Белый клык
The God’s Domain
Afeud,agesold,wasbetweenthem,andshe,forone,wouldseetoitthathewasreminded.
SoCollietookadvantageofhersextopickuponWhiteFangandmaltreathim. Hisinstinctwouldnotpermithimtoattackher,whileherpersistencewouldnotpermithimtoignoreher. Whensherushedathimheturnedhisfur-protectedshouldertohersharpteethandwalkedawaystiff-leggedandstately. Whensheforcedhimtoohard,hewascompelledtogoaboutinacircle,hisshoulderpresentedtoher,hisheadturnedfromher,andonhisfaceandinhiseyesapatientandboredexpression. Sometimes,however,aniponhishind-quartershastenedhisretreatandmadeitanythingbutstately. Butasarulehemanagedtomaintainadignitythatwasalmostsolemnity. Heignoredherexistencewheneveritwaspossible,andmadeitapointtokeepoutofherway. Whenhesaworheardhercoming,hegotupandwalkedoff.
TherewasmuchinothermattersforWhiteFangtolearn. LifeintheNorthlandwassimplicityitselfwhencomparedwiththecomplicatedaffairsofSierraVista. Firstofall,hehadtolearnthefamilyofthemaster.Inawayhewaspreparedtodothis. AsMit-sahandKloo-koochhadbelongedtoGreyBeaver,sharinghisfood,hisfire,andhisblankets,sonow,atSierraVista,belongedtothelove-masterallthedenizensofthehouse.
Butinthismattertherewasadifference,andmanydifferences. SierraVistawasafarvasteraffairthanthetepeeofGreyBeaver. Thereweremanypersonstobeconsidered. TherewasJudgeScott,andtherewashiswife. Therewerethemaster’stwosisters,BethandMary. Therewashiswife,Alice,andthentherewerehischildren,WeedonandMaud,toddlersoffourandsix.
