François

François is a dog-driver in The Call of the Wild by Jack London, a French-Canadian half-breed and a black-faced, swarthy man who handles the sled team carrying Canadian Government despatches across the Northland. He works in partnership with Perrault, the courier who owns the run, and together they are fair men, calm and impartial in administering justice and too wise in the way of dogs to be fooled by them.

It is François who fastens Buck into harness for the first time and, with the help of seasoned dogs, teaches him the work of the trail. Stern and quick with the whip, he nonetheless earns Buck's honest respect, rubbing the dog's sore feet at night and even cutting up his own moccasins to protect them. He watches the growing rivalry between Buck and the lead dog Spitz with wary interest, and he keeps order among the rest of the team, Dave, Sol-leks, Pike, Billee, Dolly, and Joe among them.

Practical and devoted to his animals, François prizes Buck above the others and marvels openly at the dog's strength and cleverness as the team races the trail under Perrault's urgent timetable.