English
WhenBuckearnedsixteenhundreddollarsinfiveminutesforJohnThornton,hemadeitpossibleforhismastertopayoffcertaindebtsandtojourneywithhispartnersintotheEastafterafabledlostmine,thehistoryofwhichwasasoldasthehistoryofthecountry.
Manymenhadsoughtit;fewhadfoundit;andmorethanafewtherewerewhohadneverreturnedfromthequest.
Thislostminewassteepedintragedyandshroudedinmystery.Nooneknewofthefirstman.
Theoldesttraditionstoppedbeforeitgotbacktohim.
Fromthebeginningtherehadbeenanancientandramshacklecabin.
Dyingmenhadsworntoit,andtotheminethesiteofwhichitmarked,clinchingtheirtestimonywithnuggetsthatwereunlikeanyknowngradeofgoldintheNorthland.
Butnolivingmanhadlootedthistreasurehouse,andthedeadweredead;whereforeJohnThorntonandPeteandHans,withBuckandhalfadozenotherdogs,facedintotheEastonanunknowntrailtoachievewheremenanddogsasgoodasthemselveshadfailed.
TheysleddedseventymilesuptheYukon,swungtotheleftintotheStewartRiver,passedtheMayoandtheMcQuestion,andheldonuntiltheStewartitselfbecameastreamlet,threadingtheupstandingpeakswhichmarkedthebackboneofthecontinent.
JohnThorntonaskedlittleofmanornature.Hewasunafraidofthewild.
Withahandfulofsaltandariflehecouldplungeintothewildernessandfarewhereverhepleasedandaslongashepleased.
Beinginnohaste,Indianfashion,hehuntedhisdinnerinthecourseoftheday'stravel;andifhefailedtofindit,liketheIndian,hekeptontravelling,secureintheknowledgethatsoonerorlaterhewouldcometoit.
So,onthisgreatjourneyintotheEast,straightmeatwasthebilloffare,ammunitionandtoolsprincipallymadeuptheloadonthesled,andthetime-cardwasdrawnuponthelimitlessfuture.
ToBuckitwasboundlessdelight,thishunting,fishing,andindefinitewanderingthroughstrangeplaces.
Forweeksatatimetheywouldholdonsteadily,dayafterday;andforweeksuponendtheywouldcamp,hereandthere,thedogsloafingandthemenburningholesthroughfrozenmuckandgravelandwashingcountlesspansofdirtbytheheatofthefire.
Sometimestheywenthungry,sometimestheyfeastedriotously,allaccordingtotheabundanceofgameandthefortuneofhunting.
Summerarrived,anddogsandmenpackedontheirbacks,raftedacrossbluemountainlakes,anddescendedorascendedunknownriversinslenderboatswhipsawedfromthestandingforest.
Themonthscameandwent,andbackandforththeytwistedthroughtheunchartedvastness,wherenomenwereandyetwheremenhadbeeniftheLostCabinweretrue.
Theywentacrossdividesinsummerblizzards,shiveredunderthemidnightsunonnakedmountainsbetweenthetimberlineandtheeternalsnows,droppedintosummervalleysamidswarminggnatsandflies,andintheshadowsofglacierspickedstrawberriesandflowersasripeandfairasanytheSouthlandcouldboast.
Inthefalloftheyeartheypenetratedaweirdlakecountry,sadandsilent,wherewildfowlhadbeen,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.
Eachdaytheyworkedearnedthemthousandsofdollarsincleandustandnuggets,andtheyworkedeveryday.
Thegoldwassackedinmoose-hidebags,fiftypoundstothebag,andpiledlikesomuchfirewoodoutsidethespruce-boughlodge.
Likegiantstheytoiled,daysflashingontheheelsofdayslikedreamsastheyheapedthetreasureup.
Therewasnothingforthedogstodo,savethehaulinginofmeatnowandagainthatThorntonkilled,andBuckspentlonghoursmusingbythefire.
