Белый клык
The Mad God
ThenheturnedandtrottedbacktoGreyBeaver’scamp. Heowednoallegiancetothisstrangeandterriblegod. HehadgivenhimselftoGreyBeaver,andtoGreyBeaverheconsideredhestillbelonged.
Butwhathadoccurredbeforewasrepeated—withadifference. GreyBeaveragainmadehimfastwithathong,andinthemorningturnedhimovertoBeautySmith. Andherewaswherethedifferencecamein. BeautySmithgavehimabeating. Tiedsecurely,WhiteFangcouldonlyragefutilelyandendurethepunishment. Clubandwhipwerebothuseduponhim,andheexperiencedtheworstbeatinghehadeverreceivedinhislife. EventhebigbeatinggivenhiminhispuppyhoodbyGreyBeaverwasmildcomparedwiththis.
BeautySmithenjoyedthetask.Hedelightedinit. Hegloatedoverhisvictim,andhiseyesflameddully,asheswungthewhiporclubandlistenedtoWhiteFang’scriesofpainandtohishelplessbellowsandsnarls. ForBeautySmithwascruelinthewaythatcowardsarecruel. Cringingandsnivellinghimselfbeforetheblowsorangryspeechofaman,herevengedhimself,inturn,uponcreaturesweakerthanhe. Alllifelikespower,andBeautySmithwasnoexception. Deniedtheexpressionofpoweramongsthisownkind,hefellbackuponthelessercreaturesandtherevindicatedthelifethatwasinhim. ButBeautySmithhadnotcreatedhimself,andnoblamewastobeattachedtohim. Hehadcomeintotheworldwithatwistedbodyandabruteintelligence. Thishadconstitutedtheclayofhim,andithadnotbeenkindlymouldedbytheworld.
WhiteFangknewwhyhewasbeingbeaten. WhenGreyBeavertiedthethongaroundhisneck,andpassedtheendofthethongintoBeautySmith’skeeping,WhiteFangknewthatitwashisgod’swillforhimtogowithBeautySmith.
