杰克·伦敦(Jack London，1876—1916年)，美国著名作家。杰克·伦敦最受欢迎、评价最高的小说是1903年出版的《野性的呼唤》。他的代表作还有《白牙》、《海狼》、《马丁·伊登》等19部中长篇小说和《热爱生命》、《猎熊的孩子》等150余篇短篇小说。同时杰克·伦敦还是一位出色的探险家，虽然他只活了短短40年，但却在这短暂的人生里留下了无数尝试和奋斗的足迹。这种伟大的冒险和奋斗精神在他的文学作品中都有充分体现，他的作品因此也充满了生命的力量。
Keesh lived long ago on the rim of the polar sea，was head man ofhis village through many and prosperous years，and died full of honorswith his name on the lips of men．And the winter darkness，when thenorth gales make their long sweep across the ice—pack，and the air isfilled with flying white，and no man may venture forth，is the chosen timefor the telling of how Keesh，from the poorest IGLOO in the village，roseto power and place over them a11．
He was a bright boy，SO the tale runs，healthy and strong，and he hadseen thirteen suns，in their way of reckoning time．For each winter the sunleaves the land in darkness，and the next year a new sun returns SO thatthey may be warnl agmn and look upon one another’S faces．The fatherof Keesh had been a very brave man，but he had met his death in a time of famine，when he sought to save the lives of his people by taking the life of a great polar bear．In his eagerness he came to close grapples with the bear，and his bones were crushed；but the bear had much meat on him and the people were saved．Keesh was his only son，and after that Keesh lived alone with his mother．But the people are prone to forget，and they forgot the deed of his father；and he being but a boy，and his mother only a woman，they，too，were swiftly forgotten，and ere long came to live in the meanest Of a11 the IGL00S．
It was at a council，one night，in the big IGLOO of Klosh—Kwan，the chief，that Keesh showed the blood that ran in his veins and the man—hood that stiffened his back．With the dignity of an elder，he rose to his feet，and waited for silence amid the babble of voices．“It is true that meat be apportioned me and mine，”he said．“But it is often old and tough，this meat，and，moreover，it has an unusual quantity of bones．’’
The hunters，grizzled and gray，and lusty and young，were aghast．The like had never been known before．A child，that talked like a grown man，and said harsh things to their very faces！
But steadily and with seriousness．Keesh went on．“For that I knOW my father，Bok，was a great hunter，I speak these words．It is said that Bok brought home more meat than any of the two best hunters，that with his own hands he attended to the division of it，that with his own eyes he saw to it that the least old woman and the last old man received fair share．’’
“Na！Na！”the men cried．“Put the child out！”“Send him Off to bed！”“He is no man that he should talk to men and graybeards！”
He waited calmly till the uproar died down．
“As I say”，he said，“though Bok be dead because he huntedkeenly，it isjust that I，who am his son，and that Ikeega，who is my moth er and was his wife，should have meat in plenty SO long as there be meat in plenty in the tribe．I，Keesh，the son of Bok，have spoken．’’
