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The Call of the Wild

The Call of the Wild

A picture-story retelling, after Jack London (1903)

A harsh adventure with beatings, dog fights and deaths of animals and people. These are shown by the moment before or after, at a distance or in shadow, never in gruesome detail.

The text of our illustrated edition, page by page. Read it with narration.

In 1897, men had found gold in the frozen North, and thousands rushed there wanting strong, furry dogs. Buck knew nothing of this. At Judge Miller's sunlit place in the Santa Clara Valley he was king, swimming with the Judge's sons, walking with his daughters, and carrying the grandsons on his back. — 1In 1897, men had found gold in the frozen North, and thousands rushed there wanting strong, furry dogs. Buck knew nothing of this. At Judge Miller's sunlit place in the Santa Clara Valley he was king, swimming with the Judge's sons, walking with his daughters, and carrying the grandsons on his back.

But Manuel, a gardener's helper, needed money for his gambling. One night he led Buck through the orchard to the flag station at College Park and sold him to a stranger. When Buck growled, the rope was twisted tight round his neck until he choked. "Twist it, an' you'll choke 'm plentee," Manuel had said. — 2But Manuel, a gardener's helper, needed money for his gambling. One night he led Buck through the orchard to the flag station at College Park and sold him to a stranger. When Buck growled, the rope was twisted tight round his neck until he choked. "Twist it, an' you'll choke 'm plentee," Manuel had said.

Buck woke on a train, bit his captor, and was choked again. In San Francisco they filed off his collar and shut him in a crate. For two days and nights he travelled north in an express car with no food or water, mad with thirst and rage, while the messengers laughed, barked and crowed at him through the bars. — 3Buck woke on a train, bit his captor, and was choked again. In San Francisco they filed off his collar and shut him in a crate. For two days and nights he travelled north in an express car with no food or water, mad with thirst and rage, while the messengers laughed, barked and crowed at him through the bars.

In a high-walled yard in Seattle, the man in the red sweater pried open Buck's crate. Wild after two days without food or water, Buck hurled himself at the man a dozen times, and every time the club smashed him down. He lay dazed at last, beaten but not broken. He had learned the law: a man with a club must be obeyed. — 4In a high-walled yard in Seattle, the man in the red sweater pried open Buck's crate. Wild after two days without food or water, Buck hurled himself at the man a dozen times, and every time the club smashed him down. He lay dazed at last, beaten but not broken. He had learned the law: a man with a club must be obeyed.

Other dogs came and went, until a little weazened courier named Perrault spotted Buck. “Dat one dam bully dog! How moch?” He paid three hundred dollars of government money and led Buck and Curly, a good-natured Newfoundland, aboard the Narwhal. From the deck they watched Seattle fade away, and with it the warm Southland. — 5Other dogs came and went, until a little weazened courier named Perrault spotted Buck. “Dat one dam bully dog! How moch?” He paid three hundred dollars of government money and led Buck and Curly, a good-natured Newfoundland, aboard the Narwhal. From the deck they watched Seattle fade away, and with it the warm Southland.

Below decks the huge driver François handed out fair justice: his whip caught the sly white Spitz stealing Buck's food, while gloomy Dave only wanted to be left alone. Day by day it grew colder. Then one morning François led the dogs on deck, and Buck's feet sank into something white and cold. He licked it, and it bit like fire. It was his first snow. — 6Below decks the huge driver François handed out fair justice: his whip caught the sly white Spitz stealing Buck's food, while gloomy Dave only wanted to be left alone. Day by day it grew colder. Then one morning François led the dogs on deck, and Buck's feet sank into something white and cold. He licked it, and it bit like fire. It was his first snow.

Buck's first day on the Dyea beach was a nightmare, for these dogs knew no law but club and fang. By the log store, friendly Curly went up to a husky half her size. He struck like a flash and leaped away, then tumbled her off her feet, and the silent, waiting pack closed in. — 7Buck's first day on the Dyea beach was a nightmare, for these dogs knew no law but club and fang. By the log store, friendly Curly went up to a husky half her size. He struck like a flash and leaped away, then tumbled her off her feet, and the silent, waiting pack closed in.

