"Come buck k lived a big house in the sun kissed Santa Clara Valley" "Judge Millers place it was called house was approached by gravel pathways which wound about wide spreading lawns." "under the interlacing boughs of tall poplars.." "over this great domain Buck ruled here he was born, here he had lived the 4 years of his life." "Good afternoon Big Bob" "Ed" "k did not read the newspapers, or he would have known trouble was brewing." "only for himself but for every tide water-dog strong of muscle warm and of long hair." "m Puget Sound to San Diego." "because men, groping in the Arctic darkness, had found a yellow metal because steamship and transportation companies were booming the find thousands of men were rushing into the Northland." "These men wanted dogs and the dogs they wanted were heavy dogs." "with strong muscles by which to toil, and furry coats to protect them from the frost." "Buck had accepted the rope with quiet dignity." "he had learned to trust in men he knew and to give them credit for a wisdom that outreached his own." "But when the ends of the rope were placed in the stranger's hands." "growls menacingly." "two days and nights he neither ate nor drank." "during those two days and nights of torment accumulated a fund of wrath that that boded ill for whoever first fell afoul of him." "let him loose" "you stay good and it be fine you be a bad dog an I'll whale the stuffing' outa you." "Buck was beaten but he was not broken." "He saw that he stood no chance against a man with a club." "That club was a revelation." "It was his introduction to the reign of primitive law." "A this the one you need big strapping brute name of Buck" "He's big enough all right why he not eating?" "he sulking got a temper for a big dog, I just show him his place this my best dog." "Perrault." "He'll pull your mail sled all the way to Dawson by himself, mark my word." "300!" "300?" "that's my price he's worth more that's a lot of money." "he's a lot of dog." "I'll give you 300 for him and that frisky on over there." "Curly?" "Deal." "The next morning Buck and Curly were loaded on to the Narwhal." "The vessel sailed north from Seattle quickly Crossing the Canadian border" "The journey continued pressing on through Queen Charlotte Sound, pass Juno into Lynne canal and finally up toward Dyea beach" "at last one morning, the propeller was quite" "Buck new change was a end" "Dogs Barking and whimpering" "Sniggers" "This buck" "and Curly take them over to the camp" "I'll look at them there" "Shout at dogs" "Here Billee here Buck" "Spitz" "There you go Dave and Curly" "That was fair Buck decided" "This was a new kinda man, a man to wise in the way of dogs to be fooled by dogs." "As a courier for the Canadian government baring dispatches" "Perrault was anxious to secure the best dogs." "and he was particularly gladdened by the possession of Buck" " There you go sir" " Thanks alot" "Hello John." "How are you this morning?" "Fine Perrault and you?" "alright a fine day of mail for Dawson this time." "what the weather like these days?" "not too bad" "Dramatic music plays" "GET THEM OUT FROM THERE" "MEN SHOUTING" "So that was the way no fair play" "once down that was the end of you well" "Buck would see to it that he never went down" "Spitz looked at curly and unmoved and at that moment Buck hated him with a bitter deathless hatred" "Get out Buck" "Get out out" "Francois" "This is Sol-leks" "what is the problem?" "well he's old and half blind he know how to pull a sled that all I care about" "he sighs" "no more fancy collars for you my friend" "come buck good dog" "let's get moving Francois or we'll never make it through the cannon" "mush" "All though buck dignity was sorely hurt by being harnessed like a horse he was to wise to rebel he buckled down with the will and did his best although it was all new and strange" "he was glad to be dog he was surprised with the eagerness which animated the whole team and was communicated to him the toll and the traces seemed the supreme expression of the being an all that they lived for and only thing which they took to light" "there you go Dave" "Here Spitz come on buck" "thieves what happened?" " one of them stole my bacon - where did you leave it?" "doesn't matter where i left it he had no business stealing it" "no Buck wouldn't have stole it" "was you wasn't it?" "if i ever catch you you'll wish you never been born" "This first theft marked Buck's as fit to survive in the hostel northlands environment it marked his ability his capacity to adjust himself to changing conditions the lack of which of meant swift and terrible