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

Chapter 8 The Call of the Wild (4)
Booker's rapid progress is reflected in all aspects of his body.Its eyes and nose are very sensitive, and its ears are the most sensitive.When resting, its ears will stand upright, and occasionally shake a few times, looking serious, as if it is collecting information.Even in sleep, it can hear voices, no matter how subtle.In addition, it can identify hidden things through sound, whether it is dangerous.The snow fell heavily, and the snowflakes fell on the feet. If they were not shaken off immediately, they would freeze into ice cubes between the toes and be very hard.Whenever this happened, Booker would bite them off with his teeth.If it is thirsty and happens to come to a glacier, it will first check where the ice layer is thin, and when it is determined, it will use its hard front feet to break the ice layer.In this way, it has water to drink.

Booker has great abilities, one of which is the most outstanding, and that is his magical sense of smell.Even Brott and Frankie were full of praise for this.As long as there is a wind blowing, it can smell the smell, not only that, if there is a smell, it can also determine the direction of the wind.This magical function allows Booker to foresee the coming of the storm.At night, it just digs a hole. It must choose a place with a leeward wind so that it can sleep well.

Compared with other companions, Booker's various living abilities are the best.It is very smart and has a strong learning ability. This is of course the reason on the one hand, and on the other hand it is due to its nature. These natures have always been hidden in its body, but now it is slowly recovering.

They have lived in primeval forests since the time of Booker's ancestors.Of course, there are other animals here too.They live in groups and hunt birds and other small animals for food.At that time, their living habits were very close to those of wolves.Because they have been living with wolves for a long time, their ancestors have hybrids—a hybrid with wolves.In this way, the wolf's wildness and fighting skills are also inherited.Years of living in the south can't erase Booker's nature, because there is still wolf blood flowing in his body.Tearing food and fighting like a wolf, these are its innate things, and there is no need to learn it deliberately.

It was a cold night, and the surroundings were empty.Booker looked up at the sky and howled like a wolf.This is also howling its ancestors.At this moment, Booker's body was filled with the singing voice from ancient times.Its blood boiled, its primordial vitality revived.

(Chapter 3) The desire to rule breeds

(Section [-]) Robbed
Booker is aloof by nature; Spitz is not only cunning, but also unreasonable.Booker, therefore, was reluctant to be subordinated to Spitz.The strong desire for leadership has always been hidden deep in Booker's heart, and this desire has gradually become clear as it grows stronger, and at the same time, this has become its new goal in life.With this as a guide, what it does in the future has a clear purpose.It is more cautious than before.

Booker wanted to tear Spitz to pieces, but it didn't show.Occasionally, there will be a little friction between them, but Booker tries to avoid such behaviors as attack or revenge, because it is not the time yet.It is waiting for the best time, so that it can win with one blow.Before the time has come, what it has to do is to accumulate its own strength.Only in this way can it have the capital to compete with Spitz, otherwise any move will be rash.Booker knows these things very well.In addition, it will do its best to help other companions.

Before coming here, Spitz had more than one owner change.Following them, Spitz traveled to many places, which also enriched his experience.For this reason, it is very proud and never puts other dogs in its eyes.The addition of Booker made it feel the potential danger.It feels that Booker's youth and strength will pose a threat to him, and he will be very difficult to deal with.Therefore, it wanted to get rid of this possible opponent as soon as possible.Teeth were Spitz's best weapon, and he showed them at every opportunity.And its deep red tongue, which is normally stretched out.It kept walking around, trying to wait for an opportunity to compete with Booker.

Seeing that this struggle between them is about to be staged.But an accident happened, and the war was postponed.

It happened in the evening when they reached the lake of Le Bale.The weather was extremely bad, so they decided to take an early rest.So they stopped and set up camp.

The north wind was blowing hard, and there was a whirring sound in my ears.The snowflakes were blown into balls, and you ran after each other like a group of devils.The cold wind blew, and their bodies were cut like knives.

In the valley of Daiya, they lost their tents, because only in this way could the sledge go more lightly.Now, it was pitch black, and they could only grope for shelter, only to find that there was no shelter at all, because behind them were cliffs and cliffs, one next to the other.They had no choice but to stay on the lake, but luckily the lake was frozen.So Brott and Frankie built the fire, and leaning against it, they spread their sleeping bags on the ice.But what makes them depressed is that God has to fight against them.Although the fire was lit, it was extinguished as the ice and snow melted.As a last resort, they had to eat in the dark.

Before eating, Booker chose a place for himself to sleep, by the side of a rock, where there was no wind.So it dug a hole and lay down in it. It felt warm and comfortable, and the fatigue of the day was swept away.It was time for supper, Frankie was handing out grilled fish, and Booker was still lingering.But he had to eat, so he got up.

But when Booker came back, he found that his nest had been taken by Spitz.Booker was so angry that he howled loudly, and it was answered with even louder howls.The opponent wants to scare it and make it back down.

