbeenaScotchshepherddog.Nevertheless,onehun-dredandfortypounds,towhichwasaddedthedignitythatcomesofgoodlivinganduniversalrespect,enabledhimtocarryhimselfinrightroyalfashion.Duringthefouryearssincehispuppyhoodhehadlivedthelifeofasatedaristocrat;hehadafineprideinhimself,wasevenatrifleegotistical,ascountrygentlemensometimesbecomebecauseoftheirinsularsituation.Buthehadsavedhimselfbynotbecomingamerepamperedhouse-dog.Huntingandkindredoutdoordelightshadkeptdownthefatandhardenedhismuscles;andtohim,astothecold-tub-bing races, the love of water had been a tonic and a health preserver.

AndthiswasthemannerofdogBuckwasinthefallof1897,whentheKlondikestrikedraggedmenfromalltheworldintothefrozenNorth.ButBuckdidnotreadthenewspapers,andhedidnotknowthatManuel,oneofthegardener'shelpers,wasanundesirableacquaintance.Manuelhadonebesettingsin.HelovedtoplayChineselottery.Also,inhisgambling,hehadonebesettingweakness—faithinasystem;andthismadehisdamnationcertain.Fortoplayasystemrequiresmoney,whilethewagesofagardener'shelperdonotlapovertheneedsofawifeandnumerous progeny.

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TheJudgewasatameetingoftheRaisinGrowers'Association,andtheboyswerebusyorganizinganathleticclub,onthememorablenightofManuel'streachery.NoonesawhimandBuckgooffthroughtheorchardonwhatBuckimaginedwasmerelyastroll.Andwiththeexcep-tionofasolitaryman,noonesawthemarriveatthelittleflagstationknownasCollegePark.ThismantalkedwithManuel,andmoneychinked between them.

"Youmightwrapupthegoodsbeforeyoudeliver'm,"thestrangersaidgruffly,andManueldoubledapieceofstoutropearoundBuck'sneck under the collar.

"Twistit,an'you'llchoke'mplentee,"saidManuel,andthestrangergrunted a ready affirmative.

Buckhadacceptedtheropewithquietdignity.Tobesure,itwasanunwontedperformance:buthehadlearnedtotrustinmenheknew,andtogivethemcreditforawisdomthatoutreachedhisown.Butwhentheendsoftheropewereplacedinthestranger'shands,hegrowledmen-acingly.Hehadmerelyintimatedhisdispleasure,inhispridebelievingthattointimatewastocommand.Buttohissurprisetheropetightenedaroundhisneck,shuttingoffhisbreath.Inquickragehesprangattheman,whomethimhalfway,grappledhimclosebythethroat,andwithadefttwistthrewhimoveronhisback.Thentheropetightenedmerci-lessly,whileBuckstruggledinafury,histonguelollingoutofhismouthandhisgreatchestpantingfutilely.Neverinallhislifehadhebeensovilelytreated,andneverinallhislifehadhebeensoangry.Buthisstrengthebbed,hiseyesglazed,andheknewnothingwhenthetrainwas flagged and the two men threw him into the baggage car.

Thenextheknew,hewasdimlyawarethathistonguewashurtingandthathewasbeingjoltedalonginsomekindofaconveyance.Thehoarseshriekofalocomotivewhistlingacrossingtoldhimwherehewas.HehadtravelledtoooftenwiththeJudgenottoknowthesensationofridinginabaggagecar.Heopenedhiseyes,andintothemcametheunbridledangerofakidnappedking.Themansprangforhisthroat,butBuckwastooquickforhim.Hisjawsclosedonthehand,nordidtheyrelax till his senses were choked out of him once more.

"Yep,hasfits,"themansaid,hidinghismangledhandfromthebag-gageman,whohadbeenattractedbythesoundsofstruggle."I'mtakin''mupforthebossto'Frisco.Acrackdog-doctortherethinksthathecancure 'm."

Concerningthatnight'sride,themanspokemosteloquentlyforhim-self, in a little shed back of a saloon on the San Francisco water front.

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"AllIgetisfiftyforit,"hegrumbled;"an'Iwouldn'tdoitoverforathousand, cold cash."

Hishandwaswrappedinabloodyhandkerchief,andtherighttrouserleg was ripped from knee to ankle.

"How much did the other mug get?" the saloon-keeper demanded."A hundred," was the reply. "Wouldn't take a sou less, so help me.""Thatmakesahundredandfifty,"thesaloon-keepercalculated;"andhe's worth it, or I'm a squarehead."

Thekidnapperundidthebloodywrappingsandlookedathislacer-ated hand. "If I don't get the hydrophoby—"

"It'llbebecauseyouwasborntohang,"laughedthesaloon-keeper."Here, lend me a hand before you pull your freight," he added.

Dazed,sufferingintolerablepainfromthroatandtongue,withthelifehalfthrottledoutofhim,Buckattemptedtofacehistormentors.Buthewasthrowndownandchokedrepeatedly,tilltheysucceededinfilingtheheavybrasscollarfromoffhisneck.Thentheropewasremoved,andhe was flung into a cagelike crate.

Therehelayfortheremainderofthewearynight,nursinghiswrathandwoundedpride.Hecouldnotunderstandwhatitallmeant.Whatdidtheywantwithhim,thesestrangemen?Whyweretheykeepinghimpentupinthisnarrowcrate?Hedidnotknowwhy,buthefeltop-pressedbythevaguesenseofimpendingcalamity.Severaltimesduringthenighthesprangtohisfeetwhenthesheddoorrattledopen,expect-ingtoseetheJudge,ortheboysatleast.Buteachtimeitwasthebulgingfaceofthesaloon-keeperthatpeeredinathimbythesicklylightofatal-lowcandle.AndeachtimethejoyfulbarkthattrembledinBuck'sthroatwas twisted into a savage growl.

Butthesaloon-keeperlethimalone,andinthemorningfourmenenteredandpickedupthecrate.Moretormentors,Buckdecided,fortheywereevil-lookingcreatures,raggedandunkempt;andhestormedandragedatthemthroughthebars.Theyonlylaughedandpokedsticksathim,whichhepromptlyassailedwithhisteethtillherealizedthatthatwaswhattheywanted.Whereuponhelaydownsullenlyandallowedthecratetobeliftedintoawagon.Thenhe,andthecrateinwhichhewasimprisoned,beganapassagethroughmanyhands.Clerksintheex-pressofficetookchargeofhim;hewascartedaboutinanotherwagon;atruckcarriedhim,withanassortmentofboxesandparcels,uponaferrysteamer;hewastruckedoffthesteamerintoagreatrailwaydepot,andfinally he was deposited in an express car.

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Fortwodaysandnightsthisexpresscarwasdraggedalongatthetailofshriekinglocomotives;andfortwodaysandnightsBuckneitheratenordrank.Inhisangerhehadmetthefirstadvancesoftheexpressmes-sengerswithgrowls,andtheyhadretaliatedbyteasinghim.Whenheflunghimselfagainstthebars,quiveringandfrothing,theylaughedathimandtauntedhim.Theygrowledandbarkedlikedetestabledogs,mewed,andflappedtheirarmsandcrowed.Itwasallverysilly,heknew;butthereforethemoreoutragetohisdignity,andhisangerwaxedandwaxed.Hedidnotmindthehungersomuch,butthelackofwatercausedhimseveresufferingandfannedhiswrathtofever-pitch.Forthatmatter,high-strungandfinelysensitive,theilltreatmenthadflunghimintoafever,whichwasfedbytheinflammationofhisparchedandswollen throat and tongue.

Hewasgladforonething:theropewasoffhisneck.Thathadgiventhemanunfairadvantage;butnowthatitwasoff,hewouldshowthem.Theywouldnevergetanotherropearoundhisneck.Uponthathewasresolved.Fortwodaysandnightsheneitheratenordrank,andduringthosetwodaysandnightsoftorment,heaccumulatedafundofwraththatbodedillforwhoeverfirstfellfoulofhim.Hiseyesturnedblood-shot,andhewasmetamorphosedintoaragingfiend.SochangedwashethattheJudgehimselfwouldnothaverecognizedhim;andtheexpressmessengersbreathedwithreliefwhentheybundledhimoffthetrainatSeattle.

Fourmengingerlycarriedthecratefromthewagonintoasmall,high-walledbackyard.Astoutman,witharedsweaterthatsaggedgener-ouslyattheneck,cameoutandsignedthebookforthedriver.Thatwastheman,Buckdivined,thenexttormentor,andhehurledhimselfsav-agelyagainstthebars.Themansmiledgrimly,andbroughtahatchetand a club.

"You ain't going to take him out now?" the driver asked.

"Sure," the man replied, driving the hatchet into the crate for a pry.Therewasaninstantaneousscatteringofthefourmenwhohadcar-rieditin,andfromsafeperchesontopthewalltheypreparedtowatchthe performance.

Buckrushedatthesplinteringwood,sinkinghisteethintoit,surgingandwrestlingwithit.Whereverthehatchetfellontheoutside,hewasthereontheinside,snarlingandgrowling,asfuriouslyanxioustogetout as the man in the red sweater was calmly intent on getting him out.

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"Now,youred-eyeddevil,"hesaid,whenhehadmadeanopeningsufficientforthepassageofBuck'sbody.Atthesametimehedroppedthe hatchet and shifted the club to his right hand.

AndBuckwastrulyared-eyeddevil,ashedrewhimselftogetherforthespring,hairbristling,mouthfoaming,amadglitterinhisblood-shoteyes.Straightatthemanhelaunchedhisonehundredandfortypoundsoffury,surchargedwiththepentpassionoftwodaysandnights.Inmidair,justashisjawswereabouttocloseontheman,hereceivedashockthatcheckedhisbodyandbroughthisteethtogetherwithanagonizingclip.Hewhirledover,fetchingthegroundonhisbackandside.Hehadneverbeenstruckbyaclubinhislife,anddidnotunderstand.Withasnarlthatwaspartbarkandmorescreamhewasagainonhisfeetandlaunchedintotheair.Andagaintheshockcameandhewasbroughtcrushinglytotheground.Thistimehewasawarethatitwastheclub,buthismadnessknewnocaution.Adozentimeshecharged,andasof-ten the club broke the charge and smashed him down.

Afteraparticularlyfierceblow,hecrawledtohisfeet,toodazedtorush.Hestaggeredlimplyabout,thebloodflowingfromnoseandmouthandears,hisbeautifulcoatsprayedandfleckedwithbloodyslaver.Thenthemanadvancedanddeliberatelydealthimafrightfulblowonthenose.Allthepainhehadenduredwasasnothingcomparedwiththeexquisiteagonyofthis.Witharoarthatwasalmostlionlikeinitsferocity,heagainhurledhimselfattheman.Buttheman,shiftingtheclubfromrighttoleft,coollycaughthimbytheunderjaw,atthesametimewrenchingdownwardandbackward.Buckdescribedacompletecircleintheair,andhalfofanother,thencrashedtothegroundonhishead and chest.

Forthelasttimeherushed.Themanstrucktheshrewdblowhehadpurposelywithheldforsolong,andBuckcrumpledupandwentdown,knocked utterly senseless.

"He'snoslouchatdog-breakin',that'swotIsay,"oneofthemenonthewall cried enthusiastically.

"Drutherbreakcayusesanyday,andtwiceonSundays,"wasthereplyof the driver, as he climbed on the wagon and started the horses.

Buck'ssensescamebacktohim,butnothisstrength.Helaywherehehad fallen, and from there he watched the man in the red sweater.

"'AnswerstothenameofBuck,'"themansoliloquized,quotingfromthesaloon-keeper'sletterwhichhadannouncedtheconsignmentofthecrateandcontents."Well,Buck,myboy,"hewentoninagenialvoice,"we'vehadourlittleruction,andthebestthingwecandoistoletitgoat

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that.You'velearnedyourplace,andIknowmine.Beagooddogandall'llgowellandthegoosehanghigh.Beabaddog,andI'llwhalethestuffin' outa you. Understand?"

Ashespokehefearlesslypattedtheheadhehadsomercilesslypoun-ded,andthoughBuck'shairinvoluntarilybristledattouchofthehand,heendureditwithoutprotest.Whenthemanbroughthimwaterhedrankeagerly,andlaterboltedagenerousmealofrawmeat,chunkbychunk, from the man's hand.

Hewasbeaten(heknewthat);buthewasnotbroken.Hesaw,onceforall,thathestoodnochanceagainstamanwithaclub.Hehadlearnedthelesson,andinallhisafterlifeheneverforgotit.Thatclubwasarevelation.Itwashisintroductiontothereignofprimitivelaw,andhemettheintroductionhalfway.Thefactsoflifetookonafierceras-pect;andwhilehefacedthataspectuncowed,hefaceditwithallthelat-entcunningofhisnaturearoused.Asthedayswentby,otherdogscame,incratesandattheendsofropes,somedocilely,andsomeragingandroaringashehadcome;and,oneandall,hewatchedthempassun-derthedominionofthemanintheredsweater.Againandagain,ashelookedateachbrutalperformance,thelessonwasdrivenhometoBuck:amanwithaclubwasalawgiver,amastertobeobeyed,thoughnotne-cessarilyconciliated.OfthislastBuckwasneverguilty,thoughhedidseebeatendogsthatfawnedupontheman,andwaggedtheirtails,andlickedhishand.Alsohesawonedog,thatwouldneitherconciliatenorobey, finally killed in the struggle for mastery.

Nowandagainmencame,strangers,whotalkedexcitedly,wheed-lingly,andinallkindsoffashionstothemanintheredsweater.Andatsuchtimesthatmoneypassedbetweenthemthestrangerstookoneormoreofthedogsawaywiththem.Buckwonderedwheretheywent,fortheynevercameback;butthefearofthefuturewasstronguponhim,and he was glad each time when he was not selected.

Yethistimecame,intheend,intheformofalittleweazenedmanwhospatbrokenEnglishandmanystrangeanduncouthexclamationswhich Buck could not understand.

"Sacredam!"hecried,whenhiseyeslituponBuck."Datonedambullydog! Eh? How moch?"

"Threehundred,andapresentatthat,"wasthepromptreplyofthemanintheredsweater."Andseem'it'sgovernmentmoney,youain'tgotno kick coming, eh, Perrault?"

Perraultgrinned.Consideringthatthepriceofdogshadbeenboomedskywardbytheunwonteddemand,itwasnotanunfairsumforsofine

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ananimal.TheCanadianGovernmentwouldbenoloser,norwoulditsdespatchestraveltheslower.Perraultknewdogs,andwhenhelookedatBuckheknewthathewasoneinathousand—"Oneintent'ousand,"hecommented mentally.

Bucksawmoneypassbetweenthem,andwasnotsurprisedwhenCurly,agood-naturedNewfoundland,andhewereledawaybythelittleweazenedman.Thatwasthelasthesawofthemanintheredsweater,andasCurlyandhelookedatrecedingSeattlefromthedeckoftheNarwhal,itwasthelasthesawofthewarmSouthland.CurlyandheweretakenbelowbyPerraultandturnedovertoablack-facedgiantcalledFrancois.PerraultwasaFrench-Canadian,andswarthy;butFran-coiswasaFrench-Canadianhalf-breed,andtwiceasswarthy.TheywereanewkindofmentoBuck(ofwhichhewasdestinedtoseemanymore),andwhilehedevelopednoaffectionforthem,henonethelessgrewhonestlytorespectthem.HespeedilylearnedthatPerraultandFrancoiswerefairmen,calmandimpartialinadministeringjustice,andtoowisein the way of dogs to be fooled by dogs.

Inthe'tween-decksoftheNarwhal,BuckandCurlyjoinedtwootherdogs.Oneofthemwasabig,snow-whitefellowfromSpitzbergenwhohadbeenbroughtawaybyawhalingcaptain,andwhohadlateraccom-paniedaGeologicalSurveyintotheBarrens.Hewasfriendly,inatreacheroussortofway,smilingintoone'sfacethewhilehemeditatedsomeunderhandtrick,as,forinstance,whenhestolefromBuck'sfoodatthefirstmeal.AsBucksprangtopunishhim,thelashofFrancois'swhipsangthroughtheair,reachingtheculpritfirst;andnothingremainedtoBuckbuttorecoverthebone.ThatwasfairofFrancois,hedecided,andthe half-breed began his rise in Buck's estimation.

Theotherdogmadenoadvances,norreceivedany;also,hedidnotat-tempttostealfromthenewcomers.Hewasagloomy,morosefellow,andheshowedCurlyplainlythatallhedesiredwastobeleftalone,andfurther,thattherewouldbetroubleifhewerenotleftalone."Dave"hewascalled,andheateandslept,oryawnedbetweentimes,andtookin-terestinnothing,notevenwhentheNarwhalcrossedQueenCharlotteSoundandrolledandpitchedandbuckedlikeathingpossessed.WhenBuckandCurlygrewexcited,halfwildwithfear,heraisedhisheadasthoughannoyed,favoredthemwithanincuriousglance,yawned,andwent to sleep again.

Dayandnighttheshipthrobbedtothetirelesspulseofthepropeller,andthoughonedaywasverylikeanother,itwasapparenttoBuckthattheweatherwassteadilygrowingcolder.Atlast,onemorning,the

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propellerwasquiet,andtheNarwhalwaspervadedwithanatmosphereofexcitement.Hefeltit,asdidtheotherdogs,andknewthatachangewasathand.Francoisleashedthemandbroughtthemondeck.Atthefirststepuponthecoldsurface,Buck'sfeetsankintoawhitemushysomethingverylikemud.Hesprangbackwithasnort.Moreofthiswhitestuffwasfallingthroughtheair.Heshookhimself,butmoreofitfelluponhim.Hesniffeditcuriously,thenlickedsomeuponhistongue.Itbitlikefire,andthenextinstantwasgone.Thispuzzledhim.Hetrieditagain,withthesameresult.Theonlookerslaugheduproariously,andhe felt ashamed, he knew not why, for it was his first snow.

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ChapterThe Law of Club and Fang

Buck'sfirstdayontheDyeabeachwaslikeanightmare.Everyhourwasfilledwithshockandsurprise.Hehadbeensuddenlyjerkedfromtheheartofcivilizationandflungintotheheartofthingsprimordial.Nolazy,sun-kissedlifewasthis,withnothingtodobutloafandbebored.Herewasneitherpeace,norrest,noramoment'ssafety.Allwasconfu-sionandaction,andeverymomentlifeandlimbwereinperil.Therewasimperativeneedtobeconstantlyalert;forthesedogsandmenwerenottowndogsandmen.Theyweresavages,allofthem,whoknewnolawbut the law of club and fang.

Hehadneverseendogsfightasthesewolfishcreaturesfought,andhisfirstexperiencetaughthimanunforgetablelesson.Itistrue,itwasavicariousexperience,elsehewouldnothavelivedtoprofitbyit.Curlywasthevictim.Theywerecampednearthelogstore,whereshe,inherfriendlyway,madeadvancestoahuskydogthesizeofafull-grownwolf,thoughnothalfsolargeasshe.Therewasnowarning,onlyaleapinlikeaflash,ametallicclipofteeth,aleapoutequallyswift,andCurly's face was ripped open from eye to jaw.

Itwasthewolfmanneroffighting,tostrikeandleapaway;buttherewasmoretoitthanthis.Thirtyorfortyhuskiesrantothespotandsur-roundedthecombatantsinanintentandsilentcircle.Buckdidnotcom-prehendthatsilentintentness,northeeagerwaywithwhichtheywerelickingtheirchops.Curlyrushedherantagonist,whostruckagainandleapedaside.Hemethernextrushwithhischest,inapeculiarfashionthattumbledheroffherfeet.Sheneverregainedthem,Thiswaswhattheonlookinghuskieshadwaitedfor.Theyclosedinuponher,snarlingandyelping,andshewasburied,screamingwithagony,beneaththebristling mass of bodies.

Sosuddenwasit,andsounexpected,thatBuckwastakenaback.HesawSpitzrunouthisscarlettongueinawayhehadoflaughing;andhesawFrancois,swinginganaxe,springintothemessofdogs.Threemen

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withclubswerehelpinghimtoscatterthem.Itdidnottakelong.TwominutesfromthetimeCurlywentdown,thelastofherassailantswereclubbedoff.Butshelaytherelimpandlifelessinthebloody,trampledsnow,almostliterallytorntopieces,theswarthalf-breedstandingoverherandcursinghorribly.ThesceneoftencamebacktoBucktotroublehiminhissleep.Sothatwastheway.Nofairplay.Oncedown,thatwastheendofyou.Well,hewouldseetoitthatheneverwentdown.Spitzranouthistongueandlaughedagain,andfromthatmomentBuckhatedhim with a bitter and deathless hatred.

BeforehehadrecoveredfromtheshockcausedbythetragicpassingofCurly,hereceivedanothershock.Francoisfasteneduponhimanar-rangementofstrapsandbuckles.Itwasaharness,suchashehadseenthegroomsputonthehorsesathome.Andashehadseenhorseswork,sohewassettowork,haulingFrancoisonasledtotheforestthatfringedthevalley,andreturningwithaloadoffirewood.Thoughhisdignitywassorelyhurtbythusbeingmadeadraughtanimal,hewastoowisetorebel.Hebuckleddownwithawillanddidhisbest,thoughitwasallnewandstrange.Francoiswasstern,demandinginstantobedi-ence,andbyvirtueofhiswhipreceivinginstantobedience;whileDave,whowasanexperiencedwheeler,nippedBuck'shindquarterswheneverhewasinerror.Spitzwastheleader,likewiseexperienced,andwhilehecouldnotalwaysgetatBuck,hegrowledsharpreproofnowandagain,orcunninglythrewhisweightinthetracestojerkBuckintothewayheshouldgo.Bucklearnedeasily,andunderthecombinedtuitionofhistwomatesandFrancoismaderemarkableprogress.Eretheyreturnedtocampheknewenoughtostopat"ho,"togoaheadat"mush,"toswingwideonthebends,andtokeepclearofthewheelerwhentheloadedsled shot downhill at their heels.

"T'reevair'gooddogs,"FrancoistoldPerrault."DatBuck,heempoollak hell. I tich heem queek as anyt'ing."

