14 The Call of the Wild.docx

14 The Call of the Wild.docx

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14TheCalloftheWild

THECALLOFTHEWILD

（SerializedinTheSaturdayEveningPost,June20-July18,1903）

∙Chapter1:

IntothePrimitive

∙Chapter2:

TheLawofClubandFang

∙Chapter3:

TheDominantPrimordialBeast

∙Chapter4:

WhoHasWonToMastership

∙Chapter5:

TheToilofTraceandTrail

∙Chapter6:

FortheLoveofaMan

∙Chapter7:

TheSoundingoftheCall

CHAPTER1

INTOTHEPRIMITIVE

Oldlongingsnomadicleap,

Chafingatcustom'schain;

Againfromitsbrumalsleep

Wakenstheferinestrain.

Buckdidnotreadthenewspapers,orhewouldhaveknownthattroublewasbrewing,notaloneforhimself,butforeverytidewaterdog,strongofmuscleandwithwarm,longhair,fromPugetSoundtoSanDiego.Becausemen,gropingintheArcticdarkness,hadfoundayellowmetal,andbecausesteamshipandtransportationcompanieswereboomingthefind,thousandsofmenwererushingintotheNorthland.Thesemenwanteddogs,andthedogstheywantedwereheavydogs,withstrongmusclesbywhichtotoil,andfurrycoatstoprotectthemfromthefrost.

Bucklivedatabighouseinthesun-kissedSantaClaraValley.JudgeMiller'splace,itwascalled.Itstoodbackfromtheroad,half-hiddenamongthetrees,throughwhichglimpsescouldbecaughtofthewidecoolverandathatranarounditsfoursides.Thehousewasapproachedbygraveleddrivewayswhichwoundaboutthroughwide-spreadinglawnsandundertheinterlacingboughsoftallpoplars.Attherearthingswereonevenamorespaciousscalethanatthefront.Thereweregreatstables,whereadozengroomsandboysheldforth,rowsofvine-cladservants'cottages,anendlessandorderlyarrayofouthouses,longgrapearbors,greenpastures,orchards,andberrypatches.Thentherewasthepumpingplantfortheartesianwell,andthebigcementtankwhereJudgeMiler'sboystooktheirmorningplungeandkeptcoolinthehotafternoon.

AndoverthisgreatdemesneBuckruled.Herehewasborn,andherehehadlivedthefouryearsofhislife.Itwastrue,therewereotherdogs.Therecouldnotbutbeotherdogsonsovastaplace,buttheydidnotcount.Theycameandwent,residedinthepopulouskennels,orlivedobscurelyintherecessesofthehouseafterthefashionofToots,theJapanesepug,orYsabel,theMexicanhairless,strangecreaturesthatrarelyputnoseoutofdoorsorsetfoottoground.Ontheotherhand,therewerethefoxterriers,ascoreofthematleast,whoyelpedfearfulpromisesatTootsandYsabellookingoutofthewindowsatthemandprotectedbyalegionofhousemaidsarmedwithbroomsandmops.

ButBuckwasneitherhousedognorkenneldog.Thewholerealmwashis.HeplungedintotheswimmingtankorwenthuntingwiththeJudge'ssons;heescortedMollieandAlice,theJudge'sdaughters,onlongtwilightorearlymorningrambles;onwintrynightshelayattheJudge'sfeetbeforetheroaringlibraryfire;hecarriedtheJudge'sgrandsonsonhisback,orrolledtheminthegrass,andguardedtheirfootstepsthroughwildadventuresdowntothefountaininthestableyard,andevenbeyond,wherethepaddockswere,andtheberrypatches.Amongtheterriershestalkedimperiously,andTootsandYsabelheutterlyignored,forhewasking--kingoverallcreeping,crawling,flyingthingsofJudgeMiller'splace,humansincluded.

Hisfather,Elmo,ahugeSt.Bernard,hadbeentheJudge'sinseparablecompanion,andBuckbidfairtofollowinthewayofhisfather.Hewasnotsolarge--heweighedonlyonehundredandfortypounds--forhismother,She,hadbeenaScotchshepherddog.Nevertheless,onehundredandfortypounds,towhichwasaddedthedignitythatcomesofgoodlivinganduniversalrespect,enabledhimtocarryhimselfinrightroyalfashion.Duringthefouryearssincehispuppyhoodhehadlivedthelifeofasatedaristocrat;hehadafineprideinhimself,wasevenatrifleegotistical,ascountrygentlemensometimesbecomebecauseoftheirinsularsituation.Buthehadsavedhimselfbynotbecomingamerepamperedhousedog.Huntingandkindredoutdoordelightshadkeptdownthefatandhardenedhismuscles;andtohim,astothecold-tubbingraces,theloveofwaterhadbeenatonicandahealthpreserver.

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

TheJudgewasatameetingoftheRaisinGrowers'Association,andtheboyswerebusyorganizinganathleticclub,onthememorablenightofManuel'streachery.NoonesawhimandBuckgooffthroughtheorchardonwhatBuckimaginedwasmerelyastroll.Andwiththeexceptionofasolitaryman,noonesawthemarriveatthelittleflagstationknownasCollegePark.ThismantalkedwithManuel,andmoneychinkedbetweenthem.