François charged in swinging his axe, and men with clubs scattered the pack, but Curly lay still in the trampled snow. Spitz ran out his red tongue and laughed. So that was the way: no fair play, and once down, you were finished. Buck swore he would never go down, and from that moment he hated Spitz with a deathless hatred. — 8François charged in swinging his axe, and men with clubs scattered the pack, but Curly lay still in the trampled snow. Spitz ran out his red tongue and laughed. So that was the way: no fair play, and once down, you were finished. Buck swore he would never go down, and from that moment he hated Spitz with a deathless hatred.

Within a day Buck was in harness, set between Dave and Sol-leks so the old dogs could teach him. Whenever he tangled the traces or slowed the start, sharp teeth nipped him back into line. Soon came Billee, his snarling brother Joe and more huskies, nine dogs in all, and François cracked his whip: "Mush!" — 9Within a day Buck was in harness, set between Dave and Sol-leks so the old dogs could teach him. Whenever he tangled the traces or slowed the start, sharp teeth nipped him back into line. Soon came Billee, his snarling brother Joe and more huskies, nine dogs in all, and François cracked his whip: "Mush!"

That first night the men drove Buck out of their warm tent with curses and flying pans. He went shivering round the camp until the snow gave way under his paws, and there lay Billee, curled snug in a hole. Another lesson. Buck dug his own burrow, and in a trice he was warm and asleep. — 10That first night the men drove Buck out of their warm tent with curses and flying pans. He went shivering round the camp until the snow gave way under his paws, and there lay Billee, curled snug in a hole. Another lesson. Buck dug his own burrow, and in a trice he was warm and asleep.

Over the Chilkoot Divide and down the frozen lakes they ran, day after day. Always hungry, Buck learned to steal: he got away with a whole chunk of bacon under Perrault's nose. His muscles grew hard as iron and his senses keen. On still, cold nights he pointed his nose at a star and howled long and wolflike, as his wild ancestors once had. — 11Over the Chilkoot Divide and down the frozen lakes they ran, day after day. Always hungry, Buck learned to steal: he got away with a whole chunk of bacon under Perrault's nose. His muscles grew hard as iron and his senses keen. On still, cold nights he pointed his nose at a star and howled long and wolflike, as his wild ancestors once had.

At Lake Le Barge, Spitz stole Buck's warm nest under the rock wall, and for the first time Buck sprang at him in fury. As the two circled, a horde of starving wild huskies crept out of the storm, raided the grub and mauled the team until the battered dogs fled into the forest. — 12At Lake Le Barge, Spitz stole Buck's warm nest under the rock wall, and for the first time Buck sprang at him in fury. As the two circled, a horde of starving wild huskies crept out of the storm, raided the grub and mauled the team until the battered dogs fled into the forest.

The wound-stiffened team spent six terrible days on the open Thirty Mile River, breaking through the ice again and again; once, trapped by crumbling rim ice, they were hoisted one by one up a cliff on a rope of harness. Buck's soft feet bled on the trail, so François gave up his own moccasin tops to make Buck four little moccasins. — 13The wound-stiffened team spent six terrible days on the open Thirty Mile River, breaking through the ice again and again; once, trapped by crumbling rim ice, they were hoisted one by one up a cliff on a rope of harness. Buck's soft feet bled on the trail, so François gave up his own moccasin tops to make Buck four little moccasins.

After a heavy snowfall, Pike hid from harness under a foot of snow. When Spitz dug him out and flew at him, Buck sprang between them and knocked the leader off his feet. From then on Buck shielded every shirker Spitz tried to punish, and the team's discipline crumbled into constant quarrels all the way to Dawson and back. — 14After a heavy snowfall, Pike hid from harness under a foot of snow. When Spitz dug him out and flew at him, Buck sprang between them and knocked the leader off his feet. From then on Buck shielded every shirker Spitz tried to punish, and the team's discipline crumbled into constant quarrels all the way to Dawson and back.

