Белый клык
The Southland
Fromtheheadofthelawn,onthefirstsoftswellfromthevalley-level,lookeddownthedeep-porched,many-windowedhouse.
LittleopportunitywasgivenWhiteFangtoseeallthis. Hardlyhadthecarriageenteredthegrounds,whenhewassetuponbyasheep-dog,bright~eyed,sharp-muzzled,righteouslyindignantandangry. Itwasbetweenhimandthemaster,cuttinghimoff. WhiteFangsnarlednowarning,buthishairbristledashemadehissilentanddeadlyrush. Thisrushwasnevercompleted. Hehaltedwithawkwardabruptness,withstifffore-legsbracinghimselfagainsthismomentum,almostsittingdownonhishaunches,sodesirouswasheofavoidingcontactwiththedoghewasintheactofattacking. Itwasafemale,andthelawofhiskindthrustabarrierbetween. Forhimtoattackherwouldrequirenothinglessthanaviolationofhisinstinct.
Butwiththesheep-dogitwasotherwise. Beingafemale,shepossessednosuchinstinct.Ontheotherhand,beingasheep-dog,herinstinctivefearoftheWild,andespeciallyofthewolf,wasunusuallykeen. WhiteFangwastoherawolf,thehereditarymarauderwhohadpreyeduponherflocksfromthetimesheepwerefirstherdedandguardedbysomedimancestorofhers. Andso,asheabandonedhisrushatherandbracedhimselftoavoidthecontact,shespranguponhim. Hesnarledinvoluntarilyashefeltherteethinhisshoulder,butbeyondthismadenooffertohurther. Hebackedaway,stiff-leggedwithself-consciousness,andtriedtogoaroundher. Hedodgedthiswayandthat,andcurvedandturned,buttonopurpose.Sheremainedalwaysbetweenhimandthewayhewantedtogo.
"Here,Collie! "calledthestrangemaninthecarriage.
WeedonScottlaughed.
