The Call of the Wild: Selected Short Stories by Jack London

Chapter 14 The Call of the Wild (10)
There are many people in the hotel watching.At this time, a roar came, and they couldn't help but tremble with fear.Immediately afterwards, a big long-haired dog jumped out and went straight to Bu Ayton's throat.Subconsciously, Buayton used his arms to block the front, trying to block Booker's attack.Booker moved quickly, threw him down, and then bit his throat again.

Things happened suddenly, and Bu Ayton was caught off guard.Under Booker's second bite, Brayton's neck was broken.When the onlookers saw this situation, they immediately drove away Booker.Only then did Bu Ayton save his life.

The surgeon is here.While he was examining Bouyton, Booker was still scurrying through the crowd, roaring from time to time.It doesn't want to let it go.

What happened this time was far beyond people's expectations.Then, people held a special "on-site miners' meeting" for this purpose.After the controversy, it was concluded that Booker was not guilty of wounding because he was in a rage at the time and did not intentionally hurt anyone.

After this incident, Booker became famous.In Alaska, there is no camp that does not know its name.Although many people don't know who Sandy is, just say Booker's name, they will give a thumbs up in praise.

Still the same year.In autumn, Sandy and the three of them wanted to cross a river, and where they were, the current was fast and dangerous.This time they were in a narrow canoe.

They tied a rope to the boat, and Hansen and Pete walked on the bank of the river to pull the rope.Sandy drives the boat and holds a bamboo pole.In order to keep the hull stable under the impact of the current, Sandy would stretch the bamboo pole into the water from time to time, relying on the silt at the bottom to increase the resistance.

Booker stayed on the shore.Sandy's situation made her anxious and frightened.The boat moved forward, and it also ran on the river bank, keeping its eyes on Sandy.

The boat moved slowly.Later, a reef blocked the boat's way.So, under the impact of the rapids, the boat lost its direction.

Seeing this situation, Hansen quickly grabbed the rope tightly.The boat was pulled upside down in the water under his violent pull, and Sandy also fell into the river.The rapids carried the boat to the bank, but swept Sandy in.

Seeing that Sandy was dying, Booker jumped down desperately.At this moment Sandy was in the rough current, about three hundred yards from Booker.

The waves were turbulent, and Sandy also went up and down with it. At this moment, Booker swam over.Sandy caught it by the tail as soon as he saw it.After making sure that Sandy had a firm grip, Booker swam back as hard as he could.However, the current was more turbulent now. Even if Booker exhausted all his strength, he still couldn't compete with it, so he and Sandy had to drift with the current.

There are many smooth rocks in the river, and Sandy touches them from time to time under the impact of the current.The current situation is too bad.Sandy knew very well that with Booker, neither of them could make it.So, when he hit the third rock, he let go of Booker, and quickly hugged the rock, shouting to Booker: "Booker, swim back quickly! Quick!"

The force of this water flow was too strong, and Booker couldn't keep his figure stable at all.Although it tried to save Sandy, it couldn't get close.

After Sandy yelled many times, Booker had to obey.It tried its best to expose its upper body, and then swam to the river bank.The river rushed over again, and Booker couldn't hold on anymore.Just then, Pete and Hansen reached out and pulled it up.

Booker came up, but Sandy was still in the water.In this water potential, he can last a few minutes at most.Seeing that Sandy was in critical condition, Hansen and the others suddenly thought of a solution, which was to ask Booker to rescue its owner.So they acted immediately and tied Buck's neck and shoulders together with a rope.They were tied with great care so that Booker could breathe and swim normally.

Then, Booker went back into the water again.Booker, who was extremely tired, was very brave, and he swam to Sandy desperately.But it patronizes you but deviates from the direction.The orientation between it and Sandy should have been perpendicular, but in the end it became parallel.

After Hansen and the others saw it, they felt restless and pulled Booker forcibly.Due to their excessive force, the rope strangled Buck's neck tightly, coupled with the strong impact of the rapids, when Buck came ashore, he was almost drowned by the water.

So, Hansen and Pete quickly squeezed out the water in Booker's body.Slowly, Booker opened his eyes, supporting his body, trying to stand up.But just when it barely stood still, it fell down again.

Sandy was still struggling in the rapids, crying for help intermittently.As soon as Booker heard this, he immediately jumped up from the ground, as if he had received an electric shock, and then ran towards the river.

Hansen tied the rope around its neck and shoulders like last time, and lowered it into the water.Once Booker was in the water, he swam vertically toward Sandy.Hansen and Pete still stood on the shore, ready to help Booker at any time.It was Hanson's job to hold the rope tightly in his hand so that it couldn't miss a beat until Buck came up; Pete's job was to keep the rope straight so that if it tangled and Buck's neck would be strangled, then It's dangerous.

Booker swam to Sandy with all his strength, and as he swam forward, he never deviated from where Sandy was.As soon as Sandy saw it, he regained his spirits and waited for the moment to hug Booker.

The torrent carried Booker, right into Sandy, like an approaching train.The moment they collide, Sandy takes his chance and wraps his arms around Booker's neck.