On the run back from Dawson, Buck's quiet rebellion had broken the team's discipline. One night at the mouth of the Tahkeena, Dub started a snowshoe rabbit, and Buck led sixty howling dogs after it up a frozen creek, flying through the moonlight in the pure wild joy of the hunt. — 15On the run back from Dawson, Buck's quiet rebellion had broken the team's discipline. One night at the mouth of the Tahkeena, Dub started a snowshoe rabbit, and Buck led sixty howling dogs after it up a frozen creek, flying through the moonlight in the pure wild joy of the hunt.

But cold, cunning Spitz cut across a bend and sprang from the bank onto the rabbit first. Buck drove into him without a sound, and they rolled over in the snow. In a flash Buck knew the time had come, and that it was to the death. The pack drew up in a silent ring, eyes gleaming. — 16But cold, cunning Spitz cut across a bend and sprang from the bank onto the rabbit first. Buck drove into him without a sound, and they rolled over in the snow. In a flash Buck knew the time had come, and that it was to the death. The pack drew up in a silent ring, eyes gleaming.

Spitz was the better fighter, until Buck used his head. Feinting high, he swept low and broke both of Spitz's forelegs. There was no mercy in that land. Buck sprang in once more, and the dark circle closed on the moon-flooded snow while he stood by, the dominant primordial beast, who had won and found it good. — 17Spitz was the better fighter, until Buck used his head. Feinting high, he swept low and broke both of Spitz's forelegs. There was no mercy in that land. Buck sprang in once more, and the dark circle closed on the moon-flooded snow while he stood by, the dominant primordial beast, who had won and found it good.

Next morning Buck drove Sol-leks out of the lead and took his place. François came at him with a club, then Perrault joined in, and for nearly an hour they chased him round the camp while he dodged just out of reach. At last Perrault gave in: "T'row down de club." Buck trotted in, laughing as dogs laugh, and took the head of the team. — 18Next morning Buck drove Sol-leks out of the lead and took his place. François came at him with a club, then Perrault joined in, and for nearly an hour they chased him round the camp while he dodged just out of reach. At last Perrault gave in: "T'row down de club." Buck trotted in, laughing as dogs laugh, and took the head of the team.

Buck led even better than Spitz had. He shook lazy Pike until Pike pulled harder than ever before in his life, and he pinned down sour Joe, something Spitz had never managed. He broke in the new huskies, Teek and Koona, in no time, and the team pulled together once more. "Nevaire such a dog as dat Buck!" François cried. — 19Buck led even better than Spitz had. He shook lazy Pike until Pike pulled harder than ever before in his life, and he pinned down sour Joe, something Spitz had never managed. He broke in the new huskies, Teek and Koona, in no time, and the team pulled together once more. "Nevaire such a dog as dat Buck!" François cried.

They raced to Skaguay in fourteen days, forty miles a day, a record run, and the town cheered the team for three days. Then official orders came. François threw his arms around Buck and wept over him, and that was the last of François and Perrault. Like other men, they passed out of Buck's life for good. — 20They raced to Skaguay in fourteen days, forty miles a day, a record run, and the town cheered the team for three days. Then official orders came. François threw his arms around Buck and wept over him, and that was the last of François and Perrault. Like other men, they passed out of Buck's life for good.

François and Perrault were called away, and a Scotch half-breed drove Buck's team with the heavy mail train — eighteen hundred weary miles between Skaguay and Dawson. At night Buck lay by the fire and dreamed of another fire, where a hairy, crouching man peered fearfully into the dark, and the eyes of great beasts gleamed, two by two. — 21François and Perrault were called away, and a Scotch half-breed drove Buck's team with the heavy mail train — eighteen hundred weary miles between Skaguay and Dawson. At night Buck lay by the fire and dreamed of another fire, where a hairy, crouching man peered fearfully into the dark, and the eyes of great beasts gleamed, two by two.