He sat down，his ears keenly alert to the flood of protest and indig—nation his words had created．
The anger boiled a white heat．They ordered him tO bed．threatened that he should have no meat at all，and promised him sore beatings for his presumption．Keesh’S eyes began tO flash，and the blood to pound darkly under his skin．In the midst of the abuse he sprang to his feet．
“Hear me，ye men！”he cried．“Bok，my father，was a great hunter．I，too，his son，shall go and hunt the meat that I eat．And be it known，now，that the division of that which I kill shall be fair．And no widow nor weak one shall cry in the night because there is no meat，when the strong men are groaning in great pain for that they have eaten overmuch．And in the days tO come there shall be shame upon the strong men who have eat—en overmuch．I，Keesh，have said it！”
Jeers and scomful laughter followed him out of the IGLOO，but hisjaw was set and he went his way，looking neither to right nor left．
The next day he went forth along the shoreline where the ice and the land met together．Those who saw him go noted that he carried his bow，with a goodly supply of bone—barbed arrows，and that across his shoul—der was his father’S big hunting—spear．And there was laughter，and much talk，at the event．It was an unprecedented occurrence．Never did boys of his tender age go forth tO hunt，much less to hunt alone．Also were there shaking of heads and prophetic mutterings，and the womenpityingly at Ikeega，and her faceWas graVe and sad·
“He will be back ere long．”they said cheeringly．
“Let him go；it will teach him a lesson．”the hunters said．“And he will come back shortly，and he will be meek and soft of speech in the days to follow．’’
But a day passed，and a second，and on the third a wild gale blew，and there was no Keesh．Ikeega tore her hair and put soot of the seal—Oil on her face in token of her grief；and the women assailed the men with bitter words in that they had mistreated the boy and sent him to his death；and the men made no answer，preparing to go in search of the body when
Early next morning，however，Keesh strode into the village．But he came not shamefacedly．Across his shoulders he bore a burden of fresh—killed meat．And there was importance in his step and arrogance in his speech．
Ikeega was overcome with joy，but he received her demonstrations in manlike fashion，saying：“Come，Ikeega，let US eat．And after that I shall sleep，for I am weary．’’
There was much doubt at first，much doubt and discussion．The kill—ing of a polar bear is very dangerous，but thrice dangerous is it，and threei times thrice，to kill a mother bear with her cubs．The men could not bring themselves tO believe that the boy Keesh，single—handed，had accom—plished SO great a marvel．But the women spoke of the fresh—killed meat he had brought on his back，and this was an overwhelming argument a—gainst their unbelief．