death" "it was all well enough in the Southland under the law love an fellowship to respect private property and personal feelings but in the Northlands under the law club and fang whoso took such things into account was a fool," "and in so far as he observed them he would fail to prosper." "come on Buck you build yourself a nest go back to it" "hey hey alright hold it hold it get out of there Spitz GO" "GO" "next day they made forty miles the trail being packed but the next day, and for many days to follow" "hey broke their own trail worked harder, and made poorer time." "It was a hard days run up canyon through snowdrifts hundreds of feet deep and over the great Chilcoot Divided" "which stands between the Ocean and the Yukon river and guards forbiddingly the sad and lonely North." "Halt" "We camp here alright" "You're going to like this trust me" "hurry up weather getting worse come on come walk" "come on Buck don't worry you get use to them that 's it buck come on" "that's it Buck you'll get use to It that's not normal Francois." "boots for a dam dog" "How is the ice?" "very bad we'll lose half a day so keep your wits about you" "h!" "Here in Dawson were other Southland dogs." "and every night regularly at 9 at 12 at 3 they lifted nocturnal song." "A weird and eerie chant in which it was Buck right to join," "Seven days from the time they pulled into Dawson they dropped down to the Yukon river trail" "Perrault was carrying dispatches more urgent than those he brought in also the pride had gripped him and he proposed to make the record trip of the year" "The weeks rest had recuperated the dogs and put them in thorough trim" "alright go on" "what are you doing?" "He must be tired of salmon, little rabbit might taste good eh?" "and you too" "I hear them leave them be it's nice to have some quite around here" "Dogs Start to bark and Growl" "Spitz moans and howls." "There had been no hope for Spitz mercy was a thing reserved for gentler climes" "instinct long dead became alive again in Buck," "The domestic generations were falling from him" "look like you put up a hell'va fight damn it" "it's tough enough on the trail without this" "Am glad is finally over you glad we lost a dog?" "Buck worth two Dogs we're going to make better time no more Spitz no more trouble hope your right" "Come on Sol-leks, come on got a new job for you" "Come on Sol-leks" "Buck go away" "so you thing you should take Spitz place eh go away" "Go" "Sol-leks will lead." "Stay" "I've had enough" "By god buck am going to teach your place" "damn you Buck" "Buck ying" "so what we do?" "I say we give buck a chance he fought for it" "sighs alright maybe your right" "It was a hard trip the trail behind them." "and the heavy work wore them down since the beginning of winter they had travel 1800 miles dragging sled the whole weary distance" "Buck stood keep his mate's up to their work and maintaining discipline although he too was very tired." "Monsieur Perrault" "no broken bones" " Put him back in the tracers" " No he's too weak to pull then you know what we have to do." "he might recover." "we'll make him run behind" "Alright let's get going" "come on Dave mush" "come on Dave you can do it" "Wait!" "I'll do it move the dogs ahead" "mush mush" "Gun shoot" "Buck knew and every dog knew what had taken place behind that belt of river trees" "and they knew this thing was very close to them" "30 days from the time it left Dawson the mail with buck and his mates at the fore arrived back in a wretched state worn out and worn down" "Dyea Thank god sounds like your both lucky to be alive too bad you have to go back to Dawson what?" "urgent mail for the northwest police" "No way we 'all make to Dawson right now" "The dogs are exhausted they need a week to rest up sorry you're the only messengers in town" "Cyrus O'Neil got some fresh dogs you can buy" "Ye what am I going to do with my dogs?" "sell them" "Dyea crawling with southerners half them looking for dogs phew" "merci and give the dogs a good rest they need it" "where are the dogs?" "Goodbye my friends" "you're a good dog Buck" "Au revoir Môn ami" "k listened to his new masters Apprehensively the proceeded to load the sled." "re was a great deal of effort about their manner not Business like method" "No that one should go on top please - alright" "Yes dear" "I wouldn't toot that tent along if i was you." "undreamed of how in the world would we manage without a tent." "it's all most spring you get along without it thanks for the advice mister think it will ride?" "an why not?" "whyeeee it seem top heavy that all oh" "alright listen up you