Sick, worn-out Dave fell again and again. When the driver took him out, he bit through Sol-leks's traces and begged with his eyes to stay, then pulled proudly until he could no longer stand. Beyond a belt of river trees the train halted; the driver walked slowly back alone, and a single shot rang out. Every dog knew. — 22Sick, worn-out Dave fell again and again. When the driver took him out, he bit through Sol-leks's traces and begged with his eyes to stay, then pulled proudly until he could no longer stand. Beyond a belt of river trees the train halted; the driver walked slowly back alone, and a single shot rang out. Every dog knew.

Worn out after twenty-five hundred miles, Buck's team was sold for a song in Skaguay to two men from the States, young Hal and weak-eyed Charles, and Charles's wife Mercedes. Their camp was a mess, and they heaped the sled mountain-high while Mercedes fussed over every bag. "I wouldn't tote that tent along if I was you," a neighbour warned. — 23Worn out after twenty-five hundred miles, Buck's team was sold for a song in Skaguay to two men from the States, young Hal and weak-eyed Charles, and Charles's wife Mercedes. Their camp was a mess, and they heaped the sled mountain-high while Mercedes fussed over every bag. "I wouldn't tote that tent along if I was you," a neighbour warned.

The runners were frozen fast and the load was top-heavy. On the turn into the main street the sled went over, and Buck, raging at the whip, led the team racing off and scattered the outfit up the street. Townsfolk made them cut the load in half. Hal bought six soft Outside dogs, making fourteen, and worked out their food with a pencil. — 24The runners were frozen fast and the load was top-heavy. On the turn into the main street the sled went over, and Buck, raging at the whip, led the team racing off and scattered the outfit up the street. Townsfolk made them cut the load in half. Hal bought six soft Outside dogs, making fourteen, and worked out their food with a pencil.

They never made half their planned miles. Hal doubled the rations, then the food ran out and the dogs starved. Dub was shot, the six Outside dogs died one by one, and Billee, too weak to rise, was killed with the axe. Through it all the three people quarrelled. Mercedes rode on the sled while Buck, now all skin and bone, staggered on in front. — 25They never made half their planned miles. Hal doubled the rations, then the food ran out and the dogs starved. Dub was shot, the six Outside dogs died one by one, and Billee, too weak to rise, was killed with the axe. Through it all the three people quarrelled. Mercedes rode on the sled while Buck, now all skin and bone, staggered on in front.

Spring burst out all over the North. Sap rose in the pines, buds broke on the willows and geese honked overhead, but the starving team staggered on like skeletons. At the mouth of the White River they dropped beside John Thornton's camp. Thornton, whittling an axe-handle, warned them the ice was rotten. "I wouldn't risk my carcass on that ice for all the gold in Alaska." — 26Spring burst out all over the North. Sap rose in the pines, buds broke on the willows and geese honked overhead, but the starving team staggered on like skeletons. At the mouth of the White River they dropped beside John Thornton's camp. Thornton, whittling an axe-handle, warned them the ice was rotten. "I wouldn't risk my carcass on that ice for all the gold in Alaska."

Hal whipped the dogs to their feet, but Buck would not rise. He felt danger waiting out on the ice, and lay still while the club fell, until the pain seemed far away. With an animal cry, Thornton sprang and hurled Hal backward. "If you strike that dog again, I'll kill you." He knocked Hal's knife away with the axe-handle and cut Buck's traces. — 27Hal whipped the dogs to their feet, but Buck would not rise. He felt danger waiting out on the ice, and lay still while the club fell, until the pain seemed far away. With an animal cry, Thornton sprang and hurled Hal backward. "If you strike that dog again, I'll kill you." He knocked Hal's knife away with the axe-handle and cut Buck's traces.