"Youmightwrapupthegoodsbeforeyoudeliverthem,"thestrangersaidgruffly,andManueldoubledapieceofstoutropearoundBuck'sneckunderthecollar.

"Twistit,andyou'llchokehimplenty,"saidManuel,andthestrangergruntedareadyaffirmative.

Buckhadacceptedtheropewithquietdignity.Tobesure,itwasanunwontedperformancebuthehadlearnedtotrustinmenheknew,andtogivethemcreditforawisdomthatoutreachedhisown.Butwhentheendsoftheropewereplacedinthestranger'shands,hegrowledmenacingly.Hehadmerelyintimatedhisdispleasure,inhispridebelievingthattointimatewastocommand.Buttohissurprisetheropetightenedaroundhisneck,shuttingoffhisbreath.Inaquickragehesprangattheman,whomethimhalfway,grappledhimclosebythethroat,andwithadefttwistthrewhimoveronhisback.Thentheropetightenedmercilessly,whileBuckstruggledinafury,histonguelollingoutofhismouthandhisgreatchestpantingfutilely.Neverinallhislifehadhebeensovilelytreated,andneverinallhislifehadhebeensoangry.Buthisstrengthebbed,hiseyesglazed,andheknewnothingwhenthetrainwasflaggedandthetwomenthrewhimintothebaggagecar.

Thenextheknew,hewasdimlyawarethathistonguewashurtingandthat\hewasbeingjoltedalonginsomekindofaconveyance.Thehoarseshriekofalocomotivewhistlingacrossingtoldhimwherehewas.HehadtraveledtoooftenwiththeJudgenottoknowthesensationofridinginabaggagecar.Heopenedhiseyes,andintothemcametheunbridledangerofakidnapedking.Themansprangforhisthroat,butBuckwastooquickforhim.Hisjawsclosedonthehand,nordidtheyrelaxtillhissenseswerechokedoutofhimoncemore.

"Yep,hasfits,"themansaid,hidinghismangledhandfromthebaggageman,whohadbeenattractedbythesoundsofstruggle."I'mtakinghimupforthebossto'Frisco.Acrackdogdoctortherethinksthathecancurehim."

Concerningthatnight'sride,themanspokemosteloquentlyforhimself,inalittleshedbackofasaloonontheSanFranciscowaterfront.

"AllIgetisfiftyforit,"hegrumbled,"andIwouldn'tdoitoverforathousand,coldcash."

Hishandwaswrappedinabloodyhandkerchief,andtherighttrouserlegwasrippedfromkneetoankle.

"Howmuchdidtheothermugget?

"thesaloon-keeperdemanded.

"Ahundred,"wasthereply."Wouldn'ttakeasouless,sohelpme."

"Thatmakesahundredandfifty,"thesaloon-keepercalculated,"andhe'sworthit,orI'masquarehead."

Thekidnaperundidthebloodywrappingsandlookedathislaceratedhand."IfIdon'tgethydrophobia--"

"It'llbebecauseyouwasborntohang,"laughedthesaloon-keeper."Here,lendmeahandbeforeyoupullyourfreight,"headded.

Dazed,sufferingintolerablepainfromthroatandtongue,withthelifehalfthrottledoutofhim,Buckattemptedtofacehistormentors.Buthewasthrowndownandchokedrepeatedly,tilltheysucceededinfilingtheheavybrasscollarfromoffhisneck.Thentheropewasremoved,andhewasflungintoacage-likecrate.

Therehelayfortheremainderofthewearynight,nursinghiswrathandwoundedpride.Hecouldnotunderstandwhatitallmeant.Whatdidtheywantwithhim,thesestrangemen?

Whyweretheykeepinghimpentupinthisnarrowcrate?

Hedidnotknowwhy,buthefeltoppressedbythevaguesenseofimpendingcalamity.Severaltimesduringthenighthesprangtohisfeetwhenthesheddoorrattledopen,expectingtoseetheJudge,ortheboysatleast.Buteachtimeitwasthebulgingfaceofthesaloon-keeperthatpeeredinathimbythesicklylightofatallowcandle.AndeachtimethejoyfulbarkthattrembledinBuck'sthroatwastwistedintoasavagegrowl.

Butthesaloon-keeperlethimalone,andinthemorningfourmenenteredandpickedupthecrate.Moretormentors,Buckdecided,fortheywereevil-lookingcreatures,raggedandunkempt;andhestormedandragedatthemthroughthebars.Theyonlylaughedandpokedsticksathim,whichhepromptlyassailedwithhisteethtillherealizedthatwaswhattheywanted.Whereuponhelaydownsullenlyandallowedthecratetobeliftedintoawagon.Thenhe,andthecrateinwhichhewasimprisoned,beganapassagethroughmanyhands.Clerksintheexpressofficetookchargeofhim;hewascartedaboutinanotherwagon;atruckcarriedhim,withanassortmentofboxesandparcels,uponaferrysteamer;hewastruckedoffthesteamerintoagreatrailwaydepot,andfinallyhewasdepositedinanexpresscar.

Fortwodaysandnights