The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-08-02
4 FIRSECLASS DOG STORY
JACK London's Biography Of "Back."


the Joy to kiIl-all this was Bucks. only
1t was Infinitely more Intimate. He
was ranging at the head of the
pack. running the wild thing down.
the living meat. to kill with his own
teeth and wash his muzzle to the eyes in
warm blood.
There is an ecstasy that marks tbs
summit Of life. and beyond which life
life cannot rise And such is the para
dox of living. this ecstasy comes when
one is most alive. and 1t comes as q
complete forgetfulness that one is alive.
This ecstasy, this forgetfulness OF Nv
ing, comes TO the artist. caught up and
out OF himself in a sheet Of flame; it
comes to the soldier. war-mad on
stricken field and refusing quarter; and
II came 20 Buck. leading the pack,
sounding the old wolf-cry. straining az
ter the food that was alive and that fed
swiftly before him through the moon
light. He was sounding the deeps OF his
nature, and Of the parts OF his nature
that were deeper than he. going back
into the womb of time He was master
ed by the sheer surging of life. the tidal
=
separate muscle. joint and sinew in that
IL was everything that was not death,
that It was aglow and rampant, express
ing itself in movement. flying exultantly
under the stars and over the face OK
dead matter that did not move"
And this is the cunning way in which
we are told OF that mysterious call OF
the wild" which ever and again drew
Buck away from the master whom he
loved, though not for long:
re was older than the days he had
seen and the breaths he had drawn. He
linked the past with the present, and the
eternity behind him throbbed through
him in a mighty rhythm TO which he
swayed as the tides and seasons swayed.
He sat by John Thornton's fire, broad
breasted dog. White-fanged and long
furred; but behind him were the shades
of all manner OF dogs. half wolves and
Wild wolves, urgent and prompting.
tasting the SAVIOR of the meat he ate.
thirsting for the water he drank. SCENT
ing the wind with him, listening with
Aim and telling him the sounds made
by the wild life in the forest. debating
down TO sleep with him when he lay
down. ard dreaming with him and be- q.
yond him and becoming themselves the
stuff of mis- dreams.
so perenptoriIy did these shades
beckon him that each day mankind and
the claims OF mankind slipped farther
from him. Deep in the forest call
was sounding, and as often as ne heard
this call. mysteriously thrilling and lur-
ing. he felt compelled to turn his back
upon the fire and the beaten earth
around it, and to plunge into the forest.
and on and on, he knew not where or
why; nor did he wonder where or why.
the call sounding imperiously. deep in
the forest. But as often he gained
the soft, unbroken earth and the green
shade, the love for John Thornton drew
him back 10 the fire again"
The love of Buck and John Thornton
is the idyl OF the book. and. as all tales
of love between dog and man must have.
1t has in it something peculiarly touch
ing and marvellous. 4 bit Of the de-
scription OF Though il IS rather sug-
gestcd than descrihed-is as follows:
This man had saved his lie, which
was something: but. further. he was
the ideal master. Other men saw to tho
welfare of their dogs from a sense OF
duty and business expediency; he saw
to the welfare OF his as II they were
his own children. because he could not
help il. And he saw further He never
forgot kindly greeting or a cheering
word, and TO sit down for a long talk
with them (gas,' he called it, was
much his delight as theirs. He had a
way of taking Bucks head roughly be-
tween hts hands and resting his own
head upon Bucks. of shaking him back
and forth. the while calling him Ill
names that to Buck were love names.
Buck knew no greater joy than the
rough embrace and the sound of MUIR
INJURED oaths. and at each jerk back and
forth it seemed that his heart would
be shaken out Of his body, so great was
his ecstasy. And when. released. he
sprang to his feet, his mouth laughing.
his eyes eloquent, his throat vibrant
with unuttered sound. and in that fash
ion remained without movement, John
Thornton would reverently exclaim.
God you can all but speak,
Buck had trick Of love expression
that was akin to hurt. He would often
seize Thorntons hand in his mouth and
close so fiercely that the flesh bore tho
impress of his ,eeth for some time at
terward. And as Buck understood the
oaths TO be love words. so the man IN
derstood this feigned bite for a caress.
For the most part. however. Bucks
love was expressed in alteration While
he went wild with happiness when
Thornton touched him or spoke 10 him.
he did not seek these tokens. Unlike
Skeet. who was wont TO. shove her nose
under Thornton's hand and nudge and
nudge till petted. or Mig, who would
stalk IN and rest his great head on
Thornton's knee, Buck was content TO
adore at a distance. He would lie by
the hour, eager, alert. at Thorntcn's
feet. looking up into his face, dwelling
upon II, studying II. following with
keenest interest each feeting express