TheCalloftheWild野性的呼唤1TothenorthBuckdidnotreadthenewspapers．HedidnotknowthattroublewascomingforeverybigdoginCalifornia．MenhadfoundgoldintheYukon，andthesemenwantedbig，strongdogstoworkinthecoldandsnowofthenorth．BucklivedinMrMiller'sbighouseinthesunnySantaClaravalleyTherewerelargegardensandfieldsoffruittreesaroundthehouse，andarivernearby．Inabigplacelikethis，ofcourse，thereweremanydogsTherewerehousedogsandfarmdogs，buttheywerenotimportant．Buckwaschiefdog；hewasbornhere，andthiswashisplace．Hewasfouryearsoldandweighedsixtykilos．HewentswimmingwithMrMiller'ssons，andwalkingwithhisdaughters．Hecarriedthegrandchildrenonhisback，andhesatatMrMiller'sfeetinfrontofthefireinwinter．Butthiswas1897，andBuckdidnotknowthatmenanddogswerehurryingtonorth-westCanadatolookforgold．AndhedidnotknowthatManuel，oneofMrMiller'sgarden－ers，neededmoneyforhislargefamily．Oneday，whenMrMillerwasout，ManuelandBuckleftthegardentogether．Itwasjustaneveningwalk，Buckthought．Noonesawthemgo，andonlyonemansawthemarriveattherailwaystation．ThismantalkedtoManuel，andgavehimsomemoney．ThenhetiedapieceofropearoundBuck'sneck．Buckgrowled，andwassurprisedwhentheropewaspulledhardaroundhisneck．Hejumpedattheman．ThemancaughthimandsuddenlyBuckwasonhisbackwithhistongueoutofhismouth．Forafewmomentshewasunabletomove，anditwaseasyforthetwomentoputhimintothetrain．WhenBuckwokeup，thetrainwasstillmoving．Themanwassittingandwatchinghim，butBuckwastooquickforhimandhebittheman'shandhard．ThentheropewaspulledagainandBuckhadtoletgo．Thatevening，themantookBucktothebackroomofabarinSanFrancisco．Thebarmanlookedattheman'shandandtrouserscoveredinblood．‘Howmucharetheypayingyouforthis？’heasked．‘Ionlygetfiftydollars．’‘Andthemanwhostolehim—howmuchdidheget？’askedthebarman．第1页共42页http://www.en8848.com.cn/原版英语阅读网‘Ahundred．Hewouldn'ttakeless．’‘Thatmakesahundredandfifty．It'sagoodpriceforadoglikehim．Here，helpmetogethimintothis．’TheytookoffBuck'sropeandpushedhimintoawoodenbox．Hespentt...
