Read the excerpt from The Call of the Wild.There was nothing for the dogs to do, save the hauling in of meat now and again that Thornton killed, and Buck spent long hours musing by the fire.

The excerpt says there was little for the dogs to do and that Buck spent long hours “musing by the fire.” This suggests Buck has little to occupy him, so he becomes bored and lets his thoughts wander. It does not say that Thornton needs Buck to hunt or that Buck is eager to search for a mine.

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