Зов предков
The Law of Club and Fang
Buckwasravenous. Thepoundandahalfofsun-driedsalmon,whichwashisrationforeachday,seemedtogonowhere. Heneverhadenough,andsufferedfromperpetualhungerpangs. Yettheotherdogs,becausetheyweighedlessandwereborntothelife,receivedapoundonlyofthefishandmanagedtokeepingoodcondition.
Heswiftlylostthefastidiousnesswhichhadcharacterizedhisoldlife. Adaintyeater,hefoundthathismates,finishingfirst,robbedhimofhisunfinishedration. Therewasnodefendingit. Whilehewasfightingofftwoorthree,itwasdisappearingdownthethroatsoftheothers. Toremedythis,heateasfastasthey; and,sogreatlydidhungercompelhim,hewasnotabovetakingwhatdidnotbelongtohim. Hewatchedandlearned. WhenhesawPike,oneofthenewdogs,aclevermalingererandthief,slylystealasliceofbaconwhenPerrault’sbackwasturned,heduplicatedtheperformancethefollowingday,gettingawaywiththewholechunk. Agreatuproarwasraised,buthewasunsuspected;whileDub,anawkwardblundererwhowasalwaysgettingcaught,waspunishedforBuck’smisdeed.
ThisfirsttheftmarkedBuckasfittosurviveinthehostileNorthlandenvironment. Itmarkedhisadaptability,hiscapacitytoadjusthimselftochangingconditions,thelackofwhichwouldhavemeantswiftandterribledeath. Itmarked,further,thedecayorgoingtopiecesofhismoralnature,avainthingandahandicapintheruthlessstruggleforexistence. ItwasallwellenoughintheSouthland,underthelawofloveandfellowship,torespectprivatepropertyandpersonalfeelings; butintheNorthland,underthelawofclubandfang,whosotooksuchthingsintoaccountwasafool,andinsofarasheobservedthemhewouldfailtoprosper.
NotthatBuckreasoneditout.Hewasfit,thatwasall,andunconsciouslyheaccommodatedhimselftothenewmodeoflife.
