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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. 

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