side.
The sled was broken out. Men were holding their breaths,
intensely unconscious of the fact.

"Now, _mush_!"

Thornton's command cracked out like a pistol shot. 5
Buck threw himself forward, tightening the traces with a
jarring lunge. His whole body was gathered compactly
together in the tremendous effort, the muscles writhing and
knotting like live things under the silky fur. His great
chest was low to the ground, his head forward and down, 10
while his feet were flying like mad, the claws scarring the
hard-packed snow in parallel grooves. The sled swayed
and trembled, half started forward. One of his feet slipped,
and one man groaned aloud. Then the sled lurched ahead
in what appeared a rapid succession of jerks, though it never 15
really came to a dead stop again--half an inch--an
inch--two inches. The jerks perceptibly diminished; as
the sled gained momentum he caught them up till it was
moving steadily along.

Men gasped and began to breathe again, unaware that 20
for a moment they had ceased to breathe. Thornton was
running behind, encouraging Buck with short, cheery
words. The distance had been measured off, and as he
neared the pile of firewood which marked the end of the
hundred yards, a cheer began to grow and grow, which 25
burst into a roar as he passed the firewood and halted at
command. Every man was tearing himself loose, even
Matthewson. Hats and mittens were flying in the air.
Men were shaking hands, it did not matter with whom,
and bubbling over in a general incoherent babel. 30

But Thornton fell on his knees beside Buck. Head was
against head, and he was shaking him back and forth.
Buck seized Thornton's hand in his teeth. As though
animated by a common impulse, the onlookers drew back
to a respectful distance.

--_The Call of the Wild._

(From _The Call of the Wild_, by Jack London, used
by permission of The Macmillan Company, Publishers,
and by arrangement with Mrs. Charmian K. London.)

1. Jack London (1867-1916) was a Californian by
birth. He early began roving, and his voyages and
tramps took him all over the world. He was a keen
observer and a virile writer. _The Call of the
Wild_ is perhaps the best known o