All along, Booker didn't want to fight Spitz head-on.But this time it was Spitz who was making trouble out of no reason. How could he seize his own nest while he was eating?What's more, Booker is naturally wild, but it's just hidden in his heart. Spitz's provocation finally made them find a breakthrough.So Booker yelled angrily at Spitz.

Booker is very dangerous, and Spitz has long felt this way, but judging from his performance, he is timid and afraid of getting into trouble.Now it seems that it can't be underestimated when it loses its temper.Hearing the sound, Frankie also came over, and couldn't help being stunned at the scene.

Next, Booker and Spitz fought in the den.When they rolled out, Booker's nest was a mess.And at this time, Frankie also figured out why they were fighting.

So he yelled, "Booker! Give him the nest, that fellow is so shameless. Just give it to him."

These words reached Spitz's heart.Because for Booker's nest, he likes it from the bottom of his heart.But this nest was dug by Booker himself. It was the result of his hard work. Booker couldn't do it if he wanted to hand it over to someone else, let alone the person he hated very much, Spitz.So it made up its mind to fight Spitz to the end.

They are all fighters, and both are very good at fighting.When it comes to prudence and bravery, they are equal.They are constantly turning around each other.They are all waiting for the best opportunity, and when the opportunity arrives, it is time for them to defeat each other.

The battle between them was on the verge of breaking out, and at this moment an accident happened.Suddenly, Brott's angry curse came from the other side, followed by a dog barking, the high and piercing barking broke the silence of the night.Immediately afterwards, a massive war broke out, but the purpose of the war was to snatch food.

In an Indian village not far from them, there was a group of huskies.At this time, these huskies were so hungry that their stomachs were rumbling, and after smelling the aroma of grilled fish, they all surrounded them by coincidence.There were as many as eighty or ninety of them, and they quickly surrounded the entire camp.Their moist tongues stick out long.They kept moving, looking eager.

At this time, Booker and Spitz were confronting each other.Those huskies knew their time had come.So, they swarmed up and opened their mouths to bite.What's more, the whole head got into the food box, chewed and swallowed, and ate it so happily.

These thieves came suddenly, and there were so many of them that Blot didn't know which one to drive away with a stick.As soon as Frankie heard the movement, she also ran over, waved sticks with Brott, and hit the huskies indiscriminately, not daring to slack off in the slightest.

These Huskies are suffering from hunger, and the delicious food makes them crazy.The sticks kept hitting them like raindrops, but it didn't make them take a step back.They are a pack of mad dogs.At last the food was all eaten, and only then did they stop.

The crate of bread and bacon was overturned, and it was empty without a scrap of crumbs.And all this happened in a moment.

After the sled dogs had had their fill, they went to sleep.After hearing the noise outside, they didn't know what was going on, so they all ran out.

After a long day at work, the sled dogs were tired and sleepy.When they came out and saw the group of Huskies, they couldn't help being stunned.This is the first time they have seen such a scene.The wild dogs were starving, and the sled dogs had no chance of winning.The huskies pressed on every step, but they retreated steadily until they reached the edge of the cliff.

Danger was approaching, and seeing his master and his companions in it, Booker hurried over, ignoring the fight with Spitz.The snow was so white that it shone brightly, and under the light, Booker could clearly see the appearance of these thieves.I saw that they were all skinny, and the skin was not so much a bag as a build.And their bones are clearly visible, which makes people worry that they will break through the skin.These dogs are nothing more than skeletons.

Seeing that Booker came to help, three huskies immediately surrounded him and attacked.In their eyes, Booker was like their dinner, which they alternately gnawed one after another.Within moments, Booker suffered head and shoulder injuries.Their crazy attacks made Booker a little suspicious. Are these still dogs?They were so crazy that Booker couldn't believe it if he hadn't seen them with his own eyes.

And Booker's companions are also doing their best to resist the attack.

The usual Billy was so gentle, but he didn't flinch at this time, howling and fighting hard.Dev and Soloks were both injured. There were dozens of wounds on their bodies, and they were bleeding profusely, but they did not stop fighting.Although Joey has a bad temper, it seems that now he has encountered a good opportunity to show his skills, and his vigilance and bravery have come in handy.During the fight, it once bit the front leg of a husky.The bite was so severe that the opponent's bones were broken.That Pike always pretended to be sick and lazy, and when he saw the dog's leg was broken, he rushed over and bit its neck off.

Booker had witnessed the tragic scene after Curley fell, and he resisted with all his strength to avoid the same fate.It did not retreat because of the scars on its body, but became more courageous as it fought.

In spite of the panic, Brott and Franja did not forget to pack the leftover food boxes, sleeping bags and blankets.With this in order, they joined the melee with sticks in hand, fighting shoulder to shoulder with their sled dogs.