Thus began the mystery of Keesh，a mystery that deepened anddeepened wim tlle passing。f the days．His veDr next tdp young bear，nearly full—grown，and on the trip following，a large malebear and his mate．He was ordinarily gone from three to four days，thoughit was nothing unusual for him to stay away a week at a time on the ice—field．Always he declined company on these expeditions，and the peoplemarveledchosen adj．挑选出来的，精选的；上帝所选的reckoning n．计算；账单；测算，推测，估计；结账grapple V．与……扭打，与……格斗；扭打，格斗igloo n．圆顶建筑received adj．被承认的；收讫的；被认为标准的plenty adj．很多的，丰富的，够的
adv．足够，充分地；很，非常barbed adj．有剌的；讽刺的；尖刻的muttering n．喃喃自语；独自怨言token adj．作为标记的；表意的；象征性的；充场面的decline V．婉拒；谢绝猎熊的孩子（节选）
[美]杰克·伦敦
很久以前，有个叫基瑟的人住在北冰洋的海岸边。他是部落的首领，多年来业绩辉煌，直到他光荣地死去。他的名字被人们争相传颂，受到人们的尊敬。当黑暗的冬季降临时，北风在冰封的平原上怒吼，雪片徐徐地从空中飘落。没有人敢去外面冒险，这正是讲述基瑟故事的最好时机，倾听这个降生在村里最穷的冰屋里的孩子，是如何赢得所有人的拥戴并且成为所有人的领袖的传奇。
传说中的基瑟，是个陕乐的男孩，健康而强壮，他已经看见了13个太阳，在北极他们是这样计算时间的。每当冬季来临时，太阳消失了，大地笼罩在一片无尽的黑暗中，第二年，太阳回来了，带给他们温暖和光明。基瑟的父亲是一个勇敢的猎人，在一次饥荒中，为了拯救村里的人，他试图猎杀一头巨大的北极熊，却不幸遇难：他捕猎心切，与北极熊陷入了近距离的搏斗，结果他的骨头被挤碎了。北极熊吃他的肉就饱了，所以村里的人就得救了。基瑟是独生子，父亲死后，他和母亲相依为命。但是村里人是健忘的，他父亲的英勇行为被人们抛在了脑后。他们孤儿寡母很快就被人们遗忘了，母子俩长时间就挤在村里最简陋的冰屋里艰难度日。
一天晚上，在族长克洛什·奎因的大冰屋里召开了一次部落会议。正是在这次会上，基瑟那涌动的热血和不屈不挠的男子气概显露无遗。带着成年人的尊严，他威风凛凛地站起身来，待周围一片嘈杂声平息下来，说道：“的确，我和我母亲分到了肉，但是那肉经常又老又硬，而且，骨头还特别多。”
所有的猎人们，无论是白发苍苍的老人还是年轻力壮的小伙子，听到这话都惊讶万分。这样的事可是闻所未闻：一个孩子竟然用成年人的口吻说话，而且竟敢当着他们的面说出如此尖刻的话。
但是基瑟仍然平静而严肃地说：“据我所知，我的父亲博克是个伟大的猎人。据说，博克猎回的肉要比两个最出色的猎人猎回的都多，他总是亲手分配战利品，亲眼看到上了年纪的男人和女人，都给他们公平的分配一份。”
“天呐！天呐！”男人们叫喊起来，“把这个小孩赶出去”，“让他上床睡觉去”，“这个乳臭未干的小子有什么资格跟大人和老人们讲话”。 他平静地等待着骚动渐渐平息。 “听我说，”他继续说道，“博克是因为英勇狩猎而死的，只要部落的肉够分配，那么我，他的儿子，还有阿基佳——他的妻子，我的母亲，我们理应得到足够的肉。我，博克的儿子，基瑟，已经说过了。”
基瑟坐下来，他竖起灵敏的耳朵，警惕地听着他的话所激起的阵阵愤怒和不满。
人群中愤怒的情绪已经达到白热化了。他们命令他立刻上床睡觉，威胁再也不分给他肉，还警告要揍他一顿，为他的自以为是付出代价。此刻基瑟目光炯炯，热血沸腾，在一片谩骂声中，他突然眺了起来。
“大家听我说！”他大声地说，“我的父亲博克是一位伟大的猎人。我，他的儿子，会自己狩猎养活自己。现在我要宣布，我将公平地分配我所猎获的肉，不会再有老弱妇孺因为分不到肉在夜晚哭泣。总有一天，那些身强力壮的男人会因过度饮食而羞愧。我，基瑟，说到做到。”
他一说完这些话，人们的嘲讽和讥笑就随之爆发出来，但是他双唇紧闭，目不斜视地离开了那里。
第二天，沿着海岸线，基瑟出发了，那里的冰海和陆地连成白茫茫的一片。目送他离去的人注意到他身上背着一张弓和一大袋骨剌箭，斜挎在他肩上的还有他父亲的长矛。看到这个情景，人们议论纷纷，还不时传出一阵阵的嘲笑声。在人们的心中，这是前所未有的事情。从来没有这么少不更事的孩子出去狩猎，只身一人的更是闻所未闻。还有一些人摇着头，嘴里不时叨咕着有可能发生的危险事情，女人们怜悯地看着阿基佳，她们的脸上流露出凝重而哀伤的神情。
“他过不了多久就会回来的。”他们安慰地说。
“让他去吧，让他吃吃苦头也好，对他来说也是个教训。”猎人们说道： “他很快就会逃回来的，回来以后他就会学乖点，再也不自吹自擂了。”
但是，一天过去了，两天过去了，到了第三天，外面狂风大作，基瑟还是没有回来。阿基佳撕扯着自己的头发，把漆黑的海豹油涂抹在脸上，用这种方法表达自己的悲恸。女人们开始激烈地责怪丈夫们虐待那个可怜的孩子并让他去送死，男人们都没什么好说的了，打算等暴风雪减弱后出去寻找男孩的尸体。
但是次日早晨，基瑟大步流星地回到村子里，他并不是灰溜溜地空手回来的，他的肩上背着一大袋刚猎到的新鲜的肉。他的步伐和语气中流露出自信与骄傲。
面对欣喜若狂的阿基佳，他像一家之主一样对她说：“来吧，阿基佳，我们开饭吧！，然后我要睡一觉，我有点累了。”
一开始，大家的心中充满了疑问，开始议论纷纷。猎杀一头北极熊极其危险，而猎杀一头身边带着幼崽的母熊更是难上加难，险上加险。男人们怎么也不相信基瑟只身一人能够干出这么一件大事，简直是奇迹。不过≥女人们看到了他带回来的生肉，这正是打消男人们疑虑的有力证据。
于是基瑟成了带有神秘色彩的人物，随着时间的流逝，他的神秘色彩越来越浓重。基瑟第二次狩猎，他打到了一头刚成年的幼熊。再下一回，他的战利品是一头巨大的公熊和他的配偶。他经常会失踪三四天，有时甚至离开家到雪地里一个星期不回来。每次出去打猎他总是拒绝别人和他一起去，这个行为让人们都非常钦佩。
名人名言
Adversity is the first path to truth．
——Byron
逆境是通往真理的第一条路。
——拜伦