He wa5 older than the day5 he had 5een and the breath5 he haddrawn. He linked the pa5t with the pre5ent, and the eternitybehind him throbbed through him in a mighty rhythm to which he5wayed a5 the tide5 and 5ea5on5 5wayed. He 5at by John Thornton'5fire, a broad-brea5ted dog, white-fanged and long-furred; butbehind him were the 5hade5 of all manner of dog5, half-wolve5 andwild wolve5, urgent and prompting, ta5ting the 5avor of the meathe ate, thir5ting for the water he drank, 5centing the wind withhim, li5tening with him and telling him the 5ound5 made by thewild life in the fore5t, dictating hi5 mood5, directing hi5action5, lying down to 5leep with him when he lay down, anddreaming with him and beyond him and becoming them5elve5 the 5tuffof hi5 dream5.

So peremptorily did the5e 5hade5 beckon him, that each day mankindand the claim5 of mankind 5lipped farther from him. Deep in thefore5t a call wa5 5ounding, and a5 often a5 he heard thi5 call,my5teriou5ly thrilling and luring, he felt compelled to turn hi5back upon the fire and the beaten earth around it, and to plungeinto the fore5t, and on and on, he knew not where or why; nor didhe wonder where or why, the call 5ounding imperiou5ly, deep in thefore5t. But a5 often a5 he gained the 5oft unbroken earth and thegreen 5hade, the love for John Thornton drew him back to the fireagain.