Byafternoon,Perrault,whowasinahurrytobeonthetrailwithhisdespatches,returnedwithtwomoredogs."Billee"and"Joe"hecalledthem,twobrothers,andtruehuskiesboth.Sonsoftheonemotherthoughtheywere,theywereasdifferentasdayandnight.Billee'sonefaultwashisexcessivegoodnature,whileJoewastheveryopposite,sourandintrospective,withaperpetualsnarlandamalignanteye.Buckreceivedthemincomradelyfashion,Daveignoredthem,whileSpitzproceededtothrashfirstoneandthentheother.Billeewaggedhistailappeasingly,turnedtorunwhenhesawthatappeasementwasofnoavail,andcried(stillappeasingly)whenSpitz'ssharpteethscoredhis

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flank.ButnomatterhowSpitzcircled,Joewhirledaroundonhisheelstofacehim,manebristling,earslaidback,lipswrithingandsnarling,jawsclippingtogetherasfastashecouldsnap,andeyesdiabolicallygleam-ing—theincarnationofbelligerentfear.SoterriblewashisappearancethatSpitzwasforcedtoforegodisciplininghim;buttocoverhisowndiscomfitureheturnedupontheinoffensiveandwailingBilleeanddrove him to the confines of the camp.

ByeveningPerraultsecuredanotherdog,anoldhusky,longandleanandgaunt,withabattle-scarredfaceandasingleeyewhichflashedawarningofprowessthatcommandedrespect.HewascalledSol-leks,whichmeanstheAngryOne.LikeDave,heaskednothing,gavenothing,expectednothing;andwhenhemarchedslowlyanddeliberatelyintotheirmidst,evenSpitzlefthimalone.HehadonepeculiaritywhichBuckwasunluckyenoughtodiscover.Hedidnotliketobeapproachedonhisblindside.OfthisoffenceBuckwasunwittinglyguilty,andthefirstknowledgehehadofhisindiscretionwaswhenSol-lekswhirleduponhimandslashedhisshouldertotheboneforthreeinchesupanddown.ForeverafterBuckavoidedhisblindside,andtothelastoftheircom-radeshiphadnomoretrouble.Hisonlyapparentambition,likeDave's,wastobeleftalone;though,asBuckwasafterwardtolearn,eachofthem possessed one other and even more vital ambition.

ThatnightBuckfacedthegreatproblemofsleeping.Thetent,il-luminedbyacandle,glowedwarmlyinthemidstofthewhiteplain;andwhenhe,asamatterofcourse,enteredit,bothPerraultandFrancoisbombardedhimwithcursesandcookingutensils,tillherecoveredfromhisconsternationandfledignominiouslyintotheoutercold.Achillwindwasblowingthatnippedhimsharplyandbitwithespecialvenomintohiswoundedshoulder.Helaydownonthesnowandattemptedtosleep,butthefrostsoondrovehimshiveringtohisfeet.Miserableanddisconsolate,hewanderedaboutamongthemanytents,onlytofindthatoneplacewasascoldasanother.Hereandtheresavagedogsrusheduponhim,buthebristledhisneck-hairandsnarled(forhewaslearningfast), and they let him go his way unmolested.

Finallyanideacametohim.Hewouldreturnandseehowhisownteam-matesweremakingout.Tohisastonishment,theyhaddisap-peared.Againhewanderedaboutthroughthegreatcamp,lookingforthem,andagainhereturned.Weretheyinthetent?No,thatcouldnotbe,elsehewouldnothavebeendrivenout.Thenwherecouldtheypos-siblybe?Withdroopingtailandshiveringbody,veryforlornindeed,heaimlesslycircledthetent.Suddenlythesnowgavewaybeneathhisfore

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legsandhesankdown.Somethingwriggledunderhisfeet.Hesprangback,bristlingandsnarling,fearfuloftheunseenandunknown.Butafriendlylittleyelpreassuredhim,andhewentbacktoinvestigate.Awhiffofwarmairascendedtohisnostrils,andthere,curledupunderthesnowinasnugball,layBillee.Hewhinedplacatingly,squirmedandwriggledtoshowhisgoodwillandintentions,andevenventured,asabribe for peace, to lick Buck's face with his warm wet tongue.

Anotherlesson.Sothatwasthewaytheydidit,eh?Buckconfidentlyselectedaspot,andwithmuchfussandwasteeffortproceededtodigaholeforhimself.Inatricetheheatfromhisbodyfilledtheconfinedspaceandhewasasleep.Thedayhadbeenlongandarduous,andhesleptsoundlyandcomfortably,thoughhegrowledandbarkedandwrestled with bad dreams.

Nordidheopenhiseyestillrousedbythenoisesofthewakingcamp.Atfirsthedidnotknowwherehewas.Ithadsnowedduringthenightandhewascompletelyburied.Thesnowwallspressedhimoneveryside,andagreatsurgeoffearsweptthroughhim—thefearofthewildthingforthetrap.Itwasatokenthathewasharkingbackthroughhisownlifetothelivesofhisforebears;forhewasacivilizeddog,anun-dulycivilizeddog,andofhisownexperienceknewnotrapandsocouldnotofhimselffearit.Themusclesofhiswholebodycontractedspas-modicallyandinstinctively,thehaironhisneckandshouldersstoodonend,andwithaferocioussnarlheboundedstraightupintotheblindingday,thesnowflyingabouthiminaflashingcloud.Erehelandedonhisfeet,hesawthewhitecampspreadoutbeforehimandknewwherehewasandrememberedallthathadpassedfromthetimehewentforastroll with Manuel to the hole he had dug for himself the night before.AshoutfromFrancoishailedhisappearance."WotIsay?"thedog-driver cried to Perrault. "Dat Buck for sure learn queek as anyt'ing."

Perraultnoddedgravely.AscourierfortheCanadianGovernment,bearingimportantdespatches,hewasanxioustosecurethebestdogs,and he was particularly gladdened by the possession of Buck.

Threemorehuskieswereaddedtotheteaminsideanhour,makingatotalofnine,andbeforeanotherquarterofanhourhadpassedtheywereinharnessandswingingupthetrailtowardtheDyeaCanon.Buckwasgladtobegone,andthoughtheworkwashardhefoundhedidnotparticularlydespiseit.Hewassurprisedattheeagernesswhichanim-atedthewholeteamandwhichwascommunicatedtohim;butstillmoresurprisingwasthechangewroughtinDaveandSol-leks.Theywerenewdogs,utterlytransformedbytheharness.Allpassivenessandunconcern

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haddroppedfromthem.Theywerealertandactive,anxiousthattheworkshouldgowell,andfiercelyirritablewithwhatever,bydelayorconfusion,retardedthatwork.Thetoilofthetracesseemedthesupremeexpressionoftheirbeing,andallthattheylivedforandtheonlythinginwhich they took delight.

Davewaswheelerorsleddog,pullinginfrontofhimwasBuck,thencameSol-leks;therestoftheteamwasstrungoutahead,singlefile,tothe leader, which position was filled by Spitz.

BuckhadbeenpurposelyplacedbetweenDaveandSol-lekssothathemightreceiveinstruction.Aptscholarthathewas,theywereequallyaptteachers,neverallowinghimtolingerlonginerror,andenforcingtheirteachingwiththeirsharpteeth.Davewasfairandverywise.HenevernippedBuckwithoutcause,andheneverfailedtoniphimwhenhestoodinneedofit.AsFrancois'swhipbackedhimup,Buckfoundittobecheapertomendhiswaysthantoretaliate.Once,duringabriefhalt,whenhegottangledinthetracesanddelayedthestart,bothDaveandSol-leksflewathimandadministeredasoundtrouncing.Theresultingtanglewasevenworse,butBucktookgoodcaretokeepthetracesclearthereafter;anderethedaywasdone,sowellhadhemasteredhiswork,hismatesaboutceasednagginghim.Francois'swhipsnappedlessfre-quently,andPerraultevenhonoredBuckbyliftinguphisfeetandcare-fully examining them.

Itwasahardday'srun,uptheCanon,throughSheepCamp,pasttheScalesandthetimberline,acrossglaciersandsnowdriftshundredsoffeetdeep,andoverthegreatChilcootDivide,whichstandsbetweenthesaltwaterandthefreshandguardsforbiddinglythesadandlonelyNorth.Theymadegoodtimedownthechainoflakeswhichfillsthecratersofextinctvolcanoes,andlatethatnightpulledintothehugecampattheheadofLakeBennett,wherethousandsofgoldseekerswerebuildingboatsagainstthebreak-upoftheiceinthespring.Buckmadehisholeinthesnowandsleptthesleepoftheexhaustedjust,butalltooearlywasroutedoutinthecolddarknessandharnessedwithhismatesto the sled.

Thatdaytheymadefortymiles,thetrailbeingpacked;butthenextday,andformanydaystofollow,theybroketheirowntrail,workedharder,andmadepoorertime.Asarule,Perraulttravelledaheadoftheteam,packingthesnowwithwebbedshoestomakeiteasierforthem.Francois,guidingthesledatthegee-pole,sometimesexchangedplaceswithhim,butnotoften.Perraultwasinahurry,andhepridedhimselfonhisknowledgeofice,whichknowledgewasindispensable,forthefall

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icewasverythin,andwheretherewasswiftwater,therewasnoiceatall.

Dayafterday,fordaysunending,Bucktoiledinthetraces.Always,theybrokecampinthedark,andthefirstgrayofdawnfoundthemhit-tingthetrailwithfreshmilesreeledoffbehindthem.Andalwaystheypitchedcampafterdark,eatingtheirbitoffish,andcrawlingtosleepin-tothesnow.Buckwasravenous.Thepoundandahalfofsun-driedsal-mon,whichwashisrationforeachday,seemedtogonowhere.Henev-erhadenough,andsufferedfromperpetualhungerpangs.Yettheotherdogs,becausetheyweighedlessandwereborntothelife,receivedapound only of the fish and managed to keep in good condition.

Heswiftlylostthefastidiousnesswhichhadcharacterizedhisoldlife.Adaintyeater,hefoundthathismates,finishingfirst,robbedhimofhisunfinishedration.Therewasnodefendingit.Whilehewasfightingofftwoorthree,itwasdisappearingdownthethroatsoftheothers.Torem-edythis,heateasfastasthey;and,sogreatlydidhungercompelhim,hewasnotabovetakingwhatdidnotbelongtohim.Hewatchedandlearned.WhenhesawPike,oneofthenewdogs,aclevermalingererandthief,slylystealasliceofbaconwhenPerrault'sbackwasturned,hedu-plicatedtheperformancethefollowingday,gettingawaywiththewholechunk.Agreatuproarwasraised,buthewasunsuspected;whileDub,anawkwardblundererwhowasalwaysgettingcaught,waspunishedfor Buck's misdeed.

ThisfirsttheftmarkedBuckasfittosurviveinthehostileNorthlandenvironment.Itmarkedhisadaptability,hiscapacitytoadjusthimselftochangingconditions,thelackofwhichwouldhavemeantswiftandter-ribledeath.Itmarked,further,thedecayorgoingtopiecesofhismoralnature,avainthingandahandicapintheruthlessstruggleforexistence.ItwasallwellenoughintheSouthland,underthelawofloveandfel-lowship,torespectprivatepropertyandpersonalfeelings;butintheNorthland,underthelawofclubandfang,whosotooksuchthingsintoaccountwasafool,andinsofarasheobservedthemhewouldfailtoprosper.

NotthatBuckreasoneditout.Hewasfit,thatwasall,anduncon-sciouslyheaccommodatedhimselftothenewmodeoflife.Allhisdays,nomatterwhattheodds,hehadneverrunfromafight.Buttheclubofthemanintheredsweaterhadbeatenintohimamorefundamentalandprimitivecode.Civilized,hecouldhavediedforamoralconsideration,saythedefenceofJudgeMiller'sriding-whip;butthecompletenessofhisdecivilizationwasnowevidencedbyhisabilitytofleefromthe

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defenceofamoralconsiderationandsosavehishide.Hedidnotstealforjoyofit,butbecauseoftheclamorofhisstomach.Hedidnotrobopenly,butstolesecretlyandcunningly,outofrespectforclubandfang.Inshort,thethingshedidweredonebecauseitwaseasiertodothemthan not to do them.

Hisdevelopment(orretrogression)wasrapid.Hismusclesbecamehardasiron,andhegrewcalloustoallordinarypain.Heachievedanin-ternalaswellasexternaleconomy.Hecouldeatanything,nomatterhowloathsomeorindigestible;and,onceeaten,thejuicesofhisstomachextractedthelastleastparticleofnutriment;andhisbloodcarriedittothefarthestreachesofhisbody,buildingitintothetoughestandstoutestoftissues.Sightandscentbecameremarkablykeen,whilehishearingdevelopedsuchacutenessthatinhissleepheheardthefaintestsoundandknewwhetheritheraldedpeaceorperil.Helearnedtobitetheiceoutwithhisteethwhenitcollectedbetweenhistoes;andwhenhewasthirstyandtherewasathickscumoficeoverthewaterhole,hewouldbreakitbyrearingandstrikingitwithstiffforelegs.Hismostconspicu-oustraitwasanabilitytoscentthewindandforecastitanightinad-vance.Nomatterhowbreathlesstheairwhenhedughisnestbytreeorbank,thewindthatlaterblewinevitablyfoundhimtoleeward,sheltered and snug.

Andnotonlydidhelearnbyexperience,butinstinctslongdeadbe-camealiveagain.Thedomesticatedgenerationsfellfromhim.Invaguewaysherememberedbacktotheyouthofthebreed,tothetimethewilddogsrangedinpacksthroughtheprimevalforestandkilledtheirmeatastheyranitdown.Itwasnotaskforhimtolearntofightwithcutandslashandthequickwolfsnap.Inthismannerhadfoughtforgottenan-cestors.Theyquickenedtheoldlifewithinhim,andtheoldtrickswhichtheyhadstampedintotheheredityofthebreedwerehistricks.Theycametohimwithouteffortordiscovery,asthoughtheyhadbeenhisal-ways.Andwhen,onthestillcoldnights,hepointedhisnoseatastarandhowledlongandwolflike,itwashisancestors,deadanddust,pointingnoseatstarandhowlingdownthroughthecenturiesandthroughhim.Andhiscadencesweretheircadences,thecadenceswhichvoicedtheirwoeandwhattothemwasthemeaningofthestiffness,andthe cold, and dark.

Thus,astokenofwhatapuppetthinglifeis,theancientsongsurgedthroughhimandhecameintohisownagain;andhecamebecausemenhadfoundayellowmetalintheNorth,andbecauseManuelwasa

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gardener'shelperwhosewagesdidnotlapovertheneedsofhiswifeand divers small copies of himself.

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ChapterThe Dominant Primordial Beast

ThedominantprimordialbeastwasstronginBuck,andunderthefierceconditionsoftraillifeitgrewandgrew.Yetitwasasecretgrowth.Hisnewborncunninggavehimpoiseandcontrol.Hewastoobusyadjustinghimselftothenewlifetofeelatease,andnotonlydidhenotpickfights,butheavoidedthemwheneverpossible.Acertaindeliberatenesscharac-terizedhisattitude.Hewasnotpronetorashnessandprecipitateaction;andinthebitterhatredbetweenhimandSpitzhebetrayednoimpa-tience, shunned all offensive acts.

Ontheotherhand,possiblybecausehedivinedinBuckadangerousrival,Spitzneverlostanopportunityofshowinghisteeth.HeevenwentoutofhiswaytobullyBuck,strivingconstantlytostartthefightwhichcouldendonlyinthedeathofoneortheother.Earlyinthetripthismighthavetakenplacehaditnotbeenforanunwontedaccident.AttheendofthisdaytheymadeableakandmiserablecampontheshoreofLakeLeBarge.Drivingsnow,awindthatcutlikeawhite-hotknife,anddarknesshadforcedthemtogropeforacampingplace.Theycouldhardlyhavefaredworse.Attheirbacksroseaperpendicularwallofrock,andPerraultandFrancoiswerecompelledtomaketheirfireandspreadtheirsleepingrobesontheiceofthelakeitself.ThetenttheyhaddiscardedatDyeainordertotravellight.Afewsticksofdriftwoodfur-nishedthemwithafirethatthaweddownthroughtheiceandleftthemto eat supper in the dark.

CloseinundertheshelteringrockBuckmadehisnest.Sosnugandwarmwasit,thathewasloathtoleaveitwhenFrancoisdistributedthefishwhichhehadfirstthawedoverthefire.ButwhenBuckfinishedhisrationandreturned,hefoundhisnestoccupied.AwarningsnarltoldhimthatthetrespasserwasSpitz.TillnowBuckhadavoidedtroublewithhisenemy,butthiswastoomuch.Thebeastinhimroared.HespranguponSpitzwithafurywhichsurprisedthemboth,andSpitzpar-ticularly,forhiswholeexperiencewithBuckhadgonetoteachhimthat

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hisrivalwasanunusuallytimiddog,whomanagedtoholdhisownonly because of his great weight and size.

Francoiswassurprised,too,whentheyshotoutinatanglefromthedisruptednestandhedivinedthecauseofthetrouble."A-a-ah!"hecried to Buck. "Gif it to heem, by Gar! Gif it to heem, the dirty t'eef!"

Spitzwasequallywilling.Hewascryingwithsheerrageandeager-nessashecircledbackandforthforachancetospringin.Buckwasnolesseager,andnolesscautious,ashelikewisecircledbackandforthfortheadvantage.Butitwasthenthattheunexpectedhappened,thethingwhichprojectedtheirstruggleforsupremacyfarintothefuture,pastmany a weary mile of trail and toil.

AnoathfromPerrault,theresoundingimpactofaclubuponabonyframe,andashrillyelpofpain,heraldedthebreakingforthofpande-monium.Thecampwassuddenlydiscoveredtobealivewithskulkingfurryforms,—starvinghuskies,fourorfivescoreofthem,whohadscen-tedthecampfromsomeIndianvillage.TheyhadcreptinwhileBuckandSpitzwerefighting,andwhenthetwomensprangamongthemwithstoutclubstheyshowedtheirteethandfoughtback.Theywerecrazedbythesmellofthefood.Perraultfoundonewithheadburiedinthegrub-box.Hisclublandedheavilyonthegauntribs,andthegrub-boxwascapsizedontheground.Ontheinstantascoreofthefamishedbruteswerescramblingforthebreadandbacon.Theclubsfelluponthemunheeded.Theyyelpedandhowledundertherainofblows,butstruggled none the less madly till the last crumb had been devoured.

Inthemeantimetheastonishedteam-dogshadburstoutoftheirnestsonlytobesetuponbythefierceinvaders.NeverhadBuckseensuchdogs.Itseemedasthoughtheirboneswouldburstthroughtheirskins.Theyweremereskeletons,drapedlooselyindraggledhides,withblaz-ingeyesandslaveredfangs.Butthehunger-madnessmadethemterrify-ing,irresistible.Therewasnoopposingthem.Theteam-dogsweresweptbackagainstthecliffatthefirstonset.Buckwasbesetbythreehuskies,andinatricehisheadandshoulderswererippedandslashed.Thedinwasfrightful.Billeewascryingasusual.DaveandSol-leks,drippingbloodfromascoreofwounds,werefightingbravelysidebyside.Joewassnappinglikeademon.Once,histeethclosedontheforelegofahusky,andhecruncheddownthroughthebone.Pike,themalingerer,leapeduponthecrippledanimal,breakingitsneckwithaquickflashofteethandajerk,Buckgotafrothingadversarybythethroat,andwassprayedwithbloodwhenhisteethsankthroughthejugular.Thewarmtasteofitinhismouthgoadedhimtogreaterfierceness.Heflung

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himselfuponanother,andatthesametimefeltteethsinkintohisownthroat. It was Spitz, treacherously attacking from the side.

PerraultandFrancois,havingcleanedouttheirpartofthecamp,hur-riedtosavetheirsled-dogs.Thewildwaveoffamishedbeastsrolledbackbeforethem,andBuckshookhimselffree.Butitwasonlyforamo-ment.Thetwomenwerecompelledtorunbacktosavethegrub,uponwhichthehuskiesreturnedtotheattackontheteam.Billee,terrifiedintobravery,sprangthroughthesavagecircleandfledawayovertheice.PikeandDubfollowedonhisheels,withtherestoftheteambehind.AsBuckdrewhimselftogethertospringafterthem,outofthetailofhiseyehesawSpitzrushuponhimwiththeevidentintentionofoverthrowinghim.Onceoffhisfeetandunderthatmassofhuskies,therewasnohopeforhim.ButhebracedhimselftotheshockofSpitz'scharge,thenjoinedthe flight out on the lake.

Later,thenineteam-dogsgatheredtogetherandsoughtshelterintheforest.Thoughunpursued,theywereinasorryplight.Therewasnotonewhowasnotwoundedinfourorfiveplaces,whilesomewerewoundedgrievously.Dubwasbadlyinjuredinahindleg;Dolly,thelasthuskyaddedtotheteamatDyea,hadabadlytornthroat;Joehadlostaneye;whileBillee,thegood-natured,withanearchewedandrenttorib-bons,criedandwhimperedthroughoutthenight.Atdaybreaktheylimpedwarilybacktocamp,tofindthemaraudersgoneandthetwomeninbadtempers.Fullyhalftheirgrubsupplywasgone.Thehuskieshadchewedthroughthesledlashingsandcanvascoverings.Infact,nothing,nomatterhowremotelyeatable,hadescapedthem.TheyhadeatenapairofPerrault'smoose-hidemoccasins,chunksoutoftheleath-ertraces,andeventwofeetoflashfromtheendofFrancois'swhip.Hebrokefromamournfulcontemplationofittolookoverhiswoundeddogs.

