Chapter 6 For the Love of Man
Under Thornton's care, Buck recovers. Experiencing love for the first time, Buck comes to adore and admire Thornton as his "ideal master." Although the call
beckons Buck into the forest, he remains devoted to Thornton, returning
to his fireside, whenever tempted. Buck follows in loyal pursuit of
Thornton when he rafts down towards Dawson with his two dogs, Skeet and Nig, and his human companions, Hans and Pete.
One day, while resting on a steep cliff, Thornton tests Buck's loyalty by commanding him to jump off its ledge. Buck starts forward, but Thornton grabs him before he can toss himself over the edge. Buck's unwavering obedience delights and disturbs Thornton.
Buck's devotion continues at Circle City, where Thornton gets into a bar fight with a hot-tempered man, called "Black" Burton. Buck comes to Thornton's defense, launching himself at Burton's throat. The bystanders set up a miner's court to try Buck for the offence, but "discharge" him, citing that he had "sufficient provocation." Buck establishes a reputation throughout Alaska for his loyalty.
Buck proves his loyalty again when he saves Thornton's life later that year. During a boat launching, Thornton is flung out of the raft. The river's current sends Thornton into a stretch of wild rapids. Buck jumps in the water, Thornton grabs his tail, and they attempt to swim towards shore, but the current is too strong, so Thornton instructs Buck to leave him behind. Buck returns to shore, but Hans attaches a line of rope to Buck and he launches into the stream again and again, until Thornton's able to grab him and be pulled ashore, "battered," but alive.
Buck gains even greater fame that winter in Dawson when he performs an incredible "exploit." In the Eldorado Saloon, Thornton boasts that Buck can start a sled with a thousand pounds, break it out of its runners, and "walk off." Matthewson, a rich prospector, wages one thousand dollars that Buck can't pull the sled. With his bluff called, Thornton doubts whether Buck can do it, but takes Matthewson up on his offer, borrowing one thousand dollars from his friend O'Brien to cover the wager.
Onlookers assemble outside, where the men give odds, settling at three to one. Matthewson ups the bet six hundred dollars, and stresses that Buck must break the runners out of the ice in order for the wager to hold. Thornton harnesses him to the sled, carrying forty, twenty-five pound sacks of flour, and whispers to Buck, "As you love meÉ.As you love me."
Thornton shouts directions at Buck to pull the sled. Straining under the traces, Buck swings to the right, then to the left, breaking the sled's runners out of the ice. Finally Buck lunges forward, pulling the sled with every fiber of his being, every ounce of his strength. He crosses the one hundred yard line, winning the bet. The crowd erupts in cheers, while Buck and Thornton share a moment of triumph. Buck nips his master, lovingly.
One day, while resting on a steep cliff, Thornton tests Buck's loyalty by commanding him to jump off its ledge. Buck starts forward, but Thornton grabs him before he can toss himself over the edge. Buck's unwavering obedience delights and disturbs Thornton.
Buck's devotion continues at Circle City, where Thornton gets into a bar fight with a hot-tempered man, called "Black" Burton. Buck comes to Thornton's defense, launching himself at Burton's throat. The bystanders set up a miner's court to try Buck for the offence, but "discharge" him, citing that he had "sufficient provocation." Buck establishes a reputation throughout Alaska for his loyalty.
Buck proves his loyalty again when he saves Thornton's life later that year. During a boat launching, Thornton is flung out of the raft. The river's current sends Thornton into a stretch of wild rapids. Buck jumps in the water, Thornton grabs his tail, and they attempt to swim towards shore, but the current is too strong, so Thornton instructs Buck to leave him behind. Buck returns to shore, but Hans attaches a line of rope to Buck and he launches into the stream again and again, until Thornton's able to grab him and be pulled ashore, "battered," but alive.
Buck gains even greater fame that winter in Dawson when he performs an incredible "exploit." In the Eldorado Saloon, Thornton boasts that Buck can start a sled with a thousand pounds, break it out of its runners, and "walk off." Matthewson, a rich prospector, wages one thousand dollars that Buck can't pull the sled. With his bluff called, Thornton doubts whether Buck can do it, but takes Matthewson up on his offer, borrowing one thousand dollars from his friend O'Brien to cover the wager.
Onlookers assemble outside, where the men give odds, settling at three to one. Matthewson ups the bet six hundred dollars, and stresses that Buck must break the runners out of the ice in order for the wager to hold. Thornton harnesses him to the sled, carrying forty, twenty-five pound sacks of flour, and whispers to Buck, "As you love meÉ.As you love me."
Thornton shouts directions at Buck to pull the sled. Straining under the traces, Buck swings to the right, then to the left, breaking the sled's runners out of the ice. Finally Buck lunges forward, pulling the sled with every fiber of his being, every ounce of his strength. He crosses the one hundred yard line, winning the bet. The crowd erupts in cheers, while Buck and Thornton share a moment of triumph. Buck nips his master, lovingly.