Thevisionoftheshort-leggedhairymancametohimmorefrequently,nowthattherewaslittleworktobedone;andoften,blinkingbythefire,Buckwanderedwithhiminthatotherworldwhichheremembered.
Thesalientthingofthisotherworldseemedfear.
Whenhewatchedthehairymansleepingbythefire,headbetweenhiskneesandhandsclaspedabove,Bucksawthathesleptrestlessly,withmanystartsandawakenings,atwhichtimeshewouldpeerfearfullyintothedarknessandflingmorewooduponthefire.
Didtheywalkbythebeachofasea,wherethehairymangatheredshellfishandatethemashegathered,itwaswitheyesthatrovedeverywhereforhiddendangerandwithlegspreparedtorunlikethewindatitsfirstappearance.
Throughtheforesttheycreptnoiselessly,Buckatthehairyman'sheels;andtheywerealertandvigilant,thepairofthem,earstwitchingandmovingandnostrilsquivering,forthemanheardandsmelledaskeenlyasBuck.
Thehairymancouldspringupintothetreesandtravelaheadasfastasontheground,swingingbythearmsfromlimbtolimb,sometimesadozenfeetapart,lettinggoandcatching,neverfalling,nevermissinghisgrip.
Infact,heseemedasmuchathomeamongthetreesasontheground;andBuckhadmemoriesofnightsofvigilspentbeneathtreeswhereinthehairymanroosted,holdingontightlyasheslept.
Andcloselyakintothevisionsofthehairymanwasthecallstillsoundinginthedepthsoftheforest.
Itfilledhimwithagreatunrestandstrangedesires.
Itcausedhimtofeelavague,sweetgladness,andhewasawareofwildyearningsandstirringsforheknewnotwhat.
Sometimeshepursuedthecallintotheforest,lookingforitasthoughitwereatangiblething,barkingsoftlyordefiantly,asthemoodmightdictate.
Hewouldthrusthisnoseintothecoolwoodmoss,orintotheblacksoilwherelonggrassesgrew,andsnortwithjoyatthefatearthsmells;orhewouldcrouchforhours,asifinconcealment,behindfungus-coveredtrunksoffallentrees,wide-eyedandwide-earedtoallthatmovedandsoundedabouthim.
Itmightbe,lyingthus,thathehopedtosurprisethiscallhecouldnotunderstand.
Buthedidnotknowwhyhedidthesevariousthings.
Hewasimpelledtodothem,anddidnotreasonaboutthematall.
Irresistibleimpulsesseizedhim.Hewouldbelyingincamp,dozinglazilyintheheatoftheday,whensuddenlyhisheadwouldliftandhisearscockup,intentandlistening,andhewouldspringtohisfeetanddashaway,andonandon,forhours,throughtheforestaislesandacrosstheopenspaceswheretheniggerheadsbunched.
Helovedtorundowndrywatercourses,andtocreepandspyuponthebirdlifeinthewoods.
Foradayatatimehewouldlieintheunderbrushwherehecouldwatchthepartridgesdrummingandstruttingupanddown.
Butespeciallyhelovedtoruninthedimtwilightofthesummermidnights,listeningtothesubduedandsleepymurmursoftheforest,readingsignsandsoundsasmanmayreadabook,andseekingforthemysterioussomethingthatcalled—called,wakingorsleeping,atalltimes,forhimtocome.
Onenighthesprangfromsleepwithastart,eager-eyed,nostrilsquiveringandscenting,hismanebristlinginrecurrentwaves.
Fromtheforestcamethecall(oronenoteofit,forthecallwasmanynoted),distinctanddefiniteasneverbefore,—along-drawnhowl,like,yetunlike,anynoisemadebyhuskydog.
Andheknewit,intheoldfamiliarway,asasoundheardbefore.
Hesprangthroughthesleepingcampandinswiftsilencedashedthroughthewoods.
Ashedrewclosertothecryhewentmoreslowly,withcautionineverymovement,tillhecametoanopenplaceamongthetrees,andlookingoutsaw,erectonhaunches,withnosepointedtothesky,along,lean,timberwolf.