"Ah,myfrien's,"hesaidsoftly,"mebbeitmekyoumaddog,dosemany bites. Mebbe all mad dog, sacredam! Wot you t'ink, eh, Perrault?"Thecouriershookhisheaddubiously.WithfourhundredmilesoftrailstillbetweenhimandDawson,hecouldillaffordtohavemadnessbreakoutamonghisdogs.Twohoursofcursingandexertiongottheharnessesintoshape,andthewound-stiffenedteamwasunderway,strugglingpainfullyoverthehardestpartofthetrailtheyhadyeten-countered, and for that matter, the hardest between them and Dawson.TheThirtyMileRiverwaswideopen.Itswildwaterdefiedthefrost,anditwasintheeddiesonlyandinthequietplacesthattheiceheldatall.Sixdaysofexhaustingtoilwererequiredtocoverthosethirtyterrible

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miles.Andterribletheywere,foreveryfootofthemwasaccomplishedattheriskoflifetodogandman.Adozentimes,Perrault,nosingthewaybrokethroughtheicebridges,beingsavedbythelongpolehecar-ried,whichhesoheldthatitfelleachtimeacrosstheholemadebyhisbody.Butacoldsnapwason,thethermometerregisteringfiftybelowzero,andeachtimehebrokethroughhewascompelledforverylifetobuild a fire and dry his garments.

Nothingdauntedhim.Itwasbecausenothingdauntedhimthathehadbeenchosenforgovernmentcourier.Hetookallmannerofrisks,resolutelythrustinghislittleweazenedfaceintothefrostandstrugglingonfromdimdawntodark.Heskirtedthefrowningshoresonrimicethatbentandcrackledunderfootanduponwhichtheydarednothalt.Once,thesledbrokethrough,withDaveandBuck,andtheywerehalf-frozenandallbutdrownedbythetimetheyweredraggedout.Theusu-alfirewasnecessarytosavethem.Theywerecoatedsolidlywithice,andthetwomenkeptthemontherunaroundthefire,sweatingandthawing, so close that they were singed by the flames.

AtanothertimeSpitzwentthrough,draggingthewholeteamafterhimuptoBuck,whostrainedbackwardwithallhisstrength,hisforepawsontheslipperyedgeandtheicequiveringandsnappingallaround.ButbehindhimwasDave,likewisestrainingbackward,andbe-hind the sled was Francois, pulling till his tendons cracked.

Again,therimicebrokeawaybeforeandbehind,andtherewasnoes-capeexceptupthecliff.Perraultscaleditbyamiracle,whileFrancoisprayedforjustthatmiracle;andwitheverythongandsledlashingandthelastbitofharnessroveintoalongrope,thedogswerehoisted,onebyone,tothecliffcrest.Francoiscameuplast,afterthesledandload.Thencamethesearchforaplacetodescend,whichdescentwasulti-matelymadebytheaidoftherope,andnightfoundthembackontheriver with a quarter of a mile to the day's credit.

BythetimetheymadetheHootalinquaandgoodice,Buckwasplayedout.Therestofthedogswereinlikecondition;butPerrault,tomakeuplosttime,pushedthemlateandearly.Thefirstdaytheycoveredthirty-fivemilestotheBigSalmon;thenextdaythirty-fivemoretotheLittleSalmon;thethirddayfortymiles,whichbroughtthemwelluptowardthe Five Fingers.

Buck'sfeetwerenotsocompactandhardasthefeetofthehuskies.Hishadsoftenedduringthemanygenerationssincethedayhislastwildancestorwastamedbyacave-dwellerorriverman.Alldaylonghelimpedinagony,andcamponcemade,laydownlikeadeaddog.

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Hungryashewas,hewouldnotmovetoreceivehisrationoffish,whichFrancoishadtobringtohim.Also,thedog-driverrubbedBuck'sfeetforhalfanhoureachnightaftersupper,andsacrificedthetopsofhisownmoccasinstomakefourmoccasinsforBuck.Thiswasagreatrelief,andBuckcausedeventheweazenedfaceofPerraulttotwistitselfintoagrinonemorning,whenFrancoisforgotthemoccasinsandBucklayonhisback,hisfourfeetwavingappealinglyintheair,andrefusedtobudgewithoutthem.Laterhisfeetgrewhardtothetrail,andtheworn-outfoot-gear was thrown away.

AtthePellyonemorning,astheywereharnessingup,Dolly,whohadneverbeenconspicuousforanything,wentsuddenlymad.Shean-nouncedherconditionbyalong,heartbreakingwolfhowlthatsenteverydogbristlingwithfear,thensprangstraightforBuck.Hehadnev-erseenadoggomad,nordidhehaveanyreasontofearmadness;yetheknewthatherewashorror,andfledawayfromitinapanic.Straightawayheraced,withDolly,pantingandfrothing,oneleapbehind;norcouldshegainonhim,sogreatwashisterror,norcouldheleaveher,sogreatwashermadness.Heplungedthroughthewoodedbreastoftheis-land,flewdowntothelowerend,crossedabackchannelfilledwithroughicetoanotherisland,gainedathirdisland,curvedbacktothemainriver,andindesperationstartedtocrossit.Andallthetime,thoughhedidnotlook,hecouldhearhersnarlingjustoneleapbehind.Francoiscalledtohimaquarterofamileawayandhedoubledback,stilloneleapahead,gaspingpainfullyforairandputtingallhisfaithinthatFrancoiswouldsavehim.Thedog-driverheldtheaxepoisedinhishand,andasBuckshotpasthimtheaxecrasheddownuponmadDolly's head.

Buckstaggeredoveragainstthesled,exhausted,sobbingforbreath,helpless.ThiswasSpitz'sopportunity.HespranguponBuck,andtwicehisteethsankintohisunresistingfoeandrippedandtorethefleshtothebone.ThenFrancois'slashdescended,andBuckhadthesatisfactionofwatchingSpitzreceivetheworstwhippingasyetadministeredtoanyofthe teams.

"Onedevil,datSpitz,"remarkedPerrault."Somedamdayheemkeeldat Buck."

"DatBucktwodevils,"wasFrancois'srejoinder."AlldetamIwatchdatBuckIknowforsure.Lissen:somedamfinedayheemgetmadlakhellan'denheemchewdatSpitzallupan'spitheemoutondesnow.Sure. I know."

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Fromthenonitwaswarbetweenthem.Spitz,aslead-dogandac-knowledgedmasteroftheteam,felthissupremacythreatenedbythisstrangeSouthlanddog.AndstrangeBuckwastohim,forofthemanySouthlanddogshehadknown,notonehadshownupworthilyincampandontrail.Theywerealltoosoft,dyingunderthetoil,thefrost,andstarvation.Buckwastheexception.Healoneenduredandprospered,matchingthehuskyinstrength,savagery,andcunning.Thenhewasamasterfuldog,andwhatmadehimdangerouswasthefactthattheclubofthemanintheredsweaterhadknockedallblindpluckandrashnessoutofhisdesireformastery.Hewaspreeminentlycunning,andcouldbide his time with a patience that was nothing less than primitive.

Itwasinevitablethattheclashforleadershipshouldcome.Buckwantedit.Hewanteditbecauseitwashisnature,becausehehadbeengrippedtightbythatnameless,incomprehensibleprideofthetrailandtrace—thatpridewhichholdsdogsinthetoiltothelastgasp,whichluresthemtodiejoyfullyintheharness,andbreakstheirheartsiftheyarecutoutoftheharness.ThiswastheprideofDaveaswheel-dog,ofSol-leksashepulledwithallhisstrength;thepridethatlaidholdofthematbreakofcamp,transformingthemfromsourandsullenbrutesintostraining,eager,ambitiouscreatures;thepridethatspurredthemonalldayanddroppedthematpitchofcampatnight,lettingthemfallbackintogloomyunrestanduncontent.ThiswasthepridethatboreupSpitzandmadehimthrashthesled-dogswhoblunderedandshirkedinthetracesorhidawayatharness-uptimeinthemorning.LikewiseitwasthispridethatmadehimfearBuckasapossiblelead-dog.Andthiswas Buck's pride, too.

Heopenlythreatenedtheother'sleadership.Hecamebetweenhimandtheshirksheshouldhavepunished.Andhediditdeliberately.Onenighttherewasaheavysnowfall,andinthemorningPike,themalinger-er,didnotappear.Hewassecurelyhiddeninhisnestunderafootofsnow.Francoiscalledhimandsoughthiminvain.Spitzwaswildwithwrath.Heragedthroughthecamp,smellinganddiggingineverylikelyplace,snarlingsofrightfullythatPikeheardandshiveredinhishiding-place.

Butwhenhewasatlastunearthed,andSpitzflewathimtopunishhim,Buckflew,withequalrage,inbetween.Sounexpectedwasit,andsoshrewdlymanaged,thatSpitzwashurledbackwardandoffhisfeet.Pike,whohadbeentremblingabjectly,tookheartatthisopenmutiny,andspranguponhisoverthrownleader.Buck,towhomfairplaywasaforgottencode,likewisespranguponSpitz.ButFrancois,chucklingat

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theincidentwhileunswervingintheadministrationofjustice,broughthislashdownuponBuckwithallhismight.ThisfailedtodriveBuckfromhisprostraterival,andthebuttofthewhipwasbroughtintoplay.Half-stunnedbytheblow,Buckwasknockedbackwardandthelashlaiduponhimagainandagain,whileSpitzsoundlypunishedthemanytimes offending Pike.

Inthedaysthatfollowed,asDawsongrewcloserandcloser,BuckstillcontinuedtointerferebetweenSpitzandtheculprits;buthediditcraft-ily,whenFrancoiswasnotaround,WiththecovertmutinyofBuck,ageneralinsubordinationsprangupandincreased.DaveandSol-lekswereunaffected,buttherestoftheteamwentfrombadtoworse.Thingsnolongerwentright.Therewascontinualbickeringandjangling.Troublewasalwaysafoot,andatthebottomofitwasBuck.HekeptFrancoisbusy,forthedog-driverwasinconstantapprehensionofthelife-and-deathstrugglebetweenthetwowhichheknewmusttakeplacesoonerorlater;andonmorethanonenightthesoundsofquarrellingandstrifeamongtheotherdogsturnedhimoutofhissleepingrobe,fearful that Buck and Spitz were at it.

Buttheopportunitydidnotpresentitself,andtheypulledintoDawsononedrearyafternoonwiththegreatfightstilltocome.Hereweremanymen,andcountlessdogs,andBuckfoundthemallatwork.Itseemedtheordainedorderofthingsthatdogsshouldwork.Alldaytheyswungupanddownthemainstreetinlongteams,andinthenighttheirjinglingbellsstillwentby.Theyhauledcabinlogsandfirewood,freighteduptothemines,anddidallmannerofworkthathorsesdidintheSantaClaraValley.HereandthereBuckmetSouthlanddogs,butinthemaintheywerethewildwolfhuskybreed.Everynight,regularly,atnine,attwelve,atthree,theyliftedanocturnalsong,aweirdandeeriechant, in which it was Buck's delight to join.

Withtheauroraborealisflamingcoldlyoverhead,orthestarsleapinginthefrostdance,andthelandnumbandfrozenunderitspallofsnow,thissongofthehuskiesmighthavebeenthedefianceoflife,onlyitwaspitchedinminorkey,withlong-drawnwailingsandhalf-sobs,andwasmorethepleadingoflife,thearticulatetravailofexistence.Itwasanoldsong,oldasthebreeditself—oneofthefirstsongsoftheyoungerworldinadaywhensongsweresad.Itwasinvestedwiththewoeofun-numberedgenerations,thisplaintbywhichBuckwassostrangelystirred.Whenhemoanedandsobbed,itwaswiththepainoflivingthatwasofoldthepainofhiswildfathers,andthefearandmysteryofthecoldanddarkthatwastothemfearandmystery.Andthatheshouldbe

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stirredbyitmarkedthecompletenesswithwhichheharkedbackthroughtheagesoffireandrooftotherawbeginningsoflifeinthehowling ages.

SevendaysfromthetimetheypulledintoDawson,theydroppeddownthesteepbankbytheBarrackstotheYukonTrail,andpulledforDyeaandSaltWater.Perraultwascarryingdespatchesifanythingmoreurgentthanthosehehadbroughtin;also,thetravelpridehadgrippedhim,andhepurposedtomaketherecordtripoftheyear.Severalthingsfavoredhiminthis.Theweek'sresthadrecuperatedthedogsandputtheminthoroughtrim.Thetrailtheyhadbrokenintothecountrywaspackedhardbylaterjourneyers.Andfurther,thepolicehadarrangedintwoorthreeplacesdepositsofgrubfordogandman,andhewastravel-ling light.

TheymadeSixtyMile,whichisafifty-milerun,onthefirstday;andtheseconddaysawthemboominguptheYukonwellontheirwaytoPelly.ButsuchsplendidrunningwasachievednotwithoutgreattroubleandvexationonthepartofFrancois.TheinsidiousrevoltledbyBuckhaddestroyedthesolidarityoftheteam.Itnolongerwasasonedogleapinginthetraces.TheencouragementBuckgavetherebelsledthemintoallkindsofpettymisdemeanors.NomorewasSpitzaleadergreatlytobefeared.Theoldawedeparted,andtheygrewequaltochallenginghisauthority.Pikerobbedhimofhalfafishonenight,andgulpeditdownundertheprotectionofBuck.AnothernightDubandJoefoughtSpitzandmadehimforegothepunishmenttheydeserved.AndevenBillee,thegood-natured,waslessgood-natured,andwhinednothalfsoplacatinglyasinformerdays.BucknevercamenearSpitzwithoutsnarlingandbristlingmenacingly.Infact,hisconductapproachedthatofabully,andhewasgiventoswaggeringupanddownbeforeSpitz'svery nose.

Thebreakingdownofdisciplinelikewiseaffectedthedogsintheirre-lationswithoneanother.Theyquarrelledandbickeredmorethaneveramongthemselves,tillattimesthecampwasahowlingbedlam.DaveandSol-leksalonewereunaltered,thoughtheyweremadeirritablebytheunendingsquabbling.Francoissworestrangebarbarousoaths,andstampedthesnowinfutilerage,andtorehishair.Hislashwasalwayssingingamongthedogs,butitwasofsmallavail.Directlyhisbackwasturnedtheywereatitagain.HebackedupSpitzwithhiswhip,whileBuckbackeduptheremainderoftheteam.Francoisknewhewasbehindallthetrouble,andBuckknewheknew;butBuckwastooclevereveragaintobecaughtred-handed.Heworkedfaithfullyintheharness,for

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thetoilhadbecomeadelighttohim;yetitwasagreaterdelightslylytoprecipitate a fight amongst his mates and tangle the traces.

AtthemouthoftheTahkeena,onenightaftersupper,Dubturnedupasnowshoerabbit,blunderedit,andmissed.Inasecondthewholeteamwasinfullcry.AhundredyardsawaywasacampoftheNorthwestPo-lice,withfiftydogs,huskiesall,whojoinedthechase.Therabbitspeddowntheriver,turnedoffintoasmallcreek,upthefrozenbedofwhichitheldsteadily.Itranlightlyonthesurfaceofthesnow,whilethedogsploughedthroughbymainstrength.Buckledthepack,sixtystrong,aroundbendafterbend,buthecouldnotgain.Helaydownlowtotherace,whiningeagerly,hissplendidbodyflashingforward,leapbyleap,inthewanwhitemoonlight.Andleapbyleap,likesomepalefrostwraith, the snowshoe rabbit flashed on ahead.

Allthatstirringofoldinstinctswhichatstatedperiodsdrivesmenoutfromthesoundingcitiestoforestandplaintokillthingsbychemicallypropelledleadenpellets,thebloodlust,thejoytokill—allthiswasBuck's,onlyitwasinfinitelymoreintimate.Hewasrangingattheheadofthepack,runningthewildthingdown,thelivingmeat,tokillwithhisown teeth and wash his muzzle to the eyes in warm blood.

Thereisanecstasythatmarksthesummitoflife,andbeyondwhichlifecannotrise.Andsuchistheparadoxofliving,thisecstasycomeswhenoneismostalive,anditcomesasacompleteforgetfulnessthatoneisalive.Thisecstasy,thisforgetfulnessofliving,comestotheartist,caughtupandoutofhimselfinasheetofflame;itcomestothesoldier,war-madonastrickenfieldandrefusingquarter;anditcametoBuck,leadingthepack,soundingtheoldwolf-cry,strainingafterthefoodthatwasaliveandthatfledswiftlybeforehimthroughthemoonlight.Hewassoundingthedeepsofhisnature,andofthepartsofhisnaturethatweredeeperthanhe,goingbackintothewombofTime.Hewasmasteredbythesheersurgingoflife,thetidalwaveofbeing,theperfectjoyofeachseparatemuscle,joint,andsinewinthatitwaseverythingthatwasnotdeath,thatitwasaglowandrampant,expressingitselfinmovement,flyingexultantlyunderthestarsandoverthefaceofdeadmatter that did not move.

ButSpitz,coldandcalculatingeveninhissuprememoods,leftthepackandcutacrossanarrowneckoflandwherethecreekmadealongbendaround.Buckdidnotknowofthis,andasheroundedthebend,thefrostwraithofarabbitstillflittingbeforehim,hesawanotherandlargerfrostwraithleapfromtheoverhangingbankintotheimmediatepathoftherabbit.ItwasSpitz.Therabbitcouldnotturn,andasthe

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whiteteethbrokeitsbackinmidairitshriekedasloudlyasastrickenmanmayshriek.Atsoundofthis,thecryofLifeplungingdownfromLife'sapexinthegripofDeath,thefallpackatBuck'sheelsraisedahell'schorus of delight.

Buckdidnotcryout.Hedidnotcheckhimself,butdroveinuponSpitz,shouldertoshoulder,sohardthathemissedthethroat.Theyrolledoverandoverinthepowderysnow.Spitzgainedhisfeetalmostasthoughhehadnotbeenoverthrown,slashingBuckdowntheshoulderandleapingclear.Twicehisteethclippedtogether,likethesteeljawsofatrap,ashebackedawayforbetterfooting,withleanandlifting lips that writhed and snarled.

InaflashBuckknewit.Thetimehadcome.Itwastothedeath.Astheycircledabout,snarling,earslaidback,keenlywatchfulforthead-vantage,thescenecametoBuckwithasenseoffamiliarity.Heseemedtorememberitall,—thewhitewoods,andearth,andmoonlight,andthethrillofbattle.Overthewhitenessandsilencebroodedaghostlycalm.Therewasnotthefaintestwhisperofair—nothingmoved,notaleafquivered,thevisiblebreathsofthedogsrisingslowlyandlingeringinthefrostyair.Theyhadmadeshortworkofthesnowshoerabbit,thesedogsthatwereill-tamedwolves;andtheywerenowdrawnupinanex-pectantcircle.They,too,weresilent,theireyesonlygleamingandtheirbreathsdriftingslowlyupward.ToBuckitwasnothingneworstrange,thissceneofoldtime.Itwasasthoughithadalwaysbeen,thewontedway of things.

Spitzwasapractisedfighter.FromSpitzbergenthroughtheArctic,andacrossCanadaandtheBarrens,hehadheldhisownwithallmannerofdogsandachievedtomasteryoverthem.Bitterragewashis,butnev-erblindrage.Inpassiontorendanddestroy,heneverforgotthathisen-emywasinlikepassiontorendanddestroy.Heneverrushedtillhewaspreparedtoreceivearush;neverattackedtillhehadfirstdefendedthatattack.

InvainBuckstrovetosinkhisteethintheneckofthebigwhitedog.Whereverhisfangsstruckforthesofterflesh,theywerecounteredbythefangsofSpitz.Fangclashedfang,andlipswerecutandbleeding,butBuckcouldnotpenetratehisenemy'sguard.ThenhewarmedupandenvelopedSpitzinawhirlwindofrushes.Timeandtimeagainhetriedforthesnow-whitethroat,wherelifebubbledneartothesurface,andeachtimeandeverytimeSpitzslashedhimandgotaway.ThenBucktooktorushing,asthoughforthethroat,when,suddenlydrawingbackhisheadandcurvinginfromtheside,hewoulddrivehisshoulderatthe

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shoulderofSpitz,asarambywhichtooverthrowhim.Butinstead,Buck'sshoulderwasslasheddowneachtimeasSpitzleapedlightlyaway.

Spitzwasuntouched,whileBuckwasstreamingwithbloodandpant-inghard.Thefightwasgrowingdesperate.Andallthewhilethesilentandwolfishcirclewaitedtofinishoffwhicheverdogwentdown.AsBuckgrewwinded,Spitztooktorushing,andhekepthimstaggeringforfooting.OnceBuckwentover,andthewholecircleofsixtydogsstartedup;butherecoveredhimself,almostinmidair,andthecirclesankdownagain and waited.

ButBuckpossessedaqualitythatmadeforgreatness—imagination.Hefoughtbyinstinct,buthecouldfightbyheadaswell.Herushed,asthoughattemptingtheoldshouldertrick,butatthelastinstantsweptlowtothesnowandin.HisteethclosedonSpitz'sleftforeleg.Therewasacrunchofbreakingbone,andthewhitedogfacedhimonthreelegs.Thricehetriedtoknockhimover,thenrepeatedthetrickandbroketherightforeleg.Despitethepainandhelplessness,Spitzstruggledmadlytokeepup.Hesawthesilentcircle,withgleamingeyes,lollingtongues,andsilverybreathsdriftingupward,closinginuponhimashehadseensimilarcirclescloseinuponbeatenantagonistsinthepast.Only this time he was the one who was beaten.

Therewasnohopeforhim.Buckwasinexorable.Mercywasathingreservedforgentlerclimes.Hemanoeuvredforthefinalrush.Thecirclehadtightenedtillhecouldfeelthebreathsofthehuskiesonhisflanks.Hecouldseethem,beyondSpitzandtoeitherside,halfcrouchingforthespring,theireyesfixeduponhim.Apauseseemedtofall.Everyan-imalwasmotionlessasthoughturnedtostone.OnlySpitzquiveredandbristledashestaggeredbackandforth,snarlingwithhorriblemenace,asthoughtofrightenoffimpendingdeath.ThenBuckspranginandout;butwhilehewasin,shoulderhadatlastsquarelymetshoulder.Thedarkcirclebecameadotonthemoon-floodedsnowasSpitzdisappearedfromview.Buckstoodandlookedon,thesuccessfulchampion,thedom-inant primordial beast who had made his kill and found it good.