mutts am your new master" "and I demand obedience" "Stand" "Stand I said" "I a said stand up lazy brute no Hal you mustn't" "now you mustn't be so harsh with them or i won't move a step you have to whip the dogs if you want anything out of them ask any one of those people" "There as weak as water friend they just got off the trail they need a rest." "but just look at them well it the big one here he's lazy what is name?" "A Buck ok Buck up" "You're crazy mister." "Don't you talk to my brother in that tone voice sir." "you do what you think necessary" "why don't you get up an be the leader what a good boy." "Back away Mercedes let get going" "loud sigh" "Hello Yukon ha" "Hal!" "are you all right?" "well we just have to take few things off" "over that feeling better" "No how could I feel better leaving all my things behind oh my sweet pea with all the gold we're going to find" "I'll buy you ever new dress in Dawson city" "Right everyone just relax with 7 dogs we're really going fly this is a lot harder than you told me Charles ouck didn't think getting rich, would be easy did you?" "dear all right all aboard the golden express" "Ready?" " yes all right you mingy mutts MUSH" "MUSH" "What now?" " well perhaps I should walk for a while oh right here we go mush mush on" "Hooray for the Klondike" "This is freezing am glad we missed winter" "Eat hardy lads you earned it but Hal we didn't get very far today." "It's not bad for the first day especially considering Cleopatra sat on the barge the entire way." "A woman can only walk so far in one day." "Now sweetheart don't be like that" "Perhaps we should show her the map" "It's your wife" "I can hear you Hal" " What's wrong?" " Oh we got a problem" " I thought we passed lake Bennett yesterday" " No that was lake cacross" " Oh you poor dog 's you look so tired - what if this way?" "it will lead us by the white pass trail here." " we cut our distance by a third But" "But In Dyea the said that trail was dangerous this time of year" "No dear!" "Don't do that" "You mustn't over feed the dogs no!" "no!" "no!" "don't be so cruel Charles they need there sustains but we'll run out of food half way to Dawson" "Am taking the white pass trail and were cutting the dogs rations" "Buck felt vaguely that there was no depending upon these two men and the woman." "They did not know how to do anything." "and as the days went by it became apparent that they could not learn." "this way let's go" "mush" "A mush on" "Help me!" "Help!" "Help me!" "Freezing" "How could you leave me out there?" "I all most have died why you not wearing your snow shoes?" "There back there why don't you not go back and find them if there so precious" "Charles would you please inform my sister this is Milwaukee." "that this is the middle of the damn Yukon." "Oh why don't you tell my foul mouth brother that am trying my best." "but i just can't walk anymore I just can't" "By this time all the amenities and gentleness's of the Southland fell away from the three people shorn of its glamour and romance," "Arctic travel became to them a reality too harsh for them." "Ah mush on" "Through it all Buck staggered along at the head the team" "As in a nightmare." "Stop!" "Whoa!" "Whoa!" "Whoa!" "What!" "Look!" "God lord" "How we going to get across?" "Look just don't panic we just" "Follow the river upstream till it's frozen" "Come on lets go" "Stop!" "Stop Stop" " Stop the dog look he' fallen" " Whoa Whoa" "Don't for god sake" "He's dead" "let's just keep moving!" "Ye ha mush ye mush" "What he want?" "I think he's trying to tell you something dear" " He wants off the sled" " But I am freezing" " GET OFF!" "or were not going anywhere" "I didn't want come on this trip you know" "I didn't want look for gold" "I only came because I wanted to be near you because I love you and now everything is ruined." "Yhea mush" "Yhea" "It was strange that neither dogs or humans were aware of it." "From every hill came a trickle of running water" "All things were thawing" "The Yukon was straining to break loose the ice that bound it down." "thin sections of ice fell through bodily into the river." "And amid all this throbbing of awakening life, through the rushing of the swollen river." "like wayfarers to death, the two men, the woman, and the dogs." "staggered into John Thornton's camp at the mouth of White River." "Thank god were travelling upstream looking for some ice to across" "Well there lots of ice" "But it's about to break i wouldn't call it safe we made it this far we'll find a way across" "You look frozen stiff?" "No we were just fine." "Come on Up!" "Up" "Come buck let's