Белый клык
The Enemy of His Kind
Ontheotherhand,tryastheywould,theycouldnotkillWhiteFang. Hewastooquickforthem,tooformidable,toowise. Heavoidedtightplacesandalwaysbackedoutofitwhentheybadefairtosurroundhim. While,asforgettinghimoffhisfeet,therewasnodogamongthemcapableofdoingthetrick. Hisfeetclungtotheearthwiththesametenacitythatheclungtolife. Forthatmatter,lifeandfootingweresynonymousinthisunendingwarfarewiththepack,andnoneknewitbetterthanWhiteFang.
Sohebecametheenemyofhiskind,domesticatedwolvesthattheywere,softenedbythefiresofman,weakenedintheshelteringshadowofman’sstrength. WhiteFangwasbitterandimplacable.Theclayofhimwassomoulded. Hedeclaredavendettaagainstalldogs. AndsoterriblydidhelivethisvendettathatGreyBeaver,fiercesavagehimself,couldnotbutmarvelatWhiteFang’sferocity. Never,heswore,hadtherebeenthelikeofthisanimal; andtheIndiansinstrangevillagessworelikewisewhentheyconsideredthetaleofhiskillingsamongsttheirdogs.
WhenWhiteFangwasnearlyfiveyearsold,GreyBeavertookhimonanothergreatjourney,andlongrememberedwasthehavocheworkedamongstthedogsofthemanyvillagesalongtheMackenzie,acrosstheRockies,anddownthePorcupinetotheYukon. Herevelledinthevengeancehewreakeduponhiskind. Theywereordinary,unsuspectingdogs. Theywerenotpreparedforhisswiftnessanddirectness,forhisattackwithoutwarning. Theydidnotknowhimforwhathewas,alightning-flashofslaughter. Theybristleduptohim,stiff-leggedandchallenging,whilehe,wastingnotimeonelaboratepreliminaries,snappingintoactionlikeasteelspring,wasattheirthroatsanddestroyingthembeforetheyknewwhatwashappeningandwhiletheywereyetinthethroesofsurprise.