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ChapterWho Has Won to Mastership

"Eh?WotIsay?Ispiktruew'enIsaydatBucktwodevils."ThiswasFrancois'sspeechnextmorningwhenhediscoveredSpitzmissingandBuckcoveredwithwounds.Hedrewhimtothefireandbyitslightpointed them out.

"DatSpitzfightlakhell,"saidPerrault,ashesurveyedthegapingripsand cuts.

"An'datBuckfightlaktwohells,"wasFrancois'sanswer."An'nowwemake good time. No more Spitz, no more trouble, sure."

WhilePerraultpackedthecampoutfitandloadedthesled,thedog-driverproceededtoharnessthedogs.BucktrotteduptotheplaceSpitzwouldhaveoccupiedasleader;butFrancois,notnoticinghim,broughtSol-lekstothecovetedposition.Inhisjudgment,Sol-lekswasthebestlead-dogleft.BuckspranguponSol-leksinafury,drivinghimbackandstanding in his place.

"Eh?eh?"Francoiscried,slappinghisthighsgleefully."LookatdatBuck. Heem keel dat Spitz, heem t'ink to take de job."

"Go 'way, Chook!" he cried, but Buck refused to budge.

HetookBuckbythescruffoftheneck,andthoughthedoggrowledthreateningly,draggedhimtoonesideandreplacedSol-leks.Theolddogdidnotlikeit,andshowedplainlythathewasafraidofBuck.Fran-coiswasobdurate,butwhenheturnedhisbackBuckagaindisplacedSol-leks, who was not at all unwilling to go.

Francoiswasangry."Now,byGar,Ifeexyou!"hecried,comingbackwith a heavy club in his hand.

Buckrememberedthemanintheredsweater,andretreatedslowly;nordidheattempttochargeinwhenSol-lekswasoncemorebroughtforward.Buthecircledjustbeyondtherangeoftheclub,snarlingwithbitternessandrage;andwhilehecircledhewatchedtheclubsoastododgeitifthrownbyFrancois,forhewasbecomewiseinthewayofclubs.Thedriverwentabouthiswork,andhecalledtoBuckwhenhe

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wasreadytoputhiminhisoldplaceinfrontofDave.Buckretreatedtwoorthreesteps.Francoisfollowedhimup,whereuponheagainre-treated.Aftersometimeofthis,Francoisthrewdowntheclub,thinkingthatBuckfearedathrashing.ButBuckwasinopenrevolt.Hewanted,nottoescapeaclubbing,buttohavetheleadership.Itwashisbyright.He had earned it, and he would not be content with less.

Perraulttookahand.Betweenthemtheyranhimaboutforthebetterpartofanhour.Theythrewclubsathim.Hedodged.Theycursedhim,andhisfathersandmothersbeforehim,andallhisseedtocomeafterhimdowntotheremotestgeneration,andeveryhaironhisbodyanddropofbloodinhisveins;andheansweredcursewithsnarlandkeptoutoftheirreach.Hedidnottrytorunaway,butretreatedaroundandaroundthecamp,advertisingplainlythatwhenhisdesirewasmet,hewould come in and be good.

Francoissatdownandscratchedhishead.Perraultlookedathiswatchandswore.Timewasflying,andtheyshouldhavebeenonthetrailanhourgone.Francoisscratchedhisheadagain.Heshookitandgrinnedsheepishlyatthecourier,whoshruggedhisshouldersinsignthattheywerebeaten.ThenFrancoiswentuptowhereSol-leksstoodandcalledtoBuck.Bucklaughed,asdogslaugh,yetkepthisdistance.FrancoisunfastenedSol-leks'stracesandputhimbackinhisoldplace.Theteamstoodharnessedtothesledinanunbrokenline,readyforthetrail.TherewasnoplaceforBucksaveatthefront.OncemoreFrancoiscalled,andonce more Buck laughed and kept away.

"T'row down de club," Perrault commanded.

Francoiscomplied,whereuponBucktrottedin,laughingtri-umphantly,andswungaroundintopositionattheheadoftheteam.Histraceswerefastened,thesledbrokenout,andwithbothmenrunningthey dashed out on to the river trail.

Highlyasthedog-driverhadforevaluedBuck,withhistwodevils,hefound,whilethedaywasyetyoung,thathehadundervalued.AtaboundBucktookupthedutiesofleadership;andwherejudgmentwasrequired,andquickthinkingandquickacting,heshowedhimselfthesu-perior even of Spitz, of whom Francois had never seen an equal.

Butitwasingivingthelawandmakinghismatesliveuptoit,thatBuckexcelled.DaveandSol-leksdidnotmindthechangeinleadership.Itwasnoneoftheirbusiness.Theirbusinesswastotoil,andtoilmigh-tily,inthetraces.Solongasthatwerenotinterferedwith,theydidnotcarewhathappened.Billee,thegood-natured,couldleadforalltheycared,solongashekeptorder.Therestoftheteam,however,had

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grownunrulyduringthelastdaysofSpitz,andtheirsurprisewasgreatnow that Buck proceeded to lick them into shape.

Pike,whopulledatBuck'sheels,andwhoneverputanouncemoreofhisweightagainstthebreast-bandthanhewascompelledtodo,wasswiftlyandrepeatedlyshakenforloafing;anderethefirstdaywasdonehewaspullingmorethaneverbeforeinhislife.Thefirstnightincamp,Joe,thesourone,waspunishedroundly—athingthatSpitzhadneversucceededindoing.Bucksimplysmotheredhimbyvirtueofsuperiorweight,andcuthimuptillheceasedsnappingandbegantowhineformercy.

Thegeneraltoneoftheteampickedupimmediately.Itrecovereditsold-timesolidarity,andoncemorethedogsleapedasonedoginthetraces.AttheRinkRapidstwonativehuskies,TeekandKoona,weread-ded;andtheceleritywithwhichBuckbrokethemintookawayFrancois's breath.

"NevairesuchadogasdatBuck!"hecried."No,nevaire!Heemworthone t'ousan' dollair, by Gar! Eh? Wot you say, Perrault?"

AndPerraultnodded.Hewasaheadoftherecordthen,andgainingdaybyday.Thetrailwasinexcellentcondition,wellpackedandhard,andtherewasnonew-fallensnowwithwhichtocontend.Itwasnottoocold.Thetemperaturedroppedtofiftybelowzeroandremainedtherethewholetrip.Themenrodeandranbyturn,andthedogswerekeptonthe jump, with but infrequent stoppages.

TheThirtyMileRiverwascomparativelycoatedwithice,andtheycoveredinonedaygoingoutwhathadtakenthemtendayscomingin.Inoneruntheymadeasixty-miledashfromthefootofLakeLeBargetotheWhiteHorseRapids.AcrossMarsh,Tagish,andBennett(seventymilesoflakes),theyflewsofastthatthemanwhoseturnitwastoruntowedbehindthesledattheendofarope.AndonthelastnightofthesecondweektheytoppedWhitePassanddroppeddowntheseaslopewith the lights of Skaguay and of the shipping at their feet.

Itwasarecordrun.Eachdayforfourteendaystheyhadaveragedfortymiles.ForthreedaysPerraultandFrancoisthrewchestsupanddownthemainstreetofSkaguayandweredelugedwithinvitationstodrink,whiletheteamwastheconstantcentreofaworshipfulcrowdofdog-bustersandmushers.Thenthreeorfourwesternbadmenaspiredtocleanoutthetown,wereriddledlikepepper-boxesfortheirpains,andpublicinterestturnedtootheridols.Nextcameofficialorders.FrancoiscalledBucktohim,threwhisarmsaroundhim,weptoverhim.Andthat

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wasthelastofFrancoisandPerrault.Likeothermen,theypassedoutofBuck's life for good.

AScotchhalf-breedtookchargeofhimandhismates,andincompanywithadozenotherdog-teamshestartedbackoverthewearytrailtoDawson.Itwasnolightrunningnow,norrecordtime,butheavytoileachday,withaheavyloadbehind;forthiswasthemailtrain,carryingwordfromtheworldtothemenwhosoughtgoldundertheshadowofthe Pole.

Buckdidnotlikeit,butheboreupwelltothework,takingprideinitafterthemannerofDaveandSol-leks,andseeingthathismates,wheth-ertheypridedinitornot,didtheirfairshare.Itwasamonotonouslife,operatingwithmachine-likeregularity.Onedaywasverylikeanother.Atacertaintimeeachmorningthecooksturnedout,fireswerebuilt,andbreakfastwaseaten.Then,whilesomebrokecamp,othersharnessedthedogs,andtheywereunderwayanhourorsobeforethedarknessfellwhichgavewarningofdawn.Atnight,campwasmade.Somepitchedtheflies,otherscutfirewoodandpineboughsforthebeds,andstilloth-erscarriedwateroriceforthecooks.Also,thedogswerefed.Tothem,thiswastheonefeatureoftheday,thoughitwasgoodtoloafaround,afterthefishwaseaten,foranhourorsowiththeotherdogs,ofwhichtherewerefivescoreandodd.Therewerefiercefightersamongthem,butthreebattleswiththefiercestbroughtBucktomastery,sothatwhenhe bristled and showed his teeth they got out of his way.

Bestofall,perhaps,helovedtolienearthefire,hindlegscrouchedunderhim,forelegsstretchedoutinfront,headraised,andeyesblink-ingdreamilyattheflames.SometimeshethoughtofJudgeMiller'sbighouseinthesun-kissedSantaClaraValley,andofthecementswimming-tank,andYsabel,theMexicanhairless,andToots,theJapan-esepug;butoftenerherememberedthemanintheredsweater,thedeathofCurly,thegreatfightwithSpitz,andthegoodthingshehadeatenorwouldliketoeat.Hewasnothomesick.TheSunlandwasverydimanddistant,andsuchmemorieshadnopoweroverhim.Farmorepotentwerethememoriesofhishereditythatgavethingshehadneverseenbeforeaseemingfamiliarity;theinstincts(whichwerebutthememoriesofhisancestorsbecomehabits)whichhadlapsedinlaterdays,and still later, in him, quickened and become alive again.

Sometimesashecrouchedthere,blinkingdreamilyattheflames,itseemedthattheflameswereofanotherfire,andthatashecrouchedbythisotherfirehesawanotheranddifferentmanfromthehalf-breedcookbeforehim.Thisothermanwasshorteroflegandlongerofarm,with

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musclesthatwerestringyandknottyratherthanroundedandswelling.Thehairofthismanwaslongandmatted,andhisheadslantedbackun-deritfromtheeyes.Heutteredstrangesounds,andseemedverymuchafraidofthedarkness,intowhichhepeeredcontinually,clutchinginhishand,whichhungmidwaybetweenkneeandfoot,astickwithaheavystonemadefasttotheend.Hewasallbutnaked,araggedandfire-scorchedskinhangingpartwaydownhisback,butonhisbodytherewasmuchhair.Insomeplaces,acrossthechestandshouldersanddowntheoutsideofthearmsandthighs,itwasmattedintoalmostathickfur.Hedidnotstanderect,butwithtrunkinclinedforwardfromthehips,onlegsthatbentattheknees.Abouthisbodytherewasapeculiarspringi-ness,orresiliency,almostcatlike,andaquickalertnessasofonewholived in perpetual fear of things seen and unseen.

Atothertimesthishairymansquattedbythefirewithheadbetweenhislegsandslept.Onsuchoccasionshiselbowswereonhisknees,hishandsclaspedabovehisheadasthoughtoshedrainbythehairyarms.Andbeyondthatfire,inthecirclingdarkness,Buckcouldseemanygleamingcoals,twobytwo,alwaystwobytwo,whichheknewtobetheeyesofgreatbeastsofprey.Andhecouldhearthecrashingoftheirbod-iesthroughtheundergrowth,andthenoisestheymadeinthenight.AnddreamingtherebytheYukonbank,withlazyeyesblinkingatthefire,thesesoundsandsightsofanotherworldwouldmakethehairtorisealonghisbackandstandonendacrosshisshouldersanduphisneck,tillhewhimperedlowandsuppressedly,orgrowledsoftly,andthehalf-breedcookshoutedathim,"Hey,youBuck,wakeup!"Whereupontheotherworldwouldvanishandtherealworldcomeintohiseyes,andhewould get up and yawn and stretch as though he had been asleep.

Itwasahardtrip,withthemailbehindthem,andtheheavyworkworethemdown.TheywereshortofweightandinpoorconditionwhentheymadeDawson,andshouldhavehadatendays'oraweek'srestatleast.Butintwodays'timetheydroppeddowntheYukonbankfromtheBarracks,loadedwithlettersfortheoutside.Thedogsweretired,thedriversgrumbling,andtomakemattersworse,itsnowedeveryday.Thismeantasofttrail,greaterfrictionontherunners,andheavierpullingforthedogs;yetthedriverswerefairthroughitall,anddidtheirbest for the animals.

Eachnightthedogswereattendedtofirst.Theyatebeforethedriversate,andnomansoughthissleeping-robetillhehadseentothefeetofthedogshedrove.Still,theirstrengthwentdown.Sincethebeginningofthewintertheyhadtravelledeighteenhundredmiles,draggingsledsthe

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wholewearydistance;andeighteenhundredmileswilltelluponlifeofthetoughest.Buckstoodit,keepinghismatesuptotheirworkandmaintainingdiscipline,thoughhe,too,wasverytired.Billeecriedandwhimperedregularlyinhissleepeachnight.Joewassourerthanever,and Sol-leks was unapproachable, blind side or other side.

ButitwasDavewhosufferedmostofall.Somethinghadgonewrongwithhim.Hebecamemoremoroseandirritable,andwhencampwaspitchedatoncemadehisnest,wherehisdriverfedhim.Onceoutoftheharnessanddown,hedidnotgetonhisfeetagaintillharness-uptimeinthemorning.Sometimes,inthetraces,whenjerkedbyasuddenstop-pageofthesled,orbystrainingtostartit,hewouldcryoutwithpain.Thedriverexaminedhim,butcouldfindnothing.Allthedriversbecameinterestedinhiscase.Theytalkeditoveratmeal-time,andovertheirlastpipesbeforegoingtobed,andonenighttheyheldaconsultation.Hewasbroughtfromhisnesttothefireandwaspressedandproddedtillhecriedoutmanytimes.Somethingwaswronginside,buttheycouldlocate no broken bones, could not make it out.

BythetimeCassiarBarwasreached,hewassoweakthathewasfall-ingrepeatedlyinthetraces.TheScotchhalf-breedcalledahaltandtookhimoutoftheteam,makingthenextdog,Sol-leks,fasttothesled.HisintentionwastorestDave,lettinghimrunfreebehindthesled.Sickashewas,Daveresentedbeingtakenout,gruntingandgrowlingwhilethetraceswereunfastened,andwhimperingbroken-heartedlywhenhesawSol-leksinthepositionhehadheldandservedsolong.Fortheprideoftraceandtrailwashis,and,sickuntodeath,hecouldnotbearthatan-other dog should do his work.

Whenthesledstarted,heflounderedinthesoftsnowalongsidethebeatentrail,attackingSol-lekswithhisteeth,rushingagainsthimandtryingtothrusthimoffintothesoftsnowontheotherside,strivingtoleapinsidehistracesandgetbetweenhimandthesled,andallthewhilewhiningandyelpingandcryingwithgriefandpain.Thehalf-breedtriedtodrivehimawaywiththewhip;buthepaidnoheedtothestinginglash,andthemanhadnotthehearttostrikeharder.Daverefusedtorunquietlyonthetrailbehindthesled,wherethegoingwaseasy,butcon-tinuedtoflounderalongsideinthesoftsnow,wherethegoingwasmostdifficult,tillexhausted.Thenhefell,andlaywherehefell,howlinglugubriously as the long train of sleds churned by.

Withthelastremnantofhisstrengthhemanagedtostaggeralongbe-hindtillthetrainmadeanotherstop,whenheflounderedpastthesledstohisown,wherehestoodalongsideSol-leks.Hisdriverlingereda

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momenttogetalightforhispipefromthemanbehind.Thenhere-turnedandstartedhisdogs.Theyswungoutonthetrailwithremark-ablelackofexertion,turnedtheirheadsuneasily,andstoppedinsur-prise.Thedriverwassurprised,too;thesledhadnotmoved.Hecalledhiscomradestowitnessthesight.DavehadbittenthroughbothofSol-leks'straces,andwasstandingdirectlyinfrontofthesledinhisproperplace.

Hepleadedwithhiseyestoremainthere.Thedriverwasperplexed.Hiscomradestalkedofhowadogcouldbreakitsheartthroughbeingdeniedtheworkthatkilledit,andrecalledinstancestheyhadknown,wheredogs,toooldforthetoil,orinjured,haddiedbecausetheywerecutoutofthetraces.Also,theyhelditamercy,sinceDavewastodieanyway,thatheshoulddieinthetraces,heart-easyandcontent.Sohewasharnessedinagain,andproudlyhepulledasofold,thoughmorethanoncehecriedoutinvoluntarilyfromthebiteofhisinwardhurt.Severaltimeshefelldownandwasdraggedinthetraces,andoncethesled ran upon him so that he limped thereafter in one of his hind legs.Butheheldouttillcampwasreached,whenhisdrivermadeaplaceforhimbythefire.Morningfoundhimtooweaktotravel.Atharness-uptimehetriedtocrawltohisdriver.Byconvulsiveeffortshegotonhisfeet,staggered,andfell.Thenhewormedhiswayforwardslowlyto-wardwheretheharnesseswerebeingputonhismates.Hewouldad-vancehisforelegsanddraguphisbodywithasortofhitchingmove-ment,whenhewouldadvancehisforelegsandhitchaheadagainforafewmoreinches.Hisstrengthlefthim,andthelasthismatessawofhimhelaygaspinginthesnowandyearningtowardthem.Buttheycouldhearhimmournfullyhowlingtilltheypassedoutofsightbehindabeltof river timber.

Herethetrainwashalted.TheScotchhalf-breedslowlyretracedhisstepstothecamptheyhadleft.Themenceasedtalking.Arevolver-shotrangout.Themancamebackhurriedly.Thewhipssnapped,thebellstinkledmerrily,thesledschurnedalongthetrail;butBuckknew,andevery dog knew, what had taken place behind the belt of river trees.

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ChapterThe Toil of Trace and Trail

ThirtydaysfromthetimeitleftDawson,theSaltWaterMail,withBuckandhismatesatthefore,arrivedatSkaguay.Theywereinawretchedstate,wornoutandworndown.Buck'sonehundredandfortypoundshaddwindledtoonehundredandfifteen.Therestofhismates,thoughlighterdogs,hadrelativelylostmoreweightthanhe.Pike,themalinger-er,who,inhislifetimeofdeceit,hadoftensuccessfullyfeignedahurtleg,wasnowlimpinginearnest.Sol-lekswaslimping,andDubwassuf-fering from a wrenched shoulder-blade.

Theywereallterriblyfootsore.Nospringorreboundwasleftinthem.Theirfeetfellheavilyonthetrail,jarringtheirbodiesanddoublingthefatigueofaday'stravel.Therewasnothingthematterwiththemexceptthattheyweredeadtired.Itwasnotthedead-tirednessthatcomesthroughbriefandexcessiveeffort,fromwhichrecoveryisamatterofhours;butitwasthedead-tirednessthatcomesthroughtheslowandprolongedstrengthdrainageofmonthsoftoil.Therewasnopowerofre-cuperationleft,noreservestrengthtocallupon.Ithadbeenallused,thelastleastbitofit.Everymuscle,everyfibre,everycell,wastired,deadtired.Andtherewasreasonforit.Inlessthanfivemonthstheyhadtravelledtwenty-fivehundredmiles,duringthelasteighteenhundredofwhichtheyhadhadbutfivedays'rest.WhentheyarrivedatSkaguaytheywereapparentlyontheirlastlegs.Theycouldbarelykeepthetracestaut,andonthedowngradesjustmanagedtokeepoutofthewayofthesled.

"Mushon,poorsorefeets,"thedriverencouragedthemastheytottereddownthemainstreetofSkaguay."Disisdelas'.Denwegetonelong res'. Eh? For sure. One bully long res'."

Thedriversconfidentlyexpectedalongstopover.Themselves,theyhadcoveredtwelvehundredmileswithtwodays'rest,andinthenatureofreasonandcommonjusticetheydeservedanintervalofloafing.ButsomanywerethemenwhohadrushedintotheKlondike,andsomany

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werethesweethearts,wives,andkinthathadnotrushedin,thatthecongestedmailwastakingonAlpineproportions;also,therewereoffi-cialorders.FreshbatchesofHudsonBaydogsweretotaketheplacesofthoseworthlessforthetrail.Theworthlessonesweretobegotridof,and, since dogs count for little against dollars, they were to be sold.

Threedayspassed,bywhichtimeBuckandhismatesfoundhowreallytiredandweaktheywere.Then,onthemorningofthefourthday,twomenfromtheStatescamealongandboughtthem,harnessandall,forasong.Themenaddressedeachotheras"Hal"and"Charles."Charleswasamiddle-aged,lightish-coloredman,withweakandwateryeyesandamustachethattwistedfiercelyandvigorouslyup,givingthelietothelimplydroopinglipitconcealed.Halwasayoungsterofnineteenortwenty,withabigColt'srevolverandahunting-knifestrappedabouthimonabeltthatfairlybristledwithcartridges.Thisbeltwasthemostsalientthingabouthim.Itadvertisedhiscallowness—acallownesssheerandunutterable.Bothmenweremanifestlyoutofplace,andwhysuchastheyshouldadventuretheNorthispartofthemysteryofthingsthatpasses understanding.

Buckheardthechaffering,sawthemoneypassbetweenthemanandtheGovernmentagent,andknewthattheScotchhalf-breedandthemail-traindriverswerepassingoutofhislifeontheheelsofPerraultandFrancoisandtheotherswhohadgonebefore.Whendrivenwithhismatestothenewowners'camp,Bucksawaslipshodandslovenlyaffair,tenthalfstretched,dishesunwashed,everythingindisorder;also,hesawawoman."Mercedes"themencalledher.ShewasCharles'swifeand Hal's sister—a nice family party.