get up we got keep going now." "Come lets Come Buck up" "Come lets come on Buck look at me, I said stand." "up" "UP!" "Buck I said up" "You listen to me Buck when I say up come on" "Like his mates, Buck was barely able to get up, but, unlike them, he had made up his mind not to get up." "he sensed disaster close at hand out there ahead on the ice were his master was trying to drive him." "This dog finished." "Gimmie the gun Charles" "No Hal" " Gimmie the damn gun." " NO!" "You finish the dog?" "I'll finish you." "He's my dog." "You mind your own business" "Well take him he's nearly dead anyway." "Let's go come on." "Let's take a look at you." "By the time his search had disclosed nothing more than many bruises and a state of terrible starvation, the sled was a quarter of a mile away." "Bunch of idiots" "Want to try this come on" "HELP!" "When John Thornton froze his feet in the previous December" "His partners Hans and Pete had made him comfortable and left him to get well, going on themselves up the river with a boat of skins for Dawson." "He was still weak at the time he rescued Buck but with the continued warm weather the weakness had left him." "and here beside the river bank through the long days of approaching spring." "listening lazily to the songs of birds and the hum of nature," "Buck slowly won back his strength." "and then one day." "decided that he might trust John Thornton." "Hi..." "how are you" "hay" "Buck romps through his convalescence and into a new existence." "Love, genuine passionate love, was his for the first time." "This he had never experienced at Judge Miller's theirs had been a stately and dignified friendship" "But love that was feverish and burning, that was adoration, that was madness, it had taken John Thornton to arouse." "This man had saved his life." "For a long time after his rescue Buck out of his sight, since he come into the northland he had feared that no master would be kind." "afraid that Thornton would pass out of his life too." "But in spite of this great love Buck bore John Thornton, the strain of the primitive, which the Northland had aroused in him, remained alive and active." "Each day mankind and the claims of mankind slipped farther from him." "Deep in the forest a call was sounding, and as often as he heard this call, mysteriously thrilling and luring, he felt compelled to turn his back upon the campsite and the beaten earth around it, and to plunge into the forest and on and on," "he knew not where or why;" "But as often as he gained the soft unbroken earth and the dark forest shade, the love for John Thornton drew him back again." "Thornton alone held him." "The rest of mankind was as nothing." "convalescence was over along bad stretch of rapids on the Forty-Mile Creek," "Thornton's two partners Hans and Pete were moving the long the bank with ropes, they were getting ready to guide Thornton in the boat which was loaded with the skins they would sell in Dawson." "Pete!" "..." "Pete!" "Come on Hans." "Come here.. come on" "Hang on John!" "Go get him Buck." "ok pull!" "John it me Hans" "He's alright" "You ok?" "I could use a whisky right now" "Hans and Pete laugh." "Daryl don't you be cheating you hear!" "Don't say hello John alright how's thing with you?" "You strike it rich yet?" "No" "I just look that way" "Who's your friend?" "it's my partner" "Pretty fine looking dog mister" "Hey John!" "over here" "Excuse us." "that looks pretty strong!" "You know I got a dog that can breakout a sled with 500 pounds, an walk right of with it" "oh Yhea well my boy Dutton same with 600 pounds." "Well my boy Buck can do 800 pounds." "All laughing 800 pounds and walk with it for a 100 feet?" "And walk off with it..." ".. for 100 feet" "You know I would like to see that." "and I got 1,000 dollars worth of gold dust that says he can't" "Stay!" "bet there going make needs 1000 Dollars" "I got a sled waiting right outside" " OK" " Done" "2-1 Thornton's dog can't meet the challenge" "That deep man!" "I say got to be 3-1" "I'll take those 3-1 odds an lay you another 1,000 at those odds any takers come on" "Going to need more money!" "all we got" "A bugger triple it for us anyway" "John I'll put my money on you." "200 more" "Against my 600?" "Done" "Do this for me don't let me down" "Ok" "Come on hey hey up" "Come on" "You can do it come on" "Yhea...up you can do it come on" "Come on!" "come on pull" "Step Step Come on" "come on ...pull" "Crowd cheer Buck on" "Yhea Yhea" "Sir I'll give you a 1,000 dollars for your dog 12,000" "He's not for sale" "Your share and $150 thanks for the support." "ah when you going to