The others pulled out onto the river without Buck. While Thornton's rough, kind hands searched him for broken bones, the sled crawled a quarter of a mile out. Then the ice gave way, Mercedes screamed, and dogs and people were gone. Only a dark hole was left. Thornton and Buck looked at each other. "You poor devil," said Thornton, and Buck licked his hand. — 28The others pulled out onto the river without Buck. While Thornton's rough, kind hands searched him for broken bones, the sled crawled a quarter of a mile out. Then the ice gave way, Mercedes screamed, and dogs and people were gone. Only a dark hole was left. Thornton and Buck looked at each other. "You poor devil," said Thornton, and Buck licked his hand.

Through the long spring days Buck lay by the river at Thornton's camp and slowly won back his strength. Skeet, a little Irish setter, washed his wounds each morning as a mother cat washes her kittens, and Nig, a huge black dog with laughing eyes, coaxed him into silly games. Neither dog showed any jealousy. — 29Through the long spring days Buck lay by the river at Thornton's camp and slowly won back his strength. Skeet, a little Irish setter, washed his wounds each morning as a mother cat washes her kittens, and Nig, a huge black dog with laughing eyes, coaxed him into silly games. Neither dog showed any jealousy.

For the first time in his life Buck truly loved someone. He would take Thornton's hand in his jaws and bite down hard as a caress, and at night he crept to the tent flap to hear his master breathing, afraid this master too would vanish. Wild urges still pulled at him, and he stole from other camps, but Thornton alone held him. — 30For the first time in his life Buck truly loved someone. He would take Thornton's hand in his jaws and bite down hard as a caress, and at night he crept to the tent flap to hear his master breathing, afraid this master too would vanish. Wild urges still pulled at him, and he stole from other camps, but Thornton alone held him.

That fall on Forty-Mile Creek, Thornton was flung from the boat into deadly rapids and clung to a rock. Hans and Pete tied a rope to Buck; he missed once, then swam straight down onto his master, and both were hauled ashore half drowned. Buck had three broken ribs. "That settles it," said Thornton. "We camp right here." — 31That fall on Forty-Mile Creek, Thornton was flung from the boat into deadly rapids and clung to a rock. Hans and Pete tied a rope to Buck; he missed once, then swam straight down onto his master, and both were hauled ashore half drowned. Buck had three broken ribs. "That settles it," said Thornton. "We camp right here."

That winter in Dawson's Eldorado Saloon, rich miners boasted their dogs could start sleds of five, six, even seven hundred pounds. "Buck can start a thousand," Thornton said, and walk off with it a hundred yards. Matthewson slammed down a thousand dollars in gold dust. Thornton had no such money, but his old comrade Jim O'Brien lent it, and the bet was on. — 32That winter in Dawson's Eldorado Saloon, rich miners boasted their dogs could start sleds of five, six, even seven hundred pounds. "Buck can start a thousand," Thornton said, and walk off with it a hundred yards. Matthewson slammed down a thousand dollars in gold dust. Thornton had no such money, but his old comrade Jim O'Brien lent it, and the bet was on.

Outside, at sixty below, the sled's runners had frozen fast, and the crowd gave three to one against Buck. Thornton whispered, "As you love me, Buck." At his shouts of "Gee!" and "Haw!" Buck swung right and left, cracking the runners free; then, at "Mush!", he threw his whole weight forward, and the half-ton load crept, lurched, and rolled down the street. — 33Outside, at sixty below, the sled's runners had frozen fast, and the crowd gave three to one against Buck. Thornton whispered, "As you love me, Buck." At his shouts of "Gee!" and "Haw!" Buck swung right and left, cracking the runners free; then, at "Mush!", he threw his whole weight forward, and the half-ton load crept, lurched, and rolled down the street.

As Buck passed the firewood, the crowd roared. Thornton fell to his knees, head against Buck's, shaking him and cursing him softly and lovingly. A rich mine owner offered twelve hundred dollars for the dog, but Thornton rose with tears streaming down his face. "No, sir," he said. Buck took his hand gently in his teeth, and the crowd drew back to leave them alone. — 34As Buck passed the firewood, the crowd roared. Thornton fell to his knees, head against Buck's, shaking him and cursing him softly and lovingly. A rich mine owner offered twelve hundred dollars for the dog, but Thornton rose with tears streaming down his face. "No, sir," he said. Buck took his hand gently in his teeth, and the crowd drew back to leave them alone.