Hansen immediately wrapped the rope in his hand around a tree, and with the power of the tree, he pulled them up as soon as possible.Booker and Sandy had their ups and downs from time to time.Stones and tree stumps at the bottom of the river passed their bodies from time to time, and those tree stumps were all broken and incomplete.Finally, they finally came up.

Immediately afterwards, Hansen and Pete immediately rescued Sandy and made him lie on the ground so that he could spit out the excess water in his body.Hansen and the others did not work in vain, and Sandy woke up with their best help.

After Sandy woke up, the first thing he did was to look for Booker.At this time, Booker was still lying on the ground, breathing weakly, and Nico and Scheder were beside him.Nico stood there yelling at it as if to wake it up.Skidder licked Booker's face and eyes with his tongue, his movements were gentle, as if he was nursing a patient.Booker's face was covered with water, and his eyes were not open.

Sandy looked around, and when he saw Booker, he reluctantly sat up regardless of the scars all over his body, and crawled to Booker's side.He performed a physical examination on Booker by hand and found that Booker broke three ribs in the process of rescuing himself.He said to Hansen and Pete: "Let's not go on, let's use this as a camp."

All of Sandy's friends supported Sandy's proposal.So they started to set up tents and rest in place.They didn't leave there until Booker's body recovered.

(Second Section) Feat

It was the year they stayed in Daosheng.Another move by Booker during the winter was also remarkable.And since then, Booker's name has become even louder.

The beginning of the matter was still in a hotel called Edorado.At that time, Sandy and other people were chatting, and they were all big talkers. They used to show off their dogs and say how amazing they were.

They are all very interested in Booker.They are just hearsay about its bravery, and they all want to verify whether it is worthy of the name.So, they found Sandy and wanted to have a game with him.

They argued with each other for a long time, and one man said his dog could pull a five-hundred-pound sled a long way, the second boasted that his dog could pull six hundred pounds, and the third, Increase the weight to seven hundred pounds.

"Seven hundred pounds, what's that weight?" Sandy dismissed their boast, "We, Booker, can pull a thousand-pound sled."

"You are lying. Even if it can pull, can it carry a load for a hundred yards?" Matthews was suspicious of Sandy's words.He's a gold digger and the guy who just boasted that his dog can pull seven hundred pounds.

"That's right, Booker can indeed drag a thousand pounds. As for carrying a load for a hundred yards, it's not a problem!" Sandy's answer was very affirmative, but his attitude was indifferent.

"Okay, it's good if it's true." When Matthews said this, his voice was very drawn out, and it was intentional when people heard it.After he finished speaking, seeing everyone looking at him, he continued, "I bet 1000 yuan, let's take a gamble. I bet it will lose." This time, he spoke very simply.As soon as the words landed, he threw a bag on the table.The bag contained gold sand, which made a "bang" sound when it came into contact with the table.

At this moment, there was no sound at all around.

Sandy's face turned red.At that time, there were more than a dozen people around, and all their eyes were on Sandy, but they all kept silent, wanting to see how Sandy would respond.And what about Sandy?He has full confidence in Booker's ability.But can it really handle a thousand-pound sled?This is just his own conjecture, Sandy has no way of knowing whether it is true, anyway, he has not seen it so far.But then again, even if Booker can really do it, he doesn't have a $1000 bet right now.Hansen and Pete don't have as much either.The reality of poverty made him a little bit embarrassed.

Seeing that Sandy didn't answer, Matthews went on to say, "My sled is just outside, and there are twenty sacks of flour on it, and they weigh exactly a thousand pounds. Let Buck pull it. What do you think?" "

When he said this, it was clear that he was forcing Sandy to make a decision, but Sandy still didn't say a word.It's not that I don't dare, but that I don't know how to answer. I can't say that I have no money.Matthews' words made him somewhat depressed, so he looked around aimlessly to see if he could find a way to solve the problem in front of him smoothly.

Suddenly he saw Jim.Jim and him are old acquaintances, and now they are the gold digger in Masdowden.So he walked up to Jim and said in a low voice, "Jim, we are old friends. Now, can you lend me 1000 yuan?"

"No problem!" Jim replied very happily.And after he finished speaking, he put the bag full of gold sand next to Matthews' bag.Although he agreed to Sandy's request, he was a little worried.So he said to Sandy again: "Does your dog really have this ability? To be honest, I really doubt it."

But doubts are doubts, Jim put money on Sandy after all.With the 1000 yuan, Sandy has the gambling capital.In this way, this competition begins.

Sandy and Matthews came to the street, and all the onlookers in the hotel just followed.A game like this is not something anyone can watch if they want to.Even other businessmen and dog hunters in Daosheng City flocked after hearing the news.Hundreds of people came at once, and they surrounded Booker and the sled that was used as a competition equipment.While watching, they also participated in the gamble, betting their belongings.

It was extremely cold outside, with temperatures as low as minus sixty degrees.Matthews' sled, loaded with a thousand pounds of flour, did not move for hours.The snow on the ground was frozen into lumps, and the skateboards of the sled were also frozen together with them, and they were inseparable.This situation is too unfavorable for Booker.Looking at this situation, only a small number of people still have hope for Booker.