Buckwatchedthemapprehensivelyastheyproceededtotakedownthetentandloadthesled.Therewasagreatdealofeffortabouttheirmanner,butnobusinesslikemethod.Thetentwasrolledintoanawk-wardbundlethreetimesaslargeasitshouldhavebeen.Thetindisheswerepackedawayunwashed.Mercedescontinuallyflutteredinthewayofhermenandkeptupanunbrokenchatteringofremonstranceandad-vice.Whentheyputaclothes-sackonthefrontofthesled,shesuggesteditshouldgoontheback;andwhentheyhadputitontheback,andcovereditoverwithacoupleofotherbundles,shediscoveredover-lookedarticleswhichcouldabidenowhereelsebutinthatverysack,andthey unloaded again.

Threemenfromaneighboringtentcameoutandlookedon,grinningand winking at one another.

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"You'vegotarightsmartloadasitis,"saidoneofthem;"andit'snotmeshouldtellyouyourbusiness,butIwouldn'ttotethattentalongifIwas you."

"Undreamedof!"criedMercedes,throwingupherhandsindaintydis-may. "However in the world could I manage without a tent?"

"It'sspringtime,andyouwon'tgetanymorecoldweather,"themanreplied.

Sheshookherheaddecidedly,andCharlesandHalputthelastoddsand ends on top the mountainous load.

"Think it'll ride?" one of the men asked.

"Why shouldn't it?" Charles demanded rather shortly.

"Oh,that'sallright,that'sallright,"themanhastenedmeeklytosay."Iwas just a-wonderin', that is all. It seemed a mite top-heavy."

Charlesturnedhisbackanddrewthelashingsdownaswellashecould, which was not in the least well.

"An'ofcoursethedogscanhikealongalldaywiththatcontraptionbehind them," affirmed a second of the men.

"Certainly,"saidHal,withfreezingpoliteness,takingholdofthegee-polewithonehandandswinginghiswhipfromtheother."Mush!"heshouted. "Mush on there!"

Thedogssprangagainstthebreast-bands,strainedhardforafewmo-ments, then relaxed. They were unable to move the sled.

"Thelazybrutes,I'llshowthem,"hecried,preparingtolashoutatthem with the whip.

ButMercedesinterfered,crying,"Oh,Hal,youmustn't,"asshecaughtholdofthewhipandwrencheditfromhim."Thepoordears!Nowyoumustpromiseyouwon'tbeharshwiththemfortherestofthetrip,orIwon't go a step."

"Preciouslotyouknowaboutdogs,"herbrothersneered;"andIwishyou'dleavemealone.They'relazy,Itellyou,andyou'vegottowhipthemtogetanythingoutofthem.That'stheirway.Youaskanyone.Askone of those men."

Mercedeslookedatthemimploringly,untoldrepugnanceatsightofpain written in her pretty face.

"They'reweakaswater,ifyouwanttoknow,"camethereplyfromoneofthemen."Plumtuckeredout,that'swhat'sthematter.Theyneedarest."

"Restbeblanked,"saidHal,withhisbeardlesslips;andMercedessaid,"Oh!" in pain and sorrow at the oath.

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Butshewasaclannishcreature,andrushedatoncetothedefenceofherbrother."Nevermindthatman,"shesaidpointedly."You'redrivingour dogs, and you do what you think best with them."

AgainHal'swhipfelluponthedogs.Theythrewthemselvesagainstthebreast-bands,dugtheirfeetintothepackedsnow,gotdownlowtoit,andputforthalltheirstrength.Thesledheldasthoughitwereanan-chor.Aftertwoefforts,theystoodstill,panting.Thewhipwaswhistlingsavagely,whenoncemoreMercedesinterfered.ShedroppedonherkneesbeforeBuck,withtearsinhereyes,andputherarmsaroundhisneck.

"Youpoor,poordears,"shecriedsympathetically,"whydon'tyoupullhard?—thenyouwouldn'tbewhipped."Buckdidnotlikeher,buthewasfeelingtoomiserabletoresisther,takingitaspartoftheday'smiserable work.

Oneoftheonlookers,whohadbeenclenchinghisteethtosuppresshot speech, now spoke up:—

"It'snotthatIcareawhoopwhatbecomesofyou,butforthedogs'sakesIjustwanttotellyou,youcanhelpthemamightylotbybreakingoutthatsled.Therunnersarefrozefast.Throwyourweightagainstthegee-pole, right and left, and break it out."

Athirdtimetheattemptwasmade,butthistime,followingthead-vice,Halbrokeouttherunnerswhichhadbeenfrozentothesnow.Theoverloadedandunwieldysledforgedahead,Buckandhismatesstrug-glingfranticallyundertherainofblows.Ahundredyardsaheadthepathturnedandslopedsteeplyintothemainstreet.Itwouldhavere-quiredanexperiencedmantokeepthetop-heavysledupright,andHalwasnotsuchaman.Astheyswungontheturnthesledwentover,spill-inghalfitsloadthroughthelooselashings.Thedogsneverstopped.Thelightenedsledboundedonitssidebehindthem.Theywereangrybe-causeoftheilltreatmenttheyhadreceivedandtheunjustload.Buckwasraging.Hebrokeintoarun,theteamfollowinghislead.Halcried"Whoa!whoa!"buttheygavenoheed.Hetrippedandwaspulledoffhisfeet.Thecapsizedsledgroundoverhim,andthedogsdashedonupthestreet,addingtothegayetyofSkaguayastheyscatteredtheremainderof the outfit along its chief thoroughfare.

Kind-heartedcitizenscaughtthedogsandgatheredupthescatteredbelongings.Also,theygaveadvice.Halftheloadandtwicethedogs,iftheyeverexpectedtoreachDawson,waswhatwassaid.Halandhissis-terandbrother-in-lawlistenedunwillingly,pitchedtent,andoverhauledtheoutfit.Cannedgoodswereturnedoutthatmademenlaugh,for

41

cannedgoodsontheLongTrailisathingtodreamabout."Blanketsforahotel"quothoneofthemenwholaughedandhelped."Halfasmanyistoomuch;getridofthem.Throwawaythattent,andallthosedishes,—who'sgoingtowashthem,anyway?GoodLord,doyouthinkyou're travelling on a Pullman?"

Andsoitwent,theinexorableeliminationofthesuperfluous.Mer-cedescriedwhenherclothes-bagsweredumpedonthegroundandart-icleafterarticlewasthrownout.Shecriedingeneral,andshecriedinparticularovereachdiscardedthing.Sheclaspedhandsaboutknees,rockingbackandforthbroken-heartedly.Sheaverredshewouldnotgoaninch,notforadozenCharleses.Sheappealedtoeverybodyandtoeverything,finallywipinghereyesandproceedingtocastoutevenart-iclesofapparelthatwereimperativenecessaries.Andinherzeal,whenshehadfinishedwithherown,sheattackedthebelongingsofhermenand went through them like a tornado.

Thisaccomplished,theoutfit,thoughcutinhalf,wasstillaformidablebulk.CharlesandHalwentoutintheeveningandboughtsixOutsidedogs.These,addedtothesixoftheoriginalteam,andTeekandKoona,thehuskiesobtainedattheRinkRapidsontherecordtrip,broughttheteamuptofourteen.ButtheOutsidedogs,thoughpracticallybrokeninsincetheirlanding,didnotamounttomuch.Threewereshort-hairedpointers,onewasaNewfoundland,andtheothertwoweremongrelsofindeterminatebreed.Theydidnotseemtoknowanything,thesenew-comers.Buckandhiscomradeslookeduponthemwithdisgust,andthoughhespeedilytaughtthemtheirplacesandwhatnottodo,hecouldnotteachthemwhattodo.Theydidnottakekindlytotraceandtrail.Withtheexceptionofthetwomongrels,theywerebewilderedandspirit-brokenbythestrangesavageenvironmentinwhichtheyfoundthemselvesandbytheilltreatmenttheyhadreceived.Thetwomongrelswerewithoutspiritatall;bonesweretheonlythingsbreakableaboutthem.

Withthenewcomershopelessandforlorn,andtheoldteamwornoutbytwenty-fivehundredmilesofcontinuoustrail,theoutlookwasany-thingbutbright.Thetwomen,however,werequitecheerful.Andtheywereproud,too.Theyweredoingthethinginstyle,withfourteendogs.TheyhadseenothersledsdepartoverthePassforDawson,orcomeinfromDawson,butneverhadtheyseenasledwithsomanyasfourteendogs.InthenatureofArctictraveltherewasareasonwhyfourteendogsshouldnotdragonesled,andthatwasthatonesledcouldnotcarrythefoodforfourteendogs.ButCharlesandHaldidnotknowthis.Theyhad

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workedthetripoutwithapencil,somuchtoadog,somanydogs,somanydays,Q.E.D.Mercedeslookedovertheirshouldersandnoddedcomprehensively, it was all so very simple.

LatenextmorningBuckledthelongteamupthestreet.Therewasnothinglivelyaboutit,nosnaporgoinhimandhisfellows.Theywerestartingdeadweary.FourtimeshehadcoveredthedistancebetweenSaltWaterandDawson,andtheknowledgethat,jadedandtired,hewasfacingthesametrailoncemore,madehimbitter.Hisheartwasnotinthework,norwastheheartofanydog.TheOutsidesweretimidandfrightened, the Insides without confidence in their masters.

Buckfeltvaguelythattherewasnodependinguponthesetwomenandthewoman.Theydidnotknowhowtodoanything,andasthedayswentbyitbecameapparentthattheycouldnotlearn.Theywereslackinallthings,withoutorderordiscipline.Ittookthemhalfthenighttopitchaslovenlycamp,andhalfthemorningtobreakthatcampandgetthesledloadedinfashionsoslovenlythatfortherestofthedaytheywereoccupiedinstoppingandrearrangingtheload.Somedaystheydidnotmaketenmiles.Onotherdaystheywereunabletogetstartedatall.Andonnodaydidtheysucceedinmakingmorethanhalfthedistanceusedby the men as a basis in their dog-food computation.

Itwasinevitablethattheyshouldgoshortondog-food.Buttheyhasteneditbyoverfeeding,bringingthedaynearerwhenunderfeedingwouldcommence.TheOutsidedogs,whosedigestionshadnotbeentrainedbychronicfaminetomakethemostoflittle,hadvoraciousap-petites.Andwhen,inadditiontothis,theworn-outhuskiespulledweakly,Haldecidedthattheorthodoxrationwastoosmall.Hedoubledit.Andtocapitall,whenMercedes,withtearsinherprettyeyesandaquaverinherthroat,couldnotcajolehimintogivingthedogsstillmore,shestolefromthefish-sacksandfedthemslyly.ButitwasnotfoodthatBuckandthehuskiesneeded,butrest.Andthoughtheyweremakingpoor time, the heavy load they dragged sapped their strength severely.Thencametheunderfeeding.Halawokeonedaytothefactthathisdog-foodwashalfgoneandthedistanceonlyquartercovered;further,thatforloveormoneynoadditionaldog-foodwastobeobtained.Sohecutdowneventheorthodoxrationandtriedtoincreasetheday'stravel.Hissisterandbrother-in-lawsecondedhim;buttheywerefrustratedbytheirheavyoutfitandtheirownincompetence.Itwasasimplemattertogivethedogslessfood;butitwasimpossibletomakethedogstravelfaster,whiletheirowninabilitytogetunderwayearlierinthemorningpreventedthemfromtravellinglongerhours.Notonlydidtheynot

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knowhowtoworkdogs,buttheydidnotknowhowtoworkthemselves.

ThefirsttogowasDub.Poorblunderingthiefthathewas,alwaysget-tingcaughtandpunished,hehadnonethelessbeenafaithfulworker.Hiswrenchedshoulder-blade,untreatedandunrested,wentfrombadtoworse,tillfinallyHalshothimwiththebigColt'srevolver.ItisasayingofthecountrythatanOutsidedogstarvestodeathontherationofthehusky,sothesixOutsidedogsunderBuckcoulddonolessthandieonhalftherationofthehusky.TheNewfoundlandwentfirst,followedbythethreeshort-hairedpointers,thetwomongrelshangingmoregrittilyon to life, but going in the end.

BythistimealltheamenitiesandgentlenessesoftheSouthlandhadfallenawayfromthethreepeople.Shornofitsglamourandromance,Arctictravelbecametothemarealitytooharshfortheirmanhoodandwomanhood.Mercedesceasedweepingoverthedogs,beingtoooccu-piedwithweepingoverherselfandwithquarrellingwithherhusbandandbrother.Toquarrelwastheonethingtheywerenevertoowearytodo.Theirirritabilityaroseoutoftheirmisery,increasedwithit,doubleduponit,outdistancedit.Thewonderfulpatienceofthetrailwhichcomestomenwhotoilhardandsuffersore,andremainsweetofspeechandkindly,didnotcometothesetwomenandthewoman.Theyhadnoink-lingofsuchapatience.Theywerestiffandinpain;theirmusclesached,theirbonesached,theirveryheartsached;andbecauseofthistheybe-camesharpofspeech,andhardwordswerefirstontheirlipsinthemorning and last at night.

CharlesandHalwrangledwheneverMercedesgavethemachance.Itwasthecherishedbeliefofeachthathedidmorethanhisshareofthework,andneitherforboretospeakthisbeliefateveryopportunity.So-metimesMercedessidedwithherhusband,sometimeswithherbrother.Theresultwasabeautifulandunendingfamilyquarrel.Startingfromadisputeastowhichshouldchopafewsticksforthefire(adisputewhichconcernedonlyCharlesandHal),presentlywouldbeluggedintherestofthefamily,fathers,mothers,uncles,cousins,peoplethousandsofmilesaway,andsomeofthemdead.ThatHal'sviewsonart,orthesortofsocietyplayshismother'sbrotherwrote,shouldhaveanythingtodowiththechoppingofafewsticksoffirewood,passescomprehension;neverthelessthequarrelwasaslikelytotendinthatdirectionasinthedirectionofCharles'spoliticalprejudices.AndthatCharles'ssister'stale-bearingtongueshouldberelevanttothebuildingofaYukonfire,wasapparentonlytoMercedes,whodisburdenedherselfofcopiousopinions

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uponthattopic,andincidentallyuponafewothertraitsunpleasantlypeculiartoherhusband'sfamily.Inthemeantimethefireremainedun-built, the camp half pitched, and the dogs unfed.

Mercedesnursedaspecialgrievance—thegrievanceofsex.Shewasprettyandsoft,andhadbeenchivalrouslytreatedallherdays.Butthepresenttreatmentbyherhusbandandbrotherwaseverythingsavechiv-alrous.Itwashercustomtobehelpless.Theycomplained.Uponwhichimpeachmentofwhattoherwashermostessentialsex-prerogative,shemadetheirlivesunendurable.Shenolongerconsideredthedogs,andbecauseshewassoreandtired,shepersistedinridingonthesled.Shewasprettyandsoft,butsheweighedonehundredandtwentypounds—alustylaststrawtotheloaddraggedbytheweakandstarvinganimals.Sherodefordays,tilltheyfellinthetracesandthesledstoodstill.CharlesandHalbeggedhertogetoffandwalk,pleadedwithher,entreated,thewhilesheweptandimportunedHeavenwitharecitaloftheir brutality.

Ononeoccasiontheytookheroffthesledbymainstrength.Theynev-erdiditagain.Sheletherlegsgolimplikeaspoiledchild,andsatdownonthetrail.Theywentontheirway,butshedidnotmove.Aftertheyhadtravelledthreemilestheyunloadedthesled,camebackforher,andby main strength put her on the sled again.

Intheexcessoftheirownmiserytheywerecalloustothesufferingoftheiranimals.Hal'stheory,whichhepractisedonothers,wasthatonemustgethardened.Hehadstartedoutpreachingittohissisterandbrother-in-law.Failingthere,hehammereditintothedogswithaclub.AttheFiveFingersthedog-foodgaveout,andatoothlessoldsquawofferedtotradethemafewpoundsoffrozenhorse-hidefortheColt'sre-volverthatkeptthebighunting-knifecompanyatHal'ship.Apoorsub-stituteforfoodwasthishide,justasithadbeenstrippedfromthestarvedhorsesofthecattlemensixmonthsback.Initsfrozenstateitwasmorelikestripsofgalvanizediron,andwhenadogwrestleditintohisstomachitthawedintothinandinnutritiousleatherystringsandintoamass of short hair, irritating and indigestible.

AndthroughitallBuckstaggeredalongattheheadoftheteamasinanightmare.Hepulledwhenhecould;whenhecouldnolongerpull,hefelldownandremaineddowntillblowsfromwhiporclubdrovehimtohisfeetagain.Allthestiffnessandglosshadgoneoutofhisbeautifulfurrycoat.Thehairhungdown,limpanddraggled,ormattedwithdriedbloodwhereHal'sclubhadbruisedhim.Hismuscleshadwastedawaytoknottystrings,andthefleshpadshaddisappeared,sothateach

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ribandeveryboneinhisframewereoutlinedcleanlythroughtheloosehidethatwaswrinkledinfoldsofemptiness.Itwasheartbreaking,onlyBuck'sheartwasunbreakable.Themanintheredsweaterhadprovedthat.

AsitwaswithBuck,sowasitwithhismates.Theywereperambulat-ingskeletons.Thereweresevenalltogether,includinghim.Intheirverygreatmiserytheyhadbecomeinsensibletothebiteofthelashorthebruiseoftheclub.Thepainofthebeatingwasdullanddistant,justasthethingstheireyessawandtheirearsheardseemeddullanddistant.Theywerenothalfliving,orquarterliving.Theyweresimplysomanybagsofbonesinwhichsparksoflifeflutteredfaintly.Whenahaltwasmade,theydroppeddowninthetraceslikedeaddogs,andthesparkdimmedandpaledandseemedtogoout.Andwhenthecluborwhipfelluponthem,thesparkflutteredfeeblyup,andtheytotteredtotheirfeet and staggered on.

TherecameadaywhenBillee,thegood-natured,fellandcouldnotrise.Halhadtradedoffhisrevolver,sohetooktheaxeandknockedBilleeontheheadashelayinthetraces,thencutthecarcassoutoftheharnessanddraggedittooneside.Bucksaw,andhismatessaw,andtheyknewthatthisthingwasveryclosetothem.OnthenextdayKoonawent,andbutfiveofthemremained:Joe,toofargonetobemalignant;Pike,crippledandlimping,onlyhalfconsciousandnotconsciousenoughlongertomalinger;Sol-leks,theone-eyed,stillfaithfultothetoiloftraceandtrail,andmournfulinthathehadsolittlestrengthwithwhichtopull;Teek,whohadnottravelledsofarthatwinterandwhowasnowbeatenmorethantheothersbecausehewasfresher;andBuck,stillattheheadoftheteam,butnolongerenforcingdisciplineorstrivingtoenforceit,blindwithweaknesshalfthetimeandkeepingthetrailbythe loom of it and by the dim feel of his feet.

Itwasbeautifulspringweather,butneitherdogsnorhumanswereawareofit.Eachdaythesunroseearlierandsetlater.Itwasdawnbythreeinthemorning,andtwilightlingeredtillnineatnight.Thewholelongdaywasablazeofsunshine.Theghostlywintersilencehadgivenwaytothegreatspringmurmurofawakeninglife.Thismurmurarosefromalltheland,fraughtwiththejoyofliving.Itcamefromthethingsthatlivedandmovedagain,thingswhichhadbeenasdeadandwhichhadnotmovedduringthelongmonthsoffrost.Thesapwasrisinginthepines.Thewillowsandaspenswereburstingoutinyoungbuds.Shrubsandvineswereputtingonfreshgarbsofgreen.Cricketssanginthenights,andinthedaysallmannerofcreeping,crawlingthingsrustled

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forthintothesun.Partridgesandwoodpeckerswereboomingandknockingintheforest.Squirrelswerechattering,birdssinging,andover-headhonkedthewild-fowldrivingupfromthesouthincunningwedges that split the air.

Fromeveryhillslopecamethetrickleofrunningwater,themusicofunseenfountains.Allthingswerethawing,bending,snapping.TheYukonwasstrainingtobreakloosetheicethatbounditdown.Itateawayfrombeneath;thesunatefromabove.Air-holesformed,fissuressprangandspreadapart,whilethinsectionsoficefellthroughbodilyin-totheriver.Andamidallthisbursting,rending,throbbingofawakeninglife,undertheblazingsunandthroughthesoft-sighingbreezes,likewayfarers to death, staggered the two men, the woman, and the huskies.Withthedogsfalling,Mercedesweepingandriding,Halswearingin-nocuously,andCharles'seyeswistfullywatering,theystaggeredintoJohnThornton'scampatthemouthofWhiteRiver.Whentheyhalted,thedogsdroppeddownasthoughtheyhadallbeenstruckdead.Mer-cedesdriedhereyesandlookedatJohnThornton.Charlessatdownonalogtorest.Hesatdownveryslowlyandpainstakinglywhatofhisgreatstiffness.Haldidthetalking.JohnThorntonwaswhittlingthelasttouchesonanaxe-handlehehadmadefromastickofbirch.Hewhittledandlistened,gavemonosyllabicreplies,and,whenitwasasked,terseadvice.Heknewthebreed,andhegavehisadviceinthecertaintythatitwould not be followed.

"Theytoldusupabovethatthebottomwasdroppingoutofthetrailandthatthebestthingforustodowastolayover,"HalsaidinresponsetoThornton'swarningtotakenomorechancesontherottenice."Theytolduswecouldn'tmakeWhiteRiver,andhereweare."Thislastwithasneering ring of triumph in it.

"Andtheytoldyoutrue,"JohnThorntonanswered."Thebottom'slikelytodropoutatanymoment.Onlyfools,withtheblindluckoffools,couldhavemadeit.Itellyoustraight,Iwouldn'triskmycarcassonthatice for all the gold in Alaska."

"That'sbecauseyou'renotafool,Isuppose,"saidHal."Allthesame,we'llgoontoDawson."Heuncoiledhiswhip."Getupthere,Buck!Hi!Get up there! Mush on!"

Thorntonwentonwhittling.Itwasidle,heknew,togetbetweenafoolandhisfolly;whiletwoorthreefoolsmoreorlesswouldnotalterthescheme of things.

