Read this excerpt from the call of the wild by jack london. but buck did not read the newspapers, and he did not know that manuel, one of the gardener's , was an undesirable acquaintance. . the judge was at a meeting of the raisin growers' association, and the boys were busy organizing an athletic club, on the memorable night of manuel's treachery. no one saw him and buck go off through the orchard on what buck imagined was merely a stroll. and with the exception of a solitary man, no one saw them arrive at the little flag station known as college park. this man talked with manuel, and money chinked between them. what is manuel’s role in this excerpt? manuel is the protagonist because he is the main character. manuel is the protagonist because he is leading a secret operation. manuel is the antagonist because he is altering the protagonist’s fate. manuel is the antagonist because he is a violent-tempered man.