Hehadmadenonoise,yetitceasedfromitshowlingandtriedtosensehispresence.
Buckstalkedintotheopen,halfcrouching,bodygatheredcompactlytogether,tailstraightandstiff,feetfallingwithunwontedcare.
Everymovementadvertisedcommingledthreateningandovertureoffriendliness.
Itwasthemenacingtrucethatmarksthemeetingofwildbeaststhatprey.Butthewolffledatsightofhim.
Hefollowed,withwildleapings,inafrenzytoovertake.
Heranhimintoablindchannel,inthebedofthecreekwhereatimberjambarredtheway.
Thewolfwhirledabout,pivotingonhishindlegsafterthefashionofJoeandofallcorneredhuskydogs,snarlingandbristling,clippinghisteethtogetherinacontinuousandrapidsuccessionofsnaps.
Buckdidnotattack,butcircledhimaboutandhedgedhiminwithfriendlyadvances.
Thewolfwassuspiciousandafraid;forBuckmadethreeofhiminweight,whilehisheadbarelyreachedBuck'sshoulder.
Watchinghischance,hedartedaway,andthechasewasresumed.
Timeandagainhewascornered,andthethingrepeated,thoughhewasinpoorcondition,orBuckcouldnotsoeasilyhaveovertakenhim.
HewouldruntillBuck'sheadwasevenwithhisflank,whenhewouldwhirlaroundatbay,onlytodashawayagainatthefirstopportunity.
ButintheendBuck'spertinacitywasrewarded;forthewolf,findingthatnoharmwasintended,finallysniffednoseswithhim.
Thentheybecamefriendly,andplayedaboutinthenervous,half-coywaywithwhichfiercebeastsbelietheirfierceness.
Aftersometimeofthisthewolfstartedoffataneasylopeinamannerthatplainlyshowedhewasgoingsomewhere.
HemadeitcleartoBuckthathewastocome,andtheyransidebysidethroughthesombretwilight,straightupthecreekbed,intothegorgefromwhichitissued,andacrossthebleakdividewhereittookitsrise.
Ontheoppositeslopeofthewatershedtheycamedownintoalevelcountrywhereweregreatstretchesofforestandmanystreams,andthroughthesegreatstretchestheyransteadily,hourafterhour,thesunrisinghigherandthedaygrowingwarmer.Buckwaswildlyglad.
Heknewhewasatlastansweringthecall,runningbythesideofhiswoodbrothertowardtheplacefromwherethecallsurelycame.
Oldmemorieswerecominguponhimfast,andhewasstirringtothemasofoldhestirredtotherealitiesofwhichtheyweretheshadows.
Hehaddonethisthingbefore,somewhereinthatotheranddimlyrememberedworld,andhewasdoingitagain,now,runningfreeintheopen,theunpackedearthunderfoot,thewideskyoverhead.
Theystoppedbyarunningstreamtodrink,and,stopping,BuckrememberedJohnThornton.Hesatdown.
Thewolfstartedontowardtheplacefromwherethecallsurelycame,thenreturnedtohim,sniffingnosesandmakingactionsasthoughtoencouragehim.
ButBuckturnedaboutandstartedslowlyonthebacktrack.
Forthebetterpartofanhourthewildbrotherranbyhisside,whiningsoftly.
Thenhesatdown,pointedhisnoseupward,andhowled.
Itwasamournfulhowl,andasBuckheldsteadilyonhiswayhehearditgrowfaintandfainteruntilitwaslostinthedistance.
JohnThorntonwaseatingdinnerwhenBuckdashedintocampandspranguponhiminafrenzyofaffection,overturninghim,scramblinguponhim,lickinghisface,bitinghishand—"playingthegeneraltom-fool,"asJohnThorntoncharacterizedit,thewhileheshookBuckbackandforthandcursedhimlovingly.
FortwodaysandnightsBuckneverleftcamp,neverletThorntonoutofhissight.
