Buck the dog enjoys his new freedom after being rescued by John Thornton – a kind new master – having pulled a sled for thousands of miles.

Lying by the river bank through the long spring days, watching the running water, listening to the songs of birds and the hum of nature, Buck slowly won back his strength. It must be confessed that Buck waxed lazy as his wounds healed, his muscles swelled out,

and the flesh came back to cover his bones.  For that matter 

• they were all loafing – Buck, John Thornton,
• Skeet – waiting for the raft to come that was to carry
• them down to Dawson. Skeet was a little Irish setter who
• early made friends with Buck, who, in a dying condition,
• was unable to resent her first advances. She had the doc
• tor trait which some dogs possess, washing and cleansing
• Buck’s wounds. Regularly, each morning, after he had finished
• his breakfast, she performed her self-appointed task, till he

Lying by the river bank through the long spring days, watching the running water, listening to the songs of birds and the hum of nature, Buck slowly won back his strengt