leave?" "Pretty soon" "Listen why don't you just think about it you could sleep on it." "Maggie - mmm why do you have to give me such hard time?" "When Buck earned 16,000 dollars in five minutes for John Thornton, he made it possible his master pay of certain debts." "and to journey into the East after a fabled lost mine." "the history of which was as old as the history of the country." "Many men had sought it; few had found it;" "and more than a few there were who had never returned from the quest." "Bye" " Good luck" "From the beginning there had been an ancient and ramshackle cabin." "Dying men had sworn to it." "and to the mine which it marked, clinching their testimony with nuggets unlike any known grade of gold in the Northland" "John Thornton asked little of man or nature." "He was unafraid of the wild." "With a handful of salt and a rifle he could plunge into the wilderness and fare wherever he pleased and as long as he pleased." "this was Indian country" "Being in no haste, Indian fashion, he hunted and fished for his dinner in the course of the day's travel." "Lying next to Thornton dozing lazily in the heat of the day" "Irresistible impulses were beginning seized Buck." "The months came and went, and at the end of all there wandering they found not he lost cavern but a shallow mine in a broad valley they sought no further." "Wolves howl" "The call still sounding in the depths of the forest." "It filled Buck with a great unrest and strange desires." "he was aware of wild yearnings and stirrings for he knew not what." "he pursued the call into the forest." "running the dim twilight seeking for the mysterious something that called him to come." "Whistles" "Buck barks" "A there you are now it's time for breakfast ah" "Buck barks..." "and Wolves howl" "From the forest came the call distinct and definite as never before, a long-drawn howl, like, yet unlike, any noise made by a dog." "And he knew it, in the old familiar way as a sound heard before." "Wolf howls" "Buck was wildly glad." "He knew he was at last answering the call, running by the side of his wood brother toward the place from where the call surely came." "He had done this thing before, somewhere in that dimly remembered world and he was doing it again, now." "Then Buck remembered John Thornton." "Wolves howling" "If you think you're going to sleep here you got another thing coming." "Get out!" "Buck never left camp never let Thornton out of his sight." "but while restlessness came back on him, he a thing of the wild come in from the wild to sit by John Thornton's fire and was haunted by recollections of the wild brother," "Once again he took to wandering in the woods, but the wild brother came no more." "There no gold here" "we go home tomorrow." "Let's call it a day." "Buck had lessoned well he must be master or be mastered." "but to show mercy was a weakness." "Mercy did not exist in the primordial life." "It was misunderstood for fear, and such misunderstandings made for death." "Kill or be killed, eat or be eaten, was the law." "BUCK!" "Whoa whoa Yhea" "Mumbles to himself" "Buck" "All day Buck brooded by Thornton's body" "Death, as a cessation of movement as a passing out and away from the lives of the living," "He knew and he knew John Thornton was dead." "It left a great void in him, somewhat akin to hunger, but a void which ached and ached, and which food could not fill." "And with the coming of the night, brooding and mourning by the river," "Buck became alive to a stirring of the new life in the forest." "It was the call, sounding more alluringly and compellingly than ever before." "And as never before, he was ready to obey." "John Thornton was dead." "The last tie was broken." "Man and the claims of man no longer bound him." "And here may well end the story of Buck." "The years were not many when the Yeehats noted a change in the breed of timber wolves;" "or some were seen with splashes of brown on head and muzzle, and with a rift of gold centring down the chest." "But more remarkable than this, the Yeehats tell of a Ghost Dog that runs with the pack." "they are afraid of this Ghost Dog, for it has cunning greater than they, stealing from their camps in fierce winters robbing their traps, slaying their dogs, and defying their bravest hunters." "there is a certain valley which they never enter" "When the long winter nights come on and the wolves follow their meat he may be seen running at the head of the pack through the pale moonlight leaping gigantic above his fellows his great throat a-bellow as he sings a song of the younger world," "which is the song of the pack."