Into the Primitive

           Oldlongingsnomadicleap, 

           Chafingatcustom’schain; 

           Againfromitsbrumalsleep 

           Wakenstheferinestrain." 

           Buckdidnotreadthenewspapers,orhewouldhaveknownthattroublewasbrewing,notaloneforhimself,butforeverytide-waterdog,strongofmuscleandwithwarm,longhair,fromPugetSoundtoSanDiego. Becausemen,gropingintheArcticdarkness,hadfoundayellowmetal,andbecausesteamshipandtransportationcompanieswereboomingthefind,thousandsofmenwererushingintotheNorthland. Thesemenwanteddogs,andthedogstheywantedwereheavydogs,withstrongmusclesbywhichtotoil,andfurrycoatstoprotectthemfromthefrost. 

           Bucklivedatabighouseinthesun-kissedSantaClaraValley. JudgeMiller’splace,itwascalled. Itstoodbackfromtheroad,halfhiddenamongthetrees,throughwhichglimpsescouldbecaughtofthewidecoolverandathatranarounditsfoursides. Thehousewasapproachedbygravelleddrivewayswhichwoundaboutthroughwide-spreadinglawnsandundertheinterlacingboughsoftallpoplars. Attherearthingswereonevenamorespaciousscalethanatthefront. Thereweregreatstables,whereadozengroomsandboysheldforth,rowsofvine-cladservants’cottages,anendlessandorderlyarrayofouthouses,longgrapearbors,greenpastures,orchards,andberrypatches. Thentherewasthepumpingplantfortheartesianwell,andthebigcementtankwhereJudgeMiller’sboystooktheirmorningplungeandkeptcoolinthehotafternoon.