Белый клык
The Call of Kind
Buthedidnothaveitinhimtobeangrywiththelove-master,andwhenthatgodelectedtolaughathiminagood-natured,banteringway,hewasnonplussed. Hecouldfeeltheprickingandstingingoftheoldangerasitstrovetoriseupinhim,butitstroveagainstlove. Hecouldnotbeangry;yethehadtodosomething. Atfirsthewasdignified,andthemasterlaughedtheharder. Thenhetriedtobemoredignified,andthemasterlaughedharderthanbefore. Intheend,themasterlaughedhimoutofhisdignity. Hisjawsslightlyparted,hislipsliftedalittle,andaquizzicalexpressionthatwasmorelovethanhumourcameintohiseyes. Hehadlearnedtolaugh.
Likewisehelearnedtorompwiththemaster,tobetumbleddownandrolledover,andbethevictimofinnumerableroughtricks. Inreturnhefeignedanger,bristlingandgrowlingferociously,andclippinghisteethtogetherinsnapsthathadalltheseemingofdeadlyintention. Butheneverforgothimself. Thosesnapswerealwaysdeliveredontheemptyair. Attheendofsucharomp,whenblowandcuffandsnapandsnarlwerelastandfurious,theywouldbreakoffsuddenlyandstandseveralfeetapart,glaringateachother. Andthen,justassuddenly,likethesunrisingonastormysea,theywouldbegintolaugh. Thiswouldalwaysculminatewiththemaster’sarmsgoingaroundWhiteFang’sneckandshoulderswhilethelattercroonedandgrowledhislove-song.
ButnobodyelseeverrompedwithWhiteFang. Hedidnotpermitit. Hestoodonhisdignity,andwhentheyattemptedit,hiswarningsnarlandbristlingmanewereanythingbutplayful. Thatheallowedthemastertheselibertieswasnoreasonthatheshouldbeacommondog,lovinghereandlovingthere,everybody’spropertyforarompandgoodtime. Helovedwithsingleheartandrefusedtocheapenhimselforhislove.
Themasterwentoutonhorsebackagreatdeal,andtoaccompanyhimwasoneofWhiteFang’schiefdutiesinlife.
