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TheCalloftheWildLondon,JackPublished:1903Categories(s):Fiction,Action&AdventureSource:Wikisource1AboutLondon:JackLondon(January12,1876–November22,1916),wasanAmericanauthorwhowroteTheCalloftheWildandotherbooks.Apioneerinthethen-burgeoningworldofcommercialmagazinefiction,hewasoneofthefirstAmericanstomakeahugefinancialsuccessfromwriting.Source:WikipediaNote:ThisbookisbroughttoyoubyFeedbooks.—strangecreaturesthatrarelyputnoseoutofdoorsorsetfoottoground.Ontheotherhand,therewerethefoxterriers,ascoreofthematleast,whoyelpedfearfulpromisesatTootsandYsabellookingoutofthewindowsatthemandprotectedbyalegionofhousemaidsarmedwithbroomsandmops.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,flyingthingsofJudgeMiller'splace,humansincluded.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-bingraces,theloveofwaterhadbeenatonicandahealthpreserver.AndthiswasthemannerofdogBuckwasinthefallof1897,whentheKlondikestrikedraggedmenfromalltheworldintothefrozenNorth.ButBuckdidnotreadthenewspapers,andhedidnotknowthatManuel,oneofthegardener'shelpers,wasanundesirableacquaintance.Manuelhadonebesettingsin.HelovedtoplayChineselottery.Also,inhisgambling,hehadonebesettingweakness—faithinasystem;andthismadehisdamnationcertain.Fortoplayasystemrequiresmoney,whilethewagesofagardener'shelperdonotlapovertheneedsofawifeandnumerousprogeny.4TheJudgewasatameetingoftheRaisinGrowers'Association,andtheboyswerebusyorganizinganathleticclub,onthememorablenightofManuel'streachery.NoonesawhimandBuckgooffthroughtheorchardonwhatBuckimaginedwasmerelyastroll.Andwiththeexcep-tionofasolitaryman,noonesawthemarriveatthelittleflagstationknownasCollegePark.ThismantalkedwithManuel,andmoneychinkedbetweenthem.Youmightwrapupthegoodsbeforeyoudeliver'm,thestrangersaidgruffly,andManueldoubledapieceofstoutropearoundBuck'sneckunderthecollar.Twistit,an'you'llchoke'mplentee,saidManuel,andthestrangergruntedareadyaffirmative.Buckhadacceptedtheropewithquietdignity.Tobesure,itwasanunwontedperformance:buthehadlearnedtotrustinmenheknew,andtogivethemcreditforawisdomthatoutreachedhisown.Butwhentheendsoftheropewereplacedinthestranger'shands,hegrowledmen-acingly.Hehadmerelyintim