Buttheteamdidnotgetupatthecommand.Ithadlongsincepassedintothestagewhereblowswererequiredtorouseit.Thewhipflashed

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out,hereandthere,onitsmercilesserrands.JohnThorntoncompressedhislips.Sol-lekswasthefirsttocrawltohisfeet.Teekfollowed.Joecamenext,yelpingwithpain.Pikemadepainfulefforts.Twicehefellover,whenhalfup,andonthethirdattemptmanagedtorise.Buckmadenoeffort.Helayquietlywherehehadfallen.Thelashbitintohimagainandagain,butheneitherwhinednorstruggled.SeveraltimesThorntonstarted,asthoughtospeak,butchangedhismind.Amoisturecameintohiseyes,and,asthewhippingcontinued,hearoseandwalkedirresol-utely up and down.

ThiswasthefirsttimeBuckhadfailed,initselfasufficientreasontodriveHalintoarage.Heexchangedthewhipforthecustomaryclub.Buckrefusedtomoveundertherainofheavierblowswhichnowfelluponhim.Likehismates,hebarelyabletogetup,but,unlikethem,hehadmadeuphismindnottogetup.Hehadavaguefeelingofimpend-ingdoom.Thishadbeenstronguponhimwhenhepulledintothebank,andithadnotdepartedfromhim.Whatofthethinandrottenicehehadfeltunderhisfeetallday,itseemedthathesenseddisastercloseathand,outthereaheadontheicewherehismasterwastryingtodrivehim.Herefusedtostir.Sogreatlyhadhesuffered,andsofargonewashe,thattheblowsdidnothurtmuch.Andastheycontinuedtofalluponhim,thesparkoflifewithinflickeredandwentdown.Itwasnearlyout.Hefeltstrangelynumb.Asthoughfromagreatdistance,hewasawarethathewasbeingbeaten.Thelastsensationsofpainlefthim.Henolongerfeltanything,thoughveryfaintlyhecouldheartheimpactoftheclubupon his body. But it was no longer his body, it seemed so far away.

Andthen,suddenly,withoutwarning,utteringacrythatwasinarticu-lateandmorelikethecryofananimal,JohnThorntonspranguponthemanwhowieldedtheclub.Halwashurledbackward,asthoughstruckbyafailingtree.Mercedesscreamed.Charleslookedonwistfully,wipedhis watery eyes, but did not get up because of his stiffness.

JohnThorntonstoodoverBuck,strugglingtocontrolhimself,toocon-vulsed with rage to speak.

"Ifyoustrikethatdogagain,I'llkillyou,"heatlastmanagedtosayina choking voice.

"It'smydog,"Halreplied,wipingthebloodfromhismouthashecame back. "Get out of my way, or I'll fix you. I'm going to Dawson."

ThorntonstoodbetweenhimandBuck,andevincednointentionofgettingoutoftheway.Haldrewhislonghunting-knife.Mercedesscreamed,cried,laughed,andmanifestedthechaoticabandonmentofhysteria.ThorntonrappedHal'sknuckleswiththeaxe-handle,knocking

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theknifetotheground.Herappedhisknucklesagainashetriedtopickitup.Thenhestooped,pickedituphimself,andwithtwostrokescutBuck's traces.

Halhadnofightleftinhim.Besides,hishandswerefullwithhissis-ter,orhisarms,rather;whileBuckwastooneardeadtobeoffurtheruseinhaulingthesled.Afewminuteslatertheypulledoutfromthebankanddowntheriver.Buckheardthemgoandraisedhisheadtosee,Pikewasleading,Sol-lekswasatthewheel,andbetweenwereJoeandTeek.Theywerelimpingandstaggering.Mercedeswasridingtheloadedsled.Hal guided at the gee-pole, and Charles stumbled along in the rear.

AsBuckwatchedthem,Thorntonkneltbesidehimandwithrough,kindlyhandssearchedforbrokenbones.Bythetimehissearchhaddis-closednothingmorethanmanybruisesandastateofterriblestarvation,thesledwasaquarterofamileaway.Dogandmanwatcheditcrawlingalongovertheice.Suddenly,theysawitsbackenddropdown,asintoarut,andthegee-pole,withHalclingingtoit,jerkintotheair.Mercedes'sscreamcametotheirears.TheysawCharlesturnandmakeonesteptorunback,andthenawholesectionoficegivewayanddogsandhumansdisappear.Ayawningholewasallthatwastobeseen.Thebottomhaddropped out of the trail.

John Thornton and Buck looked at each other.

"You poor devil," said John Thornton, and Buck licked his hand.

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ChapterFor the Love of a Man

WhenJohnThorntonfrozehisfeetinthepreviousDecemberhispart-nershadmadehimcomfortableandlefthimtogetwell,goingonthem-selvesuptherivertogetoutaraftofsaw-logsforDawson.HewasstilllimpingslightlyatthetimeherescuedBuck,butwiththecontinuedwarmweathereventheslightlimplefthim.Andhere,lyingbytheriverbankthroughthelongspringdays,watchingtherunningwater,listen-inglazilytothesongsofbirdsandthehumofnature,Buckslowlywonback his strength.

Arestcomesverygoodafteronehastravelledthreethousandmiles,anditmustbeconfessedthatBuckwaxedlazyashiswoundshealed,hismusclesswelledout,andthefleshcamebacktocoverhisbones.Forthatmatter,theywereallloafing,—Buck,JohnThornton,andSkeetandNig,—waitingfortherafttocomethatwastocarrythemdowntoDawson.SkeetwasalittleIrishsetterwhoearlymadefriendswithBuck,who,inadyingcondition,wasunabletoresentherfirstadvances.Shehadthedoctortraitwhichsomedogspossess;andasamothercatwashesherkittens,soshewashedandcleansedBuck'swounds.Regu-larly,eachmorningafterhehadfinishedhisbreakfast,sheperformedherself-appointedtask,tillhecametolookforherministrationsasmuchashedidforThornton's.Nig,equallyfriendly,thoughlessdemon-strative,wasahugeblackdog,halfbloodhoundandhalfdeerhound,with eyes that laughed and a boundless good nature.

ToBuck'ssurprisethesedogsmanifestednojealousytowardhim.TheyseemedtosharethekindlinessandlargenessofJohnThornton.AsBuckgrewstrongertheyenticedhimintoallsortsofridiculousgames,inwhichThorntonhimselfcouldnotforbeartojoin;andinthisfashionBuckrompedthroughhisconvalescenceandintoanewexistence.Love,genuinepassionatelove,washisforthefirsttime.Thishehadneverex-periencedatJudgeMiller'sdowninthesun-kissedSantaClaraValley.WiththeJudge'ssons,huntingandtramping,ithadbeenaworking

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partnership;withtheJudge'sgrandsons,asortofpompousguardian-ship;andwiththeJudgehimself,astatelyanddignifiedfriendship.Butlovethatwasfeverishandburning,thatwasadoration,thatwasmad-ness, it had taken John Thornton to arouse.

Thismanhadsavedhislife,whichwassomething;but,further,hewastheidealmaster.Othermensawtothewelfareoftheirdogsfromasenseofdutyandbusinessexpediency;hesawtothewelfareofhisasiftheywerehisownchildren,becausehecouldnothelpit.Andhesawfurther.Heneverforgotakindlygreetingoracheeringword,andtositdownforalongtalkwiththem("gas"hecalledit)wasasmuchhisde-lightastheirs.HehadawayoftakingBuck'sheadroughlybetweenhishands,andrestinghisownheaduponBuck's,ofshakinghimbackandforth,thewhilecallinghimillnamesthattoBuckwerelovenames.Buckknewnogreaterjoythanthatroughembraceandthesoundofmur-muredoaths,andateachjerkbackandforthitseemedthathisheartwouldbeshakenoutofhisbodysogreatwasitsecstasy.Andwhen,re-leased,hesprangtohisfeet,hismouthlaughing,hiseyeseloquent,histhroatvibrantwithunutteredsound,andinthatfashionremainedwithoutmovement,JohnThorntonwouldreverentlyexclaim,"God!youcan all but speak!"

Buckhadatrickofloveexpressionthatwasakintohurt.Hewouldof-tenseizeThornton'shandinhismouthandclosesofiercelythatthefleshboretheimpressofhisteethforsometimeafterward.AndasBuckun-derstoodtheoathstobelovewords,sothemanunderstoodthisfeignedbite for a caress.

Forthemostpart,however,Buck'slovewasexpressedinadoration.WhilehewentwildwithhappinesswhenThorntontouchedhimorspoketohim,hedidnotseekthesetokens.UnlikeSkeet,whowaswonttoshovehernoseunderThornton'shandandnudgeandnudgetillpet-ted,orNig,whowouldstalkupandresthisgreatheadonThornton'sknee,Buckwascontenttoadoreatadistance.Hewouldliebythehour,eager,alert,atThornton'sfeet,lookingupintohisface,dwellinguponit,studyingit,followingwithkeenestinteresteachfleetingexpression,everymovementorchangeoffeature.Or,aschancemighthaveit,hewouldliefartheraway,tothesideorrear,watchingtheoutlinesofthemanandtheoccasionalmovementsofhisbody.Andoften,suchwasthecommunioninwhichtheylived,thestrengthofBuck'sgazewoulddrawJohnThornton'sheadaround,andhewouldreturnthegaze,withoutspeech, his heart shining out of his eyes as Buck's heart shone out.

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Foralongtimeafterhisrescue,BuckdidnotlikeThorntontogetoutofhissight.Fromthemomentheleftthetenttowhenheentereditagain,Buckwouldfollowathisheels.HistransientmasterssincehehadcomeintotheNorthlandhadbredinhimafearthatnomastercouldbepermanent.HewasafraidthatThorntonwouldpassoutofhislifeasPerraultandFrancoisandtheScotchhalf-breedhadpassedout.Eveninthenight,inhisdreams,hewashauntedbythisfear.Atsuchtimeshewouldshakeoffsleepandcreepthroughthechilltotheflapofthetent,where he would stand and listen to the sound of his master's breathing.ButinspiteofthisgreatloveheboreJohnThornton,whichseemedtobespeakthesoftcivilizinginfluence,thestrainoftheprimitive,whichtheNorthlandhadarousedinhim,remainedaliveandactive.Faithful-nessanddevotion,thingsbornoffireandroof,werehis;yetheretainedhiswildnessandwiliness.Hewasathingofthewild,comeinfromthewildtositbyJohnThornton'sfire,ratherthanadogofthesoftSouth-landstampedwiththemarksofgenerationsofcivilization.Becauseofhisverygreatlove,hecouldnotstealfromthisman,butfromanyotherman,inanyothercamp,hedidnothesitateaninstant;whilethecunningwith which he stole enabled him to escape detection.

Hisfaceandbodywerescoredbytheteethofmanydogs,andhefoughtasfiercelyaseverandmoreshrewdly.SkeetandNigweretoogood-naturedforquarrelling,—besides,theybelongedtoJohnThornton;butthestrangedog,nomatterwhatthebreedorvalor,swiftlyacknow-ledgedBuck'ssupremacyorfoundhimselfstrugglingforlifewithater-ribleantagonist.AndBuckwasmerciless.Hehadlearnedwellthelawofclubandfang,andheneverforewentanadvantageordrewbackfromafoehehadstartedonthewaytoDeath.HehadlessonedfromSpitz,andfromthechieffightingdogsofthepoliceandmail,andknewtherewasnomiddlecourse.Hemustmasterorbemastered;whiletoshowmercywasaweakness.Mercydidnotexistintheprimordiallife.Itwasmisun-derstoodforfear,andsuchmisunderstandingsmadefordeath.Killorbekilled,eatorbeeaten,wasthelaw;andthismandate,downoutofthedepths of Time, he obeyed.

Hewasolderthanthedayshehadseenandthebreathshehaddrawn.Helinkedthepastwiththepresent,andtheeternitybehindhimthrobbedthroughhiminamightyrhythmtowhichheswayedasthetidesandseasonsswayed.HesatbyJohnThornton'sfire,abroad-breasteddog,white-fangedandlong-furred;butbehindhimweretheshadesofallmannerofdogs,half-wolvesandwildwolves,urgentandprompting,tastingthesavorofthemeatheate,thirstingforthewaterhe

52

drank,scentingthewindwithhim,listeningwithhimandtellinghimthesoundsmadebythewildlifeintheforest,dictatinghismoods,dir-ectinghisactions,lyingdowntosleepwithhimwhenhelaydown,anddreamingwithhimandbeyondhimandbecomingthemselvesthestuffof his dreams.

Soperemptorilydidtheseshadesbeckonhim,thateachdaymankindandtheclaimsofmankindslippedfartherfromhim.Deepintheforestacallwassounding,andasoftenasheheardthiscall,mysteriouslythrill-ingandluring,hefeltcompelledtoturnhisbackuponthefireandthebeateneartharoundit,andtoplungeintotheforest,andonandon,heknewnotwhereorwhy;nordidhewonderwhereorwhy,thecallsoundingimperiously,deepintheforest.Butasoftenashegainedthesoftunbrokenearthandthegreenshade,theloveforJohnThorntondrew him back to the fire again.

Thorntonaloneheldhim.Therestofmankindwasasnothing.Chancetravellersmightpraiseorpethim;buthewascoldunderitall,andfromatoodemonstrativemanhewouldgetupandwalkaway.WhenThornton'spartners,HansandPete,arrivedonthelong-expectedraft,BuckrefusedtonoticethemtillhelearnedtheywereclosetoThornton;afterthathetoleratedtheminapassivesortofway,acceptingfavorsfromthemasthoughhefavoredthembyaccepting.TheywereofthesamelargetypeasThornton,livingclosetotheearth,thinkingsimplyandseeingclearly;anderetheyswungtheraftintothebigeddybythesaw-millatDawson,theyunderstoodBuckandhisways,anddidnotinsist upon an intimacy such as obtained with Skeet and Nig.

ForThornton,however,hisloveseemedtogrowandgrow.He,aloneamongmen,couldputapackuponBuck'sbackinthesummertravel-ling.NothingwastoogreatforBucktodo,whenThorntoncommanded.Oneday(theyhadgrub-stakedthemselvesfromtheproceedsoftheraftandleftDawsonforthehead-watersoftheTanana)themenanddogsweresittingonthecrestofacliffwhichfellaway,straightdown,tonakedbed-rockthreehundredfeetbelow.JohnThorntonwassittingneartheedge,Buckathisshoulder.AthoughtlesswhimseizedThornton,andhedrewtheattentionofHansandPetetotheexperimenthehadinmind."Jump,Buck!"hecommanded,sweepinghisarmoutandoverthechasm.ThenextinstanthewasgrapplingwithBuckontheextreme edge, while Hans and Pete were dragging them back into safety."It'suncanny,"Petesaid,afteritwasoverandtheyhadcaughttheirspeech.

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Thorntonshookhishead."No,itissplendid,anditisterrible,too.Doyou know, it sometimes makes me afraid."

"I'mnothankeringtobethemanthatlayshandsonyouwhilehe'saround," Pete announced conclusively, nodding his head toward Buck."Py Jingo!" was Hans's contribution. "Not mineself either."

ItwasatCircleCity,eretheyearwasout,thatPete'sapprehensionswererealized."Black"Burton,amanevil-temperedandmalicious,hadbeenpickingaquarrelwithatenderfootatthebar,whenThorntonsteppedgood-naturedlybetween.Buck,aswashiscustom,waslyinginacorner,headonpaws,watchinghismaster'severyaction.Burtonstruckout,withoutwarning,straightfromtheshoulder.Thorntonwassentspinning,andsavedhimselffromfallingonlybyclutchingtherailof the bar.

Thosewhowerelookingonheardwhatwasneitherbarknoryelp,butasomethingwhichisbestdescribedasaroar,andtheysawBuck'sbodyriseupintheairasheleftthefloorforBurton'sthroat.Themansavedhislifebyinstinctivelythrowingouthisarm,butwashurledbackwardtothefloorwithBuckontopofhim.Buckloosedhisteethfromthefleshofthearmanddroveinagainforthethroat.Thistimethemansuc-ceededonlyinpartlyblocking,andhisthroatwastornopen.ThenthecrowdwasuponBuck,andhewasdrivenoff;butwhileasurgeoncheckedthebleeding,heprowledupanddown,growlingfuriously,at-temptingtorushin,andbeingforcedbackbyanarrayofhostileclubs.A"miners'meeting,"calledonthespot,decidedthatthedoghadsufficientprovocation,andBuckwasdischarged.Buthisreputationwasmade,and from that day his name spread through every camp in Alaska.

Lateron,inthefalloftheyear,hesavedJohnThornton'slifeinquiteanotherfashion.Thethreepartnerswereliningalongandnarrowpoling-boatdownabadstretchofrapidsontheForty-MileCreek.HansandPetemovedalongthebank,snubbingwithathinManilaropefromtreetotree,whileThorntonremainedintheboat,helpingitsdescentbymeansofapole,andshoutingdirectionstotheshore.Buck,onthebank,worriedandanxious,keptabreastoftheboat,hiseyesneveroffhismaster.

Ataparticularlybadspot,wherealedgeofbarelysubmergedrocksjuttedoutintotheriver,Hanscastofftherope,and,whileThorntonpoledtheboatoutintothestream,randownthebankwiththeendinhishandtosnubtheboatwhenithadclearedtheledge.Thisitdid,andwasflyingdown-streaminacurrentasswiftasamill-race,whenHanscheckeditwiththeropeandcheckedtoosuddenly.Theboatflirtedover

54

andsnubbedintothebankbottomup,whileThornton,flungsheeroutofit,wascarrieddown-streamtowardtheworstpartoftherapids,astretch of wild water in which no swimmer could live.

Buckhadsprunginontheinstant;andattheendofthreehundredyards,amidamadswirlofwater,heoverhauledThornton.Whenhefelthimgrasphistail,Buckheadedforthebank,swimmingwithallhissplendidstrength.Buttheprogressshorewardwasslow;theprogressdown-streamamazinglyrapid.Frombelowcamethefatalroaringwherethewildcurrentwentwilderandwasrentinshredsandspraybytherockswhichthrustthroughliketheteethofanenormouscomb.Thesuckofthewaterasittookthebeginningofthelaststeeppitchwasfrightful,andThorntonknewthattheshorewasimpossible.Hescrapedfuriouslyoverarock,bruisedacrossasecond,andstruckathirdwithcrushingforce.Heclutcheditsslipperytopwithbothhands,releasingBuck,andabove the roar of the churning water shouted: "Go, Buck! Go!"

Buckcouldnotholdhisown,andsweptondown-stream,strugglingdesperately,butunabletowinback.WhenheheardThornton'scom-mandrepeated,hepartlyrearedoutofthewater,throwinghisheadhigh,asthoughforalastlook,thenturnedobedientlytowardthebank.HeswampowerfullyandwasdraggedashorebyPeteandHansattheverypointwhereswimmingceasedtobepossibleanddestructionbegan.

Theyknewthatthetimeamancouldclingtoaslipperyrockinthefaceofthatdrivingcurrentwasamatterofminutes,andtheyranasfastastheycouldupthebanktoapointfarabovewhereThorntonwashangingon.TheyattachedthelinewithwhichtheyhadbeensnubbingtheboattoBuck'sneckandshoulders,beingcarefulthatitshouldneitherstranglehimnorimpedehisswimming,andlaunchedhimintothestream.Hestruckoutboldly,butnotstraightenoughintothestream.Hediscoveredthemistaketoolate,whenThorntonwasabreastofhimandabarehalf-dozenstrokesawaywhilehewasbeingcarriedhelp-lessly past.

Hanspromptlysnubbedwiththerope,asthoughBuckwereaboat.Theropethustighteningonhiminthesweepofthecurrent,hewasjerkedunderthesurface,andunderthesurfaceheremainedtillhisbodystruckagainstthebankandhewashauledout.Hewashalfdrowned,andHansandPetethrewthemselvesuponhim,poundingthebreathin-tohimandthewateroutofhim.Hestaggeredtohisfeetandfelldown.ThefaintsoundofThornton'svoicecametothem,andthoughtheycouldnotmakeoutthewordsofit,theyknewthathewasinhis

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extremity.Hismaster'svoiceactedonBucklikeanelectricshock,Hesprangtohisfeetandranupthebankaheadofthementothepointofhis previous departure.

Againtheropewasattachedandhewaslaunched,andagainhestruckout,butthistimestraightintothestream.Hehadmiscalculatedonce,buthewouldnotbeguiltyofitasecondtime.Hanspaidouttherope,permittingnoslack,whilePetekeptitclearofcoils.BuckheldontillhewasonalinestraightaboveThornton;thenheturned,andwiththespeedofanexpresstrainheadeddownuponhim.Thorntonsawhimcoming,and,asBuckstruckhimlikeabatteringram,withthewholeforceofthecurrentbehindhim,hereachedupandclosedwithbotharmsaroundtheshaggyneck.Hanssnubbedtheropearoundthetree,andBuckandThorntonwerejerkedunderthewater.Strangling,suffoc-ating,sometimesoneuppermostandsometimestheother,draggingoverthejaggedbottom,smashingagainstrocksandsnags,theyveeredintothe bank.

Thorntoncameto,bellydownwardandbeingviolentlypropelledbackandforthacrossadriftlogbyHansandPete.HisfirstglancewasforBuck,overwhoselimpandapparentlylifelessbodyNigwassettingupahowl,whileSkeetwaslickingthewetfaceandclosedeyes.Thorntonwashimselfbruisedandbattered,andhewentcarefullyoverBuck'sbody, when he had been brought around, finding three broken ribs.

"Thatsettlesit,"heannounced."Wecamprighthere."Andcamptheydid, till Buck's ribs knitted and he was able to travel.

Thatwinter,atDawson,Buckperformedanotherexploit,notsohero-ic,perhaps,butonethatputhisnamemanynotcheshigheronthetotem-poleofAlaskanfame.Thisexploitwasparticularlygratifyingtothethreemen;fortheystoodinneedoftheoutfitwhichitfurnished,andwereenabledtomakealong-desiredtripintothevirginEast,whereminershadnotyetappeared.ItwasbroughtaboutbyaconversationintheEldoradoSaloon,inwhichmenwaxedboastfuloftheirfavoritedogs.Buck,becauseofhisrecord,wasthetargetforthesemen,andThorntonwasdrivenstoutlytodefendhim.Attheendofhalfanhouronemanstatedthathisdogcouldstartasledwithfivehundredpoundsandwalkoffwithit;asecondbraggedsixhundredforhisdog;andathird,sevenhundred.

