Discussion Topic
Buck's discovery at camp after killing the moose and the reason the Yeehats consider him an Evil Spirit
Summary:
After killing the moose, Buck discovers that his camp has been attacked and his human companions have been killed by the Yeehats. Buck's ferocious retaliation and his ability to evade capture lead the Yeehats to consider him an Evil Spirit.
What does Buck find at camp after killing the moose and why do the Yeehats consider him an Evil Spirit?
In chapter 7, Buck returns to John Thorton's camp from his successful moose hunt and discovers his beloved master dead at the hands of the Yeehat Indians. As the Yeehats are dancing around the wreckage, they hear a ferocious roar and turn around to see Buck charging at them in a "hurricane of fury." Buck instantly attacks the Yeehat chief and violently rips his throat wide open. Buck continues his onslaught by killing several other Yeehat Indians instantly and destroying everyone in his path. During the skirmish, the Yeehats shoot arrows at Buck and throw spears in his direction. However, Buck is too quick and alludes each projectile fired at him. In the midst of the melee, the Yeehats shoot each other with their arrows and spears as they continue to miss hitting Buck. Some of the Yeehat Indians survive Buck's ferocious onslaught and refer to him as an Evil...
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Spirit because of his allusiveness and unparalleled ability to destroy everything in sight without being harmed.
In Jack London's The Call of the Wild, Buck returns from his moose hunt to find his beloved master, John Thornton, and everyone else, including his dog friends, dead. They had been killed by the Yeehats, some of whom are still there. An enraged Buck goes after them, ripping out throats and killing the Yeehats one by one. Some manage to get away and live to tell the story of how this "devil dog" took revenge on them. After this, Buck becomes a legend as an "evil spirit"--one for whom the Yeehats now have great respect and admiration. The Yeehats also fear Buck because they know he does not fear them. Buck goes on to become the leader of a wolf pack, and over time, the Yeehats begin to notice young wolves who resemble Buck.
What does Buck find upon returning to camp after killing the moose? Why do the Yeehats view Buck as an evil spirit?
Buck returns to find the camp of his Master, Thornton, looted by robbers; and finds Thornton and his companions dead. This is heartbreaking to Buck, as Thornton has been the first owner who has been kind to him since his kidnapping from his California home.
Buck's sorrow gives way to rage, and he hunts down the robbers. He finds the robbers and kills most of them. The few that escape included yeehats.
Buck then answers "The Call of the Wild" and joins a wolfpack, quickly becoming the Alpha Male. Buck's knowledge of human ways enables the pack to outwit human traps, making them seem like ghosts. The yeehats add that to what he did to the band of robbers and now they consider him an evil Ghost Dog.