In this chapter, Buck will be characterized as an animal of great love, loyalty, and devotion; he will become completely devoted to John Thornton, who is, in contrast to Hal and Charles, Buck's other masters, characterized as being the ideal "master." Not since Buck's days with Judge Miller has Buck experienced "love, genuine passionate love." Even in the Santa Clara Valley, with the Judge's son, Buck's relationship had been one of a "working partnership" and a sort of "pompous guardianship," and even his relationship with the Judge had been a "stately and dignified friendship." However, London now writes that the love which Buck feels for John Thornton has quickly developed into a feverish and burning admiration. Furthermore, in contrast to the events in the last chapter, where dog and man could not work together at all, here in Chapter 6, we are shown the great heights to which a dog can rise if he is inspired by love and admiration for his master. Certainly at the beginning of this chapter, he is as close to death as is physically possible, and, accordingly, Thornton devotes considerable time and patience while he is nursing Buck back to health.
As this chapter begins, we learn a bit of the history about John Thornton and how he came to be camped next to the river. The previous winter, Thornton had frozen his feet, and his partners had left him behind to recover. During both Buck's and Thornton's recoveries, there are two other of Thornton's dogs, Skeet and Nig, who are very friendly towards Buck, who is surprised; he expected them to show some signs of jealousy. Yet, unlike the other two dogs, Buck does not force Thornton's attention upon him; Buck is content to lie at a distance, watching Thornton with love and admiration. In fact, for a long time after Thornton rescues Buck, Buck is uncomfortable when Thornton is out of his sight, because Buck remembers how people like Perrault and François, and even the Scotch half-breed — all good masters — had, one day, suddenly disappeared, leaving Buck finally at the mercy of Hal, Charles, and Mercedes.