"Pooh! pooh!" said John Thornton; "Buck can start a thousand pounds.""Andbreakitout?andwalkoffwithitforahundredyards?"deman-ded Matthewson, a Bonanza King, he of the seven hundred vaunt.

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"Andbreakitout,andwalkoffwithitforahundredyards,"JohnThornton said coolly.

"Well,"Matthewsonsaid,slowlyanddeliberately,sothatallcouldhear,"I'vegotathousanddollarsthatsayshecan't.Andthereitis."Sosaying,heslammedasackofgolddustofthesizeofabolognasausagedown upon the bar.

Nobodyspoke.Thornton'sbluff,ifbluffitwas,hadbeencalled.Hecouldfeelaflushofwarmbloodcreepinguphisface.Histonguehadtrickedhim.HedidnotknowwhetherBuckcouldstartathousandpounds.Halfaton!Theenormousnessofitappalledhim.HehadgreatfaithinBuck'sstrengthandhadoftenthoughthimcapableofstartingsuchaload;butnever,asnow,hadhefacedthepossibilityofit,theeyesofadozenmenfixeduponhim,silentandwaiting.Further,hehadnothousand dollars; nor had Hans or Pete.

"I'vegotasledstandingoutsidenow,withtwentyfiftypoundsacksofflouronit,"Matthewsonwentonwithbrutaldirectness;"sodon'tletthathinder you."

Thorntondidnotreply.Hedidnotknowwhattosay.Heglancedfromfacetofaceintheabsentwayofamanwhohaslostthepowerofthoughtandisseekingsomewheretofindthethingthatwillstartitgo-ingagain.ThefaceofJimO'Brien,aMastodonKingandold-timecom-rade,caughthiseyes.Itwasasacuetohim,seemingtorousehimtodowhat he would never have dreamed of doing.

"Can you lend me a thousand?" he asked, almost in a whisper.

"Sure,"answeredO'Brien,thumpingdownaplethoricsackbythesideofMatthewson's."Thoughit'slittlefaithI'mhaving,John,thatthebeastcan do the trick."

TheEldoradoemptieditsoccupantsintothestreettoseethetest.Thetablesweredeserted,andthedealersandgamekeeperscameforthtoseetheoutcomeofthewagerandtolayodds.Severalhundredmen,furredandmittened,bankedaroundthesledwithineasydistance.Matthewson'ssled,loadedwithathousandpoundsofflour,hadbeenstandingforacoupleofhours,andintheintensecold(itwassixtybelowzero)therunnershadfrozenfasttothehard-packedsnow.MenofferedoddsoftwotoonethatBuckcouldnotbudgethesled.Aquibblearoseconcerningthephrase"breakout."O'BriencontendeditwasThornton'sprivilegetoknocktherunnersloose,leavingBuckto"breakitout"fromadeadstandstill.Matthewsoninsistedthatthephraseincludedbreakingtherunnersfromthefrozengripofthesnow.Amajorityofthemenwho

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hadwitnessedthemakingofthebetdecidedinhisfavor,whereattheodds went up to three to one against Buck.

Therewerenotakers.Notamanbelievedhimcapableofthefeat.Thorntonhadbeenhurriedintothewager,heavywithdoubt;andnowthathelookedatthesleditself,theconcretefact,withtheregularteamoftendogscurledupinthesnowbeforeit,themoreimpossiblethetaskappeared. Matthewson waxed jubilant.

"Threetoone!"heproclaimed."I'lllayyouanotherthousandatthatfigure, Thornton. What d'ye say?"

Thornton'sdoubtwasstronginhisface,buthisfightingspiritwasaroused—thefightingspiritthatsoarsaboveodds,failstorecognizetheimpossible,andisdeaftoallsavetheclamorforbattle.HecalledHansandPetetohim.Theirsackswereslim,andwithhisownthethreepart-nerscouldraketogetheronlytwohundreddollars.Intheebboftheirfortunes,thissumwastheirtotalcapital;yettheylaiditunhesitatinglyagainst Matthewson's six hundred.

Theteamoftendogswasunhitched,andBuck,withhisownharness,wasputintothesled.Hehadcaughtthecontagionoftheexcitement,andhefeltthatinsomewayhemustdoagreatthingforJohnThornton.Murmursofadmirationathissplendidappearancewentup.Hewasinperfectcondition,withoutanounceofsuperfluousflesh,andtheonehundredandfiftypoundsthatheweighedweresomanypoundsofgritandvirility.Hisfurrycoatshonewiththesheenofsilk.Downtheneckandacrosstheshoulders,hismane,inreposeasitwas,halfbristledandseemedtoliftwitheverymovement,asthoughexcessofvigormadeeachparticularhairaliveandactive.Thegreatbreastandheavyforelegswerenomorethaninproportionwiththerestofthebody,wherethemusclesshowedintightrollsunderneaththeskin.Menfeltthesemusclesandproclaimedthemhardasiron,andtheoddswentdowntotwo to one.

"Gad,sir!Gad,sir!"stutteredamemberofthelatestdynasty,akingoftheSkookumBenches."Iofferyoueighthundredforhim,sir,beforethetest, sir; eight hundred just as he stands."

Thornton shook his head and stepped to Buck's side.

"Youmuststandofffromhim,"Matthewsonprotested."Freeplayandplenty of room."

Thecrowdfellsilent;onlycouldbeheardthevoicesofthegamblersvainlyofferingtwotoone.EverybodyacknowledgedBuckamagnificentanimal,buttwentyfifty-poundsacksofflourbulkedtoolargeintheireyes for them to loosen their pouch-strings.

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ThorntonkneltdownbyBuck'sside.Hetookhisheadinhistwohandsandrestedcheekoncheek.Hedidnotplayfullyshakehim,aswashiswont,ormurmursoftlovecurses;buthewhisperedinhisear."Asyouloveme,Buck.Asyouloveme,"waswhathewhispered.Buckwhined with suppressed eagerness.

Thecrowdwaswatchingcuriously.Theaffairwasgrowingmysteri-ous.Itseemedlikeaconjuration.AsThorntongottohisfeet,Buckseizedhismittenedhandbetweenhisjaws,pressinginwithhisteethandre-leasingslowly,half-reluctantly.Itwastheanswer,interms,notofspeech, but of love. Thornton stepped well back.

"Now, Buck," he said.

Bucktightenedthetraces,thenslackedthemforamatterofseveralinches. It was the way he had learned.

"Gee!" Thornton's voice rang out, sharp in the tense silence.

Buckswungtotheright,endingthemovementinaplungethattookuptheslackandwithasuddenjerkarrestedhisonehundredandfiftypounds.Theloadquivered,andfromundertherunnersaroseacrispcrackling.

"Haw!" Thornton commanded.

Buckduplicatedthemanoeuvre,thistimetotheleft.Thecracklingturnedintoasnapping,thesledpivotingandtherunnersslippingandgratingseveralinchestotheside.Thesledwasbrokenout.Menwereholding their breaths, intensely unconscious of the fact.

"Now, MUSH!"

Thornton'scommandcrackedoutlikeapistol-shot.Buckthrewhim-selfforward,tighteningthetraceswithajarringlunge.Hiswholebodywasgatheredcompactlytogetherinthetremendouseffort,themuscleswrithingandknottinglikelivethingsunderthesilkyfur.Hisgreatchestwaslowtotheground,hisheadforwardanddown,whilehisfeetwereflyinglikemad,theclawsscarringthehard-packedsnowinparallelgrooves.Thesledswayedandtrembled,half-startedforward.Oneofhisfeetslipped,andonemangroanedaloud.Thenthesledlurchedaheadinwhatappearedarapidsuccessionofjerks,thoughitneverreallycametoadeadstopagain…halfaninch…aninch…twoinches…Thejerksperceptiblydiminished;asthesledgainedmomentum,hecaughtthemup, till it was moving steadily along.

Mengaspedandbegantobreatheagain,unawarethatforamomenttheyhadceasedtobreathe.Thorntonwasrunningbehind,encouragingBuckwithshort,cheerywords.Thedistancehadbeenmeasuredoff,andashenearedthepileoffirewoodwhichmarkedtheendofthehundred

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yards,acheerbegantogrowandgrow,whichburstintoaroarashepassedthefirewoodandhaltedatcommand.Everymanwastearinghimselfloose,evenMatthewson.Hatsandmittenswereflyingintheair.Menwereshakinghands,itdidnotmatterwithwhom,andbubblingover in a general incoherent babel.

ButThorntonfellonhiskneesbesideBuck.Headwasagainsthead,andhewasshakinghimbackandforth.ThosewhohurriedupheardhimcursingBuck,andhecursedhimlongandfervently,andsoftlyandlovingly.

"Gad,sir!Gad,sir!"splutteredtheSkookumBenchking."I'llgiveyoua thousand for him, sir, a thousand, sir—twelve hundred, sir."

Thorntonrosetohisfeet.Hiseyeswerewet.Thetearswerestreamingfranklydownhischeeks."Sir,"hesaidtotheSkookumBenchking,"no,sir. You can go to hell, sir. It's the best I can do for you, sir."

BuckseizedThornton'shandinhisteeth.Thorntonshookhimbackandforth.Asthoughanimatedbyacommonimpulse,theonlookersdrewbacktoarespectfuldistance;norweretheyagainindiscreetenough to interrupt.

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ChapterThe Sounding of the Call

WhenBuckearnedsixteenhundreddollarsinfiveminutesforJohnThornton,hemadeitpossibleforhismastertopayoffcertaindebtsandtojourneywithhispartnersintotheEastafterafabledlostmine,thehis-toryofwhichwasasoldasthehistoryofthecountry.Manymenhadsoughtit;fewhadfoundit;andmorethanafewtherewerewhohadneverreturnedfromthequest.Thislostminewassteepedintragedyandshroudedinmystery.Nooneknewofthefirstman.Theoldesttra-ditionstoppedbeforeitgotbacktohim.Fromthebeginningtherehadbeenanancientandramshacklecabin.Dyingmenhadsworntoit,andtotheminethesiteofwhichitmarked,clinchingtheirtestimonywithnuggets that were unlike any known grade of gold in the Northland.Butnolivingmanhadlootedthistreasurehouse,andthedeadweredead;whereforeJohnThorntonandPeteandHans,withBuckandhalfadozenotherdogs,facedintotheEastonanunknowntrailtoachievewheremenanddogsasgoodasthemselveshadfailed.TheysleddedseventymilesuptheYukon,swungtotheleftintotheStewartRiver,passedtheMayoandtheMcQuestion,andheldonuntiltheStewartit-selfbecameastreamlet,threadingtheupstandingpeakswhichmarkedthe backbone of the continent.

JohnThorntonaskedlittleofmanornature.Hewasunafraidofthewild.Withahandfulofsaltandariflehecouldplungeintothewilder-nessandfarewhereverhepleasedandaslongashepleased.Beinginnohaste,Indianfashion,hehuntedhisdinnerinthecourseoftheday'stravel;andifhefailedtofindit,liketheIndian,hekeptontravelling,se-cureintheknowledgethatsoonerorlaterhewouldcometoit.So,onthisgreatjourneyintotheEast,straightmeatwasthebilloffare,am-munitionandtoolsprincipallymadeuptheloadonthesled,andthetime-card was drawn upon the limitless future.

ToBuckitwasboundlessdelight,thishunting,fishing,andindefinitewanderingthroughstrangeplaces.Forweeksatatimetheywouldhold

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onsteadily,dayafterday;andforweeksuponendtheywouldcamp,hereandthere,thedogsloafingandthemenburningholesthroughfrozenmuckandgravelandwashingcountlesspansofdirtbytheheatofthefire.Sometimestheywenthungry,sometimestheyfeastedriot-ously,allaccordingtotheabundanceofgameandthefortuneofhunt-ing.Summerarrived,anddogsandmenpackedontheirbacks,raftedacrossbluemountainlakes,anddescendedorascendedunknownriversin slender boats whipsawed from the standing forest.

Themonthscameandwent,andbackandforththeytwistedthroughtheunchartedvastness,wherenomenwereandyetwheremenhadbeeniftheLostCabinweretrue.Theywentacrossdividesinsummerblizzards,shiveredunderthemidnightsunonnakedmountainsbetweenthetimberlineandtheeternalsnows,droppedintosummervalleysamidswarminggnatsandflies,andintheshadowsofglacierspickedstrawberriesandflowersasripeandfairasanytheSouthlandcouldboast.Inthefalloftheyeartheypenetratedaweirdlakecountry,sadandsilent,wherewild-fowlhadbeen,butwherethentherewasnolifenorsignoflife—onlytheblowingofchillwinds,theformingoficeinshelteredplaces,andthemelancholyripplingofwavesonlonelybeaches.

Andthroughanotherwintertheywanderedontheobliteratedtrailsofmenwhohadgonebefore.Once,theycameuponapathblazedthroughtheforest,anancientpath,andtheLostCabinseemedverynear.Butthepathbegannowhereandendednowhere,anditremainedmystery,asthemanwhomadeitandthereasonhemadeitremainedmystery.Anothertimetheychanceduponthetime-gravenwreckageofahuntinglodge,andamidtheshredsofrottedblanketsJohnThorntonfoundalong-barrelledflint-lock.HeknewitforaHudsonBayCompanygunoftheyoungdaysintheNorthwest,whensuchagunwasworthitsheightinbeaverskinspackedflat,Andthatwasall—nohintastothemanwhoinanearlydayhadrearedthelodgeandleftthegunamongtheblankets.

Springcameononcemore,andattheendofalltheirwanderingtheyfound,nottheLostCabin,butashallowplacerinabroadvalleywherethegoldshowedlikeyellowbutteracrossthebottomofthewashing-pan.Theysoughtnofarther.Eachdaytheyworkedearnedthemthou-sandsofdollarsincleandustandnuggets,andtheyworkedeveryday.Thegoldwassackedinmoose-hidebags,fiftypoundstothebag,andpiledlikesomuchfirewoodoutsidethespruce-boughlodge.Likegiants

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theytoiled,daysflashingontheheelsofdayslikedreamsastheyheaped the treasure up.

Therewasnothingforthedogstodo,savethehaulinginofmeatnowandagainthatThorntonkilled,andBuckspentlonghoursmusingbythefire.Thevisionoftheshort-leggedhairymancametohimmorefre-quently,nowthattherewaslittleworktobedone;andoften,blinkingbythefire,Buckwanderedwithhiminthatotherworldwhichheremembered.

Thesalientthingofthisotherworldseemedfear.Whenhewatchedthehairymansleepingbythefire,headbetweenhiskneesandhandsclaspedabove,Bucksawthathesleptrestlessly,withmanystartsandawakenings,atwhichtimeshewouldpeerfearfullyintothedarknessandflingmorewooduponthefire.Didtheywalkbythebeachofasea,wherethehairymangatheredshell-fishandatethemashegathered,itwaswitheyesthatrovedeverywhereforhiddendangerandwithlegspreparedtorunlikethewindatitsfirstappearance.Throughtheforesttheycreptnoiselessly,Buckatthehairyman'sheels;andtheywerealertandvigilant,thepairofthem,earstwitchingandmovingandnostrilsquivering,forthemanheardandsmelledaskeenlyasBuck.Thehairymancouldspringupintothetreesandtravelaheadasfastasontheground,swingingbythearmsfromlimbtolimb,sometimesadozenfeetapart,lettinggoandcatching,neverfalling,nevermissinghisgrip.Infact,heseemedasmuchathomeamongthetreesasontheground;andBuckhadmemoriesofnightsofvigilspentbeneathtreeswhereinthehairy man roosted, holding on tightly as he slept.

Andcloselyakintothevisionsofthehairymanwasthecallstillsoundinginthedepthsoftheforest.Itfilledhimwithagreatunrestandstrangedesires.Itcausedhimtofeelavague,sweetgladness,andhewasawareofwildyearningsandstirringsforheknewnotwhat.Some-timeshepursuedthecallintotheforest,lookingforitasthoughitwereatangiblething,barkingsoftlyordefiantly,asthemoodmightdictate.Hewouldthrusthisnoseintothecoolwoodmoss,orintotheblacksoilwherelonggrassesgrew,andsnortwithjoyatthefatearthsmells;orhewouldcrouchforhours,asifinconcealment,behindfungus-coveredtrunksoffallentrees,wide-eyedandwide-earedtoallthatmovedandsoundedabouthim.Itmightbe,lyingthus,thathehopedtosurprisethiscallhecouldnotunderstand.Buthedidnotknowwhyhedidthesevariousthings.Hewasimpelledtodothem,anddidnotreasonaboutthem at all.

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Irresistibleimpulsesseizedhim.Hewouldbelyingincamp,dozinglazilyintheheatoftheday,whensuddenlyhisheadwouldliftandhisearscockup,intentandlistening,andhewouldspringtohisfeetanddashaway,andonandon,forhours,throughtheforestaislesandacrosstheopenspaceswheretheniggerheadsbunched.Helovedtorundowndrywatercourses,andtocreepandspyuponthebirdlifeinthewoods.Foradayatatimehewouldlieintheunderbrushwherehecouldwatchthepartridgesdrummingandstruttingupanddown.Butespeciallyhelovedtoruninthedimtwilightofthesummermidnights,listeningtothesubduedandsleepymurmursoftheforest,readingsignsandsoundsasmanmayreadabook,andseekingforthemysterioussomethingthatcalled—called, waking or sleeping, at all times, for him to come.

Onenighthesprangfromsleepwithastart,eager-eyed,nostrilsquiv-eringandscenting,hismanebristlinginrecurrentwaves.Fromtheforestcamethecall(oronenoteofit,forthecallwasmanynoted),dis-tinctanddefiniteasneverbefore,—along-drawnhowl,like,yetunlike,anynoisemadebyhuskydog.Andheknewit,intheoldfamiliarway,asasoundheardbefore.Hesprangthroughthesleepingcampandinswiftsilencedashedthroughthewoods.Ashedrewclosertothecryhewentmoreslowly,withcautionineverymovement,tillhecametoanopenplaceamongthetrees,andlookingoutsaw,erectonhaunches,with nose pointed to the sky, a long, lean, timber wolf.

Hehadmadenonoise,yetitceasedfromitshowlingandtriedtosensehispresence.Buckstalkedintotheopen,halfcrouching,bodygatheredcompactlytogether,tailstraightandstiff,feetfallingwithun-wontedcare.Everymovementadvertisedcommingledthreateningandovertureoffriendliness.Itwasthemenacingtrucethatmarksthemeet-ingofwildbeaststhatprey.Butthewolffledatsightofhim.Hefol-lowed,withwildleapings,inafrenzytoovertake.Heranhimintoablindchannel,inthebedofthecreekwhereatimberjambarredtheway.Thewolfwhirledabout,pivotingonhishindlegsafterthefashionofJoeandofallcorneredhuskydogs,snarlingandbristling,clippinghisteethtogether in a continuous and rapid succession of snaps.

Buckdidnotattack,butcircledhimaboutandhedgedhiminwithfriendlyadvances.Thewolfwassuspiciousandafraid;forBuckmadethreeofhiminweight,whilehisheadbarelyreachedBuck'sshoulder.Watchinghischance,hedartedaway,andthechasewasresumed.Timeandagainhewascornered,andthethingrepeated,thoughhewasinpoorcondition,orBuckcouldnotsoeasilyhaveovertakenhim.He

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wouldruntillBuck'sheadwasevenwithhisflank,whenhewouldwhirl around at bay, only to dash away again at the first opportunity.ButintheendBuck'spertinacitywasrewarded;forthewolf,findingthatnoharmwasintended,finallysniffednoseswithhim.Thentheybe-camefriendly,andplayedaboutinthenervous,half-coywaywithwhichfiercebeastsbelietheirfierceness.Aftersometimeofthisthewolfstartedoffataneasylopeinamannerthatplainlyshowedhewasgoingsomewhere.HemadeitcleartoBuckthathewastocome,andtheyransidebysidethroughthesombretwilight,straightupthecreekbed,intothegorgefromwhichitissued,andacrossthebleakdividewhereittookits rise.

Ontheoppositeslopeofthewatershedtheycamedownintoalevelcountrywhereweregreatstretchesofforestandmanystreams,andthroughthesegreatstretchestheyransteadily,hourafterhour,thesunrisinghigherandthedaygrowingwarmer.Buckwaswildlyglad.Heknewhewasatlastansweringthecall,runningbythesideofhiswoodbrothertowardtheplacefromwherethecallsurelycame.Oldmemorieswerecominguponhimfast,andhewasstirringtothemasofoldhestirredtotherealitiesofwhichtheyweretheshadows.Hehaddonethisthingbefore,somewhereinthatotheranddimlyrememberedworld,andhewasdoingitagain,now,runningfreeintheopen,theunpackedearth underfoot, the wide sky overhead.

Theystoppedbyarunningstreamtodrink,and,stopping,Buckre-memberedJohnThornton.Hesatdown.Thewolfstartedontowardtheplacefromwherethecallsurelycame,thenreturnedtohim,sniffingnosesandmakingactionsasthoughtoencouragehim.ButBuckturnedaboutandstartedslowlyonthebacktrack.Forthebetterpartofanhourthewildbrotherranbyhisside,whiningsoftly.Thenhesatdown,poin-tedhisnoseupward,andhowled.Itwasamournfulhowl,andasBuckheldsteadilyonhiswayhehearditgrowfaintandfainteruntilitwaslost in the distance.

JohnThorntonwaseatingdinnerwhenBuckdashedintocampandspranguponhiminafrenzyofaffection,overturninghim,scramblinguponhim,lickinghisface,bitinghishand—"playingthegeneraltom-fool,"asJohnThorntoncharacterizedit,thewhileheshookBuckbackand forth and cursed him lovingly.

