Белый клык

           OutsidethehouseholdtherewasevenmoreforWhiteFangtolearn. Themaster’sdomainwaswideandcomplex,yetithaditsmetesandbounds. Thelanditselfceasedatthecountyroad. Outsidewasthecommondomainofallgods—theroadsandstreets. Theninsideotherfencesweretheparticulardomainsofothergods. Amyriadlawsgovernedallthesethingsanddeterminedconduct;yethedidnotknowthespeechofthegods,norwasthereanywayforhimtolearnsavebyexperience. Heobeyedhisnaturalimpulsesuntiltheyranhimcountertosomelaw. Whenthishadbeendoneafewtimes,helearnedthelawandafterthatobservedit. 

           Butmostpotentinhiseducationwasthecuffofthemaster’shand,thecensureofthemaster’svoice. BecauseofWhiteFang’sverygreatlove,acufffromthemasterhurthimfarmorethananybeatingGreyBeaverorBeautySmithhadevergivenhim. Theyhadhurtonlythefleshofhim;beneaththefleshthespirithadstillraged,splendidandinvincible. Butwiththemasterthecuffwasalwaystoolighttohurttheflesh.Yetitwentdeeper. Itwasanexpressionofthemaster’sdisapproval,andWhiteFang’sspiritwiltedunderit. 

           Inpointoffact,thecuffwasrarelyadministered. Themaster’svoicewassufficient. ByitWhiteFangknewwhetherhedidrightornot.Byithetrimmedhisconductandadjustedhisactions. Itwasthecompassbywhichhesteeredandlearnedtochartthemannersofanewlandandlife. 

           IntheNorthland,theonlydomesticatedanimalwasthedog. AllotheranimalslivedintheWild,andwere,whennottooformidable,lawfulspoilforanydog. AllhisdaysWhiteFanghadforagedamongthelivethingsforfood. ItdidnotenterhisheadthatintheSouthlanditwasotherwise. ButthishewastolearnearlyinhisresidenceinSantaClaraValley. Saunteringaroundthecornerofthehouseintheearlymorning,hecameuponachickenthathadescapedfromthechicken-yard.