Those wild dogs are like a pack of devils.In order to repel them, Brott and Frankie spent a lot of effort.But what they didn't expect was that after the wild dogs retreated, they turned around and grabbed the food box.So Brot and Frankie had to run back.At this time, the wild dogs attacked the sled dogs again.And the sled dogs were still breathing.

Seeing that he was about to be attacked again, Billy screamed and rushed towards them with all his might.After rushing out of the siege of those wild dogs, it ran towards the ice at high speed.Pike and Dev followed closely behind, and the other sled dogs began to run too, fast and reckless.Booker also wanted to run out with them, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw Spitz rushing towards him, intending to take the opportunity to throw himself down.This guy is too insidious. It attacked Booker just now, and Booker was wrestling with the enemy at that time.This time it did it again.It's really abominable.Booker gritted his teeth in hatred.

But he couldn't fall in front of these huskies, Booker knew this very well.So it stood still and blocked Spitz's attack first.Then, looking at the right time, he quickly escaped.After gathering with other companions, they hid together in the woods.In a secret place, they hide themselves.

But the group of Huskies did not continue to chase.

Booker and his companions were not only embarrassed, but also seriously injured.Dub was limping on one of his hind legs, and Dolly, a huskie who had been the last dog to join the pack at Daya Coast, had a chunk of his shoulder torn off.One of Joey's eyes was—blind, and Billy's one ear was torn and shattered, and the pain kept him crying and screaming all night.

It wasn't until dawn that Brott and Frankie found them.Then they limped back to camp.Although the gang of marauders were gone, their camps were already horrific.

How much did they lose in this melee?Brott and Frankie counted sullenly.After checking, they were so frustrated that they couldn't help shaking their heads.Those huskies not only ate half their grain, but they swallowed a lot of stuff that wasn't food.Among them were a pair of Blott's moccasins, pieces of leather on the outer layer of the cordage, the leather rope at the end of Franchia's whip, and even the sled rope and canvas tent were not spared, and they all chewed up.

With all this in front of her, Frankie didn't know what to do, so she couldn't help but stay where she was.It was a while before he remembered the sled dogs.They've just come back, and they're all badly wounded. "My partner, look at the wounds on your body. They are so vicious. Maybe you will get rabies." He said in a very soft voice, "Blott, tell me, what should we do now?"

Facing Frankie's question, although Brott was a little worried, he didn't know how to answer, so he could only look at him and shook his head.Daosheng is the end point of their trip, and there are still four hundred miles away.If anything goes wrong with their dog, the consequences can be disastrous.

The pack of huskies was a horrible thing, Brott and Frankie cursed at them, but they didn't forget to fix the sledge.Two hours later, they set foot on the journey again.

Although the dogs were bruised and in great pain, they still pulled the sled on the road.

(Section [-]) Waiting for the Opportunity

Of all the journeys they have traveled, this one was the most difficult one.To reach Daosheng, the remaining section is the most difficult section of the whole journey.

Continuing forward, they will come across a river.This river is thirty miles wide, and the current is very fast. Only a small part of it is frozen, and the places that are relatively frozen are only the roundabouts of the water eddies and the calm water surface.And they're going to cross the river.

It took them six days to cross the river.During this period, they went through all kinds of difficulties and dangers.This journey is so long.Every step under their feet is accompanied by danger. If they are not careful, they may all fall into the river.Therefore, Brott and Frankie moved forward very cautiously. Under the influence of the two of them, the dogs were also very careful, not even daring to breathe, and followed them very quietly.

Blot not only has a wealth of experience, but also courageously.Along the way, he always walks in front of the team and is responsible for ascertaining the situation of the road.

Now, he is still leading the way.The ice layer under the feet was uneven in thickness, and when Brott stepped on the thin ice layer, the ice layer would crack and crackle, just like lit firecrackers.

If he puts a little more force on his feet, he will slide straight into the river.This kind of thing actually happened, and more than once.Fortunately, Blot always carried a bamboo pole with him.The bamboo pole was long enough to hang on the cracked ice, and he was able to climb up through it.

Every time Brot came up from the river, he would light a fire to dry his clothes before going on the road again.Because in this world of ice and snow, the temperature is only fifty degrees below zero.If he doesn't dry himself out, he'll be frozen into a block of ice.

Brot walked very carefully ahead, and even so, Dev and Buck fell into the river once, and the sled slipped down with them.The ice quickly cracked as they struggled, and they fell deeper.

Under the desperate pulling of Brott and Frankie, they climbed up.At this time, they are almost frozen to death.If it is a little later, it is estimated that it will never come up again.Brott and Frankie immediately built a fire to keep them warm.

They are all frozen, and the ice is very thick.So Frankie made them run.They had no choice but to run round and round around the fire. Slowly, the ice on their bodies melted and flowed down their legs with sweat.However, there was no distance between them and the fire, their hairs were inadvertently matted, and several places were scorched.

(End of this chapter)