English
"Oldlongingsnomadicleap,
Chafingatcustom'schain;
Againfromitsbrumalsleep
Wakenstheferinestrain."
Buckdidnotreadthenewspapers,orhewouldhaveknownthattroublewasbrewing,notaloneforhimself,butforeverytide-waterdog,strongofmuscleandwithwarm,longhair,fromPugetSoundtoSanDiego.
Becausemen,gropingintheArcticdarkness,hadfoundayellowmetal,andbecausesteamshipandtransportationcompanieswereboomingthefind,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,orlivedobscurelyintherecessesofthehouseafterthefashionofToots,theJapanesepug,orYsabel,theMexicanhairless,—strangecreaturesthatrarelyputnoseoutofdoorsorsetfoottoground.
Ontheotherhand,therewerethefoxterriers,ascoreofthematleast,whoyelpedfearfulpromisesatTootsandYsabellookingoutofthewindowsatthemandprotectedbyalegionofhousemaidsarmedwithbroomsandmops.
ButBuckwasneitherhouse-dognorkennel-dog.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,Shep,hadbeenaScotchshepherddog.
Nevertheless,onehundredandfortypounds,towhichwasaddedthedignitythatcomesofgoodlivinganduniversalrespect,enabledhimtocarryhimselfinrightroyalfashion.
Duringthefouryearssincehispuppyhoodhehadlivedthelifeofasatedaristocrat;hehadafineprideinhimself,wasevenatrifleegotistical,ascountrygentlemensometimesbecomebecauseoftheirinsularsituation.
Buthehadsavedhimselfbynotbecomingamerepamperedhouse-dog.
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.
"Youmightwrapupthegoodsbeforeyoudeliver'm,"thestrangersaidgruffly,andManueldoubledapieceofstoutropearoundBuck'sneckunderthecollar.
"Twistit,an'you'llchoke'mplentee,"saidManuel,andthestrangergruntedareadyaffirmative.
Buckhadacceptedtheropewithquietdignity.
Tobesure,itwasanunwontedperformance:buthehadlearnedtotrustinmenheknew,andtogivethemcreditforawisdomthatoutreachedhisown.
Butwhentheendsoftheropewereplacedinthestranger'shands,hegrowledmenacingly.
Hehadmerelyintimatedhisdispleasure,inhispridebelievingthattointimatewastocommand.
Buttohissurprisetheropetightenedaroundhisneck,shuttingoffhisbreath.
Inquickragehesprangattheman,whomethimhalfway,grappledhimclosebythethroat,andwithadefttwistthrewhimoveronhisback.
Thentheropetightenedmercilessly,whileBuckstruggledinafury,histonguelollingoutofhismouthandhisgreatchestpantingfutilely.
Neverinallhislifehadhebeensovilelytreated,andneverinallhislifehadhebeensoangry.
Buthisstrengthebbed,hiseyesglazed,andheknewnothingwhenthetrainwasflaggedandthetwomenthrewhimintothebaggagecar.
Thenextheknew,hewasdimlyawarethathistonguewashurtingandthathewasbeingjoltedalonginsomekindofaconveyance.
Thehoarseshriekofalocomotivewhistlingacrossingtoldhimwherehewas.
HehadtravelledtoooftenwiththeJudgenottoknowthesensationofridinginabaggagecar.
Heopenedhiseyes,andintothemcametheunbridledangerofakidnappedking.
Themansprangforhisthroat,butBuckwastooquickforhim.
Hisjawsclosedonthehand,nordidtheyrelaxtillhissenseswerechokedoutofhimoncemore.
"Yep,hasfits,"themansaid,hidinghismangledhandfromthebaggageman,whohadbeenattractedbythesoundsofstruggle.
"I'mtakin''mupforthebossto'Frisco.
Acrackdog-doctortherethinksthathecancure'm."
Concerningthatnight'sride,themanspokemosteloquentlyforhimself,inalittleshedbackofasaloonontheSanFranciscowaterfront.
"AllIgetisfiftyforit,"hegrumbled;"an'Iwouldn'tdoitoverforathousand,coldcash."
Hishandwaswrappedinabloodyhandkerchief,andtherighttrouserlegwasrippedfromkneetoankle.
"Howmuchdidtheothermugget?"thesaloon-keeperdemanded.
"Ahundred,"wasthereply."Wouldn'ttakeasouless,sohelpme."
"Thatmakesahundredandfifty,"thesaloon-keepercalculated;"andhe'sworthit,orI'masquarehead."