As soon as the sound of "departure" sounded here, the onlookers started arguing with each other.It seemed to Jim that the ice should be loosened by shaking the runners of the sled first, and that did not move the sled an inch, so Sandy could have done that.Then Booker came in to pull the sled.But Matthews doesn't think so. He insists that the word "start" means starting from the very beginning, which means that the skateboard should remain in its original state.

And Matthews' view not only got the approval of the majority, but they also raised the bet ratio to three to one.In this game, they are betting that Booker will not win.

Sandy's decision to participate in this betting match was entirely out of desperation.Now, the sled in front of him was pressed to the ground like a hill.Beside it are the ten dogs that pull the sled.Anyone who sees this scene will know the result of the game at a glance.Sandy couldn't help but feel worried, while Matthews was triumphant, looking like he was sure of winning.

"Now, the betting ratio is three to one!" Matthews said in a very loud voice.After a pause, he said to Sandy again: "Sandy, I will add another 1000 yuan on this basis, what do you think?"

Matthews' complacency not only made it difficult for Sandy to deal with, but also made him suspicious.Although Sandy didn't know what to do, his unyielding character made him care less.He accepted Matthews' challenge.

So he called Hansen and Pete.All three of them took out their own money, and only managed to scrape together a mere 200 yuan, which was all their belongings.But they didn't hesitate to put all the money on Matthews' money.

After discussion, the two sides worked out the details of the game, and then Booker played.Led by Sandy, Booker went to the sled and put on his own harness.

Infected by the surrounding atmosphere, Booker was also very excited and wanted to try it.As long as Sandy speaks, it will move forward bravely and fully demonstrate its power.At this moment, its physique has reached its peak.Although he weighs 150 pounds, his whole body is full of vitality, and there is not even a little extra fat.The fur on the body is thick and strong, and it also shines with a silky luster.Especially the hair on the neck, as long as Booker moves, they will stand upright.Its chest area is very large, and its legs are thick and strong, but these two parts are very harmonious when matched together.

When the onlookers saw it, they couldn't help but gasp in amazement and praised in a low voice.Some of them walked up to Booker, stretched out their hands to touch the muscles on its body, and admired it: "Its body is really strong, like steel."

Next, the ratio of bets changed to two to two.

At this time, a shout came from the crowd: "Hey! Brother, do you sell this dog for 800 yuan? Although the competition has not started yet, I want to buy it now. I will offer 800 yuan!" It was Si Gukan who said this.Now he is very excited.Si Gukan is a dog dealer and has made a lot of money in recent years.

After Sandy heard what he said, he shook his head to express his refusal, and instead of talking to him, he walked directly to Booker.When he walked up to Booker, Matthews didn't know what he was going to do, and thought he was going to help Booker.In protest, he said loudly: "Hey! What are you doing so close to it? It can only pull the sled by itself. You can't help!"

At this time, there was silence all around, and everyone concentrated their energy and locked their eyes firmly on Booker.From time to time, there will be voices, that is, someone else is going to join in.

Everyone present agreed with Booker's excellence.Even so, they were a little worried. The sled weighed a thousand pounds.If Booker wants to pull it, it won't be that easy.Because none of them are fully sure about Booker, not many people dare to bet.

Sandy knelt beside Buck, holding Buck's head in her hands, pressing her cheek against Buck's.He whispered to Booker, "Booker, go! Show me how much you love me! Go!"

Booker responded with a cry, the voice was also low, but full of enthusiasm, as if he understood.The actions of both of them were so enthusiastic, and the onlookers saw it and felt that Sandy was casting some magic.This casts a veil of mystery on the entire game.As for the outcome of the game, it is even more unpredictable.

Sandy stood up quickly, but Buck bit his gloved hand, and it took a long time before he let go little by little.And this action is Booker's answer.There is a connection between it and Sandy, their communication is not achieved through words, a simple action is enough.

Then Sandy stepped back, steadied herself a few steps away from Booker, and said, "Booker! Get ready!"

At the sound of his voice, Booker pulled the rein tight on him, then let go a few inches.These preparatory actions before pulling the sled, it has learned a long time ago.

Then, Sandy gave the command: "Pull to the right!"

At this command, Buck pulled the sled to the right, and the reins on his body tightened accordingly.Booker pushed harder, and suddenly the sled moved.The weight of twenty bags of flour cracked the ice under the skateboard, and there was a crisp sound as the sled started.

Sandy then yelled, "Left!"

In the same way as before, Booker pulled the sled to the left.As soon as the direction changed, the sound of the ice cubes was no longer crisp, but crackling like firecrackers.After the pull, the snow dumped from the sled, and immediately the boards began to slide, creaking, slow but moving several inches, even to one side.

The sled was so heavy that Buck pulled it.The onlookers didn't even care about breathing, their eyes were wide open, and their eyes were all focused on Booker, lest they miss a movement.

Sandy said again: "Move forward!" The command came out of his mouth like a bullet from the barrel of a gun.

(End of this chapter)