FortwodaysandnightsBuckneverleftcamp,neverletThorntonoutofhissight.Hefollowedhimaboutathiswork,watchedhimwhileheate,sawhimintohisblanketsatnightandoutoftheminthemorning.Butaftertwodaysthecallintheforestbegantosoundmoreimperiously

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thanever.Buck'srestlessnesscamebackonhim,andhewashauntedbyrecollectionsofthewildbrother,andofthesmilinglandbeyondthedi-videandtherunsidebysidethroughthewideforeststretches.Onceagainhetooktowanderinginthewoods,butthewildbrothercamenomore;andthoughhelistenedthroughlongvigils,themournfulhowlwas never raised.

Hebegantosleepoutatnight,stayingawayfromcampfordaysatatime;andoncehecrossedthedivideattheheadofthecreekandwentdownintothelandoftimberandstreams.Therehewanderedforaweek,seekingvainlyforfreshsignofthewildbrother,killinghismeatashetravelledandtravellingwiththelong,easylopethatseemsnevertotire.Hefishedforsalmoninabroadstreamthatemptiedsomewhereintothesea,andbythisstreamhekilledalargeblackbear,blindedbythemosquitoeswhilelikewisefishing,andragingthroughtheforesthelplessandterrible.Evenso,itwasahardfight,anditarousedthelastlatentremnantsofBuck'sferocity.Andtwodayslater,whenhereturnedtohiskillandfoundadozenwolverenesquarrellingoverthespoil,hescatteredthemlikechaff;andthosethatfledlefttwobehindwhowouldquarrel no more.

Theblood-longingbecamestrongerthaneverbefore.Hewasakiller,athingthatpreyed,livingonthethingsthatlived,unaided,alone,byvir-tueofhisownstrengthandprowess,survivingtriumphantlyinahostileenvironmentwhereonlythestrongsurvived.Becauseofallthishebe-camepossessedofagreatprideinhimself,whichcommunicateditselflikeacontagiontohisphysicalbeing.Itadvertiseditselfinallhismove-ments,wasapparentintheplayofeverymuscle,spokeplainlyasspeechinthewayhecarriedhimself,andmadehisgloriousfurrycoatifany-thingmoreglorious.Butforthestraybrownonhismuzzleandabovehiseyes,andforthesplashofwhitehairthatranmidmostdownhischest,hemightwellhavebeenmistakenforagiganticwolf,largerthanthelargestofthebreed.FromhisSt.Bernardfatherhehadinheritedsizeandweight,butitwashisshepherdmotherwhohadgivenshapetothatsizeandweight.Hismuzzlewasthelongwolfmuzzle,savethatwaslar-gerthanthemuzzleofanywolf;andhishead,somewhatbroader,wasthe wolf head on a massive scale.

Hiscunningwaswolfcunning,andwildcunning;hisintelligence,shepherdintelligenceandSt.Bernardintelligence;andallthis,plusanexperiencegainedinthefiercestofschools,madehimasformidableacreatureasanythatintelligenceroamedthewild.Acarnivorousanimallivingonastraightmeatdiet,hewasinfullflower,atthehightideofhis

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life,overspillingwithvigorandvirility.WhenThorntonpassedacaress-inghandalonghisback,asnappingandcracklingfollowedthehand,eachhairdischargingitspentmagnetismatthecontact.Everypart,brainandbody,nervetissueandfibre,waskeyedtothemostexquisitepitch;andbetweenallthepartstherewasaperfectequilibriumoradjustment.Tosightsandsoundsandeventswhichrequiredaction,herespondedwithlightning-likerapidity.Quicklyasahuskydogcouldleaptodefendfromattackortoattack,hecouldleaptwiceasquickly.Hesawthemovement,orheardsound,andrespondedinlesstimethananotherdogrequiredtocompassthemereseeingorhearing.Heperceivedandde-terminedandrespondedinthesameinstant.Inpointoffactthethreeac-tionsofperceiving,determining,andrespondingweresequential;butsoinfinitesimalweretheintervalsoftimebetweenthemthattheyappearedsimultaneous.Hismusclesweresurchargedwithvitality,andsnappedintoplaysharply,likesteelsprings.Lifestreamedthroughhiminsplen-didflood,gladandrampant,untilitseemedthatitwouldbursthimasunder in sheer ecstasy and pour forth generously over the world.

"Neverwastheresuchadog,"saidJohnThorntononeday,asthepart-ners watched Buck marching out of camp.

"When he was made, the mould was broke," said Pete.

"Py jingo! I t'ink so mineself," Hans affirmed.

Theysawhimmarchingoutofcamp,buttheydidnotseetheinstantandterribletransformationwhichtookplaceassoonashewaswithinthesecrecyoftheforest.Henolongermarched.Atoncehebecameathingofthewild,stealingalongsoftly,cat-footed,apassingshadowthatappearedanddisappearedamongtheshadows.Heknewhowtotakeadvantageofeverycover,tocrawlonhisbellylikeasnake,andlikeasnaketoleapandstrike.Hecouldtakeaptarmiganfromitsnest,killarabbitasitslept,andsnapinmidairthelittlechipmunksfleeingasecondtoolateforthetrees.Fish,inopenpools,werenottooquickforhim;norwerebeaver,mendingtheirdams,toowary.Hekilledtoeat,notfromwantonness;buthepreferredtoeatwhathekilledhimself.Soalurkinghumorranthroughhisdeeds,anditwashisdelighttostealuponthesquirrels,and,whenheallbuthadthem,toletthemgo,chat-tering in mortal fear to the treetops.

Asthefalloftheyearcameon,themooseappearedingreaterabund-ance,movingslowlydowntomeetthewinterinthelowerandlessrig-orousvalleys.Buckhadalreadydraggeddownastraypart-growncalf;buthewishedstronglyforlargerandmoreformidablequarry,andhecameuponitonedayonthedivideattheheadofthecreek.Abandof

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twentymoosehadcrossedoverfromthelandofstreamsandtimber,andchiefamongthemwasagreatbull.Hewasinasavagetemper,and,standingoversixfeetfromtheground,wasasformidableanantagonistasevenBuckcoulddesire.Backandforththebulltossedhisgreatpal-matedantlers,branchingtofourteenpointsandembracingsevenfeetwithinthetips.Hissmalleyesburnedwithaviciousandbitterlight,while he roared with fury at sight of Buck.

Fromthebull'sside,justforwardoftheflank,protrudedafeatheredarrow-end,whichaccountedforhissavageness.Guidedbythatinstinctwhichcamefromtheoldhuntingdaysoftheprimordialworld,Buckproceededtocutthebulloutfromtheherd.Itwasnoslighttask.Hewouldbarkanddanceaboutinfrontofthebull,justoutofreachofthegreatantlersandoftheterriblesplayhoofswhichcouldhavestampedhislifeoutwithasingleblow.Unabletoturnhisbackonthefangeddangerandgoon,thebullwouldbedrivenintoparoxysmsofrage.AtsuchmomentshechargedBuck,whoretreatedcraftily,luringhimonbyasimulatedinabilitytoescape.Butwhenhewasthusseparatedfromhisfellows,twoorthreeoftheyoungerbullswouldchargebackuponBuckand enable the wounded bull to rejoin the herd.

Thereisapatienceofthewild—dogged,tireless,persistentaslifeit-self—thatholdsmotionlessforendlesshoursthespiderinitsweb,thesnakeinitscoils,thepantherinitsambuscade;thispatiencebelongspe-culiarlytolifewhenithuntsitslivingfood;anditbelongedtoBuckasheclungtotheflankoftheherd,retardingitsmarch,irritatingtheyoungbulls,worryingthecowswiththeirhalf-growncalves,anddrivingthewoundedbullmadwithhelplessrage.Forhalfadaythiscontinued.Buckmultipliedhimself,attackingfromallsides,envelopingtheherdinawhirlwindofmenace,cuttingouthisvictimasfastasitcouldrejoinitsmates,wearingoutthepatienceofcreaturespreyedupon,whichisalesser patience than that of creatures preying.

Asthedayworealongandthesundroppedtoitsbedinthenorthwest(thedarknesshadcomebackandthefallnightsweresixhourslong),theyoungbullsretracedtheirstepsmoreandmorereluctantlytotheaidoftheirbesetleader.Thedown-comingwinterwasharryingthemontothelowerlevels,anditseemedtheycouldnevershakeoffthistirelesscreaturethatheldthemback.Besides,itwasnotthelifeoftheherd,oroftheyoungbulls,thatwasthreatened.Thelifeofonlyonememberwasdemanded,whichwasaremoterinterestthantheirlives,andintheendthey were content to pay the toll.

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Astwilightfelltheoldbullstoodwithloweredhead,watchinghismates—thecowshehadknown,thecalveshehadfathered,thebullshehadmastered—astheyshambledonatarapidpacethroughthefadinglight.Hecouldnotfollow,forbeforehisnoseleapedthemercilessfanged terror that would not let him go. Three hundredweight more thanhalfatonheweighed;hehadlivedalong,stronglife,fulloffightandstruggle,andattheendhefaceddeathattheteethofacreaturewhosehead did not reach beyond his great knuckled knees.

Fromthenon,nightandday,Buckneverlefthisprey,nevergaveitamoment'srest,neverpermittedittobrowsetheleavesoftreesortheshootsofyoungbirchandwillow.Nordidhegivethewoundedbullop-portunitytoslakehisburningthirstintheslendertricklingstreamstheycrossed.Often,indesperation,heburstintolongstretchesofflight.AtsuchtimesBuckdidnotattempttostayhim,butlopedeasilyathisheels,satisfiedwiththewaythegamewasplayed,lyingdownwhenthemoose stood still, attacking him fiercely when he strove to eat or drink.Thegreatheaddroopedmoreandmoreunderitstreeofhorns,andtheshamblingtrotgrewweakandweaker.Hetooktostandingforlongperiods,withnosetothegroundanddejectedearsdroppedlimply;andBuckfoundmoretimeinwhichtogetwaterforhimselfandinwhichtorest.Atsuchmoments,pantingwithredlollingtongueandwitheyesfixeduponthebigbull,itappearedtoBuckthatachangewascomingoverthefaceofthings.Hecouldfeelanewstirintheland.Asthemoosewerecomingintotheland,otherkindsoflifewerecomingin.Forestandstreamandairseemedpalpitantwiththeirpresence.Thenewsofitwasborneinuponhim,notbysight,orsound,orsmell,butbysomeotherandsubtlersense.Heheardnothing,sawnothing,yetknewthatthelandwassomehowdifferent;thatthroughitstrangethingswereafootandranging;andheresolvedtoinvestigateafterhehadfinishedthebusinessin hand.

Atlast,attheendofthefourthday,hepulledthegreatmoosedown.Foradayandanightheremainedbythekill,eatingandsleeping,turnandturnabout.Then,rested,refreshedandstrong,heturnedhisfaceto-wardcampandJohnThornton.Hebrokeintothelongeasylope,andwenton,hourafterhour,neveratlossforthetangledway,headingstraighthomethroughstrangecountrywithacertitudeofdirectionthatput man and his magnetic needle to shame.

Asheheldonhebecamemoreandmoreconsciousofthenewstirintheland.Therewaslifeabroadinitdifferentfromthelifewhichhadbeentherethroughoutthesummer.Nolongerwasthisfactbornein

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uponhiminsomesubtle,mysteriousway.Thebirdstalkedofit,thesquirrelschatteredaboutit,theverybreezewhisperedofit.Severaltimeshestoppedanddrewinthefreshmorningairingreatsniffs,read-ingamessagewhichmadehimleaponwithgreaterspeed.Hewasop-pressedwithasenseofcalamityhappening,ifitwerenotcalamityalreadyhappened;andashecrossedthelastwatershedanddroppeddown into the valley toward camp, he proceeded with greater caution.Threemilesawayhecameuponafreshtrailthatsenthisneckhairrip-plingandbristling,ItledstraighttowardcampandJohnThornton.Buckhurriedon,swiftlyandstealthily,everynervestrainingandtense,alerttothemultitudinousdetailswhichtoldastory—allbuttheend.Hisnosegavehimavaryingdescriptionofthepassageofthelifeontheheelsofwhichhewastravelling.Heremarkedthepregnantsilenceoftheforest.Thebirdlifehadflitted.Thesquirrelswereinhiding.Oneonlyhesaw,—asleekgrayfellow,flattenedagainstagraydeadlimbsothatheseemed a part of it, a woody excrescence upon the wood itself.

AsBuckslidalongwiththeobscurenessofaglidingshadow,hisnosewasjerkedsuddenlytothesideasthoughapositiveforcehadgrippedandpulledit.HefollowedthenewscentintoathicketandfoundNig.Hewaslyingonhisside,deadwherehehaddraggedhimself,anarrowprotruding, head and feathers, from either side of his body.

Ahundredyardsfartheron,Buckcameupononeofthesled-dogsThorntonhadboughtinDawson.Thisdogwasthrashingaboutinadeath-struggle,directlyonthetrail,andBuckpassedaroundhimwithoutstopping.Fromthecampcamethefaintsoundofmanyvoices,risingandfallinginasing-songchant.Bellyingforwardtotheedgeoftheclearing,hefoundHans,lyingonhisface,featheredwitharrowslikeaporcupine.AtthesameinstantBuckpeeredoutwherethespruce-boughlodgehadbeenandsawwhatmadehishairleapstraightuponhisneckandshoulders.Agustofoverpoweringragesweptoverhim.Hedidnotknowthathegrowled,buthegrowledaloudwithaterriblefero-city.Forthelasttimeinhislifeheallowedpassiontousurpcunningandreason,anditwasbecauseofhisgreatloveforJohnThorntonthathelost his head.

TheYeehatsweredancingaboutthewreckageofthespruce-boughlodgewhentheyheardafearfulroaringandsawrushinguponthemananimalthelikeofwhichtheyhadneverseenbefore.ItwasBuck,alivehurricaneoffury,hurlinghimselfupontheminafrenzytodestroy.Hesprangattheforemostman(itwasthechiefoftheYeehats),rippingthethroatwideopentilltherentjugularspoutedafountainofblood.Hedid

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notpausetoworrythevictim,butrippedinpassing,withthenextboundtearingwidethethroatofasecondman.Therewasnowithstand-inghim.Heplungedaboutintheirverymidst,tearing,rending,destroy-ing,inconstantandterrificmotionwhichdefiedthearrowstheydis-chargedathim.Infact,soinconceivablyrapidwerehismovements,andsocloselyweretheIndianstangledtogether,thattheyshotoneanotherwiththearrows;andoneyounghunter,hurlingaspearatBuckinmidair,droveitthroughthechestofanotherhunterwithsuchforcethatthepointbrokethroughtheskinofthebackandstoodoutbeyond.ThenapanicseizedtheYeehats,andtheyfledinterrortothewoods,proclaim-ing as they fled the advent of the Evil Spirit.

AndtrulyBuckwastheFiendincarnate,ragingattheirheelsanddraggingthemdownlikedeerastheyracedthroughthetrees.ItwasafatefuldayfortheYeehats.Theyscatteredfarandwideoverthecountry,anditwasnottillaweeklaterthatthelastofthesurvivorsgatheredto-getherinalowervalleyandcountedtheirlosses.AsforBuck,wearyingofthepursuit,hereturnedtothedesolatedcamp.HefoundPetewherehehadbeenkilledinhisblanketsinthefirstmomentofsurprise.Thornton'sdesperatestrugglewasfresh-writtenontheearth,andBuckscentedeverydetailofitdowntotheedgeofadeeppool.Bytheedge,headandforefeetinthewater,laySkeet,faithfultothelast.Thepoolit-self,muddyanddiscoloredfromthesluiceboxes,effectuallyhidwhatitcontained,anditcontainedJohnThornton;forBuckfollowedhistraceinto the water, from which no trace led away.

AlldayBuckbroodedbythepoolorroamedrestlesslyaboutthecamp.Death,asacessationofmovement,asapassingoutandawayfromthelivesoftheliving,heknew,andheknewJohnThorntonwasdead.Itleftagreatvoidinhim,somewhatakintohunger,butavoidwhichachedandached,andwhichfoodcouldnotfill,Attimes,whenhepausedtocontemplatethecarcassesoftheYeehats,heforgotthepainofit;andatsuchtimeshewasawareofagreatprideinhimself,—apridegreaterthananyhehadyetexperienced.Hehadkilledman,thenoblestgameofall,andhehadkilledinthefaceofthelawofclubandfang.Hesniffedthebodiescuriously.Theyhaddiedsoeasily.Itwashardertokillahuskydogthanthem.Theywerenomatchatall,wereitnotfortheirarrowsandspearsandclubs.Thenceforwardhewouldbeunafraidofthemexceptwhentheyboreintheirhandstheirarrows,spears,andclubs.

Nightcameon,andafullmoonrosehighoverthetreesintothesky,lightingthelandtillitlaybathedinghostlyday.Andwiththecomingof

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thenight,broodingandmourningbythepool,BuckbecamealivetoastirringofthenewlifeintheforestotherthanthatwhichtheYeehatshadmade,Hestoodup,listeningandscenting.Fromfarawaydriftedafaint,sharpyelp,followedbyachorusofsimilarsharpyelps.Asthemo-mentspassedtheyelpsgrewcloserandlouder.AgainBuckknewthemasthingsheardinthatotherworldwhichpersistedinhismemory.Hewalkedtothecentreoftheopenspaceandlistened.Itwasthecall,themany-notedcall,soundingmoreluringlyandcompellinglythaneverbefore.Andasneverbefore,hewasreadytoobey.JohnThorntonwasdead.Thelasttiewasbroken.Manandtheclaimsofmannolongerbound him.

Huntingtheirlivingmeat,astheYeehatswerehuntingit,ontheflanksofthemigratingmoose,thewolfpackhadatlastcrossedoverfromthelandofstreamsandtimberandinvadedBuck'svalley.Intotheclearingwherethemoonlightstreamed,theypouredinasilveryflood;andinthecentreoftheclearingstoodBuck,motionlessasastatue,wait-ingtheircoming.Theywereawed,sostillandlargehestood,andamoment'spausefell,tilltheboldestoneleapedstraightforhim.LikeaflashBuckstruck,breakingtheneck.Thenhestood,withoutmovement,asbefore,thestrickenwolfrollinginagonybehindhim.Threeotherstrieditinsharpsuccession;andoneaftertheothertheydrewback,streaming blood from slashed throats or shoulders.

Thiswassufficienttoflingthewholepackforward,pell-mell,crowdedtogether,blockedandconfusedbyitseagernesstopulldowntheprey.Buck'smarvellousquicknessandagilitystoodhimingoodstead.Pivot-ingonhishindlegs,andsnappingandgashing,hewaseverywhereatonce,presentingafrontwhichwasapparentlyunbrokensoswiftlydidhewhirlandguardfromsidetoside.Buttopreventthemfromgettingbehindhim,hewasforcedback,downpastthepoolandintothecreekbed,tillhebroughtupagainstahighgravelbank.Heworkedalongtoarightangleinthebankwhichthemenhadmadeinthecourseofmining,andinthisanglehecametobay,protectedonthreesidesandwithnoth-ing to do but face the front.

Andsowelldidhefaceit,thatattheendofhalfanhourthewolvesdrewbackdiscomfited.Thetonguesofallwereoutandlolling,thewhitefangsshowingcruellywhiteinthemoonlight.Somewerelyingdownwithheadsraisedandearsprickedforward;othersstoodontheirfeet,watchinghim;andstillotherswerelappingwaterfromthepool.Onewolf,longandleanandgray,advancedcautiously,inafriendlymanner,andBuckrecognizedthewildbrotherwithwhomhehadrunforanight

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andaday.Hewaswhiningsoftly,and,asBuckwhined,theytouchednoses.

Thenanoldwolf,gauntandbattle-scarred,cameforward.Buckwrithedhislipsintothepreliminaryofasnarl,butsniffednoseswithhim,Whereupontheoldwolfsatdown,pointednoseatthemoon,andbrokeoutthelongwolfhowl.Theotherssatdownandhowled.AndnowthecallcametoBuckinunmistakableaccents.He,too,satdownandhowled.Thisover,hecameoutofhisangleandthepackcrowdedaroundhim,sniffinginhalf-friendly,half-savagemanner.Theleadersliftedtheyelpofthepackandsprangawayintothewoods.Thewolvesswunginbehind,yelpinginchorus.AndBuckranwiththem,sidebyside with the wild brother, yelping as he ran.

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AndheremaywellendthestoryofBuck.TheyearswerenotmanywhentheYeehatsnotedachangeinthebreedoftimberwolves;forsomewereseenwithsplashesofbrownonheadandmuzzle,andwithariftofwhitecentringdownthechest.Butmoreremarkablethanthis,theYee-hatstellofaGhostDogthatrunsattheheadofthepack.TheyareafraidofthisGhostDog,forithascunninggreaterthanthey,stealingfromtheircampsinfiercewinters,robbingtheirtraps,slayingtheirdogs,anddefying their bravest hunters.

Nay,thetalegrowsworse.Hunterstherearewhofailtoreturntothecamp,andhunterstherehavebeenwhomtheirtribesmenfoundwiththroatsslashedcruellyopenandwithwolfprintsabouttheminthesnowgreaterthantheprintsofanywolf.Eachfall,whentheYeehatsfol-lowthemovementofthemoose,thereisacertainvalleywhichtheynev-erenter.AndwomentherearewhobecomesadwhenthewordgoesoverthefireofhowtheEvilSpiritcametoselectthatvalleyforanabiding-place.

Inthesummersthereisonevisitor,however,tothatvalley,ofwhichtheYeehatsdonotknow.Itisagreat,gloriouslycoatedwolf,like,andyetunlike,allotherwolves.Hecrossesalonefromthesmilingtimberlandandcomesdownintoanopenspaceamongthetrees.Hereayellowstreamflowsfromrottedmoose-hidesacksandsinksintotheground,withlonggrassesgrowingthroughitandvegetablemouldoverrunningitandhidingitsyellowfromthesun;andherehemusesforatime,howling once, long and mournfully, ere he departs.

Butheisnotalwaysalone.Whenthelongwinternightscomeonandthewolvesfollowtheirmeatintothelowervalleys,hemaybeseenrun-ningattheheadofthepackthroughthepalemoonlightorglimmering

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borealis,leapinggiganticabovehisfellows,hisgreatthroata-bellowashe sings a song of the younger world, which is the song of the pack.

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