Hefollowedhimaboutathiswork,watchedhimwhileheate,sawhimintohisblanketsatnightandoutoftheminthemorning.
Butaftertwodaysthecallintheforestbegantosoundmoreimperiouslythanever.
Buck'srestlessnesscamebackonhim,andhewashauntedbyrecollectionsofthewildbrother,andofthesmilinglandbeyondthedivideandtherunsidebysidethroughthewideforeststretches.
Onceagainhetooktowanderinginthewoods,butthewildbrothercamenomore;andthoughhelistenedthroughlongvigils,themournfulhowlwasneverraised.
Hebegantosleepoutatnight,stayingawayfromcampfordaysatatime;andoncehecrossedthedivideattheheadofthecreekandwentdownintothelandoftimberandstreams.
Therehewanderedforaweek,seekingvainlyforfreshsignofthewildbrother,killinghismeatashetravelledandtravellingwiththelong,easylopethatseemsnevertotire.
Hefishedforsalmoninabroadstreamthatemptiedsomewhereintothesea,andbythisstreamhekilledalargeblackbear,blindedbythemosquitoeswhilelikewisefishing,andragingthroughtheforesthelplessandterrible.
Evenso,itwasahardfight,anditarousedthelastlatentremnantsofBuck'sferocity.
Andtwodayslater,whenhereturnedtohiskillandfoundadozenwolverenesquarrellingoverthespoil,hescatteredthemlikechaff;andthosethatfledlefttwobehindwhowouldquarrelnomore.
Theblood-longingbecamestrongerthaneverbefore.
Hewasakiller,athingthatpreyed,livingonthethingsthatlived,unaided,alone,byvirtueofhisownstrengthandprowess,survivingtriumphantlyinahostileenvironmentwhereonlythestrongsurvived.
Becauseofallthishebecamepossessedofagreatprideinhimself,whichcommunicateditselflikeacontagiontohisphysicalbeing.
Itadvertiseditselfinallhismovements,wasapparentintheplayofeverymuscle,spokeplainlyasspeechinthewayhecarriedhimself,andmadehisgloriousfurrycoatifanythingmoreglorious.
Butforthestraybrownonhismuzzleandabovehiseyes,andforthesplashofwhitehairthatranmidmostdownhischest,hemightwellhavebeenmistakenforagiganticwolf,largerthanthelargestofthebreed.
FromhisSt.Bernardfatherhehadinheritedsizeandweight,butitwashisshepherdmotherwhohadgivenshapetothatsizeandweight.
Hismuzzlewasthelongwolfmuzzle,savethatwaslargerthanthemuzzleofanywolf;andhishead,somewhatbroader,wasthewolfheadonamassivescale.
Hiscunningwaswolfcunning,andwildcunning;hisintelligence,shepherdintelligenceandSt.Bernardintelligence;andallthis,plusanexperiencegainedinthefiercestofschools,madehimasformidableacreatureasanythatintelligenceroamedthewild.
Acarnivorousanimallivingonastraightmeatdiet,hewasinfullflower,atthehightideofhislife,overspillingwithvigorandvirility.
WhenThorntonpassedacaressinghandalonghisback,asnappingandcracklingfollowedthehand,eachhairdischargingitspentmagnetismatthecontact.
Everypart,brainandbody,nervetissueandfibre,waskeyedtothemostexquisitepitch;andbetweenallthepartstherewasaperfectequilibriumoradjustment.
Tosightsandsoundsandeventswhichrequiredaction,herespondedwithlightning-likerapidity.
Quicklyasahuskydogcouldleaptodefendfromattackortoattack,hecouldleaptwiceasquickly.
Hesawthemovement,orheardsound,andrespondedinlesstimethananotherdogrequiredtocompassthemereseeingorhearing.
Heperceivedanddeterminedandrespondedinthesameinstant.
Inpointoffactthethreeactionsofperceiving,determining,andrespondingweresequential;butsoinfinitesimalweretheintervalsoftimebetweenthemthattheyappearedsimultaneous.
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