Белый клык
The Call of Kind
IntheNorthlandhehadevidencedhisfealtybytoilingintheharness; buttherewerenosledsintheSouthland,nordiddogspackburdensontheirbacks. Soherenderedfealtyinthenewway,byrunningwiththemaster’shorse. ThelongestdayneverplayedWhiteFangout. Hiswasthegaitofthewolf,smooth,tirelessandeffortless,andattheendoffiftymileshewouldcomeinjauntilyaheadofthehorse.
Itwasinconnectionwiththeriding,thatWhiteFangachievedoneothermodeofexpression—remarkableinthathediditbuttwiceinallhislife. Thefirsttimeoccurredwhenthemasterwastryingtoteachaspiritedthoroughbredthemethodofopeningandclosinggateswithouttherider’sdismounting. Timeandagainandmanytimesherangedthehorseuptothegateintheefforttocloseitandeachtimethehorsebecamefrightenedandbackedandplungedaway. Itgrewmorenervousandexcitedeverymoment. Whenitreared,themasterputthespurstoitandmadeitdropitsfore-legsbacktoearth,whereuponitwouldbeginkickingwithitshind-legs. WhiteFangwatchedtheperformancewithincreasinganxietyuntilhecouldcontainhimselfnolonger,whenhespranginfrontofthehorseandbarkedsavagelyandwarningly.
Thoughheoftentriedtobarkthereafter,andthemasterencouragedhim,hesucceededonlyonce,andthenitwasnotinthemaster’spresence. Ascamperacrossthepasture,ajackrabbitrisingsuddenlyunderthehorse’sfeet,aviolentsheer,astumble,afalltoearth,andabrokenlegforthemaster,wasthecauseofit. WhiteFangspranginarageatthethroatoftheoffendinghorse,butwascheckedbythemaster’svoice.
"Home!Gohome!"themastercommandedwhenhehadascertainedhisinjury.