Buck's winnings paid Thornton's debts, and he, Pete and Hans set off east with the dogs to find the fabled Lost Cabin. For more than a year they wandered through unmapped country, rafted blue mountain lakes and found an old flintlock in a ruined lodge. Then, in a broad valley, they found gold that showed like yellow butter in the pan. — 35Buck's winnings paid Thornton's debts, and he, Pete and Hans set off east with the dogs to find the fabled Lost Cabin. For more than a year they wandered through unmapped country, rafted blue mountain lakes and found an old flintlock in a ruined lodge. Then, in a broad valley, they found gold that showed like yellow butter in the pan.

One night a long howl called Buck into the forest, where he found a lean timber wolf. He chased it and won its trust, and they ran side by side across the divide into a wide green land. But when they stopped to drink, Buck remembered John Thornton. He turned back, and his wild brother sat down and howled after him. — 36One night a long howl called Buck into the forest, where he found a lean timber wolf. He chased it and won its trust, and they ran side by side across the divide into a wide green land. But when they stopped to drink, Buck remembered John Thornton. He turned back, and his wild brother sat down and howled after him.

Buck greeted Thornton wildly and stayed close for two days, but the call drew him back to the woods. He began staying away for days, hunting alone beyond the divide. By a salmon stream he met a huge black bear, blinded and maddened by mosquitoes, and after a hard fight he killed it. — 37Buck greeted Thornton wildly and stayed close for two days, but the call drew him back to the woods. He began staying away for days, hunting alone beyond the divide. By a salmon stream he met a huge black bear, blinded and maddened by mosquitoes, and after a hard fight he killed it.

In the autumn Buck met a herd of moose on the divide. Its leader was a giant bull, maddened by an arrow in his side. Buck cut him off from the herd until the others left him behind. For four days and nights Buck never let him eat, drink or rest, and at last the great moose went down. — 38In the autumn Buck met a herd of moose on the divide. Its leader was a giant bull, maddened by an arrow in his side. Buck cut him off from the herd until the others left him behind. For four days and nights Buck never let him eat, drink or rest, and at last the great moose went down.

Racing home, Buck found Nig dead in a thicket and Hans fallen at the clearing's edge, while the Yeehats danced around the wrecked lodge. In a storm of fury he drove them into the woods. At the muddy pool, faithful Skeet lay motionless; Thornton's trail led into the water, and no trail led away. — 39Racing home, Buck found Nig dead in a thicket and Hans fallen at the clearing's edge, while the Yeehats danced around the wrecked lodge. In a storm of fury he drove them into the woods. At the muddy pool, faithful Skeet lay motionless; Thornton's trail led into the water, and no trail led away.

Under the full moon the wolf pack poured into the clearing, and Buck held them off from an angle of the gravel bank until they drew back. Then a lean grey wolf came forward whining, and Buck knew his wild brother. When the old wolf howled at the moon, Buck sat and howled with them, and ran into the forest at his brother's side. — 40Under the full moon the wolf pack poured into the clearing, and Buck held them off from an angle of the gravel bank until they drew back. Then a lean grey wolf came forward whining, and Buck knew his wild brother. When the old wolf howled at the moon, Buck sat and howled with them, and ran into the forest at his brother's side.

In later years the Yeehats told of a Ghost Dog that ran at the head of the wolf pack, and they never entered one valley. But each summer a great, gloriously coated wolf came down alone to the place where the moose-hide sacks rotted in the grass, mused a while, and howled once, long and mournfully, before he went away. — 41In later years the Yeehats told of a Ghost Dog that ran at the head of the wolf pack, and they never entered one valley. But each summer a great, gloriously coated wolf came down alone to the place where the moose-hide sacks rotted in the grass, mused a while, and howled once, long and mournfully, before he went away.

Adapted from The Call of the Wild by Jack London, public domain. Pictures are AI illustrations drawn for this edition.