Белый клык
The Love-Master
Afteralongtime,thegodgotupandwentintothecabin. WhiteFangscannedhimapprehensivelywhenhecameout. Hehadneitherwhipnorclubnorweapon. Norwashisuninjuredhandbehindhisbackhidingsomething. Hesatdownasbefore,inthesamespot,severalfeetaway. Heheldoutasmallpieceofmeat. WhiteFangprickedhisearsandinvestigateditsuspiciously,managingtolookatthesametimebothatthemeatandthegod,alertforanyovertact,hisbodytenseandreadytospringawayatthefirstsignofhostility.
Stillthepunishmentdelayed. Thegodmerelyheldneartohisnoseapieceofmeat. Andaboutthemeatthereseemednothingwrong. StillWhiteFangsuspected;andthoughthemeatwasprofferedtohimwithshortinvitingthrustsofthehand,herefusedtotouchit. Thegodswereall-wise,andtherewasnotellingwhatmasterfultreacherylurkedbehindthatapparentlyharmlesspieceofmeat. Inpastexperience,especiallyindealingwithsquaws,meatandpunishmenthadoftenbeendisastrouslyrelated.
Intheend,thegodtossedthemeatonthesnowatWhiteFang’sfeet. Hesmelledthemeatcarefully;buthedidnotlookatit.Whilehesmelledithekepthiseyesonthegod. Nothinghappened. Hetookthemeatintohismouthandswallowedit. Stillnothinghappened. Thegodwasactuallyofferinghimanotherpieceofmeat. Againherefusedtotakeitfromthehand,andagainitwastossedtohim. Thiswasrepeatedanumberoftimes. Buttherecameatimewhenthegodrefusedtotossit. Hekeptitinhishandandsteadfastlyprofferedit.
Themeatwasgoodmeat,andWhiteFangwashungry. Bitbybit,infinitelycautious,heapproachedthehand.Atlastthetimecamethathedecidedtoeatthemeatfromthehand.
