At this time, gold had been found in Alaska, and thousands of men were going there. This Gold Rush in the Yukon and Alaska prompted the need for big, strong dogs who will be able to pull sleds over icy trails. Buck is exactly what the explorers want So far in his life, he enjoyed his civilized life with the occasional nature stroll or hunting trip. Manuel, a gardener's helper with a gambling problem and a need for money, manages to kidnap Buck and sell him on the black market. He is given to a saloon-keeper and transported on train to the Northland. Throughout the trip, Buck is kept in a cage and becomes very angry. He manages to bite the saloon-keeper. By the time he arrives at his destination, he has worked himself into a rage.
The meeting with the Red Sweater and the painful encounters with his club push Buck into submission. He is not broken, but he knows better than to keep resisting, which can only result in more beatings. Once he is behaving correctly, Buck, along with Dave and Curly, two other dogs, is sold to Francois and Perrault, two agents of the Canadian government. They must travel to Dawson, Alaska and then back to Skaguay. While in camp, Curly is killed for trying to make friends with a husky. Buck understands that this is the law of club and fang which is a great part of the new life he is about to experience. He says he will