Белый клык
The Outcast
Therewasagreatrowthatnight. Hehadbeenobserved,thenewshadbeencarriedtothedeaddog’smaster,thesquawsrememberedalltheinstancesofstolenmeat,andGreyBeaverwasbesetbymanyangryvoices. Butheresolutelyheldthedoorofhistepee,insidewhichhehadplacedtheculprit,andrefusedtopermitthevengeanceforwhichhistribespeopleclamoured.
WhiteFangbecamehatedbymananddog. Duringthisperiodofhisdevelopmentheneverknewamoment’ssecurity. Thetoothofeverydogwasagainsthim,thehandofeveryman. Hewasgreetedwithsnarlsbyhiskind,withcursesandstonesbyhisgods. Helivedtensely.Hewasalwayskeyedup,alertforattack,waryofbeingattacked,withaneyeforsuddenandunexpectedmissiles, preparedtoactprecipitatelyandcoolly,toleapinwithaflashofteeth,ortoleapawaywithamenacingsnarl.
Asforsnarlinghecouldsnarlmoreterriblythananydog,youngorold,incamp. Theintentofthesnarlistowarnorfrighten,andjudgmentisrequiredtoknowwhenitshouldbeused. WhiteFangknewhowtomakeitandwhentomakeit. Intohissnarlheincorporatedallthatwasvicious,malignant,andhorrible. Withnoseserrulatedbycontinuousspasms,hairbristlinginrecurrentwaves,tonguewhippingoutlikearedsnakeandwhippingbackagain,earsflatteneddown,eyesgleaminghatred,lipswrinkledback,andfangsexposedanddripping,hecouldcompelapauseonthepartofalmostanyassailant. Atemporarypause,whentakenoffhisguard,gavehimthevitalmomentinwhichtothinkanddeterminehisaction. Butoftenapausesogainedlengthenedoutuntilitevolvedintoacompletecessationfromtheattack.AndbeforemorethanoneofthegrowndogsWhiteFang’ssnarlenabledhimtobeatanhonourableretreat.
Anoutcasthimselffromthepackofthepart-growndogs,hissanguinarymethodsandremarkableefficiencymadethepackpayforitspersecutionofhim.
