Белый клык
The God’s Domain
Thusitwashelearnedthelaw,andereheleftthedomainofthechickens,hehadlearnedtoignoretheirexistence. "Youcannevercureachicken-killer."JudgeScottshookhisheadsadlyatluncheontable,whenhissonnarratedthelessonhehadgivenWhiteFang. "Oncethey’vegotthehabitandthetasteofblood..."Againheshookhisheadsadly.
ButWeedonScottdidnotagreewithhisfather. "I’lltellyouwhatI’lldo,"hechallengedfinally. "I’lllockWhiteFanginwiththechickensallafternoon."
"Butthinkofthechickens,"objectedthejudge.
"Andfurthermore,"thesonwenton,"foreverychickenhekills,I’llpayyouonedollargoldcoinoftherealm."
"Butyoushouldpenalisefather,too,"interposeBeth.
Hersistersecondedher,andachorusofapprovalarosefromaroundthetable. JudgeScottnoddedhisheadinagreement.
"Allright."WeedonScottponderedforamoment. "Andif,attheendoftheafternoonWhiteFanghasn’tharmedachicken,foreverytenminutesofthetimehehasspentintheyard,youwillhavetosaytohim,gravelyandwithdeliberation,justasifyouweresittingonthebenchandsolemnlypassingjudgment, ‘WhiteFang,youaresmarterthanIthought.’"
Fromhiddenpointsofvantagethefamilywatchedtheperformance. Butitwasafizzle. Lockedintheyardandtheredesertedbythemaster,WhiteFanglaydownandwenttosleep. Oncehegotupandwalkedovertothetroughforadrinkofwater. Thechickenshecalmlyignored. Sofarashewasconcernedtheydidnotexist. Atfouro’clockheexecutedarunningjump,gainedtheroofofthechicken-houseandleapedtothegroundoutside,whencehesaunteredgravelytothehouse.
