Jack London
(1876 - 1916)

The Call of the Wild

2

The sound of a locomotive whistling told him where he was. He had often traveled often with the Judge and so he knew that he was riding in a baggage car. He opened his eyes, and into them came the anger of a kidnaped king. The man sprang for his throat, but Buck was too quick for him. His jaws closed on the hand, and he didn't relax till the rope around his neck choked his senses out of him once more

Later, in a little shed back of a saloon on the San Francisco water front the man grumbled.

"All I get is fifty for it, and I wouldn't do it over for a thousand, cold cash."

His hand was wrapped in a bloody handkerchief, and the right trouser leg was ripped.

"How much did the other guy get?" the saloon-keeper demanded.

"A hundred," was the reply.

"That makes a hundred and fifty," the saloon-keeper said, "and he's worth it."

The kidnaper undid the bloody wrappings and looked at his injured hand.

With his throat and tongue hurting terribly, Buck tried to fight against his enemies. But he was choked repeatedly, and thrown into a cage-like box.

There he lay for the rest of the night. He could not understand what it all meant. What did they want with him, these strange men? Why were they keeping him in this narrow box? He did not know why, but he felt that something terrible was going to happen. Several times during the night he sprang to his feet when the shed door rattled open, expecting to see the Judge, or the boys at least. But each time it was the saloon-keeper and each time the joyful bark that trembled in Buck's throat turned into a savage growl.

But the saloon-keeper let him alone, and in the morning four men entered and picked up the box. Buck stormed and raged at them through the bars. They only laughed and poked sticks at him, which he attacked with his teeth till he realized that was what they wanted. So he lay down and allowed the box to be lifted into a wagon. Then he, and the box in which he was imprisoned, began a passage through many hands until he was put in an express car.

For two days and nights this express car was pulled by locomotives; and for two days and nights Buck neither ate nor drank.

He did not mind the hunger so much, but the lack of water was terrible. His throat and tongue were swollen, but he was glad for one thing: the rope was off his neck. That had given them an unfair advantage; but now that it was off, he would show them. They would never get another rope around his neck.

(adapted)