Белый клык
The Call of Kind
AtthismomentspeechcametoWhiteFang,rushingupinagreatburstofbarking.
"SomethinghashappenedtoWeedon,"hiswifesaiddecisively.
Theywereallontheirfeetnow,andWhiteFangrandownthesteps,lookingbackforthemtofollow. Forthesecondandlasttimeinhislifehehadbarkedandmadehimselfunderstood.
AfterthiseventhefoundawarmerplaceintheheartsoftheSierraVistapeople,andeventhegroomwhosearmhehadslashedadmittedthathewasawisedogevenifhewasawolf. JudgeScottstillheldtothesameopinion,andprovedittoeverybody’sdissatisfactionbymeasurementsanddescriptionstakenfromtheencyclopaediaandvariousworksonnaturalhistory.
Thedayscameandwent,streamingtheirunbrokensunshineovertheSantaClaraValley. ButastheygrewshorterandWhiteFang’ssecondwinterintheSouthlandcameon,hemadeastrangediscovery. Collie’steethwerenolongersharp. Therewasaplayfulnessabouthernipsandagentlenessthatpreventedthemfromreallyhurtinghim. Heforgotthatshehadmadelifeaburdentohim,andwhenshedisportedherselfaroundhimherespondedsolemnly,strivingtobeplayfulandbecomingnomorethanridiculous.
Onedaysheledhimoffonalongchasethroughtheback-pasturelandintothewoods. Itwastheafternoonthatthemasterwastoride,andWhiteFangknewit. Thehorsestoodsaddledandwaitingatthedoor. WhiteFanghesitated. Buttherewasthatinhimdeeperthanallthelawhehadlearned,thanthecustomsthathadmouldedhim,thanhisloveforthemaster,thantheverywilltoliveofhimself; andwhen,inthemomentofhisindecision,Collienippedhimandscamperedoff,heturnedandfollowedafter.
