Call of the Wild Summary
The Gold Rush
in the Yukon and Alaska has prompted the need for big, strong
dogs who will be able to pull sleds over icy trails.
Buck
, a large animal living in
the home of
Judge Miller
in Santa Clara, California, is exactly what the
explorers want. He is an animal with human-like tendencies, intelligence, strength
and dignity. Thus far he has enjoyed his civilized life with the occasional nature
stroll or hunting trip.
Manuel
, a gardener's helper with a penchant for gambling
and a need for money, manages to kidnap Buck and sell him on the black market.
He is given to a saloon-keeper and transported via train to the Northland.
Throughout the ordeal, Buck is kept in a cage and becomes increasingly angry. He
manages to badly bite one of his kidnappers. By the time he arrives at his
destination, he has worked himself into a rage.
The meeting with the Red Sweater and the painful encounters with his club push
Buck into submission. He is not broken, but he knows better than to keep resisting,
which can only result in his death. Once he is behaving correctly, Buck, along
with
Dave
and
Curly
, two other dogs, is sold to
Francois
and
Perrault
, two
agents of the Canadian government. They must bring the mail between Skaquay
and Dawson, Alaska. While in camp, Curly is killed for trying to make friendly
advances to another husky. Buck understands that this is the law of club and fang
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- Fall '19
- Buck ruminates