Thekidnapperundidthebloodywrappingsandlookedathislaceratedhand."IfIdon'tgetthehydrophoby—"
"It'llbebecauseyouwasborntohang,"laughedthesaloon-keeper."Here,lendmeahandbeforeyoupullyourfreight,"headded.
Dazed,sufferingintolerablepainfromthroatandtongue,withthelifehalfthrottledoutofhim,Buckattemptedtofacehistormentors.
Buthewasthrowndownandchokedrepeatedly,tilltheysucceededinfilingtheheavybrasscollarfromoffhisneck.
Thentheropewasremoved,andhewasflungintoacagelikecrate.
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,whichhepromptlyassailedwithhisteethtillherealizedthatthatwaswhattheywanted.
Whereuponhelaydownsullenlyandallowedthecratetobeliftedintoawagon.
Thenhe,andthecrateinwhichhewasimprisoned,beganapassagethroughmanyhands.
Clerksintheexpressofficetookchargeofhim;hewascartedaboutinanotherwagon;atruckcarriedhim,withanassortmentofboxesandparcels,uponaferrysteamer;hewastruckedoffthesteamerintoagreatrailwaydepot,andfinallyhewasdepositedinanexpresscar.
Fortwodaysandnightsthisexpresscarwasdraggedalongatthetailofshriekinglocomotives;andfortwodaysandnightsBuckneitheratenordrank.
Inhisangerhehadmetthefirstadvancesoftheexpressmessengerswithgrowls,andtheyhadretaliatedbyteasinghim.
Whenheflunghimselfagainstthebars,quiveringandfrothing,theylaughedathimandtauntedhim.
Theygrowledandbarkedlikedetestabledogs,mewed,andflappedtheirarmsandcrowed.
Itwasallverysilly,heknew;butthereforethemoreoutragetohisdignity,andhisangerwaxedandwaxed.
Hedidnotmindthehungersomuch,butthelackofwatercausedhimseveresufferingandfannedhiswrathtofever-pitch.
Forthatmatter,high-strungandfinelysensitive,theilltreatmenthadflunghimintoafever,whichwasfedbytheinflammationofhisparchedandswollenthroatandtongue.
Hewasgladforonething:theropewasoffhisneck.
Thathadgiventhemanunfairadvantage;butnowthatitwasoff,hewouldshowthem.
Theywouldnevergetanotherropearoundhisneck.Uponthathewasresolved.
Fortwodaysandnightsheneitheratenordrank,andduringthosetwodaysandnightsoftorment,heaccumulatedafundofwraththatbodedillforwhoeverfirstfellfoulofhim.
Hiseyesturnedblood-shot,andhewasmetamorphosedintoaragingfiend.
SochangedwashethattheJudgehimselfwouldnothaverecognizedhim;andtheexpressmessengersbreathedwithreliefwhentheybundledhimoffthetrainatSeattle.
Fourmengingerlycarriedthecratefromthewagonintoasmall,high-walledbackyard.
Astoutman,witharedsweaterthatsaggedgenerouslyattheneck,cameoutandsignedthebookforthedriver.
Thatwastheman,Buckdivined,thenexttormentor,andhehurledhimselfsavagelyagainstthebars.
Themansmiledgrimly,andbroughtahatchetandaclub.
"Youain'tgoingtotakehimoutnow?"thedriverasked.
"Sure,"themanreplied,drivingthehatchetintothecrateforapry.
Therewasaninstantaneousscatteringofthefourmenwhohadcarrieditin,andfromsafeperchesontopthewalltheypreparedtowatchtheperformance.
Buckrushedatthesplinteringwood,sinkinghisteethintoit,surgingandwrestlingwithit.
Whereverthehatchetfellontheoutside,hewasthereontheinside,snarlingandgrowling,asfuriouslyanxioustogetoutasthemanintheredsweaterwascalmlyintentongettinghimout.
"Now,youred-eyeddevil,"hesaid,whenhehadmadeanopeningsufficientforthepassageofBuck'sbody.Atthesametimehedroppedthehatchetandshiftedtheclubtohisrighthand.
AndBuckwastrulyared-eyeddevil,ashedrewhimselftogetherforthespring,hairbristling,mouthfoaming,amadglitterinhisblood-shoteyes.
Straightatthemanhelaunchedhisonehundredandfortypoundsoffury,surchargedwiththepentpassionoftwodaysandnights.
Inmidair,justashisjawswereabouttocloseontheman,hereceivedashockthatcheckedhisbodyandbroughthisteethtogetherwithanagonizingclip.
Hewhirledover,fetchingthegroundonhisbackandside.
Hehadneverbeenstruckbyaclubinhislife,anddidnotunderstand.
Withasnarlthatwaspartbarkandmorescreamhewasagainonhisfeetandlaunchedintotheair.
Andagaintheshockcameandhewasbroughtcrushinglytotheground.
Thistimehewasawarethatitwastheclub,buthismadnessknewnocaution.
Adozentimeshecharged,andasoftentheclubbrokethechargeandsmashedhimdown.
Afteraparticularlyfierceblow,hecrawledtohisfeet,toodazedtorush.
Hestaggeredlimplyabout,thebloodflowingfromnoseandmouthandears,hisbeautifulcoatsprayedandfleckedwithbloodyslaver.
Thenthemanadvancedanddeliberatelydealthimafrightfulblowonthenose.
Allthepainhehadenduredwasasnothingcomparedwiththeexquisiteagonyofthis.
Witharoarthatwasalmostlionlikeinitsferocity,heagainhurledhimselfattheman.
Buttheman,shiftingtheclubfromrighttoleft,coollycaughthimbytheunderjaw,atthesametimewrenchingdownwardandbackward.
Buckdescribedacompletecircleintheair,andhalfofanother,thencrashedtothegroundonhisheadandchest.
Forthelasttimeherushed.Themanstrucktheshrewdblowhehadpurposelywithheldforsolong,andBuckcrumpledupandwentdown,knockedutterlysenseless.
"He'snoslouchatdog-breakin',that'swotIsay,"oneofthemenonthewallcriedenthusiastically.
"Drutherbreakcayusesanyday,andtwiceonSundays,"wasthereplyofthedriver,asheclimbedonthewagonandstartedthehorses.
Buck'ssensescamebacktohim,butnothisstrength.Helaywherehehadfallen,andfromtherehewatchedthemanintheredsweater.
"'AnswerstothenameofBuck,'"themansoliloquized,quotingfromthesaloon-keeper'sletterwhichhadannouncedtheconsignmentofthecrateandcontents.
"Well,Buck,myboy,"hewentoninagenialvoice,"we'vehadourlittleruction,andthebestthingwecandoistoletitgoatthat.
You'velearnedyourplace,andIknowmine.
Beagooddogandall'llgowellandthegoosehanghigh.
Beabaddog,andI'llwhalethestuffin'outayou.Understand?"
Ashespokehefearlesslypattedtheheadhehadsomercilesslypounded,andthoughBuck'shairinvoluntarilybristledattouchofthehand,heendureditwithoutprotest.
Whenthemanbroughthimwaterhedrankeagerly,andlaterboltedagenerousmealofrawmeat,chunkbychunk,fromtheman'shand.
Hewasbeaten(heknewthat);buthewasnotbroken.
Hesaw,onceforall,thathestoodnochanceagainstamanwithaclub.
Hehadlearnedthelesson,andinallhisafterlifeheneverforgotit.Thatclubwasarevelation.
Itwashisintroductiontothereignofprimitivelaw,andhemettheintroductionhalfway.
Thefactsoflifetookonafierceraspect;andwhilehefacedthataspectuncowed,hefaceditwithallthelatentcunningofhisnaturearoused.
Asthedayswentby,otherdogscame,incratesandattheendsofropes,somedocilely,andsomeragingandroaringashehadcome;and,oneandall,hewatchedthempassunderthedominionofthemanintheredsweater.
Againandagain,ashelookedateachbrutalperformance,thelessonwasdrivenhometoBuck:amanwithaclubwasalawgiver,amastertobeobeyed,thoughnotnecessarilyconciliated.
OfthislastBuckwasneverguilty,thoughhedidseebeatendogsthatfawnedupontheman,andwaggedtheirtails,andlickedhishand.
Alsohesawonedog,thatwouldneitherconciliatenorobey,finallykilledinthestruggleformastery.
Nowandagainmencame,strangers,whotalkedexcitedly,wheedlingly,andinallkindsoffashionstothemanintheredsweater.
Andatsuchtimesthatmoneypassedbetweenthemthestrangerstookoneormoreofthedogsawaywiththem.
Buckwonderedwheretheywent,fortheynevercameback;butthefearofthefuturewasstronguponhim,andhewasgladeachtimewhenhewasnotselected.
Yethistimecame,intheend,intheformofalittleweazenedmanwhospatbrokenEnglishandmanystrangeanduncouthexclamationswhichBuckcouldnotunderstand.
"Sacredam!"hecried,whenhiseyeslituponBuck."Datonedambullydog!Eh?Howmoch?"
"Threehundred,andapresentatthat,"wasthepromptreplyofthemanintheredsweater."Andseem'it'sgovernmentmoney,youain'tgotnokickcoming,eh,Perrault?"
Perraultgrinned.Consideringthatthepriceofdogshadbeenboomedskywardbytheunwonteddemand,itwasnotanunfairsumforsofineananimal.
TheCanadianGovernmentwouldbenoloser,norwoulditsdespatchestraveltheslower.
Perraultknewdogs,andwhenhelookedatBuckheknewthathewasoneinathousand—"Oneintent'ousand,"hecommentedmentally.
Bucksawmoneypassbetweenthem,andwasnotsurprisedwhenCurly,agood-naturedNewfoundland,andhewereledawaybythelittleweazenedman.
Thatwasthelasthesawofthemanintheredsweater,andasCurlyandhelookedatrecedingSeattlefromthedeckoftheNarwhal,itwasthelasthesawofthewarmSouthland.
CurlyandheweretakenbelowbyPerraultandturnedovertoablack-facedgiantcalledFrancois.
PerraultwasaFrench-Canadian,andswarthy;butFrancoiswasaFrench-Canadianhalf-breed,andtwiceasswarthy.
TheywereanewkindofmentoBuck(ofwhichhewasdestinedtoseemanymore),andwhilehedevelopednoaffectionforthem,henonethelessgrewhonestlytorespectthem.
HespeedilylearnedthatPerraultandFrancoiswerefairmen,calmandimpartialinadministeringjustice,andtoowiseinthewayofdogstobefooledbydogs.
Inthe'tween-decksoftheNarwhal,BuckandCurlyjoinedtwootherdogs.
Oneofthemwasabig,snow-whitefellowfromSpitzbergenwhohadbeenbroughtawaybyawhalingcaptain,andwhohadlateraccompaniedaGeologicalSurveyintotheBarrens.
Hewasfriendly,inatreacheroussortofway,smilingintoone'sfacethewhilehemeditatedsomeunderhandtrick,as,forinstance,whenhestolefromBuck'sfoodatthefirstmeal.
AsBucksprangtopunishhim,thelashofFrancois'swhipsangthroughtheair,reachingtheculpritfirst;andnothingremainedtoBuckbuttorecoverthebone.
ThatwasfairofFrancois,hedecided,andthehalf-breedbeganhisriseinBuck'sestimation.
Theotherdogmadenoadvances,norreceivedany;also,hedidnotattempttostealfromthenewcomers.
Hewasagloomy,morosefellow,andheshowedCurlyplainlythatallhedesiredwastobeleftalone,andfurther,thattherewouldbetroubleifhewerenotleftalone.
"Dave"hewascalled,andheateandslept,oryawnedbetweentimes,andtookinterestinnothing,notevenwhentheNarwhalcrossedQueenCharlotteSoundandrolledandpitchedandbuckedlikeathingpossessed.
WhenBuckandCurlygrewexcited,halfwildwithfear,heraisedhisheadasthoughannoyed,favoredthemwithanincuriousglance,yawned,andwenttosleepagain.
Dayandnighttheshipthrobbedtothetirelesspulseofthepropeller,andthoughonedaywasverylikeanother,itwasapparenttoBuckthattheweatherwassteadilygrowingcolder.
Atlast,onemorning,thepropellerwasquiet,andtheNarwhalwaspervadedwithanatmosphereofexcitement.
Hefeltit,asdidtheotherdogs,andknewthatachangewasathand.
Francoisleashedthemandbroughtthemondeck.
Atthefirststepuponthecoldsurface,Buck'sfeetsankintoawhitemushysomethingverylikemud.Hesprangbackwithasnort.
Moreofthiswhitestuffwasfallingthroughtheair.
Heshookhimself,butmoreofitfelluponhim.
Hesniffeditcuriously,thenlickedsomeuponhistongue.
Itbitlikefire,andthenextinstantwasgone.Thispuzzledhim.
Hetrieditagain,withthesameresult.
Theonlookerslaugheduproariously,andhefeltashamed,heknewnotwhy,foritwashisfirstsnow.